In case you are unaware, my
title comes from an old “Tales from the Darkside” television episode. A young
Christian Slater (!) and his mother are mourning the death of her father-in-law…
except… there’s a problem. Grandpa is too stubborn to let go of life! Hilarity ensues,
enhanced by a quirky reverend portrayed by the delightful Brent Spiner (famed
as character Data from TV’s “Star Trek: Next Generation”).
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| Christian Slater Dressed for Grandpa's Funeral |
However, some smart phone conveniences have become all but
mandatory requirements. Take concert tickets, for example.
I saw a reminder upon
Facebook, of all places, that tickets went on sale today for November’s Palaye
Royale concert. Awesome! And my ticket cost less than $20, believe it or not. I
expected a lot more add-on fees. But this ticket seller bombarded me with ‘free
trials’ at the end of my order placement. Perhaps they make more money with
business partnerships these days. Who knows? I declined them all.
The only problem is that I
would have paid a good chunk extra for the delivery of said ticket. And what if
it got lost in the mail? Ugh… As a result of my decision to save money, I’m
left with a digital ticket.
It’s a good thing SO carries
a smart phone. As arranged last March, we will trade devices for the evening.
In an ironic twist, I did not need the phone to gain entrance last spring. I
used a printout of the scanner code. But this time I can’t access that image,
so wish me luck I don’t fumble too much using our smart phone come fall.
In retrospect, I’m amazed to
recall a childhood in which my family not only shared one home phone number,
but our entire neighborhood utilized the same line! In the case of an
emergency, one neighbor might ask another to please end their call. Thank
heaven, that changed by the time I came of dating age. Otherwise any eavesdropper
might have gotten an embarrassing earful.
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| Cover Art for PR Album 'Boom Boom Room: Side B' |
I didn't need a cell phone for the longest time. When my brother got one, my mother got one, and everyone seemed to carry one, I didn't see the need. (I got my first cell phone in 2004.)
ReplyDeleteBut then, as I was getting my Etsy shop going, I learned of Square and taking credit cards via a smartphone. And suddenly, I had a need for a smartphone. I got the phone, the Square account, and my first craft fair in the same month, basically.
I get why you'd want to forgo a smartphone. But they are the best. There are many instances when I'm grateful I have one. It's hard to explain why, kind of like my brother trying to explain the joys of a DVR. If you ever take the plunge, you'll wonder why you hesitated. (And you can put it on silent or turn it off when you don't want to be bothered with it.)
As for party lines, those were gone long before me. I do know what they were, though, as I have an affinity for old movies. There's a great Doris Day/Rock Hudson one that uses the party line to great effect.
Oh, I know the movie you mention. Be well, my dear.
DeleteYes, I am old enough to know about "party lines!" We didn't have one, but I seem to recall our neighbors did, so either they were ending in the early 60s, or they were an option.
ReplyDeleteI have a smart phone, and don't use it for email, or anything but a phone/text/camera most of time. I don't do Facebook either (I have one, but it's for businesses and such, not family or friends).
I don't watch movies on it, the screens too small. Mostly just a phone! My family texts instead of calling, which I actually prefer. I love the app games!
I find it very convenient, nearly necessary, when out of town. Once I HAD to rent a car, and being able to do it online from a hospital room was a time saver.
iPhones have terrific cameras too. That is all I use anymore.
The problem you see of people checking in all the time is a problem with those people!
Ha! You seem a lot like me. My iPod touch is a close second to the smart phone. I just resist using it as more than a music player or camera. Games are too tempting a time waster, for one thing. Be well!
DeleteI only play the games before I go to sleep at night, after I'm in bed. Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, a couple of word games... I turn the data off for them so I am not easily tempted to play while out!
DeleteI "waste" time playing PC games! Hidden object puzzle, and match-3!
Smart!
DeleteWe had a party line for awhile until my parents splurged on a private iine. It was fun as kids to try to quietly pick up the phone and listen in on neighbors talking. I also worked briefly in high school as one of those operators, connecting a person to someone else by plugging their line into the right exchange, waiting to ring through, get the right person then connecting the other party.
ReplyDeleteListen in on neighbors? I don't know what you're talking about. ~grin~ How cool you worked as an operator. Thank you for sharing.
DeleteYAY on your tikets! That is a great price. And you have plenty of time to practice with your phone before then. My cell phone doesn't even have a camera so it is not smart. My aunt had a party line :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. My phone is like yours. ~grin~ How cool you know what I'm talking about, as well. More people are familiar with this concept than I expected. Be well, my dear.
DeleteI remember the party line back in the day. I was born in 1951, so grew up with the party line. It's what we had. I have a smart phone now and enjoy it very much.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, my friend. ♥
Cool! I hope you're having a lovely weekend, too.
DeleteCell phones will be the humans downfall if they allow it. I use mine for calls, texts and yes, posting pics to fb when I am out...HOWEVER, unless I am showing someone something or we are discussing something and want an answer, my phone don't come out when with others. I don't answer calls when out with others at dinner, I don't sit and play games on it, and I have been known to go off to run errands and just leave it home. But the laptop...that is my downfall....haha
ReplyDeleteMeant to tell you that I fought getting cell phone at all for years. Not until 2006 did I cave and only after I rammed the rear end of my co-workers car and if he had not had one I would have had to search out a phone to call for a wrecker and mom to come get me.
ReplyDelete