US town escapes 666 phone prefix

[Greeby]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7163767.stm

A town in the US state of Louisiana is to be allowed to change its telephone prefix so that residents can avoid a number many associate with the Devil.

Christians in Reeves have been unhappy since the early 1960s about being given the prefix, 666 - traditionally known as the Biblical "number of the beast".

For the next three months, households will be able to change the first three digits of their phone numbers to 749.

Mayor Scott Walker said CenturyTel's decision was "divine intervention".

However, he admitted it helped that Louisiana's two senators had also lobbied for the change with the phone company and the state Public Service Commission. -snip-


I'm saying nothing :evilgrin:

[hobbit709]

1. Do these people also panic if the bill comes to $6.66?

[Bluebear]

4. Yes. I actually witnessed this in Jackson, Mississippi

The grocery bill was 36.66 and the mother said "Quick! Add on something else". and grabbed some gum to alter the total.

[CrispyQ]

7. I worked in a grocery store for many years &

three times the bill came to exactly $6.66. Of course I would really emphasize it by saying, "Your total is six, six, six."

EVERY TIME the customer purchased another item!

[rateyes]

2. Since the 1960's?

Damn. That's a long time to be bitchin' about a telephone number.

[rateyes]

3. I wonder who had the number:

666-4355. (666-HELL), or 666-7734.

[Subdivisions]

5. Stupid religious idiocy.

[panzerfaust]

8. No. It is the Revealed Word of God

(Rev 13:18): "Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is six hundred and sixty-six"

Though I do recall reading a couple of years ago that the number had been mistranslated and was actually something else.

Durn.

[ellie]

6. 666 is the prefix

in the town I grew up in. The area code is different of course. There is also a 666 prefix in Colorado. People are just stupid.

[Ezlivin]

9. I'm glad that Louisiana senators have the time for superstitious lobbying

Are they going to ban black cats and ladders next?

They must have time on their hands after making sure that all of the Katrina victims were cared for.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. "HELL-o?" n/t