Monthly Archives: September 2008

OECD PISA math scores 2006 (Programme for International Student Assessment) Finland………548…(+4) brackets indicate previous score 2003Korea………..547…(+5)Netherlands…531…(-7)Switzerland…530…(+3)Canada……….527…(-5)Japan………..523…(-11)New Zealand …522…(-1)Belgium……….520…(-9)Australia 520 (-4)Denmark 513 (-1)Czech Republic 510 (-7)Iceland 506 (-10)Austria 505 (+0)Germany 504 (+1)Sweden 502 (-7)Ireland 501 (-1)France 496 (-15)United Kingdom 495 not … Continue reading →

Its hard to no longer be surprised by what happens in the Caricatured States of America (thanks Vin!) This morning I watched the reality show that is the US Congress. After the 700 billion dollar bailout bill was defeated by … Continue reading →

“Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.” -John McCain, last … Continue reading →

Yesterday, all my troubles did not seem so far away. Loose shale and poor confidence forced me to give up on my attempt on Mt Cory, a climb considered easy by active climbers. But my mood picked up tenfold upon … Continue reading →