WalletPop Blog

Is some health care reform better than none?

Jonathan Berr — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health, Insurance - Health Insurance

President Obama's calls for bipartisan health care reform reminds me of pleas during the holiday season for "peace on earth and goodwill to men." It's nice in theory but nearly impossible to implement.

The reform proposed by Obama today would merge parts of the reform plans passed by the Senate and the House. It will not be cheap, costing about $1 trillion over 10 years. Moreover, it would allow the government to roll-back insurance premium increases that it considers "egregious." It seeks to merge the bills that passed without Republican support in both houses of Congress and are stalled in conference committee.

Continue reading Is some health care reform better than none?

Is some health care reform better than none? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are lawyers dangerous drivers? Probably not

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Budgets, Insurance - Car Insurance

The survey recently issued by Insurance.com claiming that lawyers are the most dangerous drivers would seem to offer a golden opportunity to crack wise about the only profession held in lower esteem than journalists. I am going to resist the temptation to crack wise, however.

Insurance.com's data is based on the numbers of customers requesting a quote from the Web site, hardly a scientific survey. Perhaps these drivers are worse than average and are seeking quotes because their insurance companies are dropping them for being bad drivers. There also is no differentiation between fender-benders and more serious accidents involving injury or death.

Continue reading Are lawyers dangerous drivers? Probably not

Are lawyers dangerous drivers? Probably not originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jon and Kate in trouble with the law?

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Family Money, Ripoffs and Scams, Relationships, Celebs & Money

Until recently, Jon and Kate Gosselin were this decade's answer to "The Brady Bunch." Now, they are considered more like the "Addams Family," The Bundys from "Married with Children" or The Osbournes.

America's least favorite married couple, and stars of TLC's hit program "Jon and Kate Plus 8: now face accusations that they violated child labor laws in their home state of Pennsylvania.

"We're not saying that there was or was not a violation, just that we're conducting an investigation," a spokesman told usmagazine.com, which broke the story.

Whether or not some disgruntled viewer or angry family member turned in the Gosselins remains unclear. Government agencies are required to act on complaints brought to their attention. What government can not do is fine the Gosselins for lacking common sense.

Family members are quoted in the celebrity magazine as saying the children hate having the cameras around. I can't say I blame them. But exploiting their 8-year-old twins and five-year-old sextuplets on basic cable is lucrative for Jon and Kate who earn as much as $75,000 per episode.

America can't enough of this dysfunctional clan. Almost 10 million viewers tuned into the recent season premiere curious about whether the program would address Jon's reported infidelity with a college student and Kate's with her bodyguard. It's like watching a train wreck.

If the Gosselins split up, they better save their money to pay for the therapy they and their kids will need once America grows tired of their antics, which by my calculations will take about a year.

Jon and Kate in trouble with the law? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One man's crusade against beer commercials

Jonathan Berr — Sun, 10 May 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Consumer Complaints

Richard Overton never sought to become one of the many poster children for tort reform, but he felt he had little choice but to start his Quixotic fight against beer giants Anheuser-Busch and Coors. Walletpop heard from him recently when we referred to his case in a quiz on infamous lawsuits and he called to set the record straight, according to him.

The 58-year-old government employee from the Detroit area was outraged when he found his young children watching a commercial for beer that glamorized the beverage without discussing the risks from alcohol abuse, which he knew first-hand from his time as a police officer and the struggles he and his father faced with substance abuse.

He insisted he wasn't on an moral crusade against intoxicating beverages.

"When I quit drinking, I didn't say you should too," Overton, a Vietnam veteran, said in an interview.

Continue reading One man's crusade against beer commercials

One man's crusade against beer commercials originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 10 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 25 "It" products of all time: #8 -- Cabbage Patch Kids

Jonathan Berr — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Extracurriculars, Shopping

At the ripe old age of 41, I have seen trends come and go. None was annoying as the Cabbage Patch Kids.

Back in 1977 an artist named Xavier Roberts stumbled upon the idea of having people "adopt" cute squishy faced dolls. Roberts' toys grew in popularity until they became a must-have toy in the early 1980s. Cabbage Patch Kids even spawned a satirical counterpart named Garbage Pale Kids.

My older sister Laura had one of the dolls. Being a bratty younger brother, I took it upon myself to "kidnap" her Cabbage Patch Kid from time to time. I think I even held the doll for "ransom." Luckily, Laura forgave me for my misbehavior.

Unlike other relics of the 1980s such as David Hasselhoff, the Cabbage Patch Kids still are going strong. I remember they had talc smell. Maybe that makes people think they are holding a "real baby." To be realistic, they would need to smell like poop.

Continue reading Top 25 "It" products of all time: #8 -- Cabbage Patch Kids

Top 25 "It" products of all time: #8 -- Cabbage Patch Kids originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 25 "It" products of all time: #21 -- The CB radio

Jonathan Berr — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Extracurriculars

One of my fondest childhood memories was our 1978 road trip from our home outside of Philadelphia to meet some friends of my parents in Taos, New Mexico. It was made all the more memorable by the CB radio that we kids insisted my dad purchase for the trip.

This was the height of the CB craze. Two years earlier, the song "Convoy" had been a number one hit on both the pop and country charts. If you are old enough, you may remember when trucker slang like "breaker, breaker 1-9" and "rubber duck" was considered the height of coolness. The song was later made into a movie of the same name. Remember the 1970s were a funny (peculiar, not ha-ha) time.

Anyway, the trip was wonderful. We traveled through the south and hit New Orleans, where my dad told me to say "Hi" to the nice lady dancing in an open-door bar on Bourbon Street that I was way too young to enter. All the while we spoke with our "good buddies" who gave us recommendations of where to eat and offered use advice on how to avoid speed traps from the "smokies."

Continue reading Top 25 "It" products of all time: #21 -- The CB radio

Top 25 "It" products of all time: #21 -- The CB radio originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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People need six figures to be middle class in New York

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Debt

They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but that's because no one can afford to.

People who live outside the five boroughs are probably aware that New York is expensive. What would probably shock them along with some residents of the "town so nice they named it twice" is just how much cheaper it is to live elsewhere.

According to the New York Daily News, someone making $123,322 a year in New York would have the same standard as someone making $50,000 a year in Houston. A $60,000 Manhattan salary equals $26,092 in Atlanta. New York rents average $2,801, 53% higher than the second-highest market San Francisco, the paper said.

New Yorkers also pay the most for phone service, home heating and childcare. The Daily News pegs those costs at $25,000 a year for one child depending on the neighborhood. Of course, some of the more selective daycare centers are tougher to get into than an Ivy League college.

Increasingly, people are moving farther and farther from the city because of its costs. New York commuters have discovered the Poconos in Pennsylvania. They are even traveling far south down the New Jersey Turnpike to the suburbs of Philadelphia where I live. Buses to New York are always full. I used to make that trip every day and it sucked.

So, my hat is off to you New Yorkers. Between the cramped apartments, crowded trains and the guys passing out newspapers on the subway, I don't know how you cope with the stresses of city living. I, for one, am glad to be hold up in my fortress of solitude in the suburbs.

For me, New York is a nice place to visit. If you are wealthy, it's a great place to live. It's a struggle for everyone else.

People need six figures to be middle class in New York originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 06 Feb 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is frugality hip among celebrities?

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bargains, Simplification

It turns out that F. Scott Fitzgerald may have been wrong when he famously opined that "the rich are different than you and me." These days, celebrities are being forced to pinch pennies just like us common people because of the recession. Well, not exactly like regular folks, but they are experiencing their share of hardships.

According to MSNBC.com, Ugly Betty star America Ferrera has decided that she only needs one house and is putting her $1.5 million place in the Hollywood Hills up for sale.

Think that's tragic? There are even more heartwarming examples of celebrity frugality on the Web site.

Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives was seen -- get this -- wearing elements of the same outfit twice. Teen queen Miley Cyrus shopped off the rack for t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Former spendaholic Britney Spears has turned over a new leaf and drives a Mitsubishi. What has the world come to?

You can hardly blame the celebrities. They read the newspapers like everyone else. Britney probably watches the TV news. They know that fewer people are buying movie tickets, CDs and books. Studios and record companies are feeling pinched too, so they are clamping down on salaries paid to the talent. That applies to Britney as well.

Gone are the days when actors and entertainment personalities can spend with reckless abandon and expect someone else to pick up the tab. MC Hammer and Ed McMahon even exploited their dire financial straights in those pathetic commercials for Cash 4 Gold.

Like all fads in Hollywood, this one will end unless Wal-Mart opens a store in Beverly Hills. Then, all bets are off.

For more on cheap stars, see our gallery on the Most Frugal Celebrities.

Is frugality hip among celebrities? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Family togetherness a blessing (or a curse) of the recession

Jonathan Berr — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Debt, Bankruptcy

Whenever I hear stories about multiple generations living under one roof, I wonder how people don't wind up killing one another. My worries are heightened because of the recession.

According to USA Today, increasing numbers of people are living together out of economic necessity.

"Nearly 3.5 million brothers or sisters are living in a sibling's house, according to 2007 Census Data, up from 3 million in 2000," the paper said. " And 3.6 million parents live with their adult children, up from 2.3 million. About 6.7 million householders live with other relatives, such as aunts or cousins, compared with 4.8 million in 2000."

Of course, given the state of the economy, those figures have no doubt increased over the past year as the real estate market continues to plummet and foreclosures continue to soar. It's the hidden cost of the economic downturn, and it's scary.

Continue reading Family togetherness a blessing (or a curse) of the recession

Family togetherness a blessing (or a curse) of the recession originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coke is no longer "Classic"

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Food

After nearly 25 years, the nightmare of "New Coke" may finally be over.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Coca-Cola "has quietly removed the word (classic) from the label of a new 16-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola that is being sold in some southeastern U.S. markets, as part of a broader plan to refresh the brand's image, according to a report in industry publication Beverage Digest."

Taking the "Classic" out of "Classic Coke" is supposed to make the sugary water more appealing to young people. Exactly why and how that is supposed to happen is anybody's guess. The truth is that people of all ages drink soda, but their numbers are dwindling. That's why companies such as Coke are making a big push into non-carbonated beverages.

Can you imagine the meetings that occurred at Coke's Atlanta headquarters before this momentous decision was made? I am sure there were many sleepless nights in the marketing department. They had to ask themselves, do they want people to remember how Coke changed its formula in 1985 and was forced by outraged consumers to change it back? The new "old" Coke was given the name "Classic" to distinguish itself from the attempted change no one liked.

About the only thing "classic" about the soda was the lesson it taught business school students that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Coke is no longer "Classic" originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hotels begin annoying cost cuts

Jonathan Berr — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Saving Money, Travel, Recession

Anyone who regularly travels for business knows how much it sucks. Cost-cutting by major hotel chains is making the experience even more unpleasant.

According to the Wall Street Journal, (subscription required) guests of the Courtyard and other Marriott chains now have to ask at the front desk for those little bottles of hand lotions because they are no longer being provided in the rooms. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts are providing fewer towels, and Ritz-Carltons are cutting back on the operating hours of restaurants, spas and retail shops, the paper said.

Before you get into a tizzy about not having a cucumber-scented hand cream or two dozen fluffy towels, the chains are also are taking the axe to one of the quintessential elements of the hotel experience. Yes, I am talking about the breakfast buffet.

"Marriott International Inc., the country's largest hotel company, recently began telling some chains they can cut back on breakfast offerings," the Journal reports. "The company's Courtyard, SpringHill Suites and Residence Inn brands are all reducing the variety of fruits they are offering in breakfast buffets."

It's not clear whether this means that the hotels will only offer one type of melon or only provide berries in season. Perhaps they will only offer one type of bread next or curtail the omelette station entirely.

Hotels better be careful with these cost cuts or they risk annoying the dwindling numbers of people who can afford their services.

Hotels begin annoying cost cuts originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are points a good buy on refinancings right now?

Jonathan Berr — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Banks, Debt, Home

During the housing boom, my wife and I probably got at least a dozen solicitations a month from banks wanting us to refinance our mortgage or borrow against the equity in our house. Fees were being waved left and right as financial institutions looked to find ways to get borrowers deep in debt. But now that the real estate market is in the tank, banks are singing a different tune.

As the scads of people trying to refinance know, banks are not giving anything away any longer. Those mortgage interest rates of under 5% often come with a catch called points, which are pre-paid fees. In other words, whatever savings you get off your monthly payment will be negated. The fees are tax deductible and may be worth it if they can be paid off relatively quickly.

"So, if you're going to stay in your house for a long time and can afford to do so, paying more points in the beginning may get you a better interest rate and save you more money in the long run," according to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

For us, the issue is not clear cut. Though we have no plans to move, we are not sure how long we will stay in our house. The interest rate we have on our existing mortgage also is pretty good, 5.625%. Several banks told us that their rates were not much better. That surprised me but I guess given the current economic climate, they are being cautious.

Best we can tell, refinancing could save us about $150-$200, depending on whether we take the points or not. I am not convinced it is worth the bother.

Are points a good buy on refinancings right now? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A bright side of the recession: Piggy bank sales are rising

Jonathan Berr — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Saving Money, Simplification, Investing

Frustrated with poor returns from the stock market, investors are increasingly turning to a conventional strategy that can promise security at 0 percent interest rates. I am talking about piggy banks.

Toys R Us Trends 2008

Toys R Us has identified five trends for hot holiday toys, and several toys for each category. Among them are the trend $avvy Savers and the Zillions Laser Beam Safe from Summit Toys.

Toys R Us

Trend: $avvy Savers Toy: Zillions Counting Money Jar from Summit Toys

Toys R Us

Trend: $avvy Savers Toy: Shop & Learn Walker from Fisher-Price

Toys R Us

Trend: Music My Way Toy: iPods of all varieties

Toys R Us

Trend: Music My Way Toy: Acoustic guitars from First Act Discovery

Toys R Us

Trend: Music My Way Toy: Nickelodeon's iCarly boom box

Toys R Us

Trend: Music My Way Toy: Activision/Blizzard's Guitar Hero: World Tour

Toys R Us

Trend: Earth-Friendly Fun Toy: Natural Wood Alphabet Block Wagon from Toys R Us

Toys R Us

Trend: Earth-Friendly Fun Toy: Green Toys' Cookware and Dining Set

Toys R Us

Trend: Earth-Friendly Fun Toy: Laura C Martin's Nature's Art Box

Toys R Us

According to Reuters, sales of the novelty banks are rising as the economy continues to worsen. Exact figures are hard to come by but several retailers report rising demand. Piggy Bank World.com reported a strong holiday season, according to Michael Gehi, one of the owners. Companies are also increasingly using the banks for promotions.

Though my wife and I don't own a piggy bank, we have taken our loose change to Commerce Bank (now owned by TD Bank, which for years has counted people's spare change for free in a nifty computerized machine.

Continue reading A bright side of the recession: Piggy bank sales are rising

A bright side of the recession: Piggy bank sales are rising originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gift returns: Which retailers make the grade?

Jonathan Berr — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Extracurriculars, Shopping

About $219.1 billion worth of merchandise is expected to be returned this year according to the National Retail Federation. Of that, $47.1 billion worth of stuff will come back to stores during the holiday season. With seasonal sales expected to be the worst in decades, 11% of retailers say they are going to loosen their return policies, more than triple the number from a year earlier. Making it easier to bring back unwanted goods could make companies more vulnerable to fraudulent returns, but that's a risk the companies are willing to take given their declining sales.

"Even though many chains intend to be less restrictive in enforcing return policies to the letter, don't expect them to start posting signs to trumpet any change in policy," writes Tod Marks, a blogger for Consumer Reports. "Retailers aren't about to relinquish their right to review on a case-by-case-basis any return that clashes with the store's written policy."

Not all return policies are created equal. Some companies are far more flexible than others which important to for shoppers to remember. Rules about specific types of merchandise are available on the Web site of most retailers. A valid receipt is needed for a full refund.

Continue reading Gift returns: Which retailers make the grade?

Gift returns: Which retailers make the grade? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John McCain's pal 'Joe the Plumber' is a tax delinquent

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Make Money Fast

Like most Americans, plumber Joe Wurzelbacher of Holland, Ohio, would not be hurt by Barack Obama's plans to raise taxes on people making more than $250,000. Wurzelbacher, nonetheless, remains concerned that the Democrat's plan would make it more difficult for him to buy the business where he works.

He was able to confront the Illinois senator directly. Republican John McCain heard about this and used "Joe the Plumber" in what I thought was a successful attempt to paint his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal. Wurzelbacher's name was mentioned at least 20 times in the debate last night.

So, who is this guy? For one thing, Wurzelbacher is not a licensed plumber, though he claims that is not necessary, according to The Washington Post. According to Bloomberg News, Wurzelbacher owes almost $1,200 in back income taxes. By the way, experts agree that the vast majority of Americans will see their taxes get lowered under the Illinois senator's proposal. Nonetheless, Joe remains concerned.

"You see my house. I don't have a lot of bells and whistles in here, really," the Post quotes the plumber as saying. "My truck's a couple of years old and I'm going to have it for the next 10 years probably. So I don't see [Obama] helping me out."

Most Americans disagree with Wurzelbacher, whose 15 minutes of fame surely have expired by now. Obama's economic message appears to be resonating with voters. Poll after poll shows him increasing his lead over McCain, who is getting desperate -- which means voters unfortunately have not heard the last about Joe the Plumber.

Thank goodness, the race is almost over.

John McCain's pal 'Joe the Plumber' is a tax delinquent originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want credit? Here are some important things to remember

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Banks, Borrowing, Debt, Shopping

Buying anything that requires credit is harder than it used to be. Banks who used to send credit card and mortgage refinancing solicitations on an almost daily basis have ratcheted up their lending standards, making borrowing more difficult for the most stalwart of consumers.

Deals, though, are available for financing everything from home equity loans to cars to flat screen TVs. Zero percent financing is still available at times. Experts advise consumers to be cautious. Stephanie Bittner of the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of the Delaware Valley also had the following tips:

Continue reading Want credit? Here are some important things to remember

Want credit? Here are some important things to remember originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overrated: American Idol going flat

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Extracurriculars

American Idol is like a rash on the body of American pop culture that no ointment can cure.

I mean, are we supposed to believe that David ~~Cooke~~ Cook was the best undiscovered singer in the country? No offense to the Cookies, as the devoted fans of the one-time bartender call themselves, but he was among my least favorite idols. I thought Carly Smithson had more talent, Amanda Overmyer had more spunk and Brooke White was more likable. Aussie hunk Michael Johns was my early pick to win the competition, but some weeks he seemed to just phone it in. David Archuleta always seemed like he was about to cry and Jason Castro was so laid back that he could be a La-Z-Boy recliner.

The American people are getting tired of the Fox reality TV show as well. Ratings fell during Season seven in two key demographics, women 18 to 34 and kids 2 to 11, according to the The Los Angeles Times. "That's a bad sign, because children and young adults are generally the first to bail on a show that's getting crow's feet," the newspaper said.

Don't miss the rest of our series on Overrated people, places and things!

Idol has gotten staler than a day-old bagel.

Every season there is more of the same. There are sweet virginal types with no real talent (Kevin Covais), sexy types with no talent (Antonella Barbra), rockers (Bo Bice), wildcards (Sanjaya Malakar) and vapid blondes (Kristy Lee Cook). People with real talent such as Melinda Dolittle and Jennifer Hudson stand little chance of prevailing.

Even with the addition of fourth judge Kara DioGuardi, ratings for the show will continue to decline unless the producers decide that they want to put on a singing competition instead of carefully orchestrated reality show. I will be tuning in to find out if they have learned their lesson.

Overrated: American Idol going flat originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Overrated: Holes showing in Crocs brand

Jonathan Berr — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Extracurriculars

This has been my Crocs summer.

Ever since I bought two pairs of the ugly yet comfortable shoes on sale at a local department store, they have been affixed to my feet. I have worn them almost everywhere. A few weeks later, my wife got a pair. We also got a pair for my soon-to-be two-year-old son. At times, we look like an advertisement for Crocs. Our initial enthusiasm for the shoes is starting to wane, though.

First of all, the original model Crocs don't provide great arch support. Their Swiss-cheese like design makes them impractical during the rain. They are not great for driving long distances either. Crocs has introduced new models to address these shortcomings, including the the odd looking Crocs venture leather dress shoes for men. There are also Crocs Ambler winter boots. Crocs even has something called jibbitz, "jewelry" to adorn Crocs.

Oh brother.

Don't miss the rest of our series on Overrated people, places and things!

Judging from Crocs' share price, many other people have grown tired of the trendy shoes as well. Shares of Crocs, which once were favorites of Wall Street, have plunged almost 90 percent this year. Moreover, loads of stores have cheap Crocs knock-offs, a trend which will only get worse.

As Crocs continues to struggle, it will likely continue to add new products. Eventually, the company will have to lower prices. When that happens, perhaps consumers will find the ugly shoes appealing yet again.

I blame the decline of Crocs -- as I do most things -- on President Bush. Last summer, the most unpopular president in modern times was photographed wearing a pair of the trendy shoes. Thank goodness this did not happen when he was meeting with the likes of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin or North Korean dictator Kim Jung-il. I am sure his enemies in Congress would have interpreted this as a sign of weakness as well.

Let's hope Bush sticks with wingtips and the odd loafer or sneaker as a footwear choice. Going trendy again could have disastrous consequences for all concerned.

Overrated: Holes showing in Crocs brand originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NJ may be the most stressed state

Jonathan Berr — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Simplification

We New Jersey residents are awfully proud of leading the country in car insurance rates, property taxes and political corruption. Now no less of an august authority than the University of Cambridge claims that modern life has turned my fellow residents into balls of stress.

According to a press release issued by the U.K. university, "New Jersey is one of the highest-scoring states for "neuroticism"; a personality trait normally associated with anxiety, stress and impulsive behavior. So, instead of the Garden State, maybe we ought to refer to ourselves as the Woody Allen State. By that I mean the funny Woody of the 1970s and 1980s and not the weird, creepy guy we see today.

We New Jerseyeans have issues: a governor forced to resign after admitting that he had an affair with another man, a dentist who allegedly decided to dispose of his medical waste at sea so that it washed up on the Jersey Shore. Then there's the jokes. People think that most residents in my state are a cross between Tony Soprano, Bruce Springsteen and Fred Flintstone. Bedrock certainly was a prehistoric stand-in for Bayonne or maybe Jersey City.

Researchers at Cambridge -- led interestingly by a native of Louisiana -- tried to create a personality map of the United States. The point of this exercise escapes me. I mean, did you need a study to prove that people in the Northeast are more uptight that people in the Midwest. It's common sense, no. The Cambridge researchers insist that they are about more than perpetuating stereotypes.

"Obviously it's not as simple as saying that a person is guaranteed to be more anxious if they come from West Virginia or more religious because they happen to live in New Mexico; but we did find pretty clear signs that there are meaningful differences in the personalities of people living in different areas of the United States," said Dr. Jason Rentfrow, the lead researcher, in a press release.

NJ may be the most stressed state originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Insurance you did not know you could get

Jonathan Berr — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Insurance

Worried about being abducted by aliens? Being mutilated by an enraged lover or having your dream wedding turn into a nightmare?

Fear not, there is insurance to cover these and many other risks that you might not have even considered. Insurance is not at all restricted to cars and houses and health anymore. If you can dream up a risky scenario, chances are there's a company out there willing to hedge a bet against it. Here are ten exotic policies that actually exist:

Alien abductions: The UFO Abduction Insurance Co. offers $10 million worth of coverage to anyone who can prove that they were kidnapped by extraterrestrials. But as with any insurance policy, it pays to read the fine print. The Florida company requires that claimants get the signature of an "authorized on-board alien" for their claim to be considered, said Mike St. Lawrence, the company president, in an interview. The policies, which cost $19.95, pay out in increments of $1 per year. Nonetheless, quite a few people take his policies seriously.

John Wayne Bobbitt: London-based insurance broker Goodfellow Rebecca Ingrams Pearson, which quit selling alien abduction policies after the Heaven's Gate mass suicide, offers coverage to men worried that they will get mutilated in the same way that gained Bobbitt notoriety, according to Investment News. No word on whether the policy includes psychological counseling.

Continue reading Insurance you did not know you could get

Insurance you did not know you could get originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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