Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 8, 2026 in Blog |
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 2)
Yesterday, I introduced a new writing series.
“Name ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation.”
Yeah, this is all imaginary, of course, and just for fun.
My first invited guest surprised many readers: ALICE COOPER
Now, this is Part 2. It’s time send out my second invitation and fill the next seat at the grandest dinner of all time.
Pondering my next invited guest, a full confession: I’m intrigued by people who have seen the world from a very different perspective. Only a handful of people in all of human history have taken such great risks to travel such an extraordinary distance into the heavens to look back upon earth from afar. Of the 12 men who have walked on the moon, only four are still alive.
Picking any of those dozen brave men (assuming we could invite the deceased) is justified. I’d certainly gain something significant from the conversation, or just by listening. However, I don’t know enough about the space program or those astronauts to make any final determination about which one of them is the best to invite. Buzz Aldrin? Neil Armstrong? I don’t know. But were it possible I’d chose some amalgamation of those who risked their lives, were way ahead of their time, and saw us in a way that no one else can compare. I also suspect they returned as changed men and were altered forever after that amazing experience, and some in the space program even had difficulty adjusting — and being husbands and fathers and neighbors and just doing regular things — back on planet earth. I mean, how do you top *walking on the moon*?
So….given that I can’t pick just one astronaut, instead I’ll invite someone who is best suited to put all of this (and more) into perspective:
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — NDT:
– age 68
– born in New York City
– father was sociologist who worked for NYC Mayor John Lindsay, and was the first director of Harlem Youth Opportunities
– mother was a federal employee who worked as a gerontologist for the U.S. Dept. of Health, Education and Welfare
– at 14, he received a coveted scholarship from the Explorers Club of New York to view the 1973 total solar eclipse aboard a ship, which included speakers Neil Armstrong and Isaac Asimov
– at 17, he was invited by famous astrophysicist Carl Sagan to Cornell: “I already knew I wanted to become a scientist. But that afternoon, I learned from Carl the kind of person I wanted to become,” he later said.
– education:
Harvard (BA)
University of Texas (MA)
Columbia University (PhD)
– has held numerous positions in academia, research, and space technology–far too many to list.
– author (or co-author) of 17 books
– hosted several popular television series, including a NOVA documentary series called “Origins” and an update of the classic PBS series “Cosmos.”
– former director of the Hayden Planetarium
– host of “Star Talk,” a podcast which became a popular weekly TV show
– on spirituality. “I would say if I find a word that came closest, it would be ‘agnostic…I remain unconvinced by any claims anyone has ever made about the existence or the power of a divine force operating in the universe.”
– on the lack of women (and minorities) in science, “…before we start talking about genetic differences, you gotta come up with a system where there’s equal opportunity. Then we can start having that conversation.”
– positively advocated for the freedoms of homosexual and transgender citizens (and has debated the topic versus many right-wing and religious rivals in various media)
– appears regularly on news shows, late night talk shows, comedy central, and a vast array of mainstream programs
– has appeared as a guest on The Big Bang Theory, Gravity Falls, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Zoolander 2, Ice Age: Collision Course, Family Guy, BoJack Horseman, The Simpsons, Salvation, and Scooby-Doo, and Guess Who?
– met his wife when they were both students at the University of Texas, married nearly 30 years, 2 children
– numerous awards and honors
I left out NDT’s best quality — and that’s his gift at taking complex subjects and explaining them to those of us who lack that level of knowledge. He makes learning fun. He’s also demonstrated a wonderful wittiness over many years, which isn’t exactly the first character trait we think of in an astrophysicist. I’ve also witnessed NDT talk about numerous topics in speeches and interviews — from space, to UFOs, to world history, to AI, to molecular biology, to just about anything you can think of — and speak with a rare combination of authority and unorthodoxy.
Finally, there’s his wonderful sense of humor. Rarely have we seen anyone explain things while often laughing and enjoying the teaching experience. Tyson has a rare ability of being humorous, while insightful–and even deep. A terrific example is his short explanation of “what aliens might look like.” Trust me, this is well worth 3 minutes of your time.
CLICK TO WATCH HERE
This invite is a slam dunk, for me. I’ve now got two of my ten seats filled:
1. ALICE COOPER
2. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
More coming soon.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 7, 2026 in Blog |
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER:
MY DREAM INVITE LIST (Part 1)
Today, I’m starting a totally new writing series. This should be fun!
Read further and join this imaginary experience. Ride along. Better yet, ponder this question and then create your own list. Make your posts here on Facebook, and do your own series: Name the ten people you would invite to a lavish dinner for a night of great conversation. Just as important if not more so, explain *why* they made your list.
I’ll begin with my first invited guest at my grand once-in-a-lifetime dinner:
ALICE COOPER
Most rock musicians, especially the icons, are actually dull conversationalists. They’re horrible in interviews. Boring. Repetitive. One-dimensional. Self-absorbed. This opinion might sound ridiculous, but it’s true. Take almost any classic rocker (and most musicians) and they’re magical performers onstage and while playing music. But, most of the greats are not good storytellers, nor particularly insightful in a conversation.
Alice Cooper might be the very best *exception* to what I just wrote. He is exceptional, in every way,
Strangely, I’m not a huge Alice Cooper fan. I respect his music and remember his hits during the 1970s. I even saw his performance (on video) at last weekend’s NFL Las Vegas Raiders home game. He did the halftime show — at age 78.
No, what sets Vincent Damon Furnier (a.k.a. Alice Cooper) apart isn’t so much being the universally-acclaimed godfather of “shock rock.” It’s his ability to communicate. It’s his sincerity. It’s his being real. It’s being humble. It’s being self-aware. It’s his undeniable oddity and appeal, and making those around him feel welcome and connected. And then of course, the thing that truly makes a great dinner guest…. the unexpected.
Let me put it another way: If this guy was longtime best pals with Groucho Marx, that says it all. If he’s good enough to drink beer every night with Groucho, he must be a helluva’ presence.
Some facts I learned, and you may not know about — Alice Cooper:
– born in Detroit
– raised in Arizona
– his grandfather was an evangelist protestant missionary
– his father was also a pastor
– both his grandfather and father ministered to Native American Indians on local reservations
– grew up in a loving household, his parents even encouraged his musical career and played rock music inside their home (unusual for the 1960s)
– dated the sexiest woman alive back then, Raquel Welch
– after a wild bachelorhood, then married to the same woman for 50 years–and counting (married in 1976)
– father of three children
– never uses the name “Alice” with family and friends (“it’s a persona”)….those closest call him Vinnie
– was part of the famed rock rat pack of the 1970s in Los Angeles, made up of John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Mickey Dolenz (Monkees) who did the club scene every night
– known for heavy metal and glam rock, but his origins as a stage performer were rooted in an early love of Vaudeville and over-the-top theatrics
– signed to his first record deal by Frank Zappa
– met Elvis in 1971 and was invited to his Las Vegas Hilton (International, back then) suite, where “the King” produced a snub-nosed revolver (great story)
– 30 albums, to date and 50 million records sold.
– plans to continue performing and touring, into his 80s
– opts to be non-political though he’s made many controversial statements, both supportive of left and right causes
– plays full round of golf 4 to 5 times a week (and is very good at it)
– his daily longtime golfing partner was the late country legend and stellar session guitar player and later TV star Glen Campbell (they were neighbors)
– was also neighbors with comedy legend Groucho Marx in an unlikeliest friendship. They often drank beer together at night and watched ballgames in his living room
– huge fan of Detroit sports teams, and Arizona Diamondbacks (baseball)- owns the first “O” on the famous Hollywood sign (he was the first to buy a letter, then got other celebrities to each buy one to preserve the iconic sign)
– did voice overs for lots of cartoons and video games (some you probably didn’t know it was Alice Cooper)
– Regularly had old Hollywood icons at his shows on the front row and backstage, including Marx, Bette Davis (who inspired his stage makeup)
– wrote the theme for the James Bond movie, “The Man with the Golden Gun” but it was decided he was too controversial so the song was scrapped at the last minute
– plays a mean ass harmonica and most of his shows have at least a few songs where he blows the roof off. See a link HERE as just one of hundreds of performances.
When I think of great interviews, conversationalists, and dinner guests it all starts with stories. And Alice Cooper delivers, while being humble and totally himself.
He’s an easy choice as one of my (imaginary) ten invited dinner guests.
More coming tomorrow.
(In the meantime, watch this short interview with Alice Cooper by Dan Rather — CLICK HERE — to get a feel of why he made my list)
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 6, 2026 in Blog |
How many times have you been frustrated with trying to cancel a subscription, and ended up at a dead end?
Most of us have been there. Many times. You want to cancel something, An online protection plan. A gym membership. A news feed source. A streaming subscription. There are so many SUBSCRIPTION-BASED SERVICES online. They lock you in. But later, when you try to CANCEL, you can’t find the right button to click, which is often buried or hidden away, or isn’t even there. Then, you have to email customer support, and wait. Or, you phone into a call center, if you can get through and it’s between business hours. Even then, they may intimidate you and bait you with additional pressure.
Easy to get in. Far more difficult to get out. Like mice and cheese and mousetraps.
Corporations do this *intentionally.* It’s called the RETENTION MAZE. It’s part of their business model. And, it’s deceptive as hell and unfair to customers.
CANCELING is difficult, by design. So, many people just give up. Just as many people forget they have a monthly or quarterly subscription, at all. This manipulation is how they screw people. Yes, we’re getting screwed and it costs Americans billions of dollars every year.
Not anymore. At least, not in New York City.
Companies can’t force their customers onto the phone, hang up on you, bury the instructions, or scare you about what happens if you leave. Price, renewal date and how to cancel must be spelled out before they ever touch your credit card. And if you can CLICK to subscribe, then it must be just as easy to CLICK to cancel.
This is what happens when BOLD PROGRESSIVE GOVERNMENT AND LEADERSHIP steps in, steps up, and works for consumers. They counterweigh the power and wealth and crushing control of companies who exploit millions. Of course, corporations and banks LOATHE any regulations whatsoever. This is because they make a shitload of profit off of their confused customers.
Earlier this year, NYC Mayor Mamdani pushed for and was successful in passing the very first CONSUMER PROTECTIONS in the country to force companies with businesses to BAN subscription traps and junk fees on their customers in New York. This bold new law went into action Oct. 1st.
“In our city, we’re drawing a clear line: if you can sign up with a click, you must be able to cancel with one,” Mayor Mamdani said.
Of course, corporations are livid. Online retailers tremble that these laws will spread to other regions, or go nationwide. They sued New York City (so far, unsuccessfully). Meanwhile, corporatist Trump flunkies at the FTC, which is in charge of consumer laws and online commerce, opposes Mamdani’s law. Violations in NYC are punishable by a $525 fine (higher for repeated offenses), and anyone who resides in New York can file a complaint now online against a company which breaks the law.
This is GOOD GOVERNMENT. This is GOVERNMENT WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE.
Of course, conservatives and corporations and capitalists hate it. Trump’s henchmen have defanged and destroyed federal agencies which protect consumers. The companies make out like bandits. Deregulation — what a giant screw job. They make a lots of money fooling people. This certainly goes for SUBSCRIPTIONS, and banking fees, and hidden charges, and all kinds of deceptive shenanigans.
Bravo to progressives in NYC and Mayor Mamdani for standing up for regular people and protecting consumers. They can call him names and mislabel his intentions, but he’s just done something really good for the people of his city.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 5, 2026 in Blog |
WHAT ‘DIGGER” MEANS….
[A few Monday morning musings….]
This isn’t so much about Digger, the new bomb of a movie starring Tom Cruise. I haven’t seen it, yet. Rather, here’s my initial thoughts and questions about just how *bad* this flop is likely to be for creative minds and risk-taking in Hollywood (and elsewhere).
For those unaware, Digger cost a whopping $160 million to make (I have no clue why it cost that much, but that’s the debt load and make-up number). Well, the first opening weekend, which is typically the biggest box office draw period, brought in just $8 million, which is barely 5 percent of the budget — and that doesn’t cover theaters and advertising costs. Now, they’re saying Digger may become the most expensive flop in movie history.
The movie has divided critics. Some hate it. A few love it and think it’s a masterpiece. Not that reviews and quality necessarily matters whether a movie is profitable, or not. Many of the greatest movies ever made were failures when released, and MOST of the hugely successful movies that made hundreds of millions are either barely watchable, or downright awful. Don’t get me started.
Director Alejandro G. Inarritu cast Tom Cruise in his most unlikely movie role, ever. This rich old oilman part certainly plays against “typecasting.” Cruise is 64, but still plays Mission Impossible superheroes. In this film, he looks every wrinkle of his real life six-dacades-plus years….and then some. I do think most of us recognize Cruise as a vastly under-appreciated and under-utilized talent. He was outstanding in Born on the Fourth of July (his only Oscar nomination) and even better in Magnolia. I can see why Cruise would jump at the chance to play a real movie part with chops, instead of jumping out of another helicopter tied to a bungee chord, though his action movies are almost guaranteed to mint money.
None of us will lose any sleep over Cruise’s box office bomb or an entertainment conglomerate losing $100 million. Who cares. The trouble is — when the next risky script and outlier film concept comes up in the Paramount boardroom, that script will hit the garbage can. Who would make another film like this, and take that financial risk, when another remake of a Marvel cartoon character is a lock to pad the vault with profits?
Can “Mission Impossible 13” be too far away? “Spiderman 6?” “Ironman Returns (Again for the 8th Time)” Yawn.
Creativity in movies just fell another wrung on the ladder. Forget taking any real risks — it’s all too much “Risky Business.”
A few years ago, famed director Francis Ford Coppola lost most of his life’s earnings (including his immensely profitable wine vineyards) when he plunged all of his net worth into a colossal movie flop titled “Megalopolis.” Just imagine — FFC in his 80s with five Oscars being broke. After all he’s done. I thought THAT might be the fitting final nail of warning in Hollywood’s coffin. Now, Digger comes along and the hole just got deeper.
Most of us don’t go out to the movie theaters, anymore. The ritual of cinema has changed in ways that I never imagined. Now, most of us sit in front of 80-inch TV screens and pay a monthly Netflix subscription.
I doubt many more mistakes like this will happen. No one can afford to make such errors in judgment, and those who do will pay the price. Sure, there will be box office bombs in the future. Plenty of them. And the film industry is about to enter an expansive new universe, with *AI*-generated everything. Even actors will be digital fabrications — and they’ll never complain or go on strike or get involved in a scandal.
Digger may be remembered much more for its far more foretelling title on what to expect than than anything else.
Comments welcome. Join the discussion HERE on Facebook:
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 5, 2026 in Blog |
This Facebook trash was posted by some attention whore calling themselves, “Real True Crime.” There is nothing real or true about it.
— See Post Below —
The “real crime” here is your lying fucking ass. Clickbait.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 5, 2026 in Blog |
Get ready. The next 30 days are going to be ugly. I’m talking ….brutal.
Midterm elections are happening on Nov. 3rd. Trump and his bottom-feeding sycophants are doing whatever they can to suppress, to intimidate, to block, and make voting more difficult for millions of Americans.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 4, 2026 in Blog |
THE STORE THAT CHANGED US:
SAYING GOODBYE TO THE DOWNTOWN DALLAS LANDMARK KNOWN AS NEIMAN MARCUS
I was saddened to learn that Neiman Marcus, the flagship store in Downtown Dallas, closed its doors for the final time, earlier this week. It first opened in 1914. It closed down for good on Sept. 30, 2026.
What a remarkable history.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Oct 2, 2026 in Blog |
2026-27 NFL SEASON: WEEK 4 – ANALYSIS AND PICKS
2026-27 NFL BETTING RECORD:
WINS — 26
LOSSES — 24
PUSH — 1
NET WIN/LOSS — – $295.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS — 10-8-0 (+ $105)
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
CURRENT BANKROLL: $9,705.
ALL WAGERS ARE FOR $100 EACH AND ARE PRICED AT THE STANDARD 110/100 VIG, (UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE)
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Sep 29, 2026 in Blog |
MY FOOTBALL BETTING — 2026 (UPDATE)
The first month is over and done. I’d like to give readers an overall update and assessment in this report. Investors can visit the Facebook page “2026 LAS VEGAS NFL BETTING SYNDICATE” to follow along with every football pick this season. I’ll also share my notes about what I’ve learned, so far.
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Posted by Nolan Dalla on Sep 28, 2026 in Blog |
I’m not into memes, but seriously.
This looks like more of a cartoon — and it absolutely nails the mass stupidity of Trumpers and the MAGA turds and their sick perverted obsessions with other people’s genitalia …. and what Americans do in their the privacy of their own bedrooms.
Some real sick fucks. Trumpers.
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