Hybrid vehicles, which are fueled by electricity and gasoline, would still be allowed, but the sale of new vehicles that use gasoline as a sole power source would be illegal. Gasoline-only vehicles on the roadways before 2015 would not be affected.

The proposal was put forth by Norwegian Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen, a member of Norway's Socialist Party.

As one might expect, the highly-idealistic proposal is facing tough opposition from Norway's opposing political parties as well as Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Similar legislation in Brazil, which became law in 1976, requires gasoline to be blended with ethanol. In 2007, British Liberal Democrats announced a plan to abolish gasoline and diesel-powered cars by 2040.

When the news starts broadcasting stories about outbreaks or possible pandemics or weird strains of the flu, people tend to panic. But with the Internet being at our constant disposal, doing research helps to quell any fears we may have about the world turning into some version of The Stand (good movie, great book--go read it people!).

In an effort to do my part to allay any fears out there about swine flu, here are some facts about swine flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Swine flu is a type A influenza virus.

• The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people.

• Swine Flu is spread the same way as "regular" flu--through coughing and sneezing.

• The best ways to keep from getting Swine Flu, or any flu, are washing your hands, staying generally healthy, getting plenty of sleep and drinking plenty of fluids. Frequent hand-washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from common surfaces such as telephones, elevator buttons, doorknobs, or drinking fountains. Also try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

• You can't get swine flu from eating pork!

If you do get sick with flu-like symptoms (fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea), and live in an area where swine flu cases have been identified, the CDC says you may want to contact your health care provider. Your doctor will determine if swine flu testing is needed. Also, if you are sick you should stay home and try to avoid contact with people to keep from spreading your illness.

The CDC recommends that you seek emergency medical care if you are ill and experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

Even though Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in California, that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano declared a public health emergency in the United States, or that President Obama asked Congress for an additional $1.5 billion to fight swine flu, most scientists are telling us not to panic. Though it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

Is Exercise the New Miracle Cold-Buster?

12.1 Million Californians Lacked Health Insurance Coverage in '07-'08

When Mr. Obama is out of office, he'll probably start a business or law firm with his old Harvard buddies and become Barack Obama, C.E.O. And with an array of brilliant minds on the payroll (including himself and, presumably, his wife Michelle), he'll definitely need a hefty amount of business insurance coverage to protect his precious assets.

He'll need a commercial auto insurance policy to insure all the Bentleys and Porsches that most Harvard alums cruise around town while on business. Who knows, maybe the company car will be a convertible Ferrari?

Being the former leader of the free world, Mr. Obama will also need to find a business insurance policy that includes kidnap ransom insurance.

The rich and wealthy are--well--rich and wealthy, and money-hungry crooks earn buckets of money by kidnapping them and holding them for ransom (think Somali pirates, except without the ships). That's where kidnap and ransom insurance comes in. Kidnap and ransom insurance can help business owners recover their losses stemming from a kidnapping, and is usually available as part of a standard business insurance policy.

Most kidnap and ransom insurance policies cover kidnapping-related expenses such as hostage negotiation costs, ransom fees, and lost wages.

So if radical terrorists storm Mr. Obama's business office and take him hostage (and James Bond isn't around to save him), a kidnap and ransom insurance policy will certainly come in handy.

According to a press release from GM, they will now focus on the four core brands- Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC and phase out Pontiac by 2010. GM thinks that this new strategy will allow them to focus on new product development and provide more competitive levels of market support.

The new plan also leaves the fate of GM's other brands, Saab, Saturn and Hummer uncertain.

Seeing the end of Pontiac makes me reminisce about my first car, a 1997 Pontiac Firebird. I had that car for about two years before I couldn't afford repairing it anymore. I had so many problems with that car, but I still loved taking the T-tops off and cruising down the freeway. It was always about 50 /50 though if my car would start up the next day after a road trip.

Either way, I loved that car and I am sure there are plenty of other Pontiac fans that feel the same way.

Trees are not only beautiful, they can help reduce the amount of energy you use to heat and cool your home, saving you money on your energy bill.

• Planting a wind break on the edge of your property can save you 10-20% on your heating costs.

• Planting trees on the east and west sides of your home can reduce your cooling costs 15-35%.

• Having trees around a home increases your home's value as much as 15%!

• Planting shade trees near an air conditioner can increase its efficiency 10% (make sure to leave space for maintenance).

Trees do more than reduce energy usage. Researchers at Texas A&M found that looking at scenes with trees in theme reduced stress with in 5 minutes. And if you plant a fruit or nut tree, you can reduce the amount of money you spend on produce! When you plant a tree near your home this Arbor Day, make sure to leave enough space so that falling branches don't hit your home.

Ready to plant a tree but not sure what kind of tree to choose? Try an oak--it's the U.S. national tree.

5 Home Energy Saving Tips

5 Ways to Save Water

Green Recession Gardens Can Save $500 a Year

When gas prices got above four dollars last summer, many people started walking or riding their bikes more. Not only did this help protect the ozone layer by cutting back on pollution, it also burned some extra calories that wouldn't have been burned on your car ride to the store. Even though gas prices are back to being reasonable, continue to get health benefits and save the environment by walking to your local farmers market or grocery store.

Eat Less Pre-Packaged Foods

Pre-packaged foods, fast food, and soft drinks are fast and convenient, but the production of these highly processed foods uses large amounts of materials and energy. These foods also tend to be high in fat, sugar, and calories. Choosing many foods from these areas, and consuming any food in excessive portions, contributes to weight gain and obesity.

Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Such health conditions can be made worse by pollution or severe weather, such as extreme heat due to global warming.

By reducing the amount of waste products you throw away, you will reduce the amount of garbage that will end up in a landfill. And of course, recycle applicable products whenever possible.

These quick tips will not only help you lead a healthier life, but they will also save the planet.

Working long hours tends to put a strain on the immune system, and President Obama will need an annual flu shot to stay healthy during flu season--after all, the president can't call in sick to work, can he? He'll also need regular physicals and checkups for him, his wife and his two daughters, which can get pricey without health insurance.

He may even need some grief counseling to deal with chronic stress at work. After all, fixing the housing crisis, solving America's energy problems and rebuilding the global economy isn't the easiest juggling act in the world.

He smokes, which could significantly impact his health, so he'll require frequent checkups (and possibly even health insurance coverage that will cover stop-smoking aids such as nicotine gum).

But he does take steps to keep healthy. He rarely goes a day without making time for exercise--especially basketball. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says there are very few days he doesn't see President Obama holding a basketball at some point. Mr. Obama even made a game of basketball an Election Day ritual in order to work up a sweat and reduce stress.

President Obama has to foot the health insurance bill for himself, his wife and two young daughters in a time when health care costs are spiraling out of control; it's no wonder he's on a crusade to lower health care costs in America!

Take short showers: with a standard showerhead, taking a 5 minute shower instead of 10 can save you 25 gallons of water.

Turn Off the Faucet when Brushing Teeth: not letting the water run while you are brushing your teeth can save approximately 10 gallons of water a day.

Water Your Yard Smarter: Water your lawn in the early morning or late in the evening to reduce evaporation. Water only once or twice a week, or only when it needs it. You could save 25 gallons each time you water.

Clean Smart: If you sweep patios and sidewalks instead of using a hose, and wash your car with a bucket, sponge and hose with a nozzle, you'll save 8-18 gallons of water per minute.

Fill Up the Dishwasher: On average, a home dishwasher uses between 9.3 gallons of water per load. Fill up your dishwasher and only run it when full to save water.

Bonus Water Saving Tip: Get a New Toilet

If your toilet is from 1990 or earlier, it uses 3.5--5 (or more) gallons per flush. Install a new Ultra Low Flow Toilet (ULFT) and save approximately 38 gallons a day (19,000 gallons per year!), more if you have more than one toilet in the house. You could also install a High-Efficiency Toilet (HET). HETs only use 1.28 - .8 gallons per flush, saving you 45 gallons of water a day (23,000 gallons per year). And best of all, some local water agencies provide rebates for installing more efficient toilets.

Now that you know these simple water saving tips, use the money you'll save on your water bill to invest in a home insurance policy. Keep your home protected while you save our water supply!

5 Home Energy Saving Tips

Hybrid Car Insurance Discounts

Green Recession Gardens Can Save $500 a Year

5 Ways to 'Green' Your Vehicle Without Spending a Dime

Not only do fuel-efficient hybrid cars save money at the gas pump, hybrid car owners could also save money on car insurance!

If you are one of the millions of people who own a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle, or you are thinking of buying a hybrid car, car insurance savings could be yours. Since hybrid owners tend to be more environmentally conscious they drive fewer miles, and research has shown they are safer drivers, on average, than the general population. As a result, a number of car insurance companies have discounted car insurance rates for hybrid vehicle owners.

Owning a hybrid vehicle can cut car insurance rates up to 10%!

Discounted car insurance isn't the only benefit for hybrid car owners. To encourage the use of hybrid cars, many government agencies and corporations have perks for hybrid car owners:

• The Hybrid Vehicle Credit can get hybrid vehicle owners up to $3,000 back on their federal tax return, depending on vehicle eligibility. This is in addition to various state tax credits.

• Tax credit for qualified plug-in hybrid vehicles, with a base credit starting at $4,000.

• Some companies are offering thousands of dollars in cash-back plans to employees who purchase hybrid vehicles.

• Discount and free parking is available exclusively to hybrid drivers in many areas of the country. These laws are usually limited to city or county limits, so check with your city clerk's office for details.

• Some states allow hybrid cars to drive in higher occupancy lanes (a.k.a. Carpool Lanes).

• A number of hotel chains offer discounted/free parking and special room rates to customers who own or rent a hybrid vehicle.

If you are one of the approximately 62% of consumers who consider hybrid vehicles while car shopping, make sure to check out InsWeb.com and see if you can get a lower rate on your hybrid car insurance.

5 Ways to 'Green' Your Vehicle Without Spending a Dime

The Cost of Going Green: Are Hybrids Really Worth It?

5 Home Energy Saving Tips

Cops Going Green?

Green Recession Gardens Can Save $500 a Year

Green, going green, enviro-hip, have become the legwarmers and crimped hair of this generation. How many of us who park our minivans or old beater cars next to hybrids get the feeling we are being judged, or looked down on like we have committed a terrible fashion faux pas (white after Labor Day? Gasp!). It doesn't matter that your non-hybrid econo-car gets 27 mpg (better than most) or that you bike to work twice a week--if you haven't got the look or style then you are so not cool.

This green snobbery isn't confined to just the highway. Have you ever gotten dirty looks from people when you dare to use a plastic bag at the grocery store? Do these green snobs know you reuse them as garbage bags at home instead of buying Glad? Ever had a snobby green neighbor brag about her new drought-tolerant landscaping, or point out that your house seemed to have a lot of lights on the other night? Did she see your sustainable vegetable garden in the backyard? Does she know you switched to CFLs years ago?

There is nothing wrong with going green. The problem with green snobbery is intent. Are we trying to be cool by going green, or are we actually trying to help the environment and reduce our environmental impact? Really caring for the environment is walking further to find a recycling bin instead of just trashing a soda can. It is not slapping down major moolah for fashion jeans made from old Pepsi bottles. Real green action is reducing the amount of wasted water by turning off the faucet when we brush our teeth--not going into debt to show off solar panels on our houses. Like with anything fashionable, green snobbery is about being seen with the latest thing, be that a hybrid car driving in the carpool lane with only one person in it, or a shirt made of hemp with environmentally friendly dyes saying "Love Your Mother: Earth."

So here's the question: Do we buy the latest green product to be in style, or do we stick to the motto Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? Is it more important to have an expensive handbag made of old road signs, or to save our cans and bottles from the landfill?

Hybrid Car Insurance Discounts

5 Home Energy Saving Tips

5 Ways to 'Green' Your Vehicle Without Spending a Dime

Green Recession Gardens Can Save $500 a Year

The Cost of Going Green: Are Hybrids Really Worth It?

The current economic downturn and recession has everyone looking for ways to save money. Growing our own vegetables, fruits, berries and herbs is a great way to offset sky-high produce costs. The National Gardening Association (NGA) found that "7 million more households plan to grow their own fruits, vegetables, herbs, or berries in 2009 than in 2008--a 19% increase in participation." The NGA also estimates that a well-maintained food garden can yield a $500 annual return, on average.

Not only do recession gardens save money on grocery bills, but backyard gardens are very green. Food from recession gardens have less environmental impact than produce bought in stores because there is no need to drive to the store or ship veggies from far away--they're right outside your door. Not to mention that fresh tomatoes just taste better!

You don't have to be a master gardener to plant a recession garden. Here are two examples:

My friend Ashley just started a recession garden in her yard, which she has dubbed "The Farm." She had a large, unused space begging for veggies. She cleared the space, which was over-run with weeds and full of rocks, to make it useable. So far she's planted her recession garden with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, squash, beans, strawberries, watermelon and corn. Whew!

I, on the other hand, prefer to use containers. I have limited space and horrible soil, so a few years back I planted a mini herb garden in a small pot. Since then my little garden has grown from one pot to more than a dozen, and includes basil, oregano, parsley, thyme, fennel, mint and other herbs, tomatoes, eggplant, and a fig tree. Containers are great for patios, are easy to move and help conserve water.

A recession garden is about saving money and reducing waste. Reusing pots, composting or using organic fertilizers in your recession garden can all help the environment. The NGA points out that even more money can be saved by collecting this year's seeds for use next year instead of buying seeds.

Looking to our own backyards is a simple, economical way to not only save on our grocery bills, but also reduce our environmental impact. So go grab some seeds, a shovel and plant your own recession garden--it could save you some major green!

5 Home Energy Saving Tips

5 Ways to 'Green' Your Vehicle Without Spending a Dime

Money Saving Tips Part 4: The Farmer's Market

CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) are swirly looking light bulbs, and they can save you money and energy. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that CFLs can save up to 75% of lighting energy. Of course, the best way to reduce your energy bill is to turn off the lights when you leave a room. Note: there is still some debate as to the health risks of CFLs, especially to those prone to migraines or with photosensitive epilepsy, so talk to your doctor before making the switch to CFLs.

One of the best ways to conserve energy at home this summer, and save money on your cooling bill, is to use a programmable thermostat. In summer, turning the thermostat up to 75 degrees when you are home and 80 degrees when you are gone could save as much as 30% on your next cooling bill.

Ceiling fans, window fans, or plain table top fans all create air movement in a room. If you use ceiling fans with your air conditioner, you will be able to raise the thermostat temp by 4°F without feeling a difference. And if you're lucky enough to live in a temperate climate, you could save even more energy by opening up the windows for a cool breeze.

The typical American home spends 20% of their energy bills on appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, TVs, water heaters, computers, and dishwashers. Save energy by turning off appliances when you're not using them. Did you know that your appliances are using power even when they are shut off? You can reduce the amount of this so-called "phantom energy loss" by installing power strips and turning them off when the appliances are not in use.

You can reduce the amount of energy it takes to cool your home in the summer by planting trees and shrubs near your air conditioner. By shading the AC, it takes less time to cool down and less energy to cool your home, increasing its efficiency by as much as 10%. Just make sure to leave some space for maintenance.

Water? To reduce energy? Yep. If you turn down your water heater's temp by just 10°F you could save between 3%-5% in energy costs!

Want more Energy Saving Ideas? Check out the Department of Energy's Energy Savers Website.

With all the money you save on energy costs, you can invest in a homeowners insurance policy--keep that energy efficient home protected!

Barack Obama's 'Green' Administration

Going Green Around the House

Cops Going Green?

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are the picture of perfect health--almost. And keeping healthy helps keep life insurance rates low. President Obama is known for his smooth moves on the basketball court, and shoots hoops on a daily basis. He uses his time on the court to keep in shape and relieve stress.

Michelle Obama is no slouch, though. The First Lady is said to put in at least 90 minutes of exercise three times per week with a personal trainer. Her favorite fitness gadgets include a stair-stepper, spin bike, and treadmill.

President Obama does have a vice, though: cigarettes. He has struggled to ditch cigarettes for years, and his habit (which he has reportedly kicked) caused quite a stir on the campaign trail.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, a 40-year-old male smoker pays roughly $1,000 more annually for a 20-year $500,000 term life insurance than a non-smoker. If Mr. Obama kicks the habit for good and qualifies as a "preferred" risk, he could expect to pay roughly $30 per month for the same term life insurance policy--about one-third the amount you'll shell out each month for iPhone 3G service.

Barack and Michelle Obama are certainly wealthy (they pulled in a cool $2.7 million last year, according to their tax returns), but they'll still need a good deal of term life insurance to secure Sasha and Malia's financial futures. A term life insurance policy can help protect their mortgage or, more importantly, will ensure the college education of their daughters.

Stay tuned for part IV: the health insurance needs of the Obamas.

Here are just a few Tax Day deals and freebies:

• Papa John's pizza is offering online customers a large, three-topping pizza for $10.40. Customers must purchase the pizza online and use "1040" as the promotional code.

• Cinnabon bakeries are giving away free Classic Bites from 5-8 p.m. on Tax Day. A fantastic Tax Day freebie for tax procrastinators who need a late evening pick-me-up.

• At some Chick-fil-A restaurants, customers who purchase items on Tax Day can bring their receipts back between April 16 and 30 and get the same items free. Anyone feel like a chicken sandwich on Tax Day?

• PF Chang's is giving customers 15% off their bill at a number of locations.

• MaggieMoo's ice cream has unveiled its "E-Cone-Omics Stimulus Package," which provides Tax Day patrons one free scoop of ice cream. The slogan could use a little work, but a free scoop of ice cream is always a good thing.

Those deals are fantastic, but McDonald's is pulling out all the stops on Tax Day. At a number of locations, customers who purchase a Big Mac or Quarter Pounder can get a second for just one penny. McDonald's restaurants in the Baltimore area are offering customers free coffee (a small hot McCafé or medium iced McCafé coffee) throughout Tax Day.

But it gets even crazier. McDonald's representatives in the Baltimore, Arlington and Washington, D.C. areas are camped out at post offices and plan to hand out free customized McCafé postage stamps as well as coupons for a free McCafé.

Here's an even better tax day tip: use your tax refund to save a bundle on insurance!

Once your tax refund returns, your bank account will be bursting at the seams. So why not pay your insurance premium in a lump sum? A number of insurance companies charge administrative fees to customers who pay their premium monthly. And though it's typically a minute charge, even a $5 monthly fee would cost $60 per year. And in this economy, who can afford to flush $60 down the drain on silly administrative fees?

You could also use your federal tax refund or state tax refund to invest in a low-cost term life insurance policy.

Here at InsWeb.com, we're proud to announce a Tax Day deal of our own: a free insurance quote to any consumer! Whether you're looking for auto, home, term life, health, renters, business or motorcycle insurance, InsWeb.com offers no-obligation quotes from top providers, absolutely free!

And unlike Tax Day deals from other companies, our offer doesn't end at midnight on April 15. Our free quote offer is good through the rest of the decade--and beyond! Cash in on this Tax Day freebie by grabbing a free insurance quote from InsWeb.com.

Recent crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have shown that the smaller cars are more likely to be heavily damaged in an accident with larger vehicles. Which when just about everything on the road is bigger than your car, your odds of surviving an accident are greatly diminished.

The (IIHS) recently did a series of crash tests involving the Smart ForTwo vs. Mercedes C Class, Honda Fit vs. Honda Accord and Toyota Yaris vs. Toyota Camry. The results showed that the drivers of the smaller cars suffered major head and leg injuries. In fact, the Smart ForTwo got airborne and spun 450 degrees after colliding with the Mercedes at 40mph in an offset frontal crash test. In the same crash, the Mercedes suffered little damage to the driver's area.

Now if these crash tests were a boxing match, I don't think the fight would have happened after the weigh in. These matchups would be like Lennox Lewis taking on Manny Pacquiao.

The Smart ForTwo weighs 1,808 pounds - Mercedes C Class Weighs 3,395 pounds.

The Honda Fit weighs 2615 pounds - Honda Accord weighs 3569

The Yaris weighs in at 2340 pounds - Toyota Camry weighs 3263

To put that into perspective, a Hummer H2 weighs 8,600 pounds, an Escalade weighs in at 5,990 pounds and a full grown Moose weighs around 1,600 pounds. There are obviously serious safety issues if you are driving a car that weighs thousands of pounds less than other cars on the road. It might just be me, but every time I see a Smart ForTwo I wonder if the next strong breeze in going to tip it over. I drove a Ford Focus that weighed 2,707 pounds and a collision with a deer almost totaled it!

The safety tests were a bit extreme, but there are a lot more Mercedes, Accords and Hummers out on the road than Fits, and Yarisis (is the plural Yari? Like platypi?). According to the InsWeb.com Quick Auto Insurance Quote Tool the median rate for me to insure a Yaris would be $1,171 a year, while the cost for me to insure a Mercedes C 300 is $1,424 a year. Hmm, maybe insurance providers think the Yaris is safer than I do? How much would insuring a Yaris cost you?

For more information about insurance and to compare auto insurance quotes, visit InsWeb.

Here are the Top 10 worst cities for car theft in 2008:

1. Modesto, CA

2. Laredo, TX

3. Yakima, WA

4. San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos, CA

5. Bakersfield, CA

6. Stockton, CA

7. Las Vegas/Paradise, NV

8. Albuquerque, NM

9. San Francisco/Oakland/Fremont, CA

10. Fresno, CA

Even though car thefts are high in these cities, the good news is that the total number of car thefts in the U.S. declined in 2008, for the 5th year in a row. Joe Wehrle, NICB president and CEO, called 2008's results a "mixed bag of good and bad news."

"The good news is, we're seeing steady progress in reducing the overall theft rate and that means Americans aren't shelling out as much to cover the cost of stolen vehicles in their insurance premiums," said Wehrle. "The bad news is that the theft rate continues to increase in areas like El Paso and Laredo where many of the cars, trucks and SUVs being stolen are being used to carry drugs, money and weapons into and out of Mexico. These vehicle thefts are helping finance the drug cartels that are waging war on the Mexican government."

There are steps you can take to better protect your car from getting stolen. NICB recommends what they call the "layered approach" to car theft prevention:

Common Sense--the simplest and most cost-effective ways to stop car thieves

• Remove keys from ignition

• Lock car doors and close windows

• Park car in a well-lit area

Warning Device--visible or audible device that shows thieves your car is protected

• Audible alarms

• Steering column collars

• Steering wheel/brake pedal lock

• Brake or wheel locks

• Tire locks/tire deflators

• Theft deterrent decals

Immobilizing Device--device that stops car thieves from hot-wiring the car

• Smart keys

• Fuse cut-offs

• Kill switches

• Starter, ignition, and fuel pump disablers

• Wireless ignition authentication

Tracking Device--device that emits a signal to police or a monitoring station when the car is stolen

• Lo-Jack

• GPS

• Telematics (combination GPS and wireless)

If you take these simple steps to keep you car safe you could qualify for a discount on your car insurance. Get a good car insurance rate by shopping for multiple insurance quotes at InsWeb.com.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Monday that engine oil could spark a flame when breaking hard. The flame could spread to the spark plug causing an engine compartment fire. GM will have to remove the spark plug retention channel and install two new spark plug wire retainers.

The cars involved in the GM recall are:

• 1997-2003 Buick Regal

• 2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala

• 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina

• 1998-2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

• 1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue

• 1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

GM expects the recalls to start in May.

Check to see if your car has been recalled with the InsWeb Auto Recall Tool.

Toyota Recalls Over 130,000 Yaris'

857,735 GM Car, SUV, and Truck Recall

There are approximately 74.8 million dogs in America, with 39% of American households owning at least one dog, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. People spent more than $43 billion on pet purchases and services in 2008. That's a lot of kibble!

Well, it looks like Honda understands the importance of our pets. That is why last week at the New York International Auto Show, Honda revealed a dog-friendly version of the Element SUV. Complete with doggie bed and spill-resistant water bowl, this version of the Honda Element will include lots of special features any dog-lover would love:

• Cushioned doggie bed with an elevated platform

• Second row and cargo area pet restraint systems

• Spill-resistant water bowl

• Extendable cargo area load-in ramp

• 12V DC rear ventilation fan

• Second-row seat covers with a dog pattern design (matches the bed fabric)

• All-season rubber floor mats with a toy bone pattern

• "Dog Friendly" exterior emblems

President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle explained that "in-vehicle pet restraints should be part of every dog owner's safe travel practices," and that ventilation and water are essential on long car trips. The restraints in the dog-lover version of Honda's Element are designed to protect both the dog and people in a collision.

"Cars are now chasing dogs," joked John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.

If you're the type who likes to pamper your pooch, this just might be a car for him--I mean you. But since the Honda Element is an SUV, and SUV's usually cost more to insure than cars, you may end up paying an additional 10-20% for car insurance. You can still get a great insurance rate on your next dog-mobile by comparing car insurance quotes with InsWeb.com's Quick Auto Insurance Quote tool.

And you can save yourself some money on pet care by investing in pet insurance. Pet insurance can pay for vet visits and medications, even operations. And with all the money you save you can spoil your dog (or cat, or tarantula) even more!

The Importance of Pet Insurance

Kick the Habit for Fluffy's Sake!

Does Banning a Dog Breed Reduce Dog Bites?

Obama's Choose Portuguese Water Dog as First Pet

According to some estimates, the price tag for the White House tops $100 million, a fair bit more than a run-of-the-mill Washington D.C. household. The cost to cover a home that pricey would be--well, a whole heck of a lot, even for two Harvard graduates.

But the real kicker is liability coverage. Even adding a new pool to your home can necessitate an increase in liability coverage, so imagine how much liability coverage would be needed to cover visits from international media and foreign leaders? A couple hundred million, perhaps?

On the bright side, President Obama can save on home insurance by landing a multi-policy discount by insuring the White House on the same policy as his Ford Escape Hybrid. This could save him up to 15% on both premiums!

But wait a second--maybe the White House needs renters insurance. After all, the president doesn't own the White House, right?

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost of a renters insurance policy is roughly $20 per month. However, something tells me the White House may need a bit more coverage than your everyday rental property.

Good luck finding a renters insurance policy that covers a $100 million home, Mr. President.

President Obama and his wife Michelle share a vehicle, cruising around the nation's capital with their daughters in a Ford Escape Hybrid. Since he drives an SUV, he'll pay a bundle for auto insurance, right?

Using InsWeb.com's Quick Auto Insurance Quote tool, we can get an idea of what President Obama pays for auto insurance. He's a 48-year-old male, married, lives in Washington, D.C., and drives a Ford Escape Hybrid.

Using those factors (and assuming he's a safe driver), President Obama's auto insurance estimate is roughly $120 per month--not a bad rate for the leader of the Free World.

Since President Obama decided to 'go green' with a hybrid, he could be eligible for a hybrid vehicle discount, making his rate even more affordable. With size and fuel economy, Obama's Ford Escape Hybrid makes for a great road trip vehicle, too.

If President Obama had kept his gas-guzzling Chrysler 300C, he'd be stuck paying $32 per month more for auto insurance. Way to cut costs Mr. President!

If a busy man like President Obama has time to reduce auto insurance costs and save fuel, you can do it too.

I wonder if InsWeb.com's Quick Auto Insurance Quote tool could determine the cost to insure President Obama's new limo...

So would this contraption require some form of insurance? I think a more important question is, why does the world need a two-seater Segway? According to the Segway blog, the PUMA can go between 25 and 35mph and up to a distance of 25 to 35 miles on a single charge. This could make going to the local grocery store fun, except when you walk out with your bags and realize that there isn't a place to put them.

I am for the development of alternative modes of transportation, especially zero emission vehicles. But the one thing I don't understand is putting that kind of technology into something that doesn't have a practical use. Would the gyros still stabilize the PUMA if I put my golf clubs on the back and use it as a golf cart? When have you ever seen a person on a Segway that wasn't a mall security guard?

Maybe the PUMA will help GM get out of the red, but I am predicting that this isn't going to be a huge breakthrough in transportation.

Income Tax Refunds = Golden Opportunity to Save on Term Life Insurance

If you're looking to make the most of your tax refund, a low-cost term life insurance policy may be right for you. If you find a low-cost term life insurance policy by shopping around for free quotes with InsWeb.com, you won't have to spend your entire tax refund on a policy.

With the small fortune you could save with term life insurance, you may finally be able to afford the vacation of your dreams! Or you can use the money you save to pay bills--whatever works for you.

How Much Does Term Life Insurance Cost?

Unlike rising food and gas prices, term life insurance rates continue to drop--approaching record lows. According to the Insurance Information Institute, a healthy 40-year-old male with a $500,000, 20-year level term life insurance policy can expect to pay roughly $30 per month for coverage. That's less than the phone bill in most households!

Why Use Your Income Tax Refund to Buy Term Life Insurance?

Spending your income tax refund on term life insurance is a fantastic idea. Other than being the most affordable form of life insurance coverage, term life insurance allows for personal choice. You pay a low monthly premium based on the term length and amount of coverage you choose. Choose from term lengths such as 10, 20 or 30 years, and coverage amounts anywhere from $100,000 to several million dollars.

If your income were lost, how long would your family be able to survive financially? A month, a year--maybe less? With federal and state income tax refunds fattening the wallets of Americans nationwide, now is the perfect time to protect your loved ones with a low-cost term life insurance policy.

Unfortunately, I was one of the 12.1 million Californians who didn't have health insurance. My situation was that once I got back to California after graduating college, I was only on my parents' health insurance plan for another couple of months. The job I was working at didn't offer health insurance benefits and I thought that health insurance wasn't going to be affordable for me.

Fortunately, I didn't have to go to the doctor during the two months I was uninsured. It was a nerve-wracking time being that I was playing baseball on a summer league where there was always the potential to get injured. Luckily when I started my job here at InsWeb, I was able to get health insurance. And now that I am going to be getting married soon, my wife will be added on to my health insurance coverage.

During this tough economic time, it is becoming harder and harder for Americans to maintain their health insurance. With the unemployment rate increasing, so does the number of Americans who also lost their health insurance. While money is tight, it is still imperative to keep your health insurance coverage.

But price isn't everything. Houston, TX, is home to over two million residents, and a good portion of them own vehicles. With all those people cruising around town, shouldn't you invest in a Houston auto insurance policy that protects your car against a wide range of perils? The best Houston car insurance policy would cover all your driving needs at a price that's right.

Everything's bigger in Texas, including vehicles. Truck dealerships are everywhere in the Houston area, and a full-size truck can cause quite a bit of damage when it smashes into another vehicle, especially if it's traveling at a high rate of speed. That's why every Houston auto insurance policy should include a good amount of collision coverage. Most insurance experts recommend that drivers carry at least $100,000/$300,000 of Bodily Injury coverage and $100,000 total of Property Damage Liability coverage.

Imagine this: It's 9:30 p.m. and you're at a Houston Rockets game with your family. Yao Ming scores the game-winning basket, and the crowd files out of the arena in good spirits. You walk through the parking lot with your family, laughing and content, ready for the drive home. As you approach your car, you notice something startling on the ground beside your driver-side window: shattered glass. You see that your car window has been broken, and your GPS device has been stolen. The family is understandably shaken, but your Houston car insurance policy will cover your losses, right?

If your insurance policy doesn't include comprehensive coverage, don't count on it.

Every Houston auto insurance policy should include comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive coverage is the portion of a Houston car insurance policy that covers non-collision damage such as auto theft, vandalism and storm damage. Adding comprehensive coverage to a Houston car insurance policy isn't required by law, but it's crucial for drivers who want to protect their vehicle against vandalism, car theft or other non-collision damage.

Houston car insurance can be extremely affordable if you take a few minutes to shop around and find an affordable rate. If you're looking for auto insurance in Houston, visit InsWeb.com's car insurance quote form to shop around for free car insurance quotes.

Hyundai, Ford and GM have announced programs in which they will make your car payment for you if you lose your job. Hyundai was the first company to offer this kind of incentive as they announced their program back in January of this year.

Here are the basics of each companies program:

• Hyundai's "Assurance": Hyundai will make your car payments for three months after you have lost your job.

• Ford's "Drive One": Ford will make payments for 12 months of $700 or less.

• GM's "Total Confidence": for nine months GM will make payments of $500 or less.

I'm sure there are a couple of catches with each program. One stipulation is you can't be fired from your job because you did something that warranted you getting canned and still qualify. You have to lose your job due to the natural causes of the economy.

It seems like Ford and GM are doing all they can to try and sell some cars. Good timing with the news regarding GM being mostly about them staying one step ahead of bankruptcy. I think these programs might be able to sell a couple more cars.

But my question is- if you are worried about losing your job in the next couple of months, why are you looking to buy a car? Don't forget you're still going to have to make your car insurance payments even if the company picks up your monthly car payment.