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People are annoyed with Facebook, and are trying to run away from social networking. All thanks to the Facebook's news feed revamp, which has left users not just annoyed, but also confused and clueless. When I logged in to Facebook today, I saw a boatload of friends posting and commenting, Hate the new design", "dislike news feed", "complicated", "Facebook gets shitter" and more such messages.
Facebook rolled out some major changes to the news feed, which breaks it down into two columns – top stories and recent posts, and also included a new ticker-like column with live updates from friends on the right-had side of the page. These changes come only one week after Facebook announced improved friend list capabilities.
Certainly these changes could have served as improvementsto the social network only if Facebook had made it simple and easy to understand. The changes have drawn a lot of complaints as users on Facebook are creating pages and communities to express their annoyance, with most of the complaints pertaining to "confusion" and messy.
Facebook has implemented the new Ticker, which basically emulates Twitter's real-time messages and updates. Earlier in August, Facebook was testing this feature, and rolled it out to an increasing number of users. However, the feedback that Facebook got was negative, but looks like it hasn't taken it seriously, and has gone ahead to make it available to all users. Nevertheless, you can hide the ticker or the sidebar by simply clicking the arrow button on the bottom-right corner of the page.
The other feature that came along was the Lists, inspired from Google+ Circles, which lets you organize your friends into groups like Family, Colleagues, Close Friends, and so on. It is also planning to roll out the Subscribebutton, similar to Twitter, which will allow you to –
- Choose what you see from people in News Feed
- Hear from people, even if you're not friends
- Let people hear from you, even if you're not friends
From the above new features, it looks like Facebook is trying to integrate features from other networking sites. This however isn't really a good step taken by Facebook, but rather an unwantedone. Users are already annoyed with the new features, and finding ways to disable it or get back to old Facebook news feed.
A trick that allowed users to get back the old news feed was by changing the preferred language to English (UK). However, a fix is being rolled out by Facebook and this trick is not working anymore. Although Facebook users are annoyed about the new features, it still continues to grow, with over 750 million users and counting. Recently, Facebook crossed the 1 trillion page views mark, making it the first ever website to cross the milestone.


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It's relatively easy to set up and use and the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router can distribute an internet connection over its 802.11n wireless access point or through its 10/100 Ethernet switch. It even has a USB port that you can use to share the contents of an external hard drive across your network.
For users who don't want a separate router and ADSL2+ modem, the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router (F5D8635UK4A) is ideal: you don't have to figure out how to get multiple devices to work together. You can use the setup CD to configure the router, which will go through the wireless and ISP settings. However, it kept telling us our ISP details were wrong. We used the web interface to make sure everything was correct.
The web interface has a decent layout so that you can easily set up the wireless network and security settings - albeit from different pages. We recommend doing this step before entering your ISP details for your internet connection. We were up and running with the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router in a few minutes. You can save a bit of time and effort when setting up a wireless network if your devices support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). With WPS, you don't have to go into the web interface to configure the wireless network, you can just press the WPS button that's located on the front panel of the router.
We like the addition of 'connect' and 'disconnect' buttons for the internet, which are located on the main page of the web interface, as this is something that has been missing from previous Belkin routers. In the past, you just had to rely on the router to connect to your ISP automatically, but the addition of a connect buttons gives you more reassurance that it is actually performing that task. One thing that annoyed us though was the connection status, which sometimes did not update and showed the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router as being disconnected when it wasn't.
The Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router's download speed peaked at around 17 megabits per second (Mbps), and its upload speed was 1Mbps. Both of these are very good results on our line. We're quite close to the phone exchange in our area, so the speed you receive at your dwelling will vary, perhaps by a great margin. However, compared to other modems we've tested, the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router stacks up well.
A 2.4GHz wireless access point is built into the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router, and it managed to produce good speed at a long range during our tests. From 15m away, it recorded a file transfer speed of 4.16 megabytes per second (MBps), which is 0.79MBps faster than the Belkin Double N+ wireless router in the same test. However, from close range, the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router was a pinch slower: 5.53MBps compared to 5.96MBps for the Double N+ router. Overall though, the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router is primed to give reliable 802.11n coverage in a typical-sized apartment or small home.
For gaming, BitTorrent and any other applications that require you to forward ports, you can set this up under the 'Virtual Servers' heading. You can either select an application from the long drop-down list, which will enter the port number for you automatically, or you can enter the port number manually. In both instances you'll have to enter the IP address of the machine you want the port to be forwarded to, so it's best to set up your computers with static IP addresses.
There is an option to filter content on specific machines either by URL keywords or complete URLs. However, this didn't work very well during our tests. In fact, it didn't work at all as all the words and URLs were still accessible on the test PC that was meant to be filtered.
A port on the back of the Belkin N+ Wireless Modem Router allows you to plug in a USB key or external hard drive and share it across your network. To use this USB port, you must first install the Belkin Storage Manager software on all the computers that will require access to connected keys or drives. There is no way to manage connected storage devices via the router's web interface. Once the software is installed, it will need to run in the background and when a drive is connected to the router it will show up as the 'Z' drive in My Computer.
Multiple users can access the same drive simultaneously, but transfer speeds will vary depending on the speed of the drive itself and whether you're using the wireless or wired network. Copying a video off a USB stick from 10m away using Wi-Fi recorded an average transfer speed of 2.18MBps, which is much better result than we got with the Belkin N+ Wireless Storage Router, and it means you'll quickly be able to copy files to and from the network storage location.
Any PC that has the Storage Manager software installed can read and write to an attached drive. We wish the interface for the Storage Manager software was better. One gripe we have is that is if you unmount the connected drive from your computer, there is no way to remount it unless you unplug and then plug in the attached device to the router again.
With good wireless range, the ability to share USB devices across multiple computers, and a relatively pain-free set up procedure, the Belkin N+ Wireless ADSL2+ Modem-Router (with USB Storage Port) is worth considering. We had a couple of problems with its filtering feature and the automatic setup, but apart from that it was stable and produced good speed during our tests.

subset: commoncrawl


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Simpson-Bowles comeback
Simpson and Bowles are having another national moment.
Fifty-eight million Americans saw President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney tangle over former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles's deficit reduction plan. "Simpson-Bowles" was the most popular Google search during the 90-minute debate.
Story Continued Below
But behind the scenes, the two deficit hawks are enjoying more than just a search engine moment. The pair is heading to Virginia's Mount Vernon next week to meet with the new bipartisan Senate "Gang of Eight" in an effort to hash out a major deficit and tax package.
"Wherever they want us, we go," Simpson told POLITICO in Denver this week. "Whenever they invite us, Erskine and I show up. I admire them, cherish their good thinking. Somebody ought to be supporting them."
The 81-year-old Simpson added, "You better hope and pray … that the Gang of Eight or the Gang of 80 is putting your country back together in a fiscally responsible matter."
Inside the Capitol, there's an increasing recognition that any major deficit deal will at least need the imprimatur of Simpson and Bowles in order to win over votes from both sides of the aisle.
Along with former Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), they've met with Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), upwards of half the Senate, major columnists and business leaders seeking support for a massive deficit compromise inspired by the original Simpson-Bowles framework.
Four weeks ago, the trio huddled with more than 30 senators about the legislative road map to get a big deficit package. The meeting was interrupted by three Senate votes. After casting votes on the Senate floor, all the lawmakers came back, Gregg told POLITICO. All parties recognize that the original Simpson Bowles plan is a nonstarter.
"I do think it's the outline of a legitimate plan," Gregg said of the original Simpson-Bowles plan. "It's not the final plan or close to the final plan. It's the concept."
Of course, Simpson and Bowles' plan — crafted at the behest of the president — isn't law for a reason. It was too liberal for some, too conservative for others. Cobbling together a plan that starts to close the deficit, while garnering enough support from both sides, will take adjustments.
Last time, liberals thought too much was cut from entitlements and federal spending, while conservatives thought the program raised too much revenue.
Now, Simpson and Bowles are looking to retool their deficit reduction package to decrease the amount of revenue it raises — to address those concerns from the right regarding tax increases. And they're zoning in on increased tweaks to health care programs and want to bolster social safety net protections for low-income Americans — to address concerns from the left.


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Little Kid Dances Like Michael Jackson When 'Thriller' Is Played at Seattle Mariners Game [VIDEO]
[/caption]The most exciting thing that happened at a recent Seattle Mariners' game took place between innings, when Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' was played to entertain the crowd.
The JumboTron camera operator found a little boy enthusiastically dancing to the classic hit, and the youngster's moves were so strong and Jackson-like that they kept his routine up on the big screen for the whole break.
Check out below the video that thrilled the crowd and would have made the late King of Pop proud.


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Get excited about reading again with fun and interesting tips from our experts, including The M.D., our dietitians, and our fitness expert. In our health library, you will find all of the information you need to achieve your goals of making a healthy lifestyle change. So, start reading and start losing!
Success Stories
Here we celebrate success and share stories! Weight loss is about confidence, and knowing that others have accomplished the same task you've set out to conquer can be powerful motivation to reach your goal.
At bistroMD, we know how many of our clients have struggled with weight loss issues their entire lives. It can be frustrating to find a diet plan that suits your special health needs, and that offers you great-tasting food with convenient delivery to your door.
We pride ourselves on being able to give you these options, and we applaud those who have been successful in their quest to lose weight and keep it off.
Here is Linda's Story:
"I couldn't understand why I was gaining weight because I hardly ate anything. I do have a thyroid problem, but that was under control. Then I found bistroMD. I started on their full plan and within months, I went from a size 8 to a size 2. I have maintained my weight of 127 lbs. for almost two years now."
"Through the informative information given to me by the staff of bistroMD, I found out that I was gaining weight because I didn't know proper eating. I needed to eat three meals a day plus healthy snacks in between meals if I were hungry. This totally amazed me! I was eating so much delicious food, and losing weight!"
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"Yes, I'm still on my bistroMD plan and maintaining the same weight! I'm eating healthy, and because of that, I am able to walk and exercise daily without tiring. I feel ten years younger, and I know what proper eating has done for me.
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Simply answer a few questions so we can figure out your weight loss goals and provide solutions for a lighter, healthier you. Our weight loss meal plans are designed to help real people achieve real and lasting success.
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First post on the forum!
Just a question lads what baitrunner do you use for deadbaiting ? I was looking Shimanos as I've used them in the past and have served well! I'd be fishing rivers to medium lakes and I'm thinking an 8000 would suit.. what models would you suggest? I was looking at the x aeros.. OC baitrunner..


text: Matching Gifts Remind your sponsors to check with their Human Resources Department where they work to see if they have a matching gift program. A great way to do this is in your fundraising letter and/or email when you ask for a contribution and also in your thank you message after you have received a gift. About Matching Gifts Matching gifts are a great way to double your fundraising efforts and increase the impact of your donors' gifts. By taking advantage of a company's matching gift benefit, you may be able to double or even triple the amount of a contribution. If an employee of a company that participates in matching gifts program makes a gift to your fundraising efforts, their company will also "match" their employees' gift to Mass. Eye and Ear (thus doubling your fundraising). Guidelines Each company has its own guidelines for employees, spouses, retirees, and widows/widowers. The company may have certain qualifications for making contributions. Be sure that the company matches gifts to health care institutions and specifically Mass. Eye and Ear. If those qualifications are met, the company will mail a matching gift in directly. Procedures Most corporate procedures are simple: After a donation has been made, request a Matching Form from your company's Human Resources Department. Complete and submit the form to Mass. Eye and Ear. Mass. Eye and Ear will verify the completed form and return it to the company. Once the contribution and form has been verified by Mass. Eye and Ear, the matching gift amount will be added towards your fundraising total. You do not have to wait for Mass. Eye and Ear to receive the company's check. You will be emailed by a member of the Mass. Eye and Ear team once your matching gift amount has been counted towards your fundraising total and uploaded to your Crowdrise page. The company issues a matching gift contribution to Mass. Eye and Ear. Many times, checks are cut only quarterly. Contact Us Today! 617-523-7900


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Angry lot: People chanting slogans during a rally demanding Park step down, in central Seoul. — Reuters
SEOUL: South Korean President Park Geun-hye faced mounting calls to step down as a record number of people at a massive rally criticised her as unfit to rule over allegations she allowed a friend to meddle in state affairs and wield influence.
The protest rally in downtown Seoul drew more than half a million people, according to its organisers, many of whom were ordinary citizens who packed the main streets running through the city centre including a 12-lane thoroughfare.
They came with family, and students and young parents pushing strollers were among the crowd as were people in wheelchairs and crutches, in a sharp contrast from some previous rallies often dominated by militant unions and civic groups that had turned violent and clashed with police.
They chanted "Step down, step down, you must step down."
"Of course she must step down," Jung Sun-hee, a 42-year-old homemaker who attended the rally with her husband and two pre-teen daughters, said.
"I believe we need a new person to break through this situation, who will be better than this one."
The crowd has been given a go-ahead by the court to march later in the evening to within a few blocks of the presidential Blue House compound, which had been previously disallowed by the police, citing security reasons.
It was the third weekend protest rally since Park's first public apology on Oct 25 where she admitted she had sought the advice of her friend, Choi Soon-sil, which only fuelled public anger and suspicion over the secret confidant who apparently held no official government position.
Choi Soon-sil mobbed by reporters
Another apology by Park and an offer to work with the parliamentary opposition to form a new Cabinet and relinquish some power failed to calm public anger, prompting her opponents to say she did not grasp the gravity of the crisis at hand.
Members of main opposition parties joined the rally calling on Park to resign, indicating there was a growing opinion in parliament to take action to remove her from power, although there was no formal move yet to launch impeachment proceedings. — Reuters
South Korea's president said tragedy and "loneliness" drove her to rely on a shadowy female confidante
Since I arrived in the presidential office, I've lived a lonely life.
In a deeply contrite apology, South Korean president Park Geun-hye said today (Nov. 4) she alone was responsible for the current scandal engulfing her presidency, and denied allegations that she was involved with a cult or had performed shamanistic rituals at the presidential Blue House.
South Korea has been rocked by the revelation that Choi Soon-sil, the daughter of a Christian cult leader, had been advising the president on policy matters, editing her speeches (without holding any office), and leveraging their close relationship for influence and personal gain. Choi is also said to have a spiritual hold over the president and has given her advice based on mystical beliefs, including on auspicious colors to wear.
Park's approval rating has plunged to 5% (link in Korean) according to the latest Gallup poll—a record low for a South Korean president and breaching the 6% rating of president Kim Young-sam during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. Park offered a deeply emotional apology that referenced her own tragic upbringing. During it, the president did not have her usual confident bearing, and instead looked small, dejected, and diminished.
"Living on my own, I had no one to help me with the many private affairs that needed taking care of, so I turned to Choi Soon-sil, whom I have known a long time for help," Park said, adding that it was the "loneliness" she felt after cutting ties with her remaining family that drove her to lean on Choi. Park, who has never married, said she distanced herself from her remaining family after she became president "in case any untoward thing were to happen."
"[Choi] was the person that stood by me during my hardest times, so I had my guard down. Looking back, I now see this all came about because I trusted our relationship and did not scrutinize things carefully," Park added.
Choi Soon-sil's father was extremely close to Park's father, the dictator Park Chung-hee–who presided over a rapid economic boom that lifted millions of Koreans out of poverty. Park Chung-hee was assassinated by his bodyguard in 1979 when Park Geun-hye was 27. Her mother died in a previous assassination attempt on her husband. Because of these events, the current president cuts a deeply tragic figure in Korea, and there is still sympathy for her.
Kim Sun-chul, an assistant professor of Korean studies at Emory University in Georgia, said that since both her parents were killed when she was young, Park Geun-hye "doesn't have much confidence in herself… and didn't have much of a social life."
"There are even parts I can understand. The daughter of a president and an ordinary university student, it's not a typical meeting, fate, to become friends and stay friends for 40 years, so the two of you must have leaned on each other and helped one another materially," veteran Korean news anchor Kim Joo-ha said in a letter she read on TV in October (link in Korean). Kim later faced harsh criticism and harassment for her letter, for implying that the president was a victim.
Sympathy for Park is strongest among the elderly in Korea, although even there it is not widespread. Park has a 13% approval rating among people aged 60 and above, the Gallup poll found.
"The older generation lived through the brutal assassination of her parents," said Katharine Moon, a professor of political science at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. "It just became part of their daily life, the tragedy that that family went through… it's not possible for some of the older generation to separate Park Geun-hye and her life from the tragedy that befell her." - http://qz.com/
US missile system in South Korea in 8-10 months
Related posts:
South Koreans protest US Terminal High Altitude Area ...
Jul 22, 2016 ... More than 2,000 people from Seongju county, where one THAAD battery will be deployed, gathered at a square in Seoul for a rally on ...
Aug 24, 2016 ... At a time when Beijing and Seoul are in a tug of war on the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile ...


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Number 23 soundtrack contest. You can win the Soundtrack from New Line Records.
Contest open to U.S. residents
How can I win:
Post a reply in this thread with the text:
Number 23 Soundtrack
A random drawing will decide the winners. Winners will be notified by e-mail (at the e-mail address you registered on JCO). Prize winner(s) must claim their prize within 7 days of the contests end date or the prize will be awarded to another.
CONTEST VALID UNTIL: Sunday March 4, 2007
Prize: Three (3) Soundtracks


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The EGE wrote:The 2017-2021 5-year plan, approved by the MassDOT board last month, allocates full funding for Blue Hill Ave. $3M in FY 2017, then $22M over FY2018-FY2021. That puts the smart money on the opening date being sometime in 2020.
BOSTON -- The MBTA's Fiscal and Management Control Board (FMCB) today approved a recommendation of MBTA managers to execute a contract for construction of the brand new Blue Hill Avenue Commuter Rail Station between Blue Hill Avenue (Route 28) and Cummins Highway on the Fairmount Line. The contract will be executed with McCourt Construction Company for $16.97 million.
danib62 wrote:I just don't see the logic in spending that much on a station that is a quarter mile from the high speed line. $16.97 mil probably buys you a decent amount of maintenance work on the PCC fleet...
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April 13, 2008
San Luis Obispo, Calif. -
The UC Santa Barbara women's tennis team played in its final match this past afternoon at Cal Poly, losing to the Mustangs 7-0. The Gauchos conclude the regular season finishing 9-13 overall, and 4-4 in the Big West.
The Gauchos managed only one win in doubles play, as Jill Damion and Asagi Onaga defeated the Mustangs duo of Shannon Brady and Maria Malec 8-5. At the No. 1 doubles slot, No. 52 ranked Brittany Blalock and Steffi Wong came back to edge Marta Simic and Charlotte Scatliffe 9-8, with an 11-9 tiebreaker.
In singles, Cal Poly grabbed all six singles matches. The only match that went to three sets was at No. 4. Diane Filip won the first set 6-3, then Tova Hausman beat Filip 7-5 in the second. Filip outlasted Hausman in the third 11-9.
The Gauchos return to action April 25, at the Big West Tournament in Indian Wells, Calif.
Cal Poly 7, UC Santa Barbara 0
Complete results listed below.
Blalock/Wong (CP) def. Simic/Scatliffe (UCSB) 9-8 (11-9)
Damion/Onaga (UCSB) def. Brady/Malec (CP) 8-5
Filip/Markhoff (CP) def. Hausman/Kausen 8-4
Brittany Blalock (CP) def. Marta Simic (UCSB) 7-6, 6-3
Steffi Wong (CP) def. Jill Damion (UCSB) 7-5, 6-3
Whitney Peterson def. Asagi Onaga (UCSB) 6-3, 6-3
Diane Filip (CP) def. Tova Hausman (UCSB) 6-3, 5-7, 11-9
Amy Markhoff (CP) def. Charlotte Scatliffe (UCSB) 6-3, 6-2
Shannon Brady (CP) def. Brittany Kausen (UCSB) 6-3, 6-3


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Anura, also called Salientia, one of the major extant orders of the class Amphibia. It includes the frogs and toads, which, because of their wide distribution, are known by most people around the world. The name frog is commonly applied to those forms with long legs and smooth, mucus-covered skins, toad being used for a variety of robust, short-legged anurans, especially those with rough skins. The name toad is applied so unevenly that one member of a family may be called a toad and a closely related member a frog. The familiar members of the family Bufonidae may be distinguished as "true toads." In this article, frog is applied generally to members of the Anura and toad to those for which it has traditionally been used. There are roughly 5,400 species of living anurans.
Frogs are used as teaching tools from grade school through college. One of the first biology lessons many children receive is through the rearing of the larvae, known as tadpoles or pollywogs, in science classes. Students become familiar with frog anatomy and embryology in biology courses. People in various parts of the world eat frog legs, and some kinds of toads are used in insect control. Certain South American Indians use the poisonous secretions of some kinds of frogs for poison arrows and darts (see poison frog), and now biochemists are studying the possible medical uses of the constituents of the poison. The biologist interested in evolution finds a vast array of interesting and often perplexing problems in the study of frogs, such as the relatively sudden decline of many frog species since the late 20th century.
General features
Size range and diversity of structure
Although all frogs are readily recognizable, there are great varieties of sizes and of structural modifications. Many frogs are tiny animals; perhaps the smallest is the Brazilian Psyllophryne didactyla, adults of which measure 9.8 mm (0.4 inch) or less in body length (with legs drawn in), whereas the West African goliath frog, Conraua goliath, has a body length of nearly 300 mm (12 inches). Many anurans have smooth, moist skins. Toads of the genus Bufo are familiar as "warty" amphibians, the skin being highly glandular and covered with tubercles (small, round nodules). Frogs of many other families have rough, tubercular skins, usually an adaptation for life in the less humid environments. The opposite extreme is found in the small arboreal (tree-dwelling) frogs of the tropical American family Centrolenidae, in which the skin on the underside is thin and transparent, and the heart and viscera can be seen through the skin. In most species, cutaneous gas exchange (that is, breathing through the skin) supplements the oxygen taken in by the lungs; however, the lungless Barbourula kalimantanensis of Borneo obtains all its oxygen through its skin.
Most frogs move by leaping. The long and powerful hind limbs are straightened rapidly from the crouching position, propelling the frog through the air. Many arboreal frogs—especially members of the families Hylidae, Rhacophoridae, Centrolenidae, and others—have adhesive disks on the ends of the fingers and toes and leap from branch to branch or from leaf to leaf (see tree frog). The families Bufonidae, Rhinophrynidae, and Microhylidae and certain burrowing species in other families have relatively short hind limbs and move forward by series of short hops. Some bufonids actually walk instead of hop. Highly modified members of the hylid subfamily Phyllomedusinae have opposable digits on the hands and feet and walk slowly along branches, deliberately grasping the branch in the manner of tiny lemurs. Many kinds of frogs have membranous webbing between the fingers and toes; in the aquatic species, the webbing on the feet aids in swimming. The extreme in this specialization is seen in the aquatic family Pipidae. Members of that family normally never leave the water. In regions of the Earth subjected to long dry periods, frogs must seek cover to avoid desiccation; they have behavioral and structural adaptations to conserve water.
Although many frogs are unimpressively coloured, some species are brilliantly marked. The most common colours are brown, gray, green, and yellow. Uniformly coloured frogs are the exception rather than the rule. The markings of a frog may seem bold when observed out of the natural habitat, but they usually are concealing or visually disruptive when the frog is in its environment (see below coloration).
Distribution and abundance
Because of their morphological and physiological adaptations, frogs are able to inhabit most regions of the world except the extremely cold landmasses at high latitudes and some oceanic islands that they have been unable to colonize because of the barriers provided by salt water. Frogs live in desert regions below sea level and in montane areas up to elevations above 4,560 metres (15,000 feet). Some members of the genus Rana live north of the Arctic Circle. Although widely distributed on Earth, frogs are most diverse and abundant in the tropics, and five or six of the 28 families are restricted to the tropics. In most temperate areas of the world, the number of species of frogs at any one locality is usually fewer than 10, but in the tropics, especially in rainforests, the number of species is much greater. At one locality in the upper Amazon basin in eastern Ecuador, 83 species are known to occur, about the same number as is known for all of the United States.
In a complex environment such as a tropical rainforest, the large number of species of frogs partition the environmental resources in a variety of ways. In the humid tropics, frogs can be active throughout the year, but many species are seasonal in their breeding activity. Various kinds of sites and different seasons are used for calling and egg laying; such temporal and spatial separation avoids interspecific competition. Frogs feed mostly on insects and other invertebrates, and the abundance of food in tropical rainforests probably places no competitive restrictions on this aspect of environmental resources. Some large species eat vertebrates, including small rodents and other frogs.
Natural history
Breeding behaviour
The breeding behaviour is one of the most distinctive attributes of the Anura. Because the eggs can develop only under moist conditions, most frogs place their eggs in bodies of fresh water. Many species congregate in large numbers at temporary pools for short breeding seasons. Others breed along the mountain streams where they live year-round. In the latter species and in those that breed on land, there is no great concentration of breeding individuals at one place. In all cases, the mating call produced by the male attracts females to the breeding site. It has been observed in the field and in the laboratory that the females can discriminate between mating calls of their own species and those of other species. At a communal breeding site, such as a pond, swamp, or stream, differences in specific calling sites of the males help the frogs to maintain their identities (see Sidebar: Singing a Different Tune: Intraspecific Competition in Tungara Frogs). Differences in mating calls, however, constitute the principal premating isolating mechanism that prevents hybridization of closely related species living in the same area and breeding at the same time and place. Frogs have rather simple vocal cords, in most species a pair of slits in the floor of the mouth opening into a vocal pouch. Air is forced from the lungs over the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate and thus produce sound of a given pitch and pulsation. The air passes into the vocal pouch, which, when inflated, acts as a resonating chamber emphasizing the same frequency or one of its harmonics. In this manner, different kinds of frogs produce different calls.
Most frogs are considered to be placid animals, but recent observations have shown that some species exhibit aggressive behaviours, especially at breeding time. Male bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and green frogs (Rana clamitans) defend calling territories against intrusion by other males by kicking, bumping, and biting. The South American nest-building hylid, Hyla faber, has a long, sharp spine on the thumb with which males wound each other when wrestling. The small Central American Dendrobates pumilio calls from the leaves of herbaceous plants. Intrusion into a territory of one calling male by another results in a wrestling match that terminates only after one male has been thrown off the leaf. Males of the Central American dendrobatid Colostethus inguinalis have calling sites on boulders in streams. The intrusion by another male results in the resident uttering a territorial call, and, if the intruder does not leave, the resident charges him, attempting to butt him off the boulder. Females of the Venezuelan C. trinitatus wrestle in defense of territories in streambeds.
Females move toward and locate calling males. Once the male clasps the female in a copulatory embrace called amplexus, she selects the site for depositing the eggs. In the more primitive frogs (the families Ascaphidae, Leiopelmatidae, Bombinatoridae, and Discoglossidae and the mesobatrachians), the male grasps the female from above and around the waist (inguinal amplexus), whereas in the more advanced frogs (neobatrachians) the position is shifted anteriorly to the armpits (axillary amplexus). The latter position brings the cloacae of the amplectic pair into closer proximity and presumably ensures more efficient fertilization.
Egg laying and hatching
Most frogs deposit their eggs in quiet water as clumps, surface films, strings, or individual eggs. The eggs may be freely suspended in the water or attached to sticks or submerged vegetation. Some frogs lay their eggs in streams, characteristically firmly attached to the lee sides or undersides of rocks where the eggs are not subject to the current. The large pond-breeding frogs of the genus Rana and toads of the genus Bufo apparently produce more eggs than any other anurans. More than 10,000 eggs have been estimated in one clutch of the North American bullfrog, L. catesbeianus. The habit of spreading the eggs as a film on the surface of the water apparently is an adaptation for oviposition in shallow temporary pools and allows the eggs to develop in the most highly oxygenated part of the pool. This type of egg deposition is characteristic of several groups of tree frogs, family Hylidae, in the American tropics—one of which, Smilisca baudinii, is known to lay more than 3,000 eggs. Frogs breeding in cascading mountain streams lay far fewer eggs, usually no more than 200.
The problem of fertilization of eggs in rapidly flowing water has been overcome by various modifications. Some stream-breeding hylids have long cloacal tubes so that the semen can be directed onto the eggs as they emerge. Some other hylids have huge testes, which apparently produce vast quantities of sperm, helping to ensure fertilization. Males of the North American tailed frog, Ascaphus truei, have an extension of the cloaca that functions as a copulatory organ (the "tail") to introduce sperm into the female's cloaca.
Males of at least three South American species of Hyla build basinlike nests, 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 inches) wide and 2 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) deep, in the mud of riverbanks. Water seeps into the basin, providing a medium for the eggs and young. Calling, mating, and oviposition take place in the nest, and the tadpoles undergo their development in the nest.
Some bufonoid frogs in Leptodactylidae and ranoid frogs in Ranidae and other families build froth nests. The small, toadlike leptodactylids of the genus Physalaemus breed in small, shallow pools. Amplexus is axillary, and the pair floats on the water; as the female exudes the eggs, the male emits semen and kicks vigorously with his hind legs. The result is a frothy mixture of water, air, eggs, and semen, which floats on the water. This meringuelike nest is about 7.5 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) in diameter and about 5 cm (2 inches) deep. The outer surfaces exposed to the air harden and form a crust covering the moist interior in which the eggs are randomly distributed. Upon hatching, the tadpoles wriggle down through the decaying froth into the water.
From tadpole to adult
Many frogs have an aquatic, free-swimming larval stage (tadpole). After a period of growth, the tadpole undergoes metamorphosis, in which the tail is lost and limbs appear. These are only two of the most obvious changes that take place. Tadpoles have a cartilaginous skeleton, thin nonglandular skin, and a long coiled intestine; they lack jaws, lungs, and eyelids. Among the first changes that take place is the appearance of hind limb buds, which grow and develop into differentiated hind limbs, complete with toes, webbing, and tubercles (small, round nodules). Much later the forelimbs emerge through the skin of the operculum (gill covering), and the tail begins to shrink, being absorbed by the body. The mouth of the tadpole begins to change; as the horny denticles (toothlike projections) and papillae, if present, disappear, the jaws and true teeth develop. The eyelids develop, and mucous glands form in the skin. The vertebral column and limb bones ossify, and the adult digestive system differentiates as the long coiled intestine shrinks to the short, thick-walled, folded intestine of the adult.
Just how and where the changes from larva to adult take place are highly varied—a fascinating aspect of the study of frogs. The differences in modes of life history reflect varied environmental conditions. In various evolutionary lines in frogs, there is a strong propensity to breed away from water.
The tadpoles of the pond breeders characteristically have rather large bodies and deep caudal (tail) fins, which in some have a terminal extension, as do the familiar swordtail fishes (Xiphophorus). The mouth is relatively small, either at the end of the snout or on the underside, and usually contains rather weak denticles. These tadpoles swim easily in the quiet water and feed on attached and free-floating vegetation, including algae. In contrast, the stream tadpoles have depressed bodies, long muscular tails, and shallow caudal fins. The mouth is relatively large and usually contains many rows of strong denticles. In highly modified stream tadpoles, the mouth is ventral and modified as an oral sucker, with which the tadpole anchors itself to stones in the stream. Such tadpoles move slowly across stones, grazing on the coating of bacteria and algae as they move.
Most tadpoles complete their development in two or three months, but there are notable exceptions. Tadpoles of spadefoot toads, genus Scaphiopus, develop in temporary rain pools in arid parts of North America, where it is imperative for the tadpoles to complete their development before the pools dry up. Some Scaphiopus tadpoles metamorphose about two weeks after hatching. In the northern part of its range in North America, the tadpoles of the bullfrog L. catesbeianus require three years to undergo their development.
Some tree frogs of the family Hylidae deposit their eggs in water that has pooled in parts of trees. Several tropical species of Hyla lay their eggs in the water held in the overlapping bases of leaves of epiphytic bromeliads high in trees. Their tadpoles, which are slender with long, muscular tails, develop in small quantities of water high above the ground. The Mexican hylid, Anotheca spinosa, lays its eggs in bromeliads or in water-filled cavities in trees. The small tadpoles, like those of Hyla, feed on aquatic insect larvae, such as those of mosquitoes, but the larger tadpoles of Anotheca apparently feed only on the eggs of frogs.
A modification of the basic pattern of depositing aquatic eggs is the placement of eggs on vegetation above water; this pattern occurs in some arboreal hylids, rhacophorids, ranids, and all species of the family Centrolenidae. H. ebraccata, a small Central American tree frog, deposits its eggs in a single layer on the upper surfaces of horizontal leaves, just a few inches above the pond. Upon hatching, the tadpoles wriggle to the edge of the leaf and drop into the water. The Mexican H. thorectes suspends 10 to 14 eggs on ferns overhanging cascading mountain streams. The phyllomedusine hylids in the American tropics suspend clutches of eggs from leaves or stems above ponds. Males call from trees; once a female has been attracted and amplexus takes place, the male placidly hangs onto the back of the female as she descends to the pond and absorbs water. This accomplished, she climbs into a tree, selects an oviposition site, and deposits eggs until her water supply is depleted. She again descends to the pond and repeats the performance at a different site until the entire complement of eggs is deposited. Upon hatching, the tadpoles drop into the pond below. Most of the tree frogs of the family Centrolenidae are less than 2.5 cm (1 inch) long. Males call from leaves of trees or bushes over cascading mountain streams in the American tropics. Individuals return to the same leaf night after night. Attracted females are clasped on the leaf, and egg deposition takes place there immediately. A highly successful male may have three or four egg clutches on his leaf, each consisting of only about two dozen eggs. Upon hatching, the tadpoles drop into the streambed; if a tadpole lands on a stone, it flips about vigorously until it falls into the water, where it hides in the loose gravel on the bottom of the stream.
Egg laying on land
Many kinds of frogs lay their eggs on land and subsequently transport the tadpoles to water. The ranid genus Sooglossus of the Seychelles islands and all members of the family Dendrobatidae in the American tropics have terrestrial eggs. Upon hatching, the tadpoles adhere to the backs of adults, usually males. The exact means of attachment is not known. The frogs carry the tadpoles to streams, bromeliads, or pools of water in logs or stumps where the tadpoles complete their development. The most unusual example of tadpole care is exhibited by the mouth-brooding frog, or Darwin's frog, Rhinoderma darwinii, in southern South America. An amplectic pair deposits 20 to 30 eggs on moist ground. When the eggs are about ready to hatch, with the embryos moving, the male picks up some eggs with his tongue. The eggs pass through the vocal slits in the floor of his mouth and into the vocal sac. The eggs hatch, and the larvae complete their development in the large vocal sac. Upon metamorphosis the young frogs emerge from the male's mouth.
The European midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans, also displays a curious breeding behaviour. Inguinal amplexus takes place on land; at the time of oviposition, the female extends her legs to form a receptacle for the string of 20 to 60 eggs. After fertilizing the eggs, the male moves forward on the back of the female and pushes his legs into the string of eggs until they are wound around his waist and legs. Then the female departs. The male carries the eggs with him on land until they are ready to hatch, at which time he moves to a pond where the eggs hatch and complete their development.
The hylid Gastrotheca marsupiata, one of several so-called marsupial frogs, lives in the high Andes of South America. During amplexus, the male exudes a quantity of semen, which flows into the female's pouch. The female extrudes eggs a few at a time; these are pushed into her pouch by the male, who uses the hindfeet to catch and push the eggs. The eggs are fertilized in the pouch, where they hatch and the tadpoles begin their development. Subsequently the female moves to a pond, where the tadpoles emerge from the pouch and complete their development in the water.
In each of the above instances of parental care, there is a trend away from the aquatic environment. Far fewer eggs (fewer than 50) are laid in comparison with those species depositing eggs in the water. The bonds with the aquatic environment have been partially broken, for, although the tadpoles must develop there, the eggs are effectively terrestrial; however, they are not truly so, because they lack the necessary embryonic membranes (allantois and amnion) to maintain physiological balance, and they also have no shell. Consequently, if they are to survive and develop, the eggs must be maintained in moist places, such as damp soil or a part of the parental body. Water and waste products are transported through the membranes by osmosis.
Direct development from egg to froglet
The next evolutionary step in mode of life history is the elimination of the larval stage, thereby completely severing the ties with the aquatic environment. Direct development of the egg, in which the larvae undergo their development within the egg membranes and emerge as tiny froglets, occurs in many species, in a dozen or more families (such as Leiopelmatidae, Pipidae, Leptodactylidae, Bufonidae, Brachycephalidae, Hylidae, Myobatrachidae, Sooglossidae, Arthroleptidae, Ranidae, and Microhylidae). Typical direct development of terrestrial eggs occurs in the many species of the leptodactylid genus Eleutherodactylus of Central and South America and the West Indies. During axillary amplexus, the female deposits a clutch of eggs in a moist place (beneath a log or stone, amid leaf litter, in a rotting stump, in moss, or in a bromeliad). The parents depart, leaving the eggs to develop and subsequently hatch. In some Eleutherodactylus species and in the New Zealand leiopelmatid Leiopelma hochstetteri, the hatching froglet still has a tail. In Leiopelma, at least, vigorous thrusts of the tail are used to rupture the egg membranes. Soon after hatching, the tail is completely absorbed.
Brooding of terrestrial eggs is known in a few species. Females of two species of Eleutherodactylus that lay their eggs on leaves of bushes or trees sit on the eggs. Apparently this brooding serves to prevent desiccation of the eggs by dry winds. Females of the Papuan microhylid Sphenophryne lay their few eggs beneath stones or logs and sit on top of them until they hatch.
Direct development occurs in several species of hylid marsupial frogs (Gastrotheca) living in mountain rainforests in northwestern South America. In these frogs, amplexus is axillary, and the female raises her cloaca so that the eggs, which are extruded one at a time, roll forward on her back and into the pouch. There the eggs develop into froglets. Large, external, gill-like structures envelop the developing embryo. These structures, which are attached to the throat of the embryo by a pair of cords, apparently function in respiration. These frogs live high in trees and complete their life cycle without descending to the ground. Thus, they are rare in collections, and their biology is poorly known.
Some other South American genera of Hylidae also exhibit the phenomenon of direct development of eggs carried on the backs of the females. In Flectonotus and Fritziana the eggs are contained in one large basinlike depression in the back, whereas in other genera, such as the Surinam toad (Pipa pipa) and its relatives, each egg occupies its own individual depression. In Hemiphractus gill-like structures and cords similar to those in Gastrotheca are present. At hatching, the expanded gill adheres to the modified skin of the maternal depression and is attached to the young by the pair of cords. The female carries the young until they are sufficiently well developed to care for themselves. The manner of detachment of gill from female and young is unknown.
The strictly aquatic P. pipa of northern South America has direct development, in this case in the water. Eggs are carried in individual depressions in the back of the female. Amplexus is inguinal, and the pair rests on the bottom of the pond. The female initiates vertical circular turnovers, at the height of which she extrudes a few eggs. These are fertilized, fall against the belly of the then upside-down male, and are pushed forward onto the female's back, where they adhere and become enclosed in tissue. When developed, the young frogs emerge from the skin of the female's back.
The small African bufonids of the genus Nectophrynoides undergo internal uterine development in a fashion that is apparently similar to that of placental mammals. By some unknown means, fertilization is internal, and the young are born alive. It is noteworthy that the evolution of live birth has taken place independently in all three living orders of amphibians, for this phenomenon also occurs in salamanders and caecilians.
Feeding habits
The great majority of frogs feed on insects, other small arthropods, or worms, but some larger species eat vertebrates. The South American leptodactylid Ceratophrys varius and the large bufonid B. marinus eat other frogs and small rodents. The superficially similar Solomon Island ranid, Ceratobatrachus guentheri, and the South American hylids, Hemiphractus, eat other frogs. Large North American bullfrogs, L. catesbeianus, have been reported to consume other frogs, mice, small snakes, and even small turtles.


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Wyoming OSHA Considering New Rule for Rig Clothing [AUDIO]
The Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration is proposing a rule that would require workers wear flame resistant clothing within 75 feet of an oil and gas well bore. Doug Randall reports. A Wyoming soldier who was killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan was laid to rest in Colorado Tuesday. Click past the jump to listen to Wyoming Radio News.


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An Electric Chopper Straight Out Of Japan
With shows like American Chopper highlighting just how much time, money, and effort goes into the highly-customized motorcycles with long handlebars and low ground clearance. Yet as American as choppers may seem, over in Japan choppers are even more popular. Well-known custom shop Shiun Craft Works recently rolled out an all-electric chopper that is as green as it is awesome.Read more


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Please note: You are viewing an archived Bucknell University news story. It is possible that information found on this page has become outdated or inaccurate, and links and images contained within are not guaranteed to function correctly.
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Andrea Leithner Stauffer, director of financial aid, offers advice on student loan debt.
Q: How can students and their families avoid accumulating student-loan debt they can't repay?
A: I think the key here is for students to make good decisions early on about how much loan debt they can reasonably repay, and the same idea goes for their parents who may be borrowing for their child's education. When students look at what school they want to attend, some know they want a certain major, and some have a specific career in mind. However, it's not wise to assume that you will automatically get a high-paying job right out of college. The reality is, no one is guaranteed a job. But whether you have one or not, you'll have to repay your student loans, so you should be careful with your borrowing.
Financial aid offices advise students to borrow only what they need. Don't just borrow everything you happen to be awarded in loans. If you don't absolutely need it for your college expenses, don't borrow it. Also, be sure that you read all loan documents that you sign, particularly information regarding the interest rate and repayment terms, as this will help you to understand exactly what you are borrowing.
Q: How might a college financial aid office help?
A: We can help students and parents understand the different types of loans available, how much they are eligible to borrow and how much these loans will affect their income and living expenses after they graduate.
The college search process is not only about determining the right fit for a student at a school, but also about the right financial fit for a family. Of course parents always want to do anything they can for their children, especially where education is concerned, but financial reality must come into the picture too. Students and parents should ask themselves, "How much is it really going to cost for me to go there, can we handle the expense for four years, and can we borrow amounts that work for us?"
Q: Are some types of loans less risky than others?
A: Federal loans are the first loans students should consider, as they typically have lower interest rates and more favorable repayment terms than the private, non-federal loans. The Federal Direct Loan program is the main loan program students apply for when they apply for financial aid. In the subsidized version, which is based on financial need, the federal government subsidizes the interest while the student is enrolled. In the unsubsidized version, which is not need-based, the student is charged interest until the loan is repaid, and the interest can be capitalized and added to the principal.
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) can be a good possibility for parents. It is a creditworthy federal loan that a parent may borrow with a lower interest rate than many of the private loans. The parent is actually the borrower for PLUS, but I know that some parents make informal repayment arrangements with their students.
Some schools also have low-interest institutional loans that they are able to offer to students, again with favorable repayment terms. The programs and amounts can vary — check with your financial aid office for details.
After the federal loans, there are the private, alternative loans. Private loans typically have much higher interest rates. These are loans that years ago used to have near credit-card-level interest rates in the double digits. Rates have come down some now, but realistically, it is hard to know how long this will be the case. There are still a number of private lenders, but the number has decreased a lot in the past few years.
Q: What non-loan forms of financial aid are available, and how can families get them?
A: Students first should find out from their financial aid offices what they need to do to apply for all forms of financial aid — federal, state and institutional scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. Complete all required applications and submit all forms so that you know you have applied for everything possible. Most financial aid deadlines will be in the fall or winter of a student's senior year of high school.
Be sure to apply for outside scholarships at sites such as www.fastweb.com. Many of the deadlines are in the fall and winter timeframe as well, so do your research early.
Colleges often have payment plans that allow families to spread out payments over a series of months and help them avoid borrowing.
Finally, be sure to apply for everything you possibly can from all federal, state and institutional sources. Make sure you find out whether you actually have to apply for merit scholarships at the colleges you are considering or if all applicants are automatically considered. Do all your homework and contact the financial aid office of the institutions to which you are applying if you have questions. We are here to help you.
Interviewed by Molly O'Brien-Foelsch
New editions of "Ask the Experts" will appear on the Bucknell website on most Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters. If you have ideas for future topics or are a faculty or staff member who would like to participate, contact Molly O'Brien-Foelsch.
To learn more about faculty and staff experts who can speak on a variety of news topics, visit Bucknell's searchable Experts Guide.
Contact: Division of Communications


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The Manning Center played host to 16 former Ole Miss players, including NFL Scouting Combine participants Cody Prewitt and Senquez Golson, attempting to make a lasting impact on the 27 NFL teams represented at Pro Day on Thursday.
Prewitt, a projected second-round pick by CBSSports.com, was not pleased with his performance at the combine, where he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and recorded 11 bench-press reps of 225 pounds. He improved both marks at Pro Day, as he posted times of 4.47 and 4.46 in the 40 and recorded 12 reps on the bench. His 4.46 mark would rank third among safeties and tied for 10th among all defensive backs at the combine.
"It ate me up," Prewitt said of his combine performance. "It aggravated the crap out of me. I still think I can do better in the 40, but I think today was a lot closer to what I think I can run."
After putting on a show at the combine, Golson, a projected fourth-round pick by CBSSports.com, only participated in two testing drills at Pro Day. One those drills was the bench press, where he improved his number of 225-pound bench press reps from 15 at the combine to 16 at Pro Day. Overall, he was pleased with his performance at Pro Day.
"There are a lot of questions when you got a 5-8 corner that catches 10 interceptions, Golson said. "A lot of people want to get their eyes on me and see if everything matches up with the numbers.
"They have asked me, 'What makes you think you can play in the league?' You go back to my freshman to my senior year, every week I played against first-round, top-10 picks. I played against Odell (Beckham, Jr.). I played against Mike Evans for two or three years. I played against Amari Cooper and Sammie Coates, all the top receivers that are going to come out this year, I have film against all those guys."
Both Prewitt and Golson went through defensive back drills with New York Jets defensive backs Joe Danna. Golson said he has private workouts or visits scheduled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
"It was fun," said Golson of working with Danna. "You get an idea of how NFL coaches think and how they want us do things. I was happy for that opportunity."
Other standouts at Pro Day were Deterrian Shackelford, who benched 225 pounds 33 times, which would have ranked second among linebackers and ninth among all players at the combine, and Carlos Thompson, who posted a 38-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-3 broad jump. He ran the 40 in 4.75 and 4.77 seconds and recorded 21 bench-press reps of 225 pounds.
Pro Day was also an opportunity for Bo Wallace to impress NFL scouts after not receiving an invitation to the combine. Wallace said he felt healthy and threw the ball well in a scripted positional workout put together by former NFL quarterback John Beck.
"I wanted to show I'm talented enough to compete with the guys that were brought into the combine," Wallace said. "I was upset I wasn't there and it pushed me and motivated me. I felt like I had as good of a day as I could have."
Here's an update with some official numbers from NFL.com's Gil Brandt:
Representatives from 27 NFL teams, including a defensive backs coach from the New York Jets, were present to see 16 players work out at Ole Miss' pro day on Thursday.
The workout was held indoors and run on FieldTurf.
Cornerback Senquez Golson (5-foot-8 3/4, 180 pounds) had 16 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and a time of 11.93 seconds in the 60-yard shuttle (staying on the rest of his numbers from the NFL Scouting Combine). Golson -- who made a pivotal interception in Ole Miss' upset of Alabama in October -- was very fluid in the positional workout and displayed great ball skills.
Free safety Cody Prewitt (6-2 3/8, 208) ran much better at his pro day than he did at the combine in the 40-yard dash, posting times of 4.47 and 4.46 seconds (he ran 4.6 in Indianapolis). He also performed 12 strength lifts. Prewitt also showed good ball skills during his positional workout.
Quarterback Bo Wallace (6-3 5/8, 211) ran the 40 in 5.1 and 5.07 seconds. He had an 8-foot-8 broad jump. He went through a scripted positional workout and did an adequate job doing so. Wallace's workout was put together by former NFL quarterback John Beck.
One relatively unknown prospect was really impressive to the scouts present at Ole Miss' pro day.
Defensive end Carlos Thompson (6-4 1/4, 252) ran the 40 in 4.75 and 4.77 seconds. He had a 38-inch vertical jump and 10-foot-3 broad jump. He did the 20-yard short shuttle in 4.54 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.51 seconds. Thompson recorded 1.5 sacks in limited playing time while at Ole Miss, but might have had so impressive of a pro-day workout that he could get drafted as a pass-rushing prospect. At worst, Thompson will be a priority free-agent pickup for an NFL team following the 2015 NFL Draft.
The scouts at hand were treated to a big breakfast and lunch.
Stay tuned to NFL.com's Gil Brandt and NFL.com's Pro Day reports for more from Ole Miss Pro Day. The NFL Draft is April 30-May 2.


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Can I upgrade to the latest version of an application outside of GoDaddy Hosting Connection?
Upgrading to a new application version on your own can prevent successful upgrades through Hosting Connection in the future. For that reason, we recommended you always perform upgrades through Hosting Connection. To do that, see Upgrading to a New Version of a Hosting Quick-Install Application.
However, you may upgrade outside of GoDaddy Hosting Connection.


text:
Rachel's Memories Inspired Bedroom
Like this entry? Favorite it below!
- Name:
- Rachel
- Location:
- Hattiesburg, MS
- Division:
- United States
- What do you love about your bedroom?:
- I am fascinated by the past, whether in my own memories, my family tree or cultural history. I wanted to let my creativity burst in this room through inspiration from my travels. My arabesque bedding and area rug remind me of the Moorish influences where I lived in Granada, Spain. My collection of frames are all prints of the Moulin Rouge in Paris, both in art and my own photographs. I have collected trinkets and books which decorate my surfaces. More than anything, I cherish the antiques that have been passed down to me, from my great-grandmother's dressing screen used as a headboard, to the army trunk my mother hand painted as my nightstand, to my beautiful vanity and recovered Victorian desk chair. Deep reds and earthy browns are truly representative of my passionate nature.
- What are your tips for creating a beautiful, healthy and organized bedroom?:
- The best way, I have found, to keep my bedroom beautiful is to never let clutter in. I use my second bedroom as an office/walk-in closet, so there is no excuse for throwing items down on my bed or chair when I get home. That, and burning candles! Making the bed each morning and pulling back the window curtains is key to feeling healthier, both physically and mentally. Even my dog can tell a difference! I use as many creative methods as possible to stay organized--having a set purpose for each dresser drawer, storing jewelry where it's visible daily but out of the way, using an antique box on the nightstand for all my bedtime necessities. I don't believe everyone needs fifty clear plastic bins with labels! Just focus on each item you own having a little home that fits your needs. And if it doesn't serve a purpose ... throw it out.
- In modern homes, bedrooms have become more than just a place to sleep; they can be a retreat, a home office, a library, a relaxation zone. What are some ways you make the most of your bedroom?:
- I will admit, even though I enjoy the freedom of living alone so I have the whole house to myself, I spend the majority of my time in my bedroom. I enjoy reading, writing, and watching my favorite television shows on Hulu from my comfy bed. Then there are also the countless hours I spend in bed with my laptop on Apartment Therapy! I am glad to have a space singled out for relaxing that still has the artistic nature I crave, rather than the typical blues and whites associated with serenity.


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Cougars Beat Wildcats on Buzzer Beater
Jan. 10, 2010
Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -DeAngelo Casto hit a twisting layup with 0.1 seconds left to give Washington State a 78-76 victory over Arizona on Friday night.
The Cougars set up the last shot after Arizona freshman Solomon Hill tipped in a missed shot by Nic Wise to make it 76-76 with 13 seconds left.
Klay Thompson scored 20 points to lead the Cougars (12-3, 2-1 Pac-10). Casto finished with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Wise led Arizona (7-8, 1-2) with 15 points.
Washington State took a 74-67 lead with 2:19 left when Nikola Koprivica hit a 3-pointer with no time left on the shot clock.
After the Wildcats cut it to 75-71, freshman Kevin Parrom hit his first 3-pointer of the season to make it 75-74 with 32.4 seconds to go.
Washington State freshman Reggie Moore then hit 1 of 2 free throws before Hill tied it.


text: How do you block phpmyadmin from being available on port 80? I would like it to use only a secure connection on port 2222 (port that ispconfig is installed on). I gave this a try on the debian squeeze server, but it did not work: # mv /var/www/ispconfig /var/www/disabledispconfig # /etc/init.d/apache2 restart


text: Henderson Rock, on the eastern side of Moreton Island, is one of Brisbane's better and less frequented dive sites. With lots of deep ledges, overhangs and caves hiding behind kelp, these mysterious rocks have many secrets to be discovered. Keep an eye out for the ornate crayfish, prolific in this area, and grey nurse sharks, who enjoy schooling up in the main gutter during the winter months. With reef fish darting among the kelp, other species of shark, including brown-banded catsharks and wobbegong, also frequent the area.


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Imagine! I'm just not in a birthy place these days. I'm hanging on by a thread, actually. I have a full time job, four young children, a husband who's working two jobs, and have been sick for over a month! So, reproduction . . . and all that involves is on the back burner . . . the very far back burner of a very large hot untouchable stove . . .
I am a ball of stress, so I'm thankful for a few moments of deconstress (LoL!) time. I'm just about as addicted to Pinterest as I am to Facebook. So, I've been pinning all sorts of things. Here's a link to my HBA2C board, for instance. The holidays make me feel very crafty, but of course, I'm having to prioritize my crafts. That means putting away the more complicated projects, and focusing on a few that give me a lot of bang for the time buck. My oldest daughter and I are enjoying making snowflakes today. Great stress buster, actually! You can HARDLY screw these up.
Here are a few links to get you started:
- How About Orange's directions for a 5-pt snowflake
- Bon Temps Beignet's tutorial
Here's How About Orange's 8-point flake:
And here's my simplified "take" on it:
To do this I followed Bon Temps's folding instructions and eye-balled Orange's template. Really, it's not that hard to do, and my 6 year old is having fun making her own snowflakes her own way! 😉 And my 4 month old is just hanging out watching Mommy and Big Sis. (She's such a love!!)
Blessings this holiday season!!


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Sheffield determined to improve
MINNEAPOLIS – Jordan Sheffield officially put his name among the top 2013 prospects last July while pitching for the Knights Baseball travel team at the WWBA 16u National Championship.
At that event, Sheffield worked in the 89-92 range with his fastball, peaking at 94.
Jordan's brother Justus, a left-handed pitcher, joined him at that event, and is one of the top prospects in the 2014 class. Reports surfaced at the National that Justus is now matching his older brother's 94 fastball velocity.
The two Sheffield brothers could be premium picks in back-to-back drafts, and Jordan is focused on continued improvement.
"I've been working with my dad throwing bullpens," Sheffield said after his performance in Game 13 of the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase. "(I'm) trying to stay behind the ball, staying back longer and get a downward angle, keep it low and do what I do. Just pitch."
Sheffield showed incredible knowledge of his craft, and the results were clear on the mound as he threw a sharp downer curve consistently at 78 mph.
"You want to stay back as long as you can to get as much velocity on it, and you also want to stay back as long as you can so your arm angle can get above your elbow, keeping your elbow up and getting that downward angle. Staying behind it and getting more velocity."
His fastball also shows very good late life. In this game, Sheffield threw his fastball consistently in the 90-91 range, pounding the lower half of the zone. He can take a little more off for a true two-seam sinker, and he also throws a changeup.
"On lefties I'll throw a two-seamer, so I'll move my arm angle slightly to the right to have a little late break on it."
Staying in shape as a well conditioned athlete is very important to Sheffield, something his father Travis has imparted onto him.
"Always after the game I'll run," Sheffield said of his post-game routine. "If I pitch one inning I'll sprint half-way (when running pole-to-poles). As my dad will say, "Run the first one for me, because I don't want to sprint." So I'll run it for him, and the back half I'll jog. If I pitch one inning I'll go down and back, flush the arm out.
"And then (at night) I'll sit and put some ice on it. (I'll also do) long toss the day after tomorrow. But it's kind of hard to stay in that routine because I play middle infield during summer ball, but I try to do so as much as possible."
Similar to last year, this summer likely will involved a lot of travel to notable tournament events, including the WWBA National Championship series in Marietta, Ga. While Sheffield didn't know where he would be playing next, he certainly was mindful to appreciate throwing at the Metrodome, former home of the Minnesota Twins.
"It's different, I love it," Sheffield said of pitching in the dome. "There's not much noise, so you feel that everyone is watching you. You know you need to hit this spot, there's just a little more pressure, but that's going to happen someday."
From Chicago to Minneapolis, Ray shines
Corey Ray has grown up since making his first appearance at a Perfect Game event. He came into the 2010 PG WWBA Underclass World Championship at 5-foot-9 inches and 145 pounds. The seventeen-year-old outfielder has grown a couple of inches and put on forty pounds coming into the 2012 National Showcase in Minneapolis.
The Louisville commit came into the Metrodome as the top-ranked prospect from the state of Illinois for the draft class of 2013 and is ranked 29th overall.
Ray's success on the field stems from his impressive array of tools. In workout's Ray displayed a strong arm, throwing 87 mph from the outfield. Ray showed great speed running the 60 in 6.76.
Ray was able to capitalize on his speed and strength with an inside the park home run in Game 7 of the showcase, showing a 4.31 time home to first with a turn.
"I hit and knew it was in the gap so I just took off. I ran and when I hit home plate I was relieved," Ray said. "I finally got a hit. I finally hit one hard."
Ray took a Greyhound Bus to Minneapolis from his hometown of Chicago, Ill., where he plays for Simeon Career Academy. He shows a lot of pride in his hometown and is thankful for his opportunity to play baseball there, "I love it, it's competitive."
The level of competition at the National Showcase has impressed most of the athletes in attendance, Ray was just as impressed with the other players off of the field.
"Everyone's good," Ray said, "They're good and they're friendly. They're not the big league type."
Ray chose to resist all the distractions that Minneapolis has to offer and dedicate his time to improving his game.
"(I'll be) taking a couple of hacks tomorrow in the cage." Ray said, rather than play the part of a tourist.
"(This has been) the greatest opportunity, I never dreamed of anything like this."
- Kira Olsen
National streamed live
Don't forget that you can tune into all of the action here at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase live, and even better yet, for free. Stay tuned to www.perfectgame.organd visit iHigh.com Perfect Game page.
Workout session recap
While four games were played on Day 4 of the National Showcase, the day kicked off with the 60-yard dash as well as the outfielder, infield and catching drills for the Vegas Gold and White teams. The results are posted in the 2012 National Showcase blog:
Lasting impressions
• Impressive pitching was on display in the first game of the day, Game 12 between the Vegas Gold and White teams. Dustin Driver took the mound first and got the day off to a bang by routinely hitting 92, working at 90-92,and topping out at 93 mph with his power fastball. He also threw an upper-80s power breaker and a polished 83 mph changeup. He has great size, listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, with impressive strength throughout.
Casey Meisner was up next, a 6-foot-7 skyscraper righty that worked at 86-91 with his fastball, using his size well to throw on a downward plane. He also threw a nice low-80s change and showed good feel for his mid-70s curve.
Casey Shane continued the theme of right-handers that have a nice combination of size and arm strength, pounding the lower half of the strike zone with a 87-90 fastball that touched 92, a low-70s curve and low-80s change.
That theme continued with Alec Hansen, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound righty from Missouri who threw 87-91 while complementing his fastball with a slow curve and a 78-81 change.
Connor Jones pitched a little later in the game, throwing a 90-93 fastball in his first inning of work dropping in a very sharp mid-70s curve.
• Brett Binning had one of the hardest hit balls of the day, a rocket to centerfield off of Shane that registered 92 off the bat. Nicholas Buckner had the other, hitting a double off the baggie in right.
The defensive play of the game came on a diving, sliding catch by William Abreu in left field.
• Jonathan Pryor had a web gem of his own in Game 13, the second game of Day 4, charging hard in on a line drive that was slicing down and away from him to make the sliding, head-first catch.
The best double play so far during this event was also turned in this game. Second baseman Gosuke Katoh made a diving stop to his right, flipping the ball out of his glove to shortstop Riley Unroe, who fired to first to complete the twin killing.
• It's easy to envision Texas Orange right-handed pither and Game 13 starter Lawson Vassar adding onto his 87-88 mph fastball over the next 2-3 years. At 6-foot-3, 185-pounds he is very projectable, and showed the ability to command a solid three-pitch repertoire.
Kevin Davis doesn't have a big, projectable build, but is able to produce low-90s heat. His first several pitches were clocked at 93, and he didn't throw a single fastball below 90. He also threw a very sharp 75-77 curveball.
Aubrey McCarty has the distinction of being able to throw with both hands. He was 85-87 with his right arm, and 81-83 with his left.
Among the Royal pitchers, Justin Evans threw 87-91 with a loose, live arm, and a sharp mid-70s curveball. It's easy to envision him throwing harder in the not-so-distant future.
Teammate Spencer Trayner, a primary middle infielder, also showed very good arm speed in producing 86-90 mph fastballs. He too threw a sharp, power breaker.
• Will Haynie had the most impressive drive in Game 13, drilling a two-run double to deep left-centerfield exhibiting very strong hands and bat speed. Texas Orange teammate Cavan Biggio had another big hit today, hitting a double to the gap in right-center.
• Jordan Sheffield's performance in Game 14 is detailed above, but a few other pitchers shined in the contest as well. Vegas Gold left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin, pitching for the Red squad, worked in the upper-80s, sitting at 88-90 while touching 91. He mixed in a big slow low-70s curve.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Dan Hermann has great current size and strength with future projectability, working in the upper-80s and peaking at 90 mph with his lively fastball. He also threw a 74-77 curveball.
Yet another Vegas Gold pitcher, Devin Williams, was also impressive in this game. Devin Williams, who has very good present strength with plenty of future growth potential, showed a nice, balanced and repeatable delivery to generate 87-90 mph velocity on his fastball. He also maintained his arm speed on his 78 mph changeup, making it difficult to recognize out of the hand.
The promising arms continued for the Vegas Gold team when Bryan White took the mound. White has a strong, sturdy build, working 87-89 with a 73-75 mph curve. His outing was made memorable when he caught a screaming line drive hit right back at him, catching the ball in mid-air as his body was falling to the ground.
Strong-armed catcher Ronnie Healy took the mound for the Red squad to close out Game 14, throwing almost exclusively 89-91 mph fastballs that peaked at 93.
• Vegas Gold catcher Tyler Alamo hit a ball to deep left-center for a triple that was nearly ran down by Red centerfielder Daniel Williams. Elliott Barzilli followed that up with an hard hit RBI single up the middle that registered 95 mph off the bat. Barzilli proceeded to steal both second and third.
Alamo added a triple later in the game when a bloop to right field got by the outfielder who was unable to make a diving catch.
Later in the game, outfielder Nicholas Banks hit an opposite field RBI double to left-center.
• In the final game of the day, Game 15 overall at the PG National, right-handed pitcher Jesse Roth looked solid taking the mound as the starter for the Steel team. He has a nice, projectable frame and a loose arm, making it easy dream on him throwing harder than his current 87-89 mph fastball that touched 90.
Steel teammate and fellow righty Jared Brasher also stood out in this game, with a good, athletic frame with good present strength. He has a live arm, producing 89-91 fastballs peaking at 94. While he doesn't throw as hard as Lance McCullers, who peaked at 98 at last year's National in Fort Myers, Fla., there is a physical resemblance between the two.
From the White squad, Dylan Williams stood out in this game. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has very good size and projectability, using an upper-80s fastball that peaked at 92 a handful of times during his first inning of work.
• Middle infielder Cletis Avery showed off his 6.60 speed when he hit a ball to the gap in left-center, blazing around the basepaths before gettig gunned down at home plate trying to leg out an inside-the-park homerun. Avery settled for an RBI triple.
Teammate Tyler Cohen added a double of his own later in the game, hitting a ball to the gap in right-center using his speed to collect the double.
Travis Demeritte continues to hit the ball well at the National, lacing a ground-rule double down the right field line in this contest. He showed very good speed out of the box and around first base, as he likely would have stretched out a triple had the ball not bounced over the fence.
Be sure to read Jeff Dahn's player features on Jeremy Martinez and Clint Frazier. Also check out Nick Kappel's Father's Day feature on the players in attendance with notable bloodlines as well as Nick and Kira Olsen's feature on last night's Rawlings Home Run Challenge.


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California Department of Transportation
September 14, 2010
Aaron McLear
Matt Hirsch
(916) 445-5880
New Caldecott Video Highlights Job Creation
Worker Stories Highlight How Recovery Act Impacts Lives
California Recovery Task Force Director Rick Rice and Caltrans Director Cindy McKim today issued the following statements on a newly released video that provides solid examples of jobs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act). In the video, workers talk about what it means to them to land a job on California's largest Recovery Act project, the $420 million Caldecott Fourth Bore project. In these tough economic times, these workers are grateful for the Recovery Act and the jobs that it has created.
"The Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore project is a shining example of how the Recovery Act is creating jobs and putting Californians back to work," said California Task Force Director Rick Rice. "This project represents the best of the Recovery Act as it is providing new opportunities for Californians to get back into the workforce. As the video shows, this project is well on its way to alleviating traffic congestion and improving California's infrastructure."
While much of the work is related to physical construction activities, the project also has created work for an array of engineers, paleontologists and small business owners, some of whom are interviewed in the video.
"It's exciting to see how Recovery Act projects put our contractors back to work," said Caltrans Director Cindy McKim. "This project is one of the best examples in the nation of the economic stimulus plan doing what it is designed to do: improve our vital infrastructure and provide good quality jobs. We are thankful that the stimulus funds were there to kick-start this project."
In addition, the five-minute video, which can be found at www.recovery.ca.gov, captures much of the initial construction work on the new tunnel.
This is the first in a series of videos that will be produced by Caltrans to document the historic construction of the Caldecott Fourth Bore Project. This video captures initial construction of retaining walls, as well as the first drilling by the roadheader, a 130-ton tunneling machine, which will bore most of the tunnel. Workers interviewed include miners, engineers, and a sub-contractor who is monitoring the noise created by the project.
About the Caldecott Fourth Bore Project
The Caldecott Fourth Bore Project will eliminate a long-standing bottleneck on State Route 24 between Oakland and eastern Contra Costa County by building a fourth tunnel bore to accommodate the growth in traffic since the third bore was built in 1964. The project was stalled during the financial crisis of 2008/09 when financial markets dried up and California could not get funding for its bonds. The Governor and members of the federal legislature successfully lobbied the federal government to obtain American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to finance nearly half the project. Under Governor Schwarzenegger's leadership, California has obligated nearly $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding to 946 highway, local street, and job training transportation projects statewide.


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Remember when Mattel sold Japanese Kaiju figures? Had I not held onto a weird blue monster with big ears since childhood I would've answered "uhh, no." Turns out, Mattel did obtain the rights to distribute toys for the popular Japanese company Popy back in the late 70's. You do remember Shogun Warriors, right? Same licensing agreement. Although they do not have the same legendary status, Godzilla's Gang was a cool little series that I decided to go back and collect recently.
Like I said, I had a few of these as a kid and, miraculously, they're some of the few vintage toys I had that survived the great purges. Not long ago I decided to figure out what the heck they were. After a little searching I learned they were released as part of Mattel's eight figure line called Godzilla's Gang. Well, you know how the collector mentality works. First: "Oh, what other characters were there?" Second: "Oh, I wonder if there are any on eBay." Third: "Accept, my Best Offer, dang it!"
Turns out the blue guy with the big ears was Ikarusu Planeter. I was able to get a packaged one recently. These were distributed, apparently, more as a rack toy:
The back of the card had a little checklist. The bane of the vulnerable collector.
I do not know much about the world of Japanese "strange creatures". I wish I did. I know Godzilla is a thing. And I know Ultraman is another thing. From what I've been told, all the creatures in the line (save Godzilla himself) are actually related to the Ultraman property. I have some catching up to do. Anyway, here's the gang…
One of the things about these figures that I recall from childhood was that they had unique footprints. Like, the soles of their feet were not just smooth. They each had a sculpted footprint. For those of you who are in-the-know, how unusual is this? I've noticed some other vintage Popy vinyl figures of a similar scale and sculpt style that also have unique footprints. That leads me to believe that Mattel only chose to distribute, at first, eight of these Popy creatures. But more existed in whatever Popy series ("Ultra Saurus", perhaps) Godzilla's Gang came from. Please fill me in! Not that I need to expand my collection, mind you.
Anyway, even though I don't know much about Japanese Kaiju, I think this series is rad. I'm glad Mattel introduced us to these as kids. The nostalgia finally caught up with me and now I'm poised to learn more about these wacky creatures. Again, if this is your thing and you have something to share, please do so in the comments below!
9 Comments »
Awesome! I believe there were two different versions of Godzilla (I sold mine off many years ago). If you like these, I've got a mint Shogun warriors "Worlds Greatest Monsters" Rodan to show ya 😉
This may have been an Ultraman line that Popy licensed to Mattel while they held the Godzilla rights in the US. Ultraman was made by the television division of Toho (from what I understand, they really aren't a tv / film studio but more of a mega-conglomerate in Japan) and the Godzilla suit was slightly re-dressed at one point for use as an Ultraman opponent. I've got a friend who could fill in all the details on that end of things if you're interested.
The imprints on the bottoms of the feet may be a monster identifier similar the the silhouettes seen on most Godzilla movies. The grey and orange ones in particular seem less like footprints and more like symbols representing the monster (the orange "crab claw" and strange symbol on the grey foot).
As a side not I've seen a number of fossil footprints and some these look strikingly similar to these relics from another age of giant monsters. All conjecture mind you, but something to think about 🙂
Never collected them. I couldn't get behind ANY character named King Joe…
Cool! I've had that Godzilla on my shelf since I was a little kid and I had no idea he was part of a "gang". I remember using his feet to make imprints in the sandbox. Thanks for the info!
Hi Danny; I'm collecting these guys bagged and the Planeter is one of the last 2 I need. I know this is a long shot but would you be interested in selling? If so please drop me an e-mail (kinggoji AT gmail D0T com)
had almost all of these as a kid. lost them long ago. thanks for posting this article. i was curious about them and didn't see much about them online.
I had all 8 of these as a kid! I *loved* them. I was very young (probably 5 or 6) when I played with them, and so all of them ended up lost or broken. Total nostalgia rush!
Do they those on Amazon or eBay?
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The biophysical profile combines ultrasound with the nonstress test as an assessment of the physical health of the fetus. The ultrasound creates images of the fetus and the uterus. A nonstress test monitors the heartbeat of the fetus.
These tests are done late in pregnancy as the fetus matures. The following information is evaluated:
- The amount of amniotic fluid (ultrasound)
- Fetal breathing (ultrasound)
- Fetal body movement (ultrasound)
- Fetal muscle tone (ultrasound)
- Fetal heart rate in response to movement (nonstress test)
Each factor assessed in the biophysical profile is assigned a numerical score based on the findings. A total numerical score is determined. The score may be used by your doctor to determine if special care and certain adjustments are needed during your pregnancy and delivery.
Who Should Undergo This Test?
Your doctor may recommend this test, as well as other tests, if you have a medical condition that could put you at risk for having problems with your pregnancy or there are problems with the fetus. Examples of conditions that could put you and your baby at risk include:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Too much or too little amniotic fluid
- Poor growth of fetus
- Reduced fetal movements
- Kidney disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Post-term pregnancy
- Multiple pregnancy (2 or more fetuses)
What Are the Risks of BPP Testing?
BPP testing is safe and noninvasive. It is not known to cause any harm to you or your baby. Since it is generally advised for high-risk pregnancies, it may cause you stress and anxiety. Your doctor may suggest other tests to gather important information about the health of your fetus. A concerning test result often suggests that you need special care or may need to deliver earlier than planned. It does not necessarily mean that your fetus is in trouble.
Many factors can affect the reliability of a BPP test. A test may suggest a problem that actually does not exist. This is called a false positive. A test may also miss an illness that actually does exist. This is called a false negative.
Your doctor will be able to answer questions and discuss any concerns you have about this form of monitoring.
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 10/2016 -
- Update Date: 10/24/2016 -