Monday, July 5, 2010

The Possible Dangers Related To Counterfeit Passports

By Ben Pate

A recent news report dated Friday, June 11th, 2010 tells of an event that occurred in the country of Dubai. An Israeli official entered this country illegally by using a forged pasport with the intention to assassinate Mahmoud el Mabhouh. As a result of this illegal entry, his mission was successful.

In Ireland, the government issued a statement asking Israel to, "withdraw a designated member of its staff" from their embassy in Ireland. Ireland is the third country to ask Israeli diplomats to leave, in addition to Britain and Australia. Here's the story: The Israeli secret police, collectively called the Mossad, entered Dubai using forged passports that were inextricably tied back to forging by the government of Israel. In addition to fake Irish passports, fake Australian and British passports were also used. Mabhouh, the victim of the assassination, was claimed by Israel to be the person in charge of the smuggling of weapons from Iran into the Gaza Strip.

Passport forgeries along with identity theft are one of the biggest problems plaguing countries and international travelers from all over the world. As you can see, even other countries deal with these counterfeits. Counterfeits are used, just like in the Mabhouh case, to illegally enter a country. They also can be used to open a fraudulent bank account, steal someone's identity, fly abroad, and purchase a weapon. Keeping your passports, along with your other important documents, safe is important in order to discourage this type of thing. However, only tougher government regulation and careful inspection can stop it all together.

It is shocking if you do an internet search of the words "forged passport" because what you will find will astound you. Numerous website can be found who will offer the service of providing the customer with false identification including U S passports complete with a duplicated RFID chip that is found within a legitimate passport for security purposes. Many a minor has used a website like this to get a false form of identification to enable them to purchase alcohol and tobacco products even though they are not old enough to do this legally.

While a legal passport in the hands of an honest citizen can provide the opportunity for international travel, in the hands of a criminal, a forged passport is a passport to crime and trouble. If you can't locate your passport and suspect it may have been stolen, it is imperative that you contact the Nearest Passport Agency as soon as possible so it can be cancelled. You should also contact the local police and file a report, providing as much information as you can to enable them to, if possible, locate the perpetrators.

Passports are a wonderful tool when used to promote world peace and understanding by the availability of international travel but when they are forged and used to perpetrate terrible crimes, the exact opposite occurs. Violence and hate are spread abroad rather than understanding and a sense of community. When you need to purchase a passport, be certain you are dealing with a reputable company whether online or off. It can be hard to spot an imitator so do your homework and double check to be sure your information does not end up in the wrong hands. You do not want to be a victim of passport fraud so be sure to keep your passport in a place where you can be certain it won't be stolen or lost. This is important especially when you are traveling. Be smart, be safe and you can be trouble free.

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How Terror Is Turned Into Triumph

By Frank Atkins

When I was a kid my mother would tell me stories about what it was like living in London during the bombing raids the city suffered in world war two. She described having to rush from her house in an effort to get to the bomb shelter before the deafening explosions started to wreak their havoc on the city and its people. Three times they returned from the shelter to find their homes and everything in it gone, obliterated.

Can you imagine the horror of having to start your life over again every-time with nothing?

Grateful that such things are buried in the past? They are still happening today!

The same type of terror used during that terrible world war is being carried out today on the people of Israel. The enemy, based in nearby countries is consistently raining down rockets and missiles on the civilian population. The rockets and missiles of today are far more powerful and destructive than those of yesteryear.

This means that the warning time is far shorter so the need for shelters is great. The people in these targeted cities need to be able to get away quickly to safety which is why provision of effective shelters is an absolute priority.

Yaron Bob is one man doing something about this situation in a different and compelling way. He acquires what is left of the Kassam rockets that have exploded and uses them to create unique works of art.

People readily buy these art pieces which range from simple key chains to incredibly beautiful hand crafted metal "roses." Then, artist Yaron gives part of the proceeds to groups that help provide shelters and direct support to the many victims of terror in Israel.

Of course I am sure that Yaron would prefer there to be a shortage of raw materials for his work, but right now the enemy is providing him with a more than adequate supply.

His actions are the epitome of making lemonade from lemons. He has taken an item of terror, these deadly destructive rockets and turned them into an item of triumph, a testimony to the resolve and ingenuity of the people of Israel.

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Saturday, July 3, 2010

5 Great Spiritual Leaders Of The Last 100 Years

By Craig Perkins

The 20th century has had its fair share of inspirational leaders both good and bad, from politicians to religious leaders. They are people who, either deliberately or by divine providence, became known as great leaders. Many chose a life of poverty, sacrifice and example to show others how to find peace. The following are just five examples of the many people who have influenced the lives of millions.

Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Born into a peasant family, and recognized at just two years of age as the reincarnation of his predecessor, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has become more than just a leader of the Tibetan people. Thrust into the role of Head of State and Government for Tibet at 16 years of age, His Holiness led his people against China. After the Chinese occupied Tibet in 1959, he was forced into exile in India, establishing "Little Lhasa," the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. His Holiness is the first Dalai Lama to extend his influence beyond his own people. Through his tireless work to establish links with other faiths and between countries, the Dalai Lama is world-renowned as a scholar and man of peace. He takes regular opportunities to speak publicly, calling for mutual respect and better understanding between the faiths. The Dalai Lama speaks constantly of the need for global responsibility and compassion.

Mahandas Gandhi

World-renowned as the pioneer of resistance through mass civil disobedience, Mohandas Gandhi was born into a political family. At a young age, Gandhi was influenced by his devout mother and the regional traditions of Jain, including compassion and tolerance towards others. Through his education in England to his early career in South Africa, Gandhi was also influenced by the acceptance and racism he experienced. His first major clash with the British in his native India was in 1918 when the British levied a tax on already desperately poor people. He began leading protests and strikes against the local landlords who were mainly British and he began the famous "non-cooperation" technique of peaceful protest as his "weapon" against the British. Gandhi spoke out against both the violence of Indians and of the British Raj. As part of his expansion of non-violence, Gandhi developed the technique of "swadeshi," the boycott of foreign-made goods. Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 but his principles of truth, non-violence, vegetarianism, Brahamacharya (spiritual and practical purity, celibacy and asceticism), simplicity in life, and faith remain as beacons to those seeking a spiritual life.

Mother Teresa

Anges Gonxha Bojaxhiu was reputedly born on the 26th August, 1910. Called by God to serve others at the age of 12, she joined the Irish Sisters of Loreto and was sent to India. The extreme poverty of the area moved her to seek permission to work in the slums of Calcutta, and thus began her outreach that would touch the lives of many across the world. She founded The Missionaries of Charity whose task was to love those that no one else would care for. Today, the work of Mother Teresa continues, with volunteers working with the poorest of all people, not just in India but across the world. In death, Mother Teresa continues to inspire people everywhere to understand more about a life of sacrifice and love for their fellow man.

Pope John Paul II

As Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II is recognized as one of the most influential leaders of the century. Credited for his crucial role in ending communism across Europe, he also reached out the hand of friendship to other faiths. He established relations with Judaism, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Anglican Communion. He visited 129 countries and became one of the most travelled world leaders of all time. Criticized from outside the Catholic Church for his stance on issues such as contraception, abortion and the ordination of women, Pope John Paul wrote extensively on the dignity of women and the importance of family for mankind's future, saying, "As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live." He was known as The Pope for Youth and emphasized the role of young people in the Church. Revered by Catholics around the world, since his death, both they and non-Catholics have taken to referring to the late Pope as "John Paul the Great," an honor given to only four Popes since the first millennium.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

The legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. is personified in the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. To Americans and people around the world, Martin Luther King, Jr., or MLK as he is affectionately known to many, is the man who, along with John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, made significant inroads in the area of poverty and civil rights for minorities. Recognized as a martyr by some churches, MLK was a clergyman and activist. His work to end segregation and discrimination by using the non-violent methods developed by Gandhi is widely credited as impacting race relations, not just in the United States but far further afield. Even today, the words of his famous "I have a dream" speech resound across the world.

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Friday, July 2, 2010

Let Pete Rose Into The Hall Of Fame

By Sam Canale

If you've kept up with the news at all, you've probably seen a lot of coverage about Pete Rose and whether or not he belongs in Cooperstown. My thoughts about this issue will follow.

Rose was exiled from baseball after being caught gambling on games involving a team he managed about 20 years ago. While he violated a code of conduct, this has nothing to do with anything done while he was a professional baseball player.

Another reason I believe that Pete should be let in is that even though he did bet on the game of baseball, it was after he even quit playing. So a lifetime ban was a little to harsh, don't you think?

This argument especially carries weight when you look at what's going on in the baseball world today. Look at all of the steroids busts! Bonds, Rodriguez, Ortiz, Ramirez, McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro...the list goes on and on. All of these players busted for PEDs and we're worrying about gambling by a player after his career? Rose's accomplishment was pure, no one doubts that.

While the ban shouldn't guarantee him a spot, it should at least guarantee him a chance for those who vote to choose he belongs. From everything I've read and heard, players seem to agree that Rose belongs. It seems like Selig has an open mind, but no one ever knows what's really going on inside that head so it's hard to say what will happen.

And these are my thoughts about Pete Rose. Charlie Hustle deserves his place in Cooperstown along with the rest of the greats who probably did things considered unethical during their times (Babe Ruth, cough cough). He's had just as much humility as anyone and is clearly sorry for his actions. It's time to forgive him and remember him for his talent, not one mistake.

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Seek A Skilled DUI Attorney NY Should Trouble Arise

By Daphne Dorsey

In less than perfect situations, irresponsible actions result in consequences that reflect that. Driving will intoxicated can be harmful causing injury and sometimes death. In New York state, if this happens and a person is arrested, they need the services of a DUI attorney NY. Traffic violations committed will under the influence are handled best by someone with knowledge of the traffic laws involving driving while intoxicated.

The risk taken by New York drivers that drive the roads after drinking, not only affect the driver, but those around them. Cars may be crashed, but in the direst happenstances, people may end up dying. If that death is the result of driving while intoxicated, the driver is liable to be charged with the fatality.

The New York STOP-DWI laws have made law enforcement even more aware of what is needed to end drunk and drugged driving. People pulled over after suspicion of a DWI take sobriety exams and may have to pay fees and penalties.

When arrested, the purported offender needs help understanding what their rights may be and as such should get in contact with a DUI attorney NY right away. Making that call as soon as possible is best. Convictions can mean the revocation of a driver's license. Fines and jail time may arise, but an attorney can assist in reducing charges, fines, or get the case thrown out.

With an attorney, a felony charge might be changed to a misdemeanor. A person facing prison time may end up in jail, instead.

It is vital that anyone needing the assistance of a lawyer find someone that is experienced in this matter. Everyone has to make a start somewhere, but this is one case where experience rules. An attorney that is up to date on criminal law, especially that involving an intoxicated driver is warranted.

The person arrested may find it is hard to do their own research in finding a lawyer. They may end up with someone they would not choose otherwise. In this circumstance, it is better to have family and friends be on the lookout for a lawyer to take on the case.

The person charged should feel as if their DUI attorney NY actually cares about how the case ends up. They should also have an updated license to practice law and the knowledge of New York laws. Public defenders can do a decent job, but for most soliciting help from an attorney to guide the case all the way through is the best idea.

dui attorney ny

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Thursday, July 1, 2010

Who Are Private Detectives?

By Andreas Scott

Private detectives are someone who investigates, searches into records to determine the truth and solve cases. They can be licensed or unlicensed. They can either be private or a member of a police agency. Their jobs are particularly popularized by fiction although, there's none of that bizarre cases beyond the mystery of science fiction.

A private detective can have a lot o tricks on their sleeves in conducting investigations. Most of the success can be owed to your typical interrogation of suspects and interview of witnesses. However, most private detectives rely on their network linkages to access people beyond their formal capacity. They need to establish linkages to gain access to information that can't be acquired through informal conquests. Evidence collection and preservation can also be quite a good resource for spotting probable suspect(s).

In cases of criminal investigations, a private detective should attempt to guarantee safety in investigation patterns. Unlike detectives who are employed by the police department, who can investigate criminal activity openly , as they have the governmental authority to ensure themselves of a safe conduction of investigative technique. As private investigators, you have no authority to arrest and take matters in autonomy. Private investigators have limitations which can only help in the investigation to lead the path to solving the case.

Once private detectives have a suspect in mind, he can now look for durable evidence that can pass and withstand in a court of law. A private detective can obtain a confession by either establishing rapport with the suspect or gain access and usable information in the Attorney's office in exchange for possible benefits, such as minimizing the sentence and its weight in exchange for the information.

Private detectives may lie and deceive or do whatever it takes to get that confession but they have to keep in mind the boundaries of their trade.

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Your Personal Investigator

By Riza Miller

Do you get the urge to simply know the truth? And you want to feel the thrill and excitement of solving a case, making background checks and search records; you can be a personal investigator. It is by means of establishing competent skills of research and logic to crack the case. You don't have to wear the typical PI costume. You will just need your wit and intellect to decipher a case.

So how do you become a personal investigator? According to ezinearticles.com, you are given two alternatives. Either you apply in a personal investigation agency or you can be self-employed. Being in an agency, you would need to have experience and possibly have an educational background of related field. Most agencies prefer personal investigators who have experience in the work areas (means no extensive training and orientation be done for you). A great feature, being in a personal investigator agency, would be the high salary and career exposure for your development.

Being a self-employed personal investigator would signify its part-time quality. It should mean that you need to have a stable job and have the personal investigator job as a side-line. This type of part-time job would maximize vacant time and add income. The problem with this type is the depth and seriousness of the case. This could be time-consuming that possibly affect your stable job. This could make you picky and sporadic.

Training is essential to both. Personal investigative skills need to be learned and enhanced. Both require certification from legitimate companies of your state to practice such career path. Research and investigation on background information, skip tracing, locating missing persons, surveillance and counter-surveillance, are some of the basic concepts a personal investigator needs to perfect.

Always remember that the best personal investigator would be someone who knows his limitations. Investigative processes needs to be legally managed. Objectivity is necessary hence, you look for the truth. Keep in mind the boundaries of personal investigation. A personal investigator is not a lawyer nor a police authority.

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