Democrats trying to steer reform through Congress against a nearly solid wall of Republican opposition said the president delivered a clear vision and specifics, and a strong message of leadership.

VOA: standard.2009.09.10

Moreover, the sorts of fields that Western oil firms are starting to develop, in very deep water, or of nearly solid, tar-like oil, are ever more technically challenging.

ECONOMIST: Face value

Some are distinguished by design or material, such as the nearly two pounds of solid gold that King Philip II of Spain attached to his profession of fealty to Pope Paul IV in 1555.

WSJ: Lux in Arcana | Capitoline Museum | The Papacy's Private Papers | By Francis X. Rocca

While nearly all emerging markets showed solid gains, wealth creation is moving at an especially breakneck speed in Asia-Pacific.

FORBES: The World's Billionaires 2011: Inside The List