[Flick Lives]

stooopid question #1, i understand how actually measuring/metering could alter an objects state, but... how can observing it(under the assumption it means with your eyes) change it's state???

One theory is that events that will happen in the future (the observation), have effect on the past; so the act of observation is somehow already bound up with the future observed state. (Not a very coherent explanation, I know.)

A good, and highly readable, book on the weirdosity of quantum events is "In Search of Schrödinger's Cat".

[Chode]

thx... it was less than $6 inc S&H from amazon

[ETL]

Another great book by John Gribbin is The Matter Myth which he co-wrote with my favorite science author, Paul Davies.

Also,
Schrodinger’s Kittens and the Search for Reality: Solving the Quantum Mysteries - by John Gribbin

All are wonderfully written for the intermediate level reader. These two guys really have a knack for making the complex comprehensible.