Yesterday, civilization as we know it came to a grinding halt for several hours. Did the sun fall out of the sky? Did nuclear war begin? Did George W. admit he was wrong about something?** No.
Northwest Arkansas' cell phone service crashed.
It takes something like this to make you realize how utterly dependent on technology you are. Ten years ago I didn't own a cell phone. Now, it is a rare moment that I don't have mine on and with me. I was filled with anxiety on the drive home from work--what if I had a wreck? How would I call Matt? Who would call 911, for that matter?? Would I have to wait until I got home to order pizza? (Just kidding about the last one, but you know someone was thinking that).
Never mind that 10 years ago these would have been issues all the time. I didn't know what to do with myself! And I had it easy. Lots of people don't even have a land line any more--they just use cell phones. They might as well have been in Siberia for the evening. And it apparently affected some Internet service as well. What did people do at work all day?!
It turns out that a backhoe (or some such thing) cut the main fiber optic cable (or some such thing) that supports the wireless network in NWA. Here's my main concern with that. You have literally hundreds of thousands of wireless devices, owned by and depended on by hundreds of thousands of paying customers, and your service relies on A SINGLE CABLE that is buried shallow enough to be dug up on ACCIDENT and unprotected enough to be CUT? This is absurd. It's like storing savings bonds in a child's toy box, or making freeways out of glass. Who thought up this brilliant plan? Well, it's the same people who make up those ridiculous cell phone commercials--I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
**This is not a political blog. The statement made here is meant to neither support nor disparage our President--I just thought it was funny. And you gotta admit, the guy does have a hard time owning up to his mistakes.
6 comments:
No cell phone service???? That makes me shudder with fear!
That's crazy! and no joking about the pizza comment...i have the numbers of about 5 of our favorite take out places stored in my cell phone so that they can be called at any time!
Melanie
It was crazy without service! I can't believe how dependent I am on it!! I talked to my dad, on a land line, and we laughed because it really wasn't that long ago when we DIDN'T have cell phones!!! And, I'm with Melanie...I have several of our favorite take out places in my cell, so I can call on the run and pick it up on the way home!!!
Kori "o)
Nance, maybe that should be your next "blog" discussion...How dependent are we on our cell phones and what crazy #'s we have programmed in...like the food places, I have the electric company and cable programmed in so when it goes I can call them...anyway, just a fun idea!!
Kori
Ooh, the electric company...i'll have to add that one too! That totally makes sense! I live in a Dallas suburb and I have the numbers of the surrounding police depts. in my phone, as well as the state highway patrol. I also keep all our doctors/medical people because i can never find those numbers when i need them.
Melanie
Melanie, I thought I was the crazy one that kept all that medical #'s, school #'s, ect, in my phone! The other odd one I have are several of the Movie theaters in the area, so I know when the latest is showing and we can run and catch a movie!! Aren't we funny!!!
Kori "o)
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