A nonprofit organization called the Environmental Health Trust (EHT) is lobbying the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to "stop flip-flopping and acknowledge and publicize the risks of cell phone radiation." What the EHT ultimately wants is for the FCC to force cell phone makers to slap a warning label on their devices.

"In terms of awareness of microwave radiation risks from cell phones, the U.S. is far behind other countries, including Switzerland, Israel, France, and Germany," says EHT founder Devra Lee Davis, PhD, MPH. "These nations require cell phone makers to publicize radiation rates directly on phones sold to their citizens, provide special labeling for low radiation phones, and restrict their use by children, who are more vulnerable to radiation."

Cell phone radiation continues to be a controversial topic that pops up from time to time. Back in the summer of 2010, CITA, a group representing mobile phone operators, sought to block an ordinance that requires retailers to post information about the Specific Absorption Rate for phones they sell. Prior to that, The Environment Working Group released a chart showing which mobile phones emit the most radiation.

According to security firm BitDefender, malware aimed at social networks like Facebook pose the biggest threat for mobile platforms and is as widely spread as malware that targets PCs.

"When data security researchers focus on finding malware specifically designed for mobile platforms, they lose sight of an important mobile platform threat source -- the social network," said George Petre, BitDefender Threat Intelligence Team Leader. "Statistics indicate that malware targeting social networks may be the biggest current threat for mobile devices, and BitDefender can help users stay safe against these types of threats."

Sure it's a self-serving study, but there's still a lesson here. Citing goo.gl statistics, BitDefender points out that one of the URLs used for a recent massive Facebook scam duped a large number of users. One of the URLs making the rounds promised to show users a girl's Facebook status that supposedly got her expelled from school. The simple scam generated 28,672 clicks, and nearly a quarter of those came from mobile platforms.

"Users who clicked on the link -- whether on PC or mobile device -- downloaded a Facebook worm and fell victim to an adword-based money grabbing scheme," BitDefender says.

Butt dialing. We've all done it. It's where you sit on your mobile phone or lean just right so that you accidentally dial someone's number, and hopefully you're not talking trash about the person on the other end of the line when you inadvertently (and unknowingly) dial them up.

There was no gossip taking place when an Illinois man phoned his wife with his backside, but whatever she heard, it spooked her into calling the police," the Chicago Tribune reports.

"You know how when you sit on your phone when it's in your back pocket and it calls the last number that was dialed? His wife was the last number he'd dialed," said Winnetka police Chief Joseph De Lopez. "The conversation led her to believe there was someone holding him hostage."

As the story goes, he was listening to music that had "gangster-like" lyrics. The panicked wife then called the police, who ended up sending a SWAT team -- automatic weapons and bulletproof vests and all -- to the school the husband was supposed to be at.

"He's embarrassed," the superintendent said. "Who wouldn't be? He's taking it hard that it created such a response."

And we're amused.

You have an Android phone. Your wife has an iPhone. And your kids? They're rocking basic cell phones. That's all well and good, but wouldn't it be great if all them shared a single type of charger?

Such a scenario could be a reality in 2011, the UK's Telegraph reports. Apple, Nokia, Samsung, Research in Motion (RIM), and 10 other big name mobile manufacturers have received details from the European Commission on a new standard connection.

"Now is the time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger," said Antonio Tajani, Vice President of the European Commission. "The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste, and benefit businesses. It's a win-win situation."

According to the EC, the lack of a universal standard puts a major damper on the environment, as "users who want to change their mobile phones must usually acquire a new charger and dispose of the old one, even if it is in good condition."