Wired needs to lay off the spam

Dear Wired,

Here's the deal: my subscription to Wired started last November or December. I have been getting notices that my subscription will expire soon and that I need to resubscribe since MARCH. Now, I like Wired. I think it's a great magazine and it covers a lot of things I probably wouldn't read about elsewhere. But the spamming has been really excessive. This is the 3rd or 4th request that I renew my subscription I've gotten in the past month, and my subscription doesn't end for at least 3 months. It's been like this since March. As I said, I like Wired. But I am not going to renew my subscription if you all keep begging me to renew every couple weeks starting 3 months into my yearlong subscription. If I can get some sort of guarantee that I will not be contacted about renewing my subscription until 2 months from my subscription ending TOPS, then I'm sorry, but it's not worth it and you will lose this subscriber.

Thanks,

Inez

Congrats, Stefan Moluf

One of my high school classmates just got married. This is the first I know of (excluding one or two of my Hmong classmates who got married at like 16 or 18). Feeling old.

So, August

Yesterday was one year from the day my friend and Haverford classmate, Dylan Ravenfox, died from committing suicide. He was 24, which is far to young by anyone's count.

In two days it will be one year from the day Alicia Emelina de Garcia, co-founder of Comadres, died of complications from uterine cancer, which seems to have been connected with the atrocious, brutal, evil types of sexual torture she endured as part of her struggle for human rights in El Salvador (and around the world). She is one of the bravest, kindest, most loving and good people I have ever had the honor to know.

On the 28th of this month will be the memorial service for Elise's dad, Kent Christensen, who died on July 29th from lung cancer. He passed with his family all around him.



Now seems like an appropriate time to recognize gratitude. I'm so thankful for my life, for my housemates and my dog, for my friends (local and far-away), for my beautiful family, for the job that keeps me clothed and housed, and for all the opportunities I know I have ahead of me. I am thankful for the time I had with each of these people who are being recognized this August.

Sometimes I feel a little bit snarky.

From: customercare@bestbuy.com
To: [me]
Date: Mon, Aug 8, 2011 
Subject: Product Activation Alert


Hello ,

This is Sophia with the Best Buy Research Team. I am e-mailing you in regards to order BBY01-406357054149 . I have received an alert in my ordering system that stated that your product SKU (1068992) may not have been properly activated. If you are experiencing any issues activating
your product (T-Mobile Prepaid-Samsung T369 No-Contract Mobile Phone-Black-T369)
please call 866-857-7970 and have the product box handy. If you are not experiencing any
difficulties activating your product please disregard this message.

Thank you for shopping at Best Buy and Have A Great Day!

Sincerely,
Sophia
Best Buy Research Team







From: [me]
To: customercare@bestbuy.com
Date: Mon, Aug 8, 2011  

Subject: Re: Product Activation Alert

Sophia,

Thanks for your concern. I'm not sure why this alert would have gone out when I haven't even received the package yet. It's definitely very difficult to activate a phone that is not yet in my possession. I'll get in touch for help if I have trouble activating it once it has been delivered.

Thanks,

Inez

Wildwood

Wildwood is a huge beach Ultimate tournament that happens every year in Wildwood, NJ. There are 2500ish people there, playing on 113 fields, which means probably something like 900 games that happen on Saturday and slightly fewer on Sunday. It's ridiculous and amazing and tiring and SO MUCH FUN. Haverford alums have a team for this tournament called Show Your Junk, or SYJ if for some reason you're talking about it with your Grandma. Here are some of my favorites of the pictures I took.

I love these people.

T-Mobile Customer Service: a little slow (in the head)

You: I'm wondering if it's possible to use a prepaid phone on a contract plan

You: I broke my phone but my contract isn't up for a year and a half, so I'm looking for a replacement phone.

Tamara: Do you already have a phone?

You: yes I'm using my old phone but it's pretty old and doesn't work that well, which is why I'd like to replace it

Tamara: Do you want to replace your phone?

You: Yes, and I'm wondering if I could use a prepaid phone on my contract plan

Tamara: Do you already have a plan?

You: Yes

You: Can I use a prepaid phone on my plan?

Tamara: Is that phone is a t-mobile phone?

You: Yes

Tamara: Then you can use it.