Santa Money

Once upon a time, Americans used more than 8,000 kinds of money. Any bank could issue notes. One $5 example from the 1880s just sold at auction for over $100,000. 

This Huff Post item links to a wild and crazy slide show of old currency, including the Confederate variety. Check out this Howard Bank note with a vignette of Santa Claus. 

Six must-follow tips to avoid identity theft during the holidays

(BPT) - While you're celebrating the season shopping for gifts, decorating your home and hosting festive parties, are thieves having their own celebration with your credit card and identity without you knowing it? The spirit of the holiday season can quickly be dampened if you become a victim of identity theft, but a few precautions can help keep your information safe.

You can enjoy this special time of year and still protect your personal information by following these six important tips for avoiding identity theft:

Make security part of your holiday decor
Many people host holiday gatherings at home this time of year. While you trim the tree and prepare the menu, take time to secure your home and any personal documents. While it's hard to imagine that someone you know (or hired, if you're bringing in help) would steal from you, a bank statement on your desk or a checkbook in the top drawer leaves you vulnerable to crime. Keep your holiday merry and be proactive in protecting your home and items - shred personal documents and securely store other personal information in a safe or locked drawer.

Say "bah humbug" to in-store credit card offers
While it may be tempting to sign up for a store credit card in order to get a discount during checkout, it's wise to avoid these offers. The casual environment of a retail checkout counter is not a good place to share your most important financial and personal information. You don't know anything about the security of the application process, the clerk's integrity, or who is standing behind you in Iine just waiting to covertly snap a picture of your completed application.

Lighten your holiday load and leave extra info at home
As you shop for the perfect gifts, no doubt your wallet will get quite a workout. It can also be a goldmine for identity thieves if it's lost or stolen. Start by only carrying what you really need, such as one credit card and your license - leave the extra cards and other financial information at home. If you carry a purse, consider leaving it in the trunk or at home since a purse is easier to steal. Just carry your wallet in a front pocket close to your body, and you'll reduce the chances of theft.

Who's been naughty or nice? Check your statements twice
Most Americans increase their spending during the holiday season, so extra charges at stores you typically don't visit will likely populate your financial statements. It can be easy to overlook odd charges as simple holiday purchases, when in reality it's an identity thief using your hard earned money to fund their merry holiday. Make sure to save every receipt from purchases you or other account members make, and check every statement diligently, staying alert for any peculiar charges.

Give yourself the gift of identity protection
In addition to staying on top of your credit card statements, keeping a keen eye on your credit report and spending is a wise decision also. Consider giving yourself peace of mind by getting a membership to ProtectMyID, a comprehensive identity theft detection, protection and resolution organization. Visit www.protectmyid.com to learn about memberships that include daily digital scans and alerts, $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance, and resolution assistance if needed.

Be a tech-savvy elf and shop smart online
Shopping online can be a smart way to get your holiday goods without leaving the house, but make sure you take a few steps to protect yourself. First, check to make sure the site you purchase from is secure, indicated by a URL that starts with "https" at checkout along with an image of a lock. Always use a credit card or secure payment option such as PayPal, which offers better consumer protection than debit cards. Finally, never give out your Social Security number when making a purchase, it simply isn't necessary and no reputable retail site will require it.

At the end of the day, protecting your identity means making smart financial choices. Damage to your credit report, whether from identity theft or simply spending beyond your means, lasts much longer than the holiday season. Stay merry now and well into 2013 by spending smart and protecting your identity.

A poem in tribute to the young victims in Newtown

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
Their smiles were contagious; their laughter filled the air,
...they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say,
they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"This is heaven." declared a small boy, "We’re spending Christmas at
God's house."
When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same,
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
And in that moment was joy that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
As they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
As if He could read all the questions she had,
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
Then He looked down on earth, the world far below,
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"May this country be delivered from the hands of fools",
"I'm taking back my nation, I'm taking back my schools!"
Then He and the children stood up without a sound,
"Come now my children, let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran,
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT

One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the son of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he became a wandering preacher.
He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big city. He never travelled two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He did none of those things one usually associates with greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through a mockery of a trial. He was executed by the state. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this earth as much as that One Solitary Life.

Homemade Gifts for Everyone on Your List

This holiday season, make these easy, personalized handmade gifts for your loved ones.

Chocolate-dipped pretzels

Everyone loves these sweet and salty treats, and they're extra festive when coated with holiday-colored sprinkles. Package your finished pretzels up in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon.Read More.

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Brubeck and Desmond: the "Take Five" Bequest

Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond,
October 8, 1954

Dave Brubeck's most memorable hit was"Take Five." Taylor Ho Bynum reminds us that the tune became a significant charitable bequest.

...like the partnership between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, [the collaboration between Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond] was a relationship of matched brilliance. And like Ellington’s “Take the A Train,” actually penned by Strayhorn, Brubeck’s signature tune “Take Five” was composed by Desmond.

In the month post-Sandy, we should also remember that when Desmond died, in 1977, he bequeathed the royalties to “Take Five” to the American Red Cross, bringing the organization close to six million dollars. With that composition sure to receive a flurry of performances after Brubeck’s death, it will likely bring in tens of thousands of dollars more to disaster relief at a time when it is sorely needed.