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February 10, 2012
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David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
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The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
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Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
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Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
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Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
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Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
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Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
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Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
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Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
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Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
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January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
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David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
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Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
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John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
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January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
April 25, 2006
/ 27 Nissan, 5766
I just want a phone that's a phone
By
Lloyd Garver
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
I just survived one of the most grueling ordeals of these times we live in: I bought a new cell phone. I'd resisted getting a new one because mine worked fine, and I had no interest in all the fancy features that the new phones offer.
However, at my CPR course, I learned that a new cell phone would have some kind of GPS technology so that if I ever had to call 911, somehow they would know exactly where I was calling from. Also, the display on my cell phone had been fading for months, and the numbers and letters were getting harder and harder to read. So, I took a deep breath and looked into getting a new phone.
Commercials tell us today that a cell phone is not just a phone. It's a camera, it's a note pad, it's a calendar, it's a calculator, it's a Web browser, it's a text message sender, it's a voice recorder, it's a music player, and it's an alarm clock. I'm sure there are phones that can start your car and unlock the doors to your house. But I wasn't interested in all these features. I just wanted a phone I could use to call people.
I was planning on getting the simplest phone made, and I knew that with my calling plan that phone would be free. (By the way, I believe my calling plan only commits me to the company for the next 30 years.) However, a friend mentioned that I should consider getting a camera phone. He said if I'm ever in an accident, it's a good idea to take pictures of the cars involved. And since this feature was free for me, why not get it?
So, the two main reasons I was getting the new phone 911 GPS capability and being able to take pictures in case of an accident were both part of "worst case scenarios." To make them worthwhile, I was going to have to have some kind of emergency or get into a car accident. So, I'm looking forward to using neither of the features that attracted me to buying the phone I bought. Does that sound crazy to you, too?
Before making the purchase, I did the appropriate amount of research. I even learned that Bluetooth technology was not named for a scientist with poor dental hygiene. It was named after a 10th century Danish king, Harald Bluetooth. Learning this didn't make me feel any more confident in terms of being able to make an intelligent purchase choice. However, if I'm ever on "Jeopardy," I could win a few bucks if the category is Danish Kings Whose Names Are Used In Technology.
Ultimately, I put all the research aside, asked my daughter if she liked her phone, she said, "yes," and that was the one I got. If it was good enough for an almost-21-year-old who actually understands all the features and options, it would be good enough for me. Also I assumed that there would be some things about the phone that I wouldn't understand, and now I can just call her up and she'll semi-tolerantly explain them to me. That's a lot better than using the cell phone to call up customer support, being put on hold while the battery's running down, and finally getting someone who will tell me to read the manual.
Ah, the manual. Keeping in mind that I bought one of the simpler phones, it came with an 84-page manual (plus 84 pages in Spanish), a CD, and a 31-page "Quick Reference Guide." I can still remember when phones were black, weighed more than a German Shepherd, and the only thing they came with was a person who was always in the background yelling, "Get off the phone already. It's long distance."
All of this angst was for a device that doesn't get good reception in parts of my own neighborhood and invariably goes dead right after the other person has said something like, "This is really important. I ..."
I know the new phone will work fine, but I fear that I'll still have the two minor problems I had with the old one. It didn't work if I forgot to turn it on, or if I left it at home. I doubt that the latest technology has addressed these problems.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame
Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of
them in hardcover. Comment by clicking here. Visit his website by clicking here.
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© 2005, Lloyd Garver
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