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Gingrich Doesn't Address His Supporter's Assertion That Obama Is Muslim
It's been a while since we heard from the "Obama's a secret Muslim" lunatic fringe, but they still pop up from time to time. Like at today's Louisiana rally for Newt Gingrich, at which a man named Bob Nolan offered this stunning assessment of the president.
I believe that Obama is not stupid. I believe he knows exactly how the economy works, but I also believe that number one, he's a Muslim. Number two, he's a student of Saul Alinsky ... and I believe that it's his policy to bring this country to its knees and ruin the United States of America.
Now, Gingrich didn't nod sagely at the "he's a Muslim" comment, but he didn't deny it either. Instead, the Republican presidential candidate answered, "I believe this is a president who prefers power to prosperity and who follows policies that centralize power in the government." Gingrich went on to say he agrees with Bob Nolan about Obama being a student of Alinsky, while still neglecting to speak to the Muslim comment.
According to campaign spokesman R.C. Hammond, Gingrich's failure to respond to that particular part of the question was unintentional. Hammond also noted that Gingrich has made his feelings on the issue known in the past.
Newt, on numerous occasions in public town hall venues, has stated that President Obama is an American, that any discussion of his birth certificate is silly. He has said several times on national television and venues that he believes President Obama is a Christian.
Given that so many of Obama's critics have focused on his religion and country of origin, it seems like an odd remark to ignore. On the other hand, Gingrich's silence when faced with "he's a Muslim" may have been his response.
[Image via AP]


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subset: commoncrawl


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ESA's Envisat satellite witnesses Earth's largest crack
Scientists say the recent tear in the Earth's continental crust near the Red Sea in Africa's Afar desert could isolate Ethiopia and Eritrea from the rest of Africa and could eventually form a new ocean, according to an article published today in the journal Nature.
In September 2005, the Earth split apart along a 60 kilometre section of the East African Rift in Afar, Ethiopia. By monitoring Envisat satellite radar data acquired over the area before and after the event, a team of scientists from the UK, U.S. and Ethiopia has determined the 8-metre rift developed along the 60 kilometre-long stretch of the rift in just three weeks.
"Because Envisat is routinely acquiring data in areas prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, we were able to make very precise measurements of this rare phenomenon for the first time. The results from Envisat have been vital for guiding our ongoing field studies, and without the satellite data we would have had no idea of the scale of this event," Tim Wright of the University of Leeds and lead author of the study told ESA.
The use of Envisat data to monitor the rift marks the first time scientists have been able to analyse the spreading process with satellite instruments and shows the process happened suddenly rather than smoothly during large rupture events. These observations also allowed the scientists to determine that the Earth's tectonic plates split apart due to the injection of magma (molten rock).
"It is clear that the rise of molten rock through the plate is enabling the break up of Africa and Arabia," Wright said.
This process began some thirty million years ago when lava rose from beneath the Earth's crust and separated the Arabian Peninsula from Africa, creating the Red Sea. This is one of the few areas on Earth where a continent is being actively separated by the ongoing forces of plate tectonics and is believed to be a similar tectonic process to the one that formed the Atlantic Ocean.
The study says the African and Arabian tectonic plates are moving apart at about the same speed fingernails grow (a few centimetres per year).
"We don't know if an ocean will eventually be formed here, but the prospects are good," Wright said. "It just may take a million years before the port can be built."


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By DAVID GREEN
The chain link fence at Oak Grove Cemetery will be removed, leaving a portion of the property without a fence along M-156.
Morenci city council members voted unanimously to remove the fence that's located along the southern side of the cemetery front. The older wrought iron fence will remain in place.
City supervisor Barney Vanderpool was asked for his opinion and said he isn't completely in favor.
"I just like the fence barrier," he said, "but it would be easier for mowing and leaf collection. I'm sure it would look a little nicer with it gone."
A few citizens have commented on the incongruity between the chain link fence and the wrought iron fence, and council members decided to discuss the issue.
Vanderpool said the job could probably be completed in a day by using prison labor. Councilors voted earlier in the meeting to renew a contract with the Gus Harrison Facility for occasional help.
Vanderpool also commented on how good the freshly-painted wrought iron fence looks following the recent effort by volunteers helping Nathan Arno with an Eagle Scout project.
ZONING—At the Sept. 28 council meeting, council members voted 6-0 to hire Jacob Barnes as residential zoning administrator to replace the late Jack Baird. Barnes already serves as the commercial and industrial inspector.
Councilors voted Monday to approve a revised job description for the position.
HANDICAP—Council discussed a complaint about the lack of handicap accessible sidewalk approaches at the new walks at the elementary school.
City clerk/administrator Renée Schroeder said the approaches are the city's responsibility. Vanderpool said the city has put them in after removing portions for other work and this wasn't the case in this situation.
Vanderpool said if the city does one, it should others nearby and he wondered where the effort would stop?
Council members Leasa Slocum said the ramps would be very important to the mother of a handicapped child who wants the youth to be as independent as possible.
Mayor Doug Erskin suggested taking the issue back to the committee level for more discussion.
VOLUNTEER—Vanderpool expressed his appreciation to Art Slocum who repaired a hole in the stucco wall of the library. "Art has done the work more than once," he said.
STOP SIGN—Councilor Tracy Schell reported that due to extra enforcement on East Locust Street, a stop sign would not be erected at the intersection of Locust and Page streets.
The issue will be reconsidered if speeding problems return.
The citizen requesting the sign is satisfied with the decision, said police chief Larry Weeks.
LIBRARY—At the Sept. 28 meeting, council gave its approval to a Garden Club request to plant a tree in front of the library in honor of the late Keith Whitehouse.
A portion of the sidewalk will be cut out and benches will be installed.
HALLOWEEN—Council approved trick-or-treating hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.


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Goteborg may be a long way from Tunis, Cairo or Damascus, but its focus this year on Arabic-language filmmaking is timely.
Conceived during last year's fest — when the first Arab Spring revolts were just beginning — the fest's Arab focus includes movies that reflect everyday lives and provide a background to the political currents in the region.
"We will be looking at films made both before, during and after the revolutions, and there will be a seminar on the role that TV and the Internet have played," says artistic director Marit Kapla.
Films include Tunisia's "Rouge Parole," an account of the revolution in that country directed by Elyes Baccar; and "No More Fear," by Murad Ben Cheikh, another take on those events.
Other fest events include master classes by directors such as Alexander Payne, Giorgos Lanthimos, Lone Scherfig and Jessica Hausner (who is jury chairman for the Nordic Award).
Gala movies include "The Descendants," "We Need to Talk About Kevin," "The Artist," "Carnage," "W.E.," "Trishna" and "Dark Horse."
Guests this year also include Michael Winterbottom, Eva Ionesco and David Hare.
A 'dragon' with
a top fest too| Big prize, diverse program pull in bizzers | Arab spring in Sweden | Post and vfx thrive in northern climes


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Brian Rogers Predicts the "Great Migration"
The Chairman of T. Rowe Price thinks investors might finally be moving from bonds to stocks - and he's got two to recommend.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... your honor ... her Barron's online on your Brian Rogers who is chairman of euro price ... and also manager of the T Rowe Price Equity up ... upfront courses member Barron's Roundtable ... I thank you for being here ... I we've been discussing the big picture as well as some specific ideas ... let's start ... right now with your ideas of where the SNP five hundred years ... and we see it go and see ... what set last year was a very good time for global equity markets generally and for global credit markets the most part ... um markets advanced faster than economies ... soapy multiple rows somewhat globally ... and economies around the world continue to recover from the financial crisis of two thousand and two thousand mine ... I think markets surprise most investors in terms of of returns generated ... and as we stood early two thousand thirteen I think the sixty four thousand dollar question ... is what happens the share of the two economies grow ... what will corporate earnings do and what how investors a so so so some of the controversial art ISO Forstall was your first your best guess as to how investors will read it and and given an outlook of what are your your best investment you know ... what I think investors are involved in a gradual shift ... reflecting somewhat greater confidence ... and some dissatisfaction reported earning a money market funds in a bomb pops ... some decor for this is the great rotation or for those of the great migration ... but what what and Africa ... out of bonds into equities ... and so I think in the context of a market that is probably peacefully attractive along a dirt cheap ... you have to focus them on companies that the issues and problems that disappointed ... and which consequently look inexpensive ... spoken like a tired and into what point to one of the um the most challenged performers last year in the financial sector was PNC core ... find that most financial institutions generated very strong performance ... in two thousand well it did not it was basically flat ... and so I think it has great ... potential in Africa so following ... her profitable financial services company ... on the back of the best in the news for much of the last couple years or so publicize manage the issues and ... changes ... others Avon Products ... which is going for a major restructuring ... Greek New CEO Johnson Johnson and probably agree to a three year turnaround ... the NSE me that the consumer is there a long process ... I think that this or is there free of a product of years ago Tupperware with some of the same ... pummeled the challenges in a string of Iraq back together again ... so that that is great new management of the company can


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Tea Stick Stirs Heaven Into Your Cup [Leaf Soaker]
All right you potheads, knock it off. This is not a special one-hit toker. No, it's the Tea Stick, a spring-loaded doodad that lets you place loose tea on its little retractable shelf, and then you stir it into some nice hot water, resulting in a tea connoisseur's nirvana. The stainless steel and plastic implement, formerly only dreamed about as a design concept, is now available for $20. Say goodbye to those old tea bags, and indulge yourself with all the other tea snobs, using that precious loose tea that will take you to another place. Or something. If that doesn't do it for you, you can just put your weed in it. [Chiasso, via Crave]


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Umai-Ya Japanese Restaurant, IOI Boulevard Puchong
>> Monday, November 21, 2011
Venue: Umai-Ya Japanese Restaurant, IOI Boulevard, Puchong
Occasion: Gathering with uni friends
Overall comment: I found the lunch buffet variety quite disappointing. Some of the food weren't fresh as well e.g. one of the beancurd dishes with oyster were 'sour'/has gone bad. In my personal opinion, paying RM55.20/person (RM48.00++/person) for a limited variety of sushi, sashimi, & Japanese dishes wasn't really worth-it. Service was quite slow as well, especially since we were seated in the private room.
Halal: Pork-free
Earlier this month, my uni friends & I finally gathered for a meal together. It has been MONTHS since we last met & despite the not-so-satisfying food, we're glad for the lovely catch-up :)
Umai-Ya has been around for quite some time. It's just that I haven't been the most hard-working & adventurous food blogger, especially when it comes to places where I've to pass through tolls & endure the ever-present heavy traffic in Puchong.
This simple-designed & interestingly packed restaurant opens daily (if I'm not mistaken) & offers a substantial range of Japanese dishes, sushi, sashimi, & set meals. We were there that particular weekend for their lunch buffet, which was rather popular. I had no clue how the buffet was like & so when I got there, I had near zero expectations.
My friends & I took one of the private rooms & there was a specific lunch buffet menu to order from - which was quite disappointing. It's a buffet after all! :( I didn't notice many interesting selections & to make things more disappointing, there weren't sufficient information on what the dishes contained. The paper contained no illustrations for each dish & it was lacking in description as well. Ah, forgive, forgive....I told myself to just order whatever that looks "okay" & eat without expecting much. A good time of catching-up is top priority, not the food, not the food!
My friends have already ordered several dishes & have started eating by the time I got there. Interestingly, they ordered all the variety of beancurd offered. Hahaha. We're paying RM50 to indulge in beancurds? Money aside, I selected whatever that was more "worth the price paid" like soft shell crab items (there were only 2-3 of such items) & salmon/sashimi dishes.
Frankly speaking, what you see in the combined photos were all that we ordered - it's pretty much all that they have in their buffet lunch menu (at least for this branch), which was "better". The consolation was that we get to order it over & over again...the same types of dishes.
We ended our lunch with ice cream (part of the buffet) & everyone tried out the wasabi ice-cream - clearly not my favourite, but it was quite "powerful" & gives you the "umphh" feel! I kinda enjoyed their green tea & the usual chocolate ice-cream, but it was nothing much to shout about.
View PerutBesi in a larger map
So, will I go over for the lunch buffet again? I doubt it. At least not this branch if those were the only items offered in the buffet lunch menu. I may go for their ala cartes instead ;)
Umai-Ya Japanese Restaurant
A-GF-40, Block A
IOI Puchong Jaya Boulevard
Jalan Kenari 5
Bandar Puchong Jaya
47170 Puchong
Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Tel: (+603) 80751113
Fax: (+603) 80756663
Business hours: 11:30a.m. - 2:30p.m. (daily)
Presentation: * * *
Price: * *
Environment: * * *
Taste: * * 1/2
Service: * * *
That's all in a lunch buffet?,


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Laws of Armenia - online
- The legislation presented in the links below are not official translations of laws of the Republic of Armenia, even though copies were obtained from official websites. In certain cases, as with all websites providing reference information, the legislation shown may not contain the most recent amendments to laws adopted by the National Assembly of Armenia during the latest period.
- Final official versions of Armenian legislation may be accessed online from the Armenian Laws website or its mirror the ARLIS website.
- The Armenian Legal Information System (ARLIS) database has been created under the WB financed Judicial Reform Project. ARLIS is a full search engine containing all effective and non-effective Armenian legal enactments in the Armenian language (laws, National Assembly decisions, governmental and presidential decrees, PM, ministerial and state institution orders, decisions, etc.). The database is a product of "Official Bulletin" JSC. In addition to the online database, a CD subscription can be ordered for the database. CDs are updated and delivered on a monthly basis. The subscription price is AMD 2'000 per CD (AMD 24'000 annually for 12 CDs). It is anticipated the database will also provide official translations of Armenian legislation in the near future.
Law on Profit Tax
Law on Personal Income Tax
Law on Value Added Tax (VAT)
Law on Land Tax
Financial Institutions Laws
Law on Credit Organizations
Law on Bank Secrecy
Law on Bankruptcy of Banks
Law on Bankruptcy & Financial Reorganization
Law on Banks & Banking
Laws on Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents
Law on Copyright & Neighboring Rights
Law on Patents
Law on Trademark & Service Marks, Designation of Place of Origin
Competition Laws
Law on Protection of Economic Competition
Law on Protection on Domestic Market
Law on Advertising
Business Organization Laws
Law on Firm Names
Law on Joint-Stock Companies
Law on Registration of Legal Entities
Contract & Property Laws
Law on State Registration of Rights to the Property
Law on Privatization of State Property
Trade & Financial Regulations Laws
Law on Foreign Investments
Law on Licensing
Law on Currency Regulations & Exchange Control
Law on Accounting
Law on Arbitration Courts & Arbitration Procedures
Law on Inspections
Law on Securities Market Regulation
Trade & Financial Regulations: other sources
Other important sources of Armenian legislation are:
a. www.parliament.am – Official website of the National Assembly of Armenia. Gives access to a large number of existing law texts as well as draft laws, which are presented for consideration by the National Assembly either in Armenian or in English (Armenian language database is more comprehensive than English language database).
b. www.gov.am – Official website of the Government of Armenia provides texts and press-releases on recent decrees approved by the Government either in Armenian or in English (Armenian language database is more comprehensive than English language database).
c. www.cba.am - Official website of the Central Bank of Armenia. Comprehensively presents legal and regulatory framework that governs financial institutions in Armenia in either Armenian or English.
d. www.irtek.am - Another database on Armenian legislation. The website is also in English. However, the laws are only available on CD and in Armenian.


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Hey man, hows it goin? I saw you were in the area and not already in your mid 30s, so I figured i'd drop you a line. haha.
I havn't played in quite a while, so im looking for something a little more casual than these HxC gamers on here. Im from the pizza, pop, and dice school of gaming, haha.
Write back if you'd be interested to try to get something together some time.
The 300 (+7)


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Hey Hey!
Thank God.
A year too late for him to enjoy it, 30 years past the day he should've been selected, the Baseball Hall of Fame Veterans' Committee has finally elected the most deserving candidate not in Cooperstown, Ron Santo.
For those who doubt, here is my statistical analysis of the five leading playing candidates:
The simplest tool for judging a player against his contemporaries is, I think, the most overlooked one – exact comparisons, from a guy's debut season through his final year.
Awards are useful, especially as an indicator of greatness – in Ron Santo's case, the five straight NL Gold Gloves 1964-68 pretty much confirm his defensive prowess – consider the one from 1964, when Cardinals' third baseman and defensive hero Ken Boyer was MVP, but Santo still won the Glove.
The hardware is nice. But statistics are better.
In short, in his era, from when he came up with the Cubs in 1960 through his last year with the White Sox in 1964, Ron Santo was one of the top ten hitters in all of baseball.
Santo was fifth in RBI in his era.
Santo was ninth in Runs in his era.
Santo was tenth in Homers in his era.
Santo was tenth in Hits in his era.
There are 17 players besides Santo on these four lists of the top ten offensive producers of the 1960's. Only four men on all four lists: Aaron, Frank Robinson, Billy Williams – and Santo. Even the three men who are only on three lists, compared to Santo's four, are all in Cooperstown already.
Needless to say, only one other full-time Third Baseman (Brooks Robinson) shows up on any of the four lists – and he, only twice. Part-timer Killebrew is on three of them: handily ahead of Santo in one (HR), behind Santo in another (R), and just two spots and only 74 RBI ahead of him in the third.
You can't ask more of a man than to produce those kinds of numbers against his direct contemporaries: what he did while he played, compared to what everybody else did while he played, is all that he can be judged on. But it focuses exactly where a player stood against his peers.
By the way, if you want to be more generous to Santo, and judge him from his first full year as a regular (1961) through his last year as an everyday player (1973) he looks better still: he holds at fifth in RBI, but moves up one spot each in Runs (eighth), Homers (ninth), and Hits (9th).
I had Gil Hodges second.
Again, what he did in his time tells me what I need to know. Here is a list, updated through May 5, 1963 – the date Gil Hodges played his last game in the major leagues.
All-Time MLB Home Run Leaders (RH Batters):
1. Jimmie Foxx 534
2. Willie Mays 373
3. Gil Hodges 370
4. Ralph Kiner 369
5. Joe DiMaggio 361
6. Ernie Banks 340
7. Hank Greenberg 331
8. Hank Aaron 307
8. Al Simmons 307
10. Rogers Hornsby 301
By the way, on the all-time homer list, lefties and righties both, Hodges had just been knocked out of 10th place, by Mays (373 to 370). The game changes. Still, it is extraordinary that Hodges' home run performance measured against all his contemporaries and predecessors, is pretty much ignored.
Hodges' career spanned 20 calendar years, but he only played regularly from 1948 to 1959. In "his" era, Hodges was second in MLB in homers (344, to Duke Snider's 354), second in RBI (tied with Berra at 1136, behind Musial's 1226), fourth in Runs, and seventh in Hits. Hodges is often dismissed as a "Home Park Homer Hitter." In fact in his ten years at Ebbets Field he averaged only 4.60 homers a year more in Brooklyn than on the road. For comparison, Duke Snider, in the Hall since 1980, averaged 4.56 homers a year more in Brooklyn than on the road.
It is also of note that Hodges hit 27 or more homers in eight consecutive seasons, drove in 102 or more runs seven years in a row, and the first baseman on two World's Champions and four more NL champs.
Haven't even mentioned Hodges the manager (1969 Miracle Mets) nor Hodges the Man (I have never, ever talked to anyone who knew him who didn't revere him.
Third on my list? Luis Tiant. Bill James hit the nail on the head: Luis Tiant is Catfish Hunter with poorer marketing.
Statistical doppelgangers are often either coincidental, superficial, or irrelevant because the players are of different historical eras. Not Hunter and Tiant. They pitched side-by-side in the same league for fifteen seasons, in the same division for six, and were teammates for a year. And they look like twins in a dozen key stats:
Statistic Hunter Tiant
Starts 476 489
Complete Games 181 187
Shutouts 42 49
Innings 3449.1 3486.1
Home Runs 374 346
Wins 224 229
Losses 166 172
Run Support 4.30 4.46
20-Win Seasons 5 4
Sub 3.00 ERA Seasons 5 6
'Wins Above Team' 20.2 20.6
That's right: Tiant made 13 more starts, won five and lost six more games, threw seven more shutouts, and finished with an ERA 0.04 higher, than Hunter. Otherwise, they share a virtually identical statistics.
Where they deviate leaves open the question of which was the better pitcher. Tiant had 404 more strikeouts, but 150 more walks. Hunter twice led the AL in wins, which Tiant never did. Tiant twice led it in shutouts, which Hunter never did. Tiant twice led it in ERA, which Hunter did once.
Hunter's big advantage? He made 22 ALCS and World Series starts to Tiant's five. He was seen on the biggest stage, by fans and reporters alike, for seven of eight Octobers. Tiant had only one shot at such impact.
Beyond the Hunter comparisons, in the match-him-against his era numbers, Tiant was ninth in wins, tenth in K's, twelfth in ERA, 1964-80 (even though in five of those seasons he did not make even 20 starts).
And there is one more remarkable and overlooked statistic. Two of Tiant's six sub-3.00 ERA seasons were actually sub-2.00 ERA seasons. Since 1920, only 29 pitchers have had a seasonal ERA under 2.00. Koufax did it three times, and the other four did it twice: Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez – and Tiant.
Fourth – and he's right below Tiant – is Minnie Minoso. He's kind of damned by the overall quality of his play: superb at a lot of contradictory things, not extraordinary at any one of them:
Who were the top five hitters during Minnie Minoso's 13 seasons as a Major League regular, 1951-63? Keep it to the guys who averaged at least 475 at bats a year and here's the headline: one of them was Minnie Minoso.
Highest Batting Average 1951-1963 (Minimum 6175 AB)
1. Stan Musial .319
2. Willie Mays .315
3. Richie Ashburn .309
4. Harvey Kuenn .307
5. Minnie Minoso .299
Note please, that performance included eight .300 seasons. It's impressive stuff, but below is my favorite Minoso stat:
Highest Slugging Percentage 1951-1963 (Minimum 6175 AB)
1. Willie Mays .588
2. Stan Musial .543
3. Eddie Mathews .535
4. Minnie Minoso .461
5. Harvey Kuenn .417
The slugging number is especially astounding given that Minoso only hit 184 homers in those 13 years (28th in the era). Without being a real longball threat, he still places 8th in total bases in the span, and 9th in RBI.
Most Runs Scored, 1951-1963
1. Mickey Mantle 1381
2. Willie Mays 1258
3. Eddie Mathews 1220
4. Nellie Fox 1142
5. Minnie Minoso 1130
Seeing my point here? Pick a category, and Minoso shows up on it:
Most Stolen Bases, 1951-1963
1. Luis Aparicio 309
2. Willie Mays 248
3. Maury Wills 236
4. Minnie Minoso 205
5. Billy Bruton 193
Minoso is also fifth in hits in the era, second in doubles (behind Musial, ahead of Mays), fourth in triples, led the A.L. in hit-by-pitch ten times, won three Gold Gloves – and all this even the color line and circumstance kept him from becoming a major league regular until he was at least 28 years old.
My fifth guy out of the group is just a notch below. I love Jim Kaat and I think he belongs (as does Tommy John). I mentioned contemporaries Hunter and Tiant looking separated-at-birth. Jim Kaat and Robin Roberts are unlikely statistical twins who overlapped by only seven full seasons:
Statistic Kaat Roberts
Starts 625 609
Innings 4530.1 4688.2
Wins 283 286
Losses 237 245
Strikeouts 2461 2357
Walks 1083 902
10+ Win Season Streak 15/15 16/17
Roberts got to Cooperstown quickly because of the fact he reeled off six consecutive brilliant seasons, and despite of the fact that after the age of 28, only once did he finish more than three games above .500 in his final eleven seasons.
By contrast, Kaat won 18 as a 22-year old, slumped for a year, then starting in 1964 reeled off 17, 18, and then 25. Eight and nine years later he would produce consecutive seasons of 20 and 21 wins. As Bill James pointed out, if like Roberts, Kaat had bunched his great years instead of scattering them, he might've been elected in the '90s. As it is, he is still 31st all-time in victories — eighth all-time among lefties:
Wins, Lefthanded Pitchers:
1. Warren Spahn 363
2. Steve Carlton 329
3. Eddie Plank 326
4. Tom Glavine 305
5. Randy Johnson 303
6. Lefty Grove 300
7. Tommy John 288
8. Jim Kaat 283
9. Jamie Moyer 267
10. Eppa Rixey 266
11. Carl Hubbell 253
12. Herb Pennock 241
There are only eight active lefties with more than 100 wins, and of them, only CC Sabathia (176) is younger than 32. Kaat is also 10th in strikeouts by lefties. Kaat's victory total has been criticized as "padded" by his five years as a reliever and spot starter. But subtract those seasons and his career won-lost improves to 261-217, he remains in the top 10 among lefties, and still has better won-losts than Ted Lyons and Eppa Rixey (and is just behind Red Faber).
Lastly, the 16 consecutive Gold Gloves are almost a cliché. We don't stop to think that the first of them was won when Kitty was 23, and the last when he was 38 – and that the streak stretched through five presidential administrations and three expansion drafts.
Just to show my math, here are the Homer, Runs Scored, RBI, and Hit lists from '60-'74 that back-up Santo's greatness:
Most RBI, Majors, 1960-74:
1 Hank Aaron, 1585
2 Frank Robinson, 1412
3 Harmon Killebrew, 1405
4 Billy Williams, 1351
5 Ron Santo, 1331
6 Brooks Robinson, 1217
7 Willie Mays, 1194
8 Willie McCovey, 1190
9 Carl Yastrzemski, 1181
10 Orlando Cepeda, 1164
Most Runs Scored, Majors, 1960-74:
1 Hank Aaron, 1495
2 Frank Robinson, 1390
3 Billy Williams, 1306
4 Lou Brock, 1303
5 Willie Mays, 1285
6 Carl Yastrzemski, 1240
7 Pete Rose, 1217
8 Vada Pinson, 1177
9 Ron Santo, 1138
10 Harmon Killebrew, 1131
Most Homers, Majors, 1960-74:
1 Hank Aaron, 554
2 Harmon Killebrew, 506
3 Frank Robinson, 440
4 Willie McCovey, 422
5 Willie Mays, 410
6 Billy Williams, 392
7 Frank Howard, 380
8 Norm Cash, 373
9 Willie Stargell, 346
10 Ron Santo, 342
(Note: 11th was Orlando Cepeda, 327)
Most Hits, Majors, 1960-74:
1 Billy Williams, 2505
2 Hank Aaron, 2463
3 Brooks Robinson, 2459
4 Vada Pinson, 2455
5 Lou Brock, 2388
6 Pete Rose, 2337
7 Roberto Clemente, 2318
8 Willie Davis, 2271
9 Carl Yastrzemski, 2267
10 Ron Santo, 2254
(Note: 11th was Frank Robinson, 2220)
27 Comments
Hey Keith, I think you mean 1960 – 1974 not 1964.
Nice piece. One note: typo in 6th para, you list the end of his career as 1964, but think you meant 1974?
I would have liked an older ballplayer like Hodges to get his due recognition.
Hodges and Santo I agree and I also wish to see Kaat and Jack Morris in there.
Kaat deserves it for the GG's alone
It is the Hall of FAME, not Hall of statistics, which is why Catfish Hunter belongs and Luis Tiant does not. Hunter being on two dynasties makes his very good stats a GREAT baseball career.
Excellently argued. Nice to see Santo in, finally. Extra kudos for mentioning Tommy John, who sadly often gets overlooked in these arguments. His numbers are eerily similar to Kaat's, and both deserve induction.
Finally….The Veterans Committee Does Something!
But They should be ashamed it's after his Death!!
Joe Morgan is an AssClown!!
Out of curiosity, what are your thoughts about the executives; especially Buzzie Bavasi. I would think his time as GM for the Dodgers from '51 to '68- some of the best years for the Dodgers- would have garnered him more attention than it did.
Thanks for posting this excellent argument!
A fact that gets little mention is despite only 35 career stolen bases Santo once tied for the National League lead (with then rookie and left-off-this-ballot Dick Allen) in TRIPLES with 13, making him perhaps the unlikeliest post-expansion leader in that category (along with Tim McCarver).
"The simplest tool for judging a player against his contemporaries is, I think, the most overlooked one – exact comparisons, from a guy's debut season through his final year."
There are about a dozen full time position players who played throughout the "Santo era". I don't get how this is as useful as you believe, much less an "exact comparison". Compare career statistics of Santo vs career statistics of players who played in the Santo era and Santo surely wouldn't be in the top ten.
Careers don't line up perfectly, or even all that well.
This not to say Santo isn't deserving…
Highest Slugging Percentage 1951-1963 (Minimum 6175 AB)1. Willie Mays .588
2. Stan Musial .543
3. Eddie Mathews .535
4. Minnie Minoso .461
5. Harvey Kuenn .417
No offense, Keith, but only NINE players between 1951-63 had as many as 6175 at bats. Finishing fourth on such a list does NOT mean you're a HOF-caliber player.
His whole idea on comparing cumulative stats (or percentage stats with outrageous requirements) for player A vs all other players in a timeframe that completely biases player A is deeply flawed and misleading. He's taking all of one player's stats and putting them up against a partial showing of every other players' stats and claiming an "exact comparison". Players don't enter and exit the league like line shifts in a hockey game.
Santo for example… If you look at the CAREER stats of all players who played at any time between, say, 63-71 (+3 from the start and -3 from the end of "his era"), you'll find Santo was about 30th to 35th in terms of the cumulative stats Keith uses.
Great points – all of them. At some point, i think we'll be adding Tim raines to this list.
The point is, it is possible to make a case for ANY of the people mentioned. I'm glad Santo got in–I think he was deserving. So was Gil Hodges.
As to the question above about Buzzie Bavasi, I have thought he was overrated for the wrong reasons and underrated for the right reasons. He was indeed GM during some of the Dodgers' glory days. But if you look at the great Brooklyn teams, the bulk of them consisted of players out of the farm system started by Larry MacPhail and brought to greater success by Branch Rickey. Bavasi didn't have to make a lot of big trades. Then, in Los Angeles, it again was mainly the farm system, continued by Fresco Thompson. Bavasi's time in San Diego came up, too, but that wasn't a roaring success.
What goes unmentioned are the following: he was GM with the Angels and although he let Nolan Ryan go, he also was involved in creating the teams that went to the LCS. As GM of the Dodgers (actually, director of player personnel; Walter O'Malley's hatred for Rickey compelled him to get rid of the GM title that Rickey had held), Bavasi protected (some say directed) Walter Alston, helping to build the record for consistency that the Dodgers enjoyed (O'Malley reportedly wanted to fire Alston after the 1962 collapse, and Bavasi held the line then and on other occasions). And as a minor league executive for the Dodgers, Bavasi promoted baseball's integration.
All in all, we can make a case for him, but I think there was another factor: this was a player-dominated committee, and these players remember the executives of their era without a lot of pleasure. I remember the story of Bavasi telling the Dodger players that Marvin Miller was bad news, stay away from him, etc., and one of the players said, if Bavasi is that afraid of him, we need him.
Good job as usual Keith! I truly appreciate the support for Luis Tiant, Jim Kaat and Tommy John (only to a slightly lesser degree). As far as Kaat and John are concerned, how can any pitcher climb the mountain to over 280 victories and then be passed over? This also ignores all their other myriad accomplishments. Tiant was simply the top money pitcher in baseball for about 5 yrs. with Boston, a fan favorite, great drawing card and universally acknowledged clubhouse leader with a team that, by all accounts, sorely needed one! This, also, doesn't take into account that he had one of the finest seasons for a pitcher of all time in 1968 with Cleveland. Please keep beating the drum for all the unjustly overlooked HOF candidates! How about Carl Mays?
Those were the five that I had in, as well. I had El Tiante second but that's a quibble.
Kaat is also often derided as a "compiler", as if that's some sort of disgrace or something.
Unfortunately, some of these guys have become de facto stalking horses in the increasingly frustrating and silly conflict between sabermetricians (who love rate stats and champion Minoso) and those who take a more traditional view and value certain career milestone numbers, most of whom would favor Kaat (and John and Morris, all favored whipping boys of devotees of advanced metrics.)
There is a lot of tribalism involved and, unfortunately, it helps to deny great players their well earned status.
You're right about Santo. He deserved induction long ago, even when compared to the other ten 3rd basemen in the Hall. Only one of those players had more homers. Only two had a better slugging percentage. He had a better lifetime average than 5 of them. And only four of them had more RBIs. In that category he trails Brooks Robinson by 26 and Santo accomplished his total in far fewer seasons.
The stats are there. What I don't understand, KO, since you're so big on the stats is why you were so adamant a few years ago about Ryne Sandberg not being deserving of his induction. His numbers compare favorably with other 2nd basemen in the Hall.
Holy Guacamole! The guy is a SAINT! And you, Mr. Olbermann…with all these numbers…are pretty amazing yourself! Congratulations, Ron! Justice is sweet!
Sorry, Mr. Santos to me. Another player I will happily learn more about! Hugs.
know what these stats show? that mays was the greatest player of all time, and should be removed from the hall and given his own special shrine
santo? ehhh
I love Minoso. May have lost a year or two at the beginning of his career because of his race. Add together his major league, minor league and Negro league data and he's one of only a handful of players who had more than 4,000 hits in his professional career…
Keith, I don't quibble with your conclusions, but your methodology leaves something to be desired. You compare Santo with what others did during 1960-1974? Well, it's very convenient for Santo to compare his 15-year career to *portions* of other people's careers. Suppose you're (not making a HOF case, just a point about a contemporary) Rico Carty and you played from 1963-1979. You played longer than Santo, but in the "counting stats" comparisons, you come up short because only 12 of your 17 seasons are within the narrowly-defined parameters of the Santo-specific years.
To be fair about this, the best thing to do is to add five years in either direction. The game doesn't change all that much in five years. Compare Santo to all players 1955-1979. You're still putting him up against his contemporaries but they're not disadvantaged because their careers don't exactly overlap. Likewise, compare Minoso to hitters 1946-1968, and you'll get a lot more than *nine* eligible batters to rank him amongst.
Two words: WRIGLEY FIELD.
What does Wrigley Field have to do with it? If you mean that myth about it being a hitter's park, it's just that – a myth.


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Book British Airways flights to Stockholm and start discovering the cosmopolitan capital of Sweden.
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Marvel at the beautiful handcarved statuettes of famous figures at Gunnarssons Träfigurer. Or pick up high-quality handicrafts and clothing at Castor Konsthantverk. Shop for everything from books to cosmetics at the flagship Åhléns department store. Or browse in the cool and quirky boutiques of SoFo in Södermalm.
Take in the honey-hued medieval buildings of Stockholm's Old Town, Gamla Stan. Marvel at the staggeringly well-preserved shipwreck at the Vasa Museum, or step into the Sweden of the past at Skansen Open-Air Museum. The breathtakingly beautiful Drottningholm Palace and splendid Stockholm City Hall are must-visits on cultural breaks.
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The Mapleson Cylinders - Program Notes
|Band 13
Delibes: Coppťlia: Act I: No. 3, Mazurka
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra--Nahan Franko
February 12, 17, 20 (matinee) or 22, 1904
[Slip; Glackens 18: no date. The Met Ballet danced Coppťlia four times during February 1904, following various operatic performances; the orchestra's concertmaster, Nahan Franko, was on the podium. (An unspecified "Danse" from the ballet was also played under Phillippe Flon at the concert of February 8, 1903, but there is no other evidence of Mapleson recording Sunday evening concerts during that season.) On the original cylinder, the Coppťlia excerpt follows the conclusion of the Wagner Kaisermarsch, see Side 10/Band 11.]
The recording begins after the introduction to the Mazurka, at measure 14, and ends at measure 43; all repeats are taken.


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TNT ranked as basic cable's top entertainment network in total day delivery of adults 25-54 last week, led by another strong performance by Major Crimes. The year's top new cable drama garnered 5 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery last Monday, with 1.1 million adults 18-49 and 1.4 million adults 25-54.
TNT's Perception followed with more than 3.5 million viewers and 1.2 million adults 25-54 in Live + Same Day delivery Monday night. The drama also drew 1 million adults 18-49, up slightly compared to last week.
Sunday night, TNT's Leverage closed out its summer run with back-to-back episodes. At 9 p.m., Leverage scored more than 2.6 million viewers in Live + Same Day, growing a remarkable +20% compared to the prior week. The episode also delivered 920,000 adults 18-49 (+22%) and 1.1 million adults 25-54 (+28%). At 10 p.m., Leverage pulled in 2.4 million viewers (+12% vs. the prior week's 9 p.m. episode), with 833,000 adults 18-49 (+10%) and 1 million adults 25-54 (+17%).
Live + 7
Time-shifted viewing data indicates millions of viewers are making a concerted effort to catch every episode of their favorite TNT dramas. The following are the final Live + 7 figures for episodes airing the week of Aug. 27:
· Major Crimes (Aug. 27): 7.4 million viewers; 1.8 million adults 18-49; 2.3 million adults 25-54
· Perception (Aug. 27): 5.9 million viewers; 1.5 million adults 18-49; 2.0 million adults 25-54
· Leverage (Sept. 2): 3.8 million viewers: 1.5 million adults 18-49; 1.6 million adults 25-54
The season finale of TBS's Sullivan & Son drew more than 2.1 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery Thursday night, with 482,000 adults 18-34 and 1.1 million adults 18-49. Meanwhile, time-shifted viewing for the first eight episodes of Sullivan & Son have grown the show's overall average to 2.7 million viewers in Live + 7, with 671,000 adults 18-34 and 1.4 million adults 18-49.
Overall, Sullivan & Son and TBS's telecasts of The Big Bang Theory accounted for 17 of basic cable's Top 20 sitcom telecasts for the week. The shows also scored 18 of the Top 20 with adults 18-49 and 15 of the Top 20 with adults 18-34.
TBS's CONAN continues to chart solid growth in September. Compared to August, CONAN's September deliveries are up 9% among total viewers and +7% among adults 18-49. Annual growth is even more remarkable, with CONAN's September figures up 31% among total viewers and +18% among adults 18-49 compared to September 2011.
Last week, CONAN averaged 847,000 viewers and 512,000 adults 18-49 in Live + Same Day, while its delivery of adults 18-34 grew by +10% over the prior week to 248,000. Compared to the same week last year, CONAN's delivery of total viewers grew by +22% while adults 18-49 grew by +7%. In time-shifted viewing, the show's averages for the week of Aug. 27 grew to a final Live + 7 tally of 904,000 viewers; 278,000 adults 18-34; and 610,000 adults 18-49.
On pace to score its biggest third quarter ever among key adult and male demos, truTV scored a Top 10 primetime ranking among cable entertainment networks for the week with adults 18-49, men 18-34 and men 18-49. truTV also grew its primetime delivery of adults 18-34 by +11%, while total viewers ticked up 5% compared to the same week last year.
Hardcore Pawn (Tuesday at 9 p.m.) chalked up 3 million viewers, up 30% compared to the prior week. The show also scored growth among adults 18-34 (+41%), adults 18-49 (+13%), men 18-34 (+4%) and men 18-49 (+22%). In addition, Hardcore Pawn garnered its largest household delivery ever (2.1 million). Competitively, the episode ranked among the Top 3 ad-supported cable programs in the timeslot with total viewers, as well as key adult demos and men 18-49.
Impractical Jokers (Thursday at 10 p.m.) took in more than 1.5 million viewers and ranked among basic cable's Top 5 entertainment programs in the timeslot with key adult and male demos. The show also scored triple-digit growth over the same timeslot last year.
Cartoon Network
Across the third week of September 2012, Cartoon Network ranked as basic cable's #1 network for Early Prime (7-9 p.m.) delivery of boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14, and #1 in Total Day delivery of boys 6-11 & 9-14. Compared to the same time period in 2011, Early prime delivery of kids 9-14 grew by 14% and Total Day delivery of kids 9-14 grew by 11%.
The Cartoon Network premiere of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Saturday, 7-9 p.m.) propelled the network to rank as basic cable's #1 TV destination that evening among kids 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14 and all boy demos. The motion picture presentation also ranked as the #1 telecast of the week among boys 6-11 & 9-14, and the #1 telecast of the day among kids 9-14. Diary of a Wimpy Kid also increased all kids and boys delivery by double and triple digits, vs. the same time period last year.
Among the network's original animated programming, Monday night's presentation of Regular Show (8 p.m.) and Tuesday night's presentation of The Amazing World of Gumball (7 p.m.) each ranked as the #1 telecast of the day among boys 6-11 & 9-14. The network's newest series, Dreamworks Dragons: Riders of Berk (Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.) also ranked #1 in its time period among boys 2-11 & 6-11, earning double-digit delivery gains among kids 6-11, kids 9-14 and boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14 vs. last year's time period.
Adult Swim
Adult Swim ranked as basic cable's #1 network for Total Day Delivery of young adults 18-34 and 18-24 as well as men 18-24. Adult Swim also ranked #2 in Prime Time (Broadcast definition) delivery of adults 18-34 among basic cable networks, behind only ESPN.
Adult Swim's original series Black Dynamite (Sunday, 11:30 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among ALL targeted adults 18-34, 18-49 & 18-24, as well as men 18-34, 18-49 & 18-24. Versus the same time period last year, adults 18-49 delivery increased by 7%, men 18-34 by 10%, men 18-49 by 15% and men 18-24 by 10%.
Immediately following Black Dynamite, the season 6 premiere of Robot Chicken (Sunday, 12 a.m.) ranked #1 in its timeslot among adults 18-34, adults 18-24, men 18-34 and men 18-24. The top-rated original series also expanded delivery of all targeted adult and men demos by strong double-digits, ranging between 20% and 33%.
Newly crowned Emmy? winner Childrens Hospital (Thursday, 12 a.m.) also ranked #1 in its time period among adults 18-34, adults 18-24 and men 18-24. Similarly, NTSF:SD:SUV:: (Thursday, 12:15 a.m.) ranked #1 in its timeslot among adults 18-24. Both series telecasts increased delivery among adults 18-24, men 18-34 and men 18-24 vs. their same time periods last year.
Adult Swim programming - including Family Guy, Robot Chicken and American Dad - accounted for 22 of the top 50 telecasts of the week on basic cable among adults 18-34, more than any other network.


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Google Maps adding incident updates from Waze
The first benefits of Google's $1 billion acquisition of map software service Waze will appear today.
Real-time traffic reports from Waze app users will now appear on the Google Maps app for Apple iOS and Android, says a blog post from Google.
The reports include accidents, road closures, construction and other incidents.
Meanwhile, Waze users will gain access to Google search and Street View. The updates to both services will be available today.
In June, Google scooped up the Israeli startup for $1 billion in an effort to bolster its already powerful Google Maps service. Social network Facebook had been rumored to consider an acquisition of Waze prior to the deal.
Waze is a social mapping app that provides turn-by-turn directions and real-time incident reports filed by its community. The app boasts about 30 million users.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @bam923.


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|Events - Decatur Makers
|[email protected]
Tue 23rd Jan
7:15 pm
8:45 pm
Decatur Makers Board Meeting
Sun 4th Feb
4:30 pm
5:30 pm
Mead Rd. Mardi Gras/Krewe meeting
Thank you so much for being part of Mead Rd. Mardi Gras!
Let's get together to toast the Super Bowl and have a quick meeting to touch base!
And this big request: Please let us know if you will have music or a band marching with your Krewe.
We want everyone to shine and don't want bands/tunes to be competing with one another.
Reminder that the parade is on Saturday Feb. 10 @ 1p.
We start at 4/5 Academy and need you to be there by noon to begin check in.
Thanks again for supporting MRMG and our EXCELLENT music and arts programs in Decatur!
Now lets start thinking dry happy thoughts for the parade and telling your friends and family about our event!
Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!
Thanks again and laissez les bon temps rouler.
The Imperial, 726 W College Ave, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
Tue 27th Feb
7:15 pm
8:45 pm
Decatur Makers Board Meeting


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December 10 – 31, 2010
Report by Dr. Ruth Love, Professor, University of California at Berkeley
International Facilitator, SRDC
"It is the destiny of Africa, after four centuries of incomprehensible conflict and turmoil to now become a continent united by the best of human achievement, cultural excellence, prosperity, security, peace and progress."
~His Excellency Abdoulaye Wade,
President of the Republic of Senegal
Not since the legendary Marcus Garvey convened 25,000 Africans descendants for the First International Convention of Negro Peoples (August 1 to 31, 1920) has the world seen so many brilliant and dedicated Africans focused on the African Renaissance. Under the auspices of Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade, the "conference-festival" focused on Africa's future. From some 66 countries, an unprecedented group of scholars, academicians, scientists, mathemeticans, doctors, educators, filmmakers, artists, writers, elected officials and civic leaders engaged in serious deliberations germane to the development of the continent. A sense of urgency prevailed throughout the deliberations.
This conference was the third such festival and the first in 30 years. In 1966, the late president Leopold Senghor launched the first festival in Dakar. The second festival took place in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977.
This conference, (FESMAN) titled "World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, took place from December 10th to December 31st. The USA delegation (200) returned on Dec. 18th after a 10-day participation. Endorsed by the African Union, this meeting appeared more of a conference than a festival. His Excellency Maitre Abdoulaye Wade opened the conference with a lengthy, but impactful speech. He laid out some of the issues facing Africa (poverty, diseases, education, job, economic development, natural resource development) and emphasized that the countries have to work together to solve these giant-sized problems. He also emphasized that Africa needs all of the Diaspora and that he will continue to stress that idea with the African Union.
The USA delegation was composed of Pan African scholars in psychology, education, history, medicine, the arts, elected officials: Mayors, State legislators, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, civic leaders and the National Basketball Association/Africa. Dr. Djibril Diallo, the UN officials for HIV/AIDS, organized the group. Many of the delegates had been involved in Africa for years and for some; this was the first trip to the Motherland. Delegates flew from Kennedy airport on a chartered flight to Dakar. Among the U.S. delegates were Dr. Johnetta Cole, Director of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian, Runoko Rashidi, noted historian, Wayne Watson, President of Chicago State University, Dr. Julius Garvey, Surgeon and son on Marcus Garvey, Professor Leonard Jeffries, City University of NYC, Richard Gant, actor, Dr. Ruth Love, Professor, University of CA, Berkeley, Dr. Joyce King, Professor, Georgia State University, Dr. John W. Franklin, Director of African American Art at the Smithsonian and son of John Hope Franklin; Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century and many others.
The five structuring conferences of the 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures endorsed the establishment of the United States of African and embraced the United Nations Millennium goals: End Poverty and Hunger, Universal education, Gender Equality, Child health, Maternal health, Combat HIV/Aids, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships.
The format included daily forums on selected topics followed by lunch and roundtables. evenings were taken with entertainment. Each forum was chaired by the Honorable Iba der Thiam. Dr. Thiam is an imposing figure who made a meaningful presentation each day and handled the panels with great skill. He is clearly one of Senegal's most distinguished scholars.
This report will highlight selected aspects of the conference. Numbers speakers delivered presentations daily.
The formal Opening Ceremony was spectacular! Held at the National Stadium Leopold Sedar Senghor with hundreds of guests attending, it ended in the wee hours. President Wade and several leaders addressed the crowd. Performances by Angelique Kidjo, Youssou Ndour, Carlinho Brown, Mahotella Queens and many others, captured our collective attention. Some five hundred dancers, in well-choreographed fashion, covered the surface of the stadium with unbelievably rapid African dances. Multi-colored lights added to the brilliance of the performers. Between music, dance and spoken words, the evening left us breathtakingly impressed and moved.
Several distinguished African scholars spoke at length regarding what is required to bring about a serious renaissance. Dr. Theophile Obenga, from the Congo, gave a stellar presentation for one and one-half hours. In essence, he admonished the audience about Africa being left behind to be exploited and placed the blame clearly on leadership. In reiterating the fact that Africa has not built a car, airplane, found cures for deadly diseases, he called on Heads of States, intellectuals and scholars to become pro-active in planning and initiating some major steps. Further, he indicated," We have not eliminated poverty, unsanitary conditions, hunger, tribal wars or corruptions." Obenga urged Africans, at home (continent) and the Diaspora to focus time and attention in building our own manufacturing and processing companies. Decrying the fact that natural resources have not benefited African masses, he stated emphatically, "It is time to assume responsibility for our own destiny. We allow and encourage others to come in and take our resources and only a handful reap the financial benefits." In stressing education, he repeatedly indicated that illiteracy has no place in the 21st century.
Dr. Obenga's presentation was so well received the convener stated that it would be placed on a DVD so that it could be widely distributed. Dr. Obenga was a student of and later worked with Dr. C. Diouf and the two of them present compelling testimony before the United Nations in defining Egypt as an African country.
Other scholars addressed similar themes and expressed a sense of urgency about Africa's need to make radical changes. They hammered away at the need for education, jobs for the educated, reclaiming those who have left the continent in order to find ways to make a living. "Africa needs its citizens and Africa needs the Diaspora" was a repeated theme. The brain drain continues and has seriously affected the continent's capacities.
Dr. Wade Nobles' presentation stressed the importance of understanding that our history goes back to Kemet and we are the first civilizers of humanity. He spoke about Black psychology and why it is imperative to know and understand ourselves from an African Perspective.
Mr. Mel Foote spoke about the importance of the Diaspora working collaboratively to help Africa reach and realize its goal of self-sufficiency. Mel Foote had an alternate agenda and spoke to several youth leadership groups in Senegal and in the Gambia. He interacted with the U.S. Ambassadors in both countries.
After an intense day of speaker after speaker, the evening was taken with a Football Match, Brazil vs. Senegal. On the Sunday, there was an interesting Round Table between President Abdoulaye Wade and artists, intellectuals, elected officials of the Diaspora. Again the president expressed his interest in and support for the Diaspora. The festival highlighted the role of art and culture in promoting development and the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It is fair to say that during the U.S. delegation stay in Senegal, President Wade gave us special attention.
The official inauguration of visual arts, architecture, prints, photographs (inventors), paintings, cravings and crafts, represented one effort to demonstrate the contributions of black culture to humanity. After visitation to the exhibits, the Gala, A Tribute to Women was held. Ten women from around the world, including Dr. Ruth Love were honored. The gala was an elegant affair with African women beautifully adorned. President Wade gave the keynote speech and stressed the contributions of women historically and currently. After dinner, each woman was introduced and made presentations. It was long night, but an informative and inspiring evening.
That evening provided an opportunity to talk with President Wade about SRDC and the African Union. He was interested in SRDC's approach in organizing in the United States. Although, we spoke through interpreters, occasionally, he would speak English. On the occasions when he was participating, messages were sent to President Obama and some statement regarding SRDC was interjected. Several discussions were held with Pan African women. One Senegalese woman is interested in running for president and spoke adamantly about the possibilities. Interestingly, there was buzz regarding the president's desire to have his son succeed him and/or he was considering a third term in 2012. Some women with whom I met were individuals in high governmental positions, professors at universities and still others were civic leaders who were engaged in civil and human rights. Several such persons from Brazil were strong leaders locally and nationally. The commitment of these women to social justice was evident. They spoke of raising families and leading efforts for the improvement of lives of citizens. All of them had encountered discrimination as a black person and as a woman. Gender and ethnic biases are alive and well.
The ceremony between President Wade and Members of the National Conference of Black Mayors, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Associations for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the National Basketball Association/ /Africa (NBA/Africa) provided an opportunity to exchange ideas around political and civic issues. Present also were representatives of the National Association of Senegalese Mayors. The discussion resulted in commitment to develop joint projects. Basketball figures are on a mission to visit villages and teach basketball to children and youth and discuss the importance of education.
Goree Island is the slave house, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in commemoration of the painful history of the Atlantic slave trade. Located a few miles from Dakar on an island, Goree is a major tourist site. It reminds us once again of the inhumane, callous and horrific experiences endured by our ancestors. Like other slave dungeon, walking through Goree is a very emotional experience. In the evening, the Senegalese Dance group entertained the delegations.
The forum on Resistance focused on the various forms of resistance, beginning with West Africans revolts against being entrapped. Several speakers spoke to resistance. On slave ships, there were those who resisted being transported to a new land. Some refused to eat. Others chose to jump overboard rather than be chained like animals. Once in the new lands of America, South and Central America, Caribbean Islands, including Cuba, some men and women tried to escape the auction block. From the earliest time on plantations, Africans plotted and planned revolts; some violent and others simply escaped at the risk of their lives.
Speakers described the various forms of resistance to enslavement and colonization. Interestingly, there was discussion about those who escaped enslavement only to flee to other countries where they were treated badly and often enslaved. Some of the countries represented were Turkey, Canada, Germany, and Pagua Island. Brazil had the largest delegation of 500 and had comments regarding the impact of enslavement and discrimination. The chief of Pagua is living in exile and graphically and emotionally described current slavery of his people. The Indonesians prohibit them speaking their language and education is minimum. One can be jailed for merely saying a Paguan word. He is attempting to bring public attention to their plight. He expressed gratitude for being in Africa and presented his headgear to President Wade. Members of the audience shed some tears. (Hopefully, Danny Glover and others will visit the island).
The point was made repeatedly that Africans did not accept enslavement and always tried to find ways to obtain freedom. During the middle passage, some Africans went on hunger strikes and plotted ways to escape. Scholars discussed the longing for their homeland that was pervasive. Some scholars expressed deep resentment at the European portrayal of Africans being happy with enslavement. Even those few, who were not as harshly treated, longed for and found ways to become free. There was the indication that the number and context of slave revolts are seriously under-reported.
The former president of Benin gave a moving presentation on slavery. Complete with photographs, he stressed the mistreatment, the degrading experiences of those enslaved. "In spite of all that has happened, our brothers and sisters have come back and we must join hands and work
Together." He is working with an organization that plans to keep enslavement before the public. In private, there was discussion regarding the guilt and shame some Africans feel about their ancestors' role in the slave trade. They also indicated that Africans have to come to terms with it and move forward.
Dr. Julius Garvey gave a stunning presentation on the importance of collectively working toward common goals. He also expressed the belief that we can accomplish anything we put our minds and hearts to: Up You Mighty People." Africans were thrilled to meet and see the progeny of Marcus Garvey. Dr. Garvey has projects in Ghana, Mali and Uganda and is a frequent visitor to the continent.
Dr. Leonard Jeffries gave a presentation on the return of African descendants to African and the contributions they are making in different African Countries. He expressed hope for the future, given the quality of discussions and presentations thus far. Dr. Jeffries shared his commitment to Africa beginning in the 1960s when he was a university student with Operation Crossroads Africa.
The Monument, recently sculpted, is a gigantic statue of an African Man, Woman and child (pointing to Africa). Located on a hill, with lights around it, the monument is an impressive sight and claims to be the tallest monument in Africa. The monument is titled, "African Renaissance. Interestingly, the sculptor was a North Korean and an opening ceremony was held a few months ago. The U.S. Ambassador, due to the involvement of North Korea, boycotted it. Nevertheless, the monument is magnificent.
An evening of speeches and music at the foot of the monument was a special occasion. There is a sense of empowerment. The Heads of States offered their congratulations to President Wade for such an extraordinary work of art. In attendance were presidents from Libya, Liberia, Nigeria, Mali, Gambia and other countries.
President Wade invited the USA delegates to the Palace and convened the Senegalese mayors with the US mayors and State legislators with their elected officials. This meeting included his cabinet of Ministers as well. The president gave a lengthy speech, as did different representatives who had been involved in facilitating the conference. His purpose was to have elected official begin a dialogue and develop some collaborative projects. I brought greetings from President Barack Obama and First Lady Michele Obama. It was abundantly clear that President Wade desires a relationship with President Obama. He is preparing a packet of materials to be sent to our president.
In an unusual statement, President Wade said, "We must teach the truth. Africans were involved in the slave trade and the involvement was morally wrong. But they were not the main reason for slavery, nor would there have been a market without the organized business of Europeans. He emphasized the need to change what is taught.
President Wade indicated that he is establishing a museum on slavery and a department on the Diaspora at the university. Throughout the conference, we were told how important it is for the Diaspora to work with Africa.
The garden reception that followed, included delicate food, conversation with African leaders and an introduction of 170 Haitian students who has been given shelter and care by President Wade. As the evening ended, the president presented delegates with Certificates as Goodwill Ambassadors. It was a grand occasion.
This session was co-sponsored by UNAIDS, (the Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS) and Senegalese HIV Program. Mr. Michel Sidibe is Undersecretary-General of he UN and Executive Director of UNAIDS. He, too, sent a message to President Obama. Mr. Sidibe is based in Geneva. He spoke passionately about the devastating effects of AIDS and called on Africa to generate increased efforts to address this issue of life or death. Mr. Sidibe also sent a message to President Obama to aid Africa in this struggle.
Dr. Rosalind Jeffries and Dr. Vera Wade made the panel presentations. Dr. Jeffries emphasized the role and power of art in bringing about change and a sense of well being. She also discussed her role in working with African women and being on the continent whenever she can. Dr. Nobles discussed the importance of African and alternative medicines. She described her own experience with becoming paralyzed, but with the love and support of family and the herbal and traditional treatments, she was able to complete her dissertation. Dr. Nobles also graphically described her recent battle with brain tumor (cancerous) and how she again called on African and traditional treatment, surrounded by her loving family, she defied the odds and is here at this conference. Her point was that we should look to Africa for cures for HIV/AIDS.
Dr. Diallo expanded the panel to include the following:
Elsie Scott, Executive director of Congressional Black Caucus, Ruth Love, University of CA and a representative from the basketball association as well as a singer. The famous singer stressed using music to reach young people and educate them about AIDS. The basketball representative, based in South Africa, traveled with a small team to various countries and teaches basketball to youth in villages. The team includes discussions around health issues and education.
I discussed our project in Ghana where a group of women are HIV and husbands have left and have died. Their families ostracize these women. They come together daily and make crafts, jewelry, clothing etc to sell. They have learned to prepare foods for their children in ways that protect the children from HIV. We purchase some of their goods and they are able to make a living. We provided them with library materials on HIV and inspirational readings. The ambulance shipped to the project was met with joy and glee. It reduces the time it takes to walk 10 miles to the nearest clinic. Originally, the only medications they used were tonics, provided by local medicine men. President Clinton's negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, was able to reduce the price of anti viral medications. Now, these women are able to take this medicine. These courageous women speak to youth and women's groups and discuss ways to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS. They feel it is their duty to share their struggles and how they are learning and living lives.
The other project shared with them was our West African Power Plant Project; a project with 15 West African countries who have come together to provide energy and sanitary water for those countries. Each of the presidents has signed on and the program will be launched in the near future. Some of the profits from this project will be used to establish education and health program in each country.
Elsie Scott discussed some of the programs of the Congressional Black Caucus. She talked about the scholarships, interns program and the legislative weekends. The caucus serves as the conscience of the congress. She made some recommendations for follow up to this conference.
Each Forum addressed significant issues relating to Africa's past and future. The first forum's topic was The Diasporan Africans and was opened by Senegalese President Maitre Abdoulaye Wade. President Wade expressed deep confidence in the Diaspora, as Africa becomes a United States of Africa. He applauded the accomplishments of the Diaspora, in spite of the horrific experiences of enslavement. Historian Runoko Rashidi, Dr. Sheila Walker and Dr. Joyce King spoke during this forum. Some of the key points expressed were:
1.The African Renaissance must be centered in African realities (not Europe) and must include African languages and traditions.
2. Diasporan Africans have experienced a dislocation of self, not a loss of self.
3. The story of Diasporan Africans does not start with enslavement, but with human history in Africa and our humanity and African identity—as one big family.
4. What and how we teach needs to be changed to reflect our Pan African priorities.
5. Using African, rather than colonial languages is essential in the African renaissance.
6. Many in the Diaspora are already involved in African countries and others are familiar with Africa and extend themselves to Africans in their respective communities. More of these interactions are needed.
One of the most important aspects of the deliberations was the establishment of a committee to set forth some formidable goals for achievement in Africa in the foreseeable future. Each participant in the small group had an opportunity to present concepts for consideration as Africa looks to its future on the world stage. Several from the U.S.A. delegation participated, including Wade Nobles, Joyce King, Ruth Love et. al.
Sample recommendations included the following:
1) UNIVERSAL EDUCATION for all children and youth: It is imperative for education to be a priority, if they are to thrive. Funds must be set aside and strategies for eliminating illiteracy can affect the nation's future. One suggested strategy to begin the eradication of illiteracy is to adopt a program of "each one teach one" in which each graduate from high school assume responsibility for teaching one child/youth to read. Several countries have used this strategy effective. It is critically important for countries to embrace the right to an education, regardless of economic or tribal identity.
2) HEALTH CARE: Join with existing groups that are pursuing the elimination of malaria, worms, sanitary drinking water etc. and develop programs to partner with these organizations and individuals to ensure health care for all. Different countries could develop scientific laboratories to focus on one serious life threatening disease. These might include, but would not be limited to the following: HIV/Aids, Malaria, Polio, Vaccinations, etc.
3) NATURAL RESOURCES: It is well established that Africa has an abundance of natural resources. Taking charge of such precious resources will necessitate the establishment of oil refining plants, mineral plants to process valuable resources for the benefit of the countries and their citizens. Developing the infrastructure to assume responsibility for handling the the vast resources of the continent is both a challenge and an important priority.
4) AGRICULTURAL ENHANCEMENTS: It is said that African soil can grow almost anything. A massive campaign to develop agricultural products for domestic use and for exports would enable countries to supply food products for their masses. Additionally, the exportation could generate revenue.
5) RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE DIASPORA: The vast Diasporans can be valuable partners with African countries. The combined efforts of continental and diasporan African can be powerful influences in Resolving challenges for both groups. Reclaiming those who were taken from the continent can be enriching and enhancing. Given the mutual benefits of the continent and Diaspora, the provision of citizenship would substantially enhance the vital partnership.
Dr. Thiam invited delegates to send additional recommendations to him after returning home. Clearly, he is extremely serious about Africa's future.
In summary, what the conference lacked in logistics, it made up in sustentative discussions. Our hotel was being renovated and thus was not the most convenient accommodations. Nevertheless, the fact that Africans are seriously turning their attention to assuming responsibility for their destiny is absolutely gratifying and entices the Diaspora to join hands in the herculean tasks of helping this remarkable continent come into its own and establish its place on the world stage.


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For over twenty years, Domino Recording Co. has been one of the most celebrated and creative forces in the world of independent music. Founded in 1993, the London-based label started off by licensing works from acts signed to American record companies for release in the UK. Since that time, they've opened an office in Brooklyn and established the divisions Domino Deutschland and Domino France. Their stable of artists includes some of the most inventive, beloved and influential acts in music today, and we're delighted to welcome Domino to our family of digital labels available on Amoeba.com! To celebrate, we've rounded up some of Domino's best releases from the past decade and a half, listed below in no particular order.
Arctic Monkeys - AM (2013)


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The SonicFit lessons are designed to teach music fundamentals and develop musicianship and sight reading ability. There are specific lessons for choral singers, beginning with the basics of reading a choral score through advanced topics like determining chord factors of each voice part for a given harmony. Our goal is to develop singer who are aware of the music as a whole, and how their part fits with the others harmonically, melodically and rhythmically. Students will also become musically literate, knowing the common vocabulary of musicians and the theoretical concepts behind the terms.
The instructor interface aims to serve the different needs of choral directors. Here is just a sampling of ways that SonicFit can be used in choir:
Choir directors can assign lesson units in which students read content or watch video and then take quizzes on the content and practice exercises that drill for speed and proficiency with the material. Aural skills are developed from the very beginning, as aural development is paced right along side the learning of notation and theory. For clarification of the terms aural skills, ear training, musicianship, notational literacy, music fundamentals, and theory, please go here.
In addition to the pre-built lesson units described above, directors can also build customized units of assessments and practice logs. In Practice logs, instructors select a bank of exercises, and then singers pick the exercises that they need to work on and can further adjust settings in the exercise to match their needs and ability. Both singer and director can see everything that the practiced with a list of settings used, time spent, scores etc.
Directors can also custom build assessments- that is, they can adjust the settings of an exercise and then assign it as a quiz for all singers to take. In some settings, it might be beneficial to create a set of assessments and then a practice log along with them. Singers then practice for the assessments before taking them, or alternatively, take the they assessments first, and if scoring poorly on them they would then be required to do the practice. You can also set up pre-test and post test with practicing in between. The system allows you to configure your assignments however you wish.
SonicFit's pedagogical foundation is considered best practice by many choral directors, and aims to serve those choir directors who agree with these convictions:
SonicFit has a conviction that the best system for scale degree training is movable DO solfege with "LA" based minor. In the lessons, scale degrees are referenced using that system, and the default setting on any exercise involving scale degrees use that system. That said, there are other systems available in the settings including Letters, numbers, and fixed DO. These other systems have their place, but are not the foundation for SonicFit.
Some directors argue for singing on numbers for scale degrees, claiming that people already know numbers and the mapping is more direct- 1 for the 1st scale degree, 2 for the 2nd etc. Using numbers can beneficial if giving an assessment to brand new singers, so that you don't have to crash-course solfege. However, for a curriculum of learning, SonicFit chooses solfege because it is much better suited for its purpose, as outlined above, and is easy to learn. more info less info
Numbers are ultimately very cumbersome- most have diphthongs or glides, and several have multiple consonants or even multiple syllables. Once one uses chromaticism, then every note has a mouthful to say like "sharp four" etc. Furthermore, numbers are already used for so many other things- counting, chord factors, roman numeral chord identification.
Some people argue that numbers are more immediate and that solfege takes too long to learn. In 20 years of working with singers, I have found that the learning curve for solfege is very short, especially given the huge pay-off of the system. I have had students with learning disabilities who struggle even saying numbers or alphabet letters descending, and they have no greater challenge with solfege. In most cases it is easier for them after a surprisingly short learning curve, and then having the isolated function of these syllables helps focus their learning.
Both fixed DO and letter names have their place, particularly at a very advanced level, but both require extensive understanding of music theory when applied to scale degree comprehension.
LA based minor is when the tonic for a minor key is LA. This follows both from the derivation of the relative minor from the major, as well as from the modal system in which the Aeolian mode (the minor scale) is LA TI DO RE MI FA SOL LA. Using LA as tonic allows the singer to always know the relationship between the relative major and minor, its 'modal' context, and more importantly, to always follow the key signature. The disadvantage of using LA based minor is that students have to re-calibrate their orientation of tendency tones: it takes some training before they feel LA as home base, MI as the Dominant, MI RE DO TI LA as descending triad scale, the strong tendency of FA MI as 6th pulling to the 5th etc. This disadvantage serves as an advantage later in their training, as students learn to tonicize other scale degrees, learn to navigate modulations easily, and learn to sing modal music from the Renaissance.
The huge advantage of LA based minor is that singers follow the key signature. Notes only change their solfege when an accidental is placed on the note. The concept of a raised note can be taught in ear training even before it is taught in theory, and students can aurally grasp a 'borrowed leading tone' before even fully learning about keys and scales.
more info less info
In contrast, DO based minor treats the lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale degrees, notes (ME, LE and TE) as if they have accidentals thus changing the solfege, and the raised 6th and 7th scale degrees which have accidentals on them turn back into the diatonic solfege (LA and TI). This is completely contradictory with how chromaticism is used in all other contexts when accidentals appear in front of notes it alters the solfege towards [i] if raised and towards [e] or [a] if lowered. To understand why DO based minor does this requires an extensive and thorough understanding of keys, scales, and step relationships.
Teaching DO based minor needs to be a higher level task. That said, it is fine to sing DO RE MI FA SOL, DO RE ME FA SOL as an exercise to illuminate the difference between parallel major and minor, but it should be explained that way. Saying that DO RE MI FA SOL has the same step relationships as LA TI DO RE MI, and saying that LA TI DO RE MI is the relative minor is a fine follow up. However, further study of minor, at least initially, should be done using LA based minor.
That said, once students have learned the theory of scales and keys, SonicFit occasionally uses DO based minor to teach a few concepts and to provide another approach at the material. This is particularly true for some work on harmony as well as when working with parallel major and minor relationships and music using them.
After students are well versed in these fundamental and foundational skills, they begin to train on more advanced skills. For advanced sight reading and aural comprehension, SonicFit believes that students need a large set of skills that they can draw from and cross-reference. All of the exercises in the Sonic Comprehension column of the Exercise tab are utilized in this training. The ones listed below represent exercises that isolate specific skills:
Scale Degree Ear Training
Intervals and Chords Identification
Melodic Fragments Ear Training
Chromatic Framework Ear Training
Beat Division Ear Training
Harmonic Bass Line Ear Training
SonicFit is most effect when some choral rehearsal is devoted to related exercises. We highly recommend that you have singers sing in duets following Cerwin hand signs that the director shows with two hands, or break into small groups (even pairs) following section leaders in 'reading' hand signs. Rhythm hand signs showing 16th division of beats can also be used in a similar way. Over the 2016-17 school year, SonicFit will add a page showing many of these exercises.
If having read this you agree with the pedagogical convictions spelled out above, then I hope that you contact me, set up an account, or use the free material available. If you feel strongly against any of the convictions spelled out above, then SonicFit is not for you, and I encourage you to keep looking for a resource that matches your convictions, or build your own. The internet is surely big enough to represent different approaches in musicianship and aural skills development. No one resource should fit everyone, and SonicFit definitely doesn't try to. We actually object philosophically to anyone who tries to accommodate everyone, believe that it waters down and diffuses the approach. SonicFit is for those who agree with the convictions spelled out on this page.


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First published "popular science" article!
This piece first appeared on physics.org: http://www.physics.org/featuredetail.asp?id=57 this month (Oct 2010)…. its basically an extended version of my Intro to Nanotechnology
Hello nano
Nanotechnology. It's one of those words you hear bandied about, sometimes in a slightly sinister context. But what exactly is it?
'Nano' comes from the Greek word for small. So, nanotechnology is just the science and engineering of the very small. But how small? Well, take an average human hair – it has a thickness of about a fifth of a millimetre. Imagine splitting that hair 100,000 times across its width. The piece of hair you'd have left would be about two nanometres (2 nm) thick. Any object between 1 and 100 nm can be called 'nano'.
A nanometre is just a very small length measurement, and it's that tiny size which makes nanotechnology interesting – on such a small scale, the laws of physics change, opening up new possibilities for science.
Nanotechnology is already all around us, in many of the products we buy every day. We've been studying it for years, so it's not a futuristic as you might think. In many cases, Mother Nature got there first, with everything from self-cleaning surfaces to volcanic nanoparticles… We're only just catching up!
Where might you find nanotechnology? Here are a few examples.
The sporting industry was an early adopter of nanotechnology – Rafael Nadal became Wimbledon Champion using a nano-enhanced racket. These rackets were reinforced with nanoscale Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) crystals, resulting in a lightweight frame that is incredibly stiff and strong.
Golfer Pádraig Harrington uses nano-enhanced clubs – the shaft is filled with plates of nanoceramic to increase its strength, carbon nanotubes reinforce the glue which hold the carbon fibres together. This same technology also has applications in skiing, along with other sports.
Nature has often been used as an inspiration for new materials. Lotus leaves are famously self-cleaning: their secret is that each leaf is covered in billions of nano-bumps. When water hits the leaf, it can't penetrate between the nano-bumps, and instead, rolls off. Any dirt on the leaf is carried off in the water droplet. We've only just caught up – the roof of London's St. Pancras Station is made from self-cleaning glass.
Silver's antibacterial properties have been known for thousands of years, with the ancient Egyptians putting silver paste on wounds. These days, silver nanoparticles utilise the same property, but in a more cost-effective way. Cotton fibres can be soaked in a suspension of these nanoparticles. Their small size means that they don't change the feel of the fabric but remain very effective in controlling the growth of bacteria. Could this be the end to smelly socks?
The beauty industry has often been accused of inventing pseudo-scientific terms to sell their products, but maybe surprisingly, the industry actually invests a huge amount of money in nanotechnology research. The active ingredient in many anti-wrinkle creams is simply vitamin A, just in nanoparticle form, which allows for faster absorption into the skin.
Almost all sunscreens are made from titanium dioxide (TiO2) or zinc oxide (ZnO), which are white in colour. Transparent sunscreens have exactly the same composition, but nanotechnology has been used to shrink the size of the particles, which changes their appearance.
Nanotechnology doesn't just offer us luxurious lifestyle products. It can be used to make better power generation systems, so vital in our fossil-fuel dependent society.
More than 60% of the energy produced by a car engine is wasted, mostly in the form of heat. Thermoelectric materials can capture this heat and produce electricity, and by using nanotechnology, these materials can be made more efficient. Capturing wasted energy is just the beginning – batteries with nanowire-filled electrodes have been produced, and have ten times the capacity of today's lithium-ion batteries.
What about grey goo?
One thing nanotechnology hasn't managed to produce is the swarms of self-replicating nanobots, nicknamed 'grey goo', once predicted by critics. Scaling a mechanical robot down to that size is an immensely complex task, one we are far away from ever achieving. The simple truth is, in the nanoworld, friction behaves very differently – no nanobot could ever be created by accident.
Friction causes wear and eventually failure in mechanical systems, and its effect is always dependent on the contact area between surfaces. The huge surface areas and high roughness that exist on the nanoscale mean that friction may well be far higher than that predicted by classical theory. Any truly nanoscale device is therefore likely to be susceptible to incredibly high friction, meaning it won't be long until it quite literally grinds to a halt.
You can't talk about nanotechnology without talking about the risks involved. While grey goo scare stories may be unjustified, there are still many questions surrounding the use of nanotechnology, especially around its place in the beauty industry.
For example, as yet, there is very little known about the interaction of nano-objects and skin cells. Nanomaterials are treated as cautiously as any other class of chemicals, and so far, the results have been positive, but much more research is needed, especially on their long-term effects. UK labs are developing reliable measurement techniques for all classes of nano-objects… To paraphrase a quote by the great Lord Kelvin, only by measuring something do we truly understand it.
The moral of the story? Size really does matter, especially when it comes to physics.


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Indicative Rate * AU$195 to AU$420
Villa Mar Colina, located 35 minutes drive north east of Rockhampton is set high on Bluff Point in Yeppoon, boasting stunning views across Keppel Bay, long sandy beaches and the Keppel Isles. Whether visiting their region for business or pleasure, from a quick overnight stay to a lazy getaway, you will simply not find better value or superior quality accommodation. Villa Mar Colina is just a short energetic walk to Yeppoon's Central Business District where you will find great restaurants, plenty of shopping and access to Yeppoon's main beach.
Accommodation is offered in one, two and three bedroom villas. Two bedroom villas sleep up to six people. Three bedroom villas sleep up to eight people. All villas have a family bathroom plus ensuite off the master bedroom. All villas feature modern full size kitchens, very spacious open plan living area, private balconies or patios, DVD and HD television with Austar. They also feature own laundry with washer and dryer, private garages with electronic remote entry, and most importantly free Wi Fi. Villa Mar Colina is surrounded by gardens and features an illusion pool and barbecue area.
One Bedroom fully self contained villa with fully equipped kitchen, and laundry and private patio. Great views across to the islands.
Two bedroom/two bathroom apartment with magnificent views across to the islands. Large fully equipped kitchen and living area. Laundry facilities.
Private patio with outdoor setting. Serviced weekly.
Magnificent rooftop villa with large balcony and barbecue. Large kitchen/dining and living area. Full laundry facilities. One queen bedroom and one bedroom with two singles. Two bathrooms and three toilets. Serviced weekly.
Three bedroom fully self contained apartment with full kitchen and laundry facilities, lounge/dining area, and two bathrooms. The apartment has two queen rooms and one room with two singles, also a sofa bed in the lounge. Outdoor setting on Patio. Serviced weekly.
With outstanding views of the Capricorn Coast, three bedrooms and office, private spa, entertainers' kitchen and huge lounge, this wonderful penthouse apartment will accommodate up to six adults in total luxury. It also boasts three large decks with barbecue facilities. Large Flat Screen television.
With a private entrance and two car accommodation, full ducted air-conditioning, and the best in furnishings, their Penthouse Apartment is an easy walk to the beach and Yeppoon's Central Business District.
There is simply no better place to holiday on the Capricorn Coast.
Note: Information on listed products and services are provided by the operator and were correct at the time of publishing. Rates are indicative based on the minimum and maximum available prices of products and services. Please visit the operator's website for further information. All prices quoted are in Australian dollars (AUD).


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Alabaster Oak (8954)
Product Code: Multi Panel
Availability: In Stock
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- Ex Tax: £71.67
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It is the Buyer's responsibility to ensure that the goods ordered are suitable for the Buyer's purpose.
In no event shall the seller be liable for any damage due to improper use, bad installation or incorrectly stored.
The buyer shall carry out a thorough inspection of the goods on receipt of delivery .If you choose to leave with a neighbour they will be held to count if the items are unchecked.If you wish it to be left unsigned we are not to be held responsible for any items damaged. Please notify the seller within 24 hrs of any defects which a reasonable examination would have revealed. The buyer shall not be entitled to reject the goods in whole or in part after such date.
To process any claims we will need pictures of the damaged packing and products , emailed to us at firstname.lastname@example.com
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The seller shall not be liable for damages assessed after acceptance of the goods, except when the buyer establishes proof that the damage is due to a defect in materials or workmanship. In any case, the liability of the seller is limited to a period of 1 year and, to the choice of the seller, to replacement of the goods or refunding of the concerned goods.