Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

The Christian residents of Reeves, Louisiana, have successfully petitioned to have their three-digit telephone prefix changed from '666' to the less fire-and-brimstone-y '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. "It's been a black eye for our town, a stigma," he said. "I don't think it's anything bad on us, just an image," he added. "We're good Christian people."

Did no-one tell them Hitler's number was 749 though? (Well, it might be - you never know. This is how entertaining internet rumours start).

- BBC News, 29 December 2007

[Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia: the fear of the number 666]