Tech Watch | InfoWorld Staff » Everybody wants a piece of my paycheck

August 12, 2004 | Comments: (0)

Everybody wants a piece of my paycheck

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The latest news from Blockbuster announcing the launch of its online DVD rental service has me ecstatic.

For $19.95 per month I will be sent any three videos of my choosing on DVD, with no return date. Of course I can't rent three more till I return the other three. For $29.95 I could get five DVDs at a time.

But looking for more ways to stay tuned into my PC/DVD player rather than
going outside, I took the top of the line offer, eight DVDs for a mere $39.95.

The only trouble is that when I went online to check my bank account this week it looked rather anemic, so I ran a high end enterprise variance analytics program which measures expected paycheck against actual.

It issued a report that itemized the following monthly automatic deductions which it seems I had authorized. I vaguely remember something about getting frequent flyer miles on Alaska Airlines for allowing electronic withdrawals from my checking account, but I can't be sure .

Blockbuster - $39.95, eight DVDs
Cable TV $81 includes HBO East, West, North, South, Family, and Latin plus Starz, ShowTime, Sundance and IFC
SBC DSL - $40.00 with email!
Celluar Phone $59.00, nationwide, two phones, 900 minutes, after 7 p.m.
Verizon Data Card $99.00 unlimited data
Sprint Wifi $49.95 unlimited hot spot service, where available
OnStar, deluxe $34.95, concierge, driving directions, safety package,
including automatic air bag deployment notification
XM Satellite Radio $10.00, 68 channels of free music, 33 channels of
of news and sports and what I really wanted 21 channels of instant weather.

Grand total $413.85

I may have to rent a cheaper place but I think I got a bargain.
PS
If anyone knows of something else I can subscribe to send an email to ephraim_schwartz@infoworld.com

Posted by Ephraim. Schwartz on August 12, 2004 04:08 PM

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