Cahaya jiwa

Effective Sex Education

2008-05-21T19:47:00.000+07:00

Each year, U.S. teens experience as many as 850,000 pregnancies, and youth under age 25 experience about 9.1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs).[1,2] By age 18, 70 percent of U.S. females and 62 percent of U.S. males have initiated vaginal sex.[3] Comprehensive sex education is effective at assisting young people to make healthy decisions about sex and to adopt healthy sexual behaviors.[4,5,6,7] No abstinence-only-until-marriage program has been shown to help teens delay the initiation of sex or to protect themselves when they do initiate sex.[8,9,10,11] Yet, the U.S. government has spent over one billion dollars supporting abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.[12] Although the U.S. government ignores it, adolescents have a fundamental human right to accurate and comprehensive sexual health information.[8,11]

Comprehensive Sex Education Is Effective, Does Not Promote Sexual Risks.

Research has identified highly effective sex education and HIV prevention programs that affect multiple behaviors and/or achieve positive health impacts. Behavioral outcomes have included delaying the initiation of sex as well as reducing the frequency of sex, the number of new partners, and the incidence of unprotected sex, and/or increasing the use of condoms and contraception among sexually active participants.[4,5,6,7] Long-term impacts have included lower STI and/or pregnancy rates. [4,5,6,7]
No highly effective sex education or HIV prevention education program is eligible for federal funding because mandates prohibit educating youth about the benefits of condoms and contraception.[13]
Evaluations of comprehensive sex education and HIV/ STI prevention programs show that they do not increase rates of sexual initiation, do not lower the age at which youth initiate sex, and do not increase the frequency of sex or the number of sex partners among sexually active youth.[4,5,6,7,14,15]
Between 1991 and 2004, the U.S. teen birth rate fell from 62 to 41per 1,000 female teens.[16,17] Some experts attribute 75 percent of the decline to increased contraceptive use and 25 percent to delayed initiation of sex.[18] Others credit increased contraceptive use and delayed initiation of sex about equally.[19] Regardless, contraceptive use has been critical to reducing teenage pregnancy.

Abstinence-Only Programs Are Dangerous, Ineffective, and Inaccurate.

The Society for Adolescent Medicine recently declared that “abstinence-only programs threaten fundamental human rights to health, information, and life.”[8,11]

According to Columbia University researchers, virginity pledge programs increase pledge-takers’ risk for STIs and pregnancy. The study concluded that 88 percent of pledge-takers initiated sex prior to marriage even though some delayed sex for a while. Rates of STIs among pledge-takers and non-pledgers were similar, even though pledge-takers initiated sex later. Pledge-takers were less likely to seek STI testing and less likely to use contraception when they did have sex.[20,21]
Evaluations of the effectiveness of state-funded abstinence-only-until-marriage programs found no delay in first sex. In fact, of six evaluations that assessed short-term changes in behavior, three found no changes, two found increased sexual activity from pre- to post-test, and one showed mixed results. Five evaluations looked for but found no long-term impact in reducing teens’ sexual activity.[9]
Analysis of data from Youth Risk Behavior surveys found that sexual activity among high school youth declined significantly from 1991 to 1997, prior to large-scale funding of abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, but changed little from 1999 to 2003 with federal funding of such programs.[22]
Analysis of federally funded abstinence-only curricula found that over 80 percent of curricula supported by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services contained false, misleading, or distorted information about reproductive health. Specifically, they conveyed:
- False information about the effectiveness of contraceptives;
- False information about the risks of abortion;
- Religious beliefs as scientific fact;
- Stereotypes about boys and girls as scientific fact; and
- Medical and scientific errors of fact.[23]

Medical Organizations, Parents, and the Public Support Comprehensive Sex Education

The American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, Institute of Medicine, and Society for Adolescent Medicine, among others, support comprehensive sex education, including education about both abstinence and also contraception and condoms. [1,10,11,24,25]
In one study, most American adults supported sex education that includes information about both abstinence and also contraception and condoms. In fact, 89 percent believed that it is important for young people to have information about contraception and prevention of STIs and that sex education should focus on how to avoid unintended pregnancy and STIs, including HIV.[26]
In another recent survey, 94 percent of adults and 93 percent of parents said that sex education should cover contraception. Only 15 percent of Americans wanted abstinence-only education taught in the classroom.[27]

Characteristics of Effective Sex Education

Experts have identified critical characteristics of highly effective sex education and HIV/STI prevention education programs. Such programs:

Offer age- and culturally appropriate sexual health information in a safe environment for participants;
Are developed in cooperation with members of the target community, especially young people;
Assist youth to clarify their individual, family, and community values;
Assist youth to develop skills in communication, refusal, and negotiation;
Provide medically accurate information about both abstinence and also contraception, including condoms;
Have clear goals for preventing HIV, other STIs, and/or teen pregnancy;
Focus on specific health behaviors related to the goals, with clear messages about these behaviors;
Address psychosocial risk and protective factors with activities to change each targeted risk and to promote each protective factor;
Respect community values and respond to community needs;
Rely on participatory teaching methods, implemented by trained educators and using all the activities as designed.[4,5,6,7,10,14]

References:

Klein JD & Committee on Adolescence. Adolescent pregnancy: current trends and issues. Pediatrics 2005; 116(1):281-286.
Weinstock H et al. Sexually transmitted diseases among American youth: incidence and prevalence estimates, 2000. Perspectives on Reproductive & Sexual Health 2004; 36(1):6-10.
Mosher WD et al. Sexual behavior and selected health measures: men and women, 15-44 years of age, United States, 2002. Advance Data 2005; #362:1-56.
Kirby D. Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2001.
Kirby D et al. Impact of Sex and HIV Education Programs on Sexual Behaviors of Youth in Developing and Developed Countries. [Youth Research Working Paper, No. 2] Research Triangle Park, NC: Family Health International, 2005.
Alford S. Science and Success: Sex Education and Other Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2003.
Alford S. Science and Success, Second Edition: Programs that Work to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2008.
Santelli J et al. Abstinence and abstinence-only education: a review of U.S. policies and programs. Journal of Adolescent Health 2006; 38(1):72-81.
Hauser D. Five Years of Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Education: Assessing the Impact [Title V State Evaluations] Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2004.
Committee on HIV Prevention Strategies in the United States, Institute of Medicine. No Time to Lose: Getting More from HIV Prevention. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2000.
Society for Adolescent Medicine. Abstinence-only education policies and programs: a position paper of the Society for Adolescent Medicine. Journal of Adolescent Health 2006; 38(1):83-87.
SIECUS. SIECUS State Profiles: a Portrait of Sexuality Education and Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs in the States. New York: Author, 2004.
American Foundation for AIDS Research. Assessing the Efficacy of Abstinence-Only Programs for HIV Prevention among Young People. [Issue Brief, no. 2] Washington, DC: Author, 2005.
UNAIDS. Impact of HIV and Sexual Health Education on the Sexual Behaviour of Young People: a Review Update. Geneva, Switzerland: UNAIDS, 1997.
Baldo M et al. Does Sex Education Lead to Earlier or Increased Sexual Activity in Youth? Presented at the Ninth International Conference on AIDS, Berlin, 1993. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1993.
Martin JA et al. Births: final data for 2003. National Vital Statistics Reports 2005; 54(2):1-116.
Hamilton BE et al. Births: preliminary data for 2004. National Vital Statistics Reports 2005; 54(8):1-16.
Darroch JE, Singh S. Why Is Teenage Pregnancy Declining? The Roles of Abstinence, Sexual Activity, and Contraceptive Use [Occasional Report 1] New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute, 1999.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Halfway There: a Prescription for Continued Progress in Preventing Teen Pregnancy. Washington, DC: Author, 2001.
Brückner H, Bearman P. After the promise: the STD consequences of adolescent virginity pledges. Journal of Adolescent Health 2005; 36:271-278.
Bearman PS, Brückner H. Promising the future: virginity pledges and first intercourse. American Journal of Sociology 2001; 106(4):859-912.
Feijoo AN, Grayton C. Trends in Sexual Risk Behaviors among High School Students—United States, 1991 to 1997 and 1999 to 2003. [The Facts] Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 2004.
Special Investigations Division, U. S. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Programs. Washington, DC: Author, 2004.
_____. Report of the Council on Scientific Affairs [Action of the AMA House of Delegates, CSA Report 7-I-99] Chicago, IL: American Medical Association, 1999.
Boostra H. Legislators craft alternative vision of sex education to counter abstinence-only drive. The Guttmacher Report on Public Policy 2002; #2:1-3.
Hickman-Brown Public Opinion Research. Public Support for Sexuality Education Reaches Highest Levels. Washington, DC: Advocates for Youth, 1999.
National Public Radio et al. Sex Education in America: NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser, 2004.

Written by Brigid McKeon
2006 © Advocates for Youth

Sex and Menopause

2008-05-21T19:45:00.001+07:00

How does menopause affect your sex drive?
The loss of estrogen following menopause can lead to changes in a woman’s sexual functioning. Menopausal women may notice that they are not as easily aroused, and may be less sensitive to touching and stroking -- which can result in decreased interest in sex. Further, the emotional changes that often accompany menopause can add to a woman’s loss of interest in sex and/or inability to become aroused.

In addition, lower levels of estrogen can cause a decrease in blood supply to the vagina. This decreased blood flow can affect vaginal lubrication, causing the vagina to be too dry for comfortable intercourse and the lower 1/3 of the vagina can shrink.

A lower estrogen level is not the only culprit behind a decreased libido; there are numerous other factors that may influence a woman's interest in sexual activity during menopause and after. These include:

Bladder control problems
Sleep disturbances
Depression or anxiety
Stress
Medications
Health concerns

Do all menopausal women experience a decrease in sexual desire?
No. In fact, some post-menopausal women report an increase in sexual satisfaction. This may be due to decreased anxiety associated with a fear of pregnancy. In addition, many post-menopausal women often have fewer child-rearing responsibilities, allowing them to relax and enjoy intimacy with their partners.

What can I do to treat vaginal dryness?
Vaginal dryness can be treated with water-soluble lubricants such as Astroglide or K-Y Jelly. Do not use non-water soluble lubricants such as Vaseline because they can weaken latex (the material used to make condoms, which should continue to be used to avoid pregnancy until your doctor verifies you are not producing anymore eggs and also to prevent contracting sexually transmitted diseases).

How can I improve my sex drive?
Currently, there are not any good drugs to treat sexual problems in women. Estrogen replacement may work, but research has yielded conflicting results regarding its effectiveness. Estrogen can, however, make intercourse less painful by treating vaginal dryness.

Doctors are also studying whether a combination of estrogen and testosterone may be helpful in increasing sex drive in women.

Although sexual problems can be difficult to discuss, talk to your doctor; there are options to consider, such as counseling. Your doctor may refer you and your partner to a health professional who specializes in sexual dysfunction. The therapist may advise sexual counseling on an individual basis, with your partner or in a support group. This type of counseling can be very successful, even when it is done on a short-term basis.

What can I do to increase intimacy with my partner?
If your sex drive isn’t what it once was but you don’t think you need counseling, you should still take time for intimacy with your partner. Being intimate does not require having intercourse -- love and affection can be expressed in many ways. Enjoy your time together -- you can take long romantic walks, have candlelit dinners or give each other back rubs.

To improve your physical intimacy, you may want to try the following approaches:

Educate yourself about your anatomy, sexual function and the normal changes associated with aging, as well as sexual behaviors and responses. This may help you overcome your anxieties about sexual function and performance.
Enhance stimulation through the use of erotic materials (videos or books), masturbation and changes to sexual routines.
Use distraction techniques to increase relaxation and eliminate anxiety. These can include erotic or non-erotic fantasies; exercises with intercourse; and music, videos or television.
Practice non-coital behaviors (physically stimulating activity that does not include intercourse), such as sensual massage. These activities can be used to promote comfort and increase communication between you and your partner.
Minimize any pain you may be experiencing by using sexual positions that allow you to control the depth of penetration. You may also want to take a warm bath before intercourse to help you relax, and use vaginal lubricants to help reduce pain caused by friction.

Do I still have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases?
Yes. Just as you must use protection if you do not want to become pregnant during perimenopause, you must also take measures to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during menopause and postmenopause. It’s important to remember that your risk of contracting STIs is a possibility at any point in your life during which you are sexually active, and this risk does not go down with age or with changes in your reproductive system.

Left untreated, some STIs can lead to serious illnesses, while others, like AIDS, cannot be cured and may be deadly.

How can I protect myself from STIs?
Here are some basic steps that you can take to help protect yourself from STIs:

Consider that not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STIs.
Use a latex condom every time you have sex. (If you use a lubricant, make sure it is water-based (not Vaseline.)
Limit your number of sexual partners. The more partners you have, the more likely you are to catch an STI.
Practice monogamy. This means having sex with only one person. That person must also have sex with only you to reduce your risk.
Choose your sex partners with care. Don’t have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STI.
Get checked for STIs. Don’t risk giving the infection to someone else.
If you have more than one sex partner, always use a condom.
Don’t use alcohol or drugs before you have sex. You may be less likely to practice safe sex if you are drunk or high.
Know the signs and symptoms of STIs. Look for them in yourself and your sex partners.
Learn about STIs. The more you know about STIs, the better you can protect yourself.

Sex and Heart Failure

2008-05-21T19:43:00.001+07:00

Can someone still have sex after heart failure is diagnosed?"

Try not to feel embarrassed about raising this question with your physician or other healthcare providers. They've heard it before.

Most people with heart failure can continue sexual relations once symptoms are under control. They may feel more comfortable and confident when following certain guidelines suggested for heart patients:

Choose a time when you're rested, relaxed and free from the stressful feelings brought on by the day's schedules and responsibilities.
Avoid having sex right after eating a heavy meal.
Select a familiar, peaceful setting that's free from interruptions.
If you start to feel uncomfortable or tired during intercourse, stop and rest for a short time.

There's no reason why heart patients can't resume usual sexual activity as soon as they feel ready to do so. However, if your condition is severe and you can't tolerate exercise, you may need to find less demanding ways to express love and affection. You could spend time hugging, kissing and touching instead.

People with heart failure should remind themselves that it's OK if they're not ready to have sex right away. Feelings like stress, anxiety and depression are natural after a serious health diagnosis and often cause a loss of interest. Patients will need to work with their partners to demonstrate their love in other ways.

HIV / AIDS Reference Web Sites:

Aids.org:
http://www.aids.org/

The Body:
http://www.thebody.com/

Official Journal of the International AIDS Society:
http://www.aidsonline.com/

John Hopkins AIDS Service:
http://www.hopkins-aids.edu/

UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS:
http://www.unaids.org/

World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/

Sex Education in America

2008-05-21T19:39:00.001+07:00

An NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll

NPR.org, February 24, 2004 · The debate over whether to have sex education in American schools is over. A new poll by NPR, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard's Kennedy School of Government finds that only 7 percent of Americans say sex education should not be taught in schools. Moreover, in most places there is even little debate about what kind of sex education should be taught, although there are still pockets of controversy. Parents are generally content with whatever sex education is offered by their children's school (see Parents Approve sidebar), and public school principals, in a parallel NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School survey, report little serious conflict over sex education in their communities nowadays. Nearly three-quarters of the principals (74 percent) say there have been no recent discussions or debate in PTA, school board or other public meetings about what to teach in sex ed. Likewise, few principals report being contacted by elected officials, religious leaders or other people in their communities about sex education.

However, this does not mean that all Americans agree on what kind of sex education is best. There are major differences over the issue of abstinence. Fifteen percent of Americans believe that schools should teach only about abstinence from sexual intercourse and should not provide information on how to obtain and use condoms and other contraception. A plurality (46 percent) believes that the most appropriate approach is one that might be called "abstinence-plus" -- that while abstinence is best, some teens do not abstain, so schools also should teach about condoms and contraception. Thirty-six percent believe that abstinence is not the most important thing, and that sex ed should focus on teaching teens how to make responsible decisions about sex.

Advocates of abstinence have had some success. Federal funds are now being made available for abstinence programs; in his State of the Union address President Bush called for an increase in the funding. And in spite of the fact that only 15 percent of Americans say they want abstinence-only sex education in the schools, 30 percent of the the principals of public middle schools and high schools where sex education is taught report that their schools teach abstinence-only. Forty-seven percent of their schools taught abstinence-plus, while 20 percent taught that making responsible decisions about sex was more important than abstinence. (Middle schools were more likely to teach abstinence-only than high schools. High schools were more likely than middle schools to teach abstinence-plus. High schools and middle schools were equally likely to teach that abstinence is not the most important thing.)

In many ways, abstinence-only education contrasts with the broad sex ed curriculum that most Americans want -- from the basics of how babies are made to how to put on a condom to how to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. Some people thought that some topics were better suited for high school students than middle school students, or vice versa, but few thought any of the topics suggested were inappropriate at all. The most controversial topic -- "that teens can obtain birth control pills from family planning clinics and doctors without permission from a parent" -- was found to be inappropriate by 28 percent of the public, but even there, seven out of 10 (71 percent) thought it was appropriate. The other most controversial topics were oral sex (27 percent found it inappropriate) and homosexuality (25 percent). (See Table 1 in the Survey Tables sidebar.)

Interestingly, in a separate question about what schools should teach about homosexuality, only 19 percent said schools should not teach about it at all. For the most part, Americans want teachers to talk about homosexuality, but they want them to do so in a neutral way. Fifty-two percent said schools should teach "only what homosexuality is, without discussing whether it is wrong or acceptable," compared with 18 percent who said schools should teach that homosexuality is wrong and 8 percent who said schools should teach that homosexuality is acceptable.

A majority of Americans (55 percent) believes that giving teens information about how to obtain and use condoms will not encourage them to have sexual intercourse earlier than they would have otherwise (39 percent say it would encourage them), and 77 percent think such information makes it more likely the teens will practice safe sex now or in the future (only 17 percent say it will not make it more likely).

When it comes to the general approach to teaching sex and sexuality in schools, Americans divide almost evenly. Respondents were asked to choose which of two statements was closer to their belief: (1) "When it comes to sex, teenagers need to have limits set; they must be told what is acceptable and what is not." Or (2) "ultimately teenagers need to make their own decisions, so their education needs to be more in the form of providing information and guidance." Forty-seven percent selected the first statement; 51 percent selected the second. Parents of seventh and eighth graders were more likely to choose the first statement (53 percent) than the second (45 percent); parents of high school students were evenly divided. Conservatives were much more likely to choose the first statement over the second (64 percent to 32 percent), as were evangelical or born-again Christians (61 percent to 35 percent). Liberals and moderates were more likely to choose the second statement over the first (61 percent to 37 percent for liberals and 56 percent to 42 percent for moderates).

Historically, the impetus for sex education in schools was teaching children about avoiding pregnancy and keeping them safe from sexually transmitted diseases, but many parents say they are more worried about the effects of sexual activity on their child's psyche. Asked what concerns them most about their 7th-12th grade children ever having sexual intercourse, 36 percent of parents said "that they might have sexual intercourse before they are psychologically and emotionally ready." That compares with 29 percent who said their biggest concern was disease (23 percent said HIV/AIDS and 6 percent said other sexually transmitted diseases) and 23 percent who said pregnancy.

Moreover, given a list of problems teens might face, nearly half (48 percent) of all Americans chose as the biggest problem "use of alcohol and other illegal drugs," which was double the number who chose any sex-related problem (9 percent said unwanted pregnancy, 8 percent said getting HIV/AIDS, and 4 percent said getting other STDs).

Just as the initial impetus for sex education in schools came from health advocates, the historical impetus for abstinence education has come from evangelical or born-again Christians. In general, evangelical or born-again Christians have very different views from other Americans about sex and sexuality. Eighty-one percent of evangelical or born-again Christians believe it is morally wrong for unmarried adults to engage in sexual intercourse, compared with 33 percent of other Americans. Likewise, 78 percent of evangelical or born-again Christians believe that sexual activity outside of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects; 46 percent of other Americans believe this. Moreover, such Christians are much more likely to believe that school-age children should abstain from almost any kind of arousal: 56 percent include passionate kissing among the activities they should abstain from; 31 percent of the rest of the population say that. (See Table 2 in the Survey Tables sidebar.)

Evangelical or born-again Christians also have different views on many questions about sex education. Twelve percent of them say sex education should not be taught in schools -- a small number, but three times the percentage found among non-evangelicals (4 percent). Moreover, more than twice as many evangelicals as non-evangelicals (49 percent to 21 percent) believe the government should fund abstinence-only programs instead of using the money for more comprehensive sex education. And on what should be taught in sex ed classes, evangelicals are much more likely than non-evangelicals to think certain topics are inappropriate. (See Table 3 in the Survey Tables sidebar.)

Interestingly, there are some differences between white and non-white evangelicals -- not on questions about sex or sexuality, but on questions about sex education. On some sex education questions, non-white evangelicals are closer to non-evangelicals than they are to white evangelicals. For instance, while 23 percent of non-Latino white evangelicals believe it is inappropriate for sex ed classes to teach where to get and how to use contraceptives, only 13 percent of non-white evangelicals believe this, compared with 8 percent of non-evangelicals. (The other items in Table 3 were asked of half-samples of the survey, and there were not enough non-white evangelicals in the half-samples to make accurate comparisons.) Likewise, asked about the best method to teach sex ed, 27 percent of non-Latino white evangelicals prefer abstinence-only. Fewer than half as many non-white evangelicals (12 percent) prefer abstinence-only, which is in line with non-evangelicals (10 percent).

Other interesting findings from the survey:

Adult Americans define abstinence broadly. The survey asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the statement, "Abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage is the expected standard for all school-age children." Sixty-two percent of Americans agreed with the statement, which is a principle that must be taught in federally funded abstinence education programs; 36 percent disagreed. Regardless of respondents' answer to that question, they then were asked how they were defining the word abstinence when they answered it. Did they include abstaining from sexual intercourse? Oral sex? Intimate touching? Passionate kissing? Masturbation? A large percentage of Americans said yes to all of those, with 63 percent thinking abstinence included abstaining from intimate touching, 40 percent thinking it included abstaining from passionate kissing, and 44 percent thinking it included abstaining from masturbation. (See Table 2 in the Survey Tables sidebar.) As suggested earlier, born-again or evangelical Christians (of all races) were more likely to say yes to the last three than other Americans.

Parents think their daughters are better prepared to deal with sexual issues than their sons. In the course of this survey, parents of children in grades 7 through 12 were asked a number of questions about one of their children (if they had more than one in that age group, the child was chosen randomly). One of those questions was, "How well prepared do you feel your (x-grade) child is to deal with sexual issues -- very prepared, somewhat prepared, not very prepared, or not at all prepared?" Sixty percent of parents said their daughter was very prepared; only 36 percent said the same of their son. Interestingly, fathers (60 percent) were as likely as mothers (59 percent) to say their daughter was very prepared. However, fathers (23 percent) were much less likely than mothers (45 percent) to say their son was very prepared. (Whether the child had attended sex education in school made no difference in parents' assessments.) In answering the question about what worries parents most about their child ever having sexual intercourse, parents of girls (41 percent) were more likely to place psychological well-being as their top concern than were parents of boys (31 percent). Parents of girls were not more likely than parents of boys to choose pregnancy or disease.

There is no double standard regarding how long Americans think boys or girls should wait to have sex, but adults don't think either boys or girls will actually wait that long. Forty-seven percent think girls should wait until they are married to have sexual intercourse, and 44 percent think boys should wait until they are married; the difference is not statistically significant. Nearly nine out of 10 (89 percent), though, don't think girls will wait that long; the number is similar for boys (91 percent). The responses were similar when people were asked about oral sex; they said boys and girls should wait, but probably won't. Again, there was little difference between people asked about boys and those asked about girls. About one out of six people said that boys (16 percent) and girls (18 percent) should never experience oral sex, but they also were likely to say that it was not a realistic expectation.

Methodology

The NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School National Survey on Sex Education is part of an ongoing project of National Public Radio, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Representatives of the three sponsors worked together to develop the survey questionnaire and to analyze the results, with NPR maintaining sole editorial control over its broadcasts on the surveys. The project team includes:

From NPR: Marcus D. Rosenbaum, Senior Editor; Susan Davis, Associate Editor; Ellen Guettler, Assistant Editor

From the Kaiser Family Foundation: Drew Altman, President and Chief Executive Officer; Matt James, Senior Vice President of Media and Public Education and Executive Director of kaisernetwork.org; Mollyann Brodie, Vice President, Director of Public Opinion and Media Research; and Rebecca Levin, Research Associate

From the Kennedy School: Robert J. Blendon, a Harvard University professor who holds joint appointments in the School of Public Health and the Kennedy School of Government; Stephen R. Pelletier, Research Coordinator for the Harvard Opinion Research Program; John M. Benson, Managing Director of the Harvard Opinion Research Program; and Elizabeth Mackie, Research Associate

The results of this project are based on two nationwide telephone surveys: a survey of the general public and a survey of school principals. The survey of the general public was conducted among a random nationally representative sample of 1,759 respondents 18 years of age or older, including an oversample of parents of children in 7th through the 12th grade, which resulted in interviews with 1001 parents. Statistical results for the total survey were weighted to be representative of the national population. The margin of sampling error for the survey is plus or minus 3 percentage points for total respondents and plus or minus 4.7 percentage points for parents. The survey of principals was conducted among 303 principals of public middle, junior and senior high schools across the country. Schools were randomly and proportionally selected from a national database of public schools by type of school (middle, junior and senior high). Statistical results were weighted to be representative of public middle, junior and senior high schools in the United States based on geographic region and type of residential area (urban, suburban, non-metropolitan). The margin of sampling error for the survey is plus or minus 6 percentage points for total respondents. For results based on subsets of respondents the margin of error is higher.

Princeton Survey Research Associates conducted the fieldwork for both surveys between September and October 2003. Note that sampling error is only one of many potential sources of error in this or any other public opinion poll.

Sex and the City Premieres in London

2008-05-21T19:27:00.000+07:00

The "Sex and the City" stars lit up London's Leicester Square for the world premiere of the cinematic sequel to their New York adventures, delighting fans with glamorous — and sometimes quirky — outfits that helped make the show an international hit.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays columnist Carrie Bradshaw, stole the show with her soaring Philip Treacy hat. She was joined by co-stars Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis, known on screen as Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. They were eager to gloss over the reported problems that delayed the film's production — and chat instead of the boost the series has given their careers.

"Professionally it's been the best 10 years of my life. I wouldn't have wanted to have done it any differently with any different women or any different men," Parker said. "So it's been glorious."

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All were dressed in the designer clothes that made the series about sex and shopping such a huge fashion-industry hit. Parker's hat, bearing flowers, grasses and a butterfly, was complemented by a pale green dress by Alexander McQueen — an outfit Carrie would have loved. Cattrall wore a red Vivienne Westwood dress and Nixon was in a floor length black pleated Calvin Klein gown. Davis wore a more modest vintage fuschia dress.

There had been some controversy over the decision to hold the premiere in London rather than New York, the city showcased so beautifully in the series. But Nixon said Monday's premiere was just a build up to the main event in New York.

"We're having a kind of smallish premiere here (and) we're having a smallish premiere in Berlin. We're building to the New York premiere which is enormous and happens just before the film opens worldwide," she said.

The film opens May 30 in the United States.

The Best "Human Nature" Sex Stories of 2007

2008-05-21T19:22:00.001+07:00

2007 has been a great year for sex. OK, every year is a great year for sex. But this year is especially interesting, with reports of sexsomnia, vegansexuals, man boobs, female promiscuity, double penises, horny old folks, cosmetic vagina surgery, publicly funded sex-change surgery, and the decline of marriage and co-sleeping. Among this year's hundreds of Human Nature stories, five trends and discoveries stand out.

1) Parthenogenesis. The top sex story of 2007 is … no sex. Specifically, making babies without sperm. That stuff you were told about the birds and the bees? Sorry. The truth is that males aren't necessary. In May, scientists verified a "virgin birth" in sharks. This phenomenon had previously been found in some amphibians, birds, and reptiles, but a new genetic analysis confirmed it in a hammerhead shark. The baby shark was formed by fusion of an egg with an egg byproduct from the same mother, so its DNA was a double helping of half the mom's DNA. Scientists concluded that this might explain some mysterious births to other captive sharks.

A month later, another shark fetus developed in a tank with no apparent father. No male of the shark's species was in the tank. The fetus was found because its mother died; otherwise, it would have been quickly eaten and never discovered. The implication is that births to sharks with no apparent fathers may happen more often than we realize, because when there's no male around, we don't look for offspring.

2) The abolition of menstruation. The human mind is gradually conquering the human body. Case in point: In May, the FDA approved a birth-control pill that eliminates menstruation. Unlike other birth-control pills, it simply skipped the traditional week off for bleeding. The "curse" used to be defined by its inevitability. Now that's gone.

Not everyone is thrilled about this conquest, as the debate over the new pill made clear. The pill's manufacturer says: 1) Periods can be painful. 2) They ruin your mood. 3) They cost you work time and hurt your job performance. 4) They disrupt your sex life. 5) They disrupt your exercise routine. 6) There's no evidence that they're necessary to your health. 7) Your "periods" on the pill are fake anyway. But critics argue: 1) Periods are womanly. 2) They're not an illness. 3) Stop treating your body as a nuisance. 4) Don't mess with Mother Nature. 5) There's no long-term evidence that abolishing periods is safe. 6) If you don't have them, how can you be sure you're not pregnant?

(For Human Nature's take on the conquest of menstruation, click here.)

3) Digitization. Commercial sex used to be either live and in person (prostitution) or recorded and viewed (porn). Now you can combine the immediacy of prostitution with the safety of porn, thanks to entrepreneurs who plan to offer video of live, on-demand sex through hotel TVs. This is the result of several trends: 1) Americans spent $500 million last year on pay-per-view or on-demand sex videos. 2) TV is merging with computers, which facilitate private communication. 3) Computers are already allowing porn buyers to send text messages to performers. 4) Live sex on demand is more exciting than video sex on demand.

Sometimes digital sex is too real: High-definition video is embarrassing porn stars. The embarrassments include razor burn, cellulite, wrinkles, pimples, visible veins, and fake boobs. Remedies tried so far: diets, exercise, makeup, tanning spray, grooming assistance, cosmetic surgery, softening lights, changing sex positions, and airbrushing. Actresses complain that their "imperfections" are being exposed and that HD is forcing them to get boob jobs.

And sometimes sex is physically fake but emotionally devastating: Sexual couplings in Second Life are fraying real marriages. Counselors are "seeing a growing number of marriages dissolve over virtual infidelity." One wife says her husband's avatar's marriage to another woman's avatar is cheating; he says it isn't. His arguments: 1) It's just a game. 2) He has never met the woman behind the other avatar and doesn't plan to meet her. 3) His participation in Second Life is no different from his real wife watching TV. Her arguments: 1) The virtual marriage includes a joint mortgage, dogs, and spending hours together. 2) The husband and the other woman spend real money on each other's avatars. 3) The other woman says, "There's a huge trust between us. We'll tell each other everything." 4) The husband met his real wife online in the first place. 5) His virtual avatar is all about lingerie, nude dancers, and redheads, which his fake wife is but his real wife isn't. 6) He's spending all day in Second Life and ignoring his real wife.

She's right: "When it's from six in the morning until two in the morning, that's not a hobby, that's your life."

(For Human Nature's take on policing cybersex, click here.)

4. The chemical manipulation of sexual orientation. Conservatives have been coming around to the idea that homosexuality may be biological. Leaders of Exodus International, the leading U.S. ex-gay ministry, now "talk deliberately about a possible biological basis for homosexuality, in part to explain that no one can turn a switch and flip from gay to straight." This matches a new Gallup poll in which 42 percent of U.S. adults say homosexuality is innate. The old idea was that faith would free you from homosexuality; the new idea is that you still have gay inclinations, and you accept them, but you can manage them to seek harmony with your religious beliefs. Are anti-gay leaders becoming ex-anti-gays? More likely, they're just trying to manage their anti-gay inclinations.

The new factor in this debate is research on gay sheep. Eight percent of rams show sexual interest only in other rams; a researcher has been studying the biological factors involved. Critics argue that he's trying to "cure" homosexuality in rams through "prenatal treatment" and that this could lead to "breeding out" human homosexuality. He says: 1) He studies rams, not humans. 2) He's interested in understanding sexuality, not manipulating it. 3) He opposes sexual eugenics in humans. And 4) his research might assist ranchers by figuring out which rams would breed.

Unfortunately for him, scientists don't control the uses to which their research might be put. Inspired by the sheep studies, some conservative Christian leaders are endorsing prenatal treatment to prevent homosexuality. The Rev. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, writes: "If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin." In an AP interview, Mohler says this would be morally no different from curing fetal blindness or any other "medical problem." A leading Catholic thinker agrees: "Same-sex activity is considered disordered. If there are ways of detecting diseases or disorders of children in the womb, and a way of treating them that respected the dignity of the child and mother, it would be a wonderful advancement of science." Conservatives are angry that Mohler suggested homosexuality might be biological; gays were angry that he said it would nevertheless be wrong. Mohler explained that he opposed genetic (as opposed to hormonal) intervention in the fetus and that he was trying to head off something worse and more plausible: abortions of gay fetuses.

(For Human Nature's take on gay sheep, click here. For the biology of homosexuality, click here.)

5) What's wrong with incest? Homosexuality is the old sex-and-science debate. The new topic is incest. In Germany, a brother-sister couple is challenging the law against it. Details: 1) They were raised separately. 2) They met when he was 23 and she was 15; they began living together a year later. 3) They have four kids. One has epilepsy; two have "special needs"; three have been put in foster care. 4) The brother has served a two-year sentence for incest. 5) He recently got a vasectomy. The couple argues that 1) the law is outdated, 2) it violates their civil rights, 3) they're not hurting anyone, 4) the law already lets couples with genetic risks (due to advanced age) or hereditary diseases have kids, and 5) if incestuous couples live together and don't have more kids, how can the government prove they're having sex without becoming dangerously invasive?

But a new study suggests a secular explanation for the incest taboo: It's driven by natural selection. On average, your level of disgust at the notion of sex with a sibling correlates with how long you cohabited with that sibling and watched your mom care for her as a small child. So does your level of altruistic behavior toward the sibling. These experiential factors correlate more strongly with incest aversion than does your belief that the sibling is genetically related to you. The researchers posit a mental "kinship estimator" that converts "maternal perinatal association" into altruism and sexual disgust, driving you to choose a mate outside your family. The old idea was that nature makes you horny for your sister, but faith teaches you it's icky. The new idea is that nature tells you it's icky, and faith takes the credit.

Sex and More Sex

2008-05-21T19:18:00.002+07:00

Welcome to "The State of the Sexual Union," Slate's Sex Issue. Today and tomorrow, we'll publish a series of articles that examine the unavoidable presence of sex in science and culture.

Wednesday, Teresa Riordan presents a slide-show history of our fascination with the buttocks, featuring modern and vintage rears. From current celebutante Kim Kardashian to the bustled ladies of the 19^th century, Riordan shows that "fat-bottomed girls" have enjoyed a special sex appeal. Amanda Schaffer asks what more we know about sex a half century after Alfred Kinsey's pioneering research on human sexual behavior. Also, Thomas Laqueur reviews Niklaus Largier's new book, In Praise of the Whip: The Cultural History of Arousal, which details the history of erotic practices. On Slate V, Emily Bazelon and Torie Bosch explore how to talk about sex to kids in the age of the Internet. Finally, Slate selected a panel of sex experts to tell us what they still don't understand about sex—after spending most of their waking moments for years thinking about it. Plus: the best "Human Nature" columns on sex.

Thursday, William Saletan argues for lowering the age of sexual consent, and Daniel Engber follows sex among the elderly. Meghan O'Rourke examines whether the cervical cancer vaccine makes girls promiscuous. Amanda Schaffer investigates how binary mating got started in the first place, and more.

HIV / AIDS Reference Web Sites:

Aids.org:Publish Post
http://www.aids.org/

The Body:
http://www.thebody.com/

Official Journal of the International AIDS Society:
http://www.aidsonline.com/

John Hopkins AIDS Service:
http://www.hopkins-aids.edu/

UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS:
http://www.unaids.org/

World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/

Kelebihan dan kekurangan payperpost

2008-05-21T10:24:00.000+07:00

Tulisan ini saya buat untuk menanggapi diskusi seputar payperpost di forum Bisnismu. Dari sekian program paid review, saya beri skor tertinggi untuk payperpost (PPP). Beberapa alasan, PPP dikelola secara profesional, tim support sangat membantu. Selain itu, blogger punya posisi tawar karena tidak seperti paid review pada umumnya, PPP memberi keleluasaan blogger untuk menulis review dengan tone yang netral. Tidak banyak link yang diminta. Yang terakhir penting, karena banyaknya link yang diminta adveriser akan menguntungkan mereka, tapi tak menguntungkan di kita. Blog kita akan semakin mudah terdeteksi memuat paid content.

Yang masih menjadi perdebatan adalah, blogger diminta mencantumkan keterangan blognya, bahwa yang bersangkutan juga memuat paid review/content dalam blognya. Di satu sisi tindakan ini dinilai sangat konyol karena dengan mencantumkan “disclosure policy” akan menelanjangi sebuah blog telah memuat paid review/content yang amat dibenci oleh google, sementara pihak lain justru menghindari hal ini untuk menghilangkan jejak crawl google atas paid content yang bisa berakibat fatal: pengurangan page rank.

Saya pribadi memberi respon positif. Kenapa harus ditutup-tutupi jika kita memang mendapatkan penghasilan dari paid review. Fair saja kalau memang kita juga memuat paid content.

Tapi tak perlu khawatir, karena PPP juga membuat kebijakan bahwa setiap review harus diselingi menimal satu posting nonreview. Di satu sisi ini akan melelahkan kita karena juga harus menyiapkan posting nonreview. Tapi cara ini sebenarnya justru akan menghindarkan blog kita dari pengurangan page rank. Dari pengalaman saya selama ikutan PPP, blog saya yang saya khususkan untuk program paid review yang satu ini aman-aman saja. Saya menduga, PPP menerapkan peraturan yang ketat atas advertiser mereka, dan mereka menyaring advertiser sehingga link-link yang kita pasang akan aman, setidaknya di mata search engine.

Saya sangat menyesal, salah satu blog saya yang memiliki pr 4 yang sebelumnya saya jaga dan saya khususkan untuk PPP, karena tergoda iming-iming mudahnya dan ramainya tawaran di blogvertise, saya buat beberapa review untuk blogvertise. Entah ini apa kebetulan, atau memang link-link di blogvertise memang membahayakan. Tapi, hampir lebih dari 4 bulan saya di ppp, pr saya ajeg 4, dan baru buat 10an review untuk blogvertise, blog saya dihajar langsung ke pr 0.

PPP sebenarnya tidak meminta persyaratan yang neko-neko. Banyak yang ditolak saat mendaftarkan blognya, bukan karena tidak memiliki pr yang tinggi, tapi karena content blog tidak original. blog saya yang pertama diapprove malah PR 0. Memang sih, tarif reviewnya tak akan segede dan serame jika PR blog kita tinggi. Dan setelah menunggu hampir 2 bulan saya posting 10 review, dan dengan 10 review ini kita bisa menambahkan blog, saya tambahkan blog saya yang pr 4, dengan saya permak 10-an artikel terakhirnya, langsung diapprove dan langsung dapat tawaran review membludak sampai-sampai saya kuwalahan.

Tapi pesta itu agaknya kini mulai redup. Tiga blog saya di ppp kini 2 pr 0, dan 1 pr 2. tapi saya masih berminat dan sangat berminat untuk menekuni PPP. Saya percaya mereka akan berumur panjang karena didukung manajemen dan sistem kerja yang bagus.

Selain ppp ada banyak. blogvertise, sponsoredreview, reviewme, smorty, snapbomb, bloggerwave, buyblogreview dll…. untuk pemula, atau blog yang masih minim pr dan traffic bisa daftar sponsoredreview… lumayan, mereka tidak menuntut standar yang tinggi, approval dilakukan oleh sistem, tidak manual, dan bayaran tiap 2 minggu

Bagaimana melakukan Riset Pasar

2008-05-20T00:22:00.000+07:00

Ok saya tidak akan berpanjang lebar mari kita bahas

1. Silahkan buka Amazon.com atau Pulse.ebay.com tujuannya adalah untuk mencari ide awal bagi anda atau anda uga bisa menggunakan yang sedang best seller sebagai ide awal anda.

2. Setelah anda menemukan topic yang sesuai silahkan buka http://tools.seobook.com/keyword-tools/seobook/index.php disana masukkan topic yang anda pilih dan klik search maka akan tampil kata kunci yang biasa digunakan oleh orang2 dalam melakukan pencarian di search engine dan berapa kali dicari per harinya.

3. Setelah itu buka google.com dan cek satu-satu kata kunci yang telah kita dapatkan dengan cara diatas dengan memasukkan di google.com dan klik search, setelah itu perhatikan disebelah kanan atas berapa jumlah saingan anda dan kemudian gunakan rumus berikut

Ratio = Jumlah Kompetisi Di Search Engine : Jumlah pencarian kata kunci per bulan

Untuk Ratio pastikan anda mendapat hasil antara 0 - 15. Karena artinya anda telah menumakan Target Market yang sepi akan saingan.

Nah selamat mecoba.

by Anung

Langkah Mempersiapkan Bisnis Online

2008-05-20T00:19:00.001+07:00

1. lakukan riset pasar (Niche)

Sebelum mulai suatu bisnis di internet lakukan dahulu riset pasar, ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apa kira - kira yang sedang banyak dicari oleh rang di internet. Jika anda telah menemukan topik yang sedang banyak dicari oleh orang 50% persen kemungkinan bisnis anda akan sukses. Untuk langkah - langkah melakukan riset niche akan saya bahas di artikel selanjutnya.

2. Fokus pada 1 jenis bisnis online

Nah setelah anda menemukan niche yang sesuai anda mulai tentukan anda mau berbisnis online model seperti apa? Dalam bisnis online sendiri ada 3 jenis model bisnis yaitu PPC ( Pay Per Click ) contohnya adsense, adbrite, park domain dkk, PPS ( Pay Per Sale ) contahnya Ecommerce, Affiliate, PPL ( Pay Per Lead ) kalo jenis bisnis ini terus terang saya belum pernah mencoba yang jelas anda akan dibayar jika ada orang yang melakukan sign up melalui referensi anda walaupun belum tentu beli.

3. Buatlah website atau blog

Bangunlah website yang sesuai dengan bisnis anda dan siapkan konten yang bermutu usahakan jangan copy paste ya

4. Promosi

Yang terakhir promosikan website anda agar banyak pengunjungnya. Anda bisa promosi melalui forum tapi ingat promosi melalui forum ada etikanya, Dengan SEO agar website anda dapat bersaing di search engine, Mailing list, dan maih banyak lagi.

Menjadi Pemenang di Bisnis Internet

2008-05-19T23:57:00.000+07:00

Pernahkah anda memainkan permainan Monopoly? Permainan finansial yang sangat sederhana. Setiap pemain memiliki modal uang dalam jumlah yang sama dan juga kesempatan yang sama untuk menang.

Permainan ini adalah simulasi dari bisnis properti di dunia nyata. Para pemain dilatih dalam membuat keputusan-keputusan finansial. Seperti; kapan waktu membeli, menahan dan menjual. Juga melatih kecerdasan emosional dalam menerima tagihan, utang, munculnya angka dadu atau kartu yang tidak diharapkan dan juga menghadapi kekalahan dan kemenangan. Tak ketinggalan kecerdasan spiritual juga dilatih untuk mempertahankan permainan tetap bersih dari penyimpangan dan kecurangan.

Monopoly banyak mengajarkan hal penting untuk bagaimana bisa menjadi kaya. Salah satu pelajaran yang terpenting dan justru yang paling banyak di langgar orang yang ingin menjadi kaya adalah: Dunia orang kaya adalah DUNIA TANPA GAJI!!!

Monopoly mengajarkan kita untuk memiliki konsep berpikir Return (nilai kembalian), bukan Salary (gaji/upah). Karena itu kosa kata yang digunakan orang kaya berbeda dengan orang miskin.

Orang kaya bicara return, laba, investasi, target, tim, partnership, kas, peluang, produk, jaringan.

Orang miskin bicara gaji, lembur, pangkat/golongan, jenjang pendidikan, gelar akademis, bonus, honor, subsidi.

Dalam tindakan, orang kaya juga berbeda dengan orang miskin. Orang kaya adalah orang yang bersedia gagal sedikit setiap hari dengan mencoba melakukan hal-hal yang baru dan sedikit beresiko.

Sementara orang miskin cenderung menghindar untuk melakukan hal-hal baru karena beresiko dan takut gagal.

Padahal internet, listrik dan lampu misalnya, sebelumnya juga merupakan produk yang telah pernah melewati proses puluhan, ratusan bahkan ribuan kali eksperimen gagal!

Kabar baiknya adalah: Sekarang anda dapat kembali memainkan permainan orang-orang paling kaya di dunia melalui internet ini.

Internet sebagai papan permainan terbesar di dunia, telah terhubung dengan milyaran orang, terbuka selama 24 jam dan 7 hari dalam seminggu. Menggunakan uang yang sesungguhnya dan kekayaan yang benar-banar nyata, asli mengalir ke rekening bank anda.

Dengan menjadi Pemain di permainan finansial terbesar dan terluas ini, anda bisa menjadi kaya sambil bersenang-senang. Learning by Doing. Belajar sambil melakukan.

Sekali anda berhasil menguasai permainan ini, bisnis apapun yang sedang anda jalankan atau yang akan anda jalankan, menjadi lebih sukses dengan mudah. Karena itulah orang kaya itu semakin kaya. Setelah anda kaya, menjadi lebih kaya itu gampang.

Google Page Rank Update Terbaru

2008-05-19T23:54:00.001+07:00

Hoho…. sepertinya baru saja Google melakukan update page rank secara serentak. Segera cek page rank blog anda, apakah naik atau justru turun? Blog ini kembali ke PR 4 setelah sebelumnya diturunkan secara paksa ke PR 2, kemudian dinaikkan ke PR 3. Blog blog lain juga mengalami perubahan. Ada yang sebelumnya PR 3 menjadi 2, ada yang nol kini ke PR 4. Yang membuat saya heran, beberapa blog saya yang sudah lama tak diupdate malah diganjar PR 4. Inilah berkah beternak blog. Wakakakak….

Saya tak tahu persis bagaimana dengan situs-situs besar. Apakah seperti update bulan Januari 2008 lalu, yang menjadi wacana adalah update page rank Google mengurangi situs-situs yang memasang paid link, dan ini bahkan berimbas pada situs-situs besar. Update kali ini, beberapa blog saya yang memasang paid link malah naik. Ya begitulah, page rank memang gampang-gampang susah. Beberapa blog yang saya jagokan, saya update secara rutin kontennya, malah tak ada perubahan berarti. Blog yang sudah tak diurus malah dapat kenaikan PR.

Kabar kenaikan PR ini mulanya saya dapatkan ketika sudah beberapa hari tak mengecek acount payperpost. Saya tak percaya tumben hari ini banyak sekali qualified opportunities. Hampir 20-an dengan rata-rata $10-$20-an. Di Smorty juga, tumben ada tawaran masuk setelah hampir dua minggu hampir tak ada job. Oke deh segitu dulu. Saya mau nggarap review untuk reviewme dulu. Ini deadline, besok soale mau bayaran. Terima kasih Tuhan, Kau dengar doaku…… moga pertengahan Mei atau akhir Mei, mimpi punya laptop Sony Vaio bisa terwujud. Amien…

info sekolah dan universitas di indonesia

2008-05-19T23:32:00.002+07:00

Daftar Universitasdan Sekolah di indonesia

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2008-05-03T21:58:00.002+07:00

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Insulation Material Phenotherm Phenolic Foam- Superior Home & Building Insulation Material

2008-05-03T21:56:00.002+07:00

Insulation Material Phenotherm is a superior insulation material for your home & buidings with 100% fire retardance. Phenotherm phenolic foam has special features that enable it to resist fire, thus it is use for temperature control and insulation for commercial complexes, residential buildings, hospitals, cold storage, high altitude shelters etc. in almost all industries. Among many foams, phenolic foams are preferred for thermal insulation due to its lower flammability and lower gas generation than any other polymer insulation

Phenotherm Phenolic Foam is a rigid cellular foam insulation material with a substantially closed cell structure, whose polymer structure is made primarily from the poly-condensation of phenol, its homologues and/or derivatives with aldehydes and ketones.

Phenotherm insulations is cost effective and better than conventional insulation materials Because of various distinct properties like Low K Value, highest fire rating standards with 100% fire retardance, Correction & Chemical Resistance and tested as per the following BS standards.

Advantages over conventional insulation materials.

1. It is non - burning
2. Toxicity of Smoke is nil
3. Flame Spread is very low
4. During Continuous fire, it turns dark brown and shows surface cracks but does not either burn or loose shape.

Phenotherm is available in the form of Slabs, Pipe Sections, Buns/Blocks and can be cut & shaped to any size with hand tools. Thus, it is easy to install for diverse insulation applications such as under deck & over deck insulation, false ceiling and pipe sections.

Advantages of Phenotherm Slabs
Light Weight
High Performance
Non Combustible Material
Fire Resistant
Excellent Thermal Insulation
Heat Prevention Effect

Applications of Phenotherm Slabs
Exterior Buildings
Agriculture/residential/commercial buildings
Fire wall for office and/or other interiors
Cold storage
Ceilings
Aircraft Hangers

Advantages of Phenotherm Pipe Section
Easy Installation
Clean and seamless appearance
Space and energy savings
Light weight for handling
Comparing to fiberglass, there is absolutely no skin irritations

Applications of Phenotherm Pipe Section
Hot and cold water pipelines (including underground lines)
Ethanol plants
Petroleum and chemical transportation pipelines
Food processing plants
For any pipes that require insulation

green building : green building & home cooling- "Be An Energy Star With A Great Cooling System"

2008-05-03T21:55:00.001+07:00

If you are looking for a more inexpensive way to cool your home, you are not alone. In order to truly realize your money saving potential, we recommend you undertake the following advice.

1. Your Cooling System Must Suit Your Home

For you and your family, maintaining the right temperature is very important. With global warming on the rise, it has become increasingly difficult to cool your home at an affordable price.

2. Checklist At Home

- Service your central air conditioning unit yearly
- Install a programmable thermostat
- Air ducts need to be cleaned regularly
- Turn lights off when you leave your home

3. Home Cooling Systems

You can slash your energy bills by as much as forty percent simply by changing your furnace or central air unit. Seemingly these will work but in actutly they are the most expensive to maintain. The most essential thing to remember about cooling your home is air. Hot air rises, so cooling a basement or an apartment on the bottom floor of a two-story two-tennant suite will cost less than had you taken the top floor.

4. Insulation Is The Key

The older homes should be carefully inspected by a profession. If you are going to remodel your house anyways, you should really consider installing a cental air system. In particular, check your walls for the appropriate insulation and make sure windows are double paned.

5. Portable AC

or portable A/C is an air conditioner on wheels, that can be easily transported inside the house or office. They are currently commercially produced and sold in the U.S. with capacities of 6000 to 14000 BTU/h (1800 to 4100 watts output), with and without heaters, by companies like EdgeStar, DeLonghi, Sunpentown, Fujitronic and others.

Portable A/C comes in two forms, split and monoblock (has one or two 4? or 6? air ducts which are vented to outside). The single duct monoblock unit is often ineffective because air is pumped out of the room, this air is then replaced by hot air from outside reducing efficiency, simply attach a box to the back of the unit where the air is drawn over the condenser and buy some additional ducting and you have converted your unit to twin pipe, this will be able to build up a much greater temperature difference than a single pipe unit. Cooling power figures should be regarded suspiciously; it is best to look at the input power and the heat transfer figures

green building : alternative energy - "Corporate Spending on Green Energy"

2008-05-03T21:54:00.001+07:00

Reducing Dependency on Foreign Oil, Current Energy costs, and Tax Incentives Drive Adoption of Renewables and Energy Efficiency Products

The incorporation of energy savings systems, environmentally friendly processes and renewable energy technology has found its way into many business models for corporations and government agencies.

Whole Foods Market? (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, made history this month with its purchase of renewable energy credits that completely offset the Company's total electricity use. This move represents the largest purchase of wind energy credits in Canada and the United States. Michael Besancon, Whole Foods Market Southern Pacific Regional President and Green Mission task force leader recently stated, "Whole Foods Market is a leader in the natural and organic foods movement, and that involves caring about our communities and respecting our environment. This purchase of wind energy credits is a natural extension of that leadership and is integral to our core values. Offsetting 100% of our electricity use with renewable, clean energy strengthens our commitment to be a leader in environmental stewardship by helping to clean the air and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels."

This move by Whole Foods Market places renewable energy and in particular wind technology into mainstream business. Further evidence of mainstream acceptance of 'green' technology for energy efficiency and cost savings is seen in Wal-Mart's actions in this arena. With a philosophy that entails corporate and environmental responsibility as one of the largest companies in the world, Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) has made a commitment towards 'green' solutions. Wal-Mart identified three key goals in a corporate presentation; to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste, and to sell products that sustain our resources and environment.

Helping Wal-Mart reach these goals is a focus on specific areas within the company such as improving fleet efficiency. As the largest trucking fleet in the U.S., Wal-Mart feels that moves towards increasing efficiency means corporate savings, environmental protection and the beginning of a new 'green' conscious trend in business. "By being the leader, we will not only change OUR fleet, but eventually change trucks everywhere in the world. We will do ourselves a big favor, clean the air for our children, create new jobs, improve U.S. productivity, positively impact our country's energy security, and more," stated Wal-Mart's CEO Lee Scott, in his Twenty First Century Leadership speech.

Wal-Mart is also focusing on improving efficiencies within its stores through innovative technology in energy, heating, cooling, compressors, lighting, refrigeration etc. with a goal in mind of eliminating 30 percent of the energy used by their stores.

"Increasing our efficiency in energy not only reduces dependence on oil and saves money; it also avoids greenhouse gas emissions," described Scott.

To help meet their corporate goals, Wal-Mart has turned to Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping businesses, civil society, and government to design integrative solutions that create true wealth. As described by Cory Lowe, RMI Outreach Coordinator, "The Walmart project is twofold. One half entails helping Walmart to increase the efficiency of their trucking fleet, which is one of the biggest in the country, through various technologies and techniques; while the other half of the project is focused on the 'green' design of their stores. RMI is going to help design more efficient stores including increasing the amount of daylight that gets into stores so that customers feel more comfortable. We are also aimed at reducing the amount energy needed for heating and cooling through more passive heating and cooling systems. Walmart is looking to 'green' their image and improve the efficiency of their operations, which they realize will help them cut costs and increase profits over time."

Federal Agencies:

Corporations are not the only entities turning to renewables and energy efficiency products to cut costs, protect the environment and improve the bottom line; federal agencies are also pursuing this path. Helping to facilitate the process are companies like Honeywell International (NYSE: HON), who continues to contribute to this movement.

According to Steve Craig, Honeywell's Director, Federal Business Unit, National Energy Solutions, "Organizationally, we are staffed with trusted energy experts with a wide range of technology experience as well as having the engineering, design, and project management experience to create and implement comprehensive integrated energy solutions. Financially, Honeywell is investing every day in people and assets to continue our goal of being a leader in turn-key energy conservation programs."

Honeywell utilizes a vehicle called ESPC (energy savings performance contracting). "This is a financial vehicle where end users can upgrade their energy infrastructures using the guaranteed energy savings generated from the project as a funding source, not stretched capital dollars. What we are able to do is spread the costs of doing the project out over a period of time and have the guaranteed energy savings pay for the project versus capital dollars," explains Craig.

Key Drivers:

Green strategies are being supported by a variety of incentives, from tax credits to corporate image, to overall improvement of the bottom line. George Burnes, CEO of SmartCool Systems (TSX.V: SSC; OTC.PK: SSCFF), a marketer of advanced energy saving technologies describes, " As this trend continues and more pressure is placed by governments, the financial industry, consumers and shareholders of large corporations, new technology will become a driving focus by energy managers to implement in their reduction strategies."

In addition, companies, agencies and ultimately consumers are looking for alternatives as a means of offsetting the high costs of traditional energy and rising demand. An extension of this is the country's quest for reducing the dependence on foreign sources of oil as a matter of national security. "Virtually everything we touch, use, or eat has employed the use of electricity in its manufacture, packaging, marketing, and sale, states Mr. Tom Djokovich, CEO of XsunX Inc. (OTCBB: XSNX), "Due to a combination of rising power costs, and in many regions insufficient access to even enough power, the international business community is adopting the use of renewable energy technologies to reduce operating costs, gain competitive advantages, and improve customer perception and retention."

Steve Craig attributes several factors to the growth of corporate and federal adoption of strategic initiatives in clean energy such as "reducing our dependency on foreign oil, current commodity costs, emission reduction mandates and Federal Government Legislation (Epact 2005). In addition, financial incentives, tax credits, improved technology bringing the cost to implement down, and flat out common sense are helping to spur this trend," states Craig.

Enabling Technology:

Helping corporations and federal agencies pursue the 'green' path are innovative technologies that provide opportunities for energy savings, independence and an overall protection of the environment. "An innovative new way to accomplish this is through the use of Building Integrated Photovoltaics or ("BIPV") which allow photovoltaic material, in the form of photoelectric panels, to be incorporated into the design of building materials; thus, providing a new and smart way to integrate additional sources of power production into the operation of buildings," describes Djokovich. "To address the growing BIPV opportunity XsunX is developing Power Glass?, a PV thin film that may soon convert ordinary exterior glass curtain walls into BIPV power producing systems. "We see the use of BIPV renewable technologies to reduce dependency on utility or grid supplied electricity as part of an inevitable and growing trend in all building designs. At XsunX we believe that the BIPV market is in the early stage of an adoption cycle that may see years of growth and opportunity ahead," concluded Mr. Djokovich.

Honeywell's work with Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona entailed a photovoltaic solar-integrated roof that is believed to initially produce more than 120 kilowatts of power and provide free, zero-emissions energy for the base for decades. In addition to using BIPV, Honeywell also utilizes energy-saving water conservation strategies and treatment services, high efficiency lighting, energy management control systems as well as HVAC occupancy controls.

Working with companies to help them to realize their goals for energy efficiency, Smartcool believes they are specifically positioned through their unique product offerings to help companies reduce energy costs. "Reducing costs address not only the operating costs that continue to rise as the pressure on supply and demand face the industry, but as companies focus on the green energy initiatives and seek to purchase energy credits, Smartcool provides them a solution that allows them to position themselves as a Company engaged in a strategy to reduce emissions and become more energy efficient. The Smartcool energy management system allows managers to retro fit existing plant or design new construction with a proven solution used by Fortune 500 companies around the world. Introducing this technology to the North American market will allow us to impact the political pressures facing the industry," explains Burnes

green building : alternative energy - "Passive and Proud: Green Energy Ideas for Your Home"

2008-05-03T21:53:00.002+07:00

Solar energy comes from the sun. A biology class will tell you that in addition to affecting climate and weather, sunlight provides the energy that sustains most life on earth. It also can be harnessed to provide heating, lighting and electricity. Solar power has become a hot topic lately, but this technology is nothing new – Native Americans, people in China and even the early Greeks have historically turned their buildings to the sun for heat.

These early architects were using what is known as passive solar energy. This technique makes the best use of regular building materials to trap heat with no additional mechanical equipment used. Floors, windows and roofs play a role in attracting (or deflecting) the sun's rays.

There are a number of ways to take advantage of solar radiation, starting with the house's placement. Having the house face the equator (we'll assume we're in the Northern Hemisphere, thus the house should face south) means that it gets the day's sunlight. Window orientation is also important – for optimal efficiency, most windows should point within 30 degrees of due south. Maintaining a small percentage of north facing windows will ensure that your home is comfortable year round (and not cooking in the summer).

Rock or stone tile floors and brick walls will absorb the solar radiation and continue to give off heat after the sun is gone. While common windows allow heat to escape, special windows with low-e coating, multiple panes, inert gas fill, and/or insulated frames can reduce heat loss 50 to 75 per cent. By sealing your building envelope and insulating well, you will ensure that the heat stays in the house. It can then be distributed through the house using a regular ceiling fan.

Direct sunlight is not the only important light to think of when considering energy use. By using overall daylight to light a space you can cut down the need for electrical lighting and the heat that's created by it. Artificial lighting has only been the main source of illumination since the 20th century. And using natural light may have added benefits for your physical and mental health. In addition to windows, daylighting makes use of skylights, light pipes (also known as light tubes), atriums, and light shelves to illuminate the interior. This is best considered when building, but with a few small renos your house can be much brighter, naturally!

Passive cooling is another way to cut your bills and become more energy efficient. This is especially useful in warmer climates, where air conditioning can be a major power consumer. Passive cooling refers to using things for shading, to absorb the heat, and goes hand in hand with passive solar energy. It can be accomplished using exterior landscaping choices – trees and other vegetation – or interior/exterior building options, such as shades, blinds or special glazing on windows.

Whether you are building a new home, looking at doing some renovations or just want to cut your energy bill, passive solar energy and cooling techniques are an easy way to incorporated green ideas into your home. With the rising interest in environmental issues, they make an excellent selling feature and they'll save you money.

green building : alternative energy - "Alternative Sources of Energy"

2008-05-03T21:53:00.001+07:00

Fossil fuels, particularly coal, oil and gas are a dwindling resource. This is reflected in the price that consumers pay for their energy needs. It rises above average inflation each year and will continue to do this. Using these fuels also contributes to the environmental problems that the planet is experiencing such as acid rains and global warming. So are there any other options. Certainly there are many options, some more feasible than others. this article will detail some of the more popular alternative forms of energy.

The first alternative source of energy to discuss is solar energy. Energy from the sun has been understood and used for thousands of years. Today it is used in a sophisticated manner that can turn it into electricity to power our homes and gadgets.

Energy from the sun comes in two ways. It provides heat and light energy.

Using the heat supplied from the sun is the most obvious application of using the sun's energy. You can use it to get hot water or dry clothes or cook food. In fact, this has gone on for thousands of years.

The use of light energy is a relatively new innovation. The technology developed to do this is called the photovoltaic (PV) cell. When sunlight or the photons in sunlight hit the PV cell a reaction takes place that causes an electron to flow through the cell. Many cells and more sunlight cause more electrons to flow. This is the basis of direct current. Direct current can be used as is, stored in batteries for later use or converted to alternating current for use in homes.

Wind power appears to be capturing the popular imagination. This is due to the large amount of wind turbines that are cropping up all over the countryside. Wind turbines seem to get a mixed review. Some feel they are massive eyesores on the landscape whilst other appreciate the potential of using them to create energy.

A wind turbine is a modern and extremely more efficient wind mill. Huge blades are turned by the wind. This kinetic energy is used by a generator that makes electricity. This alternative method of energy is particularly popular in Scandinavian countries but many other European countries seem to be using them now.

Water power is another alternative source of energy. Traditionally, the building of a dam across a river has created hydroelectric power. This has problems in that it is expensive to make and you need a river. It also has environmental consequences for the surrounding region.

Wave energy has received some press recently however it is not really used in any commercial capacity. The principle of wave energy is to take advantage of the force of the wave to turn a generator. This can be done directly by the movement of the water. Or the wave can increase the air pressure in a housing that contains the generator. This increase in pressure drives the generator and produces electricity.

Geothermal energy is used in limited amounts throughout the world. The principle behind geothermal energy is to use the heat from the earths core. This can be done passively by using hot water that comes out of the ground. Or actively by pumping cold water into the hot spot areas. The heated water can be used directly or the steam can be used to turn generators.

alternative energy -"House Passes Legislation – A Big Vote For Alternative Energy Solutions"

2008-05-03T21:52:00.001+07:00

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to hold the oil industry accountable in passing H.R. 5351, the “Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008,” which reallocates nearly eighteen billion dollars in subsidies to the oil companies over the next 10 years and redirects those billions towards alternative energy solutions. It is now up to the Senate to ratify the legislation to help bring Americans a breath of fresh air at the gasoline pump and lay the facilitate the type of renewable energy investments we need to combat pollution

Congress is right to reallocate subsidies out of the pockets of Big Oil to clean, renewable alternatives because the oil industry, energized by $102-per-barrel oil, not only is recording record profits, but has been reinvesting more money into their own stock than on putting it into our nation’s energy infrastructure. If the petroleum industry negates to make the necessary investments that our nation needs to help us prosper, then it is only appropriate for Congress to revoke recently awarded oil industry.

By providing this new revenue, the bill provides urgently needed funding for key renewable energy investments, some of which will have direct and immediate impact to assist home owners struggling with high energy costs.
So please take a moment to call your Senator and tell them to support this legislation. The planet that you could save might be your own.

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2008-05-02T18:16:00.000+07:00

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Peugeot’s TT is go

2008-05-01T17:07:00.001+07:00

Peugeot set the wheels in motion for the production of the 308 RC Z coupé.
TT front
Auto Express Car Reviews
By James Foxall
01st May 2008
French company Peugeot this week revealed it will put its 308 RC Z coupé into production. The Audi TT rival is based on the same platform as the 308 hatch, but has a wider track.

The showroom version will retain the twin bubbles on the carbon fibre top and the curvy rear screen seen on the concept. It will also keep the clamshell bonnet and milled aluminium hoops which support the roof.

Under the bonnet, the RC Z will be powered by the same 1.6-litre turbo engine as the MINI Cooper S – that means an output of around 170bhp. It will also be offered with a less pow-er-ful normally aspirated 1.6-litre unit.

Top brass at Peugeot are hoping that introducing the 308 RC Z will help improve the firm’s image among young buyers, just as the 205 GTi did in the early Eighties.

The coupé concept was seen for the first time at last autumn’s Frankfurt Motor Show. A roadgoing model is likely to be unveiled at the same event next year, with an on-sale date in the UK of summer 2010. Prices are expected to start at around £17,500 – putting the Peugeot head-to-head with Volkswagen’s all-new Scirocco.

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe

2008-05-01T17:01:00.001+07:00

Pontiac tops off its little roadster

2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe |
Do we see just a wee bit of the original Viper GTS Coupe in the picture above? Hmmm…just might be, considering the man who championed that Dodge offering is today the "car czar" at General Motors. And from the moment the original Pontiac Solstice Roadster Concept made its debut at the Detroit auto show until today, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz has personally steered it through every obstacle in its path.

The Solstice Roadster has proven one of the few real success stories in the Pontiac line-up, in recent years. And with the demise of the largely forgettable GTO remake, the little two-seater is about the only product to justify that old tagline, "We build excitement."

There was certainly a lot of excitement when the hardtop show car made its debut, and now, at the 2009 New York Auto Show, its finally making it into production.

With its removable roof panels, the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe will offer much of the fresh air fun of the roadster, but it can also button down for cold weather driving, perhaps even a full Winter in Detroit , should a buyer be willing to pop for the right tires.

The overall look retains the striking, cab rearward look of the roadster, but the Solstice Coupe gets an aggressive new side profile, that makes it look a little more muscular, at least in our eyes, and less of a weekend boy toy.

Look for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice Coupe to roll into showrooms sometime early next year.

2007 Mazda Taiki Concept

2008-05-01T16:58:00.000+07:00

Following the winds of Nagare, Mazda says.

2007 Mazda Taiki Concept |

Click for High-Res Photo Gallery: 2007 Mazda Taiki Concept

Adding to its string of exotically flavored concept cars rotating on the world's auto-show stages in 2007, Mazda promises their new Taiki concept, shown at the Tokyo show, will be the logical successor to the likes of the Nagare.

2007 Mazda Taiki concept |

In Japanese, its name means "a large, shining radiance." In practical terms, the Taiki concept car is adding quite a glow to the Mazda stand at this year's Tokyo Motor Show.

The unusual prototype, with its striking, outrigger rear wheels, is the fourth in an arresting series of design exercises, including such previous stand-outs as the Nagari, Hakaze, and Ryuga. And while the Taiki is almost certainly not going to replace the RX-8, not in current form, anyway, it provides some of the cues for "the possible direction" Mazda will take with a future, rotary-powered sports car, said CEO Hisakazu Imaki.

The nagare, or "flow"-shaped design is a striking exercise in aerodynamics, but equally important is the technology under the hood of the two-seat sports car.

Mazda has been one of the most aggressive automakers when it comes to the use of hydrogen power, though unlike many competitors, it has focused on ways to burn the lightweight gas in an internal combustion engine, rather than pump it through a fuel cell.

The Taiki features an advanced version of the unique Mazda rotary engine capable of burning either hydrogen or gasoline, which would allow it to tap into the existing service station network, or switch to the clean fuel - which emits nothing but water vapor in its exhaust.

While the Taiki may have a long way to go before reaching production, a prototype dual-fuel rotary is being field-tested under the hood of the RX-8, and Mazda will soon go a step further with a hybrid/hydrogen rotary powering a version of its Premacy van. That model is also making its debut at this year's Tokyo show.

Honda Sets Fuel-Cell Plans in L.A.

2008-05-01T16:56:00.000+07:00

Calif. families will get green cars in ’08.

2007 Honda FCX Clarity |

Honda plans to lease a fuel-cell-powered vehicle directly to consumers inSouthern California for around $600 per month, beginning in the summer of 2008.

The leasing of the FCX Clarity will test both Honda's fuel-cell platform and as well as the ability of dealers to handle the futuristic technology, Honda representatives said after the unveiling of the new fuel-cell vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

A fuel-cell stack is the Clarity's primary power source as it charges an experimental lithium-ion battery that powers the vehicle's electric motor. Improvements in power density in the Clarity fuel-cell stack translate into a 20-percent increase in fuel-economy, which is estimated at 68 miles per gallon. The Clarity's overall range is about 270 miles, which is about 30 percent better than Honda's earlier fuel-cell vehicles. The fuel cell is about 400 pounds lighter and 45 percent smaller dimensionally.

The lithium-ion battery pack is 50-percent smaller than the current generation FCX fuel-cell vehicle's ultra-capacitor system. It also comes with a 5000-psi hydrogen storage tank, which carries about ten-percent more hydrogen and is easier to fill with existing infrastructure.

"Step-by-step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero emissions hydrogen fuel cell automobiles," said Tetsuo Iwamura, American Honda president and chief executive officer.

Honda also is pairing the Clarity with another experimental business, a home energy station that uses natural gas found in many American homes to power a fuel cell that produces heat and electricity as well as hydrogen. Using a home-fueling station can reduce both the cost and carbon dioxide emissions, said Ben Knight, vice president of Honda Research and Development America.

Honda officials declined to say how many vehicles it is prepared to put into the test or how much they will cost to build. However, Sage Marie, Honda spokesman, said leasing the FCX Clarity, which is designed to appeal to contemporary consumers, will help bring closer the day when advanced technology vehicles will become more common on American streets.

"We'll learn a lot about consumer reaction and customer interest," he said.

Marie, however, declined to make any predictions about when fuel-cell vehicles would become commercially viable. Strategically, though, the experiments with fuel-cell vehicles are becoming more important, he said.

"It's become a hedge against really high fuel prices," he said. "What it is in the long run is making sure the automobile remains viable for the next 100 years."