Family Insurance Bloghttp://www.familyinsu.com/blog/View Family Insurance's Website Blogen-uspostmaster@www.familyinsu.comInsurance Website Builder - www.insurancewebsitebuilder.comurn:uuid:1c5f18e2-ad15-4623-8068-ab0779613b9burn:uuid:9f7d4312-3a03-4b9a-abd4-6f270b872a8cBe careful who you vote for!The other day, one of my clients asked me what I thought about the new health care reform bill.&nbsp; I politely declined boarding my soapbox, but was invited to step right on up.&nbsp; I did my best to keep my comments regulated to facts only, not o...Tue, 21 Feb 2012 16:00:54 -0600<h3 style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;">The other day, one of my clients asked me what I thought about the new health care reform bill.&nbsp; I politely declined boarding my soapbox, but was invited to step right on up.&nbsp; I did my best to keep my comments regulated to facts only, not opinions.&nbsp; My opinion?&nbsp; This healthcare act is as &nbsp;disasterous a plan as it gets.&nbsp; As an agent, I get to see what happens on both sides of the coin.&nbsp; In this case, it&rsquo;s double-sided.&nbsp; No matter how you flip it, we&rsquo;re all going to lose.&nbsp; </span></h3> <h3 style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;">So, in light of this and a few other comments regarding the new law, I did some research on my own.&nbsp; I found a lot of websites, and disregarded the ones laced with political rhetoric.&nbsp; However, I did find some interesting facts from Wikipedia and they are as follows:</span></h3> <h3 style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13px;">Summary of funding</span></h3> <p>The Act's provisions are intended to be funded by a variety of taxes and offsets. Major sources of new revenue include a much-broadened <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_the_United_States#Medicare_tax" title="Taxation in the United States">Medicare tax</a> on incomes over $200,000 and $250,000, for individual and joint filers respectively, an annual fee on insurance providers, and a 40% tax on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_insurance_plan" title="Cadillac insurance plan">"Cadillac" insurance policies</a>. There are also taxes on pharmaceuticals, high-cost diagnostic equipment, and a 10% federal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_tax" title="Sales tax">sales tax</a> on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanning_bed" title="Tanning bed">indoor tanning services</a>. Offsets are from intended cost savings such as improved fairness in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Advantage" title="Medicare Advantage">Medicare Advantage</a> program relative to traditional Medicare.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#cite_note-34"><sup>[35]</sup></a></p> <p>Total new tax revenue from the Act will amount to $409.2 billion over the next 10 years. $78 billion will be realized before the end of fiscal 2014.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act#cite_note-35"><sup>[36]</sup></a> Summary of revenue sources:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Broaden Medicare tax base for high-income taxpayers: $210.2 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Annual fee on health insurance providers: $60 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 40% excise tax on health coverage in excess of $10,200/$27,500: $32 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Impose annual fee on manufacturers and importers of branded drugs: $27 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Impose 2.3% excise tax on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices: $20 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Require information reporting on payments to corporations: $17.1 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Raise 7.5% <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjusted_Gross_Income" title="Adjusted Gross Income">Adjusted Gross Income</a> floor on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itemized_deduction#Examples_of_allowable_itemized_deductions" title="Itemized deduction">medical expenses deduction</a> to 10%: $15.2 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Limit contributions to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexible_spending_account" title="Flexible spending account">flexible spending arrangements</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafeteria_plan" title="Cafeteria plan">cafeteria plans</a> to $2,500: $13 billion </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 19.2pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; All other revenue sources: $14.9 billion </p> <p>Let&rsquo;s break this down a bit:</p> <p>People who make more money pay more in Medicare taxes.</p> <p>Annual fee on health insurance providers.&nbsp; No company anywhere ever absorbs additional costs.&nbsp; Fees, taxes, and the like are passed on to the consumer in the price of the product.</p> <p>If you want an insurance policy with more coverage than what the government thinks you need, you will pay the premium, plus an additional 40% in taxes on that policy.</p> <p>Annual fees on drug manufacturers&hellip;..again passed down to the consumer.</p> <p>Taxes on certain medical devices and equipment&hellip;&hellip;yup&hellip;..passed down to the consumer.</p> <p>Then we don&rsquo;t get to itemize as much in medical expenses on our taxes.</p> <p>A tax on tanning bed usage.&nbsp; Who tans?&nbsp; White people!&nbsp; Does that seem racist to you?</p> <p>The measure would force insurance companies to cover everyone. &nbsp;While that sounds great for those who want a policy but can&rsquo;t get one, let&rsquo;s think about that for a moment.&nbsp; A group of relatively healthy people are insured by Company A.&nbsp; Everyone pays a premium, and there&rsquo;s little paid out in claims,&nbsp; so there is plenty of money in the pool.&nbsp; Company A is then forced to let more people into the group who otherwise wouldn&rsquo;t be approved for coverage due to illnesses and preexisting conditions.&nbsp; The Company is also not allowed to raise premiums.&nbsp; So, the Company now has to pay for all the additional medical costs with no additional income to cover the difference.&nbsp; How long do you think the Company can stay in business?</p> <p>You must purchase a government-approved policy or you will pay a fine.&nbsp; If you have to pay either way, you might as well buy a policy, right? &nbsp;But, &ldquo;government approved&rdquo; means the government determines the type of policy you can purchase.&nbsp; If they can tell you what kind of policy you can buy, then they can ration care accordingly.&nbsp; No, really.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s called an oversight board that will determine medical need.&nbsp; Once you pass a certain age and are no longer a viable producer in society, chances are greater that you will be passed over for life-saving procedures in lieu of medication because medication is cheaper.&nbsp; </p> <p>Do you see a lot of money going into the government&rsquo;s pocket without a lot of return?&nbsp; Do you want the government (or anybody) to be able to tell you how to take care of yourself and your family?&nbsp; This shred of research doesn&rsquo;t even begin to cover the absurdity of this bill.&nbsp; There are many other revenue-driving taxes and fees that have absolutely nothing to do with health insurance, and I&rsquo;ve only heard of those.&nbsp; I have yet to find the literature.&nbsp; But that&rsquo;s how the government intends to pay for this program.&nbsp; With our money.</p> <p>No doubt that the entire healthcare system is a 55-gallon barrel full of arsenic sauce.&nbsp; But everything in this bill just makes it worse. &nbsp;The government wants to bleed us of more money to throw at the problem, and that doesn&rsquo;t fix anything. &nbsp;&nbsp;Government intervention into our private lives is definitely NOT the answer either.&nbsp; I don&rsquo;t want to pay for anyone else&rsquo;s health insurance.&nbsp; Hell, I can barely pay for my own.&nbsp; And I sure don&rsquo;t want anyone telling me what I can and can&rsquo;t do regarding my own health. &nbsp;It worries me when I hear people saying they&rsquo;re thinking of voting for someone who will put this bill into action because they&rsquo;ve been denied health insurance.&nbsp; While I agree there are issues that need to be fixed, socialized medicine is not the answer.&nbsp; If you think it is, go ask a Canadian why they come down to the US for surgery.</p> <p>As a whole, we&rsquo;ve been spoiled by low monthly premiums, &nbsp;copays, and limitless doctor visits.&nbsp; Insurance companies have shot themselves in their collective foot by not cracking down on fraudulent doctors and medical staff throwing expensive pills and procedures at every little symptom.&nbsp; Then those same companies turn around and try to limit expensive meds to those people who really can&rsquo;t live without them.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time to take back the responsibility of taking care of ourselves.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time to use a little common sense and stop running to the doctor everytime we get a sniffle.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time to get back to eating right and exercising to build our immune systems.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time for doctors to be allowed to go back to practicing medicine.&nbsp; It&rsquo;s time for one price at checkout, not six, depending on your coverage or lack thereof.&nbsp; No, this isn&rsquo;t the entire solution, and it&rsquo;s going to take a while to get all the pieces back into working order.&nbsp; But these are steps that might help put us back on the road to recovery.<br /> <br /> Just my opinion.&nbsp; For what it's worth.<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> </p>urn:uuid:a7b77c04-690f-4488-b435-781329db7c8cPremiums arisin'.....It seems Mother Nature has unleashed her ire on Oklahoma over the past few years, pummeling the state with tornados, hailstorms, wildfires, blizzards and now earthquakes, of all things. Some home insurance policy holders, in turn, find themselves bei...Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:07:00 -0600<p >It seems Mother Nature has unleashed her ire on Oklahoma over the past few years, pummeling the state with tornados, hailstorms, wildfires, blizzards and now earthquakes, of all things.</p> <p>Some home insurance policy holders, in turn, find themselves being hit with higher insurance rates. </p> <p>One Tulsa World reader noted how his homeowners insurance was increasing from $856 to $1,501 a year due to the rise in nationwide disasters, as his insurance company explained to him. </p> <p>While there is no way to quantify what percentage homeowners' insurance has increased or will increase, rates in Oklahoma have been rising to some degree for a while because of the number of severe storms, said Glenn Craven, communications officer with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. </p> <p>"Every company is going to base its rate ... on its experience. Some may suffer significant losses from a storm because they have homes in that location, and other companies suffer less in the way of losses," Craven said. </p> <p>Companies adjust their rates periodically over time, Craven said, and depending on their experience, some do it suddenly and others more subtly. </p> <p>"Oklahoma has been ravaged by severe weather, wildfires and just about every weather-related disaster known to man, and that comes into play along with a lot of other factors when companies begin to establish their rates," said Jerry Johns, president of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, a trade group that serves 85 percent of home insurers in Oklahoma and Texas. </p> <p>Industry data show claimed losses on state home-owners policies more than quintupled from 2005 to 2010, according to a previous Tulsa World report. </p> <p>Homeowner claims in Oklahoma surpassed $1 billion in 2008 and last year totaled more than $1.6 billion. That compares with $319.2 million in homeowner claims that Oklahoma insurers paid out in 2005 while collecting $804.1 million in premiums, based on statistics from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. </p> <p>"The last four years have really pointed out to us and the industry just how bad a bad year can be when it comes to wind and tornado activity. They've been very bad, obviously," said James Gillette, vice president of actuarial services for American National Property and Casualty, in a phone interview from Springfield, Mo. "When you're trying to come up with long-term averages if you think the worst an event can be is one number and it turns out to be twice that average, your numbers go up significantly." </p> <p>Home insurance rates for Oklahoma clients of American National, which has about 13,000 homeowner policies in the state, have increased significantly in the last two to three years, with the first rate increase occurring in 2009, Gillette said. </p> <p>Rates don't go up just because an insurer has lost a lot of money but because future costs are expected to be greater, Gillette added. </p> <p>"We have seen a huge loss-severity increase year over year for the last five years in Oklahoma, particularly," said Gillette. The average loss severity, which refers to the amount paid out for claims incurred, has been going up between 12 percent and 15 percent over the last five years. </p> <p>A lot of Oklahoma's losses over the last four years are related to roof replacement due to wind and hail damage. Gillette noted that roughly three-quarters of the premium dollars that are paid in Oklahoma go to wind and hail losses, which is extraordinary in the country. </p> <p>Weather cannot be entirely blamed for the higher rates, Johns said, noting that other factors include a home's age, its location and construction. Johns added that he hasn't seen a consistent across-the-board pattern of companies raising rates. </p> <p>John Lucido, state executive director of Farmers Insurance, agreed that home rates are increasing, but, again, how much depends on the company. </p> <p>In August, Farmers Insurance raised home insurance rates about 8 percent on average for Oklahoma policy holders. But some home-owners saw a higher percentage increase than that and others lower, he said. </p> <p>Information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that Farmers collected $159.8 million in premiums last year and paid out $274.2 million in claims. </p> <p>Significant damage from several storms and not just one storm can cause rates to rise. With all of the terrible weather over the last couple of years, the industry has "just taken it on the chin," Lucido said. And different companies are handling it in different ways, one of which is raising rates. </p> <p>"It has been an unusually busy year, probably our busiest on record for catastrophe claims," said Jeff Davis, a public affairs specialist for State Farm Insurance Cos. in Tulsa. </p> <p>Through the third quarter, State Farm had handled 970,000 catastrophe claims, stretching from wildfires in western Texas to storm damage in Maine, and the company paid out $5 billion in catastrophe claims nationwide. </p> <p>"Our rates are based on anticipated need to pay claims in the future, so we look over a long period of time and try to project the number of claims that we will have. ... It's in our best interest and our customers' best interest to not have large spikes when it comes to a rate increase," Davis said. </p> <p>Based on information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Farm, which is the state's largest insurer, last year collected $275.4 million in premiums in Oklahoma and paid out $405.5 million in claims. </p> <p>Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance, which has more than 100,000 property policies and is the state's No. 1 insurer of farm and ranch policies and one of the top insurers of homes, last year raised rates anywhere from 5 percent to more than 30 percent based on different criteria for individual customers, said John Wiscaver, vice president of public affairs for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. </p> <p>He noted that the bureau looks at many factors and constantly tries to use better ways of assessing risk for individual customers and takes advantage of new underwriting actuarial processes. </p> <p>"The goal is to try to price the product the best we can to keep it affordable for customers," Wiscaver said. </p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <p>Insurance tips<br /> Consider moving to a higher deductible to offset some of the rate increase. </p> <p>Schedule an appointment at least once a year with your insurance agent to check your entire insurance portfolio and make sure coverage is appropriate. </p> <p>Consider ways to save money on the entire insurance portfolio rather than just one product. For instance, can you combine auto and home insurance with one insurer to reduce costs? </p> <p>Use your renewal period as an opportunity to shop around for the best coverage. It's a competitive market. </p> <p>Sometimes staying with your current insurance company and agent may be the best option. Customers have to figure out if switching to a new insurer and agent is worth the savings they'll receive compared to staying with an insurer and agent they trust and who provides good customer service. </p> <p >Original Print Headline: More claims push insurance costs up</p> <br /> <br /> <p>Laurie Winslow 918-581-8466 <br /> <a href="mailto:laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com">laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com</a>&nbsp; <br /> By LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer </p> <p>Read more from this Tulsa World article at <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&amp;articleid=20111114_46_A1_Itseem1568">http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&amp;articleid=20111114_46_A1_Itseem1568</a><br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> </p>urn:uuid:05f79047-40f9-4a28-a7f3-ab45b1408a7eChristmas<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/santa.jpg' align='left' />It's almost here!&nbsp; The day we've been waiting for all year!&nbsp; And no, I didn't mean for that to rhyme. For those of you who like brain teasers, see how many of these songs you can guess: http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmass...Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:34:04 -0600It's almost here!&nbsp; The day we've been waiting for all year!&nbsp; And no, I didn't mean for that to rhyme.<br /> <br /> For those of you who like brain teasers, see how many of these songs you can guess:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmassigns.htm">http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmassigns.htm</a><br /> <br /> <br /> For those of you with a sick sense of humor:<br /> <br /> <img width="285" height="300" alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/santa.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> For those of you who just love a pretty Christmas scene:<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/christmas.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> And for all of us, for in some form or another..........<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/jesus.jpg" /><br /> <br /> We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and&nbsp;a Happy New Year!<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:ceb6f0bf-1e6c-455e-a36b-abd2924d68a3When the Temperature Drops......Brrr!&nbsp; The thermometer is dropping fast and the wind will be driving the cold right through the walls of your home.&nbsp; Unless you've got a&nbsp;cat or dog&nbsp;to add to the comforter, chances are you'll be plugging in a&nbsp;space&nbsp;heate...Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:35:12 -0600Brrr!&nbsp; The thermometer is dropping fast and the wind will be driving the cold right through the walls of your home.&nbsp; Unless you've got a&nbsp;cat or dog&nbsp;to add to the comforter, chances are you'll be plugging in a&nbsp;space&nbsp;heater to keep the chill off.<br /> <br /> You really do want to be careful when using space heaters.&nbsp; It's important that you stay warm, but not crispy.<br /> <br /> First, make sure the heater is clean and in good working condition.&nbsp; Check the plug and cord after it's been running for a little bit to make sure neither are getting hot.&nbsp; If the plug is hot, your outlet may need to be replaced.&nbsp; If the cord is hot, it may not be rated high enough to handle the power needed to run the heater.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Place the heater on a level surface, well away from combustibles, ie., curtains, carpet, furniture, bedding, anything that can catch fire.<br /> <br /> Do not use in damp, wet areas such as bathrooms.<br /> <br /> Don't leave a heater unattended, and always keep pets and children away.<br /> <br /> If your heater runs on any kind of fuel other than electricity, you might want to add a CO detector to your household, just in case.&nbsp; Also, make sure all your smoke detectors are working.<br /> <br /> Stay warm and stay safe!<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br />urn:uuid:88d54ac5-6b87-4c99-9c3c-c5843c36673bSummer heat cook your battery?<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/broke%20down.jpg' align='left' /> Just recently, I noticed the starter on my car cranking a little slower than normal.&nbsp; I thought maybe it was just the colder weather, but I took it by a battery shop and had it checked anyway.&nbsp; Sure enough, it was dead.&nbsp; After chat...Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:33:32 -0600<p><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/broke%20down.jpg" /><br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Just recently, I noticed the starter on my car cranking a little slower than normal.&nbsp; I thought maybe it was just the colder weather, but I took it by a battery shop and had it checked anyway.&nbsp; Sure enough, it was dead.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After chatting with the technician who was checking out the battery for me, I learned something I would like to share with all of you.&nbsp; See, I had purchased this Interstate battery with a 7 year warranty only 3 years ago.&nbsp; (It pays to keep receipts!)&nbsp; This past summer&rsquo;s extreme heat has cooked a lot of batteries, but I had compounded the problem by purchasing the higher cranking output battery made for my car.&nbsp; I did what a lot of people do.&nbsp; I heard higher cranking amps and thought, &ldquo;Oh yeah, that&rsquo;s the one I want.&rdquo;&nbsp; Little did I know that those batteries are made for colder climates and do not tolerate the heat well.&nbsp; Something about more metal plates with less space between them not allowing the battery to cool sufficiently.&nbsp; So, after 3 months of 100 degree temps, its goose was cooked.&nbsp; Literally.&nbsp; Ah, great news.&nbsp; I did this to myself.&nbsp; Crap.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Though it speaks highly of my car to be able to start with very few cranking amps, I did not make the same mistake this time.&nbsp; Even better, Interstate honored their warranty and I was required to pay only half the regular price &nbsp;for a brand new battery, complete with another 7 year warranty.&nbsp; And they changed it out for me!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">So, a word to the wise.&nbsp; If you notice your car starting slower than normal, go get it checked before you get stranded.&nbsp; Most automotive shops have the equipment to do that for you.&nbsp; Interstate batteries might be a little more expensive, but they&rsquo;re worth it, and the guys over at the store on NW 36<sup>th</sup> just south of Robinson are super cool!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Happy trails!</p> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:babf6abd-fb7e-4c46-89f9-88a9e7669c8bHappy Thanksgiving!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/1280x1024-Thanksgiving-Wallpaper-2.jpg' align='left' />To you and yours, wherever you are..... FAMILY INSURANCE Phone # (405) 329-9780 Fax # (405) 823-6917 http://www.gotomypolicy.com paul@familyinsu.com Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:13:53 -0600To you and yours, wherever you are.....<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img width="902" height="721" alt="" style="width: 589px; height: 421px;" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/1280x1024-Thanksgiving-Wallpaper-2.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:c420cac9-bfc8-463e-b961-a9b9128096a0High Insurance Rates ExplainedIt seems Mother Nature has unleashed her ire on Oklahoma over the past few years, pummeling the state with tornados, hailstorms, wildfires, blizzards and now earthquakes, of all things. Some home insurance policy holders, in turn, find themselves bei...Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:29:56 -0600<p>It seems Mother Nature has unleashed her ire on Oklahoma over the past few years, pummeling the state with tornados, hailstorms, wildfires, blizzards and now earthquakes, of all things.</p> <p>Some home insurance policy holders, in turn, find themselves being hit with higher insurance rates. </p> <p>One Tulsa World reader noted how his homeowners insurance was increasing from $856 to $1,501 a year due to the rise in nationwide disasters, as his insurance company explained to him. </p> <p>While there is no way to quantify what percentage homeowners' insurance has increased or will increase, rates in Oklahoma have been rising to some degree for a while because of the number of severe storms, said Glenn Craven, communications officer with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. </p> <p>"Every company is going to base its rate ... on its experience. Some may suffer significant losses from a storm because they have homes in that location, and other companies suffer less in the way of losses," Craven said. </p> <p>Companies adjust their rates periodically over time, Craven said, and depending on their experience, some do it suddenly and others more subtly. </p> <p>"Oklahoma has been ravaged by severe weather, wildfires and just about every weather-related disaster known to man, and that comes into play along with a lot of other factors when companies begin to establish their rates," said Jerry Johns, president of the Southwestern Insurance Information Service, a trade group that serves 85 percent of home insurers in Oklahoma and Texas. </p> <p>Industry data show claimed losses on state home-owners policies more than quintupled from 2005 to 2010, according to a previous Tulsa World report. </p> <p>Homeowner claims in Oklahoma surpassed $1 billion in 2008 and last year totaled more than $1.6 billion. That compares with $319.2 million in homeowner claims that Oklahoma insurers paid out in 2005 while collecting $804.1 million in premiums, based on statistics from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. </p> <p>"The last four years have really pointed out to us and the industry just how bad a bad year can be when it comes to wind and tornado activity. They've been very bad, obviously," said James Gillette, vice president of actuarial services for American National Property and Casualty, in a phone interview from Springfield, Mo. "When you're trying to come up with long-term averages if you think the worst an event can be is one number and it turns out to be twice that average, your numbers go up significantly." </p> <p>Home insurance rates for Oklahoma clients of American National, which has about 13,000 homeowner policies in the state, have increased significantly in the last two to three years, with the first rate increase occurring in 2009, Gillette said. </p> <p>Rates don't go up just because an insurer has lost a lot of money but because future costs are expected to be greater, Gillette added. </p> <p>"We have seen a huge loss-severity increase year over year for the last five years in Oklahoma, particularly," said Gillette. The average loss severity, which refers to the amount paid out for claims incurred, has been going up between 12 percent and 15 percent over the last five years. </p> <p>A lot of Oklahoma's losses over the last four years are related to roof replacement due to wind and hail damage. Gillette noted that roughly three-quarters of the premium dollars that are paid in Oklahoma go to wind and hail losses, which is extraordinary in the country. </p> <p>Weather cannot be entirely blamed for the higher rates, Johns said, noting that other factors include a home's age, its location and construction. Johns added that he hasn't seen a consistent across-the-board pattern of companies raising rates. </p> <p>John Lucido, state executive director of Farmers Insurance, agreed that home rates are increasing, but, again, how much depends on the company. </p> <p>In August, Farmers Insurance raised home insurance rates about 8 percent on average for Oklahoma policy holders. But some home-owners saw a higher percentage increase than that and others lower, he said. </p> <p>Information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners shows that Farmers collected $159.8 million in premiums last year and paid out $274.2 million in claims. </p> <p>Significant damage from several storms and not just one storm can cause rates to rise. With all of the terrible weather over the last couple of years, the industry has "just taken it on the chin," Lucido said. And different companies are handling it in different ways, one of which is raising rates. </p> <p>"It has been an unusually busy year, probably our busiest on record for catastrophe claims," said Jeff Davis, a public affairs specialist for State Farm Insurance Cos. in Tulsa. </p> <p>Through the third quarter, State Farm had handled 970,000 catastrophe claims, stretching from wildfires in western Texas to storm damage in Maine, and the company paid out $5 billion in catastrophe claims nationwide. </p> <p>"Our rates are based on anticipated need to pay claims in the future, so we look over a long period of time and try to project the number of claims that we will have. ... It's in our best interest and our customers' best interest to not have large spikes when it comes to a rate increase," Davis said. </p> <p>Based on information from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Farm, which is the state's largest insurer, last year collected $275.4 million in premiums in Oklahoma and paid out $405.5 million in claims. </p> <p>Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance, which has more than 100,000 property policies and is the state's No. 1 insurer of farm and ranch policies and one of the top insurers of homes, last year raised rates anywhere from 5 percent to more than 30 percent based on different criteria for individual customers, said John Wiscaver, vice president of public affairs for the Oklahoma Farm Bureau. </p> <p>He noted that the bureau looks at many factors and constantly tries to use better ways of assessing risk for individual customers and takes advantage of new underwriting actuarial processes. </p> <p>"The goal is to try to price the product the best we can to keep it affordable for customers," Wiscaver said. </p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <p>Insurance tips<br /> Consider moving to a higher deductible to offset some of the rate increase. </p> <p>Schedule an appointment at least once a year with your insurance agent to check your entire insurance portfolio and make sure coverage is appropriate. </p> <p>Consider ways to save money on the entire insurance portfolio rather than just one product. For instance, can you combine auto and home insurance with one insurer to reduce costs? </p> <p>Use your renewal period as an opportunity to shop around for the best coverage. It's a competitive market. </p> <p>Sometimes staying with your current insurance company and agent may be the best option. Customers have to figure out if switching to a new insurer and agent is worth the savings they'll receive compared to staying with an insurer and agent they trust and who provides good customer service. </p> <p>Read more from this Tulsa World article at <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&amp;articleid=20111114_46_A1_Itseem1568">http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=32&amp;articleid=20111114_46_A1_Itseem1568</a></p> <br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:ab966637-ed60-4b2e-9c9a-c124a0d30ef9Shake, rattle, and roll!Oh boy!&nbsp; Here we go again!&nbsp; Oklahoma is&nbsp;topping the list of&nbsp;insurance nightmares with tornadoes, flooding rains, hail, and earthquakes all in the same day.&nbsp; I kinda wish we were still in Kansas. With all that in mind, here a...Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:07:47 -0600Oh boy!&nbsp; Here we go again!&nbsp; Oklahoma is&nbsp;topping the list of&nbsp;insurance nightmares with tornadoes, flooding rains, hail, and earthquakes all in the same day.&nbsp; I kinda wish we were still in Kansas.<br /> <br /> With all that in mind, here are some important safety tips:<br /> <br /> Tornadoes are coming!&nbsp;&nbsp;Seek shelter in&nbsp;the interior of your home.<br /> Earthquakes are coming!&nbsp;&nbsp;Stay&nbsp;away from the interior of your home.&nbsp; Go outside if possible.<br /> Lightning is coming!&nbsp; Avoid&nbsp;high ground.<br /> Flooding rains are coming!&nbsp; Avoid low ground.<br /> Some parts of the state have had 5" of rain, but we are under a burn ban.<br /> <br /> You gotta love Oklahoma!<br /> &nbsp;<br /> <br /> We always get storms here, so that part is nothing new.&nbsp;&nbsp;The following&nbsp;is an interesting story to check out that&nbsp;might help alleviate some fears about the other&nbsp;crazy stuff going on around here.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&amp;articleid=20111108_11_A1_Bywayn775786">http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&amp;articleid=20111108_11_A1_Bywayn775786</a><br /> <br /> An update to earthquake insurance:&nbsp; All companies offering the coverage have a moratorium on adding the coverage to any policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means we cannot add the coverage to your policy for a certain period of time.&nbsp; It's sort of like trying to insure a house while it's on fire, or going to purchase health insurance after you've broken your leg.&nbsp; However, as soon as the earthquakes stop, the companies will allow the coverage to be added.&nbsp; Prices range from $44 to $258 per year, and deductibles&nbsp;can be&nbsp;high.&nbsp; The lowest is 2% of your dwelling coverage, meaning if your home is covered for $150,000, your out of pocket expense is $3000.&nbsp; Some companies require a 10% deductible, meaning you'd have to pay $15,000 for the same house.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> We are currently researching a company that will provide the coverage to any current homeowners policy.&nbsp; As soon as the moratorium lifts we will check out the prices and deductibles.&nbsp; If you are interested in the coverage, just give us a call or send an email and we will add your name&nbsp;to the list.<br /> <br /> Have a great day!<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:adcf4c47-230c-41c2-a430-ccd83d4d61aeEarthquake InsuranceDid you feel the earthquake? Chances are, if you're checking us out to answer questions regarding earthquake insurance, you did. &nbsp; Some companies don't offer earthquake insurance in Oklahoma, simply because we don't have big earthquakes. &nbsp...Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:26:57 -0600Did you feel the earthquake?<br /> <br /> Chances are, if you're checking us out to answer questions regarding earthquake insurance, you did. &nbsp;<br /> <br /> Some companies don't offer earthquake insurance in Oklahoma, simply because we don't have big earthquakes. &nbsp;Well, we didn't use to. &nbsp;I've lived here 40 years, and that big one under Lake Thunderbird was the first one I'd ever experienced. &nbsp;It seems that times are changing!<br /> <br /> If you are insured with Travelers, the earthquake premium will run about $85 dollars per year. &nbsp;If you are insured with Hanover, yours will run about $120 per year. &nbsp;With Hanover your lowest deductible is 5% of your dwelling coverage. &nbsp;We will be doing some more research first thing Monday morning to see who offers it, and what their deductibles are.<br /> <br /> Fortunately, we don't have any major faults like California. &nbsp;But that doesn't make it any less scary!<br /> <br /> Have a great rest of your weekend!urn:uuid:4bc580be-840e-4f07-9064-0d5234d5156bGot Health Insurance?Thinking about buying a health insurance policy?&nbsp; Right now, Blue Cross/Blue Shield still has the best rates on major medical policies. Interested in a quote?&nbsp; Email the following information..... Name Address Birthday Height Weight Tob...Thu, 27 Oct 2011 11:02:45 -0500Thinking about buying a health insurance policy?&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Right now, Blue Cross/Blue Shield still has the best rates on major medical policies.<br /> <br /> Interested in a quote?&nbsp; Email the following information.....<br /> <br /> Name<br /> Address<br /> Birthday<br /> Height<br /> Weight<br /> Tobacco use?<br /> <br /> .....and send it to erin@familyinsu.com<br /> <br /> Quotes take about 5 minutes, and applications can be filled out in the privacy of your own home through email.<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:0fef144f-c24a-444d-81a6-06360ca02b56Men vs Women Drivers<img src='http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UmNnv81UO6lIA8BBbnUSpw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9Zml0O2g9NDA-/http://media.zenfs.com/290/2011/07/11/cbs-moneywatch-logo_201817.jpg' align='left' /> Men vs. Women: Who Are Safer Drivers? Women have a positive image of themselves as safer drivers than men, according to a recent poll. By Jerry Edgerton | CBS MoneyWatch&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;22 hours ago tweet47 Email Print ...Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:21:58 -0500<div class="bd"> <h1 class="headline">Men vs. Women: Who Are Safer Drivers?</h1> <h2 class="subheadline">Women have a positive image of themselves as safer drivers than men, according to a recent poll.</h2> <a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/" rel="nofollow"><img alt="" class="logo" src="http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/UmNnv81UO6lIA8BBbnUSpw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9Zml0O2g9NDA-/http://media.zenfs.com/290/2011/07/11/cbs-moneywatch-logo_201817.jpg" /></a><cite class="byline vcard">By Jerry Edgerton | CBS MoneyWatch&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;<abbr title="2011-10-11T15:00:20-07:00">22 hours ago</abbr></cite></div> <div id="yui_3_3_0_4_131845068428198" class="yom-mod social-buttons"> <div id="yui_3_3_0_4_131845068428197" class="bd"> <div id="yui_3_3_0_4_131845068428152" class="yui3-widget yui3-ymsb"> <div id="ymsb-13184505005316-1" class="ymsb ymsb-facebook ymsb-retweet ymsb-mail ymsb-print yui3-ymsb-content"> <ul id="yui_3_3_0_4_13184506842811764"> <li style="min-width: 89px;" class="ymsb-module ymsb-facebook-module"><iframe style="width: 130px; height: 21px;border: medium none;" id="f221728b834a756" class="fb_ltr" title="Like this content on Facebook." src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?action=recommend&amp;api_key=153044714735823&amp;channel_url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df37be6b36c1f5fc%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fautos.yahoo.com%252Ff207d1980d4a612%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&amp;colorscheme=light&amp;font=arial&amp;href=http%3A%2F%2Fautos.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fmen-vs--women--who-are-safer-drivers-.html&amp;layout=button_count&amp;locale=en_US&amp;no_resize=true&amp;node_type=1&amp;sdk=joey&amp;show_faces=false&amp;width=130" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" name="fdbdf375d5dd75" scrolling="no"></iframe></li> <li id="yui_3_3_0_4_13184506842811763" class="ymsb-module ymsb-retweet-module lang-en"><a href="http://autos.yahoo.com/_xhr/social/share/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fautos.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fmen-vs--women--who-are-safer-drivers-.html&amp;text=Men%20vs.%20Women%3A%20Who%20Are%20Safer%20Drivers%3F%20-%20Yahoo!%20Autos&amp;counturl=http%3A%2F%2Fautos.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fmen-vs--women--who-are-safer-drivers-.html&amp;lang=en&amp;action=retweet" id="yui_3_3_0_4_13184506842811778" class="ymsb-retweet-btn" data-target="popup">tweet</a><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=http%3A%2F%2Fautos.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fmen-vs--women--who-are-safer-drivers-.html" id="yui_3_3_0_4_1318450684281103" class="ymsb-retweet-count count-enabled" title="tweet count" data-target="tab">47</a></li> <li class="ymsb-module ymsb-mail-module lang-en-US hidelinktext"><a href="http://mtf.news.yahoo.com/mailto/?prop=autos&amp;locale=us&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fautos.yahoo.com%2Fnews%2Fmen-vs--women--who-are-safer-drivers-.html&amp;title=Men%20vs.%20Women%3A%20Who%20Are%20Safer%20Drivers%3F%20-%20Yahoo!%20Autos" class="ymsb-mail-btn" title="Email" rel="nofollow">Email</a></li> <li class="ymsb-module ymsb-print-module lang-en-US hidelinktext"><a href="javascript: window.print()" class="ymsb-print-btn" title="Print">Print</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="yog-wrap yom-art-bd"> <div class="yog-col yog-5u"></div> <div class="yog-col yog-11u"> <div class="yom-mod yom-art-content"> <div class="bd"> <p>Those condescending jokes about female drivers seem to have vanished with the Bob Hope generation of comedians. Nowadays women appear&nbsp; to have a positive image of themselves as safer drivers than men, according to a recent poll. In a survey done for insurer MetLife, 51% of women said their gender drives more safely.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div style="border-bottom: #e4e4e4 5px solid; padding-bottom: 5px; margin: 10px; padding-left: 0px; width: 255px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; clear: both; border-top: #e4e5e4 5px solid; padding-top: 5px;" class="hotdog"> <h4 style="padding-bottom: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 3px 0px 8px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; color: #555555; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; padding-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_3_0_20_1318363147040246">MORE AT CBS MONEYWATCH.COM</h4> <ul style="padding-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin: 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; font-size: 10px; padding-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_3_0_4_13184506842811753"> <li style="list-style-position: inside; padding-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: normal; color: #db612d; font-weight: normal;">&raquo;</em>&nbsp;<a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/spending/blog/cars-money/used-cars-5-to-avoid-and-5-better-alternatives/3260/?tag=yahoo-moneywatch" style="color: #1053fc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">5 Used Cars NOT to Buy&nbsp;<br /> </a></li> <li style="list-style-position: inside; padding-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: normal; color: #db612d; font-weight: normal;">&raquo;</em>&nbsp;<a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/spending/blog/cars-money/10-ways-you-waste-money-on-your-car/3012/?tag=yahoo-moneywatch" style="color: #1053fc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dumbest Ways You Waste Money on Your Car<br /> </a></li> <li style="list-style-position: inside; padding-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 6px 3px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_3_0_4_13184506842811751"><em style="font-style: normal; color: #db612d; font-weight: normal;">&raquo;</em>&nbsp;<a href="http://moneywatch.bnet.com/spending/blog/cars-money/car-accidents-best-worst-us-cities/3498/?tag=yahoo-moneywatch" style="color: #1053fc; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Best &amp; Worst Cities for Car Accidents</a></li> </ul> </div> The evidence is on their side: Men are 3.4 times more likely than women to get a ticket for reckless driving and 3.1 times as likely to be cited for drunk driving, according to a study by Quality Planning, a research firm that works for insurance companies. &ldquo;Women are on average less aggressive and more law-abiding drivers &mdash; attributes that lead to fewer accidents,&rdquo; the study says.<br /> <br /> Not that guys have completely caught on. Of the men surveyed by MetLife, only 39% claimed male drivers were safer &mdash; but 35% of men didn&rsquo;t know which gender to pick. The findings did back men up on one point: automotive knowledge. The poll showed that more men are familiar with current safety equipment such as electronic stability control, which helps prevent rollover accidents.<br /> <br /> <strong>Lower Insurance Rates for Women</strong><br /> <br /> Why auto safety matters to MoneyWatch: Men are paying for their unsafe behavior. Insurance company underwriters focus on what classes of drivers have the lowest dollar amounts of claims &mdash; and for now, that includes women. As a result, auto insurance rates are lower for women in most states.<br /> <br /> A study by the web site Insweb showed that overall, women pay about 9% less for auto insurance than men. Among individual states, women get the greatest advantage in Wyoming (where they pay 20% less) and in South Dakota and Washington, D.C., where their insurance costs are 16% lower.<br /> <br /> <strong>Higher Death Rates for Men</strong><br /> <br /> Men fare particularly badly when the statistics get deadly serious.<br /> <br /> More than 11,900 male drivers died in U.S. traffic accidents in 2009, compared with just under 4,900 women drivers, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Based on miles traveled, men died at a rate of 2.5 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, vs. 1.7 deaths for women.<br /> <br /> Those rates skyrocket for teenage drivers to 9.2 deaths per 100 million miles for males 16 to 19 years old and 5.3 deaths for female of the same age.<br /> <br /> <strong>Where Gender Doesn&rsquo;t Matter</strong><br /> <br /> The advantage women have had by avoiding aggressive driving may be eroding among teenagers &mdash; largely because of distractions while driving.<br /> <br /> Increasing numbers of teenage female drivers had been involved in accidents or had near misses because of distracted driving with cell phones, music players and other causes, according to a survey this year that was co-sponsored by Liberty Mutual insurance company. <p><em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div>urn:uuid:5a1abcc5-5796-49de-bbd9-7ac92538c35aThe Dangers of Carbon Monoxide.With cooler weather upon us, it&rsquo;s important to remember the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.&nbsp; According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims the lives of more th...Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:42:26 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">With cooler weather upon us, it&rsquo;s important to remember the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unintentional carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning claims the lives of more than 400 people annually in the United States and sends thousands more to emergency rooms.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Carbon monoxide, or CO, is an odorless and colorless gas that is toxic to humans and animals.&nbsp; Carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer because it cannot be seen, smelled or heard.&nbsp; Because humans cannot detect CO with their senses, carbon monoxide can kill you before you are aware it is affecting you.&nbsp; According to the U.S. Fire Administration, low levels of CO exposure cause mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu.&nbsp; These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Carbon monoxide may be generated from various sources including portable generators, unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, wood and gas stoves, charcoal grills, gas water heaters, motor vehicles, wood burning fireplaces and generators.&nbsp; CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.&nbsp; People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned and can die from breathing CO.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector can help save your life.&nbsp; It is recommended that you change the batteries in your CO detector every six months.&nbsp; Install at least one CO alarm with an audible warning alarm near the sleeping areas of your home.&nbsp; Insure the alarm has been evaluated by a recognized laboratory, such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The following safety tips are provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the CDC.&nbsp; For more detailed information, check out their websites or read the EPA&rsquo;s publications.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Here are a few things not to do:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove in an enclosed space such as a home, garage, tent, or camper.&nbsp; Even if the door is open, the CO may not be properly ventilated.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Never keep a motor vehicle running in the garage or any enclosed area.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Never use a range or oven to help heat your home.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Never use a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside homes, garages, crawlspaces, sheds, or similar areas.&nbsp; Deadly levels of carbon monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger for hours, even after the generator has shut off.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Here are a few things you should do:</strong></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Keep vents and flues free from debris, especially if winds are high.&nbsp; Flying debris can block ventilation lines.<br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Have a qualified professional check all fuel-burning appliances and furnaces at least once per year.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Keep gas appliances properly adjusted.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Install and use an exhaust fan vented to outdoors over gas stoves.</p> <br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br />urn:uuid:16bfd8a2-d966-430c-b3a7-d98472dd295dKnowledge is Power!What is identity theft? Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. The FTC estimates that a...Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:47:18 -0500<p><a id="Whatisidentitytheft" name="Whatisidentitytheft"></a><strong>What is identity theft?</strong></p> <p>Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes.</p> <p>The FTC estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. <br /> The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name. You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn&rsquo;t make&mdash;or until you&rsquo;re contacted by a debt collector. </p> <p>Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record.&nbsp; Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><a id="Howdothievesstealanidentity" name="Howdothievesstealanidentity"></a><strong>How do thieves steal an identity?</strong></p> <p>Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold. <br /> Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"> <li><strong>Dumpster Diving.</strong> They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it. </li> <li><strong>Skimming.</strong> They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card. </li> <li><strong>Phishing.</strong> They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information. </li> <li><strong>Changing Your Address.</strong> They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. </li> <li><strong>Old-Fashioned Stealing</strong>. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access. </li> <li><strong>Pretexting.</strong>&nbsp; They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.&nbsp; For more information about pretexting, click <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/pretexting.html">here</a>. </li> </ol> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><a id="Whatdothievesdowithastolenidentity" name="Whatdothievesdowithastolenidentity"></a><strong>What do thieves do with a stolen identity?</strong></p> <p>Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways. </p> <p>Credit card fraud: </p> <ul> <li>They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report. </li> <li>They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account. Because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem. </li> </ul> <p>Phone or utilities fraud: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account. </li> <li>They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, heating, or cable TV. </li> </ul> <p>Bank/finance fraud: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number. </li> <li>They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks. </li> <li>They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals your name, draining your accounts. </li> <li>They may take out a loan in your name. </li> </ul> <p>Government documents fraud: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>They may get a driver's license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture. </li> <li>They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits. </li> <li>They may file a fraudulent tax return using your information. </li> </ul> <p>Other fraud: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>They may get a job using your Social Security number. </li> <li>They may rent a house or get medical services using your name. </li> <li>They may give your personal information to police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name. </li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><a id="Howcanyoufindoutifyouridentitywasstolen" name="Howcanyoufindoutifyouridentitywasstolen"></a><strong>How can you find out if your identity was stolen? </strong><br /> <br /> The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. For more information, visit the <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/detect.html">Detect Identity Theft</a> section.</p> <p>Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.</p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred. </li> <li>You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan. </li> <li>You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held. </li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><strong><a id="whatshouldyoudoifyouridentityisstolen" name="whatshouldyoudoifyouridentityisstolen"></a>What should you do if your identity is stolen?</strong></p> <p>Filing a police report, checking your credit reports, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are some of the steps you must take immediately to restore your good name. To learn more about these steps and more, visit the <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html">DEFEND:&nbsp; Recover from Identity Theft</a> section.&nbsp;To file a complaint, <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/filing-a-report.html">click here</a>. </p> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><strong><a id="shouldyoufileapolicereportifyouridentityisstolen" name="shouldyoufileapolicereportifyouridentityisstolen"></a>Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?</strong></p> <p>A police report that provides specific details of the identity theft is considered an Identity Theft Report, which entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information.&nbsp; An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/resolving-specific-id-theft-problems.html#ConsumerReportingCompanyObligations">block fraudulent information</a> that results from identity theft<strong>, </strong>such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/resolving-specific-id-theft-problems.html#InformationProviderObligations">debts do not reappear</a> on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/resolving-specific-id-theft-problems.html#InformationProviderObligations">collect debts</a> that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/defend.html#Whatisafraudalert">extended fraud alert</a> on your credit report. </p> <p>You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute.&nbsp; Where an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.</p> <p>In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft.&nbsp; You should file an <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/filing-a-report.html">ID Theft Complaint</a> with the FTC and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report.&nbsp; The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.</p> <p>A police report is also needed to get copies of the thief&rsquo;s application, as well as transaction information from companies that dealt with the thief.&nbsp; To get this information, you must submit a request in writing, accompanied by the police report, to the address specified by the company for this purpose.&nbsp; You can find more information and a model letter <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/downloads/Request-for-Fraudulent-Transaction.doc">here</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><a id="Howlongcantheeffectsofidentitytheftlast" name="Howlongcantheeffectsofidentitytheftlast"></a><strong>How long can the effects of identity theft last?</strong></p> <p>It's difficult to predict how long the effects of identity theft may linger. That's because it depends on many factors including the type of theft, whether the thief sold or passed your information on to other thieves, whether the thief is caught, and problems related to correcting your credit report. </p> <p>Victims of identity theft should monitor financial records for several months after they discover the crime. Victims should review their credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft. </p> <p>Don't delay in correcting your records and contacting all companies that opened fraudulent accounts.&nbsp; Make the initial contact by phone, even though you will normally need to follow up in writing.&nbsp; The longer the inaccurate information goes uncorrected, the longer it will take to resolve the problem.</p> <p><a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/about-identity-theft.html#content">back to top</a></p> <p><a id="Whatcanyoudotohelpfightidentitytheft" name="Whatcanyoudotohelpfightidentitytheft"></a><strong>What can you do to help fight identity theft? </strong></p> <p>A great deal.</p> <p>Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.</p> <p>Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, you can make identity thieves' jobs much more difficult. You can also help fight identity theft by educating your friends, family, and members of your community. The FTC has prepared a collection of easy-to-use materials to enable anyone regardless of existing knowledge about identity theft to inform others about this serious crime. To learn more, <a href="http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/consumers/deter-detect-defend.html">click here</a>.</p> <br /> If we wrote your home policy, you have coverage to help with the financial damage identity theft can wreak on your pocketbook.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br />urn:uuid:1e648758-5fb8-4f9d-acf3-f6bcdd386448Avoiding Honey Pots<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/backhoe.jpg' align='left' />Have you ever wondered why sewer backup is included on your homeowner&rsquo;s policy? If you live in a certain area of Moore, you already know the answer to this question.&nbsp; Even city sewer systems have problems and can cause a backup into your h...Wed, 14 Sep 2011 16:41:20 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Have you ever wondered why sewer backup is included on your homeowner&rsquo;s policy?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If you live in a certain area of Moore, you already know the answer to this question.&nbsp; Even city sewer systems have problems and can cause a backup into your home.&nbsp; You never know whose little kid has been dropping toys down that mysterious black hole in the back yard.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Many of our customers&rsquo; homes have septic systems.&nbsp; If not taken care of properly, these things are notorious for causing problems ranging from minor (having to replace the lateral lines) to major and needing the whole system replaced.&nbsp; If you&rsquo;re just purchasing a home with a septic system, be sure to ask if there are any issues with it and the last time it was emptied.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Want to know how to keep one of these out of your backyard?<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/backhoe.jpg" /><br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">There are several products on the market made especially for septic tanks.&nbsp; But it can be as simple as dropping a packet of yeast into the toilet bowl once a month.&nbsp; You can even pour a beer down the drain, as it has enough bugs to keep the tank digesting happily.&nbsp; Sacrilege, I know, but it does work.&nbsp; It does not, however, help the septic system when beer is consumed first, then deposited into the septic.&nbsp; It must be sacrificed in its pure form.&nbsp; Keeping the septic system happy keeps unpleasant things from bubbling back up into your house.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/happy%20toilet.jpg" /><br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And, thanks to your trusty insurance agents, you have coverage on your policy for just such an occasion.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Have questions?&nbsp; Give us a call!<br /> <br /> <em>FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> </p>urn:uuid:d76238ac-414f-49db-aaed-85a1a69d31b4Labor Day!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/labor%20day.jpg' align='left' /> To all of you who work as hard as you do..... Have a great holiday! ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE Phone # (405) 329-9780 Fax # (405) 823-6917 http://www.gotomypolicy.com paul@familyinsu.com Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:00:55 -0500<img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/labor%20day.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <strong><span style="font-size: 32px;">To all of you who work as hard as you do.....<br /> <br /> Have a great holiday!<br /> <br /> </span></strong><em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:b9a44bff-f8b8-4568-824a-727563115025Believe it or not! There are many ways one could gauge the danger of driving in a particular city, but this list uses the cities with the greatest number of vehicular deaths as a barometer of the danger level. U.S. cities with a population of 150,000 or more were up f...Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:02:35 -0500<p ><br /> There are many ways one could gauge the danger of driving in a particular city, but this list uses the cities with the greatest number of vehicular deaths as a barometer of the danger level. U.S. cities with a population of 150,000 or more were up for consideration, using the most recent motor vehicle crash data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration&rsquo;s Fatality Analysis Reporting System and General Estimates System. <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 4.8pt 9pt;"><b>MORE AT CNBC.COM</b><b></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 7.8pt 0.05in 9.6pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &raquo; <a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ArwWbeKCKFCnpqogEdyvh3O7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEybDBudjMyBHBvcwMxBHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13cf0h9s6/EXP=1314223003/**http%3A/www.cnbc.com/id/43948183%3F_source=yahooautos%257Cdangerous%257C%26par=yahooautos" target="_blank">15 Dangerous Cities for Driving<br /> </a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 7.8pt 0.05in 9.6pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &raquo;&nbsp;<a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=ArDp2SlNtslLB_O55kFUhQi7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEyazUxcmZqBHBvcwMyBHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13cah9uoj/EXP=1314223003/**http%3A/www.cnbc.com/id/43689889%3F_source=yahooautos%257Cdangerous%257C%26par=yahooautos" target="_blank">The 10 Most Expensive Cars to Own<br /> </a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 7.8pt 0.05in 9.6pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &raquo;&nbsp;<a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=At0zfXZA3nsRiS5vYoHy8tq7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEyNjkwYnR0BHBvcwMzBHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13ce5l2rb/EXP=1314223003/**http%3A/www.cnbc.com/id/43096203%3F_source=yahooautos%257Cdangerous%257C%26par=yahooautos" target="_blank">Top 10 Summer Road Trip Cars<br /> </a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 7.8pt 6pt 9.6pt;">&middot;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &raquo;&nbsp;<a href="http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylt=Akoz._l7RnLJEjLlEYSW0GC7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEyY2o0cG0wBHBvcwM0BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=0/SIG=13cfq7uou/EXP=1314223003/**http%3A/www.cnbc.com/id/43397886%3F_source=yahooautos%257Cdangerous%257C%26par=yahooautos" target="_blank">Comeback Cars</a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">One particular region of the country, the South, is overrepresented, and within that region one state in particular sticks out like a panhandle: A full one-third of the cities in this list are in Florida. Why does Florida rank so badly? Some blame the high proportion of New York City expats&mdash;some driving for the first time in their lives &mdash; foreigners, tourists driving in unfamiliar territory, and senior citizens, not to mention spring breakers, who may have compromised vision or reflexes. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501884-los_angeles_vacations-i;_ylt=As3HMOAodrARuPffEsNhWzK7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEybjZkbTdkBHBvcwM1BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Los Angeles</a> didn&rsquo;t make the most dangerous list, but had the most total fatalities overall, at 293. The city that&rsquo;s the most dangerous for pedestrians, according to the data, is <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-479094-pittsburgh_vacations-i;_ylt=Aj4gZy5ZpVMAx5AdY_bs.wK7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEya210Mm1zBHBvcwM2BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Pittsburgh</a>, accounting for more than 50 percent of total fatalities. <br /> <br /> Here are the 15 cities that ranked the worst:<br /> <br /> <b>15. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501993-oklahoma_city_vacations-i;_ylt=AnDdfXNQTILbYdLtTcwg3iy7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEyMnZucWV1BHBvcwM3BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Oklahoma City, Okla.</a></b><br /> Population: 551,789 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 13.41 <br /> Total fatalities: 74 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 13.5 <br /> <br /> <b>14. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501865-birmingham_vacations-i;_ylt=AvtP3SssFDfXVsqDQWOYVXe7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEyazVudWM2BHBvcwM4BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Birmingham, Ala.</a></b><br /> Population: 228,798 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 13.55 <br /> Total fatalities: 31 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 15.2 <br /> <br /> <b>13. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-478753-tulsa_vacations-i;_ylt=Ajq7W5YVFkSqFTgRXZwPuIC7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEycWNoanN2BHBvcwM5BHNlYwNNZWRpYUFydGljbGVCb2R5QXNzZW1ibHk-;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Tulsa, Okla.</a></b><br /> Population: 385,635 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 14.00 <br /> Total fatalities: 54 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 18.5 <br /> <br /> <b>12. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-475132-st_petersburg_vacations-i;_ylt=AlnMnXQO_gVOuyDPzFdbQzG7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzczNtNWMyBHBvcwMxMARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">St. Petersburg, Fla.</a></b><br /> Population: 245,314 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 14.27 <br /> Total fatalities: 35 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 28.6 <br /> <br /> <b>11. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-474999-jacksonville_vacations-i;_ylt=Ah3cbJ_.F7p89wCDZe1EHPK7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbTZsdGVqBHBvcwMxMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Jacksonville, Fla.</a></b><br /> Population: 807,815 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 14.36 <br /> Total fatalities: 116 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 13.8 <br /> <br /> <b>10.<a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-479666-lubbock_vacations-i;_ylt=AhFsqwzk4s9yGMjwrI2G8nq7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzZmM1NzNpBHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank"> Lubbock, Texas</a></b><br /> Population: 220,483 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 14.97 <br /> Total fatalities: 33 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 15.2 <br /> <br /> <b>9. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191502010-memphis_vacations-i;_ylt=An.3Lj_Pd1.voEYOU2p2iq67f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMjI3MnB1BHBvcwMxMwRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Memphis, Tenn.</a></b><br /> Population: 669,651 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 15.08 <br /> Total fatalities: 101 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 11.9 <br /> <br /> <b>8. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501955-jackson_vacations-i;_ylt=AkuSOksfrgIm6D9OwqzHTfW7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbXZybGlyBHBvcwMxNARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Jackson, Miss.</a></b><br /> Population: 173,861 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 15.53 <br /> Total fatalities: 27 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 18.5 <br /> <br /> <b>7. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-479361-chattanooga_vacations-i;_ylt=AsROzTQkKKno88ymETYQkzK7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbG5ub3I5BHBvcwMxNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Chattanooga, Tenn.</a></b><br /> Population: 170,880 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 16.39 <br /> Total fatalities: 28 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 17.9 <br /> <br /> <b>6. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191502021-salt_lake_city_vacations-i;_ylt=Auoagifa4fQ9JqmNW02l3ze7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdjloOXBpBHBvcwMxNgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Salt Lake City, Utah</a></b><br /> Population: 181,698 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 16.51 <br /> Total fatalities: 30 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 26.7 <br /> <br /> <b>5. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-474494-san_bernardino_ca_vacations-i;_ylt=AgCBVSB4.AteNcnKi2MvJwO7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzMjB1ZWg5BHBvcwMxNwRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">San Bernardino, Calif.</a></b><br /> Population: 198,580 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 17.12 <br /> Total fatalities: 38 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 15.8 <br /> <br /> <b>4. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501879-little_rock_vacations-i;_ylt=Ajh22yPX7ialeu8neB1F3_q7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdmpkazluBHBvcwMxOARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Little Rock, Ark.</a></b><br /> Population: 189,515 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 17.94 <br /> Total fatalities: 34 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 26.5 <br /> <br /> <b>3. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-475173-augusta_vacations-i;_ylt=As11CA97bXin23zGUnIMQkO7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzNmx1NGYxBHBvcwMxOQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Augusta-Richmond Co., Ga.</a></b><br /> Population: 194,149 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 19.57 <br /> Total fatalities: 38 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 15.8 <br /> <br /> <b>2. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501911-orlando_vacations-i;_ylt=AogV3vZZW.eyRs59SyKXS567f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzM3QzZTM1BHBvcwMyMARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Orlando, Fla.</a></b><br /> Population: 230,519 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 19.95 <br /> Total fatalities: 46 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 10.9 </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The most dangerous city to drive in: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.</p> <b>1. <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501908-fort_lauderdale_vacations-i;_ylt=AoCyl7b4eBqd27SFEVgd8ku7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdDlvbHA1BHBvcwMyMQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Fort Lauderdale, Fla.</a></b><br /> Population: 183,126 <br /> Total fatality rate per 100,000 population: 22.39 <br /> Total fatalities: 41 <br /> Percentage of fatalities that were pedestrians: 24.4<br /> <br /> <br /> On the safer end of the spectrum, here are the 10 cities with the least fatalities per 100,000 population: <br /> <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-479974-arlington_vacations-i;_ylt=ArQLX6eUMqr3t3x1WY7nLP.7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzazlvZml0BHBvcwMyMgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Arlington</a> CDP (census designated place), Va. (0.48) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-480282-vancouver_vacations-i;_ylt=AouFuKwkik2smAJKULYdj8G7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbzFqNmltBHBvcwMyMwRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Vancouver, Wash</a>. (1.23) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-474391-moreno_valley_ca_vacations-i;;_ylt=Ak9uhgh7UP_Xr8WLlvqiJMu7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzdTN1N2poBHBvcwMyNARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Moreno Valley, Calif.</a> (1.57) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-478121-rochester_vacations-i;_ylt=AnaXmH_3Yq1rwk8PxCbpQaC7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzaTc1dDRrBHBvcwMyNQRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Rochester, N.Y.</a> (1.93) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-480268-spokane_vacations-i;_ylt=ApDVCuZ2ENYKj7YwxaUS_ie7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbmgyMW9wBHBvcwMyNgRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Spokane, Wash.</a> (1.98) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-191501964-lincoln_vacations-i;;_ylt=AlDUirOvLLCXtxs_HFuaH127f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzZWhyNTZkBHBvcwMyNwRzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">Lincoln, Neb.</a> (1.99) <br /> Aurora, Ill. (2.33) <br /> <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-477062-st_paul_vacations-i;_ylt=Aqtqay9uakk3VVb7RbQnd4a7f9x_;_ylu=X3oDMTEzbmFzNDJ2BHBvcwMyOARzZWMDTWVkaWFBcnRpY2xlQm9keUFzc2VtYmx5;_ylg=X3oDMTQyMnBoM3RwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDNTc0YWEyODEtZjk5NS0zYWMzLTkxNzMtNTY0OTg0NmQwYWIzBHBzdGNhdANuZXdzYW5kaW5mb3xmZWF0dXJlZGluZm98ZmVhdHVyZWRhcnRpY2xlcwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-" target="_blank">St. Paul, Minn.</a> (2.50) <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:c3e6b24b-1d44-4440-9600-50b03c1b2457The Vultures Have Landed!That nasty storm back on June 14th really left its mark on Norman, OK.&nbsp; It didn't last long, but it was vicious with serious straight-line winds and lots of hail.&nbsp; Since we've been talking with several of our clients and turning in claims, ...Tue, 28 Jun 2011 11:45:37 -0500That nasty storm back on June 14th really left its mark on Norman, OK.&nbsp; It didn't last long, but it was vicious with serious straight-line winds and lots of hail.&nbsp; Since we've been talking with several of our clients and turning in claims, we've discovered a disturbing trend.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Rumor has it there are several "roofing companies" going door to door, offering to look at your roof and see if it is damaged.&nbsp; Do you remember the old adage "If it seems to good to be true, it usually is."?&nbsp; These folks have been making all kinds of offers to homeowners to help "take care" of their issues.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> While we're sure that some of these people probably have your best interests in mind, be safe and&nbsp;DON'T FALL FOR IT.<br /> <br /> Roofing companies are the ultimate winners when it comes to hail storms and insurance claims, and they know it.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Your best bet is to call a local roofing company, or someone you might know personally.&nbsp; Don't know anyone?&nbsp; Ask your friends, or call us.&nbsp; We keep the names of a couple of reputable companies on hand for occasions like these.&nbsp; Local companies usually do have your best interest at heart as they can't afford a bad reputation in their home town.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> We are seeing the trend continue as we get more catastrophic weather events that seem to bring the crooks out of the woodwork.&nbsp; There's another old adage, "there's a fool born every minute and someone there to take him.".&nbsp; Do your homework to protect yourself!<br /> <br /> As a side note to those of you having your roofs replaced, be sure you check what kind of work your roofer does, i.e., do they nail shingles by hand or with a pressure hammer?&nbsp; Sometimes those hammers will push a nailhead through the shingle, so instead of holding it in place, it flies off with the next stout south wind.&nbsp; We want to trust that roofers will do a good job, but it doesn't hurt to be proactive&nbsp;and check their work.&nbsp; The ones we know take pride in their work and would be proud to show you how they do it.<br /> <br /> Pray for good weather!&nbsp; If the insurance companies catch a break, they'll pass it on to the rest of us!<br /> <br /> Take care out there!<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br />urn:uuid:c582d074-849c-4105-9a36-ae1538cecd1fTips for A/C units<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/ac%20unit.jpg' align='left' />Caring For Your Air Conditioner by Donald Munn When it comes to getting the most from your air conditioner there are some things you can do that will extend its life and keep it operating at maximum efficiency. All of these things fall under the cat...Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:15:17 -0500<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Caring For Your Air Conditioner</strong><br /> by Donald Munn<br /> <br /> When it comes to getting the most from your air conditioner there are some things you can do that will extend its life and keep it operating at maximum efficiency. All of these things fall under the category of maintenance. Much of this maintenance you can do yourself. Some will require hiring a contractor. <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/ac%20unit.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <strong>1) </strong>First on the list are filters. The filter in your air conditioner is very important and should be changed every three to six months, depending on how fast it becomes dirty. <br /> <br /> There is nothing wrong with changing the filter too often but not changing it often enough can cost you in many ways. <br /> <br /> - <a href="http://www.air-conditioning-repair.com/why_air_conditioner_ice_up.html"><i><strong>Ice build up</strong></i></a> - This happens from low airflow through the evaporator coil. If the ice build up is severe enough it can damage the evaporator coil. <br /> <br /> - <strong>Poor equipment performance</strong> - A dirty filter will decrease the efficiency of the air conditioning unit and increase operating costs by as much as 20% or more. <br /> <br /> - <strong>Increased wear on the compressor</strong> - This is because it has to run for longer periods of time to do its job. More run time equals shorter life span. Compressor changes are very expensive. <br /> <br /> <strong>2)</strong> <strong>Check the evaporator coil</strong> located inside the air handler (section inside your home) once a year to make sure there is no dust build up on the coil surface. This condition causes the same symptoms as a dirty filter. <br /> <br /> <strong>3)</strong> At the beginning of each cooling season it is a good idea to <i><strong>check the outside section of the air conditioner (condensing unit)</strong></i>. Check around the unit and make sure there is no debris on the surface of the condenser that will restrict airflow. Also check between the fins of the condenser to see that it is not plugged with dead bugs or pollen. This stuff usually accumulates over time and depending on where you live may not be a problem. Spraying the condenser with a garden hose is usually enough to remove this debris. <br /> <br /> <strong>4) Be sure to check the drain tube for dirt and debris.</strong>&nbsp; If the drain tube becomes plugged, the water will build up over time damaging sheet rock, carpet, whatever is in its flood path.&nbsp; Also, because the seepage is slow and hard to detect, it becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <strong>5)</strong> <strong>Check the belt in the air handler</strong> and replace as required. Many air conditioners made today use direct drive motors and therefore only require that the motor bearings be oiled once per year. <br /> <br /> <strong>6) </strong>It is also important to <i><strong>check contactors and all electrical components</strong></i>. Most of these will be located inside the condensing unit. The contactor operates the compressor and the contacts get pitted and need to be replaced occasionally.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp; Different manufacturers use different types of contactors. Some last much longer than others. <i><strong>Check all electrical connections for tightness</strong></i> and make sure no wires are rubbing against metal surfaces. <br /> <br /> There are some very important things to consider when selecting home air conditioners. Visit <a href="http://www.ac-central.com/" target="_blank">ac-central.com </a>where Donald shares twenty years of experience in the air conditioning industry. <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> </div>urn:uuid:7b31c91f-bbd8-4790-bfe6-2da6810f6a2fInsurance exposed!Insurance &ndash; EXPOSED! &nbsp; Do you know what an insurance policy really is?&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a bet.&nbsp; You pay the premium because something might happen, and the insurance company honors the policy hedging that nothing will happen.&nbsp; C...Fri, 06 May 2011 12:21:11 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Insurance &ndash; EXPOSED!</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Do you know what an insurance policy really is?&nbsp; It&rsquo;s a bet.&nbsp; You pay the premium because something <i>might</i> happen, and the insurance company honors the policy hedging that nothing <i>will </i>happen.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Can you live without an insurance policy? Sure, unless you have a loan on something.&nbsp; But if everything you have is paid for, you don&rsquo;t have to have insurance.&nbsp; Well, the state requires liability coverage on your cars, but even then you can pay the state $300,000 and self insure on that as well.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">So why do we still pay premiums even if we don&rsquo;t have loans?&nbsp; Because most of us can&rsquo;t afford to drop 10 grand for a new roof, or fix a damaged vehicle.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It&rsquo;s important to remember the purpose of your insurance policy, especially when the economy is tanking and the price of gas and everything else is going up.&nbsp; Insurance is not a tangible object, so it seems like a black hole that you keep flushing money down.&nbsp; Everybody wants to cut costs as much as possible, but looking to your insurance policies to save money is not the way to do it. &nbsp;Cutting coverage might save a few hundred dollars, but if you have a claim you could be out that and a lot more.&nbsp; If you have a claim with the right policy in place, that black hole will help maintain your financial status.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Companies are becoming more and more insistent on gaining your business.&nbsp; You want to be really careful of those solicitations, especially when you didn&rsquo;t ask for them.&nbsp; Nobody out there knows exactly what coverages you have unless you tell them, and unless you tell them, your quote is not an apple-to-apple comparison.&nbsp; You also want to be careful of the type of policy they&rsquo;re offering.&nbsp; There are several types out there that have cheaper premiums yet don&rsquo;t offer the coverage you need.&nbsp; The burden should be on the agent to write the type of policy you want and need, but you have to know the right questions to ask.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If your policy is through us, you can rest assured you have exactly what you need.&nbsp; Not sure?&nbsp; Give us a call and ask.&nbsp; Did your premiums go up?&nbsp; A 10-15% increase is usual on renewals as it covers the ever increasing costs of building materials and vehicle repairs.&nbsp; But if the increase is considerably greater than that, give us a chance to remarket you.&nbsp; Stick with the people you know and trust.&nbsp; We will do everything we can to help, and if we can&rsquo;t, we will advise you to someone who will take good care of you.&nbsp; We also offer several different lines of coverage, so if you&rsquo;re looking for, say, a renter&rsquo;s policy to go with your auto policy, let us know.&nbsp; We can cover pretty much anything you have, and several things we bet you didn&rsquo;t even think about.</p> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:72032070-f60a-4c38-ac3b-0e9e4e13c222Improving Your Credit Score Make these moves and you'll have a good score. Guaranteed. Does improving your credit score seem daunting? It doesn't have to be. Taking a few small steps now can mean the difference between a 550 and a 780. Follow these tips to see your score impr...Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:08:44 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b><br /> Make these moves and you'll have a good score. Guaranteed. </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Does improving your credit score seem daunting? It doesn't have to be. Taking a few small steps now can mean the difference between a 550 and a 780. Follow these tips to see your score improve.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>1. Request a copy of your credit report</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">You're entitled to a free credit report each year from each of the nationwide consumer credit bureaus -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"It is important to remember that consumers have more than one credit report. Since there are three different credit reporting agencies, the information on each of their credit files may differ," says Clifton M. O'Neal, senior director of corporate communications for TransUnion. Requesting a free credit report "can help consumers keep tabs on all of their financial activities."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">O'Neal advises checking each report for fraudulent activity and correcting any errors that appear. Each credit bureau's website has information on how to fix errors.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>2. Take steps to improve your credit score</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">The credit bureaus and other companies track the information contained in your credit report, and crunch them into a three-digit number called a credit score. Having a low credit score will raise a red flag for lenders and could lead to having a loan application rejected. Or even if the application is accepted, your interest rate could be much higher. In other words, if you want to buy a house or a car, improving your credit score is an essential first step.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"If you are going to be applying for credit at any point in the future -- whether a new credit card, a mortgage, a home equity line of credit or a small business loan -- your credit score will largely determine how little or much you are going to have to pay for that credit ... if you get it at all," says Russell Wild, certified financial adviser and co-author of "One Year to An Organized Financial Life."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">You can improve your credit score by paying bills on time, keeping your debt below 35 percent of your available credit, paying down debt and disputing errors on your credit report.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>3. Read (and understand) the terms and conditions of your credit card contract</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">No one <i>wants</i> to read the fine print, but it contains all the important information about payment terms, interest rates, annual fees and penalties. Your credit card contract -- also called a card agreement or "terms and conditions" -- lays it out, though it often takes strong eyes and college-level reading comprehension.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"Most people don't bother reading the terms and conditions, and that's a mistake," says David Jones, president of Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA). "You shouldn't be surprised when your interest rate goes up because you missed a payment. It's all there in black and white."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Most credit card agreements are hard to understand, but that could change: As part of the 2010 Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will have the power to mandate changes in contracts to make them easier to understand.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>4. Read your monthly statements carefully</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">According to Jones, credit card statements are easier to understand than ever. The Credit CARD Act of 2009, whose major provisions took effect in February 2010, required new design and disclosure requirements to make statements more reader-friendly. Among the requirements, the fees for making late payments and how much is being paid in fees and interest on different types of accounts must be shown. CreditCards.com has put together an interactive look at the new credit card statements, using examples from all the major card issuers.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">If there's something that doesn't make sense, call your credit card company or a credit counseling agency accredited by the AICCCA or the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to ask questions.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>5. Pay down -- or pay off -- your credit card balance</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"As soon as the January bills come in and cardholders realize how long it's going to take them to pay off their holiday spending, paying down credit card bills becomes a priority," Jones says.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">One of the changes mandated by the CARD Act was that card statements must show how long it will take to pay off a balance if you pay only the minimum.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">When it comes to paying off credit card balances, avoid making new charges, focus on paying off the card with the highest interest rates first and always pay more than the minimum payment.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"Even if you can only pay $5 over the minimum balance, it's a good idea because it goes straight to the principal and helps reduce your debt, even a little," says Jones.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>6. Use credit cards that match your spending habits</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Choosing the "right" card at the checkout can save you a bundle, according to Wild.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Consider the payment terms, he says, "most notably the interest rate you'll pay if you don't pay off your debt at the end of the month."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Cardholders who don't pay off their balances at the end of the month should be willing to sacrifice rewards to get a card that has a lower interest rate.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Wild also suggests using caution with store cards, especially those promising zero interest. If you have a history of late payments, interest rates can skyrocket which is an expensive mistake.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Annual fees can also add up. If you're paying $50 per year on several airline rewards cards but have never cashed in a single air mile, those accounts might not be the best fit for your spending habits.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;"><b>7. Think twice before canceling cards</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Your credit score is determined, in part, by the variety of accounts you have, and whether you have eaten up a lot of your available credit by carrying balances. In other words, outstanding balances on multiple cards will affect your credit score. Wisely manage those balances and don't be in a hurry to close out accounts.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">"Any major changes in your credit habits, including canceling cards, will throw up a red flag and impact your credit score," says Jones. "If you want to reduce the number of cards you carry, cancel one card and a few months later cancel another instead of canceling them all at once."</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Having multiple lines of credit and low balances gives you a low credit utilization ratio, which is good for your credit score. Be sure to keep your balances low -- overall, and on each credit card you have. And use each card every so often so the credit card company doesn't cancel the account.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">If you're struggling with debt and having too much available credit may lead to the temptation to spend, you might be better off canceling those credit cards. It's better to let your credit score take a hit for closing accounts than to face the consequences of charging too much debt and not being able to pay it off.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">Story from Yahoo<br /> <br /> &nbsp;A note from Family Insurance:&nbsp; Not only does your interest rate increase with bad credit ratings, but your insurance premium does too.&nbsp; Making your payments on time and staying ahead of potential problems tells the insurance company you are a good risk.<br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; background: white;">&nbsp;</p> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</em><i><br /> <em>Phone # (405) 329-9780</em><br /> <em>Fax # (405) 823-6917</em><br /> </i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br />urn:uuid:346823d4-bc40-4106-b9d2-b4764b6dbaebSilly Traffic Laws<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/tire%20marks.jpg' align='left' />You know the basic traffic laws -- stop at a red light, obey the speed limit, don't drink and drive.... But this is America, land of the free and home of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along, so in addition to the standard traffic laws, there are some wei...Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:47:55 -0500You know the basic traffic laws -- stop at a red light, obey the speed limit, don't drink and drive....<br /> <br /> But this is America, land of the free and home of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along, so in addition to the standard traffic laws, there are some weird and wacky ones out there.<br /> <br /> Some of them are specific to activities common in that town or state, and some of them make you wonder why someone had to tell you it's illegal to do that.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/tire%20marks.jpg" /><br /> <br /> 10.&nbsp; Screeeeeech!<br /> <br /> In Kansas, it is illegal to screech your tires.&nbsp; That's a state law, but there are also local ordinances to back it up.<br /> <br /> In Derby, Kansas, for example, it's part of a standard traffic ordinance that any act which causes or creates "unnecessary rapid acceleration, unnecessary tire squeal, skid, smoke or slide upon acceleration or stopping including the casting of tread, gravel, dirt, or other road surface materials from the tires" is illegal.&nbsp; Also any acts that "simulate a temporary race".&nbsp; <br /> <br /> So, I'm curious.&nbsp; If my tires squeal due to the evasive action I have to take because some jerk just pulled out in front of me, do I get the citation, or the jerk?<br /> <br /> The penalty is a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment up to 30 days.<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/no%20sleeping.jpg" /><br /> 9.&nbsp; Eureka! Wake up!<br /> <br /> In Eureka, California, it is unlawful and an infraction to sleep in any public space.&nbsp; That might make you think park bench, but they go so far as to add tht you are not to sleep on any sidewalk, ally or STREET.&nbsp; That's right, they have to tell you not to sleep in the street.<br /> <br /> The offense, should you live to be penalized for it, is classified as a misdemeanor and punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.&nbsp; Narcoleptics beware!<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/dog%20chasing%20car.jpg" /><br /> 8.&nbsp; Kentucky Doggie<br /> <br /> In Fort Thomas, Kentucky, it is illegal for your pet to "molest" a vehicle.&nbsp; Yes, that is the actual, unforunate legal term used in the city ordinance for "animal-related nuisance".<br /> <br /> The idea of this section is that it is illegal for a pet to cause "annoyance, discomfort or injury to the health and welfare of persons in the communit".&nbsp; The ordinance states that that includes "molesting pedestrians or passing vehicles".<br /> <br /> It is unclear if they were just being thorough or if doggie molestation of cars is common here.&nbsp; In any case, the penalty is that animal-control officers have the right to impound any animal and issue a citation to the owner.&nbsp; Of course, if your dog has a habit of molesting vehicles, you probably already knew you had problems!<br /> <br /> The penalty is a fine of up to $500.<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/dunkin%20donuts.jpg" /><br /> 7.&nbsp; Dunkin', No parkin'<br /> <br /> Yes, doughnut cravings can be powerful butif you're in South Berwick, Maine, they can also be expensive.&nbsp; If you park in front of the Dunkin Donuts, you will be ticketed.&nbsp; Specifically, the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street "to a point of 25 feet south".<br /> <br /> No, it's not so police officers can always be first in line.&nbsp; It's actually part of a longer list of no-parking zones to "avoid conflict with other traffic".&nbsp; In this particular case, there's&nbsp;a school right next door and the road isn't big enough for parking -- parking there would block traffic.&nbsp; Of the seven locations listed in this section of the town ordinance, it's worth noting that this is the only one that specifically names a business -- "No parking in front of the Dunkin Donuts".&nbsp; They were probably so sick of hearing the excuse "oh, I'll just be in and out in five minutes," that they decided to spell it out -- no, seriously, no parking on Main Street IN FRONT OF THE DUNKIN DONUTS.<br /> <br /> The penalty is a fine of up to $175 and/or jail time of up to 30 days.<br /> <br /> Hope you enjoyed that donut!<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/cussing.jpg" /><br /> 6.&nbsp; Watch your mouth.<br /> <br /> If you're not going to listen to your mother and keep your language clean, you're going to have to answer to the law in Rockville, Maryland.&nbsp; Here, it's illegal to swear within earshot of other people, whether you're on a street, sidewalk or highway.&nbsp; That means even if you're in your car, you're going to have to use your talking-in-front-of-the-kids voice. <br /> <br /> The penalty is a fine up to $100 and/or jail time up to 90 days.<br /> <br /> Does this include the rude driver who cusses me because I'm on my bicycle and "in his way"?<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/dirty%20truck.jpg" /><br /> 5.&nbsp; Keep it clean.<br /> <br /> This time we're not talking about your language -- we're talking about your car.&nbsp; In Minnetonka, Minnesota, it is considered a public nuisance, and therefore illegal for a "truck or other vehicle whose wheels or tires deposit mud, dirt, sticky substances, litter or other material on any street or highway".<br /> <br /> All violations of the Minnetonka code are subject to fines up to $2,000 but a spokesperson for the city said the city "attempts several other measures to mitigate the situation before pursuing misdemeanor charges".&nbsp; So, do they hand you a roll of carwash tokens, or what?<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/censored.jpg" /><br /> 4.&nbsp; Keep it on.<br /> <br /> This is also something you shouldn't have to tell people outside of a nude beach but in Sag Harbor, New York, it is illegal to take your clothes off in your car.<br /> <br /> Sag Harbor, out in the Tony Hamptons section of Long Island, is a popular spot for beachgoers.&nbsp; So, this section of the code is part of the parks and recreation law -- that you have to be wearing a bathing suit in public and you can't disrobe on the street or in your car or in any other public place.<br /> <br /> The penalty is a fine of up to $100 and/or jail time up to three months.<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/skates.jpg" /><br /> 3.&nbsp; Just roll with it.<br /> <br /> Roller skating may seem like a harmless hobby but if you do it in the street in Canton, Ohio (other than crossing the street, or course) -- that's illegal.<br /> <br /> That section of the Canton code also applies to "any coaster, toy vehicle, skateboard, or similar device".<br /> <br /> That penaly is a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.<br /> <br /> How much allowance would you have to save up to pay that fine?&nbsp; Does that include Sonic waitresses?<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/car%20doors.jpg" /><br /> 2.&nbsp; Time's up.<br /> <br /> In Oregon, no dilly-dallying with your car door:&nbsp; It's illegal to leave a vehicle door open to the side of traffic, pedestrians or bicycles "for a period of time longer thna necessary to load or unload passengers".<br /> <br /> The penalty is&nbsp;a fine of 490 and possible jail time.<br /> <br /> So, what if your car doors open up like the one above?<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/trashy%20car.jpg" /><br /> 1.&nbsp; Rats!<br /> &nbsp;<br /> In Hilton Head, South Carolina, it is illegal to store trash in your car.<br /> <br /> Specifically, that section of the code states that it's unlawful "to place, leave, dump or permit to accumulate any garbage, rubbish, or trash in any building, vehicle and their surrounding areas in the town so that the same shall or may afford food or harborage for rats".<br /> <br /> A violation is considered a public nuisance and is subject to a fine of up to $500 and/or jail time of up to 30 days.<br /> <br /> Rats?<br /> <br /> Every state has silly laws, and fortunately law enforcement usually have entirely too many major problems to deal with rather than enforce them.&nbsp; However, there is a new law that many of you may not know about.<br /> <br /> In the state of Oklahoma, it is against the law to travel in the left lane for more time than is necessary to pass slower traffic on major highways.&nbsp; Violaters may be ticketed up to $200.&nbsp; So, to you, silver Honda who traveled the entire distance from Tulsa to Oklahoma City on I-44, in the left lane, do not give me a dirty look when I flash my lights at you to move into the other lane.&nbsp; It's also against the law for me to pass you on the right.<br /> <br /> Though this law isn't silly, the fact that it exists, is.&nbsp; Rules of the road, ladies and gentlemen.&nbsp; Learn them, know them, USE them.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:e571455a-8ba4-4e39-bbe6-b13c740d2b97Japan News<img src='http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/21/article-1368357-0B451A1600000578-435_634x470.jpg' align='left' /> Steam rises from stricken Japan plant 21:00 JST March 22: Smoke and steam rose from two of the most threatening reactors at Japan's quake-crippled nuclear plant on Tuesday, suggesting the battle to avert a disastrous meltdown and stop the spread o...Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:18:18 -0500<div id="top_news_container"> <div class="top_news_text"> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88026.php">Steam rises from stricken Japan plant</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img width="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/21/article-1368357-0B451A1600000578-435_634x470.jpg" /> 21:00 JST March 22: Smoke and steam rose from two of the<br /> most threatening reactors at Japan's quake-crippled nuclear<br /> plant on Tuesday, suggesting the battle to avert a disastrous<br /> meltdown and stop the spread of radiation was far from won. <p>Technicians working inside an evacuation zone around the<br /> stricken plant on Japan's northeast Pacific coast have<br /> attached power cables to all six reactors and started a pump<br /> at one of them to cool overheating nuclear fuel rods. </p> <p>Kyodo news agency said steam appeared to rise from reactor No. 2 and white haze<br /> was detected above reactor No. 3. There have been several blasts of steam from<br /> the reactors during the crisis, which experts say probably released a small amount<br /> of radioactive particles.</p> </div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9M450UG0&amp;show_article=1" target="_blank">Japan urges Gaddafi to stop violence, consider resignation</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container">Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto said Tuesday that Japan is urging<br /> Libya to immediately stop violence against its civilians and suggested leader Muammar<br /> Gaddafi consider voluntarily stepping down. "A person who is effectively responsible<br /> for the government that has been attacking its own citizens will be required to<br /> consider what steps he should take," Matsumoto said a press conference after<br /> being asked whether he thinks Gaddafi should resign. (AP)</div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88267.php">Power cuts return as Japan starts to bury its dead</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img width="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/WSPeqEfdpnQ/default.jpg" />Rolling blackouts affecting 10 million homes restarted<br /> Tuesday in Japan following a three-day break as the toll<br /> rose and some cities chose to bury their dead after<br /> crematoria ran out of fuel, media reports said. <p>The outages started around 9.20 a.m. (0020 GMT) and<br /> were expected to last until 10 p.m., the Kyodo News<br /> agency reported. </p> <p>Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that demand would outstrip capacity as the working<br /> week started following a public holiday Monday. Electricity supplies were affected<br /> by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami which put some nuclear power stations<br /> out of action. </p> <p>A shortage of fuel affected efforts to dispose of bodies, forcing some crematoria-<br /> the usual method in Japan - to stop work. </p> <p>The government in Higashimatsushima city in Miyagi prefecture said it had bought<br /> land to bury up to 1,000 people. City Mayor Hideo Abe said the burials were a<br /> temporary solution and the bodies would be dug up and cremated within two years.</p> </div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88160.php">Radiation anxiety grows in disaster-struck Japan</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img width="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/media/ALeqM5iCTTUkIeTjwibRnUg71ndedQqKUg?docId=bec8a4ce1bae45ac9f2cc24c56398c49&amp;size=s2" />Global anxiety rose over radiation from Japan's crippled<br /> nuclear plant even as engineers had some success in the<br /> battle to avert disaster from the world's worst atomic crisis<br /> since Chernobyl. Mounting evidence of radiation in<br /> vegetables, water and milk spread jitters among Japanese<br /> and abroad despite officials' assurances levels were not<br /> dangerous. Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Company<br /> said radiation was found in the Pacific nearby, not surprising given rain and the<br /> hosing of reactors with sea-water. Radioactive iodine in the sea samples was 126.7<br /> times the allowed limit, while cesium was 24.8 times over, Kyodo news agency said.</div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88264.php">Weather hampers Japan aid effort as roads clear, fuel arrives</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img width="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://i4.ytimg.com/vi/KWeNZGrEO4g/default.jpg" />Rain and forecasts for snow in areas of Japan hardest hit by<br /> the record earthquake and tsunami 11 days ago hampered<br /> relief efforts for evacuees scattered among more than<br /> 2,000 shelters in the northeast of the country. <p>In Miyagi, the prefecture worst hit by the temblor and<br /> tsunami, a break in the clouds this morning is expected to<br /> turn to rain this afternoon, according to the Japan<br /> Meteorological Agency. </p> <p>In Iwate, where the death toll is nearing 3,000, officials are struggling to<br /> coordinate supplies among the evacuation centers, said Kenta Nakata, a spokesman<br /> at the prefecture's disaster headquarters. Landlines remain down and there is<br /> limited cell phone reception, he said. The forecast is for snow later today.<br /> <a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88245.php">Missing Virginia teacher's body found in Japan</a> </p> </div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img width="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://www.11alive.com/images/640/360/2/assetpool/images/110321023855_anderson-obit321.jpg" />The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo says it believes it has identified<br /> the first American to die in Japan's devastating tsunami--<br /> Taylor Anderson, 24, of Richmond, Va. -- according to U.S.<br /> officials. Anderson was teaching English in one of the<br /> country's northern coastal cities. Anderson's family has not<br /> positively identified the body, officials said. Jean Anderson<br /> said her daughter was last seen after the earthquake. She was riding her bike<br /> toward her apartment after ensuring that students at her school had been picked<br /> up by their parents. (ABC News <a href="http://newsonjapan.com/html/newsdesk/article/88245.php"><img width="16" height="9" alt="" style="border: 0px solid;" src="http://newsonjapan.com/html/images/video.gif" /></a>)</div> </div> <div class="top_news_article_box"><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2011/03/22/fault_line_pressure_now_closer_to_tokyo/" target="_blank">Fault line pressure now closer to Tokyo</a> <div class="top_news_desc_container"><img height="130" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; float: left; margin-bottom: 5px;border: 0px solid;" src="http://elainemeinelsupkis.typepad.com/energy_news/images/2007/07/18/japan_nuclear_reactors_2.jpg" />The recent monster quake that hit northeastern Japan<br /> altered the earth's surface, geologists say, loading stress<br /> onto a different segment of the fault line much closer to<br /> Tokyo. Scientists are quick to point out that this does not<br /> mean a powerful earthquake is necessarily about to strike<br /> the Japanese capital. Even if it did, the structure of the<br /> tectonic plates and fault lines around the city makes it<br /> unlikely that Tokyo would be hit by a quake anywhere near<br /> the intensity of the 9.0-magnitude temblor that struck March<br /> 11, said Roger Musson of the British Geological Survey. (Boston<br /> Globe)<br /> <br /> (<a href="http://www.newsonjapan.com/">http://www.newsonjapan.com/</a>)</div> </div> </div> </div>urn:uuid:a943993e-52c0-4a48-af04-0de991561c15Don't Forget Spring Forward!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/daylight-savings-time%5B1%5D.gif' align='left' />You will lose an hour of sleep this weekend if you don't plan ahead.. Yes, it is already that time to move your clock forward an hour. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp...Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:15:40 -0600You will lose an hour of sleep this weekend if you don't plan ahead.. Yes, it is already<br /> that time to move your clock forward an hour.<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/daylight-savings-time%5B1%5D.gif" /><br /> <br /> <br /> Why do we do this anyway?..<br /> <br /> The sole purpose for Daylight Savings Time (DST) is to increase daytime hours, and<br /> to save on energy. <br /> <br /> <br /> Who was the brainiac that came up with this DST?<br /> <br /> Ben Franklin actually half-jokingly suggested&nbsp;in order to save on the usage of candles<br /> to shift your sleep schedule back one hour.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> So.. if you don't want to lose and hour of sleep this Satuday night going into<br /> Sunday.. you may want to go to sleep an hour early on Satuday night.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; 1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: (405) 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fax: (405) 329-1578urn:uuid:a7136754-4a47-4fa2-ab4d-a3d8acdd9d6dHappy.. Fat Tuesday..?So what is this Fat Tuesday I keep hearing about? Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent begins, which is explained below, thanks to Wikipedia.org! "Lent in the Christian&nbsp;tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Lent i...Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:42:58 -0600<p>So what is this Fat Tuesday I keep hearing about?<br /> <br /> Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent begins, which is explained below, thanks to<br /> Wikipedia.org!<br /> <br /> "Lent in the Christian&nbsp;tradition, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter.<br /> Lent is a time of sacrifice for Jesus. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation<br /> of the believer &mdash; through prayer, pentinence, almsgiving&nbsp;and self-denial&nbsp;&mdash; for the<br /> annual commemoration during Holy week&nbsp;of the Death&nbsp;and Resurrection of Jesus,<br /> which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the<br /> celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.</p> <p>Conventionally, it is described as being forty days long, though different<br /> denominatations&nbsp;calculate the forty days differently. The forty days represent the<br /> time that, according to the Bible, Jesus&nbsp;spent in the desert before the beginning of<br /> his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.</p> <p>This practice was virtually universal in Christendom until the Protestant Reformation.<br /> Some Protestant churches do not observe Lent, but many, such as Lutherans,<br /> Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans do." &lt;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent</a>&gt;<br /> <br /> Fat Tuesday is the Tuesday directly before Ash Wednesday, which begins the<br /> observance of Lent. Many people may decide to give up a certain food they love in<br /> observance of Lent, and eat a lot of it the day before Lent begins, hence the<br /> name, Fat Tuesday. The day after Good Friday is Holy Saturday, the day before<br /> Easter,&nbsp;this is when&nbsp;the observation of Lent ends. So that concludes the big<br /> mystery of this day, even if your religion doesn't celebrate Lent, you at least know<br /> what&nbsp;everyone's talking about.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Have a wonderful Fat Tuesday!!.. :)<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phone: (405) 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: (405) 329-1578</p>urn:uuid:a08dc69d-bbe7-419b-8ebd-d9767e86f60aChild Safety<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/spindle-crib%5B1%5D.jpg' align='left' />Do you have young kids? Keep them safer with these tips! CRIB SAFETY The mattress should be the size the crib is made for, and the sheets should fit tightly. It is best for the infant to sleep in their crib on their back, furthermore, there should ...Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:34:30 -0600Do you have young kids? Keep them safer with these tips!<br /> <br /> CRIB SAFETY<br /> <br /> The mattress should be the size the crib is made for, and the sheets should fit tightly. It<br /> is best for the infant to sleep in their crib on their back, furthermore, there should be no<br /> soft bedding in the crib such as pillows, stuffed animals, etc. For metal or wooden cribs,<br /> make sure slats are 2 3/8 inches apart or less. Corner posts should not be over 1/16 <br /> inch high. Avoid headboards and footboards with cutouts large enough that a baby's head<br /> can become trapped. (3.5-9 inches)&nbsp;You should move cribs away from strings from your<br /> blinds, and if your blind cords have continuous loops, cut them in two.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img width="374" height="271" alt="" style="width: 365px; height: 252px;" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/spindle-crib%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> PLAY TIME SAFETY<br /> <br /> Keep anything that can fit&nbsp;through a toilet paper roll out of childrens reach. Make sure<br /> the "squeaker" in squeaker toys would be very difficult to get out, or take the squaker<br /> out. You should keep balloons away from children, if they burst and your&nbsp;the child<br /> swallows a small peice it could be dangerous. If your child has drawstrings in their<br /> clothes, you should take the drawstrings out. You should&nbsp;also read labels on your<br /> child's toys, and make&nbsp;sure they are the appropriate age for the toy.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/more4kids%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> HELP PREVENT FALLS<br /> <br /> Children under 6 should not climb higher than 4 feet, and children older than 6 should<br /> climb no higher than 6 feet. It is&nbsp;better for your child to play on a playground with pea<br /> gravel, rubber mulch, or hardwood chips, rather than on dirt or grass.To prevent falls out<br /> of windows, install window guards with a quick-realease mechanism in case of fire. If you<br /> have stairs you should use gates at the top and bottom of the stairs that are hard-ware<br /> mounted, and you shouldn't use accordian-style gates, a childs head could get get<br /> trapped.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; <img width="351" height="389" alt="" style="width: 302px; height: 333px;" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/5085[1].jpg" /><br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Phone: (405) 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: (405) 329-1578urn:uuid:f39e9822-a024-413c-96f7-e8aaf5d30054Tips for Space Heater Use<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/space-heater%5B1%5D.jpg' align='left' />&gt;Do not use an extension cord or strip plug. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is a heavy duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the label of the heater itself. &gt;Run the power cord&nbsp;in a way&nbsp;th...Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:12:08 -0600&gt;Do not use an extension cord or strip plug. If you must use an extension cord, make<br /> sure it is a heavy duty cord marked with a power rating at least as high as that on the <br /> label of the heater itself.<br /> <br /> &gt;Run the power cord&nbsp;in a way&nbsp;that no one steps on or trips over it.<br /> <br /> &gt;Inspect the heater's cord periodically to look for frayed wire or damaged insulation.<br /> <br /> &gt;Do not use a space heater with a damaged cord.<br /> <br /> &gt;Turn off the heater when you leave the room - unplug the heater when you leave <br /> for the day. Never leave a space heater unattended or running while you sleep.<br /> <br /> &gt;When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally<br /> recognized testing company.<br /> <br /> &gt;Place the heater on a level surface away from areas where someone might bump it <br /> and knock it over.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/space-heater%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> &gt;Keep electric heaters away from water. Never use them near a sink or in the<br /> bathroom.<br /> <br /> &gt;Use space heaters only as a supplementary source of heat. These devices are not<br /> intended to replace the home's heating system.<br /> <br /> &gt;Check periodically for a secure plug/outlet fit. If the plug becomes very hot, the<br /> outlet may need to be replaced by a qualified technician. This could be the sign of a <br /> potential home wiring issue.<br /> <br /> &gt;Heaters should be placed on a flat, level surface. Do not place heaters on furniture<br /> since they may fall and become damaged or break parts in the heater.<br /> <br /> Unless the heater is designed for use outdoors or in bathrooms, do not use in damp,<br /> wet areas.<br /> <br /> &gt;Keep the heater at least three feet away from bedding, drapes, furnitire, and any<br /> other flammable or combustible materials.<br /> <br /> &gt;Keep children and pets away from space heaters.<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Phone: 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: 329-1578urn:uuid:27dbfca7-c479-4a3c-bae1-7488a3755a86Fire Safety<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/12O0200HE30-1b61_lit%5B1%5D.jpg' align='left' />Smoking and Fire The United States Fire Administration (USFA) shows that smoking is the leading cause of home fire deaths in the country. Fires that are caused by smoking&nbsp;usually&nbsp;occur from a person smoking inside their home, so it is best...Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:06:33 -0600<span style="font-size: 13px;">Smoking and Fire<br /> <br /> The United States Fire Administration (USFA) shows that smoking is the leading cause<br /> of home fire deaths in the country. Fires that are caused by smoking&nbsp;usually&nbsp;occur from<br /> a person smoking inside their home, so it is best to smoke outside. You should always<br /> use ashtrays with a wide base&nbsp;that are difficult to knock over, and ashtrays outside<br /> should be filled with sand.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/12O0200HE30-1b61_lit%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Children and Fire<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Supervise young children closely. Do not leave them alone even for short </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">periods<br /> of time. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Keep matches and lighters in a secured drawer or cabinet. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Have your children tell you when they find matches and lighters. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Check under beds and in closets for burned matches, evidence your child may be<br /> playing with fire. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Develop a home fire escape plan, practice it with your children and designate a<br /> meeting place outside. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Take the mystery out of fire play by teaching children that fire is a tool, not a toy. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Teach children the nature of fire. It is FAST, HOT, DARK and DEADLY! <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Teach children not to hide from firefighters, but to get out quickly and call for help<br /> from another location. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Show children how to crawl low on the floor, below the smoke, to get out of the<br /> house and stay out in the case of fire. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Demonstrate how to stop, drop to the ground and roll if their clothes catch fire. <br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;">~Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm.&nbsp;<br /> </span><span style="font-size: 13px;"> (<a href="http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/parents/curious.shtm">http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/parents/curious.shtm</a>)&nbsp;</span><br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="http://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/sparky.gif" /><br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (<a href="http://www.sparky.org/#/Sparky">http://www.sparky.org/#/Sparky</a>)&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> General&nbsp;Fire Safety Tips<br /> <br /> These tips will probably only be a reminder, but these are&nbsp;necessary steps&nbsp;to take<br /> toward fire safety. <br /> <br /> ~Plan an escape route, and practice it. (You need to have a couple of plans depending<br /> on where the fire is.)<br /> ~Do not stop to gather possessions, they can be replaced, your life cannot be.<br /> ~When attempting to go through a doorway with a closed door, feel the door with<br /> the back of your hand before opening it. The fire could be just on the other side of it.<br /> If the door is hot to the touch do not open it, and escape another way.<br /> ~If you haven't already done so, you should install battery-operated smoke alarms, at<br /> least one on every floor.<br /> ~Test the smoke alarm each month and replace the battery at least once a year. <br /> ~Replace the smoke alarm every ten years, or as recommended by the manufacturer.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/smoke%5B1%5D.png" /><br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phone: 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: 329-1578urn:uuid:ed5de900-cea3-472d-aac9-886a8d44d6f3Happy birthday, George!Today is the United States very first presidents birthday, George Washington! This is a little quiz I came up with, enjoy! 1) How old would he have been today? 2) How many years in total did he serve his country? 3) Fill in the blank: George is ...Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:52:07 -0600Today is the United States very first presidents birthday, George Washington! This is a<br /> little quiz I came up with, enjoy!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1) How old would he have been today?<br /> <br /> 2) How many years in total did he serve his country?<br /> <br /> 3) Fill in the blank: George is known as the "_________ of his country."<br /> <br /> 4) What years did he serve our country as president?<br /> <br /> 5) Who was his Vice President?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1) 279, he was born in 1732 to parents Augustine and Mary Washington.<br /> <br /> 2) 24, he held many positions in our military, and political offices, which include, <br /> Delegate from Virginia&nbsp;to the First and Second Continental Congress, the 7th <br /> Commanding General of the United States Army, 1st Commander-in-Chief of the <br /> Continental Army, and what he is most known for, the 1st&nbsp;President of the United<br /> States.<br /> <br /> 3) Father, he is thought to be one of the best presidents our country has ever had.<br /> <br /> 4) 1789-1797, the people wanted him to run again, but he refused, and went back <br /> to work on his plantation.<br /> <br /> 5) John Adams, who became the second president of the United States.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Happy birthday, George!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Phone: 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Fax: 329.1578urn:uuid:469d6d65-c673-4bc6-bc09-5a2f2cb91651Be Green<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/23694-clip-art-graphic-of-a-green-usd-dollar-sign-cartoon-character-with-welcoming-open-arms-by-toons4biz%5B1%5D.jpg' align='left' />Here are some ways to "Be Green" and maybe leave your&nbsp;wallet with a few more of these. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&...Thu, 17 Feb 2011 09:59:04 -0600Here are some ways to "Be Green" and maybe leave your&nbsp;wallet with a few more of these.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/23694-clip-art-graphic-of-a-green-usd-dollar-sign-cartoon-character-with-welcoming-open-arms-by-toons4biz%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Although it may take some getting used to, during the winter, put on a sweater and turn<br /> the thermostat down a few degrees. Heating your home accounts for 35% of your <br /> average energy bill. <br /> <br /> In the summer, adjust your thermostat a few degrees higher, and use a fan, if needed, in <br /> the room your in.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/425155784_d711e693e5_o%5B1%5D.gif" /><br /> <br /> Unplug everything you can when they aren't in use. This alone could save you hundreds <br /> of dollars per year!<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/FarrellGittins_Unplug%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Paying your bills online will save on paper, and save you a stamp every month. Did you <br /> know you can pay your bill with us on this website? You can&nbsp;by going to the home <br /> page, in the red to the left, choose the third option, then fill in the information!<br /> <br /> Low energy bulbs may cost more, but&nbsp;can save you energy and money in the long run.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://www.insurancewebsitebuilder.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/Low_Energy_Saving_Spiral_Light_Bulb%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1161&nbsp;Sonoma Park Dr&nbsp;Ste 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phone: (405) 329-9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fax: (405) 329-1578urn:uuid:f2fd89c8-7c7e-445f-ba73-0e8dd6114636Winter TipsThere are&nbsp;only about 38 days until spring, and 130 days until summer, so hang in there! Why do we leave our faucets running when it will be extremely cold? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Water expands when it turns to ice, so ...Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:55:57 -0600There are&nbsp;only about 38 days until spring, and 130 days until summer, so hang in there! <br /> <br /> Why do we leave our faucets running when it will be extremely cold?<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Water expands when it turns to ice, so when we leave our faucets running, it&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;gives&nbsp;the water room to do so. Contrary to popular belief, it is not to keep pipes&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;from freezing, but it is to help prevent the pipes from bursting. Insulating your pipes&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;well is a way you can prevent your water from freezing.<br /> <br /> Hydration is very important, especially in the winter months because the air is drier, the<br /> heat is forced in homes, and we wear thick winter clothes which cause dry skin.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ways to stay properly hydrated: Start with what you put in your body. Eat well<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;balanced meals, drink plenty of water, and avoid caffeinated beverages. Then, focus<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;on moisturizing your skin. It is best to do so once you get out of the shower or bath,&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;pat dry, then immediately apply moisturizer. And to further protect your skin, wear&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;sunscreen, there are still harmful UV rays in the winter. You should also avoid long<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;hot showers, and it is best to take them at night so you dont go from warm to cold&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;all of a sudden when you leave in the morning. If you do not have a humidifier to&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;keep air in your home moist, then&nbsp;you can also put pots of water by heating vents.<br /> <br /> Keep warm by wearing multiple thin layers of clothing, and drinking sweet, warm, <br /> uncaffeinated&nbsp;drinks, like hot chocolate! (Hmm.. hot chocolate sounds good, I might <br /> have to make some when I get home now.)<br /> <br /> Be safe while&nbsp;working outside by working slower than normal to prevent extra strain<br /> on your heart. Also, keep from sweating. The moisture makes your body cooler.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1161 Sonoma Park Dr Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(405) 329-9780urn:uuid:0bd1b25d-b4b7-4ffc-9673-3bf58946bdcaIt's how many days???<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/stressed%20out.jpg' align='left' />All stressed out for Christmas and too many parties to go to? Yeah, it happens every year.&nbsp; You keep thinking you'll get this and that done early so you can enjoy the holidays.&nbsp; Then you volunteer for too many things, agree to too many par...Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:34:20 -0600All stressed out for Christmas and too many parties to go to?<br /> <br /> Yeah, it happens every year.&nbsp; You keep thinking you'll get this and that done early so you can enjoy the holidays.&nbsp; Then you volunteer for too many things, agree to too many parties, and then you realize you're only one person and can't be in three places at once.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/stressed%20out.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Aaacck!&nbsp; So what do you do?&nbsp; Take a step back, a deep breath, and regroup.&nbsp; Make a list of everything that needs to be bought, baked, and wrapped.&nbsp; Plan your trips around traffic issues if you can.&nbsp; Do a few things each day in order of importance.&nbsp; Slowly and surely things will get done and you will still have your hair.&nbsp; And if it doesn't get done by Christmas, eh, so what?&nbsp; It's the thought that counts, right?<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/stress.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Too much stress is hard on a body.&nbsp; Long-worded story short, it depletes your immune system.&nbsp; So you're rocking through the stores, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, and running yourself ragged only to get sick either right before or right after Christmas.&nbsp; Again, take that deep breath, organize yourself, and pop a few extra zinc and vitamin C's.&nbsp; Also be sure to eat right.&nbsp; Your body has a difficult enough time healing itself without a barrage of junk food to deal with.&nbsp; Sleep is important too, so try to get as much as you can.&nbsp; Try to refrain from hitting the bottle too.&nbsp; It'll just slow you down anyway.;)<br /> <br /> Now, I'm off to go follow my own advice.:)urn:uuid:ca4b763a-25e6-45d6-a3b0-95ca8ee1eecdChristmas QuizGrab a&nbsp;sheet of paper and writing utensil, then&nbsp;write your answers down to these questions about, The Christmas Story. Once you are done, you can check your answers at the bottom, but no cheating.. Santa is watching! 1. Who was Mary enga...Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:12:12 -0600Grab a&nbsp;sheet of paper and writing utensil, then&nbsp;write your answers down to these questions<br /> about, The Christmas Story. Once you are done, you can check your answers at the bottom, <br /> but no cheating.. Santa is watching!<br /> <br /> <br /> 1. Who was Mary engaged to when the angel told Mary that she was going to have a baby?<br /> <br /> <br /> 2. What was the angel's name that told Mary, the virgin should would give birth to a Son?<br /> <br /> <br /> 3. Who in Mary's family was also expecting a child?<br /> <br /> <br /> 4. What did the angel say Mary and Joseph would call their Son?<br /> <br /> <br /> 5. Where was Jesus born?<br /> <br /> <br /> 6. What leader was troubled by hearing about Jesus' birth?<br /> <br /> <br /> 7. What three things did the wise men bring to Jesus?<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 1. Joseph, 2. Gabriel, 3. Her cousin, Elizabeth. She was old, and called barren., 4. Jesus <br /> 5. Bethlehem, 6. King Herrod, 7. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh.<br /> <br /> <br /> It's important to not forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas!urn:uuid:14326a70-dd31-4786-8f26-ad9c40832eccEat well to stay well!Christmas isn&rsquo;t the only season upon us.&nbsp; So is the much-dreaded cold and flu season. And if you&rsquo;re like me, there isn&rsquo;t any spare time built into the schedule to be sick. So how can I bolster my defenses against the germs lurk...Wed, 08 Dec 2010 14:12:45 -0600<p>Christmas isn&rsquo;t the only season upon us.&nbsp; So is the much-dreaded cold and flu season. And if you&rsquo;re like me, there isn&rsquo;t any spare time built into the schedule to be sick. So how can I bolster my defenses against the germs lurking in the common areas in my office, the mall where I do my holiday shopping and the rest stops I encounter in my holiday travels? </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Related: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/healthy_recipes_for_an_immunity_boosting_diet?utm_source=YahooBlog_Brierley_ImmunityBoosters_120110" target="_blank">Delicious recipes to help boost your immune system</a></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I took a look at the research Emily Sohn and Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., have written about for EatingWell and pulled together a list of what&rsquo;s worth trying&mdash;and what&rsquo;s not.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Try It:</b> <b>Vitamin D</b><br /> In a study published recently in the <i>American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</i>, children who took daily vitamin D supplements (1,200 IU) were 40 percent less likely to get a common flu virus than kids who took a placebo. Laboratory studies indicate that the nutrient may help immune cells identify and destroy bacteria and viruses that make us sick, says Adit Ginde, M.D., M.P.H., a public health researcher at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver.&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Although the Institute of Medicine released in a report November 30 new recommendations for vitamin D (600 International Units per day for everyone, except men aged 71+ who should get 800 IU), they &ldquo;only focused on bone health,&rdquo; says Ginde. &ldquo;There is not yet enough evidence to definitely prove that vitamin D reduces infections, but the amount recommended for bone health is lower than what we think is needed for improved immunity and reduced infections. Most people need at least 1,000 IU a day and some need 2,000 IU daily or higher to reach levels that appear necessary for optimal immune responses.&rdquo; While many experts recommend a vitamin D supplement, you can also get it (in small doses) from fatty fish, such as salmon, and fortified milk&mdash;and your body makes vitamin D from the sun.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Related: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/recipes_to_get_more_vitamin_d?utm_source=YahooBlog_Brierley_ImmunityBoosters_120110" target="_blank">Poached Salmon with Creamy Piccata Sauce and more healthy recipes to get more vitamin D</a></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Try It:</b> <b>Green tea</b><br /> Polyphenols, potent plant antioxidants, are what&rsquo;s believed to give green tea its immune-boosting effects. One laboratory study suggested that a particular type of polyphenols called catechins may kill influenza viruses. To maximize benefits and minimize bitterness, use just-below-boiling water and steep green tea no more than a minute or two. A little lemon and honey can also help blunt the bitterness. But don&rsquo;t add milk, because the proteins will bind to the polyphenols, making them ineffective.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Related: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/healthy_cooking/quick_healthy_cooking/quick_sides_desserts_more/tea_time?utm_source=YahooBlog_Brierley_ImmunityBoosters_120110" target="_blank">Add This One Ingredient to Your Tea to Preserve its Health Benefits</a></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Try It:</b> <b>Probiotics</b><br /> Some research suggests that when these so-called &ldquo;good&rdquo; bacteria&mdash;found in yogurt, sauerkraut and other foods&mdash;reach the lower intestine, they not only suppress the growth of &ldquo;bad&rdquo; bacteria but also might activate the immune system to fight off diseases in other ways. But studies showing a clear boost to the immune system are few. In one study of 33 healthy young women, both &ldquo;regular&rdquo; yogurt and so-called &ldquo;probiotic-fortified&rdquo; yogurt (which contained added beneficial bacteria cultures) were found to boost T-cells, key players in the body&rsquo;s defenses against viruses and other pathogens. But it&rsquo;s a long way from findings like those to &ldquo;assuming that by loading up on yogurt&mdash;or sauerkraut or kimchi&mdash;you can boost your immune system enough to fight off something like the H1N1 flu,&rdquo; says Barry Goldin, Ph.D., professor in the department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. Fortifying yourself with a daily dose of fermented foods can&rsquo;t hurt, says Goldin, &ldquo;but if you want to beat the flu, get vaccinated.&rdquo;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Quick tip: Look for fermented dairy products, such as yogurt or kefir (a yogurt-like beverage), that are labeled with a &ldquo;Live &amp; Active Cultures&rdquo; seal from the National Yogurt Association. The seal signifies that the yogurt contains a set minimum amount of two particular types of beneficial bacteria.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Related: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/healthy_breakfasts_with_yogurt?utm_source=YahooBlog_Brierley_ImmunityBoosters_120110" target="_blank">Healthy Breakfasts With Yogurt</a></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Try It:</b> <b>Soluble Fiber</b><br /> Mice that ate a diet rich in soluble fiber for six weeks recovered from a bacterial infection in half the time it took mice that chowed on meals containing mixed fiber, according to a recent study in the journal <i>Brain, Behavior and Immunity</i>. Soluble fiber&mdash;abundant in citrus fruits, apples, carrots, beans and oats&mdash;helps fight inflammation, says lead author Christina Sherry, Ph.D., R.D., of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Insoluble fiber&mdash;found in wheat, whole grains, nuts and green leafy vegetables&mdash;is still important for overall health, but it doesn&rsquo;t seem to have the same impact on immunity. Strive for 25 to 38 grams of total fiber a day, Sherry says, paying extra attention to getting the soluble kind.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Related: <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/recipe_slideshows/grab_go_high_fiber_breakfasts?utm_source=YahooBlog_Brierley_ImmunityBoosters_120110" target="_blank">High-Fiber Breakfasts You Can Grab &amp; Go</a></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Skip It:</b> <b>Airborne</b><br /> As with many label claims, Airborne&rsquo;s current one begins with a kernel of truth: vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium&mdash;nutrients in the supplement&mdash;are among the vitamins and minerals that our immune systems need to function efficiently. According to a 2002 report in the <i>British Journal of Nutrition</i>, deficiencies of any of these nutrients (or of vitamins B6, B12, folic acid, copper or iron) can depress immunity. But the key word is deficiency; most of us&mdash;save for smokers, pregnant women, breastfeeding women and the elderly&mdash;meet our needs for these nutrients with the foods we eat. (If you fall into any of those higher-risk categories, talk with your doctor before taking a supplement.) And more isn&rsquo;t better. Excess amounts of many nutrients are potentially harmful, and it&rsquo;s all too easy to go overboard. Just one tablet of Airborne contains 1,667 percent of the daily recommended value (DRV) for vitamin C.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Skip It:</b> <b>Glac&eacute;au&rsquo;s Vitaminwater &ldquo;Defense&rdquo;</b><br /> This drink, with a label that claims it is &ldquo;specially formulated with nutrients required for optimal functioning of the immune system,&rdquo; doesn&rsquo;t deliver the mega-high doses of nutrients that Airborne does. (A 20-ounce bottle of the water contains 150 percent of the DRV of vitamin C and 25 percent for four B vitamins and zinc.) Plus it delivers 125 calories per bottle.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>What do you eat to keep sickness at bay?</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Updated December 6.</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.</p> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:d3f11e56-8a48-47e1-8045-8ef4c366ec3aDistracted Driving<img src='http://insurancenewsnet.com/images/icon_email.gif' align='left' /> Who's That Distracted Driver in Your Rearview Mirror? December 02, 2010 | PR Newswire Association LLC Email&nbsp;&nbsp; Print&nbsp;&nbsp; Free Newsletter Source: PR Newswire Association LLC ...Fri, 03 Dec 2010 15:20:09 -0600<div id="ctl00_BodyContent_Repeater1_ctl00_articlediv"><a></a><a href="http://www.lexisnexis.com/"></a> <h1>Who's That Distracted Driver in Your Rearview Mirror?</h1> <div style="border-bottom: #cacaca 1px dotted; margin: 5px 0px; width: 100%; height: 1px; vertical-align: bottom;"></div> <div style="float: left;">December 02, 2010 | PR Newswire Association LLC </div> <div style="text-align: right;" class="articleToolbar"><a href="http://insurancenewsnet.com/article.aspx?id=238417&amp;type=propertycasualty#" onclick="emailArticle('&amp;type=propertycasualty'); return false;"><img width="20" height="15" style="padding-bottom: 3px; vertical-align: middle;border: 0px solid;" alt="email" src="http://insurancenewsnet.com/images/icon_email.gif" /><strong>Email</strong></a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a onclick="printArticle('&amp;type=propertycasualty'); return false;" href=""><img width="20" height="15" style="padding-bottom: 3px; vertical-align: middle;border: 0px solid;" alt="email" src="http://insurancenewsnet.com/images/icon_print.gif" /><strong>Print</strong></a>&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://insurancenewsnet.com/newsletter.aspx"><img width="20" height="15" style="padding-bottom: 3px; vertical-align: middle;border: 0px solid;" alt="free newsletter" src="http://insurancenewsnet.com/images/icon_newsletter.gif" /><strong>Free Newsletter</strong></a> </div> </div> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 10px; min-height: 100px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <div id="ctl00_BodyContent_art" class="article_test"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="right">Source:</td> <td>PR Newswire Association LLC</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right">Wordcount:</td> <td>597</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <br /> <div class="xn-content"> <p><location value="LU/us.tx.austin" idsrc="xmltag.org" />AUSTIN, Texas, <chron />Dec. 2, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Well-educated, well-off American drivers say they've suffered the consequences of distracted driving more than other motorists, from getting a ticket to getting involved in a major accident, according to a poll commissioned by InsuranceQuotes.com. </p> <p>(Logo: &nbsp;http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101202/DA11043LOGO) </p> <p>The poll, conducted for InsuranceQuotes.com by GfK Roper, a division of <org />GfK Custom Research North America, shows how universal distracted driving has become: 93 percent of drivers report they engage in it somehow, whether by texting, talking on a cell phone -- even kissing. </p> <p>All that distraction has consequences: Four in 10 American adults who are licensed motorists acknowledge that being distracted while driving caused them to do one of the following: swerve into another lane, slam on the brakes, get a ticket, almost get into an accident, or have a minor or major wreck. </p> <p>That number rose to 49 percent for drivers who have a college degree and 43 percent for drivers who earn at least <money />$75,000 a year. Those are the highest numbers among drivers from all income and education levels covered in the poll. </p> <p>"The InsuranceQuotes.com poll on distracted driving indicates that people who have brains and bucks are more likely to be the motorists you see who are eating, reading or even kissing behind the wheel," said <person />John Egan, managing editor of <org />Bankrate Insurance, which owns InsuranceQuotes.com. "It appears that well-to-do, well-educated Americans are multitaskers at work, at home&mdash;and in the car." </p> <p>Among the findings of the poll: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc;"> <li>41 percent of well-educated drivers and 35 percent of high-income drivers say they've swerved out of their lane as a result of distracted driving, versus 32 percent of all drivers polled. </li> <li>37 percent of drivers with a college degree and 33 percent in the highest income bracket report slamming on their brakes because of driving distractions, compared with 29 percent of all motorists polled. </li> <li>26 percent of well-educated drivers and 22 percent of well-off drivers indicate that distracted driving caused them to nearly get into an accident, compared with 18 percent of all drivers polled.</li> </ul> <br /> <p>Sixteen percent of fatal crashes in 2009 were attributed to distracted driving, according to the <org />National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Experts say any at-fault crash, including a wreck attributed to distracted driving, can trigger a hike in a driver's auto insurance premiums. </p> <p>To see more findings from the InsuranceQuotes.com distracted driving poll, visit <a href="http://www.insurancequotes.com/distracted-driving">www.insurancequotes.com/distracted-driving</a>.<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> </div> </div> </div>urn:uuid:5f4e2481-f461-4927-ae4c-56a25f7abf83Thanksgiving!Rules to help&nbsp;have a Happy Thanksgiving: When traveling by car, remember to have patience.&nbsp; Be courteous and mind your road manners.&nbsp; It might help to have your route mapped out, including alternatives in case of construction.&nbsp; De...Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:54:24 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Rules to help&nbsp;have a Happy Thanksgiving:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When traveling by car, remember to have patience.&nbsp; Be courteous and mind your road manners.&nbsp; It might help to have your route mapped out, including alternatives in case of construction.&nbsp; Definitely charge the I-phone!&nbsp; It&rsquo;s better to get there late and in one piece than to not get there at all.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When traveling by plane, again, try to have patience.&nbsp; Nobody can change the weather and nobody can change TSA regulations.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Family can be stressful!&nbsp; Open a bottle of &ldquo;relax&rdquo;, smile, and endure their company knowing that eventually it will be over.&nbsp; If your family is the fun, rambunctious type&hellip;&hellip;take pictures!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If you&rsquo;re planning on shopping the stores on Black Friday, well, good luck!&nbsp; Wear comfortable shoes!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Above all, be safe, enjoy the time off and the time with loved ones.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">From our family to yours,</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Happy Thanksgiving!</p>urn:uuid:d628d80f-5ff1-4f99-a609-a6984b4eeb71They're goin' up!Why did my insurance rates go up? If I had a nickel for every time I&rsquo;ve answered that question&hellip;.. In light of the impending insurance increases, let me see if I can help you understand a little about the way insurance works.&nbsp; Compa...Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:01:11 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Why did my insurance rates go up?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If I had a nickel for every time I&rsquo;ve answered that question&hellip;..</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In light of the impending insurance increases, let me see if I can help you understand a little about the way insurance works.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Company A writes insurance in almost every state in the US.&nbsp; The company divides up their areas either by states or by regions.&nbsp; Each state or region requires a certain percentage of funds to be available from Company A to cover potential risk.&nbsp;&nbsp; The insurance commission in each state or region sets this percentage based on the risk assessment, meaning the greater the risk of claims, &nbsp;the more money is required to have in reserve.&nbsp; In other words, the states lining the Gulf of Mexico would require a higher percentage of funds in reserve due to a greater chance of hurricanes there than in&nbsp; Arizona or New Mexico.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When the funds for a state or region are exhausted, Company A has to pull money from reserves from other states/regions.&nbsp; To make up for this loss, the company has to increase their rates for not only those people in the state or region affected, but also in the regions the company had to dip into. &nbsp;&nbsp;This is why our rates went up after Hurricane Katrina. &nbsp;If Company A doesn&rsquo;t make up that difference or doesn&rsquo;t have enough funds to handle the claims, they get penalized by the insurance commission.&nbsp; This can mean a lot of things for the company, the most important one being that they can no longer write insurance in that state, meaning all their customers have to find insurance elsewhere.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The claims from the storms this spring and summer wiped out the reserves in Oklahoma.&nbsp; The hailstorm that went through Oklahoma City cost insurance companies a combined 2.4 billion dollars.&nbsp; That&rsquo;s billion, with a &ldquo;B&rdquo;, for one single hailstorm.&nbsp; So you can imagine how much money overall that insurance companies have lost from ALL the storms we had this year.&nbsp; Some of the companies here have taken losses for three years in a row, and then this one comes along and wipes everybody out.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">So, this is why your home and auto premiums are increasing.&nbsp; I know, I know, I didn&rsquo;t have any claims either, but my premiums have gone up anyway.&nbsp; &nbsp;We are currently in a rough economy and we live in Oklahoma, so the odds are against us for now.&nbsp; The insurance companies have to hold up their part of the bargain so they can continue to do business here, yet try not to raise rates too much that they lose a lot of business.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It&rsquo;s not much consolation, but that&rsquo;s the process in a nutshell.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m not happy about it either, but I&rsquo;m going to keep my fingers crossed for better weather and no more earthquakes!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Keep in mind, there are always things we can do to lower premiums.&nbsp; If your renewal offer is higher than you can reasonably afford, give us a call.&nbsp; We&rsquo;ll check it over for you and see what we can do.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Family Insurance</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br />urn:uuid:8a0bebc7-6c8f-4fe3-97ad-7eb8aad2f028Halloween Safety&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs...Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:24:04 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~Costume~~~~~<br /> *Keep your child&rsquo;s Halloween short to prevent trips and falls.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Try make-up instead of a mask. Masks often obstruct a child&rsquo;s vision, which makes tasks like <br /> crossing the street and going up and down stairs dangerous.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Make sure children wear light colored costumes, or put reflective tape on them, especially if <br /> trick-or-treating at night.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ~~~~~Trick-or-Treating~~~~~<br /> *Make sure older children trick-or-treat with friends. Map out a safe route so you will know <br /> where they will be.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Instruct children to stop only at familiar homes where the outside lights are on.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Encourage children to trick-or-treat while it&rsquo;s still light out. If children are out after dark, make <br /> sure they have flashlights and travel on well lit streets.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Remind children never to enter homes or cars of strangers.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Follow your communities trick-or-treating hours.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;~~~~~Treats~~~~~<br /> *Remind children not to eat any of their treats until they get home.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">*Check out treats in a well-lit place. Only eat unopened candies that are in their original <br /> wrappers, containing no holes.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1161 Sonoma Park Dr Ste 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73070<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: 329.9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: 329.1578</p>urn:uuid:a6d3bdf5-fb68-4f5a-853a-ce34ac59a906Road Hazards!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/wagon.bmp' align='left' />After driving for 24 years, there are a few things I&rsquo;ve noticed about drivers in general.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m sure you have too, but it seems that noone wants to tell it like it is.&nbsp; Well, hang on to your seatbelts and coffee mugs&hellip;&hell...Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:23:20 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">After driving for 24 years, there are a few things I&rsquo;ve noticed about drivers in general.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m sure you have too, but it seems that noone wants to tell it like it is.&nbsp; Well, hang on to your seatbelts and coffee mugs&hellip;&hellip;..there&rsquo;s a select group of you who need to be reminded of your manners.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Do you text while driving?&nbsp; Well, then STOP IT!&nbsp; Don&rsquo;t argue with me, I&rsquo;ve watched you do it.&nbsp; The most common sign is the weaving back and forth in your lane.&nbsp; Sometimes you don&rsquo;t even stay in your lane and take up half of mine or cross into oncoming traffic.&nbsp; No?&nbsp; You don&rsquo;t do that?&nbsp; Uh, yes, you do.&nbsp; I keep an eye on you so that I can maintain the integrity of my car.&nbsp; The only problem is, I have no way of warning other drivers.&nbsp; So,&nbsp; you think your conversation is important enough to risk another person getting hurt?&nbsp; Trust me, I don&rsquo;t think it is.&nbsp; If it really is that important, dial their number and talk.&nbsp; At least then I know you&rsquo;re looking at the road.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Do you know the rules of the road when it comes to bicyclists?&nbsp; Yeah, I can tell you don&rsquo;t because I am one and I see how you act towards me and my friends.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><b>Oklahoma Passes Strong New Bike Law </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed a powerful new bicycle law on Friday, May 19. The law: <br /> 1. Re-defines 'bicycle' for the purposes of the state's vehicle code, eliminating restricting wheel sizes and configurations<br /> 2. Eliminates confusing language as to where bicyclists should ride on the road<br /> 3. Eliminates the state mandate to ride on sidepaths/sidewalks<br /> 4. Eliminates the mandatory side light requirement for bicycles (not reflection)<br /> 5. Establishes a minimum safe-passing distance of three feet and sets up fines (in addition to other citations and penalties for manslaughter, improper use of a motor vehicle, etc.) for a motorist who injures or kills a cyclist.<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/wagon.bmp" /><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/golf%20cart.bmp" /><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/bicyclist.bmp" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A bicycle is a road-approved vehicle just like cars and trucks, tractors and wagons.&nbsp; The problem is people who think because they&rsquo;re bigger than we are that they own the road and can pass too close, blow exhaust at us, or throw things and cuss at us.&nbsp; Trust me, we don&rsquo;t like being on a busy road anymore than you like us being there, but we aren&rsquo;t there to slow you down.&nbsp; Cycling is one of the most enjoyable workouts that we do and we have to get from point A to point B just like you do.&nbsp; So, what do you do when you have a car in front of you going slower than you?&nbsp; You wait until it&rsquo;s safe to pass and then do so.&nbsp; Same for us.&nbsp; We&rsquo;ll do our best to get over, even wave you by if the road is clear.&nbsp; But keep in mind, there is literally NOTHING between our skin and your car.&nbsp; ANY careless show of outrage can possibly injure or kill one of us.&nbsp; You may want to go back to that section on fines and penalties for purposely injuring or killing one of us.&nbsp; And, we can&rsquo;t see your trailer behind your truck, so please be extra careful when you pass us. &nbsp;&nbsp;Is that few seconds it takes to pay attention and drive safely really going to make a difference in your life?&nbsp; I can guarantee you it will make a difference in mine.&nbsp; Oh, and if you drive a gray 300Z, we need to talk about that new bike law&hellip;..</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">And this brings me to my final point.&nbsp; Attitude.&nbsp; It seems that people just want to shut the brain down at 5:00 and hope that the car will get them home.&nbsp; Many are tired of dealing with people, tired of being considerate and polite without reciprocation, tired of being treated like they don&rsquo;t matter.&nbsp; I totally get that.&nbsp; But I still have to navigate my way through the hateful and the clueless to get home safely.&nbsp;&nbsp; So why can&rsquo;t the rest of you wake up and do the same?&nbsp; I am not the one responsible for what is going on in your life.&nbsp; By the same token, you have no idea what&rsquo;s going on in mine.&nbsp; How about we have a little respect for each other and our property and wave with all our fingers, be considerate of others, and smile a little more instead of cussing each other through clenched teeth?<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/road%20rage.bmp" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I think I just heard an audible &ldquo;amen&rdquo; from some of you reading this.&nbsp; Let&rsquo;s see if we can improve the road experience and maybe, just maybe it will be more contagious than the rage.&nbsp; </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Good traffic karma to you!</p>urn:uuid:a760960a-ea50-44cb-a8de-82a0aa7f2fc3Ancient Origins of HalloweenAncient Origins of Halloween &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Celts believes that on the night before the New Year, October 31, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the n...Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:23:13 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><b>Ancient Origins of Halloween</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Celts believes that on the night before the New Year, October 31, the <br /> boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of <br /> October 31, they celebrated Samhain (a Celtic festival) when it was believed that the ghosts <br /> of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts <br /> though that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids or Celtic <br /> priests, to make predictions about the future. During the celebration, the Celts wore <br /> costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other&rsquo;s <br /> fortunes. </p> <p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of <br /> the four hundred years that they rules the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were <br /> combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late <br /> October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second <br /> was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is <br /> the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition <br /> of &ldquo;bobbing&rdquo; for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.</p>urn:uuid:95c8dcd3-6a80-48fc-9b4b-f325b3f4e44cFall is here!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/FireExtinguisher%5B1%5D.jpg' align='left' />Fall is here! This is my favorite kind of weather. Just cool enough to wear a light jacket. With that said, it is never to early to start preparing for winter. Get rock salt to melt the ice on walkways, sand to improve traction, and pick up some sno...Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:57:59 -0500Fall is here! This is my favorite kind of weather. Just cool enough to wear a light jacket. With<br /> that said, it is never to early to start preparing for winter. Get rock salt to melt the ice on <br /> walkways, sand to improve traction, and pick up some snow shovels.<br /> <br /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Prepare your home~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /> <br /> *Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient fuel; regular fuel sources may be <br /> cut off. For example, if you have a fireplace get wood for it.<br /> <br /> *Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic, and allow faucets to drip a little during <br /> cold weather to avoid freezing.<br /> <br /> *Keep fire extinguishers on hand, make sure everyone knows how to use them.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/FireExtinguisher%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> *Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts.)<br /> <br /> *(<strong>right tighty,</strong> lefty loosey)* <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/toilet-water-valve%5B1%5D.jpg" /><br /> <br /> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Prepare your car~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /> <br /> Check the following items on your car:<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Antifreeze Levels - You can buy a gauge at Wal-mart for about $1.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Battery and Ignition System - Clean battery terminals.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Brakes - Check to see they still have a good amount of padding, and check the fluid levels.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Exhaust System - Check for leaks and crimped pipes.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Fuel and Air Filters - Replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;maintaining a full tank of gas.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Heater and Defroster - Ensure these work properly.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Lights and Flashing Hazards - Check for service ability.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Oil - Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures, and do not lubricate as well.<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;*Thermostat - Ensure it works properly.<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1161 Sonoma Park Drive<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Norman, OK 73072&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phone: 329.9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fax: 329.1578<br />urn:uuid:7a985598-a75d-41a3-8629-fd1d89195d78Heartland Classic Car and Bike Show<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/Heartland%20Classic%20resized%20more.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul will be setting up a booth at this event. Come by and see him! &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp...Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:37:07 -0500<p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul will be setting up a booth at this event. Come by and see him!<br /> <br /> </p> <p style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/Heartland%20Classic%20resized%20more.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Family Insurance<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1161 Sonoma Park Dr<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Suite 300<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Norman, OK 73071<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Phone: 329.9780<br /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fax: 329.1578</p>urn:uuid:74d1b94d-b27a-43f1-890d-a5e4e06f5a85True and False. Superstitions.You Shouldn't Cut Off the Bread's Crust. It's Full of Vitamins. The truth is: In a 2002 German study, researchers found that the baking process produces a novel type of cancer-fighting antioxidant in bread that is eight times more abundant in the cru...Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:25:01 -0500<p><b><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/31/rs.12.health.myths/index.html?iref=NS1"><b></b></a>You Shouldn't Cut Off the Bread's Crust. It's Full of Vitamins.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> In a 2002 German study, researchers found that the baking process produces a novel type of cancer-fighting antioxidant in bread that is eight times more abundant in the crust than in the crumb. That said, it's more important to serve whole-wheat bread, with or without the crust, because it's all around higher in nutrients, such as fiber, says New York City nutritionist Keri Glassman, author of The O2 Diet ($25, amazon.com). Make sure the ingredients list "100% whole-wheat flour." Breads simply labeled "wheat" are usually made with a mixture of enriched white flour and whole-wheat flour and have less fiber.</p> <p><b>If You Go Out With Wet Hair, You'll Catch a Cold.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> You will feel cold but will be just fine healthwise, says Jim Sears, a board-certified pediatrician in San Clemente, California, and a cohost of the daytime-TV show The Doctors. He cites a study done at the Common Cold Research Unit, in Salisbury, England, in which a group of volunteers was inoculated with a cold virus up their noses. Half the group stayed in a warm room while the rest took a bath and stood dripping wet in a hallway for half an hour, then got dressed but wore wet socks for a few more hours. The wet group didn't catch any more colds than the dry. Sears's conclusion: "Feeling cold doesn't affect your immune system."</p> <p><b>If You Cross Your Eyes, They'll Stay That Way.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> "There's no harm in voluntary eye crossing," says W. Walker Motley, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. But if you notice your child doing this a lot (when he's not mimicking a cartoon character), he might have other vision problems.</p> <p><b>You Should Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> In both cases, eat and drink, then drink some more. "Staying hydrated is the most important thing to do, because you lose a lot of fluids when you're ill," says Sears, who adds that there's no need for special beverages containing electrolytes (like Gatorade) unless you're severely dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea.</p> <p><b>Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> Your Little Leaguer's wad of Big League Chew won't (literally) stick around until high school graduation. "As with most nonfood objects that kids swallow, fluids carry gum through the intestinal tract, and within days it passes," says David Pollack, a senior physician in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network. And even though gum isn't easily broken down in the digestive system, it probably won't cause a stomachache, either.</p> <p><b>An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> A handful of blueberries a day will keep the doctor away more effectively. Blueberries are a nutritional jackpot, rich in antioxidants and fiber, and they're also easy to toss into cereal and yogurt. That said, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is important to prevent many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, down the road. (To find out how much earth-grown goodness your child should be getting, enter his or her age, sex, and level of physical activity at fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.)</p> <p><b>You Lose 75 Percent of Your Body Heat Through Your Head.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> "This adage was probably based on an infant's head size, which is a much greater percentage of the total body than an adult head," says Pollack. That's why it's important to make sure an infant's head remains covered in cold weather. (This also explains those ubiquitous newborn caps at the hospital.) But for an adult, the figure is more like 10 percent. And keep in mind that heat escapes from any exposed area (feet, arms, hands), so putting on a hat is no more important than slipping on gloves.</p> <p><b>To Get Rid of Hiccups, Have Someone Startle You.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> Most home remedies, like holding your breath or drinking from a glass of water backward, haven't been medically proven to be effective, says Pollack. However, you can try this trick dating back to 1971, when it was published in The New England Journal of Medicine: Swallow one teaspoon of white granulated sugar. According to the study, this tactic resulted in the cessation of hiccups in 19 out of 20 afflicted patients. Sweet.</p> <p><b>Eating Fish Makes You Smart.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> For kids up to age three or four, this is indeed the case. Fish, especially oily ones, such as salmon, are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). "DHA is particularly beneficial in the first two years of life for brain development, cognition, and visual acuity," says Beverly Hills pediatrician Scott W. Cohen, the author of Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Baby's First Year ($16, amazon.com). And a 2008 study in Clinical Pediatrics showed an increase in vocabulary and comprehension for four-year-olds who were given daily DHA supplements. Omega-3 options for the fish-phobic? Try avocados, walnuts, and canola oil.</p> <p><b>You Shouldn't Swim for an Hour After Eating.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> Splash away. "After you eat, more blood flows to the digestive system and away from the muscles," says Cohen. "The thinking was that if you exercised strenuously right after eating, that lack of blood would cause you to cramp up and drown." But that won't happen. Sears concurs: "You might have less energy to swim vigorously, but it shouldn't inhibit your ability to tread water or play."</p> <p><b>Every Child Needs a Daily Multivitamin.</b></p> <p><b>The truth is:</b> Children who are solely breast-fed during their first year should be given a vitamin D supplement. After that, a multivitamin won't hurt anyone, but many experts say that even if your child is in a picky phase, there's no need to sneak Fred, Wilma, and company into his applesauce. "Even extremely fussy eaters grow normally," Cohen says. "Your kids will eventually get what they need, even if it seems as if they're subsisting on air and sunlight."</p> <p><b>Warm Milk Will Help You Fall Asleep.</b></p> <p class="cnnInline"><b>The truth is:</b> Milk contains small amounts of tryptophan (the same amino acid in turkey), "but you would have to drink gallons to get any soporific effect," says Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, who specializes in sleep disorders. "What is effective is a routine to help kids wind down," he says. And if a glass of warm milk is part of the process, it can have a placebo effect, regardless of science.<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/31/rs.12.health.myths/index.html?iref=NS1">http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/08/31/rs.12.health.myths/index.html?iref=NS1</a>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:52c1437f-769e-4477-a625-00a6beb48e6aThe Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.. Coffee.Coffee contains caffeine, which is known as a stimulant. Which is why most people drink it in the morning, because that is one time during the day they are feeling tired. Studies show that if you drink coffee in bursts throughout the day, then it k...Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:20:33 -0500<p style="text-align: left;">Coffee contains caffeine, which is known as a stimulant. Which is why most people drink it <br /> in the morning, because that is one time during the day they are feeling tired. Studies <br /> show that if you drink coffee in bursts throughout the day, then it keeps you more awake <br /> and alert than only drinking a lot in the morning.<br /> ..........................................................The Good.....................................................<br /> *Coffee reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease and Dementia!<br /> <br /> *Reduces risk of gallstone disease!<br /> <br /> *Reduces risk of Parkinson's disease!<br /> <br /> *Cognitive performance!! - It actually increases short term recall! My memory is bad enough, <br /> I better not ever stop drinking it!<br /> <br /> *Analgesic enhancement! - The caffeine in coffee increases effectiveness of pain killers!<br /> <br /> *Antidiabetic! - Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 can be reduced up to half by drinking coffee.<br /> <br /> *Liver protection! - It can also reduce the incidence of cirrhosis of the liver, and has been<br /> linked to a reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.<br /> <br /> *Cancer! - It is also correlated to a reduced risk of oral (mouth), esophageal (esophagus), <br /> and pharyngeal (throat) cancer. A slight reduction in breast cancer for post menopausal <br /> women was also found. Coffee also protects the liver from cancer.<br /> <br /> *Cardioprotective! - Coffee reduces the risk of dying from heart disease.<br /> <br /> *Laxative/diuretic! - It can prevent constipation.<br /> <br /> *Antioxidant!<br /> <br /> *Prevention of dental caries! - It can reduce plaque formation.<br /> ............................................................The Bad.......................................................<br /> *Gastrointestinal problems - Coffee can damage the lining of the gastrointestinal (stomach, <br /> intesetines)&nbsp;organs, causing gastritis (stomach swelling)&nbsp;and ulcers.<br /> <br /> *Anxiety and sleep changes - Anxiety can occur if too much caffeine is ingested, and it <br /> sometimes can cause insomnia.<br /> <br /> *Cholesterol - Coffee increases LDL (bad cholesterol)&nbsp;levels.<br /> <br /> *Effects on pregnancy - Heavy coffee consumption (4-7 cups per day)&nbsp;has been linked to an <br /> increase in stillbirths.<br /> <br /> *Iron deficiency anemia - Coffee interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron.<br /> ............................................................The Ugly.......................................................<br /> *Cosmetic - As you might already know, coffee can stain your teeth.<br /> <br /> <em><br /> <br /> Family Insurance&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> Phone: 405.329.9780<br /> Fax: 405.329.1578<br /> gotomypolicy.com<br /> </em><a href="mailto:paul@familyinsu.com"><em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></a><br /> <br /> Here for you:<br /> Monday - Friday<br /> 9:00 AM&nbsp;- 5:00 PM</p>urn:uuid:d1df266d-fb13-4757-bab2-fa651a22847dRenter's InsuranceAre you a college student, or do you have children that are college students? Do you rent? If you say yes to any of these, you may want to consider renter's insurance, if you are renting. It is very important because although your landlord has ...Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:38:00 -0500<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 16px;">Are you a college student, or do you have <br /> children that are college students? Do <br /> you rent? If you say yes to any of these, <br /> you may want to consider renter's <br /> insurance, if you are renting. It is very <br /> important because although your landlord <br /> has coverage on the building, it does not <br /> cover your contents, and the landlord is not <br /> liable for&nbsp;your&nbsp;contents&nbsp;if he/she wasn't negligent <br /> in some manner. Renter's insurance is <br /> often around just&nbsp;$30 per month <br /> (about $1 a day), depending on the amount <br /> of coverage you want!&nbsp;There are several <br /> other perks for having renter's insurance, ask <br /> your insurance company about renter's <br /> insurance, or give us a call now for a <br /> quick (and painless) quote! </span></strong></p>urn:uuid:a2012f6e-50b3-4855-a3e8-48ea4cf8b779Watch out for ripoffs!For all of our clients affected by the recent storms...BEWARE! There are a few unscrupulous souls out there who will attempt to take advantage of you.&nbsp; You've seen a little of it on the news, we've heard it first-hand with a couple of our clien...Thu, 20 May 2010 14:22:37 -0500For all of our clients affected by the recent storms...BEWARE!<br /> <br /> There are a few unscrupulous souls out there who will attempt to take advantage of you.&nbsp; You've seen a little of it on the news, we've heard it first-hand with a couple of our clients.&nbsp; The bottom line is:&nbsp; If you've never heard of the company, DO NOT sign anything!&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Even if everyone in your neighborhood is getting&nbsp;a new roof, it doesn't mean they need one.&nbsp; They may be getting taken advantage of too.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Do your homework and research the company if you've never heard of them.&nbsp; It's worth the effort!<br /> <br /> If you have any questions or doubts, just give us a call.&nbsp; We'll be happy to help you navigate the pitfalls to help you get life back to normal.<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em>urn:uuid:e45b1c48-2dcb-410f-9e71-73f27819b293Food for Thought for 2010Can you believe we are already through January?  It seems like it was just Thanksgiving, and then we kind of lost Christmas in a freak blizzard.  So, how are those resolutions coming along?  Yeah, I know, me too.  I really don’t make resolutions beca...Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:34 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Can you believe we are already through January?  It seems like it was just Thanksgiving, and then we kind of lost Christmas in a freak blizzard.  So, how are those resolutions coming along?  Yeah, I know, me too.  I really don’t make resolutions because it’s so disappointing when something happens that makes me unable to keep them.  That has certainly been the case for the beginning of 2010 as things STILL haven’t settled down!  <br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Two resolutions most commonly made have to do with weight loss and saving money.  Well, here are some realistic ways to help you if you have taken this challenge.  Even if you didn’t make these resolutions, they are still good food for thought.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Diets suck, no two ways about it.  You’re always denying yourself something and you feel like you’re always hungry.  Instead of trying to eat less, how about vowing to eat better?  If you’re already working out, then you probably already understand  the balance of carbs, protein, and fat that you need to fuel your efforts.  If not, simply remember that simple carbs are for quick energy, complex carbs are for sustained energy, protein is for muscle building, and less fat is better than none at all as our bodies need some fat to properly digest most foods.  Fiber is a huge plus for digestive purposes as well as for water storage in the body.  With that in mind, check out some foods to think about adding to your diet.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Full-Fat Cheese:  Oh yeah, I said that!  Cheese has loads of casein protein, one of the best muscle-building nutrients you can eat.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pork Chops:  Per gram of protein, pork chops contain almost five times the selenium-an essential mineral that’s linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer-of beef, and twice that of chicken.  And the protein helps you preserve muscle while losing weight.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Iced Coffee:  Coffee, hot or cold, reduces your appetite, increases your metabolism, and gives you a shot of antioxidants.  It has also been shown that small doses throughout the day is better than a large one first thing in the morning.  It not only increases your heart rate and breathing, but also keep you awake and alert throughout the day.  Be careful not to compromise yourself with too much sugar and creamer!  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Grapefruit:  It’s not known exactly how this works, but speculation is that the grapefruit’s acidity may slow your rate of metabolism, keeping you feeling full longer.  If you can’t handle half a grapefruit three times a week, try another acidic fruit for a while and see what happens.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Apple: An apple a day may also keep the pounds away!  Research has discovered that people who ate a large apple 15 minutes before lunch took in 187 fewer calories than those who didn’t.  They also reported feeling fuller afterward.  Apples are loaded with fiber, but they also require lots of chewing which can make you think you are eating more than you really are.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Eggs:  Skip the cold cereal.  Research has shown that people who consumed their biggest dose of protein at breakfast felt full longer than those who ate more of it at lunch or dinner.  Eggs and bacon, here we come!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Beans:  Scientists have found that people who ate more legumes were 23 percent less likely to have large waists than those who never ate them.  The bean eaters were also shown to have lower blood pressure.  Beans are rich in fiber as well as potassium, which can help fight hypertension.  Not a fan of beans?  Try canned chili beans, or have a black bean and cheese quesadilla with your eggs in the morning.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Salmon:  Fish isn’t just good for your heart.  It has omega-3 fatty acids that help you feel full longer.  Not crazy about fish?  Try taking a fish oil capsule every day, it offers the same benefits as salmon.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Milk:  Drinking moo juice in the morning can help you eat less at lunch.  Again, it’s that whole protein thing that helps you feel fuller longer.  I’ve tried this one and it works!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Here are some more foods to think about adding into your daily routine:  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pumpkin pudding:  Combine a 6-oz container of nonfat vanilla yogurt with ½ cup canned pumpkin and a dash of cinnamon.  This protein and fiber snack is sure to keep you fuller longer, and if you love pumpkin pie anyway, this is a no brainer!  Yummy!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Vegetable soup:  Start your meal with a fiber-rich bowl of this and you’ll reduce your calorie intake by 20%!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Cucumber/Tomato Salad:  Cucumbers are low calorie and high volume.  Combine with a medium tomato and some balsamic vinegar with  little olive oil and you’ve got a great-tasting low calorie salad.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ginger Green Tea:  Sipping a warm mug of tea after a hard day is a great way to de-stress.  Steep your green tea with a slice of ginger root and lemon.  It’s also a great appetite suppressant.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Fiery Chicken Salad:  Adding hot sauce to anything slows down your eating and adds a punch of flavor.  Try a simple chicken salad of diced chicken breast, 1 TBS of mayo, hot sauce to taste, and whatever diced veggies you want.  Serve over a bed of lettuce or fresh spinach and enjoy!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Shrimp Cocktail:  At around 8 calories per piece, shrimp is a fabulous source of lean protein that helps rev your metabolism and keeps you feeling full.  Start your dinner with a cocktail appetizer.  Love shrimp sauce?  Combine 1 TBS ketchup with 1 tsp horseradish and voila, you have shrimp sauce!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Now for the money shot.  Literally.  Want to save some cash?  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Quit smoking:  Not only does smoking drain your health, it will also drain your bank account.  If you smoke, you know how expensive the habit has become.  $1,825 to $3,650 per year for a 1-pack a day habit.  There’s also the extra expense of dry cleaning to rid your clothes of the smell, dental bleaching for yellowed teeth, and Botox for the wrinkles.  That last one might be a bit extreme, but quitting smoking can also help reduce your health insurance premiums.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Exercising regularly has been shown to help reduce the need for prescriptions.  It can help improve diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease.  The trick?  Start slow.  Do a little bit, at least three days a week, then gradually do a little more.  The first two weeks are always the most difficult, but if you can make it that far you’re going to realize how much better you will feel, physically and mentally, and there is no better incentive than that.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Eating right does not have to be expensive.  All of the foods mentioned above are relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to prepare.  Take a look at all your options.  Love bologna, bacon, and sausage?  Try the turkey varieties.  They are lower in fat and still pretty tasty.  Produce is cheap and you can buy in small amounts so that you can get to them before they go bad.  Utilize your freezer.  You’d be surprised what you can freeze to help save waste and money.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Pay down debt:  This is the tough part.  The average American owes $8,329, so if you carry that load with a 15.99 percent APR and making minimum payments of $167 per month, it will take you 33 years to pay that off.  And you’ll pay $15,289 in interest.  Simply kick in an extra $35.50 per month and you can pay off that same debt in 5 years with a total interest of $3,821!  Paying down your debt also has an added benefit of increasing your credit score.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Happy 2010!<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:a430290e-30dd-4214-a44a-0f6a814c93b4Thoughts On A Positive 2010....<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/happy%20new%20year.jpg' align='left' />The New Year is knocking at the door!  Are you going to fling it open and welcome the new possibilities or are you going to peer warily out the peephole? Many of my friends would agree that 2009 has been a little rough.  Well, maybe a lot rough.  We’...Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:11:14 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The New Year is knocking at the door!  Are you going to fling it open and welcome the new possibilities or are you going to peer warily out the peephole?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Many of my friends would agree that 2009 has been a little rough.  Well, maybe a lot rough.  We’re just talking personal experience and not including the economy, the war, or anything on a national level.  Although any one of those things would definitely qualify as the catalyst for a suck year.  For me, 2008 started bad, ended good.  2009 has been a repeat.  I’m really hoping that is not a pattern to guide 2010!  It’s tempting to give the new year the evil eye to ward off whatever ghosts of years past might try to follow us, so I have compiled a few quotes to help induce the good vibes and keep the ghosts from harshing our mellow.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Never take life too seriously.  Nobody gets out alive anyway.</strong>  Isn’t that the truth?  Does it really matter what you did or left behind as a legacy?  Unless you really put yourself out there and let people know who you are, is anyone going to remember you when you’re gone?  This quote is the best way I know to illustrate what is really important in life.  People don’t remember what you said or did, but rather how you made them feel.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>It’s true that we don’t know what we’ve got until we lose it, but it’s also true that we don’t know what we’ve been missing until it arrives.  We take too much for granted without realizing it until it is taken away.</strong>  That becomes the lesson.  Appreciate and respect those closest to you and take the opportunity to tell them how you feel.  Seriously, in this day and age of communication, take the time right now to send a text, email, or make a call to tell that someone special how you feel.  The feeling of apprehension prior to telling someone you love them is insignificant compared to the sorrow of never getting the chance.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil. –Jerry Garcia. </strong> I think this just goes without saying.  If your choices are not good ones, you need to find a new set of choices.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.</strong>  Just like the best way to get even with those who have done you wrong is to do well.  There is a certain amount of satisfaction obtained from proving others wrong.  Success is many things to many people, but if you are happy with your life, others will see that and understand you succeeded on your own, without their input.  They are the same ones who will say you cannot do something because their insecurities won’t allow them to try.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>The only reason people get lost in thought is because it’s unfamiliar territory.</strong>  Too often people don’t stop and think before reacting.  Pay attention the next time you are listening to someone talk.  Are you really hearing what they are saying, or are you already formulating a response before they are finished?  People say lots of things, but the words don’t mean anything unless you understand the context from which they are given forth.  In your next conversation, stop and think about why someone is saying what they are.  Ask them why they feel that way.  That tiny question is a gigantic validation for their feelings and will add depth to what you think you already know about them.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>The road to success is always under construction.</strong>  Isn’t that the truth?  I was navigating the potholes and orange barrels just fine until someone blew up a bridge right underneath me.  This is all figuratively speaking of course, and though it didn’t take me long to find an alternate route, the progress has been slow.  My detour is turning out to be for the better, but it is still a tough road.  The positive thought from this is that as long as you are making forward progress, everything will be okay.  It’s not about the destination, it’s about the trip.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count.  It’s the life in your years.-Abraham Lincoln.</strong>  Do you know anyone who has said they wished they would have worked harder?  Saved more money?  Exercised more?  Most laments are from places not explored, chances not taken, words not spoken.  Take the time to make memories.  Make a bucket list for yourself, only don’t wait until the last years to make good on it.  Start the list and start checking things off right now.  You will never be in good enough shape, have enough money or enough time, so just cut loose and do it.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Advice is worth what you pay for it.  But I know something in this has spurred that little voice in the back of your head.  Don’t ignore that.  It’s there for a reason.  Go ahead and take a chance,  live a little.  Life is short.  Eat dessert first!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/happy%20new%20year.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Happy New Year 2010!!<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:a2b7d3bc-69da-4296-a889-78379ea87e1aTraditions or Superstitions?<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg' align='left' />Besides getting sloppy drunk and kissing everybody in the vicinity at the stroke of midnight, celebrants throughout the ages have observed numerous New Year’s traditions and superstitions.  Many of the superstitions associated with the event bear the...Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:52:35 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Besides getting sloppy drunk and kissing everybody in the vicinity at the stroke of midnight, celebrants throughout the ages have observed numerous New Year’s traditions and superstitions.  Many of the superstitions associated with the event bear the common theme that activities on that day set the pattern for the year to come.  Others have to do with warding off evil spirits or attracting luck.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Because January 1 is the first day of the new year, we have drawn a connection between what we do on that day and our fate throughout the rest of the year.  Here are some of the ways we attempt to guarantee a good outcome:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Kissing at midnight:</strong>  We kiss those dearest to us at midnight not only to share a moment of celebration with our favorite people, but also to ensure those affections and ties will continue throughout the next twelve months.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Stocking up:</strong>  Here is a tradition where bare cupboards on the first day can indicate a lack of prosperity.  Fill up the pantries and freezers, and make sure you’ve got some cash in your wallet.  By the same token, the new year should not be started in debt, so checks need to be written and mailed off prior to January 1<sup>st</sup>.  Personal debts should also be settled by then.  Sounds like good advice regardless of the date.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Nothing goes out:</strong>  Not even the garbage is to leave the house on the first day of the new year.  If you have presents to deliver on New Year’s, leave them in the car overnight.  Don’t even shake out a rug or take the empties to the recycle bin.  Some people soften this rule by saying it’s okay to remove things from the home on New Year’s Day provided something else has been brought in first.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Food:</strong>  A tradition common to the southern states dictates that eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day will attract general good luck (financial in particular) to the diner.  Some choose to add other Southern fare (such as ham hocks, collard greens, or cabbage) to this tradition, but the black-eyed peas are the key.  Other lucky foods include lentil soup (because lentils supposedly look like coins, i.e. wealth), pork (because poultry scratches backwards and in the dirt, a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward, meaning those who eat pork will likely be moving forward in the new year), and sauerkraut (probably because it goes well with pork).<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/blackeyedpeas.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><strong>Work:</strong>  Make sure to do something related to your work on the first day of the year, even if you don’t go near your place of employment that day.  Limit your activity to a token amount, though, because to engage in a serious work project on that day is very unlucky.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In other words, don’t do anything on the first day of the new year lest you want to be doing that all year long.  Wear something new on January 1 to increase the likelihood of receiving new garments during the year to follow.  Don’t pay back loans or lend money on the first, or you might be doing that all year long.  Don’t break anything and don’t cry.  But do make lots of noise at midnight to scare away evil spirits!<br /> <br /> Be safe and Happy New Year!<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/happy%20new%20year.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:eec878a5-b276-4853-b442-6960d8340dd0Christmas is....I remember writing a paper in college where I mentioned that you know it’s Christmas when you hear the BC Clark Anniversary jingle.  There are many signs that the season is approaching:  Hobby Lobby Christmas displays appear in late July.  Downtown b...Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:03:55 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I remember writing a paper in college where I mentioned that you know it’s Christmas when you hear the BC Clark Anniversary jingle.  There are many signs that the season is approaching:  Hobby Lobby Christmas displays appear in late July.  Downtown buildings have lighted crosses at night.  Drunk reindeer and deflated Santas litter neighborhood lawns.  It’s all too easy to get caught up in the holiday traffic and the materialism, and lose the true meaning of the season.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Don’t worry, I’m not going to go all religious on here, although I think they ought to leave the crosses lit all year long.  So many things have changed for me personally over the past year, and not all of them for the better.  I’ll just say it’s been difficult.  Yet there have been so many positives out of those changes that I can’t help but feel blessed.  There are two ways to look at any given situation, glass half empty and glass half full.  I could be feeling sorry for myself but I choose to have a positive approach.  All I have to do is look around to realize that things could be so much worse.  One of my best friends has moved out of her husband’s house and is pending divorce.  Another of my best friends is having to deal with severe headaches in addition to raising two children, working and going to school full time.  I have clients that have all sorts of troublesome things going on.  Yes, my world dropped out from underneath me suddenly, leaving with me with several bumps and bruises and one serious case of road rash, figuratively speaking.  But I am back on my feet, I have a cute little house soon to call my own, a great job, and I am surrounded by my family and friends.  When I think about what could have been, those thoughts are immediately replaced with all of that good stuff.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I personally do not believe in coincidence.  I think everything happens for a reason, and timing is God’s way of teaching us patience.  Life is just full of little lessons that we are taught every day, we only have to change the way we look at the world around us in order to see them.  Some of them are more difficult to accept than others, but the power of a positive attitude can change anyone’s perspective.  You haven’t been laid off, you’ve been given the opportunity to find something better.  You got a flat tire that made you late for your appointment, but kept you from being in a serious accident.  There is always a positive to every negative, and if you hang on to that positive, you will be surprised at how much easier it gets to see that silver lining.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It is that positivity that leads to the Christmas spirit.  It’s not just about giving and being of good cheer, but paying things forward, and doing it all year round.  If we concentrate on setting the good example, all those inconsiderate so-and-so’s will follow suit.  Well, most of them will, anyway.  The cool thing is, it’s as easy as taking your basket to the corral, or letting someone with their one item go ahead of you and your 20 items.  Joke around with the cashier, she will appreciate knowing there is still some hope for humanity.  A great attitude is just as infectious as a bad one, and it sure makes everyone feel better!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">For all of our clients, friends, and family who are traveling this holiday, we wish you safe passage, a very Merry Christmas, and a very Happy and prosperous New Year!<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> </p> urn:uuid:dd07eb22-e07b-4474-9489-e410c0c33dd7Christmas Legend Part 1<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/christmas%20tree.jpg' align='left' />Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year….the day on which the Christ child came to bless the house.  Not a speck of dust was left.  Even the spiders had been banished from their...Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:15:38 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year….the day on which the Christ child came to bless the house.  Not a speck of dust was left.  Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife’s busy cleaning.  They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/christmas%20tree.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">T’was the Christmas Eve at last!  The tree was decorated and waiting for the children to see it.  But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ child’s visit.  But the oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him.  Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold.  Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room.  They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren’t accustomed to the brightness of the room.  So they crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig to look at every one of the sparkling ornaments.  At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree’s beauty.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">But alas!  Everywhere they went, the spiders had left their webs, and when then little Christ child came to bless the house he was dismayed.  He loved the little spiders, for they were God’s creatures too, but he knew the mother would be embarrassed by the webs.  He reached out and touched the webs, turning them all to shimmering silver and gold.  <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/tinsel.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our Christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">German Legend<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/christmas%20spiders.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">How to make your own Christmas spider:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Small christmas ball ornaments, in two different sizes, so the neck of one fits into the neck of the other.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Pipe cleaners (they have sparkly ones)</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sequins</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Craft glue or hot glue</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Slip the neck of the smaller ball into the neck of the larger one and fasten with tape or glue.  If the necks are the same size, simply glue them together (hot glue works good here) and tape in place until dry.  Wrap 4 pipe cleaners around the body for the legs.  Glue two sequins to the smaller ball to make the eyes.  Bend the legs to curve downward so that the spiders will stand up off the surface or around a tree branch.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Merry Christmas!</p> urn:uuid:70cfb4eb-7ddd-485c-b09a-68a2342c4182The sales are on!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/prius.jpg' align='left' />The weather is bitter cold, the traffic after work is more ridiculous than usual, and the BC Clark jingle is on the radio.  It must be getting close to Christmas!  Businesses all over are trying to sell off their inventory and car dealerships are no ...Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:25:26 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The weather is bitter cold, the traffic after work is more ridiculous than usual, and the BC Clark jingle is on the radio.  It must be getting close to Christmas!  Businesses all over are trying to sell off their inventory and car dealerships are no different.  Have you been thinking about a new car but don’t know which one to buy?  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The economy has been a positive influence on changing our perspective on the value of a dollar.  It doesn’t go as far as it used to, so we are more careful about how we spend it.  Car dealers are running all kinds of specials trying to sell off the old and bring in the new just like they used to.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Maybe the dust is settling.  After a year of bankruptcies, massive recalls, brand shutdowns and Cash for Clunkers, the storms that have tossed the automotive industry may be blowing out.  The recovery may be fragile and patchy, but it’s there.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Amid all the industry turmoil, it’s easy to forget about the spark that drives the car industry: consumers.  After being battered with enough industry news to drown even the most perceptive analyst, car shoppers are still left with one question: which car should I buy?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">US News created the Best Car for the Money awards to identify the cars that should make anyone’s short list.  The awards highlight cars, trucks, and SUVs that will not only please their owners the day they drive off the dealer lot, but will keep them – and their wallets – happy for years to come.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The awards are based on U.S. News automotive rankings and estimated five-year cost of ownership from IntelliChoice.  Combining the rankings with real-world costs helps to identify cars that are loved by the majority of car reviewers and that provide good long-term value.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/prius.jpg" /><br /> </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Across 27 award categories, roughly a quarter of the award winners come from Toyota or Lexus, Toyota’s luxury division.  Toyota wins the Hybrid Car category with the Prius, and Lexus wins the Hybrid SUV category with the RX.  Even though they are not so green, other Toyota winners include the Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and the FJ Cruiser.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">There are other surprises.  In the compact and subcompact car classes, where you might expect Honda to dominate, the winners are the Nissan Versa and the Hyundai Elantra.  Hyundai is also a spoiler with the Genesis, which beat out entries from BMW, Lexus and Infiniti to win Best Upscale Midsize Car for the Money.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">As has been the case all year, the performance of domestic car companies varies.  Chrysler didn’t manage to win any awards, and while General Motors won two last year, this year they only took home the Best Luxury Sports Car for the Money award for the Chevrolet Corvette.  Ford, who didn’t have any US News Awards in 2009, wins the family sedan class with the new Ford Taurus.  The Ford F-150, a perennial best-seller, wins the Best Full-Size Truck for the Money.<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/raspberry.jpg" /><br /> <br /> And now for the ones who didn’t make the A-list.  Where Chrysler did make a showing was on the Worst Cars for the Money list.  These cars are despised by reviewers, and over the long-term, cost more to own (sometimes much more) than the class average.  The Chrysler Sebring, which car experts deride for its cheap interior and poor performance, is the Worst Midsize Car for the Money.  Not only is the Sebring unpopular with reviewers, it also has high ownership costs, due in part to its rate of depreciation.  Chrysler also earned Worst Car honors for its minivans; both the Chrysler Town &amp; Country and the Dodge Caravan finished at the bottom of their class in the awards race.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">While Ford did well with its cars, the Mercury Mountaineer, earned the Worst Midsize SUV for the money. While others in the class offer a car-like ride, the Mountaineer is truck-based, making it use more fuel than the competition and giving it ride and handling that’s not as well-suited for city and suburban driving.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It wasn’t just domestics that earned raspberries.  Volkswagon, despite winning the Wagon and upscale small car classes, had the Worst Upscale Midsize car for the Money with the VW CC.  Mazda had both the best and the Worst Affordable Sports Car for the Money.  The Mazda MX-5 won the award for the best car in the class, while Mazda’s RX-8, due to its high maintenance costs, was the Worst Affordable Car for the Money.  Nissan was in a similar situation.  It won big with the Versa in the subcompact class, but the Sentra is the Worst Compact Car for the Money.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The award winners range from tiny subcompacts to hulking trucks, fuel-sipping hybrids to gas-guzzling SUVs.  As different as they all are, they also have something in common: each offers a combination of day-to-day livability and value when compared to other cars in its class.  While some of the winners may not set car enthusiasts’ hearts racing, they showcase a blend of features that appeals to the majority of shoppers.  Sure, there may be cars that offer more style, more cachet, or better 0-to-60 times, but the Best Car for the Money awards honor cars that aren’t just good at one thing – they’re good at many!</p> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> urn:uuid:5d9408ff-d2a2-4f5f-8d85-ad7f09908225BIZARRE INSURANCE CLAIMSHave you ever been hit by a frozen rabbit while driving? Has a rabid squirrel ever jumped into your bedroom window, stolen your glasses and made a break for it? Has a naked pedestrian ever jumped on your car, leapt onto the roof, jumped up and down a...Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:05:58 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Have you ever been hit by a frozen rabbit while driving?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Has a rabid squirrel ever jumped into your bedroom window, stolen your glasses and made a break for it?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Has a naked pedestrian ever jumped on your car, leapt onto the roof, jumped up and down and then run away, never to be seen or heard from again?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That’s what some insurance policyholders are saying.  These people will do just about anything for money, including filing strange insurance claims.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">When real disaster occurs, insurance provides a vital and necessary lifeline that helps policyholders regain their footing and start life over.  But sometimes freak occurrences of nature happen so unbelievable that convincing the insurance company claims are viable becomes rather challenging.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Take the gardener who, while buying plants at a local nursery, exited the store just in time to see a passing camel kick and damage his car.  Fortunately for him, there was a local television crew that just happened to be in the area filming nearby and accidentally caught the camel red-footed on tape-corroborating the man’s story for his insurer.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Another woman filed with her insurance company, claiming she hit the car in front of her because it “barked suddenly.”  Apparently, the other driver’s dog, riding in the rear window of the car, had decided to “speak” loudly, startling the driver behind and causing the collision.  Who needs a horn with barking cars?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In another case, a man approached his car following a fishing expedition and saw a cow chewing on something long and black.  As he came closer, he realized it was his windshield wiper, which contained salt deposits from a long weekend at the coast.  Upon closer inspection, he discovered the cow had actually licked his vehicle from bumper to bumper, ruining every bit of rubber along the way.  “Cows like salt,” the man explained.  “They saw it as a huge salt lick!”  Wonder what the insurance company thought about that one?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Insurers say they’re constantly amazed at some of the bizarre situations for which policyholders file claims, ranging from the serious to the downright outrageous.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">One bumbling burglar robbed a house and, in the process, accidentally locked himself in the garage.  Because the garage door opener was broken, and the homeowners were away on vacation, he was stuck there for more than a week and forced to survive on the dog food and soda stored inside.  When he was finally released from his prison, the man got away, then filed and won an insurance claim against the owner for undue mental anguish.  The sad part is, he actually won, and the insurance company paid a cool half million.  How does that work?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A Pennsylvania woman received a six-figure insurance judgment after claiming she fell in a puddle of soda and cracked her tailbone.  What she failed to mention to her insurer was that she had thrown the drink at someone else earlier in the evening.  It landed on the floor in the same spot where she later slipped and fell.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Here’s one that should win the Darwin award.  This guy won more than $14,000 plus medical expenses on a dog bite insurance claim against his neighbor.  He was hanging in the neighbor’s yard at the time the beagle attacked him and got chomped after repeatedly firing a pellet gun at the dog.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A lady sued a night club after she fell through a window and broke some teeth, winning a claim of more than $12,000.  What did she fail to mention to the insurer?  She was too cheap to pay a cover charge to get into the club, so she was trying to sneak in.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Though sometimes hard to believe, incredible insurance claims like these illustrate the fact that almost anything can happen to anyone at any time, making insurance necessary for all.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Who’s to say which claims are real and which ones aren’t?  That’s why the claims process seems to take so long.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">If you’re looking for a way to make money in tough times, we don’t recommend filing a claim as the route to riches.  Oh, but do look out for those licking cows, frozen bunnies, and naked people!</p> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> urn:uuid:ece11528-f6f1-48a5-a2c6-0d65c8b925ddAnd We Thought We Had High Rates....<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg' align='left' />N.J. AUTO INSURANCE COSTS HIGHEST IN COUNTRY Tuesday, December 1, 2009 By Lisa Fleisher New Jerseyans paid an average of $1,103.53 per vehicle in annual auto insurance premiums in 2007, making the Garden State once again the most expensive sta...Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:07:30 -0600N.J. AUTO INSURANCE COSTS HIGHEST IN COUNTRY<br /> <br /> Tuesday, December 1, 2009<br /> <br /> By Lisa Fleisher<br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> New Jerseyans paid an average of $1,103.53 per vehicle in annual auto insurance premiums in 2007, making the Garden State once again the most expensive state in the country, though rates have been declining, according to a report out Tuesday from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.<br /> <br /> Residents in six states paid premiums over $1,000 a year, with New Jersey leading the pack, followed by Louisiana,New York, Florida, Rhode Island and Delaware. Residents of washington, D.C., paid the highest auto insurance rates in the nation, with an average bill of $1,139.82 in 2007, the most recent year represented in the survey.<br /> <br /> Auto insurance rates have declined for three straight years, dropping 5.6 percent nationwide and 9.6 percent in New Jersey from highs in 2004.<br /> <br /> In 2007, New Jersey drivers paid an average of nearly $50 less than the previous year's bill of $1,151.61 and about $120 less than 2004's bill of $1221.08, the report said.<br /> <br /> The national average insurance bill is $794.98, down from $842 in 2004.<br /> <br /> In 2003, the Legislature partially deregulated the insurance market by allowing companies more room to adjust prices and make higher profits.  previously, companies had decided it just wasn't worht doing business in New Jersey.  With limited choice, drivers had to pay high prices - while some couldn't get insurance at all.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> urn:uuid:e6ec8618-0c86-4b97-909f-c5a15d6b2c31Just The Facts......Turkey Facts!THANKSGIVING FUN FACTS Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621.  More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the fina...Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:52:06 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">THANKSGIVING FUN FACTS</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621.  More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving.  Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday in 1941.  Took long enough!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sarah Josepha-Hale, the enormously influential magazine editor and author who waged a tireless campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday in the mid-19<sup>th</sup> century, was also the author of the classic nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” A “little turkey” just doesn’t have quite the rhyme…</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In 2001, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative Thanksgiving stamp.  Designed by the artist Margaret Cusack in a style resembling traditional folk-art needlework, it depicted a cornucopia overflowing with fruits and vegetables, under the phrase “We Give Thanks.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Despite record-high gas prices (more than $3.00 per gallon) in 2007, the American Automobile Association estimated that 38.7 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from home for the Thanksgiving holiday, a slight increase (1.5%) over the previous year.   Of those Americans traveling for Thanksgiving in 2007, approximately 80 percent (31.2 million) were expected to go by motor vehicle, 12.1 percent (4.7 million) by airplane and the rest (2.8 million) by train, bus or other mode of transportation.  What other modes are there?  Scooters, maybe?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Minnesota is the top turkey-producing statein America, with a planned production total of 49 million turkeys in 2008.  Just six states-Minnesota, North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia, Missouri, and Indiana-will probably produce two-thirds of the estimated 271 million birds that will be raised in the U.S. this year.  So what do they do with all those feathers?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys-one fifth of the annual total 235 million consumed in the U.S. in 2007-were eaten at Thanksgiving.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">In a survey conducted by the National Turkey Federation, nearly 88 percent of Americans said they eat turkey at Thanksgiving.  The average weight of turkeys purchased was 15 pounds, which translates to some 690 million pounds of turkey were consumed in the U.S. during Thanksgiving in 2007.  That’s 2.25 pounds of turkey per every single person in the U.S.!  Lots of leftovers……</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The cranberry is one of only three fruits-the others are the blueberry and the Concord grape-that are entirely native to North Amercian soil.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measered just over 12 feet long.  It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.  Hey, what about the Cool Whip?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Three towns in the U.S. take their name from the traditional Thanksgiving bird, including Turkey, Texas (pop. 465); Turkey Creek, Louisiana (pop. 363); and Turkey, North Carolina (pop. 270).  And hardly anybody lives there!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade-to signify the launch of the Christmas shopping season-the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in New York City in 1924.  It was launched by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo.  Today, some 3 million people attend the annual parade and another 44 million watch it on television.  So that’s where the post-Thanksgiving shopping plague came from…..</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Tony Sarg, a children’s book illustrator and puppeteer, designed the  first giant hot air balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1927.  He later created the elaborate mechanically animated window displays that grace the façade of the New York store from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  Pretty cool!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Snoopy has appeared as a giant balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade more times than any other character in history.  As the Flying Ace, Snoopy made his 6<sup>th</sup> appearance in the 2006 parade.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The first time the Detroit Lions played football on Thanksgiving Day was in 1934, when they hosted the Chicago Bears at the University of Detroit stadium, in front of 26,000 fans.  The NBC radio network broadcast of the game on 94 stations across the country-the first national Thanksgiving football broadcast.  Since that time, the Lions have played a game every Thanksgiving (except  between 1939 and 1944); in 1956, fans watched the game on television for the first time.  Did they know they’d be setting a precedence?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">All joking aside, this is the day to give thanks for the many wonderful things in our lives.  Hey, seriously, things could be a lot worse!  For all of our peeps who are traveling or having family in for the holiday, we wish everyone a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!</p> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> urn:uuid:c0a516ac-a58c-4e94-8008-bcf48b0e5778And now....the cars with the worst safety ratings.While everyone was taking note of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's list of the safest cars yesterday, we became curious about the bottom of the list. Sure, it's one thing to make the list of recommendations,  but quite another to advise w...Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:22:43 -0600While everyone was taking note of the <a href="http://www.iihs.org/">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's</a> list of the safest cars yesterday, we became curious about the bottom of the list. Sure, it's one thing to make the list of recommendations,  but quite another to advise what models to avoid. <p><strong>ALSO ON DRIVE ON</strong>: <em><a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2009/11/ford-subaru-and-volkswagen-top-list-of-safest-new-vehicles/1">The Insurance Institute's list of the safest cars</a></em></p> <p>A review of the <a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/default.aspx">models listed on the institute's website</a> -- just updated with more 2010 models -- makes it pretty easy to spot the dogs. The one piece of good news: There are no unsafe cars being sold, per se. It's  just  that some are safer than others. If they were judged unsafe, they wouldn't be allowed onto sales lots. Remember, too, that size matters.  A giant sedan with average safety ratings could whip a tiny car with excellent marks.</p> <p>"There aren't many clunkers out there in the safety area," says IIHS spokesman Russ Rader. Many of the worst are older models due for phaseout or refresh. From the 145 models listed, here are all of those that earned at least one "poor" rating:</p> <p>MINICARS</p> <p>2009 Chevrolet Aveo -- Poor when hit from the rear</p> <p>2009 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio -- Poor when hit from the side or from the rear</p> <p>SMALL</p> <p>2009 Volkswagen New Beetle -- Poor when hit from the side</p> <p>2010 Chrysler PT Cruiser -- Poor when hit from the side or the rear</p> <p>LARGE LUXURY</p> <p>2010 Infiniti M35/M45 -- Poor when hit from the rear</p> <p>2010 Cadillac STS -- Poor when hit from the rear</p> <p>SMALL SUV</p> <p>2010 Ford Escape Hybrid; Mercury Mariner Hybrid and Mazda Tribute Hybrid -- Poor in a rollover</p> <p>2009 Hyundai Tucson -- Poor in a rollover</p> <p>2010 Jeep Wrangler -- Poor when hit from the side</p> <p>MIDSIZE SUV</p> <p>2009 Hummer H3 -- Poor when hit from the rear</p> <p>2009 Kia Sorento -- Poor when hit from the side</p> <p>MINIVAN</p> <p>2009 Nissan Quest -- Poor when hit from the rear</p> <p>2010 Toyota Sienna -- Poor when hit from the rear<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:38b00b15-d3f3-466b-b364-01e765599ed410 Myths About Your Credit ScoreBy: Ann-Marie Murphy, Quizzle.com Credit has its fair share of myths, legends and misinformation. But unlike silly tales of Pop Rocks and soda or sewer alligators, credit myths - and what you don't know about your credit report and score - can hurt ...Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:08:31 -0600By: Ann-Marie Murphy, <a href="http://www.quizzle.com/" title="Free Credit Score &amp; Free Credit Report at Quizzle.com" rel="nofollow">Quizzle.com</a><br /> <br /> Credit has its fair share of myths, legends and misinformation. But unlike silly tales of Pop Rocks and soda or sewer alligators, credit myths - and what you don't know about your credit report and score - <em>can</em> hurt you.<br /> <br /> Get the facts about 10 common myths about your credit report, credit score and credit cards:<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #1: Checking your credit hurts your credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> When you pull your credit report for your own educational purposes, it’s considered a “<a href="http://blog.quizzle.com/2008/06/how-do-credit-inquiries-affect-your-credit-score/" title="How do soft inquiries affect your credit score?" rel="nofollow">soft inquiry</a>” and will NOT affect your credit score. On the other hand, when a creditor or lender pulls your credit report for the purpose of extending you credit or a loan, it’s a “<a href="http://blog.quizzle.com/2008/06/how-do-credit-inquiries-affect-your-credit-score/" title="How do hard inquiries affect your credit score?" rel="nofollow">hard inquiry</a>” and may negatively impact your credit score.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #2: The higher your income, the better your credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> Your income has nothing to do with your credit report or score. If you make a solid living, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have good credit.<br /> <strong><br /> Myth #3: <a href="http://blog.quizzle.com/2008/05/will-closing-credit-card-accounts-help-your-credit-score/" title="Will Closing Credit Card Accounts Help Your Credit Score?" rel="nofollow">Closing a credit card</a> will boost your credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> When you close a credit card account, you may be affecting your “credit utilization.” Credit utilization is simply how much credit you use (total of all balances) compared to how much credit is available to you (total of all credit limits). When you close an account, you’re lowering that denominator - the amount of credit that’s available to you - which may increase your credit utilization percentage. A higher credit utilization may negatively impact your credit score, as it suggests to a creditor or lender that you’re a higher risk.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #4: All creditors and lenders use the same credit score to determine your credit-worthiness.</strong><br /> <br /> The truth is there are a lot of credit scores out there. And on top of the different credit scores that are available, there are different credit reports on which a credit score can be based.<br /> <strong><br /> Myth #5: There's no need to check your credit report if you pay your bills on time.</strong><br /> <br /> It’s important to check your credit report regularly no matter what your situation to make sure the information on your credit report is accurate. Mistakes are made, inaccurate information is reported and if you’re not on top of it, your credit score may suffer.<br /> <br /> Check your credit at least every six months using free services like <a href="https://www.quizzle.com/" rel="nofollow">Quizzle.com</a>. Just beware of "free" credit report sites that require a credit card to sign up - if it's really free, a credit card shouldn't be necessary.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #6: When you pay off a past-due account, it's removed from your credit report.</strong><br /> <br /> Negative information – like late payments and accounts in collections – can stay on your credit report for up to seven years from the date of the initial missed payment. Some bankruptcies can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years from the date the bankruptcy was filed.<br /> <br /> When you pay off an account that was previously past due, your credit report will be updated to reflect that you’re current on the account. And as time goes on, the negative information will have less of an effect on your credit score. However, as the purpose of a credit report is to keep a tally of your credit history and how reliably you’ve managed your credit, that information won't come off your report for at least seven years.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #7: How you manage your checking, savings and investment account can affect your credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> What you do with your checking, savings and investments is your business. This information is not typically reported on your credit report and therefore doesn't impact your credit score.<br /> <strong><br /> Myth #8: Paying cash for everything and not having any credit card debt will ensure a good credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> Never using credit can actually hurt your credit score. Creditors and lenders often consider people with no debt and no credit cards a higher risk than those who have credit cards and have proven that they’re able to manage their debt responsibly.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #9: Library fines, unpaid parking tickets and utility bills don’t affect your credit score.</strong><br /> <br /> It’s not uncommon for libraries to turn over unpaid debts to collections agencies, which can wind up on your credit report and significantly impact your credit score. And more and more, utility companies are regularly reporting to credit bureaus.<br /> <br /> <strong>Myth #10: Debit cards and pre-paid credit cards can help you build credit.</strong><br /> <br /> Because debits cards and pre-paid credit cards are not considered an extension of credit, they don’t show up on your credit report. If you’re looking to build credit, using a secured or unsecured credit card responsibly is the best way to go.<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> urn:uuid:8811b766-f344-4651-b42e-8d12592330b2Cities where you can drive less! Even though the recession has made it hard to move, many Americans are still trying to flee their cul-de-sacs and long freeway commutes for walkable neighborhoods closer to public transportation and their jobs. ...Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:49:25 -0600<div class="text"> <p>Even though the recession has made it hard to move, many Americans are still trying to flee their cul-de-sacs and long freeway commutes for walkable <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/neighborhoods;_ylt=AuGpGtXg9DSgZc3jz7nEkXvxkdEF">neighborhoods</a> closer to public transportation and their jobs.</p> <table style="border: #d7deee 1px solid; margin: 10px;" width="40%" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"> <p><strong>More from</strong> <a href="http://www.usnews.com/sections/business/real-estate/index.html"><strong>U.S. News &amp; World Report</strong></a><strong> </strong><br /> <br /> <em style="color: #db612d;">»</em>  <a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/slideshows/the-top-15-cities-for-commuters?s_cid=yf:12commuter">Slide Show: 15 Commuter-Friendly Cities</a><br /> <br /> <em style="color: #db612d;">»</em>  <a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/real-estate/articles/2009/06/08/best-places-to-live-2009.html?s_cid=yf:12commuter">America's Best Places to Live<br /> </a><br /> <em style="color: #db612d;">»</em>  <a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/best-places/to-live/listing/search/?s_cid=yf:12commuter">Find Your Best Place to Live</a></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Patrick Lashinsky, chief executive of real estate website Ziprealty.com, says that demand for homes in these types of neighborhoods has soared during the recession. And although city housing may come at a premium, it is becoming more affordable because of the decline in housing prices. "Condos that are closer in to the city have come down in price a lot," says Lashinsky.</p> <p>Moving closer in might also be a good investment. "Clients believe that gas prices will spike again, and that this will drive up the <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/homevalues;_ylt=AnpstaVD.N9lp.VQZS.LLlXxkdEF">value</a> of what they're buying," he says. The lifestyle might also be especially appealing in a recession. "In difficult times, people really re-evaluate what they do with their time. You can't be productive when you're just sitting in your car," Lashinsky says. For example, biking to work is a way to be active while commuting.</p> <p>There's one problem, however: Commuting without a car usually isn't faster. According to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey, the average travel time for a car commute is a little over 24 minutes. For public transportation, the average travel time is more than 48 minutes. "If you look at the average travel time on transit, it is about double the time with a car," says Alan Pisarski, transportation consultant and author of the Transportation Research Board's Commuting in America series.</p> <p>That's one reason cities in which many people don't use cars also have the longest commutes. In fact, of the Census Bureau's 2009 list of cities with the longest average commutes, eight of the top 10 are places where at a least a fifth of commuters don't drive to work: <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/New_York/New_York;_ylt=ApI5NB4wywjCPzBt2cI0Oz_xkdEF">New York</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Illinois/Chicago;_ylt=AgQ54SBmWXGRzMY64NmITL7xkdEF">Chicago</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia;_ylt=AqlmKd8Ty6AdyNfQoZ8JG1nxkdEF">Philadelphia</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/District_of_Columbia/Washington;_ylt=AqDkh4qKjzSqYXcHEOw8tFPxkdEF">Washington</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/San%20Francisco;_ylt=Asm5mpZs_K3I_6iCSy2pbCDxkdEF">San Francisco</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/Oakland;_ylt=AhD7GhtEa2lVqh34U0vHuEXxkdEF">Oakland</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Massachusetts/Boston;_ylt=AsyIOrZKaqpf89096KcGrCTxkdEF">Boston</a>, and <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Maryland/Baltimore;_ylt=AtBD4vIgoMxnMEjPNS_PvY_xkdEF">Baltimore</a>. On the other end of the spectrum, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Maryland/Baltimore;_ylt=AoFilbeOetQhar8XDa2dHcvxkdEF">Grand Forks, N.D.</a>, has the shortest average commuting time in the country-12.3 minutes-but over 93 percent of Grand Forks commuters drive.</p> <p>But there are some exceptions--cities where many people can drive less without sacrificing time. In the cities on our list, commutes are shorter than average, and a great many of them are on foot, bicycle, or via public transportation. The list is heavy on college towns, for a few good reasons: Such places are good fits for nondrivers because they are often compact and dense, and they often have liberal populations that demand more investment in public transportation.</p> <p>U.S. News chose these cities using the following guidelines: First, cities with populations of more than 50,000 were included. Second, we considered the average commuting time in metropolitan areas throughout the country--24.4 minutes in 2009, according to the Census--and narrowed the list to cities with even shorter average commuting times. Finally, data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey was used to calculate the percentage of a city's workers over age 16 that gets to work without driving or carpooling. We excluded those who work from home.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Massachusetts/Cambridge;_ylt=AnJESaXeuqdVIrgUtVB4HLDxkdEF"><strong>Cambridge, Mass</strong></a>.<br /> Average commute time: 24 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 58 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Massachusetts/Cambridge/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AlRzao.GtsL9n0bLO.Z2ehzxkdEF">Cambridge</a> combines all of the reasons that would make you ditch a car. It is a walker's mecca-the 2000 census found <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Massachusetts/Cambridge/neighborhoods;_ylt=AtHlCIgTvwofZfUiLCYXBpjxkdEF">Cambridge</a> to have the highest percentage of pedestrian commuters in the country, at 25 percent. Walking is easy when many employers are located in town. Several of the largest employers in the Boston area are in Cambridge, such as Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, and Genzyme Corp. Biking is another popular way to get around. The 11-mile Minuteman Commuter Bikeway connects Cambridge to nearby towns like Arlington and Lexington. Finally, Boston's MBTA rapid transit system (popularly known as the T) has two stops on two different lines in Cambridge.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh;_ylt=AuB_CRdQfMeYCAL3ITGrTLnxkdEF"><strong>Pittsburgh</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 23.1 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 33.5 percent</p> <p>Some cities, like New York, have uncommonly extensive Public Transportation systems but also uncommonly huge populaces. Delays are inevitable in any transportation system with so much demand. <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AhCK1dBncts.afpDrQifeirxkdEF">Pittsburgh</a> is a bit of an anomaly in that it is not a massive city-the population is just over 300,000, with a metro area of 2.4 million-but it has a large public transit system for its size. <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Pennsylvania/Pittsburgh/neighborhoods;_ylt=AgTo0O9zdLKLU6Ktbu_kEhnxkdEF">Pittsburgh's</a> transit system, the Port Authority of Allegheny County, has a daily ridership of 240,000 on its buses and light rail. The city also has one of the largest bus rapid transit systems in the country, with three bus-only highways. Its light rail system has the 16th-most passenger miles traveled of any light rail in the country, according to the American Public Transportation Association.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Colorado/Boulder;_ylt=AqDUzg2IbtlolU8R1Og1dI_xkdEF"><strong>Boulder, Colo</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br /> Average commute time: 18.4 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 30.6 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Colorado/Boulder/homes-for-sale;_ylt=Ah6uM9r97ipfU42VJe9kikbxkdEF">Boulder</a> tends to attract the kind of outdoorsy people who love biking to work. The city claims more than 300 miles of bike lanes, routes, designated shoulders, and paths. If you don't like traveling on two wheels, there are other options. <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Colorado/Boulder/neighborhoods;_ylt=ArXRShu1zff0PiRApXYgxhPxkdEF">Boulder's</a> Regional Transportation District has dozens of bus lines. While other cities designate their bus lines with utilitarian numbers, the names of the downtown Boulder bus lines reveal a city with a more colorful approach to transit: HOP, SKIP, JUMP, BOUND, DASH, STAMPEDE, and BOLT.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/Davis;_ylt=AmU_xKaOp3aqEr3KDvCmHT7xkdEF"><strong>Davis, Calif</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br /> Average commute time: 20.3 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 28.7 percent</p> <p>The home of the University of California, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/Davis/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AvPqLuG2iS3zsmvcy2DH_WHxkdEF">Davis</a> is more than just a college town. <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/Davis/neighborhoods;_ylt=ApS_DiqYOBqFxSpP5TEMVBHxkdEF">Davis</a> has a population of 60,000. In 2005, the League of American Bicyclists awarded the city a "platinum level" distinction as a biking-friendly community. Its the first and only city in the country to receive that title. According to the league, "bike lanes and trails permeate the community and enable people of all ages to ride to school, to work, and for recreation and errands."</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Ann_Arbor;_ylt=ApzZDZbihhjrWVNB9SQnsRbxkdEF"><strong>Ann Arbor, Mich</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br /> Average commute time: 18.4 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 27.5 percent</p> <p>Since it is one of the best-known college towns in America, it shouldn't be surprising that <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Ann_Arbor/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AqoXX6P73M2qyjgjAKbsFJfxkdEF">Ann Arbor</a> is not car-heavy. Many of the city's major employers, such as the academic journal service JSTOR, the weather service Weather Underground, and the headquarters for Google's AdWords service are based downtown. That centralized location and <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Michigan/Ann_Arbor/neighborhoods;_ylt=Aj1pD8fQGOT1NXkiEkBAyjnxkdEF">Ann Arbor's</a> compact nature make commuting easy for walkers, bikers, and bus riders.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Connecticut/New_Haven;_ylt=AtIjif7_jV3bnTZKJ5xAO9HxkdEF"><strong>New Haven, Conn.</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 21.6 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 27.3 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Connecticut/New_Haven/homes-for-sale;_ylt=Asxd5YMwXieAKN7AqiOhf9rxkdEF">New Haven's</a> commuting patterns are shaped by its unusual downtown. In many cities, downtowns fill up with professionals and other workers during the day, then turn into ghost towns at night. But according to the City of New Haven, 7,000 people live in the downtown area, making it "among the most populous downtowns in the nation"-with a population density greater than that of downtown <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Washington/Seattle;_ylt=AnO_zfCSxekfaJfvjiOmuqrxkdEF">Seattle</a>, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Illinois/Chicago/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AuIXupBWFwT4X2U9FpqT9yfxkdEF">Chicago</a>, or <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Maryland/Baltimore/homes-for-sale;_ylt=Apyxfjl1XpWVvSmVa5nUcX3xkdEF">Baltimore</a>. Jobs are in downtown <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Connecticut/New_Haven/neighborhoods;_ylt=Ag98nwB9YpGttOKMcAxRo8XxkdEF">New Haven</a> as well, with some of the city's big employers like Yale University and the Knights of Columbus headquartered there.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Chapel_Hill;_ylt=AsO4vfaVb3w1pL6ifch2tKjxkdEF"><strong>Chapel Hill, N.C.</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 20.1 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 26.2 percent</p> <p>North Carolina is not usually thought of as a mass transit state, and with good reason-only 16 percent of workers commute without a car. But <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Chapel_Hill/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AqZSJ8echiU4RjY0c27TYbLxkdEF">Chapel Hill</a> is not typical. Triangle Transit provides bus and vanpool service throughout the entire Research Triangle area, which includes <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Raleigh;_ylt=Atf4bx3KyuksSV4DNjzxFynxkdEF">Raleigh</a> and <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Durham;_ylt=As7dNvcSqzDoc8.MYOE_hYrxkdEF">Durham</a>. According to the census, more than 10 percent of <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/North_Carolina/Chapel_Hill/neighborhoods;_ylt=Am2xacsWl70RgoaggNnFFIzxkdEF">Chapel Hill</a> commuters walk to work.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Minnesota/Minneapolis;_ylt=Ag6nKLaQWcME0.u3rw42WGbxkdEF"><strong>Minneapolis</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 21.9 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 24.2 percent</p> <p>Long winters don't deter <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Minnesota/Minneapolis/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AgCkvUN7xRAOYIclGBCpiBHxkdEF">Minneapolis</a> commuters from leaving their cars at home. Measured by passenger miles, the city has the 14th-largest light rail system and the 13th-largest bus system in the country, according to the American Public Transportation Association. The Census Bureau also ranks it second in the country for bicycle commuting among the 50 cities with the most commuters. For pedestrians, commuting in below-freezing temperatures is made easier by the fact that 80 blocks of downtown <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Minnesota/Minneapolis/neighborhoods;_ylt=AtJ1RKyNC3Ud7_9hObMxXwTxkdEF">Minneapolis</a> are connected by enclosed skyways that allow pedestrians to traverse the city in heated walkways without stepping outside.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Portland;_ylt=Atk9BtS98SGeKaI1k2mlc7PxkdEF"><strong>Portland, Ore</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br /> Average commute time: 24.1 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 22.7 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Portland/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AuM.phSH7IsaLvCzTX70t2PxkdEF">Portland</a> has become famous as a mecca for the hip and artistic. But even if the average resident doesn't fit that stereotype, they all benefit from shorter commutes, owing to fewer people on the road. "Cities like <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Portland/neighborhoods;_ylt=AjtfF5BtKcL61pu9Wo_hRSrxkdEF">Portland</a> have a higher percentage of people working at home," says Pisarski. "They're at home working on the next great American novel." The city also has a well-developed mass transit system for a city of its size: Portland's light rail system is the third-largest in the country by passenger miles, ahead of systems in bigger cities such as San Diego, St. Louis, and Dallas.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Iowa/Ames;_ylt=ArEerGM6tfhMAt0wsSkCKnfxkdEF"><strong>Ames, Iowa</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 15.3 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 22.6 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Iowa/Ames/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AiZcuDJKocpW7vKMdBrDL6TxkdEF">Ames</a>, home to Iowa State University, is the smallest city on this list with just over 50,000 in population. The town's size makes it more impressive that CyRide, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Iowa/Ames/neighborhoods;_ylt=ArIEiuZ707R97z6RadDo3GLxkdEF">Ames's</a> bus agency, broke its all-time record of ridership by transporting more than 5 million people by the end of its last fiscal year. More than 10 percent of Ames's commuters walk to work.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Wisconsin/Madison;_ylt=Aq7fwPxVCM_8U1HzVrWHfJPxkdEF"><strong>Madison, Wis</strong></a><strong>.</strong><br /> Average commute time: 18.7 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 21.9 percent</p> <p>Despite its rough winters, Wisconsin is big on bicycles. The League of American Bicyclists ranked the state second among the country's most bike-friendly states. <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Wisconsin/Madison/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AmUvmi7tJt6QeoIBFFKxgwjxkdEF">Madison</a> is arguably the biggest biking city in Wisconsin, with an extensive system of bike lanes covering the city (National Public Radio dubbed it a "biker's paradise"). In 2007, Prevention magazine named <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Wisconsin/Madison/neighborhoods;_ylt=AgbPiiZNgWm4pAvqHVbEHgXxkdEF">Madison</a> the most walkable city in America. Another plus: Madison's Metro Transit bus system has real-time arrival times commuters can access online.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Hawaii/Honolulu;_ylt=AgVAAvy9PK.Gl89PhbO4qSjxkdEF"><strong>Honolulu</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 23 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 21.7 percent</p> <p>With a land area of just 85 square miles and a population of less than 400,000, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Hawaii/Honolulu/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AkBSidp7G1G8maM9mZsVB1vxkdEF">Honolulu</a> is compact enough that commuting isn't tough. TheBus transit system, with ridership of more 70 million annually, makes it even easier. TheBus has twice been named "America's Best Transit System" by the American Public Transportation Association.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Utah/Provo;_ylt=AtLE_z..pXI4IE6cbhQ_oQXxkdEF"><strong>Provo, Utah</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 16.2 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 21.4 percent</p> <p>The center of the second-largest metro area in Utah is not well known for public transportation. Only recently has the city government been discussing plans for a bus rapid transit system that would become operational in 2012. But many <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Utah/Provo/homes-for-sale;_ylt=ApiFrKvw1qj5U9_6uEJbSVLxkdEF">Provo </a>commuters don't need public transit to get to work without driving: More than 13 percent of the city's workers walk, putting <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Utah/Provo/neighborhoods;_ylt=AqSONOutPPx4PEuRbI.5ianxkdEF">Provo</a> in the top 10 of all U.S. cities for pedestrian commuters.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Eugene;_ylt=Am1FMpftrXEyivaX04R_nVfxkdEF"><strong>Eugene, Ore.</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 16.9 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 20.7 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Eugene/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AjQIkszNJ2xBxwAkmGEYmY_xkdEF">Eugene</a> makes the list because it has many of the same traits of other cities with short commutes and relatively low car use. Home to the University of Oregon, <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Oregon/Eugene/neighborhoods;_ylt=AtRqikFqREIzW7GTucqpbWvxkdEF">Eugene</a> is a small city of only about 40 square miles. Its size and culture mean that there are plenty of people interested in biking and walking rather than burning gas for a few short miles.</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/New_York/Syracuse;_ylt=ApNJIjVZv1wfZTzjYngR1HDxkdEF"><strong>Syracuse, N.Y.</strong></a><br /> Average commute time: 16.3 minutes<br /> Non-car commuters: 20.1 percent</p> <p><a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/New_York/Syracuse/homes-for-sale;_ylt=AtKlWCdulUESaPhFegONV0DxkdEF">Syracuse</a> does not have a transit system beyond buses, and it's not particularly compact. But it makes the list for a number of other reasons. The 2000 census found <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/New_York/Syracuse/neighborhoods;_ylt=Ak3ItweHeC6XhM32xsymgBrxkdEF">Syracuse</a> to be the 12th in the country in terms of having the most pedestrian commuters-just one spot behind New York City. More than 10 percent of Syracuse's commuters walk to work. Also, while it's one of the largest cities in one of the largest states, Syracuse's metro area population is less than 1 million, so traffic isn't a huge issue. Finally, the city's Centro bus system connects workers to employment areas within the city and city and surrounding counties. Centro boasts ridership of 42,000 daily.</p> <br /> What could this mean for your auto insurance rates?  The less distance you drive, the lower your premiums!<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> </div> urn:uuid:37424eff-6f76-409d-bee5-54210726a2c310 Ways To Increase The Value Of Your Home&nbsp; Katie Adams, Investopedia Nov 4th, 2009 &nbsp; In a dour housing market, wouldn't it be nice to know that your remodeling project would pay off when you went to sell the property? Remodeling Magazine evaluated the top remodeling projects, ho...Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:10:02 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 1.5pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 4.5pt 39.75pt 1.5pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Katie Adams, Investopedia </p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 10pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Nov 4th, 2009 </p> <p style="margin: 0in 17.25pt 0pt 6pt; line-height: 121%;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">In a dour housing market, wouldn't it be nice to know that your remodeling project would pay off when you went to <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/info/guides/increasing-sellers-property-value;_ylt=AgTogLR37Ap4naDW2ehYHJfxkdEF">sell the property</a>? Remodeling Magazine evaluated the top remodeling projects, how the cost-to-value has changed since the housing market implosion, and which projects are still worth the investment. Using the magazine's "<a href="http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2008/costvsvalue/national.aspx">Cost Vs. Value Report for 2008-2009</a>," let's look at some of the best projects you can undertake and recoup the majority of your cost.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Upscale Projects</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Siding Replacement (fiber-cement or foam-backed vinyl)</b>. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 10pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">With the economic slump, home buyers aren't being dazzled by bells and whistles as much as they are improvements that will ensure lower repair and utility bills. Although replacing current siding with fiber-cement has lost value from 2007, it still nets an astonishing 87% ROI. If you prefer a foam-backed vinyl product replacement instead, you can still look to recoup 80% of your cost.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Window Replacement (vinyl or wood) </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Windows are not only an aesthetic feature. For most homeowners, they represent one of the easiest ways to lower home heating and cooling bills. By replacing your current windows with more efficient vinyl or wood ones, you can save on your utility bills, attract future home buyers and net a nearly 80% (vinyl) or 77% (wood) return on your investment.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Bathroom Remodel </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Depending on the size and amenities of your desired bathroom, you could expect to pay over $50,000 to tear out walls, repair joists and wall studs, change structural elements and make major layout changes, such as switching a toilet and shower. However big the price tag, you can still expect to recoup nearly 71% of the cost (which would be $36,400 if you have a $50K bill) when you go to sell. This project increased its value since 2007, while its sister project - adding a complete bathroom - fell in value.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Major Kitchen Remodel </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Kitchens are typically the most frequently used room in a home, so it makes sense that investing money here is going to pay off when it comes time to sell. While a major kitchen renovation is usually the most time-consuming and expensive home improvement job (averaging more than $110,000), it's also one of the most profitable. Regardless of the size of your financial layout, you can expect to get a nearly 71% ROI.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Deck Addition (composite product)</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">With families cutting their entertainment budgets, they're spending more time at home, so it makes sense that adding a deck (composite, not wood) is a good investment. You can plan on recouping 63% of your total job cost to boost your home's value by nearly $24,000 if you paid the average job cost of $37,000. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b></b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Mid-Range Projects</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">While all of the mid-range projects dropped in value versus cost since 2007, there are still numerous projects that will net you a significant ROI. Here are a few of the best bets for your money:</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Deck Addition (wood) </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">If your bank balance can't swing the higher price tag that comes with composite decking, you may still be able to afford a wood addition on to your home. While a wood deck would cost you, on average, in the neighborhood of $10,000, the resale value it will add to your home is more than $8,600 - an 81.8% return on your investment.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Siding Replacement (vinyl)</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Fiber-cement or foam-banked vinyl are often more preferable siding upgrades, but getting vinyl siding replacements instead is still a good choice. You can recoup nearly 81% of your cost which, if the job cost you more than $10,000, means you could add more than $8,200 to your <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Homevalues;_ylt=And5WkDQz09T70dbAYSMnQnxkdEF">home's value</a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Minor Kitchen Remodel</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">With belt-tightening in style, people are turning to minor kitchen improvement projects instead of major overhauls. It turns out that that choice is not only frugal, but financially wise. While major kitchen remodeling jobs can still, on average, return a nice 70% ROI for homeowners, minor kitchen remodeling jobs net an even higher 79.5% return.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Attic Bedroom </b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">Anytime you can add bedrooms, you're going to add to the overall value - and listed purchase price - to your home. If your attic's dimensions allow you to convert it to a bedroom, you may want to consider investing the money to do so. You'll add some sleeping space and net a nice 74% return when a new buyer puts your <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/info/guides/the-closing-process;_ylt=AriFwOHTPRa3US7_vnztiIvxkdEF">home under contract</a>. </p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Basement Remodel</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">If you're fortunate enough to live in an area with a water table high enough to permit basements, you should think about squeezing all the value you can out of it. By remodeling and finishing a previously-unfinished basement you can expect to get nearly 73% of your investment returned with a higher list price, come <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/Sell_your_home;_ylt=ArWk83BCfYKkuVKajr6ynf7xkdEF">time to sell</a>.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;"><b>Conclusion</b></p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">If you have savings or access to <a href="http://realestate.yahoo.com/loans/refinance-mortgage.html;_ylt=Asvm1BL_tdUqwVB9CvKu7X_xkdEF">reasonably-priced credit</a>, it's worth it to consider home improvement projects that will produce the best return for your time and money. Make sure you work with a reputable, licensed contractor (to avoid costly errors or budget overruns), and before you undertake any project it's a good idea to check and see if it could significantly increase your property tax bill.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 39.75pt 9pt 13.5pt; line-height: 121%;">While it may still make sense in the long-run to undertake the project and add overall value to your home, you may need to make a few budgetary changes so that you don't get caught off-guard when the tax bill comes.  <br /> <br /> Katie Adams, Investopedia<br /> Nov 4th, 2009<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em> </p> urn:uuid:f10da336-67b1-4faa-a2a0-c24613644951Ford Introduces the Seat Belt Air BagDETROIT(AP)—Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles.  Now, they’re in the seat belts. Ford Motor Company plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport uti...Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:17:47 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">DETROIT(AP)—Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles.  Now, they’re in the seat belts.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ford Motor Company plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall.  Ford says it’s the first automaker to mass produce the technology.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt.  If the air bag is needed, the car sends a signal that releases the bag.  It inflates more gently than a front air bag, and with cooler air, so it’s safer for children.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Srini Sundararajan, the Ford engineer who was chiefly responsible for developing the seat belts, says the wider belts and bags help distribute crash forces across the occupant’s chest, so there’s less chance of a serious injury.  They also help support the occupant’s head and neck.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“The top two lifesaving devices today are the seat belt and the air bag.  This combines them into one great feature,” Sundararajan said.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ford has been working on the technology for a decade and had to overcome numerous challenges bringing it to the market.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">For example, front air bags are powered by a pyrotechnic device that generates hot gas.  They also deploy very quickly because they need to cover a greater distance before the reach the driver or passenger.  Seatbelt air bags don’t have that distance to cover, so they can deploy more gently, although Srini said they’re still fully deployed in a tenth of a second.  They also use cold gas technology.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ford introduced a back-seat air bag concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2001, but the inflator was located in the trunk and it rattled around too much, bothering drivers, Sundararajan said.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ford also did a significant amount of testing to make sure the bags would protect children, even if they’re sleeping and their heads are drooping.   The belt also works with booster seats.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sue Cischke, Ford’s group vice president for sustainability, environmental and safety engineering, wouldn’t say how much the belts with air bags will cost, but she did say the technology is expensive.  They will be available as an option at first, since some drivers—particularly those without children—may not feel they need them.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“With any new safety technology, you have to do a lot to educate the consumer,”she said.  “We’re not sure what people will value with this.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cischke said the Explorer was chosen for the new seat belts because it’s popular with families and has also been a platform for other safety introductions, such as side-curtain air bags and stability control.  Cischke said the price could come down substantially if Ford decides to put the seat belts on other vehicles.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Edward DeSmet, a technical seat belt specialist at Ford, said test subjects found the padded belts even more comfortable than regular ones.  He hopes that leads more people to use them.  U.S. seat belt usage in back seats is still at a dismal 60 percent, compared with 83 percent in the vehicle as a whole, DeSmet said.</p> <br /> Copywright 2007, Associated Press<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em> urn:uuid:0bab7cfc-9770-4213-94a0-bb31ff68db59A Cookbook for Cancer Patients!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/food%201.jpg' align='left' />(CNN)—Walk into Lisa Nasser’s kitchen most evenings and you’re greeted by rich aromas that indicate an exceptional cook is at work on a delicious meal. Cooking is Nasser’s passion, but she left the kitchen and the cooking to others for six months ...Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:10:44 -0600<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">(CNN)—Walk into Lisa Nasser’s kitchen most evenings and you’re greeted by rich aromas that indicate an exceptional cook is at work on a delicious meal.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/food%201.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Cooking is Nasser’s passion, but she left the kitchen and the cooking to others for six months in 2006 when she, like her mother before her, learned she had breast cancer.  Numerous rounds of chemotherapy left her spent.  “I didn’t have the energy to go shopping, bring in the food, prepare the food.  I needed to rest, to sleep,” she recalls.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Nasser’s experience isn’t unique.  According to the American Cancer Society, more than a million Americans will undergo cancer treatment this year.  For cancer patients, nutrition is especially important, but many find that they are too tired to cook, or the food tastes bad, or they are too nauseated to eat, or they have painful mouth sores, or all of the above.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">To coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October, the American Cancer Society has released a cookbook called “What to Eat During Cancer Treatment.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Colleen Doyle, registered dietitian and editor of the cookbook, says the book is full of recipes and eating strategies that patients with all types of cancer can adopt to help deal with the unpleasant side effects of treatment.  Chemotherapy, radiation, and drug therapies often leave patients with nausea, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, taste alterations, and unintentional weight loss.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">“One of the things we did was organize recipes by the symptoms that they might be experiencing,”Doyle says.  “A lot of cancer patients going through chemo—no surprise—feel nauseous around those times when they are getting chemo.  And so we talk to them about eating foods that are kind of bland; think about avoiding really spicy foods, any kind of Mexican foods, things with lots of flavors, things with lots of herbs and spices.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That certainly was the case with Nasser.  “I wanted pasta or rice dishes, anything that was bland,” she says.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/pasta.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Doyle says it’s also helpful to eat small frequent meals when battling nausea and to recognize that for some, the odor of cooking foods can be unsettling for the stomach.  “If you have somebody who cooks meals for you, it might be helpful for you to be in a totally different part of the house when they’re cooking if you’re going through a period where the smell of food really bothers you,” says Doyle.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Nasser was fortunate enough to have friends and neighbors deliver meals to her house.  Once her nausea started to subside she was able to be more adventurous in what she ate.  “I remember calling a friend saying I wanted grape leaves.  I remember wanting that tart lemony flavor and only hers were going to do it,” she recalls.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">It turns out that tart, strong flavors help with another nagging symptom of cancer therapy: altered taste perception.  Like Nasser, some patients experience a metallic taste that will not go away.  For others, food might seem tasteless, as if the taste buds have stopped working.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">For those problems, the cookbook offers recipes like tuna-bean salad that help wake up the taste buds and mask the metallic taste.  “This dish is full of lots of different flavors: strong flavors in the red peppers, the onion, the celery and the tuna itself….It also has a tangy vinaigrette that can help kind of push that flavor quotient up a bit,” says Doyle.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Doyle also suggests marinating meats in Italian salad dressings, or mustard or barbecue sauce, and trying strongly flavored foods such as cranberries, sauerkraut or pickled vegetables.  Cooking with glass pans instead of metallic cookware and using plastic utensils instead of silverware might also make a difference.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Patients undergoing cancer treatment can also suffer bouts of constipation or diarrhea.  One of the best strategies to ease constipation—a common side effect of chemotherapy, anti-nausea and pain medications—is to eat foods high in fiber, such as vegetables, fruits (including dried fruit like prunes, raisins, or apricots), beans and nuts.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">What if diarrhea is a problem?  “There’s a real concern about becoming dehydrated.  So be sure you’re drinking plenty of fluids and that those fluids don’t have caffeine,” says Doyle.  Broths, diluted juices, sports drinks—even popsicles or gelatin—can help get some liquid into the system.  Foods such as applesauce, rice, and bananas can help slow down the digestive tract, as can oatmeal and canned peaches or pears.  Avoid greasy, fried or very sugary foods because they can be irritants.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/juices.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> Thanksgiving marks four years since Nasser’s days of chemotherapy drips and intravenous needles.  Her health  today is excellent and neighbors are once again making excuses to stop by during dinnertime in order to bask in the inviting aromas and sample the rich sauces bubbling from deep pots on her stove top.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Nasser, who didn’t have the benefit of the cookbook when she was sick, hopes to use her copy only as inspiration and not as a tool for providing relief from the side effects of cancer treatment.  “Hopefully I won’t need it for that.  And if I do, I’ll now know what to do,” she says.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By Leslie Wade</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">CNN Medical Producer</p> urn:uuid:8d61301f-f820-4b73-b580-4fdc9fd0cf60If only cars could talk...<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/talking%20car.jpg' align='left' /> If only cars could talk.  It would make the buying experience a lot easier, wouldn't it?  Because verbalized or not, every used car has a story to tell.  And to avoid getting ripped off, it's up to you to listen.  You need to know about the skelet...Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:31:03 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/talking%20car.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> If only cars could talk.  It would make the buying experience a lot easier, wouldn't it?  Because verbalized or not, every used car has a story to tell.  And to avoid getting ripped off, it's up to you to listen.  You need to know about the skeletons in that car's closet, the dark secrets of its past.<br /> <br /> There are so many problems that can hide easily under the surface such as accident damage, a counterfeit title, failing mechanical parts.  It's not as if you're marrying the car, but you are making quite a financial commitment.  Wouldn't you rather find out about these red flags before saying "I do" and plunking down your hard-earned cash?<br /> <br /> With this list of warning signs, you'll be able to make your next used car purchase confidently so if you do find "the one", we'll bet the relationship won't end in a messy divorce.<br /> <br /> RED FLAG #1:  No Service Records<br /> <br /> One of the most important aspects of a used car is its maintenance history.  You want to make sure you’re buying a vehicle that has had routine oil changes and major mileage services.  Always ask the seller, even if it’s a car dealership, for all service records.  If they can’t provide those for you, you have no way of knowing if the car has been maintained properly.  In addition to asking for records, look for a windshield sticker indicating when the car’s next oil change is due.  If there’s no sticker or it shows an oil change is past due, ask why.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">RED FLAG #2:  Vehicle and Accident History Issues</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A vehicle history report is essential for any car purchase.  You can ask the seller or dealership for the report or access it yourself online using the car’s VIN (vehicle identification number).  AutoCheck charges $19.99 for a single report or $29.99 for unlimited reports for 60 days.  The report shows accident/damage history as well a title problems, frame damage and an odometer rollback check, any of which should be deal breakers.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">RED FLAG#3:  Mechanical Problems<br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/fixing%20your%20car.jpg" /></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A quick look under the car can reveal fluid leaks, but unless you’re an expert, you’ll need  to have someone else do a thorough inspection to make sure it’s in good working condition.  A PPI, or Pre-Purchase Inspection, is performed by a neutral third party and costs about $100 to $200.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The inspection is a detailed assessment of the cosmetic and mechanical condition of the vehicle.  It is an invaluable asset since it can alert you to problems, maintenance issues and even frame damage hiding under the surface.  The mechanic should put the car on a lift to check undercarriage components.  Make sure he or she also uses a paint meter guage to catch and re-painted body panels, which means the car may have been in accidents that weren’t reported to the insurance company.  Choose the party who will perform the inspection, rather than going with someone recommended by the seller.  Ask to have the results sent directly to you.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">You may be tempted to skip a PPI, but it’s almost always well worth it.  You’re making a large investment in a vehicle, and the price of the PPI is only a very small fraction of that.  If any problems the PPI shows are deal breakers, you can walk away from the sale or use them to negotiate a better price.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">RED FLAG #4:  A Problem Title</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/car%20title.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Your AutoCheck vehicle report will show any problem titles on the car’s record at any point in its history, just about everything from hail damage to fire damage.  Most of these issues are red flags, but here’s just a sampling of those to avoid at all costs:  Flood titles, which means the vehicle has received extensive water damage; Salvage titles, which means an insurance company has at some point declared the car a total loss due to sustained damage; and Junk titles, which mean the vehicle indicate that a vehicle is not safe enough for use and the car cannot be titled again in that state.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">RED FLAG#5:  A Fraudulent Title</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">A problem-free title doesn’t mean it’s valid.  Criminals can create counterfeit or fraudulent titles and use them to legally register and then sell stolen cars.  If you buy a car without a valid title, it’s the worst-case scenario – you don’t own the car you just bought.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The first step to verify the title is to check with the DMV.  Usually, you’ll just need the car’s VIN number and may be charged a small fee (often these transactions require you to go to the DMV’s office).  You need to make sure the VIN on the car matches the VIN on the title and the seller’s name matches the one on the title, which means the owner is still making payments on the car and doesn’t own it outright.  This could complicate the sale later, especially if you’re buying from a private seller.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">However, even if the title appears to belong to the seller, it could still be fraudulent.  There are a few signs that may signify foul play.  Pay close attention if the vehicle was recently brought to your state and titled or if the VIN on the car is obscured or shows signs of tampering.  The title should look official, meaning it will be printed on special paper with watermarks (visible when held up to the light).  All text, graphics and borders should be sharp, not blurred.  If you an, compare the title with an original (perhaps from a friend’s car in the same state) and make sure the two look the same.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">The Bottom Line</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Checking forall these red flags may seem excessive, but they can save you time and headaches down the line.  In the end, the PPI, AutoCheck vehicle history report, DMV records and seller should be consistent.  If any of the information seems fishy, consider walking away from the sale.  If any of the above warning signs do surface, you may not even want to give the car a second thought.  It doesn’t hurt to walk away, but is can sure hurt a lot to buy a problem vehicle.  Plus, with the internet, you can find virtually any car, anywhere.  And as they say, there are plenty of other fish in the sea.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">By:  Lauren DeAngelis<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:6680c3ac-4736-4627-aaa2-6936c27407a0Financial Mistakes That Could Haunt You Forever<img src='http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fi/25/42/02.jpg' align='left' />After the sudden drop in the Dow this time last year, many investors were left to wonder what else could happen to deflate their savings and investment portfolios. We came up with a list of some of the scariest -- and potentially most costly -- finan...Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:36:05 -0500<p>After the sudden drop in the Dow this time last year, many investors were left to wonder what else could happen to deflate their savings and investment portfolios. We came up with a list of some of the scariest -- and potentially most costly -- financial mistakes you could make. Take steps now to ensure that you don't lose money by making some of these big, bad choices.</p> <p><b>Not Rolling Over Your 401(k) Savings</b></p> <p>If you leave a job and opt to take the savings you have accumulated through your employer's 401(k) plan, you need to roll it over into a qualified investment vehicle (i.e. a new employer's 401(k) or 403(b) plan, an IRA, etc.) within 60 business days or you'll have to pay at least 20 percent in income tax on the funds as well as an early withdrawal penalty of usually 10 percent. This is one mistake that can quickly eat up a big chunk of your retirement savings.</p> <p> <table style="border: #d7deee 1px solid; margin: 10px;" width="40%" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><b>More from <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/">Investopedia:</a></b> <br /> <br /> • <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/investor-errors/default.aspx?partner=yahoofin">4 Biggest Investor Errors</a> <br /> <br /> • <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/ten-retirement-wrecking-moves/default.aspx?partner=yahoofin">10 Retirement-Wrecking Moves</a> <br /> <br /> • <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/slide-show/position-recovery/?partner=yahoofin">7 Ways To Position Yourself For Recovery</a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p><b>Living Off Credit</b></p> <p>If you can't make your regular monthly payments on your income and are using credit cards to meet your financial obligations, you're mortgaging your future by accumulating high-interest, hard-to-repay credit card debt. A Demos survey entitled "The Plastic Safety Net: The Reality Behind Credit Card Debt in America" found that one of three American households reported using credit cards to cover basic living expenses four out of 12 months on average.</p> <p>Half of those consumers using credit for living expenses missed or were late with a payment in the previous year; most credit card companies penalize cardholders by hiking the interest rate after just one late payment.</p> <p>According to the Demos survey, for a household with the average amount of credit card debt ($8,650), an increase from 12 percent to a 25 percent default rate would translate to an additional $1,100 in costs, which then begins to compound and rapidly escalate your total debt.</p> <p> <table style="border: #d7deee 1px solid; margin: 10px 10px 3px;" width="40%" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-right: 10px; padding-left: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"><strong>More from Yahoo! Finance:</strong> <br /> <br /> • <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/107954/what-to-do-with-1000-now?mod=bb-budgeting">8 Best Places to Stash $1,000</a><br /> <br /> • <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/107811/bank-fees-you-do-not-know-you-are-paying?mod=bb-checking_savings">Bank Fees You Should Watch Out For</a><br /> <br /> • <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/107781/now-even-millionaires-can-see-the-benefits-of-budgeting?mod=bb-checking_savings">Are Millionaires Now Budgeting?</a> <br /> <hr color="#d77b16" size="1" /> <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting"><b>Visit the Banking and Budgeting Center</b> </a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p><b>Not Reading Loan Documents</b></p> <p>By signing a loan document, you become legally responsible for repaying the loan according to its terms and conditions. If you don't carefully read and ensure that you understand those conditions, you may wind up agreeing to something that realistically you won't be able to afford to repay. That's exactly what happened for millions of subprime mortgage holders who took on adjustable-rate mortgages which "reset" to much higher interest rates that they could not afford.</p> <p>According to the Center for Responsible Lending, 61 percent of all the home buyers who obtained these subprime loans in 2006 could have qualified for a "prime" loan with better terms. Those borrowers paid an extra $5,222 during the first four years of their loan for getting a subprime instead of prime loan and they defaulted at a rate three times higher than borrowers who obtained lower-rate, non-subprime loans.</p> <p><b>Making the Minimum</b></p> <p>According to Experian's 2007 national score index study, one in six families with credit cards pays only the minimum amount due each month. By paying the minimum you're going to pay much more in interest than if you paid only slightly more each month. For example, look at what would happen if you paid only the minimum amount due compared to paying a fixed amount (above the minimum) monthly on a $2,000 balance on a card charging 18.5 percent interest (see box).</p> <p> <table style="margin-bottom: 3px; margin-right: 5px;" width="305" align="right"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 3px;"><img width="320" height="305" alt="investo.jpg" src="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/fi/25/42/02.jpg" /></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </p> <p><b>Having Inadequate Insurance</b></p> <p>While the U.S. Census Bureau currently reports that approximately 47 million Americans are without health insurance, the number of people who are underinsured skyrocketed by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007. In 2007, according to a survey by The Commonwealth Fund, 25 million adults under 65 were underinsured -- meaning that they have coverage but their policies require high out-of-pocket costs (not including their premium cost) relative to their income.</p> <p>If you don't have adequate savings to cover those high costs, you could quickly become of the 1.5-plus million Americans who file bankruptcy annually. According to an August 2009 American Journal of Medicine article, the number of Americans filing for bankruptcies due to medical bills increased by nearly 50 percent between 2001 and 2007.</p> <p><b>Too Many Eggs: One Basket</b></p> <p>If Enron taught us anything, it's that you should never have the majority of your retirement plan savings invested in your own company's stock. While most financial advisers recommend having no more than approximately 10 percent of your total retirement investment assets in company stock, according to a 2008 Employee Benefits Research Institute study, 8 percent of employees have more than 80 percent of their 401(k) savings invested in company stock and almost 19 percent of employees age 60+ have more than half their 401(k) assets invested in their company's stock.</p> <p>Being overly exposed to fluctuations in one company is a risky mistake to make. Just ask those Enron workers -- nearly 58 percent of workers' 401(k) assets were invested in the company's stock when its value plummeted by nearly 99 percent in 2001.</p> <p><b>Missing the Date</b></p> <p>Paying your bills by just a few days or weeks late makes a big difference. That's because timely bill payment is the No. 1 factor credit bureaus take into consideration when determining your credit score, the tool that lenders use when determining if they will make you a loan or extend credit, how much they'll lend to you and how much money they'll charge (the interest rate and fees) for doing so.</p> <p>According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 34 million Americans (15 percent of all adults in the U.S.) made a late credit card payment between April 2008-2009 and 18 million cardholders missed a payment entirely.</p> <p><b>Using Your Heart, Not Your Head</b></p> <p>Sure, your friend's startup sounds like an exciting venture, but if it fails, can you afford to lose the $10,000 you're thinking about investing in it? Or while you'd like to keep your home as part of the divorce agreement because you're emotionally attached to the property, can you really afford the mortgage, insurance, upkeep and taxes on your post-divorce income? Emotions are powerful forces but when left unchecked they can unduly influence you to make decisions that are not in your financial best interest.</p> <p>Whether it's pulling out of the market because you're panicked about a drop in the Dow (and potentially losing out on long-term gains) or co-signing a loan because you feel badly for a family member who's down on his or her luck (and potentially being stuck with a loan you can't afford to repay if he or she defaults on it), do your financial due diligence and get an expert second opinion before you risk making a choice that's going to cost you in the long run.</p> <p><b>The Bottom Line</b></p> <p>Keep these warnings in mind when managing your money and you could avoid making costly mistakes. The information is out there, so don't be afraid to ask for advice and do your research before jumping in.<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:19b20b50-a2ea-4aa2-9fb7-1308b2e165b0Utah's 4-day work week brings some dividends<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg' align='left' />By PAUL FOY, Associated Press Writer Paul Foy, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 22, 8:04 am ET SALT LAKE CITY – Closing Utah state offices on Fridays has delivered an unexpected bonus: a big saving on overtime pay. New calculations show Utah saved ...Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:34:21 -0500<div class="byline"><cite class="vcard">By PAUL FOY, Associated Press Writer Paul Foy, Associated Press Writer </cite>– <abbr class="timedate" title="2009-10-22T05:04:46-0700">Thu Oct 22, 8:04 am ET</abbr></div> <div class="yn-story-content"> <p>SALT LAKE CITY – Closing Utah state offices on Fridays has delivered an unexpected bonus: a big saving on overtime pay.</p> <p>New calculations show Utah saved $4.1 million in the first year of a government experiment with a four-day workweek.</p> <p>State employees were eager to leave after the longer workday, and weren't inclined to work an extra hour or two.</p> <p>"They're getting what they need to get done in 10 hours and going home," said Angie Welling, spokeswoman for Gov. Gary Herbert.</p> <p>"The state envisioned some energy savings, but that overtime number was not anticipated," she said Wednesday.</p> <p>Utah was the first state in the country to shut down most of its services on Fridays. Other states took notice. Hawaii tried a limited four-day week last fall, when a similar program was under way in Washington state. Lawmakers in at least two other states — West Virginia and Virginia — have also looked into adopting a four-day workweek.</p> <p>Former Gov. Jon Huntsman made the switch for Utah in August 2008, largely to cut energy costs.</p> <p>Utah, however, achieved only a sixth of the $3 million it expected to trim on energy costs.</p> <p>The state couldn't shut down as many state buildings as it planned on Fridays, officials said, and it didn't save much by closing the smaller buildings.</p> <p>Also, the state assumed gasoline for state fleet car use and building utility costs would soar, and it would save as much.</p> <p>Both expenditures actually fell over the past year, however. Utah has some of the lowest utility rates in the country.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/money.jpg" /><br /> <br /> The energy saving came out to $502,000 for the year. The state also saved $200,000 on janitorial services. With reduced overtime expenses, the total saving was $4.8 million.</p> <p>The figures were released Wednesday by Herbert's strategic planner, Mike Hansen.</p> <p>The new governor — Huntsman left to become the U.S. ambassador to China — is undecided on whether to stick with the program, Welling said.</p> <p>"He's still reviewing the results. He feels like we have good data on the amount of cost savings, employee satisfaction and the energy reduction. What he things is missing is input from the public," she said.</p> <p>To that end, Herbert will commission a poll of public sentiment — citizens lost a day of government service with the switch.</p> <p ><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/happy%20workers.jpg" /><br /> <br /> State workers are largely happy. Another survey found 85 percent of the workers like working four longer days better than five shorter ones.</p> <p>Working mothers like Carolyn Dennis — she has two young sons — found a way to adjust. </p> <p>"It's actually a lot easier than the five-hour day, because I have all day Friday to clean and run errands and still have the whole weekend to spend with my kids," said Dennis, customer service manager for the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. </p> <p>"I actually found it's freed up my time. We never did anything in the evening anyway, but having that extra day has made it easier to be a working mom." </p> <p>Dennis leaves the Salt Lake City suburb of West Jordan at 5:45 a.m. with her youngest, a 2-year-old, in tow. she drops him at a day care center near work in downtown Salt Lake City. Her husband, a business owner, drops the couple's 7-year-old son, a first-grader, at school. </p> <p>Dennis works from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., skipping lunch hour and leaving a half-hour earlier than normal. That allows her to cut down a long day for her youngest. </p> <p>"I started out getting him dressed while he was still asleep, but now he's getting up early for breakfast. Ryan is still on a malleable infant schedule. He's happy and smiling when I drop him off, so it makes my day go better," she said. </p> <p>All things considered, Dennis would never switch back. </p> <p>"I do love the 4/10 and told my boss if they take it away, I'll probably cry," she said.</p> </div> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> urn:uuid:6567b978-bd6a-4bd2-b1c9-7352a7217ad4Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/meteor%20shower.jpg' align='left' />Robert Roy Britt Editorial Director SPACE.com Robert Roy Britt editorial Director space.com – Tue Oct 20, 12:30 pm ET The Orionid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show tonight into the predawn hours Wednesday, weather permitting. &nbsp;...Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:19:52 -0500<div class="byline"><cite class="vcard">Robert Roy Britt<br /> Editorial Director<br /> <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/byline/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=10m6rt8b7/*http://www.space.com">SPACE.com</a> Robert Roy Britt<br /> editorial Director<br /> <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/byline/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/sig=10m6rt8b7/*http://www.space.com">space.com</a> </cite>– <abbr class="timedate" title="2009-10-20T09:30:44-0700">Tue Oct 20, 12:30 pm ET<br /> </abbr></div> <div class="yn-story-content"> <p ><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/meteor%20shower.jpg" /><br /> <br /> The Orionid meteor shower is expected to put on a good show tonight into the predawn hours Wednesday, weather permitting.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>This <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=11ttkt9qh/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/091016-gaherty-orionid.html">annual meteor shower</a> is created when Earth passes through trails of comet debris left in space long ago by Halley's Comet. The "<a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=11m5k86ou/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/meteor_forecast.html">shooting stars</a>" develop when bits typically no larger than a pea , and mostly sand-grain-sized, vaporize in Earth's upper atmosphere.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>"Flakes of comet dust hitting the atmosphere should give us dozens of meteors per hour," said Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>People in cities and suburbs will see far fewer meteors, because all but the brightest of them will be overpowered by <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=11t6nt9eg/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/light_pollution_030321.html">light pollution</a>. The best view will be from rural areas (the moon will not be a factor, so dark skies will make for ideal viewing).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>When and how to watch</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The best time to watch will be between 1 a.m. and dawn local time Wednesday morning, regardless of your location. That's when the patch of Earth you are standing on is barreling headlong into space on Earth's orbital track, and <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=11m5k86ou/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/meteor_forecast.html">meteors get scooped up</a> like bugs on a windshield.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Peak activity, when Earth wades into the densest part of the debris, is expected around 6 a.m. ET (3 a.m. PT).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Some meteors could show up late tonight, too. Late-night viewing typically offers fewer meteors, however, because your patch of Earth is positioned akin to the back window of the speeding car.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Orionids have been strong in recent years.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>"Since 2006, the Orionids have been one of the best showers of the year, with counts of 60 or more meteors per hour," Cooke said.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Some of those counts come in flurries, so skywatchers should find a comfortable spot with as wide a view of the sky as possible. Lie back and allow 15 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, then give the show at least a half hour to play out through spurts and lulls. Meteors could appear anywhere in the sky, though traced back they will appear to emanate from the constellation Orion.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Telescopes and binoculars are of no use, because meteors move too quickly. Extra warm clothing is a must, and a blanket and pillow or lounge chair allows comfortable positioning so you can look up for long stretches.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Reliable event</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Predicting meteor showers is tricky because the debris comes from multiple streams.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Each time comet Halley passes around the sun on its elongated orbit – every 76 years – it lays down a fresh track of debris for Earth to plow through in subsequent years. Those tracks spread out and mingle over time, and we pass the tracks each October during our 365-day, nearly circular trek around the sun.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Japanese researchers Mikiya Sato and Jun-ichi Watanabe say activity in recent years is related to debris put in place from 1266 BC to 911 BC, and this could be another good year, according to NASA.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Even if that prediction does not hold, the Orionids will almost surely put on a decent show. Prior to 2006 and going back many years, <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/space/sc_space/storytext/getoutorionidmeteorshowerpeaksovernight/33795946/SIG=11ttkt9qh/*http://www.space.com/spacewatch/091016-gaherty-orionid.html">the Orionids</a> have produced a reliable 15 to 20 meteors per hour at the peak, for skywatchers with dark skies. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As a bonus, this time of year you can expect an additional five to 10 sporadic meteors per hour – those not related to the shower.<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> </div> urn:uuid:3b15fd12-029d-4c4a-97a7-05d01e5e4da012 Ways to Prevent Colds and the Flu<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/hand%20washing.jpg' align='left' />There are no known cures for colds and flu, so cold and flu prevention should be your goal. A proactive approach to warding off colds and flu is apt to make your whole life healthier. The most effective way for preventing the flu is to get the flu sh...Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:29:53 -0500<p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">There are no known cures for colds and flu, so cold and flu prevention should be your goal. A proactive approach to warding off colds and flu is apt to make your whole life healthier. The most effective way for preventing the flu is to get the flu shot. It may not be natural, but it works better than anything else. But there are other strategies you can employ as well. Here are some suggestions you may want to try:</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/hand%20washing.jpg" /></p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="1"></a><b>#1 Wash Your Hands</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. Someone who has the flu sneezes onto their hand, and then touches the telephone, the keyboard, a kitchen glass. The germs can live for hours -- in some cases weeks -- only to be picked up by the next person who touches the same object. So wash your hands often. If no sink is available, rub your hands together very hard for a minute or so. That also helps break up most of the cold germs. Or rub an alcohol-based hand sanitizer onto your hands.</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="2"></a><b>#2 Don't Cover Your Sneezes and Coughs With Your Hands</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Because germs and viruses cling to your bare hands, muffling coughs and sneezes with your hands results in passing along your germs to others. When you feel a sneeze or cough coming, use a tissue, then throw it away immediately. If you don't have a tissue, turn your head away from people near you and cough into the air.</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="3"></a><b>#3 Don't Touch Your Face</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Cold and flu viruses enter your body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. Touching their faces is the major way children catch colds, and a key way they pass colds on to their parents.</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="4"></a><b>#4 Drink Plenty of Fluids</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Water flushes your system, washing out the poisons as it rehydrates you. A typical, healthy adult needs eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids each day. How can you tell if you're getting enough liquid? If the color of your urine runs close to clear, you're getting enough. If it's deep yellow, you need more fluids.</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="5"></a><b>#5 Take a Sauna</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Researchers aren't clear about the exact role saunas play in prevention, but one 1989 German study found that people who steamed twice a week got half as many colds as those who didn't. One theory: When you take a sauna you inhale air hotter than 80 degrees, a temperature too hot for cold and flu viruses to survive.</p> <p style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="6"></a><b>#6 Get Fresh Air</b> </p> <p style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">A regular dose of fresh air is important, especially in cold weather when central heating dries you out and makes your body more vulnerable to cold and flu viruses. Also, during cold weather more people stay indoors, which means more germs are circulating in crowded, dry rooms.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a name="7"></a><b>#7 Do Aerobic Exercise Regularly</b> </p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Aerobic exercise speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood; makes you breathe faster to help transfer oxygen from your lungs to your blood; and makes you sweat once your body heats up. These exercises help increase the body's natural virus-killing cells.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a id="8" name="8"></a><b>#8 Eat Foods Containing Phytochemicals</b> </p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">"Phyto" means plants, and the natural chemicals in plants give the vitamins in food a supercharged boost. So put away the vitamin pill, and eat dark green, red, and yellow vegetables and fruits.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">&nbsp;</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a id="9" name="9"></a><b>#9 Eat Yogurt</b> </p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Some studies have shown that eating a daily cup of low-fat yogurt can reduce your susceptibility to colds by 25 percent. Researchers think the beneficial bacteria in yogurt may stimulate production of immune system substances that fight disease.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a id="10" name="10"></a><b>#10 Don't Smoke</b> </p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Statistics show that heavy smokers get more severe colds and more frequent ones.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 0in 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Even being around smoke profoundly zaps the immune system. Smoke dries out your nasal passages and paralyzes cilia. These are the delicate hairs that line the mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, and with their wavy movements, sweep cold and flu viruses out of the nasal passages. Experts contend that <i>one</i> cigarette can paralyze cilia for as long as 30 to 40 minutes.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><a id="11" name="11"></a><b>#11 Cut Alcohol Consumption</b> </p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">Heavy alcohol use suppresses the immune system in a variety of ways. Heavier drinkers are more prone to initial infections as well as secondary complications. Alcohol also dehydrates the body -- it actually takes more fluids from your system than it puts in.</p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;"><b>#12 Relax</b> <a id="12" name="12"></a></p> <p class="hdr21" style="margin: 3.75pt 0in 7.5pt; line-height: 12pt;">If you can teach yourself to relax, you can activate your immune system on demand. There's evidence that when you put your relaxation skills into action, your interleukins -- leaders in the immune system response against cold and flu viruses -- increase in the bloodstream. Train yourself to picture an image you find pleasant or calming. Do this 30 minutes a day for several months. Keep in mind, relaxation is a learnable skill, but it is <i>not</i> doing nothing. People who try to relax, but are in fact bored, show no changes in blood chemicals.<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:d12bbd3f-bab8-4134-ad39-08a3ed37f6ceLots of good reasons to be careful out there!Car Accident Statistics In 2005, there were almost 6.5 million automobile accidents in the United States. The cost of these crashes totaled more than $230 billion. Almost 3 million people were injured and more than 45,000 died. On average, another pe...Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:39:58 -0500Car Accident Statistics <p>In 2005, there were almost 6.5 million automobile accidents in the United States. The cost of these crashes totaled more than $230 billion. Almost 3 million people were injured and more than 45,000 died. On average, another person dies in a car crash every 12 minutes in this country - that's approximately 123 deaths per day.</p> <p>Throught the coordinated efforts of automobile designers, manufacturers and organizations like the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety),<br /> the <a href="http://www.carinsurancelist.com/safest-autos.html" class="linkstyle3">safest cars</a>, with the most <a href="http://www.carinsurancelist.com/safety-advances.html" class="linkstyle3">advanced safety features</a> are being driven off car lots each year. If that is the case, what are the most common causes of car accidents? Well, there are four major factors that contribute to vehicle accidents. They are, in ascending order, mechanical issues, road design / maintenance, road condition, and poor driver performance. The latter is, of course, the most significant, and 95% of all accidents involving motor vehicles - worldwide - include poor driver performance in tandem with one of the other three.</p> Let's take a closer look at each of these factors: <p><strong>Mechanical Issues:</strong></p> <p>While car manufacturers are required by law to design and engineer vehicles that adhere to industry-wide safety standards, <a href="http://www.carinsurancelist.com/crash-tests.html" class="linkstyle3">automobile crash testing</a> cannot examine and mitigate all possible accident scenarios. Despite this, with the exception of major faults that result in brand-wide recalls (think Firestone tires), mechanical issues only account for about 5 of all car accidents.</p> <p>When mechanical issues are to blame, the following are the most common:</p> <ol> <li>Brakes. Total brake failure has become rare since the advent of anti-lock braking systems and disc brakes, but on older vehicles with drum brakes fading due to heat is possible, and even on modern vehicles brake fluid and brake shoes and pads need to be maintained. </li> <li>Tires. Again, modern technology has vastly improved the quality of the tires we use, but underinflation and uneven wear (meaning your tires haven't been rotated or balanced) are still extremely hazardous. </li> </ol> <p><strong>Road Design and Maintenance</strong></p> <p>While it's habitual for many of us to complain about the poor signage or poor planning of the roads we use every day, the truth is that road design doesn't really influence accidents all that much. When road design does become an issue, it's generally because of blind turns, blocked signs, and temporary diversions because of construction, and none of these typically becomes dangerous unless the person behind the wheel is driving too fact to anticipate necessary changes.</p> <p><strong>Road Condition</strong></p> <p>While inclement weather can make an ordinarily safe road into a treacherous one, especially if you live in a place where snow and ice are common, it is, again, usually only when poor driver performance is factored in that serious risk exists. Poor road condition may exist because of weather, lack of funds for maintenance, or stop-and-go traffic which curtails normal traffic flow, and it is this latter that is most dangerous because most drivers are so concerned about being rear-ended that they lose track of the car in front of theirs, and end up doing the rear-ending.</p> <p><strong>Poor Driver Performance</strong></p> <p>A recent study conducted in Europe discovered that 80% of drivers involved in traffic accidents believe someone else is at fault, and 5% take responsibility for their actions, while the other 15% represent varied combined responses. While distractions can cause accidents - cell phone conversations, sipping coffee, applying make-up - the biggest cause of vehicle accidents is speeding, though aggression is quickly becoming a significant cause as well. In fact, reports by the New York State Police show that the following factors (in order) cause the most accidents - and all of them are under the driver's control: </p> <ol> <li>Speeding </li> <li>Unsafe or too-frequent lane changing </li> <li>Not using turn signals </li> <li>Tailgating </li> <li>Not yielding the right of way </li> <li>Ignoring traffic signals </li> <li>Driving while impaired by alcohol or chemicals. </li> </ol> <p>They are quick to assure that aggressive behaviors (tailgating and speeding are among them) are not at all akin to road rage, which is a specific condition. Law enforcement officers are also generally quick to remind us that the chance of a motor vehicle accident increase by 50% once the sun goes down.</p> <p>If reading all these numbers seems grim, consider this: if 100 accidents are caused by poor driving, there is a 14% chance that if the driver not at fault is insured, the other driver is not.</p> <p>This is why you should never leave your driveway without automobile insurance.<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:f9db2c9c-7f21-4035-8fc5-8ee81b38c667The truth comes out!Children are More Distracting for Drivers Than Texting? Dayton Business Journal October 9,2009 As the federal (and state) governments look to ban texting while driving, a new survey finds that isn’t the most dangerous distraction for drivers: Kids ...Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:12:33 -0500<p>Children are More Distracting for Drivers Than Texting?<br /> Dayton Business Journal<br /> October 9,2009<br /> <br /> <br /> As the federal (and state) governments look to ban texting while driving, a new survey finds that isn’t the most dangerous distraction for drivers: Kids and road rage are.</p> <p sizset="5" sizcache="35">The survey of more than 3,000 drivers also found a distinct difference between men and women when it comes to distractions on the road, according to <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/gen/LeaseTrader.com_E88014E015EA4A0486E749B6459020F1.html" class="story_clink" jquery1255071889421="2"><strong>LeaseTrader.com</strong></a>, which conducted the poll.</p> <p>For 18.3 percent of men, road rage frustration was the most dangerous distraction, followed by eating/drinking (14.7 percent), checking out other drivers (10.9 percent) and kids in the car (9.8 percent).</p> <p>For women, kids in the car were the No. 1 distraction (26.3 percent) followed by putting on makeup (16.6 percent), messing with the radio (10.4 percent) and navigation (9.5 percent). Women did not cite road rage as a distraction.</p> <p>Just 7.6 percent of men and 4.2 percent of women cited texting while driving as a dangerous distraction.</p> <p sizset="6" sizcache="35"><a href="http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/09/28/daily66.html" target="_blank" jquery1255071889421="3"><strong>Last week,</strong></a> the Obama administration said it was cracking down on texting while driving. The president signed an executive order directing federal employees not to text-message while driving government-owned vehicles, when using electronic equipment while driving, or while driving their own vehicles while conducting government business.<br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:5e1c35c8-8dfd-4e9c-a673-5a9e05970745New Insurance Policy to Help Buffer Cancer!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/breast_cancer.jpg' align='left' /> October is Breast Cancer Awareness month! Why should this be important to you?  First, take a look at all the women in your life.  Second, consider the fact that breast cancer, if caught early, is treatable, and in a lot of cases, curable!  That i...Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:51:20 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/breast_cancer.jpg" /></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">October is Breast Cancer Awareness month!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Why should this be important to you?  First, take a look at all the women in your life.  Second, consider the fact that breast cancer, if caught early, is treatable, and in a lot of cases, curable!  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">That is what breast cancer(or any type of cancer) awareness is all about.  Early detection.  Treatment options.  Prevention.  There just can’t be enough said on a disease that knows no boundaries or restrictions.  It is a cruel parasite, profilerating itself at the expense of its host.  Although genetics do play a significant role, it can happen for no reason at all.  For example, there is no history in my family, but my mother is now a breast cancer survivor.  You can bet my next phone call after her diagnosis was to make my first mammogram appointment.  Cancer is not something to mess with, and I am certainly not going to give it the upper hand.  I was only 37 years old, but because I took a proactive approach, I now have a baseline to refer to should anything change over the years.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Because one woman fulfilled a promise to her dying sister(Susan G. Komen), and one man fought and beat the beast (Lance Armstrong)  the world has been made more aware of this killer disease.   One person really can make a difference, and  now the insurance companies are coming around to providing better coverage and more options.   </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/pink%20ribbon.jpg" />        <img width="399" height="151" alt="" style="width: 202px; height: 152px;" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/livestrong.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> We now have Cancer Insurance! This insurance pays you benefits that can be used for non-medical cancer-related expenses that health insurance might not cover.   It won’t prevent you from getting cancer, but you can protect yourself from some of the costs.  Cancer insurance can help you:  Manage the high-expenses of treatment; Preserve savings; Protect your family from financial hardship; and help you concentrate on getting well.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Interested?  Give us a call and ask us about Cancer Insurance today!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:fa98aa46-7e47-4acc-97ad-d97793e4c651More coverage equals less headaches!<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/first%20car%20wreck.jpg' align='left' />Although most drivers believe cutting back on their car insurance is a good way to save money, little do they know that it actually puts them at a greater financial risk.  Not only is driving without insurance illegal, but not having enough may land ...Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:56:30 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Although most drivers believe cutting back on their car insurance is a good way to save money, little do they know that it actually puts them at a greater financial risk.  Not only is driving without insurance illegal, but not having enough may land you in debt a lot worse than paying a little extra for more coverage.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/first%20car%20wreck.jpg" /><br /> <br /> The State of Oklahoma requires every driver to have liability insurance, in the amount of 25/50.  This insurance is designed to protect others from something you might do.  Let’s say you are involved in an accident and it is deemed your fault.  You will be held responsible for expenses that include property damages, vehicle damages, medical bills, and any legal suits that are filed against you.  Your liability insurance is designed to pay for the other party’s medical expenses, and your property damage insurance pays for the other party’s auto repairs and any other property damages they may incur.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/bad%20dog.gif" /><br /> <br /> <br /> Now, you know how expensive it is to fix people and cars, right?  If you have liability/property damage limits of 25,000/50,000/25,000, meaning your insurance will pay up to $25,000 of medical bills for each person insured for a maximum of $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, how far do you think that will go to covering someone who is seriously hurt?  How about if there is more than one person injured?  What happens if they sue you because you didn’t have enough insurance?    If you purchase insurance in greater liability limits, you are not only making sure that other people are taken care of, but also protecting yourself and your assets.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">According to Consumer Reports, motorists should purchase liability insurance in 250/500 limits.  It’s still a personal choice, but you would be surprised at how little a difference the extra coverage will make in your insurance rate.  None of us have any intentions of getting into an accident or hurting someone, but many roads are paved with good intentions and accidents do happen!  Call us today to see how little a lot of extra protection will cost! <br /> <br /> <br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/explain%20this.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> </span>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></span></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> </p> urn:uuid:0a5fbb07-69ad-4f1c-9049-ff5f22256733Saving on Utility Bills<img src='http://www.familyinsu.com/img/~www.familyinsu.com/running%20water.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp; &nbsp; Some of our bills can be eliminated as being “extras”, but utilities is just not one of these.  If you are noticing an increase in your utility bills it is time to review what you may or may not be doing to cause the increase.  Here are...Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:08:44 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Some of our bills can be eliminated as being “extras”, but utilities is just not one of these.  If you are noticing an increase in your utility bills it is time to review what you may or may not be doing to cause the increase.  Here are some helpful tips for ways to decrease your utility bills.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/running%20water.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Water</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Check to make sure there are no leaky faucets.  You would be surprised at how much water loss can accumulate from even a slow drip…..over two gallons per hour!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">When watering the garden, set a schedule to try to water in the early morning hours to help minimize evaporation (between 6-8am).</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Take shorter showers.  Did you know that an average shower uses approximately 6-10 gallons of water per minute?  Think of how much water (and money) you could save if you shaved even a couple of minutes off your shower time.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Use your dishwasher and washer only when you have full loads.  You can wash small loads of dishes at a time and set them to dry in the dishwasher.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Contact your utility company to see if they offer reduced rates at certain times of the day and wait until that time to do your dishes and laundry.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Recycle your water from fish tanks and use it to water your houseplants.  Fish emulsion is a good and inexpensive fertilizer.  It is high in nitrogen and phosphorus and your plants will love you for it!  Just think, you can save on water AND fertilizer!</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/natural%20gas.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> Gas</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">During the winter use your fireplace – if you have one – as it will help heat up the room at a much lower cost.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Lower the temperature on your gas water heater.  It is not necessary to have your water heated up to 180 degrees.  You will find that by lowering it, it won’t come on as often to keep the water that hot and that will help lower that gas bill.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Invest in a water heater timer if you have an electric water heater.  By turning off the heat during the time when you don’t need it will save money on your electric bill.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Turn your thermostat down just three degrees.  By doing so, you will save approximately 3% on your heating bills.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Weather-strip your doors and windows along with adding insulation to your attic.  This helps keep the heat (as well as the cool) inside your home.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Close off the rooms that aren’t in use in your home.  Now, your heater doesn’t have to work as hard to keep your home warm.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Close vents in the rooms that have more than one in them.  This will force the warm air into the other rooms.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;"><br /> <img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/lights%20across%20us.jpg" /><br /> <br /> Electricity</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">When purchasing new appliances always try to get the ones that are energy efficient.  You can save hundreds of dollars a year by spending just a little more to get the energy efficient models.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Get in the habit of turning off all the lights and appliances that are not being used.  Some appliances actually use electricity while they are plugged in but not in use.  Plug them into power strips that can be turned off when the appliances aren’t being used.   You’ll be surprised at how quickly the energy savings will add up.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">When not watching television make sure that you keep it off.  Leaving the TV on for noise is the number one electricity waster in the world.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">The dryer will use less energy if you dry loads of clothing one after another because the dryer will already be hot.  Also, be sure to put your clothes away as soon as they are dry.  Running dry clothes through the dryer to get rid of wrinkles is another huge electricity waster.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Use low-wattage light bulbs or energy efficient fluorescent lighting.  Compact fluorescents typically last ten times longer and use 75% less electricity.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Call your utility company to find out if they have off-peak hours and when they are.  Many companies charge less for your electricity at night and more during the day.  By doing your laundry and dishes during off-peak hours you could easily save money off your utility bill.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;"><img alt="" src="/img/~www.familyinsu.com/old%20phone.jpg" /><br /> <br /> <br /> Phone</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Compare the prices of various long distance providers.  A great place to look up information on lowering your long distance bill is <a href="http://www.lowermybillls.com/">www.lowermybillls.com</a> .  On this website you can compare long-distance companies in your area and also see any hidden fees they might have.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">If you have  a cellular phone that offers state-to-state long-distance, use this instead of calling on a land line.  Always make sure that you can call nationwide, the minutes you have available each month, and what hours are free (evenings, weekends) before making calls.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Take advantage of the internet and email instead of calling your friends and family.  You can also use instant messaging programs, but beware of how many you can make in a month.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;"><em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:137af1f5-0f69-47a4-8b98-ebc43cf1fe4dTips for Winterizing Your CarClimate changes don't affect just you?they also affect your car. In regions that don't enjoy mild winters, you wouldn't dream of heading outside without a heavy coat if the wind chill brought the temperature below freezing. Don't expect your car to f...Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:01:23 -0500<p>Climate changes don't affect just you?they also affect your car. In regions that don't enjoy mild winters, you wouldn't dream of heading outside without a heavy coat if the wind chill brought the temperature below freezing. Don't expect your car to function properly without some attention to its winter needs, too.</p> <h2>Engine Oil in the Winter</h2> <p>The oil in your engine changes depending on how hot or cold the engine is running. Because the outside temperatures will influence the internal temperature of your engine, you need to make sure you're using the proper oil for the conditions.</p> <p>During the winter months, if you live where temperatures get below freezing, you'll want to switch over to thinner?less viscous?oil. If you run a 10W-30 in the summer, for example, try moving to a 5W-30 when changing your oil in the fall or winter. If you are in doubt, refer to your manual or the manufacturer.</p> <h2>Engine Coolant</h2> <p>You car's coolant system is not intended only to keep your engine from overheating. It is also responsible for protecting your valuable engine against corrosion. Before the weather gets too cold, make sure you are using coolant with ethylene glycol to help protect your engine.</p> <p>Every vehicle requires a certain ratio of coolant to water, and your owner's manual or repair technician can explain what your engine needs. For most vehicles, a winter ratio is 60% coolant to 40% water. Adjusting this ratio is an important step in winterizing your car, so if you need help, ask someone who is experienced and knowledgeable.</p> <h2>Cold Weather and Battery Capacity</h2> <p>It isn't only your engine that doesn't like to start in the winter. Your battery capacity is reduced by the cold weather, too. A thorough inspection of your battery, cables, terminals, and fluid will help you make sure your car is ready for the winter.</p> <p>Check over the battery cables for cracks and breaks. The terminals should fit snugly with no loose connections. You can check your battery fluid by uncovering the refill hole (or sometimes holes). If the level is below the bottom of the cap, refill with distilled water.</p> <p>To read the level of charge in your battery, you will need to turn the engine off. Some batteries have a built-in hydrometer eye that tells you the amount of voltage remaining in the battery. If you prefer, a handheld hydrometer can be used to collect the same information.</p> <p>So, is your battery fresh enough to endure the winter weather? Compare its voltage with these figures:</p> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>12.6V to 12.8V: full charge</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>12.2V to 12.4V: half charge</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>11.8V to 12.0V: discharged</li> </ul> <p>While you're inspecting your battery, look around for the manufacture date. Knowing how old your battery is can clue you in to when it will begin to lose charge. Shopping for a new battery? Never buy one with a six-month-old manufacture date.</p> <h2>Snow Tires</h2> <p>When it comes to really dealing with winter weather, your tires are out there mixing with the snow, sleet, and ice. Driving in snow can be very difficult and sometimes dangerous; still, the reality is you need to get to work.</p> <p>Mounting the right tires on your car or truck can give you a huge advantage when trekking through snow. Many car makers and tire manufacturers recommend changing all four tires to snow tires in the winter. If you don't swap all four, the difference between snow and summer tires can cause other problems for your vehicle.</p> <p>If you live off the beaten path, you can even buy snow tires with studs to help you get where you're going all winter long. When spring comes, though, you'll be glad to get out of the heavy winter tires because your fuel efficiency and handling will improve with a less aggressive tire.</p> <p>Another option is all-season tires that you drive year-round?winter and summer. The advantage of all-season tires is that you don't change the tires before winter or need to keep two sets of rims. Of course, the disadvantage is that you don't get all the great features of a specialized seasonal tire.</p> <h2>Windshield Treatment</h2> <p>An easily overlooked part of your winterizing program is your windshield. If you have ever driven behind another vehicle kicking up wet, dirty road snow, then you already have a true appreciation for windshield washer fluid.</p> <p>For best results in clearing off cold, heavy grime, select a washer fluid with an antifreeze solution. But beware?some washer fluids can be harsh and damage your car's paint.</p> <h2>Frozen Out</h2> <p>Door locks can freeze in cold weather and break your key if you try to force them open. The old fashion cure was warm water, but what if you're not at home and don't have any warm water nearby? Discount stores, auto parts stores, and even hardware stores sell glycerine you can use for de-icing. Think about where you keep it, however, because if the de-icer is in the glove box of your frozen-shut car, then it won't help you any.</p> <p>Stock a tube at home in the garage and also in your desk at work. That way whenever your locks freeze up, you'll be able to solve the problem.</p> <h2>Emergency Kit</h2> <p>If you don't already have an emergency kit in your car, consider putting together a few basics and stowing them in the trunk. Naturally, you'll want to be sure your spare tire is in good shape with all the tools to change it out. But you might also want a few other emergency items in case you slide off the road and get stuck in a snow bank:</p> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Flares</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Blankets</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Boots</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Radio</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Engine oil</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Washer fluid</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Coolant</li> </ul> <ul style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 14px; padding-top: 0px;"> <li>Flashlight</li> </ul> <p>When you take the time to winterize your car, you become more comfortable driving in cold, snowy climates. A short commute quickly becomes difficult when your vehicle isn't equipped to handle snow and ice. By planning ahead, you can make winterizing your vehicle an annual ritual in the name of safety and vehicle reliability.<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:47827501-bd53-4888-81e0-9fd217454c01Driven to Distraction&nbsp; Logan, Utah – In most states, if somebody is texting behind the wheel and causes a crash that injures or kills someone, the penalty can be as light as a fine. Utah is much tougher. After a crash here that killed two scientists-and prompted a d...Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:25:25 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Logan, Utah – In most states, if somebody is texting behind the wheel and causes a crash that injures or kills someone, the penalty can be as light as a fine.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Utah is much tougher.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">After a crash here that killed two scientists-and prompted a dogged investigation by a police officer and a local victim’s advocate-Utah passed the nation’s toughest law to crack down on texting behind the wheel.  Offenders now face up to 15 years in prison.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">The new law, which took effect in May, penalizes a texting driver who causes a fatality as harshly as a drunken driver who kills someone.  In effect, a crash caused by such a multitasking motorist is no longer considered an “accident” like one caused by a driver who, say, runs into another car because he nodded off at the wheel.  Instead, such a crash would now be considered inherently reckless.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">“It’s a willful act,” said Lyle Hllyard, a Republican state senator and a big supporter of the new measure.  “If you choose to drink and drive or if you choose to text and drive, you’re assuming the same risk.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">The Utah law represents a concrete new response in an evolving debate among legislators around the country about how to reduce the widespread practice of multitasking behind the wheel – a topic to be discussed at a national conference about the dangers of distracted driving that is being organized by the Transportation Department for this fall.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Studies show that talking on a cellphone while driving is as risky as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level – generally the standard for drunken driving – and that the risk of driving while texting is at least twice that dangerous.  Research also shows that many people are aware that the behavior is risky, but they assume others are the problem.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Treating texting behind the wheel like drunken driving raises complex legal questions.  Drunken drivers can be identified using a Breathalyzer.  But there is no immediate test for driving while texting; such drivers could deny they were doing so, or claim to have been dialing a phone number.  (Many legislators have thus far made a distinction between texting and dialing, though researchers say dialing creates many of the same risks.)</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">If an officer or prosecutor wants to confiscate a phone or phone records to determine whether a driver was texting at the time of the crash, such efforts can be thwarted by search-and-seizure and privacy defenses, lawyers said.</p> <p>Prosecutors and judges in other states already have the latitude to use more general reckless-driving laws to penalize multitasking drivers who cause injury and death. In California, for instance, where texting while driving is banned but the only deterrent is a $20 fine, a driver in April received a six-year prison sentence for gross vehicular manslaughter when, speeding and texting, she slammed into a line of cars waiting at a construction zone, killing another driver.</p> <p>But if those prosecutors want to charge a texting driver with recklessness, they must prove the driver knew of the risks before sending texts from behind the wheel. </p> <p>In Utah, the law now assumes people understand the risks.</p> <p>The law “is very noteworthy,” said Anne Teigen, a policy specialist with the National Conference of State Legislatures, an organization of state legislators. “They have raised the bar and said texting while driving is not just irresponsible, and it’s not just a bad idea — it is negligent.”</p> <p>Ms. Teigen said legislators throughout the country were struggling with how to address threats created by new technology, just as they once debated how to handle drunken driving.</p> <p><a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/l/ray_lahood/index.html?inline=nyt-per" title="More articles about Ray LaHood.">Ray LaHood</a>, the transportation secretary, has said drivers should not text behind the wheel, and several United States senators recently introduced legislation to force states to ban texting while driving.</p> <p>Utah, governed by a Republican legislature with a libertarian bent, may seem an unlikely state to pursue particularly tough penalties governing driver behavior. </p> <p>But the issue forced itself onto the legislative agenda here because of what occurred on the rainy morning of Sept. 22, 2006. </p> <p>The accident occurred on a two-lane highway just west of Logan, in a verdant valley in Utah’s northernmost county. Reggie Shaw, a 19-year-old college student working as a house painter, was driving west to work in a Chevy Tahoe.  Approaching him, in a Saturn sedan, was James Furaro, 38, and his passenger, Keith P. O’Dell, 50.  The senior scientists were commuting to ATK Launch Systems, where they were helping to design and build rocket boosters.</p> <p>Mr Shaw crossed the yellow dividing line on the two-lane road and clipped the Saturn.  It spun across the highway and was struck by a pickup truck hauling a trailer filled with two tons of horseshoes and related equipment.</p> <p>The two scientists were killed instantly.</p> <p>At the scene, the investigating officer, Bart Rindlisbacher of the Utah Highway Patrol, said he could not pinpoint the cause of the crash.  Mr. Shaw said he could not remember doing anything out of the ordinary.</p> <p>The trooper figured it was an unfortunate case of “left of center”, a catch-all for a traffic offense that involves crossing the yellow divider.</p> <p>But a witness told the police he had seen Mr. Shaw swerving several times just before the accident, raising the officer’s suspicions.  The trooper’s concerns grew as he drove Mr. Shaw to the hospital.  He saw Mr Shaw pull out his phone and start texting.</p> <p>Mr Shaw denied texting while driving when asked by the officer.  The trooper was not convinced, and figured out how to subpoena Mr. Shaw’s phone records and found out that Mr Shaw and his girlfriend had sent 11 text messages to each other in the 30 minutes before the crash, the last one about 1 minute before Mr Shaw called 911.  Investigators concluded he sent the last text when he crossed the yellow line.</p> <p>Still, county prosecutors thought they were unable to charge Mr. Shaw with something other than “left of center”.  For instance, if they wanted to prove Mr. Shaw guilty of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, they would need to show he knew of the dangers of should have known of the dangers of texting while drivign.</p> <p>Mr. Shaw, who had retained a lawyer, would not discuss the issue with law enforcement or prosecutors.</p> <p>Then Terryl Warner, a victim’s advocate in the county where the accident ocurred, got involved.</p> <p>Ms. Warner had a personal interest in the case because she knew the family of one of the scientists.</p> <p>In July 2007, Ms. Warner, convinced by the trooper’s evidence, wrote to prosecutors arguing for a vehicular manslaughter charge.  Just before Thanksgiving in 2008, at a hearing, Mr. Shaw looked at the families of the two dead scientists and decided he could no longer keep dismissing the phone records that showed he was texting.  He pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent homicide.</p> <p>Back in February this year, the state House Subcommittee on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice was considering a ban on texting for motorists.  The measure seemd likely to fail given the legislature’s lack of interest in previous such efforts.  Then Mr. Shaw stood before them to talk about the crash.  “I was the one driving and texting,” Mr. Shaw said through tears.  “Excuse me. I apologize.  I didn’t know the dangers.” Ms. Warner, the victim’s advocate, said that moment was a turning point.  “Before he spoke, some legislators were talking and texting,” she recalled.  “After he started talking, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.”</p> <p>Under Utah’s new law, someone caught texting and driving now faces up to three months in jail and up to a $750 fine, a misdemeanor.  If they cause injury or death, the punishment can grow to a felony and up to a $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison.</p> <p>Drivers in Utah are now on notice that texting while driving is inherently reckless.  And as drivers across the nation become more aware of that notion, judges and prosecutors will feel more comfortable asking for bigger penalties.  </p> <p>By Matt Richtel</p> <p>New York Times August 28, 2009<br /> <br /> <em>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:91474704-70ef-4002-bd99-abaeffb1f6dfTexting and driving.....OKLAHOMA HOUSE TO REVIEW TEXTING AND DRIVING A woman whose mother was killed nearly a year ago in an Oklahoma City traffic accident in which the other driver was talking on a cell phone said Monday she will urge a House committee to ban all types of ...Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:52:37 -0500<p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">OKLAHOMA HOUSE TO REVIEW TEXTING AND DRIVING</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">A woman whose mother was killed nearly a year ago in an Oklahoma City traffic accident in which the other driver was talking on a cell phone said Monday she will urge a House committee to ban all types of activity with a mobile device while driving.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Legislation should be passed to outlaw text messaging and conversations on cell phones while driving, including those with hands-free devices, Jennifer Smith said.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">“I am against any cell phone use at all,” Smith said Monday.  “It’s the conversation that’s taking the brain processes away from driving.  So hands-free or not isn’t the problem, it’s the conversation that’s causing the problem in the brain.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Smith’s mother, Linda Doyle, 61, was killed Sept. 3 when her sport utility vehicle was struck by a pickup at Northwest Expressway and Harvest Hills Road.  The driver of the pickup was talking on a cell phone and pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, a misdemeanor.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">“The driver that killed my mother didn’t get charged with anything that had to do with him being on the phone while driving,” Smith said.  “It was checked on the accident report…He got charged with criminally negligent homicide because he ran a red light and killed my mom.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Democratic House leader Danny Morgan, who has been unable the past two years to get legislation heard that would address the dangers of cell phone use and texting while driving, said on Monday that an interim study on the issue is set for Oct 8 at the state Capitol.  Representatives from the cell phone industry, law enforcement, and people affected by accidents involving cell phones have been invited to speak.  </p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">The study will be conducted by the House Public Safety Committee.  The committee chairman, Rep. Sue Tibbs, R-Tulsa, and Morgan, D-Prague, requested the study.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">“Do we want to just talk about text messaging in the first part of the bill and watch it for a year or two, or do we want to try to run something very comprehensive that would deal with cell phone use completely?” Morgan asked.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Morgan said he will again file legislation for the 2010 session.  He also would like to ban text messaging by drivers of any moving vehicle, including buses and trains.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">“It doesn’t look like the federal government is going to address it so I think it needs to be addressed at the state level,” he said.  “I want the Legislature to make a statement to the people of Oklahoma that we undertand there’s a problem and we’re willing to step up and try to bring a solution to it.”</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Smith, of Grapevine, Texas, said she will return to Oklahoma City on Thursday to mark the one-year anniversary of her mother’s death.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Smith, 35, said she has been working with the National Safety Council, which has encouraged governors and legislative leaders to adopt bans on cell phone use while driving.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">The Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety officials, came out Sunday in support of efforts to ban text messaging by drivers, reversing its previous stand.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: normal;">Michael McNutt  NewsOK  9/1/2009<br /> <br /> <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br /> </span>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br /> Fax # (405) 823-6917<br /> </em><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></span></a><br /> <em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></p> urn:uuid:a2684001-603e-4065-94cf-18902edc4a85Did you know......<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/brain.jpg' align='left' />Cool Brain Facts Your brain is the most complex, mind-blowing organ in the universe.&nbsp; It is estimated to be only about 3 pounds, which is usually around 2 percent of your body’s weight.&nbsp; Unbelievably, given that it is the bedrock of yo...Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:38:35 -0500<h1>Cool Brain Facts </h1> <p><br><img alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/brain.jpg"></p> <ul> <li>Your brain is the most complex, mind-blowing organ in the universe.&nbsp; <li>It is estimated to be only about 3 pounds, which is usually around 2 percent of your body’s weight.&nbsp; <li>Unbelievably, given that it is the bedrock of your personality, some think even your soul, it is 85% water!&nbsp; <li>It is estimated that the brain has 100 billion nerve cells and more connections in it than there are stars in the universe, which is about the number of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy.&nbsp; <li>There are also trillions of supportive cells in the brain called glia.&nbsp; <li>Each neuron is connected to other neurons by up to 40,000 individual connections (called synapses) between cells.&nbsp; Multiplying 100 billion neurons times 40,000 synapses is equivalent to the brain having more connections in it than there are stars in the universe.&nbsp; <li>A piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand contains 100,000 neurons and 1 billion synapses, all "talking" to one another.&nbsp; <li>Information in your brain travels at about 268 miles per hour, unless of course you are drunk, then things really slow down.&nbsp; <li>Even though your brain is only about 2% of your body’s weight, about 3 pounds, it uses 20-30% of the calories you consume. <li>If you don’t take care of your brain, you lose on average 85,000 brain cells a day.&nbsp;&nbsp; That is what causes aging.&nbsp; With appropriate forethought, however, you can reverse that trend and dramatically slow the aging process. <li>On average women say 7,000 words per day. Men manage just over 2000. <li>Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day. <li>Your brain is the consistency of soft butter, tofu, custard or somewhere between egg whites and jello. <li>And it is housed in a really hard skull that has many sharp boney ridges. <li>Brain injuries matter … they can damage the brain and they can ruin your life. <li>The brain uses 20% of the oxygen we breathe and about 20% of the calories we consume. <li>When whole body scans are performed on people, the brain is so active, compared to the rest of the body, that it looks like a small, powerful heater, while everything else appears almost ghostlike. <li>A neuron’s main job is to generate an electrical signal called an “action potential” which it does if sufficiently excited by other neurons.&nbsp; <li>The action potential of a single neuron is like a lightning bolt that may stimulate many other neurons.&nbsp; <li>The stimulated neurons can then generate their own signals that travel to and stimulate yet other neurons to which they are connected creating a network of neurons that perform a specific brain function.&nbsp; <li>Action potentials travel down nerve cells at about 60 miles per hour.&nbsp; The signals can travel at these high speeds because a part of neurons, called axons, are wrapped and insulated by a special substance called myelin.&nbsp; <li>Axons that are not insulated by myelin, either by design or disease, transmit signals 10 times slower. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <li>Many people have heard that we only use 10 percent of our brains. &nbsp;Nonsense! &nbsp;You may not use every neuron in your brain at the same time, but each is important.&nbsp; <li>The brain never turns off or even rests through your entire life.&nbsp; It is very active at night, especially during dreaming.&nbsp; <li>Brain development is a fascinating construction tale, where genes and environment collaborate to make us who we are.&nbsp; <li>At times during pregnancy, the baby’s brain makes 250,000 new nerve cells per minute. <li>Babies are born with 100 billion neurons; however, only a relatively small number of neurons are connected.&nbsp; <li>In the first decade of life, a child’s brain forms trillions of connections.&nbsp; <li>New research has shown that early experiences do not just create a background for early development and learning, they <em>directly </em>affect the way the brain is wired.&nbsp; In turn, the wiring profoundly affects our patterns of emotion, language, and thought.&nbsp; <li>Experiences do not just influence a child’s development; they finish the job of molding and sculpting the brain.&nbsp; <li>About three-quarters of the brain develops outside the womb, in response to the physical and social environment.&nbsp; Nature and nurture always work together. <li>Brain development is especially rapid during the first year. <li>Brain scans show that by twelve months, a baby’s brain resembles that of a normal young adult.&nbsp; <li>By age three, a baby’s brain has formed about 1,000 trillion connections—about twice as many as adults have.&nbsp; <li>Also, the areas of the brain that develop early, such as vision, are the first areas to become myelinated (wrapped in myelin), which helps that part of the brain become more efficient. <li>The “years of promise” between three and 10 are a time of rapid social, intellectual, emotional and physical development.&nbsp; Brain activity in this age group is more than twice that of adults, and although new synapses continue to be formed throughout life, never again will the brain be able to easily master new skills or adapt to setbacks.&nbsp; <li>At age 11, the brain begins to prune extra connections at a rapid rate. The circuits that remain are more specific and efficient.&nbsp; <li>The brain is one of the best examples of the “use it or lose it” principle.&nbsp; Connections that are used repeatedly in the early years become permanent; while those that are not used are pruned.&nbsp; <li>During late adolescence and into the mid 20s, the front third of the brain, called the prefrontal cortex (PFC) or executive brain, continues to develop.&nbsp; <li>Even though we think of 18 year olds as adults, their brains are far from finished.&nbsp; <li>Myelin continues to be deposited in the PFC until age 25 or 26, making the executive part of the brain work at a higher and more efficient level.&nbsp; <li>Were you more mature at 25 than 18?&nbsp; I sure was.&nbsp; It is ironic that the car insurance industry knew about maturity and brain development long before society. Typically, car insurance rates change at 25 because drivers are more thoughtful and get into significantly less accidents.&nbsp; <li>The knowledge of brain development into adulthood is critical to disseminate.&nbsp; Early smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, and brain injuries from risky sports all have the potential to disrupt brain development, in some cases permanently. <li>After about 25, just as we reach peak development the brain starts slowly shrinking.&nbsp; Some research has suggested that the male brain shrinks faster than the female one.&nbsp; I think it is because men do more stupid things to their brains, such as they have more problems with alcohol, play tackle football and hit soccer balls with their heads. &nbsp; <li>In college, 70% of football players and 62% of soccer players get at least one concussion per year.&nbsp; <li>There are three distinct areas of the brain, controlling our instincts (brain stem), our emotions (limbic system), and our thoughts (cortex).&nbsp; <li>The brain is also divided into the left and right hemispheres, or halves.&nbsp; The left side is often known as the detail oriented, get to the point, speech and happiness center; while the right side is known as being more fretful, more creative, and holistic processing center.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <li>When it comes to the brain SIZE MATTERS.&nbsp; The stegosaurus brain was about the size of a walnut.&nbsp; The adult human brain weighs about 1,300 to 1,400 grams.&nbsp; The average cat brain weighs only about 30 grams.&nbsp; This is why human curiosity helps invent space travel and cures for cancer, while curiosity requires cats to have nine lives. <li>The highly convoluted folds of grey matter on the outside surface of the brain is known as the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is about 2 millimeters thick and has a surface area of about two and a half square feet.&nbsp; This is about the size of three and a half sheets of&nbsp; 8.5 x 11 inch paper.&nbsp; <li>In order to work properly, the brain needs fuel, oxygen, and stimulation.&nbsp; Just like any other living thing, a brain needs fuel to grow, function and repair itself.&nbsp;&nbsp; <li>Glucose and oxygen run the engine powered by your brain cells.&nbsp; Unlike other cells in your body, glucose is the only fuel your brain knows how to use.&nbsp;&nbsp; Anything that impairs glucose delivery to brain cells is life threatening.&nbsp; <li>Oxygen is required to produce energy, without it the energy powerhouses of neurons called mitochondria will not produce enough energy to keep your brain alive.&nbsp; Because blood delivers glucose and oxygen to your brain, nothing must get in the way of <em>blood flow </em>if the brain is to stay healthy.&nbsp;&nbsp; Unconsciousness will occur after 8-10 seconds after loss of blood supply to the brain. <li>The human brain is dependent on proper stimulation to grow and develop in healthy ways throughout childhood and to maintain its functioning into old age.&nbsp; <li>When you stimulate neurons in the right way, you make them more efficient; they function better, and you are more likely to have an active, learning brain throughout your life.&nbsp; <li>The best sources of stimulation for the brain are physical exercise, mental exercise, and social bonding, which will be discussed in greater detail later on. </li></ul> <p><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br><br><br></p>urn:uuid:d26c5b52-9f57-4d6e-b7b0-2f9c3902a272There goes the neighborhood!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/burglar.jpg' align='left' />August 25, 2009 Believe it or not, the neighborhood that your house rests in is important when insurance companies factor your insurance rates. &nbsp;According to an article recently published by Insurance Agents, you should take just as much time an...Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:19:31 -0500<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face=Calibri>August 25, 2009</font></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face=Calibri>Believe it or not, the neighborhood that your house rests in is important when insurance companies factor your insurance rates. &nbsp;According to an article recently published by Insurance Agents, you should take just as much time and care in picking out an adequate neighborhood that you do picking out an adequate house to live in.</font></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face=Calibri>There are many things to consider when buying a home: &nbsp;crime rates, proximity to stores and services, and many more.&nbsp; Not only do these have a bearing on your quality of life, but they can also affect the premium of your homeowners insurance.<br></font></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face=Calibri><img alt="Get an alarm system for your home!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/burglar.jpg"><br><br>The article lists three main factors that you should consider regarding your neighborhood before shopping for homeowners insurance quotes.&nbsp; Neighborhoods with high crime rates are deemed high risk by insurance companies and could result in higher premiums. Most police departments have websites where you can plug in the address of the house you are looking to purchase and show the different crimes reported in that area.<br></font></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><font face=Calibri><img alt="Can't pick your neighbors!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/redneck%20mansion.jpg"><br><br>The general condition of your neighborhood is also important.&nbsp; If surrounding homes in the area are poorly maintained or if your home isn’t up-to-date then there is a greater chance of fire and other kinds of structural damage.&nbsp; On the flip side, if you live in an area that is blanketed by fire houses and police stations then that is a good sign to insurance companies that damage could be limited since help isn’t far away.<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br><br></font></p>urn:uuid:b3a4c5c7-e2d3-470b-8117-8eaf23a7f297Watch out for those kids!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/school%20bus%201.jpg' align='left' />School is back in! As many of us already know, school is back in session. Many of us are wondering, along with our kids, where the heck did summer go?&nbsp; Regardless of the speed of time, the one thing we all need to be aware of is our speed in sch...Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:38:16 -0500<p><font face=Calibri>School is back in!<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><img alt="Jet power for when you're really late for class!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/school%20bus%201.jpg"><br><br>As many of us already know, school is back in session. Many of us are wondering, along with our kids, where the heck did summer go?&nbsp; Regardless of the speed of time, the one thing we all need to be aware of is our speed in school zones.&nbsp; The Edmond police department alone wrote 55 tickets and 63 warnings on the very first day of school this year.&nbsp; They say they would have made more stops, but they felt the rainfall would have created hazardous situations in trying to stop drivers.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>25 mph is painfully slow, especially when you’re already late for work.&nbsp; But there’s a good reason for that speed limit.&nbsp;&nbsp; If a child runs out into the street, you are going slow enough to stop or manuever your car to avoid hitting that child.&nbsp; Now, if everyone would just put down the cell phone, our kids would be that much safer.&nbsp; Remember the texting article and all the commercials against “intexticated driving”?&nbsp;&nbsp; Your response time is severely inhibited when you’re busy looking at your phone, and those two-legged boogers can jump out in front of you in a fraction of that time!<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><img alt="Hmmm....which way?" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/school%20bus%202.jpg"><br><br>If you have several school zones between you and the office, try to figure out a different route, or simply get up a little earlier.&nbsp; After a week, you’ll never notice the difference.&nbsp; It is one thing for your boss to chew you out because you were late, but it would be another thing if you had to spend your bonus on a hefty speeding ticket.&nbsp; One of the cars stopped in Edmond was clocked at 20mph over the limit.&nbsp; That might cost him up to $549.&nbsp; Ouch!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Though it would be quite another thing if you accidentally hit a child with your car and had that on your conscience for the rest of your life.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Parents can also remind their kids to be very careful when crossing the streets, and we can remind ourselves to be very careful around school zones.&nbsp; Let’s look out for each other, and be careful out there!<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br></font></p>urn:uuid:28663533-3ccc-40f3-921b-363f286a1930Top Ten Tips for Preventing Road Rage<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/road%20rage.jpg' align='left' />Recently, a roadside billboard showed an infuriated driver screaming at the car ahead of her while her toddler observed from the backseat. The tag line said, "She learns by watching you."Like most people, I figured the anti-road rage advertisement di...Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:42:42 -0500<p><font class=bodytext>Recently, a roadside billboard showed an infuriated driver screaming at the car ahead of her while her toddler observed from the backseat. The tag line said, "She learns by watching you."<br><br><img alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/road%20rage.jpg"><br><br>Like most people, I figured the anti-road rage advertisement didn't apply to me. I'm a decent, courteous driver, right? Yet it was only a few minutes before I found myself shouting "Go, lady!" at the driver in front of me, who took more than 3 seconds to react to a green light. As if on cue, my 5-year-old in the backseat said, "Beep at her, Mama!" Was I on my way to becoming a member of the "road rage club"? How is road rage different from good old "aggressive driving," anyway?<br><br>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/" target=_blank s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>(NHTSA)</font></u></a> states that road rage "involves a criminal act of violence, whereas aggressive driving can range from tailgating to speeding to running red lights." The number of deaths related to road rage is difficult to track, but NHTSA estimates that aggressive driving accounts for about one-third of all crashes and about two-thirds of the resulting fatalities.<br><br>Increasingly congested roadways are a growing source of driver frustration, but studies suggest the real root of aggressive driving lies within each of us. Drivers can cope by taking an honest look at their driving behavior and attempting to reduce their stress level behind the wheel.<br><br><img alt="Somebody raised them both to be this way!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/road%20rage%202.jpg"><br><br> <ol> <li><strong>Get your Zs.</strong> A national epidemic of sleepiness is a contributing factor to road rage, according to the National Sleep Foundation. We all know how cranky we get without enough sleep. It makes us prone to feelings of annoyance, resentment and even anger. Eight hours is still the recommended daily dose of sleep for adults.<br><br> <li><strong>Plan ahead.</strong> Do you regularly whiz through your morning routine in a whirlwind of chaos, trying to make up time while on the road? Do you allow <i>just enough</i> time to drive to an appointment? Then you're probably also more prone to a lead foot and a lost temper. If you add 10 minutes to your expected travel time, you'll have time to stop for gas, safely navigate those snowy roads or detour around road construction. Also, try preparing clothing, briefcases, children's school bags and lunches the night before to minimize your morning rush. Extra time equals calmer driving. <br><br> <li><strong>Your car is not a therapist.</strong> Many of us love and identify with our cars (part of why Edmunds.com launched <a href="http://www.carspace.com/" target=_blank s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>CarSpace</font></u></a>), but sometimes you can take the "car as extension of self" idea too seriously. If your boss or your spouse left you steaming, take care not to use driving as a way to blow off steam. Competitive types (you know who you are) shouldn't try to prove themselves on heavily traveled thoroughfares — save that enthusiasm for weekend romps on your favorite back roads. No matter how much power you've got under the hood, your vehicle is first and foremost a mode of transportation, not a weapon. <br><br> <li><strong>Turn down the bass.</strong> Without getting into the argument over "aggressive music makes people aggressive," it makes sense that listening to relaxing music — or even a comedy channel on satellite radio — will make you less pumped up for action than a driving bass line. Try tuning in to classical or jazz to reduce stress. Or listen to an audiobook. (Here are our <a href="http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/list/top10/106571/article.html" s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>Top 10 Audiobooks</font></u></a> to get you started.) Either way will also help drown out stressful traffic noise. <br><br> <li><strong>Loosen up, then breathe:</strong> If you notice yourself clenching the steering wheel in a death grip, try flexing your fingers and loosening your hold — you'll find that you can control the car just as well. If your right foot is cramped, set the cruise control if traffic allows. If you're on a prolonged road trip, try not to exceed three hours of travel time without a break where you get out and stretch. Struggling to see through a dirty windshield is also an unnecessary stress factor, so fill up with washer fluid before you go. Periodically roll down the window and breathe deeply and slowly. <br><br> <li><strong>It's not about you.</strong> Perhaps another driver cut you off. Or the car in front of you is braking erratically. Before you assume the driver is getting off on your rising anger levels, realize that you, as an individual, are not the target. Perhaps the driver simply made a mistake or was just being oblivious. Maybe there's a screaming baby, a loose pet or a crazed bee in the car. Maybe he was on a cell phone. The point is, don't take things so personally. <br><br> <li><strong>Hostility is toxic. And risky.</strong> People most prone to anger are almost three times more likely to have a heart attack than those with low anger, according to the American Psychological Association. Other health risks seen in those who display hostility include obesity, depression and stroke. Wow, who knew? Safe driving promotes healthy hearts!<br><br>Not only will giving into anger not resolve an irritating situation, it can increase the risk of retaliation. Think to yourself, "Is making my point worth endangering my life?" If all else fails, do a mental 180 and try to laugh it off. <br><br> <li><strong>Use restaurant etiquette.</strong> While it's upsetting when a stranger is rude or cuts in line in a restaurant or store, most folks wouldn't lose their cool and become abusive as a result. It isn't only because they have good manners. Driving a car makes people feel more isolated and protected, allowing them to act in ways they would normally find embarrassing. So when another driver acts like a jerk, respond as though you're in a restaurant. And we don't mean Chuck E. Cheese's. <br><br> <li><strong>Take the self-test.</strong> Classes designed to help curb aggressive driving often have participants tape-record themselves while driving. Hearing themselves swear or rant on tape is enough of a wake-up call for them to recognize and reduce dangerous behavior. So try analyzing your driving. Do any of the following statements sound like you? <br> <ul> <li>I regularly exceed the speed limit in order to get to work on time. <li>I tailgate other drivers, especially those who sit in the left lane. <li>I flash my lights and honk my horn to let drivers know when they annoy me. <li>I verbally abuse other drivers whether they can hear me or not. <li>I frequently weave in and out of traffic to get ahead. <li>I feel the need to set bad drivers straight. </li></ul> <p><img alt="Check your rear view mirror often. I'll show positive feedback through rude hand gestures and screaming obscenities!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/road%20rage%203.jpg"></p><br>If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, your driving may qualify as aggressive. The American Institute for Public Safety (AIPS) has a more detailed <a href="http://www.aipsnews.com/rurrageous.htm" target=_blank s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>RoadRageous Test</font></u></a> that determines if your driving habits fall under the "aggressive zone," "hostile zone" or — worse yet — "war zone."<br><br> <li><strong>Practice kindness:</strong> Dr. Leon James, a.k.a. <a href="http://www.drdriving.org/index.htm" target=_blank s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>"Dr. Driving"</font></u></a> and author of <i><a href="http://www.drdriving.org/articles/book_toc.htm" target=_blank s_oc="null"><u><font color=#0000ff>Road Rage and Aggressive Driving</font></u></a></i>, says that remembering simple courtesies, like allowing someone to merge or apologizing when we make a mistake, can go a long way in making the driving experience positive for ourselves and others. His basic motto is the old "do unto others" rule: Treat fellow drivers how you would like to be treated.<br><br>As additional incentive, reducing your aggressiveness on the road can also keep you out of serious trouble: Several states have created special law enforcement teams to seek out and cite aggressive drivers. Depending on the frequency of offenses, violators may be fined, lose their license temporarily or even face jail time. Often, they are required to take a behavior-modification class as well.<br><br>We're all bound to lose our cool at some point, but by planning ahead and keeping things in perspective, we can prevent our emotions from getting the best of us. Putting aggressive driving in park will help to ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of everyone around you. </li></ol> <p>By:&nbsp; Jennifer M. Root<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br></p></font>urn:uuid:be082147-ce81-4627-bc5d-0b66acedccbdFinding the Right Renters Policy<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/insurance_cartoon_3315.gif' align='left' />Whether you’re renting an apartment, a home, a town home, or a condo, you’re going to need a renters insurance policy.&nbsp; Renters insurance is something you can buy to protect all of your stuff within your home.&nbsp; It covers everything from dis...Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:36:35 -0500<p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="Protect your stuff!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/insurance_cartoon_3315.gif"><br><br><br>Whether you’re renting an apartment, a home, a town home, or a condo, you’re going to need a renters insurance policy.&nbsp; Renters insurance is something you can buy to protect all of your stuff within your home.&nbsp; It covers everything from dishes and clothes, to electronics and equipment should there be a fire or robbery. &nbsp;Not just any renter’s policy will do, and the perfect policy won’t just fall into your lap.&nbsp; There are a few things that you can and should do when comparing renters insurance policies.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Some of the policy features and coverages you should compare are replacement cost coverage, liability limits, and deductibles. </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;Replacement cost coverage reimburses or replaces a possession, meaning if your old 36” tv set gets stolen, it will be replaced with a new 36” tv, as opposed to being reimbursed for the value of the old tv &nbsp;&nbsp;Depending on how much your total possessions are worth, this can be a very valuable coverage.&nbsp; Not all policies offer replacement cost coverage up front, so you may have to request it be added to your policy.&nbsp; It might cost a little more, but it’s worth it if you have expensive electronics and things of that nature that depreciate in value quickly.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Liability coverage protects you in case someone gets hurt while in your home.&nbsp; Even if you don’t own your home, you can still be held liable for injuries suffered by another person.&nbsp; The more coverage you have, the less you can be sued for.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Deductibles are important to consider as this is the amount you will pay before the insurance company pays the rest.&nbsp; This amount depends on how much you can comfortably afford.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Most of the companies that offer renters policies also offer auto policies.&nbsp; You can save money by combining these policies with the same company.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>In today’s economy, it is more important now than ever to save money and also protect our assets.&nbsp; Peace of mind is just as important within renters insurance as it is with homeowners insurance.&nbsp; Know your stuff is protected, purchase a renters policy today!<br><br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br><br><br><br></font></p>urn:uuid:f90b07d2-f416-46bd-b17a-826ecbe95da9Low-speed "Bumps" may cost you a lot!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/bumper%20crash.jpg' align='left' /> ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bumpers on the 200...Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:25:07 -0500<div class=rssDesc> <p><br><br><img alt="Crash test" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/bumper%20crash.jpg"><br><br>ARLINGTON, VA — Bumpers on 2009 models of the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Mazda 6, and Nissan Maxima performed better than their 2007 predecessors in low-speed crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Bumpers on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and 2010 Ford Fusion did worse than earlier models. None of the 6 popular midsize sedans earns the top rating of good in a recent series of tests designed to assess and compare how well bumpers resist damage in everyday fender-benders. The Mazda 6 improves to acceptable from marginal, with an average repair cost of less than $900 after 4 tests at 3 and 6 mph. The Accord and Sonata improve to marginal from poor. The Fusion slips to poor from marginal, and the Maxima and Malibu remain poor.</p></div> <p>"Consumers buy midsize cars for practical reasons. There's nothing practical about a $1,000-plus repair bill after a minor bump in commuter traffic," says Joe Nolan, Institute senior vice president.</p> <p>This is the second group of vehicles the Institute has evaluated under a new bumper ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns and insurance claims frequency (<a href="http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr080609.html#table"><u><font color=#0000ff>see table below</font></u></a>). The Institute rates bumpers good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in 4 tests — front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. Each vehicle is run into a steel barrier designed to mimic the design of a car bumper, with the barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulating typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers. These tests are designed to drive bumper improvements that lead to better damage resistance in a range of real-world crashes.</p> <p>"Although midsize car bumpers still allow way too much damage in minor impacts, it's encouraging that some manufacturers are designing better ones," Nolan says. He points out that the front and rear bumpers of the 2009 Mazda 6 are wider, taller, and higher off the ground than the 2007 model. The Mazda 6 is only the fourth car tested under the new protocol to earn an acceptable rating for its bumpers. The others are the Ford Focus, Scion xB, and Smart Fortwo.</p> <p>"Mazda is trying to protect buyers' pocketbooks while many other carmakers are letting them take a big hit in low-speed crashes," Nolan says.<br></p> <p><img alt="Low speed bumper crunchers" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/rush%20hour.jpg"><br><br>Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai improved the bumpers on their 2009 midsize cars so the bumpers would better resist front underride, which exacerbates collision damage. Bumpers have to be tall enough to engage, and to stay engaged, with the bumpers on other vehicles in collisions, even during emergency braking, or they'll bypass each other when the vehicles collide. Preventing override and underride means crash energy is absorbed by bumpers instead of pricey vehicle parts such as hoods, grilles, and fenders, or safety gear such as headlights and taillights.</p> <p>The 2009 Accord, for example, has sharply lower repair costs in the full front and full rear tests, compared with the 2007 model, because its bumpers are higher than the previous version, plus the front bumper's reinforcement bar now is bolstered with metal pieces that extend upward from the bar to prevent underride. The changes helped the Accord earn a marginal rating instead of poor, but another change held back the car's overall performance. The 2009 Accord's bumpers aren't as wide as the 2007 model's, resulting in higher repair costs in both the front and rear corner tests.</p> <p><strong>Weaker bumpers mean bigger repair bills:</strong> Ford and General Motors made design changes that increased repair costs for the 2010 Fusion and 2009 Malibu over repair estimates for 2007 models.</p> <p>"Ford fit the Fusion's front and rear with weaker bumper beams, and this had a big effect on the test performance," Nolan explains. The difference is easy to see in the 6 mph full rear test, which simulates a common parking mishap like backing into another vehicle. The Fusion's bumper buckled, which caused it to underride the test barrier, resulting in twice as much damage as the 2007 model in the rear test. In the full front test, the Fusion had $2,529 in damage, more than any other vehicle.</p> <p>GM raised the Malibu's rear bumper so it's higher than on the earlier model, but it's still the lowest among recently tested bumpers. In the full rear test, the bumper underrode the barrier, resulting in almost $3,500 in damage, the highest among the midsize cars evaluated. GM lowered the front bumper, which didn't help in the full front test. Damage totaled $2,092, partly because the Malibu's front grille overlays the center of the bumper. The result is that the grille, Chevy emblem, and decorative chromed plastic trim get hit before the bumper does in this test.</p> <p>"Essentially you have to go through them to get to the bumper," Nolan says. "Replacing just the front grille and emblem cost more than $625."</p> <p>Ford and GM, along with other automakers who sell the same vehicles in both the US and Canadian markets, no longer have to meet a tougher Canadian bumper standard. The Canadian government last year weakened bumper rules to match US regulations, which require only minimal protection. The previous Canadian standard required bumpers to prevent damage to vehicle safety equipment such as headlights in 5 mph impacts. Under the new rules, full front and rear tests are run at 2.5 mph and corner tests are run at 1.5 mph.</p> <p><strong>How 10 other sedans rate:</strong> The designs of 10 other midsize cars haven't changed since their bumpers last were tested in the 2007 model year (<a href="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/bumpersbycategory.aspx?SeriesName=Midsize%20moderately%20priced%20cars&amp;IncludeEarlierModels=False"><u><font color=#0000ff>see full bumper ratings</font></u></a>). Performance in those tests earns the Mitsubishi Galant and Toyota Camry marginal ratings. The Chrysler Sebring, Nissan Altima, Pontiac G6, Saturn AURA, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, and Volvo S40 earn poor ratings.</p> <p>Besides the amount of damage sustained in a low-speed impact, repair costs are influenced by both the price of replacement parts and the complexity of repairs. The Volvo S40's poor rating reflects recent increases in parts and labor costs. At $335 the S40's rear reinforcement bar has nearly tripled in price since 2006, while the front bar now sells for $311, up from $195 in 2006.</p> <p><strong>How they're rated:</strong> Bumpers are evaluated under a ratings protocol based on repair costs averaged and weighted to reflect real-world damage patterns. These averaged and weighted repair costs determine each vehicle's overall rating of good, acceptable, marginal, or poor in 4 bumper tests representing full-width and corner crashes at low speeds. Weighted average repairs must be less than $500 for a good rating, less than $1,000 for acceptable, and less than $1,500 for marginal. Repairs of $1,500 or more earn bumpers a poor rating.</p> <p>Both the full front and rear test results are given double the weight of the corner test results because in the real world full-width impacts occur roughly twice as often as corner impacts. The weighted average of the repair costs determines the overall rating. No vehicle can earn a good or acceptable rating if it's unsafe to drive afterward or can't be driven at all because of headlight or taillight damage, severely buckled hoods, or a compromised engine cooling system.</p> <p><a id=table name=table></a></p> <table class=tabledata2> <tbody> <tr> <td colSpan=7><strong>Bumper performance in low-speed crash tests:<br>MIDSIZE CAR RATINGS AND REPAIR COSTS</strong></td></tr> <tr> <th class=left>&nbsp;</th> <th>Rating</th> <th>Front<br>full</th> <th>Front<br>corner</th> <th>Rear<br>full</th> <th>Rear<br>corner</th> <th>WEIGHTED<br>AVERAGE</th></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Mazda 6</td> <td>ACCEPTABLE</td> <td>$742</td> <td>$1,437</td> <td>$768</td> <td>$767</td> <td>$871</td></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Honda Accord</td> <td>MARGINAL</td> <td>$941</td> <td>$1,461</td> <td>$974</td> <td>$1,507</td> <td>$1,133</td></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Hyundai Sonata</td> <td>MARGINAL</td> <td>$1,791</td> <td>$1,019</td> <td>$1,131</td> <td>$729</td> <td>$1,265</td></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Nissan Maxima</td> <td>POOR</td> <td>$997</td> <td>$1,787</td> <td>$2,494</td> <td>$1,352</td> <td>$1,687</td></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Ford Fusion</td> <td>POOR</td> <td>$2,529</td> <td>$1,889</td> <td>$2,610</td> <td>$1,073</td> <td>$2,207</td></tr> <tr> <td class=left>Chevrolet Malibu</td> <td>POOR</td> <td>$2,092</td> <td>$1,685</td> <td>$3,494</td> <td>$1,116</td> <td>$2,329</td></tr></tbody></table><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br><br><br>urn:uuid:6736890a-09d4-422c-a1ff-95a82e11d355Why loss of use should be part of your policy.<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/horse.jpg' align='left' />People often say that the car has replaced the horse in modern society.&nbsp; This is really an understatement.&nbsp; The car is so much more important than the horse ever was.&nbsp; When was the last time you went without driving your car?&nbsp; How...Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:50:08 -0500<p><font face=Calibri><img alt="A Single Horsepower Car" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/horse.jpg"><br><br>People often say that the car has replaced the horse in modern society.&nbsp; This is really an understatement.&nbsp; The car is so much more important than the horse ever was.&nbsp; When was the last time you went without driving your car?&nbsp; How long do you think you could go without having to use it?&nbsp; Unless you live in the heart of the city, the answer is not very long!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>When buying car insurance, many people assume that they’re getting certain coverages.&nbsp; They expect to be covered in case they cause an accident with another car.&nbsp; They also expect the car insurance will pay for the repair or replacement of their own car if it is damaged.&nbsp; One of the things they may not anticipate is that they will be given a replacement car while theirs is being replaced or repaired.&nbsp; Many policies don’t provide this coverage automatically.&nbsp; If you are at all dependent on your car, it is vital that you make sure that this type of coverage is included.&nbsp; Rental cars are not cheap!<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><img alt="Not a cheap rental!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/dodge_viper_2009.jpg"><br><br>The best way to see if you have this type of coverage is to read your insurance policy.&nbsp; You are looking for something that says “loss of use”.&nbsp;&nbsp; Loss of use coverage refers to the expenses for transportation while your car is being repaired or replaced.&nbsp; In more practical terms, it simply means that you have coverage for a rental car.&nbsp; Most policies that offer this coverage giveyou a limit per day, not to exceed a certain amount.&nbsp; For instance, your policy might allow for up to $50 per day for a maximum amount of $900 total.&nbsp; Every company differs in what they offer.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>The idea of buying more insurance probably is one of the least favorite things for most people.&nbsp; That being said, going for days without your car could be far worse.&nbsp; Most of us have to drive for work and all the other basics of life.&nbsp; It’s so much easier to get a rental car rather than try to make arrangements to travel with someone else.&nbsp; Your friends and family will certainly appreciate it too!<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br><br></font></p>urn:uuid:96d7b5f9-0374-4bf3-82fc-6c9bdc09c6afDoes your insurance policy cover all your needs?<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/insurance%20fit.jpg' align='left' />Are you covered? Homeowners, apartment owners and renters can buy many different kinds of property and casualty insurance. In terms of risks covered, there are two subcategories: named peril and all peril. Named-peril policies specify the risks cov...Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:47:08 -0500<p style="BACKGROUND: white; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 17pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">Are you covered?<br><br><img alt="Does your policy cover your needs?" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/insurance%20fit.jpg"><br></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a name=top></a></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">Homeowners, apartment owners and renters can buy many different kinds of property and casualty insurance. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">In terms of risks covered, there are two subcategories: named peril and all peril. Named-peril policies specify the risks covered and exclude everything else. All-peril policies specify the risks not covered but include everything else. &nbsp;Risks are defined as anything that causes economic loss.</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">The most basic policy (called an HO-1) provides protection against losses caused by fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, explosion, riot, smoke, vandalism, theft and damage caused by aircraft, vehicles and even volcanic eruptions. It is the least common type of policy.</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><a title=More href="javascript:toggleLayer('moretxt');%20javascript:toggleLayer2('more');"><span style="DISPLAY: none; COLOR: #004276; FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'; TEXT-DECORATION: none; text-underline: none">Read More...</span></a><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'"> A broader policy, an HO-2, usually covers other named perils like falling objects and the weight of ice, snow or sleet; leaks from plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and fire-sprinkler systems; cracking, bursting, burning or freezing of such systems; and sudden and accidental damage to fixtures or appliances caused by an electrical discharge. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">An all-peril policy, HO-3 (the most common) covers all risks except those specifically excluded. Typically, an HO-3 policy excludes coverage for damage caused by flood, earthquake, war, nuclear accident, landslide, mudslide and sinkholes. Some insurers now exclude or limit coverage for mold. Flood insurance must be bought separately. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">In terms of reimbursement for loss, two basic types are available -- actual cash value and replacement cost coverage. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">The least expensive is actual cash value coverage, in which a home is insured for only the face amount of the policy, no matter how much it might actually cost to rebuild it.&nbsp; The contents are insured for their actual cash value up to a cap that is typically a percentage of the face value of the policy. Such a policy reimburses an owner for only an item's depreciated value. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">With replacement cost coverage, different forms are offered.&nbsp; &nbsp;Most replacement cost policies offer an additional 25% of the replacement cost to insure that cost increases are covered. For contents coverage, most replacement cost policies do not in practice replace the &nbsp;contents item by item.&nbsp; The replacement cost for contents is a percentage of the total cost to replace the home, and is usually more than enough to cover everything.&nbsp; &nbsp;Most insurance carriers have caps, which vary by company, on the maximum reimbursement. Certain more expensive items might need a rider added to the policy to insure they are covered completely.</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">In addition, different carriers often define "replacement'' differently. There is true replacement cost coverage -- which pays to replace an item with its equal -- and functional replacement cost coverage, which replaces it with a functional equivalent. With true replacement cost coverage, a hand-hewed oak beam would be replaced with a hand-hewed oak beam. With functional coverage, it would be replaced with a beam that would perform the same function. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Georgia','serif'">The very best coverage, experts say, provides true replacement of the structure regardless of the cost. Such policies generally cost about 25 percent more than less-comprehensive policies, but are usually worth the extra premium to get your life back together.<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br><br></span></p>urn:uuid:d1d56c48-9bf6-49c7-9948-a1d1c133a3b8Oklahoma cracks down on insurance dodgers!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/tire%20marks.jpg' align='left' />Oklahoma is cracking down on those who don’t have auto insurance!&nbsp; Beginning July 1, 2009, driving without liability insurance will carry a maximum fine of $350 and hundreds more in court costs and fees.&nbsp; You could be jailed for up to 30 da...Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:18:56 -0500<p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="Insurance protects us from people who do this." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/tire%20marks.jpg"><br><br>Oklahoma is cracking down on those who don’t have auto insurance!&nbsp; Beginning July 1, 2009, driving without liability insurance will carry a maximum fine of $350 and hundreds more in court costs and fees.&nbsp; You could be jailed for up to 30 days and&nbsp; repeat offenders are subject to a two-year driver license suspension.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>To maintain good-standing with the law, you must establish financial responsibility for your vehicle.&nbsp; For most of us, that means purchasing liability insurance.&nbsp; You may choose any limits you wish, but according to the state law, you must have at least 25/50.&nbsp; This is to insure that if you cause an accident and someone gets hurt, their medical bills are paid by your insurance.&nbsp; However, if their bills exceed the limit of liability you have, you are still responsible for paying them.&nbsp; This is something to consider with the rising cost of health care.&nbsp; You might want to choose higher limits such as 50/100 or 100/300.&nbsp; It depends on how much you have to lose!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Of course, there are other ways to establish financial responsibility.&nbsp; You can cover yourself under the Oklahoma Assigned Risk Auto Plan, you can make a cash deposit of $75,000 with the Department of Public Safety or an authorized state financial institution, or you can obtain a bond issued by an authorized surety company.&nbsp; Since most of us don’t have the funds necessary to do these things, liability insurance is the best option.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Before deciding on a carrier, take the time to compare quotes from a variety of insurance companies.&nbsp; This is where an independent agency can be a real asset.&nbsp; They have access to several different companies to run quotes and compare prices.&nbsp; It’s kind of like one-stop-shopping!&nbsp; And all you have to do is make one phone call.<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br></font></p>urn:uuid:4ae5419a-4b53-4422-b1b0-ce919edbf678Pay-As-You-Go Insurance? With the recent popularity of car sharing pay-as-you-go programs here in the United States some California lawmakers are thinking of applying the same idea to auto insurance. California's Department of Insurance has issued legislation that would all...Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:22:22 -0500<div class=examiners_body> <p>With the recent popularity of car sharing pay-as-you-go programs here in the United States some California lawmakers are thinking of applying the same idea to auto insurance. California's Department of Insurance has issued legislation that would allow the state's drivers to pay for their car insurance based on the amount of miles they drive.</p> <p>The model very much resembles pre-paid cell phone programs. Insurers would offer consumers different insurance packages avoiding the need to pay a high premium on cars that are rarely - if ever - driven.</p> <p>For drivers willing to take part in a mile verification system the savings would be even higher. Instead of purchasing a policy for a set number of miles the driver could pay for only the miles that they actually drive. Verification would take place at insurance locations, mechanic shops, and even by through GPS devices. Worry not, however. Even though the installed GPS could infact keep track of your mileage it would not be able to track where your vehicle is.</p> <p>The legislation has yet to be put into law, but it could be in the coming months. If this proves to be a success, look for the law to spread into other states.</p> <p>Copyright &#169; 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com. All Rights reserved.&nbsp;<br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span><br></p></div>urn:uuid:5e97b968-fb42-4719-b167-71f2bcf25a8aAuto Insurance Claims: Top 10 Things You NTK!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/explain%20this.jpg' align='left' />As if getting into an accident isn’t stressful enough, sometimes the claims process can be equally as frustrating.&nbsp; By obtaining as much information as possible, you can save yourself time as well as help out your insurance company in getting yo...Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:30:26 -0500<p><font face=Calibri>As if getting into an accident isn’t stressful enough, sometimes the claims process can be equally as frustrating.&nbsp; By obtaining as much information as possible, you can save yourself time as well as help out your insurance company in getting your claim resolved as soon as possible.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>Who did I have the accident with?</b>&nbsp; Be sure you get complete information from the other party(ies) involved.&nbsp; This includes their name, address, and contact numbers, as well as their driver’s license and insurance information.&nbsp; Be sure to get their insurance policy number and the agent’s information for future reference.<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b><img alt="Presto! A new garage!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/explain%20this.jpg"><br><br>Were there any witnesses?</b>&nbsp; If someone saw the accident happen, try to get&nbsp; their contact information so they can verify what they saw.&nbsp; This could be helpful in a situation where it becomes your word against the other driver’s.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>Were the police called?</b>&nbsp; If the police showed up, be sure to get the name and badge number of the officer, as well as the report number.&nbsp; Also make note if anyone received a citation as a result of the accident.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>What kind of vehicle or vehicles were involved in the accident?</b>&nbsp; You will want to make sure you get the vehicle descriptions including tag and ID number for each vehicle involved.&nbsp; If you can’t get those, at least write down a good description of the car’s make, model, and color.<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b><img alt="Just recharging my battery." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/bizarre.jpg"><br><br>Where did the accident happen?</b>&nbsp; Get the intersection or street that the accident happened on.&nbsp; You will want to make sure that you know how many lanes are on each side of the street, if the street or streets are 1 way or 2 way, and the type of striping.&nbsp; You will also want to know where each vehicle impacted, what lane you and the other vehicle were in, the direction of travel, and if there were any signs posted that control traffic flow.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>How many passengers were in each vehicle?</b>&nbsp; Take note how many people were in each of the vehicles involved.&nbsp; Once you know, make a brief note of their description or name including: ethnicity, gender, weight, height, etc.&nbsp; This will help if you are the victim of a staged accident or other type of insurance fraud.&nbsp; Sometimes people are reported as an occupant of a vehicle when they were not actually present.&nbsp; This is not common, but if it ever does happen, this will help you avoid being a victim.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>What type of condition was the car in right after the accident?</b>&nbsp; Make notes about the damage done to each vehicle.&nbsp; Were the cars driveable?&nbsp; Where is the damage?&nbsp; Is there any additional damage on the vehicle that is not related to the accident?&nbsp; Some people might claim pre-existing damage in an accident as a way to get their entire car fixed.<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b><img alt="The first car wreck." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/first%20car%20wreck.jpg"><br><br>Where do I want to get my vehicle repaired?</b>&nbsp; If you have a shop in mind, have that information with you.&nbsp; If you don’t know of a good place, check with your insurance company as sometimes they have preferred places with special guarantees.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b>Take pictures of the accident right after it occurred.</b>&nbsp; Everybody has a picture phone these days, make good use of it.&nbsp; Take a photo of your vehicle and the other vehicles(s) involved including all 4 corners.&nbsp; If possible, take the pictures prior to any of the vehicles being moved.&nbsp; This will help clarify how the accident occurred.&nbsp; Also, if you can get the other party in the photo, that will help in the event that either insurance needs help identifying the other party involved.<br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><b><img alt="Well, you see officer, I was just...." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/weird.jpg"><br><br>Write down all the information and keep it in a safe place.</b>&nbsp; This will help resolve any problems with the claim if they should arise.&nbsp; When you report it, be sure to write down the name of the person you spoke with and their contact number.&nbsp;&nbsp; Be sure to make notes about what he/she said in case there are any discrepancies.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>This sounds like a lot of information, but in these cases, there is no such thing as too much.&nbsp; It will be tough to remember all of these things as you will be rattled from the accident, but try to get as much as possible.&nbsp; We would all like to believe that everybody is honest, but sometimes it doesn’t always work that way.&nbsp; Having all the right information can help protect you no matter what happens.<br><br><br><span><em><font face=Calibri><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></font></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em><font face=Calibri>paul@familyinsu.com</font></em></span></font></p>urn:uuid:80e7f787-7e0e-44ac-8bbe-e61ca8a3cc21New Mexico's Drunk Driving Laws Pay Off!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/accident.jpg' align='left' />Reporting from Albuquerque " For the last seven years, Horace, a four-time convicted drunk driver, has lived with an electronic probation officer in the front seat of his red sedan. The device, an "ignition interlock," acts as a breath-alcohol analyz...Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:43:16 -0500<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><br><img alt="Don't drink and drive!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/accident.jpg"><br><br>Reporting from Albuquerque " For the last seven years, Horace, a four-time convicted drunk driver, has lived with an electronic probation officer in the front seat of his red sedan. The device, an "ignition interlock," acts as a breath-alcohol analyzer and requires him to prove he's sober before the engine will start.<br><br>New Mexico, which led the nation in alcohol-related crash rates for years, in 2005 became the first state to require the interlock for every convicted drunk driver. The interlock legislation has been the centerpiece of the state's sweeping anti-drunk-driving efforts, which include more sobriety checkpoints, tougher mandatory sentencing laws for driving while intoxicated, and the creation of the nation's first DWI czar. <br><br>The initiatives have paid off. <br><br>New Mexico, home to high rates of alcohol abuse and miles and miles of open road, is now ranked 25th in alcohol-related fatal crash rates and is expected to place lower when the latest rankings are compiled later this year. From 2004 to 2008, the number of DWI fatalities here dropped 35%, from 219 to 143. <br><br>"We want all 50 states to do what New Mexico has done," said Chuck Hurley, chief executive of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. MADD has mounted an aggressive campaign to persuade the rest of the country to require interlocks. <br><br>If each of the more than 1.4 million Americans convicted each year of drunk driving were forced to install one, Hurley said, 4,000 lives would be saved annually. <br><br>In California, the Assembly recently approved a bill that would fund a five-year pilot program to require interlocks for convicted drunk drivers in Los Angeles, Alameda and Sacramento counties. <br><br>Assembly Bill 91, sponsored by Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), will be heard by the Senate Public Safety Committee today.<br><br>Eleven states have phased in mandatory interlock laws since New Mexico did so, including six this year. <br><br>But as more states turn to interlocks because of the good they can do, there are daily reminders of what they can't. <br><br><br><br><img alt="Every 40 seconds a drunk driver makes another person eligible to park here." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/drunk%20driving.jpg"><br><br><br><br>In Santa Fe recently, a man who police say was drunk and driving in the wrong lane plowed into a car carrying five teenagers, killing four and severely injuring the fifth. <br><br>The driver, 27-year-old Scott Owens, had been convicted of DWI and street racing in 2001, four years before the first-offender interlock law was passed. <br><br>Even if Owens had been ordered to get an interlock in 2001, he probably wouldn't have had one now. In New Mexico, first-time drunk driving offenders must drive with an interlock for one year (second-time offenders must have it for two years, third-time offenders for three years, and fourth-time offenders for the rest of their lives).<br><br>There are other limitations. According to DWI czar Rachel O'Connor, 70% of drunk drivers who kill and injure people in accidents have never been convicted of drunk driving, and thus have never had an interlock.<br><br>"The interlock is a saving grace, but the problem has not gone away," said state Sen. Phil Griego. New Mexico has a long track record of drunk driving deaths. At the peak of the state's DWI crash rate, in 1990, more than 60% of all traffic deaths involved alcohol. <br><br>The statewide backlash against DWI took off in 1992, when a drunk driver going the wrong way on Interstate 40 crashed into a car carrying a family on Christmas Eve, killing a mother and her three young girls. <br><br>The ensuing outrage spurred lawmakers to lower the blood-alcohol level (from 0.1 to 0.08), shutter the state's drive-through liquor windows, and mandate jail time for repeat drunk drivers. <br><br>Some progress was made, but soon DWI crash rates started rising again.<br><br>The problem, O'Connor said, is partly cultural. "New Mexico has typically been a heavy-drinking state," she said. And because New Mexico is so big and so rural, people drive a lot. "You can really get out and gun it," she said. <br><br>Kenny Martinez, 43, agrees that alcohol is a part of New Mexican culture. Martinez was first convicted of drunk driving in 1992 and racked up four more convictions over 15 years.<br><br>"When someone's born, we drink. When someone dies, we drink," he said. "We drink at baptismals, at birthdays. Oh, work's off, let's drink!"<br><br>Martinez eventually served prison time for his offenses. Now an anti-DWI activist who says he has been sober for two years, he thinks the state could cut down on drunk driving by doling out stiffer punishments and opening more halfway houses and rehab centers.<br><br>Another activist, Dick Roth, said the best solution would be "a car that drunks can't drive." <br><br>Carmakers are considering such a vehicle. In 2008 the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, a trade group, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a five-year, $10-million research program to develop built-in devices that would sense alcohol on a driver. In the meantime, said Roth, the interlock is the best thing.<br><br>Invented in the 1970s, the interlock has been used in some form in most states, including California, since the 1980s. Although it has been found to lower the recidivism rate of drunk drivers considerably, judges typically have required it for only the most extreme repeat offenders.<br><br>When the bill to mandate the installation of interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers came before the New Mexico Legislature in 2005, Sen. Griego rose and praised the device.<br><br>Griego said he had been a drunk driver for years -- often daily. After he was convicted of his second DWI in 2001, a judge ordered him to install the device on his truck. The experience was embarrassing, he told his colleagues, but it kept him honest. <br><br>Today, there are about 9,000 interlocks in New Mexico. <br><br>Horace, who asked that his full name not be used so his boss wouldn't know of his convictions, said the interlock has been, more than anything, an inconvenience. He has learned, for example, that he must limit his drinking to six beers before midnight, lest the interlock pick up on any lingering alcohol on his breath when he tries to go to work in the morning.<br><br>"It can tell if you've had an all-nighter," he said. "But it's a good thing because now it controls me." <br><br><img alt="Drinking and driving behind one wheel might get you between two wheels." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/no%20drinking.jpg"><br><br>Copyright 2009 Los Angeles Times </span></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>This information hits on the day of the funeral for retired Ponca City fireman, Gary Williams, who was killed by a drunk driver.&nbsp; The kicker is that the drunk driver had been arrested for the exact same offense just three days prior to the head-on collision with the motorcycle that Mr Williams was riding.&nbsp; If Oklahoma’s laws were as strict as New Mexico’s, there would have already been a life saved.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br><span><em><u>ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE<br></u>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></em></span><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff><em>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</em></font></u></span></a><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br><em>paul@familyinsu.com</em></span></font></p>urn:uuid:80f50f41-6381-45a0-81f2-8843a56cbe45Have a great Fourth of July holiday!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/4th.jpg' align='left' />With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun holiday with great memories.&nbsp; In order to keep all those memories good, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety. Yeah, we know, everybody KNOWS about fireworks safety, ...Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:29:39 -0500<p><font face=Calibri><br><img height=120 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/4th.jpg" width=126><img alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/blue%20fireworks.jpg"><img height=121 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/fireworks%20display.jpg" width=110><img height=120 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/multi%20fireworks.jpg" width=124><br><br>With warm weather and family events, the Fourth of July can be a fun holiday with great memories.&nbsp; In order to keep all those memories good, make sure everyone knows about fireworks safety.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Yeah, we know, everybody KNOWS about fireworks safety, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t follow it.&nbsp; Unfortunately, those are the same people who grace the halls of emergency rooms all over the nation this time of year.&nbsp; Accidents will happen obviously, but a few preventative measures might keep the rest of us going home at the end of the festivities.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>If you really want to purchase some fireworks to set off at home, check with your local police department and make sure it’s legal. &nbsp;The fireworks are expensive enough without adding a donation to your city with a ticket.&nbsp; If it is legal, be sure to exercise a little caution.&nbsp; It’s best not to let children play with fireworks, but at the very least, don’t leave them unattended.&nbsp; Fireworks make cool noise and blow up.&nbsp; It’s only natural to up the cool factor and try to blow things up with them.&nbsp;&nbsp; Then there’s the whole “I dare you” to do stupid things like hold the fireworks in your fingers and throw them right before they blow up.&nbsp; This is all fun and games until somebody loses an eye or a finger.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Even sparklers are dangerous.&nbsp; Unless you would like to use the money you saved from haircuts to buy stock in aloe vera and a new wardrobe, don’t let your children play with these things unattended.&nbsp; Sparklers can reach 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit……hot enough to melt gold!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Be sure you purchase only legal fireworks.&nbsp; Look for the label with the manufacturer’s name and directions on them.&nbsp;&nbsp; Illegal ones don’t have any labels.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Never try to make your own fireworks.&nbsp; Explosives are unpredictable and can leave you eyebrowless or worse. &nbsp;Please&nbsp; leave that up to the experts.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Always use fireworks outside and keep a bucket of water or a garden hose nearby, just in case.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Watch out for others!&nbsp; Fireworks are unpredictable and can backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Don’t ruin the holiday for someone else by throwing or aiming fireworks at them.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Clean up brush piles, cut your grass low, and don’t aim fireworks at your house.&nbsp; It’s best to keep them away from anything flammable.&nbsp; The fire department is really busy during this holiday, so don’t add to their work load.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>When you’re finished blowing things up, put all the empty shells in a bucket of water to soak before you throw them away.&nbsp; This way you prevent turning your trash can into a roman candle.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>For the adults having their fun, please don’t mix fireworks with alcohol.&nbsp; Drinking inhibits your good judgement resulting in attempts to blow things up and hold fireworks in your fingers until just before they explode.&nbsp; In this situation, nothing good ever comes out of somebody with a beer in one hand and a lighter in the other saying “hey ya’ll, watch this!”</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Don’t forget about your pets!&nbsp; Cats and dogs can be very sensitive to the noise from fireworks, so you might turn on the radio or television for some distraction noise.&nbsp; Some animals are severely affected, so you may need to contact your veterinarian ahead of time for some medication.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>The best way to spend the Fourth of July is to plan a big party, eat, drink, and be merry with friends and family, then pack up everybody to the local park for a professional display.&nbsp; You get the noise and the pretty lights, and the best part is you don’t have to clean up the mess afterward.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>For those of you traveling this holiday season, have a safe trip.&nbsp; Cheers to everyone for a safe and happy Fourth of July!<br><br><br><img height=130 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/4th.jpg" width=125><img alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/fireworks%20display.jpg"><img height=130 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/multi%20fireworks.jpg" width=123><img height=130 alt="Happy 4th!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/red%20fireworks.jpg" width=121><br><br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></font>urn:uuid:46111e4f-83d5-41d4-bb17-6d1d57a2dab1Texting is more dangerous than driving drunk! <img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/texting.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp; There have been studies that compare text messaging on cellphones and other hand-held devices to driving drunk.&nbsp;Several states have already banned texting while driving. &nbsp;But according to Car and Driver, no one has done a real-world ...Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:13:30 -0500<h3><font size=2><font color=#666666><font face=Arial></font></font></font>&nbsp;</h3> <p>There have been studies that compare text messaging on cellphones and other hand-held devices to driving drunk.&nbsp;Several states have already banned texting while driving. &nbsp;But according to Car and Driver, no one has done a real-world test — until now.<br><br><img style="WIDTH: 151px; HEIGHT: 86px" height=94 alt=txtng src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/texting.jpg" width=179></p> <p>In an article that appears&nbsp;in the latest edition of Car and Driver magazine,&nbsp;the editors hooked up a Honda Pilot with a red light on the windshield. Car &amp; Driver’s editor and chief, Eddie Alterman, 37, and the magazine’s intern, Jordan Brown, 22, both took turns behind the wheel on a test track. When the light came on, the drivers hit the brakes. </p> <p>From Car and Driver:</p> <p>First, we tested both drivers’ reaction times at 35 m.p.h. and 70 m.p.h. to get baseline readings. Then we repeated the driving procedure while they read a text message aloud (a series of Caddyshack quotes). This was followed by a trial with the drivers typing the same message they had just received. Both of our lab rats were instructed to use their phones exactly as they would on a public road, which, if Jordan’s mom or Eddie’s wife are reading this, they never do.<br></p> <p><img alt="It's not worth your life!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/avoid%20texting.jpg"><br><br>Our test subjects then got out of the vehicle and concentrated on getting slightly intoxicated. They wanted something that would work quickly: screwdrivers (vodka and orange juice). Between the two of them, they knocked back all but three ounces of a fifth of Smirnoff. Soon they were laughing at all our jokes, asking for cigarettes, and telling us about some previous time they got drunk that was totally awesome. We had them blow into a Lifeloc FC10 breath-alcohol analyzer until they reached the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent blood-alcohol content. We then put them behind the wheel and ran the light-and-brake test without any texting distraction.</p> <p></p> <p>Car and Driver performed each test five times, dropping the slowest time. The magazine found that reaction time was much worse for both drivers when they were texting while driving than when they were under the influence of alcohol.</p> <p>At 35 miles an hour, Mr. Alterman’s average reaction time was .57 seconds, but while texting it rose to 1.36 seconds, more than twice his average reaction time of .64 seconds while under the influence. Mr. Brown fared better, but his average reaction time of .45 seconds rose to .52 seconds while texting, worse than his average time of .46 seconds while driving drunk. </p> <p>The results of the tests at 70 miles an hour were better in terms of reaction times. But at highway speeds, the extra distance traveled before coming to a complete stop was much greater. For example, Mr. Alterman traveled an average of four feet farther while driving drunk and an average of <strong>70 feet farther</strong> while texting.<br></p> <p><img alt="not busy, just driving" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/no%20texting%20while%20driving.jpg"><br><br><br>“The prognosis doesn’t improve when you look at the limitations of our test,” writes Mike Austin, the author of the Car and Driver article. “We were using a straight road without any traffic, road signals, or pedestrians, and we were only looking at reaction times.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html" target=_parent><font color=#004276>Copyright 2009</font></a> <a href="http://www.nytco.com/"><font color=#004276>The New York Times Company</font></a>&nbsp;<br><br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p>urn:uuid:791f7fa9-428c-4ea0-a790-21a2cdad4ea4More car insurance facts!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/dollar%20signs.jpg' align='left' />Car Insurance is Important! Even with the economic recession coming into play, it is still important to have a car insurance policy.&nbsp; It pays to have that safety net in case of any accidents or other expenses that might cost you more in the long...Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:18:27 -0500<p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>Car Insurance is Important!<br></strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="Money, money, money!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/dollar%20signs.jpg"><br><br><br>Even with the economic recession coming into play, it is still important to have a car insurance policy.&nbsp; It pays to have that safety net in case of any accidents or other expenses that might cost you more in the long run had you opted to pay for them yourself.&nbsp; Although you have that option, having an insurance plan helps you guard against emergency spending.&nbsp;&nbsp; Not getting a car insurance policy also labels you as a high risk driver, which translates into higher car insurance premiums.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>Cell Phone Safety<br></strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="No talking while driving!" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/no%20cell%20phone.jpg"><br><br><br>Many countries around the globe have banned the use of cellular phones while a vehicle is in motion and for one very good reason:&nbsp; the amount of accidents related to cell phone use has grown considerably!&nbsp; Car insurance has also followed suit for being a violation of the law, coverage can actually be denied if an accident is found to be related to cellular use.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Cell phone use has increased the accident rate approximately 50%, and is blamed for many deaths.&nbsp; It has been likened to drunk driving due to the amount of distraction the driver experiences.&nbsp; The best bet?&nbsp; Either drive to a stop if you have to answer the phone, or just let voice mail get it.&nbsp; If the caller doesn’t leave you a message, then the call wasn’t worth your life.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>Higher Gas = Lower Insurance Premiums?</strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>With gas prices going up again, the price of insurance premiums are coming down a little.&nbsp; Why? People are driving less to save gas, therefore they are on the roads less and having fewer accidents.&nbsp; Fewer accidents means less money paid out for claims and, ultimately less money charged in premiums.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><strong><font size=5>Insurance Scams</font></strong><br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="insurance scams" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/insurance%20scams.jpg"><br><br><br>There are a lot of insurance scams we should be aware of to avoid being a victim.&nbsp; Rear end accidents are one of the most common stages seen.&nbsp; This usually occurs when someone is seen dodging in and out of traffic.&nbsp; Because most rear-end cases are found to be the second car’s fault, your insurance will take the hit and pay for fake exams and treatments.&nbsp; Exaggeration scam is another one to be aware of.&nbsp; Sometimes, intentional damage is already visible on their car, then by the time they hit you, it is impossible to prove what damage happened when.&nbsp;&nbsp; Also, be very careful with the good Samaritan waving you through traffic.&nbsp; Sometimes they might intentionally put you in harm’s way, then claim they never waved you in.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>More Fees!?!?</strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>There is a heated debate in Georgia, as the Georgia Insurance Commissioner said he is considering the addition of fees on car and other forms of insurance to support trauma care services.&nbsp; This is because the state is in desperate need of more funding for trauma care services.&nbsp; The commissioner says it makes sense because most trauma cases are a result of car crashes and work accidents.&nbsp; However, since such fees are usually passed on to the consumer, this would cause a double whammy for those citizens who pay their taxes and buy insurance.&nbsp; Let’s just hope this doesn’t fly in Georgia and they get wild ideas here in Oklahoma!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>The Real Deal with Sports Car Insurance<br></strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br><img alt="2009 Camaro" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/09%20camaro.jpg"><br><br><br>It is a fact that sports car insurance is more expensive than other auto insurance.&nbsp; Sports car insurance is determined by your car’s speed and resultant mobility on the road.&nbsp; So how do you reduce your premium?</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>*Don’t drive it very much.&nbsp; Low mileage = lower premiums.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>*Don’t customize.&nbsp; Tweaking the stock features can increase the premium.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>*Don’t go beyond the speed limit.&nbsp; Speeding tickets also increase the premium.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Sounds like this defeats the purpose of owning a sports car, doesn’t it?&nbsp; The bottom line is, if you just have to have that new Camaro, just be prepared to pay a little extra in premiums.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri size=5><strong>Switching insurers?&nbsp; Don’t forget to cancel your policy!</strong></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>When switching car insurance companies, it is important to cancel the old policy.&nbsp; Don’t just ignore the bills, because unless you make the request to cancel, the company still considers you a customer.&nbsp; Unpaid premiums can be sent to collections and can hurt your credit score.&nbsp; Plus it makes you look high risk to other companies for not paying your premiums.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Have questions?&nbsp; Give your friendly independent agent a call!<br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></font>urn:uuid:f12709b0-1106-4fc7-bd3a-ceb0fc25cea0Economy got you down?<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/utilities%20pie%20chart.jpg' align='left' />We’re all looking for ways to save money, right?&nbsp; With the weather getting hotter, you need to look no further than your own home to find the little things that can make a big difference in your utility bills.&nbsp; &nbsp; Water Check to make s...Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:32:49 -0500<p><font face=Calibri>We’re all looking for ways to save money, right?&nbsp; With the weather getting hotter, you need to look no further than your own home to find the little things that can make a big difference in your utility bills.&nbsp; <br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br>&nbsp;<img alt="Breakdown of utility costs." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/utilities%20pie%20chart.jpg"></font></p> <p><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face=Calibri>Water</font></span></b></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Check to make sure none of the faucets in your home are leaking/dripping.&nbsp; A slow dripping faucet can add up to over two gallons of water per hour!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>When watering the garden, set a schedule and try to water in the early morning hours to help minimize evaporation.&nbsp; (Between 6 and 8am)</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Take shorter showers.&nbsp; Did you know that a shower uses approximately 6-10 gallons of water per minute?&nbsp; Think of how much money (and water!) you could save if you moved a little faster under the spray.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Use your dishwasher and washing machine only when you have full loads.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Contact your utility company to see if they offer reduced rates at certain times of the day and either timer-delay your washer/dishwasher or wait until that time to do your loads.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Recycle the water from fish tanks and use it to water your plants.&nbsp; Fish emulsion is a good fertilizer high in nitrogen and phosphorus.&nbsp; You’ll save on fertilizer AND water!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;<img alt="Heat loss in your home." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/pg3_heatloss.jpg"></font></p> <p><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face=Calibri>Gas</font></span></b></p> <p><font face=Calibri>During the winter, use your fireplace.&nbsp; This will heat up a room at a much lower cost.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Lower the temperature on your gas water heater.&nbsp; It is not necessary to have your water heated up to 180 degrees, especially in the summertime.&nbsp; You will find that by lowering it that you will in turn lower your bills.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Invest in a water heater timer if you have an electric water heater.&nbsp; By turning the heat off during the time it is not is use you will save money on your bill without even making a sacrifice.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Turn your thermostat down just three degrees.&nbsp; By doing this you will save approximately 3% on your heating bills.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Weather-strip your doors and windows along with insulating your attic.&nbsp; This will help keep the heat (and the cool!) inside your home.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Close off the rooms that aren’t in use in your home.&nbsp; This will help keep the rooms you do use warmer in the winter, and you won’t waste the cooler air in the summer.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Close vents in the rooms that have one or more in them.&nbsp; If one room is always warmer you can close the vent to force air into the rooms that are cooler.&nbsp; The same works for air conditioning.<br></font></p> <p><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face=Calibri><br>Electricity</font></span></b></p> <p><font face=Calibri>When purchasing new appliances, always try to get the ones that are energy efficient.&nbsp; You can save hundreds of dollars a year by spending the extra money to get the energy efficient models.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Get in the habit of turning off all lights and appliances that are not being used.&nbsp; This includes things like your phone charger.&nbsp; Even if your phone isn’t plugged in, the charger is still drawing power.&nbsp; You’ll be surprised at how quickly the energy savings will add up.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>The dryer will use less energy if you dry loads of clothing one after another because the dryer will already be hot.&nbsp; What an easy way to save money and get your laundry done more quickly.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Use low-wattage light bulbs or energy efficient fluorescent lighting.&nbsp; Compact fluorescents typically last ten times longer and they use 75% less electricity.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Call your utility company to find out if they have off-peak hours and when they are.&nbsp; Many companies charge less for your electricity at night and more during the day.&nbsp; By doing your laundry and dishes during off-peak hours you could easily save money off your utility bills.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Also you can check for holes around walls, ceilings, windows, doors, light and plumbing fixtures, and electrical outlets.&nbsp; Plugging these holes can help keep the climate controlled air inside your home where it belongs.</font></p>urn:uuid:fa7849f7-53a0-40cb-af8f-9579b6004247How to save money on your next new car purchase!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/dodge_viper_2009.jpg' align='left' />From seeking greater fuel efficiency to carpooling, some American drivers are looking for ways to save on ownership costs.But one thing most can't do without is car insurance. Each of the nation's 50 states has laws that require drivers purchase liab...Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:37:04 -0500From seeking greater fuel efficiency to carpooling, some American drivers are looking for ways to save on ownership costs.<br><br>But one thing most can't do without is car insurance. Each of the nation's 50 states has laws that require drivers purchase liability insurance or proved enough "proof of financial responsibility" to cover a claim in case of an accident.<br><br>The good news is, premiums are dropping!&nbsp; The average in May was at its lowest point in a year at $1,871 per car, down from the national average of $1,982 in October, according to Insurance.com's RateWatch, a Web site that tracks annual average insurance rates.&nbsp; Even though premiums are decreasing, they are still a major expense, and therefore a major consideration for most consumers when purchasing a new car.<br><br>The 185-horsepower, 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe costs an average of $832 a year to insure, the lowest of a list of just under 300 2009 models surveyed.&nbsp; The Saturn Vue costs an average of $911 a year to insure, and a Kia Sedona can be covered for an annual cost of $857.<br><br>Behind the Numbers<br><br>Our numbers come from Insure.com, an online information clearinghouse for consumers.&nbsp; The company calculated nationwide average car insurance premiums for almost 300 2009 model-year vehicles.&nbsp; Averages are based on a 40-year-old male driver who commutes 12 miles to work.&nbsp; This driver has policy limits of $100,000 for injury liability for on person, $300,000 for all unjuries and $50,000 for property damage in an accident; and a $500 deductible on collision and comprehensive.&nbsp; This policy also includes uninsured motorist coverage.&nbsp; Rates were averaged across multiple ZIP codes and insurance companies.<br><br>Of course, a car's value will jack up a driver's rates, as will the driving record of the person behind the wheel, says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.<br><br>Other factors can play a part too, such as potential loss.&nbsp; For example, the Hummer H2 was the eighth-most stolen car n America, according to the Insurance Institute for Hughway Safety, which determined its list by claims per 1,000 divided by average loss payment per claim; it is also eighth-most expensive vehicle to insure on our list.<br><br>A consumer's ability to compare is another factor.&nbsp; Shoppers may be most familiar with big companies with representatives located nationwide.&nbsp; Comparing the rates at these brand names with those found online and at <em><strong>independent agencies </strong></em>will yield the best deals.&nbsp; Make sure to compare limits and features side by side.<br><br>Driver stereotypes also play a role.&nbsp; Expensive, high-performance autos often attract "risky" drivers, says Nerad, and such vehicles are more expensive to fix or replace when involved in accidents.&nbsp; Likewise, autos like sports cars that are popular with younger drivers usually have a higher premium since younger drivers are considered riskier drivers.<br><br>Larger vehicles like SUVs and minivans are more likely to be family vehicles driven by mothers, who are historically less dangerous drivers.&nbsp; With lower risk comes lower loss potential, and thus a lower premium.&nbsp; Eight of the top 10 least expensive vehicles to insure are either minivans or SUVs.<br><br>But even those with a need for speed are likely to see premiums drop slightly.&nbsp; And, along with premiums, insurance rates have fallen after an increase last year of 8%.&nbsp; Wyoming, South Dakota, Utah, and Idaho experienced the largest rate decreases in May, from 9% in Wyoming to 5.5% in Idaho.<br><br>As insurers compete for increasingly discerning consumers, expect this downward trend to continue for the rest of this year.<br><br>The Top Ten Cars with the Highest Insurance Rates:<br><br><br><img alt="2009 Dodge Viper" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/dodge_viper_2009.jpg"><img alt="2010 Nissan GT-R" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/nissan_gt_r_2010.jpg"><img alt="2009 Porsche 911 Turbo" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/porsche_911_turbo_2009.jpg"><br><br>10. Porsche 911&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$1819/year<br>&nbsp;9.&nbsp; Lexus ISF&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$1881<br>&nbsp;8.&nbsp; Hummer H2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$1912<br>&nbsp;7.&nbsp; BMW M5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2020<br>&nbsp;6.&nbsp; Audi S8&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2071<br>&nbsp;5.&nbsp; Mercedes G-class&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2088<br>&nbsp;4.&nbsp; Ford Shelby GT500&nbsp;&nbsp;$2186<br>&nbsp;3.&nbsp; BMW M6&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2236<br>&nbsp;2.&nbsp; Dodge Viper&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2446<br>&nbsp;1.&nbsp; Nissan GT-R&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$2533<br><br>The Top Ten Cars with the Lowest Insurance Rates:<br><br><br><img style="WIDTH: 177px; HEIGHT: 118px" height=185 alt="2009 Chrysler T&amp;C" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/Chrysler-Town.jpg" width=199><img height=117 alt="2009 Hyundai Entourage" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/Hyundai-Entourage.jpg" width=156><img style="WIDTH: 175px; HEIGHT: 117px" height=163 alt="2009 Smart Fortwo" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/Smart-Fortwo.jpg" width=181><br><br>10. Chrysler Town &amp; Country&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$915<br>&nbsp;9.&nbsp; Mazda Tribute&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$913<br>&nbsp;8.&nbsp; Saturn Vue&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$913<br>&nbsp;7.&nbsp; Smart Fortwo&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$881<br>&nbsp;6.&nbsp; Honda Odyssey&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$871<br>&nbsp;5.&nbsp; Kia Rio 5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $870<br>&nbsp;4.&nbsp; Kia Sedona&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $857<br>&nbsp;3.&nbsp; Hyundai Entourage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$848<br>&nbsp;2.&nbsp; Kia Sportage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $840<br>&nbsp;1.&nbsp; Hyundai Santa Fe&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$832<br><br>If you are in the market for a new vehicle, but you're not sure what your insurance will cost, just give your agent a call.&nbsp; We'll be happy to quote it for you and give you all the information you need to make your next auto purchase.<br><br> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p>urn:uuid:8ba2474c-314c-4f38-9818-7f1509ed3086Understanding your coverages!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/cars07.gif' align='left' />Do you know the difference between uninsured motorist coverage and med pay?&nbsp; Insurance can be confusing enough without all the different coverages.&nbsp; But in fact, that’s what your policy is, different pieces of coverage that make up the whol...Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:06:36 -0500<p><font face=Calibri>Do you know the difference between uninsured motorist coverage and med pay?&nbsp; Insurance can be confusing enough without all the different coverages.&nbsp; But in fact, that’s what your policy is, different pieces of coverage that make up the whole policy.&nbsp; Knowing what some of those parts are can help you decide if you have exactly what you need.&nbsp; The following is a comparison of two parts that are often confused with each other.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Uninsured Motorist Coverage</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>If you are involved in an auto accident and the other person is at fault, his/her liability insurance is what takes care of the bills if you get hurt.&nbsp; If they don’t have liability insurance, your Uninsured Motorist Coverage is designed to pay you for medical bills, pain and suffering, as well as a percentage of lost wages.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is a coverage you add to your policy that applies to every vehicle on that policy, as well as to every person in your household.&nbsp;This coverage actually follows you wherever you go.&nbsp; You could be sitting at the 7-eleven and a car could drive through the store (don’t laugh, it’s happened before!) and your UM coverage would take care of you if the driver did not have any insurance.&nbsp; Do you ride a bicycle?&nbsp; UM will also cover you if you get hit by a passing motorist without insurance.&nbsp; UM will cover the bills associated with any injury you receive as a result of a car accident.&nbsp; Just remember, the other driver, &nbsp;has to be at fault.&nbsp; You can’t just go play in traffic!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Medical Payments (Med Pay)</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>This coverage pays only your medical bills regardless of who is at fault in an accident.&nbsp; You choose the limit you want and it will pay up to that amount for each injured person in your vehicle.&nbsp; It is especially useful to cover the cost of whatever treatments are not covered by your primary health care insurance.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>These coverages can still be confusing, especially with regards to health insurance policies.&nbsp; When in doubt, call your agent.&nbsp; We would be happy to explain these coverages and help you decide what’s right for you.<br><br><br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/cars07.gif"><br></font></p> <p><font face=Calibri><br>Here are some other interesting facts you may not have known:</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Did you know that in Topeka, Kansas it is unlawful to transport dead poultry along Kansas Avenue?&nbsp; But what if you wanted KFC for lunch???</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>In Scituate, Rhode Island it is illegal to drive with beer in your vehicle even if it is unopened.&nbsp; So, how do they stock the liquor stores?</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Did you know that a woman invented the carburetor and the electronic ignition?&nbsp; Take that, guys!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Be safe out there!<br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></font>urn:uuid:38cdbcb6-0da3-45dd-b04a-bc55be5b0288Reducing your auto stress level!Everybody knows stuff happens.&nbsp; There are those days that it seems no matter what you do, everything goes wrong.&nbsp; &nbsp;A little prevention can go a long way in keeping other things from adding to our troubles.&nbsp; Here are some simple ti...Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:08:21 -0500<p><font face=Calibri>Everybody knows stuff happens.&nbsp; There are those days that it seems no matter what you do, everything goes wrong.&nbsp; &nbsp;A little prevention can go a long way in keeping other things from adding to our troubles.&nbsp; Here are some simple tips that may help prevent you from being in an auto accident.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Have you ever been driving along and noticed that somebody’s light is out?&nbsp; No, not the one above their head, although I’ve seen that too!&nbsp; I’m talking about the lights on their vehicles.&nbsp; Just this morning I was behind an SUV with a paper tag flapping in the wind and a brake light out.&nbsp; You’d think the dealer would check that.&nbsp; All those lights on your car are important as they are the only signal to other drivers of what you are doing.&nbsp; Otherwise drivers have to rely on depth perception, and we all know how well that works!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Every couple months or so, you should check your turn signals, running lights, and head lights.&nbsp; To check your brake and reverse lights by yourself, simply back up to a glass front building the next time you’re out shopping (carefully, of course!) or check their reflection in the garage door when you put the car inside.&nbsp; I know you know that you can change gears without having the car on, simply turn your ignition to the “on” position.&nbsp; Just be sure to keep your foot on the brake and put it back into park when you’re done!</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>One major thing that people tend to overlook is their tires.&nbsp; I know I take it for granted until I see some poor guy on the side of the road changing a flat.&nbsp; But after doing some of this research, I think I’m going to break out my tire guage.&nbsp; Did you know that underinflation can cause excessive sidewall flexing which increases the temperature of the tire? &nbsp;On a hot summer day in Oklahoma, you’re just asking for a blowout.&nbsp; Overinflation can decrease traction on the road and make the car ride rough.&nbsp; Your tires are also more susceptible to damage if you hit a curb or run over objects in the road.&nbsp; A temperature variance of only 10 degrees outside can cause tires to lose pressure, so it is important to check this often.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Speaking of blowouts, do you know what to do if your tire blows out?&nbsp; First thing is…Don’t panic!&nbsp; Your car is already off balance, so any sudden changes in movement can cause you to lose control.&nbsp; Keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel (especially if the blowout is on the front), ease off the accelerator, and gently steer the car to the side of the road. &nbsp;Once you are off the road, you can gently use your brakes to slow to a stop.&nbsp; Then you can have your nervous breakdown and start looking for the jack.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Got a quarter?&nbsp; Another consideration is tire tread.&nbsp; You know, this is the only thing between your car and the road that allows you control and if the tread is worn, you could lose that control pretty quickly.&nbsp; A good way to see how much tread you have is to break out that quarter.&nbsp; Place it between the treads with Washington’s head towards the tire.&nbsp; If his head is always covered, you’ve got enough tread for dry and wet roads.&nbsp; For snow, use a penny the same way.&nbsp; If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered, you should have decent grip on snowy roads.&nbsp; Or at least as much traction as you can have on snow pack.&nbsp; Now if your tread doesn’t reach the mark, you should probably break out the ruler.&nbsp; If it measures close to 1/16 of an inch, it’s time to look for new tires.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>What’s the biggest danger if your tread is too thin?&nbsp; Hydroplaning.&nbsp; If you’re driving along in the rain and can’t feel the road through the steering wheel, that’s a pretty good indication that you are on a thin film of water and have lost traction.&nbsp; The same rules apply, don’t panic!&nbsp; Any sudden moves now are going to get you in real trouble.&nbsp; Instead, keep the wheel straight and just ease pressure off the accelerator.&nbsp; As your speed decreases, you should gain traction again.&nbsp; Then just proceed at a much slower and safer speed in the rain.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Another important tip to follow is to engage the driver, preferably before you start the car.&nbsp; We’ve all got too much going on and can be easily distracted. &nbsp;Just the other day I was cruising along in my own little world wondering why traffic was stopped in the middle of the road.&nbsp; Duh, I looked in my rear view and noticed the fire truck hot on my bumper, lights on and sirens blaring.&nbsp; I’m sure he had choice words for me as I finally got a clue and got out of his way.&nbsp; Then I felt bad thinking I was holding him up from an emergency.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;Speaking of engaging the driver and being distracted, have you ever noticed that every time somebody does something dumb in traffic, they are usually on the phone?&nbsp; I personally hate talking on the phone while in the car and I have both Bluetooth and an ear piece!&nbsp; But if you look around at any given time, about half of the drivers on the road are on the phone.&nbsp; Whether you’re shaving, putting on mascara, eating, or talking on the phone, multi-tasking is not a wise idea while driving.&nbsp; If your attention is on something else, you won’t be able to respond as quickly as if you were focused on the road.&nbsp; It would really suck to drop your phone in your coffee, break the razor, stick the mascara wand in your eye, and THEN have to get your car fixed!&nbsp; Take a little extra time in the morning so you can focus on getting yourself (and other drivers) to your destination in one piece.&nbsp; It would certainly make the morning commute much more pleasurable!&nbsp; If you just have to talk, it’s a lot cheaper to upgrade to a Bluetooth phone and ear piece than have to pay your deductible.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>So, the thought for the day?&nbsp; Do a few minor checkups on your car.&nbsp; Activate the driver.&nbsp; Leave distractions behind.&nbsp; These few simple things can help save you (and others!) the headaches of an accident.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>It’s a bumper car jungle out there……be safe!<br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></font>urn:uuid:977fcd18-5a35-4531-8afb-49de71aa4042Food for Thought<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/health%20insuranc%20cartoon.jpg' align='left' />We're going to go off the beaten path for a moment and use a personal experience to illustrate why it is important to read your insurance policy....or at least know what questions to ask your agent!This might seem a bit complicated, but bear with me ...Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:23:12 -0500<p>We're going to go off the beaten path for a moment and use a personal experience to illustrate why it is important to read your insurance policy....or at least know what questions to ask your agent!<br><br>This might seem a bit complicated, but bear with me and I'll do my best to paint a clear picture.&nbsp; I had a "spouse" health insurance policy with my husband that was paid for by his employer.&nbsp; As things go awry as they sometimes do, we were divorced.&nbsp; However, he did not cancel my health insurance policy after everything was final.&nbsp; Being as I was not the policy holder, I could not cancel&nbsp;the policy myself.&nbsp; So, I called after the first of each month to verify coverage, and each time I was assured that the policy had been paid and was active.&nbsp; After about four months of doing&nbsp;this I received a collections letter from the company wanting to be reimbursed for claims they paid.&nbsp; When I called to question it, they informed me that they had received a letter requesting my policy be cancelled, not on February 26th when they received the letter, but on December 31st of the prior year!&nbsp; <br><br>Later investigation&nbsp;revealed that many health insurance companies allow employers to retroactively cancel a policy back 60 days.&nbsp;&nbsp;You didn't know that, did you?&nbsp;&nbsp;Neither did I!&nbsp; Maybe I should have read my policy a little more&nbsp;closely?&nbsp; To be honest, I actually&nbsp;found the statement under the employer's rights, not in the employee handbook.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, this ordeal brought on&nbsp;greater concerns than being charged for&nbsp;claims during those&nbsp;two months.<br><br>What if I had been diagnosed with a serious medical illness in those two months I was without coverage?&nbsp; Not only would I have been required to pay back all the claims, but I would also not be able to find other coverage as I would&nbsp;have had&nbsp;a preexisting condition.&nbsp; Now THAT, is scary.&nbsp; I asked the insurance commission about it, and they advised that if this had happened, I could sue the employer for terminating coverage.&nbsp; Can you imagine&nbsp;suffering through chemotherapy and trying to concentrate enough to&nbsp;get&nbsp;your ducks lined up in order to sue someone?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>I am sharing my story with you because&nbsp; I can't stress enough how important is is to read your policy!&nbsp; I know it's usually written in a language that most of us don't understand, but that's why we have agents.&nbsp; They can translate your policy for you (for any kind of insurance) so that you can rest assured you are protected.&nbsp; If you're ever in doubt, just ask.&nbsp; There is no such thing as a stupid question......unless you don't ask it!&nbsp; I know I learned my lesson!&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>Take care out there!<br><br>Erin Schuster<br><br><br><br><img alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/health%20insuranc%20cartoon.jpg"><br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p>urn:uuid:da311486-3e5b-4449-92cf-d0c2913d93f2Find Cheap Car Insurance in Oklahoma<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/wrecked%20car.jpg' align='left' /> &nbsp; Insurance is one of those things we all feel like we pay too much for.&nbsp; It’s hard to understand the value of something we cannot hold in our hands.&nbsp; However, if you’re ever involved in an accident, no price is too high for the comfo...Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:46:13 -0500<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"></span></b></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'"><img alt="Are you insured?" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/wrecked%20car.jpg"><br><br>Insurance is one of those things we all feel like we pay too much for.&nbsp; It’s hard to understand the value of something we cannot hold in our hands.&nbsp; However, if you’re ever involved in an accident, no price is too high for the comfort in knowing that you’re covered.&nbsp; <br><br>So, how do you find cheap car insurance? &nbsp;If you’re looking for just the basic coverage you can use the following tips to find the lowest rates in Oklahoma. </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">First, comparison shop locally with an independent agent.&nbsp; Independent agents can quote with several different companies at once to find you the best deal.&nbsp; Just be honest and accurate in answering the agents’ questions and you will receive accurate quotes.&nbsp; </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Second, maintaining&nbsp;a good driving record can help keep your costs down. This simply means to avoid accidents and tickets.&nbsp; Don’t drink and drive.&nbsp; Follow all driving laws.&nbsp; Penalties can add points to your record and make your insurance rates much higher.&nbsp; </span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Third, never let your auto insurance lapse. Even if you are not driving the vehicle, continue to keep the insurance paid if you can afford it.&nbsp; Insurance companies take your insurance history into consideration when figuring rates.&nbsp; When you have continuous insurance for at least 6 months or more, it definitely counts in your favor. &nbsp;In addition to this tip, remember to always pay your policy on time. Late fees can pile up quickly, and defeat the purpose of cheap insurance!</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">Oklahoma car insurance laws require that you carry only&nbsp;liability insurance on your vehicle in the amount of 25/50/25. This means that if you are involved in an accident, you must have $25,000 for injuries to the other party, $50,000 maximum per accident, and $25,000 for property damage. &nbsp;However, if the accident causes more damage than this coverage, you must keep in mind that you could be sued for the balance of the costs.&nbsp; You can purchase higher limits of liability to insure that damages are covered.&nbsp; Additionally, this basic coverage does not offer any personal injury or property damage for you or your car.&nbsp; It simply protects you from being sued for damages due to an accident.</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">You must also keep proof of your insurance in your car. If you are stopped by any officer, you must show your current security verification. In addition, when involved in an accident you&nbsp;should also&nbsp;show your verification to the other parties. </span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">If you find you’re unable to obtain car insurance in Oklahoma, there is a state program called the Oklahoma Automobile Insurance Plan. It was started in 1950 to help everyone, regardless of their driving records obtain proper insurance. Any Oklahoma agent can write up this type of plan for you to purchase.</span></p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'">If you have any questions or concerns regarding coverages and finding cheaper insurance, please don’t hesitate to give our office a call.&nbsp; We’ll be happy to help!<br><br> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></span>urn:uuid:ddbabd72-927e-4d3d-8697-c4618c06e77dCan you pass the driver's written exam?<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/2009map%20drivers%20test%20results.jpg' align='left' />Can you pass the written driver's test?Direct Link to PostDo you ever wonder about the skill of that driver in your rear-view mirror, you know, the one who seems to riding your bumper?Statistics show that some 41 million drivers would not pass a writ...Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:56:50 -0500<span class=title id=DataGrid1__ctl5_blog_title>Can you pass the written driver's test?</span><br><a id=DataGrid1__ctl5_lnk_blog_link_top style="FONT-SIZE: xx-small" href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/blog.aspx?entry=471f2de9-4e1a-47d7-9439-b2acc509f554"><u><font color=#800080>Direct Link to Post</font></u></a><br><br><span class=subPrimaryTextCell id=DataGrid1__ctl5_blog_entry>Do you ever wonder about the skill of that driver in your rear-view mirror, you know, the one who seems to riding your bumper?<br><br>Statistics show that some 41 million drivers would not pass a written driver's test today.&nbsp; That's 20.1 percent of licensed drivers!&nbsp; That translates to 1 in 5 of every 100 drivers on the road cannot pass the written exam!<br><br>About 76.6 percent of drivers know basic road rules, and that's down from 78.1 percent last year.<br><br>So, where are the nations best drivers?&nbsp; Head north to Wisconsin and Idaho where drivers are tied for first, with an average test score of 80.6 percent.&nbsp; New York drivers ranked last, while Oklahoma ranks 17th with a score of 78.9.<br><img style="WIDTH: 485px; HEIGHT: 342px" height=376 alt="Driver test average by state. Copyright Chicago Tribune" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/2009map%20drivers%20test%20results.jpg" width=508><br>Of the 20 questions posed to more than 5,000 drivers, the ones that stumped test-takers the most involved yellow lights and safe following distances.<br><br>Can you beat the national&nbsp;average?&nbsp; Just answer the following questions to see where you rank.<br><br> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Test your driving knowledge against other drivers nationwide. The following 20 questions were taken from actual written DMV test across the country. Good luck!</span></p> <div style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 1pt solid"> <p style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><span style="DISPLAY: none; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p></div> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">1. A pedestrian is crossing your lane but there is no crosswalk. You should:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. Make sure the pedestrian sees you, but continue driving<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B. Stop and let the pedestrian cross the street<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C. Carefully drive around the pedestrian</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">2. When driving in adverse conditions, the proper speed to travel is:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. The posted speed limit<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B. 55mph<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. 65mph<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">D. Only as fast as is safe to drive</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">3. A traffic light with a flashing red signal means?</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. Yield<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">B. Stop<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C. Caution</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">4. You see a flashing yellow traffic signal at an upcoming intersection. The flashing yellow light means:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A. Stop before entering the intersection as long as you can do so safely<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">B. Stop.&nbsp; Yield to all cross traffic before crossing the intersection<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C. Slow down and cross the intersection carefully</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">5. A solid yellow line, on your side of the center line, means:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Reduce speed<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Traffic light ahead<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do not pass</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">6. When you approach a stopped school bus with flashing red lights, you should:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stop when approaching a bus from either the front or the rear<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Slow when approaching a bus from the front or rear<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stop only when approaching a bus from the front<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>D.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stop only when approaching a bus from the rear</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">7. If, while driving, a tire suddenly blows out, you should:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Grip the steering wheel firmly, slow down, and exit from the traffic lanes<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Pump the brakes rapidly<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Brake hard and steer toward the right edge of the roadway</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">8. You may pass on the right of another vehicle when:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><font size=1>When traveling on a multi-lane highway carrying two or more lanes of traffic in the same direction<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span><font size=1>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><font size=1>The other vehicle is making/about to make a left turn, when a lane is provided to pass on the right<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</font></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><font size=1><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Both answers are correct</span></font></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">9. When making right or left turns, a driver should signal _______ before the turn?</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">100 feet<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">50 feet<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">35 feet<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>D.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">5 feet</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">10. A diamond shaped sign means:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Yield<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stop<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Warning</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">11. You drive defensively when you:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Always put one car length between you and the car ahead<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Look only at the car in front of you while driving<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Keep your eyes moving to look for possible hazards</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">12. When you tailgate other drivers (drive close to their rear bumper):</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">You can frustrate the other drivers and make them angry<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Your actions cannot result in a traffic citation<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">You help reduce traffic congestion</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">13. You may drive off of the paved roadway to pass another vehicle:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">If the shoulder is wide enough to accommodate your vehicle<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">If the vehicle ahead of you is turning left<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Under no circumstances</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">14. When you are merging onto the freeway, you should be driving:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">At or near the same speed as the traffic on the freeway<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">5 to 10 miles per hour slower than the traffic on the freeway<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">The posted speed limit for traffic on the freeway</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">15. When driving in fog, you should use your:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Fog lights only<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">High beams<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Low beams</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">16. Under most conditions what is a safe following distance?</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">3 seconds<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">10 seconds<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">20 seconds</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">17. There is an emergency vehicle coming from behind you with emergency lights on and flashing. You should:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Slow down and keep moving<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Speed up and get out of the way<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Maintain your speed<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>D.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Pull over to the right and stop</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">18. When you approach a traffic signal displaying a steady yellow light, you must:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">go through the intersection before it turns red<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Stop if it is safe to do so<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Be prepared to stop<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>D.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Slow down and proceed with caution</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">19. In bad weather, you should make your car easier for others to see by:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Turning on your headlights<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Turning on your emergency flashers<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Turning on your parking lights<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>D.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Flash your high beams</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">20. The best way to keep from hydroplaning is to:</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Turn to avoid puddles<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>B.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Apply the brakes firmly<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>C.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Slow down when on wet roads</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">&nbsp;</span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">How did you do?</span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>1.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">B&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 11. &nbsp;C<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>2.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">D&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 12. &nbsp;A<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>3.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">B&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 13. &nbsp;C<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>4.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 14. &nbsp;A<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>5.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 15. &nbsp;C<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>6.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 16. &nbsp;A<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>7.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 17. &nbsp;D<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>8.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 18. &nbsp;B<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>9.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">A&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 19. &nbsp;A<br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span>10.<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">C&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 20. &nbsp;C</span></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br>urn:uuid:302dd343-61c1-4c2c-bd6d-1932221831acHow to save money on homeowner's insurance.<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/j0438716.jpg' align='left' />How to Save Money On Homeowners Insurance If you are looking for cheap homeowners insurance, you often may have to compromise the price; the more expensive the better policy. Although this is the main rule, there are some exceptions. One of these exc...Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:03:51 -0500<p><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><img style="WIDTH: 311px; HEIGHT: 229px" height=229 alt="Homeowner's Insurance" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/j0438716.jpg" width=454><br><br>How to Save Money On Homeowners Insurance</span></b></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><br>If you are looking for cheap homeowners insurance, you often may have to compromise the price; the more expensive the better policy. Although this is the main rule, there are some exceptions. One of these exceptions is to get discounts on homeowners insurance. <br><br><b>Have You Filed claims the last couple of years?</b> <br><br>If you haven't filed any claims for a couple of years or so, you might be able to save up to 15% on your premiums. Also, if you use the same insurance company for a couple of years, that will also look good and you can save really save big bucks. <br><b><br>Are You Really Protected?<br></b><br>Many companies will offer you a discount if you have things like burglar alarms or smoke detectors installed. You might also have one that is connected to a third party monitoring company. That will save you even more!</span></p> <p><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Why Not Receive Multiple Policies From The Same Company?</span></b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"> <br><br>It might be a great solution to get it all together.. auto, home, recreational, travel and whatever other coverage you need to get under the same company .. you can save a lot. This can chop off a whopping 10-15% of your premium. All it takes is just a little bit of planning! <br><br><b>Know Where The Nearest Fire Station Is Located<br></b><br>There are a few things in terms of location that can alter your premiums. If you live far from a fire station or fire hydrant, you'll normally have to pay more. The opposite is the case if you live within the city limits; then you will pay less on your premiums, compared with living in a more rural area.<br><br><b>The Building Materials of Your House Can Impact Rates <br></b><br>What your house is made of will actually make a difference in how much you pay. For example, wood houses carry higher premiums than good, solid concrete or brick structures. <br><br><b>Higher Payments On The Deductible<br></b><br>If you can afford it, you should pay as much as possible on your deductible, thus your premium will be lower. If you are able to pay something like $200 or $1000, you can bring that premium down as much as 20%! <br><br><b>Stop Smoking!</b> <br><br>Non-smokers will save cash; even as much as 15% in many cases. Check out if the company you use offers a deal for non-smokers. </span><span style="COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Smoking accidents account for more than 23,000 residential fires every year. Some insurers offer to reduce premiums if no one in the home smokes.</span><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><br><br>These are just a few pointers to help you save cash on your homeowners insurance. Remember, you should always consult your independent insurance agent for the right advice for your situation.<br><br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p></span>urn:uuid:ced13fe8-5791-4103-b6b3-781ff9bf0723Making Renovations? Tell your insurance company.HEADLINE: Making renovations? Be sure to tell your insurance companyBYLINE: The Lowell Sun Over the weekend, I attended a party at a friend's house. We got into a discussion about homeowner's insurance and the liabilities associated with a policy. In...Thu, 28 May 2009 16:07:34 -0500<p><strong>HEADLINE: </strong>Making renovations? Be sure to tell your insurance company<br><br><b>BYLINE: </b>The Lowell Sun <br><br><br><br>Over the weekend, I attended a party at a friend's house. We got into a discussion about homeowner's insurance and the liabilities associated with a policy. <br><br>In particular, my friend had recently purchased a trampoline for his kids. Having gone through a similar experience of a tenant wanting to put a trampoline on a property that I own, I asked him the name of the insurance company that would insure the property with a trampoline. My friend's answer: "I did not tell them."<br><br>Since this person is my friend, I felt compelled to tell him that was not a good idea. The obvious response was, "Why?" I then explained that there is a cooperation clause in your insurance policy that states that you are required to disclose things like a trampoline. By failing to disclose such an item, your insurance company could deny coverage if something happened and it discovered the trampoline.<br><br>As the party continued, my friend asked me for additional information regarding some housing renovations that he made. In retrospect, I wished I had never asked the first question.<br><br>He explained that he was "handy" and renovated his entire basement last winter. He explained that he did his own electrical, framed it himself, did the plumbing, the drywall, etc.<br><br>I saw it; it looked really nice. Then I asked if he notified the town that he was redoing the basement. His response: "I did not want to pay for all of those inspections and permits."<br><br>Once again, I explained that if there were ever a claim under this policy, the insurance company will do its own due diligence before it pays anything. Many of us don't like paying extra fees for inspections and applications, but you must follow the rules or there could be dire consequences -- if you're not protected under your homeowner's policy.<br><br>About seven years ago, my parents got notification from their insurance company (homeowner's) that it wanted to do a routine inspection of their property. During the inspection, insurance representatives asked how long my parents had a pool. My dad told them 1973. A week later, my father got notification from the company that it was dropping the homeowner's policy.<br><br>Upset with the company's actions, Dad called me to ask if it could do that. My response was that an insurance company can do anything it wants. I theorized that when my parents originally got their policy, no one asked about a pool. Each subsequent year, I assume, the policy automatically renewed, and my parents did not know they needed to provide this additional information.<br><br>The moral of the story is to make sure to read your policy. It is sent to you every year and you must make sure that you don't do anything that could risk coverage being denied.<br><br>Courtesy of&nbsp;Hugh J. Fitzpatrick III<br><br>Have more questions?&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p> <p><br><br>&nbsp;</p>urn:uuid:2cce4635-a37a-4bc3-ab8d-7f6617c2bdaaMoney Steers Seat Belt Debate<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/seat%20belt.jpg' align='left' /> The war of words over mandatory seat belt laws in the USA rages on this spring. As state legislatures move toward adjournment, proponents argue that such laws save lives, while opponents counter that they are an unnecessary government intrusion. F...Tue, 19 May 2009 13:45:31 -0500<div class=insurance_news id=article_body align=left valign="top"> <div class=inside-copy>The war of words over mandatory seat belt laws in the USA rages on this spring.<br><br></div> <p class=inside-copy align=center><img alt="States to get grant money for improving seat belt laws." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/seat%20belt.jpg"></p> <div class=inside-copy><br></div> <p class=inside-copy>As state legislatures move toward adjournment, proponents argue that such laws save lives, while opponents counter that they are an unnecessary government intrusion.</p> <p class=inside-copy>For states confronting deep budget gaps this year, the debate has an added resonance: Transportation grants that Congress made available to states that enact mandatory seat belt laws expire June 30.</p> <p class=inside-copy><kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Florida" />Florida</kwd /> and Arkansas recently enacted such laws, and at least four other states are considering similar measures.</p> <div id=tagCrumbs></div> <p class=inside-copy>Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia now have "primary" seat belt laws, which allow officers to stop people solely for not wearing seat belts; 21 states have "secondary" laws, which permit police to ticket motorists for not wearing seat belts only if they stop them for another offense. New Hampshire has no seat belt law for adults.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Legislators in <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Minnesota" />Minnesota</kwd />, <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Missouri" />Missouri</kwd />, <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Vermont" />Vermont</kwd /> and <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Wisconsin" />Wisconsin</kwd /> are debating primary seat belt laws; measures to strengthen seat belt laws failed this year in states including <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Colorado" />Colorado</kwd />, <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Kansas" />Kansas</kwd />, <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Nevada" />Nevada</kwd /> and New Hampshire.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Financial pressures have left states more open to the idea of strengthening seat belt laws this year, says Melissa Savage, a transportation analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Florida is eligible for $35 million in federal funds, Arkansas for about $9.5 million.</p> <p class=inside-copy>"The money availability in a time of financial crisis is an important factor," says Lilliard <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Richardson" />Richardson</kwd />, a University of Missouri professor whose 2006 study found that primary seat belt laws increased usage rates by 10% and cut driver crash fatalities by 5.1%.</p> <p class=inside-copy>James Baxter, president of the National Motorists Association, which opposes any seat belt laws as unnecessary police intrusion, says the federal incentive is the only reason states are passing primary laws this year. "The real motivation is the money," Baxter says.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Nationally, seat belt use is at a record level of 83%. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2007, more than 5,000 crash deaths would have been prevented if occupants had been wearing seat belts.</p> <p class=inside-copy><kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/Arkansas" />Arkansas state</kwd /> Sen. Hank Wilkins IV, a Democrat, sponsored a primary law and says he helped push it through by building a broad-based coalition of supporters, educating people about the dangers of not wearing seat belts and being persistent.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Wilkins says the federal incentive money "probably swayed maybe a couple of votes."</p> <p class=inside-copy>Jonathan Adkins, a spokesman for the Governors Highway Safety Association, says only 10 states have reaped a share of $498 million Congress set aside for states that upgraded to primary laws.</p> <p class=inside-copy>The most closely watched legislative debate over seat belts this year was in New Hampshire, where a primary seat belt law was passed by the state House of Representatives. The Senate changed it to a secondary law. Last month, the state Senate postponed final action.</p> <p class=inside-copy>"I don't see why we need it," says <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Places, Geography/States, Territories, Provinces, Islands/New Hampshire" />New Hampshire state</kwd /> Sen. Bob Letourneau, a Republican who opposed the measure and objects to the federal incentive money. "It's a handout from the federal government, and that doesn't sit well with me. We're doing better than the national average (on seat belt usage) and better than some other states that have primary laws, and we're below the national average in fatalities."</p> <p class=inside-copy>State <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Organizations/Political Bodies/United States House of Representatives" />Rep</kwd />. Sally Kelly, a Democrat who sponsored the seat belt law that passed in the state House, says she once opposed seat belt laws, believing they conflicted with her state's commitment to rugged independence, epitomized by the state motto "Live Free or Die."</p> <p class=inside-copy>Then she says she learned the state bears an "overwhelming" financial burden for those injured in crashes. Also, she says, modern vehicles are designed to crumple in the front while protecting the driver and passengers and seat belts are an integral part of that design.</p> <p class=inside-copy>Kelly says her informal survey of 200 voters in her town of <kwd href="http://content.usatoday.com/topics/topic/Chichester" />Chichester</kwd /> found that 68% supported her legislation. "The silent majority wants a seat belt law," she says.</p> <div><font size=1>Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.</font> </div></div>urn:uuid:99414f6b-cbff-4923-ad50-8a5ad94f3b58Auto Insurance for Military Personnel<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/military.jpg' align='left' />If you, or your spouse, are presently enlisted in any branch of the U.S. military, there is a chance that you may be eligible for a discount on your automobile insurance, depending on the company who provides your policy. Anyone who is considered mil...Mon, 11 May 2009 11:40:19 -0500<div class=KonaBody fzjZ1="true">If you, or your spouse, are presently enlisted in any branch of the U.S. military, there is a chance that you may be eligible for a discount on your automobile insurance, depending on the company who provides your policy. Anyone who is considered military personnel, active or retired, should find out from their&nbsp;insurance agent&nbsp;if they have any kind of discount program in place for men and women who are serving our country.<br><br></div> <p class=KonaBody align=center fzjZ1="true"><img height=132 alt="Military members and their families may be eligible for special auto insurance ratings and discounts" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/military.jpg" width=531></p> <div class=KonaBody fzjZ1="true"><br><br>There are some&nbsp;insurance companies&nbsp;who will agree to let you drop all of the coverage you have and just keep the comprehensive if you receive orders to go overseas and you will be storing your car and no one will be using it while you are gone. In addition, if you will be shipped to a country where you are entitled to hostile fire pay, occasionally an insurance company will discount the amount you must pay for your comprehensive policy by as much as 25% as long as the vehicle stays in storage.<br><br>If your orders overseas are dated for 30 days or more, and will be storing your car for at least that long, d insurance companies may reduce the amount of your coverage, or suspend it altogether until your return. This can save you quite a lot of money while still showing continuous coverage on your insurance record. <br><br><br>Insurance companies established “preferred customer” ratings for those who have good driving records and proof of continuous prior insurance for a minimum of six months. Generally, if a policy lapses within that time, a customer is considered “high risk” and premiums will cost more.<br><br>Customers should discuss discount options with their agents prior to deployment and again when they return. Talk to your agent and give him or her all the details of your deployment so that you can keep your insurance at a <a class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;" id=KonaLink3 onmouseover=adlinkMouseOver(event,this,3); style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick=adlinkMouseClick(event,this,3); onmouseout=adlinkMouseOut(event,this,3); href="http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1242057925.html#" target=_top><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: static" color=#000000><span class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: relative">low </span><span class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: relative">rate</span></font></a> while you are gone. Always make sure you have elected a trustworthy friend or family member to tend to your finances while you are away. Otherwise, if your <a class=kLink oncontextmenu="return false;" id=KonaLink4 onmouseover=adlinkMouseOver(event,this,4); style="POSITION: static; TEXT-DECORATION: underline! important" onclick=adlinkMouseClick(event,this,4); onmouseout=adlinkMouseOut(event,this,4); href="http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200905/1242057925.html#" target=_top><font style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: static" color=#000000><span class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: relative">insurance </span><span class=kLink style="FONT-WEIGHT: 400; FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000000! important; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; POSITION: relative">policy</span></font></a> is cancelled due to lack of payment, you may not able to explain your way back into the “preferred” rating plan and may have a difficult time finding a new company to pick up the policy. While many companies will insure a “high-risk” driver, customers can expect to pay a much higher price than “preferred” clients.</div>urn:uuid:1a1ec9e5-a1cc-491c-b3c0-25a2bc1cfc45Insurance PollWhat qualities do you look for when choosing an insurance company?To submit your answer, follow this link:http://polls.linkedin.com/p/36394/sxlumTue, 05 May 2009 12:54:06 -0500<font size=4>What qualities do you look for when choosing an insurance company?</font><br><br>To submit your answer, follow this link:<br><br><a href="http://polls.linkedin.com/p/36394/sxlum">http://polls.linkedin.com/p/36394/sxlum</a>urn:uuid:4959dba3-39ac-44be-afc3-3226ffad8d7bCar Seat Safety: Choose a safe seat for your child<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/chicagotribune%20carseatgraphic.jpg' align='left' />The Chicago Tribune recently released a study about car seat safety. We have summarized the most important safety tips for you. For more information and the safest car seat for your specific vehicle, visit www.chicagotribune.com/testresults Safety ...Fri, 01 May 2009 09:52:23 -0500<p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">The Chicago Tribune recently released a study about car seat safety. We have summarized the most important safety tips for you. For more information and the safest car seat for your specific vehicle, visit www.chicagotribune.com/testresults<b> <br><br><br></b></span></p> <p align=center><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><img alt="Chicago Tribune Investigation on car seat safety" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/chicagotribune%20carseatgraphic.jpg"></p> <p><br><br><br><br><br>Safety features to look for when buying a car seat:</span></b><b><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"><br><br><br></p></span></b> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Side wings, which create a cocoon around the child and keep them inside the car seat</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">As much foam padding as possible</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">A 5-point restraint harness, which distributes the impact evenly vs. the overhead tray shield, which could cause the child spinal damage or eject them from the seat in the event of an accident</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'">Ease of installation, ensuring the seat will be used regularly</span></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Utilize a rear-facing child seat until one year of age</font></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Tethers are recommended for front-facing car seats</font></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Always use a seat with the correct weight and height requirements for your child</font></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Utilize a safety device to prevent older toddlers from unbuckling the seat after they’ve been secured</font></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Make sure the seat fits properly in the vehicle with less than one inch of play in any direction</font></p> <p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Symbol"><span>&#183;<span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><font face=Calibri>Do not cease using the seat based on your child’s age, always use the seats until the child has grown out of the height/weight requirements- when it is safe for the child to ride without</font></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>urn:uuid:ee8df2db-bab8-4625-8858-7fe7296e566fInsuring your teen driver in a tough economy <img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/teeninsurancerates.jpg' align='left' /> Most&nbsp; teenagers count the days until they can get behind the wheel of a car and cruise. Many of their parents count the days, too, but for many different reasons. For the teens, it means freedom and fun. For parents, it means sleepless nights a...Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:07:37 -0500<p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.75pt" align=center><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black"><font face=Calibri><img alt="Learn how to save money when your teen gets behind the wheel and added to your insurance policy" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/teeninsurancerates.jpg"></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.75pt">Most&nbsp; teenagers count the days until they can get behind the wheel of a car and cruise. Many of their parents count the days, too, but for many different reasons. For the teens, it means freedom and fun. For parents, it means sleepless nights and lighter pocketbooks. </font></span></p> <p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12.75pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black"><font face=Calibri>The parents' concerns are valid. Drivers under 25 are four times as likely as older drivers to die in an accident, reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As a result, adding a 16-year-old driver to your auto insurance policy can come with a hefty price tag. Premium increases of 50 to 100 percent are possible.&nbsp; Fortunately, you can take steps to somewhat control premium increases. </font></span></p> <p class=body><span class=subhead1><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Shop around</span></b></span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Start by comparison shopping. While rates for 40-somethings may be fairly standard among insurers, that's not always the case. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Consider a higher deductible. Going from a $250 to $500 or $1,000 deductible can potentially save you 10 percent to 20 percent on your premium. <span class=body1><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Y</span>ou'll want to consider whether you can absorb the out-of-pocket expense in the event of an accident. You might also want to evaluate taking out a separate policy for your teen. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Assuming you have a good claims history, you're probably best off simply adding your teen driver to your own policy and paying the increased premium. On the other hand, if your driving record is less than desirable, or you drive expensive cars, it may be less expensive to get your teen a separate policy. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Down the road, you'll want to check when your insurer classifies young drivers as adults. At that point, you should see a decrease in your rates.</span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">While some companies classify drivers as adults at age 25, some offer lower rates for 23-year-old drivers. Drivers who marry, even if they're younger than 25, may qualify for lower auto premiums. Also, as your teen becomes a twenty-something, it's worth checking whether he or she should move to a separate policy. </span></p> <p><span class=subhead1><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Choice of car</span></b></span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">If you're planning to purchase another car, think carefully about your choices. While your son or daughter may be begging for a new sports car, a safe and stodgy used car will be easier on your insurance rates. It's less likely to be stolen, and probably will do better in a crash test. Your premiums should reflect these differences. </span></p> <p><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Should you get a car, it probably will make sense to keep it in your name. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Whether or not you buy another car, you can ask your insurer to assign your teen driver to just one of your cars. In other words, the insurer would calculate your premium under the assumption that your teenager only drives a specific car, typically a less expensive one. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Be alert, however, some insurers will not assign certain cars to certain drivers. They assume anyone in the house can drive any of the cars. And, according to some experts, you can expect that the insurance company will also price the premium based on the highest risk vehicle on your policy. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">If your insurance carrier agrees to assign your teen to a specific car, you need to lay down the law. Your new driver should take only the car to which he or she is assigned, even in an emergency. </span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">If your teen drives another car and gets in an accident, your rates likely will get a hefty boost. Your insurer could even impose a penalty or decide not to renew your policy.</span></p> <p><span class=subhead1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=subhead1><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Think safety first</span></b></span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Helping your son or daughter establish a good driving record will be your best protection against sky-high insurance rates. Of course, the primary objective of driving safely is to prevent injuries and fatalities. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">However, traffic violations and accidents also directly affect your pocketbook. If your teenager's drinking or recklessness results in an accident, your premiums can jump by several hundred percent. </span></p> <p><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">The longer your teenager motors along without an accident or traffic violation, the more you'll be able to negotiate lower premiums. More importantly, you'll know that your son or daughter is less likely to be involved in an accident. </span></p> <p><span class=subhead1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=subhead1><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Making the grade</span></b></span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Let your insurance company know if your child has a B or better grade average. Studies show a correlation between good students and responsible drivers, so many insurers offer good-student discounts, which typically range from 5 percent to 10 percent. </span></p> <p><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">It also helps to have your child take a driver's education course, rather than try to teach him or her the rules of the road yourself.&nbsp; </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Such courses can be good for discounts as well. Just make sure the course you have in mind is approved by your insurer. Some insurers &nbsp;offer "safe driver programs." Teen participants in these programs sign contracts stating that they won't, for example, drink and drive. Check with your insurance company. If your teenager completes the program, you may be able to cut another 5 percent or so from your increase.</span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">More states have now enacted what are known as "graduated licenses." New drivers are restricted from certain activities, such as driving with passengers, until they've had their licenses for a set period, such as six months. If you live in one of these states, ask if any discounts are available. Some insurers may take a few percentage points off your increase.</span></p> <p class=body><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Finally, you may be eligible for lower premiums once your teen heads to college. Many insurers will reduce rates for students attending a school at least 100 miles away from home and who don't have a car on campus.</span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br><b><font size=2>&nbsp;</font></b></span></p> <p><span class=subhead1><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">What to avoid</span></b></span><span style="COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'"><br></span><span class=body1><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">As you're checking out insurance for your teen driver, you'll want to avoid a few potential pitfalls. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">First, don't put it off. As soon as your teenager is ready to get a permit, let your insurance company know. If you forget and your child is involved in an accident, your insurance company (in some situations) may cover it. However, it can retroactively charge the higher premium that you should have been paying. In an extreme case, it could revoke your coverage. <br><br>You also don't want to drastically lower your liability coverage in order to reduce your rate increase. Granted, doing so may save a few dollars short-term. However, it doesn't make sense to carry less coverage on a higher-risk driver. Should your teenager get into an accident, you'll be forced to cover the damages from your own pocket. </span></p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>urn:uuid:c1ae90fe-ec41-4d9c-9602-11a5c039676aDriver Distractions Contribute to Deadly Crashes<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/savvyboomercellphone.png' align='left' /> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In a recent study conducted Professor John D. Lee of the University of Iowa, 88 percent of drivers believe they drive safer and ...Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:17:57 -0500<p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri></font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify" align=center><font face=Calibri><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="WIDTH: 332px; HEIGHT: 214px" height=252 alt="savvyboomer.com shows a pictures of just how unsafe it is to drive while using a cell phone" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/savvyboomercellphone.png" width=402></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><br><br><br>In a recent study conducted Professor John D. Lee of the University of Iowa, 88 percent of drivers believe they drive safer and better than others on the road. This contradicts other results of the study, however, showing that aggressive and distracted drivers may play a role in the over 40,000 motor vehicle deaths each year. In addition, the rate for disabling injuries caused by vehicle crashes is well over 2 million per year, according to the National Safety Council.</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes were caused by driver distractions just three seconds before the occurrence.</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;In the study, Lee found that accidents are more likely to occur when drivers are performing activities not related to driving- “three times more likely when the driver is performing a complex[…](such as dialing a phone or texting), and twice as likely during a moderately complex task (such as inserting a CD)”</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>According to Virginia Technical Transportation Institute (VTTI) distractions can be placed in three categories: cognitive, visual and manual. Visual distractions include looking at an object in or out of a moving vehicle or even reading.</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Cognitive distractions are those which take the drivers mind off the road, including driving while angry, upset, or tired which may result in unsafe or aggressive driving behaviors. Examples of these unsafe behaviors include: “running stop signs or red lights, preventing other drivers from passing, speeding, illegal driving on the shoulder and failing to yield,” according to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analysis.</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>“It’s easy to think that other guy is the problem- the one who runs someone off the road, tailgates, or yells obscenities. In reality, examples of driving aggressively- any of which can lead to crashes, injuries, and deaths- are all too common,” said AAA Foundation CEO, Peter Kissinger. The analysis reveals these behaviors as contributing to one in three deadly crashes- or 56 percent. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Manual distractions are those that require one or both of the operator’s hands to be removed from the steering wheel, reaching for an object in the car, applying makeup or performing other hygiene tasks, adjusting the seat, mirrors or other controls within the vehicle, and most often- operating a cellular phone, whether it be dialing, answering or texting. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Studies have shown that even using a hands-free device does not decrease a driver’s distraction, rather, places it in the cognitive distraction category and that at any daytime moment, 10 percent of all drivers on the road are operating a cellular phone. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>One way to avoid these distractions is to stay calm while driving and use red lights or stop signs as opportunity to adjust reach for an object, adjust the radio, seat or mirrors, or various other distracting tasks. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>VTTI also suggests when traveling with children in the vehicle to provide them with games and toys for entertainment. They strongly recommend containing pets in a kennel, travel carrier or special seat belt harness and to never allow pets to ride in the driver’s or passenger’s lap, as this could cause harm to the people involved as well as the animal. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Additionally, always utilize the vehicle’s door locks and safety belts and keep the vehicle in proper working condition, including maintaining brakes, shocks, and tire alignment, inflation and tread. The best way to avoid an accident is to be aware, alert and provide your undivided attention to the important task of getting yourself and loved ones from one place to another safely.&nbsp; </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p> <p><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">###</span></i></p></font>urn:uuid:300be8d8-9f5a-40cb-8aa0-e47b76be6c5aNew Subcompact Vehicle Crash Tests from IIHS<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/iihs-head-to-head-crash-test-2-450.jpg' align='left' />IIHS NEWS RELEASE &nbsp; NEW CRASH TESTS DEMONSTRATE THE INFLUENCE OF VEHICLE SIZE AND WEIGHT ON SAFETY IN CRASHES; RESULTS ARE RELEVANT TO FUEL ECONOMY POLICIES ARLINGTON, VA —Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a micro car or minicar...Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:14:51 -0500<p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica-Bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Bold"><font face=Calibri>IIHS NEWS RELEASE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></font></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica-Bold; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Bold"><o:p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></b></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold">NEW CRASH TESTS DEMONSTRATE THE INFLUENCE OF VEHICLE SIZE AND WEIGHT ON SAFETY IN CRASHES; RESULTS ARE RELEVANT TO FUEL ECONOMY POLICIES<br><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><v:shape id=Picture_x0020_1 style="MARGIN-TOP: 18.1pt; Z-INDEX: -1; VISIBILITY: visible; MARGIN-LEFT: 2pt; WIDTH: 257.8pt; POSITION: absolute; HEIGHT: 213pt; mso-wrap-style: square; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text" wrapcoords="-126 0 -126 21448 21617 21448 21617 0 -126 0" type="#_x0000_t75" o:spid="_x0000_s1026"><v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\FAMILY~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.emz"></v:imagedata><?xml:namespace prefix = w ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" /><w:wrap type="tight"></w:wrap></v:shape><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold"><br></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none" align=center><img height=232 alt="Subcompact cars vs. mid size in an IIHS crash test" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/iihs-head-to-head-crash-test-2-450.jpg" width=312></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><br><br></span></b><font face=Calibri><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd">ARLINGTON, VA —Three front-to-front crash tests, each involving a micro car or minicar into a midsize model from the same manufacturer, show how extra vehicle size and weight enhance occupant protection in collisions. These Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests are about the physics of car crashes, which dictate that very small cars generally can’t protect people in crashes as well as bigger, heavier models. </span><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold"><o:p></o:p></span></b></font></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><o:p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></o:p></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>“There are good reasons people buy minicars,” says Institute president Adrian Lund. “They’re more affordable, and they use less gas. But the safety tradeoffs are clear from our new tests. Equally clear are the implications when it comes to fuel economy. If automakers downsize cars so their fleets use less fuel, occupant safety will be compromised. However, there are ways to serve fuel economy and safety at the same time.” The Institute didn’t choose SUVs or pickup trucks, or even large cars, to pair with the micro and minis in the new crash tests. The choice of midsize cars reveals how much influence some extra size and weight can have on crash outcomes. The Institute chose pairs of 2009 models from Daimler, Honda, and Toyota because these automakers have micro and mini models that earn good frontal crashworthiness ratings, based on the Institute’s offset test into a deformable barrier. Researchers rated performance in the 40 mph car-to-car tests, like the front-into-barrier tests, based on measured intrusion into the occupant compartment, forces recorded on the driver dummy, and movement of the dummy during the impact.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold">Laws of physics prevail: </span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>The Honda Fit, Smart Fortwo, and Toyota Yaris are good performers in the Institute’s frontal offset barrier test, but all three are poor performers in the frontal collisions with midsize cars. These results reflect the laws of the physical universe, specifically principles related to force and distance. Although the physics of frontal car crashes usually are described in terms of what happens<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>to the vehicles, injuries depend on the forces that act on the occupants, and these forces are affected by two key physical factors. One is the weight of a crashing vehicle, which determines how much its velocity will change during impact. The greater the change, the greater the forces on the people inside and the higher the injury risk. The second factor is vehicle size, specifically the distance from the front of a vehicle to its occupant compartment. The longer this is, the lower the forces on the occupants. Size and weight affect injury likelihood in all kinds of crashes. In a collision involving two vehicles that differ in size and weight, the people in the smaller, lighter vehicle will be at a disadvantage. The bigger, heavier vehicle will push the smaller, lighter one backward during the impact. This means there will be less force on the occupants of the heavier vehicle and more on the people in the lighter vehicle. Greater force means<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>greater risk, so the likelihood of injury goes up in the smaller, lighter vehicle. Crash statistics confirm this. The death rate in 1-3-year-old minicars in multiple vehicle crashes during 2007 was almost twice as high as the rate in very large cars.“Though much safer than they were a few years ago, minicars as a group do a comparatively poor job of protecting people in crashes, simply because they’re smaller and lighter,”<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>Lund says. “In collisions with bigger vehicles, the forces acting on the smaller ones are higher, and there’s less distance from the front of a small car to the occupant compartment to ‘ride down’ the impact. These and other factors increase injury likelihood.” <br><br>The death rate per million 1-3-year-old minis in single-vehicle crashes during 2007 was 35 compared with 11 per million for very large cars. Even in midsize cars, the death rate in single-vehicle crashes was 17 percent lower than in minicars. The lower death rate is because many objects that vehicles hit aren’t solid, and vehicles that are big and heavy have a better chance of moving or deforming the objects they strike. This dissipates some of the energy of the impact. Some proponents of mini and small cars claim they’re as safe as bigger, heavier cars. But the claims don’t hold up. For example, there’s a claim that the addition of safety features to the smallest cars in recent years reduces injury risk, and this is true as<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>far as it goes. Airbags, advanced belts, electronic stability control, and other features are helping. They’ve been added to cars of all sizes, though, so the smallest cars still don’t match the bigger cars in terms of occupant protection. Would hazards be reduced if all passenger vehicles were as small as the smallest ones? This would help in vehicle-to-vehicle crashes, but occupants of smaller cars are at increased<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>risk in all kinds of crashes, not just ones with heavier vehicles. Almost half of all crash deaths in minicars occur in single-vehicle crashes, and these deaths wouldn’t be reduced if all cars became smaller and lighter. In fact, the result would be to afford less occupant protection fleetwide in single-vehicle crashes.<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>Yet another claim is that minicars are easier to maneuver, so their drivers can avoid crashes in the first place. Insurance claims experience says otherwise. The frequency of claims filed for crash damage is higher for mini 4-door cars than for midsize ones. Here’s how the pairs of cars fared in the Institute’s new crash tests: <br><br></font></span><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold">Honda Accord versus Fit: </span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>The structure of the Accord held up well in the crash test into the Fit, and all except one measure of injury likelihood recorded on the driver dummy’s head, neck, chest, and both legs were good. In contrast, a number of injury measures on the dummy in the Fit were less than good. Forces on the left lower leg and right upper leg were in the marginal range, while the measure on the right tibia was poor. These indicate a high risk of leg injury in a real-world crash of similar severity. In addition,<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>the dummy’s head struck the steering wheel through the airbag. Intrusion into the Fit’s occupant compartment was extensive. Overall, this minicar’s rating is poor in the front-to-front crash, despite its good crashworthiness rating based on the Institute’s frontal offset test into a deformable barrier. The Accord earns good ratings for performance in both tests.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold">Mercedes C class versus Smart Fortwo: </span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>After striking the front of the C class, the Smart went<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>airborne and turned around 450 degrees. This contributed to excessive movement of the dummy during rebound — a dramatic indication of the Smart’s poor performance but not the only one. There was extensive intrusion into the space around the dummy from head to feet. The instrument panel moved up and toward the dummy. The steering wheel was displaced upward. Multiple measures of injury likelihood, including those on the dummy’s head, were poor, as were measures on both legs. “The Smart is the smallest car we tested, so it’s not surprising that its performance looked worse than the Fit’s. Still both fall into the poor category, and it’s hard to distinguish between poor and poorer,” Lund says. “In both the Smart and Fit, occupants would be subject to high injury risk in crashes with heavier cars.” In contrast, the C class held up well, with little to no intrusion into the occupant compartment. Nearly all measures of injury likelihood were in the good range.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break"><o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; mso-layout-grid-align: none"><b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: 'Helvetica-Condensed-Bold','sans-serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica-Condensed-Bold">Toyota Camry versus Yaris: </span></b><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd"><font face=Calibri>There was far more intrusion into the occupant compartment of the<o:p></o:p></font></span></p> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #231f20; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: CourierStd; mso-bidi-font-family: CourierStd; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Yaris than the Camry. The minicar’s door was largely torn away. The driver seats in both cars tipped forward, but only in the Yaris did the steering wheel move excessively. Similar contrasts characterize the measures of injury likelihood recorded on the dummies. The heads of both struck the cars’ steering wheels through the airbags, but only the head injury measure on the dummy in the Yaris rated poor. There was extensive force on the neck and right leg plus a deep gash at the right knee of the dummy in the minicar. Like the Smart and Fit, the Yaris earns an overall rating of poor in the car-to-car test. The Camry is acceptable.</span></p>urn:uuid:a84313b6-4913-4819-bff4-c3df2a5c86a2Underage Drinking Laws<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/drinkdrive3.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Underage Drinking Laws: The Science Behind Saving Lives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Written by: Family...Fri, 17 Apr 2009 14:02:31 -0500<strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <font size=4>Underage Drinking Laws: The Science Behind Saving Lives</font><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img style="WIDTH: 295px; HEIGHT: 165px" height=201 alt="Think. Don't Drink and Drive! For tips on talking to you teen about drinking and driving, visit our office at 1161 Sonoma Park Dr Ste. 300 in Norman, OK 73070" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/drinkdrive3.jpg" width=322>&nbsp;<img alt="Visit http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/safety/publications/2005/pdf/Teenagers_drink_driving.pdf for tips on talking to your teen about alcohol." src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/teen_drink_drive_icon.jpg"><br><br></strong> <p><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face=Calibri>Written by: </font></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/Default.aspx"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>Family Insurance</font></u></span></i></a><i> </i></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Many studies have been conducted regarding underage drinking laws in The United States. In fact, the 21 Minimum Legal Drinking Age Law (MLDA) is one of the most studied public health laws ever.&nbsp; Most of these reports have come to the same conclusion: the choice to raise the minimum drinking age from 18 to 21 have dramatically impacted alcohol-related deaths in teens, decreasing fatalities by 16 percent. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>According to the </font><a href="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)</font></u></a><font face=Calibri> about 25,000 lives have been saved since the 1975 inception of MLDA laws. It is estimated that between 700-900 lives are saved each year due to these precautionary measures taken against teen drinking. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><a href="http://www.madd.org/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)</font></u></a><font face=Calibri> reports that from 1983, when the minimum 21 drinking age was first introduced, to 1989, when all the U.S. state adopted the law, other countries around the world saw increases in underage binge drinking, while the U.S. experienced a 15 percent drop among high-school seniors. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>However, </font><a href="http://why21.org/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>WHY21.org</font></u></a><font face=Calibri> continues to advocate for more effective ways to prevent the underage drinking that still occurs and endangers lives on the road. The organization believes that “increased enforcement is an immediate and effective solution to reducing underage drinking and other alcohol-related problems such as domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide, homicide and traffic crashes. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>These laws include: Zero Tolerance Laws, Minor in Possession (MIP) laws, Sale of alcohol to those under 21, Social host laws, Drinking and driving laws, Public intoxication for those underage.” </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>Statistics from </font><a href="http://www.sadd.org/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving)</font></u></a><font face=Calibri> seem to back up WHY 21 in their efforts for more stringent underage drinking laws, reporting that alcohol-related crash fatalities occur most often at night vs. daytime (“59% vs. 18%”) and on weekends vs. weekdays (“52% vs. 30%”). </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>SADD also reports that “during the last 30 days, 28.5% of high school students nationwide had ridden one or more times in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol.”</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>In a study conducted at the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE) in Calverton, MD by James C. Fell and colleagues over a 23 year period, many MLDA laws were examined for effectiveness in reducing alcohol-related fatal crashes. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>One of the current laws examined in the study that was reported effective is giving police agencies the right to pull over anyone not wearing a seatbelt. NHTSA says “drivers are less likely to use seat belts when they have been drinking. In 2005, 64% of the young drivers of passengers in vehicles involved in fatal crashes who had been drinking were unrestrained. Of young drivers who had been drinking and were killed, 74% were unrestrained.”</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>The PIRE study also projects that while most of the current laws like lowering the legal BAC to .08 and seatbelt laws have been helpful, “an additional 165 lives would be saved” if every state began suspending licenses of anyone caught in possession or under the influence of or trying to purchase alcohol. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>We could further reduce these deaths by making it illegal for teens to even have alcohol in their possession (a projected decrease of 11 percent) and by enacting more severe laws for those possessing fake IDs with the intent to purchase alcohol (a projected increase of 7 percent).</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>“These results provide substantial support for the effectiveness of under age 21 drinking laws and point to the importance of key underage drinking and traffic safety laws in efforts to reduce underage drinking driver crashes,” says Fell.&nbsp; </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>There are some supporters of lowering the minimum drinking age back to 18; however these statistics seem to disagree. Other countries around the world have attempted this proposed change with disastrous results. For example, New Zealand lowered their national drinking age from 20 to 18 in 1999 with not-so-surprising results- a 12% increase in alcohol-associated traffic crashes in males age 18 and 19 and a 51% increase of females in the same age group. Additionally, in 15-17 years olds: an increase of 24% of females and 14% for males. </font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>MADD strongly believes the minimum drinking age <i>should not</i> be lowered, citing crash reductions since the 21 law and referring to research of brain development. “The brain continues to develop into the early twenties. The part that controls reasoning and cognitive ability takes the longest to mature; thus, underage drinking, especially heavy drinking, affects memory and reasoning…Alcohol use in adolescence also decreases executive functioning, memory, spatial operations, and attention among adolescents. And these changes may be permanent.”</font></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p> <p style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>###</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>&nbsp;</font></p>urn:uuid:3d76b0bb-d643-4941-a247-1b686df3697fOK in ‘state of emergency’ after last week’s fires<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/sue%20ogrocki%20associated%20press.jpg' align='left' />Photo courtesy Sue Orgrocki Associated Press Written by: Family Insurance Oklahoma insurance agents are here to assist victims of the devastating wildfires and high winds across the state last week. According to fire officials, more than 50 homes we...Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:17:07 -0500<p align=center><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><font face=Calibri><img height=298 alt="Midwest City firefighters survey the wreckage Photo courtesy of Sue Orgrocki Associated Press" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/sue%20ogrocki%20associated%20press.jpg" width=439><br>Photo courtesy Sue Orgrocki Associated Press</p> <p><br><br>Written by: </font></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/Default.aspx"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>Family Insurance</font></u></span></i></a><i> </i></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Oklahoma insurance agents are here to assist victims of the devastating wildfires and high winds across the state last week.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>According to fire officials, more than 50 homes were burned in Oklahoma County Wednesday evening, the result of just one of many fires statewide. Choctaw, Lindsey and Sparks were also affected, among other areas around the state.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management reports more than 100 homes were destroyed, along with various vehicles and other property and at least 49 people were injured. </font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Over 60 mile per hour winds and the dry grounds in the region contributed to the fires; however, marshals in Midwest City believe the fire there may have been intentionally set by local teens.&nbsp; There are currently no suspects, but it is thought that a group of teens started the fire while hanging out in a local hotspot where the fire began.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has declared a state of emergency for many Oklahoma counties. </font><a href="http://gotomypolicy.com/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#0000ff>Oklahoma Insurance</font></u></a><font face=Calibri> commissioner Kim Holland has also declared a state of emergency to allow adjusters temporarily licenses in order to speed up the claims process for those in need.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>“My thoughts and prayers are with the hundreds of Oklahomans who have lost their homes in these recent fires, and I am committed to getting them the assistance they need. Allowing adjusters from other states will assist insurance companies in quickly assessing damages and paying policyholder’s claims” said Holland.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Policyholders should always refer to their policy documents when filing claims. If something is not understood or if policy documents were destroyed in the fires, they should call their local agents for assistance.</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>“Losing everything is an unimaginable and devastating experience. Oklahoma’s professional agents and adjusters are poised to respond. I have been in contact with many companies…who have already moved claims adjusters into impacted areas to facilitate a quick and timely response for their policyholders”</font></p> <p><font face=Calibri>Holland suggests to affected families to proceed with caution in this vulnerable time, keeping an eye out for fraudulent agents or adjusters. If a person approaches an insured is unsure of, they can look up the agent/adjuster’s credentials on the </font><a href="http://www.ok.gov/oid/"><u><font face=Calibri color=#800080>Oklahoma Insurance Department’s website</font></u></a><font face=Calibri>. The Department has also set their Anti-Fraud Division on high alert to assist in this process.</font></p> <p><i><u><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">ABOUT FAMILY INSURANCE</span></u></i><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>Phone # (405) 329-9780<br>Fax # (405) 823-6917<br></span></i><a href="http://www.gotomypolicy.com/"><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><u><font color=#0000ff>http://www.gotomypolicy.com</font></u></span></i></a><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus"><br>paul@familyinsu.com</span></i></p> <p><i><span style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #d9d9d9; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: Andalus">###</span></i></p>urn:uuid:0bfa7b3b-d3ff-45e3-8682-2f203c0b8628Car Insurance is a lot like a marriage!<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/wedding_car.jpg' align='left' /> Before you commit, know what you’re getting into! With more than 3,000 auto insurers&nbsp;in the United States, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs? Here are four questions to help guide you through the decision process.Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:24:30 -0500<p align=center><img alt="Auto Insurance Norman Oklahoma" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/wedding_car.jpg"></p><br><br><br><img src="http://www.free-press-release.com/img_new/left_quote_free.gif"> <h2 class=font_news_summary_free style="DISPLAY: inline">Before you commit, know what you’re getting into!</h2><img src="http://www.free-press-release.com/img_new/right_quote_free.gif"><br><br> <div class=KonaBody Mi_W_="true">With more than 3,000 auto insurers&nbsp;in the United States, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs? <a href="http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200904/1239115405.html">Here are four questions to help guide you </a>through the decision process.</div>urn:uuid:f0c23352-6d49-4174-af39-fe5f4f768a54 Accidents Account for More Than 1/3 of All Teens<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/teen%20passengers.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Young drivers make many mistakes while behind the wheel that may put their lives, and the lives of their passengers, at risk. Read...Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:31:12 -0500&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="WIDTH: 224px; HEIGHT: 156px" height=151 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/teen%20passengers.jpg" width=224>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img height=270 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/tire%20marks.jpg" width=214><br><br>Young drivers make many mistakes while behind the wheel that may put their lives, and the lives of their passengers, at risk. <a href="http://365articles.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=157132"><u><font color=#800080>Read this article </font></u></a>to find how to educate your teen on safe driving skills.<br><br><br><em><font color=#c0c0c0><font size=1>Blog written by: Gary Cero</font> </font></em>urn:uuid:dfe73602-60f6-4e09-b310-bab36261742d Auto Repair Networks Do the Legwork for Consumers<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/photo_body_work_1.jpg' align='left' />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbs...Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:22:38 -0500&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/photo_body_work_1.jpg"><br><br><br>Which auto body shop should you chose? Insurance companies have networked with quality body shops to make this choice easier. <a href="http://www.acmearticles.com/Art/190828/69/Auto-Repair-Networks-Do-the-Legwork-for-Consumers.html"><u><font color=#800080>Click here</font></u></a> to read about "direct repair networks" and how they benefit you.<br><br><br><br><font face="MS Sans Serif" size=1><em><font face="Times New Roman" color=#c0c0c0>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blog Written By: Brittany Fitzgerald&nbsp;&nbsp; <img style="WIDTH: 55px; HEIGHT: 70px" height=91 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/138.JPG" width=71></font></em></font>urn:uuid:d4018a6e-2303-45c7-9da0-7eb5d18554aeWhat's your insurance IQ?According to National Association of Insurance Commisioners, many Americans believe they possess sufficient knowledge on insurance to make policy-related decisions. NAIC's findings tell seem to disagree. The study showed that most Americans failed th...Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:26:12 -0500<span class=subPrimaryTextCell id=DataGrid1__ctl3_blog_entry>According to National Association of Insurance Commisioners, many Americans believe they possess sufficient knowledge on insurance to make policy-related decisions. NAIC's findings tell seem to disagree. The study showed that most Americans failed their simple&nbsp;quiz on auto, home and life insurance with a whooping 49%... <br><br><a href="http://www.insureuonline.org/"><u><font color=#800080>Click here to find out how your insurance knowledge measures up!</font></u></a><br><em><font color=#808080 size=1>*The link to the Insurance Intelligence quiz is at the top of the page on the right-hand side.<br><br><br><br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blog written by: Brittany Fitzgerald&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<img style="WIDTH: 70px; HEIGHT: 87px" height=92 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/138.JPG" width=72></font></em></span>urn:uuid:20ddf3e7-dfc7-4203-9abf-e1cb6577a94011 vehicles earn TOP SAFETY PICK award<img src='http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/103154/2009-top-safety-pick-i1.jpg' align='left' />The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has annouced its' Top Safety Picks for 2009. Find out how your vehicle ranks in crash-test ratings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;...Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:09:35 -0500<p align=left>The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has annouced its' Top Safety Picks for 2009. <a href="http://365articles.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=154463"><u><font color=#800080>Find out how your vehicle ranks in crash-test ratings.&nbsp;</font></u></a><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 225px" height=147 src="http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/103154/2009-top-safety-pick-i1.jpg" width=318><br><br><br>For more information on how vehicles are tested, read the information below from <em>IIHS.com:</em><br></p> <hr> <p>&nbsp;<em>The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a <span class=TSP>Top Safety Pick</span> is to earn good ratings in all three Institute tests. Another requirement is that winning vehicles must offer electronic stability control. This requirement is based on Institute research indicating that ESC significantly reduces crash risk, especially the risk of fatal single-vehicle crashes, by helping drivers maintain control of their vehicles during emergency maneuvers.</em></p> <h2 class=redtext><em>Crashworthiness refers to how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash.&nbsp;</em></h2> <p><em><img class=imagesright style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 50px" alt="frontal test icon" src="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/images/frontalicon.jpg" align=left> </em></p> <p><em><strong>40 mph frontal offset crash tests</strong> are good assessments of vehicles' structural design</em><u><font color=#0066cc><em> <hr> </em> <p></p> <p></font></u><a id=sideairbags name=sideairbags></a><em><u><font color=#0066cc><img class=imagesright style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 50px" alt="side test icon" src="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/images/sideicon.jpg" align=left></font></u> </em></p> <p><em><strong>Side impact crash tests</strong> are good assessments of occupant protection when vehicles are struck in the side by SUVs or pickups</em><u><font color=#0066cc><em> <hr> </em></p> <p></p> <p></font></u><a name=rearratings></a><em><u><font color=#0066cc><img class=imagesright style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 50px" alt="rear test icon" src="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/images/rearicon.jpg" align=left></font></u> </em></p> <p><em><strong>Rear crash protection/head restraint ratings</strong> focus on how well seat/head restraint combinations protect against whiplash injury</em><em> <hr> </em></p> <p><a id=esc name=esc></a><em><img class=imagesright style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 50px" alt=icon src="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/images/escicon.jpg" align=left> </em></p> <p><em><strong>Vehicles equipped with electronic stability control (ESC)</strong> </em><em>About half of the fatal passenger vehicle crashes that occur each year involve a single vehicle. Equipping vehicles with ESC can reduce the risk of involvement in these crashes by more than 50 percent.</em><u><font color=#0066cc><em> <hr> </em> <p><em><img class=imagesright style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 50px" alt="bumper test icon" src="http://www.iihs.org/ratings/images/bumpericon.jpg" align=left></em></font></u><em> </em></p> <p><em><strong>Bumper testing program </strong></em><em>The Institute's new series of tests does a better job than the old tests in matching the kind of low-speed impacts that occur in the real world. Each car is run into a barrier designed to mimic the design of a car bumper. The steel barrier's plastic absorber and flexible cover simulate typical cars' energy absorbers and plastic bumper covers.</em> <p><em>The four tests include front and rear full-width impacts at 6 mph and front and rear corner impacts at 3 mph. The barrier is 18 inches from the ground in the full-width tests and 16 inches from ground in the corner impacts. These heights are designed to drive bumper improvements and lead to better protection from damage in a range of real-world crashes. In developmental tests, these configurations produced the kinds and amounts of damage that commonly occur in low-speed collisions.</em><strong> <hr> </strong><br><br><font color=#c0c0c0 size=1><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Blog written by: Gary Cero&nbsp;&nbsp; <img style="WIDTH: 50px; HEIGHT: 66px" height=75 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/136.JPG" width=46></em></font></p>urn:uuid:cd59c814-e7d3-42e0-9c98-9bdbb435f035Big Name Pickups Leave Something to be Desired<img src='http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/ext_gallery16.jpg' align='left' />The 2009 models of a few big name pickups provide wimpy side crash protection in tests conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Read this article to find out which pickups faired poorly in the tests and may leave you wanting to more.....Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:59:23 -0500<br>The 2009 models of a few big name pickups provide wimpy side crash protection in tests conducted by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. <a href="http://www.articlealley.com/article_817939_31.html">Read this article </a>to find out which pickups faired poorly in the tests and may leave you wanting to more...protection, that is. <br><br><br><img style="WIDTH: 454px; HEIGHT: 190px" height=190 alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/ext_gallery16.jpg" width=489><br><font face=Verdana color=#c0c0c0 size=1><em>photo taken from Chevrolet.com<br><br><br><br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Blog written by&nbsp;Paul Steiner&nbsp;<img style="WIDTH: 42px; HEIGHT: 61px" alt="" src="http://insurancewebsitebuilder.com/admin/images/~www.familyinsu.com/135.JPG" align=absMiddle><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</em></font>urn:uuid:0e31802d-1ce4-4f51-a5ce-585f46848655Plan now for springtime weather extremesWe have begun our Spring mailings this month. This quarter's newsletter is about staying safe and protecting your home against tornadoes and flood damage. Read the article text here&nbsp;to learn what you can do to prepare for the upcoming spring wea...Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:44:05 -0600We have begun our Spring mailings this month. This quarter's newsletter is about staying safe and protecting your home against tornadoes and flood damage. <a href="http://www.articlealley.com/article_809660_27.html">Read the article text here</a>&nbsp;to learn what you can do to prepare for the upcoming spring weather extremes! If you're wondering if you're carrying proper coverages, call to speak with one of our agents today!urn:uuid:0ec76882-e33b-4f62-ae7e-9cd4e422ac4eYour child's booster seat may be dangerousThis article&nbsp;has a lot of great information about child booster seats. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety conducted an evaluation of the top 41 booster seats ad found that 13 of them were not preforming their duties properly. Check out th...Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:59:51 -0600<a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Sub-par-booster-seats-put-children-at-risk/748862">This article</a>&nbsp;has a lot of great information about child booster seats. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety conducted an evaluation of the top 41 booster seats ad found that 13 of them were not preforming their duties properly. Check out the article to see a list of booster seats that are recommended, those that are just okay and those that are doing their jobs properly. urn:uuid:5cb95fce-0a55-446e-ba4f-fdf77cd097f8Do you know your vehicle history?The National Insurance Crime Bureau has developed a database for consumer protection. Just what are they protecting you from? Click here&nbsp;to read my article and find out.Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:51:53 -0600The National Insurance Crime Bureau has developed a database for consumer protection. Just what are they protecting you from? Click <a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Free-VIN-Check-From-The-National-Insurance-Crime-Bureau/723989">here</a>&nbsp;to read my article and find out.urn:uuid:faff0c29-979f-405a-bea6-f8d1e47ec3981 in 4 Oklahomans Driving Without Auto InsuranceYou may be driving alongside more uninsured motorists than you think. Brittany ran across a new study that revealed some startling information about Oklahoma drivers. To read the full article and learn what you can do to protect yourself in a loss, f...Wed, 11 Feb 2009 11:33:40 -0600You may be driving alongside more uninsured motorists than you think. Brittany ran across a new study that revealed some startling information about Oklahoma drivers. To read the full article and learn what you can do to protect yourself in a loss, <a href="http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Oklahoma-Rates-Fourth-Worst-in-the-Nation-for-Uninsured-Motorists/495737">follow this link</a>.urn:uuid:cd8fa217-e367-4d6d-afb6-5900d88a3049Older Drivers Are More Likely To Die In IntersectiRecently, I ran across some courious information, so I put together an article about what I learned. It is about how older drivers are more likely to have fatal car accidents in intersections than younger drivers. Here is the link to read my article:...Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:32:21 -0600Recently, I ran across some courious information, so I put together an article about what I learned. It is about how older drivers are more likely to have fatal car accidents in intersections than younger drivers. Here is the link to read my article:<span lang=EN> <p></span><a href="http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Older-Drivers-More-Likely-To-Die-In-Accidents/484909"><u><font color=#0000ff size=2><font color=#0000ff size=2><span lang=EN>http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Older-Drivers-More-Likely-To-Die-In-Accidents/484909</u></font></font></span></a><font size=2> <br><br></p></font>