Some time ago, I said that I would do a review of a book I read called Nanotechnology for Dummies. Since people have been clamoring to see my thoughts on the book, (well, silence is the new clamoring) I am submitting this entry.

If ever there was an oxymoronic book title, this is it. More accurate would have been, "If You Want To Feel Really Dumb About Nanotechnology, Read This Book." Here is the web site for the book.

While it was written in a very friendly style, it confused the heck out me. I think I can tell you that Big! Things! Are! Coming! in all sorts of fields, from healthcare to communications to energy to materials science, but I am still pretty much confused still as to what, when, and how. By page 90, the authors were writing about noncovalently functionalized PPE SWNTS, which they helpfully explain are nocovalently functionalized polyaryleneethynylene molecule single-walled nanotubes. I think they made half that stuff up just to sound smart.

A carbon nanotube, btw, has 500 times the tensile strength of steel but is only about 1/4 as dense as steel. I think that's good.

On to topics which I can wrap my walnut brain around: the weekend log:

Saturday morning, I went on my regular run with Zab in the Santa Monica Mountains. Next weekend, Zab will be running
his 28th consecutive Catalina Marathon. Go Zab! I ran it last year, but I am retiring after one. I know how impressed y'all are with my stick-to-it-iveness.

Saturday night, we went to a fundraiser for an AIDS organization based in Honduras called Siempre Unidos ("Always United"). A very impressive organization, they (among other activities) employ Hondurans with AIDS who are typically shunned by other employers in the country. I am very impressed by Jeff, the son of some folks we know, who has worked with Siempre Unidos in Honduras for the past year. Talk about making a real contribution.

Sunday morning, we went down to the SPCA shelter and adoption center in Long Beach. An impressive but sad facility; the loneliness is almost palpable. It is wrenching to see, but at least these dogs are better treated than un-wanted dogs in many, many other countries. Holly and I went there just to donate some computer equipment, and we looked at the display of names of folks who have contributed mightily to the center. Right up there with the movie stars, captains of industry, corporate foundations, etc., was our friend and neighbor and occasional commenter on this blog, Ty. Way to go Ty, what a great cause!

And finally, on the way home from the SPCA we went to check out a "hot tip" we got on a quiet and unoffical dog beach on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It's rather amazing, this beach is just down the bluffs from the Trump National Golf Club, which is spectacular, and no "sneaking in" is necessary...the Trump is set up to give hikers and dog walkers beach access.

There is great signage, a special free parking lot for hikers, and we were really made to feel welcome, instead of feeling like the riff-raff. There are signs that say dogs must be on leash, which people respect on the upper area near the golf course, but once you hike down the bluff to the beach, dogs are off leash and no one seems to mind. I'm sure the town basically said to the Donald that "we'd love to have you build your golf course and gazillion dollar homes here, but this is what we need in terms of beach access and trails and parking for the rest of us."

It's a nice project all the way around, with white-sand bunkers and spectacular ocean views. And believe it or not, that's all I have to say today.