Okay, I exaggerate, but what I mean is that most Fray posts on this topic seem to be phone book boosters, and that's interesting because we are all, posters, readers alike, using a purely electronic environment to discuss this.

I don't think this points to the limitations of the internet when it comes to finding phone numbers in a structural sense. I think eventually we will be able to find personal and business phone numbers on the internet as easily and quickly as we can find the current weather in Beijing. But that day has not yet come. Finding personal numbers is sometimes slow and erratic, and finding business numbers can be a downright chore.

Anyone remember when modems connected at 2.4 baud?

Right, so this too shall pass. I don't think any time soon, but sure, maybe some day.

As for the recycling issue, that's bogus. In our area, recycling is mandatory and you have to pay per bag to throw away trash. Unrecycled phone books here are no more. There's no reason why that can't be the case everywhere.