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Do I really need to say anything about this ?? LOL !
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A couple of years ago, on the advice of a financial advisor, I purchased a life insurance policy and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Little did I know that there were so many terms and conditions that were applicable when it came to payment schedules etc. It’s taken me a while to understand the different types of life insurance policies actually available in the market.
Just this morning, a friend of mine in the US told me that she was using a company called Aptus Insurance to get life insurance quotes online and then compare them against the various ‘types’ of life insurance policies on offer.
I’ll give you a quick summary since I’m no expert on the field but I suppose it’s important for all of us to at least be aware of what is out there :
- Term Life Insurance: it’s considered as short term insurance because the policy is only effective for a specific period of time, i.e. a year. It also needs to be renewed each year.
- Permanent Life Insurance: offer both a cash pay-out and built in savings plan; and also offers many tax benefits.
- Whole Life Insurance: is similar to permanent life insurance, and is generally a cheap and simple style of taking insurance.
- Single Premium Life Insurance: basically you make a lump sum deposit payment and do not have to make premium payments for the remainder of your policy; and this type of insurance can also be used as a collateral against a loan.
- Universal Life Insurance: is similar but more flexible than whole life insurance. You can choose how much of your premium goes towards your policy and how much goes into your interest gaining savings account.
- Variable Life Insurance: is the most robust and flexible policy available with a guaranteed minimum pay-out.
Wow ! That’s a lot of different types of life insurance ! Of course every country and insurance provider has other types of policies also available but like I said – this is just a gist.
I know most people my age haven’t even given a thought to life insurance policies. I’m fortunate that my parents have secured my future by having purchased the relevant policies. That also means that they have thought about how to provide my siblings and I with financial stability after they die ! My parents have obviously planned well in advance; but with me turning 30 in a few months – I’ve not even thought about securing the future of my going-to-be children. Sometimes I wonder how we as the new generation will survive ?
Whilst browsing around, I came across the Insurance Information Institute which has a plethora of information that helps one understand what types of insurance are available and what they all incorporate. Do check it out when you get a chance.
What are your thoughts on the subject ? Have you got your life insurance sorted out or have your parents done that for you ? Do you know if your parents / guardian has taken out a life insurance policy for you? If you don’t have any life insurance, how likely are you to take a policy ?
I realize none of us want to think about death – but it is inevitable and we should start thinking about whether ‘our death would leave anyone in financial difficulty?’ … if the answer is yes (and it could be your spouse, partner, family, siblings, even children) .. then I suppose its time to look into getting some Life Insurance !
Further Reading
- Are You Protected Enough ? in Business Today
- For the Recently Widowed, Some Big Financial Pitfalls to Avoid by Ron Lieber for the NY Times
- Tracking Down and Collecting Unclaimed Life Insurance by Paul Sullivan for the NY Times
- Consider Keeping Life Insurance by Anne Tergesen for The Wall Street Journal
- Scared to Death of Life Insurance
assisted suicide
coming to terms with loss
death and dying
personal opinions
personal reflections
suicide attemtps
types of homicide
Before you start dialling 911 or whatever the local cop line is .. No I am not contemplating suicide or anything of the sort .. it was a random topic that came up in conversation some time ago (and my mate SG & I exchanged FB mails on it) and then the other night whilst watching an episode of Boston Legal – the topic came about again and it got me thinking of a few things ...
Suicide
I’m not trying to make light of the subject – but it’s something we should be aware about. Suicide / suicide attempts are often a way of reaching out to people as a way of asking for help. I had a friend in junior high who was so fed up with the way her folks always frowned down upon her; that she started slitting her wrists. One day – her maid called me, and I rushed over to find my friend passed out in the bathroom – wrists bleeding galore ! Luckily she was fine; it got her parents attention and they all went in for family counselling to come to the bottom of the issues.
Personally – I know I am not capable of committing suicide. I can’t even begin to think about cutting / slicing my wrists up; or over dosing on sleeping pills or hanging myself or any of those sort of things. I love myself way too much to inflict pain on myself. I’m also a strong individual, life can be shitty but it can’t be that bad that I want to end it all right ? I don’t think I could put my parents, siblings or friends through that sort of hell. I have friends who would end up blaming themselves for not seeing something like that about to happen.
Have you ever known anyone to be suicidal ? What did you do to help them ? How did you feel when you found out that this person was suicidal ? Would you ever consider suicide as a way out ? Are you aware of any helplines in your city that you can call or refer to someone who is feeling suicidal ?
Death & Dying
In an ideal world – I’d like to go off in my sleep or at a party where I’m just living it up. Anyone who knows me, will agree that a party sounds about right for me. Actually scrap the sleep – I’d probably be happier dying at a party !
Jokes aside, I do know that – if I were ever to be hooked up on a ventilator / life support – then I would want the plug to be pulled. I can’t imagine being reduced to a lifeless body that needs an oxygen tank to survive and being completely dependent on something / somebody else. I’m too independent for that – it would kill me to have to become that way. I say this because I also wouldn’t want my family and friends to have to suffer having to be around me and go through the entire hospital waiting room syndrome !
Hospitals are not the nicest place to be around – especially if you have a close friend / family member fighting for their life in there. In the past 4 years I’ve seen my paternal grandma and maternal grandfather pass away – and seeing them helpless at the hospital, all hooked up to machines was the worst thing ever. Especially when they were such proud and independent individuals who never relied on anyone for anything. It felt like I was in this alternative state of reality – just ‘waiting’.
And Then There Is Homicide (and Assisted Suicide)
The issue with having someone ‘pull the plug’ on you if you were on a life support brings about the issue of homicide and ‘unlawful murder of someone’. Unless it is ‘criminal homicide’ (i.e. murder), homicide can be broadly categorized as justified or excusable. Justifiable homicide is commanded or authorized by law i.e. soldiers given an order to kill enemy soldiers. Excusable homicide could be killing a person in self-defence because there was no other choice and you / and others would be in danger.
Do you think you would be able to shoot a bullet or take a stab at someone with a knife in case of self-defence ? The very thought of a sticking someone with a knife gives me the shudders ! I am fascinated by pocket knives and smaller blades but I don’t think I have it in me to stab someone unless there my life was in severe danger and there was just no other alternative.
The TV show Boston Legal showcased a few episodes on this subject – and the key there was – is it murder if the person has given you permission to (in essence) kill them ? From a real life perspective, it might be considered assisted suicide depending which part of the world this happens in.
The U.S. states of Oregon and Washington, along with Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland are the only places in the world that have laws specifically permitting assisted suicide. There are still heavy debates going on world wide whether it should be legalized in other countries.
I’ve actually discussed this with
I know this is a very morbid conversation to have on so early in the day .. but I thought who else but you, my fellow neighbours in Bloggerville to converse with and get your perspective on what is a very controversial subject, but a also a very real one that we are all going to have to face up to one day ...
Awaiting your thoughts - and hopefully no cops or medics will find their way to my home anytime today !
Further Reading :
- Suicide & Suicidal Behaviour by NY Times Health Guide
- More about Homicide
- Odds & Chances of Dying
- Assisted Suicide Laws Around The World compiled by Derek Humphrey
- Assisted Suicide Laws Around The World by Maya Wolfe Robinson for The Guardian
- Even Where It’s Legal, Laws Vary Widely in USA Today
- The Fight for the Right To Die in CBC News Canada
- The Most Likely Causes of Death in Huffington Post
- India’s Number 1 Killer : Heart Disease by Dinesh Sharma for India Today
- Are We All Going to Die next Wednesday ? in DailyMail.co.uk
music for the soul
music monday
music monday meme
music mondays lady java
musical emotions
musical inspiration
I was going through some music on my laptop and this tune got my attention. There’s something so serene about it. I really ‘connected’ with it and maybe you might too :)
Happy MM folks and have a fab week ahead !
Jessica Biel is an American actress, model, and occasional singer (although I’ve never really heard any thing by her). Her claim to fame was in the gruesome ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (which I quite liked actually); and she has been a central character in the long running family drama series ‘7th Heaven’.
There’s something about her casual demeanour that gives her a very sexy appeal. No wonder she was ranked No.1 in Stuff magazine's "100 Sexiest Women" in 2007; and No.5 on Maxims Hot 100 for 2007 and No.11 for 2009.
Fact : In 2010, Biel climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro with members of the United Nation Foundation to raise awareness of the global water crisis. Now that’s kick ass !
Don’t forget to link up if you are participating in #SexySaturday !
dating
dating across the globe
dating in different cultures
dating is not easy
dating types
dating whats that
physical attraction
reflecting on relationships
reflections
relationships
We all have a ‘type of person we are attracted to’ right ? You’ve got a type, I’ve got a type, everyone around you has a type of person they are attracted to. That ‘type’ could be right for you or could be utterly wrong for you; and some people fall into the trap of always dating the same type of person.
I touched on this a while ago – at a certain point in ones’ life – you reach a stage where you want ‘more’ than just a relationship. You want something more meaningful and concrete, something which has substance, and most of all, you want someone you can share your life with. Not just for now, or for a few months – but for the long haul !
Over the past few years, especially after moving to Bombay, I’ve realized that whilst my generic ‘type’ is what I look out for on the surface level – on a deeper level I’m looking for someone who has a personality that attracts and draws me to them. It doesn’t matter how good looking, established, ‘great-on-paper’ a person is – but if there is no substance, what’s the point ?
I’ve met a few guys who leave my mouth hanging – but the minute they open their mouth – I come back to reality and think to myself ‘jeeeeeeeez shut your gob and just be eye candy’. It’s been harder for me to connect with guys on a deeper level the past few years than ever before. I feel like all the guys I meet, whilst they have may fit the ‘physical type’ criteria, they lack the ‘mental chemistry’ that any relationship needs to sustain itself it.
There are guys I have met who are ‘great-on-paper’ i.e. long term potential, but they lack that certain ‘je ne sais quois’ that I look for in a life partner. I think that has to do with ‘actual conversation’, and honestly, I find that people no longer have time to have real conversations anymore. Some of the guys I have gone out with just lack basic conversational skills ! They are fine over email / IM / SMS (which I hate) but put them in a real-time face-to-face or phone conversation and they bore the living daylights out of me !
As clichéd as it is – everything boils down to sex – and some people are willing to forgo things like personality and conversation if the sex is good. I can’t bring myself to continue to fornicate with someone (don’t ask why I used that word but it came to mind) if I can’t even have a decent conversation with them !
If you share a great vibe, physical & mental chemistry with a man or a woman AND like their personality – it doesn’t matter whether or not he/she fits in to your ‘general type’ category. You need to say something to express yourself because you can’t rely on the man/woman to pick up on non-verbal cues or be a damn mind reader ! What’s the point otherwise ? ? It’s not so hard to open your mouth and blurt out exactly what is going on in your mind. And if that’s too hard – email your thoughts to the person. That gives you time to assess and break down your thoughts; and allows the other person time to actually respond in a coherent manner. What’s the worst thing that could happen ? The person will either not respond or tell you they don’t feel the same way.
Instead of over analysing whether an ‘x’ at the end of a text means something or nothing; just accept it for what it is and if it’s going to lead somewhere it will. It could be a case of serendipity. If you have the intention to ‘date’ a man/woman – then make it clear. Talk to them and ask them out on the phone, or face to face (and for Gods’ sake do not SMS someone for a date!) If you’re already in some sort of relationship with a man/woman – discuss whether its’ exclusive or not.
Do you feel that we as a society are forgoing on actual conversations ? Would you date outside of your ‘type’ to see if you could find what’s missing ? I know that I’ve made a conscious effort to date outside of my preferred type and the more I do, the more I learn about what I do want out of a partner. How do you weigh out physical v/s mental attraction ? Do you relate with the chart that I’ve shared above ? Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Further Reading
That’s the life !!I I would kill to be at this spot right now ! The last few weeks have taken their toll on and I feel absolutely shattered. I just want unwind and take some time to myself.
The minute I saw this photo, I knew that’s where I wanted to be. This idyllic location is at Indigo Bay Resort and Spa located on Bazaruto Island off the coast of Mozambique. Maybe I should book a flight there !
music for the soul
music monday
music monday meme
music mondays
music mondays lady java
musical emotions
Just heard this track last week via a mate of mine from London; and damn it’s a tune !
Pierce Brosnan a.k.a the most recent James Bond. He’s got the suave and sophistication of a distinguished older gentleman. I reckon its the Irishman in him that catches my fancy ! And he’s an active environmentalist !
He has my Sexy Saturday vote – what about yours ?
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I couldn’t help sharing this with you all today. I found a funny graphic on this Tumblr site ‘I Luv Charts’ and I’ve tweaked it a bit with some other graphics I came across (hey at least I’m trying to be creative – I might need years of training on Photoshop but at least I know how to crop, copy & paste on Paint haha)
So just to try something different, I’ve created a poll at the end of this post – and it’ll be interesting to see what you select. (it’s all for fun so you might as well take part in the poll)
I’m between a B & C … some mornings, when I’m really tired or just haven’t slept well (or been too lazy to go turn on the hot water geyser), I’m all about chilling naked – arm stretched out to check the temperature and then let my body deal with the impact of being woken up.
The mornings when I’m done at the gym, it’s all about being hard core and jumping straight into the shower ! I’m too sweaty and feel way to icky to care about whether it is hot or cold water ! I just want to feel clean !
What about you ? Do you enter the shower in any of the above described manner ? Or do you have a different routine altogether ? Since you’ve read this post all the way till here – please take an extra 20 seconds; participate in the poll below and feel free to expand your thoughts (and your shower regime) in the comments below.
I’m actually curious to see what the results are !
I remember listening to this track on a mix cassette – not even a CD !! The song never gets old – still sounds as fab as it did back in my school days.
The opening of the track is so ‘summery’ – don’t you think ? It’s funny that yesterday I actually managed to catch up with someone I’ve been thinking about for a bit and it was really quite nice.
Here’s wishing you all a very happy #MM and a fab week ahead !
Most of you would know him as the sarcastically brilliant Dr House ! This British actors sex appeal sky-rocketed due to his impeccably crafted American twang in the TV show ‘House’.
There’s something very sexy about him .. The unkempt scruffy beard, the wit & sarcasm and the tumbled out of bed look in the show (jeans, shirt & blazer)
He’s got my Sexy Saturday vote ! What about yours ?
dating
dating across the globe
hotel sex
just for fun
perceptions
personal opinions
personal reflections
relationships
This is one of those posts that I had drafted out God-only-knows-how long ago; I kinda forgot about it but then found it again sitting in the drafts and decided it was worth posting. It was inspired by my blogger friend Simone Grant.
The funny thing here is that I was sooooo positive that her original post was about reasons to love hotel sex .. So wrong !! Her post is actually titled 5 Reasons Why I Hate Hotel Sex !
Now that I’ve had a chance to re-read her original post, I am still more inclined to love hotel sex than hate it – although I can get where she’s coming from. My business partner carries her own towels (and pillows if she could).
1/ It’s not at home ! which means you’re getting MORE of it ! No one knocking on your door (God bless the person who invented the DND sign); no phone calls to answer! Vacation = Great Sex. Anywhere and everywhere in the hotel room (and outside). Plus points if it’s a suite – even better !
2/ Breakfast in Bed (and Room Service too). There’s something super sexy about waking up to a ready breakfast in bed (and eating it off your partner!).
3/ Naughty Weekend. Play out your naughtiest m
4/ The elevator gets you in the mood ;) All the necking, nuzzling, teasing can start right there. Haven’t you noticed that you tend to lose your inhibitions once you enter a hotel (knowing you probably never have to come back there) I’ve done the deed in the elevator of my old apartment block – and it was hot !
5/ Someone is gonna clean up after you ! After a naughty romp all over the room, bed covers thrown around, towels on the floor – the last thing you want to do is clean up – and that is why I’m so grateful to those in house keeping ! (make sure you leave a generous tip if you are going to be super messy !)
These are just some of the reasons I love hotel sex … what about you ? Love it or Hate it ? Don’t forget to share your comments below ‘cos it’d be interesting to know what you think about it !
I found this picture via weheartit.com and it’s just so pretty !! I would love to be able to sit and swing over the sea shore right about now !
If you are participating in #WordlessWednesday – don’t forget to share your link below !
