'Haven’ Bites the Dust

In case you’re a fan of the AMC Channel’s Haven, and haven’t kept up with the news, the supernatural/horror/mystery series was cancelled last year, effective at the close of the current season.

The show’s two-hour series finale (titled “Now” and “Forever”) will air tonight, Thursday, Dec. 17.

Haven is based on Stephen King's 2005 novella, The Colorado Kid. Seasons 1-4 (2010-2013) had 13 episodes each, Season 5 was split into two 13-episode halves, with the first half airing in 2014, and the second half airing this year.

I'm going to miss Audrey, Nathan, Duke, and Dwight — not to mention all those intriguing "troubles" that they had to deal with.

But I have to say it was a good run while it lasted.

Phone Pix 59: Las Vegas Christmas Decorations

The Las Vegas casinos make sure their guests feel comfortable and Christmasy with expertly designed Yuletide decorations.

Well, if they're going to put them up, I'm gonna photograph them. Some past years' mobile camera photographs:



Rocking Santa, Dec. 12, 2013, Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas, NV



McCarran Airport Arrival Area, Dec. 12, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

McCarran Airport Arrival Area, Dec. 12, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

Triple 7 Brewery and Restaurant, Main Street Station,
Dec. 12, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

Main Street Station, Dec. 12, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

Main Street Station, Dec. 13, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

Main Street Station, Dec. 13, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

The Palazzo, Dec. 13, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

The Palazzo, Dec. 13, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

The Palazzo, Dec. 13, 2014,  Las Vegas, NV

McCarran Airport Check-In, Dec. 16, 2014

The Bellagio Conservatory Winter Floral Display

Bellaggio Lobby Christmas Trees

For some reason, I felt particularly overjoyed to view the winter display at the Bellagio Hotel this year. I dunno, I must have been in a very good mood.

 

 

The polar bears and penguins are back, but they added in some humongous animated transparent Christmas ornaments this year. The choo choo train is back, and that's always delightful. And the giant Christmas tree — who can be blasé about that? 

 

When I got there, they were working on freshening up some of the polar bear "flower fur" and the floral Christmas card. Or maybe they hadn't quite finished with their setting up. No matter; it was interesting to see them at work:

 

 

 

 

As usual, I took plenty of photos of everything else. Here are a few. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, here are a few more from the Bellagio lobby:

 

 

 


Winter Whisper by Jeff Mitchum



I was feeling so good that I even helped a half-dozen couples who wanted their pictures taken together. Me — Santa's photo elf Craig. No wonder I visit Las Vegas annually in December.

 

Having a Play Week

In need of a vacation, I've brought my disappearing act to Las Vegas, and woke up at Bally's this morning. You can find me here, just hanging around doing fun stuff until Friday.

In the meantime, you can find me on Facebook. Otherwise, the Left Field Wander blog will resume on Sunday the 13th.

Mini-Mini-Car

 

I thought a Smart Car was the smallest car I'd seen driving on city streets, but I was badly mistaken.

One day, waiting for the traffic light to turn green at the intersection of McCully and King Streets, I saw a tiny blue auto waiting to make a turn onto McCully. It was smaller than a Smart Car, and smaller than a Cooper Mini, but larger than a Go-Kart.

That was a couple of months ago, and I still don't know what kind of car it was.

What I should have done at the time was follow it and see if I could spot a manufacturer's logo on the rear end. Or, take the bull by the horns, roll down my window, and ask the driver what kind of car it was.

But I didn't. Regretfully, I didn't. And now all I can do is wonder and guess.

Oh well, it's probably not safe to drive on the streets anyway.

Where Hawaii Ranks 38: Integrity

I decided to spend a little more time than usual on this 2015 ranking by The Center of Public Integrity for transparency and accountability. 

1. Alaska (C)
2. California (C)
3. Connecticut (C)
4. HAWAII (D+)
5. Rhode Island (D+)

Well, the good news is that Hawaii is fourth highest. The bad news is that our grade is a D+.

The highest grade was for internal auditing (B). We got C's (C+ to C-) for public access for information (second highest in the nation), political financing, executive accountability, state budget processes, procurement, and ethics enforcement agencies.

We scored D’s for electoral oversight, legislative accountability, and state civil service management.

What about F’s? Did Hawaii fail in anything? You betcha – judicial accountability and lobbying disclosure.

It’s a sad state of affairs, especially for our nation’s 49 other states because Hawaii ranked … fourth highest? Yikes.

Phone Pix 58: Hospital Christmas Decorations

Right around this time, businesses have started putting up their Christmas decorations. The same goes for hospitals. Wherever you go in a hospital, you'll find displays set up to bring a little cheer into your lives as you try to deal with health setbacks.

Many are done by hospital employees. In fact, I'd bet that MOST are.

So ... to kick off the season (now that Thanksgiving has passed), here's what I have in my "Hospital Christmas" file:

Dec. 2, 2013, Kuakini Medical Center Cafeteria, Honolulu, HI

 

Dec. 2, 2013, Kuakini Medical Center Hale Pulama Mau
Building, Honolulu, HI

 

Dec. 2, 2013, Kuakini Medical Center Lobby Fountain, Honolulu, HI

 


Dec. 2, 2013, Kuakini Medical Center Lobby Christmas Tree,
Honolulu, HI

 

Dec. 2, 2013, Kuakini Medical Center Hale Pawaa
Building, Honolulu, HI

 

Dec. 18, 2014, Queen's Medical Center,
Honolulu, HI

 

Dec. 18, 2014, Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, HI

Who Are They?

Here's a list of 20 famous people's real names. Do you know what their more-familiar names are? The more you know or remember, the better your chances to win bar bets.

1. Audrey Kathleen Ruston
2. Tara Leigh Patrick
3. Joan Alexandra Mokeski
4. Carlos Irwin Estevez
5. Jessica Howard
6. Julie Anne Smith
7. Andre Romelle Young
8. Nikolas Kim Coppola
9. Peter Gene Beyot Hernandez
10. Dana Elaine Owens
11. Stevlan Hardaway Judkins
12. Ralph Lifshitz
13. Caryn Elaine Johnson
14. Eric Marlon Bishop
15. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta
16. Reginald Kenneth Dwight
17. Demetria Gene Guynes
18. Robert Allen Zimmerman
19. Ilyena Lydia Vasilievna Mironov
20. Allan Stewart Konigsberg

(The answers are in the post below this one.)

Answers to ‘Who Are They?’

Here are the answers to the post above — "Who Are They?"

1. Audrey Hepburn
2. Carmen Electra
3. Joan Rivers
4. Charlie Sheen
5. Jessica Chastain
6. Julianne Moore
7. Dr. Dre
8. Nicholas Cage
9. Bruno Mars
10. Queen Latifah
11. Stevie Wonder
12. Ralph Lauren
13. Whoopi Goldberg
14. Jamie Foxx
15. Lady Gaga
16. Elton John
17. Demi Moore
18. Bob Dylan
19. Helen Mirren
20. Woody Allen

How many did you get?

Kuakini Discovery Center

 

The last time I accompanied the wife to the Kuakini Medical Center's MRI room, I went wandering around a little bit to find a cup of coffee that would keep me warm and busy during my wait.

Along the way, I found the Kuakini Discovery Center. It's like a little museum room with interesting articles and implements about the history of the hospital.

I remember seeing something like this at Queen's Medical Center a while back. So after getting my coffee, I stopped by again and spent some time checking out interesting things about Kuakini.

I'd tell you what's in there, but you might want to just visit for yourself. It's just around the corner from the gift shop and MRI room. Check it out the next time you enter the hospital from the garage tunnel.

Photos I took: