I am not superstitious. I freely walk under ladders (although not over grates in the sidewalk), once owned a black cat and I would not think it lucky if a bird pooped on me. However, I do think the history and theory behind superstition is interesting, so when I saw an article promising facts about Friday the 13th, I immediately thought it would be about the origins of this “bad luck” day.
Not so much. It was about… um. Well, it was not really about anything (or it was about a bunch of little disjointed things…) From a really bad article about Friday the 13th and associated, um, “facts” (posted by livescience.com, no less):
“Superstitious diners in Paris can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.”
(Get paid to eat good food?) How do I get that job?
Among the other 12 “facts” about Friday the 13th? Fidel Castro and Butch Cassidy were born on Friday the 13th. Dan Marino wore the number 13 throughout his football career and he only made it to the Superbowl once.
Now I’m totally seeing the pattern. There really must be something to this numerology… cowboy train robbers, Cuban dictators, quarterbacks… It all comes together now. Thank you livescience.com!
“The seals on the back of a dollar bill include 13 steps on the pyramid, 13 stars above the eagle’s head, 13 war arrows in the eagle’s claw and 13 leaves on the olive branch. So far there’s been no evidence tying these long-ago design decisions to the present economic situation.”
Of course there’s no evidence! Everyone knows the current economic crisis was caused by the Octo-Mom and her 14 kids. And we all know that 14 is only one number away from 13.
(Not to mention that it would be ridiculous to attribute the 13s on the dollar bill to the 13 colonies.)
If triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13, what is the fear of stupid people? Because I think I may have that one.
(Don’t bother to leave a comment if you suffer from sar-chasm, the space between the sarcastic people, and the people who don’t get it…)
Fear of stupid people…?
We call those Conservatives.
My latest phobia: fear of vague and confusing comments.
Had it been clear, I think it could have been funny. But it’s not clear….
Is “Conservatives” the name of the phobia or is it the thing the stupid people are afraid of…?
If it is the former, you do nothing to help squelch the notion that conservatives are holier than thou know it alls. If it is the latter, you promote the idea that the left is unwilling to listen to opposing points of view.
Basically, on the political spectrum, no matter what your affiliation may be, you haven’t done anyone any favors…
ha ha…?