About ten years ago, someone told me about these cell phone thingamies that an increasing number of people were carrying around. They seemed like a neat idea. One day a friend asked me when I was going to get one. "I'm not important enough for a cell phone," I answered. Who did I need to talk to on a moment's notice? What was I doing that was so important that it couldn't wait for me to get home and use my land line? Nothing.

But now I have a cell phone and no land line. ...

• bartolimu