TEENAGE BOY TO ZIP HIS LIP FOR A YEAR

TEENAGE BOY TO ZIP HIS LIP FOR A YEAR

HADDONFIELD, N.J. (Wireless Flash) -- An 18-year-old college freshman is about to bring new meaning to the phrase "keeping your word." Starting September 1, Brett Banfe of Haddonfield, New Jersey, will attempt to avoid speaking even one word for an entire year. Instead, he will communicate solely by e-mail, facial expressions, business cards and -- if he has to curse -- sign language. Banfe says he hopes the vow of silence will give him a chance to observe society and learn about himself -- but he also hopes to sell his first words after the silence to a sponsor such as Pepsi-Cola. He admits keeping his lip zipped won't be easy once he starts school but hopes his professors understand why he isn't speaking up in class. You can watch Brett's silent world unfold at the website he's created: notspeaking.com