BOBBEE BEE: I BET YOU DON'T KNOW WHO RUNS VEGAS

I BET YOU DON'T KNOW WHO RUNS VEGAS
by eric d.graham

I just got back from SIN CITY. So, I had to be conscious of my surroundings, always being alert to who I might be talking to or conversing with- on the elevator, rubbing elbows in the lobby, shaking hands with in the restaurant, and laughing with in the casino. Especially, as I made my late after midnight, strolls down the Vegas strip.

According to Forbes magazine, the city of Las Vegas covers only 113 square miles. Which, two billionaire casino kingpins, Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn, the "unofficial king of Las Vegas,"who made most of his riches from China, have been fighting over for the last twenty years.
The casino civil war was sparked when Adelson, the world's 12th-richest person, built his first casino, the $1.5 billion Venetian, a short walking distance from the Mirage, which was owned by casino magnate, Steve Wynn, who created some of Las Vegas' most notable landmarks in the 1960's, including The Mirage, Treasure Island, Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas.

The battle for properties and real estate continued when Adelson opened the $1.9 billion Palazzo right next to Wynn's Wynn Las Vegas, who resigned and left Vegas amidst sexual misconduct allegations, selling 8 million shares of his casinos to two long-term institutional investors ,at a price of $175 a share, which valued at $1.4 billion to a Hong Kong-based casino-operator, Stanley Ho of Galaxy Entertainment Group, who agreed to purchase 5.3 million primary shares of the Wynn Resorts at a price of $175 apiece, resulting in $927.5 million of gross proceeds..

With Wynn out of Vegas and the "Godfather of Chinese gambling" Stanley Ho passing away, a new dynasty begun for the Ho family, when Daisy Ho stepped in her father’s shoes at the helm of SJM, where she will compete with Adelson and Lui Che Woo for the top crown in the casino world in Macau, a former Portuguese colony on the coast of China, which has been estimated to be seven times more lucrative than Las Vegas due to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign in 2012, which was implemented to deter high rollers by making the $38 billion gambling industry more family-oriented.



 The question remains, however- Will Trump's new Trade War hurt one of his biggest supporters, in Adelson, who donated at least $25 million to his campaign, by persuading him to honor his campaign promise to relocate the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, earning him the nickname of “Trump’s Patron-in-Chief”, as well as, Las Vegas's Chinese tourism and gamblers, who are valuable for casino operators, with a preference for baccarat, which now accounts for 18 percent of total casino win on the Strip as well as the three major casino operation in Macau- the Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, and MGM Resorts International – each hold gaming concessions in the territory through their Hong Kong-listed subsidiaries.

Let's not forget, it has been reported that it was Trump, who personally lobbied Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to allow Adelson to build a casino in Japan.

Plus, according to the South China Morning Post, before Wynn's resignation, he also served as finance chairman of the Republic National Committee and was known as a big Republican donor along side longtime Trump friend and business partner Phil Ruffin, who owns Treasure Island and controls a 50 percent stake in Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, as well as, the Fertitta brothers, who each control a 29 percent stake in Station Casinos, making part of their fortune through UFC, which they purchased in 2001 for $2 million and sold for an amazing $4 billion in 2016.
With all of this money, gambling, politics, and trade tension, the worst-case scenario could end with Beijing revoking America's casino licentures, which were issued by the Macau government in 2002 to eliminated the Ho's family gambling monopoly, in effort to crack down on the money laundering activity, which is known as the favorite conduit of wealthy Chinese businessmen. (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE: A CHINESE TAKE-OUT OR A CHINESE TAKEOVER

A CHINESE TAKE-OUT OR A CHINESE TAKEOVER

As the world’s population increases, food is poised to become the oil of the 21st century, with scarcity and demand creating a situation ripe for wars, riots and uprisings.

So, you knew there was going to be some levels of xenophobia . when Smithfield, a Virginia -based company, which processed over 32 million pigs a year, while supplying fast food chains such as McDonald’s, Denny’s along with several grocery stores in the United States with an endless supply of pork- was purchased in 2013, by Shuanghui International, a Chinese company, who now owns 1 in 4 pigs raised in the U.S.

With the Chinese consuming half of the world’s pork, the government officials, who have a five-year plan, made strict restrictions on pork imports from the United States, including banning any meat containing growth hormones commonly used by producers such as Smithfield, while buying up overseas farmland and foreign food companies.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, currently, the Chinese own $900 million in U.S. farmland and added other $480 million in U.S. farmland in the Smithfield deal. (Source:RT) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE: US VS. CHINA

“To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.”- Sun Tzu, The Art of War-

 TRADE WARS: US VS. CHINA (LISTEN CLOSELY & SHARE)

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BOBBEE BEE:TRADE WARS: US VS. CHINA (One World View)

TRADE WARS: US VS. CHINA (One World View)

According to the great military thinker, Maj. Gen. J.F.C. Fuller, ‘the object of war is not victory. It is to achieve political goals.’

Too bad President Donald Trump does not read books. He has started economic wars against China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela without any clear strategic objective beyond inflating his ego as the world’s premier warlord and punishing them for disobedience.

Trump’s wars are economic. They deploy the huge economic and financial might of the United States to steamroll other nations that fail to comply with orders from Washington. Washington’s motto is ‘obey me or else!’ Economic wars are not bloodless. Imperial Germany and the Central Powers were starved into surrender in 1918 by a crushing British naval blockade.

Trade sanctions are not making America great, as Trump claims. They are making America detested around the globe as a crude bully. Trump’s efforts to undermine the European Union and intimidate Canada add to this ugly, brutal image.

Worse, Trump’s tariff war against China has damaged the economy of both nations, the world’s leading economic powers, and raised tensions in Asia. The world is facing recession in large part due to Trump’s ill-advised wars. All to prove Trump’s power and glory.

What Trump & Co don’t understand is that China was allowed into America’s Greater Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere by the clever President Nixon to bring it under US influence – just as Japan and South Korea were in the 1950’s. China’s trade surplus with the US is its dividend for playing by Washington’s rules. If China’s trade bonus is stripped away, so will China’s half-hearted acceptance of US policies. Military tensions will rise sharply.

In China’s view, the US is repeating what Great Britain did in the 19th century by declaring war to force opium grown in British-ruled Burma onto China’s increasingly addicted people. Today the trade crop is soya beans and wretched pigs.

Trump’s ultimate objective, as China clearly knows, is to whip up a world crisis over trade, then dramatically end it – of course, before next year’s elections. Trump has become a master dictator of US financial markets, rising or lowering them by surprise tweets. No president should ever have such power, but Trump has seized it.

It staggers the imagination to believe that Trump and his minions actually believe that they can intimidate China into bending the knee. China withstood mass devastation and at least 14 million deaths in World War II in order to fight off Japanese domination. Does the White House really think Beijing will cave in over soya beans and semi-conductors in a daft war directed by a former beauty contest and casino operator? (Source:GR) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE:SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON: BEING THERE

"If you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond." Ro 12:8 (TM)

SUN-DAY SCHOOL LESSON: BEING THERE

We say, "It's not my responsibility. I don't want to get involved!" Ever said those words? You may thought you had a good reason-perhaps it was an inconvenient time-but the bottom line is you didn't offer to help someone in need. And you're not alone. Research confirms that the trend to avoid involvement is increasing worldwide. Nevertheless, "being there" for others is a biblical mandate; it's the practical application of loving The Most High and your neighbor (Mt.22: 37-39).

Crises generally present themselves in three ways: (1) Situational crises include serious illness, the death of a loved one, or breakdowns in family relationships. The patriarch Job experienced all of these! (2.) Developmental crises happen over the course of life-leaving home, going away to college, marriage adjustments, parenting, retirement, or declining health. The biblical characters Abraham and Sarah knew all about living through development crises. They left their home and family and endured years of childlessness.

(3.) Self-awareness crises are when you discover disturbing truths about yourself-you're told that, humanly speaking your illness is incurable, or you see yourself as a failure because now you're too old to realize your life's goals. Or you face the reality of being divorced or widowed, or you feel rejected because of your background. Biblical characters like Elijah and Jonah are examples of self-awareness crises. Do any of these examples bring someone you know to mind? And if so, "be quick to respond." (Source: Word For Today) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)

BOBBEE BEE: HOW CAN I HELP A FAMILY IN THE HOSPITAL?

HOW CAN I HELP A FAMILY IN THE HOSPITAL?

1. COMMUNICATE. 

Although you might be thinking, “Oh I just don’t want to bother them,” reach out in the way you typically communicate. Receiving a text or private Facebook message saying, “Just want you to know we/I are thinking of you and love you very much” is such a loving gesture that is truly touching.

2. OFFER HELP. 

Depending on how close you are to the patient and their family, the best way to support those you love is to pause and think about what would be the most helpful way to lend a hand.

3. MAINTAIN PRIVACY. 

Resist the urge to put anything on Facebook asking how the person is doing or if the family has even been notified. Send a private message of love, not inquiry.
4. AVOID SHARING STORY. 

Resist the urge to share what happened...Let the family update you. It is exhausting for a patient’s family to update others on day-to-day progress. And, depending on the moment, receiving such a request can be very painful. There are moments of relief and moments of worry — you won’t know what the family is experiencing when they receive your inquiry. Leave it to them to update you.

5. RESIST THE URGE TO OFFER ADVICE. 

Unless you are close to the patient’s family and have been there with them the entire time, it is best to stay quiet. The options you suggest may have already been considered.

6. PROVIDE FOOD.

It is critically important that close family members eat well. One of the best ways you can support the family of someone in the hospital is to have a basket or small cooler delivered. Items can include bottled water, string cheese, fresh fruit, granola bars, nuts and so on. Protein-rich snacks are incredibly helpful for those hours of endless sitting. Coffee gift cards are always appreciated, too.

7. PROVIDE TIME KILLERS.

Activities such as a crossword puzzles, a deck of cards and magazines are extremely helpful. Waiting for test results and doctor’s updates can be challenging. Tangible things to touch and take one’s mind off the situation, even for a few minutes, is such a relief. Worry rocks are incredible.

8. HONOR A FAMILY'S VISITATION REQUESTS.
Of course, everyone has different preferences, so the matter of visitation is a delicate one. If the family has asked for no visitors, please honor that — even though you may think, “This doesn’t apply to me.” Perhaps the patient is not conscious and their family knows they wouldn’t want anyone to see them in that circumstance. Or the medical staff has put limitations on the number of visitors and those closest to the family want as much time as possible with the patient.

Remember to care for a patient’s loved ones. Even if a patient has been receiving fabulous care, the experience can take a toll on their family and loved ones. Consider mailing a gift card for a massage, perhaps from several people, to let the family know you understand the impact this ordeal has been on them as well as the patient. (Source:MultiCare) (bobbeethehater.blogspot.com)