Travel Tips

I am Martin and live just north of Toronto.

My age is between 30 and 50. By all means call me "Mr. Cagey" but wont go any more accurate! :) I am single, but who knows what the future may bring?

I love travelling and specifically enjoy visiting a destinations for the first time. My list of places to visit is virtually endless! One of my favorite hobbies is aircraft and flight. When writing about holidays, I must sometimes think carefully to remember details. I seem to have no trouble, however, remembering details of the flight/airline/airport!

How do I see myself? I am 50% mathematician and 50% entertainer.

Mathematics:
Though I know many branches of mathematics, my speciality is financial math e.g. compound interest, annuities, bonds, mortgages etc.

(In fact I specialize in an unusual field of business math called Reverse Actuary. This is what a Reverse Actuary does: You give me details of your life policy i.e. premiums, payouts etc. From there, I calculate mathematically when you will die!!)

Seriously though, I have taught high school, college and university math for over ten years. (Working for another organization, I also taught chess in over 40 elementary schools in the Greater Toronto Area.)

Entertainer:
I love performing before a group. My motto is "Making others happy, makes me happy."

Other Personal Trivia
Lived in 3 cities in my life
Love animals
Love most logic problems
Love meeting people
Love most foreign food, my favorite being Greek
English am fluent in only English but can hold at least a good conversation in 5 languages. (I am not sure what I mean by "fluent" because no one understands what I am saying anyway!)

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VOLUNTEERING AT ROGERS: MY "DAYTIME" JOB

Rogers Cable Television offers a volunteer program. Arguably they receive free labor. The volunteer, however, receives free hands-on experience. I am a proud volunteer there. I love all aspects of broadcasting and this excellent opportunity.

I usually work behind the scenes of their program called daytime. This is a community lifestyle show presenting events and services in York Region.
(York Region is just north and adjacent to Toronto.)
Guests have included chefs, physicians and retailers. My duties (among others) include escorting guests to the studio and studio floor director.
The two superb hosts are Jacqueline Betterton and George Tsioutsioulas. To read more on this wonderful program, click here.

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I want to thank VT member Dave (username dlandt) in Chicago, Illinois, for producing these 3 maps for me. I furnished Dave listing the places I have visited. He responded by sending me these maps. Thank you Dave.

If you like the color red, this map represents the US states that I have visited!

If you like the color greyish-white, this map represents the US states that I have not visited!

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Martin Mathematics Constant
I recently invented the Martin constant: 0.99878760317...

This is similar to other constants found in math such as pi (3.1415...) and e (2.718...).
Most math constants serve a purpose. Pi, for example, is the ratio between the circumference and a diameter of a circle. The Martin constant, however, is simply a meaningless constant that serves no purpose. Nevertheless, should anyone want to use the Martin constant, there it is.

The advantage of my constant is that because it serves no purpose. It is therefore easier for students to understand and less chance for confusion. The real difficulty is therefore not understanding, but remembering the digits, so here it is again:
0.99878760317...
Once you have mastered these digits, I will add more!

I hope to have my constant mentioned in as many math texts as possible. I give permission to use it.