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COULD DR. SHELDON COOPER BE WRONG? Eidetic vs. Photographic Memory

1/15/2021

My family loves The Big Bang Theory sitcom and have watched every episode multiple times.

I believe I have most of them memorized. I’m sure Sheldon could tell us precisely how many… he has an eidetic memory he keep reminding his colleagues and viewers.

Does he? Could he be wrong [God forbid]?

No one can say for sure. Well, they can say it and do, but none of the experts seem to agree. This turns out to be a very contentious question… not about Dr. Cooper, but about the whole phenomenon.

STARTING WITH DEFINITIONS
The very fact that, across the board, there seem to be inconsistencies in dictionary definitions of both terms (eidetic and photographic memory), does not bode well … we’re not discussing an exact science. Some define the terms to be exactly the same; some not quite.

Definition of Eidetic Memory Definition of photographic Memory

Ability to remember things in exact detail.

Collins Dictionary

Ability to remember things in exact detail, as if you can see them

Marked by or involving extra-ordinary accurate and vivid recall especially of visual images

Merriam Webster

An unusual ability to remember things completely and exactly as they were seen, read, etc.

No exact match found for “Eidetic memory. Did you mean: virtual memory, read-only memory?

Oxford Dictionary

The ability to remember things accurately in great detail after seeing them.

The ability to recall an image from memory with high precision for a brief period after seeing it only once, without using a mnemonic devices.

en.wikipedia.org

Referring to the ability to recall pages of text or numbers, or similar, in great detail.

Do we score one point for Sheldon or not?

Apparently Eidetic memory is a real phenomenon, but in relation to images. Dr. Cooper and his writers imply that he can remember everything he ever saw [images and words] and heard. But, sadly, that is not the case. The reader scores three points if he remembers even two of the definitions above.

EIDETIC MEMORY
Eidetic memory is the ability to see an object soon after you look away, some claim in great detail. For most people, the image lasts mere seconds or less than one second; longer for someone who is eidetic.

One of the difference between ordinary mental imagery and eidetic images is the that the eidetic images are externally projected, experienced as "out there" rather than in the mind. This form of memory is controlled primarily by the posterior parietal cortex of the parietal lobe of the brain, the part that processes visual stimuli and retains images.

For most of us, these images are retained only for a few short seconds before being discarded. However, in the case of an eidetic memory “the information is relayed to the short-term memory banks for storage, allowing it to be recalled for days, weeks, or months when it will be discarded or relayed to long-term memory,” according to Nicole
Basley writing for betterhelp.com/advice/memory/. Image Source: shortform.com/photographic-and-eidetic-memory/

Contrary to Beasley’s statement, current scientific consensus says the length of time any memory stays in short-term is 20 to 30 seconds. According to science.howstuffworks.com/ “Short-term memory has a fairly limited capacity; it can hold about seven items for no more than 20 or 30 seconds at a time.” https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory2.htm

Perhaps individuals with eidetic memory are able to retain memories of images in short term memory for a much longer period of time that the average Joe.

The amount of research in this field is limited and "The Truth" out there may prove to be different some day, but so far eidetic memory is found in 2 to 10% of children from age 6 to twelve, but not in adults.

Author Andres Hudmon suggests that “Children possess far more capacity for eidetic imagery than adults, suggesting that a developmental change (such as acquiring language skills) may disrupt the potential for eidetic imagery.“ psy-minds.com/what-is-eidetic-memory/

Sheldon loses two points.

PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY
Photographic memory is the ability to recall an image for a much longer period. Merriam Webster’s definition: “Photographic Memory: an unusual ability to remember things completely and exactly as they were seen, read, etc.”

The research on this phenomenon is even less than on eidetic memory. The act of remembering everything ever heard, seen, or smelled forever is not possible, according to scientists. Even using a more restrictive definition of time and capacity, there is no scientific evidence to backup the existence of a photographic memory. Only one case of its existence was recorded in scientific literature, and the research has some holes in it.

Even those who do believe photographic memory exists, concede that individuals with photographic memories may not retain memories for a long period. Most photographic memories only last a few months at most, as they are not relayed to long-term memory. [This last claim makes me wonder how they would know that.]

It appears that photographic Memory is still within the realm of science fiction for now.

HYPERTHYMESIA
Maybe Dr. Cooper’s memory, instead of eidetic, is another case of Hyperthymesia.

Hyperthymesia, called Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, is the condition of possessing an extremely detailed autobiographical memory. People with Hyperthymesia remember an abnormally vast number of their life experiences – some say every day of their lives -- in great detail, as well as public events that are personally significant to them.

There are only 25 people identified with this ability [who are known to science] and one of them is an actress, former Taxi star Marilu Henner. Individuals affected explain their memories as uncontrollable associations when exposed to a trigger; something they see, hear, eat, etc. Once triggered, the memory comes without hesitation or conscious effort.
The condition was not identified, as far as science was concerned, until 2006, by a team of researchers at the University of California who were working with a woman who could recall an impossible number of events in her life, with dates and details. The team discovered that people with hyperthymesia spent an unnaturally long period of time thinking about their past.

Research has shown that although these individuals have remarkable memories about their personal life, they do not demonstrate any unusual powers of memory in other ways. In fact, they often have a poorer than average memory for other information.

TAKE AWAY
We may have a real Dr. Sheldon Cooper with us, nor are we capable, yet, of photographic memories, but never underestimate the power and versatility of the human mind.

Just sayin’.

Sources:
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_memory#:~:text=From%20Simple%20English%20Wikipedia,%20the%20free%20encyclopedia%20A,somewhat,%20but%20stress%20the%20recall%20of%20visual%20information.

https://brainmanagement.com/the-difference-between-eidetic-memory-and-photographic-memory/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20difference%20between%20the%20two%20when,would%20be%20the%20visual%20compone

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/memory/difference-between-eidetic-memory-and-photographic-memory/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eidetic_memory
https://theydiffer.com/difference-between-eidetic-and-photographic-memory/
https://www.semicoop.com/comic/eidetic-memory/

https://sites.psu.edu/siowfa15/2015/09/23/is-photographic-memory-real-2/#:~:text=So%20in%20the%20end%2C%20photographic%20memory%20is%20real%2C,comment%20on%20this%20post%20and%20talk%20about%20it%21

https://www.magneticmemorymethod.com/eidetic-memory/#:~:text=The%20scientific%20evidence%20in%20support%20of%20eidetic%20memory,had%20it,%20but%20this%20is%20difficult%20to%20prove.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-there-such-a-thing-as/
https://www.shortform.com/blog/difference-between-photographic-and-eidetic-memory/
my.ilstu.edu/~dmmcbri/pics.html

https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/human-memory2.htm
https://psy-minds.com/what-is-eidetic-memory/#:~:text=By%20contrast,%20photographic%20memory%20may%20be%20defined%20as,information%20and%20then%20recite

https://www.godupdates.com/former-taxi-star-marilu-henner-autobiographical-memory/#:~:text=One%20Of%20Twelve%20Marilu%20Henner%20has%20what%E2%80%99s%20called,her%20role%20on%20Taxi,%20which%20aired%20from%201978-1983.

https://www.blogarama.com/arts-and-entertainment-blogs/1282742-fact-everything-blog/20260174-hyperthymesia

http://affinitymagazine.us/2019/01/06/the-real-life-perfect-memory-hyperthymesia/#:~:text=Hyperthymesia%20was%20discovered%20in%202006,%20by%20a%20team,to%20recall%20a%20seemingly-impossible%20number%20of%20personal%20events.

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WHERE DID I LEAVE MY GLASSES? The Differences Between Natural Aging, Dementia and Alzheimer’s

1/8/2021

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HOT TOPICS AT THE SENIOR CENTER
In my age group it isn’t unusual to talk about the trials and tribulations of getting old. In fact, one of the worst parts of aging is that the main topic of conversation is our personal health.
Image Source: fayetteville-ar.gov/

That’s important, but there are other things going on in the world. Every now and then an intellectual conversation would be refreshing. But I digress!

During these conversations it has become apparent to me that many people use interchangeably, and incorrectly, the terms Dementia and Alzheimer’s. I decided to find out the details, primarily so I can correct my contemporaries from a position of knowledge. One of the signs of aging is the diminishing or loss of social “filters”.

Since both the terms Dementia and Alzheimer’s have been around for more than a century, the confusion has no doubt existed a long time as well, presumably because both conditions affect overall memory, cognitive and behavioral aspects of patients.

DEMENTIA
Dementia is an “umbrella” term applied to a collection of symptoms caused by various conditions. It is a syndrome of decline in mental function and most always is irreversible.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause for dementia, accounting for an estimated 60 to 80 percent. However, the second most common cause is vascular dementia a.k.a. high blood pressure. Other types of dementia include:
■ Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
■ Frontotemporal dementia
■ Huntington’s disease
■ Parkinson’s disease
■ Alzheimer’s disease
■ Normal pressure hydrocephalus
■ Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

According to an article on the website pediaa.com/, some forms of Dementia can be caused by vitamin deficiencies or drug interactions. Those types, once identified, can be reversed.
Doctors rely on behavioral changes and symptoms to diagnose dementia, including but not limited to, the following: Image Source: medium.com/difference-between-alzheimers-dementia ▼

■ Disorientation
■ Disorganization
■ Language impairment
■ A change in communication skills
■ Mood and/or Personality Change
■ Memory loss
■ Changing thinking skills
■ Poor judgment and reasoning skills
■ Decreased focus and attention
■ Problems in spatial skills.

Now, doctors generally agree that irritability, depression, and anxiety can be early signs of oncoming dementia.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease is a slowly progressive and fatal deterioration of the brain. Scientists and the medical profession believe the disease has two offenders: the buildup of two proteins in the brain: amyloid beta, which forms plaques on the brains, and tau which, in excess, causes the neurons in the brain to tangle (NFT).

Amyloid Beta Protein
“Amyloid beta monomers (single peptides which are short chains of amino acids) aggregate into soluble oligomers (small aggregates of peptides), which then combine to form insoluble fibrils (long aggregates of peptides) and plaques.”1 medicalnewstoday.com/articles/

The accumulation and formation of plaques is believed to be due to an imbalance in production and inadequate clearance in the brain. These plagues lead to neuro-degeneration before the initial symptoms are noticeable.

◄Image Source: petridishtalk.com/2011/

Tau Protein
Tau is a protein contained within the thread-shaped extension of the nerve cells. In a healthy brain, Tau helps form the necessary structures that transport nutrients within the nerve cells. As part of the disease, these structures crumble into tangles. This prevents the delivery of nutrients to the nerve cells, which then leads to cell death.

Diagram shows two neurons: a healthy cell and a neuron with Alzheimer's disease. Tau hypothesis. Neurofibrillary tangles.

Diagnosis
In the past, the only way to be sure a person had Alzheimer’s was to examine the brain of the deceased patient during an autopsy for the plaques and tangles formed by the disease.

Thanks to advances in medical science, a patient can request a PET scan or cerebrospinal fluid sampling, which can tell with 95% accuracy if tangles and plaques are present.

Unfortunately, since most insurance companies don’t cover either procedure, most people who are candidates as Alzheimer’s patients won’t get the tests. Sad to say, it is still a process of elimination based on symptoms. The signs of dementia usually do not appear in a patient until the mid to later stages Alzheimer’s disease, which means the disease has been progressing for a long time.

WHAT ABOUT NORMAL AGING?
I had always heard that Dementia was what happened to the normal brain when a person got old, but according to my research, that is not the case. Except for blood pressure, Dementia is caused by particular diseases as named above. [Maybe high blood pressure is considered a disease, but I’m not getting into that.]

A hallmark of aging is memory loss, which people tend to associate with both Dementia and Alzheimer’s, but in fact, memory loss does not always accompany those conditions, just as memory problems don’t necessarily indicate dementia.

According to the National Institute on Ageing, “Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some people may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, they don't remember information as well as they did, or they lose things like their glasses. These usually are signs of mild forgetfulness, not serious memory problems…"
blog.presbyterianhomes.org/age-related-memory-loss-dementia

Normal Aging Memory Loss
■ Making a bad decision

■ Forgetting what day it is
■Searching for the right word to use during a conversation
■ Forgetting to pay a monthly bill

■ Losing a commonly used item, like keys or glasses
■Forgetting the name of a recently made acquaintance
■ Difficulty driving to a new location
■ Typical mood fluctuations consistent with their personality

Signs of Dementia
■ Consistently demonstrating poor decision-making skills
■ Forgetting what season it is
■ Struggling to maintain a conversation

■ Experiencing problems with managing finances
■ Misplacing things frequently and being unable to locate them within the house
■ Forgetting the name of a close friend or family member
■ Getting lost while driving in familiar places
■ Dramatic mood swings or changes in personality.

There are numerous lists and charts that attempt to convey the difference, primarily for aging seniors and their family to identify symptoms that warrant medical attention. The following is one of the best.

Image Credit: Alzheimer’s Team on Facebook.
Image sources: https://cookwithkathy.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/whats-the-difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimers-disease/
https://kateswaffer.com/2014/12/08/dementia-vs-normal-ageing/

GOOD NEWS!
I’m fairly confident that so far I’m just aging normally and, best of all, I’m armed for the next conversation on the topic. And so are you.
Just Say’in!
□
Sources:
1.Querfurth HW, LaFerla FM. Alzheimer’s disease. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(4):329-344
https://medium.com/aginginbeauty/what-is-the-difference-between-alzheimers-disease-and-dementia-84a571b6b50d
blog.presbyterianhomes.org/difference-age-related-memory-loss-dementia

https://pediaa.com/difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimers/

https://www.sinaihealth.ca/news/whats-difference-alzheimers-disease-dementia/

https://cookwithkathy.wordpress.com/2018/07/26/whats-the-difference-between-dementia-and-alzheimers-disease/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324425#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20hallmarks%20of%20Alzheimer%E2%80%99s%20disease%20is,protein%20helps%20these%20microtubules%20remain%20straight%20and%20strong.
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ (Alzheimer's: How do tau tangles grow? (medicalnewstoday.com)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/tau

https://petridishtalk.com/2011/05/30/feed-your-head-a%CE%B2-tau-apoe/

http://www.radiantnursing.com/blog/dementia-evaluation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1BqpOyHmM

https://sites.google.com/a/adrcconnections.org/adrc/dementia-friendly/brain-health

The Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease Begins With Amyloid Beta Accumulation in the Brain | Identify Alzheimer's Disease (AD) - Biogen

identifyalz.com/pathophysiology-of-alzheimers-disease.htm

https://www.medpagetoday.org/geriatrics/alzheimersdisease/15322?vpass=1

https://simplyhealth.today/12-signs-dementia/?utm_source=%2Balzheimer&utm_medium=dementiasymptoms&utm_campaign=bing_us&msclkid=16cd62876edd11f6bc553d6a6d329cdd

https://www.aarp.org/health/dementia/info-2018/difference-between-dementia-alzheimers.html?CMP=KNC-DSO-Adobe-Bing-Health-DementiaSpotlight&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Health_Dementia_Research_Exact&utm_term=dementia%20versus%20alzheimer%27s

https://www.catchitearly.com/?cid=PPC-MICROSOFT-Condition_Information_General_Unbranded_Phrase%7ES%7EPH%7EUB%7ENER%7EHCP%7ECON-alzheimer%27s+disease-NA-p57945689409&gclid=662049bb5e841786ed51164938ee45fe&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=662049bb5e841786ed51164938ee45f

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NEW YEAR HUMOR

1/1/2021

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2021 has arrived at least! The year is welcomed with open arms after 2020. It at least brings new hope. Let’s start it out with humor. Laughter is the best medicine.

JANUARY FIRST
A short poem by Wm. E. Coombs

The dawn of January 1 sheds cold and lonely light
on evidence of a mighty thurst and revelry by night.
But do we sit and rest our weary frame?
Oh,no!
For we must go to Rose Parade and football game.
Now it’s January 2,
Get up you bum, there’s work to do!

TWELVE THINGS TO CONSIDER
Internet wisdom – Author unknown

12 things to consider as we get closer to closing the door on one of the most horrible years of our lifetime.

• The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner.
• I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone. He asked me what I was wearing
• 2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.
•.The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house & their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!
• This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house & told my cat. We laughed a lot.
• Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
• Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?
• This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel sports, shut down all bars & keep men at home!
• I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!
• I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
• I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to the Backyard. I’m getting tired of the Living Room.
• Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask & ask for money.

READER’S DIGEST NEW YEAR HUMOR
https://www.rd.com/article/new-years-jokes/

Q: What is a New Year’s resolution?
A: Something that goes in one year and out the other.

Q: What do snowmen like to do on New Year’s Eve?
A: Chill out.

Q: What do New Year’s parades have in common with Santa Claus?
A: No one is awake to see either of them.

Q: Why do you need a jeweler on New Year’s Eve?
A: To ring in the new year.

My New Year’s resolution is to stop hanging out with people who ask me about my New Year’s resolutions.

Q: What did the little champagne bottle call his father?
A: Pop!

Q: What’s a cow’s favorite holiday?
A: Moo Year’s Eve.

Q: Where can you find comedians on New Year’s Eve?
A: Waiting for the punchline.

Q: What do farmers give their wives at midnight on New Year’s Eve?
A: Hogs and kisses!

Q: What did the ghost say on January 1st?
A: Happy Boo Year.

Q: What do you call always wanting a date for New Year’s Eve?
A: Social Security.

Q: What’s a digital camera’s New Year’s resolution?
A: 1080p.

Q: Where can you go to practice math on New Year’s Eve?
A: Times Square.

Q: Why should you put your new calendar in the freezer?
A: To start off the new year in a cool way.

Q: What do you tell someone you didn’t see on New Year’s Eve?
A: I haven’t seen you for a year!

Q: What happened to the man who shoplifted a calendar on New Year’s Eve?
A: He got 12 months!

Q: What is corn’s favorite holiday?
A: New EARS Day!

Q: What’s the one group that hates New Year’s Day?
A: The New Year’s Eve clean-up crew.

• Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up for new year’s. Middle age is when you’re forced to.
• An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
• My grandparents had resolutions like donating more time and money to charities. I’ve decided to make my own coffee once a week.
• I see no need to make more New Year’s resolutions when the ones already on the books aren’t being enforced.
• This New Year’s, I’m going to make a resolution I can keep—no dieting all year long.
• I was going to quit all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.
• The only “homework” you want your dog to chew up is your list of New Year’s resolutions.
• If you’re enjoying these New Year’s jokes, you’ll want to check out these New Year’s cartoons that are hilariously spot-on.

RESOLUTION 1: LEARN TO MANAGE YOUR TIME. RESOLUTION #2: GIVE UP GAMBLING
DAVE CARPENTER FOR READER'S DIGEST CARTOON RESOURCE/SHUTTERSTOCK

RESOLUTION #3: DON’T LET OTHERS JUDGE YOU RESOLUTION #4: GET A HAIRCUT
Barbara Smaller/Everyone’s A Critic/ MIKE SHAPIRO
Courtesy Princeton Architectural Press

RESOLUTION #5: GIVE UP ALL OF THAT PASTA RESOLUTION #6: STOP SNOOPING
DAN MISDEA DAVE CARPENTER

RESOLUTION #7: DOUBLE CHECK ALL EMAILS RESOLUTION #8: GIVE LESS ADVICE
SUSAN CAMILLERI KONAR FOR READER’S DIGEST PHIL WITTE FOR READER’S DIGEST

RESOLUTION #9: READ MORE RESOLUTION #10: IMPROVE YOUR SPELLING
HARLEY SCHWADRON FOR READER’S DIGEST AN PIRARO/BIZARRO.COM

RESOLUTION #11: DISCONNECT FROM TECHNOLOGY
LIAM FRANCIS WALSH/THE NEW YORKER COLLECTION

LAUGH, BE HAPPY (but wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands often) AND HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND A BETTER 2021!

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More Christmas Traditions From Around The World

12/18/2020

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Most of us living in the US and Europe know the common Christmas traditions of the western world. Although Christmas is a Christian religious celebration, it's surprising to find it is celebrated throughout the world, sometimes in places we wouldn't expect, and sometimes mixing Christian with local traditions and religions..
"Merry Christmas!"

EGYPT

Although only 15% of the people are Christians, most of whom belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church, they are not the only Egyptians who celebrate Christmas. It is popular as a secular holiday with other religions there.

● Owing to its secularism and equality, the Christian holidays of Easter and Christmas both are national holidays and festivals in Egypt just like the Islamic holidays.

● Coptic Christmas is celebrated on the 7th of January [as it is in Ethopia and some Orthodox Russia Seria].

● During Advent, the 43 days before Christmas [November 25 through January 6], Coptic Christians eat a vegan diet, no animal products. It is called "The Holy Nativity Fast".

● Baba Noel [Father Christmas] is expected to climb through a window, not come down a chimney. I'm not sure if he rides on a sleigh or a camel.

▲ Image source: tripadvisor.com/Locationrt-Sharm_El_Sheik0 ▲ Imager Source: egyptianstreets.com/christmas

▼Image Source: egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/12-2015 ▼ImageSource: theriskfactorblog.wordpress.com/egyptian

● Al Ghetass commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ which is also talked about in the holy Quran. Celebrated since ancient times in the region which is present-day Egypt. This is a festival celebrated by all of the community of Egypt. The celebration is a grand affair and includes traditional sweets.
“EidMiadl Majid!” [Egyptian Arabic for Glorious Birth Feast]
“Eid almilad” [Arabic]

CHINA

In China, only 2.4% of the population is Christian, so it's possible to assume most Chinese don't know much about Christmas. Nevertheless, in large cities [most of them are large by our standards], the holiday has been embraced. Shopping malls and some streets are decorated in traditional themes, including Christmas trees.

● In China, it is called "Sheng Dan Jieh" which means Holy Birth Festival, but the event is celebrated as a generic holiday, not a religious one. Some describe it as more like Valentine’s Day.

● Most of the world's artificial Christmas trees and decorations are produced in China by people who do not know what the items are used for. When it comes to light displays, China beats nearly everyone, but New Year is when you see their very best.

● A popular Christmas Eve tradition is giving apples. Stores sells them wrapped in colored paper. In Chinese, Christmas eve is called "Ping'an Ye" which means peaceful or quiet evening which was translated from the carol "Silent Night".

● During Christmas time, the gift shops are full of flowers, chocolates, and Teddy bears. Restaurants serve “a romantic meal” for two. There is not the family element of the Western Christmas in China.

● Santa is not depicted as riding in a sleigh pulled by reindeer [the Chinese do not find this believable]. In China Santa is always shown with a saxophone in his hand. The heritage of Santa playing the sax is unknown. Also, there Santa’s little helpers are his sisters.

“Sheng Dan Kuai Le!” [Mardarin]
“Sen Dan Fai Lok!” [Cantonese]

AUSTRALIA

Christmas comes to Australia close to the middle of the summer. While the traditions brought to Australia from England resemble those in North America, with Christmas trees, Santa, presents, singling carols, and eucalyptus wreaths, some of the activities may seem different.

● Santas wear the traditional bright red fleecy suits, lined with white fur and big black boots to fight off the northern winter, but you’re likely to see them of surfboards or delivering presents on the beach.

● It is likely to see Santa’s sleigh being pulled by six white boomers rather than eight reindeer. Santa himself may even be a boomer.

● Aussies are lunch people and so Christmas Lunch (rather than dinner) is often a picnic on the beach – or at least outdoors -- but instead of turkey of ham, Aussies will be feasting on barbequed prawns (although can find ham and turkey, too). These are relaxed, mostly casual affairs which can include breaks for a spot of cricket or a splash in the backyard pool, a dip in the ocean. Christmas crackers are a must – as is the need to wear of colorful paper crowns and telling of bad-jokes from the goodies found within.

● When Australians talk about Christmas Crackers, they don’t mean biscuits – i.e. not Ritz, Saltines, or Cheese-it type crackers – but festive gifts that make a snapping sound when opened to reveal some goodie or present. Sometimes known as bon-bons, they are very popular for Christmas celebrations in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.

● At Christmas children are on their summer break so long road trips are common.
“Merry Christmas!”

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Similar to New Zealand and Australia, Christmas is a summer holiday in South Africa, and most of the Christmas traditions are based on Dutch and British heritage from the time the area was settled in beginning in the mid-sixteen hundreds.

The Republic of South Africa has population of 55 million inhabitants of diverse cultures, religions, origins, and languages, of which Bantu-speaking people number 35 million. Only some are originally from that area; others have come from other regions. Some of the major ethnic South Africans include Zulu, Basotho, Venda, Xhosa.

This information isn’t very Christmasy but it explains, in part, why South Africans have traditions from everywhere, and many mixed together. For everyone, however, the Christmas season is nationwide. In some cases the ethnic South Africans have adopted European Christmas traditions of not. When I traveled there, I found that many have simply absorbed those part of the Christian tradition they desire into the traditions and stories of the own cultural and religious framework.

This is a long-winded way to say that Christmas in South Africa incorporates the Western European traditions of Christmas and has become an integral part of life.

Beautifully decorated Christmas trees seem to be a universal symbol of the season, and presents go under the tree. Some children put their stockings out for Santa to fill. Caroling by candlelight events take place on December 24th, church services, and the like. But there are difference, big and small.

● Santa goes by a number of different names, including Sinterklaas (St Nicholas) and Kersvader (Father Christmas) for those who speak Afrikaans (offspring of Dutch dialects, not a combination of Dutch and native languages).

▲ Image Source: sapeople.com/2015/cape-town
►Image Source: idafrica.ng/father-christmas

● South African Santa doesn’t depend on Reindeer to get around, but has various means of delivering his gifts to children all over such a large country.

The most classic is the sleigh, sometimes pulled through the sky by reindeer, but also by giraffes. Some of the other means are less romantic. But he can always depend of his African helpers.

● Houses and malls sport elaborately decorated trees similar to the northern hemisphere. But South Africa has its own traditional tree as well…the Baobab, also called the Upside Down Tree because the branches resemble root feeding into a trunk stuck in the ground.

This unique local tree is perfect for outdoors, but the baobab finds its way into the home in many kinds of decorations.

▼ Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg
Image Source: catholic.org/news/green/story

The mundane indoor tree becomes something special with the native African influence in the decorations.

● On Christmas Eve, many Africans travel to their villages to celebrate the day with family. Airports and bud stations get crowded. The villages have colorful celebrations many don’t want to miss, including masquerade parties, particularly ones related to the nativity, street singing and music.

● Christmas Day is celebrated with opening presents, going to church, and then with outdoor picnics, similar to New Zealand and Australia. The Christmas feast is the highlight of the whole celebration. Many families gather for a traditional meal much must include braai (barbeque) of roasted meat (sometimes goat), roast turkey, duck or beef, or suckling pigs with yellow rice, raisins and vegetables, salads.

Enticing desserts such as the classic Christmas pudding, mince pies, or a traditional dish called Malva Pudding (or Lekker Pudding). There is plenty of food and people drop in unexpectedly on friends, and are always welcomed. Christmas Crackers are popular.

● On Christmas day, children in costume go from door to door (like Halloween) in anticipation of gifts or treats. Many families stock up foods, candies, and little gifts to give the children. In some places, the children sing Christmas songs for money.

Image Source: face2faceafrica.com/christmas-africa

Famed as the ‘rainbow nation’, South Africa is home to dozens of different cultures and languages, including 11 official languages. That means there are many different ways to say Merry Christmas. Some of the most common ways include:
‘Geseënde Kersfees’ – Afrikaans
‘UKhisimusi omuhle’ – Zulu
‘Krismesi emnandi’ – Xhosa
‘Le be le keresemese e monate’ – Sotho
■

Sources
Update 2020
https://www.expatica.com/za/lifestyle/holidays/christmas-in-south-africa-106730/
https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/how-christmas-south-africa-celebrated/
https://face2faceafrica.com/article/these-popular-christmas-traditions-are-deeply-rooted-in-african-culture
https://t.cafricawanderlusom/destinations/african-christmas/ - good site
https://www.portfoliocollection.com/travel-blog/give-me-an-african-christmas
https://www.sa-venues.com/events/southafrica/christmas-day/http://realestate.com.au/lifestyle/7-aussie-christmas-traditions-love/
https://thenet.ng/8-ways-santa-claus-nigeria-different-others-elsewhere/
https://northernnatalnews.co.za/182237/top-5-ways-celebrate-south-african-christmas
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/south_africa.shtml#:~:text=The%20Christmas%20meal%20is%20either%20turkey%2C%20duck%2C%20roast,recipe.%20People%20also%20like%20to%20pull%20Christmas%20Crackers%21
http://realestate.com.au/lifestyle/7-aussie-christmas-traditions-love/
https://thenet.ng/8-ways-santa-claus-nigeria-different-others-elsewhere/
https://northernnatalnews.co.za/182237/top-5-ways-celebrate-south-african-christmas
https://www.christmascarnivals.com/aroundtheworld/south-africa.html
https://www.portfoliocollection.com/travel-blog/give-me-an-african-christmas
https://www.news24.com/news24/travel/the-best-south-african-christmas-traditions-20151210
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/australia.shtml
https://theculturetrip.com/pacific/australia/articles/how-is-christmas-celebrated-in-australia/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_Australia
https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/holidays-christmas/christmas-traditions-around-the-world-ga1.htm
https://www.adventuroustrails.com/christmas-in-australia
http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-world/australia.html
https://www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/7-aussie-christmas-traditions-love/#:~:text=7%20Aussie%20Christmas%20traditions%20we%20all%20love%201,4%20Boxing%20Day%20barbecues.%20...%20More%20items...%20
http://www.worldholidaytraditions.com/en-us/countries/australia.aspx#:~:text=Holiday%20Traditions%20of%20Australia%20%22Merry%20Christmas%22.%20Christmas%20dinner,white%20boomers%2C%20or%20large%20kangaroos%2C%20pull%20Santa%27s%20sleigh.
https://egyptianstreets.com/2017/01/04/why-egyptian-muslims-celebrate-christmas/

Sources 2017 and 20918
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/merry.htm
http://christmas.lovetoknow.com/chinese-christmas-traditions
http://www.clubpimble.com/fun-pimble/15-countries-that-have-different-names-for-santa-claus
http://www.all-about-india.com/Christmas-In-India.html
http://randomvacay.com/worlds-12-weirdest-christmas-celebrations/
http://www.geishablog.com/uncategorized/celebrating-christmas-in-japan/
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/beyond-a-traditional-holiday-15-unique-ways-to-celebrate-in-japan
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/newzealand.shtml
https://www.reference.com/holidays-celebrations/people-south-africa-celebrate-christmas-2ddc577ab1a8d6dc
http://goafrica.about.com/od/peopleandculture/a/christmas.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Itx1nyHbDE

2020 Photos
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/south_africa.shtml#:~:text=The%20Christmas%20meal%20is%20either%20turkey%2C%20duck%2C%20roast,recipe.%20People%20also%20like%20to%20pull%20Christmas%20Crackers%21
https://www.etsy.com/listing/660479323/ankara-african-ornaments-red-and?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-home_and_living-home_decor-ornaments_and_accents-ornaments&utm_custom1=_k_50f9a2f36c0f1970c1c5fd2aefccb7ab_k_&ut
https://www.etsy.com/listing/660479323/ankara-african-ornaments-red-and?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_b-home_and_living-home_decor-ornaments_and_accents-ornaments&utm_custom1=_k_50f9a2f36c0f1970c1c5fd2aefccb7ab_k_&ut
https://face2faceafrica.com/article/these-popular-christmas-traditions-are-deeply-rooted-in-african-culture
https://t.cafricawanderlusom/destinations/african-christmas/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuFr76btbnE
https://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/south_africa.shtml#:~:text=The%20Christmas%20meal%20is%20either%20turkey%2C%20duck%2C%20roast,recipe.%20People%20also%20like%20to%20pull%20Christmas%20Crackers%21
https://dutyfool.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g297555-d1656739-i87252881-Coral_Sea_Waterworld_Resort-Sharm_El_Sheikh_South_Sinai_Red_Sea_and_Sinai.html
https://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-25-2015-at-1232am.html

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Christmas Traditions From Around The World

12/12/2020

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FRANCE

● The Nativity scene is familiar throughout the Christian world, but the French are "Creche Crazy." In addition to the usual figures, all sort of other people [called Santons] are present, such as the baker, the street sweeper, the butcher, street vendors, and so on.

● "Father Slapper" exists under several pseudonyms, but in France he is Pére Fouettard, the "Whipping Father" or "Slapping Santa" who travels with St. Nicholas and brings a whip to punish naughty children. Wow! That's a new one on me.
Father Slapper Leave your shoes on the hearth Decorations in Nice, France

● Instead of leaving a snack of milk and cookies for Santa or hanging up stockings, French children leave their shoes by the fireplace, hoping Pére Noel will fill them with small presents, candy, and nuts.

● Les Treize refers to “the thirteen,” which are 13 different kinds of desserts standard at all French Christmas dinners. The idea behind Les Treize is religious, as the 13 desserts refer to Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles. However, they’re also delicious, ranging from dried grapes and almonds to a delicious cake called pompe à l’huile.
“Joyeux Noel!”

SWEDEN

● In Sweden the Christmas festivities start with the St. Lucia ceremony on December 13, the Winter Solstice on the old Julian calendar. The youngest girl in each family dresses in white with a red sash and wears a crown of evergreens with tall candles attached to it. Small children now use battery candles, but real ones are used after about 12-years-old.

St. Lucia was a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 AD. There are several stories, but the most popular one is that she brought food to persecuted Christian in Rome hiding in the catacombs. She wore the candles on her head so she would have both hands free to carry the food.

● A traditional Christmas dinner in Sweden always includes risgryngrot, a special rice porridge with one almond in it. Traditionally, the person who finds the almond gets to make a wish or is believed to get married the coming year.
“God Jul, and [Och] Ett Gott Nytt Ar!”

GERMANY

● Advent is an important part of the German celebrating of the season. An Advent Calendar can be a wreath of fir tree branches is decorated with 24 decorated bags or boxes hung from it, each marked with the day and holding a small present.

● An "Advent Kranz" is a ring of fir branches with four candles which are lit at the beginning of each week in Advent.
The Advent Calendar Advent Wreath Krampus

● Krampus Nacht [Krampus Night] is a sort of German boogey man, who is a sidekick of St Nicholas. He is believed to accompany St Nicholas to teach naughty children a hard lesson. In Southern Bavaria, men in hideous Krampus costumes patrol the streets on St Nicholas Night, and are sometimes invited in by parents of particularly naughty children. Krampus dos not have a standard image, but all of them are ugly.
“Froeh Weihnachten!” or “Froehliche Weihnachten!”

NEW ZEALAND

Even though Christmas comes in the summer in the southern hemisphere, the European traditions of the Christmas tree, snow, Santa Claus, are familiar but have local twists. The native Maori have influenced some of the Christmas traditions.

Maori Christmas dancers Maori Gingebread Cookies New Zealand Santa

● Santa is often seen in parades and at stores wearing jandals [New Zealand flip-flops] and occasionally wears a New Zealand "All Blacks" rugby shirt.

● Children leave out carrots for Santa's reindeer and beer and pineapple for Santa.

● Along with conventional Christmas Trees [with Kiwi birds as toppers instead of an angel or star], the New Zealand Pōhutukawa tree is associated with Christmas. They grow to a large size but small ones can be decorated along with their red flowers. They are often found on Christmas cards.

● Caroling is a Christmas tradition there, but the islands have their own Christmas songs which are set to traditional tunes sung in Maori, and original titles such as A pukeko in a ponga tree.

● The summer holiday break begins on Christmas Eve and lasts until the end of January. Schools are closed throughout January and much of December for New Zealand school holiday, and many families head to the beaches.

New Zealand Pōhutukawa tree. Symbolic of being donw under Tradition moved to the beach.
“Meri Kirihimete!" [Maori]

RUSSIA

The Soviet Union suppressed the practice of Religion in Russia. Since it was banned, Christian people didn’t partake of the religious part of Christmas -- or did so secretly in their homes -- but they ingeniously incorporated many of the traditions into New Year’s celebrations.

When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, Russians have increasingly returned to religion, and the number of people celebrating Christmas as a religious holiday continues to grow.

Saint Petersburg-Church on Spilled Blood Moscow-Red Square-Church of Saint Basil
Image Source: tripsavvy.com/russia-christmas-traditions Image source: Denis Sinyakov/ Reuters

● The Russian Santa Claus is named Ded Moroz, or Father Frost [ Дед Мороз ]. On New Year's Eve, he places presents for children under the New Year tree [as opposed to a Christmas tree]. He is accompanied by Snegurochka [Снегу́рочка], a snow maiden said to be his granddaughter.

He carries a staff; dons a red hat, and he gets around Russia by taking a troika, a vehicle [sleigh] pulled by three horses [no reindeer for the Russians]. He wears a blue, silver, or gold coat lined with white fur and valenki, traditional felt boots made of wool. Unlike Santa, Ded Moroz is tall and thin.

Image Source:02varvara.wodrpress.com/ Image Source: File:Ded Moroz 72.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
▼ Ded Moroz and Snequrochka ▼ Exhibition: Russia, Vologda Fair «Russian forest», Ded Moroz

Image Source: /www.pinterest.com/pin/710231803713446882/ ▲
Image Credit: © Goodfon.ruCredit

● On Christmas Eve, Russians eat the Nativity Feast; typically meatless and can be made up of twelve dishes to represent the twelve apostles. Lenten bread, dipped in honey and garlic, is shared by all members of the family at this festive gathering. Kutya is a concoction of grains and poppy seeds sweetened with honey; it is served as one of the main dishes of the Christmas feast. Vegetarian-style borscht, or solyanka, is a salty stew that may also be served along with salads, sauerkraut, dried fruit, potatoes, and beans.

● The Christmas day meal may feature a main course of pork, goose, or other meat dish. This is accompanied by a variety of side dishes such as aspic, stuffed pies, and desserts in various forms.

● Russian Christmastide [Or Svyatki] follows Christmas and is a two-week period closely associated with the pagan traditions of fortune telling and caroling. Svyatki lasts until January 19, when Epiphany is celebrated. This day marks Jesus's baptism, and people honor the occasion by diving into the country's icy rivers and lakes.

● Some Russians exchange Christmas gifts, but most of that is reserved for New Year’s Eve.
“S rozhdyestvom Hristovym!” Congratulations of the birth of Christ! “с Рождеством w!”.
Resources
http://home.snu.edu/~hculbert/merry.htm
http://christmas.lovetoknow.com/chinese-christmas-traditions
http://www.clubpimble.com/fun-pimble/15-countries-that-have-different-names-for-santa-claus
http://www.all-about-india.com/Christmas-In-India.html
http://randomvacay.com/worlds-12-weirdest-christmas-celebrations/
http://www.geishablog.com/uncategorized/celebrating-christmas-in-japan/
http://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/beyond-a-traditional-holiday-15-unique-ways-to-celebrate-in-japan
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/newzealand.shtml
https://www.reference.com/holidays-celebrations/people-south-africa-celebrate-christmas-2ddc577ab1a8d6dc
http://goafrica.about.com/od/peopleandculture/a/christmas.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Itx1nyHbDE

2020 Udate
https://traveltriangle.com/blog/festivals-in-egypt/#:~:text=%2012%20Best%20Festivals%20In%20Egypt%20%201,the%20most%20important%20deity%20for%20the...%20More%20

https://www.1421.consulting/2018/12/christmas-in-china/
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/germany/articles/15-christmas-traditions-only-germans-will-understand/

http://origin-www.trippest.com/china-travel-guide/christmas-in-china/#:~:text=Chinese%20Christmas%20Traditions%20and%20Activities%201%20Decorate%20the,and%20Hong%20Kong.%20...%206%20In%20Taiwan.%20

https://www.tripsavvy.com/russia-christmas-traditions-1502306#:~:text=%20Christmas%20Traditions%20in%20Russia%20%201%20Russian,or%20Father%20Frost.%20On%20New%20Year%27s...%20More%20

https://transferwise.com/us/blog/christmas-traditions-in-russia#:~:text=Important%20festive%20dates%20for%20Russia%3A%20%20%20,Holidays%2C%20%20...%20%201%20more%20rows%20

http://origin-www.trippest.com/china-travel-guide/christmas-in-china/

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BLACK FRIDAY: May it rest in peace!

11/27/2020

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I have to smile when I read phrases like “Black Friday is officially on Nov. 27 (it's always the day after Thanksgiving).” or “Black Friday has certainly changed over the years…”

Both those statements are correct, but to me they sound as if they were written by a millennial with no understanding of how Black Friday came about or the significance of the name. No, it is not an American tradition handed down over a few centuries and finally officially recognized. Neither the event nor the name has national or religious ties, unless you consider avarice as a religion.

That’s not what happened.

Oh, wait! This blog is not timely. If you are reading this at all, you’ve probably completed your Black Friday activities for the year. Why should you care?

IN THE BEGINNING
The term “Black Friday” is used in several contexts, the first dating back to the US financial crisis of September 24, 1869, when the U.S, gold market collapsed. After that "Black Whateverday" became a buzz word to denote financial downturns of large scale.

When I looked up the black days, these economic crises seem too frequent for comfort. Scary! The list is long but "Black Monday," October 19, 1987, and "Black Tuesday," October 29, 1929, stand out among the many.

The Financial Crisis Black Friday September 24, 1869 Black Monday, October 29, 1929
Photo Sourceamazon.com/Contemporary-American-Engraving Photo Source: crushthestreet.com/black-day-week

FAST FORWARD TO THE 1950’S
By the mid 20th century, the term “Black Friday” had come to mean “Anything Bad That Happened on a Friday”. There are any number of opinions and stories about the origins of the Black Friday phenomenon in the latter half of the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries.

Nancy Koehn writes, "In the 1950s, some factory managers referred to the day after Thanksgiving as "black Friday" because so many workers called in sick. The day, noted one industrial magazine, 'was a disease second only to the bubonic plague' in its effect on employees.'"
Koehn, Nancy F. "The History of Black Friday." Marketplace Commentary, American Public Media, November 25, 2011.

The most sources believe that somewhere in the mid 1950s the Philadelphia police began to refer to the last weekend in November as "Black Friday". It didn’t take long for the retailers to chime in.
Verbal history has it that the term for the day after Thanksgiving was coined by the Philadelphia Police Department in 1966--and not as a term of endearment. That day was the official opening of the Christmas shopping season and usually brought massive traffic jams, over-crowded sidewalks, a rash of shoplifting, crowded buses, and general chaos.

Photo Source: https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/police-department-philadelphia/
Philadelphia, Black Friday 25, 1966

An article by Laura Rosenfeld suggests the confusion was exacerbated by the annual Army-Navy football game on the last weekend of November. “Philadelphia police officers and retail employees loved Black Friday back then probably as much as they do now, which is probably not at all.” techtimes.com/history-of-black-friday

When Philadelphians got wind of the trend, they didn't like it. [I’ll bet it was the Chamber of Commerce, although no one at all says that. Just my guess.]

Fearing the negative phrase, being connected with large crowds, traffic jams, and petty theft, would discourage shoppers, an attempt to change the term to “Big Friday” didn’t catch on. Instead, “Black Friday” spread quickly to other parts of the United States.

AMERICAN INNOVATION SAVES THE DAY
By the 1970s the term was in use around the US and by the 1980s unrest settled in among small and big merchants alike. Needless to say businesses, malls, Chambers of Commerce, and City Mayors did not like the term at all. But when it comes to making money, we shall overcome.

Innovative business people that we are, someone pointed out that the end of November was the point in the year when retail businesses, which traditionally operated at a loss or “in the red”, began to make profits and operated “in the black.”

Once this strategy was employed and marketed, both merchants and shoppers followed with open arms. Enough generations had passed and no one, thanks to the school system, seemed to remember the original usage came from 19th century financial disasters.

“Black Friday” was embraced by all. Kudos, Wall Street.

Even though it may be touted as the busiest shopping day of the year, marketing studies and Snopes.com show the day after Thanksgiving as being only one of the top six or seven biggest shopping days of the year. Black Friday has only risen to the top of the retail sales revenue pile a few times.

THE NEW NORMAL: What to Expect
Now we face a new dilemma. Covid 19. Big crowds aren’t “in” right now. And American companies are coming up with a different approach to what is still being called Black Friday.

You’re already aware that stores are starting early and offering special sales and holiday deals from October until December 25. But there are some changes to expect.

● Stores Closed on Thanksgiving
Walmart stores and Sam’s Club will be open their normal hours the day before Thanksgiving, but closed Thanksgiving Day. Then open again on Friday, October 27.

Target hosted “Deal Days” mid-October and their lowered prices will probably still be in effect on the day after Thanksgiving. They will also be closed on Thanksgiving.

Home Depot, Macy’s, and other major retailers will also be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

● On-line buying
We are already familiar with on-line buying, but it’s bound to be bigger than ever this year when people don’t want to be out in crowds. With greater volume, you can expect slower speeds and more technical glitches than last year.

● Curbside pickup
Curb-side pickup is here to stay, at least for a while. Miller Kern writes on mashable.com/shopping, “One of the biggest shopping changes to come about during the COVID-19 pandemic is the surge of curbside pickup options. Black Friday will be no different.” Kern also suggests we may be looking at lottery systems in the future where you win or purchase a time slot.

● New Technology Takes Hold
Technology is the future of retail buying and Black Friday. Within a few years we may be looking at QR Code scanning and Virtual reality.

No one knows for sure, but that will happen on November 27, 2020, seems predictable given the virus circumstances.

HANDWRITING ON THE WALL
The year 2020 will set the stage for the future -- and most likely, the demise -- of Black Friday as was practiced during the first decade of the 21st century.

Already the connection between the financial disasters of 1869, 1929, and 1987 and the term Black Friday is weakened. When you use the phrase today, most people will identify it with the mass sales the day after Thanksgiving and chaos Christmas shopping.

Photo source: distractify.com/p/black-friday-fights Image Credit: John Minchillo Photo source : hoskinsandturco.com/blog Photo Source: corporate.target.com/target-shoppers

Sales in store already start much earlier and cover several months before the month of December. On-line shopping had created its own days for sales. It won’t take long before the start of the holiday shopping season is detached from Black Friday or any other specific date.

I predict that within ten years the term will drop into the category of folk lore. At least, it won’t be on the retailer’s banner any more.

Next, it will be malls that become obsolete. As an urban planner, I’ve always felt the planning profession missed the boat by not giving much greater consideration to reuse of malls when they pass their prime. Some will survive, of course, but many won’t. It’s been happening for years now.

I’m a little early for holding a funeral for Black Friday. I’ll be back for that in a few years.
Just Sayin’
□
Resources:
2020
https://mashable.com/shopping/black-friday-2020-future-predictions/
https://www.techradar.com/news/black-friday-deals-2019
https://www.hbs.edu/news/releases/Pages/koehnblackfriday.aspx
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/02/black-friday-is-over-heres-why-retailers-are-touting-weeks-of-deals.html
https://www.theblackfriday.com/what-is-black-friday.shtml
https://www.hbs.edu/news/releases/Pages/koehnblackfriday.aspx
https://www.marketplace.org/2011/11/25/history-black-friday/
https://www.crushthestreet.com/articles/precious-metals/black-day-week-started-gold-friday
Photos only:
https://www.hoskinsandturco.com/blog/the-deals-and-dangers-of-black-friday-five-most-insane-injuries/
https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2014/11/target-shoppers-nationwide-score-doorbusters-as-bl
https://www.distractify.com/p/black-friday-fights
Previously used references:
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/20879/20141125/history-of-black-friday.htm
http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2011/11/25/the-little-known-philadelphia-origins-of-black-friday/
http://www.philly.com/philly/...Black_Friday_started_in_Philly.html%20-
http://en.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)
http://www.techtimes.com/articles/20879/20141125/history-of-black-friday.htm
http://www.marketplace.org/topics/life/commentary/history-black-friday
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/grant-black-friday/
http://www.vocabulary.com/articles/wordroutes/the-origins-of-black-friday/
https://blackfriday.com/pages/black-friday-history
http://mentalfloss.com/article/31581/brief-history-black-friday
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/11/black-friday-is-not-the-biggest-shopping-day-of-the-year/
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/thanksgiving/shopping.asp
□

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Being Grateful Is Good For You

11/22/2020

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THE WORST YEAR EVER
The year 2020 hasn’t been one of the best. COVID 19 has made this a unique eleven months.
Many are enduring the deaths of friends and family, loss of jobs, loss of business and savings, loss of mobility, houses lost in fires and natural disasters, pets and wild animals lost in fires, and much more. Many people throughout the world are suffering greatly, and it’s hard for nearly everyone to feel particularly grateful about the year.

There are no words to make it better for those who suffer, but many people around the world have stepped up to the plate and done kind and unselfish things to help others in need. For that, we should all be grateful. There are still many kind and generous people in the world, and we must never forget [WU1] that.
Focusing on the problems and worries does nothing to abate the situation. To lift the spirit a bit, how about focusing on the good things we still have?

“There aren’t any good things,” you say, and it certainly feels that way sometimes, but if you actually start listing them you’ll find quite a few things, material and non-material, you take for granted for which you can be grateful to still have.

WHAT GRATITUDE CAN DO FOR YOU
Professionals cite 40 years of research and studies to back up their claims that gratitude is good for all of us. Some of the reasons include the following:

●Gratitude makes us happier.
● Gratitude puts situations into perspective.
● Gratitude makes us feel more gratitude.
● Gratitude makes you friendlier, helps you make friends, and deepens friendships.
● Gratitude makes people like us.
● Gratitude makes us healthier: It improves your sleep, boosts your energy levels, and makes you more likely
to exercise.
● Gratitude makes us more optimistic.
● Gratitude reduces materialism.
●Gratitude requires humility, being modest and respectful.
●.Gratitude increases self-esteem.
● Gratitude makes us less self-centered.
● Gratitude strengthens our emotions.
● Gratitude develops our personality.
● Gratitude increases spiritualism. All major religions espouse gratitude as a virtue.
● Gratitude improves your health, sleep, and longevity.
● Gratitude helps you relax.
● Gratitude helps your marriage and family relationships.
●.Gratitude helps you bounce back.
● Gratitude makes you feel good.
● Gratitude reduces feelings of envy.
● Gratitude makes our memories happier.
●.Gratitude boosts our career by making you a better worker or manager.
● Gratitude improves your decision making.
● Gratitude increases your goal achievement.
● Gratitiude increase productivity.

This is a whopping big list… and promise, but supposedly it is verifiable research. Unfortunately, the wording, and particularly the verb form, makes it sound like a foregone conclusion these wonderful improvements definitely will occur.

I suppose that choice was made in the interests of being positive, and not a promise. Undoubtedly, some of these improvements will occur in some of the people who achieve a certain level of gratitude.

DO GRATITUDE LISTS WORK?
Liz Brown, writing for goodhousekeeping.com/life/ says writing out all the things she has to be grateful for, which is what most of the above professionals encourage, didn’t work for her.
She tried and, as a result, fell into a deep depression. She believes “Gratitude lists imply that those of us who are in pain are choosing misery and aren’t working hard enough.”

Instead, she wrote an ingratitude list. “My ingratitude lists helped me grieve the things that I'd lost, missed out on, been cheated out of and all the times life had kicked me straight in the heart. I learned that stuffing down anger and sadness with a stack of gratitude lists doesn't make them go away. Writing down the things that made me miserable and furious didn't make them go away either, but it helped me focus on the things in life that I wanted to change because they caused me suffering over and over again. My ingratitude lists gave me direction, focus and helped me move away from shame and toward acceptance and action. My heart still hurts, but I don't scream at myself for being selfish for being sad anymore.

I chucked my gratitude lists in the trash and cheered when I watched the garbage truck lift up the can and watch the stacks of legal pads go flying into the fetid hopper along with the rest of the rot.”

If you are tired of being told to “look on the bright side” and irritated, or furious, with well-intentioned friends and family who tell you that, then this is a good place to stop reading. Being told that someone else has it worse usually isn’t any comfort.

PSYCHOLOGISTS BELIVE IN GRATITUDE LISTS
For the rest of you who believe it helps, which includes many psychologists, go through the following list, compiled from several sources, of things you might be grateful for. [To tell you the truth, some of the things listed wouldn’t ever come to my mind, and I don’t agree with others, but what do I know?]

Don’t focus on the bad, like Brown; turn your attention to the good things. I’m not saying that having a house, an income, or family and friends outweigh the death of a loved one, but looking at the positive side, they may help deal with the other losses.

There are always things we still have that we can be grateful for. Some of them we never think about, but when they are gone, we appreciate them. Many rate the “well, duh!” category, but we wouldn’t want to be without them. The following is comprised of lists taken directly from lifehack.org/thankful-for and thelawofattraction.com/100-things-thankful/ plus a few others and some of my own, and combined. They are grouped loosely but their importance to you is personal. Find those things you can be grateful for.

● Good Health
Even if your health isn’t great, it could be worse and you likely still have some working parts to be thankful for.
● Money in the Bank
Having just a few coins makes you richer than most people on Earth.
● Having a Job or income
Even if you don’t like your job, being employed means someone thought you were special enough to hire. And you are employed and receive a paycheck. Having good co-workers is also a blessing.
● Having a Home
Whether you live in an apartment, a mansion, or a tent, having a place to call home is something to be thankful for.
● Family
Even if your parents were dysfunctional, they gave you life. In the end, what matters most is family, and you have the ability to create your own.
● Having a Partner
Creating a future with someone. Being in a romantic relationship can teach you so much about the world and yourself.
● Having children
Watching children laugh, grow, and dream can keep things in perspective.
● Good Friends
Often, it’s the quality of friendships, not the quantity. The ones you can always count on are priceless.
● Freedom of Religion
Being able to worship whomever and however you want is something many people don’t ever experience.
● Freedom of Speech
Being able to express your thoughts and feelings freely should never be taken for granted.
●. Freedom to Vote
Being able to have a say in the laws should never be taken for granted.
Sleep and a Bed to Sleep In
A bed is one of those things that’s easy to take for granted, until you don’t have one. Fresh bed sheets and duvet are even better. Sleep is another
● Goodnight kisses
● Waking up Today
Simply waking up today means you have things to be thankful for, and each day is a new chance to begin again!
● Bad days that make you appreciate the good ones
● Food on the table
There is nothing like a good home cooked meal.
● Laughter
Without laughter, the world would be a sad place. Uncontrollable laughter is a special experience.
● Safety and Security
Being able to wake up without immense fear frees us up to really live life.
● Electricity
Electricity enables us to have most of the modern conveniences and communication that we have today. They make life much easier and safer.
● Comfortable clothes appropriate for the weather
On a cold day, there’s nothing more important than warm clothing.
● Modern Medicine
Without advances in modern medicine, many of us wouldn’t be alive.
● Living pain-free
● Music
Finding music that moves you and singing your favorite songs brightens the day. Music brings out new emotions.
● Cuddles
● The progression of human rights
● All our senses
● Being able to experience all emotions
● Love
The world sure would be a different place if we lacked the ability to love.
● Eyesight and Being able to see colors
Being able to see allows us to view the world’s beauty.
● Hearing
Being able to hear your loved one’s voice is something that not everyone gets to do.
● An Ability to Learn
The ability to learn new things means we have endless potential.
● Imagination
● Being able to look forward to something
● Being able to set and achieve goals
● Learning from Mistakes
If we never made mistakes, we wouldn’t learn much so it is one of those things we should be thankful for.
●4. Kindness of Strangers
When a stranger smiles at you or shows kindness and courtesy, never take that for granted. Pass it forward.
● Pain
Without pain, it would be difficult to appreciate life’s joys.
● Tears
Sometimes when there are no words to say, tears express how we feel for us.
● Wisdom that Comes with Age
Thankfully, we grow smarter over time.
● Your Mind
Being able to think, remember, and solve problems sure makes life easier.
● The Ability to Dream
● Challenges
Without challenges in life, we wouldn’t be the people we are now
● The ability to help others
● Sincere apologies
● Open minded people
● Strength
Physical and strength of character.
● The generosity of others
● Respect
● Forgiveness
● Teamwork
● Having some time to yourself
● Ability to have and pursue a passion
● Sunshine
The sun’s warmth can brighten any day.
● Time
Although we often don’t think there’s enough of it, time is something we shouldn’t take for granted.
● The seasons changing
● Breathing Fresh Air
Being able to step outside to breathe in fresh air is a good reminder how many little things we should be thankful for.
● Mountains
Mountains provide us with beauty and recreation.
● Rainbows
The beauty of a rainbow is unmatched.
● Sunrises and Sunsets
The rising of the sun and Sunsets are reminders that we should enjoy the simple things in life and there will be tomorrow.
● Moon and Stars
The moon and stars encourage us to dream.
● Diversity
The world would be a boring place without diversity.
● Oceans
The sea creatures in the ocean almost seem too mystical to be real.
● Hiking Trails
● Opportunity to Get an Education
The opportunity to attend school is something many people don’t have.
● An Ability to Read
If you’re reading this right now, you have a lot to be thankful for.
● People Willing to Teach
Whether it’s your grandmother teaching you to knit or your plumber showing you how to prevent future problems, be grateful that others are willing to use their time and talents to teach you something new.
● Books
Books provide an opportunity to enter another world all from the comfort of your own home. You can go anywhere and be anyone if you read books.
● Finding people who bring the best out in you
● Weekends
There’s something magical about weekends and not having an alarm go off.
● Pets
Pets offer one of the best examples of unconditional love. Puppies and kittens have a special place in everyone’s heart.
● Cars
Without cars, it would take a lot longer to get our activities done.
● Clean running water
Many people on earth lack access to clean water.
● Hot showers and feeling clean
● Good Hair Days
● Indoor Plumbing
Indoor plumbing not only provides convenience, it spares us from disease.
● Art
The world would be less beautiful if art didn’t exist.
● Holidays
Any reason to celebrate is something we should be thankful for.
● Cell PhonesCell phones make talking to loved ones easy.
● An Internet Connection
It’s hard to believe how easy it is to take the internet for granted, seeing how none of us had just a couple of decades ago.
● Entrepreneurs and inventors
Some of life’s best inventions resulted from an entrepreneur who was willing to take a risk.
● Grocery Stores
Grocery stores mean we don’t have to spend all of our time getting our own food.
● Entertainment
Entertainment gives us a way to relax and enjoy life.
● Air Conditioning
Staying cool on a hot day is something people wouldn’t have dreamed about in past centuries.
● Armed Forces
Our lives would likely be very different if we didn’t have protection from the armed forces.
● Hearing good news
● Chocolate
● Ice Cream
● Cups of tea
● Coffee
● Fresh countryside walks
● Cameras
They capture amazing memories
● Traditions
Religious, family and others.
● Nice neighbours
● Having deep conversations until the early morning
● Spell checker
● Jumping into a swimming pool in the summer
● Modern Transportation
● Old photographs
● Meeting up with old friends
● Snow days
● A nice bubble bath
● Not having to set an alarm
● Sunday mornings

The most important thing to be grateful for is the fact that you are unique in the world. There is no one else who is exactly like you.

BE GRATEFUL AND PAY IT FORWARD!
You can decide that you are going to be happy and grateful, or not. Tomorrow you are going to begin again. However you celebrate Thanksgiving [or don’t celebrate that particular holiday] be grateful for what you have. It is not a matter of just thinking it, or saying it…live it in your thoughts and actions every day
Just Sayin’
□
Note: Pay it forward is an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying the kindness to others instead of to the original benefactor. The concept is old, but the particular phrase may have been coined by Lily Hardy Hammond in her 1916 book In the Garden of Delight.

Resources:
https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/60-things-thankful-for-life.html
https://www.thelawofattraction.com/100-things-thankful/
https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/5-ways-being-thankful-is-really-good-for-you
https://www.happierhuman.com/benefits-of-gratitude/
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_parents_neglect_to_teach_about_gratitude
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a45386/gratitude-lists-dont-work/
https://www.unstuck.com/gratitude/

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CAN GOOD THINGS HAPPEN ON FRIDAY the THIRTEENTH?

11/13/2020

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Although superstition dooms Friday the 13th by proclaiming it an unlucky day, almost every article written about the day assures us that, in reality, as many good things happen on those days as bad things. I believe that’s true, but it became very hard for me to verify that statement. Apparently, people have only recently started keeping track of good or positive things that take place.

Of course, the passage of time puts a different slant on incidents and one unlucky event may eventually be seen later as “not that earth shaking” or perhaps even good.

In terms of tracking bad luck episodes, most of the accidents and unlucky occurrences happen to an individual or occur at a personal level. Only a few are of a scale worthy of the 10 p.m. news broadcast, an article Time Magazine, or announcement in an internet Twitterfeed.

HOW MANY FRIDAY 13 ARE THERE?
Friday falls on the 13th day of the month, on the Gregorian calendar, at least one day each year. The maximum times in a year is three. For example, in 2015, Friday the 13th occurred in February, March, and November. In 2017 through 2019 there were two Friday the 13ths each.

This year, 2020, there are two: March 13 and today, November 13. We could certainly stand something good happening today. The years 2021 and 2022 will both have just one occurrence each.

WHERE DID ALL THE GOOD THINGS GO?
While there are very long lists of unfortunate events that occurred on Friday the 13th, the list of positive events is sparse. Here are the incidents I could find on the internet. I’m sure deep research would reveal others.

▼Callisto, 4th moon of Jupiter - mage Source: pinterest.co.uk/563935184559873500/

● 1610 -- Callisto Discovered
On January 13, 1610, Galileo Galilei discovered Callisto, the fourth moon of Jupiter.

● 1789 -- “Nothing Certain but Death and Taxes" Quote
I’m not quite sure this qualifies as a “Good Thing” that happened, although it has proven to be spot on. Friday, November 13, 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote his famous quote in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Leroy. He was informing the fellow inventor that the US Constitution was completed, and the quote in its entirety reads, "Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in the world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”

● 1854 – First US Patent For An Accordion
The first US patent for the accordion was granted on January 13, 1854 to Anthony Faas of Philadelphia.
▼Image Source: theparisreview.org/blog/

●1882 – The Thirteen Club was Founded in
New York
On January 13, 1882, The Thirteen Club was founded Club was founded in New York City at Knickerbocker Cottage at 454 Sixth Avenue -- note that the address adds up to 13 – by Captain William Fowler (1827-1897) who desired to remove the stigma surrounding the number 13.

At the time there was a rule, unwritten, about not having thirteen guests at the dinner table. Members met on the 13th day of the month in room 13 of the Knickerbocker Cottage, a popular watering hole Fowler owned from 1863 to 1883. Before sitting down for a 13-course dinner, members would pass beneath a ladder and a banner reading “Morituri te Salutamus,” Latin for “Those of us who are about to die salute you.” Four former U.S. presidents were members.

● 1923 -- First Scientifically Recognized Dinosaur Eggs Discovered
According to the American Museum of Natural History, Roy Chapman Andrews discovered the first dinosaur eggs at a dig in Mongolia, on July 13, 1923. Scientifically, this was huge for the field of paleontology, confirming that dinosaurs laid eggs —and the Museum was so impressed that Andrews would go on to be the director of the Museum from 1935 to 1942.
Image Credit: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
Image Source: insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 1923 – Dedication of the Hollywoodland Sign
Dedication of the Hollywoodland Sign took place on July 13, 1923. It was to promote a housing development in the Hollywood Hills owned by H.J. Whitley called Hollywoodland. The fifty-foot tall letters on the side of Mount Lee weren’t intended to last more than two years, but instead remained there until 1949, when it was replaced by the iconic Hollywood Sign.

◄ Image Credit: AP Photo/The Bruce Torrence Hollywood Photograph Collection
Image Source: stltoday.com/national/events-friday-the-13

▲ Image Credit: Bettmann/CORBIS
Image Source: smithsonianmag.com/howard-hughes-h-1

● 1935 -- Howard Hughes H-1 Sets World Airspeed Record
Friday the 13th in 1935, the Hughes H-1 Racer set a world airspeed record (567 kph/352 mph). Designed by the legendary Howard Hughes and Richard Palmer, it was the last privately owned aircraft to break the world air- ▲ Image Credit: Getty Images
speed record, and now resides at the National Image Source:
Air and Space Museum. insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 1939 - The First Female Flight Instructor Licensed
Evelyn Pinckert Kilgore became the first licensed female flight instructor on October 13, 1939. During World War II, Kilgare-Brier joined the Women Airforce Service Pilots. She was an important figure for women in aviation. She also flew non-combat missions during World War II, and after the war owned and operated her own private airport in San Bernardino, CA.

The aeronautics field continues to be predominantly male, but Ms. Kilgore was one of the first women to challenge and break that barrier.
▲Image Credit: Acme/PhotoQuest/Getty Images
Image Source: insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

[Note: I knew Pinkie personally when I was with the San Bernardino County Planning Department in the 1960s and 1970s. She was a remarkable person and a tough old gal, but I never knew about her being the first female licensed as a flight instructor.]

● 1942 – Plastic Soybean Car Patented
On January 13, 1942 Henry Ford patented a plastic automobile known as the Soybean Car made using soybeans, although some people now claim it was made primarily from hemp. [Since I’d never heard of it, it may never have gone anywhere. LOL]

▲ Image Source: youtube.com/watch?v=kS6e797W4iA

● 1967 – President L.B. Johnson Signs Executive Order
No. 11246
President Lyndon B. Johnson signed an executive order preventing gender discrimination in the government on October 13, 1967. Executive Order No. 11246 amended Executive Order No. 11246.

Image Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images ►
Image Source:insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 1974 – Malta becomes a Republic
The tiny Mediterranean country of Malta first became independent in 1964, but officially became a republic on December 13, 1974. Even though it's small, Malta is an underrated place to visit.

● 1985 -- Super Mario Bros. Released
Nintendo’s Mario is one of the most recognizable characters in pop culture. "Super Mario Bros.," one of the most iconic video games in history, was released on September 13, 1985 – exclusively in Japan. Since then, Mario has been in approximately 170 games, including wildly successful spin-offs like "Mario Kart," "Mario Party," and "Paper Mario." ▲Valletta, the capital of Malta
Image credit: Zoltan Gabor/Shutterstock
Image Source:insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 1986 -- The Olsen Twins Were Born
The Olsen twins were born on June 13, 1986. The twins got their start on TV’s "Full House," and from there created an empire of books, videos, perfume, clothing lines, and more.
There are quite a few celebrities born on Friday the 13th including Actor Steve Buscemi, director Alfred Hitchcock. Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Peter Tork, Frances Conroy, Didi Conn, Beau Mirchoff. Tony Dow, Max Weinberg, Christopher
The twins in 2015. ▲ Plummer, and many others.
Image Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Image Source: insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 1995 -- Finland’s Established Accident Day
Finland designated Friday the 13th as Accident Day in 1995, with the aim of raising awareness for workplace and road safety. It’s a clever idea to use the superstitious day as an opportunity to be extra vigilant.
Plus, because of its capital’s airport code and a particular daily flight demarcation, Finland also offers a Flight 666 to HEL every Friday the 13th. That means Helsinki, I presume.

● 2004 – The Olympic Games Return To Their Birthplace
The 2004 Summer Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, the country where they first started— both in ancient and modern times. The opening ceremony took place on August 13.

At the time, it was the largest Olympic Games, with 201 countries participating. Michael Phelps also won his first Olympic medal in Athens, and broke his first record. ▲ Australia's Robert Newbery practices diving.
Image Credit: Itsuo Inouye/AP Images -- Image Source: insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

● 2009 – Announcement Of Finding Water On The Moon
Project scientist Anthony Colaprete made the announcement on November 13, 2009, that NASA had found a "significant amount" of water on the moon, around a dozen two-gallon bucketfuls.
Image Credit: Image Source: Matt Cardy/Getty Images ►
Image Source: insider.com/good-things-friday-13th

TAKE AWAY
I have to believe that many more important and positive events have taken place on Fridays the 13th, but there is a pittance of references. I checked March 13, 2020, hoping that something good might have happened this year, but it all falls in the “bad” category. We have to put our hopes into today, November 13.

JUST SAYIN’
□
Resources
https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/events-that-took-place-on-friday-the-th/collection_0eaa62c9-86f4-5a2b-abe9-0a9cfd05d957.html
https://www.insider.com/good-things-friday-the-13th-2018-1
https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/2015/0313/Eight-surprisingly-good-things-that-happened-on-Friday-the-13th
https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2015/03/13/morituri-te-salutamus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS6e797W4iA

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THE RULE OF THREE

11/6/2020

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GRANDMA MYTH-BUSTER RIDES AGAIN
Every time I see a particular TV commercial about automobile X, when the announcer says “The Rule of Three says things are better when they come in threes…”, I wonder if there is a Rule of Three and if so, does it make that statement? I decided to find out.

THE RULE OF THREE: NO WHERE TO BE FOUND
I searched the internet diligently [well, at least a lot], and THE general Rule of Three was not to be found. Nope, not there… at least not by that name. Oh, there are plenty of Rules of Three, but they refer directly to a specific topic, none of which claim that things are better when they come in threes.

There is a Latin phrase "omne trium perfectum" which translates to “everything that comes in threes is perfect” or to “every set of three is complete.” As best I can tell, the original quote was used in reference to the art of oratory, but no doubt it is the source of The Rule of Three.

Rats! The automobile advertisement is vindicated.

THE NUMBER THREE
The number three, however, has a long history of popularity all over the world. The origins of this esteem are unknown with any certainty, but the number seems to pop up in every culture and in nature.

RELIGION

Christianity
Three symbolizes the Holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In addition, the three attributes of God are omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Biblically, the number three represents divine wholeness, completeness and perfection. The number seven also holds some lesser importance in Christianity.

Buddhism
Three symbolizes The Triple Gem or The Three Jewels: Buddah, the Enlightened One; Dhamma, the Teachings, and Sangha, the Community of Followers

Hindu
Three symbolizes creation, destruction, and preservation

Jewish
The number three was the symbol of holiness. The Holy of Holies occupied one-third, and the Holy Place two-thirds, of the entire Temple. The tapestries were ten times three ells in length, and there were three vessels each for the altar of burnt offering, the altar of incense, and the Ark. The candlestick had twice three arms (besides the shaft, which also held a lamp), and each arm had three knobs. The blessing of the priest consisted of three sections, and in the invocation of God, the word “holy” was repeated thrice.
Also, three signifies male, female, and uniting intelligence.

Taoisim
Three is the Great Triad: Heaven, Human, and Earth.

Muslim
The significant number in the Muslim religion is seven, not three.

CULTURES
▪ Chinese
The Chinese believe three is the perfect number.

▪ Mayan
The Mayan culture believed three was the sacred number of women.

▪ Egyptian
Egyptians revered three as the number of the cosmos.

▪ Japan
In Japan three stands for three treasures: truth, courage, and compassion.

POWERFUL IDEAS
The Rule of Three has also been used to encapsulate some of history’s most powerful ideas. For example:

▪ “Veni, vidi, vici.” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) ~ Julius Caesar.

▪ “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.“ (“Liberty. Equality. Fraternity.”) ~ The national motto of France.

▪ “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” (Swifter, higher, stronger”) ~ The Olympic motto

▪ “Location, location, location.”~ Harold Samuel.

▪ “Education, education, education.” ~ Tony Blair.

▪ Body, mind, and spirit

▪ Faith, hope, and charity

▪ Thought, word, and deed

▪ Animal, vegetable, and mineral

▪ The three primary colors combine to make all other colors.

RULES OF THREE
These are not all the rules of three that pertain to specific topics, but you’ll get the idea.

Writing
The rule of three is writing principle that suggests that a trio of events or characters is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.

Communication, Oratory, and Presentation
Choose three main points, no matter how long your presenting slot is. If you’re there to talk about a weighty subject, break each of your key three issues into three sub-parts. Your audience will be able to follow so much more easily.

Survival
Each of the following assumes that the one(s) before it are met:
▪ You can survive three minutes without breathable air (unconsciousness occurs), or in icy water.
▪ You can survive three hours in a harsh environment (extreme heat or cold).
▪ You can survive three days without drinkable water.
▪ You can survive three weeks without food.
Here it is not so much three rules as rules which revolve around the number three so they are easy to remember (but are only generally accurate scientifically).

Comedy
Sometimes called trebling, the Rule of Three is a pattern used in stories and jokes, where part of the story is told three times, with minor variations. The first two instances build tension, and the third releases it by incorporating a twist.

Physics
Newton’s three rules of motion.
▪Every object in a state of uniform motion will remain in that state of motion unless an external force acts on it.
▪Force equals mass times acceleration [ f (t) = m a (t)]
▪For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Business and Economics
The rule of three in business and economics is a rule of thumb suggesting that there are always three major competitors in any free market within any one industry.

Music
Musical triads are the three-note building blocks of musical harmony.

Aviation
The Aviation rule of three: "3:1 rule of descent" is that 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of travel should be allowed for every 1,000 feet (300 m) of descent.

Graphic Design, Art, and Photography
”The rule of thirds simply states that if you take a canvas and divide it into three equally sized horizontal sections and three equally sized vertical sections, the resulting grid provides a sort of roadmap that helps you choose where to place your design elements.” companyfolders.com/blog/rule-of-thirds

Dramatic Conflicts
internal, relational and external. This could also encompass the three-act structure of beginning, middle, and end.

PATTERNS
Humans brains can only hold a few pieces of information in short-term (active) memory. Harvard Professor George Miller, author of “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two” claimed that humans have a hard time retaining more than seven to nine digits in short-term memory. More contemporary science has lowered that number to three or four pieces of information the working memory can pay attention to and manipulate.

Why three?

Dr. Steve Dayan, in Modern Aesthetics.com, states “The neuro-psychological conventional wisdoms support that information absorbed within a pattern is less taxing on the brain. The neural circuits don't have to work as hard to retain the learned material. Less thinking, less energy, and less Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is expended.”

Three is fewer than four. Since all living species tend to follow the path of least resistance, conserving energy whenever possible, the brain remembers three more easily than four. I guess our brains are either very lazy or very smart or both. Regardless, it pays attention to patterns of three. Four, not so much.

TAKE AWAY
Memory favors the path of lease resistance. Stick with three.

Just sayin’
□
Resources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(statistics)
https://www.wired.com/2014/05/physicists-rule-of-threes-efimov-trimers/#:~:text=Rule%20of%20Threes-,Efimov%20trimers%20are%20states%20of%20matter%20that%20theoretically,an%20infinite%20range%20of%20sizes.&text=The%20so%2Dcalled%20Efimov%20%E2%80%9Ctrimer,t
https://www.bookofthrees.com/the-rule-of-three-in-mathematics/#:~:text=The%20Rule%20of%20Three%20is,can%20calculate%20the%20unknown%20number.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RuleOfThree
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(writing)#:~:text=The%20rule%20of%20three%20is,or%20effective%20than%20other%20numbers.&text=The%20Latin%20phrase%20%22omne%20trium,as%20the%20rule%20of%20three.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_threes_(survival)#:~:text=Normally%2C%20the%20rule%20of%20threes,(extreme%20heat%20or%20cold).
https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2012/07/02/thomas-jefferson-steve-jobs-and-the-rule-of-3/#8616fdd19622
https://www.companyfolders.com/blog/rule-of-thirds-graphic-design#:~:text=The%20rule%20of%20thirds%20simply,to%20place%20your%20design%20elements
https://www.presentationmagazine.com/presentation-skills-3-the-rule-of-three-7283.htm#:~:text=Structure%20your%20presentation%20around%20threes,to%20easily%20remember%20three%20things.
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THE RULE of THREE

11/6/2020

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GRANDMA MYTH-BUSTER RIDES AGAIN
Every time I see a particular TV commercial about automobile X, when the announcer says, “The Rule of Three says things are better when they come in threes…”, I wonder if there is a Rule of Three and if so, does it say that. I decided to find out.

THE RULE OF THREE: NO WHERE TO BE FOUND
I searched the internet diligently [well, at least a lot], and THE general Rule of Three was not to be found. Nope, not there… at least not by that name. Oh, there are plenty of Rules of Three, but they refer directly to a specific topic, none of which claim that things are better when they come in threes. Close, maybe, but not in those words.

There is a Latin phrase "omne trium perfectum" which translates to “everything that comes in threes is perfect” or to “every set of three is complete.” As best I can tell, the original quote was used in reference to the art of oratory, but no doubt it is the source of The Rule of Three.

Rats! The automobile advertisement is vindicated

Christian
Three symbolizes the Holy trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In addition, the three attributes of God are omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. Biblically, the number three represents divine wholeness, completeness and perfection. The number seven also holds some lesser importance in Christianity.

Jewish
The number three was the symbol of holiness. The Holy of Holies occupied one-third, and the Holy Place two-thirds, of the entire Temple. The tapestries were ten times three ells in length, and there were three vessels each for the altar of burnt offering, the altar of incense, and the Ark. The candlestick had twice three arms (besides the shaft, which also held a lamp), and each arm had three knobs. The blessing of the priest consisted of three sections, and in the invocation of God, the word “holy” was repeated thrice. Also, three signifies male, female, and uniting intelligence.

Muslim
The significant number in the Muslim religion is seven, not three.

Taoisim
Three is the Great Triad: Heaven, Human, and Earth.

Buddhism
Three symbolizes The Triple Gem or The Three Jewels: Buddah, the Enlightened One; Dhamma, the Teachings, and Sangha, the Community of Followers

Hindu
Three symbolizes creation, destruction, and preservation.

Cultures

Chinese
The Chinese believe three is the perfect number.

Mayan
The Mayan culture believed three was the sacred number of women.

Egyptian
Egyptians revered three as the number of the cosmos.

Japan
In Japan three stands for three treasures: truth, courage, and compassion.

Powerful Ideas
The Rule of Three has also been used to encapsulate some of history’s most powerful ideas. For example:

“Veni, vidi, vici.” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) ~ Julius Caesar.

“Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.“ (“Liberty. Equality. Fraternity.”) ~ The national motto of France.

“Citius, Altius, Fortius.” (Swifter, higher, stronger”) ~ The Olympic motto

“Location, location, location.” ~ Harold Samuel.

Body, mind, and spirit

Faith, hope, and charity

Thought, word, and deed

The three primary colors combine to make all other colors.

RULES OF THREE
As mentioned, there are many of these sets of rules of thumb, so to speak. The following are not all the sets of rules, but they are the most well known. You’ll get the idea.

Writing
The rule of three is a writing principle that suggests that a trio of events or characters is more humorous, satisfying, or effective than other numbers.

Physics
Newton’s three rules of motion

Music
Musical triads are the three-note building blocks of musical harmony.

Aviation
The Aviation rule of three: "3:1 rule of descent" is that 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of travel should be allowed for every 1,000 feet (300 m) of descent.

Mathematics
The Rule of Three is a Mathematical Rule that allows you to solve problems based on proportions. By having three numbers: a, b, c, such that, ( a / b = c / x), (i.e., a: b :: c: x ) you can calculate the unknown number.bookofthrees.com/rule-of-three-mathematics

PATTERNS
It's that darn Human brain again! Our brains can only hold a few pieces of information in short-term (active) memory. Harvard Professor George Miller, author of “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two” claimed that humans have a hard time retaining more than seven to nine digits in short-term memory. More contemporary science has lowered that number to three or four pieces of information the working memory can pay attention to and manipulate. Then why three?