09/09/09: lucky, dangerous or romantic?Summary: Is 09/09/09 the end of the world, a prime date for tying the knot, a great marketing opportunity or simply a lucky day? Is it the end of the world, a prime date for tying the knot, a great marketing opportunity or simply a lucky day? The ninth day of the ninth month of the ninth year has certainly got the world talking. Some doom-mongers are predicting the end of human existence, although, so far, they must be disappointed. Internet chat rooms have been awash with talk of 09/09/09, despite the fact that the world has managed to make it through a number of previous dates for Armageddon, including the Millennium and 06/06/06. Users of the alien-earth.org website combined Nostrodamus, the Book of Revelation and the Mayan prophecies with fears about the Cern Large Hadron Collider This article or section contains information about an expected future scientific facility. It is likely to contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change as the facility approaches completion. in Geneva Geneva, canton and city, Switzerland Geneva (jənē`və), Fr. Genève, canton (1990 pop. 373,019), 109 sq mi (282 sq km), SW Switzerland, surrounding the southwest tip of the Lake of Geneva. in their predictions. But scientists have dismissed the conspiracy theories ''This is a list of conspiracy theories; it contains alleged conspiracies that are not accepted by mainstream academics. For a discussion of conspiracy theories in general, see conspiracy theory. , saying numerology numerology Use of numbers to interpret a person's character or divine the future. It is based on the assertion by Pythagoras that all things can be expressed in numerical terms because they are ultimately reducible to numbers. and belief in special dates should be ignored. Professor Chris French Christopher C. French BA PhD CPsychol FBPsS FRSA is a psychologist and vocal skeptic specialising in the psychology of paranormal beliefs and experiences, cognition and emotion. of Goldsmiths, University of London Goldsmiths, University of London (founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute, rebranded from Goldsmiths College, University of London in 2006<ref name="">Rebranding FAQs. Goldsmiths, University of London. and editor of The Skeptic Magazine, said: "Numerology, like any other system of divination divination, practice of foreseeing future events or obtaining secret knowledge through communication with divine sources and through omens, oracles, signs, and portents. , has no validity whatsoever... We are very good at seeking out meaning and patterns in randomness... but the price is that we see significance in things that aren't there at all." The conspicuous date has also been taken advantage of by marketing companies who want to benefit from its uniqueness. Wednesday has seen the release of a Beatles computer game, as well as the release of their digitally remastered back catalogue and the announcement of the new Apple iPod. Meanwhile, thousands of people across China have chosen the date to get hitched, because in Mandarin, the date "nine, nine" sounds like "jiu, jiu" or "long lasting". And back here in the UK, for couples in the emergency services emergency services Emergency care '…services …necessary to prevent death or serious impairment of health and, because of the danger to life or health, require the use of the most accessible hospital available and equipped to furnish those services' , today is also the perfect date to tie the knot. Four police officers and two firefighters have chosen to make their wedding date 999. PC Jacqueline Felton, 30, and 29-year-old PC Michael Aldred are saying their vows on 09/09/09. They'd originally planned to marry on August 8 2008, but switched the date when they realised they had a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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