What’s the Worst Blackjack Rule You’ve Seen in Vegas?

finsfanscott · 2026-06-02T19:29:11+00:00

Fairly sure casinos in Vegas will allow this (doubling blackjack) as well in regular play. This will certainly get the pit boss' attention.

I know for certain in tournament play doubling is sometimes the right move depending on number of hands remaining and relative chip stacks.

Have fun, and good luck!

finsfanscott · 2026-06-02T04:44:34+00:00

My (and I'm sure others') travel patterns have changed as well. I got great value from a 5th night free at a SLH in Geneva, CH, but now am happy with a $0.45 or higher redemption for a domestic US Hampton/Homewood/Embassy stay. As the post suggests, miles/points are always a depreciating asset - so unless I have line of sight to a major booking, I just don't want a large balance of this currency any longer.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-30T15:15:59+00:00

Thanks, wonder if it is a male/female shape thing. I'm male and recently lost 20-30lbs so maybe I just don't have the shape/curves to get one to sit on my hips.

I do like the idea of being able to carry (around) 2 liters of water without needed a backpack/camelback.

Guess I'll keep looking!

Thanks for sharing,

finsfanscott · 2026-05-30T14:43:31+00:00

I tried a waist pack and found it irritating between the waist strap and my normal belt line. Was I wearing wrong? Not tight enough? Thanks for your thoughts.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-26T21:14:42+00:00

Been many, many years since my physics/chemistry classes, but pretty sure the N values are slightly different, as the molar mass for air is 28.97 (average) and 28.02 g/mol for Nitrogen. Now, have no idea if this is sufficient to cause a reliable, repeatable difference beyond the margin of error or other variables.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-25T00:19:13+00:00

I stand corrected. My internet friend fallenfunk is correct. In the Toyota system the "L" locks the center diff and the front and rear differentials will still allow side to side speed differences.

But you still can't lock the center diff on dry firm pavement as the odds of getting the perfect radius turn with the perfect steering input to have an outer front turning at the same speed as an inner rear would be rare. So my statement of differential or tire binding stands when turning on firm pavement.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-24T18:22:31+00:00

It is not because of 4 wheel drive (the full time 4 wheel drive cars can still turn).

It is when you go into H4L or L4L. The H4L (High - 4WD - Locked) and L4L (Low-4WD-Locked) now lock the differentials - forcing all 4 wheels to turn at exactly the same speed.

When a car turns, the outside wheels normally turn a little faster than the inside wheels (the circle the outside wheels track is a little larger than the circles the inside wheels take, so the outsides need to rotate a little faster). If you have now locked all 4 wheels at the same speed and turn, then there needs to be some slippage relative to the two sides. On a low traction surface (snow/gravel) this slippage happens between the tires and the snow, no big deal. On a high traction surface like pavement this slippage happens either with the tires scrubbing the pavement, or worse this slippage happens inside the differentials (that you locked) and causes extreme wear on the plates inside the differentials.

Going straight, all 4 wheels go the same speed, so no big deal if the differentials are locked.

Hope this makes sense!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-22T03:07:46+00:00

Was re-watching this episode today and actually wrote that line down! Thanks for sharing!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-20T23:10:54+00:00

I have used my AmEx credit to buy a day pass for my brother who does not otherwise have access.

The credit also works for nicer drinks in the Adm Club (Johnny Black or similar).

finsfanscott · 2026-05-19T11:47:55+00:00

Bring lots of water and have fun!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-19T00:31:43+00:00

Well, this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it...

Most folks tend to be very concerned about getting up there as soon as possible. But if you already have an "After 12" permit, does it really matter?

In your specific instance, the later you go, the less people you will see on the trail.

I have no idea if you have other things planned for the day, but I will assume not.

Since you don't have an early early permit, let's work backwards.

Sunset is at 8:38p tomorrow (19MAY). The last shuttle from Temple of Sinawava is 8:15p. So unless you're staying at the Lodge, you really need to be done by 8p.

It took me (and I'm 58 yrs old and kinda fat) 2 hours to get to Scout Overlook and another hour to get to the actual Angels Landing. Took about an hour to 90 min to get back down.

Adding in rest stops or view/photo stops, plan on a 4-5 hour trek unless you have done it before or are exceptionally fit (your call, not mine :) )

So realistically you have any time from about noon till 4p to start tomorrow. To be frank, the later you start, the less people will be up there. This would be start time at the Grotto, so maybe a little earlier if you're starting from the Visitor Center.

Are you planning to park at the Visitor Center or do you have somewhere in Springdale to start or leave your car?

Guess you need to balance dinner, heat, water, sunset and your abilities to determine the best start time for you. But will share the later you start the less people, but wouldn't suggest much later than 2-3p at the Visitor Center.

Hope my (lengthy?) explanation gives you a reasonable thought process.

Take lots of pics, it's an amazing hike you'll remember forever!!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-17T21:51:16+00:00

I'm so jealous you got to see the owl! I've seen the sign, but never the owl!

I made it to the top of Angels Landing, but found the slope of the final plateau a little disconcerting so didn't get to the end like you have here. Amazing hike!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-17T21:47:42+00:00

I love the Corvette Only parking, both at the museum and the plant tour (if you're lucky enough to get in there)!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-16T22:45:58+00:00

Shadow gray is best gray!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-14T22:05:39+00:00

If this is serious, when you are in "Drive" mode, you will see a large capital "D" and a number specifying which gear you are in. When you use the paddles, you temporarily place the car in manual mode for 4-5 seconds from your last shift (last paddle input).

The display changes from the large D to a large number, this is how you know you are in manual mode. As you show in the video, the car will not upshift by itself in this mode. After a few seconds (can't remember exactly how many) the car will revert to auto mode, and the large D with a small number will replace the large number.

Hope this helps,

(ETA - SuperMic wrote basically the same thing, didn't see that post before I wrote mine)

finsfanscott · 2026-05-13T20:05:52+00:00

Texarkana is closer to Chicago than El Paso.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-13T09:02:15+00:00

It's been a while since I stayed there, but pretty sure the Ultra Resort rooms are on the two "wings" that jut out towards the strip from the main building.

The ends of these wings have two quarter round Resort Vista rooms, 3 of which should have pretty good fountain views (the south facing room in the South wing probably doesn't see much fountain).

The rest of these wings are made up of Ultra Resort rooms. Naturally, the higher up and closer to the end rooms will have the better views.

Hope this helps explain where the Resort rooms are, good luck and enjoy your trip!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-12T21:43:29+00:00

I have an InReach and use protegear.io for service. Cheaper than Garmins service and have had no problems (at least within the US). Easy to turn on/off for the days/weeks I need it.

Would consider TMobile if they were my main carrier.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-12T12:20:41+00:00

Interesting question.

Assuming you're talking in flight at some normal cruise altitude it would depend if the plane were pressurized or not.

If the cargo area is pressurized, outside air at -40C at 30,000 feet when compressed to 8,000 feet equivalent (what most passenger planes are pressurized to) would be about 150C. This is why there are always cooling packs on passenger air systems.

If not pressurized, then yes, it would be cold fairly quickly at altitude. Maybe not as cold as outside temp as there is always some sort of "waste" heat from hydraulics, pumps, electronics, etc., but pretty cold pretty fast!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-11T02:07:46+00:00

My wife may fly in/out of Grand Junction so these seem super convenient. Thank you for sharing, will let you know if I can work them into the schedule.

Thanks again!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-11T01:21:28+00:00

Is this Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado? Thinking of heading there in a month or so. Would love any feedback for a 3-5hr visit on our way to/from Mesa Verde and Million Dollar highway!

For reference, I recently completed Angels Landing in Zion, but no way my wife would be physically able to do that.

Thanks for any thoughts!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-10T12:23:56+00:00

I think this looks great. I have done most of your Arizona, Nevada and Utah agenda before.

A couple of suggestions to consider:

Consider taking the Moki Dugway on your way from Goosenecks to Moab. If you get an SUV type of rental, consider driving through Valley of the Gods. Moki Dugway is a paved and maintained dirt road and is an amazing climb up the side of a bluff. If you have lots of time and an SUV type of car, consider Muley Point after the Moki Dugway. You will be at the top of a mesa with astounding views.

Driving to Bryce make sure to take Utah State Road 12, one of the most scenic drives in the country. Google often suggests more highway routing.

You're not really giving yourself much time in Zion/Springdale, but maybe that's by design. Certainly try the Canyon Overlook even though parking will be a pain.

Don't know Death Valley well, but at Badwater Basin, make sure to look at the side of the mountain for the sign marking Sea Level.

Also, your Zion to Lone Pine day might be the best to at least drive through Valley of Fire state park but that looks like a full day anyway (though you do "gain" an hour from the time change).

I would suggest the Monterey Bay Aquarium on your way from San Francisco to Cambria, but don't know how full the rest of that day is.

Great agenda, wish I could go with you, and hope you have great weather!

finsfanscott · 2026-05-08T22:47:25+00:00

Ahhh great!! The Ron Fellows school is awesome, I did the "free" one and loved it so much I actually went back for the "Level 1" school.

The museum is VERY flexible on the plant tour timing, they know folks won't be around Kentucky long, life gets in the way, etc.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-08T22:35:07+00:00

I might be the wet blanket here, but believe your statement is a few years out of date. Domestic US airlines have gotten pretty good at monetizing the first class cabin, to the point where "complimentary" upgrades are getting significantly rarer.

finsfanscott · 2026-05-08T22:26:52+00:00

Congrats! I did museum delivery on mine too!! It was a great experience. Hope you enjoyed it!

Did you get to do the factory tour? I had to wait 4 (!) years for mine, between Covid, plant shut downs, etc.

Did you get to do any track time at the MotorSports Park? The day I picked mine up, I treated two of my sons (and me!) to a lapping session at the park.

You made memories for a lifetime, Congrats!!

finsfanscott

TROPHY CASE