“Fly me to the moon and let me live among your stars”

Do you remember where you were when Neil Armstrong took that giant step for mankind?  I was in the living room at my aunt and uncle’s house in Jamaica, Queens, NY.  We were gathered around the one black and white console television. Though the room was filled with three adults and seven children not a single sound was heard except the scratchy noise coming from the tv.  “One small step for man; one giant step for mankind.”

I was hooked.  I watched every space launch and landing.  How could I not?  We were going to the moon!  My favorite tv show which I watched faithfully was My Favorite Martian.  My mother would tell me the tales of Orson Wells’s radio show, The War of the Worlds.  To me there were aliens, never any doubt.  And I witnessed a spacewalk!

My father worked for NASA.  Since my father was not an astronaut, I thought it was a very boring area of the space program.  He worked on the heating and cooling design of several Apollo rockets.  Until…he took me to see the floor where the rocket was assembled after one of the Apollo rockets was launched.  I do not know for a fact that it was the warehouse that contained the majestic rocket.  In my nine year old mind it was.  I can still remember the huge area of the warehouse, the bright lights, the noise and the excitement of seeing something I would never be able to explain to my friends. 

Security was different in the 60’s. I could go to the secured areas of NASA with my father.  Heroes were different too. There were still Hollywood & sports stars in the 60’s that  people would try to emulate.  Neil Armstrong was a different hero to elementary students in the 60’s.  By being the first to space walk, Neil Armstrong, a man doing his duty for his country, became a hero.  It turns out Neil Armstrong was a very quiet, private, intelligent and honorable man.  We could not have asked for a better role model.

Neil Armstrong left us this month to spacewalk among the heavens.  I was privileged to have witnessed this history maker.  May he dwell among the stars; he is one of the brightest.

The envelopes are from my personal collection from my father; the blue card is an actual timesheet with a repair of one of the Apollo space craft shshshshsh don't tell anyone I am pretty sure I am not suppose to have it. 

PA Insurance Commissioner Recommendations for College Students

As college students return to campus to begin the new academic year, Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Mike Consedine reminds families to create a “dorm room inventory” for insurance purposes.
“Many college students head to campus hauling a costly array of personal possessions,” said Consedine.

“You need to itemize what they are taking with them. Also, while homeowners insurance coverage for some valuables does travel with the student, policies may limit coverage for a student’s off-premises belongings. It is important to learn your policy’s specific coverages.”

Having an up-to-date inventory will help determine how much insurance is necessary and may also help in settling the claim if there is a loss. Expensive computer and electronic equipment may also be subject to coverage limits. If the limits seem too low, parents may consider buying a special personal property floater, or an endorsement, for these items.

The student’s possessions would be covered for the same disasters that are found in a standard homeowners policy. This would include, fire, theft, vandalism and natural disasters such as a hurricane. The student would not be covered for typical college mishaps such as accidentally spilling coffee on an expensive electronic device.

Parents may want to look into stand-alone policies for desktop computers, laptops, tablets and iPads, and other electronics. These policies may provide coverage against accidental damage, liquid spills and other events not included under a standard homeowners policy.

Also, students who live in off-campus housing may not be covered by their parents’ homeowners policy and may need to purchase separate renters insurance. Parents should contact their insurance agent or company representative to see if their homeowners or renters policy extends to off-campus living situations.

Consumers with questions should call the Pennsylvania Insurance Department at 1-877-881-6388, visit the Insurance Department online at www.insurance.pa.gov or give DGK a call 800-242-4337.

Crash Test

I watched a new car crash dummy test this morning on the news.  It showed a crash a little off center from original front-end car crash.  The new test established when the engine block is not engaged in a car crash where it can absorb the impact the driver does not survive.  The new test focuses on 24% of the front end versus 40% of the front end in the original tests. 

IIHS responded to the more than 10,000 deaths from frontal car crashes.  When nearly every car performs well in the original frontal crash test, there must be a reason for all the deaths.  Only two of the eleven luxury cars tested received a good rating.  I do not own a luxury car, I own a Honda Civic.  The group, IIHS - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, will test a Honda Accord next.  Consumer Reports does not expect significant improvements due to the testing in the next five to ten years. 

Having an automakers car earn a spot on the “top safety pick” list, is paramount to increased sales.  I check the Safety list, don’t you?

What do you do if you cannot afford a luxury car that passed the new crash test?  Like me, you continue to practice defensive driving techniques including wearing your seat belt, purchase cars within your price range that do make the safety list and wait for the auto makers to redesign safer and sturdier cage for all cars. 

Good Luck out there.