Archive for March, 2010

Worried about being abducted by aliens? Or getting hit by an asteroid? Or losing your voice?

Sometimes life can be stranger than fiction, especially when it comes to insurance policies.  Among the odd policies:

$20k eyes to $1 million legs

• Mostly celebrities are inclined to insure notable body parts. Ben Turpin insured his crossed eyes in 1920. Had his eyes been uncrossed, he would have received $20,000.

• Betty Grable insured her legs for $1 million in 1940 while Dolly Parton’s famous theme-park inspiring 42” breasts are insured for $600,000.

• Rock and pop music stars Bruce Springsteen and Rod Stewart have insured their voices.

• Jimmy Durante took out an insurance policy on his nose for $50,000.

• Lloyd’s of London insured the smile of America Ferrera, star of the hit television show Ugly Betty, for $10 million.

• The London insurance firm also insured Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards’ fingers and Marlene Dietrich’s legs – and, according to one history book, actress Bette Davis once insured her waistline against expansion.

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Even before St. Patrick’s Day has arrived, we’re hearing sad news about people who drank too much, turning festive celebrations into tragedies.

Sunday’s horrific accident during Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Day parade reminds us that fatalities can occur whether or not the intoxicated person is behind the wheel of a car.

In this case, a 20-year-old man jumped on a float during the parade and when he jumped off, he was pinned underneath.

Police confirmed that alcohol was a factor is his death.

Did you know you could be liable?

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This is going to be a great weekend with warm, clear sunny skies (finally!) and the Good Guys Spring Nationals Car Show at Westworld in Scottsdale.

I enjoy the Good Guys show events immensely.  These weekend happenings are really a big party in honor of those of us who love the automobile hobby.  There’ll be street rods, classic cars, antiques, muscle cars as well as a mind-boggling assortment of vendors and a swap meet for those enthusiasts looking for their dream car project.

Only cars built from 1972 and earlier are allowed into the show, and with the nearly 4,000 cars anticipated to be on-site there’ll be a multiple of sights, sounds, and smells to take in.  The artistic lines of the different models are masterfully crafted while the mingling of the leather,exhausts and oil smells are ever present with various motor pitches.

To the prom in a ’58 Chevy

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While watching the Oscars Sunday night, I couldn’t help but think “What if?” 

Hey, there’s a great movie to be made considering all of the potential risks and catastrophes that could happen.

Grab the gems!

First is the obvious – what if there is a BIG jewelry heist?  There’s over $400 million worth of jewelry worn by the stars, men included, at the annual Academy Awards ceremonies so what would happen if a major robbery occurred?

Actress and 2010 presenter Kate Winslet wore a pendant style necklace of emerald-cut white and yellow diamonds with matching earrings. They were on loan from Tiffany’s and estimated to be valued at more than $2.5 million.  WOW!  You can bet there was special jewelry insurance coverage on those gorgeous gems!

Tom Ford, a leading fashion designer whose tuxedos were worn by countless actors, sported as many diamonds as the ladies.  His shirt studs were each several carats worth of princess-cut diamonds.

Sound the alarms!

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