Miscellaneous

Monti’s Blog

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Monti Rock
Monti Rock

I first saw Monte Rock on the Johnny Carson show back in the day. He was different. He was one of the first effeminate/gay, make-up-wearing, all-out, characters. At the time he was an East coast celebrity hair stylist, “the first openly gay man in the 5os and 60s that got on television.” He was so vulnerable, you felt protective of him. He is no longer vulnerable.

Who is Monte Rock? This is from a recent post on the Zeitgeistworld.com

“Does the name Monti Rock III ring a bell for any of you? How about Disco Tex? Monti Rock III was one of the first quasi-openly gay men that I ever saw on TV. He was a frequent talkshow guest, first on Merv Griffin’s show starting in the mid-60s and then he was on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show A LOT in the 70s and 80s. (He was probably on the tonight show as often as Steve Martin was during that era). I was really too young to have consciously realized what Monti’s flamboyant persona meant, but I think with a character like Rock (not to mention Paul Lynde, or Kenneth Williams in the British “Carry On”), you just kind of got it by osmosis. Or via the eyeliner and glitter. (Or your dad’s grumbling every time Monti appeared on his TV set, perhaps!) I must admit that the name Monti Rock III has not crossed my mind often in the past, I don’t know, maybe… three decades, but I was happy to read this fun article from Paisley Dalton at Zeitgeistworld (via World of Wonder) indicating that Monti Rock is indeed alive and well and living in Las Vegas.”

“NYC in the 70s would have been just another cesspit had it not been for the sparkle provided by the head queen himself Monti Rock III. Having scored two top 40 hits Get Dancin’ and I Wanna Dance Wit’ Choo, produced by Bob Crewe (The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli, early Michael Jackson and Roberta Flack), under the group name Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes, Monti provided the soundtrack for many gay men who were celebrating newly found sexual freedom on the enfranchised dance floors in New York’s underground disco scene. After fame and notoriety hit from over 80 appearances on talk shows like Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin and a feature spot in mega movie Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta, Rock exited stage left with an addiction to booze, a severed relationship from Bob Crewe and a self-imposed moratorium on anything having to do with the glitz, glamour and gayness that made him beloved and in his words ‘a joke’. Now at 72, Monti is talking again…about life as a hustler, endowment (not talkin about money here!), the effete glitter years and… a new life as an ordained minister? Zeitgeistworld: Hey Monti! What’s up with you? Monti Rock III: First of all, I thank you for searching me out. I guess most people think I’m dead. Right? Zeitgeist: To be honest, I don’t think most people under 40 have any idea about you and your contributions. I was a bit surprised that your still doin’ it in Las Vegas. Monti Rock III: I’m working on a movie. The focus of the film is ‘hope and never giving up’. I see it as a guy, the first openly gay man in the 5os and 60s that got on television. The story should start with that. How being openly gay was very romantic in that era. What it was like to be a trailblazer. Everyone knew I was gay. I was very over the top, darling! If you donned long hair and beads and wore pancake make up in 1961, if that wasn’t openly gay, what was it? The ‘queens’ didn’t do that back then.” read more…

He’s in Las Vegas, he has a blog and it’s here: Monti’s Blog – January 2013

Las Vegas Information, Miscellaneous

Full Wolf Moon – January 26, 2013 at 8:40 P.M. Las Vegas time

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This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac:
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred.

These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

The Moon for January, 2013: The Full Wolf Moon
This full Moon appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the Old Moon. To some Native American tribes, this was the Snow Moon, but most applied that name to the next full Moon, in February.

Miscellaneous

‘CBGB’ Filmmakers to Tell Story of Famed Caribou Records

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caribou
Caribou

3:08 PM PST 1/14/2013 by Borys Kit

Randall Miller and Jody Savin will write the script for “Caribou Records,” with Miller to direct.

Randall Miller and Jody Savin
Randall Miller and Jody Savin

After wrapping their rock feature CBGB, Randall Miller and Jody Savin are hoping to keep the music going with a new music-themed project, this one on famed recording studio Caribou Records.

Alan Rickman to Star in CBGB Founder Biopic

Donal Logue Set to Co-Star in Rock Film ‘CBGB’ (Exclusive)

Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins to Play Iggy Pop in Rock Film ‘CBGB’ (Exclusive)

Miller and Savin will write the script with Miller directing the project. It will produce via their Unclaimed Freight banner along with Brad Rosenberger, their music business partner.

Titled Caribou Records, the movie will aim to tell the story of the music studio run by James William Guercio in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Caribou Ranch - Nederland, Colorado
Caribou Ranch - Nederland, Colorado

Guercio was a record producer who also managed Chicago. From around 1971 to 1985, when a fire destroyed the studio, Caribou was the site of recordings by Paul McCartney, Elton John — who titled his chart-topping 1974 album Caribou after the studio — Chicago, Joe Walsh and Amy Grant, among others.

The filmmakers will work with Guercio on the film, mining his stories, and the music man will serve in a producer capacity.

Miller said they gravitated to Guercio because of his maverick personality.

“He left Hollywood to go to the wilds of Colorado and put everything on the line,” said Miller. “Everyone thought he was nuts. But all these artists — from John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Elton John, the Beach Boys — came out there. He’s basically this young guy who had a crazy dream.” read more…

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Miscellaneous

The Full Cold Moon: December’s Moon, December 28 at 2:22 A.M. Pacific Time

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This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Full Moon Names
December’s Full Moon is called the Full Cold Moon. It is the month when the winter cold fastens its grip and the nights become long and dark.

This full Moon is also called the Long Nights Moon by some Native American tribes.

From Western Washington University
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months.

Here are two of those names:

Mali Keating Abenaki historian and storyteller
Mali Keating Abenaki historian and storyteller

Back East
Abenaki – Northeast, Maine
According to WWU, in the Abenaki language the name for December’s Moon is: “pebonkas” or “winter maker moon.”

Hopi Angel
Hopi Angel

Out West
Hopi – Southwest, Arizona
According to WWU, in the Hopi language the name for December’s Moon is: “kyaamuya” or “moon of respect.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University

Miscellaneous

Teen with untreatable form of cancer writes song to say goodbye

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17-year-old Zach Sobiech of Lakeland, Minn.
17-year-old Zach Sobiech of Lakeland, Minn.

A teenager suffering from an untreatable form of cancer is now saying goodbye – through song.
After learning he just had months – or maybe a year – to live, 17-year-old Zach Sobiech of Lakeland, Minn., created a song titled “Clouds,” to say goodbye to friends and family, KSL TV reported.

He posted his song on YouTube, which has had close to 400,000 views. It’s also available to download on iTunes.

An avid musician who loves playing guitar, Zach sings in the chorus, “And we’ll go up, up, up, but I’ll fly a little higher. We’ll go up in the clouds, because the view is a littler nicer. Up here, my dear. It won’t be long now; it won’t be long now.”

Zach was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2009. A rare, cancerous bone tumor, osteosarcoma affects just 800 people each year in the U.S., with the average age of diagnosis usually around 15 years old. Since learning of his cancer, Zach has gone through months of chemo, a major hip replacement, various minor surgeries and four thoracotomies (lung surgeries) Read more:

Here’s the very cool song on the Tube:

Miscellaneous

Jazz composer, pianist Dave Brubeck has died

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Dave Brubeck
Dave Brubeck

Dec. 5, 2012, 12:07 PM EST
By PAT EATON-ROBB, The Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck, whose pioneering style in pieces such as “Take Five” caught listeners’ ears with exotic, challenging rhythms, has died. He was 91.

Brubeck died Wednesday morning of heart failure after being stricken while on his way to a cardiology appointment with his son Darius, said his manager, Russell Gloyd. Brubeck would have turned 92 on Thursday read more…

Miscellaneous

Take Action to Preserve Wyoming’s Wild Horses!

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Wild horses in Adobe Town. Photo by Carol Walker
Wild horses in Adobe Town. Photo by Carol Walker

Take Action to Preserve Wyoming’s Wild Horses!
BLM is planning another destructive roundup of Wyoming’s wild horses. This time the agency has set its sights on the Adobe Town and Salt Wells herds in the southwestern section of the state—some of the largest remaining in the West.

In addition, BLM plans to sell oil and gas development leases within the herd areas without any analysis as to how it will impact the wild horses.

For the second time in three years these two herds would be forced to endure a helicopter stampede. The reason? Livestock. The Rock Springs Grazing Association (RGSA) leases the private and public portions of the checkerboard lands (1 square mile public, 1 square mile private) along the I-80 corridor. RSGA filed a lawsuit last year demanding removal of all the wild horses in the checkerboard lands. This would result in wiping out the vast majority of Wyoming’s wild horses, including many Adobe Town horses and nearly all of the Salt Wells bands read more…

Miscellaneous

November’s Full Moon on November 28th: The Full Beaver Moon

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November’s Full Moon – November 28 at 6:47 A.M. Las Vegas time.

This Video narrated by Amy Nieskens is from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.

Each full Moon name was applied to the entire month in which it occurred. These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.

November’s full Moon was called the Full Beaver Moon because it was the time to set traps, before the waters froze over. This Moon was also called the Full Frost Moon.

From Western Washington University
American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are two of those names:

Hopi House
Hopi House

OUT WEST
Hopi – Southwest, Arizona

According to WWU the Hopi word for November’s Moon is “kelmuya” or “moon of fledgling hawk.”

Longhouse
Northeastern Longhouse

BACK EAST
Passamaquoddy, Northeast U.S. – St. Croix River Region

According to WWU the Passamaquoddy word for November’s Moon is “kelotonuhket” or “freezing moon.”

The Old Farmer’s Almanac
Western Washington University
Visit the main pages of LasVegasBuffetClub.Com

Miscellaneous

Calif.-Vegas party train could hit tracks in 2013

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Party train - Southern California and Las Vegas.
Party train - Southern California and Las Vegas.

7 hr ago By Michelle Rindels
A new ‘party train’ service between Southern California and Las Vegas is a step closer to reality after a deal was struck with the Union Pacific Railroad last week.

LAS VEGAS — As if a weekend in Las Vegas isn’t wild enough for Southern Californians, a Nevada entrepreneur is about to add five more hours of party to either end.

After striking an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad last week, the Las Vegas Railway Express is one step closer to bringing to life the X Train, a luxurious “party train” complete with big screen TVs, recliners and two ultra lounges.

“The whole idea is when you get on a train, you feel like you’re in Las Vegas,” said Michael Barron, president and CEO of the $100 million venture that hopes to launch its maiden voyage on New Year’s Eve 2013. “It’s essentially a nightclub on wheels.”

Tourists can’t get from Southern California to Las Vegas by rail alone, and Barron’s company isn’t the first to try and fix that. The much-talked-about XpressWest project proposes a high-speed train connecting Sin City to the region from which it draws 25 percent of its tourists.

But it’s a multi-billion-dollar proposal that would require setting new tracks, and it’s often panned as a “train to nowhere” because the first phase would start in relatively obscure Victorville, about 100 miles outside of Los Angeles.

The X Train proposal calls for an Amtrak crew aboard a 576-passenger train that runs at standard speeds on traditional tracks.

It would start in Fullerton, Calif. — already home to an Amtrak station and part of Southern California’s Metrolink commuter train network — and end in downtown Las Vegas read more…