Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
lollipops, glow sticks, wide leg pants and some dance...
very exciting news courtsey of the fab folks at cmj!
"Sasha And Digweed Return
2008-02-20 11:36:01.307,
Story by: Judy Berman
Break out the glow sticks and UFO pants—Sasha and John Digweed are back! The veteran dynamic DJ duo will bring their spring tour 2008 to rock venues and dance clubs across North America beginning March 27. Tickets go on sale today, and those who purchase them from Wantickets will receive a free Sasha And Digweed track. The two artists will also be passing out another free track at every show, via a download card courtesy of Beatport. The tour, their first extensive US engagement in more than six years, will coincide with new releases for both, although no details have been revealed yet.
Tour Dates For Sasha And John Digweed:
03/27 - Miami, FL - Mansion
03/29 - Miami, FL - Ultra Music Festival
04/02 - Boston, MA - The Estate
04/03 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore At TLA
04/04 - New York, NY - Webster Hall
04/05 - Washington, DC - Ibiza Nightclub
04/07 - Nashville, TN - City Hall
04/09 - Columbus, OH - Karma
04/10 - Detroit, MI - Clutch Cargos
04/11 - Toronto, ONT - Kool Haus
04/12 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
04/14 - St. Louis, MO - Dantes
04/15 - Minneapolis, MN - Epic
04/17 - Guadalajara, MEXICO - Foro Alterno
04/18 - Monterrey, MEXICO - Autocinema
04/19 - Mexico City, MEXICO - Arena Mexico
04/22 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
04/23 - Vancouver, BC - Plush Nightclub
04/24 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
04/25 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
04/26 - Coachella, CA - Coachella Festival
Friday, February 15, 2008
thrasher's very own wiki!
hi all,
another post :) i was just so excited by thrasher getting it's very own wikinomics blog post I HAD to share...:)
CHECK IT: www.thrasherfunds.com & www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/02/14/gendex-mutual-fund-targets-netgen-outperforms-nasdaq/#more-918
"Gendex Mutual Fund targets NetGen, outperforms Nasdaq
Thrasher Funds is a fund company aimed at capturing Net Gen investors with their trendy and targeted Gendex Mutual Fund. Holdings include youth-respected global brands such as Apple, Adidas, China Mobile, Coca Cola, Google, H&M, Louis Vuitton, Lulu Lemon, Time Warner, Toyota, and Volkswagon.
I say, smart move. The Fund basis its investment portfolio on what they call the “Demographic Convergence Thesis,” or more specifically:
“The investment thesis that believes that there are specific companies and industries that are taking advantage of the convergence between Generation X and Y’s newfound spending power and trend setting and the Baby Boomers’ desire to stay young forever and use their spending power to emulate the trends of the younger generations.”
According to the Microsoft Small Business Center, American Net Geners average $100 a week in disposable income, or approximately $150 billion a year. They also influence another $50 billion in family purchases a year, bumping the annual total to $200 billion. The Gendex Fund makes investing in youth brands accessible to the youth audience by pricing the minimum investment at $100. Now young people that always wanted to invest in companies like Google or Microsoft can actually afford to do it.
Now three months old, the Gendex Mutual Fund is proving that, hype aside, its investment strategy works. Since November, Gendex has consistently outperformed the Nasdaq. This has been especially true in recent weeks, indicating perhaps that Net Gen brands are also slightly more insulated against market downturns.
Gendex Mutual Fund targets NetGen, outperforms Nasdaq
Thrasher Funds is a fund company aimed at capturing Net Gen investors with their trendy and targeted Gendex Mutual Fund. Holdings include youth-respected global brands such as Apple, Adidas, China Mobile, Coca Cola, Google, H&M, Louis Vuitton, Lulu Lemon, Time Warner, Toyota, and Volkswagon.
I say, smart move. The Fund basis its investment portfolio on what they call the “Demographic Convergence Thesis,” or more specifically:
“The investment thesis that believes that there are specific companies and industries that are taking advantage of the convergence between Generation X and Y’s newfound spending power and trend setting and the Baby Boomers’ desire to stay young forever and use their spending power to emulate the trends of the younger generations.”
According to the Microsoft Small Business Center, American Net Geners average $100 a week in disposable income, or approximately $150 billion a year. They also influence another $50 billion in family purchases a year, bumping the annual total to $200 billion. The Gendex Fund makes investing in youth brands accessible to the youth audience by pricing the minimum investment at $100. Now young people that always wanted to invest in companies like Google or Microsoft can actually afford to do it.
Now three months old, the Gendex Mutual Fund is proving that, hype aside, its investment strategy works. Since November, Gendex has consistently outperformed the Nasdaq. This has been especially true in recent weeks, indicating perhaps that Net Gen brands are also slightly more insulated against market downturns."
pretty in pink if you ask me....:)
pop goes the world!
hi all,
this just came in yesterday! YIPEE!!! i wish i was able to head over to the UK to check this out. it looks like it will be amazing and we cannot be more psyched to have our very own jim boggia be included. hanging out at the Beatles' Abbey Road jammin' and livin' in the moment...who could ask for anything more? thank you Upop! below is the press release:
CHECK IT!
"JIM BOGGIA TO PERFORM AT THIRD ANNUAL WORLDSPACE® SESSIONS@ABBEY ROAD FROM LEGENDARY BEATLES STUDIOS
Exclusive WORLDSPACE® Satellite Radio-sponsored Sessions Showcase Jim Boggia As One of Today’s Hottest Global Recording Artists
New York, NY, USA FEBRUARY 15, 2008 — Jim Boggia today announced that he will be performing at the WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road on Feb. 15, 2008. Jim Boggia will be showcased among some of the hottest global
recording artists during the four-day event, presented by WORLDSPACE® Satellite Radio, one of the world leaders in satellite-based digital radio services.“We are pleased to welcome Jim Boggia to the third annual WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road,” said William Sabatini, WORLDSPACE vice president of global programming.
“We created the WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road to showcase a broad variety of musical genres and talent, giving our subscribers an incredible, diverse range of unique, exclusive and compelling content.”
The WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road will feature four days of exclusive performances and live recording sessions by 30 of the hottest global pop groups including Jim Boggia, Japan’s Pistol Valve, the U.K.’s Pama International, Mattafix, dan le sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, The Hours along with legendary performers Teenage Fanclub, Electric Six, Hugh Cornwell and America’s The Wrens. WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road will take place Feb. 18-21, 2008 at Abbey Road’s Studio 2 – the legendary recording studio of The Beatles.
The event will be hosted by UPop 29’s Ted Kelly and Mark Daley. UPop is the world’s premier global pop music channel created by WORLDSPACE. Subscribers can tune it to hear the WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road from March 10-13 in its entirety on UPop 29 which is also available in the United States on XM Satellite Radio, online and via DIRECTV Channel 824.
Beginning on March 17th and running through April 6th, WORLDSPACE Satellite Radio’s subscribers from around the world can also tune in to hear performances from this year’s WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road as well as performances from 2006 and 2007 on the newly-created WORLDSPACE Live channel. Programming will feature mostly live performances captured throughout the three-year history of the WORLDSPACE Sessions@Abbey Road event.
Visit www.worldspace.com/live to check out the full archive of past WORLDSPACE Sesssions@Abbey Road interviews, performances, photos and videos.
About WORLDSPACE® Satellite Radio
Based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Worldspace, Inc. (NASDAQ: WRSP) is the world's only global media and entertainment company positioned to offer a satellite radio experience to consumers in more than 130 countries with five billion people, driving 300 million cars. WORLDSPACE® delivers the latest tunes, trends and information from around the world and around the corner. WORLDSPACE subscribers benefit from a unique combination of local programming, original WORLDSPACE content and content from leading brands around the globe including the BBC, CNN International, RFI and Virgin Radio UK.
WORLDSPACE has two satellites covering two-thirds of the earth's population with six beams. Each beam is capable of delivering up to 80 channels of high quality digital audio and multimedia programming directly to WORLDSPACE Satellite Radios anytime and virtually anywhere in its coverage areas. WORLDSPACE is a pioneer of satellite-based digital radio services (DARS) and was instrumental in the development of the technology infrastructure used today by XM Satellite Radio. For more info, visit www.WORLDSPACE.com "
one more thing! a pretty amazing teacher (wynton marsalis) shared some words of wisdom with MSN so... in the words of some other famous cats; each one teach one...
CHECK IT!!!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
sing something beautiful...
so, a friend from high school forwarded this to me and it features some awesome cats who I went to college with in it. there is even a person who sat on my couch at an "anti-valentine's day" party a while back and while i am all for everyone doing what they need to do i just could not help but post this one up.
peace and love
gettin' your voice heard...:)
in from a friend:
Dear New York Friends ...
Tomorrow, February 5th, is a very important day! PLEASE exercise your right to vote.
There's no better feeling than filling out that ballot and making your voice heard.
If you don't know where your polling place is in New York go to: www.vote.nyc.ny.us/pollingplaces.html
And, please encourage others to make it to the polls (whether they live in *California, *Alabama, *Alaska, *Arizona, *Arkansas,
*Colorado, *Connecticut, *Delaware, *Georgia, *Idaho, *Illinois, *Kansas, *Massachusetts, *Minnesota, *Missouri, *Montana, *New Jersey,
*New Mexico, *North Dakota, *Oklahoma, *Tennessee, *Utah or *West Virginia).
Make me proud people! Try your best to get to the polls before work or school and take reading materials. The lines may be long but it's worth the wait!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
T "I'm Voting on February 5th" H
Additional New York Poll Info...
**Polls are open in NYC and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Erie counties from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
**Anyone in line at the time the polls close is allowed to vote
**If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail, bring a valid photo ID or a document that shows your name and address
**If your name does not appear on the voter rolls or if you are a first-time voter and can't provide proper identification, you may vote by affidavit ballot.
Dear New York Friends ...
Tomorrow, February 5th, is a very important day! PLEASE exercise your right to vote.
There's no better feeling than filling out that ballot and making your voice heard.
If you don't know where your polling place is in New York go to: www.vote.nyc.ny.us/pollingplaces.html
And, please encourage others to make it to the polls (whether they live in *California, *Alabama, *Alaska, *Arizona, *Arkansas,
*Colorado, *Connecticut, *Delaware, *Georgia, *Idaho, *Illinois, *Kansas, *Massachusetts, *Minnesota, *Missouri, *Montana, *New Jersey,
*New Mexico, *North Dakota, *Oklahoma, *Tennessee, *Utah or *West Virginia).
Make me proud people! Try your best to get to the polls before work or school and take reading materials. The lines may be long but it's worth the wait!!!!!!!!
Sincerely,
T "I'm Voting on February 5th" H
Additional New York Poll Info...
**Polls are open in NYC and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, and Erie counties from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
**Anyone in line at the time the polls close is allowed to vote
**If you are a first-time voter who registered by mail, bring a valid photo ID or a document that shows your name and address
**If your name does not appear on the voter rolls or if you are a first-time voter and can't provide proper identification, you may vote by affidavit ballot.
so there you have it can't complain if you don't at least try. what is that phrase...hmm...no pain no gain.
peace.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
the antidote...
so i had the distinct pleasure of getting a promo package of these awesome toys, books, and games from one of the founders of the company. YAY for the founders!!!!! after spending some time with them they ROCK! so...if you have little people and are looking for some seussian wisdom to share with them...
"MINNEAPOLIS (june 1, 2007) - Two Minneapolis moms seeking to offer their bi-racial sons books and toys that celebrate diversity while encouraging outdoor exploration and an active lifestyle, recently launched a children's series of books called Bur Bur and Friends (tm).
JoAnne Pastel and Kakie Fitzsimmons, both mother's of bi-racial children who were unable to find books or other materials that illustrated today's ethnically diverse society, partnered in 2005 to start a company called Farmer's Hat Productions. But, Bur Bur and Friends is the company's first line.
"When looking for books for my son, I was unable to find anything that showed children of various races playing and interacting with one another," said Pastel, president and founder of Farmer's Hat Productions. "Our books are designed to inspire kids to get active and also to reflect the diverse world that they live in."
The Bur Bur and Friends series currently consists of three books: "Bur Bur Boating ABCs." "Bur Bur's Fishing Adventures" and "Bur Bur Throws Out The First Pitch," and an interactive website. featuring the characters with music, games, and coloring pages for kids to explore. Bur Bur is the name of JoAnne's son's imaginary friend. The company plans to expand the series with additional books and will continually introduce new characters of different ethnicities as well as dolls, puzzles, hats and t-shirts.
"We want these products to help kids learn about new adventures while helping them understand that there are many opportunities for children of all ethnicities to interact and enjoy life experiences with each other," said Fitzsimmons, vice president and co-founder of Farmer's Hat Productions."
ok while I usually refrain from inserting my opinion here...BUY THE PRODUCTS PLEASE !!!! :)
peace.
double coniousness...
see the post before this one if you are not familiar with the sociological origins of this term...there are also some great books written about the subject. in the event that you are not feelin' like readin' and you live in the area: check the show and look at the beautiful art :)
www.enflyer.com/app/file_root/1617/Images/custom/gepostcard_02.jpg
Black History Month Art Exhibit Opens - Reception Next Thursday - Feb 7 - Rich Forum
You are cordially invited to Fairfield County's 2008 African American Art Exhibition "DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS". As every story has two sides, African Americans acknowledge and are doubly conscious of their multi-faceted tale. DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS artistically reveals the rich and complex chapters that comprise the fascinating history of African American people. Participating artists are of African, Haitian and African-American descent.
This exhibition is inspired by the words of W.E.B. Du Bois and his concept of DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS, which is the manifestation of two souls inhabiting one body simultaneously. The works of art in the exhibition educate audiences on challenges faced by the African American who longed to attain self-conscious manhood...to merge his double self into a better and truer self...making it possible to be both African and American, without losing the opportunity for self-development and societal acceptance.
OPENING RECEPTION NEXT WEEK
Feb. 7, 2008 from 6pm to 8pm. Rich Forum, 307 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
Featuring music by 2008 Oscar nominee Tevin Thomas, cultural cuisine by Dorothy Brown Catering, an Artist Talk by Cora Marshall and a fine art and literacy display by Fairfield County students. Free and open to the public. Visit www.scalive.org for directions.
Exhibition runs through March 2, 2008
Gallery Viewing Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 am to 6 pm and Sun, Noon to 5 pm
Rich Forum Rosenthal Gallery, 307 Atlantic Street and Palace Theatre Sackler Gallery, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
For Directions visit www.scalive.org
View by appointment at General Electric Corporate Headquarters, Fairfield, CT
Take a Virtual Tour: www.picture-that.com/gegallery/africanamerican.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participating Artists:
Calvin Coleman, Michele Foster-Lucas, T.H. Gomillion, Imo Nse Imeh, Al Johnson, John Lawson,
Cora Marshall, Fernand Maurice, Myrna Morris, Sandra P. Smith and Ann Tanksley.
Curators:
Valerie Cooper, Director of Curatorial Services, Stamford Center for the Arts
Valerie Grant, Cultural Fine Art Curator, Picture That, LLC
Glenn Macura, Art Curator of Corporate Properties, General Electric
Stamford Center for the Arts, General Electric, General Electric AAF, Nellie Mae Foundation
The Advocate and Picture That, LLC.
www.enflyer.com/app/file_root/1617/Images/custom/dblart.gif
Above: Fire Vessel by Imo Nse Imeh, Roses by Michele Foster-Lucas
and Deep Within Your Spirit by Sandra P. Smith.
Cover art from top: She is Hiding by Ann Tanksley,
Hand Dancing by T.H. Gomillion, Ambiguous by John Lawson
and Unbroken Vessel by Al Johnson.
Black History Month Art Exhibit Opens - Reception Next Thursday - Feb 7 - Rich Forum
You are cordially invited to Fairfield County's 2008 African American Art Exhibition "DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS". As every story has two sides, African Americans acknowledge and are doubly conscious of their multi-faceted tale. DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS artistically reveals the rich and complex chapters that comprise the fascinating history of African American people. Participating artists are of African, Haitian and African-American descent.
This exhibition is inspired by the words of W.E.B. Du Bois and his concept of DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS, which is the manifestation of two souls inhabiting one body simultaneously. The works of art in the exhibition educate audiences on challenges faced by the African American who longed to attain self-conscious manhood...to merge his double self into a better and truer self...making it possible to be both African and American, without losing the opportunity for self-development and societal acceptance.
OPENING RECEPTION NEXT WEEK
Feb. 7, 2008 from 6pm to 8pm. Rich Forum, 307 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
Featuring music by 2008 Oscar nominee Tevin Thomas, cultural cuisine by Dorothy Brown Catering, an Artist Talk by Cora Marshall and a fine art and literacy display by Fairfield County students. Free and open to the public. Visit www.scalive.org for directions.
Exhibition runs through March 2, 2008
Gallery Viewing Hours: Mon-Sat, 10 am to 6 pm and Sun, Noon to 5 pm
Rich Forum Rosenthal Gallery, 307 Atlantic Street and Palace Theatre Sackler Gallery, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
For Directions visit www.scalive.org
View by appointment at General Electric Corporate Headquarters, Fairfield, CT
Take a Virtual Tour: www.picture-that.com/gegallery/africanamerican.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Participating Artists:
Calvin Coleman, Michele Foster-Lucas, T.H. Gomillion, Imo Nse Imeh, Al Johnson, John Lawson,
Cora Marshall, Fernand Maurice, Myrna Morris, Sandra P. Smith and Ann Tanksley.
Curators:
Valerie Cooper, Director of Curatorial Services, Stamford Center for the Arts
Valerie Grant, Cultural Fine Art Curator, Picture That, LLC
Glenn Macura, Art Curator of Corporate Properties, General Electric
Stamford Center for the Arts, General Electric, General Electric AAF, Nellie Mae Foundation
The Advocate and Picture That, LLC.
www.enflyer.com/app/file_root/1617/Images/custom/dblart.gif
Above: Fire Vessel by Imo Nse Imeh, Roses by Michele Foster-Lucas
and Deep Within Your Spirit by Sandra P. Smith.
Cover art from top: She is Hiding by Ann Tanksley,
Hand Dancing by T.H. Gomillion, Ambiguous by John Lawson
and Unbroken Vessel by Al Johnson.
File this under: I may be back in the high school, but at least I'm a cool kid now...
hi all,
here is the second installment of tales of a new vegas dealer. if you missed the first installation, head back to the blog post called "true story." please note, the title of this post, came from the "horse's mouth" so to speak i.e. that would be the vegas dealer not i said the fly. :) ok here goes...interesting life he is leading these days...i am wondering what his parents are thinking about this phase LOL!
CHECK IT!
"A couple of big milestones this week. I have now dealt for nine full shifts--it would be nicer for this blog entry if it were an even ten, but what can you do? That's 72 hours on duty, or roughly 54 hours of dealing several varieties of blackjack. For those of you who might be interested in other aspects of my life, that's 51.5 more hours than I have spent on dates since I arrived here two months ago, which, unfortunately, makes this more or less a banner period. As Ernest Borgnine once famously said, back when he was not just a real actor, but (are you sitting down?) a bona fide heart throb, "Whatever it is woman want, I don't got." Fortunately for Ernest, this applied to the character he was playing, a terminably bachelor butcher named Marty, from the film of the same name. (Any film buffs out there? Borgnine, a.k.a. "the old guy from Airwolf," won an Oscar for the role.) My current hot prospect (<--note the clever double entendre) is a cute barrista from the coffee shop where I hang out--and where indeed I pen this pithy epistles. On the plus side, she approached me, which basically never happens. On the down side, she's a college freshman, which puts me squarely in the dirty-old-man box. On the plus side, however, she is a college freshman. More on that story as (if) it develops.
For the moment, let's talk about blackjack. Unless you're a BJ aficionado (now, now, let's keep it clean), you probably have no idea how many varieties of the game there are. Suffice to say that the answer is "lot's," with more coming out all the time. The most basic varieties center on how many decks are in play and how the game is dealt. My first game was "six-deck shoe," where the game is played with 4 1/2 out of the six decks loaded into a card dispenser known as, yes, you guessed it, the shoe. In shoe games, all player cards are dealt face up, which helps the higher-ups keep track of your mistakes and makes life easier for the baby dealer, who doesn't have to remember which cards go which way.
Half a rung up the ladder is the continuous shuffle game, the next game I learned to deal and consequently the next step on our tour. In continuous shuffle, burnt (played) cards are continuously fed back into a machine that keeps spitting them out. The game is dealt and played in exactly the same way as six deck shoe, except that the action never stops. This makes it slightly (though only slightly) more difficult to deal because your brain never gets a chance to rest. In six deck shoe, you have to reshuffle the cards manually every ten-plus minutes depending on how heavy the action is, which gives both the players and the dealer a nice mental rest stop. The only common experience I can liken dealing continuous to is saying the same word over and over again until it your tongue gets tied and the word itself loses all meaning. By the time you get tapped out for break after forty minutes of continuous, your brain is fried.
But, as interesting as these two games are, they're only a teaser. This week's big event was my formally breaking into the vaunted ranks of the pitch dealers. Pitch games are dealt by pitching, a complex finger movement designed to fling cards across the room. Done correctly--with the fingers, not the wrist providing the motive force for the fling--the physicality of the action is minimized, which keeps the hands from getting tired and reduces the chance of repetitive strain injuries. With practice, it becomes possible to make cards land on the table in front of you, which is generally considered preferable to having them land in the buffet. Having practiced to the point where I can now consistently get my cards to land somewhere in the vicinity of the players to whom they are being dealt, I took a chance and asked to placed on a pitch game.
I spent the next six hours dealing to an active game of two-deck pitch, and with not inconsiderable success. Sure, I had a couple of cards fly off into the ether, necessitating the ever embarrassing floor call, "Card Down Outside!" but most of the little f***ers found their way to the players, even if several had to be caught by wonderfully agile customers before they could disappear from view.
The one thing I hadn't figured on, and was consequently ill-prepared for, was the difference in clientele. My previous games had been at $3 tables, but the minimum here was $5, with most people playing at least $15, some a helluva lot more. To put this in perspective, you'd be lucky to find a $5 game on the strip--the low roller tourist tables now tend to start around $10--but at the Fiesta Rancho, $5 is big money. With a few exceptions (for which I am eternally grateful) the erstwhile whales of North Las Vegas took the outcome of each hand like it was a jury verdict. But to say that they took it seriously is really a bit of an oversimplification. The truth is that I can't come up with a good metaphor for the behavior so I'm just going to have to describe it.
The metaphor-defying characteristic is the ability to, by all appearances, be just as annoyed at a good hand as at a bad one. It's not that these people don't like winning, but they seem to view each win through the cynical lens of people who know that no matter how much they win, they're going to end up giving it all back to the casino at some point, and yet, for some obscure reason, feel compelled to keep playing. $3 players also know that they're going to lose, but they come in for entertainment. This is where they see their friends and family. It's a blast. But the $5 people, they're something else. They don't have the aura of compulsive (read: problem) gamblers, but nor do they seem to be enjoying themselves much. If I put my own cynical cap on, I would say that they gamble to check their balance with the universe or, more particularly, to confirm that they're out of favor with it at the moment. The problem is that if I take my cynical cap off, I don't have any explanation at all.
But enough about gamblers. Let's talk about the pep rally!
Fiesta is the mid-market brand of Station Casinos, a large family-run gaming concern that you've probably never heard of, but which is a relatively big deal out here in Nevada. Voted one of Fortune's 100 best companies to work for four years in a row now, Station basically owns low and mid-market (a.k.a. "local") gaming in Nevada. In the past couple of years they have started to move up-market with two properties you might have heard of--Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock--and someday soon they're sure to make it to the strip with their own mega-theme casino. At any rate, the Fiestas (of which there are two) are for the first time poking their beak out from inside the corporate womb and starting to develop branding and a customer proposition all their own.
In order to ensure that we morlocks were properly enthusiastic about the new regime, it was necessary for us to jump around and chant slogans at today's hour-long "Get Your Game On" pep rally. We had cheerleaders, people dressed in football uniforms, a band, an MC (dressed like a track coach), and an honest to God color war. (I was team white.) Songs were sung, intonations intoned, mantras mantra'd, and numerous prizes presented to the several hundred employees clad in matching black baseball-esque Fiesta "Get Your Game On" t-shirts.
Anyone remember Gung Ho?
In 1986, Michael Keaton capped an all non-star cast in the touching culture clash story of what happens when wacky Japanese management techniques ("I shamed myself and must now commit wasabi") are applied to a down and out automobile plant in Pittsburgh. As the tag line suggests, "When East meets West, the laughter shifts into high gear!" If this isn't ringing any bells, you're going to have to go rent the thing, because absent the ability to refer to it, I'm not sure I will be able to adequately convey my feelings with regard to the aforementioned pep rally.
But putting the potential puerility of the thing to one side, there is at least one important lesson to be drawn from affair: I am now a cool kid.
You see, a casino is like an aircraft carrier. Both house an entire city's worth of people and professions, but it's really all about the pilots. If the candlestick maker falls overboard, someone will be found to replace him; but take away the pilots, and there's really no point to the thing. By that same token, dealers are the reason people come into the casino. (To be fair the ice rink has a semi-independent existence, but it's not like there would be a 24 hour buffet on that spot if there weren't table game dealers to throw customers--and the occasional playing card--at it.) We're the cool kids, the je sais exactement quois if not raison d'etre of the entire enterprise. When we're walking down the halls (in slow motion, often to our own theme music) you step out of the way. Dealer-man walking!
We are the kings of cool, the pinnacle of popularity, the guys who make it happen (when not hiding under the bleachers smoking packs of purloined Parliaments.). We're the guys, in short, who stand in the back of the auditorium at pep rallies making snide remarks as the dweebs from accounting run up to the stage to collect their nerd prizes from principal General Manager. We're the guys--aw, forget it. Look: you want to be us. 'Nuff said.
(Finally, a summation:)
True, today's experiences were more than a little disturbing--not the least of which because the mandatory pep rally happened to coincide with my apparently non-mandatory day off--but while I may be back in high school, at least I get to be Judd Nelson this time.
And if I'm Judd Nelson, then there's absolutely no reason that I shouldn't be going after a college freshman. Judd would definitely have done a college chick. When you think about it, she's basically an older woman, and older women are totally legit.
Score.
EAR"
For the moment, let's talk about blackjack. Unless you're a BJ aficionado (now, now, let's keep it clean), you probably have no idea how many varieties of the game there are. Suffice to say that the answer is "lot's," with more coming out all the time. The most basic varieties center on how many decks are in play and how the game is dealt. My first game was "six-deck shoe," where the game is played with 4 1/2 out of the six decks loaded into a card dispenser known as, yes, you guessed it, the shoe. In shoe games, all player cards are dealt face up, which helps the higher-ups keep track of your mistakes and makes life easier for the baby dealer, who doesn't have to remember which cards go which way.
Half a rung up the ladder is the continuous shuffle game, the next game I learned to deal and consequently the next step on our tour. In continuous shuffle, burnt (played) cards are continuously fed back into a machine that keeps spitting them out. The game is dealt and played in exactly the same way as six deck shoe, except that the action never stops. This makes it slightly (though only slightly) more difficult to deal because your brain never gets a chance to rest. In six deck shoe, you have to reshuffle the cards manually every ten-plus minutes depending on how heavy the action is, which gives both the players and the dealer a nice mental rest stop. The only common experience I can liken dealing continuous to is saying the same word over and over again until it your tongue gets tied and the word itself loses all meaning. By the time you get tapped out for break after forty minutes of continuous, your brain is fried.
But, as interesting as these two games are, they're only a teaser. This week's big event was my formally breaking into the vaunted ranks of the pitch dealers. Pitch games are dealt by pitching, a complex finger movement designed to fling cards across the room. Done correctly--with the fingers, not the wrist providing the motive force for the fling--the physicality of the action is minimized, which keeps the hands from getting tired and reduces the chance of repetitive strain injuries. With practice, it becomes possible to make cards land on the table in front of you, which is generally considered preferable to having them land in the buffet. Having practiced to the point where I can now consistently get my cards to land somewhere in the vicinity of the players to whom they are being dealt, I took a chance and asked to placed on a pitch game.
I spent the next six hours dealing to an active game of two-deck pitch, and with not inconsiderable success. Sure, I had a couple of cards fly off into the ether, necessitating the ever embarrassing floor call, "Card Down Outside!" but most of the little f***ers found their way to the players, even if several had to be caught by wonderfully agile customers before they could disappear from view.
The one thing I hadn't figured on, and was consequently ill-prepared for, was the difference in clientele. My previous games had been at $3 tables, but the minimum here was $5, with most people playing at least $15, some a helluva lot more. To put this in perspective, you'd be lucky to find a $5 game on the strip--the low roller tourist tables now tend to start around $10--but at the Fiesta Rancho, $5 is big money. With a few exceptions (for which I am eternally grateful) the erstwhile whales of North Las Vegas took the outcome of each hand like it was a jury verdict. But to say that they took it seriously is really a bit of an oversimplification. The truth is that I can't come up with a good metaphor for the behavior so I'm just going to have to describe it.
The metaphor-defying characteristic is the ability to, by all appearances, be just as annoyed at a good hand as at a bad one. It's not that these people don't like winning, but they seem to view each win through the cynical lens of people who know that no matter how much they win, they're going to end up giving it all back to the casino at some point, and yet, for some obscure reason, feel compelled to keep playing. $3 players also know that they're going to lose, but they come in for entertainment. This is where they see their friends and family. It's a blast. But the $5 people, they're something else. They don't have the aura of compulsive (read: problem) gamblers, but nor do they seem to be enjoying themselves much. If I put my own cynical cap on, I would say that they gamble to check their balance with the universe or, more particularly, to confirm that they're out of favor with it at the moment. The problem is that if I take my cynical cap off, I don't have any explanation at all.
But enough about gamblers. Let's talk about the pep rally!
Fiesta is the mid-market brand of Station Casinos, a large family-run gaming concern that you've probably never heard of, but which is a relatively big deal out here in Nevada. Voted one of Fortune's 100 best companies to work for four years in a row now, Station basically owns low and mid-market (a.k.a. "local") gaming in Nevada. In the past couple of years they have started to move up-market with two properties you might have heard of--Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock--and someday soon they're sure to make it to the strip with their own mega-theme casino. At any rate, the Fiestas (of which there are two) are for the first time poking their beak out from inside the corporate womb and starting to develop branding and a customer proposition all their own.
In order to ensure that we morlocks were properly enthusiastic about the new regime, it was necessary for us to jump around and chant slogans at today's hour-long "Get Your Game On" pep rally. We had cheerleaders, people dressed in football uniforms, a band, an MC (dressed like a track coach), and an honest to God color war. (I was team white.) Songs were sung, intonations intoned, mantras mantra'd, and numerous prizes presented to the several hundred employees clad in matching black baseball-esque Fiesta "Get Your Game On" t-shirts.
Anyone remember Gung Ho?
In 1986, Michael Keaton capped an all non-star cast in the touching culture clash story of what happens when wacky Japanese management techniques ("I shamed myself and must now commit wasabi") are applied to a down and out automobile plant in Pittsburgh. As the tag line suggests, "When East meets West, the laughter shifts into high gear!" If this isn't ringing any bells, you're going to have to go rent the thing, because absent the ability to refer to it, I'm not sure I will be able to adequately convey my feelings with regard to the aforementioned pep rally.
But putting the potential puerility of the thing to one side, there is at least one important lesson to be drawn from affair: I am now a cool kid.
You see, a casino is like an aircraft carrier. Both house an entire city's worth of people and professions, but it's really all about the pilots. If the candlestick maker falls overboard, someone will be found to replace him; but take away the pilots, and there's really no point to the thing. By that same token, dealers are the reason people come into the casino. (To be fair the ice rink has a semi-independent existence, but it's not like there would be a 24 hour buffet on that spot if there weren't table game dealers to throw customers--and the occasional playing card--at it.) We're the cool kids, the je sais exactement quois if not raison d'etre of the entire enterprise. When we're walking down the halls (in slow motion, often to our own theme music) you step out of the way. Dealer-man walking!
We are the kings of cool, the pinnacle of popularity, the guys who make it happen (when not hiding under the bleachers smoking packs of purloined Parliaments.). We're the guys, in short, who stand in the back of the auditorium at pep rallies making snide remarks as the dweebs from accounting run up to the stage to collect their nerd prizes from principal General Manager. We're the guys--aw, forget it. Look: you want to be us. 'Nuff said.
(Finally, a summation:)
True, today's experiences were more than a little disturbing--not the least of which because the mandatory pep rally happened to coincide with my apparently non-mandatory day off--but while I may be back in high school, at least I get to be Judd Nelson this time.
And if I'm Judd Nelson, then there's absolutely no reason that I shouldn't be going after a college freshman. Judd would definitely have done a college chick. When you think about it, she's basically an older woman, and older women are totally legit.
Score.
EAR"
Friday, February 1, 2008
radio and relaxation=meditation...
hi all,
so back from some travelin' and this was in the inbox! this is my first time heading to sunset sessions but not to la costa :) if you have not checked it out i would urge you to as it has a pretty cool spa, insane golf course, and of course the chopra center. i mean this is the first time i have seen meditation being offered at a radio convention and i am not mad at that. while it is a wee bit pricey to hang at la costa...books aren't and meditation is always free. www.chopra.com
below is the press release and info plus a bunch of very very cool bands are going to be playing including two of our own: virginia coalition and cary brothers. i know I am psyched.
R&R Sunset Sessions 2008
Sunset Session Panels Set
There will be three business sessions at this year's Sunset Sessions, being held Thursday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, Feb. 9 at the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Friday morning, Feb. 8, will be a radio-focused panel called "Long-Term Vision for a Short-Term Driven World." How do the top radio execs view our format? What does it take to launch a brand-new station? How do you expand a brand to multiple markets? These are just a few of the topics that will be discussed by this esteemed panel moderated by yours truly.
Friday afternoon's session will focus more on music and the people who make it, with "Artists: Protecting Their Future to Insure Ours." Whether you are on the radio side of the fence, the music supervisor side or the label side, it is the music the artists give us that makes our worlds go 'round and keeps our industry alive. In these trying times for our industry, it is important for us to make sure artists have a secure future so that we do, too. Virgin Records VP of promotion Ray Gmeiner will moderate this in-depth discussion.
Finally, Saturday morning, Feb. 9, we turn to the needs and concerns of the music-supervision community with "Exploring Our Processes and Maximizing Our Efforts." There is no denying the power of film and television has in exposing music -- today more than ever. Want to know the inner workings of how that music-placement process works? You won't want to miss this informative panel moderated by Lifetime Television VP of music Marianne Goode and Ocean Cities Entertainment president Bonnie Greenberg.
It's not too late to register. Just go to www.SunsetSessions2008.com
here is the schedule of events!
Check It:
Convention Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 7th
2-4:30pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2 (RSVP only - $30 p/person)
5:30-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm JMB Sponsored Performance Dinner in Iris Rooms
10:30pm-Midnight BLU Hammock Late Night Lounge in Poinsettia Ballroom
Friday, February 8th
8:30-9:00am Free Group Meditation in Chopra Center
9:15-10:15am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
10:30-12:00pm Radio Panel Moderated by Radio & Records’ John Schoenberger in Iris with Continental Breakfast provided by Baria/Contraband Records
12:30-3:00pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2
3:00-4:30pm Label Panel Moderated by Virgin’s Ray Gmeiner in Iris Rooms
5:00-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm Underscore Sponsored Performance Dinner at Blue Fire
10:30-Midnight Fantasy Records Late Night Lounge in Poinsettia Ballroom
Saturday, February 9th
9:15-10:15am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
10:30-12:00pm Music Supervisor Panel Moderated by Marianne Goode & Bonnie Greenberg in Iris Rooms
1:00-3:30pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2
5:00-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm lowercase people/EMI Sponsored Performance Dinner at Legends
10:30-Midnight Warner Bros., Reprise & Nonesuch Records Late Night Lounge
Sunday, February 10th
8:00-9:00am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
so back from some travelin' and this was in the inbox! this is my first time heading to sunset sessions but not to la costa :) if you have not checked it out i would urge you to as it has a pretty cool spa, insane golf course, and of course the chopra center. i mean this is the first time i have seen meditation being offered at a radio convention and i am not mad at that. while it is a wee bit pricey to hang at la costa...books aren't and meditation is always free. www.chopra.com
below is the press release and info plus a bunch of very very cool bands are going to be playing including two of our own: virginia coalition and cary brothers. i know I am psyched.
R&R Sunset Sessions 2008
Sunset Session Panels Set
There will be three business sessions at this year's Sunset Sessions, being held Thursday, Feb. 7 through Saturday, Feb. 9 at the La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Friday morning, Feb. 8, will be a radio-focused panel called "Long-Term Vision for a Short-Term Driven World." How do the top radio execs view our format? What does it take to launch a brand-new station? How do you expand a brand to multiple markets? These are just a few of the topics that will be discussed by this esteemed panel moderated by yours truly.
Friday afternoon's session will focus more on music and the people who make it, with "Artists: Protecting Their Future to Insure Ours." Whether you are on the radio side of the fence, the music supervisor side or the label side, it is the music the artists give us that makes our worlds go 'round and keeps our industry alive. In these trying times for our industry, it is important for us to make sure artists have a secure future so that we do, too. Virgin Records VP of promotion Ray Gmeiner will moderate this in-depth discussion.
Finally, Saturday morning, Feb. 9, we turn to the needs and concerns of the music-supervision community with "Exploring Our Processes and Maximizing Our Efforts." There is no denying the power of film and television has in exposing music -- today more than ever. Want to know the inner workings of how that music-placement process works? You won't want to miss this informative panel moderated by Lifetime Television VP of music Marianne Goode and Ocean Cities Entertainment president Bonnie Greenberg.
It's not too late to register. Just go to www.SunsetSessions2008.com
here is the schedule of events!
Check It:
Convention Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 7th
2-4:30pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2 (RSVP only - $30 p/person)
5:30-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm JMB Sponsored Performance Dinner in Iris Rooms
10:30pm-Midnight BLU Hammock Late Night Lounge in Poinsettia Ballroom
Friday, February 8th
8:30-9:00am Free Group Meditation in Chopra Center
9:15-10:15am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
10:30-12:00pm Radio Panel Moderated by Radio & Records’ John Schoenberger in Iris with Continental Breakfast provided by Baria/Contraband Records
12:30-3:00pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2
3:00-4:30pm Label Panel Moderated by Virgin’s Ray Gmeiner in Iris Rooms
5:00-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm Underscore Sponsored Performance Dinner at Blue Fire
10:30-Midnight Fantasy Records Late Night Lounge in Poinsettia Ballroom
Saturday, February 9th
9:15-10:15am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
10:30-12:00pm Music Supervisor Panel Moderated by Marianne Goode & Bonnie Greenberg in Iris Rooms
1:00-3:30pm Dr. Peebles Optional Session Orchid 2
5:00-8:00pm Main Stage Performances on Terrace Lawn
8:30-10:30pm lowercase people/EMI Sponsored Performance Dinner at Legends
10:30-Midnight Warner Bros., Reprise & Nonesuch Records Late Night Lounge
Sunday, February 10th
8:00-9:00am Friends of Bill W Meeting in Orchid 2
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