Fun Story: Ma Bell’s Got the Ill Communication
"Ma Bell’s got the ill communication!"
– The Beastie Boys, Get It Together (1994)
This cache pays homage to that classic Beastie Boys lyric. In the song, “Ma Bell” is widely understood to refer to the nickname for the Bell System, the telephone network once operated by AT&T before its breakup in the 1980s. “Ill communication,” meanwhile, is Beastie-speak for intense or chaotic conversation—fitting for a band known for their lyrical wordplay and energy.
But there’s a lesser-known, likely urban myth that gives the line a fun twist:
In this version, Ma Bell wasn’t a corporation, but a real person—an eccentric local woman from the Beastie Boys’ NYC neighborhood. According to legend, she’d drop a dime into a public payphone without dialing a number and launch into animated, one-sided rants. No one on the line—just pure, passionate “ill communication.” When done, she’d hang up, retrieve the dime, and do it all over again, day after day.
So, if you’re feeling the frustration of a DNF, tired of soggy logs, muggle alerts, or just need to air your caching grievances—go ahead, pick up the phone and have a chat with Ma Bell. She gets it.
Part of the “Little MFR” Series
(Micro Find Receptacles)
This is one of our “Little MFR” caches: sneaky, snappy, micro hides that’ll challenge your urban stealth and reward your persistence. Expect to blend in. Expect to second-guess. Expect to grin when you make the find.
Stealth Tip:
Misdirection is your friend. A very common activity at this location is cleaning out your car. That’s your cover story. So act casual, toss that CITO trash, rearrange your trunk, and give your geomobile a little TLC while you make your move.
Cache on. Communicate ill. And drop a favorite if this hide made you smile.
Check out all of our caches and Adventure Labs in the area!
TeamXplorist geocache hides
Let's go on this Adventure: Do U Spy The Flagler County Turtle Trail?
Let's go on this Adventure: Do U Spy Saint Augustine’s Murals?
Our favorite Geocaching Content:
- The Geocaching Vlogger
- The Aussie Geocacher
- Hullsome
- 10000 Geocaches
- GeoTrek
- Treasures of our Town Podcast
- Podcacher Podcast