Chemicals, not climate led to superior Stradivari violins - Ars Technica

Some of the greatest instruments are said to have been made by Antonio Stradivari, who worked in northern Italy during the late 1600s and early 1700s. Many believe that the climate produced dense, even wood during this period, but a new paper suggests that chemicals added to the wood are the real reason.

Wasn't that you skulking to work in a ski mask? | Crain's

Bitter-cold weather has driven Chicago professionals to extreme methods to avoid being seen looking like schlubs.

En route from Metra to his office, Jeffrey Junkas keeps a low profile in the warm-up pants, bulky sweater and down coat layered over his workday wear: "I will cut through buildings if possible to avoid being noticed looking like the kid from 'A Christmas Story,' " he says.
...
La Grange Park resident Ray Lauk shuns hats, gloves and even overcoats: "I hate, hate, hate bundling up," says Mr. Lauk, 49, a former education solutions manager seeking a job in sales and marketing or as a school superintendent.

He starts his car and "blasts the heat" 20 minutes before leaving his house, and brings a down coat in case of emergency. At his destination, he hustles from heated car to heated building.

The Ben Hawken Blog: Al Gore Reports: All Your Country are Belong to Us

And all this from a THEORY about sporadic temperature fluctuations -- a theory with which the best and brightest disagree.