So Nynex, hardly the most popular local telephone company in America, knew it was in for a scrap when it recently unveiled a plan to deprive some Manhattanites of their treasured 212 area code--arguably the only local telephone code that is recognised from Tokyo to Tomsk.

ECONOMIST: The sexiest code on earth

On that Web site people can enter their zip code and find opportunities to volunteer in their area or local charities to which they can donate.

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