Yes. And here's some sweets and regular soda.

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Yes. And here's some sweets and regular soda.

mmmm

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Raq

The quality of education in public schools in the US far exceeds that of public schools anywhere else I've lived

I'm not sure we do in fact educate our people better than any other country in the world or even as well. My subjective experience is that your average person from the wealthier European nations (Germany, France, even to some extent the U.K. ) is better educated than your average USAian. Not that there are not plenty of both the ignorant and well educated everywhere ; it is just my experience that the Eurpeans skew a bit more educated than we do. Statistics do seem to support this to some extent; though mostly of a fairly iffy type. The U.S. seems to get slightly lower test scores; and there are a whole bunch of caveats on concluding anything from test scores - especially across countries. A lower percentage of the U.S. enjoys reading for pleasure than Western Europe and Scandanaiva. And that, to me, is harder to argue with.

However there are a number of reasons for this, and I doubt the teacher quality is one of them. Probably the biggest factor, and the one that seems to be paid the least attention to, is that U.S. kids spend less time in school than anybody. We have that Summer Vaction left over from when kids had to take summer off to help their parents on the farm. So fewer hourse learning, less learning takes place - a pretty big difference. Another is funding; many other countries fund a larger part of their kids education nationally; but in fact many nations still end up with big differences between both schools and funding of schools. It seems like equal funding of public education that ends up happening in a lot of places. Don't know if teachers outside the U.S. are subject to less bureacracy than inside. I know it is no-where close to zero anywhere. So I'm still guessing that the big differences are simple time in school with maybe some big differences in level and amount of inequality in funding.

Raq, does you experience include other rich countries, or only nations that were a lot poorer than the U.S./French/UK/W. European standard. Cause I admit you have a lot more personal experience than I do.

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Sorry about the cramps, connie.

When I see I Radcliffe generally want to feed him soup. Lately my lust objects have mostly had some silver in their hair. I think it's a security thing. Plus ASH is still hot.

You know what's nice? Taking a long walk on a sunny but cold (under 40F) fall day. Then coming back and drinking hot cranberry apple zinger tea.

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I found a set of pictures I really like alot.

[link]

My wife's birthday is tomorrow. I made her a "card" that was a 8.5x11 photopaper page that was completely covered with a montage of photos from throughout the last year. Also I got her a Tuscan Sun rose plant even though I wasn't supposed to get a gift.

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Jason Isaacs.

I'm just saying.

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This is also Nascar weekend and we had tickets for all 3 days. Alas, we have 4 tickets going unused tonight. My mother and step-dad arrive tomorrow so Grandpa and the boys can do the races thing while Mom and I relax at home.

Guh. It's the last race of the season and will decide the championship. And I really like the top two guys so I should be pleased this weekend. Sigh, it's going to be a long winter...

Oh, Gud! What a lovely thing to do for your wife. I hope she realizes and appreciates you for this. For everything really, but I am starting my hopes and wishes with small concrete things before moving on to all of the joy and happiness that you so desperately deserve.

Am gronk. Wrote list. Must find list. Then off to travel the southern half of our fair and crazy state.

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Absolutely precious Gud. Also, a wonderful guy for getting the plant against orders.

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5555

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There's some cute kids in them there pictures.

Jason Isaacs.

Mmmmm. Bears repeating. Yum.

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