Saw a great show last night up at the Emerald Queen Casino.  Rick took me to Spike and the Impaler as a birthday present.  I loved watching this band because they were doing all cover songs  but with total commitment.  Members revolved and switched instruments they had guests and an ambitious song list.Rick called it a rock and roll revue which is really what it was, not a cover band.  The staging was great, some completely inspiring images of guitarist on smokey back-lit stage very awesome.

Afterward we wandered the casino floor for a few minutes watching the games, trying to not be too intrusive, people are nervous about strangers watch them loss their money.  I was intrigued to see people moving their hands over the lcd monitors on the slot machines in ritualized prayers or communing with the spirits.  I am far too cynical to think that they computer-based machines are anything more interesting than an arcade game and that is what they are for, to entertain you for few minutes for a few bucks.  The idea that someone can win money back from them seems so beyond to border of chance because they can so obviously be controlled or programed or whatever to do exactly what the house wants them to do.  maybe that's the way all he machines have always been.  Fascinating and depressing place to be for too long.  Reminds me of Wall-E