MORE than 10.6 million Australians will receive cash bonuses under a $42b Government plan to boost the economy.

As the Reserve Bank prepares to announce another cut in official interest rates this afternoon, the Government has released details of its plan to support up to 90,000 jobs. It also revealed a $22.4 billion fiscal budget deficit will blow out to $33.3 billion by 2009-10.

Under the economic stimulus package:
FROM March, families eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A will receive a $950 Back to School Bonus for each eligible child.One-off $950 payments will also be made to: AROUND 1.5 million single-income families who receive Family Tax Benefit Part B; FARMERS and rural-dependent small business owners receiving exceptional circumstances assistance;YOUTH Allowance, Austudy, Abstudy and Education Entry Payment recipients;FROM April, workers earning up to and including $80,000 will get a $950 tax bonus;THOSE earning $80,000 - $90,000 will get $650;PEOPLE earning between $90,000 - $100,000 will receive $300.

The Government will also: INSTALL free ceiling insulation in 2.7 million homes;CONSTRUCT 20,000 public and social housing dwellings and 802 Defence houses;DOUBLE the rebate to landlords who install insulation in rental properties to $1000 INCREASE the Solar Hot Water Rebate from $1000 to $1600;SPEND $850 million on fixing roads, building boom gates for rail crossings and building community infrastructure such as town halls, libraries and sport centres.

Schools will also benefit: ALL 9540 Australian schools will receive up to $200,000 for maintenance and building works; EVERY primary, special and combined Prep - Year 12 school will receive money for large-scale infrastructure such as libraries and multi-purpose halls;ABOUT 500 new science laboratories and language learning centres will be constructed in high schools.Meanwhile, businesses will be eligible for a share of $2.7 billion worth of investment tax breaks. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan will hold a press conference this afternoon to discuss the plan and the budget and economic outlook.

Huzzah! We received the 'bank pack', contract, and final drawings. It took 83 days and $1500 from signing the contract to get to this point. We can now take the documents to our bank and get final loan approval. We can also take the drawings to various contractors to get quotes to submit to the bank along with the documents from the builder.

Here's a couple of pictures of the house plans for those of you interested (click on them for bigger images).

The to-do-list for this week is:

1. Make appointment with kitchen sub contractor for kitchen fit out selection
2. Make appointment with interior supply company for selection of interior fitout of bathrooms/laundry/appliances etc.
3. Send out floorplan to carpet/tile suppliers for preliminary quote on carpeting and tiling
4. Send out site layout to landscape companies for quote on paving the rear and front driveway installation
5. Send out site layout to earthmoving companies for quote on installation of retaining walls and storm water.

Most effective exercise workout to get 6 pack abs.

Nutrition secrets free ebook on how to get 6 pack abs and a toned, lean body.

What essentials you will need to consider for the outdoor activity of backpacking.

Getting a 4.00 GPA is something impossible for most students! The price that you end up paying for this fantastic GPA is equal to sleepless nights, thick eye glasses, and so much studying that you waste the best years of your life!

“Hello. My name is Gregory Daniels. I’m twelve years old. I live at 3251 Spring Lake Drive, and I’ve been kidnapped!” Not exactly what you’d expect to hear when loading up a lofi beats YouTube channel. Then again, MatPat’s newest alternate reality game LoreFi isn’t only focused on creating a playlist of over eight hours […]

The post Unpacking MatPat’s New LoreFi ARG first appeared on ARGNet: Alternate Reality Gaming Network.

Multi-Packs - Big Savings on multi-user licenses

When we last heard from Lumos, the bike helmet company had announced a model which was simply equipped with a "smart" tail light. The firm is getting fancy again, however, with its turn-indicating, 360-degree-illuminating, crash-detecting Nyxel.

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Category: Bicycles, Transport

Tags: bike lights, Cycling, Helmet, Road Safety, Kickstarter

Although we've seen a number of packable camp kitchens recently, most of them are large enough that they have to be transported in a vehicle. The iKSPLOR Adventure BBQ is different, in that it fits into its own custom backpack.

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Category: Outdoors, Lifestyle

Tags: Barbecue, Cooking, Camping, Kickstarter

Traction device specialist Kahtoola is preparing to launch its most portable MICROspikes wearable to date, one so light it calls it the Ghost. The new design builds on the company's popular lineup but replaces stiff chains with a collapsible TPU frame that disappears away in your pack until it's needed for a slick, sketchy traverse. Within seconds, basic hiking boots gain toothy, ice-biting steel spikes to keep you secure, stable and confident on otherwise treacherous terrain.

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Category: Outdoors, Lifestyle

Tags: Traction, Hiking, Winter, Snow, Backpacking, Running, Footwear

It’s been nearly a year since I got my hands on RS Taichi’s waterproof backpack, which is available in five colours and a unique Resident Evil edition. I’ve gone for the plain black shade due to its stealthy look and was quite eager to see just how usable this bag would be during monsoon. The WP backpack’s construction mainly comprises polyester and thermoplastic polyurethane. The bag consists of a primary 25-litre waterproof compartment, a smaller compartment located near the primary compartment’s opening and an external quick-access pocket that isn’t waterproof.

The bag uses a roll-up top system to seal the main compartment and can be adjusted based on how full it gets. It’s easy to use and even includes a Velcro strap to keep it tightly sealed. Its 25-litre storage is a boon for when I’m travelling, and over time, I’ve fit huge items in this compartment, including Rishaad’s fully packed Kriega R25 backpack!

The secondary compartment is only water-resistant, even though it uses the same opening as the main compartment. It can be used for smaller items, such as a pair of gloves, balaclavas and cleaning cloths. The third external pocket is mainly designed for items you’d like to keep handy that aren’t fazed by the rain, like a set of keys.

This bag gets a chest harness and a waist belt; both of these can be further adjusted to your size and do a good job of preventing the straps from slipping off the shoulders and distributing luggage weight evenly, especially when on the bike.

The overall fit, finish and feel of this bag are premium, and it feels
built to last. However, after all this time, I did lose the rubberised end on the zipper pull tab located on the external pocket. Honestly, this is quite a minor issue and can be easily replaced. I’ve had absolutely no complaints with this bag otherwise. It’s been quite handy and dependable through my daily commute during peak Mumbai monsoon.

Given that this bag is waterproof, you are prone to wearing it outside your protective rain gear, which can make it susceptible to dirt and grime being flung on it by the rear wheel. In such cases, a quick wipe-down with a wet cloth helps, and fortunately, the bag doesn’t stain permanently. This bag is currently available on special order at 6kiom.com and will cost approximately Rs 15,000.

I managed to buy it for far less overseas, and you may also have to wait anywhere from one to four months for it to be delivered. Just like most imported products, the RS Taichi WP backpack comes at a price, but it gives you good quality and performance in return.

Also see: Ixon Dirt Air gloves review
 

The Mahindra Scorpio N has been on sale for around two years now and it's been available in a variety of options: five trims, petrol, diesel, manual, automatic and even a 4x4 version. While we did experience the petrol-auto and diesel-auto way back, we’ve just got to experience the petrol manual version, in the recently launched mid-spec Z8 Select trim.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Select review: price

The new Z8 Select trim is available in petrol and diesel, with manual and automatic gearbox options. The petrol manual is priced from Rs 17.10 lakh, going up to Rs 19.09 lakh for the diesel-automatic (ex- showroom, India). However, the 4WD can’t be had in this new trim. The Z8 Select variants cost about Rs 1.11 lakh-1.65 lakh less than the respective Z8 variants – depending on the powertrain selected – and is about Rs 69,000-1.38 lakh higher than the Z6. The petrol-manual featured here costs Rs 1.65 lakh less than the equivalent Z8 variant.

Also see: Mahindra Scorpio N petrol MT video review

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Select review: features

Compared to the Z8, the Z8 Select misses out on push-button start/stop, a tyre pressure monitor, dual- zone climate control, chrome door handles, anti-pinch front passenger window, power folding wing mirrors, and automatic headlights and wipers, which is not much when you consider the price delta.

It still gets features like 17-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED lights, an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 7-inch MID, cruise control, a sunroof, six airbags, ESC, hill-hold assist and much more. And, compared to the lower Z6, the Z8 Select gains four airbags, Mahindra’s Adrenox connected car tech, a rear camera, leatherette upholstery, chrome front grille, LED lights, 17-inch alloys and more. Also new is a ‘Midnight Black’ paint shade on the Z8 Select, but the one you see here is finished in the ‘Napoli Black’ shade.

The Z8 Select manages to strike a great balance between price and features, and comes across as being a real value-for-money offering in the Scorpio N range.

Mahindra Scorpio N petrol-MT review: powertrain, drive experience

Powering the Scorpio N is Mahindra’s 203hp, 370Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol, and this feels like one of the most potent mass-market engines around.

Unlike the diesel, the Scorpio N petrol doesn’t get drive modes, but it’s not a big miss as this engine is very responsive. It’s not a free-revving petrol engine and redlines at a relatively conservative 5,500rpm, but the good slug of torque lower down means it feels its most energetic in the low to midrange, and it suits the character of this big, heavy SUV. So overtaking on the highway is also a breeze, and if you're in the right gear, you won’t even have to downshift to do that. What’s a bit of a downer is the 6-speed manual transmission, which requires some effort to slot in, but the clutch is light and easy to modulate.

It completes the 0-100kph sprint in 10.83sec, which is not far off the much lighter and smaller Hyundai i20 N Line MT’s time. As for in-gear acceleration, it does 20-80kph in third gear in 8.34sec and 40-100kph in fourth gear in 10.50sec, which is respectable. And while we haven’t subjected it to our real-world fuel economy tests, on our drive we got an MID-displayed 7.3kpl in mixed city and highway driving conditions, which is expected of a heavy, petrol-powered SUV. We soon hope to put it through our instrumented tests.

Mahindra Scorpio N Z8 Select petrol-MT: ride and handling

The Scorpio N also fares much better than the older Scorpio in terms of ride and handling. It’s still a body-on-frame SUV, but Mahindra has made significant changes with respect to the chassis stiffness and suspension setup to improve its road manners. As a result, the Scorpio N feels much tidier around the bends. Sure, it still rolls around corners, but it’s far better contained now and the light but precise steering also helps your confidence. The ride quality also feels far less busy than the previous generation. There is still a bit of bounciness, but given that it’s based on a ladder-frame, some lumpiness over low-speed bumps is acceptable. Overall, the Scorpio N feels stable and confident on the road.

Mahindra Scorpio N petrol-MT review: interior and exterior

The rest of the Scorpio N remains unchanged. Inside, you get an upright dashboard with the touchscreen flanked by the AC vents. There’s a good mix of materials inside, from gloss black elements, soft-touch leather padding, chrome and silver elements. The dual-tone brown and black upholstery is appealing too. Build quality and fit and finish are also decent.

The front seats are large and supportive, but the lumbar support feels a bit excessive. The middle row can be had with either individual captain’s seats or a bench, though the Z8 Select can only be had with the latter. Headroom and kneeroom on offer in the middle row is tremendous and it can easily fit three adults too. The bench seat is split 60:40, with only the smaller section on the kerb side featuring a one-touch tumble feature; the right-hand-side seat only folds.

In terms of design, the Scorpio N is your typical butch and upright SUV, with a lot of interesting details around: the slim LED lights, chrome-embellished grille, stylish alloys and the tall, Volvo-esque tail-lamps. The overall design is a bit reminiscent of the old Scorpio, and it definitely has a lot of road presence, which buyers of the SUV appreciate.

Mahindra Scorpio N petrol-MT review: verdict

The Scorpio N is a comfy and practical SUV, which has secured a 5-star safety rating from Global NCAP for adult occupant protection. The new Z8 Select trim is also good value for money. The petrol-manual powertrain is smooth, potent and easy to drive even in city confines, and buyers will also like its tough nature and road presence. While the petrol-manual is not the preferred powertrain choice for SUVs, if you are on the lookout for one, this represents a very good choice. Just be prepared for regular visits to the petrol pump. And sure, the third row isn’t spacious enough and the manual gearbox is a bit notchy, but then this SUV’s strengths far outweigh its shortcomings.

Also see:

Mahindra to launch electric Bolero, Scorpio

2022 Mahindra Scorpio N review: Sting in the tale

FSSAI ban on using newspapers to serve, wrap or store food has made many look for food-grade alternatives; affordability and rising cost is one of the key factors for food sellers using newspapers

The past 12 months I have gotten extraordinarily nerdy on backpacking gear. And one of the things I ended up splurging on was the best headlamp I’ve ever owned. Two things I love about this thing: (1) how very thin and lightweight it is; and (2) its dedicated buttons for the white and red lights. […]

★

1. Hiking with a backpack is the workout of 2024. An exercise scientist says it’s worth the extra effort  The Globe and Mail
2. Military-Inspired Workout Has 'Huge Wins' for Women, Says Personal Trainer  MSN
3. How Rucking Can Turn Your Walks into a Full-Body Workout  Verywell Health
4. What Is Rucking and Is It Better Than Regular Walking? Here's What Personal Trainers Say  EatingWell
5. Rucking: Why It’s a Great Workout & How to Get Started  Athletech News

E-government serves as a vital channel for citizen interactions with the public sector, where user enjoyment is of paramount importance. To date, few studies have comprehensively examined the determinants of citizen enjoyment in e-government. To address this research gap, we administered a survey and gathered data from 363 Australian residents using myGov for tax filing. Our analysis revealed a pronounced discrepancy between reported enjoyment and the intention to continue using the services. Although users demonstrated a strong intent to use e-government services, this intent did not uniformly align with enjoyment. Additionally, informed by self-determination theory, we developed and tested an e-government service enjoyment model to study the impacts of effort expectancy, technophilia, technology humanness, and engagement in fostering user enjoyment. Unexpectedly, the results showed that information privacy concerns, commonly seen as a deterrent in e-government adoption, did not significantly affect enjoyment. Our findings advance the discourse on e-government service improvement.

Aim/Purpose: The focus on human well-being has attracted the attention of consumers, organizations, and marketers to understand the various facets of Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL). This study examines the overall research trends in the FPONL domain and identifies the new research areas. Background: FOPNL is becoming increasingly popular and its influence has been widely examined. Different label schemes have been introduced across different regions in the world. Nevertheless, such interventions are limited in developing economies. Methodology: This study uses bibliometric analysis methods to explore Front of Pack Nutrition Labelling (FOPNL) trends using 602 articles published in selected business journals. Contribution: The paper identifies the new FOPNL research avenues. The study indicates that FOPNL has become a crucial research area, and more research is needed at the organization, managerial, and policy levels. Findings: The study identifies four themes. The first theme identified is the effect of harmful nutrients on health and the role of FOPNL nutrition in changing eating habits. The second theme focused on the government's policy and implementation of FOPNL nutrition labeling regulations. The third theme is dedicated to the work on attention, perception, understanding, and influence of multiple traffic light schemes. The fourth theme relates to the Health Star Rating, Nutri Score, and Healthier Choice FOPNL nutrition labeling schemes. Overall, the paper informs consumers, manufacturers, and regulators about the recent trends in the FOPNL research. Recommendation for Researchers: Though FOPNL has been widely examined in the health and nutrition domain, however, limited research has been done in the marketing domain. Research using neuroscientific methods (e.g. eye tracking) should provide more robust findings. Future Research: There is limited research on FOPNL from emerging economies. Future research can examine how FOPNL may influence people, policy, and private entities.

Despite recognizing the importance of personal identification in organizations, the literature has rarely explored its dynamics. We define personal identification as perceived oneness with another individual, where one defines oneself in terms of the other. While many scholars have found that personal identification is associated with helpful effects, others have found it harmful. To resolve this contradiction, we distinguish between three paths to personal identification -threat-focused, opportunity-focused, and closeness-focused - and articulate a model that includes each. We examine the contextual features, how individuals' identities are constructed, and the likely outcomes that follow in the three paths. We conclude with a discussion of how the threat-, opportunity-, and closeness-focused personal identification processes potentially blend, as well as implications for future research and practice.

RTAC Large Lasercut MOLLE Backpack with a Pistol Retention System is not just $20.99 after a sale and coupon code at check out. That is 75%+ off...

TOY manufacturer Mattel have removed thousands of its ‘Wicked’-branded dolls off the shelves after discovering a x-rated printing error on the packaging.

The dolls were made in collaboration with the movie adaptation of the award-winning musical ‘Wicked’, fashioned after the characters.

CNBC reported that the website link printed on the dolls’ packaging lead to a pornographic website instead of the ‘Wicked’ movie adaptation’s official website.

Quoting Mattel’s apology statement, the company stated it was “aware” of a misprint on the doll’s packaging, mainly sold in US, intended to direct consumers to the movie’s landing page.

ALSO READ: M’sian netizens mock local uni for spelling ‘exercise’ as ‘eksesais’ in congratulatory post

“We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children,” Mattel was quoted as saying.

The company also advised consumers who have already purchased the dolls with the misprint to throw away the packaging or “obsure”, as quoted, the website link.

Following the misprint revelation, several online retailers across the US have pulled the dolls off their shelves as of Monday (Nov 11).

However, it is unclear if the toy manufacturing company will release the dolls with the correct print details or provide stickers to cover the mistakenly printed link.

ALSO READ: ‘Rail My Life’: KTM’s free ride campaign poster leaves netizens amused at mistaken wording

More than a dozen sectors of region will be included in development scheme

In this tutorial we will show you how to install Magento 2.x templates using a fullpackage.zip file to the server using the hosting control panel.

The post Magento 2.x. How to install theme using fullpackage appeared first on Template Monster Help.

Toy giant Mattel says it "deeply" regrets an error on the packaging of its "Wicked" movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.

A joint WP2/3/4/6/7 workshop took place on 23-24 November 2015 in Cambridge, UK. The overall goal of the workshop was to identify synergies and overlapping objectives across WP3/4 and 6/7 and beyond and to thereby identify applications of EU BON’s tools to decision-making, including at the policy level.

The idea for this small, focused workshop emerged as a result of the popularity and outreach achieved by the Aquamaps North-Sea fisheries infographic, developed under WP6. This infographic has demonstrated how the AquaMaps modelling tool can help answer a clear policy or question relevant to decision-making.

Under EU BON, WP3 and WP4 have developed some powerful tools, and more are in the making. The next challenge for EU BON is to use these tools to address policy-relevant issues/questions and to link EU-BON’s modelling capacity to policy needs. Producing cutting-edge innovations is important, but their implementation for policy and decision-making needs is what has real impact.

This is what the Cambridge workshop was about - bringing different players together to identify the right ways to make EU BON innovation policy relevant.

Outcomes of the meeting:

• An improved vision of how to ‘market’ EU BON’s products for end-users;

• A better understanding of the end-users and the barriers that they face in accessing and using biodiversity data tools; and

• Improved collaboration between EU BON Work Packages and a coherent vision for future synergies.

The site has a similar address to one that promotes a film adaptation of the hit musical. The toymaker apologized for the “unfortunate error.”

The post Mattel mistakenly lists porn site on packaging for ‘Wicked’ dolls appeared first on Boston.com.

Milwaukee Tool continues its commitment to disruptive innovation, expanding its PACKOUT Modular Storage System with eight new PACKOUT Toolbox Attachments. These new solutions securely lock onto the PACKOUT system’s metal-reinforced corners, allowing professionals to carry more and quickly access tools, parts and materials, enhancing job site productivity.

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance partnered with World Vision, a humanitarian organization helping children, families and their communities overcome poverty and injustice, to provide school supplies to in-need children during the 2024 FGIA Fall Conference on Sept. 16-19.