This week the news is crazy-

So people, again L.E.Fant must bring an important topic to your attention. He is still in the research phase, however:

This week a local news program stated that dairy products willsubstantially rise in price to the consumer (us).

We were told that milk will reach $5.00 per gallon (against $2-3 now?). Cheese will rise by 70% or more and other dairy items as butter, yoghurt will all cost much more.

It was then stated that the reason for these significant price increases is that as corn is now used to produce ethanol (for vehicle fuel) the cost of cattle feed has increased, therefore we must pay more for dairy products.

The news person made no comment regarding substantiation of those purported facts.

L.E. Fant is dubious that the increased cost, if any, of corn based cattle (or more particularly dairy cattle) feed is substantiation for doubling the price of a gallon of milk or the other increases described above.

L.E.Fant will ask his cattle expert, George, to provide facts regarding feed cost per gallon of milk produced, etc. When these facts are known L.E. Fant will provide them for us all to consider and take appropriate action.

Tower of London seen from the river Thames.

(L.E.Fant wishes the Tower were still used to incarcerate villains such as he those he exposes)

P.S. A gentle reader complained regarding the picture of rare roast beef and asked that it be removed forthwith as it offends. L.E.Fant has removed the picture .

Nevada Power in the news again

Today we are told that Nevada Power has to pay fines of many millions of Dollars for violating the Clean Air Act. We are further informed that the fines will not affect consumers by a rate increase.

How glib is that?

We are now paying 11% or so more in order that Nevada Power can purchase new capital equipment (L.E. Fant considers that duty to be one of its shareholders-not its customers).

Inquiring minds ask whether payment of the subject fines will cause disruption to Nevada Power's bottom line, thus precipitating a further money grab through our PUC (of three people) to our pockets.

Where is the famed "I-Team" when there is a real issue such as this to investigate?

It appears that Nevada Power operates on a "cost plus basis." We pay whatever it takes to maintain its profit at healthy levels regardless of its mis-management.

Please contact your elected representatives regarding this-we need to stop the bleeding dry of our individual financial resources by this for profit monopolistic corporation.

Home made slow roasted rare beef.

More bad meat?

Again we are informed that there is contaminated meat out there waiting to make us ill or perhaps to kill us.

After watching the movie Fast Food Nation L.E. Fant chose to never buy pre-ground meat (such as in the current recall) again. Not only for the possibility of contamination but also because many additives are used to disguise the actual condition of such meat. He believes that a simple thing such as grinding one's own meat may be a lifesaver.

He now does not purchase product containing pre-ground beef meat such as chain burgers. It appears that Chipotle has decent meat in its products and L.E. Fant is searching for other businesses who attempt to raise the bar regarding product quality and safety.

"Christmas Tree Cactus" flowers for only one day each year.

Is it smart to buy a Smart Car now or is it smart to wait?

Smart Cars have been in Europe since 98 or so. They have been in Canada since around 2004.
They are made by a a spinoff company of Mercedes Benz and appear to be very safe for their size and are extremely fuel efficient.
A company apparently chose to import some Smart Cars to the U.S. and some are available in Las Vegas.
However, a dealer L.E. Fant contacted desires $24,000 for one (2005 or 2006 model year). A similar car, but new and U.S. compliant will be available for $12,000-$14,000 (we are told) in early 2008.
One may see and drive these cars at the Fashion Show later this month (22-24).
If the U.S. version manages the gas mileage of its Euro cousin-these cars could be a way to save $$. They expect to get over 40 mpg-city.
L.E. Fant concludes that it may be wise to wait a few months to save around $10,000. What do you think?

Three Day Weekend for Many

Tibetan Buddhist Peace Garden,

adjacent to Imperial War Museum, London.

L.E. Fant wishes all those who have this Memorial Day weekend off best wishes. During this weekend please spare time to remember those who lost their lives defending our Country and give thought for those who are now in our armed forces.

Those who are not having a holiday. Thanks for being on duty. At least you may escape the ridiculous prices others are paying for gasoline.

To those travelling-L.E. Fant wishes you a safe and pleasant journey.

Ward 5 contest-candid candidate ?

Imperial War Museum

[Much of its content the result of England's leaders believing Hitler had honorable intentions-Please don't elect leaders you may have doubt regarding their integrity]

L.E. Fant, sadly, will now make comment on the Las Vegas Ward 5 election between Stacie Truesdell and Rickie Barlow.

Mr. Barlow's latest campaign flyer attempts to denigrate Ms. Truesdell and makes light of certain public information which she drew our attention to.

In his flyer, Mr. Barlow states that he was not sued by his divorce attorney for fees-he concludes that is an absolute untruth. He however, makes no comment regarding other allegations regarding his dubious character.

However, Public record indicates that his attorney filed an attorney's lien in the sum of $4,084.94 at the time of filing a motion to withdraw as counsel. The attorney also sought an order reducing the lien to judgment.

While perhaps technically perhaps his attorney did not "sue" [To institute a legal proceeding against (another party)], Black's Law Dictionary, clearly Mr. Barlow's attorney found it necessary to file an attorney's lien and to seek it be reduced to judgement in order to collect $4,084.94 in fees and interest thereon.

Mr. Barlow's refusal to recognize this is disturbing, as are many of his statements.

For further information and access to public record regarding this and other matters go to: http://www.theproblemwithricki.com/

L.E. Fant is concerned that we may be duped by a slick campaign. Why did Mr. Barlow choose not to attend a calendared interview with a local T.V. station?

Your vote is important-please use it wisely.

P.S. Tomorrow L.E. Fant will provide the names and contact details of the P.U.C. Commissioners so you may investigate their credentials and write them regarding the latest power bill increases.

Las Vegans (and Las Carnivors) take note....

Yesterday's news contained information that the monopoly Nevada Power is to increase our power costs by 11.5% commencing June 1, 2007.

The T.V. news (so-called) that L.E. Fant watched included a statement from Nevada Power's parent company that the increase is due to them building new generator stations which results in power costing less than now.

L.E. Fant infers from this that we are paying for capital equipment (for Nevada Power) who will use the equipment to produce power at less cost because we are buying it the equipment to produce the power. The net result to us appears that we pay more for supposedly less expensive power. This all, apparently, made perfect sense to the "hard hitting" reporters who gave us this joyous news and perhaps the legendary "I Team" who are probably still looking for Nevada's missing wild horses. It does not made good sense to L.E. Fant however.

We should all take an interest in this situation. We should all investigate the P.U.C. and its members. We should write or otherwise communicate with each member individually, indicate our concern and demand detailed explanation of this matter. A letter to Nevada Power (and its parent company) saying "enough all ready" should also be written and dispatched.

Whilst not a communist L.E. Fant can clearly see that our needs may be better served by formation of a cooperative for access to power. If we are paying for the capital equipment why should it not be ours?

Lamb chops in their natural (unprocessed) state.