And now, for something completely different

We're three months month into 2008, and I'm starting to wonder about the direction of our technological advancements.
We have iPods, supercomputers and robots that can vacuum the floor. But where the heck are the flying cars? How about the device on Star Trek that allows you to transport instantly to somewhere else? Or space ships that can take us to other galaxies?
Of these innovations, I've seen nothing.
What I do see is cell phones. Smaller and smaller they grow, and more attached to our heads they become. Sometimes literally, if you use hands-free devices.
I have a love-hate relationship with my phone. On one hand, I feel safer driving on the dark, deserted highway on my way home from work at night. On the other, there's just no escaping friends, family, telemarketers and bill collectors, because you're carrying them around in your pocket.
It's an addiction. Like alcohol, heroine or Law & Order reruns.
Here's a story I bet you can relate to:
You hit the snooze button a few too many times, and of course you're running late for work. And probably, just for good measure, it's Monday.
You throw on some clothes, brush your teeth at lightening speed, grab the car keys and hit the road.
Then half a mile (about thirty minutes in traffic) away from home, it hits you: You FORGOT your cell phone.
What do you do? Do you say, "Nah, I'll just leave it at home today. Nothing I really need that for."
OF COURSE YOU DON'T!
You have to turn around and get that annoying little device, don't you? Because what if something bad happens? What if you break down, run out of gas, your mom gets taken to the hospital, your kid gets suspended from school and your dog escapes from the back yard? How on earth could you possibly be out of touch for the whole eight hours that you are at work?
In reality, you got along for [fill in the number] years without your kids, significant other, friends and salesmen having immediate phone access to you.
I can remember as a kid leaving the house for hours on outings that did not involve constant interruptions via obnoxious pop-song ringtones and text message alerts.
People called houses, left messages and waited for a return phone call. And it was OK! The world kept rolling right along.
I'd like to invite you all to join me in putting the phone down and interacting more with the live and in-person world.
Starting right after I take this phone call.