Your credit history is a tangible representation of your reputation. This can practically dictate your career path and the loans that can be extended to you. There are only a few financial institutions willing to extend credit to someone that they could not check on. Although there is a card for no credit history, getting approved will be a lot complicated than usual.
Since you are just about to establish your credit history, lenders can’t look at your FICO score to determine your credit worthiness. Instead, they would consider other factors in approving card for no credit history. Usually, they will look at your employment and residence history. Your ability to hold a steady job increases the chances of getting approved. This reflects your financial stability. The same goes with your length of stay at your current residence.
Having utilities under your name is also helpful in getting your credit history started. Signing up for as many utilities as possible may not build your credit score, but it can be considered in approving card for no credit history. Opening a checking account can also contribute in getting a loan or credit approved for a first timer. Although bank account is not reported to the credit bureaus, its history is vital in getting a credit card for the first time. You may even get your first credit card through your bank.
There are also major credit card companies that offer accounts for people that are new to credit, usually with a low credit line and high APR. This is the best option to take if your intention is to establish a credit history. The terms may not be ideal for you, but good payment history and spending habit can boost your credit score.
You can also look into credit cards offered by retail stores. They are usually willing to take a chance on applicants with no credit history. Department store cards are typically not a good idea because the discounts offered may tempt you to rack up charges that will be assessed of a high APR. Just remember to manage your account well. After all you are building your credit history.
When all else fails, secured card for no credit history is your last option. It is easier to obtain secured credit card, all you need is a security deposit as collateral. As most accounts offered to someone who is new to credit, this kind of account has a higher APR and a yearly membership fee as well. Your credit line is determined by the amount of money you will be depositing.
Building your credit profile takes time. Obtaining a credit card for no credit history is more difficult. So once you are approved of your first credit card, be sure to keep the account current and below the limit. And do not forget to ask the lender if they will be reporting your account history to the credit bureaus. Maintaining the credit card account history in good standing is futile if it will not help you build your credit.
Archive for the ‘what is history’ Category
World History is a long and complex topic. Though many accomplished authors such as Bill Bryson and H. G. Wells have attempted to condense history into a single book, very few have succeeded. There is just too much of it. Attempts to boil down the last 10,000 years have resulted in either superficial books with very little depth, or great textbook like tombs too inaccessible for the casual reader.
Happily, A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tom Standage succeeds where others have failed. Standage’s book does this by sacrificing the breadth of every possible topic for an impressive depth and focus. Instead of trying to sum up the complete history of man, this book spotlights a single topic, in this case beverages, and then takes the reader on a journey through time to see how his topic interweaves the past. Standage is a delightful writer, mixing his light hearted style with exceptional historical savvy not just on the topic of drinks, but throughout.
Despite my now positive opinion of this book, I have to confess that when I first picked up A History of the World in 6 Glasses, I did not expect to enjoy it. Not only am I skeptical of any book claiming to sum up the antiquity of man in 300 pages or less, but I myself do not drink any of the 6 beverages this book discusses. As such, learning the history of these drinks did not sound immediately appealing. However, what I quickly learned is that this book is not a history of 6 drinks, but rather just as the title states, a history of the world, told through the story of 6 drinks. As the book points out in the introduction, second only to air, liquid is the most vital substance to man’s survival. The availability of water and other drinking sources have “constrained and guided humankind’s progress” and “have continued to shape human history”. Throughout time, beverages have done more than quenched our thirst; they have been used as currencies, medicines, and in religious rites. They have served as symbols of wealth and power, as well as tools to appease the poor and downtrodden.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses is broken down into six sections, one for each drink, the first of which is beer. Man’s first civilizations where founded on surplus cereal production, much of which was brewed. Ancient day beers were high in vitamin B, a vitamin previously only obtained through meat. This allowed the population to focus their nutrition efforts more and more on cereals, effectively ushering in the transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers. Additionally, because early beers were boiled (to convert more starch into sugars), the beer was significantly safer to drink than water. This significant improvement in lifestyle “freed a small fraction of the population from the need to work in the fields, and made possible the emergence of specialist priest, administrators, scribes, and craftsmen.” Not only did beer nourish man’s first civilizations, but in many ways, made them entirely possible.
Wine, the next beverage in the book, played a major role in the flourishing Greek and Roman cultures. As wine did not originate from the Mediterranean, the Greek’s desire for this drink opened up vast seaborne trade, which spread their philosophy, politics, science and literature far and wide, and still underpins modern Western thought. A History of the World in 6 Glasses points out how these advancements originated and grew at formal Greek drinking parties, called symposia. The Romans, who absorbed much of Greek culture, continued the strong use of wine. As the book notes, if you trace the wine drinking areas of the world on a map, you will find you have traced the Roman empire at its height.
After a thousand years of hibernation, Western civilization was awakened by the rediscovery of ancient knowledge, long safeguarded in the Arab world. However, in an attempt to circumvent this Arab monopoly, European monarchs launched massive fleets into the sea. This age of exploration was greatly enhanced by the Arab knowledge of distillation, which made a whole new range of drinks possible. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes how these condensed forms of alcohol (namely Brandy, Whiskey and Rum) were so popular, especially in the new American colonies, that “they played a key role in the establishment of the United States.”
The fourth beverage presented in this book is coffee. Because of its sharpening effect on the mind, coffee quickly became the drink of intellect and industry. Replacing taverns as the sophisticated meeting place, the coffeehouse “led to the establishment of scientific societies and financial institutions, the founding of newspapers, and provided fertile ground for revolutionary thought, particularly in France.” A History of the World in 6 Glasses goes on to recount the intricate effect coffeehouses had on Victorian culture, going so far as to dedicate an entire chapter to what the book calls “The Coffeehouse Internet”.
Even though the inception of tea date back many thousands of years, it didn’t take hold upon western culture until the mid-seventeenth century. Once established as England’s national drink, the importing of tea from first China and then India led to trade and industrialization on an unprecedented scale. A History of the World in 6 Glasses describes the immense power of the British East India Company, which “generated more revenue than the British government and ruled over far more people”, wielding more power than any other corporation in history. This imbalance of power had an enormous, far-reaching effect on British foreign policy, and ultimately contributed to the independence of the United States.
Like most of the drinks discussed in A History of the World in 6 Glasses, Coca-Cola was originally devised as a medical drink. More than any other product, Coca-Cola has stood as the symbol of America’s “vibrant consumer capitalism”. Rather than shrink at the challenge, Coca-Cola took full advantage of the challenging times it found itself in, gaining ground through the depression, and then traveling alongside our soldiers into WWII, becoming a global phenomenon. According to the book, Coca-Cola still accounts for “around 30 percent of all liquid consumption” today.
A History of the World in 6 Glasses makes it clear that the history of mankind is a history of our consumption. Whether we are drinking “liquid bread” in Mesopotamia, pondering revolution in a Coffeehouse in Paris, or throwing tea leafs into the ocean in Boston, these drinks have had a profound impact on who we are. As Standage says in the introduction to his book “They survive in our homes today as living reminders of bygone eras, fluid testaments to the forces that shaped the modern world. Uncover their origins, and you may never look at your favorite drink in quite the same way again.” I highly recommend this book to anyone thirsty for knowledge about the world around them… or even if they’re just thirsty for a good drink.
The month of February is synonymous with Black History. During this time period we will see countless commercials embedded with Martin Luther King Jr. quotes and photos of legendary African-American athletes and African-American “firsts” such as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball. While it is always good to see the images of great black Americans, it also makes me wonder if this 28 day celebration of African-American culture is needed. As Morgan Freeman once said, “Why must the history of my people be delegated to one month?” As our population continues to become more diverse in nature and we celebrate the differences in American culture, the question must be raised. Is there still a need for Black History Month?
Dr. Carter G. Woodson is the originator of Black History Week. This gentleman is responsible for brining the history of African-American’s to the national forefront. As this celebration grew from a week into a month, some wondered when this month would eventually grow and become a permanent stitch of the fabric of American history. The textbooks that our children are taught out of often have only a chapter or two in reference to the history of these great Americans. Far too many citizens of this nation are unaware of the contributions that black people have made to the United States, African-Americans included. Simply knowing the history of African-American “rock stars” like Martin Luther King, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Malcolm X, and Jessie Owens is not enough to warrant knowing the entire history of black culture.
We are often fed the timeless video of MLK (Martin Luther King) giving his “I have a dream speech” during the march on Washington as a catalyst to ring in the celebration of our illustrious history. Reasons like this are why this month is still needed. While my love and admiration for the great Dr. are rooted in his struggle and love for this own people, he is not the only representation that we have for black history. The Reverend Joseph Lowery of Atlanta is a prolific speaker and was an ambitious foot soldier during the turbulent times of the Civil Rights movement. He is credited with being a co-founder of the historic Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr. His work along with that of Ralph David Abernathy, Medgar Evers, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Bayard Rustin are why African-Americans have a solid footing in American culture today. Too many Americans are unaware of their sacrifices, let alone names, to realize the impact they have on American society. These reasons alone are why Black History Month is still required.
The 2008 Presidential race serves as mirror of today’s American society. 40 years ago when Reverend King was assassinated the thought of having a female and an African-American run for President was far fetched and un-attainable. This very moment is what Dr. King fought for, equality. If the past is any indication as to where our society is headed, we have a bright and hazy future to look forward to.
Poll most Americans concerning the matter of Black History and the majority of them are able to give validity as to why Black History month is no longer needed. The greater part of our population is full aware of the contributions that black people have made to American culture. From hip-hop music, to sports, education, finance and politics, African-Americans have all played an essential role in each field. This information is slowly being integrated into American history books and historian text. While African-Americans still struggle to make headway in certain industries, it’s tough to ignore the contributions that black people have made to American culture. In an era with 24 hour news stations and information that can be accessed via the internet at any time of the day, one has no excuse to avoid the history of African-Americans.
Removing the tag of Black History Month from February may be a bit premature. There is still work that needs to be done to integrate African-American History into American History via textbooks and any other information source. Still the argument holds true merit. Once the day arrives where we are truly able to say the month is no longer needed because the subject is discussed in the same breath as American history, we will all be able to celebrate as one voice with one tone.
-JH