Exchange with a reader.

He: “Mr. Derbyshire—Given that Pi is at least as important as New Years,

will you celebrate the wonder of Pi shortly after 1:59 AM (or 3:49 AM

depending on your notational preference) by stepping into your back yard and

shooting your revolver into the air?”

Me: “Only if there is a helicopter full of liberals flying over. Which,

this being Long Island, and my house being under the flight path from

Manhattan to the East End, there quite often is.”