literacy...

from an article in the New York Times:

"The study found that eldest children scored about three points higher on I.Q. tests than their closest sibling. The difference was an average, meaning that it showed up in most families, but not all of them."

does the new york times really have to explain what it would mean to say "on average three points higher"? ack!

there is a joke in boston that goes something like this:

a man is waiting in the express checkout line at the supermarket, right under the sign that says "ten items or less (sic)," with a full cart. when he gets to the front, the cashier asks, "so, are you from hahvad and can't count, or are you from MIT and can't read?