Ma Bell

Heed Bill Walsh's advice on AT&T.

AT&T was "Ma Bell" when it was the parent of all the regional phone companies (the "Baby Bells," if you must).

The AT&T that was recently acquired by one of the so-called babies, SBC Communications Corp., was, almost by definition, not Ma Bell.

And be sure to check out the advice in the comments from Phillip Blanchard, too.