Print edition for August 14, 2006

THE OPENING LINE: Instead of a gun, I keep an Adirondack Big Stick under my bed, in case of emergency. I wish I had the Jackie Robinson model Louisville Slugger I used in high school instead. You could permanently put a burglar on the 21-day disabled list with one of those.

Russians take over glory division: His best hope for a unified heavyweight championship had just been vanquished, yet promoter Bob Arum was able to retain a wry sense of humor.

FLASHPOINT for Aug 14, 2006: Some good news and bad news for the parties in Congressional Quarterly's latest analysis of the possibilities for change in Congress. The Democrats should be thrilled that Congressional District 2 has been moved from "Republican favored" to "leans Republican." The change comes because of the bloody GOP primary and Regent Jill Derby's perceived strength. But any hopes for Jack Carter against GOP Sen. John Ensign, where the Netroots are optimistic, were dashed. Ensign was moved from favored to safe and here's what CQ said of Carter: "But resources for his longshot bid currently look scarce, as Democrats have too many ...

Tricks of the trade: Jerry Fink, Las Vegas Sun; One has been a headliner on the Strip for 15 years; the other for two months. Lance Burton and Gerry McCambridge perform tricks. Amazing tricks. Jaw-dropping, head-scratching tricks. Tricks that astound audiences even though they know they are tricks.

Jeff Haney on a dying scheme to hustle online casinos: Not long after the House of Representatives passed legislation this summer designed to clamp down on online gambling, the boss of Costa Rica-based BetOnSports was arrested while changing planes in Texas. As a result, the company announced Friday it would close down its service to Americans.

Letter: Solicitors make it hard to enjoy vacation: We were unable to walk down the street or into any hotel or casino on the Strip without being accosted by individuals offering "promotions." We did not come to Las Vegas to purchase a time share and we did not appreciate being the target of constant marketing efforts.

LOOKING IN ON: CITY HALL: By Marshall Allen; "Back Seat Beth" is either shamelessly seeking attention or a sincere advocate for the homeless.

John Katsilometes takes a jaunt through the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood with CEO Robert Earl: "We want to have better 'interconnectivity' between all areas of the hotel and casino," co-chairman of Planet Hollywood Resort Casino Robert Earl said Saturday at the hotel he plucked from bankruptcy in 2003. During a quick trip to town to check on the property (and review final details for the 2007 Miss America Pageant, which this week is expected announce a return to the Theatre for the Performing Arts), Earl led during a brisk walking tour of the heavily compartmentalized Aladdin casino and mezzanine levels.

Editorial: 'This is for all of humanity': It was Jan. 31, 1961, when McCullough and nine others walked into McCrory's lunch counter in Rock Hill, S.C., and ordered hamburgers and drinks. As all 10 were black, they were refused service and arrested for trespassing, according to McCullough's obituary in The New York Times.

Shoe leather and phones: GOP goes retro: Brendan Buhler and J. Patrick Coolican; Paula Martin works a full day at a real estate development firm, and then twice a week, rather than going out for cocktails or to the movies like any other mid-20s professional, she calls strangers and tells them to vote for Rep. Jim Gibbons.

Letter: Elections will leave GOP feeling blue: He notes the Democrats' "most recent loss in the very blue state of California for the vacant Republican seat once held by Rep. Duke Cunningham, a race they thought was a sure thing."

Hangin' with a dogcatcher: By Timothy Pratt; "Gangbangers - when you kill someone your mother, sister, and brother all will suffer."

Editorial: Lots of room to improve: One reason experts believe this primary will see a record low is because the primary was moved up to Aug. 15 this year, instead of the first Tuesday of September. This gives election clerks more time between the primary and the general elections to prepare sample ballots, but it also means many people will be away on vacation, they say.

Anti-gang tool: Stay out late, go see the judge: Sam Skolnik; After dark, police say, lawlessness was the norm at the Emerald Breeze apartments. And that was before the gangs took over.

Letter: Airport security goes a little overboard: These dudes have all been specially trained to take out a tube of Katusha hair gel at 200 meters, firing from the hip.

Editorial: Conservation road show: Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne and other Bush administration officials sell this program as a cooperative effort among private landowners, industry representatives, conservation groups and government officials to preserve the environment. The plan calls for using federal grants to encourage private landowners to protect endangered species, preserve habitat and do other conservation work that historically has been mandated and done by government.

Letter: Spellings commission's report is unfocused: One proposal included in the report is that public universities should use standardized tests to measure learning. That sounds like an extension of the deeply flawed No Child Left Behind Act for elementary and secondary education. Since the federal government failed to adequately fund testing at the lower levels, it is likely to also do so for this proposal which would further increase college costs, exactly the opposite of the commission's mandate.