Happy Birthday/Area Codes/why "United"

[Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)]

Rylly Elf wrote:

<< Today's birthday honouree is Simon. >>

Awright Dr Branford! Happy Birthday, Simon the oldbie.

Amy Z wrote:

<< I've often wondered why we don't assign all cell phones in an area 
a "cell phone" area code, fax machines a "fax" area code, etc. >>

When that is suggested, public objections include that some people 
have one phone # and switch it between regular, fax, and PC by 
plugging the fax or PC in when they want to use it.

The other objection to ANY kind of overlay (whether the overlaid area 
code is for faxes or for new-after-a-date-certain service) is that it 
would require people to use an area code when calling a number in the 
same area, or even same building. In general, I think the easier 
solution is to make it allowed (or even required) to punch all ten 
digits for every call even within the same area code, and then people 
wouldn't have to find out what area code they were calling from in 
order to know whether they must punch the area code or it is 
forbidden to punch the area code.

But I have noticed that the 310 area code (in which I live and 
sometimes shop but don't work) retains the old-fashioned custom of 
businesses (like doctors) put only seven digits on their ads and 
their business cards. That certainly helps me understand why 
Downtown/Hollywood/Valley publications seem to share a world-view 
that the Westside thinks of itself as some kind of moated island, an 
enclave separated from the rest of the city and county.

GulPlum wrote:

<< At the beginning of the 20th century, the establishment of         
professional clubs called for the merging of several smaller amateur 
clubs (most of which were connected in one way or another with large 
employers) to create the teams and infrastructure. Hence the 
popularity of "united" teams. Most of these took the name of the 
geographical catchment area in order to transfer the existing sense 
of "belonging" from one of a common employer to a common place. >>

I suspected as much, but I couldn't find any proof on the Web 
(admittedly I am not as good a Web searcher as Lee) and I hesitated 
to say that the USA side "DC United" 's name is wrong based on mere 
suspicion.