Wednesday night

Didn't feel like going to the gym tonight. Not enough of a nap. But I have pledged to go one day this weekend, in addition to Friday. I really like going to the gym on Friday night, since it's practically empty.

You can read about one of those teabag rallies here, from Joan Walsh at Salon.

I got a notice from Discover today saying that they also are raising their interest rates on credit cards, to Prime plus 13.49% for an APR (on purchases) of 16.75%. (It was 12.49%.) The other day I donated $5 to Consumers Union to help put a stop to these rate hikes. The following is from Consumers Union here.

The Banks are at it Again!

Several major banks just hiked interest rates and fees on our credit cards, turning a blind eye to the millions of Americans struggling with the collapsing economy and higher unemployment. Just as we start getting that little increase in our paychecks, we have to turn around and give it to our credit card banks.

The U.S. House and Senate are both taking up credit card reform this week. That's why we need you to contact your lawmakers NOW to ask for their support.

Media reports show Capital One hiked interest rates to 17.9% from 12.9%. Citibank raised their rates an average of 3%. While over at Chase, customers had a “choice” of paying a $120-a-year fee and a higher minimum payment, or a higher interest rate. Meanwhile, the interest rate banks charge each other for overnight loans is as low as 0%.

The Federal Reserve Board passed a new rule to prevent these sudden rate hikes, but it won’t go into effect until the middle of 2010. How many times before then will we get slugged with higher rates and fees just so the banks who got billions in taxpayer bailouts can increase their profits?

Let’s help make it happen now. Tell Congress we can’t afford to wait until mid-2010 for credit card reform!

Greedy bastards. Screwing the middle-class consumer while the taxpayers are subsidizing the banks on account of their reckless behavior. Go here to send message. (Fortunately, I don't have large balances on my cards and will pay them off ASAP.)