Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!gryphon!vector!telecom-gateway From: davef@brspyr1.brs.com (Dave Fiske) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Phonebook Distribution Message-ID: Date: 8 Sep 89 21:08:32 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Organization: BRS Info Technologies, Latham NY Lines: 54 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 361, message 5 of 9 In article , sg04@gte.com (Steven Gutfreund) writes: > While we are on the topic of phonebooks: Has anyone found the 800-directory > phonebook from AT&T useful? I ordered it, paid for it, and I can't say > that I have really gotten any good use out of it. Furthermore, I am familiar > with many 800 numbers (e.g. credit card companies) who are not listed in > it, but who freely advertise their number. This week, for some unknown reason, I received an AT&T 800 Directory in the mail for free. Why, I don't know, since I didn't request one. The enclosed letter said that I had been selected as one of AT&T's lucky customers to receive one. This is also puzzling, since I have been using Sprint for my long distance calls for several years, and I have no local telephone service in my name (and have never had it in my name at my present address). Also, since the mailing label was addressed to me "or current occupant", I really didn't feel all that privileged. However, it is marked $9.95 on the cover, so I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth. One of the first things I did was to look up companies whose 800 numbers I have called recently, and, as you say, I did not find most of them. The book does say that some companies chose not to be listed in the book, but I wonder whether it really is "most" companies. Although I suppose it may come in handy some day, my impression is that the main value of this (at least for me) is its humor value, since I instantly started browsing for odd listings (what, for example, do you suppose "Video Girlfriend" listed under Dating Services, is?). Here are a few gems I discovered under the Associations category: Air Force Sergeants Association American Computer Team Roping Association American Schizophrenic Association Association of Old Crows Beer Drinkers of America I Care Hot Line, Inc. National Council of Corvette Clubs North American Loon Fund Recording Industry Association--Anti-Piracy Southeastern Organ Procurement Foundation Structural Foam Conference The American Cleft Palate Educational Foundation US Handball Association US Swing Dance Council (I don't mean to belittle any of these organizations--it's just that the barebones listings sound a bit comical.) -- "ANGRY WOMEN BEAT UP SHOE SALESMAN Dave Fiske (davef@brspyr1.BRS.COM) WHO POSED AS GYNECOLOGIST" Home: David_A_Fiske@cup.portal.com Headline from Weekly World News CIS: 75415,163 GEnie: davef