OUR BLOGGERS ARE SAYING…

If you're not checking out the local blogs on reviewjournal.com, here's just a sample of what you've been missing:

One of a thousand cuts?

From Review-Journal columnist Geoff Schumacher:

Las Vegas has plenty to worry about these days, but here's another thing to keep us up at night.

As The New York Times reported last week, a Colorado law taking effect this summer will allow the gambling burg of Black Hawk, 40 miles outside Denver, to significantly expand its casino offerings.

Now, Black Hawk gamblers are limited to maximum $5 bets, and the casinos close at 2 a.m. As the Times says, these rules have "mostly confined the gambling action in Black Hawk to penny jackpots and Texas Hold 'Em tournaments with all the excitement of a church bingo game."

But on July 2, the law changes to allow the casinos to stay open all night long and increasing the betting limits to $100. The casinos also can add craps and roulette games.

Needless to say, this is a game-changer for Black Hawk. In response, the town's 12 casinos are improving and expanding their facilities.

Make no mistake: Black Hawk is no Las Vegas. We're still the top of the heap when it comes to gambling-oriented resorts. But as gambling spreads, it's like ancient Chinese torture to Las Vegas: death by a thousand cuts.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/schumacher/

A two-sided Sir Paul

Review-Journal music critic Jason Bracelin interviewed Paul McCartney a few weeks ago, and not all of his material made it to print. Here, McCartney talks about keeping in touch with his more whimsical side:

"To look at what I've been doing since I was a kid, there's always been this thread of whimsy. As the Beatles got to develop, later on, we were doing tape loops and all this backwards stuff, and then I went on from that and did loads of stuff. I've done some poetry, some painting. To me, the whole idea is to keep it fresh. If it's exciting for me, then it's exciting for the onlooker. Or that's the theory, anyway.

"When I think about it, I'll remember being with the Beatles, and on the same record -- or in the same period -- doing 'Helter Skelter' and then doing 'Black Bird,' which are completely different. One's this little folky acoustic thing, the other is this sort of rampant, metal rocker.

"There are two sides of me, two aspects of my makeup, that I've always had, really. In the Beatles, I used to do a love song like 'Till There Was You,' and then at the same time, be doing 'Long Tall Sally,' a Little Richard screamer type of thing. I am a Gemini, and they do say that a Gemini is two-sided, you know."

For more go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/vegasvoice/

A horse -- or its apples?

From Review-Journal Publisher Sherman Frederick:

In his weekly radio address, President Obama said he's going to ask his Cabinet to identify cuts in their budgets.

"In this effort, there will be no sacred cows, and no pet projects," Obama said. "All across America, families are making hard choices, and it's time their government did the same."

Before anyone (especially fiscal conservatives) gets too excited over another pretty speech by Obama, let's remember that as we near the 100th day of his presidency, we know there's a big disconnect between Obama promises (earmarks, anyone?) and what Obama does.

None more evident than trying to sell the idea that the president, in his heart-of-hearts, itches to cut spending. To speechify on belt-tightening all the while crafting a monstrous deficit budget is like promising a horse and delivering horse apples.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/sherm/

Singapore's no-nonsense approach

From Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith:

In a few months, Las Vegas Sands will open the first casino in Singapore, a place known for its strict rules. Ignorance of the law there is no excuse whether you're committing a high crime or chewing gum ...

Now Singapore's Casino Regulatory Authority is preparing to police the gambling industry. And it's taking its job to heart. Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Keng recently made it clear that Singapore would brook no funny business. He said, "As a new casino jurisdiction, organized crime groups may view Singapore as an easy target." ...

According to an article on the Casino Compliance Web site, Singapore officials intend to very closely scrutinize the business being done at the Marina Bay Sands and World Sentosa casinos to avoid the shame of Macau.

Officials had been quite secretive about their plans. "But as the opening of the casinos draws closer, the CRA is keen to increase public awareness of its work and ensure that the two casino operators ... are put on notice of the potential challenges ahead," the story says.

"One major risk area is money laundering, given Singapore's status as a global hub for financial services and wealth management," Wong said.

For more, go to www.lvrj.com/blogs/smith/