Phone Calls and Close Calls

Phone Calls and Close Calls was Originally Posted on March 9, 2010 by lavarock

I got a phone call last night as I was getting ready fro bed. My dog’s Mother, Bonnie, was in labor and her owner asked if I wanted to come help. I left Koa home and headed north. The first puppy came about 15 minutes after I got there, but the next was 3 hours later. Then with help, the next 2 puppies came and we were done. Four puppies is not a big litter, but it was not very difficult for the mom. At least 2 of the 4 puppies are already spoken for, and a third puppy may be spoken for too.

I got home at 3:30am and almost instantly went to bed. At 6:30am the phone rang. I got up and half-asleep, answered it. My first thought was that more puppies had delivered after all. The voice sounded like a customer who is awaiting coffee to be roasted just for him. It was neither. It was a telemarketer! This guy is a royal pain and if you are to look up his phone number in Google, many websites have people complaining about him and his company. He won’t stop calling people and I honestly believe that many of us would break his neck, given the chance. You honestly cannot believe how many people are fit to be tied.

Google Voice has an option which allows you to automatically forward a telemarketer to voicemail or to a recording that says “the number you have dial, is not in service”. Unfortunately, Google, Vonage, Packet-8 and others do not offer an inbound number in Hawaii, otherwise I could block people like this. My local VOIP provider, 808NetFone does not offer the option on my local service, and these idiots call my home number. I could put up an answering machine to intercept these calls, but I need to be avilable to my customers, family and friends.

Another option is to use an extra computer I have as a PBX. There is software you can get for free that makes you a phone company just line 808NetFone, Vonage and Packet-8. The system connects physical and internet telephones and telephone lines. You can have voicemail and multiple mailboxes and extensions. It just takes a computer and optionally, a special card for it. I had a verion of it working before and may set it up again and integrate to my telephone systems.

While I was COSTCO tonight, we appear to have had an earthquake or two, but I missed them. I think the big one was a 4.4.

Rather than post a second blog today, I’ll add two other interesting items, both from Letterman.

Tonigth Dave had a long involved story about helium baloons. He talked about a giant baloon getting away from him and having t ocall the FAA. I have a very similar story and even have photos. I’ll try to get the photo and write it up.

Secondly, Kelly Rippa was on and talking about skiing.She and Dave talked about chair lists and Kelly said once she took the lift up and never got off the chair. I too have a similar story which involves radio, Michael Nesbitt (of the Monkeys) and a chair lift I did not get off easily. It should be noted that I don’t ski, thus the difficulty getting off the chair lift.

I received my rebate check from American Express and cashed it at COSTCO tonight. The check was for $218 and involved buying lots of food each week last year for our condo welcoming party.

I have an add or two up online for my hosting business. Hopefully I can count that as a business contact for my unemployment.

Gotta run. Later!