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Migration Under Our Noses in Hartville, Ohio

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:45:58 +0000

"They let me go pretty worthy everywhere," is what photographer Gary Harwood said over and over again during his presentation. The amazing portion of his project is what he had to do to be able to enter these people's lives without their feeling like he was an intruder. Together with David Hassler, they set together a very attractive book with stories about migrant workers in Hartville, Ohio. Most people do not know much about migrant workers and think that they are just people who cross the Mexican border to work for people in Texas, but those in the audience on September 22 found out that could not be further from the truth. Harwood's presentation was very touching and informative as he described the actual lives of these people who travel to rural Ohio just for the growing season and then travel back to Texas (or elsewhere) in the off season. Although these people are not paid well, it does not matter to them and they seem to be better natured than most people who have a stable financial lifestyle. The community was very strong, and there was not anything that the entire community did not do together.

It was unbelievable to learn that all of this was happening right under my nose. Being from Akron, I never, in my wildest dreams, thought this was happening so close to my home. For some reason I was under the impression that this only happens in the movies and in really poor cities. The shots that Mr. Harwood took were very telling of the experiences these people go through on a daily basis. What are even more prolific are the stories that he has to go along with the pictures. Even though Mr. Hassler wrote the stories for the book, the ones that Harwood told were much more from the heart. Another thing that was surprising was how happy these people were. It seemed like they did not have a care in the world, even though they were living on a salary that is well below the poverty line. The entire community worked as a whole for everything that went on which goes against everything that the American culture seems to preach. If Americans had to go to someone's birthday every week, they would go crazy and claim they needed some time for themselves, but in their culture, even if they are planning on doing something already, they will drop that and attend whatever the community event is that evening.

It is also incredible to me how much the parents make sure their children are peaceful getting an education even though they are constantly moving all over the country. Not only are they going to extra summer school, but they are getting the opportunity to go places, such as the museum and baseball games, that some kids from this station never do. What is even more amazing about this is that the children seem to have a good time no matter what they are doing. Most children get to a point when they throw a fit if they are not given what they want, but these children have been raised to a point where they are simply happy to be doing whatever it is they happen to be doing at any given moment. On a whole, Americans could learn a lot from these people in many different walks of life. This project not only illustrated how important migrant workers are to nearly everyone's everyday life, it also showed the values that are dear to their heart are some that differ a lot from those taught in America.

When Harwood spoke, there was so great emotion in his voice that the audience was able to vow that he had a life changing experience. He obviously did not want to give a political talk, but it would be hard to argue that he did not try to convince the audience at times that these migrant workers are good for America. It would not be surprising if he took his time, now that the project is over, to continue to ogle and interact with these people. Even an outsider would have been able to tell that the experiences of these two men were much different simply because of the blueprint they spoke about their experience.

All of the information for this article was obtained during a talk that was given by David Hassler and Gary Harwood at Hiram College during the month of October, 2008 about their book entitled Growing Seasons: The Life of a Migrant Community. The book was published in 2006 by the Kent State University Press and can be viewed through this link: http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Season-Life-Migrant-Community/dp/0873388739/ref=sr_1_1? ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231986804&sr=8-1

Finding the Best Motorcycle Insurance

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:42:42 +0000

Shopping for motorcycle insurance really isn't any more complex than looking for any other type of insurance. The rider must be sure that he or she maximizes discounts to obtain the lowest notice, but does not compromise coverage. Many people judge that cheap insurance is wonderful, but insurance that doesn't cover the rider properly is very costly. The purchaser must insure that comprehensive coverage is available if he or she wishes to replace the vehicle at cost. All too often riders think that merely purchasing the proper requirement (liability) is enough to find by. While it is true that legally covering the other person in an accident is enough, what about the replacement cost of your vehicle? Not having a motor vehicle is a bad situation and can often result in job loss. So the best thing you can do is beget distinct that you know the appropriate coverage for your bike. The best coverage is one that you can afford. This means that if you wreck your motorcycle with only liability coverage, you can afford to either do without it or buy another motorcycle with cash. If you can't do either of these things, you need to purchase comprehensive coverage.

Next you need to make a list of potential discounts for your insurer. As a potential customer you should be entitled to discounts. Often you can get honorable driver discounts, training discounts, student discounts, marriage discounts, new motorcycle discounts and many more types of discounts but only if you have a list of what you are qualified for and work with an insurance company that offers these discounts. You would be surprised what discounts you are fine for. Some insurance companies give discounts for purchasing on-line or even getting good grades in school. But many potential customers think that they are only entitled to a bundling discount or marriage discount. There are tons of insurance discounts if you know the system and what you are qualified for. So a good shopper starts with a list of potential discounts before going out to observe. You can easily regain a list on-line.

Finally you should see 3 agents from the major insurance companies. These would be Geico, Allstate and Progressive. Geico and Progressive should provide a motorcyclist with a very comprehensive list of discounts. Geico and Progressive lead the nation with the most motorcyclists insured in the United States. They have perfected motorcycle insurance and the marketing of it. I recommend you check with Allstate because they have made substantial progress in getting motorcyclists insured and they want to gain more market allotment. In cases like this, they may be willing to undercut any heed you bring for Geico or Progressive. This can have positive effects for you as the potential client. As the economy has worsened, insurance companies are in an all-out war for original customers. This can only benefit you as a person looking for insurance. Good luck in this task and save a bundle.

Sources:

SC Dept. of Insurance

Michigan Secretary of State

Comparison of Progressive, Geico, and State Farm Car Insurance

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:39:59 +0000

If you own a T.V. you have probably seen the recent barrage of car insurance commercials. Three major companies are all competing for your car insurance dollars.

State Farm Insurance has limited online resources, but promises you a local car insurance agent that will gleefully abandon his or her personal life to bring you donuts, rub your feet, and file your claim at any time of day or night. According to the commercials they will also provide compassion and sagacious advice.

Progressive's main selling point is that they will provide a comparison of prices and services among different car insurance companies so that you can compose determined you are getting the best value for your money. Online services, and instant rate quotes are available,

Geico has a magic talking gecko. They do not have rate comparisons or local agents, but they do promise low rates and offer many online tools.

It honest so happens that I have been a customer of each of these companies, so if you are wondering what the truth is behind the endless commercial hype, let me share my experiences and give you some insight.

COST:
Progressive was the best car insurance value, although State Farm Insurance was actually the least expensive.

In spite of their claims to save you hundreds of dollars Geico, in my experience, actually cost more than Progressive Car Insurance with no added services.

But perhaps the biggest disparity between the service promised on the commercials and the service actually is seen with State Farm Insurance. Of course I realize that each individual experience with Location Farm will vary greatly depending on the quality of the local car insurance agent and that I can certainly not attest to the performance of every State Farm Car Insurance agent in the country, but I can say that my State Farm experience was abysmal. In fact it was poor enough to make me decide that the ten or twenty dollars I saved per month was just not worth the agitation.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Both Geico and Progressive had excellent customer service. However each time I called Geico, at the end of the call I had to endure five minutes of the customer service representative trying to "up sell" my account to higher car insurance coverage and premium services.

State Farm Insurance left much to be desired in terms of customer service. In stark contrast to the omniscient car insurance agents of the commercials (whose wisdom is only exceeded by their benevolence), making contact with my State Farm Insurance Agent was like trying to get a photo shoot with Big Foot. Usually I would leave about six messages over three days time, then it would be another two or three days when he finally tried to return my calls. When I did manage to actually speak to him about my car insurance he was as obtuse as he was reclusive. Grumbling as if I had awakened him from a very important nap he would advise me that he would need to research my explain and call me back. Then the phone ticket ritual would begin again.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
It is distinguished for me to have my car insurance payments set up on automatic withdrawal. I am a forgetful procrastinator, and if I do not have this service my car insurance always winds up getting canceled.

Progressive made it very easy to have automatic withdrawal for my car insurance. All I had to do was let them know it was what I wanted. Customer service was pleasant and efficient and did not try to sell me additional products.

Geico made it an ordeal. When I called in to build this request I was informed that I would need to write a letter, sign it, mail it in with a voided check, and then wait another three weeks for it to take attain. As if to add insult to injury, I then had to endure the agent "reviewing my memoir" and trying to sell me additional car insurance premium services.

And then of course there was Station Farm Insurance. I was convinced that my agent could not handle such a complicated request, so I never brought it up.

Claims Service:
I personally never had to file a claim with any of these three car insurance companies. But checking the websites reflects what I would interrogate for each of them.

Progressive assures you that you will receive a follow up call within two hours of filing a car insurance claim. The tone of the website is very helpful and promises assistance throughout the claim process.

Geico does not offer a follow up call, but does inform you that an investigation will be launched immediately to settle whether or not you are attempting fraud. Nice. It is probably just as well that they don't give a follow up call; the car insurance agent would only try to get you to increase your coverage.

As far as State Farm Insurance goes -thank God I didn't have to file a claim, it was hard enough just getting an answer for a question. I am quite clear that if I had needed to file a claim I would probably quiet be working on it with my agent. First there would be phone tag as I tried to advise him that I needed to file a car insurance claim, then there would be the faxing and filing papers, misplacing the papers, re-faxing the papers, then more phone tag and…you get the picture.

Based on my adventures with these three car insurance companies, I would say if you enjoy the convenience of the Internet and prefer 24-hour customer service Progressive or Geico are going to be the better options for your needs. If that is not a priority, and you capture to make personal contact with a local representative, then you will be more comfortable with State Farm Insurance (provided you find an efficient agent).

These are my personal experiences with each of the companies. Of course each person's situation is original, so make sure you do get rate quotes for your own needs. Also if you are considering a State Farm Insurance Agent do not assume that each agent will be as ineffective as mine was. But DO learn from my experience and make sure you get references and interview prospective local car insurance agents as carefully as you would a prospective employee.

The process of finding a quality car insurance provider that best fits your individual needs can be frustrating, but I hope that my experiences can shed some light to help you along the way.

Cheap Auto Insurance on a Budget

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 05:36:53 +0000

Finding and buying cheap auto insurance isn't impossible. However, it will require some anxiety on your fragment. Here are some things you can do to help get cheap rates, according to Cheapautosinsurance.com:

• Invest in anti-theft devices

• Sign-up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)

• Ask for an annual policy instead of a six-month installment plan

• Put A Question To about group discounts offered by your employers or organizations in which you are a member

• Limit driving to under 14,000 miles per year

• Buy your homeowner's and auto insurance from the same company

In addition to these ideas, it is important to remember that your driving represent, as well as your credit describe can play a primary role in the rate quotes you are given by potential insurers. Therefore, check both records prior to applying for recent insurance to make sure your records do not deem any improper date that could result in a denial for coverage, or a cancellation of it.

Loyalty to one insurer could also reduce insurance cost

It might pay to be loyal to your current insurer as well, as the length of time you conclude with one insurer can generally help to reduce your rate over time (if you do not have any "at fault" accidents or traffic violations for several consecutive years, of course).

Lastly, consider eliminating any coverage that you do not absolutely need at this time. For example, if one vehicle on your policy is no longer operational, you can drop coverage for it. If your medical coverage at work is sufficient, you don't have to carry your auto insurance's medical payment option. Likewise, if you have another vehicle available to you, then you will not need car rental reimbursement on your policy, further reducing your costs.

Rob stock of your particular situation and see how these ideas could help you get cheap auto insurance now.

References:

Auto Insurance at:

http://www.cheapautosinsurance.com/

Factors in Evaluating Cost vs. Benefits of Auto Insurance
How Are Auto Insurance Rates Regulated
How to Shop for Auto Insurance Online
Tips on Buying Car Insurance for a New Driver
Top Ten Car Insurance Buying Questions

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/456087/radell.html

Filling the Hanger of Your Dreams

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 06:22:49 +0000

This is a post I have ran often on World of Flying, but I update it every year about this time, squeezing a few more smiles out of it. So my new readers can indulge in this time-consuming game we pilots all play, here is the New Year's 2008 version:

Every pilot is the same when it comes to these flying machines...we've never met one we didn't like. But when we really stop and think about it, exactly which ones are more dear to us than all the others? If you are a true-blue aviator, it will be very, very hard to pick your personal "Top 10" favorite aircraft of all time.

Compiling your own list of 10 favorite aircraft can be fun, and if you are like me, this will be a broad way to amuse yourself for hours. It should not be a list of what you can actually ever afford, but a "dream list" of what 10 airplanes would be in your hanger if money were an unlimited resource.

With that said, here my personal "Top 10" list in descending order...enjoy:

10. LoPresti Fury: This huge modern airplane is the dream of notorious speed merchant Roy LoPresti, and it's fast, sexy and did I mention swiftly? It jumps into my Top 10 because I contain it is one of the most exciting new projects about to come out way in years. It is designed for those who define "car" as anything built by Ferrari.

9. Beechcraft Starship: Because I'd want something designed by Burt Rutan in the dream hangar. This rare beauty was panned as having horrible fuel economy, but that is completely mitigated by its museum-quality sex appeal. Sure, they are all in scrap heaps now, but friends, this is fantasyland here, so anything is possible.

8. Terrafugia Transition: Speaking of exciting projects, this "roadable airplane" from the fertile minds at MIT should be a huge hit when if comes to market. As an airplane, it delivers LSA performance, so don't expect this to be a serious cross-country vehicle. But when you factor in the capability to suck in your wings, switch power to the drive wheels, and waft out of the airport gate to your destination, there is nothing in the air that will even come close to this breathtaking and daring belief. I have flown the transition in X-plane, and it is smooth and stable. I want one...

7. The Situation Shuttle: Sure, you'll need a set of big, honkin' rockets to punch out through the stratosphere, and sure, it has the glide characteristics of a brick, but man, what a view after you collect it trimmed out at it's usual cruising altitude of about a gazillion feet AGL. Plus, the Shuttle fleet is getting halt to retirement, so you might be able to soon rob one up cheap on eBay.

6. North American P-51: What red-blooded pilot wouldn't have one of these V-12 powered monsters in his/her dream hanger? And nothing shouts "ramp appeal" quite like a Mustang...and I'm not talking about the one made by Cessna either. The newest Citation is very cool, but the first time a Citation 'Mustang' parks next to a right Mustang, you can bet the P-51 will walk over and kick it's ass for "borrowing" it's name.

5. Air Force One: The avionics it has up front can only be described as awesome, but they pale in comparison to the nifty defensive weaponry we can only assume must be hidden down where the luggage used to ride. Damn nice furniture too, and forget about TFRs, you can take this aircraft any damned place you want. Clearance...we don't need no stinkin' clearance!

4. Three-Eight Charlie: Jerrie Mock flew this highly-modified 1953 Cessna 180 from Columbus, Ohio, around the freakin' world solo to be the first woman to make that trip since Amelia Earhart went missing with her old pal Fred. Corner me someday and I'll tell you the long story of N1538C and why this plane is so special and sadly so ignored in aviation history.

3. The DC-3: What hasn't the DC-3 done, except explain the entire commercial aviation industry? Gooneys also served us well in WW2, hauling the mail (and reportedly a few live camels) over the Burma Hump a time or two. There is just something about this aircraft that makes me sweat when I am within 100 yards of one. And in the case of Duggy - the Smile in the Sky - I can't help but grin when I'm near him. If you've ever been up close and personal with Duggy, then you know what I'm sayin'. It's been confirmed that all airplanes have personalities, and Duggy's is a hoot!

2. Pilatus PC-12: This wonderful airplane has moved up to No. 2 this year because over the years, I have grown to worship the seriously 'useful' useful load and mondo cargo door of the PC-12. Yes, a Citation Mustang flies higher and faster, but as Dr. Phil says, let's be real...I will never EVER get any insurance carrier to insure me to fly a Citation single pilot - regardless of premiums. But the Pilatus has a reputation as a safe, easy flier with a very low accident rate. And for some reason, when you attach a propeller to a turbine engine, premiums go down. If you've ever watched a PC-12 drop into an undeveloped patch so short that it'd feel just about legal to a Piper Cub driver, then you know the short field capabilities of a Pilatus. Sign me up for one...it has it all.

1. Cirrus SR22-GTS: For the money, the best new airplane sold today. Any more glass in its gargantuan cockpit and you'd think you were at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This plane obsolete to be No. 4 on the list, but now claims the top spot since I've flown one and fell farther in love. In all honesty, I have never flown the Columbia 400, which I suspect is very nice. But I was so impressed with the SR22-GTS, I cannot imagine how a four-place composite GA personal airliner could be any nicer than the Cirrus.

Get Help with Workers Compensation Insurance Carriers

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 06:16:27 +0000

Workers Compensation Insurance Carriers can seem like a hassle to advance in contact with when they are needed the most. The reason for this can be simply that people don't have the time and patience to get a hold of them, or simply don't know how or who to call. Listed below will be a list to back you out a little bit better and make things a bit easier for you.

Farmers Insurance can be contacted through a farmer's agent. Anyone will do, and you can find VIA the Internet.

Liberty Northwest Insurance Corporation can be reached via the phone or email. You can rep the toll free number online via the internet and also may be contacted via the Liberty NW Office.

Oregon Workers Compensation Insurance Plan is for workers who have been injured on the job. You can call them direct or get a hold of an agent who can help you with your questions, claims and other inquires.

State Farm can be contacted via email or you can talk to any state farm agent. You can get the number via the internet or the phone book. There are even stores you can go to for easier access to an agent, and a face to face discussion.

Hartford Insurance can be contacted through your nearest agent. You can contact them via person, email, or telephone as well.

Republic Insurance goes strictly through independent agents. You need to either call an agent or Mike Me nacho for the name and number of an agent nearest you. For this you can use the internet.

CompWest is for automotive businesses, retail and manufacturing and hospitality. They can be contacted through the Internet or by phone. For the number call 411 or use the Internet.

Guideone Insurance can be contacted through its agents by phone or email. You can call and ask for the commercial department. This insurance is for package policies on churches.

Grocers Insurance is obviously for only grocers. To speak with your insurance you need to accept a hold of an agent nearest your area.

SAIF Corporation is determined to help give compensation at affordable prices for employers in Oregon. They can be contact through impart agents. Use the internet for the number or email to contact a local agent near you.

There you have a list of Workers Compensation Insurance Carriers and how you can contact each one when you need them most.