HAPPY NEW YEAR

The beginning of a new year marks a milestone for every person, regardless of age. Usually, in between watching parades and bowl games and eating "special" foods associated with good fortune in the coming year -- black eye peas is one of such foods for Southeners -- people make resolutions on how they plan to improve their lives in the months to come.

I look at the resolution making process with much scepticism. Regardless of how needful the changes may be and how sincere the person is, most resolutions fall by the wayside in a few short weeks. So, instead of me encouraging you to make resolutions, let me encourage you to reflect on your life.

On the news and feature website, Arts and Letters Daily, www.aldaily.com, which is run by the Chronicle of Higher Education, was a link to another website, The Edge, http://www.edge.org/q2008/q08_index.html, that asks an annual question. The question for 2008 is framed in this way:

The Edge Annual Question 2008

When thinking changes your mind, that's philosophy.

When God changes your mind, that's faith.

When facts change your mind, that's science.
WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR MIND ABOUT? WHY?
Science is based on evidence.

What happens when the data change?

How have scientific findings or arguments changed your mind?

At The Edge site is a list of people who have responded to this question, which is interesting to read. But, on this New Year's Day, why don't you think about about how you have changed your mind and why? If you have not changed your mind about anything, why not?