Filing Lawsuits against Overseas Fraud

Persons who are victims of fraud when they are overseas do have to settle for victimization. They can use lawsuits to strike back against the financial predators that victimized them even when those predators have the protection of foreign governments.

Even though it is not always possible to collect a settlement by filing an American lawsuit against a resident or residents of a foreign country it is possible to hurt them through such legal action. A suit can damage their reputations, make it harder for them to do business in the USA and expose their transgressions in the media. 

If a person won a suit against a resident of Abu Dhabi for example he or she could file liens against property that individual owns in the US. He or she could also garish or seize funds that person had in American bank accounts. It is also possible to spread bad publicity about locations or persons responsible for fraud.

When attorney Howard Fensterman sued some residents of Abu Dhabi over an allegedly fraudulent business deal he was able to expose the alleged crime in the media and online. Now persons who make a Google search about doing business in the UAE (the Middle Eastern country where the city is located) they could see an article about Fensterman’s suit.

Such tactics can often help fraud victims reach a settlement or at least get their money back. They may or may not work but there is at least a way for persons to warn others about such activities. So anybody who is a victim of a financial crime such as fraud or embezzlement while overseas should seriously consider filing a lawsuit.

Gold for Fund Raising

People active in communitygroups, churches, charities, sports leagues, civic groups, schools and other organizations know that fund raising is tough today. People want to give and support their communities, children, schools, churches or causes but they simply don’t have the money. In many cases those who you formerly relied upon fund raising need extra cash themselves.

There is a way that you can help both your friends and neighbors and your cause or organization by taking advantage of the high price of gold. You can host a gold party, such a gathering is an event where people bring items made of precious metals so they can be evaluated and purchased by a buyer.

A gold party can be a win-win situation for everybody involved. Families and individuals in your community get the extra cash they need and part of the proceeds to a group or cause that needs the money. Whether it’s famine relief in Somalia, or your local Little League team a good cause benefits.

Best of all: the event goes on with little or no cost to you or group. The price of gold is now so high that companies are willing to cover all the costs of holding a party. They will provide the buyer, the cash and even provide refreshments including snacks or even wine.

Such an event is a great way to sell gold because people don’t have to go to a pawn shop or one of those sleazy looking fast cash places at the strip mall. They will get a good price and help their community with no embarrassment. You can have the satisfaction of knowing that you helped your community and your cause.

Gold is not the only Precious Metal You Can Sell

Gold is not the only precious metal that a person can sell for cash. In addition to gold buyers are also purchasing silver, platinum and palladium. They are also looking for some other items including gemstones, diamonds and old watch cases.

The great thing about silver is that you might have much more of it than you realize in your home. In addition to jewelry, plates, eating utensils and some household furnishings are often made of silver. That means you might have large amounts of the metal in your home and not even realize it.

Some common items made of silver include:

• Silverware.
• Serving dishes
• Gravy boats
• Candlesticks
• Picture frames
• Jewelry
• Old coins including US coins dated earlier than 1965.
• Foreign coins
• Pins and broaches

Selling silver is also very easy all you have to do is take it to a gold buyer. Most gold buyers will buy silver. The price you get for it can be lower can still put some extra cash in your pocket.

The condition of the silver should not matter, buyers will purchase even tarnished or battered or broken silver. If you find an old spoon buried outside or some old coins in a drawer, take them in they could be worth money.

Persons who live in New York and Long Island should have problem finding lots of excellent silver buyers that pay a good price. Several major family-owned buying chains are located in areas and have outlets all over including Forest Hills, NY. These establishments will buy most items and they are often willing to send appraisers to your home to evaluate precious metals for purchase.

Use Leadership Development Programs and Management Training to Develop Local Talent

One challenge facing many agencies and companies is finding capable and experienced managers willing to work in certain locations. Organizations in New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles usually have little problem attracting qualified applicants for management openings. Companies operating in small towns, rural areas and many cities often have a hard time attracting talent.

Many such organizations are constantly wasting money and resources on searches for new talent. They spend big money recruiting and relocating managers or management candidates who will move away as soon as they find a higher-paying job in a more attractive location.

Management training and leadership development programs can be an effective alternative to this wasteful practice. Instead of spending huge sums to bring in outsiders who will move away, an organization can set up a program to train persons who already live in the community to fill such positions.

Such individuals often have a strong incentive to stay in the area because they are established in the community. They own property, have children in school, have relatives in the area and actually like living there. These bonds can keep them in the community and help bring in more business.

Retain Local Talent 

Creating leadership training programs can help organizations increase employee engagement and retain valuable employees. Numerous companies lose valuable local markets because a competitor moves in and hires their most experienced and knowledgeable workers. To make matters worse, such individuals will take their customers with them when they move to a new job.

Employees that want to stay in the community are not automatically loyal or engaged. They are simply waiting for a better opportunity. When the competition moves in they will quickly jump to it.

If employees feel that they have a real opportunity for advancement they will be more likely to stay. They will also be more likely to go along with change management efforts. 

The best way to attract business in a community is to have local persons in prominent management and customer service positions. The cheapest way for a nationwide organization to get local individuals into such positions is to develop leadership and management from existing local employees.

Underground Atlanta

The popular attraction called Underground Atlanta originated in the 1920s when the city elevated portions of the streets downtown to improve traffic floor. This left a number of older storefront below street level.

The original Underground Atlanta opened in 1969 after the city had declared the area a historic district. The area was an underground shopping district that was only open for about 12 years until 1980 when the MARTA transit system was built. The current Underground Atlanta opened in 1989.

Underground Atlanta itself consists of long tunnels under the streets where many storefronts from historic buildings are preserved. Some of the buildings were built after the Civil War, when most of Atlanta was burned by invading Union Troops.

There are many unusual businesses in Underground Atlanta including Exotic Paradise where you can get your photo taken with exotic birds and Action Masters, a DVD store that sells only action films. There are numerous stores specializing in African and African-American products.

There are several restaurants in Underground Atlanta including a Waffle House and a Johnny Rockets.   

Numerous events are held at Underground Atlanta including the St. Patrick’s Festival, Octoberfest, the Heritage Arts Festival and the Peachdrop.

Underground Atlanta is located next to the Five Points MARTA Station downtown. The Parking Garages for the attractions are between Central & Pryor Streets and Pryor & Peachtree Streets on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Buses visiting Underground Atlanta can park for free on Central Avenue. It is only a short drive from Interstate 20 and Interstate 75/85.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the busiest aviation hubs in the United States. An estimated six million passengers a month pass through the facility near Downtown.

Even though it’s a state of the art aviation facility, Hartsfield-Jackson is one of the oldest airports in the world. Air service there started in 1925 when Atlanta Mayor Walter A. Sims leased an abandoned racetrack from Coca-Cola owner Asa Candler to use as an airport. The facility is also known as Candler Field because of an agreement the city made with the Candler family when it sold them the airport a few years later.

Among other things, Hartsfield Jackson is one of the few airports close to the downtown in the United States. It is also one of the few American airports with a direct rail transit connection to the city center via MARTA.

Airport Layout
The airport itself consists of two terminals surrounding an atrium and five concourses all located on the east end of the facility. Two terminals – the North and the South sit between the concourses and the MARTA station. The MARTA station is located at the west end of the concourses, baggage claim is located on the north and south sides of the terminal. The parking lots are located on each side of the North and South Terminals.

Parking
There are currently 11 parking lots at the airfield. These include Daily, Economy, Park Ride and Hourly lots. Fliers can find out if parking is available by checking this website: http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Parking/default.aspx.

Ground Transportation
Ground transportation services are centered at the Ground west end of the terminals. These services include a MARTA station, the MARTA Red and Gold lines provide direct rail transit service to downtown Atlanta.

MARTA and Greyhound Flightlink bus service is also at the airport. MARTA passes can be purchased at the MARTA Ride Store. Ticket machines are also available at the MARTA Station.

Rental Car service from 13 companies is available in the Rental Car Center. The services have shuttle services available to take passengers to their cars.

Taxi and Limousine service is available at the Ground Transportation Center. Hotel shuttle service is available at the Purple Isle in the Ground Transportation Center.

Atlanta in the Civil War

Atlanta is widely identified with the American Civil War, largely because the classic novel and movie Gone with the Wind used Civil War Atlanta as a backdrop. Interestingly enough, the movie version of Gone with the Wind was filmed in Culver City, California, not Atlanta.

The region around Atlanta was an important theater of operation in the Civil War because Atlanta served as the region’s main railroad junction. During the 1840s and 50s railroads connecting Atlanta to several important southern cities including Chattanooga, Macon, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus and Montgomery were built.

When the Civil War broke out the Confederacy started using these tracks to move armies and their supplies. The Union sought to stop this movement by capturing railroad centers such as Atlanta. The fighting in the war reached Atlanta in 1864 when the city became the target of a major invasion force commanded by General William Tecumseh Sherman.

Several large battles were fought around Atlanta in 1864. These included Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, and the Battle of Atlanta. These struggles were part of what was called the Atlanta Campaign, General Sherman’s effort to capture Atlanta. The Confederates actually fought fairly well and did inflict some defeats on the invaders but they were outnumbered.

The city of Atlanta endured a four month siege (one of the longest in America history) but by September 1, 1864, the Confederate defenders were exhausted. General Hood evacuated the city and the Union soldiers entered it.

On November 11, 1864, General Sherman ordered commercial buildings and other facilities in the city that might be useful in the war effort burned. His army then left the city as part of its famous March to the Sea which delivered a death blow to the Confederacy by devastating its heartland.

The capture of Atlanta was considered a turning point in the Civil War. Many historians think news of it increased the popularity of Abraham Lincoln and enabled him to win the Union presidential election held in November 1864 and defeat “peace” candidate George McClellan who favored a negotiated end to the Civil War.

Even though the war ended in 1865, the Union occupation of the city lasted until 1877. US Army troops actually remained in Atlanta until 1888 when McPherson Barracks there was closed.

Atlanta Mass Transit

Mass transit in Atlanta consists of rail and bus service operated by MARTA – the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. MARTA operates both the buses in the city and the elevated and underground rail lines.

Atlanta Rail Transit

There are four elevated and subway rail transit lines similar to New York subway lines that converge in Downtown Atlanta at Fight Points Station. The Station sits on the same location as Rich’s Department Store – an Atlanta landmark of the 20^th Century. It is the only point where all four rail lines – the Green, Red, Blue and Gold converge.

Popular destinations within walking distance of Five Points Station include the World of Cocoa Cola, the Martin Luther King Center, City Hall, Heritage Row, Undergound Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta and the Five Points Flea Market. There’s also a shuttle bus between Five Points and Turner Field home of the Braves. In addition to bus service, a Zipcar car sharing vehicle is available at Five Points Station.

The Red Line runs between Airport Station and Doraville Station. Highlights on this line include Arts Station which is in walking distance of the High Museum of Art, the Botanical Gardens and Colony Square.

The Green Line runs between Bankhead and Edgewood Candler Park. Popular attractions near the Green Line include Georgia State and the Martin Luther King Memorial.

The Blue Line runs between Hamilton E. Holmes Station and Indian Creek. It shares part of its track with the Green Line so it also serves Georgia State and the King Memorial. It also runs to the Omni Dome, Phillips Arena and the CNN Center.

The Gold Line runs between Doraville and the Airport, it shares quite a bit of track with the Red Line. Major attractions on this line include Peachtree Center. Attractions near the Peachtree Center Station include the Georgia Aquarium, the Centennial Olympic Park, the New World of Cocoa Cola.

All of the MARTA lines are accessible to the city’s bus system. Park and ride service is also available. Currently there are no plans to expand the rail system.

Will Revolution Produce a More Ethical Situation in the Middle East?

One of the most intriguing questions raised by the recent revolutions in the Middle East is whether the revolts will produce more ethical societies. As many travelers, find out fraud and a lack of basic ethics seem to be epidemic in the Middle East.

Bribery, ballot box stuffing and systematic corruption are the norm in politics. Government television stations and newspapers are little more than propaganda outlets for lying to the public and even statements about oil supplies could be lies. The widespread anger at the regimes there is no surprise because the people are fed up with official deception and corruption.

Lessons from History

The big question is whether the revolution will actually produce a more ethical state of affairs or not. The best way to answer this question is to turn to history and examine the effects of other revolutions. Sadly, most revolutions in history have led to less ethical governments the 1917 Russian Revolution led to a Communist dictatorship that systematically lied to its people and murdered them.

The next Russian Revolution in 1991 did bring down the Soviet Union but it didn’t necessarily result in a more ethical society. Since 1991 fraud and organized crime have been widespread in Russia. Indeed many observers have complained that Russia has become even more corrupt.

New Kinds of Fraud and Corruption Possible

Therefore it is entirely possible that the changes in Arab governments will simply open up the scene to new kinds of fraud and corruption. One strong possibility is for corrupt populist politicians to gain power by telling the people what they want. Then using the political power gained by promising reform to loot the public treasury.

This has often been the case in Latin America were leaders like Juan Peron and Hugo Chavez use promises of reform or redistribution of wealth to mask their own corruption. Such regimes are likely in Arab nations particularly if the oil reserves there have been exhausted as many foreign observers believe.

Another problem is that government corruption often corrupts society as a whole. Many observers attribute the prevalence of fraud and corruption to the cynicism generated by decades of Communist hypocrisy. Similar hypocrisy on the part of Arab governments seems to have bred similar behavior in countries like Egypt.

One mitigating factor could be the Islamic religion which does demand high ethical standards. Unfortunately Islamic rule has not led to transparency and clean government in Iran. So it is doubtful that the revolutions will lead to a more ethical state of affairs in the Middle East in the near future.

A Little Atlanta History

The city now known as Atlanta began life as the village of Standing Peachtree inhabited by Cherokee Indians. This village was located at the junction of the Chattahoochee River and Peachtree Creek near what is downtown. The earliest report of this village dates from 1782 during the Revolutionary War.

The earliest white or European settlement in the area was Fort Peachtree or Fort Gilmer built in 1813 during the War of 1812. A recreation of Fort Peachtree currently stands at the original fort’s site. 

Permanent white settlement didn’t begin until the 1830s when Hardy Ivey built a cabin near what would become the corner of Courtland Avenue and International Boulevard.

In 1837, Atlanta really began when engineers began building the terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railroad near the site of Fort Peachtree. A town called Terminus began to develop around the railroad, John Thrasher and a man named Johnson opened the first store in 1839. The town was called “Thrasherville” at that time. The name was later changed to “Terminus” because it was the end of the line for the railroad.

In 1842, Julia Carlisle became the first white child born in Atlanta. The same year the community’s name changed from Terminus to “Marthasville.” In 1845 the settlement’s name is changed to Atlanta-Pacifica and then shortened to just Atlanta. The first train from Decatur arrived in the city that year, marking the beginning of Atlanta’s rise as a transportation hub.

By 1846, Atlanta was served by three railroads and two newspapers. In 1847 the town of Atlanta is incorporated. Atlanta held its first mayoral election in 1848, the same year the first murder was reported in the town.

By 1855, Atlanta was a thriving town with nearly 8,000 residents, a factory producing railroad cars, a medical school, two daily newspapers and gas powered lighting. This made it one of the most modern cities in the South at the time.

Braves Shuttle Rides Up for Ayes and Nays

It was a frequent sight every time there's a game in Turner Field and the Atlanta Braves are playing against their opponent on home base. The buses run around the city from underground Atlanta and Turner Field. Fans from all places get the chance to cheer on their team’s games. But because of budget cuts, it looks like that even those trips will be cut out for good if things don't turn our right when the MARTA board votes for or against the shuttle service.

The shuttle service is very important to the people who watch the games in the stadium. In some ways they have helped by decongesting traffic in and out of the stadium's parking lot. The lesser number of cars that go there, the better it is for the people. Once the Braves shuttle service disappears expect heavy traffic when the team plays their game opener on April 8th.

The board will decide on limiting the trips if not removing it entirely.  Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed is looking into a way where the shuttle trips will pay for the trips. Once limited tripping is approved, the trips will end before the first pitch is thrown and after the last out.

There were 7,000 fans and workers who use the shuttle to watch the games. It is believed that 2,000 people use the shuttle service every time the Braves play. Once a total pull-out happens on the shuttle, expect parking lots to be priced like gold to game watchers. Stress and tension can be on the rise as well and possible problems can arise from it. Expect the home team to suffer as well for there will be less people who will watch the games when they happen at home base.

People of Atlanta Welcomes Loved Ones from Delta Flight from Japan

People of Atlanta who were expecting friend and relatives to come home from Japan on that Delta flight was relieved to find out that the plane took-off from the airport at just the right time before the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the country.

If you were the passenger of that plane, you'd probably remember how the characters of the movie 2012 felt when they were taking off while the earth was shaking. Then looking back, you'll see everything that you left behind crumble in ruins.

Family and friends are highly valued in Atlanta. As a matter of fact people here constantly make an effort to get in touch with friends and relatives as often as they can. This is one virtue that's gold in each resident that lives here.

When the plane safely landed on American soil, seeing a friend and a relative get off that plane and smile back at you gives a new meaning to the phrase priceless moment.

Indian Consulate to come up at Atlanta

Atlanta is all set to be play home to the new Indian embassy, a move which has been welcomed by the Georgia State Government. The new embassy will be one of the two new embassies to come up in the country, the other being in Seattle, Washington.

The move could further improve the ties between state of Georgia and the Indian government. In 2010, the State hosted the inaugural USA India Business Summit,and will host the next chapter of the summit in June.

Altanta is already home to some of the biggest India IT companies and roughly 80,000 people of Indian origin. The move could bring in more IT jobs coming to Atlanta and it's nearby cities and also more revenue for the State of Georgia.

Many of the IT companies favor Atlanta because of the port of Savannah and the Atlanta Airport which could provide great logistical facilities.

Atlanta Kids Get Their Imaginary Friend Back!

Two years ago someone must've played a prank on the students of Grant Park Cooperative Preschool and run away with their Mud Monster. This Mud Monster is an imaginary friend which students pitched-in to mold from their imaginations. It has become an icon of the school in some ways.

That was 2009 when an unknown guy just ran away with it. No one really knows the reason behind the idol’s kidnapping and the only thing that can come to one’s mind is that it may have been intended to play a prank on the kids. It made the children in the preschool feel bad and even made attempts to find their missing friend.

Just recently a phone call announced that it was found and would return it as long as no criminal charges will be hoisted on the person who took it. It was a win-win for everyone when the school administrators agreed to the terms.

The good part is that the Mud Monster is back in the school where it was created and the children who remembered the times when they shared some laughter with it can't help but compare how he looked like then. They noticed some changes, but nevertheless, their imaginary friend is more precious than gold. what counts most is that their prized friend is here to stay and play with them again.

Coke gives city of Atlanta $1 million to re-open "Centers of Hope"

The "Centers of Hope" project which was current Atlanta mayor, Kashim Reed's plans to re-open and expand Atlanta's community recreation centers has got a major boost with the help of the Coca-cola company. The company has donated $1 million to fund this project.

Current Coca-Cola chairman Muhtar Kent announced the donation. The Center of Hope was one of the key campaign promises Reed made in the 2009 election.

Reed who is known now building up the law and order system of the city by hiring more Police officers has already accomplished his other task of pushing through a $559 million budget which contains pay raise for the city's public servants and also increasing the the city's reserves to $56 million.