The date is rare, in case you care

Number nerds somewhere likely were rejoicing at 4 a.m.

Or 4:05 a.m. to be more specific -- six seconds after, to take it a step further.

At that specific moment, it would have been 04:05:06 on 07/08/09, an anomaly that will not occur again for another century.

"The day is very much about money, power and fame. That's the true significance," said Barbara Evans, an intuitive counselor with a knowledge of numerology who works at the Aquarian Bookshop in Carytown.

Does that make it a good day to play the lottery?

"I like to think every day is a good day to play the lottery," she said.

John Hagerty, a spokesman with the Virginia Lottery, agreed. But he said 7-8-9 for today's Pick 3 is only the 11th most popular combination. He noted that "most people tend to pick numbers the day of."

And just think, you'll have next year's 05:06:07 on 08/09/10 to do the whole thing over again.

Brittany Boswell of Richmond is to be induced to give birth today at 5:30 a.m. "My doctor actually picked the date," she said. "I just hope I have her before midnight so she can keep the neat date," she said of the daughter she is expecting.

If all that is not sufficient to blow your mind, know this: Kevin Bacon turns 51 today.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .