Wednesday, August 4, 2010

A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled that California’s Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage in the state, violates the Equal Protection Clause and the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

“Plaintiffs challenge Proposition 8 under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment,” wrote U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R Walker. “Each challenge is independently meritorious, as Proposition 8 both unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation.”

Proposition 8, which was passed by California voters by referendum in November 2008, banned same-sex marriage in the state, which had been legal after a California supreme court ruling on May 15, 2008. The proposition’s passage did not reverse the marriages of thousands of same-sex couples who had gotten married in the state in the interval.

The case, Perry et al. v. Schwarzenegger et al., was heard by Chief Judge Walker. Anticipating a defeat, the pro-Proposition 8 coalition of “defendant-intervenors” filed this morning a “motion for stay pending appeal”, asking the court for its ruling to not take effect unless the decision is upheld by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; both sides in the case say an appeal is inevitable.

Speaking for LGBT rights group Lambda Legal, Jennifer C. Pizer said, “In holding that Prop 8 cannot stand because it violates the equal protection and due process rights of California’s lesbian and gay couples, this decision adds to the growing consensus in courts and legislatures across the country that there are no good reasons for excluding same-sex couples from marriage.” Courtenay Semel, an actress and LGBT activist, told Wikinews “today marks another day in history! A big win for equal marriage. It’s about time that progress is being made towards equality for all.”

Posted in Uncategorized

Provisioning Your Vessel

by

Marinetrader

You just got that pristine trawler or motor yacht and you are excited to get her underway to take her home. You are scurrying about for what feels like days getting everything complete. Food, beverages, apparel, the list goes on and on. Suppose you forgot something?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYH0V7PwmH0[/youtube]

To help you to remember everything, here is a simple check list with just about all you will require to get underway. Navigation – Make sure to have paper charts on your boat and that you know how to read them; you never know when your chart plotter will decide to give up on you. Maptech Chart Kit Dozier’s Waterway Guide Set of binoculars Up to date flare kit First aid kit Correct dock lines Correct fenders Laptop with air card Handheld VHF Flashlight Mechanical – It is critical to have standby parts on your vessel. They may be tough (if not impossible) to acquire on your journey home. You might be anchored out in the middle of nowhere and need an alternate part. Biobore diesel fuel additive Deck fill key to open fuel/water fill ports Bridle if chain rode 25 foot dock line 2 stainless shackles (1 spare) 2 sets of pliers (1 extra) Bleach to disinfect water tanks, 1 tsp/10 gallons water Mask and fins Fuel filters Extra impellors for engines Extra bilge pump Extra bilge pump float switch Standby fresh water pump Spare air conditioning water pump Oil absorbent pads Rags Tools – sockets, wrenches, screw drivers Lubricants, WD-40, Corrosion Block Engine oil Coolant Propane if boat so equipped Lighter Fill fuel tanks Outboard gasoline Outboard 2-cycle oil if needed Muriatic acid if toilets use salt water to flush Provisions – Be sure to buy enough to last the complete journey home; you don’t know if you will have access to a food market, especially if you are in the Bahamas. Food Beverages Alcoholic beverages if so desired Cups Glasses Pots and pans Utensils Dish soap Rubbish bags Galley towels Napkins/paper towels Bath towels Bed linens Bath soap Toilet paper Fill water tanks Coffee pot/coffee Personal Items – Take more clothes than you anticipate needing. You never know if you will get wet because of an unexpected thunderstorm. Clothing Deck shoes Hats Sunglasses Rain coat Money for tipping dock hands Digital camera You now must locate a space to stow everything so it will not clutter your trawler or fall over if you happen to be in rough seas. You also need to inspect all systems to be certain that they are functioning properly and that all engines have appropriate fluid amounts. Next you need to map your cruise home which means sitting down with charts and computing how far to cruise each day. Dozier’s Waterway Guide is a tremendous help in finding marinas and things to do in the local area. You may also choose to anchor out on the journey home. Be sure your generator is operating well and that its fluids are full too. It is time to get a good night’s sleep in preparation for your first day underway in your new trawler. The captain will run the yacht and his first mate will aid with navigation and line handling. The first mate should examine the paper charts while the captain focuses on the chart plotter. It is crucial to have paper charts on your boat; electronics without doubt will quit at some point in time. When pulling into a marina for the evening, dock hands will assist you with your lines and electrical cords. It is customary to tip a minimum of $5.00 per dock hand for their help. After a brief period of time, you will become used to the way your boat runs and feels. Docking will also come naturally after some practice. Your trawler or motor yacht will become so familiar to you that the slightest weird noise or odor will alert you to a problem.

Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA.

Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide. 904/556-9431 Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale National and international sales. We ship Used Trawlers, Motor Yachts and Cruisers

worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431

Interact with us at the Trawler Blog

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Provisioning Your Vessel

Posted in Air Conditioning Servicing

Friday, June 22, 2007

Buffalo, New York —A three alarm fire at a house owned by John and Evelyn Bencinich, two of the initiators of a lawsuit filed against the Elmwood Village Hotel proposal in Buffalo, required firefighters to rescue eight cats and two dogs in Buffalo, New York today.

At about 8:30 (eastern time) firefighters were called to the home on 48 Granger Place to put out a fire that had started in the basement. It quickly spread to the first floor where the main bathroom was destroyed. The fire did not spread to the second floor or attic.

Initial calls said that many animals were inside the house and firefighters quickly worked to rescue all the cats and dogs. At least one cat and one dog had to receive CPR and oxygen, but both are reported to be in stable condition. At least 3 cats are unaccounted for, but after a search of the house, the cats were not believed to have been inside at the time the fire started.

One elderly woman, Anna Bencinich, the mother of Evelyn, was rescued by neighbors who helped her from the burning house.

“There was smoke all over the house. The fire started in the basement and spread to a small portion of the first floor. Two firefighters were injured while fighting the fire and were transported to Erie County Medical Center,” said Division Fire Chief Thomas Ashe who also said that sections of the kitchen wall at the back of the house had to be torn out to stop the fire from spreading through the walls.

One firefighter is being treated for bite injuries to his face that he received while attempting to rescue a dog. The other firefighter was treated for injuries he received to his hand, which was believed to have been caused by glass or a cat scratching him. The names of the injured firefighters are not known. The injuries are said to not be life threatening.

According to witness reports, the home owners had a new water heater installed just last week, but it is not known if the fire was caused by the heater.

“We believe the fire was caused by an electrical (malfunction). An investigation is being conducted,” said Battalion Chief Joe Fahey who also added that they did not believe arson was the cause.

Posted in Uncategorized

The Difference Between SDE and EBITDA

by

Michael Fekkes

The 3 most commonly used valuation methods are the Income, Market, & Asset approach. With the income approach, a business value is based upon the earnings the enterprise generates. Buyers are most concerned with the amount of earnings that the company produces should they acquire the business. The net ordinary income, utilized for tax reporting purposes, does not properly reflect the true earnings of the company based on the non-cash, discretionary & non-recurring items that are expensed by the business owner. Earnings are kept low to achieve the goal of reducing taxes. Therefore, to calculate the true earning capacity of the company, the P&L statements need to be adjusted during a valuation to determine SDE or EBITDA. Re-casting the financial statements will standardize (or normalize) the company earnings through the exclusion of discretionary, variable and non-recurring components, allowing an objective comparison to be made between two or more companies. By applying a multiple to the EBITDA or SDE amount, consistent with the industry sector and a weighting of the issues affecting the business, will derive the business value.

What is Sellers Discretionary Earnings (SDE)?

Sellers Discretionary Earnings is utilized for businesses with under $1mm in adjusted earnings. These businesses often have the owner managing the company and receiving a salary. With these small enterprises it is critical to determine what the owner benefit is as opposed to the earnings of the company. This is accomplished through a series of profit and loss statement adjustments termed add-backs that are made to the pre-tax company earnings. In some instances, there are negative add-backs as in the case with a business that owns real property (e.g. the building & land) where the owner is compensating himself a below market rent or a family employee working for the company who is receiving a below market salary. In both of these cases, an adjustment is made to normalize the expense to the current market value.

The most common adjustments used during the re-casting process are:

1. Add-back one owner’s total compensation

a. Salary

b. Payroll Taxes

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNmcFzy6-4[/youtube]

c. Retirement Contributions e.g. 401K

d. Insurance

e. Perks (Health Club, etc)

2. Add-back interest expense

3. Add-back discretionary expenses

a. Donations

b. Personal Cell Phones

c. Travel, Meals, & Entertainment

d. Owners Vehicles (not used in business)

4. Add-back non-cash expenses

a. Depreciation

b. Amortization

5. Add-back Non-recurring expenses

a. Fines / Bank Penalties

b. Attorney fees (e.g. sale of business consultation)

6. Adjust Lease to Fair Market Value

What is Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation Amortization (EBITDA)?

EBITDA is used to define the earnings of the company for businesses with adjusted income greater than $1mm. Here, the owner/investor is typically not active in the direction or daily management of the business and will hire a general manager to perform that function. Therefore, the EBITDA calculation will differ from SDE as it incorporates the general managers salary in the earnings calculation as an expense. EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that is used to determine profitability and to make comparisons between companies and industries as it eliminates the impact of the financing and accounting decisions made. An easy way to determine EBITDA is to subtract the owners compensation and benefits from SDE. The EBITDA dollar amount will be lower than SDE but the multiple used in the valuation formula will be higher, often 2-2.5 times the SDE multiple. Therefore, as one would anticipate the FMV of the same business calculated using either method should be very close to each other. If not, an assessment as to why and which (or what other method(s)) must be undertaken.

Michael Fekkes is a Senior Broker at ENLIGN Business Brokers. Michael is a Certified Business Intermediary (CBI), a member of the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), as well as a former business owner. ENLIGN Business Brokers http://www.enlign.com/ is a Professional Services Firm that is headquartered in Raleigh, NC providing confidential business intermediary services to buyers and sellers throughout the Southeast region.

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The Difference Between SDE and EBITDA}

Posted in Accountants

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The upcoming 2006 Brampton municipal election, to be held November 13, features an array of candidates looking to represent their wards in city council or the council of the Peel Region.

Wikinews contributor Nick Moreau contacted many of the candidates, including Derek Begley, asking them to answer common questions sent in an email. This ward’s incumbent is John Sprovieri; also challenging Sprovieri is Sherdaljit Dhillon, Mahen Gupta, Satpaul Johal, Dalbir S. Kathuria, and Vahid Saadati-Khanshir.

Posted in Uncategorized

Submitted by: Johnathan Cunnings

If you are a movie buff and like to appreciate well made movies then apart from cinema halls and television, your destination should be one. Online Movie Portals. This is a platform which offers you with a wide range of movie collection including the latest blockbusters and golden collection. From TV shows to documentary, from animation to Sports, the online movie portals have it all. Certainly, the site allows you to watch movies online anytime and there is no hassle of making payments to the DVD library or buying tickets for cinema standing at the queue. Instead against a small payment, an internet user can catch up any latest release by downloading or by streaming the videos from the online movie portals.

When it is about movies, the fans can enjoy the movies which get released in their countries or even the titles which have not been released yet. Locating movies may not be an easy, sometimes the movies has to be searched by countries or categories and then you will be able to watch movies online. There is yet another method of searching the movie and this can be made possible by searching the actors or any other movie characters. However, apart from the film-watching experience, there are many online portals which offer to watch latest movie trailers online as well. The sites even contains an archive of films which can be termed as a storehouse which have a long list of collection starting from Hollywood golden age movies to recent blockbusters.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7J-D5BraCM[/youtube]

The online movie sites also enable viewers to check the show timings of any nearby halls as well; however one of the best features of these online portals is the quality of the print they distribute to customers. Absolute HD quality, Dolby surround sound quality and special bonus features. Even when you watch latest movie trailers online you wouldn t find any compromises made with the print and sound quality of the same. Apart from the popular movie titles, you can even access a wide archive of foreign language movies which will come with subtitles as well. Be auteur filmmakers or great masters, you can find out any title by browsing the categories available on the site. Some online portals even exceeded their niche of services with adding 3000 TV stations and 1500 radio stations links into their domain which help the viewers accessing movie related news or events.

Online movie portals allow you to watch movies online, but why people should choose them over cinema halls or DVD players? Let s find out:

Viewers can download movies which are legal and safe Ability of users to watch online movies HD quality prints and sound output Access to other media like television shows, documentaries, sports etc All shows can be watched on Laptops, PC or on projectors Availability of wide range of movie genres from where viewers can choose Cost much less than Cinema halls Watch latest movie trailers online for free

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Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=465928&ca=Internet

Posted in Camping

Friday, September 26, 2008

On October 14, 2008, Canadians will be heading to the polls for the federal election. New Democratic Party candidate Don Davies is standing for election in the riding of Vancouver Kingsway.

A lawyer, he has spent the last 25 years fighting for human rights. A two-time student government representative, Davies was involved in the anti-apartheid, third world and peace movements. Admitted to the Alberta Bar in 1989, Davies and family moved to Vancouver in 1991, where he became the Director of Legal Resources for Teamsters Canada (Local 31), the next year. He is a long-time volunteer for children’s charity Variety, is Chair of the Parent Advisory Council at Mount Pleasant school, and a Director of the Meridian Cultural Society, among other things.

Wikinews contacted Don Davies, to talk about the issues facing Canadians, and what they and their party would do to address them. Wikinews is in the process of contacting every candidate, in every riding across the country, no matter their political stripe. All interviews are conducted over e-mail, and interviews are published unedited, allowing candidates to impart their full message to our readers, uninterrupted.

The riding is vacant, after Conservative Minister of International Trade David Emerson’s resignation. Emerson was elected in 2004 as a Liberal, serving as the Minister of Industry. Two weeks after re-election in 2006, he crossed the floor to join then-new Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who had won a minority government. Emerson was the first MP in Canadian history to cross the floor before a new government was sworn in. He has stepped down, after pressure from other parties.

Besides Davies, major party candidates include Liberal Wendy Yuan, Conservative Salomon Rayek, and Green Doug Warkentin. Also putting their hat in the ring are Matt Kadioglu (Libertarian), Kimball Cariou (Communist), and Donna Peterson (Marxist-Leninist).

For more information, visit the campaign’s official website, listed below.

This Saturday at 11 am, Davies will host NDP leader Jack Layton in the Commodore Ballroom at “rally4change”.

Posted in Uncategorized

Saturday, March 19, 2011

The United Nations has completed its first ever assessment of the United States human rights record, which began last November. They made 228 recommendations for improvements. On Friday, the U.S. accepted about 174 of these, agreeing to such recommendations as the humane treatment of terror suspects and repudiation of torture, but rejected the recommendation to drop the death penalty.

The Legal Adviser of the Department of State, Harold Koh, listed nine core areas in which the U.S. agreed to make improvements, including civil rights, immigration, and the humane treatment of suspects held at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Koh said President Obama agreed to push for ratification of conditions under the Geneva Conventions and to add protections for international armed conflict detainees. Koh refused to drop the death penalty as many European countries requested, arguing that it was legal under international law.

Some nations wanted the U.S. to reduce prison overcrowding, prevent racial profiling, and ratify international treaties protecting the rights of women and children. China and Russia wanted Guantanamo to be shut down. Cuba, Iran and Venezuela said the U.S. was ignoring too many recommendations.

The Obama administration joined the 47-nation UN Human Rights Council two years ago, allowing for increased international scrutiny. This is the first time the five-year-old council has reviewed the U.S. record of human rights. Nations are held accountable to make the improvements in the recommendations that they agree to.

In criticism of the U.S., the director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s human rights program, Jamil Dakwar, noted that the U.S., unlike 100 other countries, lacks an independent human rights monitoring commission.

Posted in Uncategorized

byadmin

Unless you’re the most easy-going person on the face of the planet, you probably can’t completely escape the stress of a kitchen remodel in Surprise. However, there are ways to manage your stress so that the whole experience is relatively pleasant and fun, rather than frustrating and stressful. Take a look at these tips…

Ask for a Schedule

Be sure you have a start date along with an estimate for various milestones for your kitchen remodel in Surprise. Keep in mind that you do need to be flexible, as things like taking delivery of custom kitchen cabinets and specialty work such as plumbing may incur delays. However, you should have a general idea of when major milestones will be completed.

Do Regular Job Walks

As mentioned, you should be somewhat flexible with the work schedule, as unexpected delays can and will occur. However, you can manage your stress by doing regular job walks with the onsite foreman to be sure your kitchen remodel in Surprise is on track. This also gives you the opportunity to spot any errors before additional work makes it difficult or impossible to fix the errors. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you notice anything that isn’t right.

Protect Your Belongings

When you’re doing kitchen remodeling in Surprise, you should remove as many of your belongings from the work area before the crew arrives. However, be sure to also ask your contracting team how they’ll protect your belongings. A good home remodeling contractor in Surprise will have a well thought out plan for protecting your home and containing the dust and dirt of a kitchen remodel.

Reschedule Other Appointments

Another way to manage your stress when you’re doing kitchen remodeling in Surprise is to postpone major appointments, such as a trip to the dentist or surgery, until after the remodel is complete. That way you can recover quietly.

Secondly, you’ll also want to reschedule other appointments that may interfere with your kitchen remodel. For example, if you have a landscaper coming into do work, you may want to reschedule for a time when you don’t have a work crew with their trucks, sawhorses, and other tools, supplies and materials spread around outside.

Be Courteous to the Crew

Finally, it’s common sense but worth mentioning: be polite and courteous to the crew who’s working on your Surprise kitchen remodel. At times you may feel stressed and prone to snapping, so take a deep breath before addressing any member of the crew.

Conclusion

Kitchen remodeling in Surprise can turn your life upside down for several weeks or even several months, which is why you’ll want to hire an experienced crew to complete the work. You can trust the team at Todd Whittaker Drywall, Inc, as they’ve been doing kitchen remodeling in Surprise for your friends and neighbors since 1996.

To learn more about what TWD can do for you, visit them online at www.twdaz.com. Be sure to ask for your free no-obligation estimate — you’ll find they offer great work at a fair price, so get in touch today.

Posted in Bodybuilding Products

Friday, March 20, 2009

Following the Pilkhana massacre which occurred February 25 and 26 leaving 74 dead and the inferno at the Bashundhara City shopping mall complex March 13 leaving seven dead, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said security measures are being tightened countrywide across Bangladesh.

Fire drills will be enacted at all key-point installations (KPI). Fire fighting systems will be examined by the fire brigade and the public works department (PWD) to ensure functionality. Security measures will be enhanced supplementing areas under private security such as at the Bashundhara City Complex.

The Fire Service and Civil Defence Department requires modernization and needs new equipment to fight fires past the sixth floor of buildings. The Fire Brigade says it needs turntable ladders, snorkels, foam-tenders, lighting units, emergency tenders, fireproof uniforms, and rescue ropes for fire fighting and rescue operations. Transportation to fires is also an issue due to narrow roads, low electrical wires and congestion.

The Bangladesh National Building Code requires fire fighting equipment installed in buildings over seven floors. This code is to be monitored by authorities to ensure compliance with the new guidelines and to make sure buildings are being maintained.

The Bashundhara City Complex opened Monday for shoppers two days after Friday’s blaze. A probe is underway to determine the cause of the fire and to assess structural damage.

Loss of life was minimized as the blaze broke out on a Friday, the beginning of the weekend in Bangladesh, so offices in the upper floors were empty. The lower eight floors are used for shopping and the upper floors are all Bashundhara Group offices.

The mall is valued at Tk 7.0 billion (US$100 million). It is not known if the complex is covered by fire insurance.

It is estimated that it will take over two years to rebuild the area damaged by flames which were burned down to a skeleton. Bashundhara City’s technical advisor, Latifur Rahman, estimated damages at Tk 2.0 billion (US$29m).

Only one television cameraman has been allowed in to film the burnt area. None of the 2,500 shops, cinemas or cafes were burnt by the inferno. The seventh and eighth floors still experience smoke damage, and there was water damage to merchandise.

A three member committee is currently investigating the cause of the fire which will consist of Iqbal Khan Chowdhury, joint secretary of the ministry, representatives of the police, IGP Noor Muhammad, and fire brigade, Director General Abu Nayeem Md Shahidullah. The committee is required to report within the week with their findings. The forensics department is also sifting through the burnt remains.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries has also formed a committee which has begun interviewing witnesses and recording their testimony alongside the government committee.

It has been discovered that 150 closed circuit cameras were not being used when the fire started. Another mystery is why the mall fire fighting system has been found unused.

Why the fire burnt so fiercely is a matter to think….These matters seem to be mysterious

“In the shopping mall there is an ultra-technology elevator which runs even without electricity but we have found that locked,” Iqbal Khan Chowdhury, joint secretary (Police) of the home ministry, said. “Why the fire burnt so fiercely is a matter to think. We have to see if there was any incendiary substance there. These matters seem to be mysterious.”

Mall management has been asked to submit substances and items which would have been in the upper floors when the fire started. The fire erupted on the 17th floor and spread quickly to the two floors above and engulfed the three floors below. The aerial ladders belonging to the Fire Service and Civil Defence reached as high as the 13th floor of the 21-storey building.

Videos have been sent to the United States (US) for examination to assist in determining the cause of the fire and to help in the damage assessment. Experts from the US are expected to arrive soon.

Firefighters were brought to the rooftop of the 20-storey tower by helicopter. The only fatality in this operation was Baki Billa, a firefighter of Bashundhara City firefighting department, who fell when climbing down a rope from a helicopter to the roof of the building. Three other firefighters made the transition safely. At this same time, the chief security officer was safely rescued by the Bangladesh Air Force helicopter, a Bell 212. Six security officers of the complex also lost their lives.

Posted in Uncategorized
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