I took on a steel pole and lost
Posted on: August 14, 2009Posted in: Blog
Author: Cali Lewis35 comments so far
August is a difficult time to do a gadget show like GeekBrief.TV. Everyone goes on vacation and that means very little news and very little gadget releases. Today’s Brief is all about gadgets I’ve enjoyed this summer on my back patio, but we had to go to the hardware store so we could turn the patio into a set.
We’d gotten most of what we needed, and I stopped in the middle of the aisle to tweet that I was at the hardware store and commented on how nice Lowe’s employees were.
Then I started walking while looking at my phone making sure the tweet sent. As I was locking the phone to put it away…
BAM!!!!
Only….you know how in cartoons everything shakes? Well, it was exactly that way for me. As I crashed into the huge steel pole in the middle of the aisle, my whole head vibrated with pain.
I now have a very nice and beautiful bump to show for my zombie phone usage. Although this incident probably won’t stop me from doing it in the future, I will be more careful and at least look ahead of me more. Oh, and parents…feel free to use this post when trying to teach your kids that texting and walking don’t mix. 
« Gary Vee: “Treat Everyone Like a Goldfish”
Paul McCartney Concert »
August 14th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Ouch! Hope that bump goes away soon!
“Friends don’t let friends walk and text!”
August 14th, 2009 at 10:39 am
I once did the same thing in high school. They were having a fire drill and we were all walking outside. The girl I happened to like at the time was walking behind me, so I turned around to walk backwards. When she caught up, I turned around and walked right into the flag pole. So embarrassing. Your boo boo seems a lot more painful, though. Feel better. =)
August 14th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Ouch…sorry to hear that. Even if i would like to laugh about your post i couldnt in the end because it happend something similiar to me. I was running and tweeting and listening to music when i hit the pole. But my pole was only 3 foot high….if you get what i mean.
It was the hardest knock out i ever had
August 14th, 2009 at 10:43 am
You’ll just have to move to the UK. Streets in London have padded lamp poles for people like you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=807vebt-mmQ
August 14th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Sorry to see that. On the bright side, perhaps you can do a follow-up brief on how AfterEffects (or, whatever post software you’re using) allowed you to edit out the bruise. Feel better
August 14th, 2009 at 10:51 am
We have a safety video that included just such a thing but it was tree a guy walked into while text messaging. My goodness, what’s next? No gum chewing and walking?
Hope your head stops hurting.
August 14th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Hope you’re feeling better and bump-free soon!
August 14th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Ouch!
Someone has developed an iPhone app that pairs the email client with the camera so that you can look through the screen as you are typing (no joke!). That way you can type and walk safely Looks like you need a Twitter version.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Sorry you hit your head Cali usually it is other people colliding with you and not you colliding with stationary objects. Thanks for the public service announcement.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:17 am
OHH Cali…
You can txt even while asleep! I figured you had radar which kept you out of the way of obstacles. Mal-function on the radar today. And here you were tweeting nice stuff @ the store… So sorry! Take it easy today!
August 14th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Oooh, ouch! New smart phone feature needed: HDPR – Head Down Personal Radar – flashes the screen when nearing an immoveable object.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:26 am
Walking into a pole is nothing. Try tripping over a fire hydrant! It bent my belt buckle and I got stuck, my mom and sister had to help me get off of it. Right in front of the school and a full crosswalk… Now that’s embarrassing.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Um, the ladies insist that I ask you where Neal was when all this went down?
John
August 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Consider this a blessing – you should be able to file a personal injury suit against the store for not padding their mid-aisle poles or not placing a protective barrier around them. With your platform on the Internet you could make a lot of trouble for the company and they’d probably write you a nice handsome check to avoid the bad publicity. You make your living with your face, so the damage is not only painful but could inhibit your ability to earn a living.
Hmm – - One has to wonder just how many people run into poles every day around the country. I think you may even have grounds for a class action suit against the hardware store industry, and perhaps the pole manufacturers. I can just smell the money.
On the other hand, you could chalk it up to a silly mistake and watch where you’re walking next time.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Bangs will go along way to conceal that mega bruise.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:39 am
For those of you who text and drive, watch 7 Pounds with Will Smith. You’ll never do it again!
On another note, I fell asleep with my iPod Touch in hand. When I woke up, one icon was missing! I never figured out what I deleted either. I guess it wasn’t one I really needed.
August 14th, 2009 at 11:42 am
When i first read about the ‘bump’ i thought you was referring to a different kinda ‘bump’. One of those nine month ones. The small iphone screen confused me!
August 14th, 2009 at 11:45 am
It’s a pity Americans do not know Metamizole! I guessit hurts a lot!
August 14th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Holy Schnikey! That’s gotta hurt! I almost tripped on the curb walking into my work bldg the other day while using my iPhone… just saw it last second to avoid failing and an embarassing moment. You’d think we would all be smarter…. [confused looking face]
August 14th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
In reply to Angelo Malaquias’ post on your blog, this is why Americans don’t know about Metamizole and why they shouldn’t use it… http://bit.ly/m90fA.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
That’s funny when you said “I think I’ll have to update my picture at some point after this bump stops growing” I was thinking you were trying to tell us you were pregnant LOL.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
To Dave. This is not the place for a pharmaceutical debate, I am sorry to have mentioned the drug… However, as a doctor and a scientist I know that there is a lot of misunderstandings in this matter. Metamizole risk is highly exagerated. Every drug carries its risk, as does ibobrufen, paracetamol and aspirin. I also suggest some technical reading http://bit.ly/ZPsoc.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Awww, am I the last to offer to kiss it better?
For some people, texting and thinking don’t go together either!
August 14th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Is your iPhone OK?
August 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Sit down if you watch this.
August 14th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3jaPgfcgz4&feature=related
August 14th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Hahahahha! I thought you meant a baby-bump too. Does that make it feel better? Well, both bumps go down sooner or later. Did you damage the poll?
August 14th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Arnica, should soothe your bruise. Multi-tasking, just for ….?
August 14th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
glad you were not driving and tweeting, could have been much worse. maybe when i see pretty girls like you walking and texting i’ll go stand right in their way!
haha
August 14th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Ouch Cali, looks painful, good job it wasnt the nose or two black eyes on the brief wouldnt look good
August 14th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
BAM!, said the lady. Get well soon.
August 14th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Hope it gets better soon I now have a matching one!!
August 15th, 2009 at 12:20 am
was hoping you were ting about a “baby bump” …don’t you think it’s about time you covered parenting tech and gadgets!
August 15th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Sorry to hear about your incident Cali. I think this might help for next time. I have developed a proximity sensor appliance that plugs into the iPhone, with an App which sounds a loud warning and vibrates the phone when you get too close to an object, while you are tweeting, texting or just daydreaming. You can set the distance and the object type such as metal poles, or creepy people. If I ever get a working unit, I’ll be sure to send you one to try out for us the next time you go to the hardware store.
Have a Terrific, and Bumpless day.
August 19th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I feel for you. Today I was wearing khaki’s and brushed up against my car. I was opening the car door while brushing off the road dirt and the top corner of my car door found my forehead, about the same spot…looks like I got into a brawl