A few rather sordid call center news items came across my desk this morning, and I thought it only right to share. With all the software updates, survey results, predictable case studies, and feel-good success stories, we sometimes forget that strange and unsavory things happen in North American call centers every day.

Take the ACCENT Marketing Services call center in Farmington, Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch says that 130 agents were taken to hospitals after something in the call center made their eyes sting and breathing difficult. All 338 workers were evacuated Wednesday, and no one knows what caused the foul air.

Meanwhile, in Austin, Texas, someone fired a pellet gun at the windows of the ACS call center on Wednesday morning. It didn't break the windows, and local police think it's random, but people are nervous, according to a report by a CBS affiliate.

A call center run by Encompass in Beaverton, Oregon closed suddenly on Wednesday after a "computer problem," according to Fox 12 Oregon. The company filed Chapter Seven bankruptcy on Wednesday, which came as a surprise to its employees.

The 300 or so Encompass agents may be in for another surprise: some say local banks aren't cashing company paychecks.

Not all news is bad this week. ACS will be hiring as many as 375 new workers at its 120-agent call center near the Nashville, Tennessee airport.

We want to remind our readers about the Dallas Demo this month -- there's still time to register.

The conference offers four specialized tracks, networking and a demo hall full of the latest technologies. There are also tons of free opportunities with a demo hall pass at Call Center Demo & Conference Dallas.

The FREE Demo Hall pass offers admission to the demo hall, solutions showcase presentations, keynote addresses, the cartoon exhibit and much more!

We're in town May 21-24, 2007 at the Hotel Intercontinental.

Register for the Dallas Show at www.ccdemo.com