In a shocking display of behavior contradicting the lip service given to "No Child Left Behind" the Bush administration proposes deleting funding for Reading is Fundamental (RIF), a program funded since 1975 to help improve literacy. If Laura Bush knows about this, I can't imagine that as a former school librarian, she's taking it lightly.
A mere "$25.5 million in funding for this program, RIF would not be able to distribute 16 million books annually to the nation’s youngest and most at-risk children." What a bargain!
Read the RIF press release on this blow to children and reading here:
Reading is Fundamental Home Page - with link to campaign for funding reinstatement:
If the links do not appear, please see them in the Sites/Links list on the right side of the page.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Photo of the Day - Roofs at the Forbidden City
The yellow glazed tile roofs in the Forbidden City in Beijing created many interesting compositions with their angles, upswept ends and marching animals meant to keep out bad spirits.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Watch out! Your bank may be out to gouge you
Take a close look at your bank statements. Check all transactions online. Make sure you look at every line of your credit card statement. If you don't, you may end up losing significant amounts of money.
I got a shock this morning. My bank subtracted a "monthly maintenance fee" of $20 from my savings account. This has never happened before, though when I called to protest it, I was told there was no change in the rules for my accounts.
No change? I've had this account for several years and never been charged $20 a month for the "privilege" of having this bank keep my money and invest it for themselves, paying me a small interest rate, nor have I greatly reduced the amount in the account. This account has always had a healthy amount in it, and is not one of those accounts that incurs a fee from lack of activity.
The explanation from the bank? I must have this account "linked" to a particular kind of checking account, and maintain a combined daily balance of over $15,000, or I will get this fee. This checking account incurs its own fees. I've had a checking account at this bank for over three years with none of these fees or problems.
What a rip-off. Banks, including this one, are advertising how they are helping people save, but then they turn around and subtract $20 a month of those savings if they aren't maintaining large amounts at low interest rates. Most passbook or money market accounts won't even earn that much interest in a month, so it's a net loss to the customer and a great net gain for the bank.
In my 45 years of banking, I have never encountered such usury until recently. First it was the excessive fees and interest rates on credit cards, which I luckily haven't had to pay, though I have canceled two cards from this same bank just on principle, but I know they are hurting others who have far less than I do and can little afford it.
The first time I encountered this kind of "disincentive" for savings was several years ago when a young person I knew opened a small savings account(at a different bank in a different state) . . . and found out that unless he had at least $100 in it at all times and at least one transaction a month, the bank was going to subtract $5 a month as a "maintenance fee." Maintenance of what? How much work was it taking their computers to keep track of that account? How can banks "encourage" saving that way?
Protest. I called the bank and complained. They took the $20 charge off "this one time," but I told them I will be taking my money elsewhere . . . that is, if I can find a decent bank without such policies.
On top of the annoyance and loss of funds, I hate the time it takes to deal with these things, and they probably count on that to keep people right where they are. Moving my money market account will be an inconvenience to me, but $240 a year in excessive charges are not worth "conveniennce" to me.
I got a shock this morning. My bank subtracted a "monthly maintenance fee" of $20 from my savings account. This has never happened before, though when I called to protest it, I was told there was no change in the rules for my accounts.
No change? I've had this account for several years and never been charged $20 a month for the "privilege" of having this bank keep my money and invest it for themselves, paying me a small interest rate, nor have I greatly reduced the amount in the account. This account has always had a healthy amount in it, and is not one of those accounts that incurs a fee from lack of activity.
The explanation from the bank? I must have this account "linked" to a particular kind of checking account, and maintain a combined daily balance of over $15,000, or I will get this fee. This checking account incurs its own fees. I've had a checking account at this bank for over three years with none of these fees or problems.
What a rip-off. Banks, including this one, are advertising how they are helping people save, but then they turn around and subtract $20 a month of those savings if they aren't maintaining large amounts at low interest rates. Most passbook or money market accounts won't even earn that much interest in a month, so it's a net loss to the customer and a great net gain for the bank.
In my 45 years of banking, I have never encountered such usury until recently. First it was the excessive fees and interest rates on credit cards, which I luckily haven't had to pay, though I have canceled two cards from this same bank just on principle, but I know they are hurting others who have far less than I do and can little afford it.
The first time I encountered this kind of "disincentive" for savings was several years ago when a young person I knew opened a small savings account(at a different bank in a different state) . . . and found out that unless he had at least $100 in it at all times and at least one transaction a month, the bank was going to subtract $5 a month as a "maintenance fee." Maintenance of what? How much work was it taking their computers to keep track of that account? How can banks "encourage" saving that way?
Protest. I called the bank and complained. They took the $20 charge off "this one time," but I told them I will be taking my money elsewhere . . . that is, if I can find a decent bank without such policies.
On top of the annoyance and loss of funds, I hate the time it takes to deal with these things, and they probably count on that to keep people right where they are. Moving my money market account will be an inconvenience to me, but $240 a year in excessive charges are not worth "conveniennce" to me.
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