text:
Retail Hours
Mon: Closed
Tues - Sat: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sun: 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Food Hours
Fri: 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Sat: 11:30 AM - Until food runs out
Kalamazoo Outdoor
Our Online Store is currently undergoing upgrades and changes.Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grills, outdoor lifestyle products, and custom outdoor gourmet kitchens deliver superior design, performance and quality, bringing people together for a lifetime of outdoor gourmet entertaining.
Please give us a call with any questions or orders at (847) 251-2272.
Please give us a call with any questions or orders at (847) 251-2272.
"The relationship between man and fire stands as the single most important evolutionary jump ever introduced to the human species. We engage modern human existence and our need as humans to embrace fire into our designs, balancing the need for beauty, function, durability, and value into every grill we manufacture. "Geoffrey Bullard"
In 1998, while digging through an old steel filing cabinet, Geoffrey Bullard found his great grandfather Lewis Bullard`s original plans for a grill built in 1906 for W.E. Upjohn. At the time Geoffrey was running KSM, his great grandfather`s business otherwise known as Kalamazoo Sheet Metal.
It was at that moment the modern Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grill was born, but its roots are in the sheet metal division of Acme Hardware in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which was incorporated by Lewis Bullard in 1906 as Kalamazoo Sheet Metal.
Kalamazoo Sheet Metal manufactured many of Lewis Bullard`s inventions, including one of the first slot machines, The Mighty Kalamazoo, and the first folding daybed. Kalamazoo Sheet Metal`s greatest success was in manufacturing some of the first compression machines for making pills for Upjohn. And, of course, Kalamazoo Sheet Metal created original gourmet grills for W.E. Upjohn and many other locals.
Geoffrey Bullard followed the inspiration he uncovered from his great grandfather in 1998, and today he is the chief designer of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grills. Like his great grandfather, Geoffrey takes a unique approach to his designs. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grills offer many unique innovations: the Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet original Dragon Burner?; the side-mounted smoker box; the gourmet Dual-Fuel Grilling Drawers system; the deep hopper that reduces flare-ups and increases heat; and the fully-framed design that creates a superior structure that will never wobble or fail. Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet also pioneered the use of infrared gas burners.
Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet grills are hand-built of heavy-gauge grade 304 stainless steel using advanced laser-cutting and bending techniques, quality TIG welding and hand grinding and polishing. Our products are designed and built like no others, and offer an outdoor gourmet grilling experience to last a lifetime.
The history and features of our products have garnered the attention of numerous publications, including Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. The Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Custom Outdoor Gourmet Kitchens are featured regularly on the Travel Channel, and National Product Review has referred to our grills as "the Hummer of grills."


text: There are many things you should know about Cardi B — she had a No. 1 song, she makes more schmoney than you, she is the reigning queen of the Bronx, etc. — but one thing you probably didn't know is that she has a very eventful sex life. In her first Rolling Stone cover, Cardi has opened up about the things many women tell only their closest friends, or their gynecologist. She starts by telling a story about the soap that gave her a terrible yeast infection, describing it by saying "my pussy was burnin' like a Mexican taco!" She then goes on to lament about her tragic lack of birthday sex. Cardi, who recently turned 25, did not get to bone her then-boyfriend, now-fiancé Offset on the big day because he was off touring. "I was sad, because it's like, 'Oh, my gosh, I'm not getting no dick on my birthday.' But I wasn't going to get dick on my birthday anyway, because I got my period," she says, speaking on behalf of every woman who's felt that pain. Had she received that greatest of birthday gifts, though, it unfortunately would not have been done safely: "Girl," she tells RS, "I don't even use a condom." Trust Cardi to be both that friend who overshares and the one you need to lecture about protection.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ceremonial crafts are items created from natural materials and are used for sacred or ceremonial purposes. These items can be
placed on altars or in nature, they can be buried or burned, or released
in water, depending on the intent of the creator. The most important
ingredient in any spirit craft is intention.
If you are interested in taking my course on Art Medicine: Creating &
Consecrating Spirit Crafts, see more information at
Ingredients of Sacred Shaman Herbs (Medicine Bag Mix):
Tobacco, White
Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar, Lavender, Rosemary, Cornmeal
Ingredients of Sacred Shaman Oil (Sweet Almond Oil Base):
Tobacco, White Sage, Sweetgrass, Cedar,
Lavender, Rosemary, Corn
Healing, protection, grounding, safety, balance, spirituality, courage, dreams,
prosperity, wisdom, calming, comforting, bless houses, purifies & attracts good
energy, decreases negativity,
Sage: Ceremonial offering, immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection,
wishes, drive out evil spirits, negative thoughts, feelings, & entities,
purifies the mind, body, & spirit before prayer, meditation, ritual, divination,
or ceremony, purifies sacred items, spaces, and houses.
Protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep,
youth, protects against evil, cleanses, ensure fidelity.
Love, protection, sleep, longevity, purification, happiness, peace of mind and
inner calm, promotes passion, romance, harmony, friendship, and cooperation with
a lover.
Purify space, offering to Spirits, amplifies prayers, allow communication with
Fertility, healing powers of people, animals, rituals, & objects.
White cornmeal is male, yellow is female. Corn pollen sprinkled on both unifies
Protection, plenty, drawing luck, divination skills. One of the 3
Sisters in Native American lore.
Prosperity, wisdom, sweetness; wealth; love; living presently.
Candles absorb
one's personal energy and release this energy when burned. The birthday candle
ritual is based on 3 key magical principles: 1. Decide on a goal. 2. Visualize
the end result. 3. Focus your intent, or will, to manifest that result. Candle
magick is based on the same 3 principles.
Candles that I
dress are marked for your specific purpose. Reiki energy is also applied to it.
Take a
spiritual bath before you begin. Dress in light colored, comfortable clothing.
Work in a sacred space or at your altar. Burn incense. Say prayers to your
Time your candle-burning to
correspond to the cycles of the moon. To bring something into your life, do your
rituals when the moon is waxing (or growing). To rid yourself of something, do
it when the moon is waning.
Hold the candle
between the palms of your hands. Breathe deeply. Visualize your goal. Push
personal, programmed power into the candle between your hands. Feel the energy
streaming into it. Meditate briefly before lighting the candle to help still the
mind and bring your desire into focus. When you light the flame, state your
intention out loud, in simple, clear terms. Imagine that you already have what
it is you want in your life. Focus on being receptive and open to what it is you
want. Hold your hands around the candle's flame. Feel the energy. Visualize
strongly. You can also write your petition on a piece of paper while visualizing
your goal and burn it completely in the candle flame. While burning it
concentrate completely on your goal. Then let the candle burn all the way out.
It is customary
not to blow out magick candles. Candle snuffers or wet fingertips are preferred.
When you extinguish a candle, thank Spirit for helping with your request. When
done, do not think of spell again. Keep silent so that outside forces do not
interfere with your desires.
Once you have
used a candle for a specific purpose, keep it for this purpose. Allow it to
build up the vibration that you are using if for. When storing candles, it is
the custom in hoodoo to wrap and tie them. This secures their spiritual energy
and marks them as still being in use. The most common way to wrap candles that
are being burned in sections is to place them in a brown paper grocery bag and
twist the top shut. Melted wax can also be analyzed for images of divination,
similar to reading tea leaves.
To dispose of
used candle wax, bury it, burn it, throw it over the left shoulder in running
water or into a crossroads.
Water (also known as Flower Water or Agua de Florida) is a eau
de toilet of floral essential oils in a water-alcohol base.
Florida Water is used for: magick and rituals, protection and
spiritual cleaning, to scent bowls of water set out for the
spirits of the dead, for phukuy (the process of ritually
clearing objects and areas by blowing from the mouth).
One way
to smudge or clear is to pour some into the hands, rub and clap
the hands together, inhale the vapors, then brush the fumes over
one's body.
people of Latin and South America Florida Water in much the same
way as Native Americans burn sage. It is a form of cleansing
known as smudging. Because the base of Florida water is wood
grain alcohol, it is toxic. It is highly recommended that you do
not take this commercial form into your mouth to blow. Homemade
Florida Water with a vodka base can be used to blow from the
mouth. Following are the ingredients that you can use to make
your own. You can experiment with different mixtures and amounts
until you get your own very special recipe.
Vodka (can be diluted with distilled water or rose water)
The wand focuses magical forces
(intentions and affirmations). It represents the element of Air or Fire. The
wand serves to direct energy during ritual.
Wand energy can be used for healing, concentrating amulets,
programming common items, balancing and grounding yourself, increasing a skill,
or to create your future the way you desire.
Each wand
I create is smudged with sage for cleansing & purification and charged with
Reiki life force energy.
To consecrate
your wand for magickal use, burn some incense, such as cinnamon. Pass your wand
through the smoke, saying: I consecrate thee, rod of
skill to focalize my truest will. May my power flow through thee, as I do will,
so mote it be! When you are finished, wrap it in linen
or silk.
Sit in
front of a lit candle and hold your wand out, saying: By the
power of the elements I dedicate this magic and to heal the Earth, to channel my
power, to harm none and find truth. I dedicate this magic and in name of the
wizards and witches of ancient times. By the power of all that is good, all that
is true, my wand honors & amplifies the magic in me and the magic in you. So
mote it be!
Wands should be cleansed on a regular basis to keep the energy
clean and pure. Hold your wand out, saying: Through the power of divine love, I claim and cleanse this space for the
purposes of light and truth. I welcome all spirits of eternal love and demand
all agents and energies that seek darkness to depart. I call forth protection
into this space. Only by light, love, and learning I exist here. I boldly claim,
declare, and decree that this space is worthy, sound, and receptive to the
working's of light now.
To recharge: place the wand in
sunlight or moonlight (preferably full moon). Or hold the wand in both hands and
send energy from your hands into the wand. Envision the wand glowing with a
brilliant white light. It is best to keep your wand wrapped in cloth, to keep
the wand isolated from the outside world and the energy pure to you, with no
contaminants. Another way to cleanse is to use burning sage (smudging). Hold the
smoking sage under the wand and envision the smoke absorbing all the negative
energy from the wand as it passes.
Rub your hands together vigorously for about 10 seconds or more to open up the
energy pathways in your hands. Hold the wand in your dominant hand. Hold the
base end in the palm of your hand and point with the pointed end. Visualize your
energy being gathered and focused through the wand. In divination, use your wand
to point to the cards, or runes, or whatever you are using, to help focus your
concentration and receive the correct message. When you work spells, use your
wand to point towards whatever you want your energy to reach, such as healing an
injured friend, or protecting an endangered forest. Treat your wand as a part of
your own body. And always keep it wrapped whenever you are not using it! Lay it
on the front of your altar or at the East (right) side.
Wear it until it needs to be replaced. If you
should pass away, it's a good idea to have your medicine pouch buried with you.
You can give your medicine pouch away, but you must also pass along the stories
that go along with the items that are within.
1. Plant:
Plant, leaf, bark, wood, or root.
2. Mineral:
Crystals, minerals, rocks or stones.
3. Animal:
Feathers, claws, fur, skull, especially something that represents your power
4. Technology: Computer chips.
I typically
fill medicine bags with the following:
Bird Feather – Symbol of spirit & flight, message
between heaven & earth
– Used to
dispel evil spirits & ward off evil eye
Pine Cone –
Symbol of growth
– Represents the masculine, the Peaceful Warrior with martial readiness &
– Represent the feminine. The cowrie shell is used in divination in many
Tarot Card
– Symbol of your energy.
– For clarity, spiritual attunement, & solidity. The amethyst is the gay quartz
that helps amplify the 3rd eye and psychic ability.
– Sacred offering to the Spirits. Amplifies prayers, introduces sacred spirit,
provides healing and purification and allows communication with spirits
- Clears and purifies sacred spaces. Drives out evil spirits, negative thoughts
and feelings, and to keeps negative entities away.
Sweetgrass - Bring positive
energy in after negative energies are banished by using sage, to call spirits,
ancestors, and spirit helpers.
Cornmeal – Offering for
protection and abundance.
Attracts good influences. Purifies, protects, cleanses, grounds, balances,
heals, calms, comforts, and decreases negativity.
Rosemary –
Protects against evil and
– For nurture & nutrition.
– For harvest, abundance,
fertility, & blessing.
Squash Seeds
– The 3rd of the 3 Sisters. The 3 sisters are the principle crops of
Native Americans. Iroquois legend says that corn, beans, & squash are 3
inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together.
Sunflower Seeds
– Considered the 4th sister by many Native American tribes.
Represents the sun, happiness, and growth.
The bag needs to be empowered.
Lay all the objects and the bag itself on a table. Hold each object in your
hand, close your eyes, and think about what you would like it to do. Thank it,
and put it inside the bag. Do this for each item, one at a time. You can cleanse
each object in the smoke of incense or sage. When the bag is filled, hold the
bag in your hand, and concentrate on what it should do for you. Hold your pouch
close to your heart and use your imagination and see the bag helping you in your
minds eye. Then thank the animals, minerals, plants, etc. that gave of
themselves so that you could have this bag. I
smudge each bag with sage for cleansing & purification and charge with Reiki
life force energy.
Safe Travel & Roadblock Removal
Good Luck
Love, Attraction, Romance, & Passion
Power & Protection
Vision, Spirit Communication,
& Psychic Vision
Money, Wealth, & Prosperity
Home Blessing & Protection
Uncrossing & Hex Removal
Tranquility, Peace,
& Healing
Hoodoo is a form
of folk magic created from the beliefs and customs of American
African slaves.
Hoodoo also incorporates beliefs and customs from Native American, Christian,
Jewish, and Celtic folklore. The word is derived from the Ewe word Hudu. Some
synonyms are: conjure, witchcraft, or rootwork.
also called: mojo bag, mojo hand, conjure bag, trick bag, lucky hand, root bag,
toby, jomo, or gris-gris bag is a hoodoo amulet. The word mojo comes from the
African word mojuba meaning a prayer in a bag. A mojo used for divination is
called a jack, jack bag, or jack ball. In the Caribbean, a bag is called a wanga
or oanga bag, from the African word wanga, which means charm or spell. Once a
mojo bag is sealed, it is usually not re-opened whereas a medicine bag or pouch
can be opened and items added or removed at any time.
The mojo bag is a portable altar
that reminds you of what you are manifesting and keeps you immersed in the
energy of the spell. It amplifies your affirmations. The mojo bag can be filled
with different items depending on the purpose of the bag: herbs, roots, coins,
minerals, lodestones, parts of animals' bodies, bodily fluids, full name, date
of birth, personal items (hair, photo, fingernails, body fluids), a petition
paper, and various other objects of magical power.
There are always an odd number of
items in the bag (the bag not included in the count) but no more than 13 items.
The items should come from at least 3 different elements such as: root, mineral,
herb, oil, nut, metal, and personal concerns.
The energy that provides the power
to the mojo bag or spell is the intention that goes with the action of creating
and maintaining the bag. Each item is talked to as it is placed in the bag. When
the bag is filled, it is given the breath of life. This is done by blowing into
the bag.
The bag is anointed with oil as a
symbol of the bag's life blood. It is then shaken awake. Also rattles, bells,
drums, or verbal declarations can be used to energize the bag. Next the bag is
purified and blessed by passing it clockwise through smoke (from smudge stick or
incense). Or rootworkers typically use a cigar and shot-gun the smoke into the
bag. Tobacco sends the petition directly to the spirit world. The bag can also
be heated up (made hot) with alcohol, coffee, or condition oil by spraying the
bag with a small amount. In addition, I create smudge
with sage for cleansing & purification and charge with Reiki life force energy.
To seal or not to seal the bag depends on its
purpose. Sealing makes it final and if opened, the spell is done or ready to be
disposed of. If this is an ongoing spell that will need to be fed you may choose
not to seal it.
If your bag is already sealed, do not open it. Bags are tied specifically in a
traditional way
You will need to feed your bag at
least once a week. The most common liquids used are alcohol, such as whiskey; a
perfume, such as Hoyt's Cologne or Florida Water; bodily fluids, such as spit or
urine, or a condition oil. You can also do a mouth spray with alcohol or coffee.
When anointing your bag with oil, dab it 5 times, once for each of the 4
directions and once for the center. Talk to you bag aloud and tell it how it has
helped you and what you need it to do next.
Other forms of energizing your bag
include: laying it in the sunlight and/or moonlight for 24 hours. The time of
the full moon is perfect for this, holding a clear crystal pendulum over the bag
and passing it slowly in a clockwise circle 9 times, to cleanse, pass the
pendulum slowly anti-clockwise 9 times. Also Reiki can be used to energize your
bag. If you are not attuned, ask a Reiki practitioner to perform the Reiki for
Mojos either draw something to you or expel things away from you.
Mojos are typically carried on the body, close to the skin. Some people carry
them in their purse or pocket. You can also put them under your pillow while you
sleep. Do no not allow anyone to look at your mojo bag or touch your mojo
Safe travel mojo bags can be placed in your
vehicle. Home blessing bags can be kept hidden above the front door. Protection
bags can be kept at the 4 corners of a room. Prosperity spells can be kept in
the kitchen. Love and fidelity spells can be kept in the bedroom. Cleansing and
uncrossing spells can be kept in the bathroom. Protection bags can be buried in
the corners of the yard or under the steps of the main entrance. In a new
construction site, a bag can be placed where it will remain for as long as the
building stands.
If you want to expel things
away from you, you can take your bag to a crossroads where the energy will be
dispersed by passing traffic. When you are doing a cleansing or uncrossing mojo,
natural running water is a place that will cleanse and empower.
Mojo bags die. This may be due to the bag being worn, from it
being touched, looked upon, not being fed, or the spell is complete. It is
important to dispose of your mojo properly. All of the items should be buried
upon completion. Bury them at a strong tree if possible. You can also burn the
sack or throw it in the garbage far away from your home or work. When you do
so, do not look back.
It is a Native American belief
that you must offer a gift that will delight the higher spirits in order to gain
their attention and blessings. Usually the more work and effort put into an item
for offering, the more inclined the spirits are to bless the request put to
them. This requires more focus upon the intent of the prayer by its creator,
hence giving it more energy.
Prayer ties are the oldest and simplest way to pray using
tobacco. Tobacco is a sacred botanical in the Native American tradition. It
amplifies prayers, provides healing and purification, extracts negativity in
spiritual healings, and allows communication with spirits.
Prayer ties are made by using pieces of cloth
that are approximately 2 to 4 square inches. Each color represents a direction.
Prayer energy is offered
into the tobacco by holding the tobacco in your left hand lifting it to your
heart and saying your prayer. Then the tobacco is placed in the center of the
cloth. The 4 corners are drawn up forming a small pouch which is tied to a
string by using a clove hitch (2 half hitches). When completed, smudge the
prayer ties. Usually prayer ties are released into the universe through burning.
This releases the prayers in the smoke and allows them to be carried to
Grandfather, Grandmother, Great Spirit.
Here is just one model of how prayer ties can be made. Each
tribe that uses prayer ties has their own system of creating them. For instance,
the Lakota only use 4 colors: red, black, white, and yellow.
1 East
- Yellow – Air - New Beginnings, Rebirth, Prosperity, Longevity
2 South - Red – Fire - Motivation, Creativity, Growth
3 West - Black
- Water – Healing, Transformation, Introspection
4 North - White
– Earth - Wisdom, Spirit, Strength, Clear Vision
5 Above - Blue
– Father Sky, Masculine Energy, Spiritual Healing
6 Below - Green
– Mother Earth, Feminine Energy, Physical Healing
7 Center - Purple
– Balance, Harmony, Self, Mental Healing
8 Parallel Universe –
- Soul Mate, Twin Flame
Prayer ties are
released into the universe through burning. This releases the prayers in the
smoke and allows them to be carried to Grandfather, Grandmother, and Great
Spirit. The ties should be burned within a year of being created.
Tobacco is a sacred botanical in the Native American tradition. It amplifies
prayers, provides healing and purification, extracts negativity in spiritual
healings, and facilitates communication with spirits.
I imprint each
prayer bundle with a special prayer then smudge them and infuse with Reiki
Prayer bundles can be created for many different purposes. They can be
buried or burned to activate the prayer energy. Use your own symbolism
and creativity in making these bundles. Of course, all items should be
environmentally-friendly such as 100% cotton material.
Prayer sticks were largely used
by the Pueblo. The Hopi Indians had a special prayer stick to which a small bag
of sacred meal was attached. Green and blue prayer sticks are often found in the
Pueblo graves.
When collecting the wood try to find some already fallen to the
ground. If this is not possible, ask the tree for permission to cut a branch.
Always leave give thanks to the tree spirits for offering themselves by leaving
an offering. In Native American culture it is customary to leave tobacco or corn
mean. In the Celtic Druid culture, it is customary to leave whisky. If none of
these are available, use a piece of your hair or your own spit.
The prayer energy is offered into the creation of prayer sticks
by thinking good thoughts, healing thoughts, or thoughts of forgiveness. Smudge
the prayer sticks. The prayers are released into the universe through the prayer
sticks being stood up in the ground with the stick exposed to nature (air). A
vision prayer stick provides a connection point between you and the Spirit
World. It will help you focus and see. Beads and noisemakers are meant to make
connections with the wind spirits.
Keep the stick wrapped in red cotton cloth when you are not using
it. When you bring the stick out smudge it. Then sit with the stick and pray
about your vision and feel the power of the stick. In prayer, the stick will
help you connect with spirits and the symbols of your vision.
Each prayer stick
I create is smudged with sage for cleansing & purification and charged with
Reiki life force energy.
universe is populated with spirits who vary greatly in character, temperament,
and purpose. The malevolent spirits can bring trouble and harm to people who do
not employ protective means to ward off their influence. Spirit traps are used
to protect a person or place from the disruptive influence of evil and malicious
spirits by capturing them.
The purpose of a spirit trap (aka spirit bottle or witch
bottle) is to draw the spirit into the bottle by forcing it to count
items like poppy or mustard seeds, or by luring it down into the
bottle with a spiral trail of herbs, knotted string, or nails. The
spirit trap attracts and traps hostile spirits by tricking them into
believing they have found their target i.e. you.
Spirit traps
originated from African, European, and Middle Eastern practices.
They were used by the ancient Hebrews in some parts of Babylon to
drive away evil manifested as illness, demons, the evil eye, or
1. Container:
Cobalt Blue Bottle (with lid or cork)
2. The Lure: Black
Mustard Seeds (to lure the spirit into counting the seeds)
Black Poppy Seeds (to lure the spirit and trip it up)
Urine (for protection or to lure the spirit into the bottle)
Hair, Blood, and/or Nail-clippings (to lure the spirit into the
Knotted Strings (to bind and tie the spirit)
3. The Tie Down:
Devil's Shoe Strings (to tie up devils)
Spanish Moss (to tie up the spirit)
Knotweed (to bind up and trap)
Nails (to nail the spirit in place)
4. Protection:
Red Pepper (crushed)
Salt (to protect and drive away)
Black Pepper (to ward off evil)
Broken Glass and/or Broken Mirrors (to reflect back evil)
With intention and
focus, place all the items in the bottle in the following order: 1st
put the lure in the bottle. 2nd put the tie downs in the bottle. 3rd
put protection in the bottle. Then blow your prayer with your breath
into the bottle and immediately seal with the lid or cork. Tie a
string with 9 knots around the outside of the bottle.
The bottle can be
placed at the front door, in the chimney, hung from a windowsill, or
hung in a tree outside your home.
If the bottle falls
and breaks a Spirit has been drawn to the trap. Dispose of the trap
(not on your property) in running water, at a crossroads, or bury
under a tree. Then build a new trap.
Return to Top
Copyright © 2016
Drake Bear Stephen. Except as Acknowledged. All Rights Reserved.


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text:
"We've just taken on a probate property yesterday. It's on at £750,000, but when done, you're looking at a million pound property". Said the estate agent. With a £250,000 paygap [ … ]
Tag: making money in property
Revealed: 10 Things You Should Know Before You Invest In Property
With interest rates predicted to remain low for the foreseeable future, more people than ever are ploughing their hard earned savings into property. Property investment can be a fabulous way [ … ]


text:
That's The Point (The Women of Qumar, 3.09)
In this episode of Jed Bartlet is My President, I sit down with Dr. Charisse L'Pree, associate professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, to discuss media, race and gender as we dig into the themes in The Women of Qumar (3.09)! The post JBIMP #10. That's The Point (The Women of Qumar, 3.09) appeared first on Chipperish Media.
Show notes:
- Discuss Jed Bartlet is My President on the Chipperish Forum!
- Support Chipperish on Patreon!
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September 25 • Coffee Producers
The best part of waking up? Well, it's coffee, of course.
Humanity truly runs on this beverage that helps millions of people around the world wake up, work and function. And if it's of the Arabica variety, its delicious 'kick' will keep you going strong all day long.
August 18 • Coffees & Teas
The ceremony of tea is ancient. Tea ceremony has been delicately woven into history to become an intrinsic part of many different cultures around the world.
August 18 • Coffees & Teas
Our story begins in Japan and ends in New York. These two different environments and experiences have been brought together by a passion for tea – Matcha tea, specifically.
August 18 • Coffees & Teas
Tea is more than just a beverage to have with your breakfast. It's a powerful, ancient commodity that's been intrinsically involved in many different ethnic cuisines. T2 is all about this. Their mission as an independent tea company is to look beyond the cup and into the lives of the people behind the tea. Let's begin at the beginning.
August 18 • Coffee Producers
We're always on the path to enlightenment when it comes to our brew. Because we know that you are, too, we get super excited when we can share few and far between meccas of coffee that are so well-known in their area, they are the mainstays. This is one of them.
August 12 • Coffee Producers
Our story doesn't begin with Jack's Coffee, however. It goes further back than that, to the early 90's
when Jack's Coffee founder David Burton saw a need in Auckland for a decent cup of fresh coffee.
This led to the creation of Burton Hollis, a coffee company created by David Burton that would go on
to supply the hospitality industry with fresh coffee beans for 16 years.
August 12 • Coffee Producers
The Stumptown coffee buyers are called the Green Team members. These people sit down around a
campfire or in the home of a producer and talk about the year's crop. They have met with these
producers many times because they have slowly been working on building long-lasting relationships.
June 24 • Coffees & Teas
Don't you wish that wellness was at the top of the list for all tea boutiques?
There's nothing like knowing that your tea is doing your body a world of good. The perfect combination is when flavor meets with nutrition, creating an outstanding brew that can transform your wellbeing for the better.


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designed. You are applying for a small business loan. In order to get the loan, you've been asked to
compile a comprehensive marketing plan. o Briefly describe your company. o Conduct a marketing audit.
(Step 1) o Assess your strategic options using the TOWS model. (Step 2) o Create objectives using the
REAN network. (Step 2) Identify what contributes the most to or detracts from the company's competitive
advantage. o In a table, outline your general tactic for each objective. (Step 3) o Using your digital
toolbox, describe your tactical actions for two personas. Step 4) General Guidelines • 5-7-pages. • Use
section headers to help organize the paper. • 1-inch margins, double spaced • 12-point font (Times New
Roman or Courier) • Remember to factor in any and all feedback given for each step. You may use any
format you'd like as long as it conforms with the guidelines above. Be detailed and creative!


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374 River Road and St. Andrew's Road, St. Andrews, Manitoba, R1A, Canada
St. Andrew's Rectory National Historic Site of CanadaSt. Andrew's RectoryPresbytère St. Andrew's
1852/01/01 to 1854/01/01
St. Andrew's Rectory National Historic Site of Canada is a large, two-storey, stone country home built initially as a residence for the Anglican priest of the parish. Originally constructed in 1851-54, it was rebuilt by Parks Canada in the 1980s. The rectory occupies a prominent hilltop location, close to St. Andrew's Anglican Church National Historic Site of Canada and overlooking the Red River. The grounds of the rectory have been restored by Parks Canada to reflect the landscaping of the period between 1860 and 1870. The official designation refers to the building on its footprint, and includes the remaining original elements.
St. Andrew's Rectory was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1962 because:- it is a good example of a type of mid 19th-century Red River architecture.
The Rectory reflects the Hudson's Bay style of architecture, which adapted Scottish building techniques to the Canadian frontier. The bold design of the rectory, its simple, clean lines, and its limestone construction are typical of this style. The wooden verandah was a French Canadian modification found throughout the Red River area. Originally built by the Church Missionary Society as part of a complex of Anglican mission buildings erected between 1830 and 1855, the significant scale and sober design of the rectory reflect the respectable image appropriate to an Anglican missionary. The building was dismantled in the early 1980s and rebuilt true to the style and features of the original.
Sources: Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, Minutes, May 1962; Commemorative Integrity Statement.
The key elements that contribute to the heritage character of this site include:- its viewscapes to the Red River and to St. Andrew's Anglican Church;- its prominent location on a high point of land above the flood plain on a curve of the river;- its spatial relationship and accessibility to St. Andrew's Anglican Church;- its Hudson's Bay style, evident in its large scale, rectangular plan, minimal detailing, medium-pitch hipped roof, use of dressed limestone for walls, deep-set windows, and symmetrically placed window and door openings;- its symmetrical, dignified façade evident in its dormer windows and chimneys at both north and south ends of the structure, two windows at each side of the central door, and five windows in the second storey;- the wooden verandah, a distinctly French Canadian feature;- its original interior layout, based on a centre hall plan with four rooms on the first floor and five on the second level;- original, surviving, limestone blocks quarried from the nearby riverbank;- its relationship to the archaeological remains of the stable, and the wooden unidentified building;- its archaeological collection of mostly domestic artefacts dating from mid 1800s to mid 1900s.
Government of Canada
Historic Sites and Monuments Act
National Historic Site of Canada
1980/01/01 to 1989/01/01
Duncan McRae
Belonie Gibeault
National Historic Sites Directorate, Documentation Centre, 5th Floor, Room 89, 25 Eddy Street, Gatineau, Quebec
Highway 9, Selkirk, Manitoba
Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site of Canada is a former fur trade post, once the most…
3 St. Andrews Road, St. Andrews, Manitoba
St. Andrew's Church National Historic Site of Canada is a small stone Gothic-Revival-style church…
St. Andrews Rapids, Red River / Highway #44, Lockport, Manitoba
St. Andrews Caméré Curtain Bridge Dam is a 270 metre-long bridge-dam spanning the Red River at…
Administered by Parks Canada


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Handling Imbalanced Datasets in Deep Learning
It's important to understand why we should do it so that we can be sure it's a valuable investment. Class balancing techniques are only really necessary when we actually care about the minority classes.
Bring balance to your datasets like Thanos
Not all data is perfect. In fact, you'll be extremely lucky if you ever get a perfectly balanced real-world dataset. Most of the time, your data will have some level of class imbalance, which is when each of your classes have a different number of examples.
Why do we want our data to be balanced?
Before committing time to any potentially lengthy task in a Deep Learning project, it's important to understand why we should do it so that we can be sure it's a valuable investment. Class balancing techniques are only really necessary when we actually care about the minority classes.
For example, let's say we are trying to predict whether or not we should buy a house based on the current state of the market, the house's attributes, and our budget. In this case it's very important that if we buy then it is the right decision since it's such a huge investment. At the same time it's not a really big deal if our model says not to buy when we should have. There will always be other houses to buy if we miss out on one, but making the wrong investment on such a huge asset would be really bad.
In that example, we absolutely need our minority "buy" class to be extremely accurate, while for our "don't buy" class it's not such a big deal. Yet in a practical case, since buying will be far more rare than not buying in our data, our model will be biased to learning the "don't buy" class very well since it has the most data and might perform poorly on the "buy" class. That calls for balancing our data so that we can put more weight on the "buy" predictions being correct!
Now what about if we don't really care about the minority classes? For example, let's say we are doing image classification and your class distribution looks something like this:
At first glance it may seem like balancing our data would help. But maybe we're not very interested in those minority classes. Perhaps our main goal is to get the highest possible percentage accuracy. In that case it doesn't really make sense to do any balancing since most of our percentage accuracy will come from the classes with more training examples. Secondly, categorical crossentropy losses tend to perform quite well when aiming for the highest percentage accuracy even when the dataset is imbalanced. All in all our minority classes don't contribute much to achieving our main goal, so balancing isn't necessary.
With all of that being said, when we do encounter a case where we want to balance our data there are two techniques that we can use to help us out.
(1) Weight balancing
Weight balancing balances our data by altering the weight that each training example carries when computing the loss. Normally, each example and class in our loss function will carry equal weight i.e 1.0. But sometimes we might want certain classes or certain training examples to hold more weight if they are more important. Referring again to our example of buying a house, since the accuracy of the "buy" class is most important to us, training examples within that class should have significant effect on the loss function.
We can give weight to the classes simply by multiplying the loss of each example by a certain factor depending on their class. In Keras we can do something like this:
We created a dictionary that basically says our "buy" class should hold 75% of the weight for the loss function since it is more important that the "don't buy" class which we accordingly set to 25%. Of course these values can easily be tweaked to find the most optimal settings for your application. We can also use this method of balancing if one of our classes has significantly more examples than the other. Instead of spending time and resources trying to collect more for the minority class, we can try to use weight balancing to make all classes contribute equally to our loss.
Another method which we can use to balance the weighting of our training examples is the Focal Loss shown below. Here's the main idea: in our dataset, we will naturally have some training examples that are easier to classify than others. During training, these examples will be classified with 99% accuracy, while other more challenging ones may still exhibit poor performance. The problem is that those easily classified training examples are still contributing to the loss. Why are we still giving them equal weight when there are other more challenging data points that if correctly classified can contribute much more to our overall accuracy?!
And that's exactly the problem that the focal loss can address! Instead of giving equal weighting to all training examples, focal loss down-weights the well-classified examples. This has the net effect of putting more training emphasis on that data that is hard to classify! In a practical setting where we have a data imbalance, our majority class will quickly become well-classified since we have much more data for it. Thus, in order to insure that we also achieve high accuracy on our minority class, we can use the focal loss to give those minority class examples more relative weight during training. The focal loss can easily be implemented in Keras as a custom loss function:
(2) Over and under sampling
Selecting the proper class weights can sometimes be complicated. Doing a simple inverse-frequency might not always work very well. Focal loss can help, but even that will down-weight all well-classified examples of each class equally. Thus, another way to balance our data is by doing so directly, via sampling. Check out the image below for an illustration.
Under and and Over Sampling
In both the left and right side of the image above, our blue class has far more samples than the orange class. In this case, we have 2 pre-processing options which can help in the training of our Machine Learning models.
Undersampling means we will select only some of the data from the majority class, only using as many examples as the minority class has. This selection should be done to maintain the probability distribution of the class. That was easy! We just evened out our dataset by just taking less samples!
Oversampling means that we will create copies of our minority class in order to have the same number of examples as the majority class has. The copies will be made such that the distribution of the minority class is maintained. We just evened out our dataset without getting any more data! Sampling can be a good alternative to class balancing if you find that the class weights are difficult to set effectively.
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Bio: George Seif is a Certified Nerd and AI / Machine Learning Engineer.
Original. Reposted with permission.
- The 5 Clustering Algorithms Data Scientists Need to Know
- Three techniques to improve machine learning model performance with imbalanced datasets
- Get a 2–6x Speed-up on Your Data Pre-processing with Python
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Jurassic World Zia Action Figure
Get ready for thrilling action and adventure with Jurassic World! These action figures are inspired by characters in the film and feature realistic sculpts at 3 ¾" action scale. Each comes with an accessory or dinosaur action figure so kids play out their favorite Jurassic World moments. Choose from Owen and Baby Blue or the Mercenary and Dimorphodon. Relive all the action and adventure of the movie with these action figures! Each figure sold separately, subject to availability. Colors and decorations may vary.


text: Add to Cart Compare Quick view Alova Suede Apple Green Width 58/60" Apparel Fabric MSRP: Now: $5.50 Was: Alova Suede Fabric 100% Polyester approximately 260 gram per yard, 58/60" wide. Velvety feel, very durable fabric. Ideal for costumes, apparel, cloth diapers, home and event decor projects. Machine washable. First quality fabric at wholesale price order... MSRP: Now: $5.50 Was: Add to Cart Compare Quick view


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With the cold winter making everyone look for any scrap of heat they can possibly find it is important that all thermostats in your home are working. If you do not know what your heat pump thermostat is and does, then it is important that you are educated because it can save you a large sum of money per month. Because the heat pump works with electricity, it makes the installation easy when a home is being built because there are no extra chimneys and outlets that have to be built into the home and it makes the installation on an existing home so much easier because extra outlets don't have to be manufactured and broken out as it is with the gas powered heaters.
What Are Heat Pump Thermostats?
A heat pump is a great way to warm your home with electricity because you don't need a way for gas to get out of your home and you don't need to lay extra gas lines in your home and redecorate around it. Despite what people believe about heating a home, heat pumps are not easy to install and they should not be tended by anyone other than a professional. The thermostat is highly sophisticated and not just any thermostat should be fitted into the heat pump itself. There is a specific thermostat that should be ordered from the manufacturer. The thermostat regulates how hot or how cool the heat pump makes the home and if you have sudden fluctuations of hot and cold in your home, it could be because of the thermostat.
Heat pump thermostats are made to be virtually indestructible, but even the best thermostat can go bad and give in. Although it may seem like an easy task, it is better to have a professional replace the thermostat for you. Many have tried to do it themselves to cut costs and have had endless problems. With this intricate and complicated piece of machinery, there is so much that can go wrong and so many little parts that can be damaged that it is better not to fiddle with it yourself.
Functions of the Heat Pump Thermostat
The Function of the thermostat is to regulate the heat that comes from the heat pump. Should the heat pump be left to generate heat at a constant rate, the temperature inside the home may reach boiling point in no time and the shelf life of the heat pump itself may be shortened as well due to burning out. The thermostat regulates the heat pump and switches the heating on until the temperature inside the home reaches the set temperature and then switches the heat pump off again until the temperature fluctuates inside the home. This is why you would find wild fluctuations in your home when something is wrong with the thermostat.
Programming the Thermostat
Heat pump thermostats may not be the easiest technology to master if you do not read the manual. Each unit may not be the same and this is why it is important to read the manual and to follow the instructions to the last letter so that you are sure that the setting will be right. Once the temperature has been set, it is best to not adjust the settings on a regular basis.
On the older models of heat pumps, you may want to call in a technician that is certified to work on the specific model you have or you may want to replace with a newer model if you have the funds to do so.
Before Calling In the Professionals
Before spending money on replacing the thermostat, first change the air filter, which is easy enough to do by yourself and if the problem persists, you can check the wiring to see if there are any wires that have been damaged or that are loose. Once you have gone over all of these problems, and the fluctuations still persist, you can have the thermostat replaced.
If you understand the principle of electronics and you have the manufacturer's guide on your heat pump and the thermostat, you could attempt to repair or replace the thermostat by yourself, but remember that if the thermostat or the heat pump is still under warrantee, you may render this warrantee null and void if you attempt to repair or replace something on the unit by yourself. You also want to make sure that you have read all of the instructions and precautions and that you understand all of it before attempting the work yourself.
Should You Repair Or Replace?
If the heat pump cuts on and off no matter what the temperature then there may be a problem with your thermostat. In this case you would need to replace the thermostat or have it repaired. If the temperature only fluctuates about three degrees then it may just be a setting. We are never really happy with the temperature of our homes and this may cause us to think there is something wrong with the thermostat which causes us to fiddle with it constantly. It is best to decide on a general and comfortable temperature inside the home and ensure that all doors and windows are closed when the heat pump is on so that the thermostat is not constantly fiddled with. This wear and tear can shorten the lifespan of your heat pump and the thermostat.
Average Cost of Heat Pump Thermostats
The average price of heat pump thermostats range from $45 to $140, but the one you buy will depend on the heat pump you have. The two will need to be compatible. You can get an average heat pump thermostat for around $60. You should also look at how much a service costs on your unit before you choose the brand. The maintenance of the heat pump and the thermostat is very important and help you to get better longevity and reliability from your heat pump and all of the components that go with it.


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Don't worry - this is the last of the elfin bags. After this, I'll be making normal-sized bags (and the pattern for them). Because look what I bought!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
More MiniBags
Don't worry - this is the last of the elfin bags. After this, I'll be making normal-sized bags (and the pattern for them). Because look what I bought!
8 comments:
I saw that Orla print on a comforter, I think at Bed Bath and Beyond, and was contemplating trying to buy it to cut up. But, of course, they made the print on the comforter larger, which would not work for a bag, not to mention the wrong weight. SO stunning.ReplyDelete
Oh, what cute little bags! But OH, what a gorgeous bag is just going to "happen"!! Get that CD goin', girl!ReplyDelete
I love the tiny bags! So curious to know what the secret project is. :)ReplyDelete
Where did you get the amazing Orla Fabric?!?ReplyDelete
I just saw that gorgeous Orla Kiely print at Bed Bath and Beyond today. I drooled shamelessly, but unfortunately my pocketbook will never allow me to own such beauty!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 21, 2012 at 9:59 PM
AH I love Orla Kiely. If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase the fabric?ReplyDelete
Those are adorable! Best little bags I've ever seen. And the fabric... the best projects just make themselves, don't they? =)ReplyDelete
The bags are super cute, and I agree.. the fabric is gorgeous :)ReplyDelete
Thank you for talking to me! If you have a question, I might reply to it here in the comments or in an email.


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Where is Nigeria Going?
By Ola Kazeem in Lagos
Tuesday, 05 June 2007
No doubt, the Nigerian ruling class has landed itself in a very deep mess. It has created a situation that has made it extremely difficult for it to continue ruling in the old way. Within a period of eight years, all the ingredients required to sustain a minimal level of "bourgeois democracy" allowable in a neo-colonial economy like Nigeria have been completely eroded.
The Nigerian ruling class has been carrying out the policy of the IMF/World Bank over the years and is already paying dearly for this. But is there any alternative for them? Can the Nigerian ruling class refuse to do the bidding of imperialism?
Privatization, mass sackings and serious cuts in public spending on social services have created an unheard of level of inequality (a GINI coefficient of 0.75!) and extreme level of poverty with over 78% of Nigerians living on less than $1 dollar a day.
The consequences of these criminal policies are easy to see. The Nigerian ruling class has been completely discredited, without the slightest support among the people and, most expectedly, they are extremely divided among themselves, with one section accusing the other for the woes of the working class, but most unfortunately for them, both sections are completely discredited and mistrusted by the people.
What kind of election could the Nigerian ruling class organise in this kind of scenario? The pseudo-Marxists, who are threatening suicide because of electoral frauds perpetrated in the last election, are only exhibiting the poverty of their Marxist understanding. They are incapable of penetrating the content, and are only crying foul over a transition from quantity to quality.
A deeper look at what has been developing over the last years will clearly reveal a mounting contradiction developing between the policies of the cowboy ruling class and the desire of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians. This contradiction found its expression in the last elections, where the dominant wing of the Nigerian ruling class used state power to carry out the biggest electoral fraud in the history of Nigeria while the Nigerian masses remained as observers with scarce concern to defend the official opposition who they see as obviously being part and parcel of these disastrous policies.
This means there is no longer any room for deceit and moral appeals no longer have any effect. Pastor President Obasanjo and Reverend Iwu (Independent Electoral Commission Chairman) correctly understood that they could not avoid revealing the true naked nature of capitalism in a backward country like ours, that in this situation, lies and killings are actually "Godly".
Can the Nigerian Ruling Class find a way out of all this?
Under capitalism, there is no such thing as a "final crisis". Capitalists will always find a way out, if the working class does not take power. Although, the way out always results in more barbaric attacks on the working class and the masses in general. The Nigerian ruling class entered into crisis in 1993 and as a result of the inability of the fraudulent and compromised leadership of Labour at that time to independently mobilise for power, this resulted in the emergency of Abacha, the most brutal dictator Nigeria has ever had. A similar situation is facing us now.
No doubt, the incoming government of Yaradua lacks credibility and legitimacy. It is glaringly weak and may find it difficult to immediately continue the attacks on the working class from where Obasanjo left off. But at the same time the government is not an end in itself but a means to an end. Capitalist government in neo-colonial countries have one and only one role: to do the bidding of the imperialists. Therefore, the Yaradua government can only justify its existence to the capitalist class if it can continue to privatise, if it can intensify mass sackings and starve social services of funding.
For the incoming government to do this, it must resolve its problem of credibility/legitimacy. One obvious option that the ruling class is already toying with to achieve this is to rally all the opposition parties into a "government of National Unity". But the question remains, can this see them through? With all sections of the Nigerian ruling classes discredited in the eyes of the Nigerian working class, it is very doubtful if such a government of National Unity could perform the expected miracle of bringing into being this much-undeserved credibility.
This is where the leadership of the Nigerian Labour and Trade Union Congress will most likely come in. Efforts will be made in the coming period by the Nigerian ruling class to make use of the leadership of the working class to stabilise their regime. We are already hearing the Labour bureaucrats trying to make a distinction between the outgoing President Obasanjo and incoming President Yaradua, describing Yaradua as a "more listening" personality and that he is "more considerate". This is the beginning of a process that can end in a serious disaster for the Nigerian workers. The rank and file workers must reject this rapport and demand an independent action of the working class.
What can we benefit from this crisis of the Ruling Class?
Contrary to what some pseudo-Marxists are saying, that this is a very great opportunity for us to mobilize the working class to chase out Obsanjo and its incoming hanger-on, this is like any other great opportunity that had come in the past. The Nigerian workers have organised 8 general strikes in the last 8 years. Can we ask for a more favourable situation? There has been only one factor missing every time the workers have moved: the working class party under a revolutionary leadership. More and better opportunities do lie ahead of us. We are strongly convinced that the best opportunity is very close by, but in the absence of a genuine Labour Party with a revolutionary leadership the result would be a major disaster.
The Transitional Programme comes to the rescue
As could be foreseen, the irresponsible slogan for the election cancellation and the formation of an "Interim/Provisional Government" has proved incapable of adequately mobilising the Nigerian workers. What are needed at this juncture are demands that directly touch the life of Nigerian workers. If the election is cancelled and re-conducted one million times, we would not get any better result as long as the ruling class is the one handling it, and the Nigerian working class instinctively know this.
Already we have seen how a one-week ultimatum was presented to the Federal government for a 15% salary rise and also asking the government to stop privatisations, but erroneously "Civil Society" and other pseudo-Marxists were demanding that the workers should drop these demands in favour of a struggle for the cancellation of the elections.
This is the completely wrong approach. We should upheld these demands of the workers and explain that we need to go even further. A 15% salary rise with inflation at 11% with 10% VAT imposed on all goods and services amounts to movement without motion.
The workers would have understood better if it had been explained to them that the only class that can halt privatisation and bring a significant improvement to welfare conditions of the working class is only the working class itself. To achieve this, we need our own party and we need to take the power from this degenerate, discredited and very barbaric ruling class. If we had approached the working class in this way we would have won their attention and hearing.
Is there need for a new Workers' Party?
A Labour Party already exists in Nigeria, but unfortunately, it has been taken over by the capitalists. Nature abhors a vacuum, and the inability of the leadership of the working class to take over what rightfully belongs to the workers has led to this sorry situation. If we organise another workers' party one million times over, the situation will be the same if the leadership of working class through the NLC and TUC refuses to identify with it. Therefore, we demand that the leadership of the working class take over the Labour Party and eject all the poisonous bosses that are presently strangling it. "For a Labour Party Without Bosses", still remains the correct slogan.
We are fast moving towards a revolutionary period in Nigeria; we are on the eve of big battles between the ruling rogues and the starving working class. We are about to witness a decisive struggle between the haves and the have-nots. The force of revolution will benefit immensely from the period we are about to enter, provided we have a correct and timely programme of intervention. A successful revolution in Nigeria would almost seamlessly spread to West Africa and later to the whole of Africa. The Nigerian workers are agonising under the yoke of this blood-sucking system. The Nigerian workers deserve to live more decently and are prepared to fight all the obstacles standing against them. We need a tool to achieve this and this tool must be revitalized and be sharpened. This tool is our own independent political party. We already have a party (the Labour Party), but what we need to do is take it back from the Pedros and Co and use it to seize the power. This is the only way open before us.


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Students receive in-depth training in database management and analysis — plus they partner with health sciences researchers on real projects in fields such as public health, surgery, dentistry and oncology.
Each semester, students work in our Biostatistical Consulting Laboratory, where they collaborate to design studies, create and maintain research databases, analyze data, and report statistical evidence.
Optional Concentrations
Students can add an optional concentration that allows specialization within biostatistics:
- M.S. with Genomics Concentration
- M.S. with Clinical Research Concentration (requires the applicant hold a M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D., Pharm.D. or equivalent health professional "terminal" degree)
Program Highlights
Our M.S. program offers a quicker degree path than a doctoral track, allowing full-time students to complete the program in as little as 18 months. Other highlights include:
- No thesis requirement
- Many elective course options
- One culminating applied examination
Student Profile
Students in our M.S. program typically:
- Have a solid math background, some applied experience and basic-level programming skills
- Want a combination of relevant coursework and experiential learning through collaboration on actual research projects
- Are interested in data analysis or statistical programming positions
Admission Requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School, applicants for the M.S. in biostatistics (including the clinical research or genomics concentrations) are encouraged complete the verbal, quantitative and analytical writing sections of the Graduate Record Exam. However, GRE scores are not required for admission.
All applicants are expected to hold at least a B.S. or B.A. degree. Priority is given to applications received by May 15 prior to the fall semester of enrollment.
Our departmental admissions committee evaluates all applicants for graduate work in biostatistics and arranges personal interviews when possible.
Degree Requirements
M.S. students must complete at least 33 semester credit hours of courses, participate in the Summer Student Training Program and present at the Biostatistics Student Research Symposium. All M.S. students must pass an applied qualifying exam after completing required first-year courses. No thesis is required.
Apply Now
Have questions? Just call or email; we're here to help.
Beth Ann Howard
Education Coordinator
(804) 827-2049


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In "It's a small world after all, part 1," we talked about how social media connects people in ways that weren't possible until recently, and focused especially on Twitter. In this post, we continue the conversation.
Through Facebook I have connected more solidly with my friends
Thanks to Facebook, I have reconnected with old friends from high school and college that I haven't seen for nearly 40 years, and I get to socialize with current friends much more than I otherwise would, since everyone is always on the run and time for "real world" socializing is short. I have also found some folks who share professional interests, but Facebook is mainly about fun and socializing for me.
Though it took me a year to start using it, up until about last October it was the social medium I turned to most. I connect with co-workers here, but more on a "water cooler" level–valuable, but a different sort of thing than the other two services we're considering here. Continue reading


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Pre-order culinary delights with just a few clicks
Our SWISS Economy passengers can already enjoy a variety of culinary delights on the majority of our European routes with our award-winning SWISS Saveurs concept.
And thanks to the new SWISS Saveurs Pre-Order service, you can now decide before you embark on your trip which fresh products from the renowned Swiss family company Confiserie Sprüngli we may serve you during the flight.
Using SWISS Saveurs Pre-Order ensures that you will receive exactly what you fancy most on the menu. And you'll also benefit from more favourable conditions than if you were to purchase directly during the flight.
We want to offer you an even better travel experience with the new SWISS Saveurs Pre-Order option. Long-term, we believe that SWISS Saveurs Pre-Order will play an important part in reducing food waste on board SWISS aircraft.


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This week was one of my busier weeks at work – one of those weeks where I have a chance to use my psychology degree. On Wednesday afternoon, I found myself escaping the office and driving into the countryside. I'm not sure it requires much explanation, but I find comfort and peace on these little country roads – granted, I also wanted to take advantage of a 70 degree day (which quickly turned back into a 40 degree day…strange weather we're having right now) with my camera.
In particular, I thought of Tara's Live Every Moment photo challenge. This week's theme is trees. As much as I love to photograph leaves…especially during warm months, I find that the branches of trees are quite lovely.
Taken a step further, I have become quite intrigued with two types of adjustments: Inverse and Threshold. I first experimented with this effect a few weeks ago for Scavenger Hunt Sunday. If you're interested in achieving a similar look, I encourage you to find those functions within your adjustment layers and experiment. For added effect, I applied a couple of textures.
Happy Friday!


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In case you don't know, June isn't just the sixth month of the year—it's also Pride Month! So if you've been seeing rainbow reacts on Facebook, or colorful captions on Instagram—well, you now know why. This is a significant period of time as it celebrates LGBT+ rights. Although people are more accepting nowadays, there's still a stigma that surrounds people who aren't straight—all the reason for us to promote Pride Month.
Pride Month is not just about attending gay pride marches or protesting for same-sex marriage (though you can do those, if you want). What really matters to the LGBT+ community is your awareness and knowledge in this issue—especially with the lack of representation for gay people. So here are 6 books perfect for you to understand Pride Month and the LGBT+ movement.
- Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Two of our favorite authors take turns in writing alternating chapters. Odd number chapters are told by quiet heterosexual Will Grayson 1, and even number chapters are narrated by depressed homosexual will grayson 2. Featuring both LGBT+ protagonists and supporting characters, this book soon meshes into a cohesive storyline that shows us all we need in this world is love and unity—no matter what sexuality you are.
- History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera
When Griffin's ex-boyfriend Theo dies in an accident, his world ends. Sure, Theo moved away and started dating some guy named Jackson, but Theo was still his first love. What's infinitely worse is that the only person who understands his heartbreak is Jackson. But the more they open up to each other, the more Griffin plummets into an OCD-induced depression. Can Griffin put his heart back together again?
- We Are Okay by Nina Lacour
Marin left everything in her old life in California behind—and she hasn't spoken to a single soul from her past ever since. No one knows the truth about what happened—not even her best friend, Mabel. But even on the other side of the country in an empty New York college dorm, Marin still cannot let go of her past. With Mabel coming to visit for winter break, Marin must face all the pain she's been struggling to hide in her heart.
- Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
This novel (which, ICYDK, is being turned into a movie starring Nick Robinson and Katherine Langford) focuses on gay Simon Spier, a sixteen-year-old who has yet to come out to any of his family or friends. As he strikes up an online relationship with another anonymous gay in school, he forgets to log out of his account and is blackmailed by his classmate Martin. Can Simon accept who he really is, and can he find his mystery man?
- Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
This tearjerking and critically-acclaimed book focuses on two boys: Aristotle, an angry teenager whose brother is in jail, and Dante, a know-it-all who has a unique way of viewing the world. From their first meeting, it seems like they have nothing in common. But as the two loners start spending more time together, they learn that it is only the power of their friendship that allows them to finally true to themselves.
- Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown
Joanna Gordon has been out and proud for the longest time—that is, until her religious radio evangelist of a father remarries, and they move from openminded Atlanta to conservative Rome, Georgia. To save his reputation, her dad asks her to keep her sexuality to herself. Though pretending to be straight makes the adjustment easier, Georgia finds herself falling for the oh-so-tempting Mary Carlson, the sister of a schoolmate. Can Jo find love while staying true to herself?
Planning on reading any of these, Candy Girls? Enlighten a fellow bookworm who you think would enjoy these books, or sound off in the comments!


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REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WKBN) – The Ohio Grape Industries Committee reports that Ohio's grape and wine industry has an impact of $1.3 billion on the state's economy.
Additionally, the industry provides 8,067 full-time jobs, with more than 2,700 jobs created since 2012, according to their Economic Impact report.
"This report further demonstrates the growing strength of food and agriculture as Ohio's number one industry," said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels.
The number of wineries in Ohio grew from 175 in 2012 to 265 in 2016, an increase of 51 percent.
Ohio is the 6th largest wine producing state in the country as of 2016.


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It still rains in the sites, y'know?
Sure, it ain't the usual. The lightning always strikes warehouse five. The rain never really seems to hit'cha. But it still pours, it still thunders, it still rains.
There's still the scents, the aches, the pains. Iron, bloody scent, never washing out, always cuttin' through the petrichor. Probably why most folks stay inside. Easier not to smell.
There's still the drops clinging to the windows, illuminating the spotlights, slicking the guard dogs' coats as they whimper, rustin' the rifles, forever outstretched into the darkness. Probably why most folks close their blinds. Easier not to see.
There's still the rapping on the windows, on the roofs, lettin' itself be known, sloughing off the eaves like individual Niagaras. There's still the flowing through the gutters as the torrents are routed. Probably why most folks wear some headphones. Easier not to hear.
But it never rains down on us. Never rains down on me, y'know?
I ended up purchasin' a waterproof pad, a waterproof pen, and every time it starts, even though it ain't too often, I pack up my things and head out, just sit for a while. Still gotta work, still gotta write documents, but there's a… call. I couldn't tell ya what draws me to it. All I can tell ya is that I gotta smell it, gotta see it, gotta hear it.
The blood chokes you, the downpour blinds you, the thunder deafens you.
But you never get wet. I never get wet, y'know?
I never really get to go offsite, nobody ever really does anymore, but rumor has it that it follows ya wherever ya go. It's like the water bends around ya. 's funny. I've been to… lotta sites. Seen it happen with the snow, seen it happen with the hail. You name a precipitation, I've seen it. But they ain't the same.
Nothin's ever the same as the rain.
When… When I was a kid, I used to always run out. Even in the thunderstorms. There was the draw then too, y'know. To smell the fuckin' dirt smell. To see the drops wickin' off your skin. To feel the pitter-patter on your face, to close your eyes, to lose your tears in the rain.
I ain't a kid anymore. I got a job, got lives in my hands. Human race 'n all. But I still cry, I still cry in the rain.
I miss the dirt. I miss the feeling. I miss feeling… cleansed.


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Creating Safe, Positive Learning Environments
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PeacePartners, Inc. honors our valued partners by celebrating their passion for peace, their creative ideas, and the wonderful implementation strategies they incorporate.
As we continue to support our partners, it is our privilege to showcase PeaceBuilders sites. Don't just take our word for it. Read about some featured sites as they explored their problems, developed their PeaceBuilders solution, and discovered positive outcomes! We invite you to sit back and explore the fantastic PeaceBuilding events happening throughout the United States and U.S. Territories.
Seeley Elementary - Seeley, CA
An enthusiastic training and a dedicated staff are two important prerequisites to the successful development of a PeaceBuilders culture at a school or organization. That means the staff and students at Seeley Elementary are headed for a great year of building peace!
The staff and administration participated eagerly in their PeaceBuilders training and show their commitment to building peace through the "Visions of Peace" posters they created.
Staff worked in small groups to create a shared vision of the peaceful site they intend to develop. They were asked to illustrate what they will see, hear, and feel at this perfectly peaceful school.
In this vision, people of different shapes and colors will cooperate with and appreciate each other. They will feel safe, secure, and joyful. There will be lots of smiles and laughter.
Seeley Elementary will be full of people who care about each other, as this vision demonstrates.
This group envisions a serene landscape with a big, friendly smile. They hear laughter, music and kind words. They feel loved, happy and at peace.
This vision of peace makes sure to include all the various school settings in their plan for peace. Each location includes happy children. Unhappy children are non-existent in this perfectly peaceful environment!
No peaceful culture would be complete without music! In this vision, people work together to create a serene atmosphere full of sunshine, music, love and r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
The members of this group make very clear what they would see, hear and feel in their perfectly peaceful school. What a wonderful site they plan to develop!
In this vision, a child stands at the crossroads of tolerance, serenity, friendship, and kindness and finds a foundation of acceptance.
The staff at Seeley Elementary already has a strong foundation of kindness and an obvious dedication to the children they teach and to each other. They also now have a shared vision of the culture they are determined to create. We congratulate the wise adults at this site for making PeaceBuilding the priority.
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