In a message dated 1/30/01 5:04:46 AM, Alex writes: << I'm aware that the term "University" doesn't mean the same thing everywhere in the world but after visiting the the applicable University of Wales web sites I was satisfied that it is a legitimate research institution. http://www.sos.bangor.ac.uk/index2.html (School of Ocean Sciences) http://spherix.bangor.ac.uk/ch/ (Department of Chemistry) >> Alex, By a strange coincidence, I was a Visiting Professor at the University of Wales/Bangor during 1998 and 1999. I assure you that it is a first rate research institution and is ranked on a par with Oxford and Cambridge by the British governmental rating system. The School of Ocean Sciences is the best in Britain. The Head of the School, Prof. John Simpson was my next door neighbor for over a year and is a nationally known ocean science researcher. I know nothing about magnets and bugs, but if John signed off on a paper that says magnets reduce microbe poop, it is probably true. The town of Bangor is on the Menai Strait connecting Canarvon and Conwy Bays on the Welsh north coast. Because of the tide timing difference between the bays, the tidal flow in the strait sometimes reaches 10 knots and the tidal range is 26 feet. It takes quite a sailor to negotiate those waters. The Menai Strait seperates the island of Anglesey from the mainland. The School of Ocean Science, John's house, my house, and the town of Llanfairpwllgwyngllgogerychwyrndrobwillandtsiliogogogoch are all on the island. It is also the main terminal for the high speed catamaran ferry to Dublin. Wales is not all singing coal miners and drunken poets. If you are fortunate enough to visit North Wales you will see magnificent scenery in the Snowdonia mountains, more real castles in a smaller area than in any part of Europe, and experience some of the most challenging boating anywhere. If you are really lucky you may see Catherine Zeta Jones. Larry Zeitlin