Brain Food #666

What is considered bad luck to some

Thoughts of the day

666.

Commonly referred to as the number of the Beast, it is a fearsome number for some, and one to be avoided. In fact, people often choose to change the number when they come across it to something less intimidating. Route 666 in New Mexico was changed to Route 491, with a spokesperson stating, “The devil’s out of here, and we say goodbye and good riddance.” Donald and Nancy Reagan changed their address in L.A. from 666 St. Cloud Road to 668 St. Cloud Road. 666 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan was changed to 660 Fifth Avenue.

The number also tends to make its appearance in popular culture, often within the horror genre but also, surprisingly, in Pulp Fiction, though ever so briefly (look for the briefcase).

Interestingly, it is not all doom and gloom. In China, 666 is considered to be a lucky number, and it is often displayed on shopfronts and windows to bring good fortune to the owner:

“[But] in Chinese, 666 is a tonal equivalent for ‘things go smoothly’ and a favored number. It also has an alliance with the roulette table, as the sum of all the numbers on the wheel.”

— Barnaby Rogerson

The world is too big for all of us to be the same. What is considered bad luck to some is considered lucky to others. And, as with many things in life, signs are only what we make of them.

A food menu proudly showcasing the number

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