Cellphones - UNusual usage..........?

[elizabethann]

The other day I was at Barnes & Noble and this woman was talking sooo loud on her cell phone. Instead of listening to her stupid conversation, I should have thrown a book at her head....like War & Peace or something.

I don't have a cell phone. Though I've thought of getting those pay as you go ones for any emergencies in the car or out on a hike. But I find cell phones to be expensive. I think they're great if you have kids & you can keep tabs on them.

[Argranade]

I could have got one but then chose not too .

Here are some facts.

Did you know? Cell phone facts and figures...
40 million cell phones will be turned over annually
75% of cell phones are sitting in people's drawer's at home or at the office and end up going to landfills
250,000 tonnes of toxic material from e-waste end up in landfills
average household has between 2 to 3 cell phones awaiting disposal
cell phones use a dull metallic ore called "Coltan", this ore is found in major quantities in eastern areas of the Congo and mining occurs in the middle of endangered gorilla and other African animals and their habitats
cell phones contain toxic substances such as arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead and zinc (some of these hazardous substances are a serious threat to the environment and public health).
there are 57 zoos that are participating in cell phone recycling.
any kind of cell phone (and pagers) will be accepted for recycling, even your old cell phone from 10 year ago

I hate those phone's now its desturbing animals habitat's.

Why is there Coltan in cell phones?

When refined, Coltan becomes a metallic tantalum, a heat resistant powder that can hold a high electrical charge.

These properties make it a vital element in creating capacitors, the electronic elements that control flow inside miniature circuit boards.

Tantalum capacitors are used in almost all cell phones, laptops, pagers and other electronic devices.

[Logan]

Just let my puppy, Mack, at those offensive cell phones. They will be no more, I promise!!! I am a living witness to what one 5 month old English Bulldog puppy can do to a cell phone. Mine was destroyed on Sunday when I left it sitting on the coffee table and left the room for about 15 minutes. Thankfully, I have insurance on it, but still it was $75 "deductible" to replace it with one that I like far less than the Motorola I had.

My cell phone is my business lifeline, but I do try to respectful when I use it. And now I'm in the process of "relearning" it. I am no technology wizard and had to have Helen's boyfriend "fix" it for me while we were driving to her volleyball match yesterday! LOL!!!

Logan

[Lady's Human]

Not sure about other countries, but the in United States import of tantalum from any african country is illegal, as is the sourcing of products from African ores. This is due to the environmental impact of the mining, as well as the fact that much like "war diamonds" the funds from the mining go not to the people or the government of the country, but to local warlords. There are enough sources for tantalum that DON'T impact the environment that there's no need for african sourcecs in the US Market.

[cyber-sibes]

Four prisoners in El Salvador had smuggled some in prison that were in plastic baggies. They also had one charger and nine cell phone chips. They weren't using them just then (had to do an xray to find them) but you've got to admit it's unusual.

This one should win the prize for "most unusual location for a cell phone!"

[Miss Z]

I've had a window cleaner on his ladder cleaning the bathroom window and talking on his phone at the same time

Thankfully, talking on your mobile whilst driving is illegal here, although I know a lot of people who do it anyway.

I have a mobile which I do like very much, but I don't usually call on it, I'm more of a text person. If I call someone on my mobile, it's usually just to tell my parents that netball practice has been cancelled or something, if I want to call a friend, I use the landline, much cheaper. Mobiles can be a good thing, they can help to reunite separated mothers and kids in a busy crowd and are perfect for emergencies or calling home when you are abroad, but, sadly, they are also the cause of much theft, muggings, and even stabbings