Your favorite new techno toy

I’m always searching for things to make our lives easier.

In early January, I mentioned a “mystery” new product that Jill & I were checking out.  The trial period is now over, and we LOVE it.  As a result, we’ve just dropped our home local & long distance service from the big guys.

For only $20 a year, you get a local phone number, and all local & LD calling.  Caller ID, forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, you name it.  All the features you’re used to.  Plus, international calling to Aunt Liz & Uncle Willie in Scotland is only 2 cents a minute.

It is www.magicJack.com … all you need is an internet connection.

Instead of $30-40 a month, we’ll pay $20 a year.  That’s a CHUNK of change saved, and the difference goes right into Roy’s college fund.

I’m curious about your favorite new techno gadget of the last month, even the last year.  Is it saving you money too?

Let’s chat about it today, after 3pm.

Wasting time at work

While at work, I think we can all use an extra 5-10 minutes daily, just to re-charge our brains.

Some may call it wasting time.  I call it, well, not working.   To help you meet your daily quota:

** Season 5 of Lost on ABC kicked off Wednesday, and my wife Jill’s Lost Blog 2009 is now online @ my page of US99.com.  You’ll also find the previous seasons’ blogs – everything we Lost addicts need for our weekly fix.

** All Access Week 84 is now posted at US99.com … it highlights all the interviews from last weekend’s Winterfest in St. Charles.  My TMZ conversation with Kellie Pickler, plus Jason Aldean and Jimmy Wayne with L&R.  Perfect for that mid-afternoon non-smoke break.

What’s the best way you waste a few minutes every day?  Your favorite indulgence?

312.591.US99, text 287-995, or e-mail me.

Let’s talk about it, today after 3pm.

Getting burned, even when you follow the rules

My wife Jill got to work over 40 minutes late this morning, due to the folks at Metra.  

The crossing gates were stuck in the down position.  She and a group of 20 others decided not to cross, even with no trains in either direction.

Once her train arrived, already 15 minutes late, the group waited for the Metra flagger to appear and help them across.

Instead, the train pulled away after a few minutes, leaving them stranded!

With the gates still in the down position, the next train arrived 20 minutes later.  This time, a Metra flagger exited at the back of the train to help them.

This episode furthers my opinion that the folks at Metra really don’t care about much.  Customer service, on-time performance, all the things their commercials tout.  They just don’t get it.

Have you been burned recently, after playing by the rules?

Let’s talk about it today, after 3pm.