The number 2 has several unique and fascinating qualities:

• Prime Number: It’s the only even prime number. All other even numbers can be divided by 2, making them non-prime.
• Binary System: In computing, the binary system (base-2) uses only two digits: 0 and 2. This system is the foundation of all modern computer architecture.
• Duality: The concept of duality appears frequently in philosophy, spirituality, and science, representing pairs such as good and evil, light and dark, yin and yang.
• Symmetry: It’s the smallest natural number that is not a palindrome but symmetrical in its form. The symmetry concept is crucial in mathematics and geometry.
• Human Perception: Humans tend to think in pairs or opposites, like day and night, left and right, etc.
• Mathematics: Multiplication by 2 is equivalent to adding a number to itself. It’s the basis for the concept of doubling.

It’s incredible how such a simple number holds so much significance across various fields!

So why is this post brought to you by the number 2?

Well, today I had an email from LiveJournal (Yes apparently they it is still a thing!) 

“Blog’s Birthday – We’re together for 20 years now! Thank you!”

Looks like my LJ account is 20 years old today. I wonder how long ago my last post was? to be honest I did not know the place was still live, I really should go post something on it just for old times sake. So 20 years old, and in 2 0. I know there is nothing odd in that, we are all getting old now. Hell I remember the time we had a work experience kid turn up in the office and I realised I had websites older than him.

This would be nothing, but the number 2 had popped up a few more times recently, like I visited 2 lodges in 2 different Masonic Halls, on 2 consecutive days.  (you want more?)

Both those Lodges ended up doing Second Degrees. 

I do not know what the world is trying to tell me, but it has something to do with the number 2.

Wasn’t there a film once called 2, or 22, or something about the fact a number keep showing itself to main character?

Today is Friday 13Th.

Don’t Panic.

It is just a stupid superstition right? In this modern technological world we have no need for ancient superstitions right? Or in this impersonal online world are we more in need of reminders of things beyond our comprehension?

And just how bad is Friday the 13th anyway? Fridays are good, they herald in the weekend, and we all like the weekend don’t we?

OK, SO it is supposed to be unlucky, So it is the day when Murphy’s Law is in full swing, and if anything bad can happen, it will happen in triplicate! So what if people stay off the roads, and refuse to fly and other such things. It’s only superstition.

isn’t it?

DON’T PANIC!!

BUT wait! Tonight there is a Full Moon! You know a full moon, The time of Werewolves, and Witches Covens, of Lunatics, and increased madness!

So to recap.

1. The Unluckiest day of the year
2. The Day of the month most likely to cause Insanity, Shape-shifting, & evil magic.
3. AT THE SAME TIME

FRAK IT, PANIC!!!

Today is Friday 13Th.

Don’t Panic.

It is just a stupid superstition right? In this modern technological world we have no need for ancient superstitions right? Or in this impersonal online world are we more in need of reminders of things beyond our comprehension?

Did you also realise we are in the 13th year of this century? SO that makes :-

Today is Friday 13th 2013.

DON’T PANIC!!

Here is a fun fact for you. Did you know that this 13th year of this century will have two Friday 13th’s in it? and that they will be 13 weeks apart?

FRAK IT, PANIC!!!

Today is Friday 13Th.

Don’t Panic.

It is just a stupid superstition right? In this modern technological world we have no need for ancient superstitions right? Or in this impersonal online world are we more in need of reminders of things beyond our comprehension?

Did you also realise we are in the 13th year of this century? SO that makes :-

Today is Friday 13th 2013.

DON’T PANIC!!

Here is a fun fact for you. Did you know that this 13th year of this century will have two Friday 13th’s in it? and that they will be 13 weeks apart?

FRAK IT, PANIC!!!

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.

OK, So we are all aware of the Magpie fortune telling poem. “What do you mean you have no idea what I am on about?” Right for a primer go read this “Greetings Mr Magpie. One for Sorrow…” I will wait here for you while you do.

***Time Passes***

OK, So we are NOW all aware of the Magpie fortune telling poem, But I have some Questions relating to it.

1) How do you count the Magpies?

You see a magpie by itself and you go “ONE”, Then you see another one and go “TWO” but? Is it two or is it two single Magpies?

2) Is there a set area in which to count the Magpies?

If there are two or more Magpies standing next to each other then the counting is obvious. But what if there are say two Magpies together and a third three foot away, does it count?

3) Do you count based on the Photograph affect?

If when you saw the first Magpie and in your mind took a photograph do you count all the Magpie’s you can see at that minute. So if a second or two later you see another Magpie does that count to the total score or do you start recounting.

4) Do you count based on a time frame?

So after the first Magpie is spotted does a timer start, and you count every Magpie you see in the follow few seconds? Does it go by blinking?

Hopefully its blinking, because I can go a long time between blinks. This would allow me to cheat and not blink until I hit a score that is beneficial to me.

5) How does multiples count?

OK. so you have your counting rules fixed in your mind. And you see a Magpie (ONE) then a short while again you see another Magpie (ONE) now, which of the three options does this count as?

a) Fortune is confirming that you are in for Sorrow

b) You are going to have two lots of sorrow

c) Your sorrow is now going to be twice as bad

This may seem a bit of an odd thing to contemplate, but its for a very very good reason. “Three for a Girl” If we can get the rules agreed on (go for blinking) I could fix it so I always get to count Magpies as being three, then if I can get two lots of three Then according to (5b) I would get a threesome, more than two lots of three and we are in for an orgy!

So we all know* the “One for Sorrow” Poem in one of its many versions.

*Well I am assuming we all know. If not, Where have you been people!!!!

The one I grew up with is most common one :-

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl,
Four for a boy,
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret never to be told.

Now. Growing up I was ignorant of the side rule of what to do if you see a single Magpie. I was only illuminated on the subject when I finally asked my sister why she kept saluting magpies.** And she informed me that a single Magpie (Which equals bad luck) can be countered by saluting it.

**For the first fifteen years of my life I just assumed my sister was insane,

Sounds fishy right?

Well Over the years I have looked it up, and It seems to be be a valid superstition. In fact there seems to be many ways of dealing with the evil of a lone magpie. Some of them are :-

• “Hello Mr Magpie” “How is your wife/where is your wife?”, “Good Morning/Evening Sir” This apparently both counters the bad luck and adds an imaginary magpie to the count making it “Two for Joy”
• Say the phrase “I defy thee” seven times.
• Spit three times to avert ill luck.
• Pinch the person you are walking with. If alone pinch yourself
• Salute the Magpie

Well, What I want to know is. What happens if you respond to the single Magpie by hitting it with your car. While its flying (That should give bonus points right??)

Calm down dear its just a blog post!!

The Magpie was not hurt. It was eating on the road when I was driving at it. It took off in one direction, changed its mind and headed towards me, then changed mind again meaning it had not gained height or distance and its tail-feathers slapped against my cars windscreen.

so if a salute changes bad luck to good luck. does hitting a bird flying in the sky change it from bad luck to AWESOME LUCK

ERRR. just asking for a friend.

The Asylum may or may not be haunted.

This morning I was stood in the Support Office talking to ItWerWobbie* when I heard someone walk up the stairs to our floor and saw them walk past the door to the support office as they passed down the hall.

Shortly after @DemonPengu* ascended the stairs, and came to the open door.

IWW: “Who was that?“

WO: “I don’t know. Hey @Demonpengu who came up before you?“

DP: “huh? no one?”

WO: *quickly checks upstairs rooms to see who came up* “Err there’s no one up here?“

IWW: “you heard/saw it as well right?“

So two of us heard someone ascend the stairs and walk past, we both saw from the corner of our eyes a person walk past the door to the room towards the front of the building where there are NO exits. Yet there was no body there!

Explain away!**

(*) We never use real names here on the Three Ninjas, for security, peoples safety against stalkers, and to prevent any nasty legal action if we accidentally mention little know facts like ItWerWobbies fetish for amputee midgets.

(**) Seriously. Any explanations welcome, comment away if you can explain what may or may not have happened.

Zombies are a popular cultural theme at the moment, with a silly amount of computer games from all genres (Western, Army, Etc) having “Zombie SubGames”. And there’s the current hit show “The Walking Dead” not to mention the resurgence in Zombie Films.

They also hold a special place in the hearts of Geeks all over the world, and we here at the Insane Asylum are no different. In fact they have been a constant topic of conversation for years here, due to one of the Inmates having both a fascination and a fear of them.  As such we often discuss methods of surviving the inevitable Apocalypse, and what they did wrong in different shows/films.

As such I have a carefully worked out survival plan in the back of my mind that is constantly being updated and added too. I also keep a mental subconscious tracking of where the nearest place to collect weapons is depending on where I am at the time of the outbreak.  Now this random thinking while driving, working, etc. has recently brought up a question in my mind. “What is the most valuable Skill/Talent you need someone in your group to have to increase your chances of survival?” I have asked several people (See I do my research) and they all got the answer wrong, but in fairness I will post some of their suggestions.

Weapons Training

The ability to load, clean, fire a variety of Firearms is a staple skill in most Zombie fiction. Getting a headshot from a distance with random guns is not an easy task unless you are trained in eyeing in the sights, or are a good shot, both which are skills that need to be trained or practised.  You give a rifle to a random person off the street and try and get them to his a head sized object from a distance. Or maybe short range weapons, like Swords, Machetes, Baseball bats, they still need some skill or strength to use properly.  So weapons skills are a very handy skill to have to help survival chances, but they are not the most useful, after all how much skill does it need to hit someone with a shotgun?

Survival Skills

AH, the ability to survive in the wilds where there are not many dead. The skills of hunting (both for food and zombie killing), foraging, trapping, etc.  Do you know what plants are safe to eat? can you make a fire without matches? can you survive in the wilderness? These too are very handy sills that could make the difference between life & death.

Medical Skills

This goes without saying for the obvious. In a time where hospitals are closed, and GP’s are a thing of the past something as simple as a broken bone, or open cut can go from being a treatable injury to a life threatening one without medical treatment. There is also a possible little thought of use for medical skills. Say you got a shallow bit on you from a zombie, could a Medic drain the blood from you in that area, and flay off the surrounding skin and prevent you becoming infected? Could their skills then help you survive and heal?

Engineering

Ah, the old skill set for sorting out electricity, vehicles, fortifying encampments, repairing equipment and keeping everything running and giving us our advantage of technology. Engineers will be worth their weight in gold in any apocalypse.

Military Training

I’m listing this one as it tends to be one of the most popular answers, since it generally includes weapons training, survival skills, basic field medical skills, tactics, and a load of other valuable skills that you need during any time of struggle.

And the correct answer is, and this is going to come as a surprise, “Socio-path” I know you may call it a mental disorder more than a talent, but I think in the time of the Zombie Apocalypse we should reclassify it a survival talent. Some of you are probably scratching your head about now, so let me explain my theory. Think about every zombie film/tv show you have ever watched, think about all the super soldiers, cops, etc. in those shows. Now consider how often the following scenarios happen?

1) The person/group are travelling and they see a small child alone looking scared, so they move in to comfort the child. Only as they get in grabbing range they discover the child is a zombie and a portion of their group is killed/infected before they manage to kill it. Consider the socio-path, They see a small child and think “no way a kid that young could survive alone in the open in a zombie infested area” *BANG* dead kid, no team members hurt.

2) A member of the group is bitten, but still unchanged so the rest of the group keep them with them either to help fight the zombies, or in a hope they will get better. In all cases as soon as your best friend/partner/whatever turns they attack and always manage to kill/infect a good chunk of the group. Lets consider the Socio-path again, Team member is bit *BANG* dead team member, but no further death/infection.

You need someone with the mindset of a socio-path to do the tasks we all know is needed, but which the average “normal” person is not naturally equipped to do since they are burdened by guilt, conscious, etc.

So remember come the Apocalypse find yourself some high functioning socio-paths to team up with, they may just save your life.

It seems the Insane Asylum is haunted, or we have the worlds weirdest burglars.

Last night as I made my bid for freedom I left Gawain my trusty work desktop recompiling its kernel, and doing other re-compiles of parts of its OS. I know it was doing this as the screens were scrolling with code as I switched off the monitors by the switches on their front.  I then left the Asylum at the same time as DemonP, which left two inmates left in the building who left not long after us. Now they set the alarm and locked up the building. All was well!

This morning I entered my padded cell, hit the buttons on Gawains monitors to check my social networking sites before work began… NOTHING… I press them again, and they remain blank. “Ok” I thought “My machine crashed over night” So I hit the power button on Gawain… NOTHING… Hummm? Power cut? No, everything else is working. So I investigate more and discover the extension lead that powers my desktop, monitors, switch, VoIP phone had been switched off at the wall.  Now the socket is semi behind my desk, and blocked by the wedged open door, in other words “Impossible to be accidentally switched off” besides it was still on when I left the night before.

“ARSE! That’s a tad annoying” says I. Ok the exact words I may have used were not quite that polite. Right, switch the socket back on, power up the machine only for it to sit at the maintenance prompt due to disk errors. Get them fixed, and have to kick off the re-compiles to repair the damage caused by a unscheduled  power off mid compiling. So far I have spent all day trying to get my desktop back up and running.

SO I checked with the two guys who left the Asylum after me last night, both deny switching off the power and say they would never do such a thing as they know the problems it would cause. (I should take a second to explain here that one is a sheep following the new-age hippie flock at the minute and keeps moaning we should switch off all electrical devices at night to save the planet).  So no one turned it off, which leaves us the following options.

1) Ghosts: The Asylum is haunted with an odd poltergeist who’s only presence to date is switching one power switch to the off position.

2) Burglars: Last night some burglars picked the locks on the main building, then picked the secondary locks on the secure part of the Asylum, disabled the alarms and gained entry.  They then did not steal any of the expensive equipment that’s all over the place, but just switched off one power socket before resetting the alarms, re locking the doors, and leaving.