text:
After the Super Bowl, men look to diet companies for help
By Jade Scipioni Published February 04, 2019 SportsFOXBusiness
Super Bowl legend Joe Montana makes an interesting new investment
Hall-of-Fame quarterback Joe Montana, looking to hit pay dirt in the legal marijuana industry, is now part of a $75 million investment in a California-based marijuana company.
Forget New Year's Day. The biggest diet start date — for men — is the day after the Super Bowl, according to some nutrition companies.
Nutrisystem said they receive a gluttony of calls on the day after the big game — which they dub "Super Monday" — from men who are looking to start a diet.
A LOOK AT SUPER BOWL LEGEND JOE MONTANA'S TOP INVESTMENTS
ROB GRONKOWSKI SAYS YOUNGER NFL PLAYERS SHOULD HAVE A BACKUP PLAN
MIKE GOLIC ON ESPN'S LAYOFFS, POLITICS, AND JOHN SKIPPER'S EXIT
The company said male football fans will either call or visit its website every 1.5 seconds following the Super Bowl, making it the "top diet decision day of the year for men."
According to a previous survey from the weight loss company, one in four NFL fans pack on an average 10 pounds during football season. That is one of the reasons it enlisted former NFL quarterback Dan Marino as its brand ambassador for more than a decade.
In 2017, Marino told FOX Business that he always resets around this time of year because "it's easier to stick with it."
"It seems that once [the] Super Bowl is over, many men are ready to get their diet started because for the last five months they've been chowing down on wings, beer and pizza every Sunday as they watch the games," Marino said. "And with only 16 weeks until summer and the distraction of Sunday football in the past, it's easier to start a diet."
Dawn Zier, CEO of Nutrisystem, said the company typically see men's diet food orders spike on Super Monday.
Monty Sharma, CEO of Jenny Craig, a diet plan initially aimed at women, has also seen opportunity in the male category in recent years. In 2011, the company launched "Jen Works for Men," and in January 2017, they released a new male-focused campaign centered around a military veteran's personal story.
Sharma said over the past year, its average number of new male members on the program has increased to 25 percent from 15 percent.
"We plan to continue to encourage men looking for science-based nutrition and health programs to consider Jenny Craig," Sharma told FOX Business, adding that they are currently running a male-focused campaign starting the day before the Super Bowl."
And, it's not just football season. The big game is a massive calorie killer on its own. According to the USDA, Super Bowl Sunday is the second highest day of food consumption in the United States, after Thanksgiving. Additionally, the Calorie Control Council reports that while Americans are watching Super Bowl LIII, they will eat an estimated 30 million pounds of snacks — and not particularly healthy ones either.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP
To top it off, a 2013 study from Psychological Science found that fans of the losing team tend to load up on saturated fats and sugars, whereas fans of the winning team opt for healthier choices. Sorry, Rams fans.


text:
Top 3 project announcements in August
by Nicholls Clare | 01 Sep 2022 | Hotel Projects, Projects
TOPHOTELPROJECTS researchers have had a busy summer, adding more than 100 projects to the database over the past month.
Here we review three major global additions from August that you need to look out for.
The Ranch Hudson Valley
We start our worldwide odyssey in the Lower Hudson Valley, New York state, USA, where health and wellness brand The Ranch will open its first east coast destination in 2023.
The Ranch Hudson Valley will result from a conversion of the Table Rock Estate, set amidst 200 forested acres in a 40,000+ sq ft estate. It was first built in 1902 by JP Morgan.
New York designer, Steven Gambrel, principal of SR Gambrel, will be overseeing the layout and design of all spaces, including the property's 25 guestrooms, a dining room overlooking the onsite lake and gardens, a spa and the transformation of the 2,000 sq ft ballroom into the gym for afternoon fitness, yoga and meditation classes.
The property will also include a 5,000 sq ft solarium, adjacent to the estate and overlooking the grounds, with year-round exercise and pool facilities. There will also be an outdoor pool, to accompany the property's lake, for water activities to be incorporated into fitness programming in the summer months.
Four Seasons Resort Whistler
Across the other side of North America, Four Seasons Resort Whistler in Canada is to undergo a refurbishment of its private residences, with a completion date anticipated in December this year.
The renovations by CHIL Interior Design aspire to instil restorative qualities within the newly refined interior spaces. The new design seeks to transport nature's soothing white noise from outside to inside, creating a luxurious, sophisticated, and ultra-relaxing home away from home.
Sleek new furnishings in neutral tones for indoor and outdoor living (including lanterns and planters for the terrace), modern accents and wall coverings, new wood floors, stone backsplash, custom pull-out sofas with integrated shelving, and elegant lighting are some of the enhanced features that will be added to elevate the feel, comfort, and aesthetic excellence of these residences.
Paasha Atelier Bali
Meanwhile, over in Indonesia, Absolute Hotel Services group is introducing its white label management portfolio, Absolute Collection, with the signing of Paasha Atelier Bali, which will involve redeveloping an existing resort in Kuta. It will be relaunched under its new name, post-renovation, and is targeted to open later this year.
The property will feature 175 guestrooms with a sophisticated contemporary design and full facilities including a swimming pool, fitness centre and food and beverage outlets.
Absolute Hotel Services offers unique individual properties under the Absolute Collection with project management guidance and development services, and through proven innovative practices, manages day-to-day hotel operations to best elevate performance in order to deliver memorable guest experiences and positive results for owners and investors under their own name. Absolute Collection focuses on delivering curated local experiences and celebrating the cultures and cities in which its hotels and resorts reside.
Melia nabs former Fairmont hotel in Barcelona
The hotel group signed a long term agreement with the luxury property's owner and key investor, Tyrus Capital, and will rebrand it as Miranda de Pedralbes, named after the local residential area. Enhancing unity The site, located in Barcelona's Pedralbes suburb, will...
Bali | Canada | Indonesia | New York | USA
Absolute Hotel Services | Four Seasons
CHIL Interior Design | SR Gambrel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A pink Yarmulke made with woven fabric that gives the Yarmulke a unique and festive look. This pink Yarmulke is suitable for Jewish holidays and family events. the pink colored Kippah is very uniquely decorated.
A quality pink Yarmulke is made of a double layer of fabric and is meticulously sewn in order to give the Yarmulke its unique and respectable look. The double layer of fabric ensures the Kippah durability over time and maintains its original design.
The Yarmulke has a hidden pocket for a hairpin , so that the prestigious design will not be damaged.


text:
Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro slams US sanctions and 'dictator' label
11:01am Aug 1, 2017
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro lashed out at the United States for slapping sanctions on him, saying the move smacked of American "imperialism".
"I will not obey imperial orders. I do not obey foreign governments. I'm a free president," he said after Washington froze his US assets and called him a "dictator".
The restrictions came after Maduro pushed through a vote for a powerful new assembly that will rewrite the country's constitution.
The sanctions froze any assets Maduro may have in US jurisdictions as well as barring Americans from doing business with him.
"Yesterday's illegitimate elections confirm that Maduro is a dictator who disregards the will of the Venezuelan people," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: "I will not obey imperial orders. I do not obey foreign governments. I'm a free president" (EPA/NATHALIE SAYAGO). ()
Imposing sanctions on a head of state is rare however it follows through on a US threat of action last week against Maduro and his government if they went ahead with Sunday's election.
The US were not the only ones to oppose the election – with a wave of bloodshed sweeping Venezuelan streets on Sunday as troops cracked down on violent protests against the election.
Venezuela could see more violence as Guaido renews calls for uprising against Maduro
Russia confirms its military personnel are in Venezuela
Locals desperate for water as mass blackouts wreak havoc on Venezuela
Protesters attacked polling stations and barricaded streets around the country, drawing a bloody response from security forces, who opened fire with live ammunition in some cases. At least 10 people were killed including a soldier.
While the National Electoral Council has claimed more than 40 percent of Venezuela's 20 million voters had cast ballots on Sunday, the opposition says voter turnout was closer to 12 percent.
Surveys by polling firm Datanalisis showed more than 70 percent of Venezuelans opposed the new assembly.
America's Treasury Secretary Mr Mnuchin has warned of further US penalties against Maduro allies.
"Anyone who participates in this illegitimate (constituent assembly) could be exposed to future US sanctions for their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela," he said.
Colombia, Mexico, Peru and other nations joined the US in saying they did not recognize the results of Sunday's election.
An anti-government demonstrator waves a flag against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro during a vigil in honor of those who have been killed during clashes between security forces and demonstrators (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos). ()
Maduro's own attorney general, Luisa Ortega -- who broke with him months ago over his policies -- also said she would not acknowledge the body, calling it part of the president's "dictatorial ambition."
The European Union expressed "preoccupation for the fate of democracy in Venezuela" and said it, too, doubted it could accept the results.
And Britain's Foreign Minister Boris Johnson warned that Venezuela "stands on the brink of disaster."
"Nicolas Maduro's government must stop before it is too late," he said.
The European Union condemned the "excessive and disproportionate use of force" by Venezuelan police and troops on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the European Commission said: "A Constituent Assembly, elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances, cannot be part of the solution."
However, old allies Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia stood by Maduro, who shrugged off mass protests and a previous round of US sanctions on some of his officials to see through the election.
Russia also threw its weight behind Maduro and the election, backing the government turnout figure.
The foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement it hopes countries "who apparently want to increase economic pressure on Caracas will display restraint and abandon their destructive plans."
With AFP


UAB "ACG NYSTROM" – your partner for technical solutions.
We are an international company established in Lithuania in 1993. Our head office is in Boras, Sweden. ACG NYSTROM companies also act in Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Denmark and Ukrain. We are a part of Swedish company ACG GRUPPEN AB.
Due to long lasting international experience, we offer a flexible, tailor-made approach, using the solutions that best fit the needs of our customers. We integrate different manufacturers' equipment to ensure continued smooth operation of multiple systems. By co-operating with renowned global companies, we are able to guarantee both the highest quality of the products and the implementation of innovative technologies.
We provide comprehensive services on industrial sewing, embroidery machines, ironing, spreading, cutting equipment.
Our technical maintenance experts not only fix faults, they also periodically inspect installed systems for preventive purposes and to carry out technical examination and repair works.
- data conversion from/to other CAD systems.
We digitize embroidery designs using specialized digitizing software TAJIMA BY PULSE.
Our thermo transfer printer can print one-sided and two-sided textile care, composition, size labels and self-adhesive paper labels. We use different materials for print: nylon, satin, self-adhesive paper labels in various sizes and shapes.
Printed labels are supplied cut or rolled-up.
Rent of sewing machines, GERBER TECHNOLOGY software.
Our main objective – to deliver technologies that serve customers and achieve their goals.
Over 20 years, we have built up great knowledge around development and installation of technological solutions. As a consequence, we are in a position to give advice, offer recommendations and consult our customers in regards to selection and application of most suitable equipment.
After a thorough assessment of the customer's needs, having analyzed the existing situation and the systems that have already been installed, we develop a concept of solution and detail the ways to achieve it. If support is necessary, we engage our suppliers – equipment producers.
We constantly innovate the assortment of equipment in our show-room. Our customers are welcome to access equipment innovations and make practical trials.
We organize specialized seminars for our customers.
Educational institutions (textile and design).
UAB "ACG NYSTROM" has a team of 12 employees.
Our employees are constantly improving their competences and skills by attending international fairs and specialized trainings. Experience and knowledge is gained in cooperation with our world-class partner companies. We apply that enormous body of knowledge in an innovative way, thus ensuring the best possible results for our clients.


The Great Lakes Bay Region is more than the perfect place to explore Pure Michigan. It's a great place to live, launch a career, and raise a family.
Whether you're looking to explore our universities, learn about our hospitals, or get in touch with local business and economic development leaders, we've gathered up some of the best resources around.


PAL Express Flight 2P2782 connects Puerto Princesa City, Philippines to Manila, Philippines, taking off from Puerto Princesa City International Airport PPS and landing at Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport MNL.
The flight distance is 584 km / 363 miles and the average flight speed is 462 km/h / 287 mph. In the last 30 days, the average delay of the flight was 73 minutes and the flight was on-time 70% of the times. The average flight time is 1 hour and 15 minutes.
This PAL Express flight can also be referenced as GAP2782, 2P 2782, GAP 2782.
2P2782 Flight Delay Compensation up to 600€!
There was a total of 40 flights connecting Puerto Princesa City to Manila, operated by 6 different airlines in the past. At this time there is a total 18 flights connecting Puerto Princesa City to Manila, operated by 4 different airlines.


We have 3 genesis passion coupons for you to consider including 0 promo codes and 3 deals in April 2019. Grab a free genesispassion.com coupons and save money. Get our best genesis child themes for your websites, Our genesis child themes are suitable with any type of internet marketers. If you are looking to save on wordpress premium theme, genesis wordpress theme, genesis child theme, free wordpress theme, free genesis child themes, genesis theme, genesis child themes, child themes for genesis, genesis framework, genesis framework review, genesis framework child themes, download genesis framework, purchase genesis framework, using an Genesis Passion coupon code is one way to save yourself a tremendous amount of money upon checkout. Try Genesis Passion promo codes if one is not accepted or you can also use pre-activated genesispassion.com offers without a code using GET DEAL button. Get Genesis Passion best genesis child themes for your websites, Genesis Passion genesis child themes are suitable with any type of internet marketers. Supports and other features - This backend Settings mainly designed for user frinedly purporse,It will be 100% user friendly user can use it without any coding skill. Documentation Support - Composed data joined to assentions, budgetary explanations, offers, proposition, and so forth., to give reinforcement and profundity to settled upon or talked about things Email Support - Live talk is a client/ guest bolster device that permits a client administration agent to chat progressively through writing with a potential client. Video Support - we will give free video tutorials for our child themes... Free Installation - Don't worry about the installation process,We will help you. CrossBrowser Comptability - Indeed, cross-program similarity at last has almost no to do with what a site resembles, and a great deal more to do with how it works. Typography design - Typography is a focal part of outline. It gives us a comprehension of the legacy behind our specialty. It's one of the essential routes we, as a general public, go on data to others.
There are no promo codes for Genesis Passion at this time. Do you have a coupon or promo code that we don't? Help other «Genesis Passion» shoppers by submitting Genesis Passion promo code here.
Single Theme for $37 1 YEAR. Access to 1 theme, Updates & support for 1 year, Unlimited Site Usage, No Client Site Usage, Free Theme Installation, Access 4 types of support(documentation, video,email).
Basic Membership for $67 1 YEAR. Access all current and future themes for 1 year, Updates & support for 1 year, Unlimited Site Usage, No Client Site Usage, Free Theme Installation, Access 4 types of support(documentation, video,email).
Professional Membership for $97 LIFE TIME. Access all current and future themes for Lifetime, Updates & support for Lifetime, Unlimited Site Usage, No Client Site Usage, Free Theme Installation, Access 4 types of support(documentation, video,email).
Free Freight Friday On Orders $150 Or More!
Get $20 Off $120 or More at Ladyfootlocker.com! Use Code: LKS17645! Valid: 6.1.17 - 6.30.17! Online Only! Exclusions Apply!
Here you can get a wide range of soft toys, towels, shoes and more for a reduced price with the aid of this coupon code.
Apply this voucher code at the checkout and get fantastic savings on beauty care items from lookfantastic.
if it doesnt work, you can call them and they will reactivate it.
How to use genesispassion.com coupon?
People can find numerous options online to consider and shop at Genesis Passion, using online coupon codes and discounts. These coupons allow people to make the right choices and save big every time.
Below is the Easy 3 Step process to get your savings now! Apply your code and check whether your discount was reflected and continue your checkout. If you have any questions about using your coupons online, please contact Genesispassion.com Customer Service.
STEP 1: Add the Item to your shopping cart. Confirm that you are buying what you want, and that it fulfills any requirements to qualify for the Genesis Passion promotion code you want to use.
STEP 3: Scan your shopping cart to confirm that the coupon code was properly entered and is reflected in your total price. The Genesis Passion coupon discount will adjust your order total. Some sellers also offer Thank. If not, navigate back through the checkout process and try again.
Plus get our best Genesis Passion coupons in our email newsletter. We respect your privacy and will never share your email address.


Treat yourself to a flavorful meal for lunch at the locally owned Mermaid Garden Cafe! Customer's rave over the tasty assortment of hand crafted sandwiches, wraps, salads, and more! Pair your order with the soup of the day for a delectable combo!


The HitMix 107.5FM would not exist without the hard work of all our volunteers, advertisers and sponsors. community groups and the On Air Presentation team. There are many different roles at The HitMix 107.5FM from answering the phones, advertising or donating goods and services, producing shows, listener panel member to the Event Support team.
If you would like to get involved please fill in the form below, click submit and we will contact you back as soon as possible to discuss your interests!


text:
Louis Ferdinand Cruls (Diest, 21 de janeiro de 1848 — Paris, 21 de junho de 1908) foi um astrônomo e geodesista belga que trabalhou a maior parte de sua vida no Brasil, onde se tornou conhecido como Luís Cruls.

Cruls foi responsável pelo mapeamento do Planalto Central, onde seria construída a capital Brasília, em 1960.

Biografia
Louis nasceu em Diest, em 1848. Era filho de Philippe Augustin Guillaume Cruls, um engenheiro civil, e de Anne Elizabeth Jordens. Após fazer seus cursos de humanidades, entrou para a Escola de Engenharia Civil da Universidade de Gante, que frequentou de 1863 a 1868. Mais tarde, em 1872, foi admitido como aspirante de engenharia militar obtendo, nesta última carreira, que seguiu durante um ano, os postos de segundo e primeiro tenente.

Em 1874, Cruls pediu baixa do exército com o objetivo de visitar o Brasil, apenas por curiosidade e sem nenhum plano inicial, provavelmente influenciado pelos brasileiros que, na época, estudavam na Bélgica. Assim, em 5 de setembro de 1874, Cruls embarcou no pequeno vapor que transportava os passageiros de Bordeaux com destino a Pouillac, onde ancoravam os navios das Messageries Maritimes, que faziam a travessia da Europa à cidade de La Plata, na Argentina.

Na viagem fez amizade com Joaquim Nabuco, que acabava de viajar pela Europa e regressava ao Brasil. Nabuco, nessa época, iniciava sua carreira diplomática. Cruls explicou que se dirigia ao Brasil por influência de um dos seus compatriotas, o engenheiro Caetano Furquim de Almeida, que ele conhecera em Gand, no tempo em que ambos frequentavam a Escola de Engenharia Civil. Foi durante o tempo dos seus estudos que Cruls se associou a um grupo de estudantes brasileiros: Jacob Van Erven, Christiano Ottoni, Manuel Caetano da Silva Lara, José Maria Vianna, Antônio Chermont, Félix de Moraes.

Em 1875 publicou em Gante um trabalho sobre métodos de repetição e reiteração para leitura de ângulos, o que lhe credenciou a ser admitido como adjunto no Observatório Imperial do Rio de Janeiro. Estudou o planeta Marte e, em 1882, observou o trânsito de Vênus na cidade chilena de Punta Arenas. Em 1877, publicou um estudo sobre a organização da Carta Geográfica e da História Física e Política do Brasil.

Em 1881 aceitou o cargo de diretor do Observatório Astronômico do Rio de Janeiro. Em 1892 foi-lhe cometida a incumbência da exploração do Planalto Central do Brasil e chefiou uma equipe de cientistas que estudou a orologia, condições climáticas e higiênicas, natureza do terreno, qualidade e quantidade de água etc. da área do Planalto Central, onde seria construída a capital Brasília, em 1960.

Entre 1899 até 1902, Luís Cruls foi professor do Ginásio Fluminense, instituto oficial de ensino criado pelo governador Maurício de Abreu em Petrópolis quando esta cidade era a capital estadual do Rio de Janeiro.

Morte
Cruls morreu em Paris, em 21 de junho de 1908, aos 60 anos.

Legado
Uma cratera de Marte foi batizada em sua homenagem.

Bibliografia científica
Ao longo de sua carreira publicou diversos trabalhos científicos, entre os quais se destacam:
 Projet d'inhumation par l'incrustation des corps dans des pierres artificielles. Gante, 1875
 Discussion sur les méthodes de répétition et de réitération employées en géodésie pour la mesure des angles. Gante, 1875
 Les travaux de la mesure d'un arc de méridien au Brésil, sous la direction de M. Emmanuel Liais, directeur de l'Observatoire Impérial de Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro, setembro de 1878.

Ver também
Planalto Central do Brasil (relatório)

Ligações externas

Astrónomos da Bélgica
Astrônomos do Brasil do século XIX
Belgas expatriados no Brasil
Cientistas da Bélgica
Cientistas do Brasil
Descobridores de cometas
Geodesistas
Naturais de Diest

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


56036 zip code is located in south Minnesota. 56036 zip code is part of Freeborn County. 56036 zip code has 117.98 square miles of land area and 0.43 square miles of water area. As of 2010-2014, the total 56036 zip code population is 1,979, which has shrunk 7.39% since 2000. The population growth rate is much lower than the state average rate of 9.44% and is much lower than the national average rate of 11.61%. 56036 zip code median household income is $55,313 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 43.76% since 2000. The income growth rate is much higher than the state average rate of 29.12% and is much higher than the national average rate of 27.36%. 56036 zip code median house value is $112,200 in 2010-2014 and has grown by 76.14% since 2000. The house value growth rate is higher than the state average rate of 51.31% and is much higher than the national average rate of 46.91%. As a reference, the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate for the same period is 26.63%. On average, the public school district that covers 56036 zip code is worse than the state average in quality. The 56036 zip code area code is 507.


Develops new Enrollment Information System based on the existing system that is currently used.
Develops a new Enrolment Information System that will cater all the transactions from enrolment down billing and grading of students.
Corrects errors by making appropriate changes and then rechecking the program to ensure that the desired results are produced.
Conducts trial runs of programs and software applications to be sure they will produce the desired information and that the instructions are correct.
Writes, updates, and maintains computer programs or software packages to handle specific jobs, such as tracking inventory, storing or retrieving data, or controlling other equipment.
Writes, analyzes, reviews, and rewrites programs, using workflow chart and diagram, and applying knowledge of computer capabilities, subject matter, and symbolic logic.
Consults end users to clarify program intent, identify problems, and suggest changes.
Preferably a graduate of Information Technology, Computer Science or any computer related courses.
At least 2 years of working experience related to software development.
Must have a strong background in web and mobile application development.


text:
Demostene Vineyard is located on Route 128 in Geyserville down the road from the iconic Jimtown store in the Alexander Valley. The climate there is Mediterranean and exceptional for winegrowing. The nearby Pacific ocean makes its presence felt through cool, wet winters. Some 30-50 inches of rainfall here per year, recharging the vital aquifer resident grapes draw from.
The summers are warm to hot and very arid. The dryness greatly reduces pest and disease pressure while slowing vine growth at a crucial, flavor-developing juncture. Like Kick Ranch, Demostene Vineyard is cooled by marine air moving in from the Pacific Ocean via the Petaluma Gap. The combination of ample ripening heat along with a significant enough cool-down to preserve freshness and acidity is a big reason why there's so much quality here.
The Zinfandel we pick from Demostene inhabits an area of the vineyard with shallow rocky soils. It is a balanced blend of nutrients and organic matter—the result of mountain earth gradually eroding downhill over millennia, depositing layers of rich soils in the benchlands of the Valley. Such soils tend to produce intense, striking flavors.
Demostene Vineyard has a total of 20 planted acres, predominantly Zinfandel (19.25 acres) with an additional 3/4-acre of old-vine Carignan. Some of the Zinfandel vines are estimated to be more than a century old. A number of esteemed labels have sourced from Demostene over the years, such as Silver Oak Cellars, Ridge Vineyards, and St. Francis Winery.
Established in 1984, the Alexander Valley AVA sits just north of Healdsburg. Here, alluvial soils and some of the warmest daytime temperatures in the region appeal to a broad spectrum of varieties—Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular.
There's a richness to the wines of Alexander Valley, the northernmost region of Sonoma County. It is nestled comfortably between the Dry Creek and Knights Valleys, protected by nearby mountains yet cooled by various micro-climates. Owing its name to 19th century explorer and jug wine producer Cyrus Alexander, this appellation covers about 33,000 acres of pristine land.
Alluvium and Shallow Rocky Soils
Old Vine Carignan & Zinfandel
Wines from Demostene Vineyard
2017 Zinfandel


Still, all the forms of government share a central focus on the public good as their end, and within that good, the good of each individual. This is because everyone in all heaven is under the guidance of the Lord, who loves everyone and who from his divine love arranges things so that it is the common good from which individuals receive what is good for them. Each individual receives benefit in proportion to his or her love of the whole, for to the extent that they love the whole they love all the individuals. Since this love is the Lord's they are proportionally loved by the Lord and are benefited.
We may conclude from this what the officials are like—namely, that they are the people who more than others enjoy love and wisdom and who therefore, out of that love, wish well to everyone and out of that wisdom know how to make sure it happens. People like this do not control and command but minister and serve, for doing good for others out of a love for what is good is serving, and making sure that it happens is ministering. They do not make themselves more important than other people but less so, for they put the welfare of the community and of their neighbor first and their own later. What is first is more important, and what is later is less.
They do have respect and renown, though. They live in the center of their communities, loftier than others, and in splendid mansions as well; and they accept this renown and respect. However, they do so not on their own account but for the sake of obedience. They all know that this respect and this renown are gifts from the Lord, so that they may be obeyed.
A similar form of government, on the smallest scale, is found in each household. There is a master and there are servants; and the master loves the servants and the servants love their master, so out of this love they serve each other. The master teaches how to live and says what needs to be done and the servants obey and fulfill their functions. Being useful is the essential delight of life for everyone. We can see from this that the Lord's kingdom is an organized structure of functions.
There are forms of government in the hells as well; for unless there were, they would not be kept in restraint. However, the forms of government there are exact opposites of those in the heavens because they all derive from selfishness. All people there want to control others and to be preeminent. They hate the people who do not agree with them, and use vicious means to get even with them because this is what selfishness is like. So for them it is the more vicious ones who hold office, and who are obeyed out of fear. But more on this later, where I discuss the hells.


Two diets were formulated to include 8–14% soybean meal and 9–18% rice bran, 34–40% fish meal, 4–5% mussel meal, and 7–8% Acetes shrimp meal, and 11–13% cod liver oil. Soy bean meal and rice bran were included at 4:1 ratio together to replace 12.5% and 25% of the animal protein sources in the two diets. The two diets were prepared in dry D form and moist M form. The four test diets, D12.5, M12.5, D25, and M25 diets had 40–42% protein and 4,000 kcal/g gross energy. The control diet used was a dry diet with 44% crude protein and 4,260 kcal/g, made with 30% Peruvian fish meal, 8% squid meal, 22% Acetes shrimp meal, 8% cod liver oil, 8% soybean oil, but no plant protein sources. The five diets were fed to juvenile grouper (mean weights ranging from 1.63 ± 0.47 to 2.41 ± 0.91 g) in indoor 400 L concrete tanks (10 fish per tank). After 10 weeks, growth, feed intake, feed conversion ratios (1.2–2.2), and survival (60–80%) of juvenile grouper were not significantly different between the test diets and the control. The carcass composition of the harvested grouper was not significantly different among diets. Protein utilization was best among the fish fed the test diet D12.5. This study showed that soybean meal and rice bran at 4:1 ratio can be included in formulated diets for grouper to replace 12.5% to 25% of the animal protein sources. However, the results for the test diets may also have been due to other factors - the high fish meal content, inclusion of mussel meal, and increase in cod liver oil.
Marasigan, E. T., Miag-ao, S. L., & Serrano, A. E. (2007). Use of soybean meal and rice bran in formulated diets for the grouper Epinephelus coioides. In T. U. Bagarinao (Ed.), Research Output of the Fisheries Sector Program (Vol. 2. Reports on Fisheries and Aquaculture, pp. 114-118). Quezon City, Philippines: Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture.
Aquaculture industry of Southeast Asia has been expanding steadily as a result of an increasing demand of food fish in the region as well as in the global scale. Aside from its contribution to the world's fisheries, the aquaculture industry creates employment opportunities and provides income for the region's fish farmers, as well as produces fish which is a major component in the diets of peoples in Southeast Asia. However, the fast development of aquaculture had been viewed as threat to sustainable capture fisheries production as the widespread use of fish by-catch in aquaculture feeds results in overexploitation of the fishery resources and to certain extent degradation of the resources. Recognizing the importance and urgency of addressing such concern, the Senior Officials of the ASEAN Member States responsible for fisheries adopted in June 2011, the Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2020 which includes provision on the need to "improve the efficient use of aquatic feeds by strictly regulating the quality of manufactured feed and feed ingredients and support continued research for developing suitable alternative protein sources that will reduce dependence on fishmeal and other fish-based products." Along with such declaration, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department has been enhancing its R&D activities aimed at finding alternatives to fishmeal as feed ingredients in aquaculture feed formulations.
Recognizing the need for a concerted effort to follow-up on this priority issue of the ASEAN on aquaculture feed development and utilization. SEAFDEC (Aquaculture Department and Secretariat) and the Government of Myanmar organized the 'Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on development and Use of Alternative Dietary Ingredients or Fish Meal Substitutes in Aquaculture Feed Formulation'. The meeting was convened with the main purpose of providing a forum for charting the regional priorities and future directions on feed development, particularly on the use of alternative feed ingredients or protein substitutes. The specific objectives were to: (i) review the ASEAN-SEAFDEC member country status, constraints associated with developing alternative dietary ingredients for aquaculture feed; (ii) identify specific advances being made in the region with respect to the development of alternative aquaculture feed ingredients; and (iii) define approaches or initiatives supporting catch reduction of low-value/trash fish; (iv) formulate relevant policy recommendations (regional and country-specific) for effective development and utilization of aquaculture feeds; and (v) enhance cooperation among member countries and relevant stakeholders on initiatives that support sustainable aquaculture practices, particularly on feeds. This publication presents the outputs of the RTC. The country reports and review papers presented during the conference which are contained in this volume are cited individually.


What's Missing From Your Cooking Routine?
Got the garlic? OK, what about the Kobe beef? Sure.
"Food made without love is like a summer without sun: it's still food, it's just not as good," says Dario D'Agostino. Of course! His advice perfectly explains why dishes we prepare at home in a hurry never feel as refreshing.
As head chef at Zaza's, located in Melbourne's Richmond suburb, you can expect to find finely prepared meats, such as the photo below, or pizza on weekends.
The menu is very extensive. My advice: when in doubt, go for the Margherita pizza, which pleases all taste buds.


text:
USTR Requests Comments on Reinstating Sec. 301 Exclusions
Trade Update • OCTOBER 7, 2021
As part of the Biden administration's newly announced trade approach to China, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Tuesday took the first step toward restarting an exclusion process for Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, seeking comments from stakeholders on whether to reinstate previously extended exclusions.
"The exclusions process is a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration's deliberative, long-term vision for realigning the U.S.-China trade relationship around our priorities and making trade work for American workers and businesses," USTR Katherine Tai said in a statement.
Scope of Coverage
According to the draft notice, more than 2,200 exclusions were granted under the Trump administration-initiated process, with only 549 ultimately being extended beyond their initial expiration date (a list is available here). Excepting certain exclusions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these product exclusions have now expired.
"As these exclusions were previously found to warrant additional time, USTR will evaluate, on a case-by-case basis, the possible reinstatement of each exclusion," the notice states.
Considerations for Reinstatement
USTR says it will consider tariff exclusions based on:
Whether products are available in the U.S. or third countries;
Changes in the global supply chain since September 2018, the last time new tariffs were imposed on China;
Efforts by importers since September 2018 to source products from the U.S. or third countries; and
The domestic capacity for producing products.
"In addition, USTR will consider whether or not reinstating the exclusion will impact or result in severe economic harm to the commenter or other U.S. interests, including the impact on small businesses, employment, manufacturing output, and critical supply chains in the United States, as well as the overall impact of the exclusions on the goal of obtaining the elimination of China's acts, policies, and practices covered in the Section 301 investigation," the notice states.
USTR is accepting public comments from October 12 through December 1, 2021. All comments must be submitted via USTR's online portal.
Additionally, USTR has provided a sample copy of the "Exclusion Reinstatement Comment Form" as a guide for commenters.
Submitted comments will be reviewed by USTR, which will also consult with other agencies as necessary. Any reinstated product exclusions will be retroactive to October 12, 2021, and apply only to entries that are not liquidated at that time.
GHY2021-10-12T16:58:42+00:00October 8th, 2021|Other Government Agencies/Depts., U.S. Customs|


The Adesso 3277-01 Beacon Pendant features a woven fabric cord that matches the lamp color. The shades are powder coated metal at the socket end with smoked acrylic on the open end lined with a white acrylic inner shade. These pendants are intended for hardwire installation. Each includes a 15-foot long matching cord set attached to a metal ceiling mount canopy. The ceiling mount has a 3-inch diameter. Takes one 100-Watt incandescent or 26-Watt CFL bulb. Shade: 14-inch length, 6.5-inch diameter outer shade, 5.25-inch diameter inner shade. Adesso was established in 1994 based on the belief that there was an under-served niche among consumers who sought high-end, contemporary home products at moderate prices. Since then, Adesso has not only revolutionized the home industry with its innovative products, but also gained substantial recognition for its well-designed and well-priced lamps and ready to assemble furniture, quickly establishing itself as an industry leader and consumer favorite.
The Adesso 3277-01 Beacon Pendant features a woven fabric cord that matches the lamp color.
The shades are powder coated metal at the socket end with smoked acrylic on the open end lined with a white acrylic inner shade.
Each includes a 15-foot long matching cord set attached to a metal ceiling mount canopy. These pendants are intended for hardwire installation.
Each includes a 15-foot long matching cord set attached to a metal ceiling mount canopy. The ceiling mount has a 3-inch diameter.


text:
DWG HDB Sale Transactions
Real News > 2014 > December 2014 >
SG50: Look to the future, too, not only the past
Source: Today Online / Singapore
2015 will be a year of relentless celebrations and commemorations of Singapore's 50th year of independence. These events will take place at all levels — from grassroots to national — and at all places — such as schools, community clubs and the Padang for the National Day Parade.
Every Singaporean — regardless of political affiliation or past nationality — has reason to join in to mark this milestone in our national journey.
However, amid all the activity, there is the danger that we might end up having a year-long party for the sake of having a party rather than finding deeper meaning and purpose in the celebrations. Even where we do find meaning, there is also the risk that we might misunderstand the significance due to the heavy emphasis that will inevitably be placed on the historical significance of the occasion.
Let me point out four possible misunderstandings and suggest what we should focus on instead.
THE SOUL OF THINGS
First, it is natural that much will be made of how Singapore went from Third to First World in one generation. The country's development is reflected in its modern landscape — from the well-planned housing estates in the heartlands to the towering skyscrapers of the business district. And yes, physical structures can express meaning, but usually only shallowly.
What we should be emphasising more than the quantity of our built-up space is the quality of our people and the society that we collectively constitute. We should not forget that the physical towers are ultimately built on a strong foundation of intangible shared values. Singaporeans are the soul of our urbanity.
And while that is still so, we can be confident that our national character will remain resilient. This is a vital virtue which does not happen or sustain itself naturally. We have to keep working at it.
NARRATIVES OF SUCCESS
Second, in that narrative of Third World to First, it will seem that Singapore's achievements were inevitable and its leaders infallible. We should be mature enough to accept that neither contention is true and that recognition does not take away but adds lustre to the pioneers — both people and leaders.
Singapore could have gone off the track on several occasions — in the face of global economic shocks, such as in 1997 and 2009, and security and biological threats such as Jemaah Islamiyah and the severe acute respiratory syndrome — and these crises presented severe tests.
Our national journey did benefit from extraordinary leadership, but we also got lucky. We set the correct economic direction early, the Cold War made strategic alliances more accessible given our anti-communist stance, we surfed the tide of the Great Moderation in global economics in the '80s and '90s, and we have been lifted even higher due to the shifting centre of gravity from West to East.
Singapore's next 50 years may not come with the same benign conditions. The impression of linear progress in our past 50 years, even if true to a certain extent, should come with the usual caveat in financial prospectuses — that past is no guarantee of future performance. Singapore has to remain nimble and be able to take knocks.
That does not mean that we are failing. It means only that we cannot take for granted our good times, but that if we persevere, there will be more of those better times even while we have to go through bad patches. That more punctuated narrative of progress should be our new definition of success.
MAKE NEW HISTORY, NOT only CELEBRATE OLD HISTORY
Third, the commemorative aspects of the SG50 events may induce a collective nostalgia for things past and stoke a yearning to retain our Singaporean identity. Again, to an extent, this is natural and even to be welcomed, so that we act to preserve some of our past as anchors of identity.
However, if we overdo it, we can get in the way of the essential truth of the Singapore condition — and this is that we survive by continuous adaptation in the face of relentless change. This has been our formula for success, which we must retain.
To do this, we must continue to be willing to take risks and to focus on the longer term.
Adaptation can trigger discomfort and angst among some Singaporeans who wish for stability and predictability. Nevertheless, we have no alternative but to always seize the initiative from events and to plan and act ahead of tomorrow.
This brings me to my final point. A preoccupation with the past, however glorious, during the SG50 year would be unhelpful.
In moderate doses, it is comforting and self-congratulatory, which are both fine. But we could develop an addiction to our own self-gratifying narrative of the past 50 years when we should be focused on generating a new narrative suited to the next 50 years.
SG50 should mark not only Singapore's past half-century, but also an occasion to look ahead to the coming half-century of independence.
In short, let us continue to make new history and not only celebrate old history. To do so, we will need to make big bets and steer our course as conditions determine. As a small nation, we are not masters of our circumstances, but we are and must remain masters of our choices.
-By Devadas Kri Shinadas, Chief Executive of Future-Moves Group
http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sg50-look-future-too-not-only-past?singlepage=true
Singapore 3rd most popular destination in Asia Pacific for retailers: Report
Few barriers to entry and strong supply chains in Singapore are factors that attract international retailers, according to a report by JLL.
Source: Channel News Asia / Business
SINGAPORE: The Republic has been ranked as the third most popular destination in the Asia Pacific region for international retailers, behind Hong Kong and Shanghai, according to a new report by JLL on Wednesday (Dec 3).
The report noted that Singapore is often used as a hub for expansion into other Southeast Asian markets, and international retailers see the city-state as an important market for building brand awareness. Few barriers to entry and strong supply chains in Singapore are other factors that attract international retailers, it added.
Still, there are several hurdles for brands looking to enter the market. With low vacancy rates in prime locations, it is difficult for brands to secure an appropriate retail location, the report said, adding that this supply and demand disparity has led to rental price growth in prime locations over the past few years.
At the same time, landlords now have to give more thought to their tenant mix in order to attract customers, given the influx of new malls, decline in reported tourist arrivals and the rising impact of e-commerce, it said.
Said Mr Tom Hamilton, Director of Retail, JLL Singapore: "In 2015, we envisage a continued growth of international brands entering the Singapore market but with very specific emphasis placed on sourcing stores in the strongest strategic locations."
A continued slow-down is expected in the take up of weaker locations, with many existing retailers reining in expansion strategies along with the potential consolidation of store numbers, he added.
- CNA/cy
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/singapore-3rd-most/1507142.html
Spanish tycoon pays S$4,100-plus psf for pair of Seven Palms Sentosa Cove units
Source: Business Times / Real Estate
The overall Sentosa Cove condo market may be languishing, but SC Global Developments is understood to have sold two units at its Seven Palms Sentosa Cove at what could be a record price in the waterfront housing district: S$4,100-plus per square foot (psf). The overall lump sum works out to S$28.55 million.
-By Kalpana Rashiwala
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/spanish-tycoon-pays-s4100-plus-psf-for-pair-of-seven-palms-sentosa-cove-units
GIC beefs up real-estate portfolio with US$8.1b purchase of IndCor
IndCor has largest portfolio of warehouses and distribution centres in US, operating in 23 states
SINGAPORE sovereign wealth fund GIC has confirmed news that its affiliates will buy US industrial property company IndCor Properties Inc from Blackstone Group LP for US$8.1 billion, making it yet another major real-estate investment for the fund.
A GIC spokesman confirmed the purchase on Tuesday, following Blackstone's announcement of the deal.
The move gives GIC and its affiliates a significant presence in the US warehousing space, thanks to Chicago-based IndCor's ownership of some 117 million square feet of industrial real estate throughout the country.
The deal also puts paid to IndCor's plans for an initial public offering. Blackstone had been intending to exit IndCor through a share offering that would have valued IndCor at about US$8 billion, but clearly found the sale to GIC - a more immediate realisation of its investment - the more attractive alternative.
The investment by GIC and its affiliates comes at a time when demand for commercial real estate, and prices for such real estate, in major markets is rising. Warehouse properties and logistics-services companies are fetching increased interest from funds as global trade grows. Brookfield Property Partners LP and TPG Capital have been on the acquisition path for such assets too.
Blackstone formed IndCor in 2010, acquiring property when values crashed after the global financial crisis. IndCor now has the largest portfolio of wholly owned warehouses and distribution centres in the US, operating in 29 key markets in 23 states.
"We built IndCor through 18 acquisitions to be one of the largest industrial real estate companies in the United States," said IndCor CEO Tim Beaudin in Blackstone's statement. "We are excited about the company's future prospects under new long-term ownership with GIC."
GIC declined to comment further on the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
The sovereign wealth fund has been very active recently in beefing up its global real-estate portfolio, which accounted for 7 per cent of its assets in its most recent annual report.
Just last month, it announced two investments in New Zealand. In the first, it partnered with the country's Goodman Property Trust to co-invest in Auckland's Viaduct Quarter; and, in the second, it agreed to buy a 49 per cent stake in five malls in the country from Scentre Group in a transaction valued at NZ$1.04 billion (S$1.07 billion).
In October, it announced that it bought the entire office component of Pacific Century Place Marunouchi - situated next to Tokyo Station - with a gross floor area of 38,840 sqm of net lettable area, for US$1.7 billion. It also acquired the remaining half of the RomaEst Shopping Centre in Italy, to gain full ownership of the mall, for an undisclosed amount; and it agreed to pay more than 200 million euros (S$325 million) for a 30 per cent stake in Spanish real estate firm Gmp.
The month before, it agreed with Indian developer Brigade Enterprises to jointly invest 15 billion rupees (S$317 million) in residential real estate projects in south India.
In January, it teamed up with New York-based developer Related Cos and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority to buy Time Warner Inc's headquarters in Manhattan for US$1.3 billion. And, the month before that, it acquired Blackstone's 50 per cent stake in London's Broadgate office complex for a reported £1.7 billion (S$3.5 billion).
Meanwhile, Blackstone has been stepping up its real-estate sales, as it prepares to raise its next global property fund. The private-equity giant has been reducing its stakes in its publicly listed entities, Brixmor Property Group Inc - the second-largest US shopping centre landlord - hotel group Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, and lodging company Extended Stay America Inc.
Blackstone has said it plans to raise at least as much as US$13.3 billion - the amount raised in its last fund - for its next fund.
-By Michelle Quah
http://www.businesstimes.com..sg/real-estate/gic-beefs-up-real-estate-portfolio-with-us81b-purchase-of-indcor
GIC targets US industrial properties in $10.6b deal
It partners various affiliates to buy IndCor from Blackstone Group
Source: Straits Times / Top of The News
SINGAPORE investment firm GIC has set its sights on warehouses and distribution centres in the United States with the acquisition of IndCor Properties from private equity giant Blackstone Group.
GIC and various affiliates have inked an US$8.1 billion (S$10.6 billion) deal for IndCor, which owns 117 million sq ft in industrial properties across the US.
A GIC spokesman yesterday confirmed the investment.
These centres are in markets near domestic and global transportation hubs, and major logistics and warehouse and distribution networks in cities such as Las Vegas, Seattle, Denver, Houston and Miami.
The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of next year.
The move marks GIC's expansion into the US industrial estate space in a big way, market observers said.
IndCor has now dropped plans for an initial public offering, Blackstone said in a statement on its website on Monday.
Mr Wong Kok Hoi, the founder of APS Asset Management in Singapore, tips a looming shortage of US industrial real estate as building has slowed in recent years.
"With the economic recovery under way in the US, the shortage of industrial space is likely to force rates up. This is another clever move of the GIC to acquire hard assets where they believe they will make a decent capital gain in the long run, and in the meantime collect a steady stream of rental income," Mr Wong said.
"Based on GIC's recent purchase patterns, it is evident that they have a long-term strategy to purchase office buildings, and now industrial properties, in a meaningful manner," he said.
CIMB regional economist Song Seng Wun said the US logistics segment is poised to benefit from a recovering economy as goods distribution picks up.
"Blackstone has been very busy in terms of buying distressed assets in the US during the downturn, and now it is time to cash out and lock in gains through the sale to GIC," he added.
IndCor chief executive Tim Beaudin said in Monday's statement: "We built IndCor through 18 acquisitions to be one of the largest industrial real estate companies in the United States.
"We are excited about the company's future prospects under new long-term ownership with GIC."
Meanwhile, Global Logistic Properties (GLP), one of the largest owners of warehouses and other industrial property in Asia, announced yesterday that it "has not entered into any binding agreement" in relation to the IndCor purchase.
It was clarifying a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on Monday that said: "GIC's partner in the acquisition will be Global Logistic Properties... according to people familiar with the matter."
GIC is GLP's largest shareholder. GLP's announcement came yesterday in response to the WSJ story on the deal.
In September, a GIC affiliate and two Canadian pension funds invested US$700 million in XPO Logistics, a provider of airfreight forwarding and warehousing management services in Connecticut.
-By Grace Leong
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/top-the-news/story/gic-targets-us-industrial-properties-106b-deal-20141203
GIC to buy IndCor Properties for S$10.6 billion
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, and it is considered one of the largest industrial property sales in the world.
SINGAPORE: GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund will acquire industrial property company IndCor Properties from investment company Blackstone for US$8.1 billion (S$10.6 billion), according to a press release from the latter on Tuesday (Dec 2).
The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015, said Blackstone. A GIC spokesperson confirmed the investment in IndCor on Tuesday. The deal is one of the largest ever industrial property sales anywhere in the world.
Blackstone said as a result of the transaction, IndCor will no longer be pursuing an initial public offering (IPO). The company owns and operates a portfolio of 117 million square feet of high-quality industrial properties in key markets throughout the United States.
Mr Tim Beaudin, IndCor CEO, said: "We built IndCor through 18 acquisitions to be one of the largest industrial real estate companies in the US. We are excited about the company's future prospects under new long-term ownership with GIC."
- CNA/kk
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/gic-to-buy-indcor/1505654.html
Blackstone Said to Score $2 Billion Profit on IndCor Sale
Source: Bloomberg / News
Blackstone Group LP (BX) stands to make a profit of more than $2 billion by selling warehouse owner IndCor Properties Inc. to Singapore's GIC Pte, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
Blackstone, the world's largest manager of alternative assets such as private equity and real estate, said this week that it will sell IndCor to the sovereign-wealth fund for $8.1 billion. The deal pre-empted a planned initial public offering for the property company, which said in September it had confidentially filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to go public as a real estate investment trust.
The GIC transaction is Blackstone's largest-ever private sale of a property holding, said the person with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named because the financial details are private. The deal will more than double the value of the firm's equity investment in IndCor, the person said.Peter Rose, a Blackstone spokesman, declined to comment.
Blackstone created Chicago-based IndCor in 2010, after a plunge in property values following the financial crisis, and built it into an owner of more than 117 million square feet (10.9 million square meters) of warehouse buildings across the U.S. Industrial real estate prices in major markets have rebounded from the crash and are within 5 percent of their precrisis peak, according to Moody's Investors Service.
The sale is the latest in a string by Blackstone's real estate unit, which has returned more than $16 billion to fund investors since the end of the third quarter of 2013. This year the firm has sold five Boston office buildings totaling 3.3 million square feet, along with shares of hotel operator Extended Stay America Inc. (STAY), shopping-center owner Brixmor Property Group Inc. (BRX)and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT)
Waldorf Sale
In October, Hilton agreed to sell New York's Waldorf Astoria hotel to China's Anbang Insurance Group Co. for $1.95 billion. Blackstone acquired the Hilton chain for $26 billion in 2007 and took it public a year ago.
Blackstone's Hilton profit, currently valued at about $12 billion, ranks as the largest ever in the private-equity industry. Blackstone, which invested about $6.5 billion of equity in Hilton, has sold about a quarter of its shares since the IPO for $4.8 billion, according to filings. Its remaining 55 percent stake is valued at about $13.9 billion, based on yesterday's closing share price.
Blackstone's real estate group, led by Jon Gray, oversaw $80 billion in investments as of Sept. 30. The company began marketing its latest global property fund last month, according to two people with knowledge of the fundraising. Blackstone executives have said they expect that fund will be at least as big as the company's record $13.3 billion pool that closed in 2012.
-By David Carey and Hui-yong Yu
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-02/blackstone-said-to-score-2-billion-profit-on-indcor-sale.html
KepLand in JV to build office tower in Yangon
Its total investment in Grade-A building will be US$47.4 million
Source: Business Times / Companies & Markets
Keppel Land is investing US$47.4 million through a joint venture in Myanmar to develop a Grade-A office tower in Yangon. The group said on Tuesday that it has entered into a conditional joint venture agreement with ShweTaung Group, a major construction firm in Myanmar, to develop a 23-storey office tower in Yangon's central business district.
-By Lynette Khoo
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/kepland-in-jv-to-build-office-tower-in-yangon
JEP unit signs lease for JTC land
JEP Holdings' subsidiary, JEP Precision Engineering, has signed a 30-year lease agreement with JTC for an 18,500 square metre parcel of land in Seletar Aerospace Park.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/in-brief-8
GuocoLand ramps up marketing for new condo in Sims Drive (Amended)
The 2.4 ha Sims Urban Oasis features a sky park and a 300 sqm childcare centre
Guocoland is slated to launch its 1,024-unit condo project in a quiet enclave off Aljunied Road only early next year, but has started drumming up interest in the project and its location. A Facebook page for the Sims Drive project and an interactive map showing the nearby amenities, schools and well-known eating places have been launched.
http://www.businesstimes.com..sg/real-estate/guocoland-ramps-up-marketing-for-new-condo-in-sims-drive-amended
GuocoLand hopes project will enliven Sims Drive area
Source: Straits Times / Money
DEVELOPER GuocoLand hopes to transform the dull and dusty Sims Drive area with its Sims Urban Oasis project.
The 1,024-unit development will be a major addition to an area marked by industrial buildings and several blocks of Housing Board flats.
"We are interested in projects... of a certain scale, where we believe we can have an impact (on the environment)," Mr Cheng Hsing Yao, managing director of GuocoLand Singapore, said yesterday.
Pricing is not confirmed, but units will be from one to five bedrooms with the project to be "launch ready" by early next year, although market conditions will determine the actual date, Mr Cheng said. The project's estimated date of vacant possession is in June 2020.
GuocoLand, which will announce details of the project today, bought the 2.4ha, 99-year leasehold site for $530.9 million, or $688 per sq ft (psf) per plot ratio, in April.
Experts estimate that break-even prices will be $1,090 psf to $1,130 psf, with sales possibly at $1,220 psf to $1,300 psf.
Mr Cheng said the site's location is a key selling point. It is a five minutes' walk to Aljunied MRT station, a five-minute drive to the Sports Hub and less than 15 minutes' drive to the central business district.
He noted that small cafes and organic restaurants, including Loysel's Toy and Cafe Melba, have set up shop in the area, a harbinger of more vibrancy to come.
"The area is almost like Tiong Bahru in that it was quite sleepy in the early days," Mr Cheng said.
The size of the development also means it can be more generous with amenities, including a "Skypark" on the 19th storey that will be a vantage point for viewing fireworks at Marina Bay.
GuocoLand intends to have four clusters of homes, including more compact "suites" and small home office units, to cater to different types of home owners, from singles to families and upgraders.
This "broader appeal" is a departure from its previous projects - Clermont Residence at Tanjong Pagar Centre, Leedon Residence in Leedon Heights and Goodwood Residence in Newton, which was completed last year.
The firm had sold 15 units at the 181-unit Clermont Residence by the end of October, 145 at the 381-unit Leedon Residence and 158 at the 210-unit Goodwood Residence.
-By Rennie Whang
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/money/story/guocoland-hopes-project-will-enliven-sims-drive-area-20141203
JLL buys Henry Butcher's international residential project sales business
JLL continues to expand its international residential project sales marketing business, to cater to the strong appetite among Asians for overseas properties. This time around, the property consulting group has acquired Malaysia-based Henry Butcher's international residential project sales unit.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/jll-buys-henry-butchers-international-residential-project-sales-business
7 years on, South Beach to open its doors
SINGAPORE'S largest mixed development will soon be ready for business after seven years of work and frustrating delays.
The 1.65 million sq ft South Beach project in Beach Road, opposite Raffles Hotel, will open in phases over the next 12 months.
Its first corporate tenant arrives early next year.
South Beach is an ambitious project with two towers - of 34 and 45 storeys - comprising an office block, luxury homes and a Philippe Starck-designed hotel.
The development will also have 37,000 sq ft of retail space.
The South Beach, as the hotel is called, will have 654 luxury rooms and direct links to the Suntec City Convention Centre and Esplanade MRT station. It opens its doors in April.
Despite a sluggish property market, the project's office component has done well.
A third of the 500,000 sq ft of office space has been leased, while a further 50 per cent of leases are being firmed up now, said Mr Aloysius Lee, chief executive of the South Beach Consortium.
TMF Group, a multinational professional services firm, will take up 16,000 sq ft, while Rabobank will occupy about 30,000 sq ft at the North Tower office building.
"The South Beach team is currently in advanced negotiation with parties to take up another 10 per cent, and is confident of hitting 90 per cent occupancy by early 2015," said Mr Lee.
There will be 190 residential units, ranging from 950 sq ft two-bedders to 6,500 sq ft five-bedroom penthouses with their own swimming pools.
The Non-Commissioned Officers Club building and three former army blocks, the site of Singapore's first national service enlistment exercise in 1967, will be incorporated into the project to house a 29,000 sq ft private club and hotel facilities.
South Beach is being developed by City Developments (CDL) and Malaysia's IOI Group.
The project was initially slated for completion in 2012, but was hit by delays.
The consortium that secured the 376,296 sq ft plot in 2007 had originally comprised Dubai World unit Istithmar, United States-based Elad Group and CDL, each holding a one-third stake. But the financial crisis in November 2008 led CDL to defer building plans, after which Elad and Istithmar both dropped out.
Preparations to market the project picked up after IOI Group entered the consortium in 2011. The project's residential unit prices are still under wraps.
-By Cheryl Ong
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/top-the-news/story/7-years-south-beach-open-its-doors-20141203#sthash.wSEKbKWC.dpuf
Views, Reviews & Forum
Habitable housing for foreign workers
Source: Straits Times / Opinion
THE dimensions of housing Singapore's non-resident population have grown tenfold over the decades. However, the market has proven generally resilient in catering to the various needs of this demographic, which now numbers 1.6 million - forming 29 per cent of the total population, compared with 2.9 per cent in 1970.
What has caused public discomfit from time to time has been the provision by certain employers of below-par accommodation for lower-paid foreign labour, notably construction workers. It would be scant exaggeration to describe some of these pockets of makeshift housing for foreigners as ghettoes that stand in stark contrast to the spick-and-span built environment that is the product of their labours.
Many of the over 300,000 construction workers here are well housed but there are still a proportion who are packed in quarters built at construction sites, in apartments, shophouses and temporary dormitories. Hygiene and sanitation suffer from overcrowding, workers have to sleep shoulder to shoulder, and demanding work cycles lead to soiled apparel and discarded food piling up within. In some instances, workers were made to live in shipping containers and bathe next to drains, in a shack erected above an underground sewage tank, and at other unsavoury locations.
It's a world that ordinary Singaporeans do not dwell upon until it comes uncomfortably close, as at Serangoon Gardens six years ago when residents campaigned strenuously against a foreign workers' dorm in their neighbourhood. Rather than having a sense of gratitude towards those who undertake dirty and back-breaking work shunned by Singaporeans, many mentally rationalise that foreign workers' villages might be no better than the workers' slums here and that they ought to be thankful for their higher wages.
Naturalising the poor state of such housing ought to be repugnant to any First World society. Instead, Singaporeans ought to support basic standards of human decency, tighter monitoring of such quarters, and stiffer penalties under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act for employers responsible for deplorable conditions, either wilfully or through neglect. There is no excuse for such acts, especially when there's a range of better options available, including purpose-built dorms for foreign workers. There are 200,000 beds available now in about 40 big dorms. Nine more are to be built with amenities such as cafeterias.
Alongside such efforts, it's also important for more to be done to educate workers on what is deemed inhabitable quarters and what amounts to ill-treatment at a workplace. Acceptable housing must be seen as a must rather than an indulgence.
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/opinion/story/habitable-housing-foreign-workers-20141202
Home prices down, yet property tax unchanged
Source: Straits Times / Forum Letters
I JUST received my property tax bill for next year and was surprised to see that my property value has remained unchanged for the last 31/2 years. I checked with friends and they, too, face the same situation.
Government data and property analysts' latest reports show that both private and public property prices and rents have dropped over the last 18 months.
Developers and owners are trying to offload properties by lowering prices, resulting in private condominium prices sliding by not less than 20 per cent in many instances.
Some properties have been put up for auction, and owners are defaulting on mortgage instalments.
So it is surprising that the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore still maintains the same annual values for many properties.
It is time to revise the annual values of residential properties.
-By Daivd Goh Chee Hoe
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/home-prices-down-yet-property-tax-unchanged-20141202#sthash.LRhV9yUi.dpuf
Companies' Brief
S-Reits ratings to remain stable next year: Fitch
Ratings on Singapore real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) are expected to remain stable next year, according to Fitch Ratings, although hospitality Reits are likely to face more downside risks than other sectors. "Tourist arrivals into Singapore are likely to remain weak in 2015, due to softer economic growth in China and higher inflation in Indonesia - two key inbound markets," Fitch said in a report released on Tuesday.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/s-reits-ratings-to-remain-stable-next-year-fitch
CDL Hospitality Trusts
CDL Hospitality Trusts has entered the hospitality market in Japan with the acquisition of two Tokyo hotels for S$63.8 million. We reiterate "Neutral" with a DDM (dividend discount model)-derived target price of S$1.78, implying an 8.6 per cent total return.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/brokers-take-25
Global Economy & Global Real Estate
China to introduce property registration rules in March
China will implement long-awaited property registration rules from March, a Chinese media outlet said on Tuesday, in a move that could give the country's anti-corruption investigators extra ammunition and pave the way for new taxes.
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/china-to-introduce-property-registration-rules-in-march
China to implement real estate registration rules
National system an anti-graft tool, paves way for taxes
Source: Straits Times / Asia
BEIJING - China will implement long-awaited property registration rules from March, a Chinese media outlet said yesterday, in a move that could give the country's anti-corruption investigators extra ammunition and pave the way for new taxes.
Under a draft of the regulations published in August, a national registration system will be established sharing information such as property location, area and origin of ownership among government departments including police, taxation and audit authorities "in real time".
The rules have been approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet, and will take effect from March 1 "despite various hindrances", news portal thepaper.cn reported, citing unidentified sources.
The national registration system could potentially act as an anti-graft tool by preventing officials from hiding their assets.
It could also pave the way for nationwide real estate taxes, which are regarded as an effective way to curb speculation, after the country saw years of surging house prices, creating widespread resentment among ordinary Chinese.
Under the system, owners will also need to register land-use rights including categories such as farming and forestry, as well as sea-use rights, the state-owned China Securities Journal reported.
But at the same time prices for real estate - a key driver of the economy - have been falling for months, and the authorities want to avoid a disorderly plunge in the market.
That prompted China's central bank to cut its benchmark lending rate by 40 basis points to 5.6 per cent on Nov 21, reversing in part its drive to cool a sector that many feared had become so bloated by speculative froth that it was crowding out other forms of investment.
But the lowering of the lending benchmark will bring only marginal relief to the sector's biggest headaches - too much unsold stock and tight liquidity.
"The fundamental problem of China's housing market is oversupply," said real estate services firm E-House China's co-president Ding Zuyu, and a few home-buyers encouraged by the rate cut would not change that.
New home prices in China dropped for a seventh consecutive month in November from the previous month, a survey by the China Real Estate Index System showed.
The property registration scheme was included in a landmark property law in 2007, but Chinese media have said its specific rules have been long delayed due to their sensitivity and complexity.
The Ministry of Land and Resources, which is in charge of the registration, has said it aims to have the system operating by 2016.
Public outrage is intense over corrupt government officials who have sought to hide wealth by illegally amassing dozens of homes under false identities. In one high-profile case last year, Gong Aiai, vice-president of a bank in the northern province of Shaanxi and a delegate to the local legislature, was sentenced to three years in prison after she was found to have purchased more than 40 properties under multiple identities.
http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/asia/story/china-implement-real-estate-registration-rules-20141203
Australian landlords take record debt as rental yields fall
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/australian-landlords-take-record-debt-as-rental-yields-fall
Derwent Wins Approval to Turn Headquarters to Apartments
Source: Bloomberg / Luxury
Derwent London Plc (DLN) plans to demolish its own headquarters in the capital's exclusive Mayfair district and build apartments as residential values in the city center outstrip offices.
The largest real estate investment trust focused on central London won approval late yesterday to raze a building at 25 Savile Row, a street famous for its high-end tailors, and construct 29 apartments on the land. The Westminster borough council voted in favor of the project, subject to a higher affordable-housing payment, at a meeting.
About 5 percent of the office space in Westminster has been turned into homes or received approval for residential construction. Apartments in Mayfair sell for about 3,000 pounds ($4,715) a square foot, compared with 2,300 pounds for office buildings, according to data compiled by broker Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. (JLL)
"This is a prestigious project," Sue Munden, an analyst at Panmure Gordon U.K. Ltd., said before the vote. "The discrepancy in values between residential and office space in Mayfair means they are set to make good returns from this."
The development also will include two stores on the ground floor of the new building.
-By Neil Callanan
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-02/derwent-wins-approval-to-turn-headquarters-to-apartments.html
NYC's One57 Sells One Condo in Quarter as Luxury Slows
A single apartment at Manhattan's One57 was sold in the third quarter, leaving about 25 percent of the ultra-luxury tower's units without buyers more than three years after they reached the market.
Twenty-four of the building's 94 condominiums were unsold as of Sept. 30, according to a filing last week on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, where builder Extell Development Co. sells debt to investors. The most recent contract was only the third this year at One57, where sales have slowed as the tower faces competition from other projects planned nearby.
"We definitely have seen a slowdown on that super-luxury end," said Andy Gerringer, managing director at the Marketing Directors, a new-development brokerage not involved with One57. "People know there's a lot more product coming to the market in that range. They're either waiting to see what it's going to be like, or they're holding off."
Extell broke ground on One57 in 2009, setting off a high-end residential development boom in midtown Manhattan. At least six skyscrapers aimed at multimillionaires, including Zeckendorf Development Co.'s 520 Park Ave. and Vornado Realty Trust's 220 Central Park South, are under construction in the area, with plans to begin sales in the coming year. Another tower off 57th Street, 432 Park Ave., recently surpassed One57 as the tallest residential building in the city.
At the end of September, 707 luxury homes were on the market at newly developed properties in Manhattan, more than double the number a year earlier, data from appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. show. The New York-based firm defines luxury as the top 10 percent of all homes by price.
Global Appetite
Luxury resale listings climbed 14 percent to 920, as individual owners tried to profit from a global appetite for high-end Manhattan real estate, said Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel and a Bloomberg View contributor.
"Nobody knows what the depth of that market is and there's really no way to gauge it," Gerringer said. "We may be hitting a peak or we may be flattening out right now."
At Extell's current pace of one apartment deal per quarter at One57, it would take six more years to sell the remaining units, according to Miller.
Since sales started in 2011, "that would be a nine-year absorption rate, which would be unprecedented in the entire history of New York City residential development," he said.
Extell's president, Gary Barnett, acknowledged in an October Bloomberg Businessweek interview that sales slackened at One57 because of all the towers rising around it. He said deals have "picked up" since the first half of the year.
Hepzi Schechter, Barnett's assistant at Extell, and Nancy Raia, a spokeswoman for the developer at Rubenstein Associates, declined to comment on sales at One57.
Construction Crane
In earlier filings, Extell said the units that have been slow to find buyers are those where views have been obstructed by a construction crane. Deals will pick up once clients can enter the completed building and see actual homes rather than make decisions based on floor plans, the company said in September.
The buyer of the condo that went into contract in the third quarter agreed to pay $10,587 a square foot, according to Extell's Nov. 26 filing. That's four times the average for Manhattan luxury sales that closed in the three months through September, Miller Samuel data show.
Carlton House
At Extell's Carlton House project on East 61st Street, where sales started last year, two units went into contract in the third quarter, according to the filing. Seventeen of the 68 apartments remain unsold.
Extell was a pioneer when it began work on One57, less than a year after the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ushered in the real estate rout. The building, planned as Manhattan's tallest residential tower, reached $1 billion in sales after six months. Bill Ackman, founder of New York hedge-fund firm Pershing Square Capital Management LP, is part of an investment group that purchased one of the upper-floor duplexes, paying more than $90 million, a person with knowledge of the deal said last year.
-By Oshrat Carmiel
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-02/one57-sells-one-condo-for-quarter-in-nyc-luxury-slowdown.html
London's Garden Bridge Approved by Westminster Borough
A pedestrian Garden Bridge designed by Heatherwick Studio spanning London's River Thames won local-government approval.
The Westminster borough endorsed the project in a 3-1 vote at a meeting late yesterday. Construction is expected to start in the second half of next year with the opening set for 2018, according to a Nov. 12 statement released by the Garden Bridge Trust.
The bridge will connect the area near the Temple metro station with the South Bank, which features cultural attractions including Royal Festival Hall and the South Bank Centre. Lambeth council last month approved the southern part of the bridge, which is expected to draw 7 million visitors a year.
The plan was developed after Transport for London, which manages the city's subway, sought proposals to improve pedestrian links across the river. Heatherwick also designed the public park and performance venue planned by billionaire Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg on the Hudson River off Manhattan's west side.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-02/london-s-garden-bridge-approved-by-westminster-borough.html
Abengoa Arranges $680 Million Financing With Four Gulf Banks
Abengoa (ABG) SA arranged 2.5 billion dirham ($680 million) of financing with four Persian Gulf banks that will give the Spanish renewable energy company working capital and help it bid for regional contracts, said a banker who worked on the deal.
The financing, a mix of conventional and Islamic loans, was provided by Mashreq Bank PSC and three other lenders, Artur Uluc, director of corporate finance at Mashreq Bank in Dubai, said yesterday. He declined to name the other banks.
Abengoa's debt plunged last month after the Seville-based company said it accounted for its $630 million of high-yield green bonds as non-recourse debt, which typically does not allow creditors to seek claims directly from the company in case of default. Investors had understood the notes to be recourse debt and the change raised questions about Abengoa's leverage ratio.
Abengoa's 8.875 percent notes dropped to 74 cents on the euro from 107 cents in two days and rebounded to 95 cents after Abengoa held a conference call to reassure bondholders.
Abengoa sought out the Gulf banks in June for the working capital, intended to help it secure power and water contracts in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman, Mashreq's Uluc said.
The Spanish company has withdrawn about 30 percent of the money provided, he said. He declined to specify the interest rate provided on the facility or the projects the company withdrew the money for. Spokesmen for Abengoa declined to comment on the facility.
Abengoa's Class B shares climbed 0.6 percent to 1.908 euros by 11:02 a.m. in Madrid trading, paring the loss for the year to 13 percent.
-By Zainab Fattah
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-02/abengoa-arranges-680-million-funding-facility-with-gulf-banks..html
Additional Articles of Interest - Local & Overseas Real Estate
Local & Overseas Real Estate - Full Article
http://www.stproperty.sg/articles-property/singapore-property-news/c/11
http://business.asiaone.com/property/news
http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/market-news
http://www.btinvest.com.sg/property


text:
Categories: Cricket News
| On Updated : Jan 9, 2021 10:30 PM IST
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20: Deepak Hooda pulls out of the tournament after a fight with Krunal Pandya
By Aakash Ghosh @AkashGh35182287
The Indian domestic season is finally going begin with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which is starting on January 10. All the 38 domestic teams will participate in the tournament, which ends on January 31. Baroda is one of the teams to reckon with some known faces. However, before the start of the tournament, the West Zone side has faced a major set back.
Krunal abused Deepak Hooda in front of teammates: Reports
Prominent player Deepak Hooda has pulled out of the tournament. According to the reports, the all-rounder had got involved in an argument with the Baroda skipper Krunal Pandya. It has been reported that the incident took place during a training session of the Baroda team at the Reliance Stadium in Vadodara. The team is set to play their opening match against Uttarakhand on Sunday.
A few days ago, Hooda was named the deputy of Krunal for this tournament, when the 22 member squad was announced initially. It should be noted that Hooda has led the Baroda side in domestic cricket for the last few years. In an interesting turn of events, the 25-year-old player has reportedly informed Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) that he was abused by the captain, Krunal during their recent duel.
The young batsman let the BCA officials know the reason for him stepping down from the side. The entire incident was also covered by a local TV news channel, TV9 Gujrati. Hooda also informed the BCA officials that Pandya had abused him in front of coach Prabhakar, Munaf Patel and other young team members. Baroda has now announced a trimmed-down squad with 17 players and Hooda is not among them.
Hooda was a key player in Baroda's plan for the T20 tournament
Deepak Hooda has been a key player for Baroda for the past few years. He has experience of playing 46 first-class, 68 List A and 123 T20 matches. In the absence of experienced players like Yusuf Pathan and Hardik Pandya, the young all-rounder would have been of great use for Baroda in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
The hard-hitting batsman had also featured in the IPL 2020. Playing for the Kings XI Punjab, he didn't get regular opportunities. However, he smashed a beautiful 30-ball 62 in the team's last league match.
Indian Cricket Quiz
1 .How many Test series have India won in Australia?
2 .How many Tests have India won in Australia?
3 .How many Tests did India win in Australia's tour of 2018-19?
4 .Who was the first Indian captain to win a test match in Australia?
Bishen Singh Bedi
NextSIX vs HEA Dream11 Team Prediction Tips for Big Bash League T20 Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat, 10 January »
Previous « PUN vs UP Dream11 Team Prediction Tips for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Punjab vs Uttar Pradesh 10 January
Aakash Ghosh @AkashGh35182287
A cricket crazy head who is always up for conversation/debate on the sport
IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma turns umpire, adjudges David Warner OUT – WATCH
IND vs AUS: WATCH Rishabh Pant hilariously sings Spiderman Spiderman
PAK vs SA: Pakistan denies visa to South Africa's Indian-origin performance analyst Prasanna Agoram
IPL 2021: Team-wise players who might be released ahead of the Auction
SL vs ENG: Joe Root collides with bowler and gets run out off Dickwella's direct hit – WATCH
IPL 2021 Auction to be held on February 16: Report