The Vent

[Doug n Amanda 0]

Between the economy, this war and the way the government has been run in general, I am really starting to get sick of GWB

Just starting???? I've been there for YEARS

[Mephys 2]

My friend posted a picture on his Flickr site today, showing the falling leaves in Vancouver... damn I am so wretchedly homesick right now.

Yeah the first month can be a little harsh sometimes, just hang in there!

Of course, what you could do is open the envelope (if it's a stuffed envelope solicitation) and mail back the return envelope to the sender...empty. They have to pay the return postage and if it's empty...oh well! Maybe they'll get the message.

KAREN YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!! I'm going to do this starting TODAY!!!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

I will start doing that with the 5 credit cards applications we receive everyday for my hubby

Seriously all that junk mail and all those telemarketers phone calls, I have never seen so much sollicitation before, it's SOOOOOOOOO annoying. And here its like normal for them!

[trailmix 77]

I forgot to set the alarm and missed going to the gym

Is it raining?

[L_n_O 3]

yep, some people are just not worth being in your life.....

Move on like Lenina said

[L_n_O 3]

I HATE PACKING

[Marilyn. 340]

I HATE PACKING

the only thing I hate worse then packing is unpacking !!

luckily, the last time I moved, my mom came for a visit shortly after and finished all my unpacking for me

Edited November 9, 2007 by MarilynP

[Kathryn41 3,205]

My friend posted a picture on his Flickr site today, showing the falling leaves in Vancouver... damn I am so wretchedly homesick right now.

Yeah the first month can be a little harsh sometimes, just hang in there!

Of course, what you could do is open the envelope (if it's a stuffed envelope solicitation) and mail back the return envelope to the sender...empty. They have to pay the return postage and if it's empty...oh well! Maybe they'll get the message.

KAREN YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!! I'm going to do this starting TODAY!!!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

I will start doing that with the 5 credit cards applications we receive everyday for my hubby

Seriously all that junk mail and all those telemarketers phone calls, I have never seen so much sollicitation before, it's SOOOOOOOOO annoying. And here its like normal for them!

Hehehehe, my husband was doing that too when I moved here. We have modified it now, though . . . we don't send the envelopes back empty - we put the junk mail received from someone else back into the envelope (making sure there is no identifying information) and mail that back! We also take the junk mail excess and run it through a cross cut shredder then mix it with the mulch we put on the garden. It looks kind of strange with white bits among the red mulch but hey, it works and it helps the environment.

Seriously though, I sure was surprised at the degree of phone solicitation and mail solicitation that seems to be the norm here - even on the no call registry we still get calls until I tell them we are reporting them to the no call registry - that stops them - for a while.

Edited November 9, 2007 by Kathryn41

[KarenCee 3]

My friend posted a picture on his Flickr site today, showing the falling leaves in Vancouver... damn I am so wretchedly homesick right now.

Yeah the first month can be a little harsh sometimes, just hang in there!

Of course, what you could do is open the envelope (if it's a stuffed envelope solicitation) and mail back the return envelope to the sender...empty. They have to pay the return postage and if it's empty...oh well! Maybe they'll get the message.

KAREN YOU ARE BRILLIANT!!!!!! I'm going to do this starting TODAY!!!

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

I will start doing that with the 5 credit cards applications we receive everyday for my hubby

Seriously all that junk mail and all those telemarketers phone calls, I have never seen so much sollicitation before, it's SOOOOOOOOO annoying. And here its like normal for them!

Hehehehe, my husband was doing that too when I moved here. We have modified it now, though . . . we don't send the envelopes back empty - we put the junk mail received from someone else back into the envelope (making sure there is no identifying information) and mail that back! We also take the junk mail excess and run it through a cross cut shredder then mix it with the mulch we put on the garden. It looks kind of strange with white bits among the red mulch but hey, it works and it helps the environment.

Seriously though, I sure was surprised at the degree of phone solicitation and mail solicitation that seems to be the norm here - even on the no call registry we still get calls until I tell them we are reporting them to the no call registry - that stops them - for a while.

Oh I like both ideas Kathryn! Mulching is always a good thing (now I sound like Martha Stewart) and I do like the idea of mailing back the junk mail inserts!

I just wish there was a more effective way of dealing with telemarketers. I don't think I could ever do that type job.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

About this telemarketing sh!t... I did sign up for the no-call thingy as soon as we got the phone and cellphone. There is also another way to opt out of mail marketing but I can't remember how???? will come back with more info.

ALSOOOOOOO ---- when you're screening calls, you can check out ####### is calling , just google the number: AND there are websites on "how to pisss off telemarketers": HILARITY ENSUES

[KarenCee 3]

Found this list of "things" to say to telemarketers:

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do you want to know?" Alternately, you can tell them, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my car won't start..." When they try to get to the sell, just keep talking about your problems.
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.
4. This works great if you are male: Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with XYZ Company..." You: (Wait for a second) With a real husky voice ask, "What are you wearing?"
5. Cry out in surprise, "Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where she could know you from.
6. Say "No", over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun if you can do it until they hang up.
7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends...would YOU be my friend?"
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get blood out? Can you get out GOAT blood? How about HUMAN blood?
9. Ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.
10. Tell the telemarketer that you work for the same company, they often can't sell to their fellow employees.
11. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a telemarketer, set the receiver down, shout or scream "Oh my God!!!" and then hang-up.
12. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number, you will call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know how I feel!" Hang up.
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinner time, BUT ask if they would please hold. Put them on your speaker phone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
15. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you some beer.
16. Tell the telemarketer, "Okay, I will listen to you. But I should probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
17. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
18. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up... louder... louder... louder...
19. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write DOWN EVERY WORD.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Found this list of "things" to say to telemarketers:

1. If they want to loan you money, tell them you just filed for bankruptcy and you could sure use some money.
2. If they start out with, "How are you today?" say, "Why do you want to know?" Alternately, you can tell them, "I'm so glad you asked, because no one these days seems to care, and I have all these problems; my arthritis is acting up, my eyelashes are sore, my car won't start..." When they try to get to the sell, just keep talking about your problems.
3. If they say they're John Doe from XYZ Company, ask them to spell their name. Then ask them to spell the company name. Then ask them where it is located. Continue asking them personal questions or questions about their company for as long as necessary.
4. This works great if you are male: Telemarketer: "Hi, my name is Judy and I'm with XYZ Company..." You: (Wait for a second) With a real husky voice ask, "What are you wearing?"
5. Cry out in surprise, "Judy! Is that you? Oh my God! Judy, how have you been?" Hopefully, this will give Judy a few brief moments of terror as she tries to figure out where she could know you from.
6. Say "No", over and over. Be sure to vary the sound of each one, and keep a rhythmic tempo, even as they are trying to speak. This is most fun if you can do it until they hang up.
7. If MCI calls trying to get you to sign up for the Family and Friends Plan, reply, in as SINISTER a voice as you can, "I don't have any friends...would YOU be my friend?"
8. If the company cleans rugs, respond: "Can you get blood out? Can you get out GOAT blood? How about HUMAN blood?
9. Ask him/her to marry you. When they get all flustered, tell them that you could not just give your credit card number to a complete stranger.
10. Tell the telemarketer that you work for the same company, they often can't sell to their fellow employees.
11. Answer the phone. As soon as you realize it is a telemarketer, set the receiver down, shout or scream "Oh my God!!!" and then hang-up.
12. Tell the telemarketer you are busy at the moment and ask them if they will give you their HOME phone number, you will call them back. When the telemarketer explains that they cannot give out their HOME number, you say "I guess you don't want anyone bothering you at home, right?" The telemarketer will agree and you say, "Now you know how I feel!" Hang up.
13. Ask them to repeat everything they say, several times.
14. Tell them it is dinner time, BUT ask if they would please hold. Put them on your speaker phone while you continue to eat at your leisure. Smack your food loudly and continue with your dinner conversation.
15. Tell the telemarketer you are on "home incarceration" and ask if they could bring you some beer.
16. Tell the telemarketer, "Okay, I will listen to you. But I should probably tell you, I'm not wearing any clothes."
17. Insist that the caller is really your buddy Leon, playing a joke. "Come on Leon, cut it out! Seriously, Leon, how's your momma?"
18. Tell them you are hard of hearing and that they need to speak up... louder... louder... louder...
19. Tell them to talk VERY SLOWLY, because you want to write DOWN EVERY WORD.

I am SO happy to have you back tante!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

On junkmail see: http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/

[trailmix 77]

On junkmail see: http://www.obviously.com/junkmail/

Junk mail here isn't too much of a problem, however the flyers are - I actually started a topic in OT yesterday about this little pet peeve of mine - here is yesterday's bunch = 30 flyers/catalogues!!

[L_n_O 3]

hehehe and you laid them all out and took a picture!

[trailmix 77]

hehehe and you laid them all out and took a picture!

Yeah, I'm the one who did it and it even makes me laugh.

I make myself laugh a lot