Nevada Officials: Get Off Your Butts and Fix the Budget!

Thus begins the rant of the day: I am in amazement that the State of Nevada continues to blast news of dwindling coffers and over-budget arguments when the state representatives refuse to look at the one area that can and would get us out of our hole with the expediency of a Space Shuttle launch: the casinos. It is a fact that the average state gaming tax in this country is 30% (figures contained within this blog come from the American Gaming Association website). While other states figure out that gaming taxes can be directly earmarked to pay for improved education, infrastructure and state programs, such as Medicaid, the State of Nevada has the LOWEST gaming tax in the nation, at 6.75%! We have the most gaming revenue of ANY state in the Union (and this is by a large percentage) and yet Nevada continues to allow the casinos to operate with massive profits (even with lower patron numbers, which by the way are very much skewed) and not have them pay their share. Our teachers are struggling to survive on an average wage of $27,957, while the median income for other workers in the state is $44,426 (teacherportal.com), and there are more cuts proposed. Gee, let's see if we can figure out why our state education rank is 49 (and 50 in some categories)! Until this state gets off its collective duff and start doing something about this short-fall in the state gaming tax, we will continue to see these numbers drop, and our student dropout rate will continue to rise. There is no way to attract better teachers to a state that refuses to provide them with adequate resources and salaries. A proposal that was put forth recently by the state legislature suggests implementing a state lottery to help pay for education and other needed programs, but of course the big casinos in Las Vegas want nothing to do with the "competition", as that means less money in their pockets. Let me propose this to the state...FORCE THE CASINOS' HAND (no pun intended). Give them an ultimatum: Pony up more money by way of a gaming tax increase, or we implement the lottery! Anyone who has travelled out to Primm to go over into California and purchase lottery tickets knows how busy the station that sells lottery tickets gets. Lines go around the building, sometimes two to three times. This is just one location! There are statistics that show how successful state lotteries can be in earmarking money for needed programs and departments, such as education. The casinos know that this is a legitimate threat, and will do anything to keep this from happening. That being the case, it is time to hold our elected officials responsible and make our opinions known! Remember, this is OUR government. We don't answer to them, they answer to US! Stand up for our state and call your representatives to send a clear message: no elected official will get support from their constituancy if they are not willing to make this ultimatum a reality! One voice CAN make a difference! It's time for the citizens of Nevada to stop complaining and start taking our government back!

Medicare Part D - Part Cruel Joke!

Thus begins the rant of the day: Though I have been away from my writing lately, I want to bring a very glaring issue to my readers as soon as possible. This issue is regarding Medicare Part D, extra assistance for low-income individuals, and the ineptitude of the government to properly oversee this plan. My girlfriend's mother is on Medicare Part D and has had the special assistance offered by Social Security to help low-income citizens with the monthly cost of the plan. She has been on the same plan with the same income level since the inception of the Part D plan offered by CMS (The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). To give a bit of background on how the additional assistance works, it is something that is applied for through Social Security and provides assistance to those who cannot afford the monthly payments that are required to be on the Part D Prescription Plan. Not to bore you with the details, those who have income and assets that total less than $13,000 qualify for the extra help. My girlfriend's mother qualified originally, and continues to qualify. This year, in the infinite stupidity of CMS and Social Security, letters were sent out to several hundred thousand people who qualified in the past to contact Social Security to "re-verify" their status to receive the extra assistance. For those of you who have not worked in the industry (I used to administer a Part D plan for a company based here in Las Vegas) this is CMS and Social Security code for "we screwed up and lost the information for several of our qualifying members and we need to get your information again". The issue that I have with this is that the letters sent to members are VERY confusing, mis-leading and generally contradictory. Many senior citizens who receive these letters were unaware of what they meant, and according to a direct quote from a Social Security representative that we spoke to today: "We have only received about 10% response to the letters". This means that hundreds of thousands of low-income seniors are starting to receive coupon books from their Part D plans telling them they have to pay full price for the plan, or they will be dropped from the plan! The fact that these low-income seniors could potentially lose their coverage because of yet ANOTHER mistake made by CMS and Social Security is no surprise, but is extremely maddening. This plan has been poorly managed and riddled with red-tape, confusing and undecipherable correspondence and general mis-direction since the beginning. A used car salesman would baulk at the deception that this program has continually spewed forth! To make matters worse, my girlfriend, with my assistance as I have good knowledge of how the game works, contacted the Social Security number that was listed on the letter, and received...wait for it...the runaround! Another item that lacks surprise when dealing with the government. When she spoke to the person at Social Security, she was told that everything was fine in their system back in February when the letter was first received. Of course, she still received a letter just this past week from the provider of the plan and a coupon book for full price of copayments every month. Curious. She called the same office again and was now told that she has qualified every year, but this year her qualification was strangely not in the system; again code for "we lost her data". She was then told BY SOCIAL SECURITY that she needed to contact Medicare, as they are the ones who determine eligibility for the extra assistance. This is ABSOLUTELY false; consider the fact that the letter saying that she needed to re-verify status CAME from Social Security! She then contacted Medicare and after a 20 minute wait was told that it was in fact Social Security that handles this. Correct answer, but a waste of 20 minutes. She finally decided to take more time out of her day and take her mother down to the local Social Security office and get this settled once and for all. This is where she was told about the letters going out to so many others, and that she now has to RESUBMIT proof of qualification for extra assistance! A process that can take 8-10 weeks! Are you KIDDING ME? My girlfriend's mother is extremely fortunate to have someone who can take the time and has the resources to not only pay for the plan while the issue is resolved, but who actually can make time to get this issue cleared up in the first place! So many of our seniors do not have this luxury, and don't have the means or mode to either sit on the phone with several departments or go to their local Social Security office to get this cleared up. Yes, this is another in the LONG list of governmental agencies managed by crooks, devils and general swindlers. The American public HAS to stop allowing the government to operate in a way that any private business would be bankrupt in a matter of days! Hold your local, state and federal representatives responsible for their actions and actually take control of OUR government back from the cheating, corrupt and unmoral "leadership" before it is too late! Pass this information along to anyone you know who may be on Medicare Part D and low-income. Contact your representation to lodge complaints against the inadequate operation of Medicare and get something DONE about this and other abuses!

FINALLY! ANOTHER POST!

Ok, I know I have taken a bit of time off from writing, so let's get back to the good stuff. Where oh where has the Roaming Gnome been lately? Well, let me say that it has been a year full of travel and intrigue. I can say that the adventures have not taken me internationally as of late, but I certainly have been able to tour around the central part of our fine country! This year I have gone to the following cities/towns/truckstops: Phoenix/Scottsdale, New Mexico, Why, Arizona (which is a question AND a town), Sonoma, California, Chicago (yes, again), Missouri, Upper Michigan, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and currently I am in Kansas. No, not the fun part of Kansas...I am in Dodge City, which is a contradiction in terms. I am in Dodge, but I would say that a city should have more than one gate at their airport.

The travel that I have been doing has been wonderful, truthfully. I have had the opportunity to visit downtown Chicago again, which I LOVE, see Mount Rushmore, attend a Green Bay Packers game at legendary Lambeau Field (even though it is my Vikings mortal enemy, it is a MUST to see a game there), and enjoy the fine wines of Sonoma County, all while getting paid to be there! Pictures will soon follow from some of the stops on my way. I am most thrilled to be getting back to the blog, and promise my 3 or 4 readers that I will return to writing more often! Until then, ciao!

New Week, New City!

Well, here I am in one of the U.S.' greatest cities: Chicago! I must admit, this is my first time in this city, and it will NOT be my last! This is the most INCREDIBLE place! It is amazing to think that I get PAID to travel to these wonderful places! I am truly a blessed individual!

Another indication of my truly good luck is the timing of my visit! This last Saturday was "Venetian Night", which is a celebration of the Italian influence in the city, highlighted by a evening lighted boat parade and a fireworks display, launched from barges on Lake Michigan. I was told by one of the locals that this fireworks display is second in size to the 4th of July display. I must say, if this was 2nd, I cannot IMAGINE what the 4th looks like! Unreal! I also made the brilliant move to check on a boat tour of the city that evening, which wound up being an architectural tour of the city down the Chicago River, followed by a trip onto Lake Michigan for a lake view of the fireworks. I cannot begin to describe the wonder and beauty of seeing some of the most spectacular fireworks I have ever seen, and to see them against the majesty of the Chicago skyline! What an experience! If you ever want to take a trip to Chicago, make sure to come during Venetian Night and take this cruise! You will never forget it!

Seeing the Chicago skyline at night is another reason that taking a boat tour of the city toward the evening is a great idea. Try to go on the last tour, or the sunset tour. I assure that you won't be disappointed! The beauty of the sun setting behind the metal mountains of Chicago is breathtaking to say the least! The tour that I took (aboard "Chicago's Little Lady") was a marvelous way to see the city, and learn incredibly interesting facts about the city. There are things that you may never discover about the city if you don't take one of these tours. For an example, we passed a building that in itself was beautiful (a 6-7 story red brick building covered in ivy), but the building was not the impressive part; what occured on that site was. This was the very spot that Abraham Lincoln was given the nomination for President of the United States. The tour guides are incredibly knowledgeable, funny, and insightful. The guide that we had was also somewhat of a local celebrity, as he appeared in a scene of the movie "Risky Business". He was the waiter in the scene where Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay are dining in the restaurant on top of the John Hancock tower. While you may not end up with this local legend as your tour guide, I assure you will get just as good of a tour from any of the guides. This is a great way to see the city!

Another great way is by taking a ride to the top of the Sears Tower. This was breathtaking! The line to purchase tickets and ascend in the elevators is very long, so be sure to go very early, as part of a tour group, or around 5:00 pm, as this is the slow period (as it is dinner time). This is a must do in Chicago. The ability to stand atop (or nearly the top) of the 3rd highest building in the world (and the highest tower in the United States) is something you cannot miss. On a clear day, you are able to see 4 states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin). Unfortunately during my visit, there was not a lot of wind and was therefore quite hazy. Nevertheless, the view is one you cannot describe with words. I have placed a few pics on the site for you to see. This is one terrific site!

Oh, and let me just say that I got one of the greatest thrills a sports fan can have...I attended a Cubs game at the iconic Wrigley Field! "The Friendly Confines", as it is so nicknamed, is one of the most incredible places to see a game! I was able to get a wonderful seat (15 rows from the field, just above the Cubs dugout) and to see a game here HAS to be experienced. The history of the park, the splendor of the ivy-covered outfield walls, and the insane crowd are things that make a trip to Wrigley Field something that must be experienced even if you aren't a baseball fan! It was magical. The energy was amazing, and the fans of the Cubs are some of the most entertaining and wonderful I have ever been around! What a blast!

Needless to say, my time in Chicago has been marvelous! Next stop, back to Mississippi! I will be traveling to Vicksburg, MS (near the Louisiana border) for a project. I am looking forward to my return. It is actually a very lovely state, and hopefully there will be time for me to get to New Orleans while I am there. It is about a 3 hour drive, but it would be WELL worth it!

Home at LAST!

Well, I have managed to make it home for a few days before my departure to another adventure! I came back from New Mexico and immediately made my way back to the beauty and temperate climate of Temecula, CA. I LOVE it there, and I really would consider making that my home down the road. I spend the better part of a week there before returning to Vegas.

I'll be heading out to Chicago on Thursday, which will be very exciting, as I have never been able to explore the city before. Hopefully I will be able to make it to Wrigley Field and catch a Cubs game while I'm there! More from the road later!

Changing of the format

Thus begins the rant of the day:

Ok, so now that I AM the roaming gnome, I thought this would be a good spot to let all family, friends, and anyone else who might be interested, know about my travels around the country and the world as a corporate trainer in the gaming business! Having said that, I will catch everyone up on where I have been in the last two months.

June saw me starting out in Tunica, Mississippi (one week after my knee surgery, by the way!) I flew into Memphis, and drove 30 miles over the Mississippi border to Tunica. It is a very quaint area, and getting to see the Southern leg of the mighty Mississippi River was awe-inspiring! It is quite amusing to have seen the start of the river while living in Minnesota, and now the Southern portion! While on this trip, I was able to shoot back up to Memphis to tour Graceland (Elvis Presley's home), as well as Beale Street, the home of the Blues! The food was AMAZING! I got to eat world famous ribs at the Blues City Cafe (featured on the Food Network). I will post a few pics of the trip for all to enjoy!

Next I went to Espanola, New Mexico (15 miles North of Santa Fe). I was able to spend time in Santa Fe, as well as meeting up with Millie and Ben (my aunt and uncle) and Jeff (my cousin) who lives nearby. The weather was challenging, but it is wonderful to see rain for once! Unfortunately, the system that we were installing was not functioning, so I wound up leaving the property and going to Temecula, California for a week.

Temecula is one of my favorite spots. It is just North of San Diego, one of my absolute favorite places in the world! I was able to visit Zarco's Cigar Lounge in old town Temecula, as well as get to some of the wonderful wineries in the Temecula Valley! I also enjoyed a jazz concert at Thornton Winery, and as most of you know, I am a HUGE jazz fan! I saw Hiroshima and Acoustic Alchemy. They were FANTASTIC! What a great show! An intimate atmosphere in the winery's courtyard, and only about 500 people there! It was like a private concert!

Today, I have returned to New Mexico to finish the project we began a few weeks ago. My fingers are crossed that things will finally be back on track so that we can complete the training. Next week, I will be back in Temecula. YEAH! Mom, Dad, and Kristie are coming out to meet me there! I am so excited!

Thus begins the rant of the day:

Welcome to March madness; an event every sports fan waits for all year, much like the Super Bowl. With March madness upon us there are a few things I like to get off my chest:

#1 -- Why is it that the "Western conference" is played in the East? The last time I checked, east and west are on opposite sides of the country! It frustrates me to no end that fans of colleges that reside on the West Coast are forced to travel across the country to watch their own teams compete in the tournament. How does this benefit the students of these colleges? I understand that television revenue drives everything nowadays, but it is ridiculous that the NCAA finds it appropriate to force Western-based colleges and their fans to spend exorbitant amounts of money on tickets as well as the cost of travel to go watch their favorite team compete on the other side of the country. This is just the latest in a long string of awful decisions by the NCAA and proves once again that the leadership of the NCAA needs to be summarily dismissed. At best this shows the NCAA's irresponsibility.

#2 -- Why does the NCAA feel it necessary to have a "game before the games" on Tuesday? Having a game to determine the whipping boy for the country's number one team is pathetic at best. When did we find it necessary to get more excitement built up for the tournament? They certainly did not require this in years past; why now? The answer is quite simple: revenue. The NCAA wanted to find a way to get even more money by getting ESPN involved in the tournament directly. Will this mean more money for the schools, I think not. This just proves the greed of the NCAA lives well in its "leadership".

#3 -- Why are several hours required to hold the NCAA tournament selection show? The answer to this question is quite clear: revenue. Are you starting to see the pattern in this discussion? The fact that they drag this 15 minute event on for hours shows the NCAA's greed, as well as the television networks. While we are on the subject of the selection committee, why is it so difficult for them to figure out who the best teams are? The fact that teams like Arizona State was left out of the tournament in 2008, which nearly everyone questioned, shows the ineptitude of the selection committee as well as the arrogance. Clearly, there is a bias toward the East Coast teams, but we certainly did not need a very evident reminder. Will someone please get rid of the NCAA or at least dramatically revamp it?!

As much as I enjoy the NCAA tournament, I find it necessary to bring up some very obvious points of correction. Competing in and winning tournament games is such a vital part of the schools' revenue, allowing them to hire better instructors, make improvements in the school, and generally bringing attention to programs such as Mount St. Mary's that may go overlooked otherwise, that it is pathetic when the NCAA decides to ruin this time with their own greed. Please don't get me wrong, I adore tournament time. There is nothing better than watching a full day of excellent basketball being played at the highest level, and seeing teams overachieve on a national stage. All I'm asking for is someone to look at the way the NCAA handles their affairs and to correct their many errors and their clear arrogance.