The End of the World—Again: 11-11-11

What is 11-11-11 in addition to being the last time in your lifetime that you will live through a perfectly-dated palindrome?

A palindrome is a number or word reading the same backwards as forwards.

Of course you could live 100 more years and prove me wrong. In which case, let me congratulate you ahead of time, as I won’t be around to do it on November 11, 2111.

The last 11-11-11 took folks on a wild ride

So what is 11-11-11? It’s a curious day if history is any indicator. On the last 11-11-11, a bizarre meteorological event sent heads spinning.

The “Great Blue Norther” of November 11, 1911 was a cold snap that hit the U.S. taking some cities on a wild ride as it broke record highs and lows for the same day. Temperatures rose then dropped by as much as 60 degrees F in some parts. Tornadoes and blizzards were all part of the equation.

The end of the world—again

Yes, whenever a strange date or even a not-so-strange date hits, the doomsdayers have a virtual feast. So look for some gleeful people predicting Friday to be the motherload of death and destruction.

This year the Hollywood type will help us out on that one, offering a movie with the very original title, “11-11-11." It will make its debut Friday, just in time to present an opening of a portal to Hades starting on, you guessed it 11-11-11—another creative script. What a joy.

In Vegas couples clamor to say I do

Getting married on a day known for its apocalyptic predictions may not be the best move. But Time News Feed reports a swell in folks signing up to get hitched in Vegas on the big 11, with the Clark County clerk’s office reporting 3,500 pre-applications.

Hopefully these aren’t doomsday weddings. If they survive their wedded bliss, one thing plays in their favor—it’s an easy anniversary to remember.

Happy Birthday

Dr. Jamie Grifo reported being barraged by parents with a burning question, "They want to know when to have sex to have a baby on November 11," said Grifo in CNN Health. His answer: February 18. 

On FoxNews.com Dr. Manny Alverez predicts the day may break birth records around the world, based in part on the number of appointments scheduled in his own labor and delivery from parents wanting to strategically schedule their births so junior is born on the big 11.

Meaning or not

Though I have to admit its cinematography is brilliant, still, you won’t catch me at the theater Friday watching “11-11-11.” What I may do, though, is carry one of its memorable quotes around in my pocket, “Brother be careful looking for meaning where there is none.”

What we really know

Amidst the myths and speculation, one thing is for certain, it’s a day to honor some special men and women who have served their country with honor—Veterans Day.