Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

December 19, 2006

Worst Las Vegas Podcast #11 - December 19th, 2006

Posted by Hunter

I'm finally back with another podcast! This time around I'm talking about my recent trip to Bellagio (which includes meeting up with several readers/listeners and author Dave Schwartz) as well as the big news of the day - Harrah's going private! On top of that I catch up with a few news stories from the last two weeks. Enjoy!!

Here is the link to the photos mentioned in the podcast: http://www.ratevegas.com/photo/most_recent

A reminder - feel free to call in and leave us a message about anything Las Vegas or Web site related. The call in number is: 702-508-4232.

iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=197984456
Direct RSS: http://www.ratevegas.com/feed/podcast

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Comments

Read archived comments (23 so far)
December 20, 2006 4:12 PM Posted by Tom M

I see your blog entry but the links don't give me access to your podcast. Latest available is number 10.

December 20, 2006 4:15 PM Posted by Hunter

Are you sure?

My iTunes updated properly and others have listened to the new episode already...

When I click on the 'Direct RSS' link above, it shows me the list and includes #11.

It seems like it is working on this end.

December 20, 2006 4:27 PM Posted by Tom M

just tried it again and both were not showing the new episode. Not sure what's going on.

December 20, 2006 4:35 PM Posted by Hunter

That's strange. I don't know what to tell 'ya...

I guess wait a bit and see if your system updates...

I know that some ISPs, such as AOL, heavily cache their content so perhaps your ISP (Verizon?) is doing that and once the cache expires you'll see the new stuff.

I'm pretty confident that the episode is working for at least most people so I think it is okay on this end.

December 20, 2006 4:47 PM Posted by David F.

No problems on the cache side with Verizon, and as you know Hunter, I would know :-), Maybe clearing the cache in the browser would work?

David.

December 20, 2006 5:46 PM Posted by Hunter

I'm not sure what else to try.

If it still doesn't work in a couple of hours, ping me back. I see people downloading the episode so it's not totally busted.

December 20, 2006 5:48 PM Posted by Hunter

On an unrelated front, it looks like the audio drops out at the very end. Not sure why but I will see about posting an updated version with the proper bits... There's some good stuff at the end!

December 20, 2006 7:51 PM Posted by Hunter

Still having trouble downloading the podcast?

I corrected the problem with the podcast file and posted a new edition - the last bits are no longer cut off and that's good because there's a conversation with regular commenter John Hall and a little hello from my friend Kevin.

December 20, 2006 9:28 PM Posted by Kevin

Sounds good to me!!! :) Fun times!

December 20, 2006 10:13 PM Posted by Tom M

Its weird but I don't see it on the web page or using your links. I am not a computer wiz so who knows what the issue is. Rebooting my computer did not help.

December 20, 2006 10:41 PM Posted by Hunter

What operating system are you running (i.e. Windows XP, MacOS X 10.4)?

What are you using to listen to podcasts (i.e. iTunes)?

I have a subscription in iTunes and it automatically downloaded the latest episode. It sounds like you don't have a subscription (and why not??!? :-) ).

Anyway, when I go in and look at the entry in iTunes for people without a subscription, I don't see episode #11. I'm not sure why - it should show up since it is in the feed (the 'original feed' marked above).

You can clearly see episode #11 at the feed address:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/RatevegasPodcasts

If you use that URL in your podcast client (such as iTunes - use the 'Subscribe to Podcast...' option in the 'Advanced' menu), it should download episode #11. If you want just the media link for some reason, the MP3 file is located here:

http://media.ratevegas.com/26-wlvpodcast-12192006-final.mp3

I hope that helps. I submitted a trouble ticket to Apple to figure out why iTunes isn't listing it.

December 20, 2006 10:47 PM Posted by Hunter

Update: iTunes now shows #11 - not sure why the delay.

December 21, 2006 12:16 AM Posted by mike_ch

iTunes just takes a while sometimes, and a few times I've never even been able to get it directly from your feed.

One time Medio (back when you used it) was the only place where the newest ep showed up for the first few hours and I downloaded it from them. It's just random like that.

December 21, 2006 12:23 AM Posted by Hunter

Yeah, well, I ping all the providers with each submission - the idea being that when they get the ping they go check the feed. It usually works well but in this case iTunes was extra slow. Typically they update about 20 minutes after I ping, not 16 hours later, but who knows.

Regarding the other provider, you must be talking about Odeo. You can still find our stuff on Odeo but I removed the links from each posting because the last few times I checked, the recording sounded like the Chipmunks... I sent them a few messages but alas, no response... So I ditched them...

December 21, 2006 12:16 PM Posted by Tom M

I see it now. I am not a subscriber to itunes. Since I am not a big music listener I didn't see the need. I just bought a new computer with the latest Windows app, so I am still trying to learn all the new goodies out there online. My old system was a win 98 which really limited me. I will listen to it tonight when I get home from work. Thanks for all the help.

December 21, 2006 12:32 PM Posted by Hunter

Glad it is working for you now.

By subscriber I meant to the podcast via iTunes, not to the iTunes Music Store services...

If you subscribe to the podcast through iTunes you will get new episodes automatically as they are posted.

December 21, 2006 1:35 PM Posted by Dr. Bertz

Wow... almost a month in between podcasts(!) Shouldn't you be adhering to some kind of schedule?

Good p-cast. I need to get back to Vegas. Do you know anyone who can recommend a hotel for my family? We have three young children that misbehave frequently, and therefore require mild beatings. I'd like a room that does a good job of keeping the sound in, and maybe something with a cage for the kids? The bars need to spaced pretty close together, they are good at squeezing out.

Thanks!

December 21, 2006 8:02 PM Posted by detroit1051

Thanks for your report, Hunter. On my trip last month, I thoroughly enjoyed Corsa. Of course, there were only two of us, not eleven. I've never tried Delmonico; next time.
It's interesting you mentioned the Italian fountain/statue at Bellagio. Every time I walk in from the parking garage or through the lobby to the Spa Tower, I admire it.
Unrelated to your podcast, I finally read M Magazine which I brought back from Bellagio. I found the interview with Renee West, the president of Excalibur, interesting. Apparently, MGM Mirage is going to enhance Excalibur as a mid-market property:
"Q: What is your vision for Excalibur?
A: When you look at the value segment, which is where Excalibur sits, there�s not a single property that has locked up that market. We intend to own the middle market by being a fun, friendly place where our customers will feel at home. We�re adding attractions like Dick�s Last Resort to provide new reasons to stay and play here. And every employee at the property is intensely focused on providing exceptional, memorable guest service."
http://www.mlifestyle.com/pages/issue_4v4/profile_west.asp


December 25, 2006 3:56 PM Posted by mike_ch

I haven't written much here because there hasn't been much going on in town since the facade of Palazzo started creeping up the tower, really.

However, I can now say that the north side of the main Stardust tower has a big gash in it along the top five floors or so. The windows are busted and it just looks a little damaged, like a storm blew through or something. From the top level of the Deuce buses you can see over the fence and there's still more furniture being loaded into trailers outside the front door.

It's also 100% pitch black at night now, although one Saturday night I saw the sports book lit up for no clear reason at about 8PM. Anyway, demolition setup is now visibly underway. I've only seen it from the highway so I'll have to drop into CircusCircus or something to find a good perspective.

December 25, 2006 6:24 PM Posted by John

Mike, I was just up there, and I saw the Stardust, being completely pitch dark. Also, when I was up there last week, I noticed that they are storing the facade pieces for Palazzo, one the site of the former Bourbon Street Casino. Actually, it is sort of interesting to see the location specific parts, that will just repeate themselves in the exact same locations on the tower, as they creep up its fifty-storeys.

The other interesting thing, that I saw, while I was up there, was on one wall of the Sands Expo center, near the employee skywalk to the new parking garage, which is gargantuan, by the way. It looks like a test pattern for part of the Palazzo pedestrian/retail promenade. When you look at it, it uses the travertine pattern of marble/stone blocks with some interesting glass work, a light fixture, and a neat looking blue awning with a Palazzo "P" logo. It was really interesting to take a look at.

December 26, 2006 9:55 PM Posted by mike_ch

Aladdin update: Tonight, I saw the lobby. It wasn't open when I was last was there on Gas Leak Day.

I must go back for pictures, for this is the tackiest thing on God's green Earth, except maybe for the Reno Peppermill. Seriously.

December 27, 2006 4:00 PM Posted by motoman

Hey John
Thanks for the observations re Palazzo progress; to any other observers here, some photos would be nice. It's the kind of thing we're interested in here vs. vacation pics of people as Hunter mentioned.

He also had noted how interesting it is to look back at the photo archives and see the progress. The folks on this blog are, I'd have to say, the chroniclers of Vegas history since the town has none of its own.

December 27, 2006 8:14 PM Posted by John

Motoman, thats why I've been contributing to the site, for about a year and a half now. I usually don't get pictures, when I'm in the city, because Hunter and others are, in many ways, better photographers than myself.