Thursday, October 29, 2009
SHANNANIGUMS WAVE. BOOKS ARRIVED TODAY.
I snapped a few pics of em' - luverly cover artwork taken from CHU's great wall of walsall titled "Hole In the Wall".
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tesco BANK
http://www.myspace.com/flyagaric24
How will Tesco Bank shape up?
Alan O'Sullivan, This is Money
6 October 2009
Chat
The newly renamed Tesco Bank has a long way to go before it replaces some of the nation's biggest banks, but it has the potential to become one of the most successful banking brands in the country.
Skip additional links
Tesco Store
Every little helps: like being able to do your banking and shoppiing at the same time.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
* Free banking with your supermarket shop
* Video: The supermarket banking grab
* Tesco expands for assault on banks
OTHER STORIES
* Easy steps to getting the best Isa
* The bank complaint X-Files investigated
* Nationwide's poor Guaranteed Bond offer
* Islamic bonds offer table-topping 4.5%
* Best buy savings that drop to 0.08%
SAVINGS TABLES
Credit cards, cash and calculator Find the best savings account to suit you from our entirely independent comparison tables:
>> Top savings rates
SAVINGS SAFETY
Bank vault We explain how to make sure all your savings are covered by compensation.
>> Safer savings
In a symbolic move that outlines its ambition, the supermarket announced today that it was renaming Tesco Personal Finance as Tesco Bank.
It revealed that it has attracted 300,000 customers to its banking arm over the past year, giving a total of 6m.
But as the banking industry may have to start charging for current accounts in the near future due to the current legal battle over bank charges, it may be able to grow this customer base much faster than its rivals by offering free accounts if customers spend a certain amount in its stores.
So how does Tesco Bank shape up and will it become a major force?
Savings rates
The bank has a good reputation for customer service and its savings products regularly appear at the best top of the best-buy tables. These accounts are often not as consistent as those offered by building societies, but are on par with those offered by the big banks.
For example, Tesco Bank's internet account is one of the highest paying on the market at present at 3%, although this includes a 1.75% bonus, meaning the rate will fall to 1.25% after 12 months.
The account saw a rush of customers at the start of the year, although This is Money readers complained about an overly complex and convoluted internet banking process.
Customer base
In terms of customers, Tesco still has a long way to go before it begins to rival the big High Street banking names: Lloyds Banking Group has a monumental number of customers at 30m, followed by RBS's 28m, Santander's 25m, Barclays 22m and HSBC's 16.1m.
As stated previously Tesco Bank attracted 300,000 new customers this year to reach a total of 6m. That means Tesco Bank grew its customer base by just over 5% in the last year, which means it is keeping up with some of its rivals, but not vastly out-performing them yet.
In comparison, Lloyds Banking Group recently announced it opened 1m new current accounts and 2.3m savings accounts in the first six months of this year, out of a total of 22m current accounts and 21m savings accounts, growth rates of 4.5% and 11% respectively.
Brand presence
Tesco Bank's brand is its strong point. It is as big a presence across the country as any of the major High Street banking names. It has a 2,300 strong supermarket network to fall back on with 3,000 cash machines, which rivals Barclay's 1,720 branches and 3,414 cash machines.
If Tesco was to buy up the branch network and business of Northern Rock, as has been rumoured in the media, this would considerably add to its presence. In terms of credit cards, it is already a major brand as the seventh largest credit card issuer in the country.
Despite its critics when it comes to its supermarkets and the state of the High Street, Tesco has an ace up its sleeve when it comes to banking. The supermarket has a reputation for reliability untainted by the financial crisis, which has hammered banks' respectability in the eyes of the public.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/savings-and-banking/article.html?in_article_id=491541&in_page_id=7&position=moretopstories
How will Tesco Bank shape up?
Alan O'Sullivan, This is Money
6 October 2009
Chat
The newly renamed Tesco Bank has a long way to go before it replaces some of the nation's biggest banks, but it has the potential to become one of the most successful banking brands in the country.
Skip additional links
Tesco Store
Every little helps: like being able to do your banking and shoppiing at the same time.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
* Free banking with your supermarket shop
* Video: The supermarket banking grab
* Tesco expands for assault on banks
OTHER STORIES
* Easy steps to getting the best Isa
* The bank complaint X-Files investigated
* Nationwide's poor Guaranteed Bond offer
* Islamic bonds offer table-topping 4.5%
* Best buy savings that drop to 0.08%
SAVINGS TABLES
Credit cards, cash and calculator Find the best savings account to suit you from our entirely independent comparison tables:
>> Top savings rates
SAVINGS SAFETY
Bank vault We explain how to make sure all your savings are covered by compensation.
>> Safer savings
In a symbolic move that outlines its ambition, the supermarket announced today that it was renaming Tesco Personal Finance as Tesco Bank.
It revealed that it has attracted 300,000 customers to its banking arm over the past year, giving a total of 6m.
But as the banking industry may have to start charging for current accounts in the near future due to the current legal battle over bank charges, it may be able to grow this customer base much faster than its rivals by offering free accounts if customers spend a certain amount in its stores.
So how does Tesco Bank shape up and will it become a major force?
Savings rates
The bank has a good reputation for customer service and its savings products regularly appear at the best top of the best-buy tables. These accounts are often not as consistent as those offered by building societies, but are on par with those offered by the big banks.
For example, Tesco Bank's internet account is one of the highest paying on the market at present at 3%, although this includes a 1.75% bonus, meaning the rate will fall to 1.25% after 12 months.
The account saw a rush of customers at the start of the year, although This is Money readers complained about an overly complex and convoluted internet banking process.
Customer base
In terms of customers, Tesco still has a long way to go before it begins to rival the big High Street banking names: Lloyds Banking Group has a monumental number of customers at 30m, followed by RBS's 28m, Santander's 25m, Barclays 22m and HSBC's 16.1m.
As stated previously Tesco Bank attracted 300,000 new customers this year to reach a total of 6m. That means Tesco Bank grew its customer base by just over 5% in the last year, which means it is keeping up with some of its rivals, but not vastly out-performing them yet.
In comparison, Lloyds Banking Group recently announced it opened 1m new current accounts and 2.3m savings accounts in the first six months of this year, out of a total of 22m current accounts and 21m savings accounts, growth rates of 4.5% and 11% respectively.
Brand presence
Tesco Bank's brand is its strong point. It is as big a presence across the country as any of the major High Street banking names. It has a 2,300 strong supermarket network to fall back on with 3,000 cash machines, which rivals Barclay's 1,720 branches and 3,414 cash machines.
If Tesco was to buy up the branch network and business of Northern Rock, as has been rumoured in the media, this would considerably add to its presence. In terms of credit cards, it is already a major brand as the seventh largest credit card issuer in the country.
Despite its critics when it comes to its supermarkets and the state of the High Street, Tesco has an ace up its sleeve when it comes to banking. The supermarket has a reputation for reliability untainted by the financial crisis, which has hammered banks' respectability in the eyes of the public.
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/savings-and-banking/article.html?in_article_id=491541&in_page_id=7&position=moretopstories
EQUAL DAY EQUAL NIGHT 2009
Fly Agaric Studio > Bohemian National Home –
Friday, September 18, 2009 @ 1:00-2:00 am [20-0982]
Amsterdam, NL. > Detroit, US.
This episode is a birthday salute to John Coltrane and a bow to the Vernal Equinox with music by John Coltrane selected by Steve “Fly” Agaric 23 at his Oosterpark studio in Amsterdam and programmed by John Sinclair at the Bohemian National Home in Detroit. As Fly says, “Happy Vernal Equinox, or around about, please enjoy this good energy mix in celebration of the music and birth of John Coltrane. Thanks, John!”
Playlist #282
[01] John Sinclair & His Blues Scholars: Welcome
[02] John Coltrane: Equinox
[03]. John Coltrane: Blues Minor
[04] John Coltrane: Crescent
[05] John Coltrane: All or Nothing at All
[06] Miles Davis: ‘Round About Midnight
[07] John Coltrane: The Drum Thing
[08] John Coltrane: Spiritual
A JOINT PRODUCTION
Hosted by John Sinclair for Radio Free Amsterdam
Music selected in Amsterdam by Steve “Fly” Agaric 23
Produced, recorded, edited & assembled by John Sinclair in Detroit
Posted by Larry Hayden
Executive Producer: Larry Hayden
© 2009 John Sinclair. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.radiofreeamsterdam.com/john-sinclair-radio-show-282/
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