Latest News on Thunder Valley Casino, Lincoln, California

Last week was our lucky day at the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln. Can you believe that I won $450 dollars in a penny slot machine with a minimum bet of 0.30 cents. The slot machine maximum bet was $3.00, but I have never or will never bet maximum on a slot machine. My wife and I go to the Casino on a weekly basis as part of our entertainment and we follow strictly our budget. The highest bet that my wife and I do is only up to 0.60c per click. So when I won the above amount I was shock but very happy. After 5 hours of playing, I went home with a net win of $350. My wife also won $60 that day. We go to the Casino almost every week for dining and a little slot machine gambling (limited budget).

Here's the latest news on Thunder Valley Casino published by the Philippine Inquirer dated August 5, 2011.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort Awarded AAA Four Diamond Rating.

LINCOLN, California—Thunder Valley Casino Resort is honored to join the elite ranks of AAA Four Diamond award-winning resort destinations. After a thorough evaluation of the luxury hotel and resort, Thunder Valley is the only AAA Four Diamond casino resort in the Sacramento region.

“We are very pleased with the results of the AAA evaluation,” said C.J. Graham, General Manager of Thunder Valley Casino Resort. “It’s a very rigorous process and achieving a Four Diamond rating is a testament to Thunder Valley’s status as a truly world-class resort.”

Establishments eligible for a Diamond rating undergo a meticulous evaluation including unscheduled evaluations by anonymous AAA professional inspectors. AAA is one of only two rating entities to conduct physical, on-site evaluations making it one of the most thorough rating systems in the United States. To achieve a Four Diamond rating an establishment must offer an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. Four Diamond properties are upscale and progressively more refined and stylish. Of the 59,000 properties that are AAA/CAA-approved and diamond rated, just 3.6 percent have attained a Four Diamond rating.


The 297-room, 17-story hotel provides Sacramento’s only Four Diamond casino accommodations. Thunder Valley’s luxury hotel features 4 Beaujolais suites offering every amenity from a dry/wet sauna and ceiling-filled jetted bathtub to pool table, personal exercise room, dining room, and massage suite options. Every room at Thunder Valley features wireless Internet, VoIP phones, flat screen TVs, desktop work areas, 320-thread count sheets, down blankets and pillows, and European spa/showers.

Guests at Thunder Valley can also enjoy the 12,000 square-foot 24-hour health club and spa offering facials, massage therapy, pedicures, manicures and the signature 24-karat gold leaf facial. Just outside of the luxury hotel, guests can relax at the pool and hot tub surrounded by 10 private cabanas and the Coconut poolside bar.

“Receiving the Four Diamond rating is a tremendous honor,” said Kevin Thorstenson, Vice President of Hotel Operation at Thunder Valley. “It is a validation of our team members’ hard work and our efforts to provide each Thunder Valley guest with a VIP experience.”

Thunder Valley Casino Resort was opened by the United Auburn Indian Community in June 2003. The newly remodeled and expanded entertainment, dining and hotel resort is Northern California’s first casino offering all the elements of real Las Vegas-style gaming: service, cuisine and entertainment in an outstanding facility.



Located 30 miles east of Sacramento, Thunder Valley Casino Resort offers 200,000 square feet of gaming space including over 2,800 slot and video machines, 125 table games and a live poker room with space for 160 players. There are 14 restaurants and bars highlighted by the new High Steaks Steakhouse; Koi Palace; a 500-seat Feast Around The World Buffet and Thunder Café as well as Mingle Bar, Falls Bar, Thunder Bar and High Steaks Bar. Also on property is a new 3,700-space parking structure that leads directly into the casino and hotel.

The recent expansion of Thunder Valley Casino Resort includes a new luxury, 17-story hotel with 297 rooms including 40 suites. Inside the hotel is a 10,000 square-foot banquet and entertainment hall, meeting rooms, bars and a gift shop. The hotel has an expansive pool that includes private cabanas and Coconut, a poolside bar. The Spa at Thunder Valley will feature a wide variety of treatments including the exclusive 24-karat gold leaf facial. The expansion was completed in July 2010".

Note: The other Casino that my wife and I patronized (buffet and slots machines) once in a while is the Red Hawk Casino in Placerville. Both Casinos are within 30 minutes driving time from our residence.

In Memory of Dr. Fe del Mundo

I just read today that Dr. Fe del Mundo died at the age of 99. She was the first Filipina Pediatrician who was admitted to Harvard Medical School. She was born in Manila but has roots in Marinduque. She was a good friend of my late mother-in-law, Mrs. Elena Nieva Jambalos. The Katague Family are extending their heartfelt condolences to the Del Mundo Clan. I listed Dr. Fe del Mundo as one of my top ten famous Filipino-American in my blogs. The video below summarizes her life story.



From Wikipedia:

Fe del Mundo (November 27, 1911 - August 6, 2011) was a Filipino pediatrician. The first woman admitted as a student of the Harvard Medical School,she founded the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines. Her pioneering work in pediatrics in the Philippines in an active medical practice that spanned 8 decades won her international recognition, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1977. In 1980, she was conferred the rank and title of National Scientist of the Philippines while in 2010, she was conferred the Order of Lakandula.

Del Mundo was born in Intramuros, Manila, her family home located just across the Manila Cathedral. Her father Bernardo served one term in the Philippine Assembly, representing the province of Tayabas. 3 of her 8 siblings died in infancy, while an older sister died from appendicitis at age 11. It was the death of her older sister, who had made known her desire to become a doctor for the poor, that spurred young del Mundo towards the medical profession.

Del Mundo enrolled at the University of the Philippines, Manila in 1926 and earned her medical degree in 1933, graduating as class valedictorian. She passed the medical board exam that same year, placing third among the examinees. Her exposure while in medical school to various health conditions afflicting children in the provinces, particularly in Marinduque, led her to choose pediatrics as her specialization.

For details of her biography please continue reading the Wikipedia article in the Web.

Lowest and Highest Point in My Professional Career

Mt McKinley-the highest point in the United States

I have often been asked by friends and relatives, what were the lowest and highest point in my professional career as a Chemist here in US. Without hesitation and doubt, my most unhappiest moment or the lowest point in my career was when I was laid off with only one day notice (fired/restructuring) from my job as a Principal Research Chemist for Stauffer Chemical Company in Richmond, California.

Also without hesitation, I can state without doubt that the happiest moment or the highest point in my professional career was my promotion to Chemistry Team Leader in FDA including the award I received for expediting the manufacture of a burn ointment needed by the terrorist victims of the 9/11/01 bombing in New York and Washington, D.C.

The following are excerpts from my autobiography, on the two unforgettable events(low and high) in my professional life.(http://theintellectualmigrant.blogspot.com)

Lowest Point in My Professional Career:The Death Valley of My Life

In 1974, I had a choice of working for a private company or the Federal government. I chose to work for Stauffer Chemicals in Richmond, California because I needed the money (higher salary than what the Federal Government was offering me at that time). I started as a Research Chemist and after 10 years (1984) reached the position of Principal Research Chemist. This is the highest technical position ( without supervisory duties) attainable in the company at that time. In 1986, a mass of layoffs occurred at Stauffer Chemicals. The company was getting out of the pesticide business. I was one of 60 employees relieve of our duties after just one day of notice. I just can not described the feeling of being laid off after 12 years of service and good performance. You feel betrayed and unappreciated, and envious of the other employees not fired. How I wish I took the Federal job offered to me at the time. With this experience, I vowed I will never work for a private company.

Death Valley-the lowest point in the United States

Highest Point in My Professional Career-The Mt McKinley of My Life

I was hired by FDA as a Research Chemist in 1990. In 1994, I was promoted as Expert Research Chemist( GS-14). In 1997, I was again promoted to Chemistry Team Leader, supervising the work of six reviewers ( five with doctorate degrees). As far as I know, I was the first Filipino-American who has achieved this position in FDA. As team leader, I was responsible for prioritizing, assigning, and assuring the technical accuracy of all chemistry, manufacturing and control issues for all new drug applications submitted to the Division of Anti-Infective Drug Products. As team leader, I also give advice, instruct and promote high morale and teamwork in my group. In 1998, I won the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Award. The citation reads, “For outstanding accomplishments in fostering the objectives of the EEO Program by hiring minorities and encouraging their professional growth while providing excellent leadership.”

I have received numerous certificates of appreciation, awards in leadership and communications, commendation for teamwork and excellence in the accomplishment of the FDA mission. I have also received several letters of appreciation from private industry for my review work.

In 1995, I was elected to the United States Pharmacopeia, (USP), Committee of Revision(CR), Standards Division. As an elected member, I was responsible for establishing standards of identity, safety, quality, purity of drug substances and drug products as well as in-vitro and diagnostics products, dietary supplements and related articles used in health care. Election to this body is a very selected process. It is held every five years. In 1995, there were more than 700 scientists nation-wide from academia, government, and industry who volunteered to serve. USP narrowed it down to 256 final nominees. Of the 256, only 128 were elected. Election to the USP Committee of Revision confirms that the person is both the national and international expert in the field of election. In my case, it was in the field of antibiotics, natural products and botanicals.

The University of the Philippines Alumni Newsletter congratulated me with this statement, “ We join with your colleagues and your family in congratulating you for this singular honor, which brings prestige to the Philippines as well”. In March, 2000 I was reelected for another 5 year term.

My career in FDA would not be complete if I do not mentioned the terrorist bombing of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. I remember clearly what I was doing and how I felt afterward. That morning in September 11, 2001, The office of New Drug Chemistry had a joint meeting with representatives of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PHARMA) at the Hilton Hotel in Gaithersburg, MD. At about 9:20 AM, we received an announcement that the meeting is canceled and we can go home, since the World Trade Center in New York was burning. All of the attendees went to the hotel lobby and the TV was announcing the news. I felt sick, depressed but helpless to see the burning WTC building. Later, I learned that the Pentagon in Washington DC was also bombed and another plane crashed in the field somewhere in Southern Pennsylvania. I also found out that this United Airline plane was intended for the White House. Had it not been for the courageous heroics of several passengers, the White House would have suffered the same fate as the WTC and the Pentagon.

The most heinous crime of the century produced thousands of burnt victims. Two drugs in my Division, Sulfamylon and Silvadene, approved for the treatment of burns were out of supply. A chemistry manufacturing supplement has to be approved as soon as possible to manufacture more of these ointments in a new facility. This required a review by the chemist, an inspection of the facility by a field inspector, my approval as the chemistry team leader plus the paper work by the project manager. The drugs are needed immediately, so we have to do an expedited review of the manufacturing supplement. It took us only 12 hours to approve the new facility and the review of the chemistry supplement and its manufacturing and control procedures. This review normally will take at least one month to three months depending on the availability of the field inspector and the schedule of the review chemist.

In December, 2001, the four members of my review team received a special cash award and recognition award from FDA management for our work on expediting review of two drugs, Sulfamylon and Silvadene. Of my more than a dozen awards I had, this one is the most appreciated. I felt that I have done my job as a public servant and had helped the victims of the terrorist attack in a timely manner. In January, 2002 I received another award for my work on Doxycycline, an antibiotic needed to treat anthrax victims due to bio terrorism activities from unknown terrorists.

*Afterthought: I should really thank Stauffer Chemical Company management for firing me even after 12 years of excellent performance. This experience gave me an incentive to work for the Federal Government, otherwise, I would probably be working in the laboratory all my life. FDA had challenged me to my utmost ability. I learned not only to be a "work" oriented but also a "people" oriented human being. My 12 years in FDA had been the most productive and satisfying years of my professional career.

Note: For continuation of my FDA employment experiences, read http://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com or my autobiography above.

Top Ten Traits of A True-Blooded Filipino

Mano Po^-a unique Filipino Trait showing respect to the Old!( Probably no longer practice by the New Generation of Filipinos), but very popular in my Generation.

I found the following list of unique Filipino traits from a blog of a Filipina-American just recently (www.filipinainamerica.com). I found it amusing and interesting and appears I can identify to most of them, in spite of the long number of years that my wife and I have resided in US( since 1960). Here's the top ten:

You are a true Filipino if:( My comments are in parenthesis)

1.You have an accent even if you speak fluent English. Your accent reflects the intonation of your local dialect in Philippines.( I still have an Ilonggo accent).

2.You are religious and a Roman Catholic and go to mass every Sunday. (My wife and I have been practicing this in US since 1960).

3.You love rice and eat it for lunch and dinner.( My sister-in-law did this during her first 6 months in US. We only eat rice on dinner time).

4.You oftentimes interchange the pronouns “he” and “she”, as well as “her” and “his” in sentences.( I am still guilty of this).

5.You use the umbrella in the summer to ward off the sun. ( My wife do this in Marinduque, but not here in Northern California).

6.You eat your food with spoon and fork, but mostly eat with your fingers.(Not anymore, except during picnic times).

7.You try not to get fat because your relatives in Philippines will criticize you
( my sister follow this strictly).

8.You tend to grocery shop more in Filipino or Asian stores than in American supermarkets.( We used to do this during our first year in US).

9.You ask someone to “open” or “close” the light instead of asking to turn it “on” or “off”. The same thing goes for computer or the faucet. (I still do this today).

10.You eat pancit with rice or bread with spaghetti. When asked why you eat two sets of carbs in one meal, you just shrug your shoulders and act like it’s no big deal.
( We do not do this anymore).

If you find yourself agreeing to most of the statements above, you are a true-blooded Filipino indeed! If none of the above applies to you, even if you have Filipino roots or ancestry, you must probably have not lived in the Philippines.

Do you know of other unique Filipino characteristics? Please share by commenting in this blog. Thank You!

Biomass as Solution to Marinduque's Power Crises

Image from planetoverhaul.com

In my posting yesterday, I discussed the possible alternate energy sources to solve the long term Power Crises in Marinduque. On the top of the list is biomass. I personally believe that is the most feasible solution compared to other alternate energy sources( Geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, solar etc..)because Marinduque has an abundance of agricultural waste. This includes both terrestrial as well as aquatic matter such as wood, herbaceous plants, algae, aquatic plants and residues, like straw, husks, corncobs, cow dung, saw-dust, wood shavings and other wastes like disposable garbage, night soil, sewage solids, industrial refuse etc..So what is biomass? Please continue reading..

The term biomass refers to all organic matter generated through photosynthesis and other biological processes. In order to utilise these resources properly, biomass should be converted to energy. Three main approaches can be adopted for generation and proper utilization.

1. Collection of agricultural and forest residues to produce fuels, organic manures and chemical feed stock.

2. Collection of urban and industrial wastes as fuel in boilers and as a feedstock for producing methane and some liquid fuels.

3. Growth of some specific energy plants for use as energy feed stock and cultivation of commercial forestry, aquatic and marine plants for different products.

By a number of processes, the collected wastes can be converted into solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. The technologies include thermal, thermo-chemical and bio-chemical conversions. The actual processes in these technologies are combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, alcoholic fermentation, liquefaction etc.

The main products of conversion technologies are energy (thermal, steam, electricity), solid fuels (charcoal, combustibles) and synthetic fuels (methanol, methane, hydrogen gas etc.). These can be used for different purposes like cooking, lighting, heating, water pumping, electricity generation and as industrial and transport fuels.

Types of Biomass
Depending on the nature and availability of these wastes and organic residues they can be utilized in different manners as described here.

1. Fuel biomass

By some processes and procedures, biomass products like fuel gas, liquid fuels, gaseous fuels etc. are obtained, which are given here

a. Biomass from plants or animal origin are directly burnt for cooking and other purposes. Municipal and sewage wastes, industrial wastes and agricultural wastes are converted to energy which can meet the demand for energy in rural sector.

b. Paddy straw and rice husk can be profitably converted to fuel gas by thermal decomposition (Combustion)

c. Ethanol, which is used as a liquid fuel can be produced from carbohydrates by alcoholic fermentation.

d. When wood and agricultural residues are heated in the absence of air (pyrolysis), charcoal is the resultant product which can be used as a fuel more advantageously than wood.

e. By the process of gasification, gas is evolved which can be used as a fuel for engines.

f. Biogas, which is popular in rural areas is produced by anaerobic fermentation from farm wastes.

2. Feed biomass

Conventionally, crop residues are used as cattle-feed. However, some of them with high percentage of lignin or non-digestible constituents need certain treatments such as soaking in water, alkali/alcohol to make their use as a fuel. The oil-cakes of various crop seed like cotton, rubber, tobacco etc. can also be used as a feed after extraction of toxic materials.

3. Organic fertilizer biomass

Dry fermented slurry can be used as a direct organic fertilizer for crop land.

4. Fibre biomass

The fibrous agricultural wastes and residues are being profitably utilised for making pulp for cheap grade paper.

5. Chemical biomass

Highly siliconous agricultural residues like rice husk and rice straw can be converted into useful chemicals like morphous silicon, silicate products and solar grade silicon. Furfural an another chemical can be produced from biogases, cotton seed hulls, corn-cobs, flax fibres, oat hulls etc., which is used as a solvent for some petroleum products.

Source: www.world-agriculture.com

Alternate Energy Sources for the Philippines

Image from www.ngdir.ir

In my recent posting about the power crises in Marinduque, I indicated that for the present a short term solution is needed and for the future generation, a long term solution has to be implemented not only in Marinduque, but the whole Philippines.

This would require energy sources that will decrease the release of carbon dioxide to the environment. Carbon Dioxide increases the warmth of our planet and is the main cause of the so called “Global Warming Effect”. One answer to global warming is to replace and retrofit current technologies with alternatives that have comparable or better performance, but do not emit carbon dioxide. This is often referred to as Alternate energy sources.

By 2050, one-third of the world's energy will need to come from solar, wind, and other renewable resources. Who says? British Petroleum and Royal Dutch Shell, two of the world's largest oil companies. Climate change, population growth, and fossil fuel depletion mean that renewables will need to play a bigger role in the future than they do today.

Alternative energy refers to energy sources that have no undesired consequences such for example fossil fuels or nuclear energy. Alternative energy sources are renewable and are thought to be "free" energy sources. They all have lower carbon emissions, compared to conventional energy sources. These include Biomass Energy, Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Geothermal Energy, Hydroelectric Energy sources. Combined with the use of recycling, the use of clean alternative energies such as the home use of solar power systems will help ensure man's survival into the 21st century and beyond.

So which one of the alternative sources of energy is suited for the Philippines?

This was answered by Dr. Henry Ramos from a posting of Brain Ong blog as follows:

"The director of the National Institute of Physics, Dr. Henry Ramos discussed with the class “Alternative Sources of Energy” during his lecture on July, 2009. He presented and mapped out energy resources, the World’s and the Philippines energy consumption, and presented sources of energy we can harness.

At the end of his lecture, a questioned was posed by me on “What’s the best source of energy the Philippines to focus on?” He said that our country should continue to invest in different alternative sources of energy depending on the location and the capacity of the region. Although this was the case, he pointed out that Biomass and Geothermal and Wind are the best sources for the Philippines.

He added that solar power is not a solution as of the moment because even though with the popular notion that our country is in the tropics, thus having warmer temperatures, it doesn’t mean it’s conducive to producing solar power.

With the amount of pollution we have, and that the solar waves are diffused when it reaches the earth’s surface, it’s hard for us to harness as much solar energy that would sustain our consumption".

So for Marinduque, it would appear to me that Biomass, Geothermal and Wind Power
are the more probable sources of clean energy for the future.

References: Brianong.blogspot.com and www.altenergy.org

My Favorite Fourteen One-Liners

Let me start the month of August with a smile on your Face. Here are my 14 favorite one-liners? I hope this will make your day!

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. Sex is not the answer. Sex is the question. "Yes" is the answer.

3. We live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police.

4. Women might be able to fake orgasms. But men can fake a whole relationship.

5. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

6. If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

7. Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich.

8. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

9. Children: You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.

10. Politicians and diapers have one thing in common. They should both be changed regularly, and for the same reason.

11. My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch.

12. Having sex is like playing bridge. If you don't have a good partner, you'd better have a good hand. (Bridge players, this one is for you).

13. The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

14. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't

Do you have a one-liner to share?

Source: www.onelinerz.net

Orchids in Barbados and the Music of Beethoven

This orchid is not from Barbados but in the Front Yard of Chateau Du Mer in Boac, Marinduque

Here's a video of orchids/flowers from the Barbados Orchid Gardens. It reminds me of my orchids at Chateau De La Mer in Marinduque, Philippines. Why Barbados? I have a former classmates from Barbados and this posting is my tribute to him. I heard he passed away last week from FaceBook tweets/news. He was about my age and the news reminds of my mortality.

Do you know where Barbados is? It is at the other end of the world from the Philippines. See the map below and information about Barbados from Wikipedia.




I love this video not only because of the orchids but also the relaxing background music by Beethoven.

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34 kilometres in length and as much as 23 kilometres in width, amounting to 431 square kilometres (166 sq mi). It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about 168 kilometres east of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and 400 kilometres north-east of Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane belt. Barbados was visited by the Portuguese in 1536. They did not want to settle in Barbados and did not claim it for their country, but thought it would be a good place to visit now and again and they let loose a number of wild hogs to make sure that whenever they returned here they would have a good supply of meat. The first English ship, the "Olive Blossom",arrived in Barbados in 1625. They took possession of it in the name of 'James, King of England'. It became an English, and later a British colony.