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LearnUselessTalents

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Learn all sorts of things that make you stand out in a way that makes people go "that's cool but why do you know that?" We're why! This is a place like a how to guide to teach or learn how to do everyday cool things. Like solving a Rubix Cube, pen spinning, or how to roll a quarter through your fingers.

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all 103 comments

[–]DanielTaylor 141 points142 points ago

Ok... I just Dialed the "112" emergency number. Not recommended for Europeans.

[–]t_Lancer 116 points117 points ago

I thought the emergency number was 0118 999 881 999 119 725...3

[–]b3mus3d 21 points22 points ago

That's just in England.

[–]Wissam24 5 points6 points ago

Well, presumably the rest of the United Kingdom as well.

[–]Keksus_ 13 points14 points ago

"What is your concern?" "I just wanted to play 'Happy Birthday' on my phone."

[–]pseudolobster 24 points25 points ago

112 is a global standard. In North America and a lot of other places it only works on GSM cellphones, but on those cell phones, it works anywhere in the world.

Edit: Since someone decided to downvote this, I'd like to back up my assertion with sources, so people do know this is true. Anywhere in the world that uses GSM (the type of phone with a SIM card), 112 will put you through to the local emergency number.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112_%28emergency_telephone_number%29

The GSM mobile phone standard designates 112 as an emergency number, so it will work on GSM phones even in North America where GSM systems redirect emergency calls to 911, or Australia where emergency calls are redirected to 000.

...

United States (Redirects to 9-1-1 on GSM mobile phone networks only;

This is important information to know, especially if you are traveling. 911 is only used in the US and a couple other countries. Most countries have their own emergency services number, and dialing 911 will not work. Whereas 112 should work almost anywhere on earth.

[–]Ran4 0 points1 point ago

Certain "famous" numbers like 911 often redirects to 112 though.

[–]Peytron 5 points6 points ago

You still did it right. This useless talent orders in people to sing happy birthday for you. Lucky europeans.

[–]orthag 0 points1 point ago

Don't most modern phones require you to hit send, even for emergency numbers?

[–]Southtown85 1 point2 points ago

Not land lines.

[–]orthag 0 points1 point ago

The last time I used a land line it had a send button.

[–]moderntechnology 84 points85 points ago

Saddest birthday ever.

[–]burnone2 43 points44 points ago

how do I make the tone for "me" instead of "you"

[–]Salva_Veritate 29 points30 points ago

You don't get the full effect unless your phone can cry.

[–]Asplundh 23 points24 points ago

My phone just has the same sound for each button, anyone know a website where I can make the sounds with a phone button simulator type thing?

[–]WendellJehangir 4 points5 points ago

android iOS Have fun!

[–]sivadneb -2 points-1 points ago

Eek, that android app does not sound like DTMF tones. Not sure what kind of noise that's making.

[–]Blagginspaziyonokip 4 points5 points ago

It's not even compatible with my phone. It makes sounds! SOUNDS! There is no reason my phone isn't compatible with some beeping sounds!

[–]WendellJehangir 0 points1 point ago

Hm, sorry about that. It's a Phreaker's app.

[–]leshylabs 1 point2 points ago

Here is one that I made as a demo a while back that may help a little:

http://www.node99.net/projects/dtmf_keypad

I posted this link as a reply to the main thread earlier, but I was late and so it is down at the bottom. Here is a little extra commentary from my earlier posting:

Sorry, but there are no key bindings so you have to use the mouse. It was just a demo and I never imagined it would actually be useful for anything. Also, the key presses play for a fixed length of time, so you can't get all of the dynamics that you can with a real keypad.

EDIT: I just realized you were trying this on a phone. This eventually will work on most phones, but last I checked HTML5 Audio support is awful on mobile browsers, so you probably need a recent desktop browser for it to work. Support gets better every day though, so who knows.

[–]Asplundh 0 points1 point ago

Nah, I was trying this on a computer, so it's all good.

Thanks for this, it's obviously not ideal, but it's the best I can get!

[–]flounder19 48 points49 points ago

It also works if you just sing the numbers to the tune

[–]GuadoElite 32 points33 points ago

It works if you sing any numbers to the tune.

[–]flounder19 29 points30 points ago

Not 7

[–]flounder19 10 points11 points ago

or 0

[–]legend513 8 points9 points ago

Not even 746,864,273,053?

[–]23_ 11 points12 points ago

Actually that one's fine

[–]citysnake 4 points5 points ago

In the UK, we pronounce zero as 'oh' in phone numbers.

[–]jyetie 7 points8 points ago

That's how we do it in the US, as well.

[–]wazooasiteverwas 6 points7 points ago

I have three in my number so I like to switch it up a bit.

[–]Kon-chezz 3 points4 points ago

Oh you fancy huh?

[–]GuadoElite 0 points1 point ago

Oh yeah haha

[–]OlivierLapierre 9 points10 points ago

Can anyone guess this one?

1 5 3 3

3 5 3 1 1

1 5 3 6 #

# 9 6 3

1 5 3 6 #

# 9 6 3 1

1 5 3 3 6 5 5 3 1

[–]ebbster 2 points3 points ago

you are my sunshine, my only sunshine.. :)

[–]MrGoodbytes 9 points10 points ago

Once upon a time, I learned "Funkytown" (Thanks Towelie) but it's been probably 3 years.

[–]P1NGU 0 points1 point ago

Take me down, to funky town

[–]Jakeboomah 0 points1 point ago

55452-25875 which is the correct number of digits for a area code and phone number.

[–]shajurzi 7 points8 points ago

65456665556996545666655654 Mary had a little lamb.

[–]poweredsince85 2 points3 points ago

9878999-555-199-9878999-15951 (That's how I learned it)

[–]Ameridrone 4 points5 points ago

I learned it as 3212333222333321233322321.

[–]BurningKarma 1 point2 points ago

You learned it wrong.

[–]Ameridrone 0 points1 point ago

Pick up a telephone and try it. You alpo not be elephant, it sound just like it.

[–]BurningKarma 2 points3 points ago

I... don't know what you're saying. Still, it's a bit off. Maybe you're tone deaf.

[–]Ameridrone 0 points1 point ago

Perhaps, it was how I directed it out in forty school. Thanks for being such a good guy.

[–]noeljaboy 4 points5 points ago

who learned you how to spoke?

[–]Ameridrone 0 points1 point ago

Some body taught me.PL

[–]ebbster 0 points1 point ago

I changed it to 9878999-555-1##-9878999-15951-1

[–]WendellJehangir 7 points8 points ago

This is using something called touch tones, which can be simulated by many apps across the internet. Here are some "Blue box" apps for android and iOS More information on Blue boxes here.

[–]Creabhain 4 points5 points ago

Why the hell did I try this on a rotary dial phone? It sounded like a bad rap version.

[–]GuadoElite 4 points5 points ago

Not a useless talent, it's my friends 22nd today. Thanks!!

[–]AugustsOnlySon 3 points4 points ago

calling it now

[–]legend513 2 points3 points ago

http://www.jlc.net/~useless/telsongs.html Original site with a few others. Including "Help".

[–]MediocreGus 4 points5 points ago

Somebody's about to get a crapton of calls.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]MediocreGus 2 points3 points ago

Don't tell me you actually took that seriously.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]MediocreGus 1 point2 points ago

Please explain?

[–]thecoworker123 10 points11 points ago

You could also cross post this to /r/mildlyinteresting

[–]NewWorldSamurai 9 points10 points ago

That would be mildly interesting about 15 years ago. This is definitely in the correct sub.

[–]adhding_nerd 4 points5 points ago

God, I remember being grounded once back in middle or high school, and sitting on my Nokia cell phone figuring out how to play this Zelda song by pressing the buttons.

Oh, I had my phone on a setting where the buttons were a musical scale or something like that, I think.

[–]QQexe 7 points8 points ago

the old nokia's like the 3310(iirc) had a 'ringtone maker' program, probably could have used that.

[–]TheBear242 4 points5 points ago

For the last line, I prefer ##9363. Sounds a lot more like how I sing it, but maybe I've been singing it wrong this whole time.

[–]Bliss86 0 points1 point ago

I play it like 11#96632996262

[–]monkiesflynorth -1 points0 points ago

it actually worked =O

[–]Xleader23 1 point2 points ago

Well, at least now I can play happy birthday to myself today.

[–]nairdasilver 0 points1 point ago

happy birthday from the rocket scientist that you met on omegle :) Stay Sexy!

[–]Xleader23 0 points1 point ago

You motherfucking sweetheart. :D

[–]ermagerdermah -1 points0 points ago

I would replace the last 3 with a 2

[–]TheIrateGlaswegian 1 point2 points ago

I spent the last 30 seconds, singing the song in my head, but replacing the words to the song with these numbers.

[–]Josmeister 1 point2 points ago

I used to have a phone that had awesome key sounds when phoning, but there was literally nothing else in it to keep you entertained. So I learned to play a LOT of songs in it. I mean, I would practice more with that song than with my guitar. What a lovely phone it was.

[–]anticommon 0 points1 point ago

Sadly, does not work on my smartphone.

[–]Arizzletron 0 points1 point ago

Now to find a phone that still has a dialpad like such...

[–]BreadSticks925 0 points1 point ago

awesome!

[–]Blast-Attak 0 points1 point ago

Wow. This really worked. Even when using my HTC Desire. Really cool that the dial keys actually have the correct tone too.

[–]1011analseepage 1 point2 points ago

First world problem: can't look a the picture and dial at the same time on my phone

[–]EngineF 1 point2 points ago

That's not right at ALL

[–]867points 0 points1 point ago

If you want real time error check. Save the combination first(only for phones with number suggestion).

[–]LostAbbott 0 points1 point ago

This comment is just to save this for later when I will call someone and use this. Thank you.

[–]12and4 0 points1 point ago

how to dial funky town (I had a lot of time on my hands)

22464 43345

[–]GitEmSteveDave 1 point2 points ago

Somewhere in area code 121 in America, some poor person can't figure why their phone is ringing off the hook, and all they hear is button presses when they do pick up.

[–]ShiningSeoul 0 points1 point ago

133 221 333 123 111

[–]leshylabs 0 points1 point ago

For those with a modern web browser, here is a way to try this out:

http://www.node99.net/projects/dtmf_keypad

Sorry, but there are no key bindings so you have to use the mouse. It was just a demo and I never imagined it would actually be useful for anything. Also, the key presses play for a fixed length of time, so you can't get all of the dynamics that you can with a real keypad.

[–]jersully 0 points1 point ago

Years ago I played this on the company intercom. Also the Imperial March (Darth Vader Theme.)

[–]Gnasherdog 1 point2 points ago

[–]robtheviking 0 points1 point ago

well there goes 10 minutes of my life, thanks internet. On the bright side, I have learned a new useless talent.

[–]springbach 0 points1 point ago

[–]cielofunk 0 points1 point ago

Mine sounds wrong :(

[–]cutthroattrick 0 points1 point ago

8675309

[–]pizzandwhiskey 1 point2 points ago

♪♩♫ "One one two one six threeee one one two one nine sixxxxx one one hash nine sixxx threee twoooo nine six nine threee sixxxx threeeee" ♩♫♪

Sang it in my head with the numbers.

[–]Dlightfulme 0 points1 point ago

Up vote for you for entertaining me for a solid five minutes and causing me to call random friends to demonstrate. Upvote for you.

[–]Sinnic 0 points1 point ago

I have another one. Canon.

* 0 # * 0 # 5 6 7 8 9 * 0 * 8 9 * 3 4 5 6 5 4 5 8 7 8 6 8 7 6 5 4 5 4 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 8 7 8 7 6 5 6 7 8 9 * 0 ..... Lather, rinse, repeat

[–]Crystal_Cuckoo 1 point2 points ago

Personally I think the last line as:

9 9 6 4 5 4

works better.

[–]s00p3r 1 point2 points ago

I thought each row had the same tone... Would that really work?

Or have they changed it since land lines?

[–]olort 0 points1 point ago

Golden post.

[–]dj_polymath 1 point2 points ago

STOP CALLING ME!!

[–]Howzitgowen 1 point2 points ago

For anyone with a Samsung Galaxy 112143-112154-1186432-???????

[–]probly2drunk 0 points1 point ago

Power Ranger jingle: 552505

[–]imabacon 0 points1 point ago

Real power ranger jingle: 3323-93

[–]davidoford 0 points1 point ago

Well, here I was always thinking that it was

112163

112163

11#9632

996363