On January 31, 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The destruction of the Mapes put an end to years of efforts to preserve the building via lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots action. The National Trust for Historic Preservation took up the cause of the Mapes, and challenged the destruction in a suit that eventually reached the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the logic and necessity of demolishing the Mapes is very questionable, one thing that is certain is that the hotel was an important part of Northern Nevada history. The Mapes opened in’47 and with it ushered in a new era for casino gambling and the state of Nevada. Despite some historical revisionism that suggests that the modern era began in Las Vegas with Bugsy Siegel’s famed Flamingo, the Mapes was actually the first building in America to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under the same roof. The Mapes attracted countless celebrities who’d make it their home when business brought them to Northern Nevada–this included movie stars like Clark Gable, TV stars like the cast of ‘Bonanza’ and political power brokers like infamous anti-Communist crusader Joseph McCarthy.

During the ‘Rat Pack’ era of the 50’s and 60’s it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the’60’s and 70’s but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in’82, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.

While the last twenty years brought an amazing boom in the population and economy of Southern Nevada, the Northern part of the state didn’t see much of it at all. For that reason, the urgency of destroying the Mapes is even more questionable. In the Las Vegas area, its easy to justify the demolition of older hotels with simple economics–the older properties simply can’t compete in the current mega-resort dominated marketplace. Furthermore, the insane valuation of the land on which they sit makes it financially unfeasible to preserve them as pop culture museums.

This is not the case in Reno, where land and buildings for development in virtually every casino area are abundant. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land–which sits along the banks of the Truckee River–to expand its riverside district of art galleries, restaurants and shops. The revitalization of downtown Reno is definitely needed and a legitimate goal, but at the same time it is hard to think that the Mapes was a barrier to this. Indeed, a number of proposals for redevelopment including office space, artists lofts and upscale senior housing would have probably served to enhance the livability of the downtown area. For whatever reason, the City Redevelopment Authority wouldn’t approve any of the proposals and the fate of the Mapes was sealed.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.

After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was ‘haunted’ and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.

Ross Everett is a freelance sports writer and respected sports betting expert. He is also a consulting handicapper for Sports-1 Sportsbook and is in charge of setting NFL lines. He has written extensively on sports handicapping theory along with a wide range of other topics including fencing, self defense and falconry.

If you have just purchased your first bowie knife, or even if you have been an avid collector of these blades for a number of years, it can be difficult to determine exactly what all the different parts of the blade are supposed to be used for. Part of this confusion stems from the myriad different styles of blade out there. For instance, you’ll find modern bowies that have saw-tooth edging on the spine, while historically accurate models do not include this feature. What are the different parts supposed to do?

Blood Groove – A deep (relatively) groove that runs from near the back end of the blade to near the point, the blood groove serves a very specific purpose. This groove is used to allow blood to flow out from a stab, ensuring that the blade does not become trapped by suction. However, not all bowie knife models feature this groove, as it is a recent, modern development.

Another element of bowie knife design is the clipped point. In fact, if a knife claims to be a bowie, but does not have this distinctive feature, it is not a bowie knife. The clipped point was one of the original innovations that helped to cement this knife’s reputation in the Western world. It allows immense control of the point during general use or during combat, and provides greater penetration when using the knife for stabbing. A sharpened false edge on the clipped point offers extra cutting power, as well.

Your bowie knife might also include a runnel or blood groove. These are not found on all bowies, but serve a purpose nonetheless. The runnel, or blood groove, serves to release blood pressure from around the blade of the knife when the knife is inserted into an animal. This ensures that the blade does not become trapped and can be easily free on the reverse motion of the stroke.

The Tip – The tip of bowie knives is quite unique. Called a clipped point, it provides better punch-through power in stabbing motions, but also provides better tip control, as well. You will find that this unique tip is actually one of the defining elements that sets bowie knives apart from other large, fixed blade sheath knives on the market today. If a knife does not have such a tip, it is not a bowie knife.

Dylan Sabot is the owner of an online bowie knife store featuring the jim bowie knife as well as lighters for camping.

There’s no question why Mexico is such a popular vacation destination. This place is much more than just sunny beaches, it’s incredible. Tulum is one of the hot spots that lets you see history as well as nice beaches on your vacation.

Tulum has both a historical spin and a beautiful beach coast. It is located just south of Playa del Carmen and Akumai. Perched on the breathtaking limestone cliffs that overlook the Caribbean ocean you’ll find Tulum.

Tulum is a nice mix of history and the beaches Mexico is well known for. You will get to experience both of them right in the same area where you can focus on having a good time instead of traveling about the country to see all the different types of sites.

History is important in Tulum. The archeological site here was built between 1200 and 1450. It is clouded in mystery, as are all Mayan ruins.

It was a trading post due to its location off the water. The city’s skyscraper El Castillo is used as a lighthouse to help and direct travelers through the reefs.

The city which was surrounded by walls in its three sides is its distinct feature. This wall is seven meters thick and up to five meters tall. Warriors could defend against attack from a walkway on the city wall. The remaining side of the city is protected by the sea.

Now, sixty buildings are still at the scene, those are all open for visitors. There are information panels on the walls to help visitors on their self-guided tour of the site.

There are amazing beaches in Tulum, just like the ones you have in mind from Mexico’s coastline. Visitors from all over the world are attracted to these beaches, as they are rated among the world’s most beautiful beaches.

The beaches feature turquoise water and white sands. It is the typical beach you would expect in paradise.

The reef at Tulum, the Great Mayan Reef, goes from Cancun, Mexico to Roatan, Honduras making it the second largest in the world. It is 1000 kilometers with 120 kilometers at the Tulum beach.

Like to provide opportunities in the sea off the beach and see eighty four types of people, fish and other sea creatures of more than 450 varieties of coral. It is a true adventure.

Tulum is without a doubt one of the most amazing places in Mexico and has so much to offer. You will always remember your visit to this place, so rich this place is.

In ancient years, it was Xel-Ha that was quite important to all the Mayan people. It was where they would all come in order to offer respect to their various Mayan gods by doing rituals and many dances. Of course much has changed since those days.

These days, Xel-Ha is one of the biggest aquariums around and a marvelous snorkeling spot. Most people come here to snorkel because it offers such an amazing experience.

Xel-Ha, also called Xelha, is an archaeological site that is quite popular and you can find it in Quintana Roo, which is on the Yucatan Peninsula. This area has a very lovely tropical style beauty to enjoy.

The sea has a lovely color of blue and green, enticing you to dive on in to the beautiful waters. Everyone would want a swim if all of the seas out there had this great look to them.

The city of Cancun is only about seventy five miles away to the south of Xel-Ha. If you want to go to Cancun, you can get there by car, you can take a taxi, or rid the bus. If you are going to take public transportation, the ride to the park is available for free. This way you don’t have to worry about trying to get the park on your own.

For both children and adults, there are many great water activities that are available in Xel_ha. You can enjoy going over to Aquaventura, you can kayak, enjoy time snorkeling, or even check out Sea Trek. Not only can you enjoy activities in the sea, but there are plenty of on land activities to enjoy too. Great covers, lagoons, caves, and other activities are out there for you to enjoy.

If you enjoy taking a walk, there are many paths and exciting bridges that will taken you around. Of course if you enjoy sitting back and relaxing, you can also go on the train ride that will ride you around so you can enjoy all the beautiful sights as well.

You’ll find a variety of interesting sites along the way that you’ll definitely enjoy. This will allow you to enjoy some great history and you’ll learn a whole lot about Xel-Ha.

Interested in knowing a bit more about Xel-Ha and it’s past? Well, according to legend the city was first started at a time when the Mayan gods brought together shrewdness, love, and fantasies in order to make this place to bring together the beauty and greatness of nature. Supposedly this is the reason that the entire area is so amazingly beautiful, since it is thousands of years old. While some only think this is a myth, there are others that truly believe that this is true.

To get into this park, you will have to pay some kind of fee. The fees will differ depending on what you do, but they are not too pricey. Kids are cheaper than adults are. It’s definitely worth the price to enjoy the lovely park. With all the great sites available, you’ll be happy to pay to get in.

If you enjoy beauty and you love history, then you definitely will want to take the time to visit Xel-Ha. Make sure you have your camera too. You’ll want to take plenty of pictures to remember the beautiful area by.

We wake up to our third day in this amazing city, Lhasa. We both got to sleep in from our night of singing and partying at Music Bar, and push ourselves to stumble over for breakfast at 9:30am! The whole group eventually lumbers in, groggy but happy, we laugh about last nights fun and eat a Chinese breakfast. There are fruit and snacks stands right outside our hotel so we pick some up, and water, lots of water our guide reminds us. Then all twenty-two of us hop on a bus and drive the fifteen minute drive to the most recognizable landmark in Lhasa, and all of Tibet, the Potala Palace.

The incredible Potala Palace is built on Lhasas highest point and if you have seen any movie about Tibet you have seen the Potala Palace. It is considered to be the center for both spiritual and political power for Tibetans. These days the Palace is home to less than twenty Tibetan monks, there used to be several thousand here, and it is rumored to have over 1,500 rooms. Today only a small portion of it is available to the public.

Our guide fills us in as we climb the hundreds of steep steps up to the entrance. We are sweating, huffing and puffing madly as we try to catch our breaths and remain together as a group up to the entrance. I take a second to look around and discover the views are spectacular even only half way up – the small traditional Tibetan section of Lhasa can be seen clearly from this view as smoke from the Juniper branches burns in huge incense burners and rises into the sky. Everyone is taking as many pictures as possible but there are armed Chinese guards at every corner the higher up we go. They relax and lounge about arrogantly, then whisper to each other as groups of visitors pass.

The first palace was built by Songsten Gampo in 631, and it was merged into the tri-colored building that exists today. There is a white palace, a red palace, and a yellow palace. I only heard about the white and red sections but Im sure we saw some of the yellow areas too. There is the White Palace, built in 1645, which is the entrance to the main building. The white area houses the Eastern Sunshine Apartment where the 14th Dalai Lama spent most of his time, the Eastern Courtyard which was nice because of the splendid views but had too many Chinese guards loitering around to be enjoyable. We did find it hilarious that 99% of the bathrooms in China are squat style but the Dalai Lama himself had a more civilized, western-style toilet.

We go past the four Heavenly King Murals which are sumptuous, and on up and up into the Red Palace, 1693, which includes the Maitreya Chapel, the famous golden roofs (actually copper), and the Chapel of the 5th Dalai Lama and the 13th Dalai Lama. The 5th Dalai Lamas chapel contains a Stupa gilded with around 6,500 lb of gold. We also get to the see the infamous 3-D Mandala. The mandala is an intricate model of a palace covered in precious metals and jewels and highlights the paths to enlightenment. It is very large and obviously priceless.

We were instructed there is to be absolutely no picture taking of the guards, or once we are inside, and we only have 60 minutes exactly inside the palace and then we must be out. here is money swishing around beneath our feet as we climb steps, stop to admire an image, and move on. My head is spinning by the time our hour is up and I have a chance to grab a quick book of one of kind only for sale in the Potala Palace postcards, and we make it out, literally, with two minutes to spare.

Other than the abundance of rules for the Palace; no drinks, no food, no bags, everyone goes through security metal detectors, no pictures, and exactly sixty minutes for our tour, it was particularly beautiful inside and out. When we came out in the back of the palace there is a wonderful view except that 2/3 of Lhasa is all Chinese development now. And from high on the palace it looks like one huge industrial park complete with sickening noise, smoke, and traffic.

My recommend tips: According to the local custom, you have to tour clockwise around; don’t step on the doorsill; don’t smoke in the halls; don’t take photos without permission!It is not easy for visitors to climb to the top building because of its height, so you’d better slow down. Because the halls are always chilly; you’d better take a coat while visiting! Potala Palace is allowed less than 2300 tourists and pilgrims to enter each day. Therefore I suggest you prepare for a successful trip by purchasing tickets beforehand. Please note that when buying your tickets, you have to show your ID card or passport.