Tom Otjes posted a photo of a snowman in Vegas.
Facebook | Tom Otjes’s Photos – Still playing Santa and Snow in Vegas
Category: Cirque du Soleil
my new website for Frederick Nicolas
Dana and I put together a new website for her husband Fred.
Fred competed the 1996 Olympics for France in Gymnastics and then went on to expand his repertoire. He’s done stunt work, dance, and coaching. He has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.
You can find Fred listed in the Guiness World Records under Rope Climb
Currently Fred is performing in Le Reve, at Wynn Las Vegas. He’s has a tremendously physical role.
Check out the new site:
FrederickNicolas.com
(Adjusting the wide of your window changes the layout.)
It’s my first website not primarily white.
Just today I met with Garth. We’re contemplating a NEW LOOK for his website.
photos from Mexico – Lake Chapala
Chris wrote from Guadalajara, where he’s a coach with a travelling Cirque du Soleil show.
They made a trip down to Lake Chapala where my parents spent 2 winters. It’s a quiet Gringo enclave.
more Mexico and Chapala photos
Conley a groom … who-da-thunk-it
Warren Conley a Dad and a Husband. Congratulations Romina.
Facebook – Warren Conley
Warren was a gymnast from Saskatchewan who has been with Cirque du Soleil for years. Back in the 1990s I … almost … went to coach with him.
Thanks Dana.
photos – Chris in Beijing
Chris Baraniuk is a coach with Cirque du Soleil:
Beijing is bustling, getting ready for the Olympics.
It will be a bit challenge come time for the Games. While I think the venues will be ready, the pollution, transportation, weather, and local behaviour will be huge challenges.
There is ongoing education of the Beijing residents on being polite, to be more hygienic in public (no spitting), basic English lessons (most speak no English: ok, DVD, watch, bag, hello), and learning how to stand in a line and not push people over.
If anyone is planning on going during the Olympics, bring your patience, some valium, and have a good concierge at your hotel.
Most of the construction workers come from the country-side. They leave their families at home for most of the year and send money home. They average $ 100 per month, get housed 12 to a room, 3 meals a day (meat once per week), and have a bucket and cloth to wash with.
Walking on the Great Wall was a once in a lifetime achievement and well worth the trip. Just to think that it was over 5000 km long when built.
Coincidentally, Sunday night I finally watched the Jet Li movie Hero (2002). The cinematography is sumptuous. .
Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.
This film has faced criticism from abroad at a perceived pro-totalitarian and pro-Chinese reunification subtext. Critics also cited as evidence the approval that had been given to the film by the government of the People’s Republic of China.
These critics argued that the ulterior meaning of the film was triumph of security and stability over liberty and human rights and that the concept of “all under heaven” (translated in the English-subtitled release as “Our land”) was being used to justify the incorporation of areas such as Tibet and Xinjiang within the People’s Republic of China and to promote the reunification of Taiwan with China.
It’s just a movie guys. Lighten up.
Burj Dubai – tallest building
Any day now Burj Dubai will overtake Taipei 101 and become the world’s tallest building.
artists conception
real, right now
Dark Roasted Blend: Burj Dubai: Now the Tallest Building in the World – more great photos
I’ve REALLY got to visit Dubai.
Here’s a few more architectural wonders planned:
Las Vegas – Arab style
When will Cirque du Soleil put in a show?
Palm Islands
Underwater Hotel
To see the “Death Star”, “Trump Dubai”, the Rotating Towers and other freakish concepts, check out another Dark Roasted Blend post: Dubai Architecture Part 2.
(I suspect this awesome blog is published out of Calgary.)
photos from Korea
Chris Baraniuk got flickr.
His first pics posted are from Korea where he is coaching with Cirque du Soleil.
See more of his photos on flickr.
from historic Penn State …
“We Are… Penn State.”
I never tired of hearing the official team chant hundreds of times en route to victory by the Men’s Team of the host school.
Cirque du Soleil sent me to charming State College in Amish central Pennsylvania to report on the state of Men’s Gymnastics in the USA. (Cirque hires many College gymnasts after they graduate.)
The competition was loud, proud, fantastic. Despite a steadily diminishing number of participating Universities, those that remain are strong.
My friend Sue Raffin competed for Penn State. I had heard many good things. With over 80,000 students it is one of the largest schools in the States.
Legend has it one of my favourite books — Catch-22 — was inspired when Joseph Heller taught here.
Penn State’s mascot is the Nittany Lion.
Though Penn State professors denounced Wikipedia for academic purposes, it’s a far more useful source of information than the official Penn State website.
Chris in Seoul, Korea
Chris Baraniuk is coaching the Cirque du Soleil show Quidam. The touring show is set up at the 1988 Olympic venue right now.
He spent time in Japan and finds Korea likewise a mix of traditional and ultra-modern.
Here’s just one of his photos.
third party credit card payment when booking on-line SUCKS
Altadore Gymnastics booked a Cirque du Soleil Vegas trip for coach Ed Vincent. For his 35-years-or-so contribution to the club.
But when I went to PAY on-line, I was in for a shock.
Neither the Excaliber hotel nor Cirque du Soleil would accept payment by my credit card for “Ed Vincent”.
I first had to FAX a copy of my credit card and driver’s license to Vegas.
Where’s the convenience of on-line commerce now?
Here’s the small print from one website:
Tickets are normally sent to your credit card billing address. The Billing Address will be verified with your credit card company so you must use the exact address that your statements are sent to.
Should you require that the order be shipped to an address other than the credit card billing address we will require a faxed authorization from you. This includes a signed copy of the invoice along with legible copies of your driver’s license and the credit card that was used. This is done to protect both of us against fraudulent use.
OK. Now why did the airline (WestJet) accept my payment for Ed’s tickets, no questions asked?
Leave a comment if you know any more about this consumer hassle.
Rick McCharles 