Sprint Collection Mix-Up
By Heather Catallo
February 23, 2005
A woman from Harper Woods was outraged after a collection call from her wireless phone provider led her to a very insulting message, but there’s a twist to this bizarre voicemail tale.
Tosa Gilbert was shocked when she returned a phone call that came in from Sprint and ended up hearing a voicemail recording that called her a "jerk." At first, she was really mad at Sprint, but after we started digging, we found out the person who recorded that voicemail is also furious.
Tosa Gilbert spent a recent Sunday using her home computer to catch up on e-mail. While she was online she missed an incoming phone call, so Tosa dialed back the number from her caller ID.
"When I called back, that’s when the recording from Sprint played," she remembers.
This is what Tosa heard:
"Pay your Sprint bill or your service will be shut off. It’s that simple. If you don’t pay your Sprint bill, you might as well take your Sprint phone and throw it in the trash. Even a person with your limited intelligence should be able to figure that out. Go ahead – write a check. Hang up the phone, write a check, jerk."
"I was shocked," Tosa now says. "I couldn’t believe it."
Tosa thought the call had come from Sprint’s collection department because the caller ID matched other calls she’s received from the company about her past due wireless phone bill.
She explains, "Oh, I was really upset. I took it real personal."
But when she called Sprint to warn them about the message she did not make much progress.
"I played it for about 2 or 3 people, and they said they couldn’t hear it, and they were more concerned about me paying my Sprint bill," Tosa says.
When we called Sprint to find out what happened, we were told Tosa must have misdialed the Sprint collection department’s number, and they knew exactly whose number she did dial.
They knew because many of their customers had dialed the same number, a number that’s just one digit off from Sprint’s toll-free number.
So we tried dialing the "mistaken" number that Sprint says Tosa Gilbert dialed, and guess who answered the phone?
It was a small business owner in the Boston area who says he’s received and logged about 8,000 calls from Sprint customers during the past 2 ½ years.
Stewart Woodworth told us because his business cell phone number is toll-free, he’s had to shell out about $1,000 to pay for the incoming Sprint calls.
Catallo: What was Sprint’s initial reaction when you told them what was going on?
Woodworth: Uh, we don’t care. Change your number.
Catallo: Do you think that’s fair?
Woodworth: No, especially since I’ve had my number since 1997.
"I’m in the map biz," Woodworth says, "and my phone number is printed on my map, and there are several tens of thousands of them out in the field with my phone number."
Woodworth says since Sprint wouldn’t help him, he got fed up and decided to record the insulting out-going message on his voicemail.
He explains, "My objective was to get them to call Sprint, and light a fire under them to get Sprint to do something."
It looks like the fire has been lit. Sprint officials tell us they’re in the process of changing their collection department phone number.
14:06 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Man Tries to Toss Cigarette, SU: "Fri Feb 18, 8:04 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO - A man barely escaped serious injury Thursday after a lit cigarette he tried to toss out the window while driving across the Bay Bridge blew back in and ignited the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The unidentified man was driving westbound at about 10:40 a.m. when he tossed the cigarette out the window of his Ford Expedition, said CHP Officer Shawn Chase.
Carried by the wind, the cigarette landed in his back seat and almost immediately burst into flames. The man quickly pulled to the side of the road, and leapt from the flame-filled SUV, which continued rolling into a guard rail, Chase said.
'He thought he had thrown it in park, but he didn't and it just kept going,' the officer said. 'It was in flames by the time he got out. He had some of his hair singed on the back of his head. It burnt down to the frame. There was nothing left.'
The incident forced the closure of the Harrison Street off-ramp and one lane of traffic flowing into the city for about an hour.
He said the man will likely face a misdemeanor charge for littering.
'We see people throwing cigarettes out the window all the time but never a situation like this where it comes back in,' Chase said. 'This guy was lucky.' "
14:05 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Landlord Tosses Tear Gas Grenade in House: "Fri Feb 18, 8:03 AM ET
LANETT, Ala. - A landlord in an eviction dispute with a tenant allegedly broke windows at his rental property and threw a tear gas grenade into the residence, police said.
Joseph Hammock, 69, of West Point, Ga., was taken into custody early Wednesday after a 1:30 a.m. dispute at the Lanett rental property. Police said the tenant was not injured.
Officers arrested Hammock near his Georgia home on an unrelated arson charge and took him to Troup County Jail, said Lanett Police Chief Ron Docimo.
Deputies found additional materials for building explosive devices and literature for survivalist techniques in Hammock's Georgia residence, said Troop County Sheriff's Lt. Rick Massie.
Docimo said Hammock will be extradited back to Alabama on a felony charge when he makes bond in Georgia. "
14:04 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Typo Sends Callers to Phone Sex Line: "Fri Feb 18, 5:38 PM ET
TERRACE, British Columbia - Northwest British Columbia residents who dial a toll-free number in the phone book to check highway conditions are getting a red-hot reply from the blue pages listing.
'Ummm, baby, you've dialed the right number ...,' a female voice says, followed by details that have nothing to do with roads or outdoor weather.
The listing for the British Columbia Ministry of Transport road report is off by two numbers, apparently because of a typographical error, so callers are connected to a phone sex line.
A ministry representative said the U.S. directory company that publishes the phone book failed to verify the number with the government agency. Distribution of the rest of the directories may be halted. "
14:02 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Stolen Cutout Patrol Car Back on DutyFri Feb 18, 8:34 PM ET
ALBANY, Ore. - The case of the stolen cutout car has been solved — sort of. Last Sunday, someone swiped the cutout of a sheriff's patrol car that Albany resident Rick Pyburn had put up near his house in an effort to slow down traffic.
Pyburn said the cutout has been an effective speed trap.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office had no immediate suspects in the theft.
But after the robbery was featured in media reports, tips started pouring in.
Then, late on Tuesday afternoon, the cutout was returned by someone who found it along a roadside.
Even though the cutout car is back in operation, the sheriff's office still has no suspects.
13:57 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Frustrated German Thief Caught Napping Red-Handed: "Thu Feb 17, 1:14 PM ET
BERLIN (Reuters) - Having broken into a car late at night, a would-be German thief's plans went badly wrong when he failed to pry out its radio, fell asleep clutching his screwdriver, and was woken, then arrested by police.
'The police had an easy time of it,' said a spokeswoman for police in the western city of Cologne on Thursday.
The car's owner alarmed police after spotting the man entering the vehicle. By the time officers arrived shortly afterwards, the man was already sound asleep. "
19:38 Posted by David
The Science of Kissing
Posted on Sun, Feb. 13, 2005
The science of kissing
Knight Ridder
A kiss isn't just a kiss.
Smooch. Snog. Tongue hockey. Lip lock.
Whatever you call it, two lips touching with a bit of pressure and tongue-wiggling have inspired myriad songs, poems and, ahem, newspaper articles.
Most of us picked up the basics of kissing in junior high, but our knowledge of the mechanics of this most enjoyable activity hasn't moved beyond first base.
We've provided a primer to get you up to speed on this amazing confluence of hormonal, circulatory and muscular activity.
What's first, brain or mouth? The mouth may be the place where the physical fun of kissing begins, but the brain is hard at work before the first smudge of lipstick. Reacting to sensory inputs, primarily from the eyes and nose, the brain and spinal cord set in motion a flurry of activity in the hypothalamus and adrenal glands. Their chemical activity spreads throughout the body, affecting almost every organ. Getting the mouth involved engages more muscles and stimulates increased chemical activity.
Eyes: A gaze from your lover can add to the excitement of a kiss by triggering memories and fantasies within the brain. Signals from the visual regions of the brain are transmitted to the hypothalamus, where they influence the start of sexual behavior. A quick peek at your partners peepers will let you know whether he or she is enjoying it: The pupils will dilate.
Nose: The nose senses pheromones from your partner, thus increasing or decreasing stimulation. (Some people are never going to smell good to you despite what the ads in certain tabloids might claim!) Most pheromones are blends of chemicals that must be released in precise amounts to function, and they target only members of the same species. Sex-specific smells can possibly raise or lower activity levels of neurons in the hypothalamus.
Adrenal glands: The thrill of kissing (or any exciting activity) is a major stimulus for these glands, which sit one atop each kidney. Working off chemical cues streaming through the spinal cord, the adrenals start producing and secreting norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline). Norepinephrine is found in the brain, especially the hypothalamus. Like Cupid with a couples quota, norepinephrine swishes around the brain, creating feelings of euphoria. Epinephrine increases heart rate and speeds breakdown of glycogen, the storage form of glucose, in the muscles and liver. You will need this energy if kissing leads to sex.
Sex organs: By now, your body has realized that you arent politely pecking Aunt Fanny. This can cause a host of sex-prep activities: the vulva, clitoris, penis and nipples fill with blood and become erect; testes draw closer to the body; and glands in the vagina secrete lubricant. Testosterone surges in men and in women. Some scientists suggest that testosterone contributes to feelings of well-being. In men and women, the hypothalamus monitors some aspects of testosterone production in the ovaries and testes.
Pancreas: To keep your energy from fading, extra sugar is being pumped into the blood from the breakdown of glycogen in the muscles and liver. The pancreas keeps blood sugars in balance through secretion of the hormones insulin and glucagon.
Stomach: Endorphins might make your brain happy, but they can also set loose big butterflies in your tummy. Digestion is slowed so the body can focus on, uh, more pressing activities.
Skin: With the heart and lungs working hard, the skin can redden and become clammy. Sweating helps keep your system from overheating. Chemical messages and increased touching can alter skin sensitivity, which can result in tingling and tickling.
Circulatory system: Arteries and veins respond to the signals coming from your lips. Arteries convey blood into organs faster than the veins can carry it away. This can result in swelling, such as in the lips and genitalia.
Heart and lungs: Epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal glands cause the heart to beat faster and elevate the blood pressure. This allows more oxygen to be acquired. Breathing may become deep and irregular. During a kiss, the heart can sometimes beat twice as fast as normal. Endorphins can also cause the pulse to race.
05:08 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Drunk Birds Crash Into Building's Glass: "Fri Feb 11, 7:20 AM ET
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Dozens of birds, drunk from eating holly berries, crashed into the glass of an office building and died earlier this week.
'It was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie,' worker Denise Wilkinson said. 'It was spooky. You could hear them where they flew into the glass.'
Warm weather and an ample supply of berries attracted hundreds of cedar waxwings into the enclosed courtyard of the three-story building Tuesday,
The birds began getting drunk on the berries. They got so loopy that some were falling off branches and others were slamming into the glass walls that enclose the courtyard, said Burgess Mills, the building's owner.
About half of the 100 birds that slammed into the building died, workers said.
Groundskeepers have tried to help the birds by putting tape on windows or nets over the holly trees to keep them from eating the berries, Mills said. "
05:07 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Mom Allegedly Beats Sons Over Marijuana: "Fri Feb 11, 6:19 PM ET
SMYRNA, Ga. - A mother has been arrested for throwing cans of beer at her children and beating her oldest son after he refused to roll joints for her, police said.
Beverly Fisher, 48, was arrested Wednesday after her 11-year-old son called police and told them that his intoxicated mother was in possession of drugs and threw beer at him, said Lt. Keith Zgonc of the Smyrna Police Department.
Marijuana and several beer cans were found in the home, he said.
The oldest son, 14, said his mother assaulted him after he refused to roll marijuana cigarettes for her, Zgonc said, and the 11-year-old had scratches from where Fisher had thrown a knife at him during an earlier incident. "
05:06 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Student Runs Over Driver's Ed Teacher: "Fri Feb 11,10:29 PM ET
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. - A driver's education instructor was run over by one of her students and pinned beneath the car for 15 minutes, officials said.
Two cars driven by students collided on the DeKalb County Schools driver's education lot, then one of the students backed into Patricia Erwin, running her over.
She was hospitalized Friday in stable condition and underwent surgery for multiple broken bones.
Erwin, 64, who has taught driving for 20 years, was working with the students on a drill that included pulling forward and backing up at slow speeds, said Kal Kelliher, the district's driver's education coordinator. "
05:05 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Male Genital Snow Sculpture Shocks Drivers: "Fri Feb 11,10:45 PM ET
GLEN AUBREY, N.Y. - An explicit six-foot-tall snow sculpture depicting male genitals in a yard on a rural road north of Binghamton had some drivers doing a double-take this week.
One neighbor, Bob Hodges, told a Binghamton radio station that the much larger-than-life icy display 'was the talk of the town for a while.' Hodges said many people who saw it just chuckled.
But the artwork provoked a frosty reaction from one woman, who called the Broome County Sheriff's Department to complain about what she described as an 'offensive' snow sculpture.
A deputy who went to the home was told by a mother that the unconventional display was the work of her sons. While the mother said she wouldn't knock it down, she told the deputy she'd have her sons take care of it.
The sculpture was gone the next day."
21:16 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Good Samaritan's Car Stolen at Crash Scene: "Mon Feb 7, 8:49 PM ET
WATERBURY, Conn. - A Naugatuck man who tried to help out at a highway accident scene ended up a victim when one of the people involved in the accident, made off with his car.
Larry Valletta had pulled over on Route 8 north early Sunday after spotting two cars that had been involved in an accident. One car was flipped over.
Valletta said he called state police and went to check on the people. The two men in the flipped over car got out. One man was helping an injured man to the side of the road.
When Valletta went to check on the people in the other damaged car, a man who had been in the flipped over car had made off in his car.
'It didn't even dawn on me. I would have never second guessed that someone was going to hop in my car and take off with it,' Valletta said."
21:14 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Memphis Firefighters Land in Hot Water: "Tue Feb 8, 5:27 PM ET
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Fire Department has reprimanded 19 firefighters for wearing department equipment while performing 'unbecoming' acts at a racy fashion show benefit.
Fire officials said the men failed to get permission to use the department's name at the police and firefighters gala last summer.
Investigators reviewed a videotape of the event, which featured nearly nude men who appeared to wear only soap suds on stage and at least two women who were hoisted in the air with their legs around the men's waists. Others in the show swung badges, wore department pants and held nightsticks.
According to the fire department, 28 firefighters were involved in the event, but there was not enough evidence to punish some, and some did not have on uniforms.
The Memphis police officers had approval to participate. "
21:13 Posted by David
Four year-old joy rider takes the wheel
Tue Feb 8, 3:21 PM ET
DETROIT (Reuters) - A 4-year-old Michigan boy took underage driving to new extremes by slipping behind the wheel of his mother's car for an overnight visit to the local video store.
Nile Hayden, mayor of the small town of Sand Lake in the southwest corner of the state, said the boy's "joy ride," which ended with more than one fender bender, occurred about 1:30 a.m. last Friday.
He drove about a quarter mile (0.4 km) from his home to the video store without incident, Hayden told Reuters.
The store was closed. On the boy's return home, he hit two parked vehicles before backing up into a police cruiser, Hayden said.
"Once the officers got him out of the car and sat him on the hood of our car, he started crying and saying: 'I want to go into the house. I want to go back to bed,'" Hayden said.
Hayden said the boy was unaware of the seriousness of what he had done. "How many 4-year-olds get up and wander around the house or go out (at night)?" he added, saying no charges were being filed in the case.
"What he was doing was jump down, hit the accelerator, and get back up so he could see where he was going," Hayden said, explaining how someone who was too short to reach the floor pedals was able to drive a car.
"It looked like a drunk passing in and out."
19:17 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Pilot Used Helicopter to Deliver Pizza: "Tue Feb 8, 8:29 AM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - A British army pilot has been disciplined by senior officers for using a tank-busting helicopter to deliver a pizza to his girlfriend.
The pilot, based with Britain's 659 Army Air Corps squadron in Suffolk, eastern England, was on a map-reading training drill when he dropped off the pizza to his girlfriend who was taking part in an exercise 30 miles away.
The 25-year-old lieutenant had picked up the takeaway before setting out on the sortie in his Lynx helicopter, the Sun newspaper reported on Tuesday. He was reprimanded but did not have his pilot's license taken away, the paper added.
'The opportunity to add a light-hearted element to the planned sortie was taken but with no detriment to the sortie objective,' a UK defense ministry spokeswoman told Reuters.
'The chain of command do not condone these actions and have disciplined the individuals concerned.' "
04:17 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - S.C. Teen Arrested for Spitting in Coffee: "Fri Feb 4, 9:40 PM ET
ROCK HILL, S.C. - A doughnut shop employee has been arrested after police say he spit into an officer's coffee.
Detectives think Chad Patrick Stalnaker, 19, of Fort Mill spit into the coffee before it was handed to Sgt. Keith Dugan in the drive-thru window at a Dunkin Donuts store earlier this month.
Dugan, a veteran Rock Hill police officer, was on duty and driving a marked patrol car at the time.
Dugan got the coffee on his way to the doctor's office for a checkup, so he took it with him and removed the lid to take his first sip as he sat in the waiting room. He noticed a substance floating in the cup.
It turned out to be a mixture of mucus and saliva, police say.
The cup has been sent to the State Law Enforcement Division for testing, said Lt. Jerry Waldrop.
On Monday, police arrested Stalnaker and charged him with misdemeanor assault and battery in connection with the incident.
A Dunkin Donuts manager said Stalnaker is no longer employed at the shop. "
04:13 Posted by David
Yahoo! News - Radar Police Stumped by Parking Ticket: "Fri Feb 4, 2:28 PM ET BERLIN (Reuters) - An over-zealous policeman slapped a parking ticket on the windshield of a fellow officer's squad car while his colleagues were setting a radar trap to catch speeding motorists in a town in eastern Germany.
'Traffic regulations apply for everyone,' Hans-Joachim Schneider, head of the Jessen town office, told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
The radar police had parked their squad car on the wrong side of the road -- facing the oncoming traffic. "
04:11 Posted by David
Colorado Teens Fined for Giving Cookies to Neighbor: "Fri Feb 4,10:49 PM ET
DURANGO, Colo. (Reuters) - A Colorado judge ordered two teen-age girls to pay about $900 for the distress a neighbor said they caused by giving her home-made cookies adorned with paper hearts.
The pair were ordered to pay $871.70 plus $39 in court costs after neighbor Wanita Renea Young, 49, filed a lawsuit complaining that the unsolicited cookies, left at her house after the girls knocked on her door, had triggered an anxiety attack that sent her to the hospital the next day.
Taylor Ostergaard, then 17, and Lindsey Jo Zellitte, 18, paid the judgment on Thursday after a small claims court ruling by La Plata County Court Judge Doug Walker, a court clerk said on Friday.
The girls baked cookies as a surprise for several of their rural Colorado neighbors on July 31 and dropped off small batches on their porches, accompanied by red or pink paper hearts and the message: 'Have a great night.'
The Denver Post newspaper reported on Friday that the girls had decided to stay home and bake the cookies rather than go to a dance where there might be cursing and drinking.
It reported that six neighbors wrote letters entered as evidence in the case thanking the girls for the cookies.
But Young said she was frightened because the two had knocked on her door at about 10:30 p.m. and run off after leaving the cookies.
She went to a hospital emergency room the next day, fearing that she had suffered a heart attack, court records said.
The judge awarded Young her medical costs, but did not award punitive damages. He said he did not think the girls had acted maliciously but that 10:30 was fairly late at night for them to be out."
