[northparkbuyer]

[quote]Call 911 when no other phone is available. If I’m not mistaken, if you have one with GPS, they can utilize that to find you.[/quote]

True. But I have dialed 911 in my life exactly 0 times. Odds are I never will. And if “they” can find me in an emergency, they can probably find me anytime, which doesn’t seem like privacy.

[quote]Keep in touch with your kids. With a cell, they have no excuse for not calling you, a cab, or a tow truck.[/quote]

Somehow kids survived pre-cell phone. Yes, I’m definitely old-fashioned, and believe in planning in advance. Also, my teen daughter does carry one, but not because I buy into the “helicopter parenting” trend. It’s only because she wanted one (she doesn’t want to be socially handicapped like her Dad) and she earned it.

[quote]Receive a text or call from your otherwise silent car alarm that someone is messing with your ride. Disable the ignition or fuel supply remotely, then call the police or vent some anger issues.[/quote]

That is cool (is this capability really available for civilians? Wow). But again, I must cite the odds. It may be a legitimate use of a mobile phone, but I’ve had my car stolen exactly 0 times in my life, and odds are it never will be. Plus, I keep hoping somebody steals my 1990 Volvo.

[quote]You can live without it. You can drive back to the store to get the bread you forgot to put on your list. But it does make life run more smoothly.[/quote]

But I think some people are turning off their brains to depend on these devices. I have friends who cannot remember a single phone number or address, because all this information is in their device and omitted from their brain. Why even bother trying to remember bread or any other groceries when shopping? –Just call up the house and find out what you’re out of (and try to not annoy the other shoppers with one side of a banal grocery discussion — chances are they’re on their phones, too, so no worries).

All of the uses above are legit. I just decided that, for me personally, they’re not worth the hassle and expense of carrying a phone. And I know I am in a tiny minority.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

[quote]Call 911 when no other phone is available. If I’m not mistaken, if you have one with GPS, they can utilize that to find you.[/quote]

True. But I have dialed 911 in my life exactly 0 times. Odds are I never will. And if “they” can find me in an emergency, they can probably find me anytime, which doesn’t seem like privacy.

[quote]Keep in touch with your kids. With a cell, they have no excuse for not calling you, a cab, or a tow truck.[/quote]

Somehow kids survived pre-cell phone. Yes, I’m definitely old-fashioned, and believe in planning in advance. Also, my teen daughter does carry one, but not because I buy into the “helicopter parenting” trend. It’s only because she wanted one (she doesn’t want to be socially handicapped like her Dad) and she earned it.

[quote]Receive a text or call from your otherwise silent car alarm that someone is messing with your ride. Disable the ignition or fuel supply remotely, then call the police or vent some anger issues.[/quote]

That is cool (is this capability really available for civilians? Wow). But again, I must cite the odds. It may be a legitimate use of a mobile phone, but I’ve had my car stolen exactly 0 times in my life, and odds are it never will be. Plus, I keep hoping somebody steals my 1990 Volvo.

[quote]You can live without it. You can drive back to the store to get the bread you forgot to put on your list. But it does make life run more smoothly.[/quote]

But I think some people are turning off their brains to depend on these devices. I have friends who cannot remember a single phone number or address, because all this information is in their device and omitted from their brain. Why even bother trying to remember bread or any other groceries when shopping? –Just call up the house and find out what you’re out of (and try to not annoy the other shoppers with one side of a banal grocery discussion — chances are they’re on their phones, too, so no worries).

All of the uses above are legit. I just decided that, for me personally, they’re not worth the hassle and expense of carrying a phone. And I know I am in a tiny minority.

Don’t even get me started on Facebook!

[northparkbuyer]

I do not have one, and never have. I admit there have been times in the car when lost or running late that my wife’s phone has come in handy, but only a few times in several years.

If an urgent need arises, I find a pay phone, though that is becoming harder and harder to do as phone companies continue removing them.

I can almost buy the “it could save you in an emergency!” argument, but it never resonated with me enough to convince me to get a phone. I somehow lived all my 44 years without one, and I feel confident I’ll continue fine without one. If not, so be it – the drawbacks of paying for and carrying one of those things around for decades just on the remote chance I find myself in an emergency? I’ll take those odds and remain unencumbered.

Those phones have definitely changed us, though. I have noticed that my teen daughter and her friends plan NOTHING. All arrangements are made on the fly over the course of multiple phone calls. “What time are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, she’ll call when she’s ready.” “Where are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, when I get there I’ll call her and tell her where I am.” Sheesh!

I do take some vain pleasure in telling people I don’t have a mobile phone. Some people cannot believe it. It’s like I’m from another planet.

I have heard about people using Skype for free on a Wi-Fi enabled device, like the iPod Touch. That is something I would consider, because it’s free and I can make outgoing calls, but I can’t be called/hassled. But that’s about as close as I can see myself coming to carrying a mobile phone.

[northparkbuyer]

I do not have one, and never have. I admit there have been times in the car when lost or running late that my wife’s phone has come in handy, but only a few times in several years.

If an urgent need arises, I find a pay phone, though that is becoming harder and harder to do as phone companies continue removing them.

I can almost buy the “it could save you in an emergency!” argument, but it never resonated with me enough to convince me to get a phone. I somehow lived all my 44 years without one, and I feel confident I’ll continue fine without one. If not, so be it – the drawbacks of paying for and carrying one of those things around for decades just on the remote chance I find myself in an emergency? I’ll take those odds and remain unencumbered.

Those phones have definitely changed us, though. I have noticed that my teen daughter and her friends plan NOTHING. All arrangements are made on the fly over the course of multiple phone calls. “What time are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, she’ll call when she’s ready.” “Where are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, when I get there I’ll call her and tell her where I am.” Sheesh!

I do take some vain pleasure in telling people I don’t have a mobile phone. Some people cannot believe it. It’s like I’m from another planet.

I have heard about people using Skype for free on a Wi-Fi enabled device, like the iPod Touch. That is something I would consider, because it’s free and I can make outgoing calls, but I can’t be called/hassled. But that’s about as close as I can see myself coming to carrying a mobile phone.

[northparkbuyer]

I do not have one, and never have. I admit there have been times in the car when lost or running late that my wife’s phone has come in handy, but only a few times in several years.

If an urgent need arises, I find a pay phone, though that is becoming harder and harder to do as phone companies continue removing them.

I can almost buy the “it could save you in an emergency!” argument, but it never resonated with me enough to convince me to get a phone. I somehow lived all my 44 years without one, and I feel confident I’ll continue fine without one. If not, so be it – the drawbacks of paying for and carrying one of those things around for decades just on the remote chance I find myself in an emergency? I’ll take those odds and remain unencumbered.

Those phones have definitely changed us, though. I have noticed that my teen daughter and her friends plan NOTHING. All arrangements are made on the fly over the course of multiple phone calls. “What time are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, she’ll call when she’s ready.” “Where are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, when I get there I’ll call her and tell her where I am.” Sheesh!

I do take some vain pleasure in telling people I don’t have a mobile phone. Some people cannot believe it. It’s like I’m from another planet.

I have heard about people using Skype for free on a Wi-Fi enabled device, like the iPod Touch. That is something I would consider, because it’s free and I can make outgoing calls, but I can’t be called/hassled. But that’s about as close as I can see myself coming to carrying a mobile phone.

[northparkbuyer]

I do not have one, and never have. I admit there have been times in the car when lost or running late that my wife’s phone has come in handy, but only a few times in several years.

If an urgent need arises, I find a pay phone, though that is becoming harder and harder to do as phone companies continue removing them.

I can almost buy the “it could save you in an emergency!” argument, but it never resonated with me enough to convince me to get a phone. I somehow lived all my 44 years without one, and I feel confident I’ll continue fine without one. If not, so be it – the drawbacks of paying for and carrying one of those things around for decades just on the remote chance I find myself in an emergency? I’ll take those odds and remain unencumbered.

Those phones have definitely changed us, though. I have noticed that my teen daughter and her friends plan NOTHING. All arrangements are made on the fly over the course of multiple phone calls. “What time are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, she’ll call when she’s ready.” “Where are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, when I get there I’ll call her and tell her where I am.” Sheesh!

I do take some vain pleasure in telling people I don’t have a mobile phone. Some people cannot believe it. It’s like I’m from another planet.

I have heard about people using Skype for free on a Wi-Fi enabled device, like the iPod Touch. That is something I would consider, because it’s free and I can make outgoing calls, but I can’t be called/hassled. But that’s about as close as I can see myself coming to carrying a mobile phone.

[northparkbuyer]

I do not have one, and never have. I admit there have been times in the car when lost or running late that my wife’s phone has come in handy, but only a few times in several years.

If an urgent need arises, I find a pay phone, though that is becoming harder and harder to do as phone companies continue removing them.

I can almost buy the “it could save you in an emergency!” argument, but it never resonated with me enough to convince me to get a phone. I somehow lived all my 44 years without one, and I feel confident I’ll continue fine without one. If not, so be it – the drawbacks of paying for and carrying one of those things around for decades just on the remote chance I find myself in an emergency? I’ll take those odds and remain unencumbered.

Those phones have definitely changed us, though. I have noticed that my teen daughter and her friends plan NOTHING. All arrangements are made on the fly over the course of multiple phone calls. “What time are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, she’ll call when she’s ready.” “Where are you meeting your friend?” “I don’t know, when I get there I’ll call her and tell her where I am.” Sheesh!

I do take some vain pleasure in telling people I don’t have a mobile phone. Some people cannot believe it. It’s like I’m from another planet.

I have heard about people using Skype for free on a Wi-Fi enabled device, like the iPod Touch. That is something I would consider, because it’s free and I can make outgoing calls, but I can’t be called/hassled. But that’s about as close as I can see myself coming to carrying a mobile phone.

[northparkbuyer]

“The Little Blue Book that Beats the Market” by Joel Greenblatt.

You can read it in one sitting.

[northparkbuyer]

“The Little Blue Book that Beats the Market” by Joel Greenblatt.

You can read it in one sitting.

[northparkbuyer]

“The Little Blue Book that Beats the Market” by Joel Greenblatt.

You can read it in one sitting.

[northparkbuyer]

“The Little Blue Book that Beats the Market” by Joel Greenblatt.

You can read it in one sitting.

[northparkbuyer]

“The Little Blue Book that Beats the Market” by Joel Greenblatt.

You can read it in one sitting.

[northparkbuyer]

I have Sonos and absolutely love it. If you enjoy music and can get past the initial sticker shock, you will not be disappointed. It just works — flawlessly.

Apparently getting multiple zones to synchronize perfectly on a wireless system was a major technological hurdle (despite it sounding simple). The Sonos does it.

If you have an iPhone or a Droid, you can save a few hundred dollars because you will not need a remote controller. The apps for these devices are fully functional and I rarely pick up my controller anymore. If you’ve got an existing stereo system with an amp and speakers, you can save a little by getting the ZP-90 (no amp) instead of the ZP-120.

Sorry this sounds like an advertisement — I just really love this system. My only complaint would be that in the last 5 years, I did have 1 zone player die on me and Sonos wanted a couple hundred dollars to do out-of-warranty repairs. I just bought another instead and sold the flakey one on eBay.

[northparkbuyer]

I have Sonos and absolutely love it. If you enjoy music and can get past the initial sticker shock, you will not be disappointed. It just works — flawlessly.

Apparently getting multiple zones to synchronize perfectly on a wireless system was a major technological hurdle (despite it sounding simple). The Sonos does it.

If you have an iPhone or a Droid, you can save a few hundred dollars because you will not need a remote controller. The apps for these devices are fully functional and I rarely pick up my controller anymore. If you’ve got an existing stereo system with an amp and speakers, you can save a little by getting the ZP-90 (no amp) instead of the ZP-120.

Sorry this sounds like an advertisement — I just really love this system. My only complaint would be that in the last 5 years, I did have 1 zone player die on me and Sonos wanted a couple hundred dollars to do out-of-warranty repairs. I just bought another instead and sold the flakey one on eBay.

[northparkbuyer]

I have Sonos and absolutely love it. If you enjoy music and can get past the initial sticker shock, you will not be disappointed. It just works — flawlessly.

Apparently getting multiple zones to synchronize perfectly on a wireless system was a major technological hurdle (despite it sounding simple). The Sonos does it.

If you have an iPhone or a Droid, you can save a few hundred dollars because you will not need a remote controller. The apps for these devices are fully functional and I rarely pick up my controller anymore. If you’ve got an existing stereo system with an amp and speakers, you can save a little by getting the ZP-90 (no amp) instead of the ZP-120.

Sorry this sounds like an advertisement — I just really love this system. My only complaint would be that in the last 5 years, I did have 1 zone player die on me and Sonos wanted a couple hundred dollars to do out-of-warranty repairs. I just bought another instead and sold the flakey one on eBay.

[Author]

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