In which we explore six crazy developments surrounding this week’s eerie numerological occurrence; the moment when the six elevens align at the eleventh second of the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of this year of our Lord 2011.1. Wounded by lukewarm reactions to the iPhone 4S, Apple are set to hit back with the launch of a special Spinal Tap branded iPod. Sneak peeks suggest the volume limiter function has been replaced with a touchscreen dial that goes all the way up to 11.2. After a World Cup dominated by defensive lines, and with a view to increasing participation among Asian nations, rugby’s governing body, the IRB, has fast-tracked some controversial rule changes. Forward passes are in, handling the ball is out. Gone are the vertical goal posts and fifteen man-monster teams. Instead 11 skinnier players will be looking to retain possession with their feet of a smaller, rounder ball.3. The longstanding British tradition of late-morning tea and scones known as Elevenses is finally being launched in Singapore. Advance word has it that it will be rebranded as Hourlies. Insiders say the PR team will have their work cut out for them trying to persuade people here that constant grazing is something new.4. Putting to rest years of rumor and conspiracy theories surrounding the epochal Apollo 11 mission, former astronaut Buzz Aldrin has come forward and admitted that the whole thing was a set up. While he and fellow crewmember Neil Armstrong did indeed visit the moon, Aldrin now concedes that the mission was funded not by NASA but by a young Michael Bay, who wanted authentic footage for the next forty-six installments of his childhood-memory-crushing Transformers franchise.5. Also in the world of movies, George Clooney is apparently planning a reboot of his Ocean’s 11 series. To save on costs—and shared limelight—the new film will feature 11 digital versions of the man the gossip rags are now calling George Cloney.6. Shoppers at MBS reacted angrily to the news that Tag Heuer and Patek Philippe have announced they will do away with the number 11 on their new timepieces. Spokespeople say it’s due to the number of extremely poor decisions that are still made at the Eleventh Hour.
