There's a science to sex, love and relationships, according to a new book published by a Colorado State University psychology professor and her colleagues.

Relationship books are dime a dozen, but very few are written from the perspective of researchers using science to answer pressing questions, says Jennifer Harman, an assistant professor of social psychology at Colorado State.

Harman was one of 15 university researchers nationwide who wrote chapters of "The Science of Relationships: Answers to Your Questions about Dating, Marriage and Family."

"The Science of Relationships" (Kendall Hunt) is based on science unlike most relationship and self-help books, which are opinion-based and written by clinicians, Harman said. In this recently released book, scientists address 40 of the most common questions on such topics as attraction and relationship initiation, love, intimacy and attachment, long-term relationship processes, the dark side of relationships, sex and parenting.

The team - and other researchers with master's and doctoral degrees - continues to answer questions at http://www.scienceofrelationships.com/. Some recent topics:
* Do men really think about sex every seven seconds?
* The birds and the bees as early as age 3?
* What are the high costs of parenthood?

"This is a fun book that is written in one collective voice but is grounded in research," said Harman, who specializes in the study of how individuals think about and influence others. "We all wanted to make
psychology more accessible. Plus, it helps my students learn more about what I do as a psychologist."

The book is written in a format that most people can understand - simple, scientific answers to basic questions about family, marriage and relationships.

"The key difference between our book and the other books on relationships out there is that all of our contributors are relationship scientists and teachers at colleges/universities who are true experts on
relationships," the authors say on scienceofrelationships.com. "We take that expertise, add in a little research, and present things in an easy to read format."

Other authors included researchers from Haverford College, Monmouth University and University of Texas at Austin. Questions were determined through online polls and submissions from students. Harman wrote chapters on such topics as sex before marriage and sex in relationship to love.

To watch Colorado State University psychology professor Jennifer Harman talking about "The Science of Relationships" go to http://youtu.be/mDHNtfXao8s.

We had a guy come to the dojo to guest lecture. He's a qi gung practitioner by the name of Billy Woods. He led us through his exercises and left us with a parting shot: if Americans could learn to be still and quiet for just five minutes a day, everyone would be more relaxed. He means quiet like when meditating, not because you're doing something that keeps your mouth occupied.

I'm predisposed to like meditation-type practices, so that resonated with me. In honor of Billy's suggestion, I'm going to keep it short today and give you my electronic five minutes' worth of stillness.

Be well, go in peace.

The American Lung Association in Hawaii holds its annual Breathe Concert on Friday, February 10, 2012 at the Historic Hawaii Theatre. For over 80 years, American Lung Association in Hawaii has served the people of our state.  Hawaii is still ranked #2 in the nation for youth asthma and over 175,000 people in Hawaii live with some form of lung disease.  Join us in the Fight for Air and support the Breathe Concert.

This year’s Breathe Concert promises surprises and top talent such as four-time Na Hoku Hanohano Awards winner Mark Yamanaka.  While you enjoy traditional Hawaiian music and dance, you know that your support is helping our tobacco control, lung health and clean air initiatives for the people of Hawaii.  Others include Kupaoa, Mailani, Danny Couch, and Al Waterson along with Ballet Hawaii will provide a spectacular evening of song and dance under the artistic direction of Cathy Foy.

Hawaii Director Lorraine Leslie said, "Cathy Foy has once again created a fantastic line-up and we are so fortunate to have her join us in the Fight for Air." Over 175,000 children and adults in Hawaii have lung disease- that’s more than the combined populations of Maui and Kauai. Hawaii is ranked second nationally for youth asthma and lung cancer is the number one cancer killer of women and men in our state.

American Lung Association in Hawaii, the oldest voluntary health organization in the state, was founded in 1929 on Kauai.  It is a 501c(3) non-profit organization. Statewide programs include advocacy and education for tobacco prevention and cessation, asthma control, air quality and lung disease. As a member of the Western region Leadership Council, I'll be present at the concert.

Tickets to the 7:30 p.m. concert are $135, $55 and $35 at the Hawaii Theatre Center boxoffice, 1130 Bethel Street; by phone (528-0506), and online at www.HawaiiTheatre.com/boxoffice.html.  The $135 tickets include an invitation to the pre-and post concert party at The Venue with entertainment, heavy pupus, good spirits and a meet  and greet with the performers.

Support the American Lung Association and join us for a memorable concert that will take your breath away!

Have you seen Happy Feet 2? There are two characters, Will and Bill, both krill. I like them more knowing that the dreamy Brad Pitt and Matt Damon voiced them.

So when I added nine new pets to add to my menagerie- tiny red shrimp called opae ula, farmed on Hawaii Island- I named them all The Wills & The Bills. I don't know who is who. It's OK. It's not like they come when called.

I've been seeing these shrimp for years and wanted them, but never bought them because it seemed like more clutter in my house. Finally, I ran out of self-discipline and bought a starter kit.

I bought a small cup (nine for $7) and a bottle of brackish water. At home, I dug up a large glass vase and had fun designing my own little undersea world.

The shrimp have been promoted for years as no-fuss, self-contained ecosystems. The sun fosters algae growth in the tank, which feed the shrimp- or so the marketing pitch goes. I used to see them in some stores in totally sealed glass spheres- maybe so the water wouldn't evaporate, or maybe so you couldn't mess it up even if you tried.

I did some web research and read that some think it's torturous to keep them that way. Here's what one website advises: "The truth is that these shrimp are slowly *starving to death*, *suffocating* and being *poisoned* in those containers, due to lack of food and oxygen, and the accumulation of shrimp waste." Another website suggests feeding the opae some spirulina or decomposing termites to supplement the not totally nutritious algae diet.

If it's true, it makes me sad. Based on this, I ran out and bought The Wills & The Bills powdered spirulina at the health food store. This now makes them the most expensive pets because this bottle cost as much as a large bag of dog food. I fed them the tiniest amount and they seem to like it.

The Wills & The Bills now live on my kitchen counter where we all enjoy their company at meals! (Not for meals.)

...Who knows anything about opea ula? What do you think of them as pets? What do you think of the instructions to never feed them?

The new U.S. Postal Service stamps commemorating Hawaii's iconic Aloha shirts will be officially dedicated by Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie and USPS Honolulu District Manager Frank Santos in a First Day of Issue ceremony at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday Jan. 19 at the Honolulu Main (Airport) Post Office. The set, consisting of five post card stamps issued at the new 32-cent post card rate, can be viewed at http://www.beyondtheperf.com/2012-preview/#stamp-aloha-shirts.

My friend Ric Noyle shot the pictures of the stamps! Ric will be present along with aloha shirt authority Dale Hope, whose book The Aloha Shirt: Spirit of the Islands served as a catalyst for the development of the stamps.

The public is invited to attend. Collectors will be able to purchase the Aloha Shirts post card stamps and have them hand cancelled for free with a special commemorative First Day of Issue postmark by postal personnel from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the event site.
 
Two of the five classic shirts depicted in the stamp art showcase surfers and their boards; one shows fossil fish, shells, and sea stars; another shows a bird of paradise flower; and one shows Kilauea volcano. Manufacturer Alfred Shaheen created four of the shirts in the stamp art, showing surfers and their classic early boards on a black background; the bird of paradise; Kilauea; and finally—carrying the private label of the retailer Watumull's and Leilani—the shirt depicting the fossil fish, shells, and sea stars. The red shirt showing surfers and a large wave was manufactured by Malihini. Art director Carl Herrman designed these stamps using photos by Ric.
 
The post card stamps themselves will be available for purchase on Jan. 19 at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.