Flashback to the mid-1990s, when modems are still in wide use for PCs and this pilot fish is a sysadmin at a local college.

“The college had a digital phone system that was not compatible with computer modems,” says fish. “To be able to test computers at my work station, I had a separate direct phone line installed — plain old telephone service.”

That’s perfect for fish’s needs. It lets him plug an ordinary home-type phone line into a modem for testing, and that’s the only thing he needs — or uses — it for.

Fast forward a year or so: It’s vacation time for fish, who’s getting out of town for a week. He can’t think of any reason his time off should be disturbed — but, knowing the realities of IT, he leaves a phone number where he can be reached while he’s gone.

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