The attraction of casino games is universal. Taking one’s place at the table provides a jolt of excitement; the games are fun to play, and the prospect of a big win is appealing to players of all levels.
For centuries, casinos have been popular destinations for celebrities and “regular” people alike. In the late 1800s it was not uncommon for tourists to go to the casino in the hope of spotting the “stars” of the time, which included authors like Dostoyevsky, musicians like Johann Strauss, and even the future King of England, who played under an assumed name and sometime in disguise. Business tycoons and European nobility often tested their luck at the various popular games of the time.
Today, casinos are still a favorite haunt of celebrities, but thanks to mass media and the internet, it is far easier for us to spot them.
Maiara Walsh, Austin Abke, Bryan Bockbrader, Adam Guthrie, Danny Trejo
Bryan Bockbrader
Here’s a tip for those hoping to get reviews of their new indie film by cold-writing movie critics: make sure your movie has Danny Trejo or Tony Todd in it, preferably both. “VANish” has both, and here we are.
“VANish” hits video and on demand this week. Writer and director Bryan Bockbrader tells us that he shot the film in 13 days, which brings to mind the story of how Robert Rodriguez shot “El Mariachi” on a $7,000 budget. The comparison is an apt one, as “VANish” is a warped wet dream of chatty Tarantino wise asses with “From Dusk Till Dawn” levels of bloodshed, and the entire movie takes place inside of a van, hence the capitalization in the title (and possibly a reference to the first half of “From Dusk Till Dawn,” which mostly takes place inside an RV). The majority of the acting fails the plot – and in some ways, the plot fails the plot – but it is a fun distraction, even if it pains us to think of a Tarantino/Rodriguez bloodfest like this as the two-decade nostalgia trip that it is.
College student Emma (Maiara Walsh) is kidnapped by Jack (Austin Abke) and Max (Bockbrader, the writer and director himself). They go to pick up their driver Shane (Adam Guthrie) with the intent of arranging a drop with Emma’s estranged father, drug lord Carlos (Trejo). Emma is not afraid of these guys in the slightest, and tells her dad as much in her kidnapping video. War veteran Jack, however, thinks he has everything under control, but as the job gets botched (on a number of levels), the three accomplices learn things about the other that cause mistrust to settle in. Oh, and did we mention that the damsel in distress is the daughter of a drug lord? (We did.) She is surely a delicate flower, and wouldn’t think of exploiting the circumstances at the first opportunity. Or the second. Or the third.
Christina Aguilera found herself playing the Wheel of Musical Impressions on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Both of them were pretty impressive with their impressions but Christina stole the show with an epic imitation of Britney Spears singing “This Little Piggy.”
What’s the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant? Some guys just don’t know, and there’s no shame in that.
Deodorant is a substance applied to the body to prevent body odor caused by the bacterial breakdown of perspiration in armpits, feet and other areas of the body. A subgroup of deodorants, called antiperspirants, affect odor as well as prevent sweating by affecting sweat glands.
Even though antiperspirants are a sub-species, they offer an additional layer of effectiveness. Sure, deodorant smells good, but it doesn’t protect you from sweating in the first place. And nothing ruins the look imbued by that $200 Calvin Klein dress shirt when visible sweat stains are pouring out of your underarms.
Plus, who wants to go to the store and buy some Certain-Dri? That’s straight emasculating, yo. Even though I’ve “heard” it works.
Brut supplied me with two flavors of its new antiperspirant, which now offers 48 hours of protection: Stamina and Overdrive.
What’s funny about Overdrive is that it has a subtle, almost floral scent. My 7-year-old daughter took a whiff and said, “That smells like a flower.”
When she inhaled some of the Stamina scent, she said, “That smells powerful.” And it’s true; Stamina was more forthright, more direct. Overdrive is subtle, yet crisp — fun and fruity.
So now that your underarm game is straightened out, what about your wig? Pert Plus New Thickening 2-in-1 wants to be your Valentine.
I’ve used Pert Plus before, way back. I used to think it was just for old people; it smelled like a clinic, it’s unseemly green bottle tucked away at the very back of the shower ledge for years. But a couple years ago, Pert Plus Classic Clean went strong to the bucket. The thickening agent is the latest new addition to a classic line.
Pert Plus was actually the first 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner on the market, back in 1987, when “Three Men and a Baby” was king.
The new Thickening 2-in-1 features a pH-balanced fortifying formula that strengthens and boosts density for hair that looks and feels two times thicker.
Enriched with caffeine, hydrating vitamins and protein-dense minerals, Thickening 2-in-1 moisturizes and helps improve fine or thinning hair. It may even strenghten your mustache to new Tom Selleck-esque levels. The new formula features the new scent “Rapid Rush,” a fresh, cool and masculine fragrance.
Just like before, I was really impressed with the new Pert product, and I also used it as a body wash once again because its contents were so robust. I used it for almost two months and I’m not even a third of the way through the bottle. For just north of $3.00 at a fine retailer near you, it’s a steal.
