Say, wouldn't it be ironic if telemarketers had to sign up to the Do-Not-Call Registry?

[The Brain]

TOP!

Hey, we can kick the dust off this one, 'cause he did it <i>again</i>.

If anyone read today's (Oct. 11^th) NY Daily News, or any other newspaper in which Dave Barry's humor column is syndicated, then you might have read part of the following:

Tim Searcy of the ATA [American Teleservices Association] was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as saying the impact of the Do Not Call Registry would be (I did not make this quote up) \"like an asteroid hitting the Earth.\" Yes, an asteroid!

As I write these words, the telemarketers plan to continue their efforts to save the planet by fighting for the right to call people who do not want to be called. Their lawyers are vowing to fight a federal appeals court ruling this week upholding the Do Not Call Registry.

I realize this makes many of you angry. I realize that many of you would like once again to let the telemarketers know how you feel. And I am frankly tempted to reveal to you here that the American Teleservices Association (Web site <a href=http://www,ataconnect.org target=new>www.ataconnect.org</a>) seems to have a phone line working (at least for now) at (317) 816-9336.

But would it be right to reveal this? I mean, yes, you could call the ATA again. But the ATA surely doesn't WANT you to call again. It's inconvenient! And to insist on calling somebody who doesn't want to be called, even if you have the legal right to call-- well, that's just plain rude. So I am taking the high road.

:rofl:

* And yes, since the ATA is a decidedly <i>public</i> entity, and this is public information (which just got published nationally anyway), they are indeed very fair game.

In related news, as mentioned in the article, The Do Not Call Registry is officially back up and running. So if you haven't yet put your phone number(s) on the list-- perhaps if you've been awaiting the outcome of all the litigation-- you can now sign up at <a href=http://www.donotcall.gov/ target=new>their website</a>.