Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 25, 2012 in Blog, Essays |
Can someone who doesn’t believe in the existence of God also celebrate Christmas?
Certainly yes.
Christmas, ostensibly intended to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, has become far more than just a religious holiday. Cynics might even suggest it’s become the antithesis of a religious holiday.
Turn on the television set or visit a shopping mall during the week before Christmas and you know exactly what I’m talking about. Commercials enticing you to rush out and buy a brand new Lexus aren’t very Christ-like. The soccer mom in the mini-van who steals your parking spot isn’t thinking about Jesus, although his name probably comes up in some rather creative combinations of language.
It’s too bad really that the essential message of Christmas was hijacked a long time ago. Modern Christmas would likely be unrecognizable to those who envisioned its oldest traditions. It’s become the five human senses all pumped up on steroids. That’s both good and bad. Sure, everything tastes better and smells better. Many of us feel better. The sights and sounds of the holiday season are more beautiful than other times of the year. But sensory overload isn’t always synonymous with happiness. For many less fortunate people, this is a depressing time of year — and none of this has anything at all to do with faith or religion.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 22, 2012 in Blog, Sports Betting |
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 17, 2012 in Blog, Politics, Restaurant Reviews |
A Dinner Conversation with the Man Making Scientific Discoveries which Could Enable Us to Live Twice as Long, Who Founded the First Anti-Ayatollah Khomeini Movement in the United States, and Was at the Poker Table Where “Puggy” Pearson Once Did the Unthinkable
A few months ago, I was enjoying a quiet evening at home, watching television.
On screen was the popular PBS program called “NOVA.” The show is mostly about science and technology and often features cutting-edge breakthroughs in various fields of study.
Imagine my surprise to see someone I knew appearing on the program. I came to discover, he’s one of the world’s foremost experts in the field of genetic engineering. He spoke about scientific advances he and his university research team have achieved which could ultimately enable humans to live as long as 150 years.
That’s right – 150 years.
I’ll tell you more about this shortly.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 16, 2012 in Blog |
Valentin Vornicu won the Casino Championship at the final World Series of Poker Circuit stop, which just ended at Harrah’s Rincon, near San Diego.
I have a special appreciation for Vornicu, who was born in Bucharest, Romania — where I lived for a few years. He has been residing and working in the United States since 2007. Yet he speaks perfect English (almost no accent). He’s also an accomplished math expert.
Check out Vornicu’s Wikipedia Page here:
VALENTIN VORNUCU (WIKIPEDIA)
Vornicu founded a website called Math Links, which encourages the study and mastery of math. In fact, he’s the Director of Faculty.
MATH LINKS WEBSITE
Vornicu won his second WSOP Circuit title here in San Diego, and came in second tonight in yet another event. Yet he only plays poker part-time.
I have great respect for people with a passion. Vornicu has many passions, and just as many talents. I expect to hear and see him do many interesting things in the future.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 15, 2012 in Blog, Essays, Rants and Raves |
WEIGHING THE OPTIONS: TO DO SOMETHING VERSUS NOTHING
The horror of the Connecticut school shooting impacts us on so many emotional levels.
Just about everyone I’ve spoken to, or correspnded with, has endured a gambit of reactions over the past 24 hours since the tragedy — from shock, to anger, to sorrow, to (again) outrage, and ultimately (for some) to a renewed sense of determination.
Today’s column is a difficult one to write. It’s probably the most complicated issue I’ve addressed, to date. I admit experiencing a sort of “writer’s block” to this terrible tragedy, something that doesn’t strike me often. The bottom line is — what is there to say? What can be said?
But as the hours pass, I’ve come to realize that to say nothing is grossly irresponsible. To do nothing, even more so.
Hence, I shall address the Connecticut tragedy in multiple parts. First, there’s a purely emotional reaction to these unfathomable events. As one might expect, these feelings are accompanied by a demand for action. I’ve also included what I believe to be a few partial solutions which seek to reduce the frequency and severity of these horrors.
Once again, this is a terribly difficult problem to face. But we must look to these victims and honor their memory with something better than what we have now. And then, we must look inside ourselves. We must do it. We must do it now. Righteousness demands nothing less.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 14, 2012 in Blog, Sports Betting |
Personal Note: I almost passed on doing NFL games this week. One feels such a sense of loss and comes to realize the utter insignificance of these exercises in light of yesterday’s tragedy. That said, I’m posting an abbreviated version of selections. Peace.
NOLAN DALLA: 2012 POSTED NFL SEASON RECORD
80 WINS – 74 LOSSES – 4 PUSHES —– (+ 28.85 units / 1 unit = $100)
STARTING BANKROLL: $10,000.
CURRENT BANKROLL: $12,850.
BEST BETS OF THE WEEK: 10-4-0
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 14, 2012 in Blog, Music and Concert Reviews |
Why “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono is the Greatest Christmas Song Written and Recorded in the Modern Era
John Lennon once said he always wanted to write a popular Christmas song.
Hard to believe, but as accomplished and prolific as The Beatles were for nearly a decade, they never recorded a holiday tune.
So, less than a year after the legendary rock icons dissolved as a group, John and wife Yoko Ono fled London for a new start in New York City. That’s where they would remain for the duration of Lennon’s life. In fact, the controversial duo never returned to England again, not even to visit.
During their earliest months in Manhattan, Lennon wrote a number of songs that would later become one his few commercial flops as an artist, ultimately released as the “Sometime in New York City” album. This creative period largely fueled by intense political activism and protest included an unusual Christmas song that was inexplicably omitted from the 1972 album. And yet, it would ultimately become a powerful anthem for world peace as well as a timeless melody of hope for all humanity.
Like many great works of creative alchemy, the song wasn’t particularly well-received when released, either by critics or the public. The single wasn’t a hit when initially released in 1971 in the United States. A year later, the single was released in the U.K., where it enjoyed modest success, charting as high as fourth. But by the mid-1970’s the song was mostly forgotten.
The song did later appear on a relatively obscure John Lennon composition album called “Shaved Fish.” But following a stellar track record of commercial and critical successes — both with The Beatles and Plastic Ono Band — no one was quite sure what to make of the odd tune. It certainly wasn’t a mainstream Christmas song in the traditional sense. But it wasn’t quite a political song either, not in the mold of other Lennon classics like “Give Peace a Chance” or “Imagine.” Older people who fancied traditional Christmas music weren’t about to purchase new single by one of counterculture’s most outspoken leaders. And younger fans weren’t all too enthusiastic at the notion of listening to what amounted to a simple Christmas song. The title too was controversial, opting to omit “Christ” from Christ-mas.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 13, 2012 in Blog, Personal, Rants and Raves |
Not to sound ungrateful or anything, but can I get cash instead?
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 12, 2012 in Blog, Essays |
Wouldn’t it suck to win the lottery right now?
Imagine pocketing the lump sum of $250 million. Your dream of a big house, fancy cars, and a trip around the world has just come true. You’ll never have to work another day in your life. Then, on the way to the bank, a giant fireball suddenly appears up in the sky.
Kaboom!
There’s a potential Twilight Zone episode in there somewhere.
………………..
In case you missed it, the world is going to end on December 21, 2012. At least, that’s what some ancient Mayan calender predicts, which marks the final day of a 5,125-year cycle. Never mind these savages spent most of their lives running through jungles and commonly sacrificed virgins to the gods. Today, some people actually believe these tribesmen possessed unique insights into our future. Despite their civilization utterly vanishing without warning more than a thousand years ago, they have supposedly alerted us to the very day when life on earth will end. Now, that’s impressive. Hell, I can’t even figure out what time Monday Night Football comes on each week.
This is a lose-lose proposition for a shitload of people. First, we’re all pretty much screwed if the prophesy comes true. We can all agree on that. I don’t see a lot of upside in the entire world’s population being sucked into a deadly black hole — although I sure as hell will be applauding when it’s Kim Kardashian, Howard Lederer, and Donald Trump’s turn to enter the giant celestial vacuum cleaner. That’s almost worth hoping it will happen.
But if the prophesy is false, some people out there will have lots of explaining to do. There’s going to be enough egg on the faces of soothsayers to make the world’s largest omelette, assuming we all miraculously wake up on December 22nd, and there’s still an earth under out feet.
Read More
Posted by Nolan Dalla on Dec 11, 2012 in Blog, Politics |
We are bankrupt.
Actually, that’s not true. We are 16 trillion dollars beyond being bankrupt. Trillion — with a “T.” Think about that for a moment. Let it sink it.
If you’re not mad as hell yet, then shut the page and go read something else. Today’s column isn’t for you.
The so-called “fiscal cliff” debate happening in Washington right now underscores the reality that the two-party system has utterly failed us on every level. Such a perverted system shows no capacity to either compromise, nor govern. It’s a disgrace to the concept of democracy. The two parties are fucking America in the ass and we’re all Ned Beatty.
Those of us out of the political mainstream, far removed from the dog and pony show, have been screaming for years that things would eventually come to this. We foresaw the two major power brokers would eventually reach a stare down and come to what amounts to a political stalemate — where virtually nothing gets accomplished.
The debate goes something like this. Liberals want to spend more money and expand the role of government. Conservatives want to make budget cuts and decrease government’s role, opting to shift power to the private sector.
But that’s a gross over-simplification of what’s really happening. In fact, it’s far more complicated. There are plenty of government programs liberals would love to slash (you’ll see my list in a moment). Moreover, many government programs receive their strongest support from conservatives.
The bottom line is — we’re in a crisis. We have no choice. Either make drastic cuts. Or, increase revenues (taxation). Or both.
Where the two parties fail is in not telling us the truth. It’s time to level with the American people and simply announce that we all must all make some sacrifices. Everyone. We are all in this together. I know, my socialism is showing again. But these times demand shared sacrifices. The sooner this nation is confronted with some kind of honest “fireside chat” moment where our leaders finally level with us, the sooner we can tend to the peoples’ business and get back on financial track.
Here’s my “wish list” of what should be cut (or added) to balance the federal budget:
Read More
