Las Vegas ... what a strange place. I lived there for five years and worked in a the GOLDEN GOOSE CASINO in downtown Las Vegas ( what they called "GLITTER GULCH" ) and in HOSKINS - an audio/video electronic repair shop on "THE STRIP". The television series "VEGAS" was filmed roughly during the same time I was living in the town so even though "Glitter Gulch" and "The Strip" have changed over the years I can always watch the reruns for my nostalgia fix. I must admit I learned a good deal in the repair shop and it certainly added to my skill level in this technological age. Without going into too many details, after working at "HOSKINS" (no longer called Hoskins - see picture below) I became experienced at repairing almost any kind of household audio or video equipment on the market at the time. I worked on the bench for 100% commission. That means that if I didn't fix anything that day I got no pay for that day. To top it off I had to guarantee my work for 30 days or I had to repair it for free. You could not have been a con artist and worked at Hoskins. It was interesting to watch the several "technicians" who worked during the same time as I did just give up and leave. They just couldn't produce - yet these same folk at one time had very "technical sounding" jobs at prestigious places. Life is a big game of bull shit some of the time but not at Hoskins.

       I have to thank Tony especially for some great pointers in circuit tracing. He was shot to death in bed in a robbery attempt while still working with us at Hoskins. He was full of life and very happy. The reasons for life's paths are sometimes very confusing. Also Jeff and owner Jim were very helpful in hints and tips along the way. I am glad to be away from all that "solder jockey" stuff but it was fun some of the time ... especially when we had to test large speakers or monster stereo systems after repair. We had to "crank them babies up to the max" to test for distortion and I loved to rock and roll those repair shop walls till they shook!

       I also met my exwife in Vegas at the Golden Goose Casino but that is a story for another page in this web site as yet unmade.