Hear That Ping?

When I was a kid, before computers were invented, there were only a few sounds around the house: a telephone ringing, a doorbell, clock chiming, maybe a TV or radio, human voices. But now I find there are way too many sounds, all day and night. For example, the cell phone. Not only does it ring with a different tone or song for different callers. I also hear one ping when an email comes in. There's also an alarm I set once that reminds me to exercise every day at noon (not that I actually do the exercise, but it reminds me I should). Because I accidentally set it up, my "Words With Friends" now beeps whenever one of my opponents enters a new word. I'd like to stop it, but don't know how. And others' phones are pretty distracting too. At my weekly mah jongg game, there's always a sudden freeze in activity whenever someone's phone goes off, with a huge variety of sounds and songs. And don't you hate it when someone's phone goes off when you're in public? First you think, "Mine?". And it's like eavesdropping when you hear the goofy and sometimes embarrassing ring tones they choose. I now hate my dishwasher, too. It's a new one, and it rings or pings whenever I open or close it. And, if I don't close it properly, it keeps on pinging until I get up and fix it. And let's not get started on the car, and the many noises it offers. Now that I've learned that the government is recording my calls and emails, I wish I could get an alert on that activity. Otherwise, I wish my electronic devices would keep quiet and let me start the interaction.