публикувано от shadi в
20:09:00
публикувано от shadi в
18:46:00
Let's face it; we all don't make millions of dollars a year, and the odds are that most of us won't receive a large windfall inheritance either. However, that doesn't mean that we can't build sizeable wealth — it'll just take some time. If you're young, time is on your side and retiring a millionaire is achievable. Read on for some tips on how to increase your savings and work toward this goal.
Stop Senseless Spending
Unfortunately, people have a habit of spending their hard-earned cash on goods and services that they don't need. Even relatively small expenses, such as indulging in a gourmet coffee from a premium coffee shop every morning, can really add up — and decrease the amount of money you can save. Larger expenses on luxury items also prevent many people from putting money into savings each month.
That said, it's important to realize that it's usually not just one item or one habit that must be cut out in order to accumulate sizable wealth (although it may be). Usually, in order to become wealthy one must adopt a disciplined lifestyle and budget. This means that people who are looking to build their nest eggs need to make sacrifices somewhere — this may mean eating out less frequently, using public transportation to get to work and/or cutting back on extra, unnecessary expenses.
This doesn't mean that you shouldn't go out and have fun, but you should try to do things in moderation — and set a budget if you hope to save money. Fortunately, particularly if you start saving young, saving up a sizeable nest egg only requires a few minor (and relatively painless) adjustments to your spending habits.
Fund Retirement Plans ASAP
When individuals earn money, their first responsibility is to pay current expenses such as the rent or mortgage expenses, food and other necessities. Once these expenses have been covered, the next step should be to fund a retirement plan or some other tax-advantaged vehicle.
Unfortunately, retirement planning is an afterthought for many young people. Here's why it shouldn't be: funding a 401(k) and/or a IRA early on in life means you can contribute less money overall and actually end up with significantly more in the end than someone who put in much more money but started later.
How much difference will funding a vehicle such as a Roth IRA early on in life make?
If you're 23 years old and deposit $3,000 per year (that's only $250 each month!) in a Roth IRA earning an 8% average annual return, you will have saved $985,749 by the time you are 65 years old due to the power of compounding. If you make a few extra contributions, it's clear that a $1 million goal is well within reach. Also keep in mind that this is mostly interest — your $3,000 contributions only add up to $126,000.
Now, suppose that you wait an additional 10 years to start contributing. You have a better job and you know you've lost some time, so you contribute $5,000 per year. You get the same 8% return and you aim to retire at 65. When you reach age 65, you will have saved $724,753. That's still a sizeable fund, but you had to contribute $160,000 just to get there — and it's nowhere near the $985,749 you could've had for paying much less.
Improve Tax Awareness
Sometimes, individuals think that doing their own taxes will save them money. In some cases, they might be right. However, in other cases it may actually end up costing them money because they fail to take advantage of the many deductions available to them.
Try to become more educated as far as what types of items are deductible. You should also understand when it makes sense to move away from the standard deduction and start itemizing your return.
However, if you're not willing or able to become very well educated filing your own income tax, it may actually pay to hire some help, particularly if you are self employed, own a business or have other circumstances that complicate your tax return.
Renting Versus Buying
At some point in our lives, many of us rent a home or an apartment because we cannot afford to purchase a home, or because we aren't sure where we want to live for the longer term. And that's fine. However, renting is often not a good long-term investment because buying a home is a good way to build equity.
Unless you intend to move in a short period of time, it generally makes sense to consider putting a down payment on a home. (At least you would likely build up some equity over time and the foundation for a nest egg.)
Buying Expensive Cars
There's nothing wrong with purchasing a luxury vehicle. However, individuals who spend an inordinate amount of their incomes on a vehicle are doing themselves a disservice — especially since this asset depreciates in value so rapidly.
How rapidly does a car depreciate?
Obviously, this depends on the make, model, year and demand for the vehicle, but a general rule is that a new car loses 15-20% of its value per year. So, a two-year old car will be worth 80-85% of its purchase price; a three-year old car will be worth 80-85% of its two-year-old value.
In short, especially when you are young, consider buying something practical and dependable that has low monthly payments — or that you can pay for in cash. In the long run, this will mean you'll have more money to put toward your savings — an asset that will appreciate, rather than depreciate like your car.
Don't Sell Yourself Short
Some individuals are extremely loyal to their employers and will stay with them for years without seeing their incomes take a jump. This can be a mistake, as increasing your income is an excellent way to boost your rate of saving.
Always keep your eye out for other opportunities and try not to sell yourself short. Work hard and find an employer who will compensate you for your work ethic, skills and experience.
Bottom Line
You don't have to win the lottery to see seven figures in your bank account. For most people, the only way to achieve this is to save it. You don't have to live like a pauper to build an adequate nest egg and retire comfortably. If you start early, spend wisely and save diligently, your million-dollar dreams are well within reach.
публикувано от shadi в
18:03:00
Daniel Cousin fired home from a difficult angle, but Celtic's Georgios Samaras tapped in seconds later.
A Miller volley and a Pedro Mendes piledriver put Rangers in control.
Cousin and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were both sent off before Miller pounced on an Artur Boruc mistake and Shunsuke Nakamura curled a late reply.
Victory put Rangers on top of the Scottish Premier League on goal difference ahead of Kilmarnock as manager Walter Smith won the tactical battle.
Smith had sprung a surprise by naming Cousin, the Gabon striker who has been out of favour since the collapse of a proposed move to Fulham, in his starting line-up.
He was paired with Miller as Smith abandoned the single-striker formation he has used in recent Old Firm encounters, but there was no place even on the bench for last season's top scorer, Kris Boyd.
The more positive formation appeared to catch the home side unawares in the opening minutes with a couple of crosses whipped into the box, but a Celtic defence with fit-again Gary Caldwell replacing Glenn Loovens at its heart dealt with the threat fairly comfortably.
As the reigning champions' greater width began to pay dividends, Stephen McManus headed a Nakamura free-kick just wide of the far post.
The game threatened to boil over with Rangers' Kevin Thomson, for a late challenge on Nakamura, and McManus, for a spot of petulance, both being booked before 15 minutes had elapsed.
Celtic threatened twice in even quicker succession as the action heated up in a more positive manner.
Samaras, starting up front alongside Shaun Maloney with Vennegoor of Hesselink and Scott McDonald not fit enough to start, headed straight at Allan McGregor from 15 yards and Aiden McGready flashing a drive a few yards wide from longer range.
 Samaras had pulled Celtic level at 1-1 before the break |
But Rangers took the lead after 37 minutes against the balance of play when Cousin skinned Mark Wilson, standing in for the injured Lee Naylor at left-back, and fooled goalkeeper Boruc by tucking the ball inside the front post from a tight angle.
The lead lasted less than two minutes, Sasa Papac's awkward attempt to clear a low McGeady cross falling kindly for Samaras to fire home from eight yards.
Maloney was first to threaten after the break, his quick feet creating the space for a drive curled wide from 16 yards.
But it was Rangers who struck after 52 minutes when Miller, who had been having a disappointing game against his former club, volleyed home superbly after being found at the back post by a Charlie Adam cross.
Mendes put Rangers in command when he flashed a drive past Boruc from 25 yards after being found in space by a clever Adam corner 10 minutes later.
Cousin's continual aerial jousts appeared to test the patience of referee Dougie McDonald and earned the striker a second yellow card with quarter of an hour remaining.
But Celtic's one-man advantage lasted a matter of seconds as Vennegoor of Hesselink was sent off for lashing out at Kirk Broadfoot immediately after coming on as a substitute.
And Miller made sure that the blue half of Glasgow will have the bragging rights - at least until the next Old Firm derby - by slotting home after Boruc spilled a Broadfoot cross after 79 minutes.
Nakamura's trademark free-kick in stoppage time could not douse the Rangers celebrations.
публикувано от shadi в
17:59:00
| Length | 37.0m (121.4ft) |
| Beam | 7.3m (24.0ft) |
| Draft | 1.7m (5.6ft) |
| Built | 2007, Guy Couach, France |
| Engines | 2 x 2735hp MTU |
| Cruising Speed | 25 knots |
| Guests | 10 (1 master, 2 double, 2 twin) |
| Crew | 7 |
| Watersports | 5.4m Novurania tender, waverunner, waterskis & tows, dive gear (rendezvous diving only), snorkelling gear |
| Communications & entertainment | Satcom & cellular communications facilities, Fleet 33, Wi-Fi Internet access Comprehensive audio-visual systems |
| Special Features | Jacuzzi |
| Winter/Summer | TBC / Mediterranean |
| High season / low season rate | €98,000 / €87,500 |
публикувано от shadi в
17:53:00
Australian Stoner, who started on pole despite fracturing his hand on Friday, misjudged a corner, lost control and crashed out on lap six in Misano.
That left Italian Rossi in the lead and the Yamaha rider roared home to extend his championship lead to 75 points.
Rossi's victory equalled fellow Italian Giacomo Agostini's record of 68 wins.
Britain's James Toseland had a good race and came home in sixth place after a thrilling battle with Loris Capirossi and Chris Vermeulen.
Rossi hailed his 'incredible' landmark
Rossi's team-mate Jorge Lorenzo clinched second and the final place on the podium went to Toni Elias.
But the story of the race was undoubtedly Stoner's crash, which virtually ends his hopes of retaining his title with still five races to go, and Rossi's astonishing record-equalling feat.
Pole-sitter Stoner got a storming start and quickly set about putting distance between himself and the rest.
He need not have worried as Stoner lost control of his front end only four laps later, snapping his handlebar in the crash, and his race was over.
It left a clear path for Rossi and he never look liked failing to make the most of his good fortune.
Toseland was delighted with sixth place
He told BBC Sport: "I have now won three races in a row - it is incredible. It was another great battle with Stoner - we know that Stoner is very fast.
"We have a great advantage and we are one race closer to the title. Last year, in these three races, I took nine points, this year 75.
"To win my 68th race in my hometown is incredible. I saw Giacomo Agostini before the race, and he was laughing. So I said to him I would try to win today."
Toseland climbed from ninth to sixth by lap eight and when he passed Andrea Dovizioso to move into fifth he was on target for his best finish in MotoGP.
The Tech 3 Yamaha rider could not keep Vermeulen at bay, though, and the Australian swept past with six laps remaining.
Toseland told BBC Sport: "I am enjoying the challenge. It is great to be back in the top six. Fifth would have been amazing, but we can push on from here."
Earlier, Spaniard Alvaro Bautista won the 250cc race from 11th on the grid while Gabor Talmacsi took the honours in the 125cc event, holding off young Briton Bradley Smith to win by five seconds.
публикувано от shadi в
17:48:00
The agency will look at what might be required to delay the retirement of its fleet until the shuttle's replacement - Ares-Orion - begins flying in 2015.
The exercise is aimed at answering questions it expects on the matter from Congress and the incoming president.
News of the study comes from a leaked internal email obtained by a Florida-based newspaper.
Nasa chief Michael Griffin, who is reported to have ordered the study, had previously opposed extending the shuttle programme.
The agency's administrator argued that the money and effort required to do so would stymie progress on the Ares rockets and the Apollo-style Orion capsules that will succeed the shuttle.
These are being developed by Nasa as part of its "Constellation" programme. The system is expected to carry astronauts to the Moon under the Vision for Space Exploration plans announced by President George W Bush in 2004.
Russian flights
In April, Dr Griffin told a Senate sub-committee: "The shuttle is an inherently risky design. We currently assess the per-mission risk as about one in 75 of having a fatal accident.
"If one were to do, as some have suggested, fly the shuttle for an additional five years - say two missions a year - the risk would be about one in 12 that we would lose another crew."
But an e-mail obtained by the Orlando Sentinel suggests Nasa will now research this option.
In it, John Coggeshall, manifest and schedules manager at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, writes: "The [shuttle] programme in conjunction with [Constellation] and [space station] have been asked by the administrator to put together some manifest options to assess extending shuttle flights to 2015.
He added: "We want to focus on helping bridge the gap of US vehicles travelling to the [space station] as efficiently as possible."
But Nasa spokesman John Yembrick described the e-mail as "premature".
"The parameters of the study have not yet been defined," he said.
The agency remains committed to retiring the shuttle in 2010.
Five-year gap
In the five-year gap between the retirement of the shuttle and the first flights of the Orion capsule, Nasa will be reliant on Russia's Soyuz system for transporting astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).
But some are now concerned about the wisdom of this plan to purchase seats aboard the Soyuz, given the diplomatic tension between the US and Russia over the conflict in Georgia.
 Nasa's Orion ship will not be ready until 2015 |
This letter said Russia's conduct during the Georgia conflict "raised concerns about the reliability of Russia as a partner for the International Space Station".
It added: "Our concern is that we do not have a guarantee that such co-operative and mutually beneficial activity will continue to be available, and the successful utilisation of the ISS may thus be jeopardized."
The Democrats' presidential candidate Barack Obama has also talked about the possibility of additional shuttle flights to close the five-year gap.
Nasa currently has an agreement with Russia to fly astronauts to the ISS aboard the Soyuz spacecraft until 2011. After that, the agency would have to seek approval from Congress for an extension.
Nasa has previously said it would cost between $2.5bn and $4bn per year to keep the shuttles flying past 2010.
The agency has also given seed money to a commercial venture to develop a spacecraft for transporting crew and cargo to the space station.
публикувано от shadi в
17:47:00
“The Fast and Furious 4″ returns to cinemas June 5, 2009 until the direction of Justin Lin, who also directed the previous installment, “Tokyo Drift”. The fourth movie is rumored to be very faster and, er, even more furiouser than previous movies.
публикувано от shadi в
11:57:00
Rockstar has revealed the first details of the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV.
The game was shown off at the Leipzig Games Convention today by a Rockstar spokesperson. He began by promising much improved visuals, saying they'll be "polished well beyond what they were on the 360 and PS3".
New features will include a replay editor. Whenever you're playing the previous 30 seconds of gameplay will be recorded, so at any time you can stop and watch what you just did. You can also edit footage - chop it up, add filters, switch camera angles and so on.
There will also be a montage editor that lets you link together multiple 30-second clips. You'll be able to share the movies you make via the internet and the Rockstar Social Club.
Rockstar also hinted there are plans to add new multiplayer options. Noting there is online play for up to 16 players in the console versions of GTA IV he added, "We're expanding on that" - but didn't offer any further details.
However, the publisher did say there will be new filters so you can have more control over the type of matches and races you take part in. If you just want to play with pistols, for example, that will possible. The whole idea is to make it easier to find exactly what you're looking for.
The rest of the demo consisted of a playthrough of the Three-Leaf Clover mission seen in the console game. This was played using an Xbox 360 controller, and Rockstar confirmed you'll be able to choose this or the traditional keyboard option in the finished game.
The visuals do indeed look more polished - lighting is more realistic and there's a much higher level of detail on both characters and environments. Movement animations are smoother but could still do with a bit of work; Nico runs down stairs like he's got a wonky ankle. Still, as Rockstar was careful to point out, GTA IV is still "a work in progress" and there's "a lot of polishing and cleaning" to do before the game is released on 21st November.
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11:36:00
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11:24:00
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