Minnow’s Five Things

Parents on cell phones, kids on cell phones—everyone on cell phones. That’s what caught my attention this week.
I’m certainly not the only one who is noticing people on cell phones everywhere. Writers and bloggers are documenting it for us. The irony is that we can appreciate how absurd we look when we view the images on our digital devices. If we ever looked up and around us, we might notice it ourselves. Here’s the blog post that caught my attention first.

Then I found this blog, dedicated entirely to images of parents on their cell phones—aptly called Parents on Phones. Keep scrolling down—it gets better and it’s actually pretty funny. I’m sure you’ll find some that you can identify with.

If you’re more concerned with running out of battery on your phone than having real human interaction, you might be interested in Ampy, a new device that literally charges your cell phone by harnessing your own kinetic energy. The catch is that you have to be moving (ie. running, walking, even dancing) in order for it to charge. Note that driving in a moving car does not count (even if the windows are open and the kids are getting fresh air that way). You literally have to get your butt in gear to get your phone charged. There is a beautiful, subtle irony in all of this—could it be progress?

To be clear, I’m as guilty as anyone of phone addiction, so I don’t wish to sound sanctimonious in any way. The Parents on Phones blog is hilarious because we can all relate to it. Personally, I keep telling my teenage kids that if they learn to put the phone down, look people in the eye, shake hands with purpose and communicate properly, they will be ahead of their generation. Then, when I start feeling old because I’m turning into that person who is so worried about the ‘next generation’, I remember the wine purse. And I’m happy again.

And on a much more serious note about cell phone use, it’s National Teen Driver Safety Week in Canada and I’m happy to help raise awareness of this issue. My eldest son is learning to drive right now so I care about his safety, but I care about the safety of others on the road now that he is driving! While young people only make up 13% of licensed drivers, they account for approximately one quarter of all road-related injuries and fatalities. Most of these injuries are a result of distracted driving and could easily have been prevented. I encourage all drivers to protect themselves and their communities by pledging to #PracticeSafeText while they are driving. Remember: keep two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road.

Look up this week. I hope you see some interesting things!