I agree they’re INDISPENSABLE. I’m uniquely qualified to say so because I was a doctor’s wife in 60’s. When he was on-call, he was chained to phone, and we couldn’t use it. Think I don’t appreciate call-waiting and cell phones? Think again.

They’re invaluable for SAFETY. I routinely drive from San Antonio to Dallas and at night, to avoid traffic. I consider traffic far more life-threatening than being stranded on side of IH-35 at midnight, THANKS TO cell phone.

They’re PRICELESS when you’re lost, running late, or have a teenager.

They allow doctors and therapists to have a life.

But there are some things we needn’t subject others to:

·If I wanted to hear why your brother is an asshole, I’d ask you. But that’s actually kind of toxic environment I try to avoid—other people’s hostility. ·If I wanted to be sexually aroused by explicit phone conversation, I’d be on DIAL-A-PORN. ·If I wanted to hear your personal angst, I’d be your therapist and charging you for phone call. ·If I wanted to be in bathroom with you…apparently 47% of Americans think it’s fine to talk on their cells “while in rest room,” and I assume this doesn’t mean while they’re shaving. I find this simply incomprehensible

These conversations are simply TMI.

Talking on cell phone can also ENDANGER THE LIVES OF OTHERS. A 2002 study suggests that drivers talking on their cells cause 6% of auto accidents each year, killing an estimated 2,600 people and injuring 330,000.

And you should listen up to this: companies are now being held LIABLE for employees who have accidents while driving and talking on cell phone. Maybe this will knock some sense into people.

There are currently 120,000,000 cell phone users in US, and 40 state governments are considering proposals to restrict or ban their use while driving.

We are quickly moving into realm of “frankly bizarre.” I had lunch yesterday next to a table of teenagers. The entire time two of them were on cell phones, and this made it too noisy for other two to talk to each other – real people right in front of them. Joanna Krotz says in “Cell Phone Etiquette ”: “Every executive has their can you beat this cell story? But Mary Westheimer of Bookzone.com offers one totally over top: At a recent Publishers Marketing Association conference, a panel member was presenting his part of event. ‘His cell phone rang and he stopped his presentation and answered his phone!’”

by Greg Hicks

Long distance... why is it that you hear this phrase bandied about so often today? On television,

on radio, in newspaper. There was a time not too long ago when phone service was only

thought of as that... phone service. We did not think about a local phone company AND a long

distance carrier. We got it all on one bill from one provider.

Now we have a choice.

"Oh yes", you say, "we can choose MCI, AT&T, or Sprint". Yes, we have these companies to

provide quality, reliable long distance service for our homes or businesses. And they have been

there for us for many years, with an ongoing rivalry between themselves, but we generally chose

and stayed with carrier that we've always used, or our parents or friends have always used

paying whatever we got charged, because "Big Three" rates were generally same or close.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this either, I mean just because a choice is available,

isn't choice to not change there as well?

Now, think of long distance service as a product. It is after all, correct? And as in any other

industry, buying product in bulk, enables buyer to get a lower purchase price. You and I

cannot buy phone service in bulk, but certain businesses can, and it is these businesses that have

risen up to become new "big boys" on block. They have done this by purchasing long