Beware of the Phone!

In England, where I am based now (Oxford University, actually), there is a major Government policy towards people who DO NOT smoke cigarettes, cigars, pipes, etc in public placees.

It is now law for places like pubs and restaurants to have designated areas for those people who do not indulge.

The reason, which has only come to light because of research, is that cigarettes give off smoke, as does the smoker, which is pssively inhaled by those who do not smoke if they share the same space on a bus, etc.

It is a phenomenon called "passive smoking" and has been proven to cause death just like normal smoking does, but taking longer.

The late, great Roy Castle, who came from Liverpool and who was a great comedian, entertainer and dancer (he was once in the Guinness Book of World Records for recording a song during which the performer played the most solo musical intruments), died from passive smoking, having performed, in his youth, in many, smokey Jazz bars and clubs. His speciality was the trumpet.

However, he was diagnosed with lung cancer owing to smoking, even though he had never touched a cigarette in his life. A research center in Liverpool for this condition was built in his memory.

It is now a fact of life in some places and rules have been introduced to countermand the practice of "passive smoking".

Now we come to the strange effects that perhaps mobile phones have on us. Researchers claim that overuse of the mobile phone, or cellphone, will harm the brain, owing to the proximity between the head and the microwaves entering the units. Of course, effects will not become apprarent for another 25 years or so, just like smoking kills in that time. However, despite this, it hasn't stopped so-called "eco-aware" companies from selling us hands-free headphones/earplugs so that we can talk without the handset being close to our heads.

Far-sighted, or just plain politics gone mad?

Either way, this writer is willing to hazard a bet that there will eventually be areas designated especially for those who do not use cellphones, not because of the noise all these talkers produce, but because of the "passive radiation" they would be giving the rest of us.

What may they call it - - - - "passive personal microwaving"?