Rental Car Insurance - Should You Buy Rental Car Insurance?

Your flight landed an hour late. Now, you'll be late for that important meeting. You can already imagine your customers sitting around a conference table waiting impatiently. You step to the front of the line at the car rental counter, with six other exasperated businessmen behind you who are late for their meetings, too. The rental agent plunks the contract down in front of you, and circles all the places on the contract that you're supposed to sign or initial. Then she stares at you, as if to say, "Hurry up!" The print is small. The sentences are written in Legalese. You'd like to stop and read the fine print, but you can feel the people behind you getting more upset. You thought you were renting a car for $35.00 per day. With all the add-ons, the cost is now $70.00 per day.

Oh...the pressure...the panic! You cave in, signing and leaving your initials in all the right places. You take your contract and keys and head for your car, inwardly feeling like a failure and mad because you didn't stand up for yourself.

If the preceding story is too familiar, there's hope just ahead!

It doesn't matter if you're a regular car renter or just an occasional traveler who needs to rent a car, you'll likely face these kinds of choices at the car rental counter. Some folks just decline everything. Some folks purchase all of the coverage offered.

But...are you wasting bunches of money on unneeded coverage or leaving yourself dangerously under insured? Before leaving on your trip, I recommend that you make two phone calls - one to your auto insurance company and another to the credit card company you'll be using to pay for the rental car. You'll need to find out if you have automatic coverage for your car rental from each company, and the various terms and conditions for that automatic coverage.

FIRST...CALL YOUR CAR INSURANCE COMPANY

In your personal or business auto insurance policy, there is coverage for damage to your auto. The Insuring Agreement in most policies says: " We will pay for direct and accidental loss to 'your covered auto' or any 'non-owned auto,' including their equipment, minus any applicable deductible shown in the Declarations."

Another phrase is VERY IMPORTANT!

"If there is a loss to a 'non-owned auto', we will provide the broadest coverage applicable to any 'covered auto' in the Declarations." Here's an example of how this would work for you:

You have two vehicles. One is a 2006 Toyota Camry with full coverage. It's worth $24,000. The other is a 1980 Chevy S-10 pickup worth $1,500 that you only use for trips back and forth to the local home improvement store, and you only have liability coverage on the pickup. If you rented a car and it got damaged, your insurance company would provide the full coverage for the rental car, which is the broadest coverage in your policy.

If you normally drive an older car with only liability insurance on it, there will not be any property damage insurance extended to the rental car. In this instance, you should either use the credit card's Collision Damage Waiver or buy the CDW from the car rental company.

Ask your insurance company representative how much coverage you have on your car. Ask if there is a limit of value on your Collision coverage. If there is a limit, and you drive a 7 year old Ford Taurus that's worth $5,500...and you rent a new Cadillac Escalade that's worth $55,000...will your personal auto insurance cover the damage to the higher valued vehicle? REALLY important to know this...you could owe the rental car company tens of thousands of dollars to repair or replace a high value rental vehicle if you're not properly covered.

Find out the limits of liability. Make sure that your limits are higher than the minimum limits required by your state. Limits above $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident for Bodily Injury, and $100,000 for Property Damage are very inexpensive. Make sure that you limits are no less than that amount...higher would be better.

Find out what collision and comprehensive deductibles you have on your car, because those deductibles will apply when you rent a car and use your own insurance for rental coverage.

Make sure that you have Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage on your personal or business policy. If you are in an accident with an uninsured motorist, and the accident is his fault, recovery will be practically impossible. Likewise with a motorist who is underinsured. Best to have your own coverage protection.

Q: What if I don't own a car, and don't have car insurance?

A: If you do not own a car, you won't have an automobile policy. You should buy the rental car coverage, both the CDW and liability coverage. Or, you should use your credit card's CDW and buy the optional liability coverage from the rental car company. If you're a frequent car renter, however, you can still buy a "non-owner" liability policy. This solution might save you money over the coverage available through the car rental company.

Q: What happens if my personal property inside the car gets damaged or stolen?

A: Most Collision Damage Waivers provide coverage for theft of the vehicle, but not any personal property stolen or damaged inside the vehicle. Check your homeowners or renter's insurance policy because you may have coverage through them for your stolen or damaged personal property. A deductible will likely apply.

Here's a super important tip! Some people think that, if they purchased the Collision Damage Waiver or used the CDW from their credit card, and the rental car got damaged, they don't have to report it to their own insurance company. They are hoping that because the CDW covers the damage, it won't affect their own insurance policy....and they won't get a rate increase. WRONG!!! Don't be misled into thinking that you can get away without reporting your accident to your own insurance company. In most accidents, more things get damaged than just the rental car. Even if your accident is just you running into a guardrail, whoever owns that guardrail is going to look to you to pay for the damages. Also, other people might have been injured. You could have a large liability exposure, and you might need your personal or business auto policy to cover your loss. Your insurance policy includes legal representation if someone files a lawsuit against you for damages.

If you're going to use your own personal or business auto coverage, decline the Collision Damage Waiver on the car rental contract.

NEXT...CALL THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY

Ask your credit card company about the benefits they offer. Each company is different, and each level of credit is different. For example, a regular card might have different insurance benefits than a gold or platinum card. Ask the card company to send you your benefits IN WRITING. If you're in a hurry, ask them to fax or email it to you.

Some cards may only cover collision and comprehensive, and leave you uninsured for liability. Some cards only offer coverage when you rent from a certain rental company. Some restrict the number of days of coverage. Some cards don't automatically cover you and require you to sign up for a particular program. Still others limit the kinds of vehicles you can rent. (see below for some exclusions)

If you have more than one credit card, call each one and find out the card with the best benefits. Then, use that credit card to pay for your rental car, and use their benefits.

If you're planning on using the credit card company's coverage, you must decline the Collision Damage Waiver shown in the rental car contract. Otherwise, the credit card company's coverage will become excess to the coverage in the rental car company's Collision Damage Waiver. "Excess" means that any other available coverage would pay first, and the credit card coverage would pay any remaining portion of the loss.

Credit card Collision Damage Waivers cover:

o vehicle damage
o theft
o loss of use
o towing

See your credit card company's written CDW for all the details.

Collision Damage Waivers exclude:

o Injury to anyone or damage to anything inside or outside the rental vehicle.

o Loss or theft of personal belongings.

o Liability

o Loss due to intentional acts, like DUI, drug use or other illegal activities.

o Off-road operations. If you rent an SUV and take it off-road, no coverage.

o Rental periods of more than 15 days within your country of residence, or more than 31 days in a foreign country.

o Vehicles that do not meet the definition of "covered vehicles," such as:

- expensive, exotic and antique vehicles

- certain vans

- pickup trucks

- other trucks

- motorcycles and ATVs

See your credit card company's written CDW for all the details.

CAR RENTAL INSURANCE

Most major rental car companies offer these four coverages.

o Collision Damage Waiver (CDW). This covers a rental vehicle damaged by an accident, vandalism, theft or loss of use. Costs range between $9 and $20 per day.

The most misunderstood part of car rental coverage is the Collision Damage Waiver, or sometimes called the "Auto Rental CDW."

Remember...the car rental CDW provided by the car rental company is not insurance. Insurance is regulated by each state. Collision Damage coverage is a waiver. The car rental companies agree to not hold the renter responsible if the rental car is damaged or stolen, and they guarantee that they will pay for certain damages listed in their coverage agreement.

In many cases, the waiver also provides "loss of use" coverage, which pays the rental company if the damaged or stolen car cannot be rented. In most states, car insurance policies don't cover loss of use. So, if you choose not to buy the Collision Damage Waiver, you might have a loss of use exposure if the rental car gets damaged. But if you're using your credit card's automatic coverage, it will pay for that loss of use.

Some car rental companies will require you to pay for repairs or replacement costs out of your own pocket up front, and then you have to get reimbursed by your own insurance company. Being forced to come up with thousands of dollars in immediate cash could ruin a vacation. You're protected from these up-front costs by the CDW. Read your rental contract CAREFULLY!

o Personal Effects Coverage. This provides coverage for theft or damage to personal items inside the rental car. Costs range between $2 and $5 per day.

o Supplemental Liability Insurance. This provides liability coverage up to $1 million. Costs range between $7 and $9 per day.

o Personal Accident Insurance. This covers you and passengers in your vehicle for medical expenses. If you already have personal health policies or travel policies, it won't be necessary to buy this optional coverage. It usually costs between $3 and $5 per day.

Corporate Travelers. If you're a frequent traveler for business, do one other thing. Check with your company to find out if they have a corporate travel policy. If they do, find out what that policy covers, and then simply don't buy duplicate coverage on the rental car contract.

Car rental outside your country of residence. Some insurers exclude coverage if you're driving in a foreign country. Some will cover you, but only a limited time. Some credit card companies cover car rentals outside your country of residence. Check with your insurance company and credit card company for specific details, and GET IT IN WRITING!

Q: Can I allow others to drive my rental car?

A: If you're using your personal or business auto coverage to cover your rental car, the chances are all "authorized drivers" are covered. An "authorized driver" is anyone listed on the policy. However, here's a BIG GOTCHA! If your teenaged son drives your rental car and he allows his girlfriend to drive the car, you're covered. If the girlfriend allows another person to drive, NO COVERAGE!

Some car rental companies have exclusions for young drivers. Some charge extra for young drivers. Find out this information BEFORE you arrive at the car rental counter.

Q: How do I file a claim if I've had an accident?

A: When you experience the damage or theft, immediately get a camera and take lots of photos of the damage, including any other autos or property that was damaged. Keep those photos! Notify the rental company IMMEDIATELY of the damage.

Report the damage to your own auto insurance company if you have personal or business coverage.

When you return the vehicle to the rental company immediately ask for:

o A copy of the accident report and any claim documents, which should show the amount you're responsible to pay, as well as any amounts that have been paid toward the claim.
o A copy of the initial and final auto rental agreements.
o A copy of the repair estimate or the paid repair invoice.
o A police report, if one exists.

So the bottom line is this:

If you have personal auto insurance, commercial auto insurance or corporate travel coverage, it is usually not necessary to pay for the Collision Damage Waiver or extra coverages offered to you by the rental car contract. Your situation may vary.

Get everything in writing, and make an informed decision. Then enjoy your car rental experience!

o bebe mais able do mundo

golo atrasado



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ScGB6bZw74&hl=en

Space Saving - Kids Rooms

When you are planning your kids' rooms you will probably have to take into account space - or lack of it! Few of us have rooms that extend the width or depth of the house and, for those who do, I am sure you will come up with decorating problems, albeit different ones to decorating space saving kids rooms. First and foremost, when considering decorating a kid's room, you need to come up with an idea that is going to work for a number of years - one your child can live with as they grow up. While it is not too expensive to add a new coat of paint once in a while, replacing battered furniture too often is likely to punch a hole straight through your carefully planned finances. So, choose furniture that is sturdy and durable and which has sufficiently basic styling to fit in with new innovations over the years.

Good storage is a key to making space saving work in kids' rooms. Choose a tall dresser with lots of deep drawers, suitable to store all your children's clothes and other items - perhaps with shelves above for books to be stacked on. Shelving doesn't have to be expensive, solid wood: wire shelving works just as well, as does melamine. Melamine furniture may often get a bad press, but when it comes to kid-proof furniture, melamine does take quite a few kicks and knocks, is cheap to purchase and cheap to replace. For other storage options, try hanging baskets from the ceiling and make use of under-bed storage for out-of-season clothes or bedding.

When it comes to sleeping arrangements, there are a huge range of beds for kids on the market these days. From make-believe fairy castles to bat-mobile, beds come in all shapes and sizes. For space saving kids rooms, however, how about a kid's loft bed? These are fairly easy to install and not too expensive to buy. These beds are always popular and, as with the traditional bunk beds, going up a ladder to bed has always caught a child's imagination. As long as you ensure you have adequate railing attached to the bed to ensure your child's safety during sleep, these loft beds are an excellent way to achieve space saving in kids' rooms.

Of course, whether you opt for the traditional bunk beds in a room that two children need to share, or whether you give your imagination full reign and create a bedroom from your child's wildest dreams, attempting to save as much space in your kids' rooms as possible will ensure you child has much more floor space available for imaginative play. If your child is excited about their personal environment, they will get immense enjoyment out of spending time there. You may find it a real challenge planning your space saving kids rooms but, overall, providing a room for your kids that is filled with fun should be a joyful experience that draws on your own capacity for imagination and lateral thinking.

Kids' Games

Kids love to play, so games are a major part of their lives. Choosing the
right games for you kids can be a challenge. It needs to be fun, but you
also want them to "get something" from the games. There are new games
coming out all the time, but sometimes the classics are still the best.

Outdoor games - Outdoor games are a great way to encourage teamwork and get
exercise at the same time. Softball, baseball, wiffleball are always a hit.
Badminton and volleyball are inexpensive, and a lot of fun for everyone.
There are also games that require no equipment, like Tag and Duck, Duck,
Goose, that are always favorites.

Board games - Board games are a great way to spend family time, and
encourage taking turns and playing by the rules. There are the classic
board games, like Candyland for younger children. Then games like Clue,
which encourage logic and puzzle solving and Monopoly, where they can learn
about money. There are also many trivia games that help test knowledge and
have a little fun, too.

Card games - Card games are always a fun family activity. Simple games like
Go Fish and Old Maid help kids learn to match. Other card games, like
Cribbage, can help with math skills. There are other specialty card games,
like UNO, which are also good for matching and following directions.

Computer/video games - There are an almost unlimited number of computer and
video games, with new systems coming out all the time. Not all the games are
bad. There are quite a few educational games, as well. The best games
encourage creative thinking, puzzle solving and help improve hand eye
coordination. The key is checking out games, through reviews and other
parents, before buying a new game for your children.

On-line games - There are several websites that provide kid-friendly and
educational games. PBS Kids, Nick Jr. and others have games that feature
the kids' favorite characters, and help them learn skills while having fun.
Parents always need to supervise the sites to make sure they are safe for
kids.

If all else fails, give them an empty box, some crayons and see what
happens.

Travel Insurance: Prevention Is Better Than Bills

It is really fun going on a holiday trip. You will be so busy strolling around, doing what you do not usually do, like skiing, windsurfing and other activities worth spending your holiday with. Outdoor trip is really fun and entertaining. You are enjoying snow boarding but suddenly you broke your leg. We don't know when accidents may happen. It is just practical to get a travel insurance plan.

Travel insurance plan is a way to minimize the considerable financial risks of traveling. These risks include accidents, illness, and missed flights, canceled tours, lost baggage, emergency evacuation and getting your body home if you die.

Each traveler's risk and potential loss varies, depending on how much of the trip is prepaid, the kind of air ticket purchased, your state of health, the value of your luggage, where you're traveling, what medical coverage you already have and the financial health of the tour company or airline. For some, insurance is a good deal; for others, it's not.

What are the different types of Travel Insurance?

1. Interruption insurance and trip cancellations. It covers financial penalties or losses you encounter when you cancel a prepaid tour of flight for an acceptable reason. These might include you and your family members who can't travel because of sickness.

It might also include you business partner or airline that goes out of business or can't perform as promised. It is also possible to cancel if you have a family member who is sick. For a good reason such as a car accident or inclement weather, you miss a flight or need an emergency flight. In other words, if you or your travel partner breaks a leg a few days before your trip, you can both bail out and neither of you will lose a penny.

And if, a day into your tour, you have an accident, both of you will be flown home and you'll be reimbursed for the emergency one-way return flight which usually costs far more than your economy round-trip fare and whatever portion of the tour you have not used.

2. Medical insurance cover medical and dental emergencies. Check your health plan before getting a medical insurance because you may be already covered by it. Search for benefits and deductibles and the procedures for reimbursement of the emergency expenses.

3. Baggage insurance is included in the most comprehensive policies, but is rare to buy separately. This actually the insurance for your items such as jewelry, eyewear, electronics and photographic equipments. If the airline checked your baggage, it is already covered by the airlines. Homeowners' insurance is cheaper and you'll have coverage even after your trip.

4. Flight insurance is crash coverage, is a statistical rip-off that heirs love. It's basically a life insurance policy that covers you when you're on the airplane. Since plane crashes are so rare, there's little sense in spending money on this insurance.

5. Comprehensive travel insurance it covers all, airfare, car rentals, tour etc. it depends on you age. This can be a better deal for travelers with less of the trip prepaid because coverage is the same regardless of the premium you pay. Some comprehensive policies also cover collision damage, which allows you to avoid paying your car-rental company for collision damage waiver CDW insurance.

Never buy travel insurance from companies with no names. Not all insurance companies are licensed. You do not have a case if you claim problems with a licensed company with no license. Most of the licensed insurance companies are open 24 hours.

Getting travel insurance is as good as securing your family's health. It is making sure that everyone is properly protected, including the loss of your passport, money or luggage, travel delays, missed departures and incurring legal expenses. It is like you are sure you are having a safe trip.

How to Use CDW Promo Codes

It is nearly impossible to run a business without the use of computers, the Internet and online services. As technology develops and expands, effective computer, Internet and online troubleshooting services become necessary to ensure a company's daily productivity. That is why computer hardware and software companies, like CDW, are imperative in today's marketplace.

The efficiency of computers and their networking systems are crucial to a company's everyday operations. However, regular online and computer maintenance can grow costly and expensive to a small business. This is why joining a bulk discount network is ideal for companies who wish to save significant amounts of money on a vast array of goods and services. These buying groups offer members premium deals, online coupons and members-only savings benefits, like CDW discount codes.

CDW promo codes allow users to save up to 10% of the final price of their purchases. How can you or your business gain access to these premium coupon codes and online discounts? Companies can become privilege to a wide array of deals and special promo codes by joining a bulk discount network, like ABN Save. These organizations provide companies with simple and useful methods to save on a significant portion of their final costs.

It can take some time and patience to find the best bulk discount network for your business. Many networks offer discount codes and online coupons for a number of companies and services. Before you decide to join a bulk discount network, it is important that you closely examine the exact needs of your business. The specific bulk supplier may provide discounts and coupon codes for several different services that may be extremely useful to your company.

* Examine the needs of your employees. Will you use a majority of the available savings and premium benefits that the bulk discount network provides? Some services, like the Allied Business Network, provide members with savings on a wide variety of office necessities like computer hardware, supplies, printing and shipping services and furniture. Many of these savings codes are extremely beneficial to a corporate environment, like CDW coupon codes.

* Will it cost me anything? Most bulk discount networks give members access to substantial online discounts and coupon codes at no charge. Proceed with caution if a bulk buying network asks for upfront fees or membership charges.

* Is the bulk discount network easy to use? No one wants to be consumed with confusing codes and complicated processes. Most buying groups, like the Allied Business Network are simple to join and easy to use.

Sailing School

Through our industry partner, Rob Swain Sailing School, we're pleased to offer customized sailing courses for our charter guests. All the below courses can be booked on any of our bareboats. The rates below are exclusive of bareboat rental fee and all extras (provisioning, CDW...).

1- Live Aboard Cruising

This course is designed to instill complete confidence in captaining a multihull sailboat 38'- 50'. Mixed in with all of the facets to bareboat cruising is a different anchorage every night and ideal sailing conditions. This course combines the US Basic cruising and the US bareboat cruising certifications.

Tuition rates: $355 pp for 1-2 people + Instructors' fee of $170/day plus meals and gratuity
Includes texts, logbook and exam certification fees
To add a 3rd or 4th person $110 pp supplement

Recommended time for completion: 5-7 days

Prerequisite: Basic Keelboat

2- Cruising Catamaran

Catamarans are the growing boat of choice for many as they offer spaciousness, comfort and no heeling. The cruising catamaran course covers terminology and hardware identification specific to cats; identifying the differences between multihulls and monohulls, including systems, boat handling under power and under sail, person overboard, heavy weather sailing, anchoring and docking the boat.

Tuition Rates: $215 pp for 1-2 people + instructor's fee of $175/day plus meals and gratuity
Includes text and exam certification fee
To add a 3rd or 4th person $85 pp supplement

Recommended time for completion: 2 days

This course may be combined with the Live Aboard Cruising course or may be added to the beginning of your bareboat charter. Generally guests hire the instructor for 2 days, the instructor will stay aboard overnight and is returned by 4 p.m. on day 2; thereafter the students will bareboat for 5 days).

Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat, Live aboard cruising (which combines Basic Cruising & Bareboat Cruising)

3- Basic Keelboat*

For everyone with an interest in learning to sail catamarans and ultimately chartering a catamaran, it is recommended that the Fundamentals of sailing still be learned on a tiller driven basic keelboat 22-27'. This ensures that students gain an understanding of the principles of sailing, covering interaction of wind and sail, points of sail, tacking and jibing, knots and more. This course will reward each student with the objective and subjective know how to command a boat of up to 30'. The elements required for this course can be covered in two days of on the water training. The format consists of one hour of classroom, concentration on terminology, part of the boat, knots and theory, followed by 4 hours of on the water training each day. It is a day course with on shore accommodations. Upon completion of this course, students are ready to move on to the cruising catamaran and achieve their Bareboat Charter and Catamaran Cruising certifications. Children from age 12 are welcome and encouraged to participate in the Basic Keelboat course.

Tuition Rates: The rate is $430 pp (for students 3 & 4, the fee is $165 pp)

Includes, 2 days instruction on IC24, text, logbook, certification exam and 1 year membership to either US Sailing or ASA.
Onshore accommodations required.
*This course cannot be taught on a catamaran.

4- Coastal Passage Making

This course is truly an adventure as students set out for St. Martin which lies ninety miles to windward. Out of sight of land for most of the trip, navigation is not just an asset, it is essential. The Anegada Passage is busy with commercial shipping, therefore, students will get a first hand look at lights at night. As this is open water sailing, watch systems are set up, logs are kept, safety harnesses are worn, steps are taken as if this were a long distance boat delivery. Other skills mastered include Med mooring, night anchoring and mobs, star navigation and more. The itinerary for this course is to St. Martin & St. Barths. For those with a preference for staying within BVI waters this course can be offered within the BVI as well.

Tuition: $325pp for 1-2 people + instructor's fee, meals, gratuity, all expenses (customs incl. drop off fees if guests disembark in St Martin).
Includes text and exam certification fee;
to add a 3rd or 4th person $85 pp supplement.

Recommended time for completion: 5-7 days
Prerequisites: Basic Keelboat, Basic Cruising, Bareboat Cruising, Coastal Navigation.

5- Coastal Navigation

Coastal navigation graduates will be able to demonstrate the navigational theory required to safely navigate a sailing vessel in coastal or inland waters through traditional navigation techniques. Students will also learn how to integrate electronic navigation tools into the navigation plan.

Tuition Rates: $300 pp for 1-2 people

Includes instructor's fee, text and exam certification fee
To add a 3rd or 4th person $110 pp.
Completion Hours: 8 hours classroom- no on the water time required

Coastal Navigation can be combined with the Live Aboard Cruising course or the Coastal Passage Making course for a discounted tuition of $220 pp.
Students may incorporate this course into their charter if they choose to arrive a day early or preferably stay an additional day.

For more information, please visit http://www.catamarans.com

Ashwinnag prema enta madhuram

This song is sung by Ashwin Nag Nedunuri



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81kwHXuiGG0&hl=en

SansTitrebbbb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVPq80xo4EU&hl=en

MIFamouz TV Ep2: MIFamouz Dies For YouTube

kid dies for youtube and his last words are youtube rocks!!!!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XpgqwmX27E&hl=en

Francisco - In The Mood

Francisco - In The Mood HQ lyric noch nicht vorhanden, stelle es rein sobald es einen gibt. Lyric is comin' soon. MYSPACE: www.myspace.com Produced by GEE Futuristic



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CVdsLTPen4&hl=en

My Identity Was Stolen Because Of Someone Else's Mistake

Giving Total Strangers Your Personal Information

----------------------------

How often would you say you trust total strangers with some of your most confidential information? I think I can answer this question for just about everyone. The answer is, nearly everyday. To illustrate this, I recently made a list of people or organizations that I have provided the following information to;

My social security number;

Birth date;

Tax Identification number;

Bank account numbers;

Medical information;

Checking account number

My doctors office;

Banks that have issued me credit cards;

Computer stores (Best Buy, CompUSA, CDW, Circuit City);

Online music purchases through Wal-Mart (Formerly Liquid Audio);

Restaurant staff;

Hospitals;

Medical procedure companies (X-ray's, Ultra-sounds,....

And many more...

Be careful When Giving Your Credit Card Number Over The Phone

--------------------------------------------------

It seems like almost everyday someone is asking me for my social security number. I think most of us just get use to provided this information to various people and companies.

I recently ordered Italian food for dinner from one our favorite local restaurants. Every time I place an order the person taking the phone order repeats, out loud, my credit card information as I provide it to them over the phone. This includes the account number, my name, and expiration date. Every item that someone standing in line waiting to pick up their Pizza needs to purchase anything they wish online with my credit. I know why they do this, to make sure they are getting the right information. However, I finally told the person to please stop repeating this information out load. They were a little confused at first of why I made this request but after explaining to them my concern they said "Wow, I never really thought about that before". "How in the world can you remember all these things about computers?" Sometimes I wonder this myself.

To share another, more serious experience with you here is something that happened to me in just the last week or so. My wife walked into my office after returning from the mailbox and the first words out of her mouth was "Are you ready for this". When ever she utters that phrase I know it's not something pleasant. The letter she was holding was from our mortgage company. A company we have been doing business with for many years. It turns out that approximately 4 months ago a computer they were shipping from one office to another was stolen in transit. This computer contained my mortgage account number, balance, credit lines, social security number, business tax identification number, and much more.

When Should A Company Notify You That Your Personal Information Has Been Stolen?

----------------------------

The letter indicated that they were just notifying me now because law enforcement asked that they not contact any customers at the time the event took place, several months prior to receiving the letter, because it may impact the investigation. Well, they never found the computer or the thief so they decided to start notifying the affected customers. The letter also stated that the stolen computer had two levels of security and that they were not overly concerned that the thief would gain direct access to my information. Being in the computer security business, I thought to myself "Let's see, two levels of security, well that could be a password to logon to the computer, and Anti-Virus software, or maybe they were using whole disk encryption and some sort of 1024bit pass-phrase to access the system". Quite frankly, chances are the system was not protected by anything as sophisticated as whole disk encryption. Of course they would not give me this information when I called. They did have a plan of action though to help me. You ready for this, a 1 year free subscription to Equifax (A Credit Reporting Agency) to alert me if someone is using my stolen information. That is about it. Oh, and they would assist me in the event that something showed up on my credit report. It's nice to see a multi-billion dollar company taking responsibility for the theft of my financial information.

I know I'm not the only person that has these little "moments". My New Years resolution this year was to simplify my life. I'm not embarrassed to say that I've not made much progress yet but I am not going to give up. I am going to bring harmony to my life if it kills me in the process.

I share this information with you for several reasons. First, in the computer security business we are constantly talking about trusted and un-trusted computers and networks. Trusted networks are under a local administrators control and un-trusted networks are under the control of someone else. The same situation exists in real life. I keep safe my personal and private information as much as possible, but there are others that have this information as well. How well do they safe guard this information? I have no idea, but I am forced to trust them. Second, to show you that even security professionals, people like me who tend to be slightly more paranoid then the rest about our private information are just as much at risk as everyone else. Finally, to get you thinking about your confidential and private information, how many people have access to it, and why you need to take more than reasonable steps to keep it confidential?

Conclusion

-----------

Don't for one minute think that identity theft or fraud can't happen to you. In fact, I would say that it is not if but when it will happen, at least to one degree or another. Keep your private information confidential as much as possible. When people ask you for this information, ask them why they need it and how they plan to keep it secure. Also, keep track of who you give this information and for what reason. Finally, monitor your credit report frequently. Trans Union, Equifax, and Experian, the three largest credit reporting agencies, now offer inexpensive monthly services that can provide you with important information that could alert you to various forms of electronic fraud.

You may reprint or publish this article free of charge as long as the bylines are included.

Original URL (The Web version of the article)

------------

http://www.defendingthenet.com/NewsLetters/MyIdentityWasStolenBecauseOfSomeoneElsesMistake.htm

The Brother MFC 6890CDW Multifunction A3 Printer

The brother MFC 6890 is a multifunction all-in-one A3 printer. There has been a lot of buzz about this particular printer lately. The things that I have personally noticed about this particular printer is that it is twice as more expensive as a Canon printer and doesn't produce anywhere near the same results. This particular printer takes longer to print both text and photos and the quality of pictures isn't always spectacular. Scanning speeds for this particular printer are not very good either and the document feeder plays up sometimes if it's not using an 8.5 x 11" paper.

This particular printer works fantastic however if you are creating ledges using the dimensions of 11 x 17". When you consider consumable costs for this particular printer versus say a Canon multifunction all-in-one printer you are looking at cartridge yield of approximately 350 pages for the brother and 450 pages for a Canon Pixma MX860. The brother costs approximately 5.5 cents per page whilst the Canon produces 4.6 cents per page. For those who are seeking high quality prints, great multifunctionality and value for money concerning consumable costs could probably consider getting a different kind of printer.

There are many A3 printers on the market that produce great graphic prints and also have sound multifunction capability. The Epson 1400 is renowned for its graphic A3 prints and fantastic colour resolution. They Canon Pixma MX860 is also renowned for being a highly functional graphic printer but also has multifunction capability. However in brother's defense it does utilize a scan to file feature that doesn't require input from a PC and it also has replaceable ink tanks instead of individual ink cartridges which makes it easier to manage and refill your ink.

You could probably look at the brother MFC 6890CDW as a general multipurpose printer for your office. You wouldn't consider this printer for graphic photographs. You would however consider this printer if you are looking to print general purpose documents either in A3 or A4 format. It does come with a hefty price tag so consider whether this printer fits the bill for your office or personal needs.

ZAYI TV depois da gravacao 2010

zayiiiiiii brevemente o albo



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_8jxNrxGoc&hl=en

2009_11-09_VODPBOT_disruption.mp4

FILMED UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT, 5 ILCS 12/2.05. At the 11/09/09 Village of Deer Park Board of Trustees Special Meeting on Future Utilization of the Vehe Barn, members of the audience and Village Clerk attempt to disrupt protected recording of proceedings. This is un-edited film--a brief glitch is merely joining two adjacent documents.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jubehNLdjfg&hl=en

2008 Walk Now for Autism - Chicago

17000 Walkers Raise $1.425 Million at Chicago Walk Now for Autism The 5th annual Chicago Walk Now for Autism took place at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Sunday, May 18. The Walk attracted 17000 participants this year, a 30% increase in participation over 2007, and raised more than $1.4 million. Prior to the Walk, State Senator William (Willie) Delgado (D), and Representatives Patricia R. Bellock (R), and Karen May (D) spoke about Illinois SB1900 which will include insurance coverage for therapies such as speech, occupational, physical and applied behavioral analysis (ABA), and other evidence-based, medically necessary treatments for autism. They directed walkers to the Autism Votes booth to sign a petition to encourage the bill's passage. Numerous bands, including Mr. Downtown, The Scribble Monsters and Pals, Scottie Long and The Naturals, entertained the crowd. Additional entertainment was provided by The Jessie White Tumblers, who performed a tumbling act, and Radio Disney, which kept the kids captivated. Families also visited the resource fair, which featured a lineup of 62 organizations and companies. Special thanks to National Walk Now for Autism sponsors Toys"R"Us, Parade magazine and Nutricia. Fifth Third Bank, a silver sponsor, staffed the accounting room and is currently running a community program which will continue to benefit Autism Speaks. Bronze sponsors included CDW, Legacy Marketing, McCormick Tribune Foundation and Navistar. Van Kempen served as a ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU2PPK84dU0&hl=en

Raisin City Jerkin 2

Kids Jerkin in RC



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17RNjqcfohQ&hl=en

Beatles Kid Can't Buy Me Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaAEBET_cDw&hl=en

Buying XP Shouldn't Be This Tough

Over the weekend, I helped a friend of mine buy a new laptop. What was amazing was we actually went into a retail store, found the model she was most comfortable with and was in stock. We actually left the store with it under our possession.

What wasn't amazing was how hard it was to purchase it, and how much Internet research I needed to do to enable this fabulous shopping experience.

You see, my friend wanted to stick with Windows XP. And the moral of my story, which I will provide up front, is that if you want XP on your future laptops, you better buy it now because it is only going to get more difficult.

According to Microsoft's own Web site, XP Pro will no longer be available in the retail channel after July 1. Although OEMs and system builders will have until Feb 1, 2009. There is an exception -- for the immediate future the XP Home version will be available for ultra-small PCs, but these are probably not the PCs that you want to outfit your corporate fleet with.

Before heading to the Office Depot that is literally a block from my house, I spent some time looking over the major PC vendors' Web sites and seeing what they had. Here is where the story turns ugly. My friend wanted to spend less than $1,000, have a 15.4-inch screen, and a keyboard that was solid enough for a demanding typist. That seemed easy to satisfy, until I started looking around.

None of the major PC vendors make it easy for you to buy a pre-configured XP laptop. They all "recommend Windows Vista" and hide their XP models several menu layers down or just don't tell you where to find them. The two best vendors for XP are Lenovo and HP - possibly because they have standardized on XP for their own employees, possibly because they understand that this market segment isn't going away as fast as Microsoft would like. HP sells actually two different versions of XP Pro - one is called a "business downgrade" that sounds ominous, the other is just the standard XP Pro. They cost the same, and they have fairly wide support for XP Pro across their laptop line. Lenovo has equally wide support. Both sites make it easy to figure out which laptops can be configured with XP Pro pre-installed, even if you can't sort by operating system directly.

The two worst vendors are Sony and Gateway. I couldn't find any XP models on either site, and Sony makes it almost impossible to determine what operating system is running on its machine until you get into the details on each individual model. Toshiba's Web site isn't much better.

I had better results going to Office Depot's Web site, which was fortunate because as I said the store is very close by. There you can quickly search on XP Pro and find a dozen models from several different vendors, including Sony and Toshiba, which come with this operating system. It is ironic and cruel that you have to go to a retail vendor's site to find the details about a product that you can't get on the actual vendor's site. This should be a lesson for those of you designing Web sites, but I will leave that for another column and another day.

In fact, the major PC retailers have done a much better job at finding XP from their home pages - often a few mouse clicks is all that it takes to narrow the field. BestBuy.com and CDW.com both will show you which models come with XP: in CDW's case, they had nine results but only two Toshibas were in stock.

So off we went to Office Depot. Amazingly, the Lenovo model they had on display was the sole laptop running XP, and it was one that my friend liked. We had to deal with a salesperson, who made several mistakes and tried to get us to purchase the extended warranty, but we left the store with product in hand.

Microsoft is making a mistake discontinuing XP to retail and corporate customers. There are many people that aren't enamored with Vista, and I have heard from many corporate IT managers that are going slowly on its adoption. Buying a laptop is more of an issue, because many vendors are making laptops that have network cards and other gear that doesn't have XP drivers. If you have plans for major XP laptop purchases this year, spend the money now while you still have a choice.