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Posts Tagged ‘travel’

Thoughts On Insuring Your Motorhome

Insurance Times published an article recently stating that the financial ombudsman had decreed that there are certain circumstances in which it would back the policyholder over the insurer, excluding however, instances where keys have been left in or near a car. I was then left wondering if the same would apply to motor homes.

So the family and I had rather a late night in our motorhome playing cards and so we were all quite tired when we eventually turned in for the night, meaning that the next morning we were already late for our arranged meeting with our friends and fellow motor-homers the Wilsons. Then came the usual morning commotion, the queue for the shower and the breakfast rush, then by the time we were ready to leave our friends had decided to explore the countryside without us.

I then realised I couldn’t find the keys so the whole family got together and we searched to motorhome high and low. With my usual patient and calm demeanour I accused each family member of stealing the keys, which was followed by more accusations of half-hearted searching for the keys, before finally accepting my son’s story that aliens had come from mars and stolen the keys. So I then went to get my phone from the cab so that I could call my insurance company for help. I was stranded in a field with a miserable family and to make things worse, it was about to rain.

There in the centre consul, with my phone, were the keys! Oh my goodness. I had left the keys of my precious motor home in the cab. I couldn’t help wondering if my motor home would have been insured if it had been stolen and my mind drifted back to the Insurance Times article.

If my motorhome had been a car the ombudsman would have considered

Location

Was I in a position to deter a thief

Was I recklessly ignoring the risks

Mitigating factors

Whether I knew about the exclusion in the insurance policy

I would like to think that this kind of thinking would have applied to me and my motorhome. If you use an insurance broker there is a much higher chance of finding a comprehensive insurance policy to cover you whatever your situation.

For a class leading service in motorhome insurance contact Coversure. They provide motorhome insurance is a cut above the restand you’ll leave with the peace of mind that you need when you’re on your holidays. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Moving To Australia? Get the Right Visa

February 28th, 2010 John Davids No comments

The Australian visas system is pretty simple with particular visas for specific causes and easy to understand processes to use for these visas. Nevertheless, it’s vital that you apply for the correct visa to suit your situation simply because you will be restricted in what you are able to do and the amount of time you can spend in Australia from visa to visa.

Which visas are obtainable in Australia?

There are a number of different visas available for those searching to travel to Australia which include:-

Australian tourist visa

This is the most usual visa as the tourist sector in Australia continues to get bigger and gain the interest of numerous travellers around the world. If you are planning to go to Australia for any length of time you have to ensure you have a visa. An Australian tourist visa will cover holidays, tourism and informal studies.

The Australian tourist visa is valid for A year (there can also be a six-month option) even though you’ll not be capable to spend a lot more than 3 many weeks in any 1 visit although you are able to leave the nation and return at a later date within the 12 month period. You are able to only remain in the nation if you hold a valid tourist visa and are in the country specifically for that causes covered above.

Australian functioning holiday visa

The Australian functioning holiday visa offers the perfect opportunity for individuals aged between 18 and 31 to take on the adventure of travelling about Australia and earning cash to fund their ventures. Again, the conventional Australian functioning holiday visa is valid for any optimum of 12 months although you are only allowed to work for an individual employer for any maximum of six months. You can however study or train using this visa for four months in total.

Individuals who are searching to stay in Australia for an extended period can extend their Australian functioning holiday visa by an additional 1 year if they are capable to obtain evidence that they have completed three many weeks seasonal perform in the nation. The Austrian authorities have restricted the applications for any functioning holiday visa to those who hold an eligible passport from Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan or the United Kingdom. There is also a specific procedure for individuals holding US passports who are searching for a functioning holiday visa.

Australian business visa

As the Australian economy continues to grow we are seeing a lot more and a lot more evidence of overseas companies investing money, time and effort in Australia and sending over numerous of their employees for short-term company trips. If you have regular company in Australia, or indeed is going to be attending a one-off meeting, you will need to acquire an Australian company visa that is otherwise known as a company ETA (electronic travel authority).

The standard Australian business visa is valid for 12 months and will allow you to go to and leave the nation as frequently as you like more than that period even though your maximum stay can only be 90 days per go to. However, as the Australian economic system is becoming a lot more prominent on the worldwide stage there’s the opportunity to apply for a long-term Australian company visa which will expire at the same time as your passport. You will need to be able to prove your business credentials and business contacts in Australia so that you can obtain the longer term visa. There is a pretty big list of passports from various countries which make sure you are automatically eligible for that Australian company visa.

Australian company sponsored visas

Another thing which has become apparent and prompted the fairly relaxed immigration policy in Australia, is the lack of a skilled workforce in numerous areas of business. Being a consequence the authorities have issued the Australian company sponsored visa which allows businesses in Australia to bring over employees from overseas to fill positions which are perhaps not attractive or not relevant towards the abilities base available in Australia at the time.

There are certain regulations concerning these company sponsored visas which can last between 1 day and four years, allow eligible secondary applicants to also enter Australia and have no limits for the quantity of times the applicant can leave and re-enter the nation. It is evident the Austrian authorities are attempting to make it as simple as feasible for employees and employers to come together for that good from the economic system.

In order to be eligible for an Australian company sponsored visa you should be sponsored by an employer in the nation to fill a nominated position, have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience to match the position obtainable and demonstrate a great grasp from the English language. If you will find numerous licenses and registrations required to fill such a position you must be in a position to fulfil these obligations.

There are three easy stages to this procedure with stage one seeing the employer gain approval being a business sponsor, stage two nominating the employee for the situation and stage three applying for that visa.

General professional migration visa

As we suggested above, the Australian authorities have been crying out for skilled workers for many many years and continue to recruit were possible to fill gaps in the Australian employment market. This is where the basic professional migration visa comes in offing those with particular skills the opportunity to fast-track their visa application and literally walk to an employment situation on entering the nation.

In order to be eligible for any company skilled migration visa you must be aged between 18 and 44, have a grasp from the English-language, detail your nominated skills and occupation, prove that there is demand for the particular perform experience and skills in Australia or hopefully have an employment position lined up. The authorities will then review your application and use a points based method to arrive at their decision.

Whilst there’s a fairly significant cost when applying for a basic skilled migration visa it can open the door to pretty big employment income in areas of the economy which may nicely be crying out for the experience and abilities. It must also be noted the authorities have very strict criteria regarding applications for general professional migration visas and not everybody will automatically be accepted. It is feasible the “skilled employment list” will also vary from time to time depending upon the requirements of the Australian economic system and numerous areas of the Australian business arena.

Spouse, fiance, partner and de facto visas

If you’ve a partner, whether you’re married or not, living in Australia with permanent residency it is highly likely but you would be to use for one from the spouse, fiance, partner or de facto visas which will also allow you to gain entry to the nation. However, due to a growing quantity of potentially fraudulent applications the Australian authorities have now introduced a strict application process whereby a number of factors will have to be demonstrated before a visa application is successful.

These elements contain:-

Proving an intimate knowledge of each other’s personal circumstances

Evidence of a financial romantic relationship such as joint property commitments, etc

Statements from friends and relatives confirming your relationship

Evidence of the length of your romantic relationship and commitment to each other

Separate details of the relationship including when you met and how your romantic relationship developed

Applicants will also be required to undergo a medical examination, such as a chest x-ray, by a doctor on a panel of Australian practitioners

Married applicants will have to provide a valid copy of their marriage certificate

Those who’re engaged in also have to provide evidence of their marriage plans

The procedure is split into two really separate stages which include sponsorship, i.e. the Australian resident, Australian citizen or eligible New Zealand citizen will need to confirm their position as sponsor, and then the visa application can proceed.

Australian student visa

We have noticed excellent improvements in the Australian education method over the last 20 many years with a lot more and a lot more students now looking to enrol from overseas. However the Austrian authorities are very keen to keep close control of student numbers and as a consequence there are strict criteria concerning an application for an Australian student visa.

The visa itself allows the student to study within the nation for more than three many weeks although they will have to prove they’ve enrolled in an Australian educational institution and received confirmation of enrolment. There is also an obligation to enrol in the overseas student health cover scheme which is compulsory. You’ll not be able to use for your visa unless you have evidence that you simply have purchased the relevant policy recommended by your university.

There is also a very strict health and character assessment for students searching to prolong their stay in Australia, ensuring that individuals with serious illnesses, which could be costly to the Australian wellness care method, and individuals with criminal records do not obtain access to the nation.

The Australian immigration policy

There’s no doubt that Australia has benefited more than numerous most countries from an immigration policy which has noticed the population quadruple since World War I. However it is not just the quantity of immigrants which have helped the Austrian authorities but it is also the high quality from the professional workforce relocating from foreign lands and filling various gaps within the Australian employment market. At a time when the economy is still growing it’s vital the authorities preserve the flow of professional workers as you will find still various sectors from the economic system which are poorly catered for by the traditional Australian employment marketplace.

It is worth noting that due to a fairly focused and tight immigration policy you will find really few immigrants moving to Australia who’re unable to support themselves and their immediate families. This takes the pressure off the national budget and indeed the ever-growing flow of income tax is helping the progressive government implement new policies which are assisting the future growth from the Austrian economic system. If the government is capable to maintain this really successful and very proactive approach then there’s no reason why the country cannot continue to grow for that foreseeable future.

Conclusion

Whatever your reason for moving to Australia there are lots of various kinds of visas and entry options available. Nevertheless, while the Austrian authorities might well have been a little a lot more relaxed within the past concerning immigration and attracting expats towards the country they can now afford to pick and select top high quality candidates with a requirement for a lot more professional workers within the short, medium and longer phrase. It can also be evident that a lot more and a lot more expats are searching towards Australia as their new homeland which is playing into the hands of the authorities in what is quickly becoming a win/win scenario for all parties involved.

The very fact that Australia was one of the first countries to leave the worldwide recession is a ideal reflection from the success of financial policies introduced by the current government. In the past the country has experienced a quantity of volatile political periods when MPs appeared to be more interested in fighting amongst themselves than coming together for the great from the nation. Thankfully this appears to be something which has been left behind in the past and Australia is certainly set up to prosper for numerous years to come.

It is going to be interesting to see if the authorities begin to reduce the number of immigrants moving towards the country because a quadrupling of the population because Globe War I is an enormous boost towards the population and has introduced numerous cultures towards the mix. If the immigration policy continues for ever and a day there is the potential for conflict among numerous parties in Australia even though so far the scenario has been very well handled.

If you are searching to move to Australia it’s essential that you have the appropriate paperwork available simply because this will speed up the procedure of applying for your visa. Rather than searching at the overall visa procedure it’s advisable to split the process down into individual components and perform via the procedure 1 stage at a time.

We are a Registered Migration Agent, and offer a free Immigration Assessment for Australia. Visit our website for more details on migrating to both Australia and New Zealand

Immigrating to Australia

February 26th, 2010 Harris Sunderland No comments

Immigration to Australia is really a process which more and a lot more people are now looking towards as the nation continues to gain popularity amongst expats around the world. Whilst on the surface the process to obtain visas and also the necessary clearance to reside and perform in Australia might seem complicated and potentially long winded, should you break down each specific procedure into separate stages this will assist you to understand what is required and what you need to do.

So why would you move to Australia?

There are many reasons why individuals move to Australia including the weather, education, employment prospects, family and possibly a new start. Whatever your cause for looking towards a move to Australia there is going to be a visa and an entrance route to suit your needs. However, regardless of whether you qualify for the relevant visas or long term residency remains to be seen.

Visas available

Immigration to Australia is split into various various categories which contain tourist visas, employment visa, business visas, student visas and spouse, partner, de facto visas. The first decision you need to make when you decide to go to Australia is which of these visas best suits your scenario. You’ve to become aware that if you’re seeking to perform in Australia, and potentially settle-down long-term, a student visa won’t suffice nor will a tourist visa cover your scenario for example.

Company visas are predominately for all those from outside of Australia who need to attend meetings in the country on a regular basis and spouse, partner and de facto visas are for those who are in the relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian resident or a qualifying New Zealand citizen. A lot more and more individuals are going down the employment visa route which has many different permutations.

The Australian population

For those looking to move to Australia the fairly open immigration policy of the past is nevertheless present although a number of potential weaknesses in the visa procedure have been addressed. Nevertheless, if you’re seeking to move to Australia for the long-term you may be relieved to know that like may be the Australian economy’s dependence upon immigration and skilled employees that this may be the cause why the populace of Australia has quadrupled because Globe War I!

You may be forgiven for thinking that now may be the time for the government to cut back on immigration to Australia but it seems the opposite is the case. The population now stands at about 22 million and also the nation has a gross domestic product per capita which is greater than that from the UK, US and France to name but a few. This is a nation that is on the up and up and skilled employees have in no way been a lot more welcomed than today with many areas of the Australian employment market still under catered for by the conventional Australian workforce.

Whilst this will change in due course as and when abilities imported into the nation are transferred to the Australian population it will take some time and it seems as though growth in the economy and numerous sectors will far outstrip the supply of skilled employees for some time to arrive.

Tourist visas

Tourist visas are perhaps the most popular visas relating to Australia because the tourist marketplace continues to grow attracting more and a lot more individuals from around the world. Not only does this open up Australia to outside eyes but also compliments the Australian economy and has opened many new and exciting locations of business.

An Australian tourist visa will usually last up to 12 months and permit the recipient to enter the country on numerous occasions but they will be unable to remain for a lot more than three months in any one visit. It is also worth noting you can only stay within the country if you have a valid tourist visa or other relevant visa.

Australian working holiday visas

Australian working holiday visas are also developing in popularity with more people looking to sample life in Australia whilst functioning to pay for their adventure. You can find numerous restrictions concerning what you are able to and what you can’t do under an Australian working holiday visa but in simple terms you is going to be allowed to travel around the nation for up to 12 several weeks functioning for numerous employers to cover your costs.

Australian company visa

For all those who have Australian business connections it might be vital to attend various meetings over the years, something which has seen the creation from the Australian business visa. The conventional Australian company visa will last for 12 several weeks and permit the recipient to come and go as they please even though any 1 remain cannot extend past 90 days. For all those with long-term business interests in the country there’s the chance to acquire an extended Australian company visa which will mirror the life of their passport.

Australian company sponsored visa

Due to a shortage of workers in Australia many companies have enquired about bringing overseas employees to Australia on short-term contracts which can last among 1 day and four years. Whilst the authorities are obviously concerned about any potential overlap with the traditional Australian employment marketplace they have given numerous options to employers to bring in overseas workers. The have to fill various gaps in the Australian economy and bring in foreign workers wherever needed has in no way been more vital and is something the authorities are keen to continue with.

General skilled migration visa

The general skilled migration visa is an additional employment option that is basically centred round foreign nationals looking to go to Australia who hold of specific skills and experience which would be useful in the Australian employment market. Due to the ongoing requirement to fill numerous gaps in the marketplace there is the opportunity for a fast-track visa application regardless of whether the applicant is able to prove the need for their specific abilities or hopefully have an employment position available upon entry towards the country.

Spouse, partner and de facto visas

As we touched on above, if you are in the relationship with an Australian citizen, Australian resident or an eligible New Zealand citizen then there’s every chance that you will qualify for a spouse, partner or de facto visa, depending on your particular circumstances. However, there is a strict visa application procedure for these specific visas due towards the increase in fraudulent applications over the years. The need to prove an ongoing relationship, joint finances and a clean criminal record are just some of the issues which is going to be addressed before the authorities will give the go-ahead for any visa to be granted.

Visa application procedure

The application process will vary depending upon the kind of visa you are searching for with numerous from the simple tourist visas granted almost immediately if for instance you already hold a valid passport from countries like as Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan or the United Kingdom. This list may vary from time to time and with the likes of the EU expanding on an ongoing basis other passports are likely to become accepted within the future.

Average visa application timescales

While you can find no strict timescales concerning Australian visa applications you can expect the basic visas such as tourist and long stay company visas to take about one month to procedure. Other visas like as labour agreements, employer nominated applicants and regional sponsored migration schemes can get about 3.5 months to process and business skills visas can get upwards of six several weeks. These figures relate to so called “low risk countries” and you are able to usually add a 50% premium to the timescale for applicants living in so called “high risk countries”.

Nevertheless, it must be noted that individuals with particular skills and perform knowledge which are needed instantly through the Austrian employment market may be quick tracked and receive their visas much quicker than the above timescales.

Applying for long term residency in Australia

It’s feasible to apply for long term residency in Australia using the two main programs referred to as the “migration program” and the “humanitarian program”.

Migration software

The migration program is basically a fast-track system to bring in a quantity of skilled migrants to the Australian workforce so that they can contribute to areas of the employment market wherever domestic availability may be low. Official statistics show that recently the government has been granting about 140,000 migration software visas a year even though this could rise considerably in the years ahead.

Humanitarian program

Like most countries around the globe the Australian federal government has introduced a humanitarian software which allows refugees from troubled countries to seek long term residency in Australia. Official figures indicate that upwards of 10,000 humanitarian software visas are regularly granted every year to those eligible to stay within the nation.

Australian long term residents

There is a difference between a long term resident and an Australian citizen although usually a long term residents visa will predominantly lead to an Australian citizenship if the holder so wishes. Holders of a permanent residency visa are entitled to remain in the nation indefinitely even though as using the migration program they may nicely be provided having a five-year visa which runs alongside their permanent residency visa. Inside the five-year period they can travel overseas and return to Australia with no problems even though right after the five-year period is up they will have to apply for any resident return visa to avoid any travel issues within the future.

Even if holders of a long term residency visa don’t decide to travel overseas they are entitled to stay within the nation indefinitely, even though they’ll not have the same rights as an Australian citizen.

Advantages of the permanent resident status

There are many benefits associated with a long term residency visa in Australia which contain:-

Unrestricted rights to live, perform and study in the country

Really few limitations on employment within the country

All long term residents will have the proper to apply for full Australian citizenship if they fulfil the required requirements

Inclusion in the state education system wherever domestic fees are met by the government

The proper to sponsor relatives who are seeking to go to Australia

Children born of Australian permanent residents will automatically gain Australian citizenship on birth

Medical and social security benefits will be obtainable after a maximum two yr waiting period

The right to free travel to and from New Zealand

The proper to live, perform and study in New Zealand

Statistics regarding Immigration to Australia

As we mentioned above, the Australian authorities have depended upon immigration for many many years to fulfil the requirement for skilled workers within the Australian economy. Some interesting statistics are noted below:-

The Australian populace has quadrupled since Globe War I predominantly because from the open immigration policy

It’s estimated that 250,000 new immigrants entered Australia within the financial yr 2008/09 – this figure was revised downwards from 300,000 due towards the economic situation

Immigration to Australia has increased dramatically from about 30,000 a year within the early 90s

UK expats make up the largest foreign grouping inside the Australian populace with nicely more than 1 million estimated to reside in Australia

The ongoing influx of immigrants to Australia, many of whom arrive via the migration software, are starting to have a major impact on Australian property prices

Conclusion

There is no doubt that the Australian government has depended upon immigration to Australia for numerous years to fill numerous weaknesses in the Australian domestic employment marketplace. This policy has worked nicely for that authorities and even though the estimated figure of 300,000 immigrants for 2008/09 has been revised downwards it is still expected that upwards of 250,000 expats will have entered the country during the financial yr.

The a lot more popular Australia becomes the longer the processing time when applying for numerous visas and long term residency but this has not put off a developing number of expats looking to make a new life overseas. There are many advantages and attractions of living in Australia which contain a developing economy, a varied culture, relatively high standard of living, demand for skilled employees and above all a nation whose prospects overall have improved significantly in recent times.

Want to find out more about our Australian immigration service, then visit the HWC Immigration Services website and take the free Australian Immigration Assessment

Tax-Free Shopping For Non-EU Residents Is As Simple As Keeping Your Receipts

Retail tax or sales tax, added onto the total price of good purchased, is a reality that most people accept. Because of this implicit acceptance it comes as a pleasant perk that with travel from non-European Union (EU) countries into EU countries and purchasing goods within those countries can result in reclaiming any taxes you have paid on good. We all know duty-free shops within international airports; however, this law is in effect for a variety of retailers throughout the EU nations.

Tax-free shopping allows customer to bypass any retail taxes including sales, consumption, or value added tax (VAT). EU shoppers contend with the latter value added tax that acts as a sales tax on all goods and varies by country in its value.

Claiming a refund requires that all consumers pay an items tax (EU-VAT) regardless of international status (this tax will vary in amount country to country), but by law, will be able to process a refund on their total EU-VAT amounts.

Saving all receipts and stopping at customs before leaving an EU country to obtain an export validation stamp is the bulk of work that needs to be completed by the consumer. Once all receipts and stamps are collecting, working with an established company to refund EU-VAT is a simple process.

Getting a refund on VAT for something as small as a pack of gum isn’t going to happen, there are minimum purchase requirements that must be adhered to, as well as different refund percentages for each EU nation.

Goods exempt from VAT, in general, are childrens clothing and books. Full VAT-refunds can be had, but countries vary on the percentages that are able to be claimed, as well as having minimum purchase requirements on goods purchased.

Finding a company with extensive retail ties is important and Premier Tax Free fits that requirement with its personal relationship with almost 100,000 retailers worldwide. Placing your refund recovery in the hands of a company will make receiving that refund hassle-free which tax free shopping for non-EU residents, surprisingly, is.

Check out all you need to know about tax free shopping by checking it out today. Take advantage of the chance to save cash by doing some tax free shopping. Head online and find out all you need to know.

Caravan Insurance Advice And Help

February 18th, 2010 Timothy Simons Grimshaw No comments

Insuring your possessions is vital today as there are so many incidents that could cause them to be damaged or stolen. If you own a caravan you will probably need to have some caravan insurance advice before you select a policy. If this is the case here are a few pieces of advice on obtaining the right type of caravan insurance.

One of the first things you need to know is that there are lots of different kinds of insurance for caravans. For example if you have a static caravan you will need a certain type of policy. Caravans which are moved from site to site will need cover to take this into account.

If you have anything that is particularly expensive in your caravan make sure you include this on your policy. Failure to do this will mean that you will not be able to claim for single, high cost items. So take a look in your caravan and mention any costly items.

If you like to visit new places with your caravan why not opt for insurance that offers members benefits. These can include monthly magazines with caravaning news in it or special offers for various sites. More insurers than you think will offer these types of incentives, so take a look at them.

Don't forget to get plenty of quotes. This is essential if you want to get the very best deal on your insurance policy. Use an online comparison website and you will be able to choose from a range of prices for the type of cover that you want.

By applying this caravan insurance advice and help you will get great cover. You should never leave insurance to chance, so be proactive and get a low cost quote now. Then you can enjoy your caravan every time you use it.

Discover more about caravan insurance by searching online. Learn if you need to have caravan insurance or not and what coverage is correct. Go online now and learn more.

Taken From A Motorcycle History Book In The Year 2095

February 15th, 2010 L.J. James No comments

Many of the “facts” in this story are based on Legend and Myth as much of the history of the Motorcycle and it’s Culture was lost in the Great Rebellion of 2057.

Taken from a history book in the year 2095… Motorcycles And The Culture They Inspire 1868-2017

Motorcycles started out as steam engines strapped on to bicycles in 1868. Soon after the gas engine took its place and by the 1900’s there were Motorcycle shops and Dealers all over the World. For awhile, Motorcycle’s were simply used as transportation. In 1907, when Henry Fords, Ford Motor Company, released the Model-T at a price many could afford, the Motorcycle soon went from a necessity to a luxury item.

In the 1940’s, the Motorcycle Culture really took off. An organization called the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) held races and events all over the United States of America. In 1947 the AMA held an event in Hollister California. This event was attended by many of the AMA Racing Teams and Motorcycle Clubs. This event marks the beginning of the separation of Motorcyclists which eventually led to the end of Motorcycling in the year 2017. Newspapers, being what they where in 1947, got a hold of some pictures of Motorcyclists having fun at the event. The press decided to embellish the facts and transformed the story into a torrid tale of Bikers taking over a small town! More negative news stories soon followed. Soon after Hollywood began releasing movies that portrayed Motorcyclists as lawless and evil.

The American Motorcyclist Association, trying to end the bad press, responded by basically saying that the Newspapers had lied and that it was only 1% of the Motorcyclists that caused problems. This resulted in the first ripple in the Unity of the Motorcycle World and the Medias’ hatred of Bikers. Around the same time, the AMA began adding new requirements for motorcycles to be able to race in AMA sanctioned Races. Those whose motorcycles didn’t meet the new AMA requirements started their own Race Leagues. Because the new Race Leagues/Clubs were not AMA sanctioned, they soon became known as Outlaw Race Leagues/Clubs. Although many Bikers raced in both the AMA and Outlaw Leagues, another great separation had begun.

By the late 1960’s, the separation of the Motorcycle Community was becoming more evident. There were now three basic Motorcycle groups. The American Motorcycle Association, Outlaw/ 1%er Clubs(All 1%ers were Outlaws, but not all Outlaws were considered 1%ers) and Independent Riders. Over the years, the AMA continued to grow. In addition to racing, they began to champion Motorcycle Rights and Safety. As time went on, others formed independent groups whose goals were similar to that of the AMA. The inability or outright refusal of these groups to work together with each other, resulted in further separation of the Motorcycle Community and Culture.

In the 1970’s, rifts began to grow between some of the Outlaw/1% Clubs. By the 1990’s, the media had inflated these conflicts into stories that rivaled the tall tales of the old west. These tall tales where ment to invoked fear of the Outlaw/1% Clubs in the public. Everyone was lied to,. They were told to stay away from and fear all Outlaw/1% Clubs. The media began referring to Motorcycle Clubs as Motorcycle Gangs, a term meant to further instill fear into the heart of the Public. Stories and rumors began surfacing, claiming these “Gangs” were ruthless and would kill or maim people for little or no reason at all. By the early 21st Century, every minor conflict between Outlaw/1% Clubs was made into a book, made for TV movie, or docudrama. Titles like “Motorcycle Gang Wars In Your Back Yard” were common. Although real wars, conflicts, and suffering were occurring worldwide, the Corporate owned media chose to report fiction over fact.

In 2009, a conflict between two rival Clubs was captured on Video at a “Biker Build Off” event. The coverage by the media and negative publicity that followed was so overwhelming that in 2010, the United States Government passed a law banning all Outlaw/1% Clubs. In response, the Outlaw/1% Clubs put aside their differences and formed “Bikers United”. The Bikers fought back stating the law was unconstitutional and un-American. Even as late as 2010, Many Americans still clung to the misguided belief that they had rights and lived in a free Nation. The Bikers fought hard and came very close to winning, but without the support of the Motorcycle Rights Groups,The many other Clubs, and the Independent Riders, all of whom had been brainwashed into believing the Outlaw Clubs were criminal organizations, they were defeated.

Many of the Outlaw/1% Clubs tried to stay together. The Clubs went underground, but after many raids and constant Government harassment, they all but disappeared. In 2013, in an effort to ensure that the Outlaw/1% Clubs never returned, the Government decided to outlaw all Motorcycle Clubs and organizations. The AMA, the many Clubs and Motorcycle Rights Organizations United in an effort to battle the Governments oppression. They tried to use many of the same tactics and strategies that the Outlaw/1% Clubs used. Unfortunately, the Government was much smarter and stronger this time around. They had learned many lessons in their fierce battles with the Outlaw/1% Clubs, and they used what they had learned against the united Clubs and Organizations. With no Outlaw/1% Clubs left to assist them and without the support of the Independent Riders, the United Clubs and Organizations were defeated.

In 2015, the Government passed a law that made it illegal to even look like an Outlaw on a Motorcycle. The Independent Riders banned together to try and fight the law, but by this time their numbers were few and there wasn’t anyone left to show them how to fight for their rights. After a brief protest, they too were soundly defeated. In 2017, What was now a “Global Government”, in its infinite wisdom, decided that Motorcycles posed a danger to the public. They passed a law banning the manufacturing of Motorcycle’s and their use! They ordered that all existing Motorcyclesbe destroyed. This brought to an end, the History of Motorcycles. It would take until the year 2093 before anything even close to resembling a Motorcycle reappeared.

As a Historian looking back at the History of Motorcycles and the Culture it created, it amazes me how powerful the Motorcycle Culture could have been had they not let every little thing separate them. Instead of embracing something they all had in common and working together to protect it, they instead let their differences, the media, and the government divide them. By the time the Bikers realized how much they were connected and needed each other, it was too late. Their numbers were certainly sufficient to achieve victory, but their failure to come together as Brothers and Sisters and work for the common good ultimately caused their demise. Had they been victorious, it may have been enough to stop all of the oppression and tyranny that soon followed. History is full of stories just like this one, over and over again. The ones who love and honor Freedom the most are taken down first and the rest soon fall like dominoes. Until the Great Rebellion of 2057, we as a Global Society did not realize how important it was to put aside our differences. It may have taken awhile, but we finally figured it out…Just in time!

Your Bro L. J. James AmericanBikerX.com

LJ James does a Radio Bike Show every Wednesday . The show can be heard live or Replay . LJ James works to show the facts between real Motorcycle Brotherhood and programs like sons of anarchy You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

Vacation Rental Homes, Are They A Good Idea?

February 12th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

Many people that go on vacation prefer to rent a home in their destination rather than staying in a hotel. Most of these people do this because it gives them the freedom to cook their own food and eat out when they like without missing set meals that they have already paid for.

It can be more difficult to find such a vacation rental than just booking a hotel reservation. However, most holiday makers say that the endeavor is worthwhile. There are a few points that you should check up on if you are not to be disappointed when you get there.

It is very useful if you have friends or family living in the destination locale and if you do have this advantage, you should use it, but all is far from lost if you do not. There are often agencies for these kinds of vacation rentals as many people who live in such places rent their homes out in the peak period and they do this through those agencies.

There are also quite a few web sites specializing in home rentals for holiday purposes. Some of these Internet agencies just charge on behalf of the property owner and others can arrange swaps, which is a great, low-priced way to travel the world.

The surveys that these web sites carry out are usually quite comprehensive, containing such expected details as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, but also such information as whether there is a phone, a car, bicycles or scooters on the premises, along with distance to the shops, main road, airport, train and bus stations.

However, if you have any questions still unanswered, you are usually encouraged to ask them directly to the property owner via the agency’s web site. It is a good idea to rent a vacation home through a rental agency for security purposes, because if a problem does arise then you have a mediator on hand. In these situations the agency would handle the whole affair, up to the point of criminal proceedings.

You may also like to ask about the age of the property, because often the day to day maintenance of the place is down to you while you are there, as are breakages, unless those things are covered by the owner’s insurance policy.

You should also find out whether you are allowed to make use of the home owner’s bedding, linen, and towels etc.. Often you just consider the house and its contents as your own, unles a cupboard or door is locked and you have not been given the key.

One last bit of advice is to get suitable directions. Places that you are not well-known will look very different in the dark than they do in the daylight, in particular if the property is off the beaten track.

Therefore, if you are expecting to arrive late or if there is a possibility that you might be held up, ask for photographs of key points taken in the twighlight. It will make certain that you get to your destination vacation home rental with no difficulties.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the rental of Welsh coastal cottages. If you are interested in a cottage or Wales in general, please go to our website at Welsh Products Online

The Ancient Roots of Barry, South Wales: Part 2.

February 10th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

In the 18th. Century evidence of Neolithic man was discovered in the form of dishes, saws, knives, flints, a scraper, a prehistoric horn celt with obscure markings, a spokeshave and some arrowheads, amongst other things. Unfortunately, although these things reside safely in the Museum of Cardiff, no one thought it worth excavating at the time and now residences stand on the sites.

They also found an ancient Roman kitchen complete with utensils and food remains which appeared to have been abandoned in a hurry like the Marie Celeste. That wasn’t investigated either. In 1533, the King’s Antiquary, Leland, was told to tour all places where records were held. It took him nine years and his description of the island was as follows:

“It is about a mile in circumference and has good corn, grass and some wood, and there is no dwelling on the Island, but in the midst of it is a fair little Chapel of St. Baruch which is visited by many pilgrims. It took the name Barri from this holy man who was buried there and whose remains are yet on the Island”. (The Welsh name for Barry is Y Barri).

Vikings ravaged the coast of South Wales in the tenth century. They often took hostages from the monasteries, but they did not seem to want to live in the area. For a long tim, the island was known as the “Saints’ Retreat” or the “Island of Saints”. Afterwards, in the sixteenth century, it was inhabited by smugglers and pirates and was called the “Smugglers’ Fortress”. This became serious as it grew simultaneously with the rise of Bristol, Britain’s second largest port.

Barry Island became the centre of piracy in the Bristol Channel. In 1784, the island was known as the Fortress of Knight. Knight was the top smuggler and pirate in the area and people were frightened of testifying against him, although he was also something of a local hero. His armed brig’s name was John O’ Combe. He was eventually moved on to Lundy Island, which he also turned into a fortress, although he and his successor, Arthur, still returned so often to Barry, that H.M. Customs requested the government to permanently post a cutter to Penarth and 60 light infantry to Barry.

The small seaside village of Rhoose, five miles from Barry, was so well-known for its wreckers that George II sent troops to break up them up. They landed at Aberthaw, just up the coast a bit further, “the Rhoose men’s favourite landing zone, from where they could easily transport the contraband along Port Road to Cardiff, the main market for such things”. While digging out for the docks at Barry in the late nineteenth century, several large caves were filled in. They had probably been used by the pirates who were moved on in about 1850.

If you are interested in Welsh corgi puppies, or Wales in general, visit our website at Welsh Products Online Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Wedding Favours For Your Guests

February 9th, 2010 Owen Jones No comments

There are many presents that can be used as wedding favours, after all the point of wedding favours is to illustrate to your guests that you appreciate them coming to your wedding and showing their support for your wedding. Therefore, you should really try to find wedding favors, that your guests will like.

Naturally, the gift that most appeals to your guests, may not be one you would choose for yourself, but you are buying the wedding favours for your guests, not yourself. If you think about it, you should be able to come up with something that everyone will like and that you are pleased to give. In order to help you get the task done, we will offer you a few tips below.

Love spoons are a popular souvenir at Welsh and other Celtic weddings. A love spoon was a wooden spoon carved by a love sick man for the woman he loved. She would then either take or refuse the love spoon, although she was not obliged by the acceptance of the spoon. Miniature versions are often used as wedding favours. They can be inscribed with dates and names and symbols of love such as a hearts, bells, vines, key holes, anchors and knots.

Wedding favours can also be suitable to eat. There are a lot of choices available for couples who wish to give their guests some type of edible favour. You can have many items personalized these days. Some firms specialize in personalized presents, which can also be given as wedding favours. Some examples of edible, personalized wedding favours might be: chocolate bars, mints, biscuits or gourmet chocolates. The box or wrapper could bear your photo or / and your names and the date.

Miniature wedding cakes are another idea for edible wedding favours. Miniature wedding cakes have a short shelf life so they will have to include a warning, which will in all probability be put on the wrapper automatically, but it is worth checking.

A half / quarter or small bottle of wine or other drink would also be fairly easy to arrange as wine bottle labels can be bought in any home brew shop.

Picture frames are frequent wedding favors. You could give a picture frame and follow it up with a photo of the beneficiary of the frame enjoying your wedding party. This might be expensive and tricky to set up as you will have to keep records of who has been photographed and who has not. It would be terrible to miss someone out, would it not? You will probably also need a professional photographer or at least a dedicated amateur.

Wedding favours can be anything really, but I reckon that they are better if they are practical. We gave very unusual bottle-openers away at our wedding. They had a pattern of a couple getting married, our names and the date. They also had a magnet in them to catch the bottle top as it came off. I have seen dozens of our bottle-openers stuck on our guests’ fridges over the years and the wedding was three years ago.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many topics, but is currently involved with Welsh love spoons, or Wales in general, go to our website at Welsh Products Online

Better Value with Park Hopper Tickets

February 8th, 2010 Betty Thompson No comments

Looking for the best place for you and your kids to enjoy a quality time and bonding together this coming holiday season? There may be a lot of theme parks that you can visit with the whole family; however, visiting just one theme park could be boring for them.

Fortunately, Disneyland Park Hopper tickets can give you a chance to visit not only one but also other theme parks located in Southern California with just one ticket for each of your family members. This is a great inexpensive way for you to enjoy the holiday season.

Get to visit Disneyland Theme Park, which is one of the most famous theme parks all over the world. It is also the most recommended theme park by most tourists that has experienced the magic of this world famous theme park.

Disneyland also offers Disneyland tickets that will allow you to enjoy its fantastic rides and magical shows for you and your family, especially your kids. Your kids will also love to get the chance to see their most loved Disney Cartoon Characters with the likes of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and other cartoon characters that they see on TV.

Disneyland Park Hopper tickets are also available. This will enable the ticket holder to visit two Disney Theme Parks and you only have to pay for the price of one set of Disneyland tickets. Not only that, Disneyland Park Hopper tickets will also allow you to visit to other themed park aside from Disneyland. Boredom will have no place for your holiday if you get a ticket in hand.

With Disneyland tickets your kids will surely enjoy the Street party with its festive dance; they can also join with their favorite Disney Cartoon character as they parade through the streets of Disneyland, and at the same time dance with them with the happy sound of party music.

When planning a vacation during holidays to get the whole family bound together so the relationship would grow stronger, theme parks is one of the most ideal places to go. And when you plan for this kind of vacation, always include Disneyland Park Hopper tickets over Disneyland tickets in your plans. It is inexpensive since you only pay once but you get to visit two parks

With Disneyland Park Hopper tickets you are assured that you can get your money’s worth, because you do not only get Disneyland tickets, but you also get the chance to visit more than one theme park. Surely this will be the most memorable vacation and bonding time for you and your family could have.

Get your Disneyland Tickets online and you’ll save time and money. For a really fun holiday, make sure you get Disneyland Park Hopper tickets. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service