Opening night (soft opening) and monstrously fun party for Cirque Du Soleil’s ZAIA at the Venetian July 26, 2008.
Our first public show went very smooth – no apparent tech glitches or problems – and we had an incredibly enthusiastic audience – so we’re all very happy. Here little snippets of my opening night and the great party afterwards for my friends back home.
Just to give you an idea of the amount of construction going on near the Venetian Casino on the Cotai Strip by Macau, China. This pic only shows part of the construction on the Cotai Strip. Also more construction further to the left off the picture and an entire casino off to the right of the photo.
 
WARSAW, Poland — Like a religious relic, the heart of composer Frederic Chopin rests in a Warsaw church, untouched since it was preserved in alcohol after his death in 1849 at age 39.
And that’s how the Polish government wants to keep it.
Scientists want to remove the heart for DNA tests to see if Chopin actually died from cystic fibrosis and not tuberculosis as his death certificate states.
Read Full Article on Chopin’s Heart DNA Testing
Continue reading “Scientists Want to Test DNA on Chopin’s Heart”
 
Cape Canaveral, Fla. — Scientists have exposed some of the mystery behind the northern lights.
On Thursday, NASA released findings that indicate magnetic explosions about one-third of the way to the moon cause the northern lights, or aurora borealis, to burst in spectacular shapes and colors, and dance across the sky.
Read the full Aurora Borealis Controversy article
Did you know there was controversy over the cause of the Aurora Borealis in the Great White North? I didn’t. Had always understood it to be the reflection of light at the poles, nothing of a mystery.
Several years ago I played the Alaska State Fair (I think it was 2003) with Freddy Fender and for the first time got to see the Aurora Borealis in person. It is really one of those things you have to see in person – you don’t get the feel of it by seeing it on video or the big screen. It’s appears as if truly magical!
Shakespeare Northwest performs the Bard’s Midsummer Night’s Dream in Skagit County July 20 through August 10, 2008. They are fantastic and you won’t want to miss it. Click on image for full size flyer and location details.
B.C. Fish and Wildlife Bear Warning joke.
The Yayli Tambur or Yayli Tanbur, (also mispelled as Yalli Tamboor, Yalli Tambour, Yawlee Tambor, etc.) is a long necked Turkish stringed instrument, lower pitched than the cumbus, played with a plectrum or a bow.
Video of Yayli Tambur
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1c3dR_dizA
Continue reading “Yayli Tambur”
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=hkSXUSOvgPI
Zaia video promo from China TV – This is also one of the few videos I’ve seen that has interior shots of the theater seating area.
The Zaia Bunch – This is a photo of the artists, crew and support staff for Cirque Du Soleil’s production ZAIA at the Sands Venetian, Macau (SAR) China. I think this was taken in May 2008. I’m on the left hand side in the green shirt (thank you to Rachael for making the scary faces and hands behind me…hehe)
And just for the archives, here’s a full resolution photo you can click on if interested:
Getting in the zone inside the Cirque musician booth and ready to open ZAIA…