ss Pre APRIL 7, 2005

PennyLas Vegas, NV Volume 2 Number 28 Wouldn't You Like To See This!

Media Reality Check See Page 3 THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 2 Grounded Millionaire Struggles To Make Point About Privacy By JOSEPH P. TARTARO he is applauded by less well-heeled computer techies who flew in from around the Executive Editor, Gun Week country after showing a boarding pass and one form of government-issued photo ID Special To The Penny Press and arrived in rental cars that required a valid driver’s license and one major credit card. Freedom to travel used to be a basic principle of American life, but that was He was employee No. 5 at Sun Microsystems, which made Unix, the free soft- changing even before Sept. 11, 2001, the date we now refer to as 9-11, or 9/11. ware of the Web, the world standard. He japed the government by cracking its pre- But after that date, travel, particularly air travel, started to get really hairy. So mier security code. He campaigned to keep the software that runs the Internet free much so that I have met quite a few people who refuse to use the airlines at all and of charge. After he left Sun, Gilmore started his own firm, sold it for more money many who find even train travel more intrusive than ever before. Pretty much the than he seems to have bothered to count and has since devoted his time to giving it same rules established by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the away to favored causes: drug law reform, a campaign to standardize computer vot- Homeland Security Department (HSD) apply, but the ones for trains weren’t put into ing machines and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, something of an ACLU for the force at the same time as for airline travel simply because there were not enough Information Age. trained security screeners. To some, Gilmore’s argument is redolent of the conspiracy theories from the There are significant numbers of Americans who will only travel if they can drive black helicopter crowd. to their destination and back in their own vehicles. Otherwise, they just don’t go. “That’s the problem. How it sounds,” Gilmore said, according to The Post- This was highlighted in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Feb. 27 in a lengthy Gazette. “He waved his hands like some Cassandra: ‘They have all these secret laws! article by Dennis Roddy, about millionaire John Gilmore who stays close to home to The UFOs are coming! They have guards at every airport!” Yes, he said, there is a make a point about privacy. certain odd flavor to the notion that someone shouldn’t have to show ID to board According to Roddy’s column datelined San Francisco, Gilmore is unable to a plane, but with magnetometers at the gates, guards with security wands, fortified travel because he refuses to present a government-approved ID. cockpit doors and sky marshals abounding, Gilmore is asking just how much citizens According to Roddy’s column, Gilmore’s splendid isolation began July 4, 2002, are giving up when they hand their driver’s licenses to a third party, in this case an when, with defiance aforethought, he strolled to the Southwest Airlines counter at airline, where it is put into a database they cannot see, to meet a law that, as it turns Oakland, CA, Airport and presented his ticket. out, they are not allowed to read.’ ” The gate agent asked for his ID. Gilmore will show ID for an international flight because he doesn’t expect to set Gilmore asked her why. the rules for other nations. It is the law, she said. “I will show a passport to travel internationally. I’m not willing to show a pass- Gilmore asked to see the law. port to travel in my own country,” Gilmore said. “I used to laugh at countries that Nobody could produce a copy. To date, nobody has. The regulation that mandates had internal passports. And it’s happened here and people don’t even seem to know ID at airports is “Sensitive Security Information,” Roddy reported. The law, as it about it.” turns out, is unavailable for inspection. But John Gilmore, the principle in Roddy’s timely column, is not alone. The Law’s a Secret Worsening Proposals What started out as a weekend trip to Washington became a crawl through the And the situation threatens to get worse. The federal government is on the verge courts in search of an answer to Gilmore’s question: Why? of forcing the states to issue drivers’ licenses in such a form that they will become In post 9/11 America, asking “Why?” when someone from an airline asks for virtual national ID cards, complete with some biometric information—not just photos identification can start some interesting arguments. Gilmore, who learned to argue and Social Security numbers. on the debate team in his hometown of Bradford, McKean County, PA, has started an In addition, Congress is getting ready to debate renewal of the Patriot Act, which argument that, should it reach its intended target, the US Supreme Court, would turn allows secret investigations and searches of people the government suspects of ter- the rules of national security on end, reach deep into the tug-of-war between private rorism, organized crime and gang activity. rights and public safety, and play havoc with the Department of Homeland Security. Now, people like Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine (both D-NJ), with At the heart of Gilmore’s stubbornness is the worry about the thin line between encouragement from other anti-gunners in and out of Congress, want to add the gov- safety and tyranny. ernment’s “watch lists” to the National Instant Check System database. The problem “Are they just basically saying we just can’t travel without identity papers? If with that, as with many other items in the HSD’s security schemes, is that the “watch that’s true, then I’d rather see us go through a real debate that says we want to intro- list” isn’t just one list, isn’t managed by one agency (even though FBI has the author- duce required identity papers in our society rather than trying to legislate it through ity to do) and, most important, isn’t very accurate but is very secret. the back door through regulations that say there’s not any other way to get around,” That means that when people like you and I or Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Gilmore said, according to The Post-Gazette. “Basically what they want is a show and family suffer the same fate as many other citizens in being deprived admittance of obedience.” to an airline or other travel because of a glitch in the “watch list,” there’s not much the “As happens to the disobedient, Gilmore is grounded,” Roddy reported. “He is aggrieved citizen can do. As far as anyone knows, there is no way to get your name rich—he estimates his net worth at $30 million—and cannot fly inside the United off the list, or to clarify that you are not the same person about whom the “watch States. Nor can he ride Amtrak, rent room at most major hotels, or easily clear secu- list” sounds alarms. rity in the courthouses where his case, Gilmore v. Ashcroft, is to be heard. In a time Yes, the anti-gunners will use the general fear of terrorism to promote more when more and more people and places demand some form of government-issued gun control, including bans on .50-caliber rifles, bans on the FN FiveSevenN pistol, identification, Gilmore offers only his 49-year-old face: a study in stringy hair, high renewal and expansion of the Clinton gun and standard magazine ban, and prohibit forehead, wire-rimmed glasses, Ho Chi Minh beard and the contrariness for which secondary sales of guns between private citizens at gun shows, matches and club the dot.com culture is renowned,” Roddy reported. events. But, while gunowners should be concerned about the anti-gunners’ agenda, “I think of myself as being under regional arrest,” he said. Even with $30 million they also need to be equally concerned about the creeping intrusions into privacy and in the bank, regional arrest can be hard. He takes the bus to and from events at which the Fourth Amendment. The Penny Press is published weekly by Penny Credits: 5010 Productions, Inc. All Contents © Penny Press 2005 Publisher and Editor: Contributing Editors: Letters to the Editor are encouraged. They should be sent to our offices at 418 1/2 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Press Fred Weinberg George Harris Al Thomas Vegas 89101. They can also be emailed to: Logotype Circulation: Doug French Bill Here [email protected] No unsigned or unverifiable Pointedlymad Charlotte Weinberg Dolores Lonergan Pat Choate letters will be printed. licensed from: Rich Gast Joyce Meyer Bob Jennings 702-740-5588 Fax: 702-920-8215 Penny Press LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 16 PAGES VOLUME 2 NUMBER 28 APRIL 7, 2005 Jackson Gets No News Mojo In Supporting Terri Schiavo’s Life

Networks Unimpressed With FNC all devoted portions of their public debate.” and joined them in urging Schiavo’s Liberal Reverend When He prime-time shows Tuesday night to ■ CBS interim Evening News husband or Florida Gov. Jeb Bush interviews with Jackson. He also anchor Bob Schieffer gave Jackson to reinsert her feeding tube. But Arrives In Florida To Put A appeared by phone on FNC’s Fox 22 words: “In Florida today, the Michael Schiavo refused to allow Democratic Face On The Side & Friends today. But the broadcast Reverend Jesse Jackson prayed with Jackson to even visit with his wife.” Of Life networks were much less interested. the parents of Terri Schiavo. Jackson After a soundbite of Jackson asking ■ ABC’s World News Tonight said he favors restoring her feed- for mercy, Potter turned to other suddenly found the entire Schiavo ing tube.” Jackson was ignored on developments. Jackson was not matter unnewsworthy. For the first Wednesday’s edition of The Early mentioned on Wednesday’s Today. Media Analysis time in more than ten days, the news- Show — but it’s not because they’re (His trip to Florida was briefly noted cast had no Schiavo story and didn’t uninterested in Jackson, just his cur- Tuesday morning.) But his interview utter a syllable about Jackson — rent cause. The same CBS show with Michael Jackson was featured By RICH NOYES although Peter Jennings had time to interviewed him for three and a in news stories on Sunday’s Nightly Media Research Center highlight the latest press release from half minutes on Monday morning News and Monday’s Today. the American Civil Liberties Union about his radio-show interview with A new Media Research Center For decades, the Rev. Jesse attacking the military’s aggressive Michael Jackson. study finds the three broadcast net- Jackson has been a magnet for lib- interrogation tactics. Jackson also ■ NBC was the only network work evening newscasts have tilted eral media coverage. But on the day went unmentioned on Wednesday’s to air an evening news story that their recent coverage of the Terri the Reverend arrived in Florida to Good Morning America. It’s ironic, at least partially featured Jackson’s Schiavo case in ways that bolster her put a Democratic face on the side of since when a Jackson extramarital entry into the Schiavo debate. Mark husband Michael’s arguments that Terri Schiavo’s parents pleading for affair was reported in 2001, ABC’s Potter explained: “The Reverend the severely disabled woman is in an her life, he seemed to lose his pow- Cokie Roberts mourned, “I do not Jesse Jackson was invited to the irreversible vegetative state and had ers of attraction. CNN, MSNBC, and want to have his voice silenced in hospice by Terri Schiavo’s parents Continued on page4

The Conservative Weekly PAT CHOATE PAGE 5 Voice Of Las Vegas FRED WEINBERG PAGE 6 DOUG FRENCH PAGE 7 Inside: Penny Wisdom BILLHERE PAGE 8 AL THOMAS PAGE 10 Minimum Wage Television is a new medium. DIANE GRASSI PAGE 11 It’s called a medium because nothing is well-done. JOYCE MEYER PAGE 12 For Officeholders —Fred Allen BULLRING OPENS PAGE 13 See Editorial Page 6 PET OF THE WEEK PAGE 15 THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 4

Media Reality Check Continued from page 3 I think they would say, is just bad medicine.” clearly expressed a desire to die. But network reporters have attempted to • Rejecting the Schindlers’ Case: Three-fifths (60%) of soundbites debunk arguments made by her parents — namely that some doctors believe (including reporter comments) presented Michael Schiavo’s case that Terry she could be helped and that Mrs. Schiavo, a Catholic, would not want her Schiavo should die, compared with just two-fifths offering the counter-argu- feeding tube disconnected. ments of her parents. Not a single story was devoted to a skeptical look at MRC analysts looked at all 31 evening news stories aired from Thursday, Schiavo and whether he was acting in his wife’s best interests, but all three March 17, when the impending removal of Mrs. Schiavo’s feeding tube put networks ran stories rejecting Mr. and Mrs. Schindler’s view that their her case back in the news, through Monday, March 21. The researchers daughter could possibly be helped. looked at both weekday and weekend newscasts, although CBS’s weekend On Friday, a few hours after Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube was removed, coverage was pre-empted in Eastern time zones to show college basket- ABC’s Peter Jennings dismissed one of the Schindlers’ worries: “They also ball. say that she will die a painful death, though there does not seem to be any • Condemning Congressional Activism: A majority of soundbites (59%) support for that argument in the medical community.” On Monday’s World repudiated Congress for acting to permit Mrs. Schiavo’s parents, Robert and News Tonight, reporter Jake Tapper rejected the value of videotapes show- Mary Schindler, to bring their case to a federal court before their daughter ing Terri Schiavo apparently responding: “In some ways, these tapes are like starves to death. Nearly all of the supportive comments came from members psychological inkblot tests. You see in them what you want.” Then ABC’s of Congress such as Rep. Tom DeLay, who was shown on ABC’s World Dr. Tim Johnson summarized that “the conventional wisdom, by experts News Tonight on Saturday: “We’re expediting this as fast as we can do it, in this field, is that after five years in a persistent vegetative state, there is so that we can get that feeding tube back into her and keep her alive until virtually no chance for recovery.” NBC showed Dr. Robert Cranford, who she’s had her day in court.” has examined Mrs. Schiavo. He said that in spite of how she appears on But the condemnations of Congress did not just come from Michael videotape, “she’s as unconscious as someone who is dead.” Schiavo and Democrats; some reporters joined in the castigations. “Whatever None of the broadcast network stories showed even one dissenting your beliefs,” ABC’s Jake Tapper commented on Friday, “Terri Schiavo and expert. But FNC’s Sean Hannity and Alan Colmes on Monday interviewed her family deserved better than the way Congress worked this week.” On Dr. William Hammesfahr, a neurologist who spent 10 hours observing Terri Monday’s CBS Evening News, reporter Elizabeth Kaledin argued that “this Schiavo. Hammesfahr said she is “completely aware and conscious and is exactly the kind of scenario doctors are worried about. It’s sad enough responsive...like a child with cerebral palsy.” Is Hammesfahr offering false that this case had to play out in the courts, but to get politics involved now, hope, or did the networks stack the deck against Terri Schiavo? THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 5 Commentary: Pat Choate religion and morality on the rest of requires political cover, of course. allow them to get their nominee Separate But the nation. Schiavo’s case provided it – or so onto the Supreme Court. Never did Unable to achieve such a result thought House Majority Leader Tom I imagine that these political thugs Equal with seven out of nine Republican De Lay and Senate Majority Leader would begin to threaten individual Justices on the Supreme Court, they and Presidential Hopeful Bill Frist. judges for their rulings. Terry Schiavo is dead but the want the next vacant seat to go to They called a special session of This is politics at its worst and controversy surrounding her lives. one of their own. Congress and enacted federal leg- most dangerous. Our Founding That controversy, however, is not Knowing that at least 40 Senators islation that allowed the case to go Fathers created three branches of about assisted or mandated death, oppose such a step and would block before Federal Judges. Not surpris- government – executive, congres- but who the U.S. Senate will con- it through a an unbreakable filibuster ingly, the Federal Court would not sional and judicial. Each is separate firm for the next seat on the U.S. these GOP operatives are now pro- overturn the Florida decision. And and equal of the others. Supreme Court. posing the elimination of Senate fili- the Republican-dominated Supreme For members of one branch to Radicals inside the Republican busters by allowing a simple major- Court would not accept the case . threaten the members of another is Party are intent on placing on the ity to end debate on an issue. Such Outraged that the courts would how dictatorships arise. It is not to court justices who will overturn Roe a step would eliminates a Senate tra- not do what the Congress demanded be tolerated by the public nor other v. Wade -- the landmark Supreme dition that has well-served America of it, De Lay has now threatened members in government if our free- Court decision that legalized abor- for almost 200 years – protecting the the judiciary saying the “time will doms are to be retained. tion. They also want to legalize rights of minorities from a radical come” when those judges would There is a simple way for De discrimination against gays. And majority. have to “answer to their behavior.” Lay and his supporters to achieve they want to impose their views of Such a far-reaching move If a street punk threatened a federal what they want. Win sixty Senate judge in such a manner, he would seats. soon be in jail. There is a way for those who In a previous column, I explained oppose De Lay and his thuggery: how De Lay and his radical support- contribute money to his opponent ers were milking the Schiavo case to in the 2006 election and allow him gain support for their “bashing” of to return to his previous work, for the judiciary and how they intended which he seems better suited – owner to use her death to raise money of a pest control firm. and pulling together support for a change in Senate rules that would PAT CHOATE

The Penny Press Tips Its Cap To:

Senator Harry Reid who gave up a free trip to Rome to preen at the Pope's funeral in favor of a follow Democratic Senator who happens to be Catholic.

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman who said what had to be on everybody's mind about self-appointed government expert Jon Ralston who got popped for DUI this weekend. "It wasn't a stupid mistake," said the Mayor. "It's a crime." Ralston had some unkind comments in March about the Mayor's self-admitted fondness for adult beverages. At least the Mayor's fondness for drinking doesn't extend to driving. Want A Penny Press The Penny Press Sends A Bronx Cheer In The Mail? And A Bouquet of Weeds To: $55 per year First Class Mail The state legislature for their namby-pamby approach to a) giving us back the money they stole from us in 2003; and b) giving property owners relief Name______Penny Press from the artificially high tax bills our booming economy created. To hear Address______418 ½ S. Maryland these clowns talk, you'd think they work for the bureaucrats who spend the money instead of the people who elect them. Maybe we can do something City_____State___ZIP_____ Las Vegas, NV 89101 about that in the next two election cycles. THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 6 OPINION From The Publisher... Pay Tax Eating Officeholders Minimum Wage We’ve written this before. office will look good on their permanent record cards. Just like they do today. Probably more times than we care to count in more jurisdictions than we care to count. What probably won’t be the case will be those who run because it is a career choice. But there’s a movement afoot to raise the salaries of our state elected officials by 20%. It will, unfortunately, Elective politics should not be a career choice. probably be successful. Our founding fathers thought that we should have citizen You see, they’ll make arguments that, in a vacuum, legislators and citizen office holders. You know, your actually sound logical and reasonable. next door neighbor going to Washington or Carson City for a term or two, doing the people’s business, and then They’ll tell you—through surrogates, of course—that if coming home to be replaced by maybe, you. we don’t pay the governor a living wage, competitive in the marketplace, we won’t get good talent. What we have ended up with is a class of well compen - sated—in some cases double dipping—professional office Forgive us, but are we trying to get Ken Lay or Bernie holders whose interests are completely divergent with Ebbers to run for Governor? the people who fund this nonsense—us.

How about Andy Fastow for state comptroller? Maybe the trick is not to make elective office so invit - ing. Let’s try an experiment. The truth is we could pay any amount of money from Let’s reduce the pay for elected offices to minimum zero to insanity and we’re probably not going to get the wage—about $10,712 a year—and see who chooses to Jack Welchs and the Bill Gates of the world to run for run. public office. The reason is simple. They don’t want to have to put up with the crap involved in running for Our bet, backed up by years of experience, is that the office. filing lines will be just as long and they will be populated by exactly the same people. The occasional Ross Perot notwithstanding, talented business executives and entrepreneurs rarely want to Some of them will be running purely with the idea of indulge in that masochistic experience of running for public service in mind. public office.

As today, they will be in the minority. That being the case, at least paying elected officials min- imum wage would have the effect of weeding out those Some will be running with good old greed in mind. To who want to make a career out of elective politics. change laws and regulations which affect their liveli - hoods. Just like they do today. And those are the most dangerous office seekers of all.

And some will be running because holding an elected FRED WEINBERG THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 7 Commentary: Doug French write Dennis Coates and Brad R. went down by $162 per year. working class citizens who may or Swing…And A Humphreys in a briefing paper for It’s possible that even were the may not care about sports? the Cato Institute. Its title: “Caught Mayor to agree that a major league One more thing: Like all other Miss…Oscar’s Stealing: Debunking the Economic baseball team would burden the local big public works projects, stadium Case for D.C. Baseball.” economy, he’ll argue that, to be a projects have a history of being boon- Those who agitate for build- “world class city,” Las Vegas needs doggles with massive costs overruns. Arguments For ing stadiums and attracting teams such a team. Perhaps he believes Camden Yards in Baltimore was 40 regularly commission glowing eco- it’s somehow in the public interest percent over budget. When Yankee Tax-Financed nomic-impact studies. But these if all Las Vegas residents have a Stadium was renovated in the 1970s, impact studies, point out Coates home team to cheer for. But beside almost four times more New York Stadiums Strike and Humphreys, use multipliers to the Mayor, just who will be able to City taxpayer money was spent than estimate how sports spending will afford to attend these games? The owner George Steinbrenner origi- Out impact a local economy—implying average cost for a family of four nally promised. the dollars spent will ripple through- to attend a single baseball game in No taxpayer money was needed One of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s out the economy. Yet, because the 2004 was $155.52. to construct the Las Vegas Motor pet projects is to bring a major studies fail to distinguish between So it is primarily the wealthy Speedway or the arenas at various league baseball team to Las Vegas. net and gross spending, they regu- who would enjoy the ball games— casinos. Funding for the construc- At a recent breakfast presentation, larly overstate the impact. games played by millionaires who tion of a baseball stadium should be the mayor promised that he would Of course, what is key are the are employed by billionaires. Must no different. be throwing out the first pitch by the net benefits. “As sport- and sta- it happen in stadiums financed by DOUG FRENCH 2008 season. dium-related activities increase,” the In Goodman’s mind Las Vegas authors point out, “other spending will never be a major league city declines because people substitute until it has a major league team. spending on sports for other spend- “I’ve made it clear that we want ing.” Fan money spent at ball games baseball in Las Vegas and I’m ready would likely have gone to other to wheel and deal,” Goodman told entertainment if baseball wasn’t the Miami Herald. available. Thus, net benefits are Goodman may want baseball, zero. but there is no citizen outcry for If a major league team attracts such a team. And when Goodman visitors to a particular city from says “wheel and deal,” he’s not talk- other places, net benefits may accrue. ing about his money; he is talking However, Las Vegas does not have a about taxpayers’ money. problem attracting visitors. As casi- Reportedly, Goodman has no mogul Steve Wynn recently told worked on a financing plan, but the Las Vegas Sun, “This is a city nobody knows the details. The that is very unique in the sense that Mayor only says the plan would it is entertainment overload and this “make everyone happy.” entertainment is paid for by all the But, Major League Baseball same people who pay the taxes….” owners go where the (taxpayer) After analyzing 37 metropoli- money is. Government officials reg- tan area economies boasting profes- ularly pitch the line that city eco- sional sports franchises, Coates and nomic development benefits when Humphreys came to the following local and state governments spend conclusions: millions in taxpayer dollars to build No positive impact was seen to stadiums and lure teams—so that the growth rate of real per capita government can then rent the facil- incomes. But pro teams had a sta- ity to ultra-rich franchise owners for tistically significant negative impact next to nothing. on levels of real per capita income. Time and again this economic Retail and service sectors were development argument has proven negatively impacted, with the aver- to be a swing and a miss. “Careful age net job loss in those sectors analysis of past economic experi- being 1,924 jobs. ence in cities that built new stadiums Hotel wages tended to increase and attracted teams does not bear $10 yearly with the presence of pro out” economic development claims, sports, but restaurant and bar wages www.pennypresslv.com THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 8 The Best Vegas Calendar BAR NONE! By Billhere The FREE, e-mailed, VegasResource.com Newsletter and complete index of Las Vegas coupons for shows, buffets and attractions is available on the internet at: http://www.vegasresource.com/FreeVRC.html APRIL, 2005 28-May 11= Tom Jones - MGM Grand. 7-9= International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo - LV 29= Air service starts from St. Louis-Allegiant. Convention Center. Free registration and information: 29-May 1= Debbie Reynolds - Suncoast. http://www.bca-pool.com/industry/expo/Expo_main.htm 30= Nine Inch Nails - Hard Rock. +++++ 30= Bon Jovi - Hard Rock. 7-10= Clark County Fair & Rodeo - 30= Gloria Trevi - Mandalay Bay. Logandale, NV. Info.: http://www.ccfair.com +++++ +++++ Apr.??= Grand Opening of new 16-screen Century Movie Theater, 7-10= Vicki Lawrence - Orleans. 350 more slot machines, entertainment venue, bar, upgraded 8= Hall & Oates - Green Valley Ranch. bowling facility, and a Kid’s Quest - Santa Fe Station. 8-9= Ray Romano - The Mirage. +++++ 9= Mel Tillis - Boulder Station. Apr.??= TAO Asian Bistro, Lounge, Nightclub & Restaurant open- 9= Joe Satriani - House of Blues. ing, taking the place of WB Stage 16 in the Grand Canal Shoppes 9= Jimmy Buffet - MGM Grand. in the Venetian. 9= Twisted Sister - Silverton. MAY, 2005 14-17= Bobby Vinton - Orleans. 3-7= Frankie Valli - Flamingo. 14-20= Howie Mandel - MGM Grand. 4= New air service from Pittsburgh - Southwest Airlines. 15= The Killers - Hard Rock. SOLD OUT. 5= Cinco de Mayo. 15-16= Bob Newhart - Golden Nugget. 5-8= Engelbert Humperdinck - The Orleans. 16= KC & Sunshine Band - House of Blues. 6= Mini Moto SX - Orleans Arena. 21= New air service from Branson,Mo. - Allegiant Air. 6-7=Tribute to the Doors - Cannery. 21-23= Sinbad - Las Vegas Hilton. 6-7= Three Dog Night - Silverton. 21-24- The Smothers Brothers - Orleans. 7= Willie Nelson - Sunset Syation. 21-27= Carrot Top - MGM Grand. 13= Tribute to KISS - Cannery. 22= Alan Jackson - MGM Grabd. 13= Blue Oyster Cult - Boulder Station. 22-23=A Really Big Shew: Tribute to Ed Sullivan - Cannery. 13-14= John Denver Tribute - Silverton. 22-23= Kevin James - The Mirage. 13-15= Sha Na Na - Suncoast. 22-24= The Osmond Brothers - Suncoast. 14= Boxing: Wright vs. Trinidad - MGM Grand. 23= Olivia Newton-John - Buffalo Bills in Primm,NV. +++++ 28= Harrah’s annual meeting of sharehlders - Scintas Showroom 15= 100th Anniversary of the founding of the City of Las Vegas. in the Rio “The mayor’s vision is that this has to be the biggest, most fan- +++++ tastic party the world has ever seen”. The main celebration is 28= WYNN LAS VEGAS is opening The Strip’s pre-eminent luxury scheduled for May 15, 2005, the 100th anniversary of the land mega-resort costing a whopping $2.7 billion! The 45-story (the auction that created the original town site bounded by what is tallest tower in Las Vegas), is 514-foot tall, arc-shaped and is now Stewart Avenue, Garces Street, Las Vegas Boulevard and a chocolate-colored reflective glass Tower. Will have 2,698 hotel Main Street. Internet site at: rooms and suites, a 111,000-square-foot casino, 16 restaurants http://www.lasvegas2005.org The theme of the celebration is: (including six fine dining each with an indoor and outdoor experi- “We Did It Our Way”. ence), three-acre pool, luxury spa, many brand-name high-end +++++ stores, The Strip’s only 18-hole golf course and an art gallery. 17= Country Music Awards - Mandalay Bay. Each hotel room cost $750,000 to build (Bellagio cost $533,000 17=19=National Hardware Show-LV Conv. Ctr.: www.nationalhar- per room). Each room will have floor-to-ceiling windows, European dwareshow.com linen and flat screen TV’s. 19-22= Burt Bacharach- Orleans. 20= Seal - Green Valley Ranch. An eight-story, 100-foot mountain in the front of the property 20-22= Tony Orlando - Suncoast. (now rising out of the ground will enclose a three-acre lake. Two 21= Lenny Kravitz - Hard Rock The Joint. winding, curved, atrium escalators in the main lobby will cost 24-28= Frankie Valli - Flamingo. $1.8 million. 26-29= Air Supply - The Orleans. 27= Erasure - Hard Rock The Joint. The water-based, $24 million production show much like “O”, will 27-29= David Spade - The Mirage. be housed in the 2,080-seat, $70-million AQUA THEATER, which +++++ was finished eight months before the Hotel to give rehearsal time May.??= WORLD MARKET CENTER opens a $200 million, 10-story for the new show. building. It’s fully leased with 225 furniture, bedding, decorative accessories, lighting and design companies, near downtown, on Telephone: (702)770-7000 or 1-877-770-7077. Internet site is the northwest corner of Bonneville and Grand Central Parkway. at: http://www.wynnresorts.com East of the Interstate 15. Tel.: 1-888-416-8600. Internet site at: Additional information at: http://www.lasvegasmarket.com The first scheduled furniture http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_files/irol/13/132059/pre- market in this center will be held July 25 to 29. sentations/020204_final/sld001.htm ======+++++ Please e-mail errors, omissions and additions to: 28-May 1= Gordon Lightfoot - Orleans, [email protected] THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 9 THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 10 Commentary: Albert Thomas surplus of boiled frogs. A smart frog will not be Open Stop Loss Order with your broker or finan- Frog Is In The Pot lulled to sleep and will have a plan to jump out cial planner. He won’t like this, but it is your of the pot. A frog without a plan plans to be frog money not his. Don’t let him talk you out of it. You remember the story about the frog that soup. For regular mutual funds you must have a mental was put into a pot of cold water on the stove. He There are many ways for the frog to escape stop and when that price is hit you call your bro- was not concerned. Someone lit the burner and and there are many ways for investors to retain ker (he won’t call you) or the fund directly to tell the water began getting warm, the frog was very their profits or at least not lose their money the them to transfer your funds to a Money Market comfortable and as the water became warmer he next time the market heads down. It will if past account. Cash is a position. was so relaxed and complacent that he fell asleep performance is any guide to futures results. Any If you are not familiar with stop loss orders – never to awaken. plan to jump out is better than no plan at all. you can find books in your library and there are Mr. Frog reminds me of today’s stock market Whether you own stocks, mutual funds or hundreds of articles on the Internet. See some of investors and that includes all folks with IRAs, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) you can set a my previous articles on my web site. 401Ks and the like. Stocks have been slowly limit as to how much you are willing to lose from The water is heating up. Don’t fall asleep and rising for the past year and a half (the water is this point (that’s now, today). Any fool (frog) can become a poor frog. becoming warmer and warmer) and no one is buy, but it is the wise man (frog) who knows how AL THOMAS paying any attention to his investment positions. to sell (escape the pot). Al Thomas’ best selling book, “If It Doesn’t Go The market is becoming overheated and many If you want to have money for retirement you Up, Don’t Buy It!” has helped thousands of investors are about to become boiled. Too many must protect your capital from loss with a risk people make money and keep their profits with are swimming fat and happy in the increasing management strategy. First protect your principle his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter warmth with no thought of exit. and then protect the profits you have made on the and receive his market letter at www.mutualfund- Currently the long term market trend is up so recent stock market advance. It is not difficult to magic.com and discover why he’s the man that complacency reigns supreme. It is doing exactly do. Wall Street does not want you to know. the same as in 2000. When 2002 ended we had a With stocks and ETFs you can place an THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 11 Commentary: Diane Grassi jobs in its technical operations division in Atlanta alone. This comes on the Outsourcing Airline Safety May Prove heels of the shut down of a major maintenance hanger in Dallas in January 2005. Delta will not reveal how many jobs were lost there but hopes to eliminate a total of 6,000 to 7,000 jobs over an 18 month period with the Costly Atlanta jobs eliminated by early summer. As airlines in the United States continue to struggle with either recover- Most distressing are security gaps in how maintenance vendors oper- ing from bankruptcy or considering it following September 11, 2001, they ate given the less stringent background checks and requirements at such increasingly try to invent ways to cut down on costs. American Airlines is outsource facilities as opposed to those done in the U.S. They attract tech- considering removing the galleys from the rear of its airplanes which are nicians and maintenance workers that airlines on domestic soil would not no longer used to prepare meals, in order to install more passenger seats, find acceptable to hire. And the volatility of governments such as China while many others increase fees for services other than those performed by and El Salvador should not sit well with the FAA and Homeland Security passengers on the internet. officials. And as the U.S. government has been rather mum regarding the con- But apparently Delta’s projected savings of $240 million over five years tinual escalating prices of oil and the required use of petroleum, airlines can has blinded them from seeing the big picture. This however is not just a no longer avoid the toll of their fuel needs which they claim have doubled criticism of Delta, but rather highlights the actions of another corporation in monthly costs from a year ago. But the path that Delta Airlines has just caving in to perceived reduced costs topped off by a slap in the face to the chosen, following suit of many others, is a double blow to the U.S. in terms American worker. American Airlines now remains the only domestic carrier of laying off American workers in favor of “cheaper” labor in the aviation which still does the majority of its airplane maintenance in the U.S. industry as well as a lack of consideration of security threats to the people So when will salary concessions, the freezing of employee pay and of the U.S. benefits and continued borrowing be enough? After all, the $15 billion Many say that Delta is merely following the industry trend as 70% bail-out of the airline industry by the federal government after 9/11 appar- of airline maintenance contracts are now done outside of the U.S. United ently was not enough, even though 2004 airline passenger levels have now Airlines, Northwest Airlines, US Airways, Alaska Airlines, Jet Blue, surpassed the previously record high levels of passenger travel recorded in Southwest, and America West all outsource the majority of major main- the year 2000.The airline industry can no longer stand by their mantra that tenance of their aircraft. Jet Blue and America West both contract with El Americans are no longer traveling by air. In truth the airlines were in trouble Salvador, and Northwest and Continental send their wide-body jets to Hong before 9/11 due to mismanagement with many of their CEO’s suffering pun- Kong and Singapore, where terrorists are known to operate. ishments of multi-million dollar severance packages on their way out. But there is a price to pay for farming out work outside of our borders, But this issue is much more far reaching than a balance sheet. In the post in terms of security and safety compliance, which is an issue with any type 9/11-world airline security has been the focus of two newly created federal of outsourcing. To wit, the flu vaccine debacle in the fall of 2004 with a agencies since 2001, namely the Transportation Security Agency and the United Kingdom manufacturing lab in which half of the entire flu vaccine Department of Homeland Security which it oversees, in addition to new supply for the U.S. was contaminated and not reported by the lab until after legislation and added technologies and personnel at airports, all to the tune some medication had already been distributed here only to be destroyed of billions of dollars. However it may be for naught if either terrorism or after the fact. shoddy maintenance is responsible again for another jet going down. Much In 2003 the Transportation Security Agency’s Inspector General’s like the passivity of our government with respect to protecting our borders report cited the Federal Aviation Administration for inadequate supervi- we can have all the security in the world for passengers entering aircraft sion of outside contractors throughout the aviation industry. Since that time in the U.S., but if there are no checks and balances for crews maintaining airlines have not concentrated on better oversight of their outside vendors aircraft outside of our borders, it may be in vain. but rather have continued their charge in expanding the outsourcing of U.S. And finally as our economy relies more and more on employing mechanics’ jobs. Many argue that the end result is the difference between an Americans in the services sector, we continually erode whatever jobs experienced mechanic’s high quality job and an entry-level mechanic doing we have left by permanently eliminating the incomes of our very own. an acceptable job. But even more disturbing is that mechanics working for Outsourcing has permeated every level of business in this country from outsourcers do not have to be licensed. The only oversight of the mechanics the factories and the farms to the offices and the laboratories. In this case is their supervisors earning between $10 and $20 per hour who are required an airplane mechanic has little chance of finding another job with his or to hold FAA licenses. But who is holding them accountable? her skills, especially those who have made it their life’s work. And for that Short term financial considerations should not be a high priority when reason alone the U.S. government and our leaders must be admonished and the safety of passengers and the livelihoods of Americans are at stake. held accountable. It is no longer “profitable” for the American corporation Delta’s announcement on March 29, 2005 stated that all major aircraft over- or its consumers to cast aside its own workers, especially where not only our hauls now based in Atlanta will now be handled by Avborne of Canada and livelihoods but our lives are at stake. Air Canada Technical Services of Vancouver, Canada, eliminating 2,000 DIANE GRASSI You Can Get Billhere's Calendar and Newsletter FREE by email! The FREE, e-mailed, VegasResource.com Newsletter and complete index of Las Vegas coupons for shows, buffets and attractions is available on the internet at: http://www.vegasresource.com/FreeVRC.html THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 12 Commentary: Joyce Meyer knew when it would show up. I Rejoice! If we stay filled with the Yes, the world has its share of Don’t Be Down; would wake up one morning, and a right thing, the wrong thing has no ups and downs, but Jesus said, …I little voice would say to me, “I feel place. Nehemiah 8:10 says, …the have overcome the world. [I have depressed.” I took those thoughts joy of the Lord is your strength and deprived it of power to harm you God Wants You as my own, not realizing that it was stronghold. and have conquered it for you] (John Satan making suggestions to me If you have been struggling with 16:33). Now, that is a powerful plan To Be Up! through the avenue of my mind. feeling “down,” you must make up that should drive away any down But, thank God, I learned that Jesus your mind to do something about it. feelings, and lift you up into joyful, It is said that life is full of “ups” came to give us righteousness, Follow the instruction of James 4:7 liberating victory! and “downs,” and we all know this which leaves us feeling “up” about and resist the devil and any feelings JOYCE MEYER is true. Certainly, we all experience ourselves. He came to give us peace of disappointment or depression that For more on this topic, you may good times in life when everything and joy. you may have. I assure you that order Joyce’s six-part series, Victory is going well, and we feel happy… The antidote for depression is when you do, the devil will flee, and over Depression, which is available even “on top of the world” some- JOY! Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice you can press on toward the good by calling 1-800-727-9673 or online times. But we also experience times in the Lord always [delight, glad- and abundant life that God has for at www.joycemeyer.org. when nothing seems to be going den yourselves in Him]; again I say, you. right for us, and at those times, we feel “down” emotionally. While it is true that ups and downs are a natural part of life, we must be aware that Satan can use our “down” times against us if we allow that feeling to continue. The Bible is clear about Satan’s plan as well as God’s plan, and it is good information that you need to know. Jesus said, The thief [Satan] comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows) (John 10:10). It is clear that God’s plan is for us to have a life that is overflowing with His abundance—that’s good things! But Satan does not want that for our lives—he wants to drag us down and even destroy us if possible. Over the years, I have learned that everything about Satan is “down,” and everything about God is “up.” Satan wants to put us down, but Jesus came to lift us up! Satan destroys, but Jesus builds! Satan seeks to fill our minds with “down” thoughts. He pulls us “down” emo- tionally, spiritually, financially, and in every way that he can. But one of his favorite ways to steal the good life that God has for us is through disappointment and depression. Those who allow the disappoint- ments of the bad times to get them down and keep them down, often slip into a state of depression, a condition that causes them to feel dejected, dispirited, helpless, and hopeless! This is all a part of the “stealing, killing, and destroying” plan of Satan. For many years of my life, I experienced depression. I never THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 13 Bullring Opens Saturday With Six Divisions Racing

By TARA BARKIS Over the course of the year, a Roadsters and Bullring Bombers. Heroes Night (September 10). Special To The Penny Press season ticket holder will save almost Feature event nights include A season ticket will provide race 60 percent on tickets. Faster Pastor Race (April 23), Scout fans a ticket to all 21 scheduled Opening night of the NASCAR The series will cover 21 dates Night (April 30), Kid’s Bicycle Races events throughout the 2005 season. Dodge Weekly Series is scheduled and 10 divisions including Super (June 11), Chris Trickle Father’s For more information, call 1- for Saturday at the Bullring at Las Late Models, Late Models, Chargers, Day Doubleheader (June 18), Night 800-644-4444 or visit www.lvms. Vegas Motor Speedway. IMCA Modifieds, Bandolero of Fire (July 1), Keith Danser Kid’s com. The series will cover 21 dates Cars, Legends Masters, Legends Candy Toss (August 20), Bristol and 10 divisions including Super Pro, Legends Semi-Pro, Thunder Bash (August 27), and American Late Models, Late Models, Chargers, IMCA Modifieds, Bandolero Cars, Legends Masters, Legends Pro, Legends Semi-Pro, Thunder Roadsters and Bullring Bombers. The Super Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, Chargers, Legends Masters, Legends Pro, Legends Semi-Pro, Speed Trucks and the Bullring Bombers will kick-off the 2005 season racing Saturday night. A new addition that fans will notice this season is the full-color racing program they will receive free of charge when they enter through the spectator gates. Young fans (5-12 years of age) can sign up for the Pit Crew Club for $5 and have their picture taken for their picture ID card. Membership kits are in the works and will include free admission to selected races, Pit Boss memorabilia, and a few sur- prises. They will also have the chance to be crew chief for the night. The first 100 kids to register will receive a special gift. Spectator gates open at 6 p.m. Qualifying is set for 6:20 with racing at 7:20. General admission is $10 with a valid NV license for adults, $8 for senior citizens, military personnel with ID, college students with ID and $5 for children 6-12. Children five and under are free. A Family Four Pack can be purchased for $24. The Crazy 8s package is also avail- able this season which offers race fans eight tickets for $8 each Race fans can purchase a sea- son ticket for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series for $119. THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 14 THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 15 Pet Of The Week Adopt This Pet ! Shiloh is a 2 1/2 year old neutered male. Shiloh is a Retriever mix. Shiloh is full of love and may seem intimidating at first, but is just vocal. He has had training for house- breaking, but would need a refresher course in a home setting. He does not like cats, but does well with some dogs. When You're At The

If you are looking for a pet we will do our best to find you a pet that fits your needs and you will fit theirs. Speedway, Eat Where This is just one of the pets awaiting a loving home.To inquire about a certain pet you can e-mail us at: [email protected] or call 361-2484. Also, we need kitty litter and food donations. Betty Honn founded Southern Nevada’s first no-kill, non-profit The Pros Eat! animal sanctuary in 1968. Since then, volunteers, contributors and patrons have made our daily operations possible. Betty passed away in 1997, but not before saving countless thousands of animals from needless euthanasia. Her daughter, Teresa The FAST LANE Cafe now continues the work, and is committed to fulfilling her mother’s vision.For more than 30 years, from kittens to Kodiaks, Betty Honn’s Footsteps Away From The Speedway Animal Adoptions, Ltd. has provided refuge for animals. 6825 Speedway Blvd 702-651-9977 Thanks for your Speedweeks Business. Come Back Soon! WE CATER SOUVENIRS, DIE CAST, COLLECTIBLES 13" Italian Sub $5.96 13" French Dip Sub $5.96 3 Egg Breakfast $4.96 THE PENNY PRESS, APRIL 7, 2005 PAGE 16