Today is Friday the 13th, which means it’s either a day of good luck or bad luck, depending on how you look at it. Yes, it’s associated with bad luck, but according to various web sites I found during a short Google-fueled research session, some research shows there are fewer car accidents (and other accidents) on Friday the 13th than other days because some people are so superstitious about the date that they avoid driving (or taking part in other potentially dangerous activities). So there you have it.

A number of semi-significant historical events have occurred on Friday the 13th, including the release of several Friday the 13th movies. Also, the following events also happened this day in history (though not necessarily on a Friday).

In 1781, the planet Uranus was discovered.

In 1854, Uncle Sam made his debut, in cartoon form.

In 1906, Susan B. Anthony died at the age of 86.

In 1911, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard was born in Tilden, Neb. Another interesting fact about L. Ron Hubbard: He was reportedly the youngest Eagle Scout in the United States – a distinction he achieved at the age of 13.

For more on this day in history, visit the New York Times or History Channel lists.

In the meantime, I suggest you celebrate this Friday the 13th by not driving and instead staying home and reading. And what better genre to read on a day traditionally associated with superstition than science fiction? The Man with the Strange Head, published in 2008 by the University of Nebraska Press, is a collection of early science fiction stories by Miles J. Breuer, and it’s sufficiently weird to make you think twice about walking under any ladders or opening your umbrella inside today. Enjoy, and have a great weekend.