DVR dilemma

In last few years I resisted buying DVR thinking that it is not required by me. I usually dont record any shows on my VCR and never felt that world will turn over if I miss 1 episode of American Idol. However, few months back I bought video iPod and started using it for my daily train commute. I found none of of the “free” video podcast interesting enough to download everyday. Now I feel a DVR is required to record my favorite TV shows in odd hours. So, I started researching for DVR.

My first search was off course for Tivo. But a $16.95/month fee was big push off. Also, Tivo hasn’t yet launched iPod compatible DVR. Next, I looked PC/laptop based solutions. The PC/laptop DVR initial cost is more than Tivo, but I will not have to pay monthly fees. However, I didn’t find any good software which directly records shows for iPod. Most of the software records shows in AVI or mp3 and than you have to use another software to convert the recording into mp4. Than there is HDTV compatibility things. In the end I didn’t find any single piece interesting enough to buy.

Here is my critera to buy DVR:

1) HDTV quality recording

2) iPod Video compatibility

3) Internet Connectivity/Schedule my recording on web

4) Price < $300

5) Burn DVDs

I don’t see all of above becoming reality soon… my wait continues

Smile please

You get smile at any U.S. cash counters except at desi places. There are many (american) lunch places in NYC where you get free lunch if clerk dont smile while giving you change/receipt. At all desi business, women at counter have stone face and sometime gives scary look. It looks like they have been pushed to work at counter and they dont like working.
Here are my top three palces where it is hard to find smiling face:
1) Owner/Clerk of Dosa Express, Edison, NJ
2) Clerks in Apana Bazar, Edison, NJ
3) Air India Reception/Booking Clerk in New York AI office

Here are my reasons why desi counter clerks have sad faces:
1) There supply of Dabur Lal Dant Manjan from last India trip is over.
2) They think they are still in India, if they smile to strangers their parents will stop them from working.
3) Watching too much of tear jerking Saas/Bahu serials on Indian TV
4) If they smile customer may come again ( that means more work )
5) They dont have dental insurance
6) They fear customer may be dentist ( Most of dentist in U.S are Indian).

What is in NRI suitcase ?

A big news in NRI community these days is reduced baggage allowance by different airlines (fuel saving steps). You can ask any desi in U.S., they can tell you in detail about suitcase size and suitcase weight to carry from India to US (or back).
After carrying achar, pressure cooker, gift for Kanpur wale sanju ke mama ki beti ki bhatiji in Edison etc, the hot items now a days is Daal (letils). After India banned export of lentils, daal price has increased in U.S.
So if you or any of your friend is travelling from India asked them to dump laddu & achar and carry Daal.

A to Z

There are many Indian language channels like Zee, Sony, Star etc available in U.S.. But to receive them you need to have satellite dish. We live in apartment and can’t install satellite dish. We have cable TV from local cable company and only Indian channel available there is Zee. We pay extra $15/month to watch Zee. So, you must be thinking by paying $15 we must be getting some "good" quality entertainment. Wrong!!

Zee TV in USA is bad video copy and late rerun of Indian serials and news. The worst parts are home made advertisements of U.S./U.K. tantrik/baba, travel agents, rice dealers, event organizer etc. When you pay $15 for any premium channel like HBO in USA it is adv free. Zee TV's most of the program are sponsored by "Peer Syed Sahib", who is a baba sitting in London and supposedly have solution for all worries. All adv comes with Zee tv disclaimer that contact advertiser if you have any issue with ad. I have seen some ads where Zee TV is promoter of the show and it shows its own disclaimer.

The funniest thing is Zee news. It is not 'live' and mostly played 10-12 hrs late. Many news items become funny when after browsing on internet I sit to watch "tazza khabar". They know that it is "international" telecast but there contents are badly compiled. Specially coverage of U.S. events are mostly marked by errors like "America ke Texas shahar main…”. Come on, Texas is a state not a city.

How long can I jhelo Zee tv? Not for long. I will make sure that next time I move to any apartment/house I am able to install satellite dish. I know Star plus, NDTV news, Aaj tak are lot better. Tab tak I have to watch Subhash Chandra in "Business Bazigar" (bad remake of Apprentice).

Blogs I am reading now

Life Beyond Code A blog about ... well title of the blog say it all
Life Hacker A blog about using technology to simplifly your life
Life in HOV Lane हीन्‍दी मे रोजनामा

I use Technorati to search for different blogs.