For the fun of it, I’m offering my opinion on some current issues. In fact, I’ve divided my comments into three categories: over the top, just right, and don’t bother – with an extra tip for coping along the way.
Over the top: Nintendogs
These virtual puppy pets can be seen and, yes, purchased at www.nintendogs.com. They can be programmed to respond to the sound of your voice, play games, and generally do everything that real dogs do. Except you don’t have to follow around with a pooper-scooper. Nintendogs come with adoption papers and remind me of Cabbage Patch Dolls at the height of their popularity. Personally, I’m not a dog person, so I can easily pass up a cute pooch, virtual or the other kind. I’m waiting until Nintendomeow.com comes on line.
Just right
I got this book for my birthday that I think fredflare.com should stock and sell. It’s called She and was written by Kobi Yamada. It’s all about empowerment and recognition, but in a very subtle way. One of my bestest friends, Judi, gave it to me to celebrate our many years of friendship.
Each two-page spread has less than 25 words, but they resonate with what we should celebrate about women. Here is one example: “SHE decided to enjoy more and endure less . . . Celebrate her choices.” Here’s another: “SHE remained true to herself . . . Celebrate her authenticity.” I encourage you to find a copy and go from there.
Don’t bother
There are tons of things out there not worth our time. Unfortunately, telephone companies across America belong in that category. Aren’t they supposed to be about communication? Then why do they have such difficult telephone menus if you want to call and talk to a customer service representative?
It’s not worth the effort, except . . .
I have discovered a secret way to bypass all those annoying menus and go to the head of the line where you actually talk with a real, live human being. (They’re becoming rarer and rarer.) Here’s what to do: When you get tired of the hunting and pecking in the company’s menu system, simply hit the “Zero” button.
Hold it down for about ten seconds, then release. You should hear a voice say that you are being switched to a customer representative. If this doesn’t work, try hitting the “Zero” button about ten times.
For some reason, persistence with the “Zero” annoys the automatic menu system and it doesn’t know what to do except connect you to a live person. This also works with that new automated voice that tries to talk to you as if it were a human on the other end of the line. It’s becoming more and more popular with big congloms, but it’s also more impersonal. I can’t imagine doing business like that; but then, I’m not a big conglom. I’m just one person who wants to communicate one-on-one.
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