While slot machines and other gambling games have a strong association to Las Vegas, and rightly so, the machine was not actually invented there. In fact, the first slot machine was developed and built by a man from San Francisco, California named Charles Fey. Although there is a bit of dispute about the actual date of invention, it is commonly accepted that between 1887 and 1895 the first of these machines came into existence. Although the idea had been discussed there were so many different possible outcomes with standard poker games, that an accurate and payable mechanic version didn’t seem possible.

Fey created a machine that replaced the card system and developed a game with symbols. The first slot machine symbols were spades, diamonds, hearts and a liberty bell, which is also how the machine got its name. These five symbols reduced the complexity of reading a winning result and consequently the three spinning wheels could create a payout. Fey devised the first payout system with the highest winnings derived from getting three bells in a row. This produced a payout of ten nickels. This game was an immediate hit and others soon followed. Ironically, only a few years after Fey’s invention, the state of California banned their use. However, right next door, sits Nevada where the games were in extremely high demand and of course slot machines continue to be the game of choice for many people.

Casinos like Caesars Palace Las Vegas and all the other greats are happy to carry on this late 19th century obsession. Meanwhile, across Lake Tahoe from Charles Fey is the biggest little city in the world and some of these early machines are on display there.

Even though the snow if falling in parts of the country, there is still time to take steps to prepare your home for the winter, esp. if you live in those areas where winter holds off until January. Protecting your home against winter temperatures and storms is a matter of taking a few simple steps.

The first thing you need to do is locate and seal any gaps and holes in your home that will allow warm air to leak out. This includes buying door sweeps and caulking any gaps.

Next up is checking your furnace. In addition to firing it up to make sure it’s working properly, you may want to consider having it cleaned and tuned. It’s simple enough to search for ” heating phoenix ” in a search engine or phone book to find a local heating expert. It will cost around $100-$125 to get this annual check and make sure your system is operating at peak efficiency. Ducts should also be checked for both leaks and blockages to ensure that the warm air gets from the furnace to every vent.

Other steps to take include clearing the gutters, increasing the insulation in the attic (12 inches is the accepted minimum no matter what climate you live in), switching screens for storm windows, and having chimneys and fireplaces checked. You may also want to reverse ceiling fans to better circulate warm air and check your smoke alarms while you’re at it.

Columbus, Ohio was founded in the year 1812 on the banks at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Although this is what we now know as Columbus there is evidence of ancient mound  building civilizations in the area. These mounds are evidence of an ancient people who once populated the area and now there story is lost to history and run over and covered up by the European settlers in early times. Early European settlers encountered numerous native tribes in the area when first arriving. They encountered people of the Miami, Delaware, Wyandot, Shawnee and Mingo nations to name a few. In 1797 a young surveyor Luis Sullivant from Virginia founded a permanent settlement on the west banks of the Scioto River. This settlement was wiped out in 1798 by a flood, however subsequently rebuilt. In 1816 the town of Columbus was officially formed with the election of its first officials. In 1831 the National Railroad connected Baltimore, MD to Columbus, OH thus completing its connection to the Ohio and Erie canal fostering the early population boom. In 1834 Columbus’ population had grown to the size warranting is official charter as a city.

Today Columbus sits in the heart of Ohio among the green rolling hills of its abundant farm lands. When staying in a Columbus luxury hotels i always like to ask where the closest farms, farmers markets and farm produce stores are. The freshness of locally grown and produced goods is the best and I always like to know I am supporting local, small growers and private farming enterprises as opposed to the corporate farms.

Driving through Ohio in the summer time one comes across fields of corn stretching out as far as the eye can see. In late summer the corn is so high as to prevent any views of the distant hills and farms except when upon a rise. Ohio is a state rich in history with several metropolitan cities to boot.