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The value of age is well recognized in human societies, where older individuals often emerge as leaders in tasks requiring specialized knowledge, but what part do such individuals play in other social species? Despite growing interest in how effective leadership might be achieved in animal social systems, the specific role that older leaders may play in decision-making has rarely been experimentally investigated. Here, we use a novel playback paradigm to demonstrate that in African elephants (Loxodonta africana), age affects the ability of matriarchs to make ecologically relevant decisions in a domain critical to survival—the assessment of predatory threat. While groups consistently adjust their defensive behaviour to the greater threat of three roaring lions versus one, families with younger matriarchs typically under-react to roars from male lions despite the severe danger they represent. Sensitivity to this key threat increases with matriarch age and is greatest for the oldest matriarchs, who are likely to have accumulated the most experience. Our study provides the first empirical evidence that individuals within a social group may derive significant benefits from the influence of an older leader because of their enhanced ability to make crucial decisions about predatory threat, generating important insights into selection for longevity in cognitively advanced social mammals.
1. Introduction
Despite theoretical predictions that democratic decision-making should predominate in animal groups [1–4], it is becoming clear that specific leaders commonly appear to guide the actions of other group members [5–8]. Leaders are therefore increasingly seen as important in coordinating social organization, and there is now growing interest in parallels between leadership in humans and animals that suggest common evolutionary origins, with the same morphological and behavioural traits predicting leadership across species [3]. Understanding the benefits to individual group members of accepting a leader's decision is critical to uncovering the evolutionary basis of leadership, and hence increasing our knowledge of the role leaders play in human and animal societies [3,9]. One situation in which individuals may gain from following a leader is if older leaders possess some form of superior knowledge enabling better decisions in response to environmental or social triggers [10–12].
Mathematical models of group decision-making have indicated that it may pay individuals in small groups to accept the decision of a knowledgeable leader where large disparities exist in the information possessed by different group members [1]. Indeed, research on humans indicates that age is correlated with leadership in domains that require specialized knowledge [13], and there is recent evidence that decisions about social conflicts improve with age despite declines in many forms of cognitive processing [14]. In animal societies, it has most often been suggested that older leaders provide a vital source of ecological knowledge (e.g. about the location of scarce resources or migration routes), but direct tests of this in natural populations are lacking because of the difficulties in quantifying the relevant skills [6,11,15,16].
A key facet of ecological knowledge that is more amenable to experimental investigation is the ability to respond appropriately to the threat of predators. Moreover, as anti-predator response strategies are often costly and may involve an element of risk [17], the experience to discern when such strategies should be implemented would have critical energetic and survival benefits for individual group members. By using a novel playback paradigm where lion roars were broadcast to simulate varying levels of predatory threat—presented by different numbers and sexes of lions—we were able to investigate directly how groups of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) with leaders of different ages performed at assessing fine-scaled differences in the risk involved. In doing so, we built on techniques previously developed to assess the factors affecting social knowledge in elephant groups [10].
Female African elephants live in matrilineal family units led by the oldest female, or matriarch, who plays a key role in coordinating group movements and responses to threat [10,18–20]. Other than humans, lions are the main natural predators of African elephants [21–23], typically preying on calves of less than 4 years of age [23,24]. Although it is often assumed that lionesses do most of the hunting, male lions are in fact considerably more effective and successful predators when it comes to targeting the largest prey—namely elephants and buffalo [23,25,26]. These large-bodied species often react to lion attacks with cooperative and aggressive defence mechanisms, presenting formidable opponents given their combined strength and dangerous weaponry [25,27]. In such situations, male lions, being on average 50 per cent larger in body mass and considerably more powerful than females [28], are at a distinct advantage. It is notable that the mean group size for successful male lion hunts on elephants is dramatically smaller than that for successful female hunts (1.8 versus 7 in one key study [23]), a finding also reflected in data on lion hunts of buffalo [25]. Moreover, while hunting success typically increases with group size [22,23], it has been demonstrated that male lions have the capability of overpowering a young elephant even when hunting alone [19,23]. Older elephant matriarchs should be more experienced in facing lion encounters than younger matriarchs, and hence we might expect them to be better able to identify the greater risk posed by larger groups of lions and by male lions in particular. Our study, using individually known elephants in Amboseli National Park, Kenya (see §2), provides an unusual opportunity to examine directly how the age of a leader may influence this vital ecological knowledge in a wild population.
Abilities to discriminate between different levels of predatory threat were tested by giving elephant family units playbacks of three lions versus a single lion roaring and, within these categories, roaring from male versus female lions (see §2). In a wide range of social species, individuals may benefit through increased attentiveness, group-defensive behaviour and, in some cases, even approaches to harass predators (mobbing), which can serve both to directly discourage attack and to gain further information about the threat involved [19,29,30]. While mobbing is not widespread among mammals [17], elephants are sufficiently large and well coordinated to search out and direct group attacks on potential predators [19,27,31]. In conjunction with our previous research on social knowledge in African elephants [10], we predicted that groups led by older matriarchs would show greater attentiveness, defensive bunching behaviour and increased likelihood of mobbing approach when faced with lion groups (as opposed to singletons) and with males (as opposed to females).
2. Material and methods
(a) Study population
All playback experiments were conducted on a natural population of African elephants in Amboseli National Park in Kenya between May 2007 and July 2009. This study population encompasses approximately 1500 elephants, with 58 distinct family groups. The Amboseli Elephant Research Project (AERP; http://www.elephanttrust.org) has long-term demographic and behavioural data on the entire population, including detailed ages for all elephants born after 1971, while ages for older individuals were estimated using criteria that are accepted as standard in studies of African elephants [18,32]. All elephants in the population are habituated to the presence of AERP research vehicles.
(b) Playback procedure
A total of 72 playbacks were conducted on 39 elephant family groups (1–4 playbacks per group), with a mean of five adults (±2.6 s.d.) in each family. All of the playbacks were carried out between 16.00 and 19.00 h, the time at which lions become active.
The lion roars used in the study had been recorded in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania using Sennheiser MKH816T microphones and Panasonic SV-250 digital audio tape recorders [33,34]. Eight different playback exemplars were presented, consisting of two matched pairs of one lion versus three lions roaring for both male and female lions [33,34].
In each playback, a single bout of lion roars (mean duration: males, 39 ± 7 s; females, 40 ± 5 s) was broadcast to the subjects from a fieldwork vehicle that was located 100 m from the periphery of the family group. The lion roars were played through custom-built loudspeakers manufactured by Bowers & Wilkins, Steyning, UK and Intersonics Inc., Northbrook, IL, USA. The Bowers & Wilkins loudspeaker was powered by Alpine PDX-1.1000 and MRP-T222 amplifiers and the Intersonics loudspeaker by a Kenwood KAC-PS400M amplifier. In all playbacks the peak sound pressure level at 1 m from the loudspeaker was standardized at 116 dB, comparable with that of natural lion roars [33]. Sound pressure levels were measured with a CEL-414/3 sound level meter.
The first exemplars played to family groups were randomized; repeat playbacks for each sex of lion were then systematically paired with the first exemplars presented, so that across playbacks two factors (number of lions and sex of lion) were systematically varied in turn, while holding others constant. To avoid habituation, a minimum period of 7 days was left between playbacks to the same family. Playbacks were not given to groups with calves of less than one month as our previous work had indicated that the presence of such very young calves may result in abnormally high sensitivity to perceived threats over this short time period [10].
The behavioural responses of the elephants to playback were observed through binoculars and recorded on video, alongside live commentary, using a Canon XM2 video camera. From video analysis, we assessed five key behavioural measures that described the responses of the family group with particular reference to the matriarch (developed from [10]):
— Matriarch prolonged listening. Matriarch continues to exhibit evidence of listening response for more than 3 min after playback, where ears are held in a stiff extended position, often with the head slightly raised.
— Matriarch bunching. Defensive response to perceived threat by adult females (including the matriarch) and their young, which results in the diameter of the family group decreasing after the broadcast of the playback stimulus (calculated in terms of elephant body lengths).
— Matriarch bunching intensity. The rate at which a defensive bunch of adult females (including the matriarch) and their young occurs. This measure classifies the overall level of threat response, scoring bunching intensity on a 4-point scale as follows:
0: No bunching occurred.
1: Subtle reduction in the diameter of the group, elephants remain relaxed and continue with pre-playback behaviours (>3 min for bunch formation).
2: Group forms a coordinated bunch, pre-playback behaviours such as feeding interrupted (1–3 min for bunch formation).
3: Fast and sudden reduction in the diameter of the group, elephants very alert (<1 min for bunch formation).
— Matriarch approach. Distinct change in the direction and approach of the matriarch towards the source of playback.
— Group to matriarch. Adult females and/or their young respond to playback by moving towards the matriarch.
An independent observer who did not have access to the video commentary and was blind to the playback sequence second-coded 15 per cent of the video records; an overall agreement of 95 per cent was achieved on the binary response variables and the Spearman's ρ correlation on the scores for matriarch bunching intensity was 0.940 (p < 0.001). A video clip illustrating the highest level of bunching and mobbing approach is available as electronic supplementary material S1.
(c) Statistical analyses
The data were analysed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) in R (www.r-project.org). To test the responses of elephants to lion playbacks as a function of predatory threat (number and sex of the lions) and the age of the matriarch, five key behaviours were used as dependent variables (see above), while the identity of the elephant group was entered as a random factor. Model selection was performed using Akaike's information criterion (AIC) [35], with lower AIC scores indicating better models; however, a more complex model with more degrees of freedom was only selected over a simpler model when the AIC differed by 2 or more [35]. In our main analysis, matriarch age was entered as a continuous variable in each of the GLMMs. A second analysis compared the behavioural responses of the oldest age class of matriarchs (≥60 years) with those ≤59 years. In all analyses, potentially confounding variables—the number of adult female elephants in the group and their average age [10]—were excluded during model selection as they generated higher AIC scores, with no significant main effects for the variables nor for interactions between them and the sex and number of lions.
3. Results
In all cases, the best model (see §2) to describe the responses of elephants to playbacks included the number of lions, lion sex, matriarch age, and the interaction between lion sex and matriarch age (electronic supplementary material S2). The number of lions had significant effects on four out of five of our behavioural measures, with playback of three lions generating elevated responses as predicted (table 1 and figure 1). The ability to make this basic distinction did not depend on the age of the matriarch, with no significant interactions occurring between matriarch age and the number of lions for any of our response variables. However, matriarch age (entered as a continuous variable) had marked effects on behaviour in response to playbacks of male versus female lions, with significant interactions between age of matriarch and sex of lions (electronic supplementary material S2 and table 1). More specifically, sensitivity to male (versus female) lions increased with matriarch age, matriarchs being more likely to engage in prolonged listening and defensive bunching, and showing a higher bunching intensity when faced with male lion roars as they get older (table 1 and figure 2a; see electronic supplementary material S3 for scatter plots of raw data). Groups with older matriarchs were also more likely to approach the source of playback when male roars were presented (table 1 and figure 2b). In addition, as reproductive activity shows a marked decline in female elephants between the ages of 55 and 60 years [18,36,37], we investigated the sensitivity of the oldest age class (60 years and above) to the particular threat posed by male lions in a secondary analysis. Comparing these with matriarchs of 59 years and younger (matriarch age was categorical in this analysis: age ≤ 59, n = 53; age 60+, n = 19), there were significant interactions between matriarch age class and lion sex in our measures of attentiveness and defensive bunching (table 1). The oldest matriarchs were more likely to engage in prolonged periods of listening and exhibited greater defensive bunching (higher probability of bunching and greater bunching intensity) in response to male versus female roars, demonstrating their key role in identifying and responding to this most serious threat (table 1 and figure 2c,d). Other potentially confounding variables—number of females in the group and mean age of females other than the matriarch—were excluded from the final models because their inclusion produced poorer results when model selection was carried out using AIC scores (see §2).
4. Discussion
These results demonstrate that while elephant family groups react more strongly to three lions than a single lion roaring irrespective of matriarch age, those led by older matriarchs show a greater sensitivity to the more serious threat posed by male lions across all our behavioural responses, including measures of attentiveness, bunching and mobbing approach. The superior ability to detect the presence of male lions at an early stage—evident in the greater probability of older matriarchs engaging in prolonged periods of listening and defensively bunching with their groups—is likely to have significant survival benefits affording better protection for vulnerable calves in particular. Previous researchers have speculated that elephant groups can derive fitness benefits from the improvement in ecological knowledge conferred by an older matriarch, suggesting that this enables better utilization of scarce resources and predator avoidance during periods of drought [15]. Our work provides the first direct experimental evidence that older matriarchs are in fact able to make better decisions when faced with ecological challenges—in this case, the presence of dangerous predators. It thus bridges an important gap between theoretical predictions about how knowledge might be expected to affect leadership [1,9] and empirical studies, which to date have been largely confined to observational accounts [6,7,15].
It has recently been suggested that prey species with large brains relative to their body size may be better at evading predators because they can more effectively adjust their behavioural responses to specific encounters [38]. Our results indicate that elephants can indeed make important distinctions between threat levels even within a predator class, in parallel with research showing their ability to distinguish human ethnic groups that pose different levels of threat on the basis of olfactory and visual cues [39]. Moreover, the results demonstrate how the accumulated knowledge of the oldest individuals may have an over-riding influence on the effectiveness of anti-predator decisions made by the social group as a whole, and they highlight the vital role of such individuals in natural populations [10]. This is a particularly important consideration where relatively large-brained social species have the opportunity to accumulate ecological information over long lifespans and considerable disparities in knowledge between different individuals are therefore likely to arise.
While we cannot be sure that matriarch age will correlate with experience of lions in every instance, it is reasonable to assume that as matriarchs get older they will accumulate exposure to the particular risks posed by lions. Although elephants are relatively impregnable to most predators by virtue of their large body size and aggressive group defence, lions remain a very significant threat and have the potential to shape the evolution of specific anti-predator behaviour [23,27]. Despite this, the occurrence of lion predation on elephants is typically a rare event [24]. Moreover, the sex ratio of adult lions in most populations is heavily female-biased [40,41], with a 1 M : 1.8 F ratio in the Amboseli population [42], which may lower the exposure to male-specific cues further still. Our experiments test elephant abilities to make a rather subtle distinction—between characteristics defining male and female roars—and while sex-specific acoustic differences have been documented in lion roars [43], these are not overtly obvious to human listeners. It is perhaps not surprising therefore that considerable experience, built up over a long lifespan, should enable older individuals to perform better in this task.
In common with humans and certain other social animals, in particular pilot and killer whales, female elephants can have a significant post-reproductive lifespan—although it is currently unclear whether they exhibit menopause [18,37,44,45]. While reproductive activity declines among this oldest age class, they show no signs of increased vulnerability to predators, and in fact are often the largest individuals within family groups [31]. Indeed, our results suggest that this oldest age class of females can provide significant benefits for their groups in the context of decision-making about predators. As a result of typically no longer having young offspring, they may be able to take a more active role in group defence and could be more attentive to ecological signals. However, if families with older matriarchs were simply more reactive, we would predict an overall increase in sensitivity to lion roars rather than the greater differential response to male versus female roars reported here. Instead, older matriarchs appear more adept at associating male lion roars with a greater level of threat. Observational data also indicate that it is individuals of 60 years and older who have the greatest success in leading large-scale foraging movements [16]—again suggesting that in decisions relating to ecological knowledge, the level of experience that these oldest individuals possess may prove critical. Recent research on humans has demonstrated the key role that grandmothers can play in enhancing the reproductive success of their offspring by assisting in child-rearing after their own reproduction has ceased [46,47]. Our findings indicate that through their greater ecological knowledge, older females can also represent a crucial resource in other long-lived cognitively advanced mammals that live in kin-based social groups.
Leadership is known to be crucial in the coordination of human groups, but we are only now beginning to appreciate its role in animal societies [3,4]. In order to fully understand how animal groups are organized and achieve collective action, it is vital to determine the advantages that a leader may bring to group decision-making. Our study provides the first empirical evidence that individuals within a social group may benefit directly from the influence of an older leader because of their enhanced ability to make crucial decisions about predatory threat. It thus generates important insights into selection for longevity and the evolution of a sophisticated social structure that supports the coordinating role of a single older leader. Such abilities are likely to be highly relevant in other large-brained, long-lived social species where older individuals play a key role in coordinating group activities.
This work complies with the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour/Animal Behaviour Society guidelines for the use of animals in research, and received approval from the Ethical Review Committee at the University of Sussex. We thank the National Geographic Society (grant no. 7977-06), the Leverhulme Trust (grant no. F/00230/AC) and the Amarula Elephant Research Programme for funding this work. We are grateful to the Kenyan Office of the President and to Kenya Wildlife Services for permission to conduct the research in Amboseli National Park, to Kenya Airways, P. B. Allen and Bowers & Wilkins, for logistical support and provision of equipment, and to Jon Grinnell for access to lion recordings. We also thank the Amboseli Trust for Elephants for facilitating this study, Larissa Conradt, Leanne Proops, David Reby and Paul Thompson for providing comments on the manuscript, Leanne Proops for second coding of video records, Nathalie Pettorelli for statistical advice, and Andy Radford, Tim Caro and two anonymous referees for helpful suggestions for revisions.
- Received January 25, 2011.
- Accepted February 23, 2011.
- This journal is © 2011 The Royal Society


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A black bear named Oscar has been recaptured after climbing out of his South Texas zoo exhibit and slipping into a pool meant for seals.
Officials at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville say security will be increased at the bear grotto after the young male briefly escaped Monday morning.
Nobody was hurt and the zoo was locked down, with visitors moved to protected areas.
Authorities believe Oscar, who was captured in 2012 in Starr County, dug his claws into some cracks in the concrete wall of the bear exhibit to get out. Staffers isolated Oscar in a process that took less than an hour. Zoo director Pat Burchfield says the bear had to be tranquilized.
Oscar, during the exhibit upgrade, will stay in an area where he spends nights.

subset: commoncrawl


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If you drink and drive you lose!
Beginning Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 through Jan. 1, 2014, the Broken Bow Police Department will be involved in the statewide "You Drink & Drive, You Lose" Selective DUI Enforcement.This is a coordinated effort of law enforcement agencies to decrease the number of impaired drivers in our communities. This selective enforcement is funded through a Nebraska Office of Highway Safety grant.Several Nebraska Alcohol-Related Statistics:• In 2012, there were 30,443 crashes in Nebraska, 1,779 alcohol-related vehicle crashes.• In 2012, there were 10,605 arrests made for Driving Under the Influence in Nebraska. Of those, 9528 were convicted. • In 2012, there were 190 fatal vehicles crashes, resulting in 212 deaths. Of those 212 fatal crashes, 81 (41%) were alcohol-related and resulted in 87 deaths.• In 2012 there were 11,021 crashes resulting in injury, of those 842 were alcohol related.Statistics above provided by the Nebraska Department of Highway SafetyLink: http://www.roads.nebraska.gov/nohs/areas/al1enf.html#statsOur goal with this selective enforcement is to use additional Officers, highly visible saturation patrols and DWI checkpoints to seek out suspected drunk drivers and arrest them; thus, creating safer streets for the citizens of Broken Bow.CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY AND REMEMBER "IF YOU DRINK & DRIVE, YOU LOSE!"


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This board does not includes fins. Please see size chart below
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Erie View United Mennonite Church (Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada)
Erie View United Mennonite Church is a small rural church located in southern Ontario in the county of Norfolk. It was established by a group of Mennonites from Russia in 1926. Among early members were the Jacob and Maria Reimer family who had come with other immigrant families by train to Selkirk, Ontario where they worked for a Hoover family. Hoovers also owned farmland in the Port Rowan area and the Reimer family went there in March 1926 to farm. The Henry Petker family joined the Reimers and soon other families followed – Gerhard Derksen, David Neuman, Bernard Konrad, Johann Kornies, Aaron Doerksen, Johann Baese, Alex Suderman, Peter Teigroeb, Henry Hiebert, Jacob Wiens. At first they met for worship in each other's homes. For Christmas 1926, the group met in the Erie View Baptist Church. Later, in 1940, the United Mennonite group made its home in this building. In early 1927, the Mennonites began meeting in the rented Messiah Church building. Members of both General Conference Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren affiliation met jointly and were ministered to by leaders of both denominations. Dietrich Doerksen was an early MB minister and Jacob Epp came from the General Conference church. Baptisms and church membership were held separately. The General Conference group was affiliated with the Waterloo-Kitchener congregation.
In 1940, the MB and GC churches went separate ways. The General Conference group bought the unused Baptist church one km south of their former meeting place and functioned until 1947 under the charter of the Vineland United Mennonite Church. In 1947 the church received official recognition by the government as the United Mennonite Church of Erie View. Peter Pankratz, William Hamm, and Cornelius Penner were the representatives of the church. Some families from Reesor, Ontario joined the Port Rowan group about this time. From 1940-1947, John J. Reimer gave the message on alternating Sundays, a minister from Vineland would come once a month and Jacob Petker filled in empty slots.
Other church leaders at Erie View were Jacob Braun, 1947-1959, then John J. Reimer for another 6 years. Gerhard Peters began half time in 1965, the first minister with a salary. He preached English sermons, alternately with German spoken by Jacob Petker. Gerhard Peters then served full time 1972-1976. Jacob Petker served again for 6 years after Rev. Peters retired with pulpit assistance from Vineland, Waterloo and Leamington. Later pastors (see table) provided leadership on a 2/3 time basis with local lay speakers or guest ministers filling the pulpit.
Leadership style has been traditional with emphasis on the church liturgical calendar and often following the lectionary. From the beginning, singing in 4-part harmony with at least one adult choir was an important aspect of church life. Even by 2004 a small choral group with members of several generations existed to edify worship. Two ladies groups existed making quilts and generally promoting the work of missions and MCC. Sunday school teaching has also been a priority. John Wiebe was a long serving superintendent. Youth ministry has been emphasized as well as an evening children's program during the 1980's and early 1990's.
Additional Information
Address: Box 132, Port Rowan, Ontario, N0E 1M0; the church is near the central Lake Erie north shore close to Port Rowan/ Long Point Ontario. From Port Rowan it is 5 km west on Road 42 and 1 km north.
Denominational Affiliations:
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada
Erie View United Mennonite Church Pastoral Leaders
|Years of Service
|Jacob Epp (GC)
|Dietrich Doerksen (MB)
|John J. Reimer
|Jacob Braun
|Jacob Petker
|Gerhard Peters
|Tom Warner
|Bev Suderman-Gladwell
|Jacob Roes
|Amzie Brubacher
|Charles Byer
|Scott Mabee
|Tom Warner
Erie View United Mennonite Church Membership
Map:Erie View United Mennonite Church (Port Rowan, Ontario)
|Betty Wiebe
|Date Published
|December 2010
Cite This Article
MLA style
Wiebe, Betty. "Erie View United Mennonite Church (Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2010. Web. 17 Nov 2018. http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Erie_View_United_Mennonite_Church_(Port_Rowan,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=142374.
APA style
Wiebe, Betty. (December 2010). Erie View United Mennonite Church (Port Rowan, Ontario, Canada). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 17 November 2018, from http://gameo.org/index.php?title=Erie_View_United_Mennonite_Church_(Port_Rowan,_Ontario,_Canada)&oldid=142374.
©1996-2018 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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- Fog Lights
- Front Air Dam
- Front Power Lumbar Support
- Full Size Spare Tire
- Heated Exterior Mirror
- Interval Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Load Bearing Exterior Rack
- Passenger Airbag
- Passenger Multi-adjustable Power Seat
- Power Adjustable Exterior Mirror
- Power Door Locks
- Power Windows
- Rear Window Defogger
- Rear Wiper
- Second Row Removable Seat
- Steering Wheel Mounted Controls
- Tachometer
- Third Row Removable Seat
- Tilt Steering
- Tilt Steering Column
- Trip Computer
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2004 Kia Sedona ReviewThis car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale.
A great value, now with DVD entertainment.
Kia Sedona offers a good value for big families that don't want to break the budget on a minivan. The Sedona is bigger than a Dodge Caravan and comes loaded with popular features, yet it costs about $4,500 less than other comparably equipped minivans.
Though relatively inexpensive, the Sedona is among the few minivans that have earned the Federal government's top five-star crash rating for both driver and front-seat passenger in a front impact, and for all front and rear-seat occupants in side-impact tests, an important consideration in a family vehicle.
Sedona drives well, too, with a responsive V6 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. Its ride and handling are easy and smooth. The main difference is in the quality of the door handles and some of the interior finishes, and that's not much of a trade-off for $4,500.
For 2004, the Sedona offers an optional DVD entertainment system at both LX and EX trim levels.
Kia Sedona is available in two trim levels, LX ($19,975) and EX ($22,085). Both models are powered by a big 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. They provide seven-passenger seating and come standard with sliding doors on both sides.
LX is equipped well, even without options. Standard equipment includes front and rear air conditioning, six-speaker AM/FM/CD stereo, power mirrors, power front windows, cruise control, an overhead console with storage, electric windshield de-icer, rear window defroster and wiper/washer, sophisticated interior lighting, three 12-volt power outlets, eight-way manually adjustable driver's seat, tilt steering column, a folding center tray table, even floor mats.
EX adds remote keyless entry, chrome exterior trim, fog lights, woodgrain interior trim, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a luggage rack, heated mirrors, power rear quarter windows, power seats for driver and passenger, second-row captain's chairs in place of the standard two-seat bench, a trip computer, alloy wheels, and an eight-speaker AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo.
Options include anti-lock brakes ($595), a roof rack for the LX ($200), and a trailer hitch ($350). A Leather Package ($850) and power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof ($700) are available for the EX. A DVD entertainment system is being added to the options list for 2004.
In terms of size, the Kia Sedona fits between the long vans, such as the Dodge Grand Caravan and Honda Odyssey, and the shorter vans such as the Caravan and Mazda MPV. Specifically, the Sedona measures 194 inches long and rides on a 114.6-inch wheelbase.
Overall, the Kia Sedona is an attractive vehicle. Kia's product planners in America worked with Kia's engineers and designers in South Korea to come up with a traditional minivan design. A minivan needs to look like a minivan, they said. Sedona styling cues include a bold grille (made somewhat bolder for '04), big headlamps, and a body-colored roof rack (on the EX). Two-tone bodyside cladding is standard on EX models, along with brightwork around the rear. Wheel designs for both models are new for 2004.
The outside door handles are easy to grab, and we like the design, but the finish is not up to par; their inside edges do not convey a sense of quality.
The rear hatch is easy to open. Pull on the lever and it raises itself up and out of the way. Anyone less than six feet tall can stand under the hatch without worrying about banging his or her head on it. Closing it takes a little effort, however, so you'll probably need both hands.
Living with the Sedona is convenient and comfortable. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent. The view through the rearview mirror is hindered somewhat by the headrests, but there's a clear view down the middle. Big power side mirrors offer a good view rearward.
All seating positions are roomy and comfortable. The cloth seats in the LX are supportive, with a manually adjustable lumbar support, and the steering wheel is comfortable. The seat fabric feels like mouse fur, and may be a bit warm in the summer. Better are the EX model's optional leather-covered seats, which are firm and offer power lumbar adjustment. Sedona's seats seem smaller than those in a big SUV, and they suited us, though we would have preferred more side bolstering. Adjustable-height shoulder belts come standard and enhance comfort. (So make sure you use them, as seatbelts are your best defense in a crash.) The front-inside door handles are easy to find and operate, which isn't true in many SUVs.
The second row of seats is comfortable, particularly the captain's chairs in the EX. Second- and third-row seats recline, and occupants each have their own reading lights and cup holders.
Even the third row is a comfortable place for two adults, much more comfortable than the third-row seating in most sport-utility vehicles, even the big, expensive ones. There's lots of leg room and good hip room. Headroom is a little more limited, but fine for an average size adult. The rear quarter windows open manually on the LX, and electrically on the EX, where separate switches allow both the driver and the third-row passengers to control them.
Getting into and out of the third row is very easy, something that can't be said of any SUV, including the giant Suburban. To get out of the Sedona's third-row seat, simply press a foot lever, and the second-row seatback flips forward, then the whole seat automatically slides forward. Dual side doors easily slide open and closed manually. Power-operated doors are not available.
There isn't a whole lot of room for cargo behind the third row, but enough for a dozen bags of groceries, and hooks are provided on the backs of the third-row seats to help keep plastic grocery bags in place. To make room for more cargo, the third row flips forward, then tumbles; but you must first remove the headrests. The third-row seats can be removed, but they are heavy and cumbersome to carry, like those in many other minivans. The Kia's seats have grab handles, but the seatback doesn't stay locked down, making the whole package awkward to handle. The second-row seats are easy to latch in or out and, like the rearmost seats, are mounted on rollers. But like most minivan or SUV seats, when it comes time to lift them, they are still heavy and awkward.
Sedona's transmission lever comes out of the dash. A somewhat similar design is used for the Toyota Sienna and Lexus RX330. Odd at first glance, this design takes up less room and opens up some floor space between the front seats, a good spot for tote bags, purses, or a couple of sacks of groceries. This may help you reduce the number of items rolling around in the passenger-side footwell. And with the second-row captain's chairs in the EX, there's a nice aisle through the first and second rows for carrying long items.
Interior switchgear is functional, but not elegant to the touch. It does not impart a feeling of quality. Buttons for cruise control, rear defrost, and the audio system are mounted high for accessibility. But the buttons are small and fussy and lack sufficient tactile feedback.
Nice details include visor extensions for early morning or late afternoon driving. Two glove boxes provide storage, along with a compartment on top of the dash. The 2004 Sedona provides 10 cup holders for your drinking pleasure. For 2004, a folding tray table is standard on both models.
Driving Impression
The Kia Sedona is an enjoyable vehicle to drive. Kia tuned its 3.5-liter V6 more for torque than horsepower, and peak torque comes at just 3500 rpm. Torque is that force that propels you away from intersections and up hills. By concentrating more of the power at lower rpm, the Sedona accelerates quickly off the line and offers good response around town. It's a good engine, at least as smooth as the V6 engines found in American minivans.
A five-speed automatic transmission, once a feature found only on expensive luxury cars, enhances the Sedona's responsive performance in all situations. It's also smooth. With five gears to choose from, it is able to keep the engine running at the best speed for all types of situations. Fifth gear is an overdrive for improved fuel economy on the highway.
Sedona rides well. It's smooth over road undulations. It handles well, the steering is tight, and it feels stable at high speeds. The headlamp/foglamp combination throws a decent beam.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are optional and help bring the Sedona to an undramatic stop even when pushed to the limit. We recommend ordering ABS because it helps the driver maintain steering control in an emergency braking maneuver: Mash down on the brake pedal hard, do not relax your foot off the pedal when you feel the ABS pulsing, and remember to steer around obstacles.
The Kia Sedona offers an outstanding value when compared with other minivans. As for quality, only time will tell. In the meantime, the Sedona guarantees much lower monthly payments, a responsive V6, an impressive list of features, and one of the best warranties in the business. Now it has DVD entertainment and 10 cup holders.
Model Lineup
Kia Sedona LX ($19,975); EX ($22,085).
Assembled In
Hwasung, South Korea.
Options As Tested
Leather Package ($850); power sunroof ($700); ABS ($595).
Model Tested
Kia Sedona EX ($22,085).
7339 Sw 45St Street
Miami, Fl. 33155
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Before and After: A Budget Kitchen Makeover
When Theresa and her family first bought their home it had been unused for a long time. But with the sweat off their brows, some thoughtful budget spends, and some clever DIYs they are turning their unused house into a gorgeous home. Here's a peek at how they handled the kitchen.
They repaired all the windows themselves, pulled up layers of flooring, made their own splash back using a metal yard offcut, found most of their appliances at second-hand auctions and collected what they could from op-shops, markets and roadsides.
You can check out the full before and after here and see more pictures from Theresa's gorgeous house on her blog,the evans' smallholding.
(Image: the evans' smallholding)


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70° Hand Torch Package with 25' (7.6m) Lead Set for Thermal Dynamics® PAK® 44/45 Systems with PCH-6b Plasma Arc Cutting Torches.
Performance Proven™ Replacement for Thermal Dynamics® PAK® 44/45 Systems with PCH6b Plasma Arc Cutting Torches.
Arc-Zone.com®, Inc. is not affiliated with Thermal Dynamics Corporation. We supply high quality replacement parts manufactured by or for Arc-Zone.com® to demanding specifications. The parts are engineered to be interchangeable with Thermal Dynamics® parts, are not OEM parts and are not endorsed by Thermal Dynamics®.
Thermal Dynamics® is a registered trademark of Thermal Dynamics® Corporation.


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Used 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab Review
Edmunds expert review
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a worthy choice for a full-size pickup thanks to its wide range of body styles, capable performance and comfortable ride.
What's new for 2011
Vehicle overview
Since the current generation of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 debuted four years ago, competing trucks have outpaced the Chevy with recent redesigns. But don't assume the Silverado (or its GMC Sierra twin) is ready to be put out to pasture just yet. Over its production run, this full-size truck has seen its share of improvements on top of the solid foundation with which it started. Despite the mounting pressure from rival manufacturers, the 2011 Silverado 1500 remains one of the best trucks in this category.
In terms of capabilities, the Silverado 1500 ranks right up there with its competition in terms of towing capacities, body style choices and option choices -- the differences are very slight. The Chevy is notable, however, for its smooth ride and low wind and road noise levels. Factor in comfortable seats -- at least in the upper trim levels -- and the Silverado earns our endorsement as a long-distance road-tripper.
The 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 is not without a few faults, though. In the Work base model trim, the interior is aesthetically dull compared to competitors from Dodge and Toyota. The base V6 engine is a hindrance, as it struggles to adequately motivate this large truck. And maneuverability is hampered by a large turning radius that leads to more frequent multiple-point turns.
Despite such faults, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 still represents a worthy choice in the very competitive full-size truck segment. In a recent Edmunds comparison test, the Chevy finished a close 3rd place, bested by the 2011 Ram 1500 and 2011 Toyota Tundra, and narrowly edged out the 2011 Ford F-150. The Ford pickup has more powerful engine choices this year, but the close results from our comparison remind us that all of these trucks are up to the task. As such, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 remains a solid choice in our book.
Trim levels & features
The 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is a full-size pickup truck that is offered in standard cab, extended cab and crew cab body styles. Standard and extended cabs are available with either a standard 6.5-foot bed or an 8-foot long bed. Crew cabs only come with a short bed that measures 5-foot-8.
Regular cabs can be had in base Work or midlevel LT trims, while the extended and crew cabs are also available in LS and the range-topping LTZ trim. The Work trim comes with the bare necessities, which include air-conditioning (extended- and crew-cab versions), a trip computer, a tilt steering wheel, OnStar telematics, vinyl seating, a 40/20/40-split front bench seat and a CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary audio jack. The LS adds full power accessories, keyless entry, cruise control, satellite radio and adjustable lumbar support for the driver.
The LT trim adds upgraded audio speakers and a USB jack, premium cloth seating, a lockable compartment with a power outlet built into the center cushion of the split front seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The LTZ piles on alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control (in extended and crew cabs), an exclusive dash design with wood and metallic accents, leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable heated front bucket seats, driver-seat memory settings, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, Bluetooth, remote engine start and a Bose audio system with a six-disc CD changer and rear audio controls.
Options include several towing packages, the Z71 Off-Road package (skid plates, off-road suspension), special regional packages, 18- and 20-inch wheels, upgraded audio systems, a navigation system with real-time traffic updates and a rearview camera, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, heated power-folding outside mirrors, a sunroof, a power-sliding rear window, a cargo management system and rear park assist.
There is also the XFE (extra fuel economy) trim variant for the two-wheel-drive 5.3-liter V8 crew cab that features aerodynamic enhancements and lightweight aluminum components that improve fuel economy. An EZ Lift tailgate is also offered, and requires only about half the effort to open and close, compared to the standard tailgate.
Performance & mpg
The 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 is available with four different engine choices. Work trucks are powered by a standard 4.3-liter V6 that produces 195 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Buyers may upgrade to a 4.8-liter V8 that makes 302 hp and 305 lb-ft, or a 5.3-liter V8 that's good for 315 hp and 335 lb-ft. The LS is only offered with the 4.8-liter V8. The LT trim, depending on body style, will have one of these two V8s as standard, while the LTZ has the 5.3-liter engine as standard. A 6.2-liter V8 is available as an option on select models and makes 403 hp and 417 lb-ft.
A four-speed automatic transmission with a tow and haul mode is standard on Silverado pickups with the base V6 and 4.8-liter V8. The 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8s utilize a six-speed automatic. In a recent Edmunds test, a Silverado with a 6.2-liter V8 accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is quick for a full-size pickup. Properly equipped, a Silverado 1500 can tow up to 10,700 pounds.
Buyers have a choice of either rear- or four-wheel drive. The Work and LS trims with 4WD have a traditional floor-mounted selector for the transfer case. All other 4WD trims have Autotrac, which features an automatic setting that shifts into 4WD when wheel slippage is detected.
Fuel economy estimates range from 15 mpg city/22 mpg highway and 18 mpg combined for a crew cab XFE down to 12/19/14 mpg for a 4WD Silverado 1500 fitted with the 6.2-liter V8.
Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes (front disc, rear drum) and stability control. Front side and side curtain airbags are also standard. Four-wheel disc brakes are available as part of the Max Trailering package.
In government crash tests, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 earned the top rating of five stars in frontal collisions. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety testing, a Silverado crew cab earned a top score of "Good" for frontal-offset crash protection and a second-best score of "Acceptable" for side-impact testing. In our testing, a Silverado crew cab with four-wheel disc brakes stopped from 60 mph in a short 120 feet.
Unlike previous generations of pickups, the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is actually pleasant to drive. The steering is light but reasonably precise, and the truck's comfortable seats and smooth, quiet ride make road trips enjoyable. The Silverado's turning circle is a bit larger than those of most other trucks, however.
Acceleration is sluggish with the base V6, while the 4.8-liter V8 provides adequate power. The 5.3-liter V8 feels brawny and the 6.2-liter V8 turns the Silverado into a veritable muscle truck. The six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard with the two bigger V8s does an admirable job of keeping power on tap, while the four-speed feels outdated by comparison.
On the whole, the Silverado's interior fit and finish ranks highly, though base models tend to look rather dull compared to their rivals. The pricey LTZ trim dresses up the cabin significantly, with a unique upscale dash and door panel treatment, a full center console and attractive wood grain and metallic accents. Crew-cab models feature comfortable rear seats with flip-up seat cushions that provide a nearly flat load floor. Interior storage is merely adequate, with small cupholders and haphazard center console organization.
Edmunds expert review process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
related vehicle information
2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Information
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Build and Price TMV®
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Incentives & Rebates
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Consumer Discussions
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Consumer Reviews
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Features & Specs
- 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Pictures
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Syllabus for HPS-200
The focus of this course is on exploring the statistical methods used in health professions. Students review parametric and nonparametric techniques and explore the purpose, assumptions, selection, and interpretation of descriptive and inferential statistics. As part of the course, students use MS Excel™ to organize and analyze data sets.
After completing this course, you should be able to:
CO1 Differentiate concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics.
CO2 Select appropriate statistical analyses for data sets.
CO3 Determine appropriate sample sizes for research studies.
CO4 Employ statistical and database software in data management.
CO5 Evaluate the use of data in health science research reports.
You will need the following materials to do the work of the course. The required textbook is available from the University's textbook supplier, MBS Direct.
Statistics for the Health Professions (HPS-200) is a three-credit online course, consisting of ten modules. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to online discussion forums and complete written assignments. See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
Please note: (1) Rewriting or resubmitting assignments is not permitted; (2) no assignments may be submitted after the last day of the course without an approved extension; and (3) extension requests must be approved by the mentor and submitted by the student to the Registrar's Office prior to the last day of the course.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in this document.
You are required to participate in 12 graded discussion forums. The forums are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules. There is also an ungraded but required introduction forum in module 1.
Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website is the online discussion forum rubric used to aid in the grading of all online discussion assignments.
Note: The minimum participation requirement for discussion forum activities is at least three posts on at least three different days—an initial post responding to the questions and at least two posts to at least two classmates.
You are required to complete five written assignments, including five papers, and one PowerPoint presentation. The written assignments are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules.
Located within the Evaluation Rubrics section of the course website are the written assignment rubrics used to aid in the grading of each written assignment.
See Course Calendar for due dates.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
Below 73
For Courses Taken in Accelerated 2nd Degree Program
Students enrolled in the Accelerated 2nd Degree BSN program must earn a grade of B– (80) or better in the nursing courses for the credit to be accepted toward the degree.
For Courses Taken in BSN Programs (RN-BSN)
Students enrolled in the BSN degree program must earn a grade of C (73) or better in the nursing courses for the credit to be accepted toward the degree.
For Courses Taken in MSN Programs
Students enrolled in the MSN degree program must earn a grade of C (73) or better in the nursing courses for the credit to be accepted toward the degree.
For Courses Taken in Graduate Nursing Certificate Programs
Students enrolled in the graduate nursing certificate programs must earn a grade of B (83) or better for the course to be applied to program requirements.
All Web site addresses (URLs) in this course were accurate and reflected the stated content at the onset of the course. However, URLs change, and great resources may disappear. If you encounter a problem accessing a Web site, post a message in the HELP discussion area of this course.
Written assignments should be submitted no later than the due date unless prior arrangements are made with the mentor and a new due date is established. If a student submits an assignment after the due date without having made arrangements with the mentor, a minimum of five points (based on an assignment grading scale of 100 points) or 5% of the total points will be deducted for each week, or part thereof, that the assignment is late. Discussion forum assignments must be done in the week they are due or points will be forfeited.
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
Students at Thomas Edison State University are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.
Thomas Edison State University expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the University insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty can take the following forms:
Please refer to the Academic Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog and online at www.tesu.edu.
Using someone else's work as your own is plagiarism. Thomas Edison State University takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing will be severely penalized. If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, or without identifying it as a direct quote, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > "Citing Sources.")
Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else's. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.
Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.
Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.
For examples of unintentional plagiarism, advice on when to quote and when to paraphrase, and information about writing assistance, click the links provided below.
Examples of Unintentional Plagiarism
When to Quote and When to Paraphrase
Writing Assistance at Smarthinking
First-time incidents of academic dishonesty concerning plagiarism may reflect ignorance of appropriate citation requirements. Mentors will make a good faith effort to address all first-time offenses that occur in courses. In these cases, the mentor may impose sanctions that serve as a learning exercise for the offender. These may include the completion of tutorials, assignment rewrites, or any other reasonable learning tool including a lower grade when appropriate. The mentor will notify the student by e-mail. Decisions about the sanctions applied for subsequent plagiarism offenses or other violations will be made by the appropriate dean's office, with the advice of the mentor or staff person who reported the violation. The student will be notified via certified mail of the decision. Options for sanctions include:
Copyright © 2018 by Thomas Edison State University. All rights reserved.


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Rent a bicycle and discover the nuances and hidden gems of a city, tourist area, or popular vacation destination which you might otherwise miss while in your car. Utilize Rent It Today to find bicycle rentals at your destination and even reserve your ride before you leave home. Rent It Today is the best place to locate your next bicycle for rent. Regardless if you are in Florida or in Colorado we have bike rental partners ready to serve you bicycle rental requirements. Once you slowly meander around your surroundings on a bicycle, you'll be hooked. It's a great way to really see any locale. It's great exercise, too! Not into pumping the pedals? An electric bike for rent might be for you and you'll find them all at Rent It Today and our rental partners.
Transporting a bicycle to a vacation destination, while on a business trip, or when traveling in general can be a hassle or impossible. If a bicycle ride is calling and you need a mountain bike, road bike, tandem bike or beach cruiser, Rent It Today has bicycles available from reputable bike rental shops around the country.
You've just packed your bags for vacation, and are excited about heading to a destination with awesome mountain biking trails. While loading up your vehicle, however, you discover your personal mountain bike does not fit! No problem! One of Rent It Today's bicycle rental partners can have a mountain bike at your vacation destintation just waiting for you.
The evolution of technology has made it possible for the latest models of mountain bikes to be sturdier and have better suspension to encounter a variety of terrains. Having the right mountain bike or hybrid for your cycling needs will allow you to tackle rougher or challenging terrain whether on gravel, a back country road, or winding through nature. Our rental partners are experienced in recommending the right bike for you based on the type of areas you'll be exploring. Most bicycle rental companies offer mountain bike rentals and their other inventory for single, multi-day, and weekly rental. View All Mountain Bike Rentals
Biking with the kids is a great way to bond and explore your vacation destination as a family adventure. Get out from behind the tv, and get outdoors instead! When you rent a bicycle designed for kids, the entire family can head out to really get a good feel for the surroundings. Bicycle shops in popular tourist areas typically offer a variety of family friendly cycling options. In addition to kids bikes, some companies offer fun cycling rental options that include child seats, tandom bicycles, "fun cycles," kiddie carts, and adult sized tricycles. This is an excellent opportunity for the family to get some exercise, take a ride, and do something really different!
Today's kids bikes are built with the safety of your child in mind. So just make sure to wear proper safety gear, stay together, and enjoy the ride...oh, and you can bet the kids will sleep well after a long bike ride!
Road bikes are the most commonly rented bicycles used for leisure or sightseeing while on vacation. Rent It Today markets companies that offer a fleet of great road bike rentals across the nation in all sizes, brands, and types.
Bike rental companies are meticulous about their products, keeping up with the most up-to-date bicycles around. When you rent a bicycle during your vacation, you can rest assured you are going to receive a bike with a maximum level of comfort, safety, performance, and reliability. View All Road Bikes For Rent
Electric bicycles are a form of earth-friendly light electric vehicles (LEVs) that are now being offered for rent from bicycle rental companies. With moderate cycling range and speed, electric bikes are best utilized to provide convenient local transportation of an area. An electric bike would be a perfect sighseeing or touring the pier option while on vacation. If you've never explored this possibility, prepare to be amazed!
Would you believe you can actually carry your rental electric bike around with you when you're not riding it? Yes, you can actually sling it over your shoulder, and carry it indoors. Sturdy, lightweight, economic, fun, and eco-friendly, electric bikes are rapidly growing in popularity, and are designed with your safety in mind. Give one a whirl, and you'll be delighted!
Along with your bicycle rental, you want to make sure you reserve the appropriate accessories for your ride. Those accessories may include accommodations to include children, baskets for transporting souvenirs back to your accommodation, or safety gear. From rental companies across the nation, you can do just that! Secure your tag alongs, trailers, baskets, and bicycle helmets for every age before you hit the pavement!
Bicycling is no longer just a leisure activity. It's also become a very popular sport. Maybe the excitement of being on vacation also has you wishing you could take your cycling experience up a notch. If so, you can rent racing wheels to be added to your road bike, and try your "foot" at bicycle racing. Not only is bicycle racing a thrill, but it is also an excellent form of exercise. If you determine you would like to continue bicycling for sport once you return home, you can locate all the information your need by visiting USA Cycling.


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|Pomelo(107) , mandarin orange(44) , navel orange(39) , Nanfeng orange(66) , carrot(9) , fresh cauliflower(9) , Round cabbage(29) , Radish(9) , Fresh celery(2) , Roselle(3) , Potato(3) , fresh broccoli(11) , Sweet cabbage(2) , Grape(22) , Fresh Lychee(10) , others(12) , vegetable(7) , snow peas(0) , sweet beans(0) , Chinese cabbage(1)
Honey pomelo40
|Model No.:
|Honey pomelo40
|Product Name:
|Honey pomelo40
|Product Origin:
|Pinghe, Fujian, China
|Global G.A.P Certificate
|Brand Name:
|L/C or T/T
|Supply Ability:
|100 Ton per day
|Detailed Product Description:
We grow Pomelo by ourself with
rich experience in pomelo planting
1. We have private pomelo orchards
and pomelo processing factories
in Pinghe, southeast of China.
2. Supplied from ourself and the
local grower,we can offer the best
pomelo with low price.
We are professional in pomelo
processing, packing,transporting
and marketing
The pomelo we supply is of best
quality. It tastes good and is rich
in Vitamin C,fiber and folate.
It is free from pesticides
It has got Global GAP certificate.
1. Each is in a thin plastic and mesh bag with a bar code label
2. 7/8/9/10/11/12/13pieces, 11kg/12kg per carton
3. For loading, pallets and containers are available:
in open cartons, 1424/1530 ctns per 40RH
in semi-open cartons, 1456/1640 ctns per 40RH
4. The temperature of the container is about 5 to 6 degrees Celsius
and the ventilation is 25-30CBM per RH
Our pomelo is popular in many countries, especially in Europe and Asia.
We are now exporting with large quantities everyday. So jion us.
Welcome to visit our factories.
|Related Products of This Company
Zhangpu Yicai Fruit & Vegetable Co.,LtdContact Person (Sales): Ms. Cindy Sheng
|Email this pageBookmark this page


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Quiet bats squander McCarthy's career day
PHOENIX -- Brandon McCarthy struck out a career-high 12 batters on a glorious Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, but it wasn't good enough. And that seems to sum up the entire first 28 games of the D-backs' 8-20 season.
McCarthy's epic effort was bested by the Phillies, veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett and closer Jonathan Papelbon as the D-backs lost the swing game of the three-game series, 2-0.View Full Game Coverage
PHOENIX -- Brandon McCarthy struck out a career-high 12 batters on a glorious Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, but it wasn't good enough. And that seems to sum up the entire first 28 games of the D-backs' 8-20 season.
McCarthy's epic effort was bested by the Phillies, veteran right-hander A.J. Burnett and closer Jonathan Papelbon as the D-backs lost the swing game of the three-game series, 2-0.View Full Game Coverage
"I thought he threw very well," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said of McCarthy. "Some of the guys commented that the ball looked small coming out of his hand just because of his size and his delivery, which is kind of interesting. He had a real good cut-fastball and a mixture of pitches. We were fortunate to get the early runs off of him and allow A.J. to do his thing."
McCarthy allowed a Chase Utley RBI single in the first inning. Utley scored the second run all the way from second in the sixth when shortstop Chris Owings made a sprawling stop on Marlon Byrd's hot shot into the hole on left side of the infield and Martin Prado inexplicably failed to cover third as Owings tried to nail Utley.
Byrd was credited with an infield single and the ball bounced wide of the base for a throwing error.
"C.O. made a pretty good play and Prado just didn't get back to the base," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "Utley actually veered out, that's the kind of player he is. He got to a spot in between Prado and the ball. The ball bounced off him and they scored that run."
It was a very tough series for Prado. On Saturday night, the third baseman dropped a pop fly to open the eighth inning, leading to four Phillies runs in a 6-5 loss. In the ninth inning of that game, he over-slid second trying to advance on a short passed ball and was called out when instant replay showed that he missed the base.
Oh, and he went 3-for-13 without an RBI or a run scored, all three of the hits singles.
For his part, the rookie Owings tried to protect Prado on the play that gave the Phillies their insurance run.
"Utley's going to third and Marlon Byrd runs hard so that was the best play right there," Owings said. "If I just throw that ball a couple of inches to the right then we've got him. It was my fault right there."
There was enough fault to go around. McCarthy worked seven innings, allowing the two runs on seven hits and walking only one. With the loss, his record fell to 0-5.
Despite all that, he beat his own career strikeout mark by two. He'd whiffed 10 three times, but hadn't reached that mark since May 12, 2012, against Detroit when he was still with the A's.
McCarthy had four multiple strikeout innings in the game, striking out the bottom three players of the Phillies order in the seventh prior to leaving the game. It should be noted that the Phillies' seven-eight-nine hitters struck out nine of the 10 times they came to the plate on Sunday. And still, Philadelphia won the game.
"The game was big for me, I wanted to stop giving up runs," said McCarthy, who came into the game with a 6.23 ERA having allowed 25 runs with just 22 strikeouts in his first 30 1/3 innings this season. "Towards the end I knew the strikeouts were kind of piling up. When I came up through the Minor Leagues I always struck a lot of guys out and I had a running total. I felt today I was executing and was able to punch guys out. It's been a thing the last few years where I haven't been able to put guys away the way I like to."
Meanwhile, Burnett lasted eight innings, allowing just five hits, walking none and striking out eight batters of his own. The recent free-agent signee won his first game for the Phillies, evening his record at 1-1. Papelbon pitched the ninth and earned his eighth save, his second in as many days.
Burnett simply kept the D-backs -- now 2-13 at home -- off balance all afternoon, said Owings, who actually had two of his club's five hits off the veteran. The D-backs had runners in scoring position in the third, fourth, fifth and eighth, but couldn't squeeze a run home.
"There's going to be days like that when Burnett's on and he's got the breaking balls going," McCarthy said. "It's a struggle to score runs. It's fun to be part of a battle like that. I wish that we would've come out on top. Some days when there's a pitcher out there like that there isn't much you can do."
Barry M. Bloom is a national reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Boomskie on Baseball. Follow @boomskie on Twitter.


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FrontPageMagazine | Joseph Klein | Jan. 13, 2009
The United Nations has been working especially hard in recent days to bail out the Hamas terrorists from the prospect of a devastating defeat at the hands of Israel.
Hamas caused the present conflict by its unprovoked firing of hundreds of rockets deeper into Israel, targeting Israeli civilians for death and terrorizing its women and children. Hamas, not Israel, unilaterally decided against extending the six month ceasefire that had expired in mid-December 2008, which Hamas had been violating anyway. After clear warnings to stop the rocket fire which went unheeded by Hamas, Israel responded with military force in self-defense pursuant to Section 51 of the UN Charter.
Nevertheless, under pressure from the Arab bloc, the UN Security Council adopted a contemptible resolution on January 8, 2009, which calls for an "immediate" ceasefire, "leading to the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza". Hamas's provocation for the Israeli military action is not mentioned even once. There is not a word stating that the rocket attacks on the Israeli civilian population must stop completely as a condition for such withdrawal of Israeli forces. Indeed, the resolution places no onus on Hamas at all for the present situation, much less imposing any obligations on the mini-terrorist state it is running in Gaza. Although Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and would never have tolerated a Hamas-led government if it had stayed instead, the UN resolution is based on the premise that Israel still effectively controls Gaza and thus is fully responsible for the welfare of the Palestinian civilian population living under Hamas rule. This is truly a heads-Hamas-wins, tails-Israel-loses setup.
Shamefully, the United States decided to abstain, rather than use its veto power to block this one-sided, anti-Israel Security Council resolution.
The resolution emphasizes "the need to ensure sustained and regular flow of goods and people through the Gaza crossings." While calling on member states to "intensify efforts" to prevent "illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition", nothing is said about destroying the remaining tunnels built by Hamas or removing the rocket parts and other arms from the terrorists' hands that have already been smuggled into Gaza. There is no provision for an effective international monitoring force to stop any further smuggling.
The resolution "condemns all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism". Since Israel is singled out elsewhere in the resolution for its military presence in Gaza and the rocket attacks on Israeli civilians are not mentioned at all, the spin artists accusing Israel of 'crimes against humanity' will have a field day. They will interpret the resolution as condemning only Israeli violence against Palestinian civilians and equating Israel's acts of self-defense with 'state terrorism'. No accountability for using Palestinian women and children as human shields – a deliberate tactic of Islamic terrorists – is laid at Hamas's doorstep. Since Hamas is not mentioned even once in the resolution, the Islamic propagandists will surely argue that neither Hamas's assaults on Israeli civilians, or Hamas's deliberate use of civilians as human shields, were intended to be included within the definition of acts of terrorism. This fits into the Islamic fictional narrative that Hamas militants and other Islamic terrorists are not really terrorists at all – they are legitimate resistance fighters.
The resolution recognizes "the vital role played by UNRWA [United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East] in providing humanitarian and economic assistance within Gaza." It actually asks for additional contributions to UNRWA.
UNRWA runs the Palestinian refugee camps and UN schools in Gaza. Two schools reportedly came under fire during the present conflict by Israeli forces in response to mortar shells being fired from the schools' vicinity by Hamas militants whom Palestinian residents were said to have observed in the area. Nevertheless, Israel has received all of the blame for the ensuing civilian casualties caused by Hamas's deliberate use of Palestinian women and children as human shields.
UNRWA itself is not an innocent bystander. In the past UNRWA has allowed the Palestinian refugee camps that it was administering to be used as bases for small-arms factories, explosives laboratories, and arms caches. It has also allowed UN vehicles to be used to transport arms, explosives, and terrorists to their target locations. Terrorist organizations have been found to actively use UNRWA offices and schools to conduct their terrorist activities.
Indeed, in November 2007, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke out against a rocket attack aimed at Israel that was launched from a school in the Gaza Strip run by the United Nations agency tasked with assisting Palestinian refugees. According to a UN News Centre report at the time, "Palestinian militants entered the school while it was empty and then fired rockets from the compound."
History is repeating itself. Hamas has followed its customary modus operandi during this conflict, using UN schools as safe houses from which to launch some of its attacks, while UNRWA officials tacitly approved or looked the other way. The UN has responded in a Pavlovian fashion to Israel's military retaliation, ignoring its own findings from a little over a year ago concerning the militants' use of a UN school as a place from which to fire rockets. Instead, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navanethem Pillay and other UN officials have rushed in to blame Israel for the civilian casualties at the UN schools and everywhere else in Gaza, allowing Hamas to reap a propaganda windfall from the images of dead and wounded Palestinian civilians whom it had put in harm's way in the first place.
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Evolectronica, which is all about breeding electronic music. That's right, breeding as in breeding dogs, cats or horses. How does it work? We start by building audio loops from randomly chosen sounds and effects. We stream the loops over the internet to your audio player. When you feel like it, you tell us which loops you like or don't like. The good loops get more chances to reproduce and make baby loops. We stream the baby loops to you and... you guessed it, the music just gets better and better.
Of course, like natural evolution, it takes time for real beauty to emerge. We need real humans to judge the quality of the music, because computers can't do that yet (and would you want them to?). Everything has to be listened to by a real person, but only the clinically insane would listen for hours and hours on end. That's why we built Evolectronica as a communal music making experience, so that you can come and go as you please. It doesn't matter how many loops you rate or how long you listen for. You can do something else at the same time — in fact, we strongly recommend it! We guarantee that each time you visit you'll hear something totally new and exciting.
We stream several channels simultaneously and we'll try to have a mixture of primordial soup and highly evolved music available at any one time. Each channel page has an "evolutionary history" section where you can hear a kind of time-lapse summary of how the music evolved. When it's time to retire a channel and start afresh, we'll archive the old channels for posterity.
Join the community - become an Evolectronican today! Then you'll be able to post your thoughts on the site and maybe feature in the Hall of Fame.


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Bauer's collection of gear for 2013 introduced a plethora of new technology and features that was introduced across three different families of equipment. The Nexus line came aboard with the well-established Vapor and Supreme lines.
Bauer has always been a personal favorite of mine, particularly when it came to protective equipment. I haven't upgraded my protective gear in a while, but there hasn't been much need to do so. I've been very pleased with my shoulder pads and pants which are both from the Supreme line.
The new Supreme NXG line leads Bauer's collection of gear designed to provided maximum coverage with a full anatomic fit. Bauer's basic approach for their most recent collection was to provide a full anatomic line (Supreme), tapered or gradually anatomic collection (Vapor) and a line with a more traditional fit (Nexus).
With the Supreme NXG line, Bauer has built their deepest line (four models to choose from) with many of the design features that stand out to me when I'm shopping for new equipment. For me, protective equipment like shoulder pads and shin guards are more comfortable when they provide a slim, snug fit. This attracts me to anatomically designed gear that moves in unison with your body.
The Supreme shoulder pads come complete with a soft-shell shoulder cap (as is the mandate in the NHL) constructed with Bauer's Vent Armor Foam. This is a design feature that actually softens impacts by 25% when compared to the former TotalOne model.
Vent Armor Foam is actually prevalent throughout the Supreme line – it is used on the One.8 line as well – and is a feature developed to keep a player cool while adding a firm layer of padding in vital locations. Bauer has also made sure to place Poron XRD padding in vital areas on each piece of equipment in the line.
The Poron XRD is the revolutionary padding that has made the RE-AKT helmet such a revolutionary model. While the Poron XRD padding can only be found on the NXG models, it adds high-impact protection and energy absorption in vital areas like the elbow, knee and sternum.
Looking at the entire line it is clear that the key design features weren't left off any of the models – including the One.8, One.6 and One.4. The elbow pads and shin guards aren't as revolutionary to me as the shoulder pads appear to be.
While the shin pads anatomical design offer a terrific mix of protection and comfort, the change isn't as significant as in the shoulder pad unit. With fully adjustable bicep guards (which can be a pain if they don't fit properly) and integrated Vent Armor padding in a number of areas, the Supreme NXG shoulder pad is truly the elite piece of gear in this line.
Even going beyond the NXG collection, the "price point" models are also brimming with new technology. The main absentees in the rest of the line is the Poron XRD and Vent Armor Foam. Outside of those main two, the rest of the .8 gear and beyond is right on par with the anatomical protection built for the NXG pads.
As someone who is in the line for a new pair of shin guards and potentially some elbow pads, I think the NXG line may be my first stop when I go into Great Skate this summer.


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Last week, PNC Wealth Management (ticker: PNC) hosted a low-key event entitled "Retirement & Investing: What's Trending in 2013." At the end of the day, the private bank's chief investment strategist, Bill Stone, handed us a fifty trillion dollar Zimbabwe note. "Good luck buying a coffee on the way back to the office," he joked. A bit hokey, maybe, but the point got through–inflation will steadily erode even the most sizable of nest eggs.
The U.S. is no Zimbabwe, of course. The battered African country's inflation rate peaked at an unfathomable 89.7 sextillion percent, before it abandoned the Zimbabwe dollar in 2009. "Inflation doesn't have to be out of control to erode you," says Stone. "It slowly chips away at you." So even with the U.S.'s inflation rate of 2%, a $5 million retirement fund would, assuming it was parked in cash, be reduced to $3.4 million in just 20 years.
The PNC executives talked a lot about "financial repression." Two headwinds are wrapped up in the meaning of that phrase. First, in our low interest rate environment, the 10-year Treasury is just above the current rate of inflation, currently 2.9% versus 2% respectively. So if you're parking your assets in Treasurys as a portfolio ballast, you're likely getting over time negative returns or eking out, at best, a marginally positive return. Additionally, anyone with exposure to long-duration bonds will be hurt as interest rates continue to rise.
"What do you care about in retirement? You care about purchasing power," says Stone. "So you have to think about the fact that, if you invest too conservatively today, it's more than challenging to earn real returns [in retirement]." Furthermore, with inflation risk and interest rate risk an ever-present danger, fixed income, generally, looks like a more precarious bet, as opposed to its reassuring historic performance.
Stone and his team are quick to add that no investor should count bonds out entirely, as part of an overall asset allocation, but they are saying, investors should be much more selective with their fixed income holdings. Specifically, Stone suggests investors consider a few "quasi-alternatives" to round-out their fixed income portfolio. That includes leveraged loans, which are loans originated by banks made to large corporate issuers of less-than-investment-grade quality. Such loans are adjustable-rate and short-term by nature, "so they will likely benefit from rising interest rates." It should be noted, however, that our Barron'scolleague Michael Aneiro has also covered the play and expressed some skepticism.
But Stone further suggests a few funds executing Absolute-Return-Oriented Fixed-Income strategies, a mouthful , but these fixed income funds have a broader mandate to manage duration, with the added benefit of minimizing volatility. Select such funds carefully because what these products do, essentially, is invest across high-yield credit and use derivatives to hedge exposure to interest rates, the very plays which helped bring financial institutions to their knees in 2008. (For more on this, check out this week's Penta cover, "Seeking Higher Returns".
Stone in particular likes the Driehaus Active Income Fund (LCMAX), Pimco Unconstrained (PUBAX) and BlackRock Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (BASIX).
The folks at PNC talked a lot about investor psychology, about identifying goals and funding lifestyle, but, if you stripped out all the distractions, the core discussion boiled down to the push-and-pull between long-term investing and short-term investing. When planning for retirement, it's important not to get caught up in the short-term buzz, says PNC CIO Jim Dunigan, because focusing on Syria or the Fed clouds your judgment. "I have clients that say, 'Call me when yields get to 4.5%,'" Dunigan says. "Or they walk into my office for the first time with a 35% allocation to MLPs."
More and more investors are either reaching for yield or waiting for rates to go up, both of which are dangerous plays, Dunigan says. He argues that folks must identify a comfortable retirement time horizon, then tailor their asset allocations to those needs. When first meeting a client, he asks, "Is it more important that your $5 million retirement portfolio get to $6 million or do you want to prevent it from falling to $4.5 million?' The execution on either of those mentalities would require a completely different investment strategy and exposure to risk."
Regardless of where an investor stands on Dunigan's risk continuum, he believes the current environment warrants exposure to large-cap dividend growers, a play that has been deeply popular since 2009. Consider the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, he says, as tracked by the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY). It's an index of large-cap, blue chip companies in the S&P 500 that have increased their dividends every year for at least 25 years. These companies are historically defensive in difficult times and generate an income stream that provides downside protection.
Over the past ten years, the index has outperformed the returns of the S&P 500, 170% versus 100% respectively. Plus, most of these large-cap plays have exposure to emerging markets, Dunigan says, so they are hardwired to global economic growth. "Where they're doing business is more important than where they're headquartered." That, too, is wise but not entirely novel advice. Some might even say such popular stocks have become too expensive.
Specifically, however, he likes companies like Coca-Cola (KO), General Electric (GE) and McDonald's (MCD), which generate more than half their revenues abroad and all yield about 3% or more. The forward p/e for Coca-Cola is 17, for GE is 13, and for McDonald's is 16 versus the S&P 500 at 14.
The strategy seems sensible, and yet, Dunigan says, calming folks down and explaining something so simple is still a challenge. "The scars from the financial turmoil are deep and lasting," Dunigan says. "Investors have this overwhelming fear of losing money which impacts their decision making."
Although some of these scars were inflicted on clients by the wealth management industry itself, and it's now understandable why every whiff of trouble makes clients jumpy, focusing on the long-term may be the only mantra that induces a kind of calm.


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Apevia X-QPack 2 Aluminum Case
SSHH! Now if you promise not to tell, I'll let you in on a secret. Like any enthusiast, when we build or upgrade our systems, either our wives or girlfriends get the hand-me-downs. Even though we feel that we are being generous, they still consider it a second hand product. It doesn't matter that the case, video card or processor you gave her was once the best on the market, it's still a hand-me-down. Well I found a solution to the problem. Apevia (formally Aspire) is producing a compact case called the X-QPack 2 and it comes in an assortment of different colors. Including pink. So what I did was, I got the pretty pink case, just for her. Now since she has something that she can relate to and it is hers, I could basically replace any component and not have to deal with the "all you give me are hand-me-downs" effect.
"Apevia Corporation is the new name for Aspire International Corporation which was established in March 1999. Due to lots of confusions between Aspire cases, Acer's Aspire Notebook systems and Aspire Credit Cards, it was decided to change the name to Apevia Corporation in June 2006. With the strategy of standing behind its customers to ensure their total satisfaction, Apevia has been working closely with its customers and focusing on providing innovative quality PC products and services to keep up with the fast changing market. Today, Apevia is one of industry leaders for PC chassis."
Closer Look:
I guess I left the garage door open the day the case was delivered, as the UPS driver placed it on top of the washing machine, so it was the first thing I saw when I walked out of the garage door. My first impression was "wow, this is small". Then I picked it up expecting something a little heavier and almost flung the case right out of my hand. The case and packaging was a total of ten pounds. Nonetheless, the packaging did catch my eye. The two broad sides of the package have pictures of people enjoying the concept of the case and the bottom right hand corner actually shows that the case can be transported easily by its handle.
On the narrow sides of the package, you will find the the features of what is inside and the opposite side contains pictures of the different colors the case comes in. Of course, this one is Pink.