{balki Blog}
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Man and his wife are shopping at the Indian grocery/movie store and idle-chatting with the check-out clerk.  A traditional-looking yet friendly lady rushes into the store and announces “Do you have any good movies?”

Man: There are a lot of new movies on that shelf over there.
Lady: Which movies are good?
Man (unable to withhold his enthusiasm any longer reaches out the shelf): What kinds of movies do you like?
Lady: Not sure.  We haven’t watched a lot of new movies yet.
Wife (hardly attempting to withhold her unbridled laughter): He does not know anything; don’t take his advice.
Man (still relentless in his pursuit to help): Did you watch “Guru“?
Lady: Duh! That movie was released over a year ago!
Wife: We hardly watch 1 or 2 movies in a year and he fast-forwards most of the movies.
Lady: Then I am talking to the wrong person…
At this time, Man picks out a movie and offers to the friendly lady.
Clerk: Sir, that is not a movie…  “It is a cookbook“.
Wife: I rest my case.

Over the years, I have tried various international call providers including BigZoo, Reliance, Vonage and SargamDirect.  The prices decreased dramatically (they went from 60 cents/min to India in 1999 to almost 5 cents/min with my latest favorite RebTel) and the call quality improved significantly.  However, each of these providers had their own share of problems (issues like taxes, billing difficulties, company just folding, dialing a gazillion digits, etc).  I finally resigned to using SargamDirect (on the road) and Vonage (at home) not because they are outstanding or cheap but just because I lost the patience to try a new provider every other week.

When my nephew Kiran suggested RebTel, I was very reluctant at first but was instantly intrigued after visiting their web-site.  I think RebTel is a truly innovative product and that it offers quality at a very reasonable price (5.6 cents/min to India).

Here’s some pros and cons:

Pros	Cons
Easy registration (via credit card, PayPal or Ukash)	Currently cannot auto-recharge when using PayPal
Automatic recharge when the balance falls below a certain threshold (I think it is $1.00)
Only 5.6 cents/min for calls to India	It could have been even cheaper
*Auto-generated local number for each of your contacts in a foreign country	Currently limited to 20 contacts
Can register up to 5 phone numbers for the service (to make calls from)	Maybe limiting for a family of 5+ phones
RebTel customers can make free calls between each other	Not the most convenient way to call!
Current promotion gives you 20$ credit for new users.	I only get 5 free minutes for referrals
Very tightly integrated into SMS, email and phone so you don’t need to manage your account exclusively online.	Takes some time and effort to get used to all these features.

If you want to check out the service, let me know and I will send a referral.  Happy calling!

I appreciate US Airways for all the amenities and entertainment they provide in their flights (see my recent blog posts for details).  But the credit card sharks in all the airport terminals really get to my nerves.  So, this is my tribute to all those who hate the US Airways Credit card pushers with a vengeance…

Credit Card Pusher (CCP): Sir, sir!  Do you have a US Airways boarding pass?
Man: Yes.
CCP: Great!  Can you please step over to the side so we can talk?
CCP: What state are you in, sir?
Man: In a state of confusion
CCP (in a state of confusion himself): Sorry, sir!  What state do you reside in?
Man: Oh! in a state of eternal despair.
CCP: I just need to know where in the 50 states you live…
Man: Ok.  What are the different states?
CCP: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut….
Man: Ok.  I am from Oregon.
CCP: Great.  then you qualify for 5000 free miles if you sign-up for a credit card now.
Man: I thought it was 500,000 free miles?
CCP: No, sir.  I can go up to 15,00 miles maximum.
Man: Ok.  Give me a call if you can do 450,000 miles or better.
CCP: Whatever!
Man (to himself): YES!!! If only 10 more people annoyed these CCPs like our man everyday, nobody would want to take up such a lousy job.

(NOTE: this inappropriate comment series is based on true events but some of the statements were glorified for dramatic effects)

Have you browsed the SkyMall in-flight magazine lately?  Holy molly!!  The magazine is filled with enough electronic gadgets to bankrupt me overnight.  Each tool claims to automate or entertain you in ways you could not imagine in your wild dreams!automate some activity!

Here’s a short list of geeky gadgets that could activate an instant orgasm even in the most practical non-nerds among you:

Tool	My compelling reason to buy the tool
A virtual (projected) Bluetooth keyboard (HS1101J) : 169.99	I feel a very compelling need to upgrade my foldable wireless keyboard for the smart phone since it is cumbersome to use on my bathroom walls.
The Marshmallow Shooter (71405J): 24.95	I hate marshmallows and I need to shoot them out of my sight??!?
The World’s Largest Crossword Puzzle (66813J): 29.95	I always wanted to do crossword puzzles and this is a good time as any and I am known to aim high!
The Backpack Bicycle (74217): 249.95	I do not have a way to carry my regular bicycle in the car … the 3.5 times I use it per decade.
Home Theater Watch (TA457J): 119.95	It has been more than 2.68 years since I started reading news on my computer watch and it is time to upgrade to color.
Animated Hitch Critters (AUB101J): 24.95	Our SUV needs a hitch to get a more manly look and we need something girly to decorate that hitch.
Trailer Hitch Hammock Chairs (HKA102J): 199.99	We need these hammock chairs for our romantic drive-in theater experience (planned for August 24th, 2025, our 25th anniversary)
Scrolling LED License Plate Frame (12018J): 59.95	I can think of some creative and spontaneous phrases, if you know what I mean
SkyRest Travel Pillow (99010J): 29.95	People don’t make enough fun of me in public places.  I need a prop!!!!
Picture Frame HDTV Antenna (A515-1018J): 49.99	(I might actually buy this; so no comment)
CatGenie - Never touch cat litter box (PTN101): 299.99	When you get pregnant, we cannot afford to hire a cat-sitter everyday.
Upside down Tomato Garden (67403): 74.95	… because growing the tomatoes in a regular fashion (upside up) is just plain lame!

What reasons do you use to buy gadgets?

I got a chance to board a US Airways flight after a long time when I flew from Portland to Chicago last weekend.  I was instantly hooked onto the fun trivia quiz on the overhead Televisions courtesy of Cranium (and “travelQuest” on another US Airways flight).  While Cranium’s questions were based on fun facts and brain teasers, travelQuest questions were focused on specific travel destinations (on my flight the focus was on Amsterdam and the Netherlands).  I even had a healthy competition going on with my neighbor about who would answer the most questions right (although after a few minutes she claimed that she had an important article to read in the Glamour magazine and withdrew from the competition)

Some of the questions were:

• What type of wood are “Clogs” made of?
• Which language does the word “Volvo” (as in the safest car) originate from?

Does this mean airlines are attempting to change their monotonous and “necessary evil” image by providing more entertaining and educational options as part of their in-flight services (at least for geeks like me)?

If so, what else is next?  Personally I would love to play “Friends Scene It” on my next flight