While New York city and state officials bicker over a future
expansion to the Javits Center, the venerable convention venue,
faced with a deluge of bookings and a dearth of space, built a
temporary exhibit hall as a stopgap solution. The temporary hall
adds 814,000 square feet of exhibit space to the Javits Center, is
fully insulated and air conditioned and cost $3.5 million to erect.
I'm sorry, but $3.5 million for a temporary structure? To me, this
is like paying a hundred bucks for a disposable lighter.
An environmental activist group called the Earth Liberation
Front said it is responsible for the fires that closed Vail
Mountain Ski Resort for almost a month. Of course, this is
terrorism, pure and simple, but moreover, does it really help the
cause to destroy attractions that encourage, even in an indirect
way, a greater appreciation of nature?
President Clinton signed a bill that will provide Amtrak with
$609 million. What do you think the chances are that Amtrak is
saying, hey, with this kind of infusion, maybe now we can pay
travel agents more than a 5% basic commission rate?