The Old Blog in the Desert

The cold hangs outside the doors as winter pulls the snowflakes from the skies. The wind heaves a chilled breath, threatening to reduce life to a sleepy end.

Along the dimly lit hallway of the Veterans Hospital, we stand front to back, a motley crew united by the shared experience of waiting. The air is thick with the scent of ancient sweat and the murmur of hushed conversations.

The walls, nicotine-yellow with age, seemed to close in on us, while the green and white linoleum floor beneath our feet bore the scars of countless footsteps. Across from us, a lone clerk darted back and forth behind bullet-proof windows, her movements mechanical and devoid of warmth.

Winter coats cling uncomfortably to our bodies, the warmth of the crowded space quickly turning stifling. Old souls, relics of a bygone era, clinging to our paperwork in a world of advanced technology.

And so, we wait.

My eyelids drooped with fatigue, the monotony of the wait threatening to lull me into a stupor. Could I fall asleep standing up?

Then I hear my last name.

The sound of my name jolted me awake, and I stumbled forward as the clerk motioned for me to approach her window.

“Go to the door on your left,” she instructed, her voice devoid of empathy.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I scanned the hallway for the door she mentioned but found none. With a resigned sigh, I reluctantly obeyed, feeling the weight of the eyes of the others in line behind me.

As I moved away from the window, a door appeared at the end of the hallway, seemingly materializing out of thin air. A woman stood beside it, gesturing for me to approach.

“Over here,” she called, her voice gentle and inviting.

With a sense of trepidation, I crossed the threshold into her office, leaving behind the hallway. The space was bright and quiet.

She motioned for me to sit on the metal chair before her desk, her smile warm and genuine.

“I’m sorry for the wait,” she said kindly. “I know how it feels to be overlooked.”

I frowned, taken aback by her empathy. “What do you mean?”

She chuckled softly. “Once we hit sixty, it’s like we become invisible, isn’t it?”

She understood, she saw me. I nodded slowly, the weight of her words settling heavily on my shoulders.

But as she reached out to touch my hand, a chill crept over me, and a sense of unease washed over me. I tried to pull away, but her grip was firm, her touch like a winter’s snow against my skin.

“As I said before, we are invisible,” she stated. “In the old days the elderly got less meat because they could not work for it anymore.”

Her appearance began to shift before my eyes, her features twisting and contorting into something grotesque and otherworldly. And as her teeth elongated into sharp points, I realized with horror that she was not what she seemed.

In that moment of terror, I felt myself slipping away, my very life essence fading into nothingness, growing invisible, as her dark eyes bore into mine.

Now, just a specter, devoid of flesh and skin. My visage, a memory hanging limply within my vaulted skull, long and short bones suspended, waiting to be cracked open.

I see her timeless face, marked by laugh lines, as she murmurs, “It takes so damned many of you to make a decent bone broth.”

In the hope of shutting down a free speech platform critical of the Washoe County Registrar of Voters, the Washoe County Commission, the Washoe County School Board, and the Reno City Council, former Reno City Councilmember Paul McKenzie has filed an election violation complaint against the Political Action Committee (PAC) Operation Sunlight, associated with Robert Beadles.

McKenzie alleges serious violations, claiming that the PAC has failed to disclose any political expenditures with the state since the first quarter of 2022. In that report, Beadles was the sole registered officer for the PAC.

Under state law, political campaigns must file quarterly Contributions & Expenses (C&E) reports during election years and one C&E report per non-election year. McKenzie points to the PAC’s Facebook ads as evidence of political spending, noting that the ads explicitly call to action to vote or support candidates.

Emphasizing the importance of adhering to state law, McKenzie states that while he disagrees with Operation Sunlight’s politics and attack ads, transparency is paramount. If operating under the guise of a PAC, disclosure of contributions and expenditures is obligatory through the Secretary of State’s office in Nevada.

“The law doesn’t say that you can’t lie about another candidate, but it does say if you’re going to lie about another candidate, you need to disclose where the money is coming from for those lies and how that money is being spent to spread those lies,” said McKenzie.

Evidence of political content is found in the public Facebook ads library under “Operation Sunlight” in the ads category about “social issues, elections, or politics.” Numerous flagged Operation Sunlight ads advocate for or against election candidates, with many removed for violating Facebook’s policies. The ads library also displays the amount spent on each ad.

In response to McKenzie’s allegations, Robert Beadles stated, “He can look forward to meeting my attorneys for filing frivolous, fabricated statements under oath.”

McKenzie is calling on Nevada Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar to investigate and refer the matter to Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford for legal action.

In the colorful confines of Virginia City, where the stories rival the peaks, Mount Davidson stands tall – a beacon for dreamers with hearts as big as the Nevada sky.

And leading the charge up this mountain of dreams is Spencer Davidson, a modern-day prospector with a lineage as storied as the gold he seeks. Descended from the esteemed geologist Donald Davidson, Spencer inherited the mountain, a thirst for adventure, and a keen eye for all things shiny.

With a motto as sharp as his wit – “Get off your hiney and find some shiny (or was it “winey.”) – Spencer embarks on his quest for riches.

One fine morning, as Spencer navigates the slopes of Mount Davidson, his gaze fixed upon the iconic flagpole, fate throws him a curveball. Nestled amidst the rocks lies a glimmer, beckoning with its sparkle.

With a mixture of excitement and determination, Spencer investigates the find. While most would rejoice at such a discovery, Spencer sees it as a cosmic sign – the mother lode awaits.

With the fever of a gold rush pioneer, Spencer digs deep, his shovel slicing through the earth with determination. Yet, what he unearths is not the gleaming treasure he anticipated.

Instead, Spencer discovers a plastic skull filled with glitter – a prank of cosmic proportions, one himself had orchestrated years ago. But ever the optimist, Spencer chuckles at the self-deprecating joke, reburied the glittery skull, and presses on.

Undeterred by plastic skulls and glittery tricks, Spencer shifts gears – transforming a lot on C Street into the ultimate gold panning destination. With bags of sand and a generous sprinkle of humor, Spencer creates a haven for laughter and merriment.

Soon, tourists flock to Mount Davidson Gold Panning, eager to try their luck and revel in Spencer’s infectious spirit. With homemade slews and tales spun taller than the peaks, Spencer crafts an experience to remember.

As the sun sets behind the rugged peaks, casting a golden glow over the land, Spencer stands beside Mount Davidson Gold Panning, surveying his domain with pride. Though the gold may be store-bought, the joy it brings is as golden as the Nevada sun.

And in the end, isn’t that the best treasure of all?

As the sun blazed overhead and the sky stretched endlessly blue, we trekked along the rugged path at the cliff’s edge. You surged ahead, driven by some unseen urgency, while I struggled to keep pace, my boots slipping on loose stones.

To our left, the cliff dropped sharply into the azure expanse of ocean, while to our right, twisted barbed wire delineated some unseen boundary. The wire, barely holding on, seemed more a suggestion of containment than a barrier.

At a bend in the path, I stumbled over the stones you kicked up, reaching out instinctively to steady myself, only to find my hand grasping painful barbs. The sharp sting made me cry aloud, but you continued, never looking back, seemingly unaffected by my distress.

I wiped the blood against my shirt, silently enduring the ache both in my flesh and in my heart.

Further along, as I struggled to catch up, I heard a plaintive cry carried on the wind. At first, I mistook it for the bleat of a sheep, but as I approached, I realized it was you, at the wire, desperately trying to free a trapped lamb. Your anguish mirrored the creature’s, each cry echoing the other’s pain.

“We need wire cutters,” you insisted, your eyes accusing me of negligence.

But as I scanned the desolate landscape, I knew rescue was unlikely.

“This land seems endless,” I muttered, feeling the weight of your blame pressing down on me.

With determined hands, you fought to free the lamb, oblivious to the blood staining its wool. Your cries mingled with its bleats, creating a cacophony of suffering that pierced the air. Despite my feeble protests, you persisted, your desperation escalating with each passing moment.

“Stop,” I pleaded, but my words fell on deaf ears. I watched helplessly as the lamb’s struggles ceased, its once vibrant eyes growing dull.

As you cradled the lifeless creature, your touch tender and gentle, I realized that your compassion was reserved solely for the helpless creature at your feet. With a heavy heart, I turned away, the sound of your grief fading into the wind.

Quietly, I retraced my steps along the cliff as the world softened about me. The harsh brightness of the sun mellowed into a comforting warmth, and the relentless blue of the sky became a soothing backdrop to my thoughts. Even the rugged cliffs offered a sense of solace.

At the spot where I had grabbed the barb, the wire glistened with my blood, a reminder of the pain endured. I glanced back briefly, knowing you wouldn’t notice the traces of blood staining the wire.

The fence, still flimsy in places, was the fragility of life and the resilience of the human spirit. With each passing moment, the distance between us grew until you were nothing more than a distant memory, a fading echo in the recesses of my mind.

Sheryl and Clif Grady, from Carson City, were married at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 1.

Natalie and Dennis Furlong were married at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 4. The couple are from Carson City.

The Pistol Packin’ Preacher, Rev. James Matthieu, presided over the ceremonies at the Silver Queen.

In the annals of fictional universes, none are as expansive and interconnected as the Tommy Westphall Universe.

Originating from the final scene of the acclaimed 1980s medical drama “St. Elsewhere,” this universe has sprawled to encompass a staggering array of television shows, creating a tapestry of storytelling that defies conventional boundaries. The series, revolving around the doctors of St. Eligius Hospital, took a monumental turn when its finale revealed that the entire six-season narrative existed within the daydream of Tommy Westphall, an autistic child gazing at a snow globe.

The revelation reframed the entire series as a figment of Tommy’s imagination, setting the stage for an intricate universe where disparate shows gather into a singular narrative thread. The complexity of the Westphall Universe becomes apparent when examining crossovers and references across various series.

Characters from “St. Elsewhere” appeared in other shows, such as “Homicide: Life on the Street,” prompting questions about the nature of reality within this fictional construct. The theory gains further traction as connections between seemingly unrelated series are drawn, with shows like “Cheers,” “Frasier,” and “Friends” all purportedly existing within Tommy’s imagination.

The reach of the universe extends far beyond traditional television genres, encompassing everything from crime dramas to science fiction epics. Characters like Detective John Munch, portrayed by Richard Belzer, transcend the boundaries of their respective shows, appearing in “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Wire,” “The X-Files,” and “Arrested Development,” among others, hinting at a grander narrative woven by the mind of one imaginative child.

The implications of the Tommy Westphall Universe are vast, reshaping our understanding of fictional storytelling and continuity. With over 400 shows potentially linked within this expansive framework, the notion of a shared narrative universe takes on new meaning.

The genesis of the Tommy Westphall Universe goes back to writer Dwayne McDuffie, who first proposed the concept in a blog post critiquing comic book continuity. While initially conceived as a commentary on the absurdity of attempting to reconcile separate narratives, the idea took on a life of its own.

By the way, the Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy has Tobias Fünke on his ship, which means Tommy Westphall is responsible for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU,) showing that because of the Tommy Westphall Universe, all storytelling is interconnected.

In May 2021, Tony Stephenson raised concerns about the Lyon County Commission’s transparency, alleging the board violated Nevada’s Open Meeting Law (OML).

He accused the board of withholding information about legislation they planned to lobby against. A subsequent investigation by the Attorney General’s office found that the commission’s opposition to various bills during the 2021 legislative session breached state law. However, the opinion confirming this violation wasn’t published until January 2023—almost two years after Stephenson’s initial complaint.

An analysis revealed that since 2022, investigations into such complaints have taken an average of 17 months—far beyond the statutory 120-day limit for filing complaints. The extended duration marks an increase from previous years, where investigations typically concluded within weeks or a few months.

Attorney General Aaron Ford acknowledged the problem and expressed intent to seek additional resources and personnel to expedite response times in future legislative sessions. Previously, a single deputy attorney general handled all OML cases, ensuring quicker resolutions. However, the office now assigns multiple deputies to handle complaints, further extending the process.

The Douglas County School Board has faced scrutiny over alleged violations of Nevada’s OML, prompting legal action. Concerns emerged when several residents accused board members of conducting clandestine email correspondence since January 2023 regarding the election of Susan Jansen as Board President, the hiring of longstanding legal counsel to appoint Reno-based attorney Joey Gilbert, the termination of the superintendent, and the pursuit of anti-transgender school policies, among other objectives.

The situation led to the filing of ten OML complaints against the board in 2023. However, the Attorney General’s office has not released any findings regarding the complaints.

During the same period, the board proceeded with its agenda, successfully installing Jansen as president, replacing legal counsel with Gilbert, dismissing the superintendent and a board trustee, and attempting to hire a new superintendent.

Sierra Nevada Realtors (SNR)released its March 2024 report on existing home sales in Storey, Lyon, Churchill, Douglas, Carson City, and Washoe counties, with median home price across the six counties at $530,000, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the previous month.

Storey County saw the highest closed sales, with five single-family homes sold in March, a 66.7 percent increase from the previous month. Meanwhile, Carson City saw the lowest decrease in closed sales, with 45 single-family homes sold in March, a drop of 11.8 percent from the previous month.

The median price of a condominium/townhome across the six counties for March increased by three percent from last month to $340,000.

“We’re seeing an increase in sold homes in our rural counties with the most activity in Churchill, Lyon, and Storey counties,” said SNR president Robert Bartshe. “The numbers show that buyers are willing to live in these areas in order to enter the market as interest rates continue to remain high. During this time, it’s important to connect with an agent to make sure you are represented in the buying process.”

Lyon County had 106 sales of existing single-family homes and manufactured properties, an increase of 30.9 percent from the previous month and a decrease of 8.6 percent from last year. The median sales price for existing manufactured and single-family residences was $391,050, an increase of 3.7 percent from last month, a 7.2 percent jump from the previous year.

Churchill County had 25 sales of existing single-family homes, an increase of 56.3 percent from the previous month and a decrease of 19.4 percent from last year. The median sales price for an existing single-family residence was $365,000, an increase of 11.6 percent from the previous month and down 19.4 percent from last year.

Douglas County had 45 sales of existing single-family homes, an increase of 9.8 percent from the previous month and a 45 percent increase from last year. The median sales price for an existing single-family residence was $590,000, a decrease of 20.8 percent from the previous month and an increase of 18.3 percent from last year.

Carson City had 45 sales of existing single-family homes, an 11.8 percent decrease from the previous month and an increase of 12.5 percent from last year. The median sales price for an existing single-family residence was $585,000, an increase of 8.3 percent from the previous month, a 30 percent increase from the year before. The existing condominium/townhome median sales price was $270,400, a decrease of 21 percent from last year.

Washoe County, excluding the area of Incline Village, saw 428 new listings and 332 closed sales. The median sales price for an existing single-family residence in Washoe County was $575,000, an increase of 4.6 percent from the previous month and an 8.9 percent rise from last year. The median sales price of an existing condominium/townhome in Washoe County was $350,000, 11.1 percent up from 2023.

The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) has greenlit tax abatements totaling $13,224,749 for two companies, signaling a boost in job creation and investment within the state.

In exchange for the tax incentives, they will create 504 jobs within the next two years, with an average hourly wage of $25.48, and grow to 551 jobs over five years. The companies will also embark on a significant capital equipment investment totaling $170,420,219.

The economic benefits are not just job creation and investment. Over the next ten years, the companies must generate $140,255,324 in new tax revenues.

The companies include Vantage Data Centers, which plans to construct a data center facility in Storey County. Meanwhile, Excel Inc., operating as DHL Supply Chain, intends to establish two distribution centers in North Las Vegas.

In a recent ruling, Nevada’s Supreme Court upheld a state ban on ghost guns, overturning a lower court’s decision that favored a gun manufacturer’s argument. The lower court had deemed the 2021 law regulating firearm components without serial numbers too broad and constitutionally vague.

Previously, Lyon County District Judge John Schlegelmilch had struck down the gun law in favor of a legal challenge by Nevada-based gun manufacturer Polymer80 Inc. The company argued that terms such as “blank,” “casting,” and “machined body” were not clearly defined in the statute.

In a unanimous decision, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld the statute, stating that the language approved by lawmakers and signed by then-Gov. Steve Sisolak was readily understandable through ordinary usage and a common understanding.

Meanwhile, on Monday, April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it would look at a separate dispute over ghost guns during its next term. The case involves a federal regulation governing the sale of kits to make ghost guns, challenged by the Biden administration.

The administration argues that ghost guns circumvent federal gun controls, allowing individuals to purchase kits or partially completed frames or receivers for assembly into working firearms in as little as 20 minutes.

Second Amendment advocates argue that any regulation on self-manufactured firearms should come through new legislation rather than stretching existing laws, such as the Gun Control Act of 1968, which defines firearms and requires serial numbers for traceability. The dispute before the U.S. Supreme Court centers on what constitutes a firearm under the 1968 law.

While the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the federal regulation, the Biden administration appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking support for its regulatory agenda.