Researchers estimate that as many as 10 percent of the U.S. population has a fear of the number 13. So much so, that most tall buildings skip over floor 13 altogether. But what’s so unlucky about the number 13, and how did this numerical superstition get started? An early myth surrounding the origin of the fear involved one of the world’s oldest legal documents, the Code of Hammurabi, which reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list of legal rules. In reality, the omission was no more than a clerical error made by one of the document’s earliest translators who failed to include a line of text—in fact, the code doesn’t numerically list its laws at all. For some members of our Club, 13 is just a number, and a lucky one at that....especially when it comes to GRPs! The top cards tonight were almost all 13's; only one 12-card made it into the top prizes today. But we'll get to that in a minute :) Just a reminder that our own Jeff Raynes continues his generosity through the end of the year. Anyone who comes out to play with our club for the rest of the year is eligible for a one-time $15 reward (that is, he will pay your entry). It is not limited to our club, and would apply to new players as well (new players who play at the $5 rate would get three free plays). It also applies to our GRRT which is being held on December 11th. Jeff will contribute $15 to your entry fee if you haven't already claimed your gift. Now that housekeeping is done, on to this week's entry! n this day in 1877, Thomas Edison demonstrated his phonograph invention for the first time. Edison was one of the great inventors and designers in the history of the world. He invented the first practical light bulb, the motion picture camera and the phonograph. Others had attempted to invent the latter but Edison's was the first to actually reproduce the sound. The phonograph was Edison's first major invention and the one that earned him the moniker "the wizard of Menlo Park" as the invention was so unexpected by the public as to appear magical. His first invention recorded on tinfoil around a grooved cylinder, and although the recordings could only be played a few times due to low quality, Edison's reputation was cemented. He demonstrated the device on November 29, 1877, having announced its invention days before. He would patent it later that February. Recalling a demonstration in December, an employee of Scientific American magazine wrote: " "In December, 1877, a young man came into the office of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, and placed before the editors a small, simple machine about which very few preliminary remarks were offered. The visitor without any ceremony whatever turned the crank, and to the astonishment of all present the machine said: "Good morning. How do you do? How do you like the phonograph?" The machine thus spoke for itself, and made known the fact that it was the phonograph..." On this day in 1910, Ernest Sirrine, an American inventor, introduced an automatically controlled traffic signal in Chicago. His traffic signal used two non-illuminated display arms arranged as a cross that rotated on an axis, according to Inventor Spot. The signs said "stop" and "proceed." The world's first traffic signal was installed on Dec. 9, 1868, at the intersection of Bridge Street and Great George Street in the London borough of Westminster. However, only one month later, a police officer controlling the signal was badly injured when a leak in a gas main caused one of the lights to explode in his face. The project was declared a public health hazard and immediately dropped. William Ghiglieri of San Francisco patented the first automatic traffic signal that used red and green lights in 1917. Ghiglieri's design had the option of being either automatic or manual. Then in 1920, William Potts, a Detroit police officer, developed several automatic traffic light systems, including the first three-color signal, which added a yellow "caution" light. Traffic lights, or traffic signals, with red, yellow and green lights are now located on most major corners in cities and towns around the world. And on this date in 1959, the 2nd Grammy Awards ceremony was held. This was the first time the Grammys were televised. "Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama The Threepenny Opera. "Mack" is Macheath, the title character, portrayed as a criminal. The light melody can make this feel like an upbeat song, but it contrasts sharply with the lyrics, which are about a murderer. Darin decided to perform this song when he saw a production of The Threepenny Opera in Greenwich Village in 1958. He thought up his own way of presenting the song, and started performing it in his nightclub act, where it was well received. "Mack The Knife", by Bobby Darin, was the song that earned Darrin two Grammys: Record of the Year and Best New Artist. IN 1959, the ceremonies took place in November or December instead of February, so when Darin performed this song on the November 29 show, the song was still at #1 in America. Darin also won for Best New Artist at the ceremonies. The Threepenny Opera was still playing in New York at the time as well. The original German lyrics were far more graphic, making it clear that this is a murderer being talked about. For American audiences, the translation was made more ambiguous to soften the killings, essential in eluding censors in the conservative 1950s. We had 18 players come out to peg tonight, and we (and Jeff) paid out four places and three teams. Welcome back to Dot, who's was a sight for sore eyes. We've missed you!! 1st place: Liz Henderson, who continues to be on a hot streak, taking top spot for two weeks in a row. Today it was with a 13/6/96 2nd place: Mike Due, who has been visiting with us for a couple weeks, and has said he'll continue to come play with us on Mondays, scored a 13/6/94 3rd place: Pete Amacher, who had some really pretty cards, especially when playing me!! Pete takes this spot with a 13/6/46 4th place: Jim Townsend, who it was also good to see this week, rounded out the top prize-winners with the only 12 that made it into the top spots: 12/6/66 Our other 12-point winners did not too bad, making nice partnerships to take the lesser-but-still-worth-it prizes: 1st Team: Jeff Raynes (12) and Fran Ward (10) 2nd Team: Jerry Gooden (12) and Dot Davis (9) 3rd Team: Kristy Haught (12) and Larry Phifer (8) The full results are up on the website, and the top-10 standings are below. Jerry's persistence has paid off, and he has jumped head of Andy to take top spot this week. In fairness, Andy wasn't at Club this week, so.... And Jeff Raynes continues his steady climb upward, and is just a(nother) good card or two from taking the top spot for himself. See y'all next week! ~ Jennifer The Raleigh Cribbage Club is hosting |
The Main 54 Players 1: Rick Bryant 2: Kristy Haught 3-4: Scott Earley 3-4: Barri Gehrand 5-8: Peter K. Lerch (High Qualifier) 5-8: Keith Widener 5-8: Curtis Barbour 5-8: Sandy Shrum 9-14: Jerry Gooden 9-14: Jack Howsare 9-14: Joe Daesch 9-14: Joe Greiner 9-14: Michael Burnham 9-14: Esther Rolfe |
The Consolation 34 Players 1: Bernard Whitfield 2: Jerry Hedden 3-4: Megan Player (High Qualifier) 3-4: Jacob French 5-8: Chris Killmeyer 5-8: Richard Dacey 5-8: Laurie Schmitz 5-8: Jack Howsare 9: Mike D'Elena |
Friday Early Bird 40 Players 1st: Alan Rogers 2nd: Liz Henderson 3rd: Glenn McMahon 4th: Jennifer Johnson 5th: Tom Goeschel 6th: Jack Howsare 7th: Alan Simpson 8th: David Aiken 9th: Norman (Wayne) Maurice 10th: William Kraatz |
Canadian Doubles 10 Teams 1st: Mike D'Elena / David AIken 2nd: Keith and Leshia Widener 3rd: Jennifer Johnson / John Medeiros |
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