text:
Designated a national park just a year ago, Pinnacles can overwhelm with the sheer number of adjectives that leap to mind. "Mind-bending," "extraordinary," "wondrous" — all fall flat when you try to describe this surreal landscape of cloven cliffs, jagged spires and imposing boulders southeast of Salinas off the 101 Freeway. My sweetheart and I took a 10-mile trek through creek bed and cliff top there, earning our sighs of relief in the whirlpool tub that soon followed. The charge for our sweat equity? We spent about $600, which included $500 for two nights at the Inn at the Pinnacles, a polished and welcoming B&B a condor's wing flap from the park's doors.
The bed
The Inn at the Pinnacles [32025 Stonewall Canyon Road, Soledad; (831) 678-2400, http://www.innatthepinnacles.com] rises out of the surrounding vineyards like a sweet mirage. Our hosts, Jan and Jon Brosseau, poured the pressed goodness from Brosseau Vineyard's grapes at their complimentary 5 p.m. wine and cheese hour. They also serve delightful, decadent breakfasts to power Pinnacles hiking (or maybe poolside lounging). Among their six select suites, our Manzanita Room was a relaxing respite with its comfy bed, vineyard views and big soaking tub. Take advantage of the suite's gas grill to cue up dinner under the huge starry sky.
The meal
Small-town Soledad is a 20-minute drive through the hills from the inn, so don't toss back too many cervezas at its many Mexican restaurants. La Fuente (101 Oak St., Soledad; (831) 678-3130; no Web address but many Yelp reviews; entrees $7–$20) doesn't put on any airs in its simple dining room, but it puts tasty fare on its tables. The grilled shrimp in my tacos were expertly prepared and went well with the generous guacamole topping. Average chips were made much better with great red chile and pico de gallo sauces. Everything is made fresh so the pace is relaxed, but the savory fare forgives any wait. And you can always view the considerable collection of Diego Rivera prints on the walls.
The find
Pinnacles' volcanic heritage is dramatic and varied; 30-plus miles of hiking trails cross the park, from the condor crannies seen on the strikingly carved canyons of the High Peaks trail to the oak-tree bedazzled flow of its rolling hills. This time we took on the nearly 10-mile trudge over the Balconies Cliffs Trail and through the long creek-side cruise of the North Wilderness Trail, marked by 128 stacked-rock cairns. (Yes, we counted.)
The lesson learned
There's a pretty fair ridge-top ascent on the tail end of the North Wilderness trail, when you might already be a bit tuckered. Next time, I'd start on the North Wilderness Trail and save going over the Balconies Cliffs for the finish. Still a bit of an uphill, but the deep drama of the volcanic magic will restore you.
A capital sojourn in Sacramento
An artistic renaissance in Taos, N.M.


text:
Yeah, I see it now. I didn't even see your little addiction when I c/p'ed it.
I was kidding. You copy-pasta'd my Swaim thread. Idgaf... I do that shit all the time too.
I'm not mad. I'm just..... disappointed.
Thanks for like not using PMs and stuff, dork. But, you should be able to edit it now.
Don't see the option to change custom user title. Please make mine say "Barely a fan"
How does one go abouts updating their custom user title?
This seems like a good spot to take a leak.
vBulletin Skins by Bluepearl Skins

subset: commoncrawl


text:
5 minutes from downtown. Quimper rubs the exoticism of India.
The catering is provided by our Catering Department "SO! Traiteur".
Free access to the relaxing place from 8am to 11pm without interruption for hotel guests.
The Manoir des Indes is engaged in an ecological approach.
The Manoir des indes joined the group "Relais du Silence" since 2011.
The Manoir-hôtel des indes is in an ecological approach .
Travelling with children
If you wish to dine at the hotel the day of arrival thank you specify in the comment book.
Immediate free call back !
Wedding Organization
Indoor pool
A pro team
Company events
Free access
Reception rooms
Gift voucher
Catering upscale
The property is fully accessible people with reduced mobility.
The entire property is covered by our free wifi network.


text: Tickets for Fan Fair's evening concerts go on sale April 7. The concerts at the Coliseum in Nashville are a highlight of Fan Fair 2003, set for June 5-8. Just added to the concert series are Travis Tritt, Billy Ray Cyrus and Cledus T. Judd. Other performers include Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Patty Loveless, Jo Dee Messina, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Mark Wills and Darryl Worley. Advance tickets for each nightly show are priced at $25 plus service charges. Four-day ticket packages for all Fan Fair events cost $125-$145. 03/31/03


text:
|2010-04-23, 15:24
|Link #1061
Senior Member
Kannagi for one (burning manga volumes or cutting them does seem pretty bad). There was also that game... ugh cannot remember the name where otaku's got mad over the heroine interacting with some other guy other than the main male which seemed to suggest a close relationship and it got quite a shitty storm as well.
In fact in Kannagi's case I also blame the otaku rage for the author's sickness partially as well... Apparently she was sick before but it worsened after the otaku's rage...
And now it is unclear if it will ever be finished as its still on a hiatus, seems like the mangaka doenst want to touch Kannagi mess anytime in the near future afraid to stir up wasps nest again.
And i am not saying its OK, just that its nothing big as it happens quite a lot and its not the otaku focused thing as you try to portray it happens all around.
|2010-04-23, 15:45
|Link #1062
Tin Can
Join Date: Nov 2009
My point is that it happens MORE nowadays than in the past, and regardless of era there is NO justification for that. Of course I am naturally going to be focused on the Otaku-centric rings, because this is the cause of the incident with Kei: Crazy Otakus and their crazy crusade to verbally attack people (few have the guts to show in person, but god save us from the extreme fringes that do). That being said, not all otakus are evil people. I am specifically refering to those that do crazy things.
Perhaps it has something to do with Japan's economic decline or something. That left lots of young men hanging around with no day job or becoming hikkikomoris or whatever. When there is no real career or greater cause to work on. Aimless young men become reactionary to the most minute things, including ani-manga culture (not gonna lower the mainstream into the fringe by calling it "otaku culture"). I am not saying things like that don't happen in other fields, but the ani-manga one is just hard to watch because I grew up with it...and I see that it is heading into a dark, depressing future. It is like watching Disneyland becoming something out of HP Lovecraft!
As for the blurb...maybe I will post it up on the fanclub or something.
|2010-04-26, 07:07
|Link #1069
Senior Member
|2010-04-26, 08:05
|Link #1070
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 32
Oh man. I feel so bad for both girls, more so for Oonuma.
God this manga is great.
|2010-04-26, 11:22
|Link #1073
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 32
And I don't think it'll be just her, but all of Utsumi's friends. But what's great is that the 'catalysts' are natural and most of all, believable. In other stories sometimes you have some stupid event or some unlikely something happen.
This manga hits home so much because it's more real.
|2010-04-26, 11:51
|Link #1074
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
But I have wanted to say this for a while: Does anybody think that her design is ugly? I mean, this manga art isn't anything great in the first place, but for a girl that is supposed to be a "beauty," I find even no name characters to look better than her.
|2010-04-26, 11:55
|Link #1075
Chicken or Beef?
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle
Age: 36
|2010-04-26, 11:57
|Link #1076
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: USA
Age: 32
|2010-04-26, 12:29
|Link #1077
Senior Member
One Piece's Boa Hancock is different - she is supposed to be most beautiful woamn of the seas and frankly from all OP girls she definitely looks like one.
And Risa's design does look the most ugly from all main GE girls. Yuki's design is the best its just that her character makes me cringe... While Risa is opposite - good character (so far) but the outer look makes me cringe.
|2010-04-26, 15:20
|Link #1078
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
I would like Risa's design just as much as the others if she covers up the forehead a little.
I think GE has great character design myself. Although Kei could really work on drawing blushes that don't look like giant random lines on a person's face.
|2010-04-26, 17:43
|Link #1080
Itadaki-nyaaa !!
Join Date: Apr 2008
|being good sucks, drama, kento boss, romance, shoukento, shounen, slice of life, yukiumi
|Thread Tools


text: To provide information and demystify the storage solution selection process, Overland Data is sponsoring an online contest in which site visitors can experience the company's latest data storage, backup, and restore technologies, and win prizes. While data protection is a serious matter, the contest lets participants have fun and win prizes. The Data Saga takes visitors on a futuristic data journey with super heroes and villains. "It's … a great way for participants to get acquainted with the cutting-edge technology of Overland and its award-winning products," says Steve Richardson, Overland Data's marketing vice president. Running from October 18, 1999, through March 2000, the contest can be accessed at http://www.overlanddata.com.


text:
Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Developmental Psychology: Cognitive development · Development of the self · Emotional development · Language development · Moral development · Perceptual development · Personality development · Psychosocial development · Social development · Developmental measures
Evolutionary developmental biology (evolution of development or informally, evo-devo) is a field of biology that compares the developmental processes of different organisms to determine the ancestral relationship between them, and to discover how developmental processes evolved. It addresses the origin and evolution of embryonic development; how modifications of development and developmental processes lead to the production of novel features, such as the evolution of feathers;[1] the role of developmental plasticity in evolution; how ecology impacts in development and evolutionary change; and the developmental basis of homoplasy and homology.[2]
Although interest in the relationship between ontogeny and phylogeny extends back to the nineteenth century, the contemporary field of evo-devo has gained impetus from the discovery of genes regulating embryonic development in model organisms. General hypotheses remain hard to test because organisms differ so much in shape and form.[3]
Nevertheless, it now appears that just as evolution tends to create new genes from parts of old genes (molecular economy), evo-devo demonstrates that evolution alters developmental processes to create new and novel structures from the old gene networks (such as bone structures of the jaw deviating to the ossicles of the middle ear) or will conserve (molecular economy) a similar program in a host of organisms such as eye development genes in molluscs, insects, and vertebrates.[4] [5] Initially the major interest has been in the evidence of homology in the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate body plan and organ development. However more modern approaches include developmental changes associated with speciation.[6]
Basic principles Edit
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is based on three principles: natural selection, heredity, and variation. At the time that Darwin wrote, the principles underlying heredity and variation were poorly understood. In the 1940s, however, biologists incorporated Gregor Mendel's principles of genetics to explain both, resulting in the modern synthesis. It was not until the 1980s and 1990s, however, when more comparative molecular sequence data between different kinds of organisms was amassed and detailed, that an understanding of the molecular basis of the developmental mechanisms has arisen.
Currently, it is well understood how genetic mutation occurs. However, developmental mechanisms are not understood sufficiently to explain which kinds of phenotypic variation can arise in each generation from variation at the genetic level. Evolutionary developmental biology studies how the dynamics of development determine the phenotypic variation arising from genetic variation and how that affects phenotypic evolution (especially its direction). At the same time evolutionary developmental biology also studies how development itself evolves.
Thus, the origins of evolutionary developmental biology come from both an improvement in molecular biology techniques as applied to development, and the full appreciation of the limitations of classic neo-Darwinism as applied to phenotypic evolution. Some evo-devo researchers see themselves as extending and enhancing the modern synthesis by incorporating into it findings of molecular genetics and developmental biology. Others, drawing on findings of discordances between genotype and phenotype and epigenetic mechanisms of development, are mounting an explicit challenge to neo-Darwinism.[citation needed]
Evolutionary developmental biology is not yet a unified discipline, but can be distinguished from earlier approaches to evolutionary theory by its focus on a few crucial ideas. One of these is modularity: as has been long recognized, plants and animal bodies are modular: they are organized into developmentally and anatomically distinct parts. Often these parts are repeated, such as fingers, ribs, and body segments. Evo-devo seeks the genetic and evolutionary basis for the division of the embryo into distinct modules, and for the partly independent development of such modules.
Another central idea is that some gene products function as switches whereas others act as diffusible signals. Genes specify proteins, some of which act as structural components of cells and others as enzymes that regulate various biochemical pathways within an organism. Most biologists working within the modern synthesis assumed that an organism is a straightforward reflection of its component genes. The modification of existing, or evolution of new, biochemical pathways (and, ultimately, the evolution of new species of organisms) depended on specific genetic mutations. In 1961, however, Jacques Monod, Jean-Pierre Changeux and François Jacob discovered within the bacterium Escherichia coli a gene that functioned only when "switched on" by an environmental stimulus.[7] Later, scientists discovered specific genes in animals, including a subgroup of the genes which contain the homeobox DNA motif, called Hox genes, that act as switches for other genes, and could be induced by other gene products, morphogens, that act analogously to the external stimuli in bacteria. These discoveries drew biologists' attention to the fact that genes can be selectively turned on and off, rather than being always active, and that highly disparate organisms (for example, fruit flies and human beings) may use the same genes for embryogenesis (e.g., the genes of the "developmental-genetic toolkit", see below), just regulating them differently.
Similarly, organismal form can be influenced by mutations in promoter regions of genes, those DNA sequences at which the products of some genes bind to and control the activity of the same or other genes, not only protein-specifying sequences. This finding suggested that the crucial distinction between different species (even different orders or phyla) may be due less to differences in their content of gene products than to differences in spatial and temporal expression of conserved genes. The implication that large evolutionary changes in body morphology are associated with changes in gene regulation, rather than the evolution of new genes, suggested that Hox and other "switch" genes may play a major role in evolution, something that contradicts the neo-darwinian synthesis.
Another focus of evo-devo is developmental plasticity, the basis of the recognition that organismal phenotypes are not uniquely determined by their genotypes. If generation of phenotypes is conditional, and dependent on external or environmental inputs, evolution can proceed by a "phenotype-first" route,[3][8] with genetic change following, rather than initiating, the formation of morphological and other phenotypic novelties.Template:What? The case for this was argued for by Mary Jane West-Eberhard in her 2003 book Developmental plasticity and evolution.[8]
History Edit
An early version of recapitulation theory, also called the biogenetic law or embryological parallelism, was put forward by Étienne Serres in 1824–26 as what became known as the "Meckel-Serres Law" which attempted to provide a link between comparative embryology and a "pattern of unification" in the organic world. It was supported by Étienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire as part of his ideas of idealism, and became a prominent part of his version of Lamarckism leading to disagreements with Georges Cuvier. It was widely supported in the Edinburgh and London schools of higher anatomy around 1830, notably by Robert Edmond Grant, but was opposed by Karl Ernst von Baer's embryology of divergence in which embryonic parallels only applied to early stages where the embryo took a general form, after which more specialised forms diverged from this shared unity in a branching pattern. The anatomist Richard Owen used this to support his idealist concept of species as showing the unrolling of a divine plan from an archetype, and in the 1830s attacked the transmutation of species proposed by Lamarck, Geoffroy and Grant.[9] In the 1850s Owen began to support an evolutionary view that the history of life was the gradual unfolding of a teleological divine plan,[10] in a continuous "ordained becoming", with new species appearing by natural birth.[11]
In On the Origin of Species (1859), Charles Darwin proposed evolution through natural selection, a theory central to modern biology. Darwin recognised the importance of embryonic development in the understanding of evolution, and the way in which von Baer's branching pattern matched his own idea of descent with modification[12]:
|We can see why characters derived from the embryo should be of equal importance with those derived from the adult, for a natural classification of course includes all ages.[13]
Ernst Haeckel (1866), in his endeavour to produce a synthesis of Darwin's theory with Lamarckism and Naturphilosophie, proposed that "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny," that is, the development of the embryo of every species (ontogeny) fully repeats the evolutionary development of that species (phylogeny), in Geoffroy's linear model rather than Darwin's idea of branching evolution.[12] Haeckel's concept explained, for example, why humans, and indeed all vertebrates, have gill slits and tails early in embryonic development. His theory has since been discredited. However, it served as a backdrop for a renewed interest in the evolution of development after the modern evolutionary synthesis was established (roughly 1936 to 1947).
Stephen Jay Gould called this approach to explaining evolution as terminal addition; as if every evolutionary advance was added as new stage by reducing the duration of the older stages. The idea was based on observations of neoteny.[14] This was extended by the more general idea of heterochrony (changes in timing of development) as a mechanism for evolutionary change.[15]
D'Arcy Thompson postulated that differential growth rates could produce variations in form in his 1917 book On Growth and Form. He showed the underlying similarities in body plans and how geometric transformations could be used to explain the variations.
Edward B. Lewis discovered homeotic genes, rooting the emerging discipline of evo-devo in molecular genetics. In 2000, a special section of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) was devoted to "evo-devo",[16] and an entire 2005 issue of the Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution was devoted to the key evo-devo topics of evolutionary innovation and morphological novelty.[17]
John R. Horner began his project "How to Build a Dinosaur" in 2009 in conjunction with his published book of the same name. Using the principles and theories of evolutionary developmental biology, he took a chick embryo and attempted to change the development so it grew components similar to a dinosaur. [18] He successfully grew buds of teeth, and is currentlyTemplate:When working on growing a tail, and changing the wings to claws. Horner used evolutionary developmental biology on a chick embryo because he knew he couldn't make an exact replica of a dinosaur since there is no more DNA so instead he just took the framework still in the chick's DNA that allowed it to evolve from a dinosaur. [19]
The developmental-genetic toolkit Edit
The developmental-genetic toolkit consists of a small fraction of the genes in an organism's genome whose products control its development. These genes are highly conserved among Phyla. Differences in deployment of toolkit genes affect the body plan and the number, identity, and pattern of body parts. The majority of toolkit genes are components of signaling pathways, and encode for the production of transcription factors, cell adhesion proteins, cell surface receptor proteins, and secreted morphogens, all of these participate in defining the fate of undifferentiated cells, generating spatial and temporal patterns, which in turn form the body plan of the organism. Among the most important of the toolkit genes are those of the Hox gene cluster, or complex. Hox genes, transcription factors containing the more broadly distributed homeobox protein-binding DNA motif, function in patterning the body axis. Thus, by combinatorial specifying the identity of particular body regions, Hox genes determine where limbs and other body segments will grow in a developing embryo or larva. A paragon of a toolbox gene is Pax6/eyeless, which controls eye formation in all animals. It has been found to produce eyes in mice and Drosophila, even if mouse Pax6/eyeless was expressed in Drosophila.[20]
This means that a big part of the morphological evolution undergone by organisms is a product of variation in the genetic toolkit, either by the genes changing their expression pattern or acquiring new functions. A good example of the first is the enlargement of the beak in Darwin's Large Ground-finch (Geospiza magnirostris), in which the gene BMP is responsible for the larger beak of this bird, relative to the other finches.[21]
The loss of legs in snakes and other squamates is another good example of genes changing their expression pattern. In this case the gene Distal-less is very under-expressed, or not expressed at all, in the regions where limbs would form in other tetrapods.[22] This same gene determines the spot pattern in butterfly wings,[23] which shows that the toolbox genes can change their function.
Toolbox genes, as well as being highly conserved, also tend to evolve the same function convergently or in parallel. Classic examples of this are the already mentioned Distal-less gene, which is responsible for appendage formation in both tetrapods and insects, or, at a finer scale, the generation of wing patterns in the butterflies Heliconius erato and Heliconius melpomene. These butterflies are Müllerian mimics whose coloration pattern arose in different evolutionary events, but is controlled by the same genes.[24] The previous supports Kirschner and Gerhart's theory of Facilitated Variation, which states that morphological evolutionary novelty is generated by regulatory changes in various members of a large set of conserved mechanisms of development and physiology.[25]
Development and the origin of novelty Edit
Among the more surprising and, perhaps, counterintuitive (from a neo-Darwinian viewpoint) results of recent research in evolutionary developmental biology is that the diversity of body plans and morphology in organisms across many phyla are not necessarily reflected in diversity at the level of the sequences of genes, including those of the developmental genetic toolkit and other genes involved in development. Indeed, as Gerhart and Kirschner have noted, there is an apparent paradox: "where we most expect to find variation, we find conservation, a lack of change".[26]
Even within a species, the occurrence of novel forms within a population does not generally correlate with levels of genetic variation sufficient to account for all morphological diversity. For example, there is significant variation in limb morphologies amongst salamanders and in differences in segment number in centipedes, even when the respective genetic variation is low.
A major question then, for evo-devo studies, is: If the morphological novelty we observe at the level of different clades is not always reflected in the genome, where does it come from? Apart from neo-Darwinian mechanisms such as mutation, translocation and duplication of genes, novelty may also arise by mutation-driven changes in gene regulation. The finding that much biodiversity is not due to differences in genes, but rather to alterations in gene regulation, has introduced an important new element into evolutionary theory.[27] Diverse organisms may have highly conserved developmental genes, but highly divergent regulatory mechanisms for these genes. Changes in gene regulation are "second-order" effects of genes, resulting from the interaction and timing of activity of gene networks, as distinct from the functioning of the individual genes in the network.
The discovery of the homeotic Hox gene family in vertebrates in the 1980s allowed researchers in developmental biology to empirically assess the relative roles of gene duplication and gene regulation with respect to their importance in the evolution of morphological diversity. Several biologists, including Sean B. Carroll of the University of Wisconsin–Madison suggest that "changes in the cis-regulatory systems of genes" are more significant than "changes in gene number or protein function".[28] These researchers argue that the combinatorial nature of transcriptional regulation allows a rich substrate for morphological diversity, since variations in the level, pattern, or timing of gene expression may provide more variation for natural selection to act upon than changes in the gene product alone.
Epigenetic alterations of gene regulation or phenotype generation that are subsequently consolidated by changes at the gene level constitute another class of mechanisms for evolutionary innovation. Epigenetic changes include modification of the genetic material due to methylation and other reversible chemical alteration,[29] as well as nonprogrammed remolding of the organism by physical and other environmental effects due to the inherent plasticity of developmental mechanisms.[8] The biologists Stuart A. Newman and Gerd B. Müller have suggested that organisms early in the history of multicellular life were more susceptible to this second category of epigenetic determination than are modern organisms, providing a basis for early macroevolutionary changes.[30]
See alsoEdit
- Animal evolution
- Baldwin effect
- Body plan
- Cell signaling
- Cell signaling networks
- Developmental biology
- Developmental systems theory
- Enhancer
- Enhanceosome
- Evolution and Development Leading journal
- Evolvability
- Gene regulatory network
- Genetic assimilation
- List of gene families
- Important publications in evolutionary developmental biology
- Ontogeny
- Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny
- Promoter (biology)
- Signal transduction
- Transcription factor
- Sean B. Carroll (2000). Endless forms: the evolution of gene regulation and morphological diversity. Cell 101 (6): 577-80. PMID 10892643.
- John Gerhart and Marc Kirschner (1997). Cells, Embryos and Evolution, Blackwell Science.
- Eva Jablonka and Marion J. Lamb (1995). Epigenetic Inheritance and Evolution: The Lamarckian Dimension, Oxford University Press.
- Gerd B. Müller and Stuart A. Newman (Eds.) (2003). Origination of Organismal Form: Beyond the Gene in Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, MIT Press.
- Mary Jane West-Eberhard (2003). Developmental Plasticity and Evolution, Oxford University Press.
Further readingEdit
- Buss, Leo W. (1987). The Evolution of Individuality, Princeton University Press.
- Carroll, Sean B. (2005). Endless Forms Most Beautiful: The New Science of Evo Devo and the Making of the Animal Kingdom, Norton.
- Goodwin, Brian (1994). How the Leopard Changed its Spots, Phoenix Giants.
- (2007) Hall, Brian K. & Olsen, Wendy M. Keywords and Concepts in Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Discovery Publishing House. URL accessed 19 July 2010.
- Kirschner, Marc (2005). The Plausibility of Life: Resolving Darwin's Dilemma, Yale University Press.
- (2007) Laubichler, Manfred D. and Maienschein, Jane From Embryology to Evo-Devo: A History of Developmental Evolution, The MIT Press.
- Minelli, Alessandro (2003). The Development of Animal Form: Ontogeny, Morphology, and Evolution, Cambridge University Press.
- Orr, H. Allen (2005-10-24). Turned on: A revolution in the field of evolution?. The New Yorker. Discussion of Carroll, Endless Forms Most Beautiful
- Raff, Rudolf A. (1996). The Shape of Life: Genes, Development, and the Evolution of Animal Form, The University of Chicago Press.
- Sommer, Ralf J. (2009). The future of evo–devo: model systems and evolutionary theory. Nature Reviews Genetics 10 (6): 416–422.
External linksEdit
- [1] A 2000 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) devoted to "evo-devo" consisting of an editorial, several reviews, and several research articles.
- [2] A 2005 issue of the Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution devoted to evolutionary innovation and morphological novelty.
- Scott F. Gilbert, The morphogenesis of evolutionary developmental biology
|Basic topics in evolutionary biology
|Processes of evolution: evidence - macroevolution - microevolution - speciation
|Mechanisms: selection - genetic drift - gene flow - mutation - phenotypic plasticity
|Modes: anagenesis - catagenesis - cladogenesis
|History: History of evolutionary thought - Charles Darwin - The Origin of Species - modern evolutionary synthesis
|Subfields: population genetics - ecological genetics - human evolution - molecular evolution - phylogenetics - systematics - evo-devo
|List of evolutionary biology topics | Timeline of evolution | Timeline of human evolution
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).
Cite error:
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Results 1 to 3 of 3
05-21-2013, 10:09 PM #1Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jan 2008
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- Hampton Roads, VA
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- 645
Soda consumption in America down to 1987 levels?
Who else got a chance to read the 2012 wrap up from beverage digest?
06-11-2013, 11:14 PM #2Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2011
- Location
- Central Coast, CA
- Posts
- 265
Wow! 1987 levels! This doesn't surprise me too much though as a lot of people are consuming a lot more new age beverages, energy drinks, and RTD iced teas and therefore are drinking less sodas. Sparkling fruit drinks like Pelligrino Lemon, Orange, and Grapefruit are also becoming increasingly popular and are like sodas in many ways but may not be classified as sodas. A lot of younger people especially are drinking less sodas (like my sister) and more alternative beverages and water.
Mine is up.Whatcha gonna do mama now that the roast beef is gone?


text:
Efficient Cooling has been written to provide a basic understanding of the complex subject of milk cooling. It is from the physiological, biological and behavioural platforms presented here that DeLaval products are developed.
Our philosophy is to work in harmony with biology, the environment, and the natural processes of life, towards optimal harvesting and cooled storage of nature's most perfect food, milk.
We would especially like to thank the following for all their help(in alphabetical order):
Mr S. Y. Jansen Friesland Dairy Foods Director, Transport Raw Materials
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text:
Ebola Virus: Infected Priest Has Died in Spain
Priest Evacuated From Liberia Has Died in Madrid Hospital
A Spanish priest died of the Ebola virus in a Madrid hospital Tuesday morning, just days after he had been evacuated by air from Liberia for treatment with an experimental drug, health officials said.
(Ebola virus update: Experimental drugs approved for use in fighting outbreak in West Africa).
Rev. Miguel Pajares, a 75-year-old missionary,...


text:
fairchase brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 83 Designs von 27 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Please see comments section for additional concept idea
Desired Color Scheme:
Desired Style:
Web 2.0 / Modern / Simple
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
grabdog.com will be an ecommerce website specializing in doing 1 new deal per day for hunting, fishing and camping equipment (similar to woot.com but for a different audience).
I want the font to be very simple...no size effects..keep the words easy to read.
 I would like some image of a "Labrador Retriever" added to the logo (either an entire dog, perhaps just a head or face...perhaps an abstract..whatever)...I am thinking an outline, or a "shadow" image of some sort. I want a custom image that can serve as a simple yet professional logo.
I want to use a simple sans serif font (I like Century Gothic font in color #137f01 with the entire words in lowercase....I made the "grab" bold and the "dog" non-bold and that looks good...so building on this base, I just need the image of the Labrador Retreiver).
I would like to have a 1 color logo (#137f01) or perhaps a second color just to give it a little flare...but please refrain from using a lot of colors.
 Please - no clip art images...I want the illustration work to be custom...if you can't do custom work, please just don't submit.
I would like to incorporate the ".com" into the logo.
Best of luck to all entrants.
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


text:
South Dakota State to Play in Legends Classic Tournament
After back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament, the South Dakota State men's basketball team is beginning to get noticed on the national scene.
The Jackrabbits are now part of the Legends Classic this November and December, hosting a pair of games in Brookings, sandwiched between games at Texas Tech and Stanford.
SDSU plays in Lubbock November 21st, before hosting Howard November 25th, and then playing either Texas Southern or Lehigh November 26th.
The Jacks end their Legends play in Palo Alto, California, December 1st, against Pac Ten's Cardnial.
Stanford, Texas Tech, Pittsburgh, and Houston play in the Championship Round at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, November 25th and 26th on ESPN2, ESPN3, and ESPNU.


text:
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- Full quality WAVE (44.1kHz/16bit)
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Please don't forget to rate after purchasing! If you have used this music in your project please let me know and I'll be happy to showcase it at my Audiojungle profile!


text:
Spire Gemini Rev. 2 Review
Though a little less mainstream, Spire has been a part of the cooling community for as long as many of its other competitors. Having branches in countries all over the world, Spire's manufacturing plant and corporate office is located in ShenZhen, China. Not only does Spire manufacture CPU coolers, but it also has products in the categories of cases, power supplies, hard drive enclosures, and other accessories such as speakers, card readers, and other peripherals. Today I will be testing Spire's Gemini Rev. 2. Launching in late August of this year, the Gemini Rev. 2 has received good feedback and has produced good results in comparison to other high performance coolers on the market.
Sporting six 6mm copper heatpipes on a copper base and stacked with 52 dimpled aluminum fins, the Spire Gemini Rev. 2 is packaged with two 120mm 9 blade fans that flow up to 71CFM at ~25dBA. It is compatible with every recent CPU socket, even the fresh socket 2011 by Intel. Being the first Spire heatsink that I have had in my possession I am looking forward to getting the Gemini Rev. 2 on the test bench and loading up the processor and seeing what it can do. In this review, I will be performing an in-depth evaluation of this cooler from unboxing to a full performance evaluation in idle and load scenarios, at both stock and overclocked speeds. Without further ado, let's get started!
Closer Look:
The packaging of Spire's Gemini Rev. 2 is nothing too flashy and is a functional design. There is a black plastic handle on the top of the box along with a plastic window on the front of it. It contains the flagship burgundy-red color on the majority of the box. Through the window you can see one of the fans, which is black in color. The left side of the box displays technical specifications of the cooler, which can be found on page 3 of this review. On that page you will also find a list of features as provided by Spire. The back of the box is rather plain compared to other companies' retail boxes, in the sense that there is only a short paragraph that talks about the cooler and the importance of keeping the processor cool. There are also four small pictures beneath that paragraph of different comparable models that Spire has available.
Upon opening the box and unpacking the accessories and mounting hardware, I can say that I was a little intimidated by all of the different pieces! After reading the manual, however, I was able to have any confusions cleared up about its installation. Included in the box aside from the cooler and two fans are: required hardware for AMD and Intel sockets, two pairs of fan clips, a fan speed controller that mounts to a PCI slot, a 2-way splitter to power both fans on one plug, thermal paste, and the user's manual. Everything was neatly packed in small plastic bags and nothing was out of place.
With everything out of the box it's time to get started on a closer look of the cooler itself. I've always liked the look of nickel plating on heatsinks — not only because of the color and sheen but also for its functionality. Stay tuned on the next page and further along for the testing.


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Short question, when I highlight text in the shell or when text get highlighted in ncmpcpp or outer app running in the shell it gets basically impossible to read. Because background to text get the same color and strength then the text.
what setting should I look for to change what it look like when I mark and highlight text in the shell?
Thank you!
All the best,
Last edited by agkbill (2012-10-13 20:41:41)
Shell? Like the gas stations?
I guess you mean when using a terminal emulator in X as (AFAIK) that's the only way you could highlight text in a sense that would fit your description.
So the answer is two fold: First, it's always seemed to just be reverse-video when highlighted, so white on black becomes black on white. Second, this could be changed by the terminal emulator, in which case it would depend on which emulator you were using.
"UNIX is simple and coherent..." - Dennis Ritchie, "GNU's Not UNIX" - Richard Stallman
Of course this could also be a reference to using a tty with gpm, though I assume you are probably right Trilby
WonderWoofy: It is not the first time my spelling make people smile. Well me and words are not the best friends all the time.
Even if English is not my first langue I still want to learn, so I guess I will spreed more smiles in the future due to my spelling
Back on topic - which DE/WM and terminal emulator do you use, agkbill?
To know or not to know ...
... the questions remain forever.
Additional info.
I am using i3 as window manager and terminal emulator "rxvt-unicode-256color"
# set the cursor
xsetroot -cursor_name left_ptr
# set German keyboard layout
# setxkbmap -layout de
# start xmonad
#Power management turn off monitor etc
#xset dpms 0 7200 10800 &
xset -dpms; xset s off
# xloadimage laddar bakgrundsbild fick det inte att fungera tillsamans med xcompmgr som man
# använder för att få genomskinliga terminal fönster mm. Ersätter med bildvisaren "feh"
#xloadimage -onroot -fullscreen /home/christer/devices-extern/windows7/archlinux/stone_wall_ce.png
xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources # Denna rad behövs ifall man vill använda TERMINAL/emulator "urxvt"
feh --bg-scale /home/christer/devices-extern/windows7/archlinux/stone_wall_ce.png
setxkbmap -layout "us, se" -option "grp:alt_shift_toggle" #alt"grp:caps_toggle"
xcompmgr -c &
exec /usr/bin/i3 -V -d all >~/i3log/i3log-$(date +'%F-%k-%M-%S') 2>&1
# transparency - true or false (default)
#URxvt*transparent: true
# tint with any color; i.e., blue, red, tomato4, olivedrab2, etc.
# some nice listings are at:
# http://www.nisrv.com/drupal/?q=node/11
# http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/colors/article.php/3478921
URxvt*tintColor: white
URxvt*inheritPixmap: true
# shading - 0 to 99 darkens, 101 to 200 lightens.
# Don't use with tintColor; just use a darker or lighter color instead.
#URxvt*shading: 40
# scrollback buffer lines - 65535 is max on most machines (64 is default)
URxvt*saveLines: 12000
# font color (default is black)
URxvt*foreground: DarkSlateGray1
# background color (prior to tinting) (default is white)
URxvt.depth: 32
URxvt.background: [10]#black
# Xft (X FreeType) with Bitstream, DejaVu, Liberation, or Terminus fonts:
# Fedora/debian packages: libXft/libxft2
# An anti-aliased font setup with Xft looks fantastic; it can be a bit choppy
# on older systems. You can always turn off anti-aliasing (antialias=false) if
# your terminal is sluggish. Use only ONE of the Xft pairs below:
# Xft: Bitstream fonts
# Fedora/debian packages: bitstream-vera-sans-mono-fonts/ttf-bitstream-vera
#URxvt*font: xft:Bitstream Vera Sans Mono:pixelsize=12:antialias=true:hinting=true
#URxvt*boldFont: xft:Bitstream Vera Sans Mono:bold:pixelsize=12:antialias=true:hinting=true
# Xft: DejaVu fonts
# Fedora/debian packages: dejavu-sans-mono-fonts/ttf-dejavu
URxvt*font: xft:DejaVu Sans Mono:pixelsize=12:antialias=true:hinting=true
URxvt*boldFont: xft:DejaVu Sans Mono:bold:pixelsize=12:antialias=true:hinting=true
# Xft: Liberation fonts
# Fedora/debian packages: liberation-mono-fonts/ttf-liberation
#URxvt*font: xft:Liberation Mono:pixelsize=13:antialias=true:hinting=true
#URxvt*boldFont: xft:Liberation Mono:bold:pixelsize=13:antialias=true:hinting=true
# Xft: Terminus fonts
# Fedora/debian packages: terminus-fonts/xfonts-terminus
#URxvt*font: xft:terminus:pixelsize=15
#URxvt*boldFont: xft:terminus:bold:pixelsize=15
# Traditional fonts - a more traditional font setup in lieu of xft
# Replace blue folder colors with a lighter shade for clarity. To
# set colored folders and files within urxvt, xterm, and aterm, add
# the following line to your ~/.bashrc ($HOME/.bashrc) file under
# the heading "# User specific aliases and functions":
# alias ls="ls -h --color=auto"
URxvt*color4: RoyalBlue
URxvt*color12: RoyalBlue
# scrollbar - true (default) or false
URxvt*scrollBar: false
# scrollbar position - left=false (default) or right=true
URxvt*scrollBar_right: false
# scrollbar style - rxvt (default), plain, next, or xterm
URxvt*scrollstyle: plain
#Fade the text by the given percentage when focus is lost.
URxvt*enable-fading on
URxvt*fade 50
URxvt*fadecolor black
Biggest problem is when I running console based applications like ncmpcpp or ranger.
Last edited by agkbill (2012-10-13 08:34:28)
Your font color is set to DarkGray and your background color is set to black. Now i stop wondering why you complain about readability.
Try using black on white as for example in a book.
Last edited by teateawhy (2012-10-13 18:23:24)
teateawhy: That is not the colors I see when I use the terminal. Normal use the text is very light green and no background, I use transparency.
And when you highlight text, those are the colors you see.
"UNIX is simple and coherent..." - Dennis Ritchie, "GNU's Not UNIX" - Richard Stallman
When I highlight text the background get color very similar to foreground text.
After your help that the setting should be with the terminal emulator I have looked into the doc of rxvt-unicode and there is a whole range of options.
Difficult to sort out what all of them do, but I am playing around to see what I can find.
You SET the foreground and background color to be very similar. So when the foreground and background color are reversed, they are still very similar.
I said in the second response on this thread that highlight shows in reverse video mode meaning the foreground becomes background and background foreground. You have set these colors to be nearly the same. Yes, normally that's fine as it's transparent so your background doesn't show ... but when you highlight it does. Change you background color.
Last edited by Trilby (2012-10-13 20:26:34)
"UNIX is simple and coherent..." - Dennis Ritchie, "GNU's Not UNIX" - Richard Stallman
Thank you Trilby!
I changed the background to black and now it looks great, very easy to read the text.
It looks so easy now when I understand how it works.
All the best!
PS: Also found out other great things with rxvt-unicode like fading.


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Main Site - :: Why Won't God Heal Amputees? ::
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Religions need books because they don't have gods.
I wouldn't say only. That's the nature of creativity: you can't really see what can be done until you've invented a way of dealing with it.
But my point is slightly different. It's that we shouldn't limit the way we think about the problem.
For instance, how can we promote more education? How can we spread that education to other people?
Could we "encode" a viral aspect into the understanding of evolution, just as there are many viral aspects to religious ideology?
I am not talking about resorting to unethical methods. Are you trying to be contrarian?
So should we resort to unethical methods? Because that's the only limitation I set forth, and therefore the only limitation you could be talking about.
I'm pretty sure that the limitation Alkan was referring to is your declaration that education is the ONLY ethical means. Just because it's the only one you can think of at the moment doesn't mean it is the only one possible, and assuming that it is only serves to unjustifiably shut off any thinking about alternatives.
Quote from: Alkan on January 16, 2012, 12:35:27 PMI wouldn't say only. That's the nature of creativity: you can't really see what can be done until you've invented a way of dealing with it.Come up with something else that's ethical, and I'll concede this point.
I did notice the gradual trend. I'm hoping that as more and more peoples start accepting evolution, the rate of change will increase from where it already is now.
I was actually hoping that people would toss ideas around here. For instance, how can we promote more education? How can we spread that education to other people? Could we "encode" a viral aspect into the understanding of evolution, just as there are many viral aspects to religious ideology?
You believe evolution and there is no evidence for that. Where is the fossil record of a half man half ape. I've only ever heard about it in reading.
I agree.Nonetheless, I'd like us to stay on topic now and try to think of more things that we can do.EDIT: I had an idea. What if someone made a nice software program that simulates natural selection? But it would be simple enough for someone to use without a background in math. It would include various mechanisms and would show how increasing complexity accumulates over time.
I find creationists to be extremely irritating. They don't understand evolution in the slightest degree, and when you tell them that, they just say that they do and then continue on saying things that prove that they have no clue about what you're talking about. Then when you tell them that they don't know what they are talking about, they get defensive, even if I'm being as respectful as possible.So, really, what can we do? I'm really tired of religious misunderstanding. Statistics on evolution acceptance are why I feel like being a bit more of a proponent of atheism:http://www.gallup.com/poll/145286/Four-Americans-Believe-Strict-Creationism.aspxOnly 16% of people accept naturalistic evolution. Even if you're a theist who accepts evolution, you have no reason not to accept naturalistic evolution. It just proves that there's a general lack of understanding. I think it's an abysmal condition.I wish I could start a new colony somewhere else, off of this planet, where the minimum requirement to enter is being able to show that you have a good enough education and intelligence (not IQ alone, just that you can contribute something and not be an idiot and cause problems).
You speak as though the ToE is this very straightforward, factually complete and indisputable theory that only the ignorant do not subscribe to. That's rather arrogant and presumptuous. If you were as learned as you portray yourself to be, you'd realize it is a complex theory with thousands of parts….many of which are still being studied and tested. I have studied, researched, and analyzed gobs of information and am still far from convinced the ToE provides an indisputable means of explaining how life evolved to its current state…..and I am far from alone. There are MANY people, including well educated people in the sciences who share my view.
You are trying to sell a bill of goods based on your "faith" that abiogenesis (or panspermia) occurred, that we all share a common ancestor, and that lizard-to-snake type speciation events occurred….and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of other problems with the ToE. When some of these deep trenches are filled with something of substance, then you may have reason to start leasing billboard space.
Why are you so concerned about this perceived ignorance anyway? If we're all going to perish into nothingness, what difference does it make if we die ignorant of something like the ToE?
The social consequences of materialism have been devastating. As symptoms, those consequences are certainly worth treating. However, we are convinced that in order to defeat materialism, we must cut it off at its source. That source is scientific materialism. This is precisely our strategy. If we view the predominant materialistic science as a giant tree, our strategy is intended to function as a "wedge" that, while relatively small, can split the trunk when applied at its weakest points. The very beginning of this strategy, the "thin edge of the wedge," was Phillip Johnson's critique of Darwinism begun in 1991 in Darwinism on Trial, and continued in Reason in the Balance and Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds. Michael Behe's highly successful Darwin's Black Box followed Johnson's work. We are building on this momentum, broadening the wedge with a positive scientific alternative to materialistic scientific theories, which has come to be called the theory of intelligent design (ID). Design theory promises to reverse the stifling dominance of the materialist worldview, and to replace it with a science consonant with Christian and theistic convictions.Since the failure to get ID or creationism in school, creationists have tried different tactics, using their wedge approach. This is from The National Science Center for Education website (http://ncse.com/book/export/html/116):Although in the 1990s IDC advocates had encouraged the teaching of ID in public school science classes as an alternative to evolution, in the early 2000s they shifted their strategy. IDCs currently concentrate their efforts on attacking evolution. Under innocuous-sounding guises such as "academic freedom," "critical analysis of evolution," or "teaching the strengths and weaknesses of evolution," IDCs attempt to encourage teachers to teach students wrongly that there is a "controversy" among scientists over whether evolution has occurred. So-called "evidence against evolution" or "weaknesses of evolution" consist of the same sorts of long-discredited arguments against evolution which have been a staple of creationism since the 1920s and earlier.
BS, why are you asking questions you've already had answered here?Honestly, the "why are you so concerned....?" question, I consider trolling. No way you don't get that yet. Delusion must be contagious, because I will not accept a reality where you sincerely don't understand that. Keep trolling and your warning level will increase accordingly.
What deep trenches are you speaking of?
Quote from: monkeymind on January 26, 2012, 04:52:38 PMWhat deep trenches are you speaking of? How about if I just point you here:www.crev.infoThere are countless examples.
Strange as it seems, large sauropods of the Titanosaur variety have been found in Antarctica. This is the highest latitude sauropod ever found. It means that the large reptiles inhabited every continent; they walked the globe.A short article on New Scientist describes how Ignacio Cerda from the National University of Comahue in Argentina uncovered the fossil on James Ross Island, about 700 miles from Cape Horn, Argentina. He surmises that the beasts got there on an ancient isthmus that connected the island to South America. A previous post by PhysOrg about this discovery calls it an "advanced titanosaur."The PhysOrg article states, "Although they were one of the most widespread and successful species of sauropod dinosaurs, their origin and dispersion are not completely understood."What did they eat, ice? Think of the tons of plant material these giant animals require. No such large plant-eaters inhabit Antarctica today. Finds like this speak of a very different world. It doesn't require millions of years to change the world; just sufficient hydraulic energy. The Bible speaks of a very different world, with different climatic and geographic conditions, that would have allowed the migration of large animals like these to polar latitudes. It also speaks of a global hydraulic catastrophe that had the energy to bury titanosaurs suddenly, else their bones would have decayed on the surface when they died.


text:
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text:
Consensus Report
Integrating Multiscale Observations of U.S. Waters (2008)Water Science and Technology Board
Each report is produced by a committee of experts selected by the Academy to address a particular statement of task and is subject to a rigorous, independent peer review; while the reports represent views of the committee, they also are endorsed by the Academy. Learn more on our expert consensus reports.
Water is essential to life for humans and their food crops, and for ecosystems. Effective water management requires tracking the inflow, outflow, quantity and quality of ground-water and surface water, much like balancing a bank account. Currently, networks of ground-based instruments measure these in individual locations, while airborne and satellite sensors measure them over larger areas. Recent technological innovations offer unprecedented possibilities to integrate space, air, and land observations to advance water science and guide management decisions. This report concludes that in order to realize the potential of integrated data, agencies, universities, and the private sector must work together to develop new kinds of sensors, test them in field studies, and help users to apply this information to real problems.
Key Messages
- Addressing the Fractured Federal Responsibility for Hydrologic Measurement, Monitoring, and Modeling. The overarching barrier to the development and implementation of integrated hydrologic measurement systems is the lack of a single federal agency with primary responsibility for measuring, monitoring, and modeling the environmental factors and processes that control the hydrologic cycle.
- Airborne Sensors. Airborne measurements operate at a spatial scale that fills the gap between the in-situ plot-scale observations and the larger satellite-scale observations.
- Bridging the Gap between Sensor Demonstration and Integrated Field Demonstration. Closing this gap would involve integrating the sensor networks and webs within hydrologic observatories and experimental demonstration sites, and interfacing the sensor networks with the broader development of cyber infrastructure.
- Development and Field Deployment of Land-Based Chemical and Biological Sensors. Physical sensors, such as those that measure air and water temperature and pressure, radiation, and wind speed and direction, are now mass produced and routinely packaged together in small instruments along with power and communication devices.
- Funding Highly Interdisciplinary Science. Interdisciplinary science is increasingly common, but the design and use of integrated hydrologic measurement systems in specific research applications adds complexity to the challenge. These new kinds of projects will require unprecedented interdisciplinary cooperation among electrical engineers, computer scientists, modelers, and the physical, chemical, and biological scientists who apply technology to hydrologic research.
- Spaceborne Sensors. In satellite-based remote sensing, NASA has made good progress in developing and deploying sensors used primarily for research.
- Two chalenges are relevant to this report: (1) a resolution of the research-to-operations transition from NASA-developed experimental satellite observations to the broad variety of operational agencies and users that need routine (i.e., operational) observations, and (2) the lack of a corresponding monitoring strategy by entities such as EPA, USDA, NOAA, and state water and natural resources agencies that would incorporate airborne and/or satellite remote sensing measurements, where appropriate.
- Water Resources Applications. In the United States, large water resources problems involve multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, business interests, and the public. Management is typically diffuse, and standard measurement and modeling techniques and rules for water management are entrenched and often legally mandated.
- observations would offer improved predictions.


text: Save up to $1,500 on your new Home Comfort System! Posted January 15, 2018 START WITH UP TO $1,250 IN REBATES.* Save on a complete qualifying Lennox® home comfort system that includes a gas furnace or blower coil, an air conditioner or heat pump and thermostat. Enjoy additional product rebates when you purchase an iComfort® S30 Smart thermostat, iHarmony ® zoning and a PureAir™ system.GET UP TO A $100 REBATE ON a WI-FI THERMOSTAT.* Save now on the iComfort® S30 and save every month on utility bills. Anytime your routine or weather changes, the iComfort S30 smartly adapts to reduce your energy costs.GET UP TO A $50 REBATE ON ZONING.* Enhance your comfort and savings with iHarmony® zoning, a major advance in precision climate control.GET UP TO A $100 REBATE ON pUREAIR™.* Enjoy more savings and fewer pollutants with a PureAir™ system, which cleans the air inside your home better than any other single system you can buy. *Some restrictions apply. System rebate offers range from $150–$1,500. Rebate offer is valid January 15, 2018 through February 9, 2018 with the purchase of qualifying Lennox products. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Additional add–on rebates for iComfort® S30 Thermostat, iHarmony® Zoning System and PureAir™ Air Purification system valid with a qualifying system purchase only. See your participating Lennox dealer for complete details. **Financing available to well qualified buyers on approved credit at an 0% APR for 72 months, with equal monthly payments. You may prepay your account at any time without penalty. Financing is subject to credit requirements and satisfactory completion of finance documents. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only. Normal late charges apply. See your Truth in Lending Disclosures for more information. Back To Promotions


text:
mandm on Family Tree Circles
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Journals and Posts
Looking for Martha Elizabeth Tate or Freeman Tate
Looking for Martha Elizabeth Tate born 1871 in either Missouri or Arkansas, father is Freeman Tate. Martha married John Foster, unknown date, then married James W. Peterson from Denmark b: 1848, then married Charles Henry Gosnell in 1909.
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INGLEWOOD, Calif. (April 16, 2012)—The 2012 Spring/Summer media guide for Betfair Hollywood Park is now available online.
The media guide contains stakes histories, jockey, trainer and owner biographies, records, trainer and jockey standings – both locally and nationally – and much more.
The guide can be downloaded here.
A visitor can easily navigate to any page by clicking on the appropriate category in the Table of Contents, which can be found on Page 1.
Betfair Hollywood Park will begin its Spring/Summer season Thursday, April 26. The 50-day meet continues through Sunday, July 15.
Copyright © 2009-2012, Hollywood Park. All rights reserved. Site design by Love Has No logic Design Group


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Hello, I've been away for quite some time I hope some of you might remember me.
My baby was a pit bull x boxer.
In had him since he was 3 weeks old I rescued him from the Black power down the road as they were just about to cut his ears and tail of for fighting. He held this worm and flea infested ball of fur up by the scruff of the neck and said you want him $50.
So I said wait right there don't touch him, and I run down to the dairy and got the money out, went back gave him the money and I carried him home in the pocket of my hoodie. He was the most gorgeous puppy!
I had him for 5 years and he was a brilliant although naughty companion.
Well I had to go away to Qddyese house (witch is a very tough rehabilitation service over here).
I was in there for 1 month when I had to make the hardest decision of my life, I could no longer afford to keep him and as it is a very long programme I had no where to put him, no one I knew wanted a pit bull on the section.
I didn't want him given to some SOB that wouldn't take care of him.
I had no choice but to give him up I was not in a situation where I could screen new owners (no contact with the out side world)
So I got my sister to bring him to see me for one last hug and goodbye then she took him to the SPCA ,
I told her to tell them he was a terrier x staff cause that's what he was registered as.
They said it was likely he'd get a good home because of his temperament.
But the don't re home pit bulls or anything that looks like a pit in NZ.
So I hope he's gone to a good place. I will always miss him and love him.
I am getting one of his photos done as a tattoo at some point.


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Once Upon a Time's Rose McIver Joins Flowers in the Attic Sequel
Feb 18, 2014 5:28 PM EST
Rose McIver has joined the cast of Lifetime's Flowers in the Attic sequel, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Once Upon a Time star will play Cathy Dollanganger, who was portrayed by Mad Men's Kiernan Shipka in the first TV film. The best and w… Read more


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Trek FX 3 Women's - 2019
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Welcome to a world where the choice is yours! With Trek's WSD line-up (WSD stands for Women's Specific Design), you have a complete selection of bicycles, components and apparel engineered and dialed in just for you!
WSD considers your bike as a complete system, from the frame geometry and gearing, to the contact points that determine the fit and feel of every ride. It's Trek's approach to making the perfect fitting and riding bike right from your very first spin.
Where you see the difference
While every WSD bike is masterfully designed and built to provide the ultimate cycling experience, there are six key design factors that are noteworthy and customizable as follows:
The bike for you
Choosing a new bike is a wonderful experience and having a bicycle made for you is something special. To find the bike that's right for you, start by asking yourself these two questions:
Your first answer tells if you'll be riding a road, mountain or commuter bicycle. Within those three categories there's a range of WSD bikes that will be ideal. Then, the second question helps narrow down your selection to a more specific bike.
There are Trek WSD bikes designed for the elite-level racer, the enthusiast road rider, the commuter and the casual rider. You'll find bikes in the middle too for multiple types of riding and budgets. So whether you're a weekend warrior or just enjoy pedaling around the park, we'll gladly help you find the WSD bike that's perfect for you.
The importance of fit
Making sure your bike fits properly and that you have a seat that's comfortable make all the difference for enjoying cycling. A natural and comfortable fit allows you to ride longer, safer and more efficiently. Of course, if you buy a new bicycle we'll make sure you're on the right size bike and a comfy seat from the start.
However, if you're fitting an older bike, we encourage you to come into the shop for a proper fitting. If you can't do that, we recommend considering a WSD saddle as a way to improve on a lesser model.
WSD inForm saddles
Trek knows the importance of a comfortable saddle and that's why WSD bikes are spec'd with Bontrager inForm WSD seats. They are sized and shaped specifically for the unique anatomical needs of women. They also provide the advanced support, padding and pressure relief that results in sweet comfort mile after mile.
Not all women are built the same so WSD seats come in three different widths. Stop by the shop and we'll do a quick measurement. Whether you sit in an aggressive race position or in a more relaxed upright stance, Bontrager's Posture Specific Design system makes it easy to find the inForm saddle that's ideally suited for the way you ride.
WSD clothing
We also recommend trying on some WSD cycling shorts. Unlike regular gym shorts and cut-offs, cycling shorts are seam-free, breathable and have plenty of support and stretch for comfortable pedaling.
Cycling shorts also feature padding for maximum comfort sitting on a seat. And our Trek WSD shorts come in difference styles so you can find the fit and style that appeals to you.
We carry a selection of WSD helmets, too. If you haven't tried on a new bike helmet in a while we're sure you'll be impressed with how stylish, light and nicely ventilated the new lids are. A lot of riders tell us they hardly know they even have them on! Make sure you wear your helmet properly. And if you have any questions on helmet fit, come by the shop and we'll be happy to help you.
Read Trek's WSD Ride Guide and join the WSD community
To read Trek's super helpful WSD Ride Guide with 44 pages of information and photos, please click the link on the left and it will open in another window as an online magazine.
Note that Trek WSD is also an active, global community where bike-minded women share experiences and tips, give and get inspiration, and connect to ride with other female cyclists. To get your monthly dose of inspiration, information and even have chances to win things, please sign up.
You'll also like the Trek Women Facebook and Twitter communities. They're not just for Trek riders. Whatever you ride, you're welcome to take part.


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The school year is still new, but a group of Mid Valley Elementary School parents already have a few concerns, which they voiced at Wednesday's school board meeting. Among the complaints were that classroom sizes are too large, new bus schedules are creating safety issues and there is a distinct lack of dual-language instruction.
"Mid Valley funneled four kindergarten classes last year into three first-grade classes this year, which puts 30-plus kids in each class," parent Darla Kroll said. "The only solution is to find the funding for a full-time teacher for an additional first-grade class."
According to the most recent enrollment figures, Mid Valley's first grade classes have 32, 31 and 30 children each, compared to May Street's 28, 29 and 28, Parkdale's 23 and 22, and Westside's 24, 25 and 25.
Supt. Charlie Beck responded that there is always a drop in enrollment after a few weeks, and it is the administration's practice to re-evaluate after that has happened.
"We look at student counts very carefully after the 10-day drop," he said. "We have scheduled a review. But we have to balance the finances and do the best we can with what's available."
Parent Kim Yasui said that students who received dual language instruction for six years at Mid Valley are not getting that instruction once they move on to Wy'east Middle School.
"Eighteen parents have signed a letter saying they want more dual language instruction," she said.
"I heard two things that we should be doing: More Spanish and more teachers, and both require finances," Beck said.
The board also approved the hiring of Kevin Noreen, of Sherwood, as new human resources director, to replace Bob Dais, who is retiring. Dais will work with Noreen between now and Sept. 20, when he will take over the position.
"I truly believe we have found the right candidate for human resources director for Hood River," Beck said.
Beck also commented on how happy he is with how well the professional learning communities (PLCs) are going so far this year.
"I had an opportunity to visit Mid Valley recently and the PLCs could be videotaped and shown as a teaching tool for PLCs," he said. "They really knew what they were doing, were so focused; I was really impressed."
According to information supplied by the Hood River County School District, the PLCs are being used as a collaborative approach to increase student learning. Each Monday begins an hour late for students, which allows teachers time to work together analyzing student work, developing common assessments and sharing ideas on instructional strategies and unites of instruction.
Using student data, staff will also work to design additional time and support for students who need it, and enrichment or extensions for students who already "get it."
At the elementary level, teachers work in grade-level teams, such as a second-grade team or a fifth-grade team. These teams are working on math and writing instruction this year.
Middle school and high school teachers work on content-area teams, such as science or the arts, and are focused on creating common assessments and implementing common core standards.
The standards and expectations for students are increasing at all levels, kindergarten through grade 12. For example, in order to earn a high school diploma, the class of 2013 will have to earn a passing score on the state tests in reading/language arts and writing. The class of 2014 will continue this trend and must also pass a math test.
Middle and high school students may attend supervised study halls prior to school starting each Monday. Transportation from home to school must be provided by parents. There is no cost for the Monday-morning study halls.
Monday late start times for schools
Cascade Locks — 8:45 a.m.
Hood River Middle School — 8:50 a.m.
Hood River Valley High School — 9:15 a.m.
Center for Alternative Learning (CAL), HRVHS — 9:15 a.m.
May Street — 8:45 a.m.
Mid Valley — 8:50 a.m.
Parkdale Elem. — 8 a.m.
Westside Elem. — 9 a.m.
Wy'east Middle School — 8:45 a.m.
For more information visit www.hoodriver. k12.or.us or call the district office at 541-387-5011.
The next school board meeting will be held Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the district office, 1011 Eugene St., Hood River.
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams says P.J. Hairston is doubtful for Tuesday's game against Wake Forest.
The sophomore suffered a concussion last week at Boston College and missed Saturday's overtime win against Virginia Tech. Williams said Monday that Hairston did some light work Sunday, but later picked up "a little flu bug" that had him throwing up and eventually taking IV fluids. Williams said Hairston is "highly unlikely" to play Tuesday.
Team spokesman Steve Kirschner says Hairston hasn't been cleared to return from the concussion and that the illness is unrelated. The plan was to test Hairston on Monday before he got sick. The team plans to test the guard Tuesday.
Williams said sophomore center Desmond Hubert was also sick Sunday with a bug that's "just going through our team."


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Push yourself to the limit as a new driver for Ford Racing. Sit in the driver?s seat of 12 different Ford cars, ranging from race-tuned showroom vehicles such as the F series, or the Mustang, to the pure race Taurus, the star of the NASCAR?circuit and the concept cars such as the GT90. Compete in five different race classes, earning respect and unlocking other vehicles and tracks as you move up the ranks. Battle against other drivers in three championships and be rewarded with new cars to add to your garage, and trophies for your living room or mantle.
Release Region: United States
Release Date: May 21, 2009
Publisher: Empire Interactive
Also available on: PlayStation, PC, PlayStation Portable
Local Multiplayer - Versus: 2
For more info on these technical requirements and features, please view GameSpy's Specs FAQ.


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French DIY Dream Home For Kids (+ Me)
A French artist has created the dreamiest house, with seven stories of charming details to be colored in, collaged, or just enjoyed for their own sake...
This amazing 3-foot tall poster by Papillon Papillonnage is a kid-friendly work of art that I would love to have in my kid-free home. Sure, kids love to color, but sometimes it's adults who really need it. After a day of grown-up stress and confusion, carefully coloring in the border of little plates can ease all cares. Deliberating over what color each tiny pair of French shoes should be is exactly the sort of pretty decision-making that can erase the stress of all the real-world decision-making we have to do. But yes, kids would love the Colour-In-House, and it's available from Kickcan & Conkers if you know any little ones with a penchant for interior design. Maybe they'll even let you help a bit, too.
(Images: 1. Papillon Papillonnage 2. & 3. Kickcan & Conkers)


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These colors right here; pretty perfect, wouldn't you say? We're smack dab in the middle of fall in the United States and these colors couldn't be any more seasonally appropriate - or inspiring. The bright reds, vibrant oranges and yellows, topped off with some chic gold accents, have us wishing and hoping for more, more, more! We Are Origami captured every gorgeous hue from this shoot and this gallery is where our pumpkin spice loving, leave jumping, apple pie baking hearts will be for the next several weeks.
From Miss Adams Florist... A winter bridal shoot, natural surroundings in an open landscape and table scape in front of the heritage house of Horsley Homestead. A shoot focused on the gown, model, flowers with a minimal ceremony set up and a table scape.


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Kaiser Chiefs back on the road
International tour gets underway with a raft of Sennheiser gear.
Kaiser Chiefs are back on the road, hitting the UK, Japan, and North and South America as they tour their latest album, Off With Their Heads. The band is taking to stages around the world once again with a selection of Sennheiser equipment.
Ilias Andrianatos is Kaiser Chiefs' monitor engineer. Along with front of house engineer Chris Leckie, he took the decision to upgrade lead singer Ricky Wilson's mic to a Sennheiser SKM 935.
"We wanted a vocal mic with a flat frequency response and consistent on/of axis response that cuts through the stage sound and has a good feedback rejection," explained Andrianatos. "That is suitable for Ricky's voice. The mic also needs to be able to take the knocks and drops during his super energetic shows. The SKM 935, e 935 and the e 845 that previous front of house engineers before Chris used for Ricky, all fulfil those requirements."
In addition to Ricky Wilson's vocal mic, the Kaiser Chiefs' stage is full of Sennheiser instrument mics, ew 300 IEM G2 in-ear monitors and wireless ew 500 instrument systems.
"We're using e 906s for the guitar cabinet and e 904s on the toms because of their natural, warm sound," continued Andrianatos. "The wireless guitar and IEM systems were chosen as we all agreed – the sound team, the back line techs and the band – that the great sound quality, the compact, easy to use and flexible belt packs and the very good RF coverage makes them the best in the market.
"We've been using Sennheiser mics and IEMs since 2005. The band's reaction towards the Sennheiser products has always been good. If they ever had to do shows when the Sennheiser equipment wasn't available it was always missed."
"I've known [Sennheiser Artist Relations Manager] Mark Saunders since I started working with the Kaisers in 2005," added Andrianatos, "and it's been a pleasure to work with him ever since. He has been very supportive and he's always helped us with any issues regardless our geographical position."
Production Manager, Robin Scott, agreed that Sennheiser's support has been a great help to the band: "Working closely with Sennheiser for the past few years has proved invaluable to the bands touring production," he explains. "Especially useful has been the support that we have received on the rare occasions that any technical support was required, both in the UK and internationally."
Kaiser Chiefs are currently touring UK arenas, including sold out shows at MEN Manchester, and a UK leg finale at Wembley Arena. The tour then continues on to Australia and to further shows in the Far East.
Related Products
Sennheiser E 935 Vocal Microphone
Cardioid dynamic microphone. Fully professional vocal microphone, offering smooth, natural sound. Fast transient response and highly insensitive to feedback thanks to optimized frequency response. Well designed to exclude handling noise, and 100% metal casing will take all the inevitable knocks on stage. Features Rugged metal body Advanced shock-mount design Consistent on-/off-axis response…
Web Price:169.00
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Sennheiser E835S Switched Vocal Microphone
The Sennheiser e835 S is a cardioid stage microphone suited to lead vocals and specially designed to perform under pressure. The mic offers excellent feedback rejection and the shock mounted capsule minimises handling noise. Features Rugged metal body Excellent feedback rejection High sound pressure handling capability Shock-mounted capsule provides excellent suppression of handling noise …
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Sennheiser e835 Evolution Series Microphone
The e835 is a cardioid lead vocal stage microphone specially designed to perform under pressure. Sound inlet basket: refined steel. Features Rugged metal body Excellent feedback rejection High sound pressure handling capability Shock-mounted capsule provides excellent suppression of handling noise Uniform onand off-axis response Cardioid pick-up pattern provides isolation from other on-stage signals …
Web Price:82.95
Availability:Call 0844 815 0888


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Car Review
2012 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG: New Car Review
Pros: Regal blend of performance and comfort
Cons: Scant cargo capacity; seats only two; not quite focused enough to be taken seriously as a proper sports car
If the Mercedes-Benz SL550 is a balanced, solidly built roadster that lives up to the reputation of superlative German engineering, the SL63 AMG is its burlier, meaner big brother.
Starting at $141,315 (compared with $104,525 for the more pedestrian SL550), the SL63 AMG offers more of virtually everything when it comes to performance: a bigger and brawnier engine, a stiffer suspension, better brakes and an aggressive transmission with rev-matched downshifts and race start to go with the boosted power.
Although it lacks the weight savings of the forthcoming 2013 model (which will incorporate a lighter, stiffer aluminum chassis), the 2012 SL63 AMG differentiates itself visually with a large, single domed "power" hood and more aggressive bodywork. Having enjoyed several face lifts over the course of a decade, the 2012 SL63 AMG tops off this generation of the Mercedes-Benz roadster with styling that manages to be both muscular and tasteful.
Comfort & Utility
Despite the impracticality of its two-seater setup and the fact that taking the top down reduces trunk space from 10.2 cubic feet to a mere 7.2 cubic feet, the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG comes equipped with enough creature comforts to make it very accommodating for long-haul drives.
The SL63 AMG's seats are supportive but comfortable perches from which to enjoy hours of driving, with heating, ventilation and four-way lumbar supports as well as Mercedes' AIRSCARF technology, which blows hot air on your neck for cool weather top-down motoring.
While driver and passenger will likely have little to complain about in the area of comfort, the SL63 AMG's paucity of cabin storage space might require just a bit more planning when it comes time for that epic road trip.
Mercedes-Benz often showcases cutting-edge technologies in its passenger cars. The 2012 SL63 AMG offers some of that, with advanced drivetrain elements, but alongside them are aging telematics and multimedia systems.
For instance, the SL63 AMG's engine incorporates numerous features that have trickled down from Mercedes-Benz racing programs, and its multi-clutch seven-speed Speedshift transmission effectively combines quick cog swaps with smooth operation.
But while the SL63's 4-GB Music Register and hard-drive-based GPS system aren't as antiquated as the stuff found in SLs of yore, the Comand system is still a bit of a throwback, adding an old-school element to an otherwise fashionable roadster.
Performance & Fuel Economy
With the world and Mercedes-Benz moving in the direction of turbochargers, the heart of the SL63 is a good old-fashioned normally aspirated 6.2-liter V8. Producing a healthy 518 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, this mill makes some serious grunt and quick acceleration: 60 mph comes in 4.5 seconds, according to Mercedes-Benz. A sharper-edged experience is available with the optional Performance package, which includes 19-inch wheels, a limited-slip differential, two-piece front brake rotors and a more aggressively tuned ABC active suspension system. The package also boosts top speed from 155 mph to 186 mph.
Shoppers cross-shopping 2012 and 2013 SL63 AMG models should note that the all-new 2013 version offers more power with better fuel economy; the '12 SL63 is rated at 12 mpg city, 19 mpg highway.
If zippy acceleration and strong brakes help you avoid accidents, the SL63 AMG should do an outstanding job of keeping out of trouble.
In the event of a crash, Mercedes-Benz's reputation for safety engineering should go a long way toward protecting the occupants. From shoulder belts integrated into the seats with emergency tensioning retractors to side and dual front airbags, the SL63 incorporates numerous features designed to live up to the triple-pointed star's safety-conscious image. The SL-Class also features an automatic roll bar that pops up in a third of a second when a potential rollover situation is detected.
Driving Impressions
The SL63 AMG transforms from hardtop to roadster in only 16 seconds, and performance enthusiasts will appreciate the aural experience of open-air driving. The burbling V8 produces plenty of great sounds to be savored from the comfort of the cabin.
In contrast to the SL550, this AMG model amps up virtually every aspect of performance. Acceleration is brisker, the brakes are stronger and handling feels noticeably sharper. Ride quality is commensurately stiffer as well, but never so tight as to be annoying or disruptive to the driving experience.
There's plenty of torque on tap to pull through the smooth-shifting transmission's seven gears, and while the power isn't quite explosive-this is, after all, a 4,398-pound car-the pull is strong enough to be addictive. The SL63's active suspension system does an admirable job of balancing ride quality and comfort, but this roadster will never be confused with smaller, nimbler offerings like its SLK-series stablemate. At the end of the day, the SL63 is more of an athletically toned grand touring machine than a slalom-busting autocrosser. But for the average SL consumer, that's exactly what makes it a draw in the world of high-priced two-seat convertibles.
Other Cars to Consider
Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster-The $132,870 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster offers a more stylistically striking alternative to the Mercedes-Benz, with lines that manage to evoke both elegance and muscularity. The S variant offers a more driver-oriented focus than the standard issue V8 Vantage, but thanks to exquisite interior details, this delicately appointed two-seater proves there's nothing standard about an Aston Martin.
Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet-Compared with the SL63 AMG, the $149,000 Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet is a far more beastly sports car with considerably lighter weight, greater power and visceral performance. This softtop roadster's accelerative potential may eclipse the Benz's, but if you're looking for a stately ride with a more mature image, it's hard to top the CEO-friendly SL-Class.
Jaguar XKR-S Convertible-The $138,000 XKR-S is Jaguar's most powerful roadster to date, offering 550 horsepower. It also offers subtle interior detailing befitting the storied marque, but the Jag does lack the sense of solidity and durability of the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.
AutoTrader Recommends
This is a fine car, but you might want to wait a few months and get in on the ground floor with the next-generation SL63 AMG, coming for 2013.


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It's not the speed that counts, it's how you use it---or at least that appears to be Nintendo's strategy with the Wii U.
GamingBolt is reporting on the findings of hacker Marcan who has hacked the new Nintendo Wii U and revealed the clock speeds in its CPU and GPU. Take these findings with the appropriate grains of salt.
The three-core processor apparently runs at just 1.243125 GHz per core, compared to the 3.o GHz cores in the Xbox 360 and PS3. The GPU apparently runs at 549.999755MHz.
Nintendo has taken an interesting approach with the Wii U, focusing apparently more on the console's physical and energy footprint rather than power. It appears the company is content with bringing its system up to speed with the current offerings from Microsoft and Sony rather than attempt to build a high power system.
And they may have a point. Nintendo fans by and large aren't that concerned with power. Having an HD Nintendo system with nicer looking Mario and Zelda games and the gamepad for some fun asymmetrical gameplay may be enough.
I'm a bit on the fence on this one, to be quite honest.
On the one hand, these specifications are pretty disappointing. One would have at least hoped for tech that surpassed current consoles, even if only by a small margin. Certainly I would be willing to sacrifice a bit of power consumption in order to get a bit more speed and more reliable frame rates.
The thing is, a great deal of the cost of each Wii U is going to the tablet-controller. What Nintendo was really aiming for with this console wasn't simply a higher-powered machine, but a living room experience that mirrored the experience and success of Nintendo's handheld consoles, the DS and 3DS and their double screen gaming.
That's a gamble. While I've enjoyed numerous aspects of the Wii U's gamepad and find the overall Wii U experience quite smooth, the fact remains that it's not as snappy as it could be with a beefier processor. Load times are longer than I would like, and the numerous cross-platform comparisons out now show a system that may once again struggle when it comes to third-party titles, especially once we have next-gen hardware from the other major console manufacturers.
Both Sony and Microsoft will be able to develop more powerful consoles and sell them for the same price as the Wii U simply by not including a gamepad. These won't be PC-gaming rigs, but they could include decent modern GPUs, slightly faster and more efficient processors, and more ram and still sell for a reasonable price.
Nintendo isn't just gambling on the gamepad, of course. They're also aware that their consumer base is less concerned with processor speed and more concerned with Nintendo games. For Wii owners, backwards compatibility of games and accessories makes the Wii U an affordable upgrade to HD, allowing them to keep their game library but giving them access to more third-party titles and new HD first-party titles.
Very few people upgrading from a Wii will be concerned that Batman: Arkham City has slight performance issues compared to the other two major consoles. The fact is, they can now play Batman: Arkham City on their Wii U while still having access to all their old games, controllers, and so forth.
Since next-gen competition won't be out for at least a year, Nintendo will have a good head start in this regard, and will likely be able to get prices down on the system by the time we see Xbox 720 (or Durango, etc.) and PS4 (Orbis) hit shelves.
Of course, we should also be cognizant of the fact that clock speeds are a very poor measure of performance. In many modern processors, clock speeds have actually gone down, while overall performance has increased. This is why a new Intel chip clocked much lower than the old Pentium 4 chips can still run circles around them.
Even if the clock speeds on the Wii U do strike us as quite low, we should realize right away that they must be performing at a much higher efficiency than the chips in the Xbox 360 and PS3 to get performance levels that are basically on par with those systems.
Time will tell, I suppose. I think we're witnessing a bit of a disconnect between gamers who want more raw power and gamers who are more concerned with a certain type of content. I don't think this is easily divided into "hardcore" vs "casual" either.
For my part, I enjoy playing all sorts of games. I'm not in the least bothered that the next Super Mario title won't run on Unreal Engine 4 or utilize 16x AA, and I don't care if the next Zelda looks as good as The Witcher 2. I'm happy that we have awesome looking games coming out for PC, and I'm amazed at how far developers have stretched the capabilities of the PS3 and Xbox 360.
I'm confident the same thing will occur with the Wii U and its next-gen competition, and all the while the PC crowd will smugly look down their nose at consoles, all of which will be ultimately too weak, outdated and out-paced by PC tech the moment they launch.
Certainly I prefer playing games on my PC and enjoy the speed and graphical fidelity that gives my gaming experience, but my PC cost over three times what you'd pay for a Wii U. Besides, I've found the Wii U to be a perfectly enjoyable experience, and one that will allow me to catch up on many years of missed Nintendo titles. For many others, it's not going to be a good fit. Waiting for the competition to launch their consoles isn't a bad idea at all.
But if you're a Nintendo gamer, specs will likely not dissuade you much like the Wii's specs didn't dissuade fans this past generation, and many consumers won't care to begin with.
Image via AnandTech's Wii U Teardown, which you should definitely go read.
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