Viva Las Vegas!

* Back from a weekend getaway to the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas!

* Did you see the list of the gifts the President had to declare? This one stuck out:

Former Commerce Secretary Donald Evans gave the president a fishing rod, shirt, three caps, a book, a sweater and fishing bait.

"Hello Don? This is W, and I just wanted to call and thank you for the red worms and crickets."

* Quick stock market update? OK, well the PPI is out today and of course everyone is out there doing their best Chicken Little regarding inflation. Are higher energy prices inflationary? I don't think so. Look at how bonds are reacting today... They're rallying. Anyways, it's options week so we should expect some volatility. I think the market will be moving higher. A real plus would be if the Nasdaq can get through the 50dma, because then the technical traders who key on that might get positive. Sentiment is still bearish, so that's a good contrary indicator as the market will need those folks to pile in and buy stocks to drive the market higher. Options expiration weeks tend to be positive...

* Did you see the story about Christian Video Games? Here's an excerpt:

Users can travel through biblical lands, solve puzzles based on scripture and, in some games, slash demonic foes.

What kind of video game rating would that receive? Violent games tend to get a harsher rating. Then again, maybe violent video games are okay, as long as you're slashing demonic foes in the name of the Lord.

* The new Wynn Casino in Las Vegas is pretty nice.

* Paris Hilton in a Carl's Jr ad selling the $6 burger spicy style. Yeah, washing a Bentley in her swimsuit.