Celebrating VegasCommunityOnline.com 2nd Anniversary, Vegas Rocks! Magazine Week-Long Party, Sylvia Browne at Excalibur, Platinum’s Cowboy & Aliens, Living Buddhas Banned From Reincarnation Without Permission, Umbanda and Quimbanda Teacher Coming to U.S., and more…

Vegas Community Online. Marleen Marino celebrated her birthday and www.VegasCommunityOnline.com  2nd anniversary at Take One last Monday. Who knew Marleen, and her wonderful husband Frank, were so connected in Las Vegas? A gaggle of celebrity friends turned out. The only one missing was Mayor Oscar Goodman proclaiming Monday “Vegas Community Online Day.”

Everyone who ever sang on a stage (and some who shouldn’t have) got up to entertain and wish Marleen a happy birthday.

www.VegasCommunityOnline.com  has become the go-to website for information on everything happening in Las Vegas from entertainment to politics.

My favorite performers of the evening were the “girls” of Lucky Cheng’s. These ladies are divine.

Lucky Chengs. "All That Drag" is the Drag dinner experience at the Lucky Chengs on the Strip. It’s an unusual cabaret experience in an award-winning Pan-Asian restaurant featuring the cuisine of Chef Ken Huff. Top Drag performers sing live, lip sync and dance throughout the dining room. The Drag Queen host entertains throughout the night with a twisted and witty sense of slapstick humor. Audience participation is a major part of their show and no one watches from a distance. Prizes are given to those who dare become a contestant. Happy Hour at Lucky Chengs is from 5 PM with dinner service from 6-8 PM. The Cabaret experience begins at 8 PM. A full 3-course Pan Asian dinner package ranges from $69.95. For reservations call 702-836-0836. Lucky Chengs, 3663 South Las Vegas Blvd. Chengs is on The Strip across the street from The Harley Davidson Cafe next to Planet Hollywood. Lucky Chengs Las Vegas Restaurant - Drag Cabaret Restaurant

Buddha’s Banned From Reincarnation Without Permission. In 2002, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, reaffirmed his intention not to be reincarnated in Tibet or any other territory under Chinese rule. In an address in Sarnath, India, the Dalai Lama said if Tibet is not free when he dies, he will be reincarnated in some free country elsewhere. Observers say the Dalai Lama's statement was meant to discourage Chinese authorities from choosing his successor once he dies.

However, in 2005, the Dalai Lama raised questions about whether the institution should continue. He may, he said, be the last Dalai Lama.

Now comes news that Tibet’s living Buddhas have been banned from reincarnation without permission from China’s leaders! “The so-called reincarnated living Buddha without government approval is illegal and invalid,” according to the order, which comes into effect on September 1 and was issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs. This means Tibet’s exiled 72-year-old god-king, the Dalai Lama, cannot re-incarnate without approval from Beijing.

For the first time China has given the Government the power to ensure that no new living Buddha can be identified, sounding a possible death knell to a mystical system that dates back at least as far as the 12th century.

China already insists that only the Government can approve the appointments of Tibet’s two most important monks, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. The Dalai Lama announced in May 1995 that a search inside Tibet had identified the 11th reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. This prompted the Communist authorities to restart the search and another boy was chosen as the 11th Panchen Lama (pictured, in 2006). The boy chosen by the Dalai Lama has disappeared.

Historical fact or anti-Dalai Lama propaganda? Both the titles of Dalai Lama and Panchen Erdine of the gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism were conferred by the Central Government of the Qing Dynasty. Since the central government announced the system of lot-drawing in the 57th year of the rein of Emperor Qian Long (1792), the finding of a reincarnated child for both Dalai and Panchen should follow a religious ritual, under which, several potential reincarnated children were located and the reincarnated child would be selected through lot-drawing in front of the statue of Sakyamuni. And then, the final choice should be forwarded to the Central Government for approval. This has been a historical convention and a fixed rule. Danzim Gyaco, renamed Tenzin Gyatso, ascended the holy throne for the 14th Dalai Lama in 1940 only under the approval of the central Government at that time.

Cultures Come and Go. I love the Tibetan culture, especially the religion, landscape, and people. I intend to return. I have a special spiritual bond with Tibetan Buddhism – as anyone who has visited our home knows). However cruel and unfortunate, I recognize the historical fact that cultures are overrun, absorbed, and disappear.

From “Julius Caesar, The Life and Times of the People’s Dictator” by Luciano Canfora comes this interesting historical note regarding Rome’s conquest of Gaul:

“As well as the many deaths resulting from the ferocious fratricidal war provoked by the ambition of one man when he crossed the Rubicon, we need, Pliny writes, to recall the 1.2 million people massacred by Caesar simply because he wanted to conquer Gaul.” “Gaul,” writes Canfora, “was thus, through violence and genocide, brought into the realm of Roman ‘civilization’.”

Further, Canfora writes, “The human and cultural loss which this genocide represented was recognised and denounced by, among others, the great historian Camille Jullian, who emphasised how Caesar’s conquest of Gaul brought the autonomous development of Celtic civilisation to an abrupt end.” (Painting shown: “Vercingetorix Throws Down His Arms at the Feet of Julius Caesar”, 1899 by Lionel Noel Royer)

Sylvia Browne at the Excalibur. Sylvia Browne delivers! I adore this lady and encourage everyone who is interested in psychic development to see her.

Excalibur Hotel Casino is pleased to present "An Evening with Sylvia Browne" on August 9-13, August 16-20, and August 23-27. All performances take place at 7:30 p.m. in Excalibur's banquet center. General admission tickets, priced at $75 plus tax and fees, are on sale now at the Excalibur box office. Call toll free 1-800-933-1334 for tickets. Tickets are also available at www.excalibur.com. I saw Sylvia at the Hay House “You Can Do It” Conference and it was standing room only. She easily filled the 3,000 seat banquet room. I hope Excalibur is prepared for the rock star pandemonium Sylvia creates.

How beloved is Sylvia Browne? Sylvia hosts very small groups of people (35-45 people) for intimate conversations with her on many topics from philosophy and psychic phenomena to personal questions. Her next “Salon with Sylvia” will be held September 8 in Campbell, CA. Sylvia has a waiting list! Each Salon is unique and some of the topics discussed in past Salons were The Meaning of Life, Contacting Your Spirit Guide and Angels, Making Yourself Well, Enhancing Your Psychic Ability, Hypnosis and Cell Memory, and Healing Techniques.

Sylvia provides ample time and encourages all participants to discuss these or other topics. In this group setting Sylvia allows attendees to ask some personal questions. There will be a trance session with Sylvia's Spirit Guide Francine at these Salons. The Salon Fee is $1,000 per person! To sign up for a salon with Sylvia, call Pam at 408-376-2124 or send an email to her at pam@sylvia.org

Vegas Rocks! Magazine Week-Long Party. From August 6 through 12th, Vegas Rocks! Magazine held a week of events finishing up with a third year anniversary party in the Canyon Club. Highlights were the MTV Video Music Awards VIP Press Conference announcing all the nominees and performers for this year's MTV Video Music Awards taking place at The Palms The Pearl next month, September 8-10 (the show is the night of 9/9).

Then on Saturday night, August 11, was the Third Year Anniversary Party held at the Canyon Club located inside the Four Queens Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. Starting at 8 PM and hosted by Sally Steele and Steve Eggleston, headliners were 80's sensation Bang Tango and 7 killer local bands. For hard-core revelers, there was an early Sunday morning after-party beginning a 2 AM at the Artisan Hotel with a Sunday night party at MINXX Gentlemen’s Club. www.vegasrocksmag.com, and email stevevegasrocks@hotmail.com

Platinum’s Cowboy & Aliens. I want to thank Platinum Studios for sending me their graphic novels “Cowboys & Aliens” and “The Darkness” as well as six issues of their comic book series “Witchblade.” John has been a long-term technical consultant for Platinum but he never would bring any graphic novels home - until I finally pleaded with him!

The bar has been set high for films made from graphic novels. DreamWorks and Universal Pictures have joined to develop "Cowboys & Aliens" into a live action feature. For my 2006 Top Ten Movie List so far, Number One is “300,” an adaptation of a graphic novel. And I’m looking forward to “Sin City 2.”

“Cowboys & Aliens” mixes Western and science fiction genres. Set in 1800s Arizona, a skirmish between cowboys and Apaches is interrupted by the crash landing of a space ship. The alien commander plans to tame the Old West and enslave everyone, but the cowboys and Native Americans turn their six-guns against the alien invaders.

Platinum Studios chairman-CEO Scott Rosenberg, who ran Malibu Comics when "Men in Black" transferred from graphic novel to hit film, created the concept for "Cowboys & Aliens" and published the graphic novel in 2006. Platinum graphic novels are gorgeous, artistic productions with mature, rather thought-provoking stories. (Photo of John with Scott and his daughters, 2004)

Umbanda and Quimbanda Teacher Coming to U.S. I have been very interested in Umbanda and Quimbanda through attending Candomblé services in Brazil. I have a Quimbanda shrine (photo). Umbanda is a Brazilian phenomenon, an amalgamation of everything that ever set foot unto Brazilian soil - Amerindian and African Shamanism, Catholicism, European Witchcraft and Mysticism as well as Kardecism. At its core is the worship of the ancestors and spirits of the dead as well as a deep connection with the elements of nature - the forest, the beach, waterfalls, rivers and the ocean. Umbanda is the religion of the people.

Quimbanda is the name of an African based healing tradition practiced in Brazil. Sometimes called Macumba or even mistakenly referred to as Satanism and Devil Worship, it incorporates elements of African and South-American aboriginal beliefs and religion as well as Medieval European folk magic. Quimbanda as a spiritual tradition is often misunderstood and at times superciliously disdained as 'evil witchcraft.' This is not true but an intentional corruption when Western and European religions came to Brazil.

Quimbanda teaches that every person has been born with Exu and Pomba Gira by their side and that either one of both of these spirits walk with us and guide us. This concept is very similar to the idea of the 'Guardian Angel' who has been assigned as our guide and protector in this lifetime.

The only difference is that Exu and Pomba Gira are 'no angels at all' but are connected to what could be called our 'shadow self' - the part of us that we don't like to see, accept and acknowledge! (Photo of my shopping in an Umbanda store in Brazil with John’s military buddies. Quimbanda products are in a private, off-limits area.)

Mario dos Ventos has been invited to teach a workshop at Mystic Journeys in Asheville, North Carolina from December 7-10, 2007. Mario’s workshop is called “Umbanda - Afro-Brazilian Shamanism, Healing & Witchcraft”. He will be available for private readings and consultations. Contact Mystic Journeys directly at 828-253-4272 or visit their website: http://www.mysticjourneysonline.com. Mario’s website is http://exu.moonfruit.com/.

Mario is willing to come to Las Vegas! Anyone who is interested in hosting him and setting up a workshop, please contact me Kwanitaka@aol.com or Mario directly at casa_dos_ventos@hotmail.co.uk.

The Tattoo Craze. I don’t have any tattoos but I am obsessed with the tattoo craze that has infected America. I don’t care what the surveys says, one out of every 2 people I see in Las Vegas has a tattoo. Even old ladies lugging their own mini-oxygen tanks are flaunting tribal tattoos.

Everyone in New York City is tattooed.

A 2006 study done by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology noted that 24% of Americans between 18 and 50 are tattooed; that's almost one in four. And the survey showed that about 36% of Americans age 18 to 29 have at least one tattoo! The tattoo industry is a hot property. There are an estimated 20,000+ parlors operating in the United States, according to a U.S. News & World Report article, which said, on the average, an establishment is being added in the country every day. The article ranked tattooing as the sixth fastest growing retail venture of the 1990s, right behind Internet, paging services, bagels, computer and cellular phone service.

I watched 2 episodes of TLC’s new series, “LA Ink”, which follows former “Miami Ink” tattoo artist Kat D (pictured above) as she opens her own shop in Los Angeles. Kat D even has little star tattoos on her face and she says she 25. She looks like a 35 year old who has had a lot of plastic surgery to look 25. Anyhow, Kat uses the words “rad” and “dude” a lot. I’m fascinated with the show and all the ugly tattoos people get of ridiculous things memorializing their love for The Simpsons. (Photo of Amy Winehouse and one of her naked lady tattoos.)

Tattooing is painful, bloody, and lasts a lifetime. In the future, this will be looked at as a cultural aberration like the Convulsionaires and Flagellants movements. It’s a bloody form of self-punishment dressed up as being very cool (instead of the more productive reasons of atoning for one’s sins or warding off the Black Death).

People cannot get just one tattoo. The agonizing pain is said to be addictive (but, unfortunately, does not produce visions). If you get a lousy tattoo, and plenty of young strippers and teenagers do, you are stuck with it for life.

I must live long enough to see America run by obese 50 year olds covered with faded, stretched tattoos. Across Angelina Jolie’s stomach is a tattoo saying, "Quod me nutrit me destruit" ("What nourishes me also destroys me".)

How Gay Is This? "Not, quoting Jerry Seinfeld, “that there is anything wrong with that." There are many photos devoted to soccer god David Beckham’s butt in the August issue of W Magazine. What’s up with this? Photo Credit: Steven Klein.