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Dinosaurs almost wiped out twice before
Dinosaurs fought back from two mass extinctions and waited up to 50 million years to achieve world domination Professors Michael Benton and Steve Brusatte have found.
Experts say the giants took "at least 30 million years" to rule our planet and their rise in power came after they were nearly wiped out twice.
Mr Brusatte, whose study is reported in Biology Letters, said: "The sheer size of dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus makes us think there was something special about these animals that preordained them for success right from the beginning."
"However, our research shows that the rise of dinosaurs was a prolonged and complicated process. It isn't clear from the data that they would go on to dominate the world until at least 30 million years after they originated."
"It just wasn't a case of dinosaurs exploding onto the scene because of a special adaptation. Rather, they had to wait their turn and evolved in fits and starts before finally dominating their world."
Professor Benton said: "We argue that the expansion of the dinosaurs took up to 50 million years and was not a simple process that can be explained with broad generalisations."
Dinosaurs originated 230 million years ago and survived the Late Triassic mass extinction 228 million years ago, when some 35 per cent of all living families died out.
It was their predecessors dying out during this extinction that allowed herbivorous dinosaurs to expand into the niches they left behind, the Bristol team said.
The rapid expansion of carnivorous and armoured dinosaur groups did not happen until after a much bigger mass extinction 200 million years ago, at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary.
At least half of the species now known to have been living on Earth at that time became extinct.
Historically the rise of the dinosaurs has been treated as a classic case in which a group evolves key features that allow it to rapidly expand, fill many niches, and out-compete other groups.
The new research shows that dinosaurs evolved into all their 'classic lifestyles' - such as big predators, long-necked herbivores - before they became abundant or diversified into the many species we know today.
Both Professors found that dinosaur domination was "a slow and complicated event, and driven by two mass extinctions". Dinosaurs fought back from two mass extinctions and waited up to 50 million years to achieve world domination Professors Michael Bento... more -
In Honor of Peter Miguel Camejo
(excerpts)
Peter Miguel Camejo, a civil rights leader, socially responsible investment pioneer, and magnanimo caballero for third party politics in the US, peacefully passed away early Saturday morning at his home in Folsom, CA with his wife Morella at his side -- only days after completing his autobiography.
The 68-year-old justice fighter had been battling a reoccurrence of lymphoma cancer, and his condition had rapidly deteriorated over the past few days.
Peter was a student leader, civil rights advocate, leader in the socially responsible investment industry with his own investment firm, Progressive Asset Management, Inc., and author of books on investment and history including Racism, Revolution, Reaction, 1861-1877, The Rise and Fall of Radical Reconstruction, California Under Corporate Rule, and his recent book, The SRI Advantage: Why Socially Responsible Investing Has Outperformed Financially.
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Among the many causes Peter forcefully championed were a living wage, healthcare for all, and making the US the world leader in renewable energy. He was also a passionate advocate for electoral reform, pressing for proportional representation and instant run-off voting (allows voters to rank their top choices) in an effort to overturn the "200-year-old dysfunctional money-dominated winner take-all system that disrespects the will of the people."
Peter was a friend, colleague and politically courageous champion of the downtrodden and mistreated of the entire Western Hemisphere. Everyone who met Peter, talked with Peter, worked with Peter, or argued with Peter, will miss the passing of a great American. (excerpts) ... more -
Sarah Palin receives standing ovation, praises John McCain
GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin takes the stage.
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Breaking The Silence Of A Secret POW Camp
About two years ago, National Park Service employees stumbled upon a fascinating and largely untold piece of American history.
It involves a secret World War II interrogation camp at Fort Hunt, Va., not far from the Pentagon. During and right after the war, thousands of top German prisoners were questioned there about troop movements and scientific advances.
Soldiers at the site also prepared special "care packages" for American POWs that they sent overseas. They included maps, radios and other escape tools.
Many of the camp's records were destroyed right after the war, and those who worked there were sworn to secrecy. Many veterans never spoke about it, even to family and friends, although the operation has been gradually declassified over the past two decades.
The National Park Service, which now runs Fort Hunt Park, has been trying to piece together the story of the interrogation facility — code-named P.O. Box 1142 during the war.... About two years ago, National Park Service employees stumbled upon a fascinating and largely untold piece of American history. ... more -
Abu Dis - A city divided
Phyllis Bennis: Israel has done what 2000 years of history could not, block the Silk Road from the sea.
"There were negotiations going on between Israelis and Palestinians back in 2000, then-prime minister Barak, Ehud Barak, offered to the Palestinians, who of course were demanding, appropriately, that their capital of their Palestinian state should be in the Palestinian city of East Jerusalem. And instead, Barak said, of course, we can't allow that to happen, but we'll let you have your capital in Abu Dis. We'll even let you call it Al-Quds, which is Arabic for Jerusalem."
Phyllis Bennis is a Senior Analyst at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC. She is the author of Before and After: US Foreign Policy and the September 11 Crisis and Challenging Empire: How People, Governments, and the UN Defy US Power.
Her newest book Understanding the US-Iran Crisis: A Primer will be available in September 2008. Phyllis Bennis: Israel has done what 2000 years of history could not, block the Silk Road from the sea. ... more -
Dinosaur Eggs and Devil's Coulee:The Best Travel Destinations in Southern Alb...
These are great places to see!!
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Saving Port Gibson
The town of Port Gibson, Mississippi is in need of your help. Declared "too beautiful to burn" by Ulysses S. Grant during the notoriously destructive Vicksburg Campaign of 1863, Port Gibson has become one of the most historically significant towns in the South. Now, a highway expansion project and almost twenty years of indecision and infighting threaten to transform Church Street, a lovely, tree-lined avenue, into a major interstate. Meet a few locals determined to save this national treasure.
Help unite the community around an Eastern bypass!
Sign the petition to save Port Gibson at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-port-gibson-missi...
For more information on other ways you can help the cause, please visit:
www.portgibsonheritagetrust.org
Credits -
A Pete's House Production
A film by Grady McGahan
Shot by: Robert Northrup
Archival Footage: Robert Clark
Music: "The Second Battle of Port Gibson" by Lonesome Mel, Mary Mac, and Larry
Special Thanks: Bob Thibodeaux, Terry Merritt, Jane Ellis, Al Hollingsworth, Shirley & Willie Daigle, Georgia's at the Depot, and Port Gibson Heritage Trust
If you like the music, be sure to check out www.myspace.com/lonesomemel The town of Port Gibson, Mississippi is in need of your help. Declared "too beautiful to burn" by Ulysses S. Grant during t... more -
This is not a pipe dream
Subcomandante Marcos comes to the United States with the plans for a trickle-up democratic reform to empower the downtrodden.
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Living History Day at Los Encinos State Historic Park
Scenes from one of the monthly "living history" days at Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino, California. Docents dress in period clothes and provide turn-of-the-century activities for children and adults. A blacksmith is usually on-hand to demonstrate the skills and tools of the period. Scenes from one of the monthly "living history" days at Los Encinos State Historic Park in Encino, California. Docents dress... more
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Pocahontas, Virginia
DanTraveling
This town was Virginia's first coal boom town. There are very few Americans who have not been touched by the far reaching influence of the Pocahontas Fuel Company. The coal extracted by Pocahontas Fuel served nearly 1/2 of the country. The numerous mines once employed nearly 100,000 people and it was all headquartered here in this small town in the mountains. Many awesome historic buildings and sites in this town face demolition by neglect unless something changes.
The centerpiece of this wonderful 1800s Victorian town, The Company Store, fell to the ground just one week before we made this video DanTraveling ... more -
Can we even run this? 1898 Obscene Language Baseball Document
Written in 1898 it is an official Major League Baseball document that sets down examples of obscene speech in baseball. The document is titled "Special Instructions to Players" and it gives some interesting vocabulary lessons. Truly there is nothing new under the sun. The good old days seem a lot like today. Written in 1898 it is an official Major League Baseball document that sets down examples of obscene speech in baseball. The document i... more
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Bonzo Powered dOO dAH Dog Train Band!!!!
Twas the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band's 40th anniversary tour and the JazzPoweredTrain got invited along to play 4 bars of music! hooray!!!! Twas the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band's 40th anniversary tour and the JazzPoweredTrain got invited along to play 4 bars of music! hoora... more
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Escape to Alcatraz
Current TV's Crystal Fambrini heads to the San Francisco Bay Area to party at one of the area's most popular tourist attractions, ALCATRAZ. See art, fashion, cars, concerts and shows by The Cool Kids and the Vau De Vire Society. Current TV's Crystal Fambrini heads to the San Francisco Bay Area to party at one of the area's most popular tourist attract... more
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