Texting Her Way To Gold

Ahh, yes, the Olympic Trials for gymnastics (held at our own Wachovia Center) are over. Or maybe not. I think they are. The gymnastics trials are the only one where you’ll find its competitors texting immediately before their performance. I think, at least. Okay, maybe rhythmic gymnastics, whatever that is.

Johnson, Liukin claim first two spots on gymnastics team [Inquirer]

Breaking: Humans Enjoy Communication

Just when you think the news might pick up a little, you get stories like this.

Texting While Driving: Survey Shows Why People Do It [KYW 1060]

New Text Messaging Bill Totally Not Book

A pair of New Jersey lawmakers are attempting to ban text messaging while driving. This, uh, scourge of the roads was noted by the Inquirer in a more-than-extensive article last month.

N.J. Assemblymen Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) and David Mayer (same) are proposing a bill to make it a $250 offense for driving while texting. And although the NHTSA reported texting is the most common distraction for drivers, why the first offense penalty — where a cop can pull you over just for texting while driving, where the cell phone law is only an additional fine if a cop pulls you over for something else — and why single out this one activity?

Moriarty said he steered clear of attempting to ban other distractions, such as eating, drinking or putting makeup on in the car, to give his bill a better chance.

“We want legislation that’s going to be passed, not just debated,” he said. “Trying to outlaw drinking coffee in the car isn’t going to pass. Banning text messaging probably will.”

Ahh, you see? New Jersey’s state lawmakers may not text in the car, but they do drink coffee. Damn punk kids and their distractions!

Proposed bill sends a simple message: Don’t text and drive [The Star-Ledger]
Feb. 26: Texting Teens Ravaging Interstates

IM Conversation Theater: On Teresa Masterson, John Madden, Text Messaging, Etc.

What does Steve Irwin’s death mean to all of us? Teresa Masterson investigates:

pwddmac: oh oh oh!

anonymous reader: teresa!!!!!!!!!
pwddmac: today she ruminates on steve irwin and how she used to watch him in college
pwddmac: she sent her friend a text saying steve irwin died
pwddmac: just like the text you sent me!
reader: i know!
pwddmac: you two should hang out
reader: maybe we can hang out after stripper-pole-dancing class sometime
reader: “He had zeal for what he did.” incidentally, lots of people have zeal for their professions. it’s not always a good thing.
reader: see: dealers, bush, etc.
pwddmac: aaron rowand
reader: i also kind of hate it when people say college was “a simpler time.”
pwddmac: yeah. can’t we all just agree ALL times of life suck(ed)?
reader: seriously.
pwddmac: i mean, okay, when i was 3, that was probably simpler, but i remember being really upset that nursery school picture day was just that, pictures, and i wouldn’t get to play with toys
pwddmac: seriously i think i’m crying in my school photo
reader: life gets more complex just by existing
reader: i bet in college, no one paid teresa to “blog,” either.
pwddmac: yeah, in college i made $225 a month at my school paper
pwddmac: hot times!
reader: oh, burn! we paid better than that.
reader: there is something to be said about the fact that when i hear about a murder in west philly i don’t immediately text any friends who live there, yet i did feel compelled to broadcast the crocodile hunter’s demise.
reader: i didn’t text anyone when the pope died.
pwddmac: well, if the pope was killed by a stingray or a nun, you’d pry text me
pwddmac: jp2 was on his deathbed, it’s not like it was unexpected
pwddmac: god, i hope when john madden dies i don’t spend 1000 words writing about how i we played madden 04 for approximately 250 hours my senior year of college.
reader: well maybe you can text teresa when madden dies.
reader: (which will be soon, i hope. turducken!)
pwddmac: no joking about john madden’s death!
reader: i hate john madden!
reader: someone should write a column - or book - about all the people whose video game/non-reality alter-egos are actually better than their real-life personalities. (john madden = top of that list.)
pwddmac: paging chuck klosterman!
reader: oh god. or not.

Blog: Croc ‘O Nostalgia For Gen X [NBC 10]
Archives: Teresa Masterson