WARNING: The following item contains a link to photographs that may be inappropriate for underage web surfers. But let’s be honest: The kids already know how to find all of this stuff. But the Various Things & Stuff legal department makes us put a disclaimer on here. So, proceed with caution, or wild abandon, as the case may be, into today’s set of Quick Hits!

What? Miss Nevada, Katie Rees, has been dethroned because of racy pictures that were taken five years ago! What the hell is happening to America? And how the hell can Miss USA part-owner Donald Trump give a pass to Miss USA Tara Conner’s antics but support the dethroning of Miss Nevada USA? It just makes no sense!

Let’s be honest here, people. Being a celebrity these days means drinking, flirting, carousing and occasionally being photographed flashing yourself or simulating sex acts on random patrons of the bar in which you happen to be drinking at any given time, followed by a tearful apology and a stay in rehab. Poor Katie Rees was just following the script! And now The Donald wants to discard her like his first two wives? Please!

And c’mon, folks. This is Vegas. By our community standards, this isn’t even considered racy! In fact, we understand this is how many of the young people in the clubs say hello these days.

Anyway, we think Katie Rees should get another chance just like Conner did. This young woman is obviously very talented, and has a future in film. Yes, the film may be grainy and shot with a night-vision camera, but still. So, in the spirit of the holidays, let’s all give her a break, OK?

» Speaking of Las Vegas community standards, you can read all about how our bars and restaurants will now be as smoke free as New York City’s, in the Review-Journal and the Las Vegas Sun.

We certainly don’t like, and don’t agree, with District Court Judge Douglas Herndon’s ruling on the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act. But we do understand it, and we don’t think he abused his discretion in ruling the way he did. Herndon was no doubt influenced by the fact that 54 percent of Nevada voters approved the act on Nov. 7, and he didn’t want to set aside the obvious will of the voters.

The people have spoken. The bastards.

» Looking for some holiday entertainment? There’s nothing finer than Political Insiders, the show we host on KTNV Channel 13. This week’s guest is U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley, who in January will rise to become Nevada’s senior member of Congress. We talk about the war on Christmas, and all the Christmas cheer she’ll bring our way as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee. The show airs 11:30 p.m. Saturday and repeats at 5 p.m. Sunday.

» And finally today, a program note: We at Various Things & Stuff will be winging our way west for the Christmas holiday, spending a glorious week in our beautiful home state of California. The blog will return in early January, with all new postings. Until then, have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. See you in 2007!