Ventura County Star

Re: Ann McFeatters' April 3 column, “There is still time to save the census”:

Ann McFeatters’ article was long on describing a problem and short on solutions.

It took me almost a dozen tries before successfully completing the census online, using both my Microsoft and Apple computers. Here’s how it unfolded. Multiple attempts on MS system. My 12-digit code was rejected as being invalid. Same result on the Apple OS. Kept trying. Finally, my code was accepted, but after completing several pages the system shut down, saying that for security reasons my session had been terminated.

After three or four similar results, each time getting closer to what turned out to be the last question, I called the listed phone number. Surprise: Notification that there were long delays, but I could enter my code number by voice. That failed miserably. I went back to the computer to try again but after remembering the saying of a very wise person long ago: “When all else fails, read the instructions.”

I happened to remember the last line on the Welcome page of the website, sub-paragraph 2 titled “Getting Started.” The last line seems to be the key: Enable cookies. I enabled cookies on the MS computer. Filling out the census was a piece of cake after that change.

In my opinion, the reference to cookies in the instructions should have been listed first in bold, block letters. I do not know for sure that that small change cured my problem, but that was the only change I made in my numerous attempts.

Paul D. Wilson, Camarillo