Postman Square Ribbon Cutting. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
Postman Square has existed for a long time, but ask the average Milwaukee where or what it is and you'll be met with a blank stare. The latest placemaking intervention from NEWaukee aims to change that by honoring the space's history while simultaneously creating a downtown park worth visiting any day of the week. The firm and city formally unveiled the overhauled park today with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The square, or more correctly, triangle, is a leftover wedge of land between W. Wells St., N. Plankinton Ave. and N. 2nd St. The small pocket park that fills the space is oriented around a central statue honoring the men and women of the 277,000 member National Association of Letter Carriers. A weird place for such a tribute until you learn the history. On August 30th, 1889 just across the street from the park in the former Schaefer's Saloon at 808 N. Plankinton Ave., a group of 60 mail carriers, many of which were in town for a convention Civil War veterans convention, got together to form a union. Exactly 100 years later the union dedicated the statue and have returned to clean it every August since.
NEWaukee was approached by the organizers of the Main Street Now conference, which was held in Milwaukee in May, to host a workshop during the conference. According to NEWaukee's Jeremy Fojut, the group thought "instead of a workshop, why can't we building something" and reached out to the city about the park. Department of Public Works representative Karen Dettmer said "we were happy to partner with NEWaukee and step aside to let them do their thing." Department of City Development representative Dan Casanova applauded the resourcefulness of NEWaukee in making the project happen on a small budget, noting "I want to congratulate Jeremy for enlisting free labor from the Main Street Conference." According to Casanova, it was a hot day and Fojut successfully enlisted attendees to help carry pieces to set up the park.
Mayor Tom Barrett also praised the NEWaukee venture noting "what's special here is you didn't need a lot of money." The park had a $6,000 budget, made up of matching grants from the Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors and a city Community Improvement Project grant. Barrett noted that the small budget necessitated using more than 100 volunteers to move the redesigned park from the drawing board to reality.
Wisconsin State Association of Letter Carriers president Scott Van Derven was on hand for the ceremony and praised the efforts of NEWaukee to honor the history of the space. He noted the bronze statue, designed by Elliot Offner, depicts the diversity of the letter carriers. A white man in a uniform from 1889, a black man in a uniform from 1939 and a woman in a uniform from 1989.
A substantial amount of new furniture has been added to the park. Painted blue, many of the pieces are subtly shaped like a mailbox. Designed by Ryan Tretow, many of the pieces are movable allowing visitors to adjust them to suit their needs, an important practice advocated by public space expert William Whyte.
The new fixtures in the park also include a mailbox to send letters to Milwaukee. NEWaukee has collected 175 letters to-date, and shares them on their social media channels using the tag #LetterstoMKE.
Tretow and Fojut both are pleased with the adoption of the park to-date, noting that they often go by during the lunch hour and see people using the new dining table.
New restaurant Brunch, which opened across the street at 800 N. Plankinton just a few weeks ago, provided free food to ribbon cutting attendees. NEWaukee hopes to work out dining service in the park with the restaurant.
Fojut notes that NEWaukee, which refers to the park as Postman's Plot, "will take feedback from neighbors to invest more in what is used and take away what isn't." The physical footprint of the park itself may change.
The city intends to rebuild Wells St. in 2018 and hopes to improve the park as part of that effort. Wells St. was converted to two-way traffic in 2011, which raised the profile of the space by slowing traffic and exposing it from another direction. It also left over a "pork chop" turn lane that the city may convert into part of the park. The turn lane, which connected one one-way street to another, is now closed by a concrete barrier.
Postman Square was referenced in both the 1999 and 2010 Downtown plans as a potential area for redevelopment, and DCD employee Kyle Gast even completed a master's thesis on the potential for the area. As DCD's Casanova noted, the area is surrounded by a number of surface parking lots that could be redeveloped. The Germania Building, located immediately south of the park, is being converted from offices into 90 apartments, and should contribute more visitors to the park.
The park wasn't always so overlooked: it was formerly home to a triangular building, aptly known as the Triangle bar (photo). The tavern was for a while owned by the Cream City Brewing Co., which put it up for sale in 1914. The tavern was demolished in 1919 when the space became a streetcar transfer point. In 1945, Emilie Raasch, widow of Triangle owner Julius Raasch, passed away, and the Milwaukee Journal noted that the tavern was popular during big events Downtown, when patrons would head to the roof to watch a parade go by or see election returns projected from the Germania Building.
Not a fan. Though the picture of the citizen looking uncomfortable on the lawn chair is interesting to observe.
Kudos to all involved for breathing new life into this public space and making it more usable.
Since there are so few public mailboxes around town anymore this would be a perfect place to host one of them. That would also bring people to the area.
The Letter Carriers' Monument and the union history it commemorates deserve more attention and would be benefit from a bigger footprint.
Just discovered that its sculptor Elliot Offner had an impressive career doing public commissions nationwide (including at Nicollet Mall in MPLS) and as a Smith College professor.
There are some little parks that were once on the official docket as named parks. Their origins are found in the proceedings of the Milwaukee Common Council, taxpayer funds were allocated for improvements; they are listed among the entries of existing Milwaukee Parks in Milwaukee City Directories; they were announced in newspapers, etc.
One of those parks was called Goelz Triangle, created in 1931 to honor the Goelz-Gassen family that settled in the late 1840s in the old Town of Lake, eventually owning on 2 separate parcels in Section 16. They were probably beer drinkers, but not beer barons; they were Gärtners, or "truck farmers". The last piece of that property left the hands of Goelz descendents in about 2007.
It's almost as if I decided to apply the principles of place-making but wasn't really sensitive to the space. (Believe me, I've been there when it comes to home decorating. I actually do a pretty good job, but sometimes get it completely wrong.) Postman Square is such a small place and, I believe, calls for an approach more lovely than loud.
I think that Postman Square may also have been the site where, in September 1968, the Milwaukee 14 burned draft files in protest of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
MidnightSon, I think you're missing the point, or what I've come to understand as the context in which this project and Newaukee operates in.
To me, it seems the greatest opportunity to enhance TEMPORARY public spaces is to remain experimental and create things that take notice and encourage conversation. – which im happy to see you are participating in. If we were talking about a design intended to be PERMANENT, then I think we would be looking at a very different designed response; one closer to the 'lovely' you describe. I think it is an above average use of resources given what were likely a number of strict constraints that controlled the project; budget, timing, opinions of all involved, etc.
As far as sensitivity to place, I think the bold / 'dropped in place' strategy for the objects does well in providing unexpected contrast to the locale and the landscape. Not only that, but the postal form making is just first layer of "information" that relates to the park. they also built on the theme with an active mailbox managed by Newaukee and made space to deonte additional site history not found on the statue. What else did you want them to add? Also, it sounds as if this installation is up for a year or less before the city makes way for permanent improvements, so Newaukee needed to make an impact and make it fast- this seems an effective way to do so. in that way, it is in fact sensitive to place and to what the growing community around it may want it to become – a more lively place.
Further, Milwaukee does one thing really bad, and that thing is the ability and willingness to take a risk(s). This park effort took advantage of an opportunity and took A RISK, good bad or otherwise. That is very commendable in this town, especially considering they only spent $6k while doing so. We need more risk takers or we'll forever be lagging behind competing cities. This installation spent mere pennies compared to TheSpot4MKE and numerous PERMANENT extremely high dollar public spaces we now live with.
I agree with the value of taking some affordable risks with our public spaces, which this project does. MKE does need more of that.
The temporary projects done at the Spot4MKE also did that, through a grant through the Project for Public Spaces, the foremost leaders on these types of experiments and consultants on great public-space transformations around the world. PPS's work speaks for itself and was first inspired by William H. Whyte and Jane Jacobs.
Coincidental or not, 4th Street is now being considered as having more potential than it did for 30 years. People are also now paying more attention to the long-time public site of the lovely "Letter Carriers Monument." A good thing.
Waste of $6K. Please stop building garbage with 2x4s and putting it in the parks.
Chalk it up to an exercise in place-making. But, the first word in "public space" is "public," and I'd venture to say that now is not the time for this space.
This isn't a destination so it would be really helpful to have the "public" already in place. As it is, it's a small space surrounded by streets that are as wide as it is, that are surrounded by surface parking lots, the empty Germania Building, and the now defunct Renaissance Bookstore.
John Carroll, yes this is the place where 14 men burned draft files in protest of the Vietnam war. There is considerable documentation of this event, including the 14's statement, and video footage stored now at WTMJ TV's archives. Robert Graf, one of the 14, has documented the work of several of the 14 after that action. http://www.nonviolentworm.org/Milwaukee14Today/HomePage A photo from the video has been widely published as a keepsake.
For many protesters it is sacred ground..
Bill Sell, thanks for posting this. I took the video of the Milwaukee 14 event but thought it had been lost after all these years. Part of the Milwaukee 14 action was planned in an apartment I shared with Kaleidoscope photographer Gary Balsieper, who is briefly shown in the video as I panned left. Gary led the news media to the event, though they didn't know in advance what was going to occur. We hadn't planned to make a video of the draft file burning, but almost at the last minute Gary gave me his small film camera (a Super 8? I'm not sure) and asked me to film it. I pretty much watched the entire thing through the lens of that little camera. My understanding was that some of the 14 were unhappy about the film, since it might have been used as evidence in their trials. I never knew what became of it. I wonder how it ended up in the WTMJ archives.
Homesteader, thanks for your account. I had thought the person who brought the media to the event was a fellow named John (I will leave his name to add if he wishes). Gary was certainly an interesting person of the time; didn't he publish the Kaleidoscope (forerunner of today's Shepherd Express)?
You can check the archives for the video that made the rounds in 1968. Perhaps it is yours.
Bill, John Kois was editor (and I believe the founder) of Kaleidoscope at that time. Gary Balsieper took many of the photographs for the paper, though I'm sure he also had other roles. Dennis Gall, who recently passed on, was also very involved.
I was quite peripheral to the Milwaukee 14 action, my connection being through my friend Gary. One of the 14 who lived in Milwaukee (I won't give his name here) had a meeting with Gary in our apartment on Brady Street for which I was present. Gary's role was take photographs of the building on Wells Street which housed the local draft boards so that those of the 14 from out of town would have a sense of the layout, since they in all likelihood would not have a chance to scope it out in advance for themselves. At the time, I believe it was called the Brumder Building. Gary took photos inside the building and I did the exterior. Gary's other, more important, role was to meet the media at a downtown location and lead them to the site of the action. I of course knew what was to occur and waited across the street from the little park (in the Yellow Cab I drove in those days to make a living). When the 14 came out of the Brumder Building with the sacks of draft files, I started filming. To avoid possible awkward questions from the police, who seemed quite confused about what was happening, I left shortly after.
Somewhat ironically, my own draft board was located in the Brumder Building and there's a good chance that my file was among those "napalmed" that day. I very much believe that a plaque of some sort should be installed in the park to commemorate this important episode in the resistance to an unjust war. Count me among those who feel that this is sacred ground.
It's promising that this space may expand and have more stature beyond its long history as a public space. Many triangles are not named and may not have amenities. However, these public spaces are often adopted by citizens as ad-hoc gardens or park spaces. This one had been elevated by the presence of a significant sculpture but had nonetheless become overlooked, perhaps because neighbors have not embraced it before and it was lacking in comfort and not well maintained.
Thanks to all for sharing its history as the site of the Milwaukee 14 Catholic activists in 1968. That event and their anti-war efforts were in the news for years. Perhaps this history can also be commemorated when the park is permanently redesigned and officially named. I had not previously known that the gender-neutral name for the Letter Carriers Union goes way back to 1889. I would have guessed it was a more recent name.
For anyone interested in knowing more about the Kaleidoscope history, UWM has been assembling its archives and making them available online.
I think it started several years ago with research and a big exhibition relating to the brief but influential run of the Avant Garde Coffeehouse on Prospect Avenue. That has been a terrific multidisciplinary project with numerous creative spinoff events.
Of course, a Kaleidoscope co-founder, Bob Reitman, still does an excellent weekly music show Thursday evenings on WUWM, along with his son Bobby. It's Bod Dylan-inspired name is "It's All Right, Ma, It's Only Music." They do some creative thematic programming with terrific connections between past and present. A Milwaukee cultural treasure. For younger folks and newcomers, Bob Reitman has been a radio mainstay here since those early days.
It is too cluttered and looks like a front lawn rummage sale.
I think that something to commemorate the Milwaukee 14 would be quite appropriate here. I'm fascinated that even an awkward little space such as Postman Square can be so rich in history. We should remember all of it! Thank you to Bill, Homesteader and Virginia for sharing your information.
I, too, am fascinated by all the history. Perhaps this space should be renamed "Triangle Square" and include it, all!
The "John" that Bill Sell references is John Hagedorn. He was charged and convicted by the feds for "conspiracy" with the Milwaukee 14.
In 1968 Hagedorn was one of the leaders of the Milwaukee Organizing Committee–an anti-draft counselling group at UWM. Hagedorn has gone on to a storied career as a Chicago professor and published expert on inner city gang economics–sadly the only means of survival for many in America's under-class.
Besides helping lead reporters to the Milwaukee 14 event, Ballsieper also took photos. His pix were purchased by Life Magazine (over those submitted by the Milwaukee Journal photographer) and published in a full page spread. One of his photos was also published on a poster lauding the Milwaukee 14.
Hagedorn was charged because he helped plan the event–and delivered to various media offices a cryptic invitation the day before. It instructed reporters to meet in front of the Brumder Building.
As a Milwaukee Sentinel messenger in those days, I personally took Hagedorn's press release from his hand and gave it to the Sentinel assignment editor. It all became clear to me the next day why Hagedorn (whom I knew) had visited the Sentinel. At the Sentinel's front desk, we had a friendly chit-chat, and I assured him the invitation would be read by the assignment editor.
I never pass the little triangle park without remembering when it was on America's front pages.
When I was editor of the Shepherd Express, we ran an anniversary story about the Milwaukee 14 action written by one of the members of the Milwaukee 14. After I left the archives have been removed from internet access, but here"s an interesting web site well done and full of information from that historical day.
Mike Cullen and his wife Nettie live in Baron County where he is a deacon of the Church.


Linthicum Maryland, located just minutes from Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI), offers a short commute to Baltimore and is only 50 minutes from Washington DC. This historic community is located close to major shopping hubs like Arundel Mills Mall, a wide variety of restaurants and local parks.
Maryland Management offers an excellent community in Linthicum, Maryland. A 1 to 3 bedroom garden style apartment home with an affordable price, Lynn Hill Apartments is only minutes from everything.


I'm lucky enough to have some super talented friends. I like to support my friends and use their products, wear their shirts, even have them decorate my office, because it's good for both of us. They get to do some work and I get some pretty amazing things.
But, no matter what, I've never expected anyone to do anything for me for free. The best way to support your friends is to pay them for their work! The same goes for strangers.
1. I'm not an expert, but I imagine that doing all that manual labor is worth more than the dirt from digging the hole for a pond.
In what universe did someone think this was a good deal?
2. I'm not even sure that this person knows what they are asking for.
From what I gather, it is a very feminine, well drawn bee giving someone the finger guns.
3. I have a feeling it would be hard to find one or two, let alone a group of photographers who would be willing to take on a whole project for free.
4. I am of two minds here: If they are for sure going to buy whatever it is, is it really a big deal to wait a month?
Then again, I know that a lot can change in a month and people can be shady.
5. I don't think this person has a solid argument.
"If someone lives with their parents, they don't need any money."
I feel as though that is not the case. If someone is going to work on something, you pay them. That's how it works with everything else!
6. I actually really laughed out loud at this one.
How is he supposed to get where he is going if he doesn't know where this person lives? And how will the previous owners get paid?!
7. It will never cease to amaze me how entitled some people can be.
This one is just frustrating, you know? People don't owe you anything, especially shipping and handling. Honestly.
8. A part of me feels for this person, they are clearly very upset that no one wants to trade junk for junk.
But you gotta know when to cut your losses, you know?
9. This person is so hot and cold, first they are buttering them up for a picture, now they're calling people names?!
Also, I would never give a drawing away to someone who was just going to use it as a profile picture. Please.
10. I would not have been able to respond so diplomatically to this person.
It would be an honor, really? How big does someone's ego have to be?! Some people, I tell you.
11. This was a roller-coaster ride from start to finish.
I wonder if anyone did get back to her. It's a pretty tall order, though, a free tattoo where the artist needs to come to her.
12. I'm not so sure that this sounds very Christian of them.
It also sounds just straight-up ridiculous. I wonder how the rest of the conversation went. I can't imagine well.


You don't have to worry about what to wear for dinner in the newly opened O'Naturel, the first nudist restaurant in Rue de Gravelle, Paris.
Upon entering, diners are asked to strip down to their birthday suit and leave their clothes in a cloakroom before entering the dining area. Only the chef, waiters, and co-owners Mike and Stephane Saada are allowed to enter the restaurant clothed.
"We wanted to open a bistronomique restaurant with a unique concept. We know that it surprises a lot of people, but we want O'Naturel to satisfy nudists' needs, and there is high demand for it," the brothers said.
There are no dividers between tables to keep away wandering eyes. The inside of the restaurant, however, is not visible from onlookers outside thanks to thick, white curtains covering the windows and ensuring privacy within.


text:
Q: jump to millis not working on youtube-api I have learned to make a player from youtube-API on https://www.sitepoint.com/using-the-youtube-api-to-embed-video-in-an-android-app/
I get an error when the practice jumps to a certain second

java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke interface method 'void com.google.android.youtube.player.YouTubePlayer.seekToMillis(int)' on a null object reference

and this is my coding
public class SitepointSample extends YouTubeBaseActivity implements YouTubePlayer.OnInitializedListener {

private static final int RECOVERY_REQUEST = 1;
private YouTubePlayerView youtubeView;

private MyPlayerStateChangeListener playerStateChangeListener;
private MyPlaybackEventListener playbackEventListener;

private YouTubePlayer player;

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
setContentView(R.layout.activity_sitepoint_sample);

final EditText seekToText = (EditText)   findViewById(R.id.seek_to_text);
Button seekToButton = (Button) findViewById(R.id.seek_to_button);
seekToButton.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
  @Override
  public void onClick(View view) {
    int skipToSecs = Integer.valueOf(seekToText.getText().toString());
    player.seekToMillis(skipToSecs * 1);
  }
});

playbackEventListener = new MyPlaybackEventListener();
playerStateChangeListener = new MyPlayerStateChangeListener();

youtubeView = (YouTubePlayerView) findViewById(R.id.youtube_view);
youtubeView.initialize(Config.YOUTUBE_API_KEY, this);
}

@Override
public void onInitializationSuccess(YouTubePlayer.Provider provider, YouTubePlayer youTubePlayer,
                                  boolean wasRestored) {
this.player = player;
if (!wasRestored) {
  youTubePlayer.setPlayerStateChangeListener(playerStateChangeListener);
  youTubePlayer.setPlaybackEventListener(playbackEventListener);
  youTubePlayer
      .cueVideo("fhWaJi1Hsfo"); //plays video_id == https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhWaJi1Hsfo
}
}

@Override
public void onInitializationFailure(YouTubePlayer.Provider provider,
                                  YouTubeInitializationResult errorReason) {
if (errorReason.isUserRecoverableError()) {
  errorReason.getErrorDialog(this, RECOVERY_REQUEST).show();
} else {
  String error = String.format(getString(R.string.player_error), errorReason.toString());
  Toast.makeText(this, error, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}

@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (requestCode == RECOVERY_REQUEST) {
  // Retry initialization if user performed a recovery action
  youtubeView.initialize(Config.YOUTUBE_API_KEY, this);
}
}

protected YouTubePlayerView getYouTubePlayerProvider() {
return youtubeView;
}

private void showMessage(String message) {
Toast.makeText(this, message, Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}

Can anyone handle this?

A: Please give a try to this code :
PlayFragment(start, stop){
player.seekTo(40);

while(player.getCurrentTime() !> 60)
{
     sleep(1000);
}

player.stop();
}

function sleep(milliseconds) {
  var start = new Date().getTime();
  for (var i = 0; i < 1e7; i++) {
    if ((new Date().getTime() - start) > milliseconds){
      break;
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Best Buy Investor Day Details 'Best Buy 2020: Building the New Blue' Growth Strategy
Discusses Insights from Successful 'Renew Blue' Transformation
Shares Details on Plans to Expand What It Sells and Evolve How It Sells
Provides Long-Term Financial Targets for Fiscal 2021
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE:BBY), a leading provider of consumer electronics products and services, will host an investor conference this afternoon to provide a more detailed overview of its Best Buy 2020: Building the New Blue growth strategy and discuss the company's long-term financial outlook.
Best Buy Chairman and CEO Hubert Joly and other members of the executive team will discuss key insights gained from the company's successful Renew Blue transformation, share the company's analysis of the strategic landscape in which it operates and provide a closer look at key growth initiatives.
"Our Renew Blue transformation was about improving the customer experience and fixing what was broken," Joly said. "Building on what we have accomplished, we are excited by the opportunities we have in this next chapter to grow the company by helping customers pursue their passions and enrich their lives with the help of technology, which is a much bigger idea and one that is rich with opportunities."
In addition to Joly, Best Buy's investor day speakers will include:
Corie Barry, chief financial officer
Shari Ballard, senior executive vice president and president of multichannel retail
Mike Mohan, senior executive vice president and chief merchandising and marketing officer
The event will begin at 2 p.m. ET. A video webcast of the presentations and question-and-answer session will be available online at www.investors.bestbuy.com, both live and after the event.
Renew Blue recap
When Best Buy unveiled its Renew Blue transformation strategy in November 2012, the company faced two fundamental problems: negative comparable sales and declining operating income rate.
The strategy worked. Comparable sales and operating income rate are up, non-GAAP earnings per share have grown at a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent and total shareholder return over the last five years was 263 percent, ranking in the top 10 percent of S&P 500 companies. Importantly, the company proved it was possible to win with a combination of competitive prices and a higher level of service.
Best Buy 2020 overview
Looking ahead, the company believes it is operating in an opportunity-rich environment, driven by innovation and customers' need for help.
Best Buy 2020 is designed to take advantage of key growth opportunities by expanding what the company sells and evolving how it sells.
Examples of how Best Buy intends to expand what it sells include:
Building a leading position in the smart home market, by continuing to expand its curated assortment, demonstrating new technology solutions in a meaningful way, and entering the solutions and services part of the market. By the end of October, the company will enhance the smart home areas in all of its stores; roll out its Best Buy Smart Home Powered by Vivint home automation and security offering to 450 stores; and add 1,500 dedicated smart home employees.
Piloting a service, Assured Living, that uses technology to help adult children remotely check in on the health and safety of their aging parents. Now available in two markets, this pilot aims to create peace of mind for the children while allowing the parents to live and thrive independently.
Launching Total Tech Support, a new Geek Squad offering that provides ongoing support for a customer's tech, no matter where or when they bought it. This offering is available nationwide in Canada and at 200 stores in 10 U.S. cities.
Meanwhile, Best Buy is evolving how it sells to focus not on just selling products but solving customers' underlying needs. The company will seek to accelerate its growth by continuing to improve the customer experience within and across channels, more effectively addressing customer needs in underpenetrated categories and building its in-home channel.
To that end, Best Buy recently expanded its In-Home Advisor program to all major U.S. markets. It now has 300 advisors who are specially trained to provide free in-home consultations to help customers find the right technology solutions for their unique needs.
To support the Best Buy 2020 strategy, the company plans to make key investments in technology and people. It is committed to continuing to create efficiencies that help fund these investments and offset potential pressures.
Best Buy delivered $1.4 billion in cost savings over the last five years. And, as previously announced, it plans to drive an incremental $600 million in annualized cost savings by the end of fiscal 2021.
As discussed earlier this year in March, with Best Buy 2020, the company aspires to solve the following financial equation: gradually increase its rate of topline growth, create efficiencies to help fund investments and offset potential pressures, and build more predictable revenue streams from recurring revenues and stickier customer relationships.
Today Best Buy is setting new long-term financial targets for fiscal 2021:
Enterprise revenue of $43 billion versus $39.4 billion in fiscal 2017, which was the last year of the company's Renew Blue transformation
Non-GAAP operating income1 of $1.9 billion to $2.0 billion versus $1.7 billion in fiscal 2017
Non-GAAP diluted EPS1 of $4.75 to $5.00, which represents an 8 to 9 percent compound annual growth rate from fiscal 2017
Best Buy is a leading provider of technology products, services and solutions. The company offers expert service at an unbeatable price more than 1.5 billion times a year to the consumers, small business owners and educators who use BestBuy.com or the Best Buy app, visit our stores and engage with Geek Squad Agents. The company has operations in the U.S., where more than 70 percent of the population lives within 15 minutes of a Best Buy store, as well as in Canada and Mexico, where Best Buy has an online and a physical presence.
(1) A reconciliation of the projected non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP diluted EPS, which are forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures, to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, is not provided because the company is unable to provide such reconciliation without unreasonable effort. The inability to provide a reconciliation is due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty predicting the occurrence, the financial impact and the periods in which the non-GAAP adjustments may be recognized. These GAAP measures may include the impact of such items as restructuring charges; litigation settlements; goodwill impairments; gains and losses on investments; and the tax effect of all such items. Historically, the company has excluded these items from non-GAAP financial measures. The company currently expects to continue to exclude these items in future disclosures of non-GAAP financial measures and may also exclude other items that may arise (collectively, "non-GAAP adjustments"). The decisions and events that typically lead to the recognition of non-GAAP adjustments, such as a decision to exit part of the business or reaching settlement of a legal dispute, are inherently unpredictable as to if or when they may occur. For the same reasons, the company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results.
For a "GAAP to non-GAAP" definition and reconciliations please see the financial schedules on the company's investor relations website, www.investors.bestbuy.com. Fiscal 2017 GAAP operating income was $1.9 billion and diluted EPS was $3.74.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that reflect management's current views and estimates regarding future market conditions, company performance and financial results, business prospects, new strategies, the competitive environment and other events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate," "believe," "assume," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "project," "guidance," "plan," "outlook," and other words and terms of similar meaning. These statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements are the following: macro-economic conditions (including fluctuations in housing prices, oil markets and jobless rates), conditions in the industries and categories in which the company operates, changes in consumer preferences or confidence, changes in consumer spending and debt levels, the mix of products and services offered for sale in the company's physical stores and online, credit market changes and constraints, product availability, trade restrictions or changes in the costs of imports, competitive initiatives of competitors (including pricing actions and promotional activities), strategic and business decisions of the company's vendors (including actions that could impact promotional support, product margin and/or supply), the success of new product launches, the impact of pricing investments and promotional activity, weather, natural or man-made disasters, attacks on the company's data systems, the company's ability to prevent or react to a disaster recovery situation, changes in law or regulations, changes in tax rates, changes in taxable income in each jurisdiction, tax audit developments and resolution of other discrete tax matters, foreign currency fluctuation, the company's ability to manage its property portfolio, the impact of labor markets, the company's ability to retain qualified employees and management, failure to achieve anticipated expense and cost reductions, disruptions in the company's supply chain, the costs of procuring goods the company sells, failure to achieve anticipated revenue and profitability increases from operational and restructuring changes (including investments in the company's multi-channel capabilities), inability to secure or maintain favorable vendor terms, failure to accurately predict the duration over which the company will incur costs, development of new businesses, failure to complete or achieve anticipated benefits of announced transactions, and the company's ability to protect information relating to its employees and customers. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the company's annual report and other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including, but not limited to, Best Buy's Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2017. Best Buy cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not complete, and any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Best Buy assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement that it may make.
Mollie O'Brien
Jeff Shelman
(612) 291-6114 or jeffrey.shelman@bestbuy.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
using UnityEngine;
using System.Collections;

// base class for both player and enemy
// very stupid naming
public class Player : MonoBehaviour {

    virtual public void Z_Explode() {}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Budget Panel To Unveil Mass. Spending Plan
The state budget process takes a major step forward this week when the House Ways and Means Committee takes the wraps off its version of the spending plan for the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Gov. Deval Patrick proposed a $32.3 billion budget in January that would raise total state spending by less than 3 percent while cutting about 400 jobs in the executive branch.
The governor also called for centralizing management of the state's community colleges.
Patrick's budget called for about $260 million in new revenues, including a 50 cents-per-pack hike in the cigarette tax. But House Speaker Robert DeLeo has indicated he is opposed to any new taxes.
The Ways and Means panel is scheduled to unveil its budget on Wednesday, with full House debate scheduled later in the month.
This program aired on April 8, 2012. The audio for this program is not available.


text:
Industrial, business and building
Worthington—Map-Pro, Propylene & MAPP Gas Cylinders
400 gram non-refillable cylinders that are primarily used with hand-held torches. The cylinders are approximately 76mm x 279mm.
Identifying features
The cylinders are yellow or black in colour. All cylinders manufactured before January 12, 2012 are being recalled. New cylinders produced after January 12, 2012 will be marked with a black or white diamond on the top shoulder of the cylinder. The master carton is marked with date of manufacture. Cylinders produced after January 12, 2012 are not part of the recall. See attachment for date code information.
Complete shut-off of the cylinder valve may be delayed for some minutes following removal of the hand/brazing torch from the cylinder.
The defect will result in leakage of gas from the cylinder. Though the possibility is remote, these leaks can create a potential risk of fire or explosion. There are no known incidents of fires resulting from these leaks.
If the cylinder has never been connected to a torch or other device, return it to the place of purchase for exchange or a full refund.
If the cylinder is currently connected to a torch or other device, do not disconnect it. Take the torch outdoors and burn off the entire contents of the cylinder. Disconnect the torch and dispose of the empty cylinder as per the label instructions or return it to the store where it was purchased for exchange or a full refund.
If the cylinder has been connected to a torch or other device, but is not connected now, take the cylinder outdoors and attach a torch. Ignite the torch and burn off the entire contents of the cylinder. Disconnect the torch and dispose of the empty cylinder as per the label instructions or return it to the store where it was purchased for exchange or a full refund.
Never leave a lit torch and cylinder unattended. Use the torch only in a well-ventilated area.
Worthington Cylinders Wisconsin, LLC
Traders who sold this product
Sold by plumbing and refrigeration merchants and other industrial outlets throughout Australia. Distributors of the products to retail chains include Bromic, Primus and Rothenberger.
Recall advertisements and supporting documentation
Notice to Customers.pdf (1.66 MB)
Worthington Product Safety Recall Advertisement.pdf (89.06 KB)


text:
Jame DiBiasio
Chinese fund industry needs benchmarks
The two stock exchanges are being urged to create an all-China stock index.
Jiashe(in English, Harvest) Fund Management has a problem. It wants to launch a value fund. Others exist but fail to clearly define the concept of a stock's value, says Zhao Xue-jun, general manager in Beijing. Harvest is developing a system to screen stocks based on their price-to-book ratio along international standards. But when this product is launched, investors will have no way of discriminating this strategy against other so-called value funds.
China lacks benchmarks because it lacks indices. "New funds require innovation," says Zhao. "The current 33 closed-end funds are all fairly similar."
Currently, most funds are 'balanced' funds, meaning they invest across sectors (not 'balanced' in the international sense, as every mutual fund in China must have at least 20% of its NAV in government bonds) or are indexed against an exchange. The development of growth, value, small-cap and other strategies has yet to take off in a meaningful way.
Ask Chinese fund management companies about performance and they will all claim their funds are top performers. Well, they can't all be, but there is no methodical way to compare risk-adjusted performance among different strategies. The only two widely accepted indices are those for the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets.
"Right now it is really hard to compare investment styles," laments Allan Wang, assistant CEO at Huaan in Shanghai. "We cannot create new types of funds without indices."
Other indices do exist. Several securities companies such as CITIC Securities, as well as the recent joint venture between Xinhua Financial News and FTSE, are promoting indices. But most fund managers say these are not popular because they are not published except in financial newspapers or on the sponsor's website. Furthermore, investors often do not understand the importance of indices, complain fund managers.
Huaan's Wang says: "A benchmark must be publicized and recognized. New ones take time for the market to accept." As it stands, he is not satisfied with the existing exchange indices. For example, the Shanghai Stock Exchange index includes B shares, which local fund managers cannot touch. The recent rally has inflated the B-share component of the index, creating problems for local fund managers.
Help may be on the way. CSRC, at the behest of its senior advisor Anthony Neoh, is pushing the two stock exchanges to launch a joint all-China stock index, a move fund managers support.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange is said to be enthusiastic about the idea. Shenzhen's bourse is said to be not exactly resisting, but not making it a priority. Right now, Shenzhen is battling just to stay alive, as Shanghai's power as a financial centre grows. It has been nearly a year since a company listed in Shenzhen. Also, the Shenzhen authorities are preoccupied with establishing a second board to attract high-tech companies.
The other lure for having indices is to launch exchange-traded funds (ETFs) – baskets of index component stocks that trade on an exchange like a security. The government is exploring ways to use ETFs to sell off shares in state-owned enterprises, mirroring Hong Kong's divestment of stocks into the Tracker Fund in 1998. Fund managers are also keen to learn more about ETFs to add to their product stables, and the exchanges themselves want to promote ETFs as they lose their close-end mutual fund business.
ETFs remain a long-term vision, however. A major structural issue is that ETF baskets are created in-kind, not in cash. State-owned shares cannot be contributed and redeemed, so as long as listed companies are SOEs, they can't be replicated in an ETF. Furthermore, there are no futures or options or other hedging devices available in China. An ETF requires index futures to work.
In the meantime, Harvest is taking the initiative and developing its own index for value funds. (Boshi also has developed proprietary indices.) "We want to publish ours in a few months," says Zhao. The main target will be potential institutional customers because dissemination without help from a stock exchange will be limited. But Harvest would like to find a third party – a domestic version of MSCI, FTSE or Standard & Poor's – that could promote indices, whether Harvest's own or others. "China needs indices to develop its mutual fund industry," he says.
August's most read: Ping An to add $7.7bn in real assets; Nippon Life's PRI appointment boosts Japan's ESG push
Ping An to push forward with real asset investments despite headwind; Nippon Life's PRI appointment boosts Japan's ESG push; how crypto firm licences could prompt investments; global asset owners' growing appetite for Chinese government bonds; rating agencies in China under pressure amid bond defaults; and more.
More education needed to match tighter ESG regulation, say industry experts
The development of ESG funds in the MPF system is still in its infancy, and experts say there will have to be a comprehensive education programme before it gains traction
Korean index fund idea needs work
Looks like an ETF, walks like an ETF...but is it an ETF?
Middle Eastern funds remain bullish on Chinese equities
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), in particular, is likely to deepen its reach, having already boosted its A-share holdings in the first half of the year.
Korea Teachers' Credit Union appoints new CIO; AIA Singapore hired ESG head from UOB; Ping An confirms appointment of Benjamin Deng as CIO; Australian Unity hires first head of responsible investment; AMP has new head of portfolio management for multi-assets, Robeco hires Asia fixed income head; Haitong makes three new appointments for institutional clients business; and more.
There's always an alternative: The CIO who overhauled a $15 billion pension portfolio
After two tenures, AsianInvestor's 2021 Standout CIO Jang Dong-hun looks back on the past six years at Korea's Poba with satisfaction.
Market Views: China GDP expands 8.1%, but downward trend expected
Risks including property downturn and ongoing pandemic make for difficult investment decisions.
Institutional investors with long-term focus can afford to take more risks: Commonwealth Super Corp
As a pioneer in the Australian super space, CSC continues to focus on core objectives while taking calculated risks in an uncertain macro-economic environment.


text:
Deadline to enter near for young stars in oldest wine show
by SA Wine Industry | Aug 3, 2020 | Article
The new deadline for entries to the SA Young Wine Show is on the doorstep, after being postponed in view of Covid-19 realities – now set for 12 August.
The organisers of this competition for young wines, produced in the current year and the oldest wine showdown in the world, the SA National Wine Show Association (SANWSA), announced earlier that this showcase had been postponed to a later date. Also that the judging is now scheduled for 31 August – 4 September at Nederburg in Paarl.
This decision was taken following thorough deliberation about the presentation of the Association's various competitions in consultation with Vinpro, Wines of South Africa (WoSA) and other industry role players. The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing restrictions on all economic and other activities in South Africa have led to normal activities being adapted in order to be able to proceed within this 'new normal' situation.
The organisers are fully aware of the responsibility of the safety measures required under the local Covid-19 pandemic Level 3 for these competitions to be able to proceed. Thorough protocols have been developed to be able to handle the wines entered in such a way that all health and safety requirements for the judges, officials and personnel involved in the tasting sessions are met.
The SA Young Wine Show is the world's most long-standing wine show, presented for 188 years already, and it judges young wines made in the year of the competition. It has been giving winemakers the opportunity to weigh up their different wines, experimental styles and new cultivars against their peers in the industry since 1833. Winemakers are particularly excited about the wines of the 2020 vintage, which has yielded high quality white and red wines thanks to highly favourable climatic conditions during both the growth and harvesting periods.
The Young Wine Show once again presents the ideal opportunity for all producers to compete with their select wines for SA Champion Trophy status in 17 classes. Two especially sought-after trophies are at stake, namely the General Smuts and Pietman Hugo Trophies – respectively as this competition's top accolade since 1952 for the overall champion wine, and recognition for the winery achieving the highest points in total for five different wines entered.
In line with the practice over years, specialist judges are appointed in all panels to ensure that the top expertise is employed to identify the winners.
The core business of the SA Young Wine Show is to give the wine industry the opportunity to have wines presented for judging and to use the results as a yardstick of quality, in particular for the 2020 vintage that has been described as an outstanding year.
A decision about this competition's traditional awards function, as well as those of the Novare SA Terroir Wine Awards and Veritas Awards, will be made by the SANWSA at a later stage.
Contact them for more information at tel 021 863 1599 or e-mail info@veritas.co.za
SA YOUNG WINE SHOW: Stay in touch via social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthAfricanYoungWineShow
Twitter https: //www.twitter.com/SAYoungWine
Stay connected: #sayoungwine
Top Dutch chef duo a new culinary charm at Springfontein
January 20, 2022 2:17 pm | By Anton Pretorius
Somm association promotes Erica Taylor to head of operations
January 19, 2022 12:13 pm | By SA Wine Industry
Focus on wine packaging: Creating lasting first impressions
January 11, 2022 11:34 am | By Wanda Augustyn
SA Wine Industry


text:
Expert group formed to improve the management of ADPKD throughout Europe
Tess Harris	 31 May 2014	 Hits: 2933
Above: Tess Harris and Brenda de Coninck, EAF Faculty Members
London, UK, 31 May 2014 – Today marks the formation of the European ADPKD Forum (EAF), a new multidisciplinary group of leading medical and patient group experts dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of people with ADPKD – a progressive and chronic genetic kidney disease.
The EAF initiative, co-chaired by Tess Harris, President of PKD International, and Dr Richard Sandford, Consultant Clinical Geneticist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge aims to:
Increase awareness of the impact of ADPKD on patients and health services
Recommend strategies at the health policy level to improve ADPKD care, based on the latest scientific evidence and expert insight
Encourage and facilitate collaboration between the individuals and groups involved in the management of people with ADPKD.
ADPKD is a progressive and chronic systemic disease, for which there are no approved therapies, formal care pathways or clinical guidelines.1, 2 The condition, which accounts for 10% of all patients in end stage renal failure, is characterised by the development and expansion of fluid-filled cysts in the kidney, leading to a substantial increase in total kidney volume.1, 3, 4 Patients commonly suffer from acute and chronic pain, and cysts can affect other organs, notably the liver.1, 3, 4 Ultimately, ADPKD leads to kidney failure in the majority of affected people; approximately 50% of ADPKD patients will reach ESRD by age 59 and 75% will reach ESRD by age 705.
As one of the most common inherited diseases, and the fourth leading cause of kidney failure, the condition represents a significant clinical and economic challenge to healthcare professionals and services throughout Europe.6-9
Commenting on the formation of the EAF, Tess Harris said: "ADPKD places a great emotional and physical strain on people with the condition and their families. ADPKD patients experience a diminished and sometimes impoverished quality of life and are at risk of dying prematurely. Healthcare professionals and the wider public simply aren't as aware of ADPKD as they should be and this must be urgently addressed. The EAF initiative will do this by identifying areas for improvement in care inequalities and by establishing a framework in which expertise and learnings can be shared to tackle the ongoing concerns faced by the ADPKD patient and care-giving community throughout Europe."
As a first step to address this lack of awareness, the EAF is currently developing an expert report that will feature new evidence from the largest ever survey of ADPKD patients on the emotional and physical burden of the disease. The report will also explore the burden of ADPKD on European healthcare systems and identify unmet needs in diagnosis and management. Finally, it will provide strategic, policy-focussed recommendations to promote standardised care in line with current EU health initiatives. It will also explore the potential barriers to the development of innovative treatments for ADPKD.
Dr Richard Sandford commented: "This EAF report will provide the most robust overview yet of the wide-ranging impact of ADPKD, how health services are currently set up to meet this challenge, and what changes are needed to improve care development and delivery."
The EAF is a multidisciplinary group of leading medical and patient group experts dedicated to improving the health and quality of life of people with ADPKD initiated and supported by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe, Ltd. Neither the co-chairs of the EAF, nor the faculty members, receive fees in respect of their roles in the initiative and the opinions in this publication will be those of the authors and not the sponsors.
Adam Pittard
Virgo Health
T. +44 (0)20 8939 1274
Ed Purkis
Takiar V & Caplan MJ. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 2011;1812(10):1337-43
Grantham JJ. Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359:1477-85
Patel V, Chowdhury R et al. Advances in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Polycystic Kidney Disease. Current Opinions in Nephrology and Hypertension. 2009;18(2):99-106
Wilson PD. Mechanisms of Disease: Polycystic Kidney Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350:151-64
Parfrey PS, Bear JC et al. The diagnosis and prognosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1990; 323:1085-1090
Torres VE, Harris PC. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: the last 3 years. Kidney International. 2009;76(2):149–168
Halvorson CR, Bremmer MS & Jacobs SC. International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease. 2010;3:69-83
Zou W & Tolstikov VV. Pattern recognition and pathway analysis with genetic algorithms in mass spectrometry based metabolomics. Algorithms. 2009;2:638-666
Knight et al; Poster- ISPOR May 2013; ERA-EDTA May 2013
Tess Harris
58th ERA-EDTA Congress
PKD Awareness Day 2020
Apply for research funding from the PKD Foundation
First European ADPKD Patient Summit held in Brussels
SONG ADPKD
ADPKD Patient Route Map Launched
ADPKD Position Statement Published
PKD Awareness Day
ADPKD Controversies Conference Report published
European ADPKD Forum Report Launched


text:
Q: Send array from react state to node/express I have been searching for how to send an array from my react front end to my node/express back end. My first method was this. React:
saveUpdates = (clickEvent) => {
    var list = [];
    var length = this.props.title.length;
    var tally = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
        tally = tally + 1;
        var x = document.getElementById(tally).selectedIndex
        var y = document.getElementById(tally).options
        list.push(y[x].text)
    }

 const myHeaders = new Headers();
    myHeaders.append('Authorization', localStorage.getItem('token'));
    const newQuantity = new FormData();
    newQuantity.append('quantity', list)
    newQuantity.append('userID', localStorage.getItem('customerID'))

    fetch('http://localhost:5000/updateQuantity', {
                                                method: 'POST',
                                                headers: myHeaders,
                                                body: newQuantity
    })

In this method I am pushing new values to my variable list, initialized as an array. It seems to send to my back end alright. I console.log the value in node and my array looks like this (this particular instance only has two elements):
5,3

The problem with this is that I end up looping through the elements of this array in my node back end for use in a mysql query and it is counting the comma as an element. Is there a way to fix this? Can I re-format this array somehow?
My other option was to set the list array to state and send the state through the header. This is how I did that:
    this.setState({totalQuantity: list})

    const myHeaders = new Headers();
    myHeaders.append('Authorization', localStorage.getItem('token'));
    const newQuantity = new FormData();
    newQuantity.append('quantity', this.state.totalQuantity)
    newQuantity.append('userID', localStorage.getItem('customerID'))

    fetch('http://localhost:5000/updateQuantity', {
                                                method: 'POST',
                                                headers: myHeaders,
                                                body: newQuantity
    })

This code is very similar to the first method. However here, I set my list array to state (state item totalQuantity is initialized as an array), then send the state through the header. However, when I do this and console.log the result in my node post request, I get a blank line. It seems to be sending nothing. It doesn't even say undefined or null, but rather just prints a blank line (I tested by printing strings above and below). Are either one of these methods acceptable for sending an array from react to node through the header? If so, what adjustments can I make to fix these problems?

A: You have to stringify the Array before sending it with body and then on server side, you have to parse it again.
POST Request with Fetch API?


I am very fortunate to belong to a talented group of hand-appliquers who are as obsessed as I am. We get together the third Sunday of every month and enjoy stitching together and eating together. Usually, we stitch for a couple of hours, then we stop for lunch, then we stitch some more. We choose a pretty ambitious project and everyone makes their own version of the quilt. Each quilt takes a year (or two!) to complete. Last year, we chose Aunt Millie's Garden by Piece o' Cake.
This picture shows the quilt in progress. 2 of the borders are attached and really, at this stage, it is just a glorified cat bed!
The quilt is finally finished (except for a binding and label). Rose Bell of Elite Quilting did an "over-the top outstanding" job of machine quilting Aunt Millie's Garden. Here is a close up of the quilting.
« ..a few more quilts on the go….


The moon was full last night which was a good reason to join Portsmouth radio station WXQR and their monthly Portsmouth Harbor Cruise. This is a very cool two and half hour boat ride from the Isles of Shoals Steamship Company dock on Market Street near downtown Portsmouth to out past the harbor entrance and into the Atlantic Ocean. Steamship company ship the M/V Thomas Laighton, can safely accommodate up to 350 people so this is not a rowboat tour.
As we were pulling away from the dock a pair of the Moran tugboats were headed out to take an oceangoing freighter out to the harbor mouth. Portsmouth Harbor is a working seaport with oceangoing tankers and freighters a common sight not to mention the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and US Coast Guard base here. As a special point of interest, the Moran tugs have special fenders (boat bumpers) to enable them to handle nuclear submarines which are frequent callers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Here's a short video clip of both tugs headed under the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge which local folks just call the Middle Bridge because it's the center of three Portsmouth bridges across the Piscataqua River/Portsmouth Harbor.
The Piscataqua River flows into Portsmouth Harbor and it's a very swift tidal river, third fastest current in the world, so movement by tankers and other large vessels is restricted to slack tide when the current is basically zero. Slack tides occur roughly 4 times a day when the tide is turning from high to low and back. Here's a neat Portsmouth Harbor cam by the tugboat docks so you can see what's happening on the harbor. It also lists the slack tide times which are you best bet to see the tugs in action.
Here are some of the very cool harborfront condos Portsmouth has to offer; several of them are for sale. Many of the photos of these listings have spectacular harbor views from the land side.
In port this week and until June 20th at the Badger Island Marina, are two replicas of the famed trio of Christopher Columbus' ships the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. The two in the photos are the Nina and the Pinta which are on a tour to demonstrate maritime history and the hard life sailors had back in the 1400s. Self guided tours are available and you can actually walk on the ships and imagine yourself sailing in search of the new world. The Nina is 70 feet long and the Pinta is 66; not very big to said around the world in. For comparison a standard tractor and trailer you see on the Interstates every day is about 60 feet long.
On the left past the Marina is the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard which has been building and repairing ships since 1800. George Washington first visited this area in 1798 looking for a place to build warships for the then new United States Navy. The new federal government bought both Fernald's and Dennett's islands where the shipyard is located for the bargain price of $5,500. Today the Portsmouth shipyard's mission is primarily the repair and overhaul of Nuclear submarines; a long journey since wooden warships for the fledgling US Navy in 1800.
The huge, beautiful building still on your left past the shipyard that looks like a luxury hotel is actually the long abandoned Portsmouth Naval Prison. This island site was first used in 1775 during the American Revolution as Fort Sullivan, one of two forts built to guard the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor. The current building was built in 1905 and abandoned in 1974. The site has been the setting for the movie "The Last Detail" with Jack Nicholson as well as mentioned in several novels. The last cost estimate to renovate the building in 2000 was over 10 million dollars because of lead paint and asbestos hazards so it remains closed and unused.
On the opposite side of the Harbor lie the south side of Portsmouth and adjacent New Castle Island. Lots of beautiful period homes are located here along with an eclectic mix of all the years following. The south side and New Castle are both within walking or biking distance to the vibrant downtown Portsmouth area.
After seeing some of the beautiful sunsets I started thinking this cruise should have been called the harbor sunset cruise instead of the full moon. Portsmouth lighthouse is in the lower right photo with a sailboat headed in to port after their own cruise on the water.
In the bottom left a lobster boat heads into port with Whaleback lighthouse in the background. Portsmouth has a fairly large number of lobstermen and fresh lobster is a popular menu item at many local restaurants. The last sunlight fades away on the lower right photo as night falls over the ocean.
Headed back to the docks here. The full moon finally made an appearance; it's the large, orange disc to the center right of the bottom left photo. On the bottom right is Portsmouth harbor at night with the gleaming white steeple of the Old North Church bathed in light. Portsmouth is a beautiful city at night as well as in the day.
If a move to the New Hampshire Seacoast or southern Maine area is in your future plans my partner Ann Cummings and I invite you to visit our New Hampshire and southern Maine real estate website to see all our areas beautiful homes for sale. We're also happy to answer any questions you may have about the New Hampshire Seacoast and southern Maine areas.
Learn More: You'll be able to view in-depth details about each property.
Get Local Knowledge: View and print Google maps of property locations.
© Copyright 2011, Jim Lee & Ann Cummings, all rights reserved for this and all posts on this blog.
This year we selected to go to the Memorial Day parade and we had a excellent time. We loved the parade and all the activities and vendors that ended up set up. My son was so proud when he was saluting all the solders that walked by. It was a fantastic time and we truly appreciated the parade. Manufactured us remember our hero's and all the soldiers that fought for our rights.
Are we eligible for the home buyer tax credit? We are greasing one's palms a house in Maryland and currently live in Virginia. We have only owned our place for 3 years but someone told us that because we are moving states we are eligible. Is this true?
No, just moving from one state to another does not make you eligible for the first time buyer tax credit. That program has also ended and is unlikely to be reinstated.


text:
Send Someone!
"Sending our [church planting] leaders not only blessed new communities, but it also has blessed our church because it's kept us humble, prayerful, and dependent," Pastor Chris Hruska says.
In Acts 13:1–3, we find the church in Antioch sending out two great leaders, Paul and Barnabas. They had come to Antioch to help the new believers there, and now these growing believers were sending leaders out to a broader mission field.
Notice that the church didn't say, "We have the greatest teacher and the greatest encourager! Let's put them on staff." The Holy Spirit told them to send their best leaders, and they did. I'm sure some tears were shed by both those sending and those going. But they did it, and in doing so, this one church shaped all of us who followed.
Gospel Goodbye
When Chris Hruska and Gavin Johnson were sent to plant Citylight in Omaha, Nebraska, they already had the vision to be a church that plants churches. Their goal was to establish one daughter church by their five-year anniversary.
Citylight staff commission a new church plant, Citylight Council Bluffs, during a Sunday gathering.
Within the first year, Citylight had grown from 40 congregants to 600. They felt the Lord was saying, "It's time to reproduce. I want you to send your best." So they took their newest leader who was "firing on all cylinders," says Gavin, and sent him a few miles away to plant a new church, Citylight Bensen.
"Whenever we do a gospel goodbye, we put ourselves in a position where we are dependent on God to provide the next laborer," says Chris. "We're dependent on God to continue to raise up new disciplemakers and leaders."
Blessings in Loss
Though the church members have said goodbye to some of their best leaders, the Lord has blessed their sacrifice. Now, five years after Citylight was planted, they have four daughter churches, and two of those are planning to plant their own churches.
"Sending our leaders not only blessed new communities, but it also has blessed our church because it's kept us humble, prayerful, and dependent," Chris observes. "It's been good for the mission and healthy for our church."
All five Citylight churches come together for a massive baptism service.
Yes, in the short run, it feels like loss. It is loss. The one who plants the tree rarely gets to sit in its shade. But the church that has the foresight to send leaders will help untold generations to come, even if that one church doesn't feel the immediate benefits.
Let me put it another way—someone sent the person who reached you. Someone left another church to plant yours. You were the person who got to sit in the shade. Now it's our turn to help others.
For more church-planting stories and information, visit Church-Planting Sunday, which is February 25, 2018.
February 23 is Church Planting Sunday! January 8, 2020
February 24 is Church Planting Sunday January 30, 2019
Worth the Risk
El Riesgo Vale la Pena
Citizen of Heaven September 1, 2018
A Bulldog and His Wife Plant a Church May 1, 2018
Bhutanese Refugee Turned U.S. Church Planter February 15, 2018
The Church of Misfit Toys February 6, 2018
Reaching the Lost through American Sign Language January 31, 2018
Seniors Help Church Plant Reach Addicts and Homeless January 12, 2018


The 25 Hours Hotel in Vienna welcomes its guest with a pleasant ambiance and great interior design. The group from which this hotel is a part of also has 5 more hotels in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The similarities are part of the brand. This time we are concentrating on the Vienna hotel – every detail was carefully selected to capture the hotel's essence. Based on a few different design lines, the rooms have beautiful palettes and a mix of vivid colours and fun furniture. Eclectic, circus, denim, retro or smile – all the themes seen here have something special.
The retro theme, for example, concentrates on a dynamic mix of retro styling with '60s-and '70s-style bonds – floral wallpaper, magenta, versatility. The circus theme represents the vivid life of the city, with its museum and music venues and encompasses surreal and fantastic interior design. Every room offers comfort and helps you enjoy your stay in this beautiful city.


text:
package openblocks.common.tileentity;

import net.minecraft.block.Block;
import net.minecraft.entity.player.EntityPlayer;
import net.minecraft.inventory.IInventory;
import net.minecraft.item.ItemStack;
import net.minecraft.nbt.NBTTagCompound;
import net.minecraft.util.Vec3;
import net.minecraft.world.WorldServer;
import net.minecraftforge.common.util.ForgeDirection;
import openblocks.client.gui.GuiBlockPlacer;
import openblocks.common.container.ContainerBlockPlacer;
import openmods.api.IHasGui;
import openmods.api.INeighbourAwareTile;
import openmods.fakeplayer.FakePlayerPool;
import openmods.fakeplayer.FakePlayerPool.PlayerUser;
import openmods.fakeplayer.OpenModsFakePlayer;
import openmods.include.IncludeInterface;
import openmods.inventory.GenericInventory;
import openmods.inventory.IInventoryProvider;
import openmods.inventory.TileEntityInventory;
import openmods.tileentity.OpenTileEntity;
import openmods.utils.InventoryUtils;

public class TileEntityBlockPlacer extends OpenTileEntity implements INeighbourAwareTile, IHasGui, IInventoryProvider {

	static final int BUFFER_SIZE = 9;

	private static final int EVENT_ACTIVATE = 2;

	private boolean _redstoneSignal;

	private final GenericInventory inventory = registerInventoryCallback(new TileEntityInventory(this, "blockPlacer", false, BUFFER_SIZE));

	public void setRedstoneSignal(boolean redstoneSignal) {
		if (redstoneSignal != _redstoneSignal) {
			_redstoneSignal = redstoneSignal;
			if (_redstoneSignal && !InventoryUtils.inventoryIsEmpty(inventory)) {
				placeBlock();
			}
		}
	}

	private void placeBlock() {
		if (worldObj.isRemote) return;

		for (int i = 0; i < inventory.getSizeInventory(); i++) {
			final ItemStack stack = inventory.getStackInSlot(i);
			if (stack != null && stack.stackSize > 0) {
				worldObj.addBlockEvent(xCoord, yCoord, zCoord, getBlockType(), EVENT_ACTIVATE, i);
				break;
			}
		}
	}

	@Override
	public boolean receiveClientEvent(int event, int param) {
		if (event == EVENT_ACTIVATE) {
			placeBlock(param);
			return true;
		}

		return false;
	}

	private void placeBlock(final int slotId) {
		if (!(worldObj instanceof WorldServer)) return;

		final ItemStack stack = inventory.getStackInSlot(slotId);
		if (stack == null || stack.stackSize <= 0) return;

		final ForgeDirection direction = getRotation();
		final int x = xCoord + direction.offsetX;
		final int y = yCoord + direction.offsetY;
		final int z = zCoord + direction.offsetZ;

		final boolean blockExists;

		if (worldObj.blockExists(x, y, z)) {
			Block block = worldObj.getBlock(x, y, z);
			blockExists = !block.isAir(worldObj, x, y, z) && !block.isReplaceable(worldObj, x, y, z);
		} else blockExists = false;

		FakePlayerPool.instance.executeOnPlayer((WorldServer)worldObj, new PlayerUser() {
			@Override
			public void usePlayer(OpenModsFakePlayer fakePlayer) {
				ItemStack newStack = fakePlayer.equipWithAndRightClick(stack,
						Vec3.createVectorHelper(xCoord, yCoord, zCoord),
						Vec3.createVectorHelper(x, y - 1, z),
						direction.getOpposite(),
						blockExists);
				inventory.setInventorySlotContents(slotId, newStack);
			}
		});
	}

	@Override
	public void onNeighbourChanged(Block block) {
		if (!worldObj.isRemote) {
			setRedstoneSignal(worldObj.isBlockIndirectlyGettingPowered(xCoord, yCoord, zCoord));
		}
	}

	@Override
	public Object getServerGui(EntityPlayer player) {
		return new ContainerBlockPlacer(player.inventory, this);
	}

	@Override
	public Object getClientGui(EntityPlayer player) {
		return new GuiBlockPlacer(new ContainerBlockPlacer(player.inventory, this));
	}

	@Override
	public boolean canOpenGui(EntityPlayer player) {
		return true;
	}

	@Override
	@IncludeInterface
	public IInventory getInventory() {
		return inventory;
	}

	@Override
	public void writeToNBT(NBTTagCompound tag) {
		super.writeToNBT(tag);
		inventory.writeToNBT(tag);
	}

	@Override
	public void readFromNBT(NBTTagCompound tag) {
		super.readFromNBT(tag);
		inventory.readFromNBT(tag);
	}
}


text:
Q: No default TypeReader found, one must be specified I'm trying to run a .NET Core console application. After I implemented the following code, it throws me this exception:
var database = new Database("tokens");
var tokens = database.FireCommand("SELECT * FROM tokens");

var tokensList = new List<object>();

while (tokens.Read())
{
    var userId = (string)tokens["user_id"];
    var userName = (string)tokens["username"];
    var tokenAmount = (int)tokens["tokens"];

    tokensList.Add(new { userId = userId, username = userName, tokens = tokenAmount });
}

database.CloseConnection();

Exception:
No default TypeReader found, one must be specified
How do I fix this/Specify a TypeReader?
EDIT:
    public Database(string table)
    {
        this.table = table;
        MySqlConnectionStringBuilder stringBuilder = new MySqlConnectionStringBuilder();
        stringBuilder.Server = server;
        stringBuilder.UserID = username;
        stringBuilder.Password = password;
        stringBuilder.Database = database;

        var connectionString = stringBuilder.ToString();

        dbConnection = new MySqlConnection(connectionString);

        dbConnection.Open();
    }

    public MySqlDataReader FireCommand(string query)
    {
        if(dbConnection == null)
        {
            return null;
        }

        MySqlCommand command = new MySqlCommand(query, dbConnection);

        var mySqlReader = command.ExecuteReader();

        return mySqlReader;
    }

    public void CloseConnection()
    {
        if(dbConnection != null)
        {
            dbConnection.Close();
        }
    }

Stacktrace
An unhandled exception of type 'System.InvalidOperationException' occurred in System.Private.CoreLib.ni.dll

Additional information: No default TypeReader found, one must be specified
           at Discord.Commands.Builders.ParameterBuilder.Build(CommandInfo info)
       at System.Linq.Enumerable.SelectListIterator`2.ToArray()
       at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.CreateRange[T](IEnumerable`1 items)
       at Discord.Commands.CommandInfo..ctor(CommandBuilder builder, ModuleInfo module, CommandService service)
       at Discord.Commands.Builders.CommandBuilder.Build(ModuleInfo info, CommandService service)
       at System.Linq.Enumerable.SelectListIterator`2.ToArray()
       at System.Collections.Immutable.ImmutableArray.CreateRange[T](IEnumerable`1 items)
       at Discord.Commands.ModuleInfo..ctor(ModuleBuilder builder, CommandService service, ModuleInfo parent)
       at Discord.Commands.Builders.ModuleBuilder.BuildImpl(CommandService service, ModuleInfo parent)
       at Discord.Commands.ModuleClassBuilder.Build(IEnumerable`1 validTypes, CommandService service)
       at Discord.Commands.CommandService.<AddModulesAsync>d__20.MoveNext()
    --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter`1.GetResult()
       at DiscordExampleBot.CommandHandler.<Install>d__3.MoveNext() in C:\Users\Jannik\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\DiscordDotNet1_0\src\DiscordDotNet1_0\CommandHandler.cs:line 23
    --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.GetResult()
       at DiscordExampleBot.Program.<Start>d__5.MoveNext() in C:\Users\Jannik\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\DiscordDotNet1_0\src\DiscordDotNet1_0\Program.cs:line 35
    --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.ThrowForNonSuccess(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.GetResult()
       at DiscordExampleBot.Program.Main(String[] args) in C:\Users\Jannik\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\DiscordDotNet1_0\src\DiscordDotNet1_0\Program.cs:line 15


text:
Question: On the Amendment (Murray Amdt. No. 801 )
Vote Number: 91
Vote Date: March 25, 2015, 06:21 PM
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 801 to S.Con.Res. 11 (No short title on file)
Statement of Purpose: To build on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 by restoring a below-sequester level cut of $9,000,000,000 to nondefense discretionary spending in 2017, replacing sequestration in 2016 and 2017 and increasing funding above sequester levels by a total of $148,000,000,000 for the 2 years, increasing defense and nondefense discretionary spending above sequester levels by equal amounts, eliminating the overseas contingency operations gimmick contained in the committee-reported resolution, and offsetting the net increase in defense and nondefense discretionary spending by closing tax loopholes.
Baldwin (D-WI), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Blumenthal (D-CT), Yea
Blunt (R-MO), Nay
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Capito (R-WV), Nay
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Cassidy (R-LA), Nay
Coons (D-DE), Yea
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
Cruz (R-TX), Not Voting
Daines (R-MT), Nay
Donnelly (D-IN), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ernst (R-IA), Nay
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Franken (D-MN), Yea
Gardner (R-CO), Nay
Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Heitkamp (D-ND), Yea
Heller (R-NV), Nay
Hirono (D-HI), Yea
Hoeven (R-ND), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Kaine (D-VA), Yea
King (I-ME), Yea
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Lankford (R-OK), Nay
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Lee (R-UT), Nay
Markey (D-MA), Yea
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Moran (R-KS), Nay
Murphy (D-CT), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Paul (R-KY), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Rubio (R-FL), Nay
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Scott (R-SC), Nay
Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
Sullivan (R-AK), Nay
Tester (D-MT), Yea
Tillis (R-NC), Nay
Toomey (R-PA), Nay
Udall (D-NM), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Warner (D-VA), Yea
Warren (D-MA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea


The Study on Network Analysis of the 7th Framework Programme Participation report examines the effectiveness of FP7's network approach in achieving EU research policy objectives and fostering Europe's international competitiveness in S&T. In investigating the potentials and limits of this approach, the study examines the effects of multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international collaborations on achieving the positive outcomes sought in FP7.
The report's six recommendations include allowing existing networks to continue research in successive calls, while ascertaining that new members are included, as this has a positive impact upon innovation. Clear guidelines outlining selection criteria expectations for the multidisciplinarity or interdisciplinarity and intersectorality of participants and the number of participating organisations, regions or countries in a project are recommended, and it is also recommended the European Commission investigate why 65% of the organisations present in FP6 did not participate in FP7.