A Brush With a Horrible Driver

Integras are fun little cars, but they unfortunately seem to attract bad drivers

Just yesterday I was driving somewhere with my wife and kids, unfortunately at rush hour, when I came upon a horrible driver. By horrible I mean much worse than your average bad driver, which unfortunately seem to come out of the woodwork here come rush hour. I generally try to avoid driving around at that time, but there was nothing I could do to avoid it yesterday.


At first I noticed this second generation Acura Integra driving a few hundred feet behind us, and the car drifted almost into the solid median before the driver jerked it to the right. Then the car sped up and was on our rear like white on rice. I was going about the speed limit, had a barren lane next to me, but this lovely driver decided that was a good time to drive with her front bumper within two feet of my rear bumper.

As if that wasn't enough, I then noticed the lady was driving without any hands on the steering wheel! She was putting her hair back in a ponytail, looking in the mirror and basically doing anything but driving. Finally, as we approached another intersection the driver apparently decided she had enough of tailgating me and so she swerved into the right lane. I said to my wife "that lady is going to hit someone" and then I turned into the leftmost of the double left hand turn bays at the light.

In a flash, the lady in the Integra came sailing into both mine and the other turn bay, fortunately more in the other turn bay, and hit another car. I will credit it to playing video games, but I saw the whole thing in slow-motion and was able to jerk our car to the left to avoid being struck by the Integra.

The other car that was struck had a young couple and a baby in the backseat. Fortunately nobody was hurt, but I suspect their aging Accord was totaled out just because of its low value. I've unfortunately been in that exact same situation and so felt incredibly sorry for the people. We supplied our information to the couple and were able to confirm to the police officer over the phone that the Integra driver was completely at fault.

It's a good thing we volunteered as witnesses, since for reasons I don't understand, the police officer was going to cite the young couple for the accident. So if you witness a car accident and know who is at fault, please supply your information as a witness so justice can be served. The driver of the Integra apparently "forgot" her driver's license and proof of insurance, which did not surprise me considering how she was driving. Hopefully another irresponsible driver was taught a lesson or potentially taken off the roads before she seriously injures or even kills someone.

Drive careful, everyone!

Insurance Companies In Canada

Desjardins insurance This is a Canadian insurance company that offers auto-insurance and home insurance. Desjardins insurance has online client services that can be accessed by people who are located in different places. Desjardins insurance which offers auto insurance cover that is applicable in case of an accident, vandalism of the car or damage caused by others. There are experienced agents that are always at the clients' service to help them select the best coverage for their situation. Canada life insurance Life insurance is a proper financial plan that can translate well can to make a great difference between leaving a person's family well-positioned financially. Canada life insurance has term life insurance and permanent life insurance. Term life insurance is often suited to meet short-term protection needs for a person. Permanent life insurance cover protects a person throughout their whole life as soon as they are granted the coverage. Canada life insurance is keen on protecting all its clients and providing coverage for them in case of anything that may occur by repaying them through the premiums they pay. Primerica life insurance company of Canada Primerica life insurance company of Canada is a life insurance company that has taken interests majorly in providing short-term life insurance coverage. Primerica life insurance company of Canada began its operation in the early 1990's. This insurance company was keen to offer 100 percent insurance services to its clients and is among the insurance companies that most of the people in Canada have taken up. Their premiums are available and the quotes can be applied for online. This insurance company has shown financial strength throughout out its long term of existence. This insurance company has been ranked at the top amidst other strong insurance companies. RBC life insurance RBC life insurance is an insurance company that branches from the RBC bank. This insurance company majorly offers short term insurances ranging from 10 to 20 years. The insurance covers that are available in the RBC Company are auto-insurance, personal accident insurance, business insurance, travel insurance and health insurance. RBC life insurance also has cover for permanent insurance which are divided into universal life insurance and whole life insurance. RBC life insurance has offered all these and the client is free to choose the coverage that suits them best. Gray power insurance Gray power insurance companies offer a variety of insurance covers to its clients. There is auto-insurance which the agents often advise the clients to combine with the home insurance. Gray power insurance covers come with a lot of benefits. If auto insurance and home insurance is taken up by a client, they have additional savings on both their home and auto insurance and also have conveniences in their payment and renewal date. Another benefit is that there is only a single deductible that applies in the event of a claim that involves the auto and property coverage all at the same time. Gray power insurance companies have its best interest the client’s needs and how to help them save their money even as they take insurance.

Windshield Repair Service Tips

vehicles. The glass is created to withstand high winds, rain, and may deflect some solid items without being damaged. Sometimes there are accidents where the integrity of the glass is compromised. Most people have problems with minor windshield problems, which affect their ability to drive. Damage to business or personal vehicles always happens unexpectedly. Cracks, chips, and holes can occur from rocks, items falling from other vehicles, or vandalism. Waiting an extended period of time to fix the damage can have further negative consequences. The content of the car may be seen as valuable to potential thieves. Car alarms may not work properly when the window is not intact. Vehicles parked in high traffic areas may lose their DVD players, screens, movies, gps, cash, or other valuable items within the car. Most car owners immediately seek out ways to repair their windshields. Cracked windshields in some cases are still stable. The crack or small hole may appear to not be moving. Temporary solutions such as tape or cardboard can cause dangerous accidents on severely damaged windshields. Not addressing a small crack in a timely manner, may result in having to replace the entire windshield. Many insurance companies will pay for some or all of the windshield repair work. Some policies may require an out of pocket fee, and will reimburse the expense by check through the mail. Many auto insurance policies are accessible online. Online chat support or telephone customer service agents should be able to answer specific questions regarding reimbursement. Windshields that have been busted or are unsafe to drive will need auto windshield replacement. Replacement services are the best option for staying safe while the car is in motion. Never attempt to drive a vehicle that has glass that is unstable. Windshield chip repair can usually be fixed quickly. There is no need to be without a vehicle for an extended period of time. Contact a windshield repair expert to ask questions and to book an appointment. Professionals can use their experience to confirm if it is safe to drive out to their location. Some companies will come to a home or business location within the city. Callers that are outside of their service area may incur additional fees for travel expenses. Traveling by car has become more popular, due to high airline ticket prices. Rental cars may be damaged from thieves that are attempting to steal them. Staying out late nights at clubs or bars may not always be safe areas. Unattended parking lots are often the place where vandalism occurs. Most rental car companies will pay for the windshield repair services, via reimbursement. Always call their customer service team for confirmation on what to do next. When windshields are damaged, take action quickly. Take pictures for insurance reimbursements and in cases of vandalism. Always make a police report regarding vandalism on business or personal property. Use these tips when seeking out windshield repair or auto windshield replacement.

How to Get Lower Rates on Auto Insurance Policy

You need to buy auto insurance as soon as you buy a new car or want to switch to new insurer, but getting cheap insurance rates are not easy all the time. Many people are currently paying higher premiums because of lack of knowledge about hoe to reduce rates.

There is no certainty that your insurer provides the best rates, because rates can be varied insurer to insurer. This post shows few ideas and following these you must lower your premiums.

The main approach to getting cheaper insurance quotes is asking about discount. Many companies offer discount on insurance policy based on several conditions like young drivers with scores, drivers who have completed driving safety courses, or good driving records.

Many companies have started to offer discount on how many miles the drivers drive each day. This idea is called pay as you go. To get this discount driver must report driving speed, number of hard stops and miles per day. Some drivers who are willing to get this discount can allow the insurer to track the performance. Insurers have premium discount to such drivers who allow tracking the performance of their vehicles.

Car insurance rates partly depend on the vehicle you drive. The vehicles which have high risk of crash are usually having higher rates, so be sure to check the crash test rating before you are going to buy any vehicle. To check auto crash rating you can visit The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and buy low crash rating vehicles.  Your family will be in safer vehicle and also you will get lower rates.

Having safety devices in your vehicle is another factor to get lower rates. At first ask your agent that on which safety devices the companies will provide discount or lower you premiums then buy these devices and install them before applying for insurance quotes.

The smart drivers try to insure other assets under same company and because of this trick the company offers a significant amount of discount and lower policy rates. You can save 10% - 15% on total insurance cost if you consider insuring vehicles and home with same company.

Auto insurance companies advertise bundle of discount and you will be easily confused because everyone is attractive, if you apply these tips you will lower your rates but keep in mind that lowering rates is not enough and can be disastrous if you have to bear the expenses out of your pocket because of limiting the coverage and getting high discount. So consider every aspect carefully while trying to lower insurance rates.  

The Best Way to Compare Car Insurance

Shopping for car insurance is something drivers should do time to time to make sure they are getting the best rates unless they may end up paying huge amount of money unnecessarily.  On the other hand drivers can save money on their policies if they shop around.

After reading this post you will learn what the best ways to compare car insurance are and how you can find the best rates.

Why drivers need to compare auto insurance? The main reason is to save money. The insurance policies from the different companies for same coverage are not same and also insurers calculate the rates considering various factors. If drivers don’t compare auto insurance quotes, they may have to pay high premiums otherwise they don’t have to.

It doesn't matter how you search or ask for quotes, but get at least 3 quotes from different insurance companies. Use an agent, online or phone to request quotes. The better option is to request 5 quotes because this will increase the probability to get the best and cheapest one.

It’s been saying that do your homework before execute the plan. Insurance companies use different strategies to set their prices and that’s why the same driver gets the different rates because some insurers give more weight on experiencing drivers or good driving records, while others focus on the type of vehicle drivers have, where the drivers live or the credit score. Doing this sort of homework doesn't take hour but you can save hundreds of dollars.

Drivers have to ask quotes for same coverage and then you can compare them properly. It’s the critical one because as I have said that different insurers have set their policies based on different coverage. You may find same coverage presents in one policy but absents in another. To solve this problem you should first select precisely what type of coverage you need and then ask for quotes based on this coverage.

These are the simple ways to compare car insurance. No matter where you live and what types of coverage you need, you can obviously get the best and cheapest rates just following these steps.

Bad Credit Business Loans

You want to raise a business on your own or you want to expand it further. You have a plan and the vigour to make your mark in this field. The company that produces refrigerators to the one that produces anti wrinkle cream; every company no matter how small it is - requires money, hard core moolah to take it to great heights. You dream of the same every night. But isn't there a nightmare that invariably spoils your dream every time you plan your business. It is bad credit. So, how to end this chain of unpleasant circumstances? Bad credit business loans have furthered the cause of preventing financial mishaps for people who want to make it on their own.

Not every loan lenders is geared to provide bad credit business loans. You know you have bad credit if you are a bankrupt, CCJ, default, charge off, or have any past loan related arrears. Start from the beginning - get to know your credit score. A credit score enable the loan lender to judge the credit worthiness of loan borrower. It is a number generated by statistical methods. Based on these number bad credit business loans contenders are given grades like B, C and D. All these grades mean you have to apply for bad credit business loans. Starting a business with credit score ranging from 500-550 could be ideally done with bad credit business loan. Try to get an objective assessment of your credit report before you undertake your quest for bad credit business loans.

Now that you know about your credit score, concentrate on your business budget. You should be clear about your money requirements before you take out bad credit business loans. Your Bad credit business loans should be backed by a feasible business plan. Don't go applying for a bad credit business loan, if you are not ready with a business plan.

You can't expect to get a bad credit business loan without a proper plan. Bad credit business loan application that is replete with all the required information is usually placed on the top of the pile of applications. Provide your bad credit business loans application with the nature of your business, the objective of using the business loan, business name, your social security number. Be prepared with all the required documents before you go ahead.

Paperwork should be complete whilst you go for bad credit business loan hunting. Get a lawyer to review your loan papers and also check with him before signing any papers. Don't hand over your documents to the loan lender and don't sign any blank document.

You have bad credit. So your approved bad credit business loans application will bring with it higher rate of interest. Nevertheless bad credit business loans can be very good source of finance. The amount you can borrow with bad credit business loans is £50,000 and £1,000,000. The loan repayment term would be any where between 3 to 25 years depending on the loan amount. A secured business loan with bad credit will usually have lower rate of interest than unsecured bad credit business loans.

Bad credit business loans are a very good form of finance because it has an exceptional amount of advantages. The biggest convenience with bad credit business loans is flexibility and freedom. Bad credit business loans can provide continuous access to cash. You also get to hold your ownership of your company instead of resorting to selling the interest of your company in order to raise money.

Alright, you got approved for your bad credit business loan. You are high on the cloud, but did you read the fine print? You are nodding your head in the negative. Fine prints may carry at times hidden charges, including annual fees, bank charges, closing costs, commissions and balloon payments. Borrowing money for business with bad credit is not only serious but liable to fraud and deception. Don't get into something you are not comfortable with and also ask questions about fundamental things like APR, your monthly payments etc. on your bad credit business loan.

You want to do business, you want to do the right way, you want consistent inflow of cash, and you want to retain your business completely. You have bad credit and all you need is a bad credit business loan. Bad credit means rejection? Not these days. It was like in 1957. That was long back. Bad credit business loans now means requisite start up for business.

DIRT QUAKE II

Well the second coming of Dirt Quake was a real blast I took an almost coast to coast trip to Kings Lynn Arena via London to sketch and spectate the phenomenon that is Dirt Quake. If you don't already know Sideburn Magazine host an event where they take over a dirt oval and let anyone and everyone enter their motorbike of choice into one of three categories, Street Tracker, Inappropriate Road Bike and Chopper. People enter all sorts of bikes into the event and it is a real blast to watch. 

After last years event the Dirt Track Riders Association have been running a league and they were competing in their third rounds of this years season. It was really impressive to see the level on riding and competitiveness that the Association has achieved. If you haven't seen Flat Track Racing before get yourself along to one of the 3 remaining rounds, you won't be disappointed.

As well as all this flat tracking action there was other attractions including Davros the Compare (with a Vic Reevesesque accent), a milk chugging competition and a huge pie being driven by a chef. Where else other than Dirt Quake would you expect to have such an experience?

Old Blu

(ink and watercolour)

Old Blu is a chopper that was original made in 1968 in the UK, this is a rare beast indeed as not many choppers were around in the UK at that time. It won Belle Vue twice in the 70's. The heart of the current bike, frame, engine, gearbox, tank and rear mudguard, is from the original chopper. It has changed a few times within it's life and is now owned in it's current form by Pete from Eat the Rich who has now owned it twice. The Frame is a '48, engine '60 and gearbox is '52/'53. I had no idea of the history of this bike before I sketched it but I'm glad I did now.

 Dent in the oil tank comes from a previous bike where the exhaust cut through/

 Rear wheel addorned with various stickers including a couple of naughty ones designed by Pete.

Love the decal and patina on the tank.

Rusty Nail Honda

(ink and watercolour)

This custom Honda run by Ross Herrod was flying round the track. I chose it because of it's simplicity, there's something about a bike that is assembled to ride and have fun that is genuine and I really respect that. The donor bike is a1980 honda cg125. The tank is from a honda cb125s the frame was modified to take the tank. The rear of the frame was chopped and the upswept loop added. The motor is a ccm 230cc. Other bits include custom seat, flattrack bars, standard 18" wheels, custom exhaust.

Here are more photos from my adventure at Dirt Quake:

 On route to the Quake I put the van to the test and picked up a friend and his 650 Triumph.

 

It wouldn't be Flat Track without Co-Built

Ross's other ride for the day was this Flat Tracker with Death Spray paint job

A quick jaunt in the car park turned out some great stuff

Corpses From Hell Honda

 Chopped Ford Rod

 Another Ford Rod

 Sorry Couldn't help myself

 This was the beast of the chopper class a Turbo Diesel Engined Chopper

 Piston Broke

 Look closely and you'll see men chugging milk for money along with the pie (stage right) and Davros on the left.

El Solitario's whip for the day

 above and below proves it was anything and everything

 Krazy Horse gave Dimitri Coste a chopper to ride this is what happened

Business Loans

Are their rewards of being your own boss? Yes, in fact many - you make the rules, you work for yourself, you take home the profits and you get to do what you want. Business and finances are closely intertwined. Finances are basic to business development. Any new scheme or business idea requires money to grow. Business loans are the most popular way of raising finances for business.

A typical advantage of business loans is that the loan lending company or the bank has claim only on the interest rate of the loan. Unlike an equity investor, the loan lender would not be entitled to percentage in business profits or share in the company. You retain the ownership of your business. Business loans can get money fast and easy for any kind of business need like starting a small business, refinancing, expanding your business, purchase or any other commercial investment.

Business loans are offered as secured and unsecured business loans. A secured business loan can serve as the simplest, most efficient way of finding finances for your business plan. Secured business loans come with many benefits which include lower monthly payments, facility to borrow more and spreading the repayment over a longer period of time.

Secured business loans certainly score more than other form of finances. With secured business loans you can boast of flexibility which allows you to conserve your cash and working capital. You can use these funds for any purpose like paying off current debts. Secured business loan can provide you with the ability to design your very own repayment schedule that fits your budget. You can get access to cash with minimal up-front payments.

A secured business loan would enable you to retain the legal title of the assets you are placing as security. Your home, real estate, commercial equipment, vehicle or any valuable asset can act as security for secured business loans. The main disadvantage with secured business loan includes the fact that there may be many events that may be taken as defaults on the loan like late payments, bankruptcy and violation of any obligations in the loan documents. Talking openly with your lender about any default can easily sort out any inconvenience at all regarding secured business loans.

Unsecured business loans [http://www.easyfinance4u.com/unsecured_business_loan.html] also offer similar advantages as its secured counterpart minus offering any collateral for the loan claim. However, unsecured business loans might entail a higher rate of interest. The benefits of flexibility, retention of ownership, budgeting is same as secured business loan. Interest payments on unsecured business loans are tax deductible, whereas purchases financed from profits are made out of taxed income. Unsecured business loan are scheduled at the outset, so cash management is easy. With unsecured business loan you would be required to provide some additional guarantees which can be supplied from your bank, your partners or you. This may affect your credit rating and standing with your bank.

Credit history is the criterion that helps the lender to decide whether you are a credit risk or not with respect to unsecured business loans. A credit history that is flooded with late payments, defaults or bankruptcies won't leave a positive impact on the loan lender. If your credit history is poor, an unsecured business loan application with a letter explaining your changed circumstance would leave a positive impact. Honesty in giving out credit information is the best way to deal with negative credit. The best way of getting your unsecured business loan approved is to prove that you can and will repay the loan. Also, showing that you have invested in your business would provide the lender with the satisfaction of knowing that his financial interests is united with yours.

For business loan, be prepared with business financial statements, business plan with financial projection, personal tax returns. There will be questions asked. Be prepared to answer them. Emphasize on your financial performance and get an accountant to help you with it. Be clear about why you need this business loan and be prepared to explain that to the loan lender. The loan amount on business loan can range from £50,000 to £200,000 and above depending on your status.

Getting money through business loans - is only the first step. The next step is being a good borrower. This will provide you with the cooperation when you require it. You would be required to produce financial statements on a regular basis. Be ready to provide them. Understanding the requirements and executing them is the best way to developing good business relationships. Not everyone has the acumen to start a business. You have that, don't let it go awry. Take a business loan.

8 Tips To Get Affordable Car Insurance

As soon as you buy a car, you have to purchase auto insurance policy too and almost every state it is mandatory to get minimum liability policy. For the low income families, this will add extra cost over the car maintenance expenses. That’s why auto owners try to reduce insurance cost and want to buy affordable auto insurance. So to get affordable car insurance you must consider few factors as well as few tips.

In this article I am going to share some methods and tips to find cheap car insurance company and after reading this post you will get few basic ideas how you can minimize auto insurance expenses.

Buy Low Cost Vehicles

People who are buying high performance engine cars have to also pay high insurance rates. It’s the common mistakes that people are trying to find cheap auto insurance companies purchasing expensive vehicles. The parts of luxurious vehicles are also expensive, so the insurance companies impose high premiums on high performance engine cars. If you want to reduce cost on insurance quotes then buy low cost vehicles which will also save money.

Cut Down on Overall Coverage

There is a possibility that you are paying for the coverage which you may not need at all. Why I pay for the services which I don’t use? Ask the question to yourself and figure out which coverage you need most and which you don’t. Cut the extra coverage and ask the quotes based on your finalized coverage.

Qualify for Possible Discount

Every year car insurance companies offer various discounts with several conditions such as good score for the students, least accident history, and good driving record and for women, so try to qualify as many discount conditions as possible which lower your premiums.

Drive within Specific Number of Miles

Many insurers provide discount to drivers who drive less than their set limit because they assume the less you drive, the less likely to have an accident. Ask the insurers about such discount and if they have get the information about what is the driving limit each year.

Do Not Overlap Same Coverage

If you have medical insurance then you don’t need to pay to the auto insurance company for injury or bodily accident because your medical insurance has already coverage for this accident. You can limit your auto policy by covering repair vehicles involve in a collision.

File For Only Major Claims

Try to fix small problems and give the cost out of your pocket than you will get the year-end no-claims bonus and discounts.

Keep Your Deductible High

If you pay small expenses and fix the car by yourself and keep your deductible very high, you can reduce insurance premiums.

Compare Insurance Rates

This is the best and most used way to get cheapest rates. Get at least 5 auto insurance quotes and compare them and you will find the affordable car insurance company from them.

You see there are always few ways to lower you insurance rates if you do some home work before going to finally buy. So I always recommend shop just follow these tips and shop around. There is no restriction that you have to stay with one company, try to shop around and find the best one.

Personal Loans

Personal loans market is huge. It is so extensive and widespread that if you look closely you would find that it includes the needs of everybody who wants to access loans. Personal loans have a solution for everybody's needs and financial circumstances.

Many people don't know but 'personal loans' is the generic term for all loan types. All loans fall under either one or the other personal loans category. Personal loans fundamentally are of two types - secured and unsecured loans.

Secured personal loans will like a security to be attached to them. The security usually is in the form of home but alternative collateral are also accepted. The loan amount with secured personal loans is usually more. You can borrow more at lower interest rates. The obvious drawback that everybody encounters is the loss of property if they fail to make repayments.

Unsecured loans do not require attaching any collateral. They are meant for everybody who cannot provide collateral, either by choice or compulsion. They take lesser time in being approved but are much favourable for lesser loan amounts. Everybody applying for unsecured personal loans will get comparatively higher interest rates. This is because no security is supplied for them.

Loan amount for personal loans:

Personal loans amount that can be approved extend from £5,000-£75,000. Everybody will be approved for have different amount. As secured personal loans, borrowers can get up to 125% of property value.

Loan term for personal loans:

Loan term will move from 3-25 years. Loan term for personal loans will depend on loan amount. For a lesser time span like six months, you should be looking for credit card as an alternative. Don't stretch your personal loans. This is so because you may be paying more in form of interest rates.

Interest rates for personal loans:

Interest rates for personal loans will not be same for everybody. Interest rates are subjective and will depend on your financial circumstances. Everybody should be looking for APR when shopping for interest rates for personal loans. APR is the annual percentage rate is the interest rate which takes account any additional fee. But with rising competition few lenders charge additional fee.

Everybody who applies for personal loans will be undergoing a credit check. Credit check will determine whether you have good or bad credit. Personal loans have an option for everybody who has bad credit. The interest rates will be higher with bad credit.