COLUMBUS OH (HJ) – How many times have you seen a homeless person on the street talking to themselves and thought, “That person is crazy!” The founders of the non-profit group EMIT or Equality for the Mentally Inept Transients want to rid the homeless of that stigma.
Bruce Shaw, founder of EMIT, purchases new or collects used cell phones for the homeless in Columbus so that they will not seem so out of place. Bruce explains, “When you see someone talking on a cell phone you assume that they are conducting business or chatting with a friend. If you see someone talking with no cell phone, you think they are insane. By giving the homeless cellphones, we not only give them an outlet for the voices in their head, we give them dignity.”
EMIT volunteers began collecting cellphones in late last year. The phones are cleaned, charged, loaded with 200 minutes and handed out at shelters and underpasses. Janice Truly, an EMIT volunteer, has handed out over 35 cellphones just this month. “The look on the face of the crazy person is priceless. You’ve got to show them how to use the phone. It’s helpful if there are numbers all ready stored in the memory.”
When asked about the homeless calling random people, Mr. Shaw laughed, “At first we erased the memory of the phone and only added the numbers of the other homeless. When none of the homeless could get a word in edgewise with each other, we just decided to leave the numbers on the used phones or program in local radio talk show phone numbers.”
When asked about how they hand out the phones, Mr. Shaw shared, “We’ve actually tried giving cell phones to some people talking to themselves only to realize the “crazy person” was wearing a Bluetooth ear piece.”
EMIT will re-charge and supply more minutes for any phone for free, but so far they have not had to. “Once the phones go dead, they just keep talking into them. They still seem happy.”
Showing posts with label cell phone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cell phone. Show all posts
Ten Interesting Cell Phone Facts You Probably Didn't Know
1. The most common texted word is not a word, but rather the letter “r”.
2. Most cell phones contain about $9 of gold in the circuitry. $ .02 if you go through Cash4Gold.
3. The scientific name for phantom cell phone ring vibration is “lexdosia.”
4. 2 is the most used cell phone number for texting. 0 is the least.
5. If you think your cell phone volume is lowering over time, check the holes that cover the speaker. Most phones have almost a full ounce of ear wax and dirt build up. Soak phone overnight in warm water to ensure that the wax buildup isn’t your biggest problem anymore.
6. Cell phone antennas went obsolete when the cell providers switched from an AM frequency to an FM frequency.
7. Cell phone companies spent about 4 million dollars in the 1980s to develop three additional musical notes so that each number would have its own unique sound.
8. 37% of all photos that men send via cell phone are of poop that they send to their buddies.
9. 85% of cell phone users liked their previous cell phone better.
10. Whatever you do, do not call this number: 614-429-4365.
2. Most cell phones contain about $9 of gold in the circuitry. $ .02 if you go through Cash4Gold.
3. The scientific name for phantom cell phone ring vibration is “lexdosia.”
4. 2 is the most used cell phone number for texting. 0 is the least.
5. If you think your cell phone volume is lowering over time, check the holes that cover the speaker. Most phones have almost a full ounce of ear wax and dirt build up. Soak phone overnight in warm water to ensure that the wax buildup isn’t your biggest problem anymore.
6. Cell phone antennas went obsolete when the cell providers switched from an AM frequency to an FM frequency.
7. Cell phone companies spent about 4 million dollars in the 1980s to develop three additional musical notes so that each number would have its own unique sound.
8. 37% of all photos that men send via cell phone are of poop that they send to their buddies.
9. 85% of cell phone users liked their previous cell phone better.
10. Whatever you do, do not call this number: 614-429-4365.
Automatic Dial of 9-1-1
Back in ye old days, you’d mash some buttons on the phone keypad and when the network figured out that the combination of numbers was a full set, the phone on the other end would begin to ring. This was great, except when you weren’t done dialing yet. This happened a lot when you were dialing long distance or to your Dad in prison overseas. If there was an emergency, you’d hit 9-1-1 and the call would go through as soon as you hit the last 1.
Then came the cordless phone and cell phones. With these technologies, you dial a number and then press “SEND” or the greenest button on your phone. Now if you want to dial 9-1-1, you have to hit the numbers and then push “SEND.” This can be problematic when you have a young child or a color-blind, illiterate babysitter.
I propose that all phones should immediately dial 9-1-1 when those buttons are first pressed. I cannot think of any situation when 9-1-1 would be the first numbers hit in any phone number or even accidentally in a text message.
Can anyone think of a reason why this should not be? Quick, call your congressperson and tell them to get moving on the HolyJuan Bill.
Then came the cordless phone and cell phones. With these technologies, you dial a number and then press “SEND” or the greenest button on your phone. Now if you want to dial 9-1-1, you have to hit the numbers and then push “SEND.” This can be problematic when you have a young child or a color-blind, illiterate babysitter.
I propose that all phones should immediately dial 9-1-1 when those buttons are first pressed. I cannot think of any situation when 9-1-1 would be the first numbers hit in any phone number or even accidentally in a text message.
Can anyone think of a reason why this should not be? Quick, call your congressperson and tell them to get moving on the HolyJuan Bill.
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