Another Day in Las Vegas....Antigua or Parump?

Do not click on images to enlarge. Arrivals
Construction
New York, New York

More Real Estate Opportunity for astute, superior readers of L.E. Fant of Las Vegas:

Antigua offers one or two bedroom apartments on a sun drenched island (and possibly access to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Rehab. facility)for around $400,000 should you desire a change of pace.

www.tradewindrealty.com

Is Parump in Nevada? Does it really exist in the minds of Gentlefolk?

A friend of L.E. Fant is contemplating moving to Parump (which L.E. believes is north of Las Vegas and a blight upon Nevada's landscape).

L.E. suggested that his friend take a drive to reconnoitre before any further contemplation of such a, likely ill fated, move.

The so-called justification for such a move is that there are many large sized lots available in the area at inexpensive prices. L.E. Fant recalls the maxim of the smooth tongued flim-flam, sometimes Hummer driving, sellers of land which is not theirs: "Location, Location, Location."

In L.E.'s opinion this may be easily construed as "DO NOT BUY LAND WHERE NO-ONE WITH REASONABLE MENTAL FACULTIES WANTS TO LIVE." Parump is such a place indeed.

Its main attractions appear to be availability of unseasonal fireworks, brothels, the apparent encouragement by township fathers of the use of old, mostly orange with race track insignias, ugly, broken motor vehicles as landscape decoration for the seemingly endless lots with trailer homes (some with even less attractive "additions") perched upon and scattered throughout the otherwise barren landscape.

Of course we should not forget that it is home to "black helicopter" fanatical broadcaster Art Bell who apparently fits well with the community.

All these are valid reasons, in L.E.'s opinion, to avoid Parump as one would attempt to avoid the Black Death, stroke, heart attack or any cancer.

There is still land available in Alaska!!!

L.E. Fant's Blood Pressure:

Is still elevated at 167/72 this morning. He is now imagining symptoms.

Of course his call and correspondence to his health care provider of yesterday remains unanswered. Perhaps he should go to an ER?

Las Vegas Dining, Las Vegas Gas Prices, New Dog, Toyota Yaris Road Test.

Please click on images to enlarge. Known to some as Jack A. Roo this cream Chow Chow has taken up residence with L.E. Fant and wife. He is 12 weeks of age and a handful.
Jack taking a break from chewing.
Remember the good old days?

L.E. Fant's desperate attempt to remove himself from the clutches of "Big Oil" fails!

L.E. Fant drove to Los Angeles last Friday, where he hoped to buy a CNG/ gasoline powered vehicle.

He failed. The vehicles he had his eye on were Chevrolet Cavalier Bi-fuel ex-government cars. There were 6 of them 2001-2003 year models with 58,000-80,000 miles on their odometers.

As the Cavalier is, in L.E.'s opinion, not an exceptional vehicle in any respect L.E. believes that $6,500 was the most he should pay for one (a regular gasoline powered Cavalier of this age can be obtained for as little as $1,500).

L.E. was chagrined to find the first 2001(usually least expensive) Cavalier sold for $10,500. Then the next sold for the same amount. L.E. left the auction savings intact.

Apparently our neighbors from Utah are the reason for such high purchase prices for these cars. They can apparently buy CNG for 70 or 80 cents a gallon whereas we must pay $2.07 or so. Also they may be able to get a $4,000 state tax credit.

Interestingly (to some) is that if one deducts the $4,000 tax credit from the sales price, the remaining amount is identical to L.E. Fant's price estimate of the car's worth.

That leaves a $24,000 Honda CNG (not bi-fuel)being the remaining option. The range of that car is limited to around 150 miles which makes it unattractive to L.E.

L.E. has listened to a friend who has made some research into bio-diesel and will make his knowledge available to you soon.

BARGAINS?

There were, in L.E.'s opinion, some decent buys at the auction:

Two 2004 Chevrolet Malibu Classic, 4 cyl cars with approximately 6,000 (yes not 60,000)made $6,400.

A 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe with 76,000 miles made $7,300 and a couple of 2005 Dodge Caravans with V6 motors and 75,000 miles sold at $4,400 or so.

L.E. Fant Road Tests Toyota Yaris-so you don't have to:

L.E. Fant made an extremely daring run to Los Angeles and back to Las Vegas on Friday, through a fierce storm, in order to bring you the following report:

In order to kill two birds with one stone, or as we now say “multi-task,” L.E. performed a subjective road test evaluation of a new (one mile on the odometer) Toyota Yaris 4 door, automatic, sedan during the trip.

L.E.’s wife’s first comment regarding the Yaris was that it looked “very cute.” It, as is the modern way of such small cars, has its instruments placed in the center of the dashboard. Perhaps this is for styling reasons-or perhaps to make for easier manufacturing when producing left hand and right hand drive vehicles. Either way this placement requires one to look across the dashboard when checking the instruments, which appears, to L.E. less safe than if the gauges are directly in front of the driver as was the norm for many years. However, it is an aid to those of us who enjoy our privileges as “back seat drivers.”
Comfort of the little car is reasonable. When L.E.’s wife first sat on its front seat she remarked that it was very comfortable. However, after 50 miles of driving L.E. noticed that she was often changing her position on the seat by squirming around. L.E. concluded that perhaps the level of comfort she first noticed was now severely diminished. L.E. had problems after 100 miles or so with a nerve pain running down his left leg. Perhaps the lack of thigh support from the “short” seats was its cause?
The cabin noise level of the Yaris, in L.E.’s opinion, was too high. Road noise was very apparent and one has to noticeably raise one’s speaking level to converse when the car is in motion. L.E’s wife raves over the placement of the Starbucks cup holders on either side of its dash, which in the opinion of many will doubtless make up for other shortcomings.
Having said that, the Yaris, overall, appears no worse than its competition and maybe better than some other small cars.
Its multi-speed windshield wipers performed very well during the storm we drove through and no water leaked into its cabin.
The little car is very maneuverable and feels safe when making “high G” maneuvers. Its brakes are responsive and add to its ability to safely maneuver through traffic. Sever wind gusts are noticed, yet relatively easily compensated for.
For example this little Yaris’s progress apparently infuriated the drivers of a Mercedes R350, a Mercedes S55, a Dodge Kaliber and sundry Prius’s (what a hideous looking car that Kaliber is?) and the drivers a red and a blue Mustang GT convertible who all attempted to pass or re-pass the little Yaris as it progressed from L.A. to L.V. Let it be noted that the maneuverability of the Yaris proved adequate for its task and it remained leader for well over 100 miles of cut and thrust due in part also to the fearless driving techniques of Mrs. Fant. Only as we were close to Blue Diamond did the S55 and two GT Mustangs take the lead-and then only because they exceeded 100 MPH and paid no heed of traffic conditions (or speed limits).
The (non scientifically tested) top speed of the Yaris appears to be 100 MPH. Its fuel economy appears to be good also at around 35 mpg.

TOMORROW:

L.E. Fant shall bring you his opinion of the Red Rock Casino Sunday brunch.

DIGITAL DEVILS HAVE MADE NO RESPONSE TO L.E. FANT'S COMPLAINT!!

Las Vegas Doctors? Las Vegas Gas Prices.

L.E. in contemplative stance.

MORE ELECTRIC CARS FOR LAS VEGAS!!

Another electric car for Las Vegas? As gas prices escalate electric vehicles become serious contenders for places on our Las Vegas roads.
Subaru is testing a small electric vehicle for possible sale here in Las Vegas within a couple of years. It is anticipated that the car will go fifty miles on a charge and the vehicle has a “fast charge” feature which will charge the car’s batteries in a few minutes.
L.E. looks forward to this vehicle being available here in Las Vegas soon.
http://www.drive.subaru.com/

DOCTORS IN LAS VEGAS?

All Las Vegas residents are aware and hopefully horrified regarding the ongoing investigation where a number of clinics re-used vials and other injection paraphernalia to save pennies while jeopardizing the health of their patient victims. L.E. hope our D.A.’s investigation results in criminal charges being brought against the so-called professionals who allegedly perpetrated these acts. L.E. believes there is other malpractice occurring.
L.E. was recently became aware of a debilitating health condition which initially became evident (or a red flag was apparent) a year or so ago. He believes that had his doctor taken note of this warning, further and frequent tests may have reduced or eliminated damage to L.E.’s organs. Instead no such tests were performed until two weeks or so ago (despite warning symptoms appearing a year ago) and the condition has worsened, whereas treatment at an earlier stage may, and very likely would have, reduced and/or delayed the apparent damage. L.E. realizes that many physicians have heavy case loads yet cannot find this an excuse for care which is below the "reasonable doctor" standard.
L.E. will be changing doctors and urges all Las Vegas residents to do their best to oversee their health care and not place (or in L.E.’s case misplace) total reliance upon their physician to act according their patients best interests.

Today’s poll relates to this experience and is to gather other opinions.

GAS PRICES IN LAS VEGAS.

Yesterday as L.E. and wife were driving around we noticed gas prices were up a few more cents. We decided to top off the tank of our favorite gas hog at our local Chevron which had gas four cents lower than many. Despite this approximately (from the gauge) half a tank cost us $50 even.

www.automotive.com/gas-prices.

Expect another fabulous L.E. Fant tested Las Vegas Recipe in the next day or so and a solar update.

Remember Pacman? http://www.freepacman.org/

Bears joyride-There is hope!-Gas prices in Las Vegas are scary

Click on image to enlarge

POLL RESULTS:

44% of respondents of our last poll report that they never eat wild caught fish. The majority of respondents, however, eat wild caught fish at least once a week. Apparently eating fish has health benefits and L.E. chooses to eat fish at least 4 times per week in lieu of cow or other protein.

ELLIOT SPITZER:

It appears that power often begets irrational hypocracy as opposed to the rational hypocracy which L.E. and many others practice).

AIR POWERED CARS:

Amazing vehicles which run on compressed air-zero pollution-no batteries to go to landfills. Expected to be for sale in the U.S. within two years as a six seater for around $15,000. Prototypes are now running in France.

This may prove to be the "Smartest car" of all. Check it out at:

http://zeropollutionmotors.us/

LAS VEGAS GAS PRICES:

Continue to rise as a barrel of oil reaches $110.00. Yesterday L.E. paid $3.45 for each gallon he put in his vehicle's tank. Check out the link to local gas prices from previous post. It may save you a few Dollars. If only the air car was available now, L.E. believes the demand would be very high.

Gas prices in Las Vegas are too high-Spring may be here-Many distrust cow meat supply-Vote for change=Vote for Nader.

click on image to enlargeEARLY SPRING IN LAS VEGAS?:

Here is a picture of blooms on L.E. Fant's miniature peach tree. The tree started blooming early this week, when our Las Vegas temperatures moderated. This little tree usually provides 20 or more delicious peaches. L.E. picks them when each one is ripe and succulent. Every one is relished by him and birds which beat L.E. to the harvest.

GAS PRICES ARE CRAZY IN LAS VEGAS and GETTING CRAZIER AS EACH DAY PASSES-HOW TO SAVE GAS:

Gas prices are making L.E. sick. He is even changing the oil in his vehicles to synthetic in the hope of greater gas mileage being realized through less friction in the engines. He has checked tire pressures, made sure tune up is up to date, drives more gently--all to see a gas consumption average (in the city) of less than 14 mpg on both vehicles (little A.C. used as yet either). As the subject vehicles are relatively heavy (approx. 5-6,000 lbs each) perhaps this gas mileage is as good as it gets. It appears that to really reduce one's gasoline costs one needs to leave the vehicles in the garage, or, at least plan journeys with care completing as many tasks as possible within each trip. This is all extremely tedious, yet L.E. shall make a serious attempt to do so.

SMART CAR NOW NOT A SMART CHOICE FOR L.E.

As regular readers may recall L.E. seriously considered purchasing a Smart Car. However, when its fuel economy figures were released, L.E. was disappointed. L.E. believes such a small, two seat car (with no room for "the dog" when two persons are in the car) should return greater economy than those shown in the latest EPA estimates for Smart Car, after all it carries little more than L.E.'s Vespa scooter which has admirable gas mileage. Also L.E. has had bad experiences with Mitsubishi (the folks that manufactured the "Zero" airplane) car engines (a Mitsubishi engine is apparently fitted in Smart Cars).

The Indian manufacturer Tata (purchaser of Jaguar/ Landrover?) and the maker of the "Nano" $2,500 four door mini-car, is likely to introduce a mini truck based neighborhood electric vehicle to the U.S. L.E. shall investigate its virtues. L.E. wonders why the $3,000 subsidy toward electric vehicle purchase was dropped? http://www.tatamotors.com/

L.E. is considering changing gas cards to one which provides a rebate for each expensive gallon purchased (his current Chevron card has such a feature for only a limited time). http://www.rewardscards.com/

INTERPRETATION OF L.E.'s COW MEAT SAFETY SURVEY:

The results of L.E.'s informal survey regarding confidence in the safety of our regular supplies of corn fed cow meat revealed (as expected) that many of us have concern which is likely raised by the many incidences of safety recalls of cow meat, each recall seemingly for larger amounts than the previous one. Only one respondent indicated that they were not concerned with the safety of cow meat and believes the current U.S.D.A. inspection process is sufficient. L.E. shall make further investigation and report. L.E. suggests one should read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan, in order to gain a background into the cow meat industry. Also viewing the movie "Fast Food Nation" may be insightful.

VOTE FOR CHANGE=A VOTE FOR NADER.

L.E. believes a vote for Nader may result in actual, positive, change for the benefit of citizens-not corporations (even if he is not elected). Ralph has a substantial record to prove his sincerity of purpose, whereas, others asking for your vote for their candidacy for change have little, if any, record of promoting or achieving meaningful change. Please take L.E.'s informal survey regarding this issue. http://www.votenader.org/

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