Phony talk
A survey by Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project has shown that approximately 13% of people stage fake calls on their cell phones to avoid speaking to people around them. For those 18 to 29-years-old, that number jumps up to 30%, while dipping down to 6% for those between 50 and 64. In the 30 to 49 age range, 11% are regular fakers. Smartphone owners bring the average up a bit with one in five of admitting to making phony calls.
The survey of 2,277 Americans revealed that a whopping 83% owned some kind of mobile phone. Additional findings include:
• Forty-two percent indicated that they use their mobile phones for entertainment.
• Mobile phones can also be a lifesaver, with 40% saying they’d found it useful in an emergency.
• Most use their mobiles to send text messages
• The younger you are, the more likely it is you’ll own one, with 94% of 18 to 29-year olds using cells.
• Seventy-three percent use their phones to send text messages or take photographs.
• Forty-four percent surf the Web on them.
• Twenty-nine percent admitted turning off their phone for some peace and quiet.
The survey also showed that manufacturers have a bit of R&D work to do, as 16% had difficulty reading something on their phone because the screen was too small and 10% found entering a lot of text on their phone frustrating.
Cycling for MS
When your company mission is “Motion Without Limits,” what better way to accomplish this than to sponsor one of your employees in the Oregon Bike MS fund raiser. Bishop-Wisecarver Corp., San Francisco, sponsored employee and cyclist Chris Crawford in the two-day event, which benefits more than 7,200 people with multiple sclerosis that the National MS Society, Oregon Chapter serves each year.
“I have friends and loved ones affected by MS, and so do many of our employees. As a company based on motion without limits, it’s only befitting of us to get involved,” said Pamela Kan, president of Bishop-Wisecarver, adding she has been a personal sponsor of Crawford for years. “I am very honored to have helped Chris support this cause. He is a true inspiration.” Bishop-Wisecarver is a leader in guided motion technology and the manufacturer of the original DualVee guide wheel.
Crawford rides in support of his sister, Bonnie Iglesias, who has been fighting MS for years. As part of Bishop-Wisecarver’s corporate involvement, the brother and sister team were asked to share their story on camera. Crawford and his sister have raised $250,000 since their first bike ride in 2000, and he credits this success to the personal stories they share publicly with their supporters.
After the bike ride this year, he wrote a letter of his personal experiences to all of his supporters. The letter is published online on Bishop-Wisecarver’s company blog. To watch video coverage of the event and interviews with Crawford, check out the Bishop-Wisecarver YouTube channel. For live news and updates, follow Bishop-Wisecarver online at www.twitter.com/bwcnews.