{∅, {∅}, {∅, {∅}}} : Rage Against the Meat Grinder

Going through the Hoffman text, chapter 5, even though I am anxious to get into chapter 6 since I want to understand direction fields better, I am finding the core of Hoffman's approach is in the exercises, which is great.  When I need clarification, I have been looking for clarification in the Internet.  It has been money well spent paying for the internet connection and an almost required expense for any student (of whatever age) who wants to study in a non-traditional manner.

I am sure there are countless others studying in this manner.  Not everyone who enjoys learning is going to be looking for credentials or grovelling around tables on "Career Day" looking to be hired as an intern.  Some of us have given up on doing what we love for a living.  That doesn't mean we have to stop learning.

I'm going to ride this until the wheels fall off, this life of the lifelong student of mathematics.

I may have mentioned this before, but I feel as though I am a self-ordained monk of his own order.

I may start to point out those who offer helpful explanations without any monetary compensation for the time they take.  The least I can do is point out a few.

For instance, while researching how to go about deriving a formula for finding the volume of an ellipse rotated about an axis, I found a comment left by a Mr Harish Chandra Rajpoot.  There is a reason why it is the last comment on the page as he answered the question so succinctly.

Proving the Volume of an Ellipsoid

Do we need to justify our interest in mathematics?  The restrictions are imaginary social constructs.  The Kingdom of Mathematics is within us.   

Anyway, although I don't have to point it out, I will anyway:  For the time being I am spared from many of the horrors of existence.  I understand how fortunate I am to be able to do what I'm doing.  The world is filled with nightmarish suffering, especially when it comes to losing one's health or one's wits.

I don't want to come across as a spoiled brat who only cares about his own personal agenda.

I think I may post less about the details of my little world.