My Commonplace Book

I just submitted this critique to the entertaining and educational site Web Pages That Suck:

( One of the worst sites I've ever seen )

After being sent on a couple of wild-goose chases looking for batteries, having gotten a different answer from every employee I asked ("they're in E12", "they're up front in electronics," no, "they're back in E23") and a cell phone case ("they're up front in electronics" "no, they're not here, they're in automotive -- that's all the way in the back"), I finally found what I needed when an associate took me to the correct aisle.

When I headed for the checkout I was tired and a bit grumpy after having going back and forth through the store several times, but Yolanda's bright smile and friendly greeting cheered me up immediately. She asked if I had any Target gift cards, and that jogged my memory -- hey, that's right, I did have one in my purse! I'd forgotten it, and no other cashier ever asked me that. (Regardless of whether they're all supposed do, 99.9% of them don't.) I was really pleased to be able to get the rest of the credit off the card instead of carrying around forever. I told Yolanda I didn't know how much was on it and she said, "No problem!" and scanned it. Then she joked, "See? That's $8.62 less that you'll have to pay today!"

When I was ready to leave I looked at my purchases and said, "Oh, did you put it all in one bag?" She immediately understood my concern and said, "Oh, is that too heavy? Do you want it divided up? Sure, no problem!" and without waiting for an answer immediately grabbed another bag and put the heavy bottle of shower cleaner and one or two other things in another bag to even out the weight. I was pleased that she was so responsive to my concern. The original bag was fine for most people, but I have arthritis, so what seems light to others may still be too heavy for me, and I often run into the same problem in stores. Many cashiers don't get it, but Yolanda did. In fact, as I started to walk away, she said in a cheerful voice, "If it's ever too heavy for you just let me know and I'll fix it up for you!"

Yolanda's warm smile and friendly manner was exactly what I needed after my somewhat exasperating experience chasing around the store, and I left Target feeling good thanks to her.

I just submitted this hideous website to Web Pages That Suck. What on earth were they thinking?! Even the URL is unwieldy, and the site ... well, it's worse than most of the sites on WPTS's Ten Worst Websites of 2006 list.

Vincent,

This is one of the worst sites I've seen in a long time -- I think it may even rate a place in your Top Ten for 2007. Best take some Ritalin before you look at it:

www.modernbabiesandchildren.com

The overall design is the most obvious problem, but don't miss the "Site Legend" at the bottom of the page. Text links for visually impaired users (and aren't they all after that page loads?) -- nope. It's just a list, you can't click on anything!

There are so many other sucky features, I can't even begin to list them all. Try clicking on the "Our Stories" tab and picking any of the choices in the drop-down box ... heck, try all three -- it doesn't matter, none of them work. Going to the shopping page and choosing "Pets" takes you to an ad for a photography studio (that appears to specialize in children and families, not pets). And the list goes on....

Even more frightening, it's proliferating! There are three of them already! This web designer should be ashamed of himself.

Hope you can use this.

Caller ID info:

Product Dev
303-280-8689
12:49 pm, March 27

Additional info:

Phone number listed to:

Product Development Corp.
12301 Grant Street
Denver, CO 80241

Picked up phone, said "Hello?" Nobody was there. Seemed the same as every predictive-dialer call I've ever gotten.

Found a blog comment that said:

303-280-8689 - Received several hang up calls from this number. I finally got a recorded message asking if I had received the new AT&T Yellow Pages that should have been delivered in our area.

I did just receive several phone books, so that's probably it, but that doesn't excuse the hang-up call.

Reported to the National Do-Not-Call Registry, March 27, 2007.

When I was at the library yesterday, I did something I've never done before. I filed a Request for Reconsideration of Library Material -- i.e., a request that the book be removed from the shelves.

For the last five years or so I've been dissatisfied with whoever has been choosing the books. Whenever I peruse the "New Books" shelves, the religion section invariably has a lot of books promoting Christianity, most of them with a very one-sided view. There are always many more books promoting Christianity and Christian living than all the other books about religion -- those about any other religion and those questioning religion -- put together. That bothers me, but I've never said anything. I'd have to do an exhaustive study of books that were added in the last few years to gather enough specific data to show what's obvious to me in a right-brained way.

But the one I looked at yesterday appalled me.

I know librarians can't possibly read every book they order, so most likely (read: hopefully) they didn't realize how offensive this book is. That's why they have forms to request reconsideration, I guess. I've never in my life asked a library to remove a book. I don't believe in censorship -- Charles Krauthammer belongs on the library shelves right along with Molly Ivins. I have an "I read banned books" button. But this book is so egregious that I felt it was beyond the pale.

I took it to the desk and told the librarian what I thought of it. She obviously didn't want to hear about it, and just handed me the request for reconsideration form. I had to fill it out with a pen, so I wasn't able to say as much as I wanted, and once I put something down I couldn't edit it without asking for a new form and starting all over. So I just sat down at a table with the book and the form and did the best I could.

I wrote so much that my wrist was hurting by the time I finished! Here's what I put on the form:

Author: Richard Ing
Title: Spiritual Warfare (in New Book collection, 235.4I)

1. What brought this title to your attention? Browsing

2. Have you examined the material in its entirety? No. If not, what parts have you examined? Chapter 4, Satan's Rights, plus leafing through other parts

3. Please comment on the resource as a whole as well as being specific on those matters which concern you. This book is virulently anti-Catholic. I am not a Catholic (or even a Christian), but I was offended by it. E.g., on pp. 103-104, it cites Catholic beliefs as being literal demons, and refers to Catholics as being in "demonic bondage." On p. 85 it says that "statues and idols are ... contrary to Christian teachings."

It treats Buddhism (and all religions other than fundamentalist Protestant Christianity) similarly. On pp. 112-113 it refers to Buddhist beliefs and customs as being demonic, as it does on pp. 30-31.

Possibly worst of all, it claims that people with schizophrenia are possessed by demons, and that schizophrenia is "Satan's way to imprison and control minds. ... These individuals will be given to sexual lust, filthy conversation, lawlessness, ... corruption, adultery, ... cursed children, greed, living in darkness, and wantonness." (p. 69). It continues, claiming that schizophrenics can be cured by prayer and casting out the demons. It claims that women with schizophrenia have "invariably suffered deep rejection and hurt, most likely from her father." (p. 70)

I don't object to books that espouse beliefs other than mine. This is the first time I have ever asked that a book be removed. But this book is so offensive and vicious that it does not belong in the library.

5. For what age group would you recommend this material? NONE

6. In its place, what would you recommend that would convey a valuable picture and perspective of the subject reated? Almost anything! Seriously, any rational treatment with corect facts would be fine. This book is neither rational nor correct (schizophrenia is not caused by demonic possession!)

7. What would you like your library to do about this material? Put it in the paper recycling bin. These beliefs don't even deserve to be promulgated by selling the book.

I asked the librarian to make a copy for me, and she did. I also asked if I would be notified of the decision. She seemed surprised, so I guess it's not standard procedure (or maybe she was just new -- she looked young). But she did write a note and clip it to the form. If they ever contact me about it I'll post what they said.

What do you think about this? Does any book a library can afford belong on the shelves? Once it's there, should it never be withdrawn just because of its content? Or do books that contain grossly incorrect and hateful "facts" need to be removed? If you had happened to glance through a library book and found the quotes above, what would you do?

Today started out horrible.

I've developed delayed sleep phase syndrome. I don't like it -- I'd much rather be the lark I was nearly all my life. But despite my efforts to reset my body clock, I haven't been able to. I used to go to bed at 10:00 pm, and 11:00 was late for me. Now I'm just not sleepy until 1:00 or 2:00 am.

Part of the problem is that I don't have to get up in the morning most of the time. If I just forced myself to get up at 7:30 every morning I'd probably get reset fairly soon ... if i survived that long with so little sleep! The quality and quantity of my sleep is one of the major determinants of my pain level the next day, so I just can't bring myself to do it that way.

So I've been sleeping till around 10:00 am. Except on mornings like this when the phone rang at =groan= 7:45 am. It was one of the thrift shop organizations, reminding to put my donation out by 8:00 am. They had called the previous evening and left a message -- but I guess they decided that wasn't enough.

I was really irritated. I had been right in the middle of a dream -- a very vivid dream -- but the phone call blew most of it away. I remembered that I was trying to find someone or something in an enormous house -- it must have been 20,000 square feet or so, because it was really huge -- and I kept going all over looking for whatever I was looking for. I wanted to remember more so I could explore the dream and think about what it meant to me, but I couldn't.

The more I tried the madder I got, so I turned on Morning Edition to distract me and concentrated on relaxing. I finally managed to go back to sleep ... only to be awakened at 9:40 from another vivid dream by another thrift shop organization! I was furious! After that no matter what I did there was no going back to sleep, so I got up.

After I was dressed I called the second organization, and told them I had a late schedule and didn't want to be called before 11:00 am. She said they couldn't do that -- there was no way to enter a note into the computer about an individual donor. She said the only thing she could do is remove my name from the list altogether, so I told her to please do that. She wasn't particularly pleasant, but she wasn't particularly rude, either.

The receipt from the donation I had set out was sitting on the floor on the porch. It wasn't stuck in the door, or pushed partway under the mat, or even tossed on the mat. Just thrown onto the concrete right in the middle. My porch has a particularly windy orientation, and if there had been even a mild breeze at all my receipt would have literally been gone with the wind. When the other place picked up some stuff a couple of weeks ago, the receipt was put under the mat with just a little sticking out so I'd notice it.

So I called them, and the phone was answered by an exceedingly bitchy woman. I said that I had a late schedule, and didn't want to be called before 11:00 am. "We don't make those calls here" she snapped in a nasty tone that implied I was stupid for not knowing that. Apparently the calls are made by people working out of their homes.

I said, "Can't you send a message to them?"

"No, I can't" she said sharply.

"Can you tell me who to call then?"

"No."

So I told her to take my name off the list, and she said "I'll do that" in an extremely snotty tone.

I didn't even bother to mention the receipt, since I won't be giving them anything ever again.

I was really annoyed. I have been giving both of those organizations a lot of stuff. When I offer things on freecycle and nobody in the group wants them, I put them in a bag and save them until one of the organizations calls. They need items to sell. But apparently not enough to make the slightest accommodation, or even treat the donors with common courtesy.

Well, they won't be getting any more of my stuff.

My county has for at least 15 years had a law prohibiting smoking in most public places. (Next summer the whole county goes entirely smoke free! Yay!) Meanwhile, although smoking is not allowed anywhere in the dining area of a restaurant, patrons may smoke in the bar if it is separately enclosed with its own separate ventilation system.

A couple of weeks ago I went with some friends to a restaurant that has a weekly lobster dinner (a whole 1 - 1¼ pound lobster and one or two side dishes) for $11.95. The restaurant is indeed smoke-free ... but the only way to get into it is through the bar!

Last time I tried to report a violation of the smoking law, a few months ago, I had a major problem -- the police didn't know that they were supposed to enforce the law, and refused to accept my report! I contacted a county councilman and asked who we're supposed to report violations to -- and when his aide told me it was the police department, I told her what happened! She forwarded my complaint to the chief of police, and asked him to (a) have someone handle the complaint and (b) let the dispatchers know that it is their responsibility to accept, investigate and handle complaints of violations of the no-smoking law.

Apparently that worked! I was delighted when I went looking for election results on the county's website and discovered that a "Smoke Free" link had recently ben added to the main page! I clicked it and found an explanation of the law ... and a phone number and an online form to report a violation!

Submitted via form:

Although this restaurant has a separately ventilated room for the restaurant and the bar, you cannot get into the restaurant except by walking through the smoky bar! There is only one door from the street, which leads into the bar. From there, patrons go through the door into the restaurant area. If the restaurant is crowded and patrons must wait for a table, the only place to wait is in the bar (where smoking is allowed) or outdoors (not feasible in cold or hot weather).

There used to be a separate door into the restaurant, but it has been closed off. I reported it to the manager and he said it has been like that for years, and did not seem interested in making any changes, especially in view of the new law that goes into effect in August 2007. However, this is illegal under the current law, and should be corrected.

I have asthma and have problems walking through (and waiting in) the smoky environment of the bar -- but I have several friends who frequently go there for lobster night on Mondays, and I would like to be able to go with them. Please let me know if this situation will be corrected.

Thanks,

Today was my turn to get my call from the Dove Foundation.  They're apparently calling everyone in the country, slowly but surely -- their website even prominently says "Did you see our phone number on your caller ID? Read the Survey FAQ below for more info."

I found out a whole lot more from the long list of diatribes resulting from what was apparently their first telemarketing effort in the winter and spring of 2004-2005. I guess I just got lucky this time.

The call went much like this one, except my "caller" was a female, and the questions were slightly different. The first question "she" asked me was whether I thought that the TV and movie industry had an obligation to control what children watch and make sure it is suitable for children. I said no, I think that parents have an obligation to control what children watch and make sure it's suitable for them. There was a slight hesitation, but she sounded totally unfazed, and just went on with her questions.

There was an odd disconnect between the extreme professionalism of the caller and the hesitation after each thing I said. One smacked of a professional voice-over artist, while the other seemed like an inexperienced low-level trainee frantically scanning the conversation tree to see what to say next. Yet once she started talking, it was as smooth as silk.

I was more concerned with the content of the conversation so it was just an unnoticed burr that prickled at the back of my mind below the conscious level -- until I began reading the complaints in response to the recommendation on the the Family First site, several of which said that the caller from the Dove Foundation is a very sophisticated recording.

In response to the many infuriated comments to Family First, Dove put together a FAQ to address them. One question is: "Is the survey taken by a live person?"

The answer: "Yes, the survey is being conducted by a live person. Meaning that the recipient of the call is speaking to a person who is then selecting pre-recorded responses to answer the recipient’s questions." Aside from the awful grammar, this is a really underhanded way to respond. Do they think people are that stupid?

It didn't occur to me that it was a recording -- they've obviously improved the system since the campaign last year. But it certainly explains the weird dichotomy between smooth experience and awkward pauses that I experienced. And it doesn't hang up on you any more, as so many of the commenters complained. (That was addressed in the FAQ too. It was an accident, they certainly apologize to anyone who had this happen. If you believe that, I have a wonderful historic bridge across the East River that I can sell you for a very good price.)

At first I let the call go on, figuring I'd have a little fun with the caller by answering the questions wrong. But when "she" just kept going with her pitch, despite anything I said, I figured it was time to put a stop to this nonsense, and interrupted when I thought "she" was pausing for breath.

"Please put me on your do-not-call list," I said.

The volunteer "listening" to the call was caught by surprise, and hit two buttons in a row, making the machine stumble over itself slightly. "You will be placed on our do-not-call list-- Yes, we'll be happy to do that for you."

The whole experience was rather weird. I'm glad I got that in -- many people complained about repeat calls.

Ironically, I do agree with their basic premise that there's too much violence and gratuitous sex in today's movies. (There should be sex in a movie that's intended to be sexy -- but too often it's thrown in just to get the R rating, and derails the plot rather than advancing it.) But something I couldn't quite retrieve bothered me while I was on the phone. DOVE Foundation ... are they a right-wing Christian group?

I looked through their website carefully and could find no overt references to religion. But their review of the Harry Potter movies -- all of which are Not Approved -- is very revealing. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone was reviewed by Movie Morality Ministries, which freely admitted that "For the secular world, Harry has many good messages about bravery, courage and friendship. It even comments about the power of sacrificial love. And with its young cast, the film is virtually free of sexual material and bad language. But," it continues, "along with the learning of incantations, potions, wand waving and broomstick riding, HARRY includes other elements which the Bible also takes a negative view of.

"It will be difficult, if not impossible, in most families, Christian and secular alike, to deny their children’s desire to see the film," the review mourns, revealing the dichotomy of the reviewer's mindset: There are two types of families: Christian and secular. Period. There are no liberal Christians, religious Jews,  observant Muslims, or anybody else. If you're not fundamentalist Christian, you're secular. Period.

The review concludes, "we cannot, in good Spirit, endorse HARRY POTTER as recommendable." Yes, "spirit" has an initial capital -- meant to appear to be an innocent turn of phrase to the secular, but a clear code word for the right wing.

I'm not going to waste any more time on this -- and if you get a call from the Dove Foundation, don't waste your time taking their phony "survey," which doesn't even make the slightest attempt to hide the fact that they're trying to pursuade you to answer the "right" way. But befor you hang up, be sure you tell them to put you on their do-not-call list. I'm hoping they'll honor that, at least. (If they don't, I know where to go to file a complaint!)


ADDED: I meant to log the exact information on the Caller ID in case they call again and I need it to file that complaint:

UNKNOWN
800-679-0336
1:16 pm  Jul 25

Sent via form to Giant Food tonight:

I send in comments about things I'm unhappy with, and I think it's also important to send in comments when something is above and beyond the expected level of service. And once again I find myself putting in a compliment for the personnel at this Giant. It's the friendliest store in this area, and I go out of my way to shop there because of that.

Tonight I had an errand in that area so I stopped in afterward to pick up some things. Andrew was on the register, and he was smiling and pleasant even though it was very late and I'm sure he was tired and looking forward to going home. I can't carry much, and I always ask to have my bags loaded very lightly. This is a big issue for me and I used to find myself putting in frequent complaints about irritated clerks who didn't want to bother with the little bit of extra work, but that's gotten better all around. They still are sometimes not happy about it, so it's always nice when the clerk is pleasant about it, and Andrew was. Even when I questioned a price, he handled it in a friendly and professional way.

I also needed a rain check, and Andrew said he couldn't do that and I'd have to wait for the manager because she was doing something else. Another customer wanted a rain check also and was told to wait. I was tired myself, and thinking she was doing something in the office I said she should stop and give us the rainc checks (I was worried about my frozen food sitting around in the cart.) But Andrew explained that she was taking care of other customers, and pointed her out at the only other register that was open, and of course that was different so I just waited.

When Val got finished at the register she came over and gave both of us our rain checks, and she was very cheerful and friendly. While she was writing out the rain check for the other customer's ice cream Val even mentioned to her that they had a new flavor. When it was my turn she gave me my rain check and I couldn't believe how bubbly she was at five minutes to 11!

I mentioned to her that her store is the friendliest one and that I try to shop there even though I'm closer to another one, because I find that store uninviting. Val said she stopped in there recently to shop because she had an errand nearby, and said she wasn't greeted and didn't get a smile. She obviously feels those things are important and makes sure they happen at her store ... and they always do! Even though I was very tired I left the store with a smile and an upbeat feeling thanks to Val.

Real time scream-of-consciousness* diary scribbled on a PDA while waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting.

* This was an accidental typo, but it was obviously a Freudian slip, and I like it better this way.

( Scream of consciousness )

My doctor's office called at about 4:30 and said there was no fracture. I really didn't think there was because it was so much better, but it was good to have it confirmed. If only I hadn't wasted the entire middle of the day with this crap. I was so tired and achy when I got home that I didn't get out for a walk again today. This is getting old. I'm having lunch with a friend tomorrow, and then I have two freecycle pickups to do, and then I am going for a walk!

Unfortunately, the only way to send a comment to Giant is through a form, so I save the comments here. These aren't particularly interesting -- a complete lack of shopping carts and an exceptionally cheerful and efficient clerk -- so feel free to skip them. I'm basically just archiving them here.

( Complaint and comment )

There is a way to make a dignified but satisfying apology for a customer complaint.

( This isn't it )

I just had a very bad experience at a Weis  supermarket. Since stores use forms for submitting comments, the only way I can keep a record of what I said is by posting it in my journal.

Although I'm sure the folks in corporate are quite different from the people in the store, I realized after I was finished that I had been writing to the educational level of the employees I dealt with tonight. I'm too tired and irritated to bother rewriting it, so I just left it that way.

( Complaint )