Thursday is a numerologist's dream day

Oct 10, 2012, 7:45 pm (11 comments)

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What are you doing on 10-11-12?

NEW YORK — On Thursday, some people may be marking, in some way, the fact that it is a special day, numerically speaking: It's 10-11-12.

Nice, but how significant? Those who study numbers say, well, not too much. Or perhaps it's better to say that it's as significant as you want it to be.

Significant enough to influence your wedding date? At one wedding chapel in Las Vegas, Forever Grand at the MGM Resorts, there's a special numerology package, including a chapel, a pianist, a minister, and a limo to the courthouse, among other things. (And if you're just finding out about this, it isn't too late: There's another special at Forever Grand for 12-12-12.)

The date 10-11-12 has proven not nearly as popular as last year's 11-11-11, when there were 22 weddings at the chapel, says manager Glynnis Sherwood. Nine weddings are booked for Thursday, almost certainly because of the date, she says, adding: "Of course, the biggest was 07-07-07, when we had 62."

Perhaps the day isn't significant enough for your wedding, but enough to go buy a lottery ticket?

"People like a fluency in numbers," says Rajesh Bagchi, an associate professor of marketing at Virginia Tech who also studies numbers psychology. "The sequence of 10-11-12 is fluent, and it goes up, so it can have a pleasing effect. It can feel right. So someone might decide, for example, to buy a lottery ticket."

Bagchi himself, however, didn't even realize the day was coming, until we called. So he wasn't planning anything special — he did actually get married in Vegas, but not on a numerically significant day, though surely it was significant in other ways.

Certainly, there are special things happening on Thursday, and not just the U.S. vice-presidential debate. At the United Nations, the day has been declared the International Day Of The Girl Child, recognizing girls' rights and the challenges they face around the world. But there's no evidence the actual numbers of the date were taken into account. Also, the Jonas Brothers are returning to the stage after three years with a one-night show at Radio City Music Hall.

How rare is the day? After all, there will be a neat moment right around the time many alarm clocks ring at 07:08:09, on 10-11-12. But won't it be better later this year, on Dec. 12, when we will have 12:12:12 on 12-12-12?

In fact, the kind of sequence happening Thursday is one that's been occurring every year since 2003, when we had 01-02-03. It will end for a while in 2014, with 12-13-14. Then we'll need to wait until 2103. "It basically happens in the early years of a new century," says Geoff Chester, public affairs officer at the U.S. Naval Observatory, which, if you didn't know, is the official timekeeper for the Department of Defense.

"Really, this is just a numerological curiosity," says Chester. "People find it amusing. But there is no cosmic significance. It's an artifact of the calendar and time system that we use."

Eric Carlson, a physics professor at Wake Forest University, agrees. "No great significance," he says. "Just a curiosity. I like number patterns, like many of us. Our lives are dominated by numbers."

Carlson himself plans nothing special on Thursday, though he does allow that on the day several years ago that corresponded precisely to the seven digits of his phone number, he held a party.

"Tomorrow is too busy," he says. "But I will really celebrate next week, when my daughter turns in her college applications."

AP, Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Ronnie316

I been watchin those odd number combinations since 01-01-01

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

My lips go numb just thinking about it.

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by Ronnie316 on Oct 10, 2012

I been watchin those odd number combinations since 01-01-01

Maybe you should wheel those numbers for tonights drawing?

gocart1's avatargocart1

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Oct 10, 2012

My lips go numb just thinking about it.

Rotf  cgu.................= rolling on the floor........can't get up.......

luckyshoes's avatarluckyshoes

Dates like this are known to be luckier than say an average Thursday. Betting in a lot of arenas will be heavier tomorrow.   12-12-12 will be hot, too. Good luck everyone !

sully16's avatarsully16

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Oct 10, 2012

My lips go numb just thinking about it.

LOL, Here's to 10-11-12 Cheers

savagegoose's avatarsavagegoose

2    14    21    29    39    pb 28

 

was our reuslts

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

i say this will be one of the best days ever! 10-11-12 Party

luckybamboo

12 12 12 is Aaron Rodgers Day

mcginnin56

Quote: Originally posted by luckybamboo on Oct 18, 2012

12 12 12 is Aaron Rodgers Day

It's nice to be Aaron Rodgers, and his $8 million salary is even nicer!   Yes Nod

dr65's avatardr65

Quote: Originally posted by rdgrnr on Oct 10, 2012

My lips go numb just thinking about it.

LOL
My lips go numb constantly asking for them at the ticket counter..."Let me have 1010 and 1212...."
I'd sure appreciate them being drawn. At this point, I'm due both of them straight.

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