DAVID by Max Friedland

w w w.davidlv.com J U LY 2 013

BOARD MEETINGS SUNSET AT LAKE LAS VEGAS, NAMASTE

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YOURS OR MINE

CLEAN AND GREEN

STAN LEE 6/18/13 1:24 PM

B B B

F p u

T a b t

I P P s

I P f a d

F g

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JULY

pulse

live

think

grill

explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay

devour Where to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley

Charity & Righteousness An essay exploring the Halacha (body of Jewish religious laws)relating to business ethics.

sense Yoga with your dog on the water available to all levels. Just grab a paddle board down and join the class at Lake Mead.

value Southern Nevada Piggy Bank’s pilot program at Walter Bracken Elementary aims to inspire kids to save.

Clean & Green? DAVID expounds on the future viability of “Green Tech”. As with any brave new frontier missteps are sure to occur.

taste Bradley and Bryan Ogden open their much awaited establishment in the suburbs. Called Hops & Harvest they serve down home fare but kicked up significantly.

Yours or Mine? When we download or stream, are we sharing or stealing?

discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the World

w w w.davidlv.com

on the cover

BOARD MEETINGS

A group of paddle boarders at a yoga class on the lake at sundown. Photo by Tobias MacPhee/TandemStock.com

SUNSET AT LAKE LAS VEGAS, NAMASTE

J U LY 2013

PIGGY BANKING

www.davidlv.com

mingle Snapshots of the latest, greatest events

J U LY 2 013

desire Sin City abounds in world-class shopping ... these are a few of our favorite things

4.3

Stan Lee, Comic Book Legend The month’s spotlight on a person of interest

YOURS OR MINE

CLEAN AND GREEN

STAN LEE

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Copyright 2013 by JewishINK LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. DAVID MAGAZINE is protected as a trademark in the United States. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we are under no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged for in writing. DAVID MAGAZINE is a monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.

6/18/13 1:24 PM

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A mortgage* from Nevada State Bank is the ideal way to take advantage of low home prices and historically low interest rate s . We ’ll h e lp yo u th ro u g h th e p ro ce ss , wh eth e r yo u ’re buying your first home or your retirement home. A s locals ourselves, we know the unique needs of the Nevada market. Give us a call and we’ll find the mortgage that’s right for you. Bring your banking home.

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® 53 years in Nevada I Over 50 branches statewide 600 ATMs across the West nsbank.com/Mortgage I 866.418.5012

MEMBER FDIC

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Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher

Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

Joanne Friedland joanne@davidlv.com

EDITORIALllllllll

Editorial Assistant

Brianna Soloski

Copy Editor

Pat Teague

Jeremy Leopold a

Contributing Writers

brianna@davidlv.com

Marisa Finetti Jaq Greenspon Marilyn LaRocque Christina Parmelee PJ Perez Pat Teague Lynn Wexler-Margolies

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY

Art Director/ Photographer

Steven Wilson

steve@davidlv.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Advertising Director

Joanne Friedland

Account Executives

Gina Cinque

joanne@davidlv.com

gina@davidlv.com

Diana Joseph-Riley diana@davidlv.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS 702-254-2223 | subscribe@davidlv.com

Volume 04 Number 3 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.

To advertise in DAVID Magazine, call 702-254-2223 or email ads@davidlv.com To subscribe to DAVID Magazine, call 702.254-2223 or email subscibe@davidlv.com

DAVID Magazine sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This copy of DAVID Magazine was printed by American Web in Denver, Colo., on paper from well-managed forests which meet EPA guidelines that recommend use of recovered fibers for coated papers. Inks used contain a blend of soy base. Our printer meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards and is a certified member of both the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. When you are done with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it.

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contributors

Marisa Finetti is a local writer, marketing professional and blogger. The Tokyoborn Finetti has called Las Vegas home since 2005. She has written for such publications as Spirit and Las Vegas and Nevada magazines and has a healthy-living blog at bestbewell. com. When she’s not writing, Finetti enjoys family time with her husband and two boys.

Jaq Greenspon is a noted local journalist, screenwriter and author with credits on The New Adventures of Robin Hood and Star Trek: The Next Generation. He also is a literary and movie critic, has taught and written about fi lmmaking but is most proud of his role in the fi lm, Lotto Love. A Vegas resident for most of his life, his native language is Hebrew, but he doesn’t speak it anymore.

Marilyn LaRocque is Contributing Editor for Gastronomique en Vogue and former Senior Food and Wine Editor for LUXURY Las Vegas. She’s traveled extensively around the world, visiting great wine regions and enjoying fantastic food. She’s also Vice Chargée de Presse Nationale des Etats Unis for Chaîne des Rôtisseurs USA.

Pj Perez is a writer, illustrator and musician who has lived in and written about Las Vegas for 22 years. A former magazine, newspaper and website editor, his work has appeared in such publications as Rolling Stone, Vegas Seven and Desert Companion.

Christina Parmelee originally aspired to be a physical therapist, but needing to graduate from college; she changed her major to English. In 2005, after writing jobs in numerous publications and ad agencies in Metro Detroit, she moved to Las Vegas. The frigid and gray Michigan winters gave way to the warm and sunny desert climate she now adores. She has held numerous copywriting positions on the Strip and is presently a freelance writer moonlighting as an outside salesperson in the automotive industry. Her hobbies include church, walking, watching movies and travelling with friends.

Pat Teague has been a practicing journalist, manager and editor for international and regional wire services, and has worked for several metropolitan daily newspapers. He also has worked for one of the world’s largest corporations and was one of five Southern Californians in the Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists honored in 2000 for career achievement.

Lynn WexlerMargolies has been a feature writer and contributor for magazines and newspapers, locally and nationally, for over 20 years. She writes a monthly online column entitled Manners in the News, which comments on the behavior of politicians, celebrities and others thrust in the public arena. She is the Founder and President of Perfectly Poised, a school of manners that teaches social, personal and business etiquette to young people. She is a former TV Reporter and News Anchor. Of her many accomplishments, she is most proud of her three outstanding teenaged children.

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David Magazine Color Ad_2012:3.8125x10.375

feedback

JUNE 201 3

www.dav

idlv.com

4.2

To the Editor: I must comment on your June magazine. What a delight to see the mayor and former mayor of Las Vegas on the front cover. I have just got through reading the former mayor’s new book, so they are very much on my mind. It was also fun to see a young Dina Titus and all the other leaders and performers in our community. It makes me feel BEHIND THE LENS that I know them all a little FONDANT better. FANTASIES WATERS I am not Jewish, but I enjoy OF LIFE LARRY reading your magazine. I RUVO rush over to the Coffee Bean each month to pick it up. Thanks for the reading PICTURES AT pleasure! A J U N E 2013

www.da vidlv.co

WEDDING Oscar and Carol

Joyce Miller, Henderson

yn Goodman June 6, 1962

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To the Editor: I visited Las Vegas last weekend and I picked up a copy of the beautiful DAVID Magazine and read it from cover to cover. One of the stories that was the most meaningful to me was “Waters of Life” by Lynn Wexler-Margolies. Some years ago my husband and I were going through a difficult time in our marriage and personally. We tried counseling together and separately, but nothing seemed to help. I was beginning to think that problems were around to stay. My husband came back from work one day with a suggestion. A business colleague suggested that we both go for a mikveh. I was not too happy that he had been talking about our problems to stangers. I certainly did not want to go for a mikveh in the middle of winter. Slowly, I agreed to this and made an appointment to go, and so did my husband. This was life-changing for both of us. I truly felt renewed and a recommitment to our marriage. Today, we have a happy marriage, and I attribute it all to the purification process I went through, by having a mikveh. The magazine is first class. Keep up the good work!

12/12/12

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Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community • Southern Nevada consecrated Jewish cemetery • Proudly serving all Jewish denominations • Elegant 250 seat Allen Brewster Memorial Chapel • Knowledgeable and caring Jewish staff • Special Veterans Pricing Plan • Special Synagogue Pricing Plan • Burials out-of-state and Eretz Yisrael Endorsed by the entire Rabbinic community, meeting the needs of every denomination with tradition and compassion.

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We want to hear from you! Compliments and complaints are welcome, but only if we get them. Send them to the editor at editor@davidlv.com with “Letter to Editor” in the subject line or mail them to DAVID, 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459, Las Vegas, NV 89134

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2697 East Eldorado Lane Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-464-8570 www.kingdavidlv.com

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Keeping cool in Las Vegas means different things to different people. For me it consists of my annual dose of “thermostat-itis” — you know that affliction so many desert dwellers suffer from as temperatures rise. We post ourselves before the Honeywell on the wall, nervously adjusting the settings up and down. This tribal dance, pitting the forces of light and dark, environmentalism and consumerism, financial probity and comfort against each other, continues all summer long. We wear the devices out. It is a much-reported fact that Las Vegas is situated in the Mojave Desert. And from even the tallest structures on the Strip one cannot (no matter how one strains) see the breakers come ashore, or the hazy confluence of ocean and sky. Don’t despair, fellow Vegans. We have inland shores (albeit man-made ones). But who cares at 112 degrees? Marisa Finetti takes us (and her family) down to Lake Las Vegas where she introduces us to Kathy Holesapple, owner of Paddle to the Core. Kathy has set up shop out front of The Westin and hopes to make SUP (stand up paddle boarding) enthusiasts of us all. Even without waves, being on a board on the water can be fun, and this comes from a kid who once dreamt of surfing stardom. For those yoga and Pilates aficionados, try a workout on a paddle board. … how cool. United Way of Southern Nevada’s Young Philanthropists Society has launched the first Southern Nevada Piggy Bank, at Walter Bracken Elementary. The kids have real passbooks and make real deposits (this year totaling in excess of $18,000). As part of United Way’s Southern Nevada outreach, this endeavor has successfully encouraged numbers of our youth to become financially responsible. … how cool. Tucked away in the ‘burbs — far from the maddening strife, and in a quiet corner (not for long) of Tivoli Village — come the Ogdens, Bradley and Bryan. The renowned restaurateurs’ newest creation offers farm-to-table fare and great libations. Hops & Harvest promises to be hopping all summer long and beyond. … how cool. A Jewish niche publication that offers a business and finance issue should cover Jewish business and finance ethics. In “Charity and Righteousness” (pages 42-45), we show how business ethics for Jews is the marketplace, where holiness and spirituality confront competition and greed. Next time you conduct business with a member of the tribe, you’ll be armed with an understanding of the halakha (the body of Jewish laws pertaining to religious and non-religious life) relating to business transactions. If you live by the same ethical standards … how cool. Will Green Technology be a panacea for our nation’s energy and employment problems? Or is it the latest Big Con? In Southern Nevada, where the sun shines hot, green shoots will sprout if they’re watered wisely. … how cool. I know plenty of young people who possess ever-growing collections of tunes. But what about the provenance of that music? In my late teens and early 20s, I was obsessed with collecting jazz albums, perhaps a by-product of growing up on Africa’s southern tip and wanting to feel culturally connected to the globe. This obsession left scant resources for anything else. But after a 12-step program, I finally got my disc-store digging under control. This month in “Yours or Mine?” Jaq Greenspon explores the world of intellectual property. Is “free” really free? Who owns what? … how cool. In surveying the many cool aspects of this month’s magazine, I’m feeling an exciting chill. Maybe I can turn the thermostat up a degree or two.

Ken Sarna • President

702. 358.0088

www.TheMillenniumGroup.net

Max Friedland max@davidlv.com

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pulse INSIDE

explore @12 devour @ 18 desire @ 20 discover @ 22

MAKUA ROTHMAN 7.11

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JULY 2013 DAVID

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eXplore L A S

free. Contemporary Arts Center, 107 East Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-382-3886. lasvegascac.org DIVE-IN MOVIES - DESPICABLE ME & FROM HERE TO ETERNITY: 7 & 10:30 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

V E G A S

GINGER BRUNER - THE DAILY FRAME: Through July 12, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., free. CSN Cheyenne Campus, 3200 East Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-651-4146. http://sites.csn.edu/ artgallery/index.html SU LIMBERT & SIERRA SLENTZ - ENCHANTED FOREST: Through July 14, Weds.-Sun. 6-11 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com ALL IN FOR POKER: Through July 4, times vary, costs vary. Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. 702-385-7111. goldennugget.com MASTERS OF BEER PONG TOURNAMENT: Through July 3, $50-$250, times vary. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702693-5000. hardrockhotel.com SUMMER BLOOD DRIVE: 12 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART CONTEMPORARY ART: 11 a.m., free. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 West Bonneville Avenue, Las Vegas. 702483-6000. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/ neurological_institute/lou-ruvo-brainhealth/default.aspx

GINGER BRUNER - THE DAILY FRAME: Through July 12, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. & Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m., free. CSN Cheyenne Campus, 3200 East Cheyenne Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-6514146. http://sites.csn.edu/artgallery/index.html

July 1

HARES TO YOU...AND MORE! BY HERB RUSSEL: Through July 9, Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free. Centennial Hills Library, 6711 North Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas. 702-507-6100. lvccld.org

POW WOW PORTRAITS BY LAMAR MARCHESE: Through July 7, Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free. Rainbow Library, 3150 North Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas. 702-507-3710. lvccld.org THE MIRROR OF LIFE BY LAWERENCE TOTARO: Through July 14, Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free.

Spring Valley Library, 4280 South Jones Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-507-3820. lvccld.org JOURNEY OF THE HEART BY JANE ASARI: Through Sept. 22, Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free. Windmill Library, 7060 West Windmill Lane, Las Vegas. 702-507-6030. lvccld.org EXHIBITION OF GEOMETRICAL ART BY CLIFFORD SINGER: Through July 16, Mon.Thurs. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. & Fri.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., free. Whitney Library, 5175 East Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-507-4010. lvccld.org CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER - ANNUAL JURIED SHOW: Through July 6, times vary,

JETHRO TULL'S IAN ANDERSON PLAYS THICK AS A BRICK 1 & 2: 7:30 p.m., $45+. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2000. thesmithcenter.com

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE BIJOU SPOTLIGHT ON DIRECTOR NICHOLAS RAY: Tuesdays through July 30, 1 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

ANDREW DICE CLAY: Varying dates through July 20, times vary, $54. Vinyl at Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-6935000. hardrockhotel.com JEWISH SENIOR SINGLES: 6:30 p.m., free. For more information, contact Jeanne Schomaker at 702-233-8618.

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CARLOS MENCIA: 9 p.m., $49.95. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-894-7111. treasureisland.com RON WHITE; Through July 6, 10 p.m., $59.99$79.99. The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-792-7777. mirage.com FIRST FRIDAY: 6 p.m., free. Various locations downtown. firstfridaylasvegas.org KELLIE PICKLER: 8 p.m., $40-$85. Silverton, 3333 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas. 702263-7777. silvertoncasino.com JOE ROGAN: 8 p.m., $39.50. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY - NEVADA BLIND CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION: Proceeds from cabana rentals benefit NBCF. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com

Garth Brooks 7.4-6

6 4TH WITH THE PHIL FAMILY FUN DAY & CONCERT: Costs vary, 4 p.m. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2000. thesmithcenter.com

WEIRD AL YANKOVIC - THE ALPOCALYPSE: 7:30 p.m., $29+. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-7492000. thesmithcenter.com

TWIN SHADOW: 8 p.m., $20. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

PETER WHITE: 8 p.m., $20. Aliante, 7300 North Aliante Parkway, Las Vegas. 702-6927777. aliantegaming.com

HENDERSON FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION: 6 p.m., free. Mission Hills Park, 551 East Mission Hills Drive, Henderson. cityofhenderson.com GARTH BROOKS: Through July 6, 6:30 & 8 p.m., $125. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-770-7000. wynnlasvegas.com

THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: Through July 7, 7:30 p.m., $15.95. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-636-7075. suncoastcasino.com UNDER THE SUN TOUR: 8:30 p.m., $35. Mandalay Bay Beach, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com

Happy INdependence day

4TH OF JULY AT GOLF SUMMERLIN: Discounts on tee times & complimentary BBQ lunch. Through July 7, there will be special pricing at Highland Falls and Palm Valley courses. golfsummerlin.com

301 N. Buffalo Drive 255-3444

OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW - HAPPY FEET & HAPPY FEET 2: Through July 6, 8 p.m., free. The District, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. 702-654-8595. shopthedistrictgvr.com

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CLINT HOLMES: Through July 7, times vary, $35+. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2000. thesmithcenter.com PAULA POUNDSTONE: Through July 6, 8 p.m., $19.95. Orleans, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-365-7075. orleanscasino.com

Weird Al Yankovic 7.6

WhereTheLocalsEat.com JULY 2013 DAVID

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The Wallflowers 7.20

EPICUREAN EPICENTER SERIES - BBQ & BEER WITH BELLAGIO EXECUTIVE CHEF EDMUND WONG: 12 p.m., $85. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6937111. bellagio.com NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, 98 DEGREES, & BOYZ II MEN: 7:30 p.m., $59.50-$125. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com LA MAFIA! 8 p.m., $30. Sam's Town, 5111 Boulder Highway, Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. samstownlv.com HOW DO I PUBLISH MY BOOK? 2 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

Photo by Steve Hall

2013-2014 SEASON NEVADABALLET.ORG (702) 243-2623

SUMMER MOB SERIES - VITO COLUCCI'S ROGUE TOWN: 2 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

DIVE-IN MOVIES - LITTLE GIANTS & FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: 7 & 10:30 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com CAMP BROADWAY: Through July 12, $695 per child. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. thesmithcenter.com

MEANINGFUL MONDAY: LILI CLAIRE FOUNDATION Proceeds from meals will benefit The Lili Claire Foundation. 6 p.m. Poppy Den at Tivoli Village, 440 South Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-570-7400. vegaspoppyden.com

ART & WINE - A PERFECT PAIRING: 5 p.m., $30-$38. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-693-7111. bellagio.com SUPER SUMMER THEATRE - HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING: Through July 27, 8 p.m., $12-$20. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park, 6375 Highway 159, Blue Diamond. 702-594-7529. supersummertheatre.org

MOVIES IN THE SQUARE - PARANORMAN: Sundown, free. Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-269-5000. mytownsquarelasvegas.com MAKUA ROTHMAN: 8 p.m., $15. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW - BORN TO BE WILD & JUMANJI: Through July 13, 8 p.m., free. The District, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. 702-654-8595. shopthedistrictgvr.com

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9 p.m., $29.50. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com MISS CUPCAKE PAGEANT: 9:30 a.m., $10$15. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-636-7111. suncoastcasino.com SATURDAY MOVIE MATINEE - INDENTITY THEFT: 2 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702507-3459. lvccld.org

LAS VEGAS CUPCAKE BAKE-OFF: Time TBA, $10-$20. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-636-7111. suncoastcasino.com

15 Jim Gaffigan 7.12

WIDESPREAD PANIC: Through July 13, $49.50, time TBA. The Joint at Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-6935000. hardrockhotel.com EXCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS GALLERY - 18TH ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY SHOW WITH NAN COFFEY: Through July 14, times vary, free. Exclusive Collections Gallery at Caesars, 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. caesarspalace.com JIM GAFFIGAN: 10 p.m., $59.99-$69.99. The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-792-7777. mirage.com NBA SUMMER LEAGUE: Through July 22, times vary, costs vary. Thomas and Mack Center, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas. 702-895-3761. thomasandmack.com

DIVE-IN MOVIES - THE BREAKFAST CLUB & REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE: 7 & 10:30 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART - JAPANESE ART - HUMBLE & BOLD: 11 a.m., free. Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, 888 West Bonneville Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-483-6000. my.clevelandclinic.org/neurological.../louruvo-brain-health/default.aspx

ABBY ROBINSON - BODY IMAGING: Through Aug. 18, Weds.-Sun. 6-11 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

AMERICAN IDOL LIVE! 2013 TOUR: 7:30 p.m., $33.50-$66. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY - GIRLS ON THE RUN: Proceeds from cabana rentals benefit Girls on the Run of Las Vegas. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com

SARA EVANS: Through July 14, 8 p.m., $59.95. Orleans Showroom, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-365-7075. orleanscasino.com

JUSTIN WILLMAN - LIKE A MAGICIAN, BUT COOLER: Through July 14, 7:30 p.m., $15.95. Suncoast Showroom, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-636-7075. suncoastcasino.com SLIGHTLY STOOPID & ATMOSPHERE:

Sara Evans 7.13-14 JULY 2013 DAVID

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Widespread Panic 7.12-13

BELLAGIO MASTER SOMMELIER - A WORLDWIDE VIEW OF RIESLING: 6 p.m., $80. Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-693-7111. bellagio.com

MOVIES IN THE SQUARE - ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH: Sundown, free. Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-269-5000. mytownsquarelasvegas.com ELAN ATIAS: 8 p.m., $15. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW - CHARLOTTE'S WEB & LADY AND THE TRAMP: Through July 20, 8 p.m., free. The District, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. 702-654-8595. shopthedistrictgvr.com BILL COSBY: 8 p.m., $59. Treasure Island, 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-8947111. treasureisland.com THE LP TOUR: 8 p.m., $42.50. Mandalay Bay Beach, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com JAY LENO: 10 p.m., $59.99-$79.99. The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-792-7777. mirage.com SIN CITY BEER FESTIVAL: 6 p.m., $85. Bagatelle Las Vegas, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. sincitybeerfestival.com

MATCHBOX TWENTY & GOO GOO DOLLS: 8 p.m., $49.50-$99.50. Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com ALABAMA SHAKES: 8 p.m., $51.50. Pearl at the Palms, 4321 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. palms.com AARON LEWIS: 8 p.m., $65.60. Santa Fe, 4949 North Rancho Drive, Las Vegas. 702658-4900. santafestation.sclv.com PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY - GOLDEN RAINBOW: Proceeds from cabana rentals benefit Golden Rainbow. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com

COUNTING CROWS & THE WALLFLOWERS: 9 p.m., $47.50. Mandalay Bay Beach, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-632-7777. mandalaybay.com KATHLEEN MADIGAN: 10 p.m., $29.99$49.99. The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-792-7777. mirage.com DION: Through July 21, 8 p.m., $39.95. Orleans, 4500 West Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-365-7075. orleanscasino.com

BILL FAYNE - THE GOLDEN AGE OF MOVIES: Through July 21, 7:30 p.m., $15.95. Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas. 702-636-7075. suncoastcasino.com

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Social. Hard Rock, 4455 Paradise Road, Las Vegas. 702-693-5000. hardrockhotel.com

JEWISH GENEOLOGY SOCIETY: Speaker: Paul Johnson. 1 p.m., free. Sahara West Library, 9600 West Sahara Avenue, Las Vegas. 702-523-9874. jgssn.org

WEEZER: 9 p.m., $50. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

DIVE-IN MOVIES - LORD OF THE FLIES & STAND BY ME: 7 & 10:30 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

AARON LEWIS: 8 p.m., $79.90-$103.40. Red Rock Hotel, 11011 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-797-7777. redrock. stationscasinosrooms.com

AN EVENING WITH REZA ASLAN ZEALOT: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS OF NAZARETH: 7 p.m., free. Clark County Library, 1401 East Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-507-3459. lvccld.org

DIVE-IN MOVIES - THE KARATE KID & ROCKY: 7 & 10:30 p.m., free. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-6987000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

JAZZ UNDER THE STARS - ELAN TROTMAN: 7 p.m., $15. Aliante, 7300 North Aliante Parkway, Las Vegas. 702-692-7777. aliantegaming.com

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MOVIES IN THE SQUARE - BRAVE: Sundown, free. Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-269-5000. mytownsquarelasvegas.com

DAVID SPADE: Through July 27, 10 p.m., $65.75-$175.75. Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-414-1000. venetian.com

THEOPHILUS LONDON: 8 p.m., $20. Cosmopolitan, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

PAY IT FORWARD FRIDAY - SPORT-SOCIAL: Proceeds from cabana rentals benefit Sport-

CABANAS FOR A CAUSE - LILI CLAIRE FOUNDATION: Proceeds from cabanas rented with benefit The Lili Claire Foundation. Palms Las Vegas, 4321 West Flamingo Road, Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. palms.com

To submit your event information, email calendar@ davidlv.com by the 15th of the month prior to the month in which the event is being held.

OUTDOOR PICTURE SHOW - CINDERELLA & DESPICABLE ME: Through July 27, 8 p.m., free. The District, 2225 Village Walk Drive, Henderson. 702-654-8595. shopthedistrictgvr.com

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Le Thai

Le Thai brings its unique spin on traditional Thai food to the great citizens of Las Vegas. Chef Dan Coughlin has sought inspiration for his menu from his Thailand-born mother and grandmother. His signature dish, a tri-color curry, is already proving to be a hit with locals, blending the red, yellow and green varieties. Thai noodle soup and waterfall sauce are also menu staples. Dan, and manager Shauna, also will have daily and weekly specials that reflect the season and ingredients on hand. Also of note is the beer garden. Open Thursday through Sunday nights, it will feature dozens of beers, local and imported, and a special late-night menu. Local DJs will be on hand most nights to keep the party going, especially during the hot summer nights. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-11:45 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:45 a.m.; and Sat., 12:30 p.m.-1:45 a.m. Le Thai, 523 Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-778-0888. lethaivegas. com

Kuma Snow Cream With the opening of Kuma Snow Cream, Jet Tila has brought his own brand of shaved ice to Sin City. Using fresh ingredients, the former chef of Wazuzu at Encore Las Vegas has created flavors like mango, green tea and taro. If you’re looking for something simpler, there’s strawberry and “snow,” as basic as it gets. Guests may choose from a variety of toppings to add sweet, crunchy and fruity flavors to their cream base. If you can’t decide, pick from five creations from the Kuma staff. Like the mangozilla, which starts with a mango base and includes mochi, strawberry, Cap’n Crunch, and mango sauce or the green tea, which starts with a green tea base and includes mochi, red bean popping pearls and condensed milk. Tila hopes to expand his offerings in the future, possibly experimenting with alcoholic creations. 11 a.m.-midnight daily. Kuma Snow Cream, 3735 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas. 702-816-5862. kumasnowcream.com

SnoBar Frozen Cocktail Treats Having friends over for cocktails at the pool? Put a twist on the plain old frozen dessert by serving SnoBar Frozen Cocktail Treats. Eddie Masjedi teamed up with mixologists and top chefs to perfect his frozen concoctions. It’s important to him that the alcohol content be just right – there’s a full serving of alcohol in each ice pop, and the ice cream is well-laced so you’re definitely going to feel the buzz. With flavors like Grasshopper and Brandy Alexander (and its spinoff, Brandy Alexander Chocolate Chip), these are sure to have you going back for more. Just be sure to buy the kids their own “non-alcoholic” ice cream. SnoBar The Original Frozen Cocktail is available at hotels around Las Vegas, as well as multiple Lee’s Discount Liquor locations. snobarcocktails.com 18 DAVID TAMMUZ / AV 5773

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Candlelighting TAMMUZ 5773 FRIDAY , JULY 5, TAMMUZ 27 Light candles at 7:43 p.m. SATURDAY , JULY 6, TAMMUZ 28 Shabbat ends at 8:46 p.m. Blessing of the New Month MONDAY, JULY 8, AV 1 Rosh Chodesh Av FRIDAY , JULY 12, AV 5 Light candles at 7:41 p.m. SATURDAY , JULY 13, AV 6 Shabbat ends at 8:43 p.m. MONDAY, JULY 15, AV 8 Fast begins at 7:54 p.m. TUESDAY, JULY 16, AV 9 Fast ends at 8:31 p.m. Fast of 9th of Av FRIDAY, JULY 19, AV 12 Light candles at 7:38 p.m. SATURDAY, JULY 20, AV 13 Shabbat ends at 8:39 p.m. TUESDAY, JULY 22, AV 15 Fifteenth of Av FRIDAY, JULY 26, AV 19 Light candles at 7:33 p.m. SATURDAY, JULY 27, AV 20 Shabbat ends at 8:33 p.m.

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desire Add a little patriotic pop to a napping hammock with the jute American flag pillow â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a great way to celebrate the spirit of Independence on a stress-free day. $19.99. World Market, 3890 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas. 702-269-4465.

Summer Cookout Cut from aged cabernet sauvignon wine barrels, infuse a hint of toasty oak in your next gas or charcoal cookout. $11.96. Williams-Sonoma, 1001 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-938-9480.

Prepare and serve a refreshing beverage at the next summer party in the vintage-inspired blue Yorkshire Dispenser. $19.99. World Market, 3890 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas. 702-269-4465.

A swirl of grip-enhancing color on the outside of these stylish Gummy Glass Carafes ensures hands wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t slip when pouring your favorite summer drink. $9.99. The Container Store in Town Square Las Vegas, 6521 Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-712-4801.

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When you get a request for a margarita, a daiquiri, a colada, a mudslide and a smoothie, you won’t be overwhelmed because the Margaritaville Tahiti Frozen Concoction Maker will help you make it all happen at once. $499.99. Bed, Bath & Beyond, 7175 Arroyo Crossing, Las Vegas. 702-617-4018.

Got seven minutes to make a frozen pop? You will with the Zoku Quick Pop Maker, which allows you to customize frozen treats that are as fun to make as they are to eat. $49.99. Macy’s at Fashion Show, 3200 S., Las Vegas. 702-731-5111.

Great things happen when the person doing the grilling has the right tools, like the Grillin’ Goggles, which protects the eyes from smoke and grease, ensuring that your BBQ favorites are cooked to perfection. $19.99. World Market, 3890 Blue Diamond Road, Las Vegas. 702-269-4465.

Perfect for picnics, tailgate parties, camping and more, the clamshaped, portable, self-contained O-Grill can be folded up for transport almost anywhere with its convenient carry handle. $199.95. Williams-Sonoma, 1001 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-938-9480.

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discover

Kingman, Arizona Just over one hundred miles from Vegas, this brief escape can be fun for the whole family. You may even find it to be a little cooler than Las Vegas, with an average summer temperature of ninety-five degrees. There is tons to do, with five museums, parks, golfing, camping, hiking, and more. Kingman is also located on historic Route 66, with an entire museum dedicated to the history of the road. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, including authentic Mexican cuisine. If you want to make a weekend out of it, you can camp, choosing from five great campgrounds, or you can pick from the more than thirty hotels Kingman offers. Either way, you’re sure to find something to suit your family. gokingman.com

Public Pools If you’re looking for something inexpensive to do this summer, and you can handle the heat, the city of Las Vegas offers several pools around the valley that make for a perfect afternoon. With one indoor pool and four outdoor pools, there’s bound to be something in your neck of the woods. All of the pools are fully staffed with lifeguards. Swim lessons are offered at most of the pools, along with swimming, diving, and synchronized swim teams, both in the summer and throughout the school year. Fees range from free to two bucks, depending on the pool and the age of the guest. There are also individual and family season passes available for reasonable rates. For more information, visit http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/find/parks _facilities.htm.

Hakkassan

Taking over the former Studio 54 space at the MGM, Hakkasan Nightclub is bringing London cool to the Las Vegas Strip. Mixing dramatic design, world-class Cantonese cuisine and major musical talent, Hakkasan is one hot place to be this summer. The dining room has both open space and more intimate seating in “the cage,” where intricate latticework provides privacy and a conduit to the atmosphere adjacent. The menu features lots of seafood, but there are plenty of other options. The uber hip management at Hakkasan have booked a hall of fame of DJ’s, each one bringing their unique vibe to Sin City. Together with the staff they create a intoxicating ambiance that will enable guests to chat, dance and meet friends. Hakkasan Las Vegas at MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702891-7888. hakkasan.com 22 DAVID TAMMUZ / AV 5773

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ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE JURISPRUDENCE AWARD TO THE UNLV WILLIAM S. BOYD SCHOOL OF LAW Venue & Date Plaza Hotel & Casino, Friday, May 31 3

Photos 1.

Sonja Saltman and Carlos Blumberg.

Ellis Landau and Bill Boyd.

Steven Hirsch, Art Marshall, Dana MarshallBernstein and Cari Marshall (Standing) Susan Hirsch, Flora Mason, Todd Marshall and Michael Wilkins.

Bobby Feldman and Bob Dubin

Honorable Michael Cherry, Kitty Lam, Ken Heck, Glen Goodnight, Jackie Glass and Clark

Country District Attorney Steve Wolfson. 5.

Sam Lionel, Jerry Nadal, Phyllis Friedman, and Honorable Lloyd George, (Standing) Jackie Glass, Clark Country District Attorney Steve Wolfson, Senator Richard Bryan, Bill Boyd and Ellis Landau.

Nick Santoro, Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, Max Berkley and Max Spilka

(Standing) Joe Cain, Andy Glendon, Guest,

Susan Fine, Jeff Fine and Cheryl Schwartz. 7.

Honorable Nancy Allf, Jeanne Greenawalt, Irwin Kishner and Honorable Joanna Kishner, (Standing) Honorable Ron Israel, Honorable Adriana Escobar, Honorable Jerry Wiese, Honorable Gloria Sturman and Honorable Susan Scann.

Melanie Kushnir, Candace Barr, Jacque Walton, Kathleen Bliss and Josh Reisman,

(Standing) Matt Friedman, Michael Naft, Leslie Murdock, Liz Sorokac and Christopher Ford. 9.

Laurie Robinson-Frankoff, Richard Frankoff, Jill Hanlon and Daryl Alterwitz (Standing) Tedd Rosenstein, Audrey Plotkin, Deb Payton and LVMPD Assistant Sheriff Greg McCurdy.

Photos by Tonya Harvey JULY 2013 DAVID

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ADVERTISMENT

The Las Vegas Real Estate Market: Fact vs. Fiction In the last decade, Las Vegas homeowners have experienced both the best and worst of the real estate market. We have gone from being the most appreciating market in the country, seeing home values that increased at unprecedented rates, to being the most “underwater” market for homeowners who bought a home during the boom. As of May, it was estimated that more than half of the valley’s homeowners still owed more on their homes than they were worth. At the same time, media reports were optimistic, giving local homeowners the sense that they should hang on to their underwater homes. Ken Sarna, owner of The Millennium Consulting Group, a locally owned mortgage negotiation company says the problem is not going to fix itself. “As much as I would love to see the market continue to appreciate like Ken Sarna it has recently,” Sarna says, “I don’t think that is very realistic. The reality is that two main factors are driving home prices up: One is the low inventory, and the other is the abundance of investors who are buying up homes as quickly as they hit the market. “It simply a supply and demand situation that is inevitably going to adjust in the other direction. Many of these investors who have been buying homes are now exiting the market, due to rental returns not being what they anticipated,” Sarna says. “This will reduce the number of buyers in our market, specifically the ones who were paying more than the property’s fair market value in order to secure them.” The low inventory we’ve experienced is also due to legislative changes that made the foreclosure process for the banks more difficult. These changes have made

many banks step back and avoid pursuing foreclosures until they get everything in order. Sarna believes it is just a matter of time before these banks again move forward and foreclose on homeowners who are not making their mortgage payments. “This is why I caution underwater homeowners not to expect this recent appreciation trend to continue,” he says, “but instead to still address their underwater mortgage problem head on. The only way we are going to fix the problem and stabilize our market is for homeowners to address their underwater situation once and for all. “The longer we avoid the problem, the more we are going to drag out the recovery process for the community as a whole,” Sarna concludes. “The sooner we address the problem, the sooner we can move to a real recovery.” Sarna addresses these issues and more in his book coming out this month. Crash and Burn. Rising from the Ashes after the Real Estate Collapse. In his book, Sarna aims to help real estate professionals and homeowners understand the issues that got us into the mess, and more importantly the options available for homeowners to address the problem and move forward to a better financial situation. His firm, The Millennium Consulting Group, have helped thousands of Las Vegas homeowners in the last five years address their underwater mortgage problem through short sales and loan modifications.

The Millennium Consulting Group (702) 358-0088 www.themillenniumgroup.net License #3286

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MEZUZAH HANGING CEREMONY AND CONSTITUENT SERVICES MEETING WITH CONGRESSWOMAN DINA TITUS

Venue District Office of Congresswoman Dina Titus.

Date Thursday, May 30

Event Las Vegas Rabbis and Jewish community leaders attended a reception at the congresswoman’s District Offices. The rabbis

were present to affix a mezuzah to her office’s right doorpost . A mezuzah is a piece of parchment contained in a decorative case. Inscribed on the parchment are verses from the Torah, specifically the “Shema Yisrael”. This “Stars and Stripes” mezuzah was given as a token of appreciation and respect to the congresswoman by The Jewish Federation of 5

Las Vegas.

Photos 1.

Rabbi Yocheved Mintz hanging the mezuzah on the office door.

Congresswoman Dina Titus and her mother, Betty Titus.

Mezuzah hanging ceremony.

(left to right) Rabbi Yehoshua Fromowitz, Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkely,

Congresswoman Dina Titus, Rabbi Yocheved Mintz, Rabbi Sanford Akselrad and Jewish Federation CEO Elliot Karp. 5.

Helen and Bobby Feldman.

Jewish Federation Board President Dr. Hugh Bassewitz.

Benny Yerushalmi. (left to right) Katie Epstein, Diane Epstein and Alexandra Epstein

Photos by Tonya Harvey

JULY 2013 DAVID

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Latrescia Goss

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Finding Your Balance on a Paddle Board

Photos courtesy of Letrecia Goss

he fastest growing sport in the world has found its way to Las Vegas. And guess what? It’s a water activity. The standup paddle craze, known as SUP, is making waves in the desert. It’s giving enthusiasts a new way to enjoy the outdoors and get fit at the same time. The rider uses a paddle to move through the water, while standing on a surfboard. SUPporters say it’s like “walking on water.” As you navigate through waterways, exploring your surroundings while atop a board just a few inches thick, you’re cruising just above the waterline. The sport originated in the Hawaiian Islands, but you don’t have to be near the ocean to join the fun. Standup paddle boarding can be enjoyed on wave-less bodies of water, including lakes and canals, and still offer a great workout. SUPerstars, of course, can develop the skills to tackle raging river rapids, battle ocean waves and race in competitions around the world. Here in Las Vegas, we’ve got a tranquil lake that’s set against a rugged desert backdrop, perfect for SUPpers. And thanks to Kathy Holesapple, owner of Paddle to the Core (http://suplv.com), there’s an SUP outpost as close as the pristine white “shores” of the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. JULY 2013 DAVID

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“Standup paddle is such a great way to get outdoors and get some exercise,” Holesapple says. If you can stand up, you can SUP. That makes it great for virtually any age, any skill level, especially for those who’ve never considered getting on a surfboard. Holesapple, a Nevada native herself, has spent more than 20 years in Las Vegas. She remembers going to the shores of Lake Mead, back when she didn’t have the means to buy a boat, and dreaming of being out on the water. Ten years before SUP came into her life, “I loved my job as a corporate pilot and aircraft mechanic,” she says. But that all changed when she and a friend vacationed in Mexico and she got a chance to do some standup paddle boarding on the Sea of Cortez. “At the time, [SUP] wasn’t very well-known,” she says. “But, after I experienced it, it was like magic. I had a feeling about it.” And she wanted to share that feeling back in Las Vegas. “I knew that if I could get 1 percent of the locals to come a few minutes east to get on the paddle board, they’d tell their friends, and people

would get hooked,” she says. Her Paddle to the Core excursions from the beach at the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort include everything from one-hour jaunts, to yoga and Pilates on the board and corporate team-building called “board meetings.” “We offer SUP lessons, rentals, packages and social events to bring like people together and show locals what an amazing place they have only a few minutes away from home,” she says. For basic standup paddle boarding, particularly on a calm body of water like Lake Las Vegas, the learning curve is small. Paddlers will first need to find the “sweet spot” on the board for optimum balance. And Kathy and her staff will help first-timers with a variety of paddling strokes. “We are all about safety,” she says. “We teach people to be safe and love it all at the same time.” SUP is great for cardio strengthening, offering a full body workout, with special concentration on the arms, legs and rear. Just trying to stay balanced on the board will work the core – hard. And because of its amazing fitness benefits, SUP has become a favorite

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cross-training activity for skiers, snowboarders and other athletes. But thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food for the soul, too. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re amid a natural outdoor environment, and on top of the water doing a form of lowimpact sport, either by yourself or in a group, your cares are more than likely back on shore. And once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re comfortable on the board, you can try some new fitness options, such as yoga and Pilates. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already enjoying the benefits of yoga, SUP adds a new element to your strength and balance regimen. Think of your board as a floating yoga mat. The extra balance youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll need intensifies the routine. And floating on water can create a meditative aura for your workout. Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve mastered the basics, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost no limit to what you can enjoy on your standup paddleboard. Glide the gentle waters of the lake, explore the local ecosystem or take on the rigors of a SUP workout. Holesappleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister company is called Outdoor to the Core Adventure Boutique. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a board shop that sells SUP equipment, bikes and accessory items and provides footbikes and ElliptiGo bikes for rental. It also offers a range of adventures and tours, from hiking through tunnels to â&#x20AC;&#x153;ziplineâ&#x20AC;? rides from the top of local mountains, with views of Lake Mead and the Las Vegas Valley below. Kathy prides herself on spreading the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aloha Spirit.â&#x20AC;? In getting to know her customers, she has built a business around friendly service, where patrons are treated like family. The standup paddle community is a generous, sharing community full of people who create an atmosphere of ohana, she says. SUP with you? Get on a paddleboard and go with the flow. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Marisa Finetti

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Piggy Banking For Some, Saving Money Is Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play

32 DAVID TAMMUZ / AV 5773

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NOW PLAYING

Mindy Smoot Robbins as Mary Poppins

aving is no easy task for most of us – especially in this financial climate. The days of living paycheck to paycheck are all-too-real for many families, so just about everyone struggles to squirrel any money away. And life changes (think unemployment, starting a business, home ownership, bankruptcy, divorce) can easily put any talk of “savings” into the past tense. Most Americans simply don’t have enough money to get them through emergencies; heck, one in four has no savings at all. But there’s good news on the horizon, America. Programs like the Piggy Bank are thriving in elementary schools. The secret to their success? Get ‘em while they’re young. The first Southern Nevada Piggy Bank opened its doors on Oct. 5, 2012, at Walter Bracken Elementary, 1200 N. 27th St., Las Vegas. This fully functioning, one-of-a-kind bank is open 8-10:30 a.m. every Friday. It allows students at Bracken not only to learn about saving, but to experience real banking with their own money. “We wanted to open the bank at the beginning of the year, but ran into some problems with the logistics,” Bracken Principal Kath-

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leen Decker says. “The first day the bank opened, the kids were lining up around the building to make a transaction. They had real passbooks, filled out deposit slips and received a stamp in their book after the deposit. They’ve embraced the bank beyond my wildest dreams, and I love to see their excited faces every Friday morning.” United Way of Southern Nevada’s Young Philanthropists Society took on this signature project less than a year ago. The volunteers began by rolling up their sleeves and grabbing paintbrushes to convert a former storage room into a colorful, fun place for kids to bank. With a flat-screen TV that features daily announcements, financially inspired maxims on the wall and a counter for three Silver State Schools Credit Union volunteers, the room is now a fun, interactive place for Bracken kids to bank. Initially, YPS provided all students, grades K-5, with one shiny quarter to deposit on opening day. Every Friday, participants made deposits and kept track of their

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money. And they went back to class sporting special stickers. When fifth-graders graduate, they’ll have the option to withdraw their money or roll the balance into a Silver State Schools Credit Union junior account for future savings. The participation rate for the 2012-13 school year was 64 percent. So, how much did the kids lock up? More than $18,000! Teacher Stephanie King’s first-grade class made the most deposits. They got special recognition for it, and a root beer float celebration during the last week of school. “They’re so young, that’s the key to the success of this program, especially the first-graders, who are mostly 7 years old,” she says. “The program teaches kids to set real goals for themselves when it comes to saving money. And it’s not just hypothetical, or for when they get older. They’re doing it right now — when they haven’t learned or formed any bad habits yet.” Emma Pouessel and Bruno Ozuna, both 7, were members of the winning class. “I’m saving to be a scientist and for things for the kitchen,” Emma confides. “You should save for important things but for playtime, too. I want to save until I get through all the numbers.” Her favorite book is “Hop on Pop” by Dr. Seuss. Bruno wants “a fancy car and seeds for vegetables and fruits. I’m saving for surgery, water and milk, a pool and ‘Call of Duty’ when I get older.” It’s clear that these kids are learning what’s important, and what “options” money can provide as well. Bruno, whose favorite book is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney, has saved $40 since October. The kids are also learning essential principles to financial stability. Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada and the Andson Foundation teamed up to develop a series of courses for the teachers to implement in classrooms regularly. Danylle Hitchen is United Way’s vice president of major gifts. “United Way works to create a better future for children and families through education, financial stability and health. As part of our financial stability initiative, this curriculum really teaches kids the need to save for the future,” she says. “It’s about saving, budgeting, investing and earning interest. We encourage the kids to talk about it at home as well. We even had parents come and bank with

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the kids, give them extra money for their accounts. And Silver State Schools Credit Union has opened accounts for five parents because of Piggy Bank. It’s a real domino effect, and we are thrilled to see that in families and the community.” Decker said there were trust issues, though, for a few families who opted to pass on the program. “The only kids in my class who didn’t participate were ones who had parents who thought the other parent might take the money. It was unfortunate.” King says those children may need to get lessons on how to handle money from people outside their homes, or from other role models. “I know it’s a conversation I forget to have with my own kids,” she says. “With • “Mommy Comprehensive all the day-to-day stuff going on, things like saving money can fall to Makeover” cosmetic surgery the back burner.” • Tummy Tuck services for the Chelsie Campbell, volunteer at YPS and chair of Piggy Bank, is • Liposuction face and body. proud of the program and those who started it. “We’ve learned a • Nonlot and will continue at Bracken next year, and hopefully expand to surgical facial • Eyes other elementary schools in Las Vegas in the near future. We’re all rejuvenation • Nose volunteers and have great passion for the bank, curriculum and the (facial • Lips joy we see in the kids every week. It really helps kids to identify the injectables) • Ear lobes difference between their needs and wants.” • Facelift Call Decker says word of this innovative program is spreading far • Arms and wide. “I’ve had many friends ask me about the Piggy Bank, and (702) 362-5960 • Breast Enhancement, we’ve gotten countless inquiries from parents who want this at their for a complimentary consultation Lift child’s school. I’m so excited about the future of this program and what it will mean to our community.” Decker, recently named Magnet Schools of America’s Principal of the Year, was a perfect choice to stoke the pilot program. www.drfisherlasvegas.com And the kids got a head-start on an important life skill, too. In the 5380 S. Rainbow Blvd. Ste. 210, Las Vegas, NV 89118 future, they should know just what to do with some or all of that burger-flipping, babysitting, lawn-mowing money in their pockets, and they could be on the way to becoming financially fit adults. For Dr Fisher.indd 1 2/8/13 9:08 AM them and us, the future looks bright. For more, please email or phone: Jason Soto, director, Young Philanthropists Society at United Way of Southern Nevada, JasonS@uwsn.org, 702-892-2360 — Christina M. Parmelee

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taste

Burger, fries, and corn on the cob are headliners at Hops & Harvest

Hops & Harvest The Ogdens Score Another Winner Photos courtesy of Hops & Harvest

s manager Derick Rossmiller guided a couple to a table at Hops & Harvest, he asked: “Where did you hear about us?” “All over,” one of them said. “Everybody’s talking about you!” You will be, too. What “Cheers” was to Boston’s TV bar scene, chefs Bradley and Bryan Ogden’s Hops & Harvest at Tivoli Village is becoming … the favorite hangout for great food, libations and a good time. H&H defines American “comfort food” with a contemporary culinary vocabulary—farm-to-table-fresh ingredients, imaginative,

expert preparation, and colorful plate appeal, not to mention a cornucopia of flavors and textures. A kick here, a crunch there, a scrumptious combination of sass and savory … it all makes you glad you came—and encourages you to return. The food focus isn’t surprising when you know Bradley Ogden hails from Traverse City in Upper Michigan. “My roots are in American food,” he says. “I grew up with the farm-to-table concept. We went hunting and fishing. I spent summers with my grandma in Windsor, Ontario.

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SHE IS PERFECT FOR PARTIES! (left to right) Chefs Bradley and Bryan Ogden

“Dad thought I should be a chef,” he says. “My twin brother Bentley and I went to CIA (Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y.). He quit after four months, but I fell in love with cooking and graduated in 1977. I really got into natural foods. I cooked on a farm for the crew. Everything was organic. We had fresh asparagus, tapped maple trees, pulled trout out of a kelp pond.” Bradley was voted “Most likely to succeed” among the 500 students in his CIA class. He first made a name for himself in 1983 at Campton Place in San Francisco. “It was a melting pot,” he recalls. “In 1983 I also put together the Marin Farmers Market. I’d load up a truck a mile from the house, then drive to Campton Place. It was a very exciting time,” he says. “I was like a kid in a candy shop, with local farmers and growers. Organic was a new concept. I’d arrive at work at 4 a.m. and leave at midnight.” Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur (Marin County) was Bradley’s first “independent” success. It marked the expansion of his restaurant efforts throughout California. He surfaced on the Strip with his eponymous restaurant at Caesars Palace (2003), which tallied a 10-year run. Bryan, a CIA grad, too—and numerous classmates— joined Bradley at Caesars. Ultimately, Bryan ran the venue, headed the all-American wine program and guided the restaurant to a James Beard Foundation “Best New Restaurant” award and its first Michelin star. Then he went off on his own to open Munch Bar at Caesars Palace and, later, was director of Culinary Development at Sugar Factory Brasserie at Paris. The father-son duo opened Hops & Harvest in May 2013. Hops & Harvest is the first venture by Bradley Ogden Hospitality, or BOH, a collaboration among Bradley, Bryan, and partner Anthony Angotti. It’s a multifaceted organization, encompassing all aspects of food and beverage. H&H is its first concept, with other ideas being developed for Houston and Silicon Valley. In Las Vegas the Ogdens have teamed with local restaurant impresarios … Frank Tucker, Kelley Johns and Bill Feather, all prestigious presences in the Vegas hospitality industry.

Located in The Shops at Crystals, just steps from the front door of Aria Hotel & Casino, SHe by Morton’s offers the best of both worlds. Hold your dinner party downstairs then retreat to our upstairs club venue and host a private party like no other! The nightclub atmosphere upstairs is like no other in Las Vegas, fully customizable to your parties needs. Contact us for more information on how to turn our venue into your own.

3720 Las Vegas Blvd South • 702.254.2376 She-LV.com

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When a restaurant, new or old, relies on the talent and genius of its marquee chef(s), the question always arises, “What will happen when the big cat’s away?” Not to worry at Hops & Harvest. The core groups in the kitchen and front-of-the-house are long-time colleagues of the Ogdens. They’ve been there, done that. What’s more, Bradley and Bryan will tag team the restaurant. The Saturday I was there, so were Bradley, Bryan and Kelley, actively cruising the floor, talking with people, greeting guests, interacting with staff. Since “Hops” precedes “Harvest” in the restaurant’s name, I first eyed the 30 beers: 18 draft, 12 bottled, all American—except one. Beer has its own bar, identified by the taps. Nearby, a second is dedicated to cocktails, obvious by the bottles on the tiered back bar. However, beverage choices travel between the two. I prevailed upon manager Rossmiller to select six brews for me to taste … all in shot glasses—from light and breezy to dark and chocolaty (My favorites as fab with my food are in bold): • • • • • •

Pyramid Weiss Cream: Creamy, with a frothy nitrogen head; light, bright, slight tang; Big Dogs Brewery/Las Vegas: Tail Wagger Wheat; really light for food … best as a chilled quaffer; citrus overtones; Lips of Faith, a seasonal selection, Cascara Belgian Quad: Hoppy, yeasty, zesty, with toasty tones; Firestone Walker, Pale 31: Mellow, creamy, oatmeal-ish richness; honey hints; Big Dogs IPA, Dirty Dog: Citrus, floral, hearty; slightly tart aftertaste; Sea Monster Imperial Stout, Ballast Point, San Diego: Chocolate, cocoa, sweet … best with dessert.

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The well-selected wine list—also all-American, except for real Champagne—wanders up the California Coast, drifts inland to Napa and continues up to Oregon and Washington. It’s eclectic, and affordable, with whites ranging from $29 for pinot gris from Hahn in Monterey to $75 for Bell’s Yountville chardonnay. As is typical, reds are higher priced, but not outrageous. Two cabernet sauvignons—Layer Cake (California) and Tobin James (Paso Robles) are just $38. Four other reds are under $50. Caymus (Napa) cab tops the list at $145. Insider tip … one of the best and surprisingly reasonable choices, given its pedigree and region, is Pharaoh Moans, Paso Robles, a Syrah made by none other than Bryan Ogden. ($125). His talent ranges far beyond the kitchen! Foodies familiar with the signature dishes for which Bradley Ogden is acclaimed will discover some on the H&H menu. The starter selections embrace several. Famed Maytag blue cheese soufflé epitomizes Bradley’s penchant for creating “pictures” on the plate … white and golden soufflés are adorned with vibrant green wild watercress, roasted fennel and rosy red cherry jam, which deliver a rainbow of flavors. The notable Caesar salad is also offered. However, I opted for Bibb lettuce enriched by a goat-cheese-stuffed crepe and avocado, given crunch by squash and nuts, all dressed with a light, frisky dressing … a fantastic salad! If you add chicken or shrimp, you have a main course.

Bradley’s famous Maytag Bleu Cheese Soufflé

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— Marilyn Larocque

Marilyn LaRocque

Grilled cheese “bites” are actually eighth-sized morsels of a fullsized sandwich, oozing tangy, luscious aged white cheddar to which a tomato herb sauce adds pizzazz. “It’s addictive,” my server Jackson cautioned. He was right. A trio of seared tuna sliders, edges ideally crusted and spiked by a lime-accented sauce, nested inside a housemade crispy bun. Despite being happily sated, in the interest of thorough reporting I soldiered on to the main courses. “Time to think light,” I told myself. So I marched past the short rib patty melt, the “Steak and Potato”—a hearty portion of grilled skirt steak and hand-cut fries, the legendary fish ‘n‘ chips and the house signature Grilled H&H Burger. My choice? Wild Pacific halibut, lolling in a sweet summer corn and bacon chowder, yet another culinary still life and sensual sensation with crunchy corn kernels and garden accents of pale yellow French bean shoots, minuscule lavender flowers and razor-thin beet chips offset by bright green beet leaves with burgundy-colored veins. If your server doesn’t give you a soup spoon, ask for one so you can savor every last drop of chowder. With my eye on dessert, I resisted the tempting sides, bypassing grilled artichoke with lemon and capers, aged cheddar mac & cheese, and corn on the “Cobb” with chipotle-citrus butter. But next time … Pausing only briefly to ogle a Devil’s food chocolate extravagance and down-home delicious fresh strawberry shortcake, I was magnetically drawn to the butterscotch pudding, a staple on Bradley’s dessert menu for years. Satiny smooth, yet light, it was the euphoric ending to an extraordinary meal.

A sample of beers on tap, with their special glasses.

Hops & Harvest @ Tivoli Village

450 S. Rampart Blvd. at Alta Drive Ste. 120 … on the Fountain roundabout Las Vegas, NV 89145 (702) 476-3964

Hours

Sun.-Thurs., 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat., until 11 p.m. Sat.-Sun. brunch, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Taps & Apps, 3-6 p.m. daily www.hopsandharvestlv.com DAVID-MAG-AD copy.pdf 1 4/24/2013 9:11:03 AM

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think INSIDE Charity & Righteousness @ 42 Clean & Green? @ 46 Yours or Mine @ 52 CLEAN & GREEN? pg. 46

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think

Charity

& Righteousness

Business ethics and spirituality in the arena of competition and greed. By Lynn Wexler-Margolies

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ews do not believe in charity. In fact, the notion is nearly fictional. Despite their renown as humanitarians, meshulachs (Hebrew for those who raise funds for charity), for the invention of the pushka (a charity box) and the UJC (United Jewish Communities), the Jew who contributes time, effort and money is not being munificent at all. He or she is simply following commandments guiding them to do the right or just thing by their fellow, whether the money is to help another or to transact business. The Hebrew word for charity is tzedaka, the root word of which is tzedek, meaning justice or righteousness, which lies at the core of Jewish business ethics. Judaism places supreme importance on the value of ethical behavior, especially in relation to business dealings. So much so that Rabbi Shlomo Sherman, a lawyer, teacher and congregant at Chabad of Summerlin, explained that after a person’s death G-d asks them significant questions about their life. “The very first question we are held accountable for after we die is … did you conduct your business affairs with honesty and probity? In other words, were we ethical in the conduct of our business dealing with others? This comes before questions concerning the study of Torah, observance of Shabbat, kashrut … It’s that important.” Throughout the Torah (the Five Books of Moses and the source of the Ten Commandments and the 613 mitzvot), the ritual commands of Judaism and the ethical obligations between one human being and another are part of the same G-d-given basis of morality, Sherman says. “Though many have the mistaken idea that what they do from 9-to-5 lies outside the realm of scrutiny and is their own private affair, separate and apart from the holidays and traditions they feel otherwise bound to,” he adds. Business ethics is the marketplace, where holiness and spirituality confront the arena of competition and greed. One could speculate that it is the litmus test of whether religion is truly relevant or merely relegated to an esoteric sphere of human existence. That there are commandments to guide one’s Tzedakah box (Pushke), Charleston, 1820, silver ethics in business is perhaps an indication that G-d co-exists with us in the world rather than remains removed and at a distance. The Shema is a prayer, declaring one’s faith in G-d, that Jews are commanded to recite each morning and each night. It reads: You shall love the Lord your G-d with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your might. Rashi, a medieval Jewish scholar, comments that we can understand serving G-d with our heart and soul … but how do we do so with all of our might? Rashi interprets might to mean that we should also love G-d with all of our money and possessions, speaking directly to the importance of our behavior in the course of commerce. Noted Jewish scholar, and expert in halachot (Jewish laws), Rabbi Yitzchok Breitowitz suggests further that G-d does not want us to renounce material wealth but rather engage in amassing wealth with honor and integrity, and thus serving Him with our might. Breitowitz adds that there are people who prefer their money to their lives, and if G-d simply required us to love Him with all our life, we would not necessarily get the message that we must include our behavior toward money in our service to Him. The late comedian Jack Benny, a master of the understated monotone, approached the concept with levity. According to his old bit, a mugger approaches and demands Benny’s money or his life. Benny pauses: “Hmmmm … let me think about it.” JULY 2013 DAVID

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Jews characteristically believe that wealth is not a crime but a blessing from G-d – an opportunity to do right by our fellow with the means our Creator entrusted to us. According to Breitowitz, G-d created a dynamic world where the controls are shared with beings that have the power to choose to fulfill their role or renege on it. The individual thus has a proprietary interest in communal welfare through economic activity. “It’s an opportunity, granted to every person, to be a partner with G-d,” Breitowitz says. Judaism is an action-oriented religion, as opposed to one that emphasizes faith. The Torah is rich in verses that govern ethical behavior in business. It prescribes in detail the constraints, obligations and responsibilities that a person is obligated to follow. The legislative process to adjudicate this is ongoing. Rabbis often use their predecessors’ decisions to apply Jewish laws and ethics to determine the outcome of modern ethical dilemmas. The bulk of Jewish business ethics pertains to fair pricing, relations between employers and their employees and honest selling. The laws not only dispense ethical and legal mandates, but also encourage people to go beyond the scope of the commands and embrace the spirit in which they are given. In Jewish law, money must be obtained honestly; wealth is to be used to help strangers, the needy and the poor. Dr. David Weitzner, a program director at the Schulich School of Business, York University, says to authentically approach Jewish business ethics is to engage in business in a way that elevates all aspects of the transaction for the better; to transform the economic arena through seemingly simple acts of good-faith business practices. “Business ethics in classic Judaism is not about charity and altruism – though both are absolutely moral and goods in themselves. They are about real business activities and the holiness and moral goodness found in those particular acts. The Chassidic masters taught that holiness can be found anywhere. Why then should we be surprised to find that engaging in the seemingly mundane activities of business is an authentic path to righteousness?” Weitzner asks. A famous Midrash (ancient rabbinic stories to elucidate the Torah) speaks of Abraham, the Jewish forefather, wandering through foreign lands witnessing people eating, drinking and engaging in frivolity. While these people had lives of leisure and no suffering, Abraham hoped that this land would not be his inheritance. Soon he passed through a land of toil, where the people engaged in the necessary tasks of life at the appropriate times. This time Abraham hoped to have a stake in this hard-working community. G-d looked down and said, “This is the land I will give your offspring.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe suggests that Abraham saw the dignity of these people … dignity found in self-sufficiency. Business activity allows people to be partners with G-d in the world they live in. Loving G-d is one thing; working with G-d to provide for the world is another. “So much time is spent in Talmudic discussions outlining the most improbable of scenarios because the more clarity there is in the economic arena the better the markets can function,” says Weitzner. “The Jewish approach to business ethics believes that businesses can do well while being good. Be mindful of your strategy, and be mindful of the greater narrative that you will one day have to relay. Are you creating more opportunities for business, and opening doors for more people to join the transactions? Are you playing your role as authentically as possible, whether you are a buyer or a seller, a lender or a borrower? The moral good that comes from 44 DAVID TAMMUZ / AV 5773

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business activities done well is as real and meaningful as the moral good that may come from anywhere else,” Weitzner says. The eighth commandment, as interpreted by several of the classic Jewish commentators, speaks of prohibitions for every kind of dishonesty and deception, including guarding against being a partner or friend of unscrupulous individuals and deceptive advertisements and packaging. One must distance one’s self from a false matter. Further, the Torah enjoins against putting an obstacle before the blind. This includes offering bad advice to unsuspecting people, or causing others to sin through deceptive advertising and misleading labeling. Even the advertising agency that created the deceptive advertisement would be guilty of transgressing this law. Laws concerning fair pricing state that one must not overcharge, nor should a buyer allow a seller to mistakenly undercharge; individuals or firms have an obligation to engage in fair pricing and not hoard products in order to make excessive profits, especially for necessities and drugs. The Torah governs the import of keeping clear records and behaving in a way that does not cause the public to suspect one’s veracity. The Talmud describes that those who entered the Temple chamber to collect money for the sacrifices wore clothing with no pockets or other receptacles, so that people should not suspect them of stealing money. Organizations have the same obligation as individuals to act in a manner that does not arouse suspicion; and to use outside auditors, should the case arise, that are truly objective. The tenets of the employer-employee relationship are learned from previous agrarian societies, where the laborers who worked in the fields were usually slaves. The Torah states that an owner must not rule over a slave with rigorous labor, meaning that the slave must not be ordered to engage in degrading work, perform work that has no purpose or carry out a task without a defined limit. Employers are required to pay employees on time, as the Torah states that the wages of a worker shall not remain with the employer overnight. The concept of fringe benefits states that field workers have the right to eat the produce while they work. Regarding the slave, the Torah states that at the end of his servitude, the master is required to give the slave a severance gift from his flocks, his threshing floor and his wine cellar. The Torah is very concerned with the welfare of the stranger – an individual who can often be easily duped - commanding that: You shall strengthen him, whether he is a stranger or a native, so that he can live with you. Abusing, taunting, wronging or oppressing the stranger is forbidden. Jerusalem was destroyed for wronging the poor, the needy and the stranger (Ezekiel 22:29); Sodom was annihilated for not using its wealth to help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49). Individuals, organizations and governments must ensure that all ethnic and religious groups are treated equitably; and special efforts are to be made to enable the poor and the handicapped to get jobs. The Torah proscribes wasteful consumption. Soldiers are forbidden to cut down fruit trees even when besieging an enemy’s city. Wanton destruction of any kind is a violation of Torah law. Jewish sages teach that achieving the highest levels of ethical behavior in business, and practicing the social responsibility that must accompany success in business, are the hallmarks of the ‘way of the pious.’ The intent of the laws that govern business ethics is to inspire people to walk in total integrity, deal righteously with others and speak the truth from the heart, ultimately paving the way for the coming of the Messiah. Hillel offers perhaps the best summary for the purpose of business ethics: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I only care for myself, what am I?” JULY 2013 DAVID

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think

Clean & Green? 46 DAVID TAMMUZ / AV 5773

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Green Shoots or Greed Weeds By PAT TEAGUE

ver the last few years the green energy revolution has taken root in Nevada. As with many young shoots, some of the businesses have sprouted, proliferated and grown stronger with time, “fertilized” from the outset by federal subsidies. Others have withered amid punishing economic realities, despite the government boost. Whether the net effect of this collective industry — solar, geothermal, wind and biomass, augmented by efficiency retrofitting — has been beneficial to the state’s residents, or will be over the longer haul, is open for debate, and difficult to assess. Whether it portends an improved planet or holds the promise of jobs, jobs and more jobs also is in question. Some evidence points to the contrary — to an industry where hundreds of construction jobs bubble up, then disappear, with a scattering of permanent jobs intact after that. Skeptics wonder if a supposed “clean” and “green” utopia actually exists, or can exist, amid such realities, or is simply a desert mirage – an economic “panacea” that never was. But those are cynical thoughts. And these are times of roll-up-your-sleeves optimism in America, as the country emerges from years of economic malaise, eager for solutions, new approaches – with no time to look back. And as the clean energy movement crystallizes, as installation prices decline, as the prospect of continued

fossil fuel-dependence in Nevada looms and renewables become ever more viable, it is hard to bet against the momentum. This is especially true in a state where the sun shines 250-300 days a year on average, where geothermal and wind sources are relatively plentiful and some potential for biomass and biodiesel production exists. All of this sustainable “bounty,” constantly replenished in nature, seems ready for harvest, even if the calculus for its profitable collection and lower energy costs appears suspect. So what is “green energy”? Bob Boehm, a mechanical engineering professor and director of UNLV’s Energy Research Center, took a crack at defining the term. “It is energy that introduces minimal environmentally injurious effects. All energy forms have some impacts, but some have a great deal more than others. Intertwined sometimes with ‘green’ are terms like ‘low carbon’ and ‘sustainable.’ Virtually all hydrocarbons do not measure up in any circumstance, particularly coal. Natural gas is a little bit better in terms of its carbon emission compared to its heating value,” Boehm says. “However, now that we — with pressure from the energy industry — have gone seemingly full speed ahead on fracking, this, of course, produces more natural gas, but

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at an undesirable cost to the environment,” Boehm says. “Nuclear is sometimes lumped in the ‘green’ category because it is has a small carbon footprint. But there are many other aspects to it that are cause for concern. Currently, nuclear costs are high and this is keeping its growth controlled.” Boehm says housing developments put up recently in Las Vegas have been “quite green … compared to many parts of the U.S.” One of those still leading the charge for clean energy development in Nevada is Harry Reid, the Searchlight Democrat and chief legislative wrangler in the U.S. Senate. Reid monitored his old Carson haunt from afar recently, as the state’s legislative session drew to a close. He wondered if a couple of bills aimed at promoting green energy and eliminating utility loopholes would survive the sausage making. They did – in diluted form. One was designed to squeeze more juice from NV Energy, to force the state-regulated utility to pursue clean energy more vigorously, rather than as a “letter of the law” exercise through something called the Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS. The other was to get the Las Vegas utility (soon to be folded into the Warren Buffett investment empire) to quit the Reid Gardner Station, a coal-fired generation plant, north of town, that the nearby Moapa band of Paiutes has long opposed. Both bills passed and Reid was pleased, knowing no bill is perfect. “Nevada has the potential to be the epicenter for clean energy

in our country. But we must do everything we can to realize this potential,” the lawmaker said. “Closing loopholes in Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, building more renewable energy and shutting the dirty relic known as Reid (no relation) Gardner are important steps forward.” It sounded like a win, but for whom? NV Energy was hardly licking its wounds, assured of ratepayer financing for a future generating plant and delaying full implementation of many bill provisions for years. No one is certain which way MidAmerican Energy’s (a Berkshire Hathaway unit) pending purchase of NV Energy will cut for renewables, including Boehm, the bike-riding professor. “This could result in business as usual – not so good for renewables – or an increase in interest in renewables,” he said. Some analysts believe it could be the latter, given MidAmerican’s reputation for wind energy projects and its likely quest for tax breaks. Lydia Ball, a former Sierra Club operative who also worked for Reid as an energy issues liaison in his Las Vegas office, is executive director of the Clean Energy Project. She would have preferred for the RPS loopholes to be gone “by next week.” “But we are happy with the compromise,” she says. “We know there were existing contracts in place, and didn’t want to take away from businesses depending on that for their business model.” She believes that in the coming years Nevada could be a net

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exporter of renewables-generated energy, eliminating a nearly $2 million annual tab for importation of fossil fuels, and benefiting Nevada at large. She also knows that if surplus renewable energy were available for sale tomorrow, NV Energy still would need costly transmission lines (and regional help in building them) to get the electrons on to the grid for out-of-state customers. Last year, the Nevada Journal published an article that suggested that clean energy could be a folly, citing the collapse within 14 months of a North Las Vegas plant set up to manufacture solar arrays. According to that Journal article, more than “$1.3 billion in federal funds funneled into (Nevada) geothermal, solar and wind projects since 2009 has yielded and is projected to yield just 288 permanent, full-time jobs. That’s an initial cost of over $4.6 million per job.” When the NLV plant closed its doors, Reid’s office got a media inquiry from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, seeking his comment. “Last year, Amonix CEO Brian Robertson was tragically killed in a plane crash, and, unfortunately, the company was unable to recover from this difficult time,” Reid stated in an email. “Some people will be tempted to use today’s unfortunate news for political gain. But I am hopeful that the bipartisan support for this project, and the public-private partnership that helped make this and many other projects possible, will not be degraded by dirty energy supporters for their own profit or political gain. …”

So where does solar energy, for instance, stand in Nevada these days? According to the Solar Energy Industries Association: More than 77 solar companies in Nevada employ a collective 2,400 people. 108 MW (megawatts) of solar were installed in the state in the final fiscal quarter of 2012, a three-fold increase over the previous quarter. Nevada ranked third in the U.S. in Q4 solar installs. For all of 2012, Nevada installed 198 MW of solar energy, to rank fourth nationally in the category. Enough solar (403 MW) is installed in Nevada to power 58,000 houses. $37 million was invested in Nevada in 2012 for home or business solar. Average installed residential and commercial photovoltaic system prices in Nevada fell 11 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year. Key installations in the state include Nevada Solar One in Boulder City, which powers more than 14,000 homes a year through photovoltaic technology, offsetting the emissions equivalent of 20,000 cars. Copper Mountain Solar Farm in Boulder is a 55 MW PV system with power for about 17,000 homes. Before it came on line in 2010, Copper Mountain provided 350 construction jobs. Copper Mountain 2 will eventually power 45,000 homes by 2015. It is already the state’s largest operating solar project. Of course there are dozens of other small businesses scattered throughout Nevada that cater to the renewables industry. K2, a

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Henderson-based battery manufacturer, has been in the area since 2006. It set up its plant here to service the nearby solar industry primarily, and because of the area’s dry climate. K2’s large-format battery products are based on lithium ion phosphate technology. Many are used for medical, electric and military vehicles. With 50 or so employees locally, and others in China, it typifies the mediumsized businesses in Nevada that depend on the renewables world. What about geothermal? The majority of the Silver State’s geothermal projects are in the northwest corner of Nevada, near Reno. One such project, at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, warranted a look recently by Forbes. It cost $6.5 million for the hotel to tap into a hot-water aquifer below. Now the system has cut the resort’s power bill by $2 million a year and has nearly paid for itself. But it was a gamble. No one knew for sure that a viable aquifer was down there, or that it could be found. Nevada, along with California and Oregon, is one of the nation’s most geothermally active regions, Forbes reports. The United States is the worldwide leader in the production of geothermal energy, with a roughly 30 percent share. But Google has expressed interest in so-called Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS. According to Google, EGS could expand the potential of geothermal energy “by orders of magnitude.” In traditional geothermal applications, drilling helps searchers find pockets of steam and hot water to bring to the surface. In contrast, EGS would involve fracturing hot rock (above

150 degrees C) down below, circulating water through it to produce steam and spin a conventional turbine, then reinjecting the water into the rock, where the cycle would start over, in a closed loop fashion. MIT reported that 2 percent of the heat deep below the continental United States theoretically could provide 2,500 times America’s total annual energy use. And it could do it 24 hours a day, with virtually no emissions, an inexhaustible supply. Geologists believe EGS could supply more than 100 gigawatts of power in the U.S., roughly 40 times our current geothermal capacity. Boehm calls it almost the “Holy Grail” of the energy world, behind nuclear fusion. If you’d like to submit ideas to Google in the area of advanced well and drilling technologies, or numerous other EGS-related activities, send your contact information and proposal to renewables@google. com. Nevada has the potential for large wind energy projects, but does not have one operational yet. The Spring Valley Wind Project, expected to provide 151.8 MW of power, is under construction some 30 miles east of Ely. It will be Nevada’s first utility-scale wind energy project. It employs about 225 construction workers. A dozen or so full-time employees will keep the wind farm operational once it’s online, according to NV Energy. The Natural Resources Defense Council says Nevada does not have the potential to grow energy crops on a giant scale. But the state could produce a quarter million tons of biomass annually,

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most of it from urban wood waste around Las Vegas, and forest and mill residues from Douglas County, according to the organization. The biomass, the NRDC reports, could be used to produce some 20 million gallons of ethanol, which could replace about 1 percent of the gasoline used in the state. Nevada also can benefit from home efficiency retrofits aimed at reducing energy consumption. EnergyFitNevada.org provides instant rebates and financial incentives to assist eligible recipients in improving their homes’ energy efficiency. The program, administered by the state and funded by the federal government, connects homeowners with approved contractors who have specialized building science training, and are held to the highest standards of quality. Assessor Drew Levy of Innovative Energy Solutions showed up recently at the home of Henderson City Councilwoman Debra March. Levy and a colleague spent several hours testing March’s home for leaks and insulation and ductwork problems, among others. He said a retrofit job usually takes two to three days to complete. “It’s the things that you don’t see every day” that usually need addressing, he said. March, long an advocate of sustainability, said she had a chance to bid on an energy assessment of her home at a recent silent auction event. She said she realized “I should be walking my talk,” and decided to submit a bid and “won.”

“I knew we needed to look at (her home’s overall energy efficiency) … It’s like getting a physical for yourself,” said the councilwoman, who has lived in her house for 12 years. Lauren Boitel of EnergyFitNevada said the program provides $500 rebates for homes that achieve a 15-19 percent energy savings, and $1,000 for those that hit 20 percent or more. A homeowner match of $1,000 is required, but a $199 energy assessment fee counts toward the match amount. And Boitel said those who sign up by July 31 and achieve the 20 percent threshold receive an additional $500 rebate (for a total of $1,500 instead of $1,000). For more information, go to EnergyFitNevada.org. Boehm, the UNLV professor, says the outlook for green energy is uncertain. “It’s going to be a political and, perhaps, economic battle because non-green energy technology and resources tend to be owned by big, powerful companies, and green concepts seem to be owned by small companies. This is a relatively stable situation in the marketplace. “Republican dominance of the political scene may move the whole playing field toward the big companies,” Boehm says, “and Democratic dominance could move it toward the green end. (Photovoltaic) and battery prices moving down substantially —the former is happening, the latter not nearly as much — could move it toward the green end. … Time will tell.”

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think

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ours Yor ine M

An Introduction to the Universe of Stealing and Sharing By Jaq Greenspon

JULY 2013 DAVID

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et’s play a game. We’ll call it “Who Owns This?” and it goes like this: I’ll give you a situation and you tell me if it’s legal. Nothing to it, right? Ok, let’s start. You get an e-reader for your birthday and want to read all your books on your new device. Naturally, you scan them into your computer and upload them. You download a collection of songs by your favorite artists and decide to listen to the mix in your car. So you burn a CD since your car doesn’t have a plug for your MP3 player. A friend riding in your car likes the music, so you give him the CD because you can “always burn another.” You buy an original from a local artist at First Friday. You love it and want to share it with the world, so you create a website to sell T-shirts and mugs with the image on it. Or let’s flip this last one around. After you buy an original at First Friday, you’re excited to be an art owner, so the following month you go to visit your artist and see if

plicated, fairly quickly. Stick around: this could get interesting. So back to our “test cases” above. Of course, we all know we can’t copy a book (or part of a book), even for our own personal or academic use. Late, lamented Kinko’s (now FedEx) let us know that back in 1991, when it lost a lawsuit about copying reading material packets for a local university professor. See, everyone involved here thought it was “fair use,” a legal way to get past the copyright holder and use something free of charge. Usually, this means that in terms of a review (you can quote passages), news reporting, academics (research & teaching) and criticism, among others, you can use pieces of something to make your case. Unfortunately, you can’t use the whole thing (and if you’re a local copy place, you certainly can’t profit from doing that). Also, scanning even a portion of your book, even though you paid for the thing, may not constitute fair use because even if you’re using

she has anything else you’d like to buy. In her show space, you see a museum quality print (giclée), on canvas, of the piece you bought, on sale for a quarter of the price you paid. These seem pretty easy, right? All of these are copyright issues. And, while they start off pretty easy, it’s going to get fairly com-

it for research, in your research is the only place it qualifies. Even then, though, it’s tricky. A “small part” might be fine. But who determines how big “small” is? So, what exactly are you buying when you purchase a book? Well, in simple terms, you’re buying the right to read the book in the format in which you buy it, and you’re

buying the physical form itself – the book. This is why, you’ll note, that when you buy the hardcover, you don’t immediately get the paperback and audio version upon their release, or tickets to the film made from the book. Still with me? Good! Now, about your friend and shared musical tastes. This gets a little more complicated, and technology is to blame. Back in the day, we used to sit with our tape recorders, waiting for the radio to play our favorite song so we could record it right off the air. Then, getting a little older, we’d buy a component system with a tape deck and create what Library of America Editorin-Chief Geoffrey O’Brien once called “the most widely practiced American art form” – the mix tape. These compilations were soul-baring love letters and personal artistic statements all rolled into one. A good one could take hours to make. Because the quality of the recording was diminished (like a bad photocopy), and we weren’t selling or mass-producing them, they slid under the radar. Make no mistake; they were still illegal. The Recording Industry Association of America (granted, a financially concerned party) tells the New York Times that “money did not have to be involved for copying to be illegal.” Then we went digital: zeroes and ones, binary. Now, you can create a mix CD in minutes. The quality is virtually the same as the source material and the RIAA is taking notice. No, you may never get caught. But if you do, the fines can be quite steep. The argument for the RIAA to continue turning a blind eye is that this “grass-roots” distribution introduces people to bands and artists they may never have heard of (even The Grass Roots) and, ultimately, will encourage them to go and buy the music for themselves. For clarity’s sake, that initial CD you burned to listen to in your car? That’s perfectly legal. You broke the law when you gave it away to your friend (which, really, was the whole point of the homemade mix tape to begin with, right?). Artwork gets slightly more complicated still. Let’s break it down: In the above examples we’re looking at two people who own the reproduction rights to the artwork. Now, generally, those rights belong to the artist. This means if you buy the original, no, you cannot make copies of it and sell them to your friends. The artist can, however, make copies and sell them if she desires. Unless …

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“Unless” is a pretty big word here. Artists have no legal restrictions barring them from using the image they’ve created, no matter who owns the original. But there is an ethical quandary of whether to make prints if you haven’t informed the original buyer. Sometimes, the buyer is purchasing the original as a “one-of-a-kind” piece. And he feels that other editions, no matter how limited, will devalue his purchase. On the other hand, the artist has the right to make as much money from her art as she can, so prints and postcards, mugs and mouse pads are perfectly legitimate pieces of merchandise, unless … you work out an arrangement with the artist to not make reproductions or you pay her (handsomely) for the exclusivity. Same rules apply for a commission as well. A commission is when you come up with an idea and hire an artist to render it. Before you accept delivery, even before the artist starts working, you need to make clear what rights are at stake. If you don’t, the artist may give you the original but retain the right to reproduce that work, unless … it’s considered a work-for-hire. For that, the worker needs to be hired – and have taxes taken out of his pay and be completing the work in his capacity as an employee. So going to an artist and saying “Paint this” doesn’t count. Which explains tattoos, right? Even if the “canvas” is your skin, the artist owns the rights to the work he created there. If, say, you were a basketball player and your tattoo was visible when you were filming a commercial, which was then broadcast on national television, the artist (Matthew Reed) who completed your work could (and did, in 2005) sue for copyright infringement, alleging the player (in this case Rasheed Wallace) was benefiting financially from the original artwork. This case, though, was settled out of court (as was a similar one involving Mike Tyson), so no legal precedent has been set. This doesn’t even broach such legally and ethically ambiguous questions as what happens if the tattooist is recreating an already copyrighted image (Mickey Mouse?) or if you, the “canvas,” decide you don’t like the piece and do a cover-up or want to remove (destroy) it. So far, we’ve been looking at physical artifacts. But the kicker with intellectual property (or IP, which really is the buzz phrase we’re talking about here) is that it’s not just physical product but, as the name implies, an intellectual construct. It’s an

idea. A name or a concept. In Vegas, we know all about this because every year, right around the beginning of February, every casino in town is advertising for “The Big Game.” Psst! We all know that’s code for “Super Bowl,” but because that’s a copyrighted name controlled by the NFL (which doesn’t allow anyone to make money off the late team owner Lamar Hunt’s original moniker for the championship game, the one he coined after seeing his daughter’s Super Ball toy), we all wink and nod and have “Big Game” parties. C’mon. Who’s it really hurting anyway? A bunch of bazillionaires? Except, here’s where the slope starts to get slippery. We begin to look at IP from the angle of “who is hurting?” And if we can rationalize that no one is, we can ethically justify the transgression and morally denounce the legal issues, right? (See our mix tape example above for an illustration of this principle.) Or what about the proliferation of “cover bands” in town? These are all talented musicians (not going to debate quality here … save that for another issue), who make a living (again, not going to debate “living”)

by re-constituting the music of others and getting paid for it. Technically, the venue is supposed to be licensed to cover this, and as long as the band submits a set list, everything is on the up and up, unless ... If the band sells (or even gives away) CDs or posts videos on YouTube in hopes of getting more work, is it infringing the songwriter’s/songwriters’ copyright? Jury’s still out on that one. Some say it’s illegal, period. Others claim “fair use” under terms of promotion.* Sure, this is how young bands learn to play. They copy other people’s songs, see how they are put together and learn until they can write their own pieces. What about other performers, though? In Las Vegas, where we have the highest collection of entertainers per capita, there are constant battles waged in pursuit of keeping IP pure. Over at The Luxor, Criss Angel is going after an English magician named Dynamo for allegedly using several of the Mindfreak’s signature effects on the respondent’s British TV series “Dynamo: Magician Impossible.” Fair enough, really. The world can only support so many heavy metal magicians. Of course, in his latest TV JULY 2013 DAVID

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special taping, Criss was accused of stealing an effect that Riviera headliner Jan Rouven created. In the “Table of Death” routine, which Angel unsuccessfully staged on Fremont Street at the beginning of May, deadly swords fall around the performer, until only one, poised above his heart, remains suspended. Rouven, who successfully cheats death in his show nightly, says he and Angel had talked about the illusion several years ago, but Angel had never asked him about performing it. In the meantime, Rouven is embroiled in a controversy about another illusion he performs, called Spears, created (and still performed) by touring magician Joaquin Ayala. In this last imbroglio, the controversy has to do with the actual selling of the performing rights themselves. Since props in magic can be as simple as a deck of ordinary

playing cards, when you buy an effect from a creator or dealer, he often explicitly lists the rights being sold (i.e., live performance, but not TV). As with that book we talked about, just buying the paperback doesn’t mean you get to make a movie from it – you’re not buying those rights. In the case of Rouven’s kerfuffle, Ayala had given his illusion builder permission to construct a copy of the Spears effect and sell it, along with performance rights, to former Planet Hollywood performer Hans Klok. Klok, in turn, sold it, as was his right, but he allegedly did not have permission to sell the performance rights, too. Of course, neither that first intermediary nor Rouven knew the rights were non-transferable (You can buy my car, but you need my permission to drive it). Legally, there may not be a leg to stand on. But that’s not really the point any-

more, is it? Within the community of performers, lines have been drawn, friendships strained. It comes down to morals and ethics. And when each side claims the high ground, it’s easy for lightning to strike anywhere. In this game of “Who Owns This?” the players are getting harder and harder to tell apart. And, as more technologies are invented and more outlets created, the rules keep changing. All we can do is try to keep doing the right thing… whatever you think that is. *(But props to Metallica, one of the first bands to come out strongly against digital piracy, for encouraging The Mini Band, a group of 8-10-year-olds, in their rocking cover of “Enter Sandman” http://youtu.be/ TXl4KYBKruo)

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Stan Lee Comic Book Legend When Stanley Lieber started working in the comic book industry in 1939, he didn’t adopt the pen name “Stan Lee” to obscure his Jewish heritage. Rather, he was saving his real name for a future career as a serious writer. Seventy-five years later, it turns out the world is much better for Stan Lee sticking with the comics. His four-color cocreations (with the likes of Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko) read like a who’s who of modern cinema blockbusters: Iron Man, SpiderMan, X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Thor, The Hulk and on and on. At 90, Lee shows no signs of slowing, making endless appearances in between creating new characters and concepts for his production company, POW! Entertainment. DAVID: Aside from comics, animation and movies, your company recently launched Stan Lee’s POW!er Concerts, which benefit United States Armed Forces Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs. LEE: It’s kind of nice to give something back a little bit. The men who fight for us are so deserving. And if we can throw a concert for them, where some of the price of tickets and so forth goes to the base, they can make a few bucks on it. And also hopefully we can give the people of the base, the armed forces, an evening of entertainment they can remember. DAVID: You actually served in the U.S. Army during World War II, right? LEE: I was a sergeant in the Signal Corps. They found out I had been a writer when I got into the Army. I wrote training films, I wrote instructional manuals. One of the big problems they had was just training the troops – it just took too long. So my job was to find ways to cut the time period, to write things that were so simple that people could understand them quickly and then get on with what they had to do. I simplified everything. I took a complicated manual on how to operate a certain weapon, and I tried to do it in cartoon form – anything that would make it pleasant for the troops. That’s primarily what I was doing. I was in good company. I had people like [dramatist] William Saroyan.

DAVID: Sounds like you’re kind of coming full circle, then. LEE: I’m very excited about [the concerts]. I hope the troops will like them as much as we like doing them. It’s something we’re just starting. We did our first one at [Camp Pendleton], and that went over well. I hope it will turn into something that goes on and on and brings a lot of pleasure to the troops wherever we go. DAVID: You’re 90 now and still maintain a productivity and schedule that the Energizer Bunny would have trouble keeping up with. What’s your secret? LEE: I think maybe it’s the fact that I don’t feel I’m working, because I like what I do, so I feel I’m playing. Other people, when they retire, they play golf, let’s say, or all the things they want to do. But I’m doing all the things I want to do. So in a sense, I’m like a retired man who’s following his hobbies. DAVID: You’ve recently created new, heroic characters specifically for Chinese and Indian markets. Have you thought about creating an Israeli superhero? LEE: No, not yet. I will probably get around to that. We’re doing everything else. DAVID: You have a signature cologne now. Is this like the bottled essence of Excelsior! or what? LEE: I don’t know where that came from, but I must have OK’d it at some point down the line. I haven’t even seen it yet, but I did see it on the Internet. They may have said, ‘Can we do a cologne,’ and I might have said, ‘Sure, why not? Do whatever the hell you want to do.’ I can’t wait to smell it or get a look at it. I hope it’s good. DAVID: Do you have any Las Vegas stories? LEE: I am not a gambler at all. I’ve been to Las Vegas maybe two dozen times in my whole life, always to make a speech or do something. In those two dozen times, I think once I figured, ‘I’m going to go to hell with myself,’ and I took a dollar, and I asked for four quarters, and I went to a slot machine, and I was wiped out within seconds. — PJP

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