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Atlantic City casinos closing...

Many of the casinos are closing. People just don't have the funds for that kind of entertainment anymore.
I was forced to downgrade my system dramatically due to financial difficulties beyond my control. As times get harder the thought of high priced equipment is now low on my list of priorities. That does not mean I've lost lost sight of the joy and yes, pride a great system has to offer but during these leaner times one must make sacrifices where one can find them.
So far for about a thousand bucks I have assembled what I believe to be a great sounding setup.
Tandberg TR2075 receiver: $230
Pro-Ject Wood turntable: $325
Benz ACE cartridge: $300
Boston Acoustics A200 speakers: $200
I didn't have to break the bank for this and I'm very happy with the overall sound. Will I venture back to the land of uber priced gear? It seems unlikely, not because of the costs but because of the practicality.
Atlantic City is done as is my journey into the high-end.
dreadhead

Showing 5 responses by rodge827

rodge827's avatar
rodge827
614 posts
 
I saw a news report last week that said either Bergen or Hudson County want put forth a ballot referendum for a few casinos across the river from NYC. If that passes AC will take another very serious hit. With Indian reservation casinos, the casinos in PA, and the racetrack casinos in NY it was only a matter of time before AC couldn't compete. AC had a an almost 20 year Monopoly and blew it!
As noted AC proper is still a mess and will never change.

Here is an interesting story about the Grand Opening of a grocery store. Apparently they are hard to keep open.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/atlantic-city_pleasantville_brigantine/atlantic-city-finally-gets-a-new-grocery-store-as-save/article_c46cd4d2-9fc7-11e1-a6b8-0019bb2963f4.html

The Fat Cat Casino Barron's were supposed to use a portion of the profits for AC's revitalization, but it looks like all they did was take the money and run!

Long Beach Island (I grew up there) is a great family orientated beach resort about 30 mins north of AC, GSP Exit 63. Plenty to do or nothing at all.

rodge827's avatar
rodge827
614 posts
 
@Macrojack- Sandy did minimal damage to AC as compared to the towns north. The eye came ashore just south in Sea Isle City with the winds whipping in a circular fashion about 50-100 miles north. Hence all the serious damage in Ocean County and north to NYC.
AC was a victim of it's own success where everyone (unions) tried to cash in. Back when Trump built the Taj he bragged that it cost $1 billion to build. The same size casino resort in Vegas ran about 1/3 of that.

AC dropped the ball on making it more of a family resort. A family of 4 could go to Las Vegas and have a great vacation without ever stepping foot on the casino floor. Ac was all about gambling and not much of a family venue.

As noted by many, the proliferation of online gambling with PA and NY building casinos, AC has lost its customer base.
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
614 posts
 
@Macrojack-No truer words could have been written about how money is made in the US. In most Asian countries, China to be specific, investment is carefully thought out to benefit the generations to come. Here investors are more concerned about the next quarterly report. Then again there are Bears like Warren Buffett, perhaps there is something to the long term investment strategy?
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
614 posts
 
Hey I'm the one who mentioned China so please don't bring Macrojack into your rant!

Perhaps you should learn more about US history in regards to industry building. Very nasty stuff before the work place became "civilized"
rodge827's avatar
rodge827
614 posts
 
If you guys want to see how insurance companies really abuse people, you need to look at how they pay claims. Whatever injustices there are in calculating premiums, they pale in comparison to what they do when a policy holder has a legit claim. Its unreal. I have no idea how they get away with paying out such low amounts. And they do it to everyone, not just the poor.

So true!

Come to coastal NJ/NY and meet with people who were "touched" by Sandy. If you met with 100 people maybe 5 would be OK with their insurance settlement. The remaining 95 will have the same story of receiving about 1/3 of what the claim should have been. We were "touched" and our claim was about $42,000, we received $11,400! Barely enough to replace our furnace and hot water heater.
Oh and our flood insurance rate went up 40%!
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