TresSugar

Bostonians Would Give Up Sex Over Cell Phones

TresSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:00:00 -0700

What does it say about the future of the human race when people would rather give up sex for a year than go without a cell phone for the same amount of time? I guess it means that technological communication is truly becoming more important than old-fashioned face-to-face interaction, even the type of face-to-face interaction that involves having sex. Come on, people! What good is a booty call without the booty? Is sexting really better than sex?

In a survey sponsored by none other than Samsung Mobile, 31 percent of adults in Boston said they would rather give up sex for a year than go without cell phones for a year. Apparently, relying on email, hard-to-find pay phones, and immobile landlines is much more burdensome than forgoing sex.

Considering that I know people who literally sleep with their BlackBerrys, I suppose I'm not really that shocked by these results.

Is Cell-Phone Snooping Ever OK?

TresSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 09:00:00 -0700

Is going through someone's text messages OK if you suspect he's up to no good? That was the question on The Hills this week: Heidi goes through Spencer's text messages, finds a text from a bartender he'd been flirting with, and promptly deletes it. In therapy, all Spencer can talk about is how Heidi shouldn't have gone through his phone. I hate to agree with Spencer, but I'd be annoyed too.

Would you ever snoop in your significant other's cell phone if you suspected he or she was cheating? Or do you think snooping is a bad idea under any circumstance?

Has Big Brother Gone Too Far? US Wants Cell Phones & Soda

CitizenSugar — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:30:23 -0800

When it comes to letting the government watch out for public safety, some things are off-limits for Americans. A new survey shows that while 62 percent of US adults think there should be a national ban on smoking in public locations, only 38 percent support a ban on cell-phone use while driving, and 70 percent oppose a tax on nondiet soda.

Despite the fact that smoking, driving distractions, and soda all pose health risks, Americans seem to single out smoking as a vice not protected from government control. And while drinking soda has a personal impact, driving on a cell phone and smoking both pose risks to innocent neighbors. Perhaps the distinction has something to do with the fact that the majority of Americans do not smoke, while many people do drive and drink soda.

Many things could be (and are) regulated in the name of public and personal safety. So what do you think makes Americans all right with banning smoking in public, but not other dangerous activities?

Source

Phone Jammers Cut Annoying Chatter and Police Life Lines

LibertySugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:30:00 -0800

Can you hear me now? Probably not, if someone around you has a cell phone jammer, devices that block reception within 10 meters. The discreet gadgets are gaining popularity among theater and restaurant owners, subway riders, and others trying to silence annoying people who talk on the their cell phones in public.

Last month, Canadian police were caught in a jam on a dark highway, when they pulled over suspects carrying a jammer that rendered their radios silent. Luckily, they seized the device, and soon an official warning went out to all Canadian police. In the US first-time offenders can be fined up to $11,000. In addition, the jamming party can be charged with theft, as the airways belong to the companies that purchased them.

The idea of anyone, especially police, entering a dead zone frightens me, but I understand the frustration with obnoxious cell phone chatting. Maybe more countries can start passing cell phone bans, similar to those seen (and not heard) on France's railway or Austria's public transit, while keeping the jammers away from the bad guys.

Source

Next Big Thing? How They're Texting "I Love You" in Nigeria

CitizenSugar — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0700

Maybe you've gotten an email or two from some nice people in Nigeria with a whale of a financial opportunity - but if you get a text from Nigeria titled “I swear, I will make sure I give you HIV," don’t call the police. It may just be someone’s idea of an affectionate overture. When you open the text you'll most likely then read “H is for happiness and joy forever with an I: Incomparable love that will never V: Vanish until death do us part. I love you.”

It’s the new way to wow your mate from the new book Touching the Heart Through Unforgettable Text Messages (Volume 2) written by Femi Emmanuel, who writes text messages for those either too busy or illiterate to express their feelings. The book is marketed mostly to Nigerians, who have been described as obsessive text senders and who are tired of the usual courtship texts littering their phones.

To see where the inspiration comes from, read more.

Femi gets his inspiration mainly from Indian (Bollywood, as some call them) films. He says, “I was watching a Bollywood film and the main actor said to his lead ‘Hey baby, I’m a crazy lover.’ I thought ‘That’s good,’ I paused the DVD and copied down the subtitles.” If you think that’s corny, consider the fact that he has published four volumes of his quotes and has purchased a new car from the profits.

Hey, what ever happened to pager code? 1-4-3? Anyone?

Source

If All Movies Had Cell Phones...

GiggleSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:10:00 -0700

There'd be, like, no challenges for protagonists to face and hence, no dramatic tension! And, most crucially, no Gilligan's Island! (One quibble: Since when was Gilligan's Island a movie? I guess I should give Hollywood another year or so - they've covered everything else!)

Can You Hear Me Now Yogi Bear? Cell Phones in Yellowstone

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:00:04 -0700

Yogi Bear is about to have his eye out for a pic-a-nic basket with an iPhone in it. Yellowstone National Park officials have just released a plan to provide cell phone coverage and wireless Internet for parts of the park, while minimizing cell towers from the more remote areas. The environmental impact has been found negligible in terms of flora and fauna, though visitors of the human variety may be affected a little more.

A first draft of the plan, which contained a cell tower next to the Old Faithful geyser has been changed, moving it more out of sight, and they're trying to balance all the pretty nature with protecting public safety and allowing the park staff to communicate. The program manager for the National Parks Conservation Associate says,

One of the things that it comes down to in an increasingly noisy and hectic world is that it's critical that Yellowstone continue to provide the solitude and peace and quiet that our first national park has to offer.

View 5 Photos ›

Of course the peace and quiet could be the first casualty. While they have plans to encourage courteous use of the electronic gadgets, the park averages 15,690 visitors a day during peak season. That's a lot of "can you hear me nows."

Does the park have to modernize for safety and convenience, or should some places stay cell-free?

Source

New York City 911 Centers Can Receive Cell Pictures and Texts

CitizenSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:15:35 -0700

I go out running alone a lot and watch too much Law & Order: SVU for my own good so I'm always thinking about how I'd be able to get to my cell phone to call 911 from the trunk of a speeding car. Crazy, but true. That's why this advancement from the New York City emergency line is a pretty useful piece of safety technology. The 911 line is now equipped to receive texts, cell phone pictures, and video as calls of distress.

While other cities are already able to accept texts (this I didn't know!) officials say they believe that New York is the first city with the image capabilities. Mayor Bloomberg had this to say about it: "This technology should put a scare into every would-be criminal because the chances of getting caught in the act is now better than ever." Not to mention the increased accuracy in providing descriptions - how often have 911 operators heard, "um, he's a guy with brown hair?" Now they'll be able to see him. By next year, callers' images will be made available to patrol cars and will be accepted as evidence.

The cost of the upgrade? A mere 18 months and $250,000. Since crime in New York is down 3 percent, it seems like a smart investment - and more security than either Stabler or Benson could provide.

Source

Busted!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0700

This German language commercial for a cell phone service's texting capabilities demonstrates that lying about where you are isn't foolproof in the age of cell phones. I got more absorbed in this mini-drama than I have for many movies I forked over hard-earned cash to see! (And isn't that betrayed woman a model?)

Cellular Phone Providers Bugging You to Switch to Them: The Movie

GiggleSugar — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 04:00:00 -0700

You know how all the mobile service providers trip all over themselves to get you to switch to AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc., etc.? Well, this hilarious video spins that into a mini-movie of epic proportions, complete with mobile home offers, mail-order brides, and thugs. Oh, the dramz!