Let your fingers do the walking

It was a last-minute thing. Normally, I’d have left it until I got to the airport, for the ticket agent to handle. You know, like the old days. But then I thought, what if there’s a real line up at one of those dreaded airline kiosks? What if it takes me longer than normal to get my baggage checked? So, instead, I decided to face the demon now, instead of later. I keyed in the airline name and began the clinical, faceless, robotic process of self-check-in.

“Check in from your computer and print your boarding pass,” the prompt said. “No printer? No problem. Print it at the self-serve kiosk when you get to the airport.” (more…)

Run with distinction

Yahoo.com

It took a little while, but I found out what the overseas area code for the United Kingdom was. Then – this was 1980 – I asked for directory assistance in London. I naively inquired about a residential phone number. To my astonishment, they had his number. I carefully composed myself, dialled, and fully expected either an assistant or someone running interference to answer. The phone rang a few times. Then, a man answered.

“Hello,” the voice said in an Oxfordian accent.

“Hello,” I said, not believing someone had actually picked up the phone. “Ah, would Dr. Bannister be there?”

“Speaking…” (more…)