New study proves studies can cause headaches

Sometimes a scientific study comes along that raises the question, "They needed a scientific study to tell us that?" Latest example: A new study by researchers from Yale and Harvard triples the estimate of stars in the universe — to 300 sextillion. OK, that’s a pretty impressive number, but … really?

Heck, there could be 50 times as many stars as anyone might currently surmise. After all, it’s space. The universe. And since "universe" means all that there is, the actual number of stars is more likely infinite.

On the other hand, if, as some say, the universe is expanding, then perhaps there is nothing outside the universe, so what remains within the universe does have a specific total — at least at the moment. But if the universe is expanding, into what is it expanding? The universe?

Ooooh … Is that a cosmic headache coming on?

Hawaii-born performer hits it big in mainstream

Congrats to Bruno Mars for the rare honor of a Hawaii-born performer winning nominations in major Grammy categories. And seven of them! Wow.

Back in the Hawaiian music category, kudos to Amy Hanaialii for being allied with slack-key artists for their album nomination. It seems the Grammy voters have a yen for guitarists. Someday they may realize there’s more to Hawaiian music than slack-key. Really and truly.