Happy Pi Day 3.14

Posted on March 13, 2022 by vanbraman

March 14 is Pi Day. The day that we celebrate Pi by eating Pie, or maybe just thinking about math and science.

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie - Pi Day - March 14 - 3.14 - Nerd holidaysLong ago I shared pictures of pie in my post Happy Pi Day. Here is one of the pictures I used and it is of my favorite type of pie. You will have to click on the link to find out what type it is ๐Ÿ™‚

ฯ€ = 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510

5820974944592307816406286208998628034825342117068โ€ฆ.

Back in 2015 I wrote about a special Pi Day as we could align more digits than normal.

The moment of Pi: 3.141592653 = 3/14/15 9:26.53

Some people look back to 1592 and claim that it is the ultimate Pi Day. However, there are a few problems with this. The Month/Day/Year format was not used at that time, and quite frankly no one knew Pi as Pi.

The use of the symbol ฯ€ was not used until the early 1700’s. Before this time the letters c or p were used in equations to denote the value for circumference or periphery. Of course ฯ€ is the first letter of periphery so most likely this is why it was chosen by William Jones and then used by other mathematicians.

Einstein House, Princeton, New Jersey, Pi Day, March 14, Einstein's BirthdayThere is another reason why I remember Pi Day, and it also has to do with Science and Mathematics. March 14 is the birthday of the man who lived in this house at 112 Mercer Street in Princeton, New Jersey.

Albert Einstein, The World as I See It, Pi Day, March 14Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm, Germany. He emigrated to the US in 1933 and took a position at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton.

Mercer Oak, Princeton Battlefield Park, IQ, Albert EinsteinI took the picture of the Einstein House when I was visiting Princeton years ago. The next picture that I took after the one of Einstein’s house was of the Mercer Oak just down the road in the Princeton Battlefield State Park.

The Mercer Oak was severely damaged in a storm in on March 3, 2000 and had to be completely removed. A sapling grown from an acorn from the Mercer Oak was planted in the same place.

The picture above is one of the last pictures taken of the tree. I just looked at the date stamp on the picture and found that I took it on February 27, 2000.

Of course this tree makes me think of the movie IQ.

Meg Ryan, Albert Einstein, Tim Robbins, Walter Matthau, Pi DayThis is one of my favorite movies. I may have to watch it tomorrow to celebrate Einstein’s birthday.

One of the scenes in the movie features the Princeton Battlefield Park and the Mercer Oak.

I like IQ for several reasons. One is that it is about Einstein and has a good story line. However, the main reason is that it stars Meg Ryan who is one of my favorite actresses.

Have some pie to celebrate Pi Day and Einstein’s Birthday tomorrow!

Steven

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Savings or Saving?

Posted on March 12, 2022 by vanbraman

Tomorrow most of us here in the United States will set our clocks forward one hour. Actually, most of us will probably set them forward tonight in readiness for tomorrow. I have only a few clocks that I have to change as most of mine change automatically.

Shangai Customs House - Bund - Daylight Saving Time - Shanghai, ChinaI will share pictures ofย  a few clocks to illustrate this post. Here is the clock tower of the Shanghai Custom House.

The title of my post asks the question: Savings or Saving?

Is it Daylight Savings Time or Daylight Saving Time? Do you know which one is the official designation? I have four calendars here at home and two of them have savings and two have saving.

All of the legislation dealing with Time Zones uses the term Daylight Saving Time, so that should give you your answer ๐Ÿ™‚

Big Ben - Elizabeth Tower - Clock Tower - Most Photographed Clock - London, England - Iconic ClockDaylight Saving Time was first used in 1916 by Germany during World War I. The practice soon spread to Britain and other European countries. In 1918 the Standard Time Act established standard Time Zones and also Daylight Saving Time in the United States.

The Daylight Saving Time provision was repealed after the war, but was again instituted during World War II. After the war the provision was again dropped. However, some states continued to practice Daylight Saving Time in the summer and the decision of when to change time was not always the same.

Eastgate Clock - Chester, England - 2nd most photographed Clock - Clock Tower on BridgeOf course, you probably recognize the clock tower in the second picture. Click on Photogenic Clocks to find out more about this clock in the third picture that is also in England.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized the practice of Daylight Saving Time in the United States.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 included the latest change to Daylight Saving Time. Starting in 2007 the time change dates were changed so that we have DST for more of the year.

Westin Prince Toronto Canada - Flower Clock - Fall Colors - Floral ClockHere is another clock that is from a little bit later in the year than the time change. This is the flower clock that is in front of the Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto.

Make sure that you don’t forget about the time change!

You don’t want to be late for church in the morning.

Steven

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