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Calif. man again bringing Square Root Day — 03.03.09 — to the world |
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Local Content -
Local News
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Written by Tom Chapin
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Saturday, 28 February 2009 |
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — Another Square Root Day is around the corner — March 3, 2009, or 03.03.09 — but for the man who has been following it since 1981, there's only one Square Root Day that he holds up as the best.
"The shining moment was when it landed on Groundhog Day," Feb. 2, 2004 — or 02.02.04 — said Ron Gordon, a teacher in the Sequoia-Union School District in Redwood City, Calif. "Nothing will match that."
For those who are rusty on their math: The square root of nine is three, meaning that three multiplied by three equals nine. The whole equation in order — 03.03.09 — will be the date Tuesday, an event that last occurred Feb. 2, 2004.
That year, Gordon cut vegetable roots into squares and sent them via FedEx to Punxsutawney Phil in time for Groundhog Day. Then-handler Bill Deeley said Phil nibbled on them a bit.
Groundhog Day landing on a Square Root Day only happens once a century, Gordon explained, and that date will not occur again for another 95 years — Feb. 2, 2104.
The next Square Root Day, however, lands on April 4, 2016 — 04.04.16.
A few years ago, Gordon celebrated Odd Day: March 5, 2007 — 03.05.07 — when the three odd numbers appeared in their correct order on the calendar.
That year, Gordon told The Daily Journal of San Mateo, Calif,. that he doesn't encourage celebrating Even Day, however, because he doesn't want to be held responsible for people getting even.
Despite his passion for math — especially square roots, as one can see — Gordon has never taught a math class. He formerly taught driver's education and safety education, and these days, teaches substance abuse education for teenage students.
As far as his students celebrating Square Root Day next Monday, Gordon said they would likely drink root beer from square glasses.
"We have to locate some square glasses, though," he said.
Gordon first stumbled upon Square Root Day Sept. 9, 1981 — 09.09.81 — and has kept track ever since.
"On purpose, I didn't do anything about 01.01.01," he said. "It just seemed goofy."
How does Gordon's family feel about his passion for Square Root Day?
In the Feb. 2, 2004, edition of The Mercury News, Gordon's daughter, Rachel, then 14, said, "Nobody believes it's real. My friends think it's crazy."
These days, however, Rachel must have had a change of heart, because she's hosting a "Square Root Day" Facebook event that has already attracted 485 RSVPs.
"I'm used to it, my friends are actually used to it," she said. "I'm more comfortable with myself and my crazy family."
Getting people to agree to the Facebook event is one thing; convincing them that it's actually only a cyber event — and not showing up at someone's house — is another.
"They're not supposed to show up at my apartment at school," Rachel said.
In addition to Square Root Day and Odd Day, Rachel — a sophomore at the University of California-davis majoring in sociology — said her dad has another holiday in the works: July 8, 2009 — or 07.08.09 — in reference to the joke, "Why is 8 afraid of 7? Because 7 8 9."
Get it?
"I embrace Square Root day and all the other stuff that comes with my dad," she said.
For the upcoming Square Root Day, Ron Gordon has several suggestions for celebrating, such as getting things squared away; trying to fit a square peg into a round hole; square-dancing; tying a square knot; traveling out Route 66; drinking root beer from a square glass; and eating a square meal.
As in year's past, Gordon is also getting the word about Square Root Day around the world. He has e-mailed 2,700 press contacts in Europe and 3,100 in the United States ... with more to go.
"These days are like calendar comets; you wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your days and poof — they're gone."
This year, Gordon is also philosophical about the latest Square Root Day.
"Square roots are like the fountain of youth," he said. "In October, I'll turn a mere 8-squared ... and on my heaviest day, I've never tipped the scales at more than 14-squared."
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Last Updated ( Monday, 02 March 2009 )
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