Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Odds and Ends ~ 8 ~ A rant & a book review too


Last week I saw a truck with a curious business name painted on the side; a truck belonging to a mobile car detailing shop. The name was:

"Sanctified & Satisfied"


I can understand "Satisfied", but "Sanctified"? That puts a whole new spin on the washing of cars, doesn't it? ("It's not just clean - it's sanctified!")

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Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true. -Robert Brault, software developer, writer (1938- )

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A RANT ON BANKS!

How can banks justify charging a fee to cash a check from an account of their own customer? I attempted to cash my paycheck at my boss's bank last Friday, and was told they charge $5 for the privilege. I left, and went to my bank to deposit said check, but not before I registered my displeasure with the teller. "That's just nasty", I said with a sneer on my face. "All the banks are doing it", replied the teller. "That doesn't make it right!", I fairly screamed.

I would understand if I was trying to cash that check at some other bank - but the one it was drawn on? GIVE ME A BREAK, people! That is why I am investigating what it takes to join a credit union. They don't seem to have so many rules, restrictions and usurious charges!
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BOOK REVIEW:
Anderson Cooper's book "Dispatches from the Edge" is both a hard and an easy read. It is well written and straightforward, but it is hard in the aspect that he covers all the tragic disasters and wars in the world. His reporting is gritty and matter-of-fact; not flowery prose which has been cleansed of all the hard-to-take events we normally shy away from. He definitely digs deep to get the human interest point of view; interviewing the people involved and not just the politicians. He gives a voice to the downtrodden of the world when they have none.

The chapters about wars, famines, hurricanes and tsunamis, are interspersed with memories of his childhood, and his older brother who committed suicide by jumping off the 14th floor balcony of their Manhattan home, in plain view of his mother, Gloria Vanderbuilt. Even though the tone of these events is very sad, you can definitely see how the "Child is the father of the man" (I can't remember where that quote came from, but I am sure someone will tell me). If you enjoy non-fiction, you might like this book. I read it over a weekend at the beach.
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SIRIUS:
You remember how I was rhapsodizing about the satellite radio (Sirius) I found on my new car? Well.......it's gone - expired - died a rapid death. We went out to eat last Friday and listened to it on the way to the restaurant. When we got back in the car it was gone, and the "view bar" said "No signal - call 888 - ___ - siri. The nice lady who answered sympathized with me, but said that the one year contract had expired on that car. I almost cried. She tried her best to get me to renew it, but I am a hard sell and need time to consider the ramifications....LOL. Should you decide to gift me with a new subscription, I can give you the corrrect pin number to give that nice lady.
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I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be. -Thomas Jefferson, third US President, architect and author (1743-1826)

16 comments:

Tracie Nall said...

Compass Bank does that, and when my husband used to cut trees he would make his customers add the fee into the check and then explained that it was because of their bank...I think that he actually caused a couple of long-time customers to switch banks!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I want to read Anderson Cooper's book...I've seen him on a number of shows touting the book but I just haven't gotten it yet...

I understand what you feel about the Home Tour thing Judy...cause I have shown quite a bit of mine inadvertantly with my Birthday Celebration, but I thought with what BooMama requested the 5 sgots should be I could probably do the tour. It sure sounds like fun!

Merle said...

Hello Judy ~ Sorry to hear about your
car radio. And I agree Banks can be unreasonable and charge us for as much
as they can. I joined a Building Society and then it changed to a bank, but I think it is the best of them.
Haven't you ever seen in movies and TV shows how Mum cooks up a storm Hubby rushes off and the kids just have juice as they all have to leave? Not very realistic, but I have seen it. I am sureI wouldn't be cooking for them.
Take care, Merle.

brendalove@gmail.com said...

I have a credit union through my work but I only have a savings account there. Let me get hit with a couple of $5.00 charges though...and I'm switching too!

Anonymous said...

I so agree on the bank charges. It's really gotten out of hand doing business with a bank.
Next thing we know...they'll be charging us an entry fee to actually walk through the door.

Raggedy said...

The bank story was unreal. I have never heard of the issue bank charging a fee...
The book sounds good.
Good post.
Have a wonderful day!
*^_^
(=':'=) meow hugs
(")_ (")Š from da Raggedy one

Andrew Pass said...

I also read Anderson Cooper's book. As a teacher, what impressed me the most was that Cooper kept trying despite rejection. Immediately after college he applied to NBC for a job and didn't get it. He then went to work for Channel 1 as a clerk. But he really wanted to be a reporter. He left Channel 1 and travelled overseas on his own. He videod news reports on his own and sold them to Channel 1. He was persistent and accomplished his objectives. If only we could convince our students to do the same.

Andrew Pass
http://www.Pass-Ed.com/blogger.html

utenzi said...

I can't imagine it'd be worth the money to me to have Sirius but given how much you have loved having it, Judy, why can't you justify the cost? You certainly have raved about it. Do you both spend enough time in the car to make it worthwhile?

Susie said...

I am going to reserve the Anderson Cooper book. I had no idea he was the son of Gloria Vanderbilt...
Do you remember when he was the host of the TV reality show Mole?

Jamie Dawn said...

Sounds like you got Siriusly hooked. :)

The bank thing is worth getting pissed over.
We get gouged everywhere we turn!!!

I'm not getting the "sanctified" part either. Strange choice for the name of that business.

Carolyn said...

Judy, I'll join you in your rant:

Banks are not like they used to be. I worked for a company once that wrote bogus paychecks. I hadn't had one bounce yet, but was nervous so I asked the teller before I cashed my last one to check their balance and see if it was good. (Everyone that worked in the bank knew that company was bouncing checks) She said privacy for the company prevented her from telling me. Well, it bounced. And I was charged fees for the 2 checks I wrote based on thinking I had money in my account, and also stop payment fees on 2 other checks to keep them from bouncing. Needless to say I quit the company, they continued to write bad paychecks and were skipping their taxes and soon the IRS closed them down. But funny thing was the head teller at the company's bank (and where I cashed my paycheck) was married to one of the owners of that company. The couple left town immediately after the company closed. I still think there was some embezzlement going on but the bank didn't seem to investigate their employee. Seems to me the bank was responsible for those of us who had fees placed on us due to the fact they KNEW the balance of the company account wouldn't cover our checks, but not even an apology from the bank...

Long story short-- banking is a crap shoot these days!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the review. I didn't know his mother was GV.

I'm scratching my head over the sign.

Malinda777 said...

Banks & Fees, a burr in all of our sides I'm afraid.

I have XM Radio, but I love it so much now I can't imagine not renewing.

Shephard said...

Love the starter quote. So very true. As is the ending quote.

I'm still trying to figure out how to santify a car. I've heard of sanctifying my love, but my car??

Interesting review. I like Anderson.
~S

Peter said...

I have the answer to the banks controvesy, pick out a good bank and buy their shares, let them pay you while you bank with a credit union.

Panthergirl said...

As you know, I loved Anderson Cooper's book. Glad you enjoyed it as well!

I never did get around to buying my Sirius satellite radio. Just one of those things that I want, don't NEED, and can't afford right now. Bad enough I'm spending $85/month on a gym membership I never use. Ugh. I think I'll go eat ice cream.