1 of 8

Write now Article Tools

Every high school class, or so it seems, harbors a class brain, an "Einstein", to go along with the class clown. In my senior class the post was held by a young man, I'll call him Albert, who did not at all fit the stereotypical nerd Coke bottle glasses, shirt pocket protectors, pimpled face except that he seemed constantly distracted by something he saw or heard out in the middle distance; that plus the fact that his socks only occasionally matched. One would come across Albert tall, pale and as if in need of a good breakfast between classes and be rewarded with his latest speculation on "Why is there something rather than nothing? " or some news of the quirks of quarks, and then, abruptly, "Which direction did I come from?" and, on being told, might say, "Oh good. Then I've already eaten lunch."

Albert and I became good friends but confine our conversations these days mostly to e-mail. On December 6 he sent me the following posting:

Only 222 shopping days until St. Swithin's Day. Moreover, 2(2+2+2) =the number of the current month, while 2+2+2 = the day of the month. Coincidence? You decide.

Albert helpfully adds this, from the online Catholic Encyclopedia:

Very little is known of this saint's life, for his biographers constructed their "Lives" long after his death and there is hardly any mention of him in contemporary documents. Swithin was one of the two trusted counsellors of Egbert, King of the West Saxons (d. 839), helping him in ecclesiastical matters, while Ealstan of Sherborne was his chief advisor He probably entrusted Swithin with the education of his son Ethelwulf and caused the saint to be elected to the Bishopric of Winchester in succession to Helmstan. His consecration by Ceolnoth, Archbishop of Canterbury, seems to have taken place on 30 October, 852. On his deathbed Swithin begged that he should be buried outside the north wall of his cathedral where passers-by should pass over his grave and raindrops from the eaves drop upon it.

Surely, you recall the girls of our deep youth skipping rope to:

St. Swithin's day if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain
St. Swithin's day if thou be fair
For forty days 'twill rain nae mair

Albert's spoof is at those "for whom life is too uncertain to live with, and so they have to make things up." Religions are high on Albert's list of made-up things ("Some other time.") but what bothers him particularly are what he calls "folk voodoo" like the "coincidences" that clog up the internet these days. The mathematicians

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Considering coincidences?
We want to hear your view. Write now!