There was a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Christchurch this morning. MArtin's OK I'm in text contact but there's no power so he can't come on here. Sounds like a lot of damage but I don't think anyone's dead. I'll try to keep this updated as things happen.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10671049
http://trendsmap.com/local/nz/christchurch
http://www.xrite.com/custom_page.aspx?PageID=77
I scored 12. Which is decent I think.
Hi Guys,
Anyone got a kick-arse resume template they have used or know of that I can butcher?
Need to re-apply for my job as part of the restructure and haven't had to have a resume since I applied to work in a supermarket!
All assistance appreciated.
Can someone please explain to me in simple terms the origins and reasons between the Israeli and Palestinian relationship/conflicts? I'm trying to understand the motives for each side, but I really don't understand how people can support Israel, though it may be my (genuine) lack of understanding.
The way I understand it: After WW II millions of displaced Jews, with the help of the UN (eg. US and UK) resettled in Palestine by taking the best land Palestine had and displacing millions of Arabs, forcing them out of their homes. Palestine resisted this and never agreed to the UN resolution permitting it. Arabs have since wanted the right to reoccupy their land, and Israel and the UN refuse. Any attempt to occupy the land is futile because the USA has provided Israel with one of the most powerful armies in the world.
What I don't understand is this: If the jews had attempted to do exactly the same thing in USA, UK, Russia etc would we have expected any different a result? What right does the UN have to strip a sovereign nation of its land and hand it to another group? How can people be so against Palestine wanting to reoccupy its sovereign land, and why does everyone pretend there is some "god given right" for Israel to occupy the land?
With the budget due to be announced this afternoon, I thought I would start a budget thread, covering all things fiscal.
IMO we pretty much know everything already - the top rate of 38% will be cut, probably to 33%. No threshold movements are expected at that level. It's a coin-toss at the moment whether the current 33% rate will move, but it probably wont. As we know, GST will be raised to 15%, with yet more benefits and working for families payments to "feed the needy" (because middle income earners with no children aren't already doing their part, right?).
One of the big stupidities I've seen in the news lately is this article from Stuff:
A $300 million tax dodge – by which half the country's rich don't pay the top tax rate – will be cracked by changes tipped for tomorrow's Budget.Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that tax-avoidance loopholes were being targeted.
The top income tax rate of 38 per cent has encouraged wealthy Kiwis to move their money into family trusts, which pay tax at 33 per cent, or into companies, which attract only 30 per cent tax.
As far as I can tell, the budget won't be doing anything to "crack" this "problem" - the alleged problem is that hardly any high income earners tax most of their income at 38%, simply because they have their wealth held in trusts. The budget won't solve this so-called problem, it will just reduce the top tax rate so they no longer have to bother with trusts.
"HA-HA, we'll show you tax dodgers who is boss - no logner can you avoid the top tax rate, because we'll simply LOWER your tax rate so it's equal to what you're paying anyway HAHAAAAA!!!"
Your thoughts on the budget?
In case any of you people don't already have Portal, it's FREE, but only until May 24. So get it now!. And is also available FREE now on the Mac - yes that's you Priest boys.
Portal used to cost money. Until May 24th, it's free. End of story.
Well, technically speaking, there are some strings attached. Fortunately, they're entirely decorative. We just like the way they look, swaying in the gentle breeze created by a million people simultanously fainting from shock at the news that Portal is free. Now you have no reason not to try Portal."I have a reason," some of you are probably typing into an angry email. "You see, sir, I own a Mac."
Well guess what: For the first time ever, Portal is also available for the Mac.
"Capital news! But the excellent puzzle adventure Portal won over 40 Game of the Year awards; Surely it must cost at least five or six hundred dollars."
You'd think that, especially since it actually won over 70 Game of the Year Awards. But, like we keep saying, Portal is free. Free on the Mac. Free on the PC. But only until May 24th. So you only have a few days to decide if your free copy of Portal is worth the price we're currently charging - which is you ever-so-slightly moving your index finger just barely enough to click the big red "download" button right there to the left.
This is something I've known for a while from previous articles I've read, but I've always had a hard time trying to convince people. This is a particularly large and well performed study which proved that coffee and caffeine is no more diuretic than water.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05brod.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=caffeine%20hydration&st=cse
Hydration.
It was long thought that caffeinated beverages were diuretics, but studies reviewed last year found that people who consumed drinks with up to 550 milligrams of caffeine produced no more urine than when drinking fluids free of caffeine. Above 575 milligrams, the drug was a diuretic.So even a Starbucks grande, with 330 milligrams of caffeine, will not send you to a bathroom any sooner than if you drank 16 ounces of pure water. Drinks containing usual doses of caffeine are hydrating and, like water, contribute to the body’s daily water needs.
Eat that, doubters.
I'm finding it harder and harder to get in touch with some of you, so I want to know what everyone is up to for the next few years. Last I heard Anderson was moving to Korea? But I haven't heard that from the horse's mouth. Scott, you plan on staying in Brisbane in the short/medium term? I guess Martin doesn't really know what he's doing yet, but I'm pretty sure he wants to travel overseas after graduating? Does ANYONE know WTF Mike is up to? Etc etc.
Having just bought a house, me and Jill's 5 year plan is pretty obvious - working, paying off debt, throwing dinner parties for our high class friends etc.
As mentioned in the shout-box, yet another accident occurred after an incompetent cop turned in front of a motorcyclist, and this time the motorcyclist was killed. There have been at least two relatively recent accidents exactly like this, and for months the motorcyclist community have been saying if police conduct doesn't change, someone will die.
These are other examples of similar accidents - two involving motorcyclists, one another car (1, 2, 3). When I have more time (eg not at work) I will look into the results of the investigations - but 99% of the time, the cops mates helpt hem out and nothing happens. Maybe a few weeks off work with full pay.
When are these assholes going to be held accountable, and when are the police going to improve their conduct? Dammit this makes me so angry.
