March 1 (Bloomberg) -- The earthquake that killed more than 700 people in Chile on Feb. 27 probably shifted the Earth’s axis and shortened the day, a National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientist said.

Earthquakes can involve shifting hundreds of kilometers of rock by several meters, changing the distribution of mass on the planet. This affects the Earth’s rotation, said Richard Gross, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, who uses a computer model to calculate the effects.  read more »

Berthold Steinhilber / Laif-ReduxHistory in the Remaking

A temple complex in Turkey that predates even the pyramids is rewriting the story of human evolution.

They call it potbelly hill, after the soft, round contour of this final lookout in southeastern Turkey. To the north are forested mountains. East of the hill lies the biblical plain of Harran, and to the south is the Syrian border, visible 20 miles away, pointing toward the ancient lands of Mesopotamia and the Fertile Crescent, the region that gave rise to human civilization. And under our feet, according to archeologist Klaus Schmidt, are the stones that mark the spot—the exact spot—where humans began that ascent.  read more »

If you are heavy, it could be making you sick and tired and age prematurely. And I don't mean heavy with fat ...

I mean heavy with heavy metals -- like mercury!

Unfortunately, toxic mercury problems are common. Along with polar bears, beluga whales, ducks, otters, panthers, and all river fish as well as most large ocean fish, we humans are poisoning ourselves with mercury at ever increasing rates.

There's no doubt about it, mercury is the most alarming, disease-causing source of environmental toxicity that I see daily in my practice. Many of patients have toxic levels of mercury -- and they're not alone. I personally suffered from mercury toxicity and chronic fatigue syndrome --which I cured myself from, in part by getting rid of the mercury in my body. So I know about this first hand.  read more »

International Field Of Professional Longboard & Stand-Up Paddle Surfers To Compete In 1st Annual Punta Sayulita Longboard & Stand-Up Paddle Classic

The 1st Annual Punta Sayulita Longboard & Stand-Up Paddle Classic (“the Classic”) is set to take place on April 17-18 in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico. The international field of professional surfers from the United States and Mexico is led by Honorary Ambassadors James Pribram of Laguna Beach, CA, renowned Mexican big wave surfer, Carlos “Coco” Nogales of Puerto Escondido and Mexico’s current national longboard champion, Patricio Gonzalez of Sayulita. The field will be limited to 30 competitors made up of both professional invitees and amateurs competing in various age group divisions as well as in the “open” contest for the longboard and stand-up paddle surfing categories.  read more »

Many years ago, when a few families settled in this beautiful little cove, rich with fish, they couldn't have imagined what would take place here in less than a life span. I am sure they were attracted by its natural beauty and the bounty of the local food supply of fruits, vegetables, and fish.

Like so many people in Mexico, they were resourceful, had the initiative to try something, and families worked together to support each other.

Many years later, surfers discovered the easy, consistent waves they could ride, and a laid-back atmosphere that suited them to a T.  read more »

When I first came to Sayulita, the first person I met was the property manager of a condo in Villa Amor, Gabbi Villarrubia.

The fourth person I met was Mark Alberto Holt, who had recently opened a tequila bar named the SFT Tequila bar, right on the square.

As fate would have it, we would all become friends, supporters and, in the case of Gabbi and Mark, celebrities in the world of tequila, flourishing like a blue agave plant under the hot sun in Jalisco.  read more »