Reminds me of the old MAD magazine flyposter :-
" WE sell 11 foot poles for people you wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole "
Geoff.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vintage Computer Festival" <vcf(a)siconic.com
  
To: "Classic Computers Mailing List"
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org
  
Sent: Monday,
December 01, 2003 1:13 AM
Subject: Why one should never give an interview
 Ok, more fuel to add to the discussion about reporters being complete
 idiots.
 I did an interview recently for a local paper.  The writer seemed very
 bright and asked good questions.  The article came out today.  I was
 impressed with the technical accuracy.  However, there was one MAJOR
 problem: the article said that I sold recycled computers to the Alameda
 County Computer Resource Center.  Now, this may at first seem like a minor
 error, but it's huge.
 First of all, under agreement with the ACCRC, I act as a drop-off center
 for computer and electronic recycling.  All items dropped off at my
 facility are in fact donations to the ACCRC, and donation receipts are
 given for income tax deductions.  Second, the computers and electronics
 collected are then delivered to the ACCRC where they then refurbish and
 distribute the computers they receive as an officially registered
 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  To say that I sell computers to
 the ACCRC makes it seem like I am engaged in fraud.  So now people who
 read this article and have or were considering donating items through my
 service to the ACCRC will think I am in fact fraudulently collecting
 computers to resell to a non-profit.  Nice.
 In short, I have been libeled is a seriously egregious fashion.  So much
 for the free publicity I was hoping for.  I'll have to wait until tomorrow
 (Monday) to see what the paper intends to do to rectify the situation.
 If they don't play by my rules then I'm getting an attorney.
 This incident may well be the final straw.  From now on I'm now
 considering telling any reporter that comes within 10 feet of me to fuck
 off.
 --
 Sellam Ismail                                        Vintage Computer 
Festival
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