Friday, March 18, 2011

April comes early

What god sport it is to pick up the dailies on April 1 and try to spot the April Fool’s joke. Not always easy given much of the real news these days.

But what many readers may not know is that the Jewish world has its own traditions of leg-pulling with the festival of Purim and the so-called Purim Speil.

For years, the JC has been bemusing readers with weird and wonderful tales of the unexpected and unsubstantiated, all taken in good heart by a readership that understands and respects them.

The problem theses days though is that, given the speed with which news moves online, this can happen.

As for the Royals, they could probably do with some multicultural training. No-one at the Palace go it - and no one was amused.

Monday, March 07, 2011

Computer says 'no, no, no - more'

This not a joke. Repeat: not a joke.

Mr Abraham, a reader, wrote a rather sarcastic letter to the to the Letters to the editor inbox. He then got this automated reply:

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


He replied:
Abbreviated postal address, please.

The rest speaks for itself….


This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Abbreviated post code, please.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Yes, to repeat, my postal address is KT7 (blushes spared here - RB)
Thank you.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Yes okay, please use postal address, abbreviated.
Thank you.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Yes, yes and yes!!!
This is the third time I have been asked this automated question!
Regards

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.



Yes use my postcode, abbreviated.
Regards,
ps why do you keep on sending this email to me, I have already replied to you, at least once?


This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


I have already agreed to you to use my abbreviated postal address..
Thank you.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.



Please use abbreviated postcode!
I have already advised this twice before!

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Abbreviated postal address, please.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


My postal address is (OK, I’m sparing more blushes - RB)……………

This is the third time I have given you this information!! Please do not ask me again.

Thank you.

This is an automated response.
Thank you for your letter. Please note that no letter will be considered for publication unless you supply a full postal address (which will not be published in full). Please indicate whether you want this abbreviated postal address used, or your email address, should your letter be selected.


Fingers crossed he doesn't leave a comment.