Beat And Battered

A read a great article today by Jason Bordoff about a new model for car insurance which would see the cost of car insurance link to the amount of miles (or kilometers) the owner drives in the year.

Here’s an extract of his article:

Drivers who are similar in all respects – age, gender, driving record – pay roughly the same premiums whether they drive 5,000 or 50,000 miles per year, even though the likelihood of a collision increases with each mile. This “all you can drive” pricing scheme is inequitable, as low-mileage drivers, particularly low-income people and women, subsidize high-mileage drivers.

A better approach is simple and obvious: pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) auto insurance. With insurance costs that vary with miles driven, people would have an incentive to drive less, thus decreasing the harm that more miles have on society – from greenhouse gas emissions to wear and tear on our roads. Under this system, higher-risk drivers – for example, the 25-year-old with a sports car and a DWI record – would still pay more per mile than lower-risk drivers.

What a great idea which should see most people premium reduced and use todays technology to assess risk more fairly.

To read more, visit the website: http://www.dallasnews.com

Thaddeus fills in as co-host again this week. Tony Ford joins Kevin and Thaddeus to talk about Ben Stein and Expelled, and an IL representative who wants to ban atheists. To close things out, we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

Refrigerator Haiku

If autumn roof tear

Every full eye can wander

Winter has wood bark

Links

• Pharyngula: EXPELLED!
• Representative tries to put the fear of God in atheist

Download

Thaddeus fills in for Vania, who is out of town again this week. Jeff Pierce joins Kevin and Thaddeus for a second week.
A discussion about bio-fuels morphs into a debate on universal health care. We talk about a quote from Thomas Jefferson, and we examine a new Refrigerator Haiku.

Thomas Jefferson Quote

I rarely waste time in reading theological subjects… Ridicule is the only weapon that can be used against such unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them; and no man ever had a distinct idea of the trinity. It is mere Abracadabra of the mountebanks calling themselves the priests of Jesus. If it could be understood it would not answer their purpose. Their security is in their faculty of shedding darkness, like the scuttle-fish, thro’ the element in which they move, and making it impenetrable to the eye of a pursuing enemy, and there they will sulk.

Listen to Thomas Jefferson read this quote in our ‘historical’ recording.

• Iraq War Cost
• Bio Fuels

Download

Thaddeus, a musician and producer from Nashville, TN, fills in for Vania, who is
out of town this week. Jeff Pierce joins Kevin and Thaddeus to discuss his own
spiritual journey. We discuss the death of Arthur C. Clarke, the health risks of
crucifixion and self flagellation, and the evolution of religious dogma. Also,
we introduce a new segment titled “Refrigerator Haikus.”  Examine the haiku
below, and join us on the forums to tell us what you greater significance you
think is buried in its text.

Jeff, a musician from Chicago, IL (and Kevin’s brother), explains his
personal experiences in exploring Buddhism, and Taoism, by way of Christianity.  He describes the
questions and discoveries that helped him come to terms with the dogma of traditional religions.

Blog Entry

Download the episode

Refrigerator Haiku

Refrigerators
The television melted
An insect journey

Show Links

• 
  Philippine Judge, and his three little friends.
• 
  Crucifixion can be bad for your health.
• 
  God, Man, and Arthur C. Clarke.

Car theft in the US has dropped in the recent years. For once you can’t blame Grand Theft Auto IV coming out in a few weeks and actually maybe it helped by keeping thieves inside acting it out on the console instead of stealing for real

So here it is…

The Top 10 Worst Car Thief cities in the US:

1. Modesto, California

2. Las Vegas/Paradise, Nevada

3. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, California

4. Stockton, California

5. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, California

6. Laredo, Texas

7. Albuquerque, New Mexico

8. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Arizona

9. Yakima, Washington

10. Tucson, Arizona

The smart fortwo was developed with urban use in mind. The size of the fortwo–a mere 8ft 10in–allows it to weave easily between busy streets, and makes parking much, much easier. Its also fuel-efficient, and for added safety has a reinforced steel frame called the Tridion frame. Outside, interchangeable panels allow complete and easy customization of the cars look.As the name implies, the smart fortwo can seat two people–which some might see as a disadvantage, though the car was never really meant for long group drives, and since there are fairly-priced four-seaters in the market. In a humorous attempt to rectify this problem, Fifth Gear bolted together two smart fortwos so it can seat four people, and compared its performance to a Mitsubishi-i. Watch the video and see how well it fared and how stable it is.

The Nissan Skyline has always been an exciting vehicle to watch. The R33 GT-Rs aggressive, sporty design, the rear wing, and the simple-yet-effective interior makes this car attractive to those who prefer to let their driving do the talking. The engine can put out 280 horsepower at 6,800 revolutions per minute, and the improved intercooler and computer control allows up to 375Nm of torque. The rear wing can be adjusted in 0-, 6-, 12-, and 18-degree angles to aid aerodynamics. It is also about 50kg heavier than its predecessor, the R-32, makes it a bit slower 0-60 in 4.9 seconds but the steering feels more precise. The Skyline featured in the video is tuned to put out as much as 1000HP, so it would go REALLY fast. Which would also make it more prone to accidents. Fortunately, its easy to find great insurance quotes from AutoInsuranceSelect.com. Just select your state and click Get Quotes to find some really great auto insurance deals.

Youll never know when something bad will happen. Its easy to recover the points lost from a blocked shot in a basketball game, but paying for car repairs after an accident isnt always. But State Farm is there to assist you. Founded in 1922, State Farm is one of the leading auto insurance companies in the United States, helping people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. Serving over 76 million policies, State Farm has insured more cars and homes all across the US and Canada. State Farm features an easy-to-use, multi-functional website where you can get quotes, report claims, and track your accounts with just the click of a mouse, anytime, anyday. Visit statefarm.com now and avail of their many auto insurance discounts if you qualify. Youre sure to win if State Farm is in your team.

Rodney D. Young Insurance was formed based on on Youngs vision that no one should be denied auto insurance. Whether because its expensive or because the driver has a few bumps on his driving record. In 1980 when auto insurance became compulsory, Rodney D. Young helped everyone get auto insurance by offering affordable policies. Now, Rodney D. Young Insurance specializes in short-term policies, which are more complex but thanks to modern technology it became manageable. Rodney D. Young Insurance now has offices in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas. If youre looking for reliable insurance thats easy on the pocket, look no further than Rodney D. Young Insurance.

Watch this amazing video as a 1989 Honda CRX races against a 2001 Lamborghini Murcielago. Try to guess the outcome. Just a few stock stats on both cars The CRX sports a B18 series engine, can reach a top speed of about 120mph, and weighs about 1,834 pounds. The Lamborghini has a 6.2-liter V12 engine, goes from 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, and weighs 4050 pounds. Perhaps its the weight of the Lamborghini itself, plus the two passengers, because under normal circumstances there is no way a 4-cylinder can beat 16. See it for yourself and decide.