6-6-6

Today, apparently, is some fusion of math, science, and potential devil-worship. It's somewhat embarrassing that the fact that today, June 6, 2006 (6-6-06), somehow representative of some big hell party, is actually making local and national news! Do people really think that somehow, today, because of MATH, is going to spontaneously be "the end of the world" or spawn some sort of evil hell-on-earth character?

There actually is some sort of mathematical explanation for the natural occurrence of "666". Apparently, this number appears quite often in nature and math (see The Mathematical Association of America). The previous link will actually explain all the different mathematical occurrences of "666" and the reasoning behind these instances.

Living in New York, I believe I have a unique perspective on 666: Is there really any difference when comparing this day to any other? I believe it was "5/15/06" when a homeless man approached me on the subway and yelled all sorts of explicatives about .5 inches from my face. That sounds pretty life-ending to me, yet it wasn't 6-6-06. Or how about the various "street meat" carts that adorn midtown corners all year round. I'm sure that food is just as likely to kill you and send you to hell on any day, forget a day that happens to be "damned" because of the coincidental date and folklore. The sad thing is that I actually heard on the radio this morning that cities are placing extra cops on patrol, just in case some people really think the world will end.

I say, go out and enjoy today, much as you would any other day. It's hard enough making it through a day in this city without having to deal with mathematical coincidences that have no bearing on anyone's life in any way, shape or form. Watch out for that bus hurtling up 6th ave that's too close to the sidewalk; take notice of the creepy man sitting next to you who looks like he might have a bomb on the subway; don't walk through Bed-Stuy after dark. But don't pay attention to 6-6-06; you've got enough to worry about.