In Brief

By Lev Grossman

CASH PLUS The next time you visit the ATM for a quick fix of cash, don't be surprised if you stay for the entertainment. This week in California, Wells Fargo is introducing a new breed of cash machine that treats customers to news headlines, advertisements and movie trailers while they do their banking. The downside? Longer ATM lines while that guy in front of you watches the X-Men trailer for the tenth time.

MOM MAIL It's almost Mother's Day. Got a card yet? Not to worry--in the computer age, filial devotion is easier than it used to be. Sierra Online and Hallmark have just released a new program called Hallmark Card Studio Deluxe ($49.99) with which you can print Hallmark Cards at home on your PC. Still too much work? Then drag your lazy self to a website called getacard.com where you can personalize, order and send actual paper Mother's Day cards without leaving your desk chair. And would it kill you to call once in a while?

DVDS FOR ME Wouldn't it be great if you could make mix CDs the same way you make mix tapes? imix.com--formerly known as customdisc.com--isn't the only website to offer this service, but it has by far the best music selection, in part through a partnership with Sony. Last week imix.com raised the stakes by offering DVDs as well, featuring hard-to-find movies and music videos. So far the selection is a bit martial-arts heavy--Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee figure prominently. Life's tough.

--By Lev Grossman