Excellent, well written article. The plant itself is beautiful, it looks like mutant artichoke. Now I shall have to go out in the field and do some scholarly research. Perhaps gather some others and make it a team effort.

In 1940 a suspension bridge (I think it was a suspension bridge) was built across the Tacoma, Narrows. It went down in a windstorm and was christened "Galloping Gertie". There was a huge but hushed up insurance scandal connected to the incident. There is film footage on this event.

If people choose not to vaccinate thereby putting their children at risk that is a whole separate concern. If you and your children have ben immunized how can an unimmunized child or person be of any concern? Only the unimmunized are at risk or am I missing something here?

I'm sorry, I seem to have upset you. Not my intention at all. Simply noting that the snow was rupturing in front of him too. The anecdotal tale of a snow slide off a roof was simply a note that it doesn't take a whole lot of the stuff to do you in. I don't think I advised you eating sand anywhere in my comments. …

How about REALLY upping the punishment for hacking. Life the death penalty or life without parole or taking care of your aged in laws

You can see the avalanche further on. Glad this fellow survived this. Looked like it was gaining momentum in front of him. Hope those downhill from him were as fortunate. I had a friend whose husband was killed by snow sliding off their winter cabin roof. Life is uncertain, eat your desert first.

There are no safe places in the world. Just pick your spots carefully, put on your big girl panties and go out and play.

Among the many things I don't understand is what a hacker can do to intimidate a person based on medical records. No one much cares much about who caught what from whom or am I extremely naïve? Perhaps putting the information onto two discs, one for the patient and one for the doctor would solve the problem. The…

All people whether religious or not are indoctrinated. Perhaps into a religious life and/or some other belief system. Some of the indoctrination can be excellent and some can be very destructive and all levels in between. The thing that I'm reading here is people haven't outgrown the negative stuff of childhood. I…

How I miss Calvin and Hobbs

When I was a child in the 30's and 40's childhood diseases were not dismissed as "rights of passage". When I heard that my neighbor, John, had mumps I went to visit him (third grade) I wanted very badly to have the mumps because you were treated with cold drinks, popscicles, comic books, etc. I lied to his…

I bet Helen Kelller could enlighten him. Lots of excellent replies here.

makes me remember the congressional hearings on organized crime where the stock answer to every question was, "I take the fifth amendment". The press just doesn't like being outsmarted, especially in public. Way too much ego on the part of the press especially when the sell so many papers writing on athletes bad…

I don't understand this post. If someone gives their life so that everyone can speak and live freely doesn't that also imply that someone also has the freedom to live silently. Freedom of speech also gives us freedom to be silent. I think this young man has handled himself very well. He's well spoken and he seems…

This is such an educational site. I bet everyone over sixty that visits here has to google "Theremin". It would be interesting to see how many hits google received today on that one word. Anyway it's a fun article...

How do we know he's a respected surgeon? Because the same snake oil backers and his PR people tell us so. Also the AMA and other doctors are very reluctant to out an MD for poor policies and practices because then the law suits start flying and lawyers enter into this slim pit. Might make for good TV series. …

Is that 5.5 20 grand touches or 11 grand per ball touched?

Thank You!!!! Some need to hear this.

I'm 81 and penmanship was huge in grade school. We used wooden pens with metal tips. Had to provide our own blotters. There were inkwells in every desk. Mixing the ink and pouring it into the inkwells was considered a punishment. Hours spent every week on printing and then when older cursive. My handwriting is still…