As you most likely know, I've hit some hard times. Yet, I have no desire to pump round after round of searing lead into anyone---even the one who put me here (persona non grata). Fancy that. But now, alas, I have nothing to do ever. And so it is that you must bear witness to my directionless ramble.

Recently, some friends took me out for a night on the town. Only the finest liquors and sophisticated company could help heal my wounds. We ended up at the largest casino I have ever seen--an Indian casino not far from where I live.

Some observations:

There were a lot of asians there. My recollection of that not quite sober night was of an endless ocean of asians. Chinese, Japanese, Korean...all the colors of the rainbow. I say this, of course, not in any mean or racist spirit. Indeed, you all well know I have a strong fondness for the peoples of Asia. They are, in my experience, a clean, industrious people whose women often have features I find agreeable. I digress. I only mean to point out they did, as I recall, constitute the majority of both the employees and the customers.

This is a sociological mystery that I shall one day solve. My only clue thus far is a number of tour buses in the parking areas with an asian script. (Vacation in America = a night of gambling? By the way, I solved the mystery of the Indians that own hotels. Ask me and I'll tell you some time.)

There were many old people there. Indeed, the elderly seemed to make up a slight majority. (Obviously, there was quite a bit of overlap with the asians.) There is nothing sadder than a seventy year old, chainsmoking, leatherfaced woman plugging nickel after nickel into the slots, looking for the jackpot.

There is less of a mystery here---what else do old people have to do?

Craps is easy. I won about thirty bucks.

You could live the rest of your life in such a casino. They have every store you could ever need. It is like it's own little city.

On a completely unrelated note, I started a myspace page (against my better judgment), so that I might keep up with everything going on amongst various people--most of who read this blog. If you desire, I am sure you are crafty enough to locate it with the myspace search feature. If you are a bit more slow witted than I would hope, give me a call and I'll send you to the right location.

PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MAN!