Master's Degree, Family Update, & Beedle the Bard

[Andrew Zimmerman Jones]

Hello everyone,

Well, my first summer as a married man has proven very crazy.  Not so much because I'm married, but because it's also coincided with my completion of my Master's degree in Mathematics Education. My Abstract Algebra final was last week and I've finished my Projective Geometry take-home final over the weekend and will be e-mailing it to the professor. The program allows only one C, and I used that up last fall in my Elementary Topology (which was anything but elementary), so I need to get at least B's to successfully earn the degree ... so I'll be letting you know in a couple of weeks whether that all comes together.

The family is doing well.  I have some photos up at http://www.myspace.com/azjones, but they're only accessible to "friends."  I've had some requests for photos to e-mail out ... these requests have not fallen on deaf ears and I'll get them sent out sometime before the summer is out, once I'm done resizing them to a reasonable size.

I find I am adjusting well to married life.  It suits me. Elijah and Amber haven't been complaining too much either, so I'm guessing that they agree ... although we will all be quite happy when I don't have to sequester myself in the basement until midnight finishing homework. Next is Amber's turn, as she returns to school in the fall.

Reading & Books

In other news, my work with BookWise has obviously come to something of a halt over the last month and a half.  The first BookWise collection book came out in early July, an omnibus volume of Think and Grow Rich and Acres of Diamonds.  I've listened to Think and Grow Rich on audiobook before, so I started with Acres of Diamonds and am nearly done with it.  When I'm done, I will be posting a link to my BookWise page and let everyone know what I think of it.

My goal of reading 50 books in 2008 is well on target, by the way.  If you count audiobooks, I'm almost at the goal.  If you don't, then I'm still on track to reach the goal by the end of the year.  You can check my progress at my 43 things page.

One book that I'm looking forward to reading this year is author J.K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a collection of 5 fairy tales which was referenced in the Harry Potter books.  The book features the extensive commentary and footnotes of Professor Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, and comes out not only in the very affordable standard edition but also in the fanboy dream collector's edition.

Charity

I've become quite engaged in looking into philanthropy options since joining BookWise, and one charity which I've grown deeply committed to is Heifer International.  This organization isn't merely about donations, but about providing self-respect and self-reliance to the world's poor.  You donate by purchasing livestock, which Heifer International then provides to poor people around the world, along with training in how to manage the animals.  These individuals then pass on the gift by donating the first offspring back to Heifer International.  In other words, your single donation will continue to give for many years after you've given the donation.

I'll recommend some other charities in the future, but to start off I think Heifer is one of the better ones out there.

Pace and love to everyone.  May you find the best within yourself and give it voice.
--
Andrew Zimmerman Jones, author
http://www.azjones.info/
http://physics.about.com/

BookWise Independent Associate
http://www.gobookwise.com/azjones