Slog - Comments on Returning Phone Books to Dex http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex As Dan, Christopher and dozens of Slog readers have noted, phone books have become obsolete to the average computer owner and are a huge waste of paper. Last week, Slog readers encouraged me to round up as many phone books as I could, pile them into my car, and drop them off at Qwest Dex regional headquarters in Bellevue. At first, I invited Slog readers to drop their phone books off at a central location so that I could deliver them to Dex. I constructed a massive cardboard box and left it next to the Stranger offices in a nook... Copyright 2008 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:06:50 -0800 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:14:14 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by steve my the intern has proven to be quite photogenic...

]]> steve http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798840 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798840 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:11:08 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe Something tells me this is not the first time this experience has landed in front of Dex's door.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798841 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798841 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:11:18 -0800 Comment by DJSauvage Cool! this is pretty close to home for me so I can drop books off there whenever I get them. Thanks Steven Blum, Public Intern.

]]> DJSauvage http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798843 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798843 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:11:57 -0800 Comment by Aliyah Is the intern on J-Date? If he likes women I'd like to take him out for a delicious dinner! He's hot!

]]> Aliyah http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798846 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798846 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:14:37 -0800 Comment by teddy b doesn't seem like a big enough message to the people at dex... i think we should try again!

]]> teddy b http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798848 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798848 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:16:40 -0800 Comment by left coast This is hilarious.

http://www.kasperhauser.com/khmc/

The guys who wrote it and a parody of Skymall (the airplane catalogue) are performing at Sketch Fest this weekend.

]]> left coast http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798855 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:25:01 -0800 Comment by Rose Red Should've come and got mine. There's a pile of about 70 books (I underestimated earlier, guessing 30-40) inside the back door of my apt building, with a big "LAST CHANCE" sign hanging over them. The pile didn't diminish in the slightest since I first saw it in the lobby.

]]> Rose Red http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798857 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798857 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:25:43 -0800 Comment by tiptoe tommy So you drove all around the region to save us from the environmental scourge of phone books?

]]> tiptoe tommy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798875 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798875 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:38:18 -0800 Comment by Phelix Very dramatic pose in the second to last shot. ;)

Though, I am left wondering... who is it taking pictures of you performing your internly duties? Is there a Mr./Ms. "I'm dating the Public Itern, and I knew him before it too"? Or do you rope a friend into traveling with you to document your trials?

]]> Phelix http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798879 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798879 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:42:07 -0800 Comment by JC We really need to do this right after the next batch of phone books get delivered. It should be printed in The Stranger, a blurb on the cover.

It should be a big deal, like when The Portland Mercury went after those people who taped up reserved spots for the Rose Festival Parade.

http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2007/06/no_tape_left_behind.php

]]> JC http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798882 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798882 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:45:20 -0800 Comment by Katelyn :o I'm proud to say that two of my phonebooks were included in the pile delivered by Steven to Qwest. I'm so proud of my babies.

And next time let's have multiple drop off sites so that the Fremonters, etc can join in.

]]> Katelyn http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798894 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798894 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:53:53 -0800 Comment by SDA in SEA "The Dex people pretended the mound didn’t exist."
- Public Intern.

Not surprising. This is their entire business model. Crank out as many phone books as they can print to justify their expense to advertisers, dump them on people's doorsteps, and pretend they no longer exist. They cover their eyes and ears... lalalalala... and pretend that their service is a colossal waste, and environmentally inexcusable.

]]> SDA in SEA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798899 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798899 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:01:21 -0800 Comment by Sorry It was Labor Day Weekend... I was at Bumbershoot. No time to drop them off. :/

]]> Sorry http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798936 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798936 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:31:11 -0800 Comment by Kristin Bell I like the part where you said that Dan "ordered" you to go and collect books! Is he really a task master??? hehe. As always, great job Steven. Too bad the drop off area didn't work out.

]]> Kristin Bell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798957 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798957 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:55:43 -0800 Comment by Feelie D You tried to hurt me but I am stronger than that

Why is it that I was always the one to be searching?
Like a limp-dicked dalmation
Fire dog! But I don’t need the fire of misunderstanding to burn
Me like a cigarette (420)
Why do you have to be so into smoking pot vs.
Hanging out with me?

]]> Feelie D http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798962 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798962 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:03:00 -0800 Comment by cliff rancho why didn't you use public transportation? can't believe you wasted all that gas...

]]> cliff rancho http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798966 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c798966 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:07:23 -0800 Comment by rb @14, Dan also banned microwave popcorn in the Stranger office. That is one bossy queen.

]]> rb http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799017 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799017 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:33:47 -0800 Comment by Sall Phone books aren't so bad - they just should dole them out every few years, and one to every 10 people or so. Online phone books are not complete and updated often, and make it hard to distinguish people with the same name, plus despite what you think, lots of people don't have computers or dsl.

]]> Sall http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799033 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799033 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:14:24 -0800 Comment by OR Matt Damn interns and their sense of humor!

]]> OR Matt http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799036 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:17:16 -0800 Comment by JessB Excellent Intern, Excellent!

]]> JessB http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799052 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799052 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:52:18 -0800 Comment by Angel Key word here - to all the lazy fucks who harbor stacks of these, RECYCLE. Yes you, lazy fuck, rise from the Dell and carry a few phnone books to the recycle dumpster,

NOW --- lazy dog fuckers ---

There, don't it feel better

]]> Angel http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799086 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799086 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:54:14 -0800 Comment by Amelia God, that's so funny! Apart from the environmental concerns, these phone books are a form of harassment, because they wake you up when the drones infiltrate your building at dawn's crack and drop them in front of every door. It's also harassment when phone book sales fucks try to persuade you to advertise and use these "resources," and also sell your information to all and sundry. (I know they are responsible because Qwest misspelled my first name.) (Dex... Qwest... )

]]> Amelia http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799100 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799100 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 00:34:03 -0800 Comment by Noink Here's an idea: ask people to leave phone books on or near Stranger distro boxes. Public Intern gets a list of them, and goes around to pick them all up. Any charitable-feeling distro folks could stick them in their vans and bring them back if they feel like it too.

]]> Noink http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799388 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799388 Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:59:12 -0800 Comment by Kristin Bell @17: haha. that is so funny! why would he ban microwave popcorn? the buttery movie theater smell? I never knew he was a bossy queen. I love learning new stuff about him! next on the slog: inside dan's brain: what makes him tick! hehe it would be great if they had a factoid section: little known secrets about dan savage! :)

]]> Kristin Bell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799688 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c799688 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 08:13:52 -0800 Comment by Laura Remme Yes -- Steven Blum -- you have arrived!!! Thanks, to your Roosevelt experience -- Ms. Remme, counseling office

]]> Laura Remme http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c802418 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c802418 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:45:46 -0800 Comment by Cookieworm This is way too funny. To think that the intern did not do his research and did go into the non-discript Dex Regional Headquaters to see that Dex is only one of the many tenents in the building. Ha ha. What a waste! Grow up... 60-90 phone books out of a million is not much of a statement. It looks like more people use the paper pages than the on-line pages.

]]> Cookieworm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c804792 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c804792 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:40:01 -0800 Comment by Lee If no one used phone books anymore then why are people spending millions/year to advertise there. Why are there 10's of millions of yearly references then?? These people that advertise in the phone book have the capability to track how it's working. They wouldn't spend all this money if no one was using it. Your not using the book has no relevancy on what others are doing.

]]> Lee http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c804801 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c804801 Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:43:47 -0800 Comment by Brian So you guys hate print advertising? hmmm. What do you think pays for the Stranger and makes it free for the public?

]]> Brian http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c805684 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/returning_phone_books_to_dex#c805684 Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:14:14 -0800