Are You Paraskavedekatriaphobic?

Folks,

There was just no sense in staying in Vegas on `Friday The 13th` - so I have moved over to Kanab, Utah - within easy striking distance of Zion and Bryce Canyon. 

You know, the number `13` is interesting.  I am writing this note in the English alphabet which has 26 letters - 2 x 13.  Of course the Maritime alphabet only has 13 letters and all words have one syllable - for instance - frinstance - you see how it works ... nomesaying?

One of my all time favorite bumper stickers is, `What goes into 13 twice ..... Roman Polanski.` No, it`s not in the Krome Koan - and it won`t be.  Frank Zappa also noted that, `she was only 13, but she knew how to nasty`.

Friday, the day itself, has as bad a rap as the number `13` - since Medieval England it has been considered a poor day to start on any journey, venture or enterprise.  In fact when you think about TGIF, etc. - maybe that is why we love it so much - not the end of the week but a really good time to lay low, party and forget about starting anything and pick it up on Monday.

`13` is the first year of our teenage years - once thought to be the age of majority, when a life span may have been 40 years, if you were that lucky. 

If we were  followers of the Sikh philosophy we would consider the number `13` to be a special number - so the Sikhs are going nuts in Vegas tonight - staying on the 13th floor in Room 1313 and betting in increments of 13 on numbers that are based on 13.  It makes me Sikh.

About 5% of the Canadian population will modify their behaviour today to avoid bad luck - insurance stats back this up - there will be statistically less accidents on a `13` Friday than on other Fridays because, it is assumed, people are more cautious or simply bar the door.

Wilt Chamberlain had the number 13 and claimed to have sex with 13 factorial women.  The women all claim his number was not the only thing about him that was 13 - and we're not talking metric system.

Some other interesting '13' facts,

a) a baker's dozen is 13

b) a rugby team has 13 players - actually this is scary no matter how many players

c) the number of steps leading to the gallows is 13

d) the number of the original US colonies is 13

And maybe the greatest Friday 13th fact of all - Black Sabbath's first album was released on ..... yep, Friday 13th!!

'Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling people their desire
Satan's sitting there, he's smiling
Watches those flames get higher and higher
Oh no, no, please God help me!
Is it the end, my friend?'

For this blog, yes it is ...

Phil13