Print edition for August 22, 2006

Letter: Smokers surely can't plead ignorance: I have lived in eight countries, and in every one of those countries I never met a smoker who did not know that cigarettes or tobacco products were addictive and bad for their health. They just didn't care, and said so.

All that glitter is not Gold's, says lawsuit seeking half of poker win: Sam Skolnik; Call it the $6 million promise.

John Katsilometes notes a schedule change - and possibly more on the horizon - for 'Phantom: Las Vegas Spectacular': Producers are tweaking the schedule for "Phantom," with the changes to take effect Sept. 12, when the show will be entering its fourth month at its $40 million theater at the Venetian. The new schedule has performances set for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 and 10 p.m., Fridays and Sundays 7 p.m. only, dark Wednesday. The show is currently dark on Tuesdays.

Editorial: Stop the whining: The Associated Press reported that New Hampshire's Democratic politicians already are threatening to ignore the Democratic National Committee's decision and move up the state's primary before Nevada's caucus is held. "The DNC did not give New Hampshire its primary, and it is not taking it away," New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch said.

Editorial: How to make the grade: An important measure of tiers is the quality of students the colleges are able to attract. While fourth- and third-tier schools are not devoid of outstanding students, the academic background overall of the student body is unimpressive when compared with students at second- and first-tier schools.

'No you don't' to wee-hour 'I do's': By Tony Cook; Clark County could have saved Britney Spears a lot of grief if it had cut the graveyard shift at its marriage license bureau 2 1/2 years ago.

FLASHPOINT for Aug 22, 2006: I know it's only August, but I can't wait for January so I can start watching County Commission meetings again. Come January, the days of bland and poses are over. It's Chris and Cowboy Time. I hear that Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani has really upset the non-G-Stung members of the commission with her "they're all kinda corrupt" campaign against Myrna Williams. Now I am sure that they will get over this anger by the time Giunchigliani takes office in January - sure they will. But to see Giunchigliani operating with old pal Tom Collins is going to be something. Who can ...

TAKE FIVE: JACE MEIER: Jace Meier is the son most parents can only dream about.

No politician left behind: By Emily Richmond; As 700 new teachers nibbled grilled chicken and tortellini Monday, they got a great big welcome to Nevada in the form of a lesson about politics and public education.

Letter: Political rush may allow terrorists to go free: The problem is that I keep waiting for evidence against the alleged bombers that will stand up in court. So far there has been none, and one wonders why the police did not wait until airline tickets were purchased, passports attained and bomb materials gathered before making arrests.

'Frenetic' CCSN has some really big plans: To say that Community College of Southern Nevada President Richard Carpenter is ambitious is to say that his boss, university system Chancellor Jim Rogers, has a few bucks.

Editorial: A G-sting day of reckoning: The time for such soul-searching was before they betrayed the public and sold their votes to strip-club owner Michael Galardi. The Associated Press described Herrera as appearing "choked with emotion" while he apologized to the court, and it reported that Kincaid-Chauncey "daubed her eyes" while telling U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks that she regretted the pain she caused her family and friends.

Reaching out to minorities: By Timothy Pratt; As he was leaving an event where Dina Titus had offered her platform to black community leaders, Cordell Stokes said he heard a few stray comments on the sound of Georgia in the candidate for governor's voice.

Letter: Payments to civilians drip with oil, blood: Reminds me of Richard Nixon's pre-election increase of our post-service benefits after we returned to civilian life after service in the Vietnam conflict. Nothing like a gift of cash to secure a few extra votes.