I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where t

I agree. I'm superstitious about origins. When something spontaneously happens at location X it's good to let it continue to evolve there. I say we stay where the party started. We can post occasionally and nobody who's uninterested need look at it. I also confess to tasting sweet irony in the idea of turning HN to more productive use. I feel like I've finally got my enemy in a corner. (The internet has never stopped me from working, but man has it stopped me from learning. But I digress.) As for what book: "Linear Algebra and its Applications" by Strang does sound like a good fit for hackers. I was convinced by this review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R289C7K1TN2RO2/ref=cm_cr_pr_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0030105676 http://www.amazon.com/review/R289C7K1TN2RO2/ref=cm_cr_pr_per.... Some cheaper copies are available on Abebooks. There's a case to be made for the other Strang, but again - origins are magic, so unless there's a compelling negative I say we stick with tptacek's original inspiration.