Taxes are a major source of revenue budgets of all levels and effective government regulation of social and economic relations.
So I can see mail ru and others
Excise tax is one of the oldest forms of indirect taxes. Understand that excise taxation is a regulatory function and to discourage the consumption of socially harmful products. Currently, the Russian Federation of goods subject to excise a particularly high profitability. Therefore excise valid.
The purpose of the course work is to excise as a form of indirect taxes, its features; Payment of Excise; Features calculating excise.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Business Uniforms What to Wear?
Are you a businessman? Want to know what you should wear in the office? Here is the answer.Those times are gone when businessmen could wear only suits. Things have changed now, present business uniform "mantra" is simple, your dress should please you and everyone who is associated with you like clients, employees, employers etc.The best thing to do is to choose an outfit which is neither too formal nor too casual. You should be able to feel comfortable in it, at the same time you should be well dressed. Remember your business dress always plays an important role in determining level of respect you get.Every time people around you judge your personality through your dress.Big dilemma is faced by young entrepreneurs. If you are young do not think of wearing funky clothes, always wear the dress and question yourself if your boss or business partner wear same kind of attire, it will suit the moment or not? Whether the dress helps in enhancing your business personality or what kind of aura it creates? Examine critically and then decide.Remember the law of attraction, it says "You will be attracted to people in which you find your reflection." Always look the dressing sense of your above ranked person and get better every time. So, before going for that big day read books, surf websites and try clothes until you get the perfect one.Men: Black, black!!!! This is the color for men's formal suiting. Everyone from tom cruise to Dustin Hoffman love to wear black tuxedo. So, black clothes must-must for your wardrobe.Along with this other shades which are hot this season navy blue, grey, and silver. While wearing navy blue suit be extra careful, it must suit your skin complexion. Silk tie's are always in fashion, cuff links, pocket squares (silk or Lenin) both of them should complement the color of the suit. If your coloring sense is not so good, wear a white shirt this is far better than experimenting. Avoid taking risk especially when you are going for an interview. You can wear a bottom-down or a straight collared shirt; it depends on your personal choice. Never wear a collar bar it leaves a bad impression. Tie is the most important part of a men's dress. It shows your personality traits more than anything else. Do not wear the tie which is bright, with colored pictures over it, as it will distract the attention of others.Ties' tip should reach belt buckle. Your dress should fit you perfectly. For instance while trying a shirt close the topmost button and then examine the space between the neck and the collar. It should neither too tight nor too loose. Similarly for shoulders-the stitch on the shoulder should come exactly at the end of your shoulders, it should not be hanging. Do not wear a casual dress just by watching another employee wearing it, especially when you are going for an interview.Remember you are not an employee yet. General business attire include sport coat and dress trouser. Avoid denim as much as you can. Shoes also play an important role mainly black or burgundy colored shoes (laced) are preferred polish them regularly and wear the matching socks with them. Socks should be long enough to hide your haired legs when you sit. Gold, silver or any conservative designed watch gives you a styled professional look. Wear belt of the same color as that of shoes and belt should contain simple buckle.Women: women can also wear shades of black, grey, blue etc. Hunter -green is also a trendy shade for business women. Now a day's skirted suits are preferred length of the skirt should be up to the knees or longer. Avoid very tight ones. Slits look good but should not exceed above the knees. A centrally placed slit on the back is preferred as it allows you to walk comfortably especially on stair case. Fabric should be wool, Lenin, or any other good quality fabric. Blouse should be of classic style, both long and short sleeved is good. A high neck lined one looks impressive. Colors recommended are white, pale yellow, creams and other light colors try to match the color of your blouse to that of your suit like if you are wearing a navy blue suit, wear a very pale blue blouse with it. All this will give an impression that you are capable of coordinating your business uniform. Fabric used should be silk or cotton depending on your choice and weather. Something on the neck is preferred a tie, bow or scarf. Do not wear too much jewellery, remember you are in business, not in some fashion party. Too much jewellary or make up will ruin your professional look. A single simple necklace like that of pearls can be worn. Wear rings but only one per hand. A closed pump looks good if of the same color of that of suit. Do not wear the flat ones. You can wear hosiery -of skin color or transparent without any patterns on it. A small purse or a briefcase also gives you a classic look.Some tips:Avoid wearing a dress which would cause itching or any kind of irritation. Weather plays an important role; use mostly cotton clothes in summer. If you are going for an interview, search about that particular company and its dress code and dress accordingly. Give a lot of importance on how the dress fits on your body. Try to hide the problem areas, for example if your height is short wear the dress with vertical stripes on it, this will give you much longer look. If you are fat wear one colored two piece dress. Choose the color of your dress according to your skin complexion. There is a myth that shades of black and grey are always boring. This is not true. This depends on your personality. Other way out is to use little accessories of vibrant colors.Along with your black or grey dress. Avoid wearing jewels as far as possible or wear it in controlled manner.Sometimes employee make a big mistake of wearing a really down dress just by making excuse that company gives the freedom to wear casual. Do not exploit the freedom to such an extent, if you are women and want to show your waist, wear belt or a scarf around it. If you are going for a business function or party -tuxedo are best for men with a matching tie and women should consult online websites to find out the latest trends. Always give first preference to quality. Go for the best quality product as it sets up your reputation which is most important factor.
http://www.articlewheel.com
http://www.articlewheel.com
What Is The Salary Of A Private Investigator?
The price you will pay a private investigation agency for a hour of work usually varies between $40 to $100 and even more depending on the investigator prestige and the primarily on the job, because is one thing to spy on Mr Smith who is a regular person and another thing is to keep under observation some important company, so the risks that are evolved can increase drastically the job price and consequently the salary of a private investigator. There are a number of factors that determine how well paid a PI can get.An approximative fee is $50 to $55 per hour, slide variations may appear depending on the company office, if it is a crowded area you can expect to pay up to $65 or contrary less than $40 if the area is at the peripheral of the city. Another element that can increase the paying bill is the good qualification the investigator has in the job domain. So the salary of a private investigator very much depends on having good connections at the local police or reference from previous clients.
A beginner in the business will earn no more than the minimum wage, but money can come fast if you are good in investigations. In such cases the salary of a private investigator usually begins at $25000 / year up to $75000 / year and according the job types. Usually agencies pay their hired detectives according to the number of worked hours, so if the company has many clients and you are free to work 10 hours a day, you will probably earn around $5000 monthlyOn the other hand if the agency has little or no clients, then, working 10 – 15 hours per week won't help you too much, and living from such a private investigator salary is not an option. Under the circumstances, a PI may go independent or work for two agencies at the same time. Another paying method is giving the employees a cut from the total sum the agency charges the client.Some PIs (Private Investigators) pay to be in the business, they actually pay the investigation agencies to be associated with them, this so/called detectives are usually former law officers or people who have a degree in Investigation. The salary of such a private investigator is more of a fee. Many of these persons don't realize at first that they pay more than they actually earn, this situation encourages the companies in charging lower prices than they would normally do.Obviously, if you are planning to enter the investigation market just for the money, news is not so good, the salary of a private investigator very much depends on reference, qualification, partnership with an agency and so on. as There are also jobs risks present every day. But if you are really determined to become a PI, and you love seeing new situations every day than being a private investigator isn't so bad at all.
By: Steve Jamison -
A beginner in the business will earn no more than the minimum wage, but money can come fast if you are good in investigations. In such cases the salary of a private investigator usually begins at $25000 / year up to $75000 / year and according the job types. Usually agencies pay their hired detectives according to the number of worked hours, so if the company has many clients and you are free to work 10 hours a day, you will probably earn around $5000 monthlyOn the other hand if the agency has little or no clients, then, working 10 – 15 hours per week won't help you too much, and living from such a private investigator salary is not an option. Under the circumstances, a PI may go independent or work for two agencies at the same time. Another paying method is giving the employees a cut from the total sum the agency charges the client.Some PIs (Private Investigators) pay to be in the business, they actually pay the investigation agencies to be associated with them, this so/called detectives are usually former law officers or people who have a degree in Investigation. The salary of such a private investigator is more of a fee. Many of these persons don't realize at first that they pay more than they actually earn, this situation encourages the companies in charging lower prices than they would normally do.Obviously, if you are planning to enter the investigation market just for the money, news is not so good, the salary of a private investigator very much depends on reference, qualification, partnership with an agency and so on. as There are also jobs risks present every day. But if you are really determined to become a PI, and you love seeing new situations every day than being a private investigator isn't so bad at all.
By: Steve Jamison -
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Bush and your mail
New postal law lets Bush peek through your mail:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/485561p-408789c.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/485561p-408789c.html
Here some about this
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_12_31_atrios_archive.html#116791479025573899
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_12_31_atrios_archive.html#116791479025573899
So Bush will read your spam!
Google Code Jam Latin America opens
Programmers (Latin America and the Caribbean) will test their coding skills at Google Code Jam Latin America
Total Cash and Prizes: R$ 75,000
There are photos from the Code Jam 2006 http://www.google.com/codejamlatinamerica/photos.html
Total Cash and Prizes: R$ 75,000
There are photos from the Code Jam 2006 http://www.google.com/codejamlatinamerica/photos.html
Spears Fansite Closes
The most popular Britney Spears fan Web site WorldOfBritney.com is closing after its owner declared the controversial pop star is "done."
Ruben Garay, who has hosted WorldOfBritney.com since October 2000, yesterday announced the site will no longer exist after January 31 because the singer is "losing her identity and credibility with fans and industry people."
Garay says, "I still and will always respect Britney as a human being, we are just choosing to not go on with this site...
"I think that WoB has had its run. Its feet are not holding firm anymore, not because of my ability to run it, but because I believe Britney is unfortunately done (for me at least)."
Spears has been criticized by fans and the media this year for her parenting skills -- earlier this year she was visited by the Los Angeles' Department Of Children and Family Services after she was photographed driving with her baby son Sean Preston on her lap, and a month later when the tot fell out of his highchair at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home.
Spears' parenting skills were questioned again last month after she filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline. The aspiring rapper filed court papers for sole custody of their two children, Sean Preston, 16 months; and Jayden James, 3 months, claiming he didn't know of their whereabouts.
Spears has repeatedly been photographed partying in Las Vegas, Miami, New York City and Los Angeles since their split, prompting speculation her mother Lynne is caring for the young boys.
Ruben Garay, who has hosted WorldOfBritney.com since October 2000, yesterday announced the site will no longer exist after January 31 because the singer is "losing her identity and credibility with fans and industry people."
Garay says, "I still and will always respect Britney as a human being, we are just choosing to not go on with this site...
"I think that WoB has had its run. Its feet are not holding firm anymore, not because of my ability to run it, but because I believe Britney is unfortunately done (for me at least)."
Spears has been criticized by fans and the media this year for her parenting skills -- earlier this year she was visited by the Los Angeles' Department Of Children and Family Services after she was photographed driving with her baby son Sean Preston on her lap, and a month later when the tot fell out of his highchair at her Beverly Hills, Calif., home.
Spears' parenting skills were questioned again last month after she filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline. The aspiring rapper filed court papers for sole custody of their two children, Sean Preston, 16 months; and Jayden James, 3 months, claiming he didn't know of their whereabouts.
Spears has repeatedly been photographed partying in Las Vegas, Miami, New York City and Los Angeles since their split, prompting speculation her mother Lynne is caring for the young boys.
Oz lion costume goes under hammer
The iconic cowardly lion outfit worn by actor Bert Lahr in 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is going up for auction.
The costume, estimated to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000, is part of a Hollywood memorabilia sale on auction site eBay on 14 and 15 December.
The sale, hosted by US-based auction house Profiles in History, also includes Elvis Presley's wedding ring from his 1967 marriage to Priscilla.
The domed head of Star Wars robot R2-D2 will also go under the hammer.
It is estimated to fetch up to £75,000, while the Presley ring, made from platinum and diamonds, could make a similar sum.
The dress worn by Judy Garland has a 27-inch waist
The lion costume is made of real lion pelts, which have been sewn together to form the outfit.
The costume is mounted on a pedestal and positioned in the memorable "Put 'em up, put 'em up" pose from the film.
Other items up for grabs include such costumes as trousers Oliver Hardy wore in the film Swiss Miss and Fred Astaire's sailor suit from Follow the Fleet.
A blue and white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz fetched £140,000 at an auction in London last year.
The dress, which was purchased by an unnamed phone buyer, had been expected to fetch £35,000.
The Wizard of Oz's tin man costume was largely destroyed, while the scarecrow outfit is currently housed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC.
The costume, estimated to fetch between £200,000 and £300,000, is part of a Hollywood memorabilia sale on auction site eBay on 14 and 15 December.
The sale, hosted by US-based auction house Profiles in History, also includes Elvis Presley's wedding ring from his 1967 marriage to Priscilla.
The domed head of Star Wars robot R2-D2 will also go under the hammer.
It is estimated to fetch up to £75,000, while the Presley ring, made from platinum and diamonds, could make a similar sum.
The dress worn by Judy Garland has a 27-inch waist
The lion costume is made of real lion pelts, which have been sewn together to form the outfit.
The costume is mounted on a pedestal and positioned in the memorable "Put 'em up, put 'em up" pose from the film.
Other items up for grabs include such costumes as trousers Oliver Hardy wore in the film Swiss Miss and Fred Astaire's sailor suit from Follow the Fleet.
A blue and white gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz fetched £140,000 at an auction in London last year.
The dress, which was purchased by an unnamed phone buyer, had been expected to fetch £35,000.
The Wizard of Oz's tin man costume was largely destroyed, while the scarecrow outfit is currently housed in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington DC.
Science proves celebs really are different
DO the stars find themselves as fascinating as their fans do? Yes, says a forthcoming psychological study of Hollywood’s celebrity class. It is not just money or career that makes them seem different: it is their extreme levels of self love and their compulsive need for public attention.
Some stars have long been aware of Hollywood vanity. Beyoncé Knowles, the pop singer and actress, said recently: “It’s scary that you rarely meet celebrities that are normal. They live on their own diva planets.”
NI_MPU('middle');
Two Los Angeles psychologists have produced the first scientific evidence that many celebrities sincerely believe that they are better than the rest of us. The psychologists’ forthcoming book suggests that many pop culture icons are heading for disaster.
Mark Young and Drew Pinsky used a mathematical formula to measure the traits, including exhibitionism and vanity, that make up narcissism. Psychologists believe that in general men are both bossier than women and show off more. However, in the “celebrity class” women are far more narcissistic than men and up to a third are more manipulative and vain about their appearance than the typical woman in the street, according to the psychologists from the University of Southern California.
Young and Pinsky have had rare access: celebrities queue up to appear on Loveline, Pinsky’s nationally syndicated radio show, where he has been compared to Professor Anthony Clare, the BBC psychiatrist, for his revealing interviewing style.
They asked 200 celebrities who appeared on the programme to fill out a standard questionnaire called the Narcissism Personality Inventory. They were asked how they felt about themselves, including whether they felt they deserved compliments or were embarrassed by them and whether they insisted on being “respected” at all times.
Participants remain anonymous but interviewees featured on Pinsky’s website include Renée Zellweger, Jessica Simpson, Jim Carrey and members of Duran Duran, the British pop band.
“It was people like that — actors, comedians, musicians and reality TV contestants — who emerged as the most narcissistic of all,” said Pinsky. “The fewer real-life skills they had, the louder they tend to be in their attempts to hold on to attention.”
Fictional examples of narcissists are David Brent of The Office and Miss Piggy from The Muppets. Closer to real life, Courtney Love, the exuberant rock star, once described herself as “over-excitable narcissist”.
Pinsky said: “Vanity is only part of it. They crave attention, are over-confident of their abilities, lack empathy and can behave erratically. But they are often admired and well liked, especially on a first meeting, and perform well in public.”
Knowles said she had noticed a “desperate hunger” around her when she first started making films in Hollywood: “I hope I’m past needing it, as I don’t want to feel the void I see in a lot of celebrities — the unhappiness underneath the smile.”
Young said he suspected that many of today’s Hollywood “fast set”, such as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, were in danger of stumbling over the line between fun and malady.
“I have spoken with Nicole Richie, Hilton’s on-off best friend, and she is very polite in private. But she has had a troubled past, her adoptive father [Lionel Richie, the pop star] had admitted he was not a very good parent, and now we see it all coming out in the attention-generating headlines about alleged eating disorders,” Young said.
“They are going further and further. One of these Hollywood party girls is going to be dead in five years’ time.
“We are seeing a new type of celebrity who is famous just for being famous, without a foundation of skills, and this puts the pressure on them to perform ever more outrageously to feed their need for attention. Like Britney being photographed without underwear.”
He added: “We have also found striking differences between the celebrities and their jobs — the more real-life skills they have, such as musicians, the less narcissistic they are.
“In Hollywood they may have found a place that rewards their need for attention.”
Some stars have long been aware of Hollywood vanity. Beyoncé Knowles, the pop singer and actress, said recently: “It’s scary that you rarely meet celebrities that are normal. They live on their own diva planets.”
NI_MPU('middle');
Two Los Angeles psychologists have produced the first scientific evidence that many celebrities sincerely believe that they are better than the rest of us. The psychologists’ forthcoming book suggests that many pop culture icons are heading for disaster.
Mark Young and Drew Pinsky used a mathematical formula to measure the traits, including exhibitionism and vanity, that make up narcissism. Psychologists believe that in general men are both bossier than women and show off more. However, in the “celebrity class” women are far more narcissistic than men and up to a third are more manipulative and vain about their appearance than the typical woman in the street, according to the psychologists from the University of Southern California.
Young and Pinsky have had rare access: celebrities queue up to appear on Loveline, Pinsky’s nationally syndicated radio show, where he has been compared to Professor Anthony Clare, the BBC psychiatrist, for his revealing interviewing style.
They asked 200 celebrities who appeared on the programme to fill out a standard questionnaire called the Narcissism Personality Inventory. They were asked how they felt about themselves, including whether they felt they deserved compliments or were embarrassed by them and whether they insisted on being “respected” at all times.
Participants remain anonymous but interviewees featured on Pinsky’s website include Renée Zellweger, Jessica Simpson, Jim Carrey and members of Duran Duran, the British pop band.
“It was people like that — actors, comedians, musicians and reality TV contestants — who emerged as the most narcissistic of all,” said Pinsky. “The fewer real-life skills they had, the louder they tend to be in their attempts to hold on to attention.”
Fictional examples of narcissists are David Brent of The Office and Miss Piggy from The Muppets. Closer to real life, Courtney Love, the exuberant rock star, once described herself as “over-excitable narcissist”.
Pinsky said: “Vanity is only part of it. They crave attention, are over-confident of their abilities, lack empathy and can behave erratically. But they are often admired and well liked, especially on a first meeting, and perform well in public.”
Knowles said she had noticed a “desperate hunger” around her when she first started making films in Hollywood: “I hope I’m past needing it, as I don’t want to feel the void I see in a lot of celebrities — the unhappiness underneath the smile.”
Young said he suspected that many of today’s Hollywood “fast set”, such as Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, were in danger of stumbling over the line between fun and malady.
“I have spoken with Nicole Richie, Hilton’s on-off best friend, and she is very polite in private. But she has had a troubled past, her adoptive father [Lionel Richie, the pop star] had admitted he was not a very good parent, and now we see it all coming out in the attention-generating headlines about alleged eating disorders,” Young said.
“They are going further and further. One of these Hollywood party girls is going to be dead in five years’ time.
“We are seeing a new type of celebrity who is famous just for being famous, without a foundation of skills, and this puts the pressure on them to perform ever more outrageously to feed their need for attention. Like Britney being photographed without underwear.”
He added: “We have also found striking differences between the celebrities and their jobs — the more real-life skills they have, such as musicians, the less narcissistic they are.
“In Hollywood they may have found a place that rewards their need for attention.”
Amazon's Secret Price Guarantee
Of the many responsibilities shouldered by this column, none is more solemn than its mandate to compel Web-based retailers to take phone calls from the public. But suppose you finally get one of these reclusive customer-service reps on the horn and become so flustered that you forget what it is you wanted to say? If the retailer is Amazon.com—customer-service number: 1-800-201-7575; to get a human right away, dial extension 7—ask him about that 30-day price guarantee.
Perhaps you are wondering: What 30-day price guarantee? Like Amazon's customer-service number itself, the 30-day price guarantee is not something Amazon publicizes. For instance, it isn't mentioned on the "Refunds" page. If you click here you'll learn all about Amazon's 30-day returns policy, which provides a full refund for most unopened items returned within 30 days. But that's different from the 30-day price guarantee, which requires only that you pay attention to whether Amazon lowers its price within 30 days after you purchase your item. If it does, Amazon will refund you the difference. No need to box up your purchase or fret about receiving only a partial refund because you removed the plastic wrap.
Is the 30-day price guarantee mentioned anywhere on Amazon's Web site? Yes. If you click here, you'll find, on a discussion board about Swiss Army knives, an Amazon customer who identifies himself as "Elmo Is Queer" spreading the gospel: "Amazon has a 30-day price guarantee—they'll reimburse the difference in any price drops within 30 day period. Look into it and stop whining. ;) Amazon rocks!!!" But Amazon doesn't rock so much that it's willing to state this policy in its own voice. On its "Pricing" page, Amazon says only that it will refund customers on a preordered item (that is, an item you buy today but won't receive until it's made available to the general public) in those instances when the price drops between the time of that item's preorder and its actual distribution. (If the price goes up, customers aren't required to refund Amazon the difference.) The pricing page also says, under the heading, "Price Matching," that "Amazon.com does not have a price-matching policy at this time." Technically, that's true. If you can find an item cheaper somewhere else, Amazon won't match that price. What Amazon artfully neglects to add is that if you can find that item cheaper on Amazon up to 30 days after your purchase, Amazon will, in effect, match its new, lowered price by refunding you the difference. But you have to ask. Particularly during the present post-Christmas shopping season, when prices typically fall on all sorts of items, Amazon is not about to shout from the rooftops that it's offering refunds.Or perhaps I should say "shout through the forest." Amazon's 30-day price guarantee is a sort of Zen customer benefit. If a retailer offers a price guarantee but doesn't tell customers about it, does the price guarantee exist? Only for the few who hear about it somewhere else. News of the refunds has thus far traveled fitfully through mentions here and there on Web sites other than Amazon's. (One Web site actually offers to keep an eye on Amazon's prices for you; just enter the ISBN or other identifying number and you'll receive an automatic e-mail if the price on one of your items falls within the 30-day period.) As with sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, one longs for official confirmation. I myself learned of the 30-day price guarantee from my friend (and occasional Slate contributor) Joshua Green, who bought himself a plasma TV screen a few weeks before Christmas. Checking the price a few days after Christmas he found that it had gone down $20, so he dialed Amazon customer service, asked for his refund, and got it. After hearing this story, I phoned Amazon (don't forget, now: 1-800-201-7575, extension 7) and, like a tippler seeking entry to a speakeasy, uttered the secret pass phrase: "Does Amazon offer a 30-day price guarantee?" There was a pause at the other end of the line. Then, as if opening the door to a stranger, the customer-service rep said warily: "Yes, we do."
http://www.slate.com
Perhaps you are wondering: What 30-day price guarantee? Like Amazon's customer-service number itself, the 30-day price guarantee is not something Amazon publicizes. For instance, it isn't mentioned on the "Refunds" page. If you click here you'll learn all about Amazon's 30-day returns policy, which provides a full refund for most unopened items returned within 30 days. But that's different from the 30-day price guarantee, which requires only that you pay attention to whether Amazon lowers its price within 30 days after you purchase your item. If it does, Amazon will refund you the difference. No need to box up your purchase or fret about receiving only a partial refund because you removed the plastic wrap.
Is the 30-day price guarantee mentioned anywhere on Amazon's Web site? Yes. If you click here, you'll find, on a discussion board about Swiss Army knives, an Amazon customer who identifies himself as "Elmo Is Queer" spreading the gospel: "Amazon has a 30-day price guarantee—they'll reimburse the difference in any price drops within 30 day period. Look into it and stop whining. ;) Amazon rocks!!!" But Amazon doesn't rock so much that it's willing to state this policy in its own voice. On its "Pricing" page, Amazon says only that it will refund customers on a preordered item (that is, an item you buy today but won't receive until it's made available to the general public) in those instances when the price drops between the time of that item's preorder and its actual distribution. (If the price goes up, customers aren't required to refund Amazon the difference.) The pricing page also says, under the heading, "Price Matching," that "Amazon.com does not have a price-matching policy at this time." Technically, that's true. If you can find an item cheaper somewhere else, Amazon won't match that price. What Amazon artfully neglects to add is that if you can find that item cheaper on Amazon up to 30 days after your purchase, Amazon will, in effect, match its new, lowered price by refunding you the difference. But you have to ask. Particularly during the present post-Christmas shopping season, when prices typically fall on all sorts of items, Amazon is not about to shout from the rooftops that it's offering refunds.Or perhaps I should say "shout through the forest." Amazon's 30-day price guarantee is a sort of Zen customer benefit. If a retailer offers a price guarantee but doesn't tell customers about it, does the price guarantee exist? Only for the few who hear about it somewhere else. News of the refunds has thus far traveled fitfully through mentions here and there on Web sites other than Amazon's. (One Web site actually offers to keep an eye on Amazon's prices for you; just enter the ISBN or other identifying number and you'll receive an automatic e-mail if the price on one of your items falls within the 30-day period.) As with sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, one longs for official confirmation. I myself learned of the 30-day price guarantee from my friend (and occasional Slate contributor) Joshua Green, who bought himself a plasma TV screen a few weeks before Christmas. Checking the price a few days after Christmas he found that it had gone down $20, so he dialed Amazon customer service, asked for his refund, and got it. After hearing this story, I phoned Amazon (don't forget, now: 1-800-201-7575, extension 7) and, like a tippler seeking entry to a speakeasy, uttered the secret pass phrase: "Does Amazon offer a 30-day price guarantee?" There was a pause at the other end of the line. Then, as if opening the door to a stranger, the customer-service rep said warily: "Yes, we do."
http://www.slate.com
Seagate to offer 300 TB hard drive by 2010
The way technology moves forward, 300 TB on a 3.5-inch hard drive may not seem so big in 2010. But here in 2007, it’s a lot of data, especially when Seagate’s largest single hard drive capacity is a paltry 750 GB in comparison. The technology used today to expand hard drive capacities is called perpendicular recording, where bits are recorded to a hard drive in a vertical fashion, instead of horizontal, allowing many more bits to be recorded into the same physical space.
To pull the 300 TB rabbit out of the hat, technology comes to the rescue once again. This time, Seagate will use a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). These isn’t much detail on exactly how this works, but a single square inch of hard disk space will be able to store 50 TB of data. According to an online report from Joystiq, this is enough to store the entire ‘Library of Congress’ without needing to use any compression. It will also be enough to store 6,144 50 GB Blu-ray discs. That would be hundreds of thousands of standard DVD discs, millions upon millions of CDs and probably billions of photos.
There are concerns about losing 300 TB of data to a hard drive crash, but if 300 TB is truly the norm in 2010, buying a spare 300 TB to back it all up to won’t be that expensive. Defragging tools had better dramatically speed up, or a defrag might take days.
We don’t hear too much these days about holographic storage or where that will be by 2010, nor do we know how much capacity flash storage will offer by 2010. Still, an iPod nano sporting 1 TB of storage on flash memory may well be a reality by 2010, too.
Storage. It really is the answer to the space we need for our digital lives. Space is the final frontier, after all, although I’m sure Captain Kirk would laugh at the impossible prospect of flying the huge Enterprise starship through the 300 TB of space contained on a 3.5-inch hard disk platter.
http://www.itwire.com.au
To pull the 300 TB rabbit out of the hat, technology comes to the rescue once again. This time, Seagate will use a technology called heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). These isn’t much detail on exactly how this works, but a single square inch of hard disk space will be able to store 50 TB of data. According to an online report from Joystiq, this is enough to store the entire ‘Library of Congress’ without needing to use any compression. It will also be enough to store 6,144 50 GB Blu-ray discs. That would be hundreds of thousands of standard DVD discs, millions upon millions of CDs and probably billions of photos.
There are concerns about losing 300 TB of data to a hard drive crash, but if 300 TB is truly the norm in 2010, buying a spare 300 TB to back it all up to won’t be that expensive. Defragging tools had better dramatically speed up, or a defrag might take days.
We don’t hear too much these days about holographic storage or where that will be by 2010, nor do we know how much capacity flash storage will offer by 2010. Still, an iPod nano sporting 1 TB of storage on flash memory may well be a reality by 2010, too.
Storage. It really is the answer to the space we need for our digital lives. Space is the final frontier, after all, although I’m sure Captain Kirk would laugh at the impossible prospect of flying the huge Enterprise starship through the 300 TB of space contained on a 3.5-inch hard disk platter.
http://www.itwire.com.au
CEO Poker Tournament Announced at The Trump Taj Mahal
(PRWeb) January 8, 2007 -- CEO Poker, an Executive Games company, has announced a 2007 CEO Poker Tournament will be hosted by the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, May 19-25, 2007. The Trump Taj Mahal will be hosting the event in the East Coast, while other casino locations will be announced across the US in the coming weeks."The Trump Taj Mahal is the perfect place to host a CEO Poker Tournament," says William Peraza, CEO, CEOPoker. "We wanted to choose an East Coast location that would support the concept of executives battling over the green felt of the poker table, and where better than in a Trump casino."The CEO Poker Tournament will be open to all players wanting to compete and network, while playing Texas Holdem. Executives will battle for cash, trophies, and bragging rights. Buy ins start are from $500-$5,000.Additionally, all that register for at least 1 tournament, receive entry into a Live Free Roll at the Trump Taj Mahal on the first day of the tournament, for the chance to win a Main Event seat.A listing of the events can be found by clicking the link below:http://www.ceopokertour.com/Trumppage.htmlSeats are Limited. To register for the tournaments please log in to www.ceopokertour.com or ceopoker.net and click Tournaments for more info and an online registration link. Casinos interested in holding a CEOPoker Tournament in 2007 please send an email to ceopokertour (at) aol.comAbout Executive GamesExecutive Games produces executive related events, where players network and compete for titles, cash, and bragging rights. William Peraza, JR., CEO of Executives Games, and Maria Gomez, President of Executive Games, developed the concept of executive entertainment event productions to give players the ability to release stress, have fun, and network. Executive Games is the ultimate in player competition.
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