Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Spain's Answer To Las Vegas Should First Let The Mafia Run The Place For 20 Years
By Robert L. Candiotti
I have read with interest on BBCWorldService.com that the people of a small town in Spain are welcoming plans to build "Spain's
answer to Las Vegas," which is being called Gran Scala.
The town, Ontinena, in the Spanish region of Aragon,
apparently is very much in favor of the extensive construction concept that includes "30 casino hotels, a convention
center, theme parks, golf courses, a racecourse and a dog track."
I do not claim to be the world's biggest
expert on Las Vegas, but it has been my home for the past 10 years.
May I humbly remind the good people of
Ontinena, which has a population of 600, that Las Vegas evolved over several decades. It most definitely
did not rise up overnight.
Las Vegas, which, like Ontinena, began in a very rural environment, was a Wild West
town for about 40 years before it became a Mafia town. Then, the Mafia control endured for about 20 more years.
Perhaps
the people of Ontinena should start with just a handful of casinos that are overseen by a Mafia that establishes a sultry
gaming culture with exceptional customer service. Start small, and let the Mafia run the operation until the year 2025.
Running Las Vegas is not easy. Even today, its expertise and allure remains rooted in its Mafia beginnings. Las
Vegas, I think, is not world-famous because it is big, but because it understands its core.
In any case,
I wish the people of Ontinena - and developer International Leisure Development (ILD) - much success.
It
will be my pleasure to be one of Gran Scala's first patrons.
7:15 pm pdt
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Boeing Chairman And CEO Says Recession Will Be Replaced By Growth And Prosperity
By Robert L. Candiotti
Yesterday, April 27, Boeing Co. Chairman and Chief Executive, Jim McNerney, said Boeing can overcome the "once-in-a-lifetime"
downturn that has affected the company's profits, airplane orders and stock price.
He said the company is going
through a "tough patch," but the current recession will recede, and a new era of growth and prosperity will follow.
McNerney stated that Boeing's new passenger jet, the 787 - which Boeing calls the "super-efficient Boeing
787 Dreamliner" - will be in the air by the end of June of this year.
Once Ivanpah Valley Airport is
built, the B787 will certainly be one of the aircraft to use the new international airport near the Nevada-California
border south of Las Vegas.
6:14 pm pdt
Thursday, April 23, 2009
The United States Is Fortunate To Share A Long Border And A Friendly History With Canada
By Robert L. Candiotti
I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, and I work in Primm - 40 miles south of Las Vegas -which brings me in constant contact with
Canadian visitors.
Canadians are generally courteous and cheerful. They smile a lot. I enjoy meeting them and being
around them.
Also, I know that the number one country with regard to oil imports into the U.S. is Canada. The United
States imports almost two million barrels of crude oil from Canada on a daily basis. This exceeds petroleum imports from every
other country in the world.
Canada is a stable country with an abundance of nice people. Canadians appear
to feel allied with their U.S. neighbors. Their oil helps keep America running.
The United States is fortunate
to share a 3,000 mile border and a friendly history with Canada.
Lately, I do not take Canada for
granted.
6:34 pm pdt
Friday, April 17, 2009
New National Electric Grid Announced By U.S. Vice President And Commerce Secretary
By Robert L. Candiotti
On April 16, 2009, in Jefferson City, Missouri, Vice President Joe Biden, together with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, talked
about development of a "smart, strong and secure electrical grid."
According to a news release by the
U.S. Department of Energy, "As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Vice President outlined plans
to distribute more than $3.3 billion in smart grid technology development grants and an additional $615 million for smart
grid storage, monitoring and technology viability."
Of significance to Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, Biden
said the modernized electrical grid will include delivery of power created by "the sun from the Southwest." He described
the new electrical grid as linking up renewable energy production areas from "the vast renewable resources in this country."
Locke said there will be "Smart Grid" meetings with industry leaders next month in Washington, D.C.,
that he will co-chair with Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
At the visit to Missouri, Vice President Biden said, "By
investing in updating the grid now, we will lower utility bills for American families and businesses, lessen our dependence
on foreign oil and create good jobs that will drive our economic recovery - a strong return on our investment."
6:16 pm pdt
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Sustainability Trend Is Giving Southern Nevada A Respectable Definition In New Century
By Robert L. Candiotti
It has been two weeks since I was at the North American Energy Roundtable at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It was
held on UNLV campus March 27.
I am still thinking about it.
At the roundtable, I was certainly
interested in what the oil and gas speakers from Canada and Mexico had to say, but I was excited by the passion
and enthusiasm Nevada's renewable power speakers each brought to the podium.
At last August's National
Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, former President Bill Clinton said Nevada could be the leading state in the country for
renewable power production.
To me, the business and academic sustainable energy leaders in Nevada actually believe
this and are confident they can achieve it.
The conviction in Southern Nevada right now for renewable development
impresses me.
By the middle of this month, I will have been to three 2009 energy-related conferences at UNLV: (1) 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education, (2)
North American Energy Roundtable, and (3) Minimizing the Impact of
Conflict on U.S. Energy Security, which is taking place on April 16.
Sustainability, security, science, scholastic
support. Southern Nevada - where I live - is involved with enlightened energy changes in 21st Century energy.
I
am enjoying being part of what is going on.
The sustainability trend seems to be beginning to give Southern
Nevada a respectable definition in the still-new century.
8:17 pm pdt
