safety

Your SSN Can Now Be Accurately Guessed Using Date and Place of Birth

Posted July 8, 2009 - 08:29 by Paul Michael

Technology, General Tips, Consumer Affairs

SSN

It seems that nothing is safe any more. And now your Social Security Number, the lynchpin to you credit score, taxes, government benefits and more, is under attack. It can be guessed, with a staggering degree of accuracy, using simple information you probably have on sites like Facebook and MySpace.

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Recalled Robes, Cribs, and Hooded Sweatshirts: Top Safety Concerns You Should Know About

Posted June 12, 2009 - 07:59 by Linsey Knerl

Personal Finance, Consumer Affairs

robe recall

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about recalls. Sadly, they seem to pop up every day – either an indication of our products getting junkier, or a sign that the government is becoming better aware of safety concerns, in general. These alerts top my list of “recalls you really should know about.” If Grandma wears a robe, you must read this!

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Two More Crafty Ways to Steal From You - GPS Units and Cell Phones.

Posted March 11, 2009 - 13:13 by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs, Cars and Transportation

GPS unit

I got another one of those emails recently, from my mother-in-law this time. As usual, I began reading with skepticism and was ready to take it all with another monstrous grain of salt. But as I continued reading, I realized the information actually seemed plausible. So I checked it out at Snopes and found truth behind the stories.

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How to Host a Traveler: 13 Tips to Keep it Safe, Easy, and Cheap

Posted February 12, 2009 - 05:22 by David DeFranza

Frugal Living, Lifestyle

couch surfer sleeping in photo

Here at Wise Bread, we know that couch-sharing services, such as Couch Surfing, can save you money when traveling. As good as this sounds, many have reservations about hosting strangers in their home. After all, house guests can be frustrating, expensive, and even dangerous. But it doesn't have to be this way. Here are some tips to help make hosting travelers safer, easier, and even cheaper.

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The one website everyone needs to read (apart from WB of course)

Posted January 7, 2008 - 20:52 by Paul Michael

Extra Commentary

Whistle blower

I like to keep up with all the latest news and info. I'm a big fan of Digg, BBC news, NPR, CNN, all the usual suspects. I thought I was fairly well-versed on the places to get my information and keep me "in the know." Then a friend of mine came over to visit from England, and he gave me a gift. It was a stick of deodorant that contained no harmful heavy metals. When I asked why, he said "what, don't you read News Target?"

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Waste Not! Revisiting the 5-Second Rule and other Kitchen Classics

Posted January 1, 2008 - 11:47 by Linsey Knerl

Food and Drink, Health and Beauty

Working as a line cook for almost four years exposed me to the dirtier side of the food service business. Generally, I was less-than-impressed with the “unofficial” guidelines to handling food and the dinnerware it was to be served on. Should I even be shocked to find that most people I encounter are a little rusty on common food safety standards? Here’s a quick rundown on some of the basics to keeping healthy in the kitchen without being obsessive.

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Are you giving burglars the key to your home?

Posted September 18, 2007 - 11:29 by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs

keypad

I’m lucky enough to know, both personally and through friends, some very nice guys in the local police departments. So when they reveal methods of criminals, I am all ears. This time, it was a jailed burglar who gave up the goods on how he committed garage door burglaries.

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More children hurt in Crocs-related accidents.

Posted August 30, 2007 - 15:19 by Paul Michael

Consumer Affairs

Crocs injury

Some of you may recall my recent article on the inherent dangers of wearing Crocs on escalators. Well, the misery, pain and nasty injuries continue to happen. Since writing the article I have heard more horror stories, including one sent to us by Wisebread reader Dindin. His daughter’s foot was inside the mangled Croc pictured above, and she was lucky to come away from the accident in one piece.

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The $25 gadget that keeps my home and family safe.

Posted August 21, 2007 - 21:22 by Paul Michael

Deals and Coupons, Shopping

Lock Jaw

How much would you pay to sleep soundly at night, knowing your home is secure and your family is much safer? Well, I'd pay anything to be honest. But after my lockbumping post back in March, I was contacted by a company that has created a unique, inexpensive and wonderful product called the Lock Jaw. It's literally made us all feel safer in so many ways. Plus, Wisebread readers can get it at a discount.

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Dangerous neighborhoods are safer than commuting

Posted 2 years ago by Philip Brewer

Filed Under: Real Estate and Housing, Cars and Transportation

Cars in apartment parking lot

Why do so few people live within walking--or at least bicycling--distance from where they work?

I've asked a lot of people this question and gotten a lot of different answers. Some people want big houses, others big lawns. A lot of people think--for reasons that they can't really articulate--that suburbs are the right place to raise kids. But one reason that you hear a lot is that people want to live somewhere safe--a low-crime area.

Continue reading "Dangerous neighborhoods are safer than commuting"

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