You just can't make this stuff up.

Some time ago, I discovered that the link I had to the 88-page SAT Preparation Booklet was broken.  I went to the College Board website and found the page with the publications links.  (It's HERE.)  I found a link called, "The SAT Practice booklet."

"Excellent," I thought.  Only... the link takes you to a "Page Not Found" error message.  Huh.

So, I contacted the College Board and explained what I was looking for.  This began a back-and-forth conversation which became more and more humorous as we went along.

For example, one of my replies went like this:

"Thank you for your response directing me to your Subject Test booklets.  However, as I said, I am looking for the test preparation booklet for the general SAT.  If you go to this link <link here> on YOUR site, you will find it doesn't work.  Could you please let me know the correct link, or if you have discontinued this publication?"

The answer to this email was something along the lines of, "You can find our full practice test here."

Yep.  Five emails and each time I was sent to something I wasn't looking for, despite my detailed explanations and inclusion of their dead link.  Can we say, "Robots answer our inquiry emails based on key words and real people never see these things."?

I eventually gave up.  But, being an optimist in general, I thought recently that I'd give it another try.

Uh, suffice it to say, if you want the free booklet, you'll have to use the older version (2007-2008) HERE.  Meanwhile, the College Board is happy to let me know that preparations for shipments of materials to schools and institutions (based on prior usage) have begun and I should receive mine by mid to late August.

I'm feeling so special right now.  I can't begin to find the words.