MetaFilter posts tagged with Nevada

CityCenter, Las Vegas

Joe Beese — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:26:08 -0800

Tomorrow in Las Vegas, a mixed hotel/condominium called Vdara will open for business on the spot once occupied by the unlamented Boardwalk Hotel and Casino. It is the first stage of the CityCenter complex, the largest privately financed development in the United States, which has already cost $8.5 billion and six lives. Even before the recent debt-restructuring woes of 50% stakeholder Dubai World, there was concern over CityCenter's impact on the struggling local economy. (previously) Vdara's opening is sure to be the top story on the Five Hundy by Midnight podcast - an affectionate but candid weekly review of Sin City news hosted by Tim and Michele Dressen.

The new faces of day labor

Joe Beese — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:34:52 -0800

It sounds like a George Lopez joke. “Times are so bad that I saw an Anglo day laborer standing outside Home Depot the other day.” Except it’s true.

Arborglyphs in Nevada

Kattullus — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:42:42 -0800

Sheepherders in Northern Nevada came largely from Basque country back in the day. They brought with them a tradition of making arborglyphs, carving text and images into living trees. You can see pictures of 175 Nevada arborglyphs here, 73 of which have companion videos showing a bit more of the surrounding. The unquestioned expert on Nevadan arborglyphs, Professor Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe, has written a great deal on the subject and in 2001 he wrote a good overview article in Forest History Today called Carving Out History: The Basque Aspens. Another good introductory article by journalist Emma Nichols in the Sacramento News & Review, Mystery of the Arborglyphs, with a focus on the more salacious arborglyphs. Basque Tree Carving: Legend in Nevada is an 18 minute documentary. Here is a video of Professor Mallea speaking about the arborglyphs and here is an interview with him. [all videos asx format]

Medicaid cuts shut only public outpatient oncology ward in NV.

availablelight — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:53:36 -0800

"We're a demonstration project, if you would, of all the things that can go wrong at once." "You know Yolanda, I think most people watching this interview think to themselves that if they get cancer and they don't have health insurance that somebody’s going to take care of them," Pelley remarked. "No, no, there's nobody to take care of you," she said. On December 31, 2008, University Medical Center of Las Vegas--the only public hospital in the state of Nevada--suspended its outpatient oncology care program. Among the 2000 existing patients left to find care elsewhere are the uninsured and under-insured. Working poor or middle class patients--the majority of the nation's uninsured--have the option, of course, of exhausting their assets until they are poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or Clark County medical assistance. However, these programs don't cover full costs and are only helpful if you can find a doctor who accepts them: Roy Scales has been calling the private doctors from the list University Medical Center sent with its letter. He has been searching for someone who will accept payment from the county's medical assistance for the poor program, which he calls insurance. It has been five months since he was diagnosed. He told Pelley he called at least 25 doctors and oncology practices trying to find care. Asked what they told him, Scales said, "'What about that insurance? Well, we don't accept that insurance.'" "What are you going to do if you can't find a doctor to take care of you?" Pelley asked. "Die peacefully," Scales said. One local oncologist has turned a storage room into a charity clinic serving 23 of those left without care. Meanwhile, in France, cancer patients have 100% of their bills covered and guaranteed access to any drug necessary, and an emphasis on early detection/treatment leading to a survival rate that is the envy of Western Europe-- as part of a nationalized health care program that costs half of what the US spends per year on health care. (More stories in this series, from NPR, on the pros and cons of universal health care programs across Western Europe.)

Swimming pools, movie stars. Cha-ching!

mudpuppie — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:57:06 -0800

"The multi-million dollar casino will feature unique applications of The Beverly Hillbillies theme. Granny’s Shot Gun Weddin’ Chapel, Jethro’s All-You-Ken-Et Buffet, the Cement Pond, Granny’s White Lightnin’ Bar complete with rain & lightning ["The waitresses are dressed like Elly May but padded like Dolly Parton"], Elly May’s Buns (Bakery) [Link possibly NSFW], gourmet meals from Drysdales’ Fancy Eatin’ Fo Da Richins, Granny’s Vittles & Hog Jowls Coffee Shop, and an oil derrick are just a few of the many attractions … a project of Las Vegas standards will be created!" Max Baer, Jr. -- that's Jethro to you -- "has the rights from CBS to use The Beverly Hillbillies theme for casinos, hotels, theme parks, restaurants, cosmetics and consumables." And by god, he's going to exercise that right. Good news: The final hurdle for the casino has been overcome. Over the objections of the church across the street, County Commissioners gave the go-ahead yesterday for the 9-story oil derrick that will serve as the casino's welcome beacon. (Sadly, the original plans for a 200-foot-tall derrick were quashed.)

The Skies of December Turn Gloomy

fandango_matt — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:04:04 -0800

The La Contessa, the Spanish galleon that roamed Lake Lahontan, is gone.

delmoi — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:07:02 -0800

Congressman Jim Gibbons's was 5 points ahead in the polls for the Nevada Governor's race, but that was before these drunken 911 calls. [more at wonkette]

Bashful's prostitution survey

mediareport — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 21:33:08 -0800

Oddly obsessive statistical analysis of the rates paid by customers of legal Nevada prostitutes, broken down by sex act, attractiveness, body type and presence or absence of a jacuzzi, among other topics. [via Cynical-C, who swears he found it by accident]

News Filter: Hollywood Madam Starts a Stud Farm

chai-rista — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 07:49:32 -0800

Heidi Fleiss plans to open a brothel . . . . . . which will cater to women in Nevada. Money quote: " . . . you've got the situation with the old husband leaving his wife for the younger girl, and the lady sitting at home crying. Well, now she has a place to go and say, 'Right back at you, buddy, and on your credit card'.

A Blivet

kablam — Sat, 23 Oct 2004 19:10:40 -0800

A Blivet. More nuclear waste than the planned repository at Yucca Mountain can hold will pile up at reactor sites as the government continues to approve license extensions for power plants, an environmental research organization claimed in a study to be released today. If a repository is built by 2010 in the mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas, its 77,000-ton capacity will be filled by existing spent fuel awaiting shipment. That's not counting another 9,900 tons that will have accumulated in the meantime from license extensions, according to the study by the Environmental Working Group.

Rocking the vote?

clevershark — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 12:09:55 -0800

The increasingly spotty record of the GOP's involvement with voter registration companies. This is a follow-up to Tueday's Nevada thread. If you registered to vote for the first time this year as anything but a Republican you should probably check to see if your registration was properly filed... you know, just to be on the safe side.

We chased lady luck, 'til we finally struck Bonanza.

Ogre Lawless — Thu, 05 Aug 2004 11:53:07 -0800

In 1967 the television program Bonanza enjoyed a three-year run as the most-watched television show in the United States. Bonanza had not started well; its first two seasons returning disapointing ratings but kept alive by the bequest of (then) NBC-parent RCA. RCA had a vested interest in keeping the color series alive in order to push sales of their color technology.

That same year Bill and Joyce Anderson created The Ponderosa Ranch tourist attraction near Incline Village, Nevada on the site allegedly shown by the burning map in the opening credits. The property annually attracts nearly 350,000 tourists to Lake Tahoe's north shore to enjoy the surroundings of a period recreation including mock gunfights, cowboy rope tricks and an honest 1860's-style saloon. (more inside)

Justice, Las Vegas Style

dejah420 — Wed, 26 Nov 2003 10:35:17 -0800

Framed for defending herself. On August 28th, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada a woman named Kirstin Lobato was sentenced to life in prison. She was the victim of an attempted rape in May 2001, and had defended herself against her rapist. prosecutors used this "confession" of self defense to convict her of a murder that happened months later and in a town where she didn't even live. How "innocent until proven guilty" can you be if prosecutors are willing to use known perjurers and refuse to allow expert testimony?

Tache and Go

wendell — Sun, 21 Sep 2003 01:02:30 -0800

Tacheback? (via The Presurfer)
Another web widget I have to add to my blog to stay cool? No, it's another moustache-growing contest, organized to support "The Institute of Cancer Research's national campaign to raise awareness and funding for male cancers". What do moustaches have to do with "male cancers"? Don't ask. Why did I say "another"? Because the biennial World Beard and Moustache Championships are coming to Carson City, Nevada, November 1st. Of course some media have already given this man the title of "World's Longest Moustache" (at least those who paid him $5 to take his picture).

Operation Affordable Coitus

Ignatius J. Reilly — Wed, 18 Jun 2003 09:28:11 -0800

It's not exactly the same as being in heaven surrounded by virgins.

The Ultimate Sin Tax

XQUZYPHYR — Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:46 -0800

Nevada considering tax on prostitutes. Facing over $700 million in debt, Nevada (which has no state income tax) is considering taxing the fees paid to professional prostitutes in Nevada brothels. Everyone's angry, from the prostitutes upset about more of their fees being levied to anti-prostitution folk worrying about the legitimization of "industry that many people prefer to keep at arm's length." (Reporter's words, not mine) Should legalized prostitution be classified as "entertainment" and taxed? Will county revenues be hindered? Would I be considered a charitable deduction? And if the outraged hookers protest, what are the odds of Disney making a musical?

Reno's HELP is catching on elsewhere

mr_crash_davis — Wed, 27 Nov 2002 13:29:48 -0800

Riding the dog gets some folks home to loved ones or care takers. For a few, the bus is home. Reno News and Review's Deidre Pike takes a look at Reno, Nevada's Homeless Evaluation Liaison Program (HELP). Other cities have taken notice, and have begun to consider similar programs modeled after Reno's.

puddsharp — Wed, 18 Sep 2002 20:55:04 -0800

Area 51, truth seekers 0. Bush reissues order keeping Nevada site secret. I can't believe he had time to think about this with all the other shit he's stirring so hard.

triggerfinger — Wed, 14 Aug 2002 06:23:44 -0800

Nevada looking to legalize marijuana. And not just for medicinal use, but for recreational use as well. So far, it looks like there's a good chance it might happen.

skallas — Wed, 31 Jul 2002 20:58:25 -0800

Nevada may be the first state to decriminalize marijuana. In the meantime Drug Czar John Walters believes that if drugs were decriminalized users shouldn't have the rights everyone else has.

Mwongozi — Fri, 07 Jun 2002 15:36:19 -0800

Atomic blast licence plates are rejected by state.
"Any reference on a license plate to weapons of mass destruction is inappropriate and would likely offend our citizens."

Mwongozi — Sat, 27 Apr 2002 13:27:22 -0800

Nevada license tags depict atomic blast
Ugh. Am I the only one sickened by this? Sometimes I'm glad that I don't live in the USA.

dcehr — Fri, 08 Feb 2002 09:43:45 -0800

Nevada's Governor Kenny Guinn and Idaho's own Senator Larry Craig duke it out over nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain. Of course the plan has no shortage of detractors like "Yucca Mountain Facts", and the Las Vegas Sun has done a pile of reporting on it: their "dossier", and "science vs. politics" (first in a five-part series, all of which is now online). The state should have a copy of the Evironmental Impact Statement somewhere, too. It's fun for the whole family! Guinn and Craig's stories are part of the High Country News' syndicated Writers on the Range series.

gimonca — Mon, 03 Dec 2001 14:38:06 -0800

Welcome to Battle Mountain, Nevada: the Armpit of America!

GriffX — Tue, 04 Sep 2001 18:46:53 -0800

So, if my pizza's 30 minutes late, do I get a personal apology from Uncle Enzo?
"In Nevada, a 55-acre community called Front Sight, featuring streets with names like Second Amendment Drive and Sense of Duty Way, is being built for gun enthusiasts (people who buy an acre plot get lifetime use of the 22 planned ranges, an Uzi machinegun and a safari in Africa). In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, one gated community seems to have been taken over by black rap stars."