Still, we grow attached to our movie characters. And even though, in the movies at least, when a character dies, they generally richly deserved it, there are some movie deaths that just make you cringe and say, “I’m just glad that wasn’t me.” Here are some of our favorites:

• Carlo getting strangled in The Godfather. OK, it isn’t the most gruesome death, by far, in the movies, but the part we wouldn’t want to go through is the anticipation. This guy knew Michael Corleone was going to kill him for what he did to his sister. And yet, he really had no choice but to get in the car. Knowing he was going to die. Then, when Michael finally convinces him that he isn’t going to kill him, his goon in the back seat does the dirty deed, allowing Michael to keep his word, technically. A distinction that we’re pretty sure was lost on Carlo.

• Boba Fett’s death in Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi. He was there the whole time Jabba went on his rant about how Han Solo and Chewbacca were going to be slowly digested inside the giant sand critter over a period lasting 1,000 years. While we find it hard to believe they wouldn’t just die of thirst in a week or so, it’s still not a pleasant prospect. Can you imagine the sinking feeling when that thing’s tongue wraps around your leg and you know you’re going under? It’s hard to be sympathetic for the guy who turned in Han Solo, but still. 1,000 years is harsh.

• Eaten by giant ants. Can you imagine anything worse? If you’ve seen Indiana Jones IV, you have an idea of what it can look like, and it isn’t pretty. Unfortunately, this death could actually happen-kind of. No, there aren’t giant ants anywhere, but there are driver ants. Also called army ants, these vile buggers can kill a human being. Usually the victim dies of suffocation because the colonies, which can number over 20 million, get into all of the crevices while they’re in the process of rending flesh from your body. Fortunately, they’re slow, so outrunning them isn’t a problem.

We’ve all eventually have to go somehow. Hopefully for you, it won’t be anything like these deaths. But, however you die, make sure your term life insurance is paid up so your family will be taken care of. After all, I’m sure that was on Boba Fett’s mind for 1,000 years.

Photo via Sam Howzit

Most people want to live a healthy and long life. There are methods available to increase chances of living longer. People don’t realize how much control one has over how healthy the body remains over the years. Healthy living will lead to improvement in other areas of a person’s life. Life is much easier to deal with when having a healthy frame of mind and body.

Some people are not aware of the different ways to live healthy. Living healthy involves eating a healthy diet, exercising, going for regular checkups with the doctor and living a healthy lifestyle. Here are 42 blogs that cover a variety of topics about healthy living.

1. Abundance Tapestry Learn about creating healthy habits and new lifestyle with focus on improving the mind and body.
2. Healthy Living Today Many people have a hard time living a healthy lifestyle because the world is fast paced. This lead to eating junk food and not being active. The right tips will help a person to main a healthy lifestyle.
3. Healthy Living for People and Planet Earth Will Taft give advice on ways to live healthy and ways to keep the environment healthy at the same time.
4. Whole Health Source A look at clean living for the spirit and body. Tips and advice on how to improve and live healthy.
5. Think Simple Now Learn simple way to succeed at living a healthy lifestyle.
6. Healthy Green Lifestyle Learn ways to be greener and healthier by making simple choices.
7. Nature Mom Blog A mom with great tips about nature and living healthy.
8. Global Healing Center Teaches how to be healthy through organic living.
9. Natural Life Magazine Tips for living healthy by using natural methods. Learn helpful tips on natural parenting and forming healthy habits.
10. Top Veg This blog is about hot to grow a constant supply of vegetables.
11. Green Living Tips Learn green living tips to improve health.
12. A Green Living This blog showcase stories related to green living and healthy lifestyles.
13. Green Living Blog This blog is by Green Footsteps. Green Footsteps offers advice on green living, give tips and recipes for a healthy lifestyle.
14. Life on the Balcony This blog provide healthy living tips for people who live in a condo or apartment.
15. The Cottage Smallholder This blog teaches how to take care of the body and grow food in a small space.
16. Real Self Reliance This blog teaches how to grow food and to be self reliant in healthy ways.
17. Self Reliance Adventures This blog shows how to like a healthy life through self sufficiency. Cover topics like emergency preparedness, frugal living, food storage and health.
18. Gardening Nude This blog focuses on growing healthy fruit and vegetables.
19. Joanna’s Food Tips for cooking healthy food from scratch.
20. The Ethicurean This blog teaches how to eat healthy and organic while eating excellent food.
21. Kalyn’s Kitchen Excellet tips for healthy recipes for yummy food.
22. Dr. Weil This blog uses Eastern and Western philosophies for nutritional eating.
23. Vegetarian Foodie Learn about different foods and their nutritional value.
24. Eat Live Run A food journal about combining eating healthy habits into a busy lifestyle.
25. Steph Chows A blog about health foods that tastes delicious.
26. Frog Bottom Farm A blog about CSA farming and how to locate a CSA farm in a nearby city.
27. Old Man Running A journal of inspiration from a 74 years old man who is taking steps to live healthy.
28. Zen to Fitness Mixing a Zen way of living with fitness.
29. Cranky Fitness A journal about living healthy with improved fitness tips.
30. Melissa’s Fitness Blog A blog that provides exercise routines.
31. Positivity Blog Tips on living positive by improving mental state and outlook.
32. Energy Fanatics This blog promotes overall health living through spiritual, mental, physical and emotional mind frame.
33. Promote Health and Wellness This blog provides up to date health news and tips on weight loss.
34. Healthy Life Journal A blog that covers a wide variety of healthy topics from diet to sexual health.
35. How to Live A Longer Life Focuses on increasing life expectancy and slow aging.
36. How to Live A Long Healthy Life This blog cover tips on preventing and treat medical conditions like arthritis.
37. Real Age Live Life to the Youngest Teaches about eating healthy exercising and making lifestyle changes.
38. Presentation Zen Promotes living a healthy lifestyle.
39. Laurel on Health Food Laurel is a certified holistic health counselor who shares tips on eating healthy and nutrition.
40. Our Natural Life Discussions about living a healthy and holistic lifestyle.
41. Healthy Joyful Living Blog Focuses on living a healthy and joyful life with family.
42. Happy Healthy Long Life Focuses on loving healthy and controlling medical conditions like high cholesterol.

Image credits: Rhian vK

There are some characters we wish would die. Others we’re kind of glad they’ll live forever. At any rate, here are some of the top fictional characters who really don’t have any need for term life insurance:

• Connor MacLeod. OK, so technically, he can be killed. But only by another Highlander. And even though they live forever, it’s not like you run into one every day. Besides, he’s the hero, so he gets to live forever anyway, right?

• Dracula. He’s been portrayed dozens of different ways in the movies, from bloodthirsty to rather suave, to a tortured soul who just needs some understanding. But as a vampire, he lives forever, as long as he can avoid people with stakes and crosses. Should be simple enough.

• The entire lot of Twilight vampires. OK, they’re pretty much in the same boat as Dracula, albeit with a whole lot of teen angst and a following of teenaged girls. Not only will they live forever, but they stay eternally young enough not to have anyone they really need to take care of. Not a bad gig, when you think about it.

• Jedi Knights. The Star Wars heroes aren’t allowed to get married or be in love. They’re not supposed to have kids, either. Good thing it happened once, though, I suppose, or the original Trilogy, about the adventures of Luke and Leia (Vader’s kids) would never have happened. Still, can you picture Darth Vader discussing his life insurance needs with an agent?

• Gandalf. First of all, he’s a bit of a loner, so there’s really no one to name as beneficiary. And, perhaps more important, when he gets killed he comes back. The only real difference is that his cloak has changed colors. He could probably get a really low rate, though, if the insurance company took that into account.

Unfortunately, most of us don’t live in fictional settings. Most of us have people who depend on us, who would really lose out if we were to die. So, although vampires, Jedi, and the assortment of odd immortals don’t need life insurance, we do.

Photo via Rob Young

Consider your earning potential. You’d be amazed at how much you make over the course of a lifetime. Go ahead and do the math. Of course, the figures will be different for everybody, but it’s fairly simple to calculate. How much money do you make? How many years will you be working?

When you multiply the two together, you get an idea of how much lost earnings your family will suffer if you were to pass away. Of course, this doesn’t even take into account retirement or social security, but that’s OK. Usually this number alone exceeds most people’s term life insurance coverage.

Now, consider what you’re worth to your family emotionally. If you were to die today, would your spouse want to return to work tomorrow? If so, you probably need a marriage counselor, which is unfortunately much more expensive than term life insurance. How much time would you want to give each other “off” if something were to happen to you? Unfortunately, bills will still need to be paid. Insurance benefits can go a long way towards covering these, if you have enough.

Do you want your kids to go to college? Most of us take out loans to cover our kids’ education, but the sad fact is that even the most generous banks (I know, oxymoron, right?) don’t loan money to dead people. This leaves the entire burden on your spouse or your kids. No one wants that. Factor in what your kids’ education is going to cost. Make sure you have enough coverage to pay for it.

Even if you’re a home maker, you have economic value to your family. Who would stay with the kids if you were gone? Child care costs money, and that should be considered when looking at how much insurance you need.

These are just the simple things that every family needs to concern itself with. The truth is that every family’s situation is unique, and you should discuss your individual needs with a qualified and trusted agent who can help you determine how much coverage is appropriate for you.

Photo via reynolds.james.e