Giant Schlepps

I'm sad to say it took me till today to call and cancel the News-Press Direct (to your recycling bin?), mostly because I like getting the Lazy Acres flyer stuffed into it every other week, not just to know what's on sale-ish (hey, this is Lazy Acres) but also to read one of the best writers in town Bob Wesley, whose wine notes always crack me up. But finally I just couldn't take it anymore, especially after reading on Craig Smith's Blog that Travis Armstrong called up the Goleta Chamber of Commerce for dropping their subscription and told them, "I will ruin you." (What, is he going to take them on a drunken car ride?)

So I try to call at 6:30 am, but the N-P number just rings--there isn't even a phone message saying what their hours are. Guess that's too professional. I call again after 7, a woman answers simply, "Hello," no, "Good morning, this is the News-Press," but can you blame her--I'd be embarrassed about where I worked too. I say I would like to discontinue receiving the News-Press Direct. She says, "I'll transfer you to that department," and I wonder if they have a whole department accepting cancellations. They must be busy, as I get a voice mail. I left my message asking for them to stop sending the rag to my address. No one calls me back to confirm. We'll see what happens.

In other news, the about to be announced UCSB Arts & Lectures season has a Jazz Series, as usual, and it's sponsored by the News-Press. I guess old habits die hard--where else does one advertise and hope to get deals for cheaper advertising?--but it's still disappointing. Did A&L even talk to the Sound for sponsorships? If they did and the Sound said no, why doesn't the Sound really want to be a player in this town? (The Indy, as usual, is all over the brochure.) I assume I might get some comments to help explain....