Adults get life-sized sandbox near Las Vegas Strip

[n2doc]

OSKAR GARCIA, Associated Press
Updated 02:26 p.m., Friday, September 2, 2011


LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas has seen its share of heavy construction equipment as it bulldozed its way through one giant casino project after another. But with the recession having gutted the construction industry, excavators and bulldozers near the Strip are being put to use as toys for thrill-seeking visitors.

A business owner has created what amounts to a life-sized sandbox for adults who pay up to $750 each to push around dirt, rock and huge tires with the earth-moving construction equipment. All it takes is a 10-minute classroom lesson and guidance from trainers through headsets.

"I thought it would be much clunkier, and the lighter you are with the controls, the easier it worked," said Mary Fitzsimons, an emergency room doctor from Walnut Creek, Calif., who spent roughly two hours digging a trench, moving tires and using the machine's bucket to scoop basketballs atop cones.

"I thought I wouldn't pick it up, I thought I would totally futz it up," Fitzsimons said.


Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Adults-get-life-sized-sandbox-near-Las-Vegas-Strip-2152298.php

[pansypoo53219]

1. all things cconsidered had a story about this a few weeks or months ago.

maybe the push for college is misguided. TRADE schools. you can't outsource plumbing.

[saras]

2. Now there's some training in environmental awareness...

Too stupid to know how to spend your money? You, too, can carve up the Earth as though it was your very own possession!

Demolition derbies - or bulldozer wrestling - will draw bigger crowds. They'll figure it out soon enough.