A little off-the-beaten-path insurance news today:

According to an AP story (made available today on InsuranceJournal.com), a national company that insured Montana's jockeys (and no, I'm not talking about underpants) has dropped coverage on all four of the state's race tracks. The Montana tracks were just four of 19 tracks in the U.S. that lost jockey coverage, said Scot Meader who is the director of the Missoula County Fairgrounds in Montana.

The news has been made especially bittersweet as Montana's governor recently included $350,000 in the state's two-year budget for horse racing.

Even if another insurer stepped in to insure the jockeys, chances are the policy premiums would be much too steep. According to the AP, Meader received one quote from a California insurer who put premiums as high as $8,000 to $10,000 per day, compared with $2,000 per race day for this year. Accident deductibles have also jumped, which hits the Missoula track in a soft spot as they've had "quite a few jockey injuries and claims in the past five years."

Horse racing has been approved for 2006 reports the AP, but the state has yet to make a formal decision about the 2007 racing season; the Missoula County Fair Commission has asked Meader to try and secure another jockey insurance provider.

For now, the four Montana tracks will work together to find a jockey insurance provider. In the meantime, the future of Montana horse racing will hang in the balance. Buck Smith, who is chairman of the fair commission, told the AP that come January, "If we've exhausted every possibility for jockey insurance and there is none, there is no decision to be made."

Race lovers can check out the full story courtesy of IJ, here. (And yes, our statistician Peter D. moonlights as a jockey.)

Posted by Megan Mahan at 02:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Maybe robot insurance isn't just silly joke fodder.

According to this recent MSN tech article, an estimated 39 million households could include robots by the end of the decade.

CNET also has a great FAQ article about robots. Check it out to learn what robots are doing now, and what they could be doing in the future. It also wouldn't hurt to learn the difference between a robot and an android. Just for future reference.

With all the new robot technology, I figure there's got to be some insurer out there calculating the risk of a robot gone haywire. I've seen all three Terminator movies. I'm aware of the possibilities. :)

Posted by Megan Mahan at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Because you never know when robots will strike...and eat your medicine for fuel.

Thanks to our affiliate Brian M. for passing this along!

Posted by Megan Mahan at 11:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
 

If you're anything like me, you've gasped, laughed, shrieked, and cried over the Jackass crew. And with their second movie, Jackass: Number Two, hitting theaters this week, star Johnny Knoxville said the group had insurance on the brain this time around.

Knoxville et al. said they were certain they were going to die during the Jackass sequel, and therefore asked studio execs to shell out $7 million in insurance coverage to protect them. According to Starpulse.com, the precautions weren't unwarrented—Knoxville said he nearly died during the soon-to-be-infamous rocket-launching stunt.

"When the rocket exploded in one stunt—there was like a foot-long metal rod that went right out next to my side. It was close!" said the Jackass star.

Director Jeff Tremain agreed, adding that when they watched the playback of the rocket stunt, the frame by frame footage showed the rocket casings shooting out the back and side, barely missing Knoxville's torso. Tremain also explained how he went about asking the studio for the insurance money.

"The studio is like, well what do you need $7 million for? And I'm like well, you've got to insure these guys! You know. The tapes cost $7. The cameras are about $2,000. After that, it's all insurance!"

Makes you wonder if said studio execs had ever watched five minutes of Jackass in their lives...or if they just leapt at the chance to invest in something that the kids would go crazy for. Otherwise, insurance would have been foremost on their minds.

So, before you attempt to wrestle an anaconda in a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit...contact the movie's studio reps to find out who agreed to insure these jackasses pranksters.

[Source]: Exposay
[Hat tip]: The Insurance Coverage Blog

Posted by Megan Mahan at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

O.k., so Mariah Carey's very public leg-insurance policy is old news. But Carey's attention-grabbing stunt does bring up an interesting blog post topic: The Body-Part-Insurance Publicity Stunt. (We'll get to how this relates to your insurance needs later.)

According to Slate's Daniel Engber, among the more popular body-part insurance ploys are the purported million-dollar policies on Michael Flatly's legs, J-Lo's posterior, and somewhat recently, Mimi's legs.

The celebrity world and the insurance world usually run along two parallel paths (the point being that they don't intersect, not that they're similar). The Insurance Publicity Stunt is the rare occasion when the twain bend to meet each other.

It's an exciting thing for a person in the insurance business. Think about it: stars using insurance (insurance) to get the attention of the press! Who says insurance is boring?!

Continue reading "Are Mimi's Legs Really Worth a Billion Dollars?" »

Posted by Jeb Foster at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Call me crazy, but I say that if you're a wealthy rap star and can afford a Lamborghini, you can afford to buy auto insurance. Fiddy also neglected to register his car and didn't have a license, according to MSN.

Ok, I'm guilty of pimping the 50 Cent story to lure you into reading this less shiny but far more important story about children and healthcare.

Here are the depressing numbers: There 10 million uninsured children in the U.S., according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(Call me crazy, but I say that if you're the world's only superpower ... )

A new study from the September issue of Pediatrics finds that Hispanic children make up nearly a third of the total.

The study finds that children with parents who aren't U.S. citizens, have little income and experience difficulty making appointments are much more likely to go without medical care.

Insure Kids Now!, a Dept. of Health and Human Services program, offers some comfort to parents who are waiting to hear about their immigration status: according to their Web site, enrolling your child for health insurance through the State Children's Health Insurance Program or Medicaid will not, in most cases, adversely affect your chances at citizenship or residency.

The site doesn't, however, offer much comfort to parents who are here illegally. That's a shame. I don't care what side of the immigration debate you're on, I think it's unconscionable to have a system where parents are afraid to get care for their kids.

[Links]:
http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org/
http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/

Posted by Jeb Foster at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)
 

People have strong opinions about insurance.

When it comes to South Asian Islamic clerics' feelings about life insurance, that's a bit of an understatement.

According to an Associated Press story, a prominent Islamic seminary in India has denounced the practice of buying life insurance. Clerics at the seminary say it violates Islamic law.

"Life is given by Allah and to insure it or assure it, is a crime in the eyes of Allah," clerics at the Dar-ul-Uloom seminary told the AP.

The seminary issued its directive on Aug. 7, saying "insurance is not permissible because it is a sort of gambling. Moreover, it also involves interest money which is illegal under Shariat." (Shariat = Islamic law).

Read the entire story.

Posted by Jeb Foster at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

How does that Alanis Morissette song go? "It's like rain on your wedding day...." --which would be awful by the way, but less so if you had the foresight to purchase wedding or weather insurance. Several insurance companies have found a niche providing coverage for those quirks of fate, such as rained-out vacations, ruined wedding gowns and untimely kidnappings.

As strange as wedding insurance sounds, it's sort of genius. With the average cost of a U.S. wedding running upwards of $27,000, it may make sense to insure it against unforeseen events. Wedding insurance can protect against inclement weather, illness or injury, missing officiates or vendors and your location. How much is your peace of mind worth? If you said between $125 and $500, this type of insurance may be for you.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), kidnapping for ransom is on the rise. Picking up on the trend, many insurers have begun to offer insurance should such a tragedy occur. Mostly purchased by businesses, kidnap and ransom insurance is also available on an individual basis and even offered as part of homeowners' policies by a few companies. It covers things like hostage negotiation fees, lost wages and the ransom amount. However, the insurance company can't legally pay the kidnappers directly.

Continue reading "Insuring For Anything" »

Posted by maribeth neelis at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

It's been a busy morning here at InsureMe, as we are about embark upon our quarterly, company-wide meeting. And with little news going on in the insurance world this morning, I present to you something that may come in handy for a weekend trip: The self-pitching tent.

Quecha is behind this great camping invention; upon throwing it in the air, the tent fully deploys before it reaches the ground. Amazing. And it can be yours for a mere $83.

Have a good weekend, everyone. See you on Monday.

[Hat tip]: TechEBlog

Posted by Megan Mahan at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

I think I watched one too many made-for-TV movies growing up, because this latest headline gave me goosebumps:

Insurance for Kidnappings, Hijackings Approved.

Yes, the Insurance News Network reports that insurance coverage for kidnappings, ransom, extortion and hijacking has been approved in Louisiana. The coverage is designed for "high-profile" people such as corporate execs who could be targeted while traveling in higher risk locations like the Middle East or South America.

How much does your average kidnap and ransom insurance policy run? INN reports that rates depend on the policyholder's net worth. For example, a basic kidnap and ransom policy for someone with a net worth of $500,000 would cost about $665 per year; rates increase in accordance to wealth.

VP of the Insurance Information Institute, Loretta Waters, says that companies offering the coverage often remain tight-lipped about it.

"If they talk about it, they think a company could become a good candidate for kidnap and ransom, and it could."

Policies are on the rise, however. "If you're an executive for a company or major corporation and you're going to Mexico, Colombia, Russia or the Middle East, to not have this coverage is foolish," says John Croskey, owner of KidnapRansom.com.

My thoughts: it's unfortunate that we are now concerned with products like terrorism and ransom insurance. On the other hand, I had no idea Louisianans had such a need for this kind of coverage. I guess you learn something every day. :)

[Related post]: The Latest on Foreign Travel and Life Insurance

Posted by Megan Mahan at 11:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Fellow insurance blogger, Penny, sent me this article by way of the Insurance News Network the other day, and I found it fitting for today's peculiar posting.

According to the INN article, the National Underwriter (an insurance publication) recently asked their readers to share their strangest claims stories. Oddly, most of them included animals.

Here's my favorite:

Mr. Ward sent in his tale of an insured driving back from an unsuccessful fishing trip on the coast. As he was driving, the insured decided to take one last try at catching something, and stopped to fish in a friend's farm pond in the middle of a cow pasture.

'A herd of cows gathered around the car while he was fishing, but he thought nothing of it until he got ready to leave. As he approached the car he saw a cow chewing on something that was long and black. Each time the cow chewed, the black object bobbed up and down,' Mr. Ward wrote.

'Curious, he walked over a little closer and realized that the cow was chewing on his windshield wiper! He ran screaming to his car, waving his arms and shooing the cows, only to discover that they had licked his auto from one end to the other, and had eaten the rubber seals from around the windows,' he added.

The reason for such strange behavior is fairly simple, he wrote. 'Cows like salt,' Mr. Ward explained. 'His car had been parked next to the ocean for two days. They saw it as a huge salt lick.'

The insured called to explain what had happened. 'He said his car was covered with gooey slobber, the paint was ruined, and all the windows were jangling as he rode along because there was no rubber to hold them in place,' Mr. Ward wrote. 'He wanted to know if comprehensive coverage was really comprehensive.'

See, even insurance has its lighter moments. :) Enjoy the article and have a great weekend!

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

There is a brief but uplifting report in the L.A. Times on how the number of kids without health insurance has dropped by a third in the past eight years. The federal government credits state efforts and expenditures for the increase in coverage. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 6.5 million children were without health coverage in last year.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) introduced a new Web site that aims to help consumers cope with the "maze of options and cost considerations" when buying a health insurance policy. The site is called InsureU, and in addition to offering resources on health insurance, it provides helpful tips on buying auto, home and life insurance policies. The site's unique organization allows users to find information relevant to their own "life stage," i.e., age or marital status. Check it out.

According to an NPR report, nutritionists are recommending a "big increase" in vitamin D exposure. Vitamin D is credited with building healthy bones and strong muscles. Previously, scientists thought random daily exposure to the sun was enough, but long hours in the office, increased sunscreen use and dim winter rays are leaving many without adequate levels of D. Ten minutes in the midday sun should be enough--provided you're not slathered in 45.

Lastly, it turns out that bird flu might not be the only "avian malady" to worry about. Check out these other bird-related afflictions.

Posted by Jeb Foster at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Until recently, our wheelchair-bound friends haven't had many options when it comes to driving. Short of installing a lift in a full-sized van and lugging themselves from their home on wheels to the driver's seat, these brave souls have, for the most part, remained in the passenger seat.

But that may be about to change.

If you know someone facing this challenging situation, you might want to make note of this word: "Kenguru." Why? Because, in the future, it could very well change their lives.

The Kenguru, an electric-powered automobile designed specifically for wheelchair users, is making driving much simpler and more pleasureable for the handicapped. This stylish car has no front seat—just a space built to house the driver's wheelchair. The driver simply rolls in through the extra large car doors at the rear of the vehicle (much like a hatchback) and into position. The wheelchair locks into place, within easy reach of the car's controls, which are centered on a joystick. The car requires only minimal maintenance, and was designed to operate reliably, making owning one of these bits of innovation a real pleasure for those who need them.

What's the catch? (There always is one, isn't there?) According to the report on Newlaunches.com, this unconventional car is available only in Hungary for now. And even if you did go to Europe to check them out, you wouldn't see one passing you by on the freeway. Like most electric mini-cars, they have a limited range of about 35 miles and travel only on surface streets—at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour.

Woo-hoo! Not exactly lightening speed, huh?

There is more good news though. This little gem costs only $12,500; and in Hungary, it's free for some individuals through their health insurance plans. Whether or not it'll land in the good ole' US of A and become an allowable insurance expense remains to be seen.

Posted by Penny Hagerman at 12:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Although only a few argue there was a direct, provable link between last season's particularly nasty hurricane season and man-made climate change, everyone will agree there was a (very) strong correlation between the amount of devastation and the amount insurers forked over in claims.

After last year's storms, some scientists noted that, although there perhaps wasn't a direct connection, future atmospheric warming will bring warmer ocean temps and warmer oceans will bring, in turn, deadlier and, for insurance purposes, more expensive storms.

In December, Ceres, a national organization that "works to advance environmental stewardship on the part of business," released a white paper entitled "Availability and Affordability of Insurance Under Climate Change: A Growing Challenge for the U.S." Ceres wrote the paper before Katrina and Rita made landfall.

The mere mention of climate change raises the hackles of some--namely those who believe the term should be put quotes. Climate change is one of the hottest political issues of the day, with one side calling it the most important issue facing mankind, another calling it a fetish of lefty doomsayers.

As it happens, insurers are showing some concern--though not enough in Ceres' opinion--over climate change. Not lost on the irony, the Ceres paper points out that the National Association of Insurance Commissioners had planned to discuss climate change at their meeting last fall in New Orleans. Of course, the discussion--and the entire meeting--was shelved because the host city was underwater.

Posted by Jeb Foster at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

The Associated Press picked up on two recent studies that suggest our sanitized world is turning us into softies.

The two studies involved rats from clean labs and their counterparts from the sewer. The data reveal that the slum cousins have stronger immune systems. Researchers speculate that they develop a resistance to disease and dirt in adolescence.

"The studies give more weight to a 17-year-old theory that the sanitized Western world may be partly to blame for soaring rates of human allergy and asthma cases and some autoimmune diseases, such as Type I diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis," the AP reports. "The theory, called the hygiene hypothesis, figures that people's immune systems aren't being challenged by disease and dirt early in life, so the body's natural defenses overreact to small irritants such as pollen."

According to the AP, the hygiene hypothesis has support from epidemiological studies that show higher rates of asthma in the developed world than in the global south.

Before you embrace your inner dirt bag--or your inner college freshman--remember that scientists believe that protection comes from early exposure to grit and grime.

(Mom and Dad: Thank you for having dogs in the house growing up. Not only were they great fun, they may have made me more resistant to disease!)

The next goal for researchers is to understand how and when these dirty rats develop their strong immune systems. To do this, one researcher cited in the article plans to build a 50-foot artificial sewer.

[Source]: Wired

Posted by Jeb Foster at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

I've become borderline obsessed in recent weeks with the TecheBlog; while I'm not as engrossed in technology as some people, I still can't get enough of the blog. I particularly enjoy their Top Ten lists, and I think you will too. Let's take a peek, shall we?

First up: Top Ten Strangest Mini-Sized Devices

I used to have this roommate in college who was convinced that, because I was a small girl, I loved all things small. Travel-sized shampoos, tiny chapsticks, baby animals...there was never any conclusive scientific proof to back up her claim, and while I stand firm on the belief that I don't care how big my stapler is, these mini inventions are kinda cool. My favorite is the gold USB drive which is the size of a quarter. Oh, it's also called "Petito", which I think is cool.

Next up: Top Ten Strangest Lego Creations

Continue reading "Friday Fun Links: TecheBlog.com" »

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Last month I posted about the rise in Americans traveling abroad for medical procedures, ranging from dental work to orthopedic surgery. Why are people going abroad for health care? According to experts, Americans are receiving treatment for up to one-tenth of the cost of the same treatment in the U.S.

Now, as I said last time, my grandfather still swears the best dental work he ever received came from Mexico, just last summer. And I suppose I could see why some people choose to go overseas for reconstructive or plastic surgery—a little rest and relaxation by the ocean wouldn't be a bad thing after a facelift I suppose, but I have to draw the line at organ transplants...even with the discount.

Today, one of our affiliate managers received an email from a hospital in Pakistan that's offering major surgeries at a significant discount. Among their specialties: kidney transplant. And don't worry about finding a donor on your own—the hospital provides the donor kidney for you.

Now, at first blush, that sounds like the worst idea since the Flowbee. Then the sender disclosed the going rate for a Pakistani kidney transplant: $15,500—compared to $140,000 in the states. Wow. That's a ridiculous amount of money to be saving. It almost seems worth it. Right?

Not really. Remember that most insurance companies don't pay for elective surgery abroad, which means that you'd be forking over the travel and surgery costs with no help from your health insurance provider—and that they aren't likely to cover any follow-up treatment once you get back home. Not to mention your life insurance company could up your rates if they learn you're traveling to a high-risk area. :)

[RELATED POSTS]:
Medical Tourism: How Far Would You Go for Cheap Dental Work?
The Latest on Foreign Travel and Life Insurance

Posted by Megan Mahan at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Paul Hucker just can't deal with the pain and agony of seeing England get knocked out of the World Cup Tournament. That's why he's purchased a 1£ insurance policy to cover himself against the potential trauma of seeing his team lose the tournament...again.

Traditionally, Britain hasn't had the best of luck at the World Cup; in recent years they've bowed out early in the competition, losing through penalty shootouts—probably the most nerve-wracking and devastating way to lose a soccer match.

"The pressure of this World Cup is not just on the players and the managers. I think a lot of supporters are under a lot of pressure and suffer because of England's performance," said Hucker. "I find when it goes to penalty shootouts it gets very difficult and I wanted to insure myself against psychological trauma."

Hucker purchased the policy from a BritishInsurance.com; if England is knocked out of the tournament in the first round, the insurer will consult with five sports commentators to judge if the team's exit is "premature." According to BelfastToday, Hucker will then have to provide medical proof that he has suffered "severe medical trauma" because of the World Cup events. Then, and only then, will Hucker receive his seven-figure payout.

As a Chicago Cubs fan who, like the entire generations of Cubs fans, has suffered under the curse of the Billy Goat, I sympathize with Hucker. I really, truly do. But aside from the fact that he's buying an actual insurance policy to help him get over any residual trauma, doesn't the act of buying the policy mean that he's betting against his own team? Seems like bad sports karma just waiting to happen. :)

Have happy and safe holiday weekend, everyone. See you back here on Tuesday.

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
 

I should preface this post by saying two things:

1. Text messaging sort of annoys me. It's good for short communications to a friend, when, say, your date has just made a spectical of himself by flexing his biceps in a five-star restaurant and you can't slip away to call your friend to share—and that's about it.
2. I tend to take some things more seriously than I probably should.

Now that that's out of the way, on to the meat of the matter. SeedsOfGrowth, a blog geared toward generating ideas for small businesses, recently posted about the growing trend of mobile messaging and how marketers can reap the benefits of text messaging prospects and clients.

The topic, which was recently discussed in length by Scott Springer at DestinationCRM.com, left me with my mouth agape.

In the U.S. 67 percent of the population subscribes to a mobile phone service, with an estimated 36 percent of the subscribers using some kind of mobile data application, as reported by Yankee Group. Of those users, 72 percent use SMS [simple messaging service] text messaging. The time is right for retailers to embrace the technology of text messaging.

Mobile marketing provides retailers the opportunity to reach customers with a reminder or incentive anytime, anywhere. More often than not, it is outside of the home, which allows for the opportunity to impact customers while they are out making shopping decisions or in transit.

I shuddered at the thought that I could start receiving text messages from anyone, ranging from insurance agents to long distance phone companies. Could marketers really do that?

Continue reading "Marketers to Start Text Messaging Consumers?" »

Posted by Megan Mahan at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)
 

It doesn't get much weirder than this.

Not surprisingly, this story is one of the Insurance Journal's most emailed stories this week. Check out the IJ report here, and my commentary on the subject over at the InsureMe Agent Blog.

We'll be back Monday with more insurance excitement. Have a good weekend! :)

Posted by Megan Mahan at 04:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

We all know that kids, plus snacks, equals juvenile bliss. But one snack in particular is wreaking havoc among some school systems: Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

InsureMe's own James Omdahl caught the story on NPR earlier this week and I found the full report here. Take a listen—it might be the funniest thing you've heard all week. Of course, it's always good to learn what your kids might be getting into at school, too. :)

Posted by Megan Mahan at 01:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Sometimes Friday rolls around and there's just nothing worthy of the Peculiar Friday Post. While this brings me great discontent, I found a bit of solace in this totally rad car. Yes, rad. (Although I can't say I like the body...)

Imagine driving 250 miles on one gallon of gas. Yeah. I think my head is starting to explode. Amazing. Check out the post—and the comments—and let me know what you think. And be sure to check out AutoBlogGreen for more on hybrid cars and all things oil.

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
 

According to CNN.com, scientists in Venezuela have found the secret to flatulence-free beans.

It turns out that two bacteria, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, can be added to beans to cause "minimal distress" to people who eat them.

You don't want to know how scientists made this discovery, so I'll let you read the article for yourself.

I realize that legumes are an important part of many cultures, and as such, this is probably a cool discovery to some folks. However, I can't help but think that scientists are better off spending time and money on curing diseases and such. But I love Mexican food, so maybe I shouldn't complain.

[Hat tip: Fellow InsureMe blogger, Penny Hagerman :) ]

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

The Insurance Journal had an interesting article today regarding a new fatigue tracking device for truckers to let them know when it's time to pull over and take a snooze.

The device was designed by Richard Grace from the Carnegie Mellon University; according to IJ, it's shaped a bit like a web cam and sits on the trucker's dashboard. Powered by the trucker's cigarette lighter, it uses infrared technology to measure blinking. Yes, blinking.

The device measures how long the driver blinks and keeps his or her eyes shut—the first signal of the onset of fatigue. As the trucker's blinking increases, the tracking device beeps loudly, and keeps beeping for every second that the trucker's eyes are closed, signaling that it's time to pull over for a cat nap.

This isn't such a bad idea if you ask me. Although it reminds me of a similar device that my grandfather used to have, only instead of sitting on the dash, it wrapped around your ear and beeped unbelievably loud if you dropped your head to your chest. It was so disturbing, I imagine that device led to more heart attacks than eliminated car crashes. Looks like Grace's device is a step up. :)

What do you think of these devices? Should they be made mandatory? Take a look at the Insurance Journal article and let me know what you think.

Posted by Megan Mahan at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

I wish I could tell you I made this up in the dark, satirical corners of my brain, but this is a true story.

This week in New York city, the dog fashion show "Dressed to Kilt" was a great success, reports Yahoo! News, which spawned this photo of a small dog in a kilt and what looks to be a cashmere sweater. Unfortunately, Yahoo! didn't include photos of the pooch dressed in a white Marilyn Monroe-inspired frock.

According to recent estimates by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, Americans spent almost $36 billion dollars on their pets in 2005. Oy vey.

On the upside, the show raised money for an animal rescue center, which I'll praise to no end because I'm a sucker for animals. I guess I just prefer them without the couture. :)

Have a great weekend! We'll be back with more insurance news and tips on Monday.

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Because I like to mix it up a little on Fridays, I thought this MSNBC story would make some of you laugh—and start sliding comfortably into the weekend.

Last month, MSNBC got ahold of the four weirdest insurance claims of 2005 from London (via the Norwich Union) and all of them paint strange and funny pictures in my fragile little mind.

Here's the rundown:

• Weird Claim #1: Frozen Squirrel—the motorist said a frozen squirrel fell out of a tree and crashed through the windshield.

• Weird Claim #2: Stung in the Leg—the motorist claimed a wasp sting in the leg caused s/he to step on the gas and bump the car ahead.


• Weird Claim #3: Bad Potato—the motorist said a loose potato rolled under the break and affected the ability to stop.


• Weird Claim #4: Meat Head—"As I was driving around a bend, one of the doors opened and a frozen kebab flew out, hitting and damaging a passing car," the claim read. (I had to quote that one verbatim—there's just no good way to paraphrase that.)

The craziest part about these claims is that they were all found to be totally legitimate and were paid out accordingly.

So what's the moral of the story? Watch out for frozen falling squirrels, obviously. :)

Have a great weekend—we'll be back on Monday with more great insurance news and tips!

Posted by Megan Mahan at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)
 

Getting kids to go to bed at night can be quite a chore. But according to today's article in Claims Guides, a leading insurance publication, our kids are not only getting insufficient sleep...they're falling asleep everywhere—in school, at their home computers and even behind the wheel.

Although research shows that school-age children and teenagers need at least nine hours of sleep per day, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say they're getting on average much less: from 6.9 hours for high school seniors to 8.4 hours for sixth-graders.

No wonder their eyelids are drooping!

Without enough sleep, kids have trouble focusing and responding quickly, according to the NIH. There is even growing evidence that a chronic lack of sleep puts them at increased risk for obesity, heart disease, diabetes and infection.

And that's to say nothing about what happens when youngsters and their friends begin driving while sleep-impaired. Put a sleepy teenager behind the wheel with a car full of friends, and they're a disaster waiting to happen!

Continue reading "America's Youngsters Falling Asleep—Everywhere!" »

Posted by Penny Hagerman at 03:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)