UPC Codes and 666 [VHS] [1994] [Christian Batshittery]
A shitty upside to living in the Bible Belt are the musty thrift shops just overflowing with cooky old christian VHS batshittery for only $0.25 a piece, and whoo boy, we've found a fantastic little gem today in the form of UPC CODES AND 666.
This brief video produced and distributed by the Shepherd Ministries in 1994 boasts a popular conspiracy theory of the time which stated that all UPC codes contained the number 666 embedded deep within their cold briny cores. They were completely wrong, of course, but that shouldn't deter ones enjoyment of this 13 1/2-minute schlock fest as its somber "pastor" figure attempts to ward us away from the impending powers of darkness hidden within this brand new early '70s monetary system of the mid '90s.
:::From the Box:::
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"Using straightforward, scientific methods, this video reveals irrefutable proof of the presence of the number 666 in the Universal Product Code, which appears on 95% of all supermarket products. A comprehensive, step-by-step deciphering process is used to break down the UPC into its component parts, and the derivation of the number 666 is made clear. Startling evidence of the role of UPC's in the new monetary system is uncovered--the prophecy of Revelation coming true today!"
:::From the inventor of the UPC codes website:::
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The inventor of the UPC barcode is George J. Laurer. In 1971, while Mr. Laurer was an employee with IBM, he was assigned the task "to design the best code and symbol suitable for the grocery industry". In 1973, Mr. Laurer's UPC barcode entered the world, and the rest is history.
On Mr. Laurer's web site, he has a "Questions" page, where he answers various questions about the UPC barcode. On the "Questions" page, Mr. Laurer answers the "666" question, as follows:
Question #8 - Rumor has it that the lines (left, middle, and right) that protrude below the U.P.C. code are the numbers 6,6,6... and that this is the international money code. I typed a code with all sixes and this seems to be true. At least they all resemble sixes. What's up with that?
Answer- Yes, they do RESEMBLE the code for a six. An even parity 6 is:
1 module wide black bar 1 module wide white space 1 module wide black bar 4 module wide white space
There is nothing sinister about this nor does it have anything to do with the Bible's "mark of the beast" (The New Testament, The Revelation, Chapter 13, paragraph 18). It is simply a coincidence like the fact that my first, middle, and last name all have 6 letters. There is no connection with an international money code either. (From website)
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