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20. Matt Barkley, QB, USC:
Barkley entered the season as a potential top-five pick, but his stock has steadily declined due to questions about his height, athleticism and arm strength. Barkley simply lacks the blue-chip physical characteristics associated with most top draft choices, and I don't know if his superior football intellect can compensate for his deficiencies. Granted, other quarterbacks have been able to succeed without having the big arm or ideal physical dimensions, but most were not selected at the top of the first round. This will make it challenging for Barkley to retain a draft slot near the top. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
19. Justin Hunter*, WR, Tennessee:
Hunter flashes all of the physical tools to be the best receiver in college football. At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Hunter is a big-bodied pass catcher with excellent movement skills and athleticism. He capably runs all of the routes and shows the capacity to work effectively both over the middle and down the field. While I love his production as the Vols' No. 1 receiver, he needs to become more consistent as a pass catcher to finish the season regarded as the premier receiver in college football. (Wade Payne/Associated Press)
18. Robert Woods*, WR, USC:
Scouts love to see consistent production and performance from pass catchers, and there are few in the college game who can match Woods' play over the past two and a half seasons. He has dominated Pac-12 competition with his polished game, and I believe he might be the best route runner at USC since Johnnie Morton. With the Trojans facing pivotal games against Oregon and Notre Dame over the final month of the season, Woods will get plenty of chances to showcase his game to scouts across the league. (Alix Drawec/NFL)
17. Marcus Lattimore*, RB, South Carolina:
Even though the NFL is trending toward running back rotations, most coaches will still tell you they would prefer having a multi-purpose workhorse in the backfield. Lattimore has been a premier runner in college football since his arrival as a true freshman, and he continues to display the overall skills to handle 300-plus carries as a feature back in a pro system. While there is some concern about his recovery from a torn ACL, Lattimore has shown no ill effects from the injury and remains the smooth, fluid runner that I remember from early in his career. With a few more games to show that he has fully recovered from last season's setback, Lattimore can certainly reestablish his reputation as college football's premier back. (John Amis/Associated Press)
16. Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia:
Nose tackle isn't a sexy position, but every defense needs a monstrous player in the middle. Jenkins is a natural, boasting the size, strength and power to control the point one-on-one or against double-teams. With more teams utilizing variations of the 3-4, Jenkins will certainly receive a ton of attention from scouts heading into draft. (Kevin Liles/US Presswire)
15. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama:
It is hard to find offensive linemen with the kind of versatility Jones has displayed during his time with the Crimson Tide. He has notched starts at center, guard and tackle during his career, and his ability to play at a high level at each spot makes him a valuable commodity in the minds of evaluators. While I envision Jones excelling as an interior blocker at the next level, it is quite possible that a team will view him as a capable offensive tackle prospect, raising his value on the draft board. (Kevin Jairaj/US Presswire)
14. Dion Jordan, DE/OLB, Oregon:
Jordan has flown under the radar due to the overwhelming attention paid to the Ducks' offense, but he might be the best player on their roster. He is a freakish athlete with the speed, agility and explosiveness to wreak havoc off the edges. The fact that the Ducks are willing to play him all over the field -- Jordan was recruited as a receiver/tight end, but plays defensive end, outside linebacker and press corner in the Ducks' scheme -- suggests his athleticism is rare for a guy of his size (6-7, 243). Although Jordan's game remains a work in progress, the raw talent and potential makes him an intriguing prospect to watch down the stretch. (Jim Z. Rider/US Presswire)
13. Dee Milliner*, CB, Alabama:
The lack of cover corners with the size, athleticism and length to match up with the big-bodied receivers currently dominating the NFL raises Milliner's value in the minds of evaluators. At 6-1 and 199 pounds, Milliner is big enough to challenge tall receivers at the line and in jump-ball situations. Most importantly, he shows the agility and awareness to make plays on the ball in coverage. With few college corners capable of playing effectively in both man and zone, Milliner will earn rave reviews from NFL scouts when they eventually take a closer look at his game. (Marvin Gentry/US Presswire)
12. Sam Montgomery*, DE, LSU:
Montgomery is a powerful edge player with the size and length to develop into a disruptive base end as a pro. He will be most effective working against right tackles and tight ends due to his rugged game, and he should be able to set the edge against the run with to his strength and power. Although disruptive pass rushers are traditionally viewed as the premier players in college football, the fact that Montgomery has registered solid sack production while capably manning the edge leads me to believe he will receive a high grade from scouts. (Kim Klement/US Presswire)
11. Johnthan Banks, CB, Mississippi State:
Banks possesses the size and skill to blossom into a No. 1 corner at the next level. While I still have some reservations about his speed and burst, I love his competitive grit and the way he raises his game against top competition. With those characteristics valued at a premium by defensive coordinators around the league, I expect this senior to carry a high grade on most draft boards around the league. (Spruce Derden/US Presswire)
10. Keenan Allen*, WR, Cal:
The evolution of the passing game in the NFL has scouts searching high and low for pass catchers with outstanding hands and playmaking ability. Allen has emerged as the top receiver in college football in his third season. Evaluators are raving about his dominance in the Pac-12, despite inconsistent quarterback play. When I look at Allen's game, I marvel at his refined route-running skills and ability to create separation from defenders with his size and athleticism. Allen is a name on the rise in the NFL scouting community. (Gary A. Vasquez/US Presswire)
9. Barkevious Mingo*, DE/OLB, LSU:
Mingo might be the most athletic edge player in college football when you consider his combination of speed, quickness and explosiveness. He blows off the ball like a cat and shows remarkable closing quickness when chasing quarterbacks from the backside. Although Mingo's sack production certainly doesn't match his athleticism, the disruptive potential that he displays in flashes will make him a coveted pro prospect. (Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire)
8. Jake Matthews*, OT, Texas A&M:
When a prospect the son of a Hall of Famer (Bruce Matthews) and possess the requisite physical characteristics, NFL scouts will pay closely attention to their development over the course of a career. Matthews has quickly become one of the top offensive tackles in college football, and his sound overall game has evaluators salivating over his potential as a pro. Although Matthews could opt for another year of seasoning as a collegian, I love his overall growth over the past year and expect him to emerge as one of the top prospects in the 2014 class. (Thomas Campbell/US Presswire)
7. Chance Warmack, OG, Alabama:
The Crimson Tide have become quite a football factory under Nick Saban, and the production line will certainly continue with Warmack emerging as a potential top-10 selection. At 6-3, 320 pounds, he is a fundamentally sound interior blocker with exceptional strength and explosiveness. Although the guard position isn't traditionally viewed as a premium need, the fact that Warmack is a "plug and play" prospect could prompt NFL scouts to make an exception to the rule. (Matthew Emmons/US Presswire)
6. Luke Joeckel*, OT, Texas A&M:
Offensive tackles with superb size, strength and footwork are hard to find, so Joeckel has created a buzz in the scouting community with his exceptional skill set. The hype will only increase following Joeckel's fine performance against LSU's Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery. With a few more showdowns against quality competition in the SEC, Joeckel could finish the season regarded as the top offensive tackle in college football. (Kevin Jairaj/US Presswire)
5. Jarvis Jones*, OLB, Georgia:
Pass rushers are coveted at a premium in the NFL, and there isn't a finer rusher in college football than Jones. The junior led the SEC in sacks a season ago, and has already racked up 5.5 sacks in five games in 2012. Jones' combination of speed, explosiveness and burst is unrivaled in college football, and he has developed an array of rush moves that complement his remarkable athleticism. Although concerns about his injury history could impact his eventual draft grade, Jones is an intriguing prospect with the kind of talent scouts desire in franchise players. (Daniel Shirey/US Presswire)
4. Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame:
Te'o has been the most dominant defender in college football over the first half of the season. He seemingly makes every tackle for the Irish defense and has started to make the kind of disruptive plays (forced fumbles and interceptions) that NFL evaluators desire in blue-chip linebackers. If he can continue to impress in big games against Oklahoma and USC, Te'o will solidify his status as a top-five prospect. (Brian Spurlock/US Presswire)
3. Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia:
Smith was the surprise of the college football world through West Virginia's first five games of the season, but he has started to cool off after two straight disappointing performances. However, scouts are still fascinated by his combination of physical tools and leadership skills, so he remains a viable candidate to be the first quarterback taken in the 2013 NFL Draft. (Rob Christy/US Presswire)
2. Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State:
The continuing trend of building a fortress down the middle of the defense certainly could lead to Hankins earning high marks from NFL evaluators across the league. At 6-3, 317 pounds, Hankins dominates offensive centers with his strength and power, and routinely spends time playing in the opponent's backfield. With the NFL trending toward the 3-4 as the defensive scheme of choice, Hankins is a player scouts will continue to view as a crown jewel. (Pat Lovell/US Presswire)
1. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah:
Elite defenses in the NFL are typically strong down the middle, so Lotulelei's ability to function as a "one-man wrecking crew" at defensive tackle makes him a coveted prospect. While his numbers (two sacks and seven tackles for loss) don't really jump off the page, a closer look at the tape reveals a blue-chip defender with the skills to transform a defense in the middle. (Alix Drawec/NFL)
More Photo Essays:
- Mind-Boggling Stats: Andrew Luck, career highlights
- Mind-Boggling Stats: How Daniel Jones' preseason stacks up vs. Manning, Mayfield
- 2019 NFL Preseason Week 3: Best photos
- 2019 NFL Preseason Week 2: Best photos
- NFL UK Flag champions
- 2019 NFL Preseason Week 1: Best photos
- 2019 Hall of Fame Portraits
- Hall of Famers and Legends in the community
- 2019 Hall of Fame week


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Deborah Haylor McDowell
Deborah Haylor McDowell is an Assistant Professor/Department Chair at Syracuse University, where she received a BFA and MFA, and is also the chairperson for the Department of Art and Photography at Onondaga Community College. Her work often references the art and traditions of Arabic, African, Egyptian and other cultures. She is actively involved in community cultural affairs.

subset: commoncrawl


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Out-of-State Motorcycle Classification
Effective July 1, 2009, Virginia law allows any person who holds a valid Virginia driver's license and is an active member, the spouse of a member, or a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Services stationed outside of Virginia to be issued a motorcycle classification by mail.
Active Duty Military/Spouse or Dependent of Active Duty Military
- Complete and sign the Driver's License Application, (Form DL1P). Note: You may also apply to register to vote or change your voter registration address by completing the appropriate sections on DL1P.
- Submit a copy of military orders, or a certification letter, on U.S. Government letterhead, signed by a commanding officer/supervisor, stating you are in the military service or a spouse or dependent of an active military person and where you are stationed.
- Submit a copy of your active duty military identification card (front and back).
- Submit your U.S. military-approved basic motorcycle rider training course certificate.
- Submit a $20.00 replacement fee, as well as, the $2 per year motorcycle classification fee (see chart below) for
each year of validity remaining on the driver's license either by check or by faxing a License, ID Card and Records Payment Authorization (form DMS 004).
License Expiration Classification Fee 1 year or less $2 Up to 2 years $4 Up to 3 years $6 Up to 4 years $8 Up to 5 years $10 Up to 6 years $12 Up to 7 years $14 Up to 8 years $16
- Provide a telephone number and an email address on documentation submitted for communication purposes, if necessary.
Forms DL1P and DMS 004 can be downloaded and printed. If you are unable to download forms, you may request an out of state motorcycle classification packet.
Submit completed information in the return envelope provided in the packet or mail directly to:
- Driver's License Preferred Services
- P. O. Box 27412
- Richmond, Virginia 23269-0001


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Consider this.
You are in your doctor's office and the tests have come back. The news is not good. The doctor tells you that you have cancer; surgery is essential followed by weeks of chemotherapy, radiation and potentially more treatment.
You take a deep breath. Mortality is not on your mind. Your own health and the struggle you face is secondary. What you fear most is the survival of your family, your children's expenses in school, the payment of your mortgage, credit card bills, and food being on the table.
Why? You have some savings. Your job is secure, yet a leave of absence would curtail income flow. You even have medical insurance. Yet the cost of cancer treatment, which can incur over months, possibly years, can, will and does wipe out most Americans financially.
Last Saturday evening in Newport Beach, a unique cancer foundation known as Beckstrand gathered its donors, organizers and a glittering contingent of famous Hollywood faces for a major fundraising gala at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.
They called it "An Evening at Moulin Rouge," the 2011 Diamond & Pearl Ball. Funds raised, a whopping $1.3 million in donations, will go to funding life essentials for people fighting cancer. Monies will pay rent, buy food, keep kids in school and in general assist cancer patients from facing total financial ruin as they fight for their lives.
It was an amazing event, even by Newport standards. Presenting sponsor Lugano Diamonds, represented by Moti and Idit Ferder and Stuart Winston, partnered with Beckstrand Executive Director Lil Spitzer to produce the event of the season on a French theme complete with can-can dancers galore.
Spitzer and staff, including Renee Leeson, Sarah Unke and Kaerie Ray, worked to support the phenomenal gala chair Renetta Caya, who is surely Newport's party planner extraordinaire. Caya's committee included Joni D'Amato, Cheryl Goldberg, Cindi Morales, Michaele Hall, Thomas Savage, Sophia Paliov and celebrity fashion designer Oday Shakar, to name a few. Shakar also dressed many of the stunning women in the crowd.
But it was not just the glamour of the party, or the fabulous menu or even the extravagant auction that helped to bring in the donations that made this event soar.
It was the love in the ballroom. The crowd opened their hearts and gave with their wallets because they got the message.
Enormous donations came from George and Eden O'Connell, Jay Hamrick, Dave and Holly Wilson, Patricia MacNamara, Mary Ellen Moschetti, Mike and Jan Salta, Keith and Mara Murray, Eva la Rue and Joe Cappucio, and chair Renetta Caya and husband Blaine.
Guests raised their hands and gave. The numbers were staggering: $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 and more.
Every dime matters. Beckstrand funds a multitude of programs including individual patient financial assistance, a relief holiday program, psychosocial pediatric program, art therapy, and a national scholarship program. That program assists young people in school who are both cancer survivors, as well as the children of parents fighting the disesse and facing financial hardships.
To focus attention on the cause, famous faces have lined up to offer support. On hand, the beautiful actress seriously dedicated to Beckstrand, Eva La Rue, co-star of the television series "CSI: Miami," serves as national spokeswoman for the organization.
La Rue was joined at the party by the gorgeous and hysterical comedic star Fran Drescher, star of "The Nanny" and the new TV series "Happily Divorced," which was created with former husband Peter Marc Jacobson and airs on TV Land. Drescher is a cancer survivor herself and penned a memoir of her personal struggle in a 2002 book titled "Cancer Schmancer."
The stars joined a lineup of honored local guests in the Beckstrand "Hall of Fame" such as ex-football player Rich Saul, Dr. Robert Dillman, Taylor Carol, Dr. Neil Barth, Dr. Simon Tchekmedijian and founder Dr. Grant Beckstrand. Also honored posthumously was SoCal businessman Tom Riach, who lost his cancer battle in 2006, and the beautiful young Mater Dei volleyball star Andi Collins, who died at just 16 from a rare form of breast cancer.
The incredible success of the event would not have been possible without the financial support of additional sponsors such as Fashion Island, Aston Martin, Donati Vineyards, The David S. Ascher Charitable Foundation, McCarthy Building, John Jory Corporation, Standard Drywall, Inc., James (Kimo) and Alison McCormick, Don and Mary Foster, among the generous.
Spotted in the crowd were Shelly Straight, Elisabetta Graff, Judy Klimek, Alana Lee, Grant Anthony and Tracy Di Giorgio. Actors front and center were Gilles Marini, Regina King, Adam Rodriguez, and Omar Benson Miller and one most exceptional young woman, Nicole Schulz, sharing her courageous personal cancer struggle and bringing the crowd literally to its knees. To learn more about the work of Beckstrand, please visit https://www.Beckstrandd.org.
THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.


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Page Welcome
SimpliWiki is a simplified wiki processor - go to simpliwiki.com/index.html - enter the name for your wiki - click "Wiki!" - voilà! Even more simple: - go to simpliwiki.com/index.htlm - click "Wiki!" Even even more simple: - kidding, we could not simplify further ++ Sure. But what is it? SimpliWiki is a tool, to create wikis. Wikipedia is the most famous wiki. It is also the largest one. Wikimedia was also created using a tool, called "mediawiki". "mediawiki" is a good tool to create large wikis. But for smaller wikis, SimpliWiki is easier to use, it is more accessible to beginners, it is not for "experts" only. If you are an expert in contact with beginners, you for sure know that wikis are still too difficult to use for most people. SimpliWiki is a simplified wiki editor, with all the essential features, but only the essential features. To try it: simpliwiki.com/index.html a guest - @jhr undefined - @jhr undefined - @jhr undefined -


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Biotechnology refers to harnessing the properties of a living organism to develop and manufacture products that benefit human life. With this minor, you will gain the basic knowledge and understanding of life science-based products, processes, and product quality to prepare you for employment opportunities in the area of biotechnology and biotech-manufacturing.
This minor is available to any Purdue University student majoring in a four-year degree baccalaureate degree program.
22 credit hours are required to complete the minor.
Required Courses
- BIOL 11200 Fundamentals of Biology I (2)
- BIOL 11300 Fundamentals of Biology II (2)
- IT 22600 Biotechnology Lab I (2)
- IT 22700 Biotechnology Lab II (2)
- BIOL 23000 The Biology of the Living Cell (3)
- BIOL 24100 Biology IV: Genetics and Molecular Biology (3)
- TLI 52100 Drug Discovery (3)
- CNIT 22700 Intro to Bioinformatics (3)
- IT 34200 Statistical Quality Control (3)
This interdisciplinary biotechnology initiative is the result of a partnership among the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and the Colleges of Science, Agriculture and Pharmacy.
More information about biotechnology
The combination of biological sciences with high technology applications is predicted to provide solutions to major national problems by creating new generations of industrial biotechnology with great potential for economic impact. There are current and projected shortages of graduates with the knowledge needed in the growing biotechnology industry; our minor in biotechnology will help meet these demands. This growth has resulted in an industry with a shortage of employees familiar with and skilled in the biotechnology field; and therefore, the offering of a biotechnology minor for Purdue students.
Although the biotechnology field has existed for nearly a century, scientific advances have caused exponential growth over the past decade.
- $26 billion increase in revenue for United States biotech industries from 1992-2001
- $14 billion increase in private investment in biotech firms from 1992 to 2003
- 187 biotech products manufactured in the United States in 2002; 22 products were on the market in 1993
Among the wide-range of biotech products and processes being researched and manufactured include:
- Biomaterials for tissue engineering and reengineering blood vessels, ligaments, and skin
- Release devices for the delivery of drugs, peptides, and proteins
- Microbes to clean up contaminated soil and groundwater
- Edible vaccines
- Crops that thrive in a wide range of conditions
- DNA-based forensic technologies that let the innocent go free and bring criminals to justice


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New Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid
New Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid with two propulsion systems are carrying-capacity gasoline engine 3.5 L 340 hp V6-powered and two electric motors equipped with an automatic transmission. Technology on two electric motors ML450 same as that applied by the GM. The first electric motor functioning as a driver beginning from gasoline to electricity, while the second motor accelerate. Electricity in a battery charging system just like the Toyota Prius. Charging the battery back on 288-volt nickel-metal located at the rear of this operation when performed braking (hard) or deceleration.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Step 2 – Learn to Skate
- Location: Auburn - Horgan Arena
- Day: Wed
- Season: 2019 Fall I
- Time: 4-4:50pm
- Age: 7 to 15
- Start Date: Sep 11
- Special Event: Friend & Family Skate
- Notes: Last session 10/30
Skaters ages 7 to 15 who master the skills in Step 1 advance to Step 2. Skaters continue the fun, learning basic movement, balance and coordination!
In stock
Product Description
- Arrive 15-20 minutes prior to the program start
- Be sure to adhere to all prerequisites and equipment
- Warm, comfortable layers that allow for movement, long
sleeves & pants, gloves or mittens are recommended; little ones should
wear waterproof items
- You are welcome to bring your own skates although
double blade skates are not permitted
- A program's price represents the total package value of
classes, inclusions and special events
- Special Events will occur towards the end of a season
and may be scheduled on a different day or time than the original class
- An ISI (Ice Sports Industry) membership is included a
$15 value
- Additional skating opportunities (events, programs,
discounts, private lessons and more) may be available
have questions? Call 1-888-74-SKATE or see the Contact Us tab for contact
information of the Program Supervisor to your location
As a Step 2 skater, your classes will include preparations for a short exhibition of skills as a group during that season's Special Event. After week 4, you'll be given a special invitation and encouraged to invite friends and family friends to come see how great you skate! For more information, please call 1-888-74-SKATE or see your Program Supervisor.


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Hi folks
I'm not a new member, but it's been a long time since I was a Fronty owner so I thought I'd reintroduce myself.
I'm Colin, I live in Northern Ireland and I've just got my 3rd fronty.
I started with a Series A Sport, then built a pretty tough Series A LWB called Brutus and then moved on to a monster Trooper (called Tonka).
Now I have picked up (after asking the owner for a decade to give it to me) a 2000 2.2 petrol Limited estate. The owner called it 'Bling', but that's not going to work for me, so kids are working on a new name.
The new car has a lot of issues:
Chassis rot around rear trailing arm - needs major welding
Body rot - front wings, sills, door frame bottoms, few panel spots - needs some fabrication and lots of repair
Engine - needs seriously serviced, exhaust manifold gasket replaced, squealing pulley identified and replaced, probably do timing belt too
Interior needs a lot of cleaning - was a horse-hauler for 13 years so it's had a lot of smelly stuff in it
Speedo faulty as is fuel guage - looking into that repair job now...
Audio upgrade
A few wee trim and electrical fixes
Want to lift it on springs and tweaking the front bars, fit probably 31" A/T tyres on the 16" rims, maybe get an engine protection plate made in alloy from the plastic one as a template
And then drive the sucker.
Expect me popping up here and there with queries or begging posts when I'm stuck with my arm in some crevice on the car...
It's good to be back.
Previous rides:
http://www.itocuk.co.uk/forums/viewtopi ... sc&start=0


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Golden Heart Senior Care Services
When you need high quality care for a few hours a day or 24 hours seven days a week, Golden Heart Senior Care will be there. We have certified/licensed, compassionate caregivers for companion care, personal care, and homecare services; and, specialized caregivers for Alzheimer's, dementia, and chronically ill clients as well.
We offer a wide variety of services that are tailored to meet your needs and no minimum-hour requirements:


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Decoraport is dedicated to reform Home&Garden retailing with a New Retailing System (Online+Showroom+Delivery, no traditional stores), so our middle costs and final prices are much lower than competitors. To know more, click on New Retailing System.
Decoraport is dedicated to offer quality&stylish products sold in traditional specialty stores. To know more about Decoraport, please click on Our Branding or check out our Facebook or Instagram Page. We offer special benefits for our D-Fans.
59 In Freestanding Bathtub - Acrylic Pure White (DK-PW-K33572)
- This pure white bathtub will improve the grade of your bathroom. The design is fashionable, acrylic material is solid, easy to clean and install.
- Style: freestanding.
- Material: acrylic.
- Drain location: side.
- Drainpipe: 1pc.
- Application: indoor tub.
- Overflow is included. Faucet is not included.
|Pure White
|Item Length
|59.0 In.
|Item Width
|28.0 In.
|Item Height
|28.0 In.
|Item Weight
|72.8 Lbs.
|Package Length
|64.0 In.
|Package Width
|31.0 In.
|Package Height
|31.0 In.
|Package Weight
|94.8 Lbs.
|Others Inside
|1 * Drainpipe
- Shipping Options:
- Standard Delivery. We use Canada Post/UPS/Fedex for delivery.
- Scheduled Delivery. We use Home Delivery Carriers/UPS/Fedex for delivery.
- Pick up in our warehouse. ID and invoice is required for picking up.
- Pre-Sale Estimated Delivery Time:
Estimated Delivery Time is the ocean shipping time for the goods arriving our warehouses. In 5 days before arrival, we will confirm the exact arrival date on site.
- Pre-Order Estimated Delivery Time:
Estimated Delivery Time is the ocean shipping time for the goods arriving our warehouses. In 5 days before arrival, we will inform customers the exact arrival date.
Share Your Shopping Experience to Earn DECORAPOINTs!
Submit a review and upload a product photo to earn 500 DECORAPOINTs for each order.See Details>>


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How Toyota Is Using Patents To Slow The Growth Of Hybrid Vehicles
from the what-a-shame deptSlashdot points us to a WSJ story about how Toyota has purposely built up a patent thicket so thick that basically no one can build hybrid vehicles without paying up:
Since it started developing the gas-electric Prius more than a decade ago, Toyota has kept its attorneys just as busy as its engineers, meticulously filing for patents on more than 2,000 systems and components for its best-selling hybrid. Its third-generation Prius, which hit showrooms in May, accounts for about half of those patents alone.Defenders of the patent system often say that there's no problem: others should just "invent around" the patents. But when companies create a patent thicket like this, that makes it effectively impossible. The end result? We all lose. This makes it that much more expensive and difficult for others to innovate, because they need to allocate money to Toyota, rather than to their own innovations. It slows down Toyota as well, since it's devoting so much time and effort to lawyers. And it massively slows down the market. Rather than competing on innovation and a better product, the focus is on patents. And since it slows down competitors it means Toyota doesn't need to innovate as fast either. In the meantime... not only does the economy suffer, but so does the environment.
Toyota's goal: to make it difficult for other auto makers to develop their own hybrids without seeking licensing from Toyota, as Ford Motor Co. already did to make its Escape hybrid and Nissan Motor Co. has for its Altima hybrid.
Of course, we can't just blame Toyota for this. It's the system that created such a scenario. In fact, Toyota recently went through a long and arduous patent battle with someone else over patents held by that guy -- resulting in Toyota having to pay a tax on every hybrid it makes. So, perhaps it's no wonder that it's trying to gobble up as many patents as possible around hybrids, if only to have the necessary "stockpile" for future patent battles against competitors. Once again, it's the entire patent system that's leading to this questionable result that harms everyone... except the lawyers, of course.
Filed Under: hybrid vehicles, patent thicket, patents
Companies: toyota


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On this day — does a religious revival in Houston signal an increasing interest by Perry in the presidency; the House prepares to vote on a school finance proposal and teachers groups promise a large rally against the proposed cuts; the Chronicle's Nick Anderson cartoons about John Edwards love child; Sen. Wendy Davis gets profiled in 'The Clips;' and in 'EXTRA!,' how tax cuts became GOP orthodoxy.
Wherever you are, whenever you need it — get the latest from the Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News Austin Bureau by subscribing to our RSS feed, following us on Twitter and Tumblr, and get the latest in your Facebook newsfeed by liking us on Facebook.
***There's Gonna Be A Revival
The Dallas Morning News' Wayne Slater reports that Gov. Rick Perry has invited the country's other 49 governors and evangelical leaders for a 'non-political' event to pray for the nation.
"Given the trials that beset our nation and the world, from the global economic downturn to natural disasters, the lingering danger of terrorism and continued debasement of our culture, I believe it is time to convene the leaders from each of our United States in a day of prayer and fasting," Perry said in the letter.
Such an event would allow Perry to build his profile with Christian conservatives, a group that play a key role in Republican primary politics, especially in the South and the Midwest. The playbill for the call to prayer hits all of the notes that a candidate seeking the GOP nomination would be expected to hit (see: debasement of society). And the venue selection — Reliant Stadium (a football stadium) — indicates that organizers are aiming to make a splash with the event. Again, quoting from Slater's story:
East Texas evangelical leader and Perry supporter Rick Scarborough said the governor has support among religious conservatives, an important constituency in picking the GOP nominee.
"Once the word gets out that he's doing this, evangelicals and anybody with the same moral perspective will be on his bandwagon," Scarborough, president of Vision America, said, referring to the Houston event.
***School Funding Showdown
Saturday, teachers groups and parents rallied in small numbers at the Capitol on Saturday to protest the House's consideration of a Senate plan, which would fundamentally change how schools are funded in the state. They promise to return today in larger numbers. Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News reporters Gary Scharrer and Nolan Hicks write:
House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, said he understands the concern about school budget cuts.
"This is a work in progress. We continue to see what we can do to fund public schools," Pitts said after the protesters chanted noisily outside his committee room.
For the first time in modern history, the state is not adding funding for the additional 170,000 students expected to enter public schools over the next two years. In fact, the proposal cuts money for school districts by $4 billion over the next two years from what they would get under current law.
"There's not enough money, if we don't," committee member Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, emphasized.
Below the fold — a cartoon by Nick Anderson, Patti Hart on how this education deal wouldn't have flown under Bob Bullock's leadership; and in 'EXTRA!,' remembering the start of the HIV epidemic, 30 years later
***Nick Anderson on Edwards as 'Dad-da'
***The Clips
– The Texas Tribune's Emily Ramshaw profiles Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, (pictured right) who has become on of the few Democratic stars to emerge from this session even though she's lost her district.
Some suggest it was a final hurrah for a Democrat angry over her party's increasing ineffectiveness in a Legislature run by Republicans — and the recent GOP-led redistricting that severely threatens her reelection. They say if a special session moves the ball on school funding at all, it will be minimal, and instead opens the door for Perry's other priorities, including the "sanctuary cities" immigration measure Senate Democrats successfully fended off during the regular session. And even if nothing changes with the school finance plan, they argue, at least parents, teachers and school districts will have the opportunity to challenge it.
"There's a false bravado there — and no end game," said Bill Hammond, a former Republican legislator and president of the Texas Association of Business. "Once the people realize what she has wrought, they'll see the folly in her efforts."
But others say it's a watershed moment for a rising political star, who gave new life to disheartened Democrats with her efforts to derail a fly-by-night school finance plan, and lit up the Twittersphere with speculation about a Wendy Davis run for "U.S. Senate/Governor/President/Queen of the Universe/Whatever She Wants." They argue laying the blame for a special session on Davis is ridiculous, because Perry already intended to call one for windstorm insurance and congressional redistricting.
"This decision to filibuster, and the visibility and scrutiny it will bring along with it, will give people the opportunity to really see her credentials," said Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston. "There's no question she's articulate and well-educated, but now she's also perceived as gutsy."
– The Tribune's Ross Ramsey writes about how things really haven't changed all that much from the state of the session.
– The Houston Chronicle's Patti Hart writes that the proposed changes to public education are symbolic of a much bigger shift afoot.
The GOP leadership has downplayed the impact of this change, arguing that lawmakers have always made public schools a priority. But the very reason this school finance bill is necessary is to free the state from owing about $4 billion under current formulas.
To some, including Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, this is sound policy. Last week, he called the school finance proposal "a true cut in an entitlement."
Note the use of that dirty word — entitlement — as if public education is some kind of welfare, not the underpinning of democracy envisioned by Thomas Jefferson.
This school finance bill is a tipping point for the Texas public education system. If the state's obligation to local schools is no longer carved in statute, public education funding becomes vulnerable to last-minute budget balancing by 10 lawmakers on a conference committee. If they decide to trim a couple of billion from education, the other 171 members of the Legislature have little voice.
– The Washington Post looks at how cutting taxes became even more important than balancing the budget in mainstream Republican circles.
– The San Francisco Chronicle takes a look back at the HIV/AIDS epidemic, 30 years after the first cases were diagnosed.
The tapestry of the HIV/AIDS epidemic has changed dramatically since that first report, and in the United States at least, doctors and patients have begun to consider HIV infection a chronic condition instead of a death sentence. More than 30 drugs are available to treat HIV infection, and those drugs in most people can almost completely suppress the virus to the point that it's virtually undetectable in the blood.
The development of antiretroviral drugs completely turned around the AIDS epidemic in the United States. The worst of the illness is now in Africa, where roughly two-thirds of the world's HIV cases are located.
Much recent research into the epidemic has turned toward prevention, with several major successes reported in recent years, doctors and patient advocates say. In the United States, there's a new, sometimes-reluctant sense of optimism and anticipation, they say. There is serious talk about ending the epidemic in the not-too-distant future.
– Gawker reports that an Oklahoma family shot-up with meth during a get-together in the back of their car and that their daughter died from an overdose stemming from the drug usage. The mother and her boyfriend have been convicted of various charges stemming from the incident.


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Cabana 9 - Lulu Dk
Cabana 9 - Lulu Dk
These surfboards are beautifully wild and unapologetically eclectic with colour. Designed in collaboration with Lulu DK, whose art is inspired by both Mother Nature and her relationship with her own mother.
Lulu was commissioned to elevate the adult pool at The Cove at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas. Her creativity and passion for life is evident in the youthful, fun and modern atmosphere she has created, drawing into her designs vibrant colour, as well as the royal blue of The Cove Pool and the turquoise of the ocean. She has designed a space where guests feel a sense of magic, and where possibilities are endless.
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Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University Athletics Department will host the 2011 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, at FSU's Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.
The 31st annual women's postseason event and 54th annual men's championships will feature approximately 300 student-athletes and kick off with the women's 6,000-meter (6K) race at 11 a.m. (EDT). The men's 10,000-meter (10K) event will follow at 12 p.m. (EDT) with the post-race awards ceremony set to begin around 1:30 p.m. (EDT). Admission to the event is free of charge and open to the public. Parking will be $5 and located on the property.
The regional field will include 23 men's teams and 24 women's squads from the Midwest Region, which encompasses all schools located in both the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The top four team finishers in the women's division and top three men's teams as well as the top two individuals not associated with one of those squads will automatically qualify for the 2011 NCAA-II Championships set for Saturday, Nov. 19, at Spokane, Wash. Seven runners will compete per team in the scoring race with the top seven overall finishers attaining first-team all-region recognition.
Katke Golf Course, a university-owned 18-hole golf course situated on the western flank of the Ferris State campus, serves as the home site for all Bulldog cross country along with men's and women's golf events. The course is named after Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Katke, whose generous donation influenced campus development and the initial phase of the golf course. Katke, a friend of Ferris and a Mecosta County native, was vice president for manufacturing of the Ford Motor Company and a 1967 recipient of an honorary degree from FSU.
Katke, which opened in 1974, recently played host to the 2005 NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Championship and the 2008 NCAA-II Midwest Regional Cross Country Championships along with both the 2004 and 2007 NCAA Division II East Regional Women's Golf Championships. Both the men's and women's races will start and finish on Katke's 18th hole near the clubhouse.
Last season (2010), Grand Valley State captured both the men's and women's crowns at the NCAA-II Midwest Regional Championships (11/20), which were hosted by Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky. The Bulldog women took second place in the regional field a year ago while qualifying for the national championships for the third consecutive campaign.
Among the teams to watch in the women's division are GVSU and
FSU, which are ranked first and second, respectively, in the latest
(Oct. 25) NCAA Division II Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches
Association Midwest Regional Rankings. They were followed by
GLVC members Southern Indiana (3rd), Bellarmine (4th) and
Wisconsin-Parkside (5th) in the top five.
Nationally, Grand Valley State is the defending NCAA-II National Champion in women's cross country and is ranked second in the country with FSU currently listed sixth after being as high as third before the Lakers edged out the Bulldogs to win the GLIAC Championship two weeks ago (Oct. 22) in Ashland, Ohio. USI (18th), Bellarmine (20th) and UWP (24th) are also ranked nationally heading into the regional.
On the men's side, GVSU is ranked third nationally with Southern Indiana sixth, Bellarmine 17th and Ashland 24th. Those four teams also hold down the top four spots in the most recent regional listing with Wayne State fifth and Ferris State sixth going into the regional.
The women's race will include Ferris State's Tina Muir, a three-time All-American who has won the Midwest Regional individual title each of the last two years and claimed the GLIAC's individual crown two weeks ago. Southern Indiana's Jackie Henderson was the GLVC Champion at the league' conference meet last week (Oct. 28) in Evansville, Ind. She placed sixth in last year's regional field.
In the men's field, Southern Indiana took the top three individual spots in winning the GLVC Championship and is led by conference champion Brendan Devine. Grand Valley State also had the top three men's finishers in the GLIAC with Anthony Witt claiming the men's individual title for the Lakers. He was second overall a year ago at the regional.
Grand Valley State won both the men's and women's GLIAC titles this season while Southern Indiana had the top men's and women's teams in the GLVC.
Ferris State's women captured second place while the Bulldog men took fourth overall at the 2011 GLIAC Championships. The FSU women's team placed eighth nationally a year ago at the 2011 NCAA-II National Championships under head coach Steve Picucci after earning runner-up honors at the regional event.


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October 2006
Isalo National Park, Madagascar. Photo: Bernard Gagnon.
"It's a dream come true to me to have this kind of group assembled," said Anne Yoder, professor of biology at Duke University and director of the Duke Lemur Center, speaking to 26 scientists who had come from all over the United States as well as England, France, Finland, Germany, and Madagascar to meet for three days in June 2006 in Durham, North Carolina.1 The group included botanists, zoologists, ecologists, paleontologists, molecular biologists, statisticians, computer modelers, and taxonomists. What drew this diverse group together? A fascination with Madagascar and with evolution.
Madagascar: Evolutionary hotspot
In Yoder's words, "Madagascar has often been described as one of the world's greatest natural laboratories for the study of evolution." An island 400 kilometers off the eastern coast of South Africa, Madagascar is only about the size of Texas, yet it contains an astonishing collection of plants and animals that are characterized by
- diversity: an estimated 200,000 animal species are present2
- endemism: most Madagascar species occur only in Madagascar; 7 of at least 160 plant families on the island live nowhere else3
- imbalance: some globally widespread taxonomic groups are absent, while others are unusually diverse
All of the island's mammals, not counting bats, are endemic. Madagascar supports at least 50 different species of lemurs, which are primates that live nowhere else on Earth, but no monkeys or apes live there. More than 95 percent of Madagascar's reptile and amphibian species are endemic. Out of 28 frog families worldwide, only three live on the island. But within these three families, there are more than 300 species. Some amphibians and reptiles are conspicuously absent: No salamanders or vipers live in Madagascar.4
There are at least 12,000 different plant species and more are identified every year. The endemic Madagascar periwinkle plant has become well known because it is used in medicine to treat childhood leukemia. According to George Schatz of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, "We really don't have any idea how many plant species are in Madagascar. It may go to 14,000 or 16,000." Texas, by comparison, contains about 5,500 plant species.
Threats to Madagascar's flora and fauna
Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than 18 million people live there, and the population is growing rapidly. The vast majority of Malagasy people (as inhabitants of Madagascar are called) eke out an existence supported by slash-and-burn agriculture. Farmers clear a plot of land, cultivate it for a few years until the soil is depleted, then move on to clear another patch of forest. Forest is also burned to provide grazing areas for cattle and logged for construction materials, firewood, and charcoal production.5
Humans arrived on the island only about 2,000 years ago but have already left a heavy mark:
- It is estimated that only 10 to 15 percent of the island's habitat remains undisturbed.
- Deforestation has caused massive erosion, as the island's soils wash into the ocean.
- To add to the ecological disaster, many animals are illegally hunted for meat or for the international pet trade.
- On top of it all, global climate change looms as a serious threat.
Michelle Zjhra, of Georgia Southern University, who studies Madagascar's trees, said, "Since I've been collecting, the number of these species has gone way up, which means we're only just finding the tip of the iceberg. We're racing against the clock to document the diversity."
To date about 2.7 percent of Madagascar's land area (16,131 km2) is officially protected.6 In response to the ecological crisis, in 2003 the president of Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, announced he would triple the amount of land under protection in his country before 2008.
Scientists convene
Ravalomanana's announcement has generated a lot of interest in the scientific community; scientists hope their knowledge of the evolutionary history of the island's biota will help identify the best areas to protect.
Yoder and Claire Kremen, assistant professor in the department of environmental science, policy, and management at the University of California-Berkeley, called together the international group in June at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) in Durham, North Carolina, with these goals:
- to share and compare their research on the evolutionary history of Madagascar's plants and animals
- to organize small collaborative working groups
- to apply their knowledge to help identify conservation priorities in Madagascar
Like birds of a feather, scientists tend to spend most of their professional meeting time with their own kind, gathering at conferences sponsored by groups such as the Geological Society of America and the American Society for Microbiology. The NESCent meeting, in contrast, brought together a variety of different specialists. Joel Kingsolver, NESCent's associate director, explained, "We're interested in getting people together who may not have met before and fostering new collaborations."
Studying the unusual
Yoder and Kremen hope the NESCent meeting will jumpstart data-sharing among scientists to help figure out in more detail what geological events, climatic conditions, and evolutionary processes led to Madagascar's present-day assemblage of plants and animals.
There's no easy answer to how evolutionary processes led to such an unusual biota, but several factors clearly play a role:
- geographic isolation
- size—Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world
- variety of habitats, including desert, rain forest, mountainous regions, and seashore
- tropical location
Because of the island's isolation, Madagascar's organisms follow their own evolutionary paths with little or no competition or genetic exchange with the world's other plants and animals. The size of the island and wide variety of habitats provide many different niches for different species to fill. The tropical location may allow evolution to proceed faster: Scientists in New Zealand announced this spring that among the 45 plant species they studied, molecular changes in DNA (which drive evolution) occur at a faster rate in tropical climates compared to temperate ones.7
The geological story of Madagascar's isolation
Millions of years ago, Madagascar was part of a large continent called Gondwana. What would later become Madagascar was nestled between parts of what would later become South America, Africa, India, Antarctica, and Australia. About 165 million years ago, Gondwana began to break up. After separating from Africa and the other continents, Madagascar and India remained joined until 88 million years ago, when India split away and headed on a collision course to Asia. Since then, Madagascar has been on its own.
This is currently the most widely accepted theory, but new fossil evidence has led some scientists to speculate that land bridges connected Antarctica to the southern tip of South America as well as to the southern tip of India-Madagascar for 40 million years or more after Madagascar and Africa parted ways.
The Mozambique Channel, which separates Madagascar and Africa, is so deep that even during times of low sea level there was no land bridge between the two. That means that plants and animals living in Madagascar today have either evolved from what was there when it first became isolated or evolved from individuals that arrived on Madagascar's shores after floating, swimming, rafting, or flying across the Mozambique Channel—a mechanism called "waif dispersal."
"Entire trees may have been dislodged from a west African mangrove [forest], rafted across, and germinated on the Madagascar shore," said Kobinah Abdul-Salim, a botanist at Ohio State University. Other plants and animals could have hitched rides on rafting trees. Animals might have flown or swum. While waif dispersal seems highly unlikely, it only has to happen once or twice for a particular organism to establish a new colony. Once established, the new colony has virtually no contact with the parent colony in Africa, allowing the daughter colony to follow a different evolutionary path.
Given any particular plant or animal in Madagascar, how do scientists figure out whether it evolved from an organism that was present on the island when it first became isolated, or from an organism that arrived by means of waif dispersal? Here are the first steps:
- construct an evolutionary tree of the organism and related groups
- add dates to different branches of the tree, if possible
- pinpoint the geographic locations of relatives, called "sister groups," living in other parts of the world today
Constructing evolutionary trees using genetic analysis
New genetic techniques have given scientists new ways to construct evolutionary trees. In the past, scientists primarily compared physical characteristics of organisms. Those that shared similar physical characteristics were assumed to be more closely related than those that didn't. Fossils were placed on the tree the same way.
Today, scientists compare DNA samples from living species. The molecular structure of DNA from closely related species is more alike than the DNA of distantly related species.
Genetic studies uncover surprising relationships. Bart Buyck, of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, who studies fungi, said, "For two centuries, the whole systematics [of fungi] has been based on what they look like. With the arrival of molecular techniques, we know now this system is worthless. For example, what were supposed to be different families before are now a single genus." Even for animals such as frogs and ants, genetic analysis is showing that some look-alike species are not as closely related as previously believed, whereas some species have one or more very different forms (males and females, for example).
Genetic analysis is quickly being adopted by more and more evolutionary scientists. Miguel Vences, an expert on Malagasy frogs who works at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, said, "It's amazing to see how much has been done in the past five years. In the next couple of years, if we work on it, we could get a lot more [data]."
Assigning dates to evolutionary trees
The two most common ways of putting ages on the branches of an evolutionary tree are to use fossil ages or the more recent method using DNA evidence.
Unfortunately, according to paleontologist David Krause, from Stony Brook University, "The fossil record for Madagascar stinks." He should know: He's been going on fossil hunting expeditions in Madagascar for about a dozen years. Many of the rocks and sediments in Madagascar are not suitable for preserving fossils; there are virtually no fossils between 26,000 years old and 65 million years old. Krause digs up fossils about 70 million years old. What he's found indicates that the faunal community living in Madagascar then was not as endemic nor as imbalanced as today. Many are similar to fossils of the same age found in South America and India. Most do not appear to be ancestors of the animals in Madagascar today. Some people speculate that many of Madagascar's animals became extinct 65 million years ago as a result of the same meteor impact that doomed the dinosaurs, but there's currently no solid evidence for this.
In the absence of fossils, scientists sometimes use "molecular clocks" to put dates on evolutionary trees. The assumption is that mutations in DNA occur at more or less regular rates through time, so the number of differences in the DNA between two species can be used to infer the amount of time that has passed since the two species diverged from one another. In recent years, it's become obvious that most mutations do not occur at regular rates, so this method is not infallible. However, modern statistical methods have allowed scientists to use molecular clock data in conjunction with fossil data to produce ever more precise age estimates.
Comparing sister groups
Even when fossil or DNA dates are not available, scientists can look at sister groups to figure out where a Malagasy species arose. Sister groups are different branches of an evolutionary tree that share a common ancestor. (All life forms share a common ancestor, but evolutionary scientists are usually looking at the most recent one for two or more particular groups.)
If a sister group of a particular Malagasy species lives in South America, for example, scientists speculate that both groups evolved from an ancestor that lived on Gondwana before it split apart. If the only sister group is in Africa, and the divergence between the two groups appears to have occurred fairly recently, then the species likely evolved from individuals that arrived in Madagascar by means of waif dispersal.
The results so far
Scientists think there are only a handful of terrestrial groups in Madagascar today that evolved from Gondwanan animals—some turtles, boas, and iguanas. These animals are most closely related to animals that live in South America. Most other Malagasy animals appear to have descended from animals that arrived on the island from Africa in the more recent past. For example, there are four main groups of nonflying mammals in Madagascar:
Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur (Varecia variegata) at Dudley Zoo, England. Photo: Creative Commons, flickr member jo-h's.
- tenrecs (insect-eating shrewlike mammals)
- lemurs
- carnivorans (such as the fossa, a catlike relative of the mongoose)
- a subset of rodents
Each of these groups has been shown, through DNA analysis, to be the direct descendents of groups of animals in Africa. Dating techniques, including fossil work and molecular clock data, indicate that the species in all four groups most likely arose after Madagascar became isolated.
If waif dispersal explains the presence of most organisms present on the island today, then it is not surprising that the biota is so imbalanced. It would be more surprising if representatives from all common tropical taxonomic groups had managed to make the unlikely trip, survive, and flourish.
Working together to fill in the blanks
Evolutionary scientists would like to know more about the sequence of arrival of various groups in Madagascar, which would help explain the unusual present-day collection and evolutionary processes in general. What if a plant washes up on shore, but its natural pollinator is not present? What if a newly arrived animal finds its preferred niche already filled or is faced with a new predator? As scientists continue to refine the evolutionary trees of different organisms, a sequence of arrival will start to emerge, and some of these questions can be addressed.
Sometimes the evolutionary tree of one organism can illuminate something about another organism. Plants and their specialist herbivores are a good example. David Lees, a butterfly specialist from the Natural History Museum in London, said, "We don't know when butterflies originated. Recently people have made claims for early origins of butterflies—84 million years ago, or between 82.5 million and 95 million years ago. This seems to me to ignore that the fossil record of the host plants is far better. The plants that some of these butterflies feed on are not that old."
Lees and other meeting attendees plan to form a working group to compare the evolution of plants and their pollinators in Madagascar. Another member of the working group, Michelle Zjhra, asked, "Do the [evolutionary] patterns in the trees correspond to the patterns of the lemurs that disperse the fruit?" Lemurs, who eat the fleshy fruit of many trees, are significant pollinators and dispersers of trees in Madagascar.
By synthesizing the evolutionary data available so far on Malagasy plants and their pollinators or dispersers, be they butterflies, hawkmoths, or lemurs, the researchers hope to address questions about how the evolution of one group affects or responds to the evolution of other groups. Lees and Zjhra also hope their work will inspire others to do research in Madagascar.
Sharing data leads to discoveries
One of the most exciting moments in the meeting came when David Vieites, of the University of California-Berkeley, presented his brand-new reconstruction of past habitats in Madagascar. ("This is all new stuff," he said. "I just finished working on it last night.") Using information about worldwide climate inferred from dated pollen samples from all over the world, Vieites assembled maps of Madagascar in different geologic time periods, showing the changing locations and extents of habitats.
When Vieites showed the group the maps, someone shouted out, "There's Brian's lost rain forest!" Indeed, the Pleistocene map showed a tiny patch of rain forest at the southern tip of Madagascar. Just the day before, ant expert Brian Fisher had told the group about some rain forest ants that live deep in rock crevasses in southern Madagascar, an area that's currently arid. He had speculated a rain forest must have been there in the past. Vieites said of his maps: "It's very preliminary. We need to calculate the error. But it is very promising. The ant people, the plant people, the butterfly people were happy with it."
Improving conservation plans
Claire Kremen studies Malagasy butterflies and computer habitat modeling at the University of California-Berkeley. She is particularly interested in using computer models to help prioritize areas for preservation. It's an endeavor fraught with unknowns. Scientists are trying to work out which attributes are most important when evaluating the value of a piece of land as a preserve:
- size
- shape
- connections to other preserves
- number of species that live there
- number of individual organisms that live there
- ratio of rare to common species
- diversity of habitats
- stability or fluctuation of habitat type over geologic time
- presence or absence of habitat degradation by humans
- presence or absence of features that encourage the development of new species
There are other questions as well. Does protecting land for the benefit of one species protect other species too? It has long been assumed that protecting large "charismatic" species, such as tigers, would automatically help smaller species. Recent computer modeling by Craig Moritz of the University of California-Berkeley indicates that preserving parcels of land to best protect large vertebrates would not necessarily do a good job protecting invertebrates, whereas conserving habitat for invertebrates might have a positive impact on larger organisms.
And what about global climate change, which will likely disrupt many habitats whether they are in national parks or not? Craig Moritz asked, "Should we prepare for recovery from climate change? Can we locate geographical areas that might drive diversification of species?"
No one knows the answers to these questions. But as these scientists and others continue to piece together the evolutionary history of Madagascar, what they learn will help predict the conditions that are necessary to protect Madagascar's plants and animals—and the evolutionary processes that produced them—in the future.
Anne Yoder summed up her hopes this way: "How are we going to take this magnificent biota and save it? That's my dream for what's going to come out of this meeting."
© 2006, American Institute of Biological Sciences. Educators have permission to reprint articles for classroom use; other users, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com for reprint permission. See reprint policy.


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Brandywine hosts Spring Soiree, benefiting campus students
Penn State Brandywine's annual Spring Soiree will be held on Friday, April 12 at the Phoenixville Foundry in Phoenixville. This formal event is from 7-11 p.m. and is open to the public. The Spring Soiree brings friends, alumni and the community together for an exciting night of celebration and entertainment. All proceeds benefit Penn State Brandywine students. Last year's Soiree raised more than $40,000 for student scholarships.


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Feb. 14, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team began its three-game series at San Diego State with a 5-3 loss Friday night in front of 761 at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
Santa Clara started the scoring in the top of the first inning as Jason Matteucci reached on a fielder's choice and was later singled home by Scott Shapiro, giving the Broncos a 1-0 lead. After reaching on the fielder's choice, Matteucci moved to second on a delayed steal and had no problem scoring on Shapriro's sharp single to left field.
San Diego State tied it up in the bottom half of the first as James Guerrero singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored on Peter Stonard's double down the left field line, but Stonard was called out by first base umpire Mike Allen on an appeal by the Broncos who claimed Stonard did not touch first base as he tried to leg out the double. The appeal was upheld and the Broncos got out of the inning on the very next pitch as Jake McLintock flied out to centerfield to end the first.
The Broncos added two more in the top of the third inning extending their lead to 3-1. Joe Diefenderfer singled to leadoff the inning and was moved to second base when A.J. LaBarbera was hit by a Joe Carque pitch. With runners at first and second, Matteucci hammered a long fly ball off the right field wall for a double, scoring both Diefenderfer and LaBarbera.
The Aztecs trimmed the SCU lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning as Jordan Swaydan led off the inning with a single. He advanced to second on a throwing error by Shawn Epidendio on a failed pick off attempt. Swaydan scored an unearned run two batters later as Anthony Gwynn registered the team's third hit of the inning. Starting pitcher Matt Travis got out of the inning on the next batter however, getting James Guerrrero to ground into his second double play of the evening.
SDSU tied the score at three apiece in the seventh inning as Chad Corona led off the inning with a double and scored two batters later on pinch hitter Josh Allen's double down the left field line. Allen moved to third on a single from David Hall and scored one batter later when Gwynn picked up an RBI on his groundout to shortstop, giving the Aztecs their first lead of the game at 4-3.
The Broncos threatened in the top of the eighth as Shapiro singled, Jim Wallace was hit by a pitch and Michael Thompson walked, bringing up Epidendio. Relief pitcher Will Miller closed the door on the potential rally, striking out Epidendio looking to end the inning.
San Diego State added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Jake McLintock reached base on a single and scored one batter later as Rielly Embrey singled to left field. On the single, Diefenderfer came up with a glove full of grass, allowing McLinktock to score from first base on the error, giving the Aztecs a 5-3 lead heading into the ninth inning.
Santa Clara mounted a small rally in the ninth as Jack Headley doubled to left center field and scored two batters later on a LaBarbera single, but could score no more as Miller picked up his second save of the year.
Jensen improved to 1-0 on the season after allowing only one hit in one full inning of work while Miller picked up his second save of the year after throwing 1 1/3 innings in which he allowed one run on two hits. Starter Joe Carque threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits while walking three and striking out one.
Anthony Rea took the loss for the Broncos as he allowed one run and two hits while facing only two batters in relief. Travis threw 6 1/3 innings in which he allowed only two earned runs on three hits while striking out five and walking none. Chad Fillinger threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits to go with his one strikeout.
The Broncos dropped to 5-5 on the year while the Aztecs improved to 4-4. The same two teams will play game two of the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.


text:
Welcome to Hi Tech Auto Wash!
Hi Tech Auto Wash provides a state of the art self-serve carwash facility that is designed for customer convenience. The convenience begins with easy access, a clearly marked traffic flow, and lots of room to move around (even for those larger pick-up trucks and SUVs). It continues with easy to read signage to direct you into our large, clean, bright bays and lead you clearly through the wash process. Whether you choose our easy to use self-serve bays for the do-it-your-selfer or our fully automatic "touchless" bay you will find the equipment to be state-of-the-art, clean, and easy to operate; ultimately providing you with an exceptionally clean vehicle and an enjoyable experience!
Customer Value Cards
Purchase prepaid value cards and gift cards at the CVC or visit the wash and purchase them from our glass front vendor. Remember, save your card and simply recharge it at Charge.
Hi Tech Auto Wash
3924 Lockport Olcott Rd.
Lockport, NY 14094


text:
Some of the major Mindmapping Thought Leaders will be presenting and sharing mindmapping best practices at the upcoming IQ Visual Mapping Conference this October.
If you are interested in Mindmapping or think you would be interested in Mindmapping you should attend this conference!
Here are the details:
Date: October 2-3, 2008
Location: College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ 07960 USA
Presentations at the conference will include:
- Project Mapping: Visual Thinking in Project Management
- Utilizing Visual Mapping for Personal and Professional Motivation and Goal Setting
- Increasing Personal and Business Productivity through Visual Mapping Strategies
- Visual Mapping as a Systematic Framework for Business Improvement
- Visual Mapping Software- Tools of the Trade
- Using Visual Mapping Tools for Marketing Your Business
- Using Visual Mapping Tools in Academia
And if that isn't enough to entice you to go. Chuck Frey, a Mindmapping Thought Leader and Author of the Mindmapping Manifesto, on his blog site gives you 10 more reasons:
Here are the top 10 reasons why this is a don't-miss conference:
- It's an opportunity to increase your value to your employer by becoming a more visually-oriented thinker, decision maker and problem solver.
- Learn how to take your company's information management strategies to the next level of effectiveness.
- Discover how to use visual mapping as a systematic framework for business improvement.
- Learn how visual mapping can help you to streamline your business processes and procedures.
- Learn about the latest trends in visual mapping software.
- Discover how to develop a comprehensive and effective marketing plan utilizing visual mapping
- Network with and learn best practices from your fellow visual mappers.
- Realize your information management potential and conquer information overload.
- Reframe your understanding of information and knowledge capital.
- Become a superior information manager who can utilize and integrate linear and non-linear information models in your research, reports and projects.
To Register click here.


text:
The Packers enter a bye week at just the right time.
Coach Mike McCarthy just told reporters that outside linebacker Clay Matthews could miss "a couple weeks," with his hamstring strain, while Nick Perry is getting a second opinion on his knee.
Matthews has a history of hamstring problems, but will in fact have a couple weeks before the Packers play again. They return Nov. 18 against the Lions.
Perry hasn't played since injuring his knee Oct. 14 against the Texans, and if he and Matthews are both out, the Packers would be dangerously thin in terms of pass rush.
McCarthy also said they're "still gathering information" about the hip injury of right tackle Bryan Bulaga, and that he was seeing a specialist. That doesn't sound good.
There was good news, as wide receiver Jordy Nelson's ankle injury wasn't deemed serious.


text:
Using magic questions to motivate and influence others
By formulating questions based on the issues brought up by the other person, a questioner can control and direct the conversation
Editor's Note: For more than a decade and a half, Lt. Jim Glennon has taught a class called Arresting Communications, and the following article — the second in an occasional series — is excerpted from his forthcoming book of the same name. Reserve your copy and 20 percent off the regular price by pre-ordering on PoliceOne Books.
By Lt. Jim Glennon, Lombard, IL (ret.)
I've found that most people will tell you — especially when they are under stress — what they value and who they want you to think they are during the earliest stages of an encounter, often in the first 30 to 60 seconds. They want to paint a picture of themselves — ethically, morally, emotionally, psychologically that you will buy into. They want you to view them as having a level of importance, worth, and significance (pleasure).
So they tell you stuff.
Admittedly, this stuff is often absurd, but that doesn't matter. What's important is that the information they give you can be used to influence and direct their behavior. If you truly listen and learn what it is that the other person values, or pretends to value, you'll be able to formulate questions designed to redirect the person's focus and take control of the interaction.
Magic Questions: What are they?
Let's use a simple example as a way to explain what they are, what they can do for you, and where you get them.
Say you're a new recruit and you want to get to know your field training officer (FTO). What do you do to establish a positive connection with her, to set the tone of your relationship? You guessed it: Ask her questions.
Recruit: "So, what do you do in your spare time, Officer Schlep?"
Now listen, both to what she says and how she says it.
Schlep: "I like to study case law, read cop magazines, practice my marksmanship, chart and document alien abductions, but I especially like to golf."
Bingo! In one sentence she has given you enough information about herself to keep you positively engaged for the next several hours, if not days and weeks. How? By following up with another question about something she said:
Recruit: "So you golf, huh?"
Schlep: "Yeah, six handicap — the best in the department. Usually go out two to three times a week in the summer. I bought this new driver with a huge titanium head and I can hit... blah, blah, blah."
Whoa! What's happening here? This isn't real communication. I'm not influencing her. I'm not motivating her. She's doing all the talking. She is learning nothing about me! I need to let her know who I am, what I have to contribute. I was third in my academy class and the second-best shot. She needs to know that my dad was a cop, that I played football in college, that I run like the wind, and have a lovely singing voice. And by the way, where are these Magic Questions you keep talking about?
Relax, I know she is doing all the talking, but that's what's so great about it. You don't have to talk in order to communicate. In fact, talking is probably the greatest obstacle to communicating effectively. Questions are the answer. You'll tell her more about who you are through your questions than with any long-winded, autobiographical proclamations that cite the sparse and inconsequential achievements in your humdrum life.
Keep it simple: Ask her a question about what she is talking about and make it clear that you are listening (next chapter). Let her get excited about golf (pleasure for her), then (and here's a real important part) follow up with more questions about what she just said. Continue to actively listen. Notice that she is talking about a subject that energizes her. And you are giving her the opportunity to do it.
There are several benefits to this process, among them:
• You may learn more about golf
• You will definitely learn more about her, because she will reveal things about herself beyond the fact that she likes whacking a little ball with a $400 stick
• Since positive communication is occurring, she will subconsciously associate you with pleasure
• You are conveying to her that she is important
• You will learn that patience is an integral aspect of effective communication
• You will learn how to listen
And you have learned what magic questions are and where you find them.
See, there's that goofy "Huh?" question again, but you know what? It speaks volumes. It implies confusion, bewilderment, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of frustration. It certainly begs for an explanation about the questions that I claim have magical properties. So here we go.
Magic Questions are questions based on something the other person said. Why does that make them magic? Here are a few reasons:
• Asking a question based on something the other person said demonstrates that you've listened, and if you took the time (one of the most valuable of human commodities) to listen, that communicates to the other person that he/she and his/her ideas, thoughts, concerns, etc., matter — have worth, value, and a level of importance.
• Since the questions are based on what the other person said, subsequent communication that includes empathy, listening, the showing of respect and appreciation, etc., will help build rapport and trust
• By using the issues brought up by the other person, the questioner can control and direct the conversation
Building Rapport, Developing Relationships, Establishing Trust
As the conversation evolves between you and your FTO, a relationship is developing between the two of you. You are defining yourself to her and she is defining herself to you. And the best part is that you can create the type of relationship you want, just by asking questions. It really just takes a conscious decision on your part to do it.
If you want to create a positive relationship, use the appropriate kind of questions, like the ones in our little dialogue. Conversely, if you're looking to return to lounging on your parents' couch and dining on their dime, there's a theory that covers that, too: You can ask your FTO no questions, or ask stupid ones.
If she tells you what a great golfer she is, you can either refuse to ask any follow-up questions (which implies that you didn't listen and/or that you don't care) or you can ask her one that will define you to her for years to come: "You golf? Why the hell would anyone waste their time and money doing that? Hitting a little ball around an open field for hours and hours? Don't you find that an incredible waste of time and money?"
Now you may think that's just silly — that no one would ever really do something like that — but to some degree we all commit that kind of communication error at some time or another. Think about a regular conversation you have with your significant other. Do you always show an interest in what that person is saying? Do you become engaged in the interaction? Or do you dismiss the other person by asking questions designed to get to the point or conclude the conversation quickly?
• "Why do you care about this?"
• "This impacts me how?"
• "So what is your point?"
• "What are you so upset about?"
• "Why are you bothering me with this?"
• "Why do we always have to talk about your mother and sisters? "Can't I get a break?"
• "Why don't you just tell them all to go to hell?
• "Have you seen the remote?"
Remind you of anyone?
Remember that most people evaluate others based on how that other person makes them feel, and since we are emotional beings, that evaluation isn't usually conducted through a logical process. Those feelings are a result of the communication process. If another person associates you with pleasurable feelings — because you've confirmed that he or she is important — then it would be difficult for that person to view you in a poor light.
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text:
Parade of Sandwiches and Other Stuff - Partola Uno
It's been 10 weeks since our last parade so we will cut out about half the sandwiches and other stuff we would normally post. We want to promote good, well balanced lunches just like the ones we had in grade school 50 years ago but we don't want to go so overboard that they compete with or are nearly as good as the ones kids enjoy in public schools today. There might be some other stuff that sneaks in there now and again.


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|2010-09-14, 08:05
|Link #4381
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Spoiler for spoiler manga:
Spoiler for respond to spoiler:
Also I don't understand why Shido would be arrested if Rei's dad succeed in whatever he is doing? For flunking the grade of a student? I don't know the education system in Japan, but if Shido simply change the grade of an exam with definite answers (like MC) Rei can simply request a regrade or something like that. So for Shido to pull it out it must be essay exam. If it is essay exam then Shido cannot be faulted as he can always claim he truly believe Rei deserve to fail (even that is not true) kinda like the Gymnastics/diving during Olympics. Unless you have concrete proof that the judge accept favors, you cannot proof the judge wrong no matter how unnatural the score seems to be. If it is a MC exam and Shido change the answer sheet altogether, then Rei would have no proof on that either.
And to me, Takagi's dad chase Shido away simply because he hated Shido's dad. It is obvious that Takagi's faction is on the opposite side of Shido's father faction.
As the anime coming to a close (is it 12 or 13 episode?), it seems it will be my last time to see Shido. Man I hope they create a side story called Shido's counterattack. Shido is pissed at the main characters and I hope he had his revenge.
|2010-09-14, 08:30
|Link #4382
User of the "Fast Draw"
Apparently Rei was a pretty good student so it'd be pretty tough to get her to be held back from an essay exam. Seems more likely he'd have to forcefully change a lot of grades to get her held back. I think Rei's father was planning more to tie Shido to his father with charges of conspiracy.
I hope they show an episode of Shido's world crashing around him and him getting killed off by zombies. Unlikely he's going to last long with a crazed group of students that can't fight. Love to see him try to chat to the zombies and see how that goes .
|2010-09-14, 12:07
|Link #4383
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 35
As it's been said, Shido is apparently very narcissistic, he wanted to bring down his father himself. As to what was also explained by a previous poster, Japan's education system is taken very seriously, being held back a grade will do serious damage to your credentials and can be held against you by the university you wanted to go to. Shido's father is apparently a pretty powerful man if he's able to pull of what he did, without some sort of investigation going on involving Rei being held back.
Saya's dad isn't a moron, he knew Shido was tainted and Rei just reaffirmed that for him.
For why the student was thrown off the bus, read chapter 12, it's not that far from the beginning. It doesn't matter if it's a zombie apocalypse, unlike the rest of those tools on the bus (lesbians, school slut and school bully), it's normal to want to know if your family is okay, which has also been the goal for the main cast.
|2010-09-14, 13:48
|Link #4384
Deploying Funnel Cakes
Join Date: Jan 2008
In the flashback we learn that he hates his father. He sought an honorable profession as a teacher. He seems like he wanted to be a good person.
There is probably a twist to the story...
1) His father gave him the option of setting her back a grade or having her killed.
2) His father told him it was him or her. His entire career and life's work or one year for Rei.
At one time Rei and Shido could have been close. Was probably a mentor, brother figure. This may be why she is so furious. The betrayal....
|2010-09-14, 14:04
|Link #4385
Classics never age
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Italy
ok guys, some gifs from ep11 =>
Spoiler for gifs:
Spoiler for Saeko awesomeness:
Spoiler for pics:
next: Armageddon?!
|2010-09-14, 14:50
|Link #4386
He Without a Title
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The land of tempura
|2010-09-14, 14:53
|Link #4387
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 35
|2010-09-14, 15:00
|Link #4388
Part-Time TTK & Master
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Iwakawa base and Chaldea
Age: 39
Spoiler for about the kid and the bus:
|2010-09-14, 15:05
|Link #4389
The Dark Knight
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: From the deepest abyss in the world, where you think?
Age: 33
The goal of the main cast is to find their family. Heck, they are getting ready to leave the mansion which right now seems to be the safest to find them.
Any respectable or responsible leader would've made him understand or at least let him somewhere off safe to make him realize his errors.
That or if it was me I'd beat him senseless until we got to a safer location. I mean Takashi does the same to the group though by grabbing and lifting them into the air.
Unless Shido was her teacher in every subject or had some power over the other teachers, it is almost impossible to force them to repeat a grade without having to go through the other teachers, principle, and adminstration. I'm also guessing Rei was an honors student. So obviously flunking her in one subject to hold her back would've raised questions.
If a student has good marks in a subject but all of a sudden fails the final exam, everyone is going to know about and ask about it as well as to the point of even auditing it. Students can even argue to have the test re-marked and it would be a different teacher.
|2010-09-14, 16:41
|Link #4391
~Official Slacker~
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Xanadu
Age: 25
Or was it because he felt pathetic after hearing Rei say "He is not worth it"?
|2010-09-14, 16:41
|Link #4392
Awe of She
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Orlando
You're right, holding Rei back would have raised questions but Shidou's father, for lack of a better way to describe his position of power, is 'on the school's board of directors'. Any inquiry would have been shot down and smothered - similar to what happens when there's an internal investigation and to keep the situation 'under control', it is swept under the rug.
So basically, her records show that she has been held back a year for a non-medical reason aka failing. The colleges will look at that and say 'pft, whatever' and leave her high and dry. She'll have to work extra hard to overcome this blemish on her life, all because of her father's work. She seemed more upset that her father actually broke down and cried in front of her than her actually being held back. That and the fact that she'd been wronged by a bad person as well also offended her sense of justice (she IS a cop's daughter after all). Circumstances are just that - circumstances. It's not like Shidou tried to explain why he did held her back - it's not like he asked Rei's father for help on getting dirt on his father - he just didn't care how he got the dirt, he'd dig anywhere to get it.
As for Shidou being all miffed about not getting speared, he's got a big ego - he wants to be acknowledged somehow, even if he does something 'bad'. He wanted to 'break' her in front of everyone, pushing her moral dilemma to the breaking point to where she would just stop and cry.
|2010-09-14, 17:25
|Link #4393
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: event horizon
As I understood it (and maybe I just got it all wrong!) his father is a complete utter failure as a father and husband, and his mother committed suicide because of him. In the end he more or less ran away somehow and became a teacher leaving that life behind. But, apparently after going though all that shit he's more then happy to make someone else's life complete crap; and supposedly becomes a complete ass afterwords too. What's with this 180 turn? Would it not make more sense for him to actually help the cop after hearing that?
That's what I don't get. Normally when you have a problem afterward you sympathize with people who have that problem. By no means do you want to cause the problem yourself; and this has nothing to do with anime. I don't know, either his character is just broken from a plot perspective or he's suppose to be a complete nutcase retard stereotype (along with the rest of the orgy bus). A fear we'll see him for a long time, as it seems their purpose is to break the ice every time the plot needs to make sharp turns (misdirection ftw, lol).
|2010-09-14, 18:49
|Link #4394
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
btw is there a site that show upcoming dvd releases or blu ray whatever to say.
you know like i'm curious on when this, sekirei, asobi, strike witches, ect onto other shows that are censored on tv end up coming out on dvd.
i know how to see when new series are airing, but can't seem to find a place to see blu ray release schedule
|2010-09-14, 19:27
|Link #4395
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 35
I agree at this point Shido's character appears broken from a plot perspective even with his background revealed, because their's not a reason present to explain his ego tripping narcissism. As for the rest of the bang bus crew, I didn't expect nothing from them, one of them is a bully, another is a slut, and the other two are naive fangirls. They were easy for him to manipulate. I can't help but feel bad for the one kid who got thrown off the bus, if he realized sooner, he could still be alive because he would of left with the rest of the main cast.
|2010-09-14, 19:42
|Link #4396
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Virgo Supercluster, Milky Way, Orion Arm, Sol, Earth, Taiwan
Age: 33
Shido development doesn't really do shit. He is a dick with or without his father's influence.
|2010-09-14, 19:48
|Link #4397
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Auckland, NZ
|2010-09-14, 20:07
|Link #4399
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Age: 29
I honestly want to know how the zombies haven't realised that there's people on the bangbus, especially since the guy was banging on the door pretty loudly (which got him killed). Also, the kids of the bangbus minds have really been messed with, with Shidou. By the looks of the three couples, that guy would of had a threesome had he just kept his mouth shut.
I wonder how many people Shidou is actually willing to sacrafice for his own survival?
|2010-09-14, 20:08
|Link #4400
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Central Texas
Age: 35
|action, boobs, ecchi, harem, horror, romance, seinen, shounen, zombie apocalypse
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