To retrieve URL paths in a Magento PHTML file

<?php echo $this->getSkinUrl('images/image.jpg') ?>
Mage::helper('core/url')->getCurrentUrl();
Mage::helper('core/url')->getHomeUrl();
Mage::getBaseUrl(Mage_Core_Model_Store::URL_TYPE_SKIN);
Mage::getBaseUrl(Mage_Core_Model_Store::URL_TYPE_JS);