Biological sources for energy production seem to hold a lot of promise over some of the mechancial methods that engineers have preferred in the past. Biodiesel harvested from crops or algae is one option [UNH Biodiesel Group]. This article gives a good, if biased, point of view. However, I agree with the results in principle. What I am not sure is how everything would play out in practice. It's a complicated issue with hidden variables that no one could ever predict. But one thing is certain; a renewable, clean fuel source is in everyone's best interest.

Past weblog entries on this topic: [06/27/2003][03/12/2003][08/19/2002] 4:48:25 PM    comment []  

What is it that makes a long term relationship work? I hear a lot of opinions about this topic from people. Being "in love" is always listed as a high priority among other things like compatibility, common interests and other vaguely defined notions. I am usually left with the feeling the most people really have virtually no clue what it actually takes and instead are satisfied with the dreamy, romantic notions that are supplied to use by popular culture. However, with 50% of marriages ending in divorce and, by some estimates, 50% of the remaining couples staying unhappily married, it's hard to know who or what to count on.

The University of Washington's "Love Lab" claims to have developed a mathematical model that can predict the success of a marriage with "over 90% accuracy." So, what is the secret?

"When the masters of marriage are talking about something important, they may be arguing, but they are also laughing and teasing and there are signs of affection because they have made emotional connections," Gottman said [BBC News][via Corpse Divine].

Emotional connectedness. Intimacy. I could have told you that without the mathematical model. Overall, it sounds like a tall order for a lot of people considering all of the insecurity and baggage that people bring into a relationship. Not to mention that our society fails to prepare us with the tools we need to be successful in a relationship. 3:16:00 PM    comment []