I got off to a late start, but I didn’t miss a thing here.
While waiting for the next sessions I signed up for to begin, I walked around the exhibit floor and got to match faces with the weblogs. So far, I pressed the flesh with Glenn Reynolds, Roger L. Simon, Ed Driscoll, Dawn Olsen, La Shawn Barber, Jeralyn Merritt, Pam Johnson, and Markos Moulitsas (no, I didn’t get into a political argument with him, as he’s here for the sports blogging track — and he was very cordial).
Dawn encouraged me to consider contributing to Blogcritics Magazine, headed up by Eric Olsen. I’ve been following BC since its inception, and I might consider it. I’ll keep you, the reader, posted.
I was quite surprised to run into readers of the blog on the exhibit floor, including another local blogger who’s been following me for quite a while.
Update (4:00 pm): Right now, I’m sitting in on “Raising The Level Of Discourse In The Political Blogosphere”, featuring panelists Michael Medved, Merritt, Simon, Jim Hoff, and Ed Morrissey.
I might stick around for the pajama party tonight — albeit in street clothes though, as it’s a long drive back to Suburblin.
Technorati Tags: bloggers, Blogosphere, blogworld expo, las vegasThe “progressive” Las Vegas Sun and its publisher, Brian Greenspun, are always bemoaning Nevada’s unwillingness to embrace excessive taxation and bloated government. Column after column, the limousine liberal constantly takes delight (from his cool, comfortable California perch) in bashing the “evil” Las Vegas Review-Journal, which under a joint operating agreement, stuffs his daily inserts into their papers.
Frankly, I find Greenspun’s columns to be condescending, and his overall “smarter than thou” attitude insulting. Of course, whenever the son of Hank Greenspun (whom he couldn’t hold a candle to) gets off on attacking the R-J for its libertarian stances, the R-J’s Sherman Frederick rightfully rebuts.
This week’s rebuttal from Frederick pulls no punches.
The idea that Nevadans are somehow escaping taxation is baloney. According to the Tax Foundation, Nevada ranks fifth in the percentage of individual income confiscated by local, state and federal taxes, trailing only the big-government paradises of Connecticut, New York, the District of Columbia and New Jersey.
If my esteemed colleague spent more time in Las Vegas and less time at his house in Malibu, Calif., he might remember this.
As for casting the Review-Journal as the chief advocate of efficient government and lower taxes, Brian unwittingly pays this newspaper a high compliment.
But the real point, which apparently will come to Brian like a news flash, is this: For some two years, the Sun has been distributed with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Every day for the past 630 days, he’s enjoyed the opportunity to expound his world view to the readership of the largest newspaper in the state. In literally hundreds of editorials and columns, he’s had an equal chance to sell his soap.
And guess what?
Nobody’s buying.
That’s not because the Review-Journal hypnotizes people. Readers know what they are doing. They benefit from reading two newspapers with two different views each morning. And when they see the patronizing “I am smart, you are stupid” editorials in the Sun, they reject them.
That will preach.
Several protesters from Move America Forward rallied today outside Senator Harry Reid’s local office. Jim Rose has the details.
Rob Blair is back on the air:
A shade over two years after he was fired by KTNV Channel 13 for using a racial slur during a weather report, Blair has been rehired by KHSL Channel 12, the CBS affiliate in Chico, Calif.
He starts work at 5:30 a.m. Monday during the early morning broadcast and will also appear weekdays at noon. Blair worked at the Chico station for three years before being hired by KTNV.
“People here have really supported Rob,” KHSL News Director Trisha Coder said in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon. “We’ve been running promos all week and have had nothing but positive feedback.”
Blair worked for just three months at KTNV, but still managed to spark a veritable hailstorm during his brief stint at the ABC affiliate. During a newscast on Jan. 15, 2005, Blair inserted the word “coon” into Martin Luther King Jr.’s name when giving the forecast for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The word was substituted for “King.” Blair apologized on air three times for the remark, saying he had let the word slip unintentionally as he stumbled through the report.
The controversial broadcast aired on a Saturday morning, and by the end of the weekend the station had issued a statement announcing Blair had been fired. He has not worked in the media since, and was toiling in sales in Los Angeles when the Chico station brought him back.
“He’s very modest and humble,” Coder said. “He just made a mistake. We don’t see it as part of a pattern.”
Agreed.
Personally speaking, Blair is not a bigot — and he has suffered enough. Best wishes to him as he resumes his broadcasting career.
After nearly 50 years, the Stardust goes down in a blaze of glory.
As with most Las Vegas strip properties, it too shall rise again from the ashes. Its replacement, Echelon Place, is scheduled to open in 2010.
Nevada state Democrats, that’s who!
Nevada Democratic Party officials said on Friday they were canceling a presidential debate co-sponsored by Fox News, following a joke chairman Roger Ailes made about Democratic candidate Barack Obama.
In a letter sent to Fox, Nevada State Democratic Party Chairman Tom Collins and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Ailes “went to far” with comments made the night before.
The letter makes no reference to a crusade by the liberal activist group MoveOn.org to boycott Fox, which it calls a “right-wing mouthpiece.” Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards dropped out of the debate on Thursday, citing in part Fox’s participation.
The letter also does not specify which comments by Ailes lead to the decision, but a Democratic source told Reuters it was a joke Ailes made about Obama and President Bush during a speech on Thursday night.
“We cannot, as good Democrats, put our party in a position to defend such comments,” Collins and Reid said in the letter. “We take no pleasure in this, but it the only course of action.”
Fox News Vice President David Rhodes responded with a written statement criticizing the Democrats for caving in to MoveOn.org.
“News organizations will want to think twice before getting involved in the Nevada Democratic Caucus, which appears to be controlled by radical fringe out-of-state interest groups, not the Democratic Party,” David Rhodes said in the statement.
“In the past, MoveOn.org has said they ‘own’ the Democratic Party. While most Democrats don’t agree with that, its clearly the case in Nevada,” he said. [emphasis added]
As for the joke in question — which was mostly poking fun at the President, Obama wasn’t offended.
I thought Nevada Democratic party leadership were of strong, independent stock, who would never cave in to the extremists in their own party. Guess not. What a bunch of wusses.
Although I disagree with his politics 100%, presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich isn’t afraid of appearing on Fox News Channel, unlike his competitors who are so eager to kiss up to MoveOn and the Kos Kids (via Jim Rose).
It’s that time again, meat-eating omnivores!
Thursday March 15 is the fifth annual International Eat a Tasty Animal for PETA Day (aka EATAPETA), founded by blogger Meryl Yourish.
Las Vegas locals are invited to join me for dinner on the 15th at Famous Dave’s Barbecue on 1951 N. Rainbow Blvd. (just south of Lake Mead Blvd off of U.S. 95) at 7:00 pm. Contact me in advance if you’re attending should we have to reserve extra seats.
If you live in another part of the Las Vegas valley or can’t make it for dinner, feel free to host a meal in your neighborhood on the 15th! Visit the EATAPETA site and send your get-together information to Laurence Simon at peta (at) isfullofcrap (dot) com. Also let me know so I can help spread the word.
Talk radio host Neal Boortz will be at Sunset Station in Henderson March 1 to sign copies of his new book, “Somebody’s Gotta Say It
See you there!
P.S.: Boortz is on KDWN from 9 am -12 pm on weekdays or on the internet via his website.
From the KLAS-TV website:
Las Vegas City Councilman Lawrence Weekly will be the newest Clark County commissioner.
Weekly is currently the councilman for Ward 5 in the southeast part of the valley. That is in county commission District D. It’s the new district he will now be representing.
In a ceremony Monday afternoon, Governor Jim Gibbons appointed the city leader to the county commission.
Surrounded by family and friends, Lawrence Weekly graciously accepted the offer and said he is ready to serve District E.
This isn’t the first time he’s been appointed to office. When he first took city office in 1999, he was appointed to Ward 5, one of two wards that were created for a growing Las Vegas Valley. […]
Weekly will replace Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates, who resigned from her position earlier this month for personal reasons.
Lawrence Weekly is expected to be sworn in on Mar. 6.
This was a sound choice on part of the governor. Weekly, who lives full-time in District D (and already up to speed on the constituency he serves), is the best man for the job, compared to state assemblyman Morse Arberry, who resides in Canyon Gate across town. Voters in West Las Vegas, Downtown, and North Las Vegas shall be served well.
Gov. Jim Gibbons faced Nevada legislators earlier this evening and laid out his biennial budget proposal. Most of the proposals appear to be sensible; the next step, though, is to see which items will get through the Democrat-heavy state assembly and the slim-Republican-majority state senate.
*Complete text of Gibbons’ State of the State address
More to come…
The dark cloud of corruptions looms over Clark County government once again. This time, it involves a $34 million dollar deficit at the county hospital, which snowballed into a code-blue scandal.
An investigation of financial problems at University Medical Center evolves into a criminal probe.
Police and the district attorney joined the Clark County commission in a growing probe of financial problems at the only county run hospital. Boxes of documents were removed from UMC offices. And the commission learned UMC’s debt is about $34 million, almost twice what was predicted.
The county also removed Chief Executive Officer Lacy Thomas and named Kathy Silver as acting chief executive officer for University Medical Center of Southern Nevada.
The police investigation began in November of 2006 when District Attorney David Roger looked at University Medical Center’s financial audit and concluded something was really fishy.
Eventually, a handful of county officials were informed about it, but it still remained a secret even after subpoenas were served late last week.
The county hospital was abuzz Tuesday morning when Metro detectives arrived with a search warrant for the executive offices. The I-Team got a tip from the hospital and was there with a camera rolling when police hauled out the first big load of seized documents.
The affidavit from Metro lays out the case and law enforcement suspicions. The district attorney and Metro believe that UMC’s financial problems might not be entirely accidental. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of contracts were allegedly awarded by UMC Chief Executive Officer Lacy Thomas to at least seven companies, which did little or nothing for the money.
According to the search warrant document, Thomas has personal ties to all of the companies. Some were owned by former fraternity brothers, others by friends. For example, Superior onsulting, also known as ACS, is a Chicago area firm that was paid more than $1 million to help UMC collect its debts even though it collected less than the hospital had the year before it was hired.
Hopefully Thomas and the other UMC execs under investigation aren’t skipping town any time soon…
Long-time Clark County Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson-Gates resigned at the commission meeting Tuesday morning.
Commissioner Atkinson-Gates was hit hard by the State Ethics Commission for her involvement in a concession contract at McCarrran Airport in 1988.
“I beat a lot of odds. People have tried to get rid of me for a long time. I’m still standing and never have to worry about going to jail,” she said.
“I will miss each of you, I will miss my staff, and most of all my constituents and the intense negotiation it sometimes took to get District D where it is today. In spite of the ups and downs, I have truly learned some lessons that will never be forgotten.”
She has served as a commissioner for 14 years.
Her final day will be March 1.
Coincidence? I’m sure all Las Vegans will learn the whole truth soon.
In the meantime, Gov. Jim Gibbons will be tasked with appointing a Democrat to fill the vacant seat for District D. Will it be former state senator Joe Neal?
Update (1/17): Joe Neal doesn’t appear to want the job, but he’s supposedly backing state assemblyman Morse Arberry for the seat. LV city councilman Lawrence Weekly would be the better appointee, should he choose to pursue it.
The InstaPundit himself is in town this week for the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Check out his posts over at his home blog and at the Popular Mechanics website.
I hope to be wandering around on the convention floor sometime tomorrow afternoon with the cell phone camera in tow. Should I run into Glenn, I’ll let you know.
Update (1/10): Can’t make it to CES due to work-related priorities. Let’s try again for ‘08!
From the Las Vegas Business Press:
New Year 2007 isn’t starting on such a happy note for bars and taverns forced to choose between smoking and selling food. Many are opting to let their customers light up, shutting down their kitchens and laying off staff as the Southern Nevada Health District gets ready to enforce the Clean Indoor Air Act (aka Question 5).
Kilroy’s is closing its kitchen on Jan. 13 and cutting about 25 jobs. Another 30 employees have voluntarily left the Inn Zone’s five restaurants after being told their days on the job were numbered, according to Inn Zone owner Mike Jacobi. Three Inn Zone kitchens closed New Year’s Day.
Jacobi expects the number of employees losing their jobs to reach 40 or 50 when the last two Inn Zone bar-restaurants serve their final meal sometime this month. “Employees have left to find other work,” said Jacobi, who co-owns the taverns with his father, Jake. “It’s hard to find people to take jobs that won’t be there in two or three weeks.” […]
Kilroy’s, a bar-restaurant that was once known for what the Food Network called the “best hamburger in Las Vegas,” will miss out on some business, especially from tourists seeking the famous burger. Kilroy’s first opened in 1991 and now has two locations. The employees were given their notices Thursday — three days after Christmas.
Co-owner Paul Lampi said the decision was made because most of his gambling customers are smokers, so he would have lost more money eliminating smoking than by cutting out food service: “Even though I do about a million (dollars) in food (sales), I am lucky if I make even a six or seven percent (margin) on it.”
I’ll miss having a burger at Kilroy’s. Whenever I dined there with friends, the dining section was mostly non-smoking, as smokers lit up in the bar. Both locations were well-ventlilated, too.
Sadly, businesses are now forced to make a decision concerning the bottom line. For most Vegas bars and taverns, drinking and gambling are the big moneymakers; the kitchens serve as a value-added option for those who want to eat without leaving to go someplace else.
As a non-smoker, I’m all for clean air. Although I’m personally not fond of smoke-filled rooms, I have the freedom to choose non-smoking venues. With the implentation of the statist Clean Indoor Air Act (which was touted as being “for the children”), tavern owners are more or less being told how to run their businesses (where no one under 21 is allowed), as their freedom to choose is being taken away. Also, smokers are being singled out for choosing to light up (which is the real motivation behind anti-smoking laws, as militant anti-smokers seek to force their views upon others through legislation).
What’s next? A ban on liquor and gaming licenses for bars that allow smoking?
In the meantime, anybody interested in a last hurrah of burgers and fries at Kilroy’s this weekend (in the non-smoking section)? Drop me a line.
Update (1/10): I just confirmed that Kilroy’s is keeping their kitchens at both locations open until further notice as the debate over the smoking ban continues. It looks like the nannies haven’t won yet!
…And already at work:
Five of Nevada’s six statewide constitutional officers were sworn in at the Supreme Court chambers Monday morning, but for Gov. Jim Gibbons, the event was superfluous.
Gibbons had been sworn in just seconds after midnight at his home in Reno, citing security concerns and a desire to ensure a seamless transition.
[I call BS on that. Just be honest, Gov. You wanted to nullify Kenny Guinn’s appointment of Keith Munro to the state gaming board — which I do agree with, BTW. Do what you must do, but PLEASE be honest with your constituents — especially those who voted for you. And for God’s sake, be a better man and bury your hatchet with Guinn. You’re the governor now. ACT LIKE ONE.
OK, moving on…]
Immediately after being sworn in, Gibbons made two significant appointments to his cabinet, naming Larry Martines, who has had a long career in police and security work — including work for the CIA — as the state homeland security director; and law enforcement veteran Phil Galeoto as state Department of Public Safety director. […]
When Gibbons took the oath of office the second time, with the other constitutional officers in the Supreme Court chambers, his hand was shaking. He said the shaking was not nervousness or excitement but rather an inherited trait that has grown worse with age. He did not elaborate.
Also sworn in by Chief Justice Bill Maupin were Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Secretary of State Ross Miller, Treasurer Kate Marshall, Controller Kim Wallin and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. All the constitutional officers are Democrats except for Gibbons and Krolicki.
Dozens of family and friends crowded into the Supreme Court chambers to observe the ceremony, which only took a few minutes.
After the midmorning event, Gibbons walked over to his new office in the capitol and signed his first proclamation as governor, marking today as a day of remembrance for the late President Gerald Ford.
Gibbons talked a bit about his budget, on which he said he and his transition team are working “night and day.” The nearly $7 billion state general fund spending plan must be sent to the printer on Friday. Gibbons must present the plan to state lawmakers Jan. 22, when he delivers his State of the State speech.
Gibbons said he won’t recommend expanding all-day kindergarten to all schools in Nevada, but would retain the existing program making it available to at-risk schools. “We have some great ideas about education that I think are going to actually supersede the benefits that would come from those that recommend all-day kindergarten,” he said.
[Former governor Kenny] Guinn had included all-day kindergarten in the proposed budget he and his staff drew up before leaving office.
Guinn also wanted to see his $50 million-a-year program to help schools improve learning and test scores continue, but Gibbons said he has not decided on that yet.
Gibbons said he supports spending some of this year’s surplus on one-time projects, including on widening Interstate 15 from the Spaghetti Bowl in downtown Las Vegas to Craig Road. Guinn had recommended $170 million in funding for the road project.
Gibbons said he also will enhance the state’s rainy day fund for fiscal emergencies.
I knew that Gibbons wouldn’t go with Guinn’s proposed budget, being that he shouldn’t have his predecessor telling him what to do. Quite frankly, it was petty arrogance on part of Guinn (who governed like a “liberal” Democrat) to submit such. Fortunately, Nevada has term limits for the governor’s office.
January 22 will be quite an interesting evening for the state.
This morning, most of Southern Nevada woke up to a winter wonderland. Albeit was a light dusting that melted away later in the day, it was a nice visual change of pace from the hot, sunny days we normally receive.
So much for that ‘global warming’ myth. 
Photos here.