Citibank

Focus Groups Hated the Original ATM

by Robert Quigley | 1:59 pm, January 20th

Many banking customers today barely interface with human tellers at all unless it’s absolutely necessary thanks to the ATM, but the original automatic teller machine, invented by an Armenian immigrant named Luther George Simjian, may have been a little too ahead of its time. Beginning in 1939, Simjian filed 20 patents on what he called the Bankmatic Automated Teller Machine.

But after a 6-month trial of the device, Citibank’s predecessor bank, the City Bank of New York, opted not to continue due to lack of customer demand. Which isn’t to say that the original ATM didn’t have its early adopters, but they weren’t exactly the kind the banks wanted.

Looking back, Simjian wrote:

It seems the only people using the machines were a small number of prostitutes and gamblers who didn’t want to deal with tellers face to face.

(MIT via Mental Floss)

Did Citibank Shut Down a Gay Social Networking Startup’s Bank Account over Underwear? (Update)

by Michael Triplett | 1:33 pm, February 25th

Fabulis, a gay social networking startup, discovered yesterday that Citibank has shut down its bank account over “objectionable content” on its blog, which is a Tumblr site that features a lot of pretty, fully-dressed men, some hoodies, and colorful underwear with the word “Fabulis” on them.

In an update posted today on Fabulis’ blog, Fabulis founder and CEO Jason Goldberg said that a Citibank manager “let us know that a compliance review occurred, which Citi says is a standard procedure, and the review officer determined the “content was not in compliance with Citibank’s standard policies.” They requested the account be terminated.”

Read on...

14 of the Best Geekiest Beers

Given beer's pervasive place in human history, it's not surprising that the geeky pastimes of drinkers would eventually rub off on the beers themselves. The result is a veritable cornucopia of nerdy beers, 14 of which are right here.

Tweetosystem

Eric Limer I'm trying to come up with a control scheme where I can use my xbox 360 controller for leisurely web surfing. It's....interesting.
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James Plafke For a show about a sport I don't really dig, Friday Night Lights is an alright show.
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Eric Limer Just spent a few hours playing Kyntt. Stunning, cute little game. Highly recommended.
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Max Wanna create work flows, wanna make it all work work work.
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James Plafke I am jealous Elmo got to make out with Kristin Chenoweth.
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Eric Limer I swear under my breath A LOT. This must make people near by me very uncomfortable. That being said, I have no intentions of stopping.
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Max Court is now in session at the Burp Castle.
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Eric Limer I don't look at my finances as often as I should which is the main reason why I don't often want to look at my finances.
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Max Desert PolyBus: The game where you drive to Reno and then die.
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Eric Limer If I wrote a webcomic, every strip would be titled "Get it? GET IT?!"
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Max Got chili oil on my hands and face. It hurts. A lot.
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Eric Limer Suddenly I remember what I hate about PC gaming. Mainly never having a computer that can actually do it.
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James Plafke The halftime show taught me that football-watching men drinking beer who love seeing muscular men beat each other up really like to vogue.
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Max Pestering your friends at 8am is how you show you care, right? #hopeso
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Eric Limer Twitter is like RiffTrax for EVERYTHING.
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James Plafke I know global warming is scary, but not having a winter was pretty cool. I didn't have to spend money on shoes for the snow.
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Eric Limer I hereby apologize to all persons --past, present and future-- who have the misfortune of hearing me "sing" dubstep songs.
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Max Even Facebook's Timeline thinks I could have done more with my life.
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Max I did that thing where Facebook turns your Timeline into a movie. Mine had pictures of ducks and foliage set to really dramatic music.
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Max "But I don't wanna go to the dog show!"
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