John
Alexander Makes New York Post’s “Page Six”, I Married Darth Vadar?, The
Scintas at Las Vegas Hilton, Sacred Singing Bowls, Las Vegas Stillpoint
Center for Spiritual Development, Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary,
Movies This Week and Trader Vic’s Grand Opening, Hans Klok’s Beauty of
Magic at Planet Hollywood – I liked it!, and more...
“May you be in Heaven
for a half hour before the Devil knows your dead.”
I read “Page Six” every
morning even before I check my email. “Page Six” is the most influential
gossip site in newspapers and on the internet. This is the column that
people pay publicists $4,000 a month for. There isn’t an actress, actor,
socialite, politician or restaurant that does not want to be in Page
Six. Reputations can, and have been, also be ruined by Page Six. So, it
was wonderful to see this in Tuesday morning’s November 6’s column.
Spitz Suspected Grasso Affair - New York Post Online Edition: Gossip
Military Option
WHILE one CUNY professor was making a failed attempt to land jobs there
for convicted radical lawyer Lynne Stewart, her co-defendant
Mohammed Yousry and former Weather Underground member Susan
Rosenberg, Marymount Manhattan College was inviting Dr. John
Alexander to speak there tomorrow. The former Green Beret, a senior
fellow with the Defense Department's Joint Special Operations University
and the Army War College, has advised the highest levels of government
on intelligence matters and was a mentor to the minister of defense in
Afghanistan. Alexander just returned from Rwanda, where he and his wife,
Victoria, were tracking silverback mountain gorillas.
While John has no clue (or cares, for that
matter) about the importance of being written up in the New York Post’s
“Page Six,” Ed Komarek has written an article posted on American
Chronicle’s website called “Defending Against Info-war Attack.” But it’s
really an attack on my husband. On October 17th Komarek started off his
article by saying:
“This article is the third of a series on articles on
Info-war. Colonel John Alexander, U.S. Army (retired) has a chapter in
his book Future War called Information Warfare. Colonel Alexander is
widely considered the Darth Vader of the national security state by
leading exopoliticians, one who long ago succumbed to the dark side of
the force. One well known individual involved in the UFO/ET field was
rumored to have called him the most dangerous man on the planet, an
exaggeration of course, but I have and still do consider him a
formidable adversary in the ongoing Info-war within and without the
UFO/ET community.
One
of the main tenets of war is to learn from the adversary, so I consider
John a teacher from the dark side. To me John is a microcosm of the
national insecurity state and to understand how he thinks is to
understand the national insecurity state itself.
In the movie Star Wars, Darth Vader was seduced by
the dark side of the force to believe that to fight evil and win one
must use evil means. I realize that John and others like him believe
they are doing the right thing, as do many of those working in the areas
of national security around the world, but to me he is just another
casualty of a cosmic info-war that extends right down into every mind on
this planet. When John receives this I hope he is paying attention. :-)
I learn quickly.” Ed’s blog is:
http://exopolitics.blogspot.com. You can read Ed’s unhealthy
obsession with John in its entirety here:
American Chronicle: Defending Against Info-war Attack
Since The
Scintas came to Las Vegas seven years ago, I have seen their show
several times. Thanks to Marleen Marino of VegasCommunityOnline.com, a
group of us went to see the new Scintas show at the Las Vegas Hilton
Saturday night.
The Scintas are brothers Joe and Frank, sister
Chrissi and the honorary Scinta, Irishman Peter O’Donnell, who has been
with the Scintas for 20 years! The new show is hipper and much better
since it has all the Scinta standards – fabulous music, comedy,
impressions and Joe’s fed-up persona – and sexier, more current music.
Chrissi signs Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love” and Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
I haven’t been a big Scinta fan, but this show is terrific! We intend to
recommend it to friends visiting Las Vegas. The Scintas mother was in
the audience and so was O’Donnell’s surgeon. It must have been a very
special night.
As
far as the comedy goes, Frank is the ringmaster and really connects with
the audience. I laughed out loud. Frank also has a terrific, strong
voice. But it was old Joe as Mick Jagger that was really hilarious. If
only Chrissi would use her powerful voice to sing Anita Baker or Amy
Winehouse. Chrissi, belt out a torch song!
“Laugh Out Loud with The Scintas” opened September 24
in the Shimmer Cabaret. Showtimes are Friday-Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. with
a matinee on Monday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $49.99 and 64.99 (plus tax and
service charge). Tickets can be purchased at the Las Vegas Hilton box
office or by logging onto
www.lvhilton.com
or by phone at 702-732-5755 or 1-800-222-5361.
Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe had their biggest
opening weekend with Ridley Scott’s “American Gangster.” Will there be
an Academy Award smear campaign against “American Gangster” by saying
it’s a Hollywood fairy tale? Gossip columnist Janet Charlton posted this
interesting item on the movie: “Many of us were entertained by the movie
American Gangster this weekend, but did you realize that the movie is
stuffing the wallet of the druglord Frank Lucas, who was portrayed by
Denzel Washington in the movie? The Harlem heroin dealer was convicted
before there was a law banning criminals from profiting from their
crimes. So far Lucas has pocketed at last $800,000 from the movie and a
sequal is being discussed. Ironically the film glamorizes Lucas as a
family oriented brilliant businessman with a "code of honor" surrounded
by "dirty" cops. In actuality, Lucas was far from an honorable man - he
manipulated his relatives into working for him, callously put out a
contract on his own brother, couldn't read and could barely count. Even
Lucas admits "only 20 % of the film is true."
http://www.janetcharlton.com/.
Richie
Roberts (pictured), the real-life former cop-turned-prosecutor, played
by Russell Crowe, is taking issue with the movie’s "depiction of Lucas
as almost noble'' and "exaggerations or plain factual errors.'' Roberts
told The New York Post's Susannah Cahalan that "the parts of the movie
that depict Frank as a family man are ludicrous...They did it for
dramatic purposes, you know, to make him look good and me look bad.''
And Cahalan writes that "Roberts says the portrayal of his relationship
with his first wife is offensive -- for one, they didn't have a child
together, although the film shows them in a custody battle."
We took an hour boat ride on Lake
Victoria to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda (pictured
below, the boat ride back to camp). In Africa, approximately 5,000
chimpanzees are killed by poachers for the bushmeat trade every year. As
a by-product of this illegal practice, dozens of infant chimpanzees are
taken alive from forests, bound for the pet trade throughout Africa and
the rest of the world. The Ugandan Wildlife Authority established a
refuge with a specific mission for these orphaned chimpanzees. Ngamba
Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary was established in October 1998 to care for
these individuals confiscated or rescued within Uganda. In addition to
providing a safe home and ensuring the welfare of our wild cousins, the
establishment's other goals is to care for the environment on Ngamba
Island, to provide a high quality educational experience for visitors as
well as benefiting the island local communities.
The
director (shown below proudly showing off his Sunload bag that charges
his computer, cell phone, iPod and camera) urged us not to eat bushmeat.
Huh? Who do you know that eats chimpanzee meat? Certainly not anyone
assembled.
There is a large market in Europe and the U.S. for
bushmeat. Every year several thousands of pounds in weight of
illegally-imported bushmeat is seized in Europe. Recently, 2,000 monkey
noses(!) were found in a suitcase at Amsterdam airport, showing that the
illegal trade is thriving.
A
new study of genes in humans and chimpanzees pins down with greater
accuracy when the two species split from one. The evolutionary
divergence occurred between 5 million and 7 million years ago, an
estimate that improves on the previous range of 3 million to 13 million
years in the past.
Modern chimps are the closest animal relative to
humans.
The very interesting thing about chimpanzees and
gorillas is the strictly enforced hierarchy among the males and females.
While we moved to “All men are created equal,” the animal world still is
dominated by alpha males and females. Watching animals was the example
early humans followed.
Knowing
when the two split has implication both for understanding how quickly
evolution works and for imagining the likelihood of intelligent beings
elsewhere in the universe, researchers said today.
"There is considerable interest in knowing when we
diverged from our closest relative among animal species," said Sudhir
Kumar of Arizona State University. "This divergence time also has
considerable importance because it is used to establish how fast genes
mutate in humans and to date the historical spread of our species around
the globe."
"We
can conclude that humans and chimpanzees probably last shared a common
ancestor between five and seven million years ago," said research team
member Blair Hedges, an astrobiologist at Penn State. “Knowing the
timescale of human evolution, and how we changed through time in
relation to our environment, could provide valuable clues for
understanding—in a more general sense—the evolution of intelligent
life."
Frankly, and I know this is not a politically correct
viewpoint, but it is my feeling that Mankind – not the few wild animal
activists – will allow the extinction of chimpanzees and great apes. As
Mankind moves further away from acknowledging our place in Nature, and
as we have come to believe we are getting more spiritually advanced,
moving into an era of entitled enlightenment, higher consciousness and
all that New Ageism psychobabble, as well as the belief we are superior
to all other creatures, the existence of our “cousins” is a thorny
reminder where we evolved from. We will erase our humble beginnings as
if it never happened.
“Things We Lost In the Fire” (No), “Sleuth” (Yes)
“Lions for Lambs” (No), “P2” (Yes, but it’s a horror movie), and “Before
The Devil Knows Your Dead” (YES!). I can strongly recommend 82 year old
director Sidney Lumet’s “Before The Devil Knows Your Dead.” The title
refers to this folk saying: “May you be in Heaven for a half hour before
the Devil knows your dead.” It start right off with big belly naked
Philip Seymour Hoffman (pictured with co-star Ethan Hawke) having sex
with Marisa Tomei (who appears naked several times in the film). After
that wild opening, it’s a heist gone wrong with Hoffman doing a terrific
job.
My friend Gordon Kuhne (pictured at Peru’s Refugio
Altiplano retreat) has just received a large shipment of Tibetan singing
bowls. Gordon’s website is
Sacred
Singing Bowls. Gordon’s website says: For thousands of years, people
in cultures all around the world have used sound to help connect
themselves with the sacred. Of all the sacred sound tools, the Tibetan
singing bowl stands out as one of the most powerful and beautiful tools
for connecting to spirit. As an avid collector of rare, antique singing
bowls and as a singing bowl healing practitioner, I have found singing
bowls to be one of the most useful tools in allowing healing of the
body, mind, and spirit to occur.”
Along
with offering the finest authentic antique singing bowls, Gordon also
has Buddhist ritual items and Himalayan artifacts in the world. Each
singing bowl on his website is accompanied by short description and
sound sample that allows you to see the actual bowl you are buying and
to listen to its unique sound characteristics—its spirit. All the bowls
Gordon offers are approximately 100 to 400 years old. His supplier is
unequaled at finding the best quality singing bowls in the world.
Each singing bowl is unique and of the highest
quality. They will work beautifully for healing, meditation, and
relaxation. You can contact Gordon Kuhne by phone (817.905.1930) or
leave an email on his website.
If you are in Las Vegas and
interested in experiencing a sacred singing bowl meditation, the
Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development offers, among many other
programs, a singing bowl meditation on the third Wednesday of each month
from 7:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. The facilitator is “Healing Hearts” and the
cost is $15 per session and $65 for all five sessions.
The “Healing Hearts” meditation uses a type of sound
that is produced by the Crystal Singing Bowls. This ancient art of
meditation uses rhythm and sound to open the body’s energies, create
balance, de-stress the system and encourage a healthy spirit, mind and
body.
The Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development is a
non-profit center devoted to spiritual development in Las Vegas. Founded
by a group of Roman Catholic women, its focus is interfaith and
ecumenical. It is governed by a multi-denominational Board of Directors.
The Mission of Stillpoint is to provide a gathering place that is
hospitable to and nourishing of the spiritual life. Stillpoint’s
programs, informed by Incarnational Theology, provide opportunities for
spiritual development, personal growth and social transformation.
Stillpoint welcomes individuals and groups of all faiths that genuinely
seek the Divine, and those who desire to embrace the sacred in their
lives and world. Our goal is that all who come can experience the
invitation “Be still and know that I am God.”
Since I was initiated into the Sufi Order by Pir
Vilayat Khan when I was 16 years old, I would also like to mention that
Stillpoint offers Authentic Sufi Mystical Practices. The
Qadiriyya-Boutchichiyya Sufi order seeks to reach gnosis through the
mystical dimension of Islam, known as Sufism. Sufis seek direct
Knowledge of God, i.e., the Beautific vision, using traditional Islamic
methods. Sincere spiritual wayfarers of all faiths are welcome to come
and participate in the group chanting, the dhikr, and the peace of heart
that comes with it. The facilitator is the Sufi Community and meets
every last Friday of every month from 7:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. with
refreshments following.
The Stillpoint Center for Spiritual Development is
located at 8072 W. Sahara Avenue, Suites E & F, Las Vegas, NV 89117
(located west of Buffalo, on the north side of Sahara, in the northeast
section of the R&R Plaza.) Phone: 702-243-4040, Fax: 702-243-8669.
Stillpoint’s complete fall schedule is located at
http://www.stillpointcsd.org/calender.html. E-mail:
stillpoint@lvcoxmail.com
I often went to Manhattan’s Trader Vics. Now we
have one in Las Vegas. Trader Vic’s Las Vegas had their VIP/Press Grand
Opening on Friday at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort &
Casino. The 15,000 square foot venue offers unobstructed views of the
Las Vegas Strip and the Bellagio fountains from any of its three
distinct areas.
The outside patio can accommodate up to 200 guests
for cocktails. Trader Vic’s Polynesian cuisine is world famous! Trader
Vic’s has an ultra-lounge is located on the top level, a VIP Celebrity
entrance, private elevator, built in DJ area, and unparalleled sound.
Did I mention the divine drinks that Trader Vic’s is renowned for?
Trader Vic's
Holland’s Hans Klok
has embraced Las Vegas. I see him everywhere! I even saw him at Costco
in Summerlin! Hans and his supposedly million-dollar a month assistant
Pamela Anderson recently walked the Red Carpet for “Resident Evil:
Extinction.”
Pamela disrespected me!
When I asked Pamela about the rumor she was engaged
to Paris Hilton’s sex-tape partner Rick Solomon she denied even knowing
him. A few days later they were married in Las Vegas! So I am not going
to report on Pamela’s performance in Hans show.
I refuse to do Red Carpets interviews again. You have
to stand in a line for 2 or more hours and then can only ask stupid
questions like “What are you wearing?” and “Are you having a good time
in Las Vegas?” What is so wrong with asking, as I did, “What strip clubs
have you visited while in Las Vegas?”
Since I was in Peru when Hans Klok opened his show at
Planet Hollywood, I wanted to see the show before it closed. So if you
are a magic fan and want to see the world’s faster magician, hurry to
see handsome, personable Hans.
The show has 40 illusions, 16 dancers, five
production numbers and 30 pyrotechnic effects. And yes, Hans is fast! He
is very fast!
Did you know that legendary magicians Harry
Blackstone, Sr., and Harry Blackstone, Jr.’s famous illusion, the
Floating Lightbulb, remains to this day a carefully guarded secret? Klok
said he is honored that the Blackstone family has given him permission
to perform it.
With
its vampire theme - complete with black rubber suited dominatrix - the
show dabbles in the dark side of magic. And why not? Magic tricks were
considered thought to be witchcraft and magicians were associated with
the devil. A person would be burned alive just for performing a trick.
Medieval magicians encouraged people to believe they had supernatural
powers.
Klok, who is famous for the speed and agility of his
illusions is joined by his Divas of Magic Debby Verheij, Nathalie Hoop
and Zarina Potapova (pictured with Hans). He has performed with the
three women for more than 10 years (so they must know the secret behind
the Floating Lightbulb illusion?)
I do hope Klok stays in Las Vegas. His show is
extravagant and wonderfully produced. I liked the storyline of Hans, as
a young boy, being groomed and guided by his father.
http://www.planethollywoodresort.com
This suggestion is not only for Hans Klok but lots of performers on The
Strip. Klok wants applause, but the music was so loud that the audience
knew that no matter how much they clapped, Klok and his terrific dancers
would not hear them. So why bother? So many magic shows suffer from too
loud music. If you want applause, lower the music at the end of each
illusion so we know you will hear, and appreciate, our applause.
Feature Film Depicts a Patient Experiencing Anesthetic Awareness. 1 out
of 700 patients a year experience anesthetic awareness. It’s not often,
never actually, that a press release for a movie gives scientific
footnotes! As I am very fond of adding footnotes to my film reviews (two
footnotes are in my “The Darjelling Limited” review), I am passing on
this information about the new film “Awake” starring Jessica Alba,
Hayden Christensen, and Terrence Howard. It is a psychological thriller
written and directed by Joby Harold.
While Jessica Alba hasn’t done any acting in her
movie career so far, and her recent work in “Good Luck Chuck” and the
franchise “Fantastic Four” have not given her the label “actress,”
“Awake” sounds interesting. Can Alba handle her first dramatic role?
The press release for “Awake” says:
“According to the American Society of
Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists,
anesthetic awareness is “when surgical patients can recall their
surroundings or an event – sometimes even pain – related to their
surgery while they were under general anesthesia.” (1)
“According to the Anesthesia & Analgesia journal,
anesthetic awareness can include full consciousness during surgery with
pain and explicit recall of intraoperative events. (2)
"This film will do to surgery what ‘Jaws’ did to
swimming in the ocean," said Deutsch/Open City Films co-founder and
producer Joana Vicente.
“Carol Weihrer, President and Founder of the
Anesthesia Awareness Campaign, Inc., stated, “I’ve been following the
progress of ‘Awake’ since the project was announced, and as a victim of
anesthesia awareness, I dedicated the last nine years to educating the
public so help them understand the scope, sheer terror and trauma
involved when awareness occurs. Recently, I attended the American
Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) annual conference and they are
finally beginning to publicly acknowledge this problem. The Anesthesia
Awareness Campaign and the ASA are also working together on a database
registry of victims, estimated to be at least 100 times a day in the
United States. And while we are working together, there is no way to
accurately describe to someone how it feels to be it ‘entombed in a
corpse’ as I was.”
“Every year an estimated 20,000 to 40,000 of the 21
million patients who receive general anesthesia wake up during surgery
because they are under-anesthetized, usually by mistake or because
doctors fear too high a dose of anesthesia could be dangerous. Half of
them, can hear or feel what is going on but are unable to communicate
what is happening to them because they have been temporarily paralyzed.
Nearly 30 percent feel pain, studies have shown. As a result of the
experience, about 50 percent of awareness victims develop serious
psychological problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),
experts say.” (3)
“Awake” may not be suitable for those about to
undergo anesthesia for surgery. “Awake” opens in the U.S. on November
30th.
1. American Society of Anesthesiologists and the
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
http://www.asahq.org/patientEducation/Awarenessbrochure.pdf
2. Anesthesia & Analgesia journal.
http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/content/full/95/1/72
3. Boodman, Sandra G. “Wake-Up Call; Awareness During Surgery, Once
Dismissed as Imaginary, Is Real -- and Potentially Devastating. While It
Is Rare, Doctors and Hospitals Are Starting to Take It Seriously.” The
Washington Post, November 23, 2004.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
