ABSTRACT
A persistently ringing telephone can create a very annoying experience. Imagine you are about to leave your office for some reason that seems important enough for you to decide you do not want to pick up the phone if it rings. And sure enough, while you are walking to the door, the phone rings. You continue to walk to the door when you hear the second ring and, while you are opening the door, the third ring makes you return to answer the phone, maybe with that overly friendly tone in your voice that hardly disguises your suppressed anger.
