Speech by Greg Barker at the Ecobuild Conference - Solar Energy ...

Tuesday 20 March

Check against delivery

I?m delighted to be here at the Ecobuild conference.? We have come a long way since I spoke about the Green Deal at this conference last year.? We are now entering the final stretch up to the launch of the Green Deal this autumn.

When the Coalition was formed one of our first pledges was for this to be the Greenest Government ever. At the heart of this pledge- particularly given the tough economy we inherited - is energy efficiency.?

In a world of increasing energy prices, market volatility and rising energy imports, energy efficiency has never been more important.??

That is why we are creating something brand new - the Green Deal.? It is truly revolutionary. It will help homeowners, landlords and tenants get a whole range of home improvements beyond insulation, including a whole range of front of house, eye catching measures.

The Green Deal will act as a catalyst to stimulate innovation so that more and more energy savings products come to the market?

Today, I wanted to draw out three key points to unpack that simple description of the Green Deal:

• Firstly, this is a brand new way of approaching energy efficiency.? Not a continuation of CERT, CESP, not a son of this or daughter of that;
• Secondly, it will create a brand new market and opportunities for industry.? A market for the aspirational, not just for the worthy or energy sensible;
• Thirdly, don?t underestimate the power of communities in their many shapes and forms.? These will be key to? delivering this agenda

But first, to give more context.?

In the UK, we have some of the worst performing buildings in Europe.?? More than half of our homes don?t have sufficient insulation.? They leak heat like a sieve.?

The UK building stock was responsible for 43% of total UK emissions in 2009.

And despite the relatively mild winter we are coming through, increasing numbers of families are struggling to pay their energy bills and have been hit by rising energy prices. We estimate that this year up to 4.1m households will be in fuel poverty in England alone.

Energy efficiency can help tackle each of these challenges.? It is a win-win-win scenario: reducing emissions, saving money and creating opportunities for business.

New approach

The Green Deal places consumers at the centre of energy efficiency policy.? It isn?t about stop start Government driven and owned programme of works.? It is about consumers driving demand, and a competitive market responding.?

Home Improvements

Backed with strong consumer protection, we are providing people with opportunities for investing in their home ? and let?s face it, people are always looking to improve their homes, even in times of austerity.? It is part of the British DNA.

Perhaps the tangible benefits energy efficiency improvements can bring, is best illustrated by some pictures.? Taking a leaf from the many home improvement shows and magazines - here are some before and after pictures:

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These improvements are a result of a partnership between East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Saint-Gobain Weber and Lloyd Clough.

An area of 55 streets was identified and all properties were of solid wall construction, with the majority around 100 years old.? Measures applied were External Wall Insulation, loft insulation and some heating improvements as well as some street improvements.

As you can see the solid wall insulation has drastically improved the appearance of the properties and improved the energy efficiency.? Feedback from the project has demonstrated an increased sense of community and a renewed pride in the area.

To give a second example, I had the pleasure of visiting Salford last year, including a tour of homes installed with external solid wall insulation.?

Homes on the Regent Park estate were built in the 1970s, timber framed with no wall insulation.?

As they had a traditional brick appearance, residents were keen to keep the look.? This was something they achieved with a brick effect render on top of the insulation.? Here is a resident, talking me through the finished effect.

Energy efficiency aside, this has clear kerb appeal too.?

So I think it important to recognise that energy efficiency is not just about saving carbon, important though that is.? It is also about providing people with homes they are happy to live in.? It is about tapping into a sense of home improvement.

Market making

Of course, the Green Deal isn?t just good for the consumer.??
It is also good for economic growth.? There is a considerable new market opportunity for businesses and industry.?

Our analysis supporting consultation proposals suggest that employment in the sector could more than double by 2015.? Personally I think these are conservative estimates. And we are talking about billions of pounds worth of investment.? This needs to be seen as a 20 year programme which has long term confidence.

In this way, the Green Deal is as much a part of our growth agenda as it is a part of our climate change policy.??
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No longer will every discussion on energy efficiency focus solely on the insulation industry.? The Green Deal has been designed to finance the installation of a broad range of measures across the energy efficiency market.? Our goal is to enable the property to benefit from all the improvements that can create savings.

The heating, glazing, lighting and Microgeneration industries will all be able to use this innovative financing mechanism.?

Less we-known measures which improve energy efficiency, such as flue gas heat recovery and waste water recovery systems will also be eligible for finance under the Green Deal.

Some new measures have been included in the Green Deal following the consultation with particular relevance to the non domestic buildings.? Some of these are simple improvements, such as solar blinds and shading devices ? but they can make a big difference to energy savings.

I also want to make clear that where measures which often can?t pay for themselves over their lifetime, they can still be part-financed, either on their own, or as part of a package. As a result, customers can benefit from a package of improvements, safe in the knowledge that the Green Deal charge will always be less than the savings the measures can generate.?

We will also streamline the process by which new measures are added to the Green Deal. We want to ensure that new and innovative measures can be included in the framework on a systematic basis once their performance is independently verified.

It was announced on 8th March that we will be funding a ?10 million competition to be launched in early May to support incorporation of innovative technologies which can achieve significant energy savings in existing non-domestic buildings.

Market Potential

The market for energy efficiency is large.? Around 6 million households do not have double glazing in all their windows.? Approximately 70% of English homes do not have a full set of heating controls.? And there are still 16.4 million non-condensing boilers

Sector specific updates

All sectors which manufacture, distribute and install Green Deal eligible measures can benefit from the new financing arrangements.

The insulation sector will see a large increase in investment as we start to tackle the 7 million solid wall properties that have yet to be treated. It is vital the growth of the sector is safe and sustainable.

Microgeneration

I would like to confirm the position for the Microgeneration industry.? The Green Deal and Renewable Heat Incentive are two key policies for DECC. There are a number of potential links between the Green Deal and the domestic element of the RHI, including similarity of customer base, and some technologies.

Some renewable heat technologies will be eligible under the Green Deal finance.??

In addition, improving energy efficiency in a property can help to boost the effectiveness of many renewable heat technologies, such as air and ground source heat pumps.

We believe there is plenty of scope for greater integration in the marketing of the RHI and the Green Deal, allowing consumers to make more informed consumer choices.

Demand

The framework opens up the market, but we know that for industry it is essential the demand is there, so you can be confident in your investment.?

Although the Green Deal is a market driven initiative, we recognise that we have an important role to play.

The Chancellor announced a ?200m injection of Government funding to provide a time limited introductory offer. It demonstrates that we are serious about hitting the ground running. We will lay out the details of how this will be used as we get closer to the launch of the Green Deal.?

Colleagues in the Department of Communities and Local Government are consulting on changes to Part L of the Building Regulations that could further drive take up of energy efficiency measures from October 2012.

Consumer Advice Line

It is of course vital that consumers have the information to feel confident in making decisions about installing energy efficiency measures and which Green Deal offer is best for them.

To address this, a new advice service goes live on 2nd April, and will initially provide impartial advice to consumers on existing energy efficiency offers and renewable energy incentives.

This service will come into its own in the run up to, and following the launch, of the Green Deal.

Opportunities for Industry

To help ensure the best deal for consumers, we wanted to encourage a wide variety of different businesses, local authorities, social housing providers and third sector organisations to play a role in this new market.??

I?m pleased to say there are a number of organisations looking to enter the market with a variety of different business models.? These models include -? but are by no means restricted to -? keeping all the functions in house, out sourcing the supply chain and working in partnership with SMEs.?

Green Deal Providers

We want a thriving Green Deal Provider market. We want a range of providers to enter the market, each with their own unique selling points.

We have revisited our consultation position on Green Deal provider authorisation requirements to help promote a competitive market, and reduce costs which will ultimately be passed onto the consumer. Within this, we are of course ensuring that robust consumer standards are met, creating a market that balances consumer protection and burdens on businesses.?

Consumer protection is at the heart of the Green Deal and we want to make sure the Green Deal is the best deal for everyone. As a result, it is essential to strike a balance between adequate consumer protection and not creating cost prohibitive barriers to market entry.
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With this in mind, I am pleased to announce that we are proposing to remove the requirement for Green Deal Providers to have a surety bond in place prior to authorisation.

In addition, we are removing the need for Green Deal Providers to provide an Independent Conciliation Service. Instead, we are procuring a bespoke Green Deal Ombudsman to deal with any Green Deal complaints.

We have also changed the warranties proposal, removing the requirement to hold warranties for the length of the plan. We are still proposing to include robust minimum standards.

?Use of existing schemes where appropriate will mean that consumers will receive as much protection as is available. Where schemes don?t exist, our proposal to include a 5 year product warranty plus ten years of consequential building damage cover go further than the current industry norm. The minimum requirements we are putting in place means the warranty will be of real value to the consumer.

Consumer protection is still of utmost importance and we really feel that the position we have reached is the most suitable for consumers and business.

Industry Gearing Up

But it?s not just companies themselves gearing up, it?s about ensuring industry understand their place in the Green Deal and are aware of the many opportunities that it brings about.

A Green Deal Provider guide to be issued by the Department shortly will contain a step by step guide on how to become a Green Deal Provider.

I am aware the Construction Products Association and Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes have collaborated with a number of other industry partners to produce a ?Green Deal Opportunities for Industry? document.? This is aimed at helping the whole supply chain to gear up for the Green Deal and will be published in the coming weeks.

The National Insulation Association recently released a Green Deal? bulletin service aimed at providing information and support to their Members.

We have been having conversations with organisations from the outset, but the tone is changing.? It is time to move from theory to practice.

I would encourage you to consider your role in the Green Deal.?

I was pleased that DECC announced on 8th March ?3.5m to train assessors and installers.? We are working closely with the Green Deal Skills Alliance to ensure that support goes to where it is most needed.? ?2.5m of this will be to train solid wall insulation installers with the help of Construction Skills. ?1m will be used to train Green Deal Advisors, operating at the front line of the Green Deal.

We hope to set out more detail on this in May.

I am also pleased to announce that DECC, working with supply chain experts will host a series of up to ten regional events as we get nearer to the launch of the Green Deal.? These events will be designed to ensure that companies up and down the country ? small or large - understand what they need to do to be in the Green Deal.

Advisors

Having the right professionals to provide quality impartial advice to households and businesses is necessary? for the success of the Green Deal.

We have been doing a significant amount of work with stakeholders to design the right assessment framework to support the Green Deal. National Occupational Standards setting out the high level expectations of all Green Deal Advisors are already available on the DECC website.

We have also responded to your feedback to the consultation. We are strengthening the protections for consumers ? providing them with more transparent information on the role of the advisor before a visit even take place. These changes will bolster the already robust framework whilst allowing? advisors to operate as part of a dynamic and flexible market. These improvements will be set out in the syllabus for all Green Deal Advisors that will be ready by the end of March.

Preparations are well underway to develop material to help training of Green Deal Advisors get off to a flying start.?? In the coming months we look forward to the first batch of Green Deal Advisors being trained.

Installers

Our framework has been designed to create robust standards for the installation of measures to increase consumer confidence, whilst ensuring we are realistic about what industry can deliver and building on existing best practice.

The British Standards Institution recently published? the new standard for Green Deal installers. This represents a huge achievement and I am grateful to those industry representatives who worked with us to create this standard in record time.

Those wishing to install measures under the Green Deal must be certified to the new standard. We are working closely with the UK Accreditation Service to ensure certification bodies are ready and authorised in time.

We are continuing to work with the sector skills councils to update and develop new National Occupational Standards and identify where further support is likely to be required to build up the skilled workforce we will need.

Manufacturers

For manufacturers the Green Deal will drive innovation and ensure quality standards are maintained.? We will also develop a process to recognise the ?better than average? performance of products in the financing arrangements.??

Energy Company Obligation
Of course, it?s not all about the Green Deal.? We?re also ensuring through the new Energy Company Obligation that support is provided to tackle fuel poverty and for those who need the most expensive measures such as solid wall insulation.

Brokerage

We are working with industry to design a market-based brokerage system which will give Green Deal Providers a fair and transparent means of accessing ECO subsidy. This will mean they can make a competitive offer to consumers who are looking for a Green Deal that includes expensive solid wall measures.

Power of communities

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, strong local participation will also be key to rolling out the Green Deal.? We don?t want pepper-potting.? We want a coherent role out from a range of partners.?

This Government is passionate about giving more power and responsibility to local people, neighbourhoods and communities to create better local services and outcomes.? It is the Big Society.?

And the Green Deal offers opportunities for Big Society style collaborations working with and through a range of partnerships according to local needs.

Landlords ? both private and social - could all have an important role to play here, alongside Local Authorities and Community Organisations.

These organisations will know the needs and wants in their local areas.? They will also be able to foster local economic development including supporting the maintenance and generation of local jobs and skills.

There is already evidence that communities are responding.? Our ?10 million Local Energy Assessment Fund is helping local communities come forward with their plans and preparation for the Green Deal.?

From the London Borough of Merton?s local champions producing a list of households ready for a Green Deal advisor visit to Warwickshire?s ?carbon dating? matching interested consumers with an open home demonstrating the results.??

And from Brighton?s? ?go early? Green Deal pilots to Church Stretton in Shropshire installing solid wall insulation in their Town Council offices.??

This is just a sample. There are over 200 more inspirational examples of how local communities are gearing up for increased energy efficiency and renewable energy generation through the LEAF fund.?

Next Steps

In terms of next steps, the Green Deal framework is now receiving its final touches.?

The primary legislation to make the Green Deal a reality is already on the statute books, we passed that last year.? And we are currently finalising the secondary legislation following the close of our public consultation.? Thank you to anyone who took the time to respond.? We are carefully going through the responses.

This has been a collaborative partnership.? Throughout this process stakeholders have been advising us on how to shape the framework to work with the grain of business? whilst offering robust consumer protection.?

And I hope it doesn?t stop there.? As we enter the lead up to launch, I look forward to further collaboration with you to help make this market a success that continues to grow right through to the end of the decade.?

Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/ecobuild/ecobuild.aspx

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NetCom Learning Expands its Team by Adding New Hires and ...

NetCom Learning Expands its Team by Adding New Hires and Seeks to Keep Growing in the Upcoming Months

With exponential growth, NetCom Learning has added to its sales team and looks forward to filling between five and ten more positions in the coming month

New York, NY ? March 30, 2012 ? NetCom Learning, the leading technology and business learning center, recently added to its team in order to keep up with the unprecedented growth the company continues to experience. NetCom Learning has made some key changes, including adding four sales people and replacing its bottom 10 percent producers with new hires who are top performers.

Three new salespeople were added to NetCom Learning?s team at its New York City location and one sales person at its Pennsylvania location. The new hires are just the beginning of the NetCom Learning team?s growth. The company plans to hire five to ten sales people within the next month as well as a training coordinator, webmaster, and additions to its video team.

?One of our strategies at NetCom Learning is to constantly filter out the bottom 10% of our low- performing products, businesses and people so that we build a culture of high performance. I believe with conviction that top performers love the stimulation of smart colleagues and the camaraderie of a well-tuned team. Building a team of smart, ambitious and top performers is important if a company is to succeed,? said Russell Sarder, CEO of NetCom Learning.

NetCom Learning operates on a philosophy of encouraging the development of a passion for lifelong learning. The company promotes this philosophy inside as well as outside its walls. Through books, conferences and events, NetCom Learning encourages professionals to pursue lifelong learning. Within the company, NetCom Learning effectively applies blended learning solutions.

NetCom Learning has created an environment for its sales staff to learn, grow and develop, using a blended learning solution that includes on-the-job training, classroom learning, coaching, mentoring, and self-study methods.

This blended learning method has resulted in significant growth and productivity from NetCom Learning?s sales staff as well as growth of the company itself. NetCom Learning has met the increased demand for its products with increased course offerings, over 20 satellite campuses in major U.S. cities and abroad, and, of course, its new hires. To learn more about Netcom Learning?s learning philosophy, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ4akmar9-U

To visit NetCom Learning?s current employment opportunities, visit http://www.netcomlearning.com/aboutnetcom/employment/

About NetCom Learning
NetCom Learning is a premier provider of IT and business-training solutions to companies, individuals, and government agencies. Since its inception in 1998, NetCom Learning has trained over 80 percent of the Fortune 100, serviced over 45,500 business customers, and advanced the skills of more than 71,000 professionals through hands-on, expert-led training, with the organization maintaining an average instructor evaluation score of 8.6 out of 9. NetCom Learning was recognized by Microsoft Corporation as its Worldwide Training Partner of the Year and named twice to Inc. Magazine?s list of fastest growing private companies in America. The organization was also recently named to the 2011 IT Training Companies Watch List by TrainingIndustry.com.
The purpose of NetCom Learning is to promote the values of lifelong learning.

Contact:
Marketing
212-629-7265
marketing@netcomlearning.com

NetCom Learning: Passionate about Learning?

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[OOC] Earthborn - New Beginnings

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WTTC: Business Travel Research ? Views On Tourism

Business Travel ? a Catalyst of Economic performance

Business travel has accounted for one third of growth in global trade over the past decade, improved global corporate productivity tenfold and created millions of jobs worldwide, according to this special study undertaken by Oxford Economics on behalf of WTTC.

The research, launched in May 2011 showed that:
? Growth in business travel from 2000 ? 2007 helped create over 40 million jobs through increases in trade and productivity representing 20% of the growth in global employment over the same period.
? Global business travellers believe that 50% of their prospective customers are converted to new customers with an in-person meeting compared with 31% without such a meeting.
? If business travel were cut by 25% for two consecutive years, global GDP would be 5% lower than would otherwise be the case after a five-year period resulting in 30 million fewer jobs than forecast under baseline assumptions for the same period ? an average loss of 1% of global employment.
? Business travel improves corporate productivity yielding a return on investment of 10:1.
? Business travel is integral to international trade and it is estimated that one third of global trade over the past decade has been driven by international business travel.

A special focus on Asia was launched in October 2011. This showed that Business Travel is even more important in terms of driving economic growth in Asia than in other regions of the world.

Download WTTC reports on business tourism
Business Travel: A Catalyst for Economic Performance
Business Travel: Executive Summary
Why Business Travel in Asia Matters (18 October 2011).

About WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is the forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry. With Chief Executives of some one hundred of the world?s leading Travel & Tourism companies as its Members, WTTC has a unique mandate and overview on all matters related to Travel & Tourism.
WTTC works to raise awareness of Travel & Tourism as one of the world?s largest industries, supporting more than 258 million jobs and generating 9.1 per cent of world GDP.

This article is quoted from WTTC .
Follow the links to read the original article .
This article is uploaded by Majbritt Thomsen, administrator on ?Views On Tourism?.

Posted in Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Market knowledge, Middle East, Oceania, Performance and management, Sale and marketing, Uncategorized.

By Majbritt Thomsen ? March 30, 2012

Source: http://www.viewsontourism.info/2012/wttc-business-travel-research/

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Ways To Achieve Positive Results Through Home-improvement ...

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How To Improve Self Esteem In Seven Steps - Suguiyan89's blog

There are things we can do to improve our self esteem. However, you cannot just improve your self esteem right away, it is a long and often arduous process that needs dedication. Here are seven steps on how to improve self esteem.

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Oil falls to near $106 after US crude supply jump

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/oil-falls-near-106-us-crude-supply-jump-081212418.html

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Pope wraps Cuba visit with Mass, Fidel meeting

HAVANA (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI demanded greater freedom for the Catholic Church in Cuba during an unusually politicized Mass before hundreds of thousands of people Wednesday in the shrine of the island's communist revolution, and he denounced "fanaticism" that tries to impose its truth on others.

Benedict's homily was a not-so-subtle biblical jab at Cuba's government before a vast crowd of Cubans in Revolution Plaza, with the country's leadership listening from front-row seats. While the 600,000-capacity plaza was full, many Cubans said they were told to come and some left after registering their presence with their teachers or employers.

In his remarks to the multitude, Benedict issued his strongest denunciation of religious intolerance yet in Cuba, referring to the Biblical account of how people persecuted by the Babylonian king "preferred to face death by fire rather than betray their conscience and their faith."

He said people find freedom when they seek the truth that Christianity offers.

"On the other hand there are those who wrongly interpret this search for the truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves up in 'their truth' and try to impose it on others," he said from the altar in the shadow of Cuba's revolution hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

Benedict didn't cite the government by name, but later he urged Cuban authorities to let the church more freely preach its message and educate its young in the faith in schools and universities.

"It must be said with joy that in Cuba steps have been taken to enable the church to carry out her essential mission of expressing her faith openly and publicly," he said. "Nonetheless this must continue forward" for the good of Cuban society.

The remarks came before Benedict's eagerly anticipated meeting with Fidel Castro, confirmed last night by the revolutionary leader himself.

Cubans waving flags and banners large and small filled Revolution Plaza for the morning Mass, shielding themselves from the blistering sun with umbrellas as Benedict passed by in his white popemobile. President Raul Castro and leading Cabinet officials wore white, formal guayabera shirts, and Raul later climbed the steps to the altar and shook Benedict's hand.

"Viva Cuba! Viva el Papa!" the announcers shouted.

"The pope is something big for Cubans," said Carlos Herrera, a tourism worker who came to the plaza with his wife. "I come to hear his words, wise words for the Cuban people. That helps us. It gives us peace, it gives us unity. We do not want war."

But others suggested they were here because they were told to attend by their employers in a country where mass shows of support for Fidel have long been a mainstay of his half-century revolution.

"I'm here to support the leaders of our government, to support our revolution," said Dioleisis Fontela, a university professor.

By the time the pope began speaking, some people already began to leave the square.

"We came with our class group and we are leaving because I can't handle any more," said a student who only gave his first name, Roberto, for fear he could get in trouble. "I came to do what my teacher said. I checked in, and I'm leaving."

In the days leading up to the pope's visit, some Cubans had said they resented that the government was now telling them to attend the Mass, despite preaching atheism until the early 1990s, and remaining skeptical about the church's role in society.

A huge poster of Cuba's patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, covered the facade of one of the buildings facing the plaza near Che. The icon has been the spiritual focus of Benedict's three-day trip, timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the appearance of the diminutive statue.

Benedict visited the statue in a sanctuary near the eastern city of Santiago on Tuesday morning and prayed to her for greater freedom and renewal for all Cubans ? another gentle nudge to the government to continue opening itself up to greater reforms.

"I have entrusted to the Mother of God the future of your country, advancing along the ways of renewal and hope, for the greater good of all Cubans," the pope said. "I have also prayed to the Virgin for the needs of those who suffer, of those who are deprived of freedom, those who are separated from their loved ones or who are undergoing times of difficulty."

A top official in Havana quickly responded: "In Cuba, there will not be political reform," said Vice President Marino Murillo, Cuba's economic czar.

Before arriving on his trip to Mexico and Cuba, Benedict asserted that Marxism as it was originally conceived is irrelevant for today's reality. Upon arriving on Cuban soil, however, his language was less direct, and he pressed instead for the Roman Catholic Church to play a greater role in Cuban life and for Cuba's people to enjoy greater freedoms.

The Vatican spokesman said the Holy See didn't take Murillo's comments as a rebuff to Benedict's call, noting that the pope isn't a political leader who can change laws or political systems. But he said Benedict does have some concrete hopes for the visit.

Ahead of the Mass, dissident blogs and Twitter accounts carried allegations that members of the Ladies in White opposition group had been prevented from attending, and that some opposition leaders were detained, reports that were reiterated by Amnesty International.

It was impossible to reach any of the group's leading members on Wednesday. Elizardo Sanchez, who monitors human rights on the island and acts as a de facto spokesman for the opposition, said he could not confirm any detentions because his mobile phone hadn't worked since shortly after the pope arrived on Monday. It was an experience shared by many other islanders and foreign journalists who could not make calls on jammed lines.

Another dissident, Hector Maseda said he has not been able to speak to any of the Ladies in White for the last three days. He showed visitors his home and cell phones, which were both out of service.

The Ladies were allowed to march peacefully the day before the pope arrived, but dozens were arrested in a similar march the week before.

During a nearly hour-long meeting Tuesday with Raul Castro ? twice the normal length of papal audiences with heads of state ? Benedict asked that the government declare a holiday for Good Friday, when Catholics commemorate the death of Christ.

The request, like so much of this trip, was a follow-up of sorts to Cuba's decision to declare Christmas a national holiday in honor of John Paul's 1998 visit. Cubans hadn't had Christmas off for nearly 30 years.

The government didn't give an immediate response.

The date is not a holiday in the United States or much of Europe, including Italy or devoutly Catholic Poland, but is in many Latin American countries.

Benedict also raised "humanitarian" issues with Raul Castro, an apparent reference to political prisoners. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said he didn't know if individual cases were discussed.

Primarily, though, Benedict came to Cuba to try to win a greater place in society for the Catholic Church, which has been marginalized in the six decades of Castro family rule.

The island's Communist government never outlawed religion, but it expelled priests and closed religious schools after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Tensions eased in the early 1990s when the government removed references to atheism in the constitution and let believers of all faiths join the Communist Party.

John Paul's 1998 visit further warmed relations. But despite years of lobbying, the church has virtually no access to state-run radio or television, is not allowed to administer schools and has not been granted permission to build new places of worship. Only about 10 percent of Cubans are practicing Catholics.

"Naturally a papal visit hopes to be an impulse for further steps, be it for the life of the church or for the good of society in its entirety," Lombardi told reporters, citing media, education and health care as areas where the church wants a greater say.

But in a country that once preached atheism and still is dominated by Marxist thought, that's a hard sell for the government and for ordinary Cubans alike.

Ana Blanco, a 47-year-old Havana resident, complained that people were being told to attend Wednesday's Mass, saying the pressure seemed odd in a country that in her early years taught her religion was wrong.

"Now there's this visit by the pope, and I don't agree with giving it so much importance or making anyone go to the Mass or other activities," the office worker said. "Before it was bad, now it's good. That creates confusion."

___

Associated Press writers Peter Orsi, Vivian Sequera, Anne-Marie Garcia and Laura Wides-Munoz contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP reporters covering the pope: www.twitter.com/(hashtag)!/AP/pope-visit.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-wraps-cuba-visit-mass-fidel-meeting-062346361.html

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Pope wraps Cuba visit with Mass, Fidel meeting

Back dropped by an image of Cuba's revolutionary hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as arrives at Revolution Square for a Mass in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, March. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Back dropped by an image of Cuba's revolutionary hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as arrives at Revolution Square for a Mass in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, March. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Back dropped by an image of Cuba's revolutionary hero Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as arrives at Revolution Square for a Mass in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday March 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)

Cuba's President Raul Castro, right, and Pope Benedict XVI meet in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, March 27, 2012. The meeting took place behind closed doors on the pontiff's second day on the island. (AP Photo/Adalberto Roque, Pool)

Pope Benedict XVI, left, and Cuban President Raul Castro walk outside the Revolution palace at the end of their meeting in Havana, Tuesday, March 27, 2012. The meeting took place behind closed doors on the pontiff's second day on the island.(AP Photo/Javier Galeano)

Pope Benedict XVI kneels before the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, Cuba?s patron saint, in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Tuesday March 27, 2012. for several minutes, his eyes open and hands clasped. Benedict XVI is in the second of his Cuban tour. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, Pool)

HAVANA (AP) ? Pope Benedict XVI wrapped up his visit to Cuba on Wednesday with a Mass before hundreds of thousands of people in the shrine of the Cuban revolution, hoping to revive the Catholic faith in this communist-run country and press for greater freedoms for his church.

It was a message he was likely to repeat at his other appointment Wednesday: a meeting with Fidel Castro.

Multitudes of Cubans filled Revolution Plaza for the morning Mass, shielding themselves from the blistering sun with umbrellas and waving flags big and small as Benedict passed by in his white popemobile. President Raul Castro and leading Cabinet officials had front-row seats, wearing white formal guayabera shirts.

"Viva Cuba! Viva el Papa!" the announcers shouted.

"The pope is something big for Cubans," said Carlos Herrera, a tourism worker who came to the plaza with his wife. "I come to hear his words, wise words for the Cuban people. That helps us. It gives us peace, it gives us unity. We do not want war."

But other suggested they were here for less than religious sentiment, told to attend by their employers in a country where mass shows of support for Fidel Castro have long been a mainstay of his half-century revolution.

"I'm here to support the leaders of our government, to support our revolution," said Dioleisis Fontela, a university professor.

In the days leading up to the pope's visit, some Cubans had said they resented that the government was now telling them to attend the Mass, despite preaching atheism until the early 1990s, and remaining skeptical about the church's role in society.

This time, a huge poster of Cuba's patron saint, the Virgin of Charity of Cobre, covered the facade of one of the buildings facing the plaza near Che. The icon has been the spiritual focus of Benedict's three-day visit, timed to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the appearance of the diminutive statue.

Benedict visited the statue in a sanctuary near the eastern city of Santiago on Tuesday morning and prayed to her for greater freedom and renewal for all Cubans ? another gentle nudge to the government to continue opening itself up to greater reforms.

"I have entrusted to the Mother of God the future of your country, advancing along the ways of renewal and hope, for the greater good of all Cubans," the pope said. "I have also prayed to the Virgin for the needs of those who suffer, of those who are deprived of freedom, those who are separated from their loved ones or who are undergoing times of difficulty."

A top official in Havana quickly responded: "In Cuba, there will not be political reform," said Vice President Marino Murillo, Cuba's economic czar.

Before arriving on his trip to Mexico and Cuba, Benedict asserted that Marxism as it was originally conceived is irrelevant for today's reality. Upon arriving on Cuban soil, however, his language was less direct, and he pressed instead for the Roman Catholic Church to play a greater role in Cuban life and for Cuba's people to enjoy greater freedoms.

The Vatican spokesman said the Holy See didn't take Murillo's comments as a rebuff to Benedict's call, noting that the pope isn't a political leader who can change laws or political systems. But he said Benedict does have some concrete hopes for the visit.

Ahead of the Mass, dissident blogs and Twitter accounts carried allegations that members of the Ladies in White opposition group had been prevented from attending, and that some opposition leaders were detained, reports that were reiterated by Amnesty International.

It was impossible to reach any of the group's leading members on Wednesday. Elizardo Sanchez, who monitors human rights on the island and acts as a de facto spokesman for the opposition, said he could not confirm any detentions because his mobile phone hadn't worked since shortly after the pope arrived on Monday. It was an experience shared by many other islanders and foreign journalists who could not make calls on jammed lines.

The Ladies were allowed to march peacefully the day before the pope arrived, but dozens were arrested in a similar march the week before.

During a nearly hour-long meeting Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro ? twice the normal length of papal audiences with heads of state ? Benedict asked that the government declare a holiday for Good Friday, when Catholics commemorate the death of Christ.

The request, like so much of this trip, was a follow-up of sorts to Cuba's decision to declare Christmas a national holiday in honor of John Paul's 1998 visit. Cubans hadn't had Christmas off for nearly 30 years.

"It's not that it changes reality in a revolutionary way, but it can be a sign of a positive step, as was the case of Christmas after John Paul's visit," said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.

The government didn't give an immediate response, but Lombardi said it was natural for Cuba to take time to consider it. The government frequently declares holidays at the last minute, and Good Friday this year comes in less than two weeks, on April 6.

Benedict also raised "humanitarian" issues with Raul Castro, an apparent reference to political prisoners. Lombardi said he didn't know if individual cases were discussed.

Primarily, though, Benedict came to Cuba to try to win a greater place in society for the Catholic Church, which has been marginalized in the six decades of Castro family rule.

The island's Communist government never outlawed religion, but it expelled priests and closed religious schools after Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Tensions eased in the early 1990s when the government removed references to atheism in the constitution and let believers of all faiths join the Communist Party.

John Paul's 1998 visit further warmed relations. But despite years of lobbying, the church has virtually no access to state-run radio or television, is not allowed to administer schools and has not been granted permission to build new places of worship. Only about 10 percent of Cubans are practicing Catholics.

"Naturally a papal visit hopes to be an impulse for further steps, be it for the life of the church or for the good of society in its entirety," Lombardi told reporters, citing media, education and health care as areas where the church wants a greater say.

But in a country that once preached atheism and still is dominated by Marxist thought, that's a hard sell for the government and for ordinary Cubans alike.

Ana Blanco, a 47-year-old Havana resident, complained that people were being told to attend Wednesday's Mass, saying the pressure seemed odd in a country that in her early years taught her religion was wrong.

"Now there's this visit by the pope, and I don't agree with giving it so much importance or making anyone go to the Mass or other activities," the office worker said. "Before it was bad, now it's good. That creates confusion."

___

Associated Press writers Peter Orsi, Vivian Sequera, Anne-Marie Garcia and Laura Wides-Munoz contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP reporters covering the pope: www.twitter.com/(hashtag)!/AP/pope-visit.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-03-28-CB-Cuba-Pope/id-83ff17c9b5bb49a8a8112bf4b4de67b5

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A Stairlift Designed for Obese Pets

Laughing Squid is an online resource for interesting art, culture & technology.

Laughing Squid is also an independently owned and operated web hosting company. For more info visit Laughing Squid Web Hosting.

Laughing Squid was founded in 1995 by primary tentacle Scott Beale. As Editor-in-Chief of the blog he is joined by an awesome team of editors and guest bloggers.

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Source: http://laughingsquid.com/a-stairlift-designed-for-obese-pets/

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Real Estate Investing | Rai Chertkoff Real Estate Guides

Is It S.A.F.E. To Seller-Finance Property?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of seller-financing a property? If you?re thinking of doing this, make sure you consider several ?categories? of issues: 1) tax implications; 2) legal implications; and 3) practical implications. Let?s review them briefly.

Definition: The IRS views a seller-financed deal as an ?installment sale,? which is simply a sale in which the seller receives at least one payment after the year of sale. Various state statutes have additional requirements for a sale to become an installment sale but, for these purposes, let?s just use the IRS definition.

Legal Implications:

* Compliance with S.A.F.E. Act ? this is a new thorn in the side of investors. This federal act was passed last year and requires any seller of property that seller-finances more than one property every few years be a licensed mortgage originator. Ridiculous? Yes. Avoidable? No. There are some ?workarounds? for this, but that?s a different blog for a different day.
* Compliance with T.I.L.A. ? to comply with the Truth-in-Lending Act you will have to, among other things, 1) properly disclose APR (Annual Percentage Rate) of the loan, 2) not make a predatory loan; and 3) make a reasonable determination of buyer?s ability to repay the loan.
* Compliance with State Law ? different states regulate installment sales differently. For instance, there may be special language required in the contract, or a requirement that the contract be recorded at the County Land Records.
* Documentation ? To ensure compliance with increasingly complicated laws, and to properly memorialize the terms of your deal, get a local attorney to prepare the conveyance/loan documentation. This will include a Note, Mortgage, TILA disclosures, and other items necessary to comply with Federal or State law.
* Foreclosure ? Unlike a lease/option, the only way to get your property back in the event of default in an installment sale may be a foreclosure. Not impossible or overly expensive, but definitely a headache.

Tax Implications:

* Calculating Tax on Payments ? If you elect the installment method, you will have to properly track which part of the buyer?s monthly payment is: 1) interest; 2) return of principal or basis in the property; and 3) net gain. This is important because each category is taxed differently.
* Recapture of Depreciation ? Many investors forget that even if you receive payments over many years after sale, if you used the property as rental property subject to depreciation, you must recapture any depreciation in the year of sale. That rate currently stands at 25%. Ouch.
* Dealers prohibited ? If you are classified as a ?dealer? under IRS guidelines, you will not be able to use the installment sale method on your taxes. You can still owner finance, but you will be reporting all income in the year of sale, so make sure you properly prepare for paying those taxes or offsetting the gain with another permissible loss.
* Note Structure ? This is critical if you want to properly plan the deferral of gains. As an example, if you structured a fully amortizing 15 year note, you?d have capital gains every year. However, if you created a 15 year interest only balloon note, you?d only have ordinary income until the year of balloon payoff.

Practical Implications:

* Need for Liquidity ? Can you afford to have your money tied up in a property for years? Many people claim to buy private notes but, if commercial liquidity is absent, you may be stuck, so make sure you properly plan your cash needs.
* Prepayment ? What if you structure a long term cash flow note and the buyer pays off early. BAM! POW! A tax hit right in the eye. Consider prepay penalties in your note to discourage this.
* Default & Litigation ? Nobody likes to deal with crap that goes bad. What if the buyer defaults or lets the property waste away and you are forced to foreclose? You will likely have to deal with costs, attorney fees, bankruptcy, and maybe even getting personally sued. Needless to say, make sure your buyer is well-qualified and you have properly ?papered? the deal to avoid huge headaches later on.
* Monitoring The Property ? Even if you sell the property, you will still have to periodically check on things like the condition of property and the status of taxes and insurance. Remember that you must be named as an additional insured on the hazard policy to protect your financial interests!

Find More Real Estate Investing Articles

Related posts:

1. Real Estate Investing
2. Real Estate Investing
3. Real Estate Investing
4. Real Estate Investing
5. Real Estate Investing

Source: http://www.rai-chertkoff.com/2012/03/27/real-estate-investing-8/

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Study finds circle hooks lower catch rate for offshore anglers

Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Matt Shipman
matt_shipman@ncsu.edu
919-515-6386
North Carolina State University

Anglers are required to use circle hooks in some fishing tournaments because they are less likely to cause lethal injuries in billfish, such as marlin. However, research from North Carolina State University shows that broadening circle hook requirements could adversely impact charter and recreational fishing, since they make it more difficult to catch non-billfish.

"We wanted to know whether circle hooks are effective as conventional J hooks when angling for non-billfish such as yellowfin tuna in North Carolina waters," says Paul Rudershausen, a research assistant in NC State's biology department and lead author of a paper describing the research. The NC State team worked with charter boat captains and mates who were experienced with use of circle hooks to look at the efficacy of circle hooks versus J hooks when trolling offshore with rod and reel. The findings are relevant for similar fishing efforts in other waters where these same species occur.

A "circle hook" is defined as a circular hook in which the point of the hook is perpendicular to and aligned with the shank of the hook. This differs from a J hook, which is shaped like the letter J.

Studies have found that circle hooks are less likely to mortally wound billfish during recreational or charter fishing. As a result, the National Marine Fisheries Service instituted regulations requiring anglers in Atlantic billfish tournaments to use circle hooks when using natural baits. J hooks are still permitted if an angler is using purely artificial bait.

Anglers and fishing industry observers have speculated about the possibility that circle hook regulations may be expanded to fishing outside of billfish tournaments even when anglers are not fishing for billfish to protect billfish species that may be caught inadvertently.

This speculation led NC State researchers to determine whether circle hooks would be as effective as J hooks when fishing for non-billfish species. The answer is no.

The researchers looked at the relative effectiveness of circle and J hooks for three popular sporting fish: dolphinfish (often called mahi mahi in the Pacific), yellowfin tuna and wahoo. "Circle hooks were roughly 60 to 70 percent as effective at catching these three species as J hooks," Rudershausen says.

The researchers found that the fish would still strike at the bait, but that the hook was significantly less likely to set in the mouth of the fish. However, when the hook did set, anglers were just as likely to be able to get the fish to the boat.

"The charter ocean fishing industry is economically significant in North Carolina," Rudershausen says, "receiving approximately $65 million in for-hire fees in 2009. The concern is that circle hooks would drive down catch rates which could result in fewer clientele for North Carolina's offshore charter fishing industry."

The researchers hope to work with economists to better capture the potential economic impact of any expansion of circle hook regulations.

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The paper, "A comparison between circle hook and J hook performance in the troll fisheries off North Carolina," was co-authored by Dr. Jeffrey Buckel, associate professor of biology at NC State; Greg Bolton, laboratory research specialist in NC State's Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences, Tyler Averett, a former technician at NC State; Randy Gregory of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries; and Paul Conn of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The paper is available online from Fishery Bulletin. The cooperating charter boat captains were Dale Britt on the F/V Sensation and Pete Zook on the F/V Energizer. The research was supported by North Carolina's Fishery Resource Grant program which is administered by NC Sea Grant.

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Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
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Contact: Matt Shipman
matt_shipman@ncsu.edu
919-515-6386
North Carolina State University

Anglers are required to use circle hooks in some fishing tournaments because they are less likely to cause lethal injuries in billfish, such as marlin. However, research from North Carolina State University shows that broadening circle hook requirements could adversely impact charter and recreational fishing, since they make it more difficult to catch non-billfish.

"We wanted to know whether circle hooks are effective as conventional J hooks when angling for non-billfish such as yellowfin tuna in North Carolina waters," says Paul Rudershausen, a research assistant in NC State's biology department and lead author of a paper describing the research. The NC State team worked with charter boat captains and mates who were experienced with use of circle hooks to look at the efficacy of circle hooks versus J hooks when trolling offshore with rod and reel. The findings are relevant for similar fishing efforts in other waters where these same species occur.

A "circle hook" is defined as a circular hook in which the point of the hook is perpendicular to and aligned with the shank of the hook. This differs from a J hook, which is shaped like the letter J.

Studies have found that circle hooks are less likely to mortally wound billfish during recreational or charter fishing. As a result, the National Marine Fisheries Service instituted regulations requiring anglers in Atlantic billfish tournaments to use circle hooks when using natural baits. J hooks are still permitted if an angler is using purely artificial bait.

Anglers and fishing industry observers have speculated about the possibility that circle hook regulations may be expanded to fishing outside of billfish tournaments even when anglers are not fishing for billfish to protect billfish species that may be caught inadvertently.

This speculation led NC State researchers to determine whether circle hooks would be as effective as J hooks when fishing for non-billfish species. The answer is no.

The researchers looked at the relative effectiveness of circle and J hooks for three popular sporting fish: dolphinfish (often called mahi mahi in the Pacific), yellowfin tuna and wahoo. "Circle hooks were roughly 60 to 70 percent as effective at catching these three species as J hooks," Rudershausen says.

The researchers found that the fish would still strike at the bait, but that the hook was significantly less likely to set in the mouth of the fish. However, when the hook did set, anglers were just as likely to be able to get the fish to the boat.

"The charter ocean fishing industry is economically significant in North Carolina," Rudershausen says, "receiving approximately $65 million in for-hire fees in 2009. The concern is that circle hooks would drive down catch rates which could result in fewer clientele for North Carolina's offshore charter fishing industry."

The researchers hope to work with economists to better capture the potential economic impact of any expansion of circle hook regulations.

###

The paper, "A comparison between circle hook and J hook performance in the troll fisheries off North Carolina," was co-authored by Dr. Jeffrey Buckel, associate professor of biology at NC State; Greg Bolton, laboratory research specialist in NC State's Department of Food, Bioprocessing & Nutrition Sciences, Tyler Averett, a former technician at NC State; Randy Gregory of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries; and Paul Conn of the National Marine Fisheries Service. The paper is available online from Fishery Bulletin. The cooperating charter boat captains were Dale Britt on the F/V Sensation and Pete Zook on the F/V Energizer. The research was supported by North Carolina's Fishery Resource Grant program which is administered by NC Sea Grant.

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/ncsu-sfc032812.php

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