Friday the 13th is traditionally associated with bad luck—a day to stay home and a number to avoid. But this Friday, let’s take a moment to look back and see whether this notoriously spooky day has also brought about some surprisingly positive events.
- In 1793, Benjamin Franklin wrote to Jean Baptiste, noting that the U.S. Constitution had been completed. He famously remarked: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Who hasn’t used that quote?
- In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Executive Order No. 11246, which prohibited gender discrimination in federal employment—a meaningful step forward in equality.
- Then in 1970, Black Sabbath released their self-titled debut album. According to Rolling Stone magazine, it ranks as the 69th greatest debut album of all time and is widely credited with creating the heavy metal genre.
Still not convinced that Friday the 13th isn’t all bad? Here’s the best part: it’s still a Friday. And according to multiple studies, Friday the 13th isn’t any unluckier than any other day. Psychologists attribute the superstition to selective amnesia: our tendency to remember the events that confirm our beliefs and ignore the ones that don’t.
So this Friday the 13th—and every one to follow—let’s work together to flip the script and turn this traditionally ominous day into a positive one.
————————-
Switching gears… At Thomson Financial Partners, we like to follow the “Visual Capitalist”—a platform known for making complex topics easier to understand. Here are a couple of recent insights worth sharing:
The average human IQ ranges from 90 to 110, with scores above 130 typically considered genius-level. According to a recent report by the Voronoi App, OpenAI’s ChatGPT ranks at the top of the list for AI models by IQ.
Interestingly, DeepSeek—an AI model that created buzz earlier this year for allegedly matching ChatGPT’s capabilities at a fraction of the cost—scored around the same level as the average human. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Copilot ranked below the human average.
While we’re still in the early innings of the AI revolution, it’s comforting to know that humans still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Let’s stay sharp and keep our minds finely tuned.
Visual Capitalist also compared Bitcoin’s market capitalization to the world’s largest companies. As of now, Bitcoin ranks fifth, trailing only Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. Bitcoin Comparison
One of the most striking facts about Bitcoin is that only **21 million** coins will ever be mined. According to BitBo, we’re already close to the finish line, with roughly 19.9 million BTC already mined. At this rate, the remaining coins will be mined in just under seven years.
Let’s put that into perspective: With the world population currently estimated at 8.2 billion, a perfectly equal distribution of all Bitcoin would leave each person with 0.00256 BTC—or about $267 per person at today’s value.
Even if the entire supply were concentrated in the hands of just 1% of the global population, each person in that group would hold the equivalent of $26,712 in Bitcoin.
Despite its value and growing acceptance, it’s hard to imagine Bitcoin becoming a widely used medium of exchange for everyday purchases—simply because so few people have direct access to it. How Many Bitcoin are Left?
It will be fascinating to watch how this story unfolds as the final coins are mined and the future of digital currency continues to evolve.
We wish you a very Happy Friday the 13th!
-ERIC
