11.11.11 11:11
Today is 11.11.11 and at least for one day I’m not confused by the date here in US. Somehow, out of the all weird US measurement ways, this is the one that I have the most problem with. Well, this and ounces. I just can’t remember how much are they, probably because I keep mixing the weight and volume ones.
Anyway, this is a nicely symmetrical day and I like numbers, especially palindromic ones. Of course it isn’t as cool as 900 years ago but 11.11.1111 can only happen once every calendar system. This doesn’t stop people from assigning arbitrary significance to the date.
The preliminary results of the New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results has been released on their site. The winners are the Amazon in South America; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil; Jeju Island, South Korea; Komodo, Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Philippines; and Table Mountain, South Africa. I voted for the first 3 and it took me a while to decide between Komodo and Galapagos before choosing the latter. But I can’t get over the fact that the Great Barrier Reef was just on the list of 14 finalists. I’m happy, however, that the Masurian Lake District also qualified for the final 14.
The movies premièring today have been milking the fact it’s 11.11.11 to the point that one of them actually has it as a title. The chance of it to have actually happen on Friday is pretty high - 1 in 7. However, it does feel most like someone made it this way. Or maybe paid for it for marketing purposes. And thus true purpose of the universe has been revealed.
Egyptian authorities closed the Great Pyramid after rumours that groups would try to hold special rituals on 11 November at 11:11. The rumours sparked an internet campaign to stop any ceremonies. They announced that it has been closed until Saturday morning for "necessary maintenance" only, however, security was tightened across the entire complex. Two nearby pyramids and the Sphinx remained open.
And that’s plus all the weddings and caesareans scheduled for today. The Chinese find the day very lucky which has resulted in spike in weddings today. It’s not as big as 10.10.10 and nothing beats 09.09.09. Still the thousands of people count on being happy ever after because of the date they got on their marriage certificate.
Of course 11th of November was made significant in its own right when it became the day when world War I ended. This means various celebrations all over the world commemorating these events. In US it’s the Veterans Day, for the Commonwealth countries it’s Remembrance Day and in some of them as well as France and Belgium it is a public holiday. For Poland today is the Independence Day. Celebration of regaining our own country after over century of occupation. Unfortunately, the celebration has been hijacked by the confrontation between nationalists and the leftists organisations. There is some irony in the Polish neo-Nazis demonstration being stopped by anarchist reinforced by their German colleagues. I probably shouldn’t have sympathies but I could not not despise people who prescribe into ideology that wanted to kill us all and didn’t succeed just because of lack of time. I’m glad for the left-wing protesters being there to stop the march. I just wish it didn’t end up with a big fight. It’s been happening for few years but this one got really bad. I think they are still putting out the fires.
And I am posting this at 11:11, even though my 24h clock will just show 23:11, I know I made it for at least one before today ended. Just as I listen to the 11:11 song:
Anyway, this is a nicely symmetrical day and I like numbers, especially palindromic ones. Of course it isn’t as cool as 900 years ago but 11.11.1111 can only happen once every calendar system. This doesn’t stop people from assigning arbitrary significance to the date.
The preliminary results of the New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results has been released on their site. The winners are the Amazon in South America; Halong Bay, Vietnam; Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil; Jeju Island, South Korea; Komodo, Indonesia, Puerto Princesa Underground River, the Philippines; and Table Mountain, South Africa. I voted for the first 3 and it took me a while to decide between Komodo and Galapagos before choosing the latter. But I can’t get over the fact that the Great Barrier Reef was just on the list of 14 finalists. I’m happy, however, that the Masurian Lake District also qualified for the final 14.
The movies premièring today have been milking the fact it’s 11.11.11 to the point that one of them actually has it as a title. The chance of it to have actually happen on Friday is pretty high - 1 in 7. However, it does feel most like someone made it this way. Or maybe paid for it for marketing purposes. And thus true purpose of the universe has been revealed.
Egyptian authorities closed the Great Pyramid after rumours that groups would try to hold special rituals on 11 November at 11:11. The rumours sparked an internet campaign to stop any ceremonies. They announced that it has been closed until Saturday morning for "necessary maintenance" only, however, security was tightened across the entire complex. Two nearby pyramids and the Sphinx remained open.
And that’s plus all the weddings and caesareans scheduled for today. The Chinese find the day very lucky which has resulted in spike in weddings today. It’s not as big as 10.10.10 and nothing beats 09.09.09. Still the thousands of people count on being happy ever after because of the date they got on their marriage certificate.
Of course 11th of November was made significant in its own right when it became the day when world War I ended. This means various celebrations all over the world commemorating these events. In US it’s the Veterans Day, for the Commonwealth countries it’s Remembrance Day and in some of them as well as France and Belgium it is a public holiday. For Poland today is the Independence Day. Celebration of regaining our own country after over century of occupation. Unfortunately, the celebration has been hijacked by the confrontation between nationalists and the leftists organisations. There is some irony in the Polish neo-Nazis demonstration being stopped by anarchist reinforced by their German colleagues. I probably shouldn’t have sympathies but I could not not despise people who prescribe into ideology that wanted to kill us all and didn’t succeed just because of lack of time. I’m glad for the left-wing protesters being there to stop the march. I just wish it didn’t end up with a big fight. It’s been happening for few years but this one got really bad. I think they are still putting out the fires.
And I am posting this at 11:11, even though my 24h clock will just show 23:11, I know I made it for at least one before today ended. Just as I listen to the 11:11 song:
Click to view