ronburgundy

<-------------- Beancounter extraordinaire! And (not very) proud of it!

FWIW too folks while we're on the topic of budgetary stimulus they government released a statement late last year about a 10% "investment allowance" - quite simply, an extra 10% depreciation claim. The requirement is that you buy an asset (plant/equipment etc) that costs more than $10k. So for those that perhaps run their own company and want to buy a new car... No further info has come out, nor has there been any legislation. No reason to believe this wouldn't include cars, however you should speak to your friendly accountant for more advice

You beat me to it Russ! Might be time for those injectors after all...

No worries mate. Re your other question I can't imagine it wouldn't also go to part timers/casuals; I don't think it's paid through an employer, so provided you lodged a tax return for the 2008 financial year (ie that's what they're basing your Income figure on) I imagine you automatically qualify. As I said - this would have to be an administrative nightmare!

Not sure EXACTLY how they'll do it but re the cash bonuses, it is indeed independent of any Centrelink benefits you may or may not be entitled to. It is income tested as opposed to asset tested, so your investments shouldn't impact.

All going to be paid between now and the end of March apparently. So we don't have to wait until tax time~! PS. I would HATE to be working for Centrelink or any gov't authority right now!

Correct Mat - through the power of salary packaging, I fit into the poor category too! Yippee! I guess given that I have my car to thank for getting me into the poor category, I should spend the extra on the car?!

Yes indeedy! Those that have kids and are eligible for FTB part A, will get another $950 each kid. And $950 each in bonus cash payments as well... The best we can do is our duty to the economy - go out and spend it Edit: Oh and of course the average $300k mortgage is now $170 a month cheapear too.

Yeah even I won't go Garth or Celine! I did go to a concert about5 years ago from meory, Static-X Fear Factory and Korn. I'm not the biggest Korn fan but I do love my Fear Factory, and after that concert I can now call myself a Static-X fan too. Last album not so great though.

Well just got back - no oil change. As it turns out a good friend of my sister works in the service dept at the desk. I asked if the oil was changed and she said they don't. Fuel gauge was wildly out before I took it in, the piece of paper they gave me back afterwards said "could not fault at time of inspection" although interestingly it appears somewhat accurate now! Also (I know this isn't engine related of course) my external temp display was out by at least 5c, going back in 2 weeks to have passenger side mirror replaced as apparently that's where the sensor is

I have a client in a similar situation actually - specialising in 'high end' home theatre/hi-fi etc. Used to do really well until LCD/plasma took off. We just let 8 people (out of about 100) go here today. Not a fun place to be right now.

Sitting firmly on the fence here, but it depends on your point of view; is jail time a form of punishment, or an 'opportunity' for rehabilitation? I can't say I've done a lot of study on re-offending rates of long term prisoners and the like, but it really does just depend. Obviously some people are beyond rehabilitation, and not necessarily for reasons of mental health. Some have said the death sentence is OK (FWIW I'm amenable to it in principle) for serial killers/mass murderers etc - who's to say they don't suffer from the same mental afflictions as this bloke?!

I think this is the ultimate case of 'put your money where your mouth is'! Many people claim to be green and that they support all this save the planet stuff because, quite frankly, it's very fashionable. Throw up a performance car that costs the same as an F6 and a decent daily driver? Now we'll know who is serious and who is just paying lip service!

I hear there's blackouts out west (dunno about anywhere else) - Werribee, Hoppers, Tarneit area. There goes my a/c coming on at 5pm to cool the house down for me

I think a retail DNA test would make a great Father's Day present to a few guys I know!

This is my Max (short for Maximus!). Actually I bought him for the missus; she'd been asking for one for a while and so I figured if I bought her a dog she can't tell me that I only spend money on ME when I want to start modding He's a spoodle (Cocker Spaniel/Poodle) and is just beautiful. Picked him up 3 weeks ago, this was taken just after we picked him up I think. Best of all he sheds no hair, unlike our cat who I'm sure pays close attention when the Advanced Hair ads come on the TV! First one is with my little fella (well, stepson anyway) and second one is with a mouthful of his favourite pig's ear!

Just saw an article on ninemsn where it's tipped that the official cash rate will fall from the current 4.25% to as low as 2.5%. They also said this: Meanwhile, car audio retailer Strathfield has become the latest victim of the economic downturn. The company, which has 100 stores across Australia, has been placed into voluntary administration after weak Christmas trading. It is believed the company will now look to pursue a franchising business model in a bid to survive.

The photoshop of the Toyota says it all really!

James Brown's funeral

I work in accounting where we've had over the last few years a lack of quality labour. As a result there are people with jobs that quite frankly, have no business having those jobs! In a boom there is a need for 'mediocre' people because basically there's more work than we can handle. I don't think, where I work, there will be 'redundancies' per se, but I do think this state of play will perhaps provide the partners with the impetus they need to get rid of the lower performers shall we say.

Mine's going in this weekend for 3000 klm service - I might just have to ask them to change the oil and see what they say...!

I flicked through that at the supermarket the other day, didn't think to look at the picture that closely! Was more interested in the numbers. Might Google it. PS. 400 kw and its SLOWER than a factory G6ET???!!

Not quite! Its owner was actually the b/f of our neighbour - yes, I intentionally used past tense there. He headed to Splitsville before I had a chance to run mine in!

THanks - so far my only complaint is that even though I spend a shyteload of time behind the wheel, much of it's in 6th gear!