photos by Carol Georgi

Dr. Nielsen and Dr. Georgi in the lab

This is rocket science.

The Thesis is complete.

Slainte! We passed!

As you can tell by the photos, this ain’t Vegas.  Back on the Central Coast for July, we celebrated this little piece of paradise on the planet with a Bar-B-Q on the patio in San Luis Obipso (known to natives as SLO)

and followed with fireworks on the beach by the Pismo Pier.

A perfect day in paradise……

House of Blues Mandalay Bay Resort 3950 Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV.

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They started promptly at 9pm and went on for more than 20 minutes with a splendid array of color, including marvelous white “spermy-like” spirals swimming their way across the night sky – a first time view for me at least. Although put on entirely for their own pleasure, I still appreciate the show which was 99% aerial – easily viewed by anyone in that part of town. The Hilton followed exactly on cue with their pyrotechnic show launched from the parking garage a block away, a shorter version but just as awesome and spectacular.

Unannounced officially, these two shows might have been more exciting because they were unexpected. I don’t know who makes the decisions about fireworks on the Strip – obviously for the hotels it is a business choice. There have been shows on the 4th in the past, but not last night, save for the Hilton. I do know that there must have been a few disappointed tourists, not to mention locals, who made their way out of the casinos to watch a show that didn’t happen.

I read that the Hilton Hotels have been sold for zillions of dollars cash – who knows what next year will bring? This can be a hard town to live in – it’s exciting and full of surprises, but those same qualities make it unpredictable and ephemeral. You think you might have the beginnings of a tradition, and poof! it’s gone in an instant. That goes for tall buildings to live jazz. If you’re not comfortable with constant change, you’re probably going to feel a bit lost and frustrated.

But this is Las Vegas – we’re supposed to do everything bigger and bolder and more over the top. At least there are a couple of groups that try to keep the standard.

Thank you Hilton!!! Thank you Las Vegas Country Club!!!

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Thank you to that bunch of genuises filled with vision and courage that locked themselves up in Philadelphia 231 years ago and signed that glorious document called the Declaration of Independence, starting this whole wonderful American adventure. Here’s to all the good times and the bad times – the wars, the triumphs, the panics, the recoveries, the shame, the tragedies, the courage, conviction, innovation and pride of America. No place is perfect, but we’re doing a pretty good job of keeping the dream of that Declaration alive, well and thriving.

No matter how you are celebrating today, I hope you take time to reflect on the great gift our predecessors have passed on to us and that no matter how disgusted and fed up we might feel when we read the paper or see the news, this is still the greatest place on the planet for the most number of people. And if there are things we don’t like, think about those men who joined together in 1776 and did something about it.

Have fun, be safe and be happy to be American!

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Gates open at 4:30 pm with performance at 8 pm. Picnic baskets welcome or buy from vendors.
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The Fourth of July celebration runs from 6:00pm to the dazzling fireworks display at approximately 9:00 pm from the top of City Hall.

Look for sand sculpture created by local artist Steven Liguori. Vendors will be selling food and beverages. It’s a great family outing with a list of children’s activites ($10 fee gives unlimited access):
~Bounces, Giant slide, obstacle course
~Rad Hatter (make & take your own 4th of July hat)
~Train rides
~Water Balloon Water Wars
~Sand play area (bring your own bucket and shovel)
~Water play area (bring your suits)
~Spray park, water Slide, paddle boats

Admission and parking are FREE! There will be shuttle parking from Morrell Park. The events take place along Water Street between Atlantic and Henderson Events Center. (Just off Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Drive). visithenderson.com

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Univision Radio

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If your American history is foggy, 1868 was just 3 years after the Civil War. Gen. John Logan, who was the Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic (the Yankee North) observed the first ceremony on May 30 by placing flowers on the graves of both Union (Northern) and Confederate (Southern) soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Over time the observance of Memorial Day passed from May 30 to the last Monday in May, so that a three day weekend could be created.

There is a movement to return the holiday to the original fixed date, although it seems unlikely to succeed. With Christmas, New Year and 4th of July falling on any day of the week, it seems more popular to guarantee the traditional long first weekend of summer, just as we have Labor Day for the last. Most Americans have lost sight of the original intent of the day, which was to honor the fallen in battle (or similar service), and consider the day a time to honor all those who have passed away (or passed on) depending on your philosophical bent.) Thus the custom of placing flowers on the graves of family and friends evolved. Of course, it can be argued that not many observe the day in any form of remembrance at all. It is a time spent boating, watching TV, BBQing with family and friends and generally heralding in the more relaxed and casual days of summer.

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The BH features live music every performance night, with some local bands. They are also featuring a Wednesday Comedy Night at 8 pm (free admission.) and a Tuesday “Blues Night” starting`at 10p. Also on Wed from 10 pm is Reggae DJ. Check out their website www.bunkhouselv.com. 702-384-4536 124 S. 11th St Las Vegas NV (between Fremont & Carson).

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Privileged to have been included in such a soiree, knowing that the event has been closed in the past to non-members, I savored the Group Song of Happy New Year (in Chinese) and the "Tai Chi Fan" with the students of Stella Huang, Peter Tu and Daniel S. P. Yang. Prof. Yang, who has staged many theatrical productions, both Western and traditional Chinese, delighted us with a 400 year-old serenade to a novice nun, a piece representative of a period classified as the "Mother of Beijing Chinese Opera."

Anthem is America and the dance floor quickly filled when Latin rythmns beckoned for line dance. The evening’s program was a enchanting mixture of West meets East; DJ Wong spinning disco and other beats, an elegant and graceful cha-cha"Tai Chi Sword."

"Shay shay" to Organizer Marianne Blaha and the members of the Chinese Special Group of Sun City Anthem for allowing us to share in their celebration. I understand more and more Chinese are making this area their home. Welcome! Your contribution to the community of Las Vegas is much appreciated. Happy Year of the Red Fire Pig!

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There are many sales outlets locally, including several at the airport (handy for last minute shopping as you board your flight), but they also have a good website where you can order and ship online. www.ethelm.com.

As a total aside, The Botanical Gardens next to the factory is drop-dead gorgeous at Christmas. There are millions (at least it seems so) of colored lights and the stroll through this wonderland is a treat for all ages. They do live caroling on certain nights by various choral groups and – "thank you Ethel M!" – spare us all that canned Chrismtas music which bombards our senses everywhere else we go. I know this is February and more Valentine season than Christmas, but keep it in mind for next season. p.s. The Botanical Gardens is intimate, peaceful and replete with a fascinating variety of, what else, indigenous desert vegetation.

For those of you less versed in Asian time cycles, the Chinese New Year is based on a lunar calendar and arrives this year on February 18. I won’t go into the complexities here, but it always falls around the same time of year. It is similar to Easter, except it doesn’t have to fall on any specific day of the week. You probably already know that the Chinese calendar has 12 animal signs and that the years are associated with one of those signs. It is calculcated by various cycles intercepting each other and best left to esoterics to pursue the hows and whys. Suffice it to say that the coming year (loosely 2007) is the Year of the Pig. But better than that, it is the year of the RED Fire Pig which comes only every 60 years.

This is a most auspicious pig year and considered a year for booming businesses and families. I like the sound of the business part. But now we come to the really interesting part. The buzz in all the Asian newspapers, especially in Korea, is that this is a GOLDEN Pig Year, which only occurs every 600 years! It gets better and better. As Pigs are symbols of Wealth and Good Luck, this should be a banner year by any standards. So if you see banks, restaurants, and other businesses handing out golden piggy banks, you’ll know why. Now sceptics say there is no foundation for a Year of the Golden Pig, that it is an invention of the Korean government to encourage more births as the country has a declining birthrate. If you believe in this stuff, then you believe that your Red Pig child will be twice as lucky. Imagine a Golden Pig child! I personally like the idea of this being one of the luckiest years out of the last 600; works for me.

By the way, dreams about pigs are supposedly signs of coming wealth. If you dream about a pig tonight, then tomorrow might be a good day to invest some money or hit the slot machines. Pig People (those born in 1923, ‘35, ‘47, ‘59, ‘71, ‘83, ‘95 and 2007) are intelligent, maybe too honest, loyal, sincere, have much courage and make good friends and neighbors. They hunger after knowledge and should stick to literary and artistic pursuits. They are not supposed to be good at business, which is odd because of the Wealth attached to them. Oh well, who says it has to make sense?

Here’s to THE YEAR OF THE (maybe) GOLDEN (for sure) RED PIG. May it bring us all great prosperity and luck!