The the-dog-ate-my-homework excuse has been replaced in the last few years with its alter ego, the the-computer-ate-my-homework excuse. I would know. I invented most of the variations on the computer theme. And now that I'm a professor, it really ticks me off. Here's why:
Computer-eating-homework: Only works on teachers who still think computers are too technologically advanced for themselves. Most of us aren't that dumb anymore--we can't be, especially since so much of our campus communication is via e-mail or online. Now while I don't design extravagant web pages or program computers, I know my way around the machine too damn well to buy the "it won't print!" or the "I can't find the file" or the "my disk crashed" or "my computer crashed" or "my car crashed with my laptop in it, but I escaped unscathed and I'm really sorry and I'll get it to you as soon as possible." And it's funny how quickly after class the offending file can be retrieved. If I say, "Well, can you get it to me by the end of the day?" they respond with, "Oh, absolutely!" and it's in my inbox in two hours. Funny how that works.
The problem is that it's hard to tell which students actually aren't e-gifted, because some excuses are real. Well, too bad. In the future, I'm telling my students, "Computer problems? Too bad, sucka! If it's late, it doesn't exist, kinda like how your computer lost it in the first place."