Hilarious Prank Call Contest Using Call Display Spoofing

Recently, a group of students from a well known university ran a contest in which participants competed against one another to create the best prank call. The students were tasked with performing a prank call that was innocent and non-harming, creative, and unique. The students completed the prank calls using the popular call display spoofing service, SpoofTel, and had each of their calls recorded. It was the choice of each participant whether or not he or she wanted to utilize the voice changing option.

The contest ran for a two week period and the winner of the contest was to win the $150 grand prize. The winner of the prank call contest was chosen by a group of four members from the student union, the group that organized the contest.

"The contest gained an unexpected number of participants," states one of the organizers, whom we'll call Sheila. "I was happy to see the variety of participants and a nice number of female participants this year." This is the second year in which the school has run such a contest, according to the student union.

The judges received quite a lot of entries but had to narrow it down to a few select favorites. They were kind enough to share excerpts from some of the "best" prank calls that were entered.

One young male made a phone call to his girlfriend and pretended that he had been taken away by the government to serve in the army against his will. "I'm sorry honey, they took me," it began. He went in to quite a story about how government agents came to his work and took several of the males away for the purpose of serving in the army as they were short on men. The girlfriend was in disbelief at first but as the phone call went on she became more and more worried to the point of actually believing him. When he started to laugh and told her it was a joke, she just began to scream and no one could understand a word she was saying.

The winner of the contest was well deserving of the prize money. The hilarious and unexpected circumstances that played out during his phone call surely contributed to his win. This guy decided to phone his mother and essentially just act silly. When she answered the phone he began to explain that he had "a higher purpose" and it was "time to let his people know." She kept asking him what he was talking about and told him stop being silly. However, he continued with random gibberish for several minutes. He talked about knowing "where the enemy hides its resources" and "we'll need more bumper cars if we're going to succeed." During the phone call there was a knock on the door and he answered it with his mother still on the line. There were some muffled voices on the recording and he came back yelling "mom, what are you doing?" She stated that she believed he was on drugs and had his father come to take him to the hospital. She wouldn't believe him when he told her it was a joke.

We congratulate the winner of the prank call contest and wish all of next year's contestants the best of luck.

Disaster Hits Close To Home For Asset Location Expert

There had been false alarms before in Saint Bernard Parish, a community rich in heritage, adjacent to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. By the time Katrina came along it had become almost routine. So on August 28, 2005 when a mandatory evacuation was ordered, Charles and Rosena Seruntine boarded up three buildings, taking only the clothes on their back. They would be back in a few days after the storm passed, just as they had done before. When they drove away in two cars sporting four children and three dogs, little did they know that their world as they knew it would be forever changed.

FEMA would not allow the Seruntines to return for over three weeks. Charles indicated in an interview to KATC-TV that, "We've been in three states, in five different hotels." Desperate for information, FEMA would only tell the Seruntines that there was “a lot of water.”

The Seruntine family home in Arabi, Louisiana was 2,800 square feet of luxury, evidence of Charles’ success in the asset location business. Charles was 21 when he began work in negotiations at a national debt recovery firm. He rose rapidly in the ranks to the legal division where he eventually headed up the agency’s asset investigation department. It was only natural that eight years ago he would start his own firm. First Guarantee Associates, LLC boasts an impressive client list, servicing some of the most successful collection specialists, attorneys and governmental entities.

When FEMA finally allowed the Seruntines to return, they would enter the boarded-up residence through a back door which had been kicked in by rescue teams. The receding waters had confirmed their worst fears: the family home was a total loss. Katrina would claim their daughter’s home, too and lift the building which housed First Guarantee Associates off its foundation. “We are starting over. We are back where we were when we first got married,” explains Seruntine.

Historically, the floodwaters of the Mississippi River have played an integral role in the destiny of Saint Bernard Parish. It was the floodwaters which left behind a rich soil, creating a thriving agricultural industry. It was those floodwaters, too, which played a part in the brewing tension with its celebrity neighbor. Tension dating back to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, when in the face of a monster storm, engineers bowed to local pressure by diverting floodwaters into Saint Bernard to save New Orleans. That decision destroyed a prosperous community and fueled resentment toward the Big Easy which continues to smolder to this day.

Katrina has done little to quell this bad blood, for once again Saint Bernard has taken a punishing blow. And once again it has taken a back seat to its popular neighbor. One of the hardest hit parishes, this bustling community of 67,000 people was erased overnight by Katrina. There is no real estate inventory; every building in Saint Bernard Parish was destroyed. This is where the tragedy at St. Rita’s nursing home took place. Yet much of the media attention has been focused on the French Quarter, argue Saint Bernard residents, noting much of the resources have been diverted to their sexy sister while they sit in obscurity like a forgotten stepchild. FEMA has become a four-letter word in this parish.

Today Saint Bernard Parish is an eerie sight. In an attempt to describe his community, Seruntine asks, “Have you ever seen ‘The Day After Tomorrow’?”

Out of the 67,000 residents in the parish, all but 203 fled the storm. 127 bodies have since been recovered. Although there were a handful of survivors, the balance are reported as ‘missing’. St. Bernard’s 25,000 homes were declared a ‘total loss’. With neither residents nor businesses, the parish government lost its tax base overnight. It will take at least five years to rebuild the community.

The nightmare for the Seruntines continually evolves, but never ends. Because so many homes were destroyed, available housing has soared 40-60%. But investment real estate Seruntine owns in the flood area has dropped. His investment lots prior to Katrina were selling for $80,000. Investors are now offering him $5,000. In November 2005 Seruntine bought a smaller home at twice the cost of his former residence. He’s since discovered it’s infested with termites.

Largely ineligible for government assistance, the help for Charles Seruntine would be grass roots. His 22 employees kept the business together. Members of the collection community rallied to his support. Sometimes that support would come by way of a sympathetic phone call, a check in the mail or a Wal-Mart gift card.

Seruntine makes no effort to hide his anger, “If Katrina was a woman, I would have shot her in the head a hundred times.” He is angry at the government engineers for failing to shore up the levees. He is angry at the insurance companies for denying his claims. He is angry too at FEMA and the media for their inattention to his parish’s plight. But most of all he regrets losing everything accumulated over two decades, especially family photos and keepsakes which were washed into the canal. “How do you replace 20 years of Disney World snowglobes?” he asks.

Seruntine’s business, conducted largely by email, is up and running. He continues his fight with the insurance companies and the federal government. His legal battles are expected to take 10 years to resolve. The scars of Katrina, however, will never fade.

Ramona Featherby is a judgment collection specialist in San Diego and past president of CAJP. http://discoverassets.com/

Disaster Hits Close To Home For Asset Location Expert

There had been false alarms before in Saint Bernard Parish, a community rich in heritage, adjacent to the Ninth Ward in New Orleans. By the time Katrina came along it had become almost routine. So on August 28, 2005 when a mandatory evacuation was ordered, Charles and Rosena Seruntine boarded up three buildings, taking only the clothes on their back. They would be back in a few days after the storm passed, just as they had done before. When they drove away in two cars sporting four children and three dogs, little did they know that their world as they knew it would be forever changed.

FEMA would not allow the Seruntines to return for over three weeks. Charles indicated in an interview to KATC-TV that, "We've been in three states, in five different hotels." Desperate for information, FEMA would only tell the Seruntines that there was “a lot of water.”

The Seruntine family home in Arabi, Louisiana was 2,800 square feet of luxury, evidence of Charles’ success in the asset location business. Charles was 21 when he began work in negotiations at a national debt recovery firm. He rose rapidly in the ranks to the legal division where he eventually headed up the agency’s asset investigation department. It was only natural that eight years ago he would start his own firm. First Guarantee Associates, LLC boasts an impressive client list, servicing some of the most successful collection specialists, attorneys and governmental entities.

When FEMA finally allowed the Seruntines to return, they would enter the boarded-up residence through a back door which had been kicked in by rescue teams. The receding waters had confirmed their worst fears: the family home was a total loss. Katrina would claim their daughter’s home, too and lift the building which housed First Guarantee Associates off its foundation. “We are starting over. We are back where we were when we first got married,” explains Seruntine.

Historically, the floodwaters of the Mississippi River have played an integral role in the destiny of Saint Bernard Parish. It was the floodwaters which left behind a rich soil, creating a thriving agricultural industry. It was those floodwaters, too, which played a part in the brewing tension with its celebrity neighbor. Tension dating back to the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, when in the face of a monster storm, engineers bowed to local pressure by diverting floodwaters into Saint Bernard to save New Orleans. That decision destroyed a prosperous community and fueled resentment toward the Big Easy which continues to smolder to this day.

Katrina has done little to quell this bad blood, for once again Saint Bernard has taken a punishing blow. And once again it has taken a back seat to its popular neighbor. One of the hardest hit parishes, this bustling community of 67,000 people was erased overnight by Katrina. There is no real estate inventory; every building in Saint Bernard Parish was destroyed. This is where the tragedy at St. Rita’s nursing home took place. Yet much of the media attention has been focused on the French Quarter, argue Saint Bernard residents, noting much of the resources have been diverted to their sexy sister while they sit in obscurity like a forgotten stepchild. FEMA has become a four-letter word in this parish.

Today Saint Bernard Parish is an eerie sight. In an attempt to describe his community, Seruntine asks, “Have you ever seen ‘The Day After Tomorrow’?”

Out of the 67,000 residents in the parish, all but 203 fled the storm. 127 bodies have since been recovered. Although there were a handful of survivors, the balance are reported as ‘missing’. St. Bernard’s 25,000 homes were declared a ‘total loss’. With neither residents nor businesses, the parish government lost its tax base overnight. It will take at least five years to rebuild the community.

The nightmare for the Seruntines continually evolves, but never ends. Because so many homes were destroyed, available housing has soared 40-60%. But investment real estate Seruntine owns in the flood area has dropped. His investment lots prior to Katrina were selling for $80,000. Investors are now offering him $5,000. In November 2005 Seruntine bought a smaller home at twice the cost of his former residence. He’s since discovered it’s infested with termites.

Largely ineligible for government assistance, the help for Charles Seruntine would be grass roots. His 22 employees kept the business together. Members of the collection community rallied to his support. Sometimes that support would come by way of a sympathetic phone call, a check in the mail or a Wal-Mart gift card.

Seruntine makes no effort to hide his anger, “If Katrina was a woman, I would have shot her in the head a hundred times.” He is angry at the government engineers for failing to shore up the levees. He is angry at the insurance companies for denying his claims. He is angry too at FEMA and the media for their inattention to his parish’s plight. But most of all he regrets losing everything accumulated over two decades, especially family photos and keepsakes which were washed into the canal. “How do you replace 20 years of Disney World snowglobes?” he asks.

Seruntine’s business, conducted largely by email, is up and running. He continues his fight with the insurance companies and the federal government. His legal battles are expected to take 10 years to resolve. The scars of Katrina, however, will never fade.

Ramona Featherby is a judgment collection specialist in San Diego and past president of CAJP. http://discoverassets.com/

Katherine May Not Have Been Michael's Only Parent Who Bonded the Jackson Family

Katherine was not the only Jackson parent who had an unconditional love for Michael, not the only one who nurtured and bonded the family, nor the only one who was always there, always supportive. Joseph Jackson, as widely reported, was a hard taskmaster, his relationship with his famous son evoked mixed emotions from the singer. And Joe Jackson wasn't always easy to understand.

Michael expressed in his 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, "I just wish I could understand my father". The singer acknowledged his father had a great difficulty showing affection, which was more a cause for concern for him than any spanking he received growing up.

In his Oxford speech Michael said that if he did a great show, his father would tell him it was a good show. And if he did an OK show, he would say nothing. The music legend further stated, "My father was a managerial genius and my brothers and I owe our professional success, in no small measure, to the forceful way that he pushed us." While Katherine appeared to be the only parent who sought legal custody of Michael Jackson's children, his father was quoted by ABC News as saying he believed the two of them were ideally suited to take care of and raise their grand children "to be strong Jacksons."

In Michael's last months of life, Joe says his ability to gain access to his son was limited -- hampered by the star's inner circle and security personnel. For months Katherine too had been unable to get in contact with MJ due to the same inner circle. She had to contact Debbie Rowe who got in touch with Arnold Klein, Michael's dermatologist, who informed Michael that his mother was trying to reach him.

Joseph said that his son, who seemingly surrounded himself with those who didn't have his best interests at heart, "didn't know any better."

The extended-family patriarch, commenting on missed opportunities to teach his son street smarts to better judge those seeking to take advantage of his success, said: "Maybe that I might have -- should have learned 'em a little more how the streets are instead of -- instead'a keepin' them -- close together."

Larry Carter invites you to:

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A Penny For Your Thoughts - Should They Be Eliminated?

In the last several years, there's been a lot of debates about the possibility of no longer minting pennies in the United States. Some people think it's utterly ridiculous to even consider. Others think that it's ridiculous that we even had them in the first place.

The reason that some people like the penny is that it's practically in their blood to save their pennies for a rainy day. There are even rhymes about how picking up a penny is good luck. People have jars and piggy banks full of them. However, those people don't understand the fact that pennies are rapidly becoming impractical.

First of all, there's the cost to consider. You might not be aware, but it actually costs more to mint a penny these days than the completed penny is actually work. After all, it does take a couple days to mint a coin and a lot of materials, workers and machinery to make it happen.

There's also the inconvenience to consider. After all, it's difficult to calculate with pennies involved. If we got rid of the penny, things would always be in multiples of five. There'd be no more instances of calculating in terms of numbers like 37 cents or 89 cents. It would be much easier for kids and foreigners to figure out the math while shopping.

So, is it worth it to keep pennies for nostalgia, even though they aren't practical? Well, that depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure, though. As long as people are taking the time and resources to make pennies, we should respect that and save them for a rainy day.

Alan Kelly has been writing articles about coins for the past two years. He also enjoys writing about hobbies, like why you should use plastic playing cards and how to find quality giant playing cards.

Budget Cuts and Emergency Vehicle Response Times - The Efficiency of Life and Death

For those who are involved in the life and death career path of emergency response, they realize that who survives and who perishes is often in their hands when seconds count. And as long as we are counting, let me tell you what I've recently counted. I've observed a number of very alarming articles of needless deaths from slow emergency response times. Worse, most of them are due to budget cuts of staff, new equipment, and/or the latest GPS/GIS technologies to speed things along while maintaining safety.

Not long ago, I had the chance to interview Jonathan Reed on this topic of the response times of emergency vehicles. And worked to identify some of the problems and he reasoned that we need to pay more attention to; "Probability Zone" and the needs and prediction of needs which "have been well mapped and are studied/reviewed often."

Perhaps, you do not realize, but Los Angeles has some great software which is able to predict about how many crimes will occur where on any given date, and it is scary how accurate it really is, meaning they can use this to schedule police. Well, the same thing can be used for fire and ambulance teams. Jonathan proposes that we; "integrate these systems; real-time information of volumes of cars from traffic cameras so crews can avoid traffic jams. Integrating traffic lights with GPS positions of crews so that intersections can be cleared, and roads prepared for services to decrease their journey time."

Think about what he is saying and all the information we already have - first let's look at Google Maps, GIS data gathering companies, ESRI software, Battelle traffic research, not to mention all the data collected by various first responder teams. Why not integrate it all.

Another challenge is the one about human obstacles, such as blocked intersections, grid lock, drivers who do not hear sirens or will not move over? "As at the minute people can only start to move once they see or hear the emergency vehicle, quite often meaning they have to slow down repetitively en route," states Jonathan Reed.

Indeed, his comments makes sense to me, like "packet" routing on the Internet. A smart grid for traffic flows, with artificial intelligence timing how best and most efficient to get the emergency vehicles to their destination quickest, setting a priority. We could use the same algorithms used in Finite Capacity Scheduling Models for manufacturing with regards to emergency expediting - after all - really it's the same basic theory. Kind of putting in a "Rush Order" without screwing up traffic flows, which is what happens now.

So, I agree this needs fixing especially in urban areas such as LA, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Phoenix, Denver, Portland, KC, OKC, Baton Rouge, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, J-Ville, Atlanta, Boston, NYC, Philly, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis, Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Green Bay, etc. And all the second tier cities of 400-500K pop.

As we speak the City of Los Angeles, CA is cutting 10-ambulance crews and has made drastic cuts in police and fire. This article is not speaking to union grievances or even the political firestorm that has created - rather it speaks to reality. It speaks to getting the job done more efficiently when seconds count, and life and death hang in the balance. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in efficiency even at a car wash; http://www.carwashguy.com

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers.

The Individual and Society

The modern rules of the society encourage individualistic attitudes and also separation. Touching each other in society is always considered as a sexual advancement and people stay away from each other due to this. The rights of individuals are given more importance and take precedence in the society.

So, as time goes by, people are getting lonelier. However, from a sociological point of view individuals are a part of the bigger society and they are not separate. An individual leads two lives, one in society and one with themselves. Any decisions that they may take in their personal life will affect the societal life also. In the end the definition of a society is it contains several individuals who are leading their lives with respect to their means and as well as the society.

There is a direct relationship of dependence between the individual and the society. If there is nobody to interact with, then we all will feel lonely and actually can develop serious mental and physical problems. Therefore, interaction with the society is a must. However, this interaction is very controlled and moderated.

The social research separates the society from the individual. They see them both as two different beings. Individual is a person who is free and independent, and acts at his own will. A society functions in a pre-determined way. The society controls the individual, but the individual cannot control the society and its functions. Society can also lead the individual to live in a certain way and establish their identity at the same time.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in the education industry. He also offers top quality tips like:

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