Everyone is vulnerable to identity theft.  However, you can do some things to protect yourself from identity theft.

• Do not sign  the back of your credit cards. Instead, put “PHOTO ID REQUIRED“.

• When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts,  DO  NOT put the complete  account number on the ‘For’ line.  Instead, just put the  last four numbers of your credit card number.   The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won’t have access to it.

• Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone.

• If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do no t have a PO Box, use your work address.

• Never  have your  SS# printed on your checks.   You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

• Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc.. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.  Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

• If you have a passport.  Make a photocopy of your passport.

If you lose your wallet or if is stolen, take the following safety steps:

• Cancel your credit cards immediately. Therefore,  have the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call.  Keep those where you can find them.

• File a  police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were lost or stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

• Call  the  3 national credit reporting organizations  immediately to place a fraud alert on your name.

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289

• Call the Social Security fraud line number.

Social Security Administration (fraud line):  1-800-269-0271

By following these simple steps you can stop identity theft in its tracks.

To convert kilometers to miles, halve the number 4 times and multiply by 10.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the moon spells DOC each month.

First it looks like a D (waxing moon and gets bigger each night), then an O (full), then a C (waning moon and getting smaller each night).

South of the equator, it’s reversed and spells COD.

-Katie Gladstone

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All CPAs are accountants, but not all accountants are CPAs.  CPA is the abbreviation for Certified Public Accountant.

The principal differences between accountants and CPAs are education and experience. In order to become a CPA, there are education and experience requirements needed to be fulfill.  In addition, a Uniform CPA Exam must be passed.

CPAs are many things. They are chief financial officers for Fortune 500 companies and advisors to small neighborhood businesses. They are well-respected strategic business advisors and decision-makers. They act as consultants on many issues, including taxes and accounting.

A Certified Public Accountant is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.

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To check for a leak, put three drops of food coloring in the tank and wait a half hour.

If the color appears in the bowl, it is time to replace the tank’s flapper valve.

– Jack Romig, green writer

Alternatively, cities should build traffic circles which keeps cars moving , improves traffic flow, and has proven to reduce crashes.

Researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studied 10 intersections.  According to the study, roundabouts would have reduced delays by as much as 74 percent, saved 235,000 gallons of gas per year and reduced car collisions by 37 percent.

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This will save energy and you will benefit from a healthy exercise that burns calories instead of gas.

By using drive through windows you can buy fast food, get money from a bank’s ATM,  and in Vegas you can even get married.

Use your Bike not your Car when ever possible.

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