# The 17/23 correlation
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [December 17, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017 "2000-12-17T14:32:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2000, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/1 "2000-12-17T14:32:02Z")
[Is the Trilateral Commission the secret organization that runs the world?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_295.html) and (sort of)[What’s the origin of miles and yards?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_024.html)
Cecil seems stumped by “the 17/23 correlation” that some guy wrote in regards to the Illuminati.
I was just playing _Deus Ex_ on the computer (as could be extracted from the title, it doesn’t take itself too seriously), and at one point (after blowing up a lab which contains MIB, greys, nanotech, and Universal Constructors. And you get there in a black helicopter. After FEMA took over the US. I think you get the idea…) this guy tells you that a molecule of data you just sent him mentions that only the Illuminati (yup, you meet them later…) use things like that. He says the molecular structure has 17 segments and 23 coupling points and that it has sleeve bearings with 34 and 46 fold symmetry, multiples of 17 and 23.
Finally, he gets to the interesting bit: The point. Apparently 1723 was the birth of Adam Weishaupt.
Whoever the hell he was. Any ideas? An in-joke?
Yes, I understand this is kind of a hybrid comment/general question, so if Arnie or another mod/admin cares to move it, that would be fine.
PS. Preview, my friend, doesn’t appear to show the first column I’m referring to. I’m hoping for the best…
(edited by moderator to fix links)
[Edited by Arnold Winkelried on 12-19-2000 at 01:12 PM]
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### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2000, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/2 "2000-12-17T14:33:45Z")
Preview was right. Insert this above the above post:
[Is the Trilateral Commission the secret organization that runs the world?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_295.html) and (sort of)
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### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2000, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/3 "2000-12-17T14:41:52Z")
It seems Cecil had half the answer: [This](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_043.html) column says Mr Weishaupt founded the Illuminati. To be expected, I guess.
[But wait, there’s more…](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_340.html). In this column mentions the 5 dollar bill has “3172” on it. Rearranged, you get, of course, 1723… (threatening music). It appears Cecil had some idea of the 17/23 correlation here… or did he? Is this just another Illuminati plot? 🙂
(edited by moderator to fix links)
[Edited by Arnold Winkelried on 12-19-2000 at 01:14 PM]
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### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2000, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/4 "2000-12-17T14:44:01Z")
This board **really** doesn’t like me… insert this above the above post…
It seems Cecil had half the answer: [This](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_043.html) column says Mr Weishaupt founded the Illuminati. To be expected, I guess.
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### Author:  [@fenrir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fenrir)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2000, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/5 "2000-12-17T18:21:31Z")
Actually the birth date of Adam Weishaupt was 1748, d. 1811
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### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/6 "2000-12-18T03:30:42Z")
Damn. There goes my connection. _sniff_.
The game must have got it wrong…
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### Author:  [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2000, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/7 "2000-12-19T02:50:15Z")
Adam Weishaupt was the leader of the Bavarian Illuminati in the 18th century.
For maximal humor, read **Illuminatus!** , a “trilogy” by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. You’ll see why 17 and 23 are important, and why George Washington was really Adam Weishaupt.
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### Author:  [@MattTheCroc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MattTheCroc)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2000, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-17-23-correlation/46017/8 "2000-12-20T09:51:34Z")
Doubt my library will have it. I mean, they only had _1_ Heinlein book!!!
Libraries are too full of that “meaningful” stuff these days…
But I’ll check it out, anyway…