Calls from Vietnam

I don't get it...

A while back I would regularly receive phone calls from Vietnam... always from the same number.

First I wasn't sure where the call was coming from since I'm not used to seeing a phone number that looks like "+123456789123." I knew that since it had 12 digits it was more than likely an international call. But that's not the only reason I didn't answer it.

First off, I'm not sure how international calls work. I don't know if they're like text messages... meaning I'm not sure if I'll be charged for the call even though I didn't make it much like those without a text messaging plan will be charged for received text messages. Second off, I rarely ever answer my phone when it's from a number I don't recognize.

The odd thing about this was that they were leaving voice mail messages. None of the messages were understandable to me. They all sounded like my number had been dialed by accident in a purse or a pocket. The voice was mumbled and there was a little bit of static.

After the first message I figured that it was a random, accidental call. However, this person kept calling back... and kept leaving messages... and the later messages weren't muffled nor did they contain any static. The lady sounded to be a little grandma lady or something... so then I figured she must not get many calls and must have accidentally hit the redial button.

But then, several weeks after that, I received another call from this person. I figured by this point that this wasn't an accident... but I was (and still am) completely baffled as to why this person continues to call me. My voicemail message is in English... this woman apparently does not speak a word of English but decides that I must be the person she's trying to contact and leaves messages anyways.

I think so far I've received at least 10 - 15 calls from this person.

Well...

It has been several months (maybe almost a year now) since I have heard from my Vietnamese Idiot. But tonight during my class my phone rang. I looked down and noticed that I was receiving an international call. But I was glad when I felt the vibration inform me that I had a voicemail message.

Since it has been so long since I have received an international call I had completely forgotten about this whole ordeal. So when I got back to my apartment I decided I'd try to figure out where this call was coming from.

I did a basic search of international calling codes and realized that this was a call from Vietnam. I'm not 100% sure that it's the same number as before, but what are the odds of two people in Vietnam randomly calling my number?

This time I went a bit further in my research and found that this call is coming from Hanoi. Not a huge help to me, but, whatever.

With all that being said, the phone number I receive is +841698534579

I'm not exactly sure how one would call this number (since I've never actually made an international call) but if what I've read online is correct the number that would need to be dialed (from the states) is: 011 84 98534579

If that is correct, I'm not sure what the "16" is for in the number I have. I know 84 is the country code... and Hanoi has 8 digit phone numbers (which I read were the last 8 digits)... but I am having a hard time figuring out what the 2 digits after the country code are for.

Anyways, if you want to, please feel free to call this person regularly and leave them long, pointless messages that you are sure they will not be able to understand. (i.e. leave the message in Pig Latin or Gibberish)

Cash4Gold

If you watch tv at all you have probably seen this commercial. If not, now's your chance.

Anyways, the point of this post isn't to point out how annoying (and overplayed) it is... but rather two things that are said in the commercial and the thoughts that go through my head every time I see it.

Before I make these comments, first let me clarify that they may be made with the cynicism I have towards relationships. (Especially those with superficial and materialistic women.)

So here goes.

Around 16 seconds an old lady says "I had no idea my gold jewelry was worth so much money."

Really? No idea that gold costs a lot? Well maybe now you won't pitch a fit and put your husband in the "dog house" next time he doesn't spend a fortune when buying you a present. Not only is gold expensive, but so are the gems that you ladies like so much.

With that being said... next time your husband decides to spend thousands of dollars on his bills rather than on buying a pretty little trinket for your finger (or neck) be happy that he's paid the bills so you can have a place to live and food to eat.

The second thing in the commercial I'd like to talk about...

Around 35 seconds a lady says "I sent in my diamond wedding band from my first marriage and got more money than I could have ever imagined."

Yeah, that means your ex spent three months salary on a gift to show his love for you and you decided to leave him because times got hard. Instead of trying to actually work through your problems you decided to take the easy way out. Too bad your ex didn't buy a fake gold and zirconium ring for you instead.

And before I receive hate-comments about this... yes, I realize that not all women are evil and that there are many reasons people divorce. I just wanted to point out the thoughts I have every time I see this ridiculous commercial.

That Time of Year

It's that time of year again. The time for my college to get together for our homecoming game.

Yay.

As you all know, I'm a huge fan of sports, so going to any game, especially one of this importance is number one on my priority list.

Ok, so I'm being a bit of a smartass. I hate sports, and I will be doing anything else other than going to this game.

Anyways, the point of this post isn't to declare my loathing of sports, but rather a response to an email I received from the school.

In the email, I was informed that the voting ballot for Homecoming King and Queen will be open from X date to Y date.

What I don't understand is, how am I supposed to vote for these people? I don't know any of them. I've never even met any of them. Furthermore, I highly doubt that I have even crossed paths with them on my way to my next class. So, if I don't have a clue who these people are, nor know anything about them, how am I supposed to cast a vote?

Now, as far as the females are concerned, I could just cast my vote according to who I find the most attractive, but then that goes against all of my views on matters such as these. I would rather vote for a hideous beast who actually deserved such a title rather than vote for the super hot daddy's girl who would only get an unnecessary ego boost from such an honor. But, this brings me back to the point that I don't know who is deserving of such an award and who isn't. Maybe the hottie is actually the best gal for the job. Who knows?

And to take this a bit further...

This is the same type of situation I'm in during the time of electing the next student body government. Last year I was bombarded with people in the quad asking for my vote. To each of them I simply said "I don't know any of the candidates nor do I know anything about them, so I don't feel as if I'm in any position to cast a vote." None of them were pleased or amused.

So, in conclusion, how exactly are any of the students expected to vote on things such as these? Now, I understand that Homecoming King / Queen or Student Body President isn't even close to the importance of voting for the next president of our country, but let me make a comparison anyways.

Imagine if the media said "Here's a list of presidential candidates. Voting opens on X day and closes on Y day. Be sure to go out and cast your vote." There's no mention of a place to view anything about any of the candidates. No way of knowing anything about their views, beliefs, ideas, etc. How, then, could we vote responsibly?

So, my opinion on this matter is that the school needs to offer at least some personal information on candidates that they want us to vote for... whether they be for homecoming or student government.