photo credit: fredseibert

Born on the Fourth of July:

Calvin Coolidge
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Ann Landers
Geraldo Rivera
Neil Simon
John Waite
Leona Helmsley

(cue Twilight Zone music)

Found via Encarta: 1826: Fifty years to the day after the approval of the Declaration of Independence, which they both had a hand in drafting, former presidents Thomas Jefferson and John Adams die on the same day.

Other interested July fourth facts:

There are fifty-six signatures on the constitution.

The American national anthem, the “Star-Spangled Banner,” is set to the tune of an English drinking song (”To Anacreon in Heaven”).

Historical research has failed to confirm Betsy Ross sewed the first flag.

In July 1776, the estimated number of people living in the newly independent nation: 2.5 million

The nation’s population on this July Fourth, 2008: 304 million

July 4th Quotes:

I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance. –John Adams

There, I guess King George will be able to read that. –John Hancock

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. –Thomas Jefferson

Have a great July 4th!

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

photo credit: gruntzooki

Are you superstitious?

Because it’s come around again - Friday the 13th! Thankfully, we can only run across this day three times a year, so if you’re really afraid, just take off work and stay in bed!

Do I think the number 13 is unlucky? And the 13th of Friday especially unlucky? Well, let’s just say, I think it is if we believe it is. And it happens to be the most pervasive superstition still surviving in the Western world. Not many people will admit to being afraid of black cats or walking under ladders or spilling salt anymore… but enough people are still wary of 13 to make hotels often skip the number, both in floors and rooms. Airlines often won’t have a row 13 in their planes (although some do - I’ve sat in one!) Many ships won’t start a voyage on the 13th, some streets won’t have a house number 13, in Formula One racing there’s no number 13 car, and hospital operating theaters don’t like the number 13 on their doors - and look what happened to Apollo 13!

And Wall Street, the Dow Jones, probably the single greatest marker of our capitalistic belief system, always reports a loss on Friday the 13th.

Superstitious much?

When you think about it, 13 is a sudden, unstable number. There are 12 donuts in a dozen, 12 months in a year, 12 signs of the Zodiac, 12 inches in a foot… We like 12 - 12 is our buddy. When we add an extra (the Baker’s dozen - in Scotland it’s called “the devil’s dozen!”) it suddenly threatens to topple the whole thing.

The Christians tried to usurp the origin of unlucky 13 - there were 13 people pictured in the Last Supper, and the first to leave?

Judas.

But the truth is that in Norse mythology, there were 12 gods dining at Valhalla, and when Loki (god of mischief - go figure!) joined the party, all hell broke loose! Unlucky Loki ended up causing the death of the Norse god of joy, Baldur, and hence the number 13 was considered unlucky. That’s probably the first known reference to unlucky 13… although it’s hard to know which came first, the chicken or the egg!

And while it’s true that the Grand Master of the Knights Templar and many of his senior knights were arrested on Friday, Oct 13, 1307 by King Philip IV and later executed for their “confessed tortured crimes,” this wasn’t the reason Friday the 13th was considered unlucky - it just happened to be another unlucky Friday the 13th in a string of them throughout history!

But Friday the 13th isn’t unlucky everywhere. In fact, In Australia, lottery agents report a brisk business every Friday the 13th, selling 50 percent more tickets than average on that day!

Short list of Scary Folks born on Friday the 13th:

Christopher Plummer, actor (starred in lots of spooky horror movies a long time ago!)

Steve Buscemi, actor (scary looking dude who played a killer in both Fargo and Con Air)

Alfred Hitchcock!

And my ex…

So what about you? Superstitious? Any Friday the 13th stories out there?

I know this has been said before, but there is definitely something erotic about the summer months. It’s hard to pin point why exactly. Maybe it’s the heat of the sun that gets under our skin and burns away any inhibitions we might have had.

Whilst on my holiday, I had plenty of time to dwell on this conundrum. It’s amazing how lying in the midday sun, slowly cooking, can fry your brain to the point where even the most innocent thing can send your brain into a lust fuelled fantasy.

I frequently found myself spinning erotic scenarios about the waiters who wandered around the poolside bar, with their tight black trousers and brilliant white shirts that complimented their dark looks so well. More than a few of them were unfeasibly handsome.

It’s a shame really. Had I been of the mind to, I probably could have indulged in all kinds of naughtiness. But instead I was forced to play ‘sharks’ in the pool with my kids instead! Damn them.

Note to self: next holiday will be two weeks in a hedonistic resort for ADULTS!