My cell phone died a few days ago (probably from cancer) and I damned near panicked. Then I thought to myself "What the Hell are you thinking?" I'm old enough to vividly recall when there were no cellular telephones, and back then I didn't really need a cell phone to do anything. My 40-year-old daughter never turns her phone off. It's her primary form of communication. I only turn MINE on when I need to call someone in an emergency, which is extremely rare. Far too many people in this part of the world live and DIE for, and because of, their cellular telephones.

I know entertainers that list their cellular phone numbers on their Web sites, business cards, pens, calendars, etc.., as if they could book a job on their cell and looking at their schedule, while driving 70 MPH in bumper to bumper traffic down a busy interstate. Some have their schedules on their phones. Try browsing through that schedule, reading that tiny, tiny print, using one hand, and of course never taking the other hand off the wheel, or never taking your eyes off the traffic on the Garden State Parkway, Long Island Expressway or I-95.

I was broadsided six years ago by an idiot that was talking on his cell phone and looking at a map resting on his steering wheel while driving south on I-95 near the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). I was on my way to a job, my van was totaled and the idiot that hit me didn't have insurance. Therefore, for all you guys and gals that insist you MUST have a cell phone at all times, try turning it off while driving--it's amazing how much nicer that drive is when you're just listening to some soft music on the radio. If you're anything like my daughter, though, you'll probably have a panic attack because the phone is not jammed in your ear, or worse yet, you'll miss a text message.

From my perspective, the risk of cancer from your cellular telephone is probably much lower than having an accident because of your cell phone. And of course, everyone knows this couldn't happen to them.

Cheers,

Gary