Well, being the math teacher I am, today is pi day. Of course, being a math geek, that means to me that it’s March 14th (or 3.14 to the uninitiated.)
Since I’m up to my ears in school stuff because of today, my post is going to be very very short.
To answer Casey’s post, it is very difficult sometimes for me to find things to write about. At times, I think I’m examining my navel, wondering if anyone cares about the minutia of my life. But from the comments I receive weekly, I think some people do. I have people who come up to talk to me at signings discussing things that I’ve written about. So it’s been a way to tie myself to readers.
I’m currently finishing up Tomb of the Golden Bird, and I have 25 books to read for the Edgar Best Novel contest, so I’ll be posting more about my experiences with that too.
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3:14=pie are squared. But pie are not squared, pie are round….so now what do we do about this???take that Mr Math Geek. (Boy, bet you’ve never heard that one!)
And I’ll have a blue berry pie if that’s OK with you.
Have a good weekend all.
rad
by RAD
on March 14th, 2008 at 6:31 am
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25 books! (and counting, right?) Let us know how many you end up with!
by Judy
on March 14th, 2008 at 7:12 am
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Being an Engineer by degree I’ve taken my fair share of Math. Absolutely hated Calc 2.
I had a blind professor for DiffiQ. He used the CHALK (yes, chalk) boards to go through equations. Since he couldn’t see, it got quite messy up there and many times he didn’t erase everything and wrote over his previous work. On the plus side, he proctered his own tests.
That story is absolutely true. Thinking back on that, this professor had to be a genius to be able to see those complicated formulas in his head and work through them.
By the way Rad, 3.14 = Pi are squared, only if the radius is 1.
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In addition to being Pi Day, today would have been my dad’s 87th birthday. Dad was a Cleveland Police Detective and something of a legend in the department, a tough guy with a heart of gold. Happy birthday, Dad!
by Casey
on March 14th, 2008 at 7:55 am
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I am not a math guy. Got a D in 9th grade algebra.
Once a year, though, I have to become a math guy when I do this marketing report for a consulting firm in NYC. I have to do a lot of percentages, and conversions of metrics into “real” numbers. Thank God there are pocket calculators and free conversion sites on the Internet.
While I know math and science education is important in schools, I think there should be more history and civics and geography, and more art and music. I think we worry too much about turning out good workers rather than good citizens.
When I was in school, most of the social studies teachers were coaches. They were hired to win games, not produce knowledgeable citizens. On game days we’d always see films so the coaches could prepare for what was really impportant. Few math, Science, English or art teachers were coaches. Tel us Jeff, it is still this way?
Having said all that, I do have a favorite equation: Catch 22.
by C.R.
on March 14th, 2008 at 8:14 am
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Hi Jeff,
My son would apparently be a math geek as well, although his degree is in fine arts (music and drama) and he works in computers and writes on the side. Go figure.
Anyway, he arrived at our house on the morning of the 14th looking to see if we had a pie to celebrate “Pi Day.” Since we didn’t have one, he went out and bought one. It was summer harvest - a mix of various fruits and good. Very good.
So, yes, we are one of the few families in the world who celebrates “Pi Day.”
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I’ll have to go get a pie and celebrate with the kids tonight. It’s just the kind of special day a family of geeks like us would make a big deal about.
Thanks for the prompt!!
by Kenna
on March 17th, 2008 at 8:56 am
