The Difference Between 'Lie' and 'Lay'

Big Nate Comic Strip, May 1, 2013

Big Nate can't stand being overly corrected. I get that. But really now, shouldn't people know the difference between "lie" and "lay"? His best friend, Francis "Butthurst" Pope knows the difference, but unfortunately, he's trying too hard to explain it.

Actually, it's not that hard, and Butthurst explains it very well. Good thing he didn't get into the various tenses of the two words. That's when it gets complicated.

What me to explain it? Okay, here goes ... *ahem* ... The past tense of "lay" is "laid." But "laid" is also the past participle. The present participle is "laying." Got that? Okay, now the past tense of "lie" is "lay," the past participle is "lain," and the present participle is "lain." Got that? Good.

What do you mean, "What's a past participle?"?

An iPad Dinner

Since we're on the subject of my most recent Las Vegas vacation ...

The first night I was at the Red Rock Resort 'way up west on Charleston Boulevard, I dined at Terra Rosa, a fine-dining establishment that serves Italian cuisine.

Before leaving the room, I automatically grabbed my iPad, then as I was leaving, changed my mind and left the iPad in the room. I just thought it would be tacky to turn it on and read stuff while in a classy restaurant.

I needn't have worried. There were a couple of people there, all mature and distinguished-looking, who turned on iPads.

The one pictured at left was actually a doctor (I heard him talking to a colleague on FaceTime), so I guess it was a good way to keep in touch and consult while on vacation having dinner.

The picture is blurred because ... well, even an iPad user needs some privacy.

Hotel Privacy Gizmos

During my Las Vegas vacation in September, I stayed at two different resort hotels in order to take advantage of free and heavily discounted rooms.

Remember the privacy card that you find hanging on the inside of the door knob, and how you hang it on the outside to advise housekeeping that you want privacy and don't want to be bothered? And remember how sometimes another guest would steal the card for their own use?

Well, that doesn't have to happen anymore. Many hotels have gotten rid of their privacy door hangers and switched to electronic indicator switches.

Red Rock Resort Privacy Control

At the Red Rock Resort, the privacy switch was on the wall just inside the room right next to the light switches. Press the top button to turn on the "Do Not Disturb" light on the outside, and the bottom button to tell the maid to "Make-Up Room."

Swiped privacy door hanger problem solved.

Encore Resort Privacy Control

At the Encore Resort, they go one better. They have a separate console next to the bed that controls not only the privacy instructions, but the room lights, and window drapes and sheers as well. All combined with an alarm clock.

I've had similar ones at the Venetian and the Palazzo.

Hey! The more expensive the room (even if you don't have to pay for it), the better the amenities, no?

Random Musings 23

Is it possible for vampires to take “selfies”?

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If Snuffleupagus is Big Bird’s imaginary friend that only he can see, how come I can see him too?

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Did Harry Houdini have any pets? And if so, were they always escaping?

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Even if male pattern baldness is inherited, can we pick our own pattern?

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If a snowman copies his butt on a Xerox machine, will anything show up in the copy?

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie-s-e-e-e

 

Somewhere in that mass of humanity known as Auburn University football fans storming the field after an incredible 99-yard runback after a last-second Alabama University field goal fell short of its mark last Saturday ... was someone with a secret mission.

The mission: Drop the cremated remains of a beloved relative, spouse, friend or pet (who apparently wanted his or her or its remains scattered there) on the Iron Bowl field.

The culprit: We probably will never know who did it.

You know what Auburn Prof. Scott McElroy said about that? "It happens a lot more than you think."

Ya think?

I kid you not.

Pinky's Hot Dogs

Pinky's, Red Rock Resort, Las Vegas

Have you ever had a Pinky's hot dog? It's pretty much a landmark in Los Angeles, and despite living in LA for 10 years, I never even knew the stand on La Brea existed. Well, my bad.

Anyway, I learned about the famous doggie joint a couple of years ago, and the last time I visited Las Vegas, I saw that they had a concession in the Red Rock Casino 'way west on Charleston Blvd.

Unfortunately, although I stayed there two night, I didn't get a chance to eat one of their famous wieners on a bun. Hey! I had committed to a restaurant tour of the Red Rock and Wynn/Encore, and let me tell you, when you have a late breakfast and an early dinner, there's no time (or tummy room) for a gourmet hot dog.

Pinky's Hot Dog Menu

So anyway, I did the next best thing. I took a couple of pictures and poked my nose around in the place. Absolutely drool-worthy and I promised myself I was going to try it out the next time I get to Vegas. And if not then, then the next time after that.

Damn, I'm drooling again.

University of Hawaii Football: It's Kind of Pathetic

Honolulu Star-Advertiser Photo

The University of Hawaii football team is rather pathetic this year. But y'know, they finally won a game, their last of the season, when they beat Army 49-42 on Saturday night.

The Rainbow Warriors did the deed in Aloha Stadium, where in times of glory past, very good football teams from powerhouse conferences across the nation have come to bask in the sunshine, party on the beach, and lose to the University of Hawaii.

No more. The team is rather pathetic this year, or should I say was? Coach Norm Chow is probably going to be given a pass this year, but unless he improves on his miserable two-year 4-20 record, he'll likely be history and join an ever-growing list of coaches who couldn't perform even at Hawaii's low level.

And that's what makes the picture above so pathetic ... that winning the last game of the season to avert a total shutout could elicit such happiness and joy.

Pathetic.

Phone Pix 11: Restaurant Meals

Like so many other people who own smart phones and take pictures of their food when they eat out, I have succumbed to the practice as well.

 

Most of the time, the pictures are used to illustrate my restaurant blog (A Place for My Taste, link on the right side of this page), and sometimes I post them directly to my Facebook page so my friends can drool to their heart's content.

 

So now, I get to share some of them with you:

 

Fried Shrimp, Sanoya Rahmen, Sept. 9, 2013
 

Pork Tonkatsu, Yuki's Japanese Restaurant
Fremont, CA, Sept. 20, 2013

Sweet 'n Sour Spareribs, Zippy's McCully, Oct. 12, 2013

 

Steak and Eggs, Big City Diner Ward, Oct. 22, 2013

 

Avocado Sushi, Gyotaku McCully, Nov. 4, 2013

 

Chili Moco, Zippy's Moiiliili, Nov. 10, 2013

 

Won Ton Soup Appetizer, Asia Manoa, Nov. 25, 2013

Best-Ever Collegiate City Rivalry

 

The University of Southern California (USC) Trojan football team locks horns with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins today for the 83rd time today, the 67th to be contested in the Los Angeles Coliseum (the balance played at the Rose Bowl, UCLA's home field).

USC has won 46 of these games; UCLA 29. Seven have ended in ties.

The rivalry game, usually played at the end of the college football season, usually has implications in the Pac-12 conference, and often for the national title. At the very least, the winner has bragging rights as "owner" of Los Angeles for a whole year.

And, the winner holds onto the Victory Bell for a year. The supporting trolley is currently blue, because UCLA won last year.

The annual rivalry is not just a game in Los Angeles, it's week, Banners are up all over the place, with about a 50-50 split between USC and UCLA supporters. Even families are divided ... engaged couples ... brothers ... sisters ... it's incredible.

When I lived in Los Angeles for 10 years, I remember seeing booster signs all over the place. I remember seeing the Tommy Trojan statue sans his sword blade because UCLA pranksters had broken it off. I remember hearing stories about raids on the UCLA campus, and retaliatory raids on the USC campus.

This year, I've got one of those hard-to-find "fucla" tee-shirts that I plan to wear while watching the game from my couch. I'll have on my USC cap as well.

Fight on!

Damaris Phillips

I didn't watch Season 9 of Food Network Star; well, maybe I saw a couple of episodes, but I didn't watch it religiously. One thing though, I knew Kentucky chef and culinary teacher Damaris Phillips was going to win.

And y'know what? I was right. Every week, although I didn't watch the show, I checked to see who was still in the running. One by one they were eliminated, until the last episode, when Damaris picked up the crown and won her own Food Network show.

I've been watching her show, Southern at Heart, since its inception a few weeks ago. It runs at 5:30 in the freaking morning on Sundays, which means I have never (and never will) wake up in time to see it when it runs. Thank Heaven for DVR. I record it and watch it at a more reasonable hour, which is a good thing, because now I can rewind to view a segment over again, and pause it to drink in her good looks.

Damaris has such a comfortable way about her. Her mannerisms and homey dialogue make not only her guests (guys learning to cook for their love) comfortable, but the audience as well. There is absolutely nothing fake about this lady.

Plus, the dishes she prepares are so down-to-earth and easy to make. At least it seems so, and a lot of that is because of her wonderful personality.

She only has six episodes this season, and that makes only one more Sunday that I can wake up to this great lady.

Can't wait until she does more.

You can connect with Damaris Phillips on Twitter (@ChefDPhillips) and on Facebook.