public function hash($buffer)
    {
        // already loaded phpass?
        if (self::$passwordHash === null) {
            include_once DOOZR_DOCUMENT_ROOT.'Service/Doozr/Password/Service/Lib/Hash.php';
            self::$passwordHash = new Doozr_Password_Service_Hash(8, false);
        }

        // return the calculated hash
        return self::$passwordHash->HashPassword($buffer);
    }