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Trying to Hold Down Blue Language on a Red-Letter Day
The New York Times: It's shaping up to be a darn nice Valentine's Day in here in Mobile county. An optimistic band of middle school students hopes that for just one day no one in the county will curse. Perhaps people can substitute “sugar” or “snap.” Or even the powerful “Oh, pickles!” The Mobile County Commission, acting on a request from students who have formed no-cursing clubs at Lott and Semmes Middle Schools, has declared a daylong ban Monday on bad words. Read the whole story: The New York Times
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The Science of Smooching: Why Men and Women Kiss Differently
TIME: Sure, kissing feels good. But it's also an evolutionary advantage. Now a new book explains the science behind passionate lip-locks, and what they tell us about how men and women approach romantic relationships. The precise origins of kissing are unknown. But some scientists hypothesize that the practice evolved from feeding rituals between animal mothers and their young, wherein mothers would chew and break down food before passing it directly to their offspring by mouth. Out of that gesture grew a universal sign of love and affection. Read the whole story: TIME
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Everything you know about beating stress is wrong
MSNBC: If deep breaths, weekly yoga classes, and venting to your friends aren't helping you relax, you have plenty of company—and it's not your fault. New studies show that these supposedly tried-and-true anxiety busters are often just... well, a bust. Read on for the surprising truth about what really helps—and what doesn't—when it comes to relieving chronically fried nerves. Read the whole story: MSNBC
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MONKEY SEE, HUMAN DO
Yale Daily News: Sometimes looking into the past can inform our futures. At least, that’s the guiding principle at Yale’s monkey lab. Technically called the Comparative Cognition Laboratory (or CapLab), the center is home to 10 brown capuchin monkeys who regularly undergo noninvasive experiments in physical coordination and cognitive functions. Capuchins are one of the most intelligent of all monkey species, and so they are helpful tools for determining how our own brains work. Read the whole story: Yale Daily News
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He loves me, he loves me not: The thrill of uncertainty
Here’s a Valentine’s Day scenario: You’ve just been on a first date with a woman you find attractive and intelligent, and things went well—at least from your point of view. The conversation was comfortable, and you share some tastes in books and politics. You’re still savoring the pleasure of the experience when you run into a mutual friend, who reports some good news: Your date really had a good time, too, and is looking forward to seeing you again soon. Or your mutual friend hems and haws and finally shares that the woman liked you “well enough”—which anyone can translate as “bored to tears.” Or—yet another scenario—your mutual friend leaves you dangling.
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Facebook and Love: Why Women Are Attracted to Guys Who Play Hard to Get
Time: As Valentine's Day approaches, it's tempting to check your wall every 10 min. to see if that cute guy from the bar last week has poked you. But a recent Psychological Science study by researchers at the University of Virginia and Harvard says you will probably like him more if he ignores you than if he posts flirty messages. Read the whole story: Time
