Ringa-Linga

[vakkotaur]

When we gave up on DSL (the DSL provider failed to actually provide a connection too many times), the phone line went away with it. But that doesn't mean that the phone on the desk or such doesn't work. Both jmaynard and I have Google Voice numbers as well the cell numbers. And a little gadget made by Obihai allows those numbers to work with the wired phones in the house.

Overall this works out well. The Google number rings at home and the cellphones, so calls are unlikely to be missed. Since Jay uses the phone more than I do, he gets line 1 and I get line 2. The only thing I've found I that bothers me is that with just one phone in the office, on Jay's desk, it's a nuisance for us. If I need to use it (incoming or outgoing call) it seems to always happen when it makes it a problem for one or both of us.

The solution is, of course, to put a phone my desk and just have it connected to line 2. I did that not long ago when it was recalled the office phone outlet has a socket for a line 3 & 4. We patched things so that "Line 2" from the gadget is "Line 3" (Line 1 of the second socket) in the house. I used a typical slimline sort of phone for a week or two that way but it wasn't quite what I wanted. One issue was that the pushbuttons were on the handset, which gets a bit annoying in a world with pushbutton menus. That was recently remedied, with style.

Now on my desk is something that perhaps looks out of place: An upright style (AKA "candlestick") phone. It's not a historical item, but a modern replica with buttons. Those buttons are nicely arranged in dial style, however. And the phone is no lightweight. Not so much in features (it's just a phone, the fanciest thing it does is have redial) but in actual weight. It isn't going anywhere by mere chance. The earpiece is heavy enough for exercise - or to indicate that a call has gone on plenty long enough. Oh, and the ringtone is not a tone. It's a real bell ringing, in a very pleasant 'two short' style: *brrring* *brrring*

Comments

Wait, was mine two longs and a short?

[tippydevil.livejournal.com]

I do love a telephone that has an actual bell, it seems like, in the electronic world we live in, that an actual BELL ringing cuts through all the beeps and buzzes usually resulting in a "CRAP -- PHONE!" dash. To be fair, I'm usually doing the dash with my cell phone too, as when I am at home it is typically plugged in charging :p I am old enough and grew up rural enough to remember having the party line ring pattern to distinguish calls intended for our house, though I'm not sure I EVER actually remembered what our pattern WAS.

Also, on a related note -- http://xkcd.com/479/

Re: Wait, was mine two longs and a short?

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I don't recall any particular ring pattern for the very short time we had a party line. The other party was... well, I think when we moved they were annoyed that the line was shared and party lines were being phased out (and TouchTone capability being brought in, in the area).

My cellphone is normally on a charger at home, or when on longer trips, too. I thought about having a classic phone ring for it, but some other folks do that and I wanted to avoid a ringtone that other used. So my phone doesn't ring. It wails. I used a recording of a civil defense siren.

Re: Wait, was mine two longs and a short?

[tippydevil.livejournal.com]

I did consider the first 20 seconds or so of Pink Floyd's "Time" with the volume bumped up, but that's actually one of the songs that is often on my phone rotation, so I wouldn't always recognize it was an actual call coming in :)

You know, I have never actually SEEN your desk, but for some reason, if there were ANYONE'S desk where an admittedly modern reproduction of a candlestick phone that could be used to brain someone would not be out of place, it would seem to be yours.

Re: Wait, was mine two longs and a short?

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

I also have the Doctor Who theme (Jon Pertwee years) as a custom ring for my sister. I think that's the only one though. Though jmaynard has said I ought to use Sharp Dressed Man for him. I'm not sure it starts off well enough to work as a ringtone though.

My default ringtone is a carrillon...

[jmaynard.livejournal.com]

I use a clip of Cast in Bronze's cover of Tubular Bells, played on a real carrillon.

Re: My default ringtone is a carrillon...

[tippydevil.livejournal.com]

Oh that does sound cool. I do have a custom ringtone for someone that is steel drums, though shame on my library tail I can't remember what song it's lifted from :p

Re: Wait, was mine two longs and a short?

[bjbuttons.livejournal.com]

My cell phone dose not ring either. I have the Motorola "quick call" tone for Station 51 from Emergency as my ring tone. NO one has that :)

[dumbbum-comics.livejournal.com]

That candlestick phone sounds like the type not to drop on your foot. It sounds interesting. But can it take pictures? Can it tell you the weather? Can it hold your entire schedule so you can lose it all at once? Didn't think so.


ps- Those 45 men must be very small, or that booth is very big. Either way it's too tight to pass wind comfortably. I mean the wind isn't passing comfortably. Who are they calling? 911 to get them out?

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

That candlestick phone sounds like the type not to drop on your foot.
Indeed. Fortunately it's unlikely to get knocked off the desk, and even if it were it would have a low probability of hitting my foot.

But can it take pictures?
Nope.

Can it tell you the weather?
If I dial the local airport's Automated Weather Observation System, yes. No forecast, but current conditions are there.

Can it hold your entire schedule so you can lose it all at once?
Nope.

Check youtube for the tune and decide how serious any of it is. The lead vocal is explaining why he didn't call a gal - and wondering if everyone else was.

[dumbbum-comics.livejournal.com]

Out of friendly care, I'd advise before you get too comfortable to make certain the desk's legs are solid as can be. Reinforced with steel and concrete and a Transformer (why not) so the desk can safely support the weight of that phone. You might not drop the phone on your foot, but lets not try to drop the desk on your foot. That will be quite the journal entry!

I miss the time when phones were used as phones and nothing more.

I heard the song. Before I go to the silly part (for there will be a silly part) how refreshing hearing something new (it was new for me), sounded like it was made to come out of a colorful jukebox. But the silly part: Many images and thoughts came to me. The more important one: In 1955 a man could stand in public with a hand full of money and not get assaulted. (You could get a meal for a nickel and he had a few; phone calls were expensive. Was it a long-distance call? I mean all that money, where was the girl living, in Korea?). I truly felt bad for the guy. Why did he buy the flowers BEFORE knowing if his girl was available? At least he had candy to keep his sugar level in check in case he was diabetic. But then I felt bad for the girl. 45 men in a booth? Come on. Was he just lying to her because he didn't want to call her? What I got from it, he forgot her birthday, and bought these flowers and didn't know how to explain he was late... but of course this is all because I'm a writer and I see weird possibilities where normal people just remain normal. :( Cheers.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

The desk legs are indeed steel. No need for concrete, though the transformer (step-down) for the power supply for other things is heavier than the phone.

I don't mind that phones have become portable computers and network devices. What I miss is the idea of courtesy and privacy when using the phone. So many just seem all but yell and thus broadcast their half-conversations to anyone nearby.