posted on May 4, 2006 10:34:24 PM
These CITIES act sooooooo Honorable, to HELP,,,, the Elderly..They are GIVING out FREE cell phones to the Elderly,,,,these Cities Act like they are doing the elderlies a FAVOR, SERVICE,,,,,, ANY cell phone BY FED law MUST accept 911 calls. with or WITHOUT a Monthly BILL, from ANY SERVER...there are 1000's of cell phones at the swapmeet that are JUNK....put in a set of NEW batteries and DIAL 911 and you WILL hear, 911 operator How can I help you.
posted on May 4, 2006 10:50:14 PM
What REALLY bothers me about cell phones, is that the manufacturers and service providers are allowed to sell these things without a written warning concerning the dangers and health risks involved with their use. If you think the tobacco and asbestos lawsuits involved big money, just wait a few years.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 4, 2006 11:30:13 PM
Sparkz: Are you thinking about the brain-tumor problems some have suggested come from using the cell phones too often or too long? Or is there something else?
My husband and I must be the last couple in the nation that doesn't have a cell phone. Never have had one. That could change, of course, if one of us suddenly had to drive down the mountain on a regular daily basis or such. None of our friends can believe we don't have one--but we do just fine so far without it. Knock on wood.
posted on May 5, 2006 03:20:31 AM
It surprises me how some people still live in the stone ages or at least in the 70's when cell phones were not easly accessible. I could not live without my cell phone. I do most all my business with my cell since I am in and out of my office all day long. I just do not think I could function without my cell and my laptop. Sign of the times.
you're not alone. my husband and i have never owned nor do we want a cell phone. why would we want people to be able to reach us at any time? why would we want to be "tracked," considering its GPS function as well? total invasion of privacy. no thanks!
posted on May 5, 2006 09:05:50 AM
I think for the most part cell phones are the most disgusting thing ever invented. All people want to do stay on the damn thing 24/7 everywhere they go. How stupid can a person get. I wouldn't have one if I had free use for 10 years.
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Two men sit behind bars,one sees mud the other sees stars.
posted on May 5, 2006 09:40:14 AM
I was in the grocery store yesterday and I bet 3 out of 10 people were shopping and talking on their cells. One man was standing by the milk asking "Honey, was that the red label or blue you wanted?" I think cell phones are a good excuse to not have to make any decision based on your intelligence alone. It's a gallon of milk for gosh sakes....just pick one and get out of my way
Life is full of ups and downs...take advantage of them all !
posted on May 5, 2006 10:04:33 AM
I held off for years before I decided that I should have a cell phone. I'm not much of a talker, but there are occasions when I MIGHT have a need for one.
The biggest drawback for me was rationalizing the monthly charges on something that I might only use once a month. (I'm cheap)
3 months ago, Comp USA ran an ad for a free (after rebate) cell phone, with $.12 a minute charge and no monthly fee.
I snapped it up and have been pleasantly surprised and pleased with it.
I got a small Sanyo phone that held it's first charge for almost 3 months, just received my rebate (as per terms of the purchase) and have yet to spend $10.00 for over 3 months of use. The company (STI Mobile) uses Sprint as a carrier, and haven't had a problem.
If you are interested in this type of set-up, below is the link to their homepage. http://www.stimobile.com/index.aspx
posted on May 5, 2006 10:18:27 AM
Mah - you think that right up until that moment when the car breaks down and you have no way to get a hold of anyone for help.
Just because you have a cell phone does not mean you have to leave on it at all times. I like being able to get away from people too... I just turn the phone off.
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People put their hand on the bible, and swear to uphold the constitution. They do not put their hand on the constitution, and swear to uphold the bible.
posted on May 5, 2006 10:39:21 AM
Very useful if you travel a lot and need to stay in touch with family. If I wouldn't have had it 7 years ago, I would have missed being there for my kids when their dad and my ex dropped over suddenly.
And as a single female driving all over the place, almost as much insurance as my dog in the front seat! Nothing better than to call for directions if you're lost, or for help if you need it.
PLUS if I'm at an auction, I can not only call about a potential treasure, but send a photo as well. I no longer have a landline, and it costs me about the same as my old phone service.
But I DO go bonkers when I'm in a gas station or grocery store and the clerk is ON the phone at the same time he's or she is ringing me up. Or drivers with their phones glued on. Did I read somewhere that teenagers develop severe anxiety if they can't use their cell phones?
Like everything else, works if you rule your cell phone, not that you become a slave to it. I'm with chessguy, I could surely function without cell phone and laptop, but not as well.
posted on May 5, 2006 12:42:07 PM
Roadsmith...The possibility of brain tumors is part of it, however anyone who spends several hours a day on one probably has too thick a skull and too small of a brain for much damage to occur. The problem is in areas such as the eyes and glands such as the thyroid, not to mention lymph nodes. Then there's the genius with the head set and the phone clipped to a belt or waist band. Hopefully a reliable cure for ovarian, prostate and testicular cancer will arrive befor the results start showing up in a few years. Many studies (funded and controlled by the telecommunications industry) play down and minimize the potential for health related problems. Some outright deny any association with health problems exists. The latest results from a study by the government of Sweeden ( where cell phones have been in use by consumers more years than any other country) raise serious questions as to their safety by heavy users.
Any way you slice it, a microwave signal is a microwave signal, and that short dipole antenna against a head is exactly the same setup as a ham in a microwave oven. The difference is, because of the power levels involved, it'll take a few years longer for the Nokia to cook meat than it will for the Amana. I have worked with equipment in the microwave frequencies for a good many years, and I know for a fact what those signals are capable of doing.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 5, 2006 02:00:30 PM
I know there are 100's of good reasons to have one and fenix has a great point about the car breaking down, my biggest beef however is people who talk and drive. Nothing is more dangerous. HANG UP AND DRIVE. Even drunks try to pay attention and drive unlike cell phone drivers.
posted on May 5, 2006 02:31:53 PM
Stone...I agree 100%. Given a choice of being on the road with a drunk driver, or a person trying to talk on a phone and drive, I'll take my chances with a drunk any day. For a person who rarely has use for a phone, go to WalMart, pay 19.99 for a Nokia prepaid service phone, purchase 30 minutes, then throw the thing in the glove compartment and forget it except for digging it out every 6 weeks or so to recharge the battery. You can even buy one at a yard sale that isn't even signed up with a provider and call 911 at no charge.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 5, 2006 02:40:56 PM
sparkz
On Tracphone and MOST other prepaid plans, the minutes expire in anywhere from 30 days to a year depending on the amt you pay for the card.
That's why I'm so happy with my STi phone. The minutes never expire.
If you tell them Benjamin Franklin said it first, they'll believe you
posted on May 5, 2006 03:17:53 PM
Good info, Sparkz. So . . .people who use cell phones frequently are slow-cooking their parts?! I'd guess having one just for emergencies and using it almost never wouldn't be too risky. I like the idea of getting a cheap one at WalMart.
posted on May 5, 2006 04:02:48 PM
Actually, most anything in moderation is fairly safe. If a person runs a business out of his vehicle, and feels compelled to answer every incoming call immediately instead of scrolling through his voice mail later, he can get a model with an outlet for an external antenna and attach it to an antenna mounted on top of the metal portion of the roof and have a perfectly safe telephone that he can yak on till the batteries run down. This was the way I had mine set up a few years ago when I was an early subscriber to the original cellular service which operated in the 800 mhz band. The present day service is not actually cellular, but PCS (personal Communications Service) which operates between 1820 and 1980 mhz. This is only 300 mhz below the frequency used in microwave ovens.
If Murphy's law is correct, everything East of the San Andreas Fault will slide into the Atlantic
posted on May 6, 2006 04:46:49 AM
I got a cell phone about 4 years ago.The problem was I never used it that much.So when the years contract ended,I cancelled the contract and kept the phone.I now have it in my car-I can call 911,which is all I really need it for and it doesnt cost me anything.These people who are constantly on the phone in the mall,and resturants drive me nuts,like I really wanna hear what they have to say.In N.Y.its against the law to drive and talk on the cell phone.I recently saw an add for a cell phone on tv.Part of the pitch was "its easy to stay in touch" Quite frankly,I dont want to stay in touch, leave me the f*ck alone.
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If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on May 6, 2006 05:38:33 AM
I have had my cell phone for about 5 years now and don't even use 1/4 of the minutes in my Anytime minutes. I have been using it for business purposes lately but I am not a phone talker.
My biggest pet peeve are these people who A) Use it while driving and don't pay attention to the road or how they're driving and B) The people who walk into a store talking, shop while talking, go checkout while talking and walking out the door still on the phone. That just drives my up the wall and I think it's rude. I feel like asking them if the phone is glued to their ear.
