The Adventures of MDawg II
Quote: MDawgAnyone who has cable service (at this house we have cable internet, landline telephone and TV), knows that every couple years as the "promotional" discounts expire, your bill goes up - sometimes as much as 30%, or even more. So you call, get some "Loyalty Retention Department" and wait while they calculate how much they may bring your bill down, which still typically ends up being about 20% higher no matter what they do.
Arguments such as "Everything else in technology is going down, why is cable service going up?" fall on deaf ears.
Our "promotions" ran out recently and when I called in advance of expiration of the discounts with a sort of peremptory challenge to see what they could do, the best they could come up with was about two hundred fifty a month, versus the two twenty had been paying previously. That didn't sound like the greatest deal so I just left it alone until last week, when I did have to call as the promotions had now expired, and the bill was heading north - it turns out - was going to settle at about $290.!
This time, the best the guy could do was about two hundred sixty 😅. I brought up that when I had called before, two fifty was available, and after some adjustments, he got it back to that and I closed the deal at two fifty - for another two years.
Amazing how the bad deal of a month ago sounds acceptable today.
Something like when real estate was skyrocketing even more than it is lately, and the full price of two years ago, becomes the steal of today.
link to original post
Every two years I call up Directv to cancel service when my promo rate ends. When you call to cancel they will transfer you to the retention group which eventually offers the same rate they are giving new customers.
I have tried switching the name on the account too, to restart everything at the new customer price, but that's such a pain don't bother any longer, just accept the increase every two years now.
I still don't accept that the providers should be charging more, versus less, for everything, but they get away with it somehow. Cell phone bills do go down, but we don't have these with our ISP / landline / TV provider.
DirecTV is via satellite? My parents were the first in our neighborhood to get a satellite it was a big dish you had to adjust manually, but even in those early days you had to pay to pay, where a lot of the good content was scrambled.
Spectrum is sending new customer ads to get me back, I'm still waiting for a refund of $41 after 6 weeks. I'm also waiting for a $200 gift card from T-Mobile for signing up for Home Internet, but that's gonna take at least 10 weeks to arrive.
I'd go back to Spectrum for DOCSIS 4.0 internet at 300 Mbps down & 300 Mbps up for $50/month as an evergreen price. They are incapable of going more than a year without nearly doubling the prices.
There's a new law going into effect that requires Spectrum to tell everybody how much they charge including fees etc. All they ever do is tell you the promo price for new customers, never how much customers are paying after 1 year until you get the bill.
T-Mobile has a 15 day trial period for free, and you can return their Gateway if it doesn't work out before you cut your cable service.
The 5G Gateway is portable where cable just isn't. If you take a 1 week vacation, you can take it with you, but there may or may not be any 5G in your vacation spot.
T-Mobile just imposed a 1.2 TB monthly allotment before they throttle your internet. So if your TV is on non-stop, you'll likely hit that. If you watch a lot of 4K content, it will be too easy to hit that. If you're a gamer playing in 4K and downloading 750 GB of games a week, you'll hit that. They deprioritize your signal for the rest of the billing period and in some markets there may be no difference, but I just imagine it's gonna crash to a crawl for most everybody else.
I've got a dumb TV with a Roku 3 on it, so that's how I watch TV these days.
Quote: MDawgIsn't via physical line (cable or fiber optic) the only way to get the really fast, and reliable, internet?
link to original post
Yes, the fastest is still wired even though there are some very fast wireless. I have 1Gb up and down over fiber but I know there are still a lot faster out there.
Quote: DRichQuote: MDawgIsn't via physical line (cable or fiber optic) the only way to get the really fast, and reliable, internet?
link to original post
Yes, the fastest is still wired even though there are some very fast wireless. I have 1Gb up and down over fiber but I know there are still a lot faster out there.
link to original post
I had 1gb with Comcast up until a couple months ago when I switched plans for a cheaper one and now I've got 200 and I can't tell the difference. Works exactly like it did when it was 800. Of course I live alone and there's no other demand on it, it's not like I'm living with three kids and we're all using the internet at the same time.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: DRichQuote: MDawgIsn't via physical line (cable or fiber optic) the only way to get the really fast, and reliable, internet?
link to original post
Yes, the fastest is still wired even though there are some very fast wireless. I have 1Gb up and down over fiber but I know there are still a lot faster out there.
link to original post
I had 1gb with Comcast up until a couple months ago when I switched plans for a cheaper one and now I've got 200 and I can't tell the difference. Works exactly like it did when it was 800. Of course I live alone and there's no other demand on it, it's not like I'm living with three kids and we're all using the internet at the same time.
link to original post
Yes, 200mb is enough for most people unless you are planning on streaming more than 4 streams at a time.
Quote: DRichQuote: EvenBobQuote: DRichQuote: MDawgIsn't via physical line (cable or fiber optic) the only way to get the really fast, and reliable, internet?
link to original post
Yes, the fastest is still wired even though there are some very fast wireless. I have 1Gb up and down over fiber but I know there are still a lot faster out there.
link to original post
I had 1gb with Comcast up until a couple months ago when I switched plans for a cheaper one and now I've got 200 and I can't tell the difference. Works exactly like it did when it was 800. Of course I live alone and there's no other demand on it, it's not like I'm living with three kids and we're all using the internet at the same time.
link to original post
Yes, 200mb is enough for most people unless you are planning on streaming more than 4 streams at a time.
link to original post
My cats very seldom use the internet so I'm good. I spend most of my time looking at YouTube and Pornhub and playing roulette, How much bandwidth do I really need.
Wynn Las Vegas (including Encore):191,424
Sunset Station: 163,951
MGM Grand: 156,524
Bellagio: 156,000
Aria: 152,550
Mandalay Bay: 152,000
Santa Fe Station: 151,001
South Point: 146,002
Green Valley Ranch: 143,890
The Orleans: 137,000
I didn't realize Station Casinos had such a large footprint.
And Red Rock (2645) and Durango (2330) have the two largest number of slot machines in Clark County, for those of you who like to push dem buttons.
Quote: MDawgThe 10 largest casinos in Clark County based on square footage for gaming, as of December 2023, according to a Nevada Gaming Control Board report.
Wynn Las Vegas (including Encore):191,424
Sunset Station: 163,951
MGM Grand: 156,524
Bellagio: 156,000
Aria: 152,550
Mandalay Bay: 152,000
Santa Fe Station: 151,001
South Point: 146,002
Green Valley Ranch: 143,890
The Orleans: 137,000
I didn't realize Station Casinos had such a large footprint.
And Red Rock (2645) and Durango (2330) have the two largest number of slot machines in Clark County, for those of you who like to push dem buttons.
link to original post
Wow, I would have never guessed Wynn was the largest.
Looks like it was about as visual as the U2 concerts we saw at the Sphere in 2023.
There are those too who believe they function best high on marijuana?
Quote: MDawgWatched this Danish movie Another Round (2020) last night. Four high school teachers in the hard drinking country of Denmark (almost as bad as Iceland - I've been to both, and to Sweden, and they all love to drink) try an experiment, maintaining their blood alcohol concentration at 0.05% based on a theory that humans are alcohol deficient and need exactly 0.05% to function optimally.
There are those too who believe they function best high on marijuana?
link to original post
Nobody functions at their best when they're high on weed but it's a fact that things like writing can be better if you're drinking. That's why there are so many alcoholic famous writers. Alcohol improves your ability weed we just stunts it. One of my favorite stories is the famous comedian Buddy Hackett, way back in the late 40s was just starting his career in nightclubs and he would finish his set and hang out with the band and smoke dope for a couple hours every night. He thought his career was doing great and that he was writing the best jokes and he was going to be really famous until his agent told him one day he wasn't going anywhere. He was totally stuck in non-creative rut and he better get out of it. He realized it was the dope smoking that was doing it, he could not be creative by smoking that stuff everyday. He quit and his career took off like gangbusters.
Quote: MDawgWynn lawsuit accuses Fontainebleau of ‘unhealthy obsession’ with resort, poaching employees
The lawsuit lists dates and names regarding Fontainebleau recruitment efforts, even coming to the Wynn property as paying guests to gain access to the workers they sought to persuade to jump ship.
link to original post
Quote: MDawgThe article mentions ongoing issues, where Fontainebleau was continuing to recruit Wynn employees as far back as in "mid-2022, a year and a half before Fontainebleau opened its doors," notwithstanding that it knew that Wynn employees "had non-competition agreements with Wynn that would preclude them from working at Fontainebleau for at least a year."
The parties came to some agreement where Fontainebleau agreed not to do it anymore.
Apparently this led to the filing of a lawsuit by Wynn against Fontainebleau in mid 2022, which was in turn settled via a non-solicitation covenant that "was to remain in effect through July 8, 2023."
Apparently, that non-solicitation was violated, which led to the current lawsuit.
Perhaps the lawsuit alleges violation of that non-solicitation covenant. It could be filed under a simple breach of contract or, some kind of "tortious interference" theory, where Wynn is alleging that Fontainebleau is interfering with Wynn's contracts with its employees.
I'd have to look at it. The article mentions District court but this could mean either the Eighth Judicial District Court in Nevada, which is a state court in Las Vegas, or the Nevada District Court, which is federal. If both entities are Nevada based it would probably just be a state action and I don't see any kind of federal question.
I know Fontainebleau has been very aggressive with trying to recruit players from other properties - both I and my friends / associates have been contacted, and other high rollers I know. Offering up front suite comp'ed stays and such, which is pretty routine in this business. For known players new casinos will always take a chance.
As far as recruiting employees, this always happens. I know of a lot of top people at Fontainebleau who came from other majors on the Strip, and when Resorts World Vegas was getting ready to open, some of the pit bosses and hosts went over to RW. Anytime a new resort opens they are in need of experienced personnel.
link to original post
FTC Announces Rule Banning Noncompetes
The FTC announced a rule today, which if upheld, will eliminate non-competition clauses in employment contracts except for senior executive level workers earning more than $151,164 annually and who are in policy-making positions.
This kicks the legs out from under some of Wynn’s claims against Fontainebleau.
Most of their promotions have been automated, where a certain amount of play generates promo chips.
https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-ff-prt
"The 8 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On"
It offers links to a website that purports to find the lowest car insurance for you
https://www.everquote.com/
- in California, we have Wawanesa, which no one can beat it, as long as you have a near perfect driving record, so I didn't bother with that one.
Then it has some link to some add on that tells you if what you purchase from AMZN is the lowest price available across the entire net.
https://capitaloneshopping.com/lp/shoppingsavingscouponsem
I don't buy that much online, but my wife should use that, she boosts the quarterly EPS of AMZN by more than any single person I can think of. I have actually noticed that capitaloneshopping add on app whenever I login to CapitalOne, but have not bothered with it yet. It is probably something like PriceGrabber which I don't use either.
Three sites that claim to pay you for free surveys or trying out online games:
https://www.inboxdollars.com
https://surveys.gobranded.com
https://kashkick.com
And a site that claims it will take on all your credit card debt up to $100K and consolidate it into one low APR personal loan:
https://www.amone.com/personalloans
I actually had a few mins to kill and signed up for all three of those survey sites using an email I'm not worried about getting spammed on, but after spending a few minutes on each one realized that it was not worth the time, at least for me, to deal with all of them, as for whatever reason my demographics and answers aren't tuned to what they are looking for in most of their surveys. But especially for someone who plays online games (I do not), might as well get paid for testing new ones out.
There is a paid survey site associated with Caesars Rewards
https://www.sayandplay.com
that I was fooling around with for a period of time until it kept giving me just a token payment for each survey for which I was disqualified, which eventually turned out to be most of them until I gave up on the site.
The concept of getting paid to review things you buy already, or simply getting paid just for your opinion, is sound (something like those JD Power & Associates surveys you receive with a crisp $1. bill in them every time you purchase a brand new car), but only if the time spent returns some decent cash. Or if your survey answers will change things - in such cases I sometimes don't mind putting a small amount of time into a survey, even for free. But obviously it's not as easy as thepennyhoarder site claims, not everyone is getting paid hundreds of dollars a month without putting in too much time.
From the Wynn Concours D'Elegance:
Originally proposed as a different car, but the screen writer nixed the idea, declaring that "Doc Brown doesn’t drive a f'ing Mustang."
John Z. was planning to launch his eponymous vehicular anew, but his death in 2005 at age 80 intervened.
The Showdown Over Who Gets to Build the Next DeLorean
Now, his daughter Kat is planning to launch a new version of the car based on a 2020 sketch from auto designer Ángel Guerra
- if she may overcome the trademark issue over who holds the mark.
Meantime, the next DeLorean will be the Alpha 5 from the Texas company that currently holds the mark,
unless John Z's daughter somehow prevails.
Quote: MDawgI somehow came across this link:
https://partners.thepennyhoarder.com/spending-too-much-ff-prt
"The 8 Dumbest Things We Keep Spending Too Much Money On"
It offers links to a website that purports to find the lowest car insurance for you
https://www.everquote.com/
- in California, we have Wawanesa, which no one can beat it, as long as you have a near perfect driving record, so I didn't bother with that one.
Then it has some link to some add on that tells you if what you purchase from AMZN is the lowest price available across the entire net.
https://capitaloneshopping.com/lp/shoppingsavingscouponsem
I don't buy that much online, but my wife should use that, she boosts the quarterly EPS of AMZN by more than any single person I can think of. I have actually noticed that capitaloneshopping add on app whenever I login to CapitalOne, but have not bothered with it yet. It is probably something like PriceGrabber which I don't use either.
Three sites that claim to pay you for free surveys or trying out online games:
https://www.inboxdollars.com
https://surveys.gobranded.com
https://kashkick.com
And a site that claims it will take on all your credit card debt up to $100K and consolidate it into one low APR personal loan:
https://www.amone.com/personalloans
I actually had a few mins to kill and signed up for all three of those survey sites using an email I'm not worried about getting spammed on, but after spending a few minutes on each one realized that it was not worth the time, at least for me, to deal with all of them, as for whatever reason my demographics and answers aren't tuned to what they are looking for in most of their surveys. But especially for someone who plays online games (I do not), might as well get paid for testing new ones out.
There is a paid survey site associated with Caesars Rewards
https://www.sayandplay.com
that I was fooling around with for a period of time until it kept giving me just a token payment for each survey for which I was disqualified, which eventually turned out to be most of them until I gave up on the site.
The concept of getting paid to review things you buy already, or simply getting paid just for your opinion, is sound (something like those JD Power & Associates surveys you receive with a crisp $1. bill in them every time you purchase a brand new car), but only if the time spent returns some decent cash. Or if your survey answers will change things - in such cases I sometimes don't mind putting a small amount of time into a survey, even for free. But obviously it's not as easy as thepennyhoarder site claims, not everyone is getting paid hundreds of dollars a month without putting in too much time.
link to original post
Pardon my cynicism, but as far as I know, TPH gets affiliate fees on its touted links. Any service they promote likely isn't quite the lowest priced.
People can’t be detained just for trying to avoid police, California Supreme Court says seems to imply that at least in California you may go further and tell them to F. Off and Get Out of My Way.
The decision has immediate implications for police officers working all across the state, restricting the grounds under which they can stop and hold people for questioning. It could also affect other litigation in which arrests are being challenged, particularly when people of color allege they were detained simply for trying to avoid police.
Someone acting nervous or attempting to conceal themselves can still be “relevant context” for officers, but those actions alone do not constitute “reasonable suspicion of criminal activity,” Justice Carol Corrigan wrote for the unanimous high court.
They've been talking about re-doing their Venetian rooms for a few years now. A lot of what is in them, including the suites, dates from the opening, with not much changed.
Wynn re-did everything over the past couple years.
Wynn Salon and Parlor Suites before:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/questions-and-answers/las-vegas/36275-quietest-and-best-vegas-rooms/#post827890
Wynn Salon Suite after:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/questions-and-answers/las-vegas/36275-quietest-and-best-vegas-rooms/#post857745
Wynn Parlor Suite after:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/questions-and-answers/las-vegas/36275-quietest-and-best-vegas-rooms/#post857744
Mick Jagger sweeps into famous Las Vegas restaurant
Mick Jagger has been known to seek Las Vegas landmarks. He found another Friday night, striding into Piero’s Italian Cuisine at about 9:30 p.m.
The Rolling Stones’ legendary front man ventured to the restaurant’s back-room lounge. He wound up seated next to popular national radio broadcaster J.T. The Brick (whose legal name is John Tournour) and his wife, Julie.
That's their tagline for some time, that "The Future" (or "Your Future") Looks Bright at the Cosmopolitan.
We're already allowed to charge restaurant meals at any MGM property to the Cosmo room to be comp'ed off, but now Identity will be folded into MGM Rewards.
Quote: MDawgThis email came May 1st.
That's their tagline for some time, that "The Future" (or "Your Future") Looks Bright at the Cosmopolitan.
We're already allowed to charge restaurant meals at any MGM property to the Cosmo room to be comp'ed off, but now Identity will be folded into MGM Rewards.
link to original post
Doe Cosmo use the same player tracking system as MGM?
I’ve gone to a few MMA cards. Generally entertaining.
But, whenever we're in town they offer us whatever is going on and sometimes we go, sometimes don't. I've gotten tickets for premium events and given away or sold them too. 🥳 Back when I was single I'd sometimes go to concerts with extra tickets and end up dating the girl I gave away or sold a ticket to who sat next to me. Obviously I was being very selective about who got that ticket.
Quote: MDawgI believe I have something worked out with Fontainebleau they seem desperate for play. Now just to find the TIME to STAY in Vegas long enough to make it worth it.
link to original post
June in Las Vegas, coming out of a casino into a pizza oven. Makes my sphincter pucker just thinking about it..
Quote: MDawgThe casinos are all the same temperature, inside! though.
link to original post
It’s not fun for my wife. She has to have a jacket on because it is too cold for her in most indoor places in Vegas. We were there during one of those 115 degree days, but she needed to carry a jacket!
At a Golden Knights game I had to buy her a sweatshirt at a price with an extra zero. She left early anyway.
Given the choice between too hot and too cold the casinos prefer cold. I suppose this keeps players awake and might offer a less hardy airborne germ and virus breeding environment.
If you're walking around inside short sleeves will do, you won't feel cold, but once seated anywhere inside especially inside the casino and especially for longer sessions short sleeves aren't always enough.
"Windchill" yes there are certain high limit salons like Crockford's Resorts World or at Caesar's where the air conditioning units are blowing very cold air directly at some of the tables, but even besides that especially Crockford's is just plain cold to begin with.
David Copperfield denies new sexual misconduct allegations from 16 women
Additionally, Copperfield was among several prominent figures named in recently unsealed court documents that were said to have been associated with Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced late financier accused of organizing a sex trafficking ring involving girls as young as 14.
One of Strip’s most famous restaurants closing after nearly 26 years
One of the few restaurants in the U.S. where jackets were required for men, although this was eased into "business casual" and jackets optional by the mid 2000s.
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: MDawgThe casinos are all the same temperature, inside! though.
link to original post
It’s not fun for my wife. She has to have a jacket on because it is too cold for her in most indoor places in Vegas. We were there during one of those 115 degree days, but she needed to carry a jacket!
At a Golden Knights game I had to buy her a sweatshirt at a price with an extra zero. She left early anyway.
link to original post
The sweater is probably the same price as a beer at the hockey game.
Quote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOQuote: MDawgThe casinos are all the same temperature, inside! though.
link to original post
It’s not fun for my wife. She has to have a jacket on because it is too cold for her in most indoor places in Vegas. We were there during one of those 115 degree days, but she needed to carry a jacket!
At a Golden Knights game I had to buy her a sweatshirt at a price with an extra zero. She left early anyway.
link to original post
The sweater is probably the same price as a beer at the hockey game.
link to original post
I think the sweatshirt was $125. You could get 4 beers for that. Maybe 5?
Quote: SOOPOOQuote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOQuote: MDawgThe casinos are all the same temperature, inside! though.
link to original post
It’s not fun for my wife. She has to have a jacket on because it is too cold for her in most indoor places in Vegas. We were there during one of those 115 degree days, but she needed to carry a jacket!
At a Golden Knights game I had to buy her a sweatshirt at a price with an extra zero. She left early anyway.
link to original post
The sweater is probably the same price as a beer at the hockey game.
link to original post
I think the sweatshirt was $125. You could get 4 beers for that. Maybe 5?
link to original post
Aren't you giving the main reason that women marry doctors? Or are you still convinced it's because you all are incredibly good looking.
Quote: EvenBobQuote: SOOPOOQuote: DRichQuote: SOOPOOQuote: MDawgThe casinos are all the same temperature, inside! though.
link to original post
It’s not fun for my wife. She has to have a jacket on because it is too cold for her in most indoor places in Vegas. We were there during one of those 115 degree days, but she needed to carry a jacket!
At a Golden Knights game I had to buy her a sweatshirt at a price with an extra zero. She left early anyway.
link to original post
The sweater is probably the same price as a beer at the hockey game.
link to original post
I think the sweatshirt was $125. You could get 4 beers for that. Maybe 5?
link to original post
Aren't you giving the main reason that women marry doctors? Or are you still convinced it's because you all are incredibly good looking.
link to original post
My wife is a doctor too. That being said, she is worth every penny I spend on her.
And yet - I ask my wife or any guests I get free rooms for, to not touch it. I'll pick up whatever snacks they want at the Vegas supermarkets, and pay for them myself, versus indulge the hotel into compensating them thirteen dollars for a bag of chips, or whatever. Plus I don't like anyone I know eating that junk food - the stuff I'll get at Whole Foods or whatever is going to be high end healthful food and drink, not sugary salty junk.
And the SooPoo sweatshirt story. Recently we went to the Zoo, it was a sunny day, and we both forgot to bring hats. Usually we have a stack of baseball caps for me and different kinds of hats for my wife in the trunk of the car, but this was a brand new car we had just bought and it didn't have anything like that stored in it yet. So, she bought a hat. She has literally a hundred hats at home, but she didn't want to deal with the sun that day. Granted, she mentioned that this "Safari" style hat was something she didn't have yet, but still.
I didn't say anything, but - I didn't buy any hat.
Not everyone looks at things the way I do, or perhaps SooPoo does as well.
It's not about the money (or at least, not just). It's about the waste.
That's not to say that she wastes money, but I do feel that she buys a lot of things she doesn't need. However, I spend most years at least a couple hundred thousand on watches which I definitely don't need, but I view them as collectibles or investments....
I also get peeved when have guests staying in rooms in Vegas and visit them and notice half eaten room service food all over the place. These will generally be like, young daughters of friends that we are entertaining at their request, they tend to go wild in Vegas in all respects and may abuse the hospitality somewhat. In general, you may often tell who is the high roller and the who is the roller's guest - the room service bill for the guest will often be much higher, before it is comp'ed off.
Quote: EvenBob
Aren't you giving the main reason that women marry doctors? Or are you still convinced it's because you all are incredibly good looking.
link to original post
I found that the key was dating women with bad eyesight. That has worked for me.
Is this guy going to beat Barry Bonds, without an asterisk? We need another 2020!
Entering Saturday, Ohtani was off to the best two-month start of his MLB career.
He was leading the majors in batting average (.358), slugging percentage (.676) and OPS (1.102), holding career highs in each statistic. He had 13 home runs, 11 stolen bases and 32 RBIs, putting him on pace for the first 45/35/100 season in MLB history.
Ohtani has hit almost 62% of his batted balls this season harder than 95 mph, according to Baseball Savant (which defines a “hard hit” as being 95 mph or above), the best mark in MLB. He has eclipsed 105 mph 47 times, five more than any other hitter. His hardest-hit ball, a career-best 119.2 mph ground-ball single against the Toronto Blue Jays last month, has been topped this season only by Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton.
Ohtani’s mechanics are efficient, repeatable and adaptive. It’s why he has rarely slumped this season, having gone hitless in consecutive games only once. It’s also why he’s able to hit an array of pitches, batting .333 or better against fastballs, breaking balls and offspeed offerings. No other qualified MLB hitter is doing the same.
tuttigym
