[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by sheriff

As a PS, Sorcerer, as I understand it, Fremont East is supposed to address the live music issue, as the powers that be have realized there is a niche of young, mid level conventioners, that won't spend a dime in anything the resorts have to offer, but a distict that offers 6-8 live music venues will be worth a look-see to these people. if they do it right, Fremont East could be a boomtown.

Did my eyes deceive me, or did Sheriff ALMOST make the sound of a cheerleader?

[sheriff]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

Did my eyes deceive me, or did Sheriff ALMOST make the sound of a cheerleader?

Gimme a TWO, gimme a ZERO, what's that spell--- TWENTY, it only took the powers that be 20 years to realize this sizeable market exists.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by Lola Granola

The thing is, when one is working as a professional, in a professional environment, generally there are other professionals working there also.

I am a professional with an advanced degree, certified in my field, and most of the people I work with on a daily basis have similar credentials. Certainly an intellectual environment. Our water cooler conversations are just as likely to involve the latest books we've read as it is sports. And I work for one of the major casinos.

By comparison, at my last position in Omaha, I was by far the most qualified person in the department. They were hiring people with no certifications and only BAs because they couldn't get qualified people to come to Omaha. Much more of a low-brow atmosphere. Not many of the people I worked with there would qualify as "intellectuals" by any stretch of the imagination. Jeez, people actually made comments because I used "big words"! I stopped making jokes because no one understood them. :-(

Needless to say, I'm much happier in LV, where I work with people who actually have vocabularies! I can make subtle jokes and people are actually smart enough to catch them.

No, LV can't compare culturally with LA, NY, and Chicago. But it sure beats Omaha, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Des Moines, and all the other cities that are actually similar in size.

well said, lola.

i keep seeing posts talking about the intellectual wasteland, but i don't see it. i actually make a point of getting away from it as i don't like to talk shop all day (i am a scientist, surrounded by other scientists). if you want intellectual conversation, you don't have to look that hard to find it...but you do have to look (i believe someone posted a link to numerous upcoming talks/seminars previously). i have already attended numerous talks (from theories on climate change to spontaneous mutagenesis in bacteria) and i have only been in town a few weeks.

and as for comparing w/ LA, NY, and Chi...not many cities in the world can. but as for beating omaha, etc., as another person who lived in Omaha, i whole heartedly agree . (i feel your pain on the jokes, too)

[PinkString]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

Did my eyes deceive me, or did Sheriff ALMOST make the sound of a cheerleader?

He does this now and then when he remembers to take his medication.

[jfkIII]

Phew...and I thought his prescription must have run out!

[Steve_W]

Originally Posted by Lola Granola

The thing is, when one is working as a professional, in a professional environment, generally there are other professionals working there also.

I am a professional with an advanced degree, certified in my field, and most of the people I work with on a daily basis have similar credentials. Certainly an intellectual environment. Our water cooler conversations are just as likely to involve the latest books we've read as it is sports. And I work for one of the major casinos.

By comparison, at my last position in Omaha, I was by far the most qualified person in the department. They were hiring people with no certifications and only BAs because they couldn't get qualified people to come to Omaha. Much more of a low-brow atmosphere. Not many of the people I worked with there would qualify as "intellectuals" by any stretch of the imagination. Jeez, people actually made comments because I used "big words"! I stopped making jokes because no one understood them. :-(

Needless to say, I'm much happier in LV, where I work with people who actually have vocabularies! I can make subtle jokes and people are actually smart enough to catch them.

No, LV can't compare culturally with LA, NY, and Chicago. But it sure beats Omaha, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Des Moines, and all the other cities that are actually similar in size.

Maybe if you weren't working at McDonalds you could interact more easily on your intellectual level. Do you get jollies off of typing about yourself and how smart your jokes are? I think you need to retire to the Nerdery with your calculator.

[ParkTwain]

Most of the LV economy operates over a pretty narrow field: casinos/entertainment/tourism and real estate. Most of the rest of the economy is piggy-backing on these two.

What are the intellectual drivers for Vegas? What unique areas of knowledge have been developed to a high level here? There are some mathematicians employed to create and analyze games. There are a lot of people employed in Vegas who figure out how to maximize the money being spent by tourists while they are here. Those who market and arrange for conventions in Vegas do a big business. The folks in Vegas who figure out how to put on shows and anticipate public demand for entertainment are highly knowledgeable and well compensated. Interior design of tourist-oriented facilities is important. Growing the McCarran Airport and keeping it running is a major challenge. There are world-class scientists and engineers working at the Nevada Test Site, who also probably live in Las Vegas. There are world-class Air Force personnel working at Nellis AFB.

Beyond these, I don't see a whole lot of other intrinsic economic drivers that are based on a high level of skill that you wouldn't also find elsewhere (doctors, lawyers, public works engineers, etc.).

There are no experts in international relations or trade, no major universities, no major financial industry, no major manufacturing operations, no major media operations.

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by ParkTwain

Most of the LV economy operates over a pretty narrow field: casinos/entertainment/tourism and real estate. Most of the rest of the economy is piggy-backing on these two.

What are the intellectual drivers for Vegas? What unique areas of knowledge have been developed to a high level here? There are some mathematicians employed to create and analyze games. There are a lot of people employed in Vegas who figure out how to maximize the money being spent by tourists while they are here. Those who market and arrange for conventions in Vegas do a big business. The folks in Vegas who figure out how to put on shows and anticipate public demand for entertainment are highly knowledgeable and well compensated. Interior design of tourist-oriented facilities is important. Growing the McCarran Airport and keeping it running is a major challenge. There are world-class scientists and engineers working at the Nevada Test Site, who also probably live in Las Vegas. There are world-class Air Force personnel working at Nellis AFB.

Beyond these, I don't see a whole lot of other intrinsic economic drivers that are based on a high level of skill that you wouldn't also find elsewhere (doctors, lawyers, public works engineers, etc.).

There are no experts in international relations or trade, no major universities, no major financial industry, no major manufacturing operations, no major media operations.

2 more things to add to your list:

you missed the desert research institute (dri)...has international renown, employs geologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, biologists, statistical and analytical modelers, etc. soon dri will be adding a 6-sided CAVE facility to the vegas campus, too (closest thing to a star trek holodeck you'll see....allows for realtime 3-d modeling & simulation). and they are w/in the next month wrapping up work at the natural FACE site (studies CO2 concentrations and their effect on highly monitored ecosystems).

and in addition to nellis afb, creech airforce base has many highly trained people and has become a center for excellence for UAV technology...my guess is most people there live in LV as well (indian springs is a little small).

also, while unlv may not be a top rated university as a whole, several of the depts. are making strides to become tier 1 research institutions. they have recruited some big names and have some of the nicest facilities i have seen (i have worked at several universities and national laboratories).

there is a growing effort to showcase LVs scientific side...will hopefully help to draw more of it to the area.

of course, entertainment will always be king in LV, and it casts a pretty big shadow. for better or worse, it will always be the big $$ maker (and therefore the major policy & political driver here)

[guinnessjim]

Originally Posted by Steve_W

Maybe if you weren't working at McDonalds you could interact more easily on your intellectual level. Do you get jollies off of typing about yourself and how smart your jokes are? I think you need to retire to the Nerdery with your calculator.

hey lola, i think you offended an omahanian (oops, big word , sorry)

[ParkTwain]

Originally Posted by guinnessjim

you missed the desert research institute (dri)...has international renown, employs geologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, biologists, statistical and analytical modelers, etc. soon dri will be adding a 6-sided CAVE facility to the vegas campus, too (closest thing to a star trek holodeck you'll see....allows for realtime 3-d modeling & simulation). and they are w/in the next month wrapping up work at the natural FACE site (studies CO2 concentrations and their effect on highly monitored ecosystems).

and in addition to nellis afb, creech airforce base has many highly trained people and has become a center for excellence for UAV technology...my guess is most people there live in LV as well (indian springs is a little small).

I would say that DRI is the corollary of similar reseach activities targeting local environments in many universities across the country. The fact that DRI exists and is partially located at UNLV is not remarkable, I would say, but of course I'm glad it's there.

Yes, I've heard about the unmanned flying vehicle development going on at Indian Springs (I see Help Wanted ads for that project, sometimes). IMO, it's probably going on there because Nellis AFB and Area 51 are already out there.