Have You Provided For Your Retirement?

With people now living longer and a decade of poor performing saving plans many countries are experiencing a crisis with regards to providing any state pension. Some have already taken action while others are considering asking people to work longer, or making it mandatory that people contribute towards their own pensions. Workers are being told that they can no longer expect pensions that are linked to their final salaries and some people are finding that the savings that they had made are no longer adequate to maintain the lifestyle that they expected. What is your own attitude towards retirement, do you feel that you are making adequate provision or are you living for today?

Have You Provided For Your Retirement?

Phishing - Whose Responsibility?

‘Phishermen’ trick people into revealing their personal details (such as their passwords or credit card numbers) by imitating reputable websites. This is known as ‘phishing’. Phishermen create website that closely resemble the home pages of online banks and commercial websites such as E-bay. They then send millions of emails out using mailing lists that give the people receiving the email the impression that they are receiving an official message from each website asking them to confirm their security details by clicking on a link. If the request is actioned the person will be taken to the fake website, where they will be persuaded to attempt to log on and as they do so their security details are recorded. The fake website tells them that an invalid password was entered and to try again at which point they are often sent to the bona-fide website where the person successfully logs on. The person is often unaware that a third-party has now recorded their security details and the bona-fide website is not aware of any problem. There are many variations but in all cases it is an attempt to get people to part with security information that can then be used dishonestly by a third-party. Where security is breached in this way who do you think should be held responsible for any loss?

Phishing - Whose Responsibility?

Is A Bird Flu Pandemic Inevitable?

Delegates from 100 nations recently met at the World Health Organization headquarters in San Francisco and were urged to prepare against the avian flu or risk a human pandemic that scientists fear could kill millions and cause up to $800 billion in economic damage worldwide. Migratory wildfowl are carrying the so-called H5N1 strain of avian influenza allowing it to spread from Asia to Eastern Europe and appears to be heading towards Africa. Half of those that have so far contracted Avian Flu have died and although so far there have been no recorded cases scientist believe that it is only a matter of time before an avian influenza, most likely the H5N1 strain, acquires the ability to be transmitted human-to-human. Existing vaccines for seasonal influenza are regarded as ineffective against any new strain. With international travel now being common place when this happens scientist warn that the next pandemic will cause incalculable human misery. How informed do you feel and how concerned are you that the predictions of untold deaths and economical consequences could become a reality?

Is A Bird Flu Pandemic Inevitable?

Can You Keep A Promise?

How good are you at keeping promises? Do you give them with gay abandon or are you someone who only gives a promises on rare occasions? Do you think any worse of people who break their promises or do you take the promises that people make to you with a pinch of salt?

Can You Keep A Promise?