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Women really do pay less than men

koolguy — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:55:31 +0000

A while back, we chewed over the question of why women might pay less to put wheels on the road (http://www.allstatescarinsurance.com/behind-the-wheel.html). Now we’re back again. This time with the results of one of these surveys we all love to hate. It’s one of those, “We told you so!” stories. There’s this corporation based over in Sacramento. It runs a big network of insurance agencies and related education services, collecting data from its more than 10 million clients. The good thing about computers is they let you crunch numbers. In this case, the corporation has published a report showing the median rates for men and women over multiple states. The bad news for men is this confirmation they pay an average 9% more than women on comparable vehicles. In actual numbers across all states, men pay about $765 for a six-month policy whereas women pay about $698 to insure the same makes and models. So what might explain this difference (remembering it’s a median number so there will be many instances where the difference is a lot more than 9%)? Well we start off with some fairly routine facts. When it comes to picking up tickets, men are clear winners. They are significantly more likely to collect a moving violation and, hardly a surprise here, up to 50% more likely to have a DUI/DWI conviction. When that favorite pub is just too far to walk, men take the risk. Then we get to the details of the policies women prefer. More opt for the discounts for lower mileages and are prepared to restrict their driving to the less dangerous times of the day and night, i.e. avoiding the time when all the men are driving back from their favourite pubs. Then we come to what might seem at first sight to be a slightly strange fact. Women who are the registered owners are less likely to own more than one vehicle and are more likely to be the sole driver. This is a survivor from the days when the man was the key player. He would have all the vehicles in his name with the wife or partner as the named driver. Now with more independent women around, they buy the one car they need and drive it themselves. No expensive men likely to mess up their claims records. Ah, yes, those claims records. Statistically, women are involved in less accidents than men and, because they drive more slowly, there is less damage to the vehicles. “What vehicles?” you ask. Well, on average, women buy less expensive and safer vehicles than men. Put all these factors together and this explains why women can expect to pay so much less than men on their car insurance rates. This does not mean, of course, that women will find their insurance “cheap”. Because of gender discrimination in the job market, women earn less than men so paying lower premiums takes a bigger percentage of their earnings. Sadly, our society remains less fair than women would like but, at least in this one area of insurance, the balance has swung to favor the women. Everyone should get multiple auto insurance quotes to find the best deal. But putting a woman’s name on the application gets a benefit.

Do herbal solutions really help against anxiety?

koolguy — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:02:26 +0000

Anxiety can be treated in two main ways. The first is the traditional prescription medicine you get from your doctor. And the other are the natural supplements you can find in any herbal shop. There are a lot of producers who claim to have the best natural anti anxiety treatment based on herbs. And while the effectiveness of these supplements can be really high for some people suffering from anxiety disorders, you have to understand that these herbal treatments are not approved by the officials. In fact, the majority of natural anxiety solutions you see on the market these days even don’t have any medical or clinical trials to prove their effectiveness. Also make sure to read about the ingredients of the supplement you want to try using. In most cases, these supplements are based around the same herbs, mixing them in different proportions. The most common herbs found in the majority of natural anti anxiety solutions are Valerian and Passion Flower. Both these herbs are known to help relieve the symptoms of anxiety and are found in numerous traditional remedies in cultures all around the world. Thankfully, there are a lot of clinical studies on the actual effectiveness of these herbs, and all doctors agree that both Valerian and Passion Flower can be effective for relieving mild to moderate forms of anxiety. Taking 50 to 500 milligrams of Valerian per day can help overcome some symptoms of anxiety and be a good addition to conventional treatment. Passion Flower extract can be also beneficial, if taken in safe doses (couple of hundred milligrams per day), and can also help relax and fight stress after a hard day’s work. Some people also state that Green Tea is a good way to prevent and treat anxiety in a natural fashion. Green Tea contains L-theanine, a natural compound that is known to have anti-anxiety properties. However, in order for it to be really beneficial in relieving anxiety, the daily dose should be between 100 and 300 milligrams. Many herbal supplements claim to carry L-theanine as the main active ingredient. Still, the actual amount of this substance found in most supplements claiming to contain it is too low in order to state that these solutions are really effective in treating anxiety. Some specialists state that the herb St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is also quite beneficial for relieving the symptoms of anxiety and depression while not delivering the negative side effects of prescription medications. However, in order for the treatment to be really effective, a herbal remedy based on St. John’s Wort has to carry a high concentration of its active ingredient, hyperforin. This substance is quite similar to SSRI anti anxiety treatments, are known to regulate the levels of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine in the brain. Whatever herbal solution you choose to try, it still won’t be able to compare with prescription drugs like Valium. Moreover, only a professional doctor can choose the right treatment option for you and decide whether you need a prescription medication like Valium or a simple Valerian supplement. Don’t try to heal yourself without professional medical help, because you can make things even worse. Leave it to people who really know what’s best for you.

How to Lose Weight Fast Without Dieting

koolguy — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 14:02:01 +0000

When it comes to losing weight, most people just think about losing weight fast, and getting rid of this problem once and for good. But when it comes right down to it, if you are not on the right plan, you will not be successful. So how do you choose a plan when you see fad diets and miracles around every other corner? A lot of people shy away from weight loss programs because they seem to think they will end up depriving themselves of something they love, all of their favorite foods. Yes it is true that you have to change your eating habits and increase your activity level, but it doesn’t mean that you have to suffer, either. Lower calories in with more calories going out is how you are going to lose weight fast, but that doesn’t mean deprivation. You just need to make some changes that are easy to keep and that works best for you. The first thing you want to start tweaking will be your calorie intake, but that doesn’t mean you have to go on a diet. Look at your average daily intake, and what you are taking on a daily basis that well, you may not need to take. If you can cut out one of your cups of coffee or a latte every day, you will have just saved yourself anywhere from 2-500 calories a day. If you are taking a latte every day of the week, cutting out that one latte will be enough for you to lose one pound. And look, you were able to go on living your own normal life, happy as ever. Think about the one thing that you can change today that may see results for you as early as next week. Your next step will be to do just that, take a next step. You will have to find a way to incorporate just a little bit of activity into your lifestyle. It may mean taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work, or parking a little farther away in one place you find yourself driving to every day. Whatever it is, you want to start small, and wait a week to notice the difference. Pick something that you know you can do every day, even if it is just for a few minutes, and make sure you do it. If it is something that you know you are going to do anywhere, like walk from A to B to get to work, all the better. The key with every weight loss program is to keep yourself motivated, and that means rewarding yourself after setting goals that you can achieve. And keep going. Sometimes you may come across a bump or plateau where you will need a little extra push, and there are resources that are available that can get you through those bumps. If you need that little extra push to jump start your weight loss program, medication like phentermine has proven to be very effective in helping those that have a problem sticking to diets. Cutting calories and restricting diets can create stress in itself, but Phentermine will give you that little extra you need to stay on track, without depriving yourself either. c

Low-carb or low-fat

koolguy — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:51:57 +0000

International organizations are now more or less agreed we have an epidemic of obesity! So, for the research community, the big question is which diet to recommend. Note the “recommend”. There’s no willingness in any government to try forcing a change in what we eat. The best first step is to recommend the most effective diet based on the best available evidence. There are a number to choose from under the general headings of low-carb, high-protein, high-fat diets. The problem with much of the current evidence is the small number of people enrolled in short-term trials. To be able to make general statements, there should be a statistically significant number of participants and the trials should last a reasonable period of time for the full effects to be measured. With dieting there’s also the problem that up to half the participants drop out of most trials. Just published is a new trial that lasted for two years. Called DIRECT (Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Test), it compared a Mediterranean, calorie-restricted diet based on the Harvard Medical School guide to healthy eating; a low-fat, calorie-restricted diet based on the American Heart Association’s guidelines; and a low-carb, non-restricted-calorie diet based on Atkins. The participants were aged between 40 and 65 and had a BMI of at least 27, or an existing diagnosis of diabetes or heart disease. The average was people with a BMI of 31 with 86% men. Over two years, 90% stayed with the low-fat diet, 85% with the Mediterranean diet, and 78% with the low-carb diet. Weight was lost consistently in the first six months, with the new weight then stabilizing. Those in the low-fat group lost the least weight with the loss by the Mediterranean and low-carb groups broadly similar with participants dropping two BMI levels. Everyone lost about 2 inches in waist circumference. But the Mediterranean and low-carb diets showed good reductions in blood pressure and improvements in metabolic effects making them the preferred approaches, i.e. there were real, measurable health benefits and not just weight loss. The recommendation is therefore for doctors or nutritionists to discuss dieting preferences with you, aiming to agree a strategy suited to your tastes. In selecting the diet, it may be that an Atkins approach is best for those who find it difficult to restrict their calorie intake. No one should approach this decision with closed minds. It’s a case of starting with one program and then varying it to find the combination of foods you find easiest to accept for the long-term where the greatest health benefits /A> are earned. Acomplia is a useful addition to the program. In clinical trials, it also performed well, helping participants lose an average 10% of their body weight. With the right diet, a little additional exercise, and Acomplia in support, there’s no reason why you should not break the two-year barrier and go on to an increasingly healthy future life. All it needs is your own willpower and the support of your family and friends.

Classical Movie – Why It Remains Relevant For Viewers Today

koolguy — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 04:59:35 +0000

So what really is considered a classical movie? Can we simply associate as a black and white film noir thing? Containing some of those cheesy classical music? How about big powdered wigs? Do you think of the formal nature of both the characters as well as the period get-up and attire? Is a classic movie one which garnered 10 Oscars? Or do you think a classic movie simply one which down to the perception of the viewers and individuals?

The classical movie IS truly one of the great inventions since we discovered hamburgers. The classical movie is also the one show that we had the benefit of watching when we were kids, cause at the time only three television channels were available. It was during those good old Saturday afternoons and Sundays, when my dear father wasnt consumed by the sports programmes on show, when those classic movies from the past, movies featuring the glamour girls and the guys that inspired us boys to want to be cowboys, were made available for us to enjoy in all their splendour.

Though there is obviously a distinct difference between classical movies and classical movies with only classical period elements (music, costumes, storylines, etc.), I would like to address the delight of the classical movie of yesterday and today that does involve only a particular period of history and does, then feature only classical period elements.

I tend to associate the black and white flicks with the beauties and the beaus, the comedies with the curmudgeons, the histories with the insights into who people were back then, like us but with an added je ne sais quoi that we must find out, learn about, and finally to appreciate in as great a depth and as wide a breadth as we can, in order to do them the justice they deserve.

Say for example, my favorite classical movie of all time, Impromptu. This film basically enacts a couple of years in the lives of the characters George Sand, Franz Liszt, Freiderich Chopin, and the regal and wealthy folks who took artists in, allowing them to paint, create, compose, write, in exchange for wonderful company and fine entertainment. The film concentrates on Sand, who is bent on partnering with Chopin, her aggression equal in magnitude, as was his weakness. The costumes, the soundtrack, the dialogue, and the setting are all as breathtaking as the direction, technique, and the delivery of words and emotion. There is even a theme or two that humans from the beginning of time until today can identify with or appreciatethe love and hate, good and evil, as well as longing and belonging motifs that are as timeless as the movie itself.

Other classical movie choices I have an affinity toward are those less mainstream & popular ones. I would consider Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (though clearly POST-classical periods), Wilde, and Jefferson, for instance, as worthy of classical movie acclaim as say Amadeus, Emma, The Piano, and any number of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson productions.

Criminal Stars

koolguy — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 17:03:45 +0000

Thievery is alive and well in Hollywood. The glamorization of crime invariably tickles the curiosity of the public. Criminals have been portrayed as exciting, daring and cunning tantamount to hero status. They are the risk takers who should not be completely judged upon their criminal expression but rather looked at as individuals with some merit. They are cast sympathetically as their relationships are examined and ultimately lend credence to the justification, in their minds, of the criminal choices they have made. But worst of all, they are often shown as being ‘cool’, even as they hurdle towards the death of their freedom.

Take, for example, the jewelry or art thief. Movies like the Italian Job, the Score and Ocean’s Eleven display criminals as generally model citizens, other than when they are committing crimes. There may be such criminals but are they so suave in their real lives? Are they seemingly morally upright in their relationships with others? Are they really just good guys who happen to commit crimes? In real life the majority of criminals are not suave, cool or sympathetic figures. They are cutthroat, ruthless and to a degree, sociopathic. Mob figures are the best example of the paradox between the glamorization of criminal life and reality of criminal behavior.

All agree that the Soprano’s, a show about mob life in New Jersey, is a great show. The production value is high, the actors are skilled and the plot lines are well conceived. People get whacked, money gets laundered and criminals get promoted for good work. Yet, in order for the audience to tune in every week they must connect with the characters. Hence, the boss of the family, Tony Soprano is shown as a father, a husband and as attempting to improve his relationships with the outside world by visiting a therapist. This is a ploy to create sympathy for a ruthless murdering crime boss. And it works, as the Sopranos is a hit. What then are the real criminals doing?

True mob figures don’t give a damn about the outside world. Their loyalty lies with their crime families. They lie, cheat and murder for riches and would stomp on the average person, literally, to further their gains. A true jewelry thief is usually a two bit criminal who robs the local family owned jewelry store, as can be verified by FBI criminal statistics. Real criminal life is fraught with betrayal, pain and stints in prison. Most criminals are caught at some point with over 13 million arrests made in the US in 2005 alone, according to the FBI.

The business side of Hollywood is reactionary in nature. The glamorization of criminal life is partly in response to a demand by the public. Interest in stylized underworld figures comes from a public perhaps bored with their average daily existence. The idea that there are people who survive in a world where they ignore the law, fascinates us. But when the glamour is shaken off, and the dust clears, there is only an empty fancy suit left, where a thief once stood.

“Mouth to Mouth” a cult perspective: a Movie Review

koolguy — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:05:26 +0000

As a person interested in “group influence” it would be well worth anyones while to rent/buy the movie “Mouth to Mouth”.

Based on the directors brief experience in Europe as part of cult the story centers around Sherry, a young runaway meets the radical street collective SPARK – Street People Armed with Radical Knowledge – while she is living on the streets of Europe. She travels through the continent in the SPARK van, recruiting members from street gangs and disenfranchised youth at raves and town squares and experiencing the group’s giddy thrills as well as its punishing manipulations. Searching for a place to belong where she can still be herself, Sherry thinks she has found this in SPARK, but when her mother comes to find her, Sherry discovers that she must pay a heavy personal price for rebellion. Director, Alison Murray combines drama, suspense and choreographed movement in an intense, stylish and provocative look at youth culture, the struggles of parenthood, and the dark side of nonconformity.

What one can learn about “group influence” from this film is how easy it is to influence people when you offer them a sense of community and a little hope and encouragement.

The formula becomes very clear.
1) treat them as your friend and show interest in them as a person.

2) Act like you know what you’re talking about.

3) Give them the idea that they are part of something bigger, a cause.

4) Enforce obedience to the group cause.

You can also learn how easy it is for a group leader to abuse the power that is given him.

All the characters in this movie have SOMETHING in them that we can empathize with, even the abusive cult leader.

“Redemption”is key motive- Big Brother All-stars Candidates Released

koolguy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:12:49 +0000

CBS has announced and posted all 20 potential Big Brother Candidates. The names have been floating around chat forums, blogs, myspace, and fan sites all over the web since the announcement of the show earlier this year. The key for the most of the houseguests? Redemption! Most of the chosen ones made big mistakes somewhere in the game, were stabbed in the back by another player, or just simply played the game wrong.

George
This guy seems to be the type who always tried to fit in by standing out- His nickname, Chicken, came from his duty to guard the household chicken.

Bunky
Bunky is the housguest who is known for his crying. He played the “nice guy” card, and we all know nice guys finish last! Bunky spent most of his time in the house crying, while the people around him tried to manipulate him. His best friend in the house, Kent,who first judged him, still remains a close friend to him outside the house. Bunky wants to come back and play the game completely different- and as he says he won’t cry too!

Will
“You think its easy being good-looking?” Many fans love this guy- why? Because he knows that bad boys are sexy! He called his game playing ruthless and that he planned to lie from day one. He also claims he pioneered the strategy of being evil. He believes people should vote for him because he has a big ego and he would like to try to mix things up a bit.

Mike
“I am the type of guy you want to hang with instead of buying insurance from.” Mike boogie was part of the chill town alliance and he states he liked hanging with the ‘Bratt pack.’ He said his biggest mistake was falling in love with Christa whom he asked to marry on the show, got engaged, and then broke up after the show. He thinks that being ‘in love’ clouded his judgment and wants to show America how strategic he can be. Good friends with Evil Dr. Will, he is wanting to step from beyond his friends shadow and take the lead.

Monica
“It’s on” this girl is strong and a true force of female power. She claims she wants to continue to keep it real and for anyone who tries to get in her way to watch out. She even scares me! A true competitor!

Marcellas
Marcellas was always seen looking at himself in admiration and was quoted saying ” I love looking at myself.” Marcellas is a fan favorite, as since he was evicted he has worked on “House Calls” making comments on all Big Brother houses since his time. Him and Amy were two outcasts that were used to being popular until they entered the big brother house, only to be shunned by all. Marcellas made the mistake of giving up his veto to keep his only friend in the house, in what he refers to as, “a crazy greek tragedy”. Marcellas wants to come back into the house to correct his big mistakes.

Lisa
Lisa- known for her infamous peanut butter bikini- and her quote ” I keep my eyes shut and my mouth open,” was one loud mouth in Big Brother. She is one of the few winners that will attempt to get back into the Big Brother House. This time she wants to come back and play the game although she won the last won she was in. She is ready to dodge bullets, as a past winner, she has nothing to loose.

Danielle
People either love to hate me, or hate to love me” a controversial player that will try to return to the show. In tonight’s show she reflected in what she called ” real and raw” dairy room sessions where she counted down to her victory. She also created a secret alliance with Jason that never uncovered landing them both in the top three. She was so close to winning that the only thing on her mind is “redemption”.

Erika
Erika was really pumped to enter the house in BB4 until she saw her X boyfriend in the shows ex-factor twist. She would like to enter the house and try to win as one of the “good” guys. In BB4 she created a strong alliance with jack, but that alliance was not good enough. She is ready for anything this time and especially ready to redeem herself.

Dana
“I’m soooo pissed off” Dana was known for calling it like it is. She claims her personality is “spicy.” She made her biggest mistake early when she switched sides and voted against her alliance only to get voted out in the next round.

Alison
“A Girls got to do what a girls got to do”- Alison, the houseguest everybody hated. She started off the show seducing all the boys, and in know time she was hated. She said that manipulating men was a part of her strategy as well as telling people exactly what they wanted to hear. She managed to squeak by and win second place, only to be brutally defeated with a 1: 6 vote loss. She believes that the first looser crap is not good enough for her and is coming back strong with vengeance.

Jase
“That was not from Jesus” Full of antics he labeled his BB5 crew, the “Four idiot horseman.” Jase was thrown off guard when he was caught calling out other housguests. He was a rat on a sinking ship pretty fast! Jase believes all-stars would not be the same without him. He wants to be back, wearing head-gear… a Born again houseguest.

Michael
Michael “cowboy” – The only cowboy on big brother wants to return. He began his reign in the house acting wild but that was suddenly halted when he found out he had a sister and a father, and his sister was in the house with him! His sob story drove him to the end where he just missed the money. He thinks that when you get that close to the money its the hardest to loose it. People stated he rode the coattails to the finals, and he is ready to prove he deserves to be the winner.

Nakomis
Nakomis–Jennifer found out that Michael was her brother on the show. She had her own crafty personality, with new hair styles and poetry. Her passionate tirade against the producers, the series and reality shows in general, made her a memorable player in big brother. She states that her relationship with Michael is on and off again today, and that the most painful memory of her eviction was having the single vote that casted her out come from her brother. She wants to be the snake in the grass in the all stars competition

Diane
“When I want something, I get it.” Diane is another one who fell in love on Big brother. She became winner Drew’s girlfriend where later Drew chose to take cowboy Michael over her to the voting round. She stated that being with him costed her the game, and that nobody will break her down. She is also wants to come back in the name of “redemption!”

Howie
Howie made himself known quickly as BUSTO- a man who loves boobies. He was also always trying to be a JEDI and could be seen with his light sabers on several episodes. He had a secret partner Janelle. Howie has made the biggest online appearance creating his own games, starting online chats and promoting his own products. Howie believes “Big brother without Howie is like a day without sunshine.” He also believes he was the best looking guy on the show.

Kaysar
Kaysar was the first Muslim on Big Brother, and although an extremely nice guy he was also an outcast. According to him, people thought they could take advantage of him, and that he was evicted way too early. Kasyar, although unpopular on the show has become extremely popular in reality. He appeared on the soap opera “the young and the restless” as well as an appearance in the new show “half and half.” He is know for his quote ” No, I sealed your partners fate.” Kaysar is a hot pick in several big brother fan forums.

Ivette
“Im going to get Cuban on your ass” She believes that her biggest mistake on the show was choosing the wrong friends and alliances. Often seen on the show as loud and part of the “nerd herd” she wants to ditch those stereotypes and play a different game.

James
“Veto King” James was not well liked on the show. He claims no one was as feared and as hated as him. He survived because of his ability to capture the most veto’s in big brother history. James promises that he will return with the same tenacity as before. James is also a favorite in forums all over the web.

Janelle
“Bye Bye Bitches!”The most highly quoted, fun loving, big brother candidate. Most houseguests would also love to see her return. Although a Tall foxy blonde, Janelle is know dummy and a strong competitor. She states she will do anything to win…ANYTHING!…

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