How fitting for our Computers class...
PHILADELPHIA — It started innocently enough seven years ago as an act of performance art where people linked through social-networking Web sites and text messaging suddenly gathered on the streets for impromptu pillow fights in New York, group disco routines in London, and even a huge snowball fight in Washington.
Laurence Kesterson/The Philadephia Inquirer
Young people filled South Street in Philadelphia on Saturday in what officials said was the latest flash mob to turn dangerous.
Mustafah Abdulaziz for The New York Times
Seth Kaufman was injured in the flash mob Saturday, which he called “a tsunami of kids.”
But these so-called flash mobs have taken a more aggressive and raucous turn here as hundreds of teenagers have been converging downtown for a ritual that is part bullying, part running of the bulls: sprinting down the block, the teenagers sometimes pause to brawl with one another, assault pedestrians or vandalize property.
On Wednesday, the police here said that they had had enough. They announced plans to step up enforcement of a curfew already on the books, and to tighten it if there is another incident.
They added that they planned to hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions. They are also considering making free transit passes for students invalid after 4 p.m., instead of 7 p.m., to limit teenagers’ ability to ride downtown.
“This is bad decision making by a small group of young people who are doing silly but dangerous stuff,” Mayor Michael A. Nutter said in an interview Wednesday. “We intend to do something about it immediately.”
Flash mobs are not unique to Philadelphia, but they have been more frequent here than elsewhere. Others that resulted in arrests and injuries have been reported over the past year in Boston, South Orange, N.J., and Brooklyn.
Philadelphia officials added that they had also begun getting help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to monitor social-media networks. And television and radio stations are helping to recruit hip-hop artists to make public service announcements imploring teenagers to end the practice.
In the past year, at least four of the flash mobs have broken out in the city, including one on Saturday in which roving teenagers broke into fights, several onlookers were injured and at least three people were arrested.
“It was like a tsunami of kids,” said Seth Kaufman, 20, a pizza deliveryman at Olympia II Pizza & Restaurant on South Street. He lifted his shirt to show gashes along his back and arm. He also had bruises on his forehead he said were from kicks and punches he suffered while trying to keep a rowdy crowd from entering the shop, where a fight was already under way.
“By the time you could hear them yelling, they were flooding the streets and the stores and the sidewalks,” Mr. Kaufman said.
The ad hoc gangs have scared many pedestrians off the streets.
City residents are also starting to complain about the number of unsupervised children, and child advocates are asking if there are enough activities to keep young people busy after school.
“We definitely need more jobs for kids, we need more summer jobs for kids, we need more after-school programming, and we need more parent support,” said Shelly Yanoff, executive director of Public Citizens for Children and Youth, a children’s advocacy group in Philadelphia.
Ms. Yanoff added that libraries and after-school programs had been reduced and a program for youth offenders had been cut sharply. On Friday, officials said, two preteenagers assaulted a woman as part of a violent game called “Catch and Wreck,” in which children pick out people who appear homeless and then beat them and take any money they have.
The police, who say these assaults are unrelated to flash mobs, arrested an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl in the attack. The police said they also planned to charge the boy in an attack on a 73-year-old man who was beaten and robbed in the same area on March 13.
The flash mobs have raised questions about race and class.
Most of the teenagers who have taken part in them are black and from poor neighborhoods. Most of the areas hit have been predominantly white business districts.
In the flash mob on Saturday, groups of teenagers were chanting “black boys” and “burn the city,” bystanders said.
In a Feb. 16 melee, 150 teenagers spilled out of the Gallery shopping mall east of City Hall during rush hour and rampaged through Macy’s, knocking down customers and damaging displays.
The police arrested 15 of the teenagers and, according to one report, some had not been allowed to call their parents six hours after they were detained.
Clay Yeager, a juvenile justice consultant and former director of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in Pennsylvania, said he believed the flash mobs were partly a result of a decline in state money for youth violence prevention programs.
Financing for the programs has dropped 93 percent to $1.2 million in this year’s budget compared with $16 million in 2002. City financing for such programs has dropped to $1.9 million in the past three years compared with $4.1 million from 1999 through 2002, a 53 percent drop.
Mayor Nutter, who is black, rejected the notion that race or the city cut in services was a factor.
“I don’t think people should be finding excuses for inappropriate behavior,” Mr. Nutter said. “There is no racial component to stupid behavior, and parents should not be looking to the government to provide entertainment for their children.”
Violent crime in Philadelphia has dropped 12 percent and homicides have fallen 23 percent since 2008.
Bill Wasik, a senior editor at Harper’s who is credited with introducing the notion of a flash mob in 2003, said he was surprised by the new focus of some of the gatherings.
Mr. Wasik said the mobs started as a kind of playful social experiment meant to encourage spontaneity and big gatherings to temporarily take over commercial and public areas simply to show that they could.
“It’s terrible that these Philly mobs have turned violent,” he said.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
workaholic...
i have been fealing over worked and stressed lately, but i know i want to work hard now so that i can get where i want be quick and before i'm 30...
Workaholic: Characteristics of a Workaholic
Like other “aholics,” the workaholic has an unhealthy addiction. In this case, the addiction is for work, career, or a belief that they are “the only one who can do the job right.” Without this consuming focus, the workaholic may believe he’s a failure or has little worth. Often, this is a sign of insecurity or having priorities out of order.
Workaholics will spend most of their lives at work or taking work home with them. They will often have little time for personal lives -- family, hobbies, or relaxation. Having a balance is not just a preferable desire; it is needed for overall mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
Workaholic: How to find Balance
Step back and look at your life. Are you sacrificing other areas of your life because of the time and attention you spend on work? If pursuing a short term financial goal is more important that assuring a long-term relationship with your spouse and children, you need to rethink your priorities. Sure, you might tell yourself that you are working to provide for your family and that is a necessary part of life. But be honest, is there a balance in the time you spend on each? Balance is truly the key.
Here are a few steps to achieve a healthy balance:
Set limits on the hours and attention you devote to your job.
Set aside quality time for your personal relationships and pleasures.
Confront possible fear of failure or insecurities -- talk to a pastor or counselor.
Define your worth through God, do not replace Him with idolizing self or career.
Use your creativity toward accomplishments other than work, perhaps hobbies.
Be sensitive to the needs of your family and friends.
Take up healthy physical workouts -- swim, hike, or go to the gym.
When we are physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally well balanced, everything we do is going to be affected. We perform better at our jobs; we enjoy less-stressed relationships with our loved ones, and finally we can enjoy the purpose and beauty of life that God has provided for us. You know, a “stop and smell the roses” appreciation.
Workaholic: The Benefits of Balance
When we achieve that lifestyle balance, we will more easily attain that inner peace we all strive for. We don’t have to fear insecurities. We can turn to God and pray for wisdom and guidance. Our spiritual relationship with Him can not be ignored.
This is how Robert turned it around: “No matter how hard I work, I will never be indispensable to any corporation, committee, or employer. I will never be as valuable as I’d like to think I am. I was nearly killing myself from stress and exhaustion. Was it worth it? I thought so for awhile. But I was making work my idol and discovered how wrong I was.
“I didn’t know my kids, my marriage was falling apart, and my health was deteriorating. Then one day God reminded me that health and relationships with my family and Him are what life is all about. If I didn’t start taking care of myself, I wouldn’t be there for them or my employer. If I didn’t find a balance, I wouldn’t have a family!
“I can’t go back and recapture what I’ve lost with my family, but I certainly don’t want to miss out on anymore. God helped me see their value and how much they value me. He is the one who fulfills my need to hear “You’re irreplaceable!” I now know I can wrongly decide my priorities; I now submit that decision to God. He planned the purpose of my life and I have repented for ignoring my family and my God.”
Workaholic: Characteristics of a Workaholic
Like other “aholics,” the workaholic has an unhealthy addiction. In this case, the addiction is for work, career, or a belief that they are “the only one who can do the job right.” Without this consuming focus, the workaholic may believe he’s a failure or has little worth. Often, this is a sign of insecurity or having priorities out of order.
Workaholics will spend most of their lives at work or taking work home with them. They will often have little time for personal lives -- family, hobbies, or relaxation. Having a balance is not just a preferable desire; it is needed for overall mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health.
Workaholic: How to find Balance
Step back and look at your life. Are you sacrificing other areas of your life because of the time and attention you spend on work? If pursuing a short term financial goal is more important that assuring a long-term relationship with your spouse and children, you need to rethink your priorities. Sure, you might tell yourself that you are working to provide for your family and that is a necessary part of life. But be honest, is there a balance in the time you spend on each? Balance is truly the key.
Here are a few steps to achieve a healthy balance:
Set limits on the hours and attention you devote to your job.
Set aside quality time for your personal relationships and pleasures.
Confront possible fear of failure or insecurities -- talk to a pastor or counselor.
Define your worth through God, do not replace Him with idolizing self or career.
Use your creativity toward accomplishments other than work, perhaps hobbies.
Be sensitive to the needs of your family and friends.
Take up healthy physical workouts -- swim, hike, or go to the gym.
When we are physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally well balanced, everything we do is going to be affected. We perform better at our jobs; we enjoy less-stressed relationships with our loved ones, and finally we can enjoy the purpose and beauty of life that God has provided for us. You know, a “stop and smell the roses” appreciation.
Workaholic: The Benefits of Balance
When we achieve that lifestyle balance, we will more easily attain that inner peace we all strive for. We don’t have to fear insecurities. We can turn to God and pray for wisdom and guidance. Our spiritual relationship with Him can not be ignored.
This is how Robert turned it around: “No matter how hard I work, I will never be indispensable to any corporation, committee, or employer. I will never be as valuable as I’d like to think I am. I was nearly killing myself from stress and exhaustion. Was it worth it? I thought so for awhile. But I was making work my idol and discovered how wrong I was.
“I didn’t know my kids, my marriage was falling apart, and my health was deteriorating. Then one day God reminded me that health and relationships with my family and Him are what life is all about. If I didn’t start taking care of myself, I wouldn’t be there for them or my employer. If I didn’t find a balance, I wouldn’t have a family!
“I can’t go back and recapture what I’ve lost with my family, but I certainly don’t want to miss out on anymore. God helped me see their value and how much they value me. He is the one who fulfills my need to hear “You’re irreplaceable!” I now know I can wrongly decide my priorities; I now submit that decision to God. He planned the purpose of my life and I have repented for ignoring my family and my God.”
Thursday, March 18, 2010
“I have seen persons of emotional temperament stand with tearful eyes, spellbound and dumb with awe, as they got their first view of the Valley from I
we go every halloween to Yosemite because it is a beautiful time of year when all of the trees are turning and their are no lines or crowds for the trails or anything. also, they do night cemetary walks that are very interesting too.we've been doing this trip for about 10 years and love it!
For tens of thousands of years, humans have changed, and have been changed by, this place we now call Yosemite. The Ahwahneechee lived here for generations, followed by the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1800s. The rugged terrain challenged many early travelers, with just a few—only 650 from the mid-1850s to mid-1860s—making the journey to Yosemite Valley by horseback or stagecoach. By 1907, construction of the Yosemite Valley Railroad from Merced to El Portal eased the journey, thereby, increasing visitation. Today, 3.5 million people enter the park’s gates to explore. We learn from the stories of those who walked Yosemite’s trails before us, allowing appreciation of their lasting footprints that led to conscious preservation.
For tens of thousands of years, humans have changed, and have been changed by, this place we now call Yosemite. The Ahwahneechee lived here for generations, followed by the arrival of Europeans in the mid-1800s. The rugged terrain challenged many early travelers, with just a few—only 650 from the mid-1850s to mid-1860s—making the journey to Yosemite Valley by horseback or stagecoach. By 1907, construction of the Yosemite Valley Railroad from Merced to El Portal eased the journey, thereby, increasing visitation. Today, 3.5 million people enter the park’s gates to explore. We learn from the stories of those who walked Yosemite’s trails before us, allowing appreciation of their lasting footprints that led to conscious preservation.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
50 Great Posting Ideas That Will Make Your Blog Sizzle
I'm very new when it comes to this blogging idea, so i looked up what people wanted to read about...
Great posts are hard to do consistently on a day-to-day basis. Probloggers really have to work at it. I thought about all the different ways and angles a blogger can approach choosing posting topics. Here are 101 different ideas that I think are great to stimulate your mind and jumpstart your blogging.
[UPDATE: Make a Great Post from a category below and I'll link back to your post! See rules here.]
1.Brainstorm by matching up your readers wants and needs using the Visitor Grid method of brainstorming.
2.Write a post by examining the pros and cons of an issue.
3.Write a tutorial.
4.Do an interview with key people in your niche.
5.Create a mock head-to-head competition like what Daniel did.
6.Do a case study like what Read/Write Web did with the hot topics on Technorati 100.
7.Take an alternate position.
8.Write a long comment.
9.Pick a topic by reading business book titles.
10.Research a topic by doing research on Amazon.com.
11.Drill down on a topic using Ask.com’s search feature.
12.Do a post that answers your readers’ questions.
13.Create a comprehensive list.
14.Create flagship content.
15.Interview controversial people in your niche.
16.Post about current events in your niche.
17.Invite your readers to submit articles.
18.Instead of exchanging links, get together with other bloggers and review each others’ blogs.
19.Connect with bloggers around your same level and share ideas.
20.Do a “speedlinking��? post.
21.Post about posts made by others in your My Blog Log community.
22.Be opinionated in your post.
23.Turn off the nofollow attribute to encourage comments.
24.Do a “tag” post and have other bloggers who are tagged add to a list.
25.Do an “IM” PPC campaign and then post about the results.
26.Be a guest blogger and share ideas with new readers.
27.Review your statistics to see what keywords referred your visitors to your site and post about those.
28.Answer your readers’ questions with more questions (i.e., have you thought about…?).
29.Contrast two or more positions in a post.
30.Make a post that solves a problem.
31.Make a post that is inspirational.
32.Make a satirical post.
33.Write a series of posts.
34.Post your research findings.
35.Post an “advantages/disadvantages” post.
36.Update an old post for new ideas/findings.
37.Link ideas from different genres in your posts (e.g., Celebrities and the gadgets they own).
38.Debunk a myth in your post.
39.Make a post for beginners.
40.Make a post for advanced readers.
41.Invite experts to comment on your post.
42.Ask your readers to Digg your best posts.
43.Change up your posting style (e.g., tutorial, reviews, etc.).
44.Write a funny post.
45.Create a huge list of your best posts.
46.Add to a list started by another blogger.
47.Create a mission statement for your blog.
48.Make a post simplifying a complex problem for your readers.
49.Create a guide for your niche.
50.Make a post turning a negative into a positive through humor ( e.g., tell a joke: “My parents tell me I’m autistic. I tell them they have an attitude problem.”).
Great posts are hard to do consistently on a day-to-day basis. Probloggers really have to work at it. I thought about all the different ways and angles a blogger can approach choosing posting topics. Here are 101 different ideas that I think are great to stimulate your mind and jumpstart your blogging.
[UPDATE: Make a Great Post from a category below and I'll link back to your post! See rules here.]
1.Brainstorm by matching up your readers wants and needs using the Visitor Grid method of brainstorming.
2.Write a post by examining the pros and cons of an issue.
3.Write a tutorial.
4.Do an interview with key people in your niche.
5.Create a mock head-to-head competition like what Daniel did.
6.Do a case study like what Read/Write Web did with the hot topics on Technorati 100.
7.Take an alternate position.
8.Write a long comment.
9.Pick a topic by reading business book titles.
10.Research a topic by doing research on Amazon.com.
11.Drill down on a topic using Ask.com’s search feature.
12.Do a post that answers your readers’ questions.
13.Create a comprehensive list.
14.Create flagship content.
15.Interview controversial people in your niche.
16.Post about current events in your niche.
17.Invite your readers to submit articles.
18.Instead of exchanging links, get together with other bloggers and review each others’ blogs.
19.Connect with bloggers around your same level and share ideas.
20.Do a “speedlinking��? post.
21.Post about posts made by others in your My Blog Log community.
22.Be opinionated in your post.
23.Turn off the nofollow attribute to encourage comments.
24.Do a “tag” post and have other bloggers who are tagged add to a list.
25.Do an “IM” PPC campaign and then post about the results.
26.Be a guest blogger and share ideas with new readers.
27.Review your statistics to see what keywords referred your visitors to your site and post about those.
28.Answer your readers’ questions with more questions (i.e., have you thought about…?).
29.Contrast two or more positions in a post.
30.Make a post that solves a problem.
31.Make a post that is inspirational.
32.Make a satirical post.
33.Write a series of posts.
34.Post your research findings.
35.Post an “advantages/disadvantages” post.
36.Update an old post for new ideas/findings.
37.Link ideas from different genres in your posts (e.g., Celebrities and the gadgets they own).
38.Debunk a myth in your post.
39.Make a post for beginners.
40.Make a post for advanced readers.
41.Invite experts to comment on your post.
42.Ask your readers to Digg your best posts.
43.Change up your posting style (e.g., tutorial, reviews, etc.).
44.Write a funny post.
45.Create a huge list of your best posts.
46.Add to a list started by another blogger.
47.Create a mission statement for your blog.
48.Make a post simplifying a complex problem for your readers.
49.Create a guide for your niche.
50.Make a post turning a negative into a positive through humor ( e.g., tell a joke: “My parents tell me I’m autistic. I tell them they have an attitude problem.”).
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
today at work...
I have customers of all kinds, the happy to be alive, the grumpy cause they owe us money, the chatty, the quiet, the tell you about their whole day type, and the get down to business type. everyone carries themselves so different and all have such different personalities, i like them all, even the unpleasant ones, if they weren't here i wouldn't know how nice it is when my nice insureds come in. my few favorite consist of both...
Mr.Smith:
Very negative about having to pay every month and always asks to make sure he is getting all of the discounts he deserves. i always reassure him, but it never fails next month i will answer the same thing. although he is grumpy when he comes in he calls me sweety and enduring names like that, so i know he likes me in a grandfather kind of way. although in a monotone kind of voice, it's kind underniether all of the "old grumpy man" act.
Mrs. Lew:
she doesn't even have insurance through our office, but i take the payment for her every month to her agent that lives in Galena Hills by me, but she just has the cutest personality. her attire makes her stand out more than most too... every month she will come to our office with a sweat jump suite wearing high heals with her hair very nice and blue eye shadow. what's not to like?
Mr.Reed:
he is a mid aged man who comes in about every couple of months to make sure everything is ok with his insurance policies, but i think he just gets lonely at his home. he comes to talk about his car shows that he goes to and what he has been dong since he has retired. jsut a very friendly guy, very upbeat, and enjoyable to be around.
all of the customers i like, but these are the ones that really make my days go by faster. i truely believe when you are nice to some one, it really does change that person's day for the better. i didn;t have enough time to list all of the customers that really do make my day better at work, but i'll add as they come in. :)
Mr.Smith:
Very negative about having to pay every month and always asks to make sure he is getting all of the discounts he deserves. i always reassure him, but it never fails next month i will answer the same thing. although he is grumpy when he comes in he calls me sweety and enduring names like that, so i know he likes me in a grandfather kind of way. although in a monotone kind of voice, it's kind underniether all of the "old grumpy man" act.
Mrs. Lew:
she doesn't even have insurance through our office, but i take the payment for her every month to her agent that lives in Galena Hills by me, but she just has the cutest personality. her attire makes her stand out more than most too... every month she will come to our office with a sweat jump suite wearing high heals with her hair very nice and blue eye shadow. what's not to like?
Mr.Reed:
he is a mid aged man who comes in about every couple of months to make sure everything is ok with his insurance policies, but i think he just gets lonely at his home. he comes to talk about his car shows that he goes to and what he has been dong since he has retired. jsut a very friendly guy, very upbeat, and enjoyable to be around.
all of the customers i like, but these are the ones that really make my days go by faster. i truely believe when you are nice to some one, it really does change that person's day for the better. i didn;t have enough time to list all of the customers that really do make my day better at work, but i'll add as they come in. :)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Woot FAQ: a discussion of ill-advised efficiencies, failed idealism, and trampled dreams.
every day when my boyfriend get home he goes to the Woot of the day...for you that don't know what the website is....
What is Woot and who's behind it?
Woot.com is an online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. It started as an employee-store slash market-testing type of place for an electronics distributor, but it's taken on a life of its own. We anticipate profitability by 2043 – by then we should be retired; someone smarter might take over and jack up the prices. Until then, we're still the lovable scamps we've always been. But don't take our word for it: see what the online community has to say at this Wikipedia article.
every day there is a new "woot" of the day.like todays was a watch that was also a flash light. it has odd ball things in it, but it also has a few big screen tv's every once n a while.
What is Woot and who's behind it?
Woot.com is an online store and community that focuses on selling cool stuff cheap. It started as an employee-store slash market-testing type of place for an electronics distributor, but it's taken on a life of its own. We anticipate profitability by 2043 – by then we should be retired; someone smarter might take over and jack up the prices. Until then, we're still the lovable scamps we've always been. But don't take our word for it: see what the online community has to say at this Wikipedia article.
every day there is a new "woot" of the day.like todays was a watch that was also a flash light. it has odd ball things in it, but it also has a few big screen tv's every once n a while.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Weird things people insure....
Most people don't know it, but you can get insurance on some pretty off-the-wall things. Take it from multiple celebrities; they're insuring body parts. In this market, insurance companies often offer policies that pay if something damages the appearance of functionality of a body part. You may know this as a contract clause for professional athletes, but who would have guessed it was a legitimate form of insurance? You would have to seriously ask yourself if insuring a body part was worth it. For most of us, the answer is undoubtedly no. But if you're Peyton Manning, it helps to have an insurance policy on your right arm.
Another weird and not so common thing that people insure is a golf game. If you've ever participated in a game of golf or a tournament, then you've probably seen a hole-in-one prize. Anyone who scores this shot during a game will win money, a new car, etc. This is a very common thing in the world of golf tournaments. And as rare as a hole-in-one is on average, you'd be surprised how many are actually made. So, they're losing money every time someone makes the shot, right? Wait just a minute. The people/companies offering the prize take insurance out against someone showing up and making the fluke shot. The hole-in-one insurance policy is part of a broader class known as price indemnification insurance, which is used on various game shows and contests. The event sponsor pays a premium to an insurer, and if someone makes the shot, wins the prize, etc, the policy picks up the tab.
So much for ransom notes. If you happen to ever be kidnapped and held for ransom, having to pay the fee to be released can possibly ruin your financial situation. The well-to-do and workers in high-risk areas have a ransom insurance policy to signup with. These policies are typically held by businessmen who work in dangerous areas, and they offer indemnity coverage for any loss incurred by whoever pays the ransom. The losses include the sum of the ransom itself, any money lost in transit, expenses of the team to deliver the ransom, the hiring of professionals such as negotiators, and rewards offered for the same return of the victim.
Perhaps the oddest insurance policy of all comes from Lloyd's of London. Over the years, this company has sold policies for vampire bites, werewolf attacks, and alien abduction. Over 40,000 policies have been sold to insure against alien abduction. If you claim to have been abducted, can pass a lie detector test, and have video or a third-party witness, then you'll be compensated at the tune of 1-million-pounds.
Some people's livelihood depends on one specific, insurable, body part, so why not take a out a large policy to insure yourself and your livelihood? Here are some of the craziest insurance plans in the world:
1. Ken Dodd's extremely large buckteeth for $7.4 million
2. 13-year-old World Yo-Yo champion Harvey Lowe's hands for $150,000
3. Australia's national cricket team player Merv Hughes' walrus mustache for $370,000
4. 20th Century Fox had the legs of actress Betty Grable insured for $1 million each
5. world-famous food critic Egon Ronay's taste buds for $400,000
6. Michael Flatley - star of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance - insured his legs for $47 million
7. the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello was insured for $250,000
8. Bruce Springsteen's voice for $6 million
9. washboard player Chas McDevitt's fingers for $9,300
10. Jennifer Lopez's ass for $1 billion
Another weird and not so common thing that people insure is a golf game. If you've ever participated in a game of golf or a tournament, then you've probably seen a hole-in-one prize. Anyone who scores this shot during a game will win money, a new car, etc. This is a very common thing in the world of golf tournaments. And as rare as a hole-in-one is on average, you'd be surprised how many are actually made. So, they're losing money every time someone makes the shot, right? Wait just a minute. The people/companies offering the prize take insurance out against someone showing up and making the fluke shot. The hole-in-one insurance policy is part of a broader class known as price indemnification insurance, which is used on various game shows and contests. The event sponsor pays a premium to an insurer, and if someone makes the shot, wins the prize, etc, the policy picks up the tab.
So much for ransom notes. If you happen to ever be kidnapped and held for ransom, having to pay the fee to be released can possibly ruin your financial situation. The well-to-do and workers in high-risk areas have a ransom insurance policy to signup with. These policies are typically held by businessmen who work in dangerous areas, and they offer indemnity coverage for any loss incurred by whoever pays the ransom. The losses include the sum of the ransom itself, any money lost in transit, expenses of the team to deliver the ransom, the hiring of professionals such as negotiators, and rewards offered for the same return of the victim.
Perhaps the oddest insurance policy of all comes from Lloyd's of London. Over the years, this company has sold policies for vampire bites, werewolf attacks, and alien abduction. Over 40,000 policies have been sold to insure against alien abduction. If you claim to have been abducted, can pass a lie detector test, and have video or a third-party witness, then you'll be compensated at the tune of 1-million-pounds.
Some people's livelihood depends on one specific, insurable, body part, so why not take a out a large policy to insure yourself and your livelihood? Here are some of the craziest insurance plans in the world:
1. Ken Dodd's extremely large buckteeth for $7.4 million
2. 13-year-old World Yo-Yo champion Harvey Lowe's hands for $150,000
3. Australia's national cricket team player Merv Hughes' walrus mustache for $370,000
4. 20th Century Fox had the legs of actress Betty Grable insured for $1 million each
5. world-famous food critic Egon Ronay's taste buds for $400,000
6. Michael Flatley - star of Riverdance and Lord of the Dance - insured his legs for $47 million
7. the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello was insured for $250,000
8. Bruce Springsteen's voice for $6 million
9. washboard player Chas McDevitt's fingers for $9,300
10. Jennifer Lopez's ass for $1 billion
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