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Here's a quiz you didn't expect to take today. In which of the following locations will you find an ATM?

1. South Rim, Grand Canyon
2. Buckingham Palace
3. McMurdo Station, Antarctica

In fact, you will find ATMs at all of those locations, and at some 371,000 more. It was 35 years ago this September that Chemical Bank's ad campaign began running in New York: "On Sept. 2, our bank will open at 9:00 and never close again!" Today there's one ATM for every 284 U.S. households. But a curious thing about ATMs: Most large banks lose a lot of money on them, about $250 per machine every month. Banks keep these loss leaders because in surveys an overwhelming number of respondents say ATM access is a key factor in choosing a bank.

This is all documented in a story in the current issue of Fortune, by the way. What the story doesn't mention is that the ATM industry is responsible for two of most widely used Keekleyisms in the English language. A Keekleyism, for those who don't know, is an initialization -- distinct from an acronym, remember -- that often retains some of its component words when used. "ATM [automated teller machine] machine" is one, as in "PIN [personal identification number] number." I always like "ABS brakes." And you now see businesses, after some brand consultant convinces them that their name -- say, Georgia Carpet Outlet --- is too prosaic, going by "GCO Carpet Outlet" or "DSW [Discount Shoe Warehouse] Shoe Warehouse."

Fear not, you won't be receiving entreaties to turn out for "SJH Hoops" any time soon. We tip off at 6:30 p.m. tonight, as usual. Let me know if you will or will not be playing. And please take your receipt.

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