SAM Daily Times - THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS

12/31/2011

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

Elizabeth Kostova made her debut in 2005 with The Historian.She returns with the story of psychiatrist Andrew Marlowe and painter Robert Oliver. The Swan Thieves is a story of obsession, history's losses, and the power of art to preserve human hope.

Psychiatrist Andrew Marlow, devoted to his profession and the painting hobby he loves, has a solitary but ordered life. When renowned painter Robert Oliver attacks a canvas in the National Gallery of Art and becomes his patient, Marlow finds that order destroyed. Desperate to understand the secret that torments the genius, he embarks on a journey that leads him into the lives of the women closest to Oliver and a tragedy at the heart of French Impressionism.

Kostova's masterful new novel travels from American cities to the coast of Normandy, from the late 19th century to the late 20th, from young love to last love.

Dubai Gears Up for New Years Celebrations

Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa will be welcoming in 2012 with a spectacular fireworks display at the stroke of midnight.

Emaar Properties, the Burj Khalifa’s development company, expecting hundreds of thousands if visitors to what has become the focal point for Dubai’s New Year’s Eve festivities.

Government bodies claim the event is integral to securing Dubai’s position as a “global hub for events”. Authorities are putting plans into place to ensure the celebrations can be enjoyed by visitors seamlessly.

Emaar is urging people to arrive before 10pm, and is working alongside bodies including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Police to prepare for the crowds.

Last year an estimated 600,000 New Year revellers watched the display as the Burj Khalifa put on the world’s highest pyrotechnic display, which caused tremendous traffic problems.

Journey 2: The Mysterious Island

Is an upcoming 3D action-adventure film which is Follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D. The script is loosely based on Jules Verne's "The Mysterious Island."

The Story, The new journey begins when Sean Anderson receives a coded distress signal from a mysterious island where no island should exist -- a place of strange life forms, mountains of gold, deadly volcanoes, and more than one astonishing secret. The secret is rumored to involve Sean's missing grandfather, Alexander Anderson. Unable to stop him from going, Sean's new stepfather joins the quest. Together with a helicopter pilot and his beautiful, strong-willed daughter, they set out to find the island, rescue its lone inhabitant and escape before seismic shockwaves force the island under the sea and bury its treasures forever.

The film is directed by Brad Peyton starring Josh Hutcherson as Sean Anderson, Dwayne Johnson as Hank Parsons (Sean's stepfather), Michael Caine as Alexander Anderson (Sean's grandfather), Vanessa Hudgens as Kailani, Luis Guzmán as Gabato and Kristin Davis as Elizabeth "Liz" Anderson, Sean's mom. Scheduled to be released on February 10, 2012 by Warner Bros.

Oscar De La Renta to Launch Stationery

Fashion fans who can't afford Oscar de la Renta's elaborate runway creations will be able to get their own fix as the label is launching a stationery collection.

Following in the footsteps of brands including Tiffany & Co. and Mulberry, the label has created a stationery set adorned in bows and other common Oscar de la Renta motifs.

WWD reports December 21 that the fashion house is launching note cards, invitations and place cards thanks to a deal with US luxury stationery firm Mrs. John L. Strong.

This is the latest expansion from Oscar de la Renta, with the company announcing earlier this month the launch of a childrenswear collection for Fall 2012.

Prices for the stationery set start at $50 for a set of 12 place cards wrapped in glassine paper, with items to go on sale at www.oscardelarenta.com, Oscar de la Renta boutiques and the Mrs. John L. Strong Boutique on Madison Avenue in New York.

Where Stars Will Party This New Year's Eve!!!

It seems Vegas is the place to be this New Year's Eve.

Celebrities like John Legend, Guns N' Roses and members of the Kardashian family are set to ring in the New Year in Las Vegas. Across the country, Lady Gaga will kick off the countdown to midnight in New York's Times Square.

But that's only a taste of all the stars toasting the arrival of 2012. Other celebrity New Year's Eve Events include.

LAS VEGAS:

• Kim Kardashian will be raising a glass at TAO in the Venetian hotel.

• Chris Brown will be at the Sin City nightclub Pure at Caesars Palace.

• Fergie plans to attend the New Year's Eve party at The Mirage's 1 OAK, presumably planting a kiss on husband Josh Duhamel at midnight. Her Black Eyed Peas bandmate, Will.i.am., will be at the Strip nightclub Surrender at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.

• "Party Rock"ers LMFAO will get the party going at the Aria Hotel's HAZE.

• Samantha Ronson is set to deejay at Lavo inside The Palazzo, whose terrace offers partygoers a prime spot to watch the fireworks light up the Strip.

• Kourtney Kardashian and her boyfriend, Scott Disick, will make an appearance at Paris Las Vegas's Chateau, where Britney Spears recently celebrated her engagement to Jason Trawick.

• Kim and Kourtney's brother Rob will be at Tryst at the Wynn, where he might be showing off some of the moves he learned on Dancing with the Stars.

• Holly Madison will celebrate at Planet Hollywood's Gallery.

• Pamela Anderson is going to dance the night away at Studio 54 at the MGM Grand.

• Guns N' Roses will put the "hard rock" in the Hard Rock Hotel with their New Year's Eve performance. Rapper Drake will serenade those nursing hangovers when he takes the stage at the hotel on New Year's Day.

• Music legend Stevie Wonder will lend his star power to the Cosmopolitan Hotel. Kaskade will also be continuing his DJ residency at the Cosmopolitan's Marquee nightclub.

• Singer Bruno Mars must be wishing for continued good fortune in 2012, because he plans to spend New Year's Eve at The Bank nightclub at the Bellagio hotel.

MIAMI

• Stars from the CW, including 90210's Jessica Lownde and Gossip Girl's Chace Crawford and Jessica Szohr will be the celebrity guests at the Fontainebleau Hotel New Year's Eve Bash at LIV nightclub, where they'll be entertained by Busta Rhymes and members of the Swedish House Mafia.

• Robin Thicke will share his sultry musical stylings at a performance at the Delano Hotel. HIs wife, Paula Patton, will also be there.

• Lauryn Hill is expected at the Shelbourne in Miami Beach.

NEW YORK

• Lady Gaga will be the special guest of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and do the honors of dropping the ball in Times Square. Gaga's performance as part of Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, which will also feature Ryan Seacrest and Jenny McCarthy, will be broadcast both in the United States and in Japan.

• In addition to Gaga, other celebs performing in Times Square as part of MTV's New Year's Eve special include Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez and Jason Derulo.

(People Magazine)

Australian attack could become world's best, says coach Mickey Arthur

James Pattinson

Australian coach Mickey Arthur said that his fast-men has the potential to become the best fast bowlers in the world.

"I thought we had 15 players that can play international cricket at any given time," Arthur told reporters on Saturday. "Hopefully by the end of the summer we might have 22 guys that can do that because we need to build up our strength in depth, which we are doing now. But I do think this pace attack has the potential to become the best in the world."

Australian fast bowlers claimed 19 of India's wickets - Lyon being the exception to dismiss the final wicket of the match - in their 1st Test match of the series at the MCG. Youngster James Pattinson became Man of the Match for the second time in his three-Test career.

Ben Hilfenhaus showed a lot of improvement over the past year, and Peter Siddle's aggression and skill helped him dismiss Sachin Tendulkar in both innings.

Arthur showed his belief in the spinner Nathon Lyon saying the conditions at SGC will favour him.

"I'm pretty loath to go into any Test match without a spinner," Arthur said. "Obviously conditions will determine that, but the SCG has normally got a history of favouring spin down the line."

"There is absolutely no doubt that they [India] will try and go after him [Lyon]," Arthur said. "But Nathan is a pretty skilful offspinner and I reckon that will develop into a very interesting contest. I think we'll get a lot of overs out of Nathan if it's a typical SCG wicket and I've got full confidence in his ability."

Arthur was also very confident on Australia's top order batsmen.

"I think we just need to give them time, especially our younger players at one, two and three," Arthur said. "David Warner is going to be a great player in all three forms of the game, same with Shaun Marsh. I think Ed Cowan gave us that stability that we were looking for, especially in the first innings."

Craig Bellamy's double earn Liverpool a 3-1 victory over Newcastle

Liverpool's Craig Bellamy celebrates after scoring against Newcastle United
at Anfield. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Craig Bellamy scored twice against his former club to steer Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.

On 24 minutes a own goal from Daniel Agger put Newcastle into the lead. Cabaye got the flick on Ryan Taylor's cross, Ba and Agger both rose to head it but it hit Agger to go past wrong-footed Pepe Reina.

Just after 5 minutes Craig Bellamy scored the equaliser. He picked his spot on Charlie Adam's cross and hit from 12 or 15 yards to the bottom left corner of the goal, avoiding a number of legs between him and the goal.

After 67 minutes, Craig Bellamy put the Reds to the lead. He grabbed the goal from the free kick from 30 yards, driving through the exposed space between Simpson and Krul to the bottom left corner of the goal. Cheick Tiote challenged Daniel Agger unfairly to give away the free kick.

Ten minutes later Steven Gerrard scored to put Liverpool further ahead striking from the tightest of angles in through Krul’s legs. Henderson released the pass to Gerrard, who gets suddenly behind the Newcastle defence to score the goal.

Craig Bellamy's double Liverpool a 3-1 victory over Newcastle

Liverpool's Craig Bellamy celebrates after scoring against Newcastle United
at Anfield. Photograph: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Craig Bellamy scored twice against his former club to steer Liverpool to a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.

Headline Dec 31,2011/ BONFIRE OF DEGREES

BONFIRE OF DEGREES

"WHEN THE FACTS SPEAK EVEN THE GODS KEEP QUIET"

Brothers and sisters in arms or alms? You choose?

And friends and fellow humans and kind and noble souls. Please "lend us your ears! As we have gathered to see the end of the Sun!"

It is just a few months away before most of the Samurai too join the ever growing breadline of the unemployed. Now you Sires and madams, you elders and seniors told us that education is a promise of deliverance. You said that education is the panacea for our every sickness. We now discover that this all bulrush. But most of us call it a Hoax.

The true value of education is not the issue here but the where is the escape hatch from poverty and hopelessness! Where are those opportunities and jobs??? Our poor families invest their blood and toil to see us thru but to what gain?

R Zakria zeroes in "the failure of education in pakistan then lies in education being severed from opportunity and the divorce of merit from achievement that bolsters and accompanies it". And it continues "in the wreckage of their dreams, other means of acquisition rear their ugly heads. They weave thru the college campuses and city streets and cuild their own alternative MORALITIES on the sentiments of the disappointed". Frankly don't have the heart to continue , to whence? So viewed thru the world today's telescope, majority of us in a Global sumup have a frightening future as our recent past!
God help us all.

Good night!

SAM Daily Times-The Voice of the Voiceless

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson is the third book in Stieg Larsson's "Millennium" trilogy, picking up after the ending of The Girl Who Played With Fire.

Lisbeth Salander -- the heart of Larsson's two previous novels -- lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge -- against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life. This is the final installment in Larsson's Millennium trilogy.

Doctorates Stats

US universities awarded 48,000 doctorates last year of which nearly 70 per cent of awards were in science and engineering. This Demonstrates American strength in hard sciences.
Computer and biological science are the boom disciplines of the decade with aerospace and manufacturing taking big hits, down 15 per cent from last year.
Interest in neuroscience has grown dramatically, with the number of doctorates nearly doubling in the decade, to 953 last year. Earth, atmospheric and ocean science also increased, from 665 in 2000 to 864 awards last year.
There was a big bang in interest in physics and astronomy. Despite suggestions students see them as too demanding, awards were up by 500 on the 2000 figure, to nearly 1900 last year.
Outside the sciences business was down from its 2007 high, but still 300 up last year on the 1000 doctorates awarded in 2000.
The pattern of awards also demonstrates shifts in research fashion and some surprising stayers.
The figures come from a recent report issued by the National Centre for Science and Engineering Statistics.

Hotel Guests in Abu Dhabi Increased 16% to 1.9 Million

Hotel guests in Abu Dhabi increased 16% in the first 11 months of the year to 1,903,888 guests, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) said in a statement. Guest nights also rose 23%, jumping to 5,694,140 from the 4,640,893 figure hit last year.

Despite an 8% decrease in average length of stay, the mean figure dipped from 3.22 nights in November last year to 2.96 last month and small dips in room, food and beverage and other revenue contributors, Abu Dhabi's hotels' and hotel apartments' year-to-date revenue of Dh3.96 billion ($1.09 billion) is still a 4% increase on 2010 receipts.

At 2.99 nights, the year-to-date average length of stay is also up 6% when compared to the corresponding 11-month period in 2010.

Last month, Abu Dhabi welcomed 206,748 hotel guests, a 22% increase on the corresponding month last year and the first time in two years that a calendar month has broken the 200,000 mark.

The strong performance ensured Abu Dhabi entered December, a month when 40th National Day celebrations and the year-ending Volvo Ocean Race host port stop-over are expected to give accommodation providers a further boost, less than 97,000 guests away from achieving its stretch 2011 target of two million hotel guests.

To Pakistan, With Love

By Sarah Mahmood

A little Pakistan-oriented in nature, the Pensive today is an eye-opener for readers the world over. An indication to where the world's going, it aims to instill a sense of responsibility and purpose, particularly in the students of today, the beacons of hope for all of us.

Pakistan is going through difficult times. Only today, the government announced gas emergency for the month of January as the new year gift for the nation. (Mind you, people here drive their cars on CNG.)

The possible implications? Well, for one there is going to be an obvious downsizing at the gas stations. In a country where people with degrees are going crazy over lack of job opportunities, I wonder what these uneducated workers are going to do. For another, in times of increasing inflation, people find it feasible (to an extent) to run their cars on gas. Petrol, for many is beyond affordability.

The solution is what everyone is looking for. Some are setting high hopes in new political faces, those pledging betterment in the too-deeply shaken present political and economic set ups. A few are more proactive. They are looking for ways to counter the prevalent problems on their own, learning to be independent and interdependent. There's another curiously irrelevant faction too. These are those who sit up relaxing in their lounges, debating heatedly over the present conditions over mugs of coffee, arguments that I have heard, read, seen, over and over again without any deliverables, arguments which are but only arguments.

Things are going from bad to worse. The question is what can I do, in my capacity and with the privileges that I have, to make them better? It's for everyone to answer.

My heart goes out to you Pakistan!

How Beavers Helped to Build America

A recent study is on the rise which talks about hows beavers became a major cause of America's development. The theory behind this is that beavers help to keep drinking water safe and promote species diversity and there were as many as 400 million beavers in North America .

The study, published in the January 2012 issue of Geology, reveals how beaver activity up to thousands of years ago affected sedimentation and left its lasting mark within North America's ground.For the study researchers used ground-penetrating radar and near-surface seismic refraction to detect beaver-induced sedimentation.

The study revealed that beavers contributed 30-50 percent of post-glacial sediments in the target area.
“I think it very likely that our results are not unique to the Beaver Meadows study site, but also apply to other regions with relatively low rates of sediment yield to valley bottoms,” Wohl said.
She explained that beaver dams interrupt the flow of a stream, creating a backwater effect of reduced velocity. Sediment deposits in the backwater zone of the beaver pond, with this material remaining “in storage” until river erosion may mobilize it and carry it downstream.
The process is beneficial to humans, she continued, because “wet meadows associated with beaver dams have higher habitat and species diversity for plants, insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals -- pretty much all forms of life.”
Beaver ponds additionally help to remove carbon and nitrogen from water. When carbon combines with chlorine -- used in many water treatment facilities -- it can result in cancer-causing chemicals, she said, so beavers can help to keep drinking water safe.[1]

Jill Baron, co-director of the John Wesley Powell Center explains, "What beavers do is create environments for storing carbon and processing nitrogen,” The latter, in particular, provides a “very important ecosystem service, because reactive nitrogen flowing down rivers is what causes eutrophication, hypoxia and dead zones in many of the world’s estuaries (such as at Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico)”

China launches a 500kmph speed train

China had given the thought of high speed trains launch a break since the collision of two high speed trains in July. But this week a subsidiary of CSR Corp Ltd, has designed a super-rapid test train which resembles an ancient Chinese sword in shape and run 500 kmph. But
But CSR chairman Zhao Xiaogang said that the future Chinese trains will not necessarily run at such high speeds and that they aim to ensure the safety of trains operation.

A bike that would make Batman jealous

The Wazuma V8

With a top speed of 241km/h, the one-off Wazuma V8, built by French company Lazareth, is so powerful it is only permitted to be driven off-road.

The bike boasts a Ferrari engine with 250bhp and is the most expensive quad bike ever at $266,000.

It is up for sale on luxury website JamesList. And with a price tag of $266,000, you would have to be Bruce Wayne to afford it.

"The Wazuma offers matchless driving sensations with a unique design," a spokesman for Lazareth said.

"It is designed to be simple, aggressive and high-performance. It is first of all a masterpiece of engineering, a sculpture."

Misconceptions!!!

In 1985, NASA estimated that the probability of an accident occurring to the space shuttle was 1 in 100,000. But on January 28, 1986, only the 25^th shuttle launch, Challenger exploded after take-off, killing all seven astronauts aboard, and on February 1, 2003, the 113^rd mission, Columbia exploded on re-entry, again killing all seven astronauts. Earlier estimates by other groups had estimated the probability as being closer to 1 in 100, a probability that seems more reasonable.

Northeastern University Growing Beyond Its Name

Northeastern University is known for its co-op program in which undergraduates spend great amounts of time in the workplace.
It has opened its first satellite campus this fall in Charlotte, N.C., and is planning a second in Seattle next year. Outposts in Austin, Tex., Minnesota and Silicon Valley are under discussion for the location.

University aims to extend its offers to master’s degrees in industries like cybersecurity, health informatics and project management, matching programs with each city’s industries and labor needs, through a mix of virtual learning and fly-ins from professors based in Boston.

Northeastern is spending $60 million to support the expansion and seems to be the most ambitious of a institutions looking to broaden their students influence in new markets and with new methods of instruction with the changing world.

Google+ Is Gaining Speed!

Experts belive that Google+ is gaining speed. Mission of Google+ is simple i.e. to compete with the leading social network Facebook.

Paul Allen a researcher disclosed the amazing growth rate of Google+ in one of his analysis. It mentioned that Google+ has reached 62 million registered users. More important, one-quarter of all users signed up in December alone. This seems to be a good new year gift for the Google. If we analyse the published growth by the company itself, in July, Google said Google+ had 10 million members. In October, the number was 40 million. And beyond that Google does not supply additional information about the population of Google+.

In Mr. Allen’s analysis, the high percentage of new users matters, because it would mean Google is getting people to join at an accelerating rate. “It’s gaining 625,000 people a day,” Mr. Allen said in an interview. “In the last week of November it was signing up 199,000 a day.” By the end of this month, Mr. Allen thinks Google+ will have 65 million users. When Google next announces its earnings in mid-January, he said, “I expect Larry Page will announce they have 75 million people.”

“Projecting my numbers linearly, they’ll have 293 million people by the end of 2012,” Mr. Allen said. But, he added that he thinks things will really speed up, to 400 million users. “I’m very bullish,” he said.

Well, it seems that Google+ is moving towards its defined and planned goals.

Where Did The Word 'Hello' Come From??

Thomas Edison invented the word "Hello". The first written use of the word is in a letter of his in 1887 suggesting that saying "Hello" was the best way to start a telephone conversation.

"A giving heart can glow with health"

If optimism and high spirits have beneficial effects on the body, what about on natural extension of being a pleasant person-doing good deeds for others?

Altruism is good for you, according to a study by Harvard University psychologist David McClelland. He showed subjects a film of Mother Teressa tending to the sick of Calcutta, then analyzed their saliva and found an increased presence of immunoglobulin, an antibody that helps fight respiratory infections,

That research, taken in conjunction with studies showing the ill effects of hostility, social isolation and stress, suggest that a giving heart can glow with health. Just reflect on your own moments of genuine generosity and recall how you felt; most people describe it as a good feeling, Imagine what it would be to have that warm feeling all the time.

Excerpt from "100 ways to live to 100"

Beit Shemesh sees Israelis rallying

Thousands of Israelis rally against the extremist actions of ultra-Orthodox Jews.

The protests came after an 8-year old girl reported harassment at the hands of some ultra-Orthodox Jewish men on her way back from school.

Held in the town of Beit Shemesh, the rally protested against the actions of what President Shimon Peres called "a small minority". Addressing the demonstrators, opposition leader Tzipi Livni said the fight was "for the image of the state of Israel".

The protesters held banners reading "Free Israel from religious coercion" and "Stop Israel from becoming Iran".

Members of Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews have been calling for a stricter implementation of religious laws including male and female segregation and "modest" dressing for females.

Some Accomplishments!

Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-94) did so much for chemistry, may be more than anyone else. He was one of the first to introduce effective quantitative methods in the study of chemical reactions. He explained combustion. He clearly described the role of oxygen in the respiration of plants and animals. He developed a system of classification of substances that is the basis of modern chemical nomenclature and the basis of the distinction between elements and compounds. However, Lavoisier failed to do the one thing he wanted the most to do: discover a new element.

Race differences in average IQ are largely genetic

Thorough research studies and reviews , mostly based on brain size
, have revealed that race differences in average IQ are largely genetic.

The research was published and analysed in a paper," Thirty Years of Research on Race Differences in Cognitive Ability," by J. Philippe Rushton of the University of Western Ontario and Arthur R. Jensen of the University of California at Berkeley.

"Neither the existence nor the size of race differences in IQ are a matter of dispute, only their cause," write the authors. The Black-White difference has been found consistently from the time of the massive World War I Army testing of 90 years ago to a massive study of over 6 million corporate, military, and higher-education test-takers in 2001.
"Race differences show up by 3 years of age, even after matching on maternal education and other variables," said Rushton. "Therefore they cannot be due to poor education since this has not yet begun to exert an effect. That's why Jensen and I looked at the genetic hypothesis in detail. We examined 10 categories of evidence."

The Worldwide Pattern of IQ Scores. East Asians average higher on IQ tests than Whites, both in the U. S. and in Asia, even though IQ tests were developed for use in the Euro-American culture. Around the world, the average IQ for East Asians centers around 106; for Whites, about 100; and for Blacks about 85 in the U.S. and 70 in sub-Saharan Africa.
Race Differences are Most Pronounced on Tests that Best Measure the General Intelligence Factor (g). Black-White differences, for example, are larger on the Backward Digit Span test than on the less g loaded Forward Digit Span test.
The Gene-Environment Architecture of IQ is the Same in all Races, and Race Differences are Most Pronounced on More Heritable Abilities. Studies of Black, White, and East Asian twins, for example, show the heritability of IQ is 50% or higher in all races.
Brain Size Differences. Studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) find a correlation of brain size with IQ of about 0.40. Larger brains contain more neurons and synapses and process information faster. Race differences in brain size are present at birth. By adulthood, East Asians average 1 cubic inch more cranial capacity than Whites who average 5 cubic inches more than Blacks.
Trans-Racial Adoption Studies. Race differences in IQ remain following adoption by White middle class parents. East Asians grow to average higher IQs than Whites while Blacks score lower. The Minnesota Trans-Racial Adoption Study followed children to age 17 and found race differences were even greater than at age 7: White children, 106; Mixed-Race children, 99; and Black children, 89.
Racial Admixture Studies. Black children with lighter skin, for example, average higher IQ scores. In South Africa, the IQ of the mixed-race "Colored" population averages 85, intermediate to the African 70 and White 100.
IQ Scores of Blacks and Whites Regress toward the Averages of Their Race. Parents pass on only some exceptional genes to offspring so parents with very high IQs tend to have more average children. Black and White children with parents of IQ 115 move to different averages--Blacks toward 85 and Whites to 100.
Race Differences in Other "Life-History" Traits. East Asians and Blacks consistently fall at two ends of a continuum with Whites intermediate on 60 measures of maturation, personality, reproduction, and social organization. For example, Black children sit, crawl, walk, and put on their clothes earlier than Whites or East Asians.
Race Differences and the Out-of-Africa theory of Human Origins. East Asian-White-Black differences fit the theory that modern humans arose in Africa about 100,000 years ago and expanded northward. During prolonged winters there was evolutionary selection for higher IQ created by problems of raising children, gathering and storing food, gaining shelter, and making clothes.
Do Culture-Only Theories Explain the Data? Culture-only theories do not explain the highly consistent pattern of race differences in IQ, especially the East Asian data. No interventions such as ending segregation, introducing school busing, or "Head Start" programs have reduced the gaps as culture-only theory would predict.

Five Best Science Photos of 2011

The "world's tallest dog picture'. The dog is 7 feet, 3 inches from nose to tail and weighs in at 245 pounds.

After NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft went into orbit around Mercury on March 17, the much-anticipated first photo from the hottest planet was beamed back to Earth.

This is a historic photograph of the solar system's innermost planet. It was the first time a spacecraft has ever orbited the crater-riddled world.

East Antarctica's ice-covered Lake Untersee is home to mounds of stromatolites -- bacteria that is some of Earth's earliest life forms. They may be thousands of years old.

The mounds are similar to fossil formations of early life on Earth.

This ultrathin device can stick to skin like a temporary tattoo and is powerful enough to read brain signals.

Sticky silicon-based electronics could be used for painless diagnostics, communication, neonatal care, physical therapy and gaming.

A thick plume of ash from the erupting Puyehue volcano in the Andes shifted direction into Chile. But first, it spewed volcanic dust over parts of Argentina and forced a major border crossing point to close due to low visibility.

All photos and info taken from Discovery News

Red Sea Volcano Erupts Hot New Island

Lava fountains rose as high as 30 meters (100 feet) in the Red Sea, Dec 19th 2011, off the coast of Yemen. According to Discovery news, the eruption looked to have resulted in the birth of a new island and was seen above launching a plume of hot ash and water vapor. NASA's Advanced Land Imager on board its Earth Observing One satellite pictured it on Dec 23, 2011.