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Buying a flat has to be the most happiest moment of one's life. It is the dream of many people to own a flat and buying your very own first ever flat is a feeling that just can't be described with words. But buying one isn't as easy as it sounds and there are certain things that should be checked and considered before making a decision. If you are about to buy a new flat and do not know what to do, worry no more! Team Urban Tree lists 11 reasons which should be considered before buying a flat!
Important documents/permits
Some of the important documents that you need to check before you decide for a flat are tax related papers (check if all the taxes are paid), completion certificate from the authorities and the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project. It is your responsibility to check with the builder and with local authorities about it. Internet could become an important medium for that purpose. On internet, you can read people's reviews, about their experiences and if there are any legal issues that needs to be solved.
What is the Carpet area of the flat
Be clear on what is the exact 'carpet area' of your flat. Carpet area is actually 80% of the super area of the flat. Now, if you are not clear on these terms, you might find it difficult to make a right choice. Therefore, always confirm with the builder about the carpet area, and use this area in the calculation of your flat cost.
Tie-ups with banks
Buying a house is obviously one of the major decisions you take in life. And it will also require a lot of money. If the developer has tie-ups with banks, it becomes easy for you to get timely loans, sometimes even at a slightly lower interest rate. In case of no tie-up, the loan process might get tedious.
Possession date and clause for late possession
Real estate projects are multi-million projects and their successful completion depends on labor availability, raw material availability, local climate, documentation procedures, alterations in government's rules & regulations and several other environmental factors. Hence, it is important for you to make sure what the developer is offering in case there is late possession. Because the bank EMI will start from the stipulated date, so you need to plan accordingly.
If amount not paid on time
Confirm with the builder about what happens if you are not able to pay your installments on time. A late fee is charged, which is 16% to 20% of the installment amount depending on case to case basis.
What competitors are offering
This is especially important for places where IT hubs or SEZ are developing. In these areas, generally a lot of real estate projects are underway at the same time and the estate owners float a lot of different types of schemes to attract customers.
Flat location from present and future perspective
When you buy a flat, you are making a trade off between money and features of that flat. If you are able to make a balance between the two, then you have made a good deal. It may also be possible that the area in which your flat is located is not at a prime location then, but develops well in the next 4-5 years. In that case, if you are getting a flat on a cheaper price, then it might not be a bad deal.
Basic amenities in the vicinity like schools, hospitals, workplace, gym, market etc.
Goes without saying that one should look for the basic amenities located in the vicinity of the flat you are planning to buy. These include good schools, hospitals equipped with all amenities, gymnasium, general stores, grocery store, transportation facilities and workplace at a short distance (if possible).
Noise levels
Living in areas where noise levels are high might not be good for your family and your own health. High noise levels can have many deteriorating effects on your body, apart from so many metal and psychological effects.
Timeline of the project
Be aware of the project's timeline and choose the project according to your needs, keeping some buffer time in hand.
Ready to occupy homes
It's always a dilemma to choose between expensive, yet less risky ready to occupy apartments or cheaper, but unpredictable projects under construction. The return on investment on projects under construction is more than ready to occupy flats, but a lot depends on the amount you are paying as rent. So, choose accordingly.
These 11 things are to be kept in mind before buying your dream flat.
If you are in the look out for a flat with luxurious amenities at a budget price, visit Urban Tree Properties!


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Writers Workshop
WHAT: Writer's Workshop is our night where actors do staged readings of new, original works (15 pages or less) and writers get feedback from the audience (that's you!)
ACTORS: To be considered for the staged reading, please fill out our submission form by the WEDNESDAY before the workshop.
WRITERS: Please fill out our submission form to enter your scripts. We also accept shorter scripts (up to seven pages) which are $5 per submission (as opposed to the regular $10). *Breakdowns for casting are now required to be accompanied with the initial script submission.
Bonus: Free soda, water and snacks!
This event is brought to you via Patreon!

subset: commoncrawl


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A student loan corporation is a complete financial aid services company that manages loan applications of students and client accounts. There are also a number of student loan corporations that act as civic services and are a part of the state funded loan programs. An example of a student loan corporation would be the Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation which is a non profit student loan processing service works for the Kentucky State government.
Like other educational loan services, these student loan corporations give students advice on saving for a college education, choosing and applying for the right kind of student loan. They also give detailed and comprehensive information on repaying the loan and at times give options on how to apply for debt consolidation loans.
The Student Loan Corporation is a subsidiary of Citibank and is one of the leading educational lending institutions in the country. They manage the loan accounts of millions of students and thousands of educational institutions. At present, Citibank, in conjunction with the Student Loan Corporation, has joined forces with Yahoo to offer students an online Student Resource Center.
Any student loan corporation handles the business end of college funding. It is an enormous undertaking for each bank, college and university to manage their student loans. The technological demands of such an undertaking have increased the need to outsource data management and critical account services. The business of student loans is a specialized branch of the banking industry. Therefore, most private banks have also become involved in the student loan business.
About the writer: Nigel Kerry is an American free lance writer born in Los Angeles, California. Kerry writes Sportsbook reviews , sport book articles and articles with respect to Sports Betting .


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Welcome to Think Philippines!
Think Philippines was established for the purpose of giving our digitally connected Filipino citizens an avenue to express their thoughts and ideas on relevant matters pertaining to the concerns of the Filipinos all around the globe.
Envisioned not to compete with other significant enlightening blog sites like Get Real Philippines and Anti-Pinoy but to join them with the cause of sharing a different perspective on how to make our country operate better again far from the opinions and ideas that a typical regulated mainstream media can offer you.
Here in Think Philippines, we are not strict with the grammars, mode of language that you are going to use as long as it would not resort to ad hominems and other unfounded speculations that would ridicule our fellow concerned citizens.
Ito ho ay tinatag para ma bigyan ng boses at pagkakataon mapakinggan ang mga pangkaraniwang tao na may nakitang problema at may ka akibat na solusyon na gusto imungkahi para sa ikauunlad ng bayan.
We do not mind if you will speak in your native dialect such as Ilonggo, Bisaya, Kapampangan or Waray. This digital avenue is all about expressing a typical Filipino's concerns and solutions regarding the everyday problem that we are encountering which are usually far from the eyes of our humble public officials and mainstream media. We want to emphasize the value of a participatory governance where after doing our "being heard stage" we can offer a "solution" towards the concern that we are raising. On this notion, we can avoid to be tagged as a group of whiners in the internet and people who often react without carefully thinking what can they offer in lieu of the current system which they wish to be replaced.
Think Philippines is also a strategic digital partner of a grassroot movement named Isang Samahan, Isang Pilipinas popularly known as ISIP. Also, established by the same creator of Think Philippines.
The privilege of having a grassroot movement as a partner is essential for us to guarantee that all our feasible and pragmatic inputs and suggestions that will be published in this digital avenue will have a greater chance of being filed inside our legislative congress backed by our persistent collective efforts to lobby it inside the Lower and Upper House as well as on the Parliament of the Streets.
We want to be different, We want to be known as a group of concerned Filipino citizens who make things happen and do not just whine about it on the internet esp. in Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites.
We believe that this country will be great again within our lifetime backed by our genuine passion for a more pragmatic Filipino society.
Kagaya ho ng mas nakakarami sa inyo na hindi ho sanay at propesyonal mag sulat sa salitang ingles o gumawa ng napaka perpektong artikulo mapa sa diyaryo o sa internet. Hayaan niyo ho ito na hindi humadlang sa inyo na ibahagi ang inyong opinyon suportado ng tunay na malasakit at solusyon base sa inyong araw-araw na pagtitiis sa mga problema ng pangkaraniwang tao. Itong Think Philippines ho ay naniniwala na bukod sa napaka siksik at masustansya na mga artikulo na inyong mababahagi ay higit na mas importante ang tunay at hindi mapapantayan na pag malalasakit sa bayan.
Allow me to share this wonderful quote I read online stated to be from Napoleon Bonaparte :
If you want to do something right, better to do it youself.
All the best and happy sharing!
Edwardo Miguel Guevarra Roldan
Lead Convenor
Isang Samahan, Isang Pilipinas (ISIP) and Think Philippines!
0999 866 4748 – SMART/Talk N Text
(02) 509 24 67 – Philippine Mobile Landline
Note :
To post articles here at Think Philippines, you may email it to: email@example.com or by simply commenting it on the field provided below.
Thank you for supporting us.


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With Hurricane Irene charging up the East Coast, we thought today might be a great day to remind everyone about the importance of preparing for a hurricane.
Keep Your Loved Ones Safe During Hurricane Season
Once the storm hits it's too late – so be sure to follow these three steps to ensure safety.
- Make an emergency supply kit. Be sure to include three days of non-perishable food and water, comfortable clothing, at least a one-month supply of medication, an updated list of important numbers, and extra eye glasses and hearing aid batteries.
- Plan ahead. During a major storm, things can get hectic quickly. Be sure to sit down with family and friends well before hurricane season and make a plan as to where you're going to go, how to evacuate, where the nearest shelter is located, etc.
- Stay informed. In case your home loses its power, it's not a bad idea to keep a battery-operated radio in your emergency kit. If the news is still sharing information, keep an eye on weather alerts. Be sure you know where and how you will evacuate, if instructed to do so. Never ignore an evacuation order, but if you're ordered not to evacuate then determine where the safest place is for you and loved ones to sit out the storm.
Hurricanes and major weather disasters can be very scary, but if you're prepared ahead of time, there is a much better chance that everyone will make it out of the storm safely. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.


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Steven C. Spencer, M.D.
Dr. Spencer was born in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1983 and in 1987, he obtained his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston. Dr. Spencer later completed his Internship and Residency in Family Practice at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and the residency program in 1990. After obtaining his board certification of the American Academy of Family Practice, Dr. Spencer began practicing at Memorial Herman Memorial City Hospital. In 1998, Dr. Spencer established Kelliwood Family Practice in the Katy area with his spouse and physician assistant, Michelle Osborne-Spencer. Dr. Spencer and Michelle have been married since 1987 and have enjoyed practicing in Katy for over 20 years. They have two children, Nicholas, a doctor completing his residency in OB/GYN and Christopher, who graduated UT in Austin and resides there, and a granddaughter. Dr. Spencer enjoys spending time with his family as well as golfing, skiing, and college sporting events.
Michelle Osborne-Spencer, PA
Michelle was born and raised near Beaumont, Texas. She attended Lamar University and completed her degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in Physician Assistant Studies and received her national board certification as a Physician Assistant in 1986. She has worked in labor and delivery, as well as providing women's care to many of the clinics UTMB serves throughout Texas. She has practiced medicine in other area offices during this time in the areas of OB/GYN and Family Practice until she rejoined Dr. Spencer when they created Kelliwood Family Practice in 1998 and she and Dr. Spencer have worked together since. "It's never been an issue to work together as husband and wife", Michelle states, "because Dr. Spencer and I were trained together and have worked together all along." Michelle enjoys all aspects of family medicine with an emphasis on preventive health. She believes there is nothing to compare to the joy of watching a patient take charge of their health, stop smoking, lose excess weight and adopt healthy eating habits. She sees the patient as a whole. If we can help patients with chronic conditions to adopt a healthy lifestyle, it reduces the negative effects of disease on the body. This requires a partnership between patient and practitioner, and she is committed to doing her part by educating and encouraging patients to achieve wellness. Michelle has extensive training and experience in the area of aesthetics. Along with Dr. Spencer, she created About Face & Body Medical Spa in 2005 offering a variety of aesthetic treatments. She believes it is important for a patient to take care of themselves from the inside out. It's comprehensive body wellness.
Cynthia Anthis, M.D.
Dr. Cindy Anthis is a board certified Family Practice Physician. Dr. Anthis completed her undergraduate degree in Physical Education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She graduated from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas with highest honors. Dr. Anthis completed her residency training in Family Medicine in Portsmouth, Virginia. Upon completion of her residency, she joined the faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. While there, Dr. Anthis participated in patient care, student and resident education and research in the area of Women's Health.
Dr. Anthis first joined Kelliwood Family Practice in 2001 as a part time member of the staff. She took a leave of absence in 2003 to relocate to Jos, Nigeria with her husband, Dr. Joel Anthis and family. She and her husband worked for three years in Nigeria at the Christian Mission Hospital.
Dr. Anthis returned to Kelliwood Family Practice in 2007. She enjoys the full scope of Family Medicine with special interests in Women's Health and Preventative Medicine. Dr. Anthis lives in the Katy area with her husband and four children.
Amanda Smith, PA-C
Amanda Smith is a native of Katy, Texas. She is a graduate of James E. Taylor High School where she was president of her senior class. She went on to pursue her undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Amanda was an all-american gymnast and member of 3 SEC championship teams and 2 NCAA national championship teams. She returned home to pursue her Physician Assistant degree at Baylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical center, where she graduated in 2005.
Amanda has been practicing in family medicine in the Katy area since 2006. She enjoys all aspects of family medicine including preventative medicine, women's health care, and treating acute illnesses. She loves the continuity of care she has treating all members of the family. She has also obtained additional training in the area of aesthetic medicine and primarily focuses on injectables including Botox and fillers.
Amanda currently resides in Katy, Texas with her husband and two young children.
Lindsey Marshall, PA-C
Lindsey was born and raised in Katy, Texas. She graduated from Katy High School in 2007 as a member of the National Honor Society. She continued her education at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She was involved in a number of community service organizations as well as a volunteer as St. Joseph hospital throughout her time in College Station. She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Allied Health in 2011.
After graduation Lindsey was accepted to the Physician Assistant program at A.T. Still University in Arizona. While completing her degree, she was also involved in developing a non-profit clinic for underserved communities in the Phoenix area. Lindsey graduated with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant studies in 2014. Lindsey has practiced in the field of family practice since 2014 when she joined Kelliwood Family Practice.


text: Add to Cart WT-60949 Flame Patio Heater Vinyl Cover $34.99 $28.95 Our Flame Patio Heater Vinyl Cover is constructed of heavy 10 gauge, felt lined vinyl. This attractive cover zips open and closed with ease and extends the entire height of your flame patio heater. Protect your flame patio heater investment... $34.99 $28.95 Add to Cart


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The government is planning to further raise its solar system installation target this year, from the 130 megawatts set earlier after an increase of 30 percent, and has introduced a new subsidy program in response to growing calls for adoption of clean energy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.
It would form part of the government's efforts to step up the nation's green-energy installations to produce 6,600 megawatts of electricity by 2025, five years earlier than its original target of 2030, according to a statement released by the ministry.
The ministry has set a new goal of boosting electricity generated by green energy, including wind farms, by 26 percent to 12,502 megawatts in 2030, from its previous target of 9,952 megawatts. The 12,502 megawatts would be enough to power 8.9 million homes a year, the ministry said.
Last year, total solar-panel installations in the nation reached an annual capacity of 100 megawatts, which was little changed from the previous year.
This year, the ministry "plans to mainly increase solar panel installations on rooftops," an official from the Bureau of Energy, who requested not to be named, said by telephone yesterday. "We are studying how far we can go in expanding installations."
The target figures are expected to be released at the end of June, the official said.
At the end of last year, green energy installations in the nation could generate 551 megawatts, with 222.4 megawatts coming from solar energy, the ministry said. That is still a long way from this ministry's target of producing 3,100 megawatts by 2030.
To boost solar system installations, the ministry has launched a subsidy program that provides local governments with NT$200,000 for every 10 households that install solar systems capable of producing at least 50 megawatts of power. The size of the payments would rise depending on total capacity installed, the ministry said.
The ministry would subsidize the connection of properties with solar panels to the utility grid with a ceiling of NT$100,000 per project.
In 2011, about 45 of the nation's consumed electricity were generated by oil and 34 percent from coal, while only 0.08 percent from solar energy, according to the energy bureau's report. Nuclear power made up a 8.67 percent share, it said.


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Wake Ed
Wake County school board to hear magnet school proposal
The Wake County school board will talk about potential new magnet schools and the 2016-17 calendar for traditional-calendar schools on Tuesday.
At the work session, staff will brief the board on the proposal to add magnet programs to Athens Drive High School in Raleigh and Reedy Creek Middle School in Cary and to overhaul the magnet themes at East Millbrook Middle School and Powell Elementary School, both in Raleigh.
As previously reported, the goal would be to help reduce the pecentages of low-income students at the four schools. Staff wants board input on whether to include the four schools in the next federal magnet school grant.
Also during the work session, staff will present the latest proposed 2016-17 calendars for traditional, year-round and modified-calendar schools. As previously reported, the board is wrestling with how to come up with a calendar for traditonal schools.
Wake County school leaders are blaming the state's school calendar law with forcing them to consider options for next school year that include a shorter winter break and holding classes on the Jewish holy day of Rosh Hashanah. But it looks like the idea of adopting a calendar that goes against the calendar law is off the table.
The regular session agenda looks to be fairly short.


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We are always looking for talented people to join our team.
Simply My Hair Macquarie Centre has been operating for 6 years and has a great client base and amazing team of 4 people currently.
Our salon is located in Macquarie Park. All applicants must have previous experience in a salon with good references.
Applicants must have experience in:
- Male and Female Cutting
- Colour and treatments
- Hair Ups and Basic Styling
- Exceptional Blowdrying Skills
The skills you don't have… relax! We shall train you!
If you think you have what it takes send us your details via the contact form below


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Sushil Saxena
Navsari Agricultural University, India
Title: Integrated pest management of Banana rust thrips, Chaetanophothrips signipennis
Sushil Saxena completed his PhD degrees in Forest Entomology as well as in Agricultural Entomology at the age of 45 and 48 years from Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, respectively. He is the Principal Investigator of ICAR funded IPM and NICRA Projects. He has published more than 50 research papers in various International journal and National journals and is on the advisory panel of "Fruits" (International journal) and Journal of Applied Zoological Researches. He has more than 29 years of research experience in Horticultural Entomology and has won two national awards.
The experimental trial was conducted at Fruit Research Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Gandevi, Gujarat during 2009-11 to find out the most effective biocide for the management of banana rust thrips, Chaetanophothrips signipenis. The trial was laid out in Randomized block design with nine treatments viz; bunch sleeving at shooting stage (100 gauge thickness and 6% ventilation), bud injections of azadirachtin (0.5%) and imidacloprid (0.03%), foliar sprays of azadirachtin (0.5%), neem seed kernel extract (0.2%), neem oil (0.2%), pongamia oil (0.2%), chlorpyriphos (0.05%) and untreated control each replicated four times on invitro produced banana cv. Grand Naine plants under field condition. All the treatments were found superior over untreated control, however, lowest thrips infestation was recorded in bud injection treatment of imidacloprid (16.88%) followed by chlorpyriphos (24.94%) which was at par with bud injection of azadirachtin (25.74%). Bud injection of imidacloprid also resulted in highest bunch weight (18.72 Kg) and yield (57.78 t/ha.), though it was at par with chlorpyriphos (17.90 Kg and 55.24 t/ha.) and neem oil (17.87 Kg and 55.15 t/ha.), whereas bunch sleeving of fruit bunches recorded highest infestation of fruit bunch (54.63%), lowest bunch weight (15.55 Kg) and yield (47.97 t/ha.). So, it can be concluded that though treatments of imidacloprid and chlorpyriphos recorded lower bunch infestation and higher bunch weight and yield, the biocides based on azadirachtin provided nearly the same results for the management of thrips.


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Glasgow, July 25 (IANS) Indian women judokas Sunibala Huidrom (-70kg) and Garima Choudhary (-63kg) Friday advanced to the quarterfinals at the Commonwealth Games here but Balvinder Singh (-73kg) and Vikender Singh (-81kg) both floundered in the men's round of 32.
Huidrom beat Memory Zikhale of Botswana in the preliminary round of 16 bout via 'Waza-ari' (half-point) while Garima registered a 'Golden Score' win over Cameroon's Bibiene Fopa.
In the men's section, Balvinder Singh lost to Edson Madeira by a 'Tomoe-nage' throw while Eric Jean Omgba Fouda ousted Vikender Singh through 'Ippon' in a contest lasting just 53 seconds.
In the quarters, later in the day, Garima will take on Scotland's Sarah Clark while Huidrom faces Australian Catherine Scott.


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Invitations can get expensive fast. Luckily we had a friend design ours for free and it was under $200 for printing and envelopes. The postage is what made that really expensive since we did RSVP cards too so there were two stamps per invite. I'm sure you know a graphic designer. Call in a favor! My cousin Brittany and I assembled mine with twine and did all of the addressing ourselves. I LOVE how they turned out and I LOVED the price. (Thanks again Michael!)
7. DIY Flowers and Decorations!
A sweet friend from assembled them and we only bought real flowers for the bridal party. She did an amazing job and completely blew me away. Baby's breath is super cheap and totally in style right now, that's what all of the bridesmaids carried and the groomsmen boutonnieres were made of. My flowers were David Austen garden roses and totally gorgeous and the friend who put them all together got them at the flower market the day before. I think the final number on flowers, ribbons, pins, etc. was $147. So cheap! And there are so many tutorials online if you want to do it yourself and have the bridesmaids help the night before.
A friend's dad did our sound for the ceremony.
A friend went to the jewelry store the night before the wedding to pick up Tim's ring that he forgot about.
I think the best thing we did was have a day-of wedding coordinator. Absolutely necessary if you ask me because she made sure everything was done and taken care of and I didn't have to worry about a thing. She also ran the ceremony and made sure everyone was on cue. Plus she was my sweet friend and took such great care of us.
Friends helped us find the perfect venue and helped us work for hours to get it ready for the wedding.
A sweet friend made our cake.
Friends did the photography and the videography.
I don't even know who all helped pull it together day-of but I know there were friends running all over town and helping set up.
I think it's pretty obvious that we have the most amazing people in our lives.
Did you plan your wedding on a limited budget? What are some tips you have to offer?


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SUBJECT/S: Malcolm Turnbull, Backpacker tax, Government dysfunction, APVMA relocation
JOEL FITZGIBBON, SHADOW MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES, FORESTRY AND RURAL AND REGIONAL AUSTRALIA: This morning the Prime Minister has done a couple of interviews on the backpacker tax and in those interviews he looked unhinged, he looked confused and looked desperate. But more importantly, this morning the Prime Minister on a number of occasions lied to the Australian community. Possibly even worse, the Prime Minister this morning, in an act of desperation, sent a clear message from his Point Piper mansion to European backpackers that they are not welcome here in Australia. His clear message to so-called rich, European backpackers was you're not welcome here. This is going to be very bad news both for our farmers and for our tourism operators. The Prime Minister can fix the backpacker tax today and can do so by instructing his troops to back in 10.5 per cent, the only rate that makes sense and the only rate in which Australia can hope to compete with countries like New Zealand.
JOURNALIST: Are you just grabbing at numbers now? Pick a number and we just seem to be talking about it. When is this going to end?
FITZGIBBON: The Labor Party has been lobbied by many and some very significant growers in this country to push for a 10.5 per cent rate. Why? Because 10.5 per cent is the New Zealand rate. Backpackers don't do too much research. They look at the headline rate. Malcolm Turnbull said this morning he is reducing the backpacker tax to 15. He is not. He is increasing it from zero to 15 and at that rate we believe and all the growers I speak with believe we cannot compete with countries like New Zealand. At a headline rate of 10.5 we believe we can.
JOURNALIST: The growers are saying there is a stupid amount of brinkmanship going on in Parliament right now. How do you respond to that and the incredible amount of anger about the state we are in now?
FITZGIBBON: I understand that farmers and growers are angry and angry at the Government for introducing a 32.5 per cent tax, they are angry at the Government for then introducing a 19 per cent tax and they remain angry at the Government for introducing a 15 per cent tax and they are very angry this Government isn't prepared to swallow its pride and just take the 10.5 and put this through the Parliament today. Now I have heard many people say, the National Farmers Federation supports 15 per cent. Well, It does and I find that very sad. If I had listened to the National Farmers Federation, we would now have a 19 per cent backpacker tax. The National Farmers Federation does not represent the many growers I'm speaking with. This morning I can say that overnight and this morning I have had conversations with the President of the Queensland Farmers Federation who supports 10.5 per cent. He rang me to send that message. I have had talks with Mr Glynn Williams, the President of the Primary Employers of Tasmania, they support a lower tax rate than 15 per cent. I have spoken to Keith Rice, the CEO of Poppy Growers Tasmania and he supports a lower rate than 15 per cent. These people are ringing me, these are big players, ringing me to say we cannot compete at 15 per cent. They say 15 per cent is not that much different to 19 and it doesn't make any sense. It needs to be a headline which can be easily compared with New Zealand and that's the only hope we have to bringing backpackers back here. Backpackers which have been falling off since the day the Government announced it's 32.5 per cent and again this morning the Prime Minister looked out of touch. He doesn't understand the farm sector, he doesn't understand the tourism sector. He needs to get out of Point Piper, out onto the farms and talk to the growers I am talking to.
JOURNALIST: The NFF accuse you of just cherry picking and grabbing people who support your view and you're playing politics. They want this off the table this week.
FITZGIBBON: I think if a Labor Government had introduced a 32.5 per cent, the National Farmers Federation would be attacking us with great volume. Instead they are trying to make this about politicians. The only people playing politics with this now are those members of the Government. The difference between 10.5 and 15 by the way is $85 million over four years. That is just over $20 million a year. Less than Barnaby Joyce's spending on his pork barrelling exercise to move the APVMA from Canberra to his own electorate. If we go home with a 32.5 per cent rate today, this backpacker tax debacle will become Barnaby Joyce's greyhound ban.
JOURNALIST: Would you and Barnaby Joyce be willing to pick the fruit that will not be picked this season as a result of 32 per cent tax coming in?
FITZGIBBON: I can't afford to be distracted by any stunts and I stand today to fight for our farmers and the Government and in particular, Members of the National Party, Member for Flynn, Member for Capricornia, Member for Page, the Member for Gilmore, the Member for Dawson, the Member for Mallee. The list is very long. They have deserted their farmers.
I have farmers from Mildura in the Member for Mallee's electorate ringing me and saying, Joel, stand your ground, Andrew Broad either doesn't understand our predicament or doesn't understand the farming community. Just like his Prime Minister. Andrew Broad is out of touch with his farmers and he needs to come with me to come with Labor and support a competitive tax rate.


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"I chose to become a physician and cardiology specialist in large part because of the opportunity to positively impact people's lives. Making a difference for other people is the very heart of healthcare, and that difference can be very significant when it comes to cardiovascular problems.
In this field, the impact we can have often includes saving lives. And that, for me, comes with a high standard that I must meet...as a doctor and as a person. What I've learned over the years is that there are many ways to practice cardiovascular medicine. But there are fewer ways to practice top-quality cardiovascular medicine focused on achieving the very best possible results.
This is my mission, and it's why I invest myself personally in your care. I spend as much time as is needed to know who you are, create a relationship of trust with you, fully understand your condition, make sure you're informed and motivated and to develop and provide treatment that will really make a difference for you."
Board Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM): Board Certified - Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine
Fellow: American College of Cardiology (FACC)
Residency and Internship: Internal Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
MD: Creighton University, Omaha, NE
BA: Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA
Secure access to your records, test results, and many other online conveniences.
Find dozens of common conditions and treatments and learn more about managing cardiovascular risk factors in our patient education center.
Preventing Diabetes with the Mediterranean Diet


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Tune up your cross country skiing skills in the shadow of Katahdin at a gorgeous destination, New England Outdoor Center (Twin Pines) in Millinocket! Enjoy a yoga practice and a classic ski clinic with a big finish of hot yummy soup and more...
Your adventure begins with a yoga flow on the indoor upper deck with Mount Katahdin as your drishti (your focal point). No experience necessary.
Then move onto a gear shakedown with Master Maine Guide and Ski Instructor Karen Francoeur, founder of Castine Kayak Adventures. Learn about how to chose the best gear from skis to backpacks, hydration strategies, and the most efficient clothing and safety kits for winter pursuits. Check out what really works and why! Bring your ski pack, your day pack, and learn how to pack properly.
Find your flow on any type of terrain - the ski clinic will help you gain confidence and technique for the Maine Hut Adventure (Feb 27-28) or your own skiing adventures. Fine tune your skiing with Karen Francoeur who will teach the art of balance, weight distribution, and body alignment to get your glide on.
Improve your technique learning the art of falling & getting up gracefully with a focus on balance, weight transfer, and kick & glide. Work downhill with control and work climbing hills with ease.
After our outdoor experience, soup is on for Maine Yoga Adventures at River Drivers Restaurant! Warm up and take in yummy, healthy food and drink.
The New England Outdoor Center Ski Adventure was developed as the perfect primer for the Maine Hut Adventure, to get you prepared for a 7 mile ski in to the Grand Falls Hut for a fabulous overnight stay. If you plan on attending the Maine Huts Adventure and have registered for this adventure, MYA will give you a $10 discount for the huts adventure.
No worries if you don't have your own skis, you can rent them from Maine Bound in Orono for a small fee. No experience necessary.
Cost: $50
Join Holly Todd, massage therapist at Twin Pines, either before or after our adventure for a 1/2 hour or hour long massage. Price not included in the adventure. But please let MYA know if you're interested!
To join us on this amazing day of learning, fun and relaxation, simply click on the registration link below...


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These Banana & Peanut Butter Muffins are light and fluffy with the delicious combination of peanut butter and bananas. Great for breakfast on the go!
Who doesn't have a few old bananas lurking around? As I have mentioned before in my Peanut Butter & Chocolate Banana Bread post, I certainly always seem to. This is why I wanted to come up with another way to use up those pesky old bananas.
Banana Bread is lovely, but sometimes you don't have an hour to leave something in the oven for. These Banana & Peanut Butter Muffins take half the time but are still just as fluffy and tasty! As they are muffins, they are more easily portable which makes them perfect for breakfast on the go.
I have added some wholemeal flour to these muffins which is slightly more coarse than ordinary plain flour. I think this works well in the muffins along with the crunch of the peanut butter. It is also a healthier type of flour which makes me feel like I'm not being as naughty as I stuff muffins into my mouth! Wholemeal flour does tend to provide a drier texture which is why I have used a mix. Feel free to just use plain flour if you would prefer.
Another advantage of these Banana & Peanut Butter Muffins are that they freeze really well. This recipe makes 12 muffins and unless you're making them for a lot of people, you may not eat them quickly enough before they start going past their best. This is why I like to freeze the muffins by individually wrapping them in cling film and then putting them all in a large freezer bag. You can then take one out and defrost it overnight or even in a couple of hours and you have a tasty moist muffin ready to eat.
You do need a large muffin liner for these and not one of the smaller cupcake liners. Muffins are meant to be large and proud so don't worry about filing the muffin liners to the top.
Makes 12
125g margarine
100g light brown sugar
50g dark brown sugar
2 eggs
150g plain flour
100g wholemeal flour
2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
250g bananas, mashed
130g crunchy peanut butter
2 tbsp milk
- Preheat the oven to 160ºC (fan assisted or 180ºC non fan) and add muffin liners to a muffin tin
- Beat the margarine and sugar together for at least 5 minutes until pale and fluffy
- Add the eggs and mix again
- Add the flours, baking powder and salt and stir into the butter until the flour is nearly combined, but not quite
- Mash the bananas roughly with a fork and add them to the mix along with the peanut butter and milk. Mix until combined
- Divide the mix between the 12 muffin liners and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until a cocktail stick comes out clean and the muffins are light brown
- Allow to cool for around 10 minutes before removing from the tin and leaving to cool on a wire rack


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A quick bulletin and invitation
October is going to be a busy month for me. Luke Johnston, professor of Religion and Environmental Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC, has invited me to participate in a busy day on the 12th, meeting with classes in Religion and Ecology and Global Human Systems, and giving a highly alliterative (and, we all hope, literate) lecture on "Ecological Restoration, Ritual, Remembrance and World-Renewal". If you live, or expect to be in or around Winston-Salem that day and would like to attend, the lecture/discussion is open to the public and will be in Byrum Welcome Center Auditorium at 6 p.m.
Then, in case you don't happen to be in North Carolina on the 12th, I'll be making a presentation as part of the Chicago Climate Festival (we're for it, the climate I mean) at DePaul University on the 19th. I've worked with Christine Skolnik at DePaul on this one, in which I hope to stimulate discussion of the idea that the environment ultimately depends on the people who inhabit it, and so on the means they have for shaping the values that underlie and inform that behavior.
That conversation is open to the public and will be held in Room 104 of McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., at 6:30 on Wednesday, Oct. 19.


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There's no need for an alarm clock on vacation
Am I right? I'm right!
You ought to wake up to the sounds of the ocean, a babbling brook, birds singing, the aroma of some delectable local breakfast, perhaps the voice of your spouse beckoning you to an exotic outdoor shower, and or even music.
Enjoy your fabulous day!