Salar de Uyuni, "Saudi Arabia of lithium"

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat and the world's largest supply of lithium. Located in southwest Bolivia, Salar de Uyuni is being called a potential "Saudi Arabia of lithium." Lithium is the alkali metal used in lithium-ion batteries which is the main source for energy used in electric vehicles. The potential usage for lithium is predicted to double in a decade. These predictions have been the subject to much attention towards the Salar de Uyuni salt flats by foreign countries looking for negotiations.

President Evo Morales compared the pillaging of his country's resources to the way Spanish conquistadors once carried off silver from its mines. The President reassured there will be no pillaging. Other than being the president of Bolivia, more importantly Morales is the first president of Bolivia from indigenous descent. President Morales is of indigenous Aymara descent and born in the highlands of Ornioca, Oruro. The President is also the leader of the political parties called the Movement for Socialism and Bolivia's Cocalero movement. The Cocalero movement opposes the U.S. government's efforts to eradicate coca in the province of Chapare in central Bolivia.

Regardless of the voluminous attention being drawn to the salt flats, Bolivia is just now beginning to profit and drill through the flats.

-I’m interested to see the political outcome of negations or lack of in the next five years for lithium. I can predict a fairly negative one with Slar de Uyuni salt flat given the name "Saudi Arabia of lithium". I think its fare to say that this name holds negative connotations in U.S. and I’m sure it was not given to Bolivia with a positive advancement in mind by foreign countries. Let's be honest, regardless of the source of energy being other then petroleum there’s always a stench of money that conceals the vicinity in a state of euphoria. So to all my future electro car owners, strap your belts and enjoy the "roar less" rides of our eco-friendly vehicles but, like all beasts that are tamed there comes a time where nature takes it's course.

For more info visit: http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/24058/?a=f

Motorized Knee, Robot Suit HAL & Yotaro Baby Simulator

All three works are projects from the scientists at the Tsukuba University in Japan.

Welcome to 2010...

The Science Behind Gluttony as Told by UT Southwestern Medical Center

"What we show is that there may be situations where we are driven to seek out and eat very rewarding foods, even if we're full, for no other reason than our brain tells us to," said Dr. Jeffrey Zigman, assistant professor of internal medicine and psychiatry at UT Southwestern and co-senior author of the study appearing online and in a future edition of Biological Psychiatry.

Scientists previously have linked increased levels of ghrelin to intensifying the rewarding or pleasurable feelings one gets from cocaine or alcohol. Dr. Zigman said his team speculated that ghrelin might also increase specific rewarding aspects of eating.

Dr. Jeffrey Zigman speaking on the subject of rewards has also stated, "They give us sensory pleasure, and they motivate us to work to obtain them." Dr. Zigman included, "They also help us reorganize our memory so that we remember how to get them."

Ghrelin is normally secreted into the bloodstream upon fasting or caloric restriction.

To read the full article visit: http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/569556.html




Research by (from left) Drs. Mario Perello, Michael Lutter, Jeffrey Zigman

Video: Michael Jackson – THIS IS IT (Directed by Spike Lee)

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Enjoy a Christmas classic from Vince Guaraldi!



and I always enjoyed this duo on Christmas...



and since I'm not in Puerto Rico...I bring it to me, Felicidades!!!! ...

Reflection Eternal feat. Jay Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def - Untitled (prod. Hi-Tek)Electronica, J. Cole & Mos Def - Just Begun

There was some hype going around of this track..... and it lives up to it.

D.C. Cop Pulls Gun On Snowball Fight....He Admits It Too

According to an eyewitness, a D.C. Police detective (pictured above w/ gun) went nuts after kids pelted his Hummer with snowballs at 14th and U Streets NW this afternoon. The veteran detective got out of his car and eventually grabbed for his gun, displaying it to the crowd. He did not immediately identify himself as a police officer. He calmed down once his fellow uniformed cop arrived. Apparently, someone called 911 to report a man with gun. The snowball fight had been well hyped on Twitter.

"A small faction of people decided to target it with snowballs, says eyewitness Matthew Bradley. "They're throwing snowballs at the Hummer. It turns out the driver of the Hummer is a detective. He gets out. He's waving a walkie talkie. It's not going well. Then he starts waving a gun. He hadn't identified himself at this point. There was a point where things cooled off a bit, more police showed up, and he identified himself at that point."

"There was a point where it got really tense. The experience for many people was snowball fight kind of fun...and then there's a guy with a gun."

For more info visit link: washingtoncitypaper

Stephen Colbert interviews Thomas Campbell (Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)

This is an interesting interview with valid points. Do you agree with Colbert?

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Thomas Campbell
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Tim Burton With A Chance Of Snow

Yesterday I had the privilege of visiting Tim Burton’s exhibition at the MOMA with a beautiful dear friend of mine. It was simply amazing! There were so many creative ideas to soak in, all at ounce. It was an exploration into the mind of a creative genius. If I had to compare the experience with anything, I would have to say it was like revisiting childhood nightmares, understanding them, accepting them, and then reinventing yourself.

Although it seems as though Tim Burton is nestled into a dark corner, he has managed to bring a new light into the cinema of today. His dark, twisted yet playful mind has helped to create some of modern days most creative and influential films. He has brought to us the films, Beetlejuice, Batman, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Sleepy Hollow, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. These films are just to name a few and are not limited to Burton’s Short films, commercials, visual arts and future projects. His upcoming movie releases are the remake of Alice and Wonderland by Lewis Carroll , an adaptation of the television series Dark Shadows, and he plans to remake his 1984 short film Frankenweenie. Frankenweenie is one of Tim Burton’s first films. It was directed by Tim Burton, produced with Walt Disney Pictures and co-written by Burton with Leonard Ripps. He was actually employed by Disney and working in the concept art department, then later fired after the film was completed. Disney claimed he had wasted company money and the film was too scary for young audiences. But after Burton started catching fame they released a home video in 1994.

If you have not yet visited the MOMA for Tim Burton’s exhibition, I strongly suggest you do so. The Exhibition runs till April 26 of next year which includes a showing of his films. Check the schedule online for a list of the films playing. I suggest you buy the ticket online, this will avoid the wait and you’re able to schedule your viewing of the exhibition in advance. As always the MOMA never lacks inspiration throughout its white walls so, regardless you’re always in for a treat.



And for your eyes to feed…here are some short films that will fill your need….

Videos after the jump

Mos Def- 24 Hour Karate School

Some new Music from Mr. "Boogieman" himself, Mos Def!

Tavis Smiley Interviews Amy Goodman

Amy Goodman is a renown journalist, activist and the co-founder of Democracy Now!, which airs on more than 800 stations and on democracynow.org. Goodman began her broadcasting career as a volunteer at NY's Pacifica station WBAI. Co-author of three New York Times best sellers, her new book is Breaking the Sound Barrier. Amy Goodman was recently detained and questioned on her purpose for entering Canada at the Douglas border crossing.

MultiLearn

The slogan is "one laptop per child." But it will be a long time before that is true everywhere in the world. Meanwhile, a new device aims to make a situation that is common in poor areas - one computer shared among many children - work better in school settings.

For more info please visit: http://change.washington.edu/projects/multilearn

Another Latino Stereotype Debunked

"When large numbers of Latinos move into an area, some longtime residents worry that there will be a huge influx of needy people who will burden local communities by increasing crime rates and costs for local government," says Dr. Martha Crowley, assistant professor of sociology at NC State and co-author of the study, Social Disorganization in New Latino Destinations? "We've found that these concerns are unfounded."

New studies from North Carolina State University, debunks the association between Latinos and crime. Studies are actually proving a positive change for communities with a large introduction of Latino immigrants. The studies indentified that new locations for Latino diffusion saw larger declines in crime rates than other comparable areas during the 1990s. They have also found that poverty and unemployment rates declined in those same areas of new Latino population.

*The study examined the effects of significant Latino population growth between 1990 and 2000 in nonmetropolitan “boomtowns.”

Boomtowns: a town that has grown very rapidly as a result of sudden prosperity. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boomtowns)

For more info please visit: http://news.ncsu.edu/releases/wmscrowleydestinations/

Musician spotlight: Melanie Fiona

Melanie Hall but, better known as the soul songstress Melanie Fiona was born to Guyanese parents in Toronto, Canada. Her captivating voice could have been recently heard on the 2009 soul train awards performing a cover song for “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” which was first recorded by the miracles but made popular by Marvin Gaye. She is also currently nominated for the 2010 Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for her single It Kills Me. Melanie’s name has been respectively passed around as of these recent days for obvious reasons. Her voice seems to always carry a beautiful sound that travels yet eases the ears into a state of relief. She never seems to fail an attempt of vocal gymnastics while still managing to carry a down to earth attitude on life. If good music still holds its creditability of fine artists, look to see more of Melanie Fiona under the musical spotlight.


enjoy videos after the jump.

Video: Mos Def - Supermagic

From current album The Ecstatic

Local Events

Forum — Pathways to Economic Opportunity: Improving the Prospects for Puerto Ricans in Low Wage Jobs

Discussions on trends of Puerto Ricans in low
wage labor markets, barriers impeding economic
opportunities, the role of local workforce development systems and community-based strategies.

Friday, December 11th, all day conference
9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Hunter College, School of Social Work / 79th Street & Lexington

Sponsored by the Ford Foundation
and The Center for Puerto Rican Studies

For more info and future events please visit: http://www.centropr.org/home.html

SADÉ – SOLDIER OF LOVE

New track from Sade off the upcoming album Soldier of Love. I'm hyped!!!!!!! This is just a sample of what's to come.

Happy Holidays!!!! What Better Way to Start it Then With a Snowman...

More info visit: http://www.npl.co.uk/educate-explore/christmas/

Homicide & Government

After sifting through records of thousands of homicides in the United States and western Europe over the past four centuries, Professor Randolph Roth of History at Ohio State University concluded that “The predisposition to murder is rooted in feelings and beliefs people have toward government and their fellow citizens." Roth also found that "It is these factors, which may seem impossibly remote from murder, that hold the key to understanding why the United States is so homicidal today.”

After research, Roth has an understanding that his conclusion holds the firmest under the evidence that holds it together. The link to other theories may hold true at a given moment but once it is linked to different areas and eras, the link does not hold its validity.

“Political leadership has the greatest opportunity to have a real impact on homicide rates,” Roth said. “It is difficult, I know, but we need a leader who can unite the country around some values and beliefs that we can all accept. That said, leadership can be effective only if the conflicts within a society are manageable. When they become unmanageable, as they did during the Civil War, even a great leader like Abraham Lincoln can’t pull the nation together and keep homicide in check.”

I'm about to go buy the book so, I will give a further review on it as soon as possible. Stay posted ladies and gents.

Read the full article here at The Ohio State University Webpage: link

And if interested in purchasing the book click on the link: link