Found Not Lost

I’m sure that you’ve heard the term FICO score as it relates to your credit worthiness. I have too, but never really bothered to find out what it really is. All I knew is that it is a numerical score between 300 to 850. The higher your score, the better your chances are of getting a good loan with good interest rates. The lower your score, the less likely you are to get a loan.

I have since learned a few interesting facts about FICO. I don’t know that they are particularly helpful in improving my score or yours, but they are interesting nonetheless and always good to keep in mind.

1. The formula for your FICO is a closely guarded trade secret. I found this kind of strange, but I guess that’s why you have to pay to get your score. You can’t just find a formula and figure out your score on your own.
2. While you have the right to view your credit report and are entitled to one free copy of this report per year, this is not so for your FICO score. You have no rights to obtain your FICO score. If you really want to know what it is, you have to pay a fee.
3. While you can dispute questionable claims from creditors on your credit report, you cannot dispute your FICO score. You just have to live with it. Sorry.
4. In order to get a good FICO score, you gotta owe money. If you’re thinking that by not using your credit cards and paying by cash only you are establishing a solid FICO rating, you are wrong. You have to owe money and pay it on time and diligently in order to get a good credit score.
5. Getting rid of old credit cards and consolidating your debts can hurt your score. Huh? Wouldn’t that be a good thing? Show responsibility that you are managing your finances? Well apparently, it can also indicate that you may be in financial trouble. They recommend that you keep some of your old credit cards even if you don’t use them. Whenever possible, it’s better to go ahead and pay off your credit cards one at a time rather than consolidating them into one big one.Here are are few places where you can read more about your FICO score:
MyFico.com
Your Credit Score: How it Adds Up
FICO Score Calculation

You can order your Credit Report and FICO score from the following credit reporting agencies:

• Experian, www.experian.com
• TransUnion, www.transunion.com
• Equifax, www.equifax.com

If you have kids, you probably have experienced moving from one physician to another. That’s happened to us several times as our doctors either move on, or we change insurance and have to find a new doctor, or when we moved from one coast to the other. During all that moving, it’s always been a chore to get our medical histories to follow us. To request a copy of your records, you’d have to go to the office (that is if they don’t send you to another site that handles their paperwork), fill out a request form and maybe pay a fee for having someone find your records, photocopy them and mail them. There is usually at least a two week wait before you get your information too.

VirMedice is a software consultant that offers a way for physicians to convert their paper records to an electronic medical records system that will hopefully eliminate some of the hassle of storing and archiving your medical records. I’ve actually seen a version of this software being used at my doctor’s office and at the hospital. It makes life so much easier for the doctor and the patients. They have your whole history at their disposal without having to wait for a nurse to pull one information or another while you are having a conversation with your doctor. The software also comes with useful tools such as e-Prescribing which while convenient for the employees, it also increases patient safety by checking for possible drug interaction.

There are still late comers to this technology, but I think most medical practices will soon find that the benefits of going digital and storing their records electronically will ultimately save them time and increase their productivity.

It seems I am stuck on reading trilogies lately. It started with the Twilight series, then the House of Night series, which I’m not quite done with yet, I’m still waiting for the third installment; I just finished the Uglies Trilogy, and now I just started on yet another trilogy, the Maximum Ride Trilogy by James Patterson.

All of these books are in the teen fiction category. These are books that my daughters read. I think they would appeal to just about anyone who enjoys reading. I don’t really understand why they are categorized as teen fiction. The writing is certainly not juvenile. These books are well crafted and expertly developed. They are a much more entertaining read than most adult fiction books.

Men are very hard to shop for, I think. Especially men like my father and my husband who tend to have expensive taste and a distinct style. Brut, Old Spice, neckties and socks are just not going to cut it.

Tateossian.com carries high quality, designer men’s accessories that will please any man that likes elegance and uniqueness. They carry a wide collection of cufflinks, watches and jewelries as well as accessories. The Tateossian Bracelets are a great example of the type of items you will find. You would never think of bracelets for a man, but the contemporary designs would please any man. I saw some very nice leather and silver bracelets that would be perfect for my younger, urban living cousins; and yet they also carry unique and classically designed watches for my more conservative husband.

Tateossian is a great source of unique gift ideas next time you need to give the special men in your life something they will treasure for a long time.

Specials is the third book in the Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfield. For someone who had turned away from prettiness to join the rebel smokies, Tally Youngblood has transformed not only pretty but now she is special too.

In a future world where everyone is born ugly until they are transformed to become pretties, the specials are the pretty police. They are super pretties, modified to be superior in strength and intellect. They are the CIA, the NSA, and every top secret spy organization you can imagine. They are the Special Circumstances unit, they take care of special circumstances that are beyond the capability of pretty wardens to take care of.

The adventure, in the complex story telling of Scott Westerfield, continues to intrigue in this final installment. Read how Tally Youngblood finally completes the circle of her journey, changed by the process of getting there, and finally learns to see the bigger picture.

This series is an enjoyable and interesting read not only for teen readers but for everyone.

My reviews:
Book 2: Pretties
Book 1: Uglies