Print edition for November 28, 2006

John Katsilometes reminds South Point owner Michael Gaughan about a bit of poetry: The ode to imbibing is behind the bar at Brendan's Irish Pub at the Orleans, which was originally part of Gaughan's Coast Casinos (which became a subsidiary of Boyd Gaming). The piece reads, "In all this world why do I think there are many reasons why we drink. Smooth whiskey, a cold pint - least we be dry, good friends, great times or any other reason why." Gaughan's name appears at the bottom of the poem.

UNLV Football: That, coupled with the fact that 16 starters in that game were underclassmen, gives head coach Mike Sanford reason for optimism as he prepares for his third season in Las Vegas.

LOOKING IN ON: ENTERTAINMENT: If you're looking for entertainment during the holidays that won't bust your Christmas budget, there's plenty to choose from.

Editorial: War a failure by any name: Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, on Sunday criticized the training and use of Iraqi forces, saying that Iraqi army battalions serving in peaceful provinces should be moved into combat areas.

Letter: Just who are the barbarians?: Then we have O.J., whose guilt of just such a crime may be a question in only his own mind and that of some money-hungry, success-driven media house trying to capitalize on the horrendous murder of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson - until they backed off because of public outrage.

Young black men face conspiracy of events: By Timothy Pratt; The Rev. Robert Fowler, pastor at Victory Baptist Church, has a way with words.

Chanos: Walters probe up to next AG: Nevada Attorney General-elect Catherine Cortez Masto will have to decide what, if any, legal charges might arise from a long-running investigation of developer Bill Walters' aborted land deal with Las Vegas, Attorney General George Chanos said Monday.

FLASHPOINT for Nov 28, 2006: When the only guy you beat is John Kerry, you might have a problem. That's where Harry Reid ranked - 19th out of 20 - in a poll that gauged the warmth of the public's feelings toward various leaders. The "thermometer reading" (people were asked to pick a number between 1 and 100) conducted by Quinnipiac University two weeks ago found that the incoming Senate majority leader had a 41.2 score. That barely eclipsed Kerry's 39.6 and was below the president's 43.8. The clear winner with a score of 64.8 was former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. And, alas, ...

Letter: Conflict of rights needs to be fixed: Best definition of an individual's rights I ever heard was this: "Your right to swing a baseball bat stops at my nose." I interpret this to mean that while everybody has the right of enjoyment, when person A's enjoyment impinges upon person B's enjoyment, A must hold back.

Letter: Political signs' rods are dangerous, too: Donald Schmiedel, Las Vegas

Hookah bars predict smoky futures: Whether customers will continue to light the hookah after dinner at their favorite restaurant seems to be a matter of what is being lit.

Jazz acoustic guitarist Earl Klugh back in Vegas after taking a break: When: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday

Brian Greenspun on China's commitment to take its place among the nations of the world and the opportunity that opens for America: The last word on China? Not hardly.

Letter: U.S. needs to look at example of Vietnam: Saddam was a bad, bad man but getting rid of Saddam has made Iraq, and to a certain extent, the entire Middle East a potential powder keg. Iraq is not ready for any form of democracy. Maybe some time in the future, but not now! The recently held democratic elections in Iraq have done nothing in terms of bringing peace to that country. The best thing that could happen to Iraq would be to establish a benevolent dictatorship and then later work for democratic reforms.

Western states see hope for getting education funds: By Emily Richmond; Since 2002 Nevada and other Western states have argued with little success that the federal government should chip in more education funding to compensate for owning so much land that does not generate tax revenues for the states.

Editorial: Don't be fooled by spin: But Edward Sproat, the administration's point man on Yucca Mountain, used the word last year in his Senate confirmation hearing, saying accountability was one of his guiding values.

Editorial: No lighting up? Lighten up: Many tavern and supper club owners fear that if their customers cannot light up before, during and after their meals, or while playing slot machines or drinking beer and liquor, they will stay away in droves.

Trolling for predators: Garry Dale has gnawed his fingernails to knobs. For weeks now, he has spent hours holed up in a car watching Metro cops get robbed; sometimes at gunpoint, sometimes several times a day, always apparently unarmed.

Letter: Parents in county should be proud: Having made this statement, I can also say that what I saw this day from our kids in Clark County gives me some degree of gratification. For all the parents who had a child attend this forum, you can be extremely proud of what I saw. The hundreds of young men and women who shared their opinions at this forum definitely proved there is good happening in our schools. The individuals who want to criticize our system of education would have found nothing negative to say about what happened at the Sun Youth Forum.

Letter: Thanks for pointing out toxic dangers: I am confident that these nonsmokers who are so adamant about the air their children breathe, etc., have done nothing to rid their homes of toxic cleaning chemicals; continue to feed them hormone/pesticide laden foods; aren't checking into environmentally safe transportation; and are driving their SUVs, filling us with pollution. They also just don't get it that casinos and bars should be restricted to adults only, as she pointed out.