13: for some, an unlucky number; for Bakers, a dozen.

Isn't it hard to believe my genes may contain some of the remnants of the scoundrel Bakers of yesteryear?

Long before the Enron and Bre-X scams, long before we had aluminum-siding and used-car salesmen...we had the Bakers. The Bakers were notorious for taking short positions to the marketplaces of the Middle Ages. Certainly, as far back as 1000 years ago, the Bakers were known to sell a dozen buns or pies and deliver as few as 10 or 11. I guess the Baker clan somehow evolved to the point they had a flair for profiteering. And, the Bakers' scheme of over-promising and under-delivering worked well 1000 years ago because, apparently, in those days the typical purchaser of baked goods could not count up to 12. 

On occasion, however, a purchaser of baked goods could count past 10 and an objection would be filed against the Baker. That did little to improve the Baker's counting. Unfortunately for the Baker clan, during the 13th Century [yes, a Baker's Dozen of centuries] laws were created to place and enforce penalties on the customer-cheating Bakers. Penalties included the loss of a hand...if the Baker was found guilty of delivering 11 instead of a dozen then the Baker would have a hand cut off. 

That really improved the Bakers' ability to count.

It also brought about a paradigm change for Bakers. Bakers, in fear of losing more hands, made a habit of delivering 13 when they sold a dozen. That provided a factor of safety for the Bakers. And, it paved the path for the better-Baker business we now enjoy. 

So, while many feel 13 is an unlucky number...to this day, Bakers like it a whole lot better than 10 or 11 or even 12.

2013, no doubt about it, a good year for Bakers...expect them to over-deliver.

Sixteen years ago, my friend recommended I buy a copy of 'The Fingerprints of the Gods'.

That book contained many startling facts about our world, alien visitors, and an emphatic prediction - our world will end in 2012.

This end-of-the-world-in-2012 prediction dates back to at least Mayan times, [for example, see http://www.december212012.com].

Now, for some reason, for the last 16 years, I've had it in my head the end of the world was to happen on December 12, 2012...i.e., 12-12-12. I even mentioned, to a number of friends earlier this year, my intent to put off buying Christmas gifts until after December 12th just in case the prediction proved to be true. [Why waste time buying stuff that will never get unwrapped?]

As the date 12-12-12 neared, many folks helped me understand the end of the world will not be happening until the winter solstice, December 21st, 2012.

So, I have been thinking about re-setting my Christmas gift-buying strategy.

Regardless, I'm still considerate of the potential there is a bigger fish to fry...actually, all the fish and everything else to fry.

While there is a potential the world will end tomorrow, I am predicting that the Mayans were wrong, those alien-worshipers are wrong, and even my friend who recommended I buy that book 16 years ago is wrong.

I mean, I predict THE WORLD WILL NOT END TOMORROW!

I must write off for now...I've got some shopping to do...

Thought Tweet #626 Power of Will & Spontaneous Creativity...aren't they the wonderful, bi-polar highlights of our human condition!

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Power of Will - a much-praised attribute and process of character (willpower).

Creativity & Spontaneity - humour, music, art, & invention - these add magic to our lives.

"Do you appreciate both?"

"Do you balance both?"