May 28, 2013, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Sectarian Ironies in Baghdad, Iraq

Categories: Political
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It is almost a decade since the United States freed Baghdad from its supposed dictator and oppressor Saddam Hussein and Baghdad has seen many troubles before it finally established its current stature. Most of these troubles came from the 2006-07 sectarian conflicts, which killed many people in the process.

Regardless of who sits as the leader of Iraq, minorities will still regard the ethnicity of this leader. Hussein was a Sunni Muslim, the minority against the Shia Muslim majority. Ethnicity drives deeper more than what nationalism can actually do to unite people and unless the two groups finally make amends and work together, nothing will happen to Baghdad but violence.

Recently, 66 people have died in a series of car bomb attacks, which the government and authorities suspect to be the work of Sunni Muslims due to the fact that the attacks targeted busy Shia shopping areas in the country. Iraqis are saying that the country is a “failed state”, with many people losing their business and savings because of the rampaging violence.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki claims that the government is not discriminating against the Sunnis even if he is a Shia. However, he ensured to make changes to Iraq’s security strategy to ensure the militants do not return them back to sectarian conflicts as the tensions between the two groups rage on.

Regardless of what their government says, democracy cannot work with a divided public. It is truly ironic to say that Iraq is free from a dictator, but their minds refuse to be free to see the bigger picture.

April 4, 2013, Author: admin, Leave a comment

North Korea Threatens That Nuclear War is Coming Soon

Categories: Political
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North Korea continues its global threat of war against Northeast Asia Thursday of attacks from a light and diversified North Korean nuclear force and that “the moment of explosion is approaching fast”. This threat came right after North Korea blocked South Korean workers passage to a joint North and South Korean factory complex. The country also announced that it would be reactivating its nuclear reactor used for nuclear weapons manufacturing.

The North Korean State news agency KCNA recently said that nobody knows when the war will begin, but the state news said that the North Korean administration is blaming the US for the coming war.

Observers say that North Korea is still incapable of attacking using a nuclear warhead to other countries. US officials say that they find no unusual military movements in the Korean DMZ. It is possible that the talk of war is to help boost the confidence of North Koreans to its young leader Kim Jong Un.

The United Nations and an extremely disappointed China is calling for calm among South Koreans and the United States. US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Wednesday that all North Korean threats against Guam, Hawaii and the US mainland will be met with serious attention. Hagel also said that North Korea can still stop the violence and increased US military activity if they just “eat their words and rhetoric”.

Source: CNN

 

March 19, 2013, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Asma Al-Assad Attends “Mother’s Rally”, Analysts Say It’s a Stunt

Categories: Political
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Syrian First Lady Asma Al-Assad showed herself publicly over the weekend at the Damascus Opera House to attend a “Mother’s Rally”. The event focuses on raising funds for the mothers of “martyrs”, government soldiers who died in the Syrian civil war ongoing for two years. Her children also joined her in the event.

Photos and interviews of local Syrian media and international news sites showed Asma Al-Assad surrounded by children, young women and the mother of the “martyrs”. One photos shows a woman kissing the first lady on the cheek.

According to Andrew Tabler, an American expert on Syrian culture and politics, Asma Al-Assad’s political move shows the interest of the Assad regime to portray that its “business as usual” in the Syrian government and they are not the least bit bothered about launching missiles in Damascus itself. Politically, Asma Al-Assad shows her ability to do that, but it also indicates that the regime is trying to make a “political stunt” that shows the regime is still strong but is obviously cracking.

The Syrian Civil War, where the Syrian government controlled with violence a public rally for more civilian freedoms, has left 70,000 rebel and civilian casualties in the 2 year old conflict. The rebels, civilians and military defectors who took many casualties during its early days, now have the heavily-armed government in a war lockdown.

Source: CNN

March 11, 2013, Author: admin, Leave a comment

No Win No Fee Claims Will Not Do Good for UK Citizens

Categories: Legal
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Legal experts and analysts point out that the Ministry of Justice’s decision to re-instate the no win no fee compensation claims and remove the win/lose no fee claims will not do any good for UK citizens as it would do good for insurance companies. The MOJ will abolish the win/lose no fee compensation claims by April 2013 to reduce the number of victim working with claims management companies and personal injury lawyers, who allegedly increase the number of personal injury claims that are exaggerated or fraudulent.

According to the Association of British Insurers, the industry loses £2 billion yearly compensating for fraudulent and exaggerated claims. Honest drivers are paying £118 yearly for the increase in car insurance premiums. To prevent the inflation of prices, the MOJ and the UK government will also incorporate new whiplash claims guidelines as whiplash is the leading injury claim with the greatest number of fraud claims.

Insurance company Aviva said that the £2 billion losses could be cut to £1.5 billion if victims will claim directly with the “at-fault” insurance company. However, personal injury lawyers said that the suggestion of the insurance company creates a conflict of interest. Insurance companies need to reduce overhead costs and will leave victims with reduced compensation.

Experts said that if no win no fee gets 25% of the victim’s compensation for success fees for successful personal legal professionals. They say that the situation may work better for the UK insurance industry, but it is a lose/lose deal for UK citizens.

October 9, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

The Essentials of Day Trading

Categories: Finance
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Day trading is a common practice among stock market brokers and traders to gain more profit or at least reduce their losses. The practice requires that the trader has enough experience working in the stock market. Day trading involves the ability to know when will companies gain in profit during certain points of the day and when to purchase stocks that would grow over the day at their low points.

1. Points

Day trading is buying and selling securities throughout the day. A day trader will not purchase the stock and leave it overnight or for a course of days as normal equities. In day trading, great quantities of stocks are purchased. Taking advantage of the small market movements is the main core of day trading.

2. Technicalities

In day trading, one needs to purchase a great amount of stock. The money needed to purchase the stock, commonly borrowed and known as leverage, might come from a mutual fund a trader is part of. The leverage might also come from different investors who seek to minimize their losses or from the trader’s own resources.

3. Advantages

Day trading can help traders see how the investments grow throughout the day. Unlike equities, which involve much time waiting and might be a boon-or-bane investment, day traders can easily minimize losses by selling the stocks at a proper time at their height. Due to the fluctuations in the stock market, investors can easily gain profit at a faster rate depending on how well they foresee growth and fall.

4. Disadvantages

With great gains can come great losses. A mismanaged investment might mean paying for the leverage. Leverages, as borrowed money, might have interest rates. If a trader is not too careful, he or she might lose much money from day trading. Day trading may also “thin out” the investments. As the money is invested in different company and business stocks, the growth might not be too evident with too many companies involved.

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September 25, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Car Leasing: What You Exactly Do

Categories: Finance
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Ever heard of people leasing vehicles instead of buying them? Indeed, these can work to the advantage of people and car owners, depending on the situation. But how do you exactly lease a vehicle?

Car leasing is similar to leasing or renting a home. You pay for the value you use up in the car. The car’s odometer is the primary source of its value. You can have the car owned for a set number of years. Once you reach the deadline, you have the option to purchase the vehicle by paying for its remaining market amount.

Car leasing is mostly available with car dealerships, private owners and rent-a-car services. You’ll be paying a monthly amount to the car owner for leasing the vehicle for continued use. Depending on the agreement between you and the car owner, if you want to own the vehicle after leasing it, an additional amount can be added to your monthly leasing amount. They might also charge it only by the end of your leasing term.

Leasing a vehicle is helpful especially if you’re to live temporarily in a foreign place for a while for business, work or leisure. If it should take a few months to a year, it would be best to lease a car to get around the new area easily. Leasing vehicles is also advisable for people who wish to change cars every 3 to 4 years.

It is advised that when leasing a vehicle, leasers take out a vehicle with high values. This is because the lower the value of depreciation in the market, the lower the rental fee could be. Also, you can have the option of purchasing the vehicle at a more suitable price after your deadline.

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September 12, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Essential Things to Remember Before Renting an Apartment

Categories: Personal Finance
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Finding an apartment is essential, especially if you know that it will save you more money in the long run. However, finding a worthy apartment can be difficult. Here are a few things you’ll need to remember to find the best apartment in the area.

1. Contact a Broker

The first thing you need in finding a good apartment is finding a real-estate broker to help you find the best apartment you could. If you want to save up on fees, some online buying and selling websites just like www.craiglist.com can help you find contacts that offer apartment rentals. If you still don’t know what you’re looking for, visiting a few options is a good first step.

2. Check the Place

Seeing your options, it is best to observe the following. Is your monthly fee proportionate to what amenities and the quality the place can offer you? Do you think you can live for a long time or are satisfied coming to and fro work in such a room? Will it benefit you in the long term living in the apartment on rent? Checking the place and seeing everything always counts before making a purchase.

3. Avoid Purchasing The Apartment Based on Your Perception

You might be seeing good things in the apartment, such as embossed ceilings, a good ceiling view and decent appliances, but don’t make a purchase just yet. You might not be getting what you need, but only what you want. Make a list of the things you need from a decent apartment room. From here, gauge if you actually are getting what you pay for.

4. Don’t Buy Just Yet

Keep note of the high and low points of the option you just visited. Then visit the other selections in your list, or find some other options. Having more, you can compare the rates, their high and low points and see for yourself which house is indeed the most cost-efficient of all. Remember, you’ll be paying rent, so consider if really, paying the amounts you need per month would really benefit you.

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August 29, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Samsung Smartphone Resales Rising Online

Categories: Finance
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On Monday, Apple pointed to eight Samsung smartphone models that it wants banned. Apple pointed out that the court put out of American shelves the models of Samsungs Galaxy S4G, Galaxy S2, Galaxy S2 Rocket, Galaxy S2 for T-Mobile, Galaxy S2 Epic 4G, Galaxy S Showcase, Droid Charge and Galaxy Prevail. Apple was granted one phone banned, which was Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1. With many customers panicking, Samsung smartphone models dropped in prices as resales rose all over America and online.

Apple and Samsung have been on the legal scene right after Apple accused Samsung of copying the designs of the iPad 2 on Samsung’s new Galaxy Tab 10.1. The legal action, which took place in many courts in the world, focused primarily on U.S. soil, Apple’s biggest market. Apple won the verdict against Samsung, which led to the implications on consumers.

Samsung and Google’s stock rates fell down with 1.9% and 1.4% respectively. Google, who made the Android operating system for most smartphone models and primarily used by Samsung on its smartphones, was also affected directly by the outcome of the case.

Online resale sites have seen a 50% rise on Samsung phone resales from customers. Anaylsts state that customers are panicked and are seeking ways to at least have leverage on the new iPhone 5, rumored to be released by the third quarter by mid-September this year. Samsung needs to find a workaround with the patents or pay licensing fees to continue supporting the products. Many consumers are troubled by anticipated lackluster support for their devices, which led to the rise in online resales.

Source: USA Today

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August 15, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

Credit Cards: Managing Your Credit Cards Properly

Categories: Credit Cards, Personal Finance
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A good way to avoid increasing debt is by managing your credit cards in the best way possible. Credit cards can work to your advantage or disadvantage. Getting your credit scores up, getting financing instantly or using your card to make cash advances are great advantages. But without care and proper use, all these can turn against you and sink you into debt. Here are ways to manage your cards in the best way possible.

1. Get a Grip on Multiple Credit Cards

If you own multiple credit cards, the best thing to do is know each one of them, their privileges, their credit limit and their repayment periods, and list them down on a notebook. Arrange them from the hierarchy of biggest credit limit to the smallest. List down where they can afford you benefits, discounts and other privileges, and use them accordingly.

2. Credit Limits

For every purchase you make with each card, tally them to a notebook. Most people don’t know they cannot use their cards anymore until they’ve hit their credit limit. Maxing out your cards is an unacceptable financial practice. Listing down your purchases and advances with your card can help you monitor what you need to pay for monthly and how to manage your finances without depending too much on credit.

3. Pay Your Dues on Time

Probably, this is the hardest credit card management rule to fulfill. The only way to pay your dues on time is to plan your finances while leaving a good leeway of extra money for other expenses. Having a “buffer” space enables you to save money or at least avoid debts. Paying only for the minimum amount for your card is not acceptable. To keep your cards free, be sure to pay them regularly on a monthly basis in full. Interest fees of credit cards are quite high, so always consider the options.

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August 3, 2012, Author: admin, Leave a comment

The Mainstream Performing Arts: The Essentials You Need to Have

Categories: Performing Arts
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Show business is a great avenue for self and career development especially for people with the talents and skills to make it. However, to make it big in show business, one must take note of the basic things that they need to have or gain to make their dreams come true. It is important to consider these details and incline them with your objectives in mind.

1. Physical Attributes

The rise of the TV being a foremost media source for many decades left audiences to be appreciative of the physical attributes of people they see on the tube. Undeniably, television has set the standard of “beauty” and “formality” for people who should appear in its programs or shows. Before you enter show business, be sure that you are attractive to look at on television. Being “telegenic” might not be a trait, but it can be developed. Try to find your best angles first before your auditions.

2. Charisma and Personality

In the mainstream performing arts or entertainment industry, having charisma and your unique brand of personality is the key to making your own character in show business. This will help you be noticed by most producers and directors to work with you. You can be a total package if you have the personality and the looks to appear on TV.

3. Talents

A performer must have their own special talents given the demands of their character. Good talent requires patience and practice. It can also be innate in many people. Honing your skills and talents will be essential in your career as a mainstream performer.

4. Socializing/Networking

Be sure to hook up with co-workers and other performers from your previous projects as they can help you get more projects in the future. Most often, producers, directors and co-workers who have enjoyed working with you will call upon you for future projects. So make sure that you socialize and network with them and be sure to give a good performance as well.