Dial M for Masochism

Brought to you by voice menus, because our calls are very important to them.

OK, why is this: I call some service provider on the phone. The auto-voice tells me to enter my account number. I enter it, followed by the pound sign. Eventually I get connected to a person. And the first piece of information the person asks for is — can you guess? — my account number.

What the heck? Didn't I just enter it for them? Wasn't my entering it instrumental in our being connected? Don't they have some sort of computational device that can remember the number I entered until the service rep picks up? Or are they just messing with my head? If so, it's working.

Another thing about voice menus that drives me nuts is the commercials. Commercials! On the phone! I'm talking about those promotions for yet another great product or service offered by the company I've called. Why would I want another product from them when I've just called about a problem with the one I've got? Grr.

Still. If that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'm probably doing all right.

Crispy wisdom du jour: The fortune cookie I got at lunch yesterday said, "Your many talents attract others, so be sure to use them." Use which — the talents or the others?

Today around the world: June 7 is when Norway celebrates Union Dissolution; Norway gained independence from Sweden in 1905.