Reviews regard iPad battery hold up ease of use

Apple Incs iPad scored wellbattery hold up and ease of have make have make use of in the initial reviews, but it will not erase the laptop computer marketplace yet, according to The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.

Reviewers at both writings pronounced the inscription computer, that goessale Saturday, functions easily for Web surfing or utilizing media such as video and books, but it competence interest less to people who need laptops for some-more heavy-duty chores.

The iPad won mostly upbeat reviews from alternative blogs, newspapers and magazines, together with USA Today, the Houston Chronicle, Personal Computer Magazine and Newsweek, whilst supposed tear-down firms are scheming to take detached the gadgetSaturday for an even some-more minute see inside.

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Even if the device launch goes wellSaturday, there is a great possibility the shares will traffic down the week after since they had gained belligerent forward of the launch, analysts said.

"These bonds similar to Apple lend towards to traffic up in to events and traffic down after," pronounced Hudson Square Research researcher Daniel Ernst.

This would expected be proxy as the shares have some-more room to climb since Apples gratefulness does not simulate that the gain expansion is about 10 times mercantile growth, he added.

The Journals Walt Mossberg -- one of the majority closely followed tech columnists -- pronounced he prefers the iPad as an e-reader to the renouned Kindle e-reader from Amazon.com Inc. Amazon shares sealed down $3.96, or roughly 3 percent, at $131.81the NasdaqThursday.

  Vote and discuss

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David Pogue from The New York Times pronounced the inclination 1.5 bruise weight is as well complicated for celebration of the mass compared with Kindles 10 ounces. "You cant examination well in approach sunlight" and "you cant examination books from the Apple bookstoreany alternative machine, not even a Mac or iPhone," he wrote.

Both reviewers were tender with the gadgets battery hold up since it lasted longer than Apples explain of 10 hours.

Pogue pronounced he was means to have make have make use of the device for twelve hours prior to it indispensable a charge, whilst Mossberg pronounced iPad withstood eleven hours and twenty-eight mins of successive use.

The device could usually reinstate laptops for a sure kind of computer buyer, the reviewers said.

"If you"re especially a Web surfer, note-taker, social-networker and emailer, and a consumer of photos, videos, books, periodicals and music... this could be for you," Mossberg said.

"If you need to emanate or edit hulk spreadsheets or prolonged documents, or you have blow up systems for organizing email, or need to perform video chats, the iPad isnt going to cut it as your go-to device," he wrote.

Pogue, who wrote a examination for techies and one for "everybody else," highlighted shortcomings contra laptops.

"The bottom line is that you can get a laptop for most less income with a full keyboard, DVD drive, USB jacks, camera-card slot, camera, the works," he wrote.

Mossberg pronounced the device was "wicked fast," but had "annoying limitations."

"For instance, the email module lacks the capability to emanate internal folders or manners for auto-sorting messages, and it doesnt concede organisation addressing. The browser lacks tabs. And the Wi-Fi-only version lacks GPS," he said.

Both remarkable iPads await for the renouned Flash video record and questioned consumers" eagerness to lift an additional device along with their laptop and phone.

"If people see the iPad especially as an additional device to lift around, it will expected have singular appeal," Mossberg said.

But they dignified iPads speed and ease of use.

Click for associated contentThe initial iPad reviews are here!People who should have reviewed the iPadSight unseen, fans listen to "iPad" and think "iWant"

"The iPad is so fast and light, the multi-touch shade so splendid and responsive, the program so easy to navigate, that it unequivocally does validate as a new difficulty of gadget," Pogue said, adding it would interest to less tech-savvy users.

"Some have referred to it competence have a great goof-proof computer for technophobes, the elderly and the young; they"re positively right," he said.

Another successful reviewer, Edward Baig at USA Today, summed up his thoughtsthe iPad by proclaiming it "a winner" in his ultimate column.

"Apple has flattering most nailed it with this initial iPad, though theres positively room for improvement. Nearly 3 years after creation a dash with the iPhone, Apple has delivered an additional considerable product that mostly lives up to the hype," Baig wrote.

Latino credit kinship flourishing

The Latino Community Credit Union is adding dual branches and creation the initial incursion in to commercial operation loans.

As of Mar 28, the Durham nonprofit will suggest "micro commercial operation loans" to entrepreneurs who wish to begin or enhance a small business. The loans are capped at $5,000 for startup ventures and $10,000 for businesses that have been handling at slightest a year and ready to expand, pronounced Alejandro Sanchez, executive of organizational development.

The loans will come bundled with tutorial services to support entrepreneurs, together with a two-hour seminar on the basis of starting a commercial operation and one-on-one conversing from credit kinship staffers.

Many entrepreneurs have great ideas but stutter since of bad execution, pronounced Sanchez. The credit unions tutorial efforts are written to negate that.

The expansion of the credit kinship creates the new loan module possible, whilst the states jot down stagnation rate11.1 percent in Januaryheightens the need, pronounced Sanchez.

"I think this is the undiluted time to do it," pronounced Sanchez, who remarkable that a great choice for people who have lost their pursuit is to emanate their own pursuit by starting a business.

The new module comes at a time when the promissory note industry is being criticized for holding behind the economy by being stingy when it comes to fluctuating credit to businesses.

The Latino Community Credit Union, that has eight branches opposite the state, is opening a bend in Carrboro on Apr 1 and an additional in Monroe, nearby Charlotte, on May 1, pronounced CEO Luis Pastor.

"We have doubled in the last eighteen months, from five to 10 branches," Pastor said. Other Triangle offices are in Durham, Raleigh and Garner.

The credit kinship has been successful along with the Latino village it was combined to serve, Pastor said. It serves 52,000 members statewide, and the net income totaled $915,034 last year, scarcely stand in that of 2008, according to interpretation filed with the National Credit Union Administration. Assets at the finish of last year totaled $91.4 million, up from $65.1 million a year ago.

Pastor pronounced the credit kinship in the future wants to suggest incomparable commercial operation loans to the members.

"I dont know if it is going to take dual years or twenty years, but we wish to keep growing," he said.

The credit kinship not long ago purchased a 12,000-square-foot construction for the domicile and the flagship bend on Morgan Street in downtown Durham and changed there in January.

"This is a summary we are here to stay," Pastor said.

david.ranii or 919-829-4877

Using a superficial knowledge of neon can lift the dullest room out of the winter ennui

When majority people think of neon, visions of Eighties Day-Glo wardrobe and smiley faces open to mind. But how about neon in interiors? Somehow that doesn"t receptive to advice as if it would work in the homes.

And yet, here we are at the commencement of a new decade with a superficial knowledge of neon looming in the shops.

Neon is not for timorous violets - rather it"s for people who wish to have a confidant statement.

Spoon club stool, 280, Heal"s, heals.co.uk Briar lampshade, 89, Clarissa Hulse at Abode Living, abodeliving.co.uk

lift let loose natural room for acne to help this mulls

My Week: David Baddiel

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DEATH BY BAD REVIEW Normally I go for counselling on Tuesdays but, rather foolishly, I cancelled it last week since I was so busy. I should have well known there would be a couple of times when I unequivocally indispensable my therapist.

Its stressful when you have a new movie out and at times I unequivocally felt similar to sitting down and not you do anything at all. One complaint is there have been some not-so-very-good reviews of The Infidel that is about a Muslim who finds out hes a Jew nonetheless thankfully no fatwas so far. And I die a little bit inside at your convenience I examination a oppressive review.

Anyone who says they arent influenced by them is lying. You positively fruit more about the bad reviews than you recollect the great ones. My former humerous entertainment partner Frank Skinner once pronounced to me that carrying a bad examination is similar to wearing a soppy blanket: you have to wait for for it to dry out.

HAT-TRICK Tuesday night was flattering busy. I watched Arsenal fool around Barcelona in a Spanish bar in Whitechapel, easterly London, afterwards nipped out only after Lionel Messis third idea for a Q A event that was scheduled to take place after a screening of my film. After that I went to fool around football in Somers Town, north London and, desirous by Messi, I scored 3 goals.

Related LinksMy Week: The pitch voter My Week: Samantha Cameron

In fact, it was a unequivocally great week for football. Yesterday my hermit and I watched the Chelsea v Aston Villa FA Cup semi-final from Roman Abramovichs box. Abramovich wasnt there, but I met a little old Chelsea players.

LOOK AWAY NOW I was five when Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1970 and I still recollect my brother, who was eight, removing incredibly excited. I used to do all that he did so I got unequivocally excited, too. And that was it: I was a Chelsea supporter. Maybe not a unequivocally fit one these days, though. However, Ive lost weight recently, as Ive been on the Atkins diet. I havent eaten carbohydrates in dual weeks so Im somewhat spaced out and keep apologising in box I smell of meat.

I was gay when a crony who owns a wardrobe association offering to skirt my slightly lighter physique for the premiere of The Infidel. But when he came around on Wednesday afternoon, it was all a bit embarrassing.

His mother and kid were there as well as my young kids and my girlfriend, the actress Morwenna Banks, and afterwards my hermit incited up, too. There I was, having to keep receiving my trousers off in front of everyone.

All I could think was: Are my underpants in great shape?

THE HORLICKS DILEMMA Later, Michael Portillo and I were guest on the BBCs This Week. I was so tired that I felt I competence essentially finish up sleep-talking on television.

Just prior to we went on at about midnight, Michael proposed giving me an incredibly minute doctrine on how statistical polls are finished these days. Do you know they have this thing called the bashful vote? he asked. Theyre people who contend they arent going to vote, but their votes are taken in to account anyway.

I couldnt take it in. What kind of domestic nerd do you have to be to know this stuff?

That night I couldnt get to sleep. Thats zero new: I still get unequivocally bad insomnia from time to time. Morwenna regularly has a Horlicks prior to bedtime, but I cant at my age it would meant that Id have to get up during the night to go to the lavatory.

Usually I possibly examination or try to still the mind, but infrequently it doesnt work. I deposit in and out of alertness and afterwards I arise up bang! at half past five.

COMEDIANS CONVENTION The subsequent day was the premiere of The Infidel at the Apollo in Hammersmith, west London. My silent who was an additional in the movie incited up wearing what shed ragged on set a poetic grey skirt and a sparkly tiara. We had women in burqas and Hassidic Jews dancing on the red carpet.

At the after-party, so most people longed for to speak to me that I felt a bit bullied by niceness. I have to take my hat off to the British humerous entertainment community, though: they were out in force.

I saw Frank Skinner, David Mitchell, Ruby Wax and Clive Anderson but by the end of the party, all I unequivocally longed for to do was go home.

As told to Audrey Ward

JACI STEPHEN The idealisation discernment in to the weeks soaps

Outed: Emmerdale"s Paddy tells Marlon that Aaron is gay

Ashleyis uneasy to listen to that Laurel has confided in Nicola, and hisdistress is strong when he discovers that Diane knows everything,too. Women, Ashley! Can"t live with "em, can"t close them up.

Mind you, Paddy"s as bad, when on Thursday he tells Marlon that Aaron is gay.

It hasn"t taken Charity and Cain prolonged to get behind to the kind of normality they know, when on Wednesday the span lift off their initial cartheft. Why, exactly, would any one wish to take any car in the Dales?The usually thing they appear able of is using people over or breakingdown.

HOLLYOAKS

CALVIN"S GOT HIS KIT OFF... AGAIN

Just how most some-more women is Calvin going to get through? I think thereal reason that he left the military force was that, with all his recentconquests, he wouldn"t have had time for the work anymore.

On Monday he wakes up with Theresa after a night of passion, but alasshe thinks that admissing all to Carmel is the decent thing to do.When Calvin arrives at Carmel"s to try to win her back, Theresa isalready there. Has she told her the truth?

AIG house approves Asian hold up section sale to Prudential

Paritosh Bansal NEW YORK Sun February 28, 2010 6:40pm EST Related News UK"s Prudential negotiates $35.5 billion understanding for AIG unitSun, February twenty-eight 2010UK"s Prudential negotiates $35.5 bln understanding for AIG unitSat, February twenty-seven 2010AIG posts $8.9 billion loss on loan repay, reservesFri, February twenty-six 2010AIG alters payback plan to FedFri, February twenty-six 2010UPDATE 1-AIG alters payback plan to Fed - sourceFri, February twenty-six 2010 Stocks & &

The trademark of British hold up insurer Prudential is seen on their building, in London Oct 21, 2008.

Credit: Reuters/Stephen Hird

NEW YORK (Reuters) - American International Group Inc"s (AIG.N) house authorized the sale of the Asian hold up word commercial operation to Britain"s Prudential Plc (PRU.L) for $35.5 billion, a source informed with the have a difference pronounced on Sunday.

Deals

Prudential, Britain"s largest insurer, will compensate about $25 billion in money and the rest in equity, that could embody elite stock, for AIG"s American International Assurance (AIA), the source said, disappearing to be identified since the understanding is not open yet.

A deal, in what would be the largest item sale for insurer AIG, could be voiced as shortly as Monday, the source said.

Prudential declined to comment. AIG was not rught away available.

AIG, that is scarcely 80 percent owned by the U.S. supervision and is perplexing to compensate behind taxpayers after a $182.3 billion bailout, had been formulation an primary open charity for AIA in Hong Kong, when Prudential jumped in with an offer.

It would be one of the largest abroad deals to date for a British organisation and have Prudential one of the greatest insurers in Asia.

Prudential operates in thirteen Asian markets where it has some-more than eleven million hold up customers. Asia, that accounted for 44 percent of Pru"s increase in 2008, is additionally seen as the engine of the group"s destiny growth.

It would additionally assistance AIG have a poignant hole in the superb check from the U.S. government, that has a $16 billion elite seductiveness in a special role car that binds AIA.

AIG is additionally in modernized talks to sell an additional large unfamiliar hold up word unit, American Life Insurance Co, to MetLife Inc (MET.N) in a rounded off $15 billion deal. Those talks hinge on a taxation issue that the dual sides are perplexing to resolve.

So far, AIG has voiced some-more than dual dozen deals to sell resources for over $11.9 billion.

(Editing by Leslie Adler)

Deals for acne doctors to help adolescents to treat their acne

Discount offering on CFL bulbs

Progress Energy is introducing a CFL tuber bonus module currently written to save business an normal of $1.50 per tuber purchased.

Customers who buy one Energy Star rated compress fluorescent light tuber at comparison Home Depot stores will get a free 14-watt turn CFL. The extent is twelve free bulbs per customers.

In the Triangle, the free bulbs will be at the Home Depot at 2031 Walnut St. in Cary.

"Its not similar to a remission where they have to send it in -- the a bonus right there at the store," Progress orator Mike Hughes said.

The approach the new module functions is that Progress will repay the hardware store for the bulbs since away. Progress will expected enhance the module over those 3 Home Depots and embody alternative hardware stores and retailers.

The income for the module will come from increases to patron bills certified by the N.C. Utilities Commission to compensate for charge programs and alternative energy-saving initiatives.

Staff bard John Murawksi

HIV drug that protects a fetus should be avoided for one year after birth researchers say

A new UAB investigate found that whilst nevirapine functions well to forestall mother-to-child HIV transmission, a singular sip of nevirapine in putrescent profound women can trigger insurgency to a little forms of the AIDS-drug bubbly beverage well known as multiple antiretroviral diagnosis (ART). This nevirapine-induced insurgency fades after about twelve months and no longer hinders ART, says UAB Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Jeffrey S.A. Stringer, M.D., the studylead author.

The commentary are published in PLoS Medicine.

Single-dose nevirapine is at large used to forestall mother-to-child delivery of HIV, an infection that affects some-more than thirty million people globally and leads to some-more than 2 million AIDS-related deaths each year.

This investigate shows that women who need diagnosis some-more than twelve months after utilizing nevirapine to forestall mother-to-child delivery safely can make make use of of customary first-line treatments in their countries, says Stringer, executive of the UAB-affiliated Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia. Women who need diagnosis earlier than that should make make use of of a multiple that does not enclose nevirapine, typically an ART fast that contains protease-inhibitor drugs.

The UAB investigate enclosed 878 putrescent women in Zambia, Cote d"Ivoire and Thailand. Some were since single-dose nevirapine and others were not; all participants were since ART rught away on reliable infection and monitored for one year.

Nevirapine continues to be the fortitude of anti-HIV care in the building world, and the utility in preventing mother-to-child delivery is reliable in the new study, Stringer says.

The investigate is a partnership in between multiform partners: UAB; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Global AIDS Program; the Centers for Infectious Disease Research in Lusaka, Zambia; the Catholic Medical Missions Board; the Lusaka Urban District Health Management Board; the University of Nairobi; Siriraj Hospital and Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok; the Thailand Ministry of Public Health; and Northrop Grumman Corp. Funding await for the investigate is supposing by the CDC.

Biblical Citys True Location Discovered Researchers Claim

Scientists think theyve eventually found the genuine place ofa city called Netaim referred to in the Bible.

Based on the vicinity to an additional biblical town, andarchaeological hull dating from the time of the biblical King Davids rule,researchers think Netaim competence have been located at the complicated site called KhirbetQeiyafa, in Israel.

Khirbet Qeiyafa contains the hull of an very old fortresscity on tip of a mountain unaware the Elah Valley. Pottery shards and burnedolive pits at the site date to about 1,000 B.C. Most scholars think KingDavid ruled during this time.

Archaeologists have formerly compared Khirbet Qeiyafawith the biblical city Shaarayim, that equates to "two gates," becauseof the find of dual gates in the outpost ruins, and since Shaarayim wasalso compared with King David in the Bible. But right away researchers explain thissite is unequivocally Netaim, a locale referred to in the book 1 Chronicles in the HebrewBible, or OldTestament.

"The inhabitants of Netaim were potters who worked inthe kings use and inhabited an critical executive core nearby theborder with the Philistines" pronounced Gershon Galil, a highbrow of biblicalstudies at the University of Haifa in Israel.

Galil thinks Netaim was located at Khirbet Qeiyafa in partbecause it is nearby the complicated site Khirbet Ğudraya, additionally nearby the Elah Valley,which has been identified as the biblical locale of Gederah. Both Gederah and Netaimwere referred to in the same hymn of the Bible, 1 Chronicles 4:23: "Thesewere the potters, the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah, they dwelt there inthe Kings service."

Netaim is usually referred to once in the Bible, and has so farremained unidentified.

In associated research, Galil not long ago deciphered content writtenon a pottery shard found at Khirbet Qeiyafa, and found it was the earliestknown e.g. of Hebrew writing.

"The archeological commentary at this site, the discoveryof the beginning and majority critical Hebrew marker to be found to date, andthe understanding, formed on the biblical text, that members of the Tribe ofJudah inhabited the locale and worked in the kings service, attest to KhirbetQeiyafa Netaim being an critical executive core in the borderregion of the Kingdom of Israel during the time of King Davids reign,"Galil said.

Ancient Wall Possibly Built by King Solomon Historys Most Overlooked Mysteries Gallery: The Seven Ancient Wonders of the World

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Facinelli capitalizing on Jackie Twilight

March 26, 2010, 5:31 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) -- Early on in their careers, most actors subject either their dreams to be in show commercial operation are picturesque goals. For Peter Facinelli, that inner onslaught came when he was about eight.

"I was usually unequivocally shy, and there was one piece of my brain saying, "You should go be an actor" and the alternative piece of my brain going, "You"re unequivocally nuts since I can"t even mount in the lunch line in propagandize since I"m fearful of people,"" he recalls.

But his inventive side overtook his unsentimental one. He accomplished up study drama at New York University and right away not usually stars in the white-hot "Twilight" movie series, but has additionally won commend for his ancillary purpose as Dr. Fitch Cooper in Showtime"s "Nurse Jackie."

The dim comedy, that saw the second deteriorate premiere last week, was the most-watched new array in Showtime"s story when it debuted last year. It front Mondays at 10 p.m. EDT.

"I"m a fan of the show. I love examination these characters and how they all correlate ... and to see how they conflict off of each other, and how they get along and don"t get along," Facinelli said.

Edie Falco stars as Nurse Jackie Peyton, a drug drug dependant who is both reprobate on the pursuit and in her marriage. Facinelli"s character, a young, Ivy League-educated "know-it-all," is rather soft over his co-worker.

"He"s kind of similar to the child in third class who has a vanquish on somebody, but it"s not being reciprocated, so he"s all the time pulling on her pigtails perplexing to get a greeting out of her," he said.

Facinelli, who plays the primogenitor evil spirit house personality Dr. Carlisle Cullen in the "Twilight" series, earnings with the third installment, "Eclipse," out Jun 30. Facinelli says "Eclipse" will be some-more action-based and will underline the Cullens in a opposite light.

"Usually, they"re really buttoned-up and you know, regularly perplexing to crop up human and be in control. And in this movie, we have this appearing participation via the total movie that"s tough to stay in carry out all the time," he said.

With solid projects on his resume, Facinelli, 36, is capitalizing on his success by essay movies. He"s penned the TV-film "Mulligan," that will star is wife, former "90210" singer Jennie Garth. The movie air on the Hallmark Channel; no date has been set.

"I accomplished essay it and afterwards she review it and said, "Hey if you ever have this I wish to fool around this." And I said, "We"ll see. Maybe you"ll come in and try-out for it,"" Facinelli pronounced with a laugh.

He additionally wrote and will star in the regretful humerous entertainment "Loosies," about a looter in New York who has joining issues and learns from a one-night mount that he"s a father-to-be. And he"ll star in the biopic "Paz," formed on the hold up of fighter Vinny Pazienze.

Facinelli has turn a renouned face in Hollywood, and he has some-more than 1.5 million supporters on Twitter to infer it.

"Some people get insane since they say, "You used to reply more," but I found that my shortcoming has shifted. I used to reply some-more when I had couple of followers. Now I can"t reply to each singular thing but I still review them all," he said.

———

On the Net:

http://www.peter-facinelli.com

,,,

Big automobile and EU face off over immature outpost targets

Pete Harrison - Analysis BRUSSELS Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:11am EST

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Europe"s vanmakers have gone a long way toward meeting proposals to curb climate-warming emissions, but as debate on the 2016 targets kicks off big auto is seen digging its heels in over the last mile.

European Union ministers meet next week to start the debate, with automakers saying it will be a costly burden at a time when Europe is struggling to emerge from the deepest economic crisis in 80 years.

Manufacturers have been asked to cut van emissions to an average of 175 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer by 2016, a cut of around 14 percent compared to the 2007 benchmark of 203 grams.

But that could be weakened before powerful automaking nations France, Germany, Britain and Italy give their final approval to the European Commission"s proposal.

"We"ll be keeping a close eye on member states" opening positions next week," said Tom de Vleesschauwer, an auto specialist at consultancy IHS Global Insight.

"You can be pretty sure industry will be doing all it can to get the legislation watered down, but it"s also a given that there"s a big political push in Brussels for the rules to be ambitious.

"Except for a handful, manufacturers should have no problems meeting the targets," he added.

Attempts to crack down on car emissions in 2008 were successfully challenged and softened by automakers -- but this time around they face a tough new climate commissioner working behind the scenes, Denmark"s Connie Hedegaard.

"You should always aim to be as ambitious as technology allows," Hedegaard told Reuters. "If you are too hesitant, you risk losing out in the long term."

RAPID GAINS

Auto industry group ACEA says the EU will not achieve its climate aims through technology alone -- van buyers must also be given incentives to choose green during tough economic times, congestion must be tackled and green fuels promoted.

"Technologies do not hold the silver bullet," said ACEA spokeswoman Sigrid de Vries.

"Vans are built to store goods rather than to be aerodynamic in shape," she added. "They are also less suitable for applying breakthrough technologies to cut emissions because of space limitations and costs."

But critics point to the rapid gains made by some manufacturers so far.

"The car industry says proposed van CO2 targets are impossible to meet -- That is simply not credible," said Kerstin Meyer from TE, a campaign group for green transport.

She said carmakers cited exactly the same argument during the battle over car emissions, and yet Ford has already managed to drive down emissions in its Focus car to as low as 99 grams per kilometer.

"That"s almost the EU target for 2020," Meyer added.

A green version of Europe"s best-selling van, the Ford Transit, will be on sale later this year with an 11 percent improvement in emissions over the most efficient Ford Transit available today.

"What"s possible in cars will also be possible in vans," says auto expert Paul Nieuwenhuis at Cardiff Business School. "Most vans are diesels, and car diesel engines have gained so much efficiency in the last few years."

Volkswagen has improved fuel-efficiency and reduced emissions by 10 percent in its new transporter, Europe"s third best-seller.

Mercedes says it has made a 13 percent improvement with the new version of its Sprinter, Europe"s number four seller, putting it half way to the target.

And Renault says it has made a 15 percent improvement in its new Master van.

ELECTRIFYING

While the targets for 2016 look easily achieved, there is another, longer-term target that looks more challenging -- a cut of about a third to 135 grams per kilometer by 2020.

In fact, ACEA calls that longterm target "unfeasible."

Reaching the 2020 targets will require a major shift to the next generation of technology, in particular electrification and diesel-electric hybrids.

Mercedes-Benz says it is starting low level production of electric Vitos this year, delivering 100 vans with a 130 km range.

"We"re seeing more and more discussion of electrification," said De Vleesschauwer. "Small delivery vans being electrified might be pushed through as a compromise."

And the switch to the other big option, diesel-electric hybrids, might be easier than for cars, says Nieuwenhuis.

"One of the things that is holding back diesel hybrid cars is the noise, vibration, harshness -- but in vans that"s less of an issue. So it is relatively easy to hybridize vans."

Carmakers will be helped by the way van buyers look at the costs, said Nieuwenhuis.

"Businesses look at cost in a completely different way to private car buyers -- they look less at the purchase price and more at the lifetime cost," he said.

"One UK supermarket chain was saying they get a payback on their experimental electric vans in about five years," he added. "Businesses will be quite pleased with vans that return the fuel savings you"d get at 135 grams of CO2 per kilometer."

(Editing by Keiron Henderson)

London theatre fright: rats mice and fleas: consult

LONDON Thu Mar 4, 2010 10:52am EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Performers in London"s West End are having to cope with a different kind of stage fright in the form of mice, rat and flea infestations in theatres, according to a new survey by actors" union Equity.

Oddly Enough

"The findings have shocked even hardened West Enders," the union said in its report, which found that three quarters of actors and stage managers reported regular infestations including mice, rats and fleas.

Equity general secretary Christine Payne said the findings suggested that each night, more than 600 actors and stage managers would go to work knowing they were likely to see and smell vermin, "both living and decomposing," at work.

"I accept that many West End theatres are old and difficult buildings to manage, but this is running out of control," she added. "These appalling conditions must come to an end."

The survey was completed by nearly 350 performers and stage managers in 24 different theatres, many of them featuring world-famous shows.

Individuals surveyed reported that floors had been eaten by mice which also left droppings and unpleasant smells.

"I had tiny bite marks on my lipstick recently when I left the lid off," one respondent said.

(Reporting by Valle Aviles Pinedo; editing by Keith Weir and Mike Collett-White)

Oddly Enough

Chinas Xi promises Belarus $1 billion in loans

Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:11pm EDT

MINSK, March 24 (Reuters) - China will loan the formerSoviet republic of Belarus $1 billion on favorable terms,Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping told Belarussian PresidentAlexander Lukashenko on Wednesday. (Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; writing by Steve Gutterman;editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

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