Fibbers get an assist from their cell phones.

• Position: Technology - Phony excuses - Brief Article

The latest feature of cell phones? They'll help you concoct phony excuses. For example, there's Escape-A-Date, a service of Cingular Wireless. If you're going out on a date, you can arrange to have your cell phone ring at a set time. The call guides you through a script that makes it sound, to the party across the table, like you have to rush off. There are also alibi clubs--networks of strangers who are available by text message and help each other skip work or get out of dates by making well-timed phone calls on each other's behalf. There's nothing new about...