A blog and nothing but since 2003. Some tech, lots of music, and if rambling was money, drinks are on me.
You phone, me phone, we phone, iPhone
I’ll be buying one of them new iPhone dealies this summer. This is already decided. I know that non-Apple companies are making good (if not better) and cheaper versions of this kind of phone, but I have a Mac, and as much as Apple’s proprietariness is kind of rankling me lately, it’s really the best choice for me. Plus, I don’t know if you knew this, but those iPhones are kind of cool.
The choice comes in my phone number. I’ve had the same phone number for about seven years now, but it’s with a Northern Virginia cell phone area code (571) and I’ve lived in DC for four years, and I’d love to have a 202 area code. 202 carries a kind of meaning around here, whereas 571 will get you looked at kind of funny, like you’re asking people to call a Montana area code or something. Plus, it doesn’t feel quite real to have that NoVA area code; like it’s not a real reflection of who I am or where I live.
But changing means I have to get everyone to change their phone’s address books and I’ll have to change it on all my bank, credit card, and retirement plan accounts.
I’m asking you to give your thoughts and vote to this crucial election-year issue, partly to help me make up my mind, but largely so I can try out the new embeddable forms in Google Spreadsheets. Vote in the form below and give up the reasons for your vote in the comments. That last part is totally optional, though the beating you’ll receive from the hired goons if you don’t explain your vote is not optional.
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May 18th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Change is good. And now that it’s 4 years overdue, go for it.
571 is so East Gdansk.
Besides, it’ll give you one more way to annoy your friends.
May 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
I vote 202 because of the math:
202 is 369 less than 571, and being an area code with seven numbers following it makes it 3.69 billion less, which means it’ll take up a lot less data storage in my phone.
May 18th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Currently, Homeland Security hassles me whenever I call a Northern Virginia number (because as we all know, that’s where all the terrorists live, so they wiretap all calls to that area). I try telling them that “No, that’s my friend Reid’s number…he lives in DC but accidentally got a Northern Virginia phone number a few years ago and never changed it. Plus he previously lived in Old Town, not Leesburg or one of those places on the end of the Orange Line.” But then they say “sure, that’s the same excuse everyone gives us. They all say they’re just calling their friend Reid.” So yes, I definitely think you should change your area code.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:53 am
lacochran: I’m always looking for ways to annoy my friends, so thanks for the tip.
Hans: that’s some quality math right there. And I normally hate math.
Scott: sorry for the hassles. But DHS is right to be concerned about me. I’m a real jerk.
So an update on the poll: 202 is winning handily. If you have my number in your phone and don’t want the inevitable moment when you realize you never got around to changing my number and now you don’t have my new number and now you’re going to miss out on some incredible event that only I have the details for…well, you best get up there and vote proposition 571.
Interestingly enough, I’ve had a few searches come through from some random people and they actually answer the survey, and more ridiculously than that, they always check off the third option. Um…public? Why? I’m pretty glad I put in that third option. It’s kind of a fascinating sociology experiment in “people will answer any survey put in front of them, even if they have no stake or interest in it.”
May 19th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I agree with the “cool” of 202 and after all how hard is it to change a phone number — then again there is your dad!
May 19th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
202! 202! 202!!!!!
It’s the power prefix! It’s so powerful that I STILL have the same # from my worldweb monster nextel days. Even if I haven’t lived in DC since early 2002. I like to have my callerID shout DC PERSON CALLING — possibly someone of power!! but no, it’s just me pretending like i have a cool city apartment and/ or cool city job.
so get with the program and dump that dirty 571 # which I always think is marylanders anyway.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I’ll be contrary and vote keep the 571. My reasoning is mostly selfish though: I kept my 202 even though I moved to Virginia and I fear that if either of us opts to go telephonically-accurate, the balance of the universe may be upset…and I will be forced to get a new 703 number to restore it.
May 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Since area codes really don’t matter any more in the age of non-landline phones, I’m surprised cell phone companies aren’t offering to let you create your own area code specifically for you and a group of friends. For example, area code 123 = Max Fischer Players. That would be pretty sweet.