Misc.

Don't know about you, but I love Latin music and I particularly like the music of Marc Anthony, who will be performing Sept. 5 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. I've only seen him once live, but I gotta tell ya, he puts on a great show. I also have to admit that several of his CDs, including his first salsa album, Otra Nota, get played a lot while I drive around town.

Whatever happens in Vegas-Stays in Vegas. But here is a different line-What happened in Vegas-started in Oklahoma then it came to Las Vegas. And then the bottom line is: What happened in Vegas- Started in Oklahoma, Came to Vegas and now is returning back home to Oklahoma.

This issue I fully intended on completing my review of Mississippi cardroom until I stumbled onto a journal entry I wrote in 1990. I'd like to share this very personal piece with you. "It was 1961-1962. Time for the 6th grade. Time for 12-year-old Donna to go from the two-room school house in the coal mining camp to the gigantic, six-story brick school in the adjoining town. She was scared . . . really scared.

Lots to talk about this week, so let's get to it. Went to see Danny Gans a few weeks ago at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Haven't seen him since he opened at the resort some five years ago. Place was packed, as it always is, and within five minutes he had the joint jumpin'. I love live entertainment of almost any kind, but I especially love it when an entertainer gives his all and has a great rapport with the audience.

I certainly concede that I do not know everything. In fact, that is a relief as I would be too busy in a twenty-four hour day to do anything else. However-I am sure you knew there would be a however-I am fairly certain some people must have been put here on earth to aggravate us people really in the know. I'm driving my vehicle down the street minding my own business when a radio jock decided to make an asinine statement via the radio. I had to pull the car over to collect my breath.

Was it a mere coincidence - or what? Was it a self-fullfilling or pre-ordained prophesy? Whatever. . . It was almost eerie! Could the fact that it was Friday the thirteenth have anything to do with it?

You'd think after living in the desert for 29 years that I would get used to our summers, but I guess it's no different than people living in places like Buffalo or Fargo, ND who never get used to the winters. It is HOT here, my friends, 110-plus every day, but, as we love to brag, "No humidity."

We've stood toe-to-toe and side-by-side. Now, the British have launched the most exciting new challenge to American poker players since the Beatles sang "I Wanna' Hold Your Hand."

When it comes to sailing the seas of online gambling, the class of the United Kingdom is WILLIAM HILL. Sophisticated, secure, yet simple, it launches a virtual Royal Armada of betting opportunities from its web site: www.willhill.com.

I got an e-mail the other day asking me if George Carlin was worth going to see, as the writer had heard he's "not that funny anymore, just angry." My answer was, "Yes, he is worth seeing, just as he was 40, 30, 20, 10 years ago. He still is very funny, and yes, he is angry, but when hasn't he been?"

For as long as I can remember, and I can go back to his early days on stage, Carlin has always been railing against the injustices and craziness in the world and our society. He makes no apologies for his views, and I'm sure he won't when he appears August 11-24 at the Stardust in Las Vegas.

Here it is again, summertime promises. Namely, summertime promises because during the warm summer months there is too much to choose from to do. Additionally, with the weather here in Southern California-so nice during summer-it is the envy of many locations that lack the creative resources to compete. Just jump on any freeway going west and run right into a beach pool of water. Start your trek going north there's Hollywood, Ca. the place where dreams are both realized and forgotten.