area codes, zip codes, and other important things

I am watching the Today Show — a segment about area codes.  Vonage may be able to assign the 212 area code to people living anywhere in the country.  The segment goes on to talk about the status of certain area codes (212 among them).  They even show a Seinfeld clip from 15 years ago where Elaine is assigned a 646 area code and is mortified.  A year later, The New York Times writes of this episode,

That Elaine was fictional, but there were plenty of real Manhattanites mortified at the prospect of living without the venerable 212 area code.

I am just starting to recover from losing my 10021 status-zip code almost eight years ago, and now this.  Horrors!

On July 1, 2007, The US Postal Service subdivides 10021 into two additional zip codes and I (along with Mayor Bloomberg) get stuck with 10075.  At the time, the NY Times says this:

“I think ZIP codes matter a great deal, at least as much as area codes, and possibly much more,” journalist Michael Gross said.

They’re especially important, he said, to those New Yorkers who now have to adjust to their changed circumstances. “Their ‘deuxième’ ZIP code will be shoved in their face every day when they look at their mail,” Mr. Gross said, spelling out the French word for second-place.

Still, with the coveted 212 area code (or 917 for cellphones) harder to come by, what’s left to hold on to?

Yes, it is a sad day for New Yorkers.  But this is what really irks me.

On the Today Show segment, I hear an NBC entertainment correspondent say something like, “Even the coveted MANHADDEN area code of 212…” 

Manhadden?  Ew….I really hate that.    And she’s a broadcaster, one who should know how to pronounce the name of the borough about which she is speaking.

I send an email to NBC.

This morning, on the segment regarding 212 area codes and Vonage, Nina Terrero pronounced my beloved borough as MANHADDAN. I hate when people pronounce the T with a D.  And especially on a segment that talks about how protective us New Yorkers are of our 212 area code.  Please tell Ms. Terrero that it's a T not a D in Manhattan.

Wow.  Did I really write to NBC about this?  I must find more to do with my time.  Although now I'm starting to worry about my 917 cell phone area code.  Gosh, I hope that is still safe.