C0017A asked:

How to pan gold and use the “Backwash & Tap” method to separate fine gold from black sand. Use several drops of JetDry per gallon of panning tub water too.

somegreybloke asked:

Now with English subtitles! Seems like there were other things going on in the news a couple of weeks back. Bush-administration torture, the continuing economic meltdown, MPs expenses… Never mind, eh?

Vaccine for H1N1

Dtm asked:

If you have special needs you must ensure that your special circumstances are covered by the policy you choose.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Most insurers do not automatically cover pre-existing medical illnesses or medical conditions. However traveler’s can apply for coverage for their pre-existing illness via an application, which is, then subject to approval and possible payment of a premium. Keep in mind there are illnesses and conditions that will not be covered under any circumstances. Some insurers offer automatic coverage for common illnesses/conditions such as tinnitus, asthma or stable high blood pressure but the onus is on the traveler to check because conditions can apply. For example if you are on a hospital waiting list for treatment for your illness or condition you may not be covered. Sometimes insurers will offer you a policy that excludes claims caused by your condition or they may not offer a policy because of the destination of your travels.

What is a pre-existing medical condition?

In general they are usually defined as any chronic or ongoing medical or dental condition for which you have received treatment or advice within a specified time prior to the policy being issued or any chronic or ongoing medical condition, illness or disease that’s been medically documented prior to departure.

If the insurer does agree to cover you it is recommended you get it in writing. There may be an additional premium. Also check the excess in relation to a claim relating to the pre-existing condition. If you cannot get travel insurance for your condition it is still important to get travel insurance for other claims.

Pregnant Women

Most policies will cover pregnant women on application but you might be charged an additional premium for prior complications.

The cut-off point for coverage during pregnancy varies from 26 weeks to ‘no time limit’, with 26 weeks being the norm. Many policies cover unforeseen complications of the pregnancy during that time period, but they don’t all cover the medical costs of a premature baby.

Some charge an additional premium. Policies do not cover full-term birth. A few policies don’t cover you if you buy a policy and depart on your journey without knowing you are pregnant.

Older Travelers

Most of the policies offered have special conditions for older travelers. Some will require the payment of an extra premium while others will not offer cover after a specific age such as 75.

Most will require a medical assessment; some will charge a higher premium or extra fee. Others have no fee but have an extra excess for medical claims.

Adrenalin Seekers & Adventure Travelers

It is very important to check what activities you are covered for and more importantly what activities you are not covered for. Most amateur sports are covered however there are many exclusions. Exclusions can include mountaineering using ropes, base jumping, running with the bulls, snowboarding and professional sports. All product disclosure statements will outline the specific ‘adventures’ which are covered. Be aware that an extra premium may apply and read the conditions.

Single Parents traveling with children

If you are a single parent or adult traveling alone with several children most policies will cover the children for the single premium. However, some only allow cover for two dependent children travelling with one parent. It is important to check the age limits for children traveling with one parent.

Duo policies

These are policies that enable two people to travel together under the same policy. Make sure you check the restrictions because some may only allow you to travel with a spouse or family member others may require you to have the exact itinerary whereas others may allow you to spend 50% of time together.

Working while overseas

Working and traveling is a cost effective way of financing your trip. However some policies don’t cover you for manual labor or an accident that has happened while working. Policies that do provide cover usually don’t charge an additional premium but a few do.

As always make sure you check and double-check what you are buying. It is very important to understand the conditions and restrictions found in the product disclosure statement before you travel. It is essential for you to check all the small print on your policy before you make a decision. Read many policies carefully before making a decision and make sure you understand exactly what you are covered for and more importantly what you are not covered for.

Australia Travel Insurance wishes you a wonderful and safe journey.

Knight Pierce Hirst asked:


The Thaddeus Kosciuszko Memorial is a hidden treasure. It’s the smallest U.S. National Park – .02 acres. Thaddeus Kosciuszko was a Polish-born, American Revolutionary War hero, whom Jefferson described as the purest son of liberty he’d ever known. The memorial is one room in a narrow, Philadelphia road house, where Thaddeus lived for seven months in 1797 when he petitioned Congress for back pay. If he’d known he was going to have his own national park, I doubt he’d have asked his secretary to find a place “as small, as remote and as cheap” as possible. His memorial teaches us history and to be careful what we ask for.

The Eiffel Tower, one of the seven wonders of the modern world, isn’t hidden and it wasn’t meant to be a treasure. Gustave Eiffel originally planned to build the tower in Barcelona, as part of Barcelona’s Exposition Universal. After Barcelona turned him down, Eiffel submitted his plans to those in charge of Paris’ Exposition Universal, who were having a design contest for the exposition’s entrance arch. Although Eiffel won the contest, the contest terms stipulated “the arch” would be torn down in twenty years. When the time came, however, France didn’t have “de Gaulle”.

What Texas Monthly has every five years is a search for the state’s best barbeque. After traveling over 15,000 miles and trying 341 barbeques, they found Snow’s Barbeque in the small town of Lexington. What they found at Snow’s was Miss Tootsie. Miss Tootsie, who’s a school custodian during the week, has been cooking barbeque for forty-two of her seventy-three years. She says the secret to her barbeque is the combination of heat, smoke, salt, pepper and time. Now that Snow’s is #1, Miss Tootsie has gone from cooking 300 pounds of meat to 1,000 pounds – and Snow’s is only open Saturdays. Because they often sell out in two hours, the locals think Snow’s has gotten too big for its … brisket.

Before 1972 Gunnison Beach in Sandy Hook, NJ was a military base, where soldiers occasionally skinny dipped. When the base was decommissioned, it officially became a clothing-optional beach. On summer weekends as many as 5,000 people go there. Bathers are all races and ages, but most are over 50. Most bathe nude, many are topless and a few are in swimsuits. Even at a hidden treasure not everyone wants to reveal their hidden treasures.

Gu Qing asked:


Looking for the best tips that help you take perfect Christmas pictures and snap the most unforgettable holiday moment?

Christmas is such a great time of the year when families and friends gather together and get into the festive spirit. It truly is a time to cherish when the children open their presents, eat dinner and listening to “Old Uncle Bernie” telling a few jokes.

What makes it even more special, however, is taking that perfect Christmas photo so that, when you look back on that Christmas, can really help you to relive the memories of that truly magical Christmas.

However, the truth is, although many people have expensive cameras, they may not know how to use them correctly.

A lot of people think “how hard could it possibly be?” and they just go ahead and take the photo without even looking at the instructions. What they do not realize is that it can be extremely hard to take decent Christmas pictures when you do not know how to use the camera properly.

Most of people just get the camera out, nap a picture and, when they get it back, the picture is either missing someone’s head or it hasn’t come out properly at all.

So, as well as knowing how to work the camera, it is a good idea to feel confident in how to take that perfect Christmas photo. There are a few tips that you can use to make things easier.

First, arrange the scenery and the people exactly how you require them to be and make sure that there are not any unwanted objects in the way. It can be extremely annoying when you take a photo and realize that some stranger making faces right in the view of your camera has ruined it.

You can use the red eye feature on some cameras that can help when the Christmas pictures have been developed. If this feature is not on your camera, you can ask the person to turn slightly to the left, which should stop the problem.

A great tip for taking a Christmas photo when there is a group of three or more people is to take more than one picture. The reason behind this is that it is almost guaranteed that one person will have their eyes shut or be looking the wrong way. So take precautions and do not pin all of your hopes on one photo, otherwise, you may be disappointed!

So, make sure you capture that perfect Christmas holidays’ moment by following some of these basic tips. However, remember that it is all about having fun so be sure to enjoy yourself at the same time!

As well as having that perfect photo for your family album, how about entering your best photos in a contest for a prize? This could be a really big incentive to snap those perfect Christmas pictures, as well as a sense of pride and joy.