Group Compiles Stats on Homes Built in 2005

The National Association of Home Builders Economics Group compiled these U.S. Census Bureau statistics on single-family houses built in 2005:
• Average size: 2,434 square feet
• Average price: $297,000
• 89 percent have central air conditioning
• 96 percent have at least two bathrooms; 28 percent have three or more
• 88 percent have at least three bedrooms; 39 percent have four or more
• 50 percent have a fireplace
• 84 percent have a garage for at least two cars
• 34 percent have vinyl siding
• 53 percent have a porch
• 46 percent have a patio
• 27 percent have a deck
• 55 percent have two stories or more

Are You a "Professional" ??

The following short Quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell whether you are a qualified to be a “professional”. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult.

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe and close the door.
This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2. How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Open the door and put in the elephant and close the refrigerator.
Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe, put in the elephant and close the door. The previous tests your ability to think through repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct Answer: The elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. This tests your memory.

OK, even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is inhabited by crocodiles. How do you manage it?

Correct Answer: You swim across. All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This test whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong. But many pre-schoolers got several correct answers. Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a 4 year old

Pass this along to frustrate all your smart friends.

And you don’t have to pass this test to Buy or Sell with Rob and Linda Clark

New Social Security Scam

The Internet is a wonderful tool to make our lives easier, however, there are potential dangers lurking when consumers are too easily lulled into a sense of complacency. In an effort to keep you informed we wanted to share news concerning a new Social Security e-mail scam.

The sender claims to be from the Social Security Administration with concerns that "someone is illegally using your Social Security number and assuming your identity" and directs you to a Website designed to look like Social Security’s Internet Website.

Once directed to the phony website, you will be asked to divulge personal and confidential information about your credit card. The Administration's Inspector General advises consumers to always avoid disclosing such information online. Any request for personal identification should be confirmed over the telephone to protect you against possible scams.

Identity fraud can include a host of crimes, ranging from the unauthorized use of a credit card, to assuming another person's identity and accessing their financial accounts. Unfortunately, the explosive growth of the unregulated information industry has created an environment in which individuals with a little time and effort can access your Social Security number (SSN), unlisted telephone number, and even your mother's maiden name.

These scammers then use that information, such as the data requested in the new Social Security scam, to take over your identity in order to open new accounts, apply for loans, obtain credit cards, and rent apartments. Studies show that victims of identity theft spend on average 90 hours of their own time and $1,700 in out of pocket expenses resolving the problem. In some cases, victims must change their Social Security numbers or phone numbers in order to alleviate the financial and emotional pain inflicted by identity theft.

Either through personal experience or personal contact, most Americans have been exposed to identity fraud. It is our fastest growing crime, costing approximately $750 million a year, and untold emotional stress. It is critical that Consumers have the information and the tools they need to fight identity thieves and to repair any damage they might inflict.

To report receipt of this e-mail message or other suspicious activity to Social Security’s Office of Inspector General, please call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at OIG’s website: