At age 13, or something young, I was blamed for playing computer games all day, rather than doing chores. It appears I was supposed to be doing more productive things, my parents would love if I were doing chores 24/7.

-Kids are beaten with belt or other hard objects, including hits to the head.
Even If I did have self-esteem and pride, it was knocked out of me, by being hit by someone who should have loved me, and then I got asked why I don't talk to this person... Wouldn't it be obvious, out of hatred, out of being less social due to being hurt and scared of the world. Not really ... More due to the fact that the parents "boss around the children"

Instead of giving benefits , like "mom made your favorite for dinner" .. I just hear "(my name) go have your food now". In fact, its so Naggy that it feels great starving myself and also explains why I am 150 pounds.

When families are tight about money it adds stress
- Teenagers using their hard earned money on their fees, fair enough, but it is sad if they have to "be in debt" at such a young age, when they should be enjoying life a bit.

-Children reprieved of gifts.. You may have seen the typical case of the kid begging for a toy and the parent says no, it is very pathetic if it is for financial reasons. Giving a kid what they want,... Maybe they will learn something from the toy..  it is just pathetic..

<< THIS POST HAS MUCH MORE TO BE ADDED I SUPPOSE>>

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

An issue for me at this point is the doubt that creeps into my mind regarding my ability.  I believe that God has a purpose for me, and there will come a time where I will do something great.  The doubt enters in regard to the present.  I begin to feel as if, because of my past, I am precluded from doing significant things within the Christian community right now.  The judgment of others and the stigma attached to sin causes me to shrink within my abilities.

I begin to think, "how can I serve God knowing all the sexual behavior and sin in my past".  How can I be used to do anything significant when I have fallen so short of righteousness?  I lose sight of the forgiveness granted through Jesus, and the grace of God which blankets me.  I still envision the long term, the time on down the road, in the far future where I will be called on for a purpose that far exceeds my comprehension.

The doubt that fills the present is the danger.  Removing the doubt is the struggle.  Trusting in God is the answer.

Kucinich may be barred from reading impeachment articles at impeachment hearing.

Dennis Kucinich spoke exclusively to the Alex Jones show yesterday concerning his effort to bring articles of impeachment against the president and the vice president. Listen to Alex Jones show.

Drilling for undersea oil along the east and west coasts has quickly turned into one of America's loudest political fights, as anyone reading the comments on SFGate can attest. But it's not the Bush administration's only plan for offshore energy.

For the past few years, the administration has been studying how to open the coasts to renewable energy projects, things like wave farms and underwater turbines designed to generate electricity by harnessing the tides. The Minerals Management Service -- the same federal agency that sells offshore oil leases -- has quietly pieced together a program to grant leases for testing renewable energy projects at sea.

On July 23, 2007, the service reported that it would move forward with the lease program, which will include two locations along the northern California coast.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co., California's largest utility, wants a lease to study wave power off of Humboldt and Mendocino counties. Oil giant Chevron proposed a similar study along Mendocino but later dropped the project. A smaller company, Marine Sciences of San Diego, is seeking a lease that would cover some of the same offshore areas as PG&E's Humboldt proposal.

The Minerals Management Service wants PG&E and Marine Sciences to collaborate on the project, rather than grant the two companies overlapping leases. Each lease will cover a specific patch of the ocean and will run for five years. Companies receiving the leases will be allowed to test equipment at sea -- equipment such as buoys that generate electricity as they bob up and down on the waves. But the companies will not be allowed to set up commercial operations there.

Before any leases are handed out, the service will continue studying potential environmental pitfalls. Some north coast residents worry that a cluster of power-generating bouys tethered to the seafloor could interfere with fishing or the migration of whales. The service would like to start handing out leases as early as this fall and may be able to do so with some sites on the east coast. But the California leases could easily take longer, said service spokesman John Romero.

"The hope is we can do these things sooner than later, but bottom line, we're not going to compromise the environmental review process," he said.

And at the end of my first part, I wish to upload my zip file (source code). What I discovered ? I simply can't do that !!!

Now I'm looking for a solution, maybe change my blog to Blogger or something more useful for me.

I can't figure out why this forbidden ?

The soldiers sexuality issues, the question really is the medium in history as a mirror, mapping out the problem, but people look at history, may lament that the history of ruthless, the absurdity of human nature, in fact, it is in the long history absurd Humanity in the riverbed to the unique flow from the law.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Minerals Management Service (MMS) announced today that it is proceeding with the consultation and analyses necessary to move toward the issuance of limited leases under its interim policy for authorizing alternative energy data collection and technology testing activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

"This is another important step in the advancement in the OCS Alternative Energy Program," said MMS Director Randall Luthi. "I am excited about our progress and am looking forward to working with the states and communities to move forward with these proposed activities."

MMS announced its interim policy in November 2007 to jumpstart basic information gathering efforts relating to development of OCS alternative energy resources such as wind, waves, and ocean currents as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct). The limited leases envisioned under the interim policy will be for a term of five years and will not convey any right or priority for commercial development.

Following the initial announcement, MMS received more than 40 nominations of areas proposed for limited leasing off the west and east coasts. In April MMS identified a subset of 16 proposed lease areas for priority consideration and provided public notice of those areas for the purpose of determining competitive interest as required by EPAct and for receiving relevant environmental or other information. The comment period on the April notice closed on June 30. A brief description of the information received and MMS's decisions concerning the 16 proposed lease areas follows.

New Jersey, Delaware, and Georgia—the 10 lease areas (six off NJ, one off DE, and three off GA) proposed for site assessment activities relating to wind resources drew no competing nominations and no significant comment. MMS will proceed with a noncompetitive leasing process for these sites.

Florida—three of the four lease areas off the southeast coast proposed for site assessment or technology testing activities relating to ocean current resources received competing nominations, and comments concerning the areas were favorable. MMS will proceed with a noncompetitive leasing process for the one site that did not receive competing nominations. Due to timing constraints inherent in the interim policy, as well as bureau budget and staffing considerations, MMS has decided not to proceed with a competitive auction for the other areas. Instead, the competing nominators have been asked to collaborate in order to enable interested parties to jointly benefit in information gathering under leases issued noncompetitively.

California—neither of the two areas off Northern California (Humboldt and Mendocino Counties) proposed for site assessment and technology testing relating to wave resources drew new competing nominations. However, based on two original overlapping nominations in the Humboldt area from the initial Call for Nominations in Nov. 2007, MMS has determined that there is competitive interest in that proposed lease area. MMS also received numerous comments from local stakeholders concerned about potential use conflicts and environmental issues in both areas. For the Mendocino area, MMS has decided to proceed with a noncompetitive leasing process, working with the applicant and local stakeholders to refine the area and scope of proposed activities and to address other local concerns. For the Humboldt area, MMS has decided not to hold a competitive auction and to ask the competing nominators to collaborate. If they agree to collaborate, MMS will proceed with a noncompetitive leasing process as in the Mendocino area.

The process for issuing limited leases under the interim policy will entail thorough environmental analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws, as well as close consultation with federal, state, and local government agencies as required by EPAct.

The limited leases that will be issued under the interim policy will enable the lessees to collect information that will be useful for potential commercial projects in the future under an MMS regulatory program that is in development.

MMS published a proposed OCS alternative energy rulemaking on July 9, 2008. When final, this rule will govern all future commercial OCS alternative energy activities and will apply to any future commercial development in the areas leased under the interim policy. Limited leaseholders wishing to conduct commercial activities will need separate authorization under the final rule that is adopted.

The MMS interim policy is ongoing pending the adoption of a final rule governing OCS alternative energy activity. Interested parties may continue to submit nominations, and MMS may act on other nominations that already have been received or are received in the future.

THE ISSUE: Sagging pants are a fashion trend in the hip-hop world and have been around for quite some time.

THE PROBLEM: Some powers that be see this trend as indecency and a threat to the world as they know it.

THE HISTORY: Historically, it is thought that sagging pants began as a reflection of prison culture. Belts were confiscated upon entry into the home-away-from-home and men were left with sagging dungarees. Gang members began to emulate this style in protest or possibly in homage to their incarcerated brothers (who knows) or maybe they were just too lazy to pull them up. Whatever the case may be, this fashion statement caught on and has been around since the early 90's according to Wikipedia.

THE CONTROVERSY: The trend, started by African-Americans, is said to be yet another case of "racial profiling." The American Civil Liberties Union has spoken out against the practice of targeting these individuals b/c it will most likely target young Black males.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
Absolutely nothing if you don't care, don't have children interested in music. Young people of all races, especially those that embrace the hip-hop culture OR rap, also seem to embrace this hip-hop fashion statement. In fact, the fashion trend is as rampant and growing as the hip-hop community. Yes, the trend may have started out as a "Black Thing" but let's just say it's no longer isolated to one group or another. This means that your children may be committing a criminal act before they leave the house!

THE IRONY: Law makers may have to arrest their own teens or young adults.

MY THOUGHTS ON THE MATTER: My first thought when I read the article in Newsweek Magazine was that this was a joke. Then I read further... It's not that I AGREE with this fashion faux pas, but I don't disagree either. Not only is this a slippery slope but, who cares? Aren't there bigger fish to fry? If you don't like it don't look!! If it offends you as a storeowner post a sign similar to the "NO SHOES, NO SHIRT, NO SERVICE" and call it a day. Making this a CRIMINAL offense is not only targeting a group of children it is also teaches them that we are hypocritical. Have you seen the red carpet lately? The front of a multitude of magazines? SKIN is in!!! Why are these more acceptable images: [gallery]

If kids see this as a threat to their sense of "personal style" be careful and beware!! Our kids are much smarter and more resourceful than ever. This is a technology age and they might just get the idea to ban together! What will you do if they all decide to wear their clothes that way? Will you arrest them all? Close down schools?

Don't get mad at me I'm just tellin' it like it T-I-Tiz!!!

Anyway, masaya ako ngayon ng sobra,. tambay kame sa kapihan.. Napansin nyang napapangiti na ako sa kape.. kasi naman,, siya ang kasama ko.. KAPE=siya.. hehe. Sya nagturo sa akin magkape,, Kwentuhan kame, katulad ng dati.. walang katapusan.. hehe.. Tapos napagusapan ang pagseselos ko.. Ayan,, nalaman nya tuloy.. kahiya kaya.. haha.. pero natutuwa ako kasi napakatamis tlaga nya.. sobra.. napakaswerte ng nagmamahal sa kanya. Pag naiisip ko yun, nakakalungkot kasi alam kong may posibilidad na maputol to.. kung wala lang namang ibang leading lady at leading man,, for sure mas masaya.. mas free. Pero hindi binigay ni God e.,

Tapos bumili sya ng shirt.. TOPMAN.. gwapo nya.. hehe. Nakakatuwa. hehe.. Ansarap nyang tignan na nakangiti,., na masaya, na kuntento.. Masaya na ako sa fact na minsan,, napapangiti ko sya.. masaya na ako dun. Masaya na ako na ISA ako sa nagpapasaya sa kanya ng ganun. Haaaay.. Ansarap nyang alagaan sa totoo lang. Kasi naappreciate nya lahat.. Nakakatuwa. Napakadaling mahalin. HAAAY..

Ayokong matapos to. natatakot na talaga ako na mawala siya. Mahihirapan kasi talaga ako ng marami. Haaaay..

kailangan na nyang umalis kaagad eh.. kaya babye na.. pero masya din yung part na yun.. kiss+hug+him=PERFECT DAY.

NHL, Russia agree to respect contracts
Ex-Bengals receiver Henry suspended by the NFL

People are lazy; not necessarily by nature, but because they're so incredibly busy with everything else. Simply "living" life, while adhering to every recommendation, pressure, and expectation that has become the norm for present-day society, is such a chore that people don't have time nor energy to seek knowledge. Gaining real knowledge requires taking risks and possibly action. Gaining knowledge requires keeping the mind open when there is so much (overwhelmingly so) available to fill it. Therefore, unless it deals directly with their personal, daily life, reassurance will always preferred by the people.

No where is this more evident than in today's oil crisis. People don't want to hear that continuing to drive their car is continuing to drive the price of fuel up – they already believe this to be true. Nor do they want to hear that continuing to drive their car is continuing to contribute to global warming – again, they probably already believe this to be true. But are people driving less? Not really. Rather than consider what a large-scale boycott of fuel could possibly do to the price at the pump – knowledge of supply and demand and the financial effects of such a boycott, people pay attention to governmental reassurance – baseless claims that everything is going to be okay. 

Knowledge of supply and demand, and the implementation of a boycott of fuel, would require people to park their cars; it would require people to ride their bicycles; it would require of the people action in some form or other. But since filling up the car with gas happens, for most, only once every week and a half, it's much easier to ignore the knowledge available, and accept the government's reassurance. This reassurance, dolled out by an administration that desperately needs and wants to improve it's approval ratings, allows people to be complacent and go about their lives "as-usual." But now that higher oil prices are affecting the price of everything else – from food, to utility bills, to the clothes we wear – people are beginning to seek certainty from the government: "Are you sure everything will be okay?"

The better question would be, "what must we do to help ease the current oil crisis?", but the answer would require some serious action and restructuring of people's daily lives. People are lazy.

 
Picture Credits: SJ-Market

GYA! The interview w/ SJ-H is so cute! Why are they soooo adorable?! ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Unfortunately it's not the whole interview, but it's enough to get moar of SJ cuteness xDDDD Please click HERE to read the interview in English. Be sure to thank ♥ ilovejr for her hardworks!!

Nuclear deal, UPA and Mr.Manmohan Singh et al have been given the vote of confidence...

Votes for: 275; votes against: 256 and 10 absentations... an emphatic victory!!

However, after the electronic voting failed as only 487 cast their votes where as the Parliament has some 541 MPs. What happened out there? The MPs couldn't figure out or what?! And then voting had to be done again on paper!!! and here is our country where about 600 million people vote using the same electronic system of voting!!!Then there were news channels talking to different MPs about the IAEA and NSG and the whole deal and these people had no clue as to what the hell they were voting for?!

But its been an incredible day with the lobbying and the drama of the lok sabha!! Lalu prasad yadav with his choice of words had everyone laughing; omar abdullah too added loads of valuable bit as far as what I saw of it... Mom, dad and I were glued to the TV when suddenly the whole bribe issue dropped in the middle with bundles of cash being swayed and Lok Sabha was adjourned!!!  The honourable Speaker was extremely dissappointed and the matter is under his purview for further investigations concerning the allegations against Amar Singh and Ahmed Patel.

Ironic and hilarious at the same time...for on one hand we, we know of the kind of dirty politics and underhand work that goes around our country with ease but such a thing in the Parliament would be insane and has not been proven...and even though our politicians might be corrupt; I'm sure they are not so dumb so as to do such an act at such a place!! All said and done, the session was resumed, the PM, Mr.Manmohan Singh could not even start his speech and had to send a written note and finally the vote and UPA won!! I was in my gym when all of this was happening, middle of my physiotherapy for the shoulder and there I was hopping off my cycle every 5 minutes to hear what was happening...and so many more all glued today to the TV to see what would happen to the future of our country...I'm glad for the political stability that would be maintained but raises the same old debates about the democracy of our country and how presidential form of government would work in our country...for today's drama did not lead to a sense of satisfaction but again that same urgency and frustration that I've spoken about so many times earlier...

Whatever said and done, Mr. Manmohan Singh's name will go down our history for the 2 structural transformations- 1991 economic liberalization and now 17 years later, bring India back into the nuclear club!

Our client is seeking an Environmental Testing Engineer to undertake and / or support laboratory experiments and formal trials.

Location

Aldermaston

Salary

Competitive salary depending on qualifications and experience

Job Responsibilities

To undertake tasks associated with conducting experiments or formal trials, or in support of these activities, taking into account the requirements of safe systems of work and the hazards of materials.

To become familiar with the latest environmental testing techniques, the associated test equipment and plant, the control systems and instrumentation.

To ensure that responsibilities with regard to the Company’s Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Standards are met and understood.

To act as a member of the Environmental Testing Groups within the facility.

To undertake data reduction of experimental results to allow use in, and comparison with, computational results and the assessment of component behaviour.

To issue results as reports and presentations.

To evaluate test equipment, control systems and instrumentation and recommend enhancements as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of validation experiments.

Depending on experience, to provide advice on environmental testing matters and to represent the Environmental Testing Groups at meetings.

To participate in continuous professional development.

Please contact ERS on 44 (0) 1454 203 460 to register your interest in this position.

Our client is seeking an Environmental Testing Engineer to undertake and / or support laboratory experiments and formal trials.

Location

Aldermaston

Salary

Competitive salary depending on qualifications and experience

Job Responsibilities

To undertake tasks associated with conducting experiments or formal trials, or in support of these activities, taking into account the requirements of safe systems of work and the hazards of materials.

To become familiar with the latest environmental testing techniques, the associated test equipment and plant, the control systems and instrumentation.

To ensure that responsibilities with regard to the Company’s Environment, Health, Safety, Security and Quality Standards are met and understood.

To act as a member of the Environmental Testing Groups within the facility.

To undertake data reduction of experimental results to allow use in, and comparison with, computational results and the assessment of component behaviour.

To issue results as reports and presentations.

To evaluate test equipment, control systems and instrumentation and recommend enhancements as appropriate.

To contribute to the development of validation experiments.

Depending on experience, to provide advice on environmental testing matters and to represent the Environmental Testing Groups at meetings.

To participate in continuous professional development.

Please contact ERS on 44 (0) 1454 203 460 to register your interest in this position.

La glamorosa modelo Fernanda Herrera, de la mano de Issue Group, fue la protagonista del arribo en limousine al súper-estreno de Hairspray, el musical originado en Broadway, con las actuaciones locales de Enrique Pinti y Vanesa Paz Butera, en el Teatro Astral.

Esta acción desarrollada durante la jornada-estreno de la obra, denota el comienzo de una serie de acciones que Issue ideó exclusivamente para esta obra.  La marca de cosmética capilar desarrolló en forma exclusiva un nuevo rocio fijador, de edición limitada; en línea con la temática argumental de este musical. El Spray contiene una exclusiva fórmula resistente a la humedad, enriquecida con agente fijadores y termo-protectores que, sin dejar residuos, logran una fijación fuerte y de larga duración.

Por otro lado, la marca estará presente durante las vacaciones de invierno con un original stand en el teatro, en donde los espectadores podrán sacarse "divertidas" fotos con escenografías simuladas de la obra, que luego podrán ver y bajar a través de www.tufotoissue.com

An alliance of Northern California coast commercial and recreational fishing associations known as Fishermen Interested in Safe Hydrokinetics (FISH) has announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is extending its time to consider the FISH committee request for public participation and environmental analysis in developing federal licensing regulations for nascent wave energy generation projects.

In this Request for Rehearing to FERC, the FISH committee seeks a public-notice-and-comment rulemaking process for the federal licensing of hydrokinetic (wave energy) FERC energy development projects, implementation of a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and compliance with other federal laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Coastal Zone Management Act. Also joining in this request are the County of Mendocino, the City of Fort Bragg, the Recreational Fishing Alliance and Lincoln County, Oregon.

As the Mendocino coast may lead the United States in wave energy generation exploration, it's evident to the FISH Committee, coastal governments and concerned citizens that there is a need for responsible federal energy development guidelines and practices including national regulations and environmental impact study before any FERC wave energy licenses are issued. These sought-after guidelines and procedures require rulemaking with public participation in tandem with environmental impact analysis through-out the wave energy development process, including the offshore experimental and pilot stages of exploration.

In the past, the FERC response to concerns on wave energy development has been to exclude rulemaking and shun public input. A comment made by FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller and noted in a New York Times article underlines their position, "Let's get this stuff in the water and find out what it has to offer."

Unlike FERC, a related federal agency also involved in wave energy development, the Minerals Management Service or MMS, is utilizing a public process to develop regulations for ocean wave energy projects and has completed a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.

The project areas of consideration are two wave energy projects proposed for the coast off Mendocino County, one of the most productive marine areas on the West Coast. One proposal covers 68 square miles, and the second covers 17 square miles. Both wave energy projects would require significant exclusion zones in the last remaining fishing grounds off Mendocino County.

"Naturally, fishermen are concerned whenever we hear proposals to close off big areas of the ocean to fishing, but we're just as concerned about the potential environmental impacts to marine species our fisheries depend on," said Jim Martin of the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA), a national grassroots political lobby for saltwater sportfishermen, and one of the founding members of FISH. "We hope FERC uses the extra time it has extended itself to carefully consider these issues and do the right thing."

On July 15, 2008 Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced launching an investigation into two companies developing and operating wind farms across New York state amid allegations of improper dealings with public officials and anti-competitive practices.

Subpoenas were served on First Wind (formerly known as UPC Wind) and Noble Environmental Power, LLC. They are part of an investigation into whether companies developing wind farms improperly sought or obtained land-use agreements with citizens and public officials; whether improper benefits were given to public officials to influence their actions; and whether they entered into anti-competitive agreements or practices.

In recent months, the Office of the Attorney General has received numerous complaints regarding the two companies from citizens, groups and public officials in eight counties alleging improper relations between the companies and local officials and other improper practices.

"The use of wind power, like all renewable energy sources, should be encouraged to help clean our air and end our reliance on fossil fuels," said Attorney General Cuomo. "However, public integrity remains a top priority of my office and if dirty tricks are used to facilitate even clean-energy projects, my office will put a stop to it."

Someplace else, people might tell you that human life is priceless. In Washington, the federal government has appraised it like a '96 Camaro with bad brakes.

Last week, it was revealed that an Environmental Protection Agency office had lowered its official estimate of life's value, from about $8.04 million to about $7.22 million. That decision has put a spotlight on the concept of the "Value of a Statistical Life," in which the Washington bureaucracy takes on a question usually left to preachers and poets.

This value is routinely calculated by several agencies, each putting its own dollar figure on the worth of life - not any particular person's life, just that of a generic American. The figure is then used to judge whether potentially lifesaving policy measures are really worth the cost.

A human life, based on an economic analysis grounded in observations of everyday Americans, typically turns out to be worth $5 million to $8 million - about as much as a mega-mansion or a middle infielder.

Now, for the first time, the EPA has used this little-known process to devalue life, something that environmentalists say could set a scary precedent, making it seem that lifesaving pollution reductions are not worth the cost.

"By reducing the value of human life, which is really a devious way of cooking the books, the perceived benefits of cleaning up the air seem less," said Frank O'Donnell of the District-based group Clean Air Watch. "That has the effect of weakening the case for pollution cleanup."

To grasp the mind-bending concept of a Blue Book value on life, government officials say it is important to remember that they are not thinking about anyone specifi c. That happens in lawsuits, when plaintiffs seek to be compensated for a life lost - and there, it can involve personal factors such as the deceased's lost income.

Here, officials say, they are trying instead to come up with the value of a typical life, without any personal information attached.

They might know, for instance, that a new cut in air pollution will save 50 lives a year - though they don't know who those people might be. Still they want to decide whether saving them is worth the cost, officials say, and it helps to assign a dollar value to each life saved.

An example of this kind of analysis was used by the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission this year:

A proposal to make mattresses less flammable was expected to cost the industry $343 million to implement. But, a spokeswoman said, the move was also expected to save 270 people. The commission calculated that each life was worth $5 million, which meant a benefit of about $1.3 billion.

That was greater than the expense, she said, so the move made sense.

"It is, sometimes, a weird idea" to weigh lives against other costs, acknowledged Jack Wells, chief economist for the U.S. Department of Transportation. "But, if you think about it, people behave that way all the time. . . . We could eliminate a lot of the [highway] fatalities by imposing a 10-mile-per-hour speed limit." But, he said, society implicitly tolerates greater highway deaths in return for the economic benefits of faster travel.

But how do you put a dollar value on a life, even in a generic sense?

It wouldn't work for researchers to survey Americans at gunpoint and ask how much they would pay not to die. Instead, an unlikely academic field has grown up to extrapolate life's value from the everyday decisions of average Americans.

Researchers try to figure out how much money it takes for people to accept slightly bigger risks, such as a more dangerous job. They also look at how much people will pay to make their daily risks smaller - such as buying a bike helmet or a safer car.

"How much are you willing to pay for a small reduction . . . in the probability that you will die?" asked Joe Aldy, a fellow at the D.C.-based think tank Resources for the Future.

The rest is more or less multiplication: If someone will accept a 1-in-10,000 chance of death for $500, then the value of life must be 10,000 times $500, or $5 million.

But it is one thing to calculate the numbers and another to explain them to the public. The EPA has been fighting that battle since last week, when the Associated Press revealed that the agency's air office had reduced its Value of a Statistical Life.

Al McGartland, the director of the agency's National Center for Environmental Economics, said the air office had revised the old figure in 2004 after new academic research showed it was skewed too high.

"It's based on better methods," McGartland said of the air office's assessment. He said the new number would increase over time, in part because of inflation.

The EPA's value for life remains one of the highest. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation raised its value - but even after the increase, it stood at $5.8 million, more than a million dollars less than the EPA's.

Still, environmental activists said the decision made it more likely that the EPA's regulations would allow greater air pollution, because deaths triggered by the pollution would seem to count for less. Experts say serious air pollution can make heart and lung conditions worse, sometimes resulting in death.

One of the researchers whom the EPA cited said he was puzzled at the agency's calculations on the value of a human life.

"Nobody's ever lowered it," said W. Kip Viscusi of Vanderbilt University. EPA came closest: In 2003, it tried to count senior citizens' lives as worth less than those of other adults. After a loud outcry from seniors, the agency backed off.

Viscusi said most researchers believe the value should generally be going up, as Americans have become wealthier and more willing to spend money to avoid risks.

"I personally wasn't in favor of lowering the value of life, let's put it that way," he said.

Lowering the value of life. In some bureaucratic corners of Washington, it is the kind of phrase that nobody blinks at anymore.

But it still can sound odd to those accustomed to thinking of life's worth in other ways.

Daniel Zemel, rabbi at Temple Micah on Wisconsin Avenue NW, said Wednesday that the idea of a dollar value on life brings to mind the teaching that "you put one human life on the scale, and you put the rest of the world on the scale, the scale is balanced equally."

Zemel said h e could understand officials' logic for making decisions this way. But he said he would counsel anybody whose job involved "Statistical Lives" to think about what they really represent.

"Numbers on a piece of paper are, at the end of the day, somewhere out there," Zemel said, "real people whose lives are being impacted."