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Old Army's Blog

My Life and Opinions about life in Nevada & now Texas!!!

Name:
Location: Texas, United States

I am a Retired Army guy, who is old fashioned and progressive. You know a living oxymoron! My Favorite blogs: http://jetiranger.tripod.com/BLOG/ & http://www.usinkorea.org/

Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Housing Market

I am still trying to figure out the market here. The average price now of a new house is above the salaries of the working class here in town. When all the new houses get built it looks like the average monthly payment is probably going to be $1500-$2500 a moth for those who buy. That is a big chunk of change for anyone. I do not think they will be selling to many who work on the Navy Base. It is too rich for my blood. I must say that it is still cheaper than a new home in Reno or Las Vegas. I just wonder who will buy these houses as there are several That have been finished since I arrived here but I do not see anyone living there. I think I saw one of them for rent they wanted $1200 a month and a large deposit. I would think you would not want a big yard as not much grows without constant watering here in the high desert and water is at a premium, yup just paid the water bill. Well maybe I'll hit a jackpot one day then I will be able to afford a house again. Hey if anyone know where all these high paying jobs in town are that must be paying $150,000 a year let me know I am curious as to how people can afford these houses unless they have sold a house for a large profit and are investing here. Last time I looked the major employers in town are Wal-Mart and the Navy Base and There are very from those two places that are making the kind of money to afford a $250,000 house. Here is the link to the story that set me off again: http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20050222/News/102220009

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Nevada Weather

Wow, this sure is different from Oklahoma! This morning there was a nice dusting of snow here. That usually means that there are chains required to go over the mountains to California or up to Lake Tahoe. I just love the drive in as long as the damn fog is gone as I see sunrise on the snow capped mountains. I never realized how many mountains and hill they had in Northern Nevada.

Saturday, February 12, 2005

Iraq, My Take!

Now that my son has arrived in Iraq and is getting settled in, I thought it was time for my commentary on it, as I now have a very personal stake in it.

It seems to me that there is more emphasis on Iraqi soldiers and policemen getting killed. They are still having nightly attacks at most of the US camps. From descriptions, they are like drive by mortar attacks, as most of the US Camps are on the or near the main freeways. Why is this never in the news? Because it is like gang shootings in most of the large US Cities, a common, everyday occurrence and not a news worthy item.

Do I think we went for the correct reasons? No, because we initially went to get rid of WMD. The tone has changed and now we are there to free the Iraqi people from tyranny a noble cause but I have a feeling it is not the whole truth.

Will Iraq be better off for this having happened? Yes, as now they control their fate. Many of us still have questions like what happened to the money from the oil that was going to defray some of the cost of rebuilding Iraq. Why are countries that were non participants (those who did not take a risk) now being allowed to have service contracts with Iraq? We were told this would not happen but the French and the Germans are now looking for no risk profits from Iraq.

I think the soldiers are there because they believe they can help Iraq become a people governed country and unlike in Viet Nam, they get honored for the job they are doing and the errors of this war will be judged by history as falling on the politicians of the day, not the soldiers.
End of Rant for now!

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Music for an Old Guy

I have been researching music for my 21 year old son who is in Iraq. He likes Rap, Rock or anything with a parental advisory or will irritate the old man. He will not have much luck with the old man been there done that. LOL If anyone know of some good music sites let me know. He will probably have his internet in a couple of weeks but it is not to reliable. I rather send it to him in a link or on a cd. Thanks

I Hate getting OLD!

Why is it that everything seems to get a little harder when you get older? Example, I am trying to study for my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) a part of the stuff I already know but just seem to not be retaining some of the info. Guess it has been a long time since I had to study and try to lean anything new from a book. I must give kudos to my buddy Jeff for getting me motivated to study it did help. I guess I hate getting old and I intend to fight it every step of the way. Everything is harder than it use to be except eating and not exercising. Yes I admit it. I am no longer in the shape I was when I was in the Army. I finally broke down and bought an elliptical machine as racquetball was killing my knees and I have not done much but flop on the couch since my son came down on orders for Iraq. I guess what I am saying is it is time for this 49 year old to try to loose this weight that he is unhappy with. I may never get back to the weight I was when I was in my thirties as I really worked at it. There was nothing else to do at a remote Army Base in Italy except do PT in the morning and lift weights and play a couple hours of Racquetball in the evening. I may get back into the racquetball once I get my knees in a little better shape. I found an old picture of me from my days in Italy and that is now my motivation. All my problems at work that were stressing me out are hopefully behind me. Now that the sun is coming out I may start walking and maybe running again. Would get a bike but the way people drive on these 2 lane roads not sure it is all that safe.

Excuses, excuses
by Jacqueline StensonMSNBC
Despite the many benefits of exercise, statistics show that two-thirds of American adults are not physically active on a regular basis and a quarter get virtually no exercise at all. Why?
The most common reason cited is a lack of time, fitness experts say. Schedules are overbooked and things like exercise often aren't a high priority.

That's not too surprising, but a new survey by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), a nonprofit group based in San Diego, offers some additional and perhaps unexpected insights on our coach-potato culture. In October, the group asked visitors to its Web site about what, besides lack of time, stands in their way of going to the gym. More than 1,500 people responded to the informal poll, offering some interesting excuses for not exercising.
Gym intimidation
For instance, 19 percent of respondents said they're too out of shape to work out -- they're afraid they'll be the only one at the gym who isn't buff. People who aren't fit often think they've got to get themselves in "respectable shape" before they ever go to the gym, says Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist at ACE. Of course, the whole point of going to a health club is to
get in shape. But "gym intimidation" can be a powerful barrier, Bryant and other experts say, especially when a club is filled with hard bodies in Spandex.

Besides not looking the part, plenty of people -- 21 percent -- skip the gym because they don't know what to do once they get there, and 3 percent said they avoid the gym because they're afraid to ask questions, according to the survey. Bryant says proper fitness guidance can be an issue because gyms have cut back on the number of instructors who walk the floor and help out exercisers in need. Clubs may provide an orientation session to new members, but additional instruction is often only available by paying a personal trainer for it, he says. Another 46 percent of survey respondents said gyms are just too crowded, and 11 percent said people who go to them are too rude. Gym etiquette dictates wiping down cardio equipment after use, not monopolizing weight machines and avoiding long cell-phone chats, among other courtesies.
Where to begin?
"But gyms aren't the only place to exercise, and some of these concerns could be avoided by working out at home, a no-frills recreation center or outside. (People can also search around for health clubs that better meet their needs.) Regardless of the setting, it can be overwhelming for
sedentary people trying to take that first fitness step, says Karyn Gallivan, an athletic trainer at the Tennessee State University Wellness Center and a spokesperson for the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Many people say they don't have the time, she says, and if they do, they don't know where or how to begin. "They feel that they are so far out of shape that
it's too big of a job to get started," Gallivan says. And for those who do get started, sticking with an exercise plan is another major challenge. This year, many Americans will likely resolve to get fit. But undoubtedly plenty of them will throw in the towel well before swimsuit season. Research shows that more than half of people who begin exercising drop their program within three to six months, according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
Winning strategies
So what are the secrets to success?
Gallivan advises beginning exercisers to start slowly, and then gradually build up. "Do more than you're doing right now," she says, even if that means just walking for five minutes three days a week at first.
People who come out of the gates too quickly risk soreness and injuries, which can dampen enthusiasm for exercise, she points out. At an ACSM meeting earlier this year, Kyle McInnis, a
professor of exercise science at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, led a panel of experts who discussed strategies for helping people stick with an exercise program. Planning is key, the panelists noted. "Set realistic goals," says McInnis, and be specific. So instead of saying you'll get
more exercise in 2005, make a plan to play tennis with a neighbor on Tuesdays and Saturdays, for example. Getting into the exercise habit is important for beginners, even if they aren't exercising all that much starting out, McInnis says. Others who don't have time to go to a gym or who simply prefer to exercise outdoors or at home can work with a coach to fit exercise
into their life. Experts often recommend scheduling an exercise session into one's day, just like other appointments. Another approach is to fit in short bouts of exercise -- 5 or 10 minutes -- a few times a day, with the goal of accruing at least half an hour of activity. The ACSM panel also advised that people consider seeking guidance from a trainer to individualize a fitness plan, enlist the support of friends and family, and monitor progress regularly to help stay motivated and not become too discouraged.. "Any behavior change only occurs one day at a time," says Barbara Ainsworth, a professor of exercise and nutritional sciences at San Diego State University. And simple measures like intentionally parking the car further from the mall entrance, carrying out your own groceries and taking the stairs instead of the elevator add up. "It's built into your day so it's not seen as something extra that people need to do," she says.
Once people start making physical activity a regular part of their lives, they'll likely begin to see some results and have more energy, says Gallivan. And those can be powerful motivating factors. "As soon as people start feeling better, you have them hooked," she says. "Our bodies were made to move."



Monday, February 07, 2005

Loyalty

One of the things I remember from growing up was my dad always preached you must be loyal to the company you work for. I noticed that loyalty like that seems to have changed but do companies foster that concept? Have they ever? I think that it is all about the money. Who can offer the best quality work for the lowest price and for the worker it is who pays the best for your services. I guess I am stuck in the in between generation where I expect a fair wage for a fair days work. I went to work for a company, that does hire a lot of ex-military, They offered me a job They were more then fair offering me $5000 more than I asked for, but they did not pay for me to move from Oklahoma to Nevada but in return I felt I was being more than compensated for my work. I still find that honesty in dealing with others and most of all integrity is still a valued commodity. My old company has since dropped me as the main contractor is taking over the position. They did offer another job but the main contractor has offered me my old job at a reduced pay. I am keeping the old job and was angry with my old company for not giving me but 4 days notice. They are now paying me for the next to weeks plus vacation owed. I had not complained, well may be a wee bit, but I think my old boss who had left the project several months ago interceded for those of us who got laid off. So I have not totally lost faith that all businesses are run by those with just $ signs in their eyes. I would be interested to hear others experiences in things like this or your opinions as to the current state of Company and worker ethics. From what I have learned it is not company loyalty but self loyalty and loving what you do that counts now.

Interesting quotes:
The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.
Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.
William Dement

Tact is the knack of making a point without making an enemy.
Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727)

All charming people have something to conceal, usually their total dependence on the appreciation of others.
Cyril Connolly (1903 - 1974), Enemies of Promise (1938)

http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html



Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Differing 'escape' ads sell Las Vegas, Reno

I remember Reno as a place only old retired people went to gamble or you went there to get a divorce. I remember it as being, downtown anyway, kind of rundown and one of those areas you always feel like you are going to get mugged. It has changed a lot in most of the downtown area. The city is attempting to dust off its image but there are still seedy parts in the downtown area. The two things I think will help is the excellent job they have done on the Truckee River area, making it a place you want to take a stroll, see the live concerts there and several down town. I highly recommend the "Brews and Blues" held in late spring early summer. The biggest and most appreciated project for Reno, when it is completed will be the train trench. No more trains passing under your hotel window at 2am. Of course locals will say that the completion of the freeway project at the Spaghetti Bowl, "I80 meets US395" but that will probably never finish.

RENO (AP) — In Las Vegas, "What happens here, stays here." But Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe combine to be "America's Adventure Place."
No glitz, just glory: The sunset over Lake Tahoe is just one difference between northern and southern Nevada.
By Tim Dunn, Reno Gazette-Journal via AP

Two phrases, two advertising slogans in Nevada. One might sell sin and the other scenery. Or, they might be selling the same thing — escape.
"The Vegas one is selling escapism from your humdrum life," said Tim Maland, president of the Reno Hilton, northern Nevada's largest hotel-casino. "The northern Nevada marketing statement is about leaving your ordinary life behind and coming to an adventure."
The suggestive Las Vegas line is a hit, so much so that it's the newest entry in the country's pop culture vocabulary. Everybody's saying it, from The Simpsons to first lady Laura Bush.
"Love it or hate it, this is our most successful ad campaign to date," Marina Nicola, a publicist for the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, said of the line created by R&R Partners advertising agency.
"It becomes the language," said Edward Estipona, a Reno advertising executive.
The northern Nevada line hasn't – yet. A cartoon character or president's wife, at least to anyone's knowledge, hasn't uttered it.
The line is repeated often at the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, where tourism officials count on "America's Adventure Place" to create an image for northern Nevada.
After 9/11, fewer visitors came to northern Nevada and Las Vegas. The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority's annual visitor count fell from 5.1 million in 2000 to 4.8 million in 2004. In Las Vegas, the number dropped from 35.8 million in 2000 to about 35 million in 2002.
"We found Reno didn't have a great perception in our (tourist) market," said Deanna Ashby, the authority's executive marketing director. She described Reno's old image as "a place where you can get your teeth knocked out in a barroom brawl."
"I think we have made strides in changing that," she said.
Slogans, even ones with just three words, don't always come easily. For the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, the biggest problem was the last word.
"One of the things we debated a lot was the word place," said Jeff Beckelman, president and chief executive of the convention authority.
"We went through 'America's Adventure Destination,' 'America's Adventure City,' 'America's Adventure Opportunity.' It's hard to come up with a word that described what this entire region stands for. We settled on place. I liked the way it fit with the other two words."
Presto, a tag line.
The convention authority wants to suggest such adventures as skiing, hiking, mountain biking and whitewater kayaking.
"Everything had land, air and water involved," said Estipona, whose EVP Partners ad agency created the campaign to go with the "adventure place" slogan.
The idea is you can climb a mountain, or ski down one, in the morning, then gamble, eat and take in a show at night.
"We have to sell a gaming-plus mentality," Estipona said. "We can't live on gaming. If we just said 'gaming,' guess what, just about every place has gaming. What makes us different?"
The landscape.
"We're always going to have our natural resources," Estipona said. "Use our natural resources to attract people."
Las Vegas, with "What happens here, stays here," re-created an image.
"Might be that you can get away with something you can't get away with at home," said Liz Younger of the Younger public relations and advertising agency in Reno.
It took two guys to come up with the five-word Vegas line, R&R writers Jason Hoff and Jeff Candido, who since have moved on to Boston and New York, respectively.
The television ads suggest naughty behavior, but what happens in Las Vegas is mostly left to the imagination of the viewer.
Tourist visits to Las Vegas have increased since the start of the ad campaign. Northern Nevada's figures also are up this year.
"I think, probably, the Vegas (campaign) is working well," Younger said. "I think America's Adventure Place, if given enough time, will too."

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Nevada ads sell 'escape'2/2/2005 8:58 AMRENO No glitz, just glory: The sunset over Lake Tahoe is just one difference between northern and southern Nevada. By Tim Dunn, Reno Gazette-Journal via AP-->