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Cleaning Up Hanford
04/04/2010
Ken Niles

Abstract: Presented Ken Niles from Oregon Department of Energy. For more than 40 years, the Hanford Nuclear Site in southeast Washington State produced plutonium for America's nuclear weapons program. The process created huge amounts of radioactive and chemically hazardous waste. Plutonium production ended at Hanford in 1988, and the cleanup officially began in May 1989. We are more than 20 years into a cleanup that is now forecast to end sometime after the year 2050. It is the largest environmental cleanup project in the world. Waste from Hanford poses a long-term threat to the Columbia River. Ken provides some historical background on Hanford's plutonium production and provide details of the cleanup that is underway, as well as the remaining challenges.

Taking the Byte out of Computers
03/14/2010
David Almond

Presented by David Almond, who has spent 30 years in the field with large organizations, recently was the Chief Information Officer for the Oregon State Department of Revenue, and was an active participant in a number of technology issues within the State. The presentation explores computer technology, current trends, and its effects on business and society, unpacking the term "computer technology" into some basic components then exploring what we see today with those basics in mind.

History of the American funeral: From the Puritans to Baby Boomers
03/07/2010
Rosemary Hardin

Presented by Rosemary Hardin, HGP member. This is a lively look back over the evolution of the American funeral, how and why it's changed, significant changes in attitudes about death—and how Baby Boomers have turned funerals upside down. Preceded by two musical performances in lieu of a reading.

Revising the Death Penalty in Oregon
02/28/2010
Matthew Rubenstein

Preceded by a short reading, this program by speaker Matthew Rubenstein was recorded on 2/28/10 at a regular meeting of the Humanists of Greater Portland (Oregon), or HGP -- website portlandhumanists.org/ Abstract: Oregon (population 3,421,399) has 10 times more capital cases pending than Washington (population 5,894,121) but has only half the population. Death penalty cases are complex and costly. They require 2 capital qualified attorneys

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