Transcript
Speaker: On Chris deals with it, I talk about the frameworks and methods I use to clear personal, creative, and professional roadblocks. My goal is to help others bridge the gap between where they're at now and what they want to achieve. If you're new to the show, I'm an engineer, writer, parent, game designer, leader, and reader who leverages that experience to develop creative solutions to problems.
Speaker: an AI statement that all elements of this episode are products of the author, Chris Kreuter, and made without the use of any AI tools. Welcome to episode 65 of Chris deals with it, Friday the 13th. Some quick housekeeping before I start the show, that more new episodes are going to be coming to you in October. I'm just recording a quick fun episode to tide you over until then.
Speaker: ah If there are any topics or questions that you'd like me to cover on the show, please send them in. You can find all my contact information on the website, chriscroiter .com. That's C -H -R -I -S -K -R -E -U -T -E -R dot .com. Alright, let's dig into the episode. It's Friday the 13th and I devote this entire episode to exploring this quirky number that I really feel a deep connection to. Because I'll admit it, I'm really weird about the number 13.
Speaker: Why? Well, as a kid I loved numbers and math, and I came to identify deeply with the number 13. This is because my family's got a strange history with the number. My parents' first date was to see the movie Friday the 13th when it debuted in theaters. ah They were given room number 13 on their honeymoon, and I was born nine months later on Friday the 13th. And my sister was also born on Friday the 13th.
Speaker: So some fun facts about the number. 13 is a prime number. It's part of the Fibonacci sequence where each number is the sum of two previous numbers. So 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, etc. A 13 -sided polygon is called a tridecagon. 13 is the atomic number for aluminum. For my fellow gamers, there are 13 ranks in each suit of a deck of standard playing cards. In a tarot deck, card 13 is the card of death.
Speaker: In astrology, there's 12 signs of the zodiac, but Earth actually passes through 13 constellations. I'll save you the Wikipedia search. It's called a Phychicus serpent -bearer. I actually have a link to ah a NASA article about this in the show notes. In Germany, number 13, or Dreitzein, is the first compound number. According to the old tradition, this makes it the first number written in digits. The number zero, Knoll, through 12, Zwulf, would be spelled out.
Speaker: And back here in the USA, our nation was formed from 13 colonies, which is why there are 13 stripes in our flag. So is 13 unlucky? So fear of the number 13 is called Triska Decophobia. Sufferers try to avoid bad luck by keeping away from anything numbered or labeled 13. In countries where 13 is considered unlucky, manufacturers often use another way of numbering or labeling to avoid that number, such as in hotels and tall buildings. Again, I got a link to more details on this in the show notes.
Speaker: Some believe that number 13 is unlucky because Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table. Some years actually have 13 full moons instead of 12. Back in the day, this posed problems for monks in charge of religious calendars.
Speaker: 2023 was the last month with a 13th moon, and the next isn't going to happen until 2048. I want to talk a little quickly about the practical uses of numbers. I'll add 13 cents for added personality for monetary transactions such as a gift or a donation via cheque or venmo. Sometimes I'll use other numbers if it's a friend with their own hockey number or a birth date or their age, and I've actually snuck 13 into every creative work I've ever made.
Speaker: In sports, a player's number often has a lot of meaning. It can be a way of honoring someone, a parent, a mentor, or a player you looked up to and want to emulate. No quote for today, but like I said, you'll see more episodes coming in October, and until then, have a great day.
Speaker: If you feel that Chris dealt with it, I'd appreciate your support of the show by sharing it with someone who might benefit. Ratings on your favorite podcast player are also helpful in growing the audience. Visit chriscroiter dot .com for free downloadable PDFs with notes and resources from today's episode, sign up for the CDWY mailing list, or to send in your problems or requests for future shows. That's C -H -R -I -S -K -R -E -U -T -E -R dot .com or use the link in the show notes.
