Home for Christmas!

Yesterday I drove down from Las Vegas to my home here in Tucson.  The occasion of course, is Christmas, and we had a most wonderful Christmas Eve here with one friend and one neighbor coming over for visiting.  There is that part of me that thinks I should be in San Jose instead at my parents' house, but I think that that kind of trip won't happen until March or May of next year.  I will have more vacation balance added come January 1, and I don't want to do that kind of trip until the weather is warmer.

My trip down here was largely uncomplicated.  I did witness something in west Phoenix yesterday that's still on my mind.

I witnessed a serious accident yesterday.  This was along mile marker 135 on I-10.  I had joined I-10 from Loop 303, and at this section of the Interstate, you've got four/five lanes not counting the carpool lane.

All was pretty much well until I noticed a whole lot of brake lights coming on.  I immediately hit my flashers to let the tailgater behind me know that something was amiss.  My initial thought was that there was a slowdown.  I was quickly disabused of that notion when I noticed that a smaller size RV was having stability problems.


At that point I was in the lane next to the carpool lane.  The RV was about five car lenghs ahead and he was three, maybe four lanes over to the right.  I'm quickly noticing that he's losing control, his swerving around causing the other drivers to hit their brakes.  It was after that that it quickly happened.

The RV immediately crossed all of the lanes to his left.  As thick as it was, it is a miracle that he didn't hit anybody.  He immediately crossed all lanes and landed in the median.  I watched him traverse those lanes as if he were a southern Californian, and land in the median, whereupon he overturned and landed on his roof.  A lot of dust from the median was kicked up and visibility went to zero.  I was able to come to a full stop and not get hit by the guy  behind me, who was probably not a southern Californian since he had been warned by my flashers that I was slowing down.  (Aside::  a southern Californian driver will tailgate you no matter what. If you don't believe me, try driving in Las Vegas sometime, where former southern Californians, by their driving habits, have driven up insurance rates to twice what they otherwise would be.)

When the visibility cleared, I started driving again, and as I slowly passed by, I noticed drivers ahead of me pulling over to render assistance.  At that time I temporarily lost all semblance of appetite, and I wanted to go somewhere and throw up.  What I saw wasn't pleasant.  I'm thinking, would I have had my truck totalled if I had left my apartment 15 seconds earlier?  What I saw yesterday gave me nightmares last night.  I dreamt of driving around Tucson and seeing cars ahead of me wildly spin out.

I went online this morning to learn more about what I saw.  The driver and one other person, presumably a passenger, survived, but were taken to a hospital with serious injuries.  I-10 was backed up for several miles in each direction for several hours.  No other details are available.

Last year when I did the Christmas drive here, I remember that there had been an accident in the Chandler/Gilbert area of I-10.  I was tempted yesterday to go a little out of my way and bypass Phoenix by going thru Gila Bend.

I may give in to the temptation to do that when it's time to return to Trashcan.......excuse me........Las Vegas.

The Events in San Bernardino

News of the shootings in San Bernardino broke about noon yesterday.  As with all events of this nature, there weren't very many known details at first.  One report said one gunman and another said three.  One headline that briefly appeared on Drudge said the shooters were white while another one that briefly appeared said that they were of Middle Eastern origin, both of which conflicted with more reliable reports that the shooters were masked and were possibly wearing body armor.  About all that was known with certainty was that they were on a mission.  They went in, shot several people, and then left.

This of course, triggered all sorts of speculation, and yes, I was partaking in that as well.  At work I was suggesting that a fourth person was involved, and they could be heading right here to Vegas.  I figured that if three shooters could go in and get out quickly, that a fourth drove the getaway SUV that we were hearing about.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Nevada Highway Patrol sent fifteen units between to set up at where I-15 crosses the state line, suggesting that they had either had intelligence that they were on their way over here, or were taking a precaution.  They were waiting at Primm just in case, and a few hours later it was breaking that the suspect SUV was located and gunfire was being exchanged. 

As can be expected, some politicians were quick to jump on the gun control bandwagon, before we even knew who was involved and where/how the weapons were obtained.  From what I've been able to determine, all guns were legally purchased, with two of them having been picked up in Corona.  At this point in time, the news reports I've read about this is suggesting that these were "straw" purchases, already illegal under federal law, and there likely is a California law against these types of purchases as well.  The gun control proposals being suggested would of course, never prevented this tragedy, and if straw purchases were indeed the case here then the appropriate thing to do is to make an example of those involved and send them off to Federal lockup until they are carried out in a body bag (though I'd be OK with them facing a firing squad for this).

One other reaction I'll note is the headline of the New York Daily News, suggesting that God isn't fixing this.  That's pretty rich, coming from people who don't want God involved in any way, shape or form in the first place.  Seems as if some in Organized Media have as much of a problem with the First Amendment as they do with the Second.  However, I think I'd like to see them beat this drum more loudly tomorrow, so that those who haven't made up their mind will take note of this foolish grandstanding and be alienated from the media.

As for "jihad" finally coming to our shores..........the junior varsity team, you know, the one that's been "contained", is celebrating this, but they're not taking responsibility.  But that doesn't mean that they won't try.  I'd bet money on them planning terrorist attacks as I write this.

Meanwhile, the left in this country is in hysterics.  There's no Confederate flag involved here, and the Tea Party isn't responsible either.  And although I have lost count of the number of online comments from them blaming the NRA, the reality is that California has some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, all of which failed the victims yesterday. 

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families this evening. 

Another Round of News and Random Observations

I was stuck up here in Las Vegas for the Thanksgiving weekend.  It wasn't my idea, but one half mile into my intended journey to Tucson two days ago, smoke started coming out of the engine compartment of my truck.  I was able to make it safely back to the apartment complex that has been my base of operations here, (I refuse to call it "home"), and the next day I had the truck towed to a trustworthy mechanic.

After 427,000 miles, the motor in my truck is kaput.  I was shown the evidence (I didn't have to ask to see it), and although I don't like this kind of news, things could have been much worse.  I might have been stranded in Wikieup and having to take unpaid leave to get this taken care of.

I discussed this at length with Sheila (she is really a *great* wife!), and we're going to see if we can get a remanufactured motor located and installed.  It's going to run me a few grand, and it's cheaper than a replacement vehicle, which we both know sooner or later we're going to have to get.  We are having the mechanic give it a thorough inspection to make sure the rest of the truck is in good order.  The body is in fine shape though it could use a paint job, and I know that the ball joints aren't going to be going out any time soon.  The present clutch has 30K miles on it and should be good for 50K more.

This will be, however, the last major repair I'm willing to do.  We may re-arrange some finances after next year's tax return........we're thinking of a re-finance, and I may borrow against the house to put in a new stove and fix the hot tub. 

This could have been a lot worse for me than it was.

And........I got my money's worth out of it.

 

* * * * * * *

One thing I am grateful for here in Las Vegas is a friendship with a co-worker who started here six weeks after I did.  We're both in the Test Engineering Department and like me, his wife is in another state, Florida.  He lived in Titusville for 34 years, of all places.  We've gone on a lot of lunchtime walks and we meet Downtown for a beer, which we did yesterday.

That one table that was set up to raise funds for child sex trafficking has been long gone, (they weren't there the following Saturday when I checked), so either they've succeeded in ending this trafficking or they've skipped town. 

 

* * * * * * *

I was Downtown last Saturday, not knowing or intending that I'd be Downtown again the following Saturday, which was yesterday.  While conversing with the cashier cage personnel at that Plaza Hotel-Casino eight days ago, I noticed several trays of Eisenhower dollars ("Ikes") and I thought OK, someone must have cashed in their hoard.

Ron and I went in there yesterday, to check out John Gotti's Jaguar which is on display not too far from the cashier cage.  We drifted over to the slot machines that were nearby, and Ron played a few hands of video poker.  He cashed out and got a collection of shiny new nickels.  Most Vegas slots are TITO, ticket in ticket out, though coin slots can be found if you know where to go (La Bayou Casino has several of them).

Before walking away, I noticed a dollar video poker machine that had a coin slot (as well as a dollar bill reader).  I also noticed a stack of coin buckets to carry your winnings (or more accurately, what you have left).  I got to thinking about those Ike dollars that I saw last week, so I said to Ron, "I need to check out something". 

I fed a dollar bill into the machine, cashed out, and a shiny new Ike dollar fell into the coin tray.  Well, it was certainly shiny, but not new, since it was dated 1972, but I got a kick out of getting that.  I've got 100 or so of these things in my safe back in Tucson, but it's fun to have one here to look at.  Ron also got himself one in the same way.

Five years ago, I would order Ikes at a Wells Fargo branch, and sell most of them to a friend of mine in Tucson who's the manager of a Quik Trip.  He was always asking me for two dollar bills and Ikes, so that he could hand them out to his customers.....most of whom would get a kick out of getting some novelty money back in change.  More were sold to a long time friend of mine who runs a business at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet. 

Unfortunately, Wells Fargo down there hasn't been able to get them for me for some time, and I haven't tried to get any at the banks here.  I have thought about it, because these coins did circulate in Nevada during their day. 

I'm tempted to get $20 or $40 worth of Ikes on my next visit to the Plaza and to spend them. 

Using "unusual" money is fun.

* * * * * * *

A few rare words about my job.

I have now been with this employer for a year.  It's been something of a ride.  I was hired into Systems Engineering, transferred into Test Engineering, working closely with some very brilliant people in a group I'll call "Life Sciences", and the company is willing to let me spend a few weeks coming up to speed on a software package called Solid Works. 

I am an electrical engineer by degree, a test engineer by practice, and I now get to learn Solid Works, which is really in the realm of mechanical engineering.  The first tutorial was something of a bear, and the succeeding tutorials are either better written, or I'm getting the hang of things. 

This is something that my previous employer would not have allowed me to do.  I was forced to do software systems engineering, which really wasn't my forte, though that work was "righteous" (I'm stealing a term from a former supervisor here).  That employer and the one before it didn't really allow me to practice electrical engineering which is what I studied, but I'm not complaining.  I did get to work on satellites and circuit card assemblies, and I've long considered that to be satisfying work.

I struggle sometimes with the why I had to come to Nevada while my wife is in Arizona question.  I struggled with that this weekend. 

The only answer that I can come up with, is that the Good Lord wants me here for reasons that have not been passed along to me, and they may never be passed along to me.

I have to say this.........the work that I'm doing is the greatest that I've ever done in my life.

And.......I'm living in a most unusual state.........legalized gambling.........24/7 availability of liquor......and an opportunity to people watch Downtown.

I frequently tell myself that I need to make the most of this opportunity, and to write about what I see when I venture into the casinos or walk along Fremont Street.

The Events in Paris, and the (Lack of) Reaction Here

Last Friday Paris took center stage of the world by being the location chosen by the terrorists for their latest round of attacks on the Western World.  We were on our break in the company commissary that afternoon as the news of the attacks were breaking.  We knew that a lot of people were killed and that there were anywhere from three to seven attacks.  As better news was known, the impact was not lessened, and for the first time since 1944 France instituted a night time curfew and they closed their borders. 

ISIS has since claimed responsibility for the attacks.  ISIS has been something of a household word for several months now and does not appear to be of any immediate concern of the White House.  President Obama told the nation several hours before the attack that they were "contained", which really isn't much of an improvement over a comment made several months earlier where he described them as "junior varsity".

The French, to their credit, are doing something about this.  Several airstrikes have been launched and the Russians are joining them in this.  The French are retaliating, and in my mind are positively adding to their reputation.  Unfortunately they may be locking the barn door a little too late since they let in a bunch of people that they shouldn't have, but they're doing something about it.

The White House response so far, has been token strikes against ISIS targets, but simultaneously they are accelerating efforts to bring in more so-called refugees from Syria.  You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that this is what got France into trouble in the first place.......letting people in without properly vetting them.  One of today's Drudge headlines is eight Syrians being caught at the Texas border and another headline is fifteen terrorists getting US citizenship.  This kind of response is bizarre to say the least, but I'm also disturbed by something else.

Newly elected Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is calling for a "pause" to admitting Syrian refugees.  Please dwell on that for a few minutes.  He's not calling for this to be "stopped".  He's calling for a "pause".  This suggests that after some time has elapsed, that it's going to "resume".  Speaker Ryan, who I once thought highly of, is a member of that Republican elite that stated several years ago that they want President Obama to "succeed".  They have never backed down on this.  Oh, they want you to think that they're going to oppose him, but they only want you to think that in even-numbered years when they're running for re-election.  They show their true colors once re-elected, and they not only enable Obama to "succeed", they help him carry that football over the goal line.

"Pause".  Does that make sense?  Terrorists are trying to get in, and the answer is "pause"?

So, while France retaliates, and doesn't wait for a U.N. resolution to tell them that they can do this, our leadership is essentially doing nothing to make our nation more secure.

As I said to a co-worker on Friday afternoon, I now say to you:  look at what happened in France.

It's coming soon to a neighborhood near you.

One Year as of Tomorrow

Tomorrow will mark the one year anniversary of my arrival in Las Vegas.  I was accompanied by Sheila.  We left Tucson after church, and drove up, arriving after nightfall had overtaken Las Vegas.  We checked in to a place on Tropicana Avenue, not knowing that we were in the underbelly of town.  Immediately we had to go to Walmart for supplies, putting up with the rude drivers originally from southern California who run red lights and go the wrong way in parking lots.  There were lots of panhandlers and illegal commercial ventures taking place.  And I was fast realizing that Bob Self was right about the whole town being a trashcan.

The rest of the week was spent arranging for a more permanent place to live and for some sightseeing.  Sheila had to return to Tucson a few days later, and I was faced with the unknown of a new job and the uncertainty that comes with a new job, as well as not having her around.  Those were not good times and I try not to think about them.

Now it's been one year.  As of tomorrow.  I wasn't sure early on that I would make it this far but I have.  I have longed for home all this time, but with the damage that has been done to this country by the politicians of both parties, I am here for the foreseeable future.  It's looking better than it did a year ago but the industry is in real trouble.

But I still don't like this place.  One of my co-workers told me that this place would grow on me.  Well, it hasn't.  Half this town is out to cheat the other half of town, and as long as visitors come here to get cheated, that's never going to change.  Legalized gambling will bring tourist traffic but it also brings problems that do not exist in other jurisdictions.  There's this libertarian streak inside of me to where I personally think that I should be allowed to gamble if I do it in moderation, but with what I've seen here in the year minus one day has me frequently wondering if we would be better off without it.  I can understand the Nevada mentality, but I feel out of place here most of the time. 

As for what the next year will bring..........I've thought about it some.......I've thought about it a lot..........and I make no predictions nor will I air what's on my mind at this time.  It is what it is, and I find myself praying a lot for the strength to deal with it.

It hasn't been all bad.  I've made some good friends here and I've gotten to work on some very neat things.  The work that I've been doing has given me some of the most satisfaction I've ever had in my career.  And I've gotten out there a few times to explore Nevada, which I think is a great state as long as you're not in Las Vegas or Reno. 

But I don't see myself as retiring here any more, and my sights on where that is has now changed.

The $500 bill

The $500 bill is a denomination that has not been printed for several years.  In 1969 the U.S. Treasury formally announced that it would no longer be issued, which has since relegated this to the status of being a collector's item.  From time to time I read speculation about whether or not this is ever going to return to being printed, but I doubt that it will unless or until we experience hyperinflation.  A lot of transactions these days are made using digital means, and especially would be done this way unless you're cashing in a healthy stack of chips at the casino or if you're about to enter into a drug deal.

I remember a conversation with a bank teller back in my college days when I asked if I could get one.  I was told that I could order one, and if she was right......and had I done so, I could have scored one of these at face value. 

I was thinking about this somewhat recently, not knowing if I should have ordered one.  I could have swung such a purchase but I would not have been guaranteed one in pristine condition.  I have since seen several of these at coin shows and gun shows, and one could be had if I had been willing to pony up the money.  My recollection is that they go for a minimum of $800 and a perusal of today's eBay listings show that they go as high as $1100, depending on condition, serial number (collectors like low serial numbers) and Federal Reserve Bank of issue.  Series date also comes into play as that they are dated 1928 and 1934. 

No, I am not in the market for one of these.  What is driving this post is a forum conversation that I saw where someone broke down and bought one.  I can't remember what he paid for it.

It's a nice conversation piece, and although it would be cool to have several of these stashed away in a safe, I personally think that gold coins are a safer investment.

Politics These Days

I have a TV set in the apartment, but it has never been turned on for as long as I've had it.  It was given to me by a friend here who has moved back to his place in southern California.  It's one of those older sets that is not compatible with digital, and I don't feel like going somewhere to get an antenna and converter box.  Nor do I feel like signing up for cable.

The only TV that I watch is if I get the wild hare to go to a bar in a casino to take in some football (it happens once in a while), and the TV monitors in the commissary where I am employed.  One monitor is tuned to Fox News and the other ESPN.  A group of us will gather in the commissary in front of the monitor that's on Fox, where the sound is suppressed but closed caption is activated.  I follow the political news both on this monitor and online using a variety of sources, and it seems as if the Presidential campaigns are consuming 50% of the news bandwidth.

In one way, following the politics is interesting, but in another way, it's disgusting.  There's an entertainment factor in what Donald Trump is saying, and also in Joe Biden trying to create the appearance that he's in personal agony over whether or not to run for President.  Hillary Clinton for a long time was presumed frontrunner and even inevitable in some circles within Organized Media, but a few weeks back she could only draw a crowd of 200 when she was here in North Las Vegas.  That told me that her campaign was in serious trouble then, and I think it's in serious trouble now.

Likewise, I'm thinking that the Jeb Bush campaign is in serious trouble as well.  He hasn't staked out policy positions that are alternative to what Hillary is proposing, and half of the country hates him anyway while the other half of the country hates Hillary.  It's like watching the Super Bowl and hoping that both teams are somehow going to lose.  While the Super Bowl will provide a halftime show that you might find half as enjoyable as constant diarrhea, it won't provide you other teams.  Political campaigns though can and do provide entertainment that you just can't help but stare at, and we are getting that from The Donald.

I still am not convinced that Donald Trump is for real.  He is saying things that most of the other candidates won't touch, and I think that's why he's doing well in the polls.  People are fed up with both parties and they're quite naturally going to flock to someone who gives both of them a little hell.  That's what got Ross Perot his attention, and that I think explains why Mr. Trump is doing well.  The difference at this point in time is, and I'll repeat, at this point in time.........Donald Trump just might really want the big chair while Ross Perot sabotaged himself since he feared that he might win.

If the momentum of The Donald continues, he just might expose the Republican National Committee for what they really are:  an elite group obsessed with the acquisition of power, which is of course an accurate description for the Democratic National Committee.  The RNC is not going to stand for someone not in their inner circle grabbing the brass ring.  And this brings up a couple of questions.

Will the RNC abolish the primaries, and have the nominee selected by the party bosses?  Likely not likely.  Their credibility is already in the trashcan but I don't think they're prepared to have their credibility taken to the landfill at this point in time. 

That leaves one more question.

Will the RNC somehow "broker" the convention, and overturn the will of their electorate should Donald Trump have the majority of delegates?

Time will tell.

How Do You Know They're For Real?

I went Downtown today for the purposes of people-watching and relaxation.  I could have taken a drive to Goldfield or St. George or someplace, but I'm on the road next weekend so I wasn't going to do that today.  Sometimes I enjoy Downtown and other times I don't.  I guess I didn't want to get "apartment fever" today, so I made the drive.

I have been there often enough to where I recognize the regular weirdos and street performers.  I've seen several of the same panhandlers over and over.......one notable one being a lady who had stage 4 cancer when I saw her there last year, and who now has stage 3 cancer according to her sign that she updated three months ago.  I can pick out the hucksters and scam artists who are hawking time-shares.  King Solomon wrote some several centuries ago that "there is nothing new under the sun" and that would certainly apply to the Fremont Street Experience.

Yet today, I saw something that wasn't there before.  There were three young men standing at a table, holding signs that were asking for donations to fight child sex-trafficking in Las Vegas.  While I was sipping a Dos Equis at the outside bar in front of the Golden Nugget, I observed several tourists donating money to these men.  No doubt that the tourists felt good about doing "something" to fight this problem, although as a regular reader of the Las Vegas Review-Journal I haven't seen any articles about the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department cracking down on the illegal sex trade.....until two days ago.  I know those young man weren't out there last Saturday because I met a good friend of mine at that very same bar.  And as I'm watching these tourists hand over money to these young men, I couldn't help but ask myself a question:  how do I know that these guys are for real?

My experience along Fremont Street is that no one who is trying to get money away from you is your friend.  No one is using honest means to get that money from you.  This would of course, exclude those kiosks selling souvenirs, but all up and down that corridor are people holding cardboard signs claiming to be victims of circumstance of one kind or another.  I have seen them there for eight months running now.  And now I'm seeing what purports to be a legitimate operation.  But again, the question remains, how do I know that these guys are for real?

I'm going to make one thing clear here.  No one who is in their right mind is in favor of child trafficking.  Those who traffic and those who use the children are very sick people who belong chained together in a correctional facility and using sledgehammers to convert boulders into talcum powder with no hope of parole.

However...........in case you haven't heard me say this, or read this previously, I'm going to repeat an observation that I frequently make about Las Vegas:

Half this town is out to cheat the other half of town!

And odds are, no pun intended, the percentage of people who are not visitors to Fremont Street who are out to cheat you is significantly higher than 50%.  I'd venture to say that it's somewhere up around 85%.  It's very possible that these guys I saw for the first time are part of that 15%, but how do I know that?

They are soliciting donations in a public area.  Although solicitations of this kind in and of itself are legal, you don't know what happens to that money once you part with it.  There is no way of verifying that your donations are going to the cause you want to help.  They could be passing out literature and not accepting donations, but what they're doing here is asking for donations and then giving you the literature.  The literature itself may or may not be 100% true, and I'm not even sure that is possible to quantify the dollar amount or number of people involved in child trafficking in the first place.  Those who do it don't file reports to the government or collect sales tax.  Those who are victims are intimidated into remaining victims.  And those sick people who use the victims don't go around telling their friends and neighbors what they really like to do on their time off.

I really hate to be skeptical about these guys. 

Sadly I am, and more so, considering where I am currently living.

Another Sunday Evening in Las Vegas

I haven't been posting a whole lot since I haven't felt like I had anything worthwhile to say.  And now I'm realizing that I ought to get those Rhyolite and Goldfield pictures up here sometime, which would need a block of time on a weekend to do it.  Yes, I could have done it this weekend, but yesterday morning was spent on an important matter and yesterday afternoon I found myself wanting to relax and take stock of things.

Today's been pretty quiet.  I did go for a short drive after church, after which I stopped off at a supermarket to get things for the evening meal.  I haven't decided exactly what to have but I'll make my mind up shortly after logging off.

I have been catching up on a lot of reading.  A friend of mine at work loaned me a Clive Cussler novel, and I finished it yesterday.  It took a while for the story to get going, and some of the dialog got a little cheesy, but I found myself entertained, and what surprised me was that he was able to get a good story across without any profanity.  Not even a "hell" or a "damn".  I'm now thinking of looking for more of his titles at the thrift store.  Right now I've returned to reading the James Bond novels that Ian Fleming wrote.  Or rather, re-reading them.  I think Fleming was one gifted writer.

On the home front, I'll be in Tucson, via road, for Labor Day weekend, and I'll be flying down later in September.  The flights haven't been booked yet but I'm looking forward to going.  I'm not sure if we'll be catching The Smithereens in Sahuarita.  I should write Jim Babjak to let him know what's happening.

Work-wise, it's a bit on the dynamic side right now.  We've had some turnover in personnel so assignments have changed.  I'm picking up work on satellite ground stations in addition to my work on life support systems.  It's good experience.  I can't complain about what they're giving me to do. 

As for Las Vegas......there are times when I don't like being inside of an apartment.  Come to think of it, that's most of the time these days.  A friend of mine here is in the same boat as I am in:  wife, house and family are in a different state.  We went out to dinner Thursday night at a locals casino here, and we were hanging around Downtown yesterday for part of the afternoon.  It actually turned out to be a decent Downtown visit:  the panhandlers were leaving the tourists alone!  The people watching was good too.

So it's a quiet Sunday evening here, and time for reflection.  I figure on doing some light reading after supper, which I think will be home made chili.  Chili is therapeutic and I like making it, but the high point will be talking to Sheila before going to bed.

I miss her, and it's hard at times.

But we'll survive.

Fast Food and Politics

You have no doubt seen tantalizing photos from the fast food industry promoting their products.  The hamburgers are always plump and juicy.  The hamburger is perfectly stacked.  The ingredients are obvious in the picture:  the tomatoes are red, the pickles can be seen, and the sauce never drips over the side.  Everything is perfect; all is well with the world.

But when you buy that hamburger, what you get isn't what they advertised.  The product is unbelievably sloppy.  The sauce drips over the side.  The bun has been manhandled and often the imprint of a hand can be seen in the surface.  The onions are falling out of the center.  The meat patties are not stacked; sometimes they appear to have smashed together so that the slice of cheese between them can be forced to ooze out.

Not clear yet?  Take a look at this.

This is analogous to a political campaign.  The candidate is much like the advertised image of a fast food product.  Once elected, the candidate transforms into the reality of a fast food product. 

Last I heard, we have 23 candidates for President between the two parties.  It's possible that out of the 23 we have two, maybe three of them, that do not fit this fast food analogy.  But will even one of those two or three survive the primary process?

Odds are, it's going to be a contest between the two parties to give us a choice between two nominees who the are most unqualified.  There might not even be half a dime's worth of difference between the nominees.

I'm tired of this "lesser of two evils" decision that I'm asked to make every four years.

I wish I was wrong about this.

More so than my wishing I was wrong about what half the people in Las Vegas are up to.

Some Random Observations

Anyone who hangs around me long enough is eventually going to hear a frequent observation about Las Vegas.  "Half this town is out to cheat the other half of town!"  I've been saying that at work and I've said it often enough that some of my co-workers are saying it too. 

I have one big problem with that observation:  no one's been able to prove me wrong.

* * * * * * *

It isn't the casinos who are out to cheat you here. They don't need to.  The mathematics are on their side.

Yet there is no shortage of visitors who all believe that they have this "system", that they are somehow going to pull a fast one on the casinos and walk away with enough to buy a Ferrari or Maserati.

When they find themselves taken to the cleaners, they might accuse the casinos of being in that half of town that cheats, but they're wrong.

It's the time-share salesmen who hang around in casinos who are doing the cheating.  And mechanics, dentists, entertainment brokers, and half of the rest of town.  (I do know one honest mechanic here; I should mention him sometime).

* * * * * *

There seems to be an established process here for how a lot of the restaurants work:  no matter how busy the place is, or how many people are waiting in line, there is only one cook. 

If you're in a family of four and all of you order the same thing on the menu, the cook will simply prepare the meals one at a time.  For example, let's say that all four family members order hamburger and fries.

First the cook cooks one hamburger.  Then, he fries up one, and only one batch of French fries.  The waitress then carries it out to the family.  Then the cook cooks the second hamburger.  Like with the first, he will not simultaneously cook the fries with the burger.  He just won't do it.  Likewise with the third and fourth orders.  All items have to be cooked one at a time. 

Will it ever occur to the cook to cook all four orders at once?

I don't think so.

I've just never seen it done that way here.  I'm wondering if there's a Clark County ordinance forbidding that practice.

* * * * * * *

There are also a lot of panhandlers here, and as of late they are getting aggressive.  I was meeting a local friend for breakfast Downtown a couple of Saturdays ago, and we went inside the Mermaids casino for a bit.

A panhandler actually came inside the casino to hit me up for money.

Downtown panhandling became such a problem that the City of Las Vegas cracked down in mid 2014.  The panhandlers could hold up a cardboard sign, but they could not vocally ask you for money.  On my last few visits, some of them started testing the boundaries.  And now they're coming inside the casinos to ask you for money.

* * * * * * *

I had thought for a few days that my next blog entry was going to be about The Donald and the noise he's been making in his campaign for the Presidency.  He's saying a lot of things that resonate with a lot of people, and the Establishment Republicans are terrified of him.  I personally find Establishment Republicans to be vile and disgusting, and if they're upset about Donald Trump then that's a good thing.

But I don't know what to make of The Donald.  Is he for real?  Where was he on illegal immigration ten years ago?  I don't remember him beating that drum back then. 

Sure, I'd rather have him than Hillary "What Difference Does it Make?" Clinton, or former Maryland Governor Martin "Give Me Your Guns" O'Malley........not to mention Elizabeth "I Have High Cheekbones" Warren of Massachusetts. 

But my feeling is that I really don't know who he is.

 

* * * * * * *

That's going to be it.

The Smithereens Play Las Vegas!

A little over a week ago, when I was checking out what was scheduled for Fremont Street (Downtown), I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Smithereens were going to play a free concert!  It was to be at the same location where I saw BTO several years ago, and I decided to go Downtown last Saturday to go check it out.  I arrived in the morning, and figured that they and the other bands would be doing their soundchecks around 2ish in the afternoon.

I was correct, and I was in an area where I could see the back entrance of the stage when Smithereens guitarist Jim Babjak happened to come up the ramp, with his guitar slung in a soft case on his back.  He said hi to me, and I returned the greeting, and then said "White Castle Blues!"  He paused and smiled.

"White Castle Blues" is an obscure Smithereens song that he co-wrote several years ago, which was a bonus track on their first full length CD (it did not make the vinyl).  I've always liked that song.  It's a bit out of the Smithereens mold; with him doing the vocal on it and having fun with it.  He then remarked, "you have one here in Vegas, don't you?"  I said we did, but it's on the Strip, and since we locals don't go to the Strip I had not been to it yet.  We chatted some more for a few moments, and then he went on to proceed with the soundcheck.  The bass player, Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion was already there, and drummer Dennis Diken and singer/rhythm guitarist Pat DiNizio (also the frontman for the group) joined him shortly thereafter.

Once Jimmy got his guitar plugged in and verified that it was in tune, he treated me to a short burst of "White Castle Blues".  Then the other members soundchecked their instruments, and they also played a short burst of "Only A Memory" to get the vocals all balanced out.

After that I got to chat with Pat DiNizio some, and with Jim.  There were a few other fans there.  I had to explain that this was my first time seeing them although I'd been following them since 1988.  It was simply a matter of them and me being in the same town at the same time.  In my San Jose years I would be away on a business trip when they came through.  That was how it is, and they wanted to know if I was going to stick around for the show.  I said I would, even if it was past my normal bedtime.  They would be taking the stage shortly after 9:00 PM and would play a 50 minute set. 

Pat obliged my request to pose for a photo with him.  He did ask me not to post this on the internet, and out of respect for that wish I won't post it here, but he was OK with me emailing it to Sheila.  They went back to an RV were they were presumably going to rest up some.  Jim said he needed to get out of the heat, but would see me again later on.

Through an interesting sequence of events, when I was back there at 7ish, one of the fans from another of the bands who had seen me at the soundcheck gave me the VIP wristband so that I could be in the section closest to the stage.  I went in, and a security guard came up to me.  I thought I was going to be asked to leave, but he was there to tell me all three band members were doing a meet and greet backstage, and if I wanted to meet them then go ahead and go back.

I felt bad that I didn't have anything for the Smithereens to sign, but Jimmy said "hang on.  I've got a picture in my guitar case I can give you."  He returned five minutes later.  The Thrilla jokingly gave me a hard time for not having a silver sharpie on me, but that I could purchase one.  I asked him how much, and he said "five thousand dollars!".  It was either Jim or Pat who said "don't listen to him", and I came away with an autographed color photo of the band.

They took the stage at about 9:10 PM.  In that short of a set, they obviously couldn't have played all the songs that they wanted to play, but they did play their well known tunes, and blended one of them with a medley by using a couple of songs from The Who.  It was one excellent show, and afterwards they signed autographs and CDs at a booth on the opposite side of the Fremont Street corridor.  They had CDs on sale too.  I bought one of a live show that I didn't have, and one from Jim Babjak's side project.  Jim personalized it for me, and Dennis signed that one as well since he had played on it.  We chatted some more, with me indicating that I would try to catch them in Arizona later this year.

After I got home all full of adrenaline, I visited their websites, and discovered that Jimmy had his email address up there, so I wrote him to thank him again for providing me that picture, and for a great show.  I logged off and tried to get some sleep after that.

It wasn't until the next morning that I saw his reply.  He wrote me back from his hotel room shortly after midnight using his iPhone!  Now how cool is that?!  I plan to write him again shortly, but I want to give his CD a second listen before I do.

They play in Sahuarita AZ on Friday, the 11th of September.  Plane fares at this time look doable but I can't commit to this until early August.  I'll have to burn a vacation day and fly down there the night before, but I'd like to have Sheila with me the next time I see them, and this is so far the best way to make that happen.

As stated previously, Pat asked me not to post the photo of us together, but I have one from the soundcheck I can share with you.

The Month That Was

May is winding down to an end here.  It's been one of the better months.  Sheila flew up here on the evening of the 5th, and on the next day we were out on the road first thing in the morning.  We drove up to Reno on US95, retracing some steps that I had done many years ago.  Not much has changed in that stretch between Las Vegas and Walker Lake, which I last saw in '93. 

We stopped off at the "Area 51 Alien Center" in Amargosa Valley, which has an interesting souvenir shop.  I had been up there in early March and I wanted Sheila to see it.  After she bought some goodies for the kids, we continued on, stopping again in Rhyolite.

Rhyolite is the very first ghost town that I have ever visited.  I was disappointed when I saw it the first time long ago, when I saw those ghost statues near the first building you see.  I couldn't remember if the grotesque statue purporting to be a nude blonde was there back then........it is now, and I hope the model was able to sue for damages.  This time around we spent a half hour exploring the ruins and taking lots of pictures, and I enjoyed it much much better.

Our next stop was Goldfield, the county seat of Esmeralda County.  Esmeralda per the latest figures has some 780 or 820 residents, and 268 of them are said to be living in Goldfield.  The diner we stopped at in 1993 was still there and my recollection is that you could have anything you wanted on the menu, as long as it was chili (and not bad chili either).  About half the buildings, maybe more, have long since been abandoned, and a few of them are in the state of restoration.  The County Courthouse was along the main drag and on the other side of the fence I noticed inmates playing basketball, though the chain link fence had slats in them so that you wouldn't have known they were there unless you really looked.

Upon Tonopah, barely inside Nye County, we encountered thunder.  Yep....and some rain, but not a lot of it.  More rain was had when US95 put us back into Esmeralda County and it was in short sessions of sprinkles.  I didn't remember Walker Lake being that huge.  After Walker Lake, it was uncharted road for us all the way up to Fallon, which I had never been to before.  We liked Fallon and we are now considering that as a retirement venue.  An hour or so later, we arrived at the Siena Hotel in Reno, where we stayed for a couple of days.

The Siena wasn't there the last time I had been in Reno, and that was in 1997.  It was modern and the staff professional.  However, in the parking lot there was a panhandler, and some cars were broken into overnight on our last night there.  We weren't hit, but for some reason those in the row closest to the hotel were.  The telltale signs of window glass told me that five or six had been hit.  Also, there isn't much casino floor security in the Siena as that I was accosted by a panhandler in the men's room.  I didn't say a word, and couldn't find a security officer to have the mendicant ejected.

The next day it was off to San Jose to see my parents, Mark and his wife, and Chip and his family.  After a Mother's Day lunch we were on the road and were able to make it back to Vegas late that Sunday evening.  Monday we visited the Luxor since Sheila wanted to see that, and we hung around Downtown after that.  She flew home Tuesday afternoon, and vacation was over the next morning.

For the Memorial Day weekend, I was back in Tucson for a short visit.  There was more time with our grandchild, and time of course with the cats, who realized that Daddy was home and that meant one more person to boss around.  Oh, they were nice about it, wanting all sorts of love and attention, in addition to a fully stocked food dish. 

Anyway, this was a good month, and it is ending on a hot note.  Las Vegas hit triple digits this weekend.  Good thing all those years in Tucson acclimated me to heat. 

One of my projects should be to post photos of Rhyolite and Goldfield.  It might take two or three postings for both.  So, I guess I'd better get busy and get those pictures on my computer, and resized for blogging.

That's all for now.

Don't forget to pet a dog or a cat!

Coming Out of Spiritual Exile

About six or maybe seven weeks ago I made the decision to start attending church here.  It was something that I had been telling myself that I should do.  I had only been to one service since the one I was married at, and I was thinking then that it was just time to go online, locate a church, and drive to it one Sunday morning.

A review of the churches in the church body of which I am a member showed four or five sister congregations out here to choose from.  One is down in Henderson and two were on my side of Las Vegas.  I chose the one down in Summerlin, and came out of spiritual exile.

The rest of the day I was feeling really good about things for quite some time.  I have been going back since on most weekends when I am here in town.  I missed last Sunday due to a bug that I had the day before, but I made it today.

I really wish Sheila could have been there with me on those Sundays I've made it.  I know she would like this church, but the one we have back in Tucson is also right up there and I still regard that as my church.......even if I have to attend a different one while I'm exiled here in Nevada away from my home.

This morning was really great.  I met a couple that I knew at my then church in San Jose.  I hadn't seen them in nearly 30 years.  They have retired to Las Vegas, but make occasional visits to San Jose.  Sheila and I will be in San Jose for a vacation before too long, and who knows, we may run into them again.

* * * * * * *

In some ways I identify with the Hebrew nation as described in the Old Testament.  They left Egypt, and went to go wandering in the desert for 40 years.  When that time was up, they left the desert to enter a land flowing with milk and honey.  Then after a collection of centuries, they were carried off into Babylonian captivity, and then returned after 70 years.

The story of the Exodus has fascinated me for a very long time, and I've had something of my own personal Exodus.  In my case I left a land flowing with milk and honey to enter a desert, but Arizona was something of a promised land to me.  I love Arizona and I miss being there.

However, I probably ought to be reading up again on their Babylonian captivity.  I feel sometimes like I am in my own counterpart to it here, having to be in Nevada so that I can stay in the workforce; not knowing how long this will last or if I will ever make it back to Tucson.

My employer is thinking of opening up another plantsite in Phoenix, and I've already put in for a transfer there, should they want Vegas people to go down.  My new boss said that I could go, but that he'd need me up here for two or three days a week.  I'm fine with that, as that if I'm working in Phoenix I could see Sheila every weekend.

* * * * * * *

I've known Sheila for over two years now and she is still continuing to amaze me.  I go Downtown every second or third week here to get out of the house, and although the people-watching is even better there than what you can see at an airport, it would be better if she were there with me.

* * * * * * *

As I've stated, I don't know how long my time here will last.  There may be a rationale for staying here, and moving out of Tucson.  I'm not sure that I like Las Vegas all that much, but Summerlin is nice and that's where my new church is.  I've heard lots of good things about Henderson, but that's too far away from my job for my liking.  I have made a couple of visits there, and really need to go there a few more times to get a better feel for it. 

I would have no issue retiring in Nevada, in and of itself.

I just don't think I want to retire in Las Vegas.

 

Over the Hump to Pahrump

Last Saturday I drove over to the unincorporated Town of Pahrump, which is situated in Nye County, and about an hour or so from Las Vegas.  I had been curious about it for some time as that it's been a candidate retirement location, and that a lower cost of living might be had there.  I took something of a roundabout way to get there, as that I wanted to come in from the north, and leave by the south.

After taking care of the things here that I needed to take care of, I headed north on US95, passing thru Indian Springs and its nearby correctional facility as well as the entrance of Creech Air Force Base.  I was headed for the junction of US95 and Nevada State Highway 160. 

 The junction arrived some 40 minutes later, and I found myself going down a road that I had never driven on before. The state highway was in good condition, even out in the middle of nowhere. I surmised that the revenues we get from legalized gambling was one good reason why our roads are good here as I rolled on down the blacktop with the expanse of the Mojave Desert around me. The sky was blue and clear, the scenery having a beauty all its own, and the mileage sign that I saw back at the junction was indicating 27 miles of this road before I was at my objective.

Coming into Pahrump from the north wasn't really all that impressive. I was prepared for that, as that a co-worker who I go on lunchtime walks with (and who is also new to Nevada) was telling me a few weeks ago about his drive there. It reminded me of Eloy, Arizona, which some folks regard as an armpit, though as far as armpits go neither Eloy or northern Pahrump have anything on Blythe or El Centro, which are two towns chasing after Bakersfield and Stockton for the prize of being the Armpit of California. Anyway, as I got closer to central Pahrump, it was looking a great deal more modern than what I had seen a few miles previous. There was an Albertson's, a Walmart, a strip mall that looked like it was less than a few years old, fireworks stores (several of them), gas stations, and the Pahrump Nugget Casino.

I checked out the Walmart, which was one of those that had a grocery section.  I also visited the Albertson's, the Smith's supermarket, and the Pahrump Nugget Casino to purchase some gaming chips for the collections that Sheila and I both have going.  I thought about driving into the People's Republic of California to check out Shoshone, but I didn't.  I did drive down some residential streets and saw the new construction that Ron had been telling me about.

The real treat was the drive back to Vegas along NV160, which afforded me the opportunity to marvel at the scenery and rock formations that one encounters at the mountain pass that you drive over. Once back in Las Vegas, the traffic of course thickens up some, and there are always a few drivers out there who want to prove to everyone that they're much better drivers than Richard Petty or Kyle Busch. I wasn't panhandled in Pahrump, but when trying to buy gas here there was someone who insisted he was out of both gasoline and money and he needed a few dollars.........right.........like he just happened to run out of both upon arriving at the other side of the island?

Anyway, I am a better person now, having seen something as simple as this small town that I had never been to before until today. 

I plan to go back before too long, and this time allocate some time for checking out Shoshone and possibly a little of Death Valley.

Life's Events

The month has been up and down so far with the good and the not-so-good.  A great moment of joy was had on the 3rd when Sheila's oldest daughter gave birth to a baby boy, making Sheila a grandmother and me a grandfather by virtue of marrying into the family.  I was pleased as punch to see a picture of the little guy when he was barely an hour old.  I kept looking at it and realizing that life itself is a miracle.

Then there was news of some complications with the young one, but within the few hours the complications were showing signs of self-correction and the day after we knew that the new family member is doing OK.  I am going down to see him on the 27th.

At work, we seem poised to do some great things that have never been done before.  These are things I can't talk about, but you'll read them in the news if you know where to look.  There is most definitely a market for what we're offering and my challenge as an engineer is to help get the product to the marketplace.  I'm having loads of fun working there.

As for Las Vegas itself, I was Downtown yesterday strolling around and people-watching.  I saw the usual collection of panhandlers and weirdo street performers along the Fremont Street Experience.  No, I didn't gamble, but I found a nickel on the ground so I was able to come out ahead.

I took a different way home, mainly wanting to check out this Salvadorean restaurant that was on Main Street, a few blocks north of Downtown.  I figured I would drive by it and see if I could get a feel as to whether or not I would want to go inside sometime.  What I found out was that part of Main Street was a real trashcan of a neighborhood, and of course I was remembering what Bob Self had to say about Las Vegas. 

That of course obliterated the positive view of southern Nevada that I had when I went out on a drive to Amargosa Valley last Saturday.  I hadn't been up that stretch of US 95 since July 1993, and I wanted to re-acquaint myself with that area.  The mountains in the distance had this signature scenery to them, and in a few places it was a lot like being out in the middle of Cochise County back in Arizona.  I'm thinking that I should go out there again, but I'll likely wait until I have new tires on the back of my truck, and I want to put that purchase off until I'm in the next billing cycle of one of my Visa cards.

Meantime, I can report that the weather is finally warming up.  We had an unusually cold and wet winter in Las Vegas this time around according to a ten year resident here who I cross paths with at work.  I spend most of my lunch hours walking around the campus with another co-worker; I do 1.7 miles each day unless I get the wild hare to leave the plant for lunch.  I have discovered some great eating places that I can get to and back before my allotted one hour for lunch is up, and I'm thinking it's time to check out one of them.........that being the Bacon Bar (it's tempting to go there for breakfast tomorrow). 

That's going to be it for now. 

What Might Have Been

I can now make this public.

Last October, when I was still out of the workforce, there was something else going on behind the scenes with respect to my then job search.  I was working hard on getting the Nevada gig, but simultaneously there was a possibility in Texas as well.

Shortly after the 4th of July, I noticed an open requisition for a Product Line Engineer position with General Dynamics in Kilgore, TX.  General Dynamics has been a company that has survived mergers and downsizing in the defense market while simultaneously avoiding a buyout from someone else.  From what I can gather from them, they have always been a well-managed company, knowing when to sell off product lines and when to acquire others.  It was something of a surprise to me to learn that they had operations in Kilgore in the communications satellite market.  I read the job description, thought "I can do this job!  But will they think that?", and applied.

A few weeks later I had a telephone interview.  It was at a low point in the job search, and my recollection is that I was not yet aware of the opportunities that my pending employer had, and as far as I could tell the phone interview went well.  They told me it would be three weeks or so before I would hear one way or the other.

In the interim, I was pressing forward with the search, and the machinations to my landing in Nevada got under way.  I sent them a resume, I got a call from their Human Resources department asking me to apply online, and then later on I scored a telephone interview.  That went well, and as soon as I was being invited to fly to Las Vegas the GD folks called.  They wanted to talk further with me too!  They wanted me there the same day that Nevada wanted me here, so I had to tell them there was a conflict.  They accommodated my request, and so I had one on-site interview right after another.

I knew in my heart I wanted the Nevada opportunity.  I didn't really want to go out to Texas, but I figured that I had better, because I didn't know then what Nevada was going to do.  It turned out I got the offer two days before I had to fly out to Texas, after which I *really* didn't want to take that trip.  But, I was committed, I had given my word, and so I figured I would go out there and do my best.

As far as I can tell it went well too.  I liked driving down the rural roads in that area between Kilgore and Longview, where I flew into.  I made a wrong turn and saw even more of the countryside, and upon correcting that mistake I was able to locate the hotel.  I then went out to a Mexican restaurant and learned that I didn't really care for Tex-Mex cuisine.  Years of Arizona have spoiled me on what Mexican food should be like, and I had plenty of exposure to Sonora style, Mexico City style, and New Mexico style (New Mexico style's the best!).  The next day I showed up for the interview.

The people there at the plant, and who I met while exploring the area, struck me as the nicest people you're ever going to meet in the United States.  I found myself enjoying that Texas hospitality, and thinking that if GD were to make me an offer I couldn't refuse, I might have to turn down the Nevada offer.  The only glitch that gave me pause was that General Dynamics had had layoffs the year before; one of my would-be co-workers let that slip.  The learning curve wouldn't have been that difficult and within three weeks I could have been making some key technical decisions.  But that layoff remark bothered me, and with 60% of their sales being to our own military (and other sales to foreign military) I wasn't sure what their business base would be doing.

After the interview, I drove back to the Longview airport, phoned Nevada, and accepted their offer.  I was glad to have seen Texas, but the work in Nevada was more appealing, and I knew that if I didn't take it I'd be missing out on some really neat stuff.

Meanwhile, I never heard back from Texas.  Not until yesterday. 

The verdict?

They have decided to cancel the requisition, and to not fill the position!

It is not unheard of these days to interview for a job, and to never hear back.  Not even the form rejection letter that some companies seem to delight in sending out.  I wrote it off to that, but couldn't have helped but wonder what kind of life I would have had in Texas.  Sheila stated she would support my decision to go there, but she was really hoping I would choose Nevada.  I don't regret my choice one bit, but the wondering about Texas was along the lines of Texas lacking the concentration of drivers native to southern California who help make life in southern Nevada miserable.  I could write a few pages on southern Californian drivers but I don't plan to do that anytime soon.  Besides, if I were to write about them, the drivers in Boston are liable to get angry for not getting noticed by me for their driving habits, and if I'm going to make people angry I've already got something else picked out to write about that would irritate an even larger segment of the population.

So, what might have been in Texas, besides nicer people?  Plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities (I'm sure Nevada has them too, but maybe not as many).  Mexican restaurants that are somewhat better (if  you want good Mexican food in Las Vegas, you have to go to Taco Bell).  A slower pace of life.  That's what might have been.

But as it is, most of us will go to where the money is, and the money is right here in Las Vegas.  I wish there were more of it, but it's a good way to make a living, and I am learning a great deal about human spaceflight that I would not have learned had I not taken this job. 

I can wonder about what might have been, but I think I'd be better off if I ponder some dreams instead, and turn them into reality.

Married Life is Great!

I don't have too much to report, aside from the fact that I am still pleased as punch that Sheila is now my wife.  I hate being away from her like this and it's going to be this way for a while.  I am returning to Tucson next weekend and again in March, and I think that in April she'll be coming up here.

I have to admit that I am a lot happier now than I was a couple of months ago.  There are some things about Las Vegas that I do not like (the Strip is one of them; that place should be bulldozed), but I am finding some things about this place that I do like.  We have a Chinatown on Spring Mountain Blvd that I need to spend some time checking out, and I'm hoping that I can talk a co-worker or two into meeting there for lunch some Saturday or Sunday. 

Work itself is challenging, as it should be.  Planning for the next generation of private spaceflight is under way, and I'm excited at being able to help develop spacecraft design.  We have lots of good ideas as to how to make things work and I'm hoping to play a major role in identifying and helping to develop the test equipment that we will need.

I do look forward when I can get some time off, and have that honeymoon with Sheila.  Nope, we haven't figured that out yet, but we've got some good ideas. 

Married!

Sheila and I were married yesterday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ.

Best man was my longtime friend Mark, who made a special drive with his wife to be there.

Maidens of honor were Kira, Sheila's oldest daughter, and her best friend Barb.

It was great having Sheila next to me all night long last night.  We are both tired.

I have since flown back to Las Vegas, this time swimming in a sea of pleasant thought, having a ring on my finger for the first time in 16 years.

The honeymoon will be later on this summer when both of us can get some time off.  We haven't decided where, but I'd bet on a road trip.  We might go to Santa Fe and take as much as we can of historic 66 from there all the way to Kingman.  I've also identified a few possible romantic getaways elsewhere.

I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Not Quite What I Expected..........

In my previous post, I was wondering if some fatass politician was going to blame the NRA for the recent terrorist attack in France. 

We didn't quite get that.  Yet.

What we got instead was the actor Liam Neeson blaming this on "too many (expletive deleted) guns in America".  That's right.  "Too many guns".

It wasn't the magazine printing cartoon images of the prophet Mohammed that caused this.  Nope.  That couldn't possibly have anything to do with this.

And it certainly wasn't the terrorists.  Nope.  That could never have caused the attack either. 

Instead it's "too many guns" in America that caused this.

It doesn't matter that this terrorist attack happened in France.  It also doesn't matter that the French gun control laws placed the first police officers responding to this into a state of being disarmed when trying to take control of the situation.  That has nothing to do with this, according to Liam Neeson.  It can't possibly have anything to do with this  at all.  Nope.  Instead, it's all because of the "too many guns" in America.

This is rather rich coming from someone who's earned quite a pile of money starring in movies that glorify gun violence.  He takes money from a motion picture studio that glorifies the violent use of guns, and then blames a terrorist attack on one country on guns that are in another country.

I'm very glad that Liam Neeson came forward to blame the "too many guns" in America for this.

One........it makes all of the gun control proponents look stupid.  Not a single one of them is disavowing his remarks.  Not one. 

Two.  It shows us the level of hypocrisy that a Hollywood actor can suffer from.

Three.  It also shows us just how disconnected from reality that a Hollywood actor can be. 

I hope that from this day forward, Liam Neeson refuses to star in any movie where a gun is used, be it for portraying a criminal activity or for a "good guy" using it to defend himself.

I also hope that if he has a concealed weapon permit, that he reports to the nearest police station to surrender it, along with the gun that he carries for self-protection.

Some Random Thoughts; 1/11/15

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Charlie Hebdo, Organized Media and the liberal left have been in a panic over two things.  One of them is that the mainstream of society will associate this terrorist action with Muslims, and another is that the right wing might gain control of France.

France for years has been a socialist paradise.  Free health care (if you can get it), 35 hour work weeks (if you can find a job), six weeks of vacation a year (if you have a job), and gun control that's so strict that even a percentage of the police aren't allowed to carry guns.

Could it be that the real fear is that they know a socialist paradise does not protect the individual citizen, since the needs of the State come first?

 

* * * * * * *

I'm waiting to see if one of our own politicians will be blaming the NRA for what happened in France.  The NRA is a formidable opponent to the proposed UN treaty that's targeting "small arms".  Watch for one of them to come forward to say, "if only this treaty had been in force this would never have happened!"

* * * * * * *

Organized Media and those who let Organized Media do their thinking for them are telling us that we shouldn't be offending the Muslims.

Yet these are the same people who have no problem with Christians being offended.  Example, federal money being used to fund "art" depicting a crucifix in urine.

They will deny that they have an anti-Christian bias, but try asking them about having federal money fund an art project that has the Koran submerged in urine, or an image of the Prophet Mohammed defaced. 

Watch them change the subject if you suggest that.  That is, if they don't turn and walk away from you.

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Living in a state that has legalized gambling will present you with images that you are not likely to forget.

I keep thinking about that 40 something woman that I saw in a casino last month.  She was trying to withdraw funds from an ATM, and saw the message on her screen that informed her that her daily withdrawal limit had been reached.

That look of despair and panic on her face is something I will never forget.

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Proponents of legalized gambling will tell you that it will bring money and jobs into your state.

That's very true.  Billions of dollars come to Nevada each year.  The roads here are in good shape, and I pay no state income tax. 

However, the entrepreneur who founded my new employer didn't make his money from gambling.  He made it from another business, having recognized a niche need for that industry that he filled.

I can't say that my job depends on legalized gambling, and I think that might be a good thing.

As for those billions of dollars that are coming here, I haven't gotten a single dime.  I do indirectly benefit from the good roads and lower tax burden.  But I'm not convinced that gambling should be legal. 

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How has legalized gambling helped Atlantic City? 

Last I heard, the slums are still there.

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Yet...........I'll have to admit that playing the nickel slots are a lot of fun, as well as shooting craps.   I haven't done very much of either since I started living here.  I don't like the $5 minimum bet that most casinos here have on the craps table.  I did visit a casino in Henderson that my boss told me about that had a $1 limit, and thirty minutes later I was up $4 when I quit. 

I guess craps isn't as much fun if it's legal where you live.  It seemed like it was much more fun when I was a resident of California/Arizona. 

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I am becoming convinced that federal legislation is needed to prohibit Microsoft engineers from being near any hardware or software that is used to fly spacecraft or aircraft. 

How many planes would suddenly crash if Microsoft were to write code for aerodynamic control?  How many rockets would blow up?  How many manned spacecraft would find themselves stranded in orbit?

Microsoft engineers definitely need to be kept away from flight articles.

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That's all, folks!