Jan. 2, 2014

Letters............................ 2 Opinion/Streetalk............ 3 Shelia.Leslie..................... 4 Brendan.Trainor.............. 5 News.............................. 6 Green............................. 8 Feature........................... 9 Arts&Culture................ 12 Art.of.the.State............. 14

Foodfinds...................... 16 Film............................... 17 Musicbeat..................... 19 Nightclubs/Casinos....... 20 This.Week.................... 23 Advice.Goddess........... 24 Free.Will.Astrology........26 15.Minutes.....................27 Bruce.Van.Dyke............27

Grass roots Discussion See News, page 6.

Companies touted for getting into hot Water See Green, page 8.

Spy GameS See arts&Culture, page 12.

Polar ExPrEssion

THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT ASKS VOTERS FOR REINFORCEMENTS

See art of the State, page 15.

RENo’s NEws & ENtERtaiNmENt wEEkly

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Send letters to renoletters@newsreview.com

Fly away home

There and back

Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.

If you haven’t been made aware of this, I’m kind of a control freak. I don’t think I’m one of those flaky ones, like a hypervigilant parent who thinks they can control their child’s every move, but one time I commented in a bar that I’m not a Type A personality, and everyone at the table laughed at—not with—me.

Flying in an airplane is difficult for me. It’s a couple of quandaries ground together into a bitter fear sausage.

First, I don’t like heights; particularly heights on manmade contrivances—like the tops of buildings or on bridges or in airplanes. Second, I don’t like having fear make my choices for me, so even though I don’t like going in airplanes or on bridges, I’m going to do it anyway. Third, I like to be in unusual places with out of the ordinary people. Finally, I trust myself to be in charge over someone with more experience, because I’m arrogant— like I’d rather drive the plane myself (maybe). In fact, I think it’s a peculiar arrogance that makes me believe the plane will fall out of the sky or the earthquake will hit just as I’m crossing the bridge if I’m not in control.

Kind of makes you wonder how I end up in places like Uruguay or Istanbul, doesn’t it?

This trip isn’t going to be all that exotic. Hunter and I are going back to my hometown, Fall City, Nebr., to check in with my dad and relive all those awkward moments that strung one after the other like links of wrenched-gut chorizo. I like to take Hunter along to these family get-togethers so he’ll appreciate what he has out here in the biggest little city.

If I don’t survive the flight, I just want you to remember that I went down not doing it my way. If I’d been allowed to do it my way, I’m quite certain I’d be having a drink with you next week at the Red Rock Bar.

Re “Firebreathing drags on” (Feature area, Dec. 19): I’m sorry to say I completely agree with your review. The only parts I enjoyed were the surreal atmosphere in Mirkwood, which I thought came across well; Smaug, 10 out of 10; and Martin Freeman’s Bilbo, lovely job and wanted more of his role. I detested the love triangle (notice how pretty the dwarf is, and how similar to Aragorn?), got bored with too much orc fighting, and even thought that much of the elf fight action didn’t look realistic. Oh, I liked Beorn as the hairy man, but not the way in which the gang’s arrival there was changed. Bard, excellent character and actor, sadly altered.

Stephen Fry, oh what a shame. Felt quite like a very long expensive panto in many places.

Sally Jarvis United Kingdom

—D. Brian Burghart

brianb@newsreview.com

Bob stay home Re “Firebreathing drags on” (Feature area, Dec. 19): It seems that RN&R is either unable to get anyone with a mind to review movies or that there is some brownnosing for brownie points with the stuffed shirts of the movie world to be attained by dissing the film as similar worthless critics have done.

The Desolation of Smaug was a GREAT movie. Clearly the best movie of the year. Consistent with Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, these movies are the first I have ever watched—of hundreds of movies where I’ve read the book—that the movie actually outdoes the book.

Typically, a film is a disappointment to anyone who has read the book of the same name. Ask any Tolkien fan, and the works of Peter Jackson, up to and including the Desolation of Smaug, with respect to J.R.R. Tolkien, have exceeded, failing to disappoint any of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fans. This has been done by attention to detail and artfully appending the never ending story.

One of the most amazing things about the Hobbit series is the fact that Peter Jackson has elaborated on the story line in such a way that is

Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live.

consistent with the nature of the story and dovetails with the legend.

We all knew Legolas was of the elves of Mirkwood, but Peter Jackson has given him a role that could truly be appreciated by Tolkien in The Desolation of Smaug.

Yes, Tauriel did not exist in the original book but she brings to life a progressive characterization that ties our times to the story of the Ring that Binds them All. Many of us felt the void at the lack of presence of Radagast the Brown in the original books regarding the Ring that Binds them All. Peter Jackson has artfully, without disturbing the original content of the legend, awakened Radagast the Brown and brought him to life.

I could go on, but I repeat that these Peter Jackson movies including The Desolation of Smaug have done what no movie has ever done before.

Do us a favor? When the sequel to The Desolation of Smaug arrives, have Bob Grimm stay home and send someone else to review the movie.

Someone who can do more than paraphrase how bored they are 40 times to fill a half-page movie review.

Neal C. Chambers Reno

Visible problems Re “Reno’s Invisible Children” (Feature story, Dec. 19): Many of us feel that homeless children are only invisible to the 1 percent that is responsible for dismantling the middle class. Couldn’t homeless parents be devoted, but woefully underemployed or under-compensated? See Sheila Leslie’s column in this same edition. The celebrities in the Cambria Roth column seem to suggest that the typical homeless child has at least one meth-addicted parent. The rest are out to scam the “system.” That would be the same “system” that cost many children their homes. Thank goodness, we have a growing number of tax-free organizations willing to intervene where parents refuse to take advantage of Nevada’s opportunities. Perhaps they should see Dennis Myers’ story in this same edition. According to the unselfish heroes of the Roth article, all

Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Editorial Intern Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Chanelle Bessette, Megan Berner, Mark Dunagan, Bob Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young

Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Junior Art Director Brian Breneman Design Vivian Liu, Serene Lusano, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker

it takes to transform an undernourished, disillusioned and angry teen into a 3.5 GPA model citizen is a volley of Christian prayers. However, they do take donations. Thank you, RN&R, for a thought-provoking edition.

Jim Cooper Sparks

A thousand cuts Re “Smart Alec?” (News, Dec. 12): ALEC has taken aim at renewable energy. According to Grist: “For 2014, ALEC plans to promote a suite of model bills and resolutions aimed at blocking Barack Obama from cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and state governments from promoting the expansion of wind and solar power through regulations known as Renewable Portfolio Standards.” After failing to kill Renewable Portfolio Standards last year, they have adopted the strategy of weakening such measures by introducing legislation that appears to be pro-clean energy but would actually weaken clean energy laws. They have also introduced multiple bills and resolutions aimed at preventing Obama from cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and state governments from promoting the expansion of wind and solar power. The Grist article is here: http://grist.org/climate-energy/ alec-calls-for-penalties-on-free-ridersolar-panel-users/ Tom Wicker Reno

For the children Re “Reno’s Invisible Children” (Feature story, Dec. 19): Thank you for spreading the news, need and heart to help children and families in our city. It is so important to try and make an impact early in children’s lives, helping shape a brighter future and outlook, for the individual and our community into the future.

We had no idea you were going to run this article prior to adopting/ selecting Pathfinders as a benefactor of our (Grace Church) annual Year End Gift. We’re anxious to see how your article, along with the $113,000

Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, Ron Large, Joe Medeiros, Jesse Pike, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Gary White, Joseph White, Sam White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist

we’ve raised, inspires people to get involved, making a positive impact in many lives. Fifty percent of this amount will go to Pathfinders, and the remainder to improving Grace Church’s ability to serve children and families. Last year the gift went to Awaken Inc. Great article! Keep it up.

Jay Stearley Executive Pastor, Grace Church

Be afraid, be very afraid Re “Hide your shame” (Letters to the Editor, Dec. 19): A reader called shame upon the RN&R, for trying to “scare a lot of old people.”

Fact: you didn’t scare us enough.

Last winter, I decided to consult a psychiatrist, in order to obtain expert advice about medication for my lifethreatening depression.

I had a referral from my internist.

Every single psychiatric office staff in Northern Nevada informed me that their doctors would not see me because I was over 65.

They would not treat anybody on Medicare, nor would they accept my expensive supplementary insurance.

(Many of their websites claimed that they accepted both insurances.)

Oh, there was one doctor who took Medicare, but he wouldn’t have an opening for six months.

I explained to all offices that I was able and willing to pay full fee out-of-pocket, but they refused that money too, because I was over 65.

They said that “the law” wouldn’t allow them to accept my money.

I formally complained to the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners, who regulate medical ethics. They informed me that they had no jurisdiction in the matter.

Those psychiatrists (and examiners) ought to go see psychiatrists (as long as they are 64 or younger) to have their heads and hearts examined.

Name withheld Reno

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Cover & Feature story design: Priscilla Garcia

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JANUARY 2, 2014

by Dennis Myers

ThiS Modern WorLd

by tom tomorrow

What would you like from the new year?

Asked along the Truckee River downtown Ralph Yeager Supply technician

I’d like to see Congress start doing their job instead of being obstructionists. I know they want to get rid of Obama.

That’s always been their goal, the Republicans. He’s there, and they need to work with him.

Kevin Smith Job seeker

A better economy. More unemployment money. More jobs so we don’t need unemployment money.

Chris Garrison Assistant administrator

Pet peeves As the second-to-last issue in which our hopes for the new year seem somewhat relevant, we’d like to offer some hopes for how people increase, feed and treat the animals and pets with which they interact.

First, while we acknowledge that companion pets do have certain health benefits for the people who spend time with them, can we at least say up front that there is nothing in the manual of being human that requires a person to own a pet. It’s a commitment that no child can make for him- or herself, and the cute duckies, chickies and bunnies that get passed around like Peeps on Easter often end up a horrible lesson in mortality for your child.

There are two categories of pets that people should avoid if they do decide to accept the responsibility of having pets in 2014. First, don’t buy a puppy or kitty or hedgehog or ferret from a pet store. In the bigger picture, as our society matures, maybe we’ll move beyond importing animals from foreign ecosystems into our own. The other category of animal that should be left alone is those that reside in the wild. Misplaced babies, including birds, raccoons, chipmunks and coyotes should be left alone; the mother is almost certainly within eyeshot. In fact, just consider it a general rule to stay away from wild animals, but if you happen to see the parent die, or the animal is on the verge of death, calling animal control is the proper way to handle the situation.

Feed your pets the right food, and the right amounts of food. Pet owners can avoid a lot of expensive vet bills down the road if they don’t feed animals from the table.

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I’d like to seen Reno grow and expand and become more of a well-known city.

I think Reno’s a pretty cool town, and it’s becoming even cooler, and I want people to know about it.

Get your animals to the veterinarian. Your pooch may need his anal gland expressed. Your cat may have an issue it can’t tell you about. Spay and neuter all your pets that even occasionally go outdoors. Double check that their immunizations are up-to-date. While you’re at it, check on your kids.

Teach your pets basic good behavior. It may be your choice as to whether they get on the furniture, but a pet that doesn’t heel on command may be killed by a car, especially if they get the training that a call or a whistle is time for a game of tag.

Don’t pet the bears.

Your dog is fat, and so are you. Really, how much can it hurt to get the leash out twice a day? Twenty minutes around the neighborhood twice a day will add 730 miles a year to your exercise regime. That’s a potential burn of 73,000 calories or 20 human fat pounds.

When’s the last time you updated the information on your pet’s collar? Does it still have the right phone number and name on it? Is your indoor-outdoor pet chipped in case something comes along that scares it enough that it will ignore all its good training? Every year dozens of dogs run away on the Fourth of July.

Consider bringing your outdoor cat inside. Domestic cats kill wildlife in the billions of birds and small mammals annually.

2014 can be a better year for the pets in your life. If you’re going to accept the responsibility to care for an animal, care for it responsibly. Ω

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Eric Hearon Land surveyor

Brotherly love and peace, because it makes the world a better place. Better communication among countries.

Meg Kent Business owner

The Aces win the championship. I enjoy going to ball games, and I support local sports.

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A better Nevada in 2014 Nevadans are essentially optimists, believing gold is soon to be discovered in the creek in the next canyon. In keeping with that ethos, here are some optimistic opportunities for improving our state in the New Year.

Let’s imagine that Gov. Brian Sandoval’s oddly named Behavioral by Health and Wellness Council conducts Sheila Leslie a serious review of the state’s mental health issues and produces a blueprint of recovery to guide the governor and the 2015 Legislature in making lasting improvements in Nevada’s beleaguered mental health system. They have their work cut out for them.

To be successful, the unwieldy 18-member commission will have to remember it’s not all about them.

They need to listen more than they talk, especially to those actually engaged in service delivery and to those receiving the services. The worker bees and consumers of mental health services know better than anyone what is needed and in what order of priority Workers and consumers are largely absent from the panel, so the

membership must quickly educate itself, asking the right questions during open hearings, and again, really listening before pontificating.

Since the council does not reflect the state we live in, given its overwhelmingly white, executive-level membership, it must pay special attention to the most challenging sub-sets of the mentally ill population: Hispanics, young adults and the indigent.

My unsolicited advice: Don’t produce another study with lofty goal statements that don’t translate into real-life solutions. Instead, outline specific immediate, short-term and long-term programmatic priorities, with price tags attached, and a brief rationale for how and where they fit into the continuum of care. Make it compelling enough to rally the public and convince policy-makers to enact the reforms. Only then take credit for your hard work.

The answers to the mental health crisis in Nevada aren’t that difficult to find, but the political courage to actually fund the needed fixes seems to slip away whenever the business

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JANUARY 2, 2014

sector decides it prefers another subsidy instead.

Let us also imagine the Education Initiative (an initiative petition providing $800 million annually that can be used for schools) captures the public’s attention and earns the support our kids deserve, enabling Nevada to become the 48th state with a broad-based corporate tax. It’s true the initiative language isn’t perfect and will likely have to be amended after three years, but it’s the only way we’re going to get the corporations to start contributing something meaningful to our state budget. It’s clear the Legislature will never do it.

If you’re a parent exhausted by overcrowded classrooms, outdated technology, and limited offerings, examine this issue closely. If you don’t have kids in school but care about investing in our future, the Education Initiative should also speak to you. If you’re living in one of our neighboring states, all of which already have a similar tax and pay the same price for goods as Nevadans do, you’re entitled to smirk, recognizing

that Nevada might finally decide to stop acting like a colony of the corporate world.

Let’s also pass SJR 15 in the 2014 election and take the special taxation provisions that benefit the multi-national mining corporations out of the Nevada constitution.

Remember the boom and bust cycle of mining, currently on the downward side of record-breaking profit years, and allow your representatives in the Legislature to tax mining appropriately. Tell Barrick and Newmont it’s time they worked for Nevada instead of the other way around.

Finally, let’s resolve to have a quiet, scandal-free political year, shall we? One in which our elected officials don’t lie about where they really live, follow all the laws—not just the ones they agree with—and remember that there are smart phones with video capabilities in every public setting. No more talking about slavery as a constituent priority or suppressing the minority and youth vote as a way to win elections.

Happy New Year! Ω

Here are some quotes about planning to pass some time: www. goodreads.com/ quotes/tag/planning.

Think

Free

I had a dream Last night I had a dream: What if 2014 were to be different?

What if tourists demanded the Bus Tours take them to protest the drones launched from Nevada instead of to the casinos?

What if at political events everyone stopped pledging allegiance to by Brendan Trainor the flag and instead recited the Bill of Rights?

What if instead of the Forest Service putting up a fence to keep the veterans away from their memorial, the veterans put fences around their offices so they couldn’t get to our forests?

What if they gave an election and no one came?

What if all the people who say we need a third party actually went out and organized one?

What if Nevada would release all its nonviolent offenders from prison?

What if we allowed Nevada farmers to rotate hemp with their alfalfa?

What if Nevada laid claim to the 85 percent of its own land the feds say they own?

What if the pro war, pro lifers would talk about all the abortions and miscarriages their wars cause?

What if the pro-choicers would defend a woman’s choice to raise a family?

What if the government shut down and no one noticed?

What if a Pakistani drone blew up a Nevada wedding party?

What if the Christian pastors in Nevada decided to give a sermon about Christians in Muslim lands killed because of our invasions?

What if the President went on #PresObama, and everyone tweeted he is a liar?

What if Edward Snowden came home and was put in charge of the NSA? What if Nevada Democrats suddenly said our students were more important than the teacher’s unions?

What if Nevada Republicans admitted we really don’t have to spend all that on the military?

What if Nevada conservatives stopped blaming immigrants and instead blamed the Fed for recessions?

What if Nevada liberals admitted not all immigrants want to be citizens?

What if Nevada liberals realized insurance is not health care?

What if every time a celebrity says something controversial the PC police can’t get him fired?

What if pro war Christians would admit sending young men and women in the military abroad for long periods was putting them into occasions of sin?

What if no one said that fighting useless foreign wars was “defending our freedom”?

What if anti gay conservatives admitted same gender sex is common in nature?

What if atheists stopped nit picking over simple public expressions of religion?

What if we allowed our teachers to carry concealed guns in the schools?

What if our courts were so fair we didn’t have to frisk everyone before they came in?

What if religious politicians admitted atheists could be ethical even if there is no hell?

What if Nevadans stopped calling politicians “Honorable so and so” until they proved it?

What if Nevada politicians admitted Israel is just another country?

What if Nevada politicians proudly told the rest of the country that our brothels prove that vice squads are unnecessary?

What if Nevada politicians stopped claiming every new law was “for the children”?

What if Nevada politicians told us it was more important to protect our liberty than to keep us safe?

What if Nevada changed the law so that if you are too drunk to drive you can pull over and sleep it off?

What if our police admitted that drug-sniffing dogs are really unreliable?

But then I awoke and realized we have to keep carrying on with the same half-truths and contradictions.

Or do we? Ω

Here’s an interesting site about dreams: www.dreammoods. com.

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Photo/Dennis Myers

Clark County Sen. Tick Segerblom got marijuana dispensaries made legal. Now come the mechanics of putting them in business.

Producer calls comments speech issue Last month the comments of some folks on Fallon Christian rock radio station KRNG made a splash in the news, particularly remarks

by Sierra Sage publisher Len Semas, who said in part that “there is a special role that women take on, biologically, as the bearers of children and the nurturers of children. I don’t know that we haven’t created problems in society by ignoring that important role—ADD [attention deficit disorder] and various learning disabilities, hyperactive kids, kids building bombs in their garage” (“Not patient enough,” RN&R, Nov. 14).

Some Republicans felt that the GOP was unfairly tainted by the Semas comments because he is not a party officer or spokesperson—though others who were on the same radio show, including Washoe Republican chair Tom Taber, did not speak up to object to Semas’s rhetoric.

In the current issue of Reno Tahoe Tonight, an essay by radio exec Chip Evans of America Matters Media—which produced the program—portrayed it as a matter of giving all points of view a hearing.

“Mr. Semas’ comments fit so well with the ‘Republicans are antiwoman’ meme that this show was great fodder for the liberal press.

The whole scenario raises interesting questions. Should Tom Taber he held responsible for Len’s comments? Should the county party?

What was Tom’s responsibility to confront the comments of his guest? At American Matters Media we decided that as ‘community radio,’ we will host voices across the political spectrum.”

It’s all relative Nevada joblessness is still at a whopping 9 percent for November— and that’s good news, or so it is being treated. That’s because it’s a drop from 9.3 in October and is the lowest in the state since 2008.

Grass lawyer suggests changes A California lawyer who works in marijuana law has taken an interest in Nevada’s evolving medical marijuana situation.

Though the Nevada Legislature has provided for local governments to set up dispensaries around the state, the timidity of local elected officials who are apprehensive about being seen as pro-pot has slowed the process down to a crawl.

Sherman Oaks attorney Ariel Clark said in a prepared statement that there’s another problem—the process for Nevadans to get cards authorizing them to purchase marijuana from the dispensaries.

“Currently, the state uses a two-step process that can take more than 30 days before a card can be issued,” according to Clark. “My recommendation would be for state officials to eliminate one of the steps to make the process more efficient.”

That, however, could not happen until the Nevada Legislature meets in 2015.

Clark also said, “There is sure to be money pouring in to Nevada, but one of the key questions will be, can patient counts support the process?”

NV Energy of Iowa The acquisition of NV Energy by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. appears all but complete after approvals by both state and federal regulators. MidAmerican is controlled by Warren Buffett.

The Nevada Public Utilities Commission approved the $5.6 billion deal on Dec. 17, and the U.S. Justice Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission signed off on it two days later.

“NV Energy will remain a Nevada company, committed to the people of this state and the communities we serve,” said NV Energy president Michael Yakira.

Yakira is leaving the corporation in June. The day after federal approval of the deal came down, Iowa-based MidAmerican named its own man, Paul Caudill, to replace Yakira.

—Dennis Myers

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Taking their time Medical marijuana sales make local governments nervous With the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries 13 weeks away, there’s a new obstacle—political inertia from by anxious local politicians.

Dennis Myers Some local governments, who must implement the law enacted by the Nevada Legislature, are taking their time or ignoring the undertaking. Some of them are linking their lassitude to the lack of state regulations, which must be put in place before dispensaries open but are not needed before local governments get procedures in place for the April 1 start date.

“It’s about getting people their medicine.”

Chris Giunchigliani Clark County commissioner “We knew the state regulations would take time, so I’m satisfied with the state’s progress,” said Sen. Tick Segerblom of Clark County, sponsor of the marijuana legislation. “What I hadn’t counted on was the reluctance of the local jurisdictions to jump on board. Most claim they are waiting to see the state’s regulations. For this to go live on April 1 the local governments will have to step up their pace.”

Hearings have been held around the state by state officials as they drafted the regulations, needed to implement the law. Members of some municipal governing boards,

who serve part time, are taking their cue from their staff members.

Others are hostile to the notion of the dispensaries.

“Everyone is waiting for some state regs to come out and there was a hearing last week on the draft regs that I understand was well attended by many a lobbyist in addition to others,” said Reno City Councilmember Jenny Brekhus.

Theoretically, the role of local governments is merely administrative— creating the procedures for carrying out the new state law— because the policy change on marijuana has already been made by the state.

Segerblom said local government officials are being pressured by their constituents.

“I know a lot of the potential applicants are starting to lobby them, and many are prominent Nevadans, so I remain optimistic,” he said, adding that he believes the public will be angered if dispensaries are blocked at this late date.

The problem is particularly acute in Nevada’s small counties, where few or no steps have been taken to deal with the task, and in some cases officials have tried to block them.

In Lyon County, Sheriff Allen Veil sought a county ordinance banning the dispensaries instead of implementing the law.

“Where there’s marijuana, organized crime has a finger in it, if it’s not controlled by them,” Veil said. “The

potential is great for abuse and money laundering and there’s absolutely no reason Lyon County should want to be a part of that.”

Segerblom noted that Lyon County has legal prostitution, which has a similar reputation, under the state’s local option law that allows the small counties to approve brothels.

What is happening in Nevada’s small counties echoes what it happening in Colorado, where outright legalization of marijuana under state law is unfolding. A number of small communities like Greeley are banning marijuana, creating a situation akin to states that have “wet” and “dry” counties in terms of alcohol sales. But it becomes more complicated at the city level. For instance, while Greeley has prohibited marijuana sales, the smaller, immediately adjacent town of Garden City is allowing sales—a repetition of the towns’ historic roles: Garden City was founded in part to provide saloons for dry Greeley.

Competition One of the factors in the Nevada situation is that if cities do not implement their allowable number of dispensaries, the counties can add those to their own allowances—and so far, the two urban counties seem to be preparing to do just that.

“Another interesting point is that if the cities in Washoe and Clark don’t want them, the counties can take their share,” Segerblom said. “So in Clark County, for example, I anticipate that Clark County will be eligible for at least 30 and possibly 40 dispensaries instead of the 10 we originally envisioned.”

The state law provides for 50 dispensaries statewide, with 10 in Washoe County and about one each in the small counties, though numbers could shift with population changes.

In Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas City Council in September approved a six-month “moratorium” on medical marijuana businesses, purportedly because the state regulations were not ready, and on Jan. 7 the Henderson City Council will vote on also imposing a six-month moratorium, which would push the issue past the start date.

Meanwhile, the Clark County Commission—Las Vegas and Henderson are both inside Clark—is not waiting on the cities or the state regulations. They are pushing ahead with all the administrative details like designing application forms that will need to be ready on April 1.

“Clark County is proceeding towards implementing the law,”

said Clark County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who as a state legislator sponsored measures to lift the restrictions on marijuana. “Our business license staff have toured a dispensary, been in regular talks with Marla [Marla McDade Williams of the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services] and the state and we have an implementation timeline.

It’s disappointing to hear that our sister cities have chosen moratoriums and several council members have supposedly said they won’t implement the law. It’s about getting people their medicine in a safe, sane way.”

In Reno, a 1,300-word proposed ordinance covering dispensaries has been posted online, but there is resistance within the council to doing anything. Councilmember Dwight Dortch has expressed concern about whether the city would be at risk legally by facilitating an activity that is still illegal under federal law.

So far, action by the Reno council has been delayed by “stay ordinances,” the purpose of which has apparently not been well explained.

“Staff kept bringing forth these stay ordinances which I kept opposing [because of] not sure what a stay is and it was not defined and at best it was not necessary to do anything at all,” Brekhus said in an email message.

In the absence of a well defined city policy, the Washoe County Commission is moving ahead, with only one commissioner—David

“ Where there’s marijuana, organized crime has a finger in it.”

Allen Veil Lyon County sheriff Humke—expressing some reservations, though not opposing dispensaries outright.

Washoe County Commissioner Kitty Jung said commissioners have instructed staff to get the county’s ducks in a row administratively in preparation for the April start date.

“We’ve instructed staff to continue to do their due diligence,” she said, noting that marijuana sales—the only prescription drug in the state saddled with a sales tax— will generate proceeds that will go to schools.

Asked if there’s an appetite among the county commissioners to pick up the city’s allocation of dispensaries if the city decides not to cooperate with the state law, Jung said, “I can’t say right now. We’ve never discussed it.”

But she said since the newly constituted post-2012 election commission took office, “This new commission has surprised me right and left.” She said the new commissioners have been supportive of parks, libraries and other county initiatives that the previous commission opposed.

Jung said in the end, she believes the Reno council will go ahead with dispensaries.

Segerblom said, “I hope Reno will come on board.” Ω

Economic indicator Photo/Dennis Myers

It began as a Regal gas station—it gave Green Stamps and was just down the hill from the Green Stamp redemption store—and was favored by high schoolers who wanted to stretch gasoline dollars. After half a century of operation under one name or another, this station on the southwest corner of Keystone and Fourth has shut down. It is within sight of the Keystone Shopping Plaza, an early Reno shopping center that was plowed under this past summer.

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Photo/Sage Leehey

“

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Geothermal recognition Awards given for contributions to the geothermal industry The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) began recognizing companies and individuals who were doing great things in the world of geothermal two years ago, and this year has recognized 11 different projects in four different categories: by Sage Leehey technological advancement, economic development, environmental stewardship and special recognition. sagel@ “For years we fought that people thought everything to be done was done ne w s re v i e w . c o m in the ’60s and ’70s,” said GEA executive director, Karl Gawell. “But there are a lot of fundamental things that need to be done that people are helping us to produce, and there’s also a lot of new stuff that’s being done and developed. It’s one of these things that you often forget to thank your own people—give a little bit of applause to those who are doing great things in our industry.”

The technological advancement award was given to U.S. Geothermal’s 22 MW Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Power Plant in Vale, Ore. GeothermEx, one of the leading analytical firms in geothermal energy worldwide, received the economic development award. They have helped to develop 7,000 megawatts of geothermal energy, according to Gawell.

In the environmental stewardship category, Dale Merrick of Canby Geothermal was recognized for the work he’s done to create a communitybased geothermal project in Canby, Calif. If his project is successful, the community would be powered entirely by geothermal energy and “be the first net zero community in California.” Gawell said the state has identified 71 other communities where this could be a possibility, so Merrick’s project could be a model for later communities.

Eight projects received special recognition. Katherine Young and her team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory were given this award for their work on the Geothermal Regulatory Roadmapping Effort—a working guide of the process of creating a geothermal project from beginning to end.

The Steamboat Hot Springs Healing Center here in Reno was also recognized in this category. This center uses hot springs water to heat the tubs, complex and ancillary buildings already and is trying to eliminate traditional power altogether. They’re also building a healing center with alternative therapies using geothermal waters and a museum and library for public education about geothermal energy.

Authors Magnus Gehringer and Victor Loksha of the World Bank for the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program Geothermal Handbook were For more information recognized as well for their handbook on planning and financing geothermal on the geothermal energy association, projects. The team at Cornell University that helped with some of GEA’s visit www.geo-energy. analysis papers, particularly the Geothermal Externalities Paper, was included org. in this award category, too.

Ormat was also recognized for its Campbell plant to be completed this year in Mineral County, and for its work with ENEL Green Power North America on the Cove Fort plant in Utah. The last projects recognized were Surprise Valley Electric Cooperative’s Oregon plant, nearly completion, and Gradient Resources’ Patua Geothermal Project 10 miles outside of Fernley. Ω

by Dennis Myers

The NevAdA Supreme CourT ASkS voTerS for reiNforCemeNTS

A

couple of decades ago—I think it was 1989—I arrived at work as a reporter one day at the Nevada Legislature and wandered into the Assembly hall about 20 minutes before the house was supposed to go into session. About a dozen members were seated at their desks doing paperwork.

Another half-dozen members were on their feet, flitting from member to member. One was kneeling next to one of his seated colleagues, whispering anxiously in his ear.

Standing on the east side of the

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hall, I wondered what the heck was happening. I hadn’t seen anything quite like this before.

motion during the morning session to bring back to life a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would create a Nevada court of appeals. As more and more assemblymembers entered the hall, I shot footage of the lawyer/ lawmakers scurrying from member to member and ran it on the air that night in Reno. It illustrated far more effectively than any narrative I could have composed how determined the state’s legal community was to get a state court of appeals.

Their lobbying worked. In a second vote, the measure was approved. Not that it mattered. In

Walking around to the press desk, I asked another reporter what this scene meant. He smirked and pointed out that all the assemblymembers who were moving around the hall were lawyers. “The court of appeals resolution got voted down yesterday,” he said.

So several prospective judges were on the floor feverishly lobbying their colleagues—something actual lobbyists were not permitted to do on the floor—to change their votes and approve a reconsideration |

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1992, voters shot it down, 54.2 to 45.8 percent.

But the legal community remained convinced that a court of appeals was needed. Over the years, I learned that some attorneys were either indifferent or hostile to the idea, but kept silent because there was enormous professional pressure to go along. A court of appeals is regarded in legal circles as a form of judicial “reform,” and most of those who support the notion also seem to oppose Nevada’s system of electing instead of appointing judges.

In this election year of 2014, the court of appeals is back. The 2011

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and 2013 sessions of the Legislature again approved the measure and put it back on the ballot. The way it was drafted may not have been helpful to advocates of a court of appeals in getting voters to approve it this time.

WorkloAd Because the Nevada Supreme Court is the state’s only appeals court, every case that is appealed from lower courts must be heard by the Supreme Court. Where the U.S.

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continued from page 9

The ballot measure, if approved, would also enhance the dominance of the Nevada Supreme Court over the state judicial system. The Nevada Supreme Court chief justice would appoint the chief judge of the court of appeals. (On the Supreme Court, the title of chief justice is passed around by rotation.) And the Supreme Court will set up a system of the appeals court judges doing time hearing cases in state district courts.

There are also other political machinations involved in the measure.

Significantly, the public will not be able to elect the first members of the proposed court. The first three judges will be appointed by the governor from choices nominated by the Judicial Selection Commission and will then go into the first election with the advantage of incumbency. The language of the ballot measure goes to considerable length to assure that this will happen. Even if a governor wanted to leave the choice to the voters and declined to appoint, that governor’s appointment power would then be suspended. He or she would be unable to make any appointments to any other public posts until first filling the appeals court seats. And to guarantee the incumbency advantage, if any governor tried to appoint anyone on the condition that the appointee not run in the subsequent election, the ballot measure overrides that—“an initial judge may succeed himself.”

The number of judges on the court of appeals must number at least three.

After that the legislature is empowered to create as many additional seats as it chooses.

Winning over the public in the 2014 election, said political scientist Fred Lokken, is “a large undertaking, but it’s a public education element that’s needed to get it passed. I would guess that 90 percent do not understand the issue. In public discussions PHOTO/DENNIS MYERS

Members of the Nevada Supreme Court huddled for an animated discussion in a room off the Nevada Assembly hall during the 2013 legislative session. They were waiting for a speech by the governor.

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PHOTO/NEVADA SUPREME COURT

Supreme Court can turn down cases, the Nevada court cannot.

Creation of an appeals court would cull some of those appeals from the Supreme Court workload.

At the 2013 Nevada Legislature, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Kris Pickering told the Assembly Judiciary Committee, “You are familiar with the United States Supreme Court and how excited people get when they ... take a case, look at it, hear arguments, and decide it. ... We have no luxury of choice. Whatever gets filed in terms of an appeal from a district court comes straight to us and can range all the way from a driver’s license revocation to a death penalty case.”

A recent report by the Supreme Court reads in part, “It [the court of appeals] would consist of three judges sitting in the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas, while also hearing cases in Carson City.

The plan is to use a ‘push down’ model. All appeals would continue to be filed with the Supreme Court clerk’s office. By rule, approximately one-third of the cases currently heard by the Supreme Court would be assigned to the court of appeals. This proposed structure avoids additional judicial bureaucracy. Most of the expected 700 cases per year assigned to the Nevada Court of Appeals would end there, as appeals from the Court of Appeals to the Supreme Court would become discretionary rather than mandatory. This model would also utilize existing clerical and legal staff. ...

“If approved by voters, the projected [cost] of implementing the Court of Appeals is $1,497,000. This would pay for the three judicial positions as well as chambers staff, to consist of one executive legal assistant and two law clerks per judge.

Based on budget savings by the Nevada Supreme Court, the actual new cost should be much less.”

This is the current official portrait of the justices of the Nevada Supreme Court.

we never focus on the judiciary. Most people’s view of the judiciary is formed by the federal model, and at the state level it varies from state to state. On creating a court of appeals, they probably have no opinion or just want to know why.”

He said there may be one advantage for the advocates of a court of appeals.

“Since most people come to Nevada from other states, if they know anything about the judicial structure at all, because they come from states with appeals courts, there’s a good chance they would assume that Nevada needs one.”

The Nevada legal community will have to pay for the campaign, he said.

Many ballot measures attract money from out of state, but “marijuana got more funding from out of state than this measure ever would.” This is not a measure that many contributors other than lawyers would invest in.

Campaign issues The details of the ballot measure and the structure of the proposed court will be only one aspect of voters’ consideration of the ballot measure. The public image of the judiciary is another.

Whether merited or not, bad publicity for Nevada’s court system will reflect on the ballot measure.

Six years ago, in announcing rules opening civil case court records to the public, Nevada Chief Justice William Maupin said in a prepared statement, “This year the Nevada Supreme Court has undertaken a number of important initiatives designed to improve the state’s judicial system. This particular initiative underscores the Court’s belief in open government and our commitment to preserve the public nature of the business of the judicial branch, including its records.”

But late this year, at a time when the state’s legal establishment was looking at gearing up for the 2014 campaign to win voter approval of the appeals court, the Court closed off public access to the records of a mediation program for foreclosure victims that it runs, and the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) in D.C. gave Nevada’s court system an F grade for its financial disclosure system.

“After the Los Angeles Times ran a damning three-part series in 2006 that found multiple cases in which Nevada judges awarded lucrative judgments to friends and former clients, the state formed a commission to reform the judiciary,” CPI reported.

information was disclosed pursuant to the rules. It has no effect on his rulings.”

Of course, short of crawling inside Parraguirre’s brain, Doyle has no way of knowing what did or did not have an impact on his rulings. Moreover, the public is put in the position of taking Parraguirre’s word for it, something voters may want to decide for themselves.

In addition, when Nevada justices do take themselves off cases, they do not necessarily explain the reasons.

No law requires them to, but nothing prevents them from going further than the law requires, either, especially given the language approved by the

“ There are very few other courts in the United States like those in Nevada, where the court system does not have a court of appeals.”

Nevada Justice Kris Pickering February 6, 2013

“But today the financial disclosures are less thorough than they were three years ago.”

CPI also named some specific instances of activities by the justices it considers questionable.

For example, “In 2012, Justice Ron Parraguirre reported receiving a $250 gift from Be-Be Adams related to a Juvenile Diabetes Research gala,” CPI noted. “Adams is a registered lobbyist for Barrick Gold of North America. Less than two months later, the court received a case that is still pending, involving one of the company’s mines.”

CPI quoted Parraguirre aide Roxanne Doyle, who said, “That

Court itself in the state’s code of judicial conduct. It calls upon judges to “aspire at all times to conduct that ensures the greatest possible public confidence in their independence, impartiality, integrity, and competence.”

In the case of the mediation records, the Nevada Legislature created the mediation program to help homeowners facing foreclosure. For some reason, the lawmakers chose to put the program under the Supreme Court, though the executive branch handles similar programs in other fields all the time. The Court then ran the program through its administrative office, which raises the question

“ Financial disclosures are less thorough than they were three years ago.”

Center for Public Integrity

among its supporters. They’re all pulling together.”

Besides, he said, it’s not just the judiciary.

“We can talk about how it is for the judiciary, but it’s across the board—Nevada has the worse ethics laws in the country. In this state, we defend connections—‘Why shouldn’t we use connections?’ And we don’t see the public defending the stronger rules in other states.”

In discussing a campaign plan, Justice Pickering said, “There has been a PAC [political action committee] formed and it is composed of both Republicans and Democrats.” She said the campaign to support the ballot measure is already underway, that supporters have not waited for any benchmark like the first of the year to get efforts underway.

She described private polling that has been done as “heartening” and said the backers of the measure will raise the needed money for educating the public.

“I’ll speak to any group,” she said of her own role, and said her colleagues on the court are taking similar roles. “Every one of them has been out and spoken to different groups,” she said.

Listing a long line of divisions that operate in politics today, Pickering said, “None of those fissures are operating in the legal community or

Dueling statistics A few days after the CPI report, that administrative office issued a report that argues that every Nevada Supreme Court justice handled an average of 333 cases during the last fiscal year. (This is a newer figure. A figure of 357 cases was used several months earlier at the 2013 Nevada Legislature.)

Even those kinds of statistics do not fully convey the work involved, Justice Pickering told state legislators a year ago.

“Nevada is at the head of the class with 357 cases per justice per year,” she said. “I submit that this number is misleading because we do not work singly. The Supreme Court cannot decide a case with fewer than three justices with some very narrow exceptions. That means, if each one of us is going to give the parties their due, at least three of us on every case are going to look at it, read the briefs, look at the record, read the critical case law and statutes, and give our opinions. We do not always agree.

Sometimes we write dissents or concurrences separately. We do not necessarily agree with one another,

PHOTO/DENNIS MYERS

of whether the Court should ever have heard the appeal of the public records case. The Nevada Supreme Court, after all, was ruling on a lawsuit against a program the Nevada Supreme Court operates, suggesting a plain conflict of interest. A petition for rehearing has been filed, and will be decided by—the Nevada Supreme Court. (The court ruled against disclosure of the documents sought on the grounds that they are not public records within the meaning of state records statutes.)

Lokken said that the court ruling in a case against itself and the CPI concerns may not be a problem in the campaign because the Nevada public tolerates shoddy practices. “Even a lot of Nevada voters don’t see the wrongness of these things. They defend these practices, the buddy system that rules,” he said.

and have a robust debate among the justices, which is how the Constitution sets it up. That work has to be done.

So in reality, the 357 cases per justice is closer to roughly 3 cases per day, per justice, per year, every day, day in and day out, with Christmas off. It is daunting when you consider the depth of the caseloads.”

But those familiar with the Supreme Court say that while those figures may be misleading in the way Pickering describes, they are also misleading in another way. Each justice may handle more than 300 cases a year, they say, but that makes it sound like a more onerous burden than it actually is because many of those cases receive merely pro forma or perfunctory consideration. “A lot of these appeals deal with issues that have been adjudicated before this court dozens of times before,” said one attorney. “They can be handled quickly. Well, they are handled quickly.”

In addition, the Nevada Supreme Court has been enlarged from three to five and then to seven justices over the years to help keep up with the workload, and is now allowed to work in panels to further ease the burden.

There’s no question that the court carries a substantial workload. Voters will have to decide whether the merits

Lokken: Nevada voters tolerate easy ethics.

require change, and few voters are familiar with judicial affairs. The 1992 margin of defeat of the court of appeals—more than 8 percent—was a pretty healthy margin, and it was cast in a time when public affairs was not as polarized and angry as it is now, so the Court and the legal community have a considerable education campaign ahead of them.

“Justice delayed is justice denied in many instances,” Justice Pickering said last year. “With this daunting caseload that we have, we still are doing the best we can to deal with the cases as they come in.” Ω

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S

OMEHOW OR ANOTHER, DAVID CURRIER SEEMS LIKE A GUY WHO’D RUN A SPY SHOP.

When he describes the various and sundry surveillance products his family sells at Scotland Yard on Virginia Street, the former cop’s eyebrows get near theatrical, and his voice drops to a throaty whisper. He’s grinning, which he does a lot.

“It’s the mystique,” Currier says, that draws in the curious. Many customers act sheepish at first, and don’t want to be seen on the premises. That’s how Currier was, too, before he bought the place.

“A spy shop,” he breathes, with a tingly, edge-of-your-seat effect that’d be great for narrating a book on tape, or maybe prompting a grandkid to hop into his lap for a story. “People walk in, and they cover half their face.”

He chuckles.

Those who muster the guts to explore Scotland Yard find a dazzling 12 | RN&R |

JANUARY 2, 2014

and bizarre array of gadgets, gifts and pranks, from incognito stash boxes and high-pitched “sonic assault” devices to flesh-staining powder, fake blood, and little vials of potion that’ll give you horrific diarrhea. Fun. Decorative suits of armor look on, holding court with photos of London’s actual police force and a few pictures from Currier’s days as a marital-arts instructor (he’s a thirddegree black belt, for the record, and also loves dancing).

His wife and business partner, Debbie, has claimed a corner of the store for a boutique of her own, Currier’s Kustom Creations—a charmingly incongruous area with silk flowers and delicate gifts.

The big kahuna, however, is the camera collection.

Sophisticated, discreet and a rather stunning to behold, the lot includes lenses built into stuffed animals, sunglasses, jump drives, AC adapters and even a coffee pot. They’re wholly indetectable without a camera locator, which is yet another device you can buy on site. In effect, David says, this makes Scotland Yard a counter-spy shop.

WHO’S WATCHING THE STORE AT SCOTLAND YARD SPY SHOP? BY GEORGIA FISHER

Think on that.

Surveillance is illegal anywhere one could reasonably expect privacy, such as in a bathroom or dressing room, but the onus is obviously on buyers to use equipment properly.

As to who those buyers are, “We don’t appeal to an across-the-boardtype customer,” Debbie says. “You just never know.”

When reality-show producers approached them a few years ago, the family didn’t exactly balk, but soon had second thoughts. Their clients are understandably fixated on privacy, and apt to vent and worry aloud about serious personal troubles. It’d never work.

Some are corporate folk, out to quietly buy recording equipment so they can monitor employees they suspect of theft. Others are watching their nannies, or they’re jilted lovers who crave enough evidence to leave. A few, like a woman who comes in wearing real tinfoil under her beanie, may be battling their own demons. Currier won’t identify her or anyone else, however—even for a quick comment in this article—and he refuses to see their problems as sensational or trite.

“This is the most interesting line of work we could have possibly gotten into,” he says solemnly. “We’ve got the craziest stories, and we meet the finest and the craziest people on earth, from all types of life. That about right, Robert?”

He cocks his head toward his son, who’s doing paperwork at a desk, sitting upright in a pressed white shirt.

The younger Currier seems a little milder-mannered.

“There’s all types who come through here,” he answers with a polite nod. “Yes.” Being a good listener is paramount, he explains.

“Sometimes we’re just selling them comfort,” Robert figures, “or an ear to listen to [them].” In any case, “we’re not here to judge.”

I, SPY Back in the ’90s, when Scotland Yard was under different ownership in a small, understated storefront on Wells Avenue, it was all David could do to make himself go inside. The Fernley resident was a newly retired police officer then, and trying his chops as a private investigator.

That’s not a glamorous job, mind you.

“It’s not really about flying through the streets of Reno with the top down and the guns blazing, chasing the bad guys; It’s more about sitting in a cold, dark car, peeing in a milk carton while you’re surveilling a possible cheating wife or husband,” he admits, cracking himself up again.

PHOTO/GEORGIA FISHER

THE SPY’S THE LIMIT

DAVID (LEFT) AND ROBERT CURRIER, HAVE TO OVERCOME THE SHEEPISHNESS OF CUSTOMERS AT THE SPY SHOP.

“ IT’S THE

MYSTIQUE THAT DRAWS IN THE CURIOUS. ” DAVID CURRIER SCOTLAND YARD OWNER

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Anyway.

“So here I am, becoming a private investigator,” he continues, drawing out the word as if it comes with air quotes and an eye roll. “And I see the spy shop, and I’m thinking, ‘What the hell is that?’

“I’m not very sophisticated,” he adds. “I live out in Fernley. I don’t know what’s going on in town. I’m intimidated, but I know I’ve go to go in there.”

He didn’t go through with it that day. The next time he approached the place, he circled around a few times, finally parking in the most remote spot he could find.

“Once I get over the shock of walking in, the awkwardness, the off-balanced [nature of it all], the ‘What the hell am I doing here, I don’t need to spy on anybody’” —David is speaking in italics at this point, almost like Chris Farley in one of his dramatic crescendos—“well, then I start looking around.”

He studied cameras hidden in common household appliances, cameras hidden in pens, cameras hidden in eyeglasses—cameras everywhere.

“And I’m going, ‘Wow, this is some really cool stuff. ’”

Debbie sees it as a way to help small businesses monitor theft. And above all, she’s humbled by the fact that her work might indirectly protect abused children.

“I just think there’s nothing worse in the whole world than a crime against a child,” she says gently, recalling a customer who drove in from California in 2005.

The woman’s boyfriend was a police officer, and she suspected him of molesting her daughter. The local cops were his colleagues, however, and dismissed her pleas for help.

Debbie prizes a thank-you note from that heartbroken mother.

“The nanny cam I bought from you saved my babies [sic] life,” she wrote on plain stationary. “You should feel really good, because I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Sadly, that’s not the only such case that comes to Debbie’s mind.

“If we can protect one child, she says, “or save one child …. .”

Debbie’s own background is in management. She was “very apprehensive,” she says, when her husband broached the subject of running Scotland Yard. But he’d turned passions into livelihoods before —the taekwondo stint, for one—“and I learned through the years that when he wants to do something, he makes it work.”

Robert, 38, attended college in Iowa for baseball, and later mastered in fine arts. The talented watercolorist was working three unrelated jobs, including one in a warehouse, when David and Debbie talked him into joining the family business a decade ago. The rest is history.

“I never saw it coming,” he says in earnest.

“It’s funny,” his dad interjects, “how one chapter in your life will close, and another will open up.”

It can bloom, at that.

“You come see my mom,” Robert says of Debbie’s in-house boutique, “and she’ll make you a silk flower arrangement. You come see us, and we’ll put a camera in it.” Ω

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January 2, 2014

“Somerset,” part of nanoq: flat out and bluesome by artists Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson.

New year 2014 at the NMA Among the many exhibitions currently on display at the Nevada Museum of Art is a pair of by large-format color photographs of polar Brad Bynum bears, “Bristol” and “Somerset.” The second photograph is almost surreal: a stuffed b radb@ news re view.c om polar bear stands upright in the hallway of an English home, holding a bouquet of electronic flowers. The bear’s lips are curled up in a bemused, bittersweet grin. It seems humorous, like a Coca-Cola commercial brought to still-life, but it’s such a wildly inappropriate environment for a polar bear For more information, that it also speaks to the displacement of visit www.nevadaart. these animals whose habitats are being org. destroyed by the effects of climate change.

The photographs are part of larger collection of artwork called nanoq: flat out and bluesome by Bryndís Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson. The artists documented all the stuffed polar bears in the UK, presenting both on-site photographs of the bears where the artists found them, and gallery exhibitions of the taxidermy animals.

The artists also researched each bear and created dossiers about their lives and chemically enhanced afterlives.

Those two photographs serve as a kind of preview for some of the museum ’s programming and upcoming exhibitions for 2014. The early months of 2014 will include exhibitions of works by Santa Barbara painter Patricia Chidlaw, popular local landscape painter Phyllis Shafer, and beloved children’s author Maurice Sendak.

But a major focus of the second half of the year will be on works related to the NMA’s Center for Art + Environment, and the museum’s October triennial A + E Conference. The related September exhibition, Late Harvest, will explore representations of animals in contemporary art, and will include more work by Snæbjörnsdóttir and Wilson, along with many other artists, including some of the biggest names in contemporary art, like Damien Hirst.

William L. Fox, director of the museum’s Center for Art + Environment, says there will be three threads of conversation at the conference.

“One thread is post-humanism, and that’s talking about how we decenter humans,” says Fox. “Instead of being on

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a pyramid, where supposedly we’re at the top of some theoretical apex, we’re on a spectrum with a bunch of other species.”

The second theme is what Fox describes as “geoaesthetics,” making invisible environmental systems visible through art.

The final thread Fox describes is “Field works, with a capital F.” An example of this kind of project is assisting The Nature Conservancy in re-meandering the Truckee River after years of urban development and flood control engineering projects have straightened out portions of the river.

“When you take meanders out of a river, you basically turn it into a fairly stagnant water, so the fish population was declining,

vegetation was dying, and erosion was becoming a problem,” says Fox. “By reestablishing the river’s ability to carve its own path—and that’s what TNC is doing—they’re not just making a path, they’re making a path that will allow the river to carve its own path in the future.”

The NMA and TNC are working with artists Daniel McCormick and Mary O’Brien, who create riverbed bulwarks that also function as sculptures woven out of local materials and staked in place with indigenous plants, like willows.

“When you come back in a couple of years, the sculpture’s gone, and there’s a bunch of willows in place part of the stream bank,” says Fox. These kinds of aesthetic interventions raise questions about lines between manufacturing artworks and environmental activism—one of a number of conversations that might arise out of a visit to the NMA in 2014. Ω

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Wild River Grille 17 S. Virginia St., 284-7455 “In the past seven years since we opened, I’ve watch the resurgence of downtown and now, truly the area has become a by Dave Preston dining district,” said Wild River Grille owner Chuck Shapiro. Adjacent to the Virginia Street Bridge, WRG offers inviting menus at lunch with small plates and starters ($9-$14.50), soups and salads ($6-$10.50) and burgers to mahi tacos as entrées ($10.50-$13.50).

Owner Chuck Shapiro toasts a raspberry lemondrop with Chef Joseph Bell, presenting Wild River staple lobster mac-ncheese.

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One thing on the lunch menu that caught my eye was the lobster mac-n-cheese ($11). Served in a piping hot metal crock, this is “A” rated—for adults only. Parmesan, Swiss and cheddar cheeses congealed with generous bits of lobster meat and macaroni pasta to create a chewable fondue with a rich regal cheesiness, soft texture of the decadent crustacean with a little crunchy Panko atop making this a meal in itself.

Chef Joe Bell told me they use as many local products as possible. The beet chips salad ($7.50) looked good, and I appreciated the creativity—fresh spinach, arugula, feta cheese, red onions, balsamic glaze with a Champagne vinaigrette. Beets— potato-type, crisp chips—combined with the greens and onions created an aromatic mixture. The textures were accented with an effervescent sweettart dressing—very tasty.

There’s a well-stocked full bar, and the single malt and blended Scotch labels are extensive and impressive, including Johnny Walker Blue.

Simple but nice beers and a specialty cocktail menu ($10 each) with a dozen creative quaffs. I was offered a raspberry lemondrop served up consisting of house-made raspberry-infused vodka, house-infused orange brandy,

lemon juice and simple syrup. Mildly sweet and tart, with a smooth but bold finish that lingered in my mouth just long enough to taunt my taste buds to want more.

Dinner menus expand with interesting seafood like pan-seared Idaho trout ($23.50) with oyster mushrooms, lemon caper butter blanc and pearl cous cous with quinoa. There’s a steak bill of fare ($29-$33) and a half dozen house specialties ($19.50-$26). The nouveau American cuisine is created

by Wild River Grille’s chefs, Bell and Jessica Marrufo.

The menus change monthly and Bell was on duty when I visited. He wanted me to try the pan-seared duck breast on pork belly risotto, with berry ginger compote and fresh asparagus ($26). This had a savory, luxurious, fatty flavor. It was moist and satisfyingly elegant with a crispy, gently seasoned skin. The fat is an important part of the dish’s flavor profile, exceptionally well prepared. Duck fat is regarded as a superior fat for cooking.

It provides intense flavor, has a high smoking point, and is considered one of the healthiest animal fats. Some say it’s as healthy as olive oil.

The risotto bed was even more savory with the pork belly bits adding smoky, salty, rich creaminess—what a kicker for the duck! And the berry ginger compote was a sweetness offset toning down the multi-salt components of this offering to perfection.

A well thought out wine list ($22$350) but just a few of each varietal by-the-glass ($6.50-$15). I had the Schug 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($15). A silky texture in the mouth with a bright ruby color and aromas of cherry skin, dried cranberries smoky undertones. The palate shows more cherry and dried fruit flavors with earthy notes. Clean with a nice solid backbone completed by a racy acidity.

It complemented the duck amazingly.

The WRG bills itself as Reno’s restaurant of the arts, offering a threecourse, $35 prix-fixe menu on select evenings featuring Reno Philharmonic and Broadway shows at the Pioneer Center. Mondays during the summer are “dinner with your dog” nights on the large, pet-friendly patio.

On menus, Shapiro has links to various businesses in the downtown area his restaurant supports, and it includes many of his competitors. A nice, classy touch and how you build a vibrant dining district—mutual respect and support. Ω

Daydream believer

1

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty The dream world and reality progressively and beautifully blend in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the latest from director Ben Stiller.

Stiller and screenwriter Steve Conrad based the film, just a little bit, on the short story by James Thurber about a man prone to elaborate daydreams. He uses that story as a springboard to something altogether new, and surprisingly by intimate. This is essentially a $90 million art Bob Grimm film that maintains a nice indie sensibility to go with its moments of grand spectacle. bgrimm@ newsreview.c om Stiller, in one of his best performances, plays the title character, an introverted man holding down a job handling photo negatives for Life magazine. After a vivid daydream where he saves a cat from a building moments before it explodes, he wanders into Life’s

5

“Whoever heard of Danny Kaye, guys?”

lobby late, and finds out the magazine will be ceasing publication and going to an online format (Incidentally, this already happened a long time ago in the real world. Life has been special-issue-only for years, and doesn’t even exist as its own full website anymore.)

So Walter, in the digital age, is quickly becoming an unnecessary entity at his job. To add insult to injury, he’s getting harassed by Ted (a sinisterly funny Adam Scott), the super douche tasked with transitioning the magazine to an online format. Ted mocks him in front of fellow employees and throws paper clips as Walter daydreams about co-worker Cheryl (a sweetly charming Kristen Wiig) by the office coffee machine.

Walter imagines epic battles with Ted involving their blasting out of the side of the office building and ultimately concrete surfing on the streets of New York City—all while battling over a Stretch Armstrong doll.

Crisis looms when a negative from star photographer Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn), the

1 Poor

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negative meant for the magazine’s final cover, goes missing. Walter, with help from Cheryl, springs into action on a quest to find the negative that leads him through Greenland, Iceland, Afghanistan and the Himalayas. Along the way, he reignites former passions, like skateboarding and hiking, and those daydreams become more and more unnecessary.

This movie qualifies as a nice love letter to Kristen Wiig, who represents possibly the coolest love interest on screen this past year.

Her Cheryl has a nice accessibility to go along with her beauty and humor, and it’s no wonder Walter has a crush. Stiller and Wiig have a genuine chemistry together, with Wiig’s performance completely absent of her more zany comic tendencies.

Penn is downright incredible in his one scene, of which I will give away no details. Patton Oswalt shines as an eHarmony consultant so friendly he could only be found in a movie.

Shirley MacLaine is mighty convincing as Walter’s mom, no easy feat considering that many of us are aware that Stiller’s mom is Anne Meara.

There’s nothing forced in Stiller’s depiction of Walter coming out of his shell, and nothing jarring about the transition. As we learn some of the reasons Walter lapsed into a life of daydreaming rather than dream fulfillment, Walter becomes a complete character rather than that fleeting representation in Thurber’s story.

Stiller’s performance goes between subtle and extremes, with most of those extremes happening in the daydreams.

In the quieter moments, it’s the sort of wellmodulated performance that ranks with his work in The Royal Tenenbaums and Flirting with Disaster. He’s also a pretty good skateboarder (that’s him riding at quite high speeds down a mountain road in Iceland).

Cinematographer Stuart Dryburgh deserves major kudos for his always stunning work here, whether his lens is on Stiller in an elevator or Stiller jumping into a stormy Atlantic Ocean. Also notable is the soundtrack, with a roster of artists like David Bowie, Of Monsters and Men, and Arcade Fire that truly bolsters the viewing experience.

The message that Stiller delivers with his film is an obvious one: Many of our daydreams are just a hop, skip and skateboard away from being realities. With a simple message elegantly and majestically portrayed, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty winds up being one of 2013’s best movies. Ω

excellent

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47 Ronin

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Keanu Reeves drones his way through this disgustingly bad samurai movie, an expensive exercise in excess that will surely result in some people over at Universal losing their jobs. Who greenlit this thing? Reeves never seems to string more than five words together as Kai, a “half-breed” who is part human, and possibly part demon or something like that. He can’t really hang with the samurai warriors, so he basically mopes about, looking all sad and bowing to his masters, until somebody is being attacked by something or other, in which case he’s compelled to fight for their honor … or something like that. It’s a meandering, listless mess, and a clear sign that Keanu has worn out his welcome in blockbuster action films. It’s no wonder he’s pushing for a new Bill and Ted movie; the dude is no longer fun when he’s springing into action. It’s funny for all of the wrong reasons. And it’s one of the worst looking $200 million dollar movies you will ever see.

Peter Jackson’s decision to shoot his latest Tolkien trilogy in High Frame Rate 3-D is a tragic, disastrous choice. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, like its predecessor, An Unexpected Journey, is a task to watch. The look of the movie simply doesn’t jibe with the technology, resulting in a visual nightmare. As a middle chapter in The Hobbit saga, Smaug is guilty of the same flaws that marred the first film. It’s overstuffed, the dwarves are severely uninteresting, and the action scenes lack any kind of urgency. It’s just a big, boring stunt film with people looking silly in their getups. As Bilbo, Martin Freeman labors to make things interesting during action scenes that feel redundant.

(Hey, it’s another giant icky spider attack!) He definitely stands out among a cast of bland actors playing bland dwarves. Oh Gimli, how you are missed! Jackson finds a way to bring back Orlando Bloom as Legolas. Bloom’s scenes are a bunch of sorry minutes that could be cut from the film’s running time. Too many scenes in this movie feel padded and bloated. With each passing minute, Jackson is doing further damage to his directing legacy. His original Lord of the Rings trilogy was a major triumph. These Hobbit films feel and look like parody. Smaug the dragon (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) finally shows up, and he is easily the best thing in the Hobbit films thus far. He should’ve arrived in the second half of the first film, and the whole damned thing should’ve been over in three hours.

4

American Hustle

David O. Russell continues his impressive directorial roll with this semi-comedic look at the notorious ’70s Abscam scandal. This is basically Russell shooting for Scorsese glory here, and while the style of the movie seems copied at times, there’s no denying the power of the ensemble cast. Bradley Cooper scores laughs as a pathetic FBI agent looking to make a name for himself, and Christian Bale looks great in a comb-over as the conman forced into an alliance with the law. Amy Adams gets one of the strangest roles of the year as a con artist pretending to be British, and she pulls it off quite nicely, while Jennifer Lawrence steals her every scene as a seemingly dim Long Island housewife.

You also get stand up comic Louis C.K. as Cooper’s field boss. (C.K. canceled a show I had tickets for to make this movie. I was pissed but, after seeing how good he is here, I’m OK with it now.) The film falls a little short of greatness due to its sometimes carbon copy feel, but the cast pulls it out of the fire. It also has the best use of Robert De Niro as a bad guy in many years.

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The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

After a sloppy start, the Hunger Games franchise kicks into high gear with this solid, darker chapter. Jennifer Lawrence, looking a little more haggard and embittered, makes for a far more convincing war-torn survivor this time out. Her performance is great, as are the contributions of a bunch of new cast members including Jena Malone, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Sam Claflin. The new look and feel of the series can mostly be attributed to new director Francis Lawrence and his cinematographer Jo Willems, who get rid of that dopey, baroque look of the first movie in favor of something darker.

The plot involves Katniss and fellow survivor Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) being forced into another Hunger Games where former victors must compete against each other. This installment has a lot more meat on the bone, and the action is easier to follow thanks to a much less frantic editing style.

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Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

After nearly a decade of being absent from our movie screens, Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), the world’s greatest newscaster, has returned. This time, it’s the ’80s, and a new media craze called 24 Hour News has Ron and the boys (Paul Rudd’s Brian Fantana, Steve Carell’s Brick Tamland and David Koechner’s Champ Kind) working the late night shift in New York. The plot is basically just a place setter for weird, random humor involving bats, sharks, shadows, scorpions in RVs, and hair. Ferrell and the crew manage to sell the dumbest of things, and they make so much of it funny. Even the stuff that’s just strange has its own humorous appeal. Carell goes super dopey with Brick as he finds a love interest (Kristen Wiig), Champ still loves Ron in a dangerous way, and Brian has a new condom cabinet. I laughed my face off, with this being a sequel that continues the comedic legacy of the brilliant original, and even ups the ante when it comes to anchor-on-anchor battles in the park (the battle scene in this one is one for the ages, and involves fighter jets).

The last time they made one of these, they had enough on the cutting room floor to release an entire other movie. I hope that happened here as well, because I don’t want to wait 10 years for more.

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Saving Mr. Banks

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson are charming as Walt Disney and Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers in this obviously whitewashed look at Disney’s attempts at getting Travers’ approval to make a movie out of her book. Of course, most of us know he succeeded, but many don’t know that Travers was quite the holdout. The movie splits time between the Disney/Travers business and Travers’ childhood, where we find out much of Mary Poppins was based on her troubled father (Colin Farrell) and actual nanny. B.J. Novak and Jason Schwartzman are wonderful as the Sherman brothers, who made Poppins into a musical, much to the chagrin of Travers. The movie takes a lot of artistic license with the situation. Even though Travers is depicted as difficult here, she was far more adversarial in real life and never approved of the movie (those animated penguins!). Still, the film is fun to watch, with Hanks and Thompson making it all very worthwhile and heartwarming.

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Grudge Match

Man, this should’ve been fun. Sylvester Stallone and Robert De Niro, riffing on their iconic boxing characters Rocky Balboa and Jake LaMotta, having one last boxing match. Sounds to me like the setup for something great nostalgic, and even funny. Instead, director Peter Segal manages to make this undertaking a morose, unfunny slog. Stallone plays a generally unhappy character, while De Niro plays a total asshole. Their characters wind up in a scenario that gets their near 70 year-old bodies into the ring for a rematch 30 years after their last fight. The fight itself is OK, with both men looking pretty fit for their age.

Everything leading up to it is oddly paced, and sometimes painful to watch, especially when Kim Basinger is on screen as a confused love interest. Alan Arkin and Kevin Hart are wasted in supporting roles. This seemed like a sure thing, but the film takes itself too seriously, and doesn’t know when to smile.

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The Wolf of Wall Street

Martin Scorsese’s latest explodes in your face like a mortar full of deranged bliss. Leonardo DiCaprio, in the performance of the year, plays slimeball stockbroker and convicted felon Jordan Belfort, a real life scumbag who made millions selling penny stocks at a Long Island, New York brokerage.

The movie, based on Belfort’s own autobiography, takes people doing bad, bad things to such an extreme that the film doesn’t just stand as one of the best of 2013, but one of its best and most deranged comedies. Like Ray Liotta in Goodfellas, DiCaprio talks to the camera on occasion, often during the sort of highly elaborate tracking shots that have become a Scorsese mainstay. It’s in these moments, and during Belfort’s drug-fueled “rouse-thetroops, fire-breathing speeches to his crew, where DiCaprio does his most exhilarating, bona fide nuts acting to date. He is a formidable competitor for a Best Actor Oscar.

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O u r

F i r s t

2014 We’ll be accepting entries noW through February 28 once more into the breach, my friends. the reno news & review is hosting a poetry contest.

Only a single submission per person will be accepted, and entrants

be a member of the judging team. Other than the guidelines for

must live within 50 miles of the Reno News & Review’s office. While

submission, there are only two rules: Poems must be less than 500

there will be panel of judges from both inside and outside the

words long, and poems must be submitted in a publishable form

newspaper, we won’t be announcing who they are until publication

(for example, no one-line, 499-word submissions). While we’ll be

of the winners to prevent lobbying. We’ll only accept emailed

mindful of intentional line breaks and word placement, we reserve

entries, and the poem must be in the body of the email; we’ll not be

the right to change if needed, so stay away from unusual fonts

opening attachments. email to renopoetry@newsreview.com and put poetry

or formatting. We will presume all spellings and punctuation are

2014 in the subject line. all entries must be received by 5p.m. on February

intentional, and we won’t copy-edit. While we’ve tried to think of

28. Winners will be published on april 3. Include contact information,

every contingency, we’re sure someone will attempt to game the

including name, address and telephone number in the body of the

system, so we reserve the right to reject any submission at the

same email as the poem. Nom de plumes will not be accepted.

editors’ discretion.

The individual who strips the names from the submissions will not

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Mountain music Dead Winter Carpenters When asked the question of where the band name originated, the members of North Lake Tahoe/Reno-based by Laura Davis Americana group Dead Winter Carpenters exchange quizzical glances, before casting their eyes toward lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist Jesse Dunn for clarification. Dunn hesitates briefly before launching in.

Photo/Allison Young

The challenge of constantly mixing things up onstage has kept the five-piece band going strong since their origin in spring of 2010.

Sprouting from the roots of a former San Francisco-based bluegrass band—Montana Slim String Band— the group has been consistently on the road, playing approximately 140 shows just this year. (It’s actually been a slow year. Other years have been around 175-180).

“We try to think of different material for each show, so we’re constantly pushing our abilities and pushing our brains to be more creative,” Jenni Charles, fiddler and vocalist of DWC, explains. “I think it’s really satisfying to push your creativity—to make it fun for the crowd which feeds off of knowing we’re actually having fun up there ourselves.”

Part of what helps the five musicians consistently offer new takes on their tracks is the jam-band like atmosphere their bluegrass style of music offers. They can easily expand upon a song if they feel the mood is right, both among themselves, and also with the help of accompanying likeminded musicians.

“We know a pretty good extended family of musicians, and we all trust each other onstage enough that we can set a palette for someone else to expand upon and we’re not going to train wreck,” says Daines of the band’s guest performers.

One such guest performer brought the element of pedal steel to the track “Easy Sleep” off the band’s new six track EP, Dirt Nap (which is available as a free download for a limited time at deadwintercarpenters. bandcamp.com). Others have allowed for the appearance of sitar, viola, banjo and harmonica.

As for how those guest spots will translate into the live show, well, the intention isn’t to translate them identically to the stage. Just like its live performances, the band wants its recording to be a bit different from what fans have already seen and heard.

“We’ve been playing these songs live before we put them in the studio,” explains Charles. “And we tried to think about how we could do the arrangements and instrumentation differently from the live shows, which I think is important.” Ω

“We all sort of practice amateur carpentry on our own, in different regards,” Dunn begins—before switching gears into an entirely different tale. “There’re a lot of stories and folklore that surround different time periods in Tahoe. The story I like to go back to is some carpenters that were working on the railroad above Donner Lake one winter, and they got snowed in, like the Donner Party, and never made it out.”

That’s a literal inspiration behind the name Dead Winter Carpenters— if that’s the explanation you happen to catch. Just like the band’s live performances, it seems the answer to the question is based on where and when you ask it—there’s likely never a repeat performance. That ever-changing element is what makes Dead Winter Carpenters so special, you never know what you’re going to get, whether you’ve caught them once, twice, even 20 times.

“The risk taking [is the best part], we definitely don’t play the same show twice, for better or for worse,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Bryan Daines. “It gives an incentive for people who have seen the band like 20 times to continue to come out— the fact that there’s no stock version of anything, each song will vary in some way each performance.”

Brian Huston, Dave Lockhart, Jesse Dunn, Bryan Daines, Jenni Charles are Dead Winter Carpenters.

For more information, visit deadwinter carpenters.bandcamp. com.

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THURSDAY 1/2

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1UP 214 W. Commercial Row, (775) 329-9444

3RD STREET

Blues jam w/Blue Haven, 9:30pm, no cover

125 W. Third St., (775) 323-5005

SATURDAY 1/4

SUNDAY 1/5

Select Saturdays, 8pm, no cover Seeing Eye Dogs, 9:30pm, no cover

DG Kicks, 9pm, Tu, no cover

BAR-M-BAR

Monday Night Open Mic, 8pm, M, no cover

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BODEGA NIGHTCLUB

Rhythm Rewind w/DJs RyOn and Rewind, 9pm, $7

555 E. Fourth St., (775) 378-4507

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CEOL IRISH PUB

Jan. 2, 6 p.m.

Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen 1180 Scheels Drive Sparks 657-8659

Pub Quiz Trivia Night, 8pm, no cover

538 S. Virginia St., (775) 329-5558

CHAPEL TAVERN

Traditional Irish Tune Session, 7pm, Tu, no cover

Strange on the Range, 9pm, no cover

Sonic Mass w/DJ Tigerbunny, 7pm, no cover

1099 S. Virginia St., (775) 324-2244

Good Friday with rotating DJs, 10pm, no cover

COMMA COFFEE

CW and Mr. Spoons, noon, M, no cover

312 S. Carson St., Carson City; (775) 883-2662

DAVIDSON’S DISTILLERY

Comedy

Open Mic Jam, 9:30pm, M, karaoke, 9:30pm, Tu, open mic, 9:30pm, W, no cover

275 E. Fourth St., (775) 324-1917

EL CORTEZ LOUNGE

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

235 W. Second St., (775) 324-4255

3rd Street, 125 W. Third St., 323-5005: Comedy Night & Improv w/Patrick Shillito, W, 9pm, no cover

FUEGO

Catch a Rising Star, Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St., 329-4777: Tommy Savitt, Tu, W, 7:30pm, $15.95

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

170 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-1800

Live flamenco guitar music, 5:30pm, no cover

THE GATEWAY INN

Mark Castro Band, 5pm, no cover

1275 Stardust St., (775) 747-4220

The Improv at Harveys Cabaret, Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, (800) 553-1022: John Caponera, Frances Dilorinzo, Th-F, Su, 9pm, $25; Sa, 8pm, 10pm, $30; Allan Havey, Suli McCullough, W, 9pm, $25

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

THE GRID BAR & GRILL 8545 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach; (530) 546-0300

HANGAR BAR

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke with Lisa Lisa, 9pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

Karaoke w/Andrew, 9pm, no cover

Bass Heavy, 9pm, W, $TBA

Karaoke Kat, 9pm, no cover

10603 Stead Blvd., Stead; (775) 677-7088

HARRY’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL

Open mic, 7pm, no cover

1100 E. Plumb Ln., (775) 828-7665

HIMMEL HAUS

Open Mic Night, 9pm, M, no cover Trivia Night, 9pm, W, no cover

3819 Saddle Rd., South Lake Tahoe; (530) 314-7665

THE HOLLAND PROJECT 140 Vesta St., (775) 742-1858

Drive-Thru Mystics, PostWar, Small Drawings, 8pm, $TBA

JAVA JUNGLE

Outspoken: Open Mic Night, 7pm, M, no cover

246 W. First St., (775) 329-4484

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MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 1/6-1/8 College Night Wednesdays, 8pm, W, no cover

“C APTIVATING” LIFE & STYLE

THURSDAY 1/2 JAZZ, A LOUISIANA KITCHEN

FRIDAY 1/3

SATURDAY 1/4

Erika Paul, 6pm, no cover

1180 Scheels Dr., Sparks; (775) 657-8659

SUNDAY 1/5

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 1/6-1/8

Bill Davis, 6pm, no cover

JUB JUB’S THIRST PARLOR 1) California Males, 9pm, $7

71 S. Wells Ave., (775) 384-1652 1) Showroom 2) Bar Room

2) The Mentors, Slut Fungus, 8pm, $8

KNITTING FACTORY CONCERT HOUSE

Reverend Horton Heat, Jello Biafra, 8pm, $18-$35

211 N. Virginia St., (775) 323-5648

THE POINT

Karaoke hosted by Gina Jones, 7pm, no cover

3001 W. Fourth St., (775) 322-3001

POLO LOUNGE 1559 S. Virginia St., (775) 322-8864

Karaoke hosted by Gina Jones, 9pm, no cover

Karaoke hosted by Gina Jones, 9pm, no cover

Live music, 9pm, no cover

Live music, 9pm, no cover

RED DOG SALOON 76 N. C St., Virginia City; (775) 847-7474

RUBEN’S CANTINA

Reverend Horton Heat Post show s online by registering at www.newsr eview.com /reno. Dea dline is the Friday befo re publication .

Jan. 4, 8 p.m.

Knitting Factory 211 N. Virginia St. 323-5648

Open Mic Night, 7pm, W, no cover

Karaoke, 8pm, no cover

1483 E. Fourth St., (775) 622-9424

Hip Hop Open Mic, 10pm, W, no cover

SHEA’S TAVERN 715 S. Virginia St., (775) 786-4774

The GoonieWolfe LP Record Release Party, 10pm, $5

SIDELINES BAR & NIGHTCLUB

Strangeworld, 9pm, no cover

1237 Baring Blvd., Sparks; (775) 355-1030

SIERRA TAP HOUSE

Black and Blues Jam, 8:30pm, Tu, no cover

Sneaky Creatures

Elephant Rifle, 9pm, no cover

253 W. First St., (775) 322-7678

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY

Dance party, 9pm, no cover

Strange on the Range, 7pm, M, no cover Tuesday Night Trivia, 8pm, Tu, no cover

432 E. Fourth St., (775) 410-5993

Ritual (’80s post-punk, industrial, goth), 9pm, $3 before 10pm; $5 after

Open Mic Wednesdays, 7pm, W, no cover

TAP SHACK

Mark Castro Band, 8pm, no cover

445 California Ave., (775) 657-8484

STUDIO ON 4TH

112 Rice St., Carson City; (775) 884-4666

WILD RIVER GRILLE

Jan. 4, 10 p.m.

Crystal Bay Club 14 Highway 28 Crystal Bay 833-6333

Sunday Jazz, 2pm, no cover

17 S. Virginia St., (775) 284-7455

WILDFLOWER VILLAGE

Reno Music Project Open Mic, 6:30pm, no cover

4275-4395 W. Fourth St., (775) 787-3769

Wildflower Comedy Power Hour Open Mic, 8:30pm, no cover

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ATLANTIS CASINO RESORT SPA 3800 S. Virginia St., (775) 825-4700 1) Grand Ballroom Stage 2) Cabaret

THURSDAY 1/2

FRIDAY 1/3

SATURDAY 1/4

2) Atomika, 8pm, no cover

2) Atomika, 4pm, no cover

2) Atomika, 4pm, no cover

SUNDAY 1/5

CARSON VALLEY INN

1627 Hwy. 395, Minden; (775) 782-9711 1) Valley Ballroom 2) Cabaret Lounge 3) Valley Sky Theatre

David John and the Comstock Cowboys Jan. 3, 8 p.m.

John Ascuaga’s Nugget 1100 Nugget Ave. Sparks 356-3300

2) The McBride Brothers, 7pm, no cover 2) The McBride Brothers, 8pm, no cover 2) The McBride Brothers, 8pm, no cover 2) Paul Covarelli, 6pm, no cover

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY 1/6-1/8

2) Paul Covarelli, 6pm, Tu, Brian Andrews, 6pm, W, no cover

CRYSTAL BAY CLUB

14 Hwy. 28, Crystal Bay; (775) 833-6333 1) Crown Room 2) Red Room

ELDORADO HOTEL CASINO

345 N. Virginia St., (775) 786-5700 1) Showroom 2) Brew Brothers 3) BuBinga Lounge 4) Roxy’s Bar & Lounge 5) Stadium Bar

2) On The Spot Trio, 10pm, no cover

2) Sneaky Creatures, 10pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Skyy High Fridays, 10pm, $10 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 3) Four Play Saturdays, 10pm, $10 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

3) DJ Keenan, 10:30pm, $20

3) Rick Gee, DJ SN1, 10pm, $20

1) Beatles vs. Stones w/Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash, 8pm, $25-$35 2) Foreigner Unauthorized, 8pm, no cover

1) Beatles vs. Stones w/Abbey Road and Jumping Jack Flash, 8pm, $25-$35 2) Foreigner Unauthorized, 8pm, no cover

2) Midnight Express, 7pm, no cover 3) Paul Covarelli, 5:30pm, no cover

1) David John and the Comstock Cowboys, 8pm, $15 2) Midnight Express, 8pm, no cover 3) Paul Covarelli, 6pm, no cover

2) Midnight Express, 8pm, no cover Country at the Cabaret w/DJ Jamie G, 9pm, no cover 3) Paul Covarelli, 6pm, no cover

2) Rose’s Pawn Shop, 7pm, no cover 3) 3-D Thursdays w/DJs Max, Chris English, Kronyak, 10pm, $20

2) Rose’s Pawn Shop, 8pm, no cover 3) Salsa dancing with BB of Salsa Reno, 2) Rose’s Pawn Shop, 8pm, no cover 7:30pm, $10 after 8pm, DJ Chris English, 3) Rogue Saturdays, 10pm, $20 DJ ((Fredie)), 10pm, $20

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, $19.95-$24.95 2) Left of Centre, 10:30pm, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, no cover

1) Ice Fantasy, call for showtimes, Tu, W, $19.95-$24.95 2) Live Band Karaoke, 10pm, M, DJ Chris English, 10pm, Tu, Garage Boys, 10:30pm, W, no cover 4) Live piano, jazz, 4:30pm, W, no cover

HARRAH’S LAKE TAHOE

15 Hwy. 50, Stateline; (775) 588-6611 1) South Shore Room 2) Casino Center Stage 3) Peek Nightclub

Karaoke Bottoms Up Saloon, 1923 Prater Way, Sparks, 359-3677: Th-Sa, 9pm, no cover Elbow Room Bar, 2002 Victorian Ave., Sparks, 359-3526: F, Tu, 7pm; Su, 2pm, no cover Celtic Knot Pub, 541 E. Moana Lane, 829-8886: J.P. and Super Fun Entertainment, Th, 8pm, no cover Flowing Tide Pub, 465 S. Meadows Pkwy., Ste. 5, 284-7707; 4690 Longley Lane, Ste. 30, (775) 284-7610: Karaoke, Sa, 9pm, no cover Sneakers Bar & Grill, 3923 S. McCarran Blvd., 829-8770: Karaoke w/Mark, Sa, 8:30pm, no cover Spiro’s Sports Bar & Grille, 1475 E. Prater Way, Sparks, 356-6000: Music & Karaoke, F, 9pm; Lovely Karaoke, Sa, 9pm, no cover Washoe Club, 112 S. C St., Virginia City, 847-4467: Gothic Productions Karaoke, Sa, Tu, 8pm, no cover

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HARRAH’S RENO

219 N. Center St., (775) 788-2900 1) Sammy’s Showroom 2) The Zone 3) Sapphire Lounge 4) Plaza 5) Convention Center

JOHN ASCUAGA’S NUGGET

1100 Nugget Ave., Sparks; (775) 356-3300 1) Showroom 2) Cabaret 3) Orozko 4) Rose Ballroom 5) Trader Dick’s

PEPPERMILL RESORT SPA CASINO 2707 S. Virginia St., (775) 826-2121 1) Tuscany Ballroom 2) Terrace Lounge 3) Edge 4) Capri Ballroom

2) Country at the Cabaret w/DJ Jamie G, 7pm W, no cover 3) Greg Chambers, 6pm W, no cover

2) Kyle Rea, 6pm, no cover

SANDS REGENCY CASINO HOTEL

1) Blues Jam Wednesday, 7pm, W, no cover

345 N. Arlington Ave., (775) 348-2200 1) 3rd Street Lounge 2) Poolside

SILVER LEGACY

407 N. Virginia St., (775) 325-7401 3) Social Network Night, 9pm, no cover 1) Grand Exposition Hall 2) Rum Bullions Island Bar 4) Live music, 6:30pm, no cover 3) Aura Ultra Lounge 4) Silver Baron Lounge 5) Drinx Lounge

JANUARY 2013 | 2,January 2, 2014

2) Kyle Rea, 6pm, M, Tu, W, no cover

2) Live music/DJ, 9pm, no cover 3) Fashion Friday, 7pm, no cover 4) Live music, 8:30pm, no cover

2) Live music/DJ, 9pm, no cover 3) Seduction Saturdays, 9pm, $5 4) Live music, 8:30pm, no cover

2) Recovery Sundays, 10pm, no cover 3) Midnight Mass, 9pm, no cover 4) Live music, 6:30pm, no cover

2) Gong Show Karaoke, 8pm, Tu, no cover 3) Step This Way (dubstep, house), 8pm, W, no cover

For a complete listing of this week’s events, visit newsreview.com/reno Danny and the Deep Blue Sea Merry War Theatre Group, in association with Good Luck Macbeth Theatre, starts off the new year with this “foul-mouthed romantic fairytale” written by John Patrick Shanley. The play takes place in a rundown bar in the Bronx where two malcontents strike up a conversation over their beer. Danny is a brooding, self-loathing young man who resorts more to violence than reason. Roberta is a divorced, guilt-ridden young woman whose troubled teenage son is being cared for by her parents. Danny seems incapable of tender emotion, while Roberta is distrustful of men in general. As their initial reserve begins to melt and they decide to spend the night together, the possibility of a genuine and meaningful relationship begins to emerge for the first time for both of them. The play opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 3, at Good Luck Macbeth Theatre, 713 S. Virginia St. Other performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 4, 9-11 and 16-18. Tickets are $13 and are offered on a “pay what you can” basis on Thursday, Jan. 9 and 16.

Call 322-3716 or visit www.merrywar.com.

NBA D-League Showcase

S

ee some of the country’s best up-and-coming basketball players at the 10th annual NBA Development League Showcase.

The Reno Bighorns, among other development league teams, will play before basketball operations executives from all 30 NBA teams who will scout for new talent. The event will feature 17 games over five days, from Sunday, Jan. 5 through Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Reno Events Center, 400 N. Center St. Tickets range from $7-$75. Call the Reno Bighorns office at 284-2622 for tickets or visit www.nba.com/dleague.

Reno Winter Bachata Fest

S P M O A O H DRE

The Latin dance and music festival features internationally recognized dance instructors, dance showcases, live bachata bands and dance parties until 6 a.m. every night. Headliners include Eto on Friday, Migz on Jan. 3, and Luis Vargas on Saturday, Jan. 4. The event kicks off on Thursday, Jan. 2, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 5, at the Silver Legacy, 407 N. Virginia St. Festival passes start at $110 for a one-day pass and $250 for the full festival. Visit http://latindancefest.com.

First Thursday at NMA Nevada Museum of Art holds its monthly party featuring music, wine, beer and refreshments, and their latest artwork on display. This month’s featured musical act is The Socks. Take the opportunity to see the exhibitions Andy Warhol: Athletes, which closes on Jan. 4; Andrea Borsuk: Leap of Faith, which ends its run on Jan. 5; Carmelo Ortiz de Elgea: Basque Painter in Nevada, which concludes on Jan. 5; and Toulouse-Lautrec and La Vie Moderne: Paris 1800-1910; which runs through Jan. 19. Admission is $10 and free for NMA members.

The party begins at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, at the NMA, 160 W. Liberty St. Call 329-3333 or visit www. nevadaart.org.

Come in from the Cold Gather indoors for Bartley Ranch Regional Park’s annual family entertainment series, which kicks off on Saturday, Jan. 4, with a presentation by the Northern Nevada Bluegrass Association. The wintertime program takes place on Saturdays through March 8 inside the Western Heritage Interpretive Center at Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road. All programs begin at 7 p.m. Seating is limited to 200 people.

Admission is a suggested donation of $3 per person.

Call 828-6612.

—Kelley Lang

OPINION

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NEWS

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FEATURE STORY

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ARTS&CULTURE

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ART OF THE STATE

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JANUARY 2, 2014

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RN&R

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23

Making stall talk After three years of dating, I’m ready to propose to my girlfriend. She’s in college across the country now, so I’m waiting until February when she’ll be home to visit.

My plan is to take her on our favorite hike and ask her there. The thing is, we’ve been arguing about when and if I’m going to propose. It’s starting to get awkward and maybe even hurting our relationship, but I’d hate to ruin the surprise by telling her I’ll be proposing in a few months. Any ideas on how I can keep the peace while keeping my secret?

Of course you want to propose just right. The reality is, you’ll probably do OK with just about any proposal that includes a diamond ring and the words, “Will you marry me?” Ever hear of a woman complaining, “Yeah, all he did is get down on one knee, pull out the little velvet box and tell me he wanted us to spend our lives together”?

You’re smart to want to take advantage of the romantic power of surprise. My suggestion is that you get on the phone with her one morning—extremely soon—and make like your boss has interrupted your call. Tell her you’ll talk to her later, and do that—at her door on one knee.

Kin I see you naked?

I’m 22 and deeply in love with the wrong person—my uncle-in-law (my mom’s sister’s husband). We started confiding in each other, one thing led to another, and we’ve been sleeping together for over a year. He’s magnetic, charming, and a devoted dad. I know I need to end 24 | RN&R |

JANUARY 2, 2014

this, and before my family discovers it, but my lust for him seems insatiable.

Don’t kid yourself that you’re into the guy for his great qualities, like what a “devoted dad” he is—a term not typically used to describe a dad devoted to sneaking out to meet his niece for sex. Your “insatiability” is textbook behavioral conditioning. Lab rats that only sporadically get a pellet when they push the little bar become obsessed with pushing it. Rats that get a pellet every time will stop pushing when they’re no longer hungry and go about their ratty business. Likewise, if this guy were totally available, you’d stop seeing him through a junkie’s glazed eyes and notice who he actually is: a guy who doesn’t care enough about devastating his wife and kids to keep his willy in its cage.

You aren’t going to stop lusting after Uncle Romeo.

What you can stop is the behavior that follows: running off to have sex with him. Tell him it’s over, and then come up with replacement behavior—maybe doing an hour of killer cardio—to plug in whenever the uncle lust bubbles up. To help maintain your resolve, consider the kind of woman you want to be. Do the sorts of things this woman would do and avoid doing the sorts of things—and people—she wouldn’t. Ω

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave., No. 280, Santa Monica,CA 90405, or email AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com).

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OPINION

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NEWS

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GREEN

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fEatuRE StORy

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aRtS&CuLtuRE

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IN ROtatION

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aRt Of tHE StatE

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fOODfINDS

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775.334.6666

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jaNuaRy 2, 2014

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25

Think Free

by rob brezsny

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Deep bronzes

and smoky cinnamons and dark chocolates will be your lucky colors in 2014. Mellow mahoganies and resonant russets will work well for you, too. They will all be part of life’s conspiracy to get you to slow down, deepen your perspective and slip into the sweetest groove ever. In this spirit, I urge you to nestle and cuddle and caress more than usual in the coming months. If you aren’t totally clear on where home is, either in the external world or inside your heart, devote yourself to finding it. Hone your emotional intelligence. Explore your roots. On a regular basis, remember your reasons for loving life.

Stay in close touch with the sources that feed your wild soul.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): For years,

French painter Édouard Manet and French poet Stéphane Mallarmé hung out with each other every day. Mallarmé referred to their relationship as “the most complete friendship.” They influenced each other to become better artists and human beings.

I’m guessing that in the coming months, Taurus, you’ll thrive on that kind of stimulating companionship. Having such regular contact with a like-minded ally might even be an important factor in ripening your intelligence. At the very least, I predict that soulful friendship will be a crucial theme in 2014. You will attract blessings and generate luck for yourself by deepening your ability to cultivate synergistic bonds.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): St. Peter’s

Basilica is a very old church in Vatican City.

It contains a life-size bronze statue of St. Peter that is at least 700 years old. Over the centuries, countless visitors have paid their respects by kissing and touching the feet of the idol. The metal composing the right foot has been so thoroughly worn down by these gestures that the individual toes have disappeared, leaving a smooth surface. You will have a similar kind of power in 2014, Gemini.

Little by little, with your steady affection and relentless devotion, you can transform what’s rigid and hard.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Big rivers

don’t travel in straight lines. Their paths are curvy and complicated, with periodic turns and bends. In some places, they flow faster, and in others, they’re slower. Their depth and width may vary along the way, too. Your own destiny is like one of those big rivers, Cancerian. In some years, it meanders for long stretches, slowing down as it wanders along a crooked course. It may even get shallower and narrower for a while. But I expect that in 2014, you will be moving more rapidly than usual. You will be traveling a more direct route, and you will be both wide and deep.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): “In games there are

rules,” writes science-fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson, “but in life the rules keep changing.” This is always true, of course, but I think it will be an especially poignant truth for you between now and your next birthday. During the coming months, you may sometimes feel as if every last law and formula and corollary is mutating. In some cases, the new rules coming into play will be so different from the old rules you’ve been used to, they may at first be hard to figure out. But now here’s the happy ending: It may take a while, but you will eventually see that these new rules have an unexpected logic and beauty that will serve your future well.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): I predict that

you will commit no major acts of selfsabotage in 2014. Congrats! I also foresee that you will be exceptionally careful not to hurt or damage yourself. Hooray! More good news: You won’t be as critical of yourself as you have sometimes been in the past. The judgmental little voice in the back of your head won’t be nearly as active. Yay! Even your negative emotions will diminish in frequency and intensity. Hallelujah! Whoopee!

Abracadabra!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The citizens of

Iceland love literature, but many are not content to simply read. One out of every 10 Icelanders writes and publishes a book at sometime in his or her life. I know it’s unrealistic, but I would love to see at least one in 10 of all my Libra readers do the same in 2014. I think you’re ready to make a big statement—to express yourself in a more complete and dramatic way than ever before. If you’re not ready to write a book, I hope you will attempt an equivalent accomplishment.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): I’m hoping

you will find a new teacher or two in 2014, maybe even a mentor. Not a guru who tells you what to do. Not an exploitative “expert” who claims to know what’s right for you or a charismatic narcissist who collects adoration. What I wish for you, Scorpio, is that you will connect with wise and humble sources of inspiration, with lifelong learners who listen well and stimulate you to ask good questions, with curious guides who open your eyes to resources you don’t realize you need. In the coming months, you are primed to launch a quest that will keep you busy and excited for years; I’d love to see you get excellent help in framing that quest.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In

2014, it’s possible you will be given a cabbage farm or a petting zoo or some bequest that’s not exactly in close alignment with your life’s purpose. But it’s more likely that the legacies and dispensations you receive will be quite useful. The general trend is that allies will make available to you a steady flow of useful things. Your ability to attract what you need will be high. In the coming months, I may even have good reason to name you an honorary Scorpio. You might match those Great Manipulators’ proficiency at extracting the essence of what you want from every situation.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Would

you be interested in a motto that will help set the tone for you in 2014? I’ve got a suggestion that’s in alignment with the astrological omens. It’s from a poem by Margaret Atwood. Try saying this and see if it works for you: “Last year I abstained / this year I devour / without guilt / which is also an art.”

If you choose to make this affirmation your own, be sure you don’t forget about the fact that devouring without guilt is an art—a skill that requires craft and sensitivity. You can’t afford to get blindly instinctual and greedy in 2014; you shouldn’t compulsively overcompensate for 2013’s deprivations. Be cagey and discerning as you satisfy your voracious hunger.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The com-

ing months will be a good time to meditate on the concepts of happy accidents and benevolent trouble. Go ahead and throw constructive mischief into the mix, too, and maybe even a dose of graceful chaos. Are you game for playing around with so much paradox? Are you willing to entertain the possibility that fate has generous plans for you that are too unexpected to anticipate?

There’s only one requirement that you have to meet in order to receive your odd gifts in the spirit in which they’ll be offered: You’ve got to be open-minded, eager to learn and flexible.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): I think we

humans need some new emotions. It’s true that old standards like sadness, anger, jealousy and fear are as popular as ever.

But I would personally love to be able to choose from a greater variety, especially if at least 51 percent of the new crop of emotions were positive or inspiring. Now it so happens that in 2014 you Pisceans will be primed to be pioneers. Your emotional intelligence should be operating at peak levels.

Your imagination will be even more fertile than usual. So how about it? Are you ready to generate revolutionary innovations in the art of feeling unique and interesting feelings?

To get started, consider these: 1. amused reverence, 2. poignant excitement, 3. tricky sincerity, 4. boisterous empathy.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes. The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at (877) 873-4888 or (900) 950-7700.

26 | RN&R |

JANUARY 2, 2014

by D. Brian Burghart PHOTO/D. Brian BurgHarT

Head South Todd South is a guy who needs little introduction, but by way of introduction, he’s our new food reviewer. He’s been hosting Reno’s best open mic night for more than a decade (declared best by the readers of the RN&R in our annual Biggest Little Best of Northern Nevada), and he’s been a man about town and a man about social media for as long as many of us can remember (4,843 friends on Facebook). He’s still doing the open mic Friday nights at Wildflower Village (signups starting at 6:30 p.m.).

Why are you so famous? Everybody knows who you are. It’s almost redundant to have you in 15 Minutes of fame.

Jeez, aahhhhhhhh, why am I so famous? I don’t know. It predates the whole Facebook thing. I’d say open mics.

Oh yeah, you’ve run open mics since—when’d you start?

The one that I’ve been running since 2002 actually started in 2000 at Walden’s. In March, it’ll be 12 years. I just meet a lot of people. I also have been involved. Everybody is on social media now, but way back when— in the dark ages of the late ’80s, early ’90s— we had bulletin board systems, and I ran a couple of those. [You could do] pretty much everything you can do now on Facebook— play games, meet people, exchange photos, whatever—just with much slower speeds and much slower technology. There are people that I still talk to on Facebook and other

social media that I have known since the days of BBS-ing, since back in the day ... prior to the internet. So you find out so-and-so knows so-and-so, and before you know it, you just become one of those [people]. Like you, obviously people know you from the News & Review, but I don’t even remember the first time I heard your name. But I’ve known who you are for years and years.

In the last 15 years, I’ve had occasions to take care of old people in terms of health issues. Like my parents. One is dead, the other is currently wasting away in a home, now completely and irretrievably in the grip of Alzheimer’s.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned a few things that could be helpful. One of these days, you might just have to take charge of a health situation involving parents or another senior. If so, here are some basics to remember.

1. If that person is 70 or older, there is no such thing as a “routine” surgery.

Every procedure, at that age, is serious stuff. Every procedure/surgery, can quickly become a life and death situation. There is nothing, at that age, that can be taken lightly.

2. If an oldster is sick or injured, and he/she isn’t drinking and/or eating as he/she should, that’s serious. Seriously serious. You have to get them to eat or drink. If they won’t/can’t, you have to take charge. You have to get professional help. That person ain’t gonna make it if he/she isn’t drinking or eating. Makes sense, right? Don’t be OPINION

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NEWS

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GREEN

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Basically, the reason I knew you were a foodie was through Facebook, but you went outside, too, using Yelp. You developed a name for yourself as a reviewer long before News & Review picked up

I like food. I like to cook food, and because I like to cook food, I also tend to have an opinion about other people’s cooking. So, if I’m paying for a meal, I’m going to have an opinion on it. I used to write little reviews long before Yelp and share them wherever you could, but it was just more of a conversation about “Hey, have you heard about this new place?” With the rise of things like Yelp and Chowhound, I found them useful tools of finding new places or talking about older places.

And I’m just a pretty chatty person, whether it’s online or in person. So I started sharing my opinion. I’ve also been a writer of text for many years. I’ve worked as a copywriter.

∫y Bruce Van Dye final thoughts, emotions, and so forth. Well, that’s all fine and dandy and if your scene plays out like that, that’s wonderful and lucky you. But there’s no law in this often cruel universe that says it’s gonna go down like that, that you’re gonna be in the middle of a scene from a Hallmark television special or some sappy movie. What we never think of, but what is more common than you might think, is that the dying person is quite literally incapable of communicating.

It’s monumentally frustrating and heartbreaking. So don’t assume that you’ll be able to say last words and farewells with someone who can hear you and actually talk back. Many times, if you wait too long, you’ll be talking to a the human equivalent of a black hole.

Whatever it is you need to express or clear up, don’t procrastinate too darn long. Say that stuff before the surgery, for example.

surprised if he/she just won’t cooperate on this front. Eating and drinking takes energy, and often, old people will just sorta blow it off and be dangerously nonchalant about consumption of food and water. When my dad was home at age 77 after surgery, I found one, and only one, way to get him to drink water. Mix it with a blast of vodka. Ultimately, this approach was not particularly productive.

3. If you find that your desire to please the patient is getting in the way of his/her proper care, you have to recognize this. You have to recognize that your desire to please is getting in the way of good care. After you recognize this reality, you have to suck it up and do the right thing. Even if it pisses mom/dad/beloved senior off.

4. One thing we never think about and never prepare for is that at the very end of life, the dying person is often too sick or deranged to communicate. This is brutally disappointing and utterly sad. We all have this cheery image of the family gathered around the loved one’s death bed, all trading |

this paper

So I tend to care. You know, on the internet, no one knows you’re a dog. And it’s been that way since the very first modems and communication like I was talking about. When people can read what you’re saying, how you actually write it becomes important. Maybe not so much for the Millennials and the Generation Y, they do all their chat shortcuts, but even when I text, I write in complete sentences.

You can call it pride of ownership—I like to write in a complete sentences. My Yelp reviews, I typically don’t just throw out a couple of shots, I usually spend quite a bit of time editing them. I even edit and re-edit casual comments on Facebook. I’m just OCD that way. And then you get a response: “I thought the place was crap, too” or “Wow, thanks, we had a great time.” I don’t know why, I just enjoy sharing that opinion and seeing other people’s opinions. Ω

Exactly. So if you’ve lived here for more than 20 years, you know a lot of the other people who’ve lived here for more than 20 years.

I’ve been here since I was a little kid, and that was in the ’70s.

FEATURE STORY

Recycle

I didn’t know that. That explains some things.

Yeah, Reno used to be a small town. It was not hard to achieve a certain measure of notoriety.

Unhappy advice

on it, so tell me a little bit about that desire to get your opinions of restaurants out there.

ARTS&CULTURE

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ART OF THE STATE

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FOODFINDS

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FILM

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MUSICBEAT

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NIGHTCLUBS/CASINOS

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THIS WEEK

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MISCELLANY

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JANUARY 2, 2014

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RN&R

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