August 31, 2016
Did you know that 2016 is the rare year that has only ONE Friday the 13th and it fell in May (so now we’re safe).
Before we talk about Friday the 13th, let’s take a look at the number “13” itself. Fear of the number “13” is of Greek origin and is called:
TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
The phonetic pronunciation is:
TRIS-KUH-DEK-UH-FOH-BEE-UH
Thirteen were at The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
In the United States 80% of high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor. And, the vast majority of hospitals and hotels avoid using this number as well. Of course, there’s always an exception: the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan has a 13th floor. And, just in case you’re interested, airports do not have gates marked “13”.
Are black cats unlucky? Not when they’re this cute!
I recently discovered a list of 13 Odd Things That Happened on Friday the 13th in the May 2016 issue of Readers Digest that was compiled by Andy Simmons. I’ve decided to cherry-pick this list by changing the order and listing the ones I feel are the most interesting.
1 On every Friday the 13th, the world’s economy apparently loses about $900 million because people are scared to work and travel on this date, says Donald Dassey, founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute.
2 On Friday, January 13, 2012, the cruise ship Costa Concordia partially sank off the Italian coast after running aground, killing 32.
The Costa Concordia
3 That very same day, 174 were killed when a Russian airliner crashed on landing near Moscow.
4 On Friday, October 13, 1989, the stock market fell a whopping 6.1% (190 points). At the time, it was the second worst day in market history.
5 On Friday, August 13, 2010, a 13-year-old boy in Suffolk, England, was struck by lightning and reportedly hit at 1:13. The boy survived unharmed.
LOOKING BACK
“YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOUR WANT” according to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in the 1969 hit song from their album. Wow, this is certainly true. For example, take a look at our blog Diamonds Are Forever about the magnificent Lesedi la Rona, which means “Our Light” in the Tswana language. It was found in Botswana by the Vancouver-based Lucara Diamond Corporation and is the largest diamond discovery in more than a century.
After viewing this marvel at Sotheby’s, New York I was really up for the auction that took place on June 29, 2016 in London. At promptly 1:30 pm EST, (6:30 pm BST) I watched it live on my 21-inch computer screen. All the Sotheby staffers were excited about this auction that had a $70 million reserve and brought brisk bidding – that stopped cold at $62 million.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. After all the publicity, multiple showings in different locations and entertaining the night before in London – IT DIDN’T SELL! The reason? Disastrous timing: just days after the Brexit vote and dropping of the British pound. No one was to blame. The auction could not be rescheduled. What happened was something that came completely from left field. Or, you can’t always get what you want.
Shaun Nelson-HenrickSaveSaveComments will be approved before showing up.
October 22, 2020
I just read an article that sounded – to me at least – like “a canary in a coal mine” or an early warning of danger. This piece, written by Joe Pompeo, appeared in the May 2020 issue of Vanity Fair magazine with the title “The British Tabloid Invasion” and a subtitle that read, “How the Daily Mail is conquering American gossip.”
The paparazzi horde, La Dolce Vita, 1960 – photo courtesy of Vanity Fair
October 14, 2020
Apparently the good old U.S. is a nation of “not great” sleepers. Really? And I thought I was the only one! According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention it was revealed that one out of three Americans are chronically sleep-deprived. Yikes!
October 06, 2020
I think we’re all taken by the incredible mystique of the famous French fashion house, Hermès that has been with us for two centuries and is still owned and operated by the same family. From its beginnings in fine equestrian leather goods, they are – in the tumultuous year 2020 – best known for their handbags and many other items.
My image of Hermès has always been rarified products at equally rarified prices so imagine my surprise when I recently received a very stylish publication of theirs in the mail.