| PayPal, E-payments Gain Online Ground
Burt Reynolds is an unlikely choice for the role of Santa's helper. That didn't stop computer-maker Dell (DELL) from casting the actor in a series of commercials aimed at the social networking set. In the videos, launched on Nov. 16, Reynolds encourages viewers to buy Dell products online as holiday gifts for friends and family. The star of Smokey and the Bandit and Cannonball Run isn't the only surprising casting choice. Playing the part of payment collector is eBay's (EBAY) PayPal. Dell typically lets customers purchase computers with their Visa or MasterCard (MA) credit cards. But with this new service, all payments must go through a PayPal account. "People are moving to using different payment options, and looking at this one in particular opened up a lot of opportunities," says David Clifton, a spokesman for Dell's consumer group.
Sir Quett Ketumile Masire
When, in July 1980, he ascended from V-P to presidency, following the death of his predecessor, his leadership kept Botswana on the path of remarkable post-independence economic growth rate of some 10 per cent per annum one of the highest in the world. That was unlike the situation in most of post-colonial Africa where the second generation of leaders drove their countries to ruins, if the founding the fathers had not done that already. Most of Botswanas growth came from diamonds, the nations leading export earner. It is one of the African countries where mineral wealth has not caused more pain than joy. Asked during one of his lectures why Botswana essentially escaped the resource curse that has affected many African countries, Masire had four reasons.
New Credit Card Directs Rebates Toward Tuition
The state treasurer's office Wednesday announced a new component to the Bright Start College Savings Program, which allows families to save for college tuition whenever they go shopping. The new Bright Start Futuretrust MasterCard contributes a 1 percent cash rebate on the amount of every purchase to each card members Bright Start College Savings Program account, according to a release from state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias's office. This is like a frequent-flyer program geared toward families saving for college, Giannoulias said. Families can use the cash rewards they earn from the program as another source of college money without changing their spending habits." .
|
