Here is Carol at 86.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
When is the rest of the Leaf roster getting traded?
Many Leaf fans have been so fed up over ineptness of the Maple Leafs that they have been suggested that the entire roster get dumped. Well Brian Burke did his best to meet that demand by trading away over 25% of the roster in two deals today.
I had planned to write a post today outlining what the Leafs greatest needs were and who they should deal away. Of course their greatest need is another goalie. That has now been addressed but with with a large cap hit. J.S. Guigere comes with a cap hit of $6 million. That can partially be swallowed by the loss of Jason Blake whose cap hit is $4 million.
I was going to suggest that the Leaf should attempt to move the line of Stajan-Ponikarovsky-Hagman. The first two were to become unrestricted free agents this summer and likely not worth the cost for a team that was deep into a rebuild. As for Hagman, at 30 his best contribution might also come in the form of prospects or draft picks. Only Ponikarovsky remains for now. He too may be moved because it may take $3.5 to $4 million to sign him to a contract. Not sure if he is worth it. A big man that rarely uses his big frame.
The only significant player traded by the Leafs was Ian White who arguably has been their best defenseman over the past two seasons. However, picking up Dion Phaneuf makes White expendable.
As for the numbers, the Leafs moved out $14,933,333 in cap space and received back $13,250,000 so it seems like a wash. However, when you consider only the contracts that don't expire this season, the Leafs moved out only $7 million so they have lost a lot of flexibility for next season. They have 15 players under contract for $48 million. That does not include Jonas Gustavsson, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Nik Kulemin, Garnet Exelby, Wayne Primeau, Mike van Ryn, John Mitchell and Lee Stempniak from their current roster. With a potential salary cap at around $50 million, Burke will need to unload some more contracts. Considering they have 7 defensemen on contract for next season totalling more than half the cap, it shouldn't be shock to see Tomas Kaberle traded during the off season. Hopefully, Jeff Finger as well.
I had planned to write a post today outlining what the Leafs greatest needs were and who they should deal away. Of course their greatest need is another goalie. That has now been addressed but with with a large cap hit. J.S. Guigere comes with a cap hit of $6 million. That can partially be swallowed by the loss of Jason Blake whose cap hit is $4 million.
I was going to suggest that the Leaf should attempt to move the line of Stajan-Ponikarovsky-Hagman. The first two were to become unrestricted free agents this summer and likely not worth the cost for a team that was deep into a rebuild. As for Hagman, at 30 his best contribution might also come in the form of prospects or draft picks. Only Ponikarovsky remains for now. He too may be moved because it may take $3.5 to $4 million to sign him to a contract. Not sure if he is worth it. A big man that rarely uses his big frame.
The only significant player traded by the Leafs was Ian White who arguably has been their best defenseman over the past two seasons. However, picking up Dion Phaneuf makes White expendable.
As for the numbers, the Leafs moved out $14,933,333 in cap space and received back $13,250,000 so it seems like a wash. However, when you consider only the contracts that don't expire this season, the Leafs moved out only $7 million so they have lost a lot of flexibility for next season. They have 15 players under contract for $48 million. That does not include Jonas Gustavsson, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Nik Kulemin, Garnet Exelby, Wayne Primeau, Mike van Ryn, John Mitchell and Lee Stempniak from their current roster. With a potential salary cap at around $50 million, Burke will need to unload some more contracts. Considering they have 7 defensemen on contract for next season totalling more than half the cap, it shouldn't be shock to see Tomas Kaberle traded during the off season. Hopefully, Jeff Finger as well.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Actor Rip Torn may be the biggest drunk ever
Rip Torn was arrested Friday night for allegedly breaking into a bank while drunk and armed with a loaded revolver.
State police responded to an alarm at the Litchfield Bancorp building in Salisbury, CT at 9:40 PM last night. Police say they found Torn "with a loaded revolver" and he was "highly intoxicated."
Law enforcement sources tell us Torn gained access through a broken window, which they believe Torn broke himself.
Torn was taken to the Troop B barracks in North Canaan and is being held on $100,000 bond.
Cops say Torn was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, first-degree burglary, first-degree criminal trespass and third-degree criminal mischief.
According to the Register Citizen, he is scheduled to appear in court on February 1.
Rip has had previous alcohol-related arrests.
source
Friday, January 29, 2010
TTC employee is an Internet 'sleeper' hit
The photo of sleeping Toronto Transit Commission fare collector has become, it must be said, the sleeper hit of the Internet. Since the picture taken by Jason Wieler was posted online and then displayed in all the local papers. Photoshoppers have had a field day with the “TTC Sleeper”: having him nap with Homer Simpson at the Springfield nuclear plant, inserting him into the iconic painting of the Last Supper, etc. It has also brought out a lot of local hostility following a steep fare hike just weeks ago.
The consensus is that service is lousy, employees are rude and the system is behind the time.
So what's their response? Well they apologized for not looking after their customers for years, set up a complaint hotline, promised to draft a customer "bill of rights", and appoint a panel of riders and private sector customer service experts to advise the TTC. A lot of window dressing? Likely. They need a major change in culture at the TTC and that won't be accomplished by a bill of rights or belated apologies.
Australia to ban small boobs
As absurd as this might sound but it seems that anytime breasts are shown in their natural state, from now on, in Australia, they must be larger than A-cup. Not because Australian males are obsessed with breasts it seems, but because their board of classification believes that small breasts being shown might lead to pedophilia.
It seems that conservative Australian politicians are waging a war on smut and have arbitrarily decided that small breasts in porn encourages pedophilia and female ejaculation (another proposed ban) is just plain gross.
Auto Insurance and Its Important Coverage
If you do own an automobile, then most probably you are prone to car accidents. Yes, there are unwanted circumstances that you might encounter along the road; thus, obtaining protection from the city of Dallas is highly suggested. In fact, the officials of the city have raised a rule in which all of their people, specifically car owners should comply with the rule. This rule actually, is for the car owners to protect themselves from any consequences that they may stumble upon once they get involved in a car accident. The rule is known as ‘Dallas Auto Insurance.’
Dallas Auto Insurance, without doubt, is the most important thing that a car owner should possess. However, there are drivers who are having a hard time in getting the Dallas Auto Insurance that they most likely prefer. Actually, most of the drivers frequently prefer a Dallas Auto Insurance company that has a low policy premium; well, this would be the ideal auto insurance of all. However, having affordable auto insurance is never easy for there are only few companies that proffer cheap Dallas Auto Insurance; in other words, finding one will surely give you a lot of research.
One of the most significant things that you should mull over when finding or choosing Dallas Auto Insurance is the coverage. You might know already that there is a number of Dallas Auto Insurance coverage that you can liberally choose from and include to your insurance policy. Yet, you should also remember that these coverages are the ones that are responsible of your premium; therefore, if you do have full coverage, then most likely you will be having high Dallas Auto Insurance policy rate.
The following are some of the important Dallas Auto Insurance coverage, which you can freely review and select from later on:
- Liability – if you have liability insurance, then there will be no expenses involve for it does not cover any expenditure, related to injure to your property, or any damages. This will pay for those, endured by the other parties in a certain mishap where in you are found to be liable.
- Collision – this coverage comes into act when your automobile gets involved in a collision.
- Physical damage – collision, fire and theft, and comprehensive are the other types of this coverage. Yet, this is optional once your vehicle is paid off.
Other types of Dallas Auto Insurance coverage are comprehensive, bodily injury, personal damage protection, fire and theft, property damage liability coverage, underinsured driver, and uninsured driver coverage.
Auto Insurance
There are several auto insurance companies serving the different states. In Dallas, Texas, you can find a lot of auto insurance companies in which you can consider as your options if you will purchase your Dallas auto insurance. Auto insurance is affected by different factors such as age, the car make of your car, the mileage you are driving, the level of the risk you have, your driving history and of course your credit history.
Different auto insurance companies give different Dallas auto insurance rates to their policy holders mainly because of the mentioned factors. Since Dallas auto insurance is a basic necessity in driving, it is expected that there are more people who are in search for the best Dallas auto insurance perfect for them. In order for insurance companies not to be confused in giving auto insurance rates, they used market segmentation wherein they cluster their costumers in smaller groups.
These groups have the same trend and attributes. The only difference is that some groups are proven statistically to be safe drivers and so they are given lower auto insurance rates. But, you should know also that Dallas auto insurance companies also consider the kind of the place you are living. Someone who is living in an area where road traffic accidents always occur automatically gets higher Dallas auto insurance rate though he has 50 to 60 years in driving. Market segmentation is the business model used by different auto insurance companies and so knowing the segment being targeted by a certain insurance company can help you to look for cheap auto insurance in Dallas.
If you are a young driver who is looking for cheap Dallas auto insurance and if you see a certain commercial featuring a young person advertising Dallas auto insurance, you might consider this company as your option. Nevertheless, you should not do this all the time because not all Dallas auto insurance companies advertisements market the same way. The best way to get hold of the best Dallas auto insurance policy is to shop around. In your search, you should not only consider those being advertised on the TV. You should also try searching Dallas auto insurance online to see what options you can get.
You should think all the important factors affecting auto insurance to make sure that you will be getting the best Dallas auto insurance policy perfect for your budget as well as for your needs.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A Barney Girl grows up
American Idol at the Dallas audition included contestant Erica Rhodes who a former child actor that got her start on the PBS kids television show Barney & Friends.
J.D. Salinger 1919-2010
To be honest, like most people I've only read one book by J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye. I'm sure I share the same sentiment with many people, who can say that this novel really spoke to them during a tough time in high school. So thank you for that.
Incredible how much fame can be derived by one piece of work.
What happens when you take a Alex Ovechkin slapshot in the face?
...6-8 weeks on the shelf with a broken jaw. Oh well, I guess it's something Jack Hillen can tell his grandkids about one day.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Why the Maple Leafs stink
Under a salary cap there is only one way to build a winner in the NHL, through the draft. Every team has figured it out but the Maple Leafs. That is why at the 2009 trading deadline, only one deal was made for a first round draft pick. It is suicide in the NHL today to give away high draft picks. And the way teams lock up their few star players, you aren't going to get another crack at them as free agents (the Sedins, Rick Nash, etc). Every other team has figured it out but our Leafs.
Below are the five drafts since the lockout. Some rounds the Leafs have multiple picks as a result of trades. The players in blue are currently with the Leafs. The players in green are picks still in the Leaf system. The ones in red are the players picked up in trades for draft picks.
Below are the five drafts since the lockout. Some rounds the Leafs have multiple picks as a result of trades. The players in blue are currently with the Leafs. The players in green are picks still in the Leaf system. The ones in red are the players picked up in trades for draft picks.
| | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| Round 1 | Andrew Raycroft | Phillippe Paradis | Veas Toskala | Luke Schenn | Nazem Kadri |
| Round 2 | Brian Leetch | Nikolai Kulemin | Vesa Toskala | James Hayes | Kenny Ryan Jesse Blacker |
| Round 3 | Phil Oreskovic | Jeff O’Neill | Dale Mitchell | Jamal Mayers | Jamie Devane |
| Round 4 | Ron Francis | James Reimer Korbinian Holzer | Matt Frattin Ben Winnett | Mikhail Stefanovich | Vesa Toskala |
| Round 5 | Alex Berry | Luke Richardson | Juraj Mikus | Greg Pateryn Joel Champagne Jerome Flaake | Eric Knodel |
| Round 6 | John Pohl | Viktor Stalberg Tyler Ruegsegger Leo Komarov | Chris DiDomenico | Grant Rollheiser | Jerry D’Amigo |
| Round 7 | | Chris Frank Benn Ferriero | Carl Gunnarsson | Andrew MacWilliam | Barron Smith |
McDonalds fires employee over extra cheese slice
A McDonald's outlet in the Netherlands was wrong to sack an employee for giving a colleague a piece of cheese on a hamburger, a court has ruled.
The waitress was fired last March after she sold a hamburger to a co-worker who then asked for cheese, which she added.
The fast-food chain argued this turned the hamburger into a cheeseburger, and so she should have charged more.
But Leeuwarden district court ruled a written warning would have been more appropriate. McDonald's was ordered to pay the former employee more than $5,900 for the last five months of her contract.
The fast-food chain had argued that the waitress - who was employed at a branch in the northern town of Lemmer - had broken staff rules prohibiting free gifts to family, friends or colleagues.
But the court said in its written judgment: "The dismissal was too severe a measure. It is just a slice of cheese."
The waitress was fired last March after she sold a hamburger to a co-worker who then asked for cheese, which she added.
The fast-food chain argued this turned the hamburger into a cheeseburger, and so she should have charged more.
But Leeuwarden district court ruled a written warning would have been more appropriate. McDonald's was ordered to pay the former employee more than $5,900 for the last five months of her contract.
The fast-food chain had argued that the waitress - who was employed at a branch in the northern town of Lemmer - had broken staff rules prohibiting free gifts to family, friends or colleagues.
But the court said in its written judgment: "The dismissal was too severe a measure. It is just a slice of cheese."
I still don't believe he made this shot
The prank was set up perfectly. A high school girls' basketball coach in Kansas was told he'd win tickets to the Final Four if he hit a half-court shot while blindfolded. The crowd was instructed to scream wildly when his attempt inevitably failed (because, really, that shot is nearly impossible) so the coach would think the shot went in. For an instant ,he'd think he was Final-Four-bound and then the joke would be revealed. There was just one problem, though: He made it.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
How to Prevent your Maryland Auto Insurance from being Cancelled
Do you have a Maryland Auto Insurance policy that has been cancelled? Then, there are many questions that might be coming to your mind: like why this did happen to me? And how can I avoid this happening in the future? Here are some helpful tips on how to avoid getting your auto insurance cancelled by your insurance company and what you can do about it if this happens to you. The most common reason for being cancelled by your auto insurance company is the failure to make payments of premiums before the due date. One thing to remember is that the due date is the last day of the billing cycle. Therefore always make sure to make the payment before 12 A.M of the due date.
Once the insurance policy is cancelled, a lapse in policy is generated. The consequence is your insurance company may not cover any claims that arise as a result of an accident that occurs during the lapse period. Therefore, pay your premium immediately when you receive a cancellation notice. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE DURING THE LAPSE PERIOD.
The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) receives notices of vehicles with lapsed policies. The MVA at some point will send you a notifice of the uninsured periods of your vehicle(s). They will request that you submit a Maryland Insurance Certification (FR-19) form to certify that your vehicle was covered during the lapse period and impose a penalty in the form a fine for the number of lapse days. In some instances they may even suspend your license until the fine is paid.
One of the benefits of having a knowledgeable auto insurance agent, is that they will call to remind you of the payment due date and help you to avoid being late on your payment. When looking for a new auto insurance agent, ask them what procedures they have in place to help you avoid being dropped by your auto insurance company? Then, listen. You will know who you need to be working with to protect yourself and your family.
Components of a Basic Auto Policy
If you plan to drive a car, ensure you understand everything about car insurance. Driving a car is a necessity these days for most people. Accidents occur everyday and even a minor accident can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Auto insurance provides coverage against physical damage and bodily injuries sustained due to an accident. If you are new to auto insurance, it may seem complicated, but as a matter of fact, the basics of auto insurance are very simple and easy to understand.
No Keys—And Other Cost Effective Ways to Insure Teen Drivers
There’s no denying that statistics about teenage drivers are grim. Sixteen year-olds are involved in accidents at least six times more often than drivers between the ages of 30 and 59. And car crashes remain the leading killer of people between the ages of 15 and 20. And by adding your 16 year-old son to your auto insurance policy, you are generously helping to finance your agent’s vacation.
Gather Your Information before Getting Your Quote
There are several bits of information that can really affect the quote you get for Alabama automobile insurance. Before you start collecting quotes, make sure you have social security numbers for every driver in the household. While it's not a requirement to provide this for a quote, it will be for you to have the policy issued. If you don't provide it, your quote may be less than the actual cost of the policy because most insurance companies will base your rates on your credit report. You also want to make sure you supply the VIN number to your vehicle. If you don't list the model correctly on your vehicle, your quote might not be accurate either.
Alabama auto insurance.
Not only can you be subject to tickets, fines, and even having your driving privileges suspended, you may find that the medical bills and the vehicle repair costs are more than you can ever hope to pay. You need insurance, but where can you find affordable Alabama auto insurance? Here are some tips for finding a great rate from a reputable company.
Reasonable Auto Insurance Online With No Difficulty
Have you gazed very intimately at the easiness that online shopping brings into your actions? It creates shopping for auto insurance extremely easy and reachable to all. This doesn’t on the other hand mean that you are not capable of going with reference to it because citizens still go for auto insurance online and wind up being sorry for their choice that makes them forever cautious of online buys for the reason that you have to discover to detach the real things from the numerous rubbish flying around the network space.
The initial thing to be advised is that you build up your intellect to be unprejudiced and is not taken in by charming promises. Whatever thing you would tone with have to make logic to you. It’s hilarious how we several times put our common sense aside when in particular circumstances not identifying that we can attain lots by applying this usual understanding even as we rummage around for a reasonable auto insurance coverage.
Be confident to compare in the midst of several insurers by going through the quotations sites. It would be good to compare five quotes or more if you could handle.
Monday, January 25, 2010
International Auto Insurance
As international travel becomes more prevalent and more frequent due to outsourcning and global business opportunities, many people find themselves in need of international insurance, in particular auto insurance. Please enjoy this article on the importance of obtaining international auto insurance when you travel abroad.
In today’s world-wide marketplace, businessmen need to conduct transactions and address business concerns regarding foreign countries, requiring trips and accommodations abroad as an accepted part of their work. International visits can be short or extended, depending on the reason for the visit. Longer stays, of course mean more expensive and more extensive living arrangements, commodities, and also the purchase of international insurance. For shorter visits you may also need a new insurance.
It’s important to procure proper insurance, such as international auto insurance, when your current insurance company won’t cover you abroad.
Most people, especially working people, consider personal transportation to be a necessity. These people do not want to squander time or money by utilizing unfamiliar local transportation that is not covered under insurance and cannot ensure protection. If you are renting an auto, buying a vehicle, or moving your own car to a different country, you will definitely need the right car insurance to cover the whole process, which is based on the local driving law and regulations on insurance.
Even though coverage requirements and laws are different for each country, you can easily purchase quality international auto insurance. You can purchase additional coverage in the country you are traveling to.
Although, while being abroad, international auto insurance will normally provide you with enough coverage, some countries, like Mexico for example, require you to buy a specific insurance in the country itself.
You should also get additional international auto insurance as a vehicle passenger, which you will most likely find yourself as at on point or another, especially those that will cover medical costs in cases of accidents or personal bodily injuries. Taking a cab can end up costing a lot more than just the fare and tip in some nations. There are many countries, like Korea, which do not require limousine or cab companies (or anyone else for that matter) to carry insurance on the passengers. This means, that if you are the passenger, in an event of an accident the driver is not required to pay for your medical expenditures. It is best to additional insurance as a passenger just to be safe.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Insurance Save Money
Many people pay more money than they need to on auto insurance. They don’t bother to compare free auto insurance quotes online from different car insurance companies, an easy and convenient process. Even when renewing auto insurance, renewal quotes can help to save a great amount of money.
When searching online for free insurance quotes, you may come across some beneficial money saving tips about installation of security systems, tracking devices, etc. You can get an appreciable amount of discount from auto insurance companies with these devices. Many Auto Insurance companies also insist you install these devices for more expensive insurance plans.
Your auto insurance premium decreases by altering the excess amount that you were paying. It will decrease the cost by decreasing the voluntary amount that you are willing to pay. You can also reduce your premium plans by contributing much in case of claims. Additionally, You can reduce the amount by reducing the amount of extra offers associated with your policy. If the car insurance company has to pay less in case of claim, your cost will also be less.
Car maintenance also alters your car insurance. If you are parking your car overnight in garage, it will make a big impact on premium rates, as there will be less chances of theft. During a drive, parking properly will reduce the chance of accidental damage thus will save the exceeding amount for premium.
Another auto insurance savings tip is mentioning only the names of regular drivers. Try to mention fewer names in the list as it also saves money. Moreover adding the names of young and nexperienced drivers can increase your insurance rates, as auto insurance companies will consider total premium against the youngest driver.
Saving the no-claims bonus may also reduce the amount of premium after a few years. Car Insurance Companies offer a big discount in the case of safe drivers. If you are a strict follower of driving rules and regulations, auto insurance companies may decide to reduce your rates.
Before buying a new car, you should consult your car insurance company regarding the car, as model affects your auto insurance rates. Performance model may lead to big premium insurance plans while lower models may save a significant amount of money.
Lastly, auto insurance rates vary according to driving experienced. If you are an experienced driver, you pay much lower than a younger and inexperienced driver. You should also list any driving certificates you have when applying for auto insurance. This article incorporates “How to Save Money on Car Insurance”Easy Way to Obtain Auto Insurance Rating
Although the internet would give us a lot of benefits and easiness, it sometimes gives us the opposite effects. We may cannot deal with the large numbers of results every time we try to find something there especially for auto insurance rating. Find an appropriate auto insurance is not as simple as other online shopping activity. It will take us more time that sometimes stressful and requires a lot of researches as well as contacting one company to another. So far, that is only what we can do. It is way so easy rather than visiting insurance company offices and get unsatisfied policies. Besides that, you can do your research while you are in spare time. And remember, there is no obligation.
The most basic important thing when you are hunting (or shopping) for auto insurance rating is to get the quotes for you to compare. This is usually free and you just need to sign up first. Thanks to the Internet, by using the internet you are about to save time because you will get the chance to get multiple quotes from one single website. Your task then is to compare one to another until you find one that suitable for you. It is time to check the customer complaint ratios of the insurance company you are interested in. You can do this by contacting state’s department of insurance. If there is no problem at all, you may go visit the company’s to consult further.
Do not being trapped in “big name”, it does not mean that they are good in partner with you. It is very recommended to check the consumer complaint ratios at Department of Insurance before you make any decision. Indeed, it is true that finding auto insurance rating will take more times. But if you make a good researches and findings, your wasted times will worth after all.
I suggest you check out my other guide on term life insurance online and home warranty insurance.
Auto Insurance: Why do I need auto insurance coverage
Auto Insurance: Why do I need auto insurance coverage
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Corporate Jets to Congress
Years back, I took a tour of Glessner House/ museum on Prairie Avenue, in Chicago. The house, designed for Glessner, one of the founders of International Harvester, had etchings showing his factory with smoke stack pouring out black smoke. If he were CEO today, he would never fill his study with pictures showing-off the large amount of waste-product his company was generating; but back in 1886, it was a status-symbol.
Times Change.........
JONATHAN BERR wrote about how he thought that
Wall Street Has Many Things to Be Sorry About -- Just Not Corporate Jets
[However, amenities aside, there is a sound business reason for big-shot executives to use corporate jets. Oftentimes, it's the most practical way for CEOs to get from one place to another. The aviation system used by most of the public is not always a suitable alternative for these fliers. It can't get them to the places they need to be in a timely manner. As a taxpayer, I would rather have Dimon and Moynihan show up at an important hearing than be stuck at an airport somewhere.]
Yes, I get the idea that CEOs of major corporations expect lavish perks, I understand the concept that if a corporation want's to compete for the "Best talent" they are going to have to compete against other companies willing to provide the perks. I even understand the argument that if you divide the CEO's seven-figure salary by the 50 hours they work per week, the saving in time more than offsets the cost of the chartered flight. What is being missed is the symbolism.
People are hurting. The economy, while improved from the dooms-day predictions" of a year ago; still has America facing 10% unemployment, and many small business in a "Life VS Death struggle" to survive. People understand the massive burden placed on our nation's future, our children's future, based on the mountain of debt we carry personally, and the government carries on our behalf. The American taxpayer, the American consumer remembers the unprecedented $750 Billion dollars of infusion capital the Bush Administration asked for and received and how that money was handed out to our largest banks and financial institutions.
O.K., If that is what it took to stabilize our economy; then so be it; but if your company was the precipitant of some of that money; DON"T SHOW UP TO CONGRESS IN A FRIGGIN PRIVATE JET.
On “Hannity’s America,” called-out Al Gore for flying on a private jet, while lecturing to all the world about the dangers of Global Climate
"In short, flying in a private jet does more than four times the carbon emission damage to the environment than flying a regular commercial jet. So if you were worried about your quote-unquote "carbon footprint" on the environment, and if you are concerned about carbon neutrality, the last thing that you should be doing is flying on private jets. Sit in coach, you might save a polar bear".
As I wrote in an earlier piece, If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I understand compared to the scale of the problem, that Gore's flights have no impact, or that the cost of the private jets had no impact on the financial meltdown. Based on the large salaries these executives are making, it is not unreasonable to expect them to have the savvy to understand that showing up to congress in your Gulf Stream Jet; is like pulling up to work in a new Ferrari on the same day your laying-off 20% of your company’s work force. It is not enough just to make the case that corporations can justify giving their powerful wealthy executives enormous perks, or that they can construct the math in a way to prove the savings in time might justify the expense.
Larry Lubell
Urban News
Times Change.........
JONATHAN BERR wrote about how he thought that
Wall Street Has Many Things to Be Sorry About -- Just Not Corporate Jets
[However, amenities aside, there is a sound business reason for big-shot executives to use corporate jets. Oftentimes, it's the most practical way for CEOs to get from one place to another. The aviation system used by most of the public is not always a suitable alternative for these fliers. It can't get them to the places they need to be in a timely manner. As a taxpayer, I would rather have Dimon and Moynihan show up at an important hearing than be stuck at an airport somewhere.]
Yes, I get the idea that CEOs of major corporations expect lavish perks, I understand the concept that if a corporation want's to compete for the "Best talent" they are going to have to compete against other companies willing to provide the perks. I even understand the argument that if you divide the CEO's seven-figure salary by the 50 hours they work per week, the saving in time more than offsets the cost of the chartered flight. What is being missed is the symbolism.
People are hurting. The economy, while improved from the dooms-day predictions" of a year ago; still has America facing 10% unemployment, and many small business in a "Life VS Death struggle" to survive. People understand the massive burden placed on our nation's future, our children's future, based on the mountain of debt we carry personally, and the government carries on our behalf. The American taxpayer, the American consumer remembers the unprecedented $750 Billion dollars of infusion capital the Bush Administration asked for and received and how that money was handed out to our largest banks and financial institutions.
O.K., If that is what it took to stabilize our economy; then so be it; but if your company was the precipitant of some of that money; DON"T SHOW UP TO CONGRESS IN A FRIGGIN PRIVATE JET.
On “Hannity’s America,” called-out Al Gore for flying on a private jet, while lecturing to all the world about the dangers of Global Climate
"In short, flying in a private jet does more than four times the carbon emission damage to the environment than flying a regular commercial jet. So if you were worried about your quote-unquote "carbon footprint" on the environment, and if you are concerned about carbon neutrality, the last thing that you should be doing is flying on private jets. Sit in coach, you might save a polar bear".
As I wrote in an earlier piece, If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I understand compared to the scale of the problem, that Gore's flights have no impact, or that the cost of the private jets had no impact on the financial meltdown. Based on the large salaries these executives are making, it is not unreasonable to expect them to have the savvy to understand that showing up to congress in your Gulf Stream Jet; is like pulling up to work in a new Ferrari on the same day your laying-off 20% of your company’s work force. It is not enough just to make the case that corporations can justify giving their powerful wealthy executives enormous perks, or that they can construct the math in a way to prove the savings in time might justify the expense.
Larry Lubell
Urban News
Help the Earthquake Victims in Haiti
An overnight 7.0 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti- has the pontential to leave more than one hundred thousand people dead- and an untold number of families homeless.
We can all remember back to the death, destruction and general horror that was Katrina. A death-toll so large that it stretched our ability to truly comprehend. Years have passed, yet New Orleans is still wearing the visible scars, and any sense of normalcy, can still be years away.
It is with that in mind, that we read about the devastation that occurred today of the island nation of Haiti. it is truly impossible to grasp what it means to hear of Hundreds of thousands are feared dead in the wake of the 7.0 -magnitude earthquake. Haiti, already the poorest nation in the hemisphere, has few resources to even begin the long task ahead.
Click below for a list of licks to help.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/544/help-the-earthquake-victims-in-haiti.html
Together, we can make a difference.
We can all remember back to the death, destruction and general horror that was Katrina. A death-toll so large that it stretched our ability to truly comprehend. Years have passed, yet New Orleans is still wearing the visible scars, and any sense of normalcy, can still be years away.
It is with that in mind, that we read about the devastation that occurred today of the island nation of Haiti. it is truly impossible to grasp what it means to hear of Hundreds of thousands are feared dead in the wake of the 7.0 -magnitude earthquake. Haiti, already the poorest nation in the hemisphere, has few resources to even begin the long task ahead.
Click below for a list of licks to help.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/insurance-articles/544/help-the-earthquake-victims-in-haiti.html
Together, we can make a difference.
When in doubt- Don't Panic
The simple truth is nothing causes panic quicker than being presented with figures that you can't trust.
This is particularly true in challenging financial times and additionally relevant following on the heals of the "Popping of the Housing bubble." We are going through a time when we are all paying closer attention to "The numbers" that companies are posting. We, as a whole, are additionally skeptical of the figures corporations are reporting, and are automatically "Shaving-off" a percentage of the "Good- news" while listening closely to an hint of a possible down-turn.
In this "New-World-Order, none of us want to get caught in the next "Bubble" or invest with the next Madoff. This has heightened our sense that "No News = Bad News." When faced with a company that is seen as holding-back on information, more than ever we will assume the worst. As a result, a company that might be reluctant to admit small financial losses; concerned the information will lower their stock price, will instead be met by a weary public that fears the "Real-Numbers" are far worse.
Insurers’ providing inadequate financial reporting trying to down-play a 10% drop, could hurt them-selves more by stirring uncertainty about their financial condition; and stoke fear that they are the next AIG.
Rating companies, reinsurance companies, investors and the public at large, are smart enough to expect a company to face challenges, especially in difficult times. What is most important in creating confidence, is to convince the public that your figures are solid, real and that you understand, and are willing to do what it takes to return to profitability. If the market can't trust the numbers your reporting, or there is a reporting vacuum, your company will the impact caused by the resulting panic.
This is particularly true in challenging financial times and additionally relevant following on the heals of the "Popping of the Housing bubble." We are going through a time when we are all paying closer attention to "The numbers" that companies are posting. We, as a whole, are additionally skeptical of the figures corporations are reporting, and are automatically "Shaving-off" a percentage of the "Good- news" while listening closely to an hint of a possible down-turn.
In this "New-World-Order, none of us want to get caught in the next "Bubble" or invest with the next Madoff. This has heightened our sense that "No News = Bad News." When faced with a company that is seen as holding-back on information, more than ever we will assume the worst. As a result, a company that might be reluctant to admit small financial losses; concerned the information will lower their stock price, will instead be met by a weary public that fears the "Real-Numbers" are far worse.
Insurers’ providing inadequate financial reporting trying to down-play a 10% drop, could hurt them-selves more by stirring uncertainty about their financial condition; and stoke fear that they are the next AIG.
Rating companies, reinsurance companies, investors and the public at large, are smart enough to expect a company to face challenges, especially in difficult times. What is most important in creating confidence, is to convince the public that your figures are solid, real and that you understand, and are willing to do what it takes to return to profitability. If the market can't trust the numbers your reporting, or there is a reporting vacuum, your company will the impact caused by the resulting panic.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Auto Car Insurance Quotes
Auto Car Insurance Quotes can vary from person to person. There are many factors that are taken into account when setting up a car insurance policy such as what kind of car auto insurance you have, what kind of company you are buying the online auto insurance quotes from, how much coverage you want, what your driving record is and even where you live. It's important to set a budget for yourself to know how much you can afford to spend on instant auto insurance quotes. It's also important to know what type of coverage you will need for your car. You don't want a policy that gives you coverage you don't actually need.
Do some research to see what kind of policies are out there and make a list of the features that you feel are absolutely necessary for you to have in black and white. Take your time to make sure that you have listed everything you need. This is the only way to compare what insurance companies are offering right now that apply to you.
Once you have this information you can start comparing insurance rate quotes from different companies to see how much each company will charge you for the same type of coverage. Some companies will offer better types of coverage with certain vehicles than others. If you have a bad driving record it will impact on the premiums you need to pay for your policy every month. There is unfortunately not much to be done about it but to be a more considerate driver in the future. Eventually you will begin to save money as your policy progresses. Kick start the process by comparing car insurance rate quotes.
The area you reside in can have a strong influence on auto car company insurance rate quotes. If you live in an area that has submitted a lot of claims over the last several months, your premium is likely to be higher. This is especially true of areas that have a higher crime rate and car break-in incidences.
homeowners insurance companiesmedical health insurance
home owner insurance rate
Make A Car Insurance Claim
It’s all very well knowing how to get cheaper car insurance and how to find the right policy but what if the time comes when you actually need to use your motor insurance. Would you be confident in knowing what steps to take when making a car insurance claim?Every year, insurance companies process thousands of car insurance claims and pay out millions of pounds to people whose cars have been the victim of theft or damage. Even more is paid out to motorists involved in accidents on the roads.
Whether its personal injury or the theft or damage of a vehicle the process of claiming on your motor insurance policy can be a stressful one. To make things easier here is our guide to making a car insurance claim.
- The first step is to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible after the event. Most insurers have a 24hr number you can call so use that to reach the right person more quickly.
- If your claim is crime related such as theft, damage or vandalism immediately report the crime to the police and take note of your incident number. Should a police investigation result in any prosecutions your insurer will need to know the incident number.
- Write down all the details concerning the incident and refer to these notes when making your written claim.
- Be sure that your version of events is accurate and consistent. Changing your story further down the line could arouse suspicions that jeopardise your claim.
- Get all the help and information you need from your car insurance company to support your claim. Don’t be afraid to ask your insurer questions as its essential to have all the correct documentation and evidence to back up your car insurance claim.
- Retain any documentation relating to your claim in a safe and secure place and ensure that your insurance company can contact you easily.
- Keep copies of any communication regarding your claim; be they letters, emails or telephone conversations and take the name of any person you speak with.
- Before going ahead with any repairs to your vehicle you need to get absolute verification on the status of your claim. Until your insurer confirms they will cover the price of repair you are accountable for all costs.
- If your car requires repair most insurers will recommend a garage where the repairs will be guaranteed for a specified period of time. If you take your vehicle in for repair yourself there is a good chance the cost will not be covered by your insurance company.
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Common Misspellings
Shopping for your car insurance online can be a great way to save time and money. However, if you decide to start the process by visiting a search engine take the time to enter your search query correctly.Misspelling your search query can affect the quality of the sites returned in your results. Here are the top ten most common misspellings made by people searching for car insurance:
Car insurence
Car insureance
Car insurace
Car insurnace
Car insuranc
Car insurnce
Car insurane
Car isurance
Car incurance
Car insuarance
While Google and other search engines work to return the most relevant results following a misspelt entry they are not infallible. So if you want to look for your new policy via a search engine then type carefully, or just click this link car insurance.
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Is Your Car Insurance Claim Rejected?
Recently we covered how motorists can best deal with the situation of making a car insurance claim. But what if your insurer rejects the claim, what should you do then?It is not uncommon for insurance companies to either reject a motor insurance claim or reduce the payments they make.
There are several factors that can trigger such as event:
- Your insurer may come to the conclusion that you were largely (or even entirely) at fault if your claim is related to a theft from the vehicle or of the vehicle itself
- Your car insurance policy may contain a clause witch invalidates the claim
- It is decided the claim should be settled under another policy such as your home contents insurance (particularly in the case of theft from the vehicle)
- You provided information that was untruthful or inaccurate
- You are unable to provide receipts to backup claims of theft of items from your vehicle
- The book price of the car is considerably less than the money you've invested in restoration or enhancements
Insurance companies often use this extremely wooly approach to sharing information to justify rejecting or downscaling claims. Should this situation arise with your car insurance claim there are some important points to remember:
- The small print of your policy carries a lot of weight; study it thoroughly before, during and after your claim (and ideally before taking out a policy in the first place)
- Keeping accurate records of conversations and correspondence along with receipts can make a huge difference in backing up your claim as well as the eventual success of your claim
- The payout figure announced by your insurance company is not set in stone. Rather than just accept the amount on offer you are perfectly entitled to question the payout and put forward you case for why it should be increased
The FOS acts as an independent arbitrator to resolve conflicts between insurance companies and customers, they deal with thousands of complaints every year.
The first step in complaining to the FOS is to confirm your car insurance claim has been dealt with in full by your insurance company. You can raise your complaint with the FOS once your insurer has provided a letter or final response to your complaint or has failed to do so within eight weeks.
If you need the assistance of the Finance Ombudsman Service to help with your car insurance claim visit their website http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/
Delays in resolving a car insurance claim can lead to massive disruption in people’s lives. Hopefully this post will help make your next claim run more smoothly. We all need help from time-to-time so please don’t be discouraged from contacting the FOS for support with your claim.
We hope you enjoyed reading the car insurance blog. For free updates on new posts grab our RSS feed.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Tragedi Google Pagerank Update Pada Tanggal 2 Januari 2010
Pada tanggal 2 Januari 2010 tanpa didisangka dan diduga ternyata Google melakukan Update Pagerank. Sehingga membuat banyak Website di seluruh dunia mengalami kenaikan ataupun penurunan Pagerank dan untuk saat ini saya selaku pemilik Blog Fbycom termasuk orang yang berbahagia karena Blog sampah yang saya miliki yaitu Trading Forex naik menjadi PR 1 yang semula memiliki PR 0.
Lose The Mods For Cheaper Auto Insurance
If you are looking for ways to make savings on the cost of your motor insurance, modifications (or “mods”) can be a great place to start.
Adding these extras to your vehicle can result in your car insurance premium increasing by hundreds of pounds.
While many motoring enthusiasts are willing to accept this added expense in order to indulge their passion it is always worth considering whether or not it is really necessary for you.
Many of the car insurance comparison sites now factor modifications into their quoting process. So if you are considering adding mods to your car why not play about with a few comparisons and see the difference they can make to your quote.
You may find that adding mods will make your car insurance unaffordable or that removing them could result in a nice saving. Either way it only costs ten minutes of your time to find out.
Finally don’t forget to keep your insurance provider informed. If you remove modifications let them know as it could lower your premium. Most importantly, if you add mods after taking out a policy tell your insurer immediately. Failure to do so could result in your policy being invalid in the event of making a claim.
So, rethink those mods and see what savings you could make!
Norwich Union’s Price Check Brings Price Comparison
Following on from Norwich Union’s decision to withdraw from price comparison sites the Aviva company has now announced the launch of Price Check; it’s in-house car insurance comparison service.
If you request a car insurance quote from Norwich Union via its website or over the phone they will now provide you will alternative quote from other car insurance providers, even if they are cheaper than their own.
The move is certainly a unique one, there are very few businesses who will actively promote its competitors services.
The reactions seen in Norwich Union’s TV campaign to promote Happy’s Price Check reflect this extremely well.
Whether or not this offer strikes the right note with customers remains to be seen. It should also be interesting to see if any other insurers decide to follow suit and what impact (if any) this has on price comparison sites operating in the UK motor insurance market.
First reactions would suggest several price comparison sites are unimpressed with the Price Check service; gocompare.com, confused.com and insurancewide.com all had interesting views.
Will this move pay off for Norwich Union? Do price comparison sites have anything to fear or is this just some flash in the pan? We’d love to hear your thoughts about Happy’s Price Check.
We hope you enjoyed reading the car insurance blog. For updates on new posts grab our RSS feed.
If you request a car insurance quote from Norwich Union via its website or over the phone they will now provide you will alternative quote from other car insurance providers, even if they are cheaper than their own.
The move is certainly a unique one, there are very few businesses who will actively promote its competitors services.
The reactions seen in Norwich Union’s TV campaign to promote Happy’s Price Check reflect this extremely well.
Whether or not this offer strikes the right note with customers remains to be seen. It should also be interesting to see if any other insurers decide to follow suit and what impact (if any) this has on price comparison sites operating in the UK motor insurance market.
First reactions would suggest several price comparison sites are unimpressed with the Price Check service; gocompare.com, confused.com and insurancewide.com all had interesting views.
Will this move pay off for Norwich Union? Do price comparison sites have anything to fear or is this just some flash in the pan? We’d love to hear your thoughts about Happy’s Price Check.
We hope you enjoyed reading the car insurance blog. For updates on new posts grab our RSS feed.
Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy for http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/
If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at jonotonk@gmail.com.
At http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
Commission Junction
Widget Bucks
Adbrite
Clickbank
Azoogle
Chitika
Linkshare
Amazon
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These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.
If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at jonotonk@gmail.com.
At http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ and how it is used.
Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.
Cookies and Web Beacons
http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.
DoubleClick DART Cookie
.:: Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/.
.:: Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to users based on their visit to http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ and other sites on the Internet.
.:: Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....
Google Adsense
Commission Junction
Widget Bucks
Adbrite
Clickbank
Azoogle
Chitika
Linkshare
Amazon
Kontera
These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.
http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://automotive-insurancs.blogspot.com/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.
If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.
Norwich Union Car Insurance
Insurance giant Norwich Union has taken the decision to pull its motor insurance policies from car insurance comparison sites. This means you can only get a Norwich Union car insurance quote directly from norwichunion.com
In a move that mirrors the stance taken by Direct Line if you search for car insurance on one of the UK's many price comparison sites you won't be able to see quotes from Norwich Union and compare them against other insurance companies.
Director of Marketing at Norwich Union, David Tyers, said: "We think direct should mean direct. As a brand with 200 years behind it, we think that customers trust us."
Given the continued success of price comparison sites this is a bold move. Not being visible to people who use these services is not without risk. On the upside Norwich Union will avoid having to pay fees for customer referrals. In a time when the global credit crunch is biting any saving a company can make will be welcomed. Whether or not this turns out to be a good decision, only time will tell.
The move has, unsurprisingly, received criticism from some price comparison sites including confused.com, gocompare.com and insurancewide.com.
All this arguing aside the only point that really matters is how this affects car insurance customers. We all want a policy that offers a sensible level of cover but we don't want to pay over the odds.
If more insurance companies join Norwich Union and Direct Line in boycotting price comparison sites it means more time spent shopping around to find quotes, making it more difficult for customers to find the best deals.
If more insurance companies join Norwich Union and Direct Line in boycotting price comparison sites it means more time spent shopping around to find quotes, making it more difficult for customers to find the best deals.
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