Why does…..
Why does anyone pay any attention to celebrities’ opinions?
Daily Wisecracks & Wisdom
You’re only as good as your
last cup of coffee.
Unknown
Smiles….
Keeping The Faith…
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3
Explanation: Put on your red/blue glasses and gaze across the western Ocean of Storms on the surface of the Moon. The 3D anaglyph shows Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrad visiting the Surveyor 3 spacecraft in November of 1969. Surveyor 3 had landedat the site on the inside slope of a small crater about 2 1/2 years earlier in April of 1967. Visible on the horizon beyond the far crater wall, Apollo 12’s Lunar Module Intrepid touched down less than 200 meters (650 feet) away, easy moonwalking distance from the robotic Surveyor spacecraft. This stereo image was carefully created from two separate pictures (AS12-48-7133, AS12-48-7134) captured on the lunar surface. They depict the scene from only slightly different viewpoints, approximating the separation between human eyes.
Tomorrow’s picture: meteors through Orion
Bible Verse
God will be faithful to us and he will love us with his faithful love. His justice and his peace will join together, like dear friends.
Truths For Today
Can I get an AMEN?
-Sheila Tolley-
Racism for Dummies.
Today is Friday 13…Why is it considered Unlucky?
Friday the 13th is considered unlucky because it combines two long-standing, separate superstitions: the unluckiness of the number 13 and the unluckiness of Fridays. While both have ancient roots, historians believe they only merged into a single “super-superstition” around the 19th century.
Biblical & Religious Origins
The most cited origin is the Last Supper, where 13 people (Jesus and his 12 apostles) sat at a table the night before Jesus’s crucifixion on a Friday.
-
The 13th Guest: Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, is often identified as the 13th guest to arrive.
-
Crucifixion Friday: Since Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the day itself became associated with sorrow and misfortune in Christian tradition.
-
Other Biblical Events: Some traditions suggest Friday was also the day Eve gave Adam the forbidden apple, Cain killed Abel, and the Great Flood began.
Norse Mythology
A similar “13th guest” myth appears in Norse lore. At a banquet in Valhalla for 12 gods, the trickster god Loki arrived uninvited as the 13th guest and arranged for the beloved god Balder to be killed, plunging the world into darkness.
Mathematical and Cultural Factors
-
12 vs. 13: In many cultures, 12 is seen as the number of “completeness” (12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours on a clock, 12 tribes of Israel). Because 13 follows this “perfect” number, it is often viewed as irregular or unsettling.
-
Knights Templar: On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Knights Templar. While some believe this is the true origin, historians note this connection was likely popularized much later by books like The Da Vinci Code.
-
Modern Media: The superstition was further cemented by Thomas W. Lawson’s 1907 novel Friday, the Thirteenth and the popular Friday the 13th horror film franchise.
Fast Facts
-
Phobia Names: The fear of the number 13 is triskaidekaphobia, while the fear of Friday the 13th is paraskevidekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia.
-
Cultural Variations: In Italy, Friday the 17th is considered the unluckiest day, while in Spanish-speaking countries and Greece, Tuesday the 13th is the day to avoid.
-
Common Behaviors: To avoid “bad luck,” many buildings skip the 13th floor, and some airlines omit row 13.
Wacky & Weird Facts: Animals Part 48
The Himalayan honey bee, the largest of the honey bees, makes hallucinogenic honey that tribes collect.
Snakes are true carnivores as they eat nothing but other animals. They do not eat any type of plant material.
Giraffes have no vocal cords.
Chocolate can kill dogs; it directly affects their heart and nervous system.
Iguanas have three eyes: two normal eyes and a third eye on top of their head that only perceives brightness.
