That's right! Today is "Pi Day", which only comes around once a year.
If we all remember our math lessons from years past, you should remember this, more or less:
π= 3.141592653...
It goes on forever. it is one of those strange ironies. An important number in mathematics, but there is no rationality to it.
Today is March 14, 2015, which means that it is 3/14/15. Put another way, you can say that it was 3.1415, and at 9:26 and 53 seconds, we could say that we were precisely at Pi time!
I got to spend some time with my son, and tried to explain to him a bit about "Pi Day", and how this only happens once every one hundred years. After misunderstanding what I said initially (he naturally thought I meant the kind of "pie" that you eat), he actually took some interest in "Pi Day", and we had a miniature countdown until we reached precise "Pi time", if you will.
Just an interesting little note.
Also, today happens to be...
The Birthday of Albert Einstein
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
~ Albert Einstein
Given the mathematical significance of this day, it seems fitting that it should also be the birthday of a true genius like Albert Einstein.
I will not pretend to be smart enough to understand the actual physics, science, and mathematics behind the wok that he did. And although I certainly know, as everyone else does thanks to Einstein, that E=MC2, I could not begin to explain to you what that actually means, and how it actually works, in any intelligent or capable manner.
However, it is always fascinating to look into the mind of such a man, which we can do when reading about him, or studying him. I read a book about him some years ago, and have read some quotes from him as well.
So, I thought it would be a good idea to add a few good quotes, as well as attach an article about Einstein from Bill Moyers website, which is about the mix between science and faith. It is fascinating to speculate on what Einstein would have had to say on the subject. I am reading a book (have been reading it for some time, admittedly, although it is very think) called "On God", where many of the great thinkers from the last half of the 20th century discuss faith and God, and I believe there is some material and quotes from Einstein in there that I was impressed by. This article should also shed some light on what Einstein had to say about it, and so it comes highly recommended!
Enjoy the article, and try to appreciate that, for the only time on our lives, today is "Pi Day"!
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science."
~ Albert Einstein
"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius --- and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
~ Albert Einstein
"Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding."
~ Albert Einstein
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."
~ Albert Einstein
Conversations on the Intersection Between Faith and Science January 17, 2014 by Trent Gilliss
Also, I thought it would be a good idea to add the link to one of my favorite radio shows, On Being, and particularly the episode that they had specifically about Einstein's faith. FREEMAN DYSON AND PAUL DAVIES — Einstein's God from the February 25, 2010 On Being show (it may actually have still been called Speaking of Faith at that point). It also seemed like a good idea to add the link for the transcripts as well, which can be found at the very bottom. Enjoy!
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