Off the Mark by Mark Parisi for October 15, 2018

That’s a good one.

Hadn’t thought about it before, but it turns out there are actually apps for smart phones that mimic rotary dialers. If they really wanted to go retro, they’d have one where you jiggle a “hook”, and an operator voice asks what number you want to be connected to.

WATCH OUT FOR THAT PUMPKIN!

I get the rotary dialer, the cord, and the handset. But what is the paddle? Is it supposed to be a wall jack?

You never cease to amaze us, Mark. Bravo.

For once this comic isn’t,“Off The Mark”, it’s on it!

“Long distance operator, give me Memphis, Tennessee.”

I actually was given a full size, novelty “rotary phone handset” for my android phone…

No cord, though…. it’s bluetooth… it’s hollow, and way lighter than a real rotary phone part.

The problem was, the manufacturers cared more about the novelty than the electronics….

Ir was cheaply made, and not only didn’t work, it somehow almost ruined the bluetooth settings on that phone.

Taught me not to attach junky gadgets to valued electronics…

Now I have a so-called “cheap” smartphone, but it’s still more than I care to replace.

Too bad it didn’t work, though.

He’s looking at himself in a hand mirror.

Mirror

This is adorable. I still would love to have a rotary phone with a cord. My uncle worked for Bell Telephone and gave me a 60 ft. long cord. I could walk all over the house while on the phone. And those receivers were easy to hold in the crook of your neck. I can’t do that with a cell phone. Then again, I DO like texting….

Isn’t being a flip phone an ‘old man costume’?

He or it is looking in a mirror.

it’s a mirror

I still have a converted (and working) candlestick phone, although I never really use it. Still have a land line, but the phones are all cordless. Anytime I’m feeling nostalgic, though, I can plug the candlestick into my one regular RJ11 jack, actually “dial” someone and talk my little head off, while enjoying my trip through time to “the good old days”…

(It is amazing how long it takes that dial to go around 7 or 11 times – which we never used to even think about.)

There are old style handsets, corded or Bluetooth, that’ll work with your cell phone, if it’s easier to hold either in your hand or wedge against your shoulder.

Attempts have been made at rotary dial cell phones, but meh.

The old phones have all retired and joined the Rotary Club.