By: Sammy Hely

With terrorism all in the news today, many people get nervous, but if you want to be a traveler you need to learn to weigh the warnings and the news. You may decide that it's worth it to travel anyway. Terrorism is nothing new; different areas have had unrest in the past. Read those advisories and decide if what they are talking about will affect you and your trip. Don't trust them blindly.


Travel advisories are issued for a number of reasons. Terrorism is only one of them. They can be issued because of natural disasters, political unrest, disease outbreaks or high crime areas. You need to read to see if these are long term warnings or short term travel advisories.


We think it's a good idea to check with several different sources... as English speakers, we check to see what the governments of Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S are saying. They don't always agree. So if there are differing points of view, what should you do?


Evaluate them for yourself.
Keep in mind your tolerance... will that warning or advisory worry you all through your trip or is it something you can just keep vigilant for and still enjoy your travels?
Is the whole country affected? If there was a natural disaster in one part of the country, the part you're going to may be fine. Health outbreaks and political unrest may be confined to only one area of a country, leaving the rest perfectly safe to travel in.
If the advisories are about violence, are the threats to tourists or tourist areas or is there violence in isolated and remote areas where there is less possibility of it affecting you?


Check to see how long ago the advisory was posted. Some warnings are long term, but you can check to see if the conditions that prompted the advisory have changed.
If you go, dress and pack to avoid calling attention to yourself. This is smart travel anytime, but especially if there is a travel advisory. Stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants. Small places are generally less apt to be targets. Take the phone number for your country's embassy so you can contact them if necessary.


Consider registering with the embassy to let them know you're in the country. You might want to consider travel insurance, but this is tricky... there are many situations that cancellation insurance doesn't cover.


If war is breaking out or if the local terrorists are targeting tourists, you probably should reconsider your travel plans. With a travel advisory or warning like that, you might want to find a country that is safer and friendlier or travel to a new part of your own country.
Almost all travelers can find adventure even close to home. So evaluate those warnings for yourself. Change your plans if you feel you need to, but travel somewhere. It's good for you.




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By: AJ Cibok

Starting up the engine is the major job of car batteries. Among the additional tasks is the capability to provide additional power for ignition or for lights and other accessories. The battery also runs important systems in times of need. As an example, it powers the electrical systems in the car whenever the vehicle is idling and the charging system is not operating. The vehicle will not start properly if the battery isn't well maintained or is in bad shape; also, push starting isn't a long term option.


Quite frequently, the weather conditions where you reside determines the type of automobile battery that you get and, generally speaking, colder areas need higher Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) ratings than warmer areas. The Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) are among the crucial considerations in getting a automobile battery and are defined by the cranking demands of your engine. It is defined as the discharge load in amperes which your battery can provide at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit whilst maintaining a voltage of 7.2 V. In warm places, CCA ratings in excess of that which is established by the engine manufacturer are just a waste of money.


The second essential consideration in buying a car battery is the Reserve Capacity (RC). The Reserve Capacity (RC) is the time assessed in minutes in which a battery at the temp of 80 degrees Fahrenheit can be discharged at 25 amperes until the voltage drops below 10.5 V. More RC is typically better because, for instance, in a warm climate a higher RC will be the exceptional option for you.


The 2 most common kinds of vehicle batteries are minimal maintenance non-sealed batteries and sealed or non-sealed maintenance-free batteries. The maintenance-free batteries have the advantage of less maintenance, higher durability, more longevity, quicker charging in addition to significantly less corrosion. They are, however, more prone to deep discharge failure, producing a dead battery since more plate material is shed. In hot climates, the purchase of non-sealed batteries is better since you'll be able to add water whenever it's necessary or test the specific gravity by using a hydrometer.
A twin marine battery represents a compromise between a vehicle battery along with a deep discharge battery. Nevertheless, you will get the very best overall performance for your car if you utilize a vehicle battery. For a leisure vehicle, utilize a car battery for starting the engine and a deep cycle battery to power the add-ons in the interior. Both batteries are going to be automatically recharged whenever the engine is operating and the charging system is operative.




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California Governor Jerry Brown has signed several new laws that are geared to expand consumer protection for consumers shopping for California health insurance. The census data indicates that almost one in five Californians need health care coverage. With the new health care laws ready to be implemented, they are predicting that these laws could make 2012 a memorable year.

New California Health Insurance Law For Women

In 2012, women will gain more protection whether they choose to get coverage through employer-provided health insurance plans or buy an individual health insurance plan. Brown signed three bills into law in order to provide maternity services for pregnant women and new mothers. According to Brown, this is will give children the "best possible start."

Another date women should watch for in the next year will be on the 1st of July. SB 222 requires individual California health insurance plans to provide maternity services. Also beginning July 1, AB 210 will provide maternity services to group health care plans. Employers will be required to pay for coverage under group health plans for women on maternity leave under SB 29.

Are Small Businesses Affected Too?

According to the chief executive of the advocacy group Small Business Majority, small business firms with employees less than 50 will find that healthcare coverage is more affordable under the new laws in California. That is very significant because approximately 718,220 small employers in California make up 99.2 percent of California's employers in 2006, as stated by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce: Bureau of the Census.

Whether Californians get coverage through their employer or buy individual policies, they could be eligible for "rebates" next year. To comply with federal reform, SB 51 requires insurance companies to spend at least 80 percent of premiums from individuals and small firms on health care for members. As for group policies, 85 percent of premiums must be spent on members' health care.

Blue Shield Of California Will Distribute Rebates To Consumers

Just this summer, Blue Shield of California announced that it would cap its net earning at two percent of revenue and return the excess to their policy holders in the form of rebates. With more than three million California health insurance plan holders, Blue Shield posted a profit margin of 3.1 percent last year. This included income derived from investments. According to a press release from Blue Shield, individual consumer credits range from $25 to $415. Businesses should receive approximately $110 to $130 per worker.

Subsidies For California Health Insurance Made Easier

Gov. Jerry Brown also signed bills that will make it easier for Californians to apply for subsidized California health insurance via the online state health insurance exchange. However, we have to wait until 2014 when it will be fully implemented. Under AB 1296, the forms and procedures needed to get subsidies through the state based exchanged are tackled.
By Wiley Long - President, eCAHealthinsurance.com - California's leading online health insurance agency specializing in individual and family California Health Insurance. Offering personal advisors to help you with all your California Health Insurance needs. Get an online California Health Insurance quote, get personal assistance, compare plans, apply online, and Save!

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Summary: Too many people know from first-hand experience what happens to your health care when a job ends. Health Savings Account plans can cushion the loss of income when it comes to paying for medical care on your own. 

Health Savings Accounts Work Through Periods Of Unemployment

Health Savings Accounts have been around since 2004, and all indications are that they're here to stay. This form of health insurance is more in tune with our times of unemployment and lack of medical care than traditional co-payment health insurance plans. Those policies tend to have premiums on the high side, while HSA plans start with lower than average premiums. A couple of studies have shown that premiums rise slower than average for these policies, too.

Low premiums make it more affordable to maintain coverage during periods of unemployment, but that's not the only way HSA plans can bridge gaps between jobs. As you've probably guessed, a Health Savings Account is specifically designed to pay for health care with benefits that standard accounts don't provide.

Health Savings Accounts Reduce Taxes

Health Savings Accounts allow you to pay for health care with pre-tax dollars. The money you contribute to your HSA can be used to directly reduce your taxable income with an "above-the-line deduction." That basically means you won't need to itemize deductions to lower your income taxes. That works for federal tax returns and for all but three state returns.

After you get that tax deduction, you have a choice about how to use your HSA funds. If you use the money for health care, withdrawals won't be taxed as long as you only spend them to pay for health care that's deems to be eligible. Most things are with the exception of over-the-counter medicines, like aspirin. A purchase like that would trigger a 20-percent penalty fee on the HSA withdrawal and it would become taxable income.

You can spend HSA money on things your high-deductible health plan probably won't cover, such as dentistry or homeopathy. You can also pay for health care for family members who are not covered on your insurance policy.

HSA Plans Foster Saving For Retirement

Your other choice is to invest HSA dollars and let the balance grow with tax-free earnings as you would with an IRA. If your employer contributes to your HSA, that money is yours to keep even after that job is history. Once you turn 65, you can use HSA funds to buy anything without incurring a penalty, but it's still taxable as income when spent on something other than qualified health care.

Many different financial institutions will let you open an HSA. Some restrict what they offer to interest-bearing savings accounts, but others will allow you to invest in stocks and bonds, or mutual funds. These accounts are becoming big business, so HSA administrators are competing with perks to attract your business. Many make it as simple to withdraw HSA money as it is to use a regular checking account. Even credit cards linked to HSA money are on the horizon.

After your HSA balance reaches an amount that you're comfortable with, you might even consider starting a second Health Savings Account that you use strictly for the investment options. Keep one liquid for medical emergencies and devote the second one to letting the tax-free earnings help you prepare for retirement.

By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that work with Health Savings Accounts.

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