The Bald Heretic – Short, bald dude with a goofy beard

After a nice nap I headed down to the strip. The taxi dropped me off in front of the Paris casino.
Pretty impressive, in a cheezy Vegas sort of way. They even had a replica of the Arc D’Triumph complete with roundabout.

The “Eiffel Tower” is only half the size of the real one. They let you go to the top (for a fee).
The view is pretty nice.

The Bellagio fountain show is something to see. It is hard to capture in still photos.

Also interesting at ground level

I walked around for a bit but it wasn’t long before I decided to head back to the hotel.
The distances are greater than you might think.
The scale is what throws you.
Two casinos side by side is not like two average buildings, it’s like side by side shopping malls.

So far today I have been focusing on the CES event and getting down to what I came here for…learning more about emerging technologies and new products from the software company you love to hate, Microsoft.

Thanks to my editor and colleague at the Houston Chronicle, Dwight Silverman, I had the chance to attend some very “one-on-one” press interviews regarding XBox 360 and the upcoming Windows Vista operating system.

Let me say that I am not a huge console game fan. Never had a Play Station, Gameboy or anything like that. But after what I saw today I could totally see myself with the XBox. It is a fine machine and the advances are quite astounding. I got to see a preview for the upcoming game Dead Rising. The concept of this game is quite simple but beautifully rendered. You must fight your way through a shopping mall full of zombies. It’s quite addictive and very “B” movie.

Windows Vista is going to be very slick and is slated for release around the holidays this year. The new parental controls and media features go way beyond anything we’ve seen previously. I hope to acquire a pre-release beta in the coming weeks.

CES is an amazing event. The scope and scale of what is happening here is almost impossible to convey in words. Even pictures can’t capture the sheer enormity of this event. I am digging it and am very glad I came.

Now it’s back to the hotel for a much needed nappy-nap.
When I wake up me and my camera are going to the strip.

Got into Vegas without a hitch. The line to get a cab was pretty amazing. I had to stand in a line to get in the line to wait for a cab. All in all it took about an hour and 20 to get moving. This is the biggest convention Vegas has, bringing in about 150,000 people.

An interesting aside, there is an adult entertainment convention going on this week as well. So basically the ratio is nerd, nerd, nerd, porn star, nerd. iPorn, if you will. It’s an odd juxtaposition to be sure.

I got to the hotel and checked in. I am staying at the Four Queens in downtown. It is the old, original Las Vegas…not as glamorous as the strip by a long shot but interesting.

I am reminded of the Simpson’s episode “Attack of the 50 Foot Eyesores”…

I made it to the convention center and there are many, many wonderful things and I want them all.
I will go back tomorrow and look a bit longer. It was getting late and I had things to tend to.

I headed over to the Venetian to catch the Blue Man Group.
Words simply cannot describe this show. It was unbelievable and put me in a VERY good mood.
It was sonically and visually magnificent. It was also rather thought provoking and to top it off, it was hilarious. I don’t recall the last time I laughed so hard and so enthusiastically.

I am at the Krispy Kreme which offers free wi-fi with a cup of coffee and I am watching the Fremont Experience.
Right now I am under attack by aliens from Area 51….nice.

I need to get some sleep…tomorrow is going to be a long day.