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At the New York Auto Show, Lincoln wowed them with its Navigator concept car

lincoln2017Concept cars are usually shown for years before they go into production.

Lincoln is changing that pattern. Its new Navigator SUV will go on sale in 2017 and will look like the concept car.

According to an attendee at the New York Auto Show, the Navigator drew actual gasps from the crowd when the doors opened like bird’s wings.

Lincoln calls them gull wing doors which, when opened, let down a helpful series of concertina steps.

The doors cover most of the whole side instead of the hinged, side-opening doors.

The new Navigator also has a push-button shifter that designers compare to piano keys, a flat, retro center console and horizontally ribbed seats.

A Newbie’s Guide to Motorcycle Insurance

Whether you buy a motorcycle for work or pleasure, you need insurance protection to cover your investment. If you’re new to the motorcycle scene, it’s best to research your options before making any definite decisions on what kind of insurance to buy. Insurance companies and policies are not “one size fits all.” Here are a few guidelines that can help you get the best coverage for your new bike.

Get Insurance Quotes in Advance

Similar to car insurance, you can compare what different companies have to offer for bike insurance online. In fact, you may want to get a quote before you even purchase your motorcycle as some makes and models are more expensive to insure than others. High performance bikes used for sports racing, for example, are more costly to insure due to a higher risk of accidents and being more expensive to repair. By discussing insurance costs with a reputable agent in advance, you can make a smart bike choice that will keep your insurance cost down.

Work with a Reputable Agent

Comparing insurance costs online makes it easier to narrow company options so you can pay them a visit and clinch a deal. It’s good to talk to an agent in person as it allows you to ask questions, go over the policy in detail and establish a rapport with a company representative.  An agent can help you personalize your insurance coverage to suit your specific needs and budget. He or she can also explain the legal ramifications of having insurance to give you a better understanding of what kind of coverage to buy.  

Working with a company you trust is key to getting the best coverage at the best price. At InsureUS, we can guide you to making excellent motorcycle insurance choices to protect your new investment.      

 

 

What to say, and not to say, after a car wreck

Alex Glenn at NerdWallet, a personal finance site, says you should never say these things after being involved in a car crash:

“I’m fine.” Soft tissue injuries take time to show up. Let your doctor decide if you’re fine.

“Whiplash.” Even if you have it, the word throws up scamming red flags with your insurer.

“Sorry.” Writing in USA Today, Glenn recommends keeping quiet instead. Saying the word could imply you think the crash was your fault.

“Sure, record me.” You can refuse to have a statement recorded at the scene. Know exactly what you want to say before agreeing to it.

Answer questions honestly but stick to the facts. In all circumstances, tell the truth. But don’t offer uncalled-for details. After a wreck they’re hard to remember, and you don’t know all the details yourself.

“Many customers can’t recall specifics,” says Jason Lundberg, a San Francisco attorney specializing in vehicle accidents. “Trying to give precise details can lead to a false recount. Instead of specifics, providing estimates is a good way to cooperate.”

Never assume the blame at the accident scene. Fault is rarely cut and dried, and your interpretation is just that, an interpretation.

“Most accidents are caused by both parties,” Lundberg says. “Sometimes 50-50, sometimes 90-10. Investigations may reveal there is something the other driver could have done to avoid the accident.”

Getting compensated for damages, injuries. Any injury claims that aren’t documented by your doctor won’t be considered.

Getting your vehicle repaired is more straightforward. Get three estimates, but beware of the one that is significantly lower than the other two because the estimator probably missed something.

Why is June 14 designated National Flag Day?

If you were stopped on the street by a reporter, how would you answer this question? With a shrug? Sadly, you’re not alone.

Our veterans and current military are the most knowledgeable because they have fought to protect what it represents.

This June, we have the opportunity to proclaim our respect and honor for our country by flying the flag, attending a Flag Day parade or teaching our children why we’re doing it.

President Woodrow Wilson established June 14, 100 years ago, as a day to fly our flag with pride. His speech could be proclaimed in 2016 as well as in 1916.

“I … suggest and request that throughout the nation and in every community, the 14th day of June be observed as Flag Day.

“There should be special patriotic exercises to express our thoughtful love of America, our comprehension of the great mission of liberty and justice to which we have devoted ourselves as a people, our pride and our enthusiasm for the political program of the nation, our determination to make it greater and purer with each generation, and our resolution to demonstrate to all the world its sentiment and purpose.”

On June 14, 1777, the design of our first national flag was approved by Congress. It has been modified 27 times since then. Old Glory, the star-spangled banner, has flown since 1959, when President Eisenhower ordered the 50th star for Hawaii, the last state to join the USA.

“God bless America, land that I love,” Irving Berlin’s 1938 song of personal thanks, is still worthy of being our personal sentiment of patriotism.

New evidence shows lower levels of blood pressure provide dramatic protection against heart disease

Hypertension is thought to be responsible for 50 million deaths per year nationwide. It’s a major risk factor for stroke, heart attacks, heart failure and peripheral vascular disease.

Many studies have shown that patients with systolic blood pressures (the top number) below 140 have a lower risk of heart disease and death than those above 140.

The cardiac game changer

Results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) represent a game-changer in the field of hypertension. The study, presented to the American Heart Association, shows that patients who maintained a blood pressure of 120 or less had a 25 percent lower risk of heart failure, heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death than those whose blood pressure was maintained at 140.

They had a 43 percent lower risk of cardiovascular death and 27 percent lower risk of death from any cause than those whose target systolic blood pressure was 140.

It can be difficult to achieve

Lowering blood pressure can be difficult. In order to reach the 120 systolic level, some patients could need more than one medication.

In the SPRINT trial some patients who were able to reach 120 suffered adverse effects, such as fainting and kidney problems. But the trial has been called “one of the most important achievements of 2015.”

It’s not the whole answer.

Researchers at Duke Medicine say the 120 number is no magic bullet. It was chosen because it was significantly lower than 140.

What the trial did show was that bringing systolic blood pressure levels down below 140 can be beneficial in many ways as long as it’s done safely.

Note that no diabetic patients were included in the trial.

More banks are pushing home equity lines of credit

Banks are anticipating a boom time for home equity loans.

With home values rising, consumers have more borrowing power. And lenders want to create home equity lines of credit to offset faltering mortgage originations … and a refinancing wave that is fizzling out.

Average home prices are up 35 percent since the market bottomed out in 2012, S&P/Case-Shiller reports. New homes families looking at are costly and might not be what they’re looking for. So instead of buying or moving, they are choosing to remodel or add a room.

One study showed that the average home equity loan last year was for about $119,000. But economists say the borrowing binge isn’t looking like bad news.

Credit-reporting agency Equifax has announced that lenders originated $546 billion in home equity loans in 2015.

“Consumers are more comfortable using the equity in their house,” says Brendan Coughlin head of consumer lending for Citizens Bank, the No. 6 home equity lender.

Quoted in USA Today, Coughlin says, “The housing market is improving, consumer confidence is also improving, and unemployment is declining.”

During the housing boom of the mid-2000s, homeowners took out equity lines of credit for everything from vacations to boats. Now they’re drawing on them for home improvements as well as debt consolidation, emergencies and education expenses, Coughlin says.

They are not turning their homes into ATMs.

Glasses that help cyclists see more

GPS maker Garmin is bringing safety information to the bike path with its Varia Vision In-Sight Display. It clips onto your sunglasses.

The display lets you view your speed, heart rate, power and other data without taking your eyes off the road.

It also gives navigation prompts, and when paired with a Varia Rearview Radar unit, alerts you when cars are creeping up behind you.

At just 28 grams, the unit has a cycling-glove-friendly touch-panel and an eight-hour battery. Available now at garmin.com for $400.

Other bike safety tips:

Have the right gear, including the right sunglasses, gloves, shoes and padded shorts.

Always be visible. Especially at dawn and dusk, wear neon colors and reflective clothing. Some states require a white front light.

Consider not riding at night.

Stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid busy streets and riding on sidewalks, where you could hit a pedestrian.

Watch for potholes, obstacles and animals darting out into the street.

Productivity expert tells how to manage thoughts … and transform your work

Charles Duhigg has done it again, this time with his new book, Smarter Faster Better. It’s already a New York Times Best seller.

The author talks to researchers who mine data from a recruiting firm looking for clues about the personalities and work habits of exceedingly productive people.

Data show that the most productive people know how to focus. They constantly try to develop new skills and meet with new people. They throw out ideas at meetings and eagerly solicit help from colleagues. Constant conversation helps them figure out how to focus their attention where it is needed.

At the core of Smarter Faster Better are eight key concepts, from motivation and goal setting, to focus and decision making, they explain why some people get so much done.

Duhigg also draws on the latest findings in neuroscience, psychology, and behavioral economics. He studies the experiences of CEOs, educational reformers, four-star generals and occupations where individuals have to make decisions.

He finds that the most productive people and organizations view the world and their choices in profoundly different ways. The ability to draw on personal knowledge and transfer it to a new setting is one of the strategies that drove the team behind Frozen.

An early screening flops and movie creators aren’t sure how to fix it. But they try to find ways to connect their own experiences with the lines of Anna and Elsa, the two sisters at the center of the film. These insights help make the music and the film successful.

“Every choice we make in life is an experiment,” Duhigg writes. He applies relentless curiosity, deep reporting and rich storytelling to explain how we can get smarter, faster and better.

Some advice for new high school graduates

Everyone is quick to offer advice to the new graduate. And everyone has a personal definition of success.

The truth is there are no specific steps that assure success in life. There is hard work, perseverance, staying focused and looking for opportunities. But there will be no knock on the door to let you know an opportunity awaits.

Amid the joy of graduation and the strain of deciding what to do next, here are a few words of advice for you from people who have been there.

* “Life has no remote, get up and change it yourself.” By Mark Cooper
* “Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” By Erma Bombeck
* “Just remember, you can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.” By Arnold Schwarzenegger.
* “You will never have more energy, enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today.” By Tom and Ray Magliozzi.
* “Minds are like parachutes. They only function when they’re open.” By Thomas Dewar.
* “God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars.” By Elbert Hubbard.
* “If you’re picking your best friend based on what kind of clothes she wears or how popular she is, chances are you aren’t going to stay in touch after graduation.” By Renee Olstead.
* “So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you’re on the right track.” By Ed Helms.
* “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” By Will Rogers.
* “If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of payments.” By Earl Wilson.

Congratulations, graduates. Have a good time and a wonderful life.

5 essential steps to getting off the couch every day

British fitness convert Susannah Taylor reveals five ways she gets moving even when moving is the last thing she wants to do.

Taylor, the editor of the health hub Get the Gloss, started out exhausted and weary as she worked on the launch of her business.

At one point, she commuted three hours daily, took care of her two kids, and promoted her business.

At a dinner party three years ago she found herself miserable and exhausted from work and commuting.

As Taylor sipped her third glass of wine at a dinner party, she had a conversation with one of her fittest friends about exercise. She became convinced that moving her body would make her feel more alive, less exhausted and less stressed.

Today, she exercises 3 to 5 times a week and she feels great.

Here are the five essential tips for getting off the couch:

1. Start slowly. If you are going running, start by walking fast and then at that moment where your walk breaks into a jog, stay at that pace and you’ll be able to go farther.

2. Exercise even when you don’t feel like it. No one ever regretted a workout, she says.

3. Overthrow the “stay here on the sofa” gremlin who says “It’s cold”; “it’s starting to rain”; “I haven’t got time”, “it’s late”; “I’m tired”; “I’m hungry”; “it’s getting dark.” Go out anyway.

4. Put your trainer outfit and shoes on and walk out the door. You’ll feel really guilty if you then go back inside.

5. Buy some new training clothes. Whether it’s a pair of leggings, a bright new pair of running shoes, or just a vest top, wearing flattering, stylish training clothes inspires you to work out.

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