Health: A possibly significant breakthrough in longevity research. At least, it can help a microscopic worm to live an indefinitely long life span. Find out more here: [ScienceDaily.com]

Society: My personal view is that the internet has made the entire concept of the Nation-State obsolete in many ways. All the ways that used to mean keeping a population isolated and fed faulty information. Obsolete in so many of the destructive ways nations have behaved in the past. Of course, nations have also behaved in a great many positive ways. I am not discrediting the power of a nation, either. However, the internet gives Us finally a chance to raise above the destructive limitations of individual nations, and move in a true global community, carrying the best of what nations offer, while exploring the best of what a true global community can bring Us. Here is an interesting article by some one else on this concept: http://mondoweiss.net/2011/02/the-internet-is-destroying-the-idea-of-the-nation.html

Technology: An application of nano-technology may offer a completely effective treatment for cancer. Nano-tech is in its infancy, years or decades behind what science-fiction (even television sci-fi) has projected for it. Yet its applications are beginning to show practical results. Check out this article on treating tumors (in mice, at least) with this exciting new tech: [PlanetSave.com]

Also: what the space shuttle gave all of us. Technology spin offs, priceless things. All over your home. Take a look. [space.com] No serious endeavor can fail to have unexpected benefits. Space exploration is the most consistently under-estimated activity humans currently have available to them.

Also: NASA has identified 54 potentially Earth-like worlds. Do they have life? 54! Wow, over 500 "exoplanets" total, now, with a possibility of 1,200 exoplanets now identified. [space.com] The possibilities are endless!

Spirit: What is the 2012 fever really all about? Why do so many go around longing for the end of the World? I have two references for you on this topic. First, here's a pretty rational run down on what the Mayan calendar is why 2012 was a date of significance to them, and so on: [cyark.org]. Secondly, here is an article by Ruth L Miller, PhD, on this topic [RuthLMiller.com]. You may also want to read Ruth's book MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY: THE GIFT OF 2012. Check it out: [dvdfile.com]

Politics: Whether you agree with the argument on capitol hill right now or not (the one about the "debt ceiling"), what I find most interesting here is the reaction from the People. There has been a definitive Grass Roots response, via email and telephone call to the various senators and representatives, of such magnitude that several of their websites have "crashed" and their switch boards are jammed. That is, the input from the People is so great that it has tremendously exceeded their expectations for feedback. What has been exposed here is a hidden assumption by the various senators and representatives that the daily feedback (email, phone calls, etc) would never be greater than a certain level. Maybe these servants of the People will beef up their ability to receive direct input from Us. Whether the debate is good, bad or otherwise, whether a debt ceiling will crash the country (and the world) or the lack of one will crash things, what I love here is the People speaking up! That is government, American style, the way it crafted 240 years, 140 years before telephones, and 210 years before the internet, yet it still works. Good job, We the People!!