Cruise Into Recycling

Folks who enjoy vacations at sea should be pleased to note that some luxury liners are stepping up efforts to protect the planet. Though a cruise is by no means the most eco-friendly vacation type, if you are going to go on one, taking the time to look at the line’s environmental policies is a must. Many are choosing to not just pamper their passengers, but also sort their recyclables, lower energy use, reduce waste and boost water efficiency. “Ship to Shelter” Program Ever taken home those tiny bottles of lotion or shampoo from your state room? Holland America Line is putting leftover toiletries and other excess shipboard items to good use in various parts of the world. Along with mini-packets of bath gel and shampoo, the donations from Holland America’s Ship to Shelter program include such items as towels, bed sheets and kitchen utensils. Among the recipients is a social-service organization in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that provides hot showers and food to financially strapped families. Marti Forman, who runs the Cooperative Feeding Program, is delighted to distribute the much-appreciated bounty. Even simple items like disposable packets of soap are a luxury, Forman said, for some of the people served by the programs. Sometimes, the ships’ loot includes offbeat items like exercise weights and silver-plated ice buckets. Those, she said, are great for fundraisers. Taking Advantage of Sunshine Celebrity Cruise’s ship, the Solstice, is equipped to create its own energy from the sun’s rays. Its 216 solar panels produce enough power to handle 7,000 LED lights, or to run the cruise ship’s passenger elevators throughout the trip. Other ships with the Celebrity Cruises fleet are also enjoying some green modifications. They include: * Replacing halogen and incandescent light bulbs with more efficient sources of light, like light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent bulbs. * Adding higher-efficiency appliances. The ice makers, for example, use 65 percent less water and about half the energy of previous equipment. * Conserving water in various areas, from efficient shower heads to the use of river rocks, rather than ice, in buffet displays. * Painting hulls (the body of the ship, part of which is underwater) with an environmentally safe product that creates a smoother surface, aimed at improving fuel efficiency. * Teaching crew members to work toward reducing air-conditioning waste in areas that are not in use. Zero Waste Overboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises are two lines that are going above and beyond: They exceed environmental regulations and do not permit any type of disposal at sea, according to Tim Rubacky, director of corporate communications for Prestige Cruise Holdings, which owns both the lines. Some of the wastewater that’s treated on-board is reused for such things as washing the decks or cooling the engines, Rubacky said.

France’s PM Pushes Financial Reform Ahead of G-20 Meeting

French Prime Minister François Fillon is in Washington to garner support for tougher international financial regulations ahead of the April 2 Group of 20 economic summit in London. While the Obama administration wants Europe to increase its fiscal stimulus to solve the global economic crisis, the French prime minister says financial reforms must first be addressed.
French Prime Minister François Fillon says it is the duty of the G-20 group of the world’s largest developed and emerging economies next month to achieve concrete results in resolving the global economic crisis. He says the best way to do this is by agreeing to stricter oversight of international financial institutions.
In a speech at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington on Monday, Mr. Fillon listed four key issues that France wants to top the agenda at the economic summit.
Mr. Fillon said the four pillars for lasting recovery are reforming financial regulations, supporting economic growth, rescuing banks and providing aid to the countries suffering most from the economic crisis.
In addition, he said hedge funds must be subject to real oversight. Ratings agencies, which Mr. Fillon said helped fuel the crisis, must adopt rules for dealing with conflicts of interest and offshore banking centers, which often allow clients to evade paying taxes in their home countries, need to be vigorously regulated.
Mr. Fillon also struck back at critics in the media and within the Obama administration who say Europe needs to spend more on government economic stimulus.
The French prime minister said the crisis was created by an excess of public debt and that it will not be solved by creating even more. He says European Union member states already have implemented large stimulus packages that account for more than three percent of Europe’s gross domestic product.
Mr. Fillon expressed confidence in U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s newest initiative to help stabilize the banking system by providing guarantees and low-interest loans to investors willing to purchase toxic assets from banks.
Mr. Fillon said he prefers the idea of a public-private partnership to buy up the bad assets, and that this will prompt European countries to consider similar measures.
While in Washington, Mr. Fillon also met with Vice President Joe Biden and Lawrence Summers, the head of President Barack Obama’s National Economic Council. 

Cute and Essential Dog Clothes

It’s still cold outside and not spring quite yet so your dog still needs quality and cute dog clothes such as this dog parka. More and more pet owners are realizing that their pets get cold too and so you might be thinking about getting your special dog something warm to wear. Now you can keep your dog warm and stylish at the same time.

With several different types of dog apparel to choose from you are sure to find the perfect dog sweater, dog jacket, and even dog pajamas. Since we all know we are in hard economic times SuppliesJust4Pets.com is offering tiered coupons for customers. You can now save $5 on orders of $50, $10 on orders of $100, or $15 on orders of $175. Find these coupon codes at http://www.suppliesjust4pets.com/coupons.html.

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From the Pets - breeding, nutrition, health weblog

Dental practice caused patient an uneven bite, suit claims

By Kelly Holleran

A Madison County man has filed suit against an Alton dental practice, alleging the dentists did not properly diagnose him with TMJ and performed a procedure that made his bite worse.

Gene Silveus claims he visited Humbert Road Dentistry on March 16, 2007, where dentists grinded down the teeth and crowns of the left side of his jaw, causing him to have an uneven and unbalanced bite.

In the suit filed March 6 in Madison County Circuit Court, Silveus claims Dr. Terry Ortman and Dr. Timothy Pranger improperly worked on his mouth, causing him to suffer acute and prolonged physical and mental pain and suffering.

They also failed to initially diagnose Silveus’ TMJ and bi-lateral click before they grinded on his teeth, the complaint says.

The two dentists failed to render dental services consistent with Silveus’ needs, failed to adequately evaluate his condition, failed to diagnose and treat him, failed to take a proper history before grinding on his teeth and failed to fully explain the procedure to him, the suit states.

“After assuming the care and treatment of plaintff, Gene Silveus, the defendant, Dr. Timothey Pranger, D.M.D., through his authorized agent, employee or partner, co-defendant Terry Ortman, D.D.S., committed battery against the plaintiff by intentionally grinding down his teeth and crowns on the left side of his jaw without plaintiff’s consent,” the suit states.

Silveus claims they also failed to properly equilibrate the left and right side of his teeth on the same day.

As a result, Silveus has incurred dental expenses, according to the complaint.

In the 13-count suit, Silveus is seeking a judgment in excess of $650,000, plus costs.

He is represented by Jeffrey A. Kopis of the Kopis Law Office in Belleville.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-0220.

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From the Dental Care Articles weblog

What Does Travel Insurance Cover me For?

Many travelers ponder whether or not getting travel insurance is a necessary expense that they should shell out to protect them for a scheduled trip. Some travel insurance plans can be pretty pricey, and the fact that you may not even have to use it makes potential travelers leery about purchasing extra protection.

To determine whether or not investing in travel insurance is the right move, you need to be aware of what is covered under the typical travel insurance plan. Keep in mind that each individual plan from separate providers will be different, so each plan should be examined thoroughly before making a final decision on purchasing a plan, but here are a few key elements that should be present in most standard travel insurance plans.

Trip Cancellation

This is probably the biggest reason of all to get travel insurance, whether any unforeseen circumstance arises or not - the piece of mind that you’ll have when you know you are protected is enough for a lot of people to shell out the money. Unexpected things happen every day that could possibly have a serious impact on your travels - sudden illness, a death in the family or an act of god (tornado, earthquake, etc.) could all cause you to cancel or delay your trip. If you had purchased a travel package or non-refundable tickets you could conceivably be out quite a bit of money, but with the purchase of a travel insurance plan you could be protected for at least the majority of the cost of your trip.

Medical Expenses

Many medical providers don’t cover expenses incurred on international travel, with the purchase of an appropriate travel insurance plan you and your fellow travelers could be covered for most emergency medical treatments while on vacation due to accidents illnesses or other injuries. Emergency medical care costs can very easily run into the thousands of dollars, so if your regular insurance provider won’t extend coverage during travel or if you don’t have a regular medical insurance provider, travel insurance that covers medical expenses can be a necessity.

Lost or Delayed Baggage

Most travel insurance plans provide reimbursement for necessities like clothing and toiletries in the event that your bags are lost or delayed. This can be especially important to those travelers who have plans or business meeting shortly after they are scheduled to land. Rather than worry about what they are going to do in order to get ready for whatever their schedule has in store for them, travelers can quickly get the items they need and feel secure that they will be reimbursed for their purchases.

Accommodations Incurred during Unexpected Delays

If your trip is delayed due to an illness or injury to yourself or a travel companion, or for any number of other unexpected reasons covered by your selected plan you may be eligible for reimbursement for accommodations and expenses for other necessities during your extended stay.

Depending upon what company you choose to go with and which level of coverage you decide to opt for there may be many other ways to customize the coverage to suit your particular needs.

If you’ve never had a single problem on a business trip or vacation and you feel totally confident that your future travels will all go off without a hitch then you don’t necessarily need to purchase travelers insurance, but if you want the piece of mind that you’ll be protected against many of the unfortunately and unforeseeable problems that could occur and inhibit your travels then purchasing a plan is a sound investment. It may not be something that you’ll have to use, but if you need it you’ll be very grateful that it’s there.

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From the Travel Insurance Related Tips weblog

The 2009 Property Investors

When the effects marketing was booming prior to August 2007 many new property investors entered the buy-to-let market, buying one and two bed properties with light-to-get mortgages. The market has now dramatically changed and here we look at the predictions for the buy-to-let market in 2009.

Firstly there is a new type of hotelier - homeowners who are unable to sell their properties are renting them out. The homeowner may set their rental cost at only the amount that they need to cover the mortgage rather than on furnish rates and also at a rate that will as good as guarantee a tenant. The condition of homeowner property is also generally of a very high beau id and as a result this new competition drives down previous market rates. This generally affects larger, family properties rather than smaller flats.

Availability of invest in is dramatically reduced and as a result the profile of a property investor has changed. Prior to the credit crunch no set aside was needed - a mortgage could be given on the expected yield provided the rental yields were 125% of the mortgage repayments. Now, a touchstone 25% deposit is required and the applicant must have a good credit history. When mortgages were easily obtainable, buyers could form around a property quickly i.e. buy, renovate and sell on at a profit, and then repeat the process, cashing in not only on the price increase due to the renovation calling but also on the cash increase from the rising property prices. Now, the profile of the property investor will be someone who has cash for a sizable part, a good credit history, and someone who is willing to hold onto the property for a few years waiting for the property market and thrift to turn around.

And for the newer property developers? Well, for some who kept securely on top of the figures or those that did not overstretch themselves then they should survive the downturn. But for those also fledgeling property developers who perhaps bought property without fully researching the possible pitfalls, well, they could be in trouble. If they were assuming to offer on their property quickly and at a profit, they are likely to be selling it at a loss, if they can sell it at all. Or, possibly they are unable to rent out their real estate and need to cover the mortgages themselves. Or they have taken on too many properties and find that their own employment is at risk and their main source of income will not be the shelter it was. Or they were keener to buy a set number of properties rather than buying property that met strict criteria i.e. properties that would yield a set positive coin of the realm flow each month. Or they have come to the end of a mortgage deal and now the mortgage rates for buy-to-let are less favorable. The list could go on…

However, for the hallmark investor who ticks all the right boxes 2009 could be a good year. The key is that you are credit safe in order to fix a mortgage. If you can secure a mortgage or have enough cash, then you will be able to find some bargains, particularly in the latter half of the year as the recession continues to bit. If you are thinking of buying an investment property you need to consider the five following points:

1. Consider it to be a mid-protracted term investment - the property market is likely to fall and then stabilize for a few years before rising again.
2. Your expected rental cede has to be realistic and has to cover the costs of the mortgage, insurance, maintenance costs and void periods.
3. Although interest rates have fallen again, they will go back up at some apex - you need to factor this into your costs, or choose a mid to long term fixed rate mortgage to avoid unfavorable notwithstanding changes.
4. Research and know where you want to buy property and be sure to stay within this patch - your rental throw in the towel depends on it.
5. Always make a low offer when purchasing, stick to your figures and know your limits.

2009 could be a huge year for property investors providing you research, plan and take care at every turn.

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From the Real Estate: building, selling, buying, investing weblog

Tags: property developers, property investors

If You’re Staying In Britain

If you are wealthy to stay in sunny Britain for your holiday then you would be forgiven for assuming that there is no need for you to consider travel insurance. A lot of people only hassle anyway because they are aware that if anything medical occurs then they are going to have to part with a great deal of money should they fail to procure travel guarantee. This is a rather narrow perspective as there are a host of other calamities that can occur whilst vacationing in the UK.

For it is not just the risk of fracas or accident that you are pitted against when you holiday now, is it? In Britain you are in the same boat when it comes to having your luggage stolen-and you are going to be using the same high-priced Sony XP97-I wherever it is that you are going, right? I mean it’s not like people have a cheaper camera for when they go on a less expensive holiday, do they? And in credentials to actually becoming sick or injured, if you have travel insurance then subsequent to any emergency treatment you can be transferred to a hospital close to to your home.

If you are going to be traveling to another part of Britain in a plane then you run the same risk of delay or cancellation as when you travel far, so this also has to be given heed when you are traveling. You will not be wanting to have to pay for another flight, irrespective of how cheap they are internally.

people often blithely scamper to another part of the island assuming that any problems that may occur will be dealt with by home-contents insurance. this is often the case, but for the sake of £20-£40 pounds do you Non-Standard real want to be losing your no claims bonus on your contents insurance by making a claim on it for some calamity in relation to a sortie to Margate?

Exhort big savings with your travel insurance. Use a comparison website for savings that will allow you to do more with your travel-funds.

If you miss to make the wise move whilst traveling around Britain today then you need to get yourself travel insurance, but where? Well you need to be getting yourself globe-trotting trips insurance via the InterNet of course where it is the cheapest that you are going to get it and where you are spoilt for choice when it comes to the companies that you can choose from. Use a match site if you want to save yourself plenty of time.

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From the Travel Insurance Related Tips weblog