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African Pygmy Falcon
From SongbirdReMixWiki
Common Name: African Pygmy Falcon
Scientific Name: Polihierax semitorquatus
Size: 7.5-7.8 inches (19-20 cm); Wingspan: 14.6 inches (37 cm)
Habitat: Africa; Eastern and Southern Africa from South Sudan to Somalia and south to Uganda and Tanzania and from Angola to northern South Africa.
They inhabit dry, arid climates with sparse vegetation.
Status: Least Concern. Global population: 100,000-999,999 adult individuals with a stable population trend. African pygmy falcons are common birds within their range, they are not considered threatened. Man made structures have increased the number of potential nesting sites for these animals. It is possible, however, that urbanization could someday threaten them with habitat loss.
Diet: Large insects, small reptiles and, occasionally, small birds and rodents.
They often hunt by perching on dead trees and scanning the surrounding area for potential prey. When they spot a target, African pygmy falcons can frequently be seen bobbing their heads and tails before swooping down to catch their prey. They may also hunt insects in flight.
Nesting: Sexes are dimorphic. Adult falcons are white below and on the face, gray above, and females having a chestnut back. There are white "eye spots" on the nape. Juveniles have a brown back, duller than adult females, and a rufous wash on the breast. The flight feathers of the wings are spotted black and white (more black above, more white below); the tail is barred black and white.
The main communication between members of this species are the songs sung during mating, which are used to attract potential mates. Some bodily communication is seen during the courtship ritual, as the female indicates her availability by crouching and raising her tail feathers. The movements made by the male during courtship can also be perceived as a form of communication.
In Kenya, pygmy falcons nest in white-headed buffalo weaver nests, and the ranges of the two birds coincide. In southern Africa, they are found around red-billed buffalo weaver nests but predominantly nest in the vacant rooms of sociable weaver nests, which are large and multi-chambered; even if the sociable weavers still have an active colony in the nest. Despite being bird-eaters and bigger than sociable weavers, the pygmy falcons largely leave the latter alone, though they do occasionally catch and eat nestlings and even adults. They will also use tree cavities.
Eggs are normally laid about three weeks after copulation. The female lays from two to four eggs which are incubated for 27 to 31 days. Females begin incubating with the first egg laid, so hatching is asynchronous. Since the young do not hatch at the same time, they may be different sizes. The young will leave their nests from 27 to 40 days after hatching. Both parents are very aggressive near their nest and their young do not usually fall victim to predators.
Cool Facts: The Pygmy Falcon is the smallest raptor in Africa. Pygmy falcons occasionally engage in polyandrous relationships, where there are more than two adults living together and tending nestlings. There are four potential reasons for this behavior: defense, co-operative polyandry, delayed dispersal of offspring, and thermo-regulation (warmth). Corroboration for the last is that in winter African pygmy falcons nest further inside the nest of sociable weavers, where there is better insulation. In the southwestern portion of their range, African Pygmy falcons may protect social weavers from predators such as snakes, while gaining a safe area to raise young. White-headed buffalo weavers, in the northeastern part of their range, are more powerful than African Pygmy falcons and receive no benefits from their presence.
The call is a high-pitched kikiKIK, repeated (in Kenya) or a 'chip-chip' and a kik-kik-kik-kik (in southern Africa). The flight is low and undulating. In size, pattern, and the habit of perching upright on an exposed branch or treetop, this species resembles some shrikes.
There are two subspecies:
- P. s. castanonotus. It occurs from South Sudan to Somalia and south to Uganda and Tanzania
- P. s. semitorquatus. The nominate species occurs from Angola to northern South Africa.
Found in Songbird ReMix Birds of Prey Volume 5: Falcons, Hawks & Eagles


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So, after being subjected to $18 million in cuts for the fiscal year, the University of Iowa pulled some scholarships to save some cash- about $4 million or so over the long term. Parents and students predictably lost their minds- I can understand that. It's yanking the rug out from under a person- especially since they're expecting this money and maybe even relying on this money to help pay for their education. Their outrage, I have no problem with. Their expected class action lawsuit? Mazeltov, I hope you do well.
You know whose outrage I don't have time for? The State Legislature's. When Speaker Upmeyer has the nerve to rip the move as 'politics at its worst' well then, I have to call bullshit on that. Because all the Legislature has been doing for years now is cutting cutting cutting and oh my yes- did I mention, the cutting? At a certain point the cupboard is going to be bare and shitty decisions like this are going to be have to made. When you make it clear that higher education is not a priority for this state, you leave your Universities and their administrators with some truly shit decisions to make. You reap what you sew and in this case, the Legislature has been doing plenty of sewing.
(And after this little eruption of self-righteous indignation, what did we find out on Saturday? Oh that's right. Still more budget cuts.)
Part of the most frustrating part of living in America today is sorting through the change of bullshit that you have to deal with whenever power changes hands on the state or national level. We've lost our damn minds as a nation- we've settled for politics as a blood sport, which is both distinct from doing actual governing and does nothing to solve the problems of the nation. Power should not be a cudgel to club the opposition with and yet, that's what we find ourselves with.
This debate, however tiresome, is perfectly illustrated here- albeit on a smaller, more micro level than our national travails. As a state, we have to decide: what kind of government do we want? How big should it be? What all should it do? Unfortunately, that's not the conversation we're having. It's time to drown the government rat in Des Moines. Unfortunately, that does college students in Iowa no good at all- especially if they've just lost their scholarships.
Most frustrating of all: it doesn't have to be this way.
First of all, you have to acknowledge that without sustainable levels of support from the state, you're reducing your public universities to businesses. And to be fair, at this point, if you still think about the glory and honor of the noble pursuit of 'the life of the mind' in an Ivory Tower all covered in vines, you need to pull your head out of your ass. Higher education is an industry now and with state support hitting a 25 year low in 2005, (Kamanetz pg. 60) it's only becoming more so with every passing year. Tuition is going up up up and college are locked in amenities arms races to put butts in seats. College is slipping out of the grasp of young Americans with every passing year- working families have to sell their damn kidneys to afford it and even if young people (such as myself) take out loans, there's no guarantee that they'll find good enough jobs after graduation to pay them off quickly and even if they do, the burden sort of financial freezes them in place for up to a decade after graduation.
Second of all, let me say again: it doesn't have to be this way. In her excellent book DIY U, Anya Kamanetz cited what the University of Maryland system did. Not only did they start looking at ways to optimize their funding and streamline their operations, but they worked with their State Legislature to identify workforce and training needs for the state as a whole. The result was an over 30% increase in state revenues. (Kamanetz pg. 73) Kamanetz doesn't stop there with her examples of reform and outside the box thinking- her whole book is about that, but with budgets being, shall we say, not as generous as they were in times past, it's that kind of thinking that's called for. In business, life or industry, the one rule that I've found to be very, very true is a simple one: shit rolls downhill. Sooner or later, cuts imposed on the Universities from above will impact students and their ability to pay and attend college.
I get where the counter arguments come from: higher education is inefficient and wasteful- a luxury that I'm sure the bean counters and Republican legislators who view it as hostile to their party's values and beliefs- think that we can't afford. The problem is that we're rapidly approaching a decision point in the state's political discourse: do we still value education in Iowa? If, as I suspect and hope, the answer is yes, then it's incumbent upon both the Regents Institutions and the people in power to work together to find a new partnership to harness the resources of the three state schools to help fill needs for Iowa in the future. We're losing population with every decade that passes. The right investments now could pay dividends down the road.
But we need to decide that education is something we still value. We need to stop playing politics as a bloodsport and our leaders need to work together. Talk about an impossible dream.

subset: commoncrawl


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Online grocery retailer Ocado is increasingly turning to automation.
In its distribution warehouse in Hampshire, swarms of robots collect groceries.
The BBC had a look at some of the robotics the firm is working on.
Read more: The Ocado warehouse run by robots – BBC News
Don't forget to share this via Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn, , , BufferTumblr, Reddit, StumbleUpon and Delicious.


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Any person or organisation in South Africa that operates scholar transport, including a school, is required to have a licence. Scholar transport is regarded in law as a form of public transport for which an operating licence is applicable.
In this regard, scholar transport refers to the transportation of a learner from home (or nearby) to school and back. Transporting learners to school events such as sports fixtures or school tours is exempted from the requirement of a public operating license.
Each province has its own Transportation Board that issues permits for public transport, including scholar transport. Schools and other organisations should contact the relevant Transportation Board to apply for a permit. Please note that ISASA does not issue these permits.
ISASA members can download the overview provided by the ISASA Policy Unit:


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Looking for room to roam? Most of Oak Ridge's homes in New Port Richey are on acreage that offers the space and privacy of the country, but none are far from all the conveniences of city life. Located off Perrine Ranch Road near Seven Springs Blvd., this south Pasco location is just north of the Pinellas County line. Custom designed homes offer large floor plans and many have mother-in-law suites. The neighborhood consists of well maintained homes with mature landscaping and large shade trees and is close to Trinity's schools and ample venues for shopping. Many homes back up to wooded conservation areas for additional privacy, and since there isn't an HOA, homeowners are welcome to bring their boats and RVs onto their properties. Contact us today to see what is available!
You are here: Home / New Port Richey Condos & Homes for Sale / Oak Ridge Condos & Homes for Sale


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Our Popular Rainbow range vanity units ideal for schools, daycares and nurseries, are offered in the same vibrant colour options to match the Cubicles, whilst adding heavy duty wear & water resistance. The Rainbow rang of Vanity Units are designed to suit the height requirements of Kinder, Infant & Junior Schools.
Specifications: Hpl Laminate
Full Width: 600mm
Semi Recessed: 350mm
Height: 820mm
Please select an image.
Disclaimer: Photos & Imagery on these pages are for illustration purposes only, We reserve the right to change, modify, or discontinue any element of this product
Download the product brochure which includes the installation instructions.
Trouble reading our PDF's? Download Acrobat Reader for free Right Here


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You may recall…
Props to Steve Williams. The author of Scooter in the Sticks has a Vespa GTS 250i.e., and he isn't afraid to wrench on it. But in this case, you wouldn't need to.
In a recent post he gives a step-by-step account of how to replace the exhaust union gasket, which seals the connection between the muffler and the header pipe.
Early GTS 250s suffered from a host of premature component failures, but the exhaust union gasket was the most serious, prompting the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall.
As Mr. Williams notes, failure increases exhaust noise. Failure also allows heat to escape; the pipe and muffler are located next to the rear brake hydraulic line, which the escaping exhaust heat caused to melt. Melty brake line = no rear brake. A whole lotta not good. The graphite item was replaced with a metal one on later GTSs and other Piaggio Group scooters using the 250cc engine.
When NHTSA issues a recall, they mail a letter to the most recent registered owner of an affected vehicle. As you might guess, scooters are far more likely to get passed around via garage sales or Craigslist without the usual formalities of a title transfer. Then there are the ones with less than first-service miles that have been sitting under blue tarps for the better part of a decade.
The upside of a NHTSA-mandated recall is the cost: for you, nada, gratis, FREE! The manufacturer picks up the tab.
All you need to do is give the Vehicle Identification Number (the 17-character string stamped into that plate riveted to the legshield, or found on your registration or title documents) to any Vespa-Piaggio dealer. They can look it up, and if your bike is affected, make an appointment for you to get the work done. Free. Did I mention that?
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Bounce house rentals near me
17' Obstacle & Wet/Dry Slide
The Dash n Splash wet dry obstacle course can be reserved today. Kids start off by navigating 4 pop ups, sliding through the tunnel slide, dodging through 3 more obstacles and proceeding up the stairs and down the slide splashing into the pool.
Tons of fun in the FL sun. Length 25' Height 17' Width 15'
$269 Call today!


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Latitude: 51.7359 / 51°44'9"N
Longitude: -1.5864 / 1°35'11"W
OS Eastings: 428657
OS Northings: 204211
OS Grid: SP286042
Mapcode National: GBR 5TX.1RQ
Mapcode Global: VHC06.GM6M
Entry Name: Group of 4 Chest Tombs 6-15 Metres to South of South Porch of Church of St Mary
Listing Date: 4 May 1989
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1053518
English Heritage Legacy ID: 253467
Location: Black Bourton, West Oxfordshire, Oxfordshire, OX18
County: Oxfordshire
District: West Oxfordshire
Civil Parish: Black Bourton
Traditional County: Oxfordshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): Oxfordshire
Church of England Parish: Black Bourton
Church of England Diocese: Oxford
(West side)
Black Bourton
10/155 Group of 4 chest tombs 6-15m
to S of S porch of Church of
St. Mary
Group of 4 chest tombs, all of limestone: 1) to Thomas Clark, 1804. Moulded
base, flat cornice lid, recessed corners with square pilasters carrying carved
reliefs of ornamental drapes. Inscription tablets are oval and have shallow
relief carvings of cherub heads and foliage in spandrels. 2) to John Cox, 1827.
Moulded base, flat cornice lid, recessed corners with square balusters, oval
panels with worn inscriptions. 3) Late C17-C18 chest with illegible
inscriptions, plain slab sides, and flat cornice lid with cyma recta moulding.
4) C18-early C19 chest with illegible inscriptions and canted west end. Plain
slab sides, the north side incorporating moulded panel. Flat lid with chamfered
lower edge.
Listing NGR: SP2865704211
This text is from the original listing, and may not necessarily reflect the current setting of the building.
Other nearby listed buildings


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hi, i'm ceecee. my reading interests can be described as eclectic.
i made this account just in case goodreads implodes, but will be eratically updating here.
Those words can be almost anybody's words. It's true: Life Sucks. Wouldn't things be much easier if things just turned out the way you expected them to?"...Things don't turn out the way you want them to."
"Promise me you'll never stop dreaming."


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|Artist: Dana Bartlett
|(1882-1957) A painter and gallery owner who specialized in landscape paintings, Bartlett studied at the Art Students League in New York and in Boston. He moved to Los Angeles in 1915, opened a studio, and exhibited locally in both group and one-man shows. After touring Europe in 1924, he returned to Los Angeles and joined the staff of the Chouinard School of Art. In 1928, he opened a gallery to promote watercolors, etchings, and smaller oil paintings not handled by traditional galleries.
|Copyright © 2002 DINA ART COMPANY | DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT
|Top of page


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The Ampersand Dress
Sale price
Regular price
***More Colorways On The Way***
This is the only dress you'll need. Brunch to boardroom, and everywhere in between, it's got you covered.
Midi length and a button down front in a simple and classic silhouette. Perfectly worn with your favorite heel, sandal, sneaker, barefoot even -- this dress is made to flatter by design.
- Bra/No Bra Friendly
- Adjustable Fitted Bodice
- Cap Sleeve
- Composition: Lightweight drapey crepe fabric with a dry hand feel -TENCEL™(Lyocell), a more sustainable fiber made from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed forests
- Designed and Made in Charming San Francisco
- For TLC:
- Machine Wash on Delicate
- Hang Dry


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To win hands down means to win by an enormous margin.
Origins: If a racehorse jockey is so far ahead of the competition that there is no danger he will be passed again, he can drop the reins and his hands and let the horse finish the race without spurring it on.
With the Belmont Stakes coming up this weekend, this is what you wish from your horse.


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Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Maybe this is a sign...
7 comments:
The wine glass is half full, not half empty :)ReplyDelete
It's empty because I have already drunk it... hence why I require the top up :DReplyDelete
Wow! Sounds like a great goal. I've thought of doing a triathlon but the swimming really scares me. I have visions of drowning. I would still like to try one some day in the future though.ReplyDelete
seize every opportunity mama! go for itReplyDelete
How exciting! Can't wait to see how it all unfolds for you :)ReplyDelete
Shelly, I have exactly the same fear. I would go into a panic whenever I couldn't feel the bottom of the pool. I only learnt to swim last Christmas. I had a friend who was a national swimmer and she taught me how not to be scared of the water. After that, I realised I could swim after all. Now I am swimming 1K-1mile distances. Not fast or great and I still get the nerves, but for me it's unbelievable. A fear of the water is something you can overcome with the right teacher.ReplyDelete
That's awesome Kate to go from no swimming to those distances. I can swim, I'm just not good at it. It seems like something that isn't hard until you try to swim a lap or two and it's unbelievably hard.ReplyDelete


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You will never run out of entertainment and recreation options here, because there is so much to do in this community and the surrounding areas, from exploring the Route 66 Museum, to attending tours and tastings at our local wineries and distilleries, to hiking at Camp Beale's Spring. Also here you will find car shows, nature trails, a farmers market, and arts and crafts shows, and all-ages family fun. From restaurants to shopping to spas, you will find everything you need for a high standard of living in this beautiful city, along with a wide variety of real estate options that range from the most affordable to the most luxurious.
Charmayne Keith & the AZ-PROPERTIES TEAM
Our Listing Services Include:
***Advertising in markets all over the world***
***Professional Photography***
Fantastic Selling Experience!
I had a challenge on my hands. My father lived in Kingman, AZ and I live in Nebraska, and I needed to sell his home. I reached out to Charmayne Keith for help. The process from that point on could not have been more positive or smooth. As you might expect, not being physically in the same town, or state for that matter, posed some challenges. The first was signing all the necessary documents. Charmayne was able to provide a document portal and tool that essentially walked me through and e-signed each area requiring a signature. It couldn't have been easier! The next challenge was getting the house and carpets cleaned. I had no idea who to reach out to or how I would get them access to the home. Again, Charmayne stepped up and went above and beyond. She worked with reputable third-party individuals, coordinated the access they needed and ensured they did a good job.
Charmayne was able to secure competing bids on the home within a very short period of time. She again did a great job coordinating the offer signing as well as the inspection and follow-up processes. She took the time to personally reach out during each step and make sure I did not have any questions. I am not sure what I would have done without her help! Charmayne is professional, and just as important, personable. I only wish she was licensed in Nebraska to help me sell my home if the time ever comes!
We are the Kingman Home Team, and we are proud to be a part of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals. Whether you are searching for the home of your dreams or you need to sell and you want to work with a professional who knows how to get you the best profit the current market will allow, we can help. We have enjoyed a great deal of repeat and referral business because we go the extra mile for our clients. When you choose to work with us you can be confident that you are receiving the highest standard of service in the industry along with the personalized attention you deserve.
Today there are over 300 homes for sale here, including luxury properties in the desirable neighborhood of Southern Vista, new construction in sought-after Canyon Bluff Estates, and one-of-a-kind custom homes that sit on acreage and are an entertainer's dream, with resort-style amenities and stunning views of the desert landscape. Let's meet to discuss the goals you need to achieve here, and we will put together a plan to help you to reach them. We will always be available to you whenever you have questions, and we will do whatever it takes to make your endeavors here stress-free and enjoyable. To schedule your complimentary consultation or home valuation appointment, call us today.


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Anyway... We had a great time in Vegas! We got there around 2:00 and decided to walk the strip before our evening activities. What a skeazy place! Do Not, I repeat, Do Not take your children to this city!! It truly is sin city. Enough said!
The first pic is of myself and Chuck Wicks. His biggest hit is probably "Stealing Cinderella" and he is an amazing singer. He put on an hour concert for us the first night at our dinner. Cozy little venue where we could walk right up to him. We sat 2 tables back from the stage!
If you don't follow country music, but follow Dancing with the Stars, he is Jullianne Hough's partner. She also sings country and got an award for best new female vocalist. Anyway , she came in for part of the show, standing with the rest of us, when he called her up to the stage. No make-up, regular clothes and just a bitty little thing. She was so cute. They are a couple in real life, by the way!
After his concert he stuck around signing autographs, having pics taken and just talking with everyone. He was there for 2-3 hours. Remember, this guy is also rehearsing for D.w.t.S. which airs 2 days later!
Country singers are so awesome! Genuine, down home, humble, sweet, kind and so thankful that they get to do what they do. We had a blast!
Oh, I forgot. When we walked into this event another band was playing, and they called up everyone who knew the Electric Slide to come on up!!! I LOVE the Electric Slide and saddled on up to the front! What fun! Hubby's not much into dancing so I like these one's that I can do by myself! I knew that I was going to have a good time after that song! (Yes, I was thinking of you Auntie M!!!)
More pics and details to come!!!!
Good Night, Ya'll!!!!


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Engagement sessions or E-Shoot as we know are becoming more and more popular each year, as couples are paying more attention to the role of the images in their overall wedding experience.
They are also a great way for me to get to know my clients and a great way for you as the couple to get to know me and my style of shooting.
Some couples theme their engagement shoot, perhaps a vintage look etc. They then use the images as save-the-date cards, invitations or a signing book for the wedding day.
Most couples are buying their favourite images as large matted prints or canvas for their wedding venue or homes. Most couples will also go on to buy albums or photo-books just of their engagement shoot.


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Category: Travel
This is it—I've reached MONTH 11, yes eleven—rounding out a full year of around the world travel, working as a freelance travel writer. (Check out some of the adventures here.)
It's been one year, 4 continents, 27 countries, and over 200 cities—and what a year it's been! 65,000 photos later, I'm headed off again to the final destination in this around the world journey, and a place I've always dreamed of going—Fiji!
I'll be taking a short hiatus to soak up some sun and sand, but stay tuned for more adventures coming soon!
This watercolor was inspired by the lighting inside a church in Venice, Italy. All the colors stem from beams of colored light that were shining through a round stained glass window and setting the tiled floor aglow.
Santorini, Greece is one of my most favorite places in the entire world. In fact, every time I leave the Greek Islands, I immediately want to come right back. It was difficult to capture the impossible beauty of this volcanic island in the Cyclades. In fact, this quick study really doesn't do it justice. I'll have to circle back around to this subject in the near future—my mind is brimming with blue and white island scenes already.
I love sketching on location in Europe. Little details abound everywhere you turn. This year has been a whirlwind of inspiration and impressions. Although I haven't had much time to paint since I've been on the road continuously (for just about a year now), I've been sketching and doing lots of creative writing along the way. Best of all, I was recently granted another opportunity to travel back to Europe (3rd time in one year)! Here's a sketch from Vienna, Austria.
One of the most striking things about Patagonia are the vibrant contrasts of colors out in the middle of nowhere. In a sea of golden grasses with nothing as far as the eye can see, you'll suddenly come across a bright turquoise body of water. This is inevitable in Patagonia. And I must mention how blue the sky is down there, it's blinding blue and often filled with huge fluffy clouds. With such a restrained color palate, you are always caught off guard when the landscape suddenly explodes into color.
Parque Nacional Los Glaciares is stunning. This enormous park is filled with glaciers, mountain peaks that hug the clouds, and short trees with scraggly branches. I loved how the landscape tended to change dramatically: one minute you would be hiking along a cliff overlooking a river, the next you'd be immersed deep in a bright green forest. Further along would be a beach with windswept trees, then a plateau, then a corridor of funny little trees peppered with wildflowers and adorned with bulbous bunches of hairy fluorescent green moss balls (a form of mistletoe). I can't begin to describe how incredibly wonderful the landscapes are in Patagonia.
This watercolor was done at a mirador viewpoint overlooking the Fitz Roy mountain range. Glaciers tumbled down from between the peaks and an endless expanse of short scraggly trees stretched out toward the mountains.
Stockholm is perfect for wandering and sketching. These were done in Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town district.
Stará radnica, the old town hall, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Happy New Year!
Here's a page from my sketchbook, from Bergen, Norway.
These sketches come from lovely Helsinki, Finland!
I've been wanting to visit Helsinki for a while, and took the long route through Scandinavia to arrive here (traveling all throughout Norway, then into Sweden, before boarding a boat from Stockholm to Tallinn, Estonia, and finally taking a ferry over to Helsinki, where I got an apartment and stayed for a bit. I love the vibe of Helsinki—it's very artistic and designy, and completely inspirational.
Happy December!! I've finally had a minute on this wild tour of Europe to scan in a couple pages from my sketchbook! I was very inspired by the elaborate puppets at the Estonian Museum of Puppet Arts, which had not just puppets, but a puppet making workshop, artisan studios, and a puppet theater with really cool live performances.
You can also see photos from the puppet museum here, and read all about Tallinn here.
The Icebar in Stockholm is a super cool way to spend a frosty evening in the city. This fancy bar is cooled to -5 degrees Celsius, and you can order nordic themed drinks in ice glasses. My personal favorites were "Husky Sledge" (Absolut vanilla with cinnamon and apple) and "Northern Light" (Absolut Raspberry, creme de cassis lime and raspberry puree).
Read more about it at CultureVixen.com.


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Jen took the #2 spot in the Queen of the Epic pageant,
and that was competing against a cheerleader for the
University of Tennessee and a sassy Brooklyn hipster
who won over the crowd by currying to their East Coast
loyalties: "Helloooooo New York!"
We were having such a good time, I said the only thing
that would make it better would be if we ran into Chocolate,
the waiter from our Alaska cruise two years earlier,
taught the girls how to balance cocktail glasses on their heads.
Shortly after, we looked over and noticed that one of the judges
was none other than (the politically incorrect self-named) Chocolate!
We ran up and re-introduced ourselves. He seemed to remember (or
pretended to), but we had a great time with him. We had dinner with
him the next night and got to hear what it's like for him, to work
so many hours and months on these ships away from his family in
Guatemala. (A much harder life than one would guess from all the


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Best Diet Plan – What's the Best Diet Plan to Lose Weight And Keep it Off?
Have you found yourself asking the age old question of why is it so difficult to lose weight… and keep it off? Well, today in his article I would like to talk to you about some simple principles that can help you with losing weight and more importantly keeping the weight off.
Okay, you have to first understand the core principles of a healthy lifestyle. Without these principles, diet is going to be very difficult to come by, and keeping the weight off is going to be even harder. The core principles of a healthy lifestyle are proper nutrition, drink plenty of water daily, getting plenty of sleep every night, and of course exercise.
Now that we have the core principles of the way, let's now talk about the most important principle. The most important principle for diet is proper nutrition. Proper nutrition does not solely consist of what it is you eat. It also consists of when you eat and how you eat. Firstly, understand that you cannot dramatically reduce the amount of calories you intake daily. This will cause a significant drop in your metabolism. The weaker your metabolism is, the more your body with store calories as fat. This is why fad diets and celebrity diets are highly not recommend. Fad diets and celebrity diets encourage reducing the amount of calories you intake daily.
Obviously instead of decreasing your metabolism you want to do the exact opposite which is boosting your metabolism. Through nutrition, a new method that can help in boosting your metabolism is a system called calorie shifting. Calorie shifting manipulates the amount of calories and the type of calories you intake daily by confusing your body as to what and when you eat throughout the day. This system will cause a significant boost in your metabolism to its highest peak. Therefore, you will then burn off fat and lose weight in a much more faster pace… and keep it off.
Source by Avy Barnes


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Tomorrow I embark on a brand new adventure. I haven't been on one of those since I got bangs last March. I just hope this new adventure doesn't become a YEAR + odyssey to make life right again. False advertising Zooey D. False. Advertising.
For me, change is akin to the 5 stages of grief in an obviously condensed, more blatantly pathetic and irrelevant form. The last couple of days went something like this:
Denial-Of course I'll see everyone from the office again, right? My last job wasn't so bad was it? Just because I was always the last kid picked for kickball doesn't mean it was always like that, no? Wait wait wait, stop, that's inaccurate and unfair. I wasn't exactly the last kid picked for kickball. I was thought of as the super retarded kid bribed by the allure of a "special" uniform in a different color. I got to take a permanent seat on the bench and hold the orange slices for everyone else. But still, is that so wrong?
Anger- Hold up. HOLD UP guys. I am not retarded. Damn you for calling me retarded. And for the record I am offended at your use of the word, "retarded." I hate you. You're retarded.
Bargaining- Can I still use my parking pass for convenient Grove parking? Shit, can I? Oh God what have I done.
Depression- Hey, roommie, can you go with me to an Olive Garden 30 minutes from the city for their unlimited bread sticks on this Saturday night? Yes? Cool. Do they take reservations? There is nothing else to say here.
Acceptance- First day of school backpack ready? Check. First day outfit ready? Check. Lunch prepared? I dunno. If I bring a sandwich on my first day am I showing my hand too early? Do cool people even eat plain sandwiches? Fuck, where is my panini maker?!?!?!?
So this is where I'm at right now. Well, physically anyway. Mentally, I'm still hoping I can teleport myself to a month from now when I'm happy at my new job dancing to Sergio Mendez on top of my desk with my coworkers. We're all in sunhats. We're also all laughing at a joke and admiring what a smooth shave our razors have accomplished.
Until that time however I'm going to continue to listen to New Order's Ceremony over and over again. Anytime I start to feel my heart beat increase out of nerves or a heightened sense of impending failure I crank this tune up. You should try it. It totally relaxes the soul. I mean, you know, if you're a fan of new wave music, that is. I get that not everyone is attracted to melodies meant to take all the hapiness experienced on this earth and turn it into dirty black coal but it totally does it for me. Yeah, I'm weird. Whatever.
I'm off now to watch the latest episode of Girls on my DVR. Nothing like extreme second hand embarrassment and topless ping pong to remind us all that it could be much much worse. So much worse that it's actually more worser or even the worstest. Practically the most worst worstest ever.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Tomorrow I embark on a brand new adventure. I haven't been on one of those since I got bangs last March. I just hope this new adventure doesn't become a YEAR + odyssey to make life right again. False advertising Zooey D. False. Advertising.
Posted by Unknown at 9:49 PM


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Rick Silberberg is a talented and inventive artist http://ricksilberberg.com/ who is based in a Connecticut town between New York and Boston. His paintings are bright and mellow and his sculptural works are made from found objects. What inspires him? Read on and find out …
MICHAEL: Hey Rick, I'm intrigued by your work. It's not completely abstract yet not fully figurative. Are you straddling the fence?
RICK: Hi Michael, I suppose I am straddling though that sounds a little dangerous or indecisive. I'd rather say I was using all means at my disposal to create my work without limiting myself to one or the other. But I am almost always abstract in the way I start a painting. The world has such an abundance of form and energy that it becomes difficult to keep from suggesting things that are "real." I like the duality so I suppose it's purposeful rather than accidental. Maybe that's what you found intriguing?
MICHAEL: Yes. Also, your colors are melon-like and seem to have a glow. Your paintings seem refreshing and come from a place of light rather than darkness. Is that the case?
RICK: I agree. They do come from a light place, but as with a beam, they illuminate the darkness which is also the subject of many pieces. For example, see the painting titled "The Battle of Lepanto." It refers to one of the fiercest naval confrontations ever fought in the Mediterranean. The western Holy League and the Ottoman Empire faced off in 1571. The west won in this case and the course of history was set for many centuries to come. Interestingly, this was part of a series that began on a black ground and developed in a way that drew upon references (at least in my mind as I worked) to darker emotions and anxieties. My wife calls them my "depression paintings" which makes me laugh. My use of color is instinctive as I have no theories or rules to follow. I do love a good honeydew melon though.
MICHAEL: When you are painting, what kind of mental state are you in? What are you thinking? Is the process more emotional, intellectual or spiritual? Do you need total silence? Music? TV? What's the process like?
RICK: Thinking of what I'm thinking when I paint required some thought. Thus, the delay in responding. My process, if it can be called that, involves a scattered attention to many things at once during a period when distractions are at a minimum. I like to listen to music or even talk on the phone. Total silence is unsettling. I procrastinate a lot too! If I can really get going, the momentum builds and I can get into a mental place where the forces, spiritual/physical as well as emotional/intellectual come together and I can accomplish something with a complexity that satisfies the mind as well as the eye. When I start a painting, it helps to begin where the last one ended or depart from a point suggested by that painting. I like each piece to be different, but also the same, like a family. I work on a painting until I see that even one more stroke is unnecessary though I suppose the process could go on forever. My studio is so full of supplies that I may never be able to convert them all to art.
MICHAEL: I also love your sculptural works. They're like 3D collages with "found" materials. What's the inspiration behind them?
RICK: I'm glad that you like them. They're fun to make too. I have always done some work in 3D, but I've only recently begun to show them. I don't know if you've seen any others than the one piece that's on my web site. The great thing about art is that anything can be a source material depending on context and juxtaposition. I think found, recycled or re-imagined objects bring their own voice as well as history to whatever they're added to. For instance, I have a piece that was made from my son's dresser drawer. I like the way the wood has gotten the chance to look tree-like again.
MICHAEL: Do you feel that New York is the center of the art world? Couldn't you create the work that you're doing now in Los Angeles or Chicago or DC for instance?
RICK: No, I really don't think the art world has one center at this time, but it helps an artist in his or her career to be where collectors, galleries and museums can easily see your work and you have the chance to meet and get to know people who make the choices. I moved from New York right after getting my M.A. way back in 1973. Since then, except for a few brief periods, I've lived where I am now, pretty far from the "maddening" art crowd. But I still enjoy a trip to the city and keeping in contact with friends and colleagues there.
MICHAEL: Where are you exactly? How do your environment and current surroundings inspire you? Or do they inspire you?
RICK: Isn't it strange communicating with someone and not knowing from where or to where our words are going?
MICHAEL: No. I'm listening...
RICK: I'm in Ivoryton, Connecticut which is about half way between Boston and New York. It's a small town that's part of another small town on the Connecticut River named Essex. It's where during the War of 1812, the British burned some 28 ships of the American fleet. This year marked the 200th anniversary of that raid. There is a yearly re-enactment with parades, costumes, muskets and grog! Ivoryton was a center of piano manufacturing up until pretty recently. A flood in 1982 washed all of the lumber from the factory away and through town. Many homes have porches made from that wood. The building has been purchased and is now a warehouse for salvaged architectural elements destined for reuse. Maybe this has inspired me in my use of recycled materials in my sculptures. I know being close to nature living in a pretty unspoiled environment has had a definite influence on my imagery. Of course, traveling away to exotic places around the globe has its influence too. Back to art though. This area was also home to the American Impressionists centered in Old Lyme which is just across the river. This remains a strong tradition here. Essex was the home of John Chamberlain until he was forced to leave when his neighbors got upset over the "junk" in his yard. Abstract art is not completely accepted still. There are exceptions. Sol Lewitt who was born in New Britain lived in the nearby town of Chester for many years up until his death.
MICHAEL: So many people are suspicious of contemporary art. Many think it's high-minded, bullcrap. What do you think it'll take to change that? Or does it need changing?
RICK: That's so true, but many people are suspicious of doctors, lawyers, clergy, teachers, bankers and even the government. The emperor's new clothes phenomenon may apply when it comes to art. Sometimes the public points that out. There is a lot of bullcrap out there. Artists, in an attempt to find how far out they can go and still be making art, often alienate the very audience they cater to. If they can create what can't be understood then it has a value that only those in the "know" who stand to benefit "understand" and can appreciate. Art critics often wag the dog, the artist in this case, and the result is art made to fit the mold cast by the gallery-museum- collector continuum. Of course, there's a lot of great art that goes unrecognized or undervalued. There's no clear route to the top and no logic in whose work gets there.
MICHAEL: And so given that, what do you do? Do you just get up every day and paint because that's what you do? I mean, the artist's life may not be the old stereotypical struggle, but still it's not easy, No? Especially now, when it's tough to get people to buy anything, let alone art.
RICK: What a question. Perfect timing. I guess that's what I do. But since I don't really need to sell at this point in my life, that pressure is not on me. I do want to show my work. And I do. I'm now focusing on or trying to focus on new places. I really can't complain at all. Especially in this world!
MICHAEL: So many artists tell me that they don't feel pressure to sell their work. Many artists have storage rooms full of unsold work. Is unsold and often unseen work truly art? Doesn't art really need to be seen to fulfill its main function?
RICK: Yes, unseen and unsold art is still art. Like the tree in the forest that falls without being heard, it's still a loud tree, it's still art. Whether it's good or bad, art is another question. So is the level of success achieved by the artist. On the other hand, sometimes just being in a gallery and seen is enough to automatically make something art. See the urinal of R. Mutt. Is the Rothko that just sold at auction for $56 million less art if it's tucked away in someone's vault and only seen when its owner happens to be counting his money? In this case, maybe. I agree with you though that art needs to be seen and by as many people as possible. I know I want to show my work. That's why I have my web site and why I do interviews. The easy part is making art. The hard part is often all the rest.
MICHAEL: I think a lot of artists use their creative process as an excuse for not paying more attention to the business side of their art. What do you think?
RICK: I think you're right. Some do. But some artists are just not as comfortable with the business of art, which is self-promotion, as they are with creating art. That's not the same as using the creative process as an excuse. There's certainly nothing stopping an artist from handling both. I've had to. Handling your career certainly benefits from a creative approach. Don't you think so?
MICHAEL: Indeed. If you could change anything about the art world, what would it be? Are there any completely unnecessary practices that you think hinder artists or the public?
RICK: The role of big money, the cronyism, the dumbing down of popular culture, the cult of the art star, the lack of adequate public funding for the arts, the need to consume art and for artists to consume supplies, the transformation of the museum from a quiet, contemplative sanctum to a mall and gift shop with crowds way too large to really see the art, the endless stream of new artists pumped out by the art schools every semester, each ready (or not) to join the competition, the mistreatment of artists by galleries, I'll stop here. I don't want to sound negative, but you asked. There are many more positive things to say about the art world that if said would more than balance these observations.
MICHAEL: Well Rick, let's end on a high note. What are those positive things about the art world? What's the point of art anyway? Why should anyone care about art? It's not curing cancer or ending homelessness.
RICK: I thought you'd ask the question you're asking. Thanks for the chance to answer. Art is so embedded in everything we see and do, in what we wear, drive and live in. The art world, which includes all the institutions big and small and all individuals big and small, reflects and anticipates where we are as a society minute by minute back through recorded and pre-recorded time. That's why we can amazingly look back and see how civilization grew and evolved. Art provides the tangible proof in pictures, sculptures, buildings and words. Our museums allow us such easy access to our past, our present and our future. They along with thousands of galleries inspire us and challenge our concepts. Art provides anyone who makes it with instant gratification and a chance to express something or make a point or to even go wild if they choose. And now, we have the web which contains everything! Art may not be curing cancer but it has been proven to aid in healing and is a recognized therapeutic discipline. I can't imagine how drab this world would be without even the worst art. And I believe that everyone cares about art to a degree and all have the ability to appreciate it. That's why the museums are so crowded!
MICHAEL: Thanks Rick. Cool chat.
RICK: Thanks again Michael for the interview opportunity and the interesting questions.
Check out Rick Silberberg at http://ricksilberberg.com/.


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Super Barbie Makeup Removal | Best Game for Little Girls – Baby Games To Play
After fighting the evils for a whole day, Super hero Barbie is exhausted. The first thing she got home is to change her superhero uniforms and masks. Then help her remove her makeup and give her a nice facial treatment. After that, choose a nice and cute pajamas for Barbie and wish her a good night!
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Why food puts the festival of holi into high spirits?
Holi – The festival of colors
The festival of colors – Holi, celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil, begins with a bonfire fire signifying Holika Dahan. The riot of colors, water guns, watery fun, endless dancing and so much fun; these are just some of the things that make Holi one of the most awaited festivals of the year. But, like any other Indian festival, the scrumptious food is an inseparable part of this celebration. We love Holi not only because of the colorful celebration but also for its colorful, mouth-watering Holi Cuisine exclusively prepared on this occasion. A variety of Holi drinks and traditional Holi dishes made from ground and blended spices are prepared in every house to welcome this festival of joy and happiness.
In India, Food in an integral way to celebrate any festival – Holi is one of them. Holi is not only celebrated in India but across the world. The people of India, all around the world, be it USA, UK, Canada, Australia or UAE, enjoy the celebration with colors and the delicious delights made from the spices exported from India. So this article features the most lip-smacking dishes and drinks from the holi menu that are mostly eaten during this festival.
Basundi is one of the most popular Indian dessert and usually made on festive occasions like Holi and other special occasions in Gujarat. Basundi is easy to prepare but requires a little patience so Satvam has got this problem solved by its Instant Basundi Mix.
Gujiya is the most ubiquitous sweet dish for all festivals, especially Holi as this fried dough-pocket delicacy, dipped in sugar syrup, is the most symbolic and appealing Holi recipe filled with khoya, jaggery and dry fruits. Native to the northern part of India, this filled-pastry like dumplings are prepared in millions of households and are popular across the country with different names.
A delicious concoction of milk, dry fruits, and spices, thandai is usually served to guests during Holi. Also known as Sardai, thandai is a special beverage made with the nutty goodness of almonds and cashews. The wholesome beverage also has fennel seeds, magaztari seeds, rose petals, pepper, cardamom, saffron, milk, and sugar. Welcome your guests to the aroma of this traditional blend. You can store it once prepared and serve whenever you want.
Dahi Vada
Holi and its love affair with chaat is known to all. Holi is the ultimate license to indulge in all your chaat temptations. The chaat tradition of Holi is more popular in the Ganga-Jamuna cult of Holi. Ganga-Jamuna is the term used for the culture of the central plains of Northern India. Dahi Vada and similar chaat items gained popularity during Holi preparations soon after its introduction to Awadh. The tradition travelled to various adjacent states in the Doab region and made its firm place in Holi celebrations over the years. To make Dahi Vada quickly, order Satvam Dahi Wada Instant Mix now.
Onion Bhajia
It's one of the most customary & popular dishes during Holi. Cut onions are mixed with chickpeas flour and deep fried. The bhajias are drained on paper towels and served warm with mint chutney. Satvam's Chilli powder can add more exotic flavors to your onion bhajias.
Satvam is the leading blended spices manufacturer having all the spices matching the colors of Holi and adding colors to your food. Amidst all the festivities, preparation of these delicacies can be a challenging job. And to simplify the procedures, Satvam Nutrifoods has come with wide range spices along with the instant mixes. Satvam stands to be a prominent blended spices manufacturer in India. Do try it out once to add spices to your festivals.


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Course Information
Instructor: Prof. Rebecca Vidra
Addresses fundamental principles of ecological restoration. Includes an overview of the discipline, scientific, ethical and philosophical underpinnings, and the legislative framework that guides much of the restoration work in the United States. Principles of ecosystem ecology introduced to provide an understanding of ecosystem processes across landscapes and within specific restoration sites. Students will conduct a comparative study of a restoration site with a reference site and work in small groups to create a monitoring report for this site.
Student Writing Assignment
What are students writing? A restoration and monitoring plan.
For whom? Professionals involved in various aspects of ecological site restoration.
Where would such writing typically be found? A workplace document for landowners or managers; consulting firms; city governments.
Why would someone usually read it? A Restoration Plan tells a story of a particular place in terms of its history, current challenges, and future potential. While it includes specific strategies for enhancing the ecological integrity of a site, the plan also provides a narrative for why restoration is needed and how a successful restoration will be determined. Therefore, readers may be interested in knowing what makes this place the focus for restoration, the motivation for a particular restoration strategy, and how this place fits into the larger landscape context.
Reader requirements: experience in some aspect of ecological site restoration–could include: ecologists; environmental consultants, env or civil engineers, or site managers with experience in mitigation or restoration; landscape architects; non profit program directors dealing with ecological management issues.
See examples of reader bios for this course
Student – Reader Interactions
Intro Meeting – by Sept 17, if possible
September 27 – October 4: Students meet with Readers to discuss project plan and next steps
October 28 – November 5: Students meet with Readers to workshop sections
November 11 – 25: Optional meeting with Readers to discuss final Plan
Restoration Plan Assignment:
Feedback response questions:
Does the Plan offer a clear and reasonable vision for restoration that takes into consideration the current state of the site and surrounding land area?
What should the students consider taking into account when outlining their plan for monitoring this site?
Is this document written in language appropriate for professionals in the field (e.g., no jargon, background information sufficient but not too overwhelming)?


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Kent County Biographies
Names A to E
Names F to O
Names P to Z
Online Biographies
New York
Also see
Railway Officials in America 1906
Famous Americans
Julius Greiner is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1822. His parents were Frederick and Sophia Greiner.
He settled in Detroit in 1849, and two years after lie was married to Sophia Berne. She died in 1854, and in 1857
he was married to Rosa Keissel, a native of Germany. In 1865 he settled on 180 acres of land on sec. 21.
History of Kent County, Michigan
Chas C. Chapman & Company
Chicago 1881.


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Photo: Aaron Blatt
"Incredible competitive season and is one of the most consistent riders I have seen. He deserves rookie for absolutely sending it and coming out on top or podium in a lot of tough contests." - Danny Davis
"Back to back 1620's under pressure at the US open slope is enough to proves he deserves to be where he is. Not to mention all his other podiums throughout the 2015 shred year." - Mark Sollors
Photo: Aaron Blatt
"A 'rookie' with the most messed up contest resume ever. His US open take over with the Triple cork combo was thing of legend." - Pat Moore
Photo: Aaron Blatt
Yuki Kadono had one hell of a year. The young Japanese phenom started off with a win at the Air & Style in Beijing, China, landed on the podium at X Games slopestyle, and then stunned the world with what is widely considered the greatest slopestyle run in competitive snowboarding history. Yuki capped off said run with back-to-back triple cork 1620s and the clip was shared, viewed and looped millions of times. Oh, also of note is that it was enough to knock Mark McMorris, the best slopestyle rider on earth, off the podium. His U.S. Open win in Vail, Colorado stunned the world, but to those who had witnessed Yuki's on-hill feats in years prior, it was likely no surprise at all. Oh, and did we mention that he was only eighteen years old? We were reminded by multi-time ROTY member, Eddie Wall when he said, "At 18 years old he landed a trick that has never been stomped in the history of our sport. A switch backside 1620 at Air & Style. Then he goes to the U.S. Open and does the trick back to back...He's 18! If that doesn't qualify you for Rookie of the Year, I don't know what does." British Columbia backcountry badass Annie Boulanger can attest to that, as she voted for Yuki and only gave a two-word descriptor, saying, "So amazing." Chas Guldemond is familiar with the U.S. Open slopestyle as he's one of the more seasoned competitors that makes the March migration to Vail, Colorado and Yuki undoubtedly had his vote for Rookie of the Year, as Chas stated, "Yuki came in hot this year with some huge podiums! He blew everyone's heads off at the U.S. Open! Back to back triple 16s. Are you fucking kidding me?" Well Chas, we're here to tell you that we're not kidding you. Yuki is that good, the world now knows it, and only time will tell what the young Japanese rider's career will produce but if we're using young Japanese kids who shock the world at the U.S. Open [Read: Kazu Kokubo] as an example, we think that Yuki has a long and successful journey ahead of him.


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|Lee's amazing plans for the installation of two water makers.
|The puppy's we nearly purchased. Two for $20.
|A lovely bush
|Lee's amazing plans for the installation of two water makers.
|The puppy's we nearly purchased. Two for $20.
|Lee has been working out.
We're standing outside a church at the Riviera Del Pacifico which is a cultural center in Ensenada. Once a casino and hotel owned by famous boxer Jack Dempsy. Rumored to be backed by mobster Al Capone. It was a favored gathering place for wealthy Americans and Mexicans during the Prohibition era. Among the glamorous clientele were Bing Crosby and Rita Hayworth.
|A lovely bush
|The Crew. Lewis and Katie
|Mexican mixed grill, served with cactus
|We met the boxer Daniel Ponce De Leon at the restaurant. He had just finished a fight and was still a bit bruised swollen. Check out those knuckles!
|Daniel Ponce De Leon
|About to cross the US border to Mexico
|Officially in Mexico
|We're in Mexico so I whipped up a south of the border stylie breakfast
|Baby Raphael Louis Alfred Moreton is born and we receive the news via the Satellite phone!
|Hooray! well done Louise.
|Uh Oh, some traffic. Hope they're not moving.
|Surrounded by dolphins that escorted us for 20 minutes.
|I tried to convince them to stay
|Captain Sparky
|Cooking sausages for the captain
|Penny Lane with a Liverpool football club flag moored in Avalon alongside Solent
|There are no real cars in Avalon, just golf carts
|spot Solent


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Ensemble models are a great tool to fix the variance-bias trade-off which a typical machine learning model faces, i.e. when you try to lower bias, variance will go higher and vice-versa. This generally results in higher error rates.
Total Error in Model = Bias + Variance + Random Noise
Ensemble models typically combine several weak learners to build a stronger model, which will reduce variance and bias at the same time. Since ensemble models follow a community learning or divide and conquer approach, output from ensemble models will be wrong only when the majority of underlying learners are wrong.
One of the biggest flip side of ensemble models is that they may become "Black Box" and not very explainable as opposed a simple machine learning model. However, the gains in model performances generally outweigh any loss in transparency. That is the reason why you will see top performing models in many high ranking competitions will be generally an ensemble model.
Ensemble models can be broken down into the following three main categories-
- Bagging
- Boosting
- Stacking
Let's look at each one of them-
- One good example of such model is Random Forest
- These types of ensemble models work on reducing the variance by removing instability in the underlying complex models
- Each learner is asked to do the classification or regression independently and in parallel and then either a voting or averaging of the output of all the learners is done to create the final output
- Since these ensemble models are predominantly focuses on reducing the variance, the underlying models are fairly complex ( such as Decision Tree or Neural Network) to begin with low bias
- An underlying decision tree will have higher depth and many branches. In other words, the tree will be deep and dense and with lower bias
- Some good examples of these types of models are Gradient Boosting Tree, Adaboost, XGboost among others.
- These ensemble models work with weak learners and try to improve the bias and variance simultaneously by working sequentially.
- These are also called adaptive learners, as learning of one learner is dependent on how other learners are performing. For example, if a certain set of the data has higher mis-classification rate, this sample's weight in the overall learning will be increased so that the other learners focus more on correctly classifying the tougher samples.
- An underlying decision tree will be shallow and a weak learner with higher bias
There are various approaches for building a bagging model such as- pasting, bagging, random subspaces, random patches etc. You can find all details over here.
- These meta learning models are what the name suggest. They are stacked models. Or in other words, a particular learner's output will become an input to another model and so on.
Working examples-
First install xgboost via conda install-
Step1 – search packages using "anaconda search -t conda xgboost"
Step 2- install a particular package such as " conda install py-xgboost"
Coming soon….


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Discussion in 'Pseudoscience Archive' started by pywakit, Jan 9, 2013.
you made contact ?
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Hehe, maybe. However, I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I'm just answering questions. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I could have used the word "humanoid" since there are many planets that also inhabit humanoid type beings, but since I was referring to beings that look exactly like us, I intentionally used the term "human". Whether anyone believes they exist on other planets or not is really up to that individual. There's no harm either way. Again, I'm just answering questions. For myself, it's not a theory, or a belief, or even a knowing. It's an awareness as much as I am aware that air exists.
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Remind me please, what was the question again?
you made contact ?
this is contradicting,
and also, what are you aware of ?
I paraphrased the first question:
Which was then followed by questions made by others:
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It's not necessary.
umm actually, yes it is ..it's very necessary for your comment to be true, like you are implying..
you have no clue like anyone else that exist. you are just spewing nonsense.
do you not realize this ?
yes what ? , i asked a question of what you are aware of, not a yes or no question,
do you lack the function of the brain or comprehension ?
I respect your perspectives. As long as you are happy with yours, that is all that matters.
LOL, I'm just messing with ya.
I could tell you what I'm aware of, but it would make no difference. Proof cannot be found outside of one's self. It may seem like it can, but it just seems that way - Another one of the many illusions of this reality. Again, I'm not going to try to convince anyone of anything. That is impossible.
Given that our global society is still yet extremely primitive and extraordinarily cut off from... well all things, when someone asks me if there is life or even humans on another planet, believe me when I say I answer that question with great compasion, and that answer is... Yes!
I understand that this may not be the most pleasant thing to read, but for the time being you will have to discover this truth on your own.
either you lack the function of the brain or comprehension
but the thing is you haven't discovered anything.
I'm not saying there's not other species out there,
I'm saying you have no clue but imply that you made contact with such,
I'm starting to get the impression you're just a contradicting hypocritical idiot.
but I'm not sure.
Hehe, that's okay.
I normally don't recognize labels or titles much unless they are needed for purposes of discussion, but I can understand your frustration.
When things get a bit confusing or frustrating, it's usually best to just let it go.
I'm not confused nor frustrated at all.
you just side step or spew some word salad to avoid anything.
then try to deceive a way out.
you have no clue at all.
you are just running your mouth with ignorance.
don't you have a junior high class to go to or something ?
Hehe. Not today.
that explains your ignorance.
I feel I understand your approach to this issue. Your need to tease the board with a claim that can not be supported to the boards satisfaction is not worth stating succinctly but only as a tease. Hell, I use this method nearly all the time. As it appears to be the only way to say what you feel the need to say to a board that you feel is closed and already pre- shut down [biased and prejudiced] before you even begin to explain YOUR truth.
Part of the reason for this, IMO, is based on the preconceived notions of the label, word, descriptor "Human". The word Human is loaded with "patriotisms, ego centricisms, self estemisms, heliocentricisms, and a whole plethora of other "isms" that to use it when referring to extra terrestrial [E.T.] life forms is like wise loaded with severe obstacles to fruitful discussion.
Member krash661 has asked me if I have made contact? My only and I might add "reactive" answer is that you would not believe me if I told you. Or "until you understand the reality of the method of knowing your natural need for proof and evidence would be frustrated". So it is best to say nothing and let it go...or simply pay the price for teasing your audience...
"To know of alien races requires the ability to remotely sense them either by way of remote viewing techniques, telepathic communications or other non-distance related methods. Currently sceince believes that information travels no faster than the speed of light** which rules out any extended evidential support of an acceptable kind.
** QED's quantum entanglement suggests other wise but as yet is still in it's infancy as an extendable methodology or mechanism for psychic/telepathic communications.
To say that there are humans elsewhere in this universe may actually be quite a natural conclusion of deductive logic and rational but as we know "logic", rational is merely stating a hypothesis and not quantifiable as evidence in itself.
So Hypothetically it could be concluded that humanoid entities similar to "humans" exist elsewhere simply by using the nature of probability and "qualified" speculation.
According to Probability [Rare Earth theory] the mere existence of this planet and it's dependent life is virtually impossible the odds being so poor, yet here we are.. Planet Earth with all it's Humans.
If we can exist in defiance of probability then so to can others... etc etc... [We as a race are now discovering (regarding climate change - arctic melt down etc), just how tenuous our existence is...]
well, this is where you would be wrong.
I'm open to anything that is not contradicting
i do believe there's other species of such(extraterrestrials)
IMO it is impossible for another species beyond humanity or earth life to not exist.
That was funny Krash for your statement was contradictory. What does "IMO it is impossible for another species beyond humanity or earth life to not exist" mean?
what was contradicting ?
it means,
in my opinion,
we as humans, humanity ,life are not alone in the universe.
and it is impossible for humanity to be the only existence.
nature is self consistent, with balance or/and relative entities of such.
Does existence alienate or do aliens exist? Which more likely?
Thanks for clearing that up. What do you really mean by "nature is self consistent, with balance or/and relative entities of such"?
I apologize,
I meant consistency
constancy: the ability to maintain a particular standard or repeat a particular task with minimal variation
Separate names with a comma.


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London July 2005: Business as Usual (Tract 5 – 2005)
The recent acts of violence on London's public transport system have been shocking not just in their ferocity, but also in their banality. Londoners on their way to work can no longer be ignorant of the extent to which we are at the mercy of religious terrorism on the one hand and state terrorism on the other. No less shocking, but even less surprising, has been the contemptible and contemptuous response of the political élite to the violence, with their risible denials of any connection between the attacks on London and the war on Iraq, and their shameless defence of a Metropolitan Police which cannot help committing murder while 'doing its job'. The situation is nakedly obvious: Bush, Blair and the terrorists are all playing the same game on the same field; it is only the team strips and mascots that are different. As Bush himself put it with breath-taking effrontery at the G8 summit just a few hours after the July 7th bombings:
'The contrast couldn't be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill – those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks.'
We have nothing to add to this extraordinary comment.
The wake of the bombings on 7th July, the further attempted bombings on 21st July, and the murder of Jean Charles de Menezes on 22nd July have seen a great outpouring of outrage and condemnation. At the time of writing it is hard not to believe that there will be further violence and further condemnation on London's tubes, buses and perhaps elsewhere. The purpose of this communiqué is not to add our voice to this condemnation. It should not need to be stated that we neither sympathise with nor support the attackers on either side, and we feel nothing but grief for the pain of those killed, maimed or bereaved by them. But the mass acts of condemnation and commemoration, epitomised by the two minutes' silence on 14th July, is of a piece with a wider long-term trend in public life which expresses dissent on a mass scale only to neutralize it. From the two minutes' silence to Live 8, the mystique of participation turns political emotion into a public spectacle and thereby 'raises awareness' or 'expresses solidarity' while leaving the world around us unchanged. In short, the ritual of condemnation is all about business as usual.
In the immediate aftermath of 7th July, Londoners were urged – by the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, no less – to get back to our desks on Monday morning and to 'defy the bombers' by returning to business as usual. The same refrain has been heard many times since then, although London's terrorized workers know only too well that their getting back onto public transport has less to do with defiance than with paying the rent. Business as usual means getting back onto the tube train where you know others like you have already been bombed and shot; watching the bombings in London and Baghdad on your TV and somehow pretending that they are not the same thing at all; going back to work because the continuing operations of capitalism and the state – including the war on Iraq – depend on it; having serious conversations with your friends about 'striking a balance' between civil liberties and national security, as if this so-called dilemma were not simply the recto and verso of the same bloodstained social contract.
We do not need further condemnation of the violence. Expressing horror does nothing. Indignation and moral outrage are ultimately just another lot of empty verbiage. We call not for condemnation, but for revolt; not for unity, but for dissent; not for religious tolerance, but for universal and indiscriminate blasphemy; not for mutual respect, but for mutual masturbation in a spirit of the Blitz that pays as much homage to the sex in the blackout as to the everynight courage. Abandon your desks, throw down your tools, take over the streets, bring the city to a standstill again, this time not in terror but in a surge of desire, possibility and imagination. Above all, don't fall for the comforting drudgery of business as usual. It was business as usual that got us into this shit-storm; don't you think it's time to put a stop to it?
LONDON SURREALIST GROUP 27th July 2005


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Dollar strong as Fed upholds rates
Stocks fell and the dollar extended gains after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged while confirming it was still on course to hike in December.
Tech underperformed after Jack Dorsey's Square gave a disappointing forecast and Roku reported slower growth, while a rout in energy companies helped pull down the S&P 500 Index from a one-month high. Oil fell a ninth straight day and reached a bear market. Treasury yields held steady.
Investors had largely anticipated that the Fed wouldn't change interest rates at today's announcement, so instead were focused on looking for any signals on the pace of policy tightening into 2019. The central bank said "economic activity has been rising at a strong rate" and job gains "have been strong," acknowledging a drop in the unemployment rate, while repeating its outlook for "further gradual" rate increases in its statement.
U.S. filings for unemployment benefits held near an almost five-decade low, indicating a robust job market. China reported a surge in exports and imports for October, months before the next round of tariff hikes in the trade war with the U.S. is set to kick in.
Musk replaced as Tesla board chief
Six weeks after settling a securities-fraud lawsuit with federal regulators, Tesla and Elon Musk have made good on one of the agreement's key provisions — naming a new board chief. The company said a current director, Robyn Denholm, would become its chairwoman immediately. Musk stepped down as chairman last month but remains Tesla's chief executive. The move to replace Musk as chairman, announced late Wednesday night, was part of a settlement reached with the Securities and Exchange Commission in September to deal with the fallout from his assertion that he had secured funding for a private buyout of the company.
Greyhound sued for interrogations
Lawyers for a California woman asked a state judge Thursday to order Greyhound Lines to stop allowing federal immigration agents to board its buses and demand identification and proof of citizenship from passengers.
The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status for all California citizens, was filed by a U.S. citizen, Rocío Cordova, who said she was traveling from San Diego to Phoenix in November 2017 when the Greyhound bus she was riding pulled over on a highway to allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to interrogate passengers.
Cordova accused the nation's largest motor coach operator of violating state consumer protection laws against unfair and unlawful business practices by allegedly consenting to racial profiling by law enforcement.


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About Me
New Works
The painting is 36cm x 46cmor 14"x18". I prepare my canvas with 10 coats of gesso sanding between each coat.I then draw my subject onto the canvas and then ink it on with sepia ink. The first layer is the Imprematura which is just a wash that seals the surface, I usually use a small amount of Ochre ,Umber and Prussian blueand water it down with pure gum turps.This dries in about 2 hrs. and I then start the Umbra layer.So the entire painting is done using only umber,I use raw Umber many use Burn't, But I like the effect of raw umber. The medium I use is a Mix of 1 part Drying linseed oil ,1 part drying poppy oil ,1 part Damar to 1 part pure gum turps.This allows the umbra layer to dry by next day, and the other layers to follow dry in approx 5 to 6 days depending on the weather.
Ok the umbra layer dried overnite and I now start on the dead layerSo basically the whole painting is now painted in grey scale,Like a GrisailleI use a Mixture of raw umber ,davies grey, a tiny dab of lamp black and flake white. I apply the paint in short little strokes using a 00 round sable
Then using a 1/4" blender I blend the paint in ,paint is thicker in the highlights and thinner in the shadows.After blending I go over the area with a sable mop very lightly sweeping over the paint this removes any brushstrokes giving me a smooth surface again.
I've started the colour layers on the apple to start with. I begin by first wiping over the area I'm going to paint with half a brown onion, this acts as a sizing allowing the paint to take to the previous layer and not bead up ect, I use a thin glaze of Naples yellow,yellow ochre and titanium biege,as before i use a small brush and dab the paint on ,the blend and again go over it lightly with a mop.
left that to dry overnite then the next dayI add the first layer of redthis is crimson lake ,rose madder and raw umber in the shadow areasame prosess again only this time I dont blend as much allowing the yellow to come through and giving the pattern to the skin.
I continue to add layers to the apple,bringing up the highlights, and scubbling glazes over the paper,also bringing out the highlights.I lighten up the fabric sign ,and now we are finished!


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Jenny EriksonA new law in South Dakota would require women to wait three days after a physician assessment and attend a counseling session at a pregnancy care clinic before they can have an abortion. Like any law designed to enforce abortion providers to help women make educated decisions, this one is most likely in for a legal battle.
Why? Whether or not to have an abortion is one of the most monumental decisions a woman will ever make. Whatever the reasoning, circumstance, or political spin, the decision to have an abortion is the decision to end a life, and should not be taken lightly.
Planned Parenthood, one of the organizations protesting the new South Dakota law, is notorious for lying to women about the development of their fetuses. Seeing as how it's the number one abortion provider in the country, it might be a good idea for women to get a second opinion from a pregnancy care center that will offer them more options than abortion.
This law does not assume that women are stupid, it assumes that scared moms-to-be are frequently presented with abortion as the only option. "I felt I had no other choice" is a sentiment often expressed by women who have had abortions and gone on to regret them. This law empowers women by requiring them to be informed of all their options.
South Dakota is not outlawing abortion. Some that oppose Gov. Dennis Daugaard say that requiring women from rural areas to stay two or three nights in the city would prohibit them from exercising their right to an abortion. This sounds like the perfect opportunity for a charity. I'm sure there are more than enough people willing to donate funds for a place where these women-in-waiting could stay. Maybe they could even bond over emotions of grief for even having to consider such a decision.
Every woman deserves to be armed with knowledge when considering a life-changing event like abortion. It is far better to make an informed decision than one in ignorance only to regret it later. Abortion is not something that can be undone.