This would be a terrifying scenario for the southeastern US if it were to play out.  Generally the European model, known as the ECMWF, is the most accurate long term weather forecast model.  It sometimes accurately predicts our weather future two weeks in advance.  Within a week, reliability is much better. Reading these maps is usually complicated -- but in this case it's easy to see the three forecasted hurricanes, all of them strong, with two hitting areas around New Orleans, and a third poised to strike the east coast.  Right about now would be a good time for this model to fail, and for our country to prepare for the worst.

Terri Vruggink has posted a sampling of the photos she did for our family this summer on her blog.  I was skeptical when Holly first suggested we do this.  Now I stand corrected, and amazed at how a talented photographer was able to make our family look pretty darn good! 

MIT scientists have developed a revolutionary process to store solar energy, inspired by the photosynthesis performed by plants.  This process allows the sun's energy to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. The oxygen and hydrogen are then recombined inside a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity to power your house or your electric car, day or night.

According to this article, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis:  James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis who was not involved in this research, called the discovery by Nocera and Kanan a "giant leap" toward generating clean, carbon-free energy on a massive scale. "This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind," said Barber, the Ernst Chain Professor of Biochemistry at Imperial College London.

An inexpensive, easy to deploy system that can seperate hydrogen and oxygen for use by fuel cells.  This could be the Holy Grail of alternative energy.