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Friday, Dec. 24, 2010 | 2:01 a.m.
Sun archives
Dear 2011:
I know what you’re thinking: I sure hope 2010 left a little cheddar for me. After all, this year pretty much wrung everything out of Nevada and Las Vegas. 2010 got to have all the wicked fun — putting us on that dumbest-cities list, punking our economy, foreclosing all our houses, throwing a Tea Party. Speaking of which, you gotta hand it to 2010 — that crazy election was a masterstroke. Driving Sharron Angle straight at us in a game of chicken? That was Stephen King-like in its scary brilliance! If I were a year, I wouldn’t want to follow 2010.
You just missed the splashy opening of the Cosmopolitan, the last high-end resort for leather-wearing animal lovers that’ll be built here for a long, long time. 2010 squeaked that one in. You, 2011, will be lucky if there are three Taco Bell ribbon-cuttings during your tenure.
And look at 2012 — you aren’t even settled in yet, and he’s already collecting love as the probable time-frame for real economic recovery to start showing here. That’s also when the Smith Center for the Performing Arts will open, and when Zappos will turn downtown into a knowledge-workers paradise. We’re all looking forward to that year.
I figure you might be a little miffed, 2011.
So I’m taking this break from holiday shopping — I got Oscar Goodman the Lego™ Mayoral Legacy Kit (“downtown arena sold separately”), and for the Nevada Legislature, volumes of Dickens, with adorable urchins and picturesque slums, so lawmakers can visualize their goal when they start budgeting — to cheer you up.
So cheer up, 2011; you have a lot to look forward to.
Take the legislative session I just mentioned. Very important for a year like you. Sure, it’ll be the usual monster-truck rally of political egos climbing over each other, but that’s just the warm-up act. You need to focus on the budget; that can make or break you. Of course, it’s possible that lawmakers, staggered by a deficit estimated by some to be more than $2 billion, will make it easy for you by working across the aisle to fix it without decimating the state.
Kidding! You’re going to need a good sense of humor, 2011. (At least you won’t be getting texts from Jim Gibbons every few minutes. Drove 2009 nuts.)
And, hey, thanks to the U.S. Census Bureau, you get to accept delivery of Nevada’s fourth congressional seat! Wave that in 2012’s smug face!
Of course, it will require a gruesome redistricting process, in which our politicians carefully redraw congressional and state districts to ensure another 10 years of status quo. (If you would also have them redraw the District at Green Valley Ranch to include a bookstore, I’d consider it a huge favor.) However distasteful, this is also your chance to, as 2010 likes to say, take a lemon situation and make lemonade: You can leave your mark on the whole decade.
After all that heavy action, you’ll want a light diversion, so it’s a good thing we’re electing a new mayor. Goodman leaves office in June. Then someone’s gotta get in there, sweep aside the empties and boldly be one of seven equal votes on the city council. Early candidates include Councilman Steve Ross and Larry Brown, who just stepped down as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats to enter this race.
But those guys are boring, 2011. I have a better idea. You should rig it so we elect the rapper Coolio, who recently told the other paper, “I plan on getting really involved in the betterment of life in Vegas.” A mayor with civic vision and a chill flow? That’s a legacy any year would be proud of.
That’s it for now, 2011. Best not to hit you with too much reality just yet. After all, you still have a week to change your mind.
There were a few franchises that opened, Smash Burger, Town Center seems to be a big success. Tommies burger opened. It seems people come from Socal and eat a places they eat at down there.
Rita Rudner is about the only person that could match Goodman's star power. Maybe we need a mayor, who would go around the country promoting the area, and a city manager who would run the day to day operations, such as a President and prime minister in a European government.
The big question is: "who is Scott Dickensheets and why should we care?" Merry Xmas
Abort the baby.
Skip 2011.
Go directly to 2012 and launch the nukes! LOL
No just take better care of the newborn year.
Give 2011 a chance, say...6 months.
If the Republicans are STILL gaining ground support, THEN launch the nukes!
Hang in there. Happy days will be here again.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my Vegas post-a-comment friends. I enjoyed your comments and look forward to next year.
Mred,
Scott Dickensheets is a man with opinions just like you are. Difference being is he puts his name and face to his pubically spoken opinions and does not tend to say as many unfounded things as you do.
BTW, Tommy's has been open for a couple years now and they are still doing well. (details)
Mred, you have a great new years holiday and hope you can make 2011 a better year.
Talking out loud to 2010 and his new, baby brother, eh?
Personification...accept no substitute. LOL
Merry Christmas, Scott. This was an excellent piece.
This guy Dicksheet is the worst writer ever.
Downer-guy, when you insult someone, at least spell his name correctly.
When your review (well...opinion) is this generalized (no better writers were given for a comparison and no specific writing skill flaws were revealed, right?), then you should keep it simple.
Example: 'Scott (two Ts, you notice) is the worst writer ever.'
See! Now, no one knows that you can't spell his last name correctly! (Your secret Fs in English class are not publicly revealed, right?)
Now start over...and tell me why I should abandon the most forthcoming and insightful columnist, I know and give me SOMEWHERE else to go.
I'll need a new columnist's name, location and a list of Scott Dickensheet(s)' frailties.
This way Scott can improve his writing skills to meet your higher level of expectations. Correct?
It could be your Christmas gift to us.
Take your time. Downer and watch your spelling for credibility.
Okay...go. (and Merry Christmas, Sunshine)
* * * * * * * * * * *
Hope you're taking notes on this one, Scott.
LOL and Meery chrisptmas to u, 2 and the rest of the Dictionsheep family.
Not that anybody asked, but 2010 was an interestingly year for me, personally. It couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. But then the pendulum swung back the other way and went very well for both me (work-wise), and my kids (school-wise; they both got accepted to the magnet schools of their choice). The year has kind of fizzled out, here at the end. But all in all, 2010 was pretty good to us.
How was 2010 for the rest of you all, personally speaking?
Vegaslee: "Scott Dickensheets is a man with opinions just like you are. Difference being is he puts his name and face to his pubically spoken opinions and does not tend to say as many unfounded things as you do."
Um, just like how you put your name and face to your publicly spoken opinions? Just sayin'.....
"who is Scott Dickensheets and why should we care?" is a joke...just like...I'm a crackpot from the "I don't care generation" ...is a joke...
If I got paid for it, I'd put my name on it...
(Ok I got Steak and Shake confused with Tommies, I guess I failed HamBurger U.)
Right on Scott!!