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The inattentiveness of those engrossed with MP3 players, cell phones and other similar devices.

In the jargon of this tech-savvy age, it has been dubbed "iPod oblivion" - and Australian police say it can be lethal for pedestrians and cyclists, alike.

Earlier this month a 45-year old cyclist rode into the path of a tram while listening to his iPod in Victoria, Australia. While the rider was lucky enough to escape with minor injuries, the accident has prompted the state to warn cyclists of the dangers of ‘iPod oblivion’, reports the BBC.

"Like many young professionals in this retiree town, Coupeville Deputy Marshal Adrian Kuschnereit is often thought to be younger than he really is.

A 2003 graduate of Coupeville High School, in August he will have worked for the Coupeville Marshal’s Office for two years."

"If there were a poster child for pedestrian cell-phone hazards, Paige Odebralski might just be it.

In January, the Riverside teen was so absorbed in a phone conversation after school that she tripped on a dirt path, fell down and scraped her knee."

"Western Washington University associate professor of behavioral neuroscience Janet Finlay has been awarded $372,735 from the National Institutes of Health for use in her research into the neurobiology of schizophrenia."