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Finding Talent the Creative Way: Are Your Race Horses Pulling Plows?

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Agencies

The procedures of securing one varies per country. Those staying in the United States have wider options on where they could submit the requirements. U. S. Citizens have twenty regional agencies and 9,000 acceptance facilities nationwide thus it is easier for them to comply with the procedure. Those living outside the United States on the other hand must visit the nearest Embassy or Consulate in their cities to file it properly. Those interested can also consult travel agencies for this document. However may be charted extra fees for this service

Appointments

Passport forms may be found at any agency that handles passport applications. It is important that these documents be filled out properly and legibly. Before submitting an application it is also essential that all required documents, including passport photos accompany the passport application. Otherwise the process will be null and void.

Travel Agencies

They can also connect with travel agencies to have one arranged. Expect additional fees to incur through this option. They obviously would charge you in preparing the pertinent documents needed in the application and setting an appointment for you. You must note that they cannot represent you for the consulate interview.

Appointments

All applicants will undergo a scheduled interview with a consulate officer. They must be able to present duly signed forms and supporting documents during this appointment. Applicants must be able to establish their identity during this process. Those who are unable to attend the appointment should call the office for re-scheduling. You have to remember they do not entertain walk-in applicants especially for first time applicants.

Fees

There are fees that coincide with obtaining a passport; these can vary depending on the institution you use to obtain one. It usually takes 6 or more weeks to receive it. Those who are in a hurry or are faced with an emergency can file for an expedited passport. This can guarantee your passport on time, but will also cost extra.

Photocopies

Be sure to photcopy the first and last page of the passport twice. This file will come in handy in case you misplace, lost or stolen pass port. Each passport has a serial number that officials can cancel to make it null and void, if reported lost or stolen

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Investing in Dragons and Tigers: The Allure of China and India

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A  2010 study at University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, showed they saved ,000 by switching  all default printing to Century Gothic (this blog post is set in this font face).  They say it uses 30% less than Arial.

This article explains others fonts to use to save ink mentioning a study by  Matt Robinson to determine ink usage of various typefonts. His study shows Garamond followed by Courier are the most economic.

The ecofont (the one with hole!) is even better and you can download the Ecofont Vera Sans regular for free if you register.

Tagged: ecofont, font, print, printing
Going Green @your library

A cool-down in European solar markets combined with an over-supply of panels from China has led to a massive decline in solar panel prices. Over the last year, prices for solar panels have fallen 50 percent. In the U.S., falling prices spell competition, and many solar providers are hustling to position themselves to take advantage of a rapidly changing solar industry.

While solar panel manufacturers have taken a hit from the 50-percent reduction caused by the glut of supplies, home solar contractors are seeing their profits rise. SolarCity, the nation’s largest residential solar installer, is expected to initiate a public offering this year.

As solar providers stabilize their bottom line, they attract more investors. Previously, investors have been drawn to large-scale solar energy projects, but as the market shifts, they are increasingly backing smaller installation contractors. Investment firms are predicting that if solar brands succeed with public offerings, the market could experience exponential growth.

To see what home solar pricing is like in your area, click here.

Homeowners have enjoyed lower installations costs as well. According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Tracking the Sun report, the cost of installing home PV systems has dropped 43 percent over the last dozen years.

The most recent drop in solar panel prices, however, has been slow to make a difference in what homeowners pay. Savings from lower component prices first impact distributors, integrators and providers before showing up in installed prices.

A fragmented industry makes it harder to pass on savings to customers, too. As yet, there are no major wholesale solar parts distributors. Most solar contractors purchase the various equipment needed for installations from a number of manufacturers, driving up costs.

The industry is beginning to address this issue as well. You can expect to see installation costs continue to drop as players in the competitive solar market find their niche.

Residential Solar Power Blog

Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements is a nationwide leader of the development and distribution of plant health care products to tree care professionals. We are committed to developing reliable tools and protocols to benefit our customers and the tree care industry. Our employees uphold the values of the company through daily operations, provide excellent customer service, and help foster a positive, team-oriented environment.

Our company is growing and we are seeking a dynamic regional sales person in the San Francisco Bay Area to support current customers as well as prospect and develop new customers. The incumbent will be responsible to meet or exceed annual sales goals.

Required skills & abilities
• A highly independent, self motivated individual is the key to success
• 3 – 5 years experience in sales
• Proven track record identifying and creating new account relationships and expanding the production of existing accounts to create recurring revenue streams
• Must be comfortable working in a competitive marketplace and presenting a value-added sales message
• Knowledge and experience in the plant health care industry, green industry, or related agriculture industry
• Strong oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills

Preferred knowledge and certifications
• BS degree in Urban Forestry, Horticulture, Biology or similar field
• Pest Control License for CA

The regional sales person will be based out of his/her home office with up to 50% travel expected. We offer a very competitive compensation package including medical, dental, 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership. For more information, please visit our website at www.treecarescience.com EOE
Send your cover letter, resume and salary requirements to the attention of human resources.

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Every homeowner that makes the switch to solar becomes part of the solution to sustainably meeting the world’s energy needs. To ensure that your residential solar system is not only kind to the planet, but to your finances as well, avoid these seven mistakes when installing solar panels.

For help finding contractors, or for pricing on a system, click here.

1. Hiring the Wrong Contractor

Choosing the wrong solar contractor can lead to multiple mistakes. An awesome contractor will not only advise you about the right system to choose, where to install it and how many solar panels you’ll need, but can help with financing, incentives and other cost-cutting options. The right contractor will assess your home’s energy usage and show you how to make the system as efficient as possible.

2. Picking a Bad Location

Ideally, a home solar system should be installed on a south-facing roof that is not shaded by other structures or trees. In sunny areas, other roof locations can make a home a good candidate for solar as well. If a good roof location isn’t available, your solar contractor will provide you with information other alternatives, such as ground-mounted PV arrays.

3. Buying the Wrong-Sized System

Homeowners need to be clear about what percentage of their home’s energy needs they expect to be met with a new home solar system. Even a small system can save homeowners money, but it’s important to understand what they should expect before signing a contract. A good contractor will know the efficiency ratings of the solar panels that they install and can explain how efficiency ratings affect performance.

4. Missing Out on Incentives

Incentive and solar rebate programs offered on the federal, state and local level are always subject to change. While a great solar contractor will keep up to date on them, it’s important for you to do your homework as well. Depending on where you live, you may be able to save up to 60 percent on installation costs by taking advantage of incentive programs.

5. Not Getting the Most Out of Solar

Learning about how net metering systems work with home PV systems helps homeowners make the most out their solar systems. Since many utilities charge different rates at different periods of the day, you can enjoy additional savings by taking advantage of your solar array’s peak efficiency periods.

6. Missing Out on Financing

A careful assessment of your home’s energy needs and your household’s financial health can help determine whether it’s more advantageous for you to purchase or lease a system. Other types of solar financing options are available as well, including home equity loans.

7. Missing Out on Property Tax Exemptions

Home improvements can trigger a new tax assessment on your property, but many states exempt renovations that increase a home’s energy efficiency or that use renewable energy. Check with your state’s board of equalization department for details.

Residential Solar Power Blog

The Report of the Independent Consultant’s Review with Respect to the Department of Energy Loan and Loan Guarantee Portfolio was led by Republican Herb Allison, whose conservative credentials include a stint as national finance chairman for then-presidential-candidate Senator John McCain (R-AZ), as well as time at the Treasury Department and with Merrill Lynch. He was appointed to lead the review by President Obama.

The review assessed the 30 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) “Evaluated Loans” as of November 28, 2011, in “three broad categories,” each with “a distinctive project type and loan structure.” The total amount involved, the review found, was $ 23.77 billion. But the loans “were structured as funding commitments, with limited or, in many cases, no funds drawn under the loans at closing.” Only 35 percent of the total amount was actually drawn.

The important point about the drawn amount, the review pointed out, is that it shows how carefully the taxpayer was protected when the loan programs were set up. “DOE will,” the review pointed out, have further opportunities “to protect itself against taking on elective risk” as the projects to which the money was committed unfold.

Twenty “Utility-Linked Loans” supported “projects for the generation or transmission” of renewable (solar, wind and geothermal) energy sources and came to $ 14.4 billion. Only 22 percent of this amount was drawn down.

Eight “Non-Utility-Linked Loans” supported “cellulosic ethanol projects, solar manufacturing companies, and small, startup automotive manufacturing companies.” These were smaller-amount, higher-risk loans which came to just over $ 2 billion. A total of 28 percent of this was drawn.

Solyndra Inc. and Beacon Power Corporation fell into this second category. These two firms are in bankruptcy and represent a total of $ 567 million.

Two loans totaling $ 7.35 billion went to Ford Motor Company and Nissan North America, both of which had established corporate credit and got “structures typical of traditional secured corporate loans.” A total of 63 percent of this money was drawn.

The review found the overall “creditworthiness” of the loans in the first category to be modestly lower than did the DOE, the overall “creditworthiness” of the loans in the second category to be lower than did the DOE, and the overall “creditworthiness” of the loans in the third category, which accounted for a third of the total amount, to be higher than did the DOE.

Controversy about this review of the loan guarantees may eventually settle on the fact that it used two methodologies with “distinctly different purposes” and, therefore, came up with some divergent impressions.

An “FCRA Methodology” came from the Federal Credit Reform Act (FCRA) of 1990. With it, a “Credit Subsidy Cost” was estimated by the DOE for each loan that reflected the DOE’s assessment of that loan’s credit quality.

The review’s “FMV Methodology” is used by capital markets to estimate the “fair market value” of the loan, the price at which investors would get an acceptable rate of return. It is based on market data for the most comparable bonds and loans. But it considers market risks that do not necessarily apply to government investments.

Both methods, the review noted, are useful, and neither predicts the future more effectively than the other.

According to the review, the DOE’s latest estimate of the subsidy provided is $ 2.9 billion, down from what a number of sources report was an initial $ 5 billion estimate by the DOE. The review, using the FCRA Method, found the subsidy to be $ 2.7 billion. That is a distinctly lower risk to the taxpayer and undercuts some of the criticisms that have been advanced by opponents of the program.

The FMV Method, which considers risk that probably does not apply for government loans, found the subsidy to have an “aggregate par value ranging from $ 5.0 billion to $ 6.8 billion.” Because that range exceeds the DOE’s initial estimate of risk, it could be used to criticize the program.

The review did not judge future performance, and the bulk of it consists of suggestions for improved management. “The ultimate performance of the Portfolio,” the review noted, depends on the “DOE’s management of it going forward.” It called on the department to “be an active manager continuously monitoring the projects, their market environments, and other identified risks” and to seize “opportunities to contain taxpayers’ exposure to loss.”

In its neutrality, the review left itself open to interpretation — and those interpretations have started coming in.

“This is less a report than an umbrella to deflect the criticism that’s pouring down on the administration,” Rep. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) was quoted as saying in The Hill.

“The report is a repudiation of the partisan attack on the program by congressional Republicans and the oil and coal industries,” said Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the House Energy Committee, according to The Hill.

"DOE's loan program is generating $ 40 billion in private investment in America’s economy that is supporting 60,000 direct jobs and many thousands more up and down the supply chain,” DOE Secretary Steven Chu’s statement said. "We have always known that there were inherent risks in backing innovative technologies at full commercial scale, and it is very likely that there will be other companies in the portfolio that won’t succeed, but the vast majority of companies are expected to pay the loans back in full, on time, and with about $ 8 billion in interest.”

Go Green

Going Eco Green

WildAid is a wildlife and marine conservation organization. We are dedicated to reducing demand for wildlife products from consuming countries and regions such as China, the United States, Canada, South Asia and the European Union.

We also protect endangered species and reduce human-animal conflict through comprehensive field programs working with local communities of marine protected areas, national parks and reserves in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Indonesia and India.

This link will take you to a short piece that describes WildAid and what we do in more detail: http://www.wildaid.org/about?item=54

We are looking for a dynamic, entrepreneurial and highly-organized self starter to coordinate the development of our “5 to do today†Climate and Energy Conservation program (focused primarily in China, but with longer term campaign activity in US/India/Canada/Europe).

The Climate Program Manager will be responsible for researching, developing, coordinating and building the campaign to the next level, with a primary near-term role in identifying and recruiting new sources of funding and partners within the US. The Climate Program Manager will be based in WildAid's San Francisco headquarters. International travel, particularly to China and India, may be required.

“5 to do today†urges the public – individuals, families, companies, schools, cities and countries to take energy conservation into their own hands and make 5 daily choices to reduce their environmental impact. It also is designed to create awareness of and support for climate action.

Our initial primary focus is in China utilizing our extensive media and contact network. We currently reach audiences of over 1 billion viewers across 35 different platforms through over 50 media partnerships.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Raise funds for the expansion of the campaign from foundations, partners and individuals.
2. Conduct research to support the campaign and be responsible for accuracy in the campaign.
3. Create campaign materials – both written and video.
4. Compile materials for social media and maintain and update 5 website.
5. Create partnerships and events to increase the reach of the campaign.
6. Recruit ambassadors.
7. Coordinate with China, UK, Canada and Indian offices on campaign implementation.
8. Manage volunteers and interns on an as needed basis.
9. Other duties as requested.

Qualifications Required:
1. Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
2. At least 5 years work experience in a climate change, environmental, alternative energy agency, organization or company.
3. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
4. A skilled and detailed project manager with a proven track record of delivering complex projects on-time and in-budget, according to very tight deadlines and with limited resources.
5. Flexible with ability to problem solve creatively.
6. Proven record / ability of fundraising and / or substantive business development.
7. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
8. Must take initiative and have a strong work ethic.
9. Adept at multi-tasking.

Desirable:
1. Spoken Mandarin is desirable.
2. Experience of television production, advertising, new media, marketing and public relations at a professional level.
3. Experience in grant writing, corporate partnerships and fundraising.
4. Previous experience in using online tools for promotion of product or campaign.

Remuneration:
Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications, ranging from ,000 to ,000. Benefits include health, dental, vision, & long-term disability insurance. WildAid offers a 401K matching program after 1 year of employment.

Application Procedure:
Please send a detailed cover letter and resume by email, with Climate Program Manager in the subject line (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins). Due to high applicant volume, you will only receive a response from WildAid if you are contacted for an interview.

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Lost Passport

If a passport is found it should immediately be taken to the Department of State, however this rarely happens. If a passport is lost while traveling it is essential to report it lost and then get the process underway to obtain a new one. There are expediting services out there that replace them quickly, sometimes in 24 hours.

Replacement

There are different avenues for replacing a lost passport. If the document is not needed in a short period of time then it can a replacement can be applied for. This can take about 8 weeks. If it is needed in a short period of time then expediting services must be used, this guarantees the documents arrival in the necessary time period.

Expediting

It should be noted that services are available for people who need their passports urgently and are unable to wait for the above-mentioned processing time. The best way to go about this is by contacting private service providers who offer replacement services and you are able to get your document within 1-2 business days.

Paperwork

This will require doing the same paperwork although there might be an additional form, which is sometimes required by the company to use for indemnification functions. It should be noted that these providers charge an additional fee over the charges by the government. This fee however, is worth it because you get a good service for it.

Documentation

Before applying for the replacement passport, always verify what documents are needed. There are many resources out there that list the needed documents as well as allow for an new pages for United States passport application download. This should ensure that all documentation is correct and all the needed paperwork is in order when applying for a replacement.

Acceptable Forms

Among the identification documents that will be required is the birth certificate, which proves that one is a US citizen. Other details that will be required are the actual age of the applicant, birthplace and the social security number. Remember that the birth certificate provided should be original and in cases where certified copies are used, they should have the entity’s official seal or else they will be rejected.

Assistance In A Foreign Land

In instances where the passport loss occurred during a trip, travel itinerary or plane tickets will be required. You will also be required to provide two recently taken photographs taken according to the specified directions. To make sure that these photos meet the required criterion and are not rejected, have a professional photographer take them.