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Located in Virginia Beach (Greenwich), Courtyard by Marriott Virginia Beach Norfolk is convenient to Sentara Leigh Hospital and Gallery of Military Circle. This hotel is within close proximity of Lake Taylor Hospital and Cypress Point Country Club. Read More About Courtyard by Marriott Virginia Beach Norfolk
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UsAbout Us
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The people behind Community Care — and how we are improving health services in our state
NetworksOur Networks
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A community-based infrastructure to target patients and populations in need
- TECCA Overview
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Rapid-cycle quality improvement means better quality, lower costs
CCNC has developed quality improvement and care management initiatives that achieve access, quality, utilization and cost objectives by improving the management of patient care. These initiatives aim to assess the needs and severity of their enrolled population in order to target care and disease management initiatives where they are most beneficial. Each network has at least one designated clinical director who is a physician champion taking the lead in spreading quality improvement initiatives throughout their network. Additionally, each network designates QI teams, each with a lead QI Coordinator, to employ the model of rapid cycle quality improvement developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This model stresses setting aims, establishing measures, making system changes that remove barriers to excellent care. The QI Coordinators work with their network QI team, other network staff, primary care practices, and community partners to meet program-wide performance metrics in effort to improve quality and contain cost. Network QI Coordinators meet with each other on a regular basis to share best practices and develop improvement strategies that will generate improvement within their network, but also contribute to meeting overall statewide program objectives.
Community Care relies on health networks organized and operated to support PCPs and the medical home. At the heart of these networks are quality improvement and care management initiatives: targeted, patient-focused, physician-created programs that help health professionals provide excellent care at a reasonable cost. Using patient data, these professionals analyze population needs, choose the best care opportunities to pursue and then help define the performance standards they will be expected to meet. This physician-oriented approach to improvement is key to obtaining provider support for the medical home model.
Creating a quality improvement initiative
Community Care's clinical directors ask the following questions when deciding whether to implement a particular quality improvement (QI) initiative:
- Are there are enough Medicaid enrollees with the disease/condition addressed by the proposed QI to obtain a return on investment?
- Will best practices lead to predictable and improved outcomes?
- Are appropriate evidence-based practice guidelines available?
- Will physicians support the process?
- Will patient education and support improve outcomes?
- Are best practices and outcomes measurable, reliable and relevant?
- Does evidence suggest that the proposed quality measures will improve care?
- Is there room for improvement? Does a gap exist between best practices and everyday practice?
- Can baselines for need, performance and improvement be measured longitudinally?


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USD's mission captures the values that have made it a prominent Catholic university, a vibrant institution of quality higher education, and an Ashoka U Changemaker Campus.
Faculty collaborate one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students on research, scholarship and creative activity, allowing students to experience the excitement of original discovery.
Our students strive for academic excellence and take great pride in serving their communities. At USD, students learn to think critically, act globally and work collaboratively to achieve their full potential.
USD has an active, thriving campus community. In addition to its sublime setting — enhanced by an average 300 days of sunshine each year — USD offers students an abundance of academic programs, facilities and resources.
More than 1500 full-time and 750 part-time employees worked at USD in 2011, in capacities ranging from faculty to food service to administration to groundskeeper.
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The Value of Diversity: Buddhist Reflection on More Equitably Orienting Global Interdependence
|Event Start Date
|Thursday, March 20, 2014
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall Warren Auditorium
|Event Start Time
|7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
|Cost: Free
Peter Hershock, East-West Center, Honolulu will give a presentation entitled "The Value of Diversity: Buddhist Reflection on More Equitably Orienting Global Interdependence"
Sponsored by the Values Institute, The Philosophy Department, Center for Inclusion and Diversity, Asian Studies (via Faculty/Student Interaction Fund), AAUP-USD
PETER D. HERSHOCK is Coordinator of the Asian Studies Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He has earned degrees from Yale University (B.A., Philosophy) and the University of Hawai'i (Ph.D., Asian and Comparative Philosophy) and has focused his research on the philosophical dimensions of Buddhism and on using Buddhist conceptual resources to address contemporary issues, including: technology and development, education, human rights, and the role of values in cultural and social change. His books include: Liberating Intimacy: Enlightenment and Social Virtuosity in Ch'an Buddhism (1996); Reinventing the Wheel: A Buddhist Response to the Information Age (1999); Technology and Cultural Values on the Edge of the Third Millennium (edited, 2004); Chan Buddhism (2005); Buddhism in the Public Sphere: Reorienting Global Interdependence (2006); Confucian Cultures of Authority (edited, 2006); Changing Education: Leadership, Innovation and Development in a Globalizing Asia Pacific (edited, 2007); Educations and their Purposes: A Conversation among Cultures (edited, 2008), and Valuing
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The Predynastic Period extends over a very long span of time marking the first evidence of human civilization beginning to appear in Egypt. That is, it is the period that preceded the invention of writing and recording, a period that witnessed the first man recording his ideas and achievement and expressing himself using written language on papyrus.
The process of recording events using the Egyptian Language, Hieroglyphics, began to appear in Egypt by the end of 4000 BC and the beginning of 3000 BC. Writing is considered the separate line between Prehistoric and historic Ages.
Discovered monuments contributed in clearing the vision over the prehistoric man through adding information about– among other things – his origin, culture, religious beliefs, houses, tools and tombs.
The separate lines between the recorded prehistoric ages and the division of historical periods differ from one country to another. In the Nile Valley, for example, writing appeared at the beginning of the year 3000 BC, whereas in Mesopotamia, it appeared in 2800 BC.
Prehistoric period is divided into three important phases, Paleolithic (600,000 –10,000 BC), Mesolithic Age (10,000–5,000 BC) and Neolithic Age (5,000 –3100 BC).
In Egypt, the Neolithic Age witnessed man's efforts in creating stable life either from the social, economic or religious aspects. Emerging from the surrounding environment and relying on nature imitation, his thoughts carried the meaning of creation and hard work.
This age is divided into two phases:
The first phrase is the one in which tools were made of stone rather than metal. This stage is called Neolithic. The second stage began with man using metals, particularly copper. Thus, it is called Chalcolithic Age.
The main centers of the first phase for the Neolithic Age, discovered up till now in Egypt are: Marmadat Bany Salama (Western Delta), Al Amry (at the head of the Delta), Northern Helwan, and Faiyum. These places represent the Northern Culture. The Southern Culture is represented by Deir Tasa (Tasa Monastry), in El-Badari City, Asyut. The Neolithic Age Culture is distinguished by general features, most importantly are:
1- Raising animals and livestock (like sheep, goats, oxen, pigs, and dogs) of which man availed in houses and farms.
2- Learning cultivation and establishing a stable settled life.
3- Smoothing stones to create tools and producing various kinds of them.
4- Making pottery, baskets, mats, and ropes, weaving flax, and producing leather.


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- Infowars - http://www.infowars.com -
158 Peace Corps volunteers leave Honduras
Posted By kurtnimmo On January 17, 2012 @ 1:37 pm In Border Control & Illegal Immigration,Old Infowars Posts Style | Comments Disabled
January 17, 2012
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) – All 158 Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras left the country on Monday, weeks after the United States announced that it would pull them out for safety reasons.
The U.S. group said in late December that it was bringing home volunteers from Honduras and suspending training for new volunteers in El Salvador and Guatemala, though existing volunteers would remain in the latter two countries.
The region is plagued by gang violence and Honduras is considered to have the highest murder rate in the world. Honduras President Porfirio Lobo said Monday that the Peace Corps volunteers had been affected by rising crime, but neither he nor U.S. officials have cited specific attacks as reasons for the withdrawal.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Ledy Pacheco said instructions for the withdrawal came from Washington, where the group's head office is located.
Article printed from Infowars: http://www.infowars.com
URL to article: http://www.infowars.com/158-peace-corps-volunteers-leave-honduras/
Click here to print.
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iCade for the iPad
Definitely not a new product, but still cool Christmas present for the ipad geek in your life! I present you the iCade! To use the iCade, gently slide the iPad into the cradle. The iCADE uses Bluetooth to connect to the iPad so there's nothing else you need to do. You're ready to "insert coin" and game on! Here's a link of games that are compatible with the iCade.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 13th, 2011 at 11:30 am and is filed under Geek. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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Columbia Crest's Vineyard 10, a vineyard with mixed red and white grapes planted along the Columbia River, is the largest single estate vineyard in Washington, with some of the very oldest wines. Columbia Crest's Vineyard 10 Two Vines series of wines features varietals as well as a trio of blends; Two Vines White, Two Vines Rosé, and Two Vines Red. These are all fermented in stainless steel fermenters, and the blend is created after
Two Vines Vineyard 10 White wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, all from Washington. Colette and John Bancroft of the Palm Beach Post have picked Columbia Crest's 2006 Two Vines Vineyard 10 White Wine as their "wine of the week." They refer to the wine as "a masterful example of blending," and describe it as "A delectable, very fruit forward blend" Wine Spectator called it a "Best Value" at 88 points. They've done an admirable job of creating a blend here; it really really works. You do notice the Chardonnay, but it's magically transformed by the other wines; I'm not a Chardonnay fan, at all, (living in Southern California can ruin Chardonnay for you), but I very much like this blend; the other wines enhance each other, and create something greater than their parts. This is definitely a "can't go wrong" summer wine.
Two Vines Vineyard 10 Rosé is a blend that's almost completely Syrah, with a small amount of Viognier. According to the Columbia Crest Web site puts it, "Select Syrah fruit was de-stemmed and crushed into refrigerated tanks for a 24-hour cold soak to extract the desired color. To minimize phenolic pick-up, the juice was then drained away from the skins into temperature controlled stainless steel fermenters." In other words, the grapes were selected, and crushed with the skins in order to achieve the "rosé" color. Then to avoid the grape skins making the wine bitter, the juice was drained and put into stainless steel tanks for fermentation. After, "To enhance the fresh fruit aromatics, a small amount of stainless steel fermented Viognier" was added, largely as a way of enhancing the wine's aroma. I like this wine, very much—having said that, the last bottle we purchased was disappointing; I'm not sure what was wrong, but it wasn't the same wine, even though it was exactly the same year as the others I've enjoyed. When it's good, it's a lovely light summer wine, perfect for sipping, and wonderful with summer salads.
Two Vines Vineyard 10 Red is a blend of Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Barbera, Mouvedre, Dolcetto varietals. Some of the wines used in the final blend were aged 12 - 14 months in French and American oak barrels. This is a fabulous basic red table wine, wonderful with food, but surprisingly good on its own. It's another "can't go wrong" table wine, and I do think that the blend is rather amazing. I had someone who doesn't like red wines, ever at all, try this and ask for a second glass. It does seem to change a bit in terms of the food it's served with—almost as if different foods bring other enhance the wine's own flavors.


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German Two-, Five-Year Government Note Yields Drop to Record Low
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- German two- and five-year notes opened higher, pushing the yields to record lows.
The two-year note yield slid as much as two basis points to 0.119 percent. It was at 0.13 percent as of 7:09 a.m. London time. The five-year yield dropped as much as five basis points to 0.665 percent, the least since Bloomberg started collecting the data in 1990.
German 10-year bunds also rose, with the yield slipping five basis points to 1.69 percent.
To contact the reporter on this story: Lucy Meakin in London at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Tilles at email@example.com


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Curry Buffet Dinner for 12 - Part 2
Today's recipes are: Potato Curry Soup; and Compressed Ginger Rice
As promised yesterday, here are more of my curry recipes. Today you get the Potato Curry Soup recipe and then the Compressed Ginger Rice recipe. You can serve both of them on any occasion – they don't have to be part of an Indian evening. The soup is velvety smooth and delicately spiced – everyone asked for the recipe – and the Ginger rice is great because you can prepare it ahead of time and warm it in the oven at your leisure. But first the stories…
Fish Chowder made the Narragansett way
As I mentioned in my last post, we had my in-laws to stay for a few weeks and were able to celebrate my brother-in-law's 42nd birthday with friends, 16 of us to be precise. For this special event, I made a Narragansett Fish Chowder for starters, stuffed smoked salmon parcels for an in-between course, and then smoked chicken and salads for the main course. I had Sally and Em bring the desserts – very clever on my part as they were both delicious. All recipes will follow in due course!
Leek and Potato Soup
Joerg is one of the world's greatest gardeners. If he leaves a tool out with a wooden handle, voila, we have a spade tree. In February, we cut back the vines at the front of the house and he stuck some of the off cuts into the ground….now we have more vines to cut back. Same with the red currant bushes. He also always plants as though we are going to be asked by WHO to supply food to all of Africa on a daily basis. My current surplus is leeks, which was preceded by winter lettuce and Swiss chard. We let one chard plant go to seed last year, let it self-seed and we get new plants coming up daily. Anyone out there have chard recipes for a desperate woman?? Anyone want any chard plants??
Pumpkin Chestnut Soup
Mid-April we were invited to a dinner party at Sally and Ed's, along with Jane and Rob. Sally has eleven Siamese cats so one feels like you're in kitty heaven! They also have 3 dogs, 30-odd sheep, 6 horses, lots of chickens, a couple of ducks and a Guinea pig called "Poo". Occasionally I house sit for them for a few days, which is always fun and sometimes interesting, like the time Tiger Lily, one of the kitties, decided to use my shoe as a kitty tray…..!


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Select Local Merchants
The Hoffman EateryRead MoreSeafood stew and skewered meats are served fresh from the grill at The Hoffman Eatery, a Brazilian spot catering to Alexandria's Eisenhower East - Carlyle District visitors. The menu doesn't include any low-fat items, so set aside some extra calories for your visit. Ample parking is located near The Hoffman Eatery. The Hoffman Eatery is making the best of both worlds happen: creating food that is full of flavor and affordable!2461 Eisenhower AvenueAlexandria, VA US
Fogo de ChaoRead MoreMomo Sushi Shack has many delicious vegan and gluten-free options on their sushi-rich menu. Sit on tree trunks as you enjoy not only the exciting food but also the cozy, distinctive ambiance of many diners' favorite spot for sushi. Exciting options to choose from on the Momo Sushi Shack menu create a dilemma for customers. A pickle plate and a seaweed salad are among the appetizer options. There is something for everyone on the menu, such as Karaage, which is Japanese fried chicken with garlic, orange, soy sauce, and sake. The Heritage Pork Betty gets rave reviews. Pay is cash only.1101 Pennsylvania Ave NWWashington, DC US
Brazilian BakeryRead MoreBrazilian Bakery in Silver Spring is a well-known bakery, delivering a familiar atmosphere with a delicious menu. The excellent quality, set in a nice atmosphere, will have you visiting again and again. There's not really a recommended attire, so feel free to dress comfortably. Also, though the prices are considered to be lower than average, you aren't going to sacrifice any quality. In addition to its quick service (take-out is available), the restaurant also offers delivery, and can even cater an event for you. A favorite for both lunch and dinner, Brazilian Bakery is a tasty choice when you're in the mood for Latin cuisine, and want to break away from the typical Mexican fare. Don't worry about trying to find a spot on the street, as visitors to the restaurant do have access to a private parking lot nearby.13655 Georgia AveSilver Spring, MD US
Chima Brazilian SteakhouseRead MoreAt Chima Brazilian Steakhouse in Vienna, you can treat yourself to a hearty meal of steak and potatoes. Calories take a backseat at Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, where low-fat anything is barred from the menu. Pick your poison and toast your evening — drinks are also served here. Worried about taking a big group out for a night on the town? Chima Brazilian Steakhouse has you covered with private rooms made for loud parties. No need to be formal, business casual will pass. Treat yourself to something nice and take advantage of the valet services near Chima Brazilian Steakhouse. A visit to Chima Brazilian Steakhouse will set you back less than $30 per person, so you can make it a regular part of your schedule. At Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, you can pay with any major credit card.8010 Towers Crescent DrVienna, VA US
Texas de BrazilRead MoreOne of the most-visited restaurants in Fairfax, Texas de Brazil offers fantastic steak. It's a culinary destination for customers that want fantastic service and a terrific meal. There's no specific recommended attire, so feel free to dress casually and comfortably. Also, though the price can be a bit higher than average, the experience here is definitely what you pay for. For those keeping an eye on their diet, the robust menu does feature items that are gluten-free, low-fat, and vegetarian. Plus, it's been tabbed as a nice option for both large groups and special occasions. It offers convenient local delivery, and can even cater events in the area. Or, if you just want to stop by for a drink, the restaurant has a good selection at its bar. A highly-regarded option for dinner in Fair Oaks, Texas de Brazil definitely won't leave you disappointed. Its steakhouse is known to be "traditional," while the salad bar is "beautiful" and "awesome." Don't worry about trying to find a spot on the street, as visitors to the restaurant do have access to a private parking lot nearby.11750 Fair Oaks MallFairfax, VA US
Charbroil GrillRead MoreCheck out Woodbridge's Charbroil Grill. Those with dietary restrictions--such as vegan, low-fat and gluten-free--will enjoy the menu at Charbroil Grill. Pick your poison and toast your evening — drinks are also served here. Parents appreciate Charbroil Grill's kid-friendly attitude, and little ones are often seen dining out with the adults. A private room is available for reservation at Charbroil Grill for those nights when you take the whole gang out to celebrate. Enjoy wifi here free of cost. No need to dress up for a trip to Charbroil Grill — the casual restaurant encourages laid-back attire. Take the comfort of your own home and add great grub from Charbroil Grill to create the perfect night. If time is of the essence, Charbroil Grill's take-out option may be a better fit. Don't waste time or money searching for a parking space — pull into the lot next door at no extra charge. Charbroil Grill provides ample space for bikers to store their bikes. Charbroil Grill offers a nice selection of mid-range cuisine, so you can expect a meal there to cost about $30 or less per person. Charbroil Grill accepts all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. The dinner menu is a crowd pleaser at the restaurant, though breakfast and lunch are also served.14239 Potomac Mills RdWoodbridge, VA US


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Topic Title: Buying Nuclear Electricity from EDF the Cheap Way
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Created On: 06 January 2014 05:01 PM
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06 January 2014 05:01 PM
On its north cost the French have around 16GWe of nuclear power generating capacity.
With four cross channel 2GW HVDC links we could share half of that power output with the French. They in turn could take some of our wind energy.
I suspect the 4 2GW HVDC links will be not more than £4 to £6 billion pounds, throw in a profit margin to help allow EDF to fund their plant life extension (PLEX) work and we might have the basis of a good deal. We could get access to 8 GW of French nuclear power generation capacity for less than the cost of one ridiculously expensive new 1.6 GW EPR reactor.
This would give us access to cheap nuclear and other forms of energy from continental Europe while we develop cheaper forms of nuclear energy. It will benefit both the French economy and our economy.
This will help the French as they want to diversify away from nuclear power to some extent any way, sharing some of their nuclear power with us is an excellent way of starting the process.
Just a thought...
James Arathoon
09 January 2014 09:43 AM
James, are you assuming that France has 8GW of spare capacity? There's already a 2GW bidirectional cross-channel link, which rarely operates at full capacity.
09 January 2014 11:04 AM
James, are you assuming that France has 8GW of spare capacity? There's already a 2GW bidirectional cross-channel link, which rarely operates at full capacity.
Just a quick view of the gridwatch graph seems to show that the link has been maxing out at least 40% of the time, in the last 6 months, in the France to England direction .
I suppose it depends on how the French government and investors decide they want to invest in their electicity network. The cost of solar power is dropping and France is in a lot better position to harvest solar energy cost effectively at the moment than we are in the UK. The French may decide that in competition with solar it is not worth investing in plant life extensions on a large proportion of their nuclear fleet (perhaps even 8GW worth).
However the solar equation for us is very different and British consumers would perhaps choose to invest in the French Nuclear Network in a different way to French consumers, if that brought us much cheaper electricity for the next 20 years; compared with a range of other competing investment strategies, like new Third generation nuclear.
It goes without saying that this would have to be an EDF led initiative based on how they saw the future of their electricity supply business. If a large proportion of the French Nuclear fleet of power stations prove uneconomic to life extend, even at UK electricity prices, then the French may have to soon have to start importing electricity, rather than have a surplus that they can sell to the UK and other countries.
James Arathoon
12 January 2014 01:34 PM
This is what Jim Ratcliffe has to say about the price of UK electricity for his business...
Jim Ratcliffe and other bosses of energy intensive industrial companies need to form part of consortia looking for cheaper forms of energy generation.
The government is ensuring they don't need to be, because of the new energy welfare payments they will receive. These energy welfare payments will be collectively paid by all electricity consumers including those on the minimum wage.
One of the interesting things Jim Radcliffe says is that in France he has just done a deal with a Nuclear power station to pay EURO 45 per MWh (£37.50 per MWh).
If 8GW of HVDC power transport was connected between England and France, Jim Radcliffe could make deals like that (+ transmission charges) in the UK. Ineos gets a good deal without having to put his company on Energy Welfare (under the terms of the Energy Bill) to keep it running in the UK.
Many senior people in the nuclear industry actually think that they will be able to build expensive new third generation nuclear (over 10 to 15 year time spans) without any price competition from other technologies, because their friends in Government have fixed things up for them. They think they can keep the vocational nuclear skills of between 1000 and 2000 highly skilled technicians and engineers going in the UK nuclear industry by funding a few extra academic researchers in our universities, without putting in place any sort of vision or strategy to actually deliver the cheaper electricity the country needs.
Having now written to Ineos I now plead and beg Jim Radcliffe to come to this issue with some leadership. Instead of spending your time negotiating a more generous government backed energy welfare scheme for energy intensive businesses; please support energy industry engineers who want to deliver lower price electricity to help keep your businesses, and other energy intensive businesses, cost-effectively employing people in the UK.
James Arathoon
22 March 2014 04:37 PM
Just to remind you that I recently suggested installing 8 GW of elcetricity interconnectors between England and France so that we can use some more of the French Nuclear power output from their northen coast.
I have since been told by an AMEC engineer that AMEC (using its new french subsidiary) is ready to contribute to the French nuclear reactor life extension engineering work that will be needed if that is the future path EDF and UK consumers wish to follow. (PLEX work increasing nuclear plant lifetimes from 40 to 60 years)
Adding inflation increasing, the wholesale price of electricity from the proposed Hinkley point C EPR is already somewhere between £100 per MWh and £110 per MWh at today's prices; originally being set at £92.50 per MWh at 2011 prices. Long term contracts on electricity from life extended French Nulcear plants are likely to be much cheaper. Some of the savings made can be ploughed into fourth generation nuclear reactor development programs, including a molten salt nuclear reactor development programme.
President Hollande tells us he wants to reduce France's dependence on nuclear power from 75% of grid electricity to 50%. This will require huge premature write-offs from closing nuclear assets early. Valuble assets that could potentially make money providing baseload electricity at market cometitive prices to the UK over the next 20 years.
Additional market pressures to close down nuclear plants early in France is now growing faster than expected. If the EU sees that the energy market in Europe is so dysfunctional that existing energy generation assets cannot be retasked intelligently and commercially to offet the speed and scale of future electricity price rises accross Europe then it has to act. And if it does not act it will be seen as corrupt and unaccountable to those people in Europe who do not want to pay more than they need to, for their electricity supplies, over the next 20 years.
See article below...
France's nuclear power generation cuts due to increased wind and solar output
"The world's biggest operator of nuclear power plants, Electricite de France (EDF), found itself having to reduce energy production from its nuclear reactors in order to avoid overloading the grid this week.
EDF found itself having to reduce its nuclear output because the grid was receiving higher wind and solar output from Europe than expected.
This is seen by some energy analysis as a potential future earnings limit for aging nuclear power plants.
According to Dominique Miniere, deputy director of engineering and production at EDF, the utility is varying the output from its nuclear reactors "more and more often." "
i.e utilisation is gradually decreasing and nuclear electricity generation costs gradually forced up. If you want to watch the French Grid here it is...
A recent BBC story for more background.
James Arathoon
22 March 2014 05:23 PM
James, et al,
You may well be correct in asserting that electricity from across the channel will be cheaper than building new capacity here. Indeed, it is hard to conceive of it being more expensive than the government has signed up for.
There are two potential issues with cross channel sources:
First, much of England is within downwind scope of Northern France, so an accident could, if the wind was in the wrong direction, leave much of England irradiated. Fukushima was "lucky" in that most of the radioactivity was delivered to the Pacific, the world's largest Ocean, and much much bigger than the channel.
In that context, a major criticism of the recent damning UN report on the Hinckley scheme was the lack of consultation about the scheme with neighbouring countries, arguing that the probability of an accident affecting them is too small to consider. I think we can assume France has the same view about its neighbours. So cross channel electricity also has risks.
Second, your scheme depends on the French extending the life of their power stations. Yet older power stations have greater risks. So components at a power station with a design life of 40 years can deteriorate over the 40 years, and the risks will therefore grow. If the operation is extended, the risks will become bigger, albeit from a low (but not zero) level. After all, the income from the sale of electricity no longer has to include substantial capital depreciation costs of the original build, but only on its maintenance and replacement of life expired components, so the potential profits are very attractive. To the owners (who do not face liability for accidents that do occur), it is a "no-brainer". This is less clear for the rest of us who will have to bear the costs of the accidents. From the experience of Fukushima, it seems likely that some communities will bear far heavier blight than others, but we will all suffer some loss.
Japan has now lost all its nuclear generation. It is remarkable that they have largely been able to make up nearly all this loss by buying gas on world markets (and the consequential rising price of gas has hurt us all). If we had to shut down our nukes (even if there was no escape of radioactivity in an accident), I do not think we could keep the lights on here. Yet a similar calamity to wind, or to energy efficiency, is inconceivable. So the nukes are reducing our energy security, whether they are here or across the channel.
David Hirst
David Hirst
22 March 2014 08:27 PM
The French and UK regulatory authorities would of course have an important role in scrutinising such plans and I hope that enough information can be released to give the French and UK publics reasonable confidence in what may be proposed.
The French Nuclear fleet is much more standardised in design than our nuclear power stations were, and if their are systematic issues which increase the risk of an accident even allowing for the PLEX work, then the facts should be released so that they can be debated in public. If much of the French nuclear fleet cannot be life-extended then this would be a very significant problem for French energy security and presumably be a very strong upward pressure on the price of natural gas and other fossil fuels across the whole of Europe.
At the moment the UK government says it wants 16 GW of new third generation nuclear power stations operating in the UK by 2030 (EPR, AWBR, AP1000 etc). This target is now impossible to achieve. The very best that £30 billion of tax payer guaranteed third generation nuclear investments can now bring is 5.9 GW extra generation capacity by 2030 [two plants at Hinkley Point and two plants at Wylfa]. As Sizewell B will be the only legacy nuclear power station operating in the UK by then, the best £30 billion of tax payer guaranteed funds brings us by 2030 is 1 or 2 GW less nuclear generating capacity than we currently have.
None of new third generation nuclear operators will have to pay commercial insurance or pay commercial rates for their nuclear spent fuel and waste to be safely stored underground for tens of thousands of years. All the existing long term problems that the nuclear industry face in terms of waste classification, handling and storage remain unsolved.
Given the age of the French Nuclear Plants we are talking about PLEX work that will keep most of them running from roughly 2020 to 2040.
My worries are not about our ability to meet energy needs into the 2030's (as long as we do not prematurely shut our coal stations), they are about what happens after that. Shale gas is a short term resource (a few decades at most) - fast to ramp up and very quick to run out. I believe we have to be in a position to start the ramp up fourth generation nuclear from 2035 onwards.
High Temperature Molten salt reactors (700 to 1000 DegC) of small modular design will provide direct process heat for energy intensive industries (including steel, aluminium and chemicals industries) and higher thermal efficiency electricity generation (50% instead of 35%). Higher efficiency means less water usage, and even allows the option of a Braden gas cycle, to reduce water use still further.
If we want to role out say 8 to 16 GWt per year cost effectively we have to dump third generation nuclear. Between now and 2035 new third generation nuclear is just a distraction from the main tasks at hand in the next 20 years...
1) safe and reliable life extensions of existing nuclear plant.
2) shale gas exploitation with local public consent
3) development of high temperature molten salt nuclear reactors and new more cost effective waste handling, separation and storage techniques
4) bringing down the cost of offshore wind, solar and tidal range/stream power for more mainstream roll-out at commercially competitive prices.
We might achieve the governments 16 GW third generation nuclear target between 2040 and 2050 if there is no revolution in the face of spiralling energy and food costs. China now aims to have their first prototype molten reactor operational by 2024. Investor's money and the best engineering talent will be following on their coat-tails.
To assign £30 billion of public loan guarantees so that certain favoured energy companies are allowed to double the real terms cost of electricity they sell into the market; to use the law of the land to lock-in these high energy prices, index linked for another 35 years, using secret contracts (the public will never get to see and scrutinise); the only possible explanation for this conduct is seriously stupid, utterly corrupt or just plain mad.
How can the nuclear industry attract the very best young engineers into the nuclear industry on this basis? Well I think pn current government plans the best most thoughtful and inventive young engineers will want to go and work in biotech, aerospace, agriculture or with satellite technology instead - where they can work on new exciting technologies.
James Arathoon
31 March 2014 08:04 PM
DrHirst wrote:
> Yet a similar calamity to wind is inconceivable
How about the regular low wind events that cover the UK? Far from being inconceivable we regularly lose all output from the entire UK wind fleet. The John Muir trust report on UK wind output from 2008-10 found it was:
- below 20% capacity more than half the time
- below 10% capacity over one third of the time
- below 2.5% capacity for one day in twelve
- below 1.25% capacity for one day a month.
Imagine if a conventional powerstation produce those stats. It would be shut down as a lemon faster than you can say 'bogus weather scaremongering subsidy farmers'.
31 March 2014 09:49 PM
To assign £30 billion of public loan guarantees so that certain favoured energy companies are allowed to double the real terms cost of electricity they sell into the market; to use the law of the land to lock-in these high energy prices, index linked for another 35 years, using secret contracts (the public will never get to see and scrutinise); the only possible explanation for this conduct is seriously stupid, utterly corrupt or just plain mad.
James, James, James what are we to do with you. Now come on my good man drop this constant bickering against our political leaders. It's not their money they are wasting, it's ours, so it really does not matter. Today's mistakes will simply lead to Lordships later on.....all these political leaders are the same; get yourself elected and get on board the gravy train......High Speed to Westminster GT2.
01 April 2014 03:51 PM
At the recent "IET Nuclear engineering for safety, control and security" meeting nr Bristol, I mentioned this plan "Buying Nuclear Electricity from EDF the Cheap Way" to a senior engineering manager as part of a question put in front of over a hundred nuclear engineers there.
The response wasn't nearly as negative as it could have been, given EDF has so much riding on Hinkley Point C.
EDF is set currently on a plan costing £16 billion for 3.2 GW of power from two new EPR nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C. Over 35 year contract that's a maximum of 90 GW years of electricity at more than twice the current market rate (assuming 80% utilisation or capacity factor).
For my plan redirecting 8GW of French nuclear for twenty years from 2020 to 2040, will give us 128 GW years of electricity at the market rate (assuming 80% utilisation or capacity factor). [Nuclear capacity that would otherwise be shut down under President Hollandes plan]
£16 billion Budget realocated
Lets say 8 GW of new interconnectors across the channel to supply the Greater London metropolis costs £8 billion. Lets say the budget for life extending the nuclear plants costs £4 billion. We have £4 billion left to help fund a new Generation IV nuclear programme over the next 20 years. This money will be enough to leverage in substatial investment from abroad.
Consumers get cheaper electricity and we get to invest in our future energy supplies. Its a "Win. Win." as the marketing professionals like to say.
Why buy electricity at twice the market rate for the next 20 years if we don't have to?
James Arathoon
01 April 2014 07:03 PM
"Why buy electricity at twice the market rate for the next 20 years if we don't have to?"
In the world of politics normal logic does not apply; often there are deals going on in the background which senior politicians do not tell the public about, hence we cannot often understand their logic. I am not a politician and agree with your point; let's however see if it gains any traction with the political leaders.
01 April 2014 07:30 PM
There are apparently lots of politicians (in all three main political parties), and also civil servants, that want to pay twice as much as needed for their baseload electricity (and also want to pay loads of money to maintain a new energy welfare system to support our energy intensive industries once electricity prices are doubled).
My plan Buying Nuclear Electricity from EDF the Cheap Way will disappoint some rich and powerful people at the centre of government and they will fight tooth and nail to stop it from happening. However unlike them I believe in individual freedom of choice. Therefore I propose a new retail energy sales company be set up just for them, called the "Double-Dealing Electricity Crown Corporation" (or DDECC for short [not to be confused with DECC, even though DECC's trading philosophy is at its core]).
It needs to be a crony capitalist corporation by design, with crown immunity, so that it can't be taken to court for ripping off customers that sign up to its uncompetitive tariffs by mistake.
James Arathoon
» Energy
Buying Nuclear Electricity from EDF the Cheap Way
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text:
100 qurush note
Ottoman, AD 1877
Modern Turkey
An insolvent government prints its own money
In the mid-1870s the Ottoman Empire was in decline and facing financial disaster. Drought followed by floods caused poverty and famine, while interest payments on the public debt accounted for over half of the national income. Foreign credit was difficult to obtain, and the Imperial Ottoman Bank was reluctant to lend to its insolvent government. The situation was made even worse by uprisings in the Balkans, leading to the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.
The Ottoman government tried to ease its financial burden by issuing its own paper money. The carefully regulated issue of notes by the Ottoman Imperial Bank was temporarily suspended, and new notes were produced, like the one shown here. However, the Imperial Bank was responsible for numbering the notes, and so played a part in putting them into circulation. At first the government attempted to limit the number of notes, but as the financial demands of the state grew, so did the temptation to issue ever more notes. Ultimately, notes to a total value of over a thousand million qurush, or piastres, were issued. Far too many notes were issued; by March 1879 they were worth less than 10% of their face value.
More information
E. Eldem, Banknotes of the Imperial Otto (Ottoman Bank, 1999)
Height: 135.000 mm
Width: 185.000 mm
Height: 135.000 mm
Museum number


text:
Gifford Central Little Leaguers christen fields at Vero Beach Sports Village | Photo Gallery
VERO BEACH — Following a brief ceremony and ribbon-cutting, members of the Phillies and Dodgers from the Gifford Central Little League took to the field for their first game at the new youth-sized ball fields at Vero Beach Sports Village during the grand opening Thursday afternoon.
The $2.6 million addition, which broke ground in late 2011, includes four fields that will be used for youth baseball and softball, a concession area, press box and restrooms.
The next event that will make use of the fields is the Independence Day Classic Baseball Tournament, scheduled for July 4-8. Roughly 30 teams are expected to attend the event, with players ranging from 9 to 18 years old.
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text:
Norddjurs Golfklub
Norddjurs Golfklub
The golf course is an 18-hole medium-hard course, partly planted and partly open countryside. New and impressive clubhouse from 2006 with views of the course from the terrace and from inside the building. It is possible to buy sandwiches, beer, wine, water etc. and different types of coffee.
The course is open with summer greens all year. The par-3 course and training facilities are open to all green fee players and also open on a Pay & Play basis for guests who are mot members of a golf club.
Greenfee all week: Seniors DKK 300 and juniors DKK 150. The par 3 course DKK 75.
18 holes/Par 72. Gentlemen/yellow: CR 71.4/Slope 130
Ladies/red: CR 72.0/Slope 123
Last updated byDestination Djursland firstname.lastname@example.com
Nordkystvejen 10
8961 Allingåbro
+45 86480744
City / Area
- Djursland
- Grenaa
- Norddjurs
- Golf
General facilities
- Restaurant/Cafe
- driving range
- par
- putting green
- fishing equipment
- golf cars
- golf carts
Sports activities
- greenfeeplay available
- instruction offered
CoordinatesLongitude : 10.364076
Latitude : 56.468682


text:
So it's Day 2 of National Bike Week, and there's still lots going on here at Aston.
Yesterday, you may have seen Sustrans in reception, talking about their cycling campaigns, in particular their Active Travel Champions scheme. Champions are simply people who are active or want to be more active. They are enthusiastic and motivated about cycling and walking and can support and encourage others to feel the same! Get in touch with the Environment Team if you're interested in becoming a champion here at Aston.
We also had a couple of our local police in yesterday to talk about bike security and safety. We've got many cycle shelters on campus - locations are marked on our Sustainable Transport Campus Map, which can be downloaded here. When using them, please make sure you lock your bike securely. D-locks are the best kind to use - you can buy a subsided lock from University Security for just £20.
As for the rest of the week, we've got someone from TravelWise coming in on Thursday morning to talk about sustainable travel choices - you can find them in Main Reception. Then on Friday, we've got the wonderful Cycle Chain selling a range of second hand bikes - also in Main Reception.
Plus, grab yourself a free coffee and pastry from AstBUG Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and plot your route into work on our cycle map. Longest commute will win a prize! We're also looking for the best dressed cyclist and the best snapshot of something you've seen on your cycle into work - tweet us a picture, upload one on our facebook page, or email one to us. Happy Cycling!
Excellent Different Distinctive
© Copyright Aston University,
Birmingham, B4 7ET


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Newnan-Coweta Historic Society
Tour of historic homes, gardens Saturday
by W. Winston Skinner
This coming Saturday, area residents will have the opportunity to step back in time as they explore homes and gardens from the 1860s.
The Newnan-Coweta Historical Society will be holding its Tour of Historic Homes and Gardens from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Three historic properties will be on tour – the Reese home, now the residence of Steve and Kim Wright at 85 Greenville St.; the Bailey home, owned by Thomas Lee, on Poplar Road; and Magnolia Plantation, owned by Morris Steward and George Johnson, on Bill Hart Road.
A variety of tickets options are available. General tickets, which include visiting all three homes and gardens and an 1860-era lunch at Something Special from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., will be $30 each.
There also is a family ticket that is for the Bailey home only. That ticket costs $20 and admits an entire household. There will be interactive activities for children and adults there.
A goal of this year's tour is for it to be "very family oriented, very family focused – for families to be able to come," said NCHS member Jan Bowyer.
People can also purchase a walk-up ticket to see an individual home on Saturday for $5.
Tickets may be purchased in advance from the Male Academy Museum, the Coweta County Visitors Center, the Coweta County Extension Office, Let Them Eat Toffee and Andy's Nursery.
Parking for the Reese home will be at the Coweta County Justice Center.
Parking is not available at the Bailey and Magnolia Plantation sites. All vehicles will be parked at Poplar Road Elementary School, 2925 Poplar Rd., Sharpsburg. "We're shuttling people to those two properties," Bowyer said.
People with limited mobility should go to Poplar Road Elementary and obtain a parking pass.
Each site will capture a little something different about the 1860s. At the Reese home, there will be a focus on medicinal herbs used in the 1860s.
The Reese home was built in the 1850s. Dr. J. T. Reese was a druggist, who also invested in a bank and a textile mill. The first telephone in Newnan connected his home with his drugstore downtown.
Bonnie Umberger, who is a nurse, will be enacting the role of Fannie Beers, who was a nurse in hospitals in Newnan during the Civil War. Other activities at the Greenville Street site will include spinning, quilting and tatting.
Carol Healy will be in costume to explain mourning customs of the 1860s as well as textiles and fashion in Civil War days.
The Bailey home is typical of the homes built by early settlers and was constructed in the early 1830s. Henry J. Bailey moved to Coweta County in 1835 and married Rebecca J. Atkinson two years later. He bought the house and began to farm the plantation.
The two sons and four daughters of the Baileys grew up at the rural home.
Toward the end of the war, the Bailey home served as an informal hospital where Confederate soldiers returning home were nursed, fed and given the opportunity to bathe outside by the smokehouse.
The family lived in the house for 140 years. The house was moved a short distance – in 1995 – to its present site.
The Bailey home will represent "the Southern farm plantation," Bowyer said. "Located on that property will be a petting zoo, a blacksmith, basketry, candlemaking , soapmaking" and storytelling.
Also at the Bailey house, there will be a small outbuilding and an herb garden. There will be toys like those from the 1860s and hands-on crafts.
Local 4-Hers will man the petting zoo.
At Magnolia Plantation, there will be a boxwood garden, a cutting garden and a parterre garden. The property features an extensive collection of azaleas, grasses, hollies, hosta, roses and hydrangeas.
There also are other plants, vines and perennials.
Plein air artists will be painting in the open air at Magnolia, and there will be dulcimer performers in the gardens. A male quartet will present music of Stephen Foster.
An exhibit on caring for chickens will be a project for local 4-H members.
The federal style home was previously as the MacFarland Plantation, the Render House and the Render-Wilcox House. The Magnolias was built between 1829-1833 by Dr. John MacFarland, a physician who was originally from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Legend has it that Dr. MacFarland was educated in Vienna and spent some time as a doctor in the West Indies, before getting a 2,000-acre land grant in Troup County.
The Magnolias Plantation was designed by MacFarland and Georgia architect/builder Collin Rodgers. The house resembles many of the small villas designed by the great Italian architect Andrea Palladio in the seventeenth century.
Most furniture, paintings and statuary predate the 1830s.The home was moved to its current location in 1997.
In addition to the historical society members and the 4-H club members, local Master Gardeners will be taking part in next Saturday's events.


text:
Warriors win over UNLV snaps 8-game losing streak
UH gets first MWC win
Joey Iosefa ran for a touchdown and caught a scoring pass as Hawaii beat UNLV 48-10 on Saturday night.
The Warriors (2-9, 1-7 Mountain West) snapped an eight-game losing streak while the Rebels dropped their third straight.
Sean Schroeder threw for 201 yards on 13-of-24 passing without an interception for Hawaii.
Iosefa carried 13 times for 56 yards and caught three passes for 51 yards. He scored on a 25-yard run in the first quarter and caught a 7-yard scoring pass from Schroeder in the second quarter.
Sterling Jackson and Will Gregory had a rushing touchdown each and Tyler Hadden made field goals of 23 and 26 yards for Hawaii, which also got a 38-yard interception return for a TD from John Hardy-Tuliau and a 69-yard punt return for another score from Scott Harding.
Nolan Kohorst had a 43-yard field goal, and Nick Sherry found Taylor Spencer for a 5-yard touchdown pass for UNLV.
This was also UH's first Mountain West win in football since joining the conference this year.
Copyright 2012 by KITV The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
NEKOTALIA: If the World Was All About Cats
Neko!RomanoXNeko!Reader story by ErinLovesXigbar
"Ve-nyaa~! Fratello, come play with me!" Said a cream-colored cat with large brown patches on him, pouncing on a cat looking similar to him.
"Gaah! Dammit Feli, I was sleeping!" said the other cat angrily, swatting at him with his paw and hissing.
but Romano~ I wanna play
" Feliciano said. He started rolling around on the ground next to his brother.
"Go play with that Japanese guy's cat, or your potato bastard friend. Just leave me be." As he settled back to his sunny spot on the sidewalk, his ears perked up to the sound of humans talking coming from next door. "Meow?"
"Ve-nyaa~, there's new humans moving in!" Feliciano shouted out happily, looking through a hole in the fence.
"Keep your voice down, or they'll hear you." Pushing his brother aside, Romano looked through the hole in the fence and saw some humans moving large, heavy boxes. One of the humans then opened the back door of her car and took out a pet carrier. Romano immediately knew what was inside it. "There's a new cat in the neighborhood?"
"A new friend!" Feliciano said, jumping up and down excitedly. "I can't wait to meet them!"
"You go over and meet them. I want nothing to do with them," Romano said. "I'm going to relax in the tomato garden. Don't bug me." With that, he turned and walked into the backyard.
"Welcome to your new home, _________" your owner said, opening the carrier. You stepped out, letting out a small mew of curiosity. The fur on your back bristled slightly at the strangeness of your new surroundings, but your owner stroked your fur to try and calm you. "I know it's different from the city, but we'll all get used to it. Now go ahead and look around,"
You rubbed up against her leg purring loudly and walked up the stairs.
"This place is a lot bigger than the old apartment. I hope I don't get lost," you said to yourself as you went from room to room. After you finished exploring your new house, you went outside to the front yard. Having never felt grass beneath your paw pads, you were fascinated with it. "I have to admit, Clarissa and Quinn chose a nice place to live."
Settling into a soft patch of grass, the sun warming your (f/c) fur, you were about to doze off when you heard someone meowing and calling out to you.
"Hey pretty kitten!" he said to you with an Italian accent as he walked onto the sidewalk. "I've never seen you around here before. My name's Feliciano. What's yours?"
"My name is ______. It's nice to meet you," you said. You smoothed the fur on your head and scratched behind your ear. "I just moved here with my owners from the city."
"Why's that?" he asked.
"They recently got married and wanted to move from an apartment to an actual house," you explained. "It's really nice here, so I'm happy with it all."
"Maybe once you get settled in, I can show you around the town? Then we can get some tuna afterwards, and-" He was immediately cut off by a big, stern looking grey cat hitting him on the head.
"Must you hit on every girl that walks on four legs?" the grey cat said in a thick German accent. He then turned to you. "I'm very sorry about my friend here," he said, adjusting the black, red, and yellow bow around his neck.
"That's alright," you said. "He wasn't hurting anyone."
"Ve-nyaa~ Ludwig, this is my new friend ______," Feliciano introduced you. "She just moved here from the city."
"It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope you enjoy it here," Ludwig said
"Nyaa~, _____, you have to meet my big brother!" Feliciano said happily. Just then, you heard the voice of one of your owners.
"_____, time for lunch! C'mon on in to eat!"
"I'll come meet him later," you said. "I'll see you guys in a bit."
"Okay. Ciao, kitten~"
You took off running back inside the house. I hope it's beef and liver with some tuna this time, you thought to yourself.