Geoffrey DeFilippi

I’ve recently discovered the hard way the phone numbers that use the helpful syntax: 1 (800) YOU CALL are very difficult to deal with when using a phone with a qwerty keyboard.

I’ve got a blackjack phone and the keys don’t have the good old keyboard mapping to help determine which key is which number. So this helpful trick falls out of favor in my opinion. It appears that blackberries with full keyboard probably have this same issue. I know that the obvious solution is to remember the keypad association after all how hard is it.

The problem is I never do and there is nothing quick and easy to look at with a QWERTY keyboard where my numbers correspond with the QWERTY keyboard:

As you can see this make it very confusing to dial a number where the digits associated with the letters are not also listed. I understand that having a catching phase that is a number is a useful way to make the number memorable, but why not put the digits next to in in parenthesis.

The other part of the new keyboard is that voice activated systems that ask you to type something in based on the keypad mapping are almost impossible for me to do. For instance when asked to type in the first for letters of my birthplace I have no way to quickly respond other than running to find a “regular” phone. I’m becoming a bigger fan by the day of talking to the voice activated system.

What is it with headphones in pubic places. It is somewhat amusing to me (in a defeatist way) that you can’t listen to a stereo, because it isn’t personal and you force everyone else to hear it, so you go ahead and pop in those earbuds and turn them up to a defening roar. It’s even better because all your fellow passengers hear is a truly grating mix of the treble and bass sounds without the advantage of any actual words. It kind of reminds me of listening to a woodpecker unleash it’s beak on a tree early saturday morning intermixed with some car alarm and dog barking.

No i won’t ask you to turn it down. Yes you’re certainly entitled to you personal music, but don’t ask me to thank you for the concert either. After all if i can hear it you’ll certainly be paying for it later (hopefully with your own money and not tax payer dollars for the un-insured).

There are other choices by the way. I admit some of them do cost more, but you could replace you low quality ear buds with something of a slightly higher grade (shure anyone)… As an aside; you don’t have to listen as loud if the sound quality is clear…

After all that money you paid for your portable music player why not treat yourself in style; we’ll both be happier!

Do you often find your self thinking that 24.99 is much cheaper than 25 dollars. I know I sure do. I find the lure of an item which is 1 cent less to be so appealing I am tempted to buy two.

So apparently according to business researcher this concept termed “Just Below” pricing actually works and works well. I guess I shouldn’t be so surpised, but I can help feeling insulted intellectually.

The concept is as follows:

• People don’t make rational purchasing decisions. - I guess I can “buy” that. Actually I’ll sell it to you for $1.99 if you would prefer.
• People go crazy for these deals or steals - After all you are saving a whole cent.
• What they really mean is that the price most people see when looking at a 1.99 price or 150.99 price is rounded down - I call that wishful thinking on the part of the shopper and lying on the part of the seller.

So it appears that the studies drive the industry pricing and since the studies are done on normal people who am I to argue.

That certainly doesn’t mean I have to like it and it doesn’t mean I personally will rush out and buy it.

I’m not advocating wholesale boycotts or anything either. All I trying to say in a round about way is “Wouldn’t it be more honest to sell me something for what its worth instead of trying to trick me into buying it because I’m getting a good deal?”

Business Travel, so exciting it drips with its own enthusiams. I can remember (it wasn’t that long ago) getting ready for my first business trip all on my ownsome, headed out west to do the unknown. Wow. I’ve got to admit it sure was fun the first time.

Well… kind of fun. I got to the airport late. Opps. Missed that first flight. Opps. Had to call in all fluster and let the boss know. Opps. That sure was scary and I bet that the boss was laughing her head off at me. Rookies.

So there you are out on the road, doing the airplane thing. Your a member of the jet set crew; one of the people that buys funny pillows for sleeping upright. You’re the guy with the funny red light blocking out background noise. You’ve become the woman that tries to get on the plane as fast as possible so she can stow her carry on bag which never quites fits without a fight. You get to talk about things like leg room and the guy that took the whole arm rest. You’re really concerned about personal comfort.

Its a mysterious club, full of veterns, and hidden privelege.

Frequent flyer miles leading to the promise of silver then gold, and the coveted platinum memberships all of which are a swelling wave of rank and power.

You’re are not a rookie anymore.

The best part of the deal is seeing all of these wonderful places: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Colorado, California…

In the end its kind of sad though. With a few treasured exceptions what have your really seen to say you’ve been somewhere. Another Marriott or if your lucky a Double Tree (they do have fresh cookies). Better yet a delicious and healthy meal at Outback with the other people trying to eat at the bar before it gets busy; or maybe your brave enough to bring a book and risk social outkast status as you sit solo in your booth trying to keep a low profile.

You’re feeling like you’ve seen the same airline hostess before and you know her routine…

So my friends if your stuck in that rut make sure you get out farther than the starbucks and PF Changs. Don’t visit the mall, take a tour with out a guide. Go see the band in a smoky dilapidated shack an hour outside of Baton Rouge or get lost in the Pecan tree lined roads on your way out of Sacramento to Modesto. Play some golf in the nameless city course in Parker Arizonia and take the picture out of your window on your way back to Vegas when you segway through Bullhead city and please, please stop at the vineyard you noticed and have a taste for.

You will thank me; I promise.