Now that texting and driving is illegal in Georgia we can all take a sign of relieve that the roads will be a utopia of safety.  BUT WAIT!   Here’s a list of stupid things you can still legally do while driving.

• Eating
• Reading a huge foldout paper map
• Smoking
• Fold your laundry
• Apply Makeup
• Load your Gun
• Carve a wood flute
• Shave your legs

And the list goes on!
OH MY!

Of course anyone with an IQ above a squirrel knows that texting and driving is a really bad idea.  But so is eating a big juicy hamburger, putting on mascara, or doing both at the same time.

It turns out the “Failure to Control” laws that have been on the books for a long time could cover texting and driving as well as other stupid stuff.  And studies from places with texting bans show no significant decrease in traffic accidents.  WHAT!

So did we really need to spend millions of tax payer dollars to pass this new anti-texting-while-driving law?
Were politicians just pandering to get more votes instead of dealing with the more important issues of our times?
I think even your average squirrel knows the answer to these questions.



New studies show cell phone bans while driving are not reducing traffic accidents.  Let me be clear, I am not saying you should text and drive.  I just think that our law makers have better things to do than pass laws against cell phones and texting while driving.  Here’s why:

• They are difficult to enforce.
  How does a cop know if I am texting while driving vs. looking at my iPhone map app getting directions?  Does this mean I have to go back to using unfolding awkward maps?
• Studies show cell phone bans are not reducing accidents.  Here are a few links:
  http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_id=71379
  http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/01/29/laws-banning-cell-phone-use-while-driving-have-little-impact

I have never been a fan of the hysteria around passing laws that ban cell phone while driving.  See post on http://www.biologyoftechnology.com/2008/07/hands-free/.   I think using some good old common sense while driving goes a lot farther than more laws that are difficult to enforce and don’t really make a difference.

What about laws banning changing clothes while you are in route to a date?  Why is it okay for me to play a game of chess (real chess on a magnetic board) with a passenger but can’t punch out a text while waiting at a red light.  There are no laws against arc-welding while driving.  Call me crazy, but that seems a lot worse (and creepy) that looking at an email you just got on your iPhone.  (Did I just admit to doing all that stuff?  YIKES!)

So here’s my armchair psychology on the anti-cell-phone-while-behind-the-wheel trend.  We have a love-hate relationship with our mobile technology.  We love it because it connects us to the world with a device that fits in our pants pocket.  You can reach out and touch someone from anywhere.  But we hate it because that means anyone can reach us.   We love the accessibility to others but hate the accessibility everyone has to us.

If this were a dating situation you might turn to the bottle and scream for attention.  Alas, we turn to the law.  And somehow we think that putting lame laws on the books making our car a no-phone-zone we are screaming to our mobile devices, “you’re not the boss of me.”  Really!

For example, when I was MUCH younger I had a very slight fender-bender because I was trying to tie my shoes while driving.  But I did get all crazy about banning shoe-strings for all cars!  Did I start saying stuff like, “You ARE NOT getting in the car with me with THOSE shoe-strings!”  No, I simply learned that I should not tie my shoes while driving.

Here’s a thought, just use common sense while you’re driving.  And let our lawmakers get back to what’s really important!

Here are the top 5 cell phones as rated by CNET users.
5. Palm Pre
4. Blackberry Curve 8900
3. iPhone
2. Samsung Memoir T929
1. LG enV Touch

Here’s a video review of these top phone contenders.

I admit that I am an iPhone user and love it!
Who are CNET users?  Techies. And who better to rate cell phones.

Here’s a GPS phone app that bends reality.  If only a phone app could actually bend reality, I could think of some other uses.

The abundance of apps for the iPhone is just one of it’s many appeals.  However, I am not certain we need an iPhone app for everything.  While this commercial parody for an iPhone stalker app is good for a chuckle, it reinforces the premise that just because technology can do something, doesn’t mean we should.

What’s even more funny (and kinda sad), if you did actually make an iPhone stalker app you would probably make a fortune!

But what if you are trying not to be a stalker?  iPhone does have an app for that.  Designated Dialer is a drunk dialing lock for your iPhone! It will help make sure you don’t wake up and look at your recent calls list, thinking “Oh no, what have I done?”.

Disclaimer – the iPhone store may have discontinued this one, but here is a link the Designated Dialer app:
http://appshopper.com/entertainment/designated-dialer

Here’s a link to some other off-the-wall iPhone apps:
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/10-off-the-wall-iphone-apps.htm

Another disclaimer – I admit that I am a big fan of my iPhone, but I only have found a few apps that are actually useful.  However, that’s not to say there is no place for useless apps.

Want to exchange iPhone apps and/or games with your iPhone buddies?
How about a great tip on how to take better (non-blurry) pictures with your iPhone.
How about a way to use your iPhone with Verizon.

Then check out the following Applebyte video from CNET for some cool iPhone tips.