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Coverage of the Victorian Premier Dan Andrews press conference and current measures in Victoria
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced a special taskforce of 500 police to enforce a shutdown of pubs, clubs and other venues and restrictions on social gatherings.
Key points:
The Premier said Victorians had been "acting selfishly" by flouting social distancing rules
Teachers are planning online learning for if schools close for term two, after the term one was brought to a close early
Police will conduct spot checks to ensure people are complying with the shutdown
It comes as Victoria recorded another 59 cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the state's total to 355. The announcement follows the Prime Minister's declaration yesterday that venues across the country would have to close from midday today to curb the spread of coronavirus. While the National Cabinet agreed on the shutdown together, it was up to the individual states and territories to put the measures into law. The "stage one" shutdown in Victoria includes pubs, clubs, nightclubs, Crown Casino, gyms, indoor sporting venues, places of worship, cinemas and entertainment venues. Restaurants and cafes will only be allowed to provide home delivery or takeaway services. Bottleshops can remain open. Mr Andrews told ABC Radio Melbourne any business not on the list could stay open, as long as it adhered to social-distancing measures such as ensuring there is 4 square metres for each person on the premises. Indoor gatherings are still limited to fewer than 100 people. Mr Andrews said many Victorians had been "acting selfishly" by ignoring social-distancing rules, and warned "people will die" if the measures were not followed. He told ABC Radio Melbourne stricter measures were likely to be enforced after the next National Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
What must close in Victoria:
Pubs, clubs, hotels, bars and nightclubs that supply alcohol under a general licence (but bottleshops, takeaway meals and accommodation can continue)
Gyms
Indoor sporting centres
Casinos
"A cinema, nightclub or entertainment venue of any kind"
Restaurants and cafes (but takeaways and deliveries can continue)
Places of worship (but weddings and funerals can continue)
The Premier flagged a shutdown of "non-essential" services yesterday afternoon, ahead of a meeting of the National Cabinet last night. He today denied suggestions his statement on Sunday caused confusion and panic, saying "this is not static. This is moving fast". Mr Andrews acknowledged it was "frustrating and challenging" that the advice was changing. "But it's nowhere near as challenging as people doing the wrong thing, and then we have 10,000 people who can only survive if they have a machine to help them breathe and we don't have enough machines and doctors to get that done."
Schools prepare for online learning in case of shutdown
Mr Andrews yesterday announced the school term would end at the end of the school day today, rather than at the end of the week as originally scheduled. The National Cabinet last night agreed to keep schools open across the country. "Term two is scheduled to begin on April 14, unless I have medical advice not to proceed with term two," Mr Andrews said this morning. But he said: "I'm not making that announcement today." Tuesday will be a pupil-free day for teachers to plan for online learning in the event schools need to remain closed beyond the school holidays. Childcare centres and kindergartens are deemed essential services under the shutdown measures. "But this is step one. There will be further announcements to be made," Mr Andrews said.
Police able to fine, detain, arrest
Police and authorised officers will also be enforcing a mandatory self-isolation period for anyone entering Victoria from overseas. Under Victoria's state of emergency legislation, those breaking the rules face fines of nearly $20,000 for individuals and nearly $100,000 for businesses. Mr Andrews warned the closure of pubs was not an invitation to have large gatherings at home. He said last week, one person at a dinner party had coronavirus and by the end of the evening almost everyone had contracted the virus.
"This spreads rapidly. If you act selfishly people will die," he said.
"Many people are doing the right thing and I'm grateful to them." Mr Andrews said it was people's "civic duty" to distance themselves from others. He told ABC Radio Melbourne that the Government was arranging temporary accommodation for people experiencing an escalation in domestic violence because they were forced to stay at home Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said police saw "quite a number of breaches in relation to indoor gatherings" over the weekend. "We are upping the ante … this is such a significant issue in terms of people's lives, Victoria Police will have a dedicated team tasked with doing those spot checks and making sure people are following the rules in terms of social gatherings," she said. "Police have the power to fine you, arrest you, detain you and they will use those powers where needed in the interest of community safety." Mr Andrews said nobody had been fined or charged for disobeying the self-isolation rules.
Supermarkets, shopping centres stay open
Under the stage one shutdown, shopping centres can remain open. Chadstone Shopping Centre in Melbourne's east, which is the largest complex in Australia, said only 10 stores out of more than 550 had closed on Monday morning. "Our centres continue to trade as normal. The Federal Government has made it clear shopping centres continue to provide an essential service to our community," a spokesman said in a statement. The shutdown is in place until midnight on April 13, but Mr Andrews said it was "highly likely" it would be extended beyond that. The Government yesterday announced emergency relief packages would be provided to those in self-isolation. On Friday, the Victorian Farmers Federation said the state had "plenty of food" and told those who were panic-buying to "settle your farm". Full article from ABC news
Trip Report: The 10 Best Sightseeing Activities in Singapore
Singapore has a lot to offer visitors, from modern skyscrapers to charming colonial neighborhoods, those who have the chance to explore Singapore will have no trouble filling their time, and their stomachs, with the rich cultures that can be found here. Singapore is small enough that you can travel from one end of the country to the other in around two hours by the state-of-the-art subway system (MRT), the official language is English, and you can drink the water straight out of the tap. In addition, Singapore enjoys one of the lowest crime-rates on Earth, so you can relax knowing you can explore the city safely. It is sometimes referred to as “Asia Light” because you can get a taste of Asian culture, while enjoying easy travel and all the comforts and conveniences of one of the wealthiest cities on the continent. I have spent a good amount of time here exploring the tiny city-state and playing tour guide for visiting friends and family members. Here is my list of the best attractions for short-term visitors to check out while exploring this fascinating city.
Marina Bay
A scenic walk around Singapore’s Marina Bay is the perfect way to take in some of the best views of the city’s awe-inspiring skyline. Marina Bay is surrounded with some of Singapore’s most famous landmarks. To the south, there is the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel with its three skyward towers crowned by a world-famous infinity pool, the ArtScience Museum, with its high-tech salad bowl architecture, and Gardens by the Bay. To the north, the imposing skyline of Singapore’s Central Business District provides a backdrop for the Fullerton Hotel with its Merlion statue, the official mascot of Singapore, with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, and Theatres on the Bay performing arts center. The Theatres on the Bay building was intended to look like a microphone, but locals endearingly refer to it as “The Durian” because it also closely resembles the stinky fruit commonly eaten in Malaysia and Singapore. Marina Bay is located at the southern end of the downtown core, where the Singapore River meets the South China Sea. You can reach the bay via the Bayfront MRT station which will drop you off underneath the upscale shopping mall that adjoins the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Be sure to stay for Spectra, a laser light, music and water show at Marina Bay that happens Sunday-Thursday 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm, and Friday and Saturday 8:00 pm, 9:00 pm, and 10:00 pm.
Gardens by the Bay
Singapore Gardens by the Bay was originally conceived in 2005 as part of an effort to transform Singapore into a “City in a Garden”. Consisting of 250 acres of manicured gardens, and admission is free. The main attractions are two large glass conservatories, the Flower Dome, and the Cloud forest, and the Supertree Grove. The Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world without internal supporting columns, and is filled with hundreds of species of carefully manicured flower and plant gardens. The Cloud Forrest is a towering structure designed to simulate high-elevation tropical habitat, and features a huge indoor waterfall. Visitors can take an elevator to the top and walk down through the various levels of the structure which contain exhibits along the way. The Cloud Forrest features an excellent exhibit on the effects of global warming in the region and the world. The Supertree Grove consists of towering structures designed to act as artificial trees. Each tree is covered in species of ferns orchids and other plants representing different regions. Be sure to catch Garden Rhapsody, nightly at 7:45 and 8:45, a light show synchronized to music at the Supertree Grove. The electricity to power the lights and music is sustainably generated at the Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is carefully engineered for conservation. The conservatory domes collect rain water for the park, while electricity is generated by photovoltaic cells to generate electricity, and biomass in the form of plant trimmings from the garden are burned to generate steam and power turbine generators. Admission to Gardens by the Bay is totally Free, but there is a fee to enter the conservatory domes. You can visit the website for the latest events and details http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en.html
Hawker Centers
It has been said that you can tell a lot about a culture by its food. While Singapore has a huge array of fine dining options for visitors, the hawker centers are what feed the locals. Singaporean food has influences stemming from China, Malaysia, India, and the rest of Southeast Asia, and should be on any visitor’s list of things to check out. Hawker centers are basically food courts which first sprang up in Singapore in the 1950’s in an attempt to manage the street vendors who were setting up shop all over Singapore. An overabundance of street food was causing congestion, and made it nearly impossible to oversee sanitation. The solution was to move vendors into permanent stalls in large food centers, where health officials could ensure sanitary conditions. In my opinion the best food in Singapore can be found in the hawker centers, and for reasonable prices too. If you are planning to sample of Singapore’s culinary delights, you might consider skipping the indoor restaurants, and head straight to the local hawkers.
East Coast Park Lagoon Food Center
This is my personal favorite choice to experience Singaporean food. Located on East Coast Park, this hawker has some of the best food in Singapore, with an amazing view of the ocean. Get there early to ensure that you can get a good table, buy a bucket of beer, and sample the rich food culture of Singapore on the beach. This is a great place to try seafood, including the infamous chili crab, one of the unofficial national dishes of Singapore. Chili crab is a whole crab cooked in a rich spicy curry. Soft fried buns are usually eaten alongside chili crab so soak up the delicious sauce. The chicken, mutton, and beef satay are also a must-try. After your dinner you can work off some of your meal by walking along the ocean, watching the large ships mooring offshore while they wait to access the Singapore Harbor. The best way to get to East Coast Park Lagoon is by taxi, as MRT does not go there. Be sure to tell the driver that you want to go to “East Coast Park Hawker”, not “East Coast Park Seafood."
Maxwell Food Centre
Located nearby Singapore’s vibrant Chinatown, the Maxwell Food Center offers visitors the chance to try a selection of Singapore’s most famous dishes, at a convenient downtown location. Probably Maxwell’s most famous stall is Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Made famous by an endorsement from celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain, long lines are usually present to sample the poached or roasted chicken and fragrant garlic rice. Personally I would skip the line, as the other chicken rice vendors at Maxwell are also excellent, but you certainly can’t go wrong with Tian Tian. Keep an out for roti prata at Maxwell. Roti prata is a Malaysian Muslim dish which is similar to a crepe, filled with egg, onion, and/or cheese, and served with a rich curry for dipping. Roti prata is my favorite breakfast in Singapore.
Lau Pa Sat Festival Market
Lau Pa Sat is located in the center of Singapore’s financial district. Located in the historic Telok Ayer Market building, which was originally built on what was at the time Singapore’s waterfront in 1824, Lau Pa Sat is a great place to get your grub on. The best time to go is after 7:00 pm, when they close one of the adjacent streets for “Satay Street”, where vendors compete to see who grills the best satay, or delicious skewers of marinated meat that are served with a peanut dipping sauce.
Cable Car to Sentosa
The small Island of Sentosa was built just off the southern coast of Singapore as a resort and entertainment destination. Sentosa is covered in theme parks, water parks, golf courses, and beach-front bars. Universal Studios is one of Sentosa’s main attractions, but visitors can race down a zip-line, take a bungee jump, navigate a street luge course, see one of the world’s largest aquariums, or try their luck at the casino. You can get to Sentosa by taxi, on foot, or by monorail. My favorite way to reach the island is by the incredibly scenic Cable Car. The Cable Car consists of small gondolas on a sky-high cable that runs from Mt. Faber on the mainland, through the Harbourfront Center building, all the way across a long waterway to Sentosa. The Cable Car provides some of the best views of Singapore, and is definitely the way to get to Sentosa in style. You can ride the cable car to Sentosa by taking a taxi to Mt. Faber, or hopping on MRT to the Harbourfront Station (Vivo City). Round trip tickets are USD $20, but even budget travelers might find the experience worth a splurge.
Chinatown
Singapore is more than 75% ethnic Chinese, so it should come as no surprise that it is home to a lively and thriving Chinatown. Visiting Chinatown offers visitors to Singapore an opportunity to experience the sights, smells, and flavors of China right in the heart of Singapore. Chinatown is made up of several blocks of colorful colonial style shop-houses just outside of the Central Business District. The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is one of the main attractions in Singapore’s Chinatown. The temple offers visitors the chance to visit an active working Buddhist temple. The structure itself is not old, built in 2007 in the style of Chinese Tang architecture at a cost of $75 million dollars. The temple gets its name because it houses a tooth that is said to have belonged to the Buddha. The tooth was discovered in a collapsed golden stupa in Myanmar in 1998, and the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was built to offer a suitable place to house the holy relic. The temple is four stories high, with a large prayer wheel and serene garden on the roof. Admission is free of charge, including the excellent museum showcasing the history of Buddhism. The temple is located on South Bridge Road and Sago Lane, which was once referred to as the street of the dead as it was once lined with “death houses”. In Chinese superstition, it is unlucky if anyone dies in the family home, so early Chinese immigrants to Singapore sent their elderly to places like Sago Lane to await their end. Chinatown food street is located on Smith Street, right in the heart of Chinatown. Closed to car traffic, the street is lined with hawker stalls and outdoor seating, offering a great place to try some of Singapore’s local favorites. The stalls tend to be a little more expensive on food street, than in Singapore’s plentiful hawker centers, but the lively atmosphere makes up for it. Smith Street is also home to Liao Fan Hawker Chan Restaurant (78 Smith Street). Hawker Chan has received the coveted Michelin Star award for its chicken rice in 2016, and is widely acclaimed as the cheapest place to try a Michelin Star meal in the world at well under five bucks a plate. Singapore’s Chinatown is also one of the best places to pick up inexpensive souvenirs for your friends and family back home. Many of the streets of Chinatown are lined with shops featuring the best of Singapore’s touristy nick-knacks, and at some of the lowest prices on the island due to the amount of competition.
Little India
The bright colors and bustling streets of Little India, offer visitors a taste of the Indian sub-continent right in central Singapore. Little India holds a large share of Singapore’s hostels and budget accommodation options, so if you are traveling on the cheap, odds are you will get to know Little India pretty well. The main things to do in Little India, are shop and eat. Little India Arcade is a small collection of shop-houses that were built in 1913. The narrow streets are closed off to traffic, and are lined with shops selling curiosities from India. This is a great place to do some souvenir shopping while exploring the fascinating wares that the vendors are offering. The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is a colorful Hindu Temple in the heart of Little India, the temple was built in 1881 and is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. Inside, a statue of Kali can be seen adorned with a garland of human skulls. Mustafa Centre is Singapore’s answer to a Walmart. This huge shopping complex is open 24 hours, and consists of sprawling labyrinth-like corridors spanning several floors of multiple buildings. If Mustafa Centre doesn’t have it somewhere, it probably doesn’t exist. For great cheap food, stop by Sakunthalas Restaurant at 151 Dunlop Street. They serve up a variety of Indian dishes at bargain prices. Be sure to order a “teh tarik” or pulled tea to go with your meal.
Singapore Zoo
A visit to the Singapore is a great way to spend an afternoon or an evening while visiting Singapore. I am a little bit hesitant to recommend zoos to travelers, as they sometimes get a bad rap for their treatment of the animals. The Singapore Zoo is truly an exceptional zoo, and I am pleased to report that enclosures and care for the animals are first-rate. Most of the animals have plenty of space to roam. Some, like the monkeys don’t even really have cages, and can wander around in the primate area as they please. I have actually seen wild local monkeys interacting with the monkeys at the zoo on more than one occasion. The elephants have acres of land that they can walk, and all of the enclosures are clean and well cared for. Visiting the Singapore Zoo will offer you a chance to see wildlife from around the globe and you can learn about the threats to endangered animals in Southeast Asia. For a particular treat, you can even arrange to have breakfast with the orangutans. Have you ever gone to a zoo, and half of the animals are just lying there asleep? That’s because many of the animals are nocturnal, and are mainly active at night. The Singapore Zoo Night Safari is the perfect way to see how all of the animals that are normally sleeping during the day behave once the sun goes down. On the night safari, guests are driven around the zoo on a tram, offering a glimpse into the alter ego of the wild kingdom. The Singapore Zoo River Safari showcases the fish and animals that live in the world’s largest river systems. The River Safari is unique, as most aquariums highlight saltwater and ocean fish. It is really amazing to see just how diverse life in freshwater systems can be. The river safari also offers two optional boat tours at an additional cost. The Night Safari, and River Safari, are available as an add-on to zoo admission, or as a separate ticket. Personally I prefer the River Safari to the zoo, as it is not that often that you have a chance to explore the Earth’s freshwater habitats in an aquarium.
Nature Reserves
Most visitors to Singapore would never guess that the ultra-modern city was once nothing more than mangrove swamps and thick jungles. While most of the tiny island has been paved, and is now home to towering skyscrapers, there are still a few wilderness areas where you can get a taste of the dense forests that once dominated the landscape in Singapore.
MacRitchie Reservoir
The MacRitchie Reservoir is Singapore’s oldest reservoir, built in 1838. There is still more than 1 square kilometer of virgin jungle next to the reservoir, that hikers can explore via wooden boardwalks and trails. Water monitor lizards and monkeys are commonly seen along the trail, and the latter can even be a nuisance if you do not keep your food hidden from sight. Trails range in length from 3-11 km. It can be unbearably hot and humid in the jungle in Singapore, so be sure to bring plenty of water, and visit in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat. MacRitchie Reservoir can be easily accessed by the Marymount MRT station. Where else, can you take the subway to get to the jungle to hike with wild monkeys and giant lizards?
Sungei Buloh Wetlands
Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve is located to the extreme north of Singapore, next to the causeway that separates Singapore from West Malaysia. The park is home to swampy mangrove forests and estuaries that attract all sorts of wildlife. On a typical walk at Sungei Buloh, you can expect to see water monitor lizards, monkeys, countless bird species, mudskippers, dragonflies, and even saltwater crocodiles. The trails are impeccably maintained, and flat. There are birdwatching blinds, and benches along the trail, making this more of a casual nature walk than a hike, but Sungei Buloh is still one of the best places to spot what is left of the wild animal species that once dominated the island of Singapore.
Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is without a doubt one of the strangest attractions in Singapore. Originally built in 1934 by the Haw brothers, who were the creators of Tiger Balm ointment, the sprawling complex was originally the grounds for one of the family’s lavish mansions, and an amusement park. The amusement park/grounds were intended to teach school children about Chinese culture by depicting scenes from Chinese folklore in the hundreds of statues that cover the grounds. Despite seemingly constant maintenance, the statues seem to be in a constant state of disrepair, giving the park the vibe of a long-abandoned, dilapidated amusement park, straight out of a horror movie. The main attraction at Haw Par Villa, is “The Ten Courts of Chinese Hell”, an indoor depiction describing the ten hells, and the sins that will land you in each one. Admission is totally free, and you can reach the park from the Haw Par Villa MRT Station.
Tiger Brewery
The largest brewery in Singapore, Tiger Brewery offers regular tours of their extensive operation located on the west side of Singapore. Tiger brews beer for several different brands, including ABC and Guinness. The tour costs about USD $15, and includes a generous sampling of Tiger’s brews in the tasting room. Getting to the brewery is a bit of a trek, as MRT does not go directly to Tiger. The best way is by taxi, or tour can hop on one of Singapore’s excellent public busses to save some cash. Tickets should be purchased in advance. You can reserve a spot on a tour here https://tigerbrewerytour.com.sg/ The original posting of this trip report (with pictures) can be found here https://www.mymola.com/the-10-best-sightseeing-activities-in-singapore/
Pubs, Bars or Taverns near Train Stations in Perth
So, the contributions have stopped coming in now. Have had a lot of help, so thank you all very much. Am gonna list all I have below. If you have any more suggestions/comments, let me know, and I'll add them here. Thanks all again - I hope people of Perth find this useful if they are planning any pub related activities around trains... Overseas travelers reading this: Be advised that Australia often uses the work "Hotel" to describe a pub. You will likely find an old (For Perth) Hotel, which has been modernized, and no longer offers accommodation, just booze. Yeah - I don't understand it either... So, without further ado:
MIDLAND LINE
Perth - Loads North or South of the Station, but The Globe is close. McIver – Badlands Bar Claisebrook – The Royal On the Waterfront, Zesto Cafe East Perth – (Just over 1km )The Brisbane Hotel, The Queens Tavern Mt Lawley – Loads here around intersection of Beaufort St & Walcott St, West of Station Maylands – The Peninsula Tavern, Henry on Eighth, Swallow Bar, Miss Kittys Saloon, Meltham – The Civic Hotel Bayswater – Bayswater hotel (Is a hotel for staying at, but has a bar and Bistro attached) Ashfield Bassendean – The Bassendean Hotel, The Cork and Bottle Success Hill Guildford – The Guildford Hotel, The Rose and Crown, The Stirling Arms East Guildford - The Woodbridge Hotel Woodbridge Midland – The 7th Ave, The Principal, The Grand Central Hotel, The Commercial Tavern
JOONDALUP LINE:
Elizabeth Quay - (Loads of Pubs) The Lucky Shag Bar is Popular Perth Underground – (Loads of Pubs) The Aviary is just above Leederville – Loads of Pubs but Niche Bar & Fibber Mcgees are Closest Glendalough – These 4 are all nearly 2km. Pirate Bar, O.P’s Tavern, The Paddington Ale House, Herdsman Lake Tavern Stirling - Botanica Bar & Bistro, The Saint George Hotel Warwick – The Carine Glades Tavern, The Greenwood Hotel Greenwood – Greenwood Sports Bar Whitfords – The Kingsly Tavern Edgewater Joondalup – The Sovereign Arms, Paddy Malones Currambine - Currambine Bar and Bistro Clarkson Butler – The Cornerstone Ale House
ARMADALE LINE
Perth - Loads North or South of the Station, but The Globe is close. McIver - Badlands Bar Claisebrook - The Royal On the Waterfront, Zesto Cafe Perth Stadium Station – The Camfield (Stadium Bar – station only used on event days). Burswood – Empire Bar, Blasta Brewing Co, The Casino has bars Victoria Park – Broken Hill Hotel Carlisle – The Carlisle Hotel Oats Street – The Balmoral Hotel (1.6km) Welshpool – The Bentley Hotel Queens Park Cannington Thornlie Beckenham Kenwick Maddington Gosnells – Gosnells Hotel Seaforth Kelmscott Challis Sherwood Armadale
FREMANTLE LINE:
Perth - Loads North or South of the Station, but The Globe is close. City West - Amphoras Bar, Black Tom's West Leederville - J.B. O'Reilly's Subiaco – The Vic, Refuge Small Bar, The Village Bar, Subiaco Hotel - Loads of bars here. Daglish - Juanita's Shenton Park - The Unicorn Bar Karrakatta Loch Street Claremont – Claremont Hotel, Brooklyn Lounge Swanbourne Grant Street Cottesloe – Albion Hotel, Ocean Beach Hotel (known as The OBH 1.5kms), Cottesloe Beach Hotel Mosman Park - Rodney's Bait and Tackle Victoria Street North Fremantle – Mojo’s Bar, Mrs Brown Bar, Piggy Food Co Fremantle - Loads here: National Hotel, Newport Hotel, Sail & Anchor, Little Creatures
MANDURAH LINE:
Perth Underground - (Loads of Pubs) The Aviary is just above Elizabeth Quay - - (Loads of Pubs) The Lucky Shag Bar is Popular Canning Bridge – The Raffles Hotel, Mount Henry Tavern Bull Creek Murdoch – The Bull Creek Tavern, The Murdoch Guild Tavern Cockburn Central – The Gate Aubin Grove - The Quarie Bar & Brasserie, Kwinana Wellard Rockingham - The Swinging Pig (about 2.4kms from station) Warnbro - Drop Inn (about 2.5km) Mandurah
Hello my fellow degens! update. I’m tracking daily progress in the comments below. Day 4 ended; $1245 ahead so far. Tomorrow morning, I set sail on the Oasis of the Seas to cruise the Caribbean for a week! I've got $5k set aside for gambling and a couple of obstacles to overcome. My wife and I were waffling over the amount to set aside for a gambling budget; I was originally planning $10k or $20k, but I was unable to solicit any commitments from Club Royale that they would raise table limits or accommodate my play requests since I wasn't an established player...so I don't want the risk of carrying around that kind of cash for no avail. All their tables are $5 - $1000, even the European roulette table. Obstacle #1: Newbie Having not cruised with Royal Caribbean before, I'm not yet a member of Club Royale and new to the Crown and Anchor society; nor is there any link between Club Royale and where I've been gambling for the last decade...so I have no perks, membership rewards, nothing. I'll be damned if I am going to pay for drinks in the casino despite not having a perk level to get free drinks, I'm hoping a friendly conversation with the casino manager and/or pit boss when I first go into the casino about why I chose that ship (I literally chose the Oasis of the Seas because it has a single-zero roulette table on it, unlike most non-RCCL ships, and 14 of the other 25 RCCL ships). Obstacle #2: Table Time! The Oasis of the Seas is one of the few cruise ships that have a single zero roulette table. They have one American table, and one European table. Previous cruisers I have inquired with noted that while they saw the table existed, it was never open. As a casino, you would of course prefer players sit at the American table with double the house advantage. I will never again play American roulette. I did spend some time in the last couple of months learning how to play craps - pass line / no pass line bets, odds maxing, triple mollys, even martingaling field bets...in case they WON'T open the single zero table. But I'm hoping if I am well dressed, and sit down at the table by myself, make a giant pile of $100 bills, and stare at the pit boss with lonely eyes, they might reconsider. Obstacle #3: Comps! Table games notorious have less comps than slots...on cruise ships, even more so. One guy I was talking to told me that his wife got a $400 comp voucher on this ship for playing through $100 in slots in an hour, while he got $100 in comps for playing through $1500 on the craps table in three days. I need to figure out how to not be screwed for comps. Free drinks, future cruise discounts, free cruises...I'm used to Casinos at Sea offering me free stuff as a "valued casino patron" with Norwegian; but being new to RCCL, I need this first cruise to establish me as a customer that they want to invite back for less than full priced cruises, to give me excuses to live in their onboard casino. Anyway - it'll be fun! Share any thoughts you might have on overcoming these obstacles.
“The only way to ensure internet neutrality in Divasa is to place the internet under government control,” opines Ludwig Martin, Minister of Telecommunications. “My ministry has been trying to reel in the unfair practices of these companies for ages, and now public sentiment is on our side. With an internet free of ‘premium access’ and content discrimination, Divasa will be the envy of the Pacific. Unfortunately, since providing free access would be enormously expensive, we’ll have to increase taxes slightly... but isn’t that a small price to pay?”
High school principal Samus Smiley says, “The last time I checked, one of the purposes of the Divasa government was to provide a decent education for our children. More and more students are turning to online services as a way to accelerate their schooling. Online courses offer a wide range of education in academics and work-related skills. But not all my students have the internet, and there’s certainly no commercial incentive to lay down lines in farmland. The government needs to step in and provide a free internet for these students. Invest in our future!”
“Oh for the love of Violet...” bemoans conservative columnist Amelia Blair. “The government has proven time and time again that it destroys everything it touches. Do you want your internet to be slow? Do you want to be taxed up the wazoo, thanks to government inefficiency? I sure don’t. Just let the market handle this for once. While you’re at it, take the money you would have used on this worthless endeavour and give your citizens a well-deserved tax refund instead.”
“Considering the absurd regulations we have to put up with, it’s no wonder we have to charge so much for our internet service,” says Django Hall of Divasa Speedy Internet Co. “Safety guidelines, minimum access mandates. If the government would get rid of all these regulations, we could lay down lines for less Phoenixes, and pass the savings down to the consumers. This problem isn’t our fault: it’s yours.”
https://www.strawpoll.me/16180266 Issue 2 (The Empire Strikes First?) Reports indicate that several neighbouring nations are engaged in major weapons programs in contravention of international law and treaty, focusing public discourse on Divasa’s foreign policy—specifically, its position on preemptive strikes.
“We need to respond to these terrorist scumbags!” roars General Jake Fowler, turning a slightly alarming shade of purple. “I say we announce any illegal weapons program will be treated as an act of war! The risk of harsh words turning into an endless conflict that mires our troops in far-off lands for years at a time is a small price to pay for national security! If you don’t act now, these foreigners will think they can push us around forever! They must be taught a lesson, for the good of the Republic!”
Diplomatic bureaucrat Naomi McClaine remarks calmly, “There’s no need to go off half-cocked. It would be much better if we used an appropriate international body—the World Assembly, say, or a the Pacific tribunal—to investigate these rumours objectively for us. That way we have the international community on our side, and no one can accuse us of playing judge and jury. It will be well worth the extra diplomatic costs and bureaucratic red tape.”
“If these countries don’t respect international law, why would they respect international agencies?” wonders political analyst Warwick Sosa. “Our neighbours are acquiring these weapons for a reason: no one wants to pick a fight with a country that has weapons of mass destruction. The solution is simple: if we have WMDs of our own, they won’t dare to strike at us. It may seem mad, but in this crazy world, it’s the sanest thing we could do.”
Noted pacifist and tambourine artist Bongani Bradbury replies, “As usual, our nation’s proud leaders can only see violent solutions to our problems abroad. Wouldn’t it be refreshing if they focused on achieving peace through communication and accommodation, rather than force of arms? You may call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”
https://www.strawpoll.me/16180276 Issue 3 (Child Casino Shock) Children as young as eight have been spotted gambling in some of Divasa’s seedier casinos.
Social activist Jean-Paul Wells is outraged. “Gambling needs to be outlawed immediately. It’s no wonder children are becoming sucked into the vice, with adults setting such a poor example. Gambling is a stain on Divasa’s international reputation and it must be stopped!”
However, Crown Casino chairperson Nomfundo de Vries says, “What’s wrong with children gambling? It prepares them for the realities of life, teaching them that success or failure is not due to hard work or intelligence, but the roll of the dice. Besides, if kids weren’t gambling, they’d be spray painting trains.”
https://www.strawpoll.me/16180281 Issue 4 (Death Penalty On Agenda) Following a tragic double-murder, capital punishment has surged as an election issue. There now appears a real possibility that right-wing candidate Diego Taffs, running on a “Do the Crime, pay the Penalty” platform, will gain power. While society’s intelligentsia is outraged, debate rages as to whether the government should intervene.
“This is a democracy, remember?” rhetorically questions Professor Kathryn Carr of the University of Greater Divasa. “That means that if the people want something, the people get it. I hate to say it, but in the name of political freedom, we need to accept that our country will have the death penalty.”
“I’m sorry,” says Civil Rights Unionist Orson Howard, “but this travesty cannot be allowed to pass. If the government needs to crack down on lunatic fringe groups in order to keep our great nation free of the death penalty, then so be it. We must ban the politics of hatred and fear!”
Wantes to share my experience of visiting your country without knowing anything about it
Hello everyone. I’ve been wanting to make this post for a while A little more than a month ago I was able to visit your country. I didn't know much about it before going so I thought it would be cool to share with you the experience of someone that visited it with basically 0 information and what is the impression your country gives to a traveler without preconceptions. The only things I knew about your country were: 1.-It is cold. There's snow 2.-There are Moose. 3.-Some speak French. 4.-Niagara falls. 5.-They say Canadians are good people. That's about it. If I'm honest I wasn't very excited to visit your country beforehand but boy was I impressed. Niagara. At first I was underwhelmed with the falls. I saw them from afar and with how much people, shows and even cartoons talk about how big they are, they seemed small in comparison. I realized my expectations were blown out of proportion by what I had heard about them so I tried to look at them objectively after that. I guess seeing them from above wasn’t helping because It wasn't until I took the boat that I realized how majestic they were. Looking up and being surrounded by the Canadian one was incredible. Even if everything else had sucked (which it didn't) the trip would have been worth it. .The light show with the fireworks at night was pretty cool, as well as that perpetual mist that even gets to the street. Really beautiful place. Very peaceful. I want to give a special mention to the Rainbow Room restaurant at the top of the crowne plaza hotel. 10/10 would recommend. If you go visit Niagara Falls it's a must!. It has an amazing view of the falls and it's perfect for a wonderful dinner. It will probably seem like I'm getting paid but you gotta go there and try the scallops. Trust me. It's the most delicious food I have ever had in my entire life. I can't recommend this place enough. We went there for my fathers 60 birthday and it was excellent. Toronto. I honestly didn’t thought there were cities this big here.. I didn't expect to see how different the people and lifestyle of Toronto was compared to Niagara. It was hectic. And scary. We arrived there at night and since our hotel was one block away from Eaton centre we decided to go for a walk. Just in our first night there we saw multiple beggars asking for money. Walking just a block away from the Yonge-Dundas square, still on Yonge, we started to see strip clubs and the smell of weed filled the air. Not what we expected from the main touristic area of the city. We went back towards the plaza and passed right by a taxi driver discussing with a customer “I'm calling the police you haven't paid me” “No! IM calling the police!”. We went on our way when suddenly we hear the man screaming. “HELP! HELP!” We turned around to see the taxi driver grabbing the man by the neck. What the fuck. So we tried again the next day. We went to the same plaza to buy bus tickets for the bus that gives tours around town and there was a man dressed as a devil screaming to the tourist not to trust X hospital. Since most of us were either foreigner or from other areas i’m not sure exactly what he was trying to achieve, but police took him away from us soon after that. The thing about toronto..is that everything else was great! We stayed four nights and we didn’t see any other problem. Everyone was very kind, we saw the police guarding every block. The aquarium is cool, the tour in the boat in the lake was cool. The Natural and Art museum are amazing The CN Tower was pretty cool too as well as Casaloma. We met the most friendly taxi drivers there too. Overall..4/5 Ottawa. My favorite city. The perfect blend between old and new. The parliament and the change of guard as well as the light shows was pretty cool. It’s also cool since one side of the river is french and the other english so it feels like two cultures clashing and mixing as one community. We met a very kind couple while waiting for the light show. The lady didn’t speak any english (she was from montreal I think). Her husband was from Quebec but he did speak some english so he communicated through him. If they’re reading this, thanks for that chat! Sadly I lost 500 dollars walking through Major’s Hill park. I had them in my jacket, but I took it off as it was hot and was holding it in my hand, but somewhere in the park I dropped the wallet, looked for it but never found it :/. Fortunately I didn’t lose my passport or cards! And..I think I met the president? Maybe? We were walking towards the Fairmont when suddenly I see body guards and 3 black Suburbans (or similar), we walk past them towards the entrance of the hotel, I turn around and from my right (where the Parliament is) there is a tall man dressed with a blue shirt that looks kind of like Trudeau getting into the van in the middle. Now I’m not sure if he was him or not as I just saw him for like a second, and it’s weird the vans were in front of the Fairmont. All I know is he looked like him and he definitely didn’t come out of the hotel (as we were going in to see it), he was coming from the direction of the Parliament or the Metro. So in my head I saw your president I don’t care. Quebec. I was impressed it looks just like I imagine Europe to be. Small streets, horses doing tours, beautiful architecture and churches. On the topic of Churcest, they said they have the oldest church in north america I’m pretty sure that’s false because AFAIK Mexico and Cuba are part of north america and both had churches before there were even settlements in Canada. Still it was beautiful getting lost on the streets there. It definitely was one of the places that make me think “I need to come back to this place, I need to bring my Fiancee (which unfortunately couldn’t come)”. One thing I did notice there was the…”us vs them” feeling when it came to french and english canadians. A lot of them refused to speak in english and I was surprised at how many people spoke spanish there. We met more people that spoke semi fluent or fluent spanish than people who spoke english. I think that’s kind of sad especially given the impression of unity I got in Ottawa, but maybe I had bad luck? One thing I must say though, everyone was charming and kind in both the english and French parts. One funny thing that happened was when my father was checking in on the hotel, the receptionist saw we spoke spanish so she started to speak spanish too so we felt more comfortable (how kind!) but for some reason my father kept talking in english. So we had a french canadian speaking spanish to a mexican speaking english. I found that quite amusing. Montreal. The final stop was Montreal. If I had to describe the city it would be like the mixing of Toronto and Quebec. Big city but not that big. New buildings as well as very old ones. We took the tourist bus, went to the casino. The olympic park is worth a visit if you have time. I had never been to a planetarium and I think it was pretty cool. Overall thoughts. I think you have a beautiful country that you show be really proud of. One of my favorite things was that it is full of flowers! Every street in touristic areas is full of flowers and they make the city stand out. Apparently they all die in the winter so they are help at himbernaries? that’s amazing. I had a lot of misconceptions about it too. For example I thought even if it wasn’t snowy it would still be very cold, but it wasn’t! It was hot! And people didn’t dress the way I thought they would. Seriously every single girl was wearing shorts! and I assume the guys were too. Everyone was kind and did their best to help you if you asked. Although I found that people weren’t as accommodating? For example in toronto even though we stayed in a good hotel no one bothered to help us with the luggage, apparently it isn’t standard service there? It happened in a couple of places (All except Ottawa) so that was weird. Something interesting I noted is that they serve the whole food in a single plate. Fruit, potatoes and the main dish are all on a single plate. Here in my country even if all of it is included they bring it to you on different plates. It’s not good or bad just interesting. Sadly I didn't see neither snow nor a Moose. Really wanted to see them as I haven't seen either in my life. Also kinda sad I couldn't get a Nintendo switch as it was out of stock haha. Overall I was quite impressed by the country and the people. I didn’t expect much of it, I wasn’t interested, but I must say you guys have a beautiful country you should be proud of and if I have the opportunity it’s definitely a place I would love to go back to. I now genuinely think Canada is one of those places you should visit at least once in your lifetime. And If you live there and haven’t visited those places you should! Even if it’s just for one day like we did. It’s 100% worth it. I hope this post is received well. I know it’s kinda long and I tried to not make it sound as a humble brag, I’m just really really happy I got to visit your country and share my experience of how different it was from what I had thought.
Foreign Ownership of Land Register, Safe and Secure Rentals and Airport Authority Publicising Lost Property Sales drawn from ballot + Members Day Update
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Member in charge of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2): Why did he draft the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2)?
ANDREW LITTLE (Labour - list)(Member in charge of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill (No 2)): Because, in 2016, no child in New Zealand should be living in a hovel, and it is time that New Zealand accepted a standard that no child should be getting sick or die because they cannot live in a warm, safe, dry home. This bill sets standards to ensure that every rental property is livable and will keep kids out of hospital. Phil Twyford: How does this bill differ from the current law? ANDREW LITTLE: The current law, propagated by the present Government, applies a standard for insulation that is only at the 1978 standard and requires the installation of smoke alarms. My bill requires there to be a source of heating, requires weathertightness, requires the house to be able to be ventilated, and has a minimum standard on drainage. The Children's Commissioner described the Government's current law as shameful and said that it will do little for children living in cold, damp, mouldy homes. My bill will be a whole heap better.
The General Debate was Held The general debate is held every week on Wednesday after Question Time. The formal procedure for the debate is that a member move a motion that the house take note of miscellaneous business. Members have 5 minutes to speak to whatever issue they wish. At the end of the hour the motion lapses and no question is put or vote taken. The speakers were:
A transcript of the debate can be found – here Private and Local Orders of the Day
The committee stage of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill was completed. The debate on this non controversial bill was very quick - only 3 members took a call before the bill was agreed to and reported without amendment. The bill is in the name of Nicky Wagner (National - Christchurch Central)
Member’s Orders of the Day
The Minimum Wage (Contractor Remuneration) Amendment Bill was read a second time. This bill is in the name of Labour list MP David Parker. This Bill amends the Minimum Wage Act 1983 to extend its provisions to apply to payments under a contract for services that are remunerated at below the minimum wage. Act and National voted against the bill but the vote was won after United Future voted in favour of the bill.
The first reading of the Oaths and Declarations (Endorsing the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill was not agreed to. The purpose of this bill is to ensure that a person taking any oath set out in statute may, in addition to the words of the oath, elect to state that they will perform their duties in accordance with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. This bill saw spirited debate including the contribution of Treaty Affairs Minister and Attorney General Chris Finlayson (National – list). Arguments in favour contended that one could swear an oath on a bible to uphold the law according to their religious belief but not to uphold the principles of the Treaty that founded our nation. The counter argument was one based on the lack of need and that government agencies already uphold the principles of the treaty during their day to day activities and are required to consider them during decision making. The votes were:
Party
Aye
Nay
National
0
59
Labour
32
0
Green
14
0
New Zealand First
0
12
Maori
2
0
Act
1
0
United Future
1
0
Total
50
71
The Social Security (Stopping Benefit Payments for Offenders who Repeatedly Fail to Comply with Community Sentences) Amendment Bill was read a first time. The bill was passed 61 – 60. This bill is in the name of National MP for Rodney Mark Mitchell. This bill would give the Department of Corrections the power to issue warnings to persons who have not complied with community-based sentences, with the consequence of withholding benefit payments. It has been referred to the Social Services Select Committee.
Debate Interrupted
The debate on the Customs and Excise (Prohibition of Imports Made by Slave Labour) Amendment Bill was interrupted when Mark Mitchell (National – Rodney) was speaking with 9 speeches remaining. The bill is in the name of Labour’s Tāmaki Makaurau MP Peeni Henare and amends the Customs and Excise Act 1996 to make goods produced in whole or in part by slave labour a prohibited import. National have indicated they will be voting against the bill.
The Biscuit Tin of Democracy It has been a while but the biscuit tin has been dusted off and there was space for 3 bills to be drawn today. 79 bills were entered into the ballot. The winning bills were:
Land Transfer (Foreign Ownership of Land Register) Amendment Bill - Mahesh Bindra from New Zealand First proposes a bill that would ensure that a comprehensive register of all foreign-owned New Zealand land is compiled and made available to the general public.
Airport Authorities (Publicising Lost Property Sales) Amendment Bill in the name of Port Hills based National List MP Nuk Korako. This bill will amend the Airport Authorities Act 1966 to provide airport authorities with greater flexibility when publicising the disposal of lost property.
Psephology Spotlight Elections Concluded
In South Africa the ruling African National Congress suffered massive losses in their worst election performance since the end of Apartheid. The municipal council elections (which are conducted under MMP) saw the ANC lose majority control of many battleground cities including Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay and minor parties now are engaging in coalition talks between the ANC and opposition Democratic Alliance over who gets to control the council. In the last election the ANC garnered 62% of the popular vote whereas this year they mustered 54%. Corruption and economic woes are attributed to the swing away from the ANC. Famously President Zuma was found by the Constitutional Court to have benefited from $16 million worth of illegal expenditure to his personal home. In another example local corruption resulted in hundreds of toilets being built, row upon row, where houses should be instead.- see 1:20 in the video The ANC have promised to do a review in preparation for the next general election in 2019 and the position of President Zuma appears to be on shakey ground. However, many factions within the party are loyal to Zuma and it is thought that it is unlikely he could be brought down without a fight. Turnout was particularly key to the election results. Significant amounts of the population are still loyal to the ANC and so express their dissatisfaction by not turning up to vote, as they will not vote for any other party. Winning these groups back by 2019 is the new priority for the ANC and the opposition is hoping to win them over by bringing new leadership to local government.
The small African island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe has a new president after their August 7 vote. The first round was held on July 17 and provisional results suggested that challenger Evaristo Carvalho, a former Prime Minister, had won but the result was annulled due to irregularities. Incumbent president Pinto da Costa boycotted the second round after claiming Carvalho engaged in fraudulent activity in round 1 meaning Carvalho was elected unopposed. Costa served as the nation’s first president from 1975 – 1991 and was elected again in 2011. He will leave office in early September.
Upcoming Elections
Presidential elections will be held in Gabon on 28 August 2016. The president serves a seven year term and is elected via first past the post. The issue for the opposition is that given the multitude of candidates standing (14 are approved to be on the ballot) vote splitting may result in incumbent President Ali Bongo Ondimba sneaking back into office much like how Ondimba was first elected in 2009. Former United Nations General Assembly President and Gabonese Foreign Minister Jean Ping is considered Ondimba’s toughest competition. Ping served under Ondimba’s father who was president of Gabon from 1967 until his death in 2009 and was involved in demonstrations against Ondimba which were broken up by police.
General elections and a constitutional referendum will be held in Zambia on 11 August. At stake are 150 members of the National Assembly, the five year term of president and an amendment to the Bill of Rights. The amendment would see Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental rights inserted alongside civil and political rights. Additionally the referendum if approved would see the rules for amendments to the constitution and bill of rights changed. In the race for president Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front is hoping to be elected to his first full term in office after winning the 2015 presidential by election. He is facing a rematch with Hakainde Hichilema of the United Party for National Development who missed out on victory by 27,757 votes last time in a race that still is disputed. The election method is two round first past the post. The Patriotic Front currently has a plurality of seats (60) in the multi party National Assembly who are elected via first past the post.
Fact of the Day – Housing the Prime Minister All over the world Prime Ministers and leaders receive as a perk of their office a home that they can reside in throughout their tenure. In the United Kingdom it is 10 Downing Street, The French Prime Minister calls Hôtel Matignon home, The Prime Minister of Canada gets 24 Sussex Drive while the Prime Minister of India gets 7, Race Course Road (A.K.A Panchavati). In Australia the Prime Minister has The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney. In New Zealand it is Premier House but this hasn't always been the case. In the early days of the New Zealand Parliament, premiers were required to find their own accommodation. This changed in 1865 when the capital moved to Wellington and the government acquired a simple 22-year-old wooden cottage in Thorndon’s Tinakori Road. This was a damp, flood-prone gully, but it was close to Parliament. A Wellington newspaper, elated by the city’s new status, thought the £2900 price ‘cheap’. An Auckland paper called it a ‘monstrous waste of public money’. New Zealands sixth Premier, Frederick Weld, didn’t get to spend long in the house. Weld made many enemies by overseeing the moving of the capital to Auckland from Wellington as well as seeing the confiscation of more than a million acres of land from Waikato Maori. The finances of his government were precarious at best and his relations with the Governor soured over the withdrawal of British Troops. In October 1865 his government resigned after less than a year in the position. With the arrival of the Vogel family in 1872 the house adopted the name “the casino” and consisted of 8 bedrooms with conservatory and ballroom. The ballroom got a hammering. They made Premier House the social centre of Wellington. In July 1876 Lady Vogel sent out 250 invitations to a calico fancy dress ball, ‘the most brilliant of its kind yet seen in this city’. The Vogels also imported New Zealand’s first lawn tennis set, though Sir Julius was too unfit to chase the ball far. In 1884 the Vogels returned for another three years. Sir Julius was obese and gouty, so Cabinet often met in an office built in the house. In 1886 he added a lift to take him from the dining room up to his bedroom. After the Vogels moved out, the government tried to sell the property. But the press and public fought back. Wellington people valued its spacious grounds as a public amenity. Only the furniture was sold. Some suggested turning the site into an old men’s home or a university, but it stayed empty. MPs’ salaries had been cut, and the Liberal ministers of the 1890s had to live cheaply. Premier Richard John Seddon lived in a modest ministerial residence at 47 Molesworth Street. ‘This isn’t at all a nice house; it is surrounded, like a nunnery, with a high and close and ugly wooden fence, and presents a dismal appearance’, a voter complained. Seddon’s son remembered it fondly as ‘a political house. Politics was the sole subject day after day – at breakfast, dinner and tea.’ The Tinakori Street residence, vacant since 1893, was leased out from 1896 to 1900, when it became a ministerial residence again. The house’s fortunes recovered when Seddon’s deputy, Joseph Ward, moved in. Ward, soon to be Sir Joseph, and prime minister from 1906, named it Awarua House. Like Vogel, he enjoyed the good life. The Wards threw ‘at homes’, garden parties, receptions, garden fetes, balls and wedding receptions. Sometimes over 1000 people gathered there. When Governor Ranfurly dropped in for a chat, they served him whisky in special large glasses. Sir Joseph liked to free office hours for talking or socialising. So he spent the early morning in his study in pyjamas and dressing gown, signing the documents delivered by his chief secretaries. William Massey, the house’s next lengthy occupant, renamed it Ariki Toa, ‘home of the chief’. During the First World War the Masseys used it for patriotic activities. In 1925, Gordon Coates called Ariki Toa ‘a happy home … a haven of rest’. That year he rebuilt the conservatory and added an enclosed veranda above it. Four years later Cabinet again tried to sell it. ‘Sunless and damp, and the gardening costly and unnecessary’, an official sniffed. But again, public protests prevented a sale. Ariki Toa’s role as the prime minister’s official house ended in the 1930s when George Forbes moved out. In 1935 the new prime minister, Michael Joseph Savage, a frugal bachelor, made the break permanent by choosing a smaller ministerial home in Molesworth Street. Three years later, dying of cancer, he moved into Hill Haven, 66 Harbour View Road, in the suburb of Northland. Prime Minister Peter Fraser decided to remain in Hill Haven throughout the 1940’s preferring its scenic outlook. Sidney Holland preferred a place with a guest bathroom. He renovated 41 Pipitea Street in Thorndon. This brick house is close to Parliament, but its surroundings were still industrial, ‘with a brewery chimney quite close, a paint factory next door, commercial offices (B.P. Ltd) on the eastern boundary.’ The section had a small lawn in front and room for a clothes line behind, but the house was too small to entertain official guests. Holland’s National successor Keith Holyoake also lived there. In 1966 the air was still ‘sodden with the smell of hops and malt from the brewery up the street, and jackhammers are busy tearing down Victorian ruins all around.’ But the economy-minded Holyoake dismissed all suggestions of building a new official residence. The Holyoakes put buckets under the leaks in the kitchen roof whenever it rained. Today Pipitea Street is still an important part of New Zealand politics and serves as the home of the National Party offices Holyoake was not as eccentric as he might seem. Ministerial houses were seldom very flash. Every time the government changed, prime ministers-elect trotted around these places, often still occupied by defeated ministers and their families. In November 1972, for example, Norman Kirk and his wife, Ruth, went house hunting. Because they knew Holyoake had let 41 Pipitea Street deteriorate, they did not even bother to look at it. They chose a Seatoun house recommended by their ministerial driver. The Ministry of Works looked after ministers’ houses. As many had been bought only to be demolished for motorways and other development, it skimped on their maintenance and furnishing. Television came to New Zealand in 1960, but the Ministry waited until 1965 before providing TV aerials for ministers’ houses. Ministers paid for their own sets until 1973, when Cabinet made them free – provided the screens did not exceed 23 inches (58 cm). In 1976 New Zealand regained an official home for its prime minister for the first time in 40 years. Ten years earlier, Jocelyn Vogel had given Vogel House in Lower Hutt to the Crown to mark 100 years of Parliament in Wellington. Designed in 1933 by Helmore and Cotterill, it was one of the Hutt Valley’s last large houses designed for a family and domestic staff. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon rushed to refurbish Vogel House in time for a dinner for the visiting Queen Elizabeth II in February 1977. He was our first modern leader able to offer VIPs proper hospitality. David Lange, who succeeded Muldoon in 1984, never liked Vogel House and kept his family in Auckland. He ‘camped’ in a tiny first floor apartment in the house, moaning about the staff folding the edge of the toilet paper in neat triangles, hotel-style. Finding it too far from the Beehive, he saw out his term as prime minister in a flat near Parliament. After Michael Joseph Savage rejected Tinakori Street, it became ‘the murder house’, a children’s dental clinic. The Public Works Department raised seedlings at the front of the grounds. In 1977 the dental nurses moved out, leaving the property empty. In the early to mid-1980s the Ministry of Works repiled the building and fitted sprinklers, but it remained underutilised. Some wanted to redevelop the site, but the Thorndon Society and the Historic Places Trust defended its heritage qualities. It is a Category I historic place on the Trust register. In the late 1980s, Minister of Internal Affairs Michael Bassett decided to restore 260 Tinakori Road as an official prime ministerial residence. The conservation of Premier House, as they renamed it, was a 1990 Sesquicentennial project. That year Geoffrey Palmerand his wife, Margaret, became its first official residents. Premier House has housed every subsequent prime minister. Some made it a family home, but Helen Clark and John Key kept their families in Auckland, using Premier House as a workday squat. ‘There’s a little corner which has the bedroom and the bathroom, and … I go into the bedroom somewhere around midnight or later,’ Clark said in 2002. ‘The alarm goes in the morning, I wander along to the kitchen, I turn on the jug and make a cup of tea. Then I’m out of there.’ Nevertheless, Premier House hosts VIPs, such as Prince William, who attended a barbecue there in 2010. It is also used by politicians and officials for meetings and is the venue for events such as awards ceremonies. Premier House was one of the few Crown-owned ministerial houses retained by the government recently after it reformed ministerial expenses, terminated many leases and put ministers on to flat allowances to cover their Wellington expenses. Information provided by NZhistory.net.nz Previous facts of the day: Speaker's flat, Urgency, Jernigham Wakefield, Sidney Holland and the Suicide Squad, 1951 the last majority election, The Business Committee, New Zealand's First Parliament in Auckland, 1947 Greymouth beer boycott, So goes Hamilton so goes the nation, Australia and Compulsory Voting Standing Order of the Day - SO311 - Recommittal A motion to recommit a bill to a committee of the whole House may be moved after the order of the day for the third reading of the bill has been called. There is no amendment or debate on the question. Local Elections are coming Elections for Mayors, Councils, Community Boards, Regional Council and District Health Boards will be held on 8 October. This election will be via Postal vote after a possible internet voting trial was scrapped. Only those correctly enrolled by Friday 12 August 2016 will get their voting papers for the 2016 local elections sent to them in the mail. Voting papers will be sent out from 16 September and must be received by the electoral officer by noon on Election Day, 8 October 2016. Enrolling or updating your details is easy - go online at elections.org.nz, freetext your name and address to 3676, call 0800 36 76 56 or go to any PostShop. If you want to nominate as a candidate you have until 12 August to submit your papers. For more information visit your council website or consult Vote 2016 To see the nominations so far received for most councils and authorities click here The next members day is expected to be on August 24 To see today's order paper click here To see business currently before Select Committee Click Here To see past Members Day Updates Click Here
DECEMBER 24th “I knew you were too cute to be a railbird.” He bites off his last word with a smile, canine glinting in the pink neon lights. When it doesn’t have the desired effect and the hand on his shoulder tightens instead, he lifts his hands from the table, two chips sliding down his left sleeve just as he flicks his fingers open. Something sparks. The cards on the table glitter a pale green, and then the eight of diamonds flickers back to the same number of clubs. The dealer eyes him up, and he casts a glance at her, almost apologetic. “Flush is better than a simple straight.” Seems to be his admission of guilt, his smile still plastered over his delicate features. Not that anything straight would be acceptable to the young man, but he worked with what he had. The dealer stares him straight in the eye, then breaks to nod at the man with his hand still on Arthur’s shoulder. The grip on his shoulder tightens further, and the smile morphs to a grimace. Alright, then. When the man behind him yanks him up from his seat, he comes willingly, falling against the security guard with an almost endearing stumble to his step. “You know she’s been stacking the deck for the past four rounds, right?” He mutters, right into the man’s ear, which doesn’t earn him the kudos he would expect for outing another cheater to the establishment. Rather, it earns him a solid punch to the gut, and nausea to boot. His grin slips from his face, then, and the nice dinner jacket flickers back into his actual shirt, putting his lower arms on display. Even the shoes he’s wearing aren’t real, the warm brown leather of his oxfords melting back into his canvas slip-ons the moment that the guard’s fist connects to his midriff. “Right.” He coughs, already physically being dragged through a mass of playing, dancing, laughing people. He’d quite like to be one of them at this moment, and not the person he is right now (that is, a gambler who was straight up caught cheating in a casino), but, regrettably, he is himself and he’s currently being hauled away from his dearly beloved poker table. Squirming, it seems, has no effect on this fellow. Normally, he’d be out of someone’s grip within a minute, but he’s already in the grand entrance hall and with the amount of pressure being put on his shoulder and collarbone approaching breaking capacity, he’s slowly losing hope on anything like that happening. “Listen, I get that it’s wrong and all, but she was cheating too, and I was just trying to fix a broken system, no need to get hands with-“ For someone as out of breath as him, having just gotten his smart smile knocked off of his face with a fist to the stomach, he’s still pretty wordy. “I know it’s pretty contrarian and all but I really wasn’t looking for trouble, just for some profit, I pinky-swear it won’t happen-“ “I ought to break that pinky of yours, along with the rest of your delicate little fingers.” The man’s low grumble shuts Arthur up, and earns him another up-and-down. He doesn’t look old enough for that deep a voice, nor does he really look strong enough to keep this hold on the boy. “I hear a but.” It’s risky, but it’s left his lips before he can think about not being snarky for once in his short life. “You’re half-deaf, then. I ought to break your fingers, but I’ll settle for your kicking you out. You’re lucky it ain’t first quarter yet, godspawn.” “Wait, no, I’ll take the fingers, just don’t-“ What is he saying? The strong hand on his shoulders pushes and pulls, and then he’s bodily thrown out of the casino, and he really doesn’t want to be, but he’s briefly too concerned with wanting to break his hands rather than leave the building to struggle. Why, in the name of Hades himself, would he want that? He needs his hands. They’re the most important part of him, two conduits for magic, the quick parts that steal wallets and know how to tie at least seventeen different knots. Why the hell would he- Wait. Another sequence of questions begins to form in the back of his mind, with the most important one being why is Santa out in february which is followed by what’s with the christmas music and then a sudden, verbal, loud - “What day is it?” Nobody answers him, but, glaring down at him from the sky is a moon nearly in its full quarter, and the impossibility of that hits him like a ton of bricks. It had been first quarter when he entered the casino. It can’t have been more than a few days. It can’t be a new cycle yet. But the moon is there, and so is Santa, and the realisation that it hasn’t been a new cycle, it’s been ten months, hits him like a freight train, giving him no time to recover from the bricks in any way. Barely breathing, he already knows what he’ll find spelled out in the neon sign flickering behind him. He looks anyway. Tackily, in gold and pink, LOTUS CASINO is spelled out for all the world to see. Arthur curses. Somewhere far from there, his name is spoken. The Vegas Strip is loud, and he has no way of hearing that voice from that far away, but he does. And he shouldn’t, because it’s impossible, because the magic long since ran out, because he can’t do those things, but even demigods sometimes have miracles, and his spell holds. Far away from where he is, someone is calling Arthur’s name, and he can hear him. “Fiyero.” The mage-boy whispers, clenching sooty fingers to sparking fists, the name of the son of night barely leaving his lips before the hope sparks, too. Maybe, if he calls out his name, then maybe - Then maybe all that is lost is Arthur, and maybe, if he finds the way, he can return. He can. He will. And if he has to lie and cheat and steal his way back to the east coast, then so it shall be. DECEMBER 29th. LATE EVENING. Once upon a time, he had washed up on the shore, spit out by the sea itself. He is, again, dripping with water when he reappears. Thick white snowflakes hang in the crow-feather crown of hair on his head, slowly melting down into the dark, muddy textiles of his clothes. Arthur stands at 5’6, these days, still short but taller than he once was, long-limbed and quick-fingered. Like the mages of myth, he cannot contain himself within himself, and it’s painfully obvious that his body has tried to accommodate the energy pulsing through his veins too quickly, very poorly. Knowing him (if anyone really knows him, it’s a subject of debate all in itself), the six extra inches might be an illusion if it weren’t such a steady height, and if it weren’t such an unimpressive stature. He’s nineteen now, and no boy his age would be that short by choice. The tips of his fingers are covered in soot and slowly scale into the greyish undertone of one with divine and, decidedly, mixed heritage. That same soot-black nestles under his skin, not just on top of it, a thousand-and-one little lines of ink scrawled on his arms and shoulders, up the back of his neck, in suns and moons and stars, in prayers and curse-formulas. Those are new, too, and while some flicker sea-green with mist-magic, others are all too real. Seems that he’s brought with him ink and soot and calloused knuckles, if nothing else of value. Pale green eyes drag themselves over the landscapes, judging it unkindly. Distance is written over his face, distance from this, from the changes that pulled through the landscape when he was absent from it. He does not seem to like it, going by the way his mouth pulls into a knife-drawn line. He wears a heavy midnight crown, haphazardly sat atop curls just as dark, shifting when he tilts his head, as if expecting the landscape to change with the movement. It doesn’t. The world has changed, and it does not change with a tilt of his head. He has changed, and that does not change with his tilted head either. Those facts are similar, but unconnected. The world has not changed because he has - the world does not care for things as small as him - and he has not changed because the world has - the world is far too big for him to have noticed changes until after they’ve occurred. The world has changed, and he has too, and those entirely unrelated facts have somehow gotten themselves gordianically knotted up into problems. Problems that most certainly aren’t solved by his head tilting to the side, but that may yet be solved by other actions he might take. It’s about time, Arthur reckons, with his mist-magic and all the wisdom gathered in two decades of life, that he starts solving. And so he does, stalking off decidedly towards cabin 21. queer wizard, at your service. i reckon this counts as a re-[introduction]. if you find things need explaining, follow the links! they (should) explain said things.
Hello, one and all! Welcome to the Tantrax Entertainment System. We are the foremost purveyors of all personal amusement and entertainment in all of Sector 5. Our multi-body amusement park / luxury resort encompasses three planets, four moons, and six Y-class space stations. Our diverse range of entertainment options guarantees fun for the whole family1 or for more intimate holidays. 1 Alternatively, fun for the whole pod/hive/colony
About Tantrax System
(Warning: boring science ahead!) Tantrax Luminaris [Star #11] is a Red Giant star measuring at 1.8 solar masses and 155 solar radii, spectral type M3. Tests have determined that it is approximately 100 million years into its Red Giant phase. (Unofficially we call this star the Shining Ruby, for it is the crown jewel of our beloved system, and its warm red glow is always a welcome sight for travellers). Tantrax Belkaris is the first planet from the sun {0.9 Earth mass, 1.1 Earth radii} was probably once a fertile and habitable world, but after the sun expanded, its atmosphere was burnt off and is now reduced to scorched rock (colour: burgundy). It is also suggested there were two other inner planets that got completely devoured by the sun's expansion. Tantrax Akaris is the most habitable planet in the system. (If Tantrax Luminaris is our Shining Ruby, then Akaris is certainly our Gleaming Sapphire). {1.4 Earth mass, 1.3 Earth radii; atmosphere colour: turquoise} More than 100 million years ago, this planet was frozen and inhospitable, but now it is warm and fertile, teaming with life. There is one mega-continent that runs from the north to south poles, taking up roughly 20% of the planet's surface area. Due to an excess of carbon and oxygen in the atmosphere, much of the continent is tropical, though the equatorial region is baked desert that supports little life (but is great for solar panels, which power many of our attractions!). Only the extreme north and south regions are affected by seasons, where they will freeze solid in the winter but thaw almost completely in the summer. Most of the planet is ocean, with some islands nearby to the main continent, and two great mountain ranges bisecting the planet. Akaris Principa is the first moon of Tantrax Akaris. Its size is 0.2 Earth radii and analysis of its composition suggests it should have equivalent mass. However, its gravitational field is equal to a mass of 0.8 Earth mass. This is the result of some exotic material introduced to the core to artificially increase the gravity. This allows for easy movement on the surface {within protected enclosures, since there is no atmosphere} and awesome tidal effects on the planet. Akaris Seconda is the second moon of Tantrax Akaris. 0.15 Earth radii and 0.14 Earth mass, but for real this time. Tantrax Athoris is the third planet in the system. {0.5 Earth mass/Earth radius; atmosphere colour: green} (the Deep Emerald to continue our celestial jewel set). This is a chlorine planet, home to clouds and seas of hydrochloric acid. Therefore it is fatal to most forms of life, but does have a few native inhabitants. It is also home to many unique rock formations and interesting mountain ranges. Tantrax Bellerophos is the fourth planet in the system. {0.7 Earth mass, 3.2 Earth radii; atmosphere colour: yellow} (and finally comes our Sparkling Topaz). Bellerophos is a gas dwarf with a low mass given its volume, and a thick atmosphere of Hydrogen, Helium, and Nitrogen. This planet is home to the Guraga. Bellerophos Principa is the first moon of Bellerophis. 0.1 Earth mass and 0.11 Earth radii. The asteroid belt rings the solar system past the fourth planet and exists as a valuable source of platinum. [I won't ask you to add this to the image, ophereon] Tantrax V is the fifth planet and is of little note. Gas giant {0.6 Jupiter mass, 0.9 Jupiter radii; atmosphere colour: yellow} Edrephos is the first moon of Tantrax V. 0.25 Earth mass, 0.3 Earth radii. Tantrax VI is a gas giant {1.4 Jupiter mass; 1.6 Jupiter radii; atmosphere colour: white} Tantrax VII is a frozen outer planet {0.4 Earth mass; 0.4 Earth radii; atmosphere colour: none (grey)}
Brief History
The history of the TES stems from the joining of two unlikely allies and one remarkable visionary. The Tantrax System was discovered 500 years ago a Centauri colony searching for a new Warp Gate. They found one a short distance outside the orbit of Tantrax Akaris. While going about the process of activating it, they established a base on the nearby moon Akaris Principa and were astonished to discover its artificially enhanced gravity. They reasoned this had to be the handiwork of the Nameless and began searching for other artifacts. While they didn't locate much in the way of technology, they found the climate on Tantrax Akaris very favourable. Word got back through Centauri ranks and it became a much sought-after post. But everything changed 60 years after first colonization when there was a new arrival in Sector 5. Red Star Line was a company from the Centauri homeworld. It had launched two ships into a deep space, full of wealthy passengers intent on creating a luxury colony elsewhere in the galaxy. The first ship cryonically froze its passengers, and they woke up much like their old selves. The second ship allowed passengers to live freely, and after four generations, they had descended into a life of indulgence and debauchery. The two sets of passengers were wholly incompatible and not suited for settling into one luxury resort. A few Centauri monks, along with the primary Red Star AI and some of the more intelligence passengers began discussing plans to create a permanent recreational colony. And they began to see merit in the idea of expanding it to be open to members of all different civilizations across Sector 5. But this would require several distinct parts highly varied in their style of accommodation. After years of debate, it became clear that despite an idea and the technology, they were going to get nowhere without a keen-minded individual who could take charge of the whole operation. A routine survey of the Akari coastline would lead them to discovering just that (and the rest is history!)
Attractions
(Now that we have those details out of the way, here is what you are really after!) The Tantrax Entertainment System boasts 3,416 individual unique attractions. You will have to download our Full Park Guide to read about them all, but you can read about our most popular destinations below. Rassian Bay Water Park. One of our perennially popular attractions located by the picturesque Rassian Bay. The area encompasses 671 individual attractions, including water slides (regular and sonic), log rides, water cannons, whirlpools, Klein sloops, bungee jumps and hyperjumps, and the famous Akaris Aquarium that showcases 6,899 different aquatic species from around Sector 5 Rassian Bay. If you don't want to go the the water park, then the bay and ocean themselves are open for you. Due to the tidal forces, beaches average 9 km wide, so amphibious trams are available for transport. It is a prime location for surfing, although beginners are advised to stick to the training pools until certified. Underwater exploration is popular for both free and scuba diving. There is a strict precaution not to venture beyond the reef unless in a protected submersible. And all watercraft are reminded not to pass beyond the mountain range under any circumstances. Akaris Midway. The largest contiguous amusement park in the galaxy. It features 88 roller coasters and 212 unique thrill rides, 44 entertainment venues, and 547 games of skill and chance for you to try your hand at. Pokita and Lomba Resorts. These resorts are both located on the eastern coast of the Akaris landmass, separated by roughly 100 km of rocky coastline. Pokita is a pleasant and relaxing beach destination, where visitors can engage in nature walks, boat tours, sporting activities, and plain old time in the sun. Lomba is for guests looking for less relaxation and more intimate forms of recreation. Lomba Resort is not recommended for asexual species, as they will most likely be confused. For more information, consult the Adults-Only Park Guide. Skyward Midway. This is another amusement park, featuring thrill rides of all descriptions. But this one, being located on the moon Akaris Seconda, takes advantage of low gravity that allows guests to explore new, dizzying heights. The most popular attraction is the Yando Slingshot, which places guests in a sphere and hurtles them into space, attached to a 20 km tether. The Athoris Recreation Fields. Due to the highly corrosive atmosphere, there isn't a lot of infrastructure in place here, and what is in place is very carefully maintained. But between the low gravity and the extreme rock formations, it is a popular destination for athletes and climbing enthusiasts (fitted with the proper protective gear). Bellerophos Lab & Circlet. Bellerophos Principa was originally a mine for Ha-V, but became used for an ultra-low G scientific lab. Guests can take a tour of the whole lab and see various works of Centauri engineering. But if that is too educatioal, you are welcome to take a ride on the Circlet: a roller coaster that wraps the entire circumference of the moon. Edrephos Star Resort. Located on the distant moon of Edrephos past the asteroid belt, this is the most exclusive resort in the TES. This is for people who truly want to get away from it all. Rooms all come with glass ceilings, allowing guests an unobstructed view of the glittering stars. Chowai Casino and Hotel. This is located on a space station in orbit around Akaris. Wealthy denizens from all across Sector 5 come to try their luck. Some will walk away very wealthy indeed. The rest will leave with beautiful memories. It also features a hotel, including a number of exclusive theme rooms. Tantrax Relaxation Sphere. This is for guests who truly need to unwind. The top 6 levels are a spa that combines massage and relaxation techniques from several different world, adapted to numerous physiologies. To read about the lower 8 levels, please consult The Adulst-Only Park Guide. Tantrax Convention Centre. This space station is divided into 16 separate convention spaces. All are available for booking individually or in combination. On rare occasions the entire station is booked out for a single event. The events this centre is used for vary quite widely. (As of the beginning of year 700SY, there will be an extra 50% added to the damage deposit for Penultimate Parties)
The Staff
The Red Star Line AIs are some of the friendliest in the galaxy. They come in a variety of forms, ranging from short and practical to visually appealing, and they are always happy to help. Some of the most prominent models you will encounter are Saunders, the affable concierge, Wilforth, the level-headed park manager, and Betsy, the compassionate guest services coordinator. Although AI can serve many valuable functions, our rides often require an organic touch. We are pleased to announce 200 years of cooperation with the Guragae of Tantrax Bellerophos. These folks have a unique physiological trait which makes them only comfortable when in constant motion. This has made them perfect as the pilots for our many hundreds of fast-moving thrill rides. They can operate the rides from inside, responding calmly to any eventuality.
Transportation
Arrival at Tantrax Entertainmet System is as easy as catching a lift at your nearest Warp Gate. Once through the entry gate, a shuttle will take you to the main entrance on Akaris Principa. From there, many shuttles will be waiting to ferry you to whichever destination you choose. Hyperlane jump points make travel between the most remote parts of the system a breeze. There is also the increasingly popular option of Doppelganger Transit. Maybe you don't have time to take a long vacation right now. You can always visit a DGT station at any participating Warp Gate. Send your consciousness through the wormhole and have it implanted into a temporary clone on the other end. The clone will enjoy its holiday while you continue with your important work. At the end of its lifespan (typically one week), its new memories will be harvested and sent back through the wormhole, where the original may download them at any convenient time. DGT is also helpful for creating specialized clones that allow guests to explore areas they otherwise wouldn't. Acid-resistant clones have been created for use on Athoris, which means that guests can enjoy their activities there without the need for cumbersome protective suits.
A Word from the President
Over the past 400 years, the Tantrax Entertainment System has grown from a simple dream hatched on a lonely moon to the greatest tourist destination in all of Sector 5. It has been my privilege to help shape and steer TES in all this time. I could not have done it alone, of course. And I certainly could not do it without our loyal guests who keep returning to us, year after year. To all those guests, I make the simple promise: as long as you stay committed to us, we will stay committed to you.
Wynn Resorts, Limited is a developer, owner and operator of destination casino resorts that integrate accommodations and a range of amenities, including dining outlets, retail offerings, entertainment theaters and meeting complexes. There are 450+ tables and 700+ slot machines in Macau with another 200+ tables and 1,850 slots in Vegas. Plus there's the new outfit coming in Everett, MA!
Recent financials
The figures say it all :(
Metric
2015A
2014A
2013A
2012A
2011A
Revenue
$4.1bn
$5.4bn
$5.6bn
$5.2bn
$5.3bn
EPS
$1.92
$7.18
$7.17
$4.82
$4.88
But if you want to know why? Macau saw sales down 35% in 2015 (to $2.5bn) and Vegas was off a little (down 2% to $1.6bn).
The decline is primarily due to the continued weak gaming environment affecting our Macau Operations, which experienced a year-over-year decrease in casino revenues of 35.5% from $3,586.8 million to $2,312.9 million. Our VIP gaming operations drove the Macau Operations casino revenue reduction, with $57.92 billion in VIP turnover for the year ended December 31, 2015, compared to $108.08 billion for the same period of 2014.
Is that the canary in the coal mine for China? Or just that the wealthy are embracing the new president's austere views?
Competition
Let's focus on Macau first
In addition to Wynn Macau SA, each of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau ("SJM") and Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited are primary concessionaires with Sands China Ltd., Melco Crown and MGM China Holdings Limited operating under subconcessions. There is no limit to the number of casinos each concessionaire or subconcessionaire is permitted to operate, but each facility is subject to government approval. Currently, there are 36 operating casinos in Macau.
Oh dear. Sounds like there's overcapacity...
As of December 31, 2015, there were 32,200 hotel rooms, 5,957 table games and 14,578 slot machines in Macau, compared to 12,978 hotel rooms, 2,762 table games and 6,546 slot machines as of December 31, 2006.
So a 2 to 3 fold increase in 10 years. Now over in Vegas things are decidedly rosier!
During 2015, the average daily room rate increased 2.7% and visitation increased 2.9% to 42.3 million visitors compared to 2014. In addition, Las Vegas Strip resorts experienced 2015 year-over-year increases of 0.6% and 3.3% in occupancy and revenue per available room, respectively.
Companies
Latest Sales
Operating Profit
Return on Equity
Wynn Resorts, Limited
$3,999M
24%
N/A
Las Vegas Sands Corp.
$11,122M
32%
24%
MGM Resorts International
$8,952M
22%
-3%
Red Rock Resorts Inc
$1,382M
34%
33%
Penn National Gaming, Inc
$2,999M
29%
N/A
Churchill Downs, Inc.
$1,279M
21%
12%
So margins are good, but not great... and returns are N/A... why? Because WYNN's been so good at returning capital that there really is no equity left to measure returns on equity. Nice!
Cash / Debt?
Wynn Resorts, Limited has $7,345M of net debt. That is 7.8x its latest operating profit. Ooops. So in effect the aggressive pay-outs come with a catch.
Metric
2015A
2014A
2013A
2012A
2011A
EPS
$1.92
$7.18
$7.17
$4.82
$4.88
Cash distribution per share
$3.00
$6.26
$7.00
$9.50
$6.50
Wall Street thinks?
The professionals on Wall Street have a $102.54 for Wynn Resorts, Limited and their recommendation to clients is Hold. That implies an downside of 6% to their target.
Valuation
At 28x earnings it's hard to disagree with the brokers. Though, am a little surprised they see such good long-term growth prospects. How can I justify WYNN when RRR is on 18x and PENN on 13x?
Wynn Resorts, Limited is forecast to pay a dividend of $2.16 per share, compared with a historic dividend of $2.00 per share. That is a 8% growth. The forecast dividend of $2.16 compares to a forecast EPS of $3.88.
Catalysts
After the horror of 2015, 2016's got back on track and the business is stabilising and EPS is recovering. In the last 3 months the stock price has moved by 8% that compares with a change in the earnings forecasts of +6%. Though on a 1 year view the stock's up 60% with earnings up 20%. On the management team's latest call with Wall Street brokers they highlighted that Macau's improving and that they'll keep up returning capital to shareholder. They even spoke of the new casino near Boston, finally getting it's construction permits. But the one thing they didn't do was talk guidance. Seems it's just not something they do! I fear the easy money's been made on WYNN the last 12 months, as folks that believe the earnings would come back got rewarded. So, how do the chips fall from here? Is the next big event, the launch of Boston? Or will we have to bear the capex cost before we see the benefit? What's your gamble? View the archive of Stock a Day posts at its subreddit stockaday. And please send us suggestions on what you'd like us to research next! If you'd like to join the writing team please get in touch. Our writing template is available here if you'd like to use it to pen your own stockAday type posts :). Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned. However I may initiate a position within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it. I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Reddit, moderators, and the author do not advise making investment decisions based on discussion in these posts. Analysis is not subject to validation and users take action at their own risk. Author notes: u/shane_stockflare works at a financial website, Stockflare, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Previously he worked at Credit Suisse, where he was an equity research analyst covering tech stocks and at Citigroup where he was an investment banker.
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