Words from the SoapBox

Police auction crowds have definitely increased over the years. Once thought of as an after thought, now days, people will wait in long lines for hours at a time to get a preview of what’s coming. It may be the economy which has bred a whole new brand of bargain hunters from the young to the old. Or possibly, people are becoming more aware of the possibilities of purchases at an auction. Whatever the reason, police auctions are the latest craze in finding a great deal, or maybe even something rare and coveted.

Here are some quick informational tips to attending and bidding at a police auction in your area.

Who and Where?

Police auctions can either be run by the department itself, or in larger cases, a reputable auction company. There are laws in most jurisdictions that deal with how the auction will be run. The auctioneer must publish a full description of the items to be auctioned, as well as the date, time and location of the auction. The publication should also include payment terms, and pick up times for winning bids. It must be placed in a major newspaper in that jurisdiction, allowing for full knowledge and planning for the event.

How Did the Items End Up at a Police Auction?

These items are typically seized, forfeited, or found. They are not privy to details and specifics of where the items originated, but it allows for the possibility of every imaginable item allows for an eclectic array of products to be showcased

When it comes to seizures, states and local governments have given law enforcement the power to seize any and all property related to a crime or illegal activity. Once the property is proven to be part of an illegal activity, it is confiscated and then resold to the highest bidder. That seized property can be as small as a coffee maker and as large as a house.

Another reason items end up in police auctions is ‘unclaimed property’ or found items. This is property left behind on transit buses, at local institutions like libraries and court houses and valuable stuffs found around jurisdictions. You would normally have 90 days to claim it, after which it goes in to the auction.

What is the Protocol for Police Auctions?

All items are sold to the highest bidder and paid for immediately on premises. There will also be sales tax added to the final sale price, so be aware, it adds up. All sold items are sold ‘as is’. There are no warrantees on anything sold at auctions, police auctions being no exception. You cannot return items, and no money will be refunded.

How to Bid?

It’s always best to go to the preview viewing of the items up for auction. Once you have an item in mind, do your research. First check the condition of the item up for auction, then research how much the item sells for new and used to have a good idea of how much you are willing to bid. You will need to register in order to bid. Most police auctions have a small fee for registering.

Warning to the Wise

I love going to auctions, and am a big supporter of police auctions in particular. But I feel I should warn you that police auctions are notorious for bringing out the inexperienced and impulsive buyer. Don’t be one of those people who get caught up in the fever of bidding and end up paying more than retail. It happens more often than you may think. To get the best deal on your most cherished items always preview auctions, research and study price points, set a maximum bid price and never, ever waiver. And maybe bring a buddy who you trust to keep you in check. It takes a lot of willpower to stop bidding once you get in the rhythm, but a good friend will always tell you when to stop when you can’t.

Good luck and enjoy the excitement!

Author Bio: Visit http://www.madisonsauction.com for collectible auctions, appraisals and liquidation and bankruptcy.

All freedom-loving people should be extremely alarmed at the trend of silencing people for speaking their minds in public, especially in supposed free-speech, Constitutionally protected countries like the United States. Four young men were recently arrested and imprisoned in Dearborn, Michigan, for witnessing to their faith at an Islamic festival. Never mind the First Amendment. This is the beginning of its demise by allowing anyone to be able to silence anyone else from speaking their hearts and minds in a free country.

In other countries, freedom of speech can be curtailed if that country so decides. However, this is the United States and, supposedly, we have certain Constitutional rights, one being the right of free speech. As far as I know, these four young men were not preaching sedition or tyranny and were not perpetrating any violence. They were speaking of their religious faith. That they chose to do it in an area that was predominantly of another faith does not matter. They were still within the borders of the United States. Brazen: maybe. Foolish: maybe. But illegal, in America: NEVER.

Now the Counsel of Islamic Nations is pushing hard in the United Nations to implement an international law that would outlaw the preaching of the gospel anywhere in the world, which would, of course, include anywhere in the United States.

Where is our country going? Who is leading it? Is “anyone” leading it? There was a day when the leaders of the United States stood in the face of the world, either with pride in what we had done and what we could contribute, or with the demand that the world governments fix their ways as they affected us or stand in the face of our anger. Now? How fast can we give our country away seems to be the mantra.

Have you followed the speeches given by our president and other government officials? How many of the speakers have you seen stand for anything at all except apologizing for who we are and what we’ve done? Now it has come back to our own shores and our own rights. Our own freedoms are given away, freedoms guaranteed by our own Constitution, so we won’t offend people from other countries.

Unless freedom-loving people wake up now, they will wake some day soon with all their rights of American freedom gone, locked up and thrown away by people from other countries-and even by our own government. Don’t expect your president to support you in this. He has already shown where he stands. It is up to us, the citizens of this supposdly free country, to stop the give-away of our coutnry.

People, you do not have to stand for this, but in order to bring about a stop to the trend, you will have to get off the couches and into both the courts and the streets. If you don’t, the old refrain of “Never again” will soon be, “Oh, well. Remember when…”

Author Bio: Jim Magwood is the author of the international mystery novel, SANCTION. Visit him and SANCTION at his website, http://www.JimMagwood.com. Jim is also the webmaster of the site, The Author’s Inn, dedicated to showcasing author’s works and connecting them with the book reading public. You can visit The Author’s Inn at http://www.the-authors-inn.com

Recession, economy, financial planning, these are all ideas we are tired of hearing about. Well, my friend, get over it, the National Bureau of Economic Research is starting to talk about another round of financial mishaps that are set to come our way. This is called a ‘double dip’ recession. In specific terms it means a time when the GDP or Gross Domestic Product slides back to negative after a short-lived time of positive growth.

Basically we are all aboard the financial roller coaster with no stopping in site. We have survived the plummet of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac nose-diving out of control. We have lived through the twist in the ride that was Unemployment rising to 7.9. We toughed out the corkscrew that was the housing collapse and we have dealt with the out of control spin that was major American companies begging for a bailout. And now, when this wild ride looks over and the light at the end of the tunnel is within reach we are being told to strap in for another go round.

There are a few signs that are pointing towards the fact that the recession isn’t over yet. One of the big ones pertains to the housing market, last week- despite signs of recent progress- the numbers were awful, in fact there is a stiff and steep drop in new home sales. The housing market is big industry and to watch that fall again can have catastrophic results on the face of our current economic makeup.

Another big killer to our recent good fortune is the fact that employment is still down. It is hard for people to circulate money when they don’t have any coming in. In fact, our Vice President, Joe Biden, is quoted with saying that “there is no possibility to restore [the] 8 million jobs already lost in the “Great Recession”. Wow that makes me feel better.

Another issue that may keep us in the red is a governmental view that it is not time to spend. Many people criticize governments for overspending in a time of crisis, but many if not most economists believe that spending is just what needs to be done to get that money circulating and to get the employment rate up.

Though it is easy to pass judgment on our government for spending our tax dollars, the argument for spending now and saving when the economy is yet again robust is a good one. So long as we spend wisely on projects that generate real long term jobs.

This way jobs can be created and the economy can have the chance to build. Right now a focus on global spending is starting to have people believe that it is the time to spend. Lets look at how this has benefitted us in the past, in 1937 the country was just starting to emerge from the Great Depression when there was a sudden focus put on austerity (raising taxes to pay off governmental debts), this is widely believed to lead to 4 years of halted growth and a longer recession.

If we can’t listen to our experts, can we listen to our history books instead of making the same mistakes all over again?

Author Bio: “Your” Money Matters By Carl Hampton From the Author of “From Credit Despair To Credit Millionaire” Http://CarlHampton.com

Just for fun, let’s assume a really fanciful, utterly unimaginable set of circumstances – a real screwball fantasy:

Let’s say that a group of religion-drunk psychopaths with dreams of paradise flew a pair of commercial aircraft full of screaming passengers into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on, say, September 11th, 2001. Let’s suppose they kill, oh, a couple thousand people.

Naturally, it could never happen. Nobody is that deluded, that self-destructive, that murderous. No religion would sanction – and sanctify – such a thing. But play along with me here.

And let’s say that a few years down the road, a group of their co-religionists, led by a fellow who has opined that the events of that date were not orchestrated by his peers, but by 1) the Jews, 2) the U.S. government, 3) unknown but definitely NON-Muslim parties, or 4) some combination of the above – let’s say that this group wants to build a massive “Islamic learning center” and mosque as close as possible to the two holes in the ground that are the footprints of those towers.

Of course, nobody would stand for that. The city council would vote him down. The public would run him out of the city. But let’s just pretend.

Let’s pretend that this fellow gets, say, $100 million in financing to build the thing (from undisclosed sources); that he plans to open it on the 10th anniversary of the events of September 11, 2001 (no symbolism there); and that – hold onto your seat – he wants to call this abomination “Cordoba House.”

Now, we know that something like this could never happen. Because we are reminded that Cordoba (Cordova) is the city where Muslims built their first huge mosque at the beginning of their conquest of Spain.

We are reminded, too, that wherever Muslim warriors have conquered others, they have built gigantic mosques to demonstrate their conquest of, and superiority to, the conquered. And they’ve built them as close as possible to the conquered peoples’ sacred ground – often right on top of it.

The building hovering over Ground Zero would be a triumphalist mosque that would say, “We’ve made our mark in America – right here. We are conquering the land of the infidels. America is weak, and on her last legs. We’ll have the whole country groveling at our feet soon. This triumphal building is a symbol of our strength, and of the ongoing subjugation of America.”

Of course none of this could ever happen. The only way to imagine it would be to first imagine a group of people who maintain and indeed nurture a hair-trigger sensitivity to the slightest provocation, while expecting us to remain unprovoked; who tolerate nothing, yet expect us to tolerate this.

And we would have to imagine the local government and citizens of New York too numb and too feeble to be offended even by this outrage; too hobbled by political correctness and multiculturalist claptrap to object to even this: an Islamic victory tower in the midst of Ground Zero, celebrating the religious philosophy that turned that small quarter into sacred ground.

Author Bio: When anyone is looking, Bailey Stone writes about postcard printing, brochure printing and the use of other printed materials for business promotion and sales. When no one is around he writes on a broad range of subjects – and of course his opinions are his own. See the company’s web site here: http://www.colorprintingcentral.com

Charity is one of such words which cannot be explained in a sentence or a couple of words. The dimensions to the meaning of charity are vast and dense and hence, that is the reason the word in itself carries a whole lot of meanings which, of course, is only in the best interests and goodwill. Charity is a kind of a very soft word which in all sense can only spell goodness.

We have all heard from before that ‘Charity begins at Home’. Well, the concept is true to every inch and the real reason for this is that the need to indulge in charity cannot suddenly be inculcated into a person at any part of his/her life. A very simple yet broad and apt meaning of the term would be ‘the act of giving which would benefit the population to a large extent’. As it is clearly stated in the meaning, the sense of giving should have to be taught in kids from the time they are young which will in turn, help them to grow up into kind-hearted people with the urge to be able to give enormously to the people who would be grateful to receive help and support.

However, with ‘giving’ there is a slight alternation from the usual form of giving. You cannot be generous with your family member or friends and be called a charitable person. Charity is the form of help you are giving a person who is in dire need of the same. Charity has to be appropriate with the suffering of the poor and has to support them in any way possible so as to help them to come out of their grief. For instance, you cannot give expensive clothing to a hungry person wherein the needs of the disadvantaged and your charity do not match.

In today’s world, with the rising number of natural calamities and man-made catastrophes, millions of people are in need of help and support so as to restore their lives back to normalcy. There are charitable organizations to support and help almost all the types of suffering people. Like there are various organizations that spend enormous amounts of money for women’s education. The recent calamity of the earthquake on Haiti has awakened several organizations to provide charity towards the sufferers of this unfortunate incident. Also, you would be surprised to find the count of charitable organizations fighting against all the deadly diseases in today’s world which in turn helps the poor patients to get the right medical attention in order to help through their times of crisis.

Charitable institutions are found in wide abundance which sees to the growth, education and welfare of abandoned children. Charities for animals are a wake-up call to each and every member of the society that there are millions of animals who even though can’t speak yet need love affection and support.

Charity should certainly begin at home, from a very young age, because from childhood, a person should be aware of the integrity in charity and to give happily to the needy is the most important way to be close to God.

Author Bio: The trueness in charity has been displayed by various philanthropists and one respectable person amongst them is Matt Proman whose charitable work can be perceived in the development and growth of professional women.

This morning before I went to work I went for a cup of coffee to a cafe near the office I work in. After he served me, the bartender kept trying to find out the reason why I am so well disposed. I replied that there was no particular reason for it. Obviously, he didn’t believe me and kept asking me to tell him the reason because he wished to hear at least some good news for the day. He told me how depressed he was about this world going “for the worse” and that he is looking forward to every piece of good news to make him feel a little better.

When I asked him why he thought the world was “going for the worse”, he replied that it is enough to read the newspaper or watch the news on TV and see very clearly that something is happening to this world and that everything is going wrong.

He was so convinced of his attitude that I felt it was pointless to try and change the subject of our conversation. Besides, I had to go to the office, where my clients waited for me.

On my way to the office I began thinking about his views on life. He was completely convinced that what he had read in the papers or seen in the news was the only reality there is.

Be as it may, I was very surprised by his choice. Putting his own life at the mercy of news reporters who purposefully choose to fill newspapers and television news with information which is aimed at intimidating people and maintain fear levels only in order to keep as many viewers and readers as possible?

And pay them for it?!

I must admit that I even feel a sort of respect for editors of certain newspapers and TV news because they have practically brought the art of manipulation to virtual perfection.

But, no matter what we think about the matter, those editors and journalists are doing their jobs completely legally and they are trying to find the best ways to attract and keep their viewers and readers. It is not their fault that many people don’t even bother to think but just accept the information that is served them without any questions whatsoever.

No doubt, the world is going “for the worse”… for those who consume stories like that – stories filled with violence, deceit, and fear. As long as they accept this way of thinking and looking at the world, they really cannot except anything else.

Long ago, the ancient wise men have left us a message (and quantum physics has confirmed it) that our way of thinking causes the reality which we experience. We become that which we think about.

Our world can indeed go “for the worse” or “for the better”, but that is related to our way of thinking and looking at the world. In order to change our reality, it is necessary that we change the way we look at life and people around us, and that we become completely independent in our way of thinking and the process of forming our own attitudes.

Be brave and bold, and dare to think and talk about what you want and believe you are entitled to. It does not matter what others think about it. It does not matter what “the news” and “newspapers” say. Do not be afraid to ask what belongs to you. Even if nobody around you thinks this way, do not let that stop you. Everybody has a path of their own so you do not need to expect people to adapt to you.

Fear is man’s worst enemy. Nobody else has destroyed so many wonderful dreams as fear has done. Nobody ever destroyed so many wonderful opportunities as fear has done.

We become that which we think about – said Buddha several thousand years ago. Change your way of thinking and the world around you will change as well.

The newspapers and news will still be full of negative stories and contents… but if you stop paying attention to them and you change your way of thinking in a way that you deal only with those thoughts which lead toward the reality that you wish to create and then experience, your life will become more and more a wonderful melody that never ends.

Only think about that which you wish to experience in your reality. Others thoughts are simply to be rejected. Period.

Author Bio: This article is written by Tomislav Tomic (Hvar). If you enjoyed reading it, take a look at his new book – Ancient Keys of Joy; Discover the ancient secrets of authentic happiness – http://www.ancientkeysofjoy.com – or visit his coaching web site: http://www.ifeelgoodcoaching.com

Category: Opinions
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Reporting the news isn’t just for journalists anymore. The closing of hundreds of newspapers nationwide has left a vacuum in news coverage that everyday people are stepping up to fill. The result is a diverse collection of web sites and blogs that serve as an information hub for many communities.

The term for this trend is citizen journalism, and it is a major component of “hyperlocal” news coverage. What was once just a job for journalists employed by a news agency has made its way into the hands of individuals who do not have a formal journalism background. Many individuals are contributing through writing stories, uploading photos, or submitting other community events. This phenomenon has even been picked up on by major media outlets: CNN’s iReport being a prime example. Users are especially encouraged to use their mobile devices for sending in content to CNN and other major media companies.

There are many ways this trend has improved local news coverage. For example, many of the hyperlocal sites that use citizen journalists cover small events that are no longer in the mainstream press. Also, citizen-journalists are able to cover more events and profile a larger diversity of happenings because there are just not enough reporters to go around – especially with all the layoffs and newspaper closures during the last year. With so many smart phones out there many people are perfectly equipped to share content. News sites are making wider use of user-generated content, especially during natural disasters or other breaking news events.

There are some compromises to this shift in coverage. While news organizations generally take aims to ensure there are minimal conflicts of interests between their writers and subjects, no such boundaries or rules exist for citizen journalists. Readers don’t know for sure how much fact checking the citizen journalist did, or if there if there is some sort of cozy relationship between source and reporter. The bottom line is that regular citizens typically did not receive any formal journalistic training – so some of the details and news copy might be a bit rough.

In the past many people looked at their news with a Walter Cronkite-type of believability – if he said it then it must be true. Unfortunately for readers of hyperlocal sites this just isn’t the case. There are thousands of sources daily that contribute to hyperlocal sites, and it is difficult off-hand to verify if the information is correct. It is the dilemma with user-generated content. It creates a great sense of community among the users, but it means much of the information may be suspect. While overall most of the content that appears at such sites is probably pretty accurate, as a reader it would definitely be worth looking at it with a critical eye.

Despite these concerns the trend toward more citizen journalism is growing. More and more news sites are accepting amateur content, and other sites are building their entire platform around it. The question has become not whether citizen journalism should exist, but how sites should be using it to enhance some elements of news coverage.

Author Bio: Darla Blackmon writes about San Diego news for EverythingSanDiego.net, a community website that covers news, music, art and entertainment. Visit the site for information about San Diego events and attractions from a local perspective.

Even under the best of conditions, accidents occur in shopping malls. Shoppers slip on floors, hit their heads on racks, sustain injuries from escalators, or become injured in other ways at a mall. Young children are especially at risk. Therefore, it is important for safety precautions and procedures to be implemented at malls and stores.

Types of Injuries

Injuries sustained at a mall can vary, but shoppers can incur personal injuries and property damage. Although shoppers may break a bone or body part, they also commonly incur soft tissue injuries which can affect their back, shoulder, or neck. Sometimes shopping carts can damage cars. Additionally, shoppers can have property stolen at a mall or be physically attacked.

Steps for Avoiding Injuries

Fortunately there are steps that can be taken to promote a safe mall environment. Consider whether these steps have been taken in your mall.

- The visibility of patrolling security guards inside the mall may reduce theft to customers and stores. Additionally, if an accident occurs, mall security will be able to take a statement, photograph the area, and obtain contact information from the people involved.

- Appropriates signage is very important because it warns shoppers to be careful and may reduce liability. Common signage that may help reduce accidents or limit liability are:

1. Signs advising of wet floors.

2. Signs cautioning not to leave children unattended in carts or strollers.

3. Signs restricting food and drinks on store premises.

4. Signs requesting that customers ask for assistance with certain goods.

5. Signs cautioning riders to hold escalator rails while riding.

- Mall personnel should maintain floors so they are clean and free of debris. Cleaning should be done before customers enter the mall and after they leave to minimize slipping. Nevertheless, it is also important to advise employees to report any spills or debris that occur during the work day so the areas can be promptly cleaned or roped off until they can be cleaned.

- Stores should be well lit.

- There should be clear procedures for unloading merchandise in the store and placing racks where they are easily visible. In particular, goods on high shelves should be carefully stacked to prevent falling.

- When goods are being unloaded, store personnel should make sure that customers are not in danger.

- The mall and stores should employ sufficient help so customers can safely receive assistance.

- Mall bathrooms should be checked regularly to ensure that there is no flooding.

Exterior Safety

- Security guards should patrol the parking areas.

- Adequate lighting minimizes theft and ensures ease of locating vehicles in parking areas.

- Cart returns should be conveniently located and stores should have sufficient employees to remove shopping carts from the lot, including those that are not properly returned.

Furthermore, video camera surveillance can be used to ensure that mall areas are properly maintained. They will also help alert mall personnel about accidents so they are handled expediently.

Keeping malls and stores safe and properly maintained protects customers and shopkeepers. Customers are more likely to shop in a mall where they feel safe. Additionally, money spent to maintain a safe environment in malls and stores may improve sales, reduce lawsuits, and protect against liability claims.

Author Bio: Gerard Malouf is a leading Accident Compensation Lawyer with over 26 years experience in Slip Fall Injury Compensation Claims

Category: Society
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Please watch this and pass it on. It is a very dramatic piece of art.

By Wayne Allyn Root, June 6th, 2010
Barack Obama is no fool. He is not incompetent. To the contrary, he is brilliant. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He is purposely overwhelming the U.S. economy to create systemic failure, economic crisis and social chaos — thereby destroying capitalism and our country from within.
Barack Obama is my college classmate (Columbia University, class of ’83). As Glenn Beck correctly predicted from day one, Obama is following the plan of Cloward & Piven, two professors at Columbia University. They outlined a plan to socialize America by overwhelming the system with government spending and entitlement demands.

Add up the clues below. Taken individually they’re alarming. Taken as a whole, it is a brilliant, Machiavellian game plan to turn the United States into a socialist/Marxist state with a permanent majority that desperately needs government for survival … and can be counted on to always vote for bigger government. Why not? They have no responsibility to pay for it.
Universal health care. The health care bill had very little to do with health care. It had everything to do with unionizing millions of hospital and health care workers, as well as adding 15,000 to 20,000 new IRS agents (who will join government employee unions). Obama doesn’t care that giving free health care to 30 million Americans will add trillions to the national debt. What he does care about is that it cements the dependence of those 30 million voters to Democrats and big government. Who but a socialist revolutionary would pass this reckless spending bill in the middle of a depression?
Cap and trade. Like health care legislation having nothing to do with health care, cap and trade has nothing to do with global warming. It has everything to do with redistribution of income, government control of the economy and a criminal payoff to Obama’s biggest contributors. Those powerful and wealthy unions and contributors (like GE, which owns NBC, MSNBC and CNBC) can then be counted on to support everything Obama wants. They will kick-back hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to Obama and the Democratic Party to keep them in power. The bonus is that all the new taxes on Americans with bigger cars, bigger homes and businesses helps Obama “spread the wealth around.”

Make Puerto Rico a state. Why? Who’s asking for a 51st state? Who’s asking for millions of new welfare recipients and government entitlement addicts in the middle of a depression? Certainly not American taxpayers. But this has been Obama’s plan all along. His goal is to add two new Democrat senators, five Democrat congressman and a million loyal Democratic voters who are dependent on big government.
Legalize 12 million illegal immigrants. Just giving these 12 million potential new citizens free health care alone could overwhelm the system and bankrupt America. But it adds 12 million reliable new Democrat voters who can be counted on to support big government. Add another few trillion dollars in welfare, aid to dependent children, food stamps, free medical, education, tax credits for the poor, and eventually Social Security.
Stimulus and bailouts. Where did all that money go? It went to Democrat contributors, organizations (ACORN), and unions — including billions of dollars to save or create jobs of government employees across the country. It went to save GM and Chrysler so that their employees could keep paying union dues. It went to AIG so that Goldman Sachs could be bailed out (after giving Obama almost $1 million in contributions). A staggering $125 billion went to teachers (thereby protecting their union dues). All those public employees will vote loyally Democrat to protect their bloated salaries and pensions that are bankrupting America. The country goes broke, future generations face a bleak future, but Obama, the Democrat Party, government, and the unions grow more powerful. The ends justify the means.
Raise taxes on small business owners, high-income earners, and job creators. Put the entire burden on only the top 20 percent of taxpayers, redistribute the income, punish success, and reward those who did nothing to deserve it (except vote for Obama). Reagan wanted to dramatically cut taxes in order to starve the government. Obama wants to dramatically raise taxes to starve his political opposition.
With the acts outlined above, Obama and his regime have created a vast and rapidly expanding constituency of voters dependent on big government; a vast privileged class of public employees who work for big government; and a government dedicated to destroying capitalism and installing themselves as socialist rulers by overwhelming the system.
Add it up and you’ve got the perfect Marxist scheme — all devised by my Columbia University college classmate Barack Obama using the Cloward and Piven Plan.
True per snopes! (Correctly Attributed – ED)
http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/overwhelm.asp