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Google Gives All SF Homeless Free Voicemail

msnbc.msn.com — Google has made an announcement that could help hundreds of homeless people in San Francisco get back on their feet. Every single homeless person in the city will be given a life-long phone number and voicemail.

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  • esmartcredit, on 02/28/2008, -15/+382Great news... I hope this will help homeless people to get back on their feet!
    • maverick999, on 02/28/2008, -52/+13How about giving them food & shelter first? Just a thought...
      • RuffRidr, on 02/28/2008, -8/+78Give a man a fish and he will be content for the rest of the day. Teach a man to fish and he will be content for the rest of his life.
        • macweirdo42, on 02/28/2008, -19/+6Hey, no one ever said you can't give a man a fish AND teach him to fish.
          • DarkSamus, on 02/29/2008, -2/+2let's try that again, give a digger a pussy and he'll be content for the rest of the day, teach a digger to catch pussy and ***** it, who am i kidding
          • Akirajds, on 02/29/2008, -0/+10Give a man fire and he will be warm for a night, Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life
        • fluidfoundation, on 02/28/2008, -6/+41The problem lies in that you can't teach a man to want to fish when he can just be given fish for free.
          • Nougat, on 02/28/2008, -6/+17A hungry man will always prioritize "eating" well above "learning to fish."
          • macweirdo42, on 02/28/2008, -11/+4How the hell's he supposed to learn if he's more concerned about where his next meal's coming from?
          • DucoNihilum, on 02/28/2008, -5/+9Wouldn't you consider starvation a real motivator for learning how to catch fish? Giving them fish daily simply teaches them that they can get food without fishing.
          • Ryosen, on 02/28/2008, -6/+6Are you implying that all homeless people (and, by the tone of your post, people on welfare) don't want to work?
          • fluidfoundation, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4Ryosen (for some reason I can't reply to your comment):
            By no means. I am speaking specifically about individuals who would rather take than make. I do not see where I implied that *all* homeless people don't work, or made a generality anywhere close.
            So no.
          • HarveyBar, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4I think everyone is implying that the homeless don't want to learn to fish, I heard the fishing in SF is horrible anyway.
          • Brettus, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4At some point the "teach a man to fish" debate starts to sound literal. I keep picturing me literally teaching a man to fish.
          • gianpo, on 02/29/2008, -0/+3I was homeless for three years and the hardest part was having no call back number making it nearly impossible to find a job which would have helped get me off the streets
          • GawtMilk, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2Stop with this metaphorical crap. We need to give homeless people jobs, yet also give them food, money and housing until they can get back on their feet. I am pretty anti-welfare [towards people who have jobs], but the idea that you can just give a homeless person a job and all their problems will go away is just stupid. It is not a matter of giving them fish versus giving them a fishing rod; many homeless need to pay off debt before being able to buy food. It would be better simply to micro-loan.
        • slvrbullet87, on 02/28/2008, -0/+18He will be content until he gets mercury poisoning
        • Awspire, on 02/28/2008, -0/+6Theres tons of programs to provide shelter and food for the homeless, should they choose to seek help. However, having a valid form of contact accessible anywhere is certainly something a homeless person would not have, particularly for private communication's. This is a good idea considering they can leave their number with those that may be able to offer help, advice, or instruction.
          • macweirdo42, on 02/28/2008, -1/+3Oh, I wasn't saying this program was bad or anything - I think it's a wonderful idea. I'm not even saying that I think Google should be handing out food - not that that's bad either, but you try to do too much with the same program, and you're not gonna get anywhere. I'm just responding to that statement in a general sense.
        • DeadlyAlpaca, on 02/28/2008, -1/+8Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!
        • unique172, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2Give a fish a man and he'll eat for weeks!
        • DeadlyAlpaca, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1We'll that was unfortunate timing.

          Anyways, That was in my Google homepage quote of the day. I went and got the (surprising) author info:

          Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Give a fish a man, and he'll eat for weeks!
          --Takayuki Ikkaku, Arisa Hosaka and Toshihiro Kawabata, Animal Crossing: Wild World, 2005

        • LeeSoong, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1Give a man a fish - and both your hands get slimy.

          Teach a man to make beer at his own Micro-Brewery,
          and have the cook fix up a nice fish sandwich.
      • VSLOATHE, on 02/28/2008, -4/+4Not to mention the fact that the weather's always nice enough to be outside in SF.
        • troi2364, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Not an actual Twain quote but still attributed to him and relevent here. "The coldest winter I've ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
        • mm911, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Um, no it's not, gets cold and rainy pretty often. If I were a bum I'd go to San Diego. Or kill myself.
          • therightclique, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1how cold? i bet your definition of cold differs from mine quite a bit.
      • ligyron, on 02/28/2008, -5/+3Food & shelter? They'd probably just sell it for drugs
        • yojiffyskippy, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2I'm waiting on one of them to sell their "google number" on ebay.
          • brucemanly, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1with what? his cardboard computer that runs on love?
      • brstilson, on 02/28/2008, -1/+8Or how about give them a stepping stone to getting a job so they can get food and shelter on their own?
        • 5urr3al5am, on 02/29/2008, -2/+1na.. the liberal way is all about intentions.. not about actually helping people.. hence the welfare system being many times bigger today than when it was when it was created
      • raynar, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2So....who's giving them the money to make the phone call? Also the whole crap about family leaving messages...you would think the family would help them out, instead of just "thinking" about them.
        • brstilson, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4Or, they have a way for prospective employers to contact them. It's pretty hard to get a job when you don't have an address or phone number. Having a voice mail box isn't the whole solution, but it's definitely a big part of it.
          • fkr3, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2I think it might still be difficult when you don't have a shower, a shave and a clean set of clothes...
          • brstilson, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1 I admitted it isn't the whole solution, but a step in the right direction. Try reading posts you reply to next time.
        • LeeSoong, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1A lot of people have no family - that's the breaks...

          The fastest growing population of homeless citizens in the USA is older women and single mothers. Science help them!

          No longer hot or sexy,
          they've been discarded by a society that worships silicone breasts...
      • humperdeath, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2What are all these 100's of phone #s? I'd like to know so I can give out these numbers to political surveys, charity donations, and other solicitors.
      • kcornwell, on 02/28/2008, -2/+4Why the ***** does maverick999 have -31 diggs for his comment? Digg users are so ***** up. It was a legit question and if you read the responses, there are some sincere responses that make sense.

        God I hate this site at times.
        • therightclique, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2could be that his response wasn't practical or realistic at all.
        • 5urr3al5am, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1generally speaking digg user are fairly stupid latching on to any dumb idea as it comes across their computer screen
        • humperdeath, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1The text of a comment doesn't matter. If you are not in the right circle of friends, then you get digg down, thats it. OR ,unless your comment contains the words 'Ron Paul' or iPhone hack, or UBUNTU. Only then, you get digg up. (so I hope this gets me some ups!)
      • brucemanly, on 02/29/2008, -2/+1i think people dugg him down because it his comments appears as an example of people never being happy with anything, google didn't have to do anything, but when they do something its not enough. why doesn't he give them food and shelter? and asfaik there are lots of placed out there that do this, but obviously not enough. thats why i dugg him down. so nerr
        • 5urr3al5am, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1in general its a pretty stupid idea..
    • fluidfoundation, on 02/28/2008, -14/+11A study should be done an how much of the voicemails are used for purposes of getting back on their feet.
      I think a service to try to help them recollect proof of their identity so they can get jobs would be far more helpful.
      • SuckMyDigg, on 02/28/2008, -1/+6What neighbors do you have when you're homeless? If you mean your fellow citizens, which of those citizens should be delegated to the task? It sounds pretty lame to have to ask such questions, but you can't exactly make people care now can you?
      • OMGIAMTHEMAN, on 02/28/2008, -1/+9"a study should be done" - typical. if you talked to a homeless guy about his prospects for getting back on his feet for even 5 minutes. You would realize you can't even fill out an application for a job without putting down a phone number. Instead of wasting the grant money on studying homeless people, try to do something active to help them
        • RationalXubrnce, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1 I have talked to several homeless people for 5 minutes and I quickly realized they are almost all mentally ill, addicts or both. Some people are just incapable of working.
      • redxxx, on 02/28/2008, -0/+6uhh.. you know. It's Google. Considering that sort of data collection is their bread and butter, I'm pretty sure they will take a peek at the metadata it generates. I assume they will have some sort of reporting mechanism for those who find jobs.
      • biotch, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3sounds good fluid .... get to it!
    • superguysteve, on 02/28/2008, -16/+38it will definitely help them keep their crack deal and hooking appointments.
      • fluidfoundation, on 02/28/2008, -10/+2My point exactly in the above comment.
      • humperdeath, on 02/28/2008, -9/+1How will they get the messages? Free laptops and WIFI, or a free cellphone? And who's gonna know the numbers, do they get stamped postcards to send all their friends with the new phone#?
        This all sounds like a nice PR stunt that cant be practically used.
    • robbob, on 02/28/2008, -5/+27As a homeless person, I'll be moving to SF! *shuts down / starts walking*
      • fluidfoundation, on 02/28/2008, -8/+4Wait, Vonage can give them Voicemail, Caller ID, and many more features! They need to give the SF homeless Vonage!!!

        //blah
        • ScottKeeler, on 02/28/2008, -2/+1Why so Verizon can start suing homeless people?
    • chrisaug18, on 02/28/2008, -4/+15A great addition would be to give them a P.O. box so they can recieve mail
    • cbuddha42, on 02/28/2008, -4/+11Haha, many non homeless people in SF are going to hate google for this one for exactly the reasons robbob identified. If there is one sure way to boost your homeless population it's to make life better for the homeless in your city than elsewhere.
      • ProfessorSYM, on 02/28/2008, -3/+1I see what you are saying, but if there are other organizations (those helping the homeless to establish their identities on paper, etc.) then the homeless population could go down.
      • davidrools, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5SF is already super homeless-friendly. If homeless people didn't already go there for food/shelter/minimal harassment/lots of charity (money), then they won't go just for vmail.
    • loopist, on 02/28/2008, -0/+15I'm by no means a liberal and believe that we should empower the people who want to help themselves and I just see this as a great way to do that. This really isn't going to make life any easier but it will help them if they are willing to take that step. Way to go Google.
    • ePuck, on 02/28/2008, -11/+1At first, I thought this was a really nice gesture. Call me crazy but this little program fits perfectly into my conspiracy theory that google only gives away free things if they can start logging and tracking it.
      Giving them food and shelter, no there's no $$ in that.
      Allowing themselves to snoop and track the transient population, priceless.
      Anyone follow? :)
      • redxxx, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5uhh... that's not so much a conspiracy as their rather obvious business model. In exchange for a lot of pretty damn effective services, google gets to collect information about me. I don't see their ads, so I don't think it is a horrible bargain. They are a giant company, and their job is to make money.

        A lot of the ways they make money, have positive effects for me. That they do things to make money doesn't make them evil, it makes them a company. At the moment, they and I share some a fair number of interests. They support open communication and software because it benefits them, it benefits me too. They support technological development in a lot of fields because it helps them, it helps me too.

        More likely is that they will eventually flog a similar service to enterprises, with all sorts of neat web interfaces. But it is pretty inconceivable to think they wouldn't look at that sort of information, regardless of how it is eventually used.
      • sealbeater, on 02/28/2008, -1/+0You know....you might have something there.
      • spinchange, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1I think you should've stuck with your first thought, my man. This is google attempting to do something really cool centered around what they do.
    • jshen, on 02/28/2008, -9/+3I'm having a hard time picturing the homeless eating and living in their voicemail
    • diggdat, on 02/28/2008, -1/+7
      This is an excellent, inexpensive use of resources that could help a lot of people. I had not considered how hard dealing with any form of bureaucracy would be, for a person without the means to allow call backs. Think how many times you deal with people on issues and they need to give information at their convenience.

      Nice move Google. Sounds like someones 20% project is doing some good (Google staff are allowed to choose their own projects on a 20% time basis).

      "We offer our engineers "20-percent time" so that they're free to work on what they're really passionate about. Google News, Google Suggest, AdSense for Content and Orkut are among the many products of this perk"
      Source - http://www.google.com/support/jobs/bin/static.py?p ...
    • rpgmaker, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2So this is what GrandCentral was for!
      PS: When I see all this MSNBC and Yahoo! News articles get to the frontpage I realize of how ***** Google News is.
      • gndoss, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1You will never see a Google News story on the front page as there are none. Google News is a news aggregator, not content producer--just like Digg.
    • kocurejd, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4How exactly do you prove homelessness and San Francisco residency at the same time?
    • Commodore84, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2I thought a city as "progressive" and liberal as SF wouldn't have ANY homeless people.
    • onlyclave, on 02/29/2008, -2/+1Yeah, I don't think homeless people are going to be using their email to let their job prospects from monster.com leave a message.

      Now if Google gave all of the homeless people jobs, well then it's up to them to see who wants to get back on their feet.
    • elliotks, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1news update: the homeless people have been selling their life-long phone number and voicemail for 40oz of Grape Maddog and cigarettes
    • rolfeman02, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2Out of curiousity...how exactly are the homeless people going to find out about this?
    • skyshock1, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2*Sung to the tune of California Love on South Park*

      "California... is good to the homeless. Californya-nya... is cool to the homeless..."
    • linagee, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1Can I use this instead of paying for a cellphone bill? How do they know where they homeless people are? Couldn't anyone say they are homeless in SF and get this? (Most of the people in California are "homeless", if you call being homeless upside down on your mortgage loan.)
  • Audacitor, on 02/28/2008, -46/+247It's a nice gesture, I suppose, but it's not much good without a cellphone to go with it. Of course, cellphones need chargers, which need wall sockets, which need a wall, which is usually in a home...
    Ah *****. Good going, Google!
    • ToeCracker, on 02/28/2008, -4/+15Good point. Perhaps one of the cell phone companies can join google and take care of that aspect.
      • MrBabyMan, on 02/28/2008, -10/+48There are over 130 Million cell phones retired annually in the US. There are 3.5 Million homeless annually in the US. They could actually give the homeless 37 cellphones each.
        • canewediggit, on 02/28/2008, -0/+35and let them sell the 36 they don't use to buy a home with walls that have sockets they could plug their chargers into! we've solved the homeless problem!

          more realistically- they could go to the public library and access grand central from a computer there.
        • nekochan, on 02/28/2008, -6/+1hey, no fair. the homeless get cell phones and i don't?

          i don't even have one.
      • KennMac, on 02/28/2008, -1/+8And then getting a cellphone would come with voice-mail anyhow.

        HEAD ASPLODE.
      • specialK16, on 02/28/2008, -1/+12Charity and cell phone companies?

        HEAD ASPLODES*
      • chrisaug18, on 02/28/2008, -1/+4And then maybe the homebuilders could take care of the wall to charge it
      • rpgmaker, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1And then there would be a booming in homelessness because it's damn easier than building a life on your own when others can build it for you. Although there would be a boom in homelessness anyways if the snowball known as housing crisis isn't stopped...
    • Gabberwok, on 02/28/2008, -0/+21You can set Grand Central to ring any phone number for you - including a pay phone or the number for a shelter. It does of course require temporary access to a computer to change which number your calls are forwarded to, but that can be done at any local library branch. It's not a perfect plan, but it's an interesting idea and a noble gesture on Google's part. I'm not sure how much further this most recent announcement goes than the original Project C.A.R.E. did, but it's good to see that Google is reaffirming their commitment.
    • LogicBomB, on 02/28/2008, -4/+31FTFA: "A homeless person will be able to call in for his or her messages from any phone."

      So a quarter, which seems reasonable for the homeless to have a few of, will be fine.
      • hansonc, on 02/28/2008, -5/+7Payphones are $.50 now.
        • dudeguy1234, on 02/28/2008, -3/+6There are still payphones? Holy *****
      • PoopOnPaul, on 02/28/2008, -5/+0I'm assuming the shelters will let them use their phones for free. What wouldn't surprise me is having some homeless people ask to use your phone sometimes rather than asking for money.
      • holybjork, on 02/28/2008, -1/+10Aren't 1-800 numbers still free from payphones?
        • tapo, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1They are, but the provider of the 800 number needs to agree to pay an additional fee while you're connected. As a result, many block payphone calls.
      • siszam, on 02/28/2008, -0/+9You missed the point. A homeless person needs a number they can be reached at. They need it when they apply for a job, when they do business with the government, see a doctor, apply for social services, etc. They need cell phones and I've seen many with them. They can charge them at the library if they are slick about it. Homeless shelters have limited space and resources. Besides, they are dangerous places and the street if often safer. That is why it's so important to give money to the homeless. It might mean the difference between paying for a room and a shower for the night, paying cab fare to make it across town to get to an appointment (many towns don't have public transportation) or paying their phone bill. Sorry, this is a bit long but some dumb guy on the radio was saying never to give money to the homeless because it doesn't help them and I'm still angry that anyone could be so dumb. I was homeless at one time in my life and it's appalling how clueless people are about what it takes to get back on your feet.
    • YojimboJango, on 02/28/2008, -2/+33I think thats the point of having a voice mail. So that even if they don't have a phone they can check their messages from a pay phone.
    • jabberwolf, on 02/28/2008, -14/+4Now another excuse for change... "sir can spare any change, I need some beer, food, a smoke, some change to get my voicemail "
      Sounds heartless but until you deal with the same people trying to get free food every ***** night from the same place, and refuse shelters, you'd start to feel the same way too !
      Google get prepared to get sued. Realize that no good deed goes unpunished. Just wait - if you give something like that, be prepared, they will ask for more!

      And yes, I live in SF.
      • siszam, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Poor thing, you have it so hard. People with no home and no food keep bugging you. Waaaaaaa, waaaaaaaaa
    • exomni, on 02/28/2008, -1/+35Not true. If you want to apply for a job and you're homeless, having a voice-mail number for the employer to call is extraordinarily important.
    • badboibillie, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5Before you make a smart-ass comment, research the product offering a little better. You are able to check your voicemail using the internet. All voicemails are available by phone as well as through the Grand Central website.

      All homeless people have access to the public library system, which in terms give them free access to the Internet at the computers. Which means they all can check their voicemails.
    • actionjackson, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2It could be set up with an 800 number as the voicemail gateway and your phone number for the login, for example (like calling cards). Web access would be great, but an 800 number would allow access through payphones without payment.
    • centerstage816, on 02/28/2008, -3/+0that's hilariously true...people stop being soooo sensitive :-)
    • pantsapalooza, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1I'm a middle-class college student who doesn't have a cellphone. Cellphones are not necessary. Highly convenient. Not necessary.
    • stevealb, on 02/29/2008, -0/+0I work for Community Voice Mail, a nonprofit that provides free voice mail to more than 40k homeless and "phoneless" people a year in the U.S... We recently surveyed about 1,100 of our clients, and found that the vast majority use free phones (at social service agencies, a friend's house, etc.) to check their voice mail and make calls. A fair number own mobile phones, but only buy pre-paid minutes and use them sparingly (usually to find work, housing and other resources). Payphones aren't used that much because they're disappearing (200k were removed in a recent year) and often unreliable. Access to a phone is just one of the barriers that very low-income people face when they try to improve their lives by finding employment, etc. Very glad Google is contributing to the solution.
  • writr, on 02/28/2008, -10/+119This is a great idea. I never thought of something like this. Even when you're homeless, you probably have people you want to be able to keep in touch with.
    • monospaced, on 02/28/2008, -19/+13It's about getting a job, not shooting the ***** with friends. They do that under the freeway overpasses most of the time.
      • isaactwito, on 02/28/2008, -4/+16I think what writr is saying is more of an issue of your extended family knowing that you haven't been murdered over a fifth of whiskey or something.
        • writr, on 02/28/2008, -4/+12Exactly.
        • jabberwolf, on 02/28/2008, -9/+4Most dont contact their family nor family contact them. Most of the homeless ( and you will almost never see immigrant homesless - wonder why!?) will love getting yet another thing for free.
        • codered1322, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3That's an awesome completely unfounded generalization there jabberwolf. And there are definitely immigrant homeless here in nyc. No asian homeless here though, I will give you that.
    • tillerman00, on 02/28/2008, -2/+7"... jes leave me a messuj on m' cell and i'll git back to yuz soonuz I git home."
      • matu4251, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3"oh I forgot... I don't have a home"
    • BillMoocho, on 02/29/2008, -2/+2Like your local crack dealers
    • digjam, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1But I have a doubt....if the person is homeless...where the hell will he check is voicemail?????
  • ptFoe, on 02/28/2008, -27/+298This is just another EVIL plan to over take the bum fights business.
    • MadOtaku, on 02/28/2008, -1/+14The fights will be free to watch, but the bums will have ads tattooed on them.
    • PoliceAtaque, on 02/29/2008, -1/+4Bum Fights (beta) powered by Google
    • Ouze, on 02/29/2008, -0/+2dugg for bumfights
  • OBDriftwood, on 02/28/2008, -3/+47Rats. I was going to make a snide comment about the homeless bugging me at home for rum money, but when I read the article it actually made sense. Frickin' Google messing with my humor vibe.
    • B3000, on 02/28/2008, -2/+2"rum money" is kinda hard to say, cause there are two m's back to back. It comes out rummoney.
    • DucoNihilum, on 02/28/2008, -4/+15You're totally ***** insensitive and inaccurate. What, do you think all homeless people drink rum all day? They drink Vodka, and sometimes even malt liquor too. Learn to ***** open your mind.
      • dudeguy1234, on 02/28/2008, -4/+1win
      • jakswa, on 02/28/2008, -1/+4wine. too.
      • ShinRaTDR, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1Where do you have these classy homeless people? In toronto its frequently Listerine.
      • masterofgrond, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1Night Train Express. Delicious, delicious bum wine.
  • monospaced, on 02/28/2008, -9/+174The homeless guy begging for cash in the median at Van Ness and Market put down his crutches and hand drawn cardboard sign, reached into his pocket, and answered his cell phone. I didn't give him any money.
    • iheartrendering, on 02/28/2008, -2/+65Thats almost as cool as the time a dude answered his cell phone right after he gave me one of those "Hi I'm deaf, please buy this sign language card for $1 to help me"
      • rumorsofdemise, on 02/28/2008, -4/+5just because I'm deaf doesn't mean I don't have I feelings!

        wait, what?
    • clak, on 02/28/2008, -2/+22OMG. I used to catch my bus connection at that intersection to get to my job in Knob Hill and there was always this black homeless guy with a red eye. I gave him five bucks one morning and later that day, I saw him shooting up what I assumed to be heroin. I don't give homeless people money anymore.
      • wellyuk, on 02/28/2008, -6/+3Knob Hill? Heheh heheh heheh.. he said 'knob'. Heheh heheh heheh.
      • rpapi100, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2Try giving them food.
    • adcat, on 02/28/2008, -6/+8For every one scammer, there are probably (at least) several legitimately homeless people struggling to survive. That being said, I usually don't give money to panhandlers.
      • Railz, on 02/28/2008, -1/+3I try and hand out money to homeless Vets if possible.
        • pw378, on 02/28/2008, -2/+2Do you ask to see their DD-214 military discharge papers first?? How the heck can you distinguish between vets bums and everyone else?? Lemme guess, because of the sign he is holding???
          • Railz, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1We live near a military base. When the soldiers arrived back (Its actually a lot of older vets living here because this was a heavy militarized based island back 30 years ago) and they couldn't get back into life, they just sat out here.
    • ligyron, on 02/28/2008, -1/+29I worked at the Salvation Army doing up food hampers for the needy. One woman called and said she had no money and needed a hamper for her and her family

      I put one together (about $100 value), and she pulled up to the building in her car while talking on a cell phone and gestured for me to place it in the back seat
      • superasu, on 02/28/2008, -1/+17Did you still give it to her?
      • fcukthisgame, on 02/28/2008, -1/+10seriously? A captivating story without an ending just sucks.
      • ligyron, on 02/28/2008, -1/+44What happened after that is not important, which is why I never mentioned it. I just took the hamper and smashed it over the top of her car and told her to go ***** herself and that I hope she hits someone's car causing thousands of dollars of damage. I was then fired, but not before injecting all baby formulas in the food bank with poisonous toxins and having sex with my co-worker in the corner where we keep toilet paper rolls and diapers. I saved a man's life on my way home
        • ZackS, on 02/28/2008, -1/+10Positively riveting.
        • MasterGrief, on 02/28/2008, -1/+28I like that ending.
        • DrummerAndrew, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3How could you say that's not important!? It's the best part. Thumbs up.
        • ComeOutSwingin, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2This guy is a ***** genius! I want more stories! How did you save a man's life?
        • fcukthisgame, on 05/30/2008, -0/+1Absolutely captivating. How'd you save the man's life?

          (this reminds me of those stories that everyone adds on to...)
      • TheMime, on 02/28/2008, -2/+16What happened after that is not important, which is why I never mentioned it. I just took the hamper and smashed it over the top of her car and told her to go ***** herself and that I hope she hits someone's car causing thousands of dollars of damage. I was then fired, but my my mom got scared. She said, "You're moving with your auntie and your uncle in Bel-Air!" I whistled for a cab, and when it came near, the license plate said "FRESH" and it had dice in the mirror. If anything I could say this cab was rare, but I thought naw forget it, "Yo Holmes, to Bel-Air!" I pulled up to a house about seven or eight, and yelled to the cabbie, "Yo Holmes, smell ya later!" Looked to my kingdom, I was finally there, to sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel-Air.
    • NatalieHG, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1I think there's an electrical outlet outside of the Goodwill at Van Ness and Mission - I saw a homeless guy charging what appeared to be his phone there a few weeks ago.
    • TheReport, on 02/28/2008, -1/+10believe it or not some Panhandlers actually make more money a year than the average 9-5er...tax free mind you.

      http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15157611.html
      • Lobos, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2The fact that some have homes and it's their "chosen profession" just cracks me up. :)
    • DanaLynn86, on 02/28/2008, -2/+1Hahahaha, the fact that it's in Coos Bay is hilarious. It makes no sense at all....Coos Bay is touristy I guess, but really, $300 a day outside a Wal-Mart in Coos Bay? That's bologna.
    • nickbr00tality, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1Outside the local Target, there used to be an old man who had a sign and asked for money. One day, I saw those very familiar/common white crappy iPod earbuds inside his ears...hmm.
      • SamonPhish, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1At the train station near my Uni, there is always this guy begging for money... one day a mate and I walked past and my mate was playing on his PSP... then what do you know the begging guy pulled his out of his pocket and said "what games you got?"!!! WTF!!!!!!!
  • KatherineC, on 02/28/2008, -3/+57A good start. Homeless people have been most hurt in years past by not having an address. Even before they could use it for an application, you cannot access public services (beyond shelters and soup kitchens) if you don't have an address. Basic social services like health care or welfare checks need to be sent to an address. This is a positive move forward.
    • justwan, on 02/28/2008, -0/+13General Delivery is an addressed used by the USPS to have your mail held at the post office designated to the 9 digit zip code of the address block. This can be used by anyone who prefers their mail be held and not delivered.

      For more information: http://www.usps.com/receive/choicesfordelivery/rec ...
    • loveandrockets, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2That's why every check day--the 1st and 15th--the homeless sleep out front of the post office and turn it into a toilet for 3 days. The local liquor stores have a rush on Royal Gate vodka--brewed in San Jose!

      The crack dealers make a killing out front.
  • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -58/+10Here is an idea google....do something i give a ***** about to justify your overvalued stock.
    • bbqsalad, on 02/28/2008, -3/+31Here is an idea.... Go ***** yourself.
      • rayraym0fucka, on 02/28/2008, -4/+1Almost as good as Google's idea
      • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -5/+1Arnt they in actuality ***** the shareholders by wasting their money. essentially they are taking money and instead of giving it to the owners of the cooperation they are pissing it away into some venture that will benefit some random homeless people.
        • wellyuk, on 02/28/2008, -1/+4Good point, because shareholders need money and help more than random homeless people.
        • doogie68, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Have you ever heard of such a thing as PR? Why do any for-profit businesses do ANYTHING charitable?
          Google's mantra is "Don't Be Evil." I know it, and I have no stock or other interest in them, but I know that. I also know that they're a big behemoth of a company and they're going to get bigger, and the way to keep people from hating them down the line like Comcast or Wal*Mart or the airlines is for them to be good corporate citizens. Google has raised their image a wee bit more in my eyes from this good act.
          And don't kid yourself-- someday a few of the homeless people they help might be productive members of society, and they'll remember what Google did for them.
        • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -2/+1I am not saying helping homless people is bad. Buit you h ave to look at it from the perspective of business. they should issue this mo ney as dividends or re-invest to make more capital etc. Unles there is a great strategic importance to this move its pointless. Since the whole world already enamerared and obsessed with google i see this move as pointless.
        • Brettus, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2kelowna - I am sorry but you fail to understand the concept of public perception. You also fail to see that this deed, which in your eyes is wasteful and unnecessary, has generated a news story and as they say - "no press is bad press". This, aside from being publicly responsible, is basically free advertising for Google - and that should be more helpful than reinvesting the money spent on this project. Advertising generates revenue which generates growth which in turn should make the shareholders quite happy.
        • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1Brettus you failed to see the concept of my initial comment. I said that what google needs to do is do something to justify their stock price. I realize what PR is, and sure this is a great PR move. My comment was akin to the fact that all google seems to do is p/r moves etc and nothing of substance when it comes to innovation etc. i realize they make alot of revenue but as i stated....tons of companies make tons of revenue and their share prices arnt nearly as high as googles. I am saying waht has google done to warrent such a high share price.....besides p/r moves and serch. that was my point. trust me i fully grasp p/r and advertising...you might need to look up the definition of a blue chip company which google is not...but their share price seems to assume they are.
        • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1While they are producing consistent returns etc (def. of a blue chip)....they are doing little to grow and expand their business and innovate (another characteristic of the blue chips). All i hear about Google is speculation etc. nothing of substance besides their search business (which ill admit is great)...but does little to deserve all this lust by Google fanboys everywhere.
    • YojimboJango, on 02/28/2008, -1/+12The people that run Google are using that overvalued stock to give back to the community. They're doing a great job and making truck loads of money. If they want to help the homeless instead of hoarding it, it's their choice.
      • jabberwolf, on 02/28/2008, -4/+2Its not that much of a cost to google !!! Its like having empty bottles and deciding to give it to the guy outside. The point is that google "appears" to be benevolent. This is simply a PR stunt.
        • zengonzo, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5A PR stunt that actually benefits people?

          Those ruthless bastards!
    • akilleen, on 02/28/2008, -2/+5Right, because it's all about the money.
      • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2the number one goal of a publically traded company is to increase shareholder wealth....if you had any formal education you may know this. i dont see how this will increase it. doing something productive and innovative will.
    • santaliqueur, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3Give us a break, nobody believes you own stock.
      • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -3/+1I do not own stock at all...i never said i did....but i believe their stock is overvalued which is the only claim i made.
    • ePuck, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1They will make money off of this
      • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -4/+1how will they make money off this?? the 15% of people who use other serch engins are majically going to migrate to google??? we all know that the majority of their revenu comes from serch and i dont see how this will affect it.
        • HueytheFreeman, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4That was really painful to read. If you have Firefox 2 there's no reason to misspell things. And what the hell, there's a 'Check Spelling' button right next to the 'Submit Comment' button. It's not hard to click at all!
    • akhomerun, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2like make billions of dollars? that's a great reason to have a highly valued stock.
      • kelowna4life, on 02/28/2008, -1/+2There are many companies that post higher net incomes that dont have a stock price NEAR that of googles. do you have any idea how high a stock price $600 is. The company is a solid earner yes but they are doing nothing innovative to garner all this attention they are getting.
  • jamesalfaro, on 02/28/2008, -1/+183This is good news, you always need a phone number when applying for a job.
    • pw378, on 02/28/2008, -7/+2Unfortunately, most will use it to arrange meetings with their meth dealer...
      • jwk4heels, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4That's taking a rather grim outlook on the situation. You wouldn't believe how many homeless people already have jobs. Go volunteer at the local soup kitchen and talk to some of them. Lots are fascinating, and sometimes highly educated people that just had a bout of bad luck. This plan is a great idea.
    • crzdmnsldy, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1i thought you needed an address more?? something to put on file and somewhere to "send" your checks
  • AsianVet, on 02/28/2008, -14/+49This is great, far too many veterans are homeless. Where have all the veterans gone? Tens if Thousands have committed suicide or are in prison. They are the forgotten hero's and now we have thousands of newer veterans that need help and many of them are now homeless too. Let's face it, war brings on mental illness for far too many veterans.
    • mboudro, on 02/28/2008, -1/+12Why is he being dugg down? It is the truth after all...
    • pw378, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3Where have they gone? Almost all of us vets leave the military and go to work in the normal world. There are probably fewer homeless vets percentage wise than there are homeless non-vets. I am working as a senior engineer at Google right now if thats any help to you...
    • jwk4heels, on 02/28/2008, -2/+0Did you ever see the video of Bill O'Reilly completely denying that homeless vets existed? Keith Olbermann then had a guy that worked for the Vet's Affairs Office on Countdown and this guy pretty much said there were thousands around the country. They then proceeded to mock Bill O'Reilly relentlessly like anyone with a brain enjoys doing.
  • Gabberwok, on 02/28/2008, -1/+66This is critically important for doctors to be able to reach patients who may not have a permanent residence. I hope Google is willing to expand this program outside of San Francisco...
    • brad3378, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1I'm hoping this will encourage the homeless to leave my city and move to San Francisco.
      But I suppose your idea is good too.
  • MattJF317, on 02/28/2008, -2/+27And just like Google's homepage, the voicemail message changes during holidays!
  • gypsi, on 02/28/2008, -0/+42the jokes are so easy - but this could actually help someone out
    • endustry, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3"Hi you ***** ass, er, uh...this is Spider, er, I mean David...*****, what was my last name again? . So, leave a ***** messhhaggghh after the bleep and, uh, I *****' call yoush hee hee heeeee...hey, did I do this *****' thing the right way? Hey, HEY YOU *****, I'M TALKIN' TO YOU, MAN!

      Beep."
  • isaactwito, on 02/28/2008, -11/+5Nice, I need to bum it in san fran for a while. How is that not a good idea?
  • Dipster, on 02/28/2008, -6/+10Do they make people listen to targeted ads based on the content of the message, like Gmail? :)
    • schroeder, on 02/28/2008, -0/+29I don't reallt think homeless are much of a target market.
      • compressedaudio, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1perhaps when they get back on their feet.
    • YojimboJango, on 02/28/2008, -0/+7Since Gmail doesn't make you read or listen to anything I'm willing to say yes.
  • jm4847, on 02/28/2008, -39/+10Why is Google getting in the way of natural selection? This people ended up on the street because they didn't plan their lives. Let Darwin do his thing.
    • TOMCRUlSE, on 02/28/2008, -3/+17I was voted sexiest man alive yet I'm incredibly retarded. Darwin doesn't apply to humans anymore.
      • shortyjacobs, on 02/28/2008, -2/+9I love how ppl are digging you down w/o looking at your username
    • bbqsalad, on 02/28/2008, -1/+12YOU ARE NEXT
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/28/2008, -4/+3Not only that, to a tourist, the SF homeless choke the streets at night, making it look unsafe, and the tourists are not likely to return...
      • SPThom, on 02/28/2008, -1/+4I dunno what you're going on about. We just spent our honeymoon in SF and the streets weren't "choked" with homeless. We saw one crazy our second night there who looked more like a trippin' college student than a homeless person. Saw one most-likely homeless guy the last day there muttering to himself, but we were well outside of the "touristy" areas. And there was a bag lady in Golden Gate Park. Whoopdy-doo. Nobody bothered us. We'd love to come back. Heck we'd love to stay if it weren't so crazy expensive.
      • NolanRey, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2I once saw a homeless guy affectionately making out with a wall outside of the bank.
        • Tinkered, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Maybe he was confused about how to get money from the bank?
    • papastout, on 02/28/2008, -16/+10Yeah sure, you try bouncing back from circumstances that takes everything away. Homelessness is an epidemic brough on by the Reagan administration. Not to say there wasn't a problem before, but after his time in office, there was no place for the mentally ill to go. That's not natural selection, that's collateral damage to bad politics.
      • YojimboJango, on 02/28/2008, -3/+5What specifically did Regan do to make homeless people? Real question, I've never heard of this before.
        • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/28/2008, -0/+7It was more due to closing of state run mental institutions than anything. IMO they need to reopen those places and put the dangerous schizophrenics back in there. (I'm not saying all homeless are insane... but get the ones who are off the streets!)
    • Evil5, on 02/28/2008, -3/+28You are a *****. There are countless reasons why good people end up down on their luck. I hope one day, you get a violent, aggressive illness...and you HMO denies your claims, like happens to millions of Americans. Lets see you keep a job, pay your rent and get well in a system like that...and manage to stay out of the homeless shelter.

      This option at least gives people who want and need another chance a good shot at helping themselves. It's bastards like you that continue the suffering of people all over the world with your callous apathy and arrogant pseudo-logic. I think people like you need to be weeded from the gene-pool. Go die already.
      • chrisxkelley, on 02/28/2008, -0/+8Your name doesn't apply to who you are. I'm calling bs.
      • dluv, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2NO, its do gooding ***** like you that have perpetuated homelessness and poverty throughout the world. Your 'handout is a help up' attitude cements someone's desire to stay on the street because its easier that trying to make yourself better. SF is a ***** even compared to Mobile, AL where I thought the idea of hell stemmed from. Until I visited SF that is.

        And besides, what homeless bum is going to use his new email address as a tool to better his circumstance? None. This is just meaningless publicity, like showing Obama in african drab. Anyone can get free email. But SF has been great for other cities in the country because our bums go there and live. Keep in up SF.
      • Digger1218, on 03/01/2008, -0/+1When I'm asked for "spare change?" I always reply " No thanks, I have plenty of change." They get so pissed its funny. I have a little charity drive everyday, its called going to work. Without it, I'd be a charity case.

    • ep53, on 02/28/2008, -1/+10STFU, people who are born into a poor family didn't ask to be poor, therefore they didn't have as many opportunities as there well off counters part....People like you really piss me off!
      • jm4847, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Their parents should have been sterilized.
    • mrdoyle, on 02/28/2008, -0/+10who is to say that human interaction isn't a byproduct of natural selection. perhaps your disdain for those who are less fortunate than yourself will lead to your demise. stop being a prick
    • franl, on 02/28/2008, -1/+6jm4847, you are ignorant on this matter, but I'm going to change that right now. The majority of homeless people are there because they are physically or mentally ill or addicted to drugs or alcohol and didn't have a sufficient support system to keep them off the streets. Darwin had nothing to do with it. Now that I've informed you about this, you are no longer ignorant on this matter. If you still believe what you wrote above, that makes you stupid (a very different thing than being ignorant).
      • raynar, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2"addicted to drugs or alcohol and didn't have a sufficient support system to keep them off the streets"
        Sure they do...its called saying "no thanks" when being offered drugs and alcohol...there, I solved 50% of the homeless problem.
        • wellyuk, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Yeah, because it's that easy to turn down drugs when you're an addict. I suggest you read up what an "addict" is before making stupid comments that are obviously going to get buried.
        • jm4847, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1No one forced them to start doing drugs. They might be addicts now but they made a choice at some point.
    • munen123, on 02/28/2008, -1/+8jm4847 planned his life into the grave, he died alone, and everyone thought he was a prick!
    • specialK16, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5Fallacy; how do you know that they weren't circumstances out of someone's control that made them homeless?
    • Coffeedemon, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3You look about 15. WTF would you have to weigh in on with regard to making a way in life and struggling to make ends meet? In case you have not noticed we humans are a social animal (present company excepted) Those who isolate themselves and do not contribute in any way to the common good would quickly and mercilessly be eliminated by natural selection (if not biological then manifested in our behaviour and cooperative natures) if were left to our own devices away from the safety of our society and built landscape. In other words people like you would be the first to go.
      • jm4847, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1Using a person's age in an argument is not proper in a discussion, so I stopped reading there.
        • orca94, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1It is when the person is too young to drink, smoke or ***** legally. Also, redundancy in a redundant sentence is really redundant.
    • orca94, on 02/28/2008, -4/+2Another Ron Paul supporter/Libertarian piece of *****...
    • NatalieHG, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1Have you tried looking for an apartment in SF? Sometimes I think 50% of the homeless people in SF just couldn't find a place on Craigslist before their previous lease ended.
    • jm4847, on 02/28/2008, -2/+2To all: let me be clearer.
      If this people ended up on the streets is because they didn't have the intelligence, presence of mind and attitude required to survive. They are therefore unfit.
      • DoobieMan714, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Yea we got that part thats why we are calling you a ***** retard. Does that need to be any clearer?
      • Tinkered, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2This is simply not true. Please stop making assumptions and get some evidence that Darwinian fitness is the primary predictor of homelessness.
      • orca94, on 03/03/2008, -0/+1That's absolutely retarded. How about Darwinism based on physical prowess (like it was originally intended) if I can beat the living ***** out of you because I'm bigger than you, should I be allowed to and steal all of your stuff?
  • isaactwito, on 02/28/2008, -15/+8***** that. Apple, want publicity? Free iPhones for all bums in SF.
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5Suddenly pawnshops everywhere are selling iPhones for $50
      • StealthTomato, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5Dude, that would be so crazy!



        Are they even _worth_ $50?
  • papastout, on 02/28/2008, -3/+14Wow, talk about a good idea! Google just cranks em out!
  • VanD, on 02/28/2008, -1/+30All the bums everywhere else in the world are going to be jealous.
    • abran1984, on 02/28/2008, -0/+11Or just move to SF
      • rocko_stazetti, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4[Excerpt from California history textbook (or Sony Reader 5000) in 2108]

        They called it the Bum Rush of 2008. These homeless frontiersmen were later known as the 08ers.
      • thedragon4453, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Is Google trying to take over SF with an army of homeless people?
      • Pritchard, on 02/29/2008, -1/+2Cue the South Park episode on the homeless right about... now.
    • tomservo51, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Im not a bum and Im jelous!
  • Ell3, on 02/28/2008, -21/+9Pure PR on the part of Google. The homeless have always had access to free email services. The last thing homeless people need is another handout. They need a hand up.
    • B3000, on 02/28/2008, -5/+20This is a hand up, dick.
    • YojimboJango, on 02/28/2008, -1/+9Hand out = free beer.
      Hand Up = free point of contact.
    • franl, on 02/28/2008, -0/+6Don't write Google off so fast. There is a legitimate argument to be made that one of the first abstract things a homeless person needs to get off the street is a phone number.
    • jwk4heels, on 02/28/2008, -0/+0Lots of corporations donate to charities and do things for the community like this. The motives are irrelevant since a company doesn't really have a single mind, and in the end, someone is helped by in anyways.
  • ispellkonfusion, on 02/28/2008, -8/+5This is a positive step forward, but I can't help but feel helpless when it comes to people living on the streets. Do they have SSNs? Addresses? Are they going to be able to get a job without these things just because they have a phone number? If yes, that's awesome. But we have a lot more to do in this country before we can say these people are able to take care of themselves.
    • zspeed78, on 02/28/2008, -0/+6I think most do have SSNs.. they were normal American kids and adults at one point ya know..
  • subaruboi, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5I like this as well. I have thought many times, how the heck do they get a job when they do not have any contact info! Go Google! :D
  • dc45, on 02/28/2008, -1/+48This is nothing new at all. I work at a non-profit in Phoenix and we have been doing this for at least 5 years now. The problem begins when they start using the free voicemail to hook up drug deals.
    • RyeBrye, on 02/28/2008, -6/+51: How is that a problem?
      2: How do you know that is a problem? are you monitoring them?
    • doogie68, on 02/28/2008, -3/+3I see a minor difference here. Google is basically going to be recording all the voicemails (after all, my understanding is that you could access it from Grand Central via a computer). If you were dealing drugs, would you want a record of that conversation being held by a third party (and presumably accessible to law enforcement?)
    • airburst, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5Must have a really patient dealer if he is willing to play phone tag with you.
    • saxamo, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1holla
  • whiteknives, on 02/28/2008, -2/+7Classy move.
  • Senturion, on 02/28/2008, -2/+18I was worried that the comments would be filled with tasteless jokes, Digg has impressed me today.
  • stormkrow, on 02/28/2008, -2/+8Bravo! Just another example of how Google gives back to the community in ways that make sense.
  • aupolaris, on 02/28/2008, -3/+10How do you determine if they are really homeless? Couldn't anyone just sign up and get a free phone number for life? (in the SF area)
    • cgrickard, on 02/28/2008, -0/+6who the hell just wants voicemail? it's not a landline...where would they keep the phone? it's just VM.
    • kablammo, on 02/28/2008, -0/+19Look - if you really want to go register with a homeless shelter just to obtain free voicemail, then by all means go for it.
    • kahlessreborn, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5Its is free for anyone to sign up: http://www.grandcentral.com/home
  • Bratan1, on 02/28/2008, -8/+3Don't know how this will help homeless people, considering most of them actually prefer to be homeless, as was witnessed in this study:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversal_of_Fortune_% ...
    • btour99, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5So a documentary portrays paints one homeless individual as being content with being homeless and now "most of them prefer to be homeless"?

      Most likely he said he was content, because admitting he blew this opportunity to get back on his feet would be too painful. Reminds me of when I was a kid and my parents would punish me and take away a toy or some form of privilege, to which I would respond "Good, I didn't want that anyway".
    • gavin422, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1A documentary about one guy is not a "study".
  • metapop, on 02/28/2008, -6/+13this helps out the 10% of homeless who actually aren't insane, and have just had bad luck. the rest of them probably won't use this service at all. after all, if they actually utilized tools such as this, they probably wouldn't be homeless anymore. there are enough groups out there to help that if you really set your mind to it, think rationally, and work hard, no one really has to be homeless anymore.
    • raynar, on 02/28/2008, -2/+1george bush doesnt care about black people.
    • doogie68, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Helping out 10% of the homeless sounds like a pretty good idea...
    • gavin422, on 02/29/2008, -1/+1I'm sure it's more than 10%. Or, at the very least, I'm sure you're pulling that figure out of your ass.
  • jodokast, on 02/28/2008, -11/+6Socialists!

    /s
    • tacroy, on 02/28/2008, -2/+3Actually, thats whats so awesome. Its NOT THE GOVERNMENT DOING IT! Thats sweet! Its a company that has chosen to do things that they believe in instead of the American people being forced to do it without a say by Washington.
  • apmeister, on 02/28/2008, -1/+5so they're giving them a free grandcentral account
    • nekochan, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1hence the grandcentral logo on the sign.
    • seeyounorth, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Next, permanent tattoos for the homeless that advertise Google!
    • bxblox, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2I believe theyve always been free. I have a free GC account from before they were bought by google. Its basically free web voicemail and an extra phone number to forward to my phone. Nice service for no cost.
  • nimbletimble, on 02/28/2008, -1/+9I visited SF for the first time this Jan (i'm from UK) and I really noticed the high number of homeless, this move by Google is great news for everyone there.
  • bwhite, on 02/28/2008, -3/+7Maybe all the bums will more out of south florida, to San Fran.
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4Next time you see one, buy him a bus ticket.
  • Moviespo, on 02/28/2008, -1/+9Can you spare some change so I can check my voicemail....
  • mohrt, on 02/28/2008, -4/+2Great! Now if I were just given a free cell phone and free cell service, I could use it!
  • Portwineboy, on 02/28/2008, -0/+5Did Google buy GrandCentral or is this a partnership?
    • jdigg06, on 02/28/2008, -0/+4They bought them out. They are still in BETA though, so we'll see what happens...
      • DarkDragon, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1Google owns them, they will never be not Beta.
        Web 2.0: Beta = Finished Product - Liability when it blows up in your face
  • noctu, on 02/28/2008, -1/+8this is awesome of google while to much money goes over sea's its good to see google set the example of cleaning up our own backyard for a change.
  • chris1012, on 02/28/2008, -8/+6I love Google. :) What a great idea, why did it take so long for someone to come up with something like this? Karma + 20
    • ePuck, on 02/28/2008, -3/+4Don't read this if you are a google fanboy (lookup fanboy if you don't know what it means)
      #1 It wasn't google's idea
      #2 They're doing it to track and record phone calls
      • chris1012, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1yea because phone calls of homeless people are worth tracking and recording..... your a bright one eh?
    • Stupidumb, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Anytime time an idea comes up, ask why i took so long. Good stuff, good stuff.
  • ronmexico, on 02/28/2008, -7/+5Nothing helps a person take charge of their life and get back on their feet like free stuff they don't have to work for.
  • chrisaug18, on 02/28/2008, -2/+5What happens when a bunch of cheap people try and pretend they are homeless to get some free voicemail...
    • kablammo, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3I'm assuming you have to register with the shelter. How many people want to register themselves as homeless just to get free voicemail?
    • bingobongony, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1They can go online and get it for free too. They could have done that for at least 4-5 years now. So if it is just a matter of being cheap, likely they have some access to the internet (even if just at a library), so they would have done this by now.
  • richiewrt, on 02/28/2008, -6/+1I can't believe I actually agree with something done in San Francisco. Someone shoot me.
    • WindBelow, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1Do they keep doing things you disagree with? SF is one of the most liberal, community active cities in the world, at least they let the people have a voice, rather then sit around like ***** mutes, at least people there are active in their freedoms.
      • Buckeye70, on 02/28/2008, -1/+0Guess you missed they not letting the military recruit there. Or getting rid of the JR ROTC.
        • sherbertbones, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1That's Berkeley, which is better than the city you live in.
      • Buckeye70, on 02/28/2008, -0/+0Knowing what you are talking about might help.

        http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid22384.asp
        http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2 ...

        And no, I will take my city over Berkeley
        • WindBelow, on 02/28/2008, -1/+0you just pulled an article from 2005...which talks about how sf banned hand guns and military recuirters from schools...i don't really see how that is a bad thing...also "Article not found" sure does make your point even more valid
      • Buckeye70, on 02/28/2008, -0/+0Which point of my original post did you not understand? I said they did not let the military recruit there. That means they do not let military recruiters at schools. What the heck does the year being 2005 have to do with it? They won't let the military recruit at schools and they phased out the junior ROTC? Where am I wrong? Digg is cutting off the end of the link, not me. Google and you will find they got rid of the jr ROTC. Again, where am I wrong. I give facts, you complain about the article being from 2005.
  • bilbus, on 02/28/2008, -9/+9great enable the homeless more. many homeless make 200-300 a day. Many even have homes and just beg as a easy way to make cash.
    • screwattackthis, on 02/28/2008, -3/+4Think about what you just said. "Many (homeless) even have homes...." Why does that not make sense?
      Now your 200-300 a day comment is just stupid. That equates to $4,000-$6,000 a month. $48,000-$72,000 a year. So let's see, $.05 a can would be 80,000-120,000 cans a month. 960,000-1,440,000 cans a year. I'm even assuming these wealthy homeless take the weekends off.
    • bingobongony, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2What a sad state of events that this ridiculous comment is at +6. Sad that you can just say any outrageous ***** you can think of and no one requires proof before hitting the Thumps Up button.
    • bigteebo, on 02/28/2008, -1/+1And they earn that tax-free, unlike us non-homeless people.
    • SatansSpatula, on 02/29/2008, -0/+1"Many homeless make 200-300 a day"? WTF? Have you *been* to San Francisco?! Watch the goddamned homeless living in ***** under the Duboce freeway ramp. Their brains are ***** fried, and they have no clue how to organize their lives in the least.

      Like others are saying, this will help a small number of non-insane, salvageable individuals. The rest will continue to waste away on crack and booze, screaming into the night at the awful hallucinations they're having.
  • btraxx, on 02/28/2008, -1/+12Because the telemarketers weren't calling enough people already.
  • ElBoss, on 02/28/2008, -2/+16"Hey, this is John. I am sorry I can't come to the phone right now because ... well because I don't actually have a phone. Please leave a message after the tone and I will get back to you as soon as I bum enough change to use a phone box"
  • skyz, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2good for google - the have so much thinking smart to help the have so little help themselves - it is up to corporate america not the government to reach out to those who are 'out of thew loop' of prosperity instead of being in a i take i keep f..k you mindset -
    • 9Digits, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2Perhaps you should spend less time determining what corporate America is supposed to do, and more time on learning HOW TO WRITE A SENTENCE THAT MAKES SOME SORT OF SENSE.
      • borsaid, on 02/28/2008, -0/+1Thank god you said that. . . I wouldn't have been as kind.
  • fuhcough, on 02/28/2008, -5/+6Man I can soooo see this playing out South Park style...

    "Phooooooneeee????? Phooooneee????? Not I don't have any goddamn phones!"
  • Ryanwb, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2Can we just install Google as the government of the United States?
    • peaceninja, on 02/28/2008, -3/+2i dont even think antivirus software could salvage what Bush 2.0 has done
    • SpaceMonkeyZero, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3The USPS will now be free! However each and every piece of mail (including junk mail) will be opened, scanned, and stuffed with context appropriate ads...
    • StealthTomato, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.

      Why not? They already have your email, your search/browsing history, your calendar, and a satellite photo of your house. And besides, their motto is "Don't Be Evil." What could possibly go wrong?
  • richiewrt, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2I also see a mass influx of homeless to San Fran. Anyone else see that episode of South Park? California, is good to the homeless.
  • mikehill33, on 02/28/2008, -0/+2free even after they are homeless? cool.
  • bsonline, on 02/28/2008, -0/+3Google gave me a free phone number for life, too. http://grandcentral.com
    Of course, technically I got it before Grandcentral was a Google property...
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