But good protocol is take the damn thing out of your ear eating at a restaurant or in the restroom taking a growler!
Posted on 10/15/2006 3:52:14 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
First prize winner, for sure.
Today I am announcing this column's inaugural blue ribbon award for the totally dorkiest look of the year.
There's no contest here.
Without any doubt, the dumbest sight anywhere in 2006 is a human ear with a Bluetooth technology device sticking out.
For starters, it looks ridiculous — like a reject part from the Borg (evil cyberbeings).
Is anyone so important she or he must be linked to Verizon Wireless or Cingular or any mobile service on an 24/7 basis?
I don't think so.
And if one has to be on call for any reason, there are more subtle devices.
But hanging out of the ear?
That is — so not fashionable.
Regular readers probably are thinking about my passion for all that is Star Trek and how the first Enterprise communications officer, Lt. Uhura (Robbins native Nichelle Nichols), wore an earpiece.
Yes, she did.
But Uhura was on a starship, traveling at warp speed across the galaxy in the 23rd century.
The Enterprise crew had to stay connected on all wavelengths, including subspace.
When you're hundreds of light years away from home, constant monitoring of all transmissions is mandatory.
Evil forces such as the Romulans could surface anytime.
On TV sci-fi, the ear thing was nifty.
But on Earth, uh-uh.
So on Tuesday when my husband, Murray, told me he bought a phone with the word-that-cannot-be-spoken technology, I went ballistic.
He assured me he'd only use it when driving alone in Chicago or anyplace with a law requiring hands-free phones behind the wheel.
That is, unless Romulans are nearby.
Meanwhile, on the subject of technology, more than one person contacted me about the Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner and other robots, the subject of last week's column.
Lucy Venditti, of South Chicago Heights, summed it up in her e-mail.
Last summer she saw the Honda Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility, or ASIMO, robot on stage at Disneyland in California.
"He was about 5 feet tall, his arms bent at the elbows (and) hands moved. ...
"He walked forward and backward, went up the stairs and down, answered the phone, packed lunches for his stage family and sent them off to work and school," she wrote.
"He even gave each a tender hug. I'd love to have one. ...
"My daughter bought me (a Roomba) for my birthday, but I had her take it back after a couple of days.
"ASIMO I'd keep."
(You can check out ASIMO with video and more at www.asimo.honda.com.)
Alas, ASIMO costs about $1 million and is not yet mass produced.
But as Venditti reiterated, the age of Isaac Asimov's vision for robots has begun.
Myra Eder may be reached at meder@starnewspapers.com or (708) 802-8818.
I don't, however, wear it 24/7 as some are implying. In fact, when I'm not at work I don't even use it at all.
That qualifies for Post of the Evening!
You noticed that also. I often wonder how many mentally disturbed citizens actually buy these devices, just to appear normal in public?
Buy Reynolds!!
Oh good lord.....how prissy so many are here.
I have my cell with me wherever I go. So does my wife. Her phone was recently stolen and I replaced it with a Motorola Q and an HS700 bluetooth headset. She loves both. Piece of cake to just reach up and touch that little button on it and place calls, receive calls, etc. Twenty thousand reasons why it's convenient and SAFE, damn it all, people.
Join the 21st century, would ya??
You and steveo could be a little more polite. Getting offended over opinions on wireless communications? It isn't abortion.
Don't be too hard on them. This is, after all, a conservative forum. :-)
Not when it comes to hanging something on my ear. On the other hand I own a Roomba, a grind and brew coffee pot and other gadgets.
Truth is that I really just don't like chatting on the phone.
"Then why have it? You are paying for it you might as well at least use the minutes you are paying for. Unless you have a prepaid phone."
A cell phone and a credit card: The antique motorcycle rider's toolkit.
ROFLOL
Now ASIMO would be cool to have. Just so long as Skynet doesn't make them rebel...
Can't you see their smiles when they are posting? I sure can. Relax a bit.
Listen to Bud Light's "Mr. Really Loud Cell Phone Talker Guy"
http://thefuntimesguide.com/audio/Bud_Light_Real_Men_of_Genius_Mr_Really_Loud_Cell_Phone_Talker_Guy.mp3
I think I know this guy; he works in my office....
I am a gadget geek myself (today I just bought an external sound card and audio speakers for my laptop co I can listen to my CD’s while working – how very geeky) but on a cell phone you have to of cognizant of the people around you – watch what you talk about – TMI.
But I do put my cell phone headset on when I’m upset and or listening to talk radio and ant to talk to myself while driving but don’t want to appear crazy to my fellow drivers.
I have one!
Handy gadget while driving or working with your hands. Never miss a call.
Thank you!
"Yeah, man you see guys
walking down the street
pushing shopping carts
and you think they're talking to allah,
they're talking to themself.
Man, no they're talking to ELVIS!
ELVIS! ELVIS!"
Mojo Nixon - "Elvis Is Everywhere"
But good protocol is take the damn thing out of your ear eating at a restaurant or in the restroom taking a growler!
You need to get a new state.
All I can say is, that they are great when you are in the car. If anyone thinks that driving while holding a phone to their head is better, than more power to you.
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