Scientists studying sunspots for the past 2 decades have concluded that the magnetic field that triggers their formation has been steadily declining. If the current trend continues, by 2016 the sun’s face may become spotless and remain that way for decades—a phenomenon that in the 17th century coincided with a prolonged period of cooling on Earth.

The last solar minimum should have ended last year, but something peculiar has been happening. Although solar minimums normally last about 16 months, the current one has stretched over 26 months—the longest in a century. One reason, according to a paper submitted to the International Astronomical Union Symposium No. 273, an online colloquium, is that the magnetic field strength of sunspots appears to be waning.

The phenomenon has happened before. Sunspots disappeared almost entirely between 1645 and 1715 during a period called the Maunder Minimum, which coincided with decades of lower-than-normal temperatures in Europe nicknamed the Little Ice Age.

In a world without air conditioning, a warmer, more flexible, more relaxed workplace helps make summer a time to slow down again. Three-digit temperatures prompt siestas. Code-orange days mean offices are closed. Shorter summer business hours and month-long closings — common in pre-air-conditioned America — return.

Post-A.C., Congress again adjourns for the summer, giving “tea partiers” the smaller government they seek. During unseasonably warm spring and fall days, hearings are held under canopies on the Capitol lawn. What better way to foster open government and prompt politicians to focus on climate change?

Children — and others — take to bikes and scooters, because of the cooling effect of air movement. Calls for more summer school and even year-round school cease. Our kids don’t need more time inside, everyone agrees; they need the shady playgrounds and water sprinklers that spring up in every neighborhood.

“Green roofs” of grass, ivy and even food crops sprout on the flat tops of government and commercial buildings around the city, including the White House. These layers of soil and vegetation (on top of a crucially leak-proof surface) insulate interiors from the pounding sun, while water from the plants’ leaves provides evaporative cooling. More trees than ever appear in both private and public spaces.

And this is considered news.

Your Late Bedtime Says You’re an Oddball

You like to do your own thing, even if you have to make sacrifices for your lifestyle. You are extremely creative and inspired. It’s easy for you to lose time in your projects. You tend to live hard and not take as good of care of yourself as you should. Sleep often comes last for you, if it comes at all… and you’re always hurting in the morning.

Blogthings Quiz: What Does Your Bedtime Say About You?

You Should Work with Art

You are a very visual and creative person. You couldn’t stop making beautiful things, even if you tried. You are constantly inspired and driven to create. It would drive you crazy to follow too many rules at work. You have to do things your own way. If you’re given room to be yourself, you come up with amazing things. You never stop making art, so you might as well get paid for doing something you love!

Blogthings Quiz: What Should You Work With?

Your Spring Sense is Sight

You can’t help but be moved by the beauty of spring. The whole world changes in front of you. You love every green shoot and every blooming plant. It’s like a picture is being colored! You are artistic and very visual. If spring hasn’t inspired you to paint or draw yet, some day it probably will. You always give yourself time to stop and take it all in. Nature is truly an amazing thing.

What’s Your Spring Sense?

You Are Compassionate Toward the World

You are a true humanitarian. You care deeply for everyone on this planet. If you were independently wealthy, you would be a huge philanthropist. Since you’re not rich yet, you do what you can to help everyone around you. It’s likely that you are active with charities and always willing to help a friend.

Blogthings Quiz: How Do You Feel About the World?

You Are Brilliant

You are a very talented person. And it’s likely that your talents span many different areas. You are probably also very well educated – whether you’ve had a lot of formal education or have educated yourself. You spend a lot of time developing your skills. Practice means perfect, and you sure like to practice. You can be a bit of a perfectionist at times. You like to get things exactly right.

Blogthings Quiz: The Retro Pattern Test

You Are “Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness”

You don’t just think that honesty is the best policy, you think it’s the only policy. You believe that it’s important to be truthful, especially with yourself and the ones you love most. No doubt about it, the truth is sometimes quite ugly. But we need to face how ugly it is before we work to change it. You think the world would be a better place if all the lying and deception stopped. Let’s lay the cards out on the table.

Blogthings Quiz: Which of the Ten Commandments Are You?

You Have an Active Imagination

Your mind is churning and producing new thoughts all the time. You are definitely good at imagining. You can visualize events pretty easily, and you’re not bad at thinking up new ideas. Believe it or not, you could be a bit more imaginative. All you have to do is give yourself permission Spend a few minutes each day daydreaming. It’s good for you, and who knows what might come of it?

Blogthings Quiz: How Active is Your Imagination?

Big Five personality test (click the thumbnails below):

(Big 5 is the only “professional” psychological test I’ve found which works for me. Others like the popular Myers-Briggs are always inaccurate.)

Computer Geek Quiz

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There’s no one even close to being like you. Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible. While you are a bit offbeat, you don’t scare people away with your quirks. Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.

Blogthings Quiz: What Color Green Are You?

Hacker Key (includes Political Compass) (“decode” text below at HackerKey.com)

v4sw7CJUhw4ln5pr7OSFPck2ma7u5Lw6DWXGm?l7Si852Ne6t2/4MAb9OMen6g5ATOCPa2Xs2r4/5p3/-3 hackerkey.com

The so-called Seed Bomb is a large bomb-like device that contains many small capsule-shaped pods. The pods contain soil, moisture, seeds or seedlings, and nutrients for early plant growth. The pods resemble small terrariums that keep moisture inside and allow sunlight in. One end of the capsule is heavier than the other and is designed to settle into the earth in an upright position.

As the plant matures, the organic capsule disintegrates and the new plant is on its own. There is no waste material remaining. No cultivation, watering or fertilization is required. Some have humorously called it a “weapon of mass forestation”.