So Much Talent In Vegas

I know it has been a couple of weeks since my last blog.  I have been under the weather big time but am feeling better.  I also have an appoint with Neurologist which hopeful will adjust my medicine to drastically effect my health issues.  She had to do this a couple time before an has advised my I would reach a point where this was needed.  This all relates back to my strokes.  I will be fine.

People often ask me "Is there any shows in Las Vegas that won't cost me $200 plus a ticket?"

My Answer is the same, ABSOLUTELY!   Including winning acts and runner ups from "American and "America's Got Talent" who all usually charges less than $100 a ticket. Many half of that amount.

Two new magic acts are scheduled to begin in October in Major Casinos.

Time is running out to see "David Goldrake"  and his Fabulous "Imaginarium" Magic Show at the Tropicana.  Sadly, his show will close in the next few weeks.  It is a Very Well Produced show with outstanding illusions.

This Saturday, September 22nd is National Smithsonian Museum Day. Get FREE Admission at over 1500 Museums.  Go to smithsonian.com for your FREE Tickets!  This is over a $25 Ticket at several locations.  Here in Vegas, the National Atomic Museum is well worth a few hours of your time.  I was surprised at some of the exhibits and how much I DID NOT know about about atomic testing!  Check out the FREE tickets at your local museum.

My NFL Picks

Jets over the Browns
Carolina Over Bengals
Atlanta over New Orleans


Sally Field's "Life In Pieces" book tour and lecture tour has started.

It is surely going to be an exciting event.  Check the Barns and Noble near you for towns, dates and prices.

And a funny sign people will beleive

Politics have gotten CRAZY this week so I refuse to comment.  Plus I have tickets to tonight's Presidential Rally!  Have a great weekend!

Las Vegas Hotels

I have been coming to Las Vegas for over Thirty Years and have lived here over ten.  During that time I have seen a Dramatic Change in Hotels in both Basic Cost and Add-On Costs. There was a time in this town as recently as Twenty-Five years ago where you could get a nice room for Under $30!  And that was with No Resort Fees or other add-ons!

You could even stay at Top Of The Line Hotels like Caesar's Palace for Under $100!

But sadly, those days are Long Gone!   Now Resorts fees can range fro $30 a night up to almost $50 a night, even on "Comped Rooms".  Rumor is that starting this fall, The Newly Remodeled Palms Resort and Casino will begin charging Resort Fees!   Hotels in Laughlin, Nevada and Primn, Nevada, which are both fifty plus miles away now charge Resort Fees!

What happened to the Good Old Days where the Casino Executives who thought of Resort Fees were not even born yet?

Here is a Las Vegas Trivia Question for you.  The Golden Gate Casino in Downtown Las Vegas was once known as the "Sal Sagev Hotel".  What was it named after?  ( answer later in this blog )

Over the years I have stayed in a Majority of the Hotel Casino Resorts.  Overall, the Big Difference has been in the Price.  They all have Beds, they all have phone and they all have bathrooms.  When you are in their lobbies you will find nicer floors, better chairs at the slot machines and better places to eat, but that is about it.  There was a time not that long ago when people Stood when playing Slot machines.

Casinos realized that people would "Gamble Longer" if they were seated!  No one remembers the "First Casino" to install chairs but most believe it was in about 1958 or 1959.

Are there Resort / Casinos that I have especially enjoyed staying?   I will start with the "Obvious".

Caesar's Palace Suite in the early 90's was very opulent.   The Round Bed and Great View of The Las Vegas Strip was class at the Highest Level.

Directly across the corner was Bally's.  The reason Bally's will always have a special place in my heart is that is where I saw Las Vegas and Performing Legend, Dean Martin.

I almost did not have the chance to attend because the ASSHOLE Program Director Lou at the Radio Station I worked for in Denver would not approve my request for ONE DAY OFF to go!   Honestly, of all the people I ever worked for he was the Biggest Jerk who I would not give the time of day to if he asked and he treated me the same.  Ironically, I went anyway and it was the Final Weekend Dean performed as he lost his son a week later in a plane crash.  Dean never had the desire to perform again and from what I later told, was a broken man.  Those were the days before "Assigned Seating" and I had tipped $50 and ended up at t he Front Table Center which touched the stage.  About 5 minutes before the show the Cocktail Hostess place three drinks which she said were "Dean's Bourbon's" on the table.  One of the people I was with could not resist herself and "Tasted" (with a straw) all three drinks.  They were ALL Iced Tea!  By this time in his life, Dean had all but quit drinking.  And by the way, Lou if you are reading this, "Up Yours You No-Talent Rude Excuse For A Boss!".   I hope they play play nothing but Dean Martin Music in Hell when you get there!  ( Do you think I sound bitter?  It's only been 30 years!  lol )

I also always enjoyed staying at Harrah's!

Harrah's is located Center strip so transportation is always handy and there are some great things to see and do, many for free, within walking distance.

I would be remiss if I did not mention places like The Mirage, The Rivera , The Imperial Palace ( Now the Ling ) and the Sahara.  There are a few other places I always enjoyed on the strip and several more downtown including The Four Queens, The Golden Nugget, The Fitzgerald ( Now The D ) and The Plaza.

The Answer to my Trivia Question about the "Sal Sagev"?  That was Las Vegas spelled backward!  They later changed the name to The Golden Gate Casino.  That corner was one of the earliest casinos opened in Nevada.

Over the years I have been invited to the "Grand Opening" of a couple of new casinos.  I think mainly because I spent too much at their other locations!  LOL!  I was brought out as a guest for the Grand Opening of the "Wynn" casino.  A truly classy casino to this day.

One of my favorite Grand Opening Events was at "The Luxor Resort and Casino".

I actually brought my friend Tim from Ohio to the event.  What makes this so memorable for me is that we were in a room Sidewalk Level which you could see people walking back and forth.  I had went down to the desk to get some of the documents needed and when I came back I noticed people looking into our room window?  Tim then said to me, "This place is neat, it even has the One Way Glass where we can see out and others can't see in."  He went on to tell me he had taken his shower and was ready to go.  I then informed him that it was "NOT One Way Glass and the people were stopping to look into our window to watch him get dressed!"  Oops!

With the Resort Fees I not longer make it a habit to stay in the hotels even with my "Free Rooms".  "Free" in most cases costs me $40 plus a night in Resort Fees!   I only live fifteen minutes from the Las Vegas Strip and my wife still does not charge me "Resort Fees".  Yet!

Have A Great Week

A New Direction

After speaking with some friends and having some Special Access to Las Vegas Entertainment, I have decided to take this blog a different direction.

I will start with all the new construction happening in Las Vegas.  Here is a tip hot off the press

Main Street Station, in Downtown Las Vegas, will be undergoing some renovations starting in October.  As part of the renovations, Live KENO will be no more at the casino.

If you have not been Downtown in a while, it is NOT your Mother's Downtown!  Spearheaded by Derrick Stevens and his remodeling of "The D" and the construction of his new, yet to be named, hotel and casino which will replace the now demolished "Las Vegas Club".

Live band appear on the stage adjacent to "The D" every night.   With local legends like Zowie Bowie, there is some great entertainment every night downtown.  And that is not to mention the entertainment at the new "Downtown Events Center" and the Headline Bands which perform on a monthly basis in the summer months.

Did you see where "America's Got Talent" host Mel B., admitted herself into Sex Rehab?

Why Didn't She Just Call Me? 

I was at a Magic Show the other night and was "Disturbed" by the comments from the couple sitting behind me.

They were making comments about how they had seen "that trick 100 times" and "He does not do that trick very well" and Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah! 

I was tempted to turn around and set this couple straight but I figured "Why waste my time"?   But there is something which needs to be said about Magicians!

I have been personal friends with several Working Magicians who have both appeared here on the Las Vegas Strip for years and also toured the World for over ten years.  One of the things which gets "Lost In The Illusions", is the time and money Professional Magicians spend learning their craft.  A few weeks ago I was honored to be at dinner with perhaps the Two Most Respected Illusion Builders In The World and also one of the Most Respected and Talented Female Card Manipulators in Asia.  She talked about the hours and hours of practice with hundreds upon hundreds of decks of cards.  To this day, even she is known as One Of The Greats In Magic, she still spends Hours and Hours each week continuing to Perfect Her Performance.

When it comes to "I've seen that trick 100 times" remark, I like to use the example of "Murray The Celebrity Magician"

He performs the "Changing Places In The Trunk" illusion which Hundreds of Professional Magicians perform every night.  The difference is that Murray Makes The Illusion Fun and Exciting!   You cannot imagine the time and effort it takes to perfect doing that illusion.  I have seen Magicians do the illusion so poorly they should take it out of their act until they make it Fun and do it Smoothly.  Of the hundreds of Magicians I have seen, he does it the best, Hands Down!

By the way, his opening act "Lefty", does an Outstanding job in the card tricks and makes it look funny.  You cannot imagine how tough it is to make a basic trick and make it look Fresh and Entertaining!

And most people do not realize The Cost Of Illusions.  I am fortunate to personally know the two top "Illusion Builders" in the World who both happen to live in Las Vegas.  These Illusions do not just appear one day when a Magician places a playing card under his pillow.  Some of the Illusions you see on shows such as "America's Got Talent" or "Penn & Teller's Fool Us", can be more money than most people make in three or six months!  Not to mention the cost they incur having them delivered to their home and the Time and Expense of being trained to perform the illusion safely!

Illusions like you see in a big magic shows like David Copperfield, Lance Burton and others take HOURS of Practice to be able to perform the Illusion with Excitement and Safety.  Many of the Illusions which include Saw Blades, Spikes, Water Tanks, ETC require Hours of Instruction to be performed in front of an audience and do it without incident.  Those are REAL SPINNING SAW BLADES and REAL STEEL SPIKES and YES there is REAL DANGER for the Magician, Cast and Crew of the show if done or handled improperly!

And many Performers of All Genre who appear on the Las Vegas Strip actually PAY to perform thanks to Comedian Red Foxx.

Comedian Red Foxx needed to work to pay off a large IRS Debt.  Work was scarce for the aging performer so in about 1985 Foxx went to the Hacienda Hotel and Casino ( where the Mandalay Bay sits now ) and offered to rent out their entire showroom every night so he would have a place to perform.

Today this practice is called "Four Walling"  you would be amazed how many of today's Entertainers "Four Wall" or buy out the room for weeks or months at a time.

This can cost MAJOR MONEY by the time an Entertainer pays for not only the room but also all the Union Stagehands and other people including Ushers and Box Office Personnel.   You would be "Shocked" if you knew what Entertainers "Four Wall" the Showroom where they perform.  In the old days the casino often used Entertainers as "Loss Leaders" just to draw people into the casino to gamble.

So before you make remarks about how a Magician disappointed you, think about the Hours of Practice and the Tens of Thousands of Dollars they have spent to buy their illusion.  Many a Magician has LOST MONEY just for the opportunity to say they have Performed On The Las Vegas Strip.

And finally, work is coming right along on the new "World Las Vegas" .

As you can see in this photo from the Review Journal, the one time site of "The Stardust Casino" already has people talking about what the new Casino will mean to that end of the Las Vegas Strip.  I was talking to a couple of workers on site this week and they see "No Issue opening on time in Mid 2020, if not earlier".

Between World Vegas, The Drew Hotel and Casino Resort, The Raiders Stadium and Project Neon being completed in early 2020, this town is hoping!  Come and see us sometime!

I always welcome your feedback on Twitter  @itsdano

Friday Funnies

I was asked the other day if My Blog has cost me a lot of friends?  The answer is "No, as when I am with friends at dinner of whatever, politics are Never Discussed!"    I respect everyone's views and why tell my friends, or anyone, their view is wrong?  Maybe my views are the ones which are wrong?


Don't Forget The Second Most Popular Wedding Date This Year is Tomorrow!

On to the Friday Funnies!

Is this how your week has gone?

I am amazed on how much time and money people spend training their pet.

I plan on investing in Two Hundred of these vending machines.  I see it being the next Redbox!

I think I can make Millions!


Have you ever had one of these days?

Did you hear what the Pirate said on his 80th Birthday?

"Aye Matey"


Things have changed so much over the years......

It is hard to imagine but Christmas is just 129 days away!

Good Question?

There have always been rumors that Santa's Reindeer have been abused.

But I have heard they always get their revenge!


When you stop and think about

Life is much better if you have a sense of humor.   It really is!


The next Best thing to Casual Friday's? 

Yes, I really did look like thise

But it was a few years ago!


There is so much truth in this sign!

My Gated Community has a private pool.

All Summer long I have thought about posting photos of the bathers at my pool.   So By Request, I was able to sneak my camera in to get some shots.

Did I tell you I live in a Senior's Only Gated Community? 


REMEMBER:   Be sure and look out for my new vending machines. 

I just put over $4000 into repairs of my car!


I always Welcome your Feedback

e-mail
its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com

twitter
@itsdano

I Saw On TV

I saw on TV a story of an Illegal Alien who had gone to a Sanctuary City.  A week later he was Arrested for Raping a Ten Year Old Girl!
This of course is Unacceptable and the Alleged Rapist should spend the rest of his life in jail!

But this is NOT a reason to Bang A Drum Against Illegal Aliens!

If I had MY WAY, Every Single Illegal would be returned to where they came, PERIOD!

The Immigration Laws Must Be Changed!   It should not be so COMPLICATED and HARD to move to the United States and become a Legal Citizen!

There are MORE RAPES Committed by Legal Americans than Illegals.

Change The Rape Laws!  The First Offence should spend The Rest Of Their Lives In Prison!  Did you know often times a First Time Rapist spends less than Two Years in Jail?

We DO NOT Need More Prisons, but instead Release those Unfairly Sentenced.  Not to point fingers but thanks to The Clinton Administration more Black Men went to jail for Minor Drug Offences that with Current Laws would result in a fine.   Thanks to President Bush and President Obama many of those laws have been changed.  But the Prisons are Still Full of Fathers and Mothers who should be raising their kids to be Solid Law Abiding Citizens.  It's time to EMPTY THE PRISONS!

Nelson Mandela said it best

To the Mothers and Fathers who teach their children to HATE the Police and other Races, YOU BELONG IN JAIL!   To the Parents who Encourage their kids to settle things with GUNS, YOU BELONG IN JAIL!  To the parents who allow their children to JOIN GANGS, YOU BELONG IN JAIL!   White, Black, Hispanic if you are guilty of these things, YOU BELONG IN JAIL!

Not EVERY While Police Officer is a RACIST!   Not EVERY Black Man HATES Whites!  The Cops that are Racists are FEW compared to the Number of Officers on the street PROTECTING EVERYONE!  White and Black! 

It's NOT TOO LATE to change Attitudes before someone you love end up DEAD! 

Last weekend in Chicago there were 73 people shot and another 19 hot and killed!  A MAJORITY of these were Black on Black or Gang Related Shootings.  Parents, do you WANT to outlive your kids?  It's time to CHANGE THE CULTURE OF HATE!


The President this week called for the formation of a "Space Force" to protect us from threats from space.

The Trump Resistance have Ridiculed and Made Fun of this proposal!  But stop and think about this proposal.  Thirty Years Ago people made fun and felt that "Cyber Security" was a joke.  Look at it now.  The Russians ALREADY are said to have Laser Armed Satellites that can shoot down Missiles and other Satellites!  Maybe a "Space Force" is what we need.


The NFL is back!

My early season observation and predictions?
*   Watch Out For The Dallas Cowboys
*   The San Francisco Giants Are Also A Contender

Teams in Trouble?
*   Tom Brady and the Patriots are OLD and DONE As A Competitor!
*   Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is Too Busy With Danica Patrict To Perform!  ( At least
     on the field )

Wild Predictions?
*   The Cleveland Browns will WIN Five Games This Season
*   The Indianapolis Colts Could Contend With Andrew Luck!

The NFL Ratings will take another plunge this season if the Players Continue To Kneel during The National Anthem!     I understand their cause but 95% of America does NOT and see it as DISRESPECT to Our Flag.  As ratings drop so will the players salaries.   Have you seen the Dramatic Rise in the NBA Ratings?

Have you EVER seen an NBA Player Kneel?


When you have "Auto Complete" turned on you often end up with Dumb Looking Typos on your Facebook or Twitter.  President Trump needs to do one of two things

Turn Off His Auto Complete or STAY OFF TWITTER!

Our Country is in Crisis now and it is time WE ALL GOT ALONG!  PERIOD!

John Lennon wrote a song that we should all take the lyrics to heart.

I always welcome your feedback at

E-Mail
its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com

Twitter
@itsdano

Enough Already

Remember when Facebook was a Social Site and NOT a Political One?

And then the Sore Loser Liberals who were counting on Hillary being President decided to make it a Hate Trump site.  The Liberals blamed the Russian's, the FBI and "The Deplorable Americans"  for voting for such a straight talking Politician.  Two years later Hillary is still trying to find someone to blame for her not being in The White House.  She felt President Obama would help her get elected, he didn't.  She thought people would vote for her because she was a woman, they didn't.  She thought she could ignore the Common People living outside the big coastal cities and win the election, she didn't.  So who does Hillary have to blame?

Enough said.

But after TWO YEARS you would think the Liberal Democrats would focus more on making the country a better place to live.  If they don't like the election outcome, get better candidates and ideas which American can support.

But enough about Politics.  I am trying to Not Comment or rant about Politics here in my blog.

It has been a Very Crappy & Stressful week for me this week.
First I received Second and Third Degree Burns on my arm a week ago when my Radiator Cap popped open.  Turned out I needed $2500 in Repairs to my Oil and Water Coolant System which were NOT covered in my 3 year old car with 57,000 miles.  After doing without the car for 8 days on the WAY HOME from the Chrysler Dealership my Air Conditioning and then my  Computer Chips Failed and I had to have it towed back to the dealer and it will be ANOTHER 8 days and $2100!   I do NOT have that kind of money laying around to fix it!  My Liberal Cousin who thinks ALL WHITES have White Privileged and have money said to me "Well, at least you have a car and the money to get it fixed!"
EXCUSE ME!  No I don't and why do you think Hillary Clinton is sitting at home?  It is STUPID THINKING AND REMARKS like those!

Maybe I should start a Go Fund Me Page?  LOL! 

And on top of all the Car Crap I have been dealing with, my Little Sister, has been visiting this week.  It has been WONDERFUL to see her and spend time with her.  It has been the ONLY thing that had kept me from Jumping Off A Building or Knocking Over my Local Bank.  ( If you are going to rob something, go for a bak!  You get the same prison time!  LOL!

We went to the Clint Holmes and Earl Turner "Soundtrack" show at the Westgate Hotel and Casino.

Hands Down this is the Best Show in Las Vegas currently performing.

I have seen Clint Holmes eight or ten time and he NEVER DISSAPOINTS!
His new CD "Rendezvous" in one of the best of the year and has won Two Grammy's!
And at $58 a person, you will not find a better value in Las Vegas!

Some things just speak for themselves!

I have posted this before but it needs repeating!

 Somehow I think this could happen!

Have A Great Week! 

Feeling Poorly

I have been feeling poorly the last week or so since suffering a serious burn on my arm.

I was a DUMB ASS and removed my radiator cap while the car was still hot.

OUCH!

I hope to be able to type a new blog by the end of the week.

Why Do Liberals Always Call You Names?

No matter what you say that a Liberal Democrat does not like, they will call you a name.  I have been called a Racist for thinking Whoopi Goldberg was WRONG and was RUDE to Judge Peiro on her show. 

Reports say Whoopi told her to "Get The Fuck Out Of My Building" and then SPIT on Judge  as she was leaving!  But because I took the Judge's side, I am a Racist!   What is wrong with people?  She was an Invited Guest!  According to Whoopi, the Judge berated and cursed at the View Staff on her way out.  I think we will NEVER know what happened.

The entire interview is smelling more like a Set-Up by Whoopi and her Liberal friends.  But we will never know.


And you don't think the Mainstream Media is corrupt?  Look at this....

Same Day, Same Story, just Slanted for the Liberal part of the country.

The President is taking heat for his Tweet to the Leader of Iran.

This Iranian Idiot threatened the United States with "The Mother of all wars". because this guy must have spent all his President Obama money and wants more.   This is NO LONGER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION!  You threaten the United States, then you will get a response back fro President Trump who will NOT back down.   Why do you think North Korea came to the table? 


At Mass over the weekend, I was "Curious" about where the Priest got his Holy Water?  So I asked!

He told me "It's just Tap Water."   TAP WATER I SAID?   And then he said "Yes, but I Boil The Hell Out Of It!"
Well, I did ask!

I have several Major Decisions to make so I decided to visit my local Psychic.  Well, SHE THREW ME OUT!

I guess it was my fault?  I said to her that she looked like she had put on about 100 pounds since I last got a reading.  I told her maybe she should "Quit calling yourself a Psychic and start calling yourself a FOUR-CHIN Teller!"  Some people just do not have a sense of humor! 

I saw this on a sign over the weekend.....

I was thinking, Maybe I Should Change My Name To "NOBODY"?

Sometimes I wonder about things?

If two Overweight People talk, is it a "Heavy Conversation?


I keep hearing and reading that MGM Resorts have seen a downturn in business since the One October shoot at the Mandalay Bay Resort.

That is sad as MGM Resorts did not Invite The Shoot to stay in their hotel.  Now their recent filing of the Lawsuit AGAINST those victims at the One October Shooting is an Entirely Different Thing!  Did they think there would not be a HUGE Backlash locally in Las Vegas?  What a Public Relations Nightmare!   I am sure in the end, Heads Will Roll at MGM Resorts!

From the "Are You Really That Dumb" catagory
I saw a lady in CVS "Tiptoeing" down one of the isles?

Curious me, I had to ask her why? 
She looked at me and said....

I was trying to be Quiet and Not Wake Up The Sleeping Pill!

And I leave you with this fact.

Everyone Knows The Speed of Light is Much Faster than the Speed of Sound.

That is why some people seem Bright until they Open Their Mouth!

Have a Great Week!

I always Welcome Your Feedback

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