Vegas hotel’s ‘death ray’...aiming at the wrong direction

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And here you thought bedbugs were the biggest source of anxiety for hotel guests.

Yes, guests at Vdara hotel in Las Vegas now have something else to worry about: being burned alive by the glare of the building's "death ray."

What the heck's a "death ray," you ask? Well, first off, it's not as deadly as it sounds, since no one has actually died from it -- at least not yet. Butaccording to the U.K. Daily Mail, the powerful beams of Nevada sunlight reflecting off the glass hotel onto sections of the hotel's swimming pool area have burned some guests and have melted plastic bags.

The building's concave design creates a sort of magnifying-glass effect. The hotel's designers reportedly anticipated that ill-situated humans might experience some discomfort courtesy of the building's blinding glare, so they placed a film over the glass panes of its many windows. Obviously that didn't quite do the trick. So for now the hotel is placing larger umbrellas in the pool area while designers try to come up with another remedy.

[Related: Treehouses, schools, undersea lodges among craziest hotels]

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the hotel's employees coined the term "death ray" to describe the intense reflection. Reports of the glare have also enhanced the hotel's public profile, though almost certainly not in the way its owners would like; Yahoo! searches for Vdara have spiked by nearly 19,000 percent in the past 24 hours.

It turns out that Vdara isn't the only building out there creating intense heat and glare for hapless passersby. Gordon Absher, a spokesman for MGM Resorts International, which owns Vdara, told the Review-Journal that in Las Vegas, the AdventureDome at Circus Circus and the Mandalay Bay produce "hot spots" that some guests have actually sought out, believing the spots will aid tanning regimens. In Los Angeles, the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall produced such a harsh glare that it heated nearby homes, forcing residents to blast their air conditioners high above their customary capacities in order for the residents to keep cool.

[Build your own death ray -- and a dozen more mad-scientist devices you can make at home]

Bill Pintas, a Chicago attorney, told the Daily Mail that he experienced the harsh glare of the death ray firsthand during a recent Vdara stay. Pintas reported that as he lounged out by the pool, his head suffered a sensation he likened to a "chemical burn." He added, "Within 30 seconds, the back of my legs were burning."

[Even more on death rays: The mystery of Nikola Tesla's missing weapon]

In another interview, Pintas said: "I was effectively being cooked." Thankfully, he returned home alive. Still, his skin was burned and his hair was singed -- disproving the old saying that whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

(Photo via AP)

Source: Yahoo! News

ImageSource: Yahoo! News Engadget

Singapore Day 2...

Day two started off with a heavy downpour. I was on my way to the Bras Basah (translated as “Wet Bras”) Complex to pick up a parcel for my friend. The day before was hot like hell and today it seems like there is no end for the rain.

I had to walk in the rain since I have no umbrella and it wouldn’t have helped much anyway. The strong wind will just blow away my umbrella and send the rain straight to my face. The name of the street would be damn fitting if I had a bra.....Halfway to my destination, I had to take shelter at an old, run down building because the rain had begun to shoot down like water cannons.

Feeling extremely bored (since I can't proceed further or head back to my hotel), I took out my phone and started playing the apps on it. Suddenly I saw the countdown timer and did something which atheists would consider "heresy". I looked upon the sky and said “You better stop raining in 10 minutes or else...” then set the countdown in my phone. I did this out of boredom...and did not really expect anything out of it. To my surprise, when the countdown ends, the rain had reduced to just drizzle, enough for me to continue my journey, and when I reached the National Library of Singapore, the rain came to a halt -

Bras Basah Complex

A place that sells all types of reading materials, from novels, magazines and text books to past exams papers.... (Singaporeans are well-known for being “Kiasu” (afraid to lose)….that’s why they are good at everything..) After I got the parcel, I went back to my hotel to dry myself and plan for my next destination.

By 3.00 pm, rain was getting smaller and smaller. It was time to explore another area in Singapore. Since it was getting late, I have decided to visit somewhere nearby. I looked through the map and chose to pay the Fountain of Wealth a visit, hoping it would grant me something it is known for.

It was a short ride to Suntec Mall using the MRT. Once there, I headed straight to the Fountain of Wealth as I have seen the magnificent display in various brochures and tourist maps . My heart was beating with excitement as soon I'll be amazed at one of the largest and the most beautiful fountains in the world.

“Fountain of Wealth closed from 8th to 12th September for event decoration.”

Instead of a magnificent fountain with stunning visual effect,what I saw was only a big sign with the words:@#$#$$!#!#@#!!!!! Simply wonderful!!! Wasted all my time and energy just to see the worthless signboard…..

After the disappointing trip, I went to Bugis Street, a better version of Chow Kit in KL for a tour. It is a really convenient place as you can get almost everything there, from fruits, clothes, accessories, souvenirs to something more exotic like sex toys….

To Be Continue.....

Singapore Day 1...Part II

I spent the entire afternoon (which I regretted) strolling along the Marina Bay. The sun was freaking hot, I can feel my flesh getting roasted on a roasting pan.


When I arrived at the Merlion park, I could see a bunch of Chinamen tourists there. From far, I could sense their overwhelming patriotic feelings. They love constructing “the great wall of China” whenever they take photos and will make sure that they are in your photos too....

On the way back to the hotel, I came across a female tourist (she looks like one of the Chinamen group..I could be wrong). We had a simple eye contact and out of sudden she said “Heeelllooo”, in a very high tone. I was like ???????. I just smiled back at her...fearing that she would jump on me and rape me if I say "Hi"....

To Be Continued....

Singapore Day 1...Part I

It was 3.45 in the morning as I pulled myself up lazily from my warm and cozy bed. Today is the day where I would start my 5-day vacation in Singapore. After my bath and breakfast, I went to do the final checking of my luggage. The taxi driver came very..I mean very early (4.45 am) to pick me up as according to him, LCCT is always packed with people, so the earlier I go there, the better. For your information, this is my first time taking Air Asia, though doubtful to book initially, the cheap price ultimately tempted me to key in my credit card number in the online booking form.


When I arrived at the LCCT terminal, it was really crowded, like people going on a pilgrimage or something. I tried to search for the counter for the flight to Singapore, but it was nowhere to be found. Not wanting to waste my time searching for a pin in the haystack, I asked one of the workers there and all I got was “Belakang sana” (behind there)… Ok? Behind where?? I walked towards “behind” and asked another guard standing there. He replied “corner there”…Though not really a full and complete answer, I somehow managed to find the counter (thanks to my level of IQ..) The 14 inch screen reads..

Singapore Bangkok
Shenzen Hanoi
Vientiane Phnom Penh

Note: I can only see the words Bangkok and Singapore...can't remember the rest...

Only those with superhuman eyes can se it at a glance. The funny thing is, all other counters are showing titles like this...#%$@%@#$%

SANDAKAN

I waited in the line (it was a long queue as all the people travelling to the places above were lining up there..) and when it was my turn….”Sorry gate close already…please proceed to the customer service counter”….

“I am sorry? “ (These words came from me…not the cibai bastard at the counter and sorry for the foul language used here). I looked at the time, it was 5.39 am and my flight is at 6.15 am. I insisted the guy to check me I (I don’t have any big luggage to check in) but he told me he can’t do anything. (Can’t or lazy?). I had no choice but to proceed to the “customer service counter” and only to get the same answer..”Gate close..can’t do anything…please take the next flight”. The best thing was my current ticket was forfeited because they have closed the bloody gate..way before departure time. A few of us suffered the same fate. The guy t the counter did not even apologize to us, even a bit. I can see the words “Fuck off already” on his face.
Having no other options (can’t go back since I he booked the hotel and everything), I went to the sales I counter and paid another RM229 for the ticket. (And I wonder why I can’t use the existing ticket for the next flight..at least try to make me happy….)


Where got? #$!@#$!#$!#$! The lady at the sales counter “advised” me to come 3 hours before departure time for international flight…mahai, what kind of bullshit is this???

Air Asia definitely has left a bad impression, on my virgin flight with the air carrier some more…how cool is that? Fuck you Air Asia…mo#$@@F84930g piece of sh*t…..And what is the point of having a customer service counter there…Just put a recording machine with some text there saying “Your ticket has been forfeited for this flight, please proceed to the ticketing counter to get a ticket for the next flight. Thank you for flying with Air Asia, the best low cost carrier in the world” (“best” my ass…best among the worst..maybe but I still don’t believe that)
After 40+ minutes in the air, I finally arrived at Changi airport. I was given a big ass map of Singapore…really huge map..(quite ironic as the country is so small… the map has another function…it can be used as a skirt by wrapping yourself up…useful tool to bring to the Casino..in case you lose everything there..) I bought the tourist pass (SGD 8 per day) which would allow me to spam the usage of the MRT and Buses. Earlier on, I have booked a room at Hotel Bencoolen..I thought it would be a below average hotel….but when I opened the door to my room, it was quite ok.



I took a nice warm shower before lying on my queen sized bed, releasing all my anger on Air Asia as I type the first part of the entry. I decided to take a short rest and a shelter from the hot sun in the icy cold hotel room (set the air-cond to the lowest..16 degree celcius)….I can survive the Siberian winter, but will instantly melt at 27 degree Celsius…

To Be Continued….

Golfer's swing sparks 25-acre California blaze...Wow..

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By Jay Busbee

Follow Jay Busbee on Twitter at @jaybusbee.

You can use a golf club for all kinds of non-golfy purposes -- walking stick, fishing rod, club, to name three. And now we can add to that list -- firestarter.

Over the weekend, a golfer's routine swing in the rough at the Shady Canyon Golf Course in Irvine, Calif., struck a rock. Not so different from the way you play, right? Only this time, the impact caused a spark, and the spark set off a blaze that eventually covered 25 acres, according to the Steven Buck, General Manager of Shady Canyon Golf Course, and required the efforts of 150 Orange County firefighters, writes the Associated Press.

Wow. And I felt bad the time I shanked a ball through the window of a house too close to the fairway. That was nothing compared to this!

The golfer's name is being withheld, which is probably for the best, and no charges are going to be filed. Fortunately, it all could have been much worse. As it was, the blaze required both helicopters and on-the-ground crews.

The conditions were ripe for a blaze, with dry brush from a recent heat wave just waiting for the right spark. Like, say, one caused by metal on rock.

And now, your turn. This is going to inspire a raft of bad Sportscenter-esque "When we say he set the course on fire, he really set the course on fire!" jokes. So let's get ahead of the curve. Best bad golf-and-fire-related pun in the comments wins a round of applause. Go!

Photo credit: Thanks to Zach Bates

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Author's remark: Speechless...