I don’t think it is necessarily sad. Different skill sets for different generations. There is no real need for many math skills that older generations would consider necessary.
We see the same thing with other skills like spelling. With spellcheckers so prominent on everything, many people probably can’t spell worth a crap anymore.
I never could spell worth a crap, so that doesn’t bother me, either! (prominent is not spelled with an “a”, BTW. And I don’t think I could ever spell necessary. )
Zmann: Jefferson was on the $2 bill. No ladies there.
And I can spell pretty well, but can’t run an engine worth a darn!
I know that. Local magazine store used to give out $2 bills when you won $2 on lottery tickets. But I was referring to the Susan B and Sacajewea coins. Those feature women of the female persuasion.
And I can’t do either of the things you listed.
You won?!!
NO…the problem is that no one knows how to think. Math, spelling, or just generally being able to think through a process, a problem, is no longer and American ability that brings one one up on others. We are primed for a take over and herded as sheep more than we’ve ever been. And with the concept that education is to employ teachers judged on students passing a given test instead of teaching children skills and knowledge and the ability to think, its all but over.
Either people can spell, or they can’t. With the digital world, it isn’t as important as it once was.
That doesn’t bother me one bit.
I had to demonstrate the magic of manually making change to a young lady at a McDonalds once…her register burped…and it would not do the automatic “your change” calculation…I thought she was going to cry.
I showed her the magic of “COUNT UP” to the nearest dollar…
What a concept!!!
The one and two dollar coins are working well in Canada.
Then again they mastered the metric system beginning in 1971.
I force the issue every day. If they do not count back to me, I put the change on the counter, and count it back myself…out loud, then explain that is the only proper way to do it.
I don’t care if 100 people are behind me waiting
If people can’t spell, do math, or think, we are a doomed society…
Meh. Spelling is overated.
That’s what I thought until I did it with Euros and Canadian. I’d rather have the coins. Ten coins isn’t all that bad.
You get two, twos and a penny.
Susan B Anthony is a woman? Looks a lot like G. Washington to me!
…and in Euro-land, and in the UK…
Best part about it is you don’t have to pull your wallet from you pocket to buy a gallon of milk. You just grab a couple coins from your pocket.
Every other western language “fixed” there spelling in the last couple of centuries. Everything is phonetic. Why not English?
Wee halve spilling and grandma checkers;
they came with are Pea Sea.
They plainly mark fore hour revues,
Miss Steaks wee dew Knot Sea.
This massage was scent threw it,
and ewe should bee pleas two no,
It’s letter prefect in its weigh;
the checkers tolled mea sew.
And you have to wonder about the people that don’t know the difference between “Then” and “Than”
Like the fellow that said, “I’d rather be dead, then eat calamari!”… I can’t figure out how he would eat something after he was dead.
The Euro coins weigh 5.74, 7.8, 7.5 and 8.5 grams for the 20 cent, 50 cent, and one and two Euro pieces, respectively. For the US, the quarter weighs 5.67 gr., the half dollar a hefty 11.34 gr. and the dollar coins 8.1 gr. Using coins is really quite handy, once you get used to them.
If you’re using vending machines, etc a lot for items over a dollar, the coins would be best. The Canadians have the “Loonie” and the “Toonie” (two dollars). Made paying my three dollar parking fee at the Kingston airport really easy.
I suspect that an RFID system would be very popular, especially if one could simply leave the card in your wallet and ride. The problem would be verifying that a passenger had, indeed, paid their fare.