Billboard Nightclub, Melbourne, Australia - Review

If Aladdin's genie was to grant the Mr. Melbourne Metro three wishes, the v-necked jock junkie's requests would undoubtedly comprise of fluoro strobe lighting, multi levelled wide open spaces, and a performance stage boasting some of Australia's finest dj's.

Upon attending Russell Street's Billboard nightclub, I am happy to confirm that the Genie can stay inside the lamp. We've found your heaven.

The line up down Russel Street proves long and winding, and as yellow cabs lace the side street I can almost believe this is The Wizard of Oz's yellow brick road. No, wait the dorito-orange faces suggest something different... Oompa Loompa's? Are we playing part in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory? No, not at all. This fairytale isn't MGM or Warner Bros, this is a production of its very own; 'Metro Heaven Productions Pty Ltd' otherwise known as Billboard Nightclub.

The entrance fee of $15 seems a bit steep to a bar hopper such as myself, but once inside the venue, the rare wide open layout of this nightclub (with room to breathe without inhaling body odour), shows that the dosh was well worth it. I feel like a caged clubbing chicken entering free range greener pastures. But before swinging around a pole whilst shouting "I've got a Golden Ticket", you may want to try ordering a drink.

Getting bar service can be compared to killing the Wicked Witch of the West. Difficult, messy, but you'll be glad you went through the effort in the end. As Billboard only has one large bar at the back of the venue, to reach hydration and intoxication you really will need those red sparkly shoes. Alternatively, flash a bit of chest and the barmen will do the rest.

Along the side of the venue are small booths with cushioned seating and tables. The prospect of sitting your behind on red cushy leather come 3am truly does make you feel as though you have entered the white pearly gates more info. The toilets prove clean and relatively spacious considering the norm for female venue toilets is to have ladies packed like sardines, although smelling much worse (blame the fake tan).

Depending on which night you choose to enter this jock dreamland (under 21's), you can experience either a long night of electronic house beats, or occasionally a live act (tickets for such events need to be pre-booked, and usually attract more thick rimmed glasses types).

If you're looking for a night spent in Metro Wonderland, don't be late. The line is really long, and you've got a very important date a Billboard Nightclub.

The San Francisco Bay To Breakers Race: An Inspirational Perspective From Our USA

The San Francisco's Bay To Breakers Centennial Race

My nerves were shot as the day approached. In my mind's eye, I saw my mother's face. A conservative, religious woman, I could see her mouth pursed in disapproval. Costumed freaks, naked people, I could hear her echo scornfully. The question of why I would want to participate in such an event hung in the air like the odor in the neighborhood on a sweltering hot garbage day.

Thunderstorms were predicted to hit San Francisco the evening of the 100th Bay To Breakers Race, and to continue throughout the next day. The impulse to cancel jabbed at my psyche. The will, the curiosity, and the need to perform what I had trained for months to do, squelched the most unwelcome argument. Our brains are a funny thing. They can be our greatest motivators, our best cheerleaders, and our worst enemies. When training for a run, or any fitness regimen in general, the brain tells us at first all of the reasons why we shouldn't do something. Why it's easier to sit on the couch and chomp on a doughnut. How dare we change, how dare we dream, how dare we run with costumed freaks and naked people. At these times, we must let the mechanical part of our brain take over, and order our bodies to follow. There were days of training where I stop talking to myself, and simply lace my shoes, pull my hair back, and turn on the treadmill, letting nary a thought creep into my mind. Eat your rice, clean your bowl. So the old Zen saying goes.

I trained for weeks, sweating and groaning on the treadmill as my middle and pinky toes burned underneath me, and my knees felt so rickety I was sure leg braces were a part of my near future. Some people say humans were biologically made to run for miles everyday, chasing and hunting down their food. I must be a descendant of fat bottomed aliens who lived off the fruit of the land. As soon as I get up, a body part starts hurting. But I was determined to run this race on my birthday, resigned to perhaps walking a bulk of the course. With a maximum endurance strength of seven and a half miles two weeks before the race, I was going to get out onto the street and do the best I could. When I pictured running, I pictured grimacing faces, flying droplets of sweat, clenched fists, and feet pounding in a hard core beat on the pavement.

The night before, we ate at a popular restaurant called The Slanted Door, and my running mates and I loaded up on glass noodles with Dungeness crab and lamb chops with an exotic orange sauce. Diners were jovial and plentiful, laughing softly at their tables. They wore skinny jeans, scarves with a myriad of colors ties multiple times around their necks, and boots so high it seemed their legs would buckle under them any minute. When they pushed open the glass doors of the restaurant, it seemed as if they would take off as a group and fly into the blue sky dotted with clouds that hung over the Bay Bridge. The diners held a quiet aura of elegance, and to me, this momentum of peace was nerve-wracking. I wondered to myself if I blended in with my own skinny jeans and healed black boots, or if they knew I was a fraud raised to disapprove of individuality, yet fighting those feelings of disapproval in every moment of my existence more info. How could I have known that the mood of the evening was an absolute indication of what was to come at the race tomorrow.

As I peeked out of the curtains the next morning, the sky was glorious with puffy white clouds and rays of sunshine. I slathered on a handful of sunscreen and belted a provisions belt around my waist, the attached plastic bottles filled with an energy drink. On my head I secured a San Francisco Giants hat to show my city spirit. I took a last glance in the mirror at my meaty body, wishing I had the courage to carry off the Wonder Woman costume I had envisioned myself wearing, but remembering the waitress on Halloween at a local cafe in my hometown who wore the said garb, and spent the entire time her hands were free of plates yanking up the sagging red and gold bodice. My mother's face appeared before me again. Naked people, she intoned with disapproval.

I gazed out the window of my hotel room, and saw a parade of participants heading towards their designated starting points. From my vantage point, I could see a clown in full dress, red wig and striped suit, and a big painted smile. How better to start the race, then to receive a visual welcome from a childhood memory such as the circus. I safety pinned my bib number to my shirt, and headed downstairs.

Disks of an unidentifiable matter flew in a haphazard vertical pattern above the packed crowd in the street, as people cheered and called out to their friends as they herded themselves into the pre-designated corrals from which they were to start the race. A naked man, covered only by a bandanna wrapped around the black hair on his head, clutched the sides of his body and shivered, as he looked around presumably for his friends. Strangely enough, his nudity was not the threat I was originally apprehensive of. Instead, it enforced the vulnerability of every person running the race. It is a beautiful society we live in, where a lone, small boned man can stand naked in the street amongst a crowd energized by caffeine and energy drinks, and not be bothered by anyone.

Taxation And Self Managed Super Funds In Australia

Australia is a country with a sound taxing system. The taxation system prevailing in the country is not unlike most countries where the greater denomination of tax revenue arises from income tax. Here is a brief description about its major tax systems and superannuation schemes.

Income tax in Australia is calculated applying a progressive tax rate slab where higher rate of tax is imposed on higher income.

The income tax rate for the year 2009-10 is as under-

For income between 0-$6000, the tax rate is nil. For $6001-$35000, the rate applicable would be 15%. For $35001-$80000, the rate applicable is 30%, for $80001-$180000 the rate is 38% and above $180000, the rate applicable is 45%

Another taxation tool of the Government of Australia is the Capital Gains tax and the corporate tax. The Capital Gains tax is applied on all taxable capital assets as per the provisions of the Australian Taxation Office. 50% of the net gain on any asset is deducted straight away while calculating Capital Gains. For superannuation, the rate is 33.33%. All companies are liable to pay taxes in the form of corporate tax to the Australian Government. The tax rate for corporate tax is a flat 30% on the net earnings distributable to the stake holders or shareholders of the company.

The Australian Taxation System also imposes tax on Superannuation. Tax is imposed on superannuation on basically three stages namely on contribution made, investment income and benefits paid. The employer's contribution, which currently is 9% of the income of the employee, to the superannuation fund is susceptible to taxation more info. However a maximum deduction of $5000 plus up to 75% over $5000 can be made.

Self managed Super Fund is a type of superannuation fund which provides pension schemes to individuals usually run by a small group of not more than five people. A Self managed Super Fund is usually regulated by the Australian Taxation Office. The Self managed Super Fund needs to have all the members as trustees of the fund. Also no member of the fund can be the employee of another person involved in the fund. If any corporate trustee forms part of the fund then it is required for each of the other members of the fund to be a director in the corporate trustee. This type of fund is widely getting popular amongst tax payers in Australia as this super fund provides a tax shield to some extent.

Self managed Super Funds provide the people with great control and freedom to choose the assets and investments they want to invest in which other super funds fail to provide. This type of funds is the fastest growing segment of the Australian superannuation category.

Horse Racing Glossary - Horse Racing Terms and Definitions

Across the board - a bet on a horse to win, place, and show. The minimum bet is $6 because three wagers ($2 to win, $2 to place, $2 to show) are being placed. If the horse wins, the bettor receives win, place, and show payouts. If the horse finishes second, the bettor receives place and show payouts, and if the horse finishes third, the bettor receives the show payout.

Allowance Race- an event other than claiming for which the racing secretary drafts certain conditions.

Allowances- weights and other conditions of a race.

Also-eligible - a horse officially entered but not permitted to start unless the field is reduced by scratches below a specified number.

Apprentice Allowance - weight concession to an apprentice rider. This varies among states from five to ten pounds. Slang term is "bug." Indicated by an asterisk next to the jockey's name in the program.

Baby race - a race for two-year-olds.

Backside - a racetrack's barn or stable area.

Backstretch - the straight part of the track on the far side between turns; slang term to describe the barn or stable area.

Bandage - strips of cloth wound around the lower part of horses' legs for support or protection against injury.

Bar shoe - a horseshoe closed at the back to help support the frog and heel of the hoof. Often worn by horses with quarter cracks or bruised feet.

Bay - a horse's coat color ranging from tan to auburn. The mane and tail are always black as are the lower portion of the legs (black points), except for any white markings.

Beyer Speed Figure - a handicapping tool, developed by sports writer Andy Beyer of the Washington Post, assigning a numerical value to each race run by a horse based on final time and track condition.

Bleeder - a horse that bleeds from the lungs after or during a work-out or race.

Blinkers - device to limit a horse's vision to prevent him from swerving from objects, others horses, etc.' on either side of him.

Board - the "tote" or totalizator board, which displays odds, betting pools, and others race information.

Bottom Line - the lower half of a pedigree diagram, indicating the female side of a horse's bloodlines.

Bounce - a poor performance followed by an exceptionally good one.

Box - a wagering term denoting a bet in which all possible numeric combinations are covered.

Breakage - at pari-mutuel betting tracks, the rounding off to a nickel or dime, as required by state laws, in paying off wining tickets more info. The breakage is usually split between the track and the state in varying proportions.

Bug Boy - an apprentice jockey.

Bullet - fastest workout of the day at a particular distance.A bullet (*) precedes the work time in listings.

Butazolidin (Bute) - the trade name for phenylbutazone, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

Chalk - the wagering favorite in a race. The term dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write odds on a chalkboard.

Chestnut - a horse's coat color ranging from golden to red to chocolate (liver chestnut). Mane and tail are usually the same shade as the body; also, a small, horny growth on the inside of a horse' legs, just above the knee on the forelegs and below the hocks on the hind legs.

Claiming Race - an event in which each horse entered is eligible to be purchased at a set price.

Clerk of Scales - a racing official whose chief duty is to weigh the riders before and after a race to ensue proper weight is being carried.

Clocker - a person on duty during morning training hours to identify the horses during the workouts, time them, and report to the public their training activities. Some clockers work for the racetrack; others are employed by Equibase.

Clubhouse Turn - the first turn past the finish line, where the clubhouse is usually located.

Colors - a horse owner's racing silks, jacket, and cap, worn by jockeys to denote the horse's ownership. All colors are different, and many are registered with The Jockey Club.

Colt - A male Thoroughbred horse (other than gelding or ridgeling) that has not reached his fifth birth date or has not been bred.

Commingle - combining mutuel pools from off-track sites with the host track.

Condition Book - a series of booklets issued by a racing secretary that lists the races to be run at a particular racetrack.

Conformation - the physical appearance or qualities of a horse.

Controlled Medication - a term widely used to mean that some drugs, primarily phenylbutazone and furosemide (see Lasix), are permissible under controlled circumstances that allow veterinary administration of predetermined dosages at predetermined intervals prior to race time.

Coupled - tow or more horses running as a single betting unit. Also known as an entry.

Daily Double - a type of wager calling for the selection of the winners of two consecutive races, usually the first and second on the race card but can be any two consecutive races.

Find a Psychologist - Things to Consider

Psychologists are medical professionals who are comprised and associated to social sciences and research. Individuals with mental issues go to these professionals for diagnosis and treatment. Psychologists are further branched into smaller categories with various specialties. Here are things to consider in finding the right psychologist to help you.

Trained psychologists are skilled in guiding their clients through a wide scope of social problems like stress, relationships, work, family, school and such. Coping with everyday life for people with mental issues may not get through it on their own. It takes a professional psychologist to diagnose and find solution for that client to function optimally.

In United Kingdom, there are also various specialists that cater to specific psychological needs. Chartered Psychologist is the title given to all accredited psychologists. Here are some of the types of psychologists to walk you through the basics:

Clinical Psychologists

In United Kingdom, Clinical psychologists deal with psychological issues such as depression, relational problems, learning difficulties, depression, child and family problems. Their scope of psychology involves clinical assessments such as tests, interviews or observation of behaviour with treatments involving individual or group sessions based on psychological models and research. Clinical psychologists are usually working in health and social care establishments such as hospitals, health centres and child and adolescent mental health services to name a few.

Counselling Psychologist

Counselling psychologists use a new method wherein psychological theory and practices are integrated is used with therapeutic practice more info. Professionals under this category have high self-awareness and proficient to interrelate personal and interpersonal dynamics translated to a therapeutic framework. Risk and mental assessment, planning and implementing therapy, research and multidisciplinary team work and facilitation are some of the key tasks these psychologists do. Most counselling psychologists work in industries, prison service, and commerce and in any level of education from primary to universities.

Educational Psychologists

Educational psychologists in United Kingdom mostly cater to younger clients who have learning difficulties, social issues or emotional dilemmas. Professionals under this category are geared to enhancing the individual's learning abilities. They also help instructors or teachers to provide a more suitable learning environment, especially for children, to maximize learning abilities through efficient and suitable learning methods. Educational psychologists often work with teachers and parents in most social or educational establishments.