If These Don't Warm Your Heart, Charles Dickens Wrote A Book About You

Check out these entries in our 1st Annual Holiday Card and Calendar Contest!

You can get the full details on the contest here.

A Slightly Unusual Auto Policy

A recent news article in Insurance Journal notes that Hulk Hogan has added his ex-wife in a lawsuit against his insurance broker for failing to adequately protect his fortune. Seems said broker neglected to mention to the Hulkster that given his wealth, an umbrella policy might be in order.

Although the case itself isn't all that interesting, it does bring up the issue of special insurance needs held by members of certain professions, which would no doubt cause some interesting moments should they come by an office to buy a policy. For example:

"Now, sir, I understand you'd like to purchase an auto policy with us."

"That is correct."

"And you say the car in question is an Aston Martin."

"Yes."

"Well, luxury sports cars do require a high premium, but I'll be glad to help you. I'll just need some basic information. The license plate number?"

"Which one?"

"Um... you car has more than one license plate?"

"Yes, it has several."

"Isn't that a bit unusual?"

"Well, I rotate them depending on where I am."

"I see. Now on your application form, sir, you indicated the car has some modifications that might require additional endorsements."

"Yes."

"Very well, let's take a look here... you want coverage for ancillary damage from weaponry?"

"Quite. Despite all efforts to avoid it, there are times when a missile or bullet might go astray."

"Your car shoots missiles and guns?"

"Yes."

"Sir, we don't insure military vehicles."

"Oh, I assure you it's not a military vehicle. Just a sports car."

"Do all sports cars come equipped with rocket launchers?"

"It is an unfortunate necessity in my line of work."

"Um... of course. Now, you say you also need a boat policy?"

"Yes."

"Very well then... name of boat manufacturer?"

"Aston Martin."

"Sir, Aston Martin doesn't make boats."

"I know. It's for the car."

"The car is a boat?"

"It has that capacity, yes."

"Sir, is this some kind of joke?"

"Oh, no. I'm quite serious. The car can be used as a boat if need be."

"Er... very well, sir. Now, it says here you're not interested in the glass replacement coverage."

"Correct."

"The reason being?"

"Bulletproof glass. Quite indestructible."

"But of course, sir. Oh, your name please?"

"Bond. James Bond."

"I should have known."

How To Argue

Given that we're all human, there will come a time or two (or three or four or more) when we'll find ourselves in an argument with someone else. It happens.

The question is how best to handle an argument. Which probably sounds like a bit of an oxymoron, since we're often taught the best method with which to approach disagreements is avoiding them. Certainly we should try to skip needless arguments. However, people being people disagreements will arise. How to handle them?

Author Barry Eisler recently offered some suggestions:

• Insults and the Golden Rule. Speak to the other person in the manner to which you wish to be spoken. Lay off the sarcasm.
• No one cares about your opinion. This sounds harsh, but it is often the case. Argue with logic, reason and facts as your basis, not "want to know what I think?"
• Your ego is your enemy. The moment you make an argument about yourself, or take things too personally, you're tap-dancing in a minefield. Remain detached.
• Good argument is good conversation. Keep the tone and demeanor warm. As my Mom often said, you catch a lot more flies with honey than vinegar.
• Avoid false binaries. If you employ an either/or scenario in your argument, make sure it's logically and factually sound. "Either we lower taxes or the blue meanies will invade Pepperland" notions should be avoided.
• Avoid sham arguments. A prime example of this is using a truism as the basis of your argument. This is a none-too transparent way of saying the person you're arguing with is so dense they can't grasp basic facts. Refer back to the first rule. You don't score points by insinuating the other person is a moron. Also, avoid the straw man technique, which consists of creating someone or something to first attach to the argument, then attack, that has no genuine bearing on the subject at hand.
  
• Avoid cliches. They speak of only unoriginality. If you can't come up with anything fresh to express your point of view, why should you expect the other person to accept your point of view as something other than a rehash?
• Don't digress. Stay on target.
• Separate the subjective from the objective. Don't dispute the other person's opinion. They have as much right to one as you. Instead, focus on facts.

Thoughts?

The Risks Of Public Service

According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil servants run a significantly higher risk of job-related injuries than private employees. 1.85% of public employees require time away from the job due to workplace-related injuries and/or illnesses, as compared to 1.06% for private firms.



The occupations with the highest occurrence of workplace-related injuries and/or illnesses are:

• Transit and intercity bus drivers



• Law enforcement officers



• Emergency response workers, such as firefighters



• Nursing aides and orderlies

Understandable, given the natures of said professions.



Yet another reminder of why CSE serves the people who serve the people.



They deserve it.

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/fa1p

The Risks Of Public Service

Picking up from yesterday:

According to statistics compiled by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil servants run a significantly higher risk of job-related injuries than private employees. 1.85% of public employees require time away from the job due to workplace-related injuries and/or illnesses, as compared to 1.06% for private firms.

The occupations with the highest occurrence of workplace-related injuries and/or illnesses are:

• Transit and intercity bus drivers
• Law enforcement officers
• Emergency response workers, such as firefighters
• Nursing aides and orderlies

Understandable, given the natures of said professions.

Yet another reminder of why CSE serves the people who serve the people.

They deserve it.

Are Public Employees At Greater Risk On The Job Than Private Employees?

Given our string connection with public employees, here's a note of interest. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, civil servants have a much higher rate of workplace-related injuries than workers in the private sector.

More on this tomorrow.

Tips For Saving Money During The Holidays (And All Year 'Round)

The holidays are fast approaching, and with them the one thought that consumes hearts and minds across the land:



How am I going to pay for all this stuff?



Short of giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to your MasterCard, one way to beat the holiday budget blues is by tightening up elsewhere. Naturally, this means you can afford to spend more on others, who in return will do the same for you. Either that, or you can make them feel like a heel throughout the upcoming year.



Here, according to the fine folk at WalletPop, are ten areas in which you can save some serious scratch by going the do-it-yourself route:

• Text messaging. Unless you text a ton and have an unlimited plan, those OMG's will leave you saying just that when you get the bill. According to the Chicago Tribune, the average phone carrier realizes a profit of 6,000% on each message. Which is nothing to LOL about when you're paying for it.



• Bottled water. No, this isn't some PC environmental deal, although that does figure into the matter. It's more the 4,000% markup we pay every time we buy a bottle of water instead of drinking from the tap. Granted, sometimes there's little choice in the matter. However, whenever possible grab a glass or refillable bottle.



• Popcorn at a movie theater. Yes, eating popcorn while watching the latest flick is almost mandatory behavior. But the 1,275% markup should be enough to make anyone decide they can live without for a couple of hours.



• Brand name prescription drugs. Unless there is no generic for whatever your doctor prescribes, always ask for the generic. In the past year, brand name drugs have increased in price by an average of 10% while generics have had a price decrease. Add this to the already far higher cost of brand names (anywhere from 200% to 3,000%)... you get the idea.



• Mini bar in a hotel room. Unless shelling out a 300% to 400% markup is your idea of a fun time, do not open that door!



• Coffee. No, no one's suggesting you abstain altogether from the stuff. (Unless you're like me and allergic to caffeine. But I digress.) No, where to steer clear is coffee shops. At a 300% markup over what you'd pay to brew a cup at home, a thermos would be a wise investment.



• Wine at a restaurant. If ever you wanted a reason to stop drinking, the 300% markup should do the trick.



• Greeting cards. 200% markup, or sending someone a hand-written note? Your call.



• In-room movies at a hotel. At a 200% markup, you're better off watching the local news. Or movies on your laptop.



• Pre-cut fruit and vegetable platters. Save 40% by doing your own chopping, slicing and dicing.

Now, there is one area the story missed...

• Not having both your Auto and Homeowners insurance with CSE. Do you really want to miss out on taking 14% off your Auto policy and 10% off your Homeowners policy? Didn't think so.

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/evyo

The Things You Can Do On Twitter

One of the more popular hobbies for folk on Twitter is the hashtag game. On Twitter, a hashtag (#) when placed directly in front of a word, or words strung together into one, creates a link which when selected will pull up a list of all tweets by all users who have the hashtag in one of their tweets. As an example, if you have a Twitter account (and if not, you need one), try searching the hashtag #insurance sometime. You'll get some interesting results.

The game aspect of hashtags comes when someone makes up one and it catches on. Occasionally they can be rather risque, but for the most part they're harmless.

One that's been going around today is #tweetyour16yearoldself. It's a way of doing what we all wish we could do; namely, warn ourselves about what we should and shouldn't do during our hazy, crazy teen years. It's also providing the opportunity for some rather witty statements:

• Do NOT alienate that history teacher! It will cost you an extra year of high school. You never listen. Ever.
  
  
• I think if I could just meet Rick Springfield, he'd see we were meant to be together! (Good Grief!)
  
  
• Try being a miserable teenager now instead of when you're 20 - it's much more socially acceptable.
  
  
• It gets better... but your hair doesn't.
  
  
• Keep putting money into $AAPL and don't sell. Trust me on this one.
  
  
• Irrespective of what your PE report suggests, learning to throw & catch is not an essential life skill.
  
  
• For the September 4th, 1986 lottery drawing, have Mom buy a ticket with the numbers 3-14-17-23-39-47.
  
  
• Keep the supermodelling up. You'll need something to fall back on if the neuroscience & astrophysics don't work out.
  
  
• Write a novel about a boy wizard learning magic at an old British boarding school.
  
  
• Keep ALL of your old video games and consoles. No point buying them twice, you idiot.
  
  
• Trust me, you'll be glad you grew up before the age where everyone has a cellphone camera & twitter account.

And my favorite thus far:

• #tweetyour16yearoldself has reminded me of what a self-pitying, self-righteous, whiny, know-it-all little snot I was at 16.

Election Day is Cupcakes and Cocktails Time -- Honest

As you hopefully know, today is Election Day across the nation.

The privilege of being allowed to freely select those who hold positions in government is not one to be taken lightly. Many a soldier, sailor, Marine and airman over the past two hundred and thirty years has paid the ultimate price so we can vote for the candidate of our choice. And then complain about them all the way up to the next election.

And if you don't vote, turn in your 'right to complain' card immediately.

A few enterprising individuals have added culinary enticements to the appeal to vote. For example, locations of The Counter hamburger chain are offering a free side of fries today with proof of voting, otherwise known as your "I Voted" sticker. Meanwhile, assorted bars in San Francisco (I'm personally amazed they have anything left to serve after last night, but whatever) are offering fifty cent drink specials to people who've voted. For those whose taste run more toward frosting than the foam atop a glass of beer, various shops are devoted to enticing your sweet tooth with the offer of a free cupcake upon proof of voting.

In any case, free food or not... please vote. Thanks!