Ask Nevadans which government agency in the state typifies their impression of the classic dysfunctional bureaucracy, and hands down, the Department of Motor Vehicles stands either at the top of the list or close to it. Either way, the DMV has a questionable reputation.
It’s Christmas Eve, a quarter to ten, and Spark Elf is getting antsy. In just two hours, he and his fellow elves Bobbin and Nutshell will help Santa deliver presents. The reindeer are ready, the sleigh is full, and because he feels “so good,” Spark snaps an elfie.
For some reason doubtless buried in our prehistoric past, most humans find volcanos interesting, as long as they’re not spewing molten rock and poison gas. If you’d like to visit one that has behaved itself for about 10,000 years but still shows the interesting geologic features acquired in its flaming youth, Amboy Crater makes a fine day trip this time of year. The temperature will be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the same day in Las Vegas, and the route I suggest will take you through the Mojave National Preserve, an agreeable place in early winter.
If you think public utilities are just cold, heartless, regulated monopolies that are forever bent on seeking rate increases, keep reading for another side of the story. Yes, indeed, there is some give-back.
From its beginnings as a poem written from author Shane Koyczan’s experiences, to a song, then to a video created with the help of 86 animators, “To This Day” is filled with some of the most powerful words you may ever read.
By most definitions, giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth, and they will surely inspire awe in anyone fortunate enough to see them. And because they grow within a long weekend’s journey of Southern Nevada, you can be among the fortunate. But if you intend to do that this summer, it’s best to plan now, for this kind of trip will be most pleasant if you make reservations, allowing time to incorporate other activities.
Sometimes, even the best intentions get out of hand, as you’ll see in the new novel “Charly’s Epic Fiascos: Beware of Boys” by Kelli London.
Oh, it’s nice to see Seven McKnight again. In “True Story,” we get a chance to catch up on where she’s been and who she’s dating, and we get to spend some time with her friends, too. That’s fun — if you can understand what’s being said in the conversations between the characters. Like other books in this series, Simone uses lots of slang in this book which, while it makes the story authentic, also can make it hard to grasp. On the flipside, there’s enough humor in this book and the characters are appealing enough to make a reader want to stick around and, happily, the confusion eventually takes care of itself.
Question: Can I start feeding my fruit trees now, or should I wait until spring?
Start a New Year’s column with a catch phrase from the early 1970s? Crazy, I admit.
Q: Is using wood from a commercial orchard safe for smoking meats? I don’t know whether you use any of these, but I figured you might have an answer .
This summer, your parents say that you’ll be doing more around the house.
Have residential burglaries been on the rise in Summerlin, justifying the jitters some residents are suffering? Indeed they have. But is it an epidemic, as some might suggest? Not in neighborhoods where there are efforts by residents to watch out for one another by keeping a close eye on who’s coming and going.
