The Top 10 Most Famous Women With the First Name of Sue and Susan

For the past year I have been gathering famous names. These are all noted individuals, but who are the most famous? Today let's count down the most famous women named Sue and Susan.

The most famous people (based on online chatter) with the first name Sue or Susan are:

10. Susan Tedeschi - Musician (Wait for Me, Hope and Desire, Back to the River)

9. Susan Lucci - Emmy Winning Actress (All My Children, Dallas, Dancing with the Stars)

8. Susan Rice - United States Ambassador to the United Nations

7. Sue Sylvester - Character on the TV Series GLEE

6. Susan Smith - Murdered her Two Young Children

5. Susan Collins - United States Senator from Maine

4. Susan Sontag - Author (In America, The Volcano Lover, The Way We Live Now)

3. Susan Dey - Actress (The Partridge Family, L.A. Law, Love and War)

2. Susan Sarandon - Academy Award Winning Actress (Dead Man Walking, Thelma and Louise, Atlantic City)

...and the most famous woman named Sue or Susan is by a landslide...

1. Susan Boyle - Singer discovered on Britains Got Talent 2009 who recently released her first CD titled I Dreamed a Dream

Sues not making the top 10 list were S. Bird - Professional Basketball Player for the Seattle Storm; S. Foley - Musician (Time Bomb, Love Comin' Down, Young Girl Blues); S. Henry - Author (Alaska Mystery Series, Jessie Arnold Mystery Series, Maxie and Stretch Mystery Series); S. Herera - Television Reporter for CNBC; S. Lowden - United States Senator from Nevada; S. Lyon - Actress (Lolita, The Night of the Iguana, The Flim-Flam Man); S. Simmons - Television News Anchor for WNBC; S. Webster - Artist who works as a team with Tim Noble.

Susans not making the top 10 list were S. Anton - Actress (Stop Susan Williams!, Goldengirl, Spring Fever); S. Atkins - Member of the Notorious Manson Family; S. Barrantes - Mother of Sarah the Dutchess of York; S. Cooper - Author (The Dark Is Rising Series, The Magician's Boy, King of Shadows); S. Decker - Former President of Yahoo! Inc.; S. Hutchison - Political Candidate and Former Television News Anchor; S. Isaacs - Author and Screenwriter (Compromising Positions, Shining Through, Past Perfect); S. Johnson - Romance Novel Author (Hot Spot, Force of Nature, Sinful); S. Mayer - Fictional Character on the TV Series Desperate Housewives; S. Olsen - Actress (The Brady Bunch); S. Pevensie - Fictional Character in C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia Series; S. Powter - Author, Motivational Speaker, and Personal Trainer; S. Ward - Actress (Sunset Beach, The In Crowd, Make It or Break It); S. Wiggs - Romance Novel Author (Lord of the Night, The Charm School, Lakeside Cottage); S. Yeagley - Actress (Best Week Ever, The Soup, Dame Delilah).

An excellent mix of occupations for the Sues and Susans with two musicians (Boyle, Tedeschi), one senator (Collins), one author (Sontag), one U. N. Ambassador (Rice), one murderer (Smith), one fictional character (Sylvester), and three actresses (Sarandon, Dey, Lucci). If it were not for that lovable Sue Sylvester the name Susan would have taken all ten top spots.

I compiled this list by searching for each of the Sues and Susans on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.

Finding Cheap Car Insurance in Dallas, TX

First, know that all citizens of Dallas and the entire state of Texas are required by law to purchase car insurance; it's not an option. The insurance must be obtained through a licensed Texas provider. Some providers offer coverage in multiple states while others are limited to just one or two states or a particular region. So before you begin comparing car insurance quotes, start with companies that are able to provide you with service. Be aware that not all online offers are available in Texas. Also, be sure the quotes you are receiving offer the same amount of coverage for the price being advertised. Some types of coverage besides the minimum liability amount that you might need include collision, comprehensive, towing, medical payments, rental car coverage and accidental death benefit.

Second, understand your state's liability coverage requirements. If you live in Dallas or any part of Texas, the state of Texas requires that all citizens carry a minimum amount of liability coverage. The amount of Bodily Injury (BI) coverage required is $25,000 (per person) or a total per accident of $50,000. For Property Damage (PD) coverage, the minimum is $25,000 per accident. The "Tort" system is in place in Texas, which means a determination of fault must be made after an accident, and then the at-fault party must cover the damages via their own insurance.

Reduce Your Car Insurance

The national average premium for private auto insurance is $1,735. The average premium in Texas is not far from the national average at $1,809. The good news is you can shop around for car insurance among the top Texas providers. A quick, easy way to compare rates is to take advantage of an online quote comparison website. A quote site will usually offer quotes from about 10 to 15 reliable providers based on the information you enter. You can find out rates based on your age, type of car, driving history, etc. and then compare and dig deeper to find the perfect fit for your needs.

Finding cheap car insurance in Dallas, TX is simple once you know how to take advantage of lower premiums. Raising the deductible is one way to decrease your premium. You might have to pay $500 or $1,000 out of pocket instead of $250, but a higher deductible can save you a tremendous amount year after year on your car insurance. Also, choose a car with safety features and add anti-theft products if possible to protect your car from theft. Car insurance companies welcome cars that have safety features in place because these reduce the risk of bodily harm and sometimes damage to the car. For instance, anti-lock brakes help the car to come to a faster stop when needed without locking up. Consider buying a sedan, wagon or mini-van instead of a sports car. Sports cars are much higher in insurance than other vehicles.

Other auto insurance discounts may be given for good credit scores, safe driving history, defensive driving courses, good grades in school, low mileage, mature drivers and certain geographic locations. For those living in Dallas, Texas, car insurance providers are also able to offer "by the mile" insurance. This means you'll only pay for car insurance as you need it, similar to buying gas for the car. It might be cheaper to purchase auto insurance by the mile for the person who doesn't drive all that much.

Whether comparing online, over the phone or in person, get quotes from several competent companies with an A rating (A.M. Best rating). Consider the policies they offer, deductibles, discounts and customer service reputation to find a winning combination!

Credit Card Debt Settlement - How Do I Choose a Good Debt Settlement Company & Avoid a Nightmare?

Debt settlement is the fastest way to get out of credit card debt for the least amount of money and avoid bankruptcy.

If you are one of the millions of Americans struggling through financial hardships today, debt settlement may be your very best option to be debt free ASAP.

BUT...

(WARNING: This is a BIG "BUT"...)

Debt Settlement "Nightmares" & Scams Abound...

THOUSANDS of new companies have popped up in recent years, flooding the TV, radio and internet with promises to "cut your debt in half." Most of these ads are simply generating "leads" to sell to one or multiple "bad operators" (who will gladly take your money in the form of upfront fees without ever delivering on their promises).

It's gotten ugly as untold numbers of people have seen their financial hopes turn into financial nightmares. In fact, the debt settlement industry has become so bad, the FTC is stepping in to regulate.

Sadly, for the past few years, over HALF of my personal clients have come to me for financial help AFTER failing a debt settlement or credit counseling program (a very different option) because they simply made a poor choice based on biased or incomplete information given to them from the counselor / consultant / salesperson they "talked to" before enrolling. These shady salespeople are never around after the sale is made to take care of the poor people they've sold a bill of goods to, leaving them in worse shape than when they asked for help.

Are There Any Good Debt Settlement Companies?

Still, debt settlement IS a legal, ethical and moral option for consumers to get out of debt ASAP, and get your financial future back on track from a hardship situation. Typically, you are able to settle for 50% or less of your outstanding balance. So it's true, you actually can "cut your debt in half" - Plus, monthly payments are often cut in half during the process, allowing consumers to quickly get out of debt and breathe again.

I work with consumers across the country every day to solve their debt problems, and refer my clients to debt settlement programs, as well as credit counseling agencies and bankruptcy attorneys nationwide (IF a good, old-fashioned "accelerated pay off" plan is not an option). I wish everyone could get out of debt through a "Total Money Makeover" as Dave Ramsey suggests (who I admire and strongly recommend), but the fact remains that many Americans are in too much of a financial hardship to even keep up with minimum payments, and paying significantly more than the minimums is simply not possible. If you find yourself in a similar situation with large amounts of credit card debt, please understand you are not alone.

If I can offer anything here, let it be these three simple "rules of thumb" to help you avoid being another casualty of the many bad debt settlement companies, because getting out of debt ASAP and getting your money earning interest for you instead of paying interest is ultimately most important for your financial future.

3 Quick-Tests to Choose a GOOD Debt Settlement Company and AVOID a Financial Nightmare:

Here are three simple things any consumer with an internet connection can do in two-minutes, or less, to avoid the majority of "bad companies" and find a good company "needle" in the debt settlement haystack:

(Yeah Haw!)

#1) Time in Business OVER Five Years?

According to the SBA, 90% of new business FAIL within their first five years. So why would you trust your financial future with a start up? Also, most debt settlement programs are 2-3 YEARS long, and you want to make sure you are with a good company who has a proven track record serving clients all the way through the programs they offer. Stack the deck in your favor and go with a company who has stood the test of time. This will cut out at least one thousand new debt settlement companies; the vast majority you will see on TV, radio and the web.

HERE'S HOW TO DO THIS:

Go to BBB.org and search any company you consider, and check their BBB Report for their "Original Business Start Date". If it's less than five years, especially if it's only a year or two, then STOP considering the company and seek help elsewhere from a company with a proven track record.

#2) Excessive BBB Complaints?

Check this same BBB Report for complaints. A short time in business with a high number of complaints (especially unresolved complaints) is a sure sign of a financial nightmare ahead if you enroll with such a company. A good company should only have a handful of complaints. Hundreds or thousands of complaints is inexcusable and a major red flag that the company consistently fails to meet the expectations they set with their clients.

Here's an example of two companies who pass test #1, but only one passes test #2:

FreedomDebt.com has been in business since Dec, 2002 with only one single, resolved complaint in its entire history:

http://www.bbb.org/central-texas/business-reviews/debt-settlement-companies/debt-freedom-in-san-antonio-tx-90006140

"D" rating due to concerns with the industry (because of companies like the one below), not due to any concerns with the company itself. Keep in mind FreedomDebt.com is HUGE, with regular national exposure on TV Talk Shows and News programs.

Credit Solutions has been in business almost as long, well over five years, but there is a striking difference: their BBB report lists over 1,600 complaints (including unresolved complaints and government actions against the company):

http://www.bbb.org/dallas/business-reviews/debt-settlement-companies/credit-solutions-in-dallas-tx-90005445

#3) Attorney-Based Debt Settlement Program?

The future does NOT look good for NON-attorney based debt settlement programs because, due to the bad operators who have harmed many consumers in recent years, the FTC is stepping in to regulate, as they should. Debt settlement companies who are not operating under a licensed attorney are subject to these looming FTC regulations, a major threat to the survival of these companies. I would NOT recommend my mother, so I wouldn't recommend you either. Instead, choose a debt settlement law firm operating under a licensed attorney because they will not be harmed by these inevitable FTC regulations.

Note About Debt Settlement Fees

Much can be said about fees for debt settlement services, and that is another entire conversation. Just make sure your payments are NOT going entirely to fees during the first X number of months, and stay away from anyone asking for some kind of a large upfront fee. If a company passes the three tests above, then they obviously are giving their clients enough value in service and results to justify whatever fees they are charging, however they may structure the payments. If it were not so, then you would see excessive BBB complaints over time.

Final Thoughts About Debt Settlement...

By following these three simple rules, you are sure to quickly find a debt settlement company who has passed the test of time, serving its clients and delivering on its promises without excessive complaints, legally. After helping people get out of debt through debt settlement and all other debt relief options for over eight years, this is my best advice to "cut to the chase" with this debt settlement jazz so you too can "cut your debt in half."

However, BEFORE seeking out a company to settle your credit card debt, get educated about how credit works and all options for debt relief to determine if debt settlement is really your best choice to get out of debt in the first place.

10 Talking Points

LittleLoveCoach.com

1. NEW! A Vancouver Dating Site is Most Visited in North America! As of July 28th, 2008, Vancouver's PlentyofFish.com is now The #1 Top Dating Site by Total Visits in both North America and in the UK!

2. What is a Love Coach? A love life coach is a personal trainer for your personal life. We do weekly calls to get you moving towards a specific result! It's one part cheerleader, one part expert and one part boss.

3. Fewer People are looking Online. As of February 2005, 33% fewer consumers are browsing online personals today than one year ago, causing the industry growth to slow considerably. (Source: Jupiter Research)

4. What are Five Places to Find True Love? I recommend places you already love visiting. Since you are there to have fun, you're more open. You will also find someone with similar interests! Amusement parks, Sports games, Book stores, Happy hours and weddings.

5. How Single Moms Scare Off Men. Don't stress yourself or it will show. Relax. Don't write him off so quick. Enjoy yourself. Be upfront about your kids, but don't force out an answer. Don't ask him how he feels about kids. That's a 3rd, 4th or 5th date-level question.

6. The number of arguments do not predict likelihood of divorce. According to researcher John Gottman and his 20 year longitudinal study, the frequency of arguments does that deter health or longevity of a relationship. What does?

7. What are the Terrible Twos? The Terrible Twos is a concept I invented after working with client couples in their first three years together. For some couples, the 2nd and 3rd year were just full of arguments! Just like a real two-year-old, you figure out who you are... together.

8. The Seven Year Itch is REAL! The current Census Bureau Statistics show this: As a married couple approaches 7 years together, the likelihood of divorce rises dramatically! After being married 7 years, the likelihood drops significantly.

9. New Government Funding. Last Year, the US Government moved over $5 Million Dollars toward supporting Marriage Education. Education is the only preventive method they've found that actually decreases divorce rates!

10. How does Love Coaching work? We do everything over the phone, so you can take me to the bars, clubs, grocery store while you are learning to date!

Expunging Criminal Records

Expungement of a criminal record is basically a type of lawsuit. Through this process, someone who has been accused of a crime, or has been the subject of criminal investigation or proceeding, attempts to destroy or seal the records from the public. The process of expungement is thereby used to clear the name of the accused.

Even though the process deals with criminal records, expungement is considered a civil action. The person with the criminal record becomes the plaintiff during the process, requesting that the court expunge the records. There are, however certain requirements that the accused must meet before expungement can be considered. These requirements can often include things like fulfilling a waiting period, not having more incidents, not having been convicted, and completing probation without incident. Things such as the number of prior incidents, the gravity of the offence, and things of that nature may also be taken into account when expungement is being considered.

Different states have different guidelines for what records and what kinds of records can be expunged. Generally, the accused must fill out certain forms to submit to the appropriate authority. Most jurisdictions allow the expungement of juvenile records once a certain age, usually 17 or 18, has been reached. Some states only seal the records from the public while allowing certain authorities to use them further. Other states destroy the records completely. Either way allows the accused to enter into adulthood without a criminal record, thereby keeping the negative effects that come with a criminal record at bay.

Texas law allows expungement for any arrests that did not lead to the arrested being found guilty. The accused can also attempt to expunge his or her record if he or she was accused of a class C misdemeanor and received deferred adjudication and completed community supervision. Once they are expunged, criminal records cannot be used, released or disseminated by any agency. The defendant may also deny the occurrence of the arrest or criminal hearing process unless he or she is being questioned under oath.

If the accused was charged with a class C misdemeanor, and was found guilty, pled guilty, or pled no contest, the record cannot be expunged. It may be possible, however, to attain non-disclosure if deferred adjudication was granted.

If you would like more information about expungement of criminal records, and the process therein, you can refer to the Dallas expungement lawyers at the Law Office of Mark T. Lassiter here.

The Accuracy of Sobriety Tests

When it comes to testing drivers under suspicion of DWI, it is important for the roadside tests and equipment used by authorities to be accurate and properly administered. If a test is not performed in the required manner or if breathalyzers are not properly calibrated, a person who is not legally intoxicated may face unfair charges of driving under the influence.

DWI charges can have very serious consequences for individuals involved and can have long-term effects on the person's finances, job-prospects, and livelihood. If a person is wrongly charged with driving under the influence, he or she may suffer undeserved punishment as a result of the improperly administered test.

Questions that arise following the criminal charge of DWI deals with the type of test administered and what the actual results of the tests were. If a person's blood alcohol level (BAC) was barely over the state's legal limit, many questions regarding the accuracy of the tests may be raised. In some cases, the individual may be clearly intoxicated and may have failed every facet of the field sobriety test, while in others, the person accused may have been able to perform all of the tasks required by the arresting officer and may not have appeared intoxicated at all.

In such instances, the person's attorney may be able to call the accuracy of the tests into question and may be able to point out potential flaws with the calibration, administration, and reading of the breathalyzer or blood sample taken from the defendant. While actual fluid samples may be harder to challenge than officer-administered sobriety tests, there are still questions that can be raised about the readings taken from samples.

In recent years, cameras mounted in police cars have been used to document sobriety tests administered by officers on the road, and may actually play a major role in the defense of the DWI charges. If the officer did not administer the tests in a correct fashion or if the suspect performed the tests in a satisfactory manner, the defense case may be strengthened considerably.

If you have been wrongly accused of a crime like DWI/DUI, it is important to have an experienced attorney on your side to defend your rights and your livelihood. When it comes to defending such charges, persons may be able to question the accuracy of the tests used and may be able to prove that they were not legally intoxicated at the time of arrest. For more information on DWI charges and defense, visit the website of the Dallas DWI attorney Mark T. Lassiter

Rents Are Decreasing and You Can Find Great Deals

A recent article by Forbes announced that apartments and homes in the most expensive cities in the United States are lowering, but it is a phenomenon that is happening over the country. The market is ripe for buyers, with housing prices lower than ever.

But with the financial crisis still leaving many with an unsure future looming ahead, it isn't surprising that most are still choosing to rent. Luckily, the cost of living has lowered, and real estate is going down even for the people who would prefer to be on a lease, rather than a mortgage.

You can find great deals on six or twelve month leases on apartments anywhere, from Miami, to Dallas, to Portland. Special offers are common, with promises of $99 deposits, a month of rent free, referral programs, and many others seen all over the Internet. This gives a special opportunity for anyone who is looking to get out of their current home, and into a new one.

If you are looking to rent a house, you can find as much as several hundred dollars off of the monthly cost. With some rent to own houses costing as little as some apartments do. This is not just in little known areas, but also in large suburban neighborhoods that have become available since the middle of 2009. Just imagine finding that perfect house for you and your family, in the perfect size, in the perfect neighborhood, at the perfect price. It is everyone's dream, and it can be your reality. All it takes is a little research, and you can be on your way.

So stop waiting, and start living. You can find the greatest deal of your life now,and all at the click of a button. What do you have to lose?

Choose Your Car Accident Lawyer With Care

Although very unfortunate, car accidents can happen to anybody anytime. Most people are emotionally disturbed and are at a loss with the various proceedings like looking for a lawyer. Car accident lawyers are very much in demand since they are required to file your insurance claims and help in other legal proceedings. These lawyers are also required in cases where the driver maybe be arrested for drunken driving or other offences. Whether the situation is simple or very serious, you must be careful when choosing your lawyer, since only an experienced lawyer would be resourceful enough to guide you through the situation.

Car Accident Lawyers in Fort Worth & Dallas, Texas

You will find various accident lawyers in your area, but you must always go for someone who specializes in auto accident cases. Auto accident cases involve a lot of technical knowledge and up-to-date information. For this reason it is important that you choose a lawyer who specializes in this field, who has enough experience and exposure in handling such cases. You will find out that they are aware of the latest law amendments, are well researched on the topic, and thus would be able to guide you better than an ordinary lawyer.

What to keep in mind when choosing your lawyer

When you are going to look for your lawyer, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Most firms will have clerks who do the research work, while a particular accident lawyer will be assigned for you. You must meet this lawyer, when you visit the firm in order to know him better. This will help you build a rapport with your lawyer and help in the case. During such accidents, it is important that you explain to your lawyer in detail about the situation and also provide all other personal details. This becomes easier when you share a good rapport with your lawyer. You must also be comfortable enough to ask multiple questions to your lawyer, and understand what procedures he is following for the case. You accident lawyer will also keep you regularly updated on the proceedings, so that you don't have to call them regularly for updates.

Should I Consider a Bank Owned Property?

This is the best time for serious home buyers to purchase the place they have always dreamed about but could not previously afford. Seeing such property in the listing of foreclosed homes means, you will have to make an offer for it. The next crucial question is how to gauge what is a fair price for the property. Calculations can be made according to the following:

Initially, a potential buyer must start small. Common sense tells that starting from a low level makes sense because offers inevitably go upwards. Banks are not going to accept low offers but will positively come back with a counter offer if they are convinced that they have a serious buyer. The offers will move between the bank and the buyer, with bigger sums at each level until one is close to the amount one has in mind for the property.

A thorough investigation of the property and close observation of the repairs and renovations required, would give the buyer an idea about how much he needs to spend after purchasing the property. He can use this sum to convince the bank to sell it to him at a lower price so that his entire expense does not exceed his budget.

Bank owned properties have become some of the most sought after purchases in the real estate segment. The reason for this is that foreclosed properties are being sold at prices well below the market value because banks wish to recover some part of the cash they have lent to scores of homes, and their losses are building up. The discounted prices they are accepting are anything between 5 to 40% below the current market rates.

The profit that one can reap on a bank owned property depends on the physical condition of the property and other factors like location and more. With interest rates at their lowest levels, investors stand to gain in every way. Even the most up market homes are being foreclosed and sold at record low prices.

However, a bidding war must be avoided as it often takes prices up due to the charged environment. Competition for bank owned properties is inevitable, but one must remember the maximum limit one has set for the purchase and not forget that while bidding.

There are many bank owned properties with liens attached. It is important that the first investigations are thorough to rule out lien attachments. Liens are risky as they have the ability to wipe out the entire value of a property.

Foreclosed properties are the latest craze in the real estate segment as they offer great value for money and having the common man reach for upscale homes. Real estate agents are also using innovative ways of selling foreclosed homes and bank owned properties. But caution is the keyword, no matter how attractive the deal and how beautiful the place on offer. The financial crisis may have adversely affected such homes. Being forewarned is being forearmed before a purchase of a bank owned home.

Why I Live in Panama

When I tell people back home in Miami why I live in Panama they look at me funny - cooler climates? Yes, I live in the mountains, kind of like Aspen in the summer. The town is called Boquete and it is in the province of Chiriqui in the western highlands of Panama. Their are a number of great communities here in Boquete including Cielo Paraiso where they have a world class championship course in the mountains and Valle Escondido, where I live with my family.

OK, back to why I live in Panama and why here in Boquete, because I am 2 hours from the most spectacular coastal area in the Pacific south of the Southern Passage in Alaska and the fishing for snapper, wahoo, tuna and marlin is incredible. And the family loves to fish! Our favorite place to stay on the ocean and our favorite beach is 2 hours away from our home in the mountains. Seagull Cove Lodge, Boca Chica and Isla Bolanos

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high...There's a land that I heard of, once in a lullaby. Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true. " - E.Y. Harburg

There is indeed a land where rainbows often grace skies that are unencumbered by pollution, life is unhurried, and retirement dreams are fulfilled for many, in the Chiriqui highlands of Panama. Here's the story...

Ex-pats, for those who are unfamiliar with the term, are those who leave one's native country to live elsewhere. This unique breed may have a few motivational variations for permanently traversing beyond borders, but they tend to share a common character trait - a great sense of adventure in abandoning what is socially, culturally, and geographically familiar to pursue their dream of a healthier, happier, less hectic lifestyle. And, given the current economic state of affairs, perhaps they share the collective desire to avoid a possible catastrophe.

They seek a better quality of life married to a lower cost of living. They're confident enough to start over in a new environment, making new friends. Ex-pats likely possess a libertarian streak, a do-it-yourself mentality that propels them to create their lives anew, whether it means transforming a piece of property into a model of green energy self-sufficiency, launching a new school for local kids, or opening a new café. And characteristically, they want to integrate into a community of similar-minded souls.

What gives a particular area the gravitational pull for ex-pats? It often starts with a warm climate and beautiful scenery surrounding a charming, affordable city or town. An abundance of fresh water sources, locally grown food and reliable hydro-electric power. Add a big welcome mat to foreigners from the local people, and a government actively enticing you to stay with such incentives as no property tax for the first 20 years, a generous program for newcomers to guarantee permanent residency, equal rights under the law, discounts for products and services across the board, plus excellent asset protection and maximum privacy from the banking institutions. Welcome to Boquete, Panama, and leave the door open. There's more coming.

Fake Identification

The legal drinking age in the United States is 21. Because it is so high and so many people have friends who are older, procuring a fake id has become a popular way of allowing a minor entry to the same places his or her friends go. While it's generally not done out of maliciousness or any attempt to commit a real crime, using a fake id, and even creating them, falls under the field of identity document forgery.

Identity document forgery is the process by which identity documents which are issued by a governing body such as a state or country are copied and or modified by an unauthorized individual. Commonly forged items include driver's licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, and passports. Driver's licenses have historically been forged or altered to conceal the fact that the holder isn't old enough to buy alcohol or some other controlled substance. Social security cards are forged for identity theft schemes or to defraud the government. Passports are forged to evade restrictions place on entry into a particular country. For example, Americans are not allowed entry into Cuba but individuals carrying passports from other places may be allowed entry. An individual that really wants to go to Cuba might forge a passport from another place.

Fake identification cards are frequently used for identity theft, age deception, illegal immigration, and organized crime.

Many people think that a fake id is well worth the risk of getting caught. The sites that sell fake ids talk about how real they look and frequently will provide some sort of guarantee regarding not getting caught. While this is all great, many people do get caught. In many instances, getting caught with a fake id results in more than a slap on the wrist.

Getting caught with a fake id frequently results in being charged with a misdemeanor. The penalties include jail time, fines, community service, and suspension of the person's real driver's license. Having the fake id is just one offense. Just by possessing the ID, the person opens him or herself to a variety of other crimes. These crimes include possession of alcohol by a minor and providing alcohol to minors. While they are "only" misdemeanors, they still go on a person's criminal record.

In addition to causing problems for the person caught, the person that made the ID will likely get in trouble. For more information on all crimes that are related to alcohol, please visit http://www.dallas-dwi-lawyers.com

Grounds For a Divorce in Texas

According to Dallas divorce attorneys, there are two different grounds for divorce in Texas. First, there is no fault grounds. Second, there are fault grounds.

No fault grounds include insupportability. According to a Dallas divorce attorney, insupportability basically means that there is discord or conflict amongst the spouses and that there is no legitimate expectation of reconciliation. Another no fault ground for divorce in Texas is that the spouses have been living apart. As a general rule, this means that the spouses had to have been living apart for three or more years prior to the trial on the divorce before a Texas Court. Another type of no fault ground for divorce in Texas is that one of the spouses was confined to a mental hospital. Basically, the spouse in the mental institution had to have been living in a mental institution for three years and there is no likelihood that the spouse will be able to recover.

In Texas, just like there are fault grounds, there are no fault grounds as well. For example, cruel treatment is a fault ground for divorce in Texas. Basically, one spouse must show that they have endured cruel treatment from another spouse.

Another grounds for divorce in Texas based on fault grounds is adultery. According to a Dallas divorce attorney, adultery is when one of the spouses has sexual intercourse with another person, not the spouse.

As a general rule, adultery can be established through either circumstantial or direct evidence. Basically, one of the spouses has to have sexual encounters with another person who is not the spouse. Another fault ground for divorce in Texas is whether one of the spouses committed a felony. This means that the spouse has to be convicted of a felony, been imprisoned for more than a year, and not pardoned. Abandonment is another form of a fault ground for divorce in Texas. Basically, abandonment is when one of the spouses intentionally abandons the other spouse and leaves for more than a year.

Five Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent Before Hiring One

If you're thinking of hiring a real estate agent to help you find your new home there are some questions that you should ask before you hire one to make sure that you can work closely with that agent and that you feel comfortable in that agent's ability to find the home of your dreams.

Before you sign on with any real estate agent, make sure to ask these questions. Some questions are regional. For these, we'll assume that you are looking for an agent in Mississippi.

1. How long have you been a real estate agent in Mississippi?

Obviously you want to hire someone that knows Mississippi intimately and has a lot of experience. That doesn't mean that someone that is new to the real estate field won't have the skills to help you find a great home however. In fact, someone with less experience might be even more motivated to help you find a perfect home because they want to build up good client relationships.

2. May I speak to other clients that you have helped?

Always ask for references. No experienced Realtor will be offended if you want to talk to other people that they've worked with before. A qualified Realtor will probably offer you the name and phone numbers of satisfied clients before you even ask.

3. What are the top three things that separate you from other Realtors?

That might sound like the type of question that you would be asked on a job interview, but in reality the real estate agent is applying for a job. He or she is applying for the job of finding you a home, and you are entitled to ask them what makes him or her better suited for the job than somebody else.

4. Can I preview the documents I will have to sign?

When you buy a home you will have a lot of confusing paperwork to fill out. You will be agreeing to spend large sums of money and you will have a lot of documents that contain detailed financial information. A reputable real estate agent will let you look over the standard documents that are used when purchasing a home beforehand so that you can be sure you understand them before you actually sign them.

5. What is your fee?

Although 3 percent of the cost of a home is a standard fee, each real estate agent has their own rules for what and how they charge. There are other costs associated with buying a home and an agent might bury part of their fee in another cost. So ask up front what the total amount of money that the real estate will receive out of the sale is.

Make sure that this fee is clear from the beginning so that you don't get surprised by a higher fee than you had planned on at the end of the sale.

Why the Bubble May Not Have Burst on Dubai Property Market

Dubai boasts everything from the recently opened world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, at 828m high, to the priciest hotel in the world. It also has the only skating rink to be found anywhere in the desert, not to mention dozens of palatial buildings, villas and marina apartments.

If there was uncertainty in Dubai's property market before the recession, the downturn has definitely affected buying decisions even further. In the last year or two, property prices in the Emirate have plunged dramatically, in many cases by up to 50% since September 2008.

This has created enticing real-estate propositions in places like Palm Jumeriah, the man-made island where properties were previously out of the price range of first-time buyers. Many on middle to low incomes are taking advantage of the fresh levels of affordability.

With conflicting advice and rumours circulating about Dubai, the Emirate's debts and the current state of its property market, it can be hard to know who to believe. However, there are firm indications of a recovery on the cards for 2010. And with many agents agreeing that property prices will probably not fall any further, now could be the perfect time to buy in Dubai before they start to climb in earnest again.

Already some agents are reporting that prices are on the move in the Dubai property market for the first time since the downturn. The latest Dubai House Price Index shows prices increased by 7% in the third quarter of 2009, with the total volume of transactions rising by nearly 65%.

Other grounds for optimism include the planned openings in 2010 of a second Ritz Carlton, Tiger Woods' Al Ruwaya golf resort, the Palazzo Versace Resort, the five-star Royal Amwaj Resort and Spa, and the Conrad Hotel Dubai - all major projects. In addition, given the strength of Dubai's foreign currency reserves, the ability of this place to bounce back from recession should not be underestimated.

During the first half of 2009, visitor numbers were up 4% compared to the same months in 2008. Equally, the rapidly growing, overwhelmingly expatriate population means that people in Dubai will always need somewhere to live.

Developments in areas supported by first-class facilities and superb infrastructure, such as the Dubai Marina, are likely to do well. The marina remains one of the most desirable spots in Dubai's property market, and features high-quality residential developments such as The Point, where rental properties in particular should perform well.

Tips For Finding Your Perfect House

Purchasing a house is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make in your life, and not a decision to take lightly. Here are some tips to make your decision easier, and to choose your perfect home.

o First things first. Go to the bank and find out how much money you can borrow. You will need to bring current pay stubs and your recent income tax returns, as well as a list of debts you currently owe and any assets you own. Banks compete against each other for your business, so shop around and find the most competitive rate. A mortgage broker can also help you to narrow your decision with respect to financing and get you the best deal possible.

o Decide where you want to live. Drive through neighborhoods and look at the proximity of the homes for sale to shopping centers and schools. Also, do not forget to take things into consideration such as how close a major highway or airport is.

o Make a list of what you want in a home. How many bedrooms, bathrooms, storage space, entertainment areas. Make a list of what you absolutely must have in your new home and only consider homes that fit with your criteria. A realtor can help to show you homes in your price range, preferred area and criteria list. Making a list of your criteria will help your realtor to narrow down the choices so you can make a decision more easily.

o If you decide to put an offer on a home, work closely with your realtor on what price you will offer. Always try to bid a little lower than the asking price so there is room to bargain between you and the seller. If there are extras that you want included with the house such as window coverings or a hot tub, make sure those are clearly asked for in the offer to purchase.

o Always make your offer conditional to a house inspection. A good home inspector can find any problems that may end up costing you a lot of money down the road. A home inspector will ensure that your prospective home has a solid foundation, and will examine everything closely. Some banks require that you have a house inspection performed and may even include the cost of it in your financing. A house inspection should always be performed and it should be a condition of your contract that you can get out of the contract if you find a major problem.

Purchasing a home is one of the best investments you will make so you need to take your time and make sure you are getting the best home for your money.

Twelve Must Know Criminal Fraud & Securities Enforcement Investigations Facts

For lawyers, every case brings its own unique and complicated facets to the courtroom. However, there are a certain number of set precedents to know when your client is under investigation for criminal fraud and related securities enforcement.

1. Federal criminal investigations are conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the grand jury, and may or may not occur simultaneously with an SEC investigation.

2. As in a criminal case, generally, your client can assert the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination as to his/her statements in an SEC investigation or litigation. This may not be true with regard to responses to SEC discovery requests.

3. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") investigations are civil enforcement actions and may result in a civil Complaint being filed in federal court.

4. Although SEC suits are enforcement actions, they are civil in nature and usually seek injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil money penalties.

5. Evidence obtained during an SEC investigation or litigation may be used in a criminal prosecution.

6. Statements made by a person during an SEC investigation or during litigation with the SEC may be utilized by the U.S. Attorney's Office for a criminal prosecution.

7. An SEC investigation does not automatically lead to a criminal, grand jury investigation.

8. You have an opportunity during the SEC's investigation to present reasons why your client should not be sued by the SEC.

9. An SEC investigation may also result in proceedings instituted administratively, which are heard before the SEC's administrative law judges.

10. In its administrative proceedings, the SEC sometimes seeks an order barring a client from working in the securities industry, e.g. broker-dealers, stock promoters, or other clients, who have participated in an alleged scheme to defraud or to manipulate stock prices.

11. The SEC can seek to bar company officers and members of boards of directors from serving in such capacity when filing suit against them based upon a fraudulent scheme or scheme to manipulate stock pricing.

12. The court may appoint a receiver to oversee an on-going business that the SEC has sued for fraud or for other prohibited conduct, and to recover assets that could be used to pay expenses and/or be returned to investors.

Ellensburg, Washington Real Estate

Ellensburg, Washington has a pleasant setting in the central part of the state. The city has a scenic setting in the Kittitas Valley surrounded by the Cascade Mountains and its foothills. Its dry climate and scenic surroundings attracts residents and retirees from the Seattle area, which is about a one hour forty-five minute drive to the west. Ellensburg's open vistas and flat dry terrain are a stark contrast to the green, predominantly urban environment Western Washington. The city of Yakima located thirty-five miles south is within commuting distance of Ellensburg.

Ellensburg's population has grown more than ten percent in the past decade to about 17,000 residents. Central Washington University's enrollment has increased and businesses are attracted to the city's lower costs and educated workforce. Ellensburg is centrally located in the state and has good access to the west and east via Interstate-90 and to the south to Yakima and the Tri-Cities via Interstate-82. Ellensburg also has great access to recreational activities such as hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting and skiing.

Ellensburg's home prices increased dramatically from 2002 to 2007 as new home construction boomed, particularly on the west side of the city. Acreage properties were also built and the area is popular for horse ranching. Since 2007, home prices in Ellensburg have decreased and the median price of a home in Ellensburg is currently about $200,000.

Home prices can vary greatly. The most desirable places to live have mountain views or are near the Yakima River. Homes on the hills south of the city have commanding views of the Kittitas Valley and the Stuart Range, with mountains reaching over 9,000 feet. Outside of the city, many homes have acreage and residents raise horses and other livestock. The smaller city of Kittitas is eight miles east of Ellensburg. It is generally more affordable and there are homes with acreage in the area.

Tips For Buying an Affordable House

When you are going to buy a new house, it may be a difficult task to find the affordable one. Since the price of most houses today is getting more and more expensive, you need to be more accurately in the process of selection so that you will get the best deal of it. So, here are some tips for buying an affordable house to help you find the best house for you.

The first thing that you can do to buy an affordable house is by applying loan from the bank. Although most of the bank loan requires certain amount of interest, but you still can choose some banks that will give you the ease to pay your loan each month. Usually, banks will ask you the information about your job, debt loan, and credit scores when you are going to apply for a loan. This is because they want to make sure that you will able to repay the loan that you have already taken.

Secondly, if you want to get an affordable house, do not choose the house which is located in the center of the city. It is better for you to choose the suburban area which can potentially offer you less expensive price. However, you also have to make sure that this location provides you complete facilities like school, park, supermarket, and so on.

Thirdly, try to make negotiation with the home seller. If you are lucky, the seller can give you the lower price because of some reasons. For instance, if the seller needs money quickly, it is possible for him to sell the house in the lower price. Besides, you can also try to bargain if you think that the price is too expensive for you to pay. Good luck!

Use Your Homebuyer's Tax Credit to Help Pay Your Down Payment

It seems there is plenty of good news about the Homebuyer's Tax Credit. First, it has been extended to include properties closed on by June 30, 2010. It has also been expanded to include a credit for move up and repeat home-buyers, too.

The most interesting part, however, is that there are now a number of ways that you can use the Homebuyer's Tax Credit to help you with your down payment and/or closing costs. So, you do not have to wait until after you have purchased your home to benefit from the Homebuyer's Tax Credit. You can actually use your this credit to help purchase your home.

First, if you qualify for an FHA loan, as a first time home-buyer, you can buy your home with as little as 3.5% down. This is the lowest down payment available in today's real estate market.

Next, determine, with certainty, that you qualify for this credit. If you are certain that you qualify for it, then take care to have your withholding from your paycheck adjusted to withhold less tax. This should be up to the amount of your homebuyer's credit. This will give you a larger take-home pay every week. Save up the extra take-home pay for your down payment or closing costs.

You need to be careful with this process. In the event that you do not purchase a home or do not qualify for the Homebuyer's Tax Credit, you will owe extra money to the IRS at tax time. Also, don't forget to adjust your withholding back to their original amounts after you get your tax credit.

In the event that you do not qualify for an FHA loan, you will be using some other sort of financing. You can still change your withholding to get a bigger take home pay based on your Homebuyer's Tax Credit, but the required down payment figure will rise. You can still, however, help to fund the larger down payment with your reduced withholding or use that money for other fees and costs involved in buying your home, like closing costs.

There are also other ways to help fund your down payment, like second mortgages or additional programs and grants available through your state to help first time home-buyers with down payment monies. Check with your state's Housing Finance Agency (HFA) to find out more about help with your down payment.

How to Become an X-Ray Technician

X-ray technicians, also referred to as radiology technicians, are in very high demand in hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics all across the United States. If you are considering a career change, or even a first career with great potential, being an x-ray technician is a very safe choice. You would be working directly with patients and physicians on a daily basis to take detailed diagnostic pictures of different parts of the patients' anatomy. Radiology technicians take orders from doctors, perform diagnostic tests on the patients, and then confer with the physicians again about the findings.

Programs for x-ray technicians range from 1-4 years. One year fast programs are usually for those already in the medical field who wish to focus on a specific area of radiology. Two year programs are the generally accepted rule. After completing the two year program, you will be certified to perform radiology services. The certification will require that you complete regular ongoing training each year in order to remain certified.

Radiology technician jobs are in high demand, and they are projected to increase again by about 15% by 2016 due to the increasing technological advances in the medical field, as well as the baby boomers reaching old age and needing more and more diagnostic services. Being part of the medical field, x-ray technicians are pretty recession proof as well, because there will always be a need for medical and diagnostic care.

You are probably wondering what the possible income is for this type of job. An x-ray technician can expect a salary of $44,900 - $49,500. These figures will vary based on geographical location, experience, and employer, but overall you can see that a radiology technician job pays rather well. The starting salary is rather high.

The first thing you can do is check out some online sites today, such as DegreeFinder to see if the job of radiology technician feels like it might be a good fit for your future. The training is relatively short, and not terribly expensive, and the job prospects are fantastic! Look into it today and perhaps find the job you have been looking for.

Seller Mistakes You Should Avoid

They say that the best home ownership days are the time you buy it all the way to the day you have decided to sell it. Did you know that many homeowners cry when they sell? This is because a seller has developed a relationship with his or her home, a sentimental value attached to it and all the treasured memories of family times spent together in the property. It is but natural to be very emotional when you sell your home, however, some may weep for a different reason and that is -they can't sell their home!

This is a very common problem in the real estate market. There are several factors responsible for a situation like this. Make sure you are familiar with them and avoid making these mistakes if you want to sell your home quickly.

1. No for sale sign installed in front of your property. If you do not bother to make the effort of putting up a sign that your house is for sale, then there is no chance for prospective buyers to know all about it. Expect your property to sit on the market day after day and even month after month.

2. A home that is overpriced will be hard to sell. Do not be greedy and unrealistic. Set the price of your home basing on comparable homes in your area and the present real estate market rates. Overpricing your home can doom it to remain on the market for an endless amount of time. Do a research on the internet and consult your agent for advice.

3. You choose an arrogant agent. You should not choose a real estate agent who is flashy and arrogant. In choosing the right one, his selling experience should be first and foremost be in your mind. The best one need not be from a big name company or one who holds the most house for sale, but one who has sold the most house.

4. It would be hard if you tend to refuse all offers, regardless of the merit and turn them down. Never disregard a home offer unless it is obviously way below the price of your home. If you expect a buyer that will offer the highest price possible, you will have a long time to wait for that buyer to come along.

5. Another selling mistake is your failure to renovate or improve the looks of your home. If you want the value of your home when you sell it, then it is but reasonable to invest a little to make it fare well with other properties in the market. With so many shiny new homes around, it is necessary to upgrade your home and improve it in such a way that buyers will take a second look and consider it for a possible buy. You should also clean up your home from the time you decide to sell until the day it sells. Nobody wants to buy a dirty and unkempt home.

6. Neglecting to give your home the maximum exposure will let it sit for a while in the market. If you refuse to use the internet to give your home a good exposure and other modern advertising forms, then there is no way it will sell since many homebuyers prefer the internet to look for a home to buy.

7. Allowing your home to be inaccessible will not help it sell. An inconvenient home will naturally discourage people from taking a closer look at your home and might even scare them away. It would be harder to sell still if you create a limited time for people to view and inspect your home.

8. Another selling mistake is selling your home during a down market. Putting your house up for sale during a depressed market economy and pricing it beyond what is attainable is a no-no in real estate. Try to observe the market trends and decide on selling your property at the right time and at the right price.

By being aware of these selling mistakes, you should be more aware of how and when to properly market your home to give it a better chance of selling regardless of the market situation. The key is a good research, wise analysis and careful planning.

Preparing For Closing - Facts and Information You Need to Know

Closing is one of the most crucial and salient part of your home investment. It is the time when you finally going to culminate all the tedious and hard work in the course of home buying or home selling. This is the time when you get to present all the documentation needed and all the requirements for sealing the deal. In most cases, the home seller or his agent, home buyer and the lender are the peoples involved during closing. Hence, in order to get a good grip of what this salient part of your venture really is, there are several facts and requisites you ought to know in preparation for closing.

One of the fundamental things you need to consider is the completion of the required procedures when buying or selling a property. Make sure that you have submitted and performed a thorough property survey before you finally approach the table for closing. This actually includes home inspection and the much needed home appraisal. Home inspection for instance, is where you hire a professional home inspector to do a comprehensive evaluation of the overall condition of the property.

Home inspectors go through the meticulous details of the house, from inspecting the exterior to every corner of your house interiors. They are the ones who look into every little detail of the house and check if there are any potential damages and repair issues that needed to be addressed as soon as possible. Sound property investment actually recommends you not go any further in your transaction without a certified home inspection.

Home appraisal is another salient process which the property must be subjected to before closing. This is a necessity and part of the standard operating procedure of any real property purchase and sale. The property surveyor or appraiser is a licensed professional who go through the details of the house particularly its real market value. The result of the home appraisal will actually give you the idea whether or not the property is priced just right or the seller tends to overprice.

You also need to complete the title search for the property which ensures you that the house you are vying to purchase has actually a marketable title. This means that the property title is free from any former debts or liens incurred in its previous ownership. In order to increase your chances of not getting scammed, you also needed to obtain title insurance for added or extra padding from unexpected fees and charges as regards to your property title.

Most importantly, make sure that you have obtained the check and proof of insurance you needed for the down payment of the property along with all the rest of the closing fees. Closing fees vary according to the mortgage provider, however there are basic fees and charges common in all such as original fee which you pay for the lender as they allow you to use their money for your property purchase and credit report charge among others.

Preparing for closing is a challenging task to consider however the output and end-result is all worth your time, money and effort.

10 Home Buying Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Trusting tax assessments

Some people think that tax assessments are a way of evaluating a home. There is all types of criteria used in a tax assessment that does not reveal a homes actual value, so the tax assessment is not reliable for home valuation purposes.

2. Bidding without knowing

What terms should you offer when you bid on a home? Is the seller's asking price too high? Are you in front of a real deal? Before fashioning one the biggest purchases of a lifetime, you should take a very close look at the real estate market in the area you're thinking of purchasing. Without the knowledge of the real market value of the homes you intend to visit, and ultimately purchase, your are more than likely to make a blind bid.

3. Getting the wrong home

Simple questions, like what do you want in a house, can have pretty complex answers. A lot of buyers get all excited at the prospect of finally owning their house. So excited and emotional, that sometimes they end up being the possessor of a home that does not answer their needs. The home may be too big, or too little, or it's too far from work, or what looked like just a few small renovations is much more then likely. Take time now, before the buying process, and delineate what you really want in your house. Write it down.

4. Unclear house title

Having a free and clear title is an important part of the home buying process. Get started on the title search when you start negotiating your new house. One
of the last things you want to learn later in the process is that there are taxes, leases or other liens on the property you are about to own.

5. Incorrect survey

When you make your offer to purchase, you have to make sure you request an up to date property survey that defines very clearly the boundaries of the property. You never know what type of changes may have occurred since the last survey (i.e. swimming pool, extension to the house, fence, etc.)

6. Surprise fix-ups

You just can't expect every seller to sell their home in perfect condition. Remember the old saying: Buyer beware! Get a house inspection completed before you sign anything. Or if you do sign, make sure it is conditional to your entire satisfaction after a home inspection. An independent inspector will check the home inside and out and give you a report outlining the items that needs to be fixed with the attached costs.

7. No pre-approval

Get pre-approved before searching for a house. Once you have a pre-approved Fresno mortgage, your home shopping is much easier. You will feel free and secure because you will know that the money you need to purchase your dream home will be there when you need it.

8. Seller nonperformance

If the home seller fails to do some repairs or to abide by to any part of the purchase contract you will feel very disappointed. One way to avoid this is to agree, in the purchase contract, to put a fixed sum of money in an escrow fund that will cover the items the seller was supposed to attend to.

9. Hidden charges

Before you make your offer, make sure you made a list of all the costs associated with the purchase. The typical "forgotten" cost is usually a forgotten loan disbursement charge of some sort of underwriting fee. One way to avoid any hidden charges is to have the lender give you the total charges in writing.

10. Close too fast

This is a critical part of the whole buying process. Take your time, read all the paperwork a day or two before you sign. Have a lawyer go through it and make perfectly sure that all the paperwork reflects the transaction your are about to do. Double check everything, it's the best way to avoid a forgotten clause or to notice, too late, that something has been added or subtracted. If there is a problem, you will have a few hours to solve it before the finale day.

Legal Defenses to Penal Code 496 - Receiving Stolen Property in California

Receiving stolen property is against the law and is typically defined as someone purchasing or obtaining possession of items that have been stolen by someone else. This is not to be mistaken with the actual theft of the items, but rather simply receiving them. It can be very difficult for someone who is accused of this crime, as many individuals are unaware that they are receiving or buying stolen goods. However, defending a charge of receiving stolen property in California is possible, if it is proven that it was unknown at the time of purchase or the transfer of ownership that the individual was unaware that the items or goods were stolen.

Defending Receiving Stolen Property cases

As mentioned above, the most common defense of receiving stolen property is that the receiver was unaware of the ownership of the items. The prosecution must have significant evidence, that is, evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, that the accused was aware that the goods were stolen, or it must be reasonably certain that the accused should have known that the items were stolen. For instance, if someone purchases jewelry from the back of a van in a dark alley somewhere, this may be good enough evidence that they were aware the items were stolen. The reason is because most individuals would naturally assume that something shady was going on based on the situation and circumstances under which the jewelry was purchased.

However, in certain cases, there are ways to prove that the individual accused was not aware that they were purchasing stolen items. For instance, if the individual walked into a pawn shop and purchased a diamond necklace, the attorney could reasonably argue that the individual trusted the pawn shop to have items for sale that were legally obtained and that the charge would be more suitably fitted to the pawn shop owner than the individual who unknowingly made a purchase from the shop and then found himself defending a stolen property charge.

Another way to defend the charge of receiving stolen property is to show an intoxication defense. If an individual purchased or received items when they were too intoxicated to look at the situation closely, they may have reason for the charges to be dismissed, as they were not intentionally purchasing or obtaining stolen items. This must be proven to the court, though, in order for the accused to have charges dropped against him or her. One thing an attorney will do is look at the police report and the situation which occurred during the arrest of the individual accused. Clues may be gained from this information that would help the defense.

Like theft cases, the severity of the punishment can often depend upon the value of the items that were stolen. The crime could be a misdemeanor or a felony based on that value. Even individuals who take objects they know are stolen with the idea in mind of turning them in to the police for a reward may be at risk for being charged with obtaining stolen property.

Individuals who have been accused of Penal Code 496, or receiving stolen property, in Rancho Cucamonga or Ontario, should contact Rancho Cucamonga Criminal Defense Attorneys right away to begin planning a strategic defense to prove that they were either unaware the items were stolen or that they were too intoxicated to assess the situation properly.

Rent a House Safely? Check Out the New Landlord So You Don't End Up Out on the Curb (2nd in Series)

In the first article in this series we covered how to find out if the owner of the home you are about to rent was in foreclosure and some tricks to use to see if foreclosure might be coming soon, but was not yet filed.

Today we are going to look at what happens if you find out your potential new home is owned by a "person" who is not breathing.

That is not a dead person. If the owner of the house has died recently, the public records you checked based on the previous article will still show the name of the deceased. You are unlikely to see an update in the name until the legalities required following the death are finished.

The non breathing owners you are concerned with here are if your potential palace is owned by a corporation or a trust or a lending institution, think bank.

If it is owned by Chase Bank, Bank of America or any other name that sounds like a bank, it is most likely that the person offering to rent the house to you does not have the right to do so. Banks wind up owning a lot of houses and look to sell them as fast as they can (supposedly), but very unlikely they will rent them while they wait for the sale.

If the house is bank owned, you need to see solid proof that the "Landlord" you are talking to has the authority to rent to you before you put out one cent. Tell then you want proof of ownership to give to your attorney.

Then actually take whatever they give you to an attorney and make sure. It is worth a couple of hundred dollars to make sure your rent payments are actually buying shelter.

If the house is owned by a corporation that does not sound like a bank, go to the web site of the Secretary of State for the state where the house is located and get the name or names of corporate officers and make sure you are dealing with someone authorized by the corporation to rent the house. If you have any doubt, also get this verified by an attorney.

Just as though the house was owned by "Bill Jones" check the corporation name in the civil court records to see if the house in foreclosure or if there are liens or judgments against the corporation or if the company is the defendant in a law suit to collect money.

If the house is owned by a trust, you man not b able to get the name of the actual owners. A name will appear in the records and that is the name of the "trustee." A trustee is required by law to do what the owner of the "beneficial interest" of the trust directs.

So you may deal with the trustee to rent the house. The trustee, in all states that I know about, has the legal authority to keep the name of the beneficial owners secret. So, do not be concerned if you cannot learn who really owns the house. Land trusts are usually used by sophisticated real estate investors, so the "trust" name is not a red flag.

Land trusts, of course, are also used by sophisticated crooks, so by all means do your due diligence. And more about that in the third article in the series.

Burglary Facts and Statistics

Quick Facts: Burglary Statistics

What is considered a burglary...

Burglary is defined as the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. The use of force to gain entry is not required to classify an offense as a burglary. Burglary is categorized into three sub classifications: forcible entry, unlawful entry where no force is used, and attempted forcible entry.

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report 2005

Burglary Facts and Statistics...

* Property crime makes up slightly more than three-quarters of all crime in the United States

* In 2005, law enforcement agencies reported an estimated 2,154,126 burglary offenses-a 0.5-percent increase compared with 2004 data.

* An examination of 5- and 10-year trends revealed a 1.8-percent increase in the number of burglaries compared with the 2001 estimate, and a 14.1-percent decline from the 1996 number.

* Burglary accounted for 21.2 percent of the estimated number of property crimes committed in 2005. The average dollar loss per burglary offense in 2005 was $1,725.

* Of all burglary offenses in 2005, 65.8 percent were of residential structures.

* Most (62.4 percent) of residential burglaries in 2005 for which time of occurrence was known took place during the day, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

* Among burglaries of nonresidential structures when time of occurrence was known, 58.0 percent occurred at night.

* A burglary takes place in the U.S. every 14.6 seconds according to the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Crime Clock.

* According to the FBI Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January-June, 2006, "burglary offenses showed an increase, up 1.2 percent from the 2005 level."

* Overall, in about 84% of all burglaries, the offender gained entry into the victim's residence or other building on the property.

Source: Crime in the United States 2005 Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation Release Date: September 2006

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/

Where Burglars Enter a House...

One survey in Pennsylvania showed that 81 percent of residential intrusions occur through the first floor.

34 percent of burglars entered through the front door;

23 percent through a first-floor window;

22 percent through the back door;

9 percent through the garage;

4 percent entered through a basement;

4 percent through an unlocked entrance;

2 percent through a storage area;

and only 2 percent entered anywhere on the second floor.

A study in Connecticut showed that 12 percent of burglaries occurred through an UNLOCKED door and that in 41 percent of alarmed homes that were burglarized, the security system was not turned on.

Dallas (Season 3) DVD Review

Nominated for 18 Emmys and 15 Golden Globes in its thirteen season run, Dallas is the epitome of the prime-time drama/soap opera genre. Premiering in 1978 as a five part mini-series, the show combines the usual sex and innuendo of classic afternoon soap operas with the freewheeling adventure of Texas wildcats and filthy rich capitalist oil barons. The combination of business dealings and rampant affairs tested well with both the male and female demographic, prompting CBS to make Dallas a regular part of its prime-time lineup. The result was one of the most successful television shows in history. In fact, the so-called 'Who shot J.R.?" episode ("A House Divided" Air Date: 3-21-1980) still reigns as the second most watched TV show in history (the season finale of MASH is #1). With one of most memorable characters ever created (the man everybody loves to hate), it's no surprise that Dallas held the #1 or #2 spot in the Nielsen ratings for most of the 1980s...

The Dallas (Season 3) DVD features a number of exciting episodes including the season premiere "What Ever Happened to Baby John" in which Sue Ellen returns to Southfork after recovering from the previous season's car wreck and delivering the Ewing's first grandson, John Ross. But Sue Ellen is not joyous. In fact, she sinks into a deep depression marked by bouts of alcoholism. Meanwhile, J.R. has taken on a talented lawyer, Alan Beam, as his understudy... John Ross remains in the hospital, recovering from his premature birth, until the family learns that he's been kidnapped.

Everyone offers a theory on who did it, but it takes Pam's powers of observation to solve the mystery... Other notable episodes from Season 3 include "Ellie Saves the Day" in which the family learns of J.R.'s devious plan to mortgage Southfork in order to drill for oil in Asia, and "A House Divided" in which J.R.'s crooked deal of selling the rights to Ewing Oil's Asian wells to his friends (because he knew they would soon be nationalized) comes back to haunt him when the season finale ends with his being shot in the most famous cliffhanger in television history...

Below is a list of episodes included on the Dallas (Season 3) DVD:

Episode 30 (What Ever Happened to Baby John?: Part 1) Air Date: 09-21-1979

Episode 31 (What Ever Happened to Baby John?: Part 2) Air Date: 09-28-1979

Episode 32 (The Silent Killer) Air Date: 10-05-1979

Episode 33 (Secrets) Air Date: 10-12-1979

Episode 34 (The Kristin Affair) Air Date: 10-19-1979

Episode 35 (The Dove Hunt) Air Date: 10-26-1979

Episode 36 (The Lost Child) Air Date: 11-02-1979

Episode 37 (Rodeo) Air Date: 11-09-1979

Episode 38 (Mastectomy: Part 1) Air Date: 11-16-1979

Episode 39 (Mastectomy: Part 2) Air Date: 11-16-1979

Episode 40 (The Heiress) Air Date: 11-23-1979

Episode 41 (Ellie Saves the Day) Air Date: 11-30-1979

Episode 42 (Mother of the Year) Air Date: 12-14-1979

Episode 43 (Return Engagements) Air Date: 12-20-1979

Episode 44 (Love and Marriage) Air Date: 12-21-1979

Episode 45 (Power Play) Air Date: 01-04-1980

Episode 46 (Paternity Suit) Air Date: 01-11-1980

Episode 47 (Jenna's Return) Air Date: 01-18-1980

Episode 48 (Sue Ellen's Choice) Air Date: 02-01-1980

Episode 49 (Second Thoughts) Air Date: 02-08-1980

Episode 50 (Divorce - Ewing Style) Air Date: 02-15-1980

Episode 51 (Jock's Trial: Part 1) Air Date: 02-22-1980

Episode 52 (Jock's Trial: Part 2) Air Date: 02-29-1980

Episode 53 (The Wheeler Dealer) Air Date: 03-14-1980

Episode 54 (A House Divided) Air Date: 03-21-1980

Think, Speak & Act Using the Law of Attraction

Use the law of attraction to become a great creator. This is the secret to manifesting your desires. Spirituality information tells us that everything starts with a thought and then a thought which is spoken and then an action in alignment with the thought. The law of attraction keeps you focused on these concepts.

Don Miguel Ruiz wrote a wonderful book titled "The Four Agreements" and the first agreement that he talks about is "Be Impeccable With Your Word." What you say out into this world reflects and defines who you are and where you are going.

We should all speak with integrity and say only what we mean. We need to avoid using our words to speak against ourselves or to gossip about others. Our words are powerful creative forces that the universe must listen to and adhere to just like our thoughts but with more power of vibration.

The phrase, "I am so stupid" has just as much creative power as the phrase "I am truth and love." The universe doesn't judge or care about what you say. It just hears what you say and then begins shifting itself around to reflect in your reality that which you have declared through your word.

Thought, word and deed. If you think a thought and speak your thought, you have created at a very high level, but now you must do the deeds or actions that will manifest your thought into your reality.

Your beingness creates your doingness, so at this stage of the creative process, it is important to analyze who you are being as you think about the desires you wish to manifest in your reality.

Who you choose to be is such an important aspect of the process of life and the process of creation but it is also one of the least conscious things that we think about in our day-to-day existence in the physical realm.

Who you are being at any stage of the life process is the single most influential determining factor on what you ultimately do in your life and it is probably the least conscious thing we think about as we travel this journey of physical existence.

If you are being love you will make different choices as to what you do then if you are being fear. When was the last time you thought about whether you are being love or being fear? It's hard to do (unless it isn't) because we are continually changing our states of beingness according to what we are desiring and experiencing.

It takes a concerted effort to consciously know what your state of beingness is at any particular moment. This requires an awareness that you can only develop by being conscious of a desire to be aware.

Try to be aware throughout your day so that the desire you wish to manifest is in alignment with the beingness that you choose to experience your desire from. Then plug that beingness into your psyche and try to maintain it as a basis of who you are and what you choose to bring into your life.

What we are talking about is that in order to get to where you desire to go you need to have an idea of where it is that you are going. Once you have established where you are going then you can more easily get there.

It is like wanting to go to Seattle but you are driving in the direction of Dallas. When you set your course you need to keep the destination in mind and adjust your course as necessary to keep you moving in the direction of your intended target. Always use the law of attraction to keep you focused on your intended target.

How Have Immigration Laws Changed Since 9-11?

The impact of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 dramatically affected the economic, sociological, and national defensive landscape of our country. Almost nine years later, the effects are still prevalent, especially in the area of immigration.

The US war on terrorism was initiated due to 9/11 to discover and end terrorist plots, terrorist financing, and illegal immigrants. Federal agencies were determined to dramatically improve the security and safety of our citizens. The USA Patriot Act was quickly employed soon after 9/11 to rapidly enforce and tighten security efforts in the areas of technology, finance, immigration, and law enforcement.

The events of 9/11 had a severe effect on how immigrants were accepted in the US. Incidences of racial profiling, discrimination, ethnic harassment, and hate crime cases rose considerably across the nation.

Immigration Laws since 9/11

A major change in US immigration law post September 11th was the authority given to the new constructed Department of Homeland Security and Office of Citizenship and Immigration Service. Previously, the US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was the federal agency which monitored immigration matters.

Another major change included requiring federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to use strict criteria in locating and deporting illegal immigrants.

Recently, President Obama is attempting to overhaul US immigration regulations and seeks to grant legal status to approximately twelve million illegal immigrants. If the plan succeeds, illegal immigrants who hope to become citizens would have to register, pass a criminal background check, understand and English, and pay any taxes or fines they have outstanding.

Criminal Exposure Under Sarbanes

According to qualified Dallas criminal attorneys and well experienced Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, certifying periodic reports can be a source of extreme exposure under Sarbanes. Specifically, Sections 906 and 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act enacted twin provisions of the United States Code requiring certification by the CEOs and CFOs of corporate documents. Each section gives two levels of criminal penalties, depending upon whether the violation was knowing or willful.

Under 18 U.S.C., all CEOs and CFOs certify, in writing, that every periodic report filed by their public company under §13(a) or §15(d) of the Exchange Act, fairly represents the financial condition of the company. 18 U.S.C. §1350 also provides criminal penalties of up to 20 years for willful violations and up to 10 years imprisonment for violations where the executive knowingly signed a false certification.

Under 15 U.S.C. §7241, a "principal executive officer of officers and principal financial officer of officers ¼ or persons performing similar functions," of a public company must certify each quarterly and annual report filed by the company under the new Exchange Act Rules §13(a) or §15(d). Furthermore, "a separate certification must be provided for each certifying officer, and the language of the certification cannot be varied from the language contained in" the statute.

As a general rule, certification is made based on the knowledge of the certifying officer, and ignorance will not be a defense to a charge of falsely certifying a quarterly or annual report if the certifying officer should have known that the certification was false. Therefore, the implementation of §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act "creates a heavy burden on the CEO and CFO to become personally aware of material information on a timely basis, and also makes it difficult to argue in any investigation that the CEO or CFO in fact had no knowledge of material information that was available."

Unlike §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, most cases of false certifications under §302 will be pursued civilly through SEC proceedings, however the DOJ may seek to prosecute §302 violations under criminal statutes that prohibit the use of mail, telephones or Internet to commit fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1341 (mail fraud) or 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud). Furthermore, an officer who "willfully" makes a false Sarbanes-Oxley Act §302 certification may be liable for criminal violation of the Exchange Act, which results in a maximum of up to 20 years imprisonment and up to $5 million in fines, under §1106.

It is important for certifying officers to document specific procedures required under the statute. It may be advisable to obtain written certification or representations from other officers and employees directly responsible for the information in the report.