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From: GREEN@wharton.upenn.edu (Scott D. Green)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Fascination With Numbers
Message-ID: <telecom-v09i0333m09@vector.dallas.tx.us>
Date: 29 Aug 89 19:05:00 GMT
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X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 333, message 9 of 11

I can't help but wonder about the fascination with the number 234-5678.
What's the big deal?  The discussion started out as someone's childhood
recollection of getting an intercept recording after dialling the digits
on the telephone in order.  Now, it seems like someone has chimed in from
almost every area code with a report on what happens when that number is
dialled today.  How 'bout international, folks?

The "234" exchange is not a test exchange, and "5678" is no big deal.  What
about 987-6543?  or 876-5432?  or even 765-4321?

Let's take it further, shall we?  Did you know that, at one time about 10
years ago, it seemed that 382-5968 was not assigned *anywhere*?  Perhaps
the reason it wasn't assigned is that it is possible to spell F*** Y**
with that number.  They did not, however, restrict the whole series of
382-5xxx, so that my number was F***-222.

Do we find that more, or less, interesting than 234-5678?  Do most of us
care?  (At the risk of being challenged to come up with something else) don't
we have anything better to discuss?

-Scott