But there are other intrusions. There are the telemarketing phone calls from stockbrokers offering investment advice-unfortunately they are a year too late. But being busy on the phone keeps them from jumping out the window, I hope. One floor trader has observed that just about the time he figures out the key to the market, they change the locks. Where was I? One local merchant has a recorded message that sounds like Charlton Heston pitching carpet cleaning. More and more of those telemarketing messages are prerecorded. But the ultimate intrusion occurred last Wednesday, when I attended a presentation on the "Electronics Industry Outlook in China," which was held at the Santa Clara Marriott. Michael Liu, editor in chief of the China edition of EE Times, was the presenter, there was a standing-room-only crowd and I was standing in the back of the room when the wall phone rang. Everyone in the room looked at me as I answered the phone. Now get this-it's a recorded message for a home equity loan. So even if you are in the ballroom of a hotel, you are not free from those recorded solicitations. Nutso indeed.

Last time, I talked about trying to learn Spanish. That prompted an e-mail from Juan, a staff engineer at Honeywell, offering to coach me via e-mail and teach me Mexican colloquialisms. Gracias. Nice folks in this business.

fburge@cmp.com