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Pastimes : G&K Investing for Curmudgeons
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To: Boa Babe who wrote (8711)11/22/2000 7:27:28 PM
From: Mike Buckley  Read Replies (9) of 22706
 
I used a wireless phone on an American Airlines plane. It was the first time I've used one. Big surprise, huh.

I'll explain my experience. The stewardess says over the intercom that it's okay to use the phone and that instructions can be found in American Way. The initial set of "instructions" says that more instructions can be found at the "end" of the section about information. Nah. Not there.

Instead, I finally find the full-page ad that says in bold, white letters on a black background: "NO EXCUSES," the idea being that there are no excuses for not being in touch just because I'm on an airplane. Indeed, the ad does have two two very simple sets of instructions -- both WRONG.

I decide to follow the instructions delivered to me through the phone's voice mail. I input my credit card number using the phone's dial pad exactly as I was instructed. The response is that my card is invalid. (American Airlines better hope it's not; I used it to pay for the ticket.) I repeat the attempt using two of my mother's credit cards. Same response for each: "Your credit card is not valid. Please try another one."

I get the stewardess. She spends a long time trying to get the system to work. After about 45 minutes of trying to get through, she was finally successful. Then the phone disconnected immediately after the operator dialed the number. After another ten minutes of trying now having wasted one hour of my time, I was able to deliver a critical 30-second message to my sister-in-law.

And I'm supposed to WANT a cell phone?

--Mike Buckley

P. S. Okay, so the phone was AT&T's. That explains part of it. But it was still a wireless phone.

P. P. S. The next time someone tells me to buy a cell phone I'm gonna tell them to go stuff a turkey. And it won't be necessary that it be Thanksgiving.
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