Glenn suggests something that I’ve thought for years–that the social nicety of handshaking should be strongly discouraged if not abolished. I’ve been in a position in the last few years to not have as many meetings with people in business situations as I used to, and I’ve noticed a huge drop in instances of colds (e.g., I can’t recall the last time I had one).

I’ll bet that we would see many billions of dollars per year in increased productivity, reduced medical expenses, and even, in the case of some older people, decreased mortality. It seems a very high price to pay for an archaic tradition meant to show that we’re unarmed, particularly when, with modern weaponry, we can pack concealed…