The Numbers All Go To 11

Oblomova in the Rumper Room reminded us that today—11/11/11—is Nigel Tufnel Day.

It’s also known variously as Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, or Veterans Day, of which this is the 93rd anniversary.

Some read special significance into the numerology of an arbitrary collection of numbers in a calendar that’s been severely jiggered about with over the years, regarding the date as either auspicious or apocalyptic. Some maintain that it is the only double-figure palindromic date (ignoring the lessons of the Millennium Bug).

Last time this juxtaposition occurred, in 1911, there was bedlam in some quarters:

The Great Blue Norther of 11/11/11:

“One-hundred years ago, November 11th, 1911: The Great Blue Norther descended upon America. The day started fine; there were even record highs for that time of year. Then it all changed; temperatures began to drop. Within the space of ten minute: the temperature dropped 40 to 50 degrees; by midnight a 66 degree temperature drop was recorded. There were dust storms, thunderstorms, tornados, and blizzards. Over 300 deaths were reported.”

For some, it’s being greeted with suspicion:

Egypt will close the Great Pyramid of Giza on Friday to avoid any rituals by a group rumoured to have plans to mark the date of 11/11/11 at the site, an official said.

The decision came “after much pressure” from Egyptian Internet users that strange rituals were going to be held “within the walls of the pyramid on November 11, 2011,” Atef Abu Zahab, head of the Department of Pharaonic Archaeology, told AFP.

As 11:11:11 11/11/11 sweeps across the world’s timezones, I’ve already had mine, and I can report that it was relatively unremarkable, even silent.

Mind you, if 11 of you wanted to use this as an open thread to post 11-word comments, then who knows what might happen ...

Posted by YAFB on 11/11/11 at 12:11 PM • Permalink

Categories: Geek Speak • Politics • Our Stupid Media • YouTubidity •

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A Rumproast haiku must have eleven words. Three must insult firebaggers.

Comment by Hunger Tallest Palin on 11/11/11 at 12:45 PM

And we can’t forget the Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940. It killed 145 people in the upper Midwest as well as 1.5 million turkeys intended for Thanksgiving.

Comment by Hank on 11/11/11 at 01:11 PM

Set the bar too high. Woe is me. I blame Obama.

Comment by YAFB on 11/11/11 at 01:57 PM

Any holiday that celebrates the Pocky shape is alright by me.

Comment by Comrade Mary on 11/11/11 at 02:17 PM

It is also Corduroy Appreciate Day. Save the whales cords!

Comment by J. on 11/11/11 at 02:18 PM

Now, while I completely understand the superstition surrounding this particular date, one cannot help but feel that it is but one particular day, chosen by a completely arbitrary method; notably, the Gregorian calendar that the majority of the world refers to due to the dominance of Western society upon the world. Those who would follow other cultures would naturally be mystified by the near-religious significance given to this date. Such is the same with the predictions of the year 2012: we go by the Gregorian calendar, but what of that year in, for example, the Chinese, Jewish, or Buddhist calendars, of which have passed that year. And besides, would not the date be more significant in the Mayan calendar? By the way, if any of you have been paying attention, I win, you fuckers.