| Check It Out
Bob in Pittsboro continues to defend the lame Bank of America greeter. (If you're new to this debate, a couple of weeks ago we wrote about being faux customer-serviced by a BOA greeter, who pretended to be concerned about our needs. Bob shot back that we were a "grouch" for not appreciating BOA's interest in us, its valued customer. We responded with a list of things we could have done in the 15 minutes we had to wait to see our senior personal banker.) Today, Bob continues to portray BOA as the victim."Not only a grouch," writes Bob, "but a poor planner. From BOA's Web site, here's what you could have done online ... . " He goes on to list several things that can be done with online banking -- which we have and use, thank you very much, Bob. Several things except what we needed to do, which was transfer funds from a CD account to checking, a simple task that we should not have to enlist the aid of an SPB in the first place! Which adds to our, yes, grouchiness!Bob concludes by offering one more thing we could have done in the 15 minutes we waited to see our SPB: "Try doing the 15-Minute Desk Workout (www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKCPcRcJmqc) in the bank lobby.
Mr Congeniality
Sean Penn cares about Iraq, about disaster victims, about freedom. But he doesn't care what people think of him.The actor and director talks to Ravi Somaiya. SEAN PENN is a Hollywood star who doesn't believe in Hollywood. "It's not a real thing," he says. "I don't live in Hollywood, I never even talk to anybody from Hollywood." He's not referring to the geographical area a few miles from where we sit at the Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills. Nor is he talking about the fact that he's moved away from L. A., where he grew up and lived during his hell-raising days. Penn is talking about the label, the mythical entity, the sign in the hills, with which he's always had an uneasy relationship. Despite being one of the best film actors of his generation, despite barely missing a step in his 26-year career, despite four best actor Oscar nominations and one win (for Mystic River in 2003) in 10 years, Penn is still the star some love to hate.
Tax Write-Off Results in Last Minute Surge of Health Savings Account Sign-Ups
Self-employed individuals who must purchase their own health insurance coverage are rushing to sign up for HSA-qualified plans before December 31, in order to lock in a $5,650 tax write-off. According to leading online broker HSA for America, applications are up 50%. .
G20 finance ministers to discuss World Bank, IMF reforms
JOHANNESBURG - FINANCE ministers from the world's largest 20 economies began talks on Saturday in South Africa focusing on reforming the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The two-day gathering in Kleinmond, near Cape Town, is the first time the G20 group of bank chiefs and finance ministers has met in an African country. It is also the first time the new head of the World Bank, the American Robert Zoellick, and the new head of the IMF, France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn, will hold round-table talks with the G20. The conference will hear calls for the modernisation of both institutions. 'The subject will be at the heart of our talks,' South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said at a preliminary press conference. 'The unequal power balance in the world economic system' will be brought up, South African Central Bank governor Tito Mboweni said.
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