random thought -

i just realized that i can't think of many Sega villains that will make this contest. all i can come up with is Dr. Robotnik and Ramirez. i suppose Dr. Bad-Boon could make a 16 seed (hey if Aiai can make it, why can't his villain? *shrugs*)

seriously, though, what other Sega villains do you think could make it in?

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

Alright since we talked about flops we'll do the characters that will do surprisingly well. Like characters that everyone think will get taken out the 1st round but will actually do good. Also can I be added to the guru list? I got a pretty good score last summer (183) and I usually read these topics.
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Join this awesome RPG site!
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Samus is one of the three main Nintendo characters, yet her main villain has yet to make a contest.

Really, I think it's somewhat obvious that the overall contest is dominated by "hero" type characters. The fact that there are only going to be three to four strong villains in this contest should be pretty telling. It isn't like Ridley will be incredibly weak for not appearing in previous contests. I can understand other reasons, but I refuse to think something like that when a vast majority of the field will be new entries.

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Nominate Dark Samus for the Spring 2005 Contest!

Ramirez is another bomb I expect. Sega doesn't really have any other villains to get in though...unless CJay makes a strange exception for Shadow, who would be potential Final Four material. In all likelyhood though, he'll go the same road as Knuckles and not be allowed.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

Does a Koopa Kid Make it?

Koopa Kid? not a chance. there's too many Koopa Kids to split up nominations and too many Nintendo villains to make it in ahead of them.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

Keeping the BOP results private until the bracket making period ends isn't really an option. If Slowflake doesn't keep the results public, someone else will make a BOP of thier own with public results. It would be best just to have one.
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http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php
Nominate Giovanni(Pokemon) and Lance for GameFAQ's Spring 2005 Contest!!

Here are my own picks for the elite 8 (assuming Magus doesn't get in):

Sephiroth
Ganondorf
Bowser
Liquid Snake - Although I do think he's overestimated he's still good enough to make the elite 8 in this contest.
Seifer Almasy - Name recognition and not looking like a leafy vegetable will pay off.
M. Bison - He'll be weaker than Ken, but maybe not by too much.
Donkey Kong - I fully expect at least two of his matches to be heart-attack matches. He'll win one and lose one.
Dark Samus

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SC2k4 Oracle ranking: 4th
Nominate CATS, for great justice!

Ansem

After the flop that was Kingdom Hearts in the Spring 2004 Contest, Sora rebounded and beat the hell out of Ryu Hayabusa. Is that isn't the formula for a trap, I don't know what is.

Flop only by our expectations for it though. By the xsts either way it still got 13 or 15th. That's nothing to be ashamed of. Personally I'm not expecting much from Ansem - I dont' really know why, but he just doesn't strike me as a character who's going to do that well. The other bosses throughout the game are better than he is.
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One who knows nothing can understand nothing.
"Revenge is a dish best served cold." - Old Klingon Proverb

This pains the absolute hell out of me, but I just don't see Ridley being strong at all. Samus is one of the three main Nintendo characters, yet her main villain has yet to make a contest. The fact that we need a villain contest just to give Ridley a chance at entry doesn't bode well for him.

2002, we didn't see too many villains at all. 2003, we had some but Ridley was absent, I'll give you that. 2004 had some support but the company cap would have killed him.
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Jon Thomson - knows nothing
Nominate Ridley NOW!!!

My final 8

Bowser
Ganon
Sephiroth
Liquid Snake
Ocelot
Dr. Wily
M. Bison/ Dark Samus
Robotnik/ Dark Link

I added the dark's just in case CeeJ allows them because I think they would trounce Bison and Robotnik. Also Robotnik is my wild card. So if the Dark's are allowed just replace Robotnik and Bison with them.
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Join this awesome RPG site!
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Just a couple of questions questions for you lot about the poll updating topics, I figured this would be the best place to ask them.

1) Are they still needed and would you still want them? I'd gladly continue if you do, but if you don't want them then I don't see the point.

2) Since the polls no longer update every 15 minutes, would you like 10 minute updates or would you prefer for them to remain at 15 minutes?
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I believe in hell only as a good final level in video games and place to put absurdly strong monsters and bosses. - Hephasto the Armorer

From: HaRRicH | Posted: 4/9/2005 2:24:35 AM | #098
I gotta bring up something that's always fun to see yet we shouldn't see this year 'til brackets lock down: the BOP. Slow, assuming you do it this contest (which I figure you will), I wish we could still find some compromise about you not making the results public. We've discussed it before and I see why you do, but with how great its past two scores have been, it's something I'm still hoping not to see be made public 'til the brackets lock down this time...

...maybe only certain matches would be revealed or stop showing the results of them after a week or two? Just brainstorming.....

No. I tried that last time, and you know what happened? Some jackass did a parallel BOP showing the results, forcing me to do just the same. It's going to happen again if I try to hide anything.

And KH didn't flop, oh no. For whatever reason it almost lost to Soul Calibur and then lost to Starcraft, and the only reason it could've been considered a flop back then was because we didn't know how strong Starcraft really was. Now we know, and I'm pretty sure it had nothing to do with variable strength from Starcraft (at least not in the noticeable spectrum), since the other surprise performer last summer came from ANOTHER of Starcraft's early victims.
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Firefox just had an internal error... do I want to send to Microsoft? HELL YEAH I DO! Clicks *send error report to Microsoft* -MagicEmpGhaleon

Anyone think that the divisions will be similar to SpC2k4? It's possible to see that happen, although we'd have two lacking divisions again (16/128 Bit), and it probably wouldn't turn out very good.

era-based divisions would be cool just to see what we get in the 8-bit division. The square tetris block VS the enemy pong paddle... with Pig Ganon coming out of it.
<_<
and how would the 16-bit division suck?
Zeromus, Ex-death... uh, the guys from Earthbound and SMRPG?

Lavos?

Uh... good point.

32/64-bit would produce our inevitable winner, either sephiroth or 3d Ganon.
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RPG Elite (777) Dragoon Choco-Mage
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Since Ganondorf and Ganon are the same being, I suppose it'd enter only in the 8-bit era. And shame on you for thinking Ganondorf has even so much as a shot at Sephiroth. I don't think he'll break 35%, even.
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SpC2K5 nominations: Kefka, Ganondorf, Bowser, Ridley, Eggman, Dark Samus, Mario, DK, CATS, Kerrigan

Oh, I wouldn't put ganon in my bracket over sephiroth...
he's the only true villain (none of this dark link/smaus nonsense) that could even come close.
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RPG Elite (777) Dragoon Choco-Mage
http://rpgelite.org/join.htm

Thoughts:

I think Kefka will make the elite eight. I don't think he'll make the elite eight because he's particularly strong, I think he'll make the elite eight because he'll get a one seed.

My Elite Eight:
Sephiroth
Donkey Kong
Ganondorf
Wario
Bowser
Liquid Snake
Kefka
Seifer (somehow, I see Seifer getting the right draw to do well in this thing)

My Sweet Sixteen:
The Above Eight Characters
Sigma
Ridley
Kuja
Mother Brain
Seymour
Tenpenny
Vergil
Dr. Wily

These predictions are based off of a hypothetical bracket that I posted in Rod's topic... I'll post it here to see what all of you think. Bear in mind, it's probably a bit off because I didn't take company limits into account...
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

1 - Sephiroth
16 - CATS

8 - Ramirez
9 - Geese Howard

4 - Luca Blight
13 - Vile

5 - Sigma
12 - Dr. Cortex

3 - Ridley
14 - Great Mighty Poo

6 - Gigyas
11 - Shao Kahn

7 - Ansem
10 - Lynx

2 - Donkey Kong
15 - Luc

1 - Ganondorf
16 - Arthas

8 - Andross
9 - Vyers

4 - M. Bison
13 - Akuma

5 - Kuja
12 - The Boss

6 - Mother Brain
11 - Kerrigan

3 - Dr. Robotnik
14 - Gruntilda

7 - Vaati
10 - Kraid

2 - Wario
15 - Golbez

1 - Bowser
16 - Captain Qwark

8 - Lavos
9 - Darth Malak

5 - Seymour
12 - Lan Di

4 - Albedo
13 - Solidus Snake

6 - Albert Wesker
11 - King K. Rool

3 - Tenpenny
14 - Lezard Valeth

7 - Tartarus
10 - Diablo

2 - Liquid Snake
15 - Ultros

1 - Kefka
16 - Indalecio

8 - Ghaleon
9 - Yggdrasil

5 - Kain
12 - Ramon Salazar

4 - Vergil
13 - Fawful

6 - Seifer
11 - Rufus Shinra

3 - Revolver Ocelot
14 - Pyramid Head

7 - Meta-Knight
10 - Grahf

2 - Dr. Wily
15 - Wiegraf
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

And to Chucat: I'd love update topics, I really liked having them around in 2k4. I'd say keep the update times at 15 minutes unless it's a really good match.
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

Just a couple of questions questions for you lot about the poll updating topics, I figured this would be the best place to ask them.

1) Are they still needed and would you still want them? I'd gladly continue if you do, but if you don't want them then I don't see the point.

2) Since the polls no longer update every 15 minutes, would you like 10 minute updates or would you prefer for them to remain at 15 minutes?

I'll probably do updates for some matches, too, and I think that 15 minutes is best. It is what has been used in the past, and so sticking to that will make it easier to compare matches from this contest and past contests, if we wanted to. Also, there is already a wonderful Excel spreadsheet for the 15 minute updates, so...
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Vexilla regis prodeunt Inferni. ~ Dante Alighieri

1) Are they still needed and would you still want them? I'd gladly continue if you do, but if you don't want them then I don't see the point.

2) Since the polls no longer update every 15 minutes, would you like 10 minute updates or would you prefer for them to remain at 15 minutes?

i personally loved the update topics and updated every now and then in them, too. especially if it was a close match. it's great to be able to see exactly how a match transpired. and i always thought the 15 minute updates were just fine.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

So,how 'bout that Sora beating Hayabusa? ^_~
*laughs at all of you*
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*partystar*

and btw - that's a pretty good bracket there, Bormun. i could only predict about half of the first round matches you have with confidence. the other half i would have no idea who would win.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

That bracket reminds me of one of my wild-card nominations: Halo 2's Tarturus. How does everybody feel he'd do in the contest if he makes it in? I wouldn't take him over Diablo in that bracket, but I don't think he'd be that bad either.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

I don't think he'll do that bad.

An interesting note: When I was going through and making up that bracket, a lot of the "wild-card" characters fell into the 7/8/9/10 seed range. Wonder if that'll happen in the real contest... It was kind of disappointing when I was going through and predicting my bracket, because it nullifies any big runs that those characters could make.

I did like how the fourth division came out in that bracket, though. There are probably four characters with a chance to win it, and that's something we haven't seen in a character contest since 2002 West.
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

Best Game Ever contest, anybody? =P

Yeah, that division does have four potential Division winners...but I'd take Revolver over them all. He's the only one I see being up to Knuckles's level.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

Yeah, that division does have four potential Division winners...but I'd take Revolver over them all. He's the only one I see being up to Knuckles's level.

Yeah, I'd take Revolver too, but I think that Kefka, Wily, and Seifer do stand a chance. It'd be interesting.

And Bowser vs. Liquid Snake for a final four berth would be a nice match too. Pity the actual final four wouldn't be any good.

But I didn't even fudge this bracket at all, I just used the S-Curve. There are certainly ways that I could move things around so as to make things more interesting.
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

If only Boswer/Ganon was made into a Final Four match instead of Seph/Ganon...

...yeah, that'd be sweet.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

Anybody a bit worried that CJayC might overestimate the success of this contest? I hope he doesn't become despaired or something if there's less than 20,000 bracket predictions. :P

Lquid Snake/Bowser would be the only likely Final 4 (semi-final) match that I could see either character winning. I hope that gets set up.

Of course, Ganondorf vs. Bowser would be interesting, though Bowser would stand little chance. It'd be 52/48 at the closest, I say.

This contest makes me wish I've played more games...Tenpenny? Who's that? Vaati?

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"Ah, a party! We haven't had one of those. It could be fun! So...what is a party?"
"Well, you drink punch and eat CAKE! ...I think."

Tenpenny -- GTA series
Vaati -- LoZ: Four Swords and Minish Cap

That bracket looks awesome, Bormun. I hope the real one is that crazy.
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"My name is Guybrush Threepwood. Prepare to die!"

I agree Ganon would win, but it'd still be interesting. As for Tenpenny, I know he's from GTA:SA, but I know nothing else about him.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

although, i could actually see Street Fighter 2 fans rally behind M.Bison enough to get him into the Elite Eight. he's got some potential, too.

Akuma will do better than Bison if he gets in, and at least Seifer will be stronger than Kefka, if not Kuja as well.
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving

i'm not buying Kuja over Kefka, but i did already said that Seifer does have potential to have a shot at Kefka.

and does Akuma actually count as a villain? i wasn't sure if he was ever a required villain in any Street Fighter games. if he is, i could see him edging out M.Bison.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

Have a shot? He would beat Kefka without too much trouble. Final Fantasy VI as a game is beloved on GameFAQs, but they don't seem to be too wild about their characters.
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving

This contest is going to end up overall weaker than 2K2.
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The Xbox has two modes: Off and Halo. Sony has everything else. ~UltimateralizerX

Have a shot? He would beat Kefka without too much trouble. Final Fantasy VI as a game is beloved on GameFAQs, but they don't seem to be too wild about their characters.

One could make the same argument about Kuja. And we don't even know if the voters particularly like IX.
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"My name is Guybrush Threepwood. Prepare to die!"

No offence to the bracket creator but that bracket is a serious snooze fest. (Although I accept there is little else out there.)

I really think that Cjay will be making a mistake if he goes for 64

And where is Shadow and Seifer in that bracket?

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Smurf

One could make the same argument about Kuja. And we don't even know if the voters particularly like IX.

And that doesn't even matter. We know that Final Fantasy VIII is the most hated in the main series, and yet Squall would wipe the floor with any of its characters (unless Celes or Terra turn out to be light years ahead of Kefka, which I doubt).
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving

well, part of Kefka's downfall is that he has absolutely ZERO casual voter appeal whatsoever. that, i guess is where Seifer will be able make up some ground. Seifer might have a shot at Kefka, but i would by know means call it a certainty just yet.

at least we do have something to base Kefka off of, though. i guess, in reality, it comes down to whether or not you think Seifer would do better than 42.54% against Knuckles.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

I would say that Seifer beating Kefka is much more likely than the other way around.
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving

And where is Shadow and Seifer in that bracket?

Forgetting Seifer's a bit "oopsy", yes.

But Shadow isn't eligible (THANK GOD).
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SpC2K5 nominations: Kefka, Ganondorf, Bowser, Ridley, Eggman, Dark Samus, Mario, DK, CATS, Kerrigan

Just to clarify, does Shadow turn good at the end of Sonic Heroes? Please use spoilers.
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"Heh Heh... The wind... It is blowing..."--Ganondorf Dragmire

As for Seifer Vs. Kefka:

I stand in the minority on thinking Kefka's "lettuce" pic actually makes a difference, and frankly if he got a better picture, I'd give him the edge. If not, it would be a tough match to predict.
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"Heh Heh... The wind... It is blowing..."--Ganondorf Dragmire

For merely being a "safe" pick, I'd take Kefka...but I'd have to look more into it before I could take a firm stance.
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Serious Reminder: Nominate Dr. Wily in 2k5
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/contest_nominate.php

if Kefka goes up against Seifer in the third round, Kefka will win.

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Nominate DUFF MCWHALEN for Spring2K5!!
Trivia XIV: MEATWADD SUCKS!!

Argh!! I hate to triple post (somebody post before me, please) but who do you guys think will pull a Tina Armstrong?

Vote totals will be fairly low for some of these matches and with a great possibility of scrubs we could have pics play a role in some smaller matches.

Personally, I think Diablo and Pious Augustus could win over some close losers due to the badassness of their pics, but I'm sure I'm missing a couple others.
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"Heh Heh... The wind... It is blowing..."--Ganondorf Dragmire

No offence to the bracket creator but that bracket is a serious snooze fest. (Although I accept there is little else out there.)

Jesus, people.

THIS BRACKET IS JUST HOW I THINK THINGS WILL GO BASED ON NOMINATIONS, USING THE S-CURVE FORMAT OF SEEDING. IT IS NOT MEDDLED WITH IN ANY WAY TO MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING.

I really think that Cjay will be making a mistake if he goes for 64

It will be a more interesting contest for us if it is 64. It will, however, be more boring to the common voter.

And where is Shadow and Seifer in that bracket?

Seifer's in there. 6th seed in Kefka's division. Shadow is likely ineligible.
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There is no looking back. There is nothing left for losers, so I must fight on. - Kratos Aurion
?????????????

The "safe" pick would be Seifer. You people really need to consider just how far above Kefka that Squall is. Do you really think Seifer would be THAT much weaker?

And no, a sprite wouldn't help Kefka win. I might tend to agree that a bad picture might take votes away, but I don't believe a good picture will get you extra votes. Otherwise, Shadow might've beaten Tidus.
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving

Diablo is ineligible.
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SC2K5 Nominations: Squall Leonhart, Tidus, Zidane, Serge, Musashi, Tifa Lockheart, Leon Kennedy, Kerrigan, Revolver Ocelot, Lloyd Irving