United States of America Local Custom Tips by mcpangie

Wheel of Fortune - America's Game

Perhaps this bus will show up in your town and you can try to be a game show contestant. Would be nice, huh? The bus advertises Wheel of Fortune as "America's Game", so I figured it deserved a tip in the USA pages.

Here the bus is in front of the Peppermill Casino in Reno, Nevada.

Website: http://www.wheeloffortune.com

We Got Old Stuff Too

We might be younger than a lot of countries, but we've got cool, old buildings too. The Federal Courthouse in Portland, Oregon is so old it is being refurbished in 2005. 130 years ago, they didn't build for the seismic zone that Portland lies along. The ground beneath this building got scooped out and it is being set on "rollers" that will keep the occupants safe in the event of a major earthquake.

President Gazing

In October 2004 during the presidential race, I went to one of the Bush-Cheney gatherings as he travelled around the country. Over 20,000 people were there, and opponent John Kerry's wife had an event in town that day were something like 100 people showed up. In fact, more Kerry supporters came to post signs downing Bush at the Bush event than the Kerry event. I guess it is obvious with those numbers that Nevada went Republican. Kind of interesting to look at a map of how states vote as a mass in the electoral college.

Star Gazing

Besides the stars in Hollywood...

Boy Jupiter and Venus were sure bright in November 2004. What a view for those of us that work at night and were up at the pre-dawn moments. Wish I had a tripod.

Happy Birthday

When my great aunt turned 90 in August 2004, she got a card from President Bush and his wife. (I guess her friend ordered it, the government doesn't have a list to send people cards.)

Carb Counting

Orange Juice might be high in carbs, but not the reason a lot of Americans are religiously counting carbs in 2004. Atkins dieters can't have this wonderful fruit! At least people following the South Beach diet can have fruit.

Did you see A Christmas Story? Here is the message in the decoder ring.

Hey carb counters, don't panic the orange growers of Florida and California. Don't forget to drink your orange juice!

Environmentalists? Maybe Yes, Maybe No.

One value that I hold is a love for the environment, and a desire to protect it from the growing population in our country. Yet, I grew up in rural area of Alaska hunting and fishing. This means, just like many Americans, even though I want to protect the environment, I grew up in a culture that hunts down and shoots the animals we want to protect! What a contradiction, yet it is common in America.

In the United States, Ducks Unlimited is a leader in wetlands conservation. Though the organization focuses on wetlands conservation, it seems that is because the members are often water fowlers who want to ensure they have prey to hunt. The first and last time I tasted duck, I discovered that there is no need for me to learn to hunt ducks. I personally prefer to see the mallard drake in artwork, that can also be purchased from Ducks Unlimited.

This picture was taken at the fish hatchery at the Bonneville Dam near Cascade Locks, Oregon.