Archives: 2008 August

Fisa:

FISA, in application, is a law that allows the government to essentially snoop on its citizens with blanket impunity. FISA is not a new act. It was first passed in 1978 during the ?Cold War? and proscribed procedures under which physical and electronic surveillance and collection of foreign intelligence information between foreign powers and agents of foreign powers (which may include American citizens and permanent residents) who are suspected of engaging in espionage and violating U.S.

The Reformed Fisa:

Among the new so-called FISA reforms is immunization for giant telecom companies from criminal prosecution for criminal behavior for unlawfully spying on Americans even preceding 9/11. This immunity will have an appalling consequence in 2 ways.

FISA’s Chilling Effect On Civil RIghts:

First it will manufacture a bulwark which will preclude Americans from ever ascertaining, as one author has said, “who arranged what for whom, what were the enticements, who was the kingpin in all this lawbreaking?” Secondly ,and maybe even more distressing is that it will produce an atmosphere where additional huge corporations, or even those not so huge, will be disposed to violate the civil rights of Americans with impunity as long as they are held to be collaborating with the Government.

Of the umpteen thousands of requests for wiretaps that the hush-hush FISA court has considered over the past 30 years, it has turned down only a very small handful – some suppose as little as 5. In times of an emergency, FISA allows the authorities to commence the surveillance before requesting court permission. It is, without question, intended to be among the major tools for carrying on domestic national security surveillance. Otherwise, it’s totally nonmeaningful.

FISA And The Revelation:

FISA is almost four decades old and until lately many people had not the dimmest idea that such a undercover organization even existed. Doesn’t this seem just a bit strange in free America?

The prophet ,John, in the Apocalypse foresaw such a scenario as we are beginning to discern as a terrible reality. He warned in strikingly exact prophetic language of a time that even America, the recognized nation of freedom, would “speak” with a a different voice, a voice unknown to the principles spelled out in its Constuitution and Bill of Rights. How few Americans would have supposed that in America there would be a covert courteven prior to Sept. 11? Furthermore, who believes that the prophecies of Revelation will be completed and that oin this process literally every principle of the United States Constitution will have to be abdicated…appears amazing?Stick around!

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Did you know that the marquise design of diamond rings is believed to originate in France as far back as the 18th century?

King Louis XIV asked jewelers to design a unique shape of a diamond that is similar to the sultry way his then mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour smiles. This shape of diamond is slender and elongated with ends that are pointed much like the lips.

More and more couples today prefer the marquise diamond engagement ring because of its practicality, it is more affordable than the round or oval cut diamond. If you want to have a less conventional cut diamond, this is the right choice.

The shape of the marquise diamond engagement ring may be deceiving, since it is elongated; it seems larger and heavier than its actual carat size.

Just like the radiant cut diamond engagement ring, the marquise diamond engagement ring is cut in a multifaceted way and appears to have a bow-tie effect when light reflects on it. It produces an effect of dancing lights and radiates in the sun. And this characteristic adds for its popularity for engagement rings.

The proportion of the marquise diamond engagement ring varies, but the gem experts and jewelers say that the perfect proportion for this type of ring is that width should be the same length as its height that achieves a more prominent and radiant bow-tie effect.

For practical and aesthetic reasons, instead of having the marquise diamond engagement ring to be a solitaire diamond, you can add other precious gems or stones or have it in bridal set engagement ring. This way you can have the manifestation of having a larger diamond stone intricately designed that looks expensive.

The marquise diamond engagement ring is perfect for any woman, it actually flatters the fingers because of its cut, making the fingers seem elongated and elegant.

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The answer is simple; use, use and use. Use is possibly the most important factor in terms of the property?s value. For your investment to be a success, you need to think of the building?s use for you as well as for your tenants. Hence, you need to also put yourself in the shoes of your customers, i.e. your tenants. To kick start things, first attain information on the demographics of the area in which you want to invest in. This should give you a basic idea of who your target audience is and will also allow you to build a general profile of your typical tenant.

With that profile in mind, think then of what the average tenant would need if he/she lives in your building. For starters, regardless of who you rent out to, people will always need basic amenities near by. Thus, you have to ensure that the apartment building you buy is located near a grocery store, entertainment facilities, medical facilities and the like. You should note that although people might have cars, they won?t like driving for more than 10 minutes to get the basic necessities. For example, in an emergency situation, no person would like to drive more than 10 minutes to get to a hospital.

Following the universal needs, you need to look a little more closely into the profile you have outlined. The more you breakdown this profile, the greater will be chances for success. For instance, if currently you feel that your building will primarily be occupied by families, then you should study the demographic data carefully to figure out what kind of families are we talking about. Will the families be newly married couples or families with school-going children’ If it’s the former of the two cases, then your building should ideally be located near a good quality daycare center. Meanwhile, if it’s the latter of the two cases, then you will be best positioned if the building is a near a good quality school.

Use is possibly the most important factor when one is to make a purchase. Combine that with customer profiling, and you have the recipe for success. However, always remember that you shouldn?t venture outside your comfort zone unless you absolutely have to. Comfort zone here refers to areas with which you are familiar and have possibly had experience in previously. This point is important always but even more when you are initially starting out as a real estate investor. When starting out, stick to what you know and try out new things only when you feel you have a handle on the situation. And always, always, keep your eyes and ears open to absorb whatever information you can about your location so that you are never left in the dark.