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Following a five-day trial, a jury convicted co-defendants Luis Lugo-Velez and Jean Carlos Cruz of, inter alia, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and possession of firearms -- including machine guns -- in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme. These consolidated appeals require us to decide (1) whether the district court erred in various evidentiary rulings, and (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdicts. Having carefully reviewed the record, we affirm the convictions of both defendants.
We recite the facts in the light most favorable to the verdicts. See United States v. Echeverri, 982 F.2d 675, 676 (1st Cir. 1993).
On October 15, 2001, Puerto Rico Police Agent Angel Aviles parked an unmarked vehicle in front of dead-end Street 2A in Toa Alta and began surveillance of an area known within the police department to be a drug point. Agent Aviles immediately focused his attention on three individuals -- later identified as Lugo, Cruz, and Jose Gonzalez Bernard -- standing 40 feet away from him, outside a bar known as "The Pub." Each man was carrying a firearm on his waistline; in addition, Cruz had a "fanny pack" strapped across his chest and appeared "ready to receive money from some person."
Agent Aviles next observed an unidentified man, who was carrying money, approach Cruz from an unidentified vehicle that had just arrived on the scene. After encountering Cruz, the individual returned to his vehicle and drove away. The substance of this meeting -- namely, whether there had been an actual exchange of drugs or money -- was not witnessed.
At one point during his surveillance, Agent Aviles saw Gonzalez disappear around the side of The Pub; when Gonzalez reappeared, he and another unidentified individual were carrying a pillowcase that had rifle barrels protruding from it. 2 These men then lifted the pillowcase, placed it into a nearby garbage can, and, with the assistance of Lugo and Cruz, covered it with a blanket and some trash. After witnessing these activities, Agent Aviles immediately called for backup.
When the reinforcement agents arrived three to four minutes later, backup Agent Luis Sales-Morales noticed that Cruz was carrying a pistol on his waistline. During an ensuing chase, Agent Sales saw Cruz toss his firearm into an overgrown lot. Although the handgun was never recovered, Cruz was eventually arrested as he tried to scale a fence. At the time of his arrest, Cruz was carrying a nine-millimeter magazine, $526 cash, and a fanny pack (strapped across his chest) containing substances that later tested positive for cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine.
Meanwhile, backup Agent Nancy Mendez was pursuing Gonzalez. When she caught him just outside The Pub, Gonzalez attempted to draw his weapon. In response, Agent Mendez grabbed his arm and was dragged inside The Pub. There, during her struggle with Gonzalez, she observed Lugo for the first time; he was standing behind the bar with a gun in his hand. Agent Aviles testified as to how and when Lugo had entered The Pub: "I saw Mendez who was going to arrest the defendants, and they started running. At that moment, I started running, following her. So she went into [The Pub] after, going after the defendants."
Gonzalez eventually surrendered and was taken outside The Pub and arrested. Once outside, Agent Mendez told another agent to go inside The Pub, arrest Lugo, and seize the firearm that she had seen him conceal between a bottle rack and the bar.
Lugo was arrested without incident. Although no drugs or weapons were found on his person, agents successfully recovered the pistol -- a loaded nine-millimeter Smith & Wesson -- that Lugo had hidden behind the bar.
The principal suspects having been apprehended, Agent Aviles next seized the pillowcase from the garbage can. Inside the pillowcase were two Romanian Arms rifles that, as an expert witness later testified, had been converted into machine guns, as well as an arsenal rifle, a pistol, and large amounts of ammunition. The serial numbers on the two machine guns and the pistol had been removed, and all four firearms were loaded.
On November 8, 2001, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lugo, Cruz, and Gonzalez with several offenses: Count One alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, knowingly possessed cocaine base with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; Count Two alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, knowingly possessed heroin with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; Count Three alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, knowingly possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; 3 Count Five alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; Count Six alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, knowingly possessed a firearm shipped or transported in interstate commerce and from which the manufacturer's serial number had been obliterated or removed, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(k) and 18 U.S.C. § 2; and Count Seven alleged that the defendants, aiding and abetting each other, possessed a machine gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) and 18 U.S.C. § 2.
On February 13, 2002, a joint trial began, at which Cruz and Lugo were co-defendants. 4 On February 20th, the jury convicted both defendants on all counts. Thereafter, Cruz was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 63 months for Counts One, Two, and Three and 60 months for Counts Six and Seven. Lugo was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of 51 months for Counts One, Two, and Three and 60 months for Counts Six and Seven. Additionally, because the jury found that each defendant had possessed a machine gun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme, both Cruz and Lugo were sentenced to 360 months of imprisonment for Count Five, to be served consecutive to their other sentences. 5 See 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B).
These appeals followed.
We are presented with two issues on appeal: (1) whether the district court erred in various evidentiary rulings; and (2) whether the evidence was sufficient to support the verdicts.
Given these separate issues, two standards of review apply. First, we review a district court's decision to admit evidence for abuse of discretion. See Larch v. Mansfield Mun. Elec. Dept., 272 F.3d 63, 72 (1st Cir. 2001); see also Udemba v. Nicoli, 237 F.3d 8, 14 (1st Cir. 2001) ("[A] trial court enjoys considerable discretion in connection with the admission or exclusion of evidence. . . ."). Second, in deciding sufficiency challenges, "we review all the evidence, direct and circumstantial, in the light most favorable to the prosecution, drawing all reasonable inferences consistent with the verdict, and avoiding credibility judgments, to determine whether a rational jury could have found guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." 6 United States v. Baltas, 236 F.3d 27, 35 (1st Cir. 2001) (citations omitted); see also United States v. Ruiz, 105 F.3d 1492, 1495 (1st Cir. 1997) (noting that "we review de novo the defendants' challenge to the evidentiary sufficiency of their convictions, construing the evidence in the light most favorable to the government").
A. Evidentiary Rulings
Lugo contends that the district court improperly admitted (1) "unduly prejudicial testimony concerning the presence of a drug point on 2A Street near The Pub," and (2) "various untagged weapons with obliterated serial numbers, [specifically] the two machine guns." 7 We find no abuse of discretion. (1) The Drug-Point Testimony
Despite objection, Agent Aviles was allowed to testify at trial as follows:
Q: Now, the young man to this side of the table [Cruz], can you please tell us what, if anything, was he doing, aside from the fact that he had a weapon in his waist?
A: [Cruz] was standing there. He had like a brown bag, and he was ready to receive money from some person. I have knowledge that that is the drug point of that sector.
Q: Excuse me. Before you go into anything else --
COURT: Let him finish.
A: Personally myself I've arrested several people at that location for violation of weapons and drug laws.
Lugo argues that this testimony should have been excluded because "[Agent] Aviles' assertions [regarding the 'drug point'] were unsupported by statistics, personal knowledge, or details -- and they were unduly prejudicial." As best we can tell, 8 Lugo is challenging the drug-point testimony on two separate bases: (a) lack of foundation, in violation of Fed. R. Evid. 602; and (b) unfair prejudice, in violation of Fed. R. Evid. 403. Neither is convincing. 9
First, contrary to Lugo's assertion, the government did, in fact, present evidence sufficient to support a finding that Agent Aviles had the requisite personal knowledge of the area's history. See Fed. R. Evid. 602 ("A witness may not testify to a matter unless evidence is introduced sufficient to support a finding that the witness has personal knowledge of the matter. Evidence to prove personal knowledge may, but need not, consist of the witness' own testimony."). Specifically, Agent Aviles testified that he had been a member of the Drugs and Narcotics Division of the Puerto Rico Police Department for approximately six years, that he had been involved with approximately 80 or 90 investigations involving drug points, that he knew of other agents who had made drug arrests outside The Pub, and that he himself had previously arrested an individual on drug charges outside The Pub. 10 In addition, three other agents provided corroborating testimony that the area in front of The Pub was known within the police department to be a drug point. Given the testimony of these four witnesses, the district court acted well within its discretion in determining that there was an adequate foundation for Agent Aviles' testimony.
We next consider whether the district court abused its discretion in determining that the drug-point testimony was not unduly prejudicial. See Fed. R. Evid. 403 ("Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice . . . ." (emphasis added)); see also United States v. Pitrone, 115 F.3d 1, 8 (1st Cir. 1997) ("Virtually all evidence is prejudicial -- if the truth be told, that is almost always why the proponent seeks to introduce it -- but it is only unfair prejudice against which the law protects." (emphasis retained)). According to Lugo, this testimony "allowed [the jury] to infer impermissibly that[,] because Mr. Lugo was arrested at a 'point,' he must have been involved in the drug trade there."
"Only rarely -- and in extraordinarily compelling circumstances -- will we, from the vista of a cold appellate record, reverse a district court's on-the-spot judgment concerning the relative weighing of probative value and unfair effect." Freeman v. Package Machinery Co., 865 F.2d 1331, 1340 (1st Cir. 1988). This is not such a circumstance. Here, the drug-point testimony was probative not only to explain Agent Aviles' presence at the scene but also to corroborate the inference that Cruz and Lugo were involved in a drug-trafficking scheme -- a scheme that would be independently suggested by other evidence. So understood, the district court could have concluded that the prejudice caused by such testimony was not unfair; it was, instead, merely the negative result of the testimony's probative value. (2) The Machine Guns
Lugo next argues that the two machine guns were not properly authenticated, see Fed. R. Evid. 901(a), and thus should not have been admitted into evidence. We disagree. 11
"Federal Rule of Evidence 901(a) requires the trial court to determine if there is a 'reasonable probability' that the evidence is what it is purported to be." United States v. Neal, 36 F.3d 1190, 1210 (1st Cir. 1994); see also United States v. Twitty, 72 F.3d 228, 232 (1st Cir. 1995) ("All that was required for admission was evidence sufficient to permit a reasonable jury to conclude that the guns were the same . . . .").
Here, two agents were called to authenticate the machine guns. First, Agent Aviles testified to the following chronology: (1) immediately following the arrests, he himself seized the pillowcase from the garbage can; (2) the pillowcase's contents, including two Romanian Arms rifles, were then taken to police headquarters; (3) Agent Aviles next phoned Agent Rios from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and requested that Rios travel to headquarters to take possession of the weapons; and (4) the weapons remained in his custody until Agent Rios arrived. Second, Agent Rios testified (1) that, upon arriving at police headquarters on October 15, 2001, he prepared a property receipt (describing the contents of the pillowcase), which both he and Aviles signed; (2) that he thereafter took possession of the weapons; (3) that, two days later, on October 17, 2001, he prepared a property-inventory form, on which the seized weapons were listed; and (4) that the weapons remained in his custody from October 15th through October 17th. Both men testified that the weapons sought to be introduced at trial were, in fact, the weapons that earlier had been in their respective custodies. We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to lead a reasonable jury to the same conclusion; accordingly, the admission of this evidence was not erroneous.
B. Sufficiency of the Evidence
Lugo, but not Cruz, challenges the sufficiency of the evidence with respect to his drug-trafficking convictions. See 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) (criminalizing possession of narcotics with intent to distribute); see also 18 U.S.C. § 2 ("Whoever commits an offense against the United States or who aids [or] abets . . . its commission is punishable as a principal."). Additionally, both Lugo and Cruz argue that there was insufficient evidence to support their respective convictions for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) (providing minimum sentences for such conduct); see also Id. § 924(c)(1)(B) (mandating an enhanced sentence if the firearm possessed by the individual in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) was a machine gun). We affirm the convictions. (1) Lugo's Convictions under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)
Lugo contends that there was insufficient evidence to support the jury's findings that he aided and abetted the possession of cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine. Accordingly, he asks us to set aside his convictions on Counts One, Two, and Three of the indictment.
One who aids and abets a crime is punishable as a principal. See 18 U.S.C. § 2; see also Nye & Nissen v. United States, 336 U.S. 613, 618-19 (1949). Accordingly, we must affirm Lugo's conviction if a reasonable jury could have found beyond a reasonable doubt both that (1) the principal (here, Cruz) knowingly possessed and intended to distribute drugs, and that (2) Lugo "consciously shared that criminal design, associated himself with it, and actively sought to ensure its success." United States v. Arias, 238 F.3d 1, 4-5 (1st Cir. 2001) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted); see also United States v. Campa, 679 F.2d 1006, 1010 (1st Cir. 1982) ("The elements that the government was required to prove [to show that appellant aided and abetted the possession of narcotics] were that appellant associated himself with the venture, that he participated in it as something he wished to bring about, [and] that he sought by his action to make it succeed." (citations and quotation marks omitted)). We conclude that the evidence was sufficient to prove all elements.
First, there was ample evidence to support a finding that Cruz had possessed controlled substances with the intent to distribute. Agent Aviles testified that, while conducting surveillance of a known drug area, he had observed an unidentified, money-carrying individual approach a man (later identified as Cruz) who had a fanny pack strapped across his chest and who appeared "ready to receive money." These observations were corroborated -- indeed, confirmed -- when Agent Sales arrested Cruz and found drugs, together with a substantial amount of cash, in a fanny pack on Cruz's person.
Lugo argues that, "even if the evidence [was] sufficient to determine that Cruz possessed controlled substances with the intent to distribute, the evidence was entirely insufficient to enable the conclusion that . . . Lugo aided and abetted in that venture." Specifically, he notes that "[t]he prosecution simply failed to overcome the presumption of innocence and produce evidence that [he] was more than merely present in connection with any controlled-substance offense." We are not persuaded.
While "mere presence at the scene of the crime" or "mere association with conspirators" is not enough to establish guilt, see United States v. Gomez-Pabon, 911 F.2d 847, 853 (1st Cir. 1990), "the mere presence defense is not so ubiquitous as to envelop every drug-trafficking case in which the government lacks direct evidence of a defendant's complicity." Echeverri, 982 F.2d at 678. See also United States v. Flores-Rivera, 56 F.3d 319, 324 (1st Cir. 1995) ("Mere presence at the scene and close association with those involved are insufficient factors alone; nevertheless, they are relevant factors for the jury." (quoting United States v. Sanchez, 961 F.2d 1169, 1174 (5th Cir. 1992)) (emphasis in original)). "As we repeatedly have recognized, a jury is free to rely on its common sense and may infer that criminal conspirators do not involve innocent persons at critical stages of a drug deal." United States v. DiMarzo, 80 F.3d 656, 661 (1st Cir. 1996) (citations omitted). "[S]uch is not normally the conduct that one would expect of conspirators engaged in conduct which by its nature is kept secret from outsiders." United States v. Smith, 680 F.2d 255, 260 (1st Cir. 1982).
Here, of course, Lugo was more than merely present; the evidence suggests that he was present for the important purpose of protecting the money and the drugs. See Echeverri, 982 F.2d at 678 ("[A] defendant's 'mere presence' argument will fail in situations where the 'mere' is lacking."). See also United States v. Lema, 909 F.2d 561, 570 (1st Cir. 1990) ("[P]resence on a single occasion may support a conviction for aiding and abetting if the surrounding circumstances lead to a reasonable inference that the defendant must have been a knowing participant." (citations omitted and emphasis added)). For example, two separate officers testified that Lugo was carrying a pistol, which, upon seizure, was found to be fully loaded with a round of ammunition in its chamber. In addition, Lugo was observed assisting Cruz and Gonzalez in the concealment of the weapons contained within the pillowcase. Moreover, all of these events were occurring in a known drug area -- an area that Lugo promptly fled once police arrived -- and there is nothing in the record to suggest that any of these weapons were present for any other reason except to protect Cruz in the event that the upcoming drug deals turned sour. Such evidence (and the lack of an alternative explanation), coupled with the fact that Cruz was arrested while carrying various drugs and a substantial amount of cash, could lead a reasonable jury to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that Lugo associated himself with Cruz's illegal venture, that he knowingly participated in it, and that, through his actions, he actively sought to protect Cruz and thereby help to ensure the success of the operation.
Nor are we persuaded by the argument that, because Agent Aviles failed to testify that Lugo had been present during the alleged drug exchange, the jury had no evidence on which to base its inference that Lugo knew about Cruz's illegal behavior. While such testimony would have been helpful in proving that Lugo had aided and abetted Cruz, it was not, as discussed above, the only mechanism through which the government could prove that Lugo had the requisite knowledge. (2) Defendants' Convictions under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)
Finally, we consider whether the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's findings that, on October 15, 2001, the defendants possessed firearms, including machine guns, in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme.
The applicable criminal statute provides that
(A) . . . any person who, during and in relation to any . . . drug trafficking crime . . . uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such . . . drug trafficking crime [be sentenced according to this subsection].
(B) If the firearm possessed by a person convicted of a violation of this subsection . . . is a machine gun . . ., the person shall be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 30 years.
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1); see also 18 U.S.C. § 2.
Due to the thirty-year prison term mandated by 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B), both appeals focus primarily on the government's machine-gun evidence. However, given additional evidence that Lugo was carrying a pistol on his waistline, the machine guns are only one variable in Lugo's 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) equation. 12 Applying the statutory language to his particular appeal, then, we must affirm the conviction if the evidence was sufficient to support a finding that Lugo knowingly possessed (or aided and abetted the possession of) either a sidearm weapon in furtherance of the drug-trafficking scheme or a machine gun in furtherance of the drug-trafficking scheme. The propriety of the thirty-year prison sentences depend, of course, exclusively on the sufficiency of the machine-gun evidence.
Regarding the sidearm evidence, Lugo was seen carrying a pistol by two separate officers. First, Agent Aviles testified that, when he arrived on the scene, he noticed that Lugo "had a black pistol [on his waistline]." Second, Agent Mendez testified that, during her struggle inside The Pub with Gonzalez, she observed Lugo "placing a black pistol in between the bottle rack and the bar." This black pistol was subsequently seized by police and ultimately admitted into evidence through the authentication testimony of Agent Mendez. Based on this evidence, then, we have no difficulty concluding that Lugo possessed a pistol.
Of course, given the text of the statute, merely determining that Lugo was in possession of a sidearm is not enough to support the conviction; we must also consider whether the weapon was possessed "in furtherance of . . . a drug-trafficking crime." 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A) (emphasis added). The jury reasonably concluded that it was.
We have recently explained the "in-furtherance-of" requirement:
When guns and drugs are found together and a defendant has been convicted of possession with intent to distribute, the gun, whether kept for protection from robbery of drug-sale proceeds, or to enforce payment for drugs, may reasonably be considered to be possessed 'in furtherance of' an ongoing drug-trafficking crime.
United States v. Garner, 338 F.3d 78, 81 (1st Cir. 2003); see also United States v. Luciano, 329 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2003) ("Given the close proximity of the firearms and the loaded magazines to the significant stockpile of heroin, we have no difficulty concluding that there was a sufficient nexus between the drug trafficking crime and the firearms to sustain a conviction under [18 U.S.C.] § 924."); cf. United States v. Ceballos-Torres, 218 F.3d 409, 415 (5th Cir. 2000) ("Together, [factors such as the type of drug activity that is being conducted, accessibility of the firearm, the type of the weapon, whether the weapon is stolen, the status of the possession, whether the gun is loaded, proximity to drugs or drug profits, and the time and circumstances under which the gun is found] reasonably support a finding that [the firearms] protected his drugs and money against robbery. Possession of the [firearms] was, therefore, in furtherance of drug trafficking.").
Here, while Lugo's weapon was not found "together" with the drugs in a literal sense, the jury had reason to conclude that Lugo's sidearm was possessed in furtherance of the drug-trafficking scheme: the weapon was loaded, easily accessible, in close proximity to the drugs, and its bearer was standing near a drug-carrying individual in a known drug area. There is nothing in the record to suggest that the firearm served any other purpose, and we are not persuaded by Lugo's "mere presence" defense. See discussion in II. B.(1), above.
Because we conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support a finding that Lugo possessed a sidearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme, see 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A), we will not set aside his conviction on Count Five. Accordingly, regarding Lugo, the machine-gun issue is relevant to Count Five only insofar as proper sentencing is concerned. See 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(B).
Both Lugo and Cruz contend that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they had (either actively or constructively) possessed a machine gun in furtherance of the drug-trafficking scheme. We disagree.
Although there was no evidence that Cruz or Lugo had "any direct or actual possessory interest" in the machine guns that were contained within -- and protruding from -- the pillowcase, see United States v. Torres-Maldonado, 14 F.3d 95, 102 (1st Cir. 1994), the jury, having been properly instructed, could have concluded that the defendants had constructive possession of the machine guns.
"Constructive possession exists when a person 'knowingly has the power and intention at a given time to exercise dominion and control over an object either directly or through others.'" Id. (quoting United States v. Garcia, 983 F.2d 1160, 1164 (1st Cir. 1993)); see also United States v. Akinola, 985 F.2d 1105, 1109 (1st Cir. 1993) ("Constructive possession may be proved by demonstrating defendant's power and intent to exercise ownership, dominion, or control over the contraband itself, or over the area in which the contraband was concealed. Constructive possession may be sole or joint and may be achieved directly or through others." (citations omitted)).
In this case, the jury had before it Agent Aviles' testimony that, after Gonzalez had disappeared behind a building and reappeared carrying a pillowcase from which rifle barrels were protruding, Cruz and Lugo assisted Gonzalez in "cover[ing] the long weapons" with a blanket. In addition, there was evidence that all of this activity had occurred within a known drug area, that all parties had been armed with pistols, that an unknown party had arrived on the scene with money in his hand, and that Cruz had been arrested with drugs and a substantial amount of cash on his person.
Assuming, as we must, the veracity of this evidence, the jury was free to infer that the loaded "long weapons" had been concealed within the garbage can as an added security measure. There is nothing in the record to suggest that these firearms were themselves for sale or that they served any purposes other than increased protection and peace of mind. Accordingly, the jury could have concluded that Cruz and Lugo had the power and intention to retrieve the firearms if and when the upcoming drug transactions turned sour; that is, the defendants constructively possessed the machine guns in furtherance of the drug-trafficking scheme.
We acknowledge that the jury's inferences of guilt are not inevitable and that the sufficiency questions are arguably close. However,
an appellate court plays a very circumscribed role in gauging the sufficiency of the evidentiary foundation upon which a criminal conviction rests. The court of appeals neither weighs the credibility of the witnesses nor attempts to assess whether the prosecution succeeded in eliminating every possible theory consistent with the defendant's innocence.
United States v. Noah, 130 F.3d 490, 494 (1st Cir. 1997) (citation omitted). Instead, "[w]e defer, within reason, to inferences formulated by the jury in the light of its collective understanding of human behavior in the circumstances revealed by the evidence." United States v. Passos-Paternina, 918 F.2d 979, 985 (1st Cir. 1990) (citations omitted). So too here.
For the reasons stated above, we affirm the convictions of both defendants.
1. Of the Third Circuit, sitting by designation.
2. The record is unclear as to whether these events occurred before or after Cruz's encounter with the unidentified, money-carrying individual.
3. Count Four is not relevant to this appeal.
4. Gonzalez pled guilty and is not a party to this proceeding.
5. The 360-month sentences imposed for Count Five were in addition to, and separate from, the sentences imposed for Count Seven. Count Five charged the defendants with possession of firearms -- including machine guns -- in furtherance of a drug-trafficking scheme. In convicting the defendants on Count Five, the jury answered "yes" to all three of the following options: one or more pistols; one or more rifles; one or more machine guns. Count Seven charged the defendants with mere possession of machine guns, which is made illegal under 18 U.S.C. § 922(o).
6. Following the government's presentation of its case-in-chief, both Cruz and Lugo moved unsuccessfully for judgments of acquittal pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 29. Each defendant thereafter presented evidence in his own defense, thus waiving review of his initial motion. See United States v. Ruiz, 105 F.3d 1492, 1495 n.1 (1st Cir. 1997) (citing United States v. Amparo, 961 F.2d 288, 291 (1st Cir. 1992)). Therefore, we review the evidence presented by Cruz and Lugo during their cases-in-chief in the light most favorable to the verdicts. See Ruiz, 105 F.3d at 1495 n.1.
7. Cruz does not contest any evidentiary rulings.
8. Lugo's brief refers neither to the Federal Rules of Evidence nor to case law.
9. Lugo also contends that the government should not have been allowed to refer to the drug-point testimony in its closing argument. Because we reject the underlying evidentiary challenges to the drug-point testimony, this contention fails.
10. On direct examination, Agent Aviles testified that he had personally arrested "several people" at the drug point. However, on cross examination, Agent Aviles indicated that he had only made one such arrest.
11. The record indicates that Lugo objected to the admission of the second of these two weapons but not the first. Failure to preserve a claim of error as to the admission of the first machine gun does, of course, affect our standard of review. See United States v. Roberts, 119 F.3d 1006, 1014 (1st Cir. 1997) ("[E]rrors not objected to at trial will be reviewed by the appellate court only when they are 'plain' and undermine the fundamental fairness of the trial." (citations omitted)). However, because Lugo's argument fails even under the more appellant-friendly abuse-of-discretion standard discussed above, we need not provide a separate analysis for each weapon.
12. Cruz was not charged with possession of the pistol that allegedly was worn on his waistline and later discarded. Accordingly, his sufficiency challenge concerns only those weapons found in the pillowcase.

domain: law


text:
Wicklow County Council has announced a new bus service connecting Glendalough and Laragh will launch in the coming months.
The new service, which will be free, is being launched as part of the council’s new weekend traffic management arrangements to tackle the high volumes of cars entering Laragh village to visit Glendalough and surrounding areas.
From June 4 the new bus shuttle service will run from the Laragh carpark off the R755 to the Glendalough Visitor Centre on weekends and public holidays.
Currently the service is to run for the entire summer and due to finish up at the end of August.
The council has urged those visiting the area to help reduce traffic volumes by using public transport options, cycling, car pooling and parking in designated areas.

domain: news


text:
We are eager to hear from principals or their representatives about businesses that meet all of the following criteria:
Large purchases (at least $75 million of pre-tax earnings unless the business will fit into one of our existing units),
Demonstrated consistent earning power (future projections are of no interest to us, nor are “turnaround” situations),
Businesses earning good returns on equity while employing little or no debt,
Management in place (we can’t supply it),
Simple businesses (if there’s lots of technology, we won’t understand it),
An offering price (we don’t want to waste our time or that of the seller by talking, even preliminarily, about a transaction when price is unknown).
The larger the company, the greater will be our interest: We would like to make an acquisition in the $5-20 billion range.
Of course… Buffett is talking about private acquisitions of entire companies here. So unless you have $5-20 billion sitting around, the above criteria probably isn’t very useful to you.
But don’t worry.
As you’ll see down below, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger say that they’re “also happy to simply buy small portions of great businesses by way of stock-market purchases. It’s better to have a part interest in the Hope Diamond than to own all of a rhinestone.”
[As an aside, don’t be upset if you think you’re missing out on big returns because you can’t buy entire companies like Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett: “Our experience has been that pro-rata portions of truly outstanding businesses sometimes sell in the securities markets at very large discounts from the prices they would command in negotiated transactions involving entire companies. Consequently, bargains in business ownership, which simply are not available directly through corporate acquisition, can be obtained indirectly through stock ownership.”]
We select our marketable equity securities in much the same way we would evaluate a business for acquisition in its entirety. We want the business to be:
One that we can understand,
With favorable long-term prospects,
Operated by honest and competent people, and
Available at a very attractive price.
We ordinarily make no attempt to buy equities for anticipated favorable stock price behavior in the short term. In fact, if their business experience continues to satisfy us, we welcome lower market prices of stocks we own as an opportunity to acquire even more of a good thing at a better price.
Apart from the first and last criteria of “large purchases” and “an offering price”, this is really just the same list as Berkshire’s Acquisition Criteria for purchases of private companies that I presented first.
Warren Buffett’s 4 Principles
Indeed, these “4 Principles” as I call them are pure Buffett, and succinctly summarize some of his core beliefs that are inherent in many of his most popular quotes:
A business we understand: Invest within your circle of competence
What an investor needs is the ability to correctly evaluate selected businesses. Note that word “selected”: You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many. You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not very important; knowing its boundaries, however, is vital.
With favorable long-term prospects: Our favorite holding period is forever
Time is the friend of the wonderful company, the enemy of the mediocre.
Operated by able and trustworthy management: Reputation is your most important asset
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.
Available at a very attractive price: Intrinsic value and a margin of safety
Long ago, Ben Graham taught me that ‘Price is what you pay; value is what you get.’ Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.
Principles #1, #3, and #4 are very simple to understand: Stick with what you know, find good & honest managers (but not ones that are solely responsible to the success of the business), pay less than the value you’re receiving.
But what about Principle #2? What does Buffett mean by “favorable long-term prospects” and how can we determine if a company meets this criterion?
The answer to this question comes down to whether or not the company has an enduring “moat” that will protect its “castle.” In other words, does the company have some sort of long-term competitive advantage that will allow it to continue to earn high returns on its capital?
Buffett revisits these 4 Principles in the 2007 Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Letter. You can see that even after 40 years his principles are virtually the same (with the sole difference being in Principle #4: a “very attractive price” becomes a “sensible price”).
In the following excerpt from that 2007 Shareholder’s Letter, Buffett expands on how his 4 Principles can combine to create a truly wonderful business:
What Kind of Businesses Turn Warren Buffett On?
Let’s take a look at what kind of businesses turn us on. And while we’re at it, let’s also discuss what we wish to avoid.
Charlie and I look for companies that have a) a business we understand; b) favorable long-term economics; c) able and trustworthy management; and d) a sensible price tag. We like to buy the whole business or, if management is our partner, at least 80%. When control-type purchases of quality aren’t available, though, we are also happy to simply buy small portions of great businesses by way of stockmarket purchases. It’s better to have a part interest in the Hope Diamond than to own all of a rhinestone.
A truly great business must have an enduring “moat” that protects excellent returns on invested capital. The dynamics of capitalism guarantee that competitors will repeatedly assault any business “castle” that is earning high returns. Therefore a formidable barrier such as a company’s being the lowcost producer (GEICO, Costco) or possessing a powerful world-wide brand (Coca-Cola, Gillette, American Express) is essential for sustained success. Business history is filled with “Roman Candles,” companies whose moats proved illusory and were soon crossed.
Our criterion of “enduring” causes us to rule out companies in industries prone to rapid and continuous change. Though capitalism’s “creative destruction” is highly beneficial for society, it precludes investment certainty. A moat that must be continuously rebuilt will eventually be no moat at all.
Additionally, this criterion eliminates the business whose success depends on having a great manager. Of course, a terrific CEO is a huge asset for any enterprise, and at Berkshire we have an abundance of these managers. Their abilities have created billions of dollars of value that would never have materialized if typical CEOs had been running their businesses.
But if a business requires a superstar to produce great results, the business itself cannot be deemed great. A medical partnership led by your area’s premier brain surgeon may enjoy outsized and growing earnings, but that tells little about its future. The partnership’s moat will go when the surgeon goes. You can count, though, on the moat of the Mayo Clinic to endure, even though you can’t name its CEO.
Long-term competitive advantage in a stable industry is what we seek in a business. If that comes with rapid organic growth, great. But even without organic growth, such a business is rewarding. We will simply take the lush earnings of the business and use them to buy similar businesses elsewhere. There’s no rule that you have to invest money where you’ve earned it. Indeed, it’s often a mistake to do so: Truly great businesses, earning huge returns on tangible assets, can’t for any extended period reinvest a large portion of their earnings internally at high rates of return.
How Can You Apply Buffett’s 4 Principles to Your Own Investing?
Stay within your circle of competence: What industries and companies do you understand? For example, Apple, Kellogg, and John Deere have easy business models to understand and operate in relatively straightforward industries. Think you want to invest in that hot tech start-up that facilitates the creation of backward overflow synergies? Unless you have specialized industry expertise and know what that means, or you take the time to carefully study the company and industry first, you better stay away.
Look for companies with favorable long-term prospects: What is your company’s long-term competitive advantage? Does your company have a very wide and very sustainable “moat” that will protect its “castle” for years to come? Or will the company constantly have to re-dig its moat every year?
Evaluate top management for honesty and competence: Has the company or any of its executives been involved in fraud at any point in time? Is there “key man” (or key woman) risk? What would happen if the CEO or founder of the company left?
Is the stock of the company at leastreasonably priced: What is the price of the company on the stock market and what do you think the intrinsic value of the company actually is? Is there a margin of safety, i.e. is the stock trading at a discount?
Here is the book recounting the life and times of one of the most respected men in the world, Warren Buffett. The legendary Omaha investor has never written a memoir, but now he has allowed one writer, Alice Schroeder, unprecedented access to explore directly with him and with those closest to him his work, opinions, struggles, triumphs, follies, and wisdom. The result is the personally revealing and complete biography of the man known everywhere as “The Oracle of Omaha.”
Mary Buffett, former daughter-in-law of this legendary financial genius and a successful businesswoman in her own right, has teamed up with noted Buffettologist David Clark to create Buffettology, a one-of-a-kind investment guide that explains the winning strategies of the master.

domain: finance


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BAKU (Hurriyet)—The trade volume between Turkey and Azerbaijan should be higher, Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan said in a meeting Wednesday at the Azerbaijan-Turkey Business Forum in Baku.
Speaking with Turkish investors and businesspeople in Azerbaijan’s capital, Caglayan said Turkish businesspeople have a total of $6 billion invested in the country.
“This figure is $3 billion in Turkey for Azerbaijani businesspeople. The cooperation between the two countries should increase,” he said. “With this aim, some extensive studies will be started. In a short period of time, trade relations will be boosted.”
While in Azerbaijan, Caglayan held talks with related ministers, as well as with Turkish investors, in order to develop bilateral cooperation.
Lifting visa requirements between the two countries and problems with customs, social security, taxes and logistics were the main issues discussed at the meetings.
“Turkey lifted visa requirements for Azerbaijanis three years ago,” said Caglayan. “We have told Azerbaijani officials that they should do the same for Turkish people.”
Customs also poses a major problem, the minister added. “Azerbaijanis wait for imported products from Turkey for 50 days at customs,” he said. “Turkey, meanwhile, accepts goods in 14 days at the most. The world standard is 11 days. This situation is crucial for Turkish exporters. Each passing day causes a contraction of bilateral trade volume.”
Suggesting that a free-trade zone could be established between the two countries, Caglayan declared himself “the marketing partner of every Turkish company” and said, “We told Azerbaijani officials that we can provide any kind of technical support for such a zone.”
Speaking at the same meeting, Yavuz Keles, the chairman of the Azerbaijan-Turkey Industrialists’ and Businessmen’ Association, said: “There are some problems that can be easily solved. But there are chronic problems also.”
According to Keles, the main problems concern visa requirements and residence and work permits. “This causes great psychological pressure on Turkish businesspeople,” he said. “Customs, logistics and tax implementations are also very important. We should not experience such problems with our brother country.”
The meeting in Baku was also attended by Hulusi Kilic, the Turkish ambassador to Baku, and many Turkish businesspeople living in Azerbaijan.

domain: economics


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Pumpkin seeds, also known as Pepitas, is a treasured superfood. Roasted Pumpkin seeds are better and tastier version of your regular pumpkin seeds, with no nutritional compromise plus they are salted for a savoury taste to their crunchy and nutty flavour. They are an ideal alternative to your calorie-laden junk foods. They are packed in an air tight resealable packet where it can be stored for a longer time.
Helps control bad cholesterol. Improves heart and prostate health. Rich in antioxidant, help reduces high blood pressure and benefits liver.

domain: health


Highway and Interstate Access
The City of Scottsdale's location provides significant market advantages. Running parallel to the 101 with access to Interstate 10, Scottsdale is a short drive on the US 60 or the 202 loop to many of the regions work centers and entertainment venues. Access to Northern Arizona can be made without traveling through the central part of the Metropolitan area.
6 hour drive to Los Angeles
5 hour and 30 min drive to San Diego
5 hour drive to Las Vegas
Scottsdale offers exceptional access from several airport locations, most notably Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport or Scottsdale Airport.
Scottsdale Airport - Scottsdale Airpark
With 164,058 operations in 2016, Scottsdale Airport is one of the busiest single runway facilities in the nation. U.S. Customs “US-VISIT” is available seven days per week and allows visitors from all over the world to visit Scottsdale.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Sky Harbor is one of the 10 busiest airports in the United States. More than 120,000 passengers, 1,200 aircraft, and 800 tons of cargo pass through Sky Harbor each day. The airport is served by 15 major airlines with daily non-stop service to 80 domestic and 20 non-stop international destinations. Additionally, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is home to two major national airline hubs: American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
Scottsdale offers wonderful transit options for its residents, visitors and businesses. Transit services in Scottsdale are provided by Scottsdale’s Trolley system and Valley Metro. Scottsdale has four trolley routes to help you get around town. The Scottsdale trolley system is free to ride and connects with Valley Metro's transit system giving you access to the greater Phoenix metro area. Whether you're running errands, shopping, going to one of our premier special events or heading across town, there's a trolley for you. Scottsdale supports the emergence of technology and innovation as we were one of the first communities to welcome autonomous vehicles for testing purposes and the first community in Arizona to welcome dockless bike share.
Downtown Public Parking
Parking in downtown Scottsdale is convenient and free. Check out this interactive Google map to locate free public parking locations located throughout downtown Scottsdale.
Available for iOS and Android platforms, this tool will offer real-time guidance to available parking with dynamic routing, automatic “Find My Car” and alerts & notifications on restrictions like special event closures to motorists.
Dockless Bike Share
Employees and visitors can utilize the convenience of dockless bike share in Scottsdale, allowing them to park in free public parking and quickly reach their shopping or business destinations.Source with Permission: https://www.choosescottsdale.com/locate-here/transportation


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Marcos ROJO’s injury is worse than initially feared.
The Manchester United defender will require surgery due to a ligament rupture in his left knee. The injury is expected to keep him out until 2018, reports La Nacion. The Argentina National Team defender injured himself on April 20 in Manchester United’s Europa League match against Anderlecht.
For Argentina, it would mean he would miss the remainder of his country’s 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches. For Manchester United, it means not only losing the end of this season but also the beginning of the 2017-2018 season.


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Since November 2009, calls to these seemingly free conference services and other reverse billing services have been charged at $0.50 per minute.
The affected rate centers are:
(712) 432-xxxx and (712) 338-xxxx
OnSIP customers have the ability to turn on/off access to any call costing more than $0.032/min. Currently, unless you have filled out our Extended Dialing Form, access to more costly calls is turned off by default.
As we do more analysis of our bill, we expect to fine-tune the affected rate centers. Please see full pricing schedule.


Sorry, there are no articles for this author yet. Here are some recent articles from across the site. Liverpool considering selling Xherdan Shaqiri with Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze on their radar The Reds could freshen up their attack this summer. Andrea Leadsom signed resignation letter with turquoise pen Did she go for gel pen or Biro? Daniel Craig to undergo ankle surgery following Bond 25 set injury Daniel Craig will be out of action for two weeks following the surgery. The Virtues’ heartbreaking scene has viewers in floods as Stephen Graham shines in episode 2 We're in bits. Manchester United will not buy a new goalkeeper if David de Gea leaves The Spaniard has rejected United's final contract offer.


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Larisa Romanova, the founder and chief designer of Artecom, is engaged in interior design since 1994. She is a graduate of Moscow State University of Design and Technology.
In 2007 she has founded Artecom - an interior design and architectural bureau. The firm handles the full cycle of interior design services from architecture, space planning and design concept to selection and supply of furniture, home accessories and decorative art elements. The finished projects are located in Russia, Italy, France, Georgia and Monaco.
Larisa Romanova is well known in the designer community and acknowledged as one of the foremost professionals by the Architectural Digest magazine, which included her in the prestigious list of top 100 interior designers. Her projects were often published in AD and other respected industry media.
Larisa believes that the home interior must balance between aesthetic perfection, comfort and functionality in a way that is truly unique and reflective of the client personality and lifestyle. She thinks that Artecom’s main goal is to create a place that the client calls real home, where many happy years will be spent and enjoyed by all family generations.

domain: artistic


GRAS 26CA-HT 1/2” CCP High Temperature Preamplifier with BNC Connector
Typical applications and use
Operating temperature up to 120 °C (248 °F)
Low noise floor and wide frequency range
The GRAS 1/2″ Preamplifier 26CA-HT is similar to the GRAS 26CA Standard Preamplifier, but optimzed for use in high-temperature applications up to 120 °C (248 °F).
It uses a CCP (Constant Current Power) supply, e.g. GRAS 12AL 1-Channel CCP Power Module with A-weighting filter. It has a very low inherent noise level, a large dynamic range and a frequency response from below 2 Hz to above 200 kHz. Its small ceramic thick-film substrate has a very high input impedance, and is shielded by a guard ring to minimise the influence of stray capacitance and microphonic interference.
It has TEDS* according to IEEE P1451.4 for easy self identification and reading of calibration data.
It has an integrated BNC output connector and can be used with all GRAS prepolarized microphones. The casing is made of stainless steel for maximum strength and durability.
* Transducer Electronic Data Sheet


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Kansas Preferred Insurance Group I Your Trusted Home Insurance Partner
At Kansas Preferred Insurance Group, we understand that your home is more than just walls and a roof – it's your haven. We customize your Home Insurance to provide you with the coverage you need to safeguard your cherished property and belongings. With competitive rates and customizable policies, you can rest easy knowing you're prepared for the unexpected.
What is Home Insurance?
Home insurance is a crucial financial safety net that provides homeowners with peace of mind and safeguards their investment. This type of insurance offers protection against a range of risks that can threaten your home and its contents. Find out more below:
Home Insurance Coverages I Your Shield Against Uncertainties
What's Covered by Home Insurance? A Comprehensive Guide
Dwelling Coverage: Dwelling coverage is the cornerstone of your home insurance policy. It shields the structure of your home itself – the walls, roof, floors, and more – from a variety of perils. Whether it's damage from fires, storms, or vandalism, dwelling coverage steps in to cover repair or rebuilding costs, ensuring your dwelling is restored to its former glory.
Personal Property Coverage: Your belongings hold sentimental and financial value. Personal property coverage extends protection to your furniture, electronics, clothing, and more. In the event of theft, damage, or loss caused by covered incidents, this coverage helps you replace or repair your belongings, alleviating the financial burden.
Liability Coverage: Accidents can happen anywhere, including your home. Liability coverage offers a safety net by protecting you financially if someone is injured on your property or if you inadvertently damage someone else's property. It covers medical bills, legal fees, and potential settlements, giving you peace of mind.
Additional Living Expenses: When your home becomes uninhabitable due to a covered event, additional living expenses coverage comes to your aid. It covers the cost of temporary accommodations, meals, and other living expenses while your home is being repaired or rebuilt.
Medical Payments Coverage: Should someone get injured on your property, medical payments coverage ensures their medical expenses are taken care of, regardless of fault. It's a gesture of goodwill that reflects your commitment to the well-being of others.
What Are Home Insurance Deductibles
A deductible is the amount you agree to pay out of your pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in to cover a claim. It's your financial responsibility in the event of a covered loss. For example, if you have a $1,000 deductible and your home sustains $5,000 in damage from a covered incident, you would pay the first $1,000, and your insurance would cover the remaining $4,000.
Why Choose Kansas Preferred Insurance Group?
Personalized Approach: We recognize that every home is unique. Our experienced agents work closely with you to tailor a policy that meets your specific needs.
Local Expertise: As a local family-owned independent agency, we understand the risks associated with living in Kansas. Our coverage is designed to address the challenges you might face in your area.
Dedicated Agents: Our team of agents is committed to helping you navigate the world of home insurance. We're here to answer your questions and provide support throughout your journey.


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Radiant Realto Sunset
A stormy sunset at Olympic National Park's Realto Beach.
Sun and Surf
Another glorious day winds down at Olympic National Park's Rialto Beach. Who doesn't love the surges and sounds of the surf.....
Weather worn trees and driftwood along Rialto Beach, Washington
There is something primordial about watching and listening to the sounds and rhythm of waves. Taken at Ruby Beach WA
An incoming waves crashes on the rocks at Ruby Beach.
Old Man and the Sea
The path leading down to Olympic National Park's Ruby Beach.
Ruby Beach Bench
The Hall of Mosses Maple Grove
A fellow tree-hugger admiring the Hoh Rainforest's Maple Grove. Just one of the many sylvan delights along the Hall of Mosses Trail.
Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center
Hang Gliding Over the Palouse
Rolling Waves of Grain
A slice of the Palouse seen from Steptoe Butte.
Palouse Winter Pastoral
Farming, Past & Present
Falls of the Palouse
Autumn at Palouse Falls
Peeking at Palouse Falls

domain: geography


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Nintendo shows off a surreal masterpiece in 'Super Mario Bros. Wonder'
Super Mario Bros. Wonder commits to the bit.
You'll be running a side-scrolling Mario level, only to have the familiar 2D format break into a fever dream when you touch a titular Wonder Flower. Green warp pipes might grow eyes and start wiggling around. Or you'll suddenly transform into a spiky boulder, flattening everything in your path. It gets weirder.
Tired of jumping from left to right? Treat yourself to a frantic vertical race as you're transformed into a balloon, flapping your little arms and ricocheting off everything around you. Those Goombas you crushed? Congratulations — you're one of them now; good luck avoiding the enemies that want to eat you!
Mario has always contained multitudes — and that's never been more true than in the past decade, after Super Mario Maker and its sequel empowered fans to make millions of their own levels: songs composed by hitting blocks in time to an automated mechanism; recreations of other video games, from The Legend of Zelda to Metal Gear Solid; stages so sadistic that less than one percent of players have cleared them.
So rather than try to top the near-infinite 2D Mario designs already available, Designers Takashi Tezuka and Shiro Mouri literally broke the rules. Think you know how Mario works? Think again.
3D Mario games have ventured far from the Mushroom Kingdom — they've gone to tropical islands, to outer space, to a Bowser Kaiju arena. Wonder, by contrast, is the first 2D Mario game to fully depart the classic setting for the neighboring Flower Kingdom.
Instead of opening with Bowser capturing a Princess, the game begins with a Wonder Flower transforming him into a talking, flying castle after he storms the home of the caterpillar Prince Florian. Florian then joins Mario and the gang to restore the Flower Kingdom by collecting hidden Wonder Seeds strewn across seven main worlds, while Castle Bowser floats menacingly above the center of the map.
You can usually get each level's first Seed through the typical method: run to the end and jump on the flagpole. But standard levels also conceal a Seed you can only get by finding a Wonder Flower and playing through the lunacy it unleashes.
You can easily beat levels without ever finding Wonder Flowers hidden under snow drifts, lurking in blocks, or guarded by baddies. But the game provides tools to assist with the hunt.
The first, Talking Flowers, are exactly what they sound like. They'll point out curiosities as you pass them, crack jokes, or scream for their lives. I eventually found their obvious hints and breathless compliments grating, but you can turn them off, or, as Director Shiro Mouri has recommended, change the language they speak to one of the many available in the settings. I still read their speech-bubbles in English, but I appreciated the novelty that a Japanese or French voice provided (you could even learn some new words this way!).
Secondly, you can also equip a game-altering Badge, uncovered through special challenges or purchased with purple coins you'll collect. Each confer useful advantages, from Peach's signature floaty jump to a Wonder Seed proximity detector, and I often swapped between them to match my needs.
Thirdly, the game introduces new power-ups alongside the familiar Fire Flower and Power Mushroom. One lets you drill through the ground to reach secret areas. The Bubble power sounds harmless but decimates enemies at a distance, even through walls! But the Elephant power-up undoubtedly steals the show, since it doubles your size and lets you spray water from your trunk to unlock puzzles.
But the game's multiplayer most transforms the search for Wonder Flowers — and Nintendo took a page from the unlikely source of Dark Souls and Elden Ring when designing them.
A Party, with Mario
While the game supports four local players, if you're playing with up to two and connected to the internet, you'll see other silhouetted characters running levels alongside you. Should you die, you'll come back as a ghost with five seconds to touch one of these players (or a standee they can leave behind) to revive. I once cleared a late-game challenge by jumping to my death, resurrecting off of other players, jumping further ahead to another death, and thereby finally leapfrogging to safety. Elden Ring fans will recognize this asynchronous multiplayer — but it can only ever help you. You don't have to fear invasion from a rogue Luigi!
I must caution cooperative players, however. Despite removing the traditional time limit for each level, the pace of this new Mario game can be as breakneck as that of its longtime rival, Sonic the Hedgehog. I remember levels from 1990's Super Mario World taking what felt like hours to beat — conversely, you can blitz through most of Wonder's in minutes. While the game's difficulty isn't adjustable, powerful badges or playing as an invulnerable Yoshi or Nabbit can make the experience even more frictionless.
This speed isn't a problem if you're rolling solo, but if you're playing with someone else you can quickly leave them behind, especially when wonder effects have you blasting through a level or careening through the sky.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, ultimately, feels like a flex — proof that Nintendo can still innovate with some of gaming's oldest verbs: run and jump. It's a pristine extravaganza designed to appeal to nostalgic players and newcomers who may have only encountered the franchise through this year's blockbuster movie. Every frame bursts with charming detail. Enemies glare at you as they approach, then look up in dismay the moment before you stomp on them. Mario will reach out to catch his hat after squeezing through a warp pipe. Untold hours of animation and programming talent went into delivering spectacles that parade by in seconds, leaving you dazzled in their wake.
Put simply, Super Mario Bros. Wonder shows off in the best of ways. It's a game not only about exploration and discovery, but also about sitting back and enjoying the ride.
Copyright 2023 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

domain: hobby


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Wolf Trap Lives Posters
Wolf Trap Lives Posters is inordinately striking and makes a faithful wall decoration, this poster dimension is 24 x 36 inch and the price is $129.99. If you're trying to seek top recommended Wolf Trap Lives Posters with sixpenny price, the product is the suitable deals for you.
Type: Collectable Print
Dimension: 24 x 36 inch
Your search for Wolf Trap Lives Posters has brought you to the right place.
This poster itself is inordinately large and of high attribute image. This unit is packed with rich characters, a great picture online, and not a little action. The colors are radically exciting, and the one will be a noticeable eye catcher wherever you decide to display the product. The color of Wolf Trap Lives Posters is best seen on bright light. The one is highly reasonable and arrived recently in intense packaging that protected the unit very well. If you would like to seek out about a poster in the meantime, the the poster is a famous pick. Wolf Trap Lives Posters is a beauteous, immensely famous poster, it's on nice paper, has plenty of whitespace for framing, and arrived summary in mint condition.


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Baohuang BL53: Nomenclature, Location, Functions, Indications
Bao: Bladder Huang: membrane
Bao refers to the bladder. Baohuang, BL 53 is at the level of Pangguangshu (BL30).
Chinese Name: 胞肓
English Name/Meaning: Bladder’s Vitals
Pinyin: bāo huāng
Han Geul 한글: po hwang 포황
Romaji: hō kō
3 cun lateral to the median sacral crest, at the level of the second sacral posterior foramen.
Functions of Baohunag, BL53:
- Strengthens lumbar spine.
- Strengthens the function of the bladder.
- Opens the waterways to lower burner.
- Borborygmus, abdominal distension, stiffness and fullness in hypogastrium.
- Urinary retention, burning sensation during urination, edema of the legs.
Perpendicular insertion 1 to 1.5 cun.
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domain: medical


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Rousseff’s impeachment trial opens in Brazil: In a move expected to remove her from office in a matter of days, Brazil’s Federal Senate opened an impeachment trial against suspended President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday.
Charged with fiscal mismanagement and public corruption, Rousseff is expected to testify on Monday.
54 of 81 Brazilian senators are needed to removed Rousseff from office; 52 are known to support her removal.
Kim re-nominated to World Bank post: The White House announced Thursday its intent to re-nominate Jim Yong Kim for a second term as president of the World Bank.
The former Harvard medical school lecturer and Dartmouth University president has led the World Bank since 2012.
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew praised Kim for his devotion to addressing climate change, poverty and global inequality. Kim’s tenure has been marked by confronting the Zika crisis and Syrian refugees.
American University in Kabul attacked: Two gunmen stormed the compound at the American University in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday morning, killing 13 and injuring 36.
No Americans were reported killed.
The attack began early Thursday with two armed men breached outer security of the university and sprayed gunfire once inside the buildings. Afghani officials said over 700 had been rescued. One guard was reported dead.
Norway builds fence on border with Russia: Following over 5,500 migrants entering Norway from a distant border checkpoint on the Norwegian-Russian border in 2015, Norwegian officials have determined to build a fence to enhance security.
A majority of migrants who entered Norway at the Storskog border checkpoint were Syrian.
Deputy Justice Minister Ove Vanebo told Reuters the new barrier is a “responsible measure.”
Ceasefire in Philippines: After a truce signed in Oslo last week, the Philippine government and Maoist guerrillas have agreed to a ceasefire which will end close to 50 years of incessant fighting.
Talks to end decades of violence have occurred since 1986; the Norwegian government has played an active hand in securing a resolution since 2000.
Exiled Maoist leader Jose Maria Sison praised the ceasefire saying the agreement offers a clear path to peace negotiations.
New Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, had vowed to focus on bringing peace to the Philippines through negotiations with both Maoist rebels and Islamist terrorists.
[Reuters] [Fox News] [AP]


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EUCLÉA BUSINESS SCHOOL MIDDLE EAST recently received two awards
🔸 Best Business School in Middle East, by Knowledge Review Journal
🔹 Most Innovative Business School in Europ, by Global Brands Magazine (https://lnkd.in/eQBGVbx8)
Since the opening of our campus in Dubai, the Eucléa Business School adventure continues and reaches new heights! A huge thank you to all the teams on site who contribute to the success of the school!


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12 Best Low Carb Vegetables and 6 Veggie Recipes
Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes
LISTEN ON SPOTIFY
The 12 Best Low Carb Vegetables and Their Benefits
If you’re going keto or simply want to cut back on carbs, look to this easy
guide for the best low-carb veggies for your diet.
You know the basics of your keto diet: high fat, moderate protein, very little carbs. It
seems simple, but when you’re on the keto diet, not all veggies are created equal. In
fact, they can vary quite a bit when it comes to carb content, making only some
veggies truly ideal for a keto diet.
Below, we rank the top low-carb vegetables to show you which will give you the best
bang for your nutrition buck.
Vegetables on the Keto Diet: Which Are the Best?
As a general rule, the veggies that have the lowest carbs are most often the ones
that grow above ground, like leafy greens. In fact, “green” usually signals a lower-
Conversely, colorful root veggies often have more carbs and sugars, and should
only be eaten in moderation on a keto diet. These include carrots, sweet potatoes,
beets, rutabaga, and parsnips.
Low-Carb Vegetables, Ranked
This list ranks the lowest-carb veggies by nutrient density. We also provide each
veggie’s net carbs or the carbs that are actually absorbed into your bloodstream and
processed by your body. Net carbs are found by taking the total carb count and
subtracting the amount of fiber, as fibrous carbs are indigestible.
(Note: The net carb counts are for a 100g serving or 3 ½ ounces.)
Spinach is so low in carbs that you can add it to just about anything on a keto diet.
It’s rich in antioxidant vitamins A and C, which help fight free radical damage and
signs of aging. It also contains ample amounts of vitamin K and minerals
like magnesium and manganese.
If you’re craving a crunchy snack, chop up a stalk of celery and get your favorite dips


Hello, we are the Dagan Harding Band (feat. Surf Dads) and this EP is our second release. We are and Indie Rock back that likes melodic clean guitar driven indie rock. We have two videos to support this release.
We're Look North, based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. We're a pop punk/emo band releasing our first EP, Countless Days/Restless Nights. These are some of the first songs we wrote as a band and are going a heavier direction while still maintaining the core of what we're about: happy riffs and sad lyrics


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Un petit coin de paradis : un jardin au coeur de la ville
There are 20 golf courses within a 15 mile radius and a bike path that seems endless!
Fabulous shopping in North Scottsdale at Kierland Commons. Also the Biltmore which is located close to downtown Phoenix.
Fabulous restaurants, day spas, and Squaw Peak and Echo Canyon if you are a hiker. Approximately 3 hours away from the Grand Canyon and 4 hours away from Las Vegas.
Pour organiser un échange de maisons, vous devez devenir membre


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I don't think the strategy will work. I do not believe that we can kill the hate out of the Middle East. There is even a chance that the current spat of killing will increase the amount of hate.
Before the invasion of Lebanon, Isreal was actually starting to receive sympathy from the Islamic world. There was even hope that a Lebanese Government with help of the UN and moderate Arab world would try to muzzle Hizbollah.
Yes, it is highly likely that they would have failed, but the failure of such effort would have given Isreal justification for its own intervention.
Sadly, the innocent must suffer before garnering justification for intervention. It is a sad, sad reality.
We need to win hearts and not just battles.
Perhaps the real failure in the Middle East is simply the believe that Neoconservative methods can be used to spread classical liberal ideals. The very foundations of neoconservativism is so thoroughly at odds with the foundations of a free society that or current efforts at introducing a classical liberal democracy in the Middle East is doomed to create nothing but a muddle of hatred and suffering.
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domain: politics


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Any observer of the constant Saudi keenness on relations of good neighborliness across the various stages of its history can discern the guidance of King Salman bin Abdulaziz regarding the Saudi vision of relations with Iran from the statements of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in his interview with the brilliant presenter Abdullah al-Mudaifer on April 27.
Any close observer can clearly see the great impact of the developments of the last two decades. This is evident in the various political, economic, and demographic changes that took place in several regions. Researchers in several institutions suggest that the most influential decision-makers around the world had not predicted these changes. A few researchers base this analysis on the fact that some politicians of global recognition boldly admitted to their initial surprise, followed by their confusion, in how to deal with these new shocking realities. This admission is a step in the right direction, even if it resulted in some downturns in recapturing the reins and setting new policies that are commensurate with the new reality.
In the context of this realistic approach to the aforementioned developments, Iranian decision-makers of all affiliations and views would benefit from dealing with Mohammed bin Salman’s statements with a mentality that takes into consideration two key factors. First, they must accept that reality is ever-changing because inertia contradicts the laws of life. Second, they need to realize that Riyadh’s extended hand does not stem from weakness toward Iran, but rather, from an effort to serve the interests of people in both countries.
In his discussion of the future of relations with Iran, the crown prince tackled the subject of entering into dialogue with the Iranian neighbor in a language that paves the way for a new kind of interaction based on the principles of good neighborliness recognized by every country on earth. This proposal, which is rooted in a clear sense of self-confidence and the belief in the value of mutual respect between states, serves the people of both countries, and it is much better than any selfish aspirations, internal or external, that might prevent such welfare for future generations in both countries.
Objectively, the reported Iranian reactions welcoming Mohammed bin Salman’s statements should be recognized. However, a mere verbal welcoming would not suffice, especially given the multitude of political allegiances within government circles in Tehran. The latest -- but probably not the last -- example in this regard is the reactions in Iran to the crisis of the leaked audiotape of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in which he stated his position on the interventions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran’s policies in general, and the role of Qassem Soleimani in particular. The political schism is made clearer by the ensuing fury of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei with Zarif.
All this shows that the state of Iran is truly put to the test, and not only in terms of taking a serious, realistic action in response to the crown prince’s interview. More importantly, the test targets Tehran’s readiness for a truthful, unambiguous transition from its revolutionary governance methodology to actually operate as a proper, logical state, with all that this entails in terms of commitment to international conventions and to working with neighboring countries and the world as a whole. We shall wait with hope and see.
This article was originally published in, and translated from, the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.


LORETTO, Pa. (WDVM) – The Mount St. Mary’s women’s basketball team captured the Northeast Conference regular season title for the first time in 20 years on Monday with a 56-43 victory over Saint Francis University.
It’s just the 10th time that Mount has won the regular season since joining the NEC back in 1989, and it’s just the first time earning the title since the 2000-2001 season.
The Mountaineers were lead by Aryna Taylor and Kendall Bresee who each had 19 and 15 points respectively in what was Mount’s 9th straight victory.
The blue and white were the second seed in the tournament a year ago, making it to the semifinal game, before the remainder of the tournament was shut down due to the corona-virus pandemic.
Top seeding earns Mount a home game hosting the No. 4 seed in the NEC Semifinals which will be held on March 10th at Knott Arena.


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Deep inside me where the words sit; is a waterfall of stories waiting to be told.
Were the birds are singing and the waterfall spray leave rainbows dancing in the sun light.
The tree trunks are a deep brown and the green leaves float like dancers in the blowing breeze. Flowers are blooming with vivid colors of the rainbow, as a baby deer saunters slowly to the waters edge and begins to drink.
I feel the warmth of the sun surrounding me as I sit and watch the scene that unfolds before my eyes. I sense the stronger radiance that holds its presence, like a mother holds her child; I began to take deep breaths to take in all of this radiance that I could absorb within me.
I took steps toward the deer, I wanted what was within the water, and I needed it to carry on with the desire of my heart.
I watched the waterfall spill more and more words into the pond; I felt a burning desire deep inside me and knew I needed all the words I could drink in. Kneeling beside the deer I bent over and began to drink all I could. The water tasted sweet it quenched the thirst that had once kept me dry. I began to see stories dancing with happiness in my head.

domain: literature


text:
Kampot Pepper" is a special type of pepper, considered one of the finest in the world, grown in the Kampot area of Cambodia (Kampot Province and Kep Special Municipality).
The unique flavor of Kampot pepper comes from the climate and mineral-rich soil of the Kampot area. Like terroir in wine, the pepper's flavor varies greatly depending on the climate and climate.
Kampot pepper is a brand of pepper that has been famous in Europe since the Age of Discovery.
Kampot Pepper" is a registered trademark of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA), which is registered and protected under Cambodia's Geographical Indications (GI) protection system.
Only peppers grown on farms certified by the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association and in accordance with strict guidelines are allowed to call themselves "Kampot Pepper".
Of course, the peppers are grown in a traditional and completely organic way, without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
Kampot Pepper is certified by Ecocert (France), the world standard for organic certification.
The world's finest and highest quality pepper at home
Kampot Pepper" is a brand of pepper that only those peppers that have passed all the checks of the Kampot Pepper Association are allowed to call themselves "Kampot Pepper." They are grown only on farms that have passed the association's inspection with selected soil in areas defined by the Kampot Pepper Association, using only seedlings designated by the Kampot Pepper Association and completely organic fertilizer without using any chemical fertilizer or pesticides.
What? Surprising? It goes with everything!
Pepper with "raw texture."
The magic spice
"salted young pepper"
Young peppercorns are pickled in salt before they are fully grown and hardened.
The unique pungency, aroma, exquisite saltiness, and the caviar-like texture will upgrade various dishes and fascinate you.
Salted young pepper
It goes well with anything that goes with pepper, including soups, stews, sashimi, Japanese dishes, Chinese, and sweets like ice cream.
It is up to you how you use it.
Try using it more and more in your daily cooking.
"It goes well with this!
You may discover something new.
Kampot Pepper for Professional
Kampot area is the southernmost tip of Cambodia.
Surrounded by mountains and the sea, it is a miraculous area for pepper, blessed with a unique climate with abundant rainfall and fog, and unique mineral-rich soil.
The flavor that can only be described as "Kampot pepper flavor" is produced by a combination of miraculous conditions. This is the reason why it is called "the best pepper in the world" by chefs and gourmets from all over the world.
The peppercorns are boiled and dried in the sun just before they are fully ripe. It is characterized by its strong pungency, wild flavor, and lingering fresh aroma, which is the most characteristic of Kampot peppers. Needless to say, it is a perfect match for meat dishes, and it is the pepper among peppers that has always made gourmets around the world roar.
The peppercorns are boiled, the softened epidermis is removed, and the kernels of the peppercorns are taken out. The kernels are then cleaned and sun-dried to produce white pepper.
It is characterized by its elegant aroma and mild spiciness, and goes well with all kinds of dishes, but it goes especially well with light-colored ingredients such as fish, chicken, and white sauces.
The ripe, red berries are carefully hand-picked, boiled and sun-dried.
The spiciness of the pepper is exquisitely balanced with the subtle sweetness and aroma that is inherent in fully ripe pepper. Please enjoy the miraculous taste of this pepper, which is harvested in very small quantities.
Salted Young Pepper
Young peppercorns, before the hard kernels form, are boiled and salted with mineral-rich natural salt.
It is characterized by a fresh spiciness and a flavor that is unlike that of pepper, and has a delightful caviar-like texture. It is a versatile ingredient that goes well with a variety of dishes and can be used on its own or as a garnish.
Q. Is Cambodian pepper generally called kampot pepper?
A.Only peppers grown on farms that have passed strict screening in terms of provenance, soil, and farming methods as determined by the Kampot Pepper Association are allowed to call themselves "Kampot Pepper".
Please beware of counterfeit products.
Q. What is the difference between "Kampot Pepper" and regular pepper?
A.Just as ordinary pepper is called ordinary wine and campot pepper is called vintage wine, campot pepper has a deep, distinctive aroma and spicy flavor that can only be described as "the flavor of campot pepper.
Q. The pepper is very hard, but the salted pepper is soft with a petite texture. Why is there such a difference?
A.This is because we use young peppercorns before they are fully grown and have hard kernels. These are then boiled and salted with the perfect amount of salt, which gives them this crunchy and addictive texture.
Q. How safe is it? Is the quality of the product safe?
A.They are grown completely organically, without the use of any chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The title "Campot Pepper" is given only to peppers produced in farms that have passed strict screening standards. The "Kampot Pepper" brand guarantees high quality and safety.
RYU Trading Company Co., Ltd.
MAISON YAMADA 1-C, 361-1, AGEI, KURAYOSHI, TOTTORI 《TEL》+81 858-24-6349 《MAIL》email@example.com 《Kampot Pepper Association Registration No.》P0-000-007

domain: agronomy


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Leftover Makeovers by Victoria Shearer-P2P Download released on 1 July 2018 | 9:44 am and Reading now Leftover Makeovers by Victoria Shearer-P2P Free by downloadapkgratis.com
Never again sit down to a warmed-over meal of the same old leftovers. With more than 100 scrumptious recipes, this book offers a revolutionary approach to the world of meal prep and leftovers. Begin by choosing a core recipe, which makes enough to thoroughly satisfy and have leftovers. Each core recipe is followed by one or more original recipes that turn those leftovers into an entirely new delectable dish. With Leftover Makeovers, last night’s leftovers become fresh fare with international flavors and creative twists.

domain: food


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“It is here in very truth that he competes with life;it is here that he competes with his brother the painter in his attempt to render the look of things, the look that conveys their meaning, to catch the colour, the relief, the expression, the surface, the substance of the human spectacle.” James, Henry. Major Stories & Essays. New York: Library of America, 1999. Pg.581. – James’ argument of fiction as art reminds me of research paper I wrote last semester arguing that Stephen Crane is an impressionist writer using techniques of the impressionist painters. Agree with James that fiction writing is “one of the fine arts” (575).
“Try to be one of the people on whom nothing is lost!” Pg. 581 – the definition of an artist, and the way to experience life.
“A novel is a living thing, all one and continuous, like any other organism, and in proportion as it lives will it be found, I think that each of the parts there is something of each other of the other parts” pg. 582 – great analogy – a novel is about life and takes on its own life, needs to be cohesive, a body of parts.
“He forgets that when Art surrenders her imaginative medium she surrenders everything.” Wilde, Oscar. “The Decay of Lying.” In Intentions. New York: Brentano’s, 1905. Pg. 24. – art is not simply imagination, it’s interpretation.
Only a short time ago it might have been supposed that the
English novel was not what the French call discutable. It had no
air of having a theory, a conviction, a consciousness of itself
behind it—of being the expression of an artistic faith, the result
of choice and comparison. I do not say it was necessarily the
worse for that; it would take much more courage than I possess
to intimate that the form of the novel, as Dickens and Thackeray
(for instance) saw it had any taint of incompleteness. (pg 1
Henry James, The Art of Fiction
Notes- Criticizing, lack of,foreign terminology
A novel is in its broadest definition a personal, a direct impression of life : that, to begin with, constitutes its value, which is greater or less according to the intensity of the impression. But there will be no intensity at all, and therefore no value, unless there is freedom to feel and say.
Henry James, “The Art of Fiction”, in Major Stories & Essays, Library of America College Editions, p578
The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life. When it relinquishes this attempt, the same attempt that we see on the canvas of the painter, it will have arrived at a very strange pass.
Henry James. “The Art of Fiction.” In Partial Portraits. New York: Macmillan,1894 Internet Archive http://archive.org/details/partialportraits00jameiala) 378.
Notes: Novels rooted in real life, novels have a purpose, writer and painter are comparable
Even Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson, that delightful master of delicate and fanciful prose, is tainted with this modern vice, for we know positively no other name for it.There is such a thing as robbing a story of its reality by trying to make it too true, and The Black Arrow is so inartistic as not to contain a single anachronism to boast of, while the transformation of Dr. Jekyll reads dangerously like an experiment out of the Lancet.
Oscar Wilde. “The Decay of Lying.” In Intentions. New York: Brentano’s, 1905 (Internet Archive. http://archive.org/details/intentionsdecayo00wild) 10-11.
Notes: Fine line in stories, too realistic, imagination needed.

domain: library


text:
2015-05-23 - God's Covenant
Psalm 102:18--"Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord."
The Old Testament is a story of God's covenant with Abraham and his descendants. The covenant is again affirmed with the people by Moses at Mount Sinai. The people continually violated the covenant, and God sent the prophets to remind the Israelites of their need to repent and return to God. Eventually, God sent His Son Jesus, to institute a new covenant.
The Psalmist, in Psalm 102, was an afflicted man. The writer of this Psalm was probably a King of Israel who was in distress. The nation was suffering. In his distress, he appealed to God for help. As he poured his heart out to God, the king realized that God would not forget His people. God would not only honor the old covenant, but God would one day make a new covenant with His people. One day, the people would praise God for His faithfulness as shown in Jesus.
All scripture references are from the New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.


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– Floor and Decor Holdings Inc stock price hits new 52-week high
Floor and Decor Holdings Inc stock price reached a new 52-week high of $46.48 on Monday morning. This is up from the previous 52-week high of $45.75 that was set on Friday.
The company has been on a roll lately, with its stock price up more than 50% since the beginning of the year. The company is benefiting from the strong housing market, as more people are undertaking home improvement projects.
Floor and Decor is a leading retailer of flooring and tile products, and has a growing presence across the United States. The company has been investing heavily in its online business, and this is starting to pay off with strong growth in online sales.
The company is well-positioned to continue its strong growth in the coming years. The stock looks like a good long-term investment at current levels.
– Floor and Decor Holdings Inc stock price jumps on strong earnings
Floor and Decor Holdings Inc (NYSE: FND) stock jumped on Thursday after the company reported strong first-quarter earnings.
Net sales rose 14.1% to $547.6 million, beating estimates of $531.8 million. Adjusted earnings per share of $0.28 beat estimates of $0.23.
The company attributed the strong results to continued growth in its core business, as well as expansion into new markets.
“We are off to a strong start in 2019 with double-digit sales growth and Adjusted EPS growth of 22%,” said CEO Tom Taylor in a statement. “Our core business continues to perform well, and we are making progress with our expansion into new markets.”
Looking ahead, Floor and Decor expects second-quarter net sales in the range of $565-$575 million, and adjusted EPS in the range of $0.30-$0.32. Analysts are expecting second-quarter sales of $562.3 million and EPS of $0.29.
For the full year, Floor and Decor expects net sales in the range of $2.36-$2.39 billion, and adjusted EPS in the range of $1.25-$1.29. Analysts are expecting sales of $2.37 billion and EPS of $1.27.
Floor and Decor stock was up 10.2% on Thursday morning.
– Floor and Decor Holdings Inc stock price falls on weak guidance
Floor and Decor Holdings Inc (NYSE: FND) stock price fell on weak guidance released along with its first-quarter results. The company reported first-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.46, which beat the analyst estimate of $0.42. However, revenue of $490.5 million missed the estimate of $492.9 million.
The company issued weak guidance for the second quarter. Floor and Decor expects second-quarter adjusted EPS in the range of $0.22-$0.24, which is below the analyst estimate of $0.29. The company expects second-quarter revenue in the range of $460-$470 million, which is below the estimate of $473.5 million.
The company blamed the weak guidance on the continued impact of the pandemic. Floor and Decor said that the pandemic has led to lower traffic in its stores and a shift in consumer behavior. The company noted that the pandemic has caused a shift from large projects to smaller projects, and from professional customers to do-it-yourself customers.
Floor and Decor also announced that it has withdrawn its guidance for the full year. The company had previously issued guidance for full-year adjusted EPS in the range of $1.65-$1.75 and full-year revenue in the range of $2.025-$2.075 billion.
The company’s stock price fell sharply after the weak guidance was released. Floor and Decor’s stock is down 16% so far in 2020.
Floor and Decor Holdings Inc is a specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories. The company operates a chain of retail stores across the United States. Floor and Decor’s stock price has fallen sharply in 2020 as the pandemic has led to a slowdown in the company’s business.