Older Concept - A Money Maker

I've passed this kiosk along Las Vegas Blvd a few times this week on my way through the Venetian and into the convention center. No cameras? Hogwash. I can see some potential with this idea for a number of things.

The way it works is you sit on a bike with a green screen behind it. You're then video taped and a background is added through an editing program. I played with the idea a year ago, but haven't since. Wanna brag to someone that you've sky dived but you're too chicken like me? It can be done. Hollywood movies and TV news programs are done this way quite a bit thesedays.

The pictures stop there. The black guy made it a point to no pictures. Use your imagination. The backgrounds can be anything providing you have the footage. Want some video of you riding a Harley down the PCH(Pacific Coast Highway)? Shoot some video from the back of a convertible and green screen the riding part over the screen. Wallah. You're crusing the PCH without being there.

Cost here. $55.00 for a 2 1/2 minute DVD or an 8 x 10" still pic for $20.00. They had buyers.

If you're familiar with Whose Line Is It, you should get the idea. Here's a hilarious green screen clip.

Ellijay Winter

Folks up here said they have mild winters. Looking at some numbers from Wunderground the past few years I was in agreement with them. However since I left January 10 the lows have been under freezing eleven of those days and January 16 showed five degrees!

With an adjustment for my little place out of the way by taking off another 4-5 degrees the numbers would be around 15 or 16 days under freezing. I'd probably be boiling water for hot sponge baths! I'm going to have to look into those frozen pipes a bit more.

Another cold front hits the area with a chance of snow today. Above pic.

I guess I timed it pretty well. Tempe has been the bright spot with wonderful weather, but I have seen some temps in the twenties when in Roswell NM. And the rain in North Georgia! So much for the drought. January numbers show over 18 inches in the Ellijay area. Imagine if one fifth of that was snow precipitation. One inch of rain equals a foot of snow...correct? 3.6 inches would be three and a half feet of snow.

Looks like it's cold all over. Bundle up if you're not out west today!

Vegas Weather today....high near 70.

Las Vegas Construction Pics

Looking around this place you have to wonder; will enough people actually come to visit all these new casinos? It's mind boggling considering some areas I don't recognise from only five years ago! No bother counting the floors as it seems all the new ones are up in the thirty or 40 story range. The Imperial Palace where I am staying is dwarfed by all the new ones at a mere 18 floors. I could hardly find it the other day and it was probably an icon on The Strip at one time.

Some of these monsters don't show any construction activity. Did somebody/everybody run out of money? That's the trend thesedays. How come the casinos aren't crying for a bailout? All sorts of bad news here.

Looking to the west side of The Strip where I am located there are blocks of highrises under construction (top photo). Has the party ended in Las Vegas? Who is gambling thesedays? Actually plenty from my view...but most people have been doing enough of it with their life savings in the financial markets. I wonder what they'll be saying ten and fifteen years from now? Or what will become of these white elephants?

Apartment buildings could be an answer. I'm sure many folks are looking at the rent option after getting tossed to the curb failing to keep up with mortgage payments.

Looking south from Harrahs...

Caesars Palace with another addition going on.

And the area of the gone Stardust Casino is a huge city block with a newish project called the Echelon. Estimated costs around $5 billion. Construction stopped last summer. Pic below shows what it is supposed to look like when completed. Click any image for a larger view.

Shalimar Open - Tempe AZ

Golf.
Sunday February 1, 2009 at Shalimar Country Club, Tempe.

On The Road - To Vegas

Looks like some changes are afoot at the Hoover Dam. Maybe they call this thing a fly over? Anyway US 93 that runs from Central Arizona into Nevada is getting a brand new look at the dam. The first pic shows the existing two lane road that winds down into the dam area then exits over the mounatins into the Nevada side. Arrow indicates a new four lane fly over.

Pretty impresive structure, as is the Hoover Dam, but I've been through this area before so it was nothing new. Second pic shows the arch bridge under construction on the Nevada side with suspended cables providing support as well

And the bridge under construction with both sides gaining ground until a connection is made.

Welcome to the playground in the desert...

Lodging arrangements for the week is the Imperial Palace on the Strip. Not impressed but I didn't need anything pricey. Good thing I brough a coffee maker along. Thanks Brad! Heck, that flea bag motel in Cordele, Ga for $ 29.00 is better than this place. At least it had a fridge and a good TV cable selection. But then I suppose folks here don't want ya hangin' out in the room all the time. Go spend some dough in the casino!

Reason for visit? Surfaces flooring convention.