Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Lights, Camera, Mesquite!

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

Call me Captain Video today. After 21, with Kevin Spacey doing his rent-a-Satan act, anyone would be understandably leery of movies about card-counting … especially ones directed by someone named Delaney Dragon. (Would he be any relation to The Eiger … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Mesquite, Movies | 1 Comment

Curtis pwns Cavuto

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

Neil Cavuto, a loud, whiny, obnoxious ass-clown and former Enron apologist tries to get our own Anthony Curtis to buy into his setup. Cavuto — as usual — doesn’t know what he’s talking about and Anthony does the impossible … … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Politics, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Words to live by, Mike Ensign, Danny Tarkanian

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

“Don’t have a lifetime of regret from sticking with a career that pays the bills; choose a vocation that fascinates you.” That’s one of several maxims passed down by the mother of Raving Consulting Vice President of Operations Christine Faria. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

“[President Barack] Obama‘s team, content to have bailed out Wall Street, seem to now run the rest of the economy on a cash accounting basis. That’s bad, self-defeating policy.” — The Washington Note Publisher Steve Clemons, accusing the White House … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Macau, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Two minutes at Mandarin Oriental

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

It can’t be as cool as it looks, right? Trust me … it’s cooler.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Free but priceless

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

Skies are back to battleship gray in Sin City, as we’re pelted with another round of rainstorms. However … last week’s four-day deluge may ruined the week for locals and conventioneers but weekenders reaped the benefits in the form of … Continue reading →

Posted in Tourism, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Free but priceless

Head over to Twitter …

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

I’m in the nexus between one big research project and another, scrambling like made to catch up on news in the casinosphere. So the blogorrhea is suffering but the Twitter feed is jumping like a pack of jackrabbits. So check … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Technology | Comments Off on Head over to Twitter …

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

“Once visiting Oceanus, one can see why it is not having a negative impact on Sands [Macao] (the quality of properties are vastly different).” — J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, politely dissing Stanley Ho‘s newest gambling den, built in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Illegal casino bucks mar NV governor’s race

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

OK, with a candidate field that includes scandal-prone incumbent Midnight Jim Gibbons, you might ask, “What’s there to mar?” Well, how ’bout illegal overseas campaign cash funneled to former North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon (left) by the reclusive owners … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Election, Harry Reid, International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, Politics, Station Casinos | 2 Comments

Paging Estée Lauder …

Posted on January 26, 2010 by David McKee

“Back to Vegas … just how would one combine hotel room disinfectant, smoke, glittery exotic dancer lotion, rental car upholstery cleaner and buffet food into a pleasant cologne? For authenticity, you’d also need an injection of White Shoulders that has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Tourism | Comments Off on Paging Estée Lauder …

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 26, 2010 by David McKee

“He’s gone all Criss Angel and it’s not for the better.” — LVA staffer’s comment on the gloomy, vampiric-looking Lance Burton who haunts the newish ads for his Monte Carlo show.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 25, 2010 by David McKee

“There’s [sic] still rumors about Lady Gaga signing with the Palms. Singing sensation Matt Goss has ended his four months at the Palms, so there may just be room available for someone new.” — Monti Rock III, from his latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof | 1 Comment

Ghost town

Posted on January 22, 2010 by David McKee

Economic forecasting is a forbiddingly tricky science but you still have to wonder what convinced MGM Mirage that there was either A) an unabated market for ultra-high-end retail in Las Vegas or B) that such demand as already existed could … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 7 Comments

S&G readers are the best

Posted on January 22, 2010 by David McKee

How come? Well, here’s a fr’instance: I was chatting with one of our regulars yesterday and he volunteered an idea that gave me one of those, “Wow! I could have had a V-8” moments. In discussing beloved but hard to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Bally Technologies, Downtown, IGT, Tamares Group, Technology, Tourism | 10 Comments

More from the mailbag …

Posted on January 22, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s some inside insight into what was happening during the most recent Consumer Electronics Show, during which Las Vegas Sands tossed some exhibitors from their Venelazzo suites because they were conducting product demos off the show floor. A show attendee … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 22, 2010 by David McKee

“This is of serious concern to me and to the other commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan because, indeed, it conveys a perception that is absolutely contrary to what it is that we have sought to do. It is disturbing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, International | 3 Comments

Gibbons replaced!

Posted on January 21, 2010 by David McKee

So says the U.S. Postal Service, so it’s gotta be true, right? On my “Change of Address Confirmation,” under “Community Resources,” it lists the chief executive of the Silver State as “Gov. Jon Corzine (D),” followed by a Reno phone … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

From the mail bag

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

“How is that nobody seems to be giving (dis)credit where it’s due regarding the failure of the Monorail? It’s pretty simple — the damn thing is too far from the Strip. If you’re standing on the corner in front of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on From the mail bag

Loveman lays down the law

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

You can do whatever you like at a Harrah’s Entertainment property … provided it’s legal. CEO Gary Loveman explains, albeit with an uncharacteristic degree of opacity:

Posted in Harrah's | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

“[Oakland Raiders Coach Tom] Cable has pointed to the team’s improvement after [JaMarcus] Russell‘s midseason benching as proof that he deserves another year to get the Raiders back to the playoffs.” — No, it just proves that Bruce Gradkowski is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports | 2 Comments