For as long as I can remember, I’ve heard conspiracy theories about the hidden symbols and their meanings in our currency. Outlandish as some of the claims may seem, scholars and skeptical observers alike have taken these claims seriously, and have studied money with an eye toward what these symbols might be trying to tell ...

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The Scottish Thistle Scottish Thistle; photo from Flickr.com. Did we mention the painful spines? If you pay attention to Google Trends, you’ll see that people search for some off-the-wall things. One of the top searches for Wednesday, October 21st, was for Scottish Thistle. The Scottish Thistle means several things, in different contexts. It’s a ...

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Oniomaniacs can’t stop shopping What happens when shopping is a compulsion instead of a hobby? Image from www.designmom.com. Many people who love spending time at the mall and filling their closets with the latest fashions call themselves “shopaholics.” Usually it’s followed by a laugh or a joke, but this habit can sometimes take the form of a ...

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Mortgage Modifications Gaining Steam If you're considering mortgage loan modification, do your research and see if it's right for you first. (Photo: photos.com) Some consumers are looking for a mortgage loan modification now that the recession seems to be stabilizing. In the midst of the lending crash, many banks were closing their doors to even the highest-credit-scoring ...

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In my article the other day about the deal I got on a new computer despite my immediate need, I neglected to mention something important: I refused the extended warranty that the salesperson offered numerous times. Any extended warranty is almost always a bad deal. When I was a teenager, I had a short-lived job ...

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