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Jan 20, 2009 06:15 PM | 20
Millions of people in the U.S. and around the world watched the historic inauguration of Barack Obama as he vowed to rebuild and reunite a fractured nation facing war, economic turmoil and other major challenges. Among the hurdles, our new President pledged, "We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost."
One needn't look far to see how technology has improved medical care – from anesthesia to ultrasounds. And some – Obama seemingly among them – believe that such technology can make health care more efficient. That could mean shorter hospital stays, more complete medical databases or ordering fewer tests because those we have are better.
But whether more technology will actually lower the overall costs of health care in the U.S., which top $2 trillion annually, is more of an open question. In fact, just the opposite may be true, according to a study published in Health Affairs in 2003 led by Lawrence Baker, a professor of health research and policy at Stanford University's School of Medicine in California.
That may explain why the U.S. has the highest per capita health care spending in the world but ranks just 27th in life expectancy. Number-one-ranked Japan spends just a third of what we do per capita.
So does Obama's claim hold water? We asked Baker to respond to the new president's comment. It's "where our country has to go," he told ScientificAmerican.com. "There are huge technology opportunities out there."
But, he added: "The most health care isn't always the best health care. Decisions about value is probably the key," he said about keeping overall costs down. Providing the best and most affordable care will depend on finding and using the technology that makes the most sense. In order to do that, he continued, "We need to search hard and think hard."
The U.S. isn't alone in the battle to balance technological benefits with costs. "Changing demographics and medical technology pose a cost challenge for every nation's system," wrote Robert Kuttner, co-editor of The American Prospect, in the New England Journal of Medicine last year.
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Improved technology can help, but we all know that most of our health problems in "developed" nations are related to lifestyle factors - obesity, diabetes, heart disease, alcohol-related accidents, even many forms of cancer. Money should be spent on preventative healthcare which encourages healthy eating, exercise etc. and investigating the impact of environmental pollutants and toxins (e.g. biosphenol) - an approach which is much more cost effective in the long run than trying to fix the problems after they've developed.
Of course Obama's statement would give comfort to the pharmaceutical companies and the medical technology companies don't want us to take responsibility for our health, and Obama's statement seems to feed into the myth that we must continue with a consumerist growth model and develop and buy our way out of our current problems. This model is unsustainable.
On the surface of it, Obama seems to have dropped the ball on this one, although let's wait and see his full health policy. Still, I'm glad to have him there.
I am posting a comment regarding the use of the word "can" in the title of the blog "Is Obama right that technology can lower health care costs?". CAN indicates that someone is able to do something (has the knowledge to do something), while COULD, the subjunctive mood variety of the word, indicates the likelihood of something happening. Given the variety of factors that co-determine health care costs, perhaps the author of the article intended saying "... technology could lower health care costs".
Rembrandt Klopper
I am so happy to see this article. Health Care costs are so high for Americans because so few of us can even afford care. The quality of our health has declined and it is because for a long time inflation of the cost of living has outpaced increases in earnings. The less people make, the less likely they are to have access to health care and the more likely they are to to be overworked and they'll have weaker immune systems as a result. Then people don't go until the problems get really bad. Factor in all the obesity (thats due to unhealthy cheap food) and you have a health crisis. The increased infant mortality and ridiculous mental health issues are serious indicators too.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHealth care costs are so high because most people do not take the responsibility to maintain good lifestyle habit, ie stop smoking, avoid excessive weight gain, regular exercise, etc, and have high expectation from the health care system and its associated technology. In 1950's you would only be observed or had a skull xray should you fall and hit your head on the ground. Today the same incident would require complete medical data base with variety of tests, including CT scan or MRI of the brain, just to make sure that you did not have internal bleeding or would come back to file a medical malpractice suite for a "misdiagnosis". This type of attitude and litiginous medical atmosphere simply do not exist in many parts of the world, including Japan, UK, European countries etc. To indiscriminately increase the availability technology for any condition would simply open the gate for runaway healthcare cost, which would punish those who desperately need cost-effective therapy. The current policy of prior authorization / screening for procedures / therapy only results in more time lost to doing paperwork resulting in INCREASE cost and waste to everyone in the system. Don't be penny pinching but pound foolish! Healthcare is like a growing beast; the more you feed it the bigger it gets until it consumes everything in sight!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHealth care costs are high because of the ridiculous amounts of malpractice insurance doctors need now because of crazy sue-happy people and laws that don't do anything to protect the doctors. In the mean time, they know they can charge crazy rates because it's either that or your health... and in some cases, your life. If you want to reduce health care costs, the only way to do it is to improve the health of the nation as a whole. The best way to do that is through better nutrition. The proper diet is actually very simple: Eat food, not too much, mostly raw fruits and vegetables, some cooked vegies, some fish/eggs/milk, other meats very sparingly.
From there, our health should improve drastically, meaning we wouldn't need the majority of health care. Mainly heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, improper blood glucose, and common illnesses such as cold/flu would be almost unheard of if we ate properly.
Then you just get rid of the aldehyde producing ethanol in our fuel and ween the country off of coal to solar/wind and ignore biofuel entirely.
Then as a nation we should be plenty healthy. The reduced burden on the health-care system will help reduce the amount of accidents, which will reduce the malpractice insurance rates and the cost of health care. If laws also put a limit on the amount people could sue for when it comes to medical malpractice then that might be helpful as well. Keep in mind that medical mix-ups are the third leading cause of death in this nation. That's pretty scary really.
Technology will not help the issue... but it will make some people some money, but not the one's who need it.
Last year my doctor discovered an aortic aneurism so large it had to be operated at once. My surgeon and the surgical staff were "perfect." The care I received in the hospital was "4-1/2 Star." My recovery (12 weeks) went on schedule and w/o complications.
Yet - the billing through the insurance company took months. The "net balance" turned out to be multiple net balances from each & every "office" which provided services on that huge "medical campus." I had to wait 5 months and made many inquiries trying to find out if "this is the last bill" from each office. Finally, I thought I had all the bills and made payment arrangements with all those offices. The following month: I got yet another bill from yet another office. Start all over again: only I "blew my budget" on those original billings. Inevitable: the late comer will turn my account over to a billing agency - who will pester me and damage my credit rating.
Great system. This malthusian "business model" one of the real reasons that "medicine" is screwed up. It interferes with good medicine and financially harms both care providers and their patients. In some cases, the medical / accounting computer systems are indistinguishable from those in the gift shop on the corner.
My girlfriend lives with untreated MS, and after a year of jumping through hoops and waiting, was flat out denied disability benefits. She deals with painful muscle spasms multiple times a day, but still works most of the week. On the other hand, some fat dude I used to work with bragged to me that he got on disability for 3 years for a "back injury" that he sustained after wrecking his car, then laughed and admitted he was fine the whole time.
Want to save some money? Start by making sure your programs are actually working.
Health care? You should have written "sick care."
Health care happens at the gym, not in the doctor's office.
But yes, a central repository for patient data and insurance info would make hordes of admins redundant and give doctors far better information about the patient than they get from the multitude of forms you have to fill out today.
Oh, and if the patient data was tracked, the doctor could tell the patient during the next checkup that his/her higher weight, blood pressure or blood sugar will cost him or her X years in lifespan and Y dollars in "healthcare" bills. People just don't get it until it's too late.
Heath care costs have become insanely high because the industrialization of medicine has ruined the doctor-patient relationship. Advancing technology leads people to believe we know more about the human body than we really do. The appetite for new technology is insatiable. It is leading to an ever increasing passivity among both doctors and patients. Many medical decisions are now made by machines. Good health and well being come from self examination, a willingness to change and the prudent use of modern medicine.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe very model of not having a single-payer system inflates costs, because some intermediate entity (insurance companies) needs to make a profit. Note also that 20% of insurance company budgets are spent fighting and stalling perfectly reasonable claims.
Medical databases could reduce costs, but only by a little bit.
For addressing lifestyle issues, "obesity taxes" on unhealthy food that would subsidize healthy food is a good way to go. Or increasing copays by the extra pounds one carries...that will give good incentives to many of us to zip it up.
The hard choice is to not spend so much effort, time and cost trying to postpone death in terminal cases. It is done a lot in this country, prolongs life only by a few months, taxes the system heavily, and usually does not increase the quality of life.
The blunt truth is that in countries with nationalized health systems, each person's life does not have the same value. Children and young adults with responsibilities come first, and old people come last. Life value is proportional to life expectancy if health is restored, and costs are allocated accordingly. Here it is the opposite.
From some of the other posts here, I see multiple points which need re-evaluation and change. I'm sure the new congress and administration will be working on a reform package "pretty soon." That said, it is up to responsible citizens to provide honest input with our representatives.
I also believe that an honest comparative study of medical systems in other countries should be done before congress embarks on re-inventing the wheel. I also have seen that the Republicans have been on the wrong side of the road in this regard: making negative assertions about other systems just because those systems don't conform to their ideology. Comparative analysis is still needed. As President Obama says, we the people have failed to make the hard choices. We have to "not care" if the "brand" is Canadian, Japanese or German: so long as we get a first rate system at a substantially reduced cost to Americans.
This is a good article, but I find that the posts in this forum much more interesting. We have some good points, but I have to wonder if ideas like this will even make it to the drawing table. If a few readers can generate these opinions and ideas, I have to believe that the administration has thought of it as well, and most likely rejected it. We will see.
As for me, being in the tech industry, I don't rely on much home that tech will be a huge factor in the expense of health care (I like the term 'sick care'). Technology can be used to do things that are rudimentary, that apply to ALL or a huge majority. It is used to free humans of repetitive tasks so that we can think critically on something of more importance. I don't think relying on tech to diagnose is a good idea. Diseases/Sickness is too personal and don't behave in a repetitave case most of the time. What we need to do is to free up the doctors so that they can think about what the problem is.
This brings two more points. First, the easier we make the 'tests' and diagnostics, the more the doctor has to choose from. Maybe he will go ahead and order a couple extra tests if we hve the technology to do so, this can get confusing and distract from the actual problem. Second, let's look at the technology already in hospitals. Take an MRI for example. It is a huge benifit towards health careto be able to do things like this (not just health care, but for science in general), BUT the cost is through the roof. This is the case of technology that wasn't finished. Yes, we have the ability to use it, but it isn't pheasable. We need to continue that technology to lower the cost.
I believe everyone in this forum brings up a good point. The industrialization of health care and the health and habits of our nation are driving up the cost. Technology can improve this, but only if done correctly. If we don't use it properly, it can end up driving up costs and malpractice suits.
What stands in the way of U.S. health care reform? Vested interests!
Every dollar spent on "health care" is a buck made by "health care" providers. And the health care industry isn't going to relinquish their profits without a fight. They have money, and they are willing to spend it to buy off legislators, the FDA, the medical system and whoever else might get in their way. In addition, every technological advance brings new potential profits, i.e. an increase in medical care costs.
You might want to read the article "Health care reform – why so much talk and so little action?" by Victor Fuchs in the Jan. 15, 2009 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. You can find it at http://content.nejm.org/cgi/reprint/360/3/208.pdf.
Let's keep this simple: science and technology are just tools we use to accomplish something. The results of the use of a tool (be it a hammar, a gun, or genetic technology) are largely based on the individual and collective values and priorities we bring to our decisionmaking about that use; i.e., what we get is based not so much on the tools we use but who we are as individuals and a people (or peoples). If we change to tools (technology) but not ourselves, we'll still get the same (or worse) outcomes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo Simultaneously Reduce Taxes and Health Care Costs
President Obama to a joint session of Congress September 10, 2009: (To our seniors)& dont pay attention to those scary stories&. these same folks&.just this year, supported a budget that would have essentially turned Medicare into a privatized voucher program. That will never happen on my watch.
This simple statement belies the Obama/Democrat pay to play health care scam. These people couldnt care less about the 20 million uninsured Americans (who currently are getting their health care for free). Instead, they just want to create another giant bureaucracy from which they and their lawyer pals can skim. And another giant bureaucracy from which they can draw votes and political power.
To simplify the 1500 page health care bill. And to reduce health care costs, simply provide current Medicare and Medicaid recipients with vouchers and let them buy, with these vouchers, whatever health insurance seems to fit their needs. And, simultaneously, end all Blue Cross/Blue Shield tax-exempt status. And issue a federal mandate that allows patients to cross state lines to buy whatever health insurance they wish.
In other words, break up those cozy, lawyer dominated BC/BS (in state) monopolies which drive costs so high. Like the scam that Kathleen Sebelius ran, with her lawyer pals in Kansas, for so many years. Ditto for the Medicare and Medicaid plans.
Wake up America! Simpler is better. Just remove the lawyers and the bureaucrats. And open the bidding. And bingo, the health care costs for patients and taxpayers, alike, will plummet. And our economy will recover. But do it the Democrats way and our current national economic downhill spiral will tragically accelerate.
George Meredith MD
Virginia Beach
In order to lower health care costs,you don't merely place a tax on fats,sugars, and starches.You CAP them...just like we're going to do with carbon dioxide.If you want to pollute your body with a snicker bar and cause your health care costs to go up...then someone else will need to offset your action by eating a stalk of celery..or a bowl of fiber -1 cereal .. or that someone else will have to do without some sweets..just to make sure that HIS or HER health care costs go DOWN.Perhaps,if you want to eat a slice of pizza,you'll need to get someone else to take an extra few milligrams of a blood pressure pill. Think of the fun the statisticians and bureaucrats will have!
And as for the lawyers...we'll see how much they like a single payer,federalized malpractice adjudication agency..complete with rules and regs as to what percentage of whites..or blacks..or hispanics..or South Sea Islanders win what percent of wrongful death claims or misdiagnosis claims.Of course..we'll have to make sure that everyone gets the same percentages..since everyone MUST have an equal outcome +/- some historical fudge factor congered up by liberal do gooders!
In order to lower health care costs,you don't merely place a tax on fats,sugars, and starches.You CAP them...just like we're going to do with carbon dioxide.If you want to pollute your body with a snicker bar and cause your health care costs to go up...then someone else will need to offset your action by eating a stalk of celery..or a bowl of fiber -1 cereal .. or that someone else will have to do without some sweets..just to make sure that HIS or HER health care costs go DOWN.Perhaps,if you want to eat a slice of pizza,you'll need to get someone else to take an extra few milligrams of a blood pressure pill. Think of the fun the statisticians and bureaucrats will have!
And as for the lawyers...we'll see how much they like a single payer,federalized malpractice adjudication agency..complete with rules and regs as to what percentage of whites..or blacks..or hispanics..or South Sea Islanders win what percent of wrongful death claims or misdiagnosis claims.Of course..we'll have to make sure that everyone gets the same percentages..since everyone MUST have an equal outcome +/- some historical fudge factor congered up by liberal do gooders!
Healthcare: Killing America
FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT IAIResearch.wordpress.com
Americans spent an estimated $2.5 trillion to maintain our health in 2009, or roughly $8,000 per person. This is more than the gross domestic product (what is spent on everything) in every other country in the world except Japan, China, Germany, France, or the United Kingdom.
Spiraling healthcare costs are on track to bankrupt America. Medicare will be insolvent by 2017 and is projected to generate a $37 trillion deficit. Increased healthcare costs are one more reason jobs flee America. And all this extra cost has given us very little return as most of the gain in life expectancy came during the first half of the 20th century due to improved sanitation and nutrition.
The cost of healthcare could be cut in half, but what do our politicians want to fix first? They want the most fraud-riddled, inefficient systemour governmentto take over more of our care! They want to cover 47 million Americans without insurance rather than fix the cost of care for all 307 million Americans!
We can drive down costs to levels that existed before government decided to fix healthcare in 1965. This means we all have to change:
� Consumers must live healthier lives, manage their own care, and bear more of the direct cost of care. We must remember that, insured or not, we pay for healthcare through lower wages, higher prices, or higher taxes.
� We must find a way to live our last years without bankrupting our children, our grandchildren, and our neighbors.
� Lawyers can no longer be allowed to pillage our medical system for private gain.
� Providers must take a lower share of our national wealth. In return they would become less likely to be sued, go unpaid, or bear excessive overhead costs.
� Government must back away from managing care and focus on policing illegal behaviors and driving efficiency through shared knowledge.
Most important, government and industry leaders must push for change that is good for the country rather than for political contributors and lobbyists. Our founding fathers realized our republic would only survive if its leaders possessed public virtue. This crisis is another test of that virtue and I fear as Congress buys each vote with special interest gimmicks, our nation is further undermined.
We are no less disabled by disease than citizens of most developed nations, and our medical care is, with few exceptions, no better at helping us survive specific diseases. There is a worthy national concern over health care costs, as they are the cause of 6 of every 10 bankruptcies, and send a lot of people running for <a rev="vote for" title="Health Care Costs Predicted to do Little for Debt Relief" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/"><strong>payday loans</strong></a>. However, despite the concerns and actions of Congress, it's estimated that the cost of health care is going to increase over the next few years. The hitch in health care reform is that the impetus seems to be throwing money at the problem, rather than finding out the cause of high cost and any doctor will tell you that you have to treat the disease before the symptoms.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWe are no less disabled by disease than citizens of most developed nations, and our medical care is, with few exceptions, no better at helping us survive specific diseases. There is a worthy national concern over health care costs, as they are the cause of 6 of every 10 bankruptcies, and send a lot of people running for <a rev="vote for" title="Health Care Costs Predicted to do Little for Debt Relief" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/Payday-Loans/"><strong>payday loans</strong></a>. However, despite the concerns and actions of Congress, it's estimated that the cost of health care is going to increase over the next few years. The hitch in health care reform is that the impetus seems to be throwing money at the problem, rather than finding out the cause of high cost – and any doctor will tell you that you have to treat the disease before the symptoms.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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According to Starpulse.com, rapper Gillie Da Kid will bring to life Hip Hop legend Tupac Shakur on an all new biopic about Death Row Records founder, Mr. Suge Knight!
On a recent interview, he shared with AllHipHop.com, "Just know I'm going to transform like Will Smith did when he played Ali. We already know I'm 'G'd' (good) enough to play 'Pac, that was never a question after they put a little make up on me. I been in the gym. I'm trying to put on a little 10 pounds real quick."
This is pretty thrilling; aside from that crazy hologram that no one will ever forget of the one and only legendary rapper, Tupac Shakur, on stage with Snoop Dogg... or Snoop Lion, and Dr. Dre at the Coachella Music Festival, back in 2012, this is something worth being excited about!
We still might not know much about when filming will begin, or if they have even started casting for some more roles; BUT, what we do know is that there is a Tupac, and a script, and that script is finished!
I guess we will have to anxiously sit, and wait for the finished product.

subset: commoncrawl


text: I really hope you didn't miss yesterday's newsletter. Yesterday's newsletter was about how you can justify your higher price. I listed some of the primary points of leverage you can use to make your case effectively with your dream clients and buyers. It was only a few minutes … [Read more...]


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Please click on the event for detailed information!
December 9-10th at the Dena'ina Conference Center in Anchorage, Alaska
Detailed workshop information are available here.
So many projects and so much potential! Jason highlighted nine projects funded through the Denali Commission's Emerging Energy Technology Grant program. They include a solar thermal project in Kotzebue where they are installing solar panels on six homes to heat hot water; a seawater heat pump system in Seward which is expected to go online this April and will be used to heat the 120,000-square foot Alaska Sealife Center; and a wood pellet boiler installed by Sealaska to heat the corporation's corporate headquarters in Juneau and perhaps hopefully spur a local economy for creating wood pellets. Other projects include two hydrokinetic in-river turbines in Nenana and on the Yukon River near Eagle to test the possibility of producing power from our rivers, and work with pyschrophiles in Cordova where they are testing cold-loving bacteria that live in tundra lakes and produce methane. The methane could be used to produce power.
Jason also talked briefly about the state's newly created Emerging Energy Technology Fund, which has just over $5 million in funding and is expected to begin soliciting applications beginning in December.
Jason's presentation
Source: Renewable Energy Alaska Project
Topic: Railbelt Energy Options - A Look at the Numbers
When: Tuesday, November 16th, 2010, 6-7:30pm
Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
What do you think the price of oil and gas will be in twenty to forty years? What price should we estimate for greenhouse gas emissions when making long term investment decisions? How should we value a dollar today compared to a dollar fifty years from now? How quickly will new technologies lead to new energy "winners"? The presentation included a quick quant overview of the usual suspects in Railbelt energy options, including end-use efficiency/conservation, oil, gas, coal, hydro, wind, geothermal, tidal, biomass, distributed generation and upstream energy supply chains, and assumptions that drive the economic analysis. Then the audience was polled for estimates of key assumptions that were incorporated into a simplified Railbelt Energy Economic Model.
Missed this lecture? Watch the recording online!
Panel on: Preparing your Home for Winter: Options for Residents and Businesses
When: Tuesday, October 19th, 2010, 6-7:30pm
Presentations can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB. Missed this lecture? Watch the recording online!
Topic: Biomass Part II: Does the Interior have the Resources to Support Biomass Development?
When: Tuesday, September 21st, 2010, 6-7:30pm
Local experts discussed the opportunities for biomass harvest and cultivation in the Interior to fuel traditional and new ways of producing power.
Topic: Biomass: A Sustainable Option for Alaska?
When: Tuesday, August 31st, 2010, 6-7:30pm
Experts provided an overview of biomass technology for community energy production including a discussion of projects in the Interior and throughout the state. In addition, researchers from the Cold Climate Housing Research Center discussed ways to improve residential wood burning.
Topic: Innovations in Geothermal
When: Tuesday, July 20th, 2010, 6-7:30pm
Topic: Wind Powering Alaska When: Tuesday, June 22nd 2010, 6-7:30pm Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
Presentations can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB. Missed this lecture? Watch the recording online! Newsminer article
Topic: Local Food Production for Energy Security When: Tuesday, May 25th 2010, 6-7:30pm Where: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
- Tom Zimmer (Calypso Farm and Ecology Center) - Markus Mager (Alaska Center for Energy and Power) - Jeff Werner (School of Natural Resources & Agricultural Sciences)
Presentations can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB.
April 27th - 29th, 2010
New Energy for Sustainable Communities
The Alaska Rural Energy Conference brings energy experts together to provide practical information and energy projects, ideas, and solutions for Alaska's Communities.
The 2010 conference was held from April 27th - 29th at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks.
Conference presentations can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB.
Video recordings are available:
- here (low sound quality, not edited, no download required) or
- here (high sound quality, edited, via iTunes download).
For additional information visit the Alaska Rural Energy Conference website.
Topic: Here Comes the Sun—Making Solar a Viable Option in Alaska When: *NEW TIME*: Tuesday, March 23rd 2010, 6-7:30pm Where: *NEW LOCATION*: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
- Todd Hoener, End Use Energy Specialist & SNAP Program Administrator, GVEA
- Jim Norman, Owner, ABS Alaskan
-> Watch the recording of this lecture
Topic: Hydropower--Can We Power Alaska with Our Rivers and Oceans? When: *NEW TIME*: Tuesday, February 16th 2010, 6-7:30pm Where: *NEW LOCATION*: Blue Loon (2999 Parks Highway)
Presenters: Jerry Johnson, UAF Instituteof Northern Engineering Jason Meyer, UAF Alaska Center for Energy & Power Download flier Presentations can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB.
Tuesday, January 19th - 7pm in Fairbanks at the Westmark (813 Noble Street)
Wednesday, Januyary 20th - 7pm in Anchorage at the Anchorage Museum
Thursday, Januyary 21st - 7pm in Juneau at the Centennial Hall, Hickel Room
New Energy for Alaskan Communities
Alaska uses more energy per capita than any other state, in a nation which uses more energy than any other country in the world. Our state's high energy use is complicated by high energy prices, isolated electric grid systems, and dependence on external supply lines. By developing more local energy resources – both fossil and renewable – we can stabilize prices and reduce our vulnerability while positioning Alaska as an energy leader. Gwen Holdmann, Director for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power at the University of Alaska will discuss some of the cutting edge technology solutions available to meet Alaska's current and future energy demand. Science for Alaska Lecture Series website »
Wednesday, December 16th
Alaskan Coal
Tuesday, November 17th
Energy Efficient Home Weatherization and Retrofit
Speaker: - Colin Craven, Product Testing Director, CCHRC
Presentation can be downloaded from ACEP's publication DB.
Wednesday, October 21st
Connecting University Research to Sustainable Community Movements
Speaker: - Rich Seifert, Cooperative Extension Service
Wednesday, September 16th
Sustainable Northern Shelter: A Community-based Approach to Building Sustainable Homes for the Future
Speakers: - Aaron Cooke, Project Manager and Architectural Designer - Judith Grunau, Project Manager and Architectural Designer
For more information, visit:
Wednesday, July 15th
Michael Golub, RevUP
Take the "ES166 Electric Car Conversion" course at UAF and learn how to build your own electric car!
June 22nd - 24th, 2009
Alaska Wind-Diesel Summit in Anchorage, Alaska
June 24th: Peter Lilienthal, Green Island Power, LLC offered a FREE HOMER training on Wednesday from 1-5 pm 6-8pm: The Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) hosted a free public forum at the Anchorage Museum to discuss the various challenges and opportunities inherent in wind-diesel systems
For more information contact Katherine Keith at (907) 590-0751, email firstname.lastname@example.com
Wednesday, June 17th
Brian Ellingson, Program Coordinator, UAF Tanana Valley Campus
Take the course at TVC and learn how to build your own turbine!
ACEP sponored the Business of Clean Energy in Alaska Conference held in Anchorage, Alaska from May 18 & 19, 2009.
The Business of Clean Energy in Alaska (BCEA) is a two-day conference showcasing the opportunity for Alaska to become a leader in Energy Efficiency (EE) and Renewable Energy (RE). The conference will focus on understanding the challenges and best practices in implementing an EE/RE infrastructure. Attendees will gain insight into the experiences of governments and businesses from around the country, as they relate to Alaska's unique potential.
ACEP sponsored and helped organizing the 2009 Alaska Geothermal Conference on April 28-30, 2009 at Chena Hot Springs Resort in Fairbanks, AK.
Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 Presenter: - Katherine Keith, Wind diesel coordinator, ACEP/AEA
Alternative Fuels for Transportation and Energy Storage by Kat Keith
Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 Presenters: - Dan Britton, Fairbanks Natural Gas - Doug Reynolds, Energy Economist, UAF
Presentation: Fueling the Future of Fairbanks - Developing Alaska's Natural Gas Resources by Daniel W. Britton
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
Biomass – Can We Harness The POWER??? by Bill Schnabel
Residential Wood-burning Technology by Dave Misiuk -> Watch the recording of this lecture
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
Presenters included:
- Neil Davis, Author of Energy - Alaska - Bernie Karl, Chena Hot Springs Resort
WATCH the video of the event »
Monday, November 17th, 2008
Susitna Hydroelectric by Bryan Carey »
Climate Change and Variability: impacts on existing hydropower facilities and the proposed Susitna project by Jessie Cherry »
Hydrokinetic Power for Rural Alaskan Communities by Dennis Witmer »
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 Presenters included:
- Jim Whitaker, Mayor, FNSB
- Gwen Holdmann, Director, ACEP
- Brent Sheets, Arctic Energy Office, DOE
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008
Panel on:
Presenters included: - Todd Hoener, Golden Valley Electric Association - Mike Music, Cold Climate Housing Research Center - Dennis Witmer, Alaska Center for Energy & Power - Jim Norman, ABS Alaskan, Inc
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008 Presenter: Chris Rose Executive Director, Renewable Energy Alaska Project Presentation »


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It's that time of year again. Pour a pint, kiss 'em if they're Irish, wear your green with pride. St. Patrick's Day is here and with that comes the high of knowing winter is close to over and spring has nearly sprung! Opening day baseball is so close that fans can smell the fresh cut green grass.
To help get you in the mood for the festivities, we've made a list of the Top Five Green Things that Rock!
1. Green Day
Okay, okay, so they're not TECHNICALLY green. But when you're talking about green things that ROCK, this punk trio can't be left out. Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool have been kicking out awesome tunes since the early 90s and continue to do so today. In 2012, they released the ambitious album trilogy entitled Uno! , Dos! Tre!, and are currently in the midst of a North American tour.
2. The Hulk
As the color of many things in nature, green is often thought of as peaceful …but not when it comes to the Hulk. Chalk it up to gamma radiation, but this enormous member of the Avengers has a pretty short temper and some serious anger problems. If he's on your side, expect an immensely powerful ally…but if you tick him off, well…Hulk smash.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
These green heroes were named after influential artists from the time of the Italian Renaissance, but we often found ourselves more interested in the foursome's ability to battle crime with marital arts, their love of weird pizzas, and their resident sewer hangout. Whichever way you slice it, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Rafael will always be the coolest turtles around.
4. Money
Literally nicknamed "The Green Stuff," money makes the world go round. Whether you're making it, spending it, or taking it and running (we're looking at you, Huey Lewis), we all want more of it in our pockets. Pink Floyd even dedicated an entire song to it! Now if we could just finally figure out how to make it grow on trees…
5. Green Beer
Beer is nice. Green beer, especially for St. Patty's day, is much nicer. It doesn't really taste that much different, but why not literally go with the flow and run with the color of the day? Despite popular belief though, its hue doesn't make it any healthier (depending on your definition of the word, of course.)


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(Post refers to material on previous page)
Hm... ok well... the fact that you started out by using the free-rectangle component actually breaks some conventions here. There's nothing wrong with it, but it's not a clean construction, especially for what you're doing here. Let me explain further: Particle bombers read in square images, and the free-rectangle (also free-elipse) components break that since values can go above -1 and 1 in both x and y directions. This results in clipping of the particle shape which is generally undesirable. Also, at this point of noisiness, it would be perfectly acceptable to use the noise component directly as a source of the particle. There's no need for a free-rectangle at all. And of course, where it's desired, you can mask shapes out by feeding the noise into a polygon or elipse component (not the ones with "free" on it.) This allows for cleaner, more controllable results. One note here: As far as I'm looking the resulting imagery looks nice but what troubles me is the way these examples are being constructed. It's important to note that some of the methods in the examples above are unconventional and not necessary the best ways to do something. FilterForge is a free-for-all environment, and I understand anything really goes... but you know... I just wanted to make sure people are getting the right ideas about methods here. Many unconventional methods do lead to slower filters with less control and unexpected results. So please... just be very cautious about that, especially when you're making examples. The attached image below shows what would be nicer although it does not have to be followed as is. |
Posted: March 25, 2012 9:30 pm | ||||||||
Hello, I want to thank you much for your skilled and expert comments to help me make it better and do not continue following a wrong way. I like also much your polite and aserive way to tell things. Also have some "art" to say the things in such a good way and I like it.
I am sorry that I have done and shown the examples breaking the authors right and giving a bad example of how to use the shapes, and without respect to the author filter. I totally agree with you and you are right that this is no good to show this in the forum as an example to follow. Also is true that possibly I am using unconventional ways to do it, and I have confirmed also that my way of doing is is SLOWER than the real filter, and as you say very well it has less control and surprising and unexpected results. I am sorry that I still do not know which is the difference fr om conventional and unconvential ways when speaking about using the components inside filter editor, I suposse that the conventional use is the one that is already used in many filters available from skilled and well done filters.
Well, I started using the rectangle because thought that all the shapes was exactly the same and did not matter which one you choose, and I choose the rectangle because is the one that has more area available and could be better modified. Thanks for your advice, I did not know that this breaks some conventions and does not make a clean construction. Is true that it have happened that using the bomber I had some undesirable clipping and did not know why. Now thanks to you I know.
OH, I see, and is true that is not possibly needed to use the free rectangle and use directly the noise component as the source, and good idea to use the mask shapes using the NON FREE components and so this way I will get a cleaner and more controllable results. Great to learn all this useful and interesting things. Thanks very much for your help and sorry for all my errors and have done it wrong before and have it done bad with the examples. |
Posted: March 27, 2012 2:10 am | ||||||||
Finished the Basics of this shape guide.. Here is the updated pdf....
SHAPE GUIDE Next I will be moving into using the curves...From the basics to advanced including this character in the image.... Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 9, 2012 8:24 am | ||||||||
Oh sweet | |||||||
Posted: April 9, 2012 9:16 am | ||||||||
Thanks really very much for the second update, this is even more interesting and useful than the first part, and like very much how you have done and show how to MIX the shapes in many different ways, and some way that I did not imagine it could be possible. Love it much and like the way you explain the things, and is easy to follow and understand well and with the very good examples you have made.
Thanks again for all the time and work involved to make this, and for sharing your knowdlege and experience, is really useful and good to learn about all this and like it much and this arrives for me in THE BEST moment because I just making a filter that is based totally on shapes, and was wondering HOW to mix some of them beyond the simple and obvious way, and now thanks to you I have learnt how to do it in the right way. Will be waiting for the third part that we will be interesting too, and the curves surely can be even more useful than I can imagine. |
Posted: April 9, 2012 10:21 am | ||||||||
Thanks CFandM.
Nicely done, and so good of you to share your knowledge with us. Rod
Posted: April 9, 2012 4:33 pm | ||||||||
Thanks CFandM. Keep those great tutorials coming. | |||||||
Posted: April 9, 2012 4:34 pm | ||||||||
I have seen a filter that is also probably a good lesson and good to learn on how to make complex shapes in FF
Shrooms by Jim Niehues Also the great work on shape building of the letters on this great filter TD Europa Sans Caps Proc Font Advanced |
Posted: April 11, 2012 2:34 am | ||||||||
Thanks All....Yep always love sharing what I know...
Yep that is a good...There are a lot of complex shapes to learn from in the Library... Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 11, 2012 8:38 am | ||||||||
Thanks for very much for this and is good that you love to do it, AND I want to add, that this is not enough sometimes, someone could know very much BUT does not know HOW to share and teach this to others! And the way you do it is very good and very easy to understand and made with good examples. You love to share it with us, and I love to learn this from you
Yes, is true, the problem is to find them Also sometimes you do not know if the way shown in the filter is a good one and is the best and optimized way, or a complex way that could be done probably easier and better and getting the same result. |
Posted: April 11, 2012 2:03 pm | ||||||||
Gene S Morgan | Thanks so much for your PDF CFandM .... It took me awhile to finally download it and study it a bit. I have made a number of filters, but never tried working much with shapes. This does a great job of covering the how-to of shaping. I've already made a couple of really cruddy filters using ideas from your tutorial. It is always great when those of you who actually know what you are doing give us tips on going new directions with our filters .... Thanks again | |||||||
Posted: April 17, 2012 10:18 pm | ||||||||
You are welcome Gene and thanks I was trying to cover the best methods that I have encountered or used. Thats why I am posting this guide..I am kinda focusing more on the methods more then the filter..Ideals seem to flow more from a method then just posting how to put together a filter...
Always good to hear Spaceray...Still working on that curves part.. Working on the making shapes with FF2 curves at the moment.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 18, 2012 11:04 pm | ||||||||
Sorry CFandM, I forgot to thanks you for this great work. I look forward for the next one. | |||||||
Posted: April 18, 2012 11:26 pm | ||||||||
Glad to post it Ghislaine.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 18, 2012 11:34 pm | ||||||||
I haven't had time to look at the PDF yet, but i'm sure it's fantastic.
Thanks for the hard work CF! |
Posted: April 19, 2012 3:59 am | ||||||||
Thats alright Morgantao you can grab the updated version now with curves...Well for those still using FF2...But you can use the tutorial and substitute the standard curves for the Bezier curve....
Shape Tutorial Now with Curves Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 20, 2012 1:10 pm | ||||||||
Wow ! Great work CFandM ! Thanks a lot ! I love your bow tie guy, is cute I look forward for the next one... | |||||||
Posted: April 20, 2012 3:58 pm | ||||||||
Thanks for the new PDF update CFandM. Rod
Posted: April 21, 2012 5:49 am | ||||||||
You are welcome...A long way to go still..
Thanks Ghislaine..Yep thought that bow tie guy was a cute shape to put in there.. Heres another guy thats going to be in here...Showing how to use some distortion with the Bezier curves.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 21, 2012 11:25 am | ||||||||
I know it's not exactly related to this thread, but itkinda is...
Take a look at the M_Shadows and Highlights. See those two bezier curves in the beginning? How would you go about creating those with FF2.0 components? It's not exactly proper SHAPES, but you can think of the curves as shapes and combine them too. |
Posted: April 21, 2012 2:25 pm | ||||||||
Yep kinda is.. Yep the curves in FF2 can also be considered shapes...Thats the first tut in what I just posted. ...Working with the normal curves is a bit more tedious that the bezier....You have to plan more and sometimes connect more curves and curve ops just to equal something that can be easily done with the bezier curve...Its a lot harder to be precise in controlling those also..This is close but no cigar.... curves.ffxml Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 21, 2012 3:33 pm | ||||||||
WOW!! I did not expect to have the third part so soon. Thanks very much I will see it later. | |||||||
Posted: April 21, 2012 3:43 pm | ||||||||
Are you kidding me? This is almost spot on! Just a question, on the top part you combine a circular arc with a step. What for? It looks eaxactly the same as the orinal arc... |
Posted: April 21, 2012 4:16 pm | ||||||||
hehe.. Whoops...I was trying something else and forgot to take out the math and step curve.....You can attach that circular arc to the other math curve op.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 21, 2012 4:30 pm | ||||||||
OK, thought there's a hidden meaning | |||||||
Posted: April 21, 2012 5:29 pm | ||||||||
Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 21, 2012 9:43 pm | ||||||||
Sorry, I thought that the above link was the pdf for the new curves tutorial and did not see at all that was only a ffxml file
I am sorry for my ignorance but I do not know and have the knowledge to be able to use this, will wait to see the instructions on how to use this ffxml you have put. |
Posted: April 21, 2012 10:30 pm | ||||||||
I did post a link to an update with some curves tutorials..Its a couple of posts up but here it is again...
3rd Update Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 21, 2012 11:55 pm | ||||||||
Oh Yes, I NOW have seen it, how did I not see it before ? Thanks for the link and I am downloading it now and continue learning from the master of the shapes that is YOU. Thanks again for your work |
Posted: April 22, 2012 12:20 am | ||||||||
WOW!! This is getting more and more interesting and useful each time it updates and is really very useful to learn about all this and never imagined that all this things could be done inside FF in this way.
I will have to pratice with all of this. Thanks really very much again for this and so well done and explained very well. |
Posted: April 22, 2012 3:12 am | ||||||||
Thanks Spaceray..Taking a break for a bit to create some filters. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: April 22, 2012 11:52 am | ||||||||
Of course that you deserve a break for making filters after so much work doing this tutorials that are very welcomed, useful and great. | |||||||
Posted: April 23, 2012 1:21 am | ||||||||
I want to make some simple LONG diagonal rectangular shapes but I can´t make them as I do not have yet much experience on this
I have an example here for you to see, AND be able to have them in different long sizes. I do not know if this would really be possible as I have not seen any other similar thing in any other filter, I have tried it without any good result at all, because you need to join the components as the rectangle component makes small ones, OR use the scale component to make it bigger, but, yet do not know how. Thanks for your help |
Posted: May 19, 2012 12:20 pm | ||||||||
Well heres a start....I still need to figure out a good method for random height...I have a couple of methods but not for this one yet.. Lines.ffxml Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: May 19, 2012 7:24 pm | ||||||||
WOW!! Thanks really very much CFandM for making this shapes for me !!!!
Your solution is much better than what I have been making to be able to make this. very interesting and useful. Thanks for the time taken to make this and for your great experience and knowledge. For the height of the lines I had the idea to make them separate and join them after, but probably this is not a good idea, as it would have a lot of components and would not be a efficient way to do it. I will see what can I make with this. Thanks very much again for your great help |
Posted: May 19, 2012 7:36 pm | ||||||||
Glad to help SpaceRay.. I'll come up with some more later.. I have another ideal for making the shapes with the bezier curves also... Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: May 19, 2012 7:50 pm | ||||||||
Here is a fast test with your work
Will keep working on it |
Posted: May 19, 2012 7:58 pm | ||||||||
Heres the next version of this filter...Still need to work on getting the width to work correctly on those bars..Also some little adjustments here and there..
They now have random height and some other things.. Lines.ffxml Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: May 20, 2012 4:18 pm | ||||||||
Thanks really very much for the second version of the filter, looks very good and is perfect for what I wanted.
You have done an excellent and awesome works to be able to make this complex filter and with many possible options of configuration and customization of the lines in many ways. Thanks a million for making this possible. By the way, your great tutorial is finished or will have another further parts ? |
Posted: May 23, 2012 12:51 pm | ||||||||
Great and very well done !!!!! |
Posted: May 23, 2012 1:06 pm | ||||||||
You are welcome SpaceRay...
Nope not finished with that tutorial yet..Still more to come...Making shapes with the bezier curve..See the images in this thread...The guy with the sign and then the guy on the Working with Curves graphics are two of the "Build A Filter" filters...Then I am working on an introduction of sorts to the curve editor...Then its on to the 3d shapes..With FF2 and FF3....Told you it was going to be long.. I am slowly getting back to the tutorials...Getting sidetracked with that pin-up filter at the moment.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: May 23, 2012 1:07 pm | ||||||||
And this is filled with a city aerial view |
Posted: May 23, 2012 1:11 pm | ||||||||
Great to know that there will be MORE interesting and useful part of the tutorials.
Please, take your time to make them and do not feel forced to make them, make them as you can and want. Very good to keep learning from you Thanks very much |
Posted: May 23, 2012 1:14 pm | ||||||||
Good sample SpaceRay.. Stupid things happen to computers for stupid reasons at stupid times! |
Posted: May 23, 2012 7:28 pm | ||||||||
Yes i really like that effect. Rod
Posted: May 25, 2012 2:09 am |
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When you arrive at this beautiful town just ask your way to the center. From the train station it is just a straight walk of about one and a half kilometers. I suggest that, if you arrive during the day, you walk to the hotel because you will get a good idea of Ferrara, then, when you arrive at the... More
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I would like to know for fun with a sampling of how people spend their evenings watching TV. Please respond if you have your laptop with you while you watch TV. Also, what is your favorite laptop activity while you use it in front of the TV? I'll start: check email, read Facebook entries and respond, and check for gene...alogy information. Do you use a split screen or 4google?
I responded today with
hee hee we have three tvs but my husband thinks: me on the puter and him watching his tv (in the same room) counts as "together" time!! I use laptop on occasion but prefer desk top---near printer, with note books open, taking notes, trying to remember where and when I found data for my genealogy.
And the reason I posted this is because today I am working on location location location ---- as different lines of my family migrated west from the east coast --- I see how the families sometimes criss crossed paths, were within 200 miles a part but were not brought together until they all migrate to California.
I have been working names, dates, location. I am at a place in my family studies that would benefit with a road trip. But if I go to these places I want to be as efficient and effective as possible. So instead of following one lineage I want to get all lineages within a 100 miles radius done at one time.
The Scottish in me wants the full value of her nickel. And the crazy in me wants to do it all!!!
I am in the process of developing new folders by locations:a folder for my Hayley lineage:
Lake County Tennessee
Ennis County, Texas
Sulpher, Oklahoma
a folder for my Reed lineage:
Howell Missouri
Springfield Mass.
El Paseo, Texas
Okema, Oklahoma
a folder for my sister-in-laws Cancimella lineage:
New York
Making detail notes to identify all families at these location, dates and all land deeds, addresses on census records, location of children's birth, and marriages, from where the parents came, etc. For each location/for each lineage/for each family group to identify and provide a designated folder. These folders will be used to fill with newspaper articles, documents, photos to bring home and record and file as required.
To plan for this trip (as explained above)-----My pc, dining room table, and floor around my desk is surrounded with atlases, family group charts, notebooks, airline destination maps, contact people locations maps, and contact information. A good way to review this would to be to make common sized maps, print them to overlays, and compare maps. This would help to plan my trip.
Next I will add this data to an excel file: with data by location, town/city to visit, family group, family location data, what I am looking for, and finally results. I will follow up with blogs as I develop my trip(s). I will let you know how many line items I added to my excel file. After developing a spreadsheet, maybe I will guesstimate a success level to complete my results column.
OK you may say ----- this seems a bit time consuming but this is a piece of cake for me. I use to plan for camping trips, trips to Hawaii, and just daily life with 7 very active children. Mapping out is how I tried to put everything in a family trip. This is also why most of my children hate any vacation too much planned!!!!
My children are teaching me to relax a little. By over planning sometimes I would miss the awwwwwww of the trip. I must design in my plan more tolerance for just being there time. When other genealogist share their awwwww times, I realize in my very task oriented way I have missed the awwwwww of some of this work.
But we live and, if we are smart, we learn. Learn about our past, or future, and hopefully how to live and enjoy this life more fully and enjoyably.
Happy Journey Everyone, Ruth


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We are using PDF Creator 1.4.3 and converting .eml files into PDF by using PDF Creator printer.
We are having an issue where hidden and included hyperlinks of .eml files are getting lost when it is converted into PDF. Is there any solution for this ?
Any help in this regard would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance !
Basically, we have program which invokes outlook express to open .eml files and then sends print command which actually uses installed printer (currently PDF Creator printer) and converting .eml as PDF.
So we require such printer which can preserve hidden or included hyperlink into converted PDF files so that we dont require to change our code for this functionality.
Awaiting for your response in this regard and thanks again for your responses and help in this.
There can't really be any such printer, which cleverly knows what it is not told.
BUT, it is possible with Acrobat to include information in the print stream that generates links. This would require changes in the application that printed, and would require it to have detailed programming knowledge of all text locations.


text:
Android Devices >> Everything about the HTC Sensation XE
Read our HTC Sensation XE Review
Android Central Reader Rating:
The HTC Sensation XE is a refresh of HTC's earlier flagship phone, the Sensation. The Sensation XE sports a faster 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon CPU (up from 1.2GHz), and a larger 1730 mAh battery.
The stand-out feature, though, is Beats Audio -- the Sensation XE is the first HTC device to ship with Beats support, following HTC's purchase of a majority share in Beats Audio in mid-2011.
Announced, Not Available Yet
Carriers: O2 UK
Announced: September 14, 2011
Release Date: October 15, 2011
Top HTC Sensation XE Stories
HTC Sensation XE Forum
Browse and learn more in our HTC Sensation XE Forums


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Moral universalism
Moral universalism (also called moral objectivism or universal morality) is the meta-ethical position that some system of ethics, or a universal ethic, applies universally, that is, for "all similarly situated individuals",[1] regardless of culture, race, sex, religion, nationality, sexuality, or any other distinguishing feature. Moral universalism is opposed to moral nihilism and moral relativism. However, not all forms of moral universalism are absolutist, nor are they necessarily value monist; many forms of universalism, such as utilitarianism, are non-absolutist, and some forms, such as that of Isaiah Berlin, may be value pluralist.
In addition to the theories of moral realism, moral universalism includes other cognitivist moral theories such as the subjectivist theories Ideal observer theory and the Divine command theory, and also the non-cognitivist moral theory universal prescriptivism.
This article possibly contains original research. (September 2012) |
According to R. W Hepburn, to adopt moral objectivism is[2]
... to argue that moral judgements can be rationally defensible, true or false, that there are rational procedural tests for identifying morally impermissible actions, or that moral values exist independently of the feeling-states of individuals at particular times.
Linguist and political theorist Noam Chomsky states that[3]
... we adopt the principle of universality: if an action is right (or wrong) for others, it is right (or wrong) for us. Those who do not rise to the minimal moral level of applying to themselves the standards they apply to others -- more stringent ones, in fact -- plainly cannot be taken seriously when they speak of appropriateness of response; or of right and wrong, good and evil.
In fact, one of the, maybe the most, elementary of moral principles is that of universality, that is, If something's right for me, it's right for you; if it's wrong for you, it's wrong for me. Any moral code that is even worth looking at has that at its core somehow.
This is a formulation of the golden rule. The source or justification of a universal ethic may be thought to be, for instance, human nature, shared vulnerability to suffering, the demands of universal reason, what is common among existing moral codes, or the common mandates of religion (although it can be said that the latter is not in fact moral universalism because it may distinguish between gods and mortals). As such, models of moral universalism may be atheistic or agnostic, deistic (in the case of several Enlightenment philosophers), monotheistic (in the case of the Abrahamic religions), or polytheistic (in the case of Hinduism). Various systems of moral universalism may differ in various ways on the meta-ethical question of the nature of the morality, as well as in their substantial normative content, but all agree on its universality.
This section requires expansion. (October 2008) |
An enormous range of traditions and thinkers have supported one form or another of moral universalism, from the ancient Platonists and Stoics, through Christians and Muslims, to modern Kantian, Objectivist, natural rights, human rights and utilitarian thinkers. The United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights can be read as assuming a kind of moral universalism. The drafting committee of the Universal Declaration did assume, or at least aspired to, a "universal" approach to articulating international human rights. Although the Declaration has undeniably come to be accepted throughout the world as a cornerstone of the international system for the protection of human rights, a belief among some that the Universal Declaration does not adequately reflect certain important worldviews has given rise to more than one supplementary declaration, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Bangkok Declaration. It has been suggested that the Article 29, Section 3, which provides that the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration "may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations" [1] undermines the suppose universality of the Universal Declaration by elevating the United Nations, or the United Nations Charter, above the Universal Declaration; however, the legislative history of the drafting committee shows that this section is simply a rule of construction intended to guide the interpretation of the rights articulated in the Universal Declaration.
See also[edit]
External links[edit]


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Netflix Inc. has unveiled a talking, human-like interface named "Max," who invites subscribers to play irreverent mini games that inject humor into the process of delivering viewing suggestions. (Netflix Inc.) |
Netflix has unveiled a talking, human-like interface named "Max," who greets subscribers with a game-show host's exuberance and invites them to play irreverent games, such as "Max's Mystery Call" and "Celebrity Mood Ring." It seeks to inject humor into the analytical process of offering viewing suggestions — and to further differentiate the service from competitors such as Amazon.com or Hulu.
Subscribers who select Max from Netflix's main menu launch one of four game-like experiences designed to refine the suggestions. In "Celebrity Mood Ring," Max reviews a user's viewing history and selects two actors who represent distinctly different genres: say, action star Jackie Chan and Academy Award-winning dramatic actress Kate Winslet. For the person who selects the martial arts master, Max might proffer the 1991 action adventure film "Operation Condor."
PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times
"People have wide tastes," said Todd Yellin, Netflix's vice president of product innovation. "When they talk to Max, he finds out what they're in the mood for."
Max is the technological love child of Netflix's sophisticated algorithms, which offer movie and TV suggestions based on an individual's viewing preferences, and the work of Jellyvision, the Chicago company (best-known for its "You Don't Know Jack" interactive trivia games) that specializes in bringing character to inanimate technologies.
"Our job, as the peanut butter to Netflix's chocolate, was to bring all of the numbers of the recommendation algorithm to life, layering on top of it a voice, a personality," said Jellyvision Founder and Chief Executive Harry Gottlieb. "A huge part of the effort was about creating a character, with Max, who is not your typical movie reviewer on 'Good Morning America.' It's more like a friend talking to you."
Netflix and Jellyvision began working together in 2006 to develop a ratings recommendation game, which suggested new titles based on ones the subscriber selected online. Netflix tested the game in 2007 but decided to shelve the concept, which had limited appeal at a time when most subscribers received their movies on DVDs mailed in little red envelopes.
However, consumer acceptance of speech recognition technology began to increase with Apple Inc.'s 2001 introduction of the Siri personal assistant, which popularized the sci-fi notion of people speaking commands to their gadgets. That same year, Microsoft Corp. brought voice recognition to its Xbox 360 game console through its Kinect sensor. Google, meanwhile, has been dabbling in voice search since it introduced the Goog-411 telephone directory in 2007, and has brought the same features to mobile devices and the desktop.
PHOTOS: Hollywood backlot moments
"Before, these were boxes that did jobs for you. Now they are really entities with a personality. Mobile devices and tablets are becoming so popular, these kinds of attributes are becoming more and more important," said Abeer Alwan, a professor of electrical engineering at UCLA. "I think there is more acceptance and more admiration for what these machines can do."
Evolving consumer attitudes set the stage for Netflix and Jellyvision to renew their work animating the service's recommendations. Max was born about a year and a half ago.
Writers scripted thousands of lines of dialogue – sentence fragments that could be stitched together dynamically, so Max appears to be conversing with the Netflix subscriber and reacting to what's happening on the TV screen.
"Max seems aware of what you did last session with Netflix, or the time of day, saying, 'Here's a lunchtime suggestion,' " Yellin said. "I think part of the magic is going to be using creativity and technology to expand these branches and make them feel more sentient."
Netflix and Jellyvision auditioned about 150 voices for the part of Max, and cast six female voices – and one male voice – to test with users.
"What's interesting is this is not your typical acting work – it's not even typical voice-over work," Gottlieb said. "If you're in a play, you get to be in character for a full hour and a half. In a movie, you'll do scenes – maybe perform a few lines of dialogue. Here, you might be performing parts of a sentence four different ways, and it will be concatenated [or arranged in a string that forms a line of dialogue]. Frankly, not every actor can do this."
Yellin said Netflix and Jellyvision initially believed that subscribers would be more receptive to a woman, named Maxine, because of Siri and the female voices heard calmly providing turn-by-turn directions on most navigation systems. Initial tests seem to support this hunch.
"Maxine hands down was crushing Max," Yellin said. "People said she was friendlier, smarter, more approachable."
PHOTOS: Underrated / Overrated - Music, pop culture and more
But in tests with about 50,000 Netflix users, Max emerged as the voice subscribers preferred -- although Yellin struggled to explain why.


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bio | website | jcfx.eu |
location | London, UK | |
age | ||
visits | member for | 2 years, 1 month |
seen | 19 hours ago | |
stats | profile views | 416 |
I'm an experienced web architect and developer, based in London in the UK, and specializing in Cloud Services and advanced Rich Internet Applications. My end clients have included a number of blue chips: Microsoft, Samsung, BP, Honda, E-On, Siemens, L'Oreal, Visa, Disney, Diageo, Waitrose, Manpower, and others.
Non-profits and public sector entities using my software include the Stroke Association, Barnardo's, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, and the UK National Health Service. I also provide white-label services to a number of top UK and US agencies.
My primary focus is as a Microsoft .NET developer working with the framework since the original 1.0 release. I prefer to work in C#, but can also program VB.Net if required, and I'm comfortable working with any framework version from 2.0 to 4.5, as well as with the latest developments in Asp.Net AJAX and MVC.
Recently, I have been specializing in server-side technologies to enable a cloud service architecture, such as WCF and the Windows Workflow and Identity Foundations, as well as programming and deploying applications for the Windows Azure cloud platform, and using both REST and SOAP.
A second focus is as an Adobe Flash/Flex developer and design builder, working with the platform since F5 and AS1 and now working exclusively with OOP Flash and Flex AS3, targeting F8-F13 and Adobe AIR for the desktop or a range of devices.
In addition, I do databases, principally MS-SQL, including stored procedures and advanced functions, and have the normal range of web/programming capabilities: (X)HTML, CSS, JS, AJAX including JQuery and JSON as well as libraries such as backbone.js and knockout.js, the XML family of languages including XPATH and XSL(T) and Microsoft Silverlight and WPF programming.
Like many other developers, I'm making the transition from XHTML to HTML5, and from Flash to JavaScript, and I can advise on the best strategies for coping with this ongoing shift in the web's fundamentals.
Third-party APIs I have worked with include Facebook, Twitter, Bit.ly, Windows Live, and Google Maps.
Given a fixed brief, which I can help develop, I usually provide competitive fixed-price bids. I work out of my own office, so please (recruiters) don't contact me with any more offers of on-site positions. If the scope of a project warrants it, I can make meetings anywhere in Europe with sufficient notice and travel expenses covered. otherwise I am constantly available via email, Skype messenger, and phone.
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October 18, 2009
Kara Bauman GOAZCATS.com
GOAZCATS.com's Kara Bauman caught up with Nick Foles, Robert Golden, Nic Grigsby and Cam Nelson after the Wildcats' 43-38 win over Stanford on Saturday night at Arizona Stadium. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial
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The State Bar of Texas has announced that a Bexar County lawyer has been suspended for four months, followed by a four-year term of probation. The Bar also announced that another lawyer has been placed on probation, and two others have received public reprimands. Fees, expenses and reimbursements in the four cases range from $500 to more than $7,000.
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Discipline Report: Bexar County Lawyer Suspended, Three Others Disciplined
Texas Lawyer
March 12, 2008
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Art Caffe
Category: Art Galleries, Coffee Shops
Location: Nai Harn, South Phuket
Every time I woke up to go to the beach I thought, "where could I get a breakfast with...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in Phuket art galleries sell every type of art to suit almost every taste. From modern oils to pencil sketching's, bronze to wood sculptures, gallery owners define their tastes through the art work on display.
Category: Art Galleries, Coffee Shops
Location: Nai Harn, South Phuket
Every time I woke up to go to the beach I thought, "where could I get a breakfast with...
Find out how to give your business worldwide exposure through the power of Phuket.Net
They have a lot of good quality furniture. I bought a large bean bag armchair and a small dining tab
A bit hard to notice this shop location, but driving along the side street of BKK-Phuket hospital it
The NC Plus always offers better exchange rates than the banks... I don't know why but whatever I us
Does this hospital Board Hedgehogs with alot of care? I am asking this because I really want to get
I like go here at the weekends as easy to park, unlike week days and often have the English breakfa
My niece has studied Popular Singing for a few months. She just 7 years but we saw her developement
I just made up here for wedding party, it quite good, looks natural tone. Many people suggested me t
Forgot to mention there are a few sales guys who speak decent English so very helpful. Also a friend
Good selection and an authorized Honda bike dealer. If you buy make sure you bring your notarized re
My children take guitar and piano and I am thrilled with this place. Very professional musicians who
If you did like to stay updated with all our latest news please enter your e-mail address here.
Our comprehensive business directory gives your customers all they need. Who you are, what you sell, where you are, when you open and how to contact you. All your information is there in a nice, clean, clear and friendly fashion.


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Great Writers, Great Readings Series
Great Writers, Great Readings was launched by Hofstra University in recognition of the importance of writing and literature in a liberal arts education. In addition to a baccalaureate degree in English, Hofstra currently offers an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and an M.A. in English. The program's faculty include playwright Erik Brogger, authors Patricia Horvath and Julia Markus, and two Guggenheim Fellows: novelist Martha McPhee and poet Phillis Levin.
Each Great Writers, Great Readings event brings a notable author to campus to meet with creative writing students for a short workshop and question/answer session. The author also conducts a reading and book signing that is open to the public. Sometimes the authors use this forum as an opportunity to introduce new, unpublished works.
Guest Authors
Fall 2013-Spring 2014: former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize-winner Philip Levine (September 25), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jennifer Egan (November 4); National Book Critics' Circle Award-winner Anne Fadiman (February 26); playwright Annie Baker (April 2); award-winning poet Phillis Levin (April 23). Additionally, there will be a special reading of works by students in Hofstra's M.F.A. in Creative Writing (May 7).
Fall 2012-Spring 2013: Mark Strand, Colum McCann, Vivian Gornick, Erik Brogger and Marilyn Nelson.
Fall 2011-Spring 2012: John Edgar Wideman, Gerald Stern, Alice McDermott, Tom Sleigh, and David Lindsay-Abaire
Fall 2010 to Spring 2011: Tomaž Šalamun, Stephen Dunn, Thomas Lynch, Amy Hempel, Martha McPhee, Christopher Durang
Fall 2009 to Spring 2010: Patricia Hampl, Frank Bidart, Craig Lucas, Mona Simpson and Rosanna Warren
Fall 2008 to Spring 2009: Ann Beattie, Molly Peacock, Deborah Eisenberg, Paul Muldoon and Sarah Ruhl
Fall 2007 to Spring 2008: Eavan Boland, Antonio Cisneros, Kiran Desai, Edmund White, Jonathan Letham and Lynn Nottage
Fall 2006 to Spring 2007: John McPhee, Sharon Olds, Terrance Hayes, Richard Greenberg and Lorrie Moore.
Fall 2005 to Spring 2006: Charles Simic, Haruki Murakami, Donald Margulies, Jean Valentine, Edward P. Jones and Jonathan Franzen.
Fall 2004 to Spring 2005: Jamaica Kincaid, Louise Glück, Cynthia Ozick, Kenneth Lonergan, Vivian Gornick and William S. Merwin.


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03-27-12 – Chicago, IL>Milwaukee, WI – Looking for serious band members, synth/keyboardist, multimedia artists, and various performers for collaborative project.
The project will record an album in the near future and will have full access to the label's in-house recording studios, disc manufacturing, and merchandise production. Please contact label intern, Cameron for details.
Our voyage began in 2008, founded by musician and producer Tristan James, and inspired by a pirate crew who sailed the waters of the Atlantic in the early 1700s. The Whydah, a three-masted slave galley, was captured by pirates and manned by an unusual motley crew made up of former slaves, Indians, and sailors of humble origins. Each crew member was considered an equal and shared in the duties as well as the plunder; the "captain rules all" attitude was absent. The Sails of Whydah project took this name because, like the sundry pirate crew, the band is made up of a number of rebellious artists who are all involved in the song writing and recording process. We explore the world, united by the dream of freedom and liberation from the confines of an imperialist society. Band founder Tristan James is an artist signed to Proletariat Productions, Chicago's socially conscious record label. He started this project with the goal of creating music made collaboratively with Chicago's local community of artists and activists.
— Submit Yourself To This Role Now: 1
Click Here To Apply To This Casting Call


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In Case of Emergency, Pack Snowshoes
In 1933, Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh prepared for the worst by packing winter gear before flying over the Arctic
- By Owen Edwards
- Smithsonian magazine, January 2011, Subscribe
in 1933, a young married couple packed for what the husband described as a vacation. The unlikely items they assembled included a sled, an inflatable rubber boat, enough food to last for several weeks and two pairs of snowshoes. On July 9—a little more than four years after their wedding—Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh took off from Long Island, New York, in a single-engine Lockheed Sirius aircraft to scout possible commercial air routes over the Arctic for Pan Am.
The Lindberghs were fleeing a tragedy that had riveted the world. Intense press attention had followed the kidnapping and death of their first child, 20-month-old Charles Jr., the year before. Departing for the Arctic, for all its potential perils, must have seemed a welcome escape.
Today, Charles' snowshoes, displayed alongside the Lindberghs' recently restored airplane and other items from that flight, are on view in the newly opened Barron Hilton Pioneers of Flight Gallery at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).
The first legs of the Lindberghs' journey, which charted a northern air route to Europe, took the couple north through Canada, then over Greenland and Iceland to the European continent, on a flight path that remains very close to what commercial jetliners use today. To describe the territory they flew over as hostile is to understate the hazards. The Sirius was equipped with pontoons should the couple have to touch down in the frigid North Atlantic. But a forced landing on Greenland's glaciers meant they would have to walk to safety.
In an article she wrote for National Geographic after the trip, Anne would recall the hardships they had faced, vividly evoking conditions in an unheated cockpit over the North Atlantic: "I was wearing, in addition to woolen underwear, one thin wool shirt, one thick wool shirt, one wool sweater, wool riding trousers, several pairs of wool stockings, fur-lined...helmet, and over everything [a] hooded white blanket parka," she wrote. "I was quite warm except for my feet, which I sat on, and my hands, on which I put another pair of mittens. A third pair would have been very comfortable, but would have made my fingers too bulky to handle the radio key."
The Lindberghs, says NASM curator Dorothy Cochrane, "had to be prepared for everything, so they planned meticulously," beginning with detailed lists compiled by Charles. In one volume of her memoirs, Listen! The Wind (1938), Anne recalled "those impressive itemized pages labeled 'Airplane and Engine Equipment'...'Emergency Equipment for Forced Landing at Sea,' 'Emergency Equipment for Forced Landing on Land,' 'Emergency Provisions.'" Time and again, she wrote, "I had seen the countless objects themselves, sorted out, appraised, and weighed, before the trip had begun." Each item had to be scrupulously weighed because each cost its weight in fuel. A packet of 27 fishhooks, for instance, tipping the scales at barely an ounce, equaled precious seconds of flight time.
Author Reeve Lindbergh, at age 65 the youngest of Charles and Anne's six children, recalls that "my father was an inveterate list maker." So much so that "we made fun of him. He had a list for each of us kids, with entries like 'rakes left out in the rain,' and he would follow us around with them. But for him, lists were a part of self-preservation. He always talked about calculated, acceptable risk."
Much of the gear for the 1933 flight acknowledged the possibility of a forced landing, reflecting his recognition of all the things that could go wrong during long hours in the air over trackless ice. So why did Lindbergh take his wife along on such a demanding journey?
Subscribe now for more of Smithsonian's coverage on history, science and nature.
Related topics: National Air and Space Museum Celebrities Air Transportation 1930s
Additional Sources
"Flying Around the North Atlantic" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and Charles A. Lindbergh, National Geographic, September 1934 (available on DVD)


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Home » Opinion » Editorials
Racists forever: The left's view of America
The court, by a 5-4 vote, struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1964 as unconstitutional. The Constitution gives some authority over voting laws to both the states and the federal government. Section 4 takes all authority for the federal government, stripping several states of their constitutional right to set voting procedures.
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- Patriots stun Cleveland in another wild comeback - 1
- Mass. man says he may have seen missing Conway girl on video - 2
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Our Team
The Project AWARE Team brings together dedicated people from around the world who share a passion for ocean protection. Our mission is to provide you with the tools, resources, and inspiration you need to make environmental change. Let us know what else we can do to help.
Alex Earl, Executive Director, Americas
I grew up amidst one of the last wild frontiers on the planet on the border between Alaska and British Columbia at the end of one of the longest fjords on the Pacific Coast. Experiencing this natural setting with wild salmon runs, otters, sharks, porpoises, orcas, and whales forged a deep desire to protect and conserve our environment. I learned to dive in the cool waters of Whytecliff Park, the first Marine Protected Area in Canada and later completed my PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course in the warm tropical waters of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Philippines. With a background in Political Science and World History from the University of British Columbia and as an alumni of a Canadian government international development volunteer program and an esteemed outdoor guide training program, I have worked, volunteered and dived globally. Scuba diving clarified for me that marine conservation and environmental activism are my path in life. I worked as a global executive at Sea Shepherd Conservation Society where I focused on growing and maximizing a global fundraising infrastructure, engaging corporations and foundations, and leveraging a nonprofit environmental brand to build a parallel eco-ethical commercial brand of high value. I served as a volunteer Board Member of Sea Shepherd Australia and a volunteer Trustee of Sea Shepherd United Kingdom. I am also an Advisory Board Member for Ocean Defenders Alliance. I am proud to use my skills and background along with my passion for conservation to lead a talented global team at Project AWARE working to save our ocean planet - one dive at a time.
Suzanne Pleydell, Director, Europe - Middle East - Africa
I have a background in Earth Sciences but took my first breath underwater back in 1986 in the glacial lakes of Alberta, Canada. I soon moved on to warmer climates and became a PADI Instructor in Australia and then taught diving in the Red Sea. I joined the Project AWARE team in Bristol, England in 1999. In addition to my regional role, I help steer global policy direction of Project AWARE towards our bold environmental goals.
Mike Holme, Associate Director, Asia Pacific
I joined the Asia Pacific office of PADI in 2000 as Manager of the Training and Quality Management Department, and became involved with Project AWARE Foundation's Asia Pacific team in 2006. Before joining PADI, I worked as a PADI Instructor and Course Director around the Pacific, including Fiji and the Great Barrier Reef. My primary responsibility is to coordinate Project AWARE programs and messages across the globe through PADI diver training and programs.
Communications and Outreach
Tiffany Leite, Associate Director, Communications & Outreach, Americas
When I was a kid growing up in Alaska, I wanted to be a boat captain and oceanographer. But I'm much happier at Project AWARE Foundation where I've been campaigning for ocean protection for the last 12 years. The urge to become a diver has been with me since I can remember. But even during my Divemaster course, I must admit, I wondered what all the fuss was about. Clearly, it was time to start diving for fun! Pairing my annual dive adventures with my formal background in fisheries and biology has paved the way for a really exciting career here at AWARE. I think everyone has a natural connection to the ocean. My favorite part of the job is finding new ways to unlock this personal connection and shine a light on divers around the world so dedicated to taking action.
Domino Albert, New Media Specialist, Europe - Middle East - Africa
I blew my first underwater bubbles in the Mediterranean but didn't really enjoy the experience. It wasn't until a few years later during a holiday in Egypt that I fell in love with diving and the underwater world. I then traveled extensively diving in Europe and the Red Sea. I climbed the PADI continuing education ladder and worked as a PADI IDC Staff Instructor for a few years before joining the Project AWARE Team in 2000. As Project AWARE New Media Specialist, I spread the word about the threats our oceans are facing and how divers can make lasting environmental changes - one dive at a time. I work closely with the global Policy and Diver Engagement team to develop new and innovative ways to get complex marine conservation issues across to a wide and new audience.
Joanna McNamara, Development & Communications Specialist, Asia Pacific
With two kids under five I spend hours at the beach swimming, surfing and sandcastle making. And don't forget the rubbish. We always come home with other people's rubbish collected enthusiastically by my five year old boy. At home on Sydney's northern beaches our family tries to avoid all the pointless plastic that litters our lives. I also love to fundraise! And inspire people around me to FUNdraise too! I've worked for nonprofits for 10 years and was so excited to join Project AWARE in 2007.
Diver Engagement
Joanne Marston, Associate Director, Asia Pacific
I moved to Sydney, Australia in 2003 from the UK after working in the Houses of Parliament and for UK Government Departments. With a dive site on my doorstep, I soon got the scuba bug and have since climbed the ranks to become a PADI Master Scuba Diver. I joined the AWARE team in 2004. My job is to get divers around the globe interested, passionate and active in ocean protection and I love it! I'm privileged to work with some of the most dedicated ocean advocates and am constantly inspired by the difference our dive community makes.
Lauren Wiskerson, Program Specialist, Americas
As long as I can remember, I've loved the ocean and playing in the waves, either above or below the surface. I'm always planning my next trip to swim, body board, surf, dive – you name it. Diving has eternally been fascinating to me; it opens up the other 70% of this planet that is otherwise hidden. I'm grateful that I can get a glimpse of the creatures beneath the waves. From the first Garibaldi I encountered on my initial open water dive in Catalina, I was hooked. The hush of the ocean heightens your senses, allowing you to be enveloped in the beauty of nature, it's a transforming experience. I joined the foundation (in August 2004) with four years of professional dive industry experience under my weight belt, working for PADI and Diving Science & Technology in a variety of capacities. I was eager to use my experience and skills to take action against marine debris and am eager to spread the conservation message to help safeguard our precious ocean so it's a pleasure to help the AWARE leaders that are passionate about taking action to protect our amazing ocean plant.
Orsi Fulop, Development and Outreach Coordinator, Europe - Middle East - Africa
After growing up in gorgeous, land locked Hungary, I had the opportunity to live by the Mediterranean sea in Spain. During this time I was introduced to diving and completed my open water course. Since moving to the UK, diving became a rare treat but joining the Project AWARE team and working to protect our ocean planet makes more than up for it. My role is to encourage and support all your actions to help our cause.
Science and Policy
Ania Budziak, Associate Director, Science & Policy, Americas
You could say I am a seeker. I have traveled, worked and studied my way around the world (almost). And I've always been looking for my place in the environmental movement. My master's degree work at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs was leading me to protect biodiversity in the Amazon. But then I found my niche during a coral reef ecology field school in the Florida Keys. I was scuba certified on a small patch reef, shipwreck site jam packed with ocean life. In that moment I knew that protecting the ocean planet was my thing. A few years later I was a PADI Instructor and a member of the Project AWARE team. Today, I drive ocean conservation science and policy for AWARE's two core global programs - marine debris and sharks in peril. I work closely with AWARE staff, external experts, partners and community leaders to use the best available science and sound policies to fuel our movement.
Hannah Pragnell-Raasch, Program and Outreach Coordinator, Asia Pacific
I've always loved the weird and wonderful marine world and the animals in it. I was born in Sydney but moved to the UK when I was 10 and later completed my BSc in Marine Biology at Plymouth University and went on to do a Masters in Biodiversity Conservation. I have a strong passion for marine conservation and love getting people excited about the marine environment and ways in which they can help to conserve it. Now, being part of the Project AWARE team means I get to do this as part of my job which I love! It's fantastic to be surrounded by people who care so much about our marine world and want to work together to protect it - go you ocean warriors!
Erin Kincade, Office Administrator, Americas
I grew up in Huntington Beach, California and have always loved the ocean. Whenever my family can break away for vacation, we opt for a cruise. I started with PADI Travel Network in 2006 as the Accounting Coordinator and now I'm pleased to join the AWARE team as Office Administrator. My primary function is accounting. However, I also get to help and speak with many amazing divers and leaders working for ocean conservation. Working among such dedicated people has opened up a whole new world and I've learned so much about ocean issues.
Debbie Molesworth, Administrator, Asia Pacific
I've been diving for as long as I can remember. My love for the ocean and diving has been passed on to my daughters, now ages 16 and 20, and we regularly go on diving holidays together. At Project AWARE, I'm responsible for managing the administrative and financial functions for the Asia Pacific region. I love receiving emails and letters from our divers who are on the frontlines, winning battles for our ocean every day. Keep them coming!
Niki Koltai, Administration and Translation Assistant, Europe - Middle East - Africa
I started working for PADI whilst completing my Masters in International Relations. I've always been fascinated by the work that Project AWARE does to protect the ocean with the support of the diving community. With this background I was eager to gain experience in the not-for-profit sector and join the AWARE Team when the opportunity arised. Whilst working for PADI I also had the chance to take my Open Water Course and I'm currently taking further diver training education courses which is really fun. I am passionate about protecting our environment in every possible way and this is one of the reasons why I've been a vegetarian for as long as I can remember. Working for Project AWARE not only gives me the opportunity to learn more about the ocean but also to engage with other ocean enthusiasts. This is the most inspiring and rewarding job I've ever done! In the EMEA office, I coordinate translation projects as well as the day to day needs of the charity to support our global team and ensure everything runs smoothly for the team, our volunteers and supporters.
Featured Member
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EuropeImmerse DivingEurope
Immerse School of Diving in the UK are doing great stuff for ocean conservation - embracing the Finathon by swimming, running or cycling at least 3 miles EVERY DAY for 3 months! Great effort! And, they have also raised an awesome GBP 200 at their Christmas party! Awesome stuff!