Las Vegas sights, Sheriff in town.

Click on images to enlarge (or don't). The Stratosphere can be seen for miles around Las Vegas. L.E. is attracted to the colors apparent in this view.
Big bottle for big thirst?

SHERIFF IN TOWN:

Yesterday morning L.E. went outside and noticed a couple of persons who he assumed to be canvassers.

The two persons were our Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie and his Under-Sheriff. They were walking our community seeking feedback regarding how residents believed policing could be improved.

L.E. spent some time discussing our crime situation and how we may improve our neighborhoods' safety with them.

L.E. is impressed that our Sheriff takes the time to canvass our neighborhoods personally and is thankful that we have such a person as head of our police department.

POLL:

L.E. believes that 6,250,000,000 $80 walkers may be purchased using 500 billion Dollars. Is he correct?

Las Vegas Place Station, Las Vegas Attorneys, Monte Carlo Rally.

Please click on images to enlarge. Strategically placed billboard?
L.E. believes this place is infamous for its mediocre (yet inexpensive) buffet and that O.J Simpson was arrested when in it a few months ago. Other than that, in L.E.'s opinion, it is extremely unremarkable.

MICROSOFT:

The promised email within 24 hours to assist L.E. repair his absent wife's computer failed to arrive. L.E. emailed Microsoft to remind it of its broken promise and was rewarded, this morning, with an email from a person who promises to help.

That email contained sickenly complex technical instructions which immediately brought knots to L.E.'s stomach and, therefore, L.E. has again asked his expert friend to review the instructions before L.E. implements them and possibly causes further, perhaps unremediable damage.

L.E. shall relate further details of this saga as they become apparent.

L.E.'s WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS:

L.E. arose this morning and walked outside to determine whether the carrier had provided a copy of L.E.'s weekend F.T. (many times the carrier fails this task to the chagrin of Mr. Fant who is then forced to email London and the local F.T offices to make complaint). Today, however, it was laying on the driveway and was joyfully swooped upon by L.E.

A quick perusal indicates that Citibank is apparently to shed 500 billion Dollars of assets to get its house in order. As L.E. consumed his coffee he pondered that and concluded that he could not really comprehend the magnitude of that amount of Dollars, the number of zeros is daunting.

Next L.E. noticed an advertisement for a boat slip in Monte Carlo for May 22-25. This time period coincides with the running of the world famous (at least the rest of the world excluding us) Monte Carlo Rally.

The particular mooring apparently will accommodate boats (or should ship be more accurate?) up to 30 meters in length (say 100 feet or so). L.E. smirked as he concluded that his 12 foot long sail boat would have plenty of room left over!

This mooring is within 200 yards of "the track" which probably accounts for its cost for the four days of 30,000 Euros, or $46,340.90.

L.E. concludes that this mooring is likely beyond his reach as its cost far exceed his recently received $1,200 family tax rebate and as the mooring fee was going to a foreign country it would not likely stimulate our economy. Perhaps Citibank could use some of its $500 billion to do so?

Our inflation has also caused the cost of an aluminium "walker" to be $80.00 at Walgreen's. How many walkers could Citibank buy with its $500 billion? See: Today's Poll.

L.E. was not invited to the wedding of our current President's daughter (a clear oversight). Even if he had been invited he would have refused as it clashes with L.E.'s wife's "Irish" family reunion.

Tomorrow L.E. must run the gauntlet at our airport where Taxicab Authority goons are rampant and appear to relish overstepping their authority to harass L.E. Fant and other non-limo/taxi drivers attempting to use our county facility. Should no post subsequently appear one may assume L.E. fell foul of these goons.

L.E. Fant in Las Vegas. His day so far.

Click on images to enlarge. Las Vegas World Market which is a huge wholesale furniture showroom and apparently has taken similar business from North Carolina which used to have a monopoly on such expositions. L.E. guesses that since most furniture is now made in other countries North Carolina (where most furniture used to be made) is no longer the furniture center of the U.S.
Always a food deal around Las Vegas, always a catch such as "with coupon."
New York, New York roller coaster.

Oil prices expected to reach $200 or more this year according to many commodity traders.

Rice harvest in U.S. expected to be down because of storms (if you care).

L.E.'s day started well. He attended our County palace and took time to admire some of its architectural features such as the fabulous domed vaulted ceiling with its glasses.

He was amazed to find no line at the recorder's office and completed his business in five minutes.

Next to the Post Office where he finally send two packages. One a return of useless vehicle parts ordered from a Georgia company. L.E. hopes to eventually be reimbursed for the returned item. He also mailed a package to a friend which he should have mailed weeks ago.

Then to return a solar security light which never worked to Harbor Freight Tools. They quickly offered a replacement which L.E. is now charging via the Las Vegas sunlight.

Lastly to Fry's Electronics to return a computer accessory purchased during last week's panic to get back on the Internet.

That experience was not so good. The return part resulted in a store credit being issued and a promise that if I found nothing to buy I could return to the registers and get the credit card credited.

However, when attempting to do so L.E. found that his wife had used her card for the transaction and it was now needed. The alternative was to go back to the returns dept. where the particular person who issued the credit may re-issue it as a credit on the proper card. However, that person had just gone to lunch so no credit today.

Regardless of today's experience Fry's is not one of L.E.'s favorite stores. The shopping experience within has never made good memories for L.E.

L.E. Fant of Las Vegas Pillories Nevada Taxicab Authority!

L.E. FANT AGAIN ATTACKED BY TAXI AUTHORITY GOONS WHEN DROPPING OFF WIFE AT AIRPORT!! [The following is the opinion of L.E. Fant of Las Vegas and is not legal opinion-please do your own research and form your own opinion].

Earlier this very morning L.E. drove his wife to the airport in order that she may fly to a so-called “Irish” family reunion in California.
He entered the airport and made his way to the far right lane, in a "drop off" area outside the terminal (adjacent to the curb) to drop her off. As is the usual case a limo was stopped in the second lane and a person (apparently a sky cap) was standing in the middle of L.E.’s adopted lane. L.E. needed that person to move from the lane, or at least to move along it a little so L.E. could stop without the rear of his vehicle being on a crosswalk “hump.”
The person became indignant and mouthed words at L.E. who gestured to the man that he should move from the vehicular traffic lane so L.E. may properly place his vehicle for drop off. L.E. stopped where he intended and immediately got out of his vehicle and opened the cargo area to remove his wife’s luggage.
At that time a Taxi Authority “officer” approached L.E. and commenced instructing L.E. that he was in breach of traffic rules and must yield right of way to the skycap who was going to unload passengers from the limo which had stopped in the second lane.
L.E. responded that he believed that the limo (or skycap) had no legal right to stop to unload passengers in the second lane and that L.E. was actually attempting to stop in a proper area-not an improper one as the limo driver and skycap were attempting and that the "officer" should assist L.E. in his efforts to properly drop off a passenger. [see: vindication below].

The Nevada Taxicab Authority officer [L.E. prefers the classification “goon,” which Webster defines as “ruffian or thug; a grotesque or stupid person.”] was joined by a larger cohort and together they berated L.E. Fant. One shouting “you’d better get out of here now-or else.” The other claiming that L.E. was rude. L.E. replied that if they went about their legitimate business and stopped impeding and harassing him. he surely would be moving as quickly as possible to clear the area for others to use and that he was using the roadway properly unlike the limo driver and skycap.
L.E. then left the area and decided to review relevant law relating to the situation (to confirm his contentions)as this was the third occasion that he had been berated and threatened with arrest by these “goons” who apparently only have authority to intercede in non-moving violations on airport roads.

Non-exhaustive research by L.E. indicates that NRS 484 [Nevada Traffic law] is controlling where it may be contrary to Clark County Code regarding traffic rules at the airport, whose roads are considered as if dedicated as any other Nevada road. Therefore, one may argue that as on any other road in Nevada it is illegal to stop to unload passengers other than against the curb. However, even this authority is unnecessary as County Code 20.08.030(c) explicitly and unambiguously provides for this situation. See below:

Clark County Code 20.08.010 Traffic regulations--Vehicular movement generally.
"(a)The “Rules of the Road” set forth in Chapter 484 of the Nevada Revised Statutes at NRS 484.251, et seq., as amended, and Title 14 of this code shall be applicable to and shall govern motor vehicle operation upon the real property known as McCarran International Airport or upon other county airports as if the roadways were dedicated and considered highways under said statutes and Title 14 except as otherwise provided by those regulations set forth in or promulgated pursuant to this chapter. It is the duty of the police officers to enforce all traffic regulations and of the police officers and parking enforcement officers, and officers of the Taxicab Authority (as defined in NRS 706.8821(3)) to enforce all nonmoving traffic regulation governing the airport."

Further, the County Airport Code provides:

20.08.030 Parking--Loading and unloading of vehicles at airport.
"(a) No person shall park, stop or drive a vehicle for the purpose of loading or unloading a passenger or passengers or cargo at the airport unless:(1) The loading or unloading occurs in an area designated and posted for such purpose; and(2) The vehicle has entered the area designated and posted for loading and unloading by appropriate route; and(3) The established fees, if any, required for use of the airport property have been paid by the owner, driver and/or operator.(b) No person shall park or stop a vehicle while awaiting ingress to the area designated for the loading or unloading of passengers and/or cargo therein except in the holding/staging lanes which may be designated and posted for such purpose.(c) No person shall park or stop a vehicle for the purpose of picking up and/or discharging passenger(s) desiring access to the airport except in the areas so designated for that type of vehicle and for that purpose, except that the stopping of a vehicle for such purpose may be authorized by the director of aviation by written operating directive in an area if the vehicle is immediately adjacent to another vehicle which is legally stopped at a curb which has been designated for the picking up and/or discharge of passenger(s). In no instance shall a vehicle stop in any travel lane to either discharge or pick up a passenger(s) or cargo. Diagonal parking is not permitted across designated lane markings.(d) No person shall leave a vehicle unattended in any area upon the airport unless the vehicle is in an area designated by the director of aviation for parking and leaving the vehicle. The vehicle may only be parked in the area for the posted time period.(e) No person shall leave a vehicle running when parked in an area where vehicle shut-off signs are posted. (Ord. 1656 § 1 (part), 1995: Ord. 1278 § 3 (part), 1991)
[Emphasis added].

Next L.E. can find no authority for the Taxi Authority goons statement that “You must yield right of way to a skycap in any circumstance.” It appears to L.E. that as NRS 484 is controlling a skycap in similar circumstances to that of the subject circumstance may be deemed a “jaywalker.”

With the above in mind L.E. is deeply concerned that citizens are treated in such a discriminatory manner by Taxi Authority goons who apparently create laws and regulations, or at least wildly interpret existing statutes and code in a bizarre attempt to legitimize their unruly acts.

Is their training so poor that this situation exists or are they encouraged by their taskmasters to assert authority which is apparently non-existent, to the detriment of non-taxi/ limo road users?

L.E. Fant is now printing out the relevant statutes and code sections so he may carry them in his vehicle and provide them as authority when the next, inevitable, confrontation with these goons occurs.

L.E. Fant of Las Vegas challenges the Taxi Authority to refute the above assertions [with proper authority] that its employees are acting well outside the scope of their authority to the detriment of citizens who have every right to use the airport roads in conjunction with taxis and limousines, buses and shuttles according to legal road markings and relevant statutes or code.

L.E. particularly seeks its response to his claim that it apparently encourages taxis, etc. to stop (L.E. believes illegally) in any lane of the airport roadways to load or unload passengers whereas it apparently encourages its employees to harass and threaten other road users (for its advantage) who are using the airport roads legally.

The above example is surely not even handed application/enforcement of law and L.E. believes such behavior is tantamount to fascism and should be discouraged by our courts and legislature.

Las Vegas Multicultural, Las Vegas Black and Tan, Las Vegas Computer Woes.

Please click on images to enlarge. Bass and Guiness together make a great "Black and Tan."
Las Vegas is multicultural-here we have Tai, Chinese, and Hispanic ads.

POLL:

As expected most respondents believe second opinions are necessary when dealing with many of these folks.

Today's poll is to find your preference for spelling the plural of "bus" [omnibus].

Here in Las Vegas (as in California) signs use the spelling "Busses." Webster's concludes that "Buses" is also acceptable. L.E. finds the appearance of the "ss" spelling to be cumbersome and finds it just does not "look right."

GASOLINE:

L.E. was horrified to pay $3.87 per gallon yesterday.

www.automotive.com/gas-prices

DIGITAL MAX AND FRIENDS AGAIN CONFIRM THAT THEY ARE NOT L.E. FANT’S FRIENDS IN THE DIGITAL AGE AS THEY WOULD LEAD US TO BELIEVE!! [L.E. BELIEVES THE LAS VEGAS CABLE MONOPOLY HAS OVERSTEPPED THE BOUNDS OF REASONABLE DEALINGS WITH ITS CUSTOMERS VIA ITS CORPORATE POLICIES]

Readers may remember L.E.’s last skirmish with the Las Vegas cable monopoly where its installer ruined a ceiling of L.E.’s residence during an installation AND ATTEMPTED TO USE AN UNLICENSED CONTRACTOR TO MAKE REPAIRS.
L.E. has used its cable service for over 4 years now. He has consistently paid the monthly bill on time (actually in advance) and the amount outstanding according to the online account system (this is easily verifiable by Digital Max and his friends).
Last month L.E. went online and paid the amount outstanding according to the web page of his account (the amount was approximately $24 less than the earlier paper bill received by L.E.). L.E. believed that as he had received some credits for the failed cable Internet service and had removed HBO (could not find even one movie that L.E. or wife desired to watch!) there was a later (than the paper bill) adjustment. When paying L.E. had a premonition that a problem may arise and he attempted to make a copy of the computer screen, but failed).
L.E. a week or so later received his regular paper bill which included a late amount outstanding of $24 and a late fee of $6. L.E. noted that he must call Max or his friends to discuss this problem.
Then the computer nightmare commenced and L.E. put off the call for a few days.
Yesterday another letter from the cable monopoly which was headed “NOTICE OF SUSPENSION AND DISCONNECTION” and went on to demand immediate payment of $98.93 to avoid further fees of $15, $6 and $15, together with threats of even more deposit, additional deposit, reconnection fee and first month service amounts to be due to these avaricious monopolistic vultures.
Please bear in mind that one is usually in credit (by prepayment) with Max and friends as one prepays by one month (same as for our trash services). L.E. cannot come to terms with how we allow these corporations to charge us late fees for amounts which are only late because they treat the amount as due to be prepaid.
The first phone call was to a less than receptive friend of Max (I use “Max” as L.E.’s previous pillorying of C*x resulted in them getting ads on his page). This gentleman essentially said pay the bill as stated or be disconnected. L.E. asked that person to review L.E.’s payment history and perhaps at least consider that it is unlikely that L.E. would choose to underpay his account and that more likely Max or friends had erred causing L.E.’s current predicament.
Sadly reason had no place is the conversation and L.E. demanded to speak with another before becoming apoplectic.
L.E.’s stomach turned when the next person came on the phone. She was nearly unintelligible to L.E. as she was possibly eating and her diction was not that of a person who should be on a phone bank. After asking that she turn up the volume and or make attempt to speak more clearly the conversation began with her asking L.E. how he wished to pay-Visa or MC?
L.E. responded neither of those as he disputes the bill. Back and forth ensued, L.E., in effort to retain some of his sanity, offered to pay the $24 amount but no fees whatsoever. This offer was accepted with reservation. Apparently Max and friends are trained by their corporate monopoly taskmasters to be condescending to customers and always assume the customer to be wrong.
L.E. was informed that the waiver of fee(s) was a one time courtesy granted because L.E. “misunderstood” his bill. L.E. informed the representative that he most definitely did not misunderstand his bill, Max had erred and he will demand correction as a matter of right not as a courtesy from those who have erred in their accounting such as her cohorts.
L.E. is now seriously considering satellite service (at least two to choose from) to replace the so-called “service” provided by the cable monopoly in Las Vegas as he finds its corporate attitude of condescension and self righteousness unacceptable.


L.E's Computer woes continue!!
It seems that computer troubles are in threes.
Yesterday L.E.’s computer and his laptop demanded that he update them with Windows XP Service Pack 3. He did so and all was well.
His wife attempted to update her computer by using the same method. This resulted in her computer failing to re-establish Windows OS. In panic she reverted to a previous system which lost access to many programs.
This morning L.E. again downloaded the update and again the system failed to open to Windows unless one uses “safe mode.” L.E. has emailed Microsoft and hopes to resolve this frustration soon, yet believes that unlikely.

Las Vegas Buffet, Las Vegas E. Fremont District, Computer Troubles in Las Vegas

Please click on images to enlarge. Entry to the shadowy nether-world of Fremont East.
Never go hungry in Las Vegas

L.E. is back!!!

His computer again connects to the elusive Internet (thanks to a generous genius).See story below.

Poll Results:

Most astute and superior respondents correctly chose "less than 2,000 mg of sodium." The "mypyramid" states that 1948 mg is the daily amount for a normal 2,000 calorie diet.

http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

L.E. Fant possibly helps you save money!! AGAIN!! with $8.00 prescription eyeglasses!!

Yesterday L.E. took an eye exam and was provided with a prescription for corrective lenses by the optometrist.
L.E. then attended a store which sells eyeglasses to get estimates with the intention of placing an order.
The optometrist had recommended a “bi-focal without line” as being suitable. The price for this type of lens was quoted as $178 plus frames.
L.E. next asked how much it would cost to have lenses which “darkened or lightened” depending upon light conditions. These were quoted as being $398 plus frames.
There were other permutations to consider including a basic single vision long distance lens and separate reading glasses. L.E. Fant was becoming somewhat confused and decided to ponder the purchase details at home as he was leaning towards having separate glasses for long and short distances.
L.E. decided he should make price comparisons to determine whether the offer was good value.
An Internet search found http://zennioptical.com/cart/home.php where single vision glasses including frames are available for a mere $8.00 per pair. Shipping is a further $4.95 for any number of sets. The most expensive glasses appear to be $78 which is for progressive (L.E. guesses this means “no-line” bi-focals with photo chromatic lenses (the light to dark ones). If similar this is approximately $300 less than L.E. was quoted by the store.
L.E. cautions that he has yet to deal with this company and has no indications of the quality of its product, however, he is now ordering a set or two in order to find out and will relate his experience to you.

EMBARQ JOINS COX IN THE DIGITAL DISASTER and SHOWS ITSELF TO NOT BE L.E. FANT's FRIEND IN THE DIGITAL AGE!!
[Continuing Computer Saga: L.E. Suffers at the hands of Embarq technician with admitted large (physical) head].

Readers may recall that last week L.E.’s computer failed to connect to the Internet (hence sparse posts). You may recall that L.E. received advice from an Embarq technical advisor with a large head (he admitted his head was physically large).
That person told L.E. to call the support division for his wireless router and to ensure that they understood that Embarq used DHCP protocol not PPOE (which requires a password to access the Internet connection). Her went on at length to tell L.E. that he will likely find the router support people will not believe that Embarq DSL uses DHCP and L.E. must insist or hang up and redial to get a different technician online who will be convinced of the use of DHCP.
When L.E. called the router technical support technician The ensuing conversation was short. The technician asked whether L.E. could connect his computer directly to the Internet (not via his router). When L.E. disclosed that he could not do so the technician told L.E. he must call back Embarq and establish that direct connection before calling the router folk back.
L.E. was now extremely frustrated by these events and had a thought that maybe if he purchased a new modem it would magically repair the problem as it had learned no bad computer type habits.
Another trip to Fry’s Electronics provided the modem (together with a Cuisinart rice cooker/ steamer which according to L.E.’s “she who must be obeyed” would fit nicely upon the countertop).
L.E. connected and reconnected the equipment to no avail-still no Internet directly to the computer –only via his old router-not the new router.
Then salvation!!
L.E.’s good friend (and I.T. manager) found time(actually made time available despite his extremely busy schedule) to review L.E.’s setup. He was confused by a screen which showed a PPOE set up (remember the words of the man with the large (physically) head?
L.E.’s genius friend than made a call to Embarq where he was fortunate to connect with a technical support technician who did not claim a large head. When queried regarding the DHCP and PPOE connections this representative stated that when Embarq took over from Earthlink the connection type changed from PPOE to DHCP. He further stated that the Embarq modem type which L.E. had (and had disclosed to the man with the large head) was configured for PPOE and should have been exchanged by Embarq some time ago for a new modem. Also that “Engineering” had to change the connection at the Embarq host before L.E. could connect using DHCP.
Luckily L.E.’s genius friend had a spare modem which when set up connected L.E.’s computer directly to the Internet. To unravel all the changes L.E. had made in his desperate attempts took L.E.’s friend most of the day. This meant he had to wear old (large size-not which fit his new trim size) pants and shirts to work today.
L.E. sincerely thanks his genius friend for his unselfish generosity (again).

Without his help L.E. would doubtless still be ensnared by the evil web of deceit created by Embarq’s technician with the large head as L.E. believed (and had no reason to know otherwise) that DHCP was the only connection type used by Embarq.
L.E. leaves his readers to invoke the moral of this story.

Las Vegas Entertainment, Las Vegas Dining

Please click on images to enlarge. Below are a few more of the Collector Series of Las Vegas Memorabilia images.

Great and inexpensive Sunday Champagne Brunch!! Take off a few pounds while in town.

See the magazine come to life in Las Vegas.

Poll:

Many superior respondents knew that a 2,000 calorie diet allows for over 60 grams of fat per day.

Our Government’s “mypyramid” sample 2,000 calorie diet plan allows a total fat intake of 67 grams of which 16 grams may be of saturated fats.

L.E. is still getting over his computer nightmare and coming to terms with the new Las Vegas record of having the highest devaluation of home prices of our Nation.

He has been trying out a new 30 minute or less chicken teriyaki recipe to share and will provide it soon.