So, yesterday when I posted I failed to mention that it was Pi day. Pi is the Greek letter that is used to represent the mathematical constant which describes the relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. The first 3 numbers of Pi are 3.14, which also represents March 14. The actual Pi number is irrational because it extends endlessly with no repeatable pattern. If you represent Pi as a fraction you get 22/7. If you use a calculator to divide 22 by 7 you get 3.1428571429. It stops there because the calculator won’t calculate beyond 10 decimal points. So, if you think about it there is no actual number that represents the exact relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter. As a practical matter, though, as I understand it nothing requires accuracy beyond about 40 decimal points. And, having said that, it should also be pointed out that what I understand about it is just about nothing. As you may know, mathematics is an invention, by humans and for humans. Cats are not involved unless we get dragged into a thought experiment such as the Schrodinger’s Cat question (see Schrodinger’s Cat, July 7, 2019). It is also a fact that Mike doesn’t understand math either.He says that it is either intuitive or it isn’t. Grandpa Moe took elective math classes at the university for his own amusement, but he didn’t pass along that part of his brain to Mike. It may be just as well. Being an ignoramus in some areas is good for Mike’s humility, to the extent that he does have any.
And, speaking of special days, today is the Ides of March. The term “Ides” refers to a day of the month in the ancient Roman calendar corresponding to about the middle of the month. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in the year 44 BCE. Julius Caesar was a Roman general and politician who transformed the form of government from a republic of sorts to a dictatorship. As such the Roman empire lasted until it finally collapsed in 476 CE. If you want to know about some of the worst brutality and depravity of which humans are capable, read about the Roman empire. Many people say that the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation was the Roman empire.
And now this: On page A21 of today’s Atlanta Journal Constitution there is a remarkable photograph of a line of hikers along a ridge on Mt. Everest. The picture was taken on May 22, 2019. Reading the accompanying story, one becomes aware of how insane the world has become, and the extent to which people will let other people die for the sake of money. I encourage you to look carefully at the photograph, and take note that no cats (or dogs either) are trapped in the queue. Mostly, the four-leggeds have much more sense than the 2-leggeds. It puts the lines at the grocery store and rush on toilet paper (“Interesting Times”, March 14, 2020) in a whole new perspective.
And speaking of cold, harsh conditions, even the Iditerod (“Racing Dogs and Viruses,” March 10, 2020) has now been affected by the corona virus. Officials in Nome are now asking people not to come for the race’s conclusion because of a positive test for the corona virus of a foreign pilot who had flown a cargo plane into Anchorage, went through customs, checked into his hotel, and subsequently reported that he had become ill. The race leaders are within 300 miles or so of Nome, so this isn’t the sort of event that you can cancel in the middle, like a basketball game. If you are interested you can follow the progress of the race on line.
It is a rainy day in Happy Meadows, so I have not been out and about much. Please be well, be sensible, and be safe. Pray for good things, because there is much need. Love to all. Bye, bye!
