The last day of 2007. In retrospect, not a very good year for me. The people I have met, the good laughters and the ugly confrontation, are flashing back on my mind like a movie. That's life, sometimes you choose, sometimes you are chosen to be what you are, no matter you like to or not. I am saying goodbye to an era, for better or worse. My days will become completely new from tomorrow on. There's a trace of nervousness as well as excitement. I have tasted so much sadness and anxiety, enough. I'll have more control in my fate and happiness.
Am I sober? yes, but a little off balance. Am I strong? yes, but I need some love to go on. I am having it, even it is far away, I'm feeling it...don't get go. grab it with the tightest grit.
I'm going home tomorrow to fulfill a wish. I'm going to see my mother's tomb for the first time. I'd knee down in front to it and talk to her, 'mom, I owe you so much..........' I am already all tears now, mom, you are the sadest part in my life, mom.
I will live strong, mother. I know you expected your son to be that.
I believe genome test is still premature and am happy to read more reports that this is indeed the case. WSJ article outlines two studies that show gene predicators are weak ones. 1. caffeine-metabolizing gene is NOT strongly linked to heart disease even Consumer Genetics Inc. is selling their test; 2. denCODE genetics is checking gene associated with diabetes II, but real researchers argue the connection is weak; 3. Salugen Inc. tests the 'weight' gene for customers, but once again, study found insignificant weight loss for nutrition using based on the gene indicator.
Another interesting twist. James Watson's genome is said 16 times more black origin related than average white people. He is ripped badly by his racial remarks. Somehow, I still like to back him up. Not because I am a racist, but logically, 1)single exception doesn't overturn generality; 2) a 50-year research vet is less likely to be senescent and becomes mindless overnight. His books (DNA, avoid boring people) tell me he's pretty sharp.
Maybe I am wrong.
Global warming and energy crisis are too hot topics to ignore. Repeated news reports show the progress and effort that people are seeking energy alternatives. In Iceland, The first hydrogen gas filling station in the world is reported to open to the public, while in Southern California where the notion of environmental consciousness becomes a norm, Honda has quietly leased the Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicle, Honda FCX Clarity, for almost 2 years. Major automakers are speeding up the research with high stake. This post is to take notes on what I have read.
Why hydrogen?
The main reason is clean. It only gives off water when burnt.
Is it cost-efficient?
So far no! The industrial bulk generation of hydrogen gases relies mainly on natural gas reforming. The process mixes methane CH4, the main components of natural gas, with water high temperature steam, high pressured or not, to produce H2 and CO. Other procedures incur to produce high purity and pressurized Hydrogen gases for end use like vehicles. Because of these processes, the hydrogen alternative is neither cost-efficient, nor is environmentally friendly since it consumes more energy than it generates. The projected equivalent price for hydrogen is $4-8/kg hydrogen, depending on the estimated electricity price.
Then will the hydrogen economy happen?
We’ll see and obviously we’d love to see it happen. It will be fantastic if we are a part to make it happen. So far the scene is fuel gasoline has become the most demanded resource around the world. More vehicles are manufactured, more electric power are needed as the population and living standards are increasing. But the cruel oil reserve is limited. Natural gas seems comparatively untapped at this point. This gives quite some cushion for hydrogen technology to partially replace fuel-combusting. In the long run, other alternatives have to be explored to keep the world running.
Even there is doubt that hydrogen FC vehicle will eventually prevail, it is people’s strong believe that the advance in technology will solve the problem. That’s why Bush administration has the Hydrogen Initiative in 2004. Also, it is possible to use atomic energy to generate hydrogen gas at the price of $1.5-2.0/km in the year of 2015, even this prediction is dubbed as ‘aspirational’.
My point is, no matter how efficient the future hydrogen ‘engine’ is, the key to the whole picture is an efficient way to generate hydrogen. Natural gas reforming is only a tentative answer, to say the least, because it relies on the limited natural gas supply. Electrolysis and bio-synthesis have to be investigated. The yield is a problem, but maybe not in the future. What about the solar energy, is it possible to combine the sun irradiation with the hydrogen generation? A nano-device might be invented to catalyst the photo-dissolving water efficiently. Yes, the energy efficiency is limited to 80-95%, compared that with currently dominant photo-voltaic cells, it has enormous potential and impact. I believe this is the way to think large in the energy innovation.
other related links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/08/hydrogen-car-is-here-but-wheres-the-hydrogen-economy/
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EED7153EF93AA15757C0A9619C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/automobiles/29ALT.html?_r=1&fta=y&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/29/automobiles/29PRIMER.html?pagewanted=1&fta=y
Phil Wright, the chairman of Nike, is sitting-in creative writing class in Standford. As seclusive and private as he manages to be, he does share notes and dicussions with fellow students, and hang out with them occasionally after class. His intension? working on a novel project he's been strugglling for 20 years. At the suggestion of his English professor/novelist friend Tobias Wolff, at the age of 69, Mr. Wright blends in with the 20s on Standford campus in pursuit of his endeavour. WSJ reports today about his Hemingwayesque story with side narration since Mr. Wright turned down the reporter's interview request for three times.
Tom Perkins' foray in writing makes it a pair. Mr. Perkins, the high-profile venture capital tycoon in Silicon Valley, has published a novel a year ago, Sex and the single Zillionaire. He's got much help from his then wife novelist Danielle Steel. But obviously he couldn't beat the long proven writer Steel as I saw Mr. Perkins' books were stacked remotely on the 'used & discounted' shelf at Barnes & Noble, the shining part, though, is that Mr. Perkins did it himself. 'For better or worse, there is no 'ghost' writer behind it', he noted on the preface. Countary to his romance book, Mr. Perkins' biographies were laid on an ostensible position at the bookstore entrance. Still I salute for his writing adventure so much more than his other rich man's toy-playing like yacht construction. Few at 70s can possesses a sharp mind as to finish a novel.
There's no way I would have compared them with. But the story is just encouraging as I am struggling with the ending of my writeup for quite a few sleepless nights. One needs help, it is common to hit the 'wall' at the certain point, one just needs to study more and stick to it. Jack Kerouac finished his book in three weeks, which is really rare, but he spent 7 years piror to that for what he needed. Writing is a talent's work demanding great passion. Whether it is tinge in mind, or it is the untapped genius, I'm devoted to the trying.
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