The number four

quote:

Originally posted by rodwsmith:
You won't find a row 13 in an American aeroplane or a 13th floor in an American building. Why? Because Judas was the thirteenth disciple. Man alive.

Without Judas of course we wouldn't have the Christianity that has created this bizarre nonsense.

Sorry Rod, have to disagree.
13 has been an unlucky number through history, and also a significant number for many other reasons; it is no coincidence that there were 12 knights of the round table and 12 signs of the zodiac (the Sun being the significant 13th celestial body). The significance of 12 and 13 goes way before the time of Christ, and the Christian story merely conformed to the rule. The parallel between King Arthur & Christ is no accident. You can look way back before Christ to see the same story repeated. 13 isn't unlucky in all cultures though, but still very significant; in the Indian pantheon there are 13 Buddhas, 13 mystical discs surrounding the Indian and Chinese pagodas, 13 snake Gods of the Mexicans.

A little bit more info based on the Chinese numbering system and superstition.

When numbers are pronounced they sound like other words.

I have already mentioned 4 earlier on in this thread.

13 is made up of the numbers 1 and 3. These sound like "sure to grow" and is therefore considered lucky.

14 is made up of the numbers 1 and 4. These sound like "sure to die" and is not surprisingly considered unlucky.

On the otherhand 8 sounds like luck and 9 sounds like logetivity.

Regards

Mike

Some examples from photography. One of the most successful Leica cameras ever was the M4, and Nikon had a good degree of success with their F4. Yashica were happy to sell a nice compact camera in large numbers called the T4. All appear to have been sold very successfully in Japan and the Far East.

Nick

Anyone know the origin of why 7 is considered lucky?
I don’t believe in superstition. It’s unlucky.

Rasher,
I have taken the advice you gave me yesterday , and looked it up on Google but I don't know how to provide the link so you'll have to google yourself try www.answerbag.com
oldie.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that's how you provide the link, even an old sod like me can learn something every day.Another mystery of the computer age smashed!!By the time they nail my lid down I'll have it sorted .
oldie.

Thanks Oldie, but somehow one of these is unconvincing:

special sevens : from the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World ... to seven days of the week.

Seven more sevens:
• Pythagoreans called it the perfect number, 3 and 4, the triangle and the square, the perfect figures.
• Seven ancient planets - the sun was the greatest planet of the ancient seven and next to the sun, the moon, changing in all its splendour every seventh day. Seven visible planets and luminaries (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn).
• Books ...The Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T E Lawrence, Enid Blyton's Secret Seven series ... Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People ... Reiki and the Seven Chakras ...
• Seven Deadly Sins.
• The Trumpton fire brigade. (Pugh, Pugh, Barney, Magrew, Cuthburt, Dibble and Grub)
• Seven Seas
• In Chinese culture, the seventh day of the first moon of the lunar year is known as Human's Day to be celebrated as the universal birthday of all human beings.

Maybe they couldn't count,
oldie.

quote:

Originally posted by Rasher:
Seven more sevens:
• The Trumpton fire brigade. (Pugh, Pugh, Barney, Magrew, Cuthburt, Dibble and Grub)

Barney McGrew was one person.

But Captain Flack made the brigade number up to seven.

The Dance of the Seven Veils?

Oooooohh....self-promotion methinks!

Ban him!!!!

Haaaaaaaa!! JonR
You remembered, so my posting wasn't in vain

So that was aimed at me then.

Was it?

Steve M

Well, like I said in an earlier thread, Steve, be careful what you wish for.........

JR

Steve has been very, very good - I've been watching.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Lawson:
Or that Einstein believed in God ?

True.

But Einstein was wrong about one little quibble.

God chose to play dice with the universe.

I come from the Far East and am mortally offended by the number 4. I can't believe Naim (my favourite hifi manufacturer) could be so hurtful to my customs.

I insist they sell me a NAP300 for £3.5k instead of the infinitely more offensive £4.5

Jonathan

Aric

Just interested - what is it about this "logic" that you speak of that you like so much?

Personally, I've never found it helps with every situation. In the workplace, and especially when dealing with managers, the use of logic just creates tension and hostility.

Science is full of induced conclusions that pass into obscurity, and eventually into the annals of hilarity, with the passing of time.

So what is so great about logic?

Deane

Deane,

I take pleasure from it. And I'm stubborn.

So if that helps any, congrats on figuring me out.

But you're right, logic doesn't always work. But that's not to say I won't keep head-butting the wall if I think it's the appropriate course of action to take.

I can imagine the most miserable ending to life, and in the end, the only thing you've got are your ideals. What do you stand for, etc.?

You remember that scene in Braveheart when William Wallace gets his intestines ripped out because he refuses to ask for pity?

A dramatic example, but that's me to a T.

Aric

quote:

Originally posted by Aric:
You remember that scene in Braveheart when William Wallace gets his intestines ripped out because he refuses to ask for pity?

A dramatic example, but that's me to a T.

Aric

Sorry to hear of your stomach problems.

It is probably pretty apparent that I am under qualified to do almost anything - unfortunately the one qualification I did pick up along the way is a degree in Logic and Ethics. Never thought I'd have much use for it but then the forum job came along.

quote:

Originally posted by Adam Meredith:
It is probably pretty apparent that I am under qualified to do almost anything - unfortunately the one qualification I did pick up along the way is a degree in Logic and Ethics. Never thought I'd have much use for it but then the forum job came along.

Adam

With a degree in philosophy the Padded Cell must have a familiar feel - no actual answers; only more problems and more arguments.

And the only other job it'll qualify you for is teaching other people how to run forums...

Deane

Before NACA5 cable came A4...

I always get cheaper rates on the 4th floor at the Tokyo Sheraton, God only knows why, the buggers always overflow my bathroom from above ?


Fritz Von Nasty nip in the air tonight Dear

quote:

Originally posted by Deane F:
With a degree in philosophy the Padded Cell must have a familiar feel - no actual answers; only more problems and more arguments.

And the only other job it'll qualify you for is teaching other people how to run forums...

Deane

Once, when applying for unemployment benefit, I answered the question "Do you have any other qualifications that would help you obtain employment?" with "A degree in philosophy?"
The office rang to check whether I had such a degree or whether, having one, I doubted its employment efficacy. I could hear giggling in the background.

I later (after a spell with the Citizens Advice Bureau) worked in that office - so, not a great asset for "gainful".

So why are we being over-run with 4x4's?

Abd what do they call them in Japan (home of the RAV 4)