January 5, 2019 Kay Ng. 2 Buy-and-Hold Canadian Dividend Stocks for Your TFSA in 2019. Thanks to the market correction, you can buy Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) and this other quality... Canadian bank stock prices were hammered during that time period, although their fundamental business performance was far superior to their U.S. peers. It is certainly possible to achieve double-digit total returns from these stocks by buying them at more opportune times.
28/12/2017 · Given Canadian banks' history of operating stability, credible price appreciation, and attractive dividend yields, buying major ones within dividend portfolios is sensible in most years, but... Canadian bank valuations, though, were coming from a low. You may recall there was a lot of concern about our Canadian banks only, let's say, in the first quarter of 2016, the concern about oil prices in particular, but also housing.
Michael Sprung, president at Sprung Investment Management, offers an assessment of the latest set of quarterly results from Canadian banks, and whether this is a sector of the market that investors should buy today on weakness. how to buy and sell stuff on ebay Canadian bank stocks are set to release earnings in the coming weeks in what has been a hectic run since the last batch of results. The first three months of 2018 were difficult for the S&P/TSX Composite Index, but rising oil prices and improving sentiment has powered a rally from April into May.
I found we often buy the same stock and you almost always managed to buy it at a lower price. Congrats. I also added 200 shares of RY. I decided to skip LB as I feel regional bank has more risks. Look at Canadian Western Bank, so volatile.
Canadian bank stock prices were hammered during that time period, although their fundamental business performance was far superior to their U.S. peers. It is certainly possible to achieve double-digit total returns from these stocks by buying them at more opportune times.
To inspect the performance of the Large Canadian Dividend-Paying Bank Stocks portfolio, see the chart of portfolio below. Portfolio values are computed using monthly closes for stocks from Quandl.


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Q: How to execute a bat file on remote machine from another web app We  have a custom deployment application just like the jenkins written in java , we will used it to push new codes into the Test server. and we have our TestNg automation running on another remote machine .now its run by a scheduled task on windows machine.this task will trigger a bat file , which will execute the TestNg script.
How can i call the bat file used for running the TestNg script from the custom deployment application  ?
how this can be archived using Java or node js

A: Schedule a task to run a .bat file. In this .bat file:
1. Push the code to the test server
2. After that run the TestNG script
Just like below:
@echo off
REM start script to push code to test server
start /wait "" "script1.exe"
REM start script to run TestNG
start "" "script2.exe"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rural accommodation in a typical Dutch landscape. Near Kagerplassen is a lovely place to stay. Come enjoy a modern property surrounded by land and water.
Enjoying the wind in your hair and the sunshine on your face... You can at this accommodation in Ouddorp! The accommodation is located near one of the cleanest beaches in The Netherlands. This holiday villa is suitable for ten persons and offers all kinds of luxury.
A holiday or weekend road in a holiday home in South Holland?
Everything that is typical of the Netherlands is encountered in South Holland. World-famous seaside resorts such as Zandvoort and Scripts, polders and mills, Dutch towns and a world port. Want to wind out on the coast? Discover the locks and the juicy grass of the green heart? Admire the courtyards, the market square and the doorsteps in a South Holland city? Whatever you do on a holiday or weekend road in a holiday home in South Holland: This province should preferably be in Dutch-speaking pace. And that means walking shoes or tackling the bike.
Zuid-Holland has many major cities like The Hague, Rotterdam, Leiden and Delft. Cities that bustle of cosiness. Discover Oranjestad Delft with its rich history and culture, visit the Binnenhof in The Hague, go for a walk over the boulevard in Scheveningen and visit Rotterdam to shop for great shopping!
A day of experience you will not soon forget. The world's most beautiful spring park offers a unique scent and color experience, more than 20 spectacular flower shows, surprising inspiration gardens and many vibrant events.
In this park with scale models, you can see & nbsp; in a few hours all major places in the Netherlands and explore groundbreaking Dutch designs. Visit the Madurodam miniature park and arrange air traffic at Schiphol, operate the miniature cranes in the port of Rotterdam or walk through minivisions of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands.
The Euromast is the Rotterdam icon where you can eat, drink, sleep, party, abseil and of course enjoy the most beautiful view of the city! Did you know that you can watch in clear weather to Antwerp? Or you can dine at 100 meters?
Experience a thrilling day at Duinrell! Glide from an eighteen-meter high slide, sail and bots into the boats and take a ride in one of the exciting roller coasters. Did you get the warmth of all those adrenaline chicks? Then take a fresh dip in the Tikibad. Do a fun day of Duinrell with the whole family!
The largest unique offer in group accommodations and holiday houses in the Netherlands! Book your group accommodation safely online.


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This Day In Hockey History: April 18th
April 18th, 1999. Wayne Gretzky plays the final game of his career.
Here's the moment captured on YouTube:
Also on This Day In Hockey History:
1942 - Toronto completed greatest comeback in playoff history with 4th straight win, a 3-1 victory over DET in Game 7 of Stanley Cup Finals
1959 - The Montreal Canadiens won their 4th consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs 4 games to 1.
1963 - Toronto's Dave Keon set a playoff record for most shorthanded goals in one game -- he scored twice during a 3-1 win over Detroit in Game 5 of the Finals. The victory gave the Maple Leafs the 1963 Stanley Cup Championship.
1987 - Pat Lafontaine scores at 68:47 in overtime to give the New York Islanders a 3-2 in game 7 of their playoff series. The "Easter Epic" was the sixth longest game in NHL history.
Happy Birthday to Valeri Kamensky, Scott Hartnell, Oleg Petrov, Vladimir Tsyplakov, Al Sims, Cliff Pennington, Cody McCormick, Dan LaCouture, Petr Schastlivy, Francois Leroux, Dan Kordic, Mika Zibanejad and Stan Crossett

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Bulldogs battle Bears in another close game
Turlocks Brent Backlund looks to pass the ball to a teammate in Wednesdays victory. - photo by FRANKIE TOVAR / The Journal
The Turlock High boys basketball team completed a clean sweep of the Merced High Bears on Wednesday with a 50-46 victory. The Bulldogs (9-4 CCC) were challenged early and often by a Merced (3-9 CCC) team with nothing to lose in another victory that was too close for comfort.
Merced opened the game with a Keith Boldon three-pointer, taking a lead that would last for the majority of the first quarter. A pair of Turlock threes by Alek Carlson and Tyler Murphy helped the Bulldogs overtake the Bears in the final seconds of the first quarter by a score of 13-6. The second quarter was nearly even with Turlock scoring 11 points and Merced scoring 10, as both teams continued to notch three point plays. At the half Turlock led 24-16
"They battled," Turlock's head coach Doug Cornfoot said. "They didn't shoot well in the first (quarter) but then they started hitting threes. Luckily we kept our composure."
The Bears kicked off the second half with three treys, two of which came from Boldon who had four on the night. With a minute left in the third quarter Merced held a four point lead as Turlock's offense had difficulty converting points. Seconds before the fourth quarter Murphy, who has developed a penchant for dropping last second, game changing treys, put one in from the three point line to cut Merced's lead by a point.
Murphy and Carlson hit another pair of three point shots in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to retake the lead, but the Bears refused to back down. Boldon's fourth trey tied the game with 5:25 left in regulation, setting up a nail biting end that saw three lead changes and three ties. With 2:40 on the clock Murphy came through once again with a clutch trey to give Turlock another one point lead. Murphy ended with four treys on the night. The Bulldogs took advantage of Merced fouls in the final seconds of the game to finish the Bears off.
"He's got confidence to shoot, "Cornfoot said of Murphy. "We need that other scorer; we can't count on Carlson and Holcombe to be our lone scorers."
Friday games change up league standings
Atwater High's upset over Pitman High on Wednesday night broke the three way tie for second place in the CCC between the Pride, Turlock and Buhach High. Turlock entered its game against Atwater on Friday with one goal in mind, avoid a Falcon upset and stay in the hunt for first place. Pitman (8-5 CCC), on the other hand, faced league leaders Golden Valley High in a do or die game with serious implications on not only the CCC title hunt but playoffs as well.
For three quarters Turlock led and controlled the Falcons but by the fourth quarter the Bulldogs once again found themselves in a nerve racking battle for the win. With 20 seconds left in regulation Turlock led by a point but with 2.6 seconds on the clock Atwater drew a foul and stepped up to the line. With another chance at upsetting a Turlock school Atwater took its two shots but only one found its mark, sending the two teams into overtime 44-44. Carlson, Dashawn Holcombe and Austin Bush refused to let the game slip away, however, and helped Turlock outscore Atwater 9-3 in the overtime period for a 53-47 win.
Pitman's matchup with the Cougars had a rocky start. Golden Valley held a consistent lead over the Pride for the first half but by the second half Pitman's offense began to work the court and make a run at the Cougar lead. In the middle of a late run Golden Valley's head coach was ejected from the game after questioning and criticizing a key foul called on his team. The technical foul on the Cougar coach sent Pitman to the free throw line where they took a two point lead with five minutes in the game. Immediately after taking the lead Skyler Sexton hit a trey that put Pitman up by five and gave the Pride a chance at an upset of their own.
A couple of triple bonuses and a technical foul call on a Pride player deflated Pitman's momentum, however, resulting in the first consecutive losses for Pitman this season. Golden Valley won 51-39.
Pitman's second loss of the week eliminates them from the CCC title hunt but with victories over Turlock High on Monday and Buhach on Friday the Pride may still make playoffs. Turlock's second victory of the week keeps them at the number two spot in the CCC standings with an opportunity to take first place next week with back to back wins against Pitman and Golden Valley.
High school sports postponed again as COVID cases rise
Rodriguez signs with Fresno State


A variety of resources are available for those wishing to prepare for the GRE. Upon registration, ETS provides preparation software called PowerPrep, which contains two practice tests of retired questions, as well as further practice questions and review material. Since the software replicates both the test format and the questions used, it can be useful to predict the actual GRE scores. ETS does not license their past questions to any other company, making them the only source for official retired material. ETS used to publish the "BIG BOOK" which contained a number of actual GRE questions; however, this publishing was abandoned. Several companies provide courses, books, and other unofficial preparation materials.
In most of the cases it is generally considered to be important for the students to regard about all those possible concerns and details.


Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services has launched an official investigation following the sexual assault of a minor at a bookshop in Male' City.
Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services reports it has taken witness testimony for investigation into the case.
An account of the assault, written in a Facebook post by the girl's aunt has gone viral over the social media.
The aunt wrote a foreigner, employed by a popular bookshop in Male' City, had groped her nine-year-old niece's chest last Monday night.
She wrote the girl had gone into the bookshop with her mother. And that the employee had been transferred to another shop after the family reported the assault to Maldives Police Service.
Maldives Police Service was not immediately reachable for comment regarding the case.


For Dismantling, Assembly and Repairs of Tractors - includes hydraulics, steering & front axle, brakes, engine removal, fuel system, transmission - including MULTI-POWER transmission, rear axle & brakes.
This manual is also suitable for MF165, MF168 & MF188 - full detail of hydraulics overhaul also for these models.
Softback. 295 x 210mm, 354 pages. Illustrated.


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Anil Kapoor embarks on sprinting spree with Yohan Blake in Mumbai
Yohan Blake, the Jamaican sprinter who landed in India earlier this week, met with veteran actor Anil Kapoor at his residence on Thursday. The duo vividly conversed on their fitness goals and aspirations while sprinting served as a common ground of discussion. The duo was later seen sprinting at Jamnabai Narsee School Grounds.The 62-year-old actor is also a fitness motivator who contributed around four decades of his life to Bollywood and is no doubt one of the fittest actors in the industry. The fitness enthusiast is known to also engage in yoga, weight training, and keeps his workouts diverse and relevant. The actor s philosophy revolves around starting young to reap benefits in the long run. The Beast, Blake, is on a promotional spree to create awareness towards road safety in India where around 1,50,000 people are killed and more than 4,50,000 people are critically injured in road accidents every year.Blake who is preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Games, has collaborated with the Road
Kapoor
embarks
Yohan


Andrew Lownie Literary Agency :: Book :: The Russian Origins of the First World War.
The Russian Origins of the First World War.
The catastrophe of the First World War, and the destruction, revolution, and enduring hostilities it wrought, make the issue of its origins a perennial puzzle. Since World War II, Germany has been viewed as the primary culprit. Now, in a major reinterpretation of the conflict, Sean McMeekin rejects the standard notions of the war's beginning as either a Germano-Austrian preemptive strike or a "tragedy of miscalculation." Instead, he proposes that the key to the outbreak of violence lies in St. Petersburg.
It was Russian statesmen who unleashed the war through conscious policy decisions based on imperial ambitions in the Near East. Unlike their civilian counterparts in Berlin, who would have preferred to localize the Austro-Serbian conflict, Russian leaders desired a more general war so long as British participation was assured. The war of 1914 was launched at a propitious moment for harnessing the might of Britain and France to neutralize the German threat to Russia's goal: partitioning the Ottoman Empire to ensure control of the Straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
Nearly a century has passed since the guns fell silent on the Western Front. But in the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, World War I smolders still. Sunnis and Shiites, Arabs and Jews, and other regional antagonists continue fighting over the last scraps of the Ottoman inheritance. As we seek to make sense of these conflicts, McMeekin's powerful exposé of Russia's aims in the First World War will illuminate our understanding of the twentieth century.
"Casting a contrarian eye on the first major conflict of the twentieth century, Sean McMeekin finds the roots of WWI inside Russia, whose leaders deliberately sought—for their own ends—to expand a brawl that the Germans wanted to keep local. The author tracks the fallout of these antique plots right down to the present geopolitical landscape."
"An entirely new take on the origins of World War I comes as a surprise. If war guilt is to be assigned, this book argues, it should go not only (or even primarily) to Germany—the long-accepted culprit—but also to Russia… Bold reading between the lines of history."
"Going against a century of received wisdom, Bilkent University professor McMeekin offers a dramatic new interpretation of WWI… Rifling the archives, analyzing battle plans, and sifting through the machinations of high diplomacy, McMeekin reveals the grand ambitions of czarist Russia, which wanted control of the Black Sea straits to guarantee all-weather access to foreign markets. Maneuvering France and England into a war against Germany presented the best chance to acquire this longed-for prize. No empire had more to gain from the coming conflict, and none pushed harder to ensure its arrival. Once unleashed, however, the conflagration leapt out of control, and imperial Russia herself ranked among its countless victims."
"As Sean McMeekin argues in this bold and brilliant revisionist study, Russia was as much to blame as Germany for the outbreak of the war. Using a wide range of archival sources, including long-neglected tsarist documents, he argues that the Russians had ambitions of their own (the dismantling of the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires, no less) and that they were ready for a war once they had secured a favorable alliance with the British and the French."
"A bold reinterpretation of the Russian Empire's entry into the First World War.McMeekin argues that Russia believed a European war to be in its interest, that it sought to humiliate Vienna, and that it hoped to conquer Constantinople and the Ottoman Straits."
"This book should forever change the ways we have understood the role of Russia in the First World War."
"The Russian Origins of the First World War is a polemic in the best sense. Written in a lively and engaging style, it should provoke a much-needed debate on Russia's role in the Great War."
"...a thoroughly revisionist book that seeks to change our entire understanding of the First World War... this exciting and most important book ."


1. Alie's home for the weekend!
These little chewy treats are THE BOMB.COM, or at least I think so! My mom and I found these at a local farm and then ordered some off of Amazon because they are that good (click HERE to order your own bag). We absolutely LOVE the peanut flavor! If you've ever had a Maryjane candy they taste super similar, just with a hint of ginger and heat. Buuuut, if you aren't a peanut fan they have the original ginger flavor and also a coffee flavor. They're a great all natural candy to add to your pantry for a sweet treat!
You guys, I have a problem. I cannot go to TJMaxx or Marshalls without browsing the planners and stationary. If you know me, I love planners. I love making lists. I love notebooks. I love pens. I'm just kind of a stationary/planner freak, I can't help it! Usually I just look and don't buy, but yesterday I walked out of TJMaxx with a new planner (I love the polka dots), a little notebook for to do lists, and some funny pens (they say always write, rarely wrong, and occasionally charming). I'm pretttty happy with my purchases. Anyone else as obsessed with planners and other stationary as me? If so, RUN, don't walk to your nearest TJMaxx or Marshalls because they just restocked their planner/stationary section for the upcoming school year. If you'd rather online shop - I couldn't find my exact planner online, but HERE is one by the same brand.
I'm also loving these little wedges of laughing cow cheese. I've been adding one to my scrambled eggs just as I take them out of the pan. The cheese melts perfectly so that you can kind of "stir" them into your eggs and it tastes super delicious!
I follow Stella & Dot on Instagram and saw this picture on their feed this week. I love the mixture of the bracelets and the leopard watch, and love the stacked look! I already have the gold, spiky bracelet to the right of the watch, and now I definitely have my eye on the watch and the other bracelets in this picture! Do you guys have any Stella & Dot jewelry? I would love to hear about your favorites.
That's it for Friday Favorites for this week! If you want to keep up with me over the weekend I would love for you to follow me on Instagram (my username is joyfullyjenna or click HERE to go directly to my Instagram page). You can also keep up with me on Facebook by "liking" my Facebook page. You can find it by typing Joyfully Jenna into your search bar, or by clicking HERE.


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FOM Member Wins Scholarship for Mystery Writing
Oct 31, 2012 | Member News
New York, NY – Mystery Writers of America announces the recipients of the 2012 Helen McCloy/MWA Scholarship for Mystery Writing: Martha Ragland of Portland, OR, and Shizuka Otake of Jackson Heights, NY. Each will use her $500 scholarship award to offset tuition for advanced classes to further develop her writing skills.
The talent demonstrated by Ms. Ragland and Ms. Otake in the first 3 chapters of their mystery novels-in-progress received the highest scores from this year's panel of judges. Dead Stop is a humorous mystery by Martha Ragland, who describes herself as a late bloomer. It stars a wannabe sleuth, widow Maud Scrumble, retired race car driver on the downside of 70 who craves excitement. With her souped-up red Jaguar and a mail-order private detection curse, Maud knows just enough to be dangerous – to the consternation of the police. Investigating a local murder she draws the killer into a high-speed chase on a treacherous road that she knows better than her own rhubarb patch, proving there's no age limit on curiosity and courage.
The purpose of this annual scholarship competition is to nurture talent in mystery writing. Each candidate qualifies by submitting a mystery-writing sample in the form of the first three chapters of a novel or nonfiction, or three short stories or a script. Candidates also provide details about the educational programs they will attend, 2 letters of recommendation, and an essay explaining their interest in mystery writing. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. No fee is required; neither is membership in Mystery Writers of America.
Applicants are judged by a committee of MWA members, each a published author in the field of crime. This year's judges are: Julie Hyzy, New York Times bestselling author of 5 White House Chef Mysteries and 3 Manor House Mysteries, most recently Affairs of Steak and Grace Among Thieves; Randy Rawls, author of 8 mysteries in 3 series, with Hot Rocks due this fall from Midnight Ink featuring South Florida P.I. Beth Bowman; Aileen G. Baron, archaeologist and author of The Gold of Thrace, an international hunt for antiquities thieves, and The Scorpion's Bite, 3rd in the Lily Sampson archaeological mysteries; and Rita Lakin, TV writer and author of Getting Old Can Kill You, 7th in the Gladdy Gold series featuring zany geriatric crime-solvers. The scholarship program chair is editor Chris Roerden, author of the Agatha Award-winning Don't Murder Your Mystery and its all-genre edition, Don't Sabotage Your Submission.
Details and official application form for 2013 are posted by July 4, 2012, on the website of mystery Writers of America, http://mysterywriters.org. For frequently asked questions and tips for applying, email mccloy-mwa@lycos.com. Entries must be postmarked by February 28, 2013.


on behalf of clients where necessary.
Every country has its own development trajectory in light of the global development goals of the WTO and WCO, and is uniquely positioned along what we call the 'general trade development curve'.
BlueBlox understands the unique positioning of each country, which provides that country's specific departure point for trade negotiations. This is why our trade facilitation and government negotiation services give our clients such a value-adding edge.
It helps to keep in mind that legislation in developing markets is not only inconsistent, but in some regions only partly implemented. Specifically, many regions have yet to actualise the trade facilitation agreements they've made with the WTO.
To ensure that our trade facilitation and government negotiation services are offered with authority and deliver the impact required, BlueBlox continuously develops and leverages relationships with governments, chambers of commerce, the WTO in Switzerland, and the WCO in Brussels, to deliver mutually beneficial, compliant solutions.


A very warm welcome to We Love Accents.
If you like British & Irish accents you've definitely come to the right place !
Our website aims to give you a fun and fascinating insight into the different accents of the UK & Ireland.
On the fascinating side, we want to tell you about the geography, history, development, variations, vocabulary and typical pronunciations for the different accents of the British Isles. We also want to introduce you to regional poets, writer, organisations and individuals who do sterling work preserving and promoting their local accents and heritage.
On the fun side, we have quizzes, competitions, videos, free accent ringtones, fun accent translators and a Gifts section with links to online shops around the British Isles selling t-shirts, mugs etc, for all the different accents.
We will soon be launching a Community section, where you will be able to register and create a profile (and optionally record a profile video for others to hear your accent). We also plan to have chat facilities so you can chat to other members and hear their accents.
As well as telling you about the different accents, we want to use the accents as a window to the heritage and culture of the different regions of the British Isles. So, you won't find documentaries about Newcastle narrated by presenters from Surrey here ! They will be videos about Newcastle, narrated by real Geordies in Geordie accents ! So, if you've got any kind of local story about your area that you would like to tell us about, on video in your accent, we would love to hear from you.
We'd also love to hear from you if you've got, or have seen any great accent videos, which you think we could feature. Or if you're a writer/poet/performer and want to record some video of your work in dialect. We have a Services section to point you at some useful tools to help you easily record video and audio.


This replacement soft top is designed for the 1955-56 Porsche Speedster with a 15" Center Bow Top. It is made with hand rolled binding as per the original and includes Plastic..
This replacement soft top is designed for the 1955-56 Porsche Speedster with a 13" Center Bow Top. It is made with hand rolled binding as per the original and includes Plastic..
This replacement soft top is designed for the 1955-56 Porsche Speedster with a High Bow Top. It is made with hand rolled binding as per the original and includes Plastic Windo..
This replacement soft top is designed for the 1955-56 Porsche Speedster with a high Center Bow Top. It is made with hand rolled binding as per the original and includes P..


"Come to Satan"? Is this coming out of the U.S. of A.? The soulful backing vocals are totally blasphemous, but so much fun.
Devil Rockin' Man is Nat Freedberg's first single. As a solo artist that is, having started his career in 1981 in a band called The Flies, followed by a string of bands that I never heard of. And out of that nowhere comes this single, of course brought to me by that high rocking and a rolling label called Rum Bar Records. It is all precursing an album aptly titled 'Better Late Than Never'.
What the album will be like I can't tell, its first released song is a feast for the ears. With a voice gravelled by years on the road and other causes of wear and tear Freedberg leads us through a song leading the listener straight into the arms of the devil. If tempting music is the work of the devil, count me in. This mid tempo rock song infused with some soul and gospel in the harmonies does a lot if things right.
What makes Devil Rockin' Man so much fun? The melody of course. That what all songs start with. In the intro a fine electric piano sets the mood. Its mood lodged in the strong, firm sound, that can really only come out of the U.S. The oohs are already all over the place. Freedberg joins singing with a slight sneer. He knows himself he is not a real singer, but knowing his limitations he works himself from the church to hell and back. Like my late dad used to say: "If I get to heaven, well I know everything will be fine, if I go to hell, I'll meet all me old mates there". And here is Nat Freedberg seeing someone with a guitar in his taloned hands and he knows he is quite alright. The gospel choir joins in once more and the world is at peace. Right, wrong, it is all in the eye of the beholder where music is concerned. There is no right nor wrong, just taste and here I find myself having a great time. Come to Satan indeed, Mr. Freedberg and most likely you'll be joined in droves in that fire spot.


Over an area of about 35 square meters the spacious Family Rooms with Sea View invite families to relax in a modern holiday retreat overlooking the sea. The bedroom and sitting area with the double sofa bed separated by sliding doors give families the privacy they deserve while the furnished balcony or terrace allow for moments of relaxation in view of the horizon.
Recently renovated the family rooms also feature one bathroom with a bathtub or shower and offer a series of high quality amenities for both parents and children to enjoy including Wi-Fi Internet connection, satellite TV, radio-channel, direct dial phone, mini-bar on request, hairdryer, organic Apivita amenities, air conditioning, private safety box, coffee and tea making facilities.


The PGA Tour is sticking around in Hawaii for the second week and after his win in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions last week, Jonathan Byrd will be eagerly anticipating the start of the tournament.
At 25/1 to win the Sony Open, Byrd offers plenty of value and will be high in confidence after defeating a strong field in a play-off with Robert Garrigus.
Unsurprisingly – the Hawaii weather might have something to do with it – a strong field has assembled for the second week running and Steve Stricker heads the betting at 8/1 to win the Sony Open.
Stricker tied for fourth last week and he's arguably the most consistent player on the PGA Tour which is why he deserves his favouritism.
However the pick of the leading contenders is Ernie Els who is 12/1 to win this week and has already registered a victory on the European Tour this season.
The Big Easy is one of nine previous winners of this tournament in the field this week, but none of the other eight can boast a win to their name this season and Els won this tournament in consecutive years in 2003 and 2004.
Tied for fourth alongside Els last week was Carl Pettersson and the Swede tied for fifth in this tournament last year and is a big price at 33/1 to emerge victorious this week and an even better 8/1 to finish in the top five with an each-way bet.
Matt Kuchar looks like he's into his imperious form already this season and the man who had 12 top-10 finishes in 2010, has already registered his first top-10 finish last week and is 16/1 to win this week.
Justin Rose is the pick of the British contingent and is 25/1 to win this week.
A £25 stake on Els winning the Sony Open would return £325. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.


It's a rockstar CBD Bud strain presented by model and musician Jasmine Cadavid. Jazzy CBD Bud is the perfect way to get your CBD dosage in any of the most traditional ways. Roll it, pack it, bake it into brownies or create your own CBD oil at home – no matter how you approach it, Jazzy is up to the challenge. It's high in CBD, so Jazz it up with us!


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A Meet The Buyer event will be held in Welshpool for local businesses to learn about opportunities for work on the build of the town's new primary school. Pave Aways, which was awarded the contract to finish the 360-pupil Welshpool Church in Wales School, is hosting...
New year, new contracts for Shropshire building firm
A Shropshire construction firm has made a positive start to 2020 after winning a clutch of new building contracts worth nearly £7 million. Pave Aways has landed a series of high profile builds including the extension and refurbishment of the Hamar Centre at the Royal...
apT goes from strength to strength after record-breaking year
Innovative Telford-based development consultancy apT is going from strength to strength after enjoying its most successful year to date. apT – the Midlands' first public sector commercial planning, development and environmental consultancy – has taken on new staff and...
Level 3 Award Understanding Repair & Maintenance of Traditional Pre 1919 Buildings
Taking place January 20 and 21 at the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings. Are you a contractor, trainee or apprentice already working on listed or traditional buildings? Or planning to increase your work in this area? Then this could be the ideal course to help you get it...
Telford-based apT helps overcome building inspectors' crisis
A pioneering public sector planning and development consultancy says it is helping overcome a 'crisis' in the construction industry caused by a lack of building inspectors. Telford-based apT says its unique position within Telford & Wrekin Council means it has not...
apT ecology team grows after new business wins
An ecology team at a pioneering public sector planning and development consultancy is expanding to cope with growing demand. Telford-based apT's team of ecological experts has trebled in two years, partly as a result of winning new consultancy work outside their home...
Mystery time capsule buried at Cats Protection's new Wrexham Adoption Centre
Cat lovers will be able to get nostalgic in 50 years' time when they dig up a time capsule buried at the new site of Cats Protection's Wrexham Adoption Centre. As construction nears completion on the site of the old fire station in Benjamin Road, staff came up with...
apT helps youngsters develop STEM skills
A pioneering public sector planning and development consultancy has thrown its weight behind the campaign to inspire the young engineers and scientists of the future. Telford-based apT – part of Telford & Wrekin Council – was one of the headline sponsors of a STEM...
Construction businesses urged to become community champions
Businesses within the Shropshire construction sector have been told that becoming community champions will bolster their success when it comes to winning contracts for public sector projects. Shropshire Constructing Excellence, the county's leading network for...
Big success for apT breakfast meeting
A special breakfast meeting for the construction industry across Shropshire has been hailed a huge success after attracting more than 60 people. Telford development consultancy apT said it was thrilled with the success of the event in Oakengates, which saw its...


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Q: How to save tags in database c# In frontend in Angular I created the possibility of adding tags and memes. In the back-end in the web api I would like to save the tags in the database. Using entity framework code first, I created the structure of three tables:
public class Memes
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string MemName { get; set; }
    public string UserId { get; set; }
    public string Image { get; set; }
    public List<Memes_tags> MemesIteam { get; set; }
}
public class HashTag
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int MemesId { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
}
public class Memes_tags
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public int MemesId { get; set; }
    public int HashTagId { get; set; }
    public virtual Memes Memes { get; set; }
    public virtual HashTag HashTags { get; set; }
}

Then I created a method that should save memes and tags in the database:
    [HttpPost]
    [Route("api/Memes/AddMemes")]
    public IHttpActionResult CreateMemes([FromBody] MemHashTagsViewModel createMem)
    {
        ApplicationDbContext db = new ApplicationDbContext();

        if (createMem != null)
        {
            Memes mem = new Memes()
            {
                MemName = createMem.MemName,
                Image = createMem.Image,
                UserId = createMem.UserId
            };
            db.MemesModel.Add(mem);

            foreach (var item in createMem.HashTags)
            {
                var hashTag = new HashTag()
                {
                    MemesId = mem.Id,
                    Name = item
                };
                db.HashTags.Add(hashTag);
            }
            db.SaveChanges();
            return Ok();
        }
        else
        {
          return  NotFound();
        }
    }

Incoming data:
I have problem with the correct Memes Id record. For example, I created a mem that has Id = 4 and in the table HashTags should be 4 and in my case is 0.

Is there any other better solution for saving tags in the database? Is my solution is good?

A: Just adding the created instance to the context entity model isn't enough db.MemesModel.Add(mem);. Id value doesn't gets generated unless you call SaveChanges() on it. This in your below code there is no Id value yet and so what you observe
            var hashTag = new HashTag()
            {
                MemesId = mem.Id,
                Name = item
            };

A: Yeah, the thing is: since you didn't save the mem first, it doesn't have an ID when you add it to the hashtag.
If you want to do it that way, you should make HashTag a member, in form of a list (property) on the mem. Then, when creating the HashTag objects, not add a member ID. The merely add the Mem to the database, and EF will take care of the object structure.
(On my phone, will make a code example in the morning if no one beats me to it)
EDIT: Here's how i would do it:
Respectfully: Drop the Memes_tags class as their seems to be no point in having it at all. It merely works as a relation between Memes and HashTags, but that already exists.
For purposes of Best practice, at least according to MS's own EF 'get start' doc the id of the class should be named: <class_name>Id, so that has been 'corrected' as well.
public class Memes
{
    public int MemesId { get; set; }
    public string MemName { get; set; }
    public string UserId { get; set; }
    public string Image { get; set; }
    public List<HashTag> HashTags { get; set; }
}
public class HashTag
{
    public int HashTagId { get; set; }
    public int MemesId { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }

    public virtual Memes { get; set; }
}

Below is the modified 'CreateMemes'. The idea is, that instead of adding the ID of the 'Memes' to hashtag, we merely add the HashTags to the meme object, thus they are add to EF as well, and when the 'Memes' record is add to the database, EF will make certain to create the hashtags too.
[HttpPost]
[Route("api/Memes/AddMemes")]
public IHttpActionResult CreateMemes([FromBody] MemHashTagsViewModel createMem)
{
    ApplicationDbContext db = new ApplicationDbContext();

    if (createMem != null)
    {
        Memes mem = new Memes()
        {
            MemName = createMem.MemName,
            Image = createMem.Image,
            UserId = createMem.UserId
        };

        foreach (var item in createMem.HashTags)
        {
            var hashTag = new HashTag()
            {
                Name = item
            };
            mem.HashTags.add(hashTag);
        }
        db.add(mem);

        db.SaveChanges();
        return Ok();
    }
    else
    {
        return  NotFound();
    }
}


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Home / Features / The Missing Piece: Re-Handicapping the Field
The Missing Piece: Re-Handicapping the Field
By: Michael McNamara
Our first 'Missing Piece' of the season introduced all of our possible options and handicapped the field, so now that we are halfway through the season, I felt it was right to revisit and re-handicap the field. Things are a little more complicated this time around, but in a good way. At the beginning of the season, it appeared that the Hornets had massive holes at the point guard and small forward positions, but Vasquez and Aminu have been solid starters as of late, and they are making a case that they are the long-term answers at those positions. In other words- Maybe 'The Missing Piece' isn't missing, maybe they are already here.
But even if Dell Demps picks up all the player options this summer and gives Aminu a reasonable contract, the Hornets will still go into the offseason with over $10 million dollars in salary cap space and, most likely, a lottery pick. Prior to the season, Dell Demps and Monty Williams both said that they would likely add one more significant piece before the 2013-14 season and then move forward with that group. There is no reason to believe that a couple of months of solid play by two young, but limited, vets will change their thought process. Additions and/or upgrades will be made this summer (if not sooner) and with that in mind, let's take a look at the candidates.
Brandon Jennings, PG Milwaukee Bucks (Age: 23)
Contract Status: Restricted FA in 2013 | Max Hornets Could Offer: 4 years/$58 million | Expected Cost: 11-14.5 million per year
The question you have to ask yourself with Jennings is simple: Can he be an efficient scorer if he was a third or fourth option as opposed to a first option? The fact of the matter is that Jennings has been extremely inconsistent in Milwaukee. At times, he looks like an All-Star and at other times he looks like a reckless chucker. But when you look back at his three and a half years with the Bucks, who is the best offensive player he has played with? Monte Ellis? Andrew Bogut? In his first two seasons, John Salmons was the Bucks best weapon outside of Jennings, and since then it has been a steady stream of also rans helping him try to carry the load.
Now imagine he comes to a team with Eric Gordon splitting the playmaking responsibilities, Ryan Anderson giving him space to operate and Anthony Davis finishing everything at the rim. Is it likely that we see a more consistent Brandon Jennings at that point? If Dell Demps answers yes, then no price would be too high for Jennings. The beauty of having Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson on such cheap, long term deals is that you can afford to slightly overpay someone else and it wont kill your cap. Even if the Hornets have to pay Jennings the max, they will have their Big Four tied up for just $45 million over the next three years. That gives them $25 million dollars to fill out the roster without getting into the luxury tax. With Smith, Rivers, and Lopez on great deals and the 2013 1st rounder on a rookie scale wage, you would still have plenty of money to bring in a small forward (or re-sign Aminu) and add additional depth.
Eric Bledsoe, PG, Los Angeles Clippers (Age: 23)
Contract Status: $2.63 million in '13, RFA in 2014 | Expected Cost: Greivis Vasquez or Robin Lopez and 2013 1st round pick
Bledsoe is a huge risk/reward proposition at this point. The advanced numbers tell you that he is an elite point guard who just happens to be stuck beyond the best point guard in the world. He projects as a fantastic player if he were to get starter's minutes, but can we really truly know how he would fare over an 82 game season as a starting point guard just by looking at what he has done as a backup and spot starter and projecting his Per-36 minutes numbers? Won't he have to play the game differently if he is getting double the minutes? Perhaps he will have to pace himself more. Perhaps moving to the head of the opposing teams' scouting report has an effect or perhaps becoming the leader of a team will be too big of a burden.
But what if we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. What if it is a James Harden situation where playing with all that talent was actually limiting him and he just takes off when given the reigns? One thing we know for sure is that his defense translates. He is an amazing on-ball defender and can jump passing lanes with the best of them. He is also a great rebounder for the point guard position and an excellent finisher in transition. But if that is where the positives end and he never really develops the ability to run the point or score effectively in the half court, would he be worth both Greivis Vasquez and a likely top 10-12 pick? Probably not. Again, it is about how you project a young point guard in a brand new situation moving forward. But that is why Dell is paid the big bucks.
Corey Brewer, SF Denver Nuggets (Age: 26)
Contract Status: $3.24 million this year, UFA in 2013 | Expected Cost: $4-$6 million per year
Corey Brewer is not the most exciting option on the list, but as the Hornets spend this summer looking for a young vet who can give them some consistency on the perimeter, they will likely have several internal conversations about Brewer. He is arguably having his best season as a pro, and at the age of 26, he still has room to grow. While he doesn't offer the rebounding that Al-Farouq Aminu does, he is a significant upgrade in two areas.
For one, he has an extremely low turnover rate for a perimeter player (just 8.4%). Aminu's turnover rate is more than twice that (19.3%). Brewer is also a legitimate threat from behind the arc, hitting two trey's per 36 minutes. By comparison, Aminu hits .1 per 36 minutes. In fact, Corey Brewer has hit three times as many three's this year (57) than Aminu has hit total shots outside of the paint (18). Neither Aminu or Brewer is the perfect player, but Dell will have to determine which is more valuable: Rebounding or Lack of Turnovers and the Spacing that comes with having another perimeter threat.
Rudy Gay, SF Memphis Grizzlies (Age: 26)
Contract Status: $17.89 million in 2013, $19.3 million in '14 | Expected Cost: Swap of 1st round picks in 2013
The Grizzlies made a deal this week to avoid the luxury tax this year, but make no mistake, they are going to move either Gay or Zach Randolph this summer. If it's Gay, the Hornets figure to be one of the teams interested, especially if they want to make a serious run over these next two years. Bringing Gay in will take the Hornets right up to the cap, but it likely won't cost the Hornets many assets to acquire him. Our late lottery pick and some throw-ins like Roberts, Darius Miller, and/or Lance Thomas for Gay and the Grizzlies pick (in the 20's) would likely be enough. The Hornets could grab a Eurostash or a project with the late first round pick and become a legit contender for home court advantage if they can stay healthy in 2013-14.
The window would be a small one, however, with Gay, Vasquez, Lopez, and potentially Gordon hitting unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2015. But if that core can help you establish a winning culture, then perhaps some guys take discounts to stay or maybe New Orleans becomes a free agent destination for others. Gay is definitely overpaid, but you aren't going to find a guy in this draft who can come in and contribute like Rudy Gay can, and again, you can afford to overpay someone because you are so drastically underpaying Anderson and Davis. Is Gay worth $18 million? No. But are Gay, Anderson, and Davis worth a combined $31 million? Of course they are. If Dell uses the same logic, Rudy Gay could be a Pelican this June.
Draft Possibilities (5-10 range): Otto Porter, SF Georgetown Hoyas; Michael Carter-Williams, PG Syracuse Orangemen; Marcus Smart, PG Oklahoma State Cowboys
Andre Iguodala, SF Denver Nuggets (Age: 29)
Contract Status: Unrestricted FA in 2013 | Max Hornets Could Offer: 4 years/$71.5 million | Expected Cost: $13- $17 million per year
Iguodala will be the best player available at perhaps the greatest position of need this summer, but Dell Demps has to be concerned about his age when he considers making him a long term offer. Iguodala turns 29 this week and next season will be his 10th in the league. The best case scenario is that he is at the end of his prime, but more likely than not, his prime has already passed and he is entering into the backside of his career, where any lost athleticism will really hurt his game. Shooters and low post bigs can maintain their production even when their athleticism declines, but Iguodala's game is so dependent on his athleticism that losing that could result in him becoming an average to below average player in this league.
On the plus side, Iguodala provides leadership and experience for a team that doesn't have much of either of those things. Despite being one of the least talented members of Team USA this summer, it was said that he was one of their most vocal guys and the coaches loved him because he was willing to do anything to win. His perimeter defense is still exceptional and he has the ability to create for others at the small forward position, which is something the Hornets have not had on their roster since Anthony Mason. While his skills might decline, he will not be another James Posey at the end of his contract- fat and uninterested. At worst, he becomes PJ Brown- a steady veteran who gives it his all on the court and helps the young guys in the locker room.
Paul Milsap, PF Utah Jazz (Age:27)
Contract Status: Unrestricted FA in '13 | Expected Cost: $9 – $11 million per year
Looking at our roster right now, it seems that the last thing that the Hornets need is another front court player, but you never know how this roster will look in a couple of months with Dealer Dell in charge. If Demps moves Smith and/or Lopez for some perimeter help, he could be in the market for a big man this summer and Paul Milsap is the exact type of player Monty Williams would fall in love with. Milsap is a hard worker who gives maximum effort every night, and never takes a day off in the offseason. Each year he has come back with a new wrinkle to his game, improving in some aspect offensively.
His minutes have been cut back some and he has been asked to play out of position a lot (SF) in order to accomodate some younger guys in Utah. With New Orleans, he can focus on playing on the block more and would likely get back to dominating the offensive glass. Prior to the addition of Jefferson, Favors, and Kanter, Paul Milsap had offensive rebound rate's in the low-to-mid teens, which is beyond elite. He can get back to that with Gordon, Anderson, and Davis drawing so much of the defenses attention. And yet again, you are talking about a veteran with nearly 50 games of playoff experience that can come in and lead this young squad as they get ready to make that leap next season.
Chase Budinger, SF Minnesota Timberwolves (Age: 24)
Contract Status: Unrestricted FA in '13 | Expected Cost: $4-$5 million per year
Last summer, Chase Budinger was worth a mid-first round draft pick. This summer, nobody really knows what he will fetch on the free agent market after a knee injury will result in him missing most, if not all, of the season. He might return in March, but if not, GM's will have to look at what he did in his first couple of years in the league, and those results are fairly impressive. He has shown the ability to hit from deep, especially from the corner, where he shot nearly 48% last season. He also showcased an above average rebound rate (16.2%) for a small forward, and always maintained a turnover rate below 10%. And he is not just a shooter, as he is one of the best at his position at finishing at the rim (68%) due to his exceptional athleticism and coordination.
He has never been a full-time starter in the NBA as both the Rockets and Timberwolves chose instead to put him in a timeshare at the position. The Hornets could do the same thing with Budinger if they choose to bring back Aminu. Theoretically, the two could split the 48 minutes at small forward, giving the Hornets different dimensions when each is on the court, and they can also play together for a couple of minutes together in a small ball lineup and not lose much on the defensive end because of their ability to hit the boards. It's an interesting possibility to consider- splitting the money up between two players, Aminu and Budinger, as opposed to giving it all to one guy. A possibility that I believe Dell will strongly consider this summer.
Danny Granger, SF Indiana Pacers (Age: 29)
Contract Status: $14.02 million in '13, UFA in '14 | Expected Cost: Greivis Vasquez
Okay, so follow this somewhat unlikely, but possible scenario. The Pacers season ends and Paul George has cemented himself as their star small forward of the present and future so now, Indiana is in a position where they have to move Danny Granger. Recent reports have said that they are looking for a point guard in return and they dont want to take back much salary. The Hornets, having gotten their point guard in some other fashion (maybe a pick and Lopez for Bledsoe?) and deal Vasquez for Granger straight up. Indiana solidifies their backup point guard spot and gets $25 million under the cap to fill in their shooting guard position in free agency. Meanwhile, New Orleans brings Granger back to the Pelican State and fills their hole at small forward.
While it would be terrifying to have two perimeter players coming off of major knee injuries on the same team, the potential of this team would be enormous if it were to remain relatively healthy. In his last three seasons prior to this one, Granger averaged 23 points per game and maintained a healthy defensive rebound rate (13.3%) while keeping his turnover percentage relatively low (10.7%). He is also the best three-point threat out of all the small forwards who could possibly be available, as he is a career 38% shooter from deep and has knocked down more than two per game.
It would be a fairly big risk for Demps considering the fact that Granger will likely only play 10-20 games this season, but we saw him take that same risk last summer with Gordon, so who is to say he won't do it again? A core of Gordon, Granger, Anderson, and Davis could be practically unguardable, and if a defensive minded point guard like Eric Bledsoe was brought in to fill out that unit, the defensive could be above average as well. Not to mention that, yet again, this would be a move that brings some veteran experience and leadership to a young team. Maybe it is not the most likely scenario in the world, but at the least, it is very, very intriguing.
Kyle Lowry, PG Toronto Raptors (Age: 26)
Contract Status: $5.75 million this year, $6.2 million next year | Expected Cost: Vasquez and some sweetener
Kyle Lowry is starting to stack up some red flags, between his recent injury history and his ability to rub teammates and coaches the wrong way. Last year in Houston, he missed 19 games and got into several verbal altercations with coach Kevin McHale. This year in Toronto, he has missed 13 games and is said to be a disruption because he is frustrated that he is not starting. Lowry seems to be one of those players that needs be coddled a bit, otherwise he will take his ball and go home. But perhaps a little tough love is what he needs, and a coach like Monty could give that out in bunches.
What is undeniable is the talent, as Lowry is one of the most efficient offensive point guards in the league and perhaps the most intimidating on the ball defensive point guard in the league as well. Despite not starting, he is posting a career high PER in Toronto this season (21.5) which is 5th in the league amongst point guards behind only Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, and Kyrie Irving. Not bad company. He is also #1 against point guards in defending isolation plays on the defensive end , and he hits his three's at a nearly 40% clip while also converting 83% of his free throws.
He would be a huge upgrade at the position, and at only 26 years old, he could be a guy who grows with Eric Gordon for the next 5-7 years. Toronto is said to be shopping him and a deal centered around Vasquez and Lopez for Lowry and Aaron Gray could be one that might benefit both teams. The Hornets downgrade at backup center, but they could hold on to their pick and grab another big in June or trade that pick for another young vet who could help this team right away because they would still have $15 million in cap room after making that deal.
Wilson Chandler, SF Denver Nuggets (Age: 25)
Contract Status: 2 years/$13 million, team option in 3rd year | Expected Cost: 2nd round pick
If the Nuggets hold onto Andre Iguodala, then it is likely that Wilson Chandler will be the odd man out in Denver, simply because Denver is not a team that appears willing to go into the luxury tax. With Iguodala and Danillo Galinari playing his position, Chandler is expendable and it might only take a future 2nd round pick to help Denver clear him off their books. In return, New Orleans would get a young vet still in his physical prime, capable of playing above average perimeter defense while filling out the stat column in multiple areas. Wilson was in the top three for blocks amongst small forwards in each of the last three seasons before the lockout, and he also showed he could be an above average rebounder and a playmaker as well.
Chandler has had a tough time finding his place on a loaded Denver team since coming back from his stint in China, but it is obvious that when he gets the minutes that the skill set is still there. Per-36 minutes this year, he is putting up 19 points and 10 rebounds while getting nearly 2 steals and shooting over 36% from deep. Perhaps he is not a full-time starter, but again, he can be the perfect guy to share the position with Al-Farouq Aminu and give the Hornets multiple dimensions that teams will have to account for at the small forward position.
Draft: Alex Poythress, SF Kentucky; Cody Zeller, C Indiana; Trey Burke, PG Michigan; Anthony Bennett, PF UNLV
Darkhorses
Nikola Pekovic, Center Minnesota Timberwolves (Age: 27)
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent in '13 | Expected Cost: $10- $13 million per year
Again, imagine a scenario in which Dell Demps swaps Robin Lopez for a perimeter player and all of a sudden there is a lack of bulk and aggressiveness on the Hornets front line. Enter Nikola Pekovic, perhaps the most physical interior player in the NBA today. Pekovic is 260 pounds of solid muscle, and he uses his size to absolutely dominate the offensive glass. Last season, in fact, he was #1 in the entire NBA in offensive rebound percentage and he is doing it again this year, averaging nearly 4 offensive rebounds per game this year. And his offensive rebounds aren't like what we saw with Okafor or Chandler, where they backtapped it out 35 feet to a guard to get a new possession. He grabs the boards with force and takes them back up, which is a big part of why he is averaging 16 points per game for Minnesota this year.
It might be hard for Dell to spend so much money on a center this offseason when they are bigger needs on the perimeter, but if Lopez can fetch a solid, cheap perimeter player, the addition of Pekovic could make this one of the most formidable teams in a league where most rosters are built around a small ball concept. For instance, a guy like Pekovic forces Oklahoma City to keep Kendrick Perkins on the court or risk being absolutely obliterated on the glass. There is a logic that says that when everyone else zigs, you zag, and acquiring Pekovic would be that sort of move for Demps. Back to an old school game where you dominate inside-out. It just might be crazy enough to work.
Chris Paul, Point Guard Los Angeles Clippers (Age: 27)
Contract Status: Unrestricted FA in '13 | Max Hornets Can Offer: 4 years/$77 million | Expected Cost: 5 years/$100 million
While I will admit that the evidence seems to be piling up more and more everyday that CP3 will stay in LA, I will not give up on this dream until the ink is dry on his new contract. Here is my scenario. The Clippers fall in the first round or get demolished again in the second round, both real possibilities. Paul looks around and sees a young core in LA that is not improving and an old supporting cast whose best days are behind them. He then looks to New Orleans who has Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson, and Eric Gordon as a core and thinks- "Which is a better supporting cast, those three or Griffin, Jordan, and Bledsoe?"
Is there really any comparison? Then maybe he gets a peak at the sweet new Pelican jerseys coming out this summer, the fierceness in the eyes of the logo, and he remembers the city he fell in love with years ago. He sits down with two guys he respects greatly in Dell Demps and Monty Williams and they sell him on a future built not with playoff appearances, but championships, in New Orleans. They ask him to look aorund the league and see what other teams can give him the money he wants while maintaining a young core capable of a championship run. He looks around and can't find another team that meets both criteria, so he puts his name on the dotted line.
Is it really that far fetched?
Draft (If we get a top 3 pick): Shabazz Muhammad, SG/SF UCLA; Nerlens Noel PF/C Kentucky; Ben McLemore, SG Kansas
The Missing Piece is a weekly feature that you can find every Saturday only on Hornets247.com. For past issues in this series, click here.
Please email any suggested changes to changes.
Andre IguodalaBrandon JenningsChase BudingerChris Paulcorey brewerDanny GrangerEric BledsoeMichael McNamaraNikola PekovicOtto PorterPaul MilsapRudy GayShabazz MuhammadThe Missing Piece
In The N.O. Episode 33: THE PELICANS WIN THE LOTTERY
Pelicans Secured Aaron Nelson, Now They Have to Use Him
Don't Close the Door on Nikola Mirotic Just Yet
Anthony Davis, The Celtics, The Knicks, and Leverage
andregurov
I love this series of features … keep up the good work! These are heady and exciting times for Pels' fans (sorry, gotta get used to writing it), and the potential to field an exceptional team makes me giggle with anticipation.
thouse
Nice write up detailing a lot of interesting options for this summer.
I like Brewer, but he is not a 3pt threat just because he hits 2 per 36. At 33% from downtown this season and 30% for his career, he's going to need to be more consistent (> 35%) before he is a threat from deep.
Millsap is intriguing. Someone (SBNation's Utah blog) had a write up about how he has developed a 3pt shot this season. Not sure about his defense on wings, but he can rebound, score, and apparently is stretching his game to the 3pt line. Don't know if they want to drop a max on him, but he's worth a look.
Agree 100% on Lowry. Great player with a great contract, but has had trouble every where.
Do you think they stand pat with their 4 bigs or do they look to add an enforcer/dirty work player to bring some interior toughness?
Michael McNamara
Our four bigs are all more finesse players. I gotta believe that one of them will eventually go in favor of a tough interior guy. Just my opinion
JJacob
The Davis-Anderson-Granger-Gordon-Bledsoe would be an incredible starting 5. That team almost has it all: 3-point shooting, perimeter defense, interior defense, rebounding, penetrators, etc.
The only 2 things that lineup is missing is a pure passer (not many in the league, anyway) and a lot playoff experience. Still, that team would be scary.
Agreed- probably my favorite scenario, although we would have to give Granger and Bledsoe new contracts in the summer of 2014 and there are always injury concerns with Granger and Gordon.
But those issues aside, on the court, that five could be amazing. And while Bledsoe is not a natural playmaker, both Gordon and Granger could help him shoulder that load, and there is still hope for Austin Rivers as a playmaker, so he can chip in as well. Do those two trades, then re-sign Aminu with an exception and get a guy like Mozgov with another exception and you got a very strong 9 man rotation.
Cajun T
Very good and informative article, look forward to it every week.
No shortage of directions that the Pels will be able to go, is there? But I would throw out one caveat when considering The Missing Piece, Dell has said (probably on more than one occasion) that now that they have stable ownership, that he and Monty will build for the long haul and not look for the quick fix. This is why I would put Rudy Gay in the "Next in Line" category and not the "favorites" category. That's nit-picky, I know. But I think it's more accurate, JMO.
I do like the Eurostash idea though, you always need to look to the future to restock your roster with less expensive players. This will be especially critical in the future when the "Big 3" (or 4) will be up for max contracts. But like you said in the "In the NO" podcast #114, it's a good problem to have. BTW, I'm the Tom from Youngsville that asked the luxury tax question in that podcast, thanks for answering it so thoroughly.
Also, I like the idea of splitting the cap space between Aminu and another SF, it gives Monty more flexibility and the other team more to handle with regard to game preparation. That other person has to have the right mental make-up though, or it may cause issues.
Yeah, Gay could go in either category. I just put him in favorites because I think when you look at all the guys the Hornets will inquire about via trade, he would cost them the fewest number of assets.
I really think Memphis will move him for just a tad more than cap space this summer if they are one and done again. Use his freed up salary space to re-sign Tony Allen and get a couple of cheaper pieces.
The question with Gay becomes: What will he demand in his next contract? The Pelicans can absord this contract because Ryno, Davis, Smith, and Lopez are locked in on such great deals. But if Gay wants big money again in his next deal, you gotta let him walk. But if you can re-sign him at 8-10 mil per in that next deal, he can easily be a long term piece, seeing that he is just 26
Good points, but I wonder how willing Gay will be to take such a cut in pay. And, more importantly, will Schwan be on board with Gay being "The Missing Piece"?
Schwan would leave the site for good, which has to be factored into the trade as well.
Overall, I think Dell would explore a ton of scenarios before settling on that one, but its not like you can just pick your free agents and they automatically come to you. If the other options start to disappear, you gotta start to consider Gay if all he costs you is cap space for the next 2 years, where you have a ton to spare.
I mean, we are paying Matt Caroll and Rashard Lewis more than that this year and you gotta figure Gay will at least give us a little more than those two have given us this year, right?
Depends on who you ask. I'd say yes. Schwan, probably not so much. 😉
An unrelated question, if you don't mind: In the Podcast, you said that the salary cap will probably go up a little every year. Will the max contracts that can be given to players also go up, thus negating the additional cap space?
Contract max's will rise a bit every year, as will minimum contracts, etc. so the cap being raised a mil or two will be evened out by that. In fact, most max contracts are tied directly to the cap. For instance, in 4 years, the Hornets will be able to offer AD 30% of the current cap at that time.
504ever
I am worried about big contact guys. I wouldn't sign a guy older than 26 years old; we need guys who are young enough to grow or be in their prime for several years.
I think the group of Brewer, W. Chandler, and Budinger contain the best value (in terms of salary and assets required to get them) and will yield one Hornet/Pelican signee. I see Gay as a dark hourse SF candidate, especially because he takes so much cap space from the PG upgrade.
So that leads to the question of what to do with the PG position this year, including wait. The three choices, asssuming Teague doesn't shake loose from Atlanta, are Jennings, Bledsloe, or wait a year. (Signing Gay eliminates Jennings, so I doubte we sign Gay.) I am neutral on those three choices at PG. They all have pluses and minuses. In Dell I Trust.
Are you not a big fan of Lowry? I know you are normally a guy who values PER, and Lowry is 5th amongst PG's at 21.5
It's his other baggage that is the problem, and I could have been clearer about that because you are right. His PER, age, contract, and aquisition price make him PERFECT otherwise. If only I knew his head was screwed on right and for good…
If his head was screwed on right, he wouldn't be available.
That is the thing with all these guys. There is some baggage or deficiency, otherwise their team would not let them go.
Lowry's small and short contract makes him a minimal risk IMO with potentially huge upside if Monty can get through to him.
So Michael, here is how the Lowry thing plays out for me. For this year, I'd prefer to do nothing at PG than acquire Lowry. That would give me some time to evaluate both Vasquez, and Lowry's head. I could still acquire Lowry next season if I wanted to and he would be an expiring that wouldn't cost me as much to "rent" for the year and see how that goes befoe resigning him.
kwilly
Whatever you do Mr. Demps, please bring in someone who can shoot 3's consistently! Last night was a perfect illustration of the importance of being able to shoot 3's. It is impossible to win in this league without shooting 3's.
I like the Brandon Jennings option the best. This has become a point guard league. Look at the elite teams. With the exception of Miami, they all have great point guards. Jennings could become close to an elite point guard on a team with more offensive talent. I also like the idea of Aminu and Budinger splitting the small forward position. If we need rebounding and defense against a team like OKC, we can go with Aminu. In games like last night, Budinger would be the more effective player.
By the way, CP3 doesn't like the new name so I would say that is the final nail in his return to NO coffin. Divorce is hard but it is time to move on. He isn't returning to NO.
All other things being equal, if the name of a team would prevent a player from signing with said team, then SMDH. Pathetic.
Just went back and read what Chad Ford said about Aminu when he was coming out of Wake Forest. Said he has an excellent midrange jumper. Haha classic Chad
First off, The Missing Piece is my favorite article on the site! I've always been a huge fan of free agency, trading and drafting!
If we get Jennings, do you think we would get rid of Vasquez or Vasquez would be the back up? If we had both of them running point, I think a lot of pressure would not only be taken off of Jennings but also Vasquez. He wouldn't feel the need to crazily pass the ball lol. Shoot I would like to see Vasquez AND Jennings on the floor at the same time! Let me go even further and say Jennings-Gordon-Vasquez lol. It would be a good defense rotation and just as good an offense rotation as well.
Bledsoe is a cool option also, but I would not want to trade Vasquez. Vasquez is playing at the top of his game right now. I wouldn't want to trade him. If I had to choose out of him or Lopez for trading, I'd trade Lopez just cause in the 2nd half it seems like Lopez disappears because of Monty's rotation of Davis, Anderson, and Smith.
I'd love if we could get Iggy! I really think he would fit our system very well. He has great defensive skills and he can still shoot. Yeah, he may be slacking lately, but imagine if he didn't need to be the top option like Jennings also. I'm kinda drooling over a Vasquez-Gordon-Iggy-Anderson-Davis lineup.
If we can't get Iggy, I would hope we hop on Chandler, Budginer, or Brewer. Hopefully we get at least one of these players. At least fitting one of these guys with Aminu would be great.
Ahhhh Chris Paul… Still praying every night he'll hop on the Pelican train. All birds fly south in the winter right? Maybe we can hop he flies back to NO? haha. I'm hoping since he has such a great relationship with Monty and Demps, somehow someway we'll pry him over here lol
xman20002000
Love the Pekovic option.. Our bigs are finesse players.. not tough enough to control the paint…
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THE Peugeot 2008 appeals to those looking for ease of use, good all-round performance and value for money and quality at a modest price.
They love the attributes of an SUV but may not necessarily want the bulk, they love the convenience of a small car but want a bit more space.
The Peugeot 2008 is a baby sports utility vehicle with more than 60% of its makeup coming from the 208 but is a little more spacious, a little taller and a smidgen longer.
The 2008 is available here with a choice of three engines - a three-cylinder 1.2-litre petrol, a four- cylinder 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre turbo diesel.
The interior of the 2008 has that Peugeot familiarity about it and from the outset it is obvious that keen attention has been paid to fit and finish.
It is all about texture here, an eclectic mix that not only works to create a more upmarket feel but also distracts from the places, like the doors where the plastic is hard.
The instrument cluster is snazzy, dials and buttons cleverly placed and the dash, dominated by a 17.7cm infotainment touch-screen, is clean and modern.
Seats are comfortable, if a little flat, and despite the fact the 2008 has its heart in a small car it feels rather spacious. Consideration has been given to head and legroom throughout although for the long term it is better suited to smaller kids than taller adults.
There are convenient storage options dotted around the cabin but the front cup holders are too far forward and on the small side and won't hold two coffees at once. Boot room is generous, 410-litres at rest growing to a credible 1400-litres with the back seats lowered, easily done thanks to a nifty one touch lever.
Our test car was powered by a 1.6-litre petrol engine mated, in a rather mismatched fashion, to an out dated four-speed automatic gearbox.
It is hardly surprising that it struggled a tad under load, was slow to extend itself and required much persuasion from standstill to any sort of rhythm.
But once it gets warmed up though, the 2008 is a nice drive.
Handling has always been Peugeot's strong point and it is here once again for all to see in this baby SUV's impeccable manners, in the way it melds itself to the road sticking to corners and staying balanced despite its taller stance.
Yes, once it gets going it won't let you down but you have to be ready to signal your intention well before the start gate.
There is little road noise and the 2008 is nimble on its feet, dealing well with the odd inconsistency and the even one as well.
Steering feel is neither here nor there and that is to be expected but more importantly it goes where you point it and does so with panache. It is 10cm higher than the 208 but has no pretensions as an off-road option, a run on unsealed roads or negotiating a high pavement is about the limit of its adventurous nous.
French marques usually err on the side of generosity and the 2008 boasts a number of fantastic features as standard including 16-inch alloys, reverse camera with rear sensors, front and rear fog lights, LED daytime running lights, 17.7cm infotainment system with Bluetooth and audio streaming and roof rails.
Our middle of the range Allure adds full-length glass roof, auto headlights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, sat nav, leather trim and heated seats.
Safety measures number six airbags, anti-lock brakes with emergency brake assist, electronic brake force distribution and anti-slip regulation, hill start assist and automatic activation of hazard lights under emergency braking.
There has been great buzz in the small SUV market this year with a number of manufacturers throwing their hats into the ring. The 2008 will have to vie for attention with the Nissan Juke (from $21,990), Holden Trax (from $23,490), Fiat Panda (from $16,500 drive-away) and the recently released Ford EcoSport (from $20,790).
The Peugeot 2008 is a neat little package combining some of the benefits of a SUV with those of a small car. It has a good driver position, handy inclusions and is roomy to boot.
We liked the smaller racier steering wheel and we also like the space-age hand brake which is a nice piece of design.
The roof bars open up a wealth of storage and carrying options. While this city-based drive is more suitable to singles or couples it would be able to accommodate a small family.
While official figures stand at 5.9 litres/100km for the 1.6-litre petrol, our week saw consumption on the dearer side much in part because we had to push it around town and up a number of hills.
Peugeot offers a three year/100,000km warranty and a marvellous five year/75,000km capped price servicing plan with each service (12 months/15,000km) costing $369.
The 2008 is certainly one of the nicer looking cars around with its sleek lines, sculptured aerodynamic design and uniquely shaped and streamlined lights.
The rear spoiler shows off its profile and the wave roof is funky and modern. The front grille may showcase Peugeot's new design direction but we were fans of the snooty stance of the old order.
What we liked: Nice handling and looks and impressive inclusions, awesome servicing plan.
What we'd like to see: A lot more vroom.
Warranty and servicing: Peugeot offers a three year/100,000km warranty with five years/75,000km capped-price servicing with maintenance due annually or every 15,000km.
The inclusion of the 2008 has given Peugeot a more complete range allowing the manufacturer to capitalise on the penchant for SUV-like cars in city confines.
The 2008 is a considered package with great looks inside and out, above-average handling and a very competitive price.
The four-speed automatic gearbox, more attuned to European conditions, may be a slight hindrance here but there is little doubt the car itself will attract a steady stream of admirers.
Details: Five-door front-wheel drive baby SUV.
Engine: 1.6-litre petrol generating maximum power of 88kW @ 6000rpm and peak torque of 160Nm @ 4250rpm.
Bottom line: From $24,900 plus on-roads (base model at $21,990).