October 2, 2001

9:15 AM

10/02/2001. Is today the first palandrome since December 31, 1321? What is your favorite palandrome?
posted by Umpqua (73 comments total)

Able was i ere i saw Elba.
posted by heather at 9:19 AM on October 2, 2001

D-oh! Sorry for the misspelling.
It is obviously palindrome.
posted by Umpqua at 9:19 AM on October 2, 2001

Go hang a salami. I'm a lasagna hog.
posted by Aaaugh! at 9:22 AM on October 2, 2001

...unless you live anywhere but the United States, in which case the last palandrome date was February 10, 2001 (10/02/2001).
posted by joemaller at 9:23 AM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

Rubidium Bromide.
posted by iceberg273 at 9:23 AM on October 2, 2001

this reminds me of a They Might Be Giants song, titled i palindrome i.

see the springs of the grandfather clock
unwinding
see the hands of my offspring
making windmills

dad palindrome dad
i palindrome i
i palindrome i
i palindrome i
i palindrome i

and i am a snake head eating
the head on the opposite side
i palindrome i
posted by moz at 9:23 AM on October 2, 2001

"Madam, I'm Adam." Because that's my name, maam.

Actually, I always liked "are we not drawn onward, we few, drawn onward to new era?" because it almost sounds like a complete sentence.

A couple other good ones:

Lager, Sir, is regal.
"Reviled did I live," said I, "as evil I did deliver."
posted by Hildago at 9:29 AM on October 2, 2001

you beat me to it moz.

Madam I'm adam.
posted by eyeballkid at 9:31 AM on October 2, 2001

...satan oscillate my metallic sonatas...
posted by swift at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2001

A man, a plan, a caret, a ban, a myriad, a sum, a lac, a liar, a hoop, a pint, a catalpa, a gas, an oil, a bird, a yell, a vat, a caw, a pax, a wag, a tax, a nay, a ram, a cap, a yam, a gay, a tsar, a wall, a car, a luger, a ward, a bin, a woman, a vassal, a wolf, a tuna, a nit, a pall, a fret, a watt, a bay, a daub, a tan, a cab, a datum, a gall, a hat, a fag, a zap, a say, a jaw, a lay, a wet, a gallop, a tug, a trot, a trap, a tram, a torr, a caper, a top, a tonk, a toll, a ball, a fair, a sax, a minim, a tenor, a bass, a passer, a capital, a rut, an amen, a ted, a cabal, a tang, a sun, an ass, a maw, a sag, a jam, a dam, a sub, a salt, an axon, a sail, an ad, a wadi, a radian, a room, a rood, a rip, a tad, a pariah, a revel, a reel, a reed, a pool, a plug, a pin, a peek, a parabola, a dog, a pat, a cud, a nu, a fan, a pal, a rum, a nod, an eta, a lag, an eel, a batik, a mug, a mot, a nap, a maxim, a mood, a leek, a grub, a gob, a gel, a drab, a citadel, a total, a cedar, a tap, a gag, a rat, a manor, a bar, a gal, a cola, a pap, a yaw, a tab, a raj, a gab, a nag, a pagan, a bag, a jar, a bat, a way, a papa, a local, a gar, a baron, a mat, a rag, a gap, a tar, a decal, a tot, a led, a tic, a bard, a leg, a bog, a burg, a keel, a doom, a mix, a map, an atom, a gum, a kit, a baleen, a gala, a ten, a don, a mural, a pan, a faun, a ducat, a pagoda, a lob, a rap, a keep, a nip, a gulp, a loop, a deer, a leer, a lever, a hair, a pad, a tapir, a door, a moor, an aid, a raid, a wad, an alias, an ox, an atlas, a bus, a madam, a jag, a saw, a mass, an anus, a gnat, a lab, a cadet, an em, a natural, a tip, a caress, a pass, a baronet, a minimax, a sari, a fall, a ballot, a knot, a pot, a rep, a carrot, a mart, a part, a tort, a gut, a poll, a gateway, a law, a jay, a sap, a zag, a fat, a hall, a gamut, a dab, a can, a tabu, a day, a batt, a waterfall, a patina, a nut, a flow, a lass, a van, a mow, a nib, a draw, a regular, a call, a war, a stay, a gam, a yap, a cam, a ray, an ax, a tag, a wax, a paw, a cat, a valley, a drib, a lion, a saga, a plat, a catnip, a pooh, a rail, a calamus, a dairyman, a bater, a canal - Panama!
posted by waxpancake at 9:34 AM on October 2, 2001 [4 favorites]

"Son, I am able," she said, "though you scare me." "Watch," said I, "beloved." I said, "Watch me scare you though." Said she, "Able am I, son."
posted by sudama at 9:35 AM on October 2, 2001

It's only a palindrome if you write it with American notation. In the international notation, the big day was last February 10th.

And if you use the Islamic, Jewish, Chinese, or any number of non-Christian calendars, it's just another day.
posted by crunchland at 9:35 AM on October 2, 2001

Actually, if you use an abbreviated date form, yesterday was also a palindrome: 10/1/01
posted by starvingartist at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2001

racecar
posted by Snotty at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2001

Starving Artist -
Yeah - but it is not Y2K compliant.
posted by Umpqua at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2001

My favorite: Rettebs iflahd noces, eh? Ttu, but the second half is better.
posted by moss at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2001

A Santa at NASA!
posted by Hankins at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2001

There are campfire legends that the plainsmen spin
of a man who was nothing like Paladin.
Couldn't ride, couldn't shoot, but he won his fame
'cause every thing he said said backwards (backwards... backwards...)
was the same.

Palindrome, Palindrome, what's in a name
Palindrome, palindrome, backwards the same

From Riders in the Sky's Ballad of Palindrome (Self-link to pirated MP3... if you like what you hear, buy it.)
posted by ewagoner at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2001

did
posted by monkeyJuice at 9:52 AM on October 2, 2001

A variant on the one two of us have already posted:

The first introduction

Adam: Madam, in Eden, I'm Adam.

Eve: Eve.
posted by dfowler at 9:52 AM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

How about the Python dead parrot sketch:

Cleese: I understand that this is Bolton.
Palin: Yeah.
Cleese: Well, You told me it was Ipswich.
Palin: It was a pun.
Cleese: A pun?
Palin: No, no, not a pun. No, what's the other thing where it reads the same backwards as forwards.
Cleese: A palindrome?
Palin: Yeah, yeah.
Cleese: That's not a palindrome. A palindrome of Bolton would be Notlob. It don't work
posted by scottfree at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2001

Sit on a potato pan, Otis.

Pretty innocuous for most civilians, but if your name is Otis, man, you're fucked!
posted by Skot at 9:57 AM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

Roy

am I mayor?
posted by brucec at 10:17 AM on October 2, 2001

2112! lml
posted by Vek at 10:19 AM on October 2, 2001

radar
posted by Lynsey at 10:24 AM on October 2, 2001

a man. a plan. a canal. panama!
posted by kittyb at 10:36 AM on October 2, 2001

"O Memsahib, Bart. Rabbi has memo."

Episode 2!
posted by winterdrm at 10:42 AM on October 2, 2001

Too fat a foot!

No melons, no lemon.
posted by mkn at 10:42 AM on October 2, 2001

Rise to vote, sir.

(Comic Book Guy says this at the Springfield MENSA meeting. He doesn't even realize it's a palindrome.)
posted by bdk3clash at 10:49 AM on October 2, 2001

Hmm, at about 1:50 EST today there were 12221
metafilter members, unless unemployment is getting to Matt already (-:
posted by alana at 10:51 AM on October 2, 2001

Egad, a base tone denotes a bad age.
posted by stopgap at 11:01 AM on October 2, 2001

on a clover, if alive, erupts a vast, pure evil: a fire volcano.
posted by rabi at 11:02 AM on October 2, 2001

Senile felines.
posted by woodge at 11:05 AM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

strap on, no parts!
posted by kliuless at 11:14 AM on October 2, 2001

Yo, banana boy!
posted by Mrmuhnrmuh at 11:20 AM on October 2, 2001

I can't believe that no one yet has pointed out that there have been palindrome dates before... I specifically remember going to a "Palindrome date" party as a youngin' -- I think it was in 1991? Can anyone figure out what date that would have been?
posted by tweebiscuit at 11:30 AM on October 2, 2001

Hands down, the best palindrome of all time is:

Kay, a red nude, peeped under a yak.
posted by varmint at 11:38 AM on October 2, 2001

redivider is the longest palindromic word in english.
posted by jessamyn at 11:46 AM on October 2, 2001

No, the best palindrome is "Rats drown in WordStar."

I'm also fond of "A fool, a tool, a pool -- loopalootaloofa!"
posted by kindall at 11:47 AM on October 2, 2001

An often-overlooked historical palindrome comes to us from the Revolutionary Era:

Ben Franklin: "Nilk narf neb!"
posted by Skot at 11:51 AM on October 2, 2001

favorite palindrome: bob

(naturally)

The only palindromes in 1991 would be:
19-9-1991 (4 digit year, non-american, semi-abbreviated notation),
19-n-91 (where 0 <n<10 or n=11, also non-american, semi-abbreviated notation),
1-9-91 (works for either jan 9th or sept 1st, depending on where you live).

I think that's it. Just goes to show that palindrome dates are pretty numerous (pardon the pun) depending on where you live and how you abbreviate your dates. That said, non-abbreviated, american style dates are few and far between.
posted by the bob at 11:53 AM on October 2, 2001

Yesterday was binary day: 100101

Wednesday next week will be 101001
posted by NortonDC at 12:05 PM on October 2, 2001

Thursday next week will also be binary: 101101. It's also my birthday. November also has three binary days in it, again the first, tenth, and eleventh.
posted by kindall at 12:33 PM on October 2, 2001

And then no more 'til 2010.
posted by NortonDC at 12:36 PM on October 2, 2001

Go hang a salami, Doc. Note, I dissent! A fast never prevents a fatness. I diet on cod. I'm a lasagna hog.
posted by bondcliff at 12:55 PM on October 2, 2001

Gotta say, I'm a big fan of palindromes. My entire career, marriage and life might all be very different if not for palindromes. I'll have to tell you about it sometime, say January 2, 2010.

Most recent palindromic date I can think of is a bit later than December 31, 1321. I think the last was August 31, 1390.
posted by etc. at 1:08 PM on October 2, 2001 [4 favorites]

Sorry, make that 1380.
posted by etc. at 1:13 PM on October 2, 2001

I can't believe that no one yet has pointed out that there have been palindrome dates before... I specifically remember going to a "Palindrome date" party as a youngin' -- I think it was in 1991? Can anyone figure out what date that would have been?

11/11/1991.
posted by iamjacksamnesia at 1:41 PM on October 2, 2001

i'm on drugs.

ignore me.
posted by iamjacksamnesia at 1:49 PM on October 2, 2001

This is my favorite palindrome prime number:

1023456987896543201
posted by Alison at 1:56 PM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

On the only CD I've played on (so far) -- Momentary Musicalistic Interactions, by Jeff Shaw and Pascacci -- Track 7 is titled oozy rat in a sanitary zoo.
posted by LeLiLo at 2:02 PM on October 2, 2001

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones have a song called Ufo Tofu, and not only is the title a palindrome, the music itself is palindromal(palindromatic?) in form.
very unique song.

of course, very unique band, as well.
posted by iamjacksamnesia at 2:27 PM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

Vek - where'd you learn lml?

proud to be getting the palindromic diploma next year. too bad graduation isn't on the 10th of january.
posted by phoenix enflamed at 2:51 PM on October 2, 2001

Check out the band Riders in the sky for another great palindrome song: "The Ballad of Palindrome"
posted by sdinan at 3:04 PM on October 2, 2001

Phoenix - I didn't learn it (although I'm sure it's not original), I was just looking for a way to "type" the metal fingers. Check this guy out (from my buddies, Land of the El Caminos, last tour)
posted by Vek at 3:25 PM on October 2, 2001

hold up.. was i the only one who saw waxpancake's post?!?!?!?
posted by lotsofno at 4:05 PM on October 2, 2001

Since I’m a web designer for the Auto industry:
* A TOYOTA
* CIVIC
posted by Davezilla at 4:10 PM on October 2, 2001

My birthday in Paramus: 3663 (but not Paris: 6363)
posted by ParisParamus at 4:12 PM on October 2, 2001

Lotsofno: That one was written in 1984 by Dan Hoey. Or rather, the computer program Dan Hoey wrote to make it. I have a page about it on my web site, but modesty forbids.
posted by Hildago at 4:19 PM on October 2, 2001

Did Hannah say as Hannah did?
posted by aprilgem at 4:43 PM on October 2, 2001

What does this say about us metafiterians that these palindromic noodlings seem to be the most popular thread recently?

Not a criticism; maybe a compliment; just asking.
posted by kozad at 5:52 PM on October 2, 2001

What does this say about us metafiterians that these palindromic noodlings seem to be the most popular thread recently?

It means every 20 serious posts needs a pancake post. These are rough times.
posted by ParisParamus at 6:03 PM on October 2, 2001

rats live on no evil star
posted by rowell at 6:15 PM on October 2, 2001 [1 favorite]

Egad! A bad note denotes a bad age.

...also from the TMBG song "I Palidrome I"

But the next palidromic date would be Feb. 20, 2002, in Europe:

20/02/2002

...and that's the last one, for a while.

Tons o' snot!
posted by Down10 at 6:59 PM on October 2, 2001

EEEEEEEE
posted by ParisParamus at 7:18 PM on October 2, 2001

In Japanese, "tomato" is a palindrome.

But that`s not nearly as entertaining as Moss`s palindrome.
posted by chiheisen at 8:04 PM on October 2, 2001

The Grateful Dead had a palindromic album (which is incidentally one of my favorites) called "AoxomoxoA".

Oddly enough the last time I listened to it I could have sworn that the album sounded the same backwards as forwards, but then it might have been "just me" :-)
posted by clevershark at 9:03 PM on October 2, 2001

Why what a uniquely peculiar name you have, Mr. Evahuoyemanrailucepyleuqinuatahwyhw!
posted by juv3nal at 9:54 PM on October 2, 2001

doh! missed an 'm'
posted by juv3nal at 9:57 PM on October 2, 2001

Oh, cameras are macho!
Stop, spiders redip spots.
Flee to vote elf.
posted by Nothing at 10:14 PM on October 2, 2001

Step on no pets.
(Alternatively, stop on no pots ... )
posted by marq at 4:53 AM on October 3, 2001

Using abbreviated dates the twentieth of every month (except October and December) next year and the thirtieth in 2003(except Feb(duh!), Oct. and Dec.) will be a palindrome (i.e. 20/5/02, 30/11/03).
If single digit months are written with two digits, then 30/02/2003 (international) would be palindromic as well- if only February had 30 days!!!
posted by talos at 6:13 AM on October 3, 2001

Keanu's favorite:

Dood...!

posted by mirla at 11:41 PM on October 3, 2001