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Midwest Flooding Underscores Importance of Flood Insurance April 26, 2011

The Midwestern US could be on the verge of historic flooding, the National Weather Service has warned. Widespread major flooding is expected throughout a large area including: northern Arkansas, southern Illinois, Indiana, Western Kentucky, southern Missouri, and eastern Oklahoma. Forecasters are expressing concern that this outbreak of flooding could be the worst in the affected areas since the record flooding of 1937.

Governors in Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri have already declared emergencies. National Guard troops are working to reinforce levees in Indiana and Missouri. The failure of a levee on the Black River near Poplar Bluff, Missouri prompted the evacuation of thousands of residents.

The cause of the flooding is snow melt from the upper Midwest combined with heavy spring rainfall. Some towns in the affected areas received over a foot of rain in the last 72 hours. Up to five more inches of rain are forecast for the affected areas over the next few days.

We are mentioning this because it is a dramatic illustration of just how important flood insurance is. Year in and year out, floods are the most destructive natural disaster in the US. Many consumers wrongly assume that their homeowner's insurance covers flood damage. It does not. The only way to obtain flood insurance is through the National Flood Insurance Program If you're a homeowner and don't have flood insurance, you should look into the National Flood Insurance Program today.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Releases its 2011 Green Car Rankings April 6, 2011

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has released its annual rankings of 'green' vehicles. This list ranks green vehicles based on their total environmental impact, including manufacturing, disposal, emission of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and fuel economy.

Since these rankings factor in emissions, there are no diesel vehicles on the list. While diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines, and are cleaner than they used to be, they still emit too many pollutants to earn a spot in the rankings.

Here are the rankings:

Honda Civic GX
Mileage: (Equivalent to) 24 city, 36 highway
Green Score: 54/100

While its fuel economy isn't the highest, the Honda Civic GX was ranked the greenest car in America because it runs on clean-burning natural gas.

Nissan Leaf
Mileage: Around 100 miles between charges
Green Score: 54/100

Being an electric fuel cell vehicle, the Leaf has no emissions. However, since most electricity in the US is generated by burning oil or coal, there are still emissions associated with it.

Smart ForTwo
Mileage: 33 city, 41 highway
Green Score: 53/100

The small size and light weight of the Smart ForTwo mean less environmental impact during manufacturing and disposal.

Toyota Prius
Mileage: 51 city, 48 highway
Green Score: 52/100

This hybrid has great fuel economy but its nickel metal hydride battery creates disposal issues.

Honda Civic Hybrid
Mileage: 40 city, 43 highway
Green Score: 51/100

The Civic Hybrid is not quite as efficient as the Prius.

Honda Insight
Mileage: 40 city, 43 highway
Green Score: 50

The Insight has the same performance as the Civic hybrid but costs less than a Civic hybrid or Toyota Prius.

Ford Fiesta SFE
Mileage: 29 city, 40 highway
Green Score: 50

This is the Super Fuel Efficiency version of Ford's new subcompact.

Chevrolet Cruze Eco
Mileage: 28 city, 42 highway
Green Score: 49

This is the eco-friendly version of Chevrolet's new sedan.

Hyundai Elantra
Mileage: 29 city, 40 highway
Green Score: 49

The Hyundai Elantra is the only Korean vehicle in the rankings.

Mini Cooper
Mileage: 29 city, 37 highway
Green Score: 49

While it's better known for being fun and sporty, the Mini Cooper is also quite green.

Toyota Yaris
Mileage: 29 city, 36 highway
Green Score: 49

The Yaris is another subcompact with good fuel economy.

Mazda 2
Mileage: 29 city, 35 highway
Green Score: 48

Mazda's new subcompact also gets good fuel economy.

Chevrolet Volt
Mileage: 35 city, 40 highway (on gasoline)
Range: 30-45 miles between charges, depending on driving conditions
Green Score: 48

The Volt is a plug-in hybrid that also has a built-in gasoline-powered generator. This score assumes that the Volt would be run on gasoline power about a third of the time. The relative difficulty of disposing of this heavy Chevy hurt the Volt's score.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Crawled Up the... Evaporative Canister Vent Line?March 21, 2011

There have been a lot of automotive recalls over the years but this is the oddest one that we at QuoteWizard have heard about in a long time.

Mazda recently issued a recall of 65,000 of its model year 2009 and 2010 4-cylinder Mazda6 sedans because of numerous reports of yellow sac spiders nesting in small hoses in the fuel system. The spiders spin webs dense enough to affect the pressure and ventilation in the fuel tank. These webs could potentially lead to cracks, fuel leaks and even an increased risk of fire if they are not dealt with.

It's not certain when the spiders are entering the hoses - it could be in the factory of a parts supplier, in a warehouse, or in the Mazda factory.

Dealers will inspect affected cars' fuel systems and, if they find evidence of the spiders, clean out or replace the affected hoses. In extreme cases, it might be necessary to replace the fuel tank. So far, however, this recall is just a precaution. There have been no reports of fuel system damage, accidents, or injuries.

Mazda is not the only automaker affected. Just a few days ago, Honda confirmed that some Accords, particularly 2008 and 2009 models, experienced the same phenomenon, although with less severe consequences. According to Honda, the clogged hoses in the Accord just make the "Check Engine" light illuminate and can't cause any actual damage to the fuel system. Honda has not ordered a recall, but has issued a technical service bulletin. If you drive a 2008 or 2009 Honda Accord or 2009 or 2010 Mazda6 sedan, you should have your dealer or mechanic look for itsy-bitsy interlopers in your car's fuel system.

Kelley Blue Book Announces 2011 Best Resale Value AwardsMarch 3, 2011

Everyone knows that when you're buying a new vehicle, you need to negotiate a good price and a good interest rate on your auto loan. What many people don't realize is that resale value is also crucial to get the most bang for your buck. The difference in resale value between different vehicle models after five years can equal thousands of dollars, as some vehicles lose their value much faster than others.

Below are the vehicles with the best predicted resale value by category for the 2011 model year, according to Kelley Blue Book. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, you should consider the vehicles below. They are expected to be worth more after you have owned them for five years than any other vehicle in their category.

The winners of the 2011 Best Resale Value Awards by Category are:

Subcompact Car -Honda Fit
Compact Car -Mini Cooper
Mid-size Car - Honda Accord
Full-size Car - Ford Taurus
Wagon - Subaru Outback
Sports Car- Subaru Impreza WRX
High Performance Car - Ford Mustang GT
Hybrid/Alternative Energy Car - Volkswagen Golf TDI
Compact SUV - Honda CR-V
Mid-size SUV - Toyota FJ Cruiser
Full-size SUV -GMC Acadia
Luxury SUV - BMW X5
Hybrid/Alternative Energy SUV - BMW X5 xDrive35d
Van - Toyota Sienna
Luxury Car - Audi A5
Mid-size Pickup - Toyota Tacoma
Full-size Pickup - Ford F-Series Super Duty

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The Top 10 Insurance MythsFeb 23, 2011

Insurance can be a complex subject, so it's understandable that there are some common insurance misconceptions. Unlike many other subjects, however, a misconception about insurance can have a major impact on your life.

If you think that you purchased coverage for a particular risk but actually haven't, or if you think you have enough coverage but actually don't, your financial well-being could be threatened.

The purpose of the list below is to help dispel some potentially harmful insurance misconceptions so that readers won't have to learn the hard way that what they thought was a fact, was actually a myth.

1. Homeowner's Insurance Covers Flood Damage
   Homeowner's insurance does not cover flood damage. The only way to purchase flood insurance in the US is through the National Flood Insurance Program.


2. Your Friend is Not Covered to Drive Your Car
   The auto insurance policy on your car is in force when driven by anyone with your consent. You can give consent for anyone to drive your car unless they are specifically excluded by your auto insurance policy.


3. There is No Reason to Buy Life Insurance if You're Young
   The younger you are, the lower your life insurance premiums will be. You can save a lot of money if you purchase a whole life insurance policy when you're young, rather than later in life.


4. You Don't Need to Worry About Lawsuits if You Have Insurance
   If you are sued by someone and lose, your insurance company will pay the damages awarded, up to the liability limit of your policy. You are responsible for paying any damages that exceed the liability limit.


5. Your Personal Belongings are Covered by Your Landlord's Property Insurance
   Your landlord's property insurance only covers the building itself. If you want insurance coverage for your belongings, you should purchase a renter's insurance policy.


6. Auto Insurance Covers the Theft of Belongings from Your Vehicle
   Standard auto insurance policies do not cover personal belongings in your vehicle. The only way to cover your belongings is if you add a "floater" to your auto policy or with your homeowner's or renter's insurance coverage.


7. If Your Vehicle is Damaged in Your Garage, It's Covered by Your Homeowner's Policy
   Homeowner's policies specifically exclude damage to vehicles. You would need a comprehensive auto insurance policy to cover damage to your vehicle occurring in your garage.


8. Collision Insurance Covers Hitting a Deer with Your Vehicle Collision insurance doesn't cover all types of collisions. Most collision insurance policies do not cover collisions with animals. For that, you would need a comprehensive auto insurance policy.


9. If My Property is Stolen or Destroyed, my Insurance Policy Will Replace It
   That depends on whether you have actual cash value (ACV) coverage or replacement cost coverage. ACV coverage is cheaper but only pays the original price of the property minus wear and tear. Replacement cost coverage will pay for purchasing a comparable item today.


10. I Should Insure my Home at its Assessed Value
    Not necessarily. The assessed value of a home is largely determined by variables that have little to do with the home itself. The neighborhood, the amount of land that the home sits on, and the quality of local schools all play a major role in assessed value, but have nothing to do with the cost of rebuilding your home.

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The 5 Weirdest Insurance Polices EverFeb 11, 2011

Most people think insurance is a boring topic. After all, insurance rates are determined with complicated math. The insurance industry has its own language, full of dense jargon like "c-share variable annuities", "mortgage and expense risk charge", and "environmental impairment liability coverage". Insurance agents are routinely depicted in film and TV as boring, stiff and awkward. It's no surprise that the public thinks insurance is a dry subject. Sometimes, though, insurance actually is interesting… even downright weird.

Here are the five weirdest insurance policies of all time:

Immaculate Conception Insurance – In 2000, a trio of devout Scottish sisters obtained a policy from British Insurance that covered them in the event that they experienced an immaculate conception. The policy cost $150 per year and would pay out $1.5 million in the event of a virgin birth. Evidently the money was intended to pay for raising the child. The policy was cancelled in 2006 amidst an uproar from the Catholic Church after the policy became public.

Chest Hair Insurance – In 2006, Lloyd's of London was approached by an anonymous celebrity wanting to insure his chest hair for $7,000,000. Several newspapers reported at the time that the celebrity in question was singer Tom Jones. However, to this day there is no proof of the identity of the celebrity. Nor is there any indication why his chest hair was at risk of permanently disappearing. Routinely barbecuing with too much lighter fluid, perhaps?

Alien Abduction Insurance – Yes, it's actually possible to obtain alien abduction insurance. It is offered by reputable insurance companies like British Insurance, as well as less reputable ones like the Alien Abduction Insurance Company (which offers a low lifetime premium of only $19.95!). Needless to say, the burden of proving that you are the victim of alien abduction is on you, which would be hard to do if the Grays whisk you off to Zeta Reticuli.

Taco Insurance – In March 2001, the Mir space station was scheduled to be de-orbited in the South Pacific Ocean. Taco Bell came up with a clever publicity stunt to capitalize on the demise of the Russian space station. They placed a 40' x 40' target in the South Pacific and announced that if part of the Mir hit the target, everyone in America would get a free taco. While the probability of debris hitting that exact patch of ocean was tiny, the company purchased insurance just in case. Fortunately for Taco Bell, and unfortunately for taco lovers in the US, no part of the Mir hit the target.

Fantasy Sports Insurance – Tom Brady, arguably the best quarterback in football, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the first game of the 2008 NFL season. The season of every fantasy football player that chose Tom Brady in their fantasy draft was instantly in jeopardy. A company called Fantasy Sports Insurance was formed in the wake of the injury. Now, fantasy sports players can buy a policy from FSI to recoup all of the money that they paid to enter a fantasy sports league, should any of the athletes on their roster suffer a catastrophic injury. Unfortunately, there is not yet any insurance for your fantasy draft picks being lousy.

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Announces its 2011 Top Safety PicksJan 21, 2011

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently announced that sixty-six vehicles won the IIHS’ Top Safety Pick award for 2011. That’s more than double the twenty-seven vehicles that won the award in 2010, and the largest number of Top Safety Picks ever awarded by the IIHS.

The Top Safety Pick award recognizes vehicles that perform well in IIHS-administered front, side, and rear crash tests. Winning vehicles must also have available electronic stability control, a feature that significantly reduces the risk of a crash. Finally, they must receive top scores in tests of vehicle roof strength. The awards help consumers pick vehicles that exceed federal automotive safety standards.

The automakers that won the most Top Safety Picks are Volkswagen/Audi and Hyundai/Kia with nine awards each. Close behind and tied for second are General Motors, Ford/Lincoln and Toyota/Lexus/Scion with eight awards each.

Chrysler and Subaru each received five awards, while Mercedes-Benz and Volvo both ended up with four. Nissan and Honda received two awards each and BMW and Mitsubishi both received one. Subaru was the only automaker to win an award in every vehicle category in which it competes.

The sixty-six vehicles that won consist of forty cars, twenty-five SUVs and one minivan. Click here for the Complete List of Top Safety Picks

If you are in the market to buy or lease a new vehicle, you should give these exceptionally safe vehicles a close look. Vehicles that are named Top Safety Picks will have lower auto insurance premiums than other vehicles, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars per year.

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New Study Suggests that NYC is Hotbed of No-Fault Auto Insurance Fraud Jan 13, 2011

A study just completed by the Insurance Research Council, a non-profit organization funded by the insurance industry, suggests that no-fault auto insurance fraud in the New York City area is widespread.

The findings of the study suggest that almost one in five no-fault auto insurance claims, personal injury protection claims, in industry-speak, that were closed in the New York City metro area in 2010 appeared to have elements of fraud. In addition, 35% of closed auto insurance claims in the NYC metro area in 2010 had signs of claim abuse. Another 14% of closed NYC metro area auto insurance claims in 2010 appear to involve overbilling or the excessive utilization of medical services, a practice called "claims buildup".

Insurance companies submitted 13,433 cases of suspected no-fault auto insurance fraud to the New York State Department of Insurance in 2009. That's an increase of nearly one-third over the 10,117 cases that insurance companies submitted in 2006.

In addition, there are large disparities between the NYC metro area and the rest of the state when it comes to auto insurance claims. In 2010, the average payout for a claimant in the NYC area was nearly twice as large as the average payout in the rest of the state. The percentage of claimants in the NYC area that visited four or more medical providers in 2010 was 44%. The percentage of claimants elsewhere in the state that did the same thing was only 14%, further evidence of no-fault auto insurance fraud in the NYC metro area.

So, what is the primary source of this fraud? According to industry experts and state insurance officials, much of it can be blamed on an underground network of unscrupulous medical providers, crooked attorneys and phony accident victims that have learned how to profitably game New York's no-fault auto insurance system.

How does it work? First, someone will decide to stage an auto accident. Some people do this without prompting, but some people are actually recruited to stage accidents. Once the accident is staged, the "victim" (or "victims") file insurance claims, typically claiming whiplash or other subjective injuries that are difficult to prove that they don't have.

Since New York is a no-fault state, insurance companies are obligated to pay the injury-related expenses of their own policyholders up to the state's maximum payout of $50,000 per person (for the standard no-fault auto insurance policy). The "victim" will go from one unscrupulous medical provider to another getting fictitious or unnecessary treatments and racking up fraudulent medical bills in order to get a cash kickback.

Sometimes, the fraud escalates even further. In New York, like in some other no-fault states, an accident victim can only sue if their claim exceeds the state's maximum no-fault auto insurance payout. This is intended to reduce the number of people suing each other over auto accidents. However, some ambitious fraudsters abuse this by filing claims over the $50,000 maximum and then, with the help of a crooked attorney, filing a bogus lawsuit (typically against someone else in the fraud ring who helped stage the accident) for pain and suffering, lost wages, or medical expenses beyond the $50,000 limit.

Insurance companies are virtually forced to pay out of court settlements in these cases because of the huge expense of litigating thousands of bogus claims, and the potential for sympathetic juries to award multi-million dollar judgments. The continuing payouts encourage more people to stage accidents and… voila. We've come full-circle. Return to Top

State Farm Launches Ad Campaign Within Facebook GameDec 15, 2010

Today, State Farm announced the launch of a major promotional campaign within a Facebook game. State Farm will be the exclusive sponsor of “Car Town” - one of the most popular Facebook games with over 7.2 million active users - for the next six months.

"Car Town" (developed by Cie Games) lets players collect and customize virtual cars, build their dream garage and help their Facebook friends do the same. For the next six months, players can experience “branded missions, virtual item giveaways and new State Farm-branded promotions that let players earn bonuses of virtual currency”, according to State Farm.

The first branded mission is the Safe Driver Challenge, which is playable now. After players complete 10 full-passenger road trips within the game, they’ll get an award of two blue points – in-game virtual currency that players normally have to buy with real money. More challenges will be unveiled in the next two months.

State Farm will begin giving away virtual items later in December. They will promote the giveaway with banners and billboards within the game, and with a State Farm agent in the game that will direct players to get the exclusive items – posters, car wraps and avatar t-shirts – from the "State Farm Nation" Facebook fan page.

This is not the first time that a major insurance company has teamed up with a Facebook game developer for an in-game promotion. In October, Farmers Insurance partnered with Zynga, the largest Facebook game developer, for a promotion in Zynga’s game FarmVille. In FarmVille, players are tasked with managing their own virtual farms. With 55 million active monthly users according to Appdata.com, Farmville is the most popular game on Facebook.

The promotion consisted of giving FarmVille players the ability to deploy the Farmer’s Insurance airship over their virtual farm. The airship would protect players’ crops from withering for ten days. This promotion marked the first time that an insurance company promoted themselves using an in-game virtual good.

These are just the opening salvos in a battle for consumers’ attention that will soon be raging in a venue where Americans are spending more and more time – playing social games.

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US Households with Life Insurance Hits a 50-Year LowDec 14, 2010

USA Today recently reported that the percentage of households with life insurance in the US has reached a 50 year low. Only 44% of US households now have an individual life insurance policy, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Life Insurance Marketing and Research Association (LIMRA).

Why are so many households foregoing life insurance? The survey points to several reasons. First, the recession and the slow recovery of the labor market have reduced the income of many households. More than 40% of families without life insurance indicated in the survey that they didn’t purchase life insurance because they had other financial priorities.

Another reason is procrastination. Many consumers put off buying life insurance while they are young and healthy and their premiums would be the lowest. When many consumers finally do get around to buying life insurance, they are older and may have medical conditions that make getting a life insurance policy, much more expensive, perhaps totally unaffordable.

The survey also indicates that almost 80% of families don’t have a personal insurance agent or broker that offers life insurance. Declining life insurance premiums in recent years have led to a decline in life insurance agents themselves. In 2010, there were 184,873 "affiliated agents" — insurance agents who primarily or exclusively sell one insurance company's products — down from over 246,000 in 1990, according to the LIMRA. Despite the proliferation of web-based insurance companies and group life insurance policies that consumers can purchase through their employer, most Americans still purchase life insurance from an agent. With fewer agents around, fewer life insurance policies are being written.

However, even if you don’t have an insurance agent, QuoteWizard can quickly provide you with free life insurance quotes from major insurance companies. Get your free quote today!

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The Least Stolen Car in the Universe EverMay 15, 2009

For years, the "Most Stolen Car in America" title has been held by the ubiquitous, accessible, and readily parted-out 1996 Honda Civic. Its cousins, the 1991 Honda Accord and 1989 Toyota Camry, hold the #2 and #3 spots, respectively. The 1997 Ford F-150 is car thieves' domestic of choice, probably because of the truck's popularity and the steady of demand for stolen parts.

But what are the country's least stolen cars? I'm not so interested in brand new cars. The Buick Rainier, for example, is one of the least stolen 2008 models according to the Highway Loss Data Institute. But a take a look at the thing—you think anyone's going to shell out for a hot Rainier?

What about rigs like the 1990 Buick Lesabre? It makes several virtually inexplicable top-ten appearances in the National Insurance Crime Bureau's state-by-state list of stolen cars, including the 6th spot in Alabama, the 5th in Indiana, and 8th in Kansas. It must be an easy one to boost.

So what's the least stolen car in America? We're guessing none other than Motor Trend's 1983 Car of the Year, the Renault Alliance. The French should have stuck to exporting wine instead of this sour rig. A 1986 Consumer Reports piece (according to Wiki) gave the car low ratings in engine, clutch, driveline, engine cooling, cooling, suspension, exhaust system, automatic transmission, and manual transmission ("You stupeed Americans just don't know how to appreciate the car's je ne se qua!") Motor trend has since apologized for bestowing any sort of honor on the car.

Today, QuoteWizard is christening it the least stolen car in the universe ever. If you don't want your car stolen, buy a 1983 Renault Alliance.

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I just wrecked a NASA satellite worth $278 million—what does my insurance cover?February 25th, 2009

We've all been there. Dad comes home from his job at NASA with a brand new, shiny, Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite—the luxury Taurus XL model—and leaves the keys on the counter. He heads to bed early, grumbling about the 4:55 a.m. launch the next morning. One little spin around the cosmos couldn't hurt, right?

But then, once you get behind the controls, you notice a few levers and controls that weren't on the last satellite you drove. Some odd looking dials, some colored switches. "Hey," you think, "It's probably just like the Dish Network satellites I used to joyride with my junior high buddies before Dad got promoted and the two of us moved to Vandenberg Air Force Base. My totally cherry Chevy Caprice out front has a touchy clutch and finicky gearbox—how tough could it be?" Drunk with the prospect of NASA-quality thrusters, you fire up the XL.

You can't wait to tell your friends how you were remotely steering a tricked-out satellite pulling 4 g's last night while they were sleeping in their beds like losers. Then a red light starts to blink "Fairing Failure" like the neon Bud Light sign in your garage, and your stomach begins to churn 'cause you don't even know what a fairing is and think that it sounds vaguely important. "Crap crap crap crap crap…" you say. Naturally, as the $278 million Taurus XL hurtles toward the Antarctic Ocean, you begin to wonder if the insurance on your Chevy extends to extra-terrestrial vehicles as well. And how you're going to explain this all to Dad.

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Another Blog Post
It May be a Search Engine Ad
Perhaps a HaikuJanuary 8th, 2009

Text ads fuel online insurance quote aggregators' revenue streams just like the coffee pots of the people who write them. And with the online insurance market as saturated as an overexposed Polaroid, text-ad composers have become maestros of their art. The fruits of their qwerty paintbrushes—rendered lovingly in binary ink—are perpetually etched effervescently over the perimeter of organic search results like the wares of so many art-school-dropouts hanging on café walls.

Consider the following Geico stanzas juxtaposed with a Basho classic:

The Spartan lines of both works appeal to certain inner desire in all of us: the first, an innate frugality; the second, an oft-hidden vulnerability. It illustrates the pithy nature of both forms. Truly, economy of speech is paramount to success in either structure.

The obvious progression of both forms is a synthesis, a concept I suggested to our Search Advertising department. Certainly some of Basho's more famous works could break the redundancy of search engine text ads, not to mention garner impressive click-through rates. I proffered these two gems:

Old Pond
A Frog Jumps.
The Sound of Water.
www.QuoteWizard.com

The Wind of Mt. Fuji
I've Brought On My Fan!
A Gift From Edo.
TheQuoteWizard.com/Auto

They've politely informed me that, while the concept of fresh, new approach to text ads is valid and necessary, the esoteric nature of ancient Japanese haikus doesn't optimize well for broad-match and long-tail search campaigns. Whatever that means.

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QuoteWizard Welcomes Our New Google OverlordsDecember 17th, 2008

After years of suspicion and old-fashioned closed-mindedness, we here at QuoteWizard have decided to welcome our new Google overlords with open arms as they guide us into the new millennium.

Why stop resisting? Well, for starters, they've pin-pointed our office with their Street View feature:

We've also come to accept them as our intellectual superiors now that they've given us the miracle of the five-dimensional motion chart:

We're not really sure what all the bubbles mean or why they move around so much, but we don't want to ask too many questions. You win this round, Google.

An article in The Wall Street Journal by Vishesh Kumar and Christopher Rhoads reported on Dec. 15th that Google was considering of abandoning its net neutrality stance. Will this unchecked aggression stand?

The statement was in regard to talks between Google and the cable and phone companies that handle the internet data stream. Historically, there has been a precedent set that all content—from the Fug Girls to The New York Times—should be treated equal. The talks were allegedly about the possibly of creating a streamlined portal for Google-specific content to travel through.

Google later denied the claim, but we're not taking any chances. In fact, we're sure that our new overlords at Google only wanted their own separate internet carpool lane in order to make our lives better with a brand new array of Google products and services (slightly augmented with inconspicuous text ads, naturally).

Now who wouldn't want that on their wall?

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"Khalad" is the new "Arrr!" December 3rd, 2008

"Gacmaha madaxa saara" is Somalian for "Hands up," a phrase any Middle Eastern shipping tycoon hates to hear. Like most risks in life, though, the risk of a Somali pirate attack can be mitigated.

If you have plans to travel through the Gulf of Arden anytime soon, you should probably purchase a Kidnapping and Ransom (K&R) package from an insurer like AIG. But that's more of a passive strategy—a K&R policy will only pay you back whatever ransom you have to pay. It's likely the Somali pirates will go free.

If you've got the money, you can use a proactive approach in assuring your safe passage from the Mouth of the Red Sea (Bab al-Mandeb or Gate of Tears) to the safety of waters past the horn of Africa. Blackwater, the private defense company that assists United States troops in Iraq and elsewhere, has dedicated a 183-foot ship, two helicopters, inflatable boats, and trained guards to an expanding client list of cargo transporters through the troubled waters.

K&R insurance—just another way that the QuoteWizard blog is keeping your best interests at home and abroad in mind.

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Silent Terrors: The Potential Dangers of HybridsNovember 26th, 2008 :: Guest Wizard Ryan McGavin

We see them everywhere. Smart, efficient, gas-saving automobiles are all over cities and suburban areas. With the economy in the toilet, a looming climate change and oil reserves dwindling, it's no wonder people feel compelled to purchase hybrid vehicles to be more "green," to save money, and to feel better about themselves overall.

It was once an angelic idea; these do-no-harm vehicles driving down the street were literally wearing halos. Today, the concept is failing due to poor, aggressive driving habits.

Have you ever felt a bit disgusted seeing someone screaming out of a hybrid with a coffee in one hand, a cigarette in the other, gripping the steering wheel and telling you to get out of the road? Okay, maybe that doesn't happen with any frequency outside of Los Angeles (and you would be a homeless person if you were on foot), but this morning as I was crossing the street, I was nearly run over by a silver Prius making a left hand turn at about 20 miles an hour. There was no apology. No "Peace brother, I was in a hurry to get to the REI Sale!"—nothing.

Not only is this intersection in the densest neighborhood of downtown Seattle, the ferocious object coming toward me was like a silent silver bullet. My life didn't flash in front of my eyes, but needless to say, I didn't hesitate to wave a few fingers, retort with a snarky comment, and think to myself, what is the world coming to?

Drivers are quickly forgetting that even though they are saving gas and absolving their own guilty conscious for being petrol wasters the last two decades, their hybrid cars are capable of being fatal monsters. Because Hybrids are often silent and move just as quickly as gasoline powered cars, owners need to approach driving with even more care. This way, you won't see my middle finger when you glance in your rear view mirror. Peace.

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Why I Love Stock Photography November 20th, 2008

Stock photography, for those who don't know, is a collection of literally millions of photos set-up, taken, and published by companies like Getty Images. And what's not to like? Everyone is smiling, everyone is beautiful, and it's never raining—unless you search for "raining," of course. I can't help but develop a dialogue for the models at the long, tedious photo shoots.

"Can I get out of the trunk now?"

"Not yet! Act like you're a happy family! Smiles people!"

"But I just met these people."

"Okay, now, everybody, pile into that tent. We need some shots for 'camping' and 'family vacation.'"

Stock photo sites have to anticipate the demand for a picture before it exists. Occasionally, their radar is a bit off.

No one is sure who purchased this particular gem, and no one is fessing up to searching for "young hip kid in a suit with skateboard." But, with a little Photoshop magic, you can see how useful images like this can be.

And then there's the sickeningly cute angle. Babies and puppies. Puppies with babies. Just to give you an idea of their ubiquity, a search for "puppy baby" returns 4,861 results. "Rain, sad people," a mere 250.

I'd like to move to Stock Photography Land. I think it's probably next to the Organic Valley I see advertised on the side of milk cartons. I'd be fit, handsome, rich, and successful. I'd have a diverse group of friends that were always glad to see me, and a gorgeous wife that always seemed to be around at sunset. We'd have a beautiful baby, an adorable puppy, and be on a perpetual daytrip to the beach. Something like this:

"Um, can you get that dog away from my face? I'm allergic."

"That dog is $100 an hour. You're going to have to suck it up, kid!"

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Hair insurance? Really? October 2nd, 2008

We're insuring hair now? Turns out, what we needed to be doing was insuring insurance companies like American International Group (AIG). The federal government had to prop up the company with an $85 billion dollar loan so that millions of Americans wouldn't see their shares in the company rendered worthless. But could Aussie's Hair Insurance product line have saved the day?

Let's take a look. Aussie's "Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner Spray" is perfect for "detangling." Maybe that's what AIG was using back in 1995 when they fired Maurice Greenberg, a man who allegedly entangled AIG in a web of shaky transactions that seemed aimed to make AIG look superficially good on paper.

Then there's the "Hair Insurance Shampoo," complete with "a policy to clean and protect—against damage." If only congress could lather, rinse, and repeat their way out of this economic turmoil. I suppose there's only so much Australian silk protein and ginseng can do.

Finally, Aussie offers "Hair Insurance Conditioner." For optimism's sake, let's replace every occurrence of the word "hair" in the product description with "giant, irresponsible corporations and their nefarious CEOs." Here is the result:

"Our protection from giant, irresponsible corporations and their nefarious CEOs-related accidents! This lightweight conditioner rinses clean and leaves giant, irresponsible corporations and their nefarious CEOs manageable."

The answer to the current crisis, it seems, is in loosely Australian-themed hair products. The "No Worries" Guarantee could have saved us all a lot of, uh, worries. As it is, we're going to have to leave-in that leave-in conditioner for a long, long time to detangle us from this fiscal-kerfuffle.

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Five Dollars a Gallon September, 20th 2008

Years ago, a friend of mine remarked, "If gas was five dollars a gallon like it is in Europe, it would be great for the environment because no one would want to drive anymore." I scoffed at the prospect and told him I was quite comfortable with gas as it was, under two dollars a gallon. He was enrolled at an environmental college and his brain was coddled with soy and wheatgrass as far as I was concerned. Now, gas costs $4.50 a gallon, and it's not going to fall much under that mark, well, ever. His prophecy of gas at five dollars a gallon will probably be realized in some areas between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

More and more, I'm starting to think he was right. I know, it's perverse—high gas prices kill everyday consumers by driving up the price of everything from soy milk to solenoids, and it's the working families that suffer the brunt of the spike. Suddenly, though, taking the bus to work is becoming more and more attractive. Carpooling is easily worth the hassle, and skipping superfluous trips to the store makes sense.

These measures have striking positive results; bussing or carpooling to work saves on gas, parking and insurance costs. Usually, insurance companies assume that your commute accounts for the majority of miles on your vehicle. If you can chop this figure in half or better, an insurance agent should be able to inflict a similar axing on your premiums. Because of this, the savings from driving less goes beyond not having to watch the numbers roll inexorably higher at the pump like the world's unluckiest slot machine.

Meanwhile, greenhouse emissions and their nasty little habit of altering the global climate (total party foul) are being curtailed. This is something that's no longer a fringe, environmentalist pursuit, but rather a concern to everyone. If you're anything like me, sitting in traffic is much more bearable when you can zone out, read a book or sip coffee instead of cursing and working the clutch and accelerator in an obscure, dissonant time signature. The fuzzy feeling nestled in my stomach from slimming down my carbon footprint is preferable to the depressing decline of my gas gauge, too.

And all it took for us to realize it was five-dollar gas.

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Million Dollar Legs September 15th, 2008

In the 20's, Ben Turpin, realizing his shtick as a comedian relied on his myopic blunders, insured his crossed eyes from un-crossing. This was the first of many policies sought to protect legs, vocal chords, noses, physiques, breasts, and hands. Some policies are pragmatic (musicians like Keith Richards and Liberace have insured their fingers), others are truly bizarre (cricket player Merv Hughes insured his mustache).

Historically, legs have been the most common celebrity-insurance item. The group includes Betty Grable, Brooke Shields, Tina Turner, Michael Flatley, Heidi Klum, et al. Oddly, Flatley's coverage is the most extensive at 25 million; Klum's legs, for a comparison, are valued at paltry $1.96 million.

So I thought I'd make a list of items that ought to be insured, and how much for:

Rush Limbaugh's lunacy – $45,000
Bill O'Reilly's temper – $12 million
Barack Obama's hope – $12 million
Donald Trump's comb-over – $2 million
Kanye West's ego – $600,000
P Diddy's pretentiousness – $300,000
John Daly's cheeseburger habit – $15,000

It's a jarring prospect: a reasonable Rush, a demure Diddy, a bony Daly and an unoptimistic Obama. Unfortunately, QuoteWizard is unable to offer leg, ego and comb-over insurance at this time, but we can same you money on more straightforward policies. Check with Lloyd's of London if you've got mustache that needs insuring—for everything else, QuoteWizard can help.

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Wedding InsuranceAugust 12th, 2008

With the bottom line for a wedding hovering somewhere around $15,000—$45,000, people are starting the see the most special day of their entire lives as something worth insuring. After all, if their most special day is canceled for some sort of unforeseen reason, it's nice to be able to recoup losses incurred from rescheduling to an even more special day. It's not just weddings that can be insured. Special occasions like bar mitzvahs and graduations can be covered as well.

Some companies will even insure cold feet, though only for the party that is actually financing the ceremony. Picture the father of the bride looking the groom up and down and saying, "I'm just going to go purchase an additional insurance rider for the, uh, cake. You just can't be too careful with the cake." If you want this coverage, though, be prepared to hunt around. Insurers, being the cynical curmudgeons they are, don't often see this as a profitable proposition.

The idea of insuring a celebration or ceremony might seem a bit excessive, but when the total cost is as much as a new car and the whole event can be ruined by something unexpected—and totally plausible—like an appendicitis or call to military service, spending an extra $200 – $1,000 for peace of mind is a reasonable expense. It doesn't necessarily have to be the bride, groom, or honoree that is stricken with illness in order for a claim to be filed. If a dress or tuxedo is ruined, if the minister or rabbi suddenly bails out, if the venue is closed or destroyed, or if the caterer or photographer doesn't show, the policy will cover last minute costs to remedy the situation. And don't think that hiring a last minute caterer to work a large wedding party won't be expensive.

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Insurance You Don't Need August 1st, 2008

I was with my friend when he purchased a universal remote from a big-box electronic store. "For $15, you can buy our extended warranty," said the clerk. The remote was only $25 to begin with, and it was already covered for 30 days by the manufacturer. Why on earth would he want to insure his universal remote?

The same thing happened with my first cell phone. I'd held off as long as possible before getting one. When I finally broke down, they saleswoman told me I ought to get insurance to protect my phone. "But you just gave me this phone for free," I said. "You called it 'the tank of cell phones' and said you drop yours all the time and it's always fine, so why would I want to insure it?" She went on to give me several ostensibly reasonable motives I might have for taking out a $50 insurance policy on a free phone, but I wasn't convinced.

I think the next time I go out for a nice meal I'll ask the server if I can pay 10% to insure my meal from fire, theft, acts of God, or clumsiness. I'm also considering insuring: my coffee from spilling, my sweaters from shrinking in the laundry, the next soufflè I bake from falling, and my flip-flops from blowing out.

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The Cheapest Rig July 17th, 2008

In a flurry of frugality, I decided to find the absolute cheapest car to insure. There are a number of factors that drive the cost of insurance down, and I intended to exploit these as much as possible.

It had to be a car no one would want to steal, a car I could leave in the roughest part of a city, unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, and have virtually no fear of a break-in. Crash test results were important, too. The car had to walk the line between safe for me and safe for whatever I happened to be running into. Large SUV's were out because of their penchant for rolling.

Ideally, the car had to be a domestically manufactured, four-cylinder station wagon or minivan. After some intense perusing, my candidates were:

'89 Chevy Celebrity	'91 Oldsmobile Silhouette
'84 Ford LTD	'90 Geo Tracker

I got in touch with an Esurance agent, one of the many reputable providers in the QuoteWizard pool. After telling him some basic personal information and the sort of policy I wanted, he quoted a six month rate for each of the vehicles.

With a bottom line price of $276, the '84 Ford LTD Wagon won out, eclipsing the luxurious excesses of the Silhouette's and Tracker's rates of $285 and $281, respectively. The Celebrity was a near second, but in the end, I believe it was the lavish aesthetic of the "Celebrity" moniker that, though only titular, drove the six month rate up a full $3 to $279.

Now my only challenge is to find someone willing to part with their '84 vintage Ford gem; then I'll be on the road to saving in style.

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No Fault Scams—A Veritable Ersatz EmpireJune 26th, 2008

If we'd all practice the altruistic capitalism Ayn Rand said we were wont to, things like this would never happen. Criminals found a cunning way to defraud New York's no-fault insurance system out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was as creative as it was contemptible, necessitating the aid of corrupt drivers, passengers, doctors, and unwitting accomplices.

The scheme was to recruit citizens to ride in a vehicle while an accident was either staged or caused. Some groups had a particular gift for luring cab drivers into crashes. After the "wreck," passengers were whisked away to medical clinics to get "treated" for injuries they didn't actually receive. Once the monetary threshold for legal action was met, large "pain and suffering" lawsuits followed. Plaintiffs were regularly awarded large settlements that were completely unwarranted. Many times, the "victims" were immigrants who were paid only a couple hundred dollars for their part in the grift, with the organizers at the top receiving the majority of the spoils.

The amount of preparation and recruiting these crime rings undertook suggests that, had they focused their energy on something other than making a mockery of the legal, medical, and insurance systems—perhaps even something beneficial to society—they would have found success there as well. As it stands, many of them are behind bars—forever a strain on taxpayers, it seems.

When no-fault systems began popping up in the 70's, they were championed as a way to cut down on insurance related litigation and ensure that everyone involved in an auto accident received prompt medical attention. It's ironic that, at least in the case of New York, they had the opposite effect. These crime rings were an anomaly, but some recent studies have suggested that no-fault systems actually ended up increasing premiums elsewhere. And with each frivolous lawsuit, Ms. Rand rolls petulantly in her grave.

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The Most Expensive DUI June 23rd, 2008

On a cold Alaska night in 1989, Joseph Hazelwood did what nobody in the midst of a vodka-induced, bleary state of half-consciousness should have done: he drove. Without a driver designated, Hazelwood piloted his vehicle—which, for the record, was the Exxon Valdez supertanker—onto a reef in the Prince William Sound. Eleven million gallons of crude oil later, Hazelwood came to with (presumably) a vicious hangover and the world's most expensive DUI ever.

With the plethora of attorney fees, court fees, fines, re-education costs, and insurance increases, an average DUI costs about $10,000. Hazelwood's grand total was about $1 billion. And at $1 billion, he got away with one—the plaintiffs had received settlements as high as $5 billion in lower courts. Lucky for him, Exxon-Mobil picked up all but $50,000 of the tab.

Don't make the same mistake Hazelwood did. If you get a DUI, it probably won't kill hundreds of thousands of fish and wildlife and ruin 1,300 miles of pristine Alaskan shoreline, but there is always the potential for disaster when individuals drive under the influence. If you drink, designate a driver, sleep it off, call a cab, take the bus, or walk—especially the next time you're hammered in the bridge of a supertanker.

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