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Nuclear power
is power (generally electrical) produced from controlled (i.e., non-explosive)
nuclear reactions
. Commercial plants in use to date use
nuclear fission
reactions.Electric utility reactors
water to produce steam, which is then used to generate
.In 2007, 14% of the world's electricity came from nuclear power, despite concerns about safety and
radioactive waste management
.More than 150 naval vessels using
nuclear propulsion
have been built.
Nuclear fusion
reactions are widely believed to be safer than fission and appear potentially viable, though technically quite difficult.
Fusion power
has been under intense theoretical and experimental investigation for many years.
Both fission and fusion appear promising for some space propulsion applications in the mid- to distant-future, using low thrust for long durations to achieve high mission velocities.
Radioactive decay
has been used on a relatively small (few kW) scale, mostly to power space missions and experiments.
Nuclear power installed capacity and generation, 1980 to 2007 (EIA).
The status of nuclear power globally.
Click image for legend.
As of 2005, nuclear power provided 2.1% of the world's energy and 15% of the world's electricity, with the
, and
together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear generated electricity.
In 2007, the
reported there were 439 nuclear power reactors in operation in the world,
operating in 31 countries.
In 2007, nuclear power's share of global electricity generation dropped to 14%.
According to the
International Atomic Energy Agency
, the main reason for this was an earthquake in western Japan on 16 July 2007, which shut down all seven reactors at the
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant
There were also several other reductions and "unusual outages" experienced in Korea and Germany. Also, increases in the
load factor
for the current fleet of reactors appear to have plateaued.
The United States produces the most nuclear energy, with nuclear power providing 19% of the electricity it consumes, while France produces the highest percentage of its electrical energy from nuclear reactors—78% as of 2006. In the
European Union
as a whole, nuclear energy provides 30% of the electricity.
Nuclear energy policy
differs between European Union countries, and some, such as
, and
, have no active nuclear power stations.
In comparison, France has a large number of these plants, with 16 multi-unit stations in current use.
In the US, while the Coal and Gas Electricity industry is projected to be worth $85 billion by 2013, Nuclear Power generators are forecast to be worth $18 billion.
Many military and some civilian (such as some
) ships use
nuclear marine propulsion
, a form of
nuclear propulsion
. A few space vehicles have been launched using full-fledged
nuclear reactors
: the Soviet
series and the American
International research is continuing into safety improvements such as
passively safe
plants, the use of
nuclear fusion
, and additional uses of process heat such as
hydrogen production
(in support of a
hydrogen economy
), for
sea water, and for use in
district heating
As the father of
nuclear physics
Ernest Rutherford
is credited with
splitting the atom
in 1917. His team in England bombarded nitrogen with naturally occurring alpha particles from radioactive material and observed a proton emitted with energy higher than the alpha particle. In 1932 two of his students
John Cockcroft
Ernest Walton
, working under Rutherford's direction, attempted to split the
atomic nucleus
by entirely artificial means, using a particle accelerator to bombard
with protons, thereby producing two helium nuclei.
James Chadwick
discovered the
in 1932,
nuclear fission
was first experimentally achieved by
Enrico Fermi
in 1934 in
, when his team bombarded
with neutrons.
In 1938, German chemists
Otto Hahn
Fritz Strassmann
, along with Austrian physicists
Lise Meitner
and Meitner's nephew,
Otto Robert Frisch
, conducted experiments with the products of neutron-bombarded uranium. They determined that the relatively tiny neutron split the nucleus of the massive uranium atoms into two roughly equal pieces, which was a surprising result. Numerous scientists, including
Leo Szilard
who was one of the first, recognized that if fission reactions released additional neutrons, a self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction could result. This spurred scientists in many countries (including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Soviet Union) to petition their government for support of nuclear fission research.
In the United States, where Fermi and Szilard had both emigrated, this led to the creation of the first man-made reactor, known as
Chicago Pile-1
, which achieved
on December 2, 1942.
This work became part of the
Manhattan Project
, which built large reactors at the
Hanford Site
(formerly the town of
Hanford, Washington
) to breed
for use in the first
nuclear weapons
, which were used on the cities of
A parallel uranium
effort also was pursued.
World War II
, the fear that reactor research would encourage the rapid spread of nuclear weapons and technology, combined with what many scientists thought would be a long road of development, created a situation in which the government attempted to keep reactor research under strict government control and classification. In addition, most reactor research centered on purely military purposes. There was an immediate arms and development race when the United States military refused to follow the advice of its own scientific community to form an international cooperative to share information and control nuclear materials. By 2006, things have come full circle with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (see below.)
Electricity was generated for the first time by a nuclear reactor on December 20, 1951 at the
experimental station near
Arco, Idaho
, which initially produced about 100 kW (the Arco Reactor was also the first to experience partial
, in 1955).
In 1952, a report by the Paley Commission (
The President's Materials Policy Commission
) for President
Harry Truman
made a "relatively pessimistic" assessment of nuclear power, and called for "aggressive research in the whole field of
solar energy
." A December 1953 speech by President
Dwight Eisenhower
, "
Atoms for Peace
," emphasized the useful harnessing of the atom and set the U.S. on a course of strong government support for international use of nuclear power.
Early years
On June 27, 1954, the
Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant
became the world's first nuclear power plant to generate electricity for a
power grid
, and produced around 5 megawatts of electric power.
Later in 1954,
Lewis Strauss
, then chairman of the
United States Atomic Energy Commission
(U.S. AEC, forerunner of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
and the
United States Department of Energy
) spoke of electricity in the future being "too cheap to meter." The U.S. AEC itself had issued far more conservative testimony regarding nuclear fission to the U.S. Congress only months before, projecting that "costs can be brought down... [to]... about the same as the cost of electricity from conventional sources..." Strauss may have been making vague reference to hydrogen fusion - which was secret at the time - rather than uranium fission, but whatever his intent Strauss's statement was interpreted by much of the public as a promise of very cheap energy from nuclear fission. Significant disappointment would develop later on, when the new nuclear plants did not provide energy "too cheap to meter."
In 1955 the
United Nations
' "First Geneva Conference", then the world's largest gathering of scientists and engineers, met to explore the technology. In 1957
was launched alongside the
European Economic Community
(the latter is now the European Union).
The same year also saw the launch of the
International Atomic Energy Agency
The world's first commercial nuclear power station,
Calder Hall
, England was opened in 1956 with an initial capacity of 50 MW (later 200 MW).
The first commercial nuclear generator to become operational in the United States was the
Shippingport Reactor
, December, 1957).
One of the first organizations to develop nuclear power was the
, for the purpose of propelling
aircraft carriers
. It has a good record in nuclear safety, perhaps because of the stringent demands of Admiral
Hyman G.
, who was the driving force behind nuclear marine propulsion as well as the Shippingport Reactor. The U.S. Navy has operated more nuclear reactors than any other entity, including the
Soviet Navy
, with no publicly known major incidents.
The first nuclear-powered submarine,
, was put to sea in December 1954.
Two U.S. nuclear submarines,
, have been lost at sea.
These vessels were both lost due to malfunctions in systems not related to the reactor plants. Also, the sites are monitored and no known leakage has occurred from the onboard reactors.
The United States Army also had a
nuclear power program
, beginning in 1954. The SM-1 Nuclear Power Plant, at Ft. Belvoir, Va., was the first power reactor in the US to supply electrical energy to a commercial grid (VEPCO), in April 1957,
Enrico Fermi and
Leó Szilárd
in 1955 shared for the nuclear reactor, belatedly granted for the work they had done during the Manhattan Project.
Installed nuclear capacity initially rose relatively quickly, rising from less than 1
(GW) in 1960 to 100 GW in the late 1970s, and 300 GW in the late 1980s. Since the late 1980s worldwide capacity has risen much more slowly, reaching 366 GW in 2005. Between around 1970 and 1990, more than 50 GW of capacity was under construction (peaking at over 150 GW in the late 70s and early 80s) — in 2005, around 25 GW of new capacity was planned. More than two-thirds of all nuclear plants ordered after January 1970 were eventually cancelled. A total of
63 nuclear units were canceled
in the USA between 1975 and 1980.
During the 1970s and 1980s rising economic costs (related to extended construction times largely due to regulatory changes and pressure-group litigation) and falling fossil fuel prices made nuclear power plants then under construction less attractive. In the 1980s (U.S.) and 1990s (Europe), flat load growth and
electricity liberalization
also made the addition of large new baseload capacity unattractive.
1973 oil crisis
had a significant effect on countries, such as France and Japan, which had relied more heavily on oil for electric generation (39% and 73% respectively) to invest in nuclear power. Today, nuclear power supplies about 80% and 30% of the electricity in those countries, respectively.
A general
movement against nuclear power
arose during the last third of the 20th century, based on the fear of a possible
nuclear accident
as well as the
history of accidents
, fears of
as well as the history of radiation of the public,
nuclear proliferation
, and on the opposition to
nuclear waste
production, transport and lack of any final storage plans.
Perceived risks on the citizens' health and safety, the 1979 accident at
Three Mile Island
and the 1986
Chernobyl disaster
played a part in stopping new plant construction in many countries, although the public policy organization Brookings Institution suggests that new nuclear units have not been ordered in the U.S. because the Institution's research concludes they cost 15–30% more over their lifetime than conventional coal and natural gas fired plants.
Unlike the Three Mile Island accident, the much more serious Chernobyl accident did not increase regulations affecting Western reactors since the Chernobyl reactors were of the problematic
design only used in the Soviet Union, for example lacking "robust"
containment buildings
. Many of these reactors are still in use today. However, changes were made in both the reactors themselves (use of low enriched uranium) and in the control system (prevention of disabling safety systems) to reduce the possibility of a duplicate accident.
An international organization to promote safety awareness and professional development on operators in nuclear facilities was created:
; World Association of Nuclear Operators.
Opposition in
, and
prevented nuclear programs there, while
(1980) and
(1987) (influenced by Chernobyl) voted in referendums to oppose or phase out nuclear power.
In July 2009, the Italian Parliament passed a law that canceled the results of an earlier referendum and allowed the immediate start of the Italian nuclear program.
Flexibility of nuclear power plants
It is often claimed that nuclear stations are inflexible in their output, implying that other, typically fossil stations would be used to meet peak demand. Whilst it may have been true for certain reactors, this is not longer true of at least some modern designs. Nuclear plants are routinely used in load following mode on a large scale in France.
See also Nuclear Debate below.
The economics of nuclear power plants are primarily influenced by the high initial investment necessary to construct a plant. In 2009, estimates for the cost of a new plant in the U.S. ranged from $6 to $10 billion. It is therefore usually more economical to run them as long as possible, or construct additional reactor blocks in existing facilities. In 2008, new nuclear power plant construction costs were rising faster than the costs of other types of power plants.. A prestigious panel assembled for a 2003 MIT study of the industry found the following:
Comparative economics with other power sources are also discussed in the Main article above and in
nuclear power debate
Future of the industry
As of 2007,
Watts Bar 1
, which came on-line in February 7, 1996, was the last U.S. commercial nuclear reactor to go on-line.
This is often quoted as evidence of a successful worldwide campaign for nuclear power phase-out. However, even in the U.S. and throughout Europe, investment in research and in the
nuclear fuel cycle
has continued, and some nuclear industry experts predict
electricity shortages
, fossil fuel price increases,
global warming
and heavy metal emissions from fossil fuel use, new technology such as
passively safe
plants, and national energy security will renew the demand for nuclear power plants.
According to the
World Nuclear Association
, globally during the 1980s one new nuclear reactor started up every 17 days on average, and by the year 2015 this rate could increase to one every 5 days.
Brunswick Nuclear Plant discharge canal.
Many countries remain active in developing nuclear power, including Pakistan, Japan, China and India, all actively developing both fast and thermal technology, South Korea and the United States, developing thermal technology only, and South Africa and China, developing versions of the
Pebble Bed Modular Reactor
(PBMR). Several EU member states actively pursue nuclear programs, while some other member states continue to have a ban for the nuclear energy use. Japan has an active nuclear construction program with new units brought on-line in 2005. In the U.S., three consortia responded in 2004 to the
Department of Energy's
solicitation under the
Nuclear Power 2010 Program
and were awarded matching funds—the
Energy Policy Act of 2005
authorized loan guarantees for up to six new reactors, and authorized the Department of Energy to build a reactor based on the Generation IV
Very-High-Temperature Reactor
concept to produce both electricity and
. As of the early 21st century, nuclear power is of particular interest to both China and India to serve their rapidly growing economies—both are developing
fast breeder reactors
. (See also
energy development
). In the
energy policy of the United Kingdom
it is recognized that there is a likely future energy supply shortfall, which may have to be filled by either new nuclear plant construction or maintaining existing plants beyond their programmed lifetime.
There is a possible impediment to production of nuclear power plants as only a few companies worldwide have the capacity to forge single-piece containment vessels, which reduce the risk of a radiation leak. Utilities across the world are submitting orders years in advance of any actual need for these vessels. Other manufacturers are examining various options, including making the component themselves, or finding ways to make a similar item using alternate methods. Other solutions include using designs that do not require single-piece forged pressure vessels such as Canada's
Advanced CANDU Reactors
Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2009
states that "even if Finland and France each builds a reactor or two, China goes for an additional 20 plants and Japan, Korea or Eastern Europe add a few units, the overall worldwide trend will most likely be downwards over the next two decades". With long lead times of 10 years or more, it will be difficult to maintain or increase the number of operating nuclear power plants over the next 20 years. The one exception to this outcome would be if operating lifetimes could be substantially increased beyond 40 years
on average
. This seems unlikely since the present average age of the operating nuclear power plant fleet in the world is 25 years.
However, China plans to build more than 100 plants, while in the US the licenses of almost half its reactors have already been extended to 60 years, and plans to build more than 30 new ones are under consideration. Further, the U.S. NRC and the U.S. Department of Energy have initiated research into
Light water reactor sustainability
which is hoped will lead to allowing extensions of reactor licenses beyond 60 years, in increments of 20 years, provided that safety can be maintained, as the loss in non-CO
-emitting generation capacity by retiring reactors "may serve to challenge U.S. energy security, potentially resulting in increased
greenhouse gas
emissions, and contributing to an imbalance between electric supply and demand."
In 2008, the
International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) predicted that nuclear power capacity could double by 2030, though that would not be enough to increase nuclear's share of electricity generation.
Nuclear reactor technology
Just as many conventional
thermal power stations
generate electricity by harnessing the
thermal energy
released from burning
fossil fuels
, nuclear power plants convert the energy released from the nucleus of an atom, typically via
nuclear fission
When a relatively large
atomic nucleus
) absorbs a
, a fission of the atom often results. Fission splits the atom into two or more smaller
kinetic energy
(known as
fission products
) and also releases
gamma radiation
free neutrons
. A portion of these neutrons may later be absorbed by other fissile atoms and create more fissions, which release more neutrons, and so on.
nuclear chain reaction
can be controlled by using
neutron poisons
neutron moderators
to change the portion of neutrons that will go on to cause more fissions. Nuclear reactors generally have automatic and manual systems to shut the fission reaction down if unsafe conditions are detected.
A cooling system removes heat from the reactor core and transports it to another area of the plant, where the thermal energy can be harnessed to produce electricity or to do other useful work. Typically the hot coolant will be used as a heat source for a
, and the pressurized steam from that boiler will power one or more
steam turbine
electrical generators
There are many different reactor designs, utilizing different fuels and coolants and incorporating different control schemes. Some of these designs have been engineered to meet a specific need. Reactors for
nuclear submarines
and large naval ships, for example, commonly use
highly enriched uranium
as a fuel. This fuel choice increases the reactor's power density and extends the usable life of the nuclear fuel load, but is more expensive and a greater risk to nuclear proliferation than some of the other nuclear fuels.
A number of new designs for nuclear power generation, collectively known as the
Generation IV reactors
, are the subject of active research and may be used for practical power generation in the future. Many of these new designs specifically attempt to make fission reactors cleaner, safer and/or less of a risk to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Passively safe
plants (such as the
) are available to be built and other designs that are believed to be nearly fool-proof are being pursued.
Fusion reactors
, which may be viable in the future, diminish or eliminate many of the risks associated with nuclear fission.
Life cycle
A nuclear reactor is only part of the life-cycle for nuclear power. The process starts with mining (see
Uranium mining
). Uranium mines are underground,
, or
in-situ leach
mines. In any case, the uranium ore is extracted, usually converted into a stable and compact form such as
, and then transported to a processing facility. Here, the yellowcake is converted to
uranium hexafluoride
, which is then
using various techniques. At this point, the enriched uranium, containing more than the natural 0.7% U-235, is used to make
of the proper composition and geometry for the particular reactor that the fuel is destined for. The fuel rods will spend about 3 operational cycles (typically 6 years total now) inside the reactor, generally until about 3% of their uranium has been fissioned, then they will be moved to a
spent fuel pool
where the short lived isotopes generated by fission can decay away. After about 5 years in a cooling pond, the spent fuel is radioactively and thermally cool enough to handle, and it can be moved to dry storage casks or reprocessed.
Conventional fuel resources
is a fairly common
in the Earth's crust. Uranium is approximately as common as
in Earth's crust, and is about 35 times more common than
. Uranium is a constituent of most rocks, dirt, and of the oceans. The fact that uranium is so spread out is a problem because mining uranium is only economically feasible where there is a large concentration. Still, the world's present measured resources of uranium, economically recoverable at a price of 130 USD/kg, are enough to last for "at least a century" at current consumption rates. This represents a higher level of assured resources than is normal for most minerals. On the basis of analogies with other metallic minerals, a doubling of price from present levels could be expected to create about a tenfold increase in measured resources, over time. However, the cost of nuclear power lies for the most part in the construction of the power station. Therefore the fuel's contribution to the overall cost of the electricity produced is relatively small, so even a large fuel price escalation will have relatively little effect on final price. For instance, typically a doubling of the uranium market price would increase the fuel cost for a light water reactor by 26% and the electricity cost about 7%, whereas doubling the price of natural gas would typically add 70% to the price of electricity from that source. At high enough prices, eventually extraction from sources such as granite and seawater become economically feasible.
light water reactors
make relatively inefficient use of nuclear fuel, fissioning only the very rare uranium-235 isotope.
Nuclear reprocessing
can make this waste reusable and more efficient reactor designs allow better use of the available resources.
As opposed to current light water reactors which use uranium-235 (0.7% of all natural uranium), fast breeder reactors use uranium-238 (99.3% of all natural uranium). It has been estimated that there is up to five billion years' worth of uranium-238 for use in these power plants.
Breeder technology has been used in several reactors, but the high cost of reprocessing fuel safely requires uranium prices of more than 200 USD/kg before becoming justified economically. As of December 2005, the only breeder reactor producing power is BN-600 in Beloyarsk, Russia. The electricity output of BN-600 is 600 MW — Russia has planned to build another unit, BN-800, at Beloyarsk nuclear power plant.
Also, Japan's
reactor is planned for restart (having been shut down since 1995), and both China and India intend to build breeder reactors.
Another alternative would be to use uranium-233 bred from
as fission fuel in the
thorium fuel cycle
. Thorium is about 3.5 times as common as uranium in the Earth's crust, and has different geographic characteristics. This would extend the total practical fissionable resource base by 450%. Unlike the breeding of U-238 into plutonium, fast breeder reactors are not necessary — it can be performed satisfactorily in more conventional plants. India has looked into this technology, as it has abundant thorium reserves but little uranium.
Fusion power
advocates commonly propose the use of
, or
, both
, as fuel and in many current designs also
. Assuming a fusion energy output equal to the current global output and that this does not increase in the future, then the known current lithium reserves would last 3000 years, lithium from sea water would last 60 million years, and a more complicated fusion process using only deuterium from sea water would have fuel for 150 billion years. Although this process has yet to be realized, many experts and civilians alike believe fusion to be a promising future energy source due to the short lived radioactivity of the produced waste, its low carbon emissions, and its prospective power output.
Like all forms of power generation using steam turbines, nuclear power plants use large amounts of water for cooling.
, which is no longer producing electricity, a maximum of 18,184.4 m³ a day (over 4 million gallons) and 6,637,306 m³ a year (figures from the Environment Agency) of fresh water from
Wast Water
is still abstracted to use on site for various processes.
As with most power plants, two-thirds of the energy produced by a nuclear power plant goes into waste heat (see
Carnot cycle
), and that heat is carried away from the plant in the water (which remains uncontaminated by radioactivity). The emitted water either is sent into cooling towers where it goes up and is emitted as water droplets (literally a cloud) or is discharged into large bodies of water — cooling ponds, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Droughts can pose a severe problem by causing the source of cooling water to run out.
Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station
Phoenix, AZ
is the only nuclear generating facility in the world that is not located adjacent to a large body of water.
Instead, it uses treated sewage from several nearby municipalities to meet its cooling water needs, recycling 20 billion US gallons (76,000,000 m³) of wastewater each year.
Like conventional power plants, nuclear power plants generate large quantities of waste heat which is expelled in the
, following the
of plants that can take advantage of this thermal energy has been suggested by
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(ORNL) as a way to take advantage of process
for added energy efficiency.
One example would be to use the power plant steam to produce hydrogen from water. (Separation of water into hydrogen and oxygen can use less energy if the water begins at a high temperature.)
Solid waste
The safe storage and disposal of nuclear waste is a significant challenge and yet unresolved problem. The most important waste stream from nuclear power plants is spent fuel. A large nuclear reactor produces 3 cubic metres (25–30 tonnes) of spent fuel each year. It is primarily composed of unconverted uranium as well as significant quantities of transuranic
(plutonium and
, mostly). In addition, about 3% of it is made of fission products. The actinides (uranium, plutonium, and curium) are responsible for the bulk of the long term radioactivity, whereas the fission products are responsible for the bulk of the short term radioactivity.
High-level radioactive waste
Spent fuel is highly radioactive and needs to be handled with great care and forethought. However, spent nuclear fuel becomes less radioactive over the course of thousands of years of time. After about 5 percent of the rod has reacted the rod is no longer able to be used. Today, scientists are experimenting on how to recycle these rods to reduce waste. In the meantime, after 40 years, the
radiation flux
is 99.9% lower than it was the moment the spent fuel was removed, although still dangerously radioactive.
Spent fuel rods
are stored in shielded basins of water (spent fuel pools), usually located on-site. The water provides both cooling for the still-decaying fission products, and shielding from the continuing radioactivity. After a few decades some on-site storage involves moving the now cooler, less radioactive fuel to a dry-storage facility or
dry cask storage
, where the fuel is stored in steel and concrete containers until its radioactivity decreases naturally ("decays") to levels safe enough for other processing. This interim stage spans years or decades or millennia, depending on the type of fuel. Most U.S. waste is currently stored in temporary storage sites requiring oversight, while suitable permanent disposal methods are discussed.
As of 2007, the United States had accumulated more than 50,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors.
Underground storage at
Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository
in U.S. has been proposed as permanent storage.
After 10,000 years of radioactive decay, according to
United States Environmental Protection Agency
standards, the spent nuclear fuel will no longer pose a threat to public health and safety.
The amount of waste can be reduced in several ways, particularly
. Even so, the remaining waste will be substantially radioactive for at least 300 years even if the actinides are removed, and for up to thousands of years if the actinides are left in. Even with separation of all actinides, and using fast breeder reactors to destroy by
some of the longer-lived non-actinides as well, the waste must be segregated from the environment for one to a few hundred years, and therefore this is properly categorized as a long-term problem.
Subcritical reactors
fusion reactors
could also reduce the time the waste has to be stored. It has been argued that the best solution for the nuclear waste is above ground temporary storage since technology is rapidly changing. There is hope that current waste may well become a valuable resource in the future.
According to a 2007 story broadcast on
60 Minutes
, nuclear power gives France the cleanest air of any industrialized country, and the cheapest electricity in all of Europe. France reprocesses its nuclear waste to reduce its mass and make more energy. However, the article continues, "Today we stock containers of waste because currently scientists don't know how to reduce or eliminate the toxicity, but maybe in 100 years perhaps scientists will... Nuclear waste is an enormously difficult political problem which to date no country has solved. It is, in a sense, the Achilles heel of the nuclear industry... If France is unable to solve this issue, says Mandil, then 'I do not see how we can continue our nuclear program.'" Further, reprocessing itself has its critics, such as the
Union of Concerned Scientists
Low-level radioactive waste
The nuclear industry also produces a huge volume of low-level radioactive waste in the form of contaminated items like clothing, hand tools, water purifier resins, and (upon decommissioning) the materials of which the reactor itself is built. In the United States, the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
has repeatedly attempted to allow low-level materials to be handled as normal waste: landfilled, recycled into consumer items, et cetera. Most low-level waste releases very low levels of radioactivity and is only considered radioactive waste because of its history.
Comparing radioactive waste to industrial toxic waste
In countries with nuclear power, radioactive wastes comprise less than 1% of total industrial toxic wastes, which remain hazardous indefinitely unless they decompose or are treated so that they are less toxic or, ideally, completely non-toxic. Overall, nuclear power produces far less waste material than fossil-fuel based power plants.
-burning plants are particularly noted for producing large amounts of toxic and mildly radioactive ash due to concentrating naturally occurring metals and radioactive material from the coal.
Recent reports claim that coal power actually results in more radioactive waste being released into the environment than nuclear power, and that the population
effective dose
equivalent from radiation from coal plants is 100 times as much as nuclear plants.However, reputable journals point out that coal ash is not more radioactive than nuclear waste, and the differences in exposure lie in the fact that nuclear plants use heavy shielding to protect the environment from the heavily irradiated reactor vessel, fuel rods, and any radioactive waste on site.
Reprocessing can potentially recover up to 95% of the remaining uranium and plutonium in spent nuclear fuel, putting it into new
mixed oxide fuel
. This produces a reduction in long term radioactivity within the remaining waste, since this is largely short-lived fission products, and reduces its volume by over 90%. Reprocessing of civilian fuel from power reactors is currently done on large scale in Britain, France and (formerly) Russia, soon will be done in China and perhaps India, and is being done on an expanding scale in Japan. The full potential of reprocessing has not been achieved because it requires
breeder reactors
, which are not yet commercially available. France is generally cited as the most successful reprocessor, but it presently only recycles 28% (by mass) of the yearly fuel use, 7% within France and another 21% in Russia.
Unlike other countries, the US stopped civilian reprocessing from 1976 to 1981 as one part of US non-proliferation policy, since reprocessed material such as plutonium could be used in nuclear weapons: however, reprocessing is now allowed in the U.S. Even so, in the U.S. spent nuclear fuel is currently all treated as waste.
In February, 2006, a new U.S. initiative, the
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
was announced. It would be an international effort to reprocess fuel in a manner making nuclear proliferation unfeasible, while making nuclear power available to developing countries.
Depleted uranium
Uranium enrichment produces many tons of
depleted uranium
(DU) which consists of U-238 with most of the easily fissile U-235 isotope removed. U-238 is a tough metal with several commercial uses—for example, aircraft production, radiation shielding, and armor—as it has a higher density than
. Depleted uranium is also useful in munitions as DU penetrators (bullets or
tips) "self sharpen", due to uranium's tendency to fracture along shear bands.
There are concerns that U-238 may lead to health problems in groups exposed to this material excessively, such as tank crews and civilians living in areas where large quantities of DU ammunition have been used in shielding, bombs, missile warheads, and bullets. In January 2003 the
World Health Organization
released a report finding that contamination from DU munitions were localized to a few tens of meters from the impact sites and contamination of local vegetation and water was 'extremely low'. The report also states that approximately 70% of ingested DU will leave the body after twenty four hours and 90% after a few days.
Debate on nuclear power
Proponents of nuclear energy contend that nuclear power is a
sustainable energy
source that does not create air pollution, reduces
carbon emissions
and increases energy security by decreasing dependence on foreign oil. The operational safety record of nuclear plants in the Western world is far better when compared to the other major types of power plants.
With the exception of
, no radiation-related fatalities ever occurred at any commercial nuclear power plant.
Optimists point out that the volume of radioactive waste is very small, and claim it can be stored safely deep underground.
Future designs of reactors
are promised to eliminate almost all waste.
Critics believe that nuclear power is a potentially dangerous energy source, with decreasing proportion of nuclear energy in production. They claim that
radioactive waste
cannot be stored safely for long periods of time, that there is a continuing possibility of
radioactive contamination
by accident or sabotage, and that exporting nuclear technology to other countries might lead to the
proliferation of nuclear weapons
. The recent slow rate of growth of installed nuclear capacity is said to indicate that nuclear reactors cannot be built fast enough to slow down
climate change
. Nuclear power plants are also criticized due to their
centralized generation of electricity
Arguments of
are used by both sides of the debate.
See also
Anti-nuclear movement
Atomic Age
Campaign Against Nuclear Energy
:Category:Nuclear power by country
Electricity generation
Energy development
Environmental effects of nuclear power
German nuclear energy project
International Atomic Energy Agency
Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program
Linear no-threshold model
List of civilian nuclear accidents
List of nuclear reactors
Loss of coolant accident
Nuclear contamination
Nuclear fission
Nuclear fuel cycle
Nuclear fusion
Nuclear Liabilities Fund
Nuclear Measurements Corporation
Nuclear optimism
Nuclear physics
Nuclear power debate
Nuclear power in the United States
Nuclear safety
Nuclear terrorism
Passive nuclear safety
Peak uranium
Relative cost of electricity generated by different sources
Spent nuclear fuel shipping cask
Toshiba 4S
Uranium depletion
World energy resources and consumption
An entry to nuclear power through an educational discussion of reactors
The Nuclear Energy Option
, online book by Bernard L. Cohen.
Steve Thomas (2005), , PSIRU,
University of Greenwich
Nuclear power information archives from ALSOS, the National Digital Science Library at Washington & Lee University.
Texas Will Host First New U.S.
Nuclear Plants since 1970s
Further reading
Ferguson, Charles D.,
"Nuclear Energy: Balancing Benefits and Risks"
Council on Foreign Relations
, 2007
External links
Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues — Annotated Bibliography on Nuclear Power
An entry to nuclear power through an educational discussion of reactors
Argonne National Laboratory — Maps of Nuclear Power Reactors
Boiling Water Reactor Plant, BWR Simulator Program
Briefing Papers from the Australian EnergyScience Coaltion
British Energy — Understanding Nuclear Energy / Nuclear Power
Coal Combustion: Nuclear Resource or Danger?
Energy Information Administration
provides lots of statistics and information
Environmental impacts of nuclear power
according to the
United States Environmental Protection Agency
at EPA.gov
How Nuclear Power Works
IAEA Website
International Atomic Energy Agency
IAEA's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS)
IAEA's Web directory of nuclear related resources on the Internet
Idaho National Laboratory's Nuclear Research
Information about all NPP in the world
Nuclear Power Education
Nuclear Tourist.com
, nuclear power information
Nuclear Waste Disposal Resources
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2007
Wilson Quarterly — Nuclear Power: Both Sides
Nuclear Power Related News
Relative costs of wind, coal and nuclear power
Nuclear news websites
An up to date selection of US and international news on nuclear issues
ANS Nuclear Clips
Nuclear News
World Nuclear News
Why we don't need nuclear power
1 million Europeans against nuclear power
Beyond Nuclear at Nuclear Policy Research Institute advocacy organization
Campaign for Nuclear Phaseout (CNP)
Critical assessment of the US-India nuclear energy accord
published by the
Internationalist Review
* Online book
End the nuclear age
Nuclear Reaction blog
Greenpeace — Calendar of Nuclear Accidents
Nuclear Files
Sierra Club
World Information Service on Energy (WISE)
American Nuclear Society (ANS)
Atomic Insights
Environmentalists for Nuclear Power
The European Atomic Forum
Freedom for Fission
Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI)
Nuclear is Our Future
Representing the People and Organisations of the Global Nuclear Profession
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
The Nuclear Energy Option
, online book by Bernard L. Cohen. Emphasis on risk estimates of nuclear.
World Nuclear Association
Nuclear Power an Alternate Energy Power Point Slides
Pros and Cons of Nuclear Power Power Point Slides
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text:
An earthquake interupted expedition to Mt. Everest. Feature article by Florian Mueller and Sarah Jane Pell - p58.
Sarah Jane Pell
Independent artist commercial diver, explorer and researcher of new worlds.Performing Astronautics
Aiming the new knowledge
Award-winning artist Dr. Sarah Jane Pell is leading first generation artist-astronaut crews of the commercial spaceflight era. Her pioneering practice seeks to embody, and critique, the culture of exploration from sea, to summit, to space. She performs expressively and builds novel prototype apparatus to test and communicate from the field. Artifacts include sculptural, technical, poetic and media events. Dr. Pell is an Astronaut Candidate for a suborbital aeronomy mission, an experienced Simulation Astronaut for undersea trials, and imagineer for a MoonVillage. Her work promotes physical conditioning, creative visualisation and communication.
Dr. Pell is an experienced Occupational Diver, aquatic performer and versitile art and science collaborator. Her work is widely exhibited, performed, published and recognised. She was awarded Best PhD Art & Science by Leonardo AS, MIT 2007 and TED Fellow 2010. The first artist to graduate from the International Space University and Singularity University, she has served as Co-Chair of the European Space Agency (ESA) Topical Team Arts & Science, Senior Space Art Consultant to Icarus Interstellar, and Senior Advisor Diving to the Maritime Union of Australia. Bending Horizons 2015-2017 documents her own expression during extreme art adventures in space analogue environments undersea, at altitude and in microgravity. Dr. Pell aims to contribute new knowledge on human behaviours, biosensory media and communication design for extreme performance. She is a Australia Council Fellow in Experimental and Emerging Arts.
Meet Dr. Sarah Jane PellArtist exploring from sea, to summit, to space.
BFA, MA, PhD, ADAS2, SSP06, GSP10, AS-017
An accomplished artist and occupational diver, Sarah is best known for pioneering "aquabatics". A qualified simulation Astronaut and Aquanaut, she also takes art into expeditions and space analogues. With a research-in-performance approach, she produces novel experiments, prototypes, live art and films, and contributes to speculative design, exploration science, publication and outreach. Full Biography...
Artistic exhibitions, transmissions, video showcases, and new media installations.
Contemporary performance art, theatrical production, and filmic live art event.
Occupational diver training and professional experience across diving industries.
Expedition, exploration, voyage or mission. Adding a touch of art to adventure.
Public speaker, academic lecturer, guest artist panelist and keynote presenter.
Academic scholarship, research and education from visual arts to astronautics.
Artist residencies and workshops including fellowship projects and collaborations.
Studio lab experiments and research. Speculative proposals and novel prototypes.
Research publications and presentations including reports, white papers, and theses.
Latest Activities
An artist literally on a mission!
Dr. Pell is an Artist-Astronaut Candidate for a NASA suborbital experiment by Project PoSSUM (an acroynm for Polar Suborbital Science Upper Mesosphere). In 2016, she also logged validation flights in Final Frontier Designs IVA spacesuits. Pell joins the PHEnOM Project (Physiological, Health, and Environmental Observations in Microgravity) commercial human spaceflight research program for other mission specialist training in 2017. She supports the SeaSpace Research and Exploration Society as Prime Crew for the Project POSEIDON: 100 Day Undersea mission.
A commercial diver and underwater performance expert, Dr. Pell partnered Project MOONWALK as the Simulation Astronaut for the Human-Robotic Collaboration EVA Simulation Mission trials at the Comex Undersea Lunar Analogue site, Marseille FR in 2016. These mission opportunities include sciart experimentation and creative production such as spin-off keynote performances including 'The Agency of Human-Robotic Lunatics' commissioned by Robotronica, 2017 and 'How to Survive on the Moon' commissioned by Arts House for the 2017 Melbourne Festival.
Earlier expeditionary training includes Atlantica Expeditions subsea habitat mission, Bending Horizons Everest Expedition, EVA Simulation NBL Workshops, Occupational Diving, and the HMP Simulation.Learn more
What Global Leaders Say?
Dr Sarah Jane Pell's mission epitomises the power, strength and tenacity required for humans to push through boundaries. No only does she plan to scale the world's highest peak, Mt Everest, but she plans to do it in a unique, artistic and inspiring way. I wish Sarah great success and I look forward to following her amazing journey.
We need to invest more in these kinds of experiments and prototypes, as does 'aquabatics' pioneer Sarah Jane Pell, who is exploring an adaptive aquatic approach to the future of space....
Latest from the Media Team
The Limit Does Not Exist: Why Dr. Sarah Jane Pell Believes Every Expedition Needs An Artist - Ep 23.
Seven accomplished Australian artists are recipients of the 2016 Australia Council for the Arts Fellowship grants.
An international prize of $100K that supports social entrepreneurship projects with great reach and significance.

subset: commoncrawl


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There is one constant in the financial industry: Change. Interest rates, banking products, and government regulations are subject to change quickly. Institutions themselves often are subject to changes. Some grow, some merge, others split. It can all be very tumultuous and potentially confusing for clients.
Once upon a time, I worked for a bank. If there's one thing I learned, it's that when clients are confused, they reach out to you, be it by phone, in branches, or online. You can't blame them—financial institutions are holding on to their money, and they have questions. How can you make sure their concerns are heard and adequately answered?
- Inform your staff. Give staff members in facilities and call centers all the information they need to help clients. Whether you use traditional paper methods or computer based eLearning programs, if they're not informed, your clients won't be, either.
- Plan for web traffic. Is your website easy to navigate? It's probably a good idea to place information about the transition on your homepage, making information easy to find. Be prepared to update your frequently asked questions.
- Make sure an influx of web visitors won't overload your site.
- If you want to emphasize certain information about the transition, include audio or video to explain it. Duplicate audio content with a transcript, for searchability.
- Create web tutorials that explain the changes. You can create one by compiling screen shots, images, and information into a slide presentation. Again, transcribe for searchability.
- Prepare your phone system. When financial institutions have transitions, one of the first places they include new information is on the phone.
- New names can be introduced by IVR Systems
- Messages On Hold explain changes in more detail.
- The information you present in your on hold marketing should be the first step of client services.
- Frequently asked questions and common concerns should be addressed.
- Be sure to tell clients how to get more information: by asking a representative, looking online, visiting a branch, and any other options
- Use a Survey to check on the level of service your representatives are providing.
How do you know what questions your clients will be asking? First, make a list of questions they asked last time you had a policy change or merger. Next, record questions your employees ask about the upcoming changes. Anticipate as much as you can, but remain flexible. Don't forget the power of audio in explaining new information.
Need to write a great script for your Message On Hold? Start with our "Script Tips Greatest Hits" Compilation. Click Here


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On the local skiing front, some new snow and great weather in the forecast mean some of the best Nordic skiing for the season this week. Ride the Olympic high and get out on the trails for some fun, fast skiing.
Tuesday 2-27-18 – Noon at the Nordic Center – Skate
Thursday 3-1-18 – Noon at the Nordic Center – Classic
Sunday 3-4-18 – 10AM at the Gronk – Social ski with yurt stop – last official Sunday ski of the season
See you on the trails!


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Songs sung around a campfire while everyone is having a good time. Scary, adult ghost stories. And then... the crispy toasted marshmallow. A sweet and gooey inside. Wonderful, delicious, perfect toasted marshmallows. You can get all of that goodness and flavor with this e-liquid.
If you want the wonderful experience of toasted marshmallows but you don't have the time to carefully roast one of your own over perfect coals, this e-juice will give you all of that flavor in an easier format that can be used without the need to leave your home and go somewhere far away.
If you enjoy Toasted Marshmallow, you may enjoy these other flavors


text:
The morning of December 7, 1941, Stuart Hedley wakes early to meet his girlfriend for a picnic near Pearl Harbor. As we all know, the picnic never took place. But Stuart Hedley lived to tell us about the events of that day. And you can hear about them at Chronicles of Courage: Stories of Wartime and Innovation—the latest classroom video series from NBC Learn.
For this series, NBC Learn partnered with Flying Heritage Collection—a collection of finely crafted WWII combat aircraft and other aviation technologies. NSTA developed the supporting STEM lesson plans to bring innovation behind these technologies into your classroom.
The first 10 videos in the Chronicles of Courage series are live today. Perhaps tomorrow, show your students Pearl Harbor for a glimpse what what happened on this "day that will live in infamy."
The series is available cost-free at NBC Learn. Or jump to the video and lesson plans at the links below. From these blog entries you can download the lesson plans in an editable format to add your personal touch. (You know you'll want to!)
Chronicles of Courage: Stories of Wartime and Innovation "Pearl Harbor" focuses on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the mission for which it had been specifically designed—long distance attacks.
STEM Lesson Plan—Adaptable for Grades 7–12
Chronicles of Courage: Stories of Wartime and Innovation "Pearl Harbor" provides strategies for developing Science and Engineering Practices and support for building science literacy through reading and writing.


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Ernesto A. Camero
Nov. 12, 2007
Ernesto A. "Erning" Camero, 66, of Pepeekeo, Hawaii, a retired Hilo Coast Processing Co. mechanic supervisor and former International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union treasurer, died in the Queen's Medical Center. He was born in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He is survived by wife Rose; sons Ernie and Ryan; daughter Francine; parents Frank and Margarita; brothers Jamie, Rudy, Franklin and John; sisters Betty Antida and Judy Shimabukuro; and two grandchildren. Services: 5 p.m. Wednesday at Dodo Mortuary, Hilo. Call after 3 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers. Additional information for an obituary printed yesterday.
Nancy Tokuyo Fuse
Nov. 5, 2007
Nancy Tokuyo Fuse, 86, of Honolulu, a retired stenographer, died in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by daughters Beverly E. Sogi and Jan S. Fuse, brother Harold J. Watase and two grandchildren. Private services.
Dale Sachiko Gomes
Nov. 16, 2007
Dale Sachiko Gomes, 45, of Holualoa, Hawaii, a self-employed house cleaner, died in Kona Community Hospital. She was born in Kealakekua, Hawaii. She is survived by husband Steven, son Tyson, parents Kiyoshi and Sally Deguchi, and sister Karen Perreira. Services: 3 p.m. Saturday at Daifukuji Soto Mission in Honalo, Hawaii. Call after 2 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Tsutomu Higuchi
Nov. 8, 2007
Tsutomu Higuchi, also known as Gus Higuchi, 76, of Honolulu, a retired Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii personnel officer, died in Honolulu. He was born in Hilo. He is survived by wife Katherine N., daughters Charlene R. Higuchi and Jeanne Taketa, brother Tadashi, sister Edith Yamashita and five grandchildren. Services: 6 p.m. Wednesday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 5 p.m. Casual attire. No flowers.
Donald Newhall Holmes
Nov. 9, 2007
Donald Newhall "Don" Holmes, 82, of Pahoa, Hawaii, a mason and retired Navy chief petty officer, died in Hilo Medical Center. He was born in Malden, Mass. He is survived by companion Dolores Marvin, sons John "Rick" Lay and Oscar Godley, daughters Essie Gray and Judith Villarreal, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Private services. In lieu of flowers, donations suggested to the Peleiholani VFW Post 3830 for the homeless project, in memory of Don Holmes, P.O. Box 13, Pahoa, HI 96778.
Delphine Hookano
Nov. 13, 2007
Delphine "Darling" Hookano, 71, of Waimanalo, a homemaker, died in Kailua. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by husband Edgar K., son Ross. K., daughter Joan P., brother Lawrence Tom and sisters Dorothy Wun, Betty Hu and Amy Ching. Private services.
Charles Masaichi Koyanagi
Nov. 5, 2007
Charles Masaichi Koyanagi, 89, of Honolulu, a retired carpenter, died in Hale Nani Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Suyeko; sons Clifford and Steven Koyanagi, and Dennis Kadokawa; daughters Leatrice Nozaki and Janet Nakashima; sisters Gladys Saiki and Ann Morinoue; 12 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. Private services.
Alfred Sotoku Nakaima
Nov. 14, 2007
Alfred Sotoku Nakaima, 91, of Lahaina, a retired firefighter, died at home. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Dorothy "Dodie"; brothers Charlie and Robert "Mune"; sisters Hilda Kanashiro, Frances Kellett, Nancy Takeyesu and Judy Rigolatta; caregivers Keoki and Monica Lindsey; and a grandchild. Private services. Scattering of ashes at a later date.
Walter Ryojin Nakama
Nov. 12, 2007
Walter Ryojin Nakama, 73, of Honolulu, died in the Queen's Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Motoko, daughters Elise H. Santucci and Becky A. Nakama, sisters Norma S. Amamoto and Barbara A. Nakama, and three grandchildren. Private services.
Kay Nichols
Nov. 2, 2007
Kay Nichols, 88, of Ewa Beach, an Air Force registered nurse, died at home. She was born in Captain Cook, Kona, Hawaii. She is survived by brother Mike Minamoto. Private services.
Grace Hatsumi Nishida
Nov. 8, 2007
Grace Hatsumi Nishida, 89, of Honolulu, a retired U.S. government licensed practical nurse at Tripler Army Medical Center, died in St. Francis-West Hospice. She was born in Ewa. She is survived by husband Toshiaki, half brother Ralph Kono and half sister Evelyn Kosaka. Private services.
William Leonard Nylen Jr.
Nov. 15, 2007
William Leonard Nylen Jr., 89, of Honolulu, a Nylen Brothers owner and Army veteran, died in Straub Clinic & Hospital. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by wife Elizabeth, son William III, daughter Lorraine E. Kingery and a grandchild. Private services.
Grace Estrella Ono
Nov. 13, 2007
Grace Estrella Ono, 61, of Kahului, a Gate Twenty-One dishwasher, died in Hale Makua, Wailuku. She was born in Puunene, Maui. She is survived by mother Flora Melendez, brothers Joseph and Frank Estrella III, and sisters Theresa Plunkett and Mary A. Mora-Luera. Private services.
Charles P. Rossi
Nov. 6, 2007
Charles P. Rossi, 87, of Honolulu, a retired steel executive, died in Honolulu. He was born in Chicago. He is survived by daughter Carole Lilleberg, hanai son John Lilleberg and two grandchildren. Services to be held in Chicago.
Zachary Steve Kahili Ryan
Nov. 8, 2007
Zachary Steve Kahili "Ziggy" Ryan, 22, of Waianae, a city park keeper for Kaneohe District Park, died in Waianae. He was born in Honolulu. He is survived by daughter Dymin Flores, fiancee Janelle Flores, parents Lawrence and Belle, brother Dustin, sister Krystal and grandparents Frank and Carmen Troy, and Peter Kealohi. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mililani Mortuary-Waipio, makai chapel. Call after 8:30 a.m. Burial: 11 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. Flowers welcome.
Julia Yasuko Shiroma
Nov. 8, 2007
Julia Yasuko Shiroma, 74, of Kaneohe died in Castle Medical Center. She was born in Kualapuu, Molokai. She is survived by husband Alan "Mits," son Daniel, brothers Seiki and Seishiro Shimabukuro, sisters Sally Gushi and Grace Teruya, and three grandchildren. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Mililani Downtown Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Aloha attire. No flowers.
Harry Yoshito Tachibana
Nov. 5, 2007
Harry Yoshito Tachibana, 91, of Kaneohe, a retired World Book Encyclopedia district manager and Army veteran who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Company E, during World War II, died. He was born in Honuapo, Kau, Hawaii. He is survived by son Craig N., daughter Karen Y. Sakata, sister Elaine Larkins and a grandchild. Private services.
Beatrice Setsuko Takahashi
Oct. 26, 2007
Beatrice Setsuko Takahashi, 86, of Honolulu, a retired Kress Store cashier, died in Kuakini Medical Center. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Mitchell, daughter Jocelyn Lau, brothers Raymond H. and Herbert T. Sueoka, sisters Amy Y. Sniffen and Dorothy C. Cas- terline, and three grandchildren. Private services.
Helen Kam Sim Takeshita
Nov. 3, 2007
Helen Kam Sim Takeshita, 75, of Pearl City, a retired state Department of Taxation clerk, died in Kaiser Medical Center. She was born in Honolulu. She is survived by son Esmond, brothers Herbert and Alfred, and sisters Evelyn, Emma and Betty. Services: 10 a.m. Friday at Hosoi Garden Mortuary. Call after 9 a.m. Committal services and burial: 1 p.m. at Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe. Casual attire.
Fusae Tanaka
Oct. 31, 2007
Fusae "Edith" Tanaka, 93, of Honolulu, a retired self-employed seamstress, died in Honolulu. She was born in Eleele, Kauai. She is survived by daughters Maureen and Jean Tanaka, and Carolee Aoki; sister Kikue "Kay" Napoleon; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Private services.
Seto Yonashiro
Nov. 9, 2007
Seto Yonashiro, 107, of Honolulu died in Leeward Integrated Health Services. She was born in Kin-Cho, Okinawa, Japan. She is survived by son Flint M., daughter Shizuye Ikehara, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Private services. No monetary offerings.


text:
Plants → Magnoliophyta → Liliopsida → Poales → Centrolepidaceae Endl. → Centrolepis Labill. → Browse taxa…
Family Centrolepidaceae.
Habit and leaf form. Herbs. Annual, or perennial; plants with a basal concentration of leaves (when annual), or with neither basal nor terminal concentrations of leaves; with fibrous root system. Leaves alternate; spiral; sessile; sheathing. Leaf sheaths with free margins. Leaves simple. Leaf blades entire; linear (to subulate); 1 -nerved; parallel-veined. Leaves ligulate, or eligulate; with a persistent basal meristem, and basipetal development. Vegetative anatomy. Plants with silica bodies, or without silica bodies. Leaf anatomy. Leaf blade epidermis without differentiation into 'long' and 'short' cells. Guard-cells 'grass type'. Stem anatomy. Secondary thickening absent.
Reproductive type, pollination. Fertile flowers functionally male and functionally female. Unisexual flowers present. Plants monoecious. The unisexual flowers not conspicuously in separate aggregates. Female flowers aggregated in 'inflorescences' (the carpels often inserted at different levels and partly united along the stipe and inner part of the ovary). Male flowers without pistillodes. Floral nectaries absent (nectaries absent). Anemophilous.
Inflorescence and flower features. Flowers aggregated in 'inflorescences'; in 'spikelets'. The terminal inflorescence unit cymose. Inflorescences scapiflorous; terminal; a cymose head, containing 2–30 pseudanthia; each pseudanthium consisting of 0–1 male and 1–30 fused female flowers; pseudanthial. Flowers bracteate (2 primary bracts enclosing the inflorescence); bracteolate (secondary bracts hyaline or scarious, 2–3 per pseudanthium), or ebracteolate; small. Floral receptacle developing a gynophore. Perianth absent. Fertile stamens present, or absent (from female flowers). Androecium 1 (constituting the male flower, as here interpreted). Androecium exclusively of fertile stamens. Stamens 1. Filaments glabrous; capillary. Anthers dorsifixed; versatile; dehiscing via longitudinal slits; unilocular; bisporangiate. Fertile gynoecium present, or absent (male flower). Gynoecium 1 carpelled (constituting the female flower). The pistil 1 celled. Gynoecium monomerous; of one carpel; superior. Carpel 1 ovuled. Placentation apical. Ovary stipitate. Ovules pendulous; non-arillate; orthotropous.
Fruit and seed features. Fruit non-fleshy. The fruiting carpel dehiscent (each carpel dehiscing by an abaxial slit); a follicle (tiny). Gynoecia of adjoining flowers combining to form a multiple fruit. Dispersal unit the seed. Seeds ovoid to fusiform; copiously endospermic. Endosperm not oily (starchy). Perisperm absent. Seeds with starch. Embryo rudimentary at the time of seed release (minute, obconical). Seedling. Germination epigeal (seed remnant visible on apex of the cotyledon (which appears as the basal leaf)). Hypocotyl internode absent. Mesocotyl absent. Seedling collar not conspicuous. Cotyledon hyperphyll elongated; assimilatory; more or less circular in t.s. Coleoptile absent. Seedling cataphylls absent. First leaf centric. Primary root ephemeral.
Physiology, biochemistry. Aluminium accumulation demonstrated.
Geography, cytology, number of species. Native of Australia. Not endemic to Australia.
FloraBase is produced by the staff of the Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Publication or other use of content on this site is unauthorised unless that use conforms with the copyright statement.
Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/


text:
A new class of advanced Federation scout ship, the Intrepid is a small frigate sized vessel designed for long term scouting
missions. The testbed for numerous new, experimental technologies, the Intrepid Scout is part of Starfleet's shifting design
ideology. Though a small combatant, the Intrepid Scout is able to hold its own against most enemies.
I didn't like Voyager, so it is no surprise I don't care for the Intrepid-class much. I have designed it as a decent ELINT ship,
more of a combat ELINT than anything else.
Questions, comments, or suggestions? Please contact
Tyrel Lohr at email@example.com or via this online contact form.
I look forward to hearing your feedback and ideas.
All original content © 2019, Tyrel Lohr.
All other materials are owned by their respective authors.


text:
The Baja Report is a publication of the Baja Good Life Club. Published since 2008 and is read by more than 10000 Baja lovers...and growing.
Todos Santos BCS Mexico
Getting your Mexican Auto Insurance just got SIMPLE. . Simply login --> CLICK HERE. Then click "Buy Club Rate Insurance Now"
Not a BGLC Member? JOIN TODAY!
Call & Get a Quote! 1-877-LUVMEX1 Ex. 3 (1-877-588-6391 Ex. 3)
Join the Baja Good Life Club!
San Felipe BC Mexico San Felipe BC Mexico
BGLC DISCOUNT - Baja Desert CafeSan Felipe, BC MexicoBGLC MEMBER DISCOUNT: 10% off meal Baja Desert Cafe is a small little cafe in the Ejido, mexican family owned and operated. They opened October 2010 and business has been growing since! Americans seem to really enjoy the food and the nice people there. On average their customers say good bye expressing how much they enjoyed the food and telling
BGLC DISCOUNT - Baja ExpeditionsSan Ignacio, BC MexicoBGLC MEMBER DISCOUNT: 20% OffFly or drive at your convenience to our newest whale watching camp in San Ignacio Lagoon, where your accommodations are in comfortable cabañas, elevated from the sand. Book the dates that work best for you or choose from four scheduled departures. Twice-daily skiff rides take you to the whale viewing area, where
BGLC DISCOUNT - Poco Cielo - RestaurantEnsenada, BC MexicoBGLC MEMBER DISCOUNT: 15% off Restaurant or Hotel, not to include alcohol or room service.Poco Cielo, loosely translated, means "little heaven." Our small, private hotel has nine intimate guest rooms, an on-site restaurant and cantina, the most friendly staff on the coast, and we are here awaiting your arrival! Located half way between
Baja Dogs La Paz Happenings - Scavenger Hunt/Car Rally in La PazBaja Dogs is holding a Scavenger Hunt/Car Rally on Saturday, May 7 from 11am to 6pm. Teams will consist of 4 people wearing dog costumes and a driving a car decorated like a dog. Registration costs $1000 pesos for a team of 4. Teams could be sponsored by a business. If you don't want to participate yourself, please consider
THE NORRA MEXICAN 1000We have returned off-road motorsports to its roots comaraderie, hot rodding and fun! The Mexican 1000 Rally is a fully-supported on-road/off-road rally open to vintage and alternative fueled vehicles. It will be an adventure filled with high-performance driving, incredible scenery and world-class adventure.ScheduleMay 4 Contingency, Tech Inspection, Driver MeetingMay 5
Mexico has had one of the largest increases in life expectancy of its citizens in recent years. According to statistics from the Organization of the United Nations (UN), the life expectancy in Mexico has soared from 66.6 to 76.7 years from 1980 to 2010. Even among OECD members, Mexico has the highest increase in life expectancy over the past 20 years and occupies the first place among the big
Baja Book Festival(with art, food, wine and more) www.bajabookfestival.com CONTACT: Carla White Local: (646) 155-4008 US: (619) 955-6430 The Q Sponsors Baja Book Festival, Saturday, Oct. 15 (A magical day of words, wine, food, art & more) On Saturday, October 15, 2011, from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.,
The Beautiful EnsenadaI thought you might like to see a video of the City that I proudly call "My Home". Please forward to your friends, gracias, Jean-Loup
Art For Life: Expressive Arts WorkshopSaturday, May 7th, 1-4 PM at La Arca Cultural Center, Todos Santos. For artists working in any medium, or anyone who wants to expand and deepen their creative expression. Workshop participants will work individually and as a group, using varying art mediums, including: drawing, movement, drama and writing.Zoë Edmonds brings her experience as arts educator,
ZAPP is holding its first fund raising event for the Spay/Neuter Street Project since our annual Drag Show back in January. This event will commemorate the one year anniversary of the passing of my buddy Mark Dille, a great guy who was deeply involved in Animal Rescue in San Felipe since we arrived here from California back in July of 2003.The Event will be held at the Pavilion on El Dorado
May 5-6, 2011 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower. The Eta Aquarids are a light shower, usually producing about 10 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower's peak usually occurs on May 5 & 6, however viewing should be good on any morning from May 4 - 7. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Aquarius. Best viewing is usually to the east after midnight.
Over one million Americans living happily in Mexicowww.thecatalist.org - InsideMexico ran an article by Margot Lee Shetterly a few years ago on the many Americans who live in Mexico.The article might not be recent, but the issues covered continue to be relevant. She writes on how studies show that there are more than a million American citizens living in Mexico, and as many as half-million
TOKYO – Toyota Motor Co may slip to No. 3 in the automaker production rankings behind General Motors and Volkswagen due to Japan's earthquake and nuclear crisis, which slashed local output by almost two-thirds in March alone. A shortage of parts in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami has savaged Japan's auto sector supply chain, while damage to a major nuclear plant has disrupted
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Hire Frequencies Win Google Contract
Case Study
Hire Frequencies are a specialist provider of Audio Visual equipment hire in London.
Launched by a group of audio engineers, Hire Frequencies hire services include an extensive range of Audio and Visual Equipment, DJ sets, Lighting and Staging equipment that is suitable for Weddings, Fashion Shows, Corporate Events, Conferences and Festivals.
To compliment their list of equipment for hire, the company also owns a recording studio.
With a focus on delivering professional audio solutions coupled with excellent customer service, Hire Frequencies hiring service includes delivery and setup performed by a group of professional Sound, Lighting and Installation Engineers that will be on hand to help their clients get the most out of any event.
We're working flat out with new business and we're getting enquiries from major companies such as Twitter, Google, Skype, Zoopla and the Hilton Group thanks to Dan's work…
Will Smith
Hire Frequencies Main Goals
Hire Frequencies' investment in the latest equipment drove their marketing team to produce a more aggressive sales plan to justify the ongoing investment.
Upon reviewing their marketing strategy, Click Convert identified new opportunities for Hire Frequencies to reach into larger events, festivals, product launches and conferences that would position them as the "go to" audio visual specialists in London.
It was at this stage that Click Convert were selected to lead Hire Frequencies digital marketing campaign to help drive new business enquiries and increase brand awareness.
After reviewing the existing PPC activities, it became clear that Hire Frequencies needed to consider their digital clients journey from awareness, evaluation to conversion.
Their existing campaign had generated results but lacked scalability.
There was a confusion within the accounts structure and as a result it was established at this point that it was necessary to re-build the account to include a structure focusing on keywords, search terms and geo-targeting whilst maintaining existing lead generation and costs during the transition to the new campaigns.
Achieving the Mission
The second stage, evaluation and consideration, dealt with new lead generation for those who were actively seeking audiovisual events solutions.
These approaches were reinforced by a third stage of continuous brand and re-marketing activities for those who were already aware or had visited the brand but had yet to convert.
In order to effectively address Hire Frequencies full range of services, a new vertical market approach was introduced where campaigns were segmented into tighter geographic targets. On top of these, on page optimisation was introduced in order to deliver users to highly relevant, converting pages.
All traffic was regularly reviewed for quality and volumes and an active negative filtering strategy was implemented along with an ongoing keyword mining exercise.
The Click Convert team worked hard to audit the structure of the Analytics account to ensure it was configured correctly and accurately tracking user interactions to provide Hire Frequencies with insightful analytics and reporting.
The Results
- 230% increase in conversion (comparing 2015 to 2016);
- 390% improvement in conversion rate (2015 – 2016);
- 51% decrease in conversion costs;
- Through AdWords and the fantastic work Click Convert have done, Hire Frequencies have now worked with Google, Skype, Zoopla and UEFA to name but a few.
- Moved to new premises and increased new staff in order to deal with increased demand;
- Full digital strategy developed to support nationwide expansion.


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Happy 10th Birthday to RWD Magazine!
In this documentary that celebrates a decade in the life of the seminal mag (if I do say myself!), the likes of Tinchy, Wretch, Semtex, Ms. Bratt, Davinche and Newham Generals talk about the impact RWD has had on the underground scene, and how it helped their own careers.


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May 6, 2005
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Advisory Council met at the John H. Winters Building, Room 125-E, 701 West 51st Street, Austin, Texas. Council Members present were Chair Richard S. Hoffman, Dr. Ronald Brandon, John Castle, Imogen Papadopoulos, Linda Bell Robinson, Ommy Salinas Strauch, John Castle, Anne Crews, Catherine Mosbacher, and Judge Faith Johnson. A quorum was present. Also present were Commissioner Cockerell and Department staff.
Agenda Item 1 - Call to Order
Agenda Item 2 - Reading, Correction, and Approval of Minutes of March 4, 2005
Mr. Hoffman moved to approve the minutes, and Ms. Papadopoulos seconded. Approval was unanimous. The motion carried.
Agenda Item 3 - Public Testimony
Andrew D. Rivera stated that he was disillusioned and disappointed by the agency, and that he came before the Council questioning the commitment and sincerity regarding the reform of the agency. He stated that he provided a memorandum requesting a meeting to discuss his concerns but that he had not heard back. Mr. Rivera stated that he spoke with Commissioner Cockerells staff and was informed that they are not to arrange meetings, nor are they to allow meetings to take place with anyone named in a case.
Mr. Hoffman stated that they would look into policy regarding this matter.
Agenda Item 4 - Staff Briefing
4. a. Commissioners Report - Commissioner Cockerell
Commissioner Cockerell stated that over the past five months there has been progress made. He took the opportunity to talk about Project Renewal. He further stated that David Sheets would explain the project and that David and a number of the staff, from executive staff on down, have worked very hard over the last several months on project renewal. Simply put, project renewal has taken our reform package and it has boiled it down to 25 initiatives, and these initiatives involve stakeholders, staff, time tables, tasks, and it is all encompassing across our reform package. A renewal kick off is planned for Tuesday,
Commissioner Cockerell continued to talk about legislation, specifically SB 6 and the House appropriations bill. SB 6 in conference committee now. CPS reform and most DFPS funding is caught squarely in the middle of this debate and discussion. DFPS is working closely with HHSC to show why fully funding reform is essential.
May is Foster Care Month. Information on foster care and adoption will be highlighted on the DFPS website this month. Local offices and regions are hosting a number of events.
May 6 is Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. Child care organizations nationwide are encouraging parents with children in child care to take this day to show appreciation for child care providers.
Governor Rick Perry has also proclaimed May as Elder Abuse Prevention Month, a time to renew our commitment to elderly and disabled Texans. This month marks the start of a year-long effort to build closer working relationships between APS and community groups.
Commissioner Cockerell stated he will take this time as we go through the next several years, or several months in our journey to work with this Agency, to share stories. Commissioner Cockerell then shared feedback about a pair of young parents and family group conferencing.
In November of 2004, HHSC Executive Commissioner, Albert Hawkins, deployed a rapid response team to San Antonio and appointed a special administrator for CPS after a case review in the death of a five year old girl who had been reported to CPS numerous times. Staff have worked to repair public trust. Recently Bexar County Commissioners funded three adoption case worker positions out of their budget for a proposed regional staff development project called PUSH. Now CPS is beginning to push project PUSH statewide.
Commissioner Cockerell also reported that the CPS rapid response teams have pretty much been completed. And we think it was a rousing success. We have deployed cyber secretary, a transcription service, during the rapid response, continued to hear tremendous support for the time savings that has afforded field case workers.
Immediately after the statewide rapid response was finished, CPS developed a monitoring tool. The agency is very concerned about not just the closing of cases, but being able to sustain that effort and ensure that we didnt get into backlogs again. A CPS staff person in Houston came up with the mechanism to help. Its been shared statewide and put on the internet immediately.
Commissioner Cockerell continued by discussing the increased use of Cybersecretary and the positive effect it has had on CPS staff resources and time.
APS is currently involved in rapid response teams across the state. Today theyre completing the first phase. Teams have been to each region. Reports are very positive
Commissioner Cockerell thanked his staff and appreciated the support of Council members.
Mr. Castle asked about the significant difference between the Senate and the House side. Commissioner Cockerell stated that the money is a key difference to funding.
Mr. Castle asked how much money, and Commissioner Cockerell stated that the Senate, in their finance bill, has about $109 million for CPS reform, as opposed to the $253 million recommended.
Ms. Mosbacher asked whether the money is state funding, or a combination. Commissioner Cockerell responded that it is only General Revenue from state funding. The federal funding is not included.
Dr. Brandon asked whether the other big issue is outsourcing.
Commissioner Cockerell responded, Well, certainly we heard the presentation from Judge McCowan yesterday, and thats certainly what he is emphasizing. And that is a difference. As Ms. Heligenstein stated on yesterday, the Senate does have a pilot where the House is more of a slower judicious deliberate roll out. Commissioner Cockerell further stated that he did not want to diminish the differences between the two, but as we discussed yesterday, they are probably more similar than they are dissimilar. And in his opinion, that is not a large difference, or a large sticking point.
Mr. Hoffman asked what the role of the advisory council is and if they should weigh in on any legislative issue. Mr. Cockerell said they could do it individually or collectively. Mr. Hoffman said it is more powerful if we were of one mind about a particular issue. If not, individuals can write.
A discussion amongst Council members ensued regarding pilot versus roll-out and the independent administrator. Ms. Sims was asked to answer some questions.
Ms. Sims stated there are differences in both versions of Senate Bill 6 and offered to share prepared material with Council members. Ms. Papadopolous asked what the Council could do to help and Ms. Sims replied that the real issue is funding of reform.
Ms. Papadopolous asked what are the competing interests on the Senate side to that funding? Ms. Sims stated it isnt just the Senate side and explained what the funding looked like to date.
Ms. Mosbacher suggested that as a Council they join together and support maximum funding. A discussion about differences and similarities in both versions of the bill ensued.
4.b. Reform Project Update - David Sheets
David Sheets stated that the reform project was structured around items from the HHSC reports and that it is to go beyond reform and be seen as total agency renewal. APS has been working on addressing items from the report.
The presentation discussed capacity building, steering committee members, and support for the renewal project. The steering committee will have joint ownership and management of all initiatives. There are 24 separate projects. The chart demonstrates the flow of each project. Some projects will move faster than others based on the scope.
Ms. Mosbacher asked a question regarding the acronyms listed.
Mr. Castle asked whether the idea of building organizational capacity is to make the organization more of what is the overall objective, to make it more efficient, so that you look at each one of these areas and say, how can I get more out of whatever you measure performance out of existing resources, or is it to prepare for the legislation that is coming down. He wanted to the overall purpose of building organizational capacity.
Mr. Sheets stated that the things that we recognize was that you do not just change policy and train people for two or three days and think that you really achieved a change in an organization, change, and that cultural change management is a discipline in itself, and we recognize that we had to have that as an integral part.
Mr. Sheets also stated that the leadership is from within the program areas themselves.
Ms. Strauch commented that what she gets from this, having worked on change initiatives is that there are actions plans for each one of these 24 items, and those action plans will not be successful unless were also, at the same time, working on this capacity and this change management principle. Ms. Strauch also commended Mr. Sheets for setting the framework for change.
Mr. Sheets stated that we dont have the project management consultants yet but that an RFP is being developed. He also pointed out key challenges ahead such as organizational capacity and internal resources such as IT. Mr. Sheets stressed the importance of change management, communication, and working with stakeholders.
Ms. Papadopolous asked about interagency communication, for example working with DADS on guardianship issues.
Mr. Sheets responded that there will be communication from program to DADS. His role as project director is to be aware of the issue and support program.
Ms. Papadopolous stressed the need for a mechanism so that communication can be effective and successful.
4.c. Casey Family Foundation Update - Joyce James/Carolyn Rodriguez
Ms. Rodriguez expressed her appreciation for being able to update us about the Texas state strategy work that they are doing with DFPS and Child Protective Services in particular. Casey has had direct service presence in Texas since 84.
An overview and history of Caseys work in Texas was given. Examples included STEP Initiative, community building in Laredo and El Paso, and the transition center in San Antonio.
Ms. Rodriguez stated that a lot of work with DFPS around Chaffee utilization, the dollars that support young people who are leaving foster care. When the strategy started there was an operating question that really was the center piece of conversations with the executive leadership of DFPS, and it really was how Casey could best use its resources in this state. So the idea was to look at what the needs were from the Departments perspective, and ways that we could lead a collaborative strategy that could help address the accountabilities that the Department had for improvements in child welfare. A multi-pronged approach was developed using internal consultation, practice approaches and a shift to family centered practice through good practice models.
Constituency engagement and development was also looked at in terms of teaching young people, alumni from foster care, how to be their own best advocates and be able, in turn, to advocate for the system and what other youth need, and then also having the opportunity to educate policy makers.
Casey has a lot of restrictions by virtue of being an operating foundation. For example, without invited testimony from the Chair of the committee for Senate Bill 6, not much can be done. Casey picks efforts that are going to be sustainable.
Ms. James stated that the mission is to address challenges and opportunities in five major areas in Texas for the child welfare system. And those areas selected have to do with permanency and, of course, it has a focus on kinship care. A large focus is primarily on our work in kinship care for transition working to improve our efforts for transitioning youth out of the foster care system. This is also an educational piece is based on improving educational outcomes for youth in foster care.
Ms. James said that this is the second year that Casey will be fully funding our staffs participation in an educational summit on public policy involved on educational outcomes for youth. Casey is also going to sponsor for DFPS a pure technical assistance session where they will bring in information related to other states that have developed educational passports, which is part of one of the recommendations in CPS reform.
Mr. Hoffman thanked Ms. James and Ms. Rodriquez for their presentation on Casey particularly the cooperation and support in this effort.
4.d. Legislative Update - Jennifer Sims
Ms. Sims stated that 236 bills are currently being tracked. And of those, 35 are considered a priority. Of those bills, 67 are engrossed, and so theyre moving to the other chamber.
Ms. Sims highlighted key provisions of SB 6 and SB 1. She also discussed efforts at the Capitol and the conference committee process. Additional bills were mentioned and described.
Ms. Sims informed the Council Members that they did not have to appear before the nominations committee this session, as they have been confirmed to serve another term without having to appear before the legislative committee.
Ms. Papadopolous asked about the standing of the gay or lesbian foster parent ban. Ms. Sims replied that there have been serious reservations vocalized in the Senate and that the House and Senate conferees are having the discussion.
Dr. Brandon inquired about tiered licensing. Ms. Spiser replied that currently for child care centers that provide daycare services only, the Texas Workforce Commission runs a program called the Texas Rising Star Program. The program allows providers to improve the care and services that they provide in daycare to children and are rewarded through their contracts with TWC workforce boards with higher payments. This bill would more formalize that agreement and place it and the licensing division where all providers would be eligible to participate in this tiered system. Right now, only providers who have contracts with local workforce boards, or TWC, to provide daycare services can be part of the Texas Rising Star Program.
Ms. Sims added that the medical passport is still in development and that the Bill just directs the Health and Human Services Commission to create it. The Health and Human Services Commission, in preparation for that, began discussions with folks in Medicaid. All of the children who are on -- who are foster children, are eligible for Medicaid, and so it would kind of run in tandem with the Medicaid program, and probably pull the data from there and work in partnership with the records that are submitted for the Medicaid billing program.
Commissioner Cockerell added that rates now are under the purview of HHSC and discussed a meeting held to look at the model that DFPS used in the past and a model being developed.
Agenda Item 5 - New Business
5.a. Consideration to publish for public comment amendments to 40 TAC, Chapter 700, Education and Training Voucher Program - Joyce James
Ms. James presented for consideration new rules regarding the education and training voucher program. Ms. James stated that this new rule will allow us to expand and supplement the current assistance provided to eligible former and current foster care youth who will be able to extend these services up to the age of 23 to help them to begin, continue and/or complete their post-secondary education and vocational goals.
Ms. Mosbacher moved that the council recommend for proposal by the Health and Human Services Commission, the new rules concerning the education and training voucher program, as reflected in the Councils May 6, 2005, Agenda Item 5.a., and Judge Johnson seconded.
Agenda Item 6 - Old Business
6.a. Recommendation to adopt rule changes in 40 TAC 700.1208 concerning question of the specific goal as to the percent of children in care over 24 months - Joyce James
Ms. James stated that outlined in council packet, is consideration for the adoption of the previously proposed rule change regarding reducing the percentage goal regarding children who are in foster care for a period in excess of 24 months. The rule change will allow DFPS to lower the percentage from 45 to 35 percent. She asked that the Council recommend to Commissioner Cockerell, and Executive Commissioner Hawkins, that these rules be adopted with an effective date of July 1, 2005.
Ms. Strauch moved that the Council recommend for adoption by the Health and Human Services Commission the new rule concerning the specific goal as to the percent of children in care over 24 months as is reflected in our councils May 6, 2005, Agenda Item 6.a., and Ms. Crews seconded.
6.b. Recommendation to adopt rule changes in 40 TAC 745.8843 concerning requesting a due process hearing - Diana Spiser
Ms. Spiser stated that outlined in council packet, is consideration for the adoption of the previously proposed rule change for requesting a due process hearing. The rule change will allow DFPS to obtain a default judgment based on notice of hearing sent to the parties last known address. No public comments were received on this rule. She asked that the Council recommend to Commissioner Cockerell, and Executive Commissioner Hawkins, that these rules be adopted with an effective date of July 1, 2005.
Ms. Crews moved that the Council recommend for adoption by the Health and Human Services Commission the amended rule concerning requesting a due process hearing, as reflected in the councils May 6, 2005, Agenda Item 6.b, and Mr. Castle seconded.
6.c. Recommendation to adopt rule changes in 40 TAC, Chapter 746 concerning minimum standards for child care centers, 40 TAC, Chapter 747 concerning minimum standards for child care homes - Diana Spiser
Ms. Spiser stated as outlined in council packet, is consideration for the adoption of the previously proposed rule changes to the minimum standards for licensed child care centers and registered child care homes. All of the public comments have been addressed and are listed in your council packet. She asked that the Council recommend to Commissioner Cockerell, and Executive Commissioner Hawkins, that these rules and the recommended changes be adopted with an effective date of July 1, 2005.
Mr. Castle moved the Council recommend for adoption by the Health and Human Services Commission the new rules concerning licensing minimum standards for child care centers and child care homes, as reflected in councils May 6, 2005, Agenda Item 6.c., and Ms. Papadopoulos seconded.
The meeting adjourned at 11:57 am.


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If I had to pick one European city to be on every twenty-somethings Europe backpack bucket list, it would be a tough choice, but Barca would almost certainly take the prize. Awe inspiring architecture, an insane nightlife, delicious food, cheap sangria and a sunny climate make this one the hit of any European backpacking escapade.
Kabul backpackers, which is just off La Ramblas in the heart of the Barca action, features a cosy bar area where there is always a game of beer pong to be had and decent wifi.
St Christopher's Hostel in Barcelona is a few streets back from La Ramblas, but just 200 meters away from the terminal for the Aerobus (airport shuttle). St Christopher's hostels have always been well worth the extra few bucks you may be able to save by staying at a less well known hostel . The Barcelona edition features generously sized bunks, with secure lockers underneath, curtains for a bit of privacy and a power point in your bed for phone charging. Bathrooms are regularly cleaned, and there is a social friendly atmosphere, especially during happy hour! Belushi's is also a great place to hang out, the happy hours are great value and they have a killer hangover recovery breakfast.
The obvious answer is Gaudi, Gaudi and more Gaudi! The la sagrada familia temple probably needs no introduction – but is well worth a look, the only way to describe it would be spectacular.
My personal favourite thing to do in Barca is to make the hike up to Parc Guell and take in the stunning vista of the entire city. A great way to do this is to get the green metro line, and get off at either Fontana or Lesseps station, then make the climb to the viewing point (added bonus, this is essentially a free activity!). Picnic and sangria optional! Entry into actual Parc Guell, where the famous Gaudi serpent bench is is paid and a bit of a nightmare in peak season. However they have now got online ticketing, so if you are the organised type you can prebook online what time you want to see the parc and time your adventuring accordingly!
The beach is also worth a visit, it hasn't got anything on my home beach (but let's be honest where has!?) but a good place to soak up the rays after a Barcelona night out.
Other than the beach and Gaudi, i can recommend wandering La Rambla (at day or night!), and the surrounding streets and of course a trip to Barcelona would not be complete without at least 2-3 visits to St Josef La Boqueria, This historic market dates back to 1217 and sells a wide variety of food goods. The fresh fruit juices of every flavour under the sun are perfect for quenching your first mid way through a wander down the hectic La Rambla. Bonus Tip: Head further back from the entrance, and the prices drop 😉
During the summer season Barca hosts a range of massive international electronic artists! On my first night in Barca i saw Fatboy Slim and Zeds Dead play. Tickets were a bit pricey, but if you are going to have a splash out night, Barca is a good place to do it, and what you pay to see those artists is probably still a 5th of what you'd pay to see them play in Australia. There are a couple of these clubs – Razzmatazz is probably one of the best though.
With 5 different dance floors, playing a variety of different genres, although admittedly very electronic focused and kicking on till 5:30am it is really hard to have a bad night here if you are out for a big one. One of my favourite memories is sitting in square outside Kabul hostel at 8am with some buddies watching the Barcelonians go about their everyday business in an afterglow of good vibes after our Razzmattazz experience!
Belushi's bar (convenient if you stay at St Christopher's) is a good place to start the night and find out who is playing where and what parties are on and meet fellow travellers if you are flying solo. On the night before I flew home I was tempted by some bad influences I met, who actually happened to be from my hometown (small world) who brought me some cocktails, and were perhaps nearly responsible for me missing my flight home, but hey I made it,and that is what counts right?