text:
Difference between revisions of "Las Vegas"
Revision as of 14:16, 23 October 2014
Las Vegas has an arid climate with sunny, dry, and extremely hot summers. For summer, daytime highs are typically in the 100s (F), generally up to 110 (F), but with low humidity. This low humidity does help temperatures feel not as hot as they otherwise would at these levels, but never-the-less, it is still hot. Nighttime lows are usually in the 80s.
Winter is much cooler with daytime highs generally in the 50s (F), and nighttime lows in the 40s or 30s (F). Some winter days will see highs in the 60s (F). Snowfall is rare in the metro area itself, although every few years apart the area may see some snowfall. However, the mountains surrounding Las Vegas are capped with snowfall in the winter season. On warmer winter days, one can literally go skiing at Mount Charleston, about 40 minutes from the city, and come back into Las Vegas and wear shorts.
Spring and fall are very enjoyable months with daytime highs ranging from the mid 60s (F) to the 80s (F). Some of the best months to visit Las Vegas are March, April, May, October, and November. Temperatures are not too hot nor too chilly at those times, although, weather aside, a good time can really be had in Las Vegas at any time.
Summer monsoons occur from late July to early September. Expect increases in rainfall during this time. Take caution during rainfall as flash flooding is common in certain parts of the valley. The Strip and Downtown are mostly fine. However, The Quad and Harrah's parking garages do have a tendency to flood. Obviously, this being Las Vegas, rain is rare. But when it shows up, be aware that it shows up with a quite a vengeance.
Compared with other cities in the western U.S., Las Vegas (literally, "the meadows" in Spanish) is a relatively recent arrival. It was founded in 1905, and for many years it was merely a small settlement in the middle of the desert. However, several pivotal events would come together in less than twenty years that would help Las Vegas grow into what it is today:
The city is laid out as follows: Main Street as well as the numbered streets run north-south, starting with Main Street in the west. The bus station is on Main Street. Downtown has several hotel-casinos, as well as the "Fremont Street Experience", a pedestrian mall lined with casinos, near the western end of Fremont Street. A couple miles south of downtown starts the "Strip" (Las Vegas Boulevard South), a north-south street lined with large casino-hotels, shopping malls, and other attractions.
The northern end of the Strip is marked by the tall Stratosphere tower. The Regional Transportation Commission runs buses up and down the Strip that connect the Strip resorts to downtown. The Las Vegas monorail and the convention center sit just east of the Strip, and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) is located slightly more east of the Strip on Maryland Parkway. The airport is at the southern end of the Strip.
Importantly, the City of Las Vegas only controls the Strip as far south as Sahara Avenue. All of the Strip south of Sahara, is located in the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Enterprise, which are both governed directly by Clark County. These unincorporated townships, however, use the name "Las Vegas" for postal purposes.
Both the city and the unincorporated county areas share a single law enforcement agency, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Incorporated cities such as Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own police departments.
Get in
By car
Southern Californians crowd Interstate 15 every weekend going back and forth to Vegas. Expect this drive to be congested with frustrating stop-and-go traffic going northbound (towards Las Vegas) on Friday evenings and southbound (towards Southern California) on Sunday afternoons.
Note that the drive can be extremely dangerous. The long straight stretches which encourage speeding, the frequency of sudden emergency braking, and the massive volume of vehicles together result in wild multi-car pileups, and that issue, combined with the sheer remoteness of the area, means that the stretch of I-15 between Barstow and the California/Nevada state border at Primm was the single most deadly stretch of highway in the United States from 1994 to 2008. If you are involved in a vehicle accident in that area and are badly injured, you should be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes before first responders arrive and one hour before reaching a hospital emergency room (as paramedics will have to evaluate you and then summon a helicopter if it appears you will live long enough to make it to an ER). Therefore, the journey should not be attempted by road unless you are well-rested and in excellent health; are driving a well-maintained, relatively new vehicle; and are carrying a first aid kit, a fully charged cell phone, and an car charger for that phone.
Despite these dangers, many find the roughly four-hour drive from the Los Angeles area mile (450 km) drive along I-15 restful and scenic (when attempted during off-peak hours and on off-peak days). Attractions along Interstate 15 include the California towns of Barstow and Baker; the Mojave Desert; and small hotel-casinos in Nevada at Primm (at the California border) and Jean, respectively. Those who traverse I-15 should remember that they are crossing a desert, and should carry (and drink) ample amounts of water, especially on hot summer days where temperatures can reach 110°F (43°C).
From east of Las Vegas, travelers typically drive on I-40 through Arizona, and then head north toward Vegas on US-93 in Kingman, before finally picking up I-15. This route will take you along the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and directly through Boulder City, near the Hoover Dam. Traffic there can be extremely congested and slow-going; although less so than in past decades since US 93 was rerouted to bypass Hoover Dam, using a new bridge. Still, this stretch is usually the slowest part of an otherwise sparsely populated desert area.
From the North I-15 meets the Arizona border at the more relaxed town of Mesquite, NV and shortly goes into Utah. The junction of I-70 and I-15 is where most people driving from the east will take. Those from further north may meet I-15 from I-80 in Salt Lake City.
Those traveling from the north drive on US-95 from Reno and Tonopah. US-95 is a two-lane highway for much of the route until it reaches the community of Mercury, where it widens into a four-lane highway. The route is sparsely populated, with few gas stations. Travelers should ensure that their fuel tank is full before setting out and consider refueling well before their tank hits empty.
By bus
By plane
McCarran International Airport (IATA: LAS) [293] is served by many domestic and international air carriers. Southwest Airlines [294] has a hub at LAS. The cost at the airport to rent a luggage trolley/cart is $3.
Henderson Executive Airport (ICAO: KHND) is the corporate choice for aviation in Las Vegas. Located just minutes from the world famous Vegas strip, Henderson Airport is the ideal alternative to McCarran International Airport. Air taxi and air charter companies fly a variety of private charter aircraft and jets, from charter luxury Gulfstream's down to economical piston twins for small groups and individuals.
Certain hotels owned by MGM Resorts International (MGM Grand, and New York New York) and Harrah's Entertainment (Rio, Harrah's, Bally's, Paris, Caesars Palace, and Flamingo) allow you to check in at the hotel and transfer luggage between the hotel and the airport.
For departing flights:
To travel between the airport and your Strip hotel:
By rail
There are NO direct rail services into Las Vegas per se. The below are the nearest train routes with a Thruway Bus shuttling passengers between Las Vegas and the nearest Amtrak station:
Get around
By foot
If traveling along the Strip, walking is a reasonable option as the hotel-casinos are close to each other. In most cases, hotels are connected to each other either by bridge or underground or in the case of Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay, by a complimentary rail shuttle. Be aware that during the summer, the oppressive heat during the daylight hours may make walking a very uncomfortable activity.
By monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail [300], ☎ +1 702 699-8200, runs along the east side of the Strip with stops behind several of the hotels and at the Las Vegas Convention Center [301]. It costs $5 one-way, $9 return and $15 for a one-day pass. Do the math before boarding, it could be cheaper for a small group to take a taxi. Because the monorail stops at the back entrance of the hotels, it takes a long time to wind through the maze of casinos, often taking 30 minutes to an hour to get from one point to another on the Strip - if you're in a hurry, take a taxi. The monorail's carrying capacity of 4,000 people per hour is woefully insufficient to handle the evening exodus from the larger conventions which have as many as 150,000 attendees. If you are visiting with a friend from Nevada and want to ride the monorail, consider asking them to buy your fare because by showing a Nevada State ID or Clark County Work Permit Card (issued to all hotel employees) they qualify for the locals fare of $1. The discounted fare can be purchased from the customer service booths located at each station.
Due to high prices, inconvenient station locations, low passenger ridership, and the fact that it does not connect to downtown or the airport, the Monorail is widely regarded as a failure. It has been operating under the supervision of a federal bankruptcy court since January 2010 while it tries to reorganize its finances under the protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
By bus
Buses can be an inexpensive and convenient option, especially if just traveling up-and-down the Strip, or to-and-from downtown. A bus ride is a good way to recuperate during those hot summer months after a long and tiring walk on the Strip since the buses are air-conditioned.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) [302], +1 702 228-7433, operates 49 bus routes throughout the valley. Most routes operate 5:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. daily, but some routes operate 24 hours per day. The standard single-ride fare is $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for kids and seniors for all standard routes, which RTC calls "residential routes." If purchasing a child or senior fare, be prepared to show some form of picture ID to prove age to the driver.
The RTC operates two routes on Las Vegas Boulevard: the Deuce, a London-style double decker bus, and the Strip and Downtown Express (SDX), an extended-length accordion-style bus. As of 2012, the RTC has completely abolished single-ride fares for the Deuce and SDX. The most affordable option for the Strip routes is a two-hour pass which costs $6.00 for all riders above the age of five (children below the age of five accompanied by an adult ride free).
Deuce and SDX buses stop only at marked bus stops on the Strip which all have ticket vending machines where passes must be purchased in advance before boarding. The SDX operates on a pure proof-of-payment system, meaning that passengers can board and disembark SDX buses on the Strip through any bus door, but risk a substantial fine if caught riding without a valid pass. Indeed, SDX bus drivers sit inside a secure compartment, with a sign telling passengers to not bother them. However, Deuce buses have a more traditional layout. You must board through the front door and show your pass to the driver. Valid Deuce and SDX passes can also be used on all residential routes prior to the expiration date and time printed by the vending machine on the pass.
During the larger conventions (such as CES, NAB, and MAGIC) the Deuce also operates on a special one way service from the Las Vegas Convention Center. This service operates only in the afternoon from the convention center to the Strip, and the bus travels southbound and services all regular stops from Circus Circus onward.
Bus drivers do not give change. However, all the ticket vending machines accept credit/debit cards and some (but not all) give change. Transfers require payment of an additional fare.
A residential 24-hour day pass ($5 for adults and $2 for kids and seniors) covers all routes except The Deuce, which costs $0.50 extra, and an "all-access pass" for $7 covers all routes on the system. If you will be staying for a long period of time (at least 8 days for adults or 4 for children and seniors) and plan to buy an all access pass, a more economic option is to purchase a 30-day bus pass. These can be purchased from either of the two bus terminals (both can be reached by riding the Deuce to Downtown terminal, or to the South Strip Terminal), or from any ticket vending machine.
It is important to note however, that if you would like to purchase a child or senior fare pass, you will need to do so from the customer service agent at the terminals. These passes are valid for 30 days following the first use and can be used on all routes.
If the Strip buses are crowded and the Strip is jammed with traffic (as is often the case), a good way to avoid waiting for the next bus is to use buses running on parallel routes. Either walk one block east from the Strip and use route 108 on Paradise Road or walk one block west to Industrial Road and use route 105, Martin Luther King Blvd and Koval Way.
One of the easiest ways to get around is by taxi. It is relatively cheap to go from hotel to hotel, but be aware that since traffic is often so congested on the strip, taking a taxi often isn't much faster than walking. Many taxis will cut off the strip to use a parallel road--this is often faster but can double your taxi fare. The taxi driver is required to use the meter and to take the shortest route to your destination. There is a surcharge for rides originating at the airport, but not for extra passengers. Taxi lines (queues) are typically found at the front of hotels. You would be unwise to attempt to hail one on the street, especially on the Strip, as it is illegal for a taxi to stop traffic to pick up or drop off a passenger. The best way to hail a taxi outside of a cabstand is to use the following method: if you are wanting to go north on the Strip, stand on the east side about 20 feet before a turn off. The taxi you want to wave over will have the yellow lights off. Standing like this allows the taxi to turn off the road and pick you up. It is customary to tip the hotel taxi dispatcher $1 and tip the taxi driver 15% of the meter, and about $1 per piece of luggage.
If you are traveling with a large group, consider hiring a limousine, as you will often forgo a wait and the price per person may even be lower than that using a taxicab. Limousines usually queue in front of the taxicab line and can be approached directly.[303]
By car
Driving Las Vegas Boulevard (the "Strip"), especially on weekends, is an exercise in frustration. Due to extremely severe gridlock at all hours, you could easily spend an hour (or more) sitting in traffic on the Strip just to travel a couple of miles. The Strip's most critically congested section is the 1.7-mile-long portion between Spring Mountain Road/Sands Avenue to the north and Tropicana Avenue to the south, which happens to be where almost all of the major hotel-casinos are located.
Do what the locals do and avoid driving long distances on the Strip altogether. Instead take I-15, which parallels the Strip, and get off at the exit nearest your hotel and park there. Frank Sinatra Drive (which dead ends into Industrial Road) lies just west of the Strip, runs behind the casinos, and provides another option. Koval Lane and Paradise Road provide similar access on the eastern side of the Strip. If you need to do an east or west traverse of the northern half of the Strip and I-15, consider using the Desert Inn Road superarterial, which was built specifically to provide a fast grade-separated route for east-west traffic.
Virtually all major casinos on the Strip, and downtown, offer free parking and many also offer valet parking for an additional charge. On Friday and Saturday nights, the self-parking lots fill up fast. Consider splurging on the valet to avoid cumbersome delays and endless circling around.
Rental cars
If you mostly plan to hang around one casino and your time in Vegas is short, you might want to forego a rental car altogether and just take taxis or the Strip buses. On the other hand, taxi fares and bus passes add up quickly, and with car rental so cheap, anyone staying a few days or longer would be better suited with the flexibility of a car. Some of the best sights (e.g., Hoover Dam) are located just outside of Las Vegas and require that you drive to those destinations. If you need to or might go farther (e.g., out of state), ensure your rental agreement allows it as well as sharing of driving duties.
The base rental price for a car at McCarran International Airport is quite competitive with other major cities. Unfortunately, agencies at the airport must levy very large fees (e.g., for airport improvements) and taxes on those base prices. These can increase the modest weekly cost of a compact or intermediate size car by nearly 60 percent.
By scooter
Concerts & Special Events
Free shows
Cirque du Soleil shows
Las Vegas hosts 7 very popular Cirque du Soleil [306] shows. To secure the best seats, reservations well in advance is recommended. In order of opening date, the shows are;
Production/Variety shows
Reserve your tickets well in advance for the best available seating. The most popular shows are sold out on the weekends.
Headliner shows
Comedy shows
There are always different comedians coming to Las Vegas. Some comedians that have recently performed in Las Vegas include Robin Williams, Howie Mandel, and Carrot Top. Always a great way to get a laugh and end the night.
Impressionist/Impersonation shows
Tribute shows
Magic shows
Adult shows
Topless female dancers
Topless male dancers
Age restrictions
It is state law that all gamblers must be at least 21 years of age. Even if you are at least 21 years old, you are required to bring to the casino a valid ID that shows your current age or complete date of birth (e.g. driver's licence, passport) as proof of your age. Photocopies of valid IDs are usually not considered valid. In-house security makes rounds of inspections to check compliance. If you are under-age or without a valid ID to prove your age and found in the gambling premises, hotel staff will ask you to leave, and could ask the metro police to issue you a citation. Moreover, under-age gamblers cannot collect any jackpot; such bets are void and the casino will at best return your wager before asking you to leave the premises. There is a curfew for anyone under the age of 18 and metro police regularly transport violators to a juvenile center.
The odds
It is beneficial to understand the rules, strategies, and odds of each game before you arrive. The games with the lowest house advantage if you know how to play are craps (dice) with full odds and blackjack; however, tables where a 21-blackjack pays only 6:5 or even-money instead of the traditional 3:2 give the house a big advantage, and should be avoided. Games in which the casino has the best house advantage include slot machines, roulette, and some craps bets (hardways and propositions). If a game is unfamiliar to you, just ask the dealer for advice on how to play. If you are playing during the daytime at a table that is not crowded, most dealers will be happy to explain the game to you, and even slow down the dealing.
Pre-paid gambling cards
To facilitate gambling in machine-based games, you can use a pre-paid card to make wagers and collect winnings. Obtain one of these from the counter, insert the card into the gambling machine you choose to play and the machine will deduct your wagers as well as add your winnings to it. You can go to another cash dispensing machine to redeem your winnings as well as reload the value.
Most casinos offer ATMs and over-the-counter cash facilities, but beware about the charges set by your bank and the machine operator or establishment. ATMs in casinos may charge exorbitant fees for withdrawals.
One reason to gamble, aside from the hope of winning money, is that by doing so, you could receive complimentary ("comp") rooms, meals, and even airfare depending on your play. Most casinos issue free "player cards." It is generally to your advantage to show or insert your player card every time you play a table game or slot machine. At the end of your trip, you can ask the hotel if you are eligible for any comps, you might be pleasantly surprised. And if you arrive at the casino prepared to lay out $1,000 or more, don't be bashful; ask the pit boss to be "rated" for comps before or while you begin playing. Separate from comps, many hotels offer discount packages for travelers who book a Sunday-Thursday night arrival. Most of these packages offer gambling coupons or a matching play -- see the Sleep section for details.
Texas Hold'em, 7-card stud, and Omaha can be found at almost all Las Vegas poker rooms. However, not all casinos have a poker room, so call the casino or ask a gaming floor attendant. Casinos with non-smoking poker rooms include Wynn, Bellagio, The Palms, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Mirage.
During June and July, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is held in Las Vegas [307]. If you are interested in poker, this is a must see and all top poker players are present. And if you are a skilled player, you can play the sidegames taking place during the WSOP.
Spectator sports
Get married
Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world. To get married, first go to the County Clerk's Office and apply for a marriage license. Both parties must have valid ID, such as a driver's license or passport. The cost is $60 per opposite-sex couple. The Las Vegas Wedding Bureau is open from 9AM-midnight seven days a week, including holidays. No blood test or waiting period is required. The marriage license itself is valid for one year. The minimum age to marry is 18; a 16 or 17 year old may marry if one parent is present or has given notarized permission.
Once you have a marriage license, the wedding ceremony can be performed by any priest, minister, rabbi or Justice of the Peace authorized to perform weddings with in the Las Vegas area. Numerous wedding chapels are located around the Wedding Bureau and on the Strip. You can choose an elaborate theme wedding, such as an Elvis impersonator as officiant, or a simple ceremony and reception celebration.
Most major hotels and Vegas wedding chapels offer wedding packages for those who wish to plan a larger wedding ceremony. But don't let a lack of planning stop your nuptials; all Vegas wedding chapels can perform immediate weddings with no prior appointment, although it is recommended to make a reservation for your wedding. If you make a reservation most chapels will provide courtesy limousine transportation from your hotel to the chapel and back. Making a reservation also decreases the likelihood of having to wait.
Finally, you can check with the Las Vegas Better Business Bureau before making any arrangements with any wedding chapel or service provider. You may check the local BBB reports online [314].
Las Vegas is a great place for tennis fans. Not only do many of the hotels offer excellent courts but public courts abound as well. Vegas is also home to many amateur tournaments, UNLV tournaments, as well as The Tennis Channel Open [315].
Ice skating
Given the very high temperatures during the summer it maybe a surprise that ice skating is popular, but at inside rinks!
Chinese New Year
Catering to a large contingent of tourists from China, and delighting everyone else as well, many Vegas casino resorts stage elaborate celebrations of the Chinese New Year, each year from January to March.
Traditional lion and dragon dances take place in hotel lobbies and even march through the casino floor. Live music performances abound, and many restaurants prepare specialty menus for the holiday. Look especially to Monte Carlo's Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar, Fleur by Hubert Keller at Mandalay Bay, Rice & Company at Luxor, China Poblano by Jose Andres at The Cosmopolitan, Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace, Mozen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental, and Wing Lei at the Wynn.
Downtown, Chinese New Year in the Desert hosts a series of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultural celebrations throughout five blocks of Fremont Street.
Sales tax
The combined state and local sales tax in all of Clark County (meaning the entire Las Vegas metro area) is 8.10%. Only groceries and prescription drugs are exempt.
Like most U.S. states, Nevada has not implemented a tax refund mechanism for international travelers. The only retailers that can sell tax-free items to international travelers are the duty free shops at McCarran International Airport.
Most hotel/casino resort complexes in Las Vegas have a gift shop open 24/7 that offers basic traveler supplies and sundries. Hotel gift shops are outrageously expensive and should be avoided except for emergencies.
If you are planning to not rent a car and to simply go up and down the Strip on foot or bus, the pharmacies are your best bet for basic supplies. They are all open 24/7 and accustomed to dealing with tourists from all over the world.
Like most U.S. pharmacies, they carry a very large variety of products besides pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, including snacks, soft drinks, beer, wine, bottled water, cosmetics, toiletries, hats, sunscreen, maps, postcards, and so on. CVS/pharmacy has two branches on the Strip, one located on South Strip between CityCenter and Monte Carlo, and the other located on North Strip between Circus Circus and Sahara Avenue. Walgreens has one branch on Central Strip at Palazzo and another on South Strip in front of Planet Hollywood. One sign of their popularity is that they routinely rank among the top three locations by annual sales for their respective chains.
There are also multiple 7-Eleven convenience stores open 24/7 throughout the Strip, as well as several am/pm convenience stores. However, convenience stores tend to have higher prices than the pharmacies and their product selection is not as broad.
Another option is ABC Stores, Hawaii's leading discount convenience store chain, which was specifically founded to target tourists fed up with getting ripped off by gift shops at Honolulu hotels. ABC Stores eventually realized that the Las Vegas Strip had the same problem and now has eight stores covering the length of the Strip. ABC Stores are larger than 7-Eleven and am/pm stores, to compete against the nearby pharmacies (which because of their popularity are also much larger than the average U.S. pharmacy).
Importantly, there are no major supermarkets on the Las Vegas Strip near the resorts. The closest one that sits on Las Vegas Boulevard is the Whole Foods Market at Town Square (see below). Other than that, one has to travel as far west as Valley View Boulevard or as far east as Maryland Parkway to find supermarkets such as Vons, Albertsons, Food4Less, and Smith's. You can also have groceries delivered directly to your resort with a grocery delivery service such as Quick n Easy Couriers.
Shopping malls
There are a handful of shopping malls that are not affiliated with casinos:
Many of the larger casinos include high-end shopping areas with designer stores, including:
Outlet malls
Las Vegas is a hub for factory outlet malls.
The two largest and most prestigious are the Las Vegas Premium Outlets centers. Both are owned by the Premium Outlets chain, which is part of Simon Property Group. The southern one was originally independently developed by another company as Las Vegas Outlet Center and is still described by that name in older travel guidebooks. Both share many of the same tenants. The northern one features a few designer brands not found in its southern sibling, like Armani Exchange, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Elie Tahari, Kate Spade, Salvatore Ferragamo, St. John, Tory Burch, and Tumi, while the southern one features a Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th store.
Large casinos will invariably offer a variety of dining options, ranging from the omni-present buffet to simple cafes to gourmet restaurants.
Buffets are extremely popular in Las Vegas and the city has a plethora of them. They are popular with locals and tourists alike. The best buffets typically run about $30 a person for a weekend dinner. Lunch is a better value at most buffets as it is typically half-price but serves some of the same type of food that can be found at dinner hours. Breakfast is the least expensive and often have a good spread too. Do not forget that tipping your buffet waiter 10-15% is customary. You can leave cash on the table at the end of your meal or tip the cashier at the counter on a credit card.
Unusual Eating Joints
On the Strip
Off the Strip
Luv-It Frozen Custard: Hidden some two blocks north of the Stratosphere Tower and just east of South L.V. Blvd on the north side of Oakey. This family operation offers excellent frozen custards with outstanding toppings. Their blue building with white pillars and trim shares a parking lot with a convenience store. [316]
In Las Vegas, free drinks are offered to all gamblers whether playing table games or slots of any denomination. You should tip the waitress at least $1 per drink. Failure to do so will most likely result in the waitress visiting you less often, and visiting those more often who do tip.
Although it is offically NOT allowed per the lawbooks, drinking on public sidewalks and other areas on the Strip and Downtown is rarely if ever enforced. Thus it is entirely common to consume alcohol in public areas, including the public sidewalks within the Las Vegas city limits which includes all of Downtown, The Strip and close-by areas. Again, as previously mentioned, over-intoxication and disorderly conduct is frowned upon, so stay within your own limits. On special occasions (New Years Eve and Independence Day for example) there may be bans on glass bottles and/or aluminum cans for the Strip and the Downtown area. Plastic cups and sports bottles are allowed at these times and either provided at purchase or often available at hotel/casino exit doors. When inside a casino or hotel there is seldom any restrictions on carrying drinks from one bar, restaurant or playing location to another with the exception of some showrooms and theaters where it will be clearly posted. Individual shops may also have rules about carrying in food and drink of any kind.
The town of North Las Vegas, Henderson and other outlying areas have very DIFFERENT regulations forbidding removal of alcohol from bars, etc. so check with your host or doorman if in doubt. Many bars and liquor stores are open 24 hours a day. There are also special posted laws for convenience stores, grocery stores and other retail liquor outlets restricting consumption in the immediate vacinity. Most of all, always remember to drink responsibly and realize that the hot, dry desert air in the summer months can have very adverse health affects on people consuming alcohol such as rapid dehydration and deadly heat stroke, even after dark. Drink plenty of water as well!
There is a club or lounge in nearly every hotel and casino. Most clubs remain open until 4AM, with various after-hour clubs available for the truly hard-core partiers. Drink prices can range anywhere from $4-8 for a domestic bottle of beer, $8-10 for well drinks made with cheap generic liquor, and $200 or more for a bottle of spirits. Clubs are always busy on weekends, and may also be packed during weekdays at places that have Service Industry Night (SIN), usually Tuesday to Thursday, when locals working in the service industry have their night off.
A good way to find out what places are currently hot in Vegas is to ask service staff who look like party-people. People working inside hotels are bound to recommend the hotel's institutions, so rather go for waiters or shop-assistants in restaurants or malls outside the hotels.
The top clubs will charge entry of $15 or more. Exceptions may include those who have reserved a table, those who get there early, ladies, and locals. Expect to wait in a line for 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the night. It is usually best to arrive before 10PM; while the club may be emptier, the line will be shorter and you may avoid paying a cover charge. Sitting at a table often requires a bottle purchase and if you stop making purchases, they will ask you to vacate the table so that someone else can occupy the table. The dress code varies by club. The general rule of thumb is most of the time women know what to wear when they are going out, and men should avoid wearing tennis shoes, tank tops, hats, t-shirts, and blue jeans.
Ultra pool
An Ultra Pool is a mix of a pool, and club all in one.
Ultra lounge
An ultra lounge is a mix between lounge and a night club, but the difference to "real" night clubs is tiny and vanishes completely, when the DJ pulls out hard-core dance hits.
Las Vegas is a very peculiar destination - and hotels in Las Vegas have a lot of peculiarities that you won't find in other cities.
The vast majority of visitors to Las Vegas arrive from throughout the western half of North America on Friday or Saturday, stay for the weekend, then leave on Sunday or Monday (because they have to get back to work or school). As such, room rates can seem ridiculously cheap from Sunday to Thursday but zoom upwards on weekends. Travelers with flexible schedules can plan around this to their advantage. By staying, say, Sunday through to Thursday, one can not only save a bundle on hotel rates, but also take advantage of package deals that may include a show, meals, and gambling coupons, which may be occasionally worth more than the cost of the hotel room itself.
A bad surprise at check-in are the notorious so-called "resort fees", which are increasingly common throughout North America, but are especially bad in Las Vegas. Many upscale hotels in Las Vegas collect this fee on top of the actual room charge (typically between $10 to $20 per night) when you check in. You won't get around paying it, even if you claim that your hotel booking website had indicated the total pricing as final. The resort fee is apparently an attempt of introducing low-cost airline pricing to hotels: splitting up the price into an attractively cheap basic rate, and charging the customer for almost everything separately. Thus, in Las Vegas, the resort fee typically "covers" the usage of the swimming pool, the fitness center, and perhaps additional amenities like a daily newspaper. Some hotels do not collect resort fees. It may be worth it to ask the front desk to remove this fee; especially if you had a bad experience with your stay. Keep your expectations low, and be polite and reasonable.
Be aware that in certain Las Vegas hotels, even the resort fee does not always cover hotel amenities that are included for free in hotels in the rest of the world. These charges may be quite expensive. Some hotels charge for use of the fitness center with rates around $20 to $40 per visit; some charge as much as $12 per day for wireless internet. Las Vegas hotels, like the vast majority of U.S. hotels, treat in-room telephone calls (local and long distance) as a profit center and tack on exorbitant phone fees to the room bill. Therefore, it is usually better to use your own cell phone or mobile router.
Due to the flamboyant and lively atmosphere of most casino hotels, be aware that you may not get a good night's sleep, especially on weekends or during busy tourist seasons. Drunken parties and associated recklessness are frequent occurrences in most of the motels and hotels on The Strip. Most hotels will send security personnel up to dispel loud parties or to warn drunk patrons to keep the noise down if you call the front desk, but their effectiveness may vary.
Certain Vegas hotels are now trying to bring a "nightclub party" atmosphere to their pools in the daytime. If your room faces the pool and the pool has a DJ in the afternoon, don't count on being able to sleep off jet lag in your room during that period.
In Las Vegas parlance, the words "hotel" and "casino" are interchangeable. There is a big difference between casino hotels and mainstream hotels without gambling. Casino hotels tend to be large (often with a long walk from the parking to your room and often via the gambling floor). The size of casino hotels means that they often have a wider range of services (restaurants, bars, shops, coffee shops, etc.) and many facilities have long opening hours or are open 24 hours.
On the Strip
Off the Strip
Downtown/Fremont Street
Many modest hotels, well-away from the Strip and downtown, cater to "locals"; many offer lower rates and (often) better games. Among them are:
They are complemented by plush, full-resort hotels/casinos in select locations. Examples include:
Bed & Breakfast
Stay safe
Given the city's lure of easy money and "Sin City" reputation, Las Vegas naturally attracts a lot of unsavory characters, as evidenced by its rather high violent crime rate: 647.0 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants in calendar year 2011 (according to the FBI's Crime in the United States report). This is substantially higher than big cities like Los Angeles and New York, where the comparable numbers were 405.4 and 406.0 in 2011. Naturally, the crimes that drive Vegas's numbers so high are robbery and aggravated assault.
Be vigilant and do not leave any valuables visible in your car. If you are lucky enough to win a large jackpot, you can ask the casino to hold your winnings in its safe or to pay you with a check so that you are not walking out the door with a large amount of cash. If you insist on receiving all your winnings in cash, all casinos have security personnel available to escort you to your car or room upon request. Like most large tourism destinations, the Strip has its share of pickpockets and purse snatchers, so keep your wallet in a front pocket or keep a tight hold on your purse.
Major casinos are generally very safe. Casinos take security very seriously and have cameras recording almost every square inch of their property, as well as uniformed and plainclothes security personnel patrolling at all times.
Make sure your hotel door is closed safely at night and use the deadbolt if one is provided. If there is knocking on the door at night, don't open it unless you are sure of the good intentions of the persons that knocked. They might just be drunk, but there could be more serious trouble. Remain calm and call security when necessary.
Numerous people along Las Vegas Boulevard will attempt to hand you fliers advertising adult entertainment or prostitution services. Simply ignore them and they won't harm you, although they are profoundly annoying. Others will try to give you cards for free entry and/or drinks in the various clubs scattered throughout the Strip hotels. They usually work in groups, and if you accept cards from them, they will demand a tip.
Other crimes
Despite the advertising slogan What happens here, stays here, Las Vegas has laws that are vigorously enforced. If you fail to comply with the Nevada Revised Statutes, you will draw the attention of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which has jurisdiction over both the City of Las Vegas and all unincorporated areas in Clark County. Contrary to popular belief, prostitution is illegal in Las Vegas and all of Clark County, although it is legal at licensed brothels in a few rural counties of Nevada. Pedestrians may drink alcohol from an open container on "the Strip", but not in automobiles (not even for passengers).
Driving dangers
Remain vigilant while driving. Las Vegas Boulevard ("the Strip") is notorious for fender benders and other traffic collisions as a result of the heavy stop-and-go traffic and the numerous distractions (pirates, volcanoes, women) offered to drivers.
Some part of Interstate 15 is always under construction to relieve its perennial traffic jams. The construction zones tend to have inadequate signage and poor lane markings, which combined with the large number of tourists results in frequent last-minute lane changes and in turn, many multi-vehicle car accidents. Many people are also driving intoxicated as well; Nevada has an unusually high frequency of traffic deaths with alcohol involved, and most of them happen in and near this city.
Heat exhaustion and dehydration
Expect extremely low humidity and temperatures above 105°F (40°C) May to September. Bring sunscreen and wear loose, light-colored clothing that substantially reflects sunlight. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids.
Mail service is provided by the United States Postal Service.
There is a full-service post office in the main esplanade of McCarran Airport on the departure level overlooking the baggage claim area, which has a slot through which outbound mail can be deposited at all hours. If you forget to stop there before entering the secure area, there is also a mail drop at the D Gates concourse.
The airport post office is actually a branch of a much larger USPS facility located on Sunset Road on the south side of the airport, which has a retail lobby open to the public.
Unfortunately, the airport and downtown post offices are the closest to the Strip; there are no post offices located on the Strip itself. However, both of the CVS and Walgreens pharmacies on the Strip do sell stamp booklets.
Most hotel charge a separate fee (typically $13/day) for WiFi usage. An alternative option for occasional WiFi users are Burger King joints - WiFi is free for all customers and you don't even need a password.
McCarran International Airport has free WiFi. On the Strip some Internet cafes provide Internet access with prices from 20¢/minute.
Laundry and Alterations
Las Vegas hotels are notorious for high prices for laundry, dry cleaning, and tailoring. If you will be staying for more than 2-3 days and need laundry services, consider going to a laundromat or taking your items to a retail cleaner. If you need clothing repair or alterations, finding something near The Strip can be difficult.
Inside all large casino (generally those casinos exceeding 15 slot machines), strip clubs and standalone bars not serving food, smoking is permitted. In large casinos, there are areas which are smoke-free, but they may be very close to smoking areas. Poker rooms are typically smoke-free. Smoke-free table games and slot areas are also available. Restaurants inside casinos are non-smoking. Nightclubs and lounges may allow smoking if they do not serve food.
For all other standalone restaurants, bars, convenience stores, grocery stores and airport facilities smoking is banned in all establishments which sell food other than prepackaged snacks. This ban will be obvious in most places by the absence of ashtrays and the required clearly posted signs. In most cases, smoking areas may be provided outdoors, so always ask your server since various options are almost always available. The penalty can be a $100-$600 ticket if you are caught by authorities.
In practice, there is extremely lax official enforcement in most informal off-strip locations due to a lack of enforcement personnel, and some will even offer ashtrays "at your own risk" if you ask for one. Smoking is still permitted in any stand alone bar or club (with or without gambling machines) that do not serve food other than prepackaged snacks (such as chips, pretzels, candy bars). Although a gray area, some smoking-permitted bars which do not serve food will let you carry food in from adjacent/attached non-smoking restaurants so ask. Many stand lone restaurants now also provide a physically separated (separate entry doors and separate ventilatation) non-smoking dining area and a smoking bar or gaming area to accomodate both smokers and non-smokers.
Casino ATMs tend to impose outrageous transaction fees. (They have mastered the art of sucking away your money even before you place a single bet.) It is a good idea to load up on cash before going to the casino. If you forget to get cash at home or at the airport ATMs, several major banks have ATMs located on the Strip:
Get out
Rock climbing and hiking
Mountain biking
Other nature
Promo Codes: Mobile promo codes for many Las Vegas hotels available at LasVegas.im. These are hotel promo codes and must be booked directly with each hotel.


text:
You have no items to compare.
You Have Selected the Following:
- Our Car Mats are designed specifically to fit your TOYOTA Corolla Verso 2004 - 2009 unlike the universal type which don't.
- 5 Stunning grades to choose from!
- Choose your favourite Car Mat Colour & Trim Styles with Colour
- All Car mat grades have Anti-slip and water resistant backing.
- Drivers Mat has Dual Layer double heal pad to prolonged use. (excludes rubber mats)
- Fixings for mats supplied if applicable.
- Made and shipped from our UK factory.
- Delivery is Included Free!
With a 550g Looped Pile carpet, this grade of Car Mat offers unrivalled value for money compared to the budget ranges offered by most of our competitors. Coupled with a range of Trim options, this mat is sure to enhance the interior of your TOYOTA Corolla Verso 2004 - 2009 .
These fully tailored mats offer a 900g Looped Pile carpet with an extensive array of colour options. The luxurious carpet appearence is complemented with the more durable backing. This grade will bring a Touch of Class to your TOYOTA Corolla Verso 2004 - 2009 Car Mats.
This best selling grade is manufactured from a high quality 1300g Tuffed Velour Pile carpet. Offered in a range of colours chosen by our team of designers, our Super Deluxe range is sure to please even the most discerning customers. Manufactured from the highest materials this range of Car Mats offers an unrivalled level of durability.
This 1700g Straight Cut Tuffed Pile comes in Black with a range of trim options. If you want to optimise and protect your vehicle interior to the highest standards, then 'Prestige' is the Car Mat grade for your TOYOTA Corolla Verso 2004 - 2009 .

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jason Varitek's career
Jason Varitek's career
An emotional Jason Varitek announced his retirement today at the Boston Red Sox' spring training facility in Ft. Myers, Fla.
The Red Sox catcher and captain had a 15-year career during which he became one of the most accomplished players in franchise history.
Varitek, who debuted in 1997 after arriving in a trade from Seattle, holds the Red Sox record for games caught.
Varitek was part of two World Series winners, and his punch of Alex Rodriguez on July 24, 2004, helped turned that season around.
Varitek caught the final out delivered from Pedro Martinez in 1999 when the Red Sox won their first playoff series in 13 years.
Noted for his defensive play and ability to handle pitchers, Varitek caught a record four no-hitters. Here, he celebrated with Hideo Nomo after the pitcher held the Baltimore Orioles hitless on April 4, 2001.
On May 20, 2001, Varitek blasted three home runs in a 10-3 win at Kansas City.
Varitek was on the field when the Red Sox completed their historic four-game comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.
Seven days later, he and Keith Foulke celebrated the Red Sox' first World Series win in 86 years.
After that season, the Red Sox re-signed Varitek, who was a free agent, and named him the team captain.
On April 22, 2007, Varitek joined three teammates in tying an MLB record with four straight home runs against the Yankees.
Six months later, Varitek and Jonathan Papelbon celebrated the Red Sox' second World Series title in four years.
Varitek was a three-time All-Star who became a fan favorite in Boston for his determined style of play and his longevity.
Varitek leaves the Red Sox as the team record holder in postseason game appearances.


text:
Obituary & Guest Book Preview for Willie C. Harper
Willie C. Harper Obituary
Published in Mississippi Press from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8, 2017
First 25 of 41 words
: Willie C. Harper passed away on Thursday Nov. 30, 2017. Visitation will be Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017 10:00am-11:00am, at the St. James United Methodist Church,...
View Full Obituary & Guest Book for Willie Harper
Willie Harper Guest Book | View 2 of 4 Entries:
"In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always." -
"Coach Harper was a great gentlemen. I graduated from George County High school in 1980. He will be greatly missed. I always appreciated the way he treated ALL students - Equally. Regardless of..." -
Chris Hilbun
View Additional entries from:
Previous 10
Next 10
View Complete List
View Full Obituary & Guest Book for Willie Harper
Ways to View
Restore Obituary & Guest Book
Keep the Obituary and Guest Book online for one of these time periods:
Permanent Sponsorship
$ 79.99
One-Year Sponsorship
$ 29.99
24-Hour Restoration
$ 2.95
Print Obituary & Guest Book
Order a professionally printed copy, starting at $39.00:
Deluxe Hardcover Book
$ 79.00
Laminated Hardcover Book
$ 59.00
Laminated Softcover Book
$ 39.00
Didn't find the Obituary you were looking for?
Return to today's Obituaries for the Mississippi Press.
© 2018 Legacy.com. All rights reserved.


text:
Police log for May 2
Police log
May 2
12:27 a.m. Sexual-battery report on North Regency Court.
12:41 a.m. Disturbance – music on West Reeves Avenue.
12:47 a.m. Suspicious person on North Sunland Street.
1:07 a.m. Arrest on North Sunland Street for using or being under the influence of a controlled substance and public intoxication
1:55 a.m. Assault-with-a-deadly-weapon report on East Commercial Avenue.
2:17 a.m. Warrant arrest and citation at South Sunland Street and East Ridgecrest Boulevard for possession of controlled-substance paraphernalia.
2:42 a.m. Domestic-disturbance report on West Ward Avenue.
4:52 a.m. Arrest on South Sunset Street for assault with a deadly weapon.
8:15 a.m. Found-property report on South Sanders Street.
8:31 a.m. Arrest on East Ridgecrest Boulevard for assault with a deadly weapon.
10:43 a.m. Residential-burglary report on West Alene Avenue.
11:02 a.m. Suspicious-circumstances report on South Downs Street.
11:11 a.m. Disturbance on North China Lake Boulevard.
11:54 a.m. Mental-health evaluation on North Norma Street.
2:21 p.m. Runaway/out-of-control-juvenile report on North Oasis Drive.
3:05 p.m. Child Protective Services referral on West Perdew Avenue.
4:09 p.m. Robbery report on North China Lake Boulevard.
4:38 p.m. Unauthorized-use-of-access-card report on West Rebecca Avenue.
5:21 p.m. Unauthorized-use-of-access-card report on West California Avenue.
5:58 p.m. Petty-theft report on North American Street.
6:05 p.m. Verbal-threats report on West California Avenue.
7:17 p.m. Vandalism report on North Fairview Street.
7:48 p.m. Domestic-disturbance report at Kerr McGee Fields.
7:51 p.m. Petty-theft report on West California Avenue.
9:18 p.m. Disturbance – party on South Mayo Street.
10:20 p.m. Arrest on West Howell Avenue for public intoxication.
Officers made 18 traffic stops.


text:
TRYON -- Eunice Waymon must have made the walk hundreds of times from her humble home on Tryon's east side to the grander home of her piano teacher across the railroad tracks. It was a journey of about two miles. Sometimes she would stop at the drugstore along the way. Sometimes she would walk with a friend. Mostly, though, she walked alone. It would be her lifelong way, even when she left behind the tranquility of Tryon and obscurity to become the world-famous Nina Simone in Philadelphia, New York and, eventually, France.
There are few indications that she was a sentimental person. She never expressed a longing for Tryon, or for America in general when she lived abroad. On the contrary, she frequently voiced disillusionment and outright anger because of racial inequalities. She often told the story of refusing to perform at a recital in Tryon unless her parents were allowed to keep their seats in front instead of having to move to the back of the room to make way for a white couple.
Yet in Tryon, for the past decade at least, there have been efforts to honor Simone by those who admire her talent and accomplishments and appreciate her legacy as a musician and a civil rights spokesperson.
Now there is a plan to preserve her birthplace as a lasting memorial. The effort would collect online donations for the restoration, which would be documented in a reality TV show.
Ten years ago, when Kipp McIntyre first saw the structure at 30 E. Livingston St. and heard it was the house where Eunice Waymon was born, he thought there must be some mistake. It didn't look old enough.
But Fred Counts, who had been a neighbor and schoolmate of Waymon's and who lives just down the street, assured him that it was. Closer inspection revealed the house had been modernized over its years as a rental.
When Waymon's older brother, Carrol, visited Tryon in 2006, he confirmed it; this was the house his family had lived in for a period of his childhood. And, yes, they were living there when, on Feb. 21, 1933, his sister, Eunice, was born.
When the Lyles house next door to, and from the same era as, the birthplace was deemed uninhabitable and torn down, it was a blow, McIntyre said, to the "heart and soul of the community." He knew he had to move fast. He bought the Waymon house in 2005 and began restoring it.
"As the levels of modernity were peeled away," he said, "the original structure was exposed for what it was — a period architectural example of how houses in that neighborhood were built around the 1930s."
Today when he sees the small, weathered house, he sees it not only as the birthplace of a musical legend, but as a reminder of a vanished way of life when its neighborhood was a vibrant community unto itself.
McIntyre spent years and all the money he had, he said, including an inheritance, working to stabilize a precarious foundation and to bring the house back to its original bones.
When siding from the 1970s was removed, workers discovered that some original boards on the house had deteriorated or were missing. Fortunately, the demolition of a church in nearby Lynn yielded boards that were an exact match.
The home's original windows had been replaced over the years, and replacements had to be custom built after consulting with neighbors. McIntyre was fortunate to find doors salvaged from a house in Mill Spring.
With the work required just to stabilize the house, however, the bills mounted. Realizing his resources were running dry, McIntyre reluctantly put the house back on the market.
That's where Dan Riedemann came in.
"When Dan called, the project had stalled completely," McIntyre said. "I had run out of money." His call "came as an answer to prayer."
Celebrity restorations
Nineteenth Century Restorations is a Kansas-based company specializing in home restoration. Owner Riedemann has launched a far-reaching project to restore houses that were the birthplaces and childhood homes of celebrities such as Johnny Carson, whose home in Corning, Iowa, will be the company's first project.
Others whose homes are slated for possible restoration include Woody Guthrie, Lucille Ball, Rosa Parks, Jimi Hendrix and, now, Nina Simone.
When Riedemann heard the Simone birthplace was for sale, he contacted McIntyre. What he wants is to restore celebrity homes as part of a reality TV show, with cameramen working alongside carpenters. The homes' owners set up nonprofit corporations, accessible through his company's website. Donations go into a nonprofit charitable fund until enough money is raised to begin work.
Riedemann aims to raise $250,000 for the Simone house. The nonprofit entity would then purchase the home and pay for restoration and landscaping. Reidemann said his crew does "top-notch restorations" with the homes, while trying to leave money in the fund for future maintenance and costs associated with running a museum.
"We could be a really nice niche where reality TV and documentaries come together," Riedemann said. He envisions PBS or the History Channel as a good home for the show.
He hopes to line up a local production company to help with filming before his crew arrives in Tryon.
As a specialist in historic preservation, Riedemann has respect, he said, for people such as McIntyre, whose "hearts are in the right place."
"He is the only reason that house is still standing today," Riedemann said. He estimates completing the project would take six to eight weeks. He works with a small crew and recruits hired help and volunteers locally for each project. They work around the clock to get the project done as soon as possible because the restorations are disruptive to neighborhoods, he said.
Vestiges of the past
While returning the house to its roots, McIntyre held Free Jazz Fridays on the property, with music and storytelling among gathered neighbors. Some of them, like Counts, have memories of the Waymon family.
In her autobiography, "I Put a Spell on You," Simone, who died in 2003, remembers the simple structure of three rooms on Livingston Street as "a big house" with a yard where the children played and where there was room for her father's vegetable garden ("rows and rows of string beans, collard greens, tomatoes, corn and squash," she writes) and some chickens.
From the house, which sits on a small rise, three churches are visible, the closest being St. Luke CME Church, which Waymon's family attended and where she was the designated pianist at the age of 10. The church there now was rebuilt in the 1960s on nearly the same spot. Across the road and through the trees from the house is the hilly and historic Tryon Cemetery. Simone's parents are buried nearby at a graveyard on Jackson Street.
Tryon's historically black east-side neighborhood was once self-sustaining, McIntyre said, with businesses intermingled with homes. In her autobiography, Simone recalls the Lyles store just down the hill, and the dry cleaning business and barbershop her own father ran close to home.
Counts remembers another store nearby, too.
"We were right in the middle of things," he said, "as far as schools and churches went."
Today the older homes of the neighborhood are interspersed with newer ones. The churches are there still, but the businesses are gone.
"This is not so much about Nina Simone," McIntyre said of the restoration effort, "as about Eunice Waymon and her family."
A bronze statue downtown celebrates the performer Waymon became — the talented and sometimes tormented Simone. The house, he hopes, will shed light on the young musical prodigy growing up in wartime America, specifically in the segregated South.
"Folks rise to the occasion because of the communities they were nurtured by," McIntyre said, adding that Waymon's humble beginnings and the loving care she received from her community and church helped her become the legendary performer and civil rights leader that she was later.
In addition, two members of the white community — Katherine Miller and Muriel Mazzanovich — helped Waymon obtain formal music training. Miss Mazzy, as Waymon called her, was the wife of artist Lawrence Mazzanovich, and became her piano teacher, introducing her to classical music. A fund was set up by townspeople, and their donations helped send her to high school in Asheville and, eventually, to The Juilliard School.
Simone's legacy
Music publisher and record producer Ivan Mogull met Waymon shortly after her Juilliard days, when she had just become Nina Simone. He heard her playing the piano in a Philadelphia bar and was impressed with her mastery of a song he knew had just been released. A friendship developed that would lead to a partnership in music publishing.
Mogull, who now works with The Orchard, which he calls the world's largest independent distributor of digital music, said he plans to release a tribute album of some of Simone's best songs, and he envisions using the restored birthplace as the album's cover.
There is still an interest in Simone, McIntyre said. With the house preserved, he added, when people visit Tryon they will see "a complete restoration inside and out, a relic of her life as it appeared in 1933." It will be something the community, especially its youth, can be proud of, he hopes.
"If we let places disappear," McIntyre said, "we become less of a community for it."
He is thankful for the local support received on the project so far, and hopes that the community and Simone's many fans around the world will donate to the cause so the restoration will be completed.
"This house is not going to slip back into obscurity," he said. "It's going to be a gem for North Carolina and the whole Southeast."
For information on how to donate to the restoration, and to see a gallery of photos of work done so far, visit the website 19thcenturyrestorations.com
A reality TV show joins an effort to restore the Tryon birthplace of a musical legend
TRYON -- Eunice Waymon must have made the walk hundreds of times from her humble home on Tryon's east side to the grander home of her piano teacher across the railroad tracks. It was a journey of about two miles. Sometimes she would stop at the drugstore along the way. Sometimes she would walk with a friend. Mostly, though, she walked alone. It would be her lifelong way, even when she left behind the tranquility of Tryon and obscurity to become the world-famous Nina Simone in Philadelphia, New York and, eventually, France.


text:
This thrilling film reveals how far Konata will go to satisfy her strange lusts. She embraces and kisses the ropes that bind her.
From when she appears dancing with her nipple clamps it is clear that her desire is for pleasures at the extreme edge. For that she must be so tightly bound that there is no chance of escape for her. The knotted ropes are patterned strictly to hold her legs, her arms and her breasts in their unrelenting grip.
She must haul herself up, helpless and trembling, from the floor. Now at last she is where she has yearned to be.
Would you like to comment? Join us today, or sign in if you're already a member.


text:
The Chetubim, or Hagiographa, in which I do not now comprehend Daniel (though his book has a character distinct from the other prophets) form a very distinct and interesting part of divine revelation. None of them suppose an accomplished and known redemption, in the New Testament sense of the word, though like every blessing all is founded on it. In Job a single passage gives a particular application of the term: "I have found a ransom" (Copher). The Psalms recount we know, prophetically, the sorrows and sufferings in which it was accomplished.
But redemption by blood is known by faith, when accomplished, whether by the Jew or the Christian. Isaiah prophesies of Israel's recognition of it fully. There were also, as we know, shadows of it under the law. But the knowledge of eternal redemption is christian knowledge, or that of the Jews when they look on Him whom they pierced. Till Christ's death, the veil was unrent, the holiest unapproachable. There was knowledge more or less clear of a Redeemer-of a personal Redeemer to come; of God's favour towards those that walked with Him, and the confidence of faith in Him and in His promises. But there was no such knowledge of sin as led, God being revealed, to the consciousness of exclusion from His presence as a present state, nor of such a putting of it away as reconciled us fully and for ever to God by its efficacy, and brought us to Him.
The books we are treating of are not prophecies of God's dealings or actings, save as the Psalms express future deliverance by power and by God's judgments; but they are the divinely given expression of man's thoughts and feelings under the government of God, [See Note #1] and the explanatory revelation of God before redemption is fully known. This process has mainly gone on in Israel; and hence they are in the main the various expression of God's ways with Israel. Still, what was carried out there, under revealed conditions and prophetic communications in direct government, was what was in principle true of God's ways everywhere, though there specially displayed (the question of man's positive righteousness being raised too there by the law, the perfect rule of life for the sons of Adam).
The Book of Job affords us the example of the relationship of a godly man outside and doubtless before Israel, and God's dealings with men for good in this world of evil; but then it runs up, I doubt not, into a clear type of Israel in result Those ways are fully displayed in that people. And it is to be remarked that, when Job practically feels the impossibility of man's being righteous with God, he complains of fear and having no daysman between them; and Elihu, who takes up this ground in God's stead, explains not redemption but chastising and government. These things God wrought oftentimes with man (chapter 33, 36).
Ecclesiastes estimates this world under the same government, in its present fallen state, and raises the question whether by any means man can find happiness and rest there, with no trace of the knowledge of redemption. Nor is there any recognised relationship with God. It is always Elohim (God), never Jehovah, fearing God and keeping His commandments being the whole duty of man as such.
The Song of Solomon affords direct relationship with the Lord, the Son of David, the ardent affections which belong to the relationship with Christ; Proverbs, a guidance through the mixed and entangled scene, and here all is on the ground of relationship with Jehovah, God (Elohim) being only once or twice mentioned in a way which does not affect this (see more fully note to page 24). But none place themselves on the ground of known redemption. They do look for redemption by power. Hence, on the contrary, Romans begins with the revelation of wrath from heaven, not government, against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness where truth was, against Gentile and Jew, [See Note #2] and brings in redemption, personal justification, and righteousness-God's righteousness. The case of Gentile and Jew is fully gone into, and brought out as before God Himself, and wrath from heaven the necessary consequence; complete redemption by blood for heaven, and sovereign grace reigning through righteousness and giving us a place with the Second Adam, the Lord from heaven, together with the result for Israel hereafter. All is made clear in the light as God is in the light-His eternal redemption, and heavenly places, though finally earth will be blessed. But we are pilgrims and strangers here. This is our place by redemption itself. To the Abrahams and Davids it was so, by getting nothing of what was promised, or else persecution under the government of God upon the earth; so that under that order of things it was after all a puzzle to both, though the final inheritance of the land, the heir, and the judgment of the wicked, known by revelation, met the puzzle in their minds.
But in Job, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, which express men's feelings under it, this puzzle is fully manifested. Faith and confidence in God may get over it, or persevere through it; prophetic testimonies may meet it; but it is there, and this earth is the scene of the reply of God, even if their faith might be sometimes forced to rise above it, nourished by personal confidence in God. But a present fixed eternal relationship with God even our Father through redemption, in a wholly new scene into which we are brought by that precious blood, whose shedding has glorified God Himself, and reconciled us to Him, though yet in an unredeemed body,-that was unknown. Much was learned, learned as to God, and this was most precious. But the actual result for Job was more camels and sheep, and fairer daughters; in the Psalms, judgment of enemies, and deliverance through mercy that endured for ever, and an earth set free under heaven's judicial rule; in Ecclesiastes, as to the perception of the present effect of government, that man must fear God, keep His commandments, and leave it there. Present known redemption is nowhere found. And oh what a difference, an unbounded difference, this makes! "As he is, so are we in this world." He who redeemed us is gone to His Father and our Father, His God and our God. Proverbs and the Song of Solomon have, as I have said, another character, though referring to the same scene: Proverbs, not man's feelings in the scene, but God's guidance through it by the experience and wisdom of divinely instructed authority; [See Note #3] and the Song of Solomon, the carrying the heart quite out of it all, though still in it, not by known redemption, but by devoted affection to Messiah, and of Messiah to Israel, by the revelation He makes of Himself, indeed of His love to them to beget it in Israel's heart.
These exercises of heart have their place in us now, for we are in the world; but in the consciousness of accomplished redemption and the present care of a holy Father, the perfection of whose ways, as seen in Christ, is the model of our conduct. We can take joyfully the spoiling of our goods, knowing in ourselves that we have in heaven a better and an enduring substance; and glory in tribulation, because it works its needed end, and the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost given to us. This is another case, and a blessed one it is.
I think these general remarks will help us to understand the books which are now about to occupy us. I turn to the books themselves.
After what I have said, the Book of Job will not require a long examination-not that it fails in interest, but because when the general idea is once laid hold of, it is the detail which is interesting, and detail is not our present object.
In the Book of Job we have one portion of those exercises of heart which this division of the holy book supplies. These are not joyful exercises, but those of a heart which, journeying through a world in which the power of evil is found, and not being dead to the flesh, not having that divine knowledge which the gospel furnishes, not dead as to one's self with Christ nor possessing Christ in resurrection, is not capable of enjoying in peace, whatever its own conflicts may be, the fruit of God's perfect love; but which struggles with the evil or with the non-enjoyment of the only real good, even while desiring to possess it; while, by the means of these very revelations, the light of Christ is cast upon these exercises, and the sympathy and entering of His Spirit in grace into them practically is touchingly developed. What is learned in them is what we are-not committed sins; that was not Job's case, but the soul itself is put before God.
Note #1:
And these pass into what Christ's were in His humiliation and sufferings, and thus become prophecies of His sufferings, but in the form of His feelings under them, and this of infinite price to us.
Note #2:
And note here Psalm 14, which he quotes as proof of sin in the Jew, and Isaiah 59, both end in deliverance in Jerusalem by power. In Romans it is met by present justification by blood.
Note #3:
It will much help the reader as to the character of this book and Ecclesiastes to remark, that in Proverbs the name Jehovah is always employed, save in Job 25:2, where it is "Elohim," and "her God," Job 2:17. But this is not an exception: that is, it is recognised relationship with the revealed God of Israel. Whereas in Ecclesiastes Jehovah is never found. It is always Elohim, the abstract name of God without any idea of relationship: God as such in contrast with man and every creature, and man having to find out experimentally his we place and happiness as such, without special revealed relationship with God. In Job the editor, if I may so speak, or historian who gives the dialogues, always uses Jehovah; but in the body of the book Job, unless at any late once as to the government of God (Job 12:9), and Elihu constantly, use the name of Almighty, the Abrahamic name of God, or simply God. The friends generally use God, or particularly Eliphaz the Almighty, sometimes it is only, He. Zophar, I think, uses no name. The dialogue is characterised by God or Almighty. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible, by John Nelson Darby [1857-62]Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive.


text:
Ambulatory centers as attractive partners for hospitals, the state tries to get OTB parlors on track and the sports betting push heads to court. Those stories and more on NJBIZ Briefcase - Episode 057: Odds.
Please note: All comments will be reviewed and may take up to 24 hours to appear on the site.
© 2018 BridgeTower Media. All information on this site is copyrighted by BridgeTower Media.
All images are the sole property of BridgeTower Media and no rights are granted for any use without the express written consent of BridgeTower Media.


text:
Welcome to our website! As we have the ability to list over one million items on our website (our selection changes all of the time), it is not feasible for a company our size to record and playback the descriptions on every item on our website. However, if you are an American with a disability we are here to help you. Please call our disability services phone line at (480) 833-3072 during regular business hours and one of our kind and friendly personal shoppers will help you navigate through our website, help conduct advanced searches, help you choose the item you are looking for with the specifications you are seeking, read you the specifications of any item and consult with you about the products themselves. There is no charge for the help of this personal shopper for any American with a disability. Finally, your personal shopper will explain our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, and help you place an order if you so desire.
via rebate when you purchase select KitchenAid® brand appliances.
July 19 - December 31, 2018
Receive a $500 BONUS with purchase of a select Built-In RefrigeratorSee All Models
Receive a $300 BONUS with purchase of a select Commercial-Style CookingSee All Models
Model #: KBFN502EBS
24.2 Cu. Ft. 42" Width Built-In Stainless French Door Refrigerator with Platinum Interior Design - Black Stainless
Model #: KRFF300ESS
20 cu. Ft. 30-Inch Width Standard Depth French Door Refrigerator with Interior Dispense - Stainless Steel
Model #: KDRS467VMW
36'' 6-Burner Dual Fuel Freestanding Range, Commercial-Style - Imperial White
Model #: KFGD500EBL
30-Inch 5 Burner Gas Double Oven Convection Range - Black
Model #: KCED600GSS
30" Electric Downdraft Cooktop with 4 Elements - Stainless Steel
Model #: KGCC506RBL
30-Inch 4 Burner Gas Cooktop, Architect® Series II - Black
Model #: KODE507ESS
27" Double Wall Oven with Even-Heat True Convection - Stainless Steel
Model #: KOSE500EBS
30" Single Wall Oven with Even-Heat True Convection - Black Stainless
Model #: KMBP100EBS
30" Built In Microwave Oven with Convection Cooking - Black Stainless
Model #: KMHP519ESS
1200-Watt Convection Microwave with High-Speed Cooking - 30" - Stainless Steel
Model #: KVWB400DSS
30'' Wall-Mount, 3-Speed Canopy Hood - Stainless Steel
Model #: KVWB606DBS
36" Wall-Mount, 3-Speed Canopy Hood - Black Stainless
Model #: KDTE334GBS
39 DBA Dishwasher with Fan-Enabled ProDry System and PrintShield Finish - Black Stainless
Model #: KDTM384ESS
44 dBA Dishwasher with Window and Lighted Interior - Stainless Steel
Please allow 8 weeks from submission for delivery of rebate. Online Tracking: Track your rebate status online at kitchenaid.rewardpromo.com. Allow 2 weeks after submission for online tracking to show the status of your rebate. Questions? If you do not receive your rebate within 8 weeks from the date of your rebate submission, you must call 1-800-942-7856, Monday-Saturday 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m., CT. Closed Sunday. Have your model number(s) and serial number(s) ready. Terms of Offer: Rebate is limited to one rebate form per household (two rebate forms per household in Rhode Island only) during the promotional period. Consumer may choose one model per appliance type up to a maximum of 6 models, with a maximum rebate amount of $1,600 per household. Rebate will be in the form of a KitchenAid brand Visa® prepaid card. LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Offer good only in the U.S.A. Purchases must be made at a participating KitchenAid brand retailer within the valid offer dates in order to qualify for rebate. Multiple sales to apartments, builders, condominiums, subdivisions and wholesalers do not qualify. Not valid for purchases made at Pacific Sales, Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home, Pacific Sales Kitchen Bath & Electronics or Pacific Kitchen & Home, Sears, Lowe's, Best Buy, The Home Depot, Whirlpool Corporation Outlet sites, Whirlpool Corporation's Inside Pass Program or online auction houses. Purchases of refurbished or previously sold models do not qualify for the promotion. Rebate form is not transferable. Omission of sales receipt or any other information will delay processing or disqualify your request. All submitted proofs of purchase become the property of Whirlpool Corporation and cannot be returned. Whirlpool Corporation and the retailers are not responsible for lost, late, illegible, incomplete, damaged or misdirected submissions or postage due requests/mail. Keep a copy for your files. Fraudulent submissions could result in federal prosecution under U.S. Mail Fraud Statutes (Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341 and 1342). ALL CLAIMS SUBJECT TO AUDIT. Disclosure: Cards are issued by Bank of America, N.A. pursuant to a license from Visa® USA. Only residents of the United States, including U.S. territories, are eligible to receive a card. These cards are not credit cards and expire nine (9) months from issue and have no value after that date. These cards may be used for purchases at merchants that accept Visa cards. These cards may be subject to fees and certain restrictions on use. See your cardholder agreement and associated materials for details. ®/™ ©2018 KitchenAid. All rights reserved. The design of the stand mixer is a trademark in the U.S. and elsewhere. EXC-25122. Printed in the U.S.A. 5/18. Form No. KM18070049C


text:
product description
Related Products:
Fujiwara, Teruyasu Maboroshi no Meito (Shirogami #1)
Carbon Steel
Blade Style - Honwarikomi Style
Blade Style - San Mai
Buffalo Horn
Carbon Steel - White Steel (Shirogami)
Distal Taper
Japanese/Asian Knives
Nakiri Usuba
Vegetable Cleavers
Wood - Ho Wood
Antler & Bone
Maker: Teruyasu Fujiwara (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 88986
Blade length: 6.50 in.Total length: 12.65 in.Blade height (at heel): 2.20 in.Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.10 in.Item weight: 5.20 oz.Shipment weight: 8.72 oz.Blade: Hand forged Shirogami #1 carbon steel (white steel #1), forged between layers of stainless steel, Hrc 64-65. Features finger rest.Handle: Traditional Japanese octagonal ho wood handle with buffalo horn ferrule
Description: The nakiri usuba is a traditional Japanese knife form ideal for chopping fruit and vegetables. The edge is double-beveled, like a Western knife. Though sometimes called a vegetable cleaver, the thin edge geometry makes it a precision tool, rather than a Japanese equivalent to a meat cleaver.
Knives by Teruyasu Fujiwara are among the best performing knives anywhere. The quality of the sharpness is exceptional and the edge retention is nearly unparalleled. Slicing a tomato or potato provides nearly no resistance.
Swordsmith Teruyasu Fujiwara the fourth has named these knives Maboroshi no Meito, �Visionary Sword Celebrated in Victory" -- a bold claim, but one that is deserved. Fujiwara�s knives exceed all expectations of performance and edge holding.
Over 130 years ago, Teruyasu Fujiwara the first began his career as a master blacksmith, forging farm tools. When his son Fujiwara the second was of age, he was apprenticed to the famous Tokyo swordsmith Masahide Suishinshi. After some years of training, he retuned to his father�s shop and commenced his successful life as a master swordsmith. The family continued this tradition until sword making was restricted after WWII. By the end of the 1960s, the Fujiwara family began making kitchen knives. They were determined to make knives that would make a swordsmith's family proud. To this end, they spent the next ten years developing the steel and techniques necessary to forge-weld stainless steel with high carbon steel and then properly temper the blade. It took all of the knowledge gained by the family from more than 100 years of forging swords to successfully produce their current offering of kitchen knives. Since the late 1990s, Fujiwara the fourth has continued the family tradition.These knives are completely hand forged by a true master. The hard Shirogami #1 (white carbon steel) core is laminated between softer stainless steel. This technique results in a knife that has the performance of a carbon steel knife (a keen, long lasting edge and ease of sharpening) without many of the maintenance issues (rusting and oxidation). Because only the carbon steel cutting edge is exposed, the knife is far less likely to rust. The blade is then hardened to Rockwell 64-65 (very hard!)
The octagonal handle is comfortable for both right and left handed users. It is formed from ho wood, the traditional wood for Japanese knife handles. Ho wood holds up extremely well in the harsh environment of the kitchen. A buffalo horn ferrule completes the handle. The blade is distal tapered for the best possible balance and performance. The hand-hammered surface reduces the likelihood of food sticking to the side of the knife while chopping and slicing.
Availability: Not currently available


text:
Power Cable, Truck Power, 16' RoHS for Intermec PB21 Mobile, PB31 Mobile, PB51 Mobile Printers.
All print speeds, running cost calculations and consumable life cycles are MANUFACTURER ESTIMATES based on 5% per page coverage. Images are used for illustration purposes only
-All consumable life cycles are manufacturer estimates based on 5% coverage per A4 page
*Estimation based on toner/ink cartridges only and excludes long life components such as image drums and fusers.
Click this button to add this item to your compare list.
We Will Not be Beaten on Price...
Even on Ink & Toner Cartridges! *
Free Next Day Delivery
on all Orders Over £125
Call us Free on 0800 840 1992
Terms & Conditions*
Free next business day delivery is available on all orders over £125.00 + VAT on the UK mainland.
Most items are shipped to you via 'Next Working Day' courier service. The cut-off for next working day delivery is 4:30pm. In the event of an item not being available via this service, we will endeavour to contact you at the earliest opportunity.
We also deliver to the Channel Islands, Scottish Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Eire. Areas such as the Scottish Highlands or where a body of water is crossed are subject to a 2-3 working day delivery time.
Price applicable to business customers and those eligible to recover VAT.
VAT is payable at a rate of 20%
*Page yields are declared by the manufacturer in accordance with ISO/IEC standards or occasionally estimated based on 5% per page coverage. Yields will vary greatly depending on image, area coverage, print mode and environmental conditions.


text:
ALShow download
To download ALShow for free, click on the link below:
Warning! the download link takes you to the official download website of the developer, or on an external site that has developer's permission to provide the program for downloads.
We do not host any software on our server, we only report where you can download the software for free, this means that only the download is free not the program, are free only programs that are licensed freeware or free.
Check before downloading, here below, the license of the program, so you will know what kind of program is: free, free for a trial period or commercial.
|| License: Freeware || Size: 11.30 mb || Developer's website: ALShow ||
Download for free ALShow!
For more details, a detailed and complete description of the ALShow software, go on the description page by clicking the following link »» ALShow free download - complete description!
If you have problems with ALShow and you need help to install, to download or you have any question about a problem that may occur during the installation or during the use of this program go to our blog by clicking here: help ALShow and leave a comment with your problems and we will try to help you.
ALShow - Troubleshooting.


text:
Lana Monteiro became a registered member 6 months ago ·
Xanaxx Consulting Group has particularly been supportive to organizations that champion new discoveries through sound scientific research process. Xanaxx is in the business of transforming companies.
VicTech University has been in the forefront of new scientific discoveries through sound research. We are very grateful for their continued support.


text:
Lady Bulldogs host Eldon Lady Mustangs
The Lady Bulldogs couldn't get into a flow on offense along with a combination of a lot of whistles and Eldon's defense extending led to a 62-56 loss against the Lady Mustangs in Mexico's home opener.
"We were able to get the tempo to our liking in the third quarter putting up 19 points," said MHS coach Ed Costley. Mexico was up 47-44 going into the fourth quarter.
"Down the stretch we struggled to keep them off the offensive boards. Allowing them 29 free throw attempts on the game. We have to continue to improve our floor balance and getting more of an inside-out attacking on offense," added the MHS coach.
With five minutes left in the game, the score was even at 51, Eldon received a charging foul at 4:36 sending Anne Baker to the line giving Mexico a 52-51 lead after she hit one of two free throws. The score went back and fourth and with 1:15 left Kelli Ingrum scored bringing the Lady Bulldogs within one.
Brooke Costley led the Lady Bulldogs with 21 points, including four 3-point baskets. She also had 3 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Anne Baker scored 10 with 4 assists, and 7 rebounds. Remi Greenwell added eight points with one 3-pointer, 2 assists, four rebounds and 1 steal. Kelli Ingrum had 6 points, 2 assists and 6 rebounds.
Eldon's Sara Rhine scored 31 points with 1 assist, 12 rebounds and 2 steals.
The Lady Bulldogs play again Monday when they host the Kirksville Lady Bulldogs.


text:
From one state border to another, Virtua is expanding its health care footprint across the state. The Marlton-based hospital system announced Monday a partnership with a Ramsey ambulatory surgical center.
Ramapo Valley Surgical Center will join the extensive Virtua managed care network as part of the partnership, marking the seventh ambulatory care center to partner with Virtua, and the first in the northern part of the state.
Ramapo Valley is a multi-specialty facility, with services in ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management and general surgery.
"Partnering with Ramapo Valley Surgical Center aligns well with Virtua's strategic plan to prepare for an overall system of health care that decentralizes from hospital care to outpatient care," said Richard P. Miller, president and CEO of Virtua, in prepared remarks.
Virtua is one of several hospital systems in the state looking to expand its geographic footprint and increase its grasp of the outpatient market through ambulatory care centers. Joseph A. Trunfio, president and CEO of Atlantic Health System, said hospital systems should focus on achieving nearly half of their revenue from outpatient services as better technology, lower costs and convenience drive patients away from inpatient services.


text:
Lead Pencil and Eraser
March 30, 1858
Lead Pencil and Eraser
Inventions aren't always something new. Sometimes they are something old but used in a new way. On March 30, 1858, Philadelphian Hyman L. Lipman was granted patent #19,783 for his "combination lead pencil and eraser." Both items were in use at the time, but had never been part of the same writing instrument.


text:
If you are one the millions of law abiding gun owners concerned about your second amendment rights, listen up.
If you are one the millions of law abiding gun owners concerned about your second amendment rights, listen up.
The debate isn't really about gun control. It's about self-control. While it is true that the function and purpose of guns originally began as a tool for killing, either to feed or defend, and only later became a sporting toy, guns are an integral element of our cultural identity and political consciousness. As a nation, we defined ourselves against a background of European empire-building and economic elitism where the few controlled the wealth while the many toiled without much hope of ever changing their fate. Ironically, this is still the reality in this, the land of the free, where 1% of the population control 90% or more of the wealth. But that is another discussion. Suffice it to say that force filled the void created when reason and goodwill failed to prevail, and armed revolution ensued.
The issue of gun rights began as a reaction to despotic actions of a government over its citizens. It was, and remains, a legitimate concern of a free society. Yes, it is possible for a government, even ours, to exercise deadly force against an unarmed or under armed citizenry. A substantial number of gun owners may perceive themselves as the last bastion against such an attack, and any attempt to limit the right to own whatever weapons they want as the foreshadowing of a police state. There is some truth in that perception.
But I must ask, what civil and social breakdown must precede such conflict? How have we the people failed to control our own actions, and turned the responsibility over to the very government we are so wary of? Laws do not make us safe from lawbreakers. More laws merely generate more criminal opportunities. So what do we need to do?
For one thing, take a look at the individuals who have committed the gun-related atrocities. What forces, other than genetic, have impelled these persons to such violence? Were they marginalized persons? Abused?
Neglected? How could we, society, have been more aware and inclusive of them?
Do we, society, in any way glorify violence? What example do we provide for each other to follow? Is force our fundamental response to conflict? How different are we from the masses that gathered in the Roman coliseum to be entertained by gladiatorial slaughter-fests?
As gun owners, how do our actions and posturing affect the perceptions of non-gun owners? Are we lumped into the same category as gun-waving lunatics riding jeeps through war-ravaged villages in obscure corners of distant countries where hate of anyone who isn't 'us' legitimizes murder, rape and looting? I wonder how effective a defense of gun rights defensiveness really is.
Yes, the individuals who commit violent acts are responsible for their actions, but in how many instances have we, society, made those actions all but inevitable? If we don't want to end up in a police state, maybe we should learn to police ourselves.
It is a truism that most people fear what they do not understand. How can a non-gun owner appreciate the mechanical beauty of a finely crafted weapon, or the sense of efficacy and expertise of the marksman? How can a gun owner ever know the soul-wrenching abyss of the loss of a loved one to gun violence, unless they themselves experience it?
Our mission in our democratic experiment is to find ways to protect the rights of everyone. The most basic way to achieve this goal is, if we can't act cooperatively, to simply leave each other alone. Gun rights supporters; don't allow some few to make you look bad to the rest of America. Gun control advocates; don't presume to impose your views on responsible gun owners. Everyone; participate in the decisions that are made in your name by legislative bodies. Read, discuss, vote, and most importantly, think. We the people, the society of the United States of America, are not faced with a choice of all or nothing. Our choice, our heritage, is all and everything.