What is a Notary Public?

March 15th, 2010

A notary is an appointed position by the Secretary of State’s department in a given state. As with most public officials, the State specifies that the person obtain a notary bond before receiving their commission. This bond “makes sure” that if the official violates the public trust through neglect of their responsibilities, funds are set aside to reimburse the State for its loss.

The principal duty of a notary public is to validate that the individual parties to an agreement are who they claim to be. The State may experience a loss if the notary public fails to properly confirm the identity of the parties.

As a public official, the notary public causes harm to the public trust by failing in their responsibility to confirm identity. If a North Carolina notary public doesn’t confirm identity and a loss occurs, an injured party can file a claim against that State for its loss, because the State was negligent through its appointed representative.

A notary bond is a guarantee of payment to the obligee (the State) when losses occur for a penalty amount of the bond. Surety bonds are often provided by a surety company (typically an insurance carrier). The bond often runs concurrently with the period of a notary’s commission.

You may be familiar with a property insurance policy. When a person has a home insurance in Indiana claim, the insurance carrier pays the loss and writes off the loss. You aren’t required to reimburse the company for the damages. Unlike a property insurance policy however, a notary bond is simply a promise that the funds will be available if losses occur. The surety (insurance company) pays the State up to the penalty amount of the bond. However, this loss paid by the surety is not simply written off. The carrier will most likely seek reimbursement from the bonded person, the notary themself.

A notary bond protects the public. Who protects the notary? Insurance coverage is available to provide this protection – it’s called Notary Errors and Omissions and may also be obtained for a nominal fee from insurance companies.

The Advantages Of An Access Control System

March 5th, 2010

Access control to business premises, schools, nursing homes and other buildings is a serious issue in our society. For organisations like these, there is a need to control casual entry to a premises without impeding those going about their daily business. One answer is to install a keyless entry system or access control system.

An access control system is an electronic system which uses remote keys or tags to release door locks. The tag, which is carried or worn by a user, is presented in the vicinity of a reader located adjacent to a door and communicates with that reader using encoded radio waves. This eliminates the need for any contact. Once a tag is recognised by the reader, a signal is transmitted to release an electro magnet on the door lock.

Each tag has a unique number stored on an electronic chip encased in plastic. There is no power source (battery) within the tag. The reader is basically an antenna which is hard wired to a control unit. The reader on the door is powered from the mains supply and it emits radio waves via its antenna.

The tag also has an antenna which receives the radio waves from the reader. When the tag is within approximately 50mm (2″) of the transmitter, the power contained within the transmitted radio waves is sufficient to induce a small current in the chip contained in the tag. This current powers and operates the chip which is programmed to modify the received signal and send the modified encoded radio waves back to the control unit.

An access control system has the following benefits:

  • Contactless release of locking mechanism
  • One Tag opens all assigned doors allowing easy configuration of different access rights to groups or individuals
  • Allows simple access control of visitors, employees and the general public throughout a site
  • A simple operation removes access rights from a tag if an employee leaves with it or loses it
  • No numbers to remember
  • Simple to set up and change configuration as required
  • Low maintenance
  • Easy to expand access control system if requirements change
  • No multiple keys or numbers required
  • Vandal proof
  • Extremely fast lock release

When considering the purchase and installation of an access control system, it is important to use a professional installation company that is qualified to carry out the work.

Beaches and baroque architecture of Brazil or Buddhist temples and pagodas of Myanmar

March 3rd, 2010

Armchair travel is fun but it can be even more fun when you can realize that dream and reality is at time less apart than you may think. If you’re trying to decide where to go for your summer vacation, close your eyes, spin around and pin your finger on a map in front of you.

I tried that and on my first try came up with Brazil and on my second try landed on Myanmar. OK, two countries, far apart on different continents, and I sure can’t see them both on the same trip so how about making a decision which one of the two I should visit.

If you had done little prior research on neither of the two countries chances are you would not know how to compare one versus the other in terms of what to see and do there and how much will it all cost to go there on a vacation.

I quickly learnt that Brazil beaches are legendary and in fact its entire coastline of several thousand miles contains no shortage of fantastic beaches. Aside the sand  there are also great cities like Rio de Janeiro and Salvador to visit on the coast, rich in finest Portuguese baroque architecture, and whatever the Brazil tour you can think up you should include a side trip to the Amazon River. The country is vast, distances and travel times long.

But I also discovered Myanmar tour sounds just as enticing. There are incredible beaches at Ngapali though the resorts may be less lavish than those of Brazil. On another hand, Myanmar is full of phenomenal and unspoiled Buddhist monuments such as those at Bagan and Mandalay. Then there is the peaceful Inle Lake and the ancient Rakhine capital of Mrauk-Oo in include in one’s Myanmar tour.

No matter what the respective attractions, what will either trip cost has to be taken into account. While Brazil is relatively near to the United States, the cost of airfares is at present pretty high. Although Myanmar is in Southeast Asia and one has to fly all the way on the other side of the globe, there are many discounted airfares available to Bangkok, the main access point for Yangon, the capital of Myanmar.

And what about daily travel expenses? Brazilian real is currently one of the strongest currencies in the world, so to tour Brazil can be very expensive. Myanmar is, however, a very cheap country to travel in, with plenty of inexpensive hotels and cost of meals in restaurants and other travel expenses is fractional compared to Brazil.

I have decided. I am going to Myanmar! How about you?

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