Mad Money
A look back at the quirky financial news of 2004.
By Jane Bennett Clark, Senior Associate Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, December 2004
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Company disconnect
When communications giant Sprint announced in May that it planned to "significantly improve" customer service in its wireless division, Sprint PCS users had reason to 
rejoice. The division's service had consistently earned a grade of D+ on PlanetFeedback.com, the Web site that lets consumers vent about their experiences dealing with a wide range of companies.
But the company still rates a D+. Among the mostly negative comments listed on the site this fall: "Sprint customer service yells at customers," "Worst phone tree ever" and "Sprint--never-ending problems!" Sprint PCS did manage to miss PlanetFeedback's top-ten list of companies with the lousiest service, however. Among those that warranted that honor were five other phone carriers: Sprint Long Distance (Sprint's sister division), AT&T Long Distance, AT&T Wireless, SBC Communications and Cingular Wireless.
Market timers
When Martha Stewart announced that she would be spending the holidays at Club Fed, the tchotchke sellers were ready to give her an understated-yet-elegant send-off. Hand-embroidered guest towels at Sisters Maison Unique, in Alexandria, Va., were an instant success. (The embroidery was available in any color, including prison-pallor pink.)
Beats Prozac anytime
This just in from a survey published by Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 2004: You feel better if you're not broke. Folks who make at least $50,000 a year are sad a mere two days a month, one day fewer than the mean and four days fewer than people scraping by on less than $15,000 annually.
Cough it up
A German woman who stashed 380 euros (about $475 U.S.) in her car while running an errand came back to find the money missing and her dog feeling, er, indisposed. Turns out Fido had experienced a yen for euros and chowed down the whole bankroll. After a trip to the vet, the hungry hound returned the money.
Get a Fendi fix
If every now and then you get a yen to carry a bag that reeks of style and sells for a small fortune, good news: At Bag Borrow or Steal on the Web, you can rent a de la Renta (or a Prada or a Fendi), carry it once and trade it in for a Coach to take to next week's ball. You'll pay $100 a month to get a Diva-quality bag, such as a $339 Fendi. You could save $100 a month and buy the bag. But that wouldn't be as much fun, would it?
Sharp dresser
In September, a man carrying a pitchfork held up a bank in Aiken, S.C., and threatened to kill the bank tellers unless they forked over the cash. The robber, who was caught on video, wore a hooded mask, gloves, sunglasses, white Bermuda shorts, black socks and work shoes. Despite the eccentric ensemble, witnesses said the robber made a clean getaway.
--Research: Joan Goldwasser