Insignifica

Drinks and Roulette

I've been meaning to post this for a while, but feel weird about posting a long list of alcoholic drinks and a gambling story while at work, so I'll get it out before I leave. My booze list, from Vegas:

7-16-05

Miller Genuine Draft (at the Buffett)
Captain Morgan and Coke
Gin and Tonic
Tom Collins
Vodka Tonic
Screwdriver
White Russian
Corona x2 (the girl at the table ordered me a second)

7-17-05

Heineken
Whiskey Sour
Seven and Seven
Midori Sour
Bailey's on the rocks
Sam Adams
Margarita (blended, no salt)
Pepper Vodka
Bud Light (I told the waitress "I'm alright" and she brought me this).

Only one repeat, not bad.

Now, gambling. I play very little Roulette - it's got bad odds. But usually during my trip I'll play a little bit if I'm bored, or just need a break from Blackjack and Let It Ride. I bought in $40, and did my usual thing of picking a number and playing all around it. The number was 25 (red). I placed $1 on 25, $1 on 22-25, $1 on 22-23-25-26, $1 on 25-26-28-29, and $1 on 25-28.

First number out? 25.

They pushed several large stacks of chips my way, I played a couple more spins, and left with over $100. Not bad...

Happy Birthday Wil!

Happy 33rd birthday to Wil Wheaton. Keep on Rockin'!

Not so much...

No Jeopardy! for me this year. But I don't feel that bad...of the 100 or so people taking the test, only 4 passed. I'm pretty sure I got about 35 of the 50 questions right, but it wasn't enough. There's always next year...

On reading

Happy Monday.

With the new Harry Potter book out, I wanted to read the 5th book again to catch up, and because I'd only read it once, when it came out two years ago. All the other books I'd read multiple times, but while I enjoyed OotP, the ending left me a little cold, so I never picked it up again.

I'm enjoying it much, much more this time, and really wondering why I don't read more. I love to read, I enjoy much of what I do read, I just never set aside the time. I find myself aimlessly surfing, or playing poker (I won $60 yesterday, thankyouverymuch), or chatting, or reading something online. And that's not a bad thing; there's a lot out there to read, it's just not, for the most part, fiction.

I think one of my other issues is that I like established universes, like Harry Potter, where I don't need a bunch of introductions, and where I can pick up little things that are nods to knowlegable readers. It's not that I don't like stand-alone stories, but I like being able to be fully immersed as soon as I start reading, and I enjoy the fact that there are/will be more stories from that universe.

OC Fair, Vegas Drinks

The work week seems particularly short when your first day is Thursday.

So here it is, Friday again. A fun weekend of relaxing, seeing friends, and possibly attending the OC Fair await us. I wish there was a "I'm only interested in going to the fair for 2 hours" pass, because that's the one I'd get. The midway has lost 95% of interest for me, the rides about 99%, and there's only so long I can watch sheep sleep. But there's a lot to look at, fried things smell delicious, and there's always a collection of Star Trek stuff.

I forgot to mention in my Vegas write-up that I was mostly successful in my quest to enjoy a different alcoholic beverage each time I ordered one. The only exception was that I had two Corona beers, because Tanna, the girl at the Let it Ride table with me, ordered me a second one, and the server was gone before I could come up with another. List forthcoming.

May your weekend be wonderful - I'm hoping mine is too.

Vegas wrap up

I got back yesterday, but was enjoying laziness, and didn't get to the write-up until now. There's also so many parts I wanted to write about, so the task was a bit daunting. We'll see how many get covered...

The big picture: Had a great time, and broke even gambling. To me, that's always a nice part of any trip (though I've had plenty of losing trips that were a good time too). Some highlights since the first update:

- I played craps for the first time (well, for money. High School Grad Night doesn't count). I came out ahead, and did well. That's certainly a game you need instruction to play. It's very difficult to just watch it and pick it up. It's a lot of fun, though.

- We visited Red Square. I'd been there with the g/f on the October 2003 trip. It was very crowded, but we'd sat at the ice bar, and had a good time. The place was much less busy (Chris and Nhan had a table), and they enjoyed some fine caviar (which I tasted). If you're not familiar with it, Red Square is the Russian-themed vodka bar at Mandalay Bay. I thought if anywhere had the horseradish root infused vodka I'd been looking to try, they would. They didn't, but the waitress thought I'd enjoy the pepper infused variety. I didn't want it in a bloody mary (the mix usually has some fish parts), so I ordered it straight. Expecting a 2-3oz serving, they brought be a large martini glass with at least 6oz. The first sip was interesting and fun, each subsequent taste got worse and worse. Perhaps it was just too strong, but the aftertaste wasn't at all good. I really wanted to like it, but no luck. Hopefully when I find the horseradish root, it'll be better.

- Poker experience the first - I played in my first Vegas tournament, a $40+$2 at the Sahara. On the forth hand I got pocket 4s, and the flop was 8-4-8. I bet big into it, and got called. The turn was a blank (2, I think), and I bet again, and had one caller. The river was an 8 - bad news for me, but I thought I still had a good chance. I checked, was bet into, and called. He turned over K-K, and I lost most of my chips. I tried to double up, but failed. Quick end. He seemed like he was going to call/raise no matter what, though, so even a more aggressive play at the beginning wasn't going to do it - he had his pocket Kings. Oh well.

- Poker experience the second - Luxor has a $25 tournament at 8:30 every night. I get in at 7:40pm, and as the guy at the counter what time they start taking money for the 8:30. He tells me "about 10 minutes", and says they usually have 40-50 players. I sit at a blackjack table for 15 minutes and come back, only to be told they're sold out. I think I was scammed.

- Poker experience the third - after some low limit table games at the Excalibur, I checked out their poker room, and got put on a list for a $1-$3 table (they have a "kitchen table" rule game where you can bet $1, $2, or $3 at any time during the game when it's your turn). I got in on a new table of the game, sat down with my $100 in chips - the first time I'd ever played a cash game live. Play went well, I won a couple hands early. I got pocket Qs and raised, and was called, with the flop showing a Q. I bet it, and was called, and another Q flopped. No beating me now. One of the guys at the end called my raises, and I showed the quads. This is where it got weird - the dealer looks at me and says "Thank you, sir". I missed that he was talking to me the first time, so I go back to sorting my stacks. He says it again, more loudly. I suspect he wants a tip, but I'd only seen one other player tip him, and wondered why I was supposed to now, after my big hand (for those that don't gamble, tipping the dealer on o her table games typically happens after you win a big hand, but isn't ever requested, nor is it mandatory). Being new, I didn't know exactly what to do, but then the dealer said "THANK YOU, SIR" again, louder, and more sarcastically. At this point he got relieved, and made a comment about me to the new dealer, saying "Thank you, SIR" to me again as he left. If I was going to tip him at all, I certainly wasn't after that. I've never seen anyone act so rudely. Poker players out there: was I out of line?

- Explosion! Before I left, I bought a 12 pack of soda, and left it in my trunk. I didn't think much of it, and didn't bring it to the room (I wasn't sure we'd have a fridge). I didn't think of it again until I opened my trunk on Monday morning after my car sat in the valet lot in the 115F heat all weekend. Each of the remaining 11 cans of soda exploded individually, popping their tops after expanding explosively. Everything in the trunk was covered in diet soda remnants, including my emergency supply box (plastic, so safe), my "loose articles" box (cardboard, soaked), a roll of paper towels (soaked) and my spare "just in case" pair of underwear (soaked with soda, oddly disturbing). Also very cool was that the 12 pack box ripped open during one or more of the explosions, it was basically flat. Also, none of the cans had ANY liquid left, but anyone in the trunk that could absorb liquid did, and held it. Quite the physics experiment.

- For the second time in as many trips to Vegas, the Las Vegas Hilton valet responded to my "Freedom from Religion" bumper sticker. The first time the woman said she loved it, and prepared for such things, I gave her one of the identical stickers I kept in my glove box. This time, the valet asked me if I believed in that "Bio religion", and when I asked for clarification, he started to go off about DNA sequencing, supercomputers, the genome, and not unexpectedly, how the book of Revelation talks about all of it. I guess I should expect such things, but it was 2pm and in the sun - I didn't want to keep listening. He was nice enough to warn me to make sure all the soda cans had exploded, so I didn't get one in the face.

Also, some extremes:

- High gas price: Baker, July 18 - $3.07 for the cheap stuff.

- High temperature: Baker, July 18 - 120F on the Giant Bun Boy thermometer.

- Low temperature: While in Vegas, it didn't get below 90F.

- Biggest win witnessed: Excalibur, July 17 - Guy at the 1 seat at my Let it Ride table holds the first bet, looking for a diamond. 6d comes out, and he says he wants the 7d now. 9d comes out, and he says "hey, wait a minute". He turns over 7d, 8d, and 10d for the straight flush, he just forgot which he needed. His $16 dollar bet (he was betting the bonus) netted him $5,000. Lots of card and camera checks for that sort of thing.

So that's the trip, in a nutshell. There are other stories I've forgotten, I'm sure, but I'll write them up as I think of them. I had a great time - It'd be great if all trips to sin city are that much fun.

Vegas update!

We're having a great time in Vegas. The Hilton's limits have been high (and still are today, Sunday), but plenty of low limit gambling is to be had at the Sahara next door. I'm not ahead, but I'm having a lot of fun, which is what counts. Met a couple who eloped from Chicago and were really, really casual about it - they seemed to be very cool, and might even be reading (I gave them my business card when it came up in conversation). Also met another woman while playing Let It Ride who ruined my "have a different drink every time I order one" streak when she ordered me a second Corona. I had them back to back, though, so I'll consider it one large beer.

Some other highlights:

- Even the Vegas locals are saying it's crazy-hot. It was about 113 today. No one is out golfing on the course outside my window.

- The Monorail is awesome. It's everything a 21st century monorail should be - quick, automated, clean, convenient, and very useful. Lots of ticket options too. A+++++++, will use again.

- The Wynn seemed to pop out of nowhere, while the apartments near the Hilton seem like they have been under construction for years.

- I haven't met anyone from OC yet. This is unusual.

We're splitting up today, Chris and his brother and Nhan doing their thing (which includes the Belliago Buffet), while I do mine. We'll probably meet up later at Red Square at Mandalay Bay, I'm going to ask about horseradish root vodka. I've heard of it, never seen it. I might try caviar, too.

More updates and a drink list coming sometime later...

On the way...

A little bit slower start this morning than I expected, but I got 6+ hours of sleep, and I'm packed, so it won't be long before I'm out of here. The roads are usually still pretty empty this time of morning on a Saturday, but I certainly wouldn't want to leave much after 9. Lots of OC/LA to Vegas traffic happens Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Hopefully I'll get right in between there.

There might or might not be regular updates from Sin City, depends what kind of connection we put together. If not then, then later.

Weird UCSC wikipedia excerpt

In my four years at UCSC, I never heard this story, taken from the UCSC Wikipedia page:

In the 1970s there was a huge wooden labyrinth in the area where College Nine is now, north of the Campus Health Center, an abandoned 'Senior Thesis' project. A popular tradition was to take new students to this maze in the dead of night when the moon was new and have them find the center of the maze in the dark. On the way, the initiated would tell a ghost story about a student who hanged himself center of the maze: "and now...his ghost sometimes appears on moonless nights." While not hazing exactly, some people actually freaked out trying to accomplish this task. The maze was torn down quietly by the administration because it was becoming a hazard, or possibly because of the emotional breakdowns.

Any of my fellow slugs out there hear this one?

Friday before Vegas

Friday again? This week did move a little more quickly than I thought it would. Now, just 5 1/2 hours before I'm done with work for the day.

Only problem is that before Vegas trips, I'm like a kid on Christmas. Can't sleep, too excited. It's too bad I don't wake up early instead of being unable to fall asleep, I'd have no problem leaving at 6am tomorrow. I'm no longer going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tonight, too much to do in terms of laundry and packing. Plus that'd just keep me out later. I would like to get at least 6 hours before driving 270 miles.

Anyone else reading (besides Stankevitz) who's gonna be in Vegas this week? I know a lot of people were there the past week for the World Series of Poker (great updates and a great poker blog can be found at Pauly's site, Tao of Poker). It would have been great to see, but I prefer smaller crowds to major events while in Vegas.

Vegas!

I'm off to Vegas in 3 days - I'm very excited about it. I haven't been there with Stankevitz in several years, and I haven't been there at all since last November. On the agenda for Saturday, and the trip:

Leave 8am on Saturday. Possibly earlier, but I'm catching a 10pm showing of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on Friday night, so I should get SOME sleep.

Enjoy a leisurly drive to Vegas. Check-in isn't until 3pm, so I'll probably stop for lunch in Baker, and do a little low-limit gambling at Primm (stateline) to pass the time.

Check in to the Las Vegas Hilton around 3, find Stankevitz, enjoy Sin City.

Other general plans including playing some poker (the Las Vegas Poker Rooms site has good info), eating at least one great meal (any suggestions?), and relaxing.

Vegas! W00p!

http://www.ocatheists.com

New and improved, please welcome ocatheists.com to the Michris Family of Websites.

ocatheists.com is the homepage for Orange County Atheists, the fairly new group I'm running for atheists, agnostics and freethinkers in and around Orange County, CA. It'll have news, forums, event listings, and all sorts of information on both current events and the group. If you're so inclined, please check it out.

1300!

This is insignifica entry 1300. Fantastic!

Speaking of milestones, I turn 10,000 days old on September 1. Party! Find out how old you are here

While the past few weeks have gone by fairly quickly (due mostly to 5 of the last 8 weekends being of the three-day variety), this week will likely seem slow, as I'm leaving for Las Vegas on Saturday morning. I haven't been to Sin City since November 2004 - planning on playing some poker, wasting many wonderful hours at the blackjack and Let It Ride tables, and having a different alcoholic beverage every time I order one.

Note to self: get to get those gifts into the mail. Of course, the winners need to email me their addresses.

So, yeah, what's happening?

I saw this online in a list of motivational list of Walt Disney's failures The list is supposed to make you realize that all success comes with some failure. One item, though, just made me laugh:

7) For the premiere of Pinocchio Walt hired 11 midgets, dressed them up like the little puppet and put them on top of Radio City Music Hall in New York with a full day's supply of food and wine. The idea was they would wave hello to the little children entering into the theater. By the middle of the hot afternoon, there were 11 drunken naked midgets running around the top of the marquee, screaming obscenities at the crowd below. The most embarrassed people were the police who had to climb up ladders and take the little fellows off in pillowcases.

I'd never heard that before. Wonder if it's really true?

My theory on ethnic restaurants

Conjecture: Within 50 miles of my home (in central Orange County, CA), I can find restaurants featuring cuisine from every major world ethnic group, or from every country in the world.

Corollary: This is probably also true of only two other places in the world; the Bay Area of California and New York City, NY.

Jeopardy! weirdness

Anyone out there watch Jeopardy! last night (July 5, 2005)? Did you notice the weirdness?

- Of the 13 categories, ten had 7 letters, and one was called "7-letter edibles" (that was my first hint).
- Of the 61 "questions", 59 had 7 letters in the response (though two were two-word responses).
- Both questions that weren't 7 letters were in the 5th column, 5th row.

Very interesting. I wonder how often there are patterns like this that I haven't noticed. Check out the results yourself at the Jeopardy! Archive.

4th wrapup, short week, fireworks

I hope all my readers had a great weekend - the best three-day holidays are the ones you barely remember are coming until it's Sunday and you know the next day isn't going to be spent at work, but instead with friends.

As mentioned earlier, I'm less and less into fireworks lately, and I don't think it'll be long before A) they're made illegal in all or Orange County and B) someone I know loses an eye, a house, or a car to fireworks. Driving down neighborhood streets in Santa Ana was downright dangerous last night, and I saw more than a couple fireworks go into trees, hit homes and glance off people. I think it's one of those things best left to professionals. No major injuries this year, though.

The added benefit of a three-day weekend (with Monday holiday) is the shortened work week. Though with my Vegas trip in just two weeks, the days may drag a bit...

I am an American

This is one of my favorite pieces, and today's the right day to repost it. Enjoy, and happy 4th of July.

--

My name is Michael Doss, and I am an American.

I didn't do anything to deserve this title and position; I don't believe in reincarnation, or in a god that would put me here for a purpose. I was born to American parents, in America, and therefore I am what I am.

As we celebrate the symbolic day of independence, I'm reminded how lucky I am to have the rights I do, and I realize the responsibilities that go along with being an American in 2004.

I have the right to free speech. I can say how much I love Michael Moore, how much I hate Pat Robertson, or how bad I think the president's actions are for the government and for the people. I have the responsibility to both listen to you and defend your right to free speech, no matter what you say.

I have the right to burn a flag, just as you have a right to fly it. The symbolism of the flag equally represents both of these rights. You have every right to believe the flag means everything as I do to believe the flag is a piece of cloth.

I have the right to freedom from religion, not just freedom of religion. I have the right to believe whatever I want, and not face undue pressure, persecution or representation from or of your religion.

I have the right to love anyone I want, however I want, as long as they agree. It is neither the government's responsibility or in their best interest to monitor or register personal relationships.

I have a responsibility to question my government and its actions, regardless if I believe in or don't believe in what my government is doing. To be told by a representative of that government that we should not question is both insulting and suspect.

I have a responsibility to involve myself in government, though voting, learning, and discussing, and otherwise participating. No other right or responsibility is greater, because through this one the rest are born.

I have a responsibility to know my place in the world, and be aware of my position. As a middle class American, I have more wealth, rights and power than most everyone else on the planet. With this knowledge, I can choose how I represent myself, and how I choose to help.

I have a responsibility to leave my city, county, state, country and planet in a better way than when I got here. This goes back to my position of power as a middle class American, as well as my position as a human being. This means helping out people who need my help, regardless of how they got into that position, but with consideration of how it will affect me.

These, and many others, are my rights and my responsibilities. It's not the clothes I wear, the car I drive, the flags I wave, or the allegiance I pay that makes me an American, it's my rights, my responsibilities, and my actions.

My name is Michael Doss, and I am an American.

Happy forth of july weekend

It's Friday, and it's a holiday weekend.

Whew.

The long weekend will be very nice after the busy week. What's nicer is that I keep forgetting that I'm off Monday, so it still feels like a bonus, even as we approach it now. Tomorrow I'm considering going to the casino, relaxing Saturday night and Sunday, and attending the annual 4th of July party Monday.

While the party rules absolutely, I'm starting to dislike fireworks more and more, which is surprizing coming from me. But it's gotten to the point that every time I see someone with fireworks, I'm sure they're going to do something stupid. Watching people doing them two years ago (last year we were at Gary's wedding), we saw toddlers lighting fireworks, teens shooting bottle rockets (at us), adults holding fireworks while shooting them, and generally no one being responsible. While I like a good pyrotechnic explosion as much as the next guy, it becomes a problem when they continue to sell fireworks to morons. I see a time in the near future when fireworks are made illegal for public use.