It's official! The US House of Representatives has recognised 14 March as Pi Day. Get it? 3/14. The ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter is roughly 3.14...That Pi Day.
My first thought was, "Sweet, another day off from work," until I realised that Pi Day falls on a Saturday this year.
Then I discovered that House Resolution 224 does not create a federal holiday, it merely "supports the designation of a 'Pi Day' and its celebration around the world" and "encourages schools and educators to observe the day with appropriate activities that teach students about Pi and engage them about the study of mathematics."
Unless a committee member snuck in a three-day weekend clause into the bill, like so many earmarks, I'm out of luck.
Even without a day off, the resolution passed overwhelmingly, 391-10. My first question was, who the heck voted against Pi Day? Is there an old-school Pythagorean caucus in Congress that sees numbers that can't be expressed as a whole number or the ratio of two whole numbers as a threat to national security? Perhaps.
Then a colleague reminded me that in 1897 the Indiana state legislature tried passing a bill declaring Pi as 3.2. I couldn't find a competing resolution declaring 2 March as Pi day, nor 3 February.
Twitter, the source of everything you need to know in 140 characters or less, proved more helpful. Thanks to a tip from a Congressional staffer, I found the feed of Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz, AKA jasoninthehouse.
His latest tweet, as of 5:05 PM ET on Thursday, reads: "I cannot support Pi Day as just one day. It should go on forever. I voted "Nay." It passed 391-10."
Chaffetz previously tweeted his support for H.R. 224 yesterday afternoon: "Actually going to vote on supporting "Pi Day". Yes, as in 3.14. I have nothing against Pi, but hard to believe we have to vote on this."
Sounds like a flip-flop to me.
The other members voting Nay include: Jeff Flake, Republican from Arizona; Dean Heller, Republican from Montana; Timothy Johnson, Republican from Illinois; Jeff Miller, Republican from Florida; Randy Neugebauer, Republican from Texas; Ron Paul, a former presidential candidate and Republican from Texas; Ted Poe, another GOP member; Bill Shuster, a Republican from Pennsylvania; and last but most certainly not least, Mike Pence, a Republican from Indiana.
If any of these politicians represent your home district, please let them know how you feel about their snub of Pi Day. You can find your Congressman's phone number or e-mail address by looking them up here.
i love pie.....
