When picking an insurer, she suggests the policy allow freedom of choice in selecting a veterinarian, cover some preventive care, and not reduce coverage when the animal gets older. Strauss said it makes sense from a financial standpoint to insure new puppies and kittens because insurance generally is less expensive for younger animals."It's well worth the monthly payments in the end," Strauss said, sharing her personal praise of Veterinary Pet Insurance.She cites its "excellent response time" in reimbursing the family, noting, "They don't try to dictate what kind of care you should have, (and they) take doctors' recommendations."Insurance firms range from ASPCA Pet Health Insurance that helps support the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to Veterinary Pet Insurance, the nation's oldest and largest provider, founded by veterinarians in 1982, and insuring more than 460,000 pets nationwide.To find a good insurance fit, study all the options and review policy limits, pre-existing condition rules and the fine print.

Seattle street racers: Ride along with Seattle bike couriers

Jeremy Whitbred , a bike messenger for Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, makes a delivery on University Way NE Monday afternoon.

Why The Right Loves a Disaster

I see 100s of thousands of cluster munitions planted in Southern Lebanese farmlands. And most importantly, I see a new flux of US reconstruction dollars flooding Lebanon. Is this the example of “true" American influence. France's new leader seems to think it is good.

Kynt Cothron and Vyxsin Fiala eliminated from 'The Amazing Race 12'

"Kynt and I have gotten to enjoy and appreciate what is unique and beautiful about so many different cultures," added Vyxsin. "Though The Amazing Race is over for us, I know in my heart-of-hearts that as long as Kynt is in my life, the adventure will never end." The Amazing Race 12's eighth episode began with the five remaining teams leaving Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy, which served as the seventh leg's Pit Stop and required the teams take a mandatory rest period. .

Consider these quotes about BP's trustworthiness

Quoting from Columbia Journalism Review, March/April 2007, on BP's Texas City refinery explosion in which 15 were killed and 170 injured on March 23, 2005:"That particular unit had a long history of fires and explosions going back more than a decade, including a fire less than 24 hours before the blast. The unit was restarted anyway.""BP leads the nation in refinery fatalities since 1995, with 10 times as many deaths as recorded at ExxonMobil.""Government documents concerning the plant's operational procedures and safety record that were once easily accessed had vanished into the Homeland Security labyrinth. Again and again, reporters hit brick walls trying to find what had been considered basic public information a few short years ago.""It took a small army of journalists to smoke out all this skulduggery.""A 300-page report from an independent panel investigating BP -- and run by former Secretary of State James Baker -- criticized a 'run until it breaks' mentality.""...

Venezuela: How to make a $1 billion profit a week!

Only in this way we could still escape the military pangs and ideological fangs of the imperialist quagmire which permanently is sustaining all the mighty oil giants.

In the above mentioned editorial, I underlined that a sine qua non for this armed assault on the 'wealth of nations' is to be sponsored and defended by a fascist governing military clique of coupsters, who as we know, by means of a double electoral fraud undemocratically has usurped State power and therewith world hegemony.

Operetta 'Die Fledermaus' begins Feb. 20

University Park, Pa. -- The Penn State Schools of Theatre and Music will present their first large-scale operetta on the Playhouse stage, "Die Fledermaus," by Johann Strauss Jr., with guest director E. Loren Meeker, Feb. 20 through March 2 at the Playhouse Theatre, University Park campus. Curtain times are 8 p.m. for all performances, except for a 2 p.m. matinee March 2. "Die Fledermaus," being performed in English, is a comic operetta that tells the story of Gabriel von Eisenstein's frequent dalliances with the lithe young ladies of the corps de ballet. On his way to serve a brief jail term for insulting a public official, Eisenstein attends Prince Orlofsky's party where he woos a glamorous Hungarian countess, who turns out to be none other than his wife Rosalinde, seeking -- and getting -- her revenge for her husband's indiscretions.