. . . but did they get it?

In his August 31 column, Dave Barry "urged readers to call the ATA [American Teleservices Association] and 'tell them what you think' about telemarketers." And that's just what readers did. So overwhelmed by calls was the ATA that they stopped answering their phones.

ATA executive director Tim Searcy said the added calls will be costly to the group because of toll charges and staffing issues. "It's difficult not to see some malice in Mr. Barry's intent," Searcy said.

Barry hardly sounded apologetic.

"I feel just terrible, especially if they were eating or anything," he said. "They have phones like the rest of us have phones. Their attitude seems to be if you have a phone, people are allowed to call you."

(Link provided by my odd-story findin' wife . . . but here's a plug for my own site since she doesn't have one.)