November 28, 2006

Gaza Truce Scorecard

Looks like (some of) the Palestinians may be blowing it this time.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday said he was disappointed that Qassam fire from the Gaza Strip had continued into the third day of a mutual cease-fire.

"I very much hope the Palestinians will keep up their obligations and stop firing," Olmert said.

...

Militants identifying themselves as members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, took responsibility for the Qassam fire Monday. Security sources said the group appears to be an independent offshoot of Fatah, and that the PA's leadership and security forces are making a noticeable effort to prevent rocket fire.

Must any hope for peace always depend on the actions of the most violent link in the chain? My advice to Israel, for now: try to be chill.

Posted by cradle at 6:11 PM | Comments (0)

November 27, 2006

All The Advertising That Fits In Print

[I wrote this email to the New York Times at my parents' kitchen table yesterday morning. My old man suggested I post it to my "blog".]

To Whom It May Concern:

Please help me understand why I just paid $4.50 for an advertising circular periodically interrupted by news.

I am looking at the Sunday, 26 November 2006 Early Edition of the New York Times, purchased at Wegmans Supermarket in Mount Laurel, New Jersey.

Here is a page-by-page rundown of the A Section:

Page 1: All News (good job)
Page 2: 2/3 advertising
Page 3: 1/2 advertising
Page 4: 1/2 advertising
Page 5: Full-page ad
Page 6: Full-page ad
Page 7: Full-page ad
Page 8: Half-page ad
Page 9: Full-page ad
Page 10: Full-page ad
Page 11: Full-page ad
Page 12: Full-page ad
Page 13: 5/6th-page ad
Page 14: Quarter-page ad (good)
Page 15: Full-page ad
Page 16: Full-page ad
Page 17: Full-page ad
Page 18: Full-page ad
Page 19: Full-page ad
Page 20: Half-page ad
Page 21: Full-page ad
Page 22: Full-page ad
Page 23: Full-page ad
Page 24: All news!
Page 25: Full-page ad
Page 26: Quarter-page ad (good)
Page 27: Full-page ad
Page 28: Half-page ad
Page 29: Full-page ad
Page 30: 1/3 advertising
Page 31: Full-page ad
Page 32: 3/4 advertising
Page 33: 35% advertising
Page 34: Full page ad (Advertising Week 2006!)
Page 35: 5/12 advertising
Page 36: Full-page ad

How do I go about getting a refund?

Sincerely,

David Eisner
University Park, MD

Posted by cradle at 6:28 PM | Comments (2)

Wrong Number at Work

*ring* *ring*

David: [greeting]
Woman: Oh, I think I have the wrong number! Is this Tenacious?
David: Tenacious?
Woman: Yes. This isn't Tenacious?
David: No . . .
Woman: OK! I'm sorry!

Posted by cradle at 12:49 PM | Comments (5)