Environmental factors

Our environment has lots of subtle effects that we are only partly aware of. Here' s an interesting study on myopia that (reasonably) shows how good it is to be kids (and, I supect, adults) outside!

http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/006699.html

Quantum Physics

Here's a theory that shows the far out conclusions quantum mechanics can support.

SCIENCE / SPACE & COSMOS | October 13, 2009
Essay: The Collider, the Particle and a Theory About Fate
By DENNIS OVERBYE
at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/space/13lhc.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

The time traveling particle is interesting enough as an hypothesis, but now there is this:
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-11/bread-loving-bird-shuts-down-lhc

which does seem to lend credence to the idea. Only time will tell - at some point, if they never get the collider to work, the theory can be considered supported by evidence.

Ain't Science Wonderful!

Change

Here's a story about an event that is all too common in Earth's history, but, since it works on a different time scale than humans do, we rarely see it. It has implications for evolution (how fast or slow it may happen) and geographic history (does the Earth change in spurts or continuously and gradually). The answer is, of course, both, but this event in Africa is a good example of a "spurt"!

Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean
http://www.livescience.com/environment/091102-africa-rift-ocean.html

Early Snow

Denver - and Golden - is getting a big early snow - about 19 inches in my backyard as of 9 am and more is forecast. I do like the variability of Colorado weather!

Smile!

As most anyone who knows me knows, I smile a lot. I've always believed that it is a great way to make it through the day, but I recognize that was based upon nothing other than my feelings and some popular wisdom. But here's a reinforcing opinion that actually has some references that support the theory.

http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/a-language-of-smiles/?ref=science

So I'll keep smiling - and I suggest you do the same

Questions

Here are some mind stretching questions for those among you with a physics bent - http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18041-seven-questions-that-keep-physicists-up-at-night.html?full=true

Debt

I've always admired Victor Davis Hanson, a professor of Classical Greece and recognized expert on ancient Greek and Roman history. He is particularly well known for "The Western Way of War" which attributes western victories to western cultural attitudes. Here - http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/allfallingdown/ - is an excellent article that strongly agrees with my views of the danger of public debt - and that a major source of public debt is government entitlement programs.