OT: Cell Phones

RonKiley · Post by **RonKiley** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 8:59 pm

A local church got a brand new PA system. Unfortunately it wasn't grounded properly. A friend of mine lived about a block away. He is an amateur radio operator, a ham, with a very powerful transmitter. On Sunday morning he began to call "CQ DX CQ DX". It emptied the church as they all began to "seek you de exit".

Ron

jonharl · Post by **jonharl** » Sun Dec 14, 2003 9:27 pm

Nano, just a sign painter.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Mon Dec 15, 2003 12:26 pm

"Just"? Anyone who's tried to save drachmas by doing their own signage knows that only a skilled sign painter can deliver the goods. The result otherwise usually looks as cheap as the person who painted it. Give yourself some credit, Jon!

And now, back to your scheduled program.

madguy · Post by **madguy** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:09 am

For about two weeks I was getting calls from a number I didn't know. I finally called the number that was calling me, and the woman told me that my number was her son-in-laws' number, which was impossible. Two more times the same person called me, and when I answered, said to the person with them, "See.." After that, the calls ceased.

~Larry

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:33 am

I've had the same cell phone number for about four years. Every couple of months I'll turn it on to discover a missed call from a number I don't recognize. Because the main reason I have a cell phone is in case an emergency arises with my husband or daughter, I always return missed calls. Inevitably, however, the call is from someone who speaks no English (I really need to learn the Spanish for "you dialed my cell phone by mistake" one of these days).

As far as PA systems go, our rector used to tell a story about a priest who was leading a service in a New York cathedral. He stood up at the end of the processional, started the greeting, and realized his mic wasn't working. "I think something is wrong with the microphone," he said aloud, not realizing that, in the huge cathedral, the congregation couldn't hear him at all. They saw his mouth move, however, and being well-trained Episcopalians, they responded with "And also with you."

Redwolf

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:47 am

A friend (not me!) bought a new mobile phone a few years ago...back then the 'latest' handset cost a fortune (there were no 'deals' to be had in the early days). Hers cost £300.

So we're all sat in the pub and she receives a call. At the end of the call, one of the chaps, deeply impressed by the new phone, goes "wow, is that the new Nokia?"

"Yes!" she replied proudly, and held it out for him to take and admire.

"Very cool!" he enthused, taking hold of it...and then it slipped from his delicate admiring grasp straight into his pint of Flowers Bitter. Fizz, sputter... a pint of decent ale ruined.

Sadly, the lady's boyfriend was seated opposite her, and was in mid-chug on a pint of Murphy's at that fateful moment... instant guffaw...another pint of jolly nice beer ruined and so was her blouse, which was the unfortunate recipient of most of it.

You know, there are those strange little silences that seem to descend from above, when time stands still and everyone stares...and in spite of someone's obvious anguish, the only course of action is for the entire place to erupt with uncontrolled laughter...

Poor girl had only had the phone for three hours.

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:20 am

Redwolf wrote:"I think something is wrong with the microphone," he said aloud, not realizing that, in the huge cathedral, the congregation couldn't hear him at all. They saw his mouth move, however, and being well-trained Episcopalians, they responded with "And also with you."

I find that hilarious. I come from a similar background and can see it happening.
Lawrence

OutOfBreath · Post by **OutOfBreath** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 12:04 pm

madguy wrote:For about two weeks I was getting calls from a number I didn't know. I finally called the number that was calling me, and the woman told me that my number was her son-in-laws' number, which was impossible. Two more times the same person called me, and when I answered, said to the person with them, "See.." After that, the calls ceased.

~Larry

When I first moved into an apartment out in LA many moons ago I kept getting calls from drunks trying to order pizza. My number was one digit off from a local pizza joint or there was a typo in the phone book or something. I called the telephone company and asked them to change my number and they said they'd be happy to for a fee.

So, I started taking orders for pizza -- and I called the pizza joint and told them all about it. A day or two later I got a call from the phone company saying that they needed to change my number...

Redwolf · Post by **Redwolf** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 4:16 pm

Lawrence wrote:
Redwolf wrote:"I think something is wrong with the microphone," he said aloud, not realizing that, in the huge cathedral, the congregation couldn't hear him at all. They saw his mouth move, however, and being well-trained Episcopalians, they responded with "And also with you."

I find that hilarious. I come from a similar background and can see it happening.
Lawrence

Hey Lawrence...you're from Spokane???!!! That's where I grew up! Graduated Marycliff High School 1979 and Whitworth College 1983. My parents still live there, and we go back at least once a year.

Small world, eh?

On the topic of that oh-so-common Episcopal greeting:

Several members of our church choir are not members of the church. Last Sunday, the rector was trying to get us to settle down to pray before going to the back of the nave to process. She said "The Lord be with you" several times, but one young man...a newbie...kept right on talking. Finally one of the other non-members shushed him by explaining that "The Lord be with you" is Episcopalian for "shut up"! It's true...shout it in a crowd at just about any parish in the country and everyone will immediately stop talking, turn to face you, respond "and also with you" and wait to hear what you have to say...it's like magic!

Redwolf

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 8:32 pm

OutOfBreath wrote:When I first moved into an apartment out in LA many moons ago I kept getting calls from drunks trying to order pizza. My number was one digit off from a local pizza joint or there was a typo in the phone book or something. I called the telephone company and asked them to change my number and they said they'd be happy to for a fee.

I have some friends who, at their previous house, had to have an answering machine message that said "If you are trying to reach a doctor's office or a lawyer's office, you have the wrong number." They were one digit off from BOTH. Of course, they still got plenty of messages for both the doctor and the lawyer.

Steven

Post by **Nanohedron** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 9:43 pm

The longer I live, the less I am surprised by that. :roll:

jonharl · Post by **jonharl** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 10:19 pm

Most people seem to be concentrating on what to say instead of listening to the message machine. It's amazing how much confidence they have in their ability to dial the right number.
Jon

dfoster · Post by **dfoster** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:49 pm

At one time, my phone number was nearly the same as one of the larger plumbing repair services in town (two digits transposed) and I got a lot of wrong numbers on the answering machine. I ususally deleted them unless the person said it was an emergency, in which case I would call back and let the caller know. After a while, I ended my outgoing messgae with, "...and this is not Dean's Plumbing". That stopped the wrong numbers.

markv · Post by **markv** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 2:18 pm

I work as a technical support specialist for a biotech company and our 800 number is very close to the number for a building suppy company. Even though we always answer the phone "(company name) technical support biotech division, can I help you" 90% of the wrong numbers still will ask for metal picture hanging brackets or similar things. I had one lady insist on talking to my supervisor because I wouldn't give her the price for said picture brackets despite repeatedly stating that we make automated DNA sequencing and imaging equipment and giving her the correct number to call. So of course, I patched her through. She apparently yelled at him for five minutes stating she would never do business with us. My boss said "I think that would be a good idea for both of us ma'am" then she hung up.

We had another guy continuously call into our mobile phone number asking for Tiffany. Every time we stated he had a wrong number and that this was a business line. We thought he might eventually give up since a different voice, male and female, answered every call. I eventually said something like "she's in the shower right now, can I get your name and number and have her call you bacK? I think she's pretty booked up this week" He didn't call back after that, but he did leave a name and number.

Mark V.

jonharl · Post by **jonharl** » Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:43 pm

Mark, The lady yelling at your manager is absolutely stunning.