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On Being...

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:13:45 GMT

clipped by: ftapao
clipper's remarks: This is an ongoing series of interviews with "regular" people, who turn out to be surprisingly interesting and very engaging. Enjoy.

Clip Source: specials.washingtonpost.com

Tags: multimedia, photojournalism, news, human interest

State Farm loses Katrina Payout Case

Fri, 12 Jan 2007 05:40:44 GMT

clipped by: ftapao
clipper's remarks: Good news for Katrina victims.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Hurricane Katrina caused an estimated $60bn of damage

An insurance company must pay for damage caused to a couple's home by Hurricane Katrina, a judge has ruled.

The decision could benefit hundreds of householders challenging insurers who have refused to cover damage that occurred during the disaster.

State Farm Fire & Casualty, which denied responsibility, must pay the couple $223,000 (£114,691) a judge at the Mississippi federal court said.

A jury later awarded the victims another $2.5m in punitive damages.

'Huge verdict'

Norman and Genevieve Broussard claimed that the tornado which damaged their home in Biloxi, Mississippi was part of Katrina's storm surge in August 2005.

But State Farm argued that while its polices cover damage from wind, claims arising from water damage would not be paid.

It and other firms have insisted that policies offered no cover for damage that may have been caused by a combination of both wind and rain - even if the Hurricane strength winds came before the flooding from the storm.

State Farm said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the ruling and would consider an appeal.

Earlier rulings in Katrina cases, have supported the insurance companies but the decision by District Judge LT Senter leads to questions over other firm's refusal to settle claims.

Philadelphia-based lawyer, Randy Maniloff, who represents insurers described the ruling as a "huge verdict" for homeowners.

Some 1,300 people were killed and thousands were - and remain - displaced after Hurricane Katrina.

Estimates suggest insurance firms may end up paying out up to $60bn in connection with the disaster.

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Insurer loses Katrina payout case

Tags: news, justice, karma

Sand Storm in Iraq

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 00:02:27 GMT

clipped by: ftapao

Clip Source: www.sunbelt-software.com

Sand Storm in Iraq: April 26, 2005 Back

Tags: iraq, storm, sand, cool

World's Most Dangerous Road

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:55:00 GMT

clipped by: ftapao
clipper's remarks: Holy sh*t!

Clip Source: www.evolvingworlds.com

Subject: RATED AS THE WORLD's MOST DANGEROUS ROAD - [Edit Post]

Dad just forwarded this e-mail to me:

(I wondered if it is the road featured in the old French movie, WAGES OF FEAR - about driving a truck load of explosives over one of the most dangerous roads in the world. From the abstracts of the reviews I posted at the end of this, it appears that it was not, but since the director had spent time in South America, it was, perhaps his inspiration. I strongly recommend "THE WAGES OF FEAR" to anyone who wants to watch a great 1950's suspense movie in B&W, with Yves Montant).
Surprisingly this is not the Himalayas. For all my travel buddies who have survived Himalayan bus trips, here is a bird's eye view of the horror.
The road is located in the South American country of Bolivia.
It consists of 43 miles (70 km) of dirt and rock heading north from La Paz, the world's highest capitol (altitude 12,000 feet or 3,660 ?m), to Coroico, a beautiful cloud forest town at the rim of the Amazon
basin.
Its catchy nickname is due to the 26 vehicles that fall off the road per year. About 200 people annually lose their lives here.
A fatal accident every fortnight is not uncommon on the Coroico road (the July disaster brought the death toll during the previous eight months to 55 and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank
declared this, the world's most dangerous road.
The only road that exists to get to the Amazon from La Paz, it is carved into the sides of a canyon. It can have vertical drops for 1,600 feet and has no guardrails.

Consequently, most Bolivians take the time to pray before their descent. After all, it could be their last.

Tags: cool

The Game

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:50:33 GMT