Sunday, May 26, 2013

Words Evade Me?

As always, words evade me -happens often with Mr Frost's work - His latest once again has me speechless, except to say, these pieces never last long, don't procrastinate, buy the f_cking thing! :: Read the full article »»»»

Friday, May 24, 2013

Apple CEO Tim Cook Rejects US Senate Report

Apple CEO Tim Cook Rejects US Senate ReportApple's CEO Tim Cook has defended his company's tax avoidance  tactics, Cook faced a grilling by US lawmakers accusing the tech-behemoth of sham subsidiaries and convoluted strategies to shift profits offshore, however Cook strenuously denied the company used gimmicks to avoid paying taxes. Cook told a US Senate committee Apple paid all the taxes it owed, complying with not only the law, but the spirit of the law.
He said last year it paid $US6 billion to the US Treasury, a tax rate of about 30%.
The high level US Senate committee investigating corporate offshore tax avoidance has accused Apple of shifting billions of dollars in profits to avoid paying US taxes on a massive scale. It found Apple avoided paying $9 billion in tax in 2012. Earlier, Panel chairman Senator Carl Levin accused Apple of "exploiting an absurdity" in its tax payments.
Mr Cook told the hearing that Apple lives up to its tax obligations and more, but some lawmakers expressed outrage over findings of the panel's probe that the tech-behemoth avoided taxes by using a web of foreign subsidiaries, some without any tax jurisdiction :: Read the full article »»»»



Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Carbon Pollution at 3 Million Year High

Global greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached an ominous milestone that is unprecedented in human history. The world's longest measure of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached 400 parts per million for the first time in three million years.

The daily CO2 level is measured at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, which tracks greenhouse gases in the Northern Hemisphere. The level has been measured at Mauna Loa since 1958, with data before that taken from ice core samples.

The last time it reached this level, temperatures rose by between three and four degrees and sea levels were between five and 40 metres higher than today. Still sceptical? :: Read the full article »»»»

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Copper Beech Farm

Earlier this month Sydney's house prices topped out at $AU50 million - Altona, a Point Piper harbour front mansion - In the US however, a house has just gone on the market with an asking price of $AU195 Million.
Copper Beech Farm - named for the Copper Beech trees, not a US misspell - is set on 20 hectares/50 acres of manicured (subdividable) lushness, it boasts 12 bedrooms - excluding separate staff quarters - 9 bathrooms, standout views across Long Island Sound, two islands, private beach, grassed tennis court, 25-metre swimming pool, a proper geenhouse, gatehouse and stone carriage house.
The Neo-French Renaissance manor house isn't why the asking price is so high, nor it's history, Copper Beech Farm is a breezy 45 minute drive - as if you'd drive - to New York City. What's that sound real-estate agent keep making? "Location, location, location." :: Read the full article »»»»


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