The National Transportation Safety Board called this week for all states to prohibit drivers from using any cell phone - including hands-free devices. In the UK and other European countries cell phone use while driving has already been banned. Make a call while you're driving in England and you will be subject to a fine, do it in Holland and you'll get a hefty fine and possibly get locked up for two weeks.

Americans wouldn't stand for that encroachment on their liberty would they? It's been hard enough getting them to wear seat belts! But when you see the statistics for deaths and injuries due to cheap cell phone use while driving, you can see why something needs to be done and no, the alternative is not to get a hands-free device, studies show that it makes no difference.

Why is this? Most people think that they can multi-task, in this case pay attention to the road and have a heated argument with someone at the same time. The human brain can only concentrate on one thing at once, multi tasking is possible but if you're doing five things at once, each task only gets 20% of your complete and undivided attention. This is a scientific fact.

Studies show that if a teenager is driving and talking (we dread to say texting) their reaction times are about the same as someone who is 70 years old. They don't react to brake lights, take longer to accelerate and get back into the flow of traffic, pedestrians become a serious risk and road signs glanced at (possibly) but it takes much longer for the information to sink in.

It's not getting any better with the new technology either. We now have mini-computers in our hands. We can surf the web, check our emails, and text if we want to, all while going 70 mph. For me that also includes groping around for glasses so I can see what's going on!

Cell phone use causes approximately 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States each year and an alarming proportion of those deaths and injuries are young inexperienced drivers.

Next time you go to an electronics store take all your old cell phones with you and recycle them. As you drop each one into the box say a big thank you that you're still alive and you weren't one of those 332,600 killed or injured. When you leave buckle up and put your phone on silent, put on some music and concentrate on the road.

Learn more about recycle mobile options China wholesale electronics.

(CNN) -- Almost six months after Japan's women gave the country a much-needed boost by winning the football World Cup, the team was again celebrating after scooping a hat-trick of prestigious awards.

At a ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland late Monday, Homare Sawa was crowned FIFA Women's World Player of the Year after she captained Japan to the Women's World Cup title in Germany, while her manager Norio Sasaki was named coach of the year.

"I couldn't comprehend it when my name was called," Sawa told reporters Tuesday.

"I felt like I was in a dream, just like the World Cup. There are so many great players out there. It was an unimaginable moment, walking up to the podium, being among all those people."

Japan's Football Association also picked up the FIFA Fair Play Award in recognition of the hardships the country endured following the earthquake and tsunami that devastated large parts of Japan on March 11 last year.

Team skipper Sawa, dressed in a traditional kimono, was joined on stage by JFA president Junji Ogura to receive the accolade.

"It's a great honor for JFA to receive such a prestigious award from FIFA," said Ogura. "We will do our best to continue to prepare in our activities. We are very proud in this award."
It was an unimaginable moment, walking up to the podium, being among all those people
Homare Sawa

Japan's surprise victory in Germany in July last year denied the much-fancied U.S. team a record third title. They even battled back twice after going a goal behind.

But even as the team progressed through the competition against the odds, it became about more than just football or a trophy. Their exploits were inspiring a country that had suffered so much.

"After the disaster, the whole country was in the spirit of trying their best. What we saw was the soul of Japan," one fan, Yasushi Tsuha, told CNN after watching the match at a Tokyo bar.

Despite the fact the game kicked off at almost 4 a.m. local time, men and women flocked to watch the game. By the end of the epic clash, there were few dry eyes in the bar as the victorious Japanese players lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time.

They were overcome with emotion and pride in a team that few knew anything about before this competition.

"When I see women like me giving so much spirit, it gives me energy to keep going in my daily life," said another fan Ayako Nishi.

The national team left Japan bound for the tournament with little fanfare. A month later, they were swamped by jubilant fans as they arrived back at Tokyo's Narita airport as national heroes.

Their success looks likely to continue in 2012, after the Nadeshiko qualified comfortably for the Olympic Games in London later this summer.

　　　The six-year-old John was terribly spoiled . His father knew it, but his grandma doted on him. He hardly left her side. And when he wanted anything, he either cried or threw a temper tantrum. Then came his first day of school, his first day away from his grandmother's loving arms.　　

When he came home from school his grandma met him at the door.　　

"Was school all right?" she asked, "Did you get along all right? did you cry?"　　

"Cry?" John asked. "No, I didn't cry, but the teacher did!"