Friday, July 21, 2006
New Las Vegas and Nevada blog
Sunday, May 21, 2006
The slow boat to China (May 21st)
I've dabbled with thoughts of relocating to Hong Kong for the past three years. This is why I reclaimed Hong Kong right-of-abode last November and why I specifically sought out HSBC as an employer. Originally, I had hoped I could convince them to transfer me to Hong Kong, but I've since discovered their U.S. operations are largely disassociated from its Asian operations, especially in the credit card division where I work. The better path to Hong Kong will include picking up an MBA first. Having the World’s Local Bank listed on my resume will come in handy, not only for getting into business school but for catching the attention of Hong Kong employers after graduation.
Unfortunately, if I attend business school before relocating, my plans may take 2-5 years to reach fruition, an unfathomable duration for an impatient person like myself. And maybe I'll never make it to Hong Kong despite the noblest effort and that this is all just one of those warm and fuzzy things to dream about but never comes true. But I've learned that, like everything in life, one will uncover a path as long as the will to find one is strong enough. In the meantime, I will start studying Chinese and preparing for the GMAT for my long voyage ahead. Maybe I could also email employers and headhunters in Hong Kong directly or find a sympathetic ear at HSBC Hong Kong. How heavenly it would be landing a decent job there without two years of business school (even though I think I'll enjoy business school immensely).
In the meantime, if any of you have suggestions or leads, I'd love to hear them!
Monday, March 20, 2006
No more burning the midnight toil (Mar 20th)
Fortunately, it's finally been resolved and I'll be returning to a more traditional schedule tomorrow thanks to my managers who’ve been understanding about my situation. I'm so relieved since I was prepared to resign if I couldn't be reassigned. In addition to the pain of finding another job and undergoing weeks of training again at another company, I really want to stay at HSBC. This is one of the rare moments in my short career where I'm very proud of the organization where I work (thanks to their Hong Kong connection). In addition, a traditional schedule means it would feel like I’m working at a real office again. During graveyard hours, the huge building is so quiet and deserted, it felt a bit creepy and surreal.
So yeah, I'm excited about the prospect of having a life again! Not only can I return to Los Angeles, but I'm looking to volunteering and perhaps return to graduate school someday.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
A sprinkle of winter (Mar 18th)
That evening, it wasn't plowing down heavily -- just light snow flurries. Still, it was a new experience nevertheless.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
A tale of two states (Mar 7th)
But by far, California's most valued asset is its people and culture. I'll probably get flamed for being an elitist, but I can keenly sense the difference between a college-educated population from a non-college educated one. I can tell them apart in their demeanor, their sense of ambition and their acceptance of different people and cultures. It's no wonder why many recent residents complain about the lack of culture and diversity here in Vegas.
Of course, California also has its share of undesirables, flunkies and criminal elements. But on the education and diversity podium, the Golden State stands steps above the Silver State. Living in Vegas city is like flying on Southwest: you get the basics without the extra nonsense. The basics may be more than enough to live on, but the nonsense are what makes life worth living.
Despite the difference in demographics, things are improving for Sin City. As California refugees pour in, Las Vegas is slowly adopting California ways of life, whether it's reflected in the construction of Fry's Electronics or the rapidly growing Chinatown along Spring Mountain Road. For myself, though, life in Las Vegas may never be as comfortable or interesting as California. But this a good and interesting city to hang out before venturing towards another destination someday.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (Mar 5th)
My only complaint was that the movie didn't show exactly how Enron, through its complicated corporate structure and dealings, orchestrated one of the biggest scams in history. But of course, the intrigue was probably too complicated for laymen's eyes and certainly beyond the scope of a ninety-minute film. Still, it gave a thorough picture of the personalities involved, a general explanation of what happened, why it happened, and the political and financial institutions who willingly helped construct Enron's house of cards despite obvious impending doom. Showcasing human's lust for greed, it may even dim your view of human nature a bit.
Coincidentally, the Oscars were tonight. Unfortunately, Smartest got beat by a film about penguins for Best Documentary in 2005. Still, the film piqued my interest in this subject and I'll be following closely the trial of Jeffrey Skillings and Ken Lay which started only a few weeks ago.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Life in the big sin city (Feb 21st)
Of course, that's a common perception of Las Vegas locals, most of it based on weekend trips here or TV commercials. But to most people who call Sin City home, "whatever happens in Vegas"...is unremarkable. Casinos may have rendered the city globally relevant but serve only as fleeting afterthoughts in our everyday lives (that is, unless you work in gaming). For outsiders to think our lives are filled with gambling is like assuming everyone in Los Angeles are preoccupied with surfing and chasing celebrities. Beyond a narrow geographical strip, Las Vegas is an ordinary city that betrays its hedonistic image.
Well, it's almost a normal city. I say that because this is an unusual city -- for reasons different from what one may think. It's different not because of casinos for 90% of Americans already live within two-hour's drive from one. And it's definitely not different because of all the supposed “sin” that transpires. When compared with Macau, Asia's gambling mecca, Las Vegas appears puritanical by comparison.
Personally, I envision myself being in Las Vegas for 2-3 years and, afterwards, return to California or Hong Kong (the reason I took a job with HSBC) or wherever business or job adventures take me. But no matter which station I turn up next, I'll always remember time spent in this strange city filled with strange characters and never regret standing on this platform waiting for the next train to arrive.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Boulder hides boulder-sized gems (Feb 20th)
When people think about "The Strip", they're usually talking about THE Strip (aka Las Vegas Blvd), not Boulder Highway. But along Boulder Highway, there also exists a strip of casinos, albeit not as picturesque or outlandish. Running directly between Downtown Las Vegas and Henderson, a cluster of modest casinos line a highway taking patrons back in time when slot machines paid actual coins and $5 blackjack tables were reserved for high rollers. They're also great places to grab an inexpensive dinner without long queues or nightmarish traffic.
It's a shame for unadventurous visitors who remain solely on The Strip to miss out on these small establishments and a nostalgic slice of a bygone era. But that's good news for us locals who prefer for these gems to remain hidden from the onslaught of tourists. Good values should always be hard to find!
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Surviving the filthiest roommate (Feb 18th)
Beneath that perpetual mountain of rubbish is my roomrate's coffeetable. Everything you see on it is hers. In my six months of living in that apartment, I don't recall ever seeing that surface free of trash.
These photos were not taken on a particularly messy day. This is how the apartment looked at any given moment. Furthermore, these photos are of public areas. It would be one thing if she kept her mess confined to her private quarters. But these are kitchen and dining areas that others must navigate. It was embarassing inviting people over.
I'm not posting these pictures to be vengeful towards her but to show those who thinks I've been exaggerating about my living condition.
In the living room was a cage Alyson used to house her dog. Most afternoons, before she returned from work, this area smelled like a pet store or an overflowed toilet. I often held my breathe walking through to prevent vomitting. Notice a dog diaper is lying in the foreground. There is also a spatula she used to remove dog poop (I hoped she didn't cook with it afterwards).
The kitchen was the worst. Everything on these three photos (except the rice cooker) are hers, including that bowl of dog food high on the kitchen counter. I'm surprised this area wasn't overrun by an army of roaches. Even though I granted Alyson a vast majority of the cabinet space, she still preferred storing food on the counter and utensils and unwashed cookware in the sink and atop the stove.
Why are her medication on the floor when there are perfectly good medicine cabinets in her bathroom?
Her desk (which she kept in the living room). Why not store some of that clutter inside desk drawers? Notice more medication is on the floor. There is also a red squirt bottle of carpet cleaner she used every time her dog poops and urinates on the carpet (the dog wasn't potty trained). This brings me to the next photo:
Dog poop and urine stains on the carpet. Granted, my roommate was usually good with picking up poop within minutes of it hitting the floor. But the thought of it touching the carpet even for a nanosecond grosses me out. In my six months of living there, I estimate over 600 pieces have touched the carpet, some of it leaving permanent stains.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Seeking hire grounds (Jan 24th)
I remember when I first arrived from California last summer and applied for a technical position at Harrah's. They directed me to a job recruiting center next to Bally's where H/R people were also recruiting for 4-5 other casinos. I swear, it seemed they hired everyone on-the-spot who bothered showing up. Unfortunately, I was vying for a technical position, not a casino job, and didn't receive an offer.
Which brings me to my next point. The 3.5% figure reveals only part of the employment picture. Las Vegas is still a city that lacks a strong financial, technical and professional base as jobs here are clustered around tourism and construction. So, yes, jobs are plentiful, but only the types that doesn't pay all that well and doesn't require a college degree.
Still, today's unemployment figure is good news. It shows there is no reason why anyone cannot land a job to sustain him/herself until something better comes along. Well, I guess this city does attract its share of unemployables (the 3.5%) who may have trouble finding work in any economy. Perhaps some other day, I can comment on some of the strange people I've come across since moving to this strange city.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Hanging out in Vegas (Jan 22nd)
My favorite hang-out casino is Nevada Palace, a rinky-dink joint on 5255 Boulder Highway. As you can see, their website sucks as much as their location. This is the type of casino you'd find in Carson City or Winnemucca or some other forsaken Nevada town. At Nevada Palace, there are 6-7 table games, maybe 400 gaming machines, a keno area, a bar and two restaurants. No exploding volcanos or white tigers but a guy playing cheesy tunes with his electric guitar in the longue. Still, despite the absence of luxury, there is something quaint and cozy about the place.
The second reason Nevada Palace is my favorite is their $1 blackjack table (even $2 tables are difficult to find these days). On an average session, if I start with $20, I would still have $17.50 after two hours of play (playing $1 per hand and using "book" strategy). This is cheaper entertainment than watching a movie at matinee prices. Being a cheap-o gambler, I'm probably not their ideal customer. However, there are plenty of people betting more than table minimums including many who wager on the sucker side bet called "Lucky Ladies".
Oftentimes, I would find conversations across the table more interesting than the game itself. Many patrons have developed friendships with the dealers and each other over the years. From the chatter, you can learn a lot about Las Vegas' working class, some of whom have interesting stories to share working in the gaming industry or those who've seen the city sprout from its humble and outlaw beginnings.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Happy employees onboard Station Casinos (Jan 20th)
For those who do not live in Las Vegas, there are 13 Station Casinos scattered throughout the city (see map below) with the 14th being built just two miles from where I live. Notice none of them are located on the Strip or near tourist areas. And I bet most tourists have never heard of them. That's because I've read somewhere that Station Casinos cater primarily to local residents. Even without reading it, you can tell by their weird locations. There's probably a huge internal market since locals also enjoy recreational gambling and a good buffet without having to venture onto the Strip and endure all its inconveniences. Heck, other than casinos, there's not much happening in Vegas anyway! Some Station Casinos also have movie theatres, bowling alleys and other entertainment venues.
According to Fortune magazine, their 100 Best Companies to Work For compliation is based on an evaluation of company policies and employee surveys. Of course, Station Casinos' rankings weren't hurt by average table dealer salaries of over $50,000 per year. That's pretty sweet considering Las Vegas' lower cost of living and for positions that do not require a college degree. I've noticed many casino employees are recent immigrants, particulary older Asians. Working there and being able to afford a home and a comfortable lifetyle is probably a dream come true for many of them.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Stalking on the telephone (Jan 16th)
I thought about phone collections recently because of my training class. Although I'm not doing anything of the sort, HSBC provides training on debtor rights and the law (something they take very seriously) since I work in the credit card division. During this portion of the training, several colleagues shared interesting stories on being a collector and given free reign (and encouraged) by ex-employers to curse, harass, threaten and scream at debtors. Some of the methods they shared were as funny as they were illegal. Although it can be ugly and stressful work, most spoke of their experiences with a sense of nostalgia and enthusiasm.
Personally, I wouldn't do it as a career, but can see how, like working in a casino, it can be an interesting Vegas experience. I'm not impugning this line of work since it serves a vital function in our credit driven economy. But as a career, it's something for aggressive people who enjoys a good brawl and may lack (or can suspend) a humanly sense of empathy or ethics. I heard gifted collectors can earn six-figures (no college degree needed!) doing nothing but dialing a phone and unleashing a flood of threats and profanity.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Chow time at China Chef Express (Jan 14th)
Consider their $3.50 combo ($3.68 after tax):
- Chow mein
- Fried rice
- Egg roll
- Any 1 item (I usually get kung pao chicken or BBQ pork)
- Small soda
This is an unbeatable deal! Most of the time, I couldn't finish it. So the next day, I'd make rice or congee and mix in the leftovers. Fine, I probably gained a few pounds from years of eating there. But where can you get two tasty meals for $3.68?
Monday, January 09, 2006
Year-round comforts in Summerlin (Jan 9th)
I stumbled onto the area at random while planning my Vegas relocation last June. Fast-forward six-months, I still haven't grown sick of living here. Everything is new, clean and orderly with little traffic on the road. And since I will live just outside Summerlin, I don't pay into the fund but still reap its benefits. Comparing with Los Angeles suburbs, Summerlin reminds me of a mix between Rancho Cucumonga (with its endless track of new homes and semi-rural setting) and Irvine (with its extensive corporate presense and upscale stores). My workplace is also located in the community as well as a handful of large corporations.
I can see how some would find this place boring and conformist, especially younger folks. Those who don't drive and cannot access The Strip, it can be a bottomless suburban hell. But when choosing a place to live, boring is good. I prefer immediate surroundings to be uneventful, safe, clean -- as long as something exciting is within a short drive away (and there is!).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)