Archaeologists and scientists are unearthing more artifacts of our history in excavations.

You may think your identity is perfectly safe and that identity and credit card theft could only happen to someone else, but take a few minutes to answer this Identity Theft Quiz, and see how safe your money and identity really is. Each answer is worth between 1 and 5 points, which you can tabulate at the end of the quiz to see how well your identity is truly protected: 1) What is your primary method of disposal for personal finance information? A)For the most part, I tear the information up, and then dispose of it. B)I tear some of the information and shred some of it before I dispose of it. C)I use a cross-cut shredder to destroy my documents every time, before disposing of them. 2) What method do you use for disposal of unsolicited, pre-approved credit card direct mailing information? A)I simply dispose of them in the garbage can. B) I always destroy them in some fashion - either I tear them up, or I shred them. C) I always use a cross-cut paper shredder before I dispose of them. 3) What method do you use to discard other personal information like bank statements, pay stubs, credit card bills, cancelled checks or utility bills? A)I generally tear the information up and then dispose of it B)Sometimes I tear the information up, and sometimes I shred it. C)I always use a cross-cut paper shredder before I dispose of any of these materials. 4) When do you check your credit report by any of the major credit bureaus? A)I've never checked my credit report B)I have checked my credit card before, but its been over a year C)In the past year, I have checked my credit report 5) Upon receiving financial statements of any kind (credit card bills, checking accounts, utility bills), do you thoroughly review these statements for any errors? A)I really don't review my financial statements regularly at all. B)I review my financial statements whenever I can get to it, but not monthly. C)I review my financial statements as soon as I receive them, every month. 6) Where do you get you own personal mail? A)I use an unlocked mailbox that's right in front of my house. B)My mailbox is lockable, but I don't always lock it. C) I've made sure I have a locked or secure mailbox/PO Box for all my mail 7) What method do you use to send outgoing mail? A)I always leave my mail in my own, unlocked home mailbox B)I will either leave it in my own, unlocked mailbox with the flag up, or occasionally drop it off at a secured mail drop box. C)I only drop my mail in a locked mailbox, or US Mail collection box. 8) Do you ever carry your Social Security card in your purse or wallet? A)I do carry my Social Security card with me on a regular basis. B)I don't always carry my Social Security card, but sometimes I travel with it. C)I never bring my Social Security card with me. I store it in a safe place. 9) Is your Social Security number included on any personal information you carry with you? (Checks, ID cards, health-insurance or prescription drug cards) A)I really couldn't say. I haven't noticed. B)My social security number is on several of my ID or insurance cards. C)No, I don't have my social security number on anything that can be found on my person. You can calculate your score using the following key: A=1, B=3, C=5. A score of less than 20 means that you might be at real risk for identity theft. A score of 20-37 means that you have begun taking the right steps but you can still improve. A score of 38-45 means that you are doing the right things to protect your identity. However, you still need to be careful because it only takes one piece of information to end up the wrong hands to result in your identity being stolen.

Identity theft. We've all heard of it, but do we really understand how serious and prevalent it actually is? Believe it or not, identity theft is the fastest-growing crime in the US, according to the National Crime Prevention Council. As a matter of fact, almost $50 billion dollars was stolen via identity theft in 2006 alone. Its not just money that is lost when identity theft is perpetrated, however, it's time as well. The mean resolution time is at an all time high. It takes approximately 40 hours per victim to resolve the crime itself, but over 600 hours getting his or her finances straight, according the Identity Theft Resource Center. This crime seems very far away and anonymous, but, although the majority of identity theft perpetrators are strangers, over 30% are acquainted with the victim. Here are the numbers; 13% of perpetrators are employees of victims, 11% are the victim's relatives, 10% are friends or roommates, 5% are co-workers, 4% are former spouses or significant others, and 2% are caregivers of the elderly or disabled. These figures really bring home the seriousness and inevitability of this insidious crime. The statistics tell the story, and the story is a frightening one - but what can you do to protect yourself from this growing crime? The following are 20 of the best methods to combat identity theft: 1. Get a shredder: There are many models and types available at great values. They should be used to destroy all-important papers, but most particularly, pre- approved credit applications received in the mail. Credit card receipts should also be shredded every month. 2. Watch for "Dumpster Divers:" Shredding can also help in this area, but always be careful to think about what you're discarding, and how it might be used to steal your identity. 3. Avoid "Shoulder Surfers:" Be wary of anyone getting too close at the ATM machine or when using phone cards. They could take your pin number and access your accounts. 4. Don't Have Checks Delivered to Your Home: Always have checks sent directly to your bank and pick them up from there. 5. Don't Send Checks from Home: Send them through the post office, or drop them in a US mailbox for maximum security. 6. Cancel Unused Credit Cards: Destroy and discard any credit cards you haven't used in 6 months or more. 7. Don't "Pass" on Passwords: Add passwords to all accounts and never use your mother's maiden name. Make up a new word to use that doesn't relate to you personally in any way. 8. A P.O. is the Way to Go: A post office box or locked mailbox is the most secure way to receive sensitive mail. 9. Do Business With Companies that Shred Too: Make sure all the doctors' offices, financial institution and other vendors that you do business with also destroy your confidential information. 10. Only Carry What You Need: Don't keep extra credit cards or social security numbers in your wallet. Memorize what you need to know and keep actual cards or documents to a minimum. 11. Don't Give Out Personal Information Over the Phone: When someone you don't know calls you, never give out any personal information. 12. Keep Your Social Security Number Under Wraps: Don't include your social security number on checks or credit card receipts. It's not necessary and it can be a very risky practice. 13. Don't Give Up Your "Digits:" Putting your telephone number on your checks is never a good idea and can be used to gather your personal information. 14. A Picture's Worth A Thousand Dollars, (or more): Try to order credit cards and business cards with your own picture on them for extra security. 15. Don't Put Your Credit Card Number Online: Unless you are making transactions on a secure, encrypted site, don't put your credit card number online. 16. Leave Your Address At Home: Any time you make a credit card purchase, do not put your address, phone number or driver's license number on your statement. 17. Monitor Your Monthly Statements: Carefully review your monthly bank and credit card statements for any transactions you don't recognize. 18. Review Your Credit Report: Order this information at least twice a year from the credit bureau and look for anything that seems incorrect or fraudulent. 19. Fix it Fast: Immediately correct any mistakes on your credit report via written response, with a request for return receipt. 20. Get on the Do Not Call List: Make sure your name is taken off any promotional lists and call the 3 credit reporting agency phone numbers to opt out of pre-approved credit card offers.

Fire damage is one of the most unpleasant things you could experience and the very thought of it flashes a lot of uncomfortable pictures. The condition is even worse for those who had a firsthand experience in dealing with fire damage and in this case the fire accident keeps haunting you and many nights you would wake up jolted by the nightmare.

We're all familiar with reels as tools, whether we're talking about fishing reels, hose reels for fire fighting, or demo reels in the world of filmmaking or video art. But one use of the word "reel" that many of us have forgotten about is the tradition of the reel in dancing--one of the four basic dances of the mysterious highlands of Scotland.

Individuals need to realize the damages they are causing to the planet and our environment so they will once again start caring for the world we live in.

Who was Ed Leedskalnin? Why did he really come to south Florida? Where did he learn how to carve, move, and balance megalithic coral blocks? He built the Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida, but now learn why he came to Florida and where his megalithic coral cutting and moving skills began.

Symbols: from fire extinguisher signs to airline diagrams, they're becoming a more and more common sight in our world. Some people consider the proliferation of the symbol to be a sign of declining literacy rates worldwide, and with them the decline of civilization in general. But the rise of the symbol is by no means bad--and by no means new.

Archaeological excavations in southern Turkey recently brought to the surface a magnificent marble statue depicting Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Renowned as a popular leader of the empire during the second century, the discovery has prompted many to question: who exactly was Marcus Aurelius?

The English colonists in North America were neither adventurers nor the rulers of great and ancient peoples. Unlike various colonizers down the ages, they had no need to impress the native people, nor did they have a strong local tradition to fit into.

Namibia Wildlife Resorts has recently begun a new initiative - the 'Enviro Kidz' programme which aims to bring groups of children from previously disadvantaged families to visit the wonders of Namibia's protected areas.

So, if you are going to New York, then one of the things you must do is to visit a Broadway show. And the great news is that you will have a lot of choice. There are 39 theaters on Broadway that have over 500 seats, and so you will never be caught short with nowhere to go, as on any given night, there are over 20,000 seats up for grabs. Acting School NJ shows how to grab some of them at great prices.