The city we all love

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ft/25028bd6be4111d9947300000e2511c8

So Vegas is turning 100. Nevada's history is interesting. It was thrown in as a state during the Civil War to give Lincoln more power against a Congress more sypathetic to the Confederacy. (Call this group 'moderates.') So 2 more senators from the West, where slavery would have just been plain silly. Anyway, the 1930's roll around and Nevada is still an empty outpost of silver mining and ranching, with just 50,000 folks. So the state 'Fathers' (my term) decided to roll the dice. So they were first in the door with gambling, and as a result became famous for it. This brought with it all the food service / accomadation jobs that come with it. Now, more recently, better jobs have moved in to attract the young hipsters looking for a pretty libertarian place that won't take their money or tell them what to do. Most of this history is a paraphrase of what I've read in the National Journal's Almanac of American Politics, which does a great job of explaining the unique character of the US's many locales. And this one is pretty unique.

Anyway, if you've been to Vegas, you'll see, it's a most fascinating place. Particularly for me, an urban planner. Imagine a golf course in the middle of the most barren desert imaginable. Now make it about 800 square miles and growing. Now add streets and homes and a little downtown. (Really, the downtown is about as impressive as Shreveport's.) Now, add a ridiculous 2 1/2 miles of strip that contain 300 foot condo buildings...and a number of high rise hotels of various architecture...and a 1000 foot high tower like the CN Tower in Toronto...and don't forget the miniature Eiffel Tower...and miniature New York skyline...and pyramid...

You get the point, it's one of man's most interesting (both fascinating and bizarre) creations in a natural habitat where man has no business living, a bone dry valley where the summer breeze feels like someone's pointing a hair dryer at you, suurounded by equally barren mountains. I'm sure the US has other places like it, and I'm sure they are dumpsites for nuclear waste.

Way too much about Vegas than what you wanted to read...so Happy Birthday to the City the Never Sleeps!