Jokes about SMS/ Texting

Our team was asked to give a presentation on text messaging as a thinking assignment in our college. Like everyone else I gathered loads of data from internet (especially Wikipedia). During my online research I found some stunning statistics and really funny graphics, pictures and cartoons.

According to the article on Wikipedia, text messaging is the most widely used mobile data service worldwide, with 74 percent of 2.6 Billion mobile phone users worldwide, actively sending and receiving text messages. The countries where texting is extensively used are as below:

Philippines: 15 texts sent per day by subscriber.
Singapore: 12 texts per day per user
South Korea: 10 texts per day per user
US: 1 text per user per day
Finland, Sweden and Norway: 90% of total population
Europe: 85%
North America: 40%

Just imagine if all 1.92 billion sms users were to send just one message everyday @ $0.20. This means telephone companies and SMS service providers make $380 million every day. Just imagine how big the global sms expense is. There is so much money in this world but concentrated in the hands of few individuals.

Disadvantages of SMS

One of the biggest problems that SMS or text messaging has created is distracting users from whatever they are doing. Seen in the picture is this driver who is busy texting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
SMS is a huge distraction, especially among students who use it during class to chat instead of concentrating on lessons.
Mobile phone viruses can be transmitted through sms
There is no guarantee that the sms will be delivered
Inconsistency in delivery. For example: person A sends sms to person B in the morning but it gets delivered only in the evening.
People addicted to messaging tend to spend large amounts of money on texting.
Limited number of characters per message restricts free expression of thoughts
Continuous texting can lead to RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury) including Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
Texting has been used to commit frauds including identity theft.

Enjoy the cartoons and pictures below

New Phenomenon: Intrusive Light Pollution!

Ever heard of this term Intrusive Light Pollution? Well I had never heard of this kind of pollution until today. I came across this term while reading a newsreport about a debate over installation of lights in White Rock Lake. The article titled "Debate heats up over lake's proposed lights" was published in today's Dallas Morning News.

Apparently city authorities have proposed to install about 50 lights atop 20 feet tall poles in the parking lots and along the walking trails around the 1,015 acre city lake at an astronomical cost of $310,000. And later an additional 100 lights at about $500,000. But people living around the lake are not happy, they say that installation of the glow from lights would be too harsh and cause "Intrusive Light Pollution".

I had been to White Rock Lake a few months ago and believe me it is one of the most beautiful spots I have seen in thi area. The beautiful aqua forte has facilities for several outdoor activities such as a hiking and biking trail (9.33 miles); Audubon Society-designated bird watching area and wetlands site; picnic areas; Fishing piers for catfish, sunfish, and bass fishing. Apart from this numerous special events, including the March of Dimes Walk America, White Rock Marathon and the White Rock Lake Trash Bash take place regularly in the lake.

According to the article the authorities want to install lights to boost up security in the vast open areas around the lake. Quite obviously a step in the right direction, but then this installation is not going down too well with people living around the lake. So now the citizens are meeting for a public debate to decide on the issue.. whether security is more important or prevention of "Intrusive Light Pollution"...

For me, I find it funny that there is a debate at all. :)

Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival, Irving

Today I attended the colourful and well organised Dragon Boat, Kite and Lantern Festival. This annual festival was initiated last year as part of the Asia Pacific Heritage Month celebrations. The month of May is celebrated as the Asia Pacific Heritage Month and in its observance there are numerous cultural and social activities taking place across the US. And Dallas being one of the locations where loads of Asians live, multiple festivals have been organised during this month.



The festival was held in a vast open space sited on the banks of Lake Carolyn in the city of Irving, close to the historic Mustangs of Las Colinas. I really wanted to participate in the Dragon Boat Race and tried to put together a team but then I was not successful and had to content myself to just visiting and enjoying the performances and views of the festival.

The Hawaiian dance

Like the Asian Festival of Dallas, the Dragon Boat Festival too featured numerous food stalls, entertainment shows, kite flying, lantern dances, there were booths selling Asian handicrafts, clothes, jewellery and among others. The sunny weather... bordering on hot and sultry... helped keeping the spirits high. The highlight of the festival however was the Dragon Boat Races, which sadly I missed.

Cultural performances included, Chinese Lion Dance, An Asian Fashion extravaganza titled Parade of the Nations, Indian dance, Tahitian and Hawaiian Hula Dance, Mahalika Philippine Bamboo Dance, Chinese cultural performance, Chinese Peacock Dance, Tai Chi and Kung Fu demonstrations among others. It was an afternoon of fun and food for the entire family. But for the blazing sun I'm sure people would have enjoyed the festival better and not confined themselves to the comoforting shade of the few tents.

I enjoyed each and every performance that I could get to see. The video and pictures in the post gives a sneak preview of the activities and performances of the festival. Hope you enjoy reading the blog and looking at the pictures as much as I enjoyed visiting and being part of the festival.

Mustangs of Las Colinas

The Festival Champions, Irving Fire Department

Lake Carolyn

Colourful and large kites

Kung Fu Performance