Protester shot in chest by live police round during Hong Kong National Day protests Comments | Link House Democrats subpoena Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in impeachment probe Comments | Link Attorney General William P. Barr has held private meetings overseas with foreign intelligence officials seeking their help in a Justice Department inquiry that President Trump hopes will discredit U.S. intelligence agencies’ examination of Russian interference in the 2016 election Comments | Link
NYPD officer killed in the Bronx died by friendly fire, police say Comments | Link China National Day Live Updates: Hong Kong Protester Shot by Police for First Time Comments | Link Amber Guyger found guilty of murder in fatal shooting of Botham Jean Comments | Link
Scientists present new evidence that great apes possess the “theory of mind,” which means they can attribute mental states to themselves and others, and also understand that others may believe different information than they do. Comments | Link Babies in the womb have extra lizard-like muscles in their hands that most will lose before they are born, medical scans reveal, probably one of the oldest remnants of evolution seen in humans yet, dated by biologists as 250 million years old, a relic from when reptiles transitioned to mammals. Comments | Link Some people with anxiety may actively resist relaxation in favor of worrying, according to new research. The study suggests it’s a way to avoid a large jump in anxiety if something bad really does happen. Comments | Link
Watch Steve Jobs Assure Americans in 1981 That Computers Wouldn't Be a Privacy Nightmare Comments | Link Household appliances will become easier to repair thanks to new standards being adopted across the European Union. From 2021, firms will have to make appliances longer-lasting, and they will have to supply spare parts for machines for up to 10 years. Comments | Link Woman who sleeps in $500 EMF-blocking sack wants area-wide Wi-Fi limits - Seems like a good time to remember that EMF sensitivities are not real. Comments | Link
R. Kelly's lawyer is complaining that the singer can visit with only one of his girlfriends at a time Comments | Link 'I kept going': Nine-year-old enters 5km race ... and accidentally wins 10km event Comments | Link San Francisco removes boulders meant to deter homeless campers because they were 'not big enough' Comments | Link
What show are you kinda half watching while browsing Reddit? Comments Housekeepers who worked in casinos/hotels, what's the weirdest thing you walked into? Comments Hiring managers of Reddit, what was something on someone’s CV/resume that made you either immediately want to hire them or immediately reject them? Comments
They say, No more IT or system or server admins needed very soon... Comments Got my first SysAdmin interview! Comments What kind of $#@* security advice is this? Comments
ReFS vs NTFS Comments Whats the best low cost provider that provides replication? Comments What does your monitoring / alerting stack look like? Comments
I posted a couple carabiners last week. Several in this sub took it upon themselves to chastise me for printing something that didn’t last forever. Just for them, I spent all weekend printing over a dozen. I’m now going to not use them. Quit telling others what they can and can’t print. Comments | Link Designed & printed a stackable vanilla plant support structure Comments | Link Spacers printed for deck board gap. I found the file on thingiverse. These have made our deck boards so nice and consistent. 4 different gap sizes (we are using the small 4mm with our pressure treated lumber). Comments | Link
Light Speed – fast, but slow [OC] Comments | Link Alcoholic Drinks Consumed at my Wedding (Open Bar) [OC] Comments | Link US Causes of Death by Age Group [OC] Comments | Link
TIL shortly after returning from the moon Buzz Aldrin began to suffer from alcoholism and depression. "I wanted to resume my duties, but there were no duties to resume. There was no goal, no sense of calling, no project worth pouring myself into." Comments | Link TIL Jules Verne's wrote a novel in 1863 which predicted gas-powered cars, fax machines, wind power, missiles, electric street lighting, maglev trains, the record industry, the internet, and feminism. It was lost for over 100 years after his publisher deemed it too unbelievable to publish. Comments | Link TIL Tabasco Sauce is fermented for three years in used Jack Daniel's Whiskey barrels before bottling. Comments | Link
Students trust libraries for more than borrowing books, report says Comments | Link LeVar Burton, Actor and Education Advocate, to Host 70th National Book Awards Comments | Link Chicago Public Library Announces Eliminating Late Fees Comments | Link
My Japanese Grandfather with his Pet Alligator (1970s) Comments | Link Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder, c. 1986 Comments | Link King of old school cool comedy, Phil Hartman. With his good buddy Chris Farley on SNL. May 14, 1994 Comments | Link
7 airplane landing simultaneously on the same runway Comments | Link 50 years ago on this day, Concorde 001 broke the sound barrier for the very first time in the aircraft's history Comments | Link F-22 Start up! Comments | Link
I'm a middle school teacher. My dog escaped my house and figured out the way to school today. Everyone liked that. Comments | Link Bernie Sanders getting arrested for protesting against segregation in 1963 Comments | Link Hong Kong Police shot highschool protester chest point blank, critical at hospital Comments | Link
Runaway Cart at O'Hare Airport Comments | Link Alien Abduction Costume Comments | Link Nightmares can happen in the middle of a perfectly good day Comments | Link
First walk after being adopted Comments | Link This gate is not getting in the way of playing fetch. Comments | Link Maybe she’s born with it.... maybe it’s Maybelline. Comments | Link
Trip log: Yesterday's mini solo adventure (US), my Hard Rock pin collection, and Pokemon Go
A few weeks ago I received an alert that the Indianapolis Hard Rock Cafe would be closing soon. I've been meaning to travel there for a while and for the sake of getting my pin, but now I was on notice. Last year I received similar notices about the Lake Tahoe cafe (the hotel replaced the cafe) and the St. Louis cafe last year, so I'm somewhat familiar with planning these trips with some haste. Checking my unused Southwest travel funds and my schedule, I decided to create a day trip which involved hitting not only the Indianapolis location, but also possibly grabbing a pin from the Tampa Bay airport's Cafe as well. So, here was my Saturday: Flight 1: DCA-MDW (DC to Chicago, departing at 6:15 AM) Flight 2: MDW-IND (Chicago to Indianapolis, departing at 8:30 AM) Flight 3: IND-TPA (Indianapolis to Tampa, departing at 4:40 PM) Flight 4: TPA-DCA (Tampa to Washington, departing at 7:50 PM) I was concerned beforehand that this was silly and become too stressful. But I'm so glad I did this - for better or for worse, it went better than anticipated and has inspired me to try similar challenges in the US. Maybe it was a crazy plan, but maybe I'm the right type of crazy to try it. Some background: I collect Hard Rock Cafe guitar pins from locations around the world. Pins are great souvenirs - they are easy to pack, typically cost $10-15 (unless a Cafe is closing, then it's cheaper), and take up far less space in my home compared to a shirt collection or the like. I've been doing this for a bit over 20 years, collecting roughly pins from roughly 50 properties. I have a few rules:
I have to collect the pins at the locations in person. No eBay, no favors from friends during their travels (though a number of people have wanted me to bend this rule);
The pin has to be as unique and indicative of the pin's city as possible.
Just one guitar pin per location. Don't try to clean out the inventory - choose the best one.
The night before My flight would be leaving early out of DCA, so I decided to have a quiet evening at home and to shower before going to bed. While I typically shower first thing in the morning, I learned to shower at night through stressful weeks at work: Showering relaxes me, and helps me fall asleep far faster. Typically I don't have an issue falling asleep on a normal night, but this wasn't a normal night. The shower did its job, and I fell asleep around 8:30 PM. I packed my day bag: Wallet, extra external battery for my devices, iPad mini with games/books/crosswords/music loaded, plug-in charger, Clif bars (bought before my trip so I wasn't paying airport prices for snacks), headphones. Flight 1: DCA-MDW I was questioning my sanity before this leg. My body decided to wake up around 3:15, well ahead of the 4:00 alarm. GREAT. I had slept *enough* to not be a complete mess, so I got ready and eventually called a Lyft to take me to the airport (I had debated driving, but parking for the day would have been more expensive than rides to and from the airport). My Lyft driver arrived just after 5:00 AM, and boy was he a pro - he had a full, backlit snack bar selection in the car along with an iPad set up for trivia games. He immediately noticed my lack of luggage and asked "So...do you....work at the airport....or....?" I laughed, realizing I was going to explain this crazy trip to someone. So I began explaining my collection and how my day would play out, and he laughed. "Boy, you're one of a kind." He's never heard of solotravel now HAS he? We arrived at Terminal A, which is the original terminal at Reagan National Airport. I arrived roughly 30 minutes before boarding, and I was surprised at how many people (high school students in particular) were already at the airport. WHO ARE YOU PEOPLE AND WHY DON'T YOU SLEEP. Thankfully I have TSA pre-check, so it took me maybe five minutes to get through security. So many teenagers. I'm not Clint Eastwood "get off my lawn" old, but I'm getting closer to 40 and farther from my high school years. I'm a morning person, but not perfectly awake at 5:00 AM among the general population. Perhaps the kids were enjoying the cheaper airfare - just like I was! - but goddamn how are they SO excited that early? Thankfully I didn't have to endure this for terribly long, and my flight to Chicago was basically a giant adult nursery. Sweet dreams.... Flight 2: MDW-IND We arrived to Midway about 15 minutes early, which gave me some extra time to grab breakfast at the airport and find my next gate. For as tight as the connections felt today, I appreciated any extra padding in my schedule. Because I'm a Pokemon Go player, I fired up the app and began searching for Mons while I walked. What luck! I managed to complete the weekly research quest, and for the first time I had Regirock appear for the Research Breakthrough. I love collecting Pokemon during my travels so they reflect the locations in their profiles, so my Regirock is from Chicago. I also managed to win a Mawile raid with an anonymous partner (thank you, whoever you are), so I have that guy as well. I keep forgetting Midway isn't O'Hare in terms of food options. I appreciate any opportunity I can get to have Tortas Frontera at O'Hare, but I'm not sure why my brain tortured itself by not remembering YOU'RE GOING TO MIDWAY. That said, the cup of coffee I got from True Burger Co. was better than I expected and exactly what I needed. It was time to board my flight once I was finished with my breakfast, and basically I blinked and I was in Indy. We had to take a moment to de-ice the plane before departing, but the flight was maybe 30 minutes long. Indianapolis Because I prefer to take the cheapest options possible AND I had time, I wanted to take the IndyGo public bus from the airport to downtown. Here were my options:
Public bus: $1.75
Private downtown shuttle: $12
UbeLyft: $15
Taxi: ~$20
Limo service (yes this was available): No. We're not even considering this.
My problem was there was no machine or kiosk where I could buy bus fare, and the bus would require exact change. I asked someone in Ground Transportation if there was anything available where I could purchase a ticket, and I was pointed to....the $12 private downtown shuttle. No. I want the bus. I walked back into the main terminal and found a general information desk, and I asked them if there might be some way to get on the bus. What angels - they were able to make change for me (I had $2) so I could run down to the bus stop and hop on board. No $12 shuttle for me! The bus took about 40 minutes, stopping along the way and letting me see more of Indiana than I would have seen from the highway. We stopped roughly one block away from the Hard Rock Cafe, so I jumped off the bus and made my way to the restaurant. Since the property is closing in a few weeks, all of their merch was 75% off. Sales like this tempt me into purchasing more, but no, I don't have time for that. I'd have a million shirts and mugs. Unfortunately, and somewhat expected, the pin selection was just okay. I managed to find a pin with an Indy 500 checked flag on it, so I selected that pin. I somewhat broke my rule by purchasing a second pin (not a guitar pin, but reflected the checkered flags in a cool way), but together the pins were just over six bucks. Still cheaper than one pin at a "normal" cafe that isn't closing. One strange thing about my collection: For as much as I adore collecting pins from these properties around the world, I've had a meal at a Hard Rock Cafe....once? It was in the Caribbean almost a decade ago. I don't go for the food, and usually I'm trying to find a place in a city for my meals that is special. Knowing nothing about Indianapolis, I reached out to my friends for some advice. One friend recommended (fairly emphatically) to try Milktooth in Fountain Square. It was less than a mile from the Cafe, didn't seem to have horrific wait times, and not horribly priced. Off I went... ...and GODDAMN, am I glad I went. This place is hipster-tastic and slightly more luxurious/pricey than I allow myself while traveling, but I would fly back just for the sake of having this meal ago. My wait was maybe five minutes and I sat at the bar. After going over the menu with the server, I went with some items he recommended:
Entree: Sourdough Pearl Sugar Waffle (burnt honeycomb candy, parmesan, whipped citrus honey butter, raw honey) ($12)
This dish was both salty and sweet, and I was wondering initially "Do I love this or HATE IT?" Mostly, I hated it because it wasn't my typical bland waffle with bland syrup and bland butter. But this breakfast challenged my apparent blandness, and slapped the back of my head. It was fantastic. Probably favorite waffle...ever? Getting my pin made yesterday a "win," but this brunch was such an unexpected surprise. Lesson reaffirmed: Trust your friends and their recommendations. I finished my meal around 1:30 and figured I should make my way back to the airport. I was no longer near the airport bus route and I decided to take a Lyft. My driver arrived, and I had a great time chatting with him about his experiences with customers. Note: Don't eat in his car, and if you do, clean up after yourself you animals. Back at the airport I settled in at a charging station (Pokemon really sucks my battery dry) and figured I'd get comfortable while I waited for my for Tampa. Just as I got everything set up....GASP - SURPRISE! A friend of mine from school, someone who I had not seen in over a decade, had commented on a post I made on Facebook when I arrived in Indianapolis. He was ten gates away! I posted where I was seated, and almost immediately he replied that he was coming to find me. WHAT! He happened to be passing through the Indy airport, making his way home after attending a conference. What incredible luck. So I gave him a huge hug and we talked for about 20 minutes before he had to run back to his gate for his flight. This was unreal. As much as I love getting my pins and taking on these mini adventures, THIS moment really made my day. Flight 3: IND-TPA As I told my friend, I was waiting for my flight to Tampa where I had a chance to get a second pin at the airport. The cafe didn't exist the last time I visited Tampa, though I had visited the Hard Rock casino just outside the city. If my flight arrived on schedule, I had a faint possibility of getting the second pin during the 30 minute layover. I was in the C Terminal and the cafe is located in the main terminal. Luck was on my side, and my flight arrived 20 minutes early. Thankfully the Tampa airport isn't enormous and seemed particularly sleepy when I arrived, and the cafe happened to be located beside the doorway between the airport shuttle station and the main terminal. In and out in five minutes. This pin was about $11, which felt so expensive compared to the bargain from the Indy location, but whatever. Pokemon collection was extremely underwhelming at the Tampa airport. Very few gyms and stops available. Not that I had tons of time, but give me a regional Mon right? Flight 4: TPA-DCA I experienced some turbulence during my flight back to DC, which was the only turbulence I really had on any of the flights that day. My energy levels were getting really low at this point - can't imagine why - and I was ready to find my bed back home. The flight was just under two hours. As opposed to the high school I seemingly entered earlier that morning to board my flight to Chicago, Terminal A was a ghost town when we arrived in DC. Aside from those on our flight or attending to our gate, I didn't see any other passengers at the gates in the terminal. It was a strange, peaceful way to reenter my neighborhood after such a fun day. Again, I indulged myself and got a Lyft (hey, I got a discount recently on some rides, don't hate). This driver also noticed my lack of luggage, which prompted him to ask why I was getting a ride from the airport, so I explained my whole day to him. He got a huge kick out of it, accusing me of being a special agent traveling to four cities in a day on a secret mission. That's right, sir (and here we go, TLDR folks) - my mission was to collect one, maybe two enamel pins from a novelty restaurant chain, and I accomplished the hell of that mission. I managed to run into an old friend along the way, tried some insanely delicious food, and got some great Mons during my trip. I saw four states in one day in two timezones. I wasn't able to fall asleep immediately when I got home, mostly because I was still feeling the adrenaline of running from city to city to accomplish my goal. My pins have found their way to my pin collection case, sitting among the pins from Reykjavik and Sydney and Hong Kong and Rome. All of my pins have stories, but I love that I can now talk about my trip to Indianapolis and Tampa in the same day. (Holy shit, this post was longer than I anticipated. I hope you enjoyed it. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing it.)
Halloween is one of those holidays whose meaning has has had varied meaning in my life. As a youth, it's what most remember, and when grown out of youth a holiday that goes by the wayside, until many of us get to child rearing age, where the holiday takes on new meaning. But it was a post-Dead (Jerry's passing) "what to do now" event that completely changed what this holiday means to me, as unexpected and unforeseeable as an earthquake, with nearly similar results. It was a seismic shift of what I assumed a concert experience could be, further broadening my horizons as to what really could be possible. While it was true that the Grateful Dead gave me a completely different musical and life perspective, as well as an appreciation of musical history, an evolution was about to take place on a scale I could never have imagined. That shift occurred on October 31, 1995, at Rosemont Horizon just outside of Chicago - a town nobody would ever set foot in for any other reason than to pass through O'Hare International - or to see a show at Rosemont Horizon. Even then, it wasn't a venue we looked forward to - but when it's GD - or Phish on Halloween, I suppose you overlook the fact that the venue and environs in favor of a good show. That was the first time I saw Phish - encouraged by a friend who had been seeing shows of theirs in the early 90's, and with now nothing better to see owed them a look. That "look" turned out to be one of the biggest nights in the history of the band, not only dropping two monstrous sets of Phish, but inserting in the sandwich a full on rendition of The Who's "Quadrophenia", which was personally interpreted as a full on sales pitch for the ownership of my mind. Having grown up a Who fanatic, I was totally locked in for that set - knowing every word - and spending a good portion of that evening explaining to others what it was (no Phishbills explaining the choice in those days). I didn't need one, but was rare in that instance. I remember Tom Marker of WXRT on air the next day, asking if anyone saw the show at the Horizon last night. He was as blown away as I was, knowing full well he saw an event. It was in the post mortem, though, that I thought more of what Phish actually did in the unspoken: They took a HUGE risk, accepting by fan vote the album that would be done, only vetoing "Joe's Garage" by Frank Zappa due to various and numerous issues and difficulties in pulling that one off. They chose the #2 vote, and did it beyond anyone's realistic belief. They took that album and made it their own. They made a historical statement in the realm of rock music. Now the second iteration, Phish was laying out markers as to their own influences and appreciation - and in effect saying "if you don't know this stuff, you should." Most notably in my own mind, Phish had done, and had laid out the greatest tradition in rock and roll: The donning of the Musical Costume on Halloween, a stewpot of historical appreciation, buildup, speculation, and anticipation, culminating with a event that can only be described as "high-wire": The unveiling, the performance, and the post show discussion of where this fits and all of the musical offshoots from there. It also established grounds for emulation, as anything that good will be copied on some level. So we have "theme shows" by all these bands on Halloween, and an occasional full album, but Phish was always the "Original and Best" at it. Phish's performance of Velvet Underground's "Loaded" in 1998 caused enough of that album to be sold afterwards to put it back on Billboard's Hot 100. So the fans listened. And listened again. The pattern continued through 1998 - Phish having offered four such costumes. The history, the significance of the artists chosen, and the tradition laid out by whom had become the best band on the planet, having witnessed the meteoric rise over a four year span that was akin to seeing Jordan in his prime. For a music fan, Phish was the band that kept cranking out a seemingly endless supply of good ideas and results. And first and foremost Re: Phish, the question always was and will be "But what about Halloween?" In a repeated theme, it was Phish's hiatus in 2000 that brought me to my next musical addiction, The String Cheese Incident. In an attempt to burn up airline credits left over from the Phish Big Cypress trip, we settled on seeing Phil Lesh's 60th birthday - and as an offshoot of that we drove to Humboldt County to see SCI at the Mateel Community Center for two shows, which maybe held 600 people. It was love at first hear, ending up with 16 years of seeing their shows, including three Red Rocks weekends and five at Hornings Hideout (best fest space I have ever been in). This also meant taking in some SCI Hulaween (and yes they called it that before the current fest came along), most notably the NYC show post 9/11, which allowed us to attend for pennies on the dollar, as NYC was giving away flights and rooms to get people to come. But when it comes to Halloween, Phish trumps all, so if that gig is happening that's where I will be. Fast forward to 2016, and I nearly made a decision that would have me missing Phish Halloween again, having spent a few years off the circuit due to personal legal issues, where travel was not happening. I survived a lot on couch tour, and grateful I could even do that, as I found out MJ laws are alive and well in the good 'ol USA, That said, I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and began planning my re-entry to the music and people that I know and love. Phish at Dick's (CO) and Suwannee Hulaween seemed to be the places I was missing out on, and after numerous personal accounts taken in made plans to do both. Those two events were put on the schedule, and planning began as early as last October, where it was assumed that Dick's would be happening again, and Suwannee was confirmed even in advance of the 2015 edition by fest org on the Hulaween Reddit. So those two events were "all systems go". Given that Halloween was on a Monday, Phish was not likely to do a Halloween show, so I was safe choosing Cheese for Halloween. Hot just for best available music weekend, but because my sister and spouse could attend, which was an opportunity to spend some quality time with people who are very close to me - but also interesting because this would be their first "jam fest". so it was them stepping into "my world", so to speak, a leap of faith that they took, that we had no idea how it would turn out. Suwannee Hulaween was as much about who I was doing it with as it was the music. But a fully thing happened on the way to the forum, in a figurative and literal sense, as the rumor tide began to tell a different story. Phish WAS going to play Halloween in Las Vegas, so the rumors said in March. This created a deeply personal conundrum, my heartstrings so deeply attached to the idea of Phish on Halloween that I began investigating the idea of doing that one show only, post Hulaween - and if not for Southwest Airlines offering a near perfect direct flight out of Atlanta to Vegas would have been impossible. And for $99 each way, the impossible became possible, knowing that Hulaween was done at 9:30PM on Sunday that I could make that flight to Vegas. So I booked it, and no sooner than I did, the new info from "those in the know" on the various Phish forums began putting the word out that there would be no show on the 31st. These were people with a track record of being correct on such matters, and while I didn't cancel the flight arrangements I was in a mode of waiting for the 31st show to be officially announced as "not happening", even forgoing making a resort booking in Vegas, as I would have to put out a first night's deposit on that, too. Phish announces Halloween in Vegas, including the 31st, and the flight plan booked to get from Hula to Vegas is now very useful :-) This caused me to spend too many hours finding a good booking for Vegas, but we finally settled on a two day stay at Aria (which was awesome BTW), and through the half dozen friends helping me succeeded in getting tix. I also succeeded in getting a Zombie package for the four of us for Hula weekend, so being ready to finish the trip in Vegas was a little more doable having the amenities in wait via the cabin. So the itinerary was set. Needless to say there was some nervousness surrounding the travel to Vegas. Depart ATL at 1:40PM EDT on Halloween, arrive in Vegas at 3PM PDT, have hotel room ready on arrival, 5:15 dinner reservation, show at 7:30. Nothing could go wrong.......right? We did what we could - and all we could do was to let it go to the spirit of the universe and hope that all worked out. All the plans were set, and we went about the weekend using all the planning and preparation as our foundation. We arrived at Suwannee Hulaween at 1PM on Thursday, ready for a pre-party day - 2 sets of Umphrey's McGee being the main event of the evening. This was my first visit to the park, and while I did a seemingly endless amount of reading, I can say that I was only somewhat prepared for what this place was all about: A very well oiled festival machine, run by people who love what they do and have a wealth of experience. This was evident immediately on arrival - entry was smooth and everyone knew what they were doing - with one later exception (we'll get to that later). Suwannee does prompt a good level of opinion and conversation regarding the property. It has a track record, having been in the fest throwing business for some time. Wanee was the signature fest that made Suwannee known nationally, and now Hulaween seems to be taking over that mantle. So there's lots of commentary about the place, some good, some not. For a first timer like myself, I am all about finding the best places to see music, so that my expenditure bears a positive experience. Since the venue is 50% of the "score", it matters that the venue is amicable to the event being held. It can make or break the experience. I have heard some call The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park "The Horning's of the South". That is extremely high praise - anyone who has been to Horning's for SCI weekends knows that it is about the best space for music/fest that can be dreamed up, is as intimate as can be, and especially that amphitheater at Horning's - the pine canopied space is idyllic in every sense...there's just so few spaces that good. So to even mention Suwannee in the same sentence is cause to say "What you talkin' 'bout Willis?" But once within the confines of the Suwannee Ampitheater space, I can see why people say that. There are striking similarities in those two spaces - very beautiful natural settings and very right for sight and sound. However, SCI wouldn't be seen on that stage, but those bands who could be seen there were shown in the best possible light. Suwannee is a much bigger park, and while the Amphitheaters in both places have similarities, these are two much different parks. Suwannee is bigger by a factor of at least four, so these places are operating on different levels in terms of scale....but both are run by private owners, so the decidedly non-corporate and down home feel is evident with both. So the comparisons are apt, especially given that SCI has played both on a number of occasions. The size of Suwannee affords the opportunity to offer 70+ bands, 20K people, and VIP and other services, along with the camping infrastructure in any way you want it: Cabins, RV sites with full hookups, sites with electric/water, primitive....even hotels close if that's your thing. So you can do this park in about any way you want to, provided you jump on the necessary reservations to get those premium spaces. The size and scope of the park also makes the golf carts useful, and while I only used it on a limited basis, those spots are places I would have never seen without it. The VIP arrangements were rather well organized and done. This really FELT like VIP, unlike many fests I've done that might offer a few more fancy items on the list, but not offer that feeling and service that this fest did. It's the PEOPLE that make it work, and that was evident in spades, always available and willing to answer questons and assist this first time SOSMP visitor how best to make use of the park. Lost on a trail? There's usually someone around who can help out. The VIP barn was especially nice, as we had our own entrance off River Road, plenty of seating - including tables with a view of the main stage, so you can eat/drink/take in the music. Really nice touch. Also had two large flat screens to watch all the games, and get World Series updates as I passed back and forth to the bathrooms and such. Amphitheater also had a nice VIP area. Both areas has clean, continuously serviced bathrooms. Our crew must have tipped them out $80 or more....those cans were always clean. But the bonus area was the Treehouse VIP, on the opposite side of the VIP barn. That space was so nice, especially during the day, so I could sit at the picnic tables and relax while seeing day music. I often miss day music because I tend to wilt in the heat and kill my late night possibilities, but here I was able to maximize my music intake because I could eat, then just relax in the shade and enjoy several hours of music I otherwise would have skipped. It was also a really good viewing angle to the main stage. We were also impressed with the food offerings - the twice daily meals were a healthy way to get fuel for the day, and were varied enough that everyone could find something useful. I was especially appreciative of the daily deep green salad offerings, which I ate every meal, as well as the water on site in the VIP barn. Also props on the expanded hours, making it easy to not have to miss music in order to eat. For those not in VIP, however, you were NOT hurting for good food choices. This might have been the best concentration of vendor food at ANY fest I have attended, especially given the variety. Gouda Boys, Amish Donuts, and that place serving gyros just down from Gouda Boys all got our business over the weekend, and all really good food. At this fest, you don't have to be VIP to eat well. But ultimately it was the music that drove me coming to this fest, and this turned out rather well, especially given that I committed so far in advance. SCI, UM, STS9, Claypool/Lennon, Karl D, McCourys....just getting the first three in the same place was enough for me, not having seen them all in the same place since Rothbury '09. One task I set about to do, as soon as I got in the fest grounds, was to find the pathway from the various stages to each other. Of particular interest, The Patch - which was the brand new venue that would have STS9 late night. Had to figure out how I was going to make that show after Cheese, and back to see Disclosure, which I had made up my mind I was going to give a chance. This turned out to be a two day investigation, requiring WAYYYYY too many miles walked, to finally figure out that you could not go from the main stage to Patch without going through VIP camp. I feel for those who weren't VIP in this instance, because it was a LOOOOOONG HOOF to go through the outside, then back through security, then do it all over again after Tribe. Plenty of room out there, but not my favorite aspect of the fest. The only real "negative" I can really come up with. I can forgive people working the fest for not knowing what was up with the routing here, as it was a new stage, used for the first time, but it took wayyyy too long to figure out how I was going to do the routing for Saturday night. Musical Highlights: Thursday - UM doing two sets at the Amphitheater. Not only were the UM sets good, but that space is awesome!!! Also dug the EOTO early show with Jake from UM and that Manic Focus? guy. We were just walking around, checking out the space, and got this little morsel in the background. The notable song, looking back on it, was the David Bowie cover, "Let's Dance". Now UM was always the kings of the "cool cover song", but this one was especially good in light of Jake's stellar vocal performance, as well as what was being telegraphed for later in the weekend..... Friday: Russo, Benevento, and Burbridge, Karl D, Greensky Bluegrass, SCI (second set best SCI of the weekend), The Fritz. Caught MMJ from the cabin porch, liked what I heard, but made it an earlier night for the Saturday yet to come. Saturday: Camp Reddit beer swap: Had a chance o put names with faces, and share a number of great brews with the people of the Hulaween subreddit, Got lost on the way down hippie trail, but found the spot with the help of some kind campers. Cool setup, and glad to meet ya! Larry Keel/Drew Emmitt, Antibalas, three sets of SCI, little bit of Lettuce, STS9, Disclosure. Larry and Drew were fantastic daytime bluegrass over lunch on the mainstage :-) We hung out at the treehouse and saw Antibalas, around finally figuring out the VIP cut through to Patch for STS9 later in the day. Saw all three sets of Cheese, including the 80's tribute set (had a blast, much to my surprise) albeit some of the third set abbreviated in order to see STS9, which we did. Had some issues finding a good space of people to be around at that show - as my wife said after a long day in VIP, "Welcome to general population." Had to move a couple of times but found good space with good peeps, especially enjoying the second half. Immediately left for the Disclosure set on the main stage, making it through the shortcut before they cut off access :-) As soon as we start walking into the main stage area, Disclosure kicks in to "When the Fire Starts To Burn" and that resulting party kept us there until the conclusion (sorry Revivalists, we got distracted :-) I have also written off the Chicago Cubs at this point, now down three games to one. Sunday: An easy day, planned that way, assisted by the short schedule, ending at 9:30PM on Sunday. With Las Vegas now over the mental horizon, we begin to pack as we go, and take in the last day of music at Suwannee Hulaween 2016: McCourys, SCI two sets, Claypool/Lennon Delerium, Big G w/Motet. Took the time between the two SCI sets to pack, so I could see Claypool/Lennon in it's entirety. They did not disappoint. Loved Astronomy Domine, Court of The Crimson King (with keyboard player playing a mellotron - right on!), and the stuff from the new album. Claypool is the best bass player on the planet today, and this show was definitely a highlight. Bonus: Sean Lennon singing Tomorrow Never Knows. Just fantastic. Saw a bit of Twiddle (impression from the 20 minutes I heard was that if WSP and Phish had a baby.....) and Big G w/Motet. Now if that guy in Big G could quit shouting "SUWANNEE HULAWEEN" every thirty seconds you might have an enjoyable set. Let the music do it's thing, people.... Then an after set finish packing session, while getting Cubs updates on my mobile phone. Ended up awake until after midnight, with Vegas and 6AM bearing down on me like a freight train..... 6AM gets here early and it's up like a dart and showered and van loaded. We're out by 7:15, arriving at ATL at 11:40, on the flight at 1:10. Plane pushes away from gate at 1:40PM sharp, arrives 20 minutes early (even slept on the plane), picked up by friends with care package in hand, at Aria desk at 3:30PM, spend an hour changing clothes and picking jaw off the floor looking at the room and view, then off to dinner at 5PM - 15 minutes early. The travel schedule went so perfectly, and the hotel check-in so perfectly as to be not credible. It was a sign of things to come. I'm met by the same friends who picked me up at the airport for a pre-show drink, all the while my phone getting hammered by texts, regarding the album Phish chose. People in Montana texting me "I know what the album is and it's gonna rock." I'm resisting every attempt to tell me what it is, wanting to be informed by the placement of the Phishbill in my hand at the arena gate of the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas. I didn't succeed - I made it until ten seconds before I hit the Phishbill crew before a random phan spilled the beans - it was David Bowie's "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars". It was a sense of relief though, because I knew that Halloween with Phish was going to be EPIC - one of those shows where the highest expectations would be met. And it meant a return to the best tradition in rock and roll, Phish covering another band's album in it's entirety. THE TRADITION IS BACK, and Phish is gonna crush this like Kyle Schwarber - off the scoreboard to be a permanent fixture in the landscape. And they did. This was a long time wish for so many, having legs in the Phish Halloween rumor mill since Festival 8 in '09 (ended up being the Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main St."). So it was really cool to see a long time wish fulfilled for so many. It harkened back to the days when I heard that album for the first time, in college through a pair of 1968 JBL's. My old roommate had four copies. We wore a couple of them out. Seeing that crowd roaring - just absolute joy - was a feeling I haven't had at a show on that level in a LONG TIME. And I've seen a lot of really special shows....and this was yet another. I took in the first two sets in prime seats, nine rows off the floor about half way back. Just phenomenal sight and sound, in what is already a small arena for the people it holds. But for set three, I went upstairs and took in the remaining music with my crew, and in much more spacious groove space, and enjoyed the remainder of an epic night together. After the show, we attempt to figure out how to exit the show through the casino, rather than out to the street. Thought it would be cool to get some post-show sightseeing in the MGM. Apparently they learned something from 2014 - that it was best not to allow the post show Phish freak fest to transpire inside the mallways of the MGM :-) But as it turned out, they sent us out to the street, but in the direction of my hotel, so we went back (by way of CVS, with armloads of beverages) to my 35th floor strip view suite at Aria, enjoying 22oz. bombers and vape pens :-) One topic was how Suwannee was, and how there were all these weird occurrences happening tying the two events together. Like UM doing Bowie, then Phish doing Bowie. Or the two Fletches, one in each place, that looked exactly like each other. But the one that really blew us away was later on, when we all went down to the casino floor, where we met some other heads and hung out. Two of us go into the men's room for a leak, and what's pumping through the bathroom speakers but "Latch", by Disclosure, which we had just taken in two nights earlier in Florida. In a good bit of planning, we had booked an extra day in Vegas, just to have a bit of a recovery day, and to enjoy the amenities of the resort, which was most welcome. It wasn't enough. I'm still recovering, tired and having to go back to work - but basking in the glow of what was one unbelieveable Halloween weekend. To all of those who posted to the various forums on all topics related to this, and those who I traded with over the summer and fall to make this all happen: THANK YOU. You have my sincerest gratitude and thanks. You all know who you are - and I couldn't have done it without you wonderful people. I hope to see you on the road - sooner rather than later.
Hyatt Rosemont O'Hare Airport Hotel Near Rivers Casino Des Plaines Book now and enjoy the centrally located, comfortable and quiet, Hyatt Rosemont. Just three minutes from O’Hare International Airport, we offer our guests free 24-hour airport shuttle service, WiFi and are surrounded by 100s of Chicago’s renown restaurants. McCarthy’s enthusiasm for the idea of a full-blown O’Hare casino was not at all tempered by the fact that the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines is in close proximity to the airport. Rivers Casino: High stakes casino next to O'Hare Airport - See 622 traveler reviews, 47 candid photos, and great deals for Des Plaines, IL, at Tripadvisor. Here are some transportation options in Chicago: You can arrange a flight to the closest airport, which is O’Hare Intl. Airport (ORD), which is located 15.7 mi (25.3 km) away. You can take advantage of metro transit at Monroe Station (Red Line), Monroe Station (Blue Line), and Adams-Wabash Station. GO Airport Express provides service to and from Rivers Casino – the newest casino in Chicagoland, with over 1,000 of the newest and hottest slot machines and nearly 50 exciting table games. The Rivers Casino slot team has hand-picked the newest and most exciting games for you to enjoy. Book your stay at the Courtyard Chicago O'Hare and take advantage of being next door to the Rivers Casino, and just 15 miles from all the sights of downtown Chicago. We offer a complimentary shuttle service to the casino, along with Chicago O'Hare International Airport, which is located just minutes away. By 2028 upgrades to O’Hare will increase its capacity by an amount equivalent to building another Midway International Airport, Chicago’s second largest airport. As a global gateway city, in 2019, Chicago also welcomed 1.5 million overseas visitors, and an additional 750,000 visitors from Mexico and Canada. Springhill Suites Chicago O'Hare. Just minutes from O'Hare International Airport and Rivers Casino, enjoy complimentary amenities like a full hot breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, 43" inch Smart TVs and 24-hour fitness center. Taxes will ground Chicago casino, but taking a flier on airport slots could pay off, study finds Slot machines at O’Hare and Midway could rake in nearly $37 million per year, even outpacing the Welcome to O'Hare International Airport. Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | Official Website Information for Travelers About Coronavirus - Click for Info
Most INCREDIBLE And STRANGEST AIRPORTS In The World! - YouTube
This video is about Come follow me around as an airline ramp agent. Sahara Hotel, April 4th. 2008, Las Vegas. [HD] COMPLETE Full Tour of AdventureDome Theme Park 2014 - El Loco - Circus Circus Las Vegas - Duration: 9:48. SoCal Attractions 360 119,324 views Watch as Brandon and I take on something that most GA pilots don't dare to do! Enjoy!Join Us at: www.shareaviation.comCheck out The Private Pilot Blueprint: ... Rivers Casino is Chicagoland's newest gaming and entertainment destination. Located in Des Plaines, IL, Rivers is just minutes from O'Hare International Airport and downtown Chicago. The state-of ... The most challenging and unusual airports in the world! SHARE IT ON FB: http://bit.ly/incredibleairports Incredible landings and takeoffs, even in extr... United Airlines Boeing 777-200 from Frankfurt Main International Airport to Chicago O' Hare International Airport. This was filmed from Global First seat 2A ... #Casino #যুবলীগ #DhakaReport ক্যাসিনোর আড়ালে আসল রহস্য। হাসিনার পারিবারিক ঝামেলার ... Radisson Hotel Chicago O'Hare 3 Stars Hotel in Des Plaines, Illinois Within US Travel Directory One block from Allstate Arena and minutes from O'Hare International Airport with free 24-hour ... Chicago's O'Hare International Airport will start screening for the coronavirus that has spread from Wuhan, China, and killed nine people there so far. FULL ... Skip navigation Sign in. Search
![[Op-Ed] - EDITORIAL: O’Hare Airport the wrong spot for a casino in Chicago](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/q56WHoInO8zI9QlwkhS6E9bC0AgY5tq_fXOuGCGOgpY.jpg "[Op-Ed] - EDITORIAL: O’Hare Airport the wrong spot for a casino in Chicago")
![[National] - McCarthy proposes O’Hare Airport casino | Chicago Sun-Times](https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/LXeAkvStKIcYF7vjgiBPh1y_Uq0zgsEBcNzgVIcQuoc.jpg "[National] - McCarthy proposes O’Hare Airport casino | Chicago Sun-Times")
