Skip To The End http://skip-to-the-end.com Giving you more time to waste time Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:58:53 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 The Incredible Invisible Car http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-incredible-invisible-car/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-incredible-invisible-car/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:58:53 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1369 Whether the current obsession with obtaining invisibility is down to the success of the Harry Potter films, where the titular boy wizard sports an an invisibility cape, or perhaps is a reaction to the surveillance society we currently live in – the combination of Facebook and CCTV monitoring our every move – there seems to be a hunger to disappear.

The military have long seen the value in hiding and disguising their ‘assets’ from the enemy. At its most basic level camouflage has emerged as a technology of invisibility. The problem with painted camouflage however is that it is inflexible. The dream has been of managing to give vehicles a chameleon like ability to mock the appearance of their surroundings.

Given the secretive nature of defence research the progress that has no doubt been made in creating ‘invisibility cloaks’ for tanks and so forth has itself been shrouded in layers of mystery. The publicity departments of major automotive firms have no such qualms – hence the incredible video below:

Mercedes came up with this incredible stunt to promote the new fuel cell that they have developed. The LED technology sadly will not be making it to the showroom versions of this car – the super low emission power system will. No doubt they are hoping that this will make models bearing it popular in the highly competitive business car leasing sector, as lower emission vehicles qualify for a lower rate of company car tax.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-incredible-invisible-car/feed/ 0 Piano Playing Dog http://skip-to-the-end.com/piano-playing-dog/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/piano-playing-dog/#comments Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:10:36 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1367 There have been many different breeds of working dogs that have emerged over the years. Sheep dogs are well known, even to city living TV audiences thanks to the surprisingly compelling show ‘One Man & His Dog’. Greyhounds are respected animal athletes of course, and anyone who has been savaged by a police attack dog will attest to their dedication, tenacity and professionalism. One area where canines have traditionally been excluded however is the arts. Can you name one successful dog musician from the last decade? Well, this musical mutt has set out to break through the barriers of prejudice and species-based exclusion and show that man’s best friend can be a musical maestro!

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/piano-playing-dog/feed/ 0 Car Maintainance http://skip-to-the-end.com/car-maintainance/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/car-maintainance/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:25:09 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1365
You don’t have to be the type of mechanical whiz who builds their own kit car, but it is important to know what is what. Whether you drive old banger, a BMW or even a 4×4 it is vital to know the basics. Don’t be a spanner.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/car-maintainance/feed/ 0 Batumi, Georgia http://skip-to-the-end.com/batumi_georgia/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/batumi_georgia/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:57:43 +0000 Bitter End http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1351 The ending of the Cold War and the fall of the USSR has opened up Eastern Europe, providing a whole batch of new tourist destinations and regions to explore. One such place is Batumi on the shores of the Black Sea in southwestern Georgia.  Situated between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, Batumi has developed as a great natural location for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and regularly attracts visitors from across Georgia, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Climate/ Weather

Batumi is within the Subtropical weather zone but influence from the Black Sea and local mountains gives cooler, wet weather with rain possible throughout the year. January has an average temperature of 14° rising to 22° during the middle of the summer months.

hotel in Batumi

Architecturally impressive building

Hotel

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Batumi is a beachfront location and offers top class accommodation during a stay.

.

Attractions

The area around Batumi has a host of attractions ready to please and entertain its visitors, this former Soviet Seaside resort overlooking the Black Sea has nice clean, pebbly beaches that have calm warm waters with a well kept promenade behind.

The Batumi Botanical Gardens are also a place worth looking around and are situated to the north of the city, high on the cliffs, looking out across the sea. This is a tranquil, cool spot and can easily absorb you for the best part of a half-day. There are also snack bars and stalls where you can get yourself some refreshments.

Gonio Castle about 15 km from the city centre provides a great day out, here you will find the ruins of an old 1st century Roman fortress on the banks of the River Chorokhi. Within a 100 years a busy town and trading post had grown up around the castle and today archaeologists are painstakingly unpicking the story of the area. The nearby beaches are also a popular draw with visitors travelling from as far as Tbilisi to bathe.

Dolphinarium is a favourite attraction, especially with families and has been entertaining crowds since it opened in 1974. It has recently been completely refurbished and the dolphins are once again putting on shows to entertain their visitors.

Adjara Modern Art Museum is a well-lit exhibition space with a good collection of works by local Georgian Artists and also has pieces representing 19th and 20th century European and Russian schools.

Dancing Fountain is an entertaining attraction along the seaside promenade, with the accompaniment of a light show and music, jets of water shoot into the air creating a wonderfully magical evening dance of water for the spectators.

The Archaeological Museum was opened in 1994 and houses a collection of significant finds from across the Adjara region. Displaying a rich selection of artefacts from mans earliest wanderings in Europe to beautifully decorated jewellery and beads from the 3rd century BC.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/batumi_georgia/feed/ 0 Melbourne http://skip-to-the-end.com/melbourne/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/melbourne/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:11:21 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1348 Melbourne is in the south of Australia, and has a character all of its own which is different to the rest of the country. There are many interesting things to do in Melbourne, and it really does make a fascinating holiday destination whatever your age and tastes.

In Britain the thing that most people most associate with Australia is the soap opera Neighbours. Although it is not often mentioned in the show the setting ‘Erinsborough’ is meant to be a suburb of Melbourne, and the show is filmed there. The Neighbours tour is a popular attraction for visitors, because of the iconic status of the show. For fifty dollars you can not only visit ‘Ramsey St.’ and have your picture taken, but you even get the opportunity to meet one of the current or a former star of the show to have your picture taken with them and get an autograph!

It is not just cheesy soap operas that Melbourne produces, The city is the home to much of the countries film and television industries. The Melbourne International Film Festival attracts stars and movie buffs from around the globe, and is an established part of the cultural calendar off the city.

Another thing that Australia is famous for is the enthusiasm for sports that is seem in its people. This has led to massive international success in the sporting arena across the full range of disciplines, but none more so than with cricket.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the games most iconic places. The stadium is huge, the largest of any which host cricket anywhere in the world, and it is the tenth largest of any kind of stadium anywhere, with over 120,000 seats before this was reduced for health and safety reasons. When it is not hosting cricket events the stadium also sees Australian Rules football there. Sport loving visitors to Australia should try their best to attend an Aussie Rules game at whatever level, as it is unique to the country, as well as being the most popular spectator sport in the country.

For those that are interested in animals, Melbourne is home to not one but three world class zoos. Closest to the city is the Melbourne Zoo. This is home to well over 300 species of animal, including some that are very rare indeed, such as the critically endangered Eastern Barred Bandicoot. The Healesville sanctuary is all about the animals that are native to Australia. It is notable for being one of the few places that have ever been able to breed a platypus in captivity. The Werribee Open Range Zoo is an open air safari style experience with creatures from Africa and South America among those that are at home there.

Getting to this beautiful city is no problem. Flights to Melbourne are a popular option for flights to Australia, as well as the city being well served by domestic flights.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/melbourne/feed/ 0 The Work of Conveyancing Solicitors http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-work-of-conveyancing-solicitors/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-work-of-conveyancing-solicitors/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:02:41 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1343 What is conveyancing? This article explains the basics of the process of conveyancing.

If you are looking into buying a property you might have heard the term “Conveyancing” before, but perhaps you are not sure what it means. Here are a few answers to some of the questions that you might have about conveyancing:

What is Conveyancing?

Conveyancing refers to the branch of the law which is concerned with preparing documents for the transferring of property. A typical conveyancing transaction is the legal transfers of the title of property from one person to another, and you must go through this process when you are buying a property.

Who Can Do It?

In the UK, conveyancing is done by a specific conveyancing solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. It is also possible you to do your own conveyancing, but this is not recommended to those with no experience as the process can be somewhat complex and confusing. When you are choosing a conveyancing solicitor, make sure that you find someone who has plenty of experience.

How Does the Process Work?

The process of transferring property from one party to another begins with two qualified solicitors, one representing the seller of the property and one representing the buyer.

The buyer’s solicitor negotiates a price with the solicitor of the seller of the property. After the survey is conducted and the solicitor carries out their searches and enquiries, the seller’s solicitor will prepare a draft to be approved by the solicitor of the buyer. The solicitor who is serving the buyer will likely raise enquiries regarding the transaction about the property and the land which is being purchased. The solicitor of the buyer will also check with other parties in the area such as the local council to make sure that there are no planned future projects or other developments which will impact the land that is being sold. They might also ask a local environmental agency if there have been a history of flooding in the area of the property. Each conveyancing solicitor will have their own unique way and order of approaching the process.

Once the buyer’s solicitor is satisfied that everything is fine and that all paperwork is in order, they will ask for a confirmation from the buyer in order to proceed. Once the contracts have been signed by both buyer and seller, the sale is legally final.

How Long Does it Take?

The average conveyancing transaction will take around 10-12 weeks, but can take more or less time depending on the nature of the transaction. While the conveyancing process is underway, either party is legally free to pull out of the transaction for any reason without having any legal obligation to the other party.

Now that your questions about conveyancing have been answered, you can start looking for a conveyancing solicitor to help you with your home purchase today!

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-work-of-conveyancing-solicitors/feed/ 0 Try Not to Laugh http://skip-to-the-end.com/try-not-to-laugh/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/try-not-to-laugh/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:05:16 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1340

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/try-not-to-laugh/feed/ 0 New Rules to make Mortgage Lending Tougher http://skip-to-the-end.com/new-rules-to-make-mortgage-lending-tougher/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/new-rules-to-make-mortgage-lending-tougher/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:53:12 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1334

Source: Imgspark

Yahoo reports on plans to reform the lending market. In order to avoid another loans crash the Financial Services Authority by making mortgage lenders introduce stress tests and income checks.

This means that buyers would be wise to check they can prove to lenders that they can afford the mortgage before applying. There are a growing number of tools available on online bank accounts for budgeting which could could help.

These measures “follows a report commissioned after the last recession in 2009 that found perhaps contrary to popular belief, mortgage lending has been roughly consistent since the middle of 2009 but lending by foreign banks, specialist lenders, and in particular Irish banks, has fallen away.

It also found the number of mortgage holders unable to pay is far less now than it was during the mid 1990s. This is largely down to the low Bank of England interest rate.

During the last decade the majority of mortgages were granted not to first time buyers but people wishing to move home and others wanting to re-mortgage their properties.”

The FSA has used the present dip in the economy to put these proposals in place for when the economy recovers.

A number of proposals, which were considered but rejected by the FSA, include a restriction on the amount a person or couple can borrow when compared to earnings, a total ban on interest only mortgages and tight limits on granting mortgages for people heading into retirement.

Instead the FSA has proposed the following three rules:

:: An affordability assessment must be carried out which includes verifying an individual or couple’s income. This was not always the case during the last boom.

:: Unavoidable bills such as utilities, council tax and spending on children must be taken into account.

:: All mortgage lenders must consider potential rises in interest rates and assess whether a borrower would be able to repay in such an eventuality.

The report has been widely welcomed by the Council of Mortgages, but received a more cautious evaluation by the chief executive of Countrywide mortgage broker.

The conclusions drawn from the report was that “bad” mortgage lending was a thing of the past on the whole, but this was down to the current economic environment.

The new rules are expected to come into effect in 2013.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/new-rules-to-make-mortgage-lending-tougher/feed/ 0 How did he avoid that? http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-did-he-avoid-that/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-did-he-avoid-that/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:15:34 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1331

The thing that springs to mind is – what idiot thought that the middle of the road would be the best place to park?

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/how-did-he-avoid-that/feed/ 0 Resolving employment disputes http://skip-to-the-end.com/resolving-employment-disputes/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/resolving-employment-disputes/#comments Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:42:22 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1326 Employment disputes are far from ideal for an individual or a business, here is a guide on how to solve them in the easiest manner.

The resolution of employment disputes is of optimum importance. A disrupted and unhappy workplace can cost money, livelihoods and a number of other problems. So, this is why it is imperative to ensure all conflicts are resolved and people can get on with their work in a happy manner.

Problems with employers come under one of either two categories disciplinary or grievances.

Grievances are complaints or problems about your job, employment terms, your contractual or statutory rights or the way you are treated at work.

Disciplinary is to do with your conduct, absence from work or about how you do your job. If these issues are raised informally it is always best to solve them then as these can lead on to more serious cases such as dismissal.

Here is some information on how to resolve grievances at work in the appropriate manner.

In the case of a grievance, if you have tried to solve it informally and fail you have to raise the matter formally. Your employer must put your grievance procedure in writing and must give you the person who you can discuss the redress with.

The first thing to do is to write a letter stating your grievance and send it to your employer. The employer will generally then requires you to have a meeting to discuss your problems further. He will then make a decision on the issue, though you have the ability to appeal this decision. There is more information on this on the direct.gov site.

When writing to your employer give them the full details of the grievance and how you would like the issue to be solved. Keep a copy of this and make sure to date it.

When you meet your employer arrange a meeting at a reasonable time and place. Write down what you wish to say and bring the notes with you. Employers will allow you to tell them where your grievances lie, try and establish the facts and find a way to resolve the problem. Consider getting legal advice from someone au fait with employment law services.

You are entitled to bring a companion with you to the meeting. This can be a colleague, a trade union representative or a trade union official. If you can’t bring one of the aforementioned you must ask your employer if you can bring someone else.

Your employer doesn’t have to let this happen, but probably will to avoid further issues. This companion can present your case, speak on your behalf or advise you during the meeting. They cannot answer questions on your behalf. After the meeting has ended your employer should write to you with their decision and the action they wish to take. This should be done without any unreasonable delay and should help resolve the decision.

In most cases grievances will be solved through the above method, however in some cases further action may need to be taken and a solicitor may need to be involved to settle the dispute.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/resolving-employment-disputes/feed/ 0 Bad For The Economy But Good For You – Why You Need To Save Not Spend http://skip-to-the-end.com/bad-for-the-economy-but-good-for-you-%e2%80%93-why-you-need-to-save-not-spend/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/bad-for-the-economy-but-good-for-you-%e2%80%93-why-you-need-to-save-not-spend/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:22:24 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1324 This is exactly the opposite of what the government would like you to do, but the honest truth is that it makes more sense for you to be save your money rather than spend it.

In order for the economy to recover people need to spend money. That is the beginning and the end of it. Even if they are spending money that they haven’t got, as long as they are making their payments, it is all good. That’s ‘people’ and that’s for the good of the economy, but when it comes to you and your own finances, it is a different story, and if you don’t look out for number one, nobody else is.

The Bank of England has done its best to discourage people from saving. It has done this by keeping interest rates at record lows. This has meant that in the majority of bank accounts money has been losing value in real terms as inflation has ridden high. In this situation it can seem tempting to spend the money today while you can still get the most ‘bang for your buck’, rather than wait until the future when it will not go as far.

There are undoubtedly some savings products that offer a better hedge against inflation than others. To understand the real reasons why it makes sense to save as much as possible right now it is essential to move beyond the concept of savings being an investment, and to see them as a lifeline.

All kinds of things in life can go wrong without a moment’s notice. It is for these eventualities that it is essential to have a little money put by. Unfortunately it really does seem that the way the wind is blowing these kinds of eventualities will be becoming more likely over the next ten years rather than less.

The mire that the global economy is in seems only to be getting deeper. Certainly by the metrics that are usually used to gauge these things, growth forecasts and the like, things are not looking good for the immediate future. In addition to this lots of people are now talking about the possible collapse of the eurozone and a wave of government defaults.

Why should you care what happens in Europe? Well one big reason is that the financial sector would be severely hit by any large scale sovereign debt disaster. Not every country can afford to bail out every bank. All kinds of the type of higher yield investments that may be more tempting than a conventional savings account could be hit. Badly. Money kept in a UK bank is guaranteed by the government (up to a level that is likely more than you have kicking about) so it is at least safe, even if the interest rate seems a bit pony.

Nobody has a crystal ball, nobody knows what is going to happen, and these a certainly unpredictable times financially. In that environment it only makes sense to have plenty of ready cash in savings accounts as a backup plan.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/bad-for-the-economy-but-good-for-you-%e2%80%93-why-you-need-to-save-not-spend/feed/ 0 Freaky Advert From The Past http://skip-to-the-end.com/freaky-advert-from-the-past/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/freaky-advert-from-the-past/#comments Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:56:54 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1322

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/freaky-advert-from-the-past/feed/ 0 Average Age of Foster Parents Rising http://skip-to-the-end.com/average-age-of-foster-parents-rising/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/average-age-of-foster-parents-rising/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:57:07 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1306 At a time when most people want to put their feet up and take it easy after they retire, a growing number of people are becoming foster carers instead reports the Daily Mail.

The Daily Mail relates the touching stories of seven couples, who, in their fifties and sixties are fostering children. It also describes how the average age of foster parents in rising:-

In Britain, there are approximately 59,000 children living with 45,000 foster families. A recent report showed that the average age of foster carers is rising significantly, with more becoming ‘empty nest’ foster carers. Some 65 per cent of carers are over 50, with more than a quarter over the age of 60, with even some in their 70s.

In 2000, the average age of a foster mother was 46; now it is 53. For male foster carers, the age had risen from 47 to 54.

The Fostering Network — the leading charity for foster care — says that more younger people need to be encouraged to come forward because of the shorter working life of those nearer the top end of the age scale.

But educational psychologist Dr Kairen Cullen says being older has many benefits.

‘A foster carer has to have a lot of patience and tolerance and I think it’s fair to say that people with a larger amount of life experience are more likely to have developed these qualities,’ she says.

‘With their own families grown up, people in their 50s and 60s can focus fully on the foster child and they have a wealth of life skills to pass on.

‘People in this age group are also often fired up by the idea of giving something back and that altruistic motivation makes them enthusiastic carers.’

It can be a challenging role, some of the children have had a difficult start to life, but the rewards in seeing a child grow are great too.

The video below privides more information of foster caring and its rewards. Fostering People are based in Nottingham and their Ireland office provides foster carers in the Dublin area.
 

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/average-age-of-foster-parents-rising/feed/ 0 Because Awesome Is Spelt V8 http://skip-to-the-end.com/because-awesome-is-spelt-v8/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/because-awesome-is-spelt-v8/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:49:54 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1308
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Shazzam/videos/2/

Big beefy V8 engines – just another reason why that flight to Abu Dhabi seems like a better idea every day.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/because-awesome-is-spelt-v8/feed/ 0 Forklift Funny http://skip-to-the-end.com/forklift-funny/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/forklift-funny/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:37:38 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1302 I like this video. Definitely something of an original take on health and safety training.

http://thetrawl.magnify.net/video/Funny-German-forklift-video

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/forklift-funny/feed/ 0 Can the Kindle take on the iPad? http://skip-to-the-end.com/can-the-kindle-take-on-the-ipad/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/can-the-kindle-take-on-the-ipad/#comments Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:20:32 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1298

As Amazon’s Kindle sales go through the roof this weekend, the WSJ discusses wwhether the Kindle Fire can take on the main player in the tablet market – the iPad.

This article was written whilst researching mobile banking.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/can-the-kindle-take-on-the-ipad/feed/ 0 Ofsted Judges Lancashire Fostering Service Outstanding http://skip-to-the-end.com/ofsted-judges-lancashire-fostering-service-outstanding/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/ofsted-judges-lancashire-fostering-service-outstanding/#comments Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:28:59 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1294 Fostering a child is a great responsibility and can be quite challenging, so it is great when your hard work is recognised.

Lancashire’s fostering service has been given the ultimate accolade by Ofsted and judged as outstanding.

The service, which is responsible for placing hundreds of looked after children with foster carers in the county – is Outstanding, according to the Ofsted report.

The Ofsted inspection was carried out just after the Evening Post launched its fostering campaign to urge 1,000 new enquiries from foster carers within six months.

The campaign was launched on October 3 and has already almost hit its goal with around 948 new telephone and online enquiries since the start of the campaign.

Ofsted inspectors were shown cuttings of the Evening Post campaign and were impressed.

County Coun Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “I could not be more pleased about this judgement – it is so well deserved.

The accolade is especially well received by the fostering service as it was judged ‘unsatisfactory’ and the foster carers showed a lot of commitment to improve their performance since the last review four years ago, amid cost cutting measures as well.

County Coun Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: “Surely fostering is one of the most important roles any local authority can carry out. It is our chance to enter the life of a child in need and help turn things around. I know we have a fostering service which is second to none. Now the rest of the world knows it too.”

This article was written whilst researching Dublin foster care.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/ofsted-judges-lancashire-fostering-service-outstanding/feed/ 1 The Worst Financial Investments You Can Make http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-worst-financial-investments-you-can-make/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-worst-financial-investments-you-can-make/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:51:48 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1292 Be warned: investing in these items could leave you with more regret than cash!

Many financial guides will tell you about investments that are a good idea, but what about the bad investments that you should avoid?

All investments are not created equal, and there are some things that just do not make financial sense to purchase. These investments will not be worth the large price tag, and might actually make you lose money in the long run. Avoid them at all costs.

A New Car

It is not a good financial decision to borrow money to purchase an asset that will quickly depreciate. Brand new cars cost a lot of money, and they lose a huge percentage of their value as soon as you drive them off the car dealer’s property. When you buy a new car, you pay much more than you need for extras that will not add to the value when the car is resold. A real estate purchase will usually appreciate in value over the years, but when it comes to cars the opposite occurs.

Instead of buying a brand new car, purchase what you need and make the most of it. Go for a resale which is a few years old to still get a great car for a less expensive cost, as well as cheaper insurance fees.

Timeshares

Timeshares are a holiday property scheme where you buy shared interest in an apartment or condominium in your favorite sunny tropical getaway. You will “own” a fraction of the property and be able to use it for a few designated weeks of the year. Although the sales pitch will sound enticing on the surface, timeshares are rarely ever a good investment. Just like a new car, the value of a timeshare immediately decreases approximately 50% as soon as you take ownership. Also, most timeshares demand maintenance fees which can quickly add up over the years. It is a much better idea to save money for your holidays each year.

Get Rich Quick Schemes

Have you ever heard the expression that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is?” Remember this the next time that you see a website that promises to teach you how to make a fortune over the internet while sitting at home in your pajamas, if only you will purchase the introductory e-book for £79.99? These types of pyramid schemes and get rich quick scams prey on lazy people who think that they can make big money with little effort, and they are almost always not worth the investment.

Any Investment that You Don’t Understand

It is unwise to throw your hard earned money into anything that you don’t have a complete understanding of. There are so many different ways to invest your money, and some are more complex than others. If you don’t understand the type of investment you are choosing, you can be at risk for making bad decisions and losing money instead. Always do your research before bringing your money to the table.

These are a few of the worst financial investments that you can make, so avoid spending your money on these bad choices and keep your your hard earned cash in a savings account while you look for some profitable investments instead!

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-worst-financial-investments-you-can-make/feed/ 0 Business Awards Deadline Looms http://skip-to-the-end.com/business-awards-deadline-looms/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/business-awards-deadline-looms/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:47:36 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1285 Irish businesses wishing to enter the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards have until 30th November to get their entries in.

Entries have been pouring in from across Ireland and businesses can put themselves forwards for up to two of the eight categories. The categories range from Innovation & Emerging Technology Award, International Business Award, Social Entrepreneurship Award and Best Business Start-up Award. Also included are Family Run Business Award, Green Business Award, Agriculture, Food & Drink Award and Service Business Award.

Companies will be judged on a variety of factors, from financial performance to achievements and innovative development of products and services.

Declan Fitxgerald, Managing Director of Ulster Bank’s Business Banking said:

“The Awards is about recognising and rewarding business success. Throughout each stage of the awards, participants are exposed to a wealth of potential customers and investors.

“An extensive media campaign gives our provincial and national winners a platform to showcase their success on a national and regional level. Each year, we also activate a rigorous online campaign where provincial winners are given their own dedicated web-page on the Business Achievers Awards website.”

Go to www.businessachieversaward.com for further details.

This post was written whilst researching online bank accounts.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/business-awards-deadline-looms/feed/ 0 Muppet Saw Movie http://skip-to-the-end.com/muppet-saw-movie/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/muppet-saw-movie/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:42:34 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1286 The latest Muppet film seems to be drawing its influences from a different source to previous outings. The ‘Saw’ franchise was widely successful, but is this a suitable source of inspiration for the Muppets?

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/muppet-saw-movie/feed/ 0 What To Do In Cairo http://skip-to-the-end.com/what-to-do-in-cairo/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/what-to-do-in-cairo/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:23:07 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1279 Cairo is a city that is as fascinating as it is ancient. There is no shortage of world class draws in this magical metropolis.

Picture by Flickr's 'mshamma'

When you think of Egypt, you think of the Pyramids. Built by the ancients these structures have stood the test of time, ensuring that the Pharaohs who were entombed within. It is amazing to think how long ago these gigantic mausoleums were constructed – to give you an idea of the kind of the time-scale involved the difference in time between the construction of the Great Pyramid and the rule of Cleopatra is greater than the distance in time from Cleopatra to us!

For seeing the Pyramids, Cairo is very much the part of Egypt you want to be in. The most famous pyramids are those that are found at Giza, which is nearby to Cairo. These include the legendary Pyramid of Khufu. This is not only the largest of the pyramids it is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also the only one still standing today.

As well as the pyramids Giza is also the site of the Sphinx. This is a truly massive sculpture, dating to around 2500 years before the time of Christ, of a beast with a lion’s body but the head of a human being. The mysterious statue has been the subject much debate among historical scholars. Nobody knows for sure who built the Sphinx, or indeed why. The name ‘Sphinx’ was applied to the statue by the ancient Greeks around 200 years after its construction.

The city of Cairo as it is today is fascinating in its own right. If you have not been there before nothing will prepare you for what you will find. This is a city of over 16 million people – and the heat, the dust and frequently the smell are overwhelming. You will soon adjust however and be able to soak in all that there is to see.

The history of Cairo is an exceptionally long one. There have been many colonial rulers over the millennia. The French, the British, the Greeks, the Turks, the Romans and the Arabs have all had their turn at ruling over Cairo. Each of these periods of rule has left its mark on Cairo. Find a good guide and they will be able to point out the buildings relics and influence on the architecture of later periods.

On the subject of finding a guide – expect to haggle over the price. The price of everything in Cairo is negotiable; it is simply the way of life to engage in protracted arguments over any purchase, no matter how small or how large. As a tourist remember that any price mentioned to you will in fact be eye-waveringly high. Nobody will be offended if you suggest that you should be paying less. You can also expect to be the subject of some, to put it politely, proactive, sales techniques. Don’t let this phase you, a firm “no” will usually be enough to signal your intentions if you are not interested in their wares.

Getting to the city should not be a drama, with flights to Cairo being something of the norm for flights to Egypt. Once you get to the airport however it is advised that you watch out for pickpockets and baggage thieves as they can be problematic at times.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/what-to-do-in-cairo/feed/ 0 The Best Drifting http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-drifting/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-drifting/#comments Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:03:11 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1276

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/the-best-drifting/feed/ 0 Don’t Be Hit By Excessive Bank Charges http://skip-to-the-end.com/dont-be-hit-by-excessive-bank-charges/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/dont-be-hit-by-excessive-bank-charges/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:58:37 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1266 If you are unhappy with the charges imposed by your bank, is it feasible to switch bank, and is it realistic to expect to reclaim charges made by your bank in the past? Here are key points regarding these matters.

Finding the best account

At times of very low base rates, some current accounts do not pay interest. Where it is paid, an attractive interest rate may only be paid on the first £3,000 or so, with a very low rate applying to the remaining balance. Also consider that the provider may only pay the enhanced rate if payments are made to the account every month. Overdraft terms may also be less attractive in higher interest accounts.

Personal current accounts are only free if you stay in credit. Overdrafts are charged at fairly high rates of interest, sometimes more than credit card debt, so finding the best terms on overdrafts is advisable. It is likely that there will be some providers offering interest-free overdrafts for a period of time, such as 12 months, or up to a certain amount, such as £250. For unauthorised overdrafts you can still expect high rates of interest.

Business current account customers can expect to incur charges for standard account services once they have held the account for a specified period, typically two years. Again these charges will vary between banks, so it pays to compare charges prior to opening an account.

Before opening a savings account, check whether there are any charges or interest reductions imposed on larger withdrawals or on short notice withdrawals. If you feel you might incur these charges, shop around for an account with no charges or lower charges.

Reclaiming bank charges previously applied

There has been a great deal of publicity recently regarding charges imposed by banks for breaching overdraft limits, or for bounced cheques and direct debits. The contention of consumer groups was that the level of charge, up to £35 per breach, was unfair and well in excess of the costs incurred by the bank as a result.

Following a ruling from the United Kingdom Supreme Court in November 2009, reclaiming bank charges has become much more difficult. The Supreme Court ruled that laws relating to fairness in consumer contract terms did not apply here. However, since this ruling, some customers are still being successful in claims for redress against bank charges.

If you are pursuing a claim of this type, you should never assume you will be successful, and when carrying out household budgeting, you should always do this on the assumption that your claim will not succeed.

Your first step should be to complain to the bank concerned. If the bank rejects your complaint, or offers a level of redress you are unhappy with, there are other options open to you.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) adjudicates on complaints where the complainant and the firm are unable to reach agreement. The FOS has indicated that it is willing to consider bank charging cases where severe financial hardship has resulted, or where the charge applied was excessively disproportionate. As with all matters it handles, the FOS will make its decision based on whether it believes the bank has treated you fairly and reasonably. The FOS makes its decisions based on the facts of the case and not on how well you argue your case, so there should be no need for you to use the services of a claims management company; indeed doing so could be to your disadvantage as the claims management company may insist on a considerable share of any compensation. Any FOS instruction to a financial institution to pay redress to a customer is legally binding.

If the FOS cannot consider your case, or you do not wish to use their services, the only option is to take the matter to court, and here you run the substantial risk of having to pay all of your legal costs, and possibly losing the case as well.

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/dont-be-hit-by-excessive-bank-charges/feed/ 0 GTA V Trailer http://skip-to-the-end.com/gta-v-trailer/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/gta-v-trailer/#comments Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:49:00 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1264 With the version hosted on YouTube running up over a million hits within a week there can be no denying that the interest in the first trailer for the latest instalment in the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series is generating a lot of interest. Now the anticipation for the first glimpse is to be replaced by the anticipation for the release date. Speculation about when this might be has been rife, with estimates ranging from May 2012, through to the pre-Christmas period of that year.

In case you have been hiding under an internet rock, here is the trailer:

]]> http://skip-to-the-end.com/gta-v-trailer/feed/ 0 Compensation claims and how they work http://skip-to-the-end.com/compensation-claims-and-how-they-work/ http://skip-to-the-end.com/compensation-claims-and-how-they-work/#comments Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:23:05 +0000 Darth Viral http://skip-to-the-end.com/?p=1260 Although some may see it as a new phenomenon, the concept of making financial recompense for wrong doing actually dates back a long way. At a fundamental level putting right what you have done wrong certainly tallies with the idea that most of us have about justice.

So-called ‘Compensation Lawyers’ are a much derided group in our society at the moment. When we receive unsolicited text messages telling us that we “could be entitled to £3010 compensation for our accident”, without having had an accident it does little to inspire confidence. These kind of companies are not the norm however, and there are many areas in which people are very legitimately seeking compensation, with it forming one of the corner stones of our legal system.

However you choose to travel the roads are without doubt one of the most dangerous places most of us go. This is an arena where the actions of others can have devastating consequences. It is because of this that it is mandatory for those that wish to operate a motor vehicle to take out insurance to cover the cost of damage to property and injury to persons. In the event of an accident it is up to the wronged party to pursue a claim.

With motor vehicle accident claims, as with other kinds of compensation claims the plaintiff, the person seeking the compensation, has to provide proof. Obviously this varies widely according to circumstances, but different types and levels of evidence will be required. Examples of the types of evidence that are needed are police reports and eye witness testimonies.

Another area in which the compensation claim is instrumental in getting justice is where people are injured at work. Sometimes people can be hurt really quite badly whilst in the service of their employer. They can be left unable to earn a living, or having to pay bills for physiotherapy. Without workers being able to seek damages all an employer has to do is to shrug their shoulders and stick up the ‘help wanted’ sign. The cost of being held responsible for injuries sustained in the workplace means that there is a financial justification for improving safety.

Workplace safety is not the only area in which litigation plays an important role in serving the interest of the worker versus capital. If a person is fired from their job, if they are dismissed, it can be terribly damaging. Obviously it is cheaper to fire somebody than to make them redundant and pay them severance. This is a double whammy for the employee, as not only are they without an income they also have a black mark against their name that will stand in their way of them finding an alternative situation.

People may sneer and decry so-called ‘compensation culture’, but the fact is that it is essential for delivering justice. As a society, only wrong doers have any reason to want to curtail the rights of the rest of us. Ethical behaviour must be encouraged by calling malefactors to account.

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