London most expensive dining capital in world

LONDON (AP) -- Thinking of a night out in London? Don't forget your wallet.

London is the most expensive dining capital in the world, restaurant rating company Zagat said Tuesday.

The average meal in London costs just over $79, beating out Paris, at nearly $72 and Tokyo, at just over $71, according to the company's survey of 5,300 Londoners.

That makes eating out in the British capital more than twice as expensive as New York, where the average meal costs $39.

The prices include drinks and tips.

Time Out's London food editor Guy Dimond said the Zagat survey was likely skewed toward high-end restaurants, but said the city's booming economy has pushed prices up across the board.

London is already the world's second-costliest city, according to a survey published by Mercer Human Resource in June. Moscow was rated as the world's most expensive, while New York, which served as the survey's base, ranked 15th.

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company.

Luxury Medical Services for a Monthly Fee

Boutique Medicine a Different Approach to Health Care

Do you want your visits to your doctor to be more personal? Would you like to be able to reach your doctor, not a telephone answering service, by telephone? No, these are not ideas from the past generation of medicine. These are the new ways that some doctors and some clinics are doing business, for their patients that can afford these luxuries.

Yes, it is always about the money. But in the case of these new medical services (that is being labeled as some as 'boutique medicine') the luxury may be worth the extra cost, providing you can afford it.

First, what does boutique medicine offer a patient?

Patients can make a phone call and get medical advice.

Patients can make same day appointments

Patients can see the doctor immediately, no time wasted in the waiting room.

Patients are given more preventative care.

How can doctors manage to afford these luxuries to their patients? The simple matter is that they cut down on the number of patients they see. The average doctor sees 2,000 to 4,000 patients. That means the average doctor does not have the time or the luxury of spending much time with each patient. When a doctor provides this luxury style care he/she sees about 400 to 600 patients.

Sounds good, right? What about the cost of these services? Just how expensive are they?

The price of course will range from doctor to doctor. On average a patient will pay a fee of $90 to $200 a month or an annual fee to be classified as one of the doctor's elite patients. This is just the cost of the service (which of course no insurance will pay). The patient will still have to pay for all other medical expenses.

Despite the cost, this special 'concierge' treatment is being offered nationwide. About 200 of the estimated 295,000 primary care physicians have begun offering this service. The numbers are rising yearly.

One reason patients like the service is that they feel they have more power in their medical treatment. They have more say and they are getting more attention. When you are sick you don't want to wait days before you can see a doctor and you don't want to be kept waiting for hours in the waiting room when you finally do get an appointment.

Do people who elect to sign up for this service like it? According to MDVIP, a Florida based company that helps doctors go concierge they do. They cite that about 95% of the patients who tries this luxury service resign the following year.

If you want to find out more about these services or if you would like to see if there is any concierge medical services in your area you can check out the MDVIP site at mdvip.com

By Linda M. McCloud

Six Famous People Who Insured an Essential Body Part

Technically, it is possible to insure any part of your body. Which part would you insure?

Celebrities sometimes insure various parts of their body according to whichever is most important to them. Pianists insure their hands, dancers insure their feet, singers insure their voices . These famous people insured various body parts for millions of dollars.

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire, world renowned dancer insured his legs for $650,000 which doesn't sound a lot compared to today's huge pay outs. Fred was an Academy Award film and stage dance, choreographer, singer and actor. (1899-1987).

Jamie Lee Curtis

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis insured her legs for £1 million. This American film actress was the star of many horror films. As an actress she clearly didn't see her face on the screen as being her most important attribute. Her legs are her most important asset according to her, or so it may seem.

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich was a German born American actress, singer and entertainer, who died in 1992. The American Film Institute listed her as number 9 in the list of Greatest Female Stars of All Time. She constantly evolved her act and changed her image but it was her dark brown, husky voice that most people recognised. She insured it for $1 million.

Ken Dodd

English comedian and singer songwriter, Ken Dodd, know as Doddy, insured those famous buck teeth of his. He is famous for selling 100 million records (remember vinyls?) but most of all for his trade mark buck teeth, frizzy hair and feather duster, or tickling stick. Those teeth were insured for $4 million.

Dolly Parton

Dolly didn't insure her voice as might have been expected, but her breasts, which she clearly saw as her most important asset. Dolly Parton remains the most successful country music singer/songwriter of all time. Those famous breasts were insured for just $800,000 which is surprisingly little compared to the huge insurance claims and payouts we hear of today.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen , American songwriter/singer and guitarist, insured the obvious thing which was his voice for $6 million. Again this seems very little when you compare the huge amounts earned by successful singers and songwriters today.

If you insured a part of your body, which part would it be and how much would you insure it for? Personally I would insure my voice as I can't imagine what it would be like not to be able to talk, or sing, albeit very badly.