Friday the 13th. Yikes.

By Dian Vujovich

Spooked by the number 13 particularly when it falls on a Friday? Superstitions of both have been around for centuries and if you believe each to be a bad omen better not take that stock tip, buy that new home or fiddle with your money.

According to a National Geographic News.com piece: “It’s been estimated that [U.S] $800 or $900 million is lost in business on this day because people will not fly or do business they would normally do,” said Donald Dossey, founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute and author of “Holiday Folklore, Phobias and Fun.”

The number 13 got some of its bad rap thanks to Judas the 13th guest to the Last Supper and the guy who betrayed Jesus. Additionally, in Rome 13 was the number believed to represent the devil. Dossey said that those kinds of beliefs are the reasons most high-rises don’t have a 13th floor, airports skip the 13th gate and hospitals have no room number 13.

Christian beliefs are also at the core of why Friday is considered an unlucky day. That’s the day Jesus was crucified, the day Eve apparently got Adam to eat the forbidden fruit, and Friday the 13th was supposedly the day Abel was slain by Cain.

The full story is available at:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0212_040212_friday13.html

As for today’s Friday the 13th, perhaps all is not bad. Then again….

If you think that the stimulus bill is a good one, and it passes today, Florida stands to be the recipient of billions, as in $4.3 billion.

According to the St. Petersburg Times, our sunny state could use the if-we-really-get-it windfall to do all sorts of things. Like help individuals who have lost their jobs keep their health insurance, pay for highway, school and water projects, etc., etc.

More on this at:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article975537.ece#

On the other hand, today is also the last day that the Experian credit card bureau will share with you—the consumer—the same information that they’ll be sharing with the lenders you’re hoping to work with.

What’s that mean? For openers, all of us will be at a distinct disadvantage because we won’t be able to get our hands on the same Experian credit report that those judging us will have. That, in turn, could make the difference in whether or not we get the loan we’re looking and can impact the interest rate charged.

Sort of makes you wonder what’s so fair about the Fair Isaac Corp. They are the ones who create our FICO number—a figure that’s calculated based upon data taken from three credit bureaus Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

More info at:
http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/deals/key-credit-score-to-be-hidden-from-consumers/