Rob’s blog of posts

This morning I received the following spam in my inbox:

From: “Donald Newsome” <aexuscouhm@bobsbinding.com>
Subject: danger
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:18:30 +0200

I am working in a detective agency. My name is not important now.
I’m warning you that i’m going to watch you and listen your telephone line.
Do you want to know who is the customer? Expect my next message.

P.S. Of course, you don’t believe me. But i think the tape of your conversation will change your point. The tape is in archive. Archive password is 123qwe

Attached was, of course, a .rar file containing a virus.

Not only is that a particularly odd spam (at least in my opinion) but the telephone line angle reminds me how I not only no longer have a telephone line, I’ve been living without my mobile phone for a couple of weeks. It’s funny - initially, I figured I’d just go without while I save up to get another, but as it turns out, in many ways I haven’t actually missed it at all.

I was a seriously late adopter when it came to mobile phones - I only got myself one in 2004 or 2005. It was freaky how quickly I got used to having that chunk of plastic hooked to my belt, and how quickly I got used to being instantly able to contact or be contacted. All my life I’ve treasured me-time where I would deliberately leave the house without telling anyone where I could be contacted, but suddenly it felt weird for me not to have my phone on me, to have moments when I’m actually out of touch. Whenever my phone would die in the past, I’d sometimes even blog about it as though it were a major blog-worthy event along the lines of a friend getting sick or the completion of a silly Livejournal survey.

My mobile had also entirely replaced payphones, which were once such an endless source of wonder and entertainment for me. It had replaced the need for me to carry a watch, and I’d always loved carrying a pocket watch. I had even gotten myself hooked on the cheesy games in the thing, to the point where I’m still feeling the urge to play too-small-to-see solitaire, chess, or Tetris when waiting for a bus, instead of my old pastimes of reading a paperback, traffic-watching, or (gasp!) talking to people.

That’s right - having a phone on me stopped me from talking to people.

I still occasionally feel the spot on my hip where my phone used to hang buzz as though I’m getting a call every so often. It’s like a phantom limb pain. And that’s creepy.

So, I’ve decided that I’ll probably continue to go without a phone for the time being, just to see how easy it will be for me to re-adapt. I’m still contactable via voice on Skype (username rob_t_firefly) and I’m considering setting up a paying account with them so I can make outgoing phone calls when I’m home. I’m still Rob T Firefly on AIM, or police.public.call.box on Google Talk. And for the moments when I’m not logged into any of that stuff - good old-fashioned email is always welcome, and pretty much always on when I’m at home.

Just don’t send me .rar files containing viruses.