Field of Science

Acrostic Schwarzenegger

Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed some bill by sending this stern letter to the members of the California State Assembly:
I am returning Assembly Bill 1176 without my signature.

For some time now I have lamented the fact that major issues are overlooked while many unnecessary bills come to me for consideration. Water reform, prison reform, and health care are major issues my Administration has brought to the table, but the Legislature just kicks the can down the alley.

Yet another legislative year has come and gone without the major reforms Californians overwhelmingly deserve. In light of this, and after careful consideration, I believe it is unnecessary to sign this measure at this time.

Sincerely,
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Okay, so he didn't like it. What of it? Well, take a look at how it was printed:



a⋅cros⋅tic  [uh-kraw-stik, uh-kros-tik]
–noun
1. a series of lines or verses in which the first, last, or other particular letters when taken in order spell out a word, phrase, etc.

Try first.

Enough hints. Mathematicians have apparently been all over it calculating the probability that this is pure chance. Not too high, however you go about it. Not unless the message went through many iterations with random mutations and selection for that particular acrostic message. I don't think that's how they write letters in Sacramento, but I could be wrong.

So good for him. Acrostics are fun, and if that's how he feels about the bill, then go for it, I say (without commenting on the politics).

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