Lactose-free, egg-free
Serve 6
1 cup fresh breadcrumbs (3-4 slices bread)
30g flat-leaf parsley leaves (2 small handfuls)
20g basil leaves (1 small handful)
1 clove garlic
1/3 cup unsalted pistachios
1 teaspoon sea salt
?cup olive oil
6 x 150g firm white fish fillets (I used Rock Ling)
Use a food processor to crumb the bread. Add the parsley, basil, garlic and pistachios and pulse until combined but the texture is still rough. Pour in the oil and pulse again to moisten crumbs. Line a baking tray with baking paper and place the fish fillets on the paper. Divide the pistachio mixture between the fillets and press down well to make a firm crust. Cover with plastic film and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the grill to medium and the oven to 180 degree. Place the tray under the grill and cook the fish until the crust is starting to turn golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer tray to oven and bake for 10 minutes or until fish is cooked through.
Serve with lemon wedges, diced roasted potatoes and a green salad.
Notes:Other types of firm white fish include Blue-eye, Flake or Mirror Dory.
My fishmonger recommends buying Gummy Flake as it is a smallish shark; concerns re mercury levels significantly reduced.
Make this recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free bread for the breadcrumbs.The Rock Ling I used was quite thick and took ages to cook, so I sacrificed one piece of beautifully crusted fish (no prize for guessing whose piece) to keep checking for doneness.
(Source: kidspot.com.au)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Super fast tuna fried rice
Gluten-free, lactose-free, nut-free
Serves 4
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 eggs
4 rashers bacon, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 cup frozen peas
425g tin tuna
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups cooked rice
Coriander or chives to garnish
Heat oil in a wok or large frypan, break eggs into wok and stir with a spoon to break up the yolks. Cook for a minute, flip the omelette over and cook the other side for a minute. Transfer omelette to a plate and slice into bite size strips. Return wok to heat and stir fry bacon and onion until onion is soft, about 3 minutes. Add peas, cook for two minutes. Add tuna and soy sauce, combine with other ingredients, then add rice and egg strips. Stir well to combine and heat through. Serve immediately garnished with herbs.
(Source: kidspot.com.au)
Serves 4
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 eggs
4 rashers bacon, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 cup frozen peas
425g tin tuna
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cups cooked rice
Coriander or chives to garnish
Heat oil in a wok or large frypan, break eggs into wok and stir with a spoon to break up the yolks. Cook for a minute, flip the omelette over and cook the other side for a minute. Transfer omelette to a plate and slice into bite size strips. Return wok to heat and stir fry bacon and onion until onion is soft, about 3 minutes. Add peas, cook for two minutes. Add tuna and soy sauce, combine with other ingredients, then add rice and egg strips. Stir well to combine and heat through. Serve immediately garnished with herbs.
(Source: kidspot.com.au)
Thursday, February 21, 2008
How to build a better butt
(by Paula Goodyer)
But what if nature has been too generous with the famine protection? Can you trim the surplus fat? The first thing to know is that you can't spot reduce, says Sydney personal trainer Heidi Dening. The only way to shift extra weight from anywhere is to eat better and do regular exercise such as running, walking, cycling or strength training.
"The weight won't immediately fall off your butt - usually your face loses it first, followed by your boobs and then your bum - so while you'll be trimmer all round you could still be shaped like a pear," Dening says.
Walking or running help peel weight off but the trick to creating a shapelier rear end is strength training to exercise the butt muscle, the gluteus maximus or "glutes". This means using the weight of your body, a dumbbell or a barbell to work the muscle harder - no bad thing, given that getting on and off a chair is often the only workout glutes ever get.
If you don't have knee problems, the best exercise is a squat, Dening says. You stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent and toes facing forward - make sure you can still see your toes over your knees as you bend. Lower your butt as if you were sitting on a chair but don't let your knees don't go over your toes. Squeeze your glutes, using them to push yourself back into an upright position - driving your heels into the ground as you come up makes the glutes work harder.
Dening suggests aiming for three sets of 20 squats with a little break in between. "It's good to keep going to the point where you can't do another squat," she says, adding that once squats get easier you graduate to doing squats with dumbbells. "You'll get the best results if you learn to do the moves correctly, either with a personal trainer or at a gym class first." Other good moves for glutes? Cycling and climbing stairs. "But as you put your foot on the step be conscious of squeezing the glutes, otherwise the leg does all the work."
If you're heading into your late 40s and think your only worry will be middle-aged spread, that's because no one has warned you about vanishing butt syndrome. As estrogen levels shrink around menopause so does some of the padding around your bum, leaving you with a space in your jeans where the curve used to be. "If you've lost shape there at middle age, strength training can help you regain it, though it might take time," Dening says. "And if you haven't reached middle age yet, strength training can help maintain the shape of your butt."
If anyone deserves a medal for services to healthy curves it's Jennifer Lopez, whose rear end reminds us that women are meant to carry extra weight around their lower body. It's nature's hedge against famine and, compared to weight that hangs around the waist, a much healthier kind of fat.
But what if nature has been too generous with the famine protection? Can you trim the surplus fat? The first thing to know is that you can't spot reduce, says Sydney personal trainer Heidi Dening. The only way to shift extra weight from anywhere is to eat better and do regular exercise such as running, walking, cycling or strength training.
"The weight won't immediately fall off your butt - usually your face loses it first, followed by your boobs and then your bum - so while you'll be trimmer all round you could still be shaped like a pear," Dening says.
Walking or running help peel weight off but the trick to creating a shapelier rear end is strength training to exercise the butt muscle, the gluteus maximus or "glutes". This means using the weight of your body, a dumbbell or a barbell to work the muscle harder - no bad thing, given that getting on and off a chair is often the only workout glutes ever get.
If you don't have knee problems, the best exercise is a squat, Dening says. You stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent and toes facing forward - make sure you can still see your toes over your knees as you bend. Lower your butt as if you were sitting on a chair but don't let your knees don't go over your toes. Squeeze your glutes, using them to push yourself back into an upright position - driving your heels into the ground as you come up makes the glutes work harder.
Dening suggests aiming for three sets of 20 squats with a little break in between. "It's good to keep going to the point where you can't do another squat," she says, adding that once squats get easier you graduate to doing squats with dumbbells. "You'll get the best results if you learn to do the moves correctly, either with a personal trainer or at a gym class first." Other good moves for glutes? Cycling and climbing stairs. "But as you put your foot on the step be conscious of squeezing the glutes, otherwise the leg does all the work."
If you're heading into your late 40s and think your only worry will be middle-aged spread, that's because no one has warned you about vanishing butt syndrome. As estrogen levels shrink around menopause so does some of the padding around your bum, leaving you with a space in your jeans where the curve used to be. "If you've lost shape there at middle age, strength training can help you regain it, though it might take time," Dening says. "And if you haven't reached middle age yet, strength training can help maintain the shape of your butt."
(Source: smh)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Bored husband
Never take a man shopping!!!!
Dear Mrs. Murry,Our store is considering banning your family from ever shoppingwith us, unless your husband stops his antics.
Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras.
MEMORe:
Complaints
15 Things Mr. Wayne Murry has done while his spouse is shopping:
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minuteintervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to tamponssection.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone,"Code 3" in housewares..... and watched what happened.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay-by.
6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told theshoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department.
8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cryand asks, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.10. November
10: While handling guns in the hunting department asked theclerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.
11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
12. December 6: In the auto department, practised his "Madonna look" usingdifferent size funnels.
13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker he assumesthe foetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!And; last, but not least!
15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while;then yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"
Dear Mrs. Murry,Our store is considering banning your family from ever shoppingwith us, unless your husband stops his antics.
Below is a list of offences over the past few months all verified by our surveillance cameras.
MEMORe:
Complaints
15 Things Mr. Wayne Murry has done while his spouse is shopping:
1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.
2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minuteintervals.
3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to tamponssection.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official tone,"Code 3" in housewares..... and watched what happened.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and asked to put a bag of M&M's on lay-by.
6. September 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. September 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told theshoppers he'd invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department.
8. September 23: When a clerk asks if they can help him, he begins to cryand asks, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"
9. October 4: Looked right into the security camera; used it as a mirror, picked his nose, and ate it.10. November
10: While handling guns in the hunting department asked theclerk if he knows where the antidepressants are.
11. December 3: Darted around the store suspiciously, loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme.
12. December 6: In the auto department, practised his "Madonna look" usingdifferent size funnels.
13. December 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browse through, yelled "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!"
14. December 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker he assumesthe foetal position and screams "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!And; last, but not least!
15. December 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited a while;then yelled, very loudly, "There is no toilet paper in here!"
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
10 ways to live to be 100
What are the secrets to longevity? Dr Maoshing Ni has an answer, or ten, in his new book
1. Take long walks for a longer life
Most centenarians walk for at least thirty minutes a day. Walking can considerably reduce risks of stroke and heart disease, according to research. It can also boost levels of good cholesterol.
2. Slim down with soup
Eat nutritious soup at least once a day. Low salt soup re-hydrates as it nourishes and flushes waste from your system. Lose more weight than those who eat the same number of calories but don't eat soup. Avoid canned soups which are loaded with salt and chemicals.
3. Drink pure filtered water
Hundreds of pollutants are regularly found in drinking water from various sources. Your safest bet is to use a wide-spectrum water filtration system.
4. Clean your fruit and vegies thoroughly
Scrub your produce in a mixture of salt and hot water to remove external layers of pesticides, fungicides and wax. Go for organic-grown produce whenever possible.
5. Speed up your metabolism
An amino acid ‘L-carnitine’ manufactured in your liver can promote fat loss, increase circulation to the brain and boost energy production in muscle cells. The following foods are rich in L-carnitine: meats, fish, poultry, wheat, avocado, milk and fermented soybeans.
6. Protect your eye-sight with spinach
Studies show that spinach really does help you see better. It contains special antioxidants that protect the eye from age-related macular degeneration.
7. Look and feel younger with nuts and seeds
A handful of nuts and seeds everyday is fantastic for improving circulation and muscle tone. They contain the amino acid ‘arginine’ which is useful in fighting heart disease, impotence, infertility and high blood pressure.
8. Eat more during the day and less at night
Research suggests that if you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you will have more energy and tend to lose weight. If however, you eat those same things at dinner time you might tend to gain weight, increase blood pressure and risk of heart disease.
9. Be a vegetarian on weekdays, a carnivore on weekends
Generally, vegetarians suffer fewer degenerative diseases than carnivores. For a perfectly healthy and balanced approach, limit your intake of red meat to only weekends.
10. Stimulate the brain with mental fitness
Fickle memory, diminishing concentration and slowed response time are caused by decreased blood flow to the brain and the loss of brain cells. To stimulate brain cell activity you could find new hobbies, learn new things and attempt cross-word puzzles.
(Source: Blackmores)
1. Take long walks for a longer life
Most centenarians walk for at least thirty minutes a day. Walking can considerably reduce risks of stroke and heart disease, according to research. It can also boost levels of good cholesterol.
2. Slim down with soup
Eat nutritious soup at least once a day. Low salt soup re-hydrates as it nourishes and flushes waste from your system. Lose more weight than those who eat the same number of calories but don't eat soup. Avoid canned soups which are loaded with salt and chemicals.
3. Drink pure filtered water
Hundreds of pollutants are regularly found in drinking water from various sources. Your safest bet is to use a wide-spectrum water filtration system.
4. Clean your fruit and vegies thoroughly
Scrub your produce in a mixture of salt and hot water to remove external layers of pesticides, fungicides and wax. Go for organic-grown produce whenever possible.
5. Speed up your metabolism
An amino acid ‘L-carnitine’ manufactured in your liver can promote fat loss, increase circulation to the brain and boost energy production in muscle cells. The following foods are rich in L-carnitine: meats, fish, poultry, wheat, avocado, milk and fermented soybeans.
6. Protect your eye-sight with spinach
Studies show that spinach really does help you see better. It contains special antioxidants that protect the eye from age-related macular degeneration.
7. Look and feel younger with nuts and seeds
A handful of nuts and seeds everyday is fantastic for improving circulation and muscle tone. They contain the amino acid ‘arginine’ which is useful in fighting heart disease, impotence, infertility and high blood pressure.
8. Eat more during the day and less at night
Research suggests that if you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast you will have more energy and tend to lose weight. If however, you eat those same things at dinner time you might tend to gain weight, increase blood pressure and risk of heart disease.
9. Be a vegetarian on weekdays, a carnivore on weekends
Generally, vegetarians suffer fewer degenerative diseases than carnivores. For a perfectly healthy and balanced approach, limit your intake of red meat to only weekends.
10. Stimulate the brain with mental fitness
Fickle memory, diminishing concentration and slowed response time are caused by decreased blood flow to the brain and the loss of brain cells. To stimulate brain cell activity you could find new hobbies, learn new things and attempt cross-word puzzles.
(Source: Blackmores)
Thursday, January 17, 2008
What a million dollars used to buy you ...
Author: Kate Nancarrow
Date: January 16, 2008
Publication: The Age
We take a look at the Melbourne market over the past 30 years to see how far a million dollars used to stretch. You may be surprised.
5
Five years ago, $1 million bought a 50-square Templestowe home with six bedrooms, balcony, double garage, tennis court, pool and home office. Today, a similar home would sell for $1.5 million, estimates Peter Fort of Fletchers in Doncaster East.
10
Ten years ago, $1 million bought a 41 square home on Beaconsfield Parade with beachfront views, five bedrooms, double garage, pool house, heated jet pool and spa. Today, a similar home would sell for $5-$6 million, estimates Michael Coen, of Hocking Stuart in Albert Park.
20
Twenty years ago, $1 million bought a 45 square Hawthorn home with five bedrooms, tennis court and swimming pool. Today, a similar home would sell for between $2.5 million and $5 million, says Julian Tonkin of Collins Simms in Hawthorn.
30
Thirty years ago, in 1977, there were no sales figures of $1 million. A 91-square Toorak house with six bedrooms, pool house, basement double garage and pool; and a 94-square Toorak house with five bedrooms, tennis court and separate servants quarters each sold for between $500,000 and $600,000. Sales in Toorak for six-bedroom homes have been from about $5.5 million to $11 million this year. Exceptional sales in Toorak included a home for $18 million, says Fiona Evans of Biggin & Scott, Prahran.
(Source: Land Victoria, a division of the Department of Sustainability and Environment)
Date: January 16, 2008
Publication: The Age
We take a look at the Melbourne market over the past 30 years to see how far a million dollars used to stretch. You may be surprised.
5
Five years ago, $1 million bought a 50-square Templestowe home with six bedrooms, balcony, double garage, tennis court, pool and home office. Today, a similar home would sell for $1.5 million, estimates Peter Fort of Fletchers in Doncaster East.
10
Ten years ago, $1 million bought a 41 square home on Beaconsfield Parade with beachfront views, five bedrooms, double garage, pool house, heated jet pool and spa. Today, a similar home would sell for $5-$6 million, estimates Michael Coen, of Hocking Stuart in Albert Park.
20
Twenty years ago, $1 million bought a 45 square Hawthorn home with five bedrooms, tennis court and swimming pool. Today, a similar home would sell for between $2.5 million and $5 million, says Julian Tonkin of Collins Simms in Hawthorn.
30
Thirty years ago, in 1977, there were no sales figures of $1 million. A 91-square Toorak house with six bedrooms, pool house, basement double garage and pool; and a 94-square Toorak house with five bedrooms, tennis court and separate servants quarters each sold for between $500,000 and $600,000. Sales in Toorak for six-bedroom homes have been from about $5.5 million to $11 million this year. Exceptional sales in Toorak included a home for $18 million, says Fiona Evans of Biggin & Scott, Prahran.
(Source: Land Victoria, a division of the Department of Sustainability and Environment)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Polish Divorce
A Polish man moved to the USA and married an American girl.
Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if he could arrangea divorce for him - "very quick."
The lawyer said that the speed for getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions:
LAWYER: "Have you any grounds?"
POLISH: "JA, JA, acre and half and nice little home."
LAWYER: "No," I mean what is the foundation of this case?"
POLISH: "It made of concrete."
LAWYER: "Does either of you have a real grudge?"
POLISH: "No, we have carport, and not need one."
LAWYER: "I mean, What are your relations like?"
POLISH: "All my relations still in Poland."
LAWYER: "Is there any infidelity in your marriage?"
POLISH: "Ja, we have hi- fidelity stereo set and good DVD player."
LAWYER: Does your wife beat you up?"
POLISH: "No, I always up before her."
LAWYER: "Is your wife a nagger?"
POLISH: "No, she white."
LAWYER: "WHY do you want this divorce?"
POLISH: "She going to kill me."
LAWYER: "What makes you think that?"
POLISH: "I got proof.LAWYER: "What kind of proof?"
POLISH: "She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put onshelf in bathroom. I can read, and it say,
'Polish Remover'."
Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if he could arrangea divorce for him - "very quick."
The lawyer said that the speed for getting a divorce would depend on the circumstances, and asked him the following questions:
LAWYER: "Have you any grounds?"
POLISH: "JA, JA, acre and half and nice little home."
LAWYER: "No," I mean what is the foundation of this case?"
POLISH: "It made of concrete."
LAWYER: "Does either of you have a real grudge?"
POLISH: "No, we have carport, and not need one."
LAWYER: "I mean, What are your relations like?"
POLISH: "All my relations still in Poland."
LAWYER: "Is there any infidelity in your marriage?"
POLISH: "Ja, we have hi- fidelity stereo set and good DVD player."
LAWYER: Does your wife beat you up?"
POLISH: "No, I always up before her."
LAWYER: "Is your wife a nagger?"
POLISH: "No, she white."
LAWYER: "WHY do you want this divorce?"
POLISH: "She going to kill me."
LAWYER: "What makes you think that?"
POLISH: "I got proof.LAWYER: "What kind of proof?"
POLISH: "She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put onshelf in bathroom. I can read, and it say,
'Polish Remover'."
Monday, December 24, 2007
Joke for the day - Fishing Shop
A woman goes into a store to buy a fishing rod and reel for her grandson's birthday. She doesn't
know which one to get, so she just grabs one and goes over to the counter.
The salesman is standing there, wearing dark glasses.
She says "Excuse me - can you tell me anything about this rod and reel?"
He says, "Madam, I'm completely blind but if you'll drop it on the counter I can tell you everything
you need to know about it from the sound it makes."
She doesn't believe him but drops it on the counter anyway.
He says "That's a two meter Shakespeare graphite rod with a Zebco 404 reel and 5-kg. Test line.
It's a good all around combination and it's on sale this week for $44."
She says, "It's amazing that you can tell all that just by the sound of it dropping on the counter,
I'll take it!"
As she opens her purse, her credit card drops on the floor.
"Oh, That sounds like a Visa Card" says the salesman.
As the lady bends down to pick up the card, she accidentally farts. At first she is really
embarrassed but then realizes there is no way the blind salesman could tell it was she who had farted.
The salesman rings up the sale and says, "That'll be $58.50 please."
The woman is totally confused by this and asks, "Didn't you tell me it was on sale for $44?
How did you get to $58.50?"
"The Duck Caller is $11 and the Fish Bait is $3.50."
know which one to get, so she just grabs one and goes over to the counter.
The salesman is standing there, wearing dark glasses.
She says "Excuse me - can you tell me anything about this rod and reel?"
He says, "Madam, I'm completely blind but if you'll drop it on the counter I can tell you everything
you need to know about it from the sound it makes."
She doesn't believe him but drops it on the counter anyway.
He says "That's a two meter Shakespeare graphite rod with a Zebco 404 reel and 5-kg. Test line.
It's a good all around combination and it's on sale this week for $44."
She says, "It's amazing that you can tell all that just by the sound of it dropping on the counter,
I'll take it!"
As she opens her purse, her credit card drops on the floor.
"Oh, That sounds like a Visa Card" says the salesman.
As the lady bends down to pick up the card, she accidentally farts. At first she is really
embarrassed but then realizes there is no way the blind salesman could tell it was she who had farted.
The salesman rings up the sale and says, "That'll be $58.50 please."
The woman is totally confused by this and asks, "Didn't you tell me it was on sale for $44?
How did you get to $58.50?"
"The Duck Caller is $11 and the Fish Bait is $3.50."
Monday, November 19, 2007
UAE, Hong Kong and Russia best for tax
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong and Russia have the most attractive personal tax regimes, according to a survey by investment services firm Mercer.
Mercer's Worldwide Individual Tax Comparator Report found Australia ranked in the middle of the pack.
Belgium, Denmark and Hungary had the least attractive personal tax regimes.
The survey of tax and benefits systems across 32 markets quoted tax rates based on the average for a middle manager earning $91,000 per annum.
The survey also found married employees with two children were better off than single employees.
The Mercer report said single managers could do best in terms of net income in the UAE, which did not assess any income tax and only required that employees make a contribution of five per cent of gross salary in social security contributions.
The next best tax regime was Russia, which applied a flat tax of 13 per cent.
Hong Kong was third, requiring 14.2 per cent of gross base salary to be paid in tax and social security contributions.
Australia and India were tied in 14th place, with a tax rate of 29.1 per cent.
Mexico (8th), Brazil (9th) and Argentina (10th) led the American counties.
European countries - other than Russia - dominated the ranks of countries with the least attractive tax regimes.
Ireland was 18th, Spain 19th, Switzerland 21st, France 22nd and Germany 29th.
At the bottom were Hungary (30th), Denmark (31st) and Belgium (32nd), where single managers would have to pay tax and social security contributions of 48.5 per cent, 48.6 per cent and 50.5 per cent respectively.
Senior consultant Brian Waite said going to countries with low or zero tax rates was an important incentive for employees to work abroad.
In high-tax destinations, expatriate employees had to get compensation packages that would at least match their purchasing power at home.
Mercer researcher Niklaus Kobel said marital status was often a major factor in determining local tax rates.
In Hong Kong, a married manager with no children would pay 11.5 per cent in tax - lower than the rate for a single person - and a married person with two children would be taxed at only 8.9 per cent.
(Source: smh)
Mercer's Worldwide Individual Tax Comparator Report found Australia ranked in the middle of the pack.
Belgium, Denmark and Hungary had the least attractive personal tax regimes.
The survey of tax and benefits systems across 32 markets quoted tax rates based on the average for a middle manager earning $91,000 per annum.
The survey also found married employees with two children were better off than single employees.
The Mercer report said single managers could do best in terms of net income in the UAE, which did not assess any income tax and only required that employees make a contribution of five per cent of gross salary in social security contributions.
The next best tax regime was Russia, which applied a flat tax of 13 per cent.
Hong Kong was third, requiring 14.2 per cent of gross base salary to be paid in tax and social security contributions.
Australia and India were tied in 14th place, with a tax rate of 29.1 per cent.
Mexico (8th), Brazil (9th) and Argentina (10th) led the American counties.
European countries - other than Russia - dominated the ranks of countries with the least attractive tax regimes.
Ireland was 18th, Spain 19th, Switzerland 21st, France 22nd and Germany 29th.
At the bottom were Hungary (30th), Denmark (31st) and Belgium (32nd), where single managers would have to pay tax and social security contributions of 48.5 per cent, 48.6 per cent and 50.5 per cent respectively.
Senior consultant Brian Waite said going to countries with low or zero tax rates was an important incentive for employees to work abroad.
In high-tax destinations, expatriate employees had to get compensation packages that would at least match their purchasing power at home.
Mercer researcher Niklaus Kobel said marital status was often a major factor in determining local tax rates.
In Hong Kong, a married manager with no children would pay 11.5 per cent in tax - lower than the rate for a single person - and a married person with two children would be taxed at only 8.9 per cent.
(Source: smh)
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Don't be trapped into flood damaged cars
NRMA says the following may help to identify any water damage:
- Water or condensation in exterior lights
- 'Tide marks' at the carpet and door trims
- Dampness or musty smells
- Shrunken carpet
- Missing or ill-fitting drain plugs
- Surface rust at brackets under dash and under seats, although some light rust here is considered normal for older cars
- Difficult-to-operate door locks, ventilation controls and switches
An owner who wants to keep a flood-damaged vehicle should:
- Free drain holes from obstructions
- Check for dampness or mould and replace carpets if affected
- Listen for noises that get louder with speed and time, which could indicate imminent bearing or driveling failure
(Source: "Open Road")
Sunday, October 21, 2007
More Aussies are millionaires
By Teresa Ooi
October 19, 2007 07:20am
THE ranks of Australia's millionaires swelled by 10.3 per cent to 161,000 last year, with them amassing a fortune of $US510 billion ($570.1 billion).
Their fortune was the third highest in the Asia-Pacific region after Japan at $US3.7 trillion and China at $US1.7 trillion.
Almost half of Australia's millionaires made their money by owning businesses or selling them. About 16 per cent racked up their dollars on the buoyant stock market. Only 13 per cent inherited their wealth.
More than 75 per cent of the country's millionaires are men, with an average age of 50. Only 15 per cent are women, compared with Taiwan's 43 per cent and China's 38 per cent.
"This implies that there is still a glass ceiling in Australia, as we do not have as many women executives earning the big incomes in the top echelon," Capgemini financial services group wealth management head Gregory Smith said.
About 46 per cent of Australia's wealthy are aged between 41 and 55. Only 6 per cent are younger than 40.
China has the largest proportion of young millionaires, with 28 per cent of its 345,000 wealthy people younger than 40, according to the Asia-Pacific Wealth Report produced by investment bank Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.
Australia's new millionaires are worth at least $US3.2 million each - well below Hong Kong's new rich, who have average wealth of $US5.4 million, China's $US5 million and Singapore's $US4.9 million.
Australia has 1120 super-rich - those with more than $US30 million in financial assets.
"While the number of ultra-rich in Australia grew by only 0.7 per cent - slightly lower than the global average of 1 per cent - we still had our fair share of super-rich," Smith said.
"Like most super-rich around the world, they have a complicated lifestyle, with yachts, butlers and several homes across the globe.
"While they enjoy and celebrate their wealth by buying jewellery, baubles, art and vacations, there is a growing concern for the next generation and a growing tendency to give back to society - very much like what Bill Gates has done for charity.
"After acquiring their big yachts and private jets, they plan to give their wealth to the next generation and grandchildren. They are also becoming more altruistic."
This inter-generational transfer of wealth has spurred many wealth financial advisers to have a mature manager team up with a younger colleague to educate and advise the children of the super-rich who will inherit the wealth.
Many are starting to conduct wealth seminars aimed at the younger generation so they don't blow away their family inheritance.
Merrill Lynch global wealth management first vice-president Peter Opie said that with the super-rich becoming more interested in philanthropy, many wealth advisers were thinking of expanding their services to include investment advice in philanthropic enterprises.
(Souce: News.com.au)
October 19, 2007 07:20am
THE ranks of Australia's millionaires swelled by 10.3 per cent to 161,000 last year, with them amassing a fortune of $US510 billion ($570.1 billion).
Their fortune was the third highest in the Asia-Pacific region after Japan at $US3.7 trillion and China at $US1.7 trillion.
Almost half of Australia's millionaires made their money by owning businesses or selling them. About 16 per cent racked up their dollars on the buoyant stock market. Only 13 per cent inherited their wealth.
More than 75 per cent of the country's millionaires are men, with an average age of 50. Only 15 per cent are women, compared with Taiwan's 43 per cent and China's 38 per cent.
"This implies that there is still a glass ceiling in Australia, as we do not have as many women executives earning the big incomes in the top echelon," Capgemini financial services group wealth management head Gregory Smith said.
About 46 per cent of Australia's wealthy are aged between 41 and 55. Only 6 per cent are younger than 40.
China has the largest proportion of young millionaires, with 28 per cent of its 345,000 wealthy people younger than 40, according to the Asia-Pacific Wealth Report produced by investment bank Merrill Lynch and Capgemini.
Australia's new millionaires are worth at least $US3.2 million each - well below Hong Kong's new rich, who have average wealth of $US5.4 million, China's $US5 million and Singapore's $US4.9 million.
Australia has 1120 super-rich - those with more than $US30 million in financial assets.
"While the number of ultra-rich in Australia grew by only 0.7 per cent - slightly lower than the global average of 1 per cent - we still had our fair share of super-rich," Smith said.
"Like most super-rich around the world, they have a complicated lifestyle, with yachts, butlers and several homes across the globe.
"While they enjoy and celebrate their wealth by buying jewellery, baubles, art and vacations, there is a growing concern for the next generation and a growing tendency to give back to society - very much like what Bill Gates has done for charity.
"After acquiring their big yachts and private jets, they plan to give their wealth to the next generation and grandchildren. They are also becoming more altruistic."
This inter-generational transfer of wealth has spurred many wealth financial advisers to have a mature manager team up with a younger colleague to educate and advise the children of the super-rich who will inherit the wealth.
Many are starting to conduct wealth seminars aimed at the younger generation so they don't blow away their family inheritance.
Merrill Lynch global wealth management first vice-president Peter Opie said that with the super-rich becoming more interested in philanthropy, many wealth advisers were thinking of expanding their services to include investment advice in philanthropic enterprises.
(Souce: News.com.au)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
What is man's ultimate embarrassment? :)
Answer:
Running into a wall with an erection and breaking his nose.
Running into a wall with an erection and breaking his nose.
Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Living Green: Ranking the best (and worst) countries (3)
Cities Overall
1. Stockholm, Sweden
2. Oslo, Norway
3. Munich, Germany
4. Paris, France
5. Frankfurt, Germany
6. Stuttgart, Germany
7. Lyon, France
8. Dusseldorf, Germany
9. Nantes, France
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
11. Geneva, Switzerland
12. Zurich, Switzerland
13. Glasgow, United Kingdom
14. Barcelona, Spain
15. New York, United States
16. Brussels, Belgium
17. Hamburg, Germany
18. Hong Kong, PR China
19. Newcastle, United Kingdom
20. Tokyo, Japan
21. Helsinki, Finland
22. Washington, D.C., United States
23. Chicago, United States
24. Vancouver, Canada
25. Dortmund, Germany
26. San Francisco, United States
27. London, United Kingdom
28. Perth, Australia
29. Melbourne, Australia
30. Manchester, United Kingdom
31. Graz, Austria
32. Berlin, Germany
33. Ottawa, Canada
34. Wellington, New Zealand
35. Amsterdam, Netherlands
36. Atlanta, United States
37. Marseille, France
38. Vienna, Austria
39. Rome, Italy
40. Sydney, Australia
41. Prague, Czech Republic
42. Brisbane, Australia
43. Denver, United States
44. Berne, Switzerland
45. Singapore, Singapore
46. Houston, United States
47. Bologna, Italy
48. Montreal, Canada
49. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
50. Toronto, Canada
51. Cape Town, South Africa
52. Seoul, South Korea
53. Milan, Italy
54. Curitiba, Brazil
55. San Diego, United States
56. Madrid, Spain
57. Los Angeles, United States
58. Budapest, Hungary
59. Calgary, Canada
60. Phoenix, United States
61. Johannesburg, South Africa
62. Sao Paulo, Brazil
63. Athens, Greece
64. Tel Aviv, Israel
65. Chennai, India
66. Cracow, Poland
67. Taipei, Taiwan
68. Bangkok, Thailand
69. Guangzhou, PR China
70. Mumbai, India
71. Shanghai, PR China
72. Beijing, PR China
1. Stockholm, Sweden
2. Oslo, Norway
3. Munich, Germany
4. Paris, France
5. Frankfurt, Germany
6. Stuttgart, Germany
7. Lyon, France
8. Dusseldorf, Germany
9. Nantes, France
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
11. Geneva, Switzerland
12. Zurich, Switzerland
13. Glasgow, United Kingdom
14. Barcelona, Spain
15. New York, United States
16. Brussels, Belgium
17. Hamburg, Germany
18. Hong Kong, PR China
19. Newcastle, United Kingdom
20. Tokyo, Japan
21. Helsinki, Finland
22. Washington, D.C., United States
23. Chicago, United States
24. Vancouver, Canada
25. Dortmund, Germany
26. San Francisco, United States
27. London, United Kingdom
28. Perth, Australia
29. Melbourne, Australia
30. Manchester, United Kingdom
31. Graz, Austria
32. Berlin, Germany
33. Ottawa, Canada
34. Wellington, New Zealand
35. Amsterdam, Netherlands
36. Atlanta, United States
37. Marseille, France
38. Vienna, Austria
39. Rome, Italy
40. Sydney, Australia
41. Prague, Czech Republic
42. Brisbane, Australia
43. Denver, United States
44. Berne, Switzerland
45. Singapore, Singapore
46. Houston, United States
47. Bologna, Italy
48. Montreal, Canada
49. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
50. Toronto, Canada
51. Cape Town, South Africa
52. Seoul, South Korea
53. Milan, Italy
54. Curitiba, Brazil
55. San Diego, United States
56. Madrid, Spain
57. Los Angeles, United States
58. Budapest, Hungary
59. Calgary, Canada
60. Phoenix, United States
61. Johannesburg, South Africa
62. Sao Paulo, Brazil
63. Athens, Greece
64. Tel Aviv, Israel
65. Chennai, India
66. Cracow, Poland
67. Taipei, Taiwan
68. Bangkok, Thailand
69. Guangzhou, PR China
70. Mumbai, India
71. Shanghai, PR China
72. Beijing, PR China
Living Green: Ranking the best (and worst) countries (2)
Countries Overall
1. Finland
2. Iceland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Austria
6. Switzerland
7. Ireland
8. Australia
9. Uruguay
10. Denmark
11. Canada
12. Japan
13. Israel
14. Italy
15. Slovenia
16. France
17. Netherlands
18. Portugal
19. New Zealand
20. Greece
21. Germany
22. Latvia
23. United States
24. Lithuania
25. United Kingdom
26. Belgium
27. Argentina
28. Croatia
29. Spain
30. Hungary
31. Albania
32. Estonia
33. Slovakia
34. Costa Rica
35. South Korea
36. Cuba
37. Belarus
38. Czech Republic
39. Bosnia and Herzegovina
40. Brazil
41. Panama
42. Armenia
43. Chile
44. Paraguay
45. United Arab Emirates
46. Macedonia
47. Bulgaria
48. Poland
49. Kuwait
50. Oman
51. Russia
52. Peru
53. Colombia
54. Malaysia
55. Guyana
56. Romania
57. Trinidad & Tobago
58. Georgia
59. Kazakhstan
60. Moldova
61. Thailand
62. Tunisia
63. Mexico
64. Libya
65. Ukraine
66. Sri Lanka
67. Lebanon
68. Venezuela
69. Ecuador
70. Turkey
71. Jordan
72. Algeria
73. Kyrgyzstan
74. Azerbaijan
75. Bolivia
76. Gabon
77. Dominican Republic
78. Syria
79. El Salvador
80. Saudi Arabia
81. Jamaica
82. Indonesia
83. Iran
84. China
85. Nicaragua
86. Namibia
87. Philippines
88. Egypt
89. Mongolia
90. Viet Nam
91. Myanmar
92. Honduras
93. Botswana
94. Turkmenistan
95. Tajikistan
96. South Africa
97. Guatemala
98. Cambodia
99. Uzbekistan
100. Bhutan
101. Laos
102. Morocco
103. Ghana
104. India
105. Congo
106. Cameroon
107. Uganda
108. Nepal
109. Papua New Guinea
110. Gambia
111. Bangladesh
112. Madagascar
113. Senegal
114. Togo
115. Pakistan
116. Kenya
117. Rwanda
118. Guinea
119. Zimbabwe
120. Zambia
121. Nigeria
122. Sudan
123. Tanzania
124. Benin
125. Central Africa Republic
126. Malawi
127. Mauritania
128. Yemen
129. Angola
130. Côte d'Ivoire
131. Democratic Republic of the Congo
132. Haiti
133. Mali
134. Guinea-Bissau
135. Mozambique
136. Burundi
137. Chad
138. Burkina Faso
139. Sierra Leone
140. Niger
141. Ethiopia
1. Finland
2. Iceland
3. Norway
4. Sweden
5. Austria
6. Switzerland
7. Ireland
8. Australia
9. Uruguay
10. Denmark
11. Canada
12. Japan
13. Israel
14. Italy
15. Slovenia
16. France
17. Netherlands
18. Portugal
19. New Zealand
20. Greece
21. Germany
22. Latvia
23. United States
24. Lithuania
25. United Kingdom
26. Belgium
27. Argentina
28. Croatia
29. Spain
30. Hungary
31. Albania
32. Estonia
33. Slovakia
34. Costa Rica
35. South Korea
36. Cuba
37. Belarus
38. Czech Republic
39. Bosnia and Herzegovina
40. Brazil
41. Panama
42. Armenia
43. Chile
44. Paraguay
45. United Arab Emirates
46. Macedonia
47. Bulgaria
48. Poland
49. Kuwait
50. Oman
51. Russia
52. Peru
53. Colombia
54. Malaysia
55. Guyana
56. Romania
57. Trinidad & Tobago
58. Georgia
59. Kazakhstan
60. Moldova
61. Thailand
62. Tunisia
63. Mexico
64. Libya
65. Ukraine
66. Sri Lanka
67. Lebanon
68. Venezuela
69. Ecuador
70. Turkey
71. Jordan
72. Algeria
73. Kyrgyzstan
74. Azerbaijan
75. Bolivia
76. Gabon
77. Dominican Republic
78. Syria
79. El Salvador
80. Saudi Arabia
81. Jamaica
82. Indonesia
83. Iran
84. China
85. Nicaragua
86. Namibia
87. Philippines
88. Egypt
89. Mongolia
90. Viet Nam
91. Myanmar
92. Honduras
93. Botswana
94. Turkmenistan
95. Tajikistan
96. South Africa
97. Guatemala
98. Cambodia
99. Uzbekistan
100. Bhutan
101. Laos
102. Morocco
103. Ghana
104. India
105. Congo
106. Cameroon
107. Uganda
108. Nepal
109. Papua New Guinea
110. Gambia
111. Bangladesh
112. Madagascar
113. Senegal
114. Togo
115. Pakistan
116. Kenya
117. Rwanda
118. Guinea
119. Zimbabwe
120. Zambia
121. Nigeria
122. Sudan
123. Tanzania
124. Benin
125. Central Africa Republic
126. Malawi
127. Mauritania
128. Yemen
129. Angola
130. Côte d'Ivoire
131. Democratic Republic of the Congo
132. Haiti
133. Mali
134. Guinea-Bissau
135. Mozambique
136. Burundi
137. Chad
138. Burkina Faso
139. Sierra Leone
140. Niger
141. Ethiopia
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