What do cell phones and pneumonia have in common? Nothing, except that many of my students have both. Seeing the recent news about a virulent strain of pneumonia prompts me to warn all of you that there is apparently a quiet strain of strep going around. My students are just feeling like they have a cold (no severe sore throat, no high fever). But then, in a period of about an hour, they become ill - I've had at least 3 students be admitted to the emergency room with temps of 104 degrees and fluid in their lungs. Diagnosis - untreated strep, turned into pneumonia. My doctor recommended that I go on a preventative course of anti-biotics, which I declined because I do not like to be on unnecessary medication. Then, another student with the same story walked into my office, so I called my doctor back. I cannot recall the last time I took anti-biotics, so I guess I'm not in danger of over-medicating.

And of the many types of cell phones that my students brandish, I know that at least one incorporates a digital camera. How do I know this? Because one of my students showed me a picture he took of me during lecture. My response - "Don't do that!" Grr...