I just heard a news item on the TV not more than an hour ago about telemarketing calls. Apparently, the statement "put my number on your no-call list" legally requires them to do ecactly that, and if they do call you again within a ten-year period, they are subject to a fairly stiff fine. Of course, this doesn't stop them from calling in the first place.

My brother-in-law (my sister's husband) was an airline pilot (now retired), and during some of his off hours he was "on call" and had to stay near a telephone. Not unlike Bob's situation, he had to answer the phone and was perpetually being interrupted by somebody trying to sell him aluminum siding or magazine subscriptions. He soon learned that a lot of airline pilots, doctors, and other people in similar "on call" situations have two separate phone numbers: one is in the phone book; the other is unlisted, and it's the unlisted one they give to their family, close friends, and anyone who has to get in touch with them. The listed number they answer only if they're curious, feel magnanimous, or feel like making a telemarketer's life a living hell.

There are a couple of ways you can do it: 1) two numbers on the same line, each with its own distinctive ring, so you know which number is being called; 2) two separate lines, each with its own number and its own distinctive ring.

This works pretty well, but the pain in the kiester is that you have to pay a higher phone bill just to protect yourself. My brother-in-law gets some of it back in the he opted to hook things up. He has his computer modem hooked up to the listed number. That way, telemarketers get either a busy signal or no answer. It also has the advantage that when John is surfing the Internet, Pat (or, for that matter, John) can still use the phone.

Don Firth