I called Matt on Friday morning to see how life and learning was going. He was driving to campus and made a stop while he was still on the phone with me. I overheard this conversation:
Girl Voice: [garbled] cell phone. [garbled] while pumping gas. [garbled]
Matt: What are you talking about? [to me] She's telling me I'm going to blow the place up because I'm talking to you. [to her] That's an urban legend. Can't happen. It's been proven.
Girl Voice: [garbled] need to get off the phone, sir!
Matt: Are you a physicist?
Girl Voice: No, but I have worked in the industry for many years.
Matt: Well, you're wrong.
There you have it, folks, ... from someone who has "worked in the industry" ...
Posted by Bill at October 18, 2004 01:03 PMWhat college do you graduate from to work in the gas station counter-person industry?????
Posted by: Kathy Howe at October 18, 2004 01:47 PMLike father, like son. I recall a similar incident with you. *grin*
How did you enjoy your birthday celebrations Bill? Hope you had a great time and was thoroughly spoilt.
Posted by: Michelle at October 18, 2004 04:45 PMThis misguided maven needs to stop parroting stuff she reads in the tabloids...
I offer this site as ammunition:
http://www.snopes.com/autos/hazards/gasvapor.asp
Posted by: philip at October 19, 2004 09:51 AMWhile I was at UPMC Presby Hospital in Pgh waiting for my cousin while she had lung transplant surgery, my cell phone rang. I did not see the sign to turn off all cell phones in the waiting room. I was only on the phone approx. 3 seconds (I was telling the caller I would call them back) when a man approached me, grabbed my arm and told me I was going to kill his wife if I did not turn off my cell phone RIGHT NOW!!! Has it ever been proven that cell phones kill people in hospitals? It has been a constant joke with my family that I could've been arrested for attempted murder with a cell phone!
Posted by: Sue at October 19, 2004 11:36 AMMythbusters on the Discovery Channel -- Adam and Jamie worked their ASSES off to replicate this "myth" and the hell they could. What they figured out is the static electricity of someone getting in and out and in and out of their vehicle, with our without a cellphone in hand, and NOT DISCHARGING the static shock on a metal surface far far far from the gas pump was the problem.
People tend to use the phone and get in and out of their vehicle. The phone is an innocent bystander of this very real problem...
If you live in the Northeast, feel free to talk on your phone, but remember if you get in and out while the pump is fueling, discharge your static on a metal surface far from the pump nozzle before you walk up to it and remove it.
Nuff said. Watch Mythbusters -- it's my favorite show. I'm in love with Adam and Jamie. Mmmmmm weird bald reddish blonde guys who love science. Drooooool.
Posted by: christine at October 19, 2004 02:54 PMI've been watching ever since you first mentioned it, and I've started to see the "no talking on the cell phone while pumping gas" signs around here. No one pays attention to them, though.
Posted by: TW at October 19, 2004 03:04 PMIt's like the man who smokes while checking out leaking gas containers
Posted by: Anji at October 20, 2004 02:49 AM