HIVE MIND:

Like many of you, I have had my landline rendered useless by a constant assault of telemarketers and phone frauds. (I have a landline because @verizon@twitter.com has lousy coverage at my house.)

Most of these calls hang up when they get the answering machine. I therefore never answer unless someone gets that far. ("Hello? It's <actualperson I know>. Are you there?")

Still, the ringing is annoying. Is there a way to turn OFF the ringer, but leave sound ON so that I might be able to pick in response to legitimate calls?

I'm not above buying a new phone to get this feature. I'd rather not pay a monthly fee for caller ID (which wouldn't solve the problem).

Ideas?