A government agent pounded on my, door, demanded that I confirm my identity, and then handed me the following*:
Quote
skidmark Household:
The Office of Passport Services, U.S. Department of State would like to better serve the Ameeican public's need fpr passport services in the coming months and years. [Do they know something that I don't about my future need for a passport?]
To do this we are conducting interviews ....
....
Your household was selected [couldn't they find a better word to use?] at random. [Yeah, sure.] In order for the results to be statisticall representative , it is important a person who is knowlegable about the travel habits of your household complete the survey. [Is it possible they are not sure and are looking for confirmation?]
Your participation, while voluntary [where have I heard that phrase before?] will be essential to the success of the study. This study is estimated to take less than 10 minutes of your time and there are 2 easy ways for you to participate.
Please do one of the following before November 12, 2014:
1) Go online at ......
Enter the passcode xxxxxxx
OR
2) Call 1-800-tappednumber
Please have the passcode available ....
We will give you a call if we do not hear from you.
....
....
(all bold in the original)
As I see it, I have three possible courses of action:
A) Apply for a passport (I don't have a valid one at the moment and am pretty sure the ones on sale over the internet for $25 will not stand up at a port of departure) and thus telegraph my travel plans to GTFOOD
B) Go online and enter my randomly-generated passcode that will not connect my name or other personal information with the responses I give [yeah, sure, and how much do you want for that ocean-front property in New Mexico?] and enter something like "99999" for every response
C) Wait for them to call me after November 12, 2014. If I choose this option, should I put a note on the door that it is unlocked so they won't risk hurting themselves splintering it open?
What I suggest is that everybody interested in divvying up my stuff meet and carpool down some convenient date after November 12, 2014. I'll leave the key to the safe under the rock next to the back door.
stay safe.
* - OK, the mail lady wanted me to sign for a certified package I was expecting, and handed me the rest of my mail.
Quote
skidmark Household:
The Office of Passport Services, U.S. Department of State would like to better serve the Ameeican public's need fpr passport services in the coming months and years. [Do they know something that I don't about my future need for a passport?]
To do this we are conducting interviews ....
....
Your household was selected [couldn't they find a better word to use?] at random. [Yeah, sure.] In order for the results to be statisticall representative , it is important a person who is knowlegable about the travel habits of your household complete the survey. [Is it possible they are not sure and are looking for confirmation?]
Your participation, while voluntary [where have I heard that phrase before?] will be essential to the success of the study. This study is estimated to take less than 10 minutes of your time and there are 2 easy ways for you to participate.
Please do one of the following before November 12, 2014:
1) Go online at ......
Enter the passcode xxxxxxx
OR
2) Call 1-800-tappednumber
Please have the passcode available ....
We will give you a call if we do not hear from you.
....
....
(all bold in the original)
As I see it, I have three possible courses of action:
A) Apply for a passport (I don't have a valid one at the moment and am pretty sure the ones on sale over the internet for $25 will not stand up at a port of departure) and thus telegraph my travel plans to GTFOOD
B) Go online and enter my randomly-generated passcode that will not connect my name or other personal information with the responses I give [yeah, sure, and how much do you want for that ocean-front property in New Mexico?] and enter something like "99999" for every response
C) Wait for them to call me after November 12, 2014. If I choose this option, should I put a note on the door that it is unlocked so they won't risk hurting themselves splintering it open?
What I suggest is that everybody interested in divvying up my stuff meet and carpool down some convenient date after November 12, 2014. I'll leave the key to the safe under the rock next to the back door.
stay safe.
* - OK, the mail lady wanted me to sign for a certified package I was expecting, and handed me the rest of my mail.