Stuff to Blog About and More: Obama Win = New Puppy

Just as promised during the DNC, the Obama's will be getting a new puppy .

"Sasha and Malia," "I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House."

Obama said in his victory speech at Chicago's Grant Park,

Other pets to have lived at 1600 Pennsylvania:

The Bush family shared eight years at the White House with a cat, a feisty English springer spaniel and two Scottish terriers .

The Clintons' Washington stay included a cat, Socks, who did not get along with their chocolate Labrador retriever, Buddy.

Millie the springer spaniel lived with with Barbara and President George H.W. Bush.

Thomas Jefferson kept two grizzly bears in a cage on the White House lawn
John Quincy Adams is said to have let his alligator use a bathtub inside.

Calvin Coolidge walked his raccoons on a leash.
Theodore Roosevelt's sons escorted their pet pony onto the White House elevator to cheer up a sick sibling.
Martin Van Buren owned two tiger cubs, a gift from the Sultan of Oman.

FTC: Your Rights: Credit Reporting

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, has prepared a brochure, Your Access to Free Credit Reports, explaining your rights under the FCRA and how to order a free annual credit report.

A credit report includes information on where you live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Nationwide consumer reporting companies sell the information in your report to creditors, insurers, employers, and other businesses that use it to evaluate your applications for credit, insurance, employment, or renting a home.

How do I order my free report?

You can order your free annual credit report online at annualcreditreport.com, by calling 1-877-322-8228, or by completing the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mailing it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

When you order, you need to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth. To verify your identity, you may need to provide some information that only you would know, like the amount of your monthly mortgage payment.

A Warning About "Imposter" Sites

The FTC advises consumers who order their free annual credit reports online to be sure to correctly spell annualcreditreport.com, or link to it from the FTC's website to avoid being misdirected to other websites that offer supposedly free reports,but only with the purchase of other products. While consumers may be offered additional products or services while on the authorized website, they are not required to make a purchase to receive their free annual credit reports.

For more information on free annual credit reports, read Your Access to Free Credit Reports.