8/24/2016

Harrahs Las Vegas Fulton Street Pizza

Friday night, Vegas time, 9:30pm, my time from Ohio, 12:30am, tired, hungry, and hot. After checking in and unpacking my suitcase, I ventured down to the casino area looking for a bite to eat. I found the Fulton Street Food Hall, located inside Harrahs of Las Vegas.

I spied the pizza area and got in line and ordered two slices. I was given a piece of paper and told the pizza would be heated up for me and to go around the corner and pay for my purchase.

Around the corner was another line I had to wait in. After paying for my pizza, $15.00 for two slices of pizza. Not big slices, but regular sized pieces.

I then proceeeded back to where I ordered the pizza and of course, there were several people in front of me waiting for their slices to be warmed.

Anyway, after waiting in line again, my pzza slices were in my hand. I found a table and had at it.

The taste: None really, just bulk type food. I won't say I didn't like the slices, and i certainly won't state I liked them, they were just there, in front of me, I was hungry, there they were, and I ate them.

That would be the last time I would eat there.


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8/23/2016

Thought Screen Helmet Haiku

I Know What You are Thinking
A Thought Screen Helmet Haiku by the Grassy Knoll Institute:

What am I thinking,
Time to don thought screen helmet,
Evil aliens.



LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8/22/2016

Bonannos MGM Food Court Chicken Parm

The MGM Hotel in Las Vegas is grand for sure, and vast, with a thousand choices for entertainment and dining. But sometimes, after a very long day working at the convention center, you want something simple and easy.

Stepping off the monorail I wound my way toward the food court. I spotted Bonanno's New York Pizzeria. I bellied up to the counter and ordered the Chicken ParmigiAana with Baked ziti. The cost was just under $15

The server piled on the ziti and sauce and loaded a big piece of chicken on the plate. He topped it off with a roll.

I found a table easily and dug right in. Holy cow, the chicken was tender, juicy, the breading perfect, the cheese good, and the sauce, it just topped it off right. This did not taste like a $15 meal. More like a $40-50 meal.

The ziti was lathered with cheese and sauce and was fantastic. A perfect compliment. Again, for $15 in Vegas, this was the dinner bargain of my trip.


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8/19/2016

Fatburger Las Vegas Strip XL Burger


Fatburger Las Vegas Strip
I was in Las Vegas last week and I asked my good friend Travis where could I get a great tasting burger? Without hesitation he replied, "FATBURGER!" Travis lives in Vegas and I trust his opinion. That evening after work we stopped at Fatburger.

On a Tuesday at 7pm it was not crowded, a bonus for sure. Walking to the counter I surveyed the menu on the wall. I selected the X-Large Fatburger with bacon and American cheese. I added the "Skinny Fries" and a Coke Zero. Cost was just under $20.00

Inside Fatburger Las Vegas
I was handed a table number and we went to out table. In less than ten minutes our orders were brought to us. As you can see from the pictures published with this post, the burger is big, a half pound of grade A beef.

Fatburger X-Large Size And Skinny Fries
The bun was fresh, not soggy, the burger was well cooked and not greasy, the cheese was melted, and the bacon cooked, not a lot of bacon, but it was cooked. The taste was very good. Not the best burger I ever had, but it was delicious. And filling. The fries came in two types, skinny and fat. i opted for the skinny. They were well cooked and tasted good. The Coke Zero completed the meal. (Free refills on soda)


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8/18/2016

Chick-Fil-A Online Ordering

New Digital Age Chick-Fil-A Sandwich
I don't know about the rest of you but Chick-Fil-A is a fine fast food restaurant. The one I frequent was located in Boardman, Ohio, in front of the K-Mart on Route 224. It was so busy, cars wrapped around the building twice, yes, twice.

Finally, Chick-Fil-A moved across the street affording them more space and a modern facility. However, the restaurant drive through is still packed, even with the double lanes. Even though the employee's at chick-Fil-A are very speedy and efficient, it may take up to 15 minutes or longer to wind your way to the pay window. Even if you decide to park the car and walk in, the lines inside are long as well.

But there is another option. The CHICK-FIL-A app. I downloaded the app in seconds from the Android play store and it took several minutes to set up. Add your name and credit card info and in a moment you will be prompted to add funds to your digital chick-Fil-A card. I selected $25.00

The test of the system is during rush hour, and 5:30pm was the time I selected to try the new ordering process out. I opened the app and it offered me two locations to go, the Southern Park Mall or the new location on Tiffany. I selected Tiffany. The app showed categories of foof choices along with pictures of what you were purchasing as well as quantity. I selected a chicken sandwich and a large order of waffle fries.

The app prompted me to press the I'm Here button once I did arrive and to enter the store and go to the PICKUP AREA and the order would be brought over to you right away. Seems to good to be true. I was very skeptical.

Well, I pulled in, found a spot to park and walked in. As sson as i entered the door I hit the I'm here button on the app. The app responded by stating my order would be processed and the total of my order would be deducted from my digital card. Inside, there were at least 18-20 people in line waiting to order. The drive through line was worse. I spotted the pickup sign and sat down on the bench and waited for my order.

In less than a minute, yes, less than a minute, an employee walked toward me, smiled and said, "Patrick!" I replied, "Yes." She handed me the bag with my sandwich and large waffle fries and said thank you selecting Chick-Fil-A.

I was stunned. I walked out feeling sorry for all the people still in line but estactic how well the app worked.

The Grassy Knoll Institute Rates 5 out of 5 shots for Chick-Fil-A online ordering.

Addendum: I tried the app for lunch and it worked just as well and just as fast.


LURKING ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

8/11/2016

Doctor Who 13th Doctor Revealed

The Next Doctor Who
Peter Capaldi, the twelve doctor in the ultra popular cult series, Doctor Who, has resigned offering the new director the luxury of picking out a new doctor that would fulfill his or her own vision of the Doctor Who francise.

SPOILER ALERT!!! Stop reading now if you do not want to know who the next Doctor will be!!!

The Grassy Knoll Institute has received credible intel that the next doctor has already been decided upon and are merely waiting until the 2017 season to wrap up filming to allow the actor to fulfill current obligations. 

Steven Moffat, the current Doctor Who showrunner revealed that he is stepping down and will hand the reigns over to Chris Chibnall after the 2017 season is completed. Chibnall will be permitted to put his own spin on the English series and was given the previledge to select the next doctor, the 13th Doctor. For Chibnall, the search was over almost before it began. He knew exactly who he wanted as the doctor to reinvigorate the series to bring it to a level of popularity not realized before.

No folks, we are not talking about Donald Trump, the GOP presidential candidate for 2016. I could almost see Trump stepping out of the Tardis to battle the Daleks informing his companion that the Daleks have no chance of penetrating the Earths atmosphere for the wall he had built was to tall to scale. And oh, the dialog between the Daleks and Trump. 
Daleks in unison: "EX..TERM..IN..ATE!" 
Trump: "You're fired!"

All right, you have waited long enough. Chibnall has selected Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) as the 13th Doctor.....
I'll let that sink it for a moment or two....

Jenna Coleman left Doctor Who to star in an eight part series portraying a young Queen Victoria and her love affair with Prince Albert. Scheduling conflicts for Coleman, filming, editing, and promotion of the series forced the Doctor Who francise to cancel the 2016 season and completely reboot for 2017 - 2018. 

If you recall the last episode had the Doctor wandering the desert and happened upon a small diner. The waitress was Clara Oswald. This episode sets up the cliffhanger for the 2017 season as Clara as the next Doctor. I know what you are thinking. (I'm a psychic remember) You are going to inform me that Clara Oswald cannot be the next Doctor because she is not a Time Lord.

Chibnall will skirt that issue easily explaining that the Doctor and Clara are the hybrid together. In that last episode, the Doctor realized the danger of the two being together and configured a device to remove Clara's memory of him to avoid her from harm. Clara alters the device and the effects are reversed onto the Doctor. At that point, both the Doctor and Clara became one, each sharing an essence and consciousness. Clara retained all of the Doctor's centuries of knowledge and experience.

Since Clara is technically dead, well, frozen in time, she will live as long as she wishes to before returning to Galifrey to complete her death sequence.

Clara also has a Tardis. The Diner Tardis.

And she already has a companion. None other than Ashildr played by Maisie Williams. Ashildr or ME was prominatly showcased in several episodes forshadowing the 2018 season. Williams is signed for the last two seasons of Game Of Thrones but it will only be 13 episodes in total for 2017 and 2018. Williams will have her filming completed allowing her to begin filming Doctor Who.

The 2018 season of Doctor Who will debut the first female Doctor with a female companion.

LURKING, WE CONTROL YOUR TV SET ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

7/13/2016

Sexy Siren Lauren Cohan

Green With Envy
Lauren Cohan, 34 year old actress plays Maggie Greene on the extremely popular television program The Walking Dead. The Walking Dead airs on the AMC cable channel Sunday's at 9pm. Lauren's character is surrounded by flesh eating Walkers (Zombies) as she and a fierce band of survivors attempt to stay one step ahead in the apocalyptic setting.

The grassy Knoll Institute believes Laurens character will play a pivotal role in the Season Seven premiere debuting in October 2016. Our belief is that Maggie will be the victim of notorious bad guy Negan. Here is the link posted April of 2016 Walking Dead Spoilers

Sci-Fi Sexy Sirens brought to you by the Grassy Knoll Institute marketing team to boost readership and placement on search engines.


Lurking On The Grassy Knoll

5/02/2016

NCIS Tony Dinozzo Exit Spoiler Alert

tiva-tony-and-ziva-reunite-on-ncis
Tiva - Tony And Ziva Reunite On NCIS

Sadly, the hit series NCIS is losing another long time member. Anthony Dinozzo, played by Michael Weatherly will be checking out in the season finale several weeks from now. And I know his fate on the show.

SPOILER ALERT!!! Stop reading now if you do not want to know what happens.

The episode opens with Tim McGee at NCIS headquarters on the phone with Delilah. It seems to be a heated exchange. Special agent Athony Dinozzo is seen exiting the elevator with Bishop. As they approach their work stations they spy McGee on the phone. McGee abruptly ends the conversation and hangs up the phone. Tony quipps, "Who you talkin to there McTalky?" McGee looks up annoyed as Gibbs swiftly walks in and anoounces to "Gear Up everyone!" McGee and Bishop make eye contact as the crew is headed to the elevator. 

The case the crew is working plays out through the episode and finally the case is closed. Dinozzo, McGee, and Bishop return to headquarters and stow away their gear. Tony is at his desk. McGee and Bishop are talking in hushed tones. McGee explains that he and Delilah hit a rough spot and Dililah broke off the engagement. Bishop looks longingly into McGee's eyes and the sexual tension is undeniable.

While at his desk Tony receives a cryptic text message saying only, "I WILL." Tony knows very well who sent the message and what the message means. He jumps to his feet and heads to the elevator. The elevator door opens and Gibbs is inside. Tony stops, looks at Gibbs, and tells him that he has to go, he has an important "Thing" that he must do. Gibbs steps out of the elevator allowing Tony to enter. 

As Tony turns his back Gibbs slaps him in the back of the head. Tony turns and asks, "Why the head slap Boss?" Gibbs smiles and flips his cell phone cover down revealing just a smidge of the text he just received, the letters ILL are seen until the cover closes. Gibbs smiles and says, "Its about time Dinozzo!" Tony smiles and Gibbs continues, "Go on, get out of here. Go do your thing."

Tony is seen at the airport purchasing a ticket. A one way ticket.
Next Tony is sitting on the jet next to several noisy children.
Hours later Tony is exiting the plane.

Tony hails a cab and jumps in the back of the taxi. He arrives at his destination, a swanky hotel. He stops at the front desk, and asks if any keys were left for him. The attendant hands him a key to the penthouse suite. He takes the elevator to the top. Tony stops at the door, takes a deep breath, inserts the key, turns the handle and slowly opens the door. In the dimly lit corner of the room Tony recognizes the very familiar silhouette coming towards him. Dinozzo smiles ear to ear and sighs, "Ziva...." You hear Ziva giggling in the darkness. The camera pans to Tony and apparently Ziva lovingly embracing as the room is too dark to make out faces. The camera slowly pans out and fades to black.


Epiloge: The next morning McGee and Bishop are at headquarters casually chatting wondering where Tony rushed off to last night. The elevator opens and Jeanne Benoit exits and walks toward them. She is looking for Tony. McGee informs her that Tony is not here.

Cue the music.....


LURKING, WE CONTROL YOUR TV SET ON THE GRASSY KNOLL

4/03/2016

Hulu Plus 11.22.63 Original Program Series Finale Spoiler

Kennedy Survives Assassination 

Spoiler Alert:
Do not read beyond this sentence lest you want revealed the series ending to 11.22.1963

HULU Plus TV has an exclusive 8 episode premiere mini series airing every Monday. So far, there have been seven episodes with the last set to air Monday, April 4th, 2016. This last episode will be action packed and the Grassy Knoll Institute has gained access to the finale. Hold onto your butts, it is going to be a wild ride.

Jake Ambersons original plan gets foiled as the past pushed back hard preventing him from stopping Oswald from entering the School Book Depository that day. Jake, has to come up with an alternate plan on the fly.

As Jake and Sadie are walking towards Dealey Plaza, he pictures the map of the presidential motorcade in his mind. He now knows what to do. Jake and Sadie hijack a car and race towards Dealy Plaza. Jake steers the car onto Houston Street heading straight for Main Street. He knows the motorcade will be turning onto Houston in a minute or two. Jake realizes that if he prevents the motorcade from turning right onto Houston street, it will not have the opportunity to turn left on Elm Street and will avoid Kennedy being put into the cross hairs of Oswald.

Jake slams the stolen car into several parked vehicles forcing a barrier. Jake and Sadie jump out of the car and flee into the crowd just as the presidential motorcade arrives. The motorcycles that lead the motorcade turn right onto Houston and spot the barricade. They quickly radio to the lead car to alter course. They recommend continuing on Main Street and travel the South part of Dealey Plaza.

The the lead car indeed stays on Main Street street and radios to all drivers that the route has been altered. Oswald watched in Horror as the motorcade procession travels away from him. Oswald attempts to target Kennedy but does not have a clean view. Oswald fires anyway but misses all three times but does manage to hit the Presidents Limo. The secret service immediately shield President Kennedy and the motorcade races away through Dealey plaza. The same panic and bedlam occur just the same, people ducking for running, soldiers and police asking questions, people filming and taking pictures.

Jake and Sadie slip through the crowd unnoticed.

Jake steals another car and takes Sadie to the rabbit hole. He tells her that once they pass through they will be in the future, in 2016. Sadie smiles and agrees. Jake and Sadie return to the future. When they both walk out of the diner storage room, Sadie immediately begins to age rapidly. Sadie ages 53 years in seconds and her heart cannot take the strain. Sadie collapses and Jake grabs her and holds her in his arms. Sadie looks up through her dying eyes and tells Jake, "I love you." Sadie closes her eyes and takes her last breath in the future.

Jake buries Sadie in an unmarked grave on the diners property. He goes back home. He logs onto his computer and researches the JFK assassination. He reads that there was a plot to kill the president but it was foiled by a a car accident on the motorcade route forcing the Limo to change course. A Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested and was murdered by Jack Ruby before he could be brought to trial.

Jake realizes that he has succeeded. America and history has changed. John Kennedy was re-elected for a second term. His brother Bobby followed him for two terms and Teddy Kennedy followed bobby for two terms. And in 2016, JFK Junior is running for President.

Technology advanced as usual, everyone is carrying around cell phones but also the infrastructure of the country has been improved. Hi speed rail is in every major city. You could travel from Cleveland Ohio to Las Vegas Nevada in less than six hours. The twin towers still stand. Most cars in the states now run on electric power. In 2017, the first manned mission to the planet Mars is scheduled. Terrorism is hardly mentioned in the news.

Life is good for all of America. Except for Jake. Jake must decide to let history be as it is now and be without Sadie or go back down the rabbit hole at the diner and begin all over again in October 1960.

Jake walks into the diner and towards the pantry where the rabbit hole is, Jake pauses, takes a few more steps forward, Pauses. A few more slow steps. Fades to black. End of show. Cue the music.



LURKING, WE CONTROL YOUR TV SET ON THE GRASSY KNOLL


4/01/2016

Walking Dead Season Six Finale Spoiler


Spoiler Alert:
Do not read beyond this sentence lest you want revealed who dies in the upcoming season six finale of The Walking Dead airing Sunday, April 3rd, 2016 on AMC.

Yes, yes, we finally get introduced to Negan, portrayed by actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and his companion Lucille. When Negan appears, you, as fans of The Walking Dead understand someone is going to die. Horribly.... From the business end of Lucille. The Barbed wire baseball bat Negan aptly wields.

There are many candidates to choose from. In the comic series, Glenn dies at the hands of Negan so of course he is top choice for the television series. Daryl is also in the running. Daryl is not part of the comic book series world, thus, his time, although fun and long, may have come at hand. Another likely candidate is Abraham. He has lost his way... Again. And now that he has sparked a new romance with Sasha, perhaps Negan chooses the biggest of the Rick-tatorship. And speaking of Rick, he is the leader of a group of people that has slaughtered a staggering number of Negan's men. An eye for an eye so to speak. Sort of like Carl's eye.

But the season six finale promises to be the most shocking twisted finale of the series.

Something volatile and obscene has to occur. Enter Glenn  Rhee, the nimble former pizza delivery guy making fun of Rick trapped in the tank surrounded by zombies. (Hey asshole in the tank) Up to only a few episodes ago he was the only cast member not to have killed another human being. Glenn then murdered several of the saviors in cold blood while they slept. Negan has to be in the bull pen warming up. He has to be. Right? Right!

Enter the last surviving member of the Greene family, Maggie Greene. Betrothed to Glenn. Pregnant, carrying Glenn's child, and perhaps the future of humanity. Maggie watched as her entire family was wiped from the earth as her father Herschel got beheaded by the governor and her sister Beth's lifeless body was carried out by Daryl. Can this woman withstand any more agony? The answer is no, she cannot.

Glenn, however, must realize the impact of his actions, breaking his own code and murdering human beings. Glenn will be punished. His penance will be to watch in horror as Negan has Maggie chaperoned into the killing zone, has her set upon her knees, forcing Glenn to watch as Negan winds up his bat Lucille and repeatedly strikes Maggie and her unborn baby until both are dead.

You were warned......


LURKING, WE CONTROL YOUR TV SET ON THE GRASSY KNOLL