Tag: society

Government Auto Auctions – Cars Under 500 Dollars?

Until recently, used car prices had been going through the roof. They started getting cheaper when gas headed toward $4 a gallon, and then when the credit crisis hit, and there were a lot of repos on the market, they got even cheaper. Now that gas is back down under $2, they’ve gone back up somewhat, but they’re still cheaper than a while back. Of course, “cheap” is a relative term, and one man’s bargain is another man’s extravagance. What if you need a car fast, and you only have five hundred bucks? I’d head for government auto auctions. Cars under 500 dollars are available there.

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Now, don’t get me wrong. At government auto auctions, cars under 500 dollars aren’t a dime a dozen. They really aren’t even plentiful. But you stand a very good chance of finding one or two such bargains at any given government auction you attend. And, yes, I’m talking about cars that actually run and are street legal. Now, it’s probably going to be quite a it older than most cars on the street, but that’s no problem. If you’re really looking for a cheap car, you can forget about a late model one, anyway. Those will be snapped up by the dealers, and they’ll go for a lot more than 500 dollars.

That’s because they’re looking for cars that can be resold fast, which is late model cars in great condition. That’s why dealers attend government auto auctions. Cars under 500 dollars don’t interest them, because they’re going to be too old to have much of a market. But that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with a 500 dollar car you pick up at one of these. It will just be older than average, and probably not in tip top shape. But you can certainly find yourself a 500 dollar car that runs if you attend a few auctions.…

Keynesian Theory On Demand Pull And Cost Push Inflation

According to Keynesian, inflation can be caused by increase in demand and/or increase in cost.

Demand-pull inflation is a situation where aggregate demand persistently exceeds aggregate supply when the economy is near or at full employment. Aggregate demand could rise because of several reasons. A cut in personal income tax would increase disposable income and contribute to a rise in consumer expenditure. A reduction in the interest rate might encourage an increase in investment as well as lead to greater consumer spending on consumer durables. A rise in foreigners’ income may lead to an increase in exports of a country. An expansion of government spending financed by borrowing from the banking system under conditions of full employment is another cause of inflation.

An increase in demand can be met initially by utilising unemployed resources if these are available. Supply rises and the increase in demand will have little or no effect on the general price level at this point. If the total demand for goods and services continue to escalate, a full employment situation will eventually be reached and no further increases in output are possible. This leads to inflationary pressures in the economy.

Demand-pull inflation is caused by excess demand, which can originate from high exports, strong investment, rise in money supply or government financing its spending by borrowing. If firms are doing well, theey will increase their demand for factors of production. If the factor market is already facing full employment, input prices will rise. Firms may have to bid up wages to tempt workers away from their existing jobs.

It is most likely that during full employment conditions, the rise in wages will exceed any increase in productivity leading to higher costs. Firms will pass the higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices. Workers will demand for higher wages and this will add fuel to aggregate demand, which increases once again. The process continues as prices in the product market and factor market are being pulled upwards.

Keynesian theory of cost-push inflation attributes the basic cause of inflation to supply side factors. This means that according to Keynesian, rising production costs will lead to inflation.

Cost-push inflation is usually regarded as being primarily a wage inflation process because wages usually constitute the greaer part of total costs. Powerful and militant trade unions who negotiate wage increases in excess of productivity are more likey to succeed in their wage claims the closer the economy is to full employment and the greater the problem of skill shortages.

An increase in the price of coal, oil and many other basic inputs or even semi-manufactured goods used as component parts in the production process will manifest itself as higher consumer prices. The oil crisis in 1973-1974 and 1970-80 resulted in many countries experiencing severe cost-push inflation.

Inflation may occur when there is a depreciation of the home currency. A depreciation of a country’s currency results in increases in the price of imported foodstuff, raw materials and capital equiment …

The Ban on Greyhound Racing in the ACT

This is a big issue in the Australian Capital Territory as the Greyhound Industry gears up for a legal challenge to the governments disbandment of it. The question is whether it constitutes a sport or a business that exploits innocent animals and causes them pain and suffering. The other agenda at work here is the clamp down on gambling in the territory. One can’t be seen to support a racing industry while denying other forms of it.

The feeling in the political arena is that people are spending wildly on things like poker machines and other forms of gambling. Many addicted to it have become homeless or dependent on charities and the like as a result. There is also the question of cruelty in the greyhound business when secret cameras filmed live bating in training sessions.

The animals in these images were rabbits, kittens, and possums, who were ultimately ripped to pieces. That was after being tied to a machine and driven at speed around the track with a pack of dogs in hot pursuit.

As a pet owner and one who respects all life this type of thing has disgusted me. Even more so as years ago when I gave some kittens away and a man told me he only wanted one to train his dogs. He never got it from me and my words to him were not so kind.

What is in the human psyche that supports this type of animal cruelty? That is what the Minister who issued the ban has also asked. Surely it is up to society to stand behind his judgement and let the matter proceed to court where hopefully the judge will favour the victims over the ones who make money from them.…

The Real Purpose of Government Grants

We all know that government grants are a way for the citizens of a country to get free money from the tax payers, but the question is what's the whole point of doing that? Many people work very hard and do great things with their intelligence and business acumen, but get no help from the government at all. Why provide government grants to some people and not others if we all pay our fair share of taxes? The real purpose of government grants is so that the government can make a political decision of where to invest its money for the greater good of the country. It's their decision making that helps excel certain programs that can compete against foreign countries. It's intent is to continue to be a super power by putting money where it is needed.

For instance, one way government grants are offered through small businesses. In the economic downturn, President Barack Obama needed to do something to help stimulate the economy again. People were losing their jobs and everyone was saving their money causing business to go down. The issuing of grants helped small businesses get back on their feet. These businesses now had the opportunity to hire more workers which provided more jobs to everyone. Money was being spent because people were getting their jobs back. The use of these grants can do great things if pointed in the right direction.

Many grants are also offered to help research facilities and technology developers to get their ideas rolling. The use of this money can help pay for a lot of expensive equipment that can expedite these companies' course of plan. If the United States is the first to discover something new, the government grants have done its job. It could not hurt to attempt to apply for these grants. Being honest and convincing can help you beat out your competition. If you are truly good at what you do and know your ideas can be put to good work, you should definitely apply for government grants to help make your dreams a reality. …

Becoming a Child Custody Lawyer

This professional is a family lawyer who specializes in child custody cases, helping to protect children’s rights. To become a child custody lawyer you would have to pursue the same path as any lawyer but specializing in child custody cases. In most states, you would need an undergraduate degree, like a bachelor’s degree before you can go to law school. When getting your law degree your bachelor’s degree does not need to be in a subject related to law. If you have already chosen your career path there are some existing pre-law specializations. For example, when specializing in custody law, you could major in social work, philosophy, or psychology. Any of these majors will help give you a unique education that will help you further down your path to become a child custody lawyer.

When getting your bachelor’s degree make sure that you are maintaining a high GPA as this may help you get into this type of school. On the road to becoming a child custody lawyer, applying to such a school is often stressful and rigorous but is a necessary step to becoming a lawyer. When completing all of the required application letters take your time to ensure that you are doing them correctly. If any have a deadline to summit them, try to get them done first so they will get there on time. During the application process for law school, you will need letters of recommendations so try to get professionals you know or former teachers to write the recommendation letters for you.

To get into law school most require applicants to submit standardized test scores that focus on the general law. One such test is the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). This is a very hard test to pass but is needed in order to get into law school. Before taking the exam experts recommend that you study for this test at least six to twelve months in order to pass, get a good grade and possible admission to law school. When attending law school, you should tailor any elective courses so they relate to family law subjects. While at law school and during your undergraduate schooling you should look for assistant or internships with a family law firm. This extra training can provide you with a wealth of information it can also help you establish a professional contact network. Once you have completed law school you will have to sit and pass the bar exam for your state or the state where you will be practicing as a child custody lawyer.

Although you are specializing in child custody cases, you will start out as a family attorney. It may take several years to gain expertise and become an established child custody lawyer.…

Alcohol Addiction – A Social Evil

There is a group of who start using alcohol to drive away the sorrows and pains of life, whereas others turn to it because they know not any other way. Most alcohol addicts give the reason that alcohol gives them a power to face the challenges and difficulties of life. The practical theory behind this feeling is that alcohol can generate illusions and hallucinations in the minds of people and they are taken to another world where they forget the real world worries, and tensions. Sinking in this dream world, they start loving alcohol to an amount that they can not even imagine being without alcohol.

The effects of alcohol addiction are long lasting. The harmful effects are never limited to the individual; Rather the circle of society is forced to suffer the consequences. Alcohol addiction sends out a red signal by producing physical ailments and mental disorders in the individual. Even then it is not the individual but the associated ones that realizes the danger and think of how to help the injured stop drinking alcohol.

Harmful results of alcohol addiction start with physical damage to kidney, liver, heart and almost all internal organs. It starts carving the walls of intestine. Loss of appetite, vomiting, dizziness, nausea etc. Are some among the numerous difficulties followed by the addict. He slowly starts losing memory and false often due to lack of sleep. The physical appearance and facial appearance becomes too ugly.

Worst of all ill effects is the interference in his social and personal life. He fails to execute his duties and responsibilities. Instead of being a support, he becomes a burden to his family. Peace of the family is disturbed and they become the center of criticism for the entire society. The place of his work is another area affected badly. You start to have serious backlogs at work and co-workers are humiliated. Everyone dependent on him will be forced to take the pains of suffering and obviously live through the aftermath.

Social peace is disturbed. When alcohol addiction haunts a person, he will start engaging in criminal activity. Slowly he changes into an anti-social element and none will dare to get acquainted with him. He is isolated and this adds up the fury. His evil behavior shoots up and a criminal is born.

Several methods are available that will teach people how to stop drinking alcohol. De-addiction centers play a major role in bringing them back to life. Medicines that make them feel the taste of alcohol will inculcate a feeling of hesitance towards the drug. But the major problem in dealing with alcohol through medicine is that, their going to be a drug dependency or the forceful withdrawal could lead to many related problems. These efforts of not carried out in a professional manner can cause more harm than good. This later addiction is a critical factor to be deal with.

Hypnosis is the best method to slowly change the attitude of the individual towards liquor. The …

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Seized Car Auctions

Nowadays, if somebody drives a posh car, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the person is rich – the luxury vehicle might have been bought at one of the numerous seized car auctions held regularly.

As the name suggests, seized car auctions offer vehicles that were seized by the government or the police due to some illegal activity. Apart from criminals, automobiles at repossessed vehicle auctions come from people failed to pay the mortgage, defaulted on tax payments, etc. The goal of the government is not to cash on these vehicles, but rather get rid of them quickly and avoid storage and maintenance expenses.

Seized car auctions as well as other types of similar auctions have their own advantages and disadvantages. Being aware of them will help you decide whether or not this is the way you want to purchase your vehicle.

Advantages of Seized Car Auctions

1. Unbelievably low starting bid. You can expect 80 and even 90{512b763ef340c1c7e529c41476c7e03bc66d8daea696e1162822661d30dde056} discount – a great bargain if you compare it with the retailer price.

2. Good condition. Most vehicles sold have been in use not more than 5 years. Quite often, there are cars in a “close to new” condition.

3. History reports available. Ideally, every such auto auction will provide free Car Fax VIN reports. Additionally, you can use an Auto Check Vehicle History to make sure that the car was not damaged in an accident.

4. Possibility to find a rare model. If you are on a lookout for a particular model, especially rare or imported one, chances are you will find it at such an auction. Check online seized car auctions as well – they have an impressive number of listings, so it is really not so hard to find what you want.

Disadvantages of Seized Car Auctions

1. Sold “as is”. After acquiring a vehicle, it is impossible to exchange or return it for a refund. Therefore, take time to assess the vehicle’s condition and check its history.

2. Hard for beginners. If you are a first-timer, a repossessed vehicle auction may seem to be a tough place to you. Needless to say, it is difficult to keep up with experienced car dealers. A friend who is not new to seized car auctions would be of great help. Or, turn to online auto auctions – they are easier to control the bidding process.

3. Time consuming. Searching for the seized car auctions in your area, registration, preliminary checking, attending one (especially if it is quite far from your place), and getting all the necessary paperwork done later may take up to a few weeks. Again, participation in an online auction is easier, though involves more risks and concerns.

With these knowledge in hand, you are in a better position to buy a vehicle that is auctioned. For more details on where and how to pick up your dream car from seized car auctions, read up my blog.…

Invention of the Cash Register

A common sound in any store is that of the till as it rings meaning another sale has been made. These registers have been around for about 100 years yet not many people know exactly where and by whom it was invented. The invention of the cash register was one of the little steps that helped build industrial giants all across the globe. You can’t go into a single store now that doesn’t have at least one register, some of the big stores may have up to 25 registers to provide for the customers.

The invention of the cash register took place back in the 1800s in the United States following the American Civil War. A man by the name of James Ritty opened up a saloon in Dayton, Ohio. One day he noticed a small contraption that counted the times the wheel went around on a steam boat and thought it would be fascinated to create a machine that added up the totals of money for his business. The reasoning behind the concept of a register was to keep track of the sale to make sure that employees weren’t cheating the employer out of any money.

James Ritty went home to Dayton, Ohio and joined up with his brother John Ritty who was a skilled mechanic. They tried a few different prototypes and finally on the third try they got the machine that they wanted where you could push a button and it stood for a certain amount of money. Basically the first cash register was just an adding machine. In 1879 they patented the machine as “Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier.”

The Ritty’s then decided to open up a factory to start the production of their new “cashiers.” It wasn’t long after that James Ritty couldn’t handle running two businesses at the same time so he sold off the factory to a group of investors. These investors become stock holders and in 1889 the majority stock holder, John Patterson, changed the name of the company to the National Cash Register Company and the name has stuck ever since.

James Ritty may not be as well known as Thomas Edison or Eli Whitney but his invention of the cash register has made just as much of an impact on societies all around the world. The register is a necessity to life and this world would probably be in much more disorganization if it wasn’t for the invention of the cash register.…

New Zealand – Common WEALTH or Common STEALTH?

To many people, New Zealand is one of the most sought-after countries for many English folk to move to, either to emigrate, or retire.

Why? Because we think that the whole country and its massive natural resources belong to us. But why should we think that? What about the people that lived peacefully there since the beginning of the first century – the Maori peoples from Polynesia?

Too many times, we seem to think that this whole area of the Pacific was populated by tribes of fierce savages, who knew nothing of the ‘civilized’ world, and allegedly had no idea of commerce or interaction with other nations. For many such peoples, they became ‘fair game’ to the more ‘advanced’ civilizations of the west, such as Britain, France and Spain, who would go to any lengths to secure new additions to their overseas empires.

Even if there was a lack of commercial awareness in these conquered States, what gave anybody the right to take over and attempt to destroy, the local religions, belief, and traditions of these indigenous peoples? After all, if Britain had lost the Second World War, we would probably now all be using German as our first language, and there would have been no religious freedom of expression allowed. Would that have made us a better country? I doubt it. There would have been much dissent and undertones of revolt, and a feeling that we were robbed of our heritage.

The facts are that at the turn of the 19th Century, the Maori people had established a Bank (Te Whare Awaroa Mauri Trust Bank) and a newspaper (The Native Courier) in 1808. Hardly the activities to be expected from so-called ‘ignorant savages’.

In 1816 Te Wakaminenga O Nga Hapu formed a Maori Court with laws based on Tikanga Maori (in response to the lawless and unruly behaviour of visiting whalers, sealers and other foreigners) and enforced the laws accordingly. They further planned to unite the tribes operating on two levels by uniting the Ariki blood lines, and forming an army in a common defence policy against to ever-increasing immigration issues.

In the same year the authority of Maori Sovereignty was recognised and registered in the House of Westminster, England, as well as recognised by other nations such as America, France, Japan and Te Moananui A Kiwa. (United Pacific Nations)

The growth of settlers and whalers into New Zealand in the first quarter of the 19th Century had a devastating effect on the Maori people. Not only were they becoming outnumbered, but disease introduced from the settlers was causing massive numbers deaths from illnesses that in the Western world were just mild complaints.

A lot of settlers were carrying out illegal purchase of land in this time period, and introducing new types of crops, and new ways of fishing (especially whaling), and this activity caused a lot of friction between many of the Maori iwi (Tribes), leading to a whole series of brutal inter-tribal wars. To try and redress …

Olympias – The Mother of Alexander the Great

Olympias was born c.371 BC in the Molossian kingdom of Epirus on the borders of modern day Albania. She was about fourteen years old when she met king Philip of Macedon at a mystery cult festival in Samothrace. It is said that Philip immediately fell in love with her, however this is probably an over romantic version of reality.

Philip had been a very shrewd and successful ruler who had united the various tribes of Macedon into a recognizable kingdom. He had led his kingdom to victories against the other Greeks, most notably Thebes, Sparta and Athens. He had already begun an effective empire that filled the vacuum left after the thirty years of Peloponnesian war between Sparta and Athens in the 5th Century BC. After Sparta defeated Athens, both city states seemed to have exhausted themselves to the point that the Macedonians were able to move across Greece incorporating the city states under Macedonian authority.

Philip's political awareness led him to make a number of political marriages. The Macedonian kings practiced polygamy, therefore Olympias was not the only wife of Philip, though she was his only queen. Philip married seven times, the order of the interviews were as follows: Phila, Audata, Philinna, Olympias, Nikesipolis, Meda and finally Cleopatra in 337 BC. It is remarkable that Olympia managed to become queen, since Philip had older marriages which it might be reasonable to suggest would have been more established. Olympias must have made some impression on Philip to achieve the status of queen.

Olympias became pregnant with Alexander soon after she married and he was born in 356 BC. She had another child, Cleopatra later. She was an avid worshiper of the god Dionysus and ancient writers suggest that she had an interest in using snakes in the worship of her favorite god. The writer Plutarch says that one time Philip saw her sleep with a snake in her bed and after this time he became distant from his wife. Plutarch says that Philip then took other wives which incited jealousy in Olympias. The final breaking point came when Attalus one of Philip's men made a toast to Philip at his wedding fever to Attalus' neice Cleopatra saying that they should all pray that Cleopatra produces a legal successor to the throne. Alexander showed his rage and thread a cup at Attalus. Philip sided with Attalus. Alexander and Olympias left Macedon for Epirus.

Olympias did not help such incidents and in some ways added fuel to the fire. Her intense and dangerous character meant that in a superstitious time, she could make herself seem more in league with the gods than with mortals. She said to have told Alexander that he was the son of Zeus, not Philip and Alexander modeled himself on the hero Achilles who himself had a goddess mother.

Olympias understood how power worked during the 4th century BC. This was a time when men dominated politics and where women gained power through the men around them. Aspasia, …