Buy-Sell Agreements - Does Size Matter?

While traveling from Boston to Memphis yesterday I met a gentleman who was the "vice president, strategic solutions" for a sizable business. His company had been a $60 million services firm that had just recently been acquired by another services firm that was backed by private equity. The market value combined entity was perhaps $200 million or so.

I was reading a new book on buy-sell agreements (that I will review later), and we struck up a conversation. I was interested in his response to my assertion that problems with buy-sell agreements were probably limited to relatively small companies. His thought was that larger companies, or rather, their key managers and advisers, tended to be more sophisticated financially than folks in smaller businesses, and would not have such problems.

He was surprised at my response. What I told him was that, in my experience, company size does not matter when it comes to problems with buy-sell agreements. Big companies are not immune to the basic problems that plague buy-sell agreements everywhere. But fixing the problems does tend to be more expensive for larger companies than for smaller ones!

There are five things that must be in a buy-sell agreement to specify a valuation process in unambiguous terms. There is a sixth thing that, while not defining the valuation process, can raise havoc with that process if it is also not specified. What is important is that the participants to buy-sell agreements agree to these things. That's why they are called buy-sell agreements!

Standard of value. This element specifies the kind of value that is desired. Most buy-sell agreements specify fair market value as the standard of value. Fair market value is a willing buyer, willing seller concept where both buyers and sellers are acting without compulsion and with reasonable knowledge. However, other terms are often used, including "fair value" (whatever that is), "the value," the "going concern value" and others. If the parties desire fair market value as the standard of value, then the agreement should specify fair market value every time value is mentioned.



Level of value. This element specifies the value of what is to be valued. The question is, do the parties desire the buy-sell agreement valuation to specify the pro rata share of the value of the company, or the value of the specific interest in the company that is being purchased pursuant to the agreement? Confusion over this issue is found in agreements for companies of all sizes. And even if the intention was clear, the words on the pages of the agreements are often confusing. For a conceptual look at what confusion over level of value can mean, see the levels of value charts.



"As of" date. The "as of" date grounds the valuation in time, so appraisers can look at the company, the industry, the markets, the economy at that time for purposes of their valuations.



Qualifications of appraisers. Very few agreements, regardless of the size of the company, specify the qualifications of appraisers to be selected when they are triggered. In fact, the book I was reading yesterday includes these descriptions for appraisers: a certified public accountant, a professional business appraiser, the appraiser, and a disinterested appraiser. The bottom line is that with any of these descriptions of the appraiser, there are virtually no instructions to selecting parties regarding qualifications. Most agreements are written such that "any appraiser" will do, and that is simply not true.



Appraisal standards to be followed. If few companies specify the qualifications of the appraiser, virtually none specify the appraisal standards to be followed. If appraiser qualifications are specified, such as, for example, the selected appraiser shall hold the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) Designation of the American Society of Appraisers," then such appraisers must follow specific standards. ASA appraisers must follow the ASA Business Valuation Standards and the Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics of the American Society of Appraisers. They must also follow the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Otherwise, you can specify which standards you want to have followed by all appraisers selected for purposes of your agreement. Appraisal standards provide comfort regarding how an appraisal will be conducted and the manner in which it will be reported.



Funding mechanism. The funding mechanism is critical for the successful operation of a buy-sell agreement. Most buy-sell agreements are triggered by life-time events. Many, if not most, agreements provide for the company to purchase shares with a promissory note. Most agreements do very little to specify the quality of the note. For many, there is no specification of collateral. For some, the interest rate is confusing. For others, the amortization can be interpreted in multiple ways. And for many, prepayment rights and obligations are not specified. But that's just one issue. Many companies carry life insurance on the lives of their key owners. If this life insurance is associated with a buy-sell agreement, it is critical that the agreement specify how the appraiser(s) will treat it for valuation purposes. It can be treated as a funding mechanism and not included in the valuation, or it can be treated as a corporate asset and included in the appraisal. These two treatments can lead to widely disparate results.

These elements are critical to the reasonable operation of your buy-sell agreement, regardless of the size of your company. If you know owners of large or even very large companies, please feel free to share this article with them. And of course, if you know owners of any company, please share the article, as well!

Egypt Tourist Destinations: Cairo

Cairo lies along the River Nile stretching up to 40 km from north to south. The citizens of Cairo proudly call their city as the 'Mother of All Cities'. Cairo or Al Qahirah is not only the capital of Egypt but also the largest city in the Middle East and Africa. Cairo lies in the strategic routes leading to the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe. At Cairo, River Nile gets divided into two distributaries, Rosetta and Damietta. The 2000-year-old city is a melting pot of Islamic, Christian Coptic and Jewish cultures, which are flourishing even up to this day.

Major Tourist Attractions In Cairo

Memphis and Saqqara

Built by King Menes, Memphis is the oldest capital of Egypt and is 24 km from Cairo. The Statue of Ramesses II built of fine-grained limestone is displayed in the museum. The statue is 13 m long and weighs 120 tons. The other interesting monuments at Memphis are Temple for Embalming the Sacred Apis Bull. Saqqara is the ancient Egyptian cemetery on a desert plateau near Cairo. Nearby is the Step Pyramid built for King Zoser by Imhotep, Pyramids of Unas of the Fifth Dynasty Pharaohs, The Serapeum, Greek Philosopher Circle and The Mastabas, of Ptah-Hotep, Ti and Mereruka.

Churches in Cairo

The churches in Cairo are located mainly near the ruins of Fortress of Babylon in the old city of Cairo. The churches worth visiting are the Al-Muaallaqah (Hanging) Church, Church of Abu Sergah (St Sergius), Church of Sitt Barbara (St Barbara), Church of Abu Mina (St Mena), Church of Abu Sefein (St Macarius), Church of Al-Adra (The Virgin), Church of the Virgin in Zaytoun, Church of Mari Guirguis (St George) and The Cathedral of Al-Qiddis Morcos (St Mark). The Coptic Museum displays the rare collection of ancient Christian relics like architectural sections, icons, manuscripts and textiles.

Mosques in Cairo

The important mosques worth visiting in Cairo are the Mosque of Amr Ibn Al-Aas (Al-Fustat), Mosque of Ahmed Ibn Tulun, Al-Azhar Mosque, Mosque of Sultan Hassan, Al-Refai Mosque, Mosque of Al-Moayyed, The Blue Mosque and Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. The other Islamic sites in the city are the Fortress of Salah-Al-Din (Saladin), House of Gamal-Al-Din Al-Dhahabi, House of Gamal-Al-Din Al-Dhahabi and The Museum of Islamic Art (Bab Al-Khalq).

Modern Structures

National Cultural Center (Opera House) is a 7-storey building built to replace the old Opera House burnt forty years back. Inaugurated in October 1988, it is collaboration for Japanese and Egyptian architects. The center is furnished with high tech audio-visual systems and features 3 theaters, rehearsal halls, museum and a library. Cairo Tower (Gezirah) is a 180 m high building with a rotating restaurant and cafeteria on the two upper most storeys. The Pharaonic Village successfully recreates the lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians. Khan-Al-Khalili Bazaar and Sagh comprises of several shops as old as 14th century AD. The area is known for a wide range in gold and silver work, embroidered fabric, leather items and handcrafted woodwork. The Military Museum (The Citadel) is rich in collection of ancient and modern weapons, statues, military uniforms and displays of art of warfare in Egypt from the beginning. Enjoy visit to parks in Cairo including Andalusian Gardens, Kanter-al-Khaireya Gardens, Fish Gardens in Zamalek and International Garden in Nasr City.

How to Reach

By Air: Cairo is connected with many national and international cities by air route.

By Train: The Egyptian Railways operate many air-conditioned and ordinary trains to and from Cairo.

By Bus: Cairo is well connected by bus service with several neighboring cities and towns.

Egypt Travel Hub offers online booking requests for tour and tour packages for Egypt Travel Destinations.

Pet Insurance - Pre-Existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions are not covered by pet insurance companies. Pre-existing conditions are problems or diseases that your pet may have shown symptoms of or been diagnosed with before the effective date of the policy. Most insurance companies will use the date you first noticed the problem, not necessarily the day it was diagnosed by a veterinarian. Some companies may cover a problem that occurred previously if it was "cured" and not considered a chronic condition (no symptoms or treatment within the last 6 months).

From reading reviews that policyholders write on the various companies, this is a reason that is frequently given when a claim is rejected. How can you avoid this? Buy a policy when you first acquire a puppy or kitten and/or before your pet manifests any signs of illness. There will be a waiting period for illnesses - usually 2 weeks or 1 month (varies depending on the company) and 24 to 72 hours for accidents. If your pet gets sick or injured before you purchase a policy or during this waiting period, it is unlikely the condition will be covered. Clients suddenly become interested in pet health insurance when they are in my office and their pet has a serious problem. Unfortunately, that's not the best time to inquire about it.

During the application process, you will usually have to answer several questions about any previous problems your pet may have had. You should be completely honest when answering these questions. Knowingly misleading the insurance company about your pet's previous problems is called fraud and is grounds for the policy to be cancelled. Depending on your answers to these questions, the insurance company may issue a policy on your pet with no exclusions or they may request further information from you and/or request your pet's past 12 - 24 months medical records. Even if you aren't required to send in medical records during the application process, you will likely be required to send in medical records when you file the first claim. If you have forgotten to mention something during the application process, it may become evident when the company reviews the medical record and a condition could be considered pre-existing and excluded from coverage.

Therefore, you should tell the insurance company during the application process that you want to know in writing if there are any conditions that will be excluded from coverage and for how long because they are considered pre-existing. Most of the insurance companies will do this if you make this request, and it is worth asking about so that there aren't any surprises down the road. The last thing you want to do is pay several months/years of premiums only to find out that a claim is denied because the insurance company considers a condition pre-existing before you bought the policy. The goal is transparency on your part to reveal any known-about prior medical problems to the insurance company and transparency from the insurance company to reveal (when the policy is initially written) what, if any, pre-existing medical problems are excluded from coverage. If one or more conditions are excluded from coverage and you elect not to insure your pet, you can usually cancel the policy for a refund of premium as long as you haven't filed a claim.

If your pet is older when you apply for a policy, the insurance company may request your pet's medical records to review and/or require a physical exam and/or lab testing to make sure your pet doesn't have a chronic condition that would preclude coverage for illnesses.

The Spanish SEAT Leon

Americans have long been admirers of the fast and flashy Italian Ferraris, and the classic, sleek British Jaguars. Volkswagen brought to America and appreciation of the practical workhorse that was economical to operate, easy to maintain but still fun. However in the United States, a seat has always been vacant place to sit. Yet, in Spain SEAT refers to one of Spain's well established auto manufacturers highly respected in Europe and the UK. Recently SEAT became a subsidiary of Volkswagen-Audi. So now have a mix of Spanish artistic passion and practicality with German precision engineering.

In 1999 SEAT began production of the Leon, a 5-door hatchback. The Leon's were SEAT's best selling car, and were targeted as a sportier and less expensive version of the Volkswagen Golf.

The Leon has a front mounted engine with front-wheel and four-wheel drive. It might possibly have more engine options available than any other car today. A potential buyer can choose among six diesel engines, one valve engine, three valve turbocharged engines, four 8-valve engines, and two petrol engines.

In some areas the Leon was available with four-wheel drive. The Leon was equipped with electric power steering. It also had installed software with the capability of sensing that a car is starting into a skid. This was called the Driver Steering Recommendation System. However the idea of robotic control over the steering made many drivers more than a little nervous. So the company emphasized that this was only a suggestion that the driver could override at any time.

The Leon sold well in Britain although it never equaled the MK4 Golf. The car was popular with the upper class, younger crowd in Mexico. However, the Leon had problems in Mexico due to the condition of the roads. The sport-tuned suspension of the Leon was not designed to cope with the ubiquitous potholes and speed bumps that characterize Mexican roads.

The next generation of Leon was the Mk2 that went into production in 2005. It presents a more stylish image but the engine range is more limited. However, there is still a wide choice of engines. Both the Mk1 and the Mk2 are small cars intended for family use.

SEAT continued to introduce sports images. The top of the line is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra model. The Cupra can go from 0-100 km in 6.4 seconds making it the most powerful SEAT model ever produced. Again, buyers can choose from a variety of diesel and gasoline powered 4 cylinder engines.

SEAT has ventured into the electric car market with the Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive, which is a series plug-in hybrid that is powered by lithium-ion batteries.

SEAT has also entered various models in motorsport competitions such as the ECTS, an Italian endurance series, the World Touring Car Championship and the British Touring Car Championship.

An area in which SEAT excels is in value for the equipment offer as compared with cars in similar categories. The Leon 1.6 Essence model, that was equipped with electric front windows and a CD player was priced at 11,495 pounds in UK. The Ford Focus, offering identical accessories and engine power sold for fifteen hundred pounds more.

Various racing video games also feature the Leon. The Leon appears in Need for Speed; Pro Street, Forza Motorsport, and "Race - The Official WTCC Game". In the game TOCA Race Driver 2, Leon is part of a championship series consisting of races that use the SEAT Leon exclusively.

Home Owner and Car Insurance Quote

In the market for both a home owner insurance quote and a car insurance quote? Consider getting both quotes from the same insurance company.

You'll most likely have the same agent. Getting the same insurance agent for your home owner insurance policy and your car insurance policy means you'll only have to do direct business with one person. Plus, this person will know everything about both your home owner insurance policy and your car insurance policy. For example, if you have a question about your car insurance policy, or you call to make additions or subtractions to your home owner insurance policy, your insurance agent will be able to remind you that it's also time to renew the other policy.

You'll be familiar with the company. Being familiar with an insurance company, the way in which they do business, their policies, and their procedures is more beneficial than you realize. There are usually no surprises when you're familiar with the insurance company. Some insurance companies even offer discounts to policyholders who have been with their company for a certain period of time.

You'll save money. Most insurance companies offer discounts if you purchase more than one kind of insurance policy from their company. Who couldn't stand to save a bit of money, especially when it comes to insurance costs?

If you're looking for a car insurance quote and already have home owner insurance, check with your home owner insurance company about purchasing getting a car insurance policy quote from them, too. The same applies if you're looking for a home owner insurance policy quote. If you already have both kinds of insurance policies from different companies? Ask each company for a home owner insurance quote and car insurance quote, and then choose the best deal. And remember - always ask about the discounts you can get for a home owner insurance quote and a car insurance quote from the same company!

Car Insurance Rates

Many car owners avoid taking more auto insurance than the minimum level required by the state simply because of the exorbitant car insurance rates that they have to pay. Car insurance rates are made up of a base rate, after which an addition or reduction takes place, determined by a variety of reasons including those that are beyond the owners' control.

Generally, an auto insurance company looks at the following aspects to decide on a suitable car insurance rate for each car owner:

Age: According to the US Department of Transportation, the probability of young drivers being involved in car accidents is four times higher than that of the elderly. Insurance companies take the view that young driver are more likely to speed, drink and drive, and not wear their seat belts. Families who have young drivers usually pay higher car insurance rates due to this additional risk.

Marital status: Insurance companies perceive marriage as a reliable sign of maturity and responsibility, causing car insurance rates to be lower.

Gender: This is another uncontrollable factor affecting car insurance rates. Although bordering on sex discrimination, state laws allow insurance companies to raise car insurance rates for men drivers. Based on car accident statistics, young men below the age of 30 are involved in a great number of accidents compared to women in the same age group.

Location / Neighborhood: The area in which owners live plays an important role. Places with higher probability of car thefts incur higher car insurance rates. Likewise for certain states which have high density traffic, such as New Jersey and New York.

The Car: The more expensive the car is, the more its owner will have to fork out in both collision and comprehensive insurance costs. Collision coverage pays for repair costs, and cars with expensive spare parts increase cost. In addition, more expensive cars are more likely to be stolen.

Amount of Driving: Driving more miles than the annual average increases the car's exposure to damaging elements and risks of accidents or theft. As exposure increases, so does risk, leading to higher car insurance rates.

Driving and Claims History: Car insurance rates increase with the number of accidents and serious traffic violations a car owner has been involved in before. Besides this, an owner who regularly makes claims to insurance companies tends to have greater car insurance rates.

Credit History: Credit scores measure the types of credits taken, outstanding debt and reliability of past payments, among other things. If owners display stable credit scores over a long term and are able to keep their outstanding credit balances low, car insurance rates can be reduced as well.

It is important for car owners to shop around for the best car insurance rates with all the above factors in mind. Although owners cannot help the uncontrollable demographic factors like age and gender, they can still reduce car insurance rates by working on the controllable aspects like the type of car driven and credit history.

How to Handle Client Contracts in Your DJ Business

Handling client contracts is a very important point to consider when you decide to start up a DJ business. There are many things that depend on the contracts that you produce for your clients. You need to make sure that the contract both satisfies your clients and safeguards your interests as well.

A Contract To Satisfy Your Clients

It is very important that your client doesn't feel cornered when he is about to sign a contract with your DJ business. Make sure the contract is easy to understand, and in very easy communicable language. Don't try to make it look like there may be double meanings to the terms and conditions stated in the contract. A lot of business deals can get canceled, and have been canceled in the past, because of contracts that the clients have been doubtful about.

The contract should be flexible enough for the client to feel comfortable. When a client sees that they are sure to get what is being promised, and there are absolutely no complicated conditions, it creates a very good impression about your DJ business and adds to your credibility. Moreover, this leads to more referrals for you as well.

Safeguard Your Interests

Along with making it rosy for your clients to have full confidence in you when they sign the contract, it is also very important that you ensure the interests of your business as well. Make sure there are no conditions mentioned that can later on harm your business. Be sure about what you are presenting the client with and what the services are that they will be entitled to as per the contract. If there are any conditions for compensation mentioned in the contract, read through them carefully before deciding on them for your clients.

Often it is seen that due to some of the mentioned conditions in a contract, clients can sue the companies they deal with heavily. This is something that you need to look into to ensure that you don't run into trouble in the future because of the contract you have signed with your clients. These are some of the important points to consider while handling client contracts for your DJ business effectively.

Car Insurance For Borrowed Cars

Do you need temporary car insurance if you borrow somebody's car? Generally, if the owner of the car allowed you to drive it and the reason you drove it were for non-commercial reasons, the car insurance of the owner will cover you. However, it can help to have your own car insurance with a decent amount of liability coverage. Let's say that you are found to be at fault in an accident while driving a friend's car. You are responsible for $20,000 in damages to another car. If your friend's property liability coverage is only $15,000, you are responsible for that additional $5,000. However, if your own property damage liability is higher than $20,000, there is no reason to worry about the extra cost.

If you don't own a car you don't have any coverage that transfers over to the borrowed car. You can protect yourself by getting a nonowners policy, which is much cheaper than normal car insurance and gives your liability protection. You have to keep in mind that liability coverage does not protect you, but those around you.

Okay, we've talked about damage done to other cars, but what about damage done to the borrowed car itself in the event of an accident (if you are found to be the guilty party)? If your friend has collision and/or comprehensive coverage, you needn't worry about paying for damage done to your friend's car. Furthermore, it is very likely that if you have your own collision and/or comprehensive coverage, it will transfer over to the borrowed person's car.

Before you drive somebody's car, always make sure that you have their consent. If you don't, you can get in big trouble.

Tax Considerations For a Recording Studio Business

When you set up a business, you must pay taxes in order to legalize it. There are various things you need to keep in mind about business taxation. Let us now discuss the tax considerations for a recording studio business.

Register your business

After you set up a recording studio business, you need to visit your local government office in order to register your business. You should also first go through the official website of the internal revenue department (such as the IRS in the USA) in order to learn the amount of taxes you will be have to pay. Remember, the amount of tax will depend on the scale of your business. Registering your business in time will ensure that you will be taxed correctly. The good news is that for the first few months or years when your investments will outweigh your profit, you will get tax credits.

License requirements

You also have to learn if any sort of permit or license is required to run a recording studio business in your locality. If yes, then it will require a further investment. The local government office for small businesses will be able to guide you through this process. This is another important step to legalize your business. A business without proper licensing may not be eligible for tax credits or any other such facilities in the future.

Maintain financial records

One very important step of tax planning is maintaining your financial records in detail. This will include an account of your expenses as well as receipts or payment documents to support the record. Therefore, don't throw away a single receipt or be careless about writing down a financial transaction, which took place while setting up or running your business. A well-kept financial record goes a long way to ensure you will be taxed correctly and will get the tax benefits for which you are eligible.

File tax returns

You will also need to file your tax returns in time. If possible, you can employ an accountant in order to take care of all these things. However, when your business is quite small, you can do all the tax preparations yourself after researching about it extensively on the Internet.

Paying your taxes is a pain, but it must be done correctly and on time. You really don't want to risk losing your dream business to the tax man. And tax problems can set you back money-wise for years. Do the proper research and you will be just fine. Ignore your taxes, and Uncle Sam will come knocking.

Cheap Holidays to Cairo Are Priceless For Building Holiday Memories

Plan golf holidays with someone special or a group of friends. The Mena House Oberoi offers an 18 hole golf course with impressive views of the pyramids. The Meno House Oberoi Cairo is a luxury hotel that is impressive in every way, including their amazing golf course and a great place to spend your holidays in Cairo. What an amazing background for your next round of golf. You should also take a little time to enjoy the gardens and green along the golf course. It is possible to take lessons but you will want to plan for lessons ahead of time. It is a good idea to set your tee time as soon as you know you are planning to visit Cairo to insure that you work in a round or two of golf during your stay. booking these can be found at search4sun.com

History is in abundant supply in Cairo. From the Gizeh Pyramids to the Egyptian Museum and countless points in between there is much history to explore on the streets of Cairo. Make plans to visit Memphis, Cairo Tower, the Nile River, the Citadel, and several stunning Mosques while you are here to get a real sense of the area and it's past.

Appropriate Dress Respect is important when you are exploring the culture of others. Cairo is a largely Muslim community and women need to be respectful of the people in their host country. One way to do this is to avoid wearing tight fitting clothes that have no sleeves or offer plunging necklines when traveling around in town, particularly in the areas around the Mosques. While you do not have to wear full head covering you may wish to wear a scarf over your hair and long sleeved, loose fitting shirts and pants.

Beach holidays to Cairo are a moot point. There aren't any real beaches in Cairo to explore though you can stay in nearby locations that have beaches and take day trips to Cairo or do the opposite with day trips to the beaches. Dive holidays are sadly the same story. Cairo is not the holiday of choice for those that are interested in beaches though there is plenty of sand and sun to enjoy in Cairo.

Late deals to Cairo are possible and great when you are traveling with one or two. If you are traveling with family or a large group it is best to book in advance to insure that there are plenty of rooms and/or seats on the flight. All inclusive holidays to Cairo include everything from transportation to food and are ideally suited for those who need to keep cheap holidays within a certain spending limit but still want to enjoy many local attractions.

Why Pay for Car Insurance You Will Not Need?

You will already know, what a pain in the neck renewing your car insurance once a year has become, even though you will not really think about it until the renewal notice comes through the letter box and lands on your doormat. That psychic voice inside your head says, "how much has it gone up this time," because you automatically know that it is going to be a lot more expensive this year.

Up until a few years ago the norm would be to pay your car insurance premium by direct debit and be done with it. But now you know deep down that, the only way to fight the greedy investor plague, that is finding it's way around all avenues to get more retirement funds from the consumer, is to reduce your car insurance as much as possible.

Car insurance is set to rise as much as 50% next year and insurers are once again blaming record low interest rates for causing cuts in their investment returns. Underwriting losses and lawsuits are amongst everything else they manage to pull out of the bag and palm you off with. The good news is: you can easily reduce your car insurance premium by doing a little bit of groundwork yourself, just by doing your normal surfing online.

You don't want to be paying for car insurance you are not likely to need, so the first thing you can do is have a look at your car insurance schedule that came with your policy to see exactly what you are paying for. You can use this to help you make a list of insurance products that suit your personal circumstances and requirements.

The best insurance broker for you is....you, so there is nothing stopping you from dealing directly with insurance companies and cutting out commissions to the middle men. There is an A to Z information list of over 100 insurance providers that you can browse through and click on their website for more information. Some of these will deal directly with you and it gives you a variation of all the insurance products and packages aimed at different driver categories.

Don't forget: car insurance is priced on how likely the driver might make a claim, so do not be put off if a lot of information is asked for when you apply, this is the normal procedure and it is well worth the hassle once a year if it saves you a lot of money, that is far better in your pocket than in theirs.

Benefits of Fleet Fuel Cards

Fleet fuel cards have become increasingly popular over the past few years for a vast array of reasons. They quickly and easily allow employees to fill up or cover any expenses that may occur, without any of the usual hassle that would coincide with the process.

On top of that, the use of petrol cards can ensure that fleet drivers do not have to carry around cash or worry about receipts. That alone makes it easy to see why so many business owners are now turning to fleet fuel cards to manage their expenses and resources. In order to really prove the value and convenience offered by these cards, let's take an even closer look at the benefits they can bring to any fleet manager or owner.

Improved cash flow is one of the first benefits to note for anyone looking into choosing a specific form of payment for fleet fuel. The best fuel card packages will allow a fleet owner to make constant and regular payments on fuel packages which gives far more certainty to the process and makes it much easier to budget and plan accordingly. More of your capital will be on hand and usable. Fleet fuels cards are normally cheaper too and tend to be 2-5p below the national average pump prices.

Similarly, petrol allow a fleet owner to really take control of the business and monitor all fuel transactions and exchanges. The cards allow you to easily look at and take note of how much fuel was used, when and where, and allows you to avoid chasing after receipts, keeping track of cash, and so on. To tie in with that is the fact that these cards eliminate the need for cash overall. This provides more safety for the fleet drivers and alleviates any concern in regard to lost, stolen, misplaced, or misused cash.

The amount of control that a fleet fuel card can give you is something that you will note from the moment you begin to use them. This is due to the fact that unlike other payment forms, fuel cards allow you to set and specify what type of purchases can be made, where they can be made, and how often. Thus, it really gives the fleet manager control over how much money comes in and out during fleet runs.

Lastly, but possibly one of the most notable benefits, fleet fuel cards can really cut down on the need for administration and how much work has to go into the process. When using the cards a business will receive one, categorised, and organized invoice which alleviates the need to sort through expense forms, balance the cash coming in and out, and so on. There is simply no denying the vast array of benefits that coincide with the use of fleet fuel cards for a business owner or fleet manager. The cards make it easy to organise the fleet, simple to calculate the costs, and are incredibly safe and convenient for everyone involved with the fleet to use.

Cheap Car Insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico

One of the facts about a person that can contribute to how high or low their car insurance premiums are is their credit history. For a person living in Albuquerque, New Mexico they are fortunate in that no insurance company can legally deny them coverage if they have a bad credit score. However, they can charge based on that score and for someone with a problem credit past, that can make finding cheap car insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico a challenge.

There are some little known ways to save money on car insurance, and it's highly unlikely your insurance agent will mention any before you do. Therefore you should ask about any or all when it comes time to renew or purchase car insurance:

o Ask your current agent about a renewal discount. Many vehicle owners don't realize that they may qualify for a discount just for remaining loyal to their auto insurance company. When your policy is up for renewal, inquire about this.

o Talk to your employer about the possibility of group insurance. Some companies actually have group insurance coverage that is available to employees. In many cases the premiums for plans like this are much lower than for individual car insurance because of the group discount. You may even be able to arrange to have your monthly or yearly premiums deducted from your pay check.

o Drive less. Low mileage discounts are often offered by car insurance companies. If you are part of a car pool or you take public transit to work or ride a bike, mention this to your insurance agent.

Obviously there are some innovative ways to find cheap car insurance in Albuquerque, New Mexico. All you need to do is take advantage of every possible discount and keep your driving record clean and accident free.

Weekly Car Insurance

There are several different types of car insurance available today. There are so many choices because there is a variety of insurance needed to suit the needs of all individuals. Insurance is required in order to drive legally. If you do not have insurance it will cost you. When you purchase your vehicle you must purchase insurance on the vehicle before you can get it legal. You will need proof of insurance to obtain a license for it, if you get pulled over by the law, or if you are in an accident. It used to be that if you wanted insurance for your vehicle you would need to purchase long term insurance but today drivers have the option of short term insurance. Some insurance coverage can be as short as weekly car insurance.

Weekly car insurance will give you coverage for one week. This type of insurance is perfect for those who do not drive to and from work everyday or if they have to take a road trip. It's also for those who are going out of town to visit friends or family for holidays and special occasions.

You can select the coverage you need while you are driving a vehicle for the week. When you take out a policy you need to pay for your week of coverage immediately. Once payment is received your coverage will begin. Before the week is up you will have the opportunity to renew the policy for another week or to cancel it. If you decide to cancel it you will not be charged any additional fees.

You can log onto the internet to find the right insurance company that offers weekly car insurance. Once you find a company that offers everything that you need you click on all the options that you would like in your policy and continue to the check out. Pay for your premium for weekly car insurance and print out your cards and then you are done.

If you are in an accident you will have the coverage that you need. Make sure that you print out your insurance cards to keep in the vehicle while you are driving it. The insurance card will display everything law enforcement needs to know if you are pulled over or if you are in an accident.

Weekly car insurance can also save you money when compared to the long term policies. If you don't drive every day you are saving more money if you go with weekly car insurance only when you drive.

Car Insurance - How Did They Calculate That?

Insurance premiums are calculated according to several risk factors. These are the factors identified by the insurance company as most likely to have an impact on the insured against risk occurring. Insurance is a significant cost associated with the item insured and should not be rushed into. It is always a good idea to shop around for the best price available. Insurance premiums will vary considerably from insurer to insurer so do your homework.

Shop Around

Look up the various insurance companies you are interested in and ask them for a quote. They can usually give you a rough estimate fairly quickly and even more exact quotes should also be possible if you provide more details and wait. You should also look up insurers online and get instant quotes from their website. This is a very fast and effective way of shopping around. You will get a good idea of what prices to expect. You can also experiment with the quotation websites to see what effect it makes to your premium price if you select different options. With all insurance policies you will have a number of options that affect the price of the policy.

Therefore you should think about these options and if there are risks that you do not wish to cover then let the insurer know as your premium should become cheaper.

You should also try to make sure you do not double insure. It is a principle of insurance that you cannot benefit from the insured event's occurrence. So you cannot get paid twice even if you have two insurance policies. So if a risk is already covered by one policy, again let your insurer know so they can remove it from their calculation.

Factors

Car insurance premiums usually depend on factors such as what kind of car you are driving, how old it is, how big the engine is, what make and model it is? What type of insurance you require also plays a part, do you need only liability, or also comprehensive? What use you will make of the car, for example will you commute to work and how many miles do you plan on driving?

Your driving history will be a strong factor in determining your risk, and linked to this will be the age of the driver, with younger drivers being significantly more at risk of being involved in an accident. If you are young, your sex will also be an important risk factor, however if you are older sex usually becomes less significant.

I Want A Full-Body Check-Up

Everyone's getting more educated and informed nowadays. They know heart attacks, strokes and cancer are the major killers. They also know it is possible to detect certain conditions early, hence making it potentially treatable. Breast cancer would be a good example. Mammograms have been able to pick up the disease at such an early stage that it is potentially curable. There is a good chance now that if it is detected early, the patient is more likely to die of some unrelated cause. Early detection of other conditions, for example diabetes, allow treatment , so preventing further complications of the disease.

In the old days, people only went to see the doctor when they felt sick. Now they are starting to see the doctor even when they feel well. They want to know if they have any risks for diseases , or if they are in the early stages of some diseases, where early treatment can result in a cure. Hence, the birth of health screening as an industry. In some countries, it's a business. You can buy health screening packages, where tests are done on every part of you - blood samples, urine samples, stool samples can all be taken, and a scope can be stuffed into practically every orifice. Everything can be seen nowadays. Unfortunately, not all conditions can be detected early. And not all tests are equally good at detecting conditions. Some tests sold as part of a complete health check-up may not necessarily exclude a condition, or reduce one's chances of dying if picked up. In fact, over-investigation may even lead to unnecessary further tests, procedures and a lot of anxiety.

So who should do health screening ?

People with family histories of certain medical conditions should go before they develop symptoms. eg, a strong family history of heart attacks, certain cancers. Most people above 40 should consider getting themselves checked at least once, and then maybe 3 yearly if no problems are detected.

Companies use health screening to determine if potential employees are suitable for the job. Others use it to determine if their employees are still fit on the job. Some jobs can be dangerous for people with certain medical conditions ( would you really want a truck driver to have a history of uncontrolled fits?) , and other jobs can be dangerous for the worker's health ( eg. industries with machines that produce loud noises would need to regularly screen their workers for hearing problems).

So what about otherwise well people who are just worried and want to get tested, just to make sure ?

There are no hard and fast rules. In some countries, you pay the money, you get the test. No problem right ? Well, there are some things you may want to look out for before deciding to do the test.

Is the test safe ? Will it harm me ?

Colonoscopy ( a scope inserted up your rear end to check the large intestine) has a small risk of perforation or bleeding. Your doctor needs to determine the risks versus the benefits of the test.

A CT coronary angiogram ( a scan of the heart arteries to see if they are blocked) has small risks when done on patients with certain medical conditions like kidney disease or asthma.

Is the test easy to do ?

Testing blood for high cholesterol or high sugar, is easy. So is a Pap smear for cervical cancer.

Is the test accurate ?

No use doing a test if the results don't give you a good answer. eg. the blood test for the cancer marker for colon cancer may go up in other medical conditions, or not be raised in early cancer. So a "normal" result doesn't mean anything. Neither does a "raised" result.

Pap smears, mammograms, tests for blood pressure, blood sugar and blood cholesterol are reasonably accurate.

Does the test make a difference?

Mammograms do detect breast cancer early enough for treatment. Pap smears detect cervical cancer in its pre-cancerous stage. Cure rates are high. So the tests are worth doing.

What is the test trying to look for ?

Some people just want to have their whole body scanned in the hope of detecting some small tumour. It doesn't work that way. Perfectly healthy people may have variations in their organs, or benign cysts and growths. We don't all look the same inside. This may lead to unnecessary further tests, even operations, not to mention the terrible stress the patient has to undergo while waiting for results.

So before you go for health screening, ask you doctor about the tests you are going to do. It's good to have more knowledge about your own body. And it helps if you can take steps today to prevent diseases. But you do need to understand what you are going to do.

I've summarised some of the common health screening tests available and what they detect in my blog at http://www.whyhealthmatters.blogspot.com.

Car Insurance Uncovered

There are many ways in which you can make savings on your car insurance, the best, not to mention the quickest way to make sure you get the cheapest car insurance is to shop around for your insurance.

You can do this yourself by going online or by getting a specialist insurance broker to do the legwork for you.

Things to bear in mind include combining your car and home insurance. There are companies who can offer savings by you taking both policies together. Sometimes you can make savings of around 40% on your car insurance simply by combining the two.

The safety features that are installed on your car can help bring your premium down. Simply by having top notch alarms and window etchings, you can attract huge savings.

Your postcode can make all the difference between the price you are quoted for your premium as certain areas and their postcodes are deemed as high risk crime areas and as such you pose a greater risk just by living in an area such as this.

Younger drivers will normally pay a higher price for their car insurance, due to their inexperience on their road and statistics that say they are more likely to be involved in an accident.

Women drivers - despite the man jokes about their driving - are classed as safer drivers and there are specialist sites aimed particularly with these people in mind who can offer discounted premiums.

If there is more than one driver and two or more cars in the family then you can get a great deal on your insurance by taking a package for two or more drivers. This can save you a whole lot on your insurance, which of course benefits the whole family of drivers.

One mistake that the majority of people make is to stay with their insurance company year after year and not even consider changing. People who don't look around when it comes to renewing their insurance could be paying around 30% more than they should be for the same level of cover.

So when it comes to purchasing your car insurance don't become complacent! By putting a little time and effort in to shopping around - or getting your broker to do it for you - can save you hundreds of pounds on your insurance.

Temporary Car Insurance

Temporary car insurance offers complete but short-term cash cover to a policyholder against accidents or damages caused to the insured car or its driver. The coverage period generally lasts up to 28 days. This policy is aimed for:

* People who drive on an irregular basis

* People who have added an additional vehicle to their fleet on a temporary basis

This type of insurance is ideal for:

* Students who drive only when they come home during school holidays

* Tourists who want to drive a car at a new place

The temporary car insurance policy is also bought for:

* Unaccompanied vehicle demonstrations

* A newly bought car as a drive away insurance

The premium amount for this insurance is decided by:

* Keeping in mind the deductible that an individual will have to pay

* Balancing the premium and deductible to make the deal effective and affordable in the long run.

Why do you Need a Temporary Car Insurance Policy? Temporary car insurance can be extremely useful in the following situations:

* Your car is going to be driven by someone other than you for a short period of time. In this circumstance, you can get the car insured for the period s/he is driving it or till the time s/he gains perfection.

* When you buy cars and lend it to drivers on a daily basis. To own a vehicle, you simply require a liability insurance policy. However, the driver who will be driving the car will need to get proper insurance, which they can get in an affordable way through a temporary car insurance policy.

If a car is at a high risk of being destroyed in a hurricane, storm or flood during a specific season, it can be insured against the possibility. Temporary car insurance enables you to avoid paying premium throughout the year for risks that are temporary in nature.

Alexandra Burke has become a best-selling female solo artist shortly.

This years X Factor show was probably one of the best we have had for a while. Talent in Britain is getting a lot more developed and some bright new stars are being born. This year we witnessed some great talent from the show, but from that Alexandra Burke emerged. She is a very talented individual with a huge voice.

Her debut single has made her the biggest success for a long time as she becomes one of the fastest selling female artists ever; her latest single has sold over 576,000 in its first week of release via CD sales and downloads.

There were in fact three versions of the song that were released all at the same time and it is the first time in history that two songs which are of the same have hit top spots in the charts. A 1994 version by Jeff Buckley, who drowned in Memphis in May 1997 aged 30, finished at number two as a result of download sales, boosted by a high-profile internet campaign by fans of his recording.

The song in question is Hallelujah and this has in fact been recorded and released well over 170 times since it was first written over 20 years ago. The song was written by Leonard Cohen and took him over one year to write and perfect, with more than 70 verses being created.

Alexandra Burke though is a great talent to the UK; she has a big voice and a huge personality to go along with it. Sent home in the X Factor 3 years ago by judge and mentor Louis Walsh, she never gave up on her dream to be a singer. Three years later she had matured an incredible amount and delivered outstanding performances week after week.

She has two songs sitting nicely in the Top 40 which is an incredible start for the talented singer. Firstly she hit the number one spot with her fellow contestants when they released a cover of the Mariah Carey song Hero and now with Hallelujah Alexandra Burke has already branded herself as one of the UK's top performers and so she should be.

Do we have another global diva on Our hands, like that caused by X Factor, Leona Lewis? Well we can say, and although I personally do not think Alexandra has the sound of Leona, but she has other interesting features that hopes to make her a great Diva.

Compensation health pet insurance - something that pet owners should know

Besides the obvious limits that are stated in an insurance policy such as annual maximum, per-incident maximum, deductible, and co-pay amounts, there is another variable that isn't so obvious that is an important factor in determining how much a pet owner is reimbursed by the insurance company when they file a claim. Insurance companies figure their reimbursements in one of three ways:

1. A simple computation based on whatever the veterinarian charges. For example, if the total invoice is $2000 and everything on the invoice is a covered item and the deductible is $100 and the co-pay is 20%, the reimbursement would be:

$2000 - $100 = $1900 x 80% = $1520.

This is the easiest method for pet owners to understand and generally gives pet owners the largest reimbursements. Since it is based on the actual charges of the veterinarian, it keeps up with inflation. Most of the newer companies use this method. One criticism of this method is that premiums may rise faster because the only limit on reimbursements of covered expenses is whatever the veterinarian charges.

2. The reimbursement is computed from a "benefit" schedule based on the veterinarian's diagnosis. Sometimes these reimbursements can be as much as method #1. However, sometimes they can be significantly less than method #1. For example, if your pet gets sick with pancreatitis and the maximum reimbursement allowed for this diagnosis is $865, but your submitted claim is for $2000, you'll get reimbursed $865. Using method #1, you would get reimbursed $1520. Most cases of mild pancreatitis will be less than $865, but a severe or complicated case can cost thousands of dollars. Because the benefit schedule does place limits on what the insurance company will pay, the premiums may be lower for this type of policy.

3. The reimbursement is based on a fee schedule of "reasonable and customary" fees for your geographic area of the country. Each charge on the invoice for a procedure or product is compared to the fee schedule and the insurance company will reimburse according to the schedule. If your veterinarian charged more, then you are responsible for the difference.

Fees can vary for a certain procedure from practice to practice even within the same city. Each practice has it's own unique philosophy of practice and overhead which will affect all it's fees. For example, if your pet is referred to a specialist, does the fee schedule take this into account? A specialist's fees are higher because they have more expertise and may use higher technology e.g. CT scan or MRI or perform more sophisticated surgery than your regular veterinarian. Perhaps even your regular veterinarian uses ultrasound, endoscopes, laser surgery or more advanced dental equipment, etc. Perhaps they have a newer hospital and a larger staff. Judging whether a veterinarian's fees are reasonable should not be measured by what is considered customary according to an insurance company's fee or benefit schedule, but on the perceived value you receive in return for the fee.

If you look closely at the fine print in the policies of companies that figure reimbursements using method #1, they also state that they pay benefits based on what is "reasonable and customary." For the time being though, they use that as a fall back - only when a fee for a procedure seems way out of line. Will there be a time in the future when they are forced to use the reasonable and customary fee schedule routinely as a limit on reimbursements in order to keep their premiums competitive?

Unless they are updated frequently, benefit schedules and fee schedules can become obsolete due to inflation.

Be sure and take into account how a company figures your reimbursement when making the decision to purchase pet health insurance.

A good reason to have car insurance proof while driving.

If you own a vehicle then you know just how important it is to have auto insurance proof. Not only is it the law, but also there may come a time when you will need to have some proof that you have car coverage on your automobile. Here are some reasons on why you should have proof of insurance on your car.

For one, if you do not have any proof of having coverage on your car whenever the police request it from you, you better be prepared to pay on a large fine, which can be very costly. Even if you have coverage on your car, you should make sure that you have the proof with you at all times when driving. Should you not have it with you, once again be prepared to have a citation signed by an officer and from there you will need to appear in traffic court to face the judge along with another fine.

It is very important for you to make sure you pay off the fine long before your court date is due. And this is important for you to know that should you not appear in court on the date you are expected to appear, whatever the amount of the fine was before your court appearance, it will then be much more higher.

And of coarse should you again miss your court date expect that fine to really increase even higher. So it will benefit for you to always carry proof of coverage with you at all times to avoid this type of situation and also save yourself plenty of money too.

Should you ever become involved in an accident when you are at fault and do not have your proof of insurance with you at the time, you certainly shall be in even bigger trouble than ever before as soon as the police write up the report. First, your car will be towed away and then your license will be suspended if you tell the officer you do not even have any insurance.

You shall be expected to pay for any and all damages in regard to the accident, which are the fixing cost for the car that you hit and the cost of the compensation for the injury to the person or persons that were victims in the accident. You will be paying whether someone was injured or not.

The person or persons who were hit can visit their doctor for treatment that you will be paying for. Also if the accident is very serous and the ones you injured are taken to a hospital, you better be prepared to pay quite a lot for the medical bills and if they are not paid then expect to be placed in jail.

It is always safe to know you have coverage on your car And you must show proof of insurance if you're automatically in a situation where you must present proof of this will certainly save money and too many worries.

What auto insurance coverage?

Car insurance is required, but it is also helpful not only for car owners, but all drivers. In the event of breakdowns, accidents or other emergency, car insurance helps reduce costs for repair and damage.

Single Vehicles

Auto insurance often covers repair costs to the owner's car. For single-vehicle incidents, this can take the worry out of fixing damage. Windshields, for example, are often the victims of bouncing rocks and flying debris through no fault of the driver. Simply driving down the highway, objects can come from tractor-trailers, uncovered dump trucks, shattered sheets of ice or loose loads. Once they hit the windshield, dings, spider webs or cracks form. With extreme temperatures, these tiny cracks can become large ones running across the entire expanse of the windshield in less than a day. At this point, the damage affects the driver's ability to see clearly and the stability of the windshield is compromised.

No Fault

Although insurance is required, sometimes people are involved in accidents with drivers that have no insurance and sometimes don't even have a driver's license. No matter whose fault it is, in times like these, the insured driver may need to make a claim in order to get the vehicle repaired. Dents may affect the stability of the car's frame or the soundness of the tire. Punctures or bent rims that are not fixed will result in blow-outs or flat tires and loss of control over the vehicle, especially at high speeds.

Routine or Preventive Maintenance

Depending on the type of car insurance a person has, maintaining a vehicle before it has problems may be covered by a person's insurance. This includes discounts or reduced co-pays for things like oil changes, tune-ups and tire replacement. Consumers should check with local businesses to determine whether these benefits are available. A phone call to the insurance broker will also verify whether the insurance plan will give a break to motorists that take good care of their vehicles.

Legal Fees

Depending on the type of insurance a person has, legal fees may be partially covered by an auto insurance policy. This may include bail or other costs associated with tickets, trials and legal infractions. When accidents involve tickets or police charges, the insured motorist may be covered for all or part of it, depending on the policy.

Anytime there is a cost associated with an insured vehicle, it is best for the consumer to consult their insurance agent or review the policy to see whether it covered. Although making a claim on the policy may involve an increase on monthly or annual insurance rates, this is often counterbalanced by the overall cost of the repairs or fees.

Car insurance you need.

Auto insurance is insurance that consumers and automobile owners purchase. It also goes by other names - vehicle insurance, car insurance, and motor insurance. This type of insurance primarily is used to provide protection against losses that a vehicle incurs because of traffic accidents, crashes, and mishaps.

Most companies that offer auto insurance have various types and scopes of ranges for their policies. In fact, auto insurance can actually cover the insured party, the insured vehicle, and third parties. However, not all companies offer such deals.

If you are wishing to purchase auto insurance for your vehicle, you can always do so. You can browse through the Internet or ask around for companies that offer good car insurance coverage. You see, most insurance companies actually provide discounts for good car grades. To know if you are qualified, you can ask the company. Also, there are some insurance companies that also give discounts for people who are taking their driver's training program or other driver education programs. If you would like to take advantage of this promo, you can have a new teenage driver be the primary driver or the family driver since you could get lower rates.

Remember that various types of vehicles have also different auto insurance rates and quotes. You can check with insurance companies regarding their rates. You see, sports cars and other expensive cars have higher rates. Also, it is important that you know the crash safety rating for your vehicle. If your vehicle has a good and satisfactory rating, chances are that you would be getting lower insurance rates.

There are some bases for a car insurance premium charges. Aside from those previously mentioned like crash safety ratings, and the driver taking car and traffic education lessons, other criteria that

The importance of car insurance

If you have a car, then you would need car insurance. The best car insurance can protect your car from any inconvenience should a likely car accident occur. But you should also be careful of what kind of car insurance you have. There are a lot of them available out there but not all can give you that coverage that you might be looking for.

As most other types of insurance available to choose from, the same thing goes with insuring your own car. There are different types that you can choose from, depending on what your needs are. There are liability car insurance policies that cover for accidental bodily injury as well as property damage to others. There are also policies that cover only damages caused by collisions with other vehicles or objects. There are also comprehensive car insurance policies that cover for loss or damage to the insured vehicle caused by circumstances other than car accidents. This may include car damage or loss due to fire, hail, vandalism, or theft.

Another type of car insurance policy available for you covers for medical expenses for injuries caused by a car accident regardless of fault. There is also a type of car insurance policy called Personal Injury Protection (PIP) that covers an insured driver for injuries acquired from a car accident, regardless of fault. There are also car insurance policies that can cover a motorist from car damages in a car accident with a driver who doesn't have liability insurance.

There is also a type of policy for covering car damages caused by a car accident caused by the other driver who has insufficient liability insurance. Fro rental cars, there is also a type of car insurance that will pay for damages caused by an accident on the road. These types of car insurance can also be found in combination to give you a variety of policies to choose from. Knowing what your exact needs are and being aware of the minimum car insurance requirement in the place where you live in can help you in being able to choose the best car insurance policy to cover your own vehicle.

There are useful tips available to help you look for a good car insurance policy that can help you keep your premium payments down to a minimum. In looking for good car insurance, you should also try looking for car insurance available for you online. You might be able to avail of discounts for car insurance policies purchased online. You can also try to limit your car's mileage before you try to get an insurance quote for it. The lower the mileage, the lower the insurance quote. Try not to modify or customize your car as it might affect your car insurance coverage.

You can also try to restrict the number of drivers on your car insurance policy as it might increase your premium payments later on. If you want to avail of good but affordable car insurance, then you can choose to drive a cheap but dependable vehicle because such cars can have policies that can well cover for damages at a very affordable premium. These are just but a few tips for you in getting that car insurance the cheaper way. A car insurance policy can greatly benefit a regular driver like you. It is never to early too get one for your car. You may never be able to handle the regret if you realize its need a little too late.

Book Review - Egypt Exploration Dick Lutz.

A Tour Guide for Travelers Through Ancient and Modern Egypt

Dick and Mary Lutz are part of an International Expeditions Tour group, made up of twenty two members. An Egypt Air flight takes them from JFK Airport in New York to Cairo to begin the tour. Books on Egyptology are made up of conjecture, myth, and historical fact. Gifted travel writer Dick Lutz helps the reader understand the important rudiments of Egyptian history in "Exploring Egypt."

Lutz writes in an informative and informal style which is warm and insightful. I enjoyed the insights from journal like entries which reflected his personal observations, preferences, and opinions. Much of Egyptology is mysterious, sometimes disputed, and often inconclusive. Dick recounts these various assumptions, speculations, and suppositions without bias, or criticism. His excitement in reporting whets the appetite of the reader, making them eager to glean more information from the extensive annotated bibliography included in the book.

This book is a user friendly guidebook for the traveler planning to visit Egypt. The book is divided in to three parts. Part one is an overview of an ancient civilization, part two gives a glimpse into the period between ancient and modern Egypt, and includes an exciting tour of museums, the pyramids, and the Sphinx at Giza. Part three takes the reader on visits to the cities of Memphis, Cairo, and Luxor.

The black and white photos provided by Mary Lutz add another dimension to Dick's easy flowing narrative. There are also some spectacular color photos, credited to various photographers. These photos highlight the Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor, and Pyramids at Giza, a Cairo Mosque, Kom Ombo, Tuankhamen's Tomb, and Karnak.

The final section of the book provides the reader with an up to date look at modern Egypt. Lutz includes a synopsis of Egypt's religions, politics, literature housing, military, foreign relations, business and economy.

Whether this is your first international trip or you are a seasoned traveler, this book will make your visit to Egypt more enjoyable. You should read the book prior to departure, keep it handy as a reference guide while on your visit, and as a reminder of pleasant memories when you return to share the excitement of your trip with your family and friends. This is another important book in the genre of travel and the study of an ancient civilization. "Exploring Egypt" is a great Critical reading and reference.

Although the audit Midwest Book Review.

Exotic Sports Cars

Although all sports cars are exotic, many consider cars such as Jaguars and Ferraris to be truly exotic. They are considerably expensive and the insurance too can be very high compared to other cars.

Exotic sports cars will have to be insured to a higher amount because of their higher value in the market and different usage options. A few factors such as make of the car and certain elemental natural forces that might prove to be a risk to the car are considered before an insurance agent provides a quote.

An exotic sports car naturally has a higher cost of insurance policy compared to a standard vehicle. Sports cars are usually for pleasure driving and are normally driven faster and are more prone to more dangerous and harmful accidents than others. Also, they are highly priced in the market than the other utility vehicles.

Some companies take insurance for a sports car as a specialized field in insurance. Such companies tend to deal with the insurance of sports cars and exotic cars and are liable to provide lesser insurance policies than the other insurance agents who deal with insurance policies for all vehicles. The companies that deal uniquely with exotic sports car insurance have brokers specialized in this field. They would are able to guide the customer in all the areas pertaining to the cars that needs to be considered for insurance.

These specialized companies take into account the age of the driver's driving record and accident history before offering a quote. Some insurers also consider the annual mileage coverage during the negotiations.

Drug Rehab - Rehab Getting funded.

There are thousands of state and federally funded treatment beds available across the nation, and most people in real financial distress will qualify for at least some degree of subsidized care. Some of the facilities offer very comprehensive services, access to great medical care and a very high standard of treatment.

Most programs are designed for people living in poverty, and are not well set up to meet the needs of the substantial numbers of people who do not live in poverty, but at the same time do not have good private health insurance and cannot afford to self finance a very expensive period of residence at a private rehab.

Additionally, due to great demand and limited availability, virtually all state funded treatment beds will maintain a long waiting list. When someone decides to get help for an addiction, therapists encourage that person to get help immediately, before they change their mind, or circumstances change. A long wait time is far from ideal, and derails the transient good intentions of far too many people suffering through addictions.

Still, because many of these facilities do offer quality care, and because this care may be accessed either free of charge or at very low cost, as a good initial step you should call your state health services agency to find out your options. It may not work out, but if a couple of hours of assessment and phone calls gets you into free treatment in a timely manner, your time will have been well spent.

What you need to do?

Call the phone number for your state social services office. These offices are for addictions help so they are ready to assist you in finding care. You will want to ask:

Are subsidized services offered for people with your income?

Where exactly you need to go?

What times each day are assessments done?

What documents you will need to bring?

Do you need to be sober for the assessment?

How long is the waiting list for residential care?

It may not work, you may not be eligible, and the waiting list for service may be unreasonably long; but before you pay for care you cannot afford, or before you give up in frustration on the whole exercise, you should take a few hours to find out whether or not the state can help.

If it works, it's the best available option.

Remember, you can get better, people do everyday, and you'll never regret anything you do that gets you there.