Friday, January 30, 2009

Wherefore art thou Aegis?

Since we received an automated voice message about Baltimore Sun carriers now being in charge of delivering our Aegis, we've received exactly zero number of newspapers.
The message informed us that it would now be delivered later in the day -- so giving them an opportunity to get to us, we waited to call and ask where the paper was. We gave them a break on Wednesday because of the nasty weather, but today we really wanted a paper.
So we called the Aegis, and a speedy recording informed us that we needed to call the Sun offices, which were now handling the deliveries. So we listened to the speedy message three times and wrote down the number and then called.
We tried using the automated message system, were mysteriously put on hold, and then another recorded voice came on and said we'd have to call back tomorrow.
As a reporter at a medium-sized newspaper, TAA had a phone number that was one number away from the circulation department. TAA fielded many calls to the circulation department and transferred them on. Many times readers just wanted to know where their newspapers were. Many times circulation would transfer these poor callers back to TAA just to be annoying. At the point the callers were beyond irate and some threatened to cancel their subscriptions. But the circulation department consisted of many fine people, some on work release programs, so TAA tried not to incur their wrath.
That was quite a few years ago now, but newspapers still don't get the importance of ACTUALLY RECEIVING the newspaper. We thought about subscribing to the NYTimes again, but the memories of the constant calling, fighting for credits for missed papers, and figuring out the amended bills. It was too much to think about really.
Aegis readers are still upset about the paid obituaries and I'm sure this new "cost-cutting" arrangement will lose more subscribers. And then the costly delivery problem will be solved. There will be no readers left in need of delivery.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Surprising Movie News

Happy movie news for those who like their movies just a little outside the mainstream. "Slumdog Millionaire" will be coming to Regal in Constant Friendship this Friday. We've been checking the listings hoping for this one because it's already won a Golden Globe and has the Oscar buzz. We are also fans of director Danny Boyle. "Millions" is now in rotation on one of the million Encore networks if you haven't seen it.
To check movie times, click here.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Weapons of Mass Destruction Found in Abingdon



Or is it just the construction crew tearing down every last tree it can find? I don't blame them, they're just doing their jobs. But here at TAA in total naivete we believed that they would leave one tree, standing. Oh wait, they did leave one tree standing on the perimeter of Walmart. Or else they haven't gotten to it yet. (You can enlarge the photos if you click on them)
Those trees may not seem important to some readers. But in the summer they blocked the view of the highway, kept the traffic sounds to a minimum and just looked nice. It at least gave the illusion there wasn't a giant shopping center there. And for readers who will say we always complain about progress, blah blah blah, please stop reading, because it's only going to get worse.
Please be aware there are also lane restrictions and lots of construction workers running around in the road. Please be watchful.