The Maven: Vice's Vexing Day

Back on the subject of gambling, Barron's interviewed a very much clothed Larry Haverty, whom The Business Press Maven has always respected. Haverty is a consumer-stock specialist for Gabelli, where he's been running money since The Business Press Maven was a tyke, dreaming of that addictive-products fund.

Despite the current challenges in our economy, Haverty likes a lot of the gaming stocks: Las Vegas Sands(LVS Quote), Boyd Gaming(BYD Quote), MGM Mirage(MGM Quote), Harrah's Entertainment(HET Quote), International Game Technology(IGT Quote) and Pinnacle Entertainment(PNK Quote).

He says that essentially, gas prices might cause a brief disruption in the Las Vegas markets, but local construction is incredibly strong (who has to spend money on travel to Vegas to play craps if you live there?), the stocks are relatively cheap, and cash flow is good. Las Vegas has also become more than just a gambling center. It's a giant conference center, and that is likely to help it in any kind of slowdown.

On that note, there's a good story in this morning's Los Angeles Times on the fact that casinos are even attracting public events such as high-school graduations for the burgeoning local school districts that lack big halls. What would Bugsy Siegel think?

Who knows? He was actually reading the Los Angeles Times when he was killed by a gunshot through the eye, but let's go back to Barron's for now. Don't miss the cover story, which makes a compelling case that Apple(AAPL Quote) is a good buy. Mark Veverka writes that this year, the stock has been weak on fears that the iPod craze is slowing. But don't forget the personal computer, he warns; Apple's increased capacity for Windows could lead to a resurgence.

Airbus, which is also hoping for a resurgence (though probably with less cause) is disclosing details and giving tours of its totally redesigned midsized plane today. Read The New York Times' coverage of the company's attempt to put the A380 mess behind it anywhere you look.