More articles.

1. "In Battle, Hunches Prove to Be Valuable" - This NYT article attempts to explain why, both physiologically and psychologically, some soldiers in war zones are significantly better than most at detecting dangerous situations (e.g. soldiers who are known for their ability to identify IEDs before detonation).

2. "In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin" - This NYT article discusses a study of truck drivers (based on eighteen months of taped observation) that shows that texting while driving increases the risk of a crash by up to twenty three times. The authors claim the pattern extends to non-commercial drivers as well. The research is currently undergoing peer review.

3. "Should Thursday be the New Friday? The Environmental and Economic Pluses of the 4-Day Workweek" - Scientific American discusses the potential benefits of four-day workweeks (e.g. four days of ten hours each instead of five days of eight hours each), citing Utah as an example of the savings that can be had: "Local governments in particular have had their eyes on Utah over the last year; the state redefined the workday for more than 17,000 of its employees last August. For those workplaces, there's no longer a need to turn on the lights, elevators or computers on Fridays—nor do janitors need to clean vacant buildings. Electric bills have dropped even further during the summer, thanks to less air-conditioning: Friday's midday hours have been replaced by cooler mornings and evenings on Monday through Thursday. As of May, the state had saved $1.8 million."

High Speed Rail ... Fail

Maybe I'm just dense, but let's look at this map of high-speed rail tracks designated under the stimulus:



So, you can get from Kansas City to Cincinnati (through StL) and from Pittsburgh to Montreal (through NYC), but since there's no Cincy-Pitt connection, you couldn't get between those two networks?

Would it have been that hard to connect Tulsa and KC? Orlando and Jacksonville? Houston to Austin?

OK, I've decided. I'm missing something really obvious and I'm going to feel really stupid when you tell me what it is. Maybe HSR isn't for long-distance travel? I don't see why not, but Missourians aren't experts on mass transit ...

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