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Monday, January 24th to be Worst Day of the Year

RonMcMahon writes "Dr. Arnalls from Cardiff University has crunched the numbers and has precisely determined that Monday, January 24th will be the worst day of the year. For those of you who might be wondering, the formula to use when deciding what day to stay in bed is 1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA. The fact that the 24th happens to land on a Monday is purely coincidental."

57 of 578 comments (clear)

  1. In honor of the worst day of the year by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Slashdot will be turned over to michael so he can post all political stories filled with his editorials.

    1. Re:In honor of the worst day of the year by antifoidulus · · Score: 3, Funny

      You mis-spelled "Pudge"

    2. Re:In honor of the worst day of the year by thej1nx · · Score: 3, Funny

      Even worse... the slashdot servers will be down all day long, causing massive depression amongst the slashdotters, mass consumption of beer and pizza, and finally driving them to suicide by the millions.
      Worldwide rioting and looting to follow.

    3. Re:In honor of the worst day of the year by Bullet-Dodger · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah, no need for a B-Ark after all then. Of course, the survivors better watch out for unsanitized keyboards.

    4. Re:In honor of the worst day of the year by deblau · · Score: 2, Funny

      What sane person would loot a 20 year old D&D set and some sweat-stained fat-man pants?

      --
      This post expresses my opinion, not that of my employer. And yes, IAAL.
  2. He miscalculated... It's an inauguration year... by bergeron76 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think he's over by about 4 days.

    I think he forgot that it's an inauguration year, and that GW won.

    --
    Don't think that a small group of dedicated individuals can't change the world. It's the only thing that ever has.
  3. Reading up on depression? Give me a break. by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

    GPs say exercise and reading up on depression are ways to beat the blues.

    All reading up on the topic does is make you realize that you exhibit more symptoms of depression than you thought. Realizing that you are depressed 90% of the time only spells deeper depression.

    I suggest exercise, reading stuff OTHER than depression/illness related material (especially work related), and getting your ass outside.

  4. If your worked at eBay... by PHPgawd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then today would be the worst day of the year... -18 in one day, ouch...

    1. Re:If your worked at eBay... by CastrTroy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Assuming the person isn't pushing themselves down, the fastest they can fall is the speed that gravity accelerates them at. It wouldn't really matter that they were a fat b*itch. Actually, the fat b*itch might actually sit down slower because of wind resistance.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
  5. My first son by MoobY · · Score: 3, Funny

    My first son is due to be born on Monday.

    I hop it's not turning out to be the worst day ever.

    --
    --- Sigmentation Fault - Comments Dumped
    1. Re:My first son by MmmDee · · Score: 3, Informative

      Well, take some comfort in knowing that only a small percentage of kids are born on their actual due date. A due date is simply calculated as 280 days from the first day of a woman's last known menstrual period (LMP), but anytime after 37-38 weeks is considered full-term and kids aren't late until after 41-42 weeks (based on LMP). So that gives basically a 3-5 week "window". And by the way, congratulations.

      --
      No man's an island, unless he's had too much to drink and wets the bed.
  6. What a coincidence... by spamguy · · Score: 3, Informative

    ...the birthday of the Macintosh! Perhaps I should leave my computer off that day?

    1. Re:What a coincidence... by thomasdelbert · · Score: 3, Funny

      Shit - the mac will turn 21 - it can drink!

      - Thomas

      --
      ___ This sig is in boldface to emphasize its importance!
  7. Re:i dont get it. by Em+Ellel · · Score: 5, Informative

    RTFA:


    1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA. Where:
    W: Weather
    D: Debt
    d: Money due in January pay
    T: Time since Christmas
    Q: Time since failed quit attempt
    M: General motivational levels
    NA: The need to take action

    --
    RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...
  8. nahhhh by Wakkow · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds like somebody's got a case of the Mondays...

  9. For me... by EvilMonkeySlayer · · Score: 2, Funny

    The 24th is the worst day of the year.

    I've just been on holiday to Australia for the last three weeks and Monday is when I go back to work.

    Sigh...

  10. Re:i dont get it. by M82A1A · · Score: 2, Insightful

    RTFA

    --
    - Phil
  11. Can't be by Nplugd · · Score: 3, Funny

    My horoscope was very clear, I'm going to meet the woman of my life on Monday.

    --
    Je n'ai pas d'avenir Je n'ai qu'un destin Celui de n'être qu'un souvenir C'est pour demain
    1. Re:Can't be by MutantHamster · · Score: 5, Funny

      Then it will be the worst day of the year for her.

      --
      My Greatest Heist - Muisc partly inspired by the unbeatable Qwantz
  12. Re:Reading up on depression? Give me a break. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I suggest exercise, reading stuff OTHER than depression/illness related material (especially work related), and getting your ass outside.

    Seems like you need to take your own advice, buddy. :P I've been seeing far too many posts by you lately.

  13. waaaaaahhhh :( by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Go hug a tree - it will "boost your spirits" (from TFA)

    1. Re:waaaaaahhhh :( by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 3, Insightful

      then stop sending your hard-earned money to other countries that are of no value to us/you. wtf have they done for YOU!?

      The gave you the lowest price.

  14. January 24 in History by mikeophile · · Score: 3, Informative

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_24

    * 41 - Claudius is appointed Emperor of Rome after his nephew, Caligula, is assassinated.
    * 1458 - Matthias I Corvinus becomes king of Hungary.
    * 1679 - King Charles II of England disbands Parliament.
    * 1742 - Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor.
    * 1848 - California gold rush: James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter's Mill near Sacramento.
    * 1859 - Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexander John Cuza under the name Romania (see December 1, 1918 for the final unification, Transylvania and other regions were still missing at this time).
    * 1888 - Jacob L. Wortman patents the typewriter ribbon.
    * 1908 - Robert Baden-Powell begins the Boy Scout movement.
    * 1916 - In Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad, the Supreme Court of the United States declares the federal income tax void.
    * 1922 - Christian K. Nelson patents the Eskimo Pie.
    * 1924 - St. Petersburg, Russia is renamed Leningrad.
    * 1936 - Albert Sarraut becomes Prime Minister of France
    * 1943 - World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill conclude a conference in Casablanca.
    * 1952 - Vincent Massey sworn in as first Canada-born Governor-General of Canada.
    * 1962 - Brian Epstein signs to manage The Beatles.
    * 1966 - An Air India Boeing 707 jet crashes on Mont Blanc, on the border between France and Italy, killing 117
    * 1972 - Shoichi Yokoi, a Japanese soldier, is discovered on Guam.
    * 1982 - Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers defeat the Cincinnati Bengals, 26-21 in the first Super Bowl played north of the Mason-Dixon line
    * 1984 - The first Apple Macintosh goes on sale.
    * 1986 - Voyager 2 passes within 50,679 miles of Uranus.
    * 1987 - In Lebanon, gunmen kidnap Alann Steen, Jesse Turner, Robert Polhill and Mitheleshwar Singh.
    * 1989 - Serial killer Ted Bundy is executed in Florida's electric chair.
    * 1995 - The prosecution delivers its opening statement in the O. J. Simpson murder trial.
    * 1996 - Polish Premier Jozef Oleksy resigns amid charge he spied for Moscow.
    * 2001 - The last two of the Texas 7 are taken into custody in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    * 2002 - Enron Congressional hearings begin.
    * 2002 - Terrorist suspect John Walker Lindh's hearing begins.
    * 2002 - The United States Department of Justice indicts Robert Nicholas Angleton for conspiring to murder his wife, Doris Angleton, along with his brother Roger.
    * 2003 - The United States Department of Homeland Security officially begins operation.

    Births

    * 76 - Hadrian, Roman emperor (d. 138)
    * 1712 - King Frederick II of Prussia (d. 1786)
    * 1776 - E.T.A. Hoffmann, poet, composer, and painter (d. 1822)
    * 1862 - Edith Wharton, writer (d. 1937)
    * 1888 - Vicki Baum, writer (d. 1960)
    * 1888 - Ernst Heinkel, aircraft designer (d. 1958)
    * 1895 - Eugen Roth, lyricist and narrator (d. 1976)
    * 1917 - Ernest Borgnine, actor
    * 1918 - Oral Roberts, evangelist
    * 1925 - Maria Tallchief, prima ballerina
    * 1928 - Desmond Morris, anthropologist, writer
    * 1934 - Stanisaw Grochowiak, Polish poet and dramatist (d. 1976)
    * 1939 - Doug Kershaw, musician
    * 1939 - Ray Stevens, country music musician
    * 1943 - Sharon Tate, actress (d. 1969)
    * 1944 - Neil Diamond, singer
    * 1946 - Michael Ontkean, actor
    * 1947 - Warren Zevon, American musician-songwriter (d. 2003)
    * 1949 - John Belushi, actor (d. 1982)
    * 1958 - Jools Holland, musician
    * 1960 - Nastassja Kinski, actress
    * 1968 - Mary Lou Retton, gymnast
    * 1979 - Tatyana Ali, actress

    Deaths

    * 41 - Caligula, Emperor of Rome (AD 37-41) (assassinated by his own guards) (b. AD 12)
    * 1125 - David the Builder, king of Georgia (b. 1073)
    * 1366 - King Alfonso IV of Aragon

    1. Re: January 24 in History by Black+Parrot · · Score: 3, Funny


      > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_24

      Thanks... that long list of dead people cheered me right up.

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  15. 2004 called.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    .. they want their liberal whining back.

    1. Re:2004 called.. by PsiPsiStar · · Score: 3, Funny

      ...and that one liner.

      --

      ___
      It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
    2. Re:2004 called.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ha! Shows how much you know!

      That one liner is firmly owned by the 80's.

      And your retort is too...

      Don't make the 80's sue you for violating it's IP rights! They will! They're CUTTHROAT!

  16. Northern-hemisphere only? by Trogre · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Does this take into account those of us in the southern hemisphere, where the weather is great and sunny this time of year?

    Looking at the comments in the article they're almost all from England or Scotland, so that says most of it.

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    1. Re:Northern-hemisphere only? by EnronHaliburton2004 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Does this take into account those of us in the southern hemisphere

      Does ANYTHING ever account for those of you in the southern hemisphere?

      Where are you guys anyways?

    2. Re:Northern-hemisphere only? by donnz · · Score: 2, Insightful

      We are "incognita" but without us the Earth would be lopsided and totally out of balance leading to a serious slopping of drinks and other strange phenimona.

      --
      -- Free software on every PC on every desk
    3. Re:Northern-hemisphere only? by realdpk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Hemisphere?! No! You're one of THEM, aren't you? You were educated evil and stupid! Do you enjoy being stupid?

  17. Why BBC why?! by Coryoth · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why does the BBC continue to publish this drivel? This is about the 5th article where some git has come up with a "mathematical formula" for something which is complete drivel.

    First it was "the perfect joke", then "the perfect horror movie", and "the perfect family game", then I think we had "murphy's law". Every time it's just a bunch of random subjective factors strung together into (usually linear) formula that's realistically as arbitrary and subjective various factors they're combining.

    Yes, yes, all fun and amusing and all that. Well, it was the first time - a bit of a laugh. The second time it just seemed a little silly and pointless. By this point it rates about as funny as a slashdot meme. Why publish this crap?

    Jedidiah.

    1. Re: Why BBC why?! by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny


      > Why does the BBC continue to publish this drivel? This is about the 5th article where some git has come up with a "mathematical formula" for something which is complete drivel. First it was "the perfect joke", then "the perfect horror movie", and "the perfect family game", then I think we had "murphy's law".

      Wonder when they'll get to "the perfect Slashdot post".

      --
      Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  18. Re:i dont get it. by (54)T-Dub · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Though it is the first day back for many semester based schools across america.

    --

    "I can not bring myself to believe that if knowledge presents danger, the solution is ignorance" - Isaac Asimov
  19. Great! by stephenMF · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh great, that's my birthday. Thanks Dr. Idiot.

  20. Re:Reading up on depression? Give me a break. by Shazow · · Score: 5, Funny
    " ... and getting your ass outside."
    Do you have ANY idea how cold it is ootside? I can't even feel my ass anymore.

    Your friendly Canadian slashdotter,
    - shazow
  21. Complete Nonsense by zerosignal · · Score: 2, Informative

    I have seen this story reported on several 'reputable' news sources, and it makes me angry. It just screams of psuedo-scientific nonsense.

    No units are given for any of the variables. What unit is the result in? It's completely meaningless.

    Look at the guy's home page, he seems to be a press whore:
    http://www.nopills.demon.co.uk/

    1. Re:Complete Nonsense by penguinoid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No units are given for any of the variables. What unit is the result in? It's completely meaningless.

      Well, someone skipped class the day they talked about statistics. A probability is a real number between 0 and 1 inclusively, with no units. Probabilities are often expressed as a percentage, in which case you multiply the probability by 100 and add a percent sign (this is not a unit. Technically, you could write 25% feet == 3 inches). That said I think this is mostly bullshit, but be accurate enough to be of use to some people (psychiatrists, politicians). Anyways, 3 days is a short time to wait to see if he made a fool of himself, so I think he is fairly confident about what he says.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
  22. Not that day! by lylum · · Score: 2, Funny

    Argh! That's my birthday!

  23. Re:TRUE STORY... I got fired/divorced today by gustgr · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why did she fire you? I understand the diveroce thing... but this don't explain you being fired. Does she have a reason to fire you? Or she just did it because she just don't want to see your face anymore?

    I suggest you to take the SCO way: Sue her.

    - Gustavo

  24. Re:Total Crap by Coryoth · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Crazy Brits. How are all the variables expressed in a numerical value? This is just plain stupid, IMHO.

    This is just one in a string of such crap from the BBC. With a quick search I found "The Perfect Horror Film", "The Perfect Film", "The Formula for Happiness", "The Formula for On Screen Chemistry", "The Formula for the Perfect Family Christmas".

    I also recall a "Formula for Murphy's Law", and a "Formula for the Perfect Joke", but the quick search didn't turn those up.

    It wouldn't be so bad if they didn't present the things so earnestly. And besides, as a joke the whole concept is long since lost any semblance of interest or humour.

    About the only formula of value the BBC seems to have turned up in all this is "The Formula for Pumping out Online Content", and the "value" of that one is highly dubious as it is.

    Jedidiah.

  25. Ironic by digitalgimpus · · Score: 2, Funny
    The researcher found that the same formula

    1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA


    to the 9th power

    1/8W+(D-d) 3/8xTQ MxNA^9

    is related to him getting laid.
  26. Help with mod points by trawg · · Score: 4, Funny

    How do I use them on the actual news post?

  27. Re:Reading up on depression? Give me a break. by Boronx · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I understand that depressed people consistantly have a more realistic outlook on life than undepressed people, so maybe you ought to think twice before trying to banish the blues.

  28. Uh-oh. by Larthallor · · Score: 3, Funny

    Suddenly my 3:30pm urology appointment just got a little more scary.

  29. Re:He miscalculated... It's an inauguration year.. by einhverfr · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think he's over by about 4 days.

    Nah, it just takes 4 days for the reality to set in.

    --

    LedgerSMB: Open source Accounting/ERP
  30. Re:He miscalculated... It's an inauguration year.. by dutky · · Score: 3, Funny
    einhverfr wrote:

    I think he's over by about 4 days.


    Nah, it just takes 4 days for the reality to set in.

    That's not reality setting in, it's the hangover wearing off.
    My advice: take another drink, it's going to be a long few years.
  31. Worse... by teneighty · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... they'll all be dupes.

  32. What about?! by adeydas · · Score: 2, Funny

    Suppose if I stay in the US on Jan 24 and then cross the 180 line and spend Jan 24 on again, will I have two bad days?!

  33. And for those of us non-Christians....? by EricTheGreen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    T: Time since Christmas

    Well, as an observant Jew, I suppose I'll need to re-calculate this using a religious-orientation-appropriate substitute.

    Any others of the tribe lurking? If so, any suggestions? Maybe Tisha b'Av?

    Those of other religious persuasions, feel free to chime in with your own sectarian-oriented suggestions as well.

    And, I guess this gets the atheists completely off the hook...enjoy your Monday, you Godless unbelievers!

    1. Re:And for those of us non-Christians....? by 808140 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ah, but the day before Yom Kippur is absolutely bad ass. Have a bacon cheeseburger for lunch, get completely toasted in the evening, go to a brothel, snort coke, have sex with a sheep... and the next day, atone for it.

      Bliss, I tell you.

  34. What's next? Slashdot horoscopes? by NotQuiteReal · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Maybe some good funny horoscopes would be better than that numerological [numer-illogical?] drivel.

    Sheesh.

    --
    This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
  35. Re:Nostradamus preducted more tsunamis by Goth+Biker+Babe · · Score: 2, Informative

    The day after Christmas day is Boxing day and a holiday in England and Wales but not Scotland. Traditionally it was the first working day after Christmas day and was the day that the workers received gifts and bonuses from their bosses.

  36. W != conservative by edremy · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I mean sure, he espouses conservative values

    I'm curious- what are these conservative values you speak of?

    • Smaller government? Nope. He's never vetoed a spending bill. Even excluding the military and homeland security, government expenditures are growing faster than during Clinton's terms.
    • Fiscal responsibility? Dear Lord in Heaven, no. His entire economic policy amounts to "Charge it!"
    • State's rights? Just try to pass a medical marijuana (CA) or euthanasia (OR) bill and see what happens.
    • Minimally interventionist foreign policy? Hmm, I can't remember the objection here. I think it ends with a "q", but I might be wrong.
    • Free trade? Sure, unless you need votes in a big steel state. Then forget it.
    • Respect for the constitution? We've got american citizens sitting in jails right now, no charges filed, no lawyers, no trial, ever. Get labeled a terrorist and you can just disappear.
    I could go on for quite a while. Bush is not and has never been a conservative in the classical sense of the word. He's a radical.
    --
    "Seven Deadly Sins? I thought it was a to-do list!"
  37. patents by drago · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The fact that on monday 24th the European ministers of agriculture will again vote if Software Patents shall be allowed in Europe is also merely coincidental. If they vote positive, thereby effectively making most OpenSource Software illegal in the long run and costing the majority of software developers (those who work in smaller, financially less powerfull companies) effectively their jobs might yet indeed make monday 24th the worst day, not only of the year but maybe of the decade.

  38. Re:Reading up on depression? Give me a break. by milohanrahan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I totally agree ... My philosophy is expect the worst case scenario. Then, most of what happens is a pleasant surprise. So you see, pessimism is in fact my route to happiness.

    --
    Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen.
  39. Re:Morbidly Curious by Boronx · · Score: 2, Interesting
    "our intelligence indicated that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction in violation of U.N. mandates."

    And this is what I'm curious about. This is conventionally held wisdom, but what evidence do you have to support this?

    That sounds like I want to send you off on a snipe hunt, but I don't. From my own research, I'm fairly confident that you woouldn't find anything but stories from the administration, and that analysis from our intelligence apparatus actually sought to cast some doubt on whether Iraq still had WMDs and was seeking a nuke, and this even before UN inspectors were back in country.