44

Agent 44 usually met Maxwell Smart in odd places.

“…this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world…”

+44 is a band formed by two members of Blink-182.

Barack Obama is the 44^th President of the United States.

In baseball, 44 is the retired number for Hank Aaron and Reggie Jackson.

44 is the retired number for football players Floyd Little and Pete Retzlaff.

The international direct dial code for the United Kingdom is 44.

The 44^th state to join the union was Wyoming.

There are 44 candles in a box of Hanukkah candles.

44 is the atomic number for ruthenium.

And today, I'm 44.

Photo of the Day

LA MOLINA, SPAIN - MARCH 19: (FRANCE OUT) Pierre Vaultier (L) of France takes 1st place during the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Men's Snowboardercross on March 19, 2010 in La Molina, Spain. (Photo by Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images)
Content © 2010 Getty Images All rights reserved.
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The NCAA tournament and Ecclesiastes

I was shooting baskets in the driveway when the ball went half way into the hoop and bounced three or four times within the rim before popping out.

That made me wonder about the reliability of preparation, despite my belief that one must always prepare.

It seemed preparation is an essential part of what is necessary to succeed.

Yet only part.

The wise man in Ecclesiastes said “speed does not win the race nor strength the battle…time and chance govern all” (New English Bible).

Time and chance are inevitable factors in the NCAA tournament.

Bet accordingly.