I've always thought that banks were really nice to set up Overdraft Protection for their customers. What a kind gesture on their part to go to such lengths to try and save their customers the embarrassment of having a check bounce!
In reading the Internet today I find out that the banks are not only nice but they are making a few extra coins while they are being so nice...
"The Financial Times recently reported that U.S. banks are set to earn $38.5 billion this year from overdraft fees alone, more than double the number from 1994."
I don't wanna tell you what to do but, if you are the person from whom they acquired their $38.5 billion, I think you ought to make a consciencious effect to rectify your spending and paying habits.
Would I kid u?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
How Much Waste Is Not Much Waste?
According to the New York Times on August 23, 2009, our Energy Department needs to pay attention to its own internal energy practices…
“WASHINGTON – The Energy Department strives to be a leader in championing energy efficiency. Its Web site lists energy-saving tips, while Secretary Steven Chu calls conservation one of the department’s most important goals.
But at many of the agency’s buildings, even at national laboratories where talented scientists seek technological breakthroughs to save energy, the department has failed to use one of the simplest, most effective tools available to any ordinary household – thermostats that automatically dial back the temperature when nobody is around.
A recent audit found that the Energy Department could save more than $11.5 million in energy costs by properly employing these “setback” controls to adjust the heat and conditioning at night or on weekends.
The inspector general reviewed 55 buildings at four department sites for the audit, finding that the Agency had either not used or not suitably maintained setbacks at 35 of those buildings.”
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The Smart fella? Is not an expert on Energy or on Europe but he has been to Europe and seen how they use energy. In some ways they are smarter than we are. I’ll give you a couple of examples below...
Ø When you drive into many parking garages, and if those garages are unoccupied by a moving object, all the lights are out. As soon as the nose of your car enters, all the lights come on.
Ø When you get out of an elevator in many hotels and apartment buildings, you see that the lights are out. In some cases there is a switch right next to the elevator with which you turn on the lights. In other cases, there is a motion detector that turns them on for you.
Try and imagine how much energy could be saved if only these two examples were employed in every hotel, apartment building and garage in the good ole USofA.
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I am aware that there are objections to anything and everything and I fully expect that some member of Congress would stand up and make comments like these below about the measly $11.5 million saving potential that the Energy Department could garner by going to Setback Thermometers…
Ø I fail to see why the honorable gentleman is so concerned about saving a mere $11.5 million.
Ø Why 11 ain’t much and .5 is even less.
Ø Does my friend realize how many times $11.5 million could be divided into $1 billion?
Ø I respectively submit that until my colleague can come up with a $1 billion saving, he should not take up this august body’s time with such minor considerations.
Ø I see where I have 20 seconds left in my allotted time and I would like to add that I fail to understand what’s wrong with having only 20 of 55 Energy Department buildings properly using Setback Thermometers (whatever that is). By golly, 20 out of 55 is .364 and in baseball that is good enough to win the batting title in any given year!
Ø Let’s go to Happy Hour!
Great Spirits Often Encounter Violent Opposition from Mediocre Minds
Would I kid u?
“WASHINGTON – The Energy Department strives to be a leader in championing energy efficiency. Its Web site lists energy-saving tips, while Secretary Steven Chu calls conservation one of the department’s most important goals.
But at many of the agency’s buildings, even at national laboratories where talented scientists seek technological breakthroughs to save energy, the department has failed to use one of the simplest, most effective tools available to any ordinary household – thermostats that automatically dial back the temperature when nobody is around.
A recent audit found that the Energy Department could save more than $11.5 million in energy costs by properly employing these “setback” controls to adjust the heat and conditioning at night or on weekends.
The inspector general reviewed 55 buildings at four department sites for the audit, finding that the Agency had either not used or not suitably maintained setbacks at 35 of those buildings.”
----------------------------------------------------------
The Smart fella? Is not an expert on Energy or on Europe but he has been to Europe and seen how they use energy. In some ways they are smarter than we are. I’ll give you a couple of examples below...
Ø When you drive into many parking garages, and if those garages are unoccupied by a moving object, all the lights are out. As soon as the nose of your car enters, all the lights come on.
Ø When you get out of an elevator in many hotels and apartment buildings, you see that the lights are out. In some cases there is a switch right next to the elevator with which you turn on the lights. In other cases, there is a motion detector that turns them on for you.
Try and imagine how much energy could be saved if only these two examples were employed in every hotel, apartment building and garage in the good ole USofA.
----------------------------------------------------------
I am aware that there are objections to anything and everything and I fully expect that some member of Congress would stand up and make comments like these below about the measly $11.5 million saving potential that the Energy Department could garner by going to Setback Thermometers…
Ø I fail to see why the honorable gentleman is so concerned about saving a mere $11.5 million.
Ø Why 11 ain’t much and .5 is even less.
Ø Does my friend realize how many times $11.5 million could be divided into $1 billion?
Ø I respectively submit that until my colleague can come up with a $1 billion saving, he should not take up this august body’s time with such minor considerations.
Ø I see where I have 20 seconds left in my allotted time and I would like to add that I fail to understand what’s wrong with having only 20 of 55 Energy Department buildings properly using Setback Thermometers (whatever that is). By golly, 20 out of 55 is .364 and in baseball that is good enough to win the batting title in any given year!
Ø Let’s go to Happy Hour!
Great Spirits Often Encounter Violent Opposition from Mediocre Minds
Would I kid u?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
While We Were Arguing...
Roosevelt The First (President Theodore) was determined to build the Panama Canal. He was getting a lot of resistance from Congress (things never change). The following is not a quote but it is close, so I will use single quotes ... 'It seems that Congress does not want to build the canal. They only want to argue about building the canal for fifty years. I'm going to build the canal and let them argue about me for fifty years.'
The same can be said about our current situation with the Health Care "Crisis"...
- We hear about how much it is gonna cost.
- We hear what it's gonna cost is too much cost.
- We hear that it is not gonna be that bad because "they" have found a way to save money that is currently being frittered away in waste, fraud and abuse in our current system.
- Various numbers have been thrown around (Congress is very good about throwing numbers around) ... $313 Billion or a Trillion or so (give or take a few Billions or so) ... "a significant sum" ... etc.
If Theodore were alive, he would be turning over in his grave.
Would I kid u?
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