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This Rare Friday the 13th

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the paraskavedekatriaphobes-unite dept.

Juha-Matti Laurio writes to point out a Washington Times story about how special this particular Friday the 13th is. The digits in the numerical notation for the date add up to 13 — whether you write it in the US or the European form. From the article: "The phenomenon hasn't happened in 476 years, said Heinrich Hemme, a physicist at Germany's University of Aachen who crunched the numbers to find that the double-whammy last occurred Jan. 13, 1520."

14 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Commutivity by P(0)(!P(k)+P(k+1)) · · Score: 5, Funny

    From TFS:

    The digits in the numerical notation for the date add up to 13—whether you write it in the US or the European form.
    What a relief! I always suspected that the commutativity of addition applied on both sides of the Atlantic.

    Or did they mean to imply that the dæmons who govern paraskevidekatria are too preoccupied to uphold mathematical principles today?

    In a related article:

    Thirteen people, pledged to eliminate triskaidecaphobia, fear of the number 13, today tried to reassure American sufferers by renting a 13ft plot of land in Brooklyn for 13 cents (10d) a month. (Daily Telegraph, 1967)
    1. Re:Commutivity by fuzzix · · Score: 5, Funny
      Speaking of adding:

      "The phenomenon hasn't happened in 476 years, said Heinrich Hemme, a physicist at Germany's University of Aachen who crunched the numbers to find that the double-whammy last occurred Jan. 13, 1520."
      ...someone can't. Or is it 1996? :)
    2. Re:Commutivity by UglyTool · · Score: 5, Interesting
      *sigh*

      1520 + 476 = 1996...

      --
      Skeptical Limericks
  2. Of course, you care about that only if by Rosco+P.+Coltrane · · Score: 5, Insightful

    you're a numerologist, a mystic, a fortune teller or a similar quack. For most other people who happen to be superstitious, it's just another Friday the 13th. And for the rest of us, the overwhelming majority of rational folks, it's just another day...

    --
    "A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of" - Ogden Nash
  3. 13th Post! by markana · · Score: 5, Funny

    sorry....

    1. Re:13th Post! by rolfwind · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yep, you hit it. I viewed at -1 Flat, and counted, you are indeed the 13th post.

      Congratulations. You have reached the pinnacle of your life.

  4. Pffft.... by yo303 · · Score: 5, Funny
    It's bad luck to be superstitious.

    yo.

  5. Mod Parent Down by s-gen · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just to prove to him its not his lucky day.

  6. How about something more interesting? by winkydink · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Like it's the anniversary of the supposed origin of Friday the 13th being unlucky? October 13, 1307

    --

    "I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismometer." -Ken Kesey

  7. Re:paraskevidekatriaphobics - a new word by mattmacf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Halloween, however, is celebrated on October 31, therefore, it's only superstitious for those crazy Europeans who insist on writing the date backwards.

    ; D

    --
    I only mod funny =D
  8. Re:European Dates by orangepeel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Give me ISO 8601 or give me death!"

    --
    Whoever designed level 61 in Frozen Bubble is a sadistic bastard.
  9. Um.. not so phenomenal? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hasn't anyone noticed by now that this year, there was a Friday the 13th in January, which has the exact same digits as today? (01/13/2006 vs 10/13/2006)
    Meaning.. this phenomenon has happened within the last year?

  10. 10 + 13 + 2006 = 2029...these add up to 13 too!! by Cobraman · · Score: 5, Funny

    10+13+2006 = 2029 2+0+2+9 = 13 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! all hell is breaking loose!!!!!!!

  11. Re:I Just Knew I Shoulda Stayed In Bed Today by enjerth · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah, and it's amazing that it still adds up to 13 if you switch the numbers around, 1+1+3+2+6 = 13. WOW!