(HealthDay News

SATURDAY, Oct. 24

Gene therapy can improve the vision of people with a severe form of genetically inherited retinal degeneration called Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a new study shows.
People with LCA, which is caused by mutations in any of least 13 genes, have severe vision loss and abnormal eye movements in early infancy and during early childhood. Most people with the disease are blind by their 30s or 40s. There is no cure, according to background information provided in a news release.
The new phase I trial included 12 patients, aged 8 to 44 years, who were injected in one eye with genetic material meant to correct LCA. The gene therapy led to at least a 100-fold increase in pupillary light response (constriction of the pupil when it's exposed to light) in the participants. An 8-year-old patient developed nearly the same level of light sensitivity as a person with normal vision, the study authors reported.
In general, the greatest improvements were seen in children aged 8 to 11, all of whom gained ambulatory vision -- being able to see well enough to walk unaided.
"All 12 patients given gene therapy in one eye showed improvement in retinal function. The effect was stable during follow-up. The results support our hypothesis that the response to subretinal gene therapy depends on the extent of retinal degeneration and, therefore, the age of the patient," wrote Dr. Jean Bennett, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, and colleagues.
"The most noteworthy result was the ability of children to navigate an obstacle course independently and accurately, even in dim light," the study authors wrote. "The visual recovery noted in the children confirms the hypothesis that efficacy will be improved if treatment is applied before retinal degeneration has progressed. Assessment of whether the treatment alters the natural progression of the retinal degeneration will be possible in follow-up studies," they added.
"The success of this gene therapy study in children provides the foundation for gene therapy approaches to the treatment of other forms of LCA and of additional early onset retinal diseases," the researchers concluded.
The study is published in the Oct. 24 online edition and in an upcoming print issue of The Lancet.

Homeowners insurance

Homeowners insurance, or home insurance, compensates you for losses to your home and your possessions inside it, so purchasing a homeowners policy provides added security for your investment. Home insurance also protects you if you're legally liable for someone's injuries on your property, as well as from financial losses caused by storms, fire, theft and other events outlined in your policy.
Why buy condo insurance?
Home insurance isn't your only option when it comes to protecting your belongings. When you own a condominium, you — not your condo association — are responsible for what's inside your condo. That's why having a personal condo insurance policy is important.
Why buy renters insurance?
Renters insurance protects you in situations that everyone can face: fire, theft, water damage and other unforeseen circumstances — situations your apartment owner's policy doesn't cover.

Homeowners insurance, or home insurance, compensates you for losses to your home and your possessions inside it, so purchasing a homeowners policy provides added security for your investment. Home insurance also protects you if you're legally liable for someone's injuries on your property, as well as from financial losses caused by storms, fire, theft and other events outlined in your policy.
Why buy condo insurance?
Home insurance isn't your only option when it comes to protecting your belongings. When you own a condominium, you — not your condo association — are responsible for what's inside your condo. That's why having a personal condo insurance policy is important.
Why buy renters insurance?
Renters insurance protects you in situations that everyone can face: fire, theft, water damage and other unforeseen circumstances — situations your apartment owner's policy doesn't cover.

Debate grows over US ruling on marijuana

WASHINGTON - Advocates of medical marijuana praised a Justice Department decision yesterday not to target cannabis-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers in the 14 states that allow marijuana use, but critics called it a retreat in the war on drugs.

Discuss
COMMENTS (1)
Federal prosecutors were told about the new policy in a legal memo issued by the department yesterday. Cannabis-smoking patients or their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in the 14 states that allow medicinal marijuana, prosecutors were told.

The guidelines make it clear, however, that federal agents will go after people whose marijuana distribution goes beyond what is permitted under state law or use medicinal marijuana as a cover for other crimes.

The memo advises prosecutors they “should not focus federal resources in your states on individuals whose actions are in clear and unambiguous compliance with existing state laws providing for the medical use of marijuana.’’

The policy is a shift from the Bush administration, which insisted it would continue to enforce federal anti-marijuana laws regardless of state codes.

“It will not be a priority to use federal resources to prosecute patients with serious illnesses or their caregivers who are complying with state laws on medical marijuana, but we will not tolerate drug traffickers who hide behind claims of compliance with state law to mask activities that are clearly illegal,’’ Attorney General Eric Holder said.

“This is a major step forward,’’ said Bruce Mirken, communications director for the Marijuana Policy Project, a group that promotes the decriminalization of marijuana use. “This change in policy moves the federal government dramatically toward respecting scientific and practical reality.’’

Critics of the change, including some lawmakers, said it was a setback in the fight against Mexican drug cartels.

“We cannot hope to eradicate the drug trade if we do not first address the cash cow for most drug trafficking organizations - marijuana,’’ said Representative Lamar Smith of Texas, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee.

Justice Department officials say the new policy is intended to lay out prosecutorial priorities to US attorneys in the states that allow medicinal marijuana. It notes that marijuana sales in the United States are the largest source of money for violent Mexican drug cartels, but adds that federal law enforcement agencies have limited resources.

By the government’s count, 14 states allow some use of marijuana for medical purposes: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Some medicinal marijuana advocates say Maryland shouldn’t be included in that group, because the law there allows only reduced penalties for medicinal marijuana usage.

California stands out among those for the widespread presence of dispensaries - businesses that sell marijuana and even advertise their services.

Colorado also has several dispensaries, and Rhode Island and New Mexico are in the process of licensing providers, according to the Marijuana Policy Project.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley said last week that he wants to close dispensaries that sell marijuana for profit. Cooley’s plan is the latest salvo in a prolonged conflict in California over whether medicinal marijuana is truly having its intended effect or is being abused by the larger population.

Until recently, raids on clinics typically led to federal prosecutions, but Cooley’s remarks and similar ones from Attorney General Jerry Brown signal a new approach to clear the confusion left by Proposition 215, the 1996 state ballot measure that allowed sick people with referrals from doctors and an identification card to smoke marijuana.

Advocates say marijuana is effective in treating chronic pain and nausea, among other ailments.

Holder said in March that he wanted federal law enforcement officials to pursue those who violate both federal and state law, but it has not been clear how that goal would be put into practice.

The memo written by Deputy Attorney General David Ogden emphasizes that prosecutors have wide discretion in choosing which cases to pursue, and says it is not a good use of federal manpower to prosecute those who are without a doubt in compliance with state law.

Gay rights activists press cause in D.C.

Thousands of supporters of gay rights marched Sunday from the White House to the Capitol, demanding that President Obama keep his promises to allow gays to serve openly in the military and work to end discrimination against gays.

Rainbow flags and homemade signs dotted the crowds filling Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House as people chanted "Hey, Obama, let mama marry mama" and "We're out, we're proud, we won't back down." Many children were also among the protesters. A few counterprotesters had also joined the crowd, which stretched several blocks by the afternoon.

Jason Yanowitz, a 37-year-old computer programmer from Chicago, held his 5-year-old daughter, Amira, on his shoulders. His partner, Annie, had their 2-year-old son, Isiah, in a stroller. Mr. Yanowitz said more straight people were turning out to show their support for gay rights.

"If somebody doesn't have equal rights, then none of us are free," he said.

"For all I know, she's gay or he's gay," he added, pointing to his children.



Some participants in the National Equality March woke up energized by Mr. Obama's blunt pledge to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military during a speech to the nation's largest gay rights group Saturday night.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Sunday that Congress would need to muster the resolve to change the "don't ask, don't tell" policy - a change that the military may be ready for.

"I think it has to be done in the right way, which is to get a buy-in from the military, which I think is now possible," said Sen. Carl Levin, Michigan Democrat.

Mr. Obama's political energies have been focused on two wars, the economic crisis and health care reform, though he pledged "unwavering" commitment even as he wrestled with those problems.

Want to lose weight

Want to lose weight as you chow down? Your wish is granted! (I promise, this is no fairy tale.) Your supermarket is filled with foods that studies show have lipid-melting powers to help melt fat and keep you slim. Stock up on these fat-fighting super bites, and you'll be trimmer even as you indulge. Read on to discover the eight foods that deserve a permanent spot in your fridge—and in your diet!

Almonds These yummy nuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid, which can accelerate your metabolism of fats. In fact, dieters who ate 3 ounces of almonds daily slashed their weight and body-mass index by 18 percent, while those who skipped the nuts reduced both numbers less— just 11 percent—a study in the International Journal of Obesity revealed. Chomp almonds à la carte (limit yourself to 12 per serving to keep calories in check). I get a pack at Starbucks and nibble throughout my day. Or sprinkle them into a recipe such as Black Bean–Almond Pesto Chicken. Go nuts!

Berries I tell my daughter, "These are nature's candy!" Turns out they're also your body's best friends. Strawberries, raspberries and other vitamin C–spiked fruit can supercharge your workout, helping you burn up to 30 percent more fat, research from Arizona State University at Mesa has found. If they're not in season, buy the little gems frozen in a bulk-sized bag so you'll always have them on hand to whip up a Berry Bliss Smoothie or Strawberry-Sunflower Pops, regardless of whether berries are in season.

Cinnamon Adding 1/4 teaspoon to your plate may prevent an insulin spike—an uptick that tells your body to store fat. Sprinkle it on your morning cereal or coffee or on your yogurt in the A.M., or savor it in Apple-Cinnamon-Raisin Oatmeal.

Mustard It's heaven on a soft pretzel, but mustard may also be a weight loss wonder. Turmeric, the spice that gives mustard its color, may slow the growth of fat tissues, a study in the journal Endocrinology finds. Use it on sandwiches instead of mayo, or sprinkle turmeric on cauliflower pre-roasting to give it a kick. Try it on tuna salad—I promise it adds zest.

Oranges This citrus fruit, which contains fat-blasting compounds known as flavones, deserves to be your main squeeze. Women who ate the most flavones had a much lower increase in body fat over a 14-year period, a study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition notes. Eat oranges sliced or swig fresh OJ (including pulp!) to get the best benefit from the fruit.

Soybeans Reason to toss a half cup on your salad? Soybeans are rich in choline, a compound that blocks the absorption of fat and breaks down fatty deposits. Oh, and they're addictively delish! But if breast cancer runs in your family, experts suggest you should talk to your doc before adding soy to your diet.

Sweet potatoes The colorful spuds' high-fiber content means they keep your insulin steadier than their white sisters, which means less fat packed on your hips, research finds. Top a small baked tater with lowfat cottage cheese for a tempting side dish, or whip up Miso Soup With Sweet Potato Dumplings.

Swiss cheese Calcium-rich foods reduce fat-producing enzymes and increase fat breakdown, and Swiss has more calcium than many of its cheesy peers. Choose the reduced-fat variety, such as Sargento. Slip it into your sandwich, put it on top of high-fiber crackers or use it for a healthier grilled cheese. Yum!

For other tricks to eating your way to your healthy, happy weight, load up on these 20 slimming superfoods at Self.com.

Darchula Nepal

Deuda Samrat N. K.Joshi

What is Love? you know.....

Auto Insurance

The average cost of automobile insurance declined by 1.7 percent in 2006, according to a November 2008 report from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The District of Columbia had the highest average expenditure ($1,164), followed by New Jersey ($1,152), Louisiana ($1,094), New York ($1,083) and Florida ($1,069).

AVERAGE EXPENDITURES FOR AUTO INSURANCE, UNITED STATES, 1997-2006


Year Average expenditure Percent change Year Average expenditure Percent change
1997 $705 2.0% 2002 $786 8.3%
1998 703 -0.3 2003 830 5.6
1999 685 -2.6 2004 842 1.4
2000 690 0.7 2005 831 -1.3
2001 726 5.2 2006 817 -1.7
Source: © 2007 National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE AND LEAST EXPENSIVE STATES FOR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, 2006 (1)


Rank Most expensive states Average expenditure Rank Least expensive states Average expenditure
1 D.C. $1,164 1 North Dakota $530
2 New Jersey 1,152 2 Iowa 536
3 Louisiana 1,094 3 South Dakota 554
4 New York 1,083 4 Idaho 577
5 Florida 1,069 5 Kansas 579
6 Massachusetts 1,042 6 Nebraska 584
7 Rhode Island 1,038 7 Wisconsin 590
8 Delaware 1,024 8 North Carolina 596
9 Nevada 1,006 9 Indiana 631
10 Connecticut 981 10 Maine 634
(1) Based on average automobile insurance expenditures.

Source: © 2008 National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

AUTO INSURANCE EXPENDITURES, BY STATE

The table on the following pages shows estimated average expenditures for private passenger automobile insurance by state for 2002 to 2006, providing approximate measures of the relative cost of automobile insurance to consumers in each state. To calculate average expenditures the National Association of Insurance Commissioners assumes that all insured vehicles carry liability coverage but not necessarily collision or comprehensive coverage. The average expenditure measures what consumers actually spend for insurance on each vehicle. It does not equal the sum of liability, collision and comprehensive expenditures because not all policyholders purchase all three coverages.

Expenditures are affected by the coverages purchased as well as other factors. In states where the economy is healthy, people are more likely to purchase new cars. Since new car owners are more likely to purchase physical damage coverages, these states will have a higher average expenditure. The NAIC notes that urban population, traffic density and per capita income have a significant impact on premiums. The latest report shows that high premium states tend also to be highly urban, with higher wage and price levels and greater traffic density. Tort liability and other auto laws, labor costs, liability coverage requirements, theft rates and other factors can also affect auto insurance prices.\

AVERAGE EXPENDITURES FOR AUTO INSURANCE BY STATE, 2005-2006


2006 2005
State Liability Collision Compre-
hensive Average expenditure Rank (1) Average expenditure Rank Average expenditure percent change 2005-2006
Alabama $367 $318 $135 $684 35 $679 37 0.7%
Alaska 596 381 158 955 11 968 11 -1.3
Arizona 507 310 231 913 14 929 14 -1.7
Arkansas 387 291 161 684 34 694 34 -1.4
California (2) 483 376 118 843 16 842 19 0.2
Colorado 453 281 188 785 23 829 21 -5.3
Connecticut 621 335 125 981 10 993 9 -1.2
Delaware 706 298 111 1,024 8 1,028 8 -0.3
D.C. 610 445 261 1,164 1 1,187 1 -2.0
Florida 752 287 113 1,069 5 1,064 6 0.5
Georgia 424 372 169 788 22 785 24 0.4
Hawaii 542 309 117 853 15 846 18 0.8
Idaho 339 232 125 577 48 585 48 -1.4
Illinois 410 296 118 740 27 743 28 -0.4
Indiana 361 253 111 631 43 658 41 -4.0
Iowa 282 199 163 536 50 555 50 -3.6
Kansas 300 235 198 579 47 589 47 -1.7
Kentucky 484 266 132 739 28 751 26 -1.5
Louisiana 660 386 209 1,094 3 1,078 5 1.5
Maine 362 270 106 634 42 644 42 -1.6
Maryland 564 326 146 949 12 948 12 0.1
Massachusetts 670 327 127 1,042 6 1,113 4 -6.4
Michigan 494 415 158 925 13 931 13 -0.6
Minnesota 446 224 173 753 25 792 23 -4.9
Mississippi 430 294 165 746 26 746 27 0.0
Missouri 379 262 146 673 36 685 36 -1.8
Montana 399 241 197 661 37 686 35 -3.7
Nebraska 327 213 189 584 46 619 44 -5.7
Nevada 651 344 142 1,006 9 985 10 2.1
New Hampshire 435 300 109 793 21 792 22 0.2
New Jersey 747 378 160 1,152 2 1,185 2 -2.8
New Mexico 457 292 165 737 29 731 30 0.8
New York 730 331 153 1,083 4 1,125 3 -3.7
North Carolina 342 251 121 596 44 602 46 -1.0
North Dakota 255 196 238 530 51 555 51 -4.4
Ohio 382 252 104 654 39 670 39 -2.3
Oklahoma 384 271 169 659 38 678 38 -2.9
Oregon 483 226 103 726 30 738 29 -1.7
Pennsylvania 499 309 125 832 18 850 17 -2.1
Rhode Island 695 377 125 1,038 7 1,062 7 -2.2
South Carolina 471 255 149 756 24 754 25 0.3
South Dakota 296 200 202 554 49 566 49 -2.2
Tennessee 363 293 123 654 40 659 40 -0.8
Texas 454 349 175 820 20 857 16 -4.3
Utah 424 266 120 702 31 707 31 -0.7
Vermont 361 298 129 687 32 700 32 -1.8
Virginia 395 264 118 685 33 700 33 -2.1
Washington 543 260 127 839 17 842 20 -0.3
West Virginia 510 297 180 827 19 859 15 -3.7
Wisconsin 331 204 123 590 45 615 45 -4.1
Wyoming 334 261 216 639 41 640 43 -0.2
United States $489 $308 $140 $817 $831 -1.7%
(1) Ranked by average expenditure.
(2) Preliminary.

Note: Average expenditure=Total written premium/liability car years. A car year is equal to 365 days of insured coverage for a single vehicle. The NAIC does not rank state average expenditures and does not endorse any conclusion drawn from these data.

Source: © 2008 National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

AVERAGE EXPENDITURES FOR AUTO INSURANCE BY STATE, 2002-2004


Average expenditure (1)
State 2004 2003 2002
Alabama $677 $657 $627
Alaska 974 938 884
Arizona 931 921 887
Arkansas 708 698 672
California (2) 846 837 779
Colorado 850 923 921
Connecticut 991 988 970
Delaware 1,022 977 900
D.C. 1,185 1,135 1,044
Florida 1,062 1,018 934
Georgia 779 759 739
Hawaii 817 776 739
Idaho 590 586 563
Illinois 760 762 729
Indiana 671 671 648
Iowa 580 581 548
Kansas 603 611 587
Kentucky 758 739 688
Louisiana 1,062 1,015 928
Maine 650 633 587
Maryland 947 893 840
Massachusetts 1,113 1,052 984
Michigan 980 950 887
Minnesota 829 837 801
Mississippi 749 710 681
Missouri 702 702 669
Montana 683 675 628
Nebraska 637 624 590
Nevada 939 914 896
New Hampshire 798 779 733
New Jersey 1,221 1,193 1,125
New Mexico 728 732 706
New York 1,172 1,168 1,100
North Carolina 597 605 588
North Dakota 562 537 505
Ohio 680 672 642
Oklahoma 690 689 654
Oregon 753 736 682
Pennsylvania 843 813 777
Rhode Island 1,034 997 939
South Carolina 763 745 703
South Dakota 587 564 542
Tennessee 666 650 632
Texas 880 918 864
Utah 722 733 703
Vermont 693 683 650
Virginia 702 658 626
Washington 839 825 791
West Virginia 875 844 778
Wisconsin 636 621 611
Wyoming 629 618 585
United States $842 $830 $786
(1) Average expenditure=Total written premium/liability car years. A car year is equal to 365 days of insured coverage for a single vehicle.
(2) Preliminary.

Source: © 2008 National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

TOP FIVE MOST EXPENSIVE AND LEAST EXPENSIVE CITIES FOR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, 2007 (1)



Rank Most expensive cities Average annual auto premiums Rank Least expensive cities Average annual auto premiums
1 Detroit, MI $5,072 1 Eau Claire, WI $869
2 Philadelphia, PA 3,779 2 Norfolk, VA 954
3 Newark, NJ 3,381 3 Raleigh, NC 966
4 Los Angeles, CA 3,027 4 Bismarck, ND 989
5 Hempstead, NY 2,764 5 Burlington, VT 1,001

(1) As of June 2007. Assumes $100,000/$300,000/$50,000 liability limits, collision and comprehensive with $500 deductibles, and $100,000/$300,000 uninsured coverage.

Source: Runzheimer International.

TOP TEN WRITERS OF PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTO INSURANCE BY DIRECT PREMIUMS WRITTEN, 2008

($000)

Rank Group Direct premiums written (1) Market share
1 State Farm Group $30,055,729 18.3%
2 Allstate Insurance Group 17,691,133 10.8
3 Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group 12,516,814 7.6
4 Progressive Group 11,678,759 7.1
5 Zurich Insurance Group 8,884,495 5.4
6 Nationwide Group 7,590,425 4.6
7 Liberty Mutual Insurance Group 7,230,959 4.4
8 USAA Group 6,251,046 3.8
9 American International Group 4,445,702 2.7
10 American Family Insurance Group 3,440,816 2.1

(1) Before reinsurance transactions, excluding state funds.

Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Annual Statement Database, via Highline Data, LLC. Copyrighted information. No portion of this work may be copied or redistributed without the express written permission of Highline Data, LLC.

WHERE THE PREMIUM DOLLAR GOES,PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTO INSURANCE, 2007


PREMIUMS EARNED: $100
CLAIMS:
Payments to injured persons:
Medical $9
Wage loss and other economic payments 2
Pain and suffering and other noneconomic awards 5
Lawyers’ fees 11
Costs of settling claims 2
Subtotal $29

Payments for damage to cars (1):
Property damage liability $17
Collision claims 16
Comprehensive claims 7
Costs of settling claims 1
Subtotal $41
Total claims $70

EXPENSES:
Commissions and other selling expenses $17
General expenses (costs of company operations) 6
State premium taxes, licenses and fees 2
Dividends to policyholders 1
Total expenses $26

Claims and expense total $96

BOTTOM LINE:
Investment gain (2) $9
Pretax income ($100 - $96 + $9) 13
Tax -5
Income after taxes $8

(1) Includes theft and damage to other property, e.g., road signs.
(2) Includes interest, dividends, and realized capital gains.

Source: Insurance Information Institute estimate based on data from ISO; National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Annual Statement Database, via Highline Data, LLC. Copyrighted information. No portion of this work may be copied or redistributed without the express written permission of Highline Data, LLC.; Insurance Research Council; A.M. Best Company, Inc.


* In 2007 claims accounted for $70 of every $100 earned in private passenger auto insurance premiums in the United States.
* Lawyers’ fees accounted for $11 out of every $100 in premiums. Half of the fees went to plaintiffs’ attorneys and the remainder to defendants’ attorneys.
* Theft accounted for about 25 percent of the dollars that go to pay comprehensive claims, or slightly less than 2 percent of premiums earned for private passenger auto insurance.
Where The Revenue Dollar Goes, 2007
(Premiums and investments)
Where The Revenue Dollar Goes, 2007

PRIVATE PASSENGER AUTO INSURANCE LOSSES, 1999-2008 (1)


Liability
Bodily injury (2) Property damage (3)
Year Claim
frequency (4) Claim
severity (5), (6) Claim
frequency (4) Claim
severity (5)
1999 1.23 9,646 4.00 2,294
2000 1.20 9,807 3.98 2,393
2001 1.16 10,149 3.97 2,471
2002 1.15 10,400 3.92 2,552
2003 1.12 11,135 3.84 2,558
2004 1.11 11,613 3.76 2,582
2005 1.07 11,983 3.63 2,657
2006 1.02 12,426 3.44 2,783
2007 0.95 12,712 3.48 2,830
2008 0.96 13,533 3.45 2,889

Physical damage (7)
Collision Comprehensive (8)
Year Claim
requency (4) Claim
severity (5) Claim
frequency (4) Claim
severity (5)
1999 5.73 2,352 2.80 1,116
2000 5.61 2,480 2.89 1,125
2001 5.53 2,525 3.11 1,152
2002 5.48 2,728 2.91 1,250
2003 5.13 2,921 2.76 1,324
2004 4.85 3,080 2.46 1,417
2005 5.04 3,067 2.38 1,457
2006 4.87 3,194 2.40 1,528
2007 5.13 3,139 2.47 1,519
2008 5.34 3,004 2.57 1,549

(1) For all limits combined. Data are for paid claims.
(2) Excludes Massachusetts and most states with no-fault automobile insurance laws.
(3) Excludes Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey.
(4) Claim frequency is claims per 100 earned car years. A car year is equal to 365 days of insured coverage for a single vehicle.
(5) Claim severity is the size of the loss, measured by the average amount paid for each claim.
(6) Includes loss adjustment expenses.
(7) Excludes Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey. Based on coverage with a $500 deductible.
(8) Excludes wind and water losses.

Source: ISO.


* From 1999 to 2008, claim frequency fell 22.0 percent for bodily injury liability claims and 13.7 percent for property damage liability claims.
* Claim severity (average claim) for liability coverages rose 40.3 percent for bodily injury claims and 25.9 percent for property damage claims from 1999 to 2008.

















*
Claim frequency fell 6.8 percent for collision coverage and 8.2 percent for comprehensive coverage from 1999 to 2008.
* Claim severity increased 27.7 percent for collision coverages and 38.8 percent for comprehensive coverage from 1999 to 2008.


INCURRED LOSSES FOR AUTO INSURANCE, 2003-2007 (1)

($000)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Private passenger liability $56,713,153 $56,317,831 $57,188,070 $56,042,440 $59,776,204
Private passenger physical damage 35,414,529 34,239,353 36,762,455 36,151,909 37,523,529
Commercial auto liability 10,666,889 10,809,661 10,373,070 10,746,525 10,091,916
Commercial auto physical damage 3,365,218 3,355,650 3,508,189 3,583,772 3,523,621
Total $106,159,789 $104,722,495 $107,831,784 $106,524,646 $110,915,270
(1) Losses occurring within a fixed period, whether or not adjusted or paid during the same period, on a direct basis before reinsurance.



Source: National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Annual Statement Database, via Highline Data, LLC. Copyrighted information. No portion of this work may be copied or redistributed without the express written permission of Highline Data, LLC.

THE SHARED/RESIDUAL MARKET AND NONSTANDARD MARKETS

All states and the District of Columbia use special systems to guarantee that auto insurance is available to those who cannot obtain it in the private market. Each type of system is commonly known as an assigned risk plan, although that term technically applies to only one type of plan. The assigned risk and other plans are known in the insurance industry as the shared, or residual, market. Policyholders in assigned risk plans are assigned to various insurance companies doing business in the state. In the voluntary, or regular, market, auto insurers are free to select policyholders.

The percentage of vehicles insured in the shared market is dropping, in part because of the evolution of the nonstandard sector of the voluntary market. The nonstandard market is a niche market for drivers who have a worse than average driving record or drive specialized cars such as high-powered sports cars and custom-built cars. It is made up of both small specialty companies, whose only business is the nonstandard market, and well-known auto insurance companies with nonstandard divisions.

Until the mid-1960s, most drivers who did not meet an insurance company’s “standard” or “preferred risk” underwriting criteria could only find coverage in the shared market, where prices are generally much higher and insurers pool or share the profits and losses. With advancements in computer technology that made it easier to set appropriate prices for smaller and smaller risk categories, some insurers began to specialize in insuring drivers with marginally bad driving records. By the late 1990s the nonstandard market accounted for about one-fifth of the total private passenger auto insurance market. This has held steady. A 2008 Conning study found that in 2006 auto insurers specializing in nonstandard private passenger auto insurance had direct premiums written of $36.9 billion, representing 22 percent of the total private passenger auto insurance market.

PRIVATE PASSENGER CARS INSURED IN SHARED MARKETS AND VOLUNTARY MARKETS, 2007


State Voluntary Shared
market Total Shared market as
a percent of total
Alabama 3,263,498 10 3,263,508 (1)
Alaska 424,290 252 424,542 0.059%
Arizona 4,063,514 49 4,063,563 0.001
Arkansas 2,028,273 1 2,028,274 (1)
California 24,187,996 11,915 24,199,911 0.049
Colorado 3,588,408 3 3,588,411 (1)
Connecticut 2,421,935 958 2,422,893 0.040
Delaware 605,226 84 605,310 0.014
D.C. 223,379 943 224,322 0.420
Florida 11,250,398 21 11,250,419 (1)
Georgia 6,694,814 2 6,694,816 (1)
Hawaii 786,973 5,003 791,976 0.632
Idaho 1,187,889 51 1,187,940 0.004
Illinois 7,780,889 1,853 7,782,742 0.024
Indiana 4,370,136 5 4,370,141 (1)
Iowa 2,383,327 13 2,383,340 0.001
Kansas 2,324,407 1,477 2,325,884 0.064
Kentucky 2,970,884 281 2,971,165 0.009
Louisiana 2,787,136 38 2,787,174 0.001
Maine 1,022,473 58 1,022,531 0.006
Maryland 3,770,632 76,658 3,847,290 1.993
Massachusetts 3,999,112 177,402 4,176,514 4.248
Michigan 6,217,059 1,766 6,218,825 0.028
Minnesota 3,703,118 4 3,703,122 (1)
Mississippi 1,998,203 78 1,998,281 0.004
Missouri 4,151,162 85 4,151,247 0.002
Montana 772,037 265 772,302 0.034
Nebraska 1,492,287 8 1,492,295 0.001
Nevada 1,754,997 29 1,755,026 0.002
New Hampshire 891,794 835 892,629 0.094
New Jersey 5,244,074 26,902 5,270,976 0.510
New Mexico 1,415,853 56 1,415,909 0.004
New York 9,154,980 112,518 9,267,498 1.214
North Carolina 5,470,099 1,506,510 6,976,609 21.594
North Dakota 580,287 3 580,290 0.001
Ohio 8,009,267 0 8,009,267 (1)
Oklahoma 2,713,011 87 2,713,098 0.003
Oregon 2,690,660 21 2,690,681 0.001
Pennsylvania 8,453,793 26,103 8,479,896 0.308
Rhode Island 657,417 17,203 674,620 2.550
South Carolina 3,233,090 1 3,233,091 (1)
South Dakota 664,233 0 664,233 (1)
Tennessee 4,149,908 38 4,149,946 0.001
Texas NA NA NA NA
Utah 1,764,823 -1 (2) 1,764,822 (1)
Vermont 473,219 754 473,973 0.159
Virginia 5,961,143 2,238 5,963,381 0.038
Washington 4,429,429 2 4,429,431 (1)
West Virginia 1,289,984 90 1,290,074 0.007
Wisconsin 3,664,374 1 3,664,375 (1)
Wyoming 490,907 0 490,907 (1)
United States 183,626,797 1,972,673 185,599,470 1.063%

(1) Less than 0.001 percent.
(2) Negative numbers represent vehicles owned by drivers who were rejected or cancelled.

NA=Data not available.

Source: Automobile Insurance Plans Service Office.

COLLISION LOSSES

The chart below shows the claim frequency, average loss payment per claim and average loss payment per insured vehicle year under collision coverage for recent model vehicles. The last item factors in both claim frequency and the average loss payment per claim. This combination is a measurement of overall insurance losses.

The claim frequency is expressed as a rate per 100 insured vehicle years. A vehicle year is equal to 365 days of insurance coverage for a single vehicle.

COLLISION COVERAGE INSURANCE LOSSES IN YEARS SINCE INTRODUCTION, 2005-2007 MODEL YEAR PASSENGER VEHICLES


2005 2006 2007 2005-2007
Claim frequency per 100 insured vehicle years
Passenger cars and minivans 7.9 8.4 8.4 8.1
Pickups 5.7 6.2 6.2 5.9
Sport-utility vehicles 5.9 6.2 6.2 6.0
All passenger vehicles 7.0 7.5 7.5 7.2
Average loss payment per claim
Passenger cars and minivans $3,984 $4,135 $4,172 $4,049
Pickups 4,469 4,522 4,552 4,493
Sport-utility vehicles 3,913 3,795 3,639 3,851
All passenger vehicles 4,026 4,116 4,075 4,059
Average loss payment per insured vehicle year
Passenger cars and minivans $315 $346 $351 $328
Pickups 253 279 282 263
Sport-utility vehicles 231 235 227 232
All passenger vehicles 283 308 307 293
Source: Highway Loss Data Institute.

CONSUMER PRICES

The Bureau of Labor Statistics's consumer price index (CPI) tracks changes in the prices paid by consumers for a representative "basket" of goods and services. The index shows that the cost of auto insurance increased 2.5 percent in 2008, after increasing by less than 1 percent in 2006 and 2007.

CONSUMER PRICE INDICES FOR INSURANCE AND RELATED ITEMS AND ANNUAL RATES OF CHANGE, 1999-2008

(Base: 1982-84=100)

Cost of living
(all items) Motor vehicle insurance Medical care items Physicians’ services Hospital services (1)
Year Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change
1999 166.6 2.2% 253.8 -0.2% 250.6 3.5% 236.0 2.8% 109.3 4.1%
2000 172.2 3.4 256.7 1.1 260.8 4.1 244.7 3.7 115.9 6.0
2001 177.1 2.8 268.1 4.4 272.8 4.6 253.6 3.6 123.6 6.6
2002 179.9 1.6 291.6 8.8 285.6 4.7 260.6 2.8 134.7 9.0
2003 184.0 2.3 314.4 7.8 297.1 4.0 267.7 2.7 144.7 7.4
2004 188.9 2.7 323.2 2.8 310.1 4.4 278.3 4.0 153.4 6.0
2005 195.3 3.4 329.9 2.1 323.2 4.2 287.5 3.3 161.6 5.3
2006 201.6 3.2 331.8 0.6 336.2 4.0 291.9 1.5 172.1 6.5
2007 207.3 2.8 333.1 0.4 351.1 4.4 303.2 3.9 183.6 6.7
2008 215.3 3.8 341.5 2.5 364.1 3.7 311.3 2.7 197.2 7.4
Percent change
1999-2008 29.2% 34.6% 45.3% 31.9% 80.4%

(table continues below)

CONSUMER PRICE INDICES FOR INSURANCE AND RELATED ITEMS AND ANNUAL RATES OF CHANGE, 1999-2008

(Base: 1982-84=100)

Cost of living
(all items) Motor vehicle insurance Medical care items Physicians’ services Hospital services (1)
Year Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change
1999 166.6 2.2% 253.8 -0.2% 250.6 3.5% 236.0 2.8% 109.3 4.1%
2000 172.2 3.4 256.7 1.1 260.8 4.1 244.7 3.7 115.9 6.0
2001 177.1 2.8 268.1 4.4 272.8 4.6 253.6 3.6 123.6 6.6
2002 179.9 1.6 291.6 8.8 285.6 4.7 260.6 2.8 134.7 9.0
2003 184.0 2.3 314.4 7.8 297.1 4.0 267.7 2.7 144.7 7.4
2004 188.9 2.7 323.2 2.8 310.1 4.4 278.3 4.0 153.4 6.0
2005 195.3 3.4 329.9 2.1 323.2 4.2 287.5 3.3 161.6 5.3
2006 201.6 3.2 331.8 0.6 336.2 4.0 291.9 1.5 172.1 6.5
2007 207.3 2.8 333.1 0.4 351.1 4.4 303.2 3.9 183.6 6.7
2008 215.3 3.8 341.5 2.5 364.1 3.7 311.3 2.7 197.2 7.4
Percent change
1999-2008 29.2% 34.6% 45.3% 31.9% 80.4%

(table continues below)

CONSUMER PRICE INDICES FOR INSURANCE AND RELATED ITEMS AND ANNUAL RATES OF CHANGE, 1999-2008 (Cont’d)

(Base: 1982-84=100)

Used cars and trucks Tenants and household insurance (5), (6) Repair of household items (5), (7) Legal services Existing single-family homes
Year Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Index Percent change Median price
($000) Percent change
1999 152.0 0.9% 101.3 1.5% 107.2 5.3% 180.0 4.8% $138 3.9%
2000 155.8 2.5 103.7 2.4 111.6 4.1 189.3 5.2 144 4.1
2001 158.7 1.9 106.2 2.4 119.4 7.0 199.5 5.4 153 6.6
2002 152.0 -4.2 108.7 2.4 125.1 4.8 211.1 5.8 165 7.8
2003 142.9 -6.0 114.8 5.6 131.0 4.7 221.7 5.0 179 8.4
2004 133.3 -6.7 116.2 1.2 139.4 6.4 232.3 4.8 195 9.3
2005 139.4 4.6 117.6 1.2 147.4 5.7 241.8 4.1 220 12.4
2006 140.0 0.4 116.5 -0.9 154.7 5.0 250.0 3.4 222 1.0
2007 135.7 -3.1 117.0 0.4 161.2 4.2 260.3 4.1 218 -1.8
2008 134.0 -1.3 118.8 1.6 170.0 5.5 270.7 4.0 197 -9.6
Percent change
1999-2008 11.9% 17.3% 58.6% 50.4% 42.8%
(1) December 1996=100.
(2) December 2005=100.
(3) December 1983=100.
(4) 2006-2008. (5) December 1997=100.
(6) Only includes insurance covering rental properties.
(7) Includes appliances, reupholstery and inside home maintenance.

NA=Data not available.

Note: Percent changes after 2007 for consumer price indices calculated from unrounded data.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; National Association of Realtors.

Why RIM’s App World Is Key to Its Long-term Success

Why RIM’s App World Is Key to Its Long-term Success

Research In Motion shares took a beating on Friday and several analysts cut their ratings on the stock after the company posted disappointing sales for its fiscal second quarter and ratcheted down expectations for the current one. But while increasing competition and ever-dwindling price points may make for a rough few months in the smartphone market, RIM’s long-term prospects will hinge on the success of its new app store.
Smartphone manufacturing is becoming a cutthroat business as the space heats up. Verizon Wireless — which has provided a huge boost to BlackBerry sales with its buy-one, get-one offer — is slated to launch several competing devices in the coming months, and the iPhone appears to be making substantial headway into the enterprise. In the meantime, margins are thinning as carriers look to target data-hungry customers with high-tech handsets that sell for less than $100. Those factors don’t bode well for RIM, whose products aside from the Storm are “largely unchanged from a year ago,” Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff wrote in a research note released today:
“We see several dozen new smartphones coming on stream in the next six months. This includes solid offerings from Motorola, Palm, HTC, Samsung and LG. Our checks with carriers indicate that they are looking to drive smartphone prices to subsidized levels below $100. RIM may be able to manage its bill of materials down in this environment, but we think price declines will have an impact on gross margins. And this transition will likely be a painful process.”
The BlackBerry has deftly morphed from a business-focused handset to a more consumer-friendly device, and sales have been impressive even as Apple’s iPhone has taken consumers (and the entire smartphone industry) by storm. The Curve actually outsold the iPhone in the first quarter of the year, and RIM claims that more than 80 percent of its new customers last quarter were non-business users who chose the BlackBerry over devices such as the iPhone, Palm Pre and Android devices. But with a slew of attractive new smartphones coming to market and pricing continue to fall, I think that kind of momentum will be impossible to maintain, and I expect RIM to lose ground over the next few months.
Which is why RIM’s app storefront will be key to the firm’s long-term success. Just as Apple’s App Store and iTunes drive sales of the company’s hardware, App World — which has received generally positive reviews — must be attractive enough to lure users away from all the other smartphones on the market. And while Apple has built its empire largely on the strength of free or cheap gimmicky apps, I think RIM has a real opportunity to market App World as a high-end retail for on-the-go users — allowing the company to polish its image as it creates a lucrative new revenue stream with premium mobile applications.
That won’t be easy in the fiercely competitive space, of course, especially when carriers like Verizon Wireless are trying to elbow it off the app distribution playground (GigaOM Pro, sub required). But if RIM can continue to attract developers and build out an attractive storefront — and if it can churn out sexy, user-friendly handsets — it will fare well in the superphone era.

Amazon said

Amazon said this afternoon it’s agreed to buy specialty shoe e-tailer Zappos for $807 million in cash and stock. It’s a smart move as it will allow Amazon to become even more synonymous with e-commerce. Funnily enough, it was just a few weeks ago that I was wondering if Amazon would be launching any more specialty stores. Indeed, they are going vertical — though I didn’t expect them to spend so much money to buy Zappos. Under terms of the deal, Zappos employees will get about $40 million in cash and restricted Amazon stock, and the entire Zappos management team will stay on.

Zappos, while in the commodity business of retail, has carved itself a nice (and fast-growing) niche by focusing on shoes. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Zappos’ hometown paper, the company reached its goal of a billion dollars in sales in 2008, 10 years after it was started by Nick Swinmurn. The sale is yet another smash hit for white-shoe Silicon Valley venture fund, Sequoia Capital. Zappos’ customer service reputation reminds me of Nordstrom, the big department store chain.
“We are joining forces with Amazon because there is a huge opportunity to utilize each other’s strengths and move even faster towards our vision of delivering happiness to customers, employees and vendors,” said Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos. “We will continue to build the Zappos brand and culture in our own unique way, and we believe Amazon is the best partner to help us do this over the long term.”

I am a big fan of both Jeff Bezos and Tony Hsieh, because they belong to that rare breed of company CEOs who put the needs of the customers (and their happiness) above everything else. Hsieh has been a fixture at various tech industry events but I’ve never met him, I’ve just enjoyed his talks and his posts on the Zappos blog. In an email to his employees today, Hsieh says something that all startup founders — myself included — would be well-advised to remember: “What happens to our culture is up to us…we are in control of our destiny and how our culture evolves.”

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Myth or Reality: The Recession-Proof Career

Although there's no such thing as a recession-proof career, some jobs may offer more job security than others. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2016, three out of 10 jobs in this country will be in education and in health care. If teaching or working in a hospital doesn't appeal to you, professional and business-related jobs will provide the second largest area of growth.
If, like many Americans, you want or need a new career, check out these six in-demand careers. With an associate's or bachelor's degree and some career training, you may be well on your way to enjoying peace of mind and job stability, even in this economy.

Computer and Information Scientist
As our need for technology grows, so does our need for computer scientists. Working as researchers, computer scientists solve technological problems and develop successful solutions. Many computer scientists work on teams in industrial settings or at universities, exploring new and innovative technologies. According to the BLS, computer scientists made over $100,000 a year on average in 2007. An online bachelor's degree in computer science may be able to give you the traction you need for this fast growing career.

Computer Systems Analyst
We know computers are important, but consider this: without computers, most American businesses would not be able to run. Computer systems analysts work for companies and businesses, identifying their technological needs. As a computer systems analyst, you will choose and configure hardware and software in order to meet your company's goals. Keeping up to date with current technologies is key. A bachelor's degree in a technical field, such as computer science or management information systems, can give you the career training you need for this rapidly growing, much sought after career. According to the BLS, computer systems analysts made an average yearly wage of $75,890 in 2007.

Employment Recruiter and Placement Specialist
As the job market tightens, more workers are drawn to temporary, seasonal, and part-time work. Employment recruiters have the important job of matching these employees with jobs. As an employment recruiter, you may work for a company looking for new hires or for a local job placement agency. Your duties will probably consist of meeting with prospective employees, interviewing them, and extending job offers. Armed with an online or on-campus degree in human resources, as an employment recruiter and placement specialist you may be able to make an average of over $50,000 a year.

Health Care Technician
Don't like the idea of working with patients but are still drawn to the medical field? Become a health care technician. Since you'll be compiling patients' charts and records and keeping their health information up to date, you'll need to be well organized and have an eye for detail. An associate's degree in health care management or a related field can prepare you for this rapidly growing field. Many employers prefer technicians who are also registered health information technicians (RHITs), which requires attending an approved program and passing an exam. The BLS estimates that medical records and health information technicians made an average yearly wage of $31,450 in 2007.

Registered Nurse
Approximately 587,000 new nursing jobs are projected within the next eight years, making nursing one of the largest job markets in the United States. According to the BLS, nurses made an average annual salary of $62,480 in 2007. An online program can give you the training you need for a nursing career as you earn your associate's or bachelor's nursing degree. As a registered nurse you will tend patients, providing them and their families with much needed emotional support and education in a doctor's office, hospital, or clinic. You can choose to specialize in one of medicine's many exciting fields, such as oncology or neonatal care.

Special Education Teacher
Within the next eight years, an estimated shortage of special education teachers will coincide with a rise in the anticipated number of qualifying students. Special education teachers work closely with students who have handicaps and disabilities. As a special education teacher, you will modify your students' lessons and help them and their families set and achieve goals. In order to become a special education teacher, you need a bachelor's degree in an approved program. Special education teachers in the United States made over $50,000 a year in 2007, according to the BLS. Plus, along with the good feeling that often accompanies helping others, you may get a portion of your summers off.

Pundits can predict where the rough economy will go within the next few years, but nobody knows for sure. An in-demand career could be one way to ride out the storm.

life insurance

Cash value life insurance, like whole life, will help me retire wealthy.Truth: Cash value life insurance is one of the worst financial products available.Sadly, over 70% of the life insurance policies sold today are cash value policies. A cash value policy is an insurance product that packages insurance and savings together. Do not invest money in life insurance; the returns are HORRIBLE. Your insurance person will show you wonderful projections, but none of these policies perform as projected.
Example of Cash ValueIf a 30-year-old man has $100 per month to spend on life insurance and shops the top 5 cash value companies, he will find he can purchase an average of $125,000 in insurance for his family. The pitch is to get a policy that will build up savings for retirement, which is what a cash value policy does. However, if this same guy purchases 20-year-level term insurance with coverage of $125,000, the cost will be only $7 per month, not $100.
WOW! If he goes with the cash value option, the other $93 per month should be in savings, right? Well, not really; you see, there are expenses.
Expenses? How much?
All of the $93 per month disappears in commissions and expenses for the first 3 years. After that, the return will average 2.6% per year for whole life, 4.2% for universal life, and 7.4% for the new-and-improved variable life policy that includes mutual funds, according to Consumer Federation of America, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

5 Ideal Jobs for Work-Life Balance

Training for a triathlon. Knitting. Playing in a rock band. Growing heirloom tomatoes. We each have preferences when it comes to using our precious hours of free time. Whether you choose to work on your political blog or lose yourself in a book, there's no denying that we all could use time to pursue whatever hobby or interest helps us feel more alive.
Sadly, leisure activities usually can't pay the rent or even cover the grocery bill. All too often, personal rejuvenation gets put on the back burner because career demands leave us with little time or energy left to devote to ourselves. Being employed doesn't have to lead to a life dominated by work, however. In fact, there are careers out there that can offer you the freedom to use your "me time" to do exactly what you want.

1. Teacher, K-12

These days, newcomers to the teaching force include twenty-somethings just beginning their career as well as middle-aged workers who are switching to teaching after working in another field. Average earnings for elementary school teachers were just over $50,000 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: If you have a bachelor's degree, becoming a teacher can be as simple as enrolling in a year-long master's teaching program which can make you eligible for certification as a teacher. Some schools even offer employment in conjunction with a training program, allowing you to earn your credentials while working in a classroom.

Me-Time Potential: Although the workload for teachers during the school year is often intense, extended winter and summer vacations can allow you time to reconnect with yourself and loved ones.

2. Emergency Room Nurse

The fast pace and high intensity of emergency room nursing is not for the faint of heart. However, for registered nurses who perform well under pressure and want a position that will keep their critical thinking skills sharp, ER nursing is an attractive option. The median salary for RNs was $60,010 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: To become a registered nurse you'll need at least an associate's degree in nursing, available from vocational schools, community colleges, and even online institutions.

Me-Time Potential: Although working as an ER nurse could keep you challenged while on the job, many professionals in this field enjoy at least several days off a week.

3. Administrative Assistant

Offices of every size, in nearly every industry, rely on administrative assistants with strong communication and organizational skills to keep them running efficiently. Average salaries in this field were nearly $30,000 in 2008.

Prepare Yourself: Online diploma, certificate, and associate's degree programs can prepare you for an administrative career, or allow you to specialize as a legal or medical secretary.

Me-Time Potential: Punch out at the end of the day and you should be able to leave most of your work behind, allowing you to spend evenings and weekends as you please.

4. Computer Support Specialist

Maintaining hardware, upgrading software, and keeping a network online are just some of the duties of computer support specialists, whose median earnings were $42,400 in 2007.

Prepare Yourself: Although some support specialists are self-taught, most employers look for candidates with at least an associate's degree in a computer-related field. A bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems could offer you more career options, however.

Me-Time Potential: While unexpected tech problems sometimes arise at 4:30 on a Friday afternoon, computer support specialists for the most part enjoy a 40-hour workweek, with few out-of-the-office responsibilities.

5. Retail Sales Associate

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that over 500,000 new salespeople will be hired through 2016. Earnings in this field, while low overall, top $40,000 for sales professionals in the insurance and auto industries.

Prepare Yourself: No formal training is required for entry-level sales positions, but if you would like to be eligible for management jobs or promotions, a bachelor's degree in sales and marketing is suggested.

Me-Time Potential: Hours for salespeople rarely follow a 9-to-5 workday, as most consumers make purchases on evenings and weekends. If your hobbies are best pursued during daylight hours, however, the schedule of a career in sales could be a perfect fit.

The Bottom Line on Making Time for Yourself

Social obligations, family activities, and household tasks can easily eat into the hours you hope to spend doing your thing. While you may find yourself feeling guilty carving out time for yourself, remember that in order to be an effective worker, friend, or family member, personal time is essential. Plan me-time into your weekly schedule and honor that commitment as you would any other. You deserve it!

Roman to Arabic numbers

The Roman numerals are now written with letters of the Roman alphabet where as they were originally independent symbols. Arabic number use is the common practice but use of roman number is not inappropriate. Hence, it is nice to know how they are used. Very general rule is to remember the following syntax and combination of the same results to different numbers in Arabic or vice verse.I=1II=2III=3IV=4V=5VI=6VII=7VIII=8IX=9X=10XL=40L=50XC=90C=100CD=400D=500CM=900M=1000From the above table it shows that the roman numbers has basic symbols like I, V, X, L, C, D, and M.To remember in easy way, numbers can be categorise into its position like units, tenth, hundred, and thousands. In each category, a new symbol arises for one back combination of middle and last number. The back number is a 'position' unit less i.e., for units position, it is unit less; for tenth position, it is 10 less; for hundred it is 100 less. The main symbols are:I-V-X for units positionX-L-C for tenthC-D-M for hundredM - - for thousandExample, unit category:1 or I is first unit. 5 (V) and 10 (X) are the middle and last numbers so a new symbols arises before 5 and 10. A unit less for middle (5-1=4) is represented by first unit and middle unit i.e., IV. Similarly, for last unit of this category (10-1=9), it is represented by first unit and last unit i.e., IX.Tenth category:Starting or first unit is 10 (X). Middle unit is 50 (L) and last unit is 100 (C). Hence, there should be new numbers for a unit less for middle (50-10=40) and last (100-10=90). A number before middle number (40) is represented by first unit (X) of the category and middle number i.e., XL and last number (90) as first unit (X) and last number (C) i.e., XC. Hundred categoryStarting or first unit is 100 (C). Middle unit is 500 (D) and last unit is 1000 (M). Hence, there should be new numbers for a unit less for middle (500-100=400) and last (1000-100=900). A number before middle number (400) is represented by first unit (C) of the category and middle number i.e., CD and last number (900) as first unit (C) and last number (M) i.e., CM. Thousand categoryStarting or first unit is 1000 (M). Middle unit is 5000 (V bar) and last unit is 10000 (X bar). Hence, there should be new numbers for a unit less for middle (5000-1000=4000) and last (10000-1000=9000). A number before middle number (4000) is represented by first unit (V bar) of the category and middle number i.e., MVbar and last number (9000) as first unit (X bar) and last number (V bar) i.e., Vbar Xbar.In all the cases the forth numbers are the combination of normal symbols in a sequence from highest numbers to units like, thousands place are replaced with thousands category symbols, then hundreds, then tenth and units at the end. The highest symbol of each category available is use in each case.Example: 66. It can be written as six times XXXXXXVI where six times X represents 60 and VI as six but 66 has to be written as 60+6 and for 60 which is under tenth category and neariest number is 50 having symbol. Hence, L is use for 50 now remaining 16 is represented as 10+6 where 10 has symbol X and 6 is nearest to units middle number (5) having symbol V plus one (I). Hence their combination, X and V and I gives LXVI for 66.Another example, to represent, 99, it is tenth category unit so it can not be written as a unit less than hundred (100-1=99) or (IC). It has to be written as 90+9. 90 has a symbol XC and 9 has IX so 99 is XCIX. In similar manner, 4687, it is categorised as 4000+600+80+7. So it is MMMMDCLXXXVII.To convert roman to Arabic or vice verse, please visit:

Life Insurance

It's never too late or too early to think about protecting your family's financial future.

Life insurance is protection against financial loss resulting from death. It is an insurance company's promise to pay your beneficiary a specific amount of money when you die in exchange for timely payment of premiums.

Why do I need life insurance?

Although you may not think about it, your ability to earn income is a significant asset and life insurance helps replace lost income in the event of your premature death. Here are some reasons people buy life insurance.
The death benefit may be used:
To replace income the family would need to maintain their standard of living after the death of a wage earner.
To pay off a mortgage loan and other personal and business debts or to create a rent fund.
To create a fund for children's education.
To pay final expenses, such as funeral costs and taxes.
To create a family emergency fund or a fund for a family member with special needs.

How much life insurance do I need?

The State Farm Life Insurance Needs Calculator provides a quick way to get an estimate of the cash needs you may have at death. Cash needs that exceed your available assets can be covered by life insurance.

Quality Healthcare Must Serve Individual Needs of Patients

Quality healthcare must reinsert consumers as the primary decision makers for their healthcare, says a report published by the Center for Health Transformation (CHT). The 21st Century Intelligent Health System: An Individual-Centered Approach describes the necessary steps to reform our healthcare system to meet the individual needs of patients. The paper provides patient statements and examples of how the needs of patients and family members are being met, and suggests that higher quality care can be provided at a much lower price if the consumer disciplines the industry."As a patient, I understand all too well what it is like to be left out of the discussion," said Lynette Bisconti, a patient advocate and cancer survivor. Bisconti was diagnosed with breast cancer three weeks after discovering she was pregnant."To beat cancer, save my baby and have a quality of life on par with what I had before cancer, I knew I needed to be actively involved in decisions about my medical care," Bisconti said. "These were my life and health goals - individual to me - and I needed my care team to understand what I valued most, to listen to me and respect my decisions about my cancer treatment."The CHT paper makes a compelling case for healthcare reform that creates a system built around individual needs."The overriding difference from every other high quality reasonable cost industry and healthcare is that we have removed the consumer and what they value from decision-making," said Steve Bonner, president and CEO of Cancer Treatment Centers of America and co-chair of the CHT working group that developed the report."The Central point of our paper is that our healthcare system must reengage the consumer and include what they value in the process," Bonner said. "Then as providers of their care, we must figure out what the consumer is willing to pay for and then we must all compete to deliver the best products and services at the most attractive prices."Bisconti sought a total of eight medical opinions. In each of the first six she felt she was being treated like a protocol, not as an individual. "Protocol said terminate the pregnancy, try to save the mother and call it a day," said Bisconti. "The clinical cookbook never seemed to change."My journey was completely transformed when I found a hospital that embraced my individual needs," Bisconti continued. "I had surgery and chemotherapy while pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. Today I remain free of disease and my son is a happy, healthy, wonderful little boy who lights up my world."Bisconti believes the patient as a full partner in healthcare decision-making has been a missing element in the decades-long healthcare reform debate."Patients can make decisions for themselves. We want to make decisions for ourselves," said Bisconti. "Unfortunately, our current system has trained us to follow, not to lead."

5 Ways to Make Money Fast and Easy

This is where the rubber meets the road. Traction is something we all lack when we are doing our research and ultimate field tests in the quest for our first million. More traction would be great whatever step in the ladder you are at.We generally focus on helping fledgling millionaires in our work because it is the most rewarding and gives us the greatest bang for our buck. To see an individual go from clueless to savvy in a fortnight is a gratifying experience. When its our resources that helped that transformation, then its very satisfying indeed. So thats the area we focus on here. This is for people who need direction but have small resource capital to manufacture acceptable results.So lets give you a little traction before you seize your jets.The following 5 strategies will give you the moves to take you to the first level. -A guy/gal with a proven idea that can be replicated-(An enviable position to be in)1) Lets get this straight. Million dollar bank balances are numerical in nature. By that I mean a million bucks is not made up of 1 large million dollar bill. Its made up of exactly one million single's. Or to go to the lowest common denominator, its actually numerically made up of One thousand, million (or 1 billion) cents.Make money fast and easy by thinking of money as numerical and therefore exponential. A dollar that you hold in your hand is the same as $1 million dollars. No difference at all. Its a seed that grows into a tree, then that tree spurrs more seeds. (I apologize for the metaphor, but how else can we put this so you understand the nature of the reality as it is)2) When you approach your 1 million dollar goal, you are biting off much much more then you can chew thinking about that million.To make money fast and easy always think small. Refine, refine, refine. Then duplicate, duplicate, duplicate. Are you with me? Is this making sense? Make a simple little mouse trap, then make lots of mouse traps exactly the same way.3) Find demand and supply into that demand.To make money fast and easy, even before you think about "what" you will do, you are going to research demand. You will become an expert at sniffing out needs. This skill is a millionaires bow and arrow. Let me tell you, most millionaires couldn't hit the side of a barn much less the bulls eye. But they DO know this. So their aim is not important. What is important is that the target is nice and gigantic. How can they miss?Trust me, its what millionaires do, its how millionaires think. Always supply into Fat juicy demand where the picking is easy. Do you want medals of bravery or a million bucks asap?4) Have a structure you never deviate from.They always failed to plan when they planned to fail. Once your research is done never deviate from it. Give it a good run but if it doesn't work out for you then move on without shedding a single tear. Chance and "chaos theory" are fascinating things. Probability is what millionaires deal with. They never delude themselves into believing in absolutes.To make money fast and easy, you will not work backwards or second guess yourself. Plant yourself firmly in the middle of the road on the high side and go forward. Don't make it up as you go. Stick to what your demand planning told you to do. Many give up after 1 failure, but probability is a funny thing. We think we can control it, but even when all your ducks are lined up in a row, it may not work. But give it a chance and let it prove itself and you may find over a number of attempts you will get the results you expected.5) Diversify AND Go deep.They call out diversify when it comes to investing. Fair enough. Things change and relying on just one source for your income stream is dangerous. And it is. But there are two sides to every coin.The pareto principle states that reality and probability are stacked unevenly. We as rational human beings think of everything as equal and even. However scientific evidence and business experience tells a different story. The pareto principle is also known as the 80/20 rule. It states that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your activities. Is this significant if true? You bet. It means that of every effort you make, of all the many things you do to manufacture your results, only 20% actually is responsible for a large proportion (in fact 80%) of them.So what does this mean in English? It means you can easily quadruple your results by finding out what that special 20% activity is and stop doing everything else. By focusing on just that 20% activity you will not only increase results, but you will create a new pareto principle refined of the old one at a higher level. In this way you move forward and evolve your activities to higher and higher levels.To your health and rapid success.If you need money now, like I mean in the next 10 minutes, try what I did. I now am making more money than in my old business and you can too. If you want to learn how to invest a few hundred dollars in the next 10 minutes and double it before you go to bed tonight, click now to read a "Rags to riches" story that is remarkable

Women’s car insurance

Until a decade or so ago, the issue of cheap car insurance for women drivers was not high on most insurers’ agenda.Today, women can enjoy some excellent motor insurance deals. But as with all these things, it makes sense to shop around. Find out how to get the best rates below.Women may still face discrimination in certain areas of their lives, but one area where this definitely does not appear to be happening is over the cost of their car insurance.Premiums for women drivers tend to be lower than they are for men, especially up to the age of about 45. Thereafter they level off.The reasons why female car insurance is cheaper than men’s are simple: premiums are based on a wide range of statistics which show they are much safer drivers than men.Government figures show that over 92% of convictions for driving offences in the UK are for men.Men are responsible for 98% of all convictions for dangerous driving.Women drivers tend to drive more slowly, carefully and shorter distances than men.Although women tend to have as many accidents as men, they are less likely to be serious. Therefore their overall claims experience is better than those of their male counterparts.Cheaper Car Insurance For Female DriversSo how can women get the best car insurance deals? Much of the advice available in our main car insurance guide applies equally to women drivers. Here are a few extra tips to help you keep car insurance premiums as cheap as possible:Consider a car that has a small engine or is in a low insurance group.If you have only just passed your test, consider taking out your own cover rather than piggybacking on your parents: you can build up a no-claims bonus that much quicker – in the second year your costs could fall by up to 30%.Avoid modifications, such as alloy wheels, extra spoilers or racing exhausts.Look out for additional security features, such as locks and immobilisers as these will help minimise your premiums.If you only tend to drive occasionally, look for policies that offer discounts for lower mileages. It’s also worth getting quotes from insurers that specialise in covering female drivers.If you are an older driver, try to avoid putting your children on your policy

Top tips for getting a cheaper car insurance quote

Fit an alarmFit an approved alarm and immobiliser, such as a Thatcham 1 or Thatcham 2. All improvements to security should help to lower your car insurance costs. Some insurers could even insist on sophisticated tracking devices before they will insure expensive cars.Change your excessChange the excess you are prepared to pay on any claim to reduce the premium. With voluntary excess the more you are willing to cover yourself in the event of an accident the lower your premium.Check your mileageCheck your mileage to make sure you are not paying extra for miles you are not covering in your car. If, for example, you change jobs and have a shorter commute to work you could be saving money. Try and work out how many miles you will genuinely cover - but don't get it wrong as inaccuracy could jeopardise your claim.Minimise your optional extrasOnly select to have a courtesy car or legal expenses if you really need them, as they may increase your premium. The less your motor insurance company has to provide in the event of an accident, the lower your costs.Be careful where you parkKeep your car parked in a locked garage overnight if you can - this can help reduce the premium. More than 50% of vehicle thefts occur during the night so if your car is safely locked away it makes sense that your insurance costs will be reduced as a consequence. If you don't have access to a garage, then parking on a driveway is generally considered a lower risk than parking on the road. It's less likely that vandalism, theft or accidental damage will occur when you're off the highway.Pass PlusIf you're a new driver looking to get your first car and car insurance we'd highly recommend that you take your Pass Plus in order to reduce your premiums. The Pass Plus certificate can only be obtained within the first year of passing your practical driving test.You'll be taking 6 lessons where you'll become competent in the following areas:Driving in townDriving out of townDriving in all WeathersDriving at nightDriving on a dual carriagewayDriving on a motorwayThere is no test to take at the end of the course. When your instructor is satisfied with your performance you will receive a certificate from the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).This certificate you will earn you large discounts with a whole host of insurance companies participating in the Pass Plus scheme