Monday, February 25, 2013

A REPORT ON MY QUEST FOR A COLLEGE EDUCATION


So far, I have flunked out of calculus. It is a really complicated method of calculating problems that are continually changing. Sounds interesting but it is beyond my current capabilities. However, I am not giving up. I have enrolled in a Stanford University course called Introduction to mathematical thinking. It is supposed to help get me prepared for calculus.

My course at Edinburgh University about philosophy is going well. I have passed the first 4 weekly quizzes. Philosophy is an academic discipline that exercises reason and logic in an attempt to understand reality and answer important questions about knowledge, life, morality and human nature. Philosophers try to take some of the mystery out of life. The ancient philosophers wrote long, circular sentences that are difficult to understand but modern philosophers do answer some important questions in a language that can be understood. My favorite modern philosopher is Nassim Nicholas Teleb. He is able to speak 6 different languages fluently and has conquered all the advanced fields of mathematics. He is a well known risk manager in the world of options and derivatives. After making a ton of money in that field, he became an author and distinguished professor of Risk Engineering at New York University. His book, ANTIFRAGILE: THINGS THAT GAIN FROM DISORDER is the very best non-fiction book that I have ever read. It changed my view of how the world works. I recommend that you read it!

Friday, February 15, 2013

ONE NEVER KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN, DO ONE?


Because of changes in my life and unforeseen events, the style of my blog will be changing. If you do not like the new format, let me know and I will opt you out. My plan is to write less frequent post on an irregular schedule and the length will vary quite a bit. Some will be short and some may be quite long. Not only that, some will be silly and some will be deep. I guess that is really not a change. I have started some University courses (on line) in mathematics and philosophy. I had hoped they would make me more intelligent but so far, I feel just as dumb as ever.

With age, I am experiencing some surprising changes. For example, I have become a rock music fan! The beat, the rhythm, and the loudness are stimulating and enjoyable to me. Even the lyrics are starting to make sense. It may be a case of going into my second childhood.

Another change I have noticed is that I am more affected by tragic events that happen around me. A recent example is an accident that occurred in the local Walmart parking lot. A woman had just exited her vehicle when an 89 year old man hit the accelerator instead of the brake while backing out of a parking space. His car slammed into the car next to her, pinning her between the vehicles. She was seriously injured, in terrible pain, and died later at the hospital. My empathy for the woman and the man made me cry. One never knows what will happen, do one?!