Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Australian House of Representatives heard the traditional right-of-reply to the Budget released May 9, from the Australian Labor Party, led by Kim Beazley (Labor, Brand), plus Budget replies from minor parties in the Australian Senate.
While the Budget is politically popular, having as one of its main features significant tax reform, Beazley focused on the omissions in the Budget, such as the failure to address a skills shortage.
By Jay Moncliff
Competent financial advisors don’t have a particular look about them, even if they claim to have proof of their ability. To protect yourself, it is important to ask the kind of questions that will indicate whether the potential advisor has the requisite level of skill to handle your financial affairs, or whether you should look elsewhere. The following simple questions will help you determine if the advisor under scrutiny can really help with your financial affairs.
The first enquiry you should make relates to education. Competence and quality with advisors comes in the form of a relevant tertiary education, professional memberships of financial advisory groups, and certificates or further qualifications that show ongoing professional development. It is also important to enquire about length of experience in the financial industry, and in particular how long the individual has been working as an advisor. This should be considered the first step in your financial advisor selection process.
The second avenue of enquiry relates to payment for services. This question is important as financial planners can bill hourly, work for retainer and some work on a commission basis. Each of these payment channels attract differing fee levels, and this information will influence your choice of financial advisor. It pays to know up front.
Another excellent gauge of success and ability is testimonials, and in particular referrals. If the financial planner you are considering cannot provide referrals you should be sceptical about any claims about past success they may make. The opinions of previous clients are excellent indicators of the ability of a financial planner.
Finally, ask for a plan. Any financial advisor worth their fee will happily outline the scope of their services, tell you what information you need to provide them, and work with you across all relevant areas to develop a plan for you to reach your financial goals.
About the Author: Jay Moncliff is the founder of mileniumfinancialservices.com a website specialized on Financial Advisor, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Financial Advisor. For more info on Financial Advisor visit: mileniumfinancialservices.com
Source: isnare.com
Permanent Link: isnare.com/?aid=25529&ca=Finances
Friday, March 5, 2021
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the UK’s 2021 budget on Wednesday in the House of Commons. This comes amid significant damage to the country’s economy from the COVID-19 pandemic, in which over 700 thousand people have lost their jobs, with the economy shrinking by 10%.
Sunak announced an extension of the furlough scheme, which had been paying employees who could not work due to the pandemic 80% of their wages. He said it would be extended until September. The scheme also mentioned firms would have to pay 10% of this in July, and 20% in the months of August and September as the scheme ends. It was also announced that support for self-employed people would continue, with another grant for between February and April.
Other support for workers included the minimum wage increasing to £8.91/hour from April, and an existing £20 weekly increase in Universal Credit being extended through September.
Sunak also announced some changes to taxation in the country, with corporation tax rising to 25% in April 2023. Sunak said that this would be the lowest rate in the G7, and that businesses would only be taxed if they made profits of over £250 thousand, which is only 10% of companies. Companies with profits of less than £50 thousand will continue to pay 19% corporation tax. Sunak said that income tax, national insurance, and VAT would not change in this budget with alcohol and fuel duty continuing to be frozen.
For hospitality firms, VAT will continue to be frozen at a reduced rate of five percent. The contactless payment limit will be increased from £45 to £100 this year. New freeports were also announced in locations at East Midlands Airport; Felixstowe and Harwich; Humber; Liverpool City Region; Plymouth; Solent; and Thames and Teesside. These would allow reduced customs costs, and encourages investment.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
A series of large explosions have occurred close to Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire, UK. The source of the explosions has been confirmed as the Hertfordshire Oil Storage Terminal (HOSL), Hemel Hempstead, known locally as the Buncefield complex. Up to 150 fire fighters are reported to be at the scene with 10 fire appliances and 1 specialist foamer.
The first ‘blast’ was heard near Hemel Hempstead on Sunday 11 Dec at 6 am. Further smaller explosions followed at 6:24am , 6:26am, 6:30am. BBC News 24 reported an additional, fourth large explosion. Hertfordshire Police Constabulary are currently treating the explosion as an accident.
Reports say the explosion, which registered 2.4 on the Richter scale, was heard as far away as Oxford, and Whitehall, Central London which is 60km (38 miles) away. Eyewitness statements report that the explosion was heard from at least 160km (100 miles) away and as far away as France and The Netherlands. Pilots reported noticing the blast from the North Sea and the West Country area of the UK. The M1 motorway which runs close by has been closed in both directions near the blast which is causing travel chaos as other roads become congested.
Malcom Stewart, a BBC News24 eyewitness who is a tanker driver for the site has reported that the site supplies several oil companies and is a joint operation between Total UK and Texaco, it is also used by BP, Shell and the British Pipeline association. The complex is not a refinery but a storage facility for refined petroleum awaiting distribution to airports and filling stations. The eyewitness reports that the depot has approximately 20 tanks which can hold about 3 million gallons (11 million litres or 70,000 barrels) each. Another News24 eyewitness has just reported that he has seen at least 5 of these tanks on fire.
The depot operates on a 24 hour basis and is split into 2 parts – aviation fuel and domestic fuel. A number of eyewitnesses have reported on UK news that the aviation fuel side appears to be the part of the site that has been affected.
Local authorities were not immediately available for comment but there have been reports of casualties.
Some reports on live television state that, “Several other neighbours said they did see a plane go into the depot.” BBC News 24 were also discussing the idea a possible plane crash as the cause of the explosions. Hertfordshire police have now gone on the record to say that there is no plane involved (BBC News24).
The police have issued a contact number 0800 096 0095 and asked that people do not call the emergency services in Hertfordshire directly unless it is an emergency.
In addition to being an oil storage depot, it is a major hub on the UK oil pipeline network with pipelines to Killingholme Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR), Humberside (10 inch), Merseyside (10 and 12 inch), Coryton on the Thames Estuary (14 inch) and Heathrow (6 and 8 inch) and Gatwick airports radiating from it.
The disaster is believed to be the worst explosion at a petrochemical plant in the UK since the Flixborough disaster of 1974.Hertfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer Roy Wilsher said: “This is possibly the largest incident of its kind in peacetime Europe.”
A firefighting press officer said that they are stock piling foam from neighboring regions for a prolonged attach which they hope will stop the spread of the fire, however, the inferno itself will have to burn out which could take between 24 hours and a few days.
Despite the authorities saying that there is no need to panic buy petrol, filling stations have had above average queues since this morning and some small garages have ran out.
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has visited the scene.
Friday, May 11, 2018
On Tuesday, Pakistan’s parliament passed a bill at Islamabad’s National Assembly which granted transgender people various civil rights. The bill, “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act”, which was presented by Pakistan Peoples Party’s lawmaker Naveed Qamar, was approved by the senate in March, and now awaits signature of the president Mamnoon Hussain.
The bill ensures people have the right to identify themselves as male, female or as “third gender”, also known as khawaja sira in Pakistan. This identity choice is to be reflected in the National Database and Registration Authority, as well as other official documents like passports and driving licence.
Per the bill, transgender people can now cast votes, run for election, have the right to assemble, and can obtain loans for business startups. They are also eligible to inherit property per their identified gender. Transgender people are to be no longer discriminated at school, working place, for medical services, public transportation facilities, by their employers, or at private business. Separate confinement areas, jails and prisons are to be established for transgenders. Anyone found guilty of forcing transgenders to beg is to face a six-month prison term as well as 50 thousand rupees fine.
The legislation was sent to and later approved by the Council of Islamic Ideology, a government advisory body. Lahore-based activist Mehlab Jameel, who was involved in writing the bill, said the Council of Islamic Ideology “appreciated that the bill included directions on inheritance in accordance with Shari’a” law.
Last year, transgenders were included for the census count for the first time. Mehlab Jameel said, “the definition of ‘transgender’ […] was basically based on genitals” in the initial draft of the bill, written last year.
Speaking to National Public Radio, Jameel said, “This kind of development is not only unprecedented in Pakistani history, but it’s one of the most progressive laws in the whole world.” Human Rights Watch has reported at least four deaths of transgenders in the country since the beginning of 2018, and at least 57 transgenders were killed in Pakistan since 2015. Pakistan’s —reportedly— first transgender news anchor and activist Marvia Malik told Images the transgenders “are forced to dance and beg because they have no other means to make ends meet.” “My trans friends who have masters degrees don’t have jobs which is why they end up on streets or become sex workers”, Malik added.
The draft for the policy to implement this bill is not yet prepared. From the date the bill was approved, President Hussain has ten days to sign the bill or reject it.
How to Clean Up Christmas Dinnerware and Pie Pans after a Holiday Party
by
wilson mat
Hosting a Christmas party is a wonderful way of celebrating the holidays and sprucing up after the party can be easy with some simple party planning tips. Clean Christmas dinnerware, wine glasses and pie pans with hot water for best results. Vacuum seal and freeze leftovers right after the party. Here are some ideas to clean up after your holiday party.
After-Party Supplies
The first step of the after-party cleanup is assembling all the supplies you will need. Gather trash bags, mops, cleaning products and anything else you may need for cleaning. Sorting things into recyclable and non-recyclable piles will help speed up the process. Certain cookware and bakeware such as non-stick pie pans and pots need special cleaning products. Use soft plastic scouring pads to clean non-stick cookware and help prevent scratches.
Washing Up
Special, delicate Christmas dinnerware and crystal glassware is best washed by hand. Use hot water to do the dishes as it helps to cut down on washing time. Hot water lifts away grease and dirt effortlessly so it saves time on scrubbing and scouring. Another advantage of hot water is the reduced drying time as it dries quicker than cold water.
To wash Christmas dinnerware in the dishwasher, load them carefully. Set the dishwasher on gentle wash and position the dishes in a manner so that they don t collide against each other while in wash.
If you have buildup on your pie pans and baking dishes soak them in a homemade cleansing solution overnight. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar takes care of even the toughest residue on cookware. This mix of baking soda and vinegar works with most materials ranging from ceramic pie pans to non-stick roasters.
Leftovers
Opened bottles of wine can be re-corked or the leftover wine can be used for cooking. The wine can be drizzled over desserts or used in slow cooking recipes. Freeze the wine in ice cube trays and use it later. Wrap and refrigerate leftovers within two hours after the party. Have plastic wrap and foil on hand to safely preserve roasts and side dishes.
Put your home in order with ease using these after-party tips for cleanup.
Authors Profile: Xavier Thomas is a certified interior designer and runs his own interior decoration consultancy. Xavier especially loves decorating a home in wooden furniture and believes that nothing gives a home as warm and cozy a touch as all-wood furniture and decor.
Xavier loves reading up on new design ideas, and has a special interest in space saving techniques. Here Xavier writes about
pie pans
and
Christmas Dinnerware
.
Authors Profile: Xavier Thomas is a certified interior designer and runs his own interior decoration consultancy. Xavier especially loves decorating a home in wooden furniture and believes that nothing gives a home as warm and cozy a touch as all-wood furniture and decor.Xavier loves reading up on new design ideas, and has a special interest in space saving techniques. Here Xavier writes about pie pans and Christmas Dinnerware.
Article Source:
ArticleRich.com
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
The Dover, Pennsylvania school board became the first to mandate inclusion of Intelligent Design in a public school biology curriculum. For this year’s November 8 election, Republicans fielded a pro-Intelligent Design slate of candidates including some returning candidates who had previously voted to include a statement about Intelligent Design in the biology curriculum. A mixed slate of Democrat and Republican candidates came forward as an alternative group of school board candidates, the Dover CARES coalition. They proposed to remove Intelligent Design from the biology curriculum but allow discussion of Intelligent Design in courses dealing with philosophy and comparative religion.
All eight open school board seats were won by Dover CARES coalition candidates. Two candidates who had previously voted as school board members to include intelligent design in the public school science curriculum received the fewest votes in Tuesday’s election. One of the newly elected board members is Bryan Rehm, a parent of a Dover school student. Rehm, along with ten other parents, initiated a law suit against the school board for its decision to insert Intelligent Design into the science curriculum.
In October 2004, the Dover school board decided that Intelligent Design is a scientific theory that should be mentioned in biology classes that include discussion of biological evolution as part of the course content. The board mandated that a statement should be read in those classes stating “Intelligent Design is an explanation of the origin of life,” and “The school leaves the discussion of the Origins of Life to individual students and their families.”
The school board’s statement on Intelligent Design directs students to the book Of Pandas and People as a source of information “for students who might be interested in gaining an understanding of what Intelligent Design actually involves.” This book is published by the Foundation for Thought and Ethics, a non-profit organization founded for the purpose of “promoting and publishing textbooks presenting a Christian perspective.”
Parents of some Dover public school students filed a lawsuit against the school board, charging that including the school board’s statement on Intelligent Design was an attempt to introduce religion into the science curriculum. The book Of Pandas and People says, “Intelligent design means that various forms of life began abruptly through an intelligent agency.” The original complaint in the law suit against the school board claimed that “Intelligent design is a non-scientific argument or assertion.”
The US District Court Judge John Jones, who heard the non-jury case, hopes to make his ruling by the end of the year. The evidence phase of the trial ended on November 4, 2005.
A local Dover newspaper, the York Daily Record, editorialized that Dover voters should take trial testimony into account during the general election when they could cast votes for school board members along with other elective offices.
Biology teachers in the Dover schools have refused to read the school board’s statement on Intelligent Design to students because the Pennsylvania state code for education states that “The professional educator may not knowingly and intentionally misrepresent subject matter.” In a letter to their administrator, the teachers stated their view that “Intelligent design is not science.” School administrators have been reading the school board’s Intelligent Design statement to students in Dover public schools.
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Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Satire site Uncyclopedia, a parody of online encyclopedia Wikipedia, has been labeled by the Malaysian government as dangerous. The Internal Security Department of Malaysia issued the warning today, saying that the site has “messages and information insulting Malaysia”.
The warning notes the creation date of the website as being 5 January 2005, and hosted by Wikia, Inc., both of which are correct. However, it claims Wikia owns Wikipedia; Wikipedia is a charitable non-profit website owned by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, while Wikia is an independent, for-profit company.
The report evidently mentions that Uncyclopedia covers Malaysian “history, culture, the political leaders, the government, the national song and the name / history of the national flag,” none of which is “correct”. They accuse the website of helping to reinforce a bad international image of their country.
There are no reports of the site being blocked from access within the country, only this statement, which urges Malaysians not to circulate the content.
Uncyclopedia’s article on Malaysia begins:
| Essentially the penis of Asia which is located to the north of their cousins who live on an even smaller island Singapore, Malaysia (also known as Bolehland) is a young nation of diverse cultures and races such as F1 Formula-1 and Nascar. The timezone of Malaysia is unique because it follows the system of +1/+2 PMT (Predetermined Meeting Time) which is 1 or 2 hours later than PMT. Most foreigners have difficulty adjusting to this new timezone as they tend to show up 1 or 2 hours earlier than the local counterparts. The nation is moving forward with a vision towards becoming a developed nation by the year 2020, 3030, 4040 or whatever catchy number.
…Another common state that Malaysians have is denial (no lah, where got?), which incidentally, is a river in Egypt. |
The site has fired back with a parody article posted at the site under their UnNews section, titled Uncyclopedia Internal Security Department warns on Malaysia. The article suggests that the “Internal Security Department of the Uncyclomedia Foundation,” which is a facetious and fictitious parent organization of Uncyclopedia, identifies Malaysia “as a dangerous country… It warned its people not to use the country today.”
There are forty-seven individual language editions of Uncyclopedia, including Tolololpedia, which is written in Bahasa Melayu, the Malay language. This is in addition to fictional “language” editions which include Oscar Wilde, Newspeak, N00b, White Supremacist, and Re: PharmaccgRy.
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.I Survived the Landscape Industry Trade ShowArticle by Henry SiegelCopyright 2003 by ProGardenBizSummary: Humorous story about attending an industry trade show. Designed to entertain, but also to encourage trade show attendance.THE STORYThis is the city. Any City, Anywhere. Once a year thousands ofprofessionals from all fields of the Green Industry descend upon the Convention Center for the Anywhere Landscape ContractorIndustry Trade show. In every state, every year, gardeners, landscape contractors, nurserymen, lawn care and grounds maintenance professionals will fill the Great Halls of Commerce.My name is Joe Friday. This is my partner Pete Gannon. Our job? To survive the Landscape Industry Trade Show.Wednesday, April 23rd10:00am: The doors open. We walk in. We pass through a short hall pleasantly decorated with plants. Several landscaped displays with fountains, waterscapes, and ponds line the hall. We turn the corner and are face to face with the Show Information Booth. Here they are eagerly handing out maps of the showroom. We ignore them and pass into the showroom unprepared. Our first mistake.10:05am: A whirling, twirling display of color and people confronts us. A beautiful girl places a Hawaiian lei around my shoulders. Another is confronting Pete. Someone is explaining the virtues of a large piece of lawn mowing equipment. I keep my eye on Pete. They’ve got a pen in his hand.11:15am: We managed to break away from Hawaii, but it was expensive. Our new lawn care equipment trailer arrives next week. Unless they check Pete’s credit. My saving grace.11:45am: I am spinning a large wheel with numbers on it. To either side of me Las Vegas type dealers are throwing cards out to players at a “21” table. Is this legal here?11:46am: Pete is shouting “Blackjack, Blackjack!!” Someone is stuffing a package of some kind in my arms. They have my card. I’m told they will call me next week. Pete is signing some papers. I grab his collar as the salesman informs him that the lawn mower and edger will be delivered on Monday. I sigh relief as I see the salesman putting away the credit agreement. I check for Pete’s wallet. It’s still there.12:00pm: We get into line for lunch.1:00pm: We pick up our lunch and head for a table. We sit down. The face across the table is familiar. A salesman! I eat fast. As I gobble my last bite I notice Pete smearing mustard on his shirt as he is franticly grabbing at his pen. I grab him by the ear and leave.1:30pm: Wandering aimlessly, adrift in a crowd flowing down a sea of color, suit and ties, pretty girls, and hawking salesmen. Where’s Pete??!!2:00pm: Found him. Some kind of Wheel of Fortune game. A pretty girl on either arm. Pens in both hands. We escape in the nick of time. I think someone is chasing us through the crowd, but I’m afraid to look back.2:30pm: My arms feel like lead. I notice large bulging bags attached to both hands. Bags filled with sample products, PVC glue, sprinklers, miniature lawn mowers, brochures, pens, badges, lei’s, and business cards. Pete has bags in either hand also. Filled with contracts, promissory notes, credit applications, and delivery dates.3:17pm: My putting is off. I take four strokes to sink a par three hole. Where am I? Oh, another contest.4:25pm: I am nodding my head in agreement. An engine roars to life. I nod again. My hands are firmly stuffed in my pockets. Someone is tugging on my arm. My hands are slipping. A pen is wavering in front of my face. PETE! PETE!! Pete is pulling me away. What’s this? Pete is pulling ME away? A salesman in the background is raving and waving a credit report at Pete. Pete is hustling me toward the door.4:45pm: We are nearing the exit. Behind me I hear many people shouting Pete’s name. Sounds like a stampede. I don’t look back. No pillar’s of salt for me.4:55pm: We pass the Information booth on the way out. I notice the “Just Looking” buttons being offered. Why now? I think I missed the most important booth.5:00pm: We reach the truck. With great effort we load our bags into the back. It’s now full. Pete mentions that this was the best landscaping trade show that we have ever attended. Landscaping? We’re plumbers!THE OUTCOMEJoe Friday finishes the landscaping trade school he signed up for and receives his license. His new truck and equipment arrives. He sells his plumbing business. A year later he is rich.Pete Gannon changes his name, social security number, and driver’s license. He gets a job at a bank as a loan representative.NOTES:The names have been changed to protect the innocent.__________________________________________About the Author:Henry Siegel is a Contributing Writer for ProGardenBiz Magazine, an online magazine for professional gardeners andlandscape contractors. Visit ProGardenBiz to find out how you can get a free subscription, start-up guidance, business ideas and inspiration at http://www.progardenbiz.com.