I am flying there tonight, to speak at www.freedomfest.com. But yikes people, this is a tough one. I never finished Walter van Tillburg Clark's The Ox-Bow Incident and what else can I think of? Wikipedia tells me that Curtis Hanson, who directed L.A. Confidential, is from Reno. Does Wayne Newton somehow enter this equation? The Killers are OK.
How about this?
1. Movie, set in: Viva Las Vegas, with a number of strong runner-ups, including Ocean's Eleven, Leaving Las Vegas, the still under-rated Casino, Diamonds are Forever, Showgirls, Austin Powers (partly, I recall), and you might even squeeze Godfather II into the category. Catch this erotically supercharged clip of Elvis singing to Ann Margaret. Wasn't Them set in Nevada?
2. Song, set in: Viva Las Vegas, with Las Vegas, by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, as runner-up.
3. Architecture book, set in: Robert Venturi, Learning from Las Vegas.
The state has excellent food, but overall I come no further.
The bottom line: You tell me. If you're wondering, I've never gambled, although I have visited the city four times. I genuinely cannot understand why so many other people find gambling to be an appealing pastime. It's negative expected value! There are so many positive expected value things to do.
“I genuinely cannot understand why so many other people find gambling to be an appealing pastime.”
Never been, but from what I hear, the loss leaders aren’t what they used to be. Maybe they should give free room and board to culturalists.
You are wrong, not all forms of gambling are -EV. If you are good, poker is +EV. Sports betting might be as well.
“Casino” underrated? Even though it’s at #196 in the IMDb Top 250 and with an 83% Tomatometer score?
What’s up with the EV? It’s all about the higher-order moments!
The Hoover Dam is awesome.
I believe that the stock market is far from efficient, so I certainly can’t believe that sports betting is efficient. Yes, of course most people lose money in both poker and sports betting and the vig is high, but they can be +EV for some.
“Them” was set in New Mexico. Remember, it was the atom bomb tests rom the 1940s that created the giant ants.
Given your diffidence, might I suggest you add Sheryl Crow: Leaving Las Vegas to the list.
‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas’ was a pretty terrific movie (never read the book, sad to say).
Slip a $20 bill to your desk clerk and see what sort of room upgrade you get. Almost always works.
Last time we were there they moved us to a larger room on the top floor. People in the elevator were always impressed and when my told some guy how we got it, he refused to believe it.
I found the original novel better than the film version of “Leaving Las Vegas.” And while I agree with your opinion of gambling, if everybody thought that way we wouldn’t have game theory.
Fear and Loathing takes the Vegas film crown, I think. Diamonds are Forever was awful.
Wow, Tyler Cowen claims gambling is negative EV?
i know you are judging nevada from a visitor’s standpoint, but i want to throw in what it is like to live there. i moved to northern nevada about five years ago from california. one key highlight is the lack of state income tax. sadly the other major benefits have to do with the proximity to other things like the stunning sierra nevadas and lake tahoe.
I don’t like gambling all that much (particularly in Vegas where it’s expensive) but I can see how the fun could easily outweigh the loss of money.
Las Vegas is a confluence of economies of scale and agglomeration catering to high time preference behavior.
Song, set in: Darcy Farrow. Everyone knows the John Denver version, but I prefer Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s more recent cover.
I guess you have explained why you aren’t a rich Wall Street quant. If you were innovative, you would be betting for other people, and offering hedges on bets, taking just a couple of mils on each transation so that you would make money why everyone else lost their shirts.
Sin City – Flying Burrito Brothers should take best song.
I like the carne asada burritos at Tacos Mexico. Just make sure to get them with everything if you go.
Book: “Last Call,” by Tim Powers. Fantasy set to a background of high stakes gambling.
Movie: “Swingers” This movie is a favorite of many of my younger friends. Has Vince Vaughn in his first(?) role.
Favorite thing about Nevada? Low taxes.
Lake Tahoe! In vegas, Buffets, Rehab, and Sapphire (not necessarily in that order). The Hoover Dam is also quite spectacular in person.
Well if you don’t like gambling, try the escorts. i am not an economist but i would think that activity may have a +ev.
Seconding Jonathan, the *song* “Leaving Las Vegas” is a masterpiece, on a generally great album. Although perhaps Tyler would dispute the metaeconomic claim:
such a muddy line between the things you want/
and the things you have to do
Movies: Pay it Forward. And how could you forget, one of the funniest movies out this year – The Hangover.
The Gun Store is actually pretty cool. It’s on East Tropicana between Maryland Pkwy and Eastern.
Red Rock National Conservation area is very nice if you like to hike and want to see some pretty sights.
“The Gun Store” in Vegas will help even a novice shoot a machine gun. I suggest the AK-47 as it is tough to find places around DC to rent and shoot an automatic rifle. The Uzi is also a nice gun with a famous history, and the H&K MP-5 is one of the more advanced submachineguns (Autmatic weapon in hangun callibre).
Valley of Fire State Park. Near Lake Mead. NE of Vegas off I-15 or you can take the scenic route through the desert. I have been to Vegas a dozen times or more and always make a point to get to Valley of Fire.
Penn Jillette, libertarian and loud.
Read “Bringing Down the House” to see that properly done, blackjack does not have a negative expected present value (the so-so movie “21″ was inspired by it). Also, you underestimate the the value of adrenaline rush (most academics do).
Psychologists might help economists note that people seek compensation for safety; risk aversion is relative. Our paleolithic ancestors got plenty of thrill from chasing, and being chased by, dangerous animals as well as by tribal war. I don’t think they sought the thrill; it just showed up. Those who could cope with the danger survived. Could it be in our safe environment, we find that our psyche is underchallenged, and so we occasionally seek risk?
I bet if we interviewed the top in finance, particularly traders, we would find a group of risk-loving gamblers. We can see just how much damage such people can do.
We need to not be P.C. and investigate gender differences in propensity to gamble.
I don’t like Las Vegas, but I also know that gambling profits cross-subsidize the other entertainments there. For the price of a little gambling, you get cheaper shows and food. It is a package deal.
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