YOU KNOW YOU ARE LIVING IN 2010 when…

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2 You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses / facebook / Myspace / twitter.

6. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home to help you carry in the groceries.

7 Every commercial on television has a web site at the bottom of the screen.

8. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go and get it.

10. You get up in the morning and go on line before getting your coffee.

11. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. : )

12 You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.

13. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

14. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

15. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list

It is precisely that quality time that we long to have returned to us these days but unfortunately, I don’t see that ever happening.

When I say quality time, then it surely is that time that we spent during our childhood years. Living in nostalgia is quite pleasant at times. These were the years in which we did not have much access or knowledge about cellular phones, internet availability, PC’s, PDA’s, etc. etc. or any of these high-tech gadgets of today that we simply cannot breathe without; or so it seems.

These items have been made into our necessities. Items that make us feel lost if we are without them. However, we do not feel lost if we are without Islamic guidance and knowledge that holds more precedence at any given time, doesn’t it?

I remember growing up with my siblings and feeling life’s simplest pleasures. The littlest things in life brought so much joy and happiness to our hearts. As opposed to today, while such gadgets exist amongst us in society, we are still stressed out and full of tensions and probabley now more than ever. Sometimes I wonder how much sense that actually makes. Wasn’t technology supposed to make our lives a lot more easier and stress-free? Rather it has been all the more successful in making us much lazier and lethargic. It has not only been successful in doing that, but it has also taken away so much of our precious time spent with our loved ones. Whether it be our parents, siblings, spouses or children, we are just not around them as much to spend that valuable time as much as we would like to be. But obviously who is to blame for that now?

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1983
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X
Analog Motorola DynaTAC 8000X Advanced Mobile Phone System mobile phone as of 1983.

1989
Motorola MicroTAC 9800X
The first truly portable phone. Up until its release, most cellular phones were installed as car phones due to the inability to fit them into a jacket pocket.

1992
Motorola International 3200
The first digital hand-size mobile telephone.

Nokia 1011
This was the first mass-produced GSM phone. It was produced until 1994.

1993
BellSouth/IBM Simon Personal Communicator
The IBM Simon was the first PDA/Phone combo.

1996
Motorola StarTAC
The first clamshell cellular phone. Also one of the first display screens featured on a cell.

Nokia 8810
Alternately called the ââ`¬Å”banana phoneââ`¬ï¿½, this phone was popularized in the first Matrix movie.

Nokia 9000 Communicator
The first smartphone series, driven by an Intel 386 CPU.

1998
Nokia 9110i
This iteration of Nokiaââ`¬â”¢s Communicator series significantly reduced the weight of this precursor to the smartphone.

Nokia 5110
This cell phone was the most popular consumer model at the time of its release and for some time afterwards.

1999
Nokia 8210
This phone was loved for its customizable design, but hated for its screen fade.

Nokia 7110
The first mobile phone with a WAP browser.

Nokia 5210
This phone was known for its durability and splash-proof interchangeable casing.

Benefon Esc!
This was the first instance of a GPS being integrated into a mobile phone, and was sold mostly in Europe.

Samsung SPH-M100 Uproar
The Uproar was the first cell phone to have MP3 music capabilities.
Nokia 3210
The internal antenna and predictive T9 text messaging sold approximately 160 million of these phones.

2000
Ericsson R380
The R380 featured a black and white touchscreen, partially covered by a flip.

Nokia 3310
This popular phone sold 126 million models, and was particularly popular in Europe.

Ericsson R320
One of the first phones with a WAP browser. A version of this phone was released in China that allowed Chinese character SMS.
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I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year. I am totally screwed up now and have little chance of recovery.

I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel or have them put lemon slices in my ice water without worrying about the bacteria on the lemon peel.

I can’t sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.

I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking ones nose (although cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot).

Eating a little snack sends me on a guilt tripbecause I can only imagine how many gallons of Trans fats I have consumed over the years.

I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.

I MUST SEND MY SPECIAL THANKS to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.

ALSO, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.

I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.

I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.

I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out for me, and St. Theresa’s Novena has granted my every wish.

I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers..

I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.

THANKS TO YOU I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.

BECAUSE OF YOUR CONCERN, I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.

I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won’t crawl in my back seat when I’m pumping gas.
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We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory but nobody, other than ourselves, knows which of these numbers belong to our closest family or friends.

If we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the people attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn’t know who to call.

Yes, there are hundreds of numbers stored but which one is the contact person in case of an emergency?

Hence this “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) Campaign.

The concept of “ICE” is catching on quickly. It is a method of contact during emergency situations. As cell phones are carried by the majority of the population, all you need to do is store the number of a contact person or persons who should be contacted during emergency under the name “ICE” ( In Case Of Emergency).

The idea was thought up by a paramedic who found that when he went to the scenes of accidents, there were always mobile phones with patients, but they didn’t know which number to call.

He therefore thought that it would be a good idea if there was a nationally recognized name for this purpose. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital Staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialing the number you have stored as “ICE.”

For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3 etc. A great idea that will make a difference!

Let’s spread the concept of ICE by storing an ICE number in our Mobile phones today!

Please forward this. It won’t take too many “forwards” before
everybody will know about this It really could save your life, or put a loved one’s mind at rest ..

ICE will speak for you when you are not able to.

The mobiles industry wants as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits of mobile telecommunications and encourages individuals to use their mobile phones in a responsible manner and to be considerate and aware of situations where using their mobile phone might annoy others.

1. When in doubt, always go out
When possible go outside or to another room to make your call if your call might disturb others. Also, features such as text messaging answering services, call diversion and vibration alert can be used to receive important calls without disturbing others.

2. If you can’t turn it off, use silent mode
If you need to keep your phone on for important calls, then turn it to silent or vibrate mode. It’s the ring of a mobile phone in inappropriate places and times such as at the tennis or in restaurants which annoys people the most.

3. When required turn your phone off and check it’s off
There are some places where people should never talk on a mobile phone or send text messages and where the ringing of a mobile phone or message alert is considered highly unacceptable, such as: movies, stage shows, weddings, funerals, concerts, speeches, classrooms and lectures. In these cases, turn your phone off and remember to check it’s off before you enter the venue. You can always check your voicemail, text messages or your answering service afterwards.

4. Keep your conversations private
People’s sense of personal space varies in each situation. Making a call in a busy pub may be okay, but talking loudly in a confined space like a lift or on a train tends to infringe on others personal space. Be aware of where you are and who you are with and what others are doing before deciding to make or accept a call. In some situations it might be better to send a text message.

5. Speak softly
Mobile phones have very sensitive microphones that can pick even the softest voice, so there is no need to shout. If you are having trouble hearing the other caller, check that you have the volume on your phone set high enough.
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There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.   Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: -

1 EMERGENCY
The Emergency Number worldwide for **Mobile** is 112 …* If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112  can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.**

2 Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?
This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone:  If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other “remote” for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

3 Hidden Battery power
Imagine your cell battery is very low , you are expecting an important call and you don’t have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

AND

4 How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone’s serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:

* # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. when your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

You probably won’t get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can’t use/sell it either.

If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones

SCENE 1.

People sure stay busy trying to cheat us, don’t they?

A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in  the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought to himself, ‘Funny, I thought I locked the locker.

Hmm, ‘He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay – all cards were in place.. A few weeks later his credit card bill came
- a whooping bill of  Rs.7,00,000!

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying that he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that there was no Mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. ?

‘No,’ he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled  out the credit card, and yep – you guessed it – a switch had been made.

An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet. on Bank Gift , Debit , Credit cards The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not  report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the  amount owed to them.

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy?

7,00,000!

Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a ‘warning bell’ with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts
added up to big one!

SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his  credit card. The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket.

Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.  She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave  the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the  counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the
real card.
No exchange of words — nothing!
She took it and came back to the man with an apology.

Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are  yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for  something and/or the card is taken away for even a short  period of time.

Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, ‘assuming’ that it has to be theirs..

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!

SCENE 3:

Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my check ing account. The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure. While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have,  but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture.  He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons.

Meanwhile, I’m thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I’m paying close attention to what he is doing..

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds later, I heard the chime
that tells you that the picture has been saved.

Now I’m standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card.

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor.

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution
and don’t be careless..

Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing
when you use your card.

Be aware of phones, because many have a camera these days.

FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN
THINK OF. LET’S GET THE WORD OUT!
JUST BE AWARE !

Never let your card out of your sight…..
check and check again!

1) The ringtone “Nokia tune” is actually based on a 19th century guitar work named “Gran Vals” by Spanish musician Francisco Tárrega. The Nokia Tune was originally named “Grande Valse” on Nokia phones but was changed to “Nokia Tune” around 1998 when it became so well known that people referred to it as the “Nokia Tune.”

2) The world’s first commercial GSM call was made in 1991 in Helsinki over a Nokia-supplied network, by Prime Minister of Finland Harri Holkeri, using a Nokia phone.

3) Nokia is currently the world’s largest digital camera manufacturer, as the sales of its camera-equipped mobile phones have exceeded those of any conventional camera manufacturer.

4) The “Special” tone available to users of Nokia phones when receiving SMS (text messages) is actually Morse code for “SMS”. Similarly, the “Ascending” SMS tone is Morse code for “Connecting People,” Nokia’s slogan. The “Standard” SMS tone is Morse code for “M” (Message).

5) The Nokia corporate font (typeface) is the AgfaMonotype Nokia Sans font, originally designed by Eric Spiekermann. Its mobile phone User’s Guides Nokia mostly used the Agfa Rotis Sans font.

6) In Asia, the digit 4 never appears in any Nokia handset model number, because 4 is considered unlucky in many parts of Southeast/East Asia.

7) Nokia was listed as the 20th most admirable company worldwide in Fortune’s list of 2006 (1st in network communications, 4th non-US company).

8. Unlike other modern day handsets, Nokia phones do not automatically start the call timer when the call is connected, but start it when the call is initiated. (Except for Series 60 based handsets like the Nokia 6600)

9) Nokia is sometimes called aikon (Nokia backwards) by non-Nokia mobile phone users and by mobile software developers, because “aikon” is used in various SDK software packages, including Nokia’s own Symbian S60 SDK.

10) The name of the town of Nokia originated from the river which flowed through the town. The river itself, Nokianvirta, was named after the old Finnish word originally meaning sable, later pine marten. A species of this small, black-furred predatory animal was once found in the region, but it is now extinct.

Could you drive any better if I shoved that cell phone up your ass?
Criminal Lawyer is a redundancy.
Daddy, why doesn’t this magnet pick up this floppy disk?
Death is hereditary.
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how popular it remains?
Did anyone see my lost carrier?
Diplomacy is the art of saying good doggie while looking for a bigger stick.
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me, either. Just leave me alone.
Don’t be irreplaceable; if you can’t be replaced, you can’t be promoted.
Don’t drink and drive. You might hit a bump and spill your drink.
Don’t piss me off! I’m running out of places to hide the bodies.
Don’t take life too seriously, you won’t get out alive.
Double your drive space. Delete Windows!
Duct tape is like the force, it has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together.
Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.
Energizer Bunny arrested and charged with battery.
Error, no keyboard. Press F1 to continue.
Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.
Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don’t have film.
Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.
Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.
Few women admit their age. Few men act theirs.
For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.
For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain.
Forget world peace. Visualize using your turn signal.
Friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies.
Friends may come and go, but enemies tend to accumulate.
Generally speaking, you aren’t learning much when your mouth is moving.
Genius does what it must, talent does what it can, and you had best do what you’re told.
Get a new car for your spouse; it’ll be a great trade!
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
Give me ambiguity or give me something else.
Good judgment comes from bad experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
He who laughs last thinks slowest.
Honk if you love peace and quiet.
Honk if you want to see my finger.
How do you tell when you run out of invisible ink?
How does Teflon stick to the pan?
How many of you believe in telekinesis? Raise my hand. Read the rest of this entry »