And so the story begins…

We made the short journey to Hoover Dam. Very beautiful, and an amazing piece of engineering. There are a couple of photos below, but they don’t do justice to both the scale and the majesty of the place. After battling the traffic out of Arizonia, we crossed back into Nevada for our journey to San Francisco. Due to the roadworks taking place, this took a lot longer than expected. But in we were in no rush. We crossed the California/Nevada border with a most amazing full moon rising behind us. Beautiful county side.

Driving was a very interesting experience. After a lifetime of driving on the left hand side of the road, to switch across to the right was a bizzare one. One gets used to driving in a certain fashion. Driving on the right hand side of the car, you instinctively know where your car sits in its lane, and all the other things that keep you out of trouble. All that went out the metophoric window! As most of you will know, long road trips are very draining physically. (Our trip was the equivalent of Melbourne to Syney, give or take… no walk in the park). Couple that with the extra care and concentration required by driving on both the wrong side of the car and road, is very hard. And finally, US drivers are nuts… and the cars, freakin’ huge. Unnecessarily so. As an aside, there is a reason cars have indicators.

Anyway. So we’re driving along Highway 15. Having never been to southern California, I’m interested in seeing where we are and what is about. Probably not such a good idea. It had been a long day, and I was getting pretty tired. Apparently… “alledgely”… I’m all over the road. According to whom you may ask? None other than the Californian highway patrol. Oh, and my girlfriend! Bloody loyalty! Now, lets just say the cops in the States are a little more serious than those back in Australia. It’s spotlights, commands over the loudspeaker, hand on holsters. Let’s just say that these guys don’t have a sense of humour. They think I might have been drinking. We play the dumb tourists… no idea what we are doing and all that (which we were pretty much). They do their checks, making sure we stay where we are and all. I’m let off with a warning, thanking JC, Buddha and Eric Clapton that we didn’t get shot. Or arrested. We’re tired. Probably a good time to stop for the night.

We decide to stop in Victorville. About 100 miles or so north-east of Los Angeles. It’s dark, so we have no idea if this is a good neighbourhood or not. We find a hotel… we’re tired… it’ll do! Not expecting five star, just after somewhere clean, comfortable to rest for the night. We get to our room, and let’s face it, it’s a shithole. But we’ll get back to that. Now, we are essentially in the fucking desert, in winter. It gets damn cold at night. And the heater in the room doesn’t work. Good start. We, well Fi, goes to complain. On route, another room along the way has the door open. Pot is billowing out of the room. All well and good, except for the stoned toddler they have with them in the room. Classy place we chose huh? After establishing that the heater doesn’t work, we get a new room. Arguably an even bigger shit hole. I swear it had been months since the sheets had been washed. We go to bed clothed, using pashmina’s over the pillow cases. Fi barely slept. I spent half the evening at the window on guard, fearing god knows what. Come morning we got the fuck out of there. Fi refused to shower, I just about showered fully clothed. We’re never stopping in Victorville again. That said, I’m told I’ll look back on this and laugh. Not fucking likely!

So we are driving along, having a good time all things considered. We have a small crisis with petrol… trying to find a gas station on side roads in the middle of the desert is harder than it sounds. Small tip: in the US you have to pay for your petrol before you fill your car. First time we ever came across this! Trustworthy lot. Anyway, we travel up Highway 5, before making a detour via Gilroy and the huge outlet mall there. More shopping.

We head off from Gilroy late afternoon into San Jose/San Francisco peak hour. Cutting a long story short, we race to the hotel, check in, dump our baggage and head straight back to San Jose for the hockey. Despite some very vague directions from the SatNav system, we make it to the HP Pavillion in time for the game. It was our first hockey game. Scariest moment: the singing of the national anthem. From a country where we either don’t bother, or just mumble because we don’t know the words, this was somewhat of a culture shock. Literally, the biggest cheer of the night came at the end of the Star Spangled Banner. And here we are, one with hands in pockets and the other arms crossed looking at each going WTF? Anyway, Sharks came from behind to snap their current slump and win 9-4. Fi was disappointed because there was no blood on the ice, but we enjoyed it none the less. We slowly head back to the hotel (five star, no fucking about this time thanks to the gang in purple) for a well earned rest and a shower.

Being the good tourists we are, we took plenty of photos of our journey around Las Vegas. Here is a small sample. There are, unfortunately, no pictures of the NYE fireworks… too much smoke, and they are all a little blurry. As you can see from the photos, most of the casinos have a theme of some sort: be it New York, Monte Carlo, Paris, Treasure Island or some such other gimmick. Hence, you’ll see replica Eiffel Tower’s, the Statue of Liberty or the Brooklyn Bridge! It’s bizarre, but that’s Vegas for you! As you can see from some of the photos, they’re not shy about using plenty of water in the fountains and displays around town. The wierdest thing about this: the sign in our hotel bathroom telling us that Southern Nevada and Las Vegas was suffering from a drought and we should try to conserve water! Again, you leave all sense of logic and reality at the door!

A final note. If you are in Vegas any time soon, then don’t forget to check out the Ansel Adams exhibition at the Bellagio. Photography that is truly unmatched.

Click here to see a selection of our photos.

A day of exploration led into a night that promised a lot. We started by go to see the new Cirque du Soleil production called ‘Love’, in conjunction with the Beatles. (One of SIX different CdS productions showing). It was absolutely amazing. (A review may follow, if I ever get around to it). We left the Mirage casino to join the throng of poeple on the ‘Strip’. With the ‘Strip’ closed, you were free to walk down the street as you pleased. As we made our way back to our hotel, the Luxor, people did what people do on new years. However, there was one small exception. Unlike other cities that ban alcohol on such events, in Las Vegas you are free to wonder about with your drink as you please. Be it your two litre jug of beer, or two foot high Eifell Tower margharita. I kid you not!

The fireworks were a little disappointing. Both the Princess and I thought they would put on a better show… but with the hotel pumping us full of champagne in the ‘VIP’ area it kind of made up for it. Our night ended rather tamely, and early. Jet lag, and an ever increasing apathy to NYE kind of has that effect!

Now, if you haven’t visited LAX (especially since 2001), then I probably can’t accurately describe it for you. It has to be experienced. It is without doubt the maddest airport in the world. The queue through customs is a nightmare. You get to the end, and like a common criminal you are photographed and fingerprinted! Now, I know I have said that I would never visit the States as long as such measures are in place… but let’s face it, they’ll only ever get worse. And don’t kid yourself… American’s are’t funny and they don’t get sarcasim. Customs is not the place to play funny guy. I have absolutely no desire to visit Guantanamo Bay, or be on the end of a procto-rectal examination! And a little cultural note… what’s with the pictures of Dubya everywhere? Bizarre! Reminded me of the way Saddam or Mao stuck pictures of themselves up everywhere.

Anyway, once you get through customs, you get to experience the airport… guys invest in a can of paint or two! That done, we got to experience the domestic terminal… much of the same as above, only now I’m shoeless! I finally get my shoes back, but not my bottle of water, and we board our flight to Vegas. The landscape is very inhospitable, being a desert and all. It’s spectacular in a barren kind of way. Then, amongst all the valleys, mountains and desert… a city, literally in the middle of nowhere.

Our first introduction to Vegas was the airport. As you leave the airbridge and head into the airport, not TEN steps off the bridge… POKIES. Welcome to Sin City. After catching a shuttle to our hotel, we arrive in front of a huge pyramid with a massive Sphinx in front. Home for the next few days. The Princess has arrived at her Mecca… and I’m wondering what I’ve gotten myself into. Things have taken a turn to the surreal!

# 1 Thom Yorke - Eraser

The rest in alphabetical order…

The Beatles - Love
Belle And Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Johnny Cash - American V - The Hundred Highways
Jarvis Cocker - Jarvis
Bob Dylan - Modern Times
Easy Star All-Stars - Radiodread
The Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road
Ron Sexsmith - Time Being
Regina Spektor - Begin To Hope

I couldn’t find a spot on the list for the Who’s “Endless Wire”, but hey, brutal decisions needed to be made…

Concert Of The Year: Ian Brown @ The Forum, Melbourne

Now, those of you who are into your music may notice some exceptions from the list above. In putting together this list, I’ve only included albums that I’ve listened to. While I have every intention of listening to the following albums, the fact that I haven’t means they don’t make the list. 2006 wasn’t a great year of musical exploration for me… hopefully 2007 will find me exploring newer paths! Anyway, the list of albums for the above mentioned reason that didn’t make the Top Ten, in no particular order:

Cat Power - The Greatest
Johanna Newson - Ys
Beach House - Beach House
The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
John Legend - Once Again
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - Show Your Bones
Sarah Blasko - What The See Wants, The Sea Will Have
Bob Evans - Surburban Songbook

Click here to see the Top Ten from 2005.

According to the NME, Thom’s favourite Radiohead song is “How To Disappear Completely” from the album Kid A, in 2000. Explaining why, he simply said, “because it’s the most beautiful thing we ever did, I think”.

The choice was not that of Radiohead fans. NME.COM users voted “Just” from “The Bends” as their best-ever Radiohead track in August this year.

If I was forced to name my favourite Radiohead song, I would struggle! It’s a damn hard choice. As a starting point, I’ll go to my Last.fm charts - my most played Radiohead song is “Everything In Its Right Place”, followed by “Paranoid Android”. I think I’ll leave it at that… the more I think about it the more I’ll change my mind, and I’ll never get this post published!

Make up your own mind by checking out each of the songs through Last.fm*:
How To Disappear Completely
Just
Paranoid Android
Everything In Its Right Place

* Requires flash to play!

Keef! Tim Henman! You are kidding me right? So I tried again…

David Seaman? Some ponce from a boy band? Ezra Pound?!? A lot of my friends say I’ll end up a crazy old man walking around talking to myself… is this what I’ll look like! Good God! Most intrigingly though, good ‘ol Chairman Mao. Now considering that dear old Donnie was also told he looked like the Chairman, I wondering how accurate this technology is. On the bright side, at least I don’t look like a chick. Sadly, the same can’t be said for Donnie or Jimmy James!

Now, being a Formula One fan in Australia is tough. As a matter of fact, following anything from outside our fair island is tough. (Just ask any Australian football/soccer fan… it’s brutal). It requires commitment and dedication. An ability to get up at 3 o’clock in the morning to watch a race from the other side of the planet. Anybody who has awoken at that god-awful hour to watch a grand prix from Brasil or Canada knows exactly what I mean! Things aren’t made any easier by the broadcasters. Being forced to stay up until 2 o’clock in the morning to watch the end of a race. Thanks for nothing Channel 10… delaying a broadcast to show a REPEAT of some two bit crime drama. BTW… we prefer the commentary of James and Martin on ITV. I personally, prefer someone who knows that they are talking about. Anyway, I digress. This rant isn’t about the broadcasting of Formula One. It’s about Jacques Villeneuve.

When Jacques burst into Formula One in 1996, it was a breath of fresh air. He was young, brash and had a shit load of talent coupled with an “equally substantial view of his own worth”. Then again, with Gilles as a father, that came as no surprise. After the dark days and months following Ayrton Senna’s death, it was exactly what Formula One needed. On debut, he started from pole position. His four race wins that year saw him finish second in the drivers championship. Another seven wins the following year saw Jacques crowned World Champion in 1997.

Now Jacques was always a little outside the square in the Formula One world. “Characters” I believe they are called. The bleached hair, the baggy racing suit, the failure to conform. Jacques was always willing to speak his mind. When you are winning, that’s fine. An ability to back up what you say with great performances. (Jason Akermanis is a perfect example). When you can no longer back up the words with actions, you become, well, a loudmouth/jackass/insert own slag off here.

Now, I’ve stick by Jacques through thick and thin. The dark days at BAR, the even darker days without a drive. So in 2005, it was great to see JV get a drive with Sauber. Even more exciting was the sale of Sauber to BMW at the end of 2005. The oppurtunity for a competitive drive (and a BMW budget) to show he could still cut it. While never setting the world on fire, he was able to outshine his teammate, the German Nick Heidfeld. Alas, this was not enough for the higher-ups at BMW. Thus JV is again without a drive, and his F1 career is looking all but over. Now Jacques has been reported as saying that “NASCAR is his only viable alternative should he, as seems likely, not continue racing in Formula 1 next year”. Fair enough, but he continued:

“These days, NASCAR isn’t a step down from F1 and, because of that, it’s something you can do without thinking you’re giving up on your career – just as Montoya has done”.
– Villeneuve said in an interview with F1 Racing.

Excuse Me! I don’t think so JV. With this, you lost me. Formula One is the premier form of motor sport on the planet. It has no equal. The speed, power, technology are all unparalleled. Both you and JPM are kidding yourselves. And just because you and a few million rednecks say so, it doesn’t make it any different. Delusion is a wonderful thing!

A final note… Jacques has just released an album. Adding insult to injury. Stick to your day job JV… even if it is racing tanks in the USA!
Adeiu! You’ll be missed JV!

The official Jacques Villeneuve website.

JV’s MySpace Page… and some ‘musical’ samples.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has launched a blog, which can be found here. Mahmoud who you may ask. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President. Iran was part of the so called “axis of evil” proclaimed by President DickWad. (I know I went all Fuck Off Krispy Kreme there, but I’m tired and grumpy). Ahmadinejad swept to a surprise victory in last year’s presidential race by promising the country’s poor a fairer share of Iran’s oil wealth and emphasising his own humble origins that led many to vote for him as an “outsider” to Iran’s ruling elite. His defiance in the stand-off with the West has often played well in the Muslim world, where many are angered by U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. His first post is not much more than a quick autobiography, but future posts should make very, very interesting reading. Even more so, when the focus of US Foreign Policy shifts away from Lebanon and Israel back towards Iran, as it is sure to do.

BTW… while visiting Mahmoud’s blog don’t forget to talk part in his online poll. This months question: “Do you think that the US and Israeli intention and goal by attacking Lebanon is pulling the trigger for another word war?”.

According to Apple Insider, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has been talking up the a new iPod Phone in recent weeks. The article quotes a source who states that the phone is indeed set to launch “earlier than some people may be expecting, in the form of a ‘big bang’ introduction that will catch even some insiders off-guard.” Other iPod rumours include the supposed launch of a touch screen iPod video. As someone suffering from iPod withdrawl, these prospects may delay my re-entry back into iPod ownership. Must have the latest gadgets afterall. Failing that… can always borrow the girlfriends!

For a full history on the iPhone, check out the Mac Rumours guide.

Picture can be found here, while Bharath’s FlickR page is here.