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If the economy is scaring you, you may want to see what financial shape your credit history is in. This central site, the only one authorized by the Federal Trade Commission for free credit reports, allows you to request a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

HOT TOPIC

Cyberbullying will be explored during Girl Scouts' Healthy Girls, Healthy Lives Symposium on Tuesday at “Cyber Safe and Sound: Raising Girls in an Online World.” The event for parents, Girl Scout leaders and concerned adults will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the McMillan Companies Event Center at Liberty Station, 2875 Dewey St. in San Diego.

Keynote speaker Parry Aftab, author of “The Parents'Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace,” specializes in studying how technology affects children and families. She is executive director of WiredSafety.org and founded Teenangels, a group of 13-to 18-year-olds trained in all aspects of online safety, privacy and security. Through programs in schools, Teenangels spread the word to children, parents and teachers about responsible and safe surfing to children. You can learn more at aftab.com.

Ticket prices for Tuesday, which include lunch and resources to take home, are $40 for the public, $35 for Girl Scout members. To register, visit girlscoutssdi.org, or call (619) 610-0748.

DIDJA KNOW?

The San Diego Food Allergy Support Group is hosting an educational seminar, “Recognizing Allergic Reactions & Knowing How To Use Epinephrine Auto-Injectors” from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 16 in the JRRTC Building Com Labs, at the San Diego County Office of Education, 6401 Linda Vista Road in San Diego.

This opportunity for training, led by Dr. Michael J. Welch, co-director of the Allergy and Asthma Medical Group and Research Center in San Diego, is open to baby sitters, grandparents, principals, teachers, coaches and anyone else who may be supervising children.

Reservations are required. Please respond by Thursday by e-mailing info@sandiegofoodallergy.org or by calling Sue (760) 505-9984. Visit sandiegofoodallergy.org to learn more.

WHAT'S HAPPENIN'

You can expose your children to classical music – for free – today at the third annual MusicFest competition, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the arts building at California State University San Marcos.

If you can't get to today's event, the winners will give a concert – again, free – Oct. 12 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.

MusicFest is a yearly event sponsored by The California International Young Artists Competition to encourage the appreciation and performance of classical music by young people. Contestants from Southern California, in three age groups, will compete in four categories: piano, strings, winds and voice.

The MusicFest contestants, from all over Southern California, will compete in piano, strings, winds, voice and ensemble. Information: visit ciyac.org or call Mel Takahara, executive director, at (760) 580-0518.

WORTH WATCHING

The whole family will be entertained by a blues-singing beagle, a bulldog that can skateboard and flush the toilet on command and a Jack Russell terrier that can jump rope and walk backward up steps, as they compete as finalists in the annual Fido Awards, airing tomorrow Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. on Nick at Nite.

Those top dogs will vie for the championship during the one-hour special, hosted by actor/comedian Fred Willard. Willard will showcase the six finalists and the best of WorldwideFido.com's user-generated videos, where one lucky dog will be crowned. You can vote now at worldwidefido.com to determine the finalist in each of the six categories, including “Cutest Dog,” “Best Dressed,” “Best Voice,” “Most Outrageous,” “Best Trick” and “Dog/Owner Look-Alike.”

JUST A THOUGHT

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.”

– Samuel Johnson (1709-84), English author and leading literary scholar and critic of his time.

Courtesy of Thought of the Day Archives at refdesk.com