OUR BLOGGERS ARE SAYING …

If you're not checking out the local blogs on reviewjournal.com, here's just a sample of what you've been missing:

Isn't he just the cutest little thing?

From columnist John L. Smith:

At The District in Green Valley, the Saturday morning coffee drinkers bring their dogs to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. They grab tables outside, sip big hot drinks and chat with people with whom they have at least two things in common: caffeine and canines.

I have heard that dogs, ones the size of a small pork loin, at least, are a status symbol and something a woman now can add to her matching shoes and handbag. There might have been some of that going on Saturday morning. But the prevailing vibe was more "I'm OK, You're OK" than a meeting of the Paris Hilton Fan Club.

I will never understand why some grownups think it's cute to talk baby talk to their animals. What invariably happens next is they wind up talking baby talk to the humans they're sitting with. The conversation focuses on Mr. Cutesywootseybabybinkins wearing the little pink collar and tonguing its privates with jackhammer intensity. Then, of course, there's a kiss for mama and a visit with strangers, and the process is repeated for hours ...

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/smith/.

Give McCain-Feingold a decent burial

From editor Thomas Mitchell:

Today (Tuesday) the U.S. Supreme Court takes up the issue of "Hillary: The Movie."

Was it an exercise in free speech during the presidential primary season or a forbidden hit ad under McCain-Feingold?

The central issue should not be whether the movie fit the criteria under the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law, but whether that law is a prima facie violation of the First Amendment.

The movie reportedly is an unflattering indictment of the candidacy of Hillary Rodham Clinton, now President Barack Obama's secretary of state.

A lower court has found the movie was a "90-minute campaign ad 'susceptible of no other interpretation than to inform the electorate that Senator Clinton is unfit for office, that the United States would be a dangerous place in a President Hillary Clinton world, and that viewers should vote against her.' "

So? What the heck are political campaigns about? Yes, its production and distribution required the expenditure of money, which is what campaign finance is supposed to protect us from. How dare we be swayed by someone spending his own money to exercise his free speech rights? What next? Newspaper editorials as campaign contributions?

The First Amendment cannot be restricted by denying the ability to spread your message.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/mitchell/.

We will survive

In the face of continuing bad news in this recession, publisher Sherman Frederick takes time this week to look at seven underlying good things we ought to remember about the Las Vegas economy. Here are the first three. Check out his blog as he rolls out the final four:

Good News No. 1: Even in the teeth of this recession, Las Vegas still provides employment to nearly 914,000 people. Education and Health Services actually saw an increase in employment from January 2008 to January 2009, as did government services.

Good News No. 2: It is more affordable to visit Las Vegas than other tourist destinations, with average daily room rates of $104.89 in January 2009. In comparison, San Francisco's average room rate in for 2008 was $192.45.

Good news. No. 3: As of January 2009, Las Vegas' hotel room inventory was 140,729 and this number is expected to increase by 9.9 percent to 155,562 by the end of 2009. In comparison, Orlando, Fla., has 111,700 hotel rooms and San Francisco a little more than 33,300.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm/.

Positive gaming news -- for one slot maker

Inside Gaming columnist Howard Stutz writes:

With all the negative news in the gaming industry -- MGM Mirage troubles, Harrah's Entertainment sinking, Herbst Gaming filing for bankruptcy and Station Casinos on the way -- maybe a little positive feedback is needed.

Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Joel Simkins thinks slot machine maker WMS Industries is ready to break out.

In a recent report to investors, Simkins said the Illinois-based WMS has the financial stability to weather the tough climate ...

Simkins thinks the company could take away market share from industry giant International Game Technology and Bally Technologies.

"While we see other industry players spinning their wheels given weak new unit and replacement demand, we think WMS can continue to churn out solid results near-term," Simkins said.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/stutz/.