My So-Called Bummer Life

There is no number quite like "666." When I was a wee boy in the 80's that number was especially significant. Metal was at the height of its popularity and its usage of satanic imagery. Iron Maiden perhaps wrote the greatest song about "666" ever, "The Number of the Beast." It scared the crap out of people, too. Politicians and religious leaders went on the warpath and the media ran with tales of teenage victims of this tide of evil music. Judas Priest was accused (and eventually exonerated) of sneaking satanic backwards messages into their music. And then there was little ol' me, a good catholic boy with a full-blown fear of hell. Things changed when I received a copy of Metallica's ...And Justice For All, not that it was a particularly satanic album or anything, it was just awesome. Then after that it was a steady diet of speed metal without any fear that the devil was somehow winning my soul.

So the number "666" means a lot to me. It reminds me of my Catholic, god-fearing upbringing. It reminds me of those glorious days in the late 80's when metal ruled and I was on the brink of becoming a teenager. It also makes me laugh. Because it is a number that will pop up anywhere, on your odometer, on your license plate, or:

On your cheese.



On the price of coffee and a snack:



The magic combo for the $6.66 amount at CRC is a chocolate chip cookie, Caffrey's pasta salad and an iced coffee. Sounds like a truly damning late afternoon nosh indeed.

Or the price of maybe your next bike?



The Surly Steamroller had a MSRP of $666.00. If you google "Surly Steamroller," you'll see most places have it listed at S665.99. Do they fear for their immortal souls? You decide. (Also, it looks like Surly has recently raised the MSRP to $720.00, which is still a pretty rad price for a rad bike, although definitely less funny. Damn inflation.)

Also, let us not forget the first Apple computer:



Priced at $666.66, you had to put it together yourself and build the case. Careful where you rest your hand, you may get a splinter. An evil splinter...

If you are a fan of Satan and His Infernal Number 666, you must go to How to Avoid the Bummer Life. But you probably already knew about Steve Smith and his baaad assssss blog. You don't have to be a satan worshiper or a bike nut to enjoy his blog, but it doesn't hurt. Plus, if you have any cool "666" sightings caught on film, send it his way. I have and the Bummer Life bump was good for my blog's traffic. Not to mention it was nice to contribute to a blog that is almost guaranteed to put a smile on your face.