Comments on: 9-1-1, that spells “Moon” http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:36:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Philip B. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89673 Philip B. Sun, 18 May 2008 12:11:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89673 Wouldn't it be easier just to get contact information from people like this, then mail them a nice $200 fine for wasting the operators time, and being a dumbass? Wouldn’t it be easier just to get contact information from people like this, then mail them a nice $200 fine for wasting the operators time, and being a dumbass?

]]> By: Tod http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89672 Tod Sun, 18 May 2008 07:01:48 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89672 I spent my 40+ year career in the telephone biz - starting out working the local central office, then telephone installer.... I dated an information operator for a few months ages ago and she kept me in stitches with the stories she told...guys calling for the Giants score, ladies asking about which store had a sale going, you name it, people thought that calling "information" (411) actually meant that these operators were sitting alongside encyclopedias and newspapers! I can't recall when but eventually Ma Bell redesignated (but not repurposed) 411 as "directory assistance" rather than "information." I spent my 40+ year career in the telephone biz – starting out working the local central office, then telephone installer….

I dated an information operator for a few months ages ago and she kept me in stitches with the stories she told…guys calling for the Giants score, ladies asking about which store had a sale going, you name it, people thought that calling “information” (411) actually meant that these operators were sitting alongside encyclopedias and newspapers!

I can’t recall when but eventually Ma Bell redesignated (but not repurposed) 411 as “directory assistance” rather than “information.”

]]> By: Yoshi_3up http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89671 Yoshi_3up Fri, 16 May 2008 22:47:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89671 Only in florida. Only in florida.

]]> By: themadlolscientist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89670 themadlolscientist Fri, 16 May 2008 21:43:40 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89670 I thought it was 999. No, waitaminnit, that's on the other side of the pond........... I thought it was 999. No, waitaminnit, that’s on the other side of the pond………..

]]> By: Al http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89669 Al Fri, 16 May 2008 14:43:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89669 As any Stonecutter knows, the <i>real</i> number is 912... As any Stonecutter knows, the real number is 912…

]]> By: Ken B. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89668 Ken B. Fri, 16 May 2008 14:13:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89668 OsakaGuy: <blockquote>Those crazy 911 calls always increase when there’s a full moon, as those crazy callers know.</blockquote>See http://cectic.com/145.html OsakaGuy:

Those crazy 911 calls always increase when there’s a full moon, as those crazy callers know.

See http://cectic.com/145.html

]]> By: James http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/comment-page-1/#comment-89667 James Fri, 16 May 2008 14:07:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/15/9-1-1-that-spells-moon/#comment-89667 to Ronn Blankenship: now you end up with triple-post :) Regarding false 911 calls, my kids were calling 911 and hang up. At least once each kid, probably to verify their knowledges. Every time police officers were coming promptly to verify the call. I think such kids calls is a big pain for the emergency, but what they or I can do. Yes, I explained that's not good to interrupt police with such false calls and my kids didn't call it again. Not sure if it because of my explanation or they were already satisfied with the police reaction on the first call :) to Ronn Blankenship: now you end up with triple-post :)
Regarding false 911 calls, my kids were calling 911 and hang up. At least once each kid, probably to verify their knowledges. Every time police officers were coming promptly to verify the call. I think such kids calls is a big pain for the emergency, but what they or I can do. Yes, I explained that’s not good to interrupt police with such false calls and my kids didn’t call it again. Not sure if it because of my explanation or they were already satisfied with the police reaction on the first call :)

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