Liberace Museum - Originally Published 2010

Hinduism has a concept known as an avatar.  The word is Sanskrit and can be translated to “manifestation” or “appearance”.  Basically, think of it like this.  When God comes to visit the physical plane, he uses an avatar to do so.  It is an embodiment of all that is good.  Krishna was an avatar.  So was Jesus.

Krishna’s presence is supposed to invoke pure joy.  Ever seen a Hare Krishna?  You know why they drop out of polite society and sing all day?  It’s because they’ve felt the presence of Krishna and understand what pure joy is.

I’m glad you’ve all decided to attend my lecture today, because it’s my conjecture that Liberace was an avatar.  You see, on a recent visit to the Liberace museum, I found it impossible not to smile.  Look here and here.  Tell me that you didn’t find yourself the slightest bit amused.

At the very least, this was a man who recognized his role as an entertainer.  It was his job to take in an audience for an hour and a half and make them forget about crappy jobs, rising interest rates, disrespectful children, and the price of gasoline.  He wasn’t proving solutions.  He was giving the opportunity to escape and feel bliss.

Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas - Originally Published 2010

Once again, Animated Meat ventures into the underbelly of the city and pulls back the curtain on places you’ve wondered about but never bothered with.  In this installment, Madame Tussaud’s Las Vegas.

Madame Tussaud’s bills itself as an interactive wax museum.  What does that mean?  It means that they have dropped the velvet rope and allow visitors to stand right next to the sculptures and take pictures.  That’s pretty much it to the interactivity of the museum.

The quality of the sculptures is remarkable.  Wax museums in my past have left me jaded.  To Madame Tussaud’s credit, I never once wondered to myself, “Who is that supposed to be?”

Bring your camera, because this is a museum that you need to check all your coolness at the door in order to really enjoy.  The museum is populated with celebrities both current and former and from all professions, just waiting for you to make a fool of yourself in front of. 

I’ll give them a whole lot of credit for making a statue of Chuck Liddell.

M & M World - Originally Published 2010

M&M World gets referred to in publications as a museum.  I’m not sure if this is a mistake on the consumer’s part or if the blame lies on M&M corporate.  We wandered into it because I had seen it billed as a “museum”.

However, a museum it is not.  It’s a colossal emporium where you can get anything M&M oriented you would like.  Just don’t go there looking for a history lesson on the brand.

We went midweek and the place was packed with visitors.  That’s an accomplishment because this store is no less than four stories stocked to the rafters with the smiling spokes-candies stamped, embroidered, embossed, and extruded on items that run the gamut of price points.  Speaking of prices, I wouldn’t recommend going there looking for a bargain.  Even the candy seemed pricy.

If you have a couple grand lying around, they have some trinkets for you.

They even have M&M dog items.  This is a bold maneuver because chocolate is toxic to dogs.

I think the thing that fuels purchases at M&M World is something known as the guilt factor.  Mom and dad have gone to Vegas for some adult fun and forgot for a while that they’re parents.  As a result, they go and buy an overpriced M&M plush item to smooth over things with their little princess who had to stay in the hotel room all night.

Royal British Columbia Museum - Originally Published 2009

As noted on a previous entry, thanks to a misread bus schedule, we managed to burn some time we could have used to take in some sights in Victoria.  When we arrived at the Royal British Columbia Museum, we had exactly one hour to tour the entire place.  I can report that while it’s not the most leisurely way to see it, it is possible to get it all in.

The Royal Museum is three stories that tell the history of British Columbia.

They have everything from stuffed animals to rooms devoted to the history and culture of the First Nation people. I recommend that you give yourself considerably more time to take a look at it than we did.  While it is possible to see the whole place in an hour, it’s kind of like driving a car with your feet.  Yes, you can do it, but it’s really not a good idea.