My Trip to Las Vegas During "El Nino" in the 1990s, (Autobiography) My Father Bought Me a Vacation. Truly a Blessing Because The Endless Rain Was Depressing.

He Proposed that I White Water Raft the Colorado River thru the Grand Canyon. Just Like the Book "The Monkey Wrench Gang" by Edward Abbey... I Declined that offer because I Was Afraid that the Extreme Rain would Make Rafting Too Dangerous... 

SO, I Spent a Week in Las Vegas. Riding the Rides, Drinking Booze and Playing Slot Machines.

My Travel Agent Booked me in a No-Name Motel Right on Las Vegas Boulevard Between Circus Circus and New York New York. Within Walking Distance to Everything. 

My Main Goal was to Ride the Star Trek Simulator at the Hilton. It Has a Trekkie themed Casino/Sports Betting Lounge for Me to Wait in Until it was time to Ride the Ride. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek:_The_Experience
We all got on a Spaceship and Had a Battle with Klingons... Yep... Then I Rode the Monorail to the Luxor... Where they Had a 3D Movie. Totally Surrealistic as Their 3D Quality Really Made it Seem real. 

I Also enjoyed the Treasure Island Battle between Pirates and the English Navy. Taking Place in a Pool on the Street. The Pirates Won... Hey, It's Las Vegas... Pirates WIN Here... 

Then I walked over to the RIO Hotel and Enjoyed the Mardi Gras Float that was Flying over the Slot Machines... A Band, Singers and Dancers performed the Song "Aiko-Aiko" while riding the Float that was Attached to a Track in the Ceiling... Throwing Beads... and the Waitresses were Beautiful and Served Free Drinks as Long as I was Playing a Slot Machine... 

I rode the Roller Coaster at New York New York and Enjoyed Whooshing Past the Giant Statue of Liberty... Then Inside the Casino there was a Billy Joel Imitator Playing "Piano Man."

I walked over to the STRATOSFEAR Tower and Got in Line for the Roller Coaster at the Top... BUT I SELECTED TO NOT GO. I Have Limits to How mush Fear I want to Experience and... I Never Rode a Roller Coaster Again... Ever... Anywhere... 

My Motel Had a FREE "Bloody Mary Fountain" pouring Booze 24 Hours a Day and I Did Drink whenever I was Near... But I was Not Near Very Much... I was Mostly Visiting Rides... and Casinos... Circus Circus Had an Excellent Buffet and That was My Main Source of Food. Yes, They DID Have a High Wire Trapeze Act on the Ceiling... 

I Remember FLASHING NEON LIGHTS... Like the Hallucinations of an LSD Trip Without Actually Eating the Drug... Fantastic!

Read More of My Autobiography at:
https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2018/03/growing-up-in-los-gatos-california-in.html

YOU MAY CHANGE THE WORDS IF YOU WANT TO...  Plenty of Space to Write Your MANIFESTO... Or The Great American Novel... WhatEVER!

"Art in the Time of Coronavirus" T-Shirt
by gregvan

Great Books: EARTH FIRST! Direct Action Manual, Timber Wars by Judi Bari, Redwood Uprising by Steve Ongerth

https://earthfirstjournal.org/store/product/earth-first-direct-action-manual-third-edition/

Earth First! Direct Action Manual. 

NOTE: We want to make sure the Direct Action Manual can get in the hands of any activist or group that will put it to use. If you would like to order more than 10 copies, or would like to negotiate a price different than the prices listed here, please contact us!

collective[at]earthfirstjournal.org; (561) 320-3840

The DAM is almost 300 pages of diagrams, descriptions of techniques and a comprehensive overview of the role direct action plays in resistance—from planning an action, doing a soft blockade, putting up a treesit or executing a lockdown; to legal and prisoner support, direct action trainings, fun political pranks, and more. The DAM has been compiled and updated by frontline activists from around the US to help spread the knowledge and get these skills farther out in the world.

Single Copies: $15—This is just barely above cost for printing and shipping—a little money is still being generated for the Earth First! Journal and the Direct Action Fund. Thanks!

https://www.amazon.com/Timber-Wars-Judi-Bari/dp/1567510264

Timber Wars. 

Darryl Cherney Says: I was Judi's organizing partner for the full 9 years I knew her. Her writings are humorous, easy on the eye, and insightful. Most important, like any autobiographical work, they give an insiders insight into the topic at hand. Pieces Why I Hate the Corporate Press are funny and poignant. There was one chapter I disagreed with: Showdown at the Earth First corral. I was present at most or all of the events Judi writes about and she's spot on. It's a limited edition, so buy it while you can!

https://www.judibari.info/book

Redwood Uprising: From One Big Union to Earth First! and the Bombing of Judi Bari