36 Nevada
By some ridiculous coincidence, I'm writing this just a few days after I returned from my first ever trip to the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Oh sure, I'd been to Nevada previously as a small child, on the same trip that knocked California off the list, but that was just a few nights in Reno, and I barely remember it. I probably would have called it a Partial, but after last week this state has moved solidly to full credit.
Even better, this ridiculous coincidence only happened because I didn't do a state entry on March 20th, the only Sunday I've missed so far. If that hadn't happened, this post would be about my upcoming trip to Nevada, and would be much less interesting.
So let's talk about Vegas. I was there for work, as my employer had its annual user conference at Mandalay Bay. I flew in Sunday afternoon and returned on Thursday. In-between, I:
- had dinner with my friend AK, PhD.
- worked three days at the conference, mostly in a lab we set up so end users could try out new parts of the software. I also spent some time meeting with a hardware vendor we have a partnership with that I work on.
- Went to two conference-related parties. The first featured a performance by a hair metal band called Hair Raid and lots of old arcade games. This led to the following FB post:"I've achieved the American dream. I'm drunk and in Las Vegas." The second starred the 80s tribute band The Spazmatics and took place on an artificial sandy beach next to a tidal pool, and ultimately led to this post: "What you call the biggest party you've been to all year, with booze and women dancing in the pool... I call Wednesday."
- Before the party on Wednesday I went to Shark Reef Aquarium with two co-workers. This was actually the coolest thing I did in Vegas. The aquarium isn't very large, but it's extremely high quality with lots of fish and good exhibits.
- On the sole non-party night, Tuesday, I walked about halfway up the strip (to Caesar's Palace and Bellagio). I was not inspired by the sight, leading to this "Upon further reflection, if Las Vegas is the American Dream distilled down to its purest essence... we're fucked."
I didn't do any gambling. Slots just didn't appeal to me, and I'm apparently too cheap to do any further gambling, even on a strict budget.
So yes, Las Vegas is basically a city that appeals to the worst instincts of the American psyche. Get rich fast! Have more sex! Appearance is everything! Gluttony of every kind! After a day or two, it's pretty horrible. I don't have any particular need to go back, but it was fun once.
As for Nevada itself, there are lots of pretty places to there that aren't anywhere near Las Vegas. In particular, AK tells me there are lots of places to go hiking. So maybe one day I'll go back.
Scoreboard
Full Credit - 26: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada
Partial Credit - 5: Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, Alabama, Iowa
No Credit - 5: South Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Arkansas
Even better, this ridiculous coincidence only happened because I didn't do a state entry on March 20th, the only Sunday I've missed so far. If that hadn't happened, this post would be about my upcoming trip to Nevada, and would be much less interesting.
So let's talk about Vegas. I was there for work, as my employer had its annual user conference at Mandalay Bay. I flew in Sunday afternoon and returned on Thursday. In-between, I:
- had dinner with my friend AK, PhD.
- worked three days at the conference, mostly in a lab we set up so end users could try out new parts of the software. I also spent some time meeting with a hardware vendor we have a partnership with that I work on.
- Went to two conference-related parties. The first featured a performance by a hair metal band called Hair Raid and lots of old arcade games. This led to the following FB post:"I've achieved the American dream. I'm drunk and in Las Vegas." The second starred the 80s tribute band The Spazmatics and took place on an artificial sandy beach next to a tidal pool, and ultimately led to this post: "What you call the biggest party you've been to all year, with booze and women dancing in the pool... I call Wednesday."
- Before the party on Wednesday I went to Shark Reef Aquarium with two co-workers. This was actually the coolest thing I did in Vegas. The aquarium isn't very large, but it's extremely high quality with lots of fish and good exhibits.
- On the sole non-party night, Tuesday, I walked about halfway up the strip (to Caesar's Palace and Bellagio). I was not inspired by the sight, leading to this "Upon further reflection, if Las Vegas is the American Dream distilled down to its purest essence... we're fucked."
I didn't do any gambling. Slots just didn't appeal to me, and I'm apparently too cheap to do any further gambling, even on a strict budget.
So yes, Las Vegas is basically a city that appeals to the worst instincts of the American psyche. Get rich fast! Have more sex! Appearance is everything! Gluttony of every kind! After a day or two, it's pretty horrible. I don't have any particular need to go back, but it was fun once.
As for Nevada itself, there are lots of pretty places to there that aren't anywhere near Las Vegas. In particular, AK tells me there are lots of places to go hiking. So maybe one day I'll go back.
Scoreboard
Full Credit - 26: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada
Partial Credit - 5: Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, Alabama, Iowa
No Credit - 5: South Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine, Arkansas