Republicans are Living in the Year 1864
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
ROSECROFT RACEWAY — OXON HILL, MD (1985)
Most gamblers have at least one lapse of degeneracy, unless our condition is permanent.
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REVIEW: REMEMBERING THE COLUMBIA DISASTER (CNN DOCUMENTARY SERIES)
It’s an embarrassing confession, but I don’t remember much about the NASA Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003. Conversely, I can recall nearly everything from 17 years earlier. I have vivid recollections of the precise moment of the Challenger explosion in 1986 and how everyone around me reacted to the shock and pain. But the Columbia tragedy, which was every bit as distressing, is a vague memory that’s faded and has been lost over time.
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On Saturday, I attended a live stage play here in Las Vegas. The matinee show was fine. Good performances. Professional production. Decent seats. Affordable cost at $30 per ticket. Everything about the stage show delivered as promised. No complaints. In fact, if this article was a review, I’d give it a “thumbs up.” [See Footnote Below]
But something was very wrong. I was, in fact, miserable.
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This week, Marlon Brando would have turned 100.
Born on April 3, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, Brando became one of the most influential screen actors of all time. He redefined the image and demeanor of what Hollywood “stardom” meant, and then came to despise celebrity culture and Hollywood practices.
Now, twenty years after his death, Brando remains an intriguing voice worth listening to. Alas, Brando’s most interesting role may have been — himself. For a man filled with complexity and even contradiction, that was the most challenging part to play.
Here’s my list of Brando’s very best movies (and roles).
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
WITH DENNIS HOPPER AT CINEVEGAS FILM FESTIVAL — THE PALMS LAS VEGAS (2005)
Circa 2003-2009, I attended CineVegas film festival several years in a row. Las Vegas has been featured as the backdrop in several movies. Given its close proximity to Hollywood and all the top entertainment performing here, it’s inevitable that our city would come to host an annual film festival.
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MY DINNER TONIGHT AT THE PEPPERMILL RESTAURANT AND FIRESIDE LOUNGE
Walking into the famous Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge for dinner earlier tonight I was awestruck by the lightning bolt of a revelation.
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
THREE RIVERS STADIUM — PITTSBURGH (1990s)
Continuing with the ghosts of stadiums past, here’s Marieta both outside and inside Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. I’m not sure what year it was taken — probably in the late 1990s.
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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY:
SHEA STADIUM — QUEENS, NEW YORK (1999)
Why am I posting a picture of a horserace track?
Good question. Read on.
You’re looking at the Hawthorne Racecourse, in Cicero, IL (Chicago).
This is where a rare discovery was made — a possible error in the operation of the sportsbook and odds (which is actually run by a third-party company). Discovering the error was only part of a longer ordeal. Turns out, getting paid was the biggest challenge.
This is where my story begins (and where this column ends).
PLEASE CLICK ONTO THIS LINK TO READ THE FULL STORY
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