Some folk over in GQ are talking about PSAT scores (for those not in US, a sort of practice test high school students take before one of the two major college boards).
Got me thinking how weird it is that despite me rather faulty 42-year-old memory, I can remember such stuff as my scores on the PSAT and ACT, but not on the more recent LSAT or bar exams. Heck, I couldn’t even tell you exactly what my annual salary is, tho I know where I could easily find it.
Or I can remember my childhood phone number, but sometimes have to think a moment before being certain about my current one.
Wondering what obscure, remote, and irrelevant numbers are permanently imprinted on your brain, apparently taking up room that could be used to store more important stuff.
No number imprints itself on my memory long, unfortunately–except for some reason I do remember my SAT scores, which I am not going to share.
However I wanted to mention that (although I can’t remember the title of course), there’s a very funny essay by James Thurber about how all his old phone numbers are stuck in his head forever. He had whole little stories for mnemonics, about civil war battle on certain dates, with a certain number of men being moved to the front (i.e. that number came before the number of the date), etc.
That’s nothing. 
I know my car’s VIN, the serial number on my dishwasher (which recently broke), my old Win98 activation code, numerous phone numbers, lots of birthdays, license plates to every car my family had while growing up, and lots of other misc. numbers.
I don’t actively try to remember all these, they just somehow stick with me.
I can remember most numbers I’ve seen written down. I mentally turn pages in my address book and can often read 'em right off the grey matter.
Same with license plates and house addresses. Might have to try and tackle the first 100 digits in pi sometime.
I like pi.
Mmm Pi