Nov. 22, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NEON WEDNESDAY

House of Blues hosts Switchfoot

The next Switchfoot album won't be released until the day after Christmas (at least you'll already be at the mall exchanging stuff). But you can spend the night before Thanksgiving with the earnest surfer dudes often saddled with the "Christian rock" label.

They share the stage with another U2-influenced band, Moses Mayfield, and No Knife veteran Ryan Ferguson in a 7:30 p.m. show at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Tickets are $25-$30; call 632-7600.

-- MIKE WEATHERFORD

-- Sep. 29, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Divalicious

Mariah Carey is better than you, and don't you forget it

[[[Mariah Carey is developing her own fake tanning spray, made with real gold flakes.]]]

Mariah Carey's dog travels better than you. Seriously, when the pop star flies, she buys a first class ticket for her Jack Russell terrier, who occupies his own seat.

But hey, when you're a diva, even your pets get lavished (we hear Carey's hamster only wears Gucci).

Conspicuous consumption, however, is but one mark of the diva.

What else defines this shimmering, glimmering breed?

Basically, a diva is someone who's larger than life, who indulges every whim, who wears her emotions on her sequined sleeves and whose behavior tends to be as brazen, unpredictable and occasionally obnoxious as her wardrobe.

All of which makes Mariah Carey the ideal candidate. In honor of her stop in town today and Saturday at the MGM Grand, we count the ways in which Carey has proven herself to be a true diva queen.

Even When She Fails, She Succeeds

When Carey dropped "Glitter," the cinematic ipecac that was her film debut, the thing sunk faster than Louie Anderson juggling bricks on a kiddie raft in the South Pacific.

But whereas this may have been a career-ender for most, Carey actually prospered from it.

At the end of the '90s, Carey signed an $80 million contract with Virgin Records, then the biggest record deal of all time. In the wake of the failure of "Glitter" and its soundtrack, Virgin actually paid Carey $28 million not to make another album for them and dropped her from the label.

Cash in hand, Carey would sign another multimillion dollar deal with Island/Def Jam a few years later and notch the biggest-selling album of 2005, "The Emancipation of Mimi."

These days, everything Carey touches seems to turn to gold, even her own skin: She's developing a spray-on tan lotion made with real gold flakes. Now, even her bronzed backside will be worth more than you.

She Goes Dennis Hopper-crazy In Public

During her ill-fated appearance on MTV's "Total Request Live" in August of 2001, Carey proved to be nuttier than squirrel droppings.

Appearing on the show barely clad in a oversized T-shirt, she proceeded to do this weird, wobbly striptease like a showgirl on horse tranquilizers.

Oh, and she was also pushing an ice cream cart filled with popsicles for the young audience.

Nothing goes better with an extreme emotional breakdown than some tasty rocket pops.

Carey's flightiness has been well-documented elsewhere. Even Eminem called her screwy after their brief fling a few years back -- and when a dude who rhymes about sniffing glue and getting Oedipal with his mom brands you a loon, it's like Shane MacGowan dissing your teeth.

But divas aren't supposed to be rational, and these kinds of outbursts just confirm Carey's batty bona fides.

She Feuds With Other Would-Be Divas

Here are a few things you just don't do: play hacky sack at a Cannibal Corpse gig, goose a badger, pick a fight with a dude sporting a "born to lose" tattoo on his forehead or ever, ever badmouth Carey in the press.

Just ask Christina Aguilera. When the young singer said some unflattering things about Carey in GQ a few years back, Mariah hit back hard, like real divas do.

The incident started when Aguilera crashed one of Carey's parties, and Carey responded by making some catty comments to her. "I think she got really drunk, and she had just really derogatory things to say to me," Aguilera told the magazine, igniting the feud. "But it was at that time that she had that breakdown, so she might have been very medicated."

Oh, snap.

"I had hoped that Christina was in a better place now than the last time I saw her, when she showed up uninvited at one of my parties and displayed questionable behavior," Carey fired back on Access Hollywood. "It is sad yet predictable that she would use my name at this time to reinvent past incidents for her promotional gain."

And you don't gain anything by messin' with Mariah, except maybe some teeth broken off at the gumline.

She Can't Be Bothered To Hold Her Own Drinks

Carey has a lot on her plate: She has to wail though her tunes like a cat with its tail caught in a wood chipper and she has to squeeze into outfits revealing enough to make the gals at the Satin Saddle blush, so obviously, she can't be bothered with the task of raising a Diet Coke to her lips.

According to British TV host Graham Norton, when he interviewed Carey recently, she actually had an assistant hold her drinks for her when she became parched.

"She put her head to one side for people to serve her a drink through a straw, like she was unable to use her hands," Norton told the Web site FemaleFirst.co.uk.

Carey also is rumored to have an assistant whose job it is to make sure her skirts don't touch the ground -- like a true diva, not even her clothes are allowed to be down to earth.

Aug. 21, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

THE OFFICE: Why didn't I think of that?
Hey, managers, want to know what your workers need most? Survey them
By JENNIFER ROBISON
REVIEW-JOURNAL

So you've got a handle on customer satisfaction.

You know how your clients feel about your services, and you ask them for regular tips on how you could improve the products you offer.

But do you know how happy your workers are?

An employee-satisfaction survey can help you answer that question before poor morale affects your company's bottom line.

Employee surveys help businesses measure worker satisfaction in areas including pay and benefits, attitudes, management styles and opportunities for advancement.

"Surveys help you take the pulse of your employees," said Andrea Bricca, president and manager of electronic surveyor TouchPoll Las Vegas. "They allow you to gauge how your employees feel about everything that impacts them on a daily basis on the job."

At the end of June, Young Electric Sign Co. surveyed its 16-state work force of 1,200, asking them about major stress-causing job activities and seeking input on how likely they are to quit, how effective the company's training is and how much they enjoy their work.

"Our employees are, without any question, our most important asset," said John Williams, general manager and vice president of Young Electric. "We feel it's extremely important to have feedback from them. We gauge a lot of our policies, benefit programs and even compensation based on their abilities and attitudes."

Checking up on your employees' impressions of the workplace isn't cheap: Mary Beth Hartleb, president of Prism Human Resource Consulting Services in Henderson, said conducting a survey will cost a minimum of $1,500 for a small business. David Chaudron, managing partner of Organized Change Consultancy in San Diego, said a multiregional survey for a 5,000-employee business could cost "tens of thousands of dollars."

Experts say the expense can pay for itself.

Managers who believe their workers want a richer benefit package might determine through a survey that employees really want more flex time, Hartleb said. Businesses considering boosting a tuition-reimbursement program could learn workers would prefer more assistance with day care. And perhaps simple, cost-free changes in corporate policies -- relaxing the dress code, for example -- would pay major dividends in employee morale.

"A company can absolutely save money at the bottom line (through surveys)," Hartleb said. "A lot of companies think they know where to put money to make employees happy or improve recruitment and retention when in fact they're completely off-base. A survey helps companies make sure they're allocating resources in the most cost-effective manner."

Employee questionnaires can also build workplace morale, giving staff members a sense that managers are interested in improving office conditions. And allowing workers a voice in their corporate culture can translate into improved retention.

"In the Las Vegas labor market, finding and keeping good people is a real challenge," Bricca said. "(Surveys) are another way to make sure you're doing what you need to do to keep employees."

Rob Stillwell, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming Corp., said his company surveys its 30,000 staff members every year partly to determine how effective Boyd is at competing for and retaining workers.

"We want to know exactly how we're doing as an employer," Stillwell said. "We want to know what issues are facing our employees. (Surveys) allow a direct communication channel for information we might otherwise have missed. Without them, it could take the loss of several key employees before a company realizes there's a problem."

At Young Electric, Williams said he believes the company's questionnaire will improve its employee base.

"Having the best work force in the industry is our goal, and this helps us achieve that goal," he said. "It helps us understand what we need to do to get there."

But getting the most out of an employee survey requires advance planning and careful follow-up.

First, don't wait until you're concerned your workers are unhappy on the job. Consider formally surveying your work force with an extensive questionnaire once a year, and add to the mix ongoing discussions with smaller, informal focus groups biannually or quarterly, Hartleb recommended. The idea, she said, is to spot downward trends quickly and pinpoint the cause before small issues become big problems.

Second, it's tempting to download one of the hundreds of sample surveys available on the Internet, but Hartleb said borrowing a generic template could hurt your results. Make sure the language in your questionnaire matches the educational level of your workers. Consider your corporate culture as well. If your company's environment is casual, for example, stay away from stiff, formal language, and aim instead for a tone familiar to your workers.

Also, the most effective surveys are easy to take. Chaudron said questionnaires shouldn't have more than 50 questions, and employees should be able to complete the paperwork in half an hour or less. Anything beyond that will test staffers' patience and make them less inclined to participate in future assessments.

To boost participation, Chaudron advised scheduling specific survey times for every worker. Questionnaires sent via blast e-mail for completion at staff members' convenience will be lost, forgotten or ignored, he said.

Other experts suggest offering incentives to improve participation. Bricca said some of her clients have prize drawings or giveaways of company mugs or other logo-stamped gear. Aim for a completion rate of 85 percent to 90 percent.

Hartleb urged companies to look out for low participation: A response rate below 65 percent could indicate your employees are already disengaged, and not interested in improving their workplace.Most importantly, be prepared to follow up on the survey's findings.

If you conduct a questionnaire and no improvements result, employees will be more demoralized than they would be if you'd never asked for their opinions and ideas in the first place.

"If you give people an opportunity to say what's on their mind and you choose to ignore them, that can increase cynicism and a create a belief that management does not really care about them," Chaudron said.

At a minimum, inform employees of the survey's results within a month. Hartleb advises floating a companywide memo listing, for example, five changes the company will make based on employees' recommendations. If modifications are impossible -- perhaps because of budget constraints -- explain why.

Young Electric's Williams, who's still poring over the results of his company's questionnaire, said he's eager to report back to his workers on their input.

Said Williams: "It's empowering to the employees to know that what they've said is making a difference, and that there is a plan to take action."

Aug. 11, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Titus, Gibbons on top in polls
Picture changes in governor races
By MOLLY BALL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Click image for enlargement.]]]

Republican Jim Gibbons and Democrat Dina Titus are the likely winners of their gubernatorial primaries, according to a new Review-Journal poll -- and Titus is predicted to win by the bigger margin.

The poll contradicts the conventional wisdom at the start of the campaign season, when Democrats were expected to have the closer contest.

Instead, the survey conducted earlier this week by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research Inc., showed Titus with a 19-point lead over Jim Gibson, while Gibbons led Bob Beers by just 10 percentage points.

"Titus' margin over Gibson has widened, while Gibbons' margin has narrowed, and Beers has made significant gains," said Mason-Dixon managing partner Brad Coker. "He (Gibbons) certainly has been pushed a lot harder in this primary than I think he expected."

The poll, commissioned by the Review-Journal along with reviewjournal.com and KVBC-TV, Channel 3, surveyed 400 likely voters in each primary. It had a margin of error of plus or minus five percentage points.

Among Republicans, 41 percent said they were voting for Gibbons, a congressman from Reno, while 31 percent said they would vote for Beers, a state senator. Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt trailed with 15 percent.

In a part of the poll in which independent voters were included, Beers was found to be the weakest general election candidate, beatable by either Titus, a state senator, or Gibson, Henderson mayor. But Gibbons or Hunt could beat either Democrat. That survey included 625 likely general election voters from throughout the state.

A Review-Journal poll in April found 51 percent of Republicans favored Gibbons, 15 percent were for Hunt and 11 percent preferred Beers.

Coker said Gibbons' lead in this week's poll might not be a firm one.

"I think there's a lot of fluidity with those (Republican) numbers. The first night of calling, it was tighter -- four or five points, a statistical tie -- and the numbers moved around over the course of the polling."

But with only a few days before primary voting ends, it appears Beers' surprise surge in will have been in vain, said University of Nevada, Reno, political scientist Eric Herzik.

"Beers made his run and peaked," Herzik said. "Gibbons had to spend some money and go a little more negative than he wanted to, but now it's back to about where I would expect."

Beers campaign manager Andy Matthews said the poll showed "a tremendous amount of movement" in Beers' direction. "However, I don't believe these numbers accurately reflect the state of the race," Matthews said.

Hunt campaign manager Frank Roberson also preferred to look at the race's trend. "Gibbons continues to drop, even though we're not moving up. We're getting closer."

But Gibbons campaign manager Robert Uithoven saw in the poll confirmation that the congressman would be the Republican nominee. "This is good news going into the last few days of this primary election. As we prepare for our final statewide campaign tour, we'll be looking to retain this lead."

Titus appeared to have opened a comfortable lead over Gibson. Fifty-one percent of Democratic primary voters surveyed said they supported Titus, while just 32 percent were for Gibson.

"He's dead," Herzik said of Gibson. "He found a voice for a little while, but Dina effectively fought back."

Herzik said Gibson's campaign was never able to overcome his weaknesses -- his inability to give clear, concise statements of his beliefs, especially about abortion, and his "plodding" demeanor.

Titus has doubled her lead since April's Review-Journal poll, which put her ahead by 41 percent to 31 percent.

Gibson spokesman Adam Candee said no other poll has shown such a wide gap between Gibson and Titus.

"Frankly, I don't put a lot of stock in it," he said of the Review-Journal poll. "We're very confident about our ability to win on Tuesday."

But Titus' camp said it was proof of what they've said all along: that Titus is the "real Democrat" in the race.

When the 625 general election voters were asked about hypothetical November contests, Titus and Gibson both fared about equally badly, except against Beers.

Gibbons would beat Titus with 46 percent of the vote to her 35 percent, while he would beat Gibson 42 percent to 34 percent. Hunt would beat Titus 42 to 38, and she would beat Gibson 41 to 37.

But either Democrat would beat Beers, according to the poll. Titus would get 39 percent to Beers' 34 percent; Gibson would get 44 percent to Beers' 34 percent.

"If Beers wins the primary, Titus could beat him," Coker said. "The Republicans are in danger of nominating someone who's too conservative for Nevada."

On the other hand, Coker noted, Titus and Gibson would fare about the same in November. "The conventional wisdom that Gibson would be the better general election candidate is dismissed" by the poll.

General election voters also were asked about their level of approval for each candidate. Gibbons fared the best, but all the candidates had significant negative ratings.

Thirty-two percent viewed Gibbons favorably, versus 23 percent unfavorably. Beers' rating was 18 percent favorable and 28 percent unfavorable. Hunt's was 25 percent favorable, 17 percent unfavorable.

Titus had a 29 percent favorable rating and a 36 percent negative rating. Gibson's rating was 23 percent favorable, 23 percent unfavorable.

Washington Business and Technology Institute (WBTI)http://communitylink.reviewjournal.com/lvrj/wbti Advisory Board: Governor Kenny Guinn, Chairman; U. S. Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign, Vice Chairmen; U. S. Representatives James Gibbons and Shelley Berkley, and Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, Executive Directors. U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Chairperson; Dr. Tony T. Lei, President. District Judges Mark Denton and Valorie Vega, Vice Presidents. Dr. William N. Thompson, Director of Public Administration Institution; Dr. E. Lee Bernick and Dr. G. Keong Leong, Deans of Graduate School of Business and Public Administration; Dr.Sue Fawn Chung, Director of Culture Institution; Dr. John Z. Wang, Acting Director of Asian Marketing Institution. U. S. District Court Judge Brain Sandoval, Justice of the Supreme Court William Maupin, District Judge Stewart Bell, Honorary Chairmen, Clark County District Attorney and Police Civil Commission (CCDAPCC). District Attorney David Roger and Clark County Sheriff Bill Young, Chairmen of CCDAPCC. *It's our pleasure to pay a tribute to the above officials who dedicate to the civic and community service aspects of our organiza-tion in an honorary or adjunct capacity. WBTI: Tel. at (702) 255-9058 E-mail to: tojulei@yahoo.com

Inaugural Summer Service & Learning Program at Tsinghua University
By Tiffany Chang

***** The ultimate responsibility of a leader is to facilitate other people's development as well as his own. ---Fred Pryor
***** American business needs a lifting purpose greater than the struggle of materialism. ---Herbert Hoover
***** There is no more noble occupation in the world than to assit another human being---to help someone succeed. ---Alan Loy McGinnis

"An American Professor Speaks Out On Poverty Alleviation in China" is an article written by Zhou Shengping. It was shown in the section of "Business & Administration" at the website of WBTI on June 12, 2006.

"Dr. Peter C. C. Wang is a distinguished member of the Poverty Alleviation team at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Professor Wang has had a successful teaching and research career at several well-known American universities and has lived in the United States for nearly 50 years, but his homeland of mainland China has always remained close to his heart. Now in his late sixties, he has become an enthusiastic devotee to the long range planning of poverty alleviation in China through education, and he focuses his attention first on the cultural interchanges between China and the United States. One of Wang’s life mottos is 'to be the best you can be and to do the most good you can do.' He is passionately dedicated to his vision of improved Sino-US relations and calls upon his understanding of both countries in energizing and motivating those around him," written Zhou Shengping*1.

"Dear Dr. Lei: Thanks for spreading the words. We will have 585 students as participants in this Inaugural Summer Service & Learning Program at Tsinghua University. There will be 52 teams of students and faculty members visiting 52 poverty locations in China. Chinese and American students are coming from a dozen of universities in USA. Will keep in touch with my best wishes," pointed out Dr. Peter C. C. Wang soon after the article was post.*2

In order to promote the Inaugural Summer Service & Learning Program at Tsinghua University and for his and our friends' convenience, Peter's coordinating information are post as in the following:

Dr. Peter C. C. Wang
Founder, Chairman & President
Wang Foundation
P. O. Box 234
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
Phone: 831-624-1694

It is our pleasure to forward the two website address that Dr. Peter C. C. Wang favored and mentioned at his e-mail to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute:

Web Site : http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/isc/ChinaProject/information.htm
Web Site : www.gallerysur.com great sceneries of our area for you to enjoy.*3

............................................
The following information are quoted from one of the above websites:

Service Learning Scholarships
China Summer Program

Service Learning Scholarship Program In China
(July 23 - August 21, 2006)

The "Poverty Alleviation through Education Project" is designed for American and Chinese university students who will live and work together while launching a new service-learning program that will deliver educational resources to the poorest regions of China. American students will be selected for scholarships to partner with Chinese students to pioneer a pilot program that will become a model for expansion and duplication throughout China. The program will provide American and Chinese students an opportunity to learn about each other's cultures while working with e-learning community centers to mitigate rural poverty.*3

How to Apply :
To apply to the program, please contact your campus coordinator.

--------------------------------------------
References

*1. Zhou, Shengping. 'An American Professor Speaks Out On Poverty Alleviation in China,' "A search of 'Dr. Peter C. C. Wang wbti' and 'An American Professor Speaks Out On ... WBTI,' on the Google.cn," (June 30, 2006), Mountain View, California: Google.cn.
*2. Wang, Peter, C. C. 'Inaugural Summer Service & Learning Program at Tsinghua University,' "An e-mail from Dr. Peter C. C. Wang to President Dr. Tony Tung-tien Lei of Washington Business and Technology Institute," (June 12, 2006), Pebble Beach, California: Wang foundation.
*3. Ibid.

Bob's Campaign Catches Fire!

judy,

Back in January, Jon Ralston wrote a column warning Jim Gibbons that he would be in trouble if the Beers campaign ever caught fire. In March, he reiterated the point, writing "Beers is like a bee whose buzz keeps getting louder."

Thanks to you, the Beers campaign has caught fire and the August 15 primary promises to be a barnburner. The latest polls easily prove this campaign is moving forward as Bob gained more ground than any other candidate running — and surged past Lorraine Hunt and Jim Gibson (we'll be releasing the results of a poll showing VERY positive numbers for Bob sometime next week, so stay tuned). If the Beers campaign continues at this pace, every indicator shows Bob winning the primary and then moving on to take the general election.

As John Smith wrote in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on June 21: "Had Jim Gibbons been awake, he would have easily recognized it as The One That Got Away." As some of you might know, Smith was referring to a Bob Beers win in August, propelled by the tremendous support of Bob's Tax And Spending Control (TASC) amendment. With 156,254 signatures (almost 75,000 more than needed), TASC is the single most supported ballot question of 2006. And Bob is the only candidate — Republican or Democrat — who is siding with voters on this issue.

As more voters learn that Jim Gibbons doesn't support TASC and intends to spend an expected $600 million on special-interest earmarks before he ever considers a refund, the numbers dramatically shift in Bob's favor. All along we've been confident that Nevada voters will vote for Bob as long as they hear his message of fiscal responsibility and government accountability.

To make sure they do, we are airing a Bob Beers television commercial that highlights Jim Gibbons' link to special interests that do not want government spending restraints because they have big plans for your money — plans that do not include tangible or measurable benefits. The more funding we receive, the more often Nevada voters will learn the truth. You can designate any Beers contribution you make to support this important commercial.

In addition, we are beginning to launch a statewide direct mail campaign. Watch your mail in the weeks ahead. Anytime you see a mailer you like, please contact headquarters, pick up some extras, and then distribute them to your friends, family, coworkers, and anyone else you can think of. Not only will that help us reach more people for the primary, but it will help the campaign save money for the general election.

Only 27 Days To Register

Early voting begins July 29. If you want to vote in the primary by mail, you must be registered by July 15 (and your ballot must be received by August 8). If you intend to vote in person, you must be registered by July 25 (and vote early or during the primary on August 15).

If you want to vote for Bob Beers in the Republican primary, you must be registered Republican. For frequently asked questions about voting, please visit the Nevada Secretary of State – Elections Division FAQ page.

Please tell your family and friends that we need their help, too. If they believe in fiscal responsibility, government accountability, and a government that serves the people rather than one that serves its own interests at your expense, then they can help Nevada by registering Republican in order to vote for Bob Beers!

Thank You For Your Continued Support!

As always, we need more help! Volunteers who supported TASC are signing up by the dozens to help, but we can always use more people. Likewise, fundraising is going well, but we still need more campaign cash to make sure Bob Beers can get his message out. So please, contribute today!

Have you already donated as much as you can? Then there are other ways to help. If you're interested in helping the campaign with any of the upcoming Fourth of July events throughout the state, please contact us at (702) 876-1555.

Most of all, we need volunteers to join us for phone banking. We have different locations set up throughout the state. Any support is greatly appreciated! Call or e-mail us today!

Bob's schedule for the coming week:
(*indicates an event where Bob will be speaking)

Nye County Central Committee and Pahrump Valley Republican Women's Pancake Breakfast
Date: Saturday, July 1, 2006
Time: 6:00 a.m.
Location: Petrack Park, Pahrump
Contact: Kristin (702) 876-1555

Nye County Freedom Festival
Date: Saturday, July 1, 2006
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Petrack Park, Pahrump
Contact: Kristin (702) 876-1555

Minden Centennial Celebration
Date: Sunday, July 2, 2006
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: CVIC Hall and Minden Park, Minden
Contact: (775) 782-5976

Fourth of July Celebrations
Date: Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Time: All Day
Location: Boulder City/Henderson/Las Vegas/Summerlin
Contact: Kristin (702) 876-1555

*Meeting with American Legion - Post 8
Date: Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: American Legion Post 8, 733 Veterans Memorial Dr., Las Vegas
Contact: Cliff (702) 382-8533

*Republican Gubernatorial Primary Debate
Date: Thursday, July 6, 2006
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Watch it: Channel 30 in Pahrump
Contact: Andy (702) 876-1555

Bob is working hard to meet as many voters as he can before election day. If you are interested in volunteering for Bob's campaign, e-mail Kristin.

Help us bring Bob Beers' message to all of Nevada. Donate today!

Andy Matthews
Beers For Governor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

email: andy@beers4nevada.org
phone: 702-876-1555
web: http://www.beers4nevada.org

Jun. 13, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Campaign finance 'loophole'
Horrors! The Internet is unregulated!

The late Murray Rothbard, a UNLV economist of national repute, used to tell a story about his mentor, the great Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises.

Sensing he would not fare well in greater Germany during the Nazi era, von Mises migrated to New York, where he would meet socially with a group of young American student economists. As English was not his first language, some of the American idioms left von Mises puzzled. At one point he interrupted to ask, " 'Loophole,' what is this word you keep using, 'loophole'?"

Once this term of art for analyzing the American system of taxation and regulation was explained, von Mises summarized, "Ah, so a 'loophole' is when they have left something unregulated."

The tale came to mind thanks to a recent Washington Post piece that noted, "A new loophole in election spending regulations is likely to produce a torrent of unsolicited e-mails to voters."

Purveyors of private e-mail addresses and designers of campaign Web sites report that business is booming this year "as partisans take advantage of an exemption in election rules that allows wealthy individuals to pour unlimited sums into Internet communications without having to disclose their identities or total expenditures," the Post reports.

The loophole is "potentially breathtaking," said Roger Alan Stone of Advocacy Inc., an e-mail address retailer.

"The e-mail exemption, which was approved by the Federal Election Commission in March, might become the next big avenue for campaign funding abuses, some experts warn," the story says.

The source of all these concerns about "abuse"? The FEC voted unanimously on March 26 not to regulate political communication on the Internet, including e-mails, blogs and the creation of Web sites. The commission had decided two years earlier to exempt all Internet activity from regulation, but that ruling was overturned by a federal judge who ordered the FEC to write rules that apply to at least some parts of cyberspace.

Do judges make our laws now? And while "campaign finance restrictions" are already having a chilling effect on freedom of expression around the country, can we begin to see a pattern here?

Like little Dutch boys rushing about to stick their fingers in one dike after another, the forces of "campaign finance reform" are outraged that citizens keep finding new ways to spend their own money making political statements in favor of -- or opposed to -- one or another candidate or issue.

Where in the Constitution does government find the right or power to stop a person -- even "the rich" -- from backing a candidate willing to vote their views at the capital? Nowhere.

Yet they keep trying. And those who believe they will be further crippled by excessive government taxes and regulation unless they "hire" a lawmaker who will listen to their views, will continue to find "loopholes."

The solution is to rein government back within constitutional bounds, giving regulators and tax men no power to punish or manipulate the behavior of honest persons or businesses.

Such newly "deregulated" citizens would then find far less need to pour millions into the political fray in hopes of protecting themselves.

Until that is done, watch for continued moaning and hand-wringing about -- and demands for ever new and more complex regulations aimed at -- newly discovered "loopholes" that allow "the rich" to spend their own money as they please.

May 10, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Undersheriff's style different from Young's
By MIKE KALIL
REVIEW-JOURNAL

[[[Doug Gillespie, shown at a May 2001 meeting, is Sheriff Bill Young's choice to succeed him.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.]]]

Sheriff Bill Young and Undersheriff Doug Gillespie joined the Metropolitan Police Department within a year of one another, have followed similar career paths and share philosophies about how the community should be policed.

But the sheriff and the No. 2 man the sheriff endorsed as his successor Tuesday have different management and personality styles.

"Everybody's a little bit different. Bill has his way of leading the organization, and I'm going to have my way of leading," said Gillespie, who has been undersheriff since Young took office in 2003.

Veteran political consultant Billy Vassiliadis, who worked on Young's campaign four years ago and is working on Gillespie's now, said Young's natural charm and personableness allowed him to become skilled at the political games of working a room, shaking hands, listening to people sincerely.

He described Gillespie as someone who might not have Young's ease with people but who would also be less affected by political currents. Vassiliadis said he believes voters will choose Gillespie as their favored candidate because he represents consistency in leadership.

"There'll be no hiccup if he becomes sheriff," Vassiliadis said. "Once everybody gets to know Doug Gillespie, it'll be a no-brainer."

Gillespie, 47, grew up in a small town in upstate New York near Poughkeepsie and earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology In 1980. He moved to Las Vegas in October of that year when the Metropolitan Police Department offered him a job.

Like all rookies, he started in patrol, but eventually became a field trainer. As he moved up the ranks, he worked as a SWAT and a K-9 officer, and spent years training cadets at the police academy.

When he made captain in January 1998, he was assigned to oversee the Southeast Area Command. Two years later, he took over command of the vice and narcotics bureau and was promoted to deputy chief.

Gillespie was overseeing operations at the Clark County Detention Center when Young tapped him in early 2003 to be his second-in-command.

At the time, Young said his decision to name Gillespie undersheriff was partially because of their differences, for the sake of balance.

Young is gregarious and prone to relying on gut instincts, usually with beneficial results. But in several interviews with the Review-Journal over the last four years, the sheriff has acknowledged that shooting from the hip has sometimes resulted in rash decisions that he has regretted.

Gillespie is more reserved, less likely to betray what's on his mind and is known for analytical thinking and data crunching before making decisions about the course of the state's largest law enforcement agency.

"I sort of look at my management style as one as a facilitator," Gillespie said Tuesday. "I like obtaining information input from a variety of sources before making a decision about this organization."

Yet former Sheriff Jerry Keller trusted Gillespie's ability to think on his feet enough that he assigned him to command SWAT, where Gillespie oversaw quickly developing crises.

Gillespie displays great modesty for someone who's had a remarkable law enforcement career.

"He's got his feet on the ground, and he's very unimpressed with himself," Vassiliadis said.

If elected, Gillespie would take a serious pay cut. He made about $175,000 last year as undersheriff. The salary for sheriff set by the Legislature is about $40,000 less.

In his spare time, Gillespie likes to exercise, typically bicycling and jogging. His vacations are usually spent fishing, boating or camping with his wife of 23 years, Louise, and their two teenage daughters.

Review-Journal staff writer Molly Ball contributed to this story.

Apr. 22, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Save the pupfish!

Even if it takes every last dime of your money

Government biologists and environmentalists have been laboring for years to "protect" the pupfish that live in a Mojave Desert spring about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Although pupfish are common throughout the United States and Mexico, scientists have broken the species into literally dozens of subspecies, maintaining that genetic differences between these varieties make each of the schools of fish in scattered swimming holes and streams rare and worthy of protection under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The fish northwest of the valley were dubbed the Devil's Hole pupfish. Not to be confused with the Amargosa pupfish, the Warm Springs pupfish, the Shoshone pupfish, the Ash Meadows pupfish or the Pecos pupfish, we've long been assured the Devil's Hole pupfish is a Nevada treasure worth preserving in the wild.

So, over the decades, the state and federal governments have dedicated millions of dollars toward bureaucrat salaries and "scientific" excursions to insulate the pond from the environment.

They have persevered through natural events, such as floods and droughts, that might have killed off this population long ago.

A few years back, the fish numbered more than 500, and the bureaucrats vowed to work harder. Late last year, state and federal wildlife officials were horrified to discover the Devil's Hole pupfish population had dwindled to about 84, so they promised to really step up their efforts. Last weekend, the fish numbered only 38. Apparently, only two are females.

Funny how the harder the biologists and wildlife "experts" work, the faster the pupfish die off. If that's their endgame, wouldn't it have been cheaper to toss a couple of northern pike into Devil's Hole around, say, 1980?

No matter. Your governments have assembled a "pupfish recovery team" consisting of 21 experts -- more than one scientist for every two fish -- to, in their minds, prevent the collapse of an entire ecosystem and stop the earth from spinning off its axis.

Although the Devil's Hole pupfish may not survive through the fall, the government greens will strive to save them-- even if it takes every last dime of your money.

Mar. 30, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Howland's defense-first strategy takes root with UCLA players
By STEVE CARP
REVIEW-JOURNAL

UCLA coach Ben Howland, shown at a news conference Tuesday, has gotten his players to recognize the benefits of playing tough defense. The stingy Bruins meet Louisiana State in the Final Four on Saturday in Indianapolis.
Photo by The Associated Press.

When Ben Howland took over for Steve Lavin as UCLA's coach three years ago, he knew he had to change the culture.

Winning wasn't the issue. The Bruins had success under Lavin, reaching the Sweet 16 four times and the Elite Eight once in his seven years.

But the Bruins didn't play defense to Howland's liking. He wanted them to be tenacious, make defense a priority.

It took awhile for the message to get through, but it finally did, and UCLA is back in the Final Four for the first time since 1995. The second-seeded Bruins (31-6) will play fourth-seeded Louisiana State (27-8) in the second semifinal Saturday at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

Defense is a big reason UCLA is two victories from its 12th national championship. The Bruins aren't pretty to watch, tending to grind it out. But the style works for them, and the players enjoy the blue-collar reputation they have gotten during the NCAA Tournament.

"That's the only reason we're still alive is because we really believed it," guard Jordan Farmar said of buying into Howland's philosophy. "Coach Howland has been preaching defense from Day 1."

Howland said winning is a good motivator to get players to listen.

"Players like to win," he said. "Our guys are so bright, they're so intelligent. They're so committed and driven. They're committed to one another."

And they're tough. Howland made that a recruiting priority when he came to UCLA from Pittsburgh.

"I recruit toughness," he said. "We're not going to recruit soft kids. I want kids who are mentally tough and physically tough."

Howland convinced Farmar and Arron Afflalo -- both with Los Angeles-area roots -- to stay home. They are the cornerstone of UCLA's program.

"The bottom line is they're great kids," Howland said of his sophomore stars. "Obviously, they're really good players, two McDonald's All-Americans. What they've done is come in and raise the level of the other players."

Some people might not connect toughness with UCLA. But Howland disagreed.

"Do you want me to go down the list?" he said as he began to name former Bruins. "There's always been toughness at UCLA."

This team has displayed the trait throughout the season, though Farmar said it took a 71-68 loss to crosstown rival Southern California on Feb. 19 to reinforce the point that defense wins.

"After the SC game, we came out the next day in practice and it was a totally different mentally," Farmar said. "It was like the toughest practice I had ever been through. But from that day on, we've been focused and haven't looked back."

UCLA has allowed an average of only 54 points in its four tournament games. Gonzaga is the only team to score more than 70 against the Bruins since the USC loss.

Memphis, which scored 88 points against UCLA in November, was smothered in the Bruins' 50-45 victory in the Oakland Regional final Saturday.

"We're a pretty dominant defensive team right now," Afflalo said. "It's not just one guy. It's a total team effort on defense."

After losing to UCLA, Memphis coach John Calipari was asked if the Bruins' defensive style would work in Indianapolis.

"Sure, if they can keep these games from being fast-paced games," Calipari said. "With the guys they have out there, they can continue doing this. If it's in the 60s, they've got a chance."

Senior forward Cedric Bozeman said the best decision he ever made was not to transfer after Howland took over, even though it meant changing the way he played basketball.

"I didn't want to leave when coach came here," Bozeman said. "I'm from L.A. I grew up here. I wanted to stick it out.

"I remember my freshman year. That was definitely a rough spot. You didn't want to show your face on campus at times. But me and Ryan (Hollins) stuck it out."

Hollins, a fellow senior, said the reward of making it to the Final Four was worth the tough times, including Howland's first season, when the Bruins went 11-17.

"We believed we would get it turned around, and Coach has done a great job of getting everyone to buy in," Hollins said. "I'm just glad to be in this situation, getting the program back to where it should be."

Mar. 17, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

TOURISM: There's madness in the air
Convergence of springtime events pushes hotel occupancy toward 100 percent
By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

[[[Rehan Chaudhry, right, and Paul Thompson react Thursday as they watch NCAA men's basketball tournament games at the ESPN Zone at New York-New York.
Photos by John Locher.]]]

People line up early Thursday at the ESPN Zone at New York-New York. Hundreds waited for coveted seats from which to catch the action in the openings rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

From bar-hopping booty chases to basketball, blackjack and blarney, Las Vegas visitors will have no trouble finding fun ways to pass time this weekend.

Local businesses should have even less trouble finding customers willing to pass big money their way.

This week's launch of the National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament and today's St. Patrick's Day holiday are only two of the major draws on tap.

With many U.S. schools taking spring break, mid-March is a prime time for leisure getaways.

Bachelor and bachelorette party season is in full swing. Toss in some mild spring weather, and the city's March appeal is all the more apparent.

"Las Vegas is the place all of us wanted to go," said Thomas White, a 24-year-old University of North Carolina fan who flew here Thursday from Charlotte. "For the first week of the tournament there's nonstop basketball, and we heard that's the place to go."

Sixty-five of the nation's best men's collegiate basketball teams are playing for a national title.

Before a winner is decided April 3 at Indianapolis's RCA Dome, countless hoop-heads like White will have flocked to Southern Nevada to catch televised action inside a sports book or nearby bar or casino.

A 64-team women's basketball tournament also tips off Saturday, which could bring more fans to the city.

Last year, March bets on basketball in March, including the NCAA and National Basketball Association, gave Nevada casinos a win of $16.2 million on $170.9 million wagered, up 16.7 percent from 2004, said the Gaming Control Board.

March 2005 marked the first time Nevada's 341 casinos collectively reported a total gaming win of more than $1 billion.

White will celebrate with 15 friends and family who scheduled a weekend bachelor party to coincide with March Madness. When not watching games at Mandalay Bay, the group will do "regular Vegas stuff" including nightclub visits and playing cards, he said.

Scott Frost, general manager of the travel planning Web site VegasHotSpots.com, has booked 40 bachelor or bachelorette parties this month. Some traveled across the Atlantic for the celebrations.

"People getting married in June or July are planning and executing their bachelor and bachelorette parties now, and Vegas obviously has a certain mystique along with that," Frost said.

College basketball is also a top draw, he added.

"March Madness is approaching the Super Bowl as the biggest draw for sports betting pilgrims," Frost said. "Everyone comes to Vegas and literally sits in sports books for hours at a time."

That's big business, and not just for sports books. VegasHotSpots.com arranges restaurants reservations, limousine rides, nightclub VIP passes and other perks for "after-dark fun," Frost said.

Men typically pay between $150 to $250 per person for the company's services; women's average bills are $40 to $99 per head. That doesn't include meals, hotel charges, bar tabs or other goods or services.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority doesn't track visitor spending related to St. Patrick's Day, or the start of the NCAA Tournament. It's too difficult to measure how many visitors will come here specifically for those events.

Still, the agency's research director said both factor into strong local occupancy this month.

A year ago, the city's then-131,119 guest rooms were 99 percent occupied the weekend of March 18-19. One week later, they were 98 percent filled, the authority's Kevin Bagger said.

March brought nearly 3.4 million visitors to town last year, the busiest month of 2005.

On most days, O'Sheas' nooklike Strip casino caters to small-time gamblers who prefer to grind out a hand or 20 away from the clamor of larger places nearby.

But March 17 isn't "most days." And luckily for O'Sheas, its Irish pub theme makes it an obvious choice for tourists to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Melissa Free, marketing director for the separatelythemed adjunct of Flamingo Las Vegas, said O'Sheas enjoys better-than-normal casino play on St. Patrick's Day.

To capitalize on the holiday, owner Harrah's Entertainment will block off a street between O'Sheas and the Flamingo for an outdoor block party from 4 to 11 p.m. today and Saturday.

Free promised live music and drink specials on Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Baileys Irish Cream.

"Everything's green, from drinks to food to the color on people's clothes," Free said. "Who wouldn't want to spend St. Patrick's Day at an Irish-themed casino?"

O'Sheas set up a satellite sports book to garner its share of weekend basketball fans, as well.

Ireland native Declan McGettigan brought a touch of the old sod to Las Vegas when he opened Summerlin's JC Wooloughans Irish Pub in 1999.

He believes St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States are more raucous than those back home, including the standing-room-only romps his pub holds at the JW Marriott resort.

"You hear all the time that the real Irish stay away from it because it's such a crazy, crazy day," McGettigan said of St. Patrick's Day parties this side of the Atlantic. "But the ex-pat (expatriate) Irish want to remember their roots as much as possible, and it's evolved almost into our national holiday."

McGettigan, now JW Marriott's food and beverage director, said JC Wooloughans will welcome six bands today, ranging from traditional Irish folk music to a U2 cover band. Despite placing a temporary second stage in a nearby courtyard, many would-be revelers will likely be turned away due to overcrowding.

"The day of the week doesn't really matter. When it comes to St. Patrick's Day, it's a packed house," McGettigan said. "I wish to God I could have one of them off to celebrate it myself."

The National Retail Federation, a Washington-based trade group, estimates U.S. consumers will spend $2.69 billion on St. Patrick's Day purchases this year, up nearly 39 percent from last year's $1.94 billion.

The average consumer will spend $27.94, the Federation reports, up from $22.95 last year.

Tracy Mullin, the Federation's president and chief executive officer, said March 17 is now "a tremendous day for restaurants and bars, as well as your traditional retail outlets."

-- Mar. 03, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Riding With the King
Utah Shakespearean Festival takes 'Macbeth' on the road
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Kate Galvin as a witch, Alem Brhan as Macbeth, Allison Batty as a witch, Lee Turner as Banquo and Barbara Suiter as a witch in "Macbeth."

Macbeth," perhaps William Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, will be presented today and Saturday by the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespearean Festival.

The 75-minute production, part of the festival's Shakespeare in the Schools program, will be performed in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The performance also will feature a follow-up discussion and workshops featuring stage combat, improvisation and Shakespeare's text.

Set in Scotland, "Macbeth" is the story of ambition run amok. While returning with his fellow general Banquo from a battle in which he has been heroic, Macbeth meets three witches who predict he will become baron of Cawdor and then king of Scotland.

The first part of the prophecy comes true, but Macbeth, consumed with a burning desire to be king, murders the present king, Duncan, and takes the throne.

He spends the rest of the play murdering those around him in order to retain power.

The tragedy, estimated to have been written in 1605 and partly based on the "Chronicles" of English historian Raphael Holinshed, includes many powerful passages, including the speech in which Macbeth concludes that life is "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

"I love this show," says director Michael Don Bahr. "It deals with themes of power, corruption, darkness and light. Of all Shakespeare's characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are among the greatest communicators. It is when they stop listening to each other that problems begin. This story is told in such a beautifully poetic manner that we are able to see the decline of a great man."

The touring company, a professional team of actors and theater artists with a full complement of costumes, sets and theatrical lighting, travels for 15 weeks to schools in communities throughout Utah, Arizona and Nevada.

The cast includes Alem Brhan of Boston in the role of Macbeth; Barbara Suiter of Los Angeles as Lady Macbeth; New York actor Trey Teufel as Macbeth's nemesis, Macduff; Allison Batty of Indiana University's theater program as Lady Macduff; Lee Turner of Birmingham, Ala., as Scottish nobleman Banquo; Brian Edgecomb from Florida Atlantic University as King Duncan; Robert Tobin of Los Angeles as Malcolm and Kate Galvin of Vermont as Banquo's son Fleance.

"It is a pleasure to bring this production to the Las Vegas community," Bahr says. "Our goal is to have the audience see Shakespeare's words come to life, understand the play and its lessons, as well as feel and be affected by a living performance."

Feb. 22, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Strip's growth causing I-15 woes
Each new hotel room adds 2.3 vehicles a day to busy freeway
By ADRIENNE PACKER
REVIEW-JOURNAL

The booming Strip might provide dream getaways for out-of-town visitors, but it's creating a nightmare for Interstate 15 commuters.

Traffic on I-15 during peak hours is so thick, motorists are fortunate if they make their commute home traveling at 25 mph.

Every new hotel room that opens on the resort corridor adds 2.3 vehicles a day to I-15, the primary north-south route in the county.

Within the next decade, Clark County anticipates between 45,000 and 75,000 new rooms will be constructed. That translates into more than 100,000 additional vehicles on the already-clogged freeway, according to a study conducted by the Regional Transportation Commission.

"This would be fine if I-15 had unlimited capacity, but it does not," said Jacob Snow, general manager of the Transportation Commission.

In fact, the interstate is already 68 percent over its capacity. The freeway, most of which is three lanes in each direction, was designed to handle 130,000 vehicles per day. Last year, the roadway averaged 218,000 vehicles a day.

The Nevada Department of Transportation recently allocated $7 million to re-stripe Interstate 15. Crews will convert the north and southbound "break down" or shoulder lanes into travel lanes.

Snow said widening the freeway is improbable because it would cost the state in excess of $1 billion.

While new Strip hotel rooms cause measurable traffic impacts to the freeway, they have little effect on Las Vegas Boulevard.

In 1996, the Strip carried 57,000 vehicles a day. Nine years later, the boulevard accommodated 59,000 cars each day. During that time frame, the number of rooms in the resort corridor increased from about 73,000 to 102,000, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

The reason Las Vegas Boulevard is not heavily affected by the growing number of rooms is because the road has already exceeded its capacity, Snow said. Motorists, especially locals, use "back roads" to navigate the resort corridor, he said.

The Transportation Commission's "The Deuce" bus route has offered some relief to traffic congestion along the Strip. The double-decker buses ferry an average of 50,000 riders a day up and down Las Vegas Boulevard.

While Snow said buses and improvements to the freeway will provide "breathing room," transportation experts are scrambling to establish other modes of transportation for local residents and tourists.

The county hopes a fixed-guideway system will be built in the median of the Strip. Plans call for the fixed guideway system to eventually grow into a 33-mile web that stretches across the valley.

"We need to focus on how we can move massive amounts of people," said Commissioner Yvonne Atkinson Gates.

But increased traffic isn't the only challenge created by the Strip's popularity.

Water officials estimate that the amount of wastewater in need of treatment will increase by 26 million gallons with the construction planned over the next nine years.

The number of annual calls received by the Clark County Fire Department is expected to increase by 15,000. The department is planning to build three new stations along the resort corridor. The Convention and Visitors Authority recently allocated $24 million to build police and fire stations on their campus on Paradise Road.

"Continued growth is great for the community; it ensures we have an opportunity to remain economically viable," Clark County Manager Thom Reilly said. "However, we need to continually monitor the time of development so we can maintain infrastructure."

Feb. 10, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Defending free speech

Move to outlaw protests at funerals well-intentioned, but misguided

Cartoon depictions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad have stirred international debate about freedom of speech and tolerance for even the most intolerant religious fundamentalists.

However, the issue was playing out in capitals across the United States well before Muslim extremists began their violent campaign against Western liberties. As proof that Islamic nations do not have a monopoly on religious wackos, various state lawmakers are targeting the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., the most hate-filled Christian sect since the Ku Klux Klan.

The activist church uses an extremely literal interpretation of the Bible to condemn homosexuality as a sin punishable by death. Its members believe gay influences are destroying every aspect of culture and every function of government.

They made a name for their church by picketing the funerals of AIDS victims. Over the past year, they have distributed news releases to major media outlets celebrating the carnage of the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, claiming the events were God's revenge against gays and those who tolerate gays. Their Web sites: www.godhatesfags.com and www.godhatesamerica.com.

But some state lawmakers decided free speech should have its limits when church members began picketing the burials of American soldiers and Marines killed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Claiming these deaths are God's punishment for the country's acceptance of gays, Westboro followers greet military families in mourning with signs proclaiming, "Thank God for dead soldiers."

At least 14 states are considering legislation that would restrict the rights of citizens to protest funerals. Some of the bills are based on a right to privacy. Others prohibit disruptive behavior and signs with fighting words. Some set time and place restrictions, barring protests immediately before or after a funeral or within 10 car lengths or five blocks of a burial.

If any of these bills pass, they'll justifiably be struck down by courts as unconstitutional. As pathetic as the members of the Westboro Baptist Church might be, they have a right to practice their twisted faith, to assemble peacefully and express their opinions in public places. The First Amendment protects these rights for everyone, even the spiritually perverted.

It's unfortunate that so many elected officials would rather score political points with angry constituencies than uphold their oaths to defend the U.S. Constitution. Especially when the best solution is also the simplest: more free speech.

The Las Vegas Academy, the Clark County School District's magnet high school for performing arts and international studies, proved this when church members came to the valley in 2004. The academy was staging a production of "The Laramie Project," a drama about the reactions of Laramie, Wyo., residents to the 1998 beating death of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, an openly gay student at the University of Wyoming.

About a dozen Westboro congregants set up shop across from the school on Seventh Street to condemn the play, the school and gays everywhere in an obnoxious but nonviolent manner.

They were received by more than 200 students and school supporters and shouted down. They were shooed away, and they haven't been back here since.

The next time any military family hears a whisper that these homophobes from Topeka might try to crash a wake, their first course of action should be to call the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and say, "Rally the troops." The Westboro Baptist Church has fewer than 80 members, and rarely sends more than a dozen people to any single rally. Let the applause of 300 veterans drown out the hatred of a few misguided, manipulated clowns.

The furor of the Islamic world over the sketches of Muhammad and the efforts of state governments to quiet the Westboro Baptist Church are linked: to defend their sensibilities, they want to squelch free expression. Censorship is never the answer.

How can the United States be perceived as an international defender of liberty if it won't protect the most basic rights of its own citizens?

Jan. 30, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

NEVADAN AT WORK: Three-casino juggling act no easy task for executive
By HOWARD STUTZ
GAMING WIRE

[[[Marilyn Winn oversees 11,000 workers as regional president of the Rio, Bally's and Paris Las Vegas.
Photo by Craig L. Moran.

MARILYN WINN

Age: 53

Occupation: Regional President, Bally's, Rio and Paris Las Vegas.]]]

Quotable: "The Rio has a fabulous tradition as being a bit of a wilder and sexier property, and we're focused on keeping this brand distinct."

Marilyn Winn didn't follow the usual track to the presidency of a Strip casino, but the direction she took led her to the leadership of three Las Vegas resorts.

Rather than working her way up the casino ranks, Winn was the top official in Harrah's Entertainment's corporate human resources department when she was selected to oversee Harrah's and the Rio in Las Vegas in January 2004.

Following completion of the company's $9 billion purchase of Caesars Entertainment in June, the restructuring took Harrah's from her purview, but gave her Bally's and Paris Las Vegas (which operate under one gaming license) in addition to the Rio.

Winn is one of two female Strip casino presidents -- Renee West is president of the MGM Mirage-owned Excalibur -- but she doesn't consider herself a trailblazer.

She reserves that title for longtime gaming executive Claudine Williams, who opened Harrah's Las Vegas in 1973, known back then as the Holiday Casino. Winn considers Williams a friend and mentor.

Overseeing three properties -- which combined have 275,000 square feet of casino space and almost 8,300 hotel rooms -- is no easy task. Winn is also responsible for 11,000 employees at the resorts, which is where a human resources background comes in handy.

"I think it's a huge advantage," Winn said.

Winn didn't come into the job without any casino experience, however. She spent two years as the director of slot operations at Harrah's Las Vegas before transferring to Shreveport, La., to spend 20 months as the general manager of Harrah's Shreveport.

During her time at the casino, which has since been sold to Boyd Gaming Corp., she oversaw construction of the property's 500 hotel rooms.

Winn viewed Shreveport as a way of gaining the necessary experience that would help her advance toward managing a Strip resort.

"It's hard to break in on the Las Vegas Strip as the head person," Winn said. "(Shreveport) was a great opportunity to hone some skills and learn more about the marketing side of the casino to ensure that I understood the customer piece of puzzle."

While she didn't land in the casino immediately upon her return to Las Vegas, spending almost five years as the senior vice president of corporate human resources, Winn eventually made it to the Strip.

Question: Why did you want to return to the casino from the human resources side?

Answer: I love the casino. I love the energy and the variety. Every day you learn something new. To me, this is an opportunity to learn in school without paying tuition.

Question: Do you look at yourself as a trend setter or role model for female gaming executives?

Answer: I don't. My personal experience is that businesses treat professionals the way professionals want to be treated. There are so many great opportunities in the gaming industry that if you work hard and you're in the right place at the right time, you will rise. I never experienced the glass ceiling or I've never recognized it.

Other women who are in significant position in mostly male-dominated industries are more likely to reach out to me to see what it's like running a casino.

Question: What advice have you received from Claudine Williams?

Answer: We had dinner the other night and she told me to keep doing what I have to do. Not a month passes where we don't have some sort of conversation. What's great about Claudine is her dignity and her integrity.

Question: How does a casino-hotel president manage three properties?

Answer: You have to work a lot of hours at this job. I have a set schedule; on Wednesdays I'm at Bally's-Paris and Thursdays I'm at the Rio. On the other days, I alternate between both places so you will see my little blue car whipping by on Flamingo (Road). I have two offices and two executive assistants, so it's a challenge. About 30 executives have my same schedule between the three properties.

Question: Where does your human resources background assist you as a casino president?

Answer: My job as president of three properties is to guide a very talented team of professionals to get to the finish line. For us, the finish line is customer satisfaction. We want people to come back over and over again.

I can't get involved in the nitty-gritty because I don't have enough time. But I have to be sure that great people are leading the different teams and the results are very measurable.

Running the slot department at Harrah's Las Vegas was very helpful because it helped me clearly understand how the money is made on the floor.

Question: Right after the Caesars buyout, rumors were flying that Bally's was going to be closed and imploded. How did you manage the misinformation?

Answer: Our goal is to return Bally's to its status as a great casino. We dealt with our employees very honestly. In my opinion, Bally's is the most valuable piece of real estate on Strip, but we saw items outside the front door that don't add to customer value, and that's something we need to improve. I doubt this building is coming down any time soon.

We presented the facts and right now, we have a corporate master-planning committee looking at all our properties on the Strip, from Harrah's to Paris. We're looking at the wisest way to deploy capital.

Question: How are Bally's, Rio and Paris different?

Answer: There are different cultures at all three properties. The Rio has a fabulous tradition as being a bit of a wilder and sexier property, and we're focused on keeping this brand distinct.

Bally's employees have gone through so many different mergers, they are looking for someone to embrace them and help them grow and develop.

Paris was top of echelon of Park Place Entertainment, but after Caesars Palace came aboard, it was taken down a notch.

At Paris, the challenge is how to infuse a lively energetic gaming environment. Right now, it has a lot of convention and free and independent travelers.

Question: How does the Rio compete being located off the Strip?

Answer: The Rio is coming off its most successful year in history and the challenge is, how do you keep that momentum going? We like to say at the Rio that we're safe in our mischief. People come to Las Vegas because they want to misbehave a little bit but I think the demographics of the Palms and Hard Rock might be a little uncomfortable for our core customers.

Question: Has the Rio hosting the World Series of Poker been a success?

Answer: (The event) exceeded out expectations (in 2005) and we're looking forward to hosting the finals this year. The property had a great energy during the tournament and that was enormously successful during the summer months, when it's not really your best time.

We are very active in offering incentives for customers but what was amazing was the amount of customers (without incentives) that came to the casino.

Jan. 18, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

As visitors keep coming, city faces many challenges
By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

Las Vegas' travel industry is growing faster than its airports and roadways can handle.

And like it or not, widespread traffic jams and frequent backups at McCarran International could become increasingly common if the city's recent success continues.

Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, and Clark County Aviation Director Randall Walker on Tuesday shared their vision of the future with the Clark County Commission.

Both spoke of new developments designed to fuel the robust economic growth most cities crave. But both also conceded that development must include new infrastructure to prevent the community from choking on an overabundance of visitors.

"Our goal, of course, is never to allow airport capacity to be an impediment to the economic growth of the community," Walker said. "We've been successful to this point.

"But based on what we've seen, it's going to be a real challenge" going forward.

Ralenkotter, citing the city's historic "can do" attitude, believes a solution will be found. But his presentation also outlined the many growth-related challenges in store.

Last year's visitor count has not been calculated, but Ralenkotter said it probably exceeded 38 million. That would eclipse 2004's record-high 37.4 million.

Looking forward based upon recent trends, he estimated Las Vegas could host between 49 million and 59.2 million visitors by 2015.

Since nearly half of all local travelers arrive by air, any growth will tax McCarran.

The nation's sixth-busiest airport is already nearing its ultimate capacity of 53 million annual passengers, a limit imposed by a runway system that cannot be expanded because of nearby development.

Relief from a proposed second international airport in Ivanpah Valley is unlikely until 2017 at the earliest, Walker added, which means McCarran must expand to capacity, then squeeze in as many travelers as possible without alienating them with unreasonable delays.

McCarran now has 94 gates and will expand to 103 in early 2008 when a fourth D-gates concourse debuts. The airport's ultimate 117-gate limit will arrive in early 2011, when Terminal 3 opens near Russell Road.

The airport processes about 450,000 passengers per gate per year, well above the industry standard of 400,000, Walker said.

"Using the convention authority's midrange projection, we have to be able to do a lot more than 450,000 passengers per gate if we're going to be able to accommodate the growth," Walker said. "Can we get more passengers through our existing gates? We can, to an extent. ... But that really puts a large stress on the facility."

Ticketing kiosks, off-site baggage check-in and in-line baggage screening systems are among the improvements needed to maximize McCarran's efficiency, he added.

Year-end passenger data has not been calculated, but McCarran probably hosted 44.2 million arriving and departing passengers last year. That would top an airport-best count of nearly 41.5 million set in 2004.

Other data showed by Ralenkotter indicate likely congestion to come at McCarran.

With the Dec. 22 debut of the South Coast, the Las Vegas Valley ended 2005 with approximately 134,200 guest rooms, up from 90,046 in 1995.

By 2015, however, construction announced or under way could increase that count to 180,000 to 210,000 rooms.

Numerous supporting projects such as shopping malls and convention centers are also planned to fill those rooms.

"The confidence that corporate America and the entrepreneurs of Clark County have in the destination is demonstrated in these numbers," Ralenkotter said. He added, "Remember, there are some projects that have not been proposed yet that could be added to this mix, increasing the number of rooms."

Citywide hotel occupancy typically hovers in the mid- to upper-80 percent range. To maintain that level, Las Vegas must attract 200,000 new annual visitors for every 1,000 rooms added, Ralenkotter said.

Each hotel room added produces 320 additional air passengers per year, Walker said.

So should the city expand to 180,000 rooms, McCarran would need to process 14.7 million more passengers per year.

Las Vegas' expansion isn't guaranteed, however, given challenges such as cruise lines, tribal casinos and limited air service from several coveted foreign markets. Disruptive events such as Hurricane Katrina or the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks are also a constant concern.

"If you take a look at CNN for any one hour, there's probably three or four things happening that could have an impact on Las Vegas," Ralenkotter said.

Growth also isn't entirely dependent upon increased air service. A nearly $1 billion effort to make Interstate 15 an eight-lane highway between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area is under way, as are plans for a $1.7 billion alternate "superhighway" north of the San Gabriel mountain range. The Hoover Dam bypass should also ease traffic to and from Arizona, Ralenkotter said.

Commissioner Bruce Woodbury suggested to Ralenkotter that the state's resort industry do more to fund necessary highway improvements.

Woodbury also questioned Walker on the Federal Aviation Administration's controversial "right turn" proposal involving most flights taking off at McCarran.

The FAA's proposed change has upset many residents and civic leaders who oppose the prospect of jets soaring above Summerlin and the northwest valley. But Walker said McCarran's airspace capacity would drop by more than 1 million passengers annually if some type of right turn is not reintroduced.

County Manager Thom Reilly said staffers are also examining how projected travel industry growth would affect local infrastructure. That report should be presented to the commission next month.

Jan. 06, 2006
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EDITORIAL: Security listings

Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff

No amount of spying, planning or spending by the government will ever make us completely safe from the threat of terrorism. But our elected leaders and public safety officials can take steps to prioritize vulnerabilities and prevent would-be attackers from carrying out a strike that matches the magnitude and carnage of the 9/11 attacks.

The federal Department of Homeland Security, created with great dispatch to coordinate this mission, on Tuesday provided more evidence that it simply isn't capable of determining risk and reacting accordingly. The bureaucrats who put Transportation Security Administration snoops in every airport and created the country's colorful threat ratings have dropped Las Vegas from a list of cities believed to be high-risk targets.

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The move wouldn't have been so offensive if the list ranked only five or six centers of population, commerce, energy production and shipping. But this registry runs 35 cities deep, including the pleasant areas of Milwaukee; San Antonio; Columbus, Ohio; and Jacksonville, Fla. Even tourist destinations such as Honolulu and Orlando, Fla., made the list.

How could Homeland Security ignore Las Vegas, a global destination where 17 of the world's 20 largest hotels sit within a couple of square miles? The city was visited by five 9/11 hijackers in the weeks before their attack and held 2003 New Year's Eve celebrations under a threat alert that compelled airlines and hotels to submit customer lists to federal agents. Portland, Ore., Charlotte, N.C., and the already-devastated New Orleans area are at greater risk than Las Vegas?

"I am just disgusted with them," said Clark County Sheriff Bill Young. "It's like yelling into a big, dark, empty hole working with DHS."

Granted, the "high threat" designation primarily relates to the distribution of Homeland Security grants, which flow like any other kind of federal porkfat. The city of Las Vegas received $8 million in "high threat" funding last year. Such grants have been used to buy snake-handling tongs, polo shirts, a cooking grill and a wastebasket. Homeland Security will distribute $765 million to the 35 cities on the 2006 list, and Nevada leaders are furious they might not be able to get their hands on any of it.

Regardless of whether Southern Nevada gets any handouts from Homeland Security this year, the "high threat" list shows a lack of competence in Washington. And that won't make anyone safer -- anywhere.

Dec. 22, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

In da Club

A HOW-TO MANUAL ON WHAT TO WEAR, GETTING IN AND GETTING NOTICED (OR NOT)

By XAZMIN GARZA
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ginny Heil (far right) is sittin' pretty at Plush, with Bonita Ayutte (center) and a fellow clubgoer.
Photos by Christine H. Wetzel.

Just another day at the office: Monice Baratt after her dance routine at The Beach.

"Sorry, you're not on the list." Rachel Uchitel is the velvet rope gatekeeper at Tao.

Stephanie Hanks takes a twirl at The Beach.

Bartender Erika Adams mixes it up at Plush.

Brandi Smith shakes her groove thang at Mahogany.

The relationship between night clubs and fashion can be compared to the one between Paris Hilton and scandals: not only do the two complement each other, but one couldn't exist without the other. Need proof? For the latter, open any gossip magazine. For the former, try to find a local night club that doesn't have a dress code or style that defines the image of the establishment.

Las Vegas is no different -- each club conveys a message; and if the facility itself doesn't communicate it, look to the attire of the patrons in line. More often than not, the dominating styles will tell you whether the club in question is or isn't a perfect fit for you. Here are a few for your consideration.

TAO -- THE POWERHOUSE CLUB

Tao is the type of club that doubles as a prime venue for star gazing because, just as the freaks come out at night, so do the celebrities: and many of them favor Tao. This could explain why the majority of the female clientele wear the same popular trends you'll find in an Us Weekly spread: heavy on camisole tops, designer jeans in the triple digits, layered necklaces and metallic handbags. The guys prefer a simpler look, mostly opting for clothing that will get them past the velvet rope, but won't necessarily have them competing for a best-dressed award anytime soon. The collared shirt, loose fit (but not sagging) jeans and black Kenneth Cole-like shoes are the male uniform of choice.

PLUSH -- THE WAY-OFF-THE-STRIP CLUB

It's in Summerlin, need we say more? Yes? OK: it's in the J.W. Marriott in Summerlin. Plush patrons are 90 percent locals and most have an "I'd rather not do the whole Strip thing" disposition. You will not once hear the DJ scream, "Who came to Vegas to paaaaaarty?" Styles in Plush are a notch above club casual, with dresses, skirts and gauchos; jeans are a little less popular among the females, though that's not to say denim isn't represented (see Fashionista profile). For guys, many who choose to wear jeans couple them with a sport jacket, and slacks are ever-present.

THE BEACH -- THE COLLEGE HANGOUT

Think Cabo San Lucas during Spring Break. That's the scene every night at The Beach. The female staff is oiled up in their bikinis; body shots are performed regularly; and the place is a mess by the end of it all (napkins and toilet paper are thrown onto the dance floor on the hour). Located directly across from the Las Vegas Convention Center, The Beach is largely frequented by conventioneers, meaning the crowd is predominantly tourists. And the philosophy visitors live by when dressing in Las Vegas tends to be "the bigger, the better." For women, this means big hair, big cleavage, big bling. Guys enjoy a less stringent dress code, which translates to a dance floor saturated with baggy jeans and sneakers.

ICEHOUSE (MAHOGANY) -- THE SOUL CLUB

Of the four featured clubs, Icehouse is the only one not to claim to "play a little of everything." The music is pure throwback, from EnVogue's "Hold On" to KRS One's "My Philosophy." Many of the male patrons carry this old skool factor into their choice of attire as well, taking their looks back to a time when dressing for the clubs meant slipping on your best alligator-skin shoes and topping off the look with a fedora. In fact, expect to see many a hat -- with the exception of the kind bearing a sports team logo -- because accessories play a central role as opposed to an afterthought. For the ladies, fur trim, big jewelry, scarves, clutches and show-stealing boots are showcased -- often all on one club-bunny.

Tips from the staff

As VIP hostess for Tao, Rachel Uchitel has the privilege of saying "yay" or "nay" to the throngs of people who want to be statused as a Very Important Person. As gatekeeper of the most sought after area of the club, Uchitel is the first person elite guests come in contact with, and thus must always be dressed to impress.

On this particular night, she wears all black: A sleeveless knit turtleneck and snug slacks make up her uniform for the evening. Uchitel punctuates her otherwise minimalist gear with a forearm full of gold bangles and two gold hoops peering from behind her long locks. The look is understated -- unlike the club itself -- and polished.

Uchitel's tip: Don't get out your wallet unless it's necessary. "The biggest tip I've received was $1,000," she said. "And I would've let him in without it."

Sporting fishnets, a mini skirt and a corset bustier, it's no wonder Erika Adams, bartender at Plush, has a bar lined with smiling male patrons. They place their orders, then sit back to watch Adams in action as she shakes, grinds and serves -- the drinks that is. Although her outfit is entirely girly, her demeanor -- when necessary -- can quickly contradict it. As a bartender, Adams has seen every alcohol-inspired behavior that exists and consequently bears the bar smarts necessary to tolerate them. Her look is every bit as seductive as the drinks she serves.

Adams' tip: Wait your turn. "I serve whoever's next," she said. "I don't care how much you tipped before. And if you're shaking your glass or snapping your fingers, it will take even longer."

The only club employee who can comfortably place her work uniform in her jeans pocket is Monice Baratt, tub shot girl for The Beach. Aside from her white, patent leather go-go boots, she wears nothing but a very small bikini and very big smile to work. Just before hitting the floor, Baratt "oils up" in baby oil. At times, her uniform confuses the intoxicated male patrons, who've come to form certain presumptions about females working in Las Vegas. But aside from that, Baratt goes home with the uniform in one pocket and the other three stuffed full of tips.

Baratt's tip: Don't confuse things. "When we do the body shots sometimes the guys do things with their tongues and hands," Baratt said. "Um, it's not an intimate moment."

Large and in charge. That's the style of Donovan Liebelt, head of security for Icehouse. Dressed in the required black -- in a buttoned-up collared shirt and slacks -- his job is to "baby sit 500 people." To best execute such a lofty challenge, Liebelt's look, whether intentional or not, is one of intimidation. With both arms decorated in tattoos, a goatee and shoulders wide enough to fit two patrons between them, he certainly pulls it off well. So well in fact, that having your bag searched and being frisked doesn't seem like the inconvenience you originally thought it was.

Liebelt's tip: Don't forget your I.D.! "I've been offered $400 from people who've forgotten I.D.'s but we never take it," Liebelt said. "If you don't have it you're not getting in."

News : International Last Updated: Nov 12th, 2005 - 19:28:03

Celebrated management visionary Peter Drucker dies at 95
By Michael Hennigan
Nov 12, 2005, 14:16

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Peter Drucker, who was regarded as the greatest management visionary of the modern age and coined such terms as ``management by objective'' and ``knowledge workers,'' died on Friday at the age of 95.

The Austrian-born journalist and intellectual taught, wrote and advised companies on management techniques for seven decades, completing his 35th book at age 94. Drucker was renowned for his clear thinking and analysis, rather than any single theory or research.

[[[Dr. Peter Drucker - "His writings are landmarks for the managerial profession." Harvard Business Review]]]

Drucker pioneered the idea of privatization and the company as a social institution. In his seminal study of General Motors in 1945, he introduced the concept of decentralization as a principle of organization, in contrast to the practice of command and control in business.

"There is only one valid definition of business purpose: to create a customer," he said 45 years ago. Central to his philosophy was the belief that highly skilled people are an organization's most valuable resource and that a manager's job is to prepare and free people to perform. Good management can bring economic progress and social harmony, he said, adding that "although I believe in the free market, I have serious reservations about capitalism."

``He makes you think,'' Jack Welch, then-chairman of General Electric Co., told Forbes magazine in 1997, while Intel co-founder Andrew Grove said in the same issue, ``Drucker is a hero of mine. He writes and thinks with exquisite clarity -- a standout among a bunch of muddled fad mongers.''

[[[President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Freedom to Dr. Peter Drucker in the East Room at the White House, July 9, 2002. (White House photo by Paul Morse.)]]]

The most effective US president, Drucker told Forbes magazine last year, was Harry Truman, because "everybody who worked for him worshiped him because he was absolutely trustworthy." Ronald Reagan took second place: "His great strength was not charisma, as is commonly thought, but his awareness and acceptance of exactly what he could do and what he could not do."

In the 1950's Drucker forecast the importance of computers, and in the 1960s, he foresaw Japan's rise as an industrial power. In 1997, he remarked about an expected backlash to executive pay, saying, ``In the next economic downturn there will be an outbreak of bitterness and contempt for the super-corporate chieftains who pay themselves millions.''

Peter Ferdinand Drucker was born Nov. 19, 1909 in Vienna. He worked as a financial reporter in Frankfurt, Germany, while he worked for a doctoral degree in public and international law. In 1932, Drucker published an essay on a leading conservative philosopher that offended the Nazis; his pamphlet was banned and burned. Drucker moved to London, where he worked for a merchant bank and in 1937, he emigrated to the United States and began working as a correspondent for several British newspapers.

In 1939, his first published book, "The End of Economic Man: The Origins of Totalitarianism" was favourably reviewed by Winston Churchill, and it was made required reading for every new British officer.

Claremont Graduate University, California where Dr. Drucker taught until 2003, wrote the following:

Peter F. Drucker, the world’s foremost pioneer of management theory, died this morning. He was 95.

Drucker was the Marie Rankin Clarke Professor of Social Sciences and Management at Claremont Graduate University (CGU) from 1971 to 2003 where he continued to write and consult up to the time of his death.

Drucker’s career as a writer, consultant and teacher spanned nearly 75 years. His groundbreaking work turned modern management theory into a serious discipline. He influenced or created nearly every facet of its application, including decentralization, privatization, empowerment, and understanding of “the knowledge worker.”

“What distinguishes Peter Drucker from many other thought leaders in my mind is that he cared not just about how business manages its resources, but also how public and private organizations operate morally and ethically within society,” said Cornelis de Kluyver, dean of the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. “He respected the values of education, personal responsibility, and business’ accountability to society. His true legacy is his insistence on this value system, and its effect on business, society, and individual lives.”

Born November 19, 1909, in Vienna, Drucker was educated in Austria and England and earned a doctorate from Frankfurt University in 1931. He became a financial reporter for Frankfurter General Anzeiger in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1929, which allowed him to immerse himself in the study of international law, history and finance.

Drucker moved to London in 1933 to escape Hitler’s Germany and took a job as a securities analyst for an insurance firm. Four years later he married Doris Schmitz and the couple departed for the United States.

In 1939, Drucker landed a part-time teaching position at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. He joined the faculty of Bennington College in Vermont in 1942 and the next year put his academic career on hold to spend two years studying the management structure of General Motors. This experience led to his book “Concept of the Corporation,” an immediate bestseller in the United States and Japan, which validated the notion that great companies could stand among humankind’s noblest inventions.

From 1950 to 1971, Drucker was a professor of management at the Graduate Business School of New York University. He was awarded the Presidential Citation, the university’s highest honor.

Drucker came to California in 1971, where he was instrumental in the development of the country’s first executive MBA program for working professionals at Claremont Graduate University (then known as Claremont Graduate School). The university’s management school was named the Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management in his honor in 1987. He taught his last class at the school in the spring of 2002. His courses consistently attracted the largest number of students of any class offered by the university.

Drucker had long wished to have the name of a benefactor attached to the school that bore his name. His wish was fulfilled in January of 2004, when the name of his friend, Japanese businessman Masatoshi Ito, was added to the school. It is now known as the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management.

The school adheres to Drucker’s philosophy that management is a liberal art—one that takes into account not only economics, but also history, social theory, law, and the sciences. As Drucker said, “it deals with people, their values, their growth and development, social structure, the community and even with spiritual concerns . . . the nature of humankind, good and evil.”

Drucker’s work had a major influence on modern organizations and their management over the past 60 years. Valued for keen insight and the ability to convey his ideas in popular language, Drucker often set the agenda in management thinking. Central to his philosophy is the view that people are an organization’s most valuable resource, and that a manager’s job is to prepare and free people to perform.

Drucker’s ideas have been disseminated in his 39 books, which have been translated into more than 30 languages. His works range from 1939’s “The End of the Economic Man” to “Managing in the Next Society” and “A Functioning Society,” both published in 2002, and “The Daily Drucker,” released in 2004. His last book coauthored with Joseph A. Maciariello, "The Effective Executive In Action" will be published by Harper Collins in January of 2006.

Drucker created eight series of educational movies based on his management books and 10 online courses on management and business strategy. He was a frequent contributor to magazines and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal from 1975 to 1995.

A highly sought-after consultant, Drucker specialized in strategy and policy for both businesses and not-for-profit organizations. He worked with many of the world’s largest corporations, with small and entrepreneurial companies, with nonprofits and with agencies of the United States government, as well as the governments of Canada and Japan.

In recent years, Drucker focused much of his time on working with nonprofit organizations, often pro bono. The Salvation Army, C.A.R.E., the American Red Cross, the Navajo Indian Tribal Council, the American Heart Association, and his local Episcopal church in La Verne, California, all benefited from his counsel.

Drucker was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in July 2002 by President George W. Bush in recognition for his work in the field of management. He received honorary doctorates from universities in the United States, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

Drucker and his wife, Doris, have four children, and six grandchildren.

Nov. 29, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EMERGING ART FORM: Next Level of Satire
Machinima often blends humor with video game animation
By JOHN PRZYBYS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

These scary-looking guys from the video game "Halo" also are stars of the very popular, and not-at-all scary machinima "Red vs. Blue."

The fierce warriors wear heavy body armor and carry frightening futuristic weapons. Underneath their helmets, just a glint of their otherworldly visages can be seen.

The warriors take aim and open fire on someone standing on a nearby ridge. Then, the fusillade abruptly halts.

"You're going out of turn," one of the grunts whines.

No, their commanding officer responds, proving it by uttering a sing-songy litany of mes, hims and yous.

"It makes perfect sense," the CO concludes smugly, as the warriors resume firing, picking up where they left off. .....
............................................

Nov. 19, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
Academy's 'Once on This Island' lacks backbone
By ANTHONY DEL VALLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

There's always something worth watching during Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, Performing and Visual Arts theater's enjoyable version of "Once on This Island." If the title doesn't sound familiar, just think of "The Little Mermaid," heavy on the calypso, French accents and campfire-story ambiance.

The "Ragtime" and "Seussical" writers (Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty) have taken Rosa Guy's simple 1985 folk tale "My Love, My Love" and blown it into a Great Big Broadway Musical. Sometimes the light story is smothered by the bigness, but just as often, the characters' grand emotions are worth singing about.

French Antilles peasant girl, Ti Moune (Bianca Rivera) stumbles onto Daniel (Giovanni Bonaventura), a member of the elite Beauxhommes clan, following a car accident. She nurses him back to health, but the differences in their class stations wind up proving fatal to the naive girl.

The morality fable is told with the help of storytellers, gods and villagers who always seem eager to burst into song.

The strength of director Robert Connor's evening is the talent of the performers, who number about four dozen (including a dozen plus members of an onstage orchestra).

Joseph De Benedetto and Lisa Smith do the sort of stop-the-show vocalizing that has audience members looking their names up in the program during the songs.

Lance Newton is a humorously threatening presence as a nasty, disappointed god, and Jason Berman manages the perfect tonnage-in-check attitude as a Napoleon look-alike.

The chorus members seem less like performers than characters. When they burst into song or express the excitement in Dawn Axam's choreography, the action feels motivated by the genuine intensity of the chorus' emotions. That's no small achievement.

What holds Connor's production back, though, is a lack of human connection to the basic story. We really don't believe Ti Moune is transformed by love, or that she's all that determined to defy her parents. Her folks, Rachel Alterman and Santiago Villamil, come across as overeager singers, rather than people. Bonaventura sleepwalks his role so that the spine of this show -- the reasons for the Ti Moune's destruction -- doesn't exist.

It's easy to recommend the production because it has hearty doses of magic. It just doesn't have a backbone.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at DelValle@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.

Nov. 04, 2005
Copyright @ Las Vegas Review-Journal

NORM: Pageant may find home in Las Vegas

The Miss America pageant, which was in Atlantic City for 84 years, may come to the Alladin/Planet Hollywood in January.
Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Is the Miss America pageant sashaying from the boardwalk to a new home on Las Vegas Boulevard?

No one's talking on the record, but there are strong signals that the 2006 pageant will be held in January at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood, after 84 years in Atlantic City.

In August, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority's board of directors severed the relationship by voting 7-0 to release the Miss America Organization from its contract because of financial issues.

The pageant has been struggling financially and hit rock bottom last year when it lost its TV deal.

RODEO DUST-UP

Athletes fighting athletes, athletes fighting fans and mascots fighting mascots, yes. But fisticuffs between a bull rider and an arena announcer?

That's not your everyday dustup.

It happened Saturday night after the Professional Bullriders World Finals at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Tossing the punches was Louisiana cowboy Willis Trosclair, 24, who got in the middle of a disagreement between announcer Randy Schmutz, 42, and stock contractor Tom Taylor. Schmutz needed stitches.

PBR officials decided not to take the bull by the horns, calling it "a private matter that unfortunately spilled into a public setting."

The incident will be reviewed after the event is over.

Maybe the nasty bulls are rubbing off on Trosclair, who last week rode Bad to the Bone and Rodeo Attitude.

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

The PBR World Finals take toughness to another level. Thomas & Mack Center, 6 p.m. today and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. For ticket information call toll-free 866-727-7469 or at unlvtickets.com.

SIGHTINGS

Jim Edmonds of the St. Louis Cardinals, at Caramel (Bellagio) on Wednesday night. ... Jerry and Lois Tarkanian, celebrating their 50th anniversary Wednesday at Fellini's on Charleston with a big crowd. Mayor Oscar Goodman offered his congratulations, and Steve Rossi serenaded them with the "Anniversary Waltz." ... Gov. Kenny Guinn, marching into Triple George restaurant on Tuesday with a party of 100-plus to celebrate the appointment of Nevada's new attorney general, George Chanos. ... NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, winning several thousand at a Stratosphere craps table and leaving a $13 tip. ... Paula Abdul, dining with Craig Cavileer, president of Silverton Casino Hotel Lodge, at BOA Steak House (Forum Shops at Caesars) and attending the 7:30 p.m. performance of "Mystere" (Treasure Island). ... The entire cast of "An Evening at La Cage" (Riviera), dining Wednesday with the show's producer, Norbert Aleman, at Simon Kitchen & Bar (Hard Rock Hotel). Notably absent was the show's featured headliner Frank Marino. I hear Aleman wanted to know if Marino has approached anyone about going to another show with Marino. ... Engelbert Humperdinck, golfing at Las Vegas Country Club on Thursday with golf great Doug Sanders, singer-pro golfer Don Cherry (his biggest hit, "Band of Gold," hit No. 4 in 1955), and entertainment agent Joey Battig. ... Arsenio Hall, having dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Chinois (Forum Shops at Caesars). ... Siegfried and Roy, at one table Tuesday at Little Buddha, sharing Peking duck crepes and Szechwan encrusted ribeye, and Hulk Hogan, at the sushi bar. ... NASCAR rookie sensation Kyle Busch, zipping around the track Tuesday night at Fast Lap Indoor Kart Racing. ... Noah Rice, the 20-year-old drummer in Andrew Dice Clay's band (Luxor) is the grandson of drum legend Buddy Rich. ... Carmen Electra, on stage to welcome 200-plus attendees to the Lexus SEMA party at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce (Mandalay Bay) on Tuesday night.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Fur balls are blowing down Broadway like tumbleweeds." -- David Letterman, on the cat show in New York City.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.