Category: government

Employability Skills – The Advantages For You

Employability skills are very useful things to have, especially if you are not employed and want to be. If you are in the process of choosing a career, then thinking about undertaking a skills programme may be a good move too. It’s all about making yourself more likely to be employed. It’s about putting yourself in a position before employers where they are forced to see that you have the necessary skills for the job. It’s about empowering yourself!

We all need to pay the inevitable bills that we generate from everyday use of the necessary things for life. In order to get the money to pay the bills, we usually need to have a job. Employers and managers of businesses are not usually predisposed to employing just anyone. They want the right person for the job, someone with the right qualifications. In other words, they want someone with employability skills.

The right kind of skill can vary a lot, depending on the particular job. For some situations it can be very simple and easy to get, for others it can involve many years of hard training. For most situations it is something in between. Employability is not just about knowing how to do the actual things that a job requires. It can also be about having the right attitude at interview level. You have to be presentable in the right way for a prospective employer to want you. Even if you have everything right on paper, if you don’t perform right on the day of the interview, someone else may walk away with the prize.

Gaining employability skills generally means training of some kind you can study for. There are many government training courses available, especially for young people, and especially for those not currently in employment, and there can be grants available too that will help you pay for the kind of training you need. If you require work experience at any point, this might me something that can also be arranged through a skills programme.

Wanting to progress and improve in life is a natural desire for most people. You may be reasonably content in the job you currently have, but perhaps you have set your eye on something a bit higher up the ladder. It is likely to be something that will pay better and possibly give you a little more prestige too. This is where your employability skills, or the lack of them, come into play. If you aren’t already employable, perhaps it’s time to do something about it.

Source Article …

Sabotage of The NBN By Turnbull

This was to be a great infrastructure. National broadband services to every home and business in Australia. Originally proposed by the Rudd-Gillard government in 2010 it was eventually commenced with promises of 100 Mbit/sec to increase to 1Gbit/s. While the Rudd government had proposed a modern optical fibre telecommunications network to provide it to 93% of population but it was later changed to copper to the node.

It became a major factor in the 2013 election. Both Tony Abbott, the then leader of the opposition, and Malcolm Turnbull, who was the shadow minister for communications and broadband, combined to state that in government they would abolish the NBN. They later changed this to being agnostic towards it, which happened in 2012.

When Abbott was elected in 2013 fibre was allowed only to those areas already being worked on. Then they paused new developments. As Minister of Communications Turnbull formed a number of committees to discuss future directions. The public were kept on tender-hooks waiting for an outcome.

The Minister invested in copper and implemented the multi-technological mx (MTM). He promised earlier delivery than was previously promised along with considerable savings. The adopted change saw an adoption of the mixed copper-optical technology with fibre to the node (FTTN)

The sabotage of the system has seen that it is so flawed that complaints about non-delivery of services is plaguing the telecom and ISP providers. Telstra is the owner of all telephone exchanges throughout Australia, so it is the main port of call for disgruntled purchasers of the NBN. Instead of a first-rate Internet service we have ended up with a totally flawed second-rate one that is far from serviceable.

What can be done about it? Nothing, is the word from the Labour Party, who first began to lay out the NBN. The CEO of the network admitted that 15% of it customers are receiving an inferior service. Some ISP’s are sticking to the VDSL connection, which is what I have. It is fast, efficient, and reliable.

So what did the Australian public get from Turnbull and Abbott? That is something for voters to decide at the next election, which may be sooner than later. The lies told by these politicians has really hurt the country. They still get paid but we, the Internet users, are the poorer for their presence.

Source Article …

Investment Property in Montenegro is Definitely One to Watch

High mountains, deep inland lakes and a spectacular southern coastline of bays and beaches, plus sunny summers and mild winters, are just some of the reasons why Montenegro has become a holiday hotspot. Combine this with the fact that it occupies a key location for business, is attracting foreign investment, has a rapidly growing infrastructure and has been a sovereign state since 2006 upon its independence from Serbia and you have one of the world’s most intriguing emerging property markets.

Montenegro is aiming for EU membership in 2014, which will add to its attractiveness for buyers looking for investment properties or holiday-home ownership. There are no restrictions for foreigners wishing to buy property in Montenegro, other than land for development, and the buying process is relatively straightforward. Montenegro property prices and lawyers’ fees are low and there is no capital gains tax liability in Montenegro, all of which is helping to fuel the sector.

Montenegro is well served by airlines. Flights arrive at Podgorica and Tivat airports regularly from Europe and further afield, plus into Dubrovnik in Croatia, which is a drive of around 50 minutes across the border to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor. Kotor, a fabulous old city that has been recognised as a UNESCO heritage site, and is one of the country’s most popular holiday hotspots, lies on the banks of the bay.

Much of the new development is taking place around Kotor and already there are reports of property increasing by as much as 100% over the past year or so, with the potential for further capital growth being maintained, plus excellent rental returns being achieved through holiday home rentals.

“Montenegro property offers an excellent investment opportunity,” says Glenda Lazare, managing director of Key Universal, an overseas investment specialist company. “The country has a burgeoning tourist industry, bolstered by the government’s Tourism Masterplan 2007-2020, which aims to develop high-end hotels, golf courses and other luxury facilities in order to attract affluent tourists.”

Key Universal is currently marketing Kotor Apartments in Dobrota on the fringes of Kotor. A boutique residence of just ten two and three bedroom contemporary apartments offering stunning sea and mountain views, and a specification that includes parquet flooring, granite staircases and fitted kitchens and bathrooms, the development is ideal for investors looking for exclusive holiday-home rental opportunities, says Lazare.

The complex will have landscaped gardens, a pool and parking spaces. Key Universal has negotiated a special deal direct with the developers and prices for the upmarket apartments will start at EUR154,880 (£124,000), with a 30 per cent deposit and 70 per cent payable on completion. “The rugged beauty of Montenegro continues to attract high-profile visitors, including Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Madonna and The Rolling Stones,” adds Lazare. “It is being tipped as the next Monte Carlo.”

Other companies marketing in the Kotor area include Europe Property Plus, which is offering Dobrota Heights, a brand-new luxury collection of apartments from around EUR225,000 (£180,000), and Rosco Properties that has off-plan apartments at Herceg Novi-Igalo from …

How to Start a Traffic School in California

The first thing you want to do is go to the California DMV website, dmv.ca.gov I will add links for you so you can find the information easily as the DMV website can be a little difficult to navigate through. (AB2499 is New CA legislation for traffic schools that was put in place 9.1.2012) It covers all the rules and regulations as well as the qualifications needed for the owner operator and instructor.

After you go through the information you will want to print out the traffic school owner checklist, it will prove to be very helpful in checking off each thing you need to complete.

Opening up a Traffic violator school can be a long and tedious endeavor; there are many requirements that need to be in place before the DMV approves you.

I will list a few of the steps involved in opening up your school:

1) The first thing the DMV requires is to submit a traffic school lesson plan along with an $800.00 fee for your original review of an online course, $800.00 for a home study course review or $475.00 for a classroom course to be submitted with your OL764 form. You will have to wait up to 120 days for the DMV to do a background check on you as well waiting for your approval or rejection of your course. If you would prefer you can purchase a pre approved lesson plan which is probably easier than writing your own which is a 6 month to a year project. Plus you will get your approval letter from the DMV in about a week and only have to pay a $25.00 fee to use a pre approved course.

2)The DMV must approve your traffic school name before you can move forward with the rest of your application, you will need to fill out the OL 612 form, but before you your waste time purchasing your domain name for an online traffic school you can call the DMV and check to see if the name you wish to use is available at the time of your call (916) 229-3126. If your name is similar to another name being used, your domain name will be rejected. If the name is available then you can send the form up to DMV by overnight mail, they will send you back an approval for your chosen name by US mail.Once you get your application approved, your school name will be placed on the DMV website, which is free marketing for you.

Some additional DMV requirements are: being fingerprinted by live scan, securing a bond, pay the required fees, submit an insurance certificate, purchase a DMV approved lesson plan,or write your own, rent an office space in which to run your business out of and hold your traffic violator classes if you wish to teach a classroom course. FYI…The DMV makes no distinction between a classroom traffic school or an online traffic school course in terms of the application process,the DMV …

Driver Team Solo Positions: The Nitty Gritty On Truck Driving Jobs

Trucks and truck drivers are a constant presence on US highways and interstates. A person on even the shortest drive is likely to pass by a truck or two transporting goods, and even merchandise that travels by ship, train, or airplane travels on a truck for some phase of the journey to the customer. Because trucks are such a major part of industry, truck driving jobs are important positions and good paying jobs.

Truck drivers have many responsibilities. Before leaving the terminal or warehouse, truck drivers make routine checks of their vehicles, checking fuel and oil levels. They inspect the tires, brakes, and windshield wipers, and make sure that all safety equipment is loaded and functional. They report any problems to the dispatcher, who keeps track of all of these small details. Once they start driving, truck drivers must be constantly alert. They can see quite a long distance along the highway because they sit higher than most other vehicles. This puts them in a position of power on the road, as well as heightened responsibility.

Delivery requirements vary according to the type of merchandise, the driving assignment, and the final destination. Local drivers provide daily service along a specific route, while other drivers must make intercity and interstate deliveries based on specific orders. The driver’s responsibilities and salary change based on the time spent on the road, the type of product transported, and vehicle size.

New technologies are revolutionizing the way that truck drivers work. Long distance truck drivers now have satellites and global positioning systems (GPS) to link them with company headquarters. Information, directions, and weather reports can be delivered to the truck instantly no matter where it is. Company headquarters can track the truck’s location, fuel consumption, and engine performance. Inventory tracking equipment is now computerized, allowing the producer, warehouse, and customer to all check in on the products on the road. New technology is making truck driving an easier job, as seats become more comfortable, trucks have better ventilation, and cabs are better designed.

Some routes are very, very long, and these usually employ heavy truck or tractor-trailer drivers. On the longest routes, companies will hire two drivers for sleeper runs. Sleeper runs can last from days to weeks and the truck only stops for fuel, food, loading and unloading. The drivers switch off driving and sleeping in the truck.

Truck driving can be a demanding job. Some self-employed long-distance truck drivers who own and operate their own trucks spend most of the year away from home. The government restricts long distance drivers to no more than 60 hours a week as well as requiring 10 hours rest for every 11 hours driving. Many drivers work very close to this max time permitted because they are compensated according to the number of miles or hours they’ve put in. The difficulty of truck driving is well compensated, which makes it a popular job. In 2002, there were 3.2 million truck drivers.

Many trucking operations have higher standards …

Using The Internet To Compare Energy Prices – Fast and Easy

Attempting to manually evaluate energy rates of different power companies is very exhausting, time and resource consuming. Rather than going to various utility companies personally, you can look at using the Internet. The web offers not only the easiest and quickest way to confirm different things, you can use it anytime of the day you want. Given that gas and other energy related products have unpredictable market price, you should check on them at the earliest opportunity and as often as possible. Given the fact that various energy suppliers especially in UK have their own web-sites, even thought that are relatively new in the utility business. Furthermore, provided that the company is within UK, they are dominated by the same laws and polices of the government. Utilizing fast and easy access to the net, you will get best possible resource spending by choosing the right service available in your area.

In evaluating energy prices, you should know capped tariffs. Prices with capped tariffs are those which cannot be affected by any price change during a specific period of time. If you plan to avail services for long periods of time, you may want to consider capped tariffs being offered. It is very probable that prices go higher than it would go down consequently most likely you can save on any price increases. If you want to buy services for only a short period of time, try availing uncapped deals. Quite often it is possible to cut costs when you make a deal while energy prices drop. Simply check on the price list as frequently as possible.

Because of the competition supplied by an open market, low-cost gas and electricity are available in major market players in UK such as British Gas, ScottishPower, E.ON, npower, Scottish & Southern Energy, and EDF Energy. These companies have their own websites where you can inquire and check on their gas and electricity rates. If you try browsing a little further in the internet, you may find more affordable deals and promotions by other suppliers. Various companies will try to lure you with their apparently excellent offers and deals which means you best check out everyone’s offer first prior to making any final choice. It all needs persistence to find the best and quality deal for you.

The internet is an extremely helpful tool in doing business. It enables you to be in sync to your market and suppliers as well. For this reason, it is quite possible to check energy prices almost anywhere in the world today. In addition, it saves you more time and money when working with your suppliers in a hassle free manner. It also allows you instant cost updates so you can always project when to begin a new deal with energy suppliers.

As a business entity, we want to have additional profit and savings as much as possible. Savings can be maximized by utilizing every single ounce of energy that we buy from our suppliers. Also, more profit will …

Frozen Bank Accounts

What exactly is a frozen account?

A frozen account is referred to as an account where no depositor can do either withdrawals or purchases. The main reason an account can be frozen is if the account holder does not pay for his purchases that are charged to his account. Deposits can be made, but any money that is deposited, cannot be used, for it is frozen with the account. Even checks that are written against the account will be no good, as long as the account stays frozen.

Heading – Who can freeze bank accounts?

Any time you engage in a transaction with a company, and you have to pay the transaction back. This creates debt. The person you owe money to becomes your creditor. As such, if you do not pay your creditor when required, the creditor can freeze your account. All the creditor has to do is place a judgment against you. When this happens your account becomes frozen until you pay what you owe.

Usually when your account has become frozen, you will receive a notice from your bank, letting you know about your situation, and what you need to do to unfreeze it. There should be a number of a lawyer listed. You will have to enlist the services of a lawyer to get your bank account unfrozen. Even if your bank account is frozen, no creditor is allowed to withdraw money just because the money is there. To get what money is owed, the creditor needs to get a turnover order from a judge.

If during the time your bank account is frozen, you write checks against your account, you will have to take steps toward contacting everyone you sent checks to. This is because those checks will bounce, since the money is not useable. Just contact the people and let them know what happened. Explain that your account was temporarily placed in a frozen state, and that you are taking steps to unfreeze it. Just ask them to hold the checks until you notify them to the contrary. Once you contact them, they can then cash the checks.

Until you resolve your situation, you will need to avoid using your bank account for the foreseeable future. This means you cannot make any deposits and you also must cancel your direct deposit if you have one. If you do have bills to pay, ask a friend or family member to do it for you.

Heading – Can the government freeze your bank account?

Usually the government can’t freeze a bank account. Since you are not actually purchasing anything from them directly, they have no way to store your money. Plus, the government as an entity does not have or own a bank. They do use one. That’s how they pay their bills. But technically speaking, they do not have a way to store your money.

The only time the government can freeze an account, is for security reason. For instance, if they suspect terrorists are …

How to Check Your Nanny’s Immigration Status

Immigration laws are complex, and many parents hire nannies who are not legally authorized to work in the United States. The consequences of hiring an undocumented immigrant can be severe. First, parents may be fined. Second, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement may arrest and deport a nanny to his or her home country. To avoid these negative consequences, follow the simple steps in this article.

First, check the immigration status of your nanny on or before the first day of his or her work. To do so, ask him or her to complete U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Form I-9 is straightforward. In the first section, the nanny must provide his or her name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The nanny must also indicate his or her immigration status and sign and date the document. In the second section, the parents indicate the nanny’s immigration documents and certify that he or she is authorized to work in the United States. The final page of Form I-9 lists documents that are acceptable proof of employment authorization.

Nannies may be legally authorized to work in a variety of ways. For example, all U.S. citizens are authorized to work, no matter how they obtained their citizenship. Note that a driver’s license can establish the identity of a nanny but not his or her citizenship. To establish citizenship, you need the nanny to provide a birth certificate in addition to a driver’s license, or another acceptable document listed on Form I-9.

Nannies who are permanent residents are also authorized to work in the United States. If your nanny is a permanent resident, he or she should show you a card with the words “Permanent Resident” or “Registered Alien” near the top.

A foreign-born nanny might also be allowed to work in the U.S. by obtaining a work permit card. A work permit card is officially called an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD for short. It allows a nanny to work in the U.S. for a temporary period.

In hiring a nanny, remember that it is illegal to discriminate against a job applicant because of that person’s national origin or citizenship status. For example, you cannot discriminate against a potential nanny merely because he or she is a Permanent Resident and not yet a full U.S. citizen. You should not hire someone, however, who refuses to give you documents required by Form I-9. Lastly, remember to keep the nanny’s completed Form I-9 in your files, in case you are ever audited by the government.

If you are unsure whether you may hire a particular job applicant, contact an immigration attorney in your state. Tell the attorney that you are a parent hiring a nanny, and that you need help with employment verification. Alternatively, contact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and ask for help.

Checking your nanny’s immigration status is worthwhile in the long run. Your nanny will respect you for following the law, and you will sleep …

What Type of Buildings Require Fire Clearance Certificate or FIRE NOC

With the impact of the modernization and changing need of the society, there is a curving trend of the high-rise buildings in India. The objective is not only restricted to the residential purpose but extended to the business, communities, and even services. From the last decade, there is a tremendous growth in the real estate industry and now the fully occupied high-rise or multiplex buildings can be witnessed in urban cities of India.

The buildings above 15 meters are called as high-rise buildings that are in the form of malls, hospital, apartments, and multiplexes. Unfortunately, some major accidents had taken place in such buildings which are whistleblowers to stand for the accident-free environment. To ensure safety, the Government has provided provision to armour with the latest Right to Information rules. There are also amendments in the factories act 1948 that prescribes provisions related to the hazardous process. Accordingly, all types of high-rise buildings should have Fire Clearance Certificate or FIRE NOC.

What Is FIRE NOC or Fire Clarification Certificate?

FIRE NOC or Fire clearance certificate is a No Objection Certificate indicating that the building is designed as per the norms and regulations that a high-rise building must have to avoid any hazardous accidents. It is issued by the Fire department of the respective state before the building construction. The Building authority applies to the FIRE NOC before the construction with enclosing the appropriate building plan. The building plan should have complete details, including structure, a design of the staircase, electrical power supply, lift design, open space, Fire exit, raw material, design and additionally it should have provision for:

1. Fire safety measures, Fire extinguishers and Fire evacuation measures that are going to be incorporated in the building.

2. Minimizing the spread and intensity of Fire within the building and any other building.

3. Controlling the generation or spread of smoke to the possible extent.

4. The implementation of the device that can detect the Fire and can warn the occupants or user.

5. Immediate access to the device to control the rising Fire.

6. The design should be designed by the registered architect.

FIRE NOC for Hospitals:

The government provided complete instruction in ‘part 4’ of the National Building code of India-2005, “Fire and life safety” for the Fire prevention and Fire safety of the hospital building. A hospital building plan should inculcate the following Hospital Engineering Service Provision for the Fire precaution as per the NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers).

NABH provisions for the Fire precautions in the Hospital:

• There must be an approval for the installation of the Firefighting devices.

• Easy access to the control room location.

• Control panel needs to get connected with Fire detection or alarm system.

• Availability of the Pump rooms including electrical as well as the diesel room.

• Arrangements for filing Fire Tenders.

• In case of emergency, there must be a 4-way Fire inlet.

• Forced Ventilation

• Easy access to Fire Resistant tanks…

How Can I Determine If a Patent Is Expired?

A common question (or variation) I get asked is "I have an idea that is based on that is based on a product that was patented at one point, how can I tell if the product is still patented so I don't infringe? "

Start-ups ask this question to 1) try to limit their liability even if they are modifying a product, 2) if the start-up is modifying a product they may have to get a license for the assignee of the patent to make their product , and it would be a much cheaper process without having to pay the license fees.

To answer this question, it is important to take a step back and understand the "life cycle" of a patent application. Upon filing an application, a patent is given an application number, these generally are in the form of XX / XXX, XXX. 18 months after the application is filed, the application will publish and be given a publication number in the form of XXXX / XXX, XXXX. Depending on what technology the invention is around 2-3 years after filing the application, the USPTO will look at the application and if the claimed invention is different than what is known a patent will be granted with a patent number in the form of USXXX, XXXX. If a patent has not granted for an invention, that start-up does not have any intellectual property which the can sue under.

Applications that are granted as patents may give the holder protection for 20 years from the date the application was filed. Accordingly, if a start-up filed an application on Jan 1, 2000 they can have intellectual property protection up until Jan 1, 2020, when the patent will expire. However, patents and applications themselves can expire or be abandoned before their full term expires.

Applications can become abandoned for various reasons. Typically, before an application becomes a granted patent, there will be several office actions (correspondences between the USPTO and an attorney). If the startup or attorney fails to respond to an office action, the application will become abandoned. Upon the patent office determining that a patent should be granted on a patent application, an "issue fee" must be paid. This issue fee is pretty steep $ 1,770 for large companies, $ 885 for small entities. Accordingly, after a 3-5 year period from initially filing the application, a startup may determine that the invention disclosed in the application is no longer profitable or may just not want to pay the fee. The application at this point will become abandoned without ever being granted.

If the start-up pays the issue fee the application is granted. However, a patent term MAY be 20 years. Maintenance fees must be paid for the patent at the 3.5 year mark after the patent is granted ($ 1,150), 7.5 year mark after the patent is granted ($ 2,900) and 11.5 year mark after the patent is granted ($ 4,810). As a note, these fees are reduced in …