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Re:
The thing about Vegas, and my biggest complaint, is that it isn't blooming. It just sucks money. Israel grows things. Vegas gambles.
But one of the limitations, and a growing source of conflict in the Middle East, is going to be water supply. Desalination uses a lot of energy, and so has limited capacity, but doesn't apply to Las Vegas anyway because even ocean water is too far away. And all that gambling and entertaining could be done pretty much anywhere, if that's what people want. Building it in the desert was just short sighted.
posted by
mousehop
on February 12, 2009 at 2:21 PM
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Re:
Whole streams from the Sierra Nevada mountains have been diverted into pipelines to Southern California. But I love California. Yes, a never ending topic.
posted by
mousehop
on February 12, 2009 at 2:16 PM
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Re: Wow, from the Tucson desert. Bummer.
The desert is beautiful. But doesn't support human life very well. Should be used sparingly.
posted by
mousehop
on February 12, 2009 at 2:14 PM
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Re: mousehop
True, we always want to conquer and to build. But it's about time we started thinking about where we should live, and not just where we can.
posted by
mousehop
on February 12, 2009 at 2:13 PM
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Re: Don't shut it down until I've been there.
I admit it, I've had fun in Vegas. Gambling, a little. Never been to a show. But right now, I bet you can get good deals on packaged trips.
posted by
mousehop
on February 12, 2009 at 2:12 PM
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I agree with you here. It's not worth the cost to our pocketbooks and environment just to make the dessert bloom. Israel has managed it, but does it with desalinization and drip irrigation - not copious amounts of precious sweet water. Great post. Mal
posted by
gapcohen
on February 11, 2009 at 4:23 PM
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Interesting post. Unfortunately, man wants to go where man (and women) want to go regardless of the environmental damage it causes. We pull in water from rivers and mountain streams to irrigate, we dam rivers, we build breakwalls, etc., and then complain when nature decides to run a different course that causes our properties to fail. What's the answer? I don't know. Where is the best place on earth to live that has the tiniest impact on our planet? Then, can we get the rest of our population to live there? A never ending topic, I think. Thanks!
posted by
BetsyLewis
on February 10, 2009 at 6:00 PM
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Wow, from the Tucson desert. Bummer.
posted by
benzinha
on February 10, 2009 at 4:13 PM
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Re: mousehop
for the views, the vistas, the picture window scenarios.
posted by
benzinha
on February 10, 2009 at 4:12 PM
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mousehop
Mankind's need to conquer isn't reseved for foreign/rival cultures. He must also conquer nature by forging cities in areas where cities shouldn't be. New Orleans immediately comes to mind. Once we figure out that pesky artificial gravity thing, we'll build cities on the moon, though I couldn't imagine why.
posted by
Talion_
on February 10, 2009 at 4:02 PM
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Don't shut it down until I've been there.
Yes, gambling is an addiction + like any addiction, it can ruin lives.
But I've heard such stories about the place from my normally sane siblings. I just want to have a look!
Great opinion piece.
posted by
scotcanada
on February 10, 2009 at 3:54 PM
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