The Mirage Volcano is sitting on The Strip in all of its disassembled glory, the New Frontier is a vacant pit, as is Echelon. City Center is looming like an ugly monstrosity in its current incarnation. Massive power lines are still everywhere, and Harrah’s is tearing out the neighborhoods behind its properties.

I just took some of these random shots over the past couple of days.

The view from the Monorail is downright depressing.

There are vacant lots everywhere, and it looks like half of The Strip is under construction.

It really looks like this town has been hit with an ugly stick. It just does not look nice. Especially in the daytime.

Honestly, it’s become an ugly town.

I know it’s the price of progress, but for fuck’s sake, everywhere you look, you see cranes hovering over partially finished carcasses of buildings.

Enough with this nasty construction and vacant lots. Finish something already.

“Aloha” means a million things in Hawaiian.

As a matter of fact, I think it’s the only word in the Hawaiian dictionary.

From “welcome home” to “kiss my ass” it’s all in the intonation.

I really wish those hula dancing bastards would expand their vocabulary a bit. Between the “Aloha Spirit” bullshit (What does that mean anyway?), and that goddamn “hang loose” sign they make every 5 seconds that makes it look like they have some unfortunate bout of Tourette’s Syndrome … they can be downright annoying.

And why do the dudes call each other “bra”? Do the women call each other “jockstrap”?

I’ll never figure those motherfuckers out.

Anyway … this week, “Aloha” takes on yet a new definition … “Holy Shit, we’re completely screwed, file for bankruptcy before we have to pay these damn creditors”.

Aloha Airlines will cease service to Las Vegas after tomorrow (Monday).

Actually, they will cease service to everywhere starting tomorrow.

They were actually a major carrier into Vegas, and very important to the Downtown casinos that catered heavily to residents of the island state … such as the Californian Hotel and Casino near Fremont Street.

This bankruptcy of the airline is actually somewhat of a big deal, and may have some noticeable effect on travel.

There are still two other airlines that service the market, but apparently they aren’t doing terribly well due to rising fuel prices.

Hang loose, bra … and start selling more coconuts.

Airfare is about to go up.

I have a new hero.

It is the sweet and pretty young lady above.

She’s seen and done things in this town in three short days that I have failed miserably at for years . I am truly humbled.

I’ll just say that it involved Treasures Gentleman’s club, a stripper, and some alcohol.

If you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand.

But if you see this woman anywhere in Vegas, bow down.

Trust me … you’re not worthy.

Or if you are feeling really adventuresome,  offer to take her to Treasures.

There is a dancer there that she made a particularly special connection with.

I’ve probably already said too much …

I thought I was a goner.

As Pam “navigated” (and I use that term loosely) The Strip from TI to the MGM last night, I thought I was experiencing my final moments on Earth.

I fired off a few camera shots in desperation in what I figured would be my legacy.

“VegasRex … The Final Photos”

The worst part was driving past the Bellagio and hearing Pam exclaim “is the MGM on the right or the left?”

FUCK!

Oh, it’s on the right … they tore it down and re-built it on the other side of the road yesterday.

This proves two of my running points:

1) Women can’t drive

2) Women don’t know directions worth shit

Somehow she didn’t get myself and Adam killed, but it sure as shit wasn’t for a lack of trying.

I stopped contemplating the afterlife at about this point.

What I figured was my final glimpse of the fountains.

I should have gotten out and ran for my life while we were stopped.

But one of these drunk motherfuckers would have run me over.

From Huddler’s suite at the MGM Grand.

Green tint on the windows darken the photos a bit, but you get the idea.

Cool view in three directions.

End unit, huge, and hard to beat.

(Kind of sounds like I am talking about my penis.)