CineVegas Opens!

The annual Las Vegas film festival is celebrating its tenth anniversary and, since I have been covering it for many years, I can honestly say it has become a major event in Las Vegas and in the film industry. I'll be seeing a lot of movies and attending all the evening parties!

CineVegas opened Thursday, June 12 with a screening of "The Rocker," starring Rainn Wilson from the wildly popular sitcom The Office and Christina Applegate, now starring in a terrific sitcom called Samantha Who? Except for Applegate, the entire cast was there. I love Jane Lynch, though in "The Rocker" her comedic talents are not exploited. Who can forget Jane's role in "The 40 Year Old Virgin"? I even liked her on "The L Word."

The Opening Night's after-party was held at The Palms Moon nightclub. "The Rocker" opens  August 1st.

On Friday I saw "Explicit Ills" and "Your Name Here." The stars of "Your Name Here", Bill Pullman and Traci Lords, were at the screening. I love Bill's co-star Taryn Manning!

By the way, all UFO fans must rent "Alien Autopsy" starring Bill Pullman. It's hysterical! Remember the Ray Stantilli documentary? This is the real story. Maybe…

Friday night was the after-party at Palms Place celebrating CineVegas 10th Anniversary.  Saturday I attended the screening of "Dark Streets". At the Palms Pool was the after-party concert, A Concert for Giving Featuring Bijou Phillips, among others.

I like Bijou as an actress, but who knew she could sing?

There was a special charity screening of "Get Smart," on Sunday. Seeing "Get Smart" later in the week, I went to a screening of "Big Heart City". The Viva! Cinevegas After-Party was held at Dos Camino at The Palazzo celebrating Mexican filmmakers.

Actor Dennis Hopper is Chair of the Creative Advisory Board for CineVegas. He has held the position since 2004. Hopper's active participation has given CineVegas a high profile. Hopper keeps making the calls and bringing major premieres and stars to CineVegas. He brought Charlize Theron to CineVegas last year! 

This year's Marquee Award winner is Anjelica Huston. A Half-Life Award will be given to Don Cheadle, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortensen and Sam Rockwell. All honorees will participate in moderated conversations, open to the public, on June 20 and 21. Also being honored is actor James Caan, who will receive the Vegas Icon Award. This award will be given on Friday, June 20, in a ceremony at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

CineVegas continues until June 21 with a closing night screening of "The Great Buck Howard," starring John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, and Emily Blunt. CineVegas Film Festival

George Lucas's daughter no Paris Hilton!

Amanda Lucas, the 27-year-old daughter of George Lucas, made her mixed martial arts debut in Auckland, New Zealand last week under the stage name Amanda "Powerhouse" Lucas at the Princesses of Pain event. Amanda fought against Kiwi kickboxer Nicole Kavanagh while the event was being filmed.

The footage will end up on a new reality TV show featuring a women's international fight league. At least Amanda has not been hanging out with Lindsay Lohan or hooking up with Jude Law.

What I'm Reading.

The Soul Genome by Paul Von Ward. Amazon.com: The Soul Genome: Science and Reincarnation: Paul Von Ward: Books. There is only one person recognized worldwide as an authentic, undisputed recipient of reincarnation - the Dalai Lama! Why just him? Yes, there are the two Panchen Lamas, but one of them is certainly an imposter! Or, did the last, the 10th Panchen Lama, reincarnate into Qoigyijabu, the People's Republic of China's choice and the Tibetan Government in Exile's choice, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima?

Unless there's The Official Book of the Rules of Reincarnation, I'm voting "yes".

The Dalai Lama is throwing off all the established rules of reincarnation in several highly controversial declarations: He might not choose to be reincarnated at all (thus ending the franchise), might personally anoint his successor, or reincarnate as a female lama. He definitely refuses to be reborn in a country ruled by China or, he said, anywhere that was not free. I guess that means no one will be looking in Iraq.

Will his hand-picked successor be living? And if so, will the chosen one have to give up his soul and take on the soul of the original Dalai Lama?

And what will this mean for the centuries-old practice of the committee of lama monks who, after a Dalai Lama's death, travel all over the country testing young boys?

Paul Von Ward (pictured) takes the concept of reincarnation and further explores its commonly-held boundaries. Can a soul be reincarnated in two people? What "genotype entanglements" come into play? Von Ward uses scientific methods to uncover the reincarnation mysteries surrounding cases where people have concrete information about their past lives. Does one's current life circumstances mimic a past life? Can you see traces of your former life in your physical features? Can you be matched up with a former life through photographs?

If you want to read where the science of reincarnation is going, and the new theories that are being proposed, Von Ward's The Soul Genome is the place to start.                  

Paul Von Ward, a thought-provoking and powerful speaker, engages his audience in a profound expansion of consciousness. He can be contacted for lectures, seminars, and workshops on a variety of related themes and topics. For more information, e-mail the author: paul@vonward.com.

Vanity Fair on Bill Clinton's Escapades!

Vanity Fair magazine is getting a lot of publicity for its article on Bill Clinton, "The Comeback Id" by Todd S. Purdum, in its July issue.

Apparently, Bill's shenanigans on behalf of Hillary's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination have been ignored by the media. Purdun exposes all the messy details of Clinton's questionable financial dealings with billionaires, the stream of women on the campaign trail, and his blind arrogance. No one can say "No" to him or they are removed from the inner circle.

"Purdun writes: "One former aide tried an "intervention," because, the aide believed, "Clinton was apparently seeing a lot of women on the road." The would-be intercessor was rebuffed by people around Clinton before ever getting an audience with the former president, and another aide told me that the effort was not well received by either Bill or Hillary Clinton and that some Hillarylanders, in particular, were in denial about the continuing political risks that Bill's behavior might pose."

What I came away with was my very own psychological theory: Bill liked being a former President and the incredible perks that came with it. He doesn't have to put on a show on concern anymore. Did Bill really want to play second fiddle to Hillary if she became president? Then they would be equals. He wouldn't be the Golden One anymore.

Sure there is power being in the White House as First Husband and not being the one held responsible, but on a deeply personal level, I think on its psychological face, Bill sabotaged Hillary. He knew his outbursts and behavior would get reported. He just didn't care.

Will Hillary blame Bill? Did he fulfill their lifelong agreement to each other? I say Bill did what he promised, but then did everything he could do to kill Hillary's chances. I can't wait for "Wrath of Hillary".

The Threatened Pandas of China.

The great thing about seeing the pandas in China is how close you can get to them. The lives of 90 per cent of China's endangered pandas are now in jeopardy after last month's massive earthquake devastated the remote mountain corner that is their last remaining habitat. I've spent an hour sitting next to mountain gorillas in Rwanda and now saw how pampered the pandas are. They are Chinese royalty and deservedly so!