Hobby Thread - July 25, 2026 [TRex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. For this week, the Wheel of Hobbies (TM) is feeling lucky and decided on a Las Vegas travel theme for this Hobby Thread.

[Top artwork: The Strip, by polynikes]

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We haven't done a travel theme on the Hobby Thread for a while, so why not now? Love it or hate it, many have traced a path through Las Vegas. Some go back regularly and one visit is enough for others.

Gambling? Shows? Food? Clubs? Pools? Shopping? Conferences? Concerts as the Sphere? The Formula One race? What's the draw for you? Where are your favorite places?

What (legal) features or attractions do you like best? Is it the Bellagio fountain or Chihuly glass ceiling in the lobby? Is it the gondola street scene at the Venetian? Is it the roller coaster at New York New York? Blue Man Group? How about the neon sign museum? What about the Boring Tunnel loop? Watching for Janet flights?

The broader surrounding area has travel options as well. Let's talk the Nellis Air Show or Las Vegas Motor Speedway. How about the scale and engineering of Hoover Dam or the Valley of Fire or Red Rock Canyon? Anyone use Las Vegas as a jumping off point to chase aliens around Rachel or watch for secret aircraft flying in or out of Groom Lake or Tonopah? How about visiting the Spring Mountain Motor Resort near Pahrump?

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What are you hobbying?

Las Vegas is not everyone's favorite but give the content a chance before you judge. In any event, the thread is not limited to to the theme. Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. Even if the theme does not speak to you, you might learn something or be entertained. If not, find something else or offer something else relating to hobbying. If all of that fails, just check in and say hello.

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. Leave politics and religion to threads elsewhere (unless your hobby is building or restoring churches). Pants? We don't need no stinking pants. As always, puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice and do not be rude. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

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I could sit and watch the Bellagio fountains all night. I might have.

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What's inside the Sphere?

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Things that go boom:

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A driving tour of the strip:

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I know what you're thinking. "Las Vegas is missing a hotel with a giant heart-shaped LED screen." You may be in luck!

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Evel Knievel's jump at Ceasar's Palace in 1967:

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How does Hoover Dam work? This is the best animation I've ever seen. It is over an hour, so save it for when you have time to watch in full.

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Valley of Fire driving tour:

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Volume up:

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Not Las Vegas, but marble carving is fascinating and qualifies as a hobby or hobby-adjacent:

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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a metal working theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

Notable comments from last week:

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Special thanks to polynikes for permission to show off his artwork!

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

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Reminder: if you put links in the comments, use a URL shortener and describe what you're linking to. Failing to do either or both makes you barrel-eligible. Don't make people click to find out what you're linking.

Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Or just email to say hello. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 05:32 PM (Ia/+0)

2 I've alerted the Corgis

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:34 PM (wzUl9)

3 Went to 1 cassino while at a temporary duty at Nellis AFB, thoow a few coins in a slot but wasn't 21 yet anyway.

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 05:35 PM (Ia/+0)

4 I've never been to Las Vegas. Visiting LA by plane is as close as I've come, unless Tucson, AZ, is closer as the jet flies. I love the desert; I've been to northern New Mexico several times, and to Carlsbad and the Caverns once. And maybe Amarillo, TX, and Palo Duro Canyon sort of qualify as desert, though I know that's really the High Plains.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:37 PM (wzUl9)

5 Dons flashy white suit, sunglasses, grabs imaginary microphone...

VIVA LAS VEGAS.....VIVA LAS VEGAS...VIVA. VIVA VIVA LAS VEGASSSSSSSD!

Thank you, thank you very much.....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 05:37 PM (QGaXH)

6 Gambling? Shows? Food? Clubs? Pools? Shopping? Conferences? Concerts as the Sphere? The Formula One race? What's the draw for you? Where are your favorite places?

-----

One of the casinos used to have a pretty decent Duesenberg (sp?) museum. I don't know if they still have it.

You know what else is legal in some rural areas in Nevada?

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 05:40 PM (QGaXH)

7 Pipe smoking hobby: I bought a new-to-me vintage pipe last week, a Comoy's rusticated straight pot-bowl stamped "Made in London England." A good smoker, even if it is a little short for my taste. And a previous owner replaced the stem with one that has twin bores. That doesn't affect the smoke, but it is hard to get a pipe cleaner down there while the session is going on. I have to find a narrower brand of cleaners, wait until the smoke is done and the pipe cools (which I'm doing now), or have a new and longer stem with one large tube made up. There's a lady in Pennsylvania who does that -- she's replaced stems on three of my pipes now.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:41 PM (wzUl9)

8 Can't comment about Vegas as I have never been west of the Mississippi River. I will follow TRex's admonition: "Anything (legal) you are hobbying is welcome. "

Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026 05:41 PM (yTvNw)

9 Thought maybe been to that Valley of Fire as we went out to mountains in desert and vlimed one but only remember it was all but to California.

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 05:41 PM (Ia/+0)

10 My niece is a stage manager in Las Vegas. Got her masters at UNLV and went right to work for a production company there. She loves it there.

Posted by: Tuna at July 25, 2026 05:42 PM (lJ0H4)

11 I saw that polynikes painting before. You have to look twice to see it isn't a photo. Remarkable.

Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026 05:43 PM (yTvNw)

12 The first time I went to Las Vegas, I was only six years old, so I was not able to fully enjoy what Las Vegas had to offer then.

I did get an opportunity to take a trip to Las Vegas as an adult for a conference. It was fun.

Though the only gambling I did was on a penny slot machine where I lost the sum total of $1.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 25, 2026 05:44 PM (FZ29D)

13 Mostly remember the trip to Nellis it was in August, 120 degrees when we landed. Even in morning it was still in 90s. But on a ride to the Grand Canyon it had to drop to no higher than 60 as we stayed in desert outside and froze to death. Some slept on car hood as it was warm.
Hiked down the Grand Canyon next day

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 05:45 PM (Ia/+0)

14 Seems to me the time to go to Vegas would be in the winter. Even at night there, the desert and the city are pretty darned hot.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:46 PM (wzUl9)

15 9 Thought maybe been to that Valley of Fire

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 05:41 PM
***
Valley of Fire is often used to film car commercials. Once you recognize it, you'll see it often. The rocks are vibrant and the roads are twisty. Top Gear shot part of an episode there too.

Posted by: TRex - location scout dino at July 25, 2026 05:46 PM (XfIK1)

16 Been to Vegas a few times. Most fun was watching my friend talk a stranger into taking the rest of the prime rib he couldn't finish. The guy held firm until his wife reminded him that they had an extra pair of tickets to Ron White's show later that evening. So the deal they struck was the guy enjoyed the prime rib, and we took the extra tickets off their hands. That's Vegas, baby...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at July 25, 2026 05:47 PM (nbLIj)

17 Vegas is…aight. Haven’t been since 2018.

Although per travel themes I got more stamps for my Texas State Parks passport. I have been to 16 now. I added Lake Arrowhead, Cleburne and Dinosaur Valley recently. I also went down five more miles of the Caprock Canyons trailway.

I made two more trips into Palo Duro but it’s been stupid hot. When I was done for the day and left the canyon it got to 100 degrees per the trailhead thermometer. It wasn’t even 11 am.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:48 PM (4g5V+)

18 7 ... Wolfus,

Congrats on the new to you Comoy. Haven't seen on of those twin bore stems in a long time. They were a pain to clean. Since the stem isn't original to the pipe, replacing it to your specs makes sense.

BTW, can you share the contact info for the lady doing pipe repairs?

Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026 05:48 PM (yTvNw)

19 One of our daughters was married in Vegas. We (and they) stayed at the Bellagio. Last trip I've taken by air. The hotel was suitable, the airline, not.

That was 10 years ago.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 25, 2026 05:49 PM (jehhT)

20 and Palo Duro Canyon sort of qualify as desert, though I know that's really the High Plains.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:37 PM (wzUl9)

The Caprock (of which it is part)

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:50 PM (4g5V+)

21 Dinosaur Valley

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:48 PM
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Recommended?

Posted by: TRex - valley of dinos at July 25, 2026 05:50 PM (XfIK1)

22 I just got back from my first (successful) SOTA hike in about a month. I got a couple CW contacts, three on SSB, and the rest were local on 2m. Good enough to get the points. Time to take a shower and wash off all the dust.

Posted by: PabloD at July 25, 2026 05:51 PM (OygQN)

23 Still stuck on 36 state capitols. The 14 (or 21, depending on who you talk to) remaining are in New England and the upper Midwest.

And yes, AK and HI were visited long ago. : )

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:53 PM (4g5V+)

24 I've been to Vegas more times than I can count but never to gamble. Not my thing. I started my career in tech and Vegas is, or at least was back then, the home of tech conventions. Tons of cheap hotel rooms and convention space and cheap flights from everywhere made it an ideal destination for conventions.

Have some friends who went to see Dead and Company in the Sphere a couple years ago and said the place is amazing. I've seen it from the outside only but if I ever go back that is the one thing I want to do.

Posted by: JackStraw at July 25, 2026 05:53 PM (viF8m)

25 14 Seems to me the time to go to Vegas would be in the winter. Even at night there, the desert and the city are pretty darned hot.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 05:46 PM (wzUl9)

Definitely go in the cooler months. October thru June are mostly tolerable.

The desert has a stillness all its own. I never thought I'd like it but it has its own beauty.

US 395 in the eastern sierra is a spectacular high desert drive.

My dad grew up in NYC in the 1920s and 30s. Then he spent most of WWII at Kingman Army Airbase in NW Arizona. He always spoke with wonder how it would be freezing during morning inspection but shirt-sleeve weather by lunchtime.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 05:54 PM (QGaXH)

26 Can’t say what drives me to visit certain cities other than pure curiousity.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:54 PM (4g5V+)

27 I've stayed at Caesar's, Bally's, Tropicana*, and Rio. If I had to go again, I'd stay at the Venetian. That place is cool.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 25, 2026 05:55 PM (diia5)

28
Went there once and was deeply unimpressed. Fake everything and overrun by douchebags and tattooed slags.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 25, 2026 05:55 PM (O0L8i)

29 Vegas hotels where I've stayed at in order of preference:

Delano
Wynne
Palazzo
Venetian
Mandalay Bay
Paris
The Mirage
Treasure Island
MGM Grand
South Pointe
Harrah's
Tropicana
Riviera
Union Plaza
Excalibur

That's all I got for Vegas

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 25, 2026 05:55 PM (//0lO)

30 21 Dinosaur Valley

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:48 PM
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Recommended?
Posted by: TRex - valley of dinos at July 25, 2026 05:50 PM (XfIK1)

Yes, especially for DFW area types, as it is just outside of there.

Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026 05:56 PM (4g5V+)

31 US 395 in the eastern sierra is a spectacular high desert drive.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 05:54 PM
***
Accurate.

Posted by: TRex - Thomas Guide dino at July 25, 2026 05:56 PM (XfIK1)

32 I always tell my Las Vegas story to emphasize to never ignore a sign that comes out of nowhere and hits you like it's really trying to tell you something.

Me and my fellow teaching pros including the head tennis pro took a trip to e Vegas. I was young and poor and down to my last 100 while staying at Caesar's. After deciding to give up a land go to the room fairly early I woke up about 5:30 am after having a dream about red 19 on the roulette wheel. I only play blackjack and it was so unusual that it woke me up wide awake. I threw on my clothes and took the elevator down and went to the roulette wheel that was just 30 feet or so from the elevator. And here was where I screwed up . I didn't trust the sign completely and only put down a $10 chip and swear that on that first spin of the wheel it landed on red 19. Always trust the sign !

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 05:59 PM (KC5Lt)

33 I've been to Vegas twice. I might go back again if I ever decide to attend DefCon.

Posted by: PabloD at July 25, 2026 06:00 PM (OygQN)

34 22 I just got back from my first (successful) SOTA hike in about a month. I got a couple CW contacts, three on SSB, and the rest were local on 2m. Good enough to get the points. Time to take a shower and wash off all the dust.
Posted by: PabloD at July 25, 2026 05:51 PM (OygQN)

A few weeks back we started talking about radio and picking up long distance stations on the AM band (DXing?).

I meant to dig out my old log book from those days 1970s, but events have overtaken me.

Maybe next week?

We may be busy getting ready for another big camper trip then.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 06:01 PM (oapYz)

35 I like watching scantily clad women dance. Is that a hobby?

Posted by: what the cat drug in at July 25, 2026 06:02 PM (jrgJz)

36 As for other hobbies, I recently received my copy of "Coast Watchers" from GMT Games. It's got a solo player system, so once I figure out the rules I'll be able to play.

Posted by: PabloD at July 25, 2026 06:03 PM (OygQN)

37 Pipe smoking hobby. I really like flake style tobacco blends and not just for one type of leaf. Virginia, burley, latakia, etc., the pressing process brings out every bit of flavor the leaf has. It's also a way to add flavorings, like rum in navy flake blends, that melds with the tobacco better than just adding a topping.

I've started packing flake blends differently. I don't break up the flake as much as I used to and pack it looser than usual cuts. That seems to allow more of the natural flavors to come through in the smoke.

Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026 06:04 PM (yTvNw)

38 I could sit and watch the Bellagio fountains all night. I might have.
***********
Let me confirm that actually happened. Somewhere around here is video proof of that fact!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at July 25, 2026 06:05 PM (XfIK1)

39 How many teewee shows were set in Vegas? I remember this one:
https://shorturl.at/Jzt8T

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 25, 2026 06:06 PM (vDZgA)

40 35 I like watching scantily clad women dance. Is that a hobby?
Posted by: what the cat drug in at July 25, 2026 06:02 PM (jrgJz)

-----------

Depends. Do you devote serious time and money to improving your performance?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 25, 2026 06:07 PM (u/oMr)

41 excellent painting, polynikes!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at July 25, 2026 06:09 PM (VyBeY)

42 I've stayed at Caesar's, Bally's, Tropicana*, and Rio. If I had to go again, I'd stay at the Venetian. That place is cool.
Posted by: weft cut-loop at July 25, 2026 05:55 PM (diia5)
---
Yep. I was fortunate enough to stay at the Venetian once. Very nice rooms.

The entire complex is pretty neat.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 25, 2026 06:09 PM (FZ29D)

43 There's a scene in the original Star Trek, with the Gorn where Kirk fights the reptile alien.

Yea... on one trip to Palm Springs we stopped along our route there so I could have a photo shoot. Went out of our way too. I thought it's be cool. It was.

Wife was not amused.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 25, 2026 06:10 PM (jehhT)

44 [o]Congrats on the new to you Comoy. Haven't seen on of those twin bore stems in a long time. They were a pain to clean. Since the stem isn't original to the pipe, replacing it to your specs makes sense.

BTW, can you share the contact info for the lady doing pipe repairs?
Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026

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I like the twin bores on my Mastercraft. But the ones on the Comoy are tinier, I think. Or maybe it's the brand of pipe cleaner I use, BJ Long. The current ones are tapered. A straight cleaner might solve the problem.

Check with Mary Ann Keller:
americansmokingpiperepairs dot com

She replaced a stem on which I broke off the tenon when I dropped that pipe. Then I sent her two other pipes that whistled when drawn on or smoked. She couldn't solve the problem with the originals and provided new stems. You can specify whether you want vucanite or acrylic.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:11 PM (wzUl9)

45 There's a scene in the original Star Trek, with the Gorn where Kirk fights the reptile alien.

Yea... on one trip to Palm Springs we stopped along our route there so I could have a photo shoot. Went out of our way too. I thought it's be cool. It was.

Wife was not amused.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at July 25, 2026

***
The Vasquez Rocks. The area has been used in many a TV show, esp.Westerns.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:12 PM (wzUl9)

46 Good for you, PabloD!
haven't done anything radio in a month or more; too much going on ... but, one of these days ... !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at July 25, 2026 06:12 PM (VyBeY)

47 I went on another trip years later on a golfing trip and we had to find one of the guys who we lost in Mandalay Bay. Found him at one of the video betting games where he was up quite a bit. We tried to talk him into cashing out but he said he grew up playing video games and you don't quit until it says game over.

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:12 PM (KC5Lt)

48 Welcome Hobbiests
Posted by: Skip

I've always wondered about Skip's welcome message. How hobby do you have to be before you're among the hobbiest?

Posted by: mikeski at July 25, 2026 06:12 PM (VHUov)

49 >>> 8 Can't comment about Vegas as I have never been west of the Mississippi River.
==
Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026 05:41 PM (yTvNw)

I understand these words but not in this order.

There are one or two National Parks / Monuments worth visiting. Maybe a few other sights.

There's also an event in mid-October...

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at July 25, 2026 06:13 PM (vDZgA)

50 excellent painting, polynikes!
Posted by: sock_rat_eez at July 25, 2026 06:09 PM (VyBeY)

Thanks. As always I appreciate TRex posting them.

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:13 PM (KC5Lt)

51 Only been to Vegas and happened to be the year anniversary of 9-11. Stayed at the Stratosphere. Went to Valley of Fire and Hoover Dam. Saw O at Cirque de Solei. Saw Rick Springfield.

Good trip. I'd stay at Venetian cause that place rocked. The Cheesecake Factory was amazing. Hot as hell during the day but nights were ok. The fountain at Bellagio are fun. The people watching is good free fun.

Not a gambler, and had just been laid off right before the trip, and lost $80. That was enough gambling fun. I would love to go back. Lots has changed.

Posted by: Turambars phone at July 25, 2026 06:14 PM (oVXFy)

52 First time I went to Vegas was in the 70s with my mom and dad and brother. We stayed at the Circus Circus! It was amazing. All the lights and the noise and the colorful people!

Hoover Dam was mind blowing.

My latest, and hopefully last trip there, was for my
marine’s legal marriage three years ago. I did not like it.

We did stay in the Trump Towers though. That was fun!

Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:14 PM (yEz+x)

53 I've started packing flake blends differently. I don't break up the flake as much as I used to and pack it looser than usual cuts. That seems to allow more of the natural flavors to come through in the smoke.
Posted by: JTB at July 25, 2026

***
I like certain flakes too. But I usually rub them out, as the expression goes, or maybe it would be more polite to say I crumble them. I've tried the "fold and stuff" loading method a couple of times, and it was okay in taller pipes, but in small ones it didn't work as well.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:14 PM (wzUl9)

54 I haven't been to Vegas in 20 years but I understand they no longer have the amazing buffets but rather are like a mall food court. I think that sucks but allegedly polls say people like it better. I find that hard to believe.

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:17 PM (KC5Lt)

55
Started thinking: what hobbies do I have? Answer: none. I help (and very well, thank you) with Her Majesty's hobby but it's not really mine.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at July 25, 2026 06:20 PM (O0L8i)

56 [deleted due to politics. Keep posts to hobbying please. Thx, TRex]

Posted by: CNN Breaking News at July 25, 2026 06:21 PM (twWGV)

57 Depends. Do you devote serious time and money to improving your performance?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 25, 2026 06:07 PM (u/oMr)

Define "Performance"..........I tend to finish in record time

Posted by: what the cat drug in at July 25, 2026 06:21 PM (jrgJz)

58 Vegas got hurt a lot by all the riverboat gambling and Indian reservation casinos around the country.

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:22 PM (KC5Lt)

59 What made Vegas great is that it is the essence of American culture. A creation that sprang out of a waterless, empty wasteland, dreamed up by gangsters, exemplifying the overstatement, vulgarity, greed, ingenuity, technological superiority and exuberant vision that is America at its best. That a hellish location like this could be turned into habitable, air-conditioned, water-filled oasis dotted with wagyu steakhouse and massive outdoor video displays is a big American Fuck You to those prissy eco-hysterical hankie-twisters that reign in the rest of the Western world.

I always thought that if some European poofter wanted to understand this country he'd have to pay a visit to Las Vegas.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 25, 2026 06:22 PM (u/oMr)

60 I made two more trips into Palo Duro but it’s been stupid hot. When I was done for the day and left the canyon it got to 100 degrees per the trailhead thermometer. It wasn’t even 11 am.
Posted by: Cow Demon at July 25, 2026

***
I drove out there in late May of '14, a long-overdue road trip and shakedown cruise for my new-to-me Buick Regal. Yes, PD was very hot. I visited the canyon on several mornings, then huddled in my Canyon hotel room in the A/C during the afternoons. A challenge it was to find a shady spot for the car after 12 noon. Then in the evening I visited restaurants there -- mostly diners and bars & grills, as Canyon is a college town -- and had some ice cream in a local shop.

Going and coming I stayed in a hotel in Fort Worth. On the return trip my room actually had a hot tub in it, and I soaked and watched Ghostbusters on the room TV.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:22 PM (wzUl9)

61 And the roller coaster at the New York New York was very fun.

Otherwise it was crowded and angry and smelled if piss and desperation. I hate Vegas.

But it was fun in the 70s!

Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:24 PM (3O3BM)

62 Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at July 25, 2026 06:22 PM (u/oM

And the most famous American Billionaire ( prior to Musk) helped turn Vegas from a gangsters paradise to the corporate entertainment capital of the world ( for a time).

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:25 PM (KC5Lt)

63 JTB, part of what I do with pipe tobacco is I mix things. I don't suppose I've ever achieved anything better than the individual components do by themselves, but it's sort of fun. And I can use up a blend I've bought that's too strong for me by putting just a pinch or two in with a milder blend. Peterson Irish Flake and its near twin, Rattray's Stirling Flake*, are way too strong for me on their own, but they mix well with a mild burley or another Virginia.

* Yes, I did name my cat after that blend, though at the time I had never tried it. I just liked the name.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:26 PM (wzUl9)

64 We've been to Lost Wages several times over the years. Also Tahoe, Reno and Carson City.

Tahoe was like a little city in the sky, on the CA/NV border and up high enough that it's not stupid hot.

Reno has a large car museum attached to one of the casinos- or did, anyway. Harris I think.

I had a good 9.99 Prime Rib in Carson City. There's also a steam train to Virginia city which we took and the old US mint which we didn't.

Vegas is the gold standard. But with all the Indian Gaming popping up all over I think it's lost some of it cachet....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 06:26 PM (QGaXH)

65 Willowed from Pet Thread-
71 21 Eromero, is the cat on the left a Nebelung?
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at July 25, 2026 04:02 PM (XvL8K)
Biff, she was given to us by someone who couldn't keep any of a litter of kittens. We took her because she looked like Mickel, our all time favorite cat. His picture has been on the Pet Thread before. Short answer, both Mickel and Minnifer look sort of the same though born 50 miles and 20 years apart. We have no idea of their lineages, Nebelung-wise.
Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2026 06:24 PM (LHPAg)

Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2026 06:26 PM (LHPAg)

66 Bet on a hockey game at Caesar's sports book one year. Can't recall who was playing, but one team was heavily favored, so we picked the team and the over on total goals scored in the game. Best part was sitting in oversized recliners, smoking cigars and having beer delivered by...whatever you call Roman beer wenches...

Posted by: Joe Kidd at July 25, 2026 06:27 PM (nbLIj)

67 One of my coworkers many years back visited Vegas with her daughters. This was in the early '90s, now, so she may have gone in the late '80s. She said the food was very cheap.

She knew expensive. They had lived in Hawaii when she was married to their father.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:29 PM (wzUl9)

68 I am not a desert person, and definitely not a Vegas fan. Have gone numerous times due to work conferences, but would never choose to go there. I am responsible for taking my brother for his first trip and he absolutely fell for it and goes annually, sometimes several times a year. Also took hubby, who within minutes of arrival decided this was not his thing (yes, he was forewarned). But he found other entertainment, ie Blue Man Group and the Bellagio fountains. Lesson is, as always, go just to experience it and decide for yourself. Or better yet, get your employment to pay for it!

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at July 25, 2026 06:31 PM (XfIK1)

69 Oh, missed last week because was a Historicon HMGS miniature war games.
Many videos on the weekend but this is a game I played and interview of the game master.
I have admired Jim's work on miniatures since 2010 first time I ever played one of his games. Mostly since he is more 7 Years War and American Revolution though he had a Napoleonic ( my favorite) last convention.
Take a look even if a minute or two just to see his work
https://tinyurl.com/rff85pyt

Posted by: Skip at July 25, 2026 06:31 PM (Ia/+0)

70 We're HGV owners and when we go we usually stay at the Elara on the 58th. Sugarcane at The Bellagio has an Oyster on the half shell happy hour with awesome drinks. Get there early, because it's only available at the bar.
I've been surprised, not shocked, at the number of inebriated and stoned people riding around on scooters that used to be only used for handicapped.
Breakfast at Mon Ami Gabi is worth the early get up.
Get into the pool at humidity near zero and you get cold quickly when you get out.
We've seen Van Morrison, Barry, and Ron White in Vegas, and we're adding The Eagles at The Sphere this Thanksgiving.

Posted by: DWags at July 25, 2026 06:32 PM (kEPsr)

71 I am not a gambler. I’ll sit at the blackjack table and play all night if that’s what the group is doing. And I’ve won several hundred dollars on a few occasions. But I would never choose to spend vacation time there. I’d rather be in the woods. Or on a boat. Or on a beach somewhere.

Vegas is an acquired taste I guess.

Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:33 PM (1avBY)

72 Vegas is the gold standard. But with all the Indian Gaming popping up all over I think it's lost some of it cachet....
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan
*****
That, and corporations taking over in Vegas for the Italian men, things are very different. Far less cheap meals, free drinks, free parking.....

Posted by: The Grateful - Acta Non Verba at July 25, 2026 06:35 PM (XfIK1)

73 . . . Get into the pool at humidity near zero and you get cold quickly when you get out. . . .

Posted by: DWags at July 25, 2026

***
I found that to be true in Colorado. If you sat in the sun you were fine, but in the shade, even if the temp was in the 90s, you shivered.

It amazed me on my first trip to Carlsbad, NM, that the heat index could be *lower* than the actual air temp. Of course, I've lived at the bottom of a bowl of lukewarm, unbreathable soup most of my life.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at July 25, 2026 06:36 PM (wzUl9)

74 The Cooler is a great casino movie. I enjoyed it more than Casino. Though Alec Baldwin chewed up the scenery big time.

Posted by: polynikes at July 25, 2026 06:36 PM (KC5Lt)

75 71 I am not a gambler. I’ll sit at the blackjack table and play all night if that’s what the group is doing. And I’ve won several hundred dollars on a few occasions. But I would never choose to spend vacation time there. I’d rather be in the woods. Or on a boat. Or on a beach somewhere.

Vegas is an acquired taste I guess.
Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:33 PM (1avBY)

Vegas never held any allure because I live in a crowded hot fake stupid city. Why would I want to vacation in an even more crowded, hotter, stupider, more fake city?

Besides, like many people here I worked too hard for my money to gamble it away...,

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 06:38 PM (QGaXH)

76 Life is too short to hate where you live, Wolfus.

Leave and rent in a town you want to buy a home in. But. Stop hating where you live. How awful.

Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:39 PM (1avBY)

77 Ah, Vegas. Stayed at the Luxor once in in 1994, shortly after it opened. Checked in and when I opened the door to my room, it was like a blast furnace. Someone had turned on the heat and it was stuck. Had to get another room. On the positive side, I experienced my one and only magnificent streak of luck at the craps table. I was wise enough to cash out when I was ahead and my winnings covered the entirety of my stay there and then some. That was pretty cool.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at July 25, 2026 06:40 PM (ceJ0R)

78 Las Vegas
Less hobby and more lifetime commitment. Especially if you have to borrow money.

One of my aunts married a pro (well, committed, anyway, and he knew what he was doing) gambler once. She loved that he was able to buy her nice things every once in a while. She didn't mind too much that he then had to go pawn those nice things when he hit a losing streak.

No, they did not stay married. I wonder why....

Posted by: GWB at July 25, 2026 06:40 PM (kU0PQ)

79 Never been to Las Vegas but I have been to Fallon.

olVegas

Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2026 06:42 PM (LHPAg)

80 76 Life is too short to hate where you live, Wolfus.

Leave and rent in a town you want to buy a home in. But. Stop hating where you live. How awful.
Posted by: nurse ratched. at July 25, 2026 06:39 PM (1avBY)

I heartily agree. I've felt trapped here by circumstance but if you have any choice at all, live someplace beautiful that you love.

Do it! If not for you then for those of us who are trapped by circumstance.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK's Phone) at July 25, 2026 06:42 PM (QGaXH)

81 WTH?

Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2026 06:42 PM (LHPAg)

82 Vegas is for gamblers-- the shows & other stuff exists to keep the spouse and kids quiet while retirement funds evaporate. Ok, not quite, LOL.

youtu.be/jT0cKjDACIY

Posted by: JQ at July 25, 2026 06:43 PM (rdVOm)

83 WTH?
Posted by: Eromero at July 25, 2026 06:42 PM (LHPAg)
----
Blame it on the kitties!

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at July 25, 2026 06:44 PM (FZ29D)

84 And, I've gambled a few times, penny ante or machine stuff. But I don't really get into it. I prefer skill, and I'm not very good at the games where skill is any factor. (And dice generally hate me.) Like several here, I usually don't have enough money to just toss some into the casino and leave it there.

But if I do go, I take a certain amount of money that will get spent. I view it as an expenditure, not a gamble, so it isn't a huge thing to actually lose.

Posted by: GWB at July 25, 2026 06:44 PM (kU0PQ)

85 I stayed at the Mirage when there in '99. It is no more.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at July 25, 2026 06:44 PM (NkUqe)

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