Print edition for December 9, 2007

A MOMENT CAPTURED: Tiffany Brown; More than a few parents had some serious explaining to do when their young children got a sight of the more than 7,200 Santa Clauses in downtown Las Vegas last Saturday morning.

Jeff Simpson says businesses that provide poor customer service are ripe for replacement by rivals: When customer service providers waste my time, treat me rudely or are unable to help me, I think: "Here is a business that's ripe for a competitor." Businesses that invest in hiring great workers and then in training them to provide first-class service will eventually crush their competitors in the marketplace.

Jack Sheehan recalls how, for a while, his fate and that of actor Patrick Dempsey intertwined: I never expect to enjoy the movie as much as she, but in this case I was pleasantly surprised.

At last, a chance for peace: Michael J. Mishak; Imagine being handed a problem that had defied solution for more than a half-century and, after devoting more than 12 years of your life to it, coming tantalizingly close to a settlement.

Letter: Voting taxpayers have spoken: No new taxes: So despite all the whining, complaining, insults and temper tantrums (Jim Rogers) that the tax-and-spendaholics such as Mr. Ralston and defeated gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus can throw at our governor, we the people, the taxpayers, have made it clear, the only word Gov. Gibbons needs to utter correctly is no!

Jon Ralston finds Robert Daskas not yet ready to give Porter a run for his money - and there's little time to spare: By Jon Ralston; But despite his announcement 10 days ago, Daskas is not yet ready to take on Rep. Jon Porter. He may be a few months from now. But not yet.

Letter: Stop Bush before he turns Iran into Iraq: The Washington Post, however, says both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney knew about the estimate in August or September. It is clear the administration is again telling lies about its lies in an effort to take us to another unnecessary war. What is most disturbing is the Puritan fundamentalism that motivates the president.

Editorial: Giving a real hand up: Take, for example, Las Vegan Robbye Wright, whose mother had depended on federal aid when she was growing up. As reported by Timothy Pratt in last Sunday's Las Vegas Sun, Wright found herself taking federal assistance as an adult. She wanted something better. She found it in the Family Self-Sufficiency program.

Audit, and its report, give Urban League a bumpy start: By Timothy Pratt; Urban League Chief Financial Officer Vincent Austin had just said, "All we need is for people to say, 'Another minority agency went down the tubes because they didn't know how to manage money.' "

Editorial: More accountability essential: But an analysis by The Washington Post last week shows that the USDA loan program has lost more than $1.5 billion since it started in 1974, and in some cases has literally spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to save a single job.

Letter: NRC not objective on Yucca Mountain: By the NRC's own regulations, the NRC staff, once the licensing proceeding begins, becomes the actual advocate for the project alongside the Energy Department. The State of Nevada formally petitioned the NRC a few years ago to have this regulation changed but the NRC denied Nevada's petition.

FLASHPOINT for Dec 08, 2007: The Nevada Power Party - aka The Nevada Republican Party - was at it again last week, pummeling Sen. Harry Reid for trying legislative maneuvers to block those coal plants. According to GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden, "Reid's proposal will sharply increase the rates all Nevadans currently pay on power bills at their homes and businesses." Forget whether this is true - and I am sure Lowden has no idea. Two points are noteworthy. One, Reid's inability to get any Democrats in the state to coalesce around his increasingly vehement anti-coal rhetoric has given the GOP an opening. But second, does ...

Editorial: Supporting English instruction: A story in the Las Vegas Sun last week reported that most of the money received for English language programs goes to the Clark County School District, in which 70 percent of the state's students are enrolled. One in five of those students has limited English proficiency, the Sun's Emily Richmond reports.

Nevada can be a leader in push for clean fuel: Nevada is blessed with abundant natural resources. Drive down an open stretch of U.S. 95 and most days you will be lucky enough to experience at least two of them: a strong crosswind, and more sun than the eyes can handle.

Democrats address a Nevada issue: Foreclosures: Michael J. Mishak; Democrats address a Nevada issue: Foreclosures

Is this meth treatment too good to be true?: A Las Vegas drug court is considering a prescription drug-based treatment for methamphetamine addiction that drug counselors and addicts say works, even though it is backed by little science and has been tried and abandoned elsewhere.

TO GRIEF, LAWMAKERS ADD FRUSTRATION: By David McGrath Schwartz; TO GRIEF, LAWMAKERS ADD FRUSTRATION

Brian Greenspun spots local points of light: I was waiting to hear former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's address about religion and politics the other day when former President George H.W. Bush - the one I voted for - took the podium at his presidential library to introduce the man seeking the Republican nomination for the White House.

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Live chat: Tuesday, noon PST; Chat with Krista Creelman; Problem Gambling Center executive director Krista Creelman will answer questions about gambling addiction from Las Vegas Sun readers from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. ... Submit question