the '04 sendoff from the US Nationals

My pause has taken me into some exciting directions, best expressed by one of the community's, if not the area's, most renown mathematicians. In undergrad at Texas Southern, I took several mathematics courses from Professor Wiley, including abstract algebra ("Including some English courses, too" a voice in my inner being would chime if I leave this phrase dangling.) Professor Wiley would be at the board, 'into it': "This is good stuff! Good stuff!" I've got some good stuff (and even better direction (directions?)), starting here . . ..

Photo source: (sorry, long since lost.)