Things I Do When Work Is Boring #1: Memorize Pi
The last three nights at work have been so boring that I’ve picked up a new hobby: Memorizing Pi.
Now, I certainly don’t expect to break any world records or anything like that, because I know for a fact my brain couldn’t possibly hold the 83,432 digits I would need to actually break the world record. However, I’ve noticed that I’m actually pretty quick at memorizing it.
The night I started in on this, I spent about 30 minutes working on it, and ended the night having memorized 31 digits (that’s decimal places, as in, not counting the beginning whole number ‘3′ that comes before the decimal point)
Night Two, and I ended up memorizing another 34 digits. So, logically, I decided since I was already at 65 after two nights, I could hit 100 digits on the third night. The third night was tonight. And I memorized the next 35 digits to hit 100. 
I can’t believe how easy it is. I thought this would be a massively difficult and time-consuming undertaking, but it’s turning out to be so simple. In any case, it’s really fun to be able to tell people that I can recite the first 100 digits of Pi, sometimes in less than 45 seconds! (usually only when I’m alone, though; with people around I get nervous that I’ll mess up, which usually makes me mess up)
So, what weird hobbies does everybody else have? Any unusual talents that you’re proud or even not-so-proud about? Cough it up! 
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shab
hehehe.. pretty cool…
Nov 15th, 2007 at 3:48 am
Ruchir
Hmmm…cool 100 digits of Pi. I don’t really have any weird hobbies. Or perhaps I’m too geeky to consider any hobby as “weird”
When I’m bored, I actually write stuff like essays, blog posts etc. Don’t know why but I seem to like it. Earlier I used to play MMORPGs when I was in India but quit since the net in Eritrea is so slow…
Ruchir’s last blog post..BloggingZoom: A Revolutionary Idea
Nov 15th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Rod
That’s pretty cool, Eric. No way that I could do that now (maybe when I was younger, but even then….)
Can’t really say that I have any weird hobbies at the moment (or even “normal” ones, which is pretty sad, really).
A good post, and don’t give up on the blogging. You’re posting good stuff.
Rod’s last blog post..BloggingZoom Sends the Traffic
Nov 15th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Sergey
why why why? there are so many other things to do.
hows knowing pi digits helpful in any way in any aspect of you live? )
draw? there are tutorials, ie http://zindy.zone.dk/html/drawings/tutorial_index.htm
in any case,
hope you finding useful for yourself.
cheerios
Nov 15th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
IARTYOU
Oh no! People do this kind of thing for fun? I just got out of a math test and well, lets just say remembering long numbers is not my idea of fun.
IARTYOU’s last blog post..The Death Of Bathing Ape
Nov 15th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Propet
That’s looks more like work to me, I do more entertaining stuff If I’m bored, like watch movies and play games on PC or Xbox. Or hang out with friends!
Propet’s last blog post..Wash & Wear Slip-on
Nov 15th, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Eric Socia
@Sergey: Knowing 100 digits of Pi is not by any means “helpful,” it’s just a fun thing to know. It impresses people (well, not all people, but I have a lot of friends that are math geeks like me)
@Propet: Everyone has their own ideas on what’s entertaining. I absolutely LOVE movies, and I play video games as well. As for hanging out with friends, I do that too, when I have the time away from work that is.
Nov 16th, 2007 at 3:29 am
Atlanta General Civil Litigation
Cant you just be normal and play games when your bored at work. Good post, and weird hobby.
Nov 16th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Austin
That is inspiring that you would do that. I bet a lot of people think (when hearing about someone breaking the hot dog record, or the PI record) that they could do things like this, but nobody ever tries! Or so I thought. That’s neat. I’ve always wanted to memorize the Book of Mormon like a lot of Muslims have the Koran memorized.
Austin’s last blog post..Selling Dreams
Nov 16th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Agen Iklan
Eric, Never forget to take exercise. That’s good to make refresh and good for your health.
Agen Iklan’s last blog post..DEFINISI BARU CLICK DARI GA
Nov 16th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
iPod For Humans
yes , its good to develop up your brain when you are free. i like to count big digit numbers in mind when i am boring…..
iPod For Humans’s last blog post..Podcasting- Elucidated
Nov 17th, 2007 at 4:55 am
Daniel Scocco
Interesting one! I am pretty sure you will also be able to use the Pi number trick later, say to impress the ladies. Hmmm… not sure.
Daniel Scocco’s last blog post..Coming to Terms with Windows Vista
Nov 17th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Andy Coates
Wow that quite a feat! Im imressed, usually if im feeling bored i normally carry a deck of cards arround and practice one handed shuffles.
Nov 17th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Edward
Never really experienced the word ‘boring’ ever since I gt my own pc
Edward’s last blog post..Malaysian Astronaut — Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor On Milo?
Nov 19th, 2007 at 2:26 am
Neurogenesis
I memorized Pi to the Feynman point (767) digits to practice my memory system. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feynman_point) It took about 4 hours total. Now that I know what I’m doing, I could probably do it again in about 2 hours. If you’re interested in a mnemonic system that totally dominates numbers, you should check out the DOMINIC system by Dominic O’brien. I can’t believe how useful it is. It should make your hobby a lot easier.
A good introduction to the system is his book, but it’s very hard to get nowadays so the web has a few good sites like: http://www.ludism.org/mentat/DominicSystem.
Dec 15th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
John Deere Combines
83,432?!???? Insane. Impressive, but insane. That’s crazy! Congrats on getting to 100 though. My memory doesn’t serve me that well.
John Deere Combines’s last blog post..John Deere Gifts
Feb 7th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
JireCrogUnreago
wow ))
its very reasonable point of view.
Good post.
realy good post
thank you
Sep 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm