When the Music Dies I’m going to take a moment to digress from my normally “insurance heavy” postings to talk about some recent events that have had an impact on me, as well as many of you: the deaths of some amazing musicians. On February 3, 1959, an airplane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. Richardson (also known as “The Big Bopper”) crashed in a vacant field near Clear Lake, Iowa. The three musicians were in the middle of a Midwest tour with three other musicians, most notably the future country star Waylon Jennings. Jennings gave up his seat to The Big Bopper since Richardson had the flu. The event inspired a song by Don McLean called “American Pie” and was reenacted dramatically in the movie “La Bamba:” a song loosely based on the life of Richie Valens. The country, especially fans of the new musical genre rock and roll, were stunned. A flood of grief poured out across the nation. Many people saw the news on the increasingly popular medium of television, or heard about it on the radio. Newspapers across the country recounted the details of the crash. While the U.S. had experienced collective grief in the death of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and also the untimely deaths of Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley, this was one of the first occurrences when people so young and vital and newly famous were taken. Buddy Holly created a body of work that is still generating millions of dollars today: a testament to his lasting genius. After that, many of us were grief-stricken when we heard about the brutal shooting of John Lennon on December 8, 1980. I was working at a local ice cream shop when it came on the radio that John Lennon was no longer with us. One of my earliest memories was sitting in my cousin’s room while she and my sister played “Hey Jude” over and over again on a little 45 record player. The song was so beautiful and intriguing to a three-year old, especially the “Na na na na na na” chorus. The thing that I came to appreciate about the Beatles’ music was, that if it had never been written, it certainly should have been. That’s how universal their work is. Over the past month, four major music artists from vastly different genres have all been taken from us. Late last year, Lemmy Kilmister of the heavy-metal band Motorhead died from complications of a long-running bout with cancer. While nobody would call Motorhead’s music “easy listening,” there is an alluring quality to music that is so purely “head-banging” in nature. If you want to have a good listen to a classic Motorhead song and an example of Lemmy’s distinctive vocals, check out their song “Ace of Spades” on YouTube. If you aren’t singing along by about the fifth repetition of Lemmy singing the chorus, then you should probably move along. Heavy metal will never be your thing! Next to pass away was the amazing vocal talent Natalie Cole. Natalie Cole’s music spanned pop to classic soul. She also made several popular ballads her own. She was the daughter of the legendary singer and pianist Nat “King” Cole, and through modern technology, she recorded a duet with her father, the song “Unforgettable.” Listening to that song will make you want to explore the wonderland which is her father’s music as well as taking a new listen to her songs. Natalie Cole died too soon at age 65 of heart failure. After that, a death that caught many of us by surprise was David Bowie. What made this death so unexpected was, Bowie had just released his latest album a few days prior on his birthday. Traditionally, musicians release an album and then follow up with a concert tour. In fact, I was expecting to hear news about an upcoming tour. Unfortunately, within just a few days, the news hit the internet that this musical legend had passed away from cancer. After listening again to his latest album, it became clear that this musical ground-breaker was turning his own death into a work of art. His song “Lazarus” makes reference to a person in the Bible who was raised from the dead. The video also shows Bowie lying on what looks like a hospital cot. Friends and those he had worked with said that in the weeks prior to his death he had sent them emails reflecting on their times together which were later clearly understood to be Bowie saying goodbye. 95.5 KLOS hosts the longest-running Beatles show called “Breakfast with the Beatles,” but for the first time ever, they broke with that format and did “Breakfast with David Bowie.” This is significant because there are precious few artists who could be put in the category of the Beatles. David Bowie, is arguably one of the most influential musicians of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. Many young people in the 90’s were re-introduced to the genius of David Bowie when Nirvana did an acoustic cover of the Bowie song, “The Man Who Sold the World.” Bowie’s genius inspired geniuses. That is powerful. And (hopefully!) finally, we lost one half of the power band The Eagles. Glenn Frey, who also has acting credits and a fairly successful solo career to his credit, passed away. Frey and bandmate Don Henley pretty much wrote the soundtrack for the 1970’s, and later in the early 1980’s dominated album-oriented rock stations with their album “The Long Run.” Their eerily beautiful song “Hotel California” continues to be a staple of classic rock stations. Lately, Frey had not been as active musically due to health complications, but his acting credits include a recurring role on the series “Miami Vice” as a guitar-playing airplane pilot who was not above a little illegal activity. The death of David Bowie hit me especially hard since he was one of the first musicians to really make me stretch in my appreciation of music. It is almost impossible to listen to Bowie’s music without giving it your full attention. Even such songs like “Suffragette City” that are so easy to sing along to have enough quirks and stops that it forces the listener to stay on their musical toes. I remember hearing songs like “Space Oddity” and wondering what it was that Bowie was trying to communicate. Was he just talking about a dysfunctional astronaut and riffing on our modern fascination in space, or did he have something deeper to communicate? Today, I can appreciate the song’s attempt to reach all of the “Major Tom’s” of the world who don’t really feel like they belong here. His songs “Starman” and “Life On Mars?” further explore alienation and gave the “weirdos” of the world hope that there was an artist out there that had something to say about topics other than “sex, drugs, and rock and roll. At the same time, he was still unbelievably cool and self-assured. Bowie then went on to dominate pop music with his “Let’s Dance” album and tour. While never having really been a pop artist, he walked into that genre, said “hello,” took it over, and then moved on. His massively popular videos associated with the album were constantly rotated on the burgeoning MTV music channel. This led to him having the opportunity to chide the new music channel on their failure to showcase diverse musical artists. Bowie knew that MTV needed him more than he needed them. Few artists have that kind of “jack” and even fewer would use it! Finally, the thing that hit me the hardest was that my daughter has found meaning in the work of David Bowie. When “Starman” started playing in the movie “The Martian,” she immediately recognized that high-pitched falsetto voice as the incomparable David Bowie. I played her a video of a 500 voice chorus singing “Space Oddity,” and it really moved her. That is the mark of true genius, and something which all of these artists have in common: they will be relevant to new generations. Rest in peace, Lemmy, Natalie, David, and Glenn. While you will be missed, you left your best selves behind. Thank you.
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Hey! Your Nuisance Is Attractive……and It’s Not Good! Normally when we hear that something is attractive, we think it is good. An attractive home, an attractive haircut, an attractive outfit, but one thing that you do NOT want to have is an attractive NUISANCE. In insurance, an attractive nuisance is something on your property that could potentially make something bad happen, even if it’s not necessarily inherently bad. The most common example of an attractive nuisance is a ladder left up against a house. Obviously there’s nothing illegal or wrong about having a ladder against your house, especially if you are doing roof work or putting up holiday lights. Where things can go wrong is that if a ladder is left up without you attending it, little kids find something like that very intriguing. If you have kids, (or if you were a kid yourself!) you know the draw of climbing a ladder. “Little kid logic” says that if a ladder is there, it was meant to be climbed! Even though the kids were not invited onto your property, you can still be held liable for leaving something dangerous out where kids can get to it. Other attractive nuisances include old cars that are not secured. Kids like to get into those cars and pretend that they are driving down the road. With some ingenuity, those kids may actually get it on the road! We don’t want that! Old appliances, unattended power tools, empty and ungated pools, all of these are attractive nuisances because they may draw children, or even those who may not be as wise as they should be. The best way to prevent attractive nuisances at your home is to be diligent. Try to see your home through a child’s eyes and look for things that might catch their eye. If you are a business owner, check your shop to see if there are dangerous things that might catch a kid’s eye. Don’t rely on parents to watch out for their kids! You as a business owner can be held liable for dangerous risks at your business. If you are looking to make your nuisances less attractive, or better yet, getting rid of them altogether, contact your insurance agent. He or she can provide you with tips to keep your home or business safe. As always, my office is available to help walk you through how you can be proactive at getting rid of attractive nuisances. Our number is (661) 946-4224. As far as making your lawn more attractive…….you’re on your own there! Your kid is now sixteen years old. He or she is more than likely begging you to get their permit, and eventually their license. As a parent, I can relate to you if you are experiencing some sadness in realizing that your baby is now old enough to take to the roads. There's also some pretty cool possibilities in that you don't have to haul them to soccer practice or music lessons. Not only that, you potentially have an "errand runner" that is more than happy to drive to the store for you! It's important to make sure that insurance gets thrown into the mix. As everyone knows, it is illegal for anyone to drive without a license (or permit) and no insurance. There are a couple of very important things for parents and guardians to know about insurance BEFORE their new driver gets behind the wheel. First of all, MAKE SURE THEY ARE COVERED BY YOUR POLICY! More and more, insurance companies are requiring that even permitted drivers be listed on the insurance policy. If the young driver is not added to the policy, parents could find themselves without coverage if something bad happens on the ride with the youthful driver behind the wheel. A simple call to your insurance agent will do the trick in finding out what you need to do to make sure that your new driver hits the road legally. Also, it is never a bad idea to have your new driver meet with the insurance agent before they hit the road. The insurance agent has a wealth of information that will help your new driver be safe. For instance, the young driver, even though they may be licensed, does NOT have the authority to transfer insurance to one of their friends who may be bugging them to let them drive the car. It is very easy to imagine one of their friends laying on the pressure to let them drive the family car. In that instance, you can let the insurance agent "be the bad guy." Your child can tell their friends, "I'm sure my parents would let you, and I would certainly let you, but that jerk of an insurance agent told me that I can't!" I am often asked about whether or not it is better to put the youthful driver on their own policy rather than the family policy. The thinking behind this is, "if we have a separate policy, then if they have an accident, it won't affect us." Unfortunately, parents are still responsible for their kids until they turn eighteen. Even then, if the kid is still in the home, some liability may still be assumed if the parents own the vehicle. Since a minor can't own a vehicle, it all comes back to the parents. If the parents are wishing to teach their new driver responsibility, and if they have a job and are paying for the insurance, it is possible to set up a billing plan for one specific vehicle and achieve that goal, while still giving your driver the benefits of being on the family insurance program (multi-car discounts, multi-line discounts, Occupational discounts, etc.). Finally, there are usually multiple discounts available to young people who maintain a 3.0 grade point average. Many companies also offer additional discounts to young people who take a class online or in the agent's office. Call your agent to find out what discounts might be available to them. Hopefully this post was useful in helping you understand how to get your newly minted driver on the road legally and safely! If you have questions or comments, enter them below. Thanks for reading! Homeowner’s Insurance 101 For many homeowners, the only thing they know about their insurance is that it’s required by their mortgage company. In fact, they feel SO strongly about it that they will place their own insurance on the property if the homeowner doesn’t provide it. Hopefully, that will be all you need to know about your homeowner’s insurance, but life doesn’t always go our way! After you read this blog, you will know more about homeowner’s insurance than most of your friends. You can use this knowledge to impress them at the next dinner party! A homeowner’s insurance policy is a very comprehensive policy. It is important to note, however, that not all insurance policies are created equal. It is important to know that in addition to a homeowner’s policy, a significant number of policies that are written are dwelling policies. While they both cover many things in the same way, the dwelling policy is not as comprehensive as a homeowner’s policy. Many homeowners have found, to their shock, that some items just are not covered by a dwelling policy. The biggest coverage missing from a dwelling policy is theft coverage. If your home is broken into, and you have items stolen from your home, if you have a dwelling policy, you are most likely out of luck. There may be some coverage if they damaged your home while breaking in, but for the most part, theft is NOT covered by a dwelling policy. Oftentimes, people choose a dwelling policy because it is cheaper than a homeowner’s policy. When they are buying their home, they want to keep costs down, and they don’t always consider price versus value. For homeowners, it is usually best to spend the extra bit of money for a homeowner’s policy and get theft coverage as well as numerous other additional coverages that are not available on a dwelling policy. There are two other types of coverage that are not included on a homeowner’s policy of which everyone should be aware. The first, and especially noteworthy in California, is earthquake coverage. Coverage for earthquake is available through most California insurance agents. Take a look at my other blog about earthquake insurance for more valuable information (link). The second type of loss that is not covered by a homeowner’s policy is flood. This has become especially noteworthy since El Nino is currently pounding California. Many experts are recommending that homeowners consider flood insurance as part of their insurance portfolio. If you have questions or comments about this article, please feel free to do so below! DISCLAIMER: This article is intended to provide general information only. It is important you meet with an insurance agent to discuss your personal situation. El Nino! These two words have struck fear into many a homeowner! El Nino, (more formally called the El Nino Southern Oscillation) is a weather pattern that has impact all over the world, but most dramatically in California and the West Coast. Large amounts of rain and snow in the Western regions often wreak havoc on roads, homes, hillsides, and farms. Historically, the El Nino phenomenon has been noted over the last three centuries. South American sailors noticed a change in currents, and the local residents noticed changes in fish schooling patterns. We understand better today that El Nino is caused by an increase in the temperature in the Pacific Ocean near the Equator. What that means for homeowners and renters is an increased level of rain, and possibly snow: both of which are hard on homes! For homeowners, Flood Insurance (underwritten by the National Flood Insurance Program, and available through local agents) may be an attractive option to give peace of mind in the event of major flooding. It is important to remember that HOMEOWNER’S POLICIES DO NOT COVER FLOOD DAMAGE! It may also be a good idea to store some sandbags and have a source of dirt. Sandbags are very effective in blocking and channeling moving water. Check with your local Fire Department to see if they offer free sandbags and sand. Strangely enough, you may find yourself in a position in which your vehicle is covered for flood damage, but your home is not! Almost all insurance policies that carry comprehensive coverage will cover flood damage. This coverage was dramatically illustrated in a recent mudslide. Portions of Highway 58 were covered up to five to six feet in mud, stranding numerous motorists and locking their vehicles in the grip of a sea of dirt and debris. If their auto insurance policy had comprehensive coverage as part of their program, chances are, they were able to make a successful claim with their insurance company. The question remains, what should I do to protect myself from El Nino? First of all, get a good, sturdy umbrella! It looks like we’re in for quite a bit of precipitation! Secondly, call your local insurance agent to see what you need to adjust in your insurance program to adequately cover yourself against El Nino. It is important to assess your level of risk in the upcoming weather event. If you have questions and need immediate answers, or if you are unable to contact your insurance agent, please feel free to email me at dave@thedaveowens.com or give our office a call at (661) 946-4224. I, or my licensed staff will be happy to review your program. Stay dry!! |
AuthorDave Owens, Owner/Agent. I have proudly served in the Insurance Industry for over 20 years. Archives
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