I don’t think the people who make that argument mean it as a compliment.

I have to agree.

Sam and I were there together one time (I think you were there, Sam), eating in the expensive restaurant halfway up the Eiffel Tower when one of our colleagues looked out at the moon hovering over the strip, and said, “You know, they do that well.”

Seems like the essence of Vegas to me.

Vegas won’t survive when the Colorado river (very likely) nearly dries up later this century.

These groups did not have any particular meeting sites or buildings within which to perform their rituals. All they had were wagons and a few mules. So they developed a whole series of mobile techniques to develop concentration and pattern recognition skills. Most notably, there was the Tarot. Some meditated by staring into crystal balls. However, some of the more dexterous practitioners juggled. They could easily juggle for an hour at a time sitting on their wagons or even while on horseback.

Through the use of the wooden balls in the picture, they were able to reach a meditative state similar to those achieved by Tibetan monks. However, while the monks’ state of mind is all about stillness and oneness, this gypsy ritual was all about dynamics and inter-connectivity. When they were not in use, they were stored in a wooden box, hidden in secret compartments within the wagons. The perfect roundness and shine of each ball is a testament to their constant use.

I hope you’ll grace us again with your work. Lovely stuff.

I doubt I would have guessed this if I hadn’t taken the shot, myself. Good eye, Tina!