TWO CENTS
On Ring tones
What melody did you pick?
By Kimberly Ross, Oakland

I chose chirping birds, thinking it would be a more natural and calming, but after a while I jumped for my phone every time I heard birds outside. So I set it back to "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" from "The Nutcracker." Either way, it's annoying..

Lina La, Oakland

I selected one where a horse constantly neighs. I just thought it was unique. It's also a cool way to freak people out..

Robert Atanasio, San Francisco

I use "Rocket" in combination with "Vibrate." Wait -- I just realized how Freudian that sounds. Hmmm. Anyhow, every time I hear a tinny version of some bad-but-infectious melody used as a ring tone, I consider carrying a jammer with me..

Joy Brewer, Carmichael

I am an old rock 'n' roll kinda gal, so I have "Lola" by the Kinks on my phone. People always stop and say, "I know that song -- cooool!".

Cee Cee Wu, San Francisco

"Jingle Bells." It is different from everybody else. When my phone rings, everybody around me looks at me with a grin and says, "It's not Christmas yet!".

Claire Markman, Walnut Creek

Despite the fact that I am a singer, and sensitive to melodious -- and unmelodious -- tones, I needed a ring tone I can hear even if the phone is tucked away. So I selected the loudest, most piercing tone I could, and sacrificed my tonal sensitivity..

Anh Chu, Oakland

When my close friends call, their ring tone is the "Mission Impossible" theme. It reminds me of me and my partners in crime and the fun we've had..

Egan Brown, Oakland

I bought a ring tone online for about $1.99 over a year ago and haven't had the motivation to purchase any more. It's a very outdated hip-hop song by Kanye West. .

Erik Ressel, San Francisco

Just the standard that it came with. I'm too busy to waste time looking for ring tones for my cell phone..

Mike Gaynes, Moss Beach

I have Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King." It's gloomy music that nicely captures the sense of foreboding I get whenever my cell phone rings, because the incoming call generally turns out to be a pain in the rump.