On the 3rd of November, Americans are due to hit the polling stations and cast their votes in the Presidential Election of 2020. Yet this year’s race stands to be unprecedented in many regards. Already the COVID-19 crisis is causing adjustments to standard campaign trail events, and amidst the ongoing pandemic, traditional voting methods may be shelved in some states in favor of federal mail-in and state-level online voting.
Most states already allow mail-in voting for federal elections, in 2016, for example, close to a quarter of all ballots were lodged via the postal system. Online voting options are somewhat more limited, however. Some states, including West Virginia and Delaware, allow voters to cast their ballot in state and local elections online, but voting in federal elections online is still restricted to mail or in-person ballots.
There are strong reasons behind these restrictions. According to a bulletin released by four US state departments, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security’s cybersecurity branch:
“Securing the return of voted ballots via the internet while ensuring ballot integrity and maintaining voter privacy is difficult, if not impossible, at this time.”
The bulletin went on to state that online voting is far riskier than mail-in systems, an interesting consideration given the media attention paid to mail-in ballots in the run-up to the election. Perhaps more scrutiny should be paid to online voting in states where local votes can be cast via the internet.
In early June of this year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers examined Democracy Live’s OmniBallot, the technology that West Virginia and Delaware are using for online votes. They concluded that the system had multiple security flaws that represented a “severe risk to election security and could allow attackers to alter election results without detection.”
Of key note in this warning is the potential for threat actors to alter election results, something the US has encountered in the recent past. According to Robert Mueller’s 37-page indictment, which was revealed in 2018, Russian agents associated with the Internet Research Agency and its leadership went to considerable lengths to alter the course of American democracy during the 2016 presidential race.
Democracy Live has responded to security criticisms by noting that their product does not truly represent online voting because election officials must print the ballots before votes are actually cast. But cybersecurity researchers have pointed out that there is plenty of potential for vote manipulation before the ballot is printed.
Anyone with a modicum of understanding of how the internet operates is right to be cautious of improperly protected online voting systems. Data in transmission across the internet does not follow a simple path from device A to device B. Rather, it moves on an erratic path from server to server, the path is chosen automatically and is selected autonomously of human input.
The servers that data travels to and from while in transmission are not always in the same country as the sender. Instead, data can pass through multiple servers in multiple nations, and there is no guarantee the servers are not in nations hostile to the United States. Each “stop” at a server represents a cybersecurity risk as ballots may be tampered with en route.
Besides the risks involved in data transmission, another critical concern is the security of a voter’s device. If the citizen’s mobile phone, for example, is infected with specially designed malware, it represents a significant risk to the integrity of the election process.
This is not to say that online voting won’t be a safe option in the future, rather that the US does not currently have secure enough systems in place to ensure electoral integrity. If a solution is forwarded in the coming years, it needs to encompass two key things: an assurance that the voter’s device is not compromised, and a full end-to-end encryption process to protect data in transmission.
Nevertheless, for citizens in some states, voting in state-level elections online is the best option. In these cases, voters should take some basic cybersecurity steps to ensure their vote is counted as intended. Downloading a VPN app ensures end-to-end encryption while sweeping the device in question for malware and viruses eliminates another risk factor.
[Feature image above] A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, August 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Source.
By Peter Koenig
Global News on 10 August 2020 reports – “Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced on Monday his formal resignation, and that of his government following protests and demands for change after the deadly explosion in Port of Beirut last week, saying his government will follow the will of the people for real change and transparency. Diab, in a televised speech, said the detonation of highly-explosive material warehoused in the port area of the capital for the last seven years was “the result of endemic corruption”. Diab said, “Today we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change. In the face of this reality … I am announcing today the resignation of this government.”
The cabinet had already been under pressure to step down over the August 4 explosion that killed 163 people, wounded some 6,000 and left around 300,000 without habitable housing.
What the PM doesn’t talk about are the special characteristics of the blast – an explosion that produced an unusual mushroom-like cloud, a detonation causing a shock wave that registered 3.9 on the Richter scale, that shattered windows in a radius of more than 10 km, leaving construction – buildings for industry and housing – in shambles with pictures resembling those of Hiroshima after the US nuclear attack in 1945.
Instead the now ex-PM intimated that it was an accident, “the result of endemic corruption”. – How? – How does endemic corruption cause such a well-targeted blast? – If so, it would mean that there was a flow of a huge amount of money between the corrupter and the corruptee.
True. This cannot be excluded. But who could be interested? Giant real estate speculators, like banks and other financial institutions / financiers that might want to buy the devastated prime area – seaport, airport and surroundings – for pennies on the dollar and newly develop the destroyed site for business and luxury housing – it’s called privatization of disaster. Something similar happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
All is possible of course especially in our no holds barred free-for-all neoliberal world, and especially as France’s President Macron, a Rothschild lieutenant, came to visit the devastated area shortly after the Beirut blast. Who knows – the purpose of his offer of “aid” – aid almost always comes with strings attached – may have been preparing the terrain, so to speak, for French financial oligarchs to buy-up the harbor and the surrounding areas, for – well, as usual – pennies on the dollar.
But there are also other reasons for the “explosion” of Beirut port. Mind you, they are not at all mutually exclusive. Lebanon’s government blamed a large quantity of poorly stored ammonium nitrate for the blast that devastated the northern quarter of Beirut, killing about 250 people, injuring thousand and destroying the shelter for some 300,000 people. Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used around the world as an agricultural fertilizer, and in explosives for mining. These poorly managed chemicals in the warehouse existed already for at least 6 years. – Is it a sheer coincidence that it went up in flames almost to the day of the 75th Hiroshima anniversary, leaving Hiroshima-like devastation behind?
Next to the warehouse that allegedly harbored these highly volatile chemicals, was apparently also an ammunition-depot of Hezbollah’s. Could it have been the target of a deadly enemy?
On September 27, 2018, Benjamin Netanyahu pointed out to the United Nations General Assembly forum the warehouse, the very warehouse that eventually exploded on 4 August 2020, the Hezbollah arms depot.
Full video of Netanyahu showing Hezbollah’s arms depot, as if he were predicting what was to become the blast site at Beirut port on 4 August 2020: https://youtu.be/YXOHVkLEkgo
This is a possibility. But what about the strange explosion? – According to several journalists and observers, including Thierry Meyssan, this is a “new” bomb. It had been tested already in Syria in mostly deserted areas, since January 2020. But nobody spoke about it. Because analyzing it, might cause grave consternation in the public. That is one explanation. But far more likely, because the masters behind this “new” bomb strictly forbid (under threats) making it public.
On August 7, 2020, Thierry Meyssan reports, “It is not known what weapon was used. However, it has already been tested in Syria since January 2020. It is a missile with a tactical nuclear component in its warhead that causes a smoke mushroom characteristic of nuclear weapons. It is obviously not an atomic bomb in the strategic sense. The weapon was tested in Syria on a plain in the countryside and then in the Persian Gulf on the water against Iranian military vessels. This is the first time it has been used in an urban environment, in a particular environment that made the air blast and vibrations reflect off the water and the mountains.”
Was this another test with purpose, like those in Syria? Applied to an archenemy, Hezbollah? – And at the same time destroying Beirut and plunging Lebanon into further turmoil, making it even more vulnerable for a take-over?
One is reminded of Wesley Clark’s interview of March 2, 2007 with Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman, where the US General and former Europe Head of NATO, listed Lebanon among the seven countries that had to be “taken out’. See video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGkSNAHqpJM – taking out seven countries, about from min 2:30).
Is the Beirut blast one more test for things to come, after the covid “lockstep scenario”? The permanent ever stronger repression of western governments to keep people separated by social distancing and controlled by so-called “contact tracers” – waiting for a vaccine which they hope will allow the masters inserting a nano-chip in any form or shape, that would integrate with the body and permit permanent surveillance of movement and everything from health records to bank accounts.
Is the Beirut blast just a cog in the wheel to a more important objective; One or New World Order? Mind you, we are already there. The “Lockstep Scenario” is just the fine-tuning mechanism.
Expect mass protests – they have started already in Germany, notably in Berlin on August 1, 2020, with 1.3 million people taking to the streets, protesting against the German Government’s ever more repressive corona measures and restrictions. Numbers and size of such protests may increase over time as the governments do not seem to relent, as if they were following a regime of “higher orders”. Is it conceivable that the “new’ weapon may be applied to western cities of strong social upheaval, and then spread to enemy cities in Russia and China?
Large cities with millions of people could easily be destroyed with the “new” weapon, with the click on a remote bottom – like e-video game, and with none of the perpetrators of such horror destruction hurt. The people on the ground are powerlessly exposed to sudden and slow death. Wasn’t that the case for Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945?
Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organization around the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; New Eastern Outlook (NEO); RT; Countercurrents, Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; Greanville Post; Defend Democracy Press; The Saker Blog, the and other internet sites. He is the author ofImplosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author ofThe World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance. Peter Koenig is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.
Celebrating weddings, birthdays, and graduation is a common trend that most of the people do to cherish the moment and celebrate the journey. But have we ever thought about honoring the retirees, devoted their lives to work? If not yes, then now it is the time to acknowledge their hard work and tribulations that lead them here. It is one of the occasions that we need to observe with full of love and affection. In this way, we can make them feel appraised and valued at this stage of their lives.
Though people at the age of 65 get retired, which is a little later stage. But still, whenever a grandparent, uncle, or your parents get retired, celebrating that moment must be your top priority. No matter whatever it takes, but make sure to make this day memorable for them. Well, no doubt, retirement parties are a bit different from the other parties. It is not just about a thank you card and a cake. That is all about paying homage to their contributions to the firm or a company.
Various approaches are there to make the retirement parties unforgettable. The usual custom is to look for retirement gifts for dad and mom, but that’s just one aspect of a great party. All you need is to look around and gather some innovative ideas so the retirement party will stand out unusually.
Make sure to invite the colleagues and close friends of the retiree with whom he shares a good bond. It does not concern either the party hosted by the family or the company, give your best shot to make the event happening. Traditionally, a farewell speech from the boss or employees is always a good idea. But giving memorable retirement plaques and souvenirs to appreciate the years of excellence and services is a unique way. It should have a special message to bring tears of joy whenever he sees it.
Well, are you planning to throw a retirement party for your closed one or a colleague? If yes, then this piece of writing is a must-read. Here we are going to spill some beans on the exciting ideas.
IDEAS TO MAKE THE RETIREMENT PARTY MEMORABLE:
As we discussed earlier, there are many ways by which we can make the day memorable. First of all, decide the venue, like where do you want to throw it. Either in an office with colleagues or lunch in between the workday. If not these two, then a night gala can also work surrounded by your loved ones. Well, let’s discuss these ideas in detail.
A GOODBYE SPEECH:
None of the retirement parties can complete without a goodbye speech. Either a recipient can give it or his co-workers. Make sure the address should highlight and include all the relevant details. For instance, the work experience at the company and the time spend there. It should be well-written and include history from his joining as a trainee to date. Do not forget to call all the staff so everyone can participate in this. Also, ask others to join and offer their speeches to make his last day at the office memorable. Send the invites a week ago at least, before the party. So everyone will think and prepare their speeches.
SET A FUN THEME FOR THE PARTY:
There is no doubt that the theme for the retirement party will differ from the others. But, still, that does not mean, the retiree cannot have fun. Set an event as per his favorite hobby, like a party at the golf club, fishing trip, or camping in the mountains. Another innovative idea is to throw a party at the new location. If he has planned to spend his future in a new house, then this is the best place to choose. If he is a wine lover, then ask the guests to bring the bottle of their choice to make the party enjoyable.
HONOR HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Indeed, farewell speeches are very inn, but there is much more you can do. Arrange an autograph book or a diary and take the comments of guests in it. Meanwhile, some unusual video messages from his pals, family, and colleagues can also bring a smile to his face. If all these things are making the atmosphere emotional, then set up the roast and toast at the party. Here, friends can poke and make fun of the retiree to enjoy every bit of it.
MAKE A THEME-RELATED PLAYLIST:
A party without music is always a boring idea. So, make sure to add charm to your party by selecting the songs related to the theme. One can either go for emotional songs or happening ones to make the mood of the guests and the environment of the party.
ARRANGE SOME UNIQUE CELEBRATIONS:
Among other ideas, do not forget to plan some unique celebrations. Like the last goodbye to the tie as this is perhaps their final day to formally wear it. If he or she is working in a firm, where they wear a uniform, then make a quilt with their signage to pay homage. Also, arrange some fireworks giving a special message to the retiree. Plan the fireworks either in the middle or at the end of the party to surprise him.
A PHOTOBOOTH WITH RETIREMENT PROPS:
To make the memories long-lasting, set up a 360 photo booth San Francisco. It is always a fabulous idea to capture every single moment of the party. Use the wacky props related to the retirement and snap the pictures of the retiree with his pals. Go for the group or solo pictures and cover all the guests at the party.
FUN GAMES ARE ALWAYS IN:
Though the retiree has worked all his life, which does not mean he cannot enjoy it at this age. Plan some fun games for the guests and the retiree like drink-prune juice or a song competition among guests.
CONCLUSION:
As now, you have a lot of astounding ideas to plan a retirement party. So, without wasting a minute, start working on one of the above approaches to throw a lavish retirement dinner or lunch. Meanwhile, pay special attention to the guest list to invite all the friends and dear ones of the retiree.
In the banking industry, the customer must always be front and center in a banking strategy. In order to respond to consumer expectations whilst simultaneously defending market share against numerous competitors, having an edge when it comes to positive customer experiences is crucial. As technology continues to advance, investments from the banking sector are pouring into innovation and digital developments in order to meet customers’ needs and stay ahead of the competition.
As the industry becomes more strategically focused and technologically advanced, let’s take a look at some innovative methods of banking that have transformed the customer experience.
1. Bank-Branded ATMs
Cash is still king for most people around the world and these days there are more ATMs available to customers than ever before. One interesting development is the idea of bank-branded ATMs from which customers can still withdraw money even if they are not with that bank. The experts behind the ATM solution by Perativ explain that outreach to new customers is very difficult as the majority of people tend to stay with one bank for most of their lives. Trust is a huge thing in banking, and so as long as a customer doesn’t have a bad experience, they rarely switch.
Known as a proven method of increasing specific banks’ transactions and profits, ATM branding also attracts the attention of both customers who are already with that bank as well as new customers. Even though there is usually no charge, customers tend to use the ATMs of their own bank whenever they see them. If their bank’s ATM is not available, customers will use another ATM as long as it doesn’t charge them. This is a very effective way for banks to gain awareness and trust with new customers and the strategic placement of ATMs has become an exact science.
2. Contactless Payments
The progression from signing for card payments to chip and pin was a huge step forward in banking but the convenience that contactless payments have brought to low value payments has greatly improved customer experience. Especially now during the CoronaVirus Pandemic, with people trying to refrain from touching things in public, contactless payments have made purchasing items by card quick and safe.
With a small embedded chip emitting short-range radio waves, consumers only have to place the card within a close range to a contactless-enabled payment terminal, and one or two seconds later, the transaction and payment information will be completed. There are no additional fees and the security of the technology is also guaranteed in case there is any fraud that occurs. All customers have to look for is the wifi-like symbol on their card or contact their card issuer in order to find out whether their card has contactless technology.
3. Online Banking Transfers
Online transfers have made it so easy for individuals and organizations to send money between their bank accounts and to other people and businesses. Payment and transfer methods will always be the most dynamic areas of innovation in banking, as these are the things that affect customers directly. The rise in consumer expectations alongside technological advances which led to online transfers has resulted in reduced transaction fees and greater customer independence.
As banking technology continues to evolve, payments will change from a series of specific products to an integral part of customer experience and the dynamics of how and where we pay and receive payments will also evolve at the same pace. Currently, online banking transfers are the most convenient form of payment transaction, but the data from these transfers will be processed and used to deliver even better, more convenient services in the future.
4. Online Banking Chatbots
Customer service is fundamental to the banking industry, from the days when the clerks in local branches knew all their customers’ names to these days of digital self-service and internet banking. Whilst it may sound strange, chatbots have brought that personal touch back to the world of banking. With the purpose of improving customer experience, from answering frequently asked questions to facilitate core banking activities, implementing chatbots has been an essential step to take bank-customer relations to the next level. Utilizing more automation means more efficient banking operation, and a combination of bots with different functions working together has proven to be ideal for fulfilling customers’ needs.
In order to compete and grow in an industry with thin margins, fierce competition and ever-changing regulations, innovation is a top priority for banking institutions all over the world. From digitizing core business processes to reassessing structures and human resources, banks must constantly come up with new solutions that can take advantage of data and advanced technologies in order to be well-prepared for the future of banking.
Business research acts as a decision-making method in the system of enterprise planning in the field of management, budgeting, and organization of the firm’s activities. Very often, students of business universities have to carry out such research, and therefore it is essential to be able to conduct them qualitatively. If you are faced with such a difficult task, do not worry. We have prepared several recommendations with which you can cope easily and naturally.
1. Select a Topic
Before the student’s work begins to be written, it is important to find a topic in which he/she will be interested in and which is not difficult to understand. In some educational institutions, a teacher selects the topic for each schoolchild or student, in others, there is a free choice.
To make it easier to find a topic yourself, follow a few basic rules:
Build on existing research or closely related work by other authors and specialists. To use the experience of other predecessors as support and help is a practically necessary rule. Most often, it is other people’s monographs and scientific works that act as prerequisites for new activities.
Before approving a topic, check how much information and materials you can find. First, an extensive thematic field is selected, after that, the author studies the information and literature, and on the basis of this, it will be easier to concretize the topic of the project.
It is important that the chosen topic has practical value and significance, is relevant in terms of problems in the field of science under consideration.
Another prerequisite is the compliance of the topic with the goals of the educational direction of the student’s professional or general training.
Ultimately, after making a choice, consult with an instructor with knowledge of the area to approve or challenge the decision.
When searching for a topical topic and problems, it is also important to rely on what discipline will be studied
If you find this step very difficult and incomprehensible, then it would be wise to contact WriteMyEssayOnline, where qualified writers will do the research paper for you.
2. Create a Bibliography
Previous research on your topic, as well as interesting articles, books, dissertations, and other materials, will do. When choosing sources, pay attention to the year of publication (you are unlikely to get useful and relevant information from an article published 10 years ago), as well as the fame and reputation of the author. Books and studies are most often freely available, but for some works, you will have to pay a symbolic amount – unless, of course, this is a voluminous book by a well-known specialist.
Also, use academic search engines such as Google Scholar and others. There you will find the materials you need faster than flipping through dozens of Google pages.
3. Follow the Right Paper Structure
You have to stick to a specific structure.
It usually looks like this:
Introduction (substantiates the relevance of the research, the degree of development of this topic in the literature, formulates the object and subject of research, goals, and objectives of the work). If there is a practical part, a hypothesis is formulated.
The main body is presented in the form of chapters, divided into paragraphs. Each part should cover some aspect of the topic, each paragraph should be one aspect of the chapter. At the end of the paragraph and chapter, it is advisable to draw brief conclusions.
The conclusion represents general conclusions on the topic, summarizes the research results, indicates the possibilities of practical use of the work results.
4. Present the Research Results Correctly
You must present your research results correctly. This is your own data obtained as a result of research activities. The obtained data must be compared with the data of scientific sources from the literature review on the problem and the patterns found in the research process must be established. It is necessary to note the novelty of the results, which was made from the fact that others did not notice what results were obtained for the first time, what shortcomings in practice can be corrected using the results obtained during the study.
It is necessary to clearly understand the difference between the working data and the data presented in the text of the work. In the process of research, a large array of numbers is often obtained that do not need to be presented in the text. Therefore, only the most necessary data is processed and presented. However, it must be remembered that someone may want to familiarize themselves with the primary research material. In order not to overload the main part of the work, the primary material can be placed in the application. The most advantageous form of data presentation is graphical, which makes it as easy as possible for the reader to perceive the text. Always put yourself in the reader’s shoes.
5. Design and Revise your Research Paper
Check your grammar, spelling, and syntax. Make sure that the work is built on smooth and logical transitions from one thought to another, from one paragraph to another. You cannot jump sharply from one idea to another. Check with your instructor what format your work should be. Make sure your work contains all the necessary elements, including the title page, content, introduction, body, conclusion, bibliography, and appendices. Before submitting your scientific work for review, check it three more times.
Summing up
The research paper is the student’s independent work experience. This problem is relevant for high school students. Studying the algorithm for a research paper is not only an interesting and informative process but also a work that allows you to determine the possibility of manifestation of creativity in writing and design. With our pieces of advice, writing should be much easier. Try it!
What a time to be alive. This year is certainly not what anyone expected, and we are now all working to figure out how and when things might go back to something resembling normal.
At the same time, all of this has put into perspective just how uncertain the future can be. What better time to take stock of your own goals and objectives for the years — and decades — to come?
While we all have different visions for our own lives, one shared hope is for a more financially secure future. But we all know that getting there will never be easy. After all, if it was all so simple, we would all be rich!
Nevertheless, there are some definite steps to take if you really want to start down the right path. And the following three tips will help you move closer to financial success in 2020.
1. Change Your Priorities
Most financial advisors will tell you to cut costs and increase your savings. This is of course good advice. But trying to implement it can feel like an exercise in willpower and discipline. Not buying the coffee you love or saying no to that new pair of shoes will feel restricting if you merely see it as some financial law from on high that you have to follow.
But it will all become much easier if you actually — and internally — change your priorities. Limiting spending on nonessential items will no longer feel like you’re being punished and restrained. It will actually start to become something you want to do. It can actually become fun!
If you can re-calibrate your priorities to a true, personal desire for long-term financial freedom, you will be able to see all the small stuff through this lens. And then it will become your own journey — not just something you feel like you are supposed to do.
2. Develop Personal Rules
All that said, some of the best — and more basic — finance 101 advice should definitely be followed. And it doesn’t always matter whether you truly want to do it or you end up doing it out of a feeling of obligation. Setting a budget, limiting spending, and putting money into a 401k when you’re young will work regardless of why you make it happen.
Thus, the best path forward is to read as much as you can about the top rules to follow and then determine which of the common financial tips make the most sense for you. Use these as your guiding principles and then establish your own set of personal rules to follow. Maybe Dave Ramsey says “never lease a car,” for example, but doing so actually makes sense for you.
Regardless of the specific “Do’s and Don’ts” you adhere to, make sure they align with your goals. Then try to never stray off course. Ultimately, it will be a lot easier to stick to a set of rules that you create for yourself rather than following someone else’s plan to a T. Just make sure you are using sound logic as you put them together and not acting foolishly.
3. Use Credit Responsibly
Many people have ruined their financial future by abusing and inappropriately using credit. That is not a path anybody should ever walk down. But just because some have been unable to manage their credit, doesn’t make credit itself inherently bad.
On the contrary, credit cards are a fantastic financial tool — when handled correctly. They not only allow for savvy investments and spending on current needs but they offer a wide range of benefits from rewards and cashback to discounts and airline miles. You need to be careful not to make missteps, but the responsible use of credit cards can definitely expedite you journey to financial success.
Really Finding Financial Success
Get a good income, cut costs, save money, and invest sensibly. Then profit! Sure, we all know the basics and recognize how this all works. But much like dieting — nobody thinks ice cream is a health food — the real struggle is in changing your mindset and actually adhering to these known principles.
In a lot of ways, it all comes down to changing your priorities. This will be the only true way to achieve your goals and it will be even easier if you set up your own financial rules to follow — and then stick to it! And within these rules, pay special attention to credit and using your cards responsibly.
Just by doing these three things, you will be in much better shape. Hopefully, at a time like this, you are learning what is really important in your life. So now is the time to take charge of your financial future.
There are a variety of legal precedents for proving fault in different types of accidents. For example, a car striking a pedestrian will likely have different legal fault than a car striking a motorcycle. What happens when a car strikes another car? In this situation, there are many things a judge may consider when determining fault.
Knowledge, experience, and communication are three of the most important things to look for when seeking legal advice. If you’ve found yourself in a motorcycle accident, be sure to contact the team at Marks & Harrison – Motorcycle accident lawyers to ensure you receive the help and compensation you deserve.
Here are a few of the considerations a judge may have.
1. Legal Violations
One of the most important parts of proving fault is deciding whether any party committed a legal violation. For example, if one member in the accident ran a red light, but the other was obeying the traffic laws. Here, it’s much more likely that fault will fall completely or mostly on the individual who ran a red light.
2. Previous Record
A judge may also consider whether someone has a previous record of traffic violations or accidents. Someone who has multiple traffic violations on their record may be more likely to receive fault for an accident than someone who has never had a traffic violation on their record. Everyone has a first violation, so this definitely isn’t a free pass, but it is an important consideration.
3. Damages to Each Individual
Did one person come out of the accident much more damaged than the other person? Is one person’s car clearly more destroyed than the other? These could actually be important elements of proving fault – or at least deciding whether one party needs to pay the other. These damages may not be the deciding factor when it comes to understanding fault, but they are elements the court should consider.
4. Extenuating Factors
The last element that a judge must take into consideration is extenuating factors. If, for example, one driver’sbrakes failed, causing the driver to run a red light because they couldn’t stop, that may reduce the fault on the driver. These are extremely individualized factors that you’ll need to talk about with a lawyer directly.
How Do I File a Case?
The filing process for any legal case can be very confusing. This can dissuade people from filing a case even if they deserve reparations for an accident that occurred. If someone harmed you, even if the harm was an accident, it’s important that you get the reparations you deserve. That’s why you should seek out a lawyer to talk with about the accident.
Moreover, because every case is different, consider approaching an experienced Bronx accident lawyer for your particular case. That’s the best way for you to make sure you’re getting the best possible opportunity when it comes to filing your case.
Conclusion
The path to proving fault in any accident case is not necessarily clear-cut. It can be a very complicated process. However, if you have a great lawyer by your side, you’re more likely to get the justice you deserve for the accident you went through. Talk to a lawyer to make sure you’re able to prove fault in your case.
All traffic accidents can be dangerous, depending on factors such as the kind of vehicles involved, speed and location of the accident. However, head-on collisions are regarded as one of the deadliest kinds of road mishaps. As the name suggests, these collisions involve two vehicles crashing front to front. Obviously, the chances of serious injuries run pretty high in such crashes.
A majority of head-on crashes are the result of negligence on the part of one or both the drivers. Still, they are avoidable in most of the cases, provided that the drivers are watchful enough. It is important to know the causes of such accidents as a little awareness and caution can save lives. Let us explain the most common reasons for head-on collisions.
Wrong-way driving
Perhaps the most common cause of this type of collision is wrong way driving. You can well understand the risk of drivers failing to stay in their own lanes and proceeding into oncoming traffic. There are incidents of people making illegal turns onto one-way streets is even worse, entering an expressway from the wrong side. The chances of a crash run high in such situations and the injuries can be catastrophic if one or both the vehicles are at high speed.
Severe weather conditions
At times, vehicles may collide front to front due to bad weather conditions and poor visibility rather than the direct fault of the drivers. Inclement weather conditions such as heavy rainfall and dense fog can reduce visibility on the roadway to a significant extent. Although you may not be at fault, not slowing down due to reduced visibility is a negligent action as it elevates the risk of a crash.
Distracted driving
Distraction is another common reason why drivers end up getting involved in head-on collisions. The fact that you have technology at your fingertips elevates the risk of accidents. Calling, texting, reading messages and emails are the main reasons for getting distracted. Some other forms of distractions to steer clear of are talking to other passengers, paying attention to children and eating while driving.
If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by a distracted driver you should contact an experienced lawyer from Tork Law, who can help you receive the compensation you need to help recover from the incident. And together you can send a strong message that distracted drivers must be held accountable for their careless and dangerous behavior.
There are so many possible distractions while you’re on the road. Unfortunately, even the smallest mistakes can cause major damage. Here’s a retro-style game that emphasizes the dangers of texting and driving. #StayAliveGame
Driving under influence (DUI)
Driving under intoxication impairs judgment drastically, which increases the probability of accidents. You may even end up losing control of the vehicle and drifting into oncoming traffic to have a head-on collision. The worst thing about DUI cases is that they are regarded as a criminal offense and appear on your records. Moreover, you can expect the victim to work with an experienced car accident attorney and file a compensation claim. Chances are that you will have to pay a massive compensation and also face criminal charges for the accident.
Fatigue
Driver fatigue is another factor that emerges as a leading cause for head-on car accidents. You may push yourself to the limit while traveling long distances or you may simply be tired after a long day at work. In any case, fatigue puts you and everyone on the road at risk as you may have a slow reaction time or even compromised decision-making due to exhaustion and tiredness. In fact, many head-on collisions happen when people fall asleep behind the wheel.
Lack of experience
If you are new to driving, there are chances that you may not know the rules of the road. Sometimes, inexperience makes you incapable of handling the vehicle well enough to stay on your side or control its speed. These can be dangerous situations and may lead to collisions with other vehicles. Ensure that you are fully confident about your skills and experience before getting behind the wheel.
Aggressive driving
People who drive aggressively are often guilty of over-speeding and other traffic violations. Aggression on the road also includes tailgating, road rage, cutting off other drivers, weaving in and out of traffic, changing lanes suddenly and turning at the last second. Such behavior makes you unpredictable and susceptible to mishaps including head-on crashes. This is something you should absolutely avoid to ensure that everyone on the road stays safe.
Construction and altered traffic patterns
In some cases, collisions happen because of the construction zones on the road. There may be no signs or you may miss them out completely, which can result in a catastrophe. Altered traffic patterns are equally dangerous as you may fail to notice them unintentionally or out of sheer negligence. There may be negligence on the behalf of construction workers if they fail to put up cautionary signs.
Being aware of these common reasons for head-on crashes and making conscious efforts to avoid them is a good way to cut down your risk. So be vigilant the next time you are on the road!
It’s very likely that you’ve heard someone refer to a crime as either a “felony” or a “misdemeanor” in the past. However, do you actually know what these two terms mean? If you’re interested in learning the difference, read on to find out.
1. Seriousness of the Offense
The first major difference has to do with the severity of the offense. For example, someone who has run a red light is much more likely to receive a misdemeanor than someone who has assaulted a person. So, as a quick rule of thumb, you can always be sure: a felony is very serious, whereas a misdemeanor is much less so.
2. Harm Done By the Offense
Deciding whether you did harm to someone is an important part of determining the classification of a crime. Although running a red light may be a misdemeanor or even just a citation, someone who runs a red light and causes afatal traffic accident may receive a felony charge for negligence. Even a less-serious offense may be charged more severely if it causes enough harm.
3. Repeated Offenses
Is your first conviction or have you done this before? If it’s a problem you’ve had before, it’s much more likely that a prosecutor will charge a case as a felony. Insome states, for example, your first DUI may be a very strict misdemeanor, but a second or third DUI might be a felony charge.
4. Multiple Crimes Together
If someone commits more than one crime at the same time, it’s possible for the prosecutor to seek a felony charge for at least one of the crimes. For example, someone who has stolen items from a grocery store is more likely to receive a misdemeanor charge than someone who stole from a grocery store, stole a car from outside the grocery store, and disobeyed multiple traffic laws while driving the stolen car.
5. Potential Severity of the Punishment
The most important difference between these crime classifications is the severity of the punishment. Felonies come with much more severe punishments than misdemeanors, which may even include losing your voting rights. Legal experts at Meldon Law Firm suggest that it’s important that you talk to a lawyer if you’re facing a potential felony charge. That way, you can reduce the severity of the punishment.
Conclusion
As you can see, a felony and a misdemeanor can both impact your life, albeit in very different ways. If a court is charging you with either, it’s important to talk to a lawyer. However, it’s especially important to talk to a lawyer if you’re receiving a felony charge. Without a lawyer’s help, such a charge can leave a serious impact on your record that you may never fully recover from.
Reputation is important when considering an online broker. It is arguably the best way to gauge how happy you will be with the broker. Knowing the experiences that other users have had with a said broker will give you an idea of what your own experience may turn out to be.
This article will cover some of the key things to look for to find a reputable online broker. The beautiful thing about the internet is that we have access to a lot of opinions. That gives us the chance to vet any online broker based on the experience of other users before we sign up.
Suitability Test
No matter how good an online broker is, it is only as good as it is suitable. Think about what you need the platform to do for you. What are some of the things that you will be trading through this broker? Some traders will have several accounts with different brokers. However, there is no harm in having one account if possible. Find one that is suitable.
Does this broker allow you to trade what you want to trade? You will often find that there are some brokers that do not offer certain types of trades. For instance, a broker may specialise in currencies and not offer options. Furthermore, they may not offer access to certain stock exchanges.
Stock Broker Regulation
Reputable brokers are always well regulated. Who is looking over the shoulder of the online broker? This is a necessary safety net to ensure that brokers adhere to fair practice. In the event that something underhand was to occur, a regulator would usually step in to ensure that you are not taken advantage of.
Investment advisory
Most reputable online brokers will offer the option of investment advisory. This is usually in two forms. There is a free tier that gives you access to some information and analysis of different stocks and options. It is a great place to pick up tips of stocks that are on their way up.
Part of investment advisory will include some pre-made or managed portfolios. These allow you to take a more passive approach to investing. You will commit to making monthly deposits into your account. In return, the broker will use this capital to make investments on your behalf.
What is even better is that you usually have the option to choose the types of investments that you want them to make. The most common options are, investing for income, investing for capital growth, and high risk taking.
High risk taking is often the most lucrative of these options. However, true to its name, it also presents the highest risk of losing your capital. Capital growth is a balanced method that sees the broker spreading your money across various sectors and stocks. This is perfect for those with long term investment goals. Investing for income is designed for those that want their money to generate a frequent payout for them. This can be a monthly or quarterly payout.
Research tools
A good trader’s decisions are always data-driven. As such, you would want to have a broker that provides you with the tools to carry out the necessary research. Speaking of research tools, while a broker may not have their own tools to offer, they might have the option to use their platform to trade using external research tools such as Active Trader Pro, Stock Charts or MetaStock.
Trading commissions and account minimums
The best brokers will usually charge a premium. Their users are those that see the value of spending their money to access the services that are provided by the broker. However, there is a fine line between a good rate of commission and being overcharged.
There are two things that you should look out for. What commissions does the broker charge per trade? If you are making frequent traders, even the low commission rates will soon add up to a substantial amount. Trading commissions will either be charged as a percentage of each transaction or at a fixed rate. In some cases, it will be a combination of the two.
Account minimums can also be a barrier. This is when a broker requires a certain amount to be deposited for an account to become active. If you are going to be trading with one broker, this might not be a problem. For those who are getting started or those that are looking to use several brokers, this may leave you with limited capital to spread between the brokers.
High commission rates are not always a deal breaker. They may just mean that this is not the best broker to use for day trading or for trading while trying to grow your capital. This broker may still be useful for purchasing and holding stocks long term.
Easy Access to funds
So, you have been with a broker for a while and your trading account has made handsome profit. You now want to get some of your trading profits into your bank account. How easy would that be? You may take this for granted, but there is reason to tread with caution. A good broker is one that makes it very easy for you to not only deposit, but to also get your money out when you so desire. A great example would be IQ Option. This trading platform offers seamless deposits and withdrawals. For an in-depth review of IQ Option you can read more at Public Finance International.
You will find that the depositing part may not be as troublesome as the withdrawals. The common thread with bad brokers is a lengthy waiting period between requesting a withdrawal and getting it paid out.
Accessibility
How accessible is the broker’s trading platform. The ideal platform is one that can be accessed on desktop and on mobile. You want to be able to open or close trades on the platform while on the go via a mobile trading app. The trading interface should be good on both screens.
Conclusion
Picking a reputable online trading platform does not have to be complicated. If you follow the simple steps outlined, you will be able to sift through them to find a good online broker that is ideal for your personal needs. This is where the suitability test comes into play. Consider the trading platforms in view of your own needs, and not just in general.
Once you have considered all of these things, a final check can be how long the online broker has been around. It is not usually prudent to trade with the newest brokers around. A more measured approach is to get on well established trading platforms. Their track record gives you a clearer picture of what you can expect.
By Danny Leipziger
China cannot continue to rely on exports to drive its growth, but what are the alternatives?
China ran a $1.2 trillion trade surplus last year, and despite admonitions from the IMF to rely...
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Beirut – Accident or “New” Bomb Blast?
[Feature image above] A drone picture shows the scene of an explosion at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, August 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla) Source.
By Peter Koenig
Global News on 10 August 2020 reports – “Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab announced on Monday his formal resignation, and that of his government following protests and demands for change after the deadly explosion in Port of Beirut last week, saying his government will follow the will of the people for real change and transparency. Diab, in a televised speech, said the detonation of highly-explosive material warehoused in the port area of the capital for the last seven years was “the result of endemic corruption”. Diab said, “Today we follow the will of the people in their demand to hold accountable those responsible for the disaster that has been in hiding for seven years, and their desire for real change. In the face of this reality … I am announcing today the resignation of this government.”
The cabinet had already been under pressure to step down over the August 4 explosion that killed 163 people, wounded some 6,000 and left around 300,000 without habitable housing.
What the PM doesn’t talk about are the special characteristics of the blast – an explosion that produced an unusual mushroom-like cloud, a detonation causing a shock wave that registered 3.9 on the Richter scale, that shattered windows in a radius of more than 10 km, leaving construction – buildings for industry and housing – in shambles with pictures resembling those of Hiroshima after the US nuclear attack in 1945.
Instead the now ex-PM intimated that it was an accident, “the result of endemic corruption”. – How? – How does endemic corruption cause such a well-targeted blast? – If so, it would mean that there was a flow of a huge amount of money between the corrupter and the corruptee.
True. This cannot be excluded. But who could be interested? Giant real estate speculators, like banks and other financial institutions / financiers that might want to buy the devastated prime area – seaport, airport and surroundings – for pennies on the dollar and newly develop the destroyed site for business and luxury housing – it’s called privatization of disaster. Something similar happened in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005.
All is possible of course especially in our no holds barred free-for-all neoliberal world, and especially as France’s President Macron, a Rothschild lieutenant, came to visit the devastated area shortly after the Beirut blast. Who knows – the purpose of his offer of “aid” – aid almost always comes with strings attached – may have been preparing the terrain, so to speak, for French financial oligarchs to buy-up the harbor and the surrounding areas, for – well, as usual – pennies on the dollar.
But there are also other reasons for the “explosion” of Beirut port. Mind you, they are not at all mutually exclusive. Lebanon’s government blamed a large quantity of poorly stored ammonium nitrate for the blast that devastated the northern quarter of Beirut, killing about 250 people, injuring thousand and destroying the shelter for some 300,000 people. Ammonium nitrate is an industrial chemical commonly used around the world as an agricultural fertilizer, and in explosives for mining. These poorly managed chemicals in the warehouse existed already for at least 6 years. – Is it a sheer coincidence that it went up in flames almost to the day of the 75th Hiroshima anniversary, leaving Hiroshima-like devastation behind?
Next to the warehouse that allegedly harbored these highly volatile chemicals, was apparently also an ammunition-depot of Hezbollah’s. Could it have been the target of a deadly enemy?
Full video of Netanyahu showing Hezbollah’s arms depot, as if he were predicting what was to become the blast site at Beirut port on 4 August 2020: https://youtu.be/YXOHVkLEkgo
This is a possibility. But what about the strange explosion? – According to several journalists and observers, including Thierry Meyssan, this is a “new” bomb. It had been tested already in Syria in mostly deserted areas, since January 2020. But nobody spoke about it. Because analyzing it, might cause grave consternation in the public. That is one explanation. But far more likely, because the masters behind this “new” bomb strictly forbid (under threats) making it public.
On August 7, 2020, Thierry Meyssan reports, “It is not known what weapon was used. However, it has already been tested in Syria since January 2020. It is a missile with a tactical nuclear component in its warhead that causes a smoke mushroom characteristic of nuclear weapons. It is obviously not an atomic bomb in the strategic sense. The weapon was tested in Syria on a plain in the countryside and then in the Persian Gulf on the water against Iranian military vessels. This is the first time it has been used in an urban environment, in a particular environment that made the air blast and vibrations reflect off the water and the mountains.”
See video showing the striking similarity between the blasts in Syria and the blast in Beirut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21JmY1ezAi4
https://youtu.be/21JmY1ezAi4
Was this another test with purpose, like those in Syria? Applied to an archenemy, Hezbollah? – And at the same time destroying Beirut and plunging Lebanon into further turmoil, making it even more vulnerable for a take-over?
One is reminded of Wesley Clark’s interview of March 2, 2007 with Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman, where the US General and former Europe Head of NATO, listed Lebanon among the seven countries that had to be “taken out’. See video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGkSNAHqpJM – taking out seven countries, about from min 2:30).
Is the Beirut blast one more test for things to come, after the covid “lockstep scenario”? The permanent ever stronger repression of western governments to keep people separated by social distancing and controlled by so-called “contact tracers” – waiting for a vaccine which they hope will allow the masters inserting a nano-chip in any form or shape, that would integrate with the body and permit permanent surveillance of movement and everything from health records to bank accounts.
Is the Beirut blast just a cog in the wheel to a more important objective; One or New World Order? Mind you, we are already there. The “Lockstep Scenario” is just the fine-tuning mechanism.
Expect mass protests – they have started already in Germany, notably in Berlin on August 1, 2020, with 1.3 million people taking to the streets, protesting against the German Government’s ever more repressive corona measures and restrictions. Numbers and size of such protests may increase over time as the governments do not seem to relent, as if they were following a regime of “higher orders”. Is it conceivable that the “new’ weapon may be applied to western cities of strong social upheaval, and then spread to enemy cities in Russia and China?
Large cities with millions of people could easily be destroyed with the “new” weapon, with the click on a remote bottom – like e-video game, and with none of the perpetrators of such horror destruction hurt. The people on the ground are powerlessly exposed to sudden and slow death. Wasn’t that the case for Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945?
And let’s not forget – the US shortly after WWII planned to nuclear-bomb 66 Soviet cities, mind you, this was when the US and the USSR were still allies – see “Wipe the Soviet Union off the Map” – https://www.globalresearch.ca/wipe-the-ussr-off-the-map-204-atomic-bombs-against-major-cities-us-nuclear-attack-against-soviet-union-planned-prior-to-end-of-world-war-ii/5616601. The tactics of such plans are still intact – and shelved, could be revived at any moment. Of course, modernized and with today’s technologies.
Beirut is a sad-sad attack – with a story that is not as simple as the official version would like you to believe. Be aware!
About the Author
First published by the New Eastern Outlook – NEO