Wednesday, August 24, 2011

favorite numbers

A mathematician in Britain is doing a study on favorite numbers (here).

My favorite number is 13.  I was born on the 13th of October and have always loved that it is the spookiest number of the spookiest month.  13 is an underdog and I have always had a thing for underdogs.  The more people try to keep it out, the more I love it. It's the same reason I always try to remember to pronounce my h's.
-e

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The More Loving One

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.


W.H. Auden