United Press International reports that in the past year, New York City's non-emergency hotline for complaints has surpassed 6.5 million calls - including some from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg says he calls the 311 hotline to report potholes and trash on the street. "Before 311 ... there were 4 000 entries on 14 pages of the phone book," he says. "If you had to find a city service, it was a daunting task."

If your own personal hotline is making you sweat, AFP reports that an enterprising German firm has come with a "sound alibi generator" - background noises that can be downloaded on to your cellphone to simulate the place where you are supposed to be.

The sounds include a traffic jam, roadworks, a circus parade, a dentist's surgery and the ring of another phone, so that you can get rid of an unwanted caller by telling them you are needed on the land line.