The Morbuzakh is a fictional plant monster from Lego's Bionicle storyline, specifically the first half of the Bionicle Adventures.
History
In the time leading up to the Great Cataclysm, the Morbuzakh began to appear in the outer edges of Metru Nui. Its vines damaged and destroyed a number of buildings, and several Matoran mysteriously disappeared. When six of the city's Matoran became the Toa Metru, they immediately began the task of stopping it; and thanks to a vision of Toa Vakama's they had an idea how: find six Great Kanoka Disks hidden throughout the city with the help of six Matoran who knew their locations.
While the city's Vahki law enforcers proved to be the more prominent threat to the Toas' hunt for the Great Disks, Vakama did encounter Morbuzakh vines a few times and learned that they despised the cold. The Toa also discovered that the vines were controlled by a giant King Root, and putting the two together they realized that there was only one place the Root could hide unnoticed in the heat it thrived on: Ta-Metru's Great Furnace.
Taking refuge from Vahki in a forge near the Great Furnace, the Toa encountered a sort of breeding ground where the Morbuzakh grew its seeds. The seeds shot out and sprouted vines that ensnared the Toa; but they were able to escape and destroy the building. Entering the Great Furnace, they were halted by another of the Morbuzakh's defenses: waves of thorns shooting out at them. The six Matoran who aided them on their search saved them by merging into a Matoran Nui and bringing down the door that separated them from the King Root. After the Toa went in, the Matoran Nui split back into individual Matoran and they went their separate ways, only to disappear as so many others had.
When the Toa Metru faced the King Root, the Morbuzakh "spoke" to them telepathically, making them realize that it was no mere plant they were facing. It told them it intended to trap the Matoran in the center of the city and make the survivors its slaves. As the Toa were overcoming the shock of its announcement, it began to attack, launching thousands of its vines against them. Although the Toa fought bravely, their inexperience led them to tire quickly. Vakama realized they were fighting a losing battle and told the other Toa to surrender and drop their weapons. As the vines grabbed them and brought them in close, they activated the Great Disks, causing them to release beams of energy. The energy beams began to entwine themselves around the King Root, forming a sphere and slicing through its vines and branches. The Morbuzakh vines throughout the city began to crumble into dust; and when the energy sphere dissipated the King Root fell to the ground and disintegrated into nothingness itself.
In the following days the Toa Metru would learn more about the Morbuzakh's purpose. It had been created by Makuta to kidnap Matoran to place into spheres, where they would fall unconscious and eventually lose their memory. It was also instructed to drive the Matoran to the center of the city, where the Vahki (also under Makuta's control at this time) could more easily round up Matoran for the spheres themselves. The Morbuzakh's intention to conquer the Matoran, however, was not part of Makuta's plan.
Powers
Like the Karzahni plant, the Morbuzakh communicated using telepathy (though it tended to "speak" with a lisp, slurring its "s" sounds). It could control its vines like tentacles, and could shoot thorned branches and seeds. The seeds would burst upon impact into a mass of vines, ensnaring whatever they hit. In addition, the Morbuzakh drew their power from fire, gaining strength from intense heat. As such, it only made sense for them to choose the hottest place in Metru Nui-outside the Ta-Metru fire pits-as the location for their King Root and as an arboretum for their young. Fortunately, this also led to weakness to cold, meaning that Morbuzakh vines were particularly vulnerable to freezing Kanoka and the element of ice.
History
In the time leading up to the Great Cataclysm, the Morbuzakh began to appear in the outer edges of Metru Nui. Its vines damaged and destroyed a number of buildings, and several Matoran mysteriously disappeared. When six of the city's Matoran became the Toa Metru, they immediately began the task of stopping it; and thanks to a vision of Toa Vakama's they had an idea how: find six Great Kanoka Disks hidden throughout the city with the help of six Matoran who knew their locations.
While the city's Vahki law enforcers proved to be the more prominent threat to the Toas' hunt for the Great Disks, Vakama did encounter Morbuzakh vines a few times and learned that they despised the cold. The Toa also discovered that the vines were controlled by a giant King Root, and putting the two together they realized that there was only one place the Root could hide unnoticed in the heat it thrived on: Ta-Metru's Great Furnace.
Taking refuge from Vahki in a forge near the Great Furnace, the Toa encountered a sort of breeding ground where the Morbuzakh grew its seeds. The seeds shot out and sprouted vines that ensnared the Toa; but they were able to escape and destroy the building. Entering the Great Furnace, they were halted by another of the Morbuzakh's defenses: waves of thorns shooting out at them. The six Matoran who aided them on their search saved them by merging into a Matoran Nui and bringing down the door that separated them from the King Root. After the Toa went in, the Matoran Nui split back into individual Matoran and they went their separate ways, only to disappear as so many others had.
When the Toa Metru faced the King Root, the Morbuzakh "spoke" to them telepathically, making them realize that it was no mere plant they were facing. It told them it intended to trap the Matoran in the center of the city and make the survivors its slaves. As the Toa were overcoming the shock of its announcement, it began to attack, launching thousands of its vines against them. Although the Toa fought bravely, their inexperience led them to tire quickly. Vakama realized they were fighting a losing battle and told the other Toa to surrender and drop their weapons. As the vines grabbed them and brought them in close, they activated the Great Disks, causing them to release beams of energy. The energy beams began to entwine themselves around the King Root, forming a sphere and slicing through its vines and branches. The Morbuzakh vines throughout the city began to crumble into dust; and when the energy sphere dissipated the King Root fell to the ground and disintegrated into nothingness itself.
In the following days the Toa Metru would learn more about the Morbuzakh's purpose. It had been created by Makuta to kidnap Matoran to place into spheres, where they would fall unconscious and eventually lose their memory. It was also instructed to drive the Matoran to the center of the city, where the Vahki (also under Makuta's control at this time) could more easily round up Matoran for the spheres themselves. The Morbuzakh's intention to conquer the Matoran, however, was not part of Makuta's plan.
Powers
Like the Karzahni plant, the Morbuzakh communicated using telepathy (though it tended to "speak" with a lisp, slurring its "s" sounds). It could control its vines like tentacles, and could shoot thorned branches and seeds. The seeds would burst upon impact into a mass of vines, ensnaring whatever they hit. In addition, the Morbuzakh drew their power from fire, gaining strength from intense heat. As such, it only made sense for them to choose the hottest place in Metru Nui-outside the Ta-Metru fire pits-as the location for their King Root and as an arboretum for their young. Fortunately, this also led to weakness to cold, meaning that Morbuzakh vines were particularly vulnerable to freezing Kanoka and the element of ice.
iPling Inc. is a San Francisco company founded in January 2007 that produced the first real-time, location-based mobile social networking service for the iPhone. Available in both the US and selected European countries, the iPling product provides social networking with a difference: instead of connecting users to people they already know, iPling empowers them to reach out immediately to people nearby who share interests and affinities. .
Named one of the “Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone,” iPling is easy to use with no complicated forms to fill out, no invitations or friend lists, and no download required. Registering and creating a profile takes only a minute or two. Users describe themselves with tags, then view a map showing others nearby whose tags match--for instance, babysitter, Giants fan, Green Day, New Yorker, Norwegian. Users can then “pling” interesting matches via iPling’s anonymous SMS chat feature.
iPling facilitates spontaneous social interactions. Most people want to meet and be met by the right people at the right time. Much as Google provides links to previously undiscovered information across the worldwide web, iPling’s technology creates what the company calls social telepathy--instant connections between people with something in common.
iPling's Founders and Vision
Based in San Francisco, iPling was launched in January 2007 by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with a track record of innovation at leading companies.
 
References
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*CNET
*[http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-1040-0.html?forumID1&threadID35626&messageID656288&start0 ZD Net]
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Named one of the “Top 25 Web Apps for iPhone,” iPling is easy to use with no complicated forms to fill out, no invitations or friend lists, and no download required. Registering and creating a profile takes only a minute or two. Users describe themselves with tags, then view a map showing others nearby whose tags match--for instance, babysitter, Giants fan, Green Day, New Yorker, Norwegian. Users can then “pling” interesting matches via iPling’s anonymous SMS chat feature.
iPling facilitates spontaneous social interactions. Most people want to meet and be met by the right people at the right time. Much as Google provides links to previously undiscovered information across the worldwide web, iPling’s technology creates what the company calls social telepathy--instant connections between people with something in common.
iPling's Founders and Vision
Based in San Francisco, iPling was launched in January 2007 by a group of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs with a track record of innovation at leading companies.
 
References
*
*CNET
*[http://talkback.zdnet.com/5208-1040-0.html?forumID1&threadID35626&messageID656288&start0 ZD Net]
*
AnimalSense is a magazine published by Canada Wide Media Limited for the members of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA). It is published twice per year and communicates the BCSPCA’s work in promoting the health, well-being and humane treatment of animals.
Room Nine Community School (RNCS) is a school in the Shoreline School District, Washington. It covers grades K-8. Instead of being divided strictly by year, students are placed into one of three "clusters". There is a cluster for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. The 6-8 cluster is also known as "Journey". Each cluster has approximately 50 students, and is team-taught by two teachers.
Room Nine Community School has a parental involvement program (PIP). On Wednesday and Friday parents come in to teach electives. The electives last for five weeks. Every parent is required to teach at least one class.
Room Nine has occasionally received praise for its unconventional teaching techniques. In 1993, Room Nine students made a presentation at the state capitol in Olympia, petitioning the government to pass a law banning corporal punishment in schools.
RNCS is located in the Meridian Park building.
Room Nine Community School has a parental involvement program (PIP). On Wednesday and Friday parents come in to teach electives. The electives last for five weeks. Every parent is required to teach at least one class.
Room Nine has occasionally received praise for its unconventional teaching techniques. In 1993, Room Nine students made a presentation at the state capitol in Olympia, petitioning the government to pass a law banning corporal punishment in schools.
RNCS is located in the Meridian Park building.