June 25, 2006
Vox Populi
By Robert Paul Reyes
.........“Brandy, you won’t believe this, but I’m calling from Central Park, and this girl just got hit by a lightning, it’s like she’s burnt to a crisp, it’s like something out of a horror movie, it’s like don’t worry I will stay on the phone and tell you if anyone else gets zapped. It’s like wow…”
A curious news story proves that the Almighty tolerates cell phone addicts as much as the average person.
A 15-year old London girl was struck by lightning while gabbing away on her cell phone in a park during a storm.The teen suffered a heart attack but was revived in time. She lost all memory of the incident, but the lightning strike was witnessed by several people. I bet she hasnÂ’t forgotten how to use a cell phone.
As a result of this incident, as well as a couple of others, the British Medical Journal has issued a report warning that lightning poses a threat to fools who use mobile phones outdoors during a thunderstorm.
I donÂ’t think this warning will deter teens from using a cell phone, even it is raining cats and dogs.
“Brandy, you won’t believe this, but I’m calling from Central Park, and this girl just got hit by a lightning, it’s like she’s burnt to a crisp, it’s like something out of a horror movie, it’s like don’t worry I will stay on the phone and tell you if anyone else gets zapped. It’s like wow…”
We shouldnÂ’t rely on divine intervention to curtail cell phone usage amongst teens, parents should allot only so many minutes per month. ItÂ’s not like cell phones are their only means of communication, they also have land lines and computers.
Ah, but even that may not work. “Mom, what do you mean you’re giving me a plan with only 10,000 minutes per month. That may be enough for this weekend, but what will I do for the rest of the month?”
As for adults who use their cell phones in movies, restaurants and other public places, if God doesnÂ’t smite them with a thunderbolt, maybe a swift kick in the behind will do the trick. Just kidding, IÂ’m not advocating the use of violence against cell phone users, really IÂ’m not.
The hapless London teen girl in a wheelchair with physical and emotional problems. She also has a permanently perforated eardrum and hearing loss on the side she was holding the cell phone.
I hope the poor girl eventually makes a full recovery, but after the warning from the British physicians, if anyone else makes a cell phone call outside during a thunderstorm, they deserve the full wrath and fury of God.
