Another American institution is fading away - the land line telephone. For you youngsters, it’s that black thingy that hangs on the wall or sits on a table that some old person talks into. It’s expected by the end of 2015 there will be few, if any, land line phones. Everything will be wireless or VOIP - Voice Over Internet Protocol.
Being old, I remember the old rotary dial phone. Before that, I remember having a party line that made you wait until someone hung up before you could make a call. And, anyone on your party line could listen in - and did. Heck, I remember when you picked up the receiver and told the operator what number you wanted to call - like BR549.
Sure technology is wonderful, up to a point. Cell phones are great if you can get a signal and if it is not distorted. And, now days you have to have a phone about the size of a small car so you can play games, listen to music and update your Facebook account. The talking part is secondary. And, the old land line that used to cost less than $20 per month, is now going to cost you upwards of a $100 per month - including must have data minutes.
Cell phone have advanced to a point of replacing talk. You just text. Heck, there are some people that send text messages to each other at the dinner table - another fading institution.
Pretty soon, when a baby is born, he or she will be given a phone and placed in a crib where life will be solitary, but entertaining.
The world just ain’t the same without Lily Tomlin’s character, Ernestine. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just start texting:
One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy
PMO
©2014
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