In any insurance policy, a deductible is any expense that the policy holder must pay out of his own pocket before the insurer steps up to pay the expenses. It is also used to describe any clauses that are used as a policy payment threshold. There are actually two types of such clauses in a car insurance policy, namely compulsory excess clause and voluntary excess clause.

The deductible or excess is an amount that the insured agrees to pay from his pocket with the balance being taken care of by the insurance company. This is in the event that any claim arises and the amount is determined beforehand in discussions between the insurance company and the insured.

To take an example of a claim, if the deductible in a car insurance policy is INR 5000, and a claim arises for INR 15,000, then the insurance company would pay INR 10,000 while deducting INR 5,000 from the insured.

The compulsory excess clause in car insurance is something that cannot be predetermined by the insured. This is deducted for every claim compulsorily by car insurance companies. The amount that is to be deducted is fixed beforehand depending on the type and condition of the car. Any claims that arise are paid after the deduction has been made first. If this type of clause is mandatory in a car insurance company, then the voluntary excess clause is entirely an optional matter as anyway an amount is deducted from the policy holder’s pocket for every claim. So taking a voluntary option is entirely up to the policy holder.

The advantage of opting for a voluntary deductible even after the compulsory clause has been evoked is that the premium paid is reduced on the policy. The premium has a part called ‘own damage’ on which the discount is applied. The more the voluntary deductible clause amount is, the more discount insurance companies give you on the premium. It is important to understand though, that even though the premiums are reduced when you opt for a high voluntary excess deductible, should any claim arise, then your out of pocket expense will also be higher. So it is better to choose an excess deductible clause that you can easily afford should any claim arise. The higher the deductible, the higher your expenses out of pocket will be should any claim arise, and if it is not possible to come up with a large amount at short notice, it could put you in an uncomfortable situation.

A deductible and excess clause has its pros and cons, both long term and short term, which should be taken into account before deciding on it.

Electric cars are the new addition to the automobile industry. With technology taking up a pace in today’s era, the automobile industry has also accentuated to the electric models of the car. Although these are not mostly used today hence hybrid cars are also available which work both with electricity and gas. The biggest advantage of using these cars is that they are entirely eco friendly as the carbon emission from vehicles deteriorates the atmosphere by producing greenhouse gases. So, these cars are an excellent choice for stabilizing the environment. Opting for an electric car also begets government subsidies for being environmental conscious.

The very first question which pops up is that what are actually electric cars? Then, these cars are specially designed and installed with rechargeable batteries for functioning. Here are some points you should consider before buying one:

1. No need of gas:

Electric cars run entirely on the rechargeable batteries. So, saves you from gas requirement. Fuel based cars sometimes are not pocket friendly due to the fluctuating fuel prices but with electric ones there’s no need to rely on the fuel at all.

2. It causes saving:

The fuel costs are reduced and so the money can easily be saved. Additionally, government rewards with incentives for going green which can also help you with savings. Most of the vehicle expenditure is undoubtedly on the fuel and electric cars surely rescues you from it.

3. Zero emissions:

As discussed earlier, the carbon emissions are not only harmful for environment but also hazardous to our health. The carbon is major contributor in deteriorating the ozone layer and hence electric cars are environment friendly. With the use of these cars, you will be contributing to going green.

4. Cost effective:

It is believed that electric cars are expensive and cause a lot on your pockets for the overall maintenance but on the contrary these are wholly cost effective. The mass production of batteries and incentives have lowered down the maintenance of such cars.

5. Low noise pollution:

Electric motors which are used in these cars do not produce any noise and tread smoothly on the road. The noises are not produced even at higher acceleration rates. This is a huge benefit because fuel based cars cause a lot of noise pollution as well.

There’s no need to fret over buying one or not. Electric cars are the new generation cars which are loaded with benefits and you can definitely give one a try.

Today, what is considered to be silver cutlery has less silver than most buyers know. Antique Silver Cutlery refers to the earliest silverware that was made up almost entirely of silver. Over time silver was blended with other metals in increasing proportions until today, when even cutlery made of pure stainless steel is being referred to as silverware. For the purposes of this guide Antique Silver Cutlery is entirely, or mostly, made of silver.

As silver is a soft metal, it should not be treated in the same way as other metals used in cutlery. For those who regularly use Antique Silver Cutlery, simply washing the pieces in warm water with a gentle detergent is enough. The cutlery should not be left to dry but dried with a soft cloth immediately afterwards.

If the cutlery has bone handles, ensure the water is cooler. The handle may be damaged as the silver metal expands due to exposure to heat. Leaving the cutlery in water may also damage the handle itself. If the bone section is very dirty, one may use toothpaste to get out the dirt and dry the cutlery immediately afterwards.

The reason special care must be taken when cleaning Antique Silver Cutlery is because of tarnishing. One way in which the silver is tarnished is by reacting to sulphur in the atmosphere to form silver sulfide. This causes a black tarnish to appear. For cutlery that is mixed in with other metals like copper, tarnishing will lead to more corrosive effects as oxides form.

For Antique Silver Cutlery that has obviously suffered from tarnishing, use the following traditional but effective method of cleaning:

Cover a large pot entirely with aluminium foil. Be sure to leave no gaps either in or outside the pot. Fill it up with water and dissolve a half-cup of baking soda to every gallon of water within. Bring the water to a boil and switch of the heat. Place all the silverware in the water ensuring they are well submerged and in contact with the foil. After a while, it will be evident that a reaction is taking place as the foil begins to turn black. This is because the baking soda draws out the sulfur and aluminium attracts and reacts with it. If the foil turns very black, you may need to repeat the process to ensure you have extracted all the sulphur from the Antique Silver Cutlery.

Sales forecasting is of the utmost importance to almost any sales driven business, because it enables business leaders to formulate an understanding of how their organisation will perform in the coming weeks and months. This, in turn, allows them to make important decisions with at least some idea of what the future holds.

Unfortunately, there is one major issue with sales forecasting: many businesses struggle with it. This means that future projections are unreliable and important decisions may be made against a false backdrop. So, what can your business do to improve the accuracy of its sales pipeline forecast? Simply, you can outsource, what in common parlance you might term “telemarketing”

Throw off your telemarketing preconceptions and shackles!

Many of our clients come to us having searched for telemarketing company or telesales company. It becomes clear quite quickly that their perception of telemarketing has been heavily skewed by the type of telephone based marketing they receive. This of course is entirely understandable. If you Google telemarketing company for instance you will get almost 14,000,000 results! So where do you start.

Perhaps by asking yourself some questions?

What exactly am I looking for?

To merely outsource a ‘process’, or for a business partner that can use telemarketing as just one part of a toolkit to support you, and give visibility of a quantifiable sales pipeline, of a short, medium and long term sales pipeline?

Sure – the process of telemarketing is a chore – so why not outsource it? We might suggest this is entirely the wrong mind-set. If you are just looking to hustle some new leads – any leads perhaps, then find a call centre to blast out a standard message against a long list of contacts. Have you though this might be a triumph of short termism that lay your sales foundation in sand?

Don’t mistake activity for action

It’s certainly tempting if you’re under pressure, to be able to report back that you’ve had thousands of calls hammered out on your behalf. Makes you feel good, right? Perhaps take a deep breath and think again.

Do you want a generalist or a specialist telemarketing company?

Amongst those 14,000,000 telemarketing company responses you will find plenty of call centres who will sell you an input driven, technology and script led approach.

Find a partner whose telemarketing and telesales are designed for companies who need to sell complex products and services to senior decision makers, who combine outbound, unscripted sales and brand advocacy with a bespoke suite of complementary outbound marketing activity that puts prospects at the centre of all activity.

There’s something about a gathering,

Of those who mourn in grief,

Where love between them enjoins,

That’s how God facilitates relief.

***

Well, the celebration of our little boy’s life is over. I ask myself how I feel. Having just had a tasty lunch with all my children, we all spoke of the impact Nathanael’s had over our lives. I feel remarkably normal. Not that I might not crash ‘n’ burn at some point soon. That will be okay. It is peace to know that emotions ought to be honoured and not undermined.

The hardest part of today, emotionally, was putting Nathanael’s casket into the back seat of the funeral director’s car. Immediately after the car drove off I had the surreal and eternally-weighted privilege of thanking our family and closest friends through teary eyes and a quivering chin. There is a downside to strength in grief; emotional experiences are contained in a way of acceptance and not everyone knows it impacts you just as much. The advantage, of course, is you are afforded the privilege of being entirely present. Today I was able to be entirely present. It was good enough to do my best. I did my best and I rest in that.

Seeing my daughters up there reciting one of my poems was a stand out moment. They all love Ethan so much; they loved Nathanael every bit as much. There were a hundred hugs and “we love you” was said both ways more than I remember. Many people said, “I don’t know what to say,” and Sarah and I said, “What you’ve said is perfect,” or “There’s nothing wrong in what you’ve said.”

There is no guilt to be entered into. We have honoured God the best we could. As a family behind us, supporting us, love has been unfailing. They’ve dealt with my frayed nerves and moodiness when the amount and nature of things were getting on top of me. They have done so much to engage in our grief and dovetail theirs in with ours. That’s what family are for: to rejoice together and to mourn together.

So many very esteemed colleagues and mentors came. The person we most respect in the ministry ran the service beautifully and so very respectfully.

I’m thankful for the patience of some who waited to greet us, despite having busy Friday schedules to cater to.

***

Our son, Nathanael Marcus, was sincerely honoured today. He has touched so many. Our grateful thanks go out to all who attended his funeral today and to those who thought to send through well-wishes.

© 2014 S. J. Wickham.

In the fitness equipment world as with most electronics, they always seem to be upgrading, and of course telling you that you will lose out if you do not upgrade. By taking a look at three models of a recumbent Star Trac Exercise bike, you can see they provide a good example of the decision making process. They have recumbent bike models that are 8710, 8720, and 8730.

One thing to note is the price range. Star Trac pricing is generally in the mid range which is around $1200-$2200 price range. Some larger companies will have models in all three levels, budget, mid-range and premium top of the line So you need to be sure your comparisons are within the same price and style of bike. If you see an entirely different number and even how they word the name, you can expect an entirely different series and even the pricing. So it is worth checking the website to see where things are.

In any case, here we are discussing three obviously similar bikes. So the first thing to look at is the lowest model number as it is usually the lower price. When there are three models like this, it is not unusual to find the lowest model is hard to find. It might be listed as out of stock, or a long shipping time, or you might only be able to find it with used vendor sites or on eBay. You will be able to get a good sales price this way, but you also take the risk of them discontinuing the model, so parts etc are harder to get.

When there has been a recent upgrade, both bikes will still be available, so you need to look at the features and see if you really need the upgraded features. They do not make it easy for you since of course they will want you to get the more expensive bike. In some companies the difference is with a color LCD displays or it might be larger or have more bells and whistles. In this case the two Star Trac exercise bike models 8720 and 8730 have pretty much the same display, and built-in pro grams. So you look further.

The upgraded version had movable arm rests and a feature on the handlebars where you can control the adjustments to the workout with a toggle bar. These are two very convenient items and there are those that it could be a deal breaker. Others could care less.

Sometimes just a look at the pictures will tell you something. The upgrade model of this Star Trac exercise bike, model 8730 had a head support that the 8720 does not have. This would add in the comfort when using the recumbent position to exercise. There were other design changes, but the over all dimensions did not change. The bottom line then will be either lower price or preferring the newest and most up to date model. After all of that, it boils down to personal preference.

Here are the answers to some of the most frequently-asked questions (FAQs) relating to luxury limousine hire.

Are these extreme stretched limos road legal?

No reputable luxury limousine hire company would offer a vehicle for rent unless it met all legal requirements. So, even although some of these vehicles are absolutely incredible in appearance, they should be road-legal.

Do the chauffeurs wear a uniform?

Today, a ‘livery’ might be unusual and considered to be very anachronistic or even downright odd.

Most modern professional chauffeurs will dress in smart professional business suits.

Will the vehicle be entirely at my disposal?

Yes, though that is assuming that it is within the period you have hired it for.

Exceptions might be if you asked for the vehicle to engage in something that the chauffeur considered being a danger to its occupants or the vehicle itself (or illegal). Apart from that, you can have a luxury limousine entirely at your disposal for as a long as you like.

Can I go wherever I want in it?

Yes, providing that you meet the above condition too.

For example, a chauffeur may be legitimately entitled to decline your request to take a prestigious vehicle off-road if, in his or her opinion, it would constitute a danger to its occupants or the vehicle itself.

Will the chauffeur carry my luggage for me?

Your chauffeur is a highly-skilled professional and charged with responsibility for driving you. As part of that, they will usually be very helpful in assisting you to load and offload your luggage into the luxury limousine you’ve hired.

However, they are not general ‘odd job’ personnel and typically running errands or carrying your baggage over extended distances normally wouldn’t be part of their responsibilities. That’s one you may need to discuss with each individual chauffeur.

Can I send a rented luxury limo to collect others for me?

Yes, absolutely, providing it is within the period of your rental.

Will the chauffeur plan the route?

Yes, that’s something you won’t have to worry about. Just tell them where you need to get to and they’ll select the best route to get there.

Incidentally, you can ask them to take, for example, a scenic as opposed to ‘most efficient’ route too.

If you find your chauffeur is asking you to help in navigation, well, you’re using the wrong luxury limo hire company!

How can I be sure that I won’t be let down when I’ve booked a vehicle?

Just make sure you select a long-established and ‘top-echelon’ provider.

There is no excuse for chauffeurs failing to turn up due to oversleeping, getting lost or incomprehensible ‘misunderstandings’. Amateur providers will generate this sort of experience, the crème de la crème won’t.

Select a company that issues no-quibbles money-back guarantees on this one.

Can I do what I like when inside the vehicle?

Yes – providing you do not put the vehicle or its occupants (including the chauffeur) at risk.

There may be some exceptions. For example, smoking and eating in the vehicle may be prohibited to reduce to the possibility of damage to upholstery etc.

When we think of all types of extermination, we always think of it as fumigation. This is not exactly right, but it is not entirely wrong either. To be entirely clear about it, fumigation is the use of toxic gas in an enclosed space to enable killing a wide variety of pests. It is most definitely hazardous, not only to humans, but also to pets. It is therefore widely encouraged that fumigation should only be administered by a licensed pest control company.

A properly administered fumigation can get rid of bed bugs, termites and ants among others. The gas that is used here is colorless odorless and leaves no residue after treatment. However, it goes without saying that you should observe proper safety precautions to avoid being subjected to its harmful effects. Keep food and medications away during the treatment. With proper dosage and exposure, the treatment can be considered 100% effective. And that is the way it should be.

That is the reason why you have to rely on reliable pest control companies if you want to fumigate your house. Don’t attempt, in fact, don’t even think about doing the job on your own. The dire consequence and the danger that looms are far too great to risk. Are you willing to endanger your health, as well as those of your entire household just to save on expenses? Fumigation should only be performed by qualified and professional pest control personnel and nobody else. It should be done under safe and secure conditions. You should not spare on expenses if you want it done safely and successfully.

Getting rid of pest is a hard and arduous task, make no mistake about it. Rats, cockroaches, ants, possums and termites are just example of pests that keeps coming back again and again unless you eradicate them completely. No amount of half-hearted effort can remove them from your premises. These pests are survivors and they have the fortitude to try again no matter what. They are not easily discouraged when it comes to getting what they want.

For your peace of mind, call the services of reliable pest control companies to get rid of the pest infestation problem for you. Don’t hedge on that decision. You get the assurance that the pesky pest will be eliminated successfully with not much of a problem for you. Mind you, that is a very great thing to happen if you only know how hard it is to get rid of pest. You will thank yourself you did the wise decision.

Contrary to popular belief, learning a foreign language is not simply about being able to speak it. It is about understanding and experiencing another culture and society, and, through this, broadening your own perspectives and outlook on the world.

Many prospective language learners greatly underestimate what it means to be culturally aware. No matter how familiar you may be with your native culture, you cannot be fully worldly aware unless you have an understanding of other cultures on the globe, no matter how insignificant the country, and what it may have to add to global society as a whole. A nation’s words are one of the most telling representations of its society; for example, coming across a word in a foreign language which has no direct translation into English reveals an entirely new series of meanings, exposing what is considered important to speakers of that language.

Learning a language creates empathy in the student, who begins from scratch to learn an entirely distinct sound set; the learner must listen incredibly carefully to pronunciation and verbal cues, and in doing so becomes a far better listener, often developing greater patience with others. This all amounts to better communication skills, together with the opening up of communication pathways between learners and those fluent in the culture and language. A bond is developed between the culture and the learner, who feels welcomed into other cultures and at liberty to explore them.

However, cultural awareness stretches still deeper than this. In becoming familiar with an entirely new culture, the learner explores what it means to be a part of a distinctive culture, to speak the language, and even what it means to be themselves.

In today’s increasingly globalised society, awareness of global affairs has become crucial. In order for businesses to maximise potential, they must be aware of not only the state of the market in foreign countries, but also understand the deeper culture of nations in order to help predict how the market will change in the near future. Negotiations between different countries require some sort of bond, and cross cultural awareness should help in achieving just that; an understanding of the specific attitudes, approaches and decision making styles of someone from another culture will doubtless make discussions so much simpler and more successful.

As a result, many jobs and careers on offer have a multicultural or international aspect to them, and many of the new openings becoming available are in this sector. As a result, one way in which learning a foreign language is beneficial is that you will almost certainly have many more job opportunities available to you; it may even be what stands between you and a promotion.

Although various cultural awareness training programmes are readily available, learning a foreign language is truly the best way in which to gain this skill. Through an understanding of the language, you can really immerse yourself in the culture and experience so much more than you would if simply exploring the culture in English. Competence in the appropriate language allows you to read and listen to indigenous texts and really connect with native speakers, who are the best indication as to what the culture really is about.

Rice has always been in question whenever there is a discussion of eating healthy. People face dilemma of whether to include rice in their diet or not, especially when they’re looking to live healthy and lose weight. Even when it comes to the absolutely delicious Indian Basmati Rice, there is always weighing of pros and cons before you include it to your shopping cart at the supermarket. But the questions still remain. Is rice really fattening? Should you avoid it completely?

Let’s look at the issue in detail to decide once and for all whether you should consume Basmati Rice or not as a regular diet. Basically there are numerous schools of thoughts which contradict one another while discussing Basmati Rice nutrition and calories content. One major group believes that the Indian Basmati is full of starch and has very little amount of nutrients to offer, hence they should be avoided especially by those who are looking to eat healthy and lose weight.

Contradicting them are those who believe that basmati is a rich source of carbohydrates and necessary minerals and hence must be consumed regularly. Both of them aren’t entirely wrong and neither entirely correct.

The Asian Heritage Argument

This argument mainly challenges those who claim rice is fattening. Basmati Rice is the staple food of many Asian countries who have been consuming it for generations after generations. Even then, they have managed to remain healthy and slim. Hence, it slightly proves that Basmati, in itself, is not entirely fattening.

Eating Rice in the Evening Makes you Fat

There are people who believe that consuming Rice in the evening causes the body to store excess fat. This fat is not burned off due to inactivity during sleep. But the truth is entirely different than that! The weight gain is not entirely due to the Rice you consume but it is an accumulation of all the calories you consume during the day. Rice Calories do add to that total but does not make the majority of it. If you consume more calories in total than the amount you burn off each day, you will gain weight irrespective of whether you consume Indian Basmati Rice or not.

Bad for Gluten-sensitivity

Another myth about Basmati Rice Nutrition is that it is a source of Gluten which causes health disorders. But the Indian Basmati Rice is inherently gluten-free. So if you’re suffering from celiac disease or NCGS (non-celiac gluten sensitivity); you can still consume Basmati without any fear. Rice does not need gluten protein unlike dough to make them stick together. Hence, even if you’re gluten-intolerant, Basmati Nutrition will not affect your health in any way.

The Bottom Line

The next time you go to the supermarket to buy Indian Basmati Rice, you can add them in your cart without any regret. If everything else is going great for you like insulin sensitivity, regular activity, absence of metabolic deranging foods like fructose, lectins and excessive linoleic acid etc., then Basmati Rice Nutrition and Calories are not going to affect your health drastically.

In conclusion, we would like to advise you to stop curbing your craving for delicious Indian Basmati Rice delicacies and add it to your diet without any regrets.