Ghandi's Birthday Today

October 2nd is the birthday of Mahatma Ghandi. Appropriately, the date has been named International Non-Violence Day by the United Nations. A day to celebrate Ghandi's non-violent approach to social justice and societal change, and a day to celebrate peacemakers worldwide.

Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon of the United Nations hopes the UN can "...help stop violence by spreading a culture of peace, promoting tolerance and advancing human dignity." A noble goal for progressive, enlightened people of all races, creeds and nations. Too bad the world's major superpower is working at cross-purposes, bent on maximizing power and profit.

Happy Pi Day

It's Pi Day. And if that weren't enough for science geeks, it is also the anniversary of Albert Einstein's birthday. Now that's convergence. So today, 3.14, at 1:59 we well have the first six digits of the magical number line up. Forums are already ablaze with an a.m. or p.m. discussion, military time vs. a 12-hour clock, nuance after nuance. Isn't science fun? No, seriously... it is good to celebrate math - especially in the face of the concerted attack on science and even individual thought by authoritarian fundamentalists of all stripes. I'm thinking that the occasion deserves a couple of toasts: To Pi, and all magical numbers; and, To Einstein, for proving that geeks can be sexy. Give the Sergeant a Hoo-Yah.