Reporters’ Notebook

Randy Thomas, director of networking systems for the Clark County School District, gave a brief explanation about complications posed by wireless laptops. The talk admittedly was "nerdy" but did not go unappreciated by at least one School Board member.

In her grandmotherly voice, Sheila Moulton said, "Thank you, Randy. You're young and maybe geeklike, but that's a wonderful way to be."

JAMES HAUG

Overheard on the Police scanner: "Speaking of butt hurt, I have my physical this afternoon."

In a review that praised singer Norah Jones' recent performance at the Palms, Review-Journal music critic Jason Bracelin described her voice as "a sultry sedative."

He definitely nailed it, at least for one guy sitting way back in the mezzanine section.

As people streamed to the exit at the end of the concert, the man sat motionless in his seat with his head bowed forward and his hands folded in his lap. He was sound asleep.

After a few jokes at the man's expense, one Jones fan finally walked up and tapped the guy on the shoulder.

It appeared that he had a nice nap.

DON HAM

Here's a story that's sure to appeal to those who think Cashman Field is rundown and the Las Vegas 51s deserve a new stadium:

At a late-season game in the press box at Cashman, a Review-Journal sportswriter felt what he thought was a bug crawling up his leg. He smacked his knee, shook his pants, and out fell a mouse.

The reporter survived the encounter, but, sadly, the little rodent was called up to the big ballpark in the sky.

For the record, though, the mouse died not at the hands of the baseball scribe, but in one of the traps that the maintenance crew put out after the incident.

Animal rights activists, please plan your protests accordingly.

TODD DEWEY

During David Ashley's three years as president of UNLV, his office purchased $83,205.03 worth of equipment -- lots of computers, a video conference system, a giant screen TV.

One item, a desk, caused a bit of an uproar. The desk cost as much as a new car, $16,051.12, according to a review by the higher education system's internal audit department.

The audit was done when Neal Smatresk took over as president last year after Ashley's ouster. All equipment was accounted for. Almost all is still in use. Except for the desk. It's been put in a storage room on a satellite campus, where it won't get anyone in trouble.

RICHARD LAKE