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Industry and the Future of Gambling in North Dakota

admin — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:52:22 +0000

The state of North Dakota is situated in the very mid west of the United States of America. Although North Dakota is the nineteenth largest state in terms of area, it is one of the smallest in the United States in terms of population, with numbers totaling around six hundred and fifty thousand. This is an amazing number especially in comparison to other states where large cities have populations larger than the entire state of North Dakota. However given that much of the industry in North Dakota is related to agriculture this low population leaves a lot of extra space for the growth of crops. North Dakota shares its borders with Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba

Agriculture is not only the principal source of income for North Dakota, it is also a very big part of its culture, North Dakotans are very close to the land they live on. Food processing and petroleum processing are the secondary industries of the state. Like many of the other mid west states per capita income is way below the national average and with no new industries on the horizon, the prospects for South Dakotans seem limited. The states conservative viewpoint towards gambling is gradually taking a more positive course and over the last ten years or so, the industry has expanded in the state, but some say not quickly enough and without providing sufficient opportunities for live casino gambling.

Gambling was made legal in North Dakota more than thirty years ago, and has expanded obviously in keeping with the demand of the state’s residents to be able to play their favorite table games without needing to travel to neighboring states or even to Canada to do so. Also there are many restrictions placed on gambling in the state which can be off putting. Players have to be over twenty one years of age, are restricted in the games that they play, and any form of table games such as blackjack or poker are available in video format only. Many players found this experience unsatisfactory and instead opted for internet gaming, although it is deemed to be illegal within the state.

All in all the choices for gamblers in North Dakota are to make do with what is available at the moment, which is a state lottery, where the prizes are far from tempting, take part in bingo competitions, take your chances at not being discovered wagering online, or travel out of state to play in a live casino.

North Dakota, like so many of the more conservative states in the mid west are missing out on an opportunity to earn vital tax income and create jobs by ignoring the inevitability of a simple fact. Many Americans love to gamble in casinos as well as online. What happens is that the states who have legalized and promote gambling as a legitimate pass time are earning considerable tax income that they are reinvesting in the state, in jobs, in infrastructure and in industry.

Offers a Touch of France in North America

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:10:06 +0000

As the biggest city in the Canadian province of Quebec, Montreal is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most livable cities. It’s also the world’s second largest city where French is the primary language, second only to Paris. French is the official language of Montreal, which was initially explored in the 16th century by French explorer Jacques Cartier. At the time of his exploration, the Montréal area was already the site of a thriving population of native people, primarily of the St. Lawrence Iroquois tribe, and excavations of the surrounding area indicate that Montreal was inhabited for at least 2,000 years prior to European arrival in the area. Interestingly, when French explorer Samuel Champlain visited the area some 70 years later, the entire population of Iroquois had disappeared, most probably as a result of tribal warfare, diseases, and migration to other areas. Originally named Ville-Marie, or “City of Mary,” Montreal derives its current name from the three-peaked hill at the center of the city, known as Mount Royal. In its early years, Ville-Marie was established as a Roman Catholic mission, dedicated to converting the natives to Catholicism. But it wasn’t long before the settlement, located as it was amid rich, dense forests teeming with wildlife, became a major outpost for fur trading, and provided a convenient spot for further French exploration of much of North America. In 1760, Great Britain defeated the French and assumed control of settlement, and in 1832, the area was officially incorporated as the City of Montreal. For the five-year period form 1844 until 1849, Montréal served as the capital of the Province of Canada. Montreal continued to grow, despite occasional setbacks during the World Wars and the advent of the Great Depression, and today the city ranks as one of Canada’s most frequently visited cities by tourists and other travelers, with a population of more than 1.6 million people. The city is rich in architectural heritage, and the buildings reflect a number of disparate styles reflective of the various points in the city’s growth. Montreal’s splendid Notre Dame Basilica, flanked by its two massive towers, offers a beautiful example of Gothic Revival architecture, with its interior richly decorated in shades of blue, purple, red, silver, and gold. The Bonsecours Market was once the central marketplace of Montréal, and today offers a wide selection of shops and eateries for locals and tourists. Even Montreal’s city hall is chateau-esque in its appearance. The city also boasts Canada’s tallest skyscrapers, including the cross-shaped Place Ville-Marie, previously known as the Royal Bank Tower. The tower, which rises more than 600 feet in the air, is also the central point of Montreal’s famous underground city, a complex of eateries, retail outlets, and other institutions located both above and below ground, and connected by a huge system of tunnels. Montreal is also famous for its underground public transportation system, Montreal Metro, which boasts a wealth of public art in all of its 68 stations. The stations themselves are designed separately, with an eye toward artistic appeal as well as convenience. In addition to a diverse and thriving artistic community, Montreal is also home to a huge and highly successful aeronautics industry, which has helped the city attract new technology-based businesses, ushering the city’s industrial base into the 21st century. For more information on Canada, visit http://montrealmicroblog.com and http://quebecmicroblog.com

A Travel Guide to Free Activities in Quebec City

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:12:02 +0000

Quebec is the only Canadian province that has French as its official language. It has numerous natural landscapes and historic sites. Consider some traveling tips to Quebec for maximum pleasure during your stay.

Quebec is a peaceful province in Central Canada. Throughout the country, it is the only province whose official language is French due to its predominant French-speaking population. Aside from this, the Civil Law Legal System is a French tradition and is strongly practiced in this province.

Quebec is the largest province of Canada according to land area. It also ranks the second largest as the country’s administrative division. The larger portion is Nunavut.

Quebec is bordered by James Bay, Hudson Bay and Ontario to the west. It is surrounded by Ungava Bay and Hudson Strait to the north, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence as well as New Brunswick, Labrador and Newfoundland to the east; New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine are to its south. When it comes to maritime borders, Quebec shares it with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Nunavut.

Following Ontario, Quebec is ranked as the second most populous province. In fact, most of its residents are situated along the Saint Lawrence River, which is in-between the capital, Quebec City, and Montreal. Along the northern half of Quebec, you will find Aborigines sparsely occupying it.

Quebec is noted for it natural resources which mainly contributes to its economy. Other contributing factors would be aerospace and communication technology knowledge, biotechnology and their pharmaceutical industries.

Going on a Trip to Quebec

When planning a leisure or business trip to Quebec, the oldest city in North America, you are in luck because 2008 happens to be its 400th year of the city. Throughout the year, a range of festivities and special events are carefully planned which includes a free summer concert of no less than their very own Celine Dion.

Quebec Attractions
Quebec boasts of many natural landscapes and historic sites. This would include the following:

The Citadelle de Quebec is a tourist attraction also noted as the “Gibraltar of the Americas.” It occupies Cap Diamant’s highest point, around 100m over the St. Lawrence River. It is not only part of the “Fortifications of Quebec,” it is also the home base of the French-speaking Canadian Forces regimen. As the official residence of Canada’s Governor General, it also acts as a military installation.

The Battlefields Park is a tourist attraction created in the year 1908, marking the 300th anniversary of the foundation of Quebec. This park occupies an area of about 108 hectares, having no less than 6,000 trees as well as shrubs that belong to more than 80 species. Aside from this, the park can be grouped with the Des Braves Park and the Plains of Abraham.

Also visit the magnificent Place Royale. It is considered as French America’s birthplace and the Palace Royale’s historical site which welcomes hundreds to thousands of guests every year. Its picturesque and narrow streets have actually witnessed 3 magnificent years if its history. Most of Place Royale’s buildings are components of the so-called “cultural complex” managed by Musee de la Civilisation. It is the one responsible for the interpretation and animation of the site.

Travel Guide to Quebec City

Whether you will be going to Quebec City by plane, car, bus or train, you should always be updated with the current news and recent events in the region. You really don’t need to bring a lot of money to go to Quebec. In fact, the most favorable attractions here are free. A good example would be the 3-day museum pass which includes 20 attractions and museums along with 2 days of convenient public transportation.

You can try walking around the UNESCO-designated wall surrounding Quebec City.

From the tourist office, secure a walking tour map. You can try walking at the well-signed, brand new VivaCite Stroll which features some very interesting landmarks.

On the “Plains of Abraham”, you can attend an open-air free concert.

Every Wednesday, you can check-out the Museum of Fine Arts for free.

You can catch fascinating views of Quebec City when you ride a ferry to Levis.

Join their numerous carnivals and street festivals.

In Rue St. Jaques, along Lower Town’s Saint Roch District, you can try having lunch on the delectable sidewalk hotdog place.

Along Rue St. Jean’s main street, you will find Chez son Pere, you can listen to the traditional Quebecois Music for free. This is by the upper level bar.

You can go to Simon’s Department Store along Rue St. Jean for a new pair of cheap Quebecois designer wear. This institution has been existent and trusted for more than 100 years now.

In Lower Downtown, look for the Farmer’s Market, where in, you can sample their tapenades, fruit wines and local cheeses.