It was only recently that many of us put away our Square Root Day decorations. Yet, it is now time to celebrate Pi day in all of its irrational glory. The irrational number is rounded off to 3.14, making March 14th the special day for all math geeks — and circle circumference fanatics.
Many people loath Pi Day due to the pressure of finding that special gift to celebrate the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Most pies are ideal for the parties but stores have destroyed the holiday by making it too commercial. Kids just want to grab their circular gifts without any thought of the true meaning of Pi Day.
This year, Congress voted 391-10 vote to designate today as the official Pi Day for the first time in history. Obviously the anti-Pi lobby was able to snare ten members who continue their anti-circumferencial and anti-Euclidean politics. After all, Indiana once tried to declare Pi as 3.2 in 1897. This was done despite the fact that Pi is actually 3.14159.
The anti-Pi coalition includes Jason Chaffetz (R, Utah), Jeff Flake (R., Az.), Dean Heller (R. Montana), Timothy Johnson (R., Ill.); Jeff Miller (R., Fl.); Randy Neugebauer (R., TX). Ron Paul (R., TX), Ted Poe (R. TX), Bill Shuster (R., Pa.) and Mike Pence (R., Ind.). It is ironic that the opposition is entirely made up of Republicans despite the practical alliance with Clintonian Triangulation politics.
Ron Paul’s work for the anti-Pi forces may be an expression of a libertarian disgust with state-sponsored mathematics.
The stalwart Pi-man is Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash) proudly admits that he is “kind of geeked up about it and that he has “been fascinated by pi since I was a kid. It blows my mind. It’s lovely. The fact that it’s sort of this infinite number. I just think it’s this magical thing. … There’s a real beauty to mathematics.” What is really amazing is that Baird not only was able to get a date in High School but marry a real, non-inflatable woman.
Notably, March 14th is also Albert Einstein — making this day of unspeakable joy for the geek class.
Yet, Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) insists that this was a bait-and switch: “I thought I was voting for p-i-e.”
Pi party animals can be a bit out of control today with Pi eating contests and Pi in the Face attacks. Many can be seen in alleys and science ghettos calculating Pi, which has been calculated to over 1 trillion digits past the decimal. Do not get sucked into such calculations, which have been known to turn math fanatics into virtual calculating vombies. “High on Pi” is a common police call.
“Pi eaters” are often found near libraries and science labs. They should not be approached while calculating.
For eligible men and women, be particularly careful about math geeks inviting you up to “see my Euclidean space.”
For the full story, click here.
But Pi has not departed the building on this 14th day of March, 2009, in the Pacific Daylight Time Zone because we still have 52 precious minutes to continue our celebration out West and I am still preparing to sing “Auld Lang Syne” if I can manage to choke back the tears.
Pi has left the building.
Well Sir, Mespo, I appreciate that comment, especially from such an intelligent, accomplished, and witty man. Furthermore, being surrounded by such astute persons within this blawg—and especially regarding our esteemed host—is bound to elicit, at least occasionally, a somewhat cogent comment from me.
Pardon me?: Thanks for the back and forth on this fun topic and noticing my observation. I am a calligrapher, so I notice scripts and symbolic associations.
Rafflaw’s earlier troll comment was not a reference to you, but rather regarding “rachow’s” junk. That cowardly post was the only one that marred this neat thread.
pardon me:
Well, you know our own FFLeo is a trained observer–and a damn good one.
I can’t get over the anti-pi coalition of republican politicians. How can they deny so many math geeks the pleasure of Pi Day? I guess like everything else that doesn’t profit them directly, they think Pi is pork.
totally cool observation
The Pi symbol is the mirror image initials of Professor JT
Cartman should be the official sponsor of pie day.
The magical mystery pie is coming to take you away,
Coming to take you away.
The magical mystery pie is dying to take you away,
Dying to take you away, take you today …
Bob, Esq.,
In typical lawyering meddlin’ fashion, you done opened up a nerds’ can of worms by your learned investigation. Now there are 2 days that we must urgently petition the U.S. Congress to pass congressional resolutions for: Avogadro/Mole Day and now Square Root Day. I always assumed SQR R Day was a real holiday decreed by a resolution granting National Holiday status. However, only National Pi Day is so decreed. Therefore, Mole Day and Square Root Day are both unofficial holidays and cannot be granted National status without our revered and beloved congresspersons’ resolution.
Since you are an esteemed attorney with judicial clout, I request that you draft up a petition of the Congress to initiate this vitally important legislation. Many of us older folks might not live long enough to be free at last for this grave injustice and our restless souls with forevermore linger within the Avogadrolean/Mole/Square Root Day Purgatories.
Thingum Bob, are you sitting down?
http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/chicken-mole-tostadas-rbk1207
Chicken Mole Tostadas
Nutritional Information
(per serving)
Calories 54
Total Fat 3g
Saturated Fat —
Cholesterol —
Sodium —
Total Carbohydrate 3g
Dietary Fiber —
Sugars —
Protein 3g
Calcium —
Chicken Mole Tostadas
Yields: 48 tostadas
Total Time: 24 min
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 4 min
Ingredients
U.S. Metric Conversion chart
* 1 cup(s) reduced-sodium chicken broth
* 1/3 cup(s) pipiân (pumpkin seed sauce) or mole sauce from Doña Maria Mexican Condiment (8.25-oz jar)
* 3 cup(s) cooked, shredded chicken
* 1/2 cup(s) (plus whole leaves for garnish) chopped cilantro
* 1/4 cup(s) minced red onion
* 3 tablespoon(s) lime juice
* 48 restaurant-style tortilla chips
* Avocado Cream (recipe follows)
Directions
* 1. Whisk broth and pipiân in a small saucepan until blended; heat over medium heat until mixture is hot. Remove from heat.
* 2. Place chicken in a large bowl and toss with pipiân, cilantro, onion, and lime juice.
* 3. Arrange tortilla chips on a platter. Top each chip with 1 tablespoon of the chicken mole and 1/4 teaspoon Avocado Cream. Garnish with a cilantro leaf.
* 4. AVOCADO Cream:
Scoop the flesh of 1 ripe Hass avocado into a small bowl and mash until smooth. Stir in 1 tablespoon each mayonnaise and fresh lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoons each salt and pepper..
And here I was thinking 12/12 (Dec 12) or April 22 in Europe, i.e 22/04 (22.4) might mean something.
Former Federal LEO:
Are you sitting down?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_Day
The ‘problem’ I have is that I think and cook like a chef.
A lot of the stuff I do routinely, at my kitchen counter, is automatic or ‘by feel’. I’m very intuitive and I also know this about myself.
I do use recipes, as a guide, the first time I cook something new, but after that it’s pretty much ‘mine’ – my own interpretation of the dish.
I don’t fly by the seat of my pants, even though I ‘know’ how.
There is usually a strong basis underneath what I do whether it’s within my medical practice, my relationships, my animal’s care, plant care, or in cooking, to name only a few of my passions!
I didn’t learn everything in school. I continue to teach myself a lot while drawing on the knowledge of others. But I’m very choosy about who those people are, especially these days.
I trust Barack Obama and I was not a supporter. I voted for him, but I had to get off some ‘stuff’ to do it.
And I’m not sorry – so far.
Can she make a Mystery pie Billy boy, Billy boy,
Can she make a Mystery pie chamin’ Billy,
Yes, she can bake a Mystery pie without *extract* of vanilli
She’s a young thang that cannot leave her Mother
I forgot the extract!
1/1/2 teastpons of vanilla or
1 teaspoon of almond – which is what I use with the walnuts.
My apologies.
Our beloved ‘DW’ was a pi freak when he was in high school and tried to impress the ladies sweetly with his pi-ness, to little or no avail. Poor DW hardly got a second date in his younger years, to hear him tell it which is still a mystery to me to this day.
In honor of DW I offer one of my favorite pie recipes:
MYSTERY PIE
4 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
20 Ritz crackers, crushed
1 cup nuts, chopped fine
Beat until stiff but not dry. Add sugar. Beat until sugar is dissolved. Add crackers, crushed fine or graham crackers or saltines 1 c., chopped fine. I use walnuts or pecans.
Pour mixture into greased pan, 10 inch glass. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool for 1 to 2 hours. Spread with 4 ounces Cool Whip. Refrigerate until chilled.
Easy error Bob, and we all knew what you meant, but it did open up a thought for my lame joke.
However, what I am outraged about is there is—as yet—no Avogadro Day, of which you speak, to complement National Square Root and Pi Days. I would like to see a drive to get some real *moles* (molars?) elected to Congress to pass an urgent congressional resolution to establish a National Mole Day in honor of Avogadro. Obama should also find time to put this near the top of his agenda.
As a former member of my high school Slide Rule Club (yes, I AM that old) and one who made A grades in college chemistry, I want to see the passage of an National Avogadro/Mole Day resolution before I die.
Sorry
I mean Avogadro.
Gee, I just do not see the craze in Avagadros. The are a yucky green and they taste even yuckier than they look.