Dubai Firm Buys 20 Percent of Cirque Du Soleil

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/06/ap/business/main4324809.shtml

Excerpt:

The government-controlled developer of palm-shaped islands off Dubai’s coast and a related investment arm said Wednesday they have bought a 20 percent stake in international circus touring company Cirque du Soleil.

Property developer Nakheel and investment company Istithmar World Capital did not say how much they paid for their share of the group, which began performing in Quebec nearly a quarter century ago and is today a mainstay of theaters in Las Vegas and the Far East.

The agreement keeps control of the Montreal-based entertainment company in the hands of founder Guy Laliberte, putting to rest for now speculation that the troupe would be sold outright.

Second Earthquake in Sichuan China

 sichuan-earthquake.jpg

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck China’s Sichuan province on Tuesday, killing at least one person and seriously injuring five others. Sichuan province is still recovering from the devastating 7.9 earthquake on May 12, 2008.

The quake’s epicenter was located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north-northwest of Guangyuan, near Sichuan’s border with neighboring Gansu province.

Hours before the quakes struck, the Olympic torch relay made its way through parts of Sichuan, on its way to the Summer Games, which get under way Friday in Beijing, some 1,200 kilometers (745 miles) away.

 Full Article:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/08/05/china.earthquake/index.html 

The Zaia Taxi

zaia-cab.jpg

Check out the Zaia Taxi – one of the great marketing ideas for the Cirque show ZAIA in Macau (Venetian Casino). For a month up to the soft opening and up to the grand opening of the show – I would say that one out of every four taxis in Macau have the ZAIA advertisement. It’s EVERYWHERE. And yes, it’s very fun to be in the show and then ride a Zaia taxi around town!

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Basketball 2008 at Venetian Macau

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Kobe Bryant of the U.S. looks on during their friendly basketball game against Lithuania as part of their training for the Beijing Olympics, at the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel in Macau August 1, 2008.

We’ve got some crazy crowds here at the Venetian in Macau for the USA Basketball International Challenge. I’ve never seen so many Chinese wearing in Lakers jerseys!

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Video – Freddy Fender – Before the Next Teardrop Falls

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fQpOZGMct4

Thanks to Deb for sending this too me – another video from when I played with Freddy Fender (I’m the keyboardist on the right). Before The Next Teardrop Falls is often unwittingly called “Before The LAST Teardrop Falls” and Freddy Fender is often spelled as “Freddie Fender”, as they are in this video title. My best guess is this video is from Laughlin, Nevada sometime between 2003-2004, probably 2004.

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Freddy Fender – Laughlin Nevada Video Clip 2004

httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=DiMuAXCPbgo

New video of Freddy Fender posted on YouTube. I think this might have been around 2004 in Laughlin, Nevada. Freddy does band introductions and an intro song. You’ll notice he calls me “El Blanco”, or “The White”. In the video I’m playing synth and Augie Meyers is playing piano.

SHOW RECORDED LIVE IN LAUGHLIN,NEVADA CHRIS JURADO ON BASS,RHYS CLARK ON DRUMS,VERN MONNETT ON STEEL,MARK TATE ON LEAD AND CONRAD ASKLAND ON KEYBOARDS (AUGIE MEYERS ON PIANO BUT NOT SEEN)