On Fat Tuesday, a grand show

NEW ORLEANS — Bathed in springlike warmth and showered with trinkets, beads and music, New Orleans reveled in the excesses of Fat Tuesday.

A seemingly endless stream of costumed marching groups and ornately decorated float parades led by make-believe royalty poured out of the Garden District, while the French Quarter filled up with thrill seekers expecting to see debauchery.

And they did.

Some in the Quarter had a sleepless night after Monday's Lundi Gras prequel party. The drinking was in full swing again shortly after dawn, and with it came outrageous costumes and flesh-flashing that would continue until police make their annual attempt to break up the merrymaking at midnight, when Lent begins.

Tom White, 46, clad in a pink tutu, bicycled with his wife, Allison, to the French Quarter. "I'm the pink fairy this year," he said. "Costuming is the real fun of Mardi Gras. I'm not too creative but when you weigh 200 pounds and put on a tutu people still take your picture."

His wife was not in costume. "He's disgraced the family enough," she said.

Brittany Davies struggled with her friends through the morning, feeling the effects of heavy drinking from the night before. "I'll be OK after a bloody mary," the Denver woman joked.

Indeed, the theme of the day was party hard and often.

Wearing a bright orange wig, a purple mask and green shoes, New Orleans resident Charlotte Hamrick walked along Canal Street to meet friends.

"I'll be in the French Quarter all day," Hamrick said. "I don't even go to the parades. I love to take pictures of all the costumes and just be with my friends. It's so fun."

Police reported no major incidents along the parade route.

Across the globe, people dressed up in elaborate costumes and partied the day away. In Rio de Janeiro, an estimated 850,000 tourists joined the city's massive five-day blowout. Meanwhile, the Portuguese, who have suffered deeply in Europe's debt crisis, defied a government appeal to keep working.

In New Orleans, the streets filled with hundreds of thousands of people.

The predominantly African-American Zulu krewe was the first major parade to hit the streets, shortly after 8 a.m. Most krewe members were in the traditional black-face makeup and the Afro wigs Zulu riders have sported for decades. They handed out the organization's coveted decorated coconuts and other sought-after trinkets.

In the oak-lined Garden District, clarinetist Pete Fountain led his Half-Fast Walking Club on its annual march to the French Quarter. Fountain, 82, gave a thumbs-up to start off and his band launched into "When The Saints Go Marching In" as they rounded the corner onto St. Charles Avenue shortly after 7 a.m. It was the 52nd time Fountain's group has paraded for Mardi Gras.

This year, the group wore bright yellow suits and matching pork pie hats for its theme, "Follow the Yellow Brick Road."

Costumes were the order of the day, ranging from the predictable to the bizarre.

Wearing a purple wig, New Orleans resident Juli Shipley carried a gallon of booze down Bourbon Street and filled her friends' cups when they got low. "We're going to wander all day and people-watch," Shipley said. "That's the best part of Mardi Gras — the costumes. They're amazing."

Partygoers were dressed as Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy and the Wicked Witch, bags of popcorn, pirates, super heroes, clowns, jesters, princesses and lots of homemade costumes with the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold.

At New Orleans' antebellum former city hall, Mayor Mitch Landrieu toasted Zulu's monarchs and special guests. Among them was New Orleans native and former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young who was on a float with National Urban League President Marc Morial, a former mayor of New Orleans, his wife, Michelle, and their two children.

"It's good to be home," Young said. And saluting the good weather of the day, he added, "God always smiles on New Orleans when it needs it."

After Zulu, the parade of Rex, king of Carnival, made its trek down St. Charles Avenue and to the city's business district. Along the way, paradegoers pleaded for beads and colorful aluminum coins, known as doubloons.

Small groups of families and friends had parades of their own. The Skeleton Krewe, 25 people dressed in black skeleton outfits, wandered along the parade route, heading toward St. Louis Cathedral.

Along the parade route that follows the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, die-hards had staked out prime parade-watching spots as early as Monday. Some had a Carnival-esque tailgate party under way early.

Stephanie Chapman and her family claimed their usual spot about 4 a.m. Tuesday and would be staying for the duration.

"This is a beautiful day and we'll be here until it's over. It won't rain on my parade, but if it does I won't pay any attention," she said.

Rain stayed away and temperatures were in the 70s. As the day wore on and drinking intensified, the combination encouraged raunchy acts in the French Quarter, where women bared flesh in pleadings for beads tossed to the street by revelers on balconies.

By midafternoon, some folks were tuckered out.

Alison Scott, 35, of New Orleans, was part of a group that had a small city of tents and canopies set up at Lee Circle. She and her family had been coming to the spot for about 40 years. "Believe me, I'm always glad to get here and then I'm always glad to go home," she said.

Her 6-year-old daughter, Shannon, was asleep nearby under a blanket of beads.

"She just pooped out. This is the first time she's stopped. She's been so excited all day," Scott said.

In the Cajun country of southwest Louisiana, masked riders went from town to town, making merry along the way in the Courir du Mardi Gras. And parades were scheduled elsewhere around Louisiana and on the Gulf coasts of Mississippi and Alabama.

The celebration arrived in Louisiana in 1682 when the explorer LaSalle and his party stopped at a place they called Bayou Mardi Gras south of New Orleans to celebrate.

Parading and street revelry would give way to Mardi Gras' elegant side, with the lavish and private grand balls of the Rex and Comus krewes Tuesday night signaling the end of the celebration. Mardi Gras gives way to the beginning of Lent, the period of fasting and repentance before Easter Sunday.

source :
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120222/NEWS02/202220350/-1/NEWSMAP

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What May Be Covered by Your Insurance Policy

It's safe to say that having a quality car insurance policy is perhaps one of the greatest investments a person can make. Knowing that your loved ones are insured and protected as they drive their vehicles can serve to help you feel more comfortable with the idea, particularly with teenage drivers. You're going to want to make sure that you have a policy that covers all the things that you need covered. As policies are as variable as the companies that offer them, make sure to spend some time with a representative from your insurance company to cover the specifics.

You could consider asking them questions regarding bodily injury liability. This is a protection that is provided by most insurance policies for the event of injury or death as a result of actions you made while operating your vehicle. It would also potentially cover the cost of a legal defense in the event of a lawsuit being filed as a result of what happened. Remember that bodily injury liability is not the same as collision coverage. It only covers injury to persons, not vehicles. Collision repair, on the other hand, is the reverse. Your policy may extend coverage to cover the cost of repairing your vehicle, or in some cases, even replacing it. Typically the latter is only done if the cost of repairing the vehicle is greater than the cost of replacing it. While this is generally not the case, it can happen, and having a quality insurance policy could help to cover most, if not all, of this cost.

Hand in hand with this, should your car be gone for any extended amount of time, many insurance policies include a form of coverage regarding renting a car for the duration of time you are out of a vehicle. It is important to note that most insurance providers have preferred partners in this regard. You should always contact your insurance provider first to find out if this is the case, and if it is, to get a list of local car rental companies your policy will cover working with. If you were to get a rental car first, and then contact your insurance provider, you may find the cost of is not covered if it is not with one of their preferred partners. Always contact the insurance provider first. Better to be safe than sorry.

Another type of insurance, once again to cover things outside of your control, would be coverage against uninsured motorists. Should another person chose to drive without insurance and get in an accident with you, you may very well find yourself paying the cost of the repairs yourself. If you were to have coverage for this type of situation, it may cover paying for injuries sustained in the accident, as well as damages to your vehicle. Ultimately you will have to decide on a policy that works for you, with a price that you can afford. Remember that the price of insurance is exponentially less than the price of covering the cost yourself, should the need arise. It is wise to protect both yourself and your loved ones with a quality car insurance policy, for all those times ahead that you may not be able to predict right now.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6871506

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Locating Cheap Female Car Insurance

Being taught to drive is a huge step in every person's life. It opens up various new liberties and possibilities. Immediately after having passed the driving exam, most people's interest turns to finding a car. Naturally the expense of being able to drive comes not only from the car itself and getting gas but also from the cost of insurance coverage. Insurance is not only for your protection but it's also a lawful requirement. Without the proper insurance for your car, you are not able to drive it on the road lawfully. Therefore, it is important to know where to search for cheap female car insurance.

Car insurance fees vary vastly depending on sex & age. It is generally less for females as statistically females are involved in a smaller amount of collisions on the road than men. Not only that but females also are apt to travel fewer kilometers on the whole and subsequently don't put in claims as often or for as much as males do. Females also have fewer driving associated convictions, accounting for merely 9% with men making up the other 91%. This is an incredible disparity and is one of the main reasons for cheap female car insurance. Usually, the biggest disparity in insurance costs between sexes happens if the driver is adolescent. Generally, the more juvenile the driver, the bigger the difference in cost between the sexes will be. It usually levels off about the age of 45. Young males are notorious for exceeding the speed limit and being involved in serious collisions therefore this seems logical.

Discovering cheap female car insurance is turning out to be much simpler due to the web. It's nowadays possible to locate quotes from a large amount of companies and contrast the quotes against one another. Because there is such a big divergence in insurance coverage among sexes there are presently countless auto insurance companies that specifically provide for females and propose good deals for them.

While looking online for an insurance quote you may be asked a bunch of general questions to help determine the offers made to you. These inquiries usually include items such as age, sex, work status, driving history, auto make, and miles travelled on average. By using this information the sites will deliver a number of quotes from various insurance brokers. A different way to look for cheap female car insurance would be to hunt precisely for companies who cater to females solely. Oftentimes they will proffer quotes that are custom-made for females. Whichever way you decide on searching for cheap female car insurance, it is imperative you are certain the insurance company you're dealing with is trustworthy and known to pay out for their claims.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6812037

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Why It's Important to Have Car Insurance for Your Vehicles

There are many types of insurance out there. Some are required, and some aren't. One of those that are required, by lenders and by the state, is auto insurance. You may find yourself asking the question of why you need it. Maybe you're wondering for which situations it may prove to be useful, and which it won't. What sorts of things are covered by your policy, and what aren't? Let's focus on answering these questions and perhaps even more.

The biggest question, why you need it, is also the easiest to explain. You can never know exactly what is going to happen to you as the day progresses. Accidents happen every single day, and even if you're the best driver in the world, you cannot control the other people using the roads. Even with the best of intentions and a strict adherence to following the rules of the road, you may still find yourself in a fender bender or worse. Having a quality car insurance policy is going to save you a lot of money should this ever be the case.

Let's consider a few things. When you're in an accident, there is likely going to be damages sustained to your car. These may be minor, and they may be major. If they're minor, then chances are that your auto insurance policy is going to cover most or all of the cost of repairs in a timely fashion. If you get major damages sustained to your vehicle, you are going to be even more grateful for the auto insurance policy you decide to purchase. This policy can cover most or all of the cost of repairing or perhaps replacing a car too damaged to repair. This can be a huge benefit to have. Without the insurance policy, the thousands required to repair or replace your vehicle would be coming from you personally.

If you do find yourself without your car for any extended amount of time, many car insurance policies agree to cover the cost of a rental car for the duration of the repairs. Knowing which car rental companies your insurance policy agrees to use and which are not included is an important part of this. Make sure to you contact your insurance provider before you go and rent a car to make sure the car that you are getting is from one of their preferred companies. The cost of a car from a car rental company may not be covered otherwise.

Another thing to consider is damages to the other vehicle or property damaged in the accident. Having a quality car insurance policy could potentially help to cover those costs, in addition to the damages taken by your personal vehicle. If you happen to be hit by an uninsured driver, your car insurance may also cover the cost of medical bills that would generally be covered by the other individual's insurance provider. Preparing for all eventualities is the best form of car insurance you can get. Make sure to find a policy that works for you, at a price you can afford, with the coverage you feel safe with. Having a quality car insurance policy will give you the peace of mind you need in today's ever evolving world.

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The Importance Of Comparing Different Car Insurance Benefits

Every car insurance policy offers you a unique set of benefits. Therefore it is wise to compare different motor insurance policy features before you sign on the dotted line. This will ensure that you get what you want so that your needs are served. After all, it is no use spending a ton of money for a product you do not know much about, isn't it?

Having said this, we have to know which are the most salient features we must pay attention to. This article tells you more.

The first and most important benefit you should be looking at is the type of coverage. There are 3 main types of coverage available in the market. The first one is Comprehensive Coverage. This offers you the most benefit compared to the rest. With this type of coverage, you are able to claim for damages to other people's car as well as your own.

The other types of motor insurance are Third Party Only and Third Party Fire and Theft coverage. These have limited coverage and most car owners will not find this useful. The only thing good about them is their price. Nevertheless they may turn out to be the most expensive motor insurance you buy because they may not serve your needs.

Other than the type of coverage, your policy excess deserves some attention. Excess is simply a type of co-insurance. It is also known as a deductible. Different car insurance policies offer different excess. Some are high while others are low. A few motor insurers even offer zero-dollar excess to attract new customers into their fold. Whatever it may be, you must consider how much you want to pay before claiming the rest of the repair cost from the insurer. If you have to increase or lower your car insurance, by all means do so. Choose an excess value that feels right to your budget. Otherwise you may feel stretched if an accident really occurs.

Finally, you have to compare the claims efficiency. This is not really a feature you can see on paper. It will not be spelled out and no insurer will promise great efficiency when it comes to claims. For most consumers, this is transparent. But not knowing about this does not mean it is not important. Car insurance is meant to protect you from financial distress. So in order for your car insurance policy to serve this end, your insurer must be willing to process your claims without dragging its feet.

To compare this hidden feature, you have to get feedback from clients who have used each insurer's service. But this is very tedious and time consuming. A better way may be to ask a car insurance specialist. They work with different auto insurers and will know how efficient they are when it comes to claims.

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Important Details Concerning Auto Insurance Fraud

Your cost for insurance could be cheaper if so many people were not out there trying to take advantage of insurance companies. Millions of dollars every year are spent on lawsuits and other court related fees due to insurance claims being sought out. Learn more about how scams are helping to make everyone's premiums higher.

Several popular scams are out there for luring innocent drivers into an accident that will end up being proved their fault. Incident scammers implement a plan surrounding you and causing you to look guilty in an accident.

Beware of another driver waving for you to pull into traffic in front of them. You may be pulling out into the path of a trickster trying to make a buck. The waving driver hits the one pulling out and will not admit to waving you into harms way. This is a common trick and has cost many innocent drivers and their insurance companies thousands of dollars.

Slamming into the back of another car is a terrifying way to come to a complete stop. However, paying close attention to those in front of you pays off in the event that person is a scammer. Many drivers slam on their brakes intentionally to cause the driver behind them to crash into their car. This is another common trick used by dishonest drivers.

Remaining calm and as focused as possible at the scene of an accident pays off greatly. Staying calm allows you top recall the steps you need to take for legal and non-legal reasons at an accident. Be sure to take pictures of the damage your vehicle did to another car. In this way, no further damage can be added to get more money out of the insurance company.

Consider the cost of medical expenses incurred during a car accident. Most accidents end up with the one or both drivers walking away injured. Making sure you have the coverage to help cover these expenses is important. Talking to an agent about the details of your liability policy is wise. Paying medical bills can cause you to lose your financial stability due to the high cost of patient care.

Learn more about defensive driving and how you can take a course for it. These are driving skills you will find valuable in the event you run into a scammer out on the roads. There are going to be times your quick thinking and driving skills can save lives and money

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Easy Application For Affordable Auto Insurance

There is a big responsibility imposed to those people who own vehicles and to those who plan to have one. One should know proper driving, diligent in following traffic rules, and good road attitude. Aside from these, the drivers have to invest in purchasing enough auto insurance to secure their finances in the coming future. Unfortunate events usually happened in unwanted times and being financial unprepared, you might end up having loads of bills. Reading this short article can help you through the tedious process of applying for a good coverage policy.

First and foremost, a buyer must know to the right way to determine what he is required to pay for. Most companies usually consider a lot of factors before they approve an application, they examine the underwriting and rating. When we speak of underwriting, it covers that likeliness or possibilities for the applicant to face danger relating to driving. While rating means the guidelines and system that the company follows before giving a coverage.

The basic factors which directly affect the offered quote to applicants are car's model and brand, their age, vehicle usage, gender, previous coverage policy, geographic place, marital status, and driving history. Driving history is part of the factors because it determines the previous road violations, accidents, number of traffic fines, and license suspension incurred by the applicant.

While geographic territory is included in the factors since companies consider the accident rating of a particular area. Oftentimes, rural areas have minimal claims than those of the urban places. Another thing that they think of is the applicant's gender and age. Statistics has shown that males have higher risks than women in terms of road accidents. Age is a big factor since younger drivers incurred higher risks than the older ones.

It is better that you ask for assistance or hire an agent who can help in looking for great discounts. Some discounts that can be availed are anti-theft devices, dividends, safety car equipments, multiple cars, low acquired mileage, good driver record, and good student. You must remember that some states are not providing discounts due to differences of regulations and law. Better read other good sources of information to for guidance in making choices.

Check if the state follow tort or no-fault system. This can help in determining the best coverage policy suitable for your needs. Some basic coverages mandated by the tort rule are bodily injury liability, uninsured motorist, and property damage liability. While the no-fault rule, coverage plans usually vary since company providers are obliged to directly pay the property damages, losses, medical bills, and injuries without determining whose at fault.

There is a need to check other optional coverage plans. Some of the alternatives are the collision, towing, comprehensive, repair, medical bill coverage, and rental. These additional choices will make the driver worry-free and more confident. But you must think of your budget and just follow traffic rules to avoid unnecessary expenses.

Inquire for referrals and advice from friends, work colleagues, and relatives regarding best auto insurance plans. Visit company websites and read blogs, articles, and forum discussions

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6870802

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