I am not quite ready to start another long series about music just yet, but probably will begin next week. Due to popular request, Jethro Tull will be the focus when we do get started on that. I promised something lighter than last week, so here are a few random thoughts about my likes and dislikes in popular culture, past and present.
First of all, today is Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious, but many folks are. Not as many as in the past, but still many are. Interestingly, friggatriskaidekaphobia is of quite recent origin, not being much noticed until late in the 19th century. Reasons to be afraid of this combination of date and day are quite nonscientific.
Friday has been considered an unlucky day for a long time. The reasons for this are unclear, but Chaucer mentioned it in the 14th century. Twelve has always been considered a “good” number (we still use dozens, have twelve hours for each half of the day, and many other examples) and 13 is thus imperfect, and a prime number as well. One popular idea is that because of Judas, 13 (including Christ) at a table is bad luck. A similar idea also appears in Norse mythology. Actually, the numbers 2 and 8 have a more scientific basis for being “good”, since they describe the number of electrons required to acquire the noble gas configuration in the elements. In any event, I consider any Friday the 13th just another day.
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