The notes that eventually became this book were written between 1977 and 1985 for the course called Constructive Combinatorics at the University of Minnesota. This is a one-quarter (10 week) course for upper level undergraduate students. The class usually consists of mathematics and computer science majors, with an occasional engineering student. Several graduate students in computer science also attend. At Minnesota, Constructive Combinatorics is the third quarter of a three quarter sequence. The fIrst quarter, Enumerative Combinatorics, is at the level of the texts by Bogart [Bo], Brualdi [Br], Liu [Li] or Tucker [Tu] and is a prerequisite for this course. The second quarter, Graph Theory and Optimization, is not a prerequisite. We assume that the students are familiar with the techniques of enumeration: basic counting principles, generating functions and inclusion/exclusion. This course evolved from a course on combinatorial algorithms. That course contained a mixture of graph algorithms, optimization and listing algorithms. The computer assignments generally consisted of testing algorithms on examples. While we felt that such material was useful and not without mathematical content, we did not think that the course had a coherent mathematical focus. Furthermore, much of it was being taught, or could have been taught, elsewhere. Graph algorithms and optimization, for instance, were inserted into the graph theory course where they naturally belonged. The computer science department already taught some of the material: the simpler algorithms in a discrete mathematics course; effIciency of algorithms in a more advanced course.

Short stories for the doctors waiting room, or standing at the bus stop, or Laying in on a rainy morning, perhaps just sitting in your favorite chair by the fire. These stories are just 'plucked' from titles suggested by friends. Not masterpieces but well worth the trouble to read, so please enjoy them. Dennis White

Poems are born from Love, Pain and Joy. Life has seen to it that we all 'get our share' of each. These Poems have been written over many years, but through it all I am still experiencing Life, (and then some). Life has taught me that they are all 'just experiences' and as Rudyard Kipling said of Success and Failure ...Treat these two imposters just the same. I am still 'hooked' on the same love of my life, my wife Norma, I still feel pain ...but I know that Joy will follow. They seem to be worth writing to me, I know that some people have enjoyed them ...you will have to let me know. DEW

A Book of Short Stories in Two Books. All different, some sad,some funny, some mad. The stories are based on the titles. The themes they cover are many and I hope you find pleasure in reading them, as I did writing them. They won't move the world but may make yours a little better.

Short Stories for the train. Stories in a waiting room. You will enjoy the short sharp oddity of the various topics. You will find some funny, some sad and some even mad. The stories are based on the titles. In a very busy life short stories may be the only way you get to read at all, so 'enjoy'.

Its an adventure in life-changing. To build a different society that does not rely on Market Forces that have only produced a greedy society of profit, profit, and more profit. This society is no longer fit for purpose, you can help change it. people don't seem to matter any more. It is not going to get any better unless you do something. This group of 'ordinary' people decide to give it a try and become 'extraordinary'. We owe it to our children, we need to tell them 'we got it wrong. Why not join the adventure and see where it leads to? There could be many 'endings' to a venture like this, I have chosen one, it's not the one I would prefer, what would 'you' do?.