Vegas News
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
<< 04/2006 < 10/2006 Calendar 05/2007 > 04/2008 >>Sign InView Other Logs
Fri 
04/20/2007 11:56:24
 jim  Freezing cold outside. Is 60, feels 30

Vegas weather is SO FLAKEY!
One day its hot, the next day its not.
Of all my odd observations, how people respond to the weather ranks on top.
When I cruise the Strip, I see people walking around in ski jackets, right next to people wearing tank tops.
  We'll be riding around in the Mustang with the top down, Becky will have the heat turned on, Jennifer and I will be marrily riding along, and Dustin will be in the back looking like he's in Greenland. 
I have been a Polar Bear Club wannabe forever.
That is to say, I've skinny dipped in a non heated pool on a cold Kentucky winter's night. What a blast!
But I'd like to think I'm normal in a few ways.
My question is...is 75 degrees HOT, or is it COLD?
Fri 
11/17/2006 19:00:04
 Jim  Lake Las Vegas Resort - Tree Lighting Ceremony w/C
Clint Holmes, along with Santa and his elves, will be at a tree lighting ceremony at Lake Las Vegas Resorts.
Clint Holmes will be singing, and the Ice Skating Rink will be open.
All day passes for the Ice Skating rink are available for $12.
It is a free to all that come. Activities start at 7:30pm. Click here for more information
Fri 
11/17/2006 12:01:00
 Jim  Stardust Auction
Bidding starts at 11am.
We can be there, or online at www.greatamerican.com .
11/17 Fri - Casino Floor and Tables, (no slots will be sold) Sportsbook, Consumer Collectibles
11/18 Sat - Art, Antiques, Collectibles, Signage, Photos
11/19 Sun - Art, Antiques, Collectibles, Signage, Photos
11/20 Mon - Cooking equipment, Landscaping, generators, Suite furnishings etc.
11/21 Tues - Facility assets, Office furnishings, miscellaneous, odds and ends.
Fri 
11/17/2006 09:59:03
 Jim  How to Beat Auto Mechanic Rip Offs
I needed brakes two years ago. This is how I beat them
Armed with a slew of $99 coupons, I went to 6 brake shops.
Almost all of them came up with estimates over $400!
I listened to the people in front of me at the lines. They were being duped.
So I got written estimates and used logic to beat them.
Mr Brake said I needed new rotors.
- They estimated over $400 but $250 was for the rotors. Ceramic pads were included.
Midas said my rotors were fine, but I need new shocks.
- They estimated over $400, but $250 was for the shocks. Ceramic pads were included.
Another Mr Brake said the rotors were fine, but $99 brake pads were crap
- They estimated over $400 for the pads, but $250 was for ceramic the pads.
Combining all of those estimates, it was obvious I was being duped.
I showed my estimates to the first Mr Brake
- I pointed out that, unless Midas and the other Mr Brake were lying, they had to be wrong about the rotors.
- A customer was present that was about to pay $400 for a $99 coupon brake job. (I listened in)
Mr Brake gave me new ceramic brakes (front only) and shocks for $250.
- They said OOPS! We made a mistake on the rotors.
I should point out the following:
- I felt sorry for the other customer that was getting duped.
- It was near closing time
- I watched them do it from the parking lot.
DO NOT TRUST AUTO MECHANICS!!! Get written estimates first.

Channel 8 Stings Purrfect Auto
I was really happy to see what I think is a common dupe.
Auto repair companies typically lure people in with coupons that charge unreasonably low rates.
Wed 
11/15/2006 23:28:18
 Jim  Holiday Events
Chocolate Wonderland 

Ethel Ms Chocolate Factory Mtn Vista and Sunset.
5pm to 10 pm, Fri, Sat through Dec 23rd. Free
Features 500,000 lights, chocolate houses, sculptures, Santa Claus and live enterainment.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Lake Las Vegas - Nov 17. 8pm. Free. Clint Holmes will be singing 8pm to 9pm.
The Floating Ice Skating Rink is open for $12 per person (all day).
Gift of Lights
Sunset Park - Thu, Fri, Sat 5pm to 9pm. Cost: $12 per vehicle
It has displays with over 7 million lights.
Heritage Street Holidays
Clark County Museum - 1830 Boulder Highway. $1.50 adults, $1 children
See holidays past on the Clark County Museum"s Heritage Street.
The restored have historic homes decorated in vintage trim from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
Museum-goers will be given a set of period recipes, available at each home.
"Holiday Trains Around the Tree" will take place 4:30-8 p.m. Dec. 9-11.
The event will feature music, trees, and Dec.rated homes along Heritage Street; historic train runs at the Railroad Depot and a special 1920's Lionel's Golden Age model railroading exhibit; a special holiday discount on every purchase; and complimentary holiday refreshments.
Tue 
11/14/2006 23:04:04
 Jim  Pahrump, NV: English is now official
Theres problems with the First Amendment Rights to Freedom of Speech.They may face lawsuits about it.
At least their trying to hold on to what they view as sacred.
I've noticed that you must speak English to gain citizenship unless you are over 55.
Americans have lost so much.
You can't raise your child the way you want, you can't say a prayer in school.
I can't even understand the girl in the drive up window at McDonalds.
It won't be long before all of the religious holidays are gone.
Hey, kids are murdering each other. Has anyone noticed?
Do we need something like language dividing us even further apart?
Sat 
11/11/2006 12:01:00
 Jim  Nellis Airshow
 Aviation Nation

A huge air show, ,the largest free event in Nevada, is being sponsored by Nellis Air Force Base this weekend. 
More than 100 aircraft will be on display.
Gates open: November 11th and 12th
8am to 4:30pm. .
Sat 
11/11/2006 11:04:43
 Jim  Nellis Airshow

November 11, 2006 - Nellis offers a free airshow, open the public.
The Thunderbirds perform, along with dozens of vintage aircraft.
We met the pilots, and they let you tour the interiors of the planes. We liked it!
Sat 
11/11/2006 09:00:00
 Jim  Veterans Day Parade
The annual Las Vegas Veterans Day Parade takes palce on Saturday, Nov. 11.
The parade begins at 10 a.m. and should last until 1:30 pm.
The 4th Street parade route begins downtown on Coolidge Avenue and will stop at the Fremont Street Experience.
Fri 
11/10/2006 13:45:48
 Jim  Minimum wage increased to $6.15 w/strings
Nevada's minimum wage of $6.15 an hour will take effect November 28th.
Exemptions:
Employers who offer health insurance for less than 10% of the workers gross income.
Overtime Changes
Those with health insurance get overtime after 8 hours if their wage is less than $7.73.
Those without health insurance get overtime after 8 hours if their wage is less than $9.23.
What does that mean exactly?
Does that mean, if you make > $9.23 without insurance, or > $7.73 with insurance, you don't get overtime?
Is overtime pretty much history now?
Thu 
11/09/2006 17:30:09
 Jim  Vegas Historical Dates
1829 -- Discovered by Spanish explorers.
1855 -- First settlement by Mormons in Las Vegas.
1905 -- Town of Las Vegas established by auctioning of land.
1905 -- The First United Methodist Church of Las Vegas formed at 3rd & Bridger.
1911 -- The city of Las Vegas is incorporated.
1926 -- First commercial airline flight, Western Airlines.
1931/03/19 -- Gambling legalized in Nevada.
1936/03/01 -- Hoover Dam completed in Black Canyon.
1940 -- Clark County population 16,414 (Las Vegas-8,422).
1941 -- El Rancho Vegas opens on the Strip, destroyed by fire 19 years later.
1941 -- El Cortez Hotel opens downtown.
1942 -- Last Frontier Hotel opens. (Later called New Frontier and Frontier.)
1944 -- The first Helldorado parade and rodeo is conducted.
1946 -- Bugsy Siegel opens Flamingo Hotel. State levies first gaming taxes.
1947 -- The U.S. Air Force opens Nellis
1950 -- Clark County population 48,289. (Las Vegas-24,624).
1955 -- Gaming Control Board created within the Nevada Tax Commission by the Legislature.
1955 -- Riviera opens
1957 -- Tropicana opens
1959 -- Las Vegas Convention Center opens. The Nevada Gaming Commission is created by the Legislature.
1960 -- Clark County population 127,016. (Las Vegas-64,405).
1966 -- Howard Hughes arrives to live at Desert Inn.
1966 -- Caesars Palace opens
1967 -- Nevada legislature allows corporations to obtain gambling licenses.
1970 -- Clark County population 273,288 (Las Vegas-125,787).
1975 -- Nevada gaming revenues first crack $1 billion mark.
1980 -- Clark County population hits 463,087 (Las Vegas- 164,674) as Las Vegas celebrates 75th birthday.
1981 -- Las Vegas celebrates Golden Anniversary of Gaming.
1985 -- First National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas.
1989 -- Mirage opens Nov. 22, with 3,039 rooms.
1990 -- Clark County population 741,459 (Las Vegas-258,295)
1990 -- Excalibur opens June 19, to date the world's largest resort hotel with 4,032 rooms.
1991 -- Ground broken on MGM Grand Hotel and Theme Park; Treasure Island Hotel, and pyramid-shaped Luxor.
1991 -- The Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide goes online as a dial-up BBS system.
1992 -- First Las Vegas Bowl held at Silver Bowl.
1993 -- MGM Grand Hotel and Theme Park tops off. Flamingo Hilton announces plans to raze Bugsy suite and office.
1993/10/27 -- Dunes sign is imploded
1993 -- Money won by Nevada casinos tops the $6 billion mark for the first time.
1993/08/23 -- Grand Slam Canyon Adventuredome
1993/10/15 -- Luxor Hotel opens
1993/10/26 -- Treasure Island Hotel opens
1993/12/18 -- MGM Grand Hotel and Theme Park opens
1994 -- Buffalo Bill's in Stateline and Boulder Station Casino on Boulder Highway in Las Vegas open.
1994/09/07 -- Downtown Fremont Street closed to traffic
1994 -- Steve Wynn reveals plans to construct Bellagio
1994 -- Sam's Town on Boulder Highway expands with lush, plant-filled atrium.
1994 -- Boomtown opens
1994 -- The first non-stop flight from Europe begins with weekly flights from Cologne, Germany.
1994 -- Four skywalks are built over the intersection of Tropicana Boulevard and the Las Vegas Strip.
1994 -- County opens Interstate 15-McCarran airport connector tunnel
1994/10/27 -- The Dunes hotel-casino is imploded
1994 -- The Fiesta opens in North Las Vegas 
1995/02/01 -- Vegas World closes its doors to make way for the Stratosphere Tower.
1995 -- Clark County population estimated at 1,000,000+
1995/03/10 -- The first Hard Rock Hotel opens March 10.
1995 -- New visitors center opens at Hoover Dam.
1995 -- Circus Circus Inc. buys Gold Strike Resorts.
1995/06/14 -- Monorail begins operation between MGM Grand and Bally's
1995 -- William Bennett, former president and CEO of Circus Circus, buys Sahara Hotel-Casino
1995 -- Bally Entertainment Corp. announces Paris Casino Resort
1995 -- Texas Gambling Hall & Hotel opens next door to the Fiesta on Rancho Road in North Las Vegas.
1995 -- $25 million monorail begins running between MGM Grand and Bally's hotel-casinos on June 14.
1995 -- The Las Vegas Online Entertainment Guide moves from dial-up to the Internet.
1995 -- ITT Corp. buys Caesars World Inc. for $1.7 billion, including Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip.
1995 -- Construction begins on Steve Wynn's Bellagio
1995 -- Circus Circus Enterprises buys Hacienda and surrounding 100 acres.
1995/12/13 -- Fremont Street Experience opens
1995 -- Las Vegas reported a 29 million visitor volume for the year.
1995 -- State gross gaming revenue surpasses $7.3 billion. 
1995 -- Clark County produced $5.7 billion of the state's gaming revenue total.
1995/11/07 -- Landmark Hotel imploded
1996/01/24 -- Ground breaking ceremonies for Las Vegas Hilton's Star Trek: The Experience
1996 -- Wayne Newton celebrates 25,000th Las Vegas performance.
1996 -- Siegfried and Roy celebrate 15,000th Las Vegas performance.
1996 -- Desert Inn Road arterial is completed, creating the first tunnel under the Las Vegas Strip.
1996/04/30 -- Stratosphere Tower opens as the tallest free-standing observation tower in the US
1996 -- Hilton Hotels Corp. purchases Bally's Entertainment Corp for $3 billion
1996/06/18 -- Caesars Magical Empire, a multimillion dollar dining and entertainment complex opens
1996/06/21 -- Monte Carlo, a joint venture between Circus Circus Enterprises Inc. and Mirage Resorts Inc
1996/09/01 -- The $72 million, 1,100-acre Las Vegas Speedway opens
1996 -- Clark County Commission grants permits for Paris Casino Resort
1996 -- Hyatt Hotel Corp. announces plans to build a 500-room hotel on the shores of Lake Las Vegas
1996/06/30 -- The Sands Hotel, after 44 years of continuous operation,
1996/11/25 -- Sands tower imploded Nov. 26 to make way for the Venetian
1996 -- State Line, NV is renamed to Primm, NV
1996 -- Ground breaking held for 3,000-room Planet Hollywood Hotel Casino. It never happened.
1996/12/31 -- Circus Circus implodes Hacienda Hotel Casino Dec. 31 to make way for megaresort.
1996 -- 29.6 million people visit Las Vegas in 1996; state gross gaming revenue totals $7.45 billion
1996 -- Clark County population hits 1.1 million.
1997/01/03 -- New York-New York Hotel Casino opens.
1997/01/27 -- Stratosphere files Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It continues to operate.
1997/01/28 -- Hilton Hotels Corp. makes a $10.5 billion hostile take-over bid on ITT Corp.
1997 -- ITT shareholders accept Starwood Lodging offer.
1997/02/07 -- The 6,945-yard, par 71 Lakes Course opens Feb. 7, the first golf course located in Primm, NV.
1997/04 -- Ground breaking to build the $1.8 billion Venetian theme resort on the grounds
1997 -- Steve Wynn, builder of Las Vegas Strip megaresorts, calls for a slow approach to future expansion in Las Vegas.
1997 -- Megabucks is hit for $12 million at New York-New York Hotel/Casino (worlds largest slot payout)
1997 -- Coca Cola Co. opens howcase Mall marked by a 100-foot-tall glass Coca Cola bottle.
1997/05/07 -- The first non-stop scheduled commercial flight from Frankfurt International arrives at McCarren
1997 -- Sunset Station Hotel-Casino opens June 10.
1997 -- Players Island Resort purchased by Virgin River Casino and renamed CasaBlanca on July 1.
1997/08/29 -- The Forum Shops at Caesars opens
1997/11/25 -- The Aladdin Hotel closed to make way for joint venture with Planet Hollywood
1997 -- The Desert Inn Hotel Casino completes $200 million renovation and expansion.
1997 -- Owners change the name of the Boomtown Hotel Casino to Silverton
1997 -- Harley Davidson Cafe opens on the Las Vegas Strip, continuing the theme restaurant proliferation.
1997 -- Caesars Palace opens new tower in December.
1997 -- Harrah's Entertainment Inc. buys Showboat Inc. in a $1.154 billion deal.
1997 -- The Frontier Hotel, owned by the Elardi family, is sold to Phil Ruffin, a Kansas industrialist, for $165 million.
1997 -- Rio Casino opens
1997 -- Alan Paulson buys the Gold River Casino/Hotel in Laughlin.
1998/01/04 -- Star Trek: The Experience opens at the Las Vegas Hilton.
1998/02/10 -- Ameristar Casinos, Inc. opens The Reserve Hotel Casino on Feb. 10
1998 -- Circus Circus officials announces Mandalay Bay
1998 -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts buys ITT Corp. for $14.6 billion which included Caesars Palace and Desert Inn 1998 -- Eagle Canyon Airlines buys Las Vegas-based Scenic Airlines.
1998 -- The Aladdin Hotel is imploded on April 27.
1998 -- Northwest Airlines offers non-stop service June 1 from Tokyo
1998/08 -- Korean Airlines offers three non-stop charter flights from Seoul, Korea
1998/10/02 -- Japan Airlines inaugurates non-stop service October 2 from Tokyo
1998 -- Country Star restaurant on the Strip is acquired by Mirage Resorts Inc. and closes.
1998/10/15 -- Bellagio opens. Bars people under 18 that aren't registered.
1998 -- Las Vegas Convention Center expands to 1.9 million square foot expansion
1998 -- The Debbie Reynolds hotel-casino is sold at public auction August 5 to the World Wresting Federation
1998/12 -- Speedway Motorsports buys Las Vegas Motor Speedway
1998/11 -- California voters allow casino gambling on American Indian reservations.
199811/15 -- A 66-year-old Las Vegas resident hits a Megabucks for$27.58 million at Palace Station.
1998 -- Annual gross gaming revenue in Nevada hits the $8.1 billion mark.
1998 -- Annual number of visitors to Las Vegas totals 30.6 million people.
1998 -- Hilton Hotels Corp. spins off its gaming division to Park Place Entertainment Corp
1999/01/01 -- Harrah's Entertainment buys the Rio
1999/03/01 -- MGM buys Primadonna Resorts Inc to own Primm and New York-New York
1999/03/02 -- Mandalay Bay Resort opens March 2 with 3,300 rooms.
1999/03/02 -- Four Seasons Hotel opens
1999/05/03 -- Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino opens 3,036 suites.
1999 -- The Las Vegas Convention Center celebrates its 40th birthday.
1999 -- Circus Circus Enterprises changes its name to Mandalay Resort Group.
1999/07/15 -- The Resort at Summerlin opens
1999/01/01 -- Paris Las Vegas Casino Resort opens
2000 -- Caesars World sells for $3 billion to Park Place Entertainment.
2000 -- The Resort at Summerlin changes its name to The Regent Las Vegas.
2000 -- MGM Grand Inc. announces the purchase of Mirage Resorts Inc
2000/08/28 -- Desert Inn closed by purchaser Steve Wynn and is later imploded.
2000 -- El Rancho (formally the Thunderbird, then the Silverbird) is imploded on October 3rd.
2000/08/18 -- The new Aladdin Resort & Casino opens
2001 -- Clark County's population reaches 1,498,274, while Las Vegas gets to 506,111.
2001 -- Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa openned by Station Casinos
2001 -- The 3 millionth marriage certificate is recorded in Clark County on February 9.
2003 -- Clark County's population reaches 1,641,529; Las Vegas' grows to 535,395.
2003/04 -- Caesars Palace opens the Colosseum
2003 -- The Stratosphere releases plans for X Scream.
2003 -- Las Vegas Premium Outlets opens in downtown Las Vegas.
2003 -- The Fashion Show mall completes a $1 billion expansion
2003 -- Mandalay Bay opens new 1,120-suite tower, The Hotel.
2004 -- Harrah's Entertainment purchases Binion's Horseshoe.
2004 -- Mergers abound in Las Vegas. MGM MIRAGE announces plans to purchase the Mandalay Resort Group. One month later, Harrah's Entertainment announces its plans to purchase Caesars Entertainment.
2004 -- The Strip dims its lights for President Ronald Reagan's passing.
2004 -- The Las Vegas Monorail, a $654 million mass transit system, opens to the public.
2004 -- Las Vegas Sands releases new details about its planned $1.6 billion Palazzo casino resort on the Strip.
2005 -- Las Vegas celebrates is Centennial year throughout 2005
2005/04/28 -- Steve Wynn opens Wynn Las Vegas
2005/12/22 -- South Coast Hotel & Casino, south of the Las Vegas Strip opens
2006/11/07 -- Smoking is banned in Nevada
Tue 
10/24/2006 10:57:50
 Jim  Vegas Rule for Air Quality
Mountains Hide - Just stay inside
Mountains Clear - Get out of here
Rain and Mud - Its gonna flood
Sunny Sky - Bare feet will fry
** smiles **

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