By the Numbers: April 2013

This month we focus on the future of Austin as well as some foolish endeavors and predictions from the past. We also throw in a couple of fools whom we all know and love.
 

345

Pages in the “Imagine Austin” plan booklet—the city’s design for the future of Austin’s economy, social scene, and much more
 

389

Year, BCE, that the Romans believed the world was going to end
 

2039

Year of Austin’s 200th anniversary
 

750

Number of people in thousands expected to be added to Austin’s population by 2039
 

6.9

Billions of dollars recommended to be contributed to the 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, which would improve/add highways, pedestrian trails and walkways, and public transportation
 

1951

Year “I Love Lucy” premiered, giving a platform to characters who would become some of America’s most memorable (and loveable) fools
 

110

Number of entries on Wikipedia for past apocalyptic predictions that didn’t come true
 

21

Date in December 2012 on which the Mayan calendar—but not the world—ended
 

$500,000

Dollars most recently paid for “The Fool,” a Gibson guitar originally designed for Eric Clapton
 

250

Total customers who purchased Kardashian Prepaid Debit Kards before they were cancelled due to public lack of reception
 

46

Days the teen site Kibu.com existed before going out of business
 

$400

Millions spent on the Freestyle Music Park, a rock-themed amusement park in Myrtle Beach that closed within two years of opening its gates
 

7

Thousands of firefighters involved in FOOLS, a professional fraternal brotherhood organization