First we have the "Move your Money" campaign, something all of us can participate in, that is encouraging everybody to move their money out of large banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America to smaller local banks or Credit Unions.
Customers are dumping their banks in droves ahead of the nationwide "Move Your Money" and "Bank Transfer Day" movements this Saturday.
Given the recent spotlight on attempts -- and ultimate failures -- by some of the nation's biggest banks to tack on new debit card fees, thousands of disgruntled consumers have already either left or pledged to leave their current bank for a community bank or credit union, which are known for having fewer and/or lower bank account fees.
At least 650,000 consumers have already joined credit unions since Sept. 29, the day Bank of America announced plans to impose its controversial $5 debit card fee, according to a nationwide survey of credit unions by the Credit Union National Association. That amounts to $4.5 billion in new savings accounts, CUNA said.
It looks like the movement has already had a significant impact on the banks. It will be interesting to see if the banks make any policy changes in order to woo back disgruntled ex-customers. Though for me personally I am not at all interested in ever going back.
Today is also the day that the secret cyber group "Anonymous" claims that they will take down Fox News.
PC Magazine has determined that Anonymous has a fairly good chance at successfully pulling this off:
OPERATION FOX HUNT
Another proposed Guy Fawkes Day operation, Fox Hunt, threatens to either take Foxnews.com offline or actually take control of the Web site, if some of the more boastful Anons are to be believed. The reason Anonymous is targeting Fox News is that the cable news network has been consistently critical of Occupy Wall Street and associated protests. Anonymous has attached itself strongly to the global Occupy movement and doesn't take attacks on it very kindly.
Chances of success: Decent. Operation Fox Hunt seems much more likely to happen than Operation Facebook. Taking Foxnews.com down surely has a lot of support within Anonymous' ranks and would no doubt please many of the collective's Occupy allies. Anonymous has a long track record of taking down Web sites with distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks—and many believe the group now has more sophisticated tools in its arsenal for such operations.
Like I said before I am not usually a fan of hacking, or other cyber attacks, but in this case I cannot think of more deserving target. I will be watching for this with great anticipation.
For myself, since I have already moved my money and NEVER watch Fox News, I am going to spend some time today watching my favorite November 5th movie, V for Vendetta, and monitoring the many protests planned today.
I think we can treat this post as an open thread, and you can tell me what you have planned for this November 5th, as well as provide updates as to the success of the Move You Money campaign, and the Operation Fox Hunt.
Hmm how shall I sign off this post? There's really only one choice, don't you agree?
Remember, remember the fifth of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot
I know of no reason the Gunpowder Treason
should ever be forgot....
