This entry marks my 50th blog entry.  I haven’t made the time to do some introspective, wildly amusing piece, but I do have a list of 50 about 50, that I have managed to collect from various and sundry sources.  I suppose a bit of rambling and intelligentia are suited for this momentous occasion.  So have at it my trusty few:

 

 

 

1.  Me
2. 50 is the smallest number that can be written as the sum of two squares, in two ways
3. The atomic number of Tin
4. In Kabbalah, there are 50 gates of Wisdom (or Understanding and 50 gate of Impurity
5. In millimeters, 50 is the focal length of the normal lens in 35mm photography
6. In Bingo, ball number 50 is called blind 50 or half of a century
7. 50 is the score in the center of a dartboard (the bullseye)
8. A mother hen turns her egg approximately 50 times a day.
9. Taipan snakes have 50 times more venom than a cobra.
10. The median number of text messages teenagers sent in 2010 was 50.
11. The 25th even number is 50.
12. In Greek, Pentecost means 50th.  Pentecost is a Jewish summer holiday celebrated on the 50th day after Pesach.
13. The Roman numeral for 50 is L.
14. The moon is 50 times smaller than the Earth.
15. 50-move rule in chess:  if there have been 50 consecutive moves of white and black chess pieces without any piece taken or any pawn moved then a player can claim a draw.
16. The premium for using all 7 letters in a game of Scrabble is 50.
17. The critical speed in the movie “Speed” is 50mph.
18. The ISO country code for Bangladesh is 050.
19. The purpose of the number 50 is to promote fusion between body and soul, mind and spirit. (Numerology)
20. 50 is the cardinal number equal to 5 x 10.
21. Another name for the 50 dollar bill.
22. Emory University in Atlanta, GA is listed as the 50th best college (www.thebestcolleges.org)
23. Project 50 – 50 days, 50 photos with a 50mm lens (http://fiftyoffifty.co.uk)
24. 50 in 50: Fifty stories for fifty years!,  Harry Harrison
25. “Fifty/Fifty” (1992), directed by Charles Martin Smith
26. The age one is eligible for AARP membership.
27. Ongoing project:  http://fiftypeopleonequestion.com/
28. 1861: Three year $50 interest bearing notes issued that paid a cent of interest a day 7.3% (seven-thirties)
29. Fifty Hats that Changed the World, (review – http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/)
30. Song: “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”, Paul Simon
31. Movie: “50 First Dates”, (cute for an Adam Sandler vehicle)
32. 50 United States of America
33. 50 Chapters in the book of Genesis
34. Its the 50th anniversary of human spaceflight.
35. Its the 50th anniversary of the Bay of Pigs.
36. Europe has approximately 50 states.
37. The Peace Corps is 50 this year.
38. Its the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first performance at the Cavern Club.
39. Six Flags Over Georgia is 50 this year.
40. Asia has 50 countries. (Thank you Yoda.)
41. The Volvo P1800 is 50 this year.
42. The 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.
43. A volcano has enough power to shoot ash as high as 50 km high.
44. The 50th anniversary of Penguin Classics
45. The 50th anniversary of Radio Nord
46. The 50th anniversary of Dr. Who
47. The 50th anniversary of Ezra Jack Keats’ “Snowy Day”
48. “Throw Out 50 Things”, Gail Blanke
49. Cai Lun, Chinese inventor of paper & papermaking process was born in 50CE.
50. 50th anniversary of the Berlin Wall being built