saul2600

fair question. indeed, excellent querie. entirely too much in responce follows:

Sunday night, june 29.
(cue spooky d'n'b music, as in "pi")

Symmetry.
pick any number from 1 -> 1,000
let's say, 12.

reverse the digits, then add it to the original number:
12+21 = 33.
palindrome.

try another number: 118
118+811 = 929
ok... another: 217.
217+712 = 929
and another: 516
516+615 = 1131 (not quite a palindrome... so, let's reiterate)
1131+1311 = 2442 , another palindrome.

very few numbers below 100,000 break this symmetry.

hypothesis: numbers are the descriptive poetry of nature. numbers and thier complements create an aesthetically pure, symmetrical unity. order within the disorder.

an infinite number of things at which to marvel.

that could be the root of my waxing cognitive. 'tis healthier to ruminate on such subjects as consciousness, philology or mathematics than to feel the aloneness of the night.

[Edited on Jun 30, 2003]

thanks for the kind words sir, but where have you been, we've missed you?