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Tomorrow, an estimated 20 to 67 million people will experience a fear so paralyzing, it may keep them from getting out of bed in the morning. They may refuse to travel, call in sick, or not complete business. They may experience anything from nervousness to panic attacks to even heart attacks. What is it that will cause such a large group of people to have such incapacitating experiences tomorrow? And what's so special about tomorrow, anyway?
Those tens of millions of people are suffering from paraskavedekatriaphobia: a morbid, irrational fear of Friday the 13th.
Any month that begins on a Sunday will contain a Friday the 13th. This day/date combo can happen anywhere from 1-3 times per year. But take heart, paraskavedekatriaphobes, as you'll have somewhat of a reprieve this year. 2008 has only one Friday the 13th, and tomorrow is it.
Friday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. It is a superstition born of two separate fears: fear of the number 13 (covered yesterday), and fear of Friday. In the British tradition, Friday was the usual day for public hangings. Christians believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Adam and Eve supposedly ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday. Some theologians hold that the Great Flood and the confusion of the Tower of Babel both fell on Fridays.
So, to have the 13th day of the month fall on a Friday is some bad juju, indeed. The spectre of Friday the 13th is enough to cause otherwise rational people and even organizations to do seemingly irrational things to avoid it. The US Navy will not launch a ship on any Friday the 13th. Lloyd's of London, in the 1800's, refused to insure any ship sailing on a Friday the 13th. Some ocean liner captains will go to great lengths to delay a planned Friday the 13th launch until just after midnight, when it is technically Saturday the 14th.
People point to past disasters to support their fear/superstition: During the 18th century, the HMS Friday was launched on a Friday the 13th - and was never heard from again. The Black Friday bushfires in Victoria, Australia happened on Friday, January 13, 1939. Hurricane Charley hit near Port Charlotte, Florida on Friday, August 13, 2004. The plane carrying the Uruguayan Rugby team crashed in the Andes mountains on Friday, October 13, 1972.
And yet, there are still those who defy convention: Black Sabbath's debut album (you know, those big, round discs that came before cd's, that came before MP3 files) was released in the UK on Friday, February 13th, 1970. The thirteenth installment in A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket, was released on Friday, October 13, 2006. The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan's latest flick, is set to release tomorrow, Friday, June 13, 2008. And, a remake of the original Friday the 13th movie is planned for release on Friday, February 13, 2009.
Some believe whole-heartedly that tomorrow is a bad, bad day. Others believe it's all a buncha hooey. I fit somewhere in the middle, I think. So, for all my fellow fence-sitters, and for all those who plan to pull the covers over their heads and not come out 'til the 14th, I found some interesting things that may help you get through the day tomorrow, courtesy of Brownielocks.com: - Walk around your house 13 times on Friday the 13th.
- Hang your shoes out the window. (Really. That's what it said. No explanation. Just "Hang your shoes out the window." Perhaps it gasses out the bad juju?)
- Sleep with a mirror under your pillow for the first 3 Fridays before Friday the 13th. Then, on Friday the 13th, you have to dream of your true love. (Well, it's a little late now for this one. Just file it away for the next one coming up in February 2009. You could still try the dreaming part tomorrow, though. It could work...)
- Walk around the block with your mouth full of water. If you don't swallow it, you'll be 100% safe on Friday the 13th.
- Wear and/or eat garlic.
At best, these rituals will save you from bad luck. At worst, it will give your neighbors one more reason to talk about you.
Good luck!
My sources:
Hey everyone, it's Carl with a message to Will's dad--We'd be glad to give his T-shirt to you. Just come to the desk in the library in Imaginon. And please keep sending in those great comments, Will. You really made me want to read those books! And don't forget--you still have a free book available for writing to us (and so does everyone who writes in and tells us about a book).
And a reminder--Bill has rescheduled his Beowulf program for next Tuesday, the 29 th at 2pm. He told me about it and it sounds great! Call 704-973-2720 to register.
Hey everyone, we had a great time at our Heroes and Villains festival. I don't have time to write much, but I'll show you some pictures and Bill will say some more. As I said, it was a great time. We had Guitar Hero:
That's cyber kid 303 in the middle with the baseball cap. We also had some actual fire fighters come here and let some kids get on the fire engine:
Bill, I mean, Captain Bootstrap Bill is with them. He burns the port cities and they put out the fires. Here's the fire engine:
We also had a portable basketball goal so kids could be a Basketball Hero:
That's Bootstrap Bill again--he said he wanted to "burn one in." We tried to tell him that when you steal the ball you don't really steal the ball.
But finally the Hero Avengers of Imaginon Library (or HAIL) caught up to Bootstrap Bill and paid him back for his dastardly deeds:
As I said, we all had a lot of fun. And, guess what---
cyber kid 303 was there to get his
free Rick Riordan T-shirt:
Hey, Mr. Riordan, any chance cyber kid could be a Demigod of the Week?
Well, I'd put up more pictures, but Blogger is telling me I've used up half of the capacity already. So I'll see if Bill wants to make another post. By the way, I told you all that I'd post cyber kid's and Will's new comments, so here they are:
101 Ways to Bug Your Parents by Lee Wardlaw. Mrs. Wardlaw is another author I met at Novello (in 2006). She has a son, so she knows how to write books that are interesting to boys. This is a good book and it really does teach you 101 ways to bug your parents. I've tried a lot of them. She also wrote 101 Ways to Bug Your Teacher.
That's from cyber kid. Did you really use some of thsoe on your parents? Did they write a book called 101 Ways to Ground Your Kid?
Here's from Will:
Otis Spofford by Beverly Cleary is a good book because Otis always gets in trouble and always gets an excuse to get out of it, but he gets paid back from his prank....two girls get him back by playing a prank on him.
Very good, Will. You've really made me want to read the books you write about and that's the sign of a good book reviewer. I've got Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary checked out and I'll let you guys know how it is.
Keep up the good work, everyone!
Carl
Hey, guys, did you enjoy the long weekend? I sure did. Let me tell you all about it. I'll tell you every detail, starting from 6:01 Friday evening---NO, I'M JUST MESSING WITH YOU!!! I know you're eager to hear who won the contest. So let me announce that the winner is.....
Or should I say THE WINNERS ARE:
cyber kid 303 and Will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, the race was so close AND you two have both worked so hard that Bill and I thought it only fair to award you both a free Rick Riordan T-shirt. You've both done really well and we're proud of you, so you both get one. If you can come to our Heroes and Villains festival today, we'll give it to you then. If you can't, let us know and we'll hold it for you or find a way to get it to you.
Well done!!!!! Will and cyber kid were so eager, in fact, that they both sent us new comments over the weekend but I'm very busy today and won't be able to post them until later. All right? Congratulations to you both and to everyone who wrote in----or should I say writes in. I hope you all keep up the good work!!!
Carl
All you guys ROCK!
I mean it. You all rock and roll!! Here are 2 new comments from Will:
The Practical Joke War by Alane Ferguson is a great book because Taffy,Russell,and Eddy want to see who will forfiet first in the battle so they go on a crazy battle just to see who will win and what will happen.
Aliens for Dinner by Stephanie Spinner is as good as Aliens for Breakfast because Richard goes on another world-saving adventure with his alien friend to stop the dorfs from trashing up our planet and then taking it over.
Excellent work, Will! You've really made me want to read them. Now we have one more from cyber kid 303:
The American Chillers series by Jonathan Rand are very good books because they are very, very scary. Some of the best ones are Iron Insects of Indiana, Washinton Wax Museum, and South Carolina Sea Creatures. He has not written one yet about North Carolina. Jonathan Rand is also a really, really nice guy. Mr. Rand and I write to each other and he will directly answer your letters, too. He also has a website at www.americanchillers.com. He has a cool store in Michigan called Chillermania.
Very good , cyber kid. This is really close! Here are the standings: (I believe these are correct)
Will--7 entries
cyber kid 303--8 entries
Sir Samuel--2 entries
Melanie, Tyler, and Anonymous--1 entry each
So here's the situation--I will be off the next 3 days because of the weekend and Martin Luther King Day. (The library will be closed that day) Monday is the final day of the contest, so you can keep writing through Monday night. I'll post the results Tuesday (hopefully Tuesday morning) You can come pick up your T-shirt any time you'd like, but if you can get to the Heroes and Villains festival Tuesday afternoon, I'll give it to you then.
All right? Enjoy your long weekend.
Carl
Hey, gang, this has been quite a busy day. I can't be too long today, so I'll post cyber kid 303's new comment:
Old Man's Cave By Jeff Smith is a good book because it is an action packed book about Fone Bone, Smiley Bone, & Phoney Bone who accidently go to a new city and there are many adventures. This is the sixth book in the series and this one is all about the war between the Flat Landers and the Rat Creatures.
I really liked Old Man's Cave, but then, I like all the Bone graphic novels. By the way, cyber kid came here today for a program about Norman Rockwell. Here's a photo:
Cyber kid and Will are neck-and-neck in the free T-shirt contest but I'll have to post the standings tomorrow. We're going to have some fun at the Heroes fest next Tuesday from 2-4. We'll have Guitar Hero, a place to get your body traced and design your own hero (or villain), a portable basketball goal to be a Basketball Hero, a knights vs dragons balloon sword area, and more fun stuff. Be sure to come!
Carl
PS--Darth Bill is back! I thought he was sick but I was wrong! Just wait until you hear his amazing story!
Here we go! Will has sent us three posts today.
I like the Lightning Thief because Percy has a cool pen that can turn into a sword that he calls Riptide.I also like the way he battles with it and that it can't hurt mortals.
I think the book The Name of This Book is Secret is a good book because Cass and Max-Ernest try to help find a magician's brother with a box called the Symphony of smells.
The Fire Within is a great book because David moves in with the Pennykettles but while he's staying there he notices that his clay dragon[It was from Mrs.Pennykettle]starts to come alive and so do the other ones so later on David finds out that they are really helping him from being hurt by the evil sources from the world
Three posts in one day--very impressive, Will. This is so great. Keep it up, everyone!
The competition is really heating up now.
Very, very funny. Here are the standings:
Will--4 entries
cyber kid 303--5 entries
Sir Samuel--2 entries
Melanie, Anonymous, and Tyler--1 entry each
I'll post the standings again tomorrow along with some info about the Heroes and Villains festival. By the way, would you guys do us a favor--would you please include the names of the authors when you post a comment? I try to update our list of books every month and it makes it easier when I know who the authors are. Thanks!
Carl
This is better than great! You guys are really writing in. We're on a roll!
Very funny. We've got a new comment from our new friend
Will:
I think the Sea of Monsters is a good book because Percy Jackson goes on an adventure with Annabeth and a new friend named Tyson to go and save Grover from the evil cyclops.
Good job, Will. Come and get your
free book. I agree with you on the
Sea Of Monsters. I knew that if I kept telling you all about Percy Jackson that you'd like it. Will, you are also in the running for our free T-shirt.
Would you stop with the pictures!!!!!!! I meant that you are are now in the contest to win a
free T-shirt from
Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson author. The boy who sends in the most comments, talking about books, by January 21 will win a T-shirt that looks like this:
By the way, the standings now are:
Will--1 enrty
cyber kid 303--3 entries
Anonymous--1 entry
Tyler--1 entry
Still plenty of time! So keep on writing!
Carl
Wow! Gotta say it again--WOW!! You guys are doing great. We've had 4 comments in one week! Way to go. Here's what our new friends, Anonymous and Tyler have to say:
I think the Lightening Thief is a cool book because Percy Jackson,the kid who goes on a mission from camp half-blood. He has to find a lightening bolt and return it to its owner.
I can't wait for the Battle of the Labyrinth!!!!!!!!!!!It's gonna be awesome!I also heard about a movie coming soon! That'll be great!
Good work guys. Come in and get your free books. I agree with both of you about the Percy Jackson books. They're the best thing I've read in years. I can't wait for the fourth one either. Yes, there is supposed to be a Lightning Thief movie. Chris Columbus, who did the first Harry Potter movie, will direct it. You can go to Rick Riordan's website (we've got a link to it on the left-hand side of thiis page) and find out more.
Speaking of The Lightning Thief, I've read a couple of books that relate to it:
Are any of you guys on sports teams? Is your training pretty tough? Well, it would have been nothing compared to what you had to do to get into the ancient Greek Olympics! I found that out when I read this really fun book, You Wouldn't Want to Be a Greek Athlete: Races You'd Rather Not Run 
by Michael Ford. You had to compete in the Pentathalon, which means you had to do five events: Javelin (spear) toss, running, long jump, discus toss, and wrestling. Competiton was brutal--some people got killed in the wrestling matches! Yet even though the winner didn't get much money, he got a lot of fame and glory.
The other book is You Wouldn't Want to Be in Alexander the Great's Army: Miles You'd Rather Not March
by Jacqueline Morley. Imagine you're an ancient Greek farmer. You'll probably stay on that farm your whole life and never go anywhere. Sound boring? Then imagine you've got a chance to join the army and see (and conquer) the world. Sounds like a good deal, right? WRONG! Sure, you'll conquer lots of kingdoms and get lots of treasure, but you'll spend years on the march, cross burning deserts and freezing mountains, and most of you won't come back. But if you make it, you will have been part of one the greatest armies the world will ever see. Both these books are extremely interesting and they have hilarious illustrations. I can't tell you how much fun I had with these books--and I bet you will too!
So here's how the standings in the free T-shirt competton are: Cab--1 entry; cyber kid 303--2 entries; anaonymous--1 entry; Tyler--1 entry. The guy who who sends in the most comments, talking about books, by January 21 wins a free t-shirt from Rick Riordan. So keep those comments coming in!
Carl
Wow, this is great! cyber kid 303 has left us a message and a new book comment:
Carl,
I did see Wendelin Van Draanen at Novello, along with all the other authors. I even got to eat breakfast & talk to Jeff Smith, author of Bone, who I know Darth Bill likes. I am not part cyber, but I love computers (and books).
P.S. Your Pegasus program was great!
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl -- Danny, a boy whose mom died when he was 4 months old, was left with his dad who swore to himself that he would not go poaching (illegally hunting) again until Danny was old enough to stay home alone at night in the gypsy caravan where they lived. His dad broke the swear and Danny woke up in the middle of the night worried. Soon, Danny becomes more interested in poaching and wants to do it himself. There are interesting things that happen in this book and it is perfect for a book club.Roald Dahl has written many other good books...The Magic Finger, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, The Twits, The BFG and others. I'm going to see The BFG at Imaginon this month!
Whew, I'm glad you're not part cyber. I'd hate to think a Borg was coming into the library regularly. Thanks for the compliment about the Pegasus program. I had a really good time too. Hope you can come to Bill's program on Beowulf next Tuesday and the Heroes and Villians festival on the 22nd.
Well, you're now in the lead for the free T-shirt contest, but don't rest yet--I bet there are other guys out there, itching to write and get that shirt. How about it, guys?
And if you all want to find out the Childrens' Theatre production of The BFG
, (which ought to be very cool) click here.
And if you want to learn more about Roald Dahl, check out the extremely cool and fun site, click here.
Take it easy,
Carl
Yes, sir! We have the first comment of the new year! This is from cyber kid 303. Let's hear what he liked:
cyber kid 303 has left a new comment on your post "Don't Forget Our Contest!":
Swear to Howdy by Wendelin Van Draanen An over all good book, Swear to Howdy, is a adventurous book, but also sad. Rusty & Joey, 2 adventure-wanting, full fledge pranksters, pull pranks such as putting beetles in their sisters' cokes. They also shot Joey's cat by mistake while shooting squirrels with a .22 rifle (a gun). Each chapter is a different story so it doesn't matter what order you read it in (except for the last chapter).
Very well done, cyber kid 303! I really want to read this book now. Come in and get your free book! You are also tied with Cab, who wrote one comment, (posted on 12-31-07) for our free T-shirt. Let's keep them coming!
Carl
PS--Wendelin Van Draanen was at our Novello Festival Book Brunch last October. Did you get to see her?
PPS--Are you really part cyber and part kid? How much of each are you?
Don't forget--the boy who sends us the most comments about books by January 21 wins a
free T-shirt that looks like this:
