Limberjack Doll For Sale

Blog Spam and moderation of ASPO-Italy

Note to readers

There has been some 'confusion in the comments of the previous post, a commentator who calls himself "Henry" has left at least fifty posts, monopolizing the discussion.

Unfortunately, this kind of things happen very frequently in blogs with people who - for some reason - they believe they can impose their opinions through verbal abuse and sheer volume. So, it is normal that we should take steps to give everyone the opportunity to express their views in a serene atmosphere. It 'something that we have seen in particular on the "climate" also, for example, on the blog " climate-changing" and "Cassandra ". Lo stesso tipo di fenomeno si verifica su altri argomenti controversi, come il nucleare - come abbiamo visto su questo blog.

Quindi, abbiamo ripulito dallo spam la coda dei commenti e messo il blog in moderazione. Questo vuol dire che i commenti saranno filtrati a giudizio dei moderatori del blog. Non ci sarà nessun filtro di tipo "ideologico", passeremo commenti sia in favore che contro il nucleare o altri argomenti. L'unico metro di giudizio sarà la gestione di una civile discussione. Ovvero, ci riserviamo il diritto di "tagliare" chi monpolizza la discussione con un numero eccessivo di commenti, come pure con commenti offensivi o ripetitivi.

Ciò detto, andiamo avanti.

I Can Peel A Skin In My Scrotum

operational life of nuclear reactors

Commonly we tend to think that the cost of producing nuclear energy depends mainly on the cost of system construction, but there are various factors that determine the cost per kWh produced. Among these, very important is the operational lifetime of the plant. In this fascinating article, Domenico Coiante, from his experience as a physical scientist and manager for 35 years at the Aeneas, not only sheds light on this crucial issue, but also tells us perhaps a little known part of the energy history national.

Written by Domenico Coiante

Cost per kWh and lifetime

In estimating the cost of kWh produced in power stations have an integral role in the full duration of the operation efficiency of the production facilities. This time period is referred to as "useful life" or "lifetime". It begins at the time of production start-up and ends when the annual cost of operation and maintenance is above the revenue from the sale of energy (maintenance costs grow with the aging of facilities). This event causes the permanent closure activities.
Fixed nominal power generator, the longer the lifetime the higher the cumulative energy production. So, for the same cost of the plant, the cost of the unit of energy produced will be much lower than the longer its life.

nuclear reactors I and II were designed to build an operational lifetime of 30 years, the same as in conventional thermal power plants. The depreciation expense for the plants was spread over the entire life cycle and that determined through the current discount rate, the production cost per kWh. Therefore, existing conditions, both for the cost of the plant, both for governmental incentives, together with the operational life of at least 30 years, ensuring the competitiveness of nuclear electricity market dominated by thermal generation convenzionale.

Per lo meno ciò è stato vero fintanto che è esistito il mercato parallelo, militarmente protetto, del plutonio estratto dagli elementi di combustibile bruciato. I proventi del plutonio, come sottoprodotto della produzione atomica pacifica, ammontavano in quegli anni a circa 30 $/g e questo prezzo d’acquisto da parte del governo USA era così alto da rappresentare per le imprese nucleari la “fonte più alta di profitto” (Loizzo, 1994). Ricordo che con il plutonio si sono realizzate nei Paesi Alleati (ed ex Alleati) migliaia di testate nucleari durante il periodo della guerra fredda. La quota di ricavo proveniente dalla vendita del plutonio costituì il sussidio principale di sostegno al costo del kWh nucleare fino al 1977. In quell’anno il Presidente J. Carter, preoccupato per la proliferazione atomica, fece approvare dal Congresso un decreto che proibiva l’estrazione del plutonio dagli elementi di combustibile bruciato. Improvvisamente, per i gestori delle centrali nucleari, venne a mancare il principale provento. Le centrali già in funzione da anni, a cui il sussidio ‘plutonio’ aveva consentito praticamente di ammortizzare la spesa di costruzione, poterono continuare a produrre i kWh in attivo, mentre, per le ultime nate, sorsero seri problemi economici. Le cose peggiorarono ulteriormente nel 1978, quando il Presidente G. Ford fece privatizzare completamente il settore dei reattori nucleari, togliendo gli altri public incentives, including government guarantees for loans requested to carry out the installations. For the U.S. nuclear industry was grinding to a halt: the orders in the pipeline were blocked and no new plant was more ordered in the U.S. to this day. The industry was drastically cut back and some have survived by taking advantage of some designs of nuclear reactors in developing countries, mainly China, India, Pakistan, Korea, where there were ambiguous plans for the "peaceful nuclear energy."

Italy also strongly affected by this situation. The nuclear program, launched by the Minister of Industry Donat Cattin effort in 1975, which included the construction of 20 power plants nuclear 1000 MW each, for a total cost of 20 trillion lire, had to be reduced to only 6 plants, of which only two were built: Three Vercelli and Caorso. As evidence of the seriousness of the crisis, this writer can remember that in the days of the decision of President Ford, the training course on reactor safety of PWR Westighouse, which was being held in Rome and which he participated, was stopped abruptly during a lesson and all teachers, specialists of the company, were recalled in the U.S. immediately.

Apart from the question of plutonium in reactors in the transition from the first generation of the '50s and '60s with those of the second generation of the '70s had been a considerable increase in construction costs of the plants, mainly because of the need for greater security imposed by the governmental control. These higher costs were partly offset by the large margin of profit, which came from the sale of plutonium. Once locked this source and liberalized the sector, the competitiveness of the nuclear kWh was significantly affected. Nuclear power was no longer a "cost so low that it can not be measured" as the slogan recited in vogue in the '50s.
We come to 2000, when the nuclear industry has survived started to announce the "nuclear renaissance", to be implemented with third-generation reactor, the present one, pending a fourth generation still in the minds of researchers.

What's new? The competitiveness of
kWh can be recovered, despite higher costs due to equipment installation of security systems through improved conversion efficiency and the prolongation of life.
The improvement of materials and technologies has made it possible to bring the average annual productivity of the plant from 6500 kWh / kW of the 80 in 7500 to 7800 kWh / kW at present.
The experience of second generation plants, which have now reached in our day to 30 years of operation, has shown the possibility to extend the operational life of up to 40 years, while the third generation reactors are designed with the technical criteria such as to provide an operational lifetime of 60 years. With a life span so long, the discount factor plays a minor role in the capital and produce the lowering of cost per kWh. What has
reliability prediction of the doubling of operating life from 30 to 60 years? The situation


First, try to understand why the operating life of reactors I and II generation was set at 30 years.
E 'known that the practical experience gained in over a century of conventional thermal power plant management, have established their life around 30 years. After this period, the number of failures of the relevant parties becomes so high as to bring the cost of maintaining such a value to zero profit. For this reason, an operational lifetime of 30 years is usually assumed for the thermal budget of the enterprise.
Since a nuclear plant, apart from how to heat the primary thermal fluid is substantially similar to a conventional thermal power plant, it was considered that the aging process of the main components were similar. Indeed, in the case of nuclear power, it is known that the presence of neutron radiation produces embrittlement of all materials, including steel. Thus, the aging process is accelerato e, di conseguenza, si sono dovuti adottare provvedimenti d’irrobustimento dei materiali per garantirsi almeno 30 anni di vita operativa. Questo ha prodotto, indipendentemente dai requisiti dei sistemi di sicurezza, un generale aumento del costo degli impianti rispetto a quelli convenzionali, ma tale aumento era compensato dal bassissimo costo del combustibile nucleare. In definitiva, i 30 anni previsti per la vita utile erano sufficienti per portare al profitto l’impresa.
Per molti reattori nucleari 30 anni sono ormai trascorsi dal loro avvio. Ci chiediamo se la previsione della vita operativa è stata rispettata.

Certo, non ci possiamo basare sull’esperienza italiana, che, a prescindere dal blocco a seguito del referendum del 1987, è stata abbastanza travagliata. Infatti, i due reattori della I generazione, costruiti alla fine degli anni ’50 ed avviati nei primi anni ’60, avevano mostrato una serie di malfunzionamenti, che difficilmente avrebbero permesso il raggiungimento dei 30 anni di vita operativa.
- Il reattore di Latina, della filiera inglese a gas-grafite, poco dopo essere stato portato alla massima potenza di 210 MW, ebbe un grave guasto a causa della dilatazione termica dei blocchi di grafite. Alcuni dadi che serravano i bulloni di contenimento della grafite saltarono via, facendo oscillare pericolosamente il nucleo del reattore e provocando l’intervento del sistema di blocco. L’esame del guasto e la sua riparazione consigliarono di esercire il reattore a potenza ridotta a 140 MW, onde impedire una eccessiva dilatazione della grafite, e così fu fatto fino al blocco del 1987. E’ chiaro che, in tali condizioni di funzionamento a regime ridotto, la vita operativa sarebbe stata poco significativa in ogni caso.
- Il reattore ad acqua bollente (BWR) da 160 MW della General Electric del Garigliano ebbe una vita altrettanto travagliata. Avviato nel 1963, il suo funzionamento fu spesso interrotto durante i primi 10 anni a causa di guasti. Chi scrive partecipò, come addetto ai controlli governativi previsti dalla legge, alle diverse ispezioni dei sistemi di sicurezza a seguito della richiesta del rinnovo decennale della licenza d’esercizio. Assieme ad alcuni malfunzionamenti minor, it was discovered on that occasion a leak of radioactive steam from a nozzle of the welding output of one of the primary circuits. The next test for all other unions emphasized the presence of cracks in the welds, which still did not go out steam. A survey done in Germany at some facilities equal to that of the Garigliano, allowed to ascertain the occurrence of similar failures. The technical and economic estimates made by ENEL not demonstrated the cost to repair the damage and, therefore, was made in 1981, the decision to shut down the reactor. When it was decided the suspension of nuclear power for the 1987 referendum, the Garigliano reactor was already shut down for years. Its operating life, wanting to be optimistic, was about 15 years.
- The other two reactors, the PWR Trino Vercelli from 260 MW and the BWR Caorso from 860 MW were shut down for political reasons in 1987, respectively after 25 and 12 years of operation.

We see, therefore, if we can bolster confidence in the prediction of 60 years of living with other experimental evidence from a significant base of the enlarged world.
The following table, published by the World Nuclear Association (WNA, 2010), gives a list of all the reactors have been shut down yet reached retirement age (because they become non-economic).

as can be seen, the vast majority of these 95 reactors went into service in the 60s and a small number of them was initiated in the early '70s.
The graph of Fig.1 shows the same data in the table in the form of distribution of the number of reactors in relation to life.

The arithmetic mean value of the life cycle, calculated for the entire distribution, is 23.1 years.
observing the histogram, you notice a group of cases are concentrated in the first seven years of the scale. It is almost always of cases of experimental prototype reactors, which have resulted in industrial clusters. Eliminating them from the base to the media because these cases are not significant, the value of media sale a 26,8 anni. Non possiamo, tuttavia, concludere che la vita operativa dei reattori della I e II generazione sia questa, perché non sappiamo quanti altri impianti, avviati negli anni ’70, siano ancora in funzione. Ad esempio, osservando il lato destro del grafico, possiamo vedere che una decina di reattori hanno operato per oltre 40 anni; ce ne potrebbero essere altri, entrati in servizio alla fine degli anni ’70 prima del blocco, che ancora sono in esercizio e che potrebbero portare la media della vita operativa ad un valore più alto.

Il grafico di Fig.2, sotto riprodotto da un recente rapporto dell’IAEA (IAE A, 2009), è molto interessante. Esso mostra chiaramente che Most reactors in operation are between 20 and 30 years and another large group is in service for 30-40 years. Going back in time, the first group entered the service in the decade 1980-1990, and according to the chart, has statistically still faces a life span of another ten years, while the second, which was launched in previous decade 1970-1980, no longer has a future (always in statistical terms).
There are practically no longer in service reactors over the age of 40 years, that is built and launched before 1970.


Conclusion The conclusion to be drawn from these experimental data, is that the effective operational life can be placed with good certainty the value of 30 years and assumed that the extension to 40 years for the reactors of the latest technology, is probabilistically acceptable.
Regarding the further extension to 60 years, you have no feedback in the experimental data. References


- Loizou P., 1994, Nuclear power plants, or the devil who is not there, Ed Monteleone, Vibo Valentia 1994, p.98
- WNA, 2010, Decommissioning Nuclear Facilities, www.world-nuclear .org/info/inf19.html
- IAEA, 2009, Power Reactor Information System, www.iaea.org/programmes/a2

Homemade Six Wheelers

A new European oil market

On Site Authority for Electricity and Gas is available this document, entitled "Preliminary study of feasibility for the creation of a new European oil market," commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Development to identify possible solutions to the problem of levels inadequate investment and the instability of oil prices.

The Italian government's position is known: the problem of availability and price of oil is determined solely by a malfunction of market mechanisms, in particular by an unspecified financial speculation, and therefore its resolution can not be more that the change in the oil market mechanisms that determine the current tensions. Hence, the Authority commissioned the study.

But we try to summarize the contents of the report that for those who were willing, I recommend reading in full, as it offers several insights.
The first part is a long discussion of the reasons that determined the dynamics of oil prices in recent years. Nothing seems to confirm a role of financial speculation : "Major institutions like the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission, the British Treasury and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission of the United States said the steep increase oil prices in the first half of 2008 on the basis of fundamental oil market , given the lack of empirical evidence demonstrating a significant effect on prices due to financial speculation, "..." all the statistical analysis conducted so far have not demonstrated a causal relationship between the increase in transaction volumes in the markets in oil futures and spot price volatility .

short, seem to confirm our analysis on the correlation price - economic dynamics - application report - supply of oil ( here) and buffalo billion barrels of virtual ( here).
Yet, paradoxically, by taking the opposite view on the pretext of economic isolation, the report does not exclude the existence of bubbles associated with speculation.

After an interesting analysis of the characteristics of existing oil markets, the study then examines the evolution scenarios of supply and demand of oil. With reference to the 2008 WEO of the International Energy Agency, states that "The estimated reserves of crude oil are still considerable and are not a prelude to a scarcity of resources in the medium term." There would be only the problem of financing costs investment needed to extract higher other eight trillion barrels of available resources between conventional and unconventional. It almost seems to see oil gushing from the pages of the report.

course, the study's authors even consider ASPO on current forecasts of peak oil, but they could at least be more cautious updating the study to the 2010 WEO, as we wrote recently , has already significantly reduced production forecasts for 2008, noting the decline of existing fields and develop and that the hopes of a future increase in production is now reserved for expensive (in terms of economic and energy) and non-conventional crude ambitious as unlikely new discoveries that are able to reverse a trend of opposite sign which has become the 80s.

After the analysis of some proposals for reducing price volatility in oil markets, including that of ENI in the past we have commented here , and the U.S. reform the oil markets (which has not had any effect on price dynamics) study finally concludes with the hypothesis that Italy would propose to the European Community, namely the creation of a new instrument for long-term contract in the oil market. "

In a nutshell, the proposal envisages the creation of a regulated trading platform di contratti standardizzati di lungo termine, aventi a oggetto il diritto alla consegna fisica di greggio, in cui un’istituzione pubblica svolga funzioni di controparte centrale in grado di offrire garanzie di lungo periodo.
In parole più semplici, si tratterebbe di creare una nuova borsa petrolifera europea (si propone l’Olanda come luogo di consegna fisica del greggio trattato), in cui un’entità pubblica (controparte centrale) si assumerebbe i rischi di contratti di lungo termine (2025 e oltre), sia dal lato della domanda, garantendo un prezzo certo di consegna del petrolio alla scadenza, sia dal lato dell’offerta, selezionando gli operatori più affidabili alla consegna e assumendo gli oneri per l’acquisto the product on the market in case of insolvency of the oil producer. Intention of the proponents, this new architecture of the oil market is expected to provide certainty for investment in new oil projects defusing tensions between demand and supply source of price volatility.

In my opinion this is an academic building and unrealistic, not real possibilities of implementation because it will be increasingly difficult to find manufacturers that could provide such long-term contracts, because the costs to the community are likely to be large and the other European countries have guidelines exactly the opposite of this hypothesis. But mainly because si cerca di aggredire il problema della disponibilità di petrolio dal lato di un’offerta sempre più rigida invece che da quello della domanda.

Bisognerebbe, in altri termini, porre in atto politiche attive per ridurre la richiesta di petrolio delle società occidentali, principalmente diminuendo la domanda di mobilità privata, che consuma più del 60% del petrolio importato. Questo consentirebbe una maggiore durata delle risorse residue e nello stesso tempo un contenimento dei prezzi non conseguente all’alternanza di cicli economici espansivi e recessivi che rischiano di caratterizzare il prossimo futuro. Ma il governo italiano non ci pensa nemmeno, preferisce irresponsabilmente dare la colpa di tutto alla speculazione finanziaria.

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A TANGO FOR WATER

Meniscus Swollen Foot

training course for migrant

What To Do If Your Dog Eats Laxatives

Umbrellas Chinese

Testo di Armando Boccone


Da qualche tempo a Bologna, nella città in cui vivo, ho notato un particolare fenomeno. Quando piove i cestini dei rifiuti che sono sistemati lungo le strade si popolano di un rifiuto “particolare”: l’ombrello.

Sono ovviamente ombrelli che si sono rotti e che quindi vengono buttati via.
Il fenomeno è particolarmente evidente quando piove a dirotto e tira vento: si verifica una ecatombe di ombrelli rotti che sono buttati via dappertutto.

Può darsi che questo fenomeno sia sempre avvenuto and that I have never noticed or maybe it is a modern phenomenon: it may be that there are more umbrellas than once!

Read more I had to do a search. In large stores such as supermarkets and outdoor markets I looked at the label of umbrellas for sale. All contained the phrase "Made in China and 100% Polyester (though sometimes there was only the second expression). In the street markets where vendors noticed my interest umbrellas hurried at once to tell me the price: it was always between 3 and 5 euro. In other exercises instead the price ranged from 5 to 10 Euros.

But the research could not be confined to questo. Negli ultimi tempi quando a Bologna ha piovuto sono uscito e nel percorso che ho fatto ho dato una occhiata agli ombrelli buttati nei cestini dei rifiuti: ho dato una occhiata nel senso che li prendevo, li aprivo e leggevo l’etichetta.

Qualcuno il lavoro sporco dovrà pur farlo!! Forse si riferiva a questo un professore dell’Università che ho frequentato quando diceva, a proposito della ricerca sociale, che questo comportava sporcarsi le mani!

Comunque, tornando al tema, la lettura dell’etichetta ha dato questo risultato: Made in China e 100% Polyestere (ma alle volte c’era solamente questa seconda espressione). Per la precisione una volta ho trovato scritto Made in Marocco e un’altra Once I found the suggestion of a known brand of luggage and accessories.

China now has become one of the largest manufacturers in the world. It 'obvious that in China there are also quality production as in many other parts of the world. China, however, expresses the highest degree the trend is now widespread in the economy which is the increase of that fetish is GDP (gross domestic product) and that means we have to produce things that need to be short-lived in order to buy more now . There is talk of goods and planned obsolescence. Some goods are also made so that they can not be repaired.

But how long will last this trend continued development economy? According to many scholars can not have an unlimited growth in a world that is limited. The prospects that are outlined are very bad right now even if we change the behavior.

I remember as a child on the streets of my country went the umbrella. Clearly then, the umbrellas were made to last and then they were made good, and of course, is why on other grounds, agreed to repair them.

last search I did on discarded umbrellas finally broke my umbrella (this made me think of the concept of "participatory research" that he used one of my professors about the social research). It was an umbrella for those who become smaller and are comfortable to wear but it was held for some time now that I opened and closed with difficulty.

I asked a colleague where I could buy an umbrella: he pointed to a Chinese shop that is around the corner!

What Kind Of Tea Is Luzianne Southern Sweet Tea

How much does it cost to incentives for renewable

these days is making quite a stir in the statement of the Minister of Economic Development, the Romans, who much to justify the challenged measure to revise the incentive mechanisms, said that the encouragement of renewable sources would be Italians cost of € 20 billion between 2009 and 2010.
In fact most of the sources of information report this news (eg here), although this other source Minister would speak of the period from 2000 to 2010.

However, the substance does not change. This is false and reflect the will of the government to reduce support for renewable clear intent to shift the burden borne by the public on planned program of nuclear power plants, as we have emphasized repeatedly, it would stand for itself only with generous public subsidies.

It helps us understand the true level of incentives granted to renewable this beautiful relationship Senator Francesco Ferrante at a recent conference of Kyoto Club, whose data are a confirmation of what was held by the GSE in the last hearing of the Senate Committee on Industry.

In 2010, the cost of the system in favor of renewables have been approximately 2.7 billion, all taken from the A3 component of electricity bills and by type of funding in accordance with the chart attached (click on it to enlarge). Ferrante
then accurately highlighting the fact, omitted by the Minister, instead amounted to 3 billion more than the cost of the system entirely inappropriate, including funding of the CIP 6 so-called "assimilated" (disguised as renewable fossil fuels) . I

This scandal was reported by Leonardo Libero that the Minister Romani, contrasts the figures reported by the Authority for Electricity and Gas, which they attribute in the period 2001 - 2009, a weight of burden on the citizens to be treated equal to more than 34 billion euro ( 2.36 times higher than that of sources).

conclusion, I believe that a policy of strong encouragement of renewables can be compatible with the just demands of the overall reduction of costs for users and electricity prices (in Italy is among the highest in Europe).

This goal can be achieved either by removing undue burdens Ferrante reported in the report but, in my parere, anche attraverso la riforma degli incentivi alle rinnovabili che preveda:

1) un aumento della quota d’obbligo di produzione rinnovabile da parte dei produttori da fonti fossili, che consentirebbe di risparmiare i costi del GSE per il ritiro obbligatorio dei certificati verdi invenduti sul mercato di queste specifiche transazioni (introducendo però misure efficaci per impedire che i produttori convenzionali trasferiscano surrettiziamente sulle bollette dei consumatori tale onere aggiuntivo);
2) una diversa composizione nei valori dei certificati verdi, finalizzata a sostenere economicamente prevalentemente le installazioni nei siti maggiormente ventosi (superiori a 2000 ore equivalenti di produzione), in modo da massimizzare the national wind generation compared to real potential;
3) a change in tariff for photovoltaics, providing a strong support of installations on non-productive agricultural land.

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Dear Nuclear

Two tasty news about nuclear energy: the first, readable here, concerns the decision of the jury for Advertising Self-Regulation, which said the ad misleading the Nuclear Forum Italian, by blocking seven days spread. It was evident that there were two chess players, but only one winner, the wealthy interest groups that finance the initiative. It 's also a little personal satisfaction because, as I told a few days ago, they censored my comments about the real scale of the resources of uranium.

The second piece of news, much more serious, concerns the substantial failure of the EPR design, which some countries, including Italy, want to revive the use of nuclear energy. The only two stations in an advanced state of construction, in Finland and France, not only are accumulating delays in relation to the timing of completion, but most are seeing the anticipated costs grow dramatically. Currently, more than double the expected and the end of the work could even quadruple. And 'what we read in this very interesting and detailed report by Professor Steve Thomas of Greenwich University - London, translated into Italian by Domenico web Aspoitalia Coiante and Claudio Della Volpe.

It 's a further confirmation of what we have been saying for some time (eg here and here ), that the Italian nuclear program could only be achieved with the help of the State directly or by putting his hands in his pockets Italians, through an adjustment of electricity tariffs.

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ask U.S. for home, work and income

28 / 2 / 2011

This morning at the event issued by the "Committee against the crisis: home, work, family and Italian migrant workers chose to stay together, united by the realization that the institutionalized racism, policies of exclusion, exploitation of labor rights violations are pieces of a 'unique strategy of repression that affects all precarious every life.

During the two hours of garrison, a delegation of the Committee attended the meeting of the Council for the house of the Municipality of Ancona to make it clear to the participants at the table that the situation is increasingly desperate, many families can no longer pay rent and bills, it is increasingly difficult to shop and many are afraid of losing their children because the lack of social services work can take them away.

Again no concrete response by the city, unable to find a solution that will meet the needs of migrant families: there are no private homes available, there There are no funds for the renovation of empty dwellings and even to do maintenance work in public housing. The reason again is cheap, you look at the numbers rather than people in the face.

There it was realized that the climate has changed, that immigrants are now calling for a strong and united all, undermine an income to survive, because their work is not there. They want to change the immigration law, to release the renewal of a residence permit from the employment contract and casa.Tanti just under the blackmail of the renewal of residence permit, continued to work for free for months in order to keep a contract. Others assert
who have paid contributions for years to INPS because instead of living on the street, they prefer to return to the country of origin with the money they paid for their contributions.

all demand to be recognized as citizens of Ancona.

The migrants told personal stories, no more stories of flight from the countries of origin but Italian stories. Stories of people who arrived in Ancona in the Marche region and more than twenty years, who can no longer pay the rent, which receive reminders of payments for water, electricity and gas bills, people who are not satisfied with the expenditure provided by social services stories of sacrifices made by the dream of starting a family.

The Committee was not entirely satisfied But from the meeting this morning and will meet on Wednesday, March 2 at 21.00 at the Embassy of the Rights of Ancona (via Urbino 18) to decide the next steps .

Retrqctable Bo Staffs

The numbers of foreign energy dependence Italian

supplement to the previous, an interesting article by Massimo Nicolazzi, I would like to add some considerations numbers on the Italian energy vulnerability that maybe can help you better understand the relationship with the current tense situation in the north of Africa.

First, note that the gross consumption of primary energy of our country in 2009 depended for 40, 64% from petroleum, natural gas 35.43%, total more than 76%. If you include coal, our dependence on fossil fuels is approaching 85%.

transport depends on oil for 94% and account for 64.1% of the final consumption of oil.

the Italian electricity production, which represents about 35% of gross domestic energy primary, oil now accounts for less than 5%, while natural gas for about 45%.

The final sales of natural gas to about 31.5% of the electricity generating sector, the industry 28.6%, 31.2% in the household, 8, 7%, trade and services .

In the first chart above, I put in order the Petroleum Exporting Countries to Italy and the respective percentages. In the second graph I did the same thing with regard to natural gas.

Finally, I conclude with an instructive curiosity in the third graph, which represents the domestic production of natural gas (currently about 10% of total consumption). Even we had our peak in 1994.

As usual, all the graphics you can enlarge by clicking on it.

Sleeping Around With Herpes

Balance needs

Written by Massimo Nicolazzi
(from " Limesonline )

For years there with the least balance of needs. Assured that they need money for pensions as we oil and gas to warm and moving. The 'oil weapon "and the nightmare of the invention are energy security, and almost plot, diplomats and newspapers. The organ (it) creates the function. A

eye, you should brings back the same for the If Libya. Closes the Green Stream, and you block a flow of more than 20 million cubic meters of gas per day.

Problems?

In reality 'is that the volume is less a piece of oversupply that has' killed the market for the wonderful combination of a crisis that has contracted the Italian consumption of natural gas and the launch of new infrastructures (LNG terminal Rovigo, increased capacity 'of the import pipeline from Algeria, Libya and Russia) to have simultaneously increased the availability'. He had become a classic market demand And now suddenly disappeared more than 20 million imported gas under the take or pay. Between operators is toast.

Says Oh well, 'but when we followed by an increase consumption? With the spectacle that we have with the leader that there is '(still), there' is a risk that those who come after us removed from our list of customers. And according to those who come after you doing? Turn the tube? The pipeline infrastructure are rigid. The Green Stream and the alternative 'to bring gas in from Italy or keep it blank (in fact). And I think that what comes after, whoever he is, keeps it empty? At full capacity 'and values \u200b\u200bof what passes today for the tube in a year that is commercially a 2 / 3 billion. Call when you find one which makes it less.

Yes 'but with oil and' different. The infrastructure and ' flexible enough that there is water below the ship and moves it where you want. And roughly one quarter of our oil comes from there '. What do we do if we instead send him to Turkey?

Simple. We buy from the Turks. In 1973 the OPEC embargar American and Dutch boys. And they began to buy from non-embargo. "The world market, like the World Ocean, is one great pool" (Adelman). If the world produces less, the supply contracts, and can 'be a problem. If you continue to produce, if everyone who wants to sell it then, that life does not change. Eventually (perhaps with a few unnecessary turbulence path and some additional cost) will end 'always (re) distributed between those who demand. For your own safety contact your energy GDP, and your diplomacy.

says yes', but let's not forget that a piece of our refining system with Libya from 'the best of'. That there is "the" crude. There are endless 'of "crude" to various degrees API, acidity', paraffinic content and more. Each refinery (simplification) and '"calibrated" to certain specifications. And some of our refineries with the characteristics of Libyan crude oil (and in particular with the production of Bu Attifel) we go to a wedding. So what? This does not mean that if Libya does not reach the ends, but only in the case which affected search crude on the market with features that go there next. Some difficolta'e maybe some tension on refining but 'if you like the nightmares go elsewhere.

So even if the new Libya will turn against us (but 'cause it should?) Sfangare we can succeed. The damage Italy would not be hypothetically the crisis of our supplies, but just that Eni, which can not 'leave the field even with a smile on their assets in Libya. But even this, speculating that the new Libya (that does not exist ') likes some foreign investment scenario seems more' or remotely.

Sin brings back here. Pero 'time I can not to yawn for concern. This time there '(even) more. Across North Africa in turmoil. And a piece of Arabia Felix to follow.

years of schemes that are here and now 'and dropping the' changed his life, and also its quality '. I started to travel from Cairo to oil "was" the pyramids. And now the pyramids are "in" Cairo. Algiers and 'extended everywhere. The other followed the model.

population growth. And even more 'urban growth. And the end or near agriculture. And never start another job. And it's not exactly great models of social attention, and indeed so many that for some, the madrassa becomes the only place of support and solidarity ', as well as education.

the satrap and 'failed for decades to keep the lid on the pot, even if they had using the oil revenues as pannicello served hot in the guise of welfare. To us, for decades, and 'successful and very well nemmanco see the pot, it would just use your eyes, and now wander between surprise and concern (for us).

balance the needs with the satrap it worked fine. The satrap has something to lose. Can 'use the oil to give the bread that without his power and his own person to be at risk. The oil revenue consensus or at least buy soothes the tumult, and (of regola) contribuisceanche e rilevantemente alle fortune del satrapo e del suo clan. Figurati se mai smette di vendere.

Chi verra’ dopo non sappiamo. Ma sappiamo che dovra’ dare rappresentanza politica alla disperazione araba nata dalle e nelle conurbazioni. Potrebbe, almeno transitoriamente, sentire di non avere niente da perdere. Che l’orgoglio e l’identita’ della nazione sono piu’ importanti delle pensioni, che tanto e comunque la rendita da sola non ce la fa a pagarle.

E’ con questa disperazione, insieme colta e lucida, che ci tocchera’ di fare i conti. E, sperabilmente, di cooperare. Possibilmente senza spocchia e buttando nel cestino lo scontro di civilta’. Siamo gia’ were fools enough to dig dimples and ditches to prevent the entry of Turkey into the European Union. And now, the irony of history, we are almost to pray outcome "turkish" upheaval of North Africa, and that (much) better than the Ottoman imam.

Careful, now, to tend to the ear that moves. And not to build valleys in the Mediterranean. If we delude ourselves to be able to close the desperation in the fence of his country, feed the imbalance. Needs.

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scenarios of the International Energy

was recently presented the latest World Energy Outlook (WEO 2010), the document prepared annually by the Agency International Energy Agency (IEA), which forecasts energy of the authoritative international body. To address this you can see a summary of the document.

WEO 2010 contains three projected energy scenarios to 2035: the current political scenario, which assumes the absence of changes to policies in force in 2010, the New Policy Scenario, which considers an implementation of the commitments made to moderate various ways by different countries for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, Scenario 450, consistent with the non-binding target, given at the Copenhagen summit to limit the rise in global atmospheric temperature within two degrees Celsius due to the reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations at about 450 parts per million.

New Political Scenario, global primary energy demand increases by 36% in 2035, from 12,300 to 16,700 Mtoe Mtoe. This corresponds to an average annual growth rate of 1, 2%, while in the political scene today that rate is 1, 4% and in Scenario 450 down 0.7%.

look at some elements of the relationship that I consider most important.
First, look at the attached graph in the first forecast of oil production in the New Political Scenario (the one considered most likely). We find several interesting things: the conventional oil prodotto dai giacimenti esistenti ha piccato nel 2008 ed è in declino irreversibile, quello ancora sviluppabile dai giacimenti esistenti o in nuovi giacimenti da trovare consentirebbe di mantenere un plateau di picco fino al 2035. La domanda mondiale in espansione, sarebbe assicurata solo grazie alla crescita produttiva di gas naturale liquefatto e di petrolio non convenzionale (sabbie bituminose, greggio extra pesante, ecc.).

Cosa dire? Finalmente AIE ammette apertamente l’esistenza e l’ineluttabilità del picco petrolifero, dando indirettamente ragione ad ASPO, fa assegnamento sulla scoperta molto improbabile di grandi giacimenti di nuovo petrolio nei prossimi anni e sull’i ncremento produttivo the unconventional (by their own admission restricted by the very high extraction costs) to meet the growing energy thirst of the planet.

Paragraph shared the 2010 WEO, however, is entitled: "Peak oil, choice or fate?, Which envisages the active management of peak production through policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases contained in the Scenario 450 focused on the development of renewable and energy efficiency (see second attached graph). In this way, you might plan a controlled reduction of world oil production while avoiding the social and economic shocks inevitably linked to the current political scenario (Business AS Usual).

Ma siccome la maggior parte degli usi petroliferi riguarda il settore dei trasporti, lo Scenario 450 individua nella parziale riconversione del parco autoveicolare mondiale al motore elettrico, totale e ibrido plug-in, il principale strumento di attuazione degli obiettivi di riduzione delle emissioni (obiettivo sintetizzato nell’ultimo grafico allegato).
Beati loro che ci credono. Come ho avuto modo di evidenziare più volte su questo blog, anche se il mercato mondiale dell’auto si orientasse decisamente verso i modelli elettrici, ed è tutto da dimostrare, il modello di mobilità individuale di massa a cui siamo abituati è incompatibile con l’uso razionale delle risorse e with the requirements of an ecologically sustainable society based on stationary economy.

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slight recovery in electricity consumption in 2010

Terna The provisional figures for 2010 show a slight recovery in demand for electricity (final consumption + network losses) Italian than in 2009, the year which saw a historic drop in consumption, described in my previous article. This relative growth has allowed the recovery of less than one third of the decline recorded in 2009 and is definitely related to the modest economic recovery that has characterized our country in 2010 because, as is known, the consumption of electricity are very sensitive to economic dynamics . The graph allows us to effectively display the historical trend of this indicator. For the record, it is worth mentioning that in January 2011, the value of the demand for electricity decreased by 0.6% over the same month of 2010, thus confirming the instability and weakness of Italian economic recovery. The cases were identified several times in the fierce international competition from emerging countries, the lack of innovation and research of Italian firms, inefficiency of public administration, etc.. No analysis, however, consider the energy factor, which has been taken as the independent variable of the economic system. Oil prices have influenced the recent crisis and economic, as is well known to readers of this blog, heavily influencing the future development of the economy, as it is closely related to the dynamics of supply and demand in a situation of peak resource.

finally indicated, the data always Terna 2010, the strong performance of renewables. The wind has reached a production of 8374 GWh 1600 GWh and photovoltaics, largely offsetting the slight decline in hydroelectric production nationally.

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A specter is haunting Italy, guided trolley bus bound

few years, some Italian cities have realized (in the photo Padua, Venice) or are planning, public transport lines using a new means of transport, improperly called "tram road". Like all specialists know, the real tram does not use the tires as the bus, or trolley, but it has steel wheels that move on two tracks also in steel, due to a power supply from the aviation network. This difference is not nominal, but substantive and structural, because it determines significant differences in performance in terms of energy, economic and management for the tram (the reasons I've written here , here and here ).

The so-called "tram road" is however, more properly, a guided trolley bus bound "(FGV), because as the trolley, has rubber wheels and is powered electrically by a network airline, but differs from the trolley (which moves freely on the road) for a single track road that serves to move the middle, but has only one function stabilization, in order to save space and increase the length of vehicles.
This is an experimental technology, with very few achievements in Europe and worldwide, who are showing a lot of technical problems and management. But some Italian cities, with the enthusiasm typical of the neophytes, are throwing surface on an adventure with an uncertain outcome, lured by the illusory promise of lower development costs compared to traditional tram.

In this exciting international event Andrea Spinosa web Cityrailways on Road Transport Systems via wizard, you can realize the state of the art of this new technology. In France, I remember, has already made 37 systems modern low-floor tram and has planned for the next 29 more years, we have only 3 (three) lines of FGV. In all three construction costs are significantly increased compared to those budgeted. Projects FGV of Caen and Nancy, after innumerable hardships and problems of various kinds, were partly abandoned or subject to second thoughts. The line currently operating in Clermont Ferrand (As Translhor), has seen costs rise (21 million euro per kilometer) to exceed those of a conventional tram (15-20 million euro per kilometer) in order to resolve or alleviate structural problems such as the risk of derailment , the continuous wear of the road surface and tire, the uncertainty in food, etc..

The city of Paris and Le Mans years ago had initially considered this technology, but after careful analysis had abandoned it in favor of conventional tram for the following reasons, in my opinion, remain the main exclude this choice today: • The FGV is

a vehicle seemed noisy and less comfortable than the tram;
• FGV occupies the site of 7 meters while the tram can take 6;
• With the tram you can save money by making race the building while the FGV are effectively monopoly respective manufacturers;
• tram rail system is a widely experienced, high performing and reliable
• tram rail is evolving everywhere towards more efficient tram-train system impossible for FGV (road) .

At these points, we should then add the increased capacity of the trams (also because of the modularity achieved with the addition of other coaches during peak hours) and the fact that unlike the trams, the type of rail FGV effectively preclude the simultaneous movement of bicycles and must be placed a ban on bicycles along the line of FGV (that's what's happening in Padua). In addition, experiments are being advanced in the world new technological developments on modern tram that eliminate the energy supply from the air network, thus further reduce costs and improve performance.
excluding a couple of FGV which were introduced in China, no other country in the world (including the country's leading public transport such as Germany, Holland, Austria, Switzerland) has dreamed of taking consider this technology.

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Censorship Forum Nuclear

warned me not to trust the initiative that has created the website "Nuclear Forum, launched with great deployment of resources and ads, according to its promoters, to compare different positions on all 'idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding new nuclear power plants in Italy.
But I always start from a presumption of good faith as my interlocutors, so, reading a comment on that site very unattractive Chicco Testa uranifere global abundance of resources, I sent as a representative of the Scientific Committee Aspoitalia, a negative opinion .

Well, our friends nuclearists censor and how, when the arguments against nuclear power are solid and do not know what to reply. So did not publish my comment and I got further confirmation of the nature of part of the initiative.
However, our blog is also really open to discussion on the issue of nuclear power, then we publish below both the arguments that my Chicco Testa, so you can compare them.

CHICCO TESTA :

Several comments opposed to nuclear energy are motivated by a shortage of uranium, its possible fluctuations of prices and dependence on Italy, devoid of such mineral deposits from foreign producers. The concern is legitimate but unfounded for several reasons.

1. The cost of uranium accounts for only about 3% on the final price of electricity. So the uranium price fluctuations have a marginal influence on the price of kilowatt-hours (unlike what happens with gas).

2. The economically viable deposits of uranium are quite common, equally distributed around the globe. The offer is fragmented among several producers, most of which are located in countries with low geopolitical risk. The main producers are: Australia (which holds about a third of world reserves), Kazakhstan, Russia and Canada (which is almost equally divided the other third). The rest is distributed between South Africa, Namibia, Brazil, Niger, USA, China, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

3. The uranium reserves are increasing and have reached 6.3 million tons according to the latest version (2009), Red Book, the OECD report considered the bible of the nuclear fuel. Only with the findings and marketable at market prices, taking into account the current consumption rates (68mila tons per year) will cover the next 80 years: security of supply than normally provided for any other mineral. However, the world's uranium resources are far greater. The deposits known but not exploited today because it is not profitable enough to increase the stock of additional 5.5 million tonnes. That would bring security of supply in 160 years, more than enough even in the OECD scenario of maximum development of civilian nuclear energy (which includes a generous doubling of the reactors attivientro 2035). Besides we must consider the non-conventional deposits (for example, deposits of phosphates and phosphorus) which - according to the Red Book would add another 22 million tonnes available for exploitation, tripling the proven reserves.

4. The future scenario of global demand for nuclear fuel could change substantially in coming decades. In 2009, demand was covered for 76% of mineral resources, the rest is recycled uranium (MOX fuel by reprocessing) or disposal of the nuclear weapons arsenals of the Soviets and Americans. Looking ahead, the spread of fast-breeder reactors and advancement of technologies for reprocessing, could lead to less exploitation of mineral resources.

TERENZIO LONGOBARDI :

Al NUCLEAR FORUM

Gentile editorial

appreciate your attempt to compare various positions on the relaunch of nuclear energy in Italy. In the opinion of our association is a very risky choice on the industrial level for various reasons, but the principal is the availability of uranium Mineral.

In this connection, on your forum, in a few lines reassuring answer to the question: "The uranium stocks will run out quickly? In addition, Chicco Testa wrote an article titled "Uranium has really borrowed time?" Fairly generic and superficial on the subject, so I think of having to send the following summary remarks.

Even with reference to data on global uranium resources certified by the NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency), very questionable for the method of reporting and verification rather anecdotal (see articles by Michael Dittmar in the bibliography), the prospects of life fissile fuel for to power plants as well as those currently active third-generation construction, and possibly in future fourth generation of those appear to be very limited.

As demonstrated by the following graph produced by EWG (Energy Watch Group), elaborated from their data NEA that provides a "peak" of production followed by a gradual decay of uranium, can be reached the following conclusions :

1) Currently, global demand of 67,000 tonnes of uranium a year, is met only 42,000 tons (about 63%) from new mine production, the other 25,000 tons (about 37%) are obtained by storage accumulated before 1980 have become available in part through the process of nuclear disarmament. These stocks, according to EWG, will last only ten years. Period which can stretch only a few years thanks to the new availability resulting from the dismantling of nuclear warheads 7,500 more expected by the recent agreement Salt 2 signed between the U.S. and Russia. However if in the meantime, the mine production will not be significantly increased, there will be serious problems with food for just over a decade, the existing nuclear power plants. Include those not yet built.

2) Comparing the scenarios then extraction of the NEA and the Energy Agency 's Energy International, a peak is detected production of about 2015 for the resources with extraction costs reasonably ascertained under $ 40 per kilogram, around 2025 for those under $ 130 per kilogram, around 2035 for the ultra-optimistic assumptions of resources reasonably estimated proven plus Resources Low level of confidence (with extraction costs below 130 $ / kg). In this context, the scenario of expanding production of nuclear energy "minimum" envisaged in the IEA's WEO 2006 intersects the curve of uranium production almost at the peak of the hypothesis mining more optimistic scenario ever "maximum", which corresponds the prospects for growth envisaged in the nuclear programs of the various governments. In other words, the maximum development of nuclear power would be expected in any case incompatible with the availability of uranium, the minimum growth would be hopelessly blocked near the peak of the resource and the operation of only plants that exist today would be in crisis long before the mid-century.

Thus, the hypothesis of duration centennial of mineral resources uranifere proposed by NEA and shooting in Italy by ENEA, is believed to deceptive and unfounded for the following reasons:

1) The simplified calculation method adopted to establish this hypothesis , ie by dividing the total amount of uranium is still available for the annual consumption is by no means reliable because it divorced from the real dynamics of depletion of mineral resources and fossil described by the Hubbert model (peak and subsequent decline), now considered to be the most reliable international scientific to describe these dynamics.
2) also uses the same simplified method for NEA to calculate the duration of mineral resources, gives around 80 years. That is, the NEA has approximately 20 years duration of the resources defined by it.
3) The calculation assumes the NEA for the coming years from nuclear energy production steady at its present level, without considering the assumptions that it hoped to expand production.
4) In the calculation carried out by NEA to determine the duration of Uranium resources are included not only those reasonably tested, but also those spaces which it establishes itself poorly reliable.
5) In conclusion, even taking their wrong model of resource depletion and correcting trivial errors described above, actually results in a duration of probable resources of approximately 30 to 40 years, as can be seen from the table below Synthesis (in red the most probable hypothesis, the hypothesis in green NEA).

The conclusions concerning the duration of world uranium resources previously synthesized, would not be substantially altered if one were to assume the full productive potential of uranium enriched obtainable with the use of technology driven recovery of fissile uranium, pull through a difficult and costly operation uranium "depleted" available.

In any event, whether it takes the pattern of depletion of uranium resources studio Energy Watch Group, is very inaccurate method of calculating the NEA, and considering the time of production is not sure about a program to build nuclear power plants, in all probability the new installations would begin to have serious problems of supply of uranium to about half of their life cycle.

Finally, there are two other reasons that make it unwise to plan on the nuclear option in our country.

The high cost of production of this energy source in recent decades have discouraged industrial investment, while the few plants under construction see considerably increases the cost of construction compared with budgeted. In fact, in terms of cost, investment in the nuclear WOULD BE standing today only thanks to generous government subsidies, which inevitably would eventually weigh on public finances increasingly bloodless or bills of consumers, creating a heavy distortion of competition compared to other energy sources.

The power of the Italian power plants exist, and those under construction or already approved in Italy, is abundantly able to meet the needs of Italian electricity for decades to come, whereas it is very unlikely to lead to a sharp reversal of perspective compared to the sharp drop in electricity consumption caused by the economic crisis (- 6.8% in 2009 ). In fact, the reduced availability of oil will occur in the coming years after passing the peak of production (also recently acknowledged by the Pentagon and the American Energy Agency), will lead to new tensions in international oil prices that will surely have recessionary effects on 'depressive effects on the economy and energy consumption. A strong impetus to the use of renewable sources, coupled with the strategic choice of natural gas as a source of transition, in a context of diversification of supply, will make it possible to give appropriate responses to a scenario of steady or slightly growing consumption.

We therefore hope that you will reflect carefully on the objective limits of an industrial nature which impede the building program of new nuclear plants in our country, instead of devoting resources and investments in research and development on renewables, the only ones capable of ensuring a supply and safe energy indefinitely.

Insights:

The Oil Drum - The Future of Nuclear Energy: Facts and Fiction - Part III: How (un) reliable are the Red Book Uranium Resource Data? http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/5744

Marco Pagani - The curious history of French uranium reserves http://ecoalfabeta.blogosfere.it/2008/06/la-curiosa-storia-delle-riserve- of uranium-francese.html

IEA - World Energy Outlook 2006 http://www.worldenergyoutlook.org/2006.asp

Energy Watch Group - Uranium Report
http://www.energywatchgroup.org/Reports.24 + M5d637b1e38d.0.html

Terenzio Longobardi - Uranium resources. Chronicle of a midsummer night. http://www.aspoitalia.it/archivio-articoli/259-le-risorse-di-uranio-cronaca-di-una-notte-di-mezza-estate

Michael Dittmar - The Future of Nuclear Energy: Facts and Fiction Chapter I: Nuclear Fission Energy Today
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0908/0908.0627v1.pdf

Michael Dittmar - The Future of Nuclear Energy: Facts and Fiction Chapter III: How (un) reliable are the Red Data Book Uranium Resource?
http://arxiv.org/PS_cache/arxiv/pdf/0909/0909.1421v1.pdf

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The Club of Rome on the peak Attila

Snapshot from the recent film about peak oil by the Club Rome

The Club of Rome we remember for being the sponsor of the study known in Italy as "The Limits to Growth," in 1972. The study was a tremendous shock in the certainties of the time. It was such an impact that some lobby decided to condemn it in the late 1980s, using classic propaganda treatments that were then already been developed for the tobacco industry.

phase of demonization of "The Limits to Growth" seems to have run out. After a period in which the Club of Rome had kept a very low profile, is now returning to advocate the ideas that made him famous in the past.

Thus, we see appear on the site of the Club of Rome, a movie dedicated to peak oil. You can see here .

The result is ... Well, in fact. We say that recounts as they are, however, is a debilitating whining (*). E 'told by a voice that seems to be that the answering machine. The text is woody and heavy sounds like a college class for adults. And the animations are not very informative. So, be content, but you could do better.

Fortunately, the Club of Rome is not limited to these movies - another thing that is coming out is a complete revision of the study "The Limits to Growth" which tells the history of the study, its critics, its supporters and its relevance to the present day. The publisher is Springer, the author of a Ugo Bardi; boh .... who knows what will it say?


______________________________________________


(*) I was reminded of something you read many years ago about "Urania," when they gathered stories from readers. These were selected by "Ipnotrapezi" creatures who had an "index of lagnoresistenza" very low and fell asleep almost immediately for most of the stories submitted.

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oil and survivalist American

Prisco (the one with the white beard), Byzantine diplomat who visited the court of Attila in the fifth century. Mór Than's painting (from Wikipedia)

Prisco, Byzantine diplomat, has left us a very interesting report of the court of Attila in the fifth century. One of the details of his account when it happens to meet a greek - like himself - who had left the imperial territory to settle among the Huns.

It follows a brief discussion in which the fugitive, greek exposes the benefits of freedom among the barbarians away from the injustice of the empire and greed of its rulers. Prisco's answers will display the benefits of orderly and safe life of the Roman Empire to the east, and the benefits of the law that governs the lives of all.

Eventually, Priscus tells us that his party has started crying at the memory of his life in the empire. Maybe he a bit 'stretched this conclusion, but - overall - we have the impression that the story is true. That is, that Prisco has highlighted the two sides of the issue and their relative merits although, of course, he was on the side of the empire.

of us who live "on the side of the Empire" we can understand the position of Prisco. The sheer horror to contemplate a world without laws, a world where you did not secure protection, you do not have a clearly defined role, you do not have the rules, you do not have a future that does not depend on the circumstances or the wishes of those who are more powerful than you .

This same feeling of sheer horror we read the "Emergency" by Neil Strauss. It 's a book that describes the author's experience with the various groups of " survivalist" (I do not know how best to translate "survivalist," except as sopravvivenzisti, which is too bad)

Strauss himself, American journalist Born in Chicago, is attracted to these groups, he feels insecure in a country, the United States, which become increasingly oppressive and dictatorial. So, you buy a passport from a remote island, joining a group of quirky, where he learned to shoot, to live in the forest, kill a goat, skinned and butchered, and other little things like that.

Worthy of note in the book, is the experience of Strauss with the "B-people" where "B" stands for "Billionaire", or billionaires. These all have the same problems, but more varied methods of solution. For example, Strauss shows us that many of them have got the certificate of flight and take a plane ready to leave to leave a country that could fall prey to the chaos at any time.

Strauss's book is interesting and well written, although eventually enter into excessive detail and is a bit 'boring. Even the "instructions for use in emergencies" that appear in the form of cartoons interspersed with the text, frankly, is not that they are the best. Know, for example, as it turns a credit card in a blade to cut the throat of your neighbor does not seem particularly useful.

Apart from this, the overall impression it leaves you with the book is a descent into barbarism. These people who is trained to shoot to cut up animals, and live in the woods takes a commitment that stems from a "world model" which - frankly - it's hard to share.

It may be that our fate, but on this I feel much closer to the Byzantine Prisco out to him that he had chosen life in the reign of Attila.