Contractors to begin dismantling portions of the Harmon this week

Las Vegas View of the Harmon

Structural experts for CityCenter are scheduled as early as Thursday to begin chipping away at sections of concrete in the 26-story unfinished tower on the Las Vegas Strip. They'll be searching for evidence of construction defects they hope to present to a jury this summer.

MGM Resorts International, which owns half of CityCenter, seeks to prove flaws that halted construction on the $275 million Harmon four years ago were the fault of its former general contractor.

Clark County District Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez ruled this week that CityCenter could proceed with what's called destructive testing as long as officials provided a detailed schedule of their plans. MGM officials filed that paperwork with the court Tuesday.

More than $400 million could be at stake in a complex series of lawsuits scheduled for two trials — the first set to begin this June — in a case that now has both sides altering their opinions about the building's safety.

One switch came from contractor Tutor Perini Building Corp., which had been defending the structure's soundness. The contractors have maintained up until this week that the Harmon could be repaired, and many defects occurred because the builders followed a bad design. Perini now says the building can't withstand testing.

The proposed testing involves cracking holes in the concrete to expose the steel reinforcement, or rebar, that CityCenter contends wasn't installed correctly.

When testing begins, crews will carve out 2-foot holes in the concrete. The process is expected to last for the next two weeks. CityCenter hopes to explore 481 areas of the building, examining 40 per day.

CityCenter began similar testing last year to look at 397 areas of the Harmon. But Gonzalez ruled last summer the testing was insufficient to show CityCenter's claims about the extent of the defects. That led CityCenter to seek more testing.

Attorneys for Perini argued this week that chipping away at the concrete might cause the whole building to tumble.

"Destructive testing is destructive," George Ogilvie III, a Las Vegas lawyer who represents Perini, said in a written argument.

Ogilvie said Perini's structural expert believes that exposing the steel will weaken the structure.

"While the Harmon, in its current condition, is not a safety hazard, the magnitude of CityCenter's additional destructive testing will damage the Harmon to such an extent that the building will become unsafe," Ogilvie said.

Counsel for CityCenter, which has argued the structure was a hazard and could collapse in an earthquake, said the testing areas are so small they won't damage the building's integrity. CityCenter and MGM officials have been seeking permission to demolish the building, which originally was planned to be 47 floors.

"Perini is clearly talking out of both sides of its proverbial mouth," said Alexander Robertson IV, a Los Angeles lawyer for CityCenter.

Robertson said Perini opposes the testing because its lawyers know it would prove CityCenter's case.

As workers knock out the concrete, experts will take photographs and video of the steel reinforcement, gathering potential evidence for trial.

The case is expected to continue into next year.

BREAKING NEWS: Person Shot in Arm at Galleria Mall

 A man was shot in the Galleria Mall parking lot shortly after 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Henderson police officers say reports of gun fire were reported at the parking lot near Sunset Road and Stephanie Street.Police do not know what caused this altercation.

The man shot in the arm was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. It's unknown at this time if the suspect is in custody.

http://www.8newsnow.com/story/20713408/breaking-news-person-shot-in-arm-at-galleria-mall

Lord Neil B Gibson and Belize Housing Project

Overview

Ecovillages are people-based initiatives to model sustainable, low-impact, human settlements. They are applicable to both rural and urban settings and accessible to all. Eco-villagers utilize green energy technology, ecological building techniques, and human-scale design to reduce exploitation of natural resources, facilitate community self-reliance, and improve quality of life. Medical clinics will be included in the development of each village. These medical clinics can assist in the care management of other local villages and expand the Belize Healthcare footprint.

They are about the creation of new settlements as well as retrofitting existing villages and urban areas. An ecovillage is designed in harmony with its bioregion instead of the landscape being unduly engineered to fit construction plans. By thinking in terms of bioregions, sustainable settlements are planned considering water availability, the ability to grow food, and accessibility.

 Many projects use the principles of permaculture for creating integrated, interactive and efficient systems for structural planning, food production and social needs in their community. Ecovillages are human scale, (somewhere where you can feel you know the others in your community), fully featured settlements, (comprising housing, businesses, agriculture, culture, etc. as appropriate to the local setting), in which human activity is integrated harmlessly into the natural world, supports human development and can be continued into the indefinite future.

There are hundreds, maybe thousands of ecovillages around the world that have been living true to their values, even if it means not quite meeting the building codes or zoning laws according to their local government. Global Ecovillage Network defines ecovillages as “Alternative experimentation laboratories, with food production, ecological buildings, a resources center, a reception place, or artistic workshops. The aim is to create, together, a convivial and fair way of life, with a minimal ecological trace becoming more socially, economically and ecologically sustainable.”

There are examples of Ecovillage Zoning and Sustainable Development Testing Sites in Taos, NM, Portland, OR, Eugene, OR and British Columbia. There are many more with pending legislation across the globe.

Lord Neil Gibson, Handels Securities and DayDra Holdings introduce the Belize Hydrogen Project

DayDra Holdings and Handels Securities Belize Project

Handels Securities and DayDra Holdings Group Announce Partnership to Form Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Handels Securities and DayDra Holdings Group announced today a partnership to form Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition (SUPA) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition will introduce the highest-quality ammunition in the industry, at high production levels, and at relatively low costs. Using a new purpose-built automated manufacturing and inspection facility, proprietary advanced technology high-speed robotic inspection systems, rigorous quality standards, and the highest-quality components, SUPA will straddle both precision and standard supply markets. The new multi-million dollar facility will have a high production capacity to complete government contracts as well as anticipated consumer demand.

“We have been working closely with the state of Nevada Governor’s Office as well as the Nevada Development Authority (NDA) in 2012. Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition will create more than 500 jobs over the next 3 years and provide veterans in particular with important career opportunities starting in 2013.”

A study of the projected economic result of SUPA’s business activities, conducted by Nevada Governor Sandoval's office, values SUPA’s potential in excess of $165 million in economic stimulation to state and local communities. SUPA is part of a Nevada state program of economic diversification.
SUPA will incorporate sophisticated tactical training facilities and a shooting range to host various state and federal law enforcement training exercises and programs, as well as private and corporate tactical training programs. SUPA will largely be comprised of former military personnel. Lord Neil B. Gibson of Handels Securities explained, “We have been working closely with the state of Nevada Governor’s Office as well as the Nevada Development Authority (NDA) in 2012. Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition will create more than 500 jobs over the next 3 years and provide veterans in particular with important career opportunities starting in 2013.”
Philip Pritchard, Chairman of DayDra Holdings Group, added, “We are cooperating with the ‘Hiring Our Heroes’ program of the United States Department of Commerce, as well as the HirePatriots.com organization, in preparation of hiring US Veterans with the skills SUPA will need. We’re looking forward to offering our people outstanding career growth opportunities.”
Saber Ultra Precision Ammunition is one of several new partnerships between Handels Securities and the DayDra Holdings Group that will offer U.S. Veterans outstanding career opportunities.
About Handels Securities Ltd
Handels Securities Ltd., led by Lord Neil Gibson since its inception in 2010, is a registered Belize International Business company licensed by the International Financial Services Commission (IFCS) to transact and practice in three primary areas of banking services. Handels Securities Ltd. participates with financial commodity-based derivative instruments and other securities, International Money Transmission, and Safe Custody Services. It is overseen by the Belize IFCS and is a licensed Swiss trust company. Handels Securities’ expertise strengthens interactions with investors through its client relationships and capital markets platforms. For additional information, please visit Handels Securities’ website at www.handelssecurities.com.
About DayDra Holdings Group LLC
DayDra Holdings Group is a privately held US-based company that operates domestically and overseas in global markets. We create, develop, own, and manage our projects, programs, and acquisitions as well as provide contract management expertise and advisory services.
DayDra straddles synergistic business sectors to achieve superior financial results while improving the economic and natural environments as well as community safety and security. DayDra projects span several sectors including construction and civil revitalization; environmentally responsible and sustainable energy generation; Internet services; security and tactical systems, technology and services; as well as other commercial enterprises. For more information, visit www.daydraholdingsgroup.com.

Contacts

Handels Securities Ltd.
Daniel Pearlson, 310-929-7322
danielpearlson@gmail.com

Lord Neil Gibson Asks, Has Nevada gone blue?

Rest easy, Nevada. We’re still a battleground state.
At least so say political operatives on both sides of the aisle.
Admittedly, they may have a bit of a vested interest in saying so. Presidential battleground status opens the spigot to tens of millions of advertising dollars.
By the last count compiled by The Washington Post, $54 million was spent on Nevada airwaves to influence the presidential election here this year — that’s about $53 per vote cast here.
But some are questioning whether Tuesday’s results support the claim that Nevada’s six electoral votes are worth fighting over anymore.
President Barack Obama last week won Nevada convincingly for the second time. In fact, his margins in 2008 and 2012 far exceeded former President George W. Bush’s Nevada margins in 2000 and 2004.
Democrats have 90,000 more registered voters than Republicans. They have a well-financed party structure in place — an organization noticeably absent on the Republican side. And they have control of the state Legislature.
Some might say that doesn’t sound like the metrics of a true swing state.
Indeed, it’s starting to sound a lot like New Mexico — previously a battleground state before turning convincingly blue beginning about four years ago and disappearing from the presidential campaign radar screen.
Is Nevada in danger of becoming the dreaded flyover state that the presidential contenders pass by in between campaign stops in Colorado and fundraising stops in California?
Republicans, with a tinge of apprehension in their voices, say: Not yet.
“This is the bluest purple state in the country,” said Mac Abrams, U.S. Sen. Dean Heller’s campaign manager. “But we’re still a purple state.”
Perhaps Heller’s victory is an indication of that. The Republican barely defeated Democrat Shelley Berkley, whose campaign was hamstrung from the beginning by a House ethics investigation.
But Republicans also point to the fact that Nevada’s most popular politician, Gov. Brian Sandoval, is a Republican. The party represents half of Nevada’s congressional delegation. And although the GOP narrowly lost an attempted takeover of the state Senate, the number of voters statewide backing a Republican candidate for the Legislature almost equaled the number of voters backing a Democratic candidate.
“Yes, we’re still a battleground state,” Republican strategist Robert Uithoven said. “However, we need to do significant work within the Republican Party to keep it a battleground state.”
And that’s where the argument becomes more than just how much battleground status increases the bottom lines for television station owners.
If Republican presidential contenders cede Nevada, they’re pretty much handing it over to the Democrats. And that’s not necessarily good for Republican candidates down ticket.
“At this point, it’s the Republicans' responsibility to keep us a battleground state,” Uithoven reiterated.
Democrats aren’t about to take Nevada for granted, either.
“Clearly it’s more Democratic than it used to be,” one Democratic operative said. “I think you can call it a Democratic-leaning state, but I personally feel less confident about calling it a solidly blue state.
“I don’t think we’re there yet. And Democrats have to be careful not to go down the same flawed path Nevada Republicans went down.”
Just a decade ago, Republicans were the powerful party in Nevada. Democrats had no party structure to rely on, held only one statewide office and seemed unable to wrest control of the state Senate away from the Republicans.
The story is a cautionary indication that the political balance of power in Nevada can easily execute an about-face.
So will Nevada voters have the same level of television ads, robo-calls and door knocks to complain about again in four years?
“I think they will,” the Democratic operative said. “If either side takes Nevada for granted, I think they do it at their own peril.”

www.lordneilbgibson.mobi