Wine & politics

Just in time for the debate, which was a near-run thing anyhow, the wine columnists for the WSJ had a taste-off: the wines of Illinois facing off those of Arizona. I found it interesting—and probably more substantial than the actual debate will be. I have no idea where you can buy the subject matter, but I just put this stuff out here to brighten your life.

While we’re on the subject of current events, you may be at a loss as to how to express your reactions to the latest out of Wall Street-Washington to your representatives in the government that got us into this economic pickle. Where to find your Congressman; where to find your Senator.

But here’s a tool where you can compose your thoughts on whatever subject is eating your lunch & quickly & easily bung it over to anyone in the legislative or executive branches. They’re all there in this single place.

BTW, the tool’s on the Web site of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, which you might also find of interest.

More power to the people

Posting Amazon’s elusive customer service number, it occurred to me that I know of another boon to the consuming public: there’s a website that aggregates the magic touches it takes to escape phone tree hell & speak to an actual humanoid when you call an organization.

I hope the Nobel Committee are aware of the guy who started this, because it’s so beyond a mitzvah. Really, it levels the playing field just a little.

Use it in the very best of health.

800 201 7575: Amazon's Customer Service Number

I had occasion today to try to get Amazon to divert a book they’d erroneously sent to my old address. (I tried first with UPS, but naturally—as the mere recipient of the package—I could do nothing about fixing the misdirection.)

I’ve been waiting for this book since I placed the order in April, so as you might imagine I was somewhat torqued off that for some reason the change of address I input to my Amazon account apparently didn’t make it to back-orders.

Anyhow—since their website is specifically built to keep you from contacting actual, you know, humanoids, I Googled “Amazon customer service phone number”, & got it.

& I thought I’d share the love: if you ever want to get some customer service (albeit from India) from Amazon, call 1 800 201 7575.

You’ll thank me for it later.

Triumph of the trivial

Interesting political tidbit that rather defines the McCain campaign. There was to have been a lunch with Sarah Palin next week at a private home here in the Seattle area—a limited attendance chance to meet & listen to the diva of the downmarket. Minimum price of admission: $2500, so I hope the lunch is more than mac & cheese or mooseburgers. ($25K would buy you some photo ops & maybe even a chance to talk to her.)

I know this because my employer sent round a notice of the event—which absolutely freaked me out. I’m told they sent similar emails for events featuring Obama, but it still makes me really, really uncomfortable. My employer ought to keep its nose out of my personal political activities.

Well, anyhow—turns out that La Palin had a scheduling problem & can’t make the lunch. (Did the helicopter-based wolf-hunting season just open?)

So the GOP are making what must seem to them to be a logical swap: they’re sending in Cindy McCain to hold the glass of white wine & smile for pix.

Now, does anyone else see the anomaly in this? The idea that if the person whose views could shape our lives for the next four years—you know, the candidate—can’t make an event, swapping her out for her running-mate’s spouse is an equal exchange? What the hell—they’re both lookers, aren’t they? They both spend more time getting their hair done & shopping for shoes than formulating ideas. They both have the XX-chromosome configuration—one’s as good as the other, yes?

What they’re basically doing is acknowledging the utter triviality of Sarah Palin—that she’s so devoid of substance that you can replace her with another chick & no one will notice.

God help us all.