I was lucky to go through one of the better public school systems in the 70s and 80s. I am shocked at what that same school system has become as my daughters navigate it. Math lessons without books and poor quality worksheets for homework leave parents and students lost. I didn't realize just how bad it was until my oldest started calculus, bringing home her first math textbook from school. She had no idea how to use the book. She didn't know that the book teaches the subject and that there were answers and a glossary in the book. It's insane. I've had a lot of complaints over the years, but that really topped it. We have a close family friend who holds a PhD in math education and teaches 5th grade. As she explains it, math education has evolved to provide many methods to solve basic math in elementary school. The reasoning is that more kids will understand because they will click with one method or another. I get that, and it is great, BUT when the teachers require every student to do problems using every specific method, it defeats the purpose. It would make sense if each student could apply the method they prefer. But that wasn't the case. Trying to help my daughters through elementary and middle school math has been challenging because I'm not familiar with the methods taught and there's no book to rely on. Thankfully, between the internet and family friend, I've been able to get through it. As they navigate middle and high school, I've noticed teachers that are not prepared to teach the subject. But at the same time, there are things in the lesson plans that focus more on problem solving including a lot more word problems. I do think that schools have to deal with a lot of distractions that didn't exist when I was a student.

Could only afford the system at first. I had no way to save any programs. I wrote them all down since they were lost when powering it off. Saved up to buy the cassette storage which was mostly reliable. Amazing how you got used to listening to the transfer the Atari played out and could tell when it was going to fail. After working all night on an elaborate program and finding all three copies on tape irretrievable I was determined to get a floppy drive. Ended up buying a Rana compatible drive through the computer store I worked at. The best part was learning the hardware. A friend found a local store that sold the complete hardware manual. I bought the assembler/editor cartridge and a book and taught myself 6502 assembly for the Atari. Learned all about the other chips including the graphics processor that used cycle stealing to draw the screen. It really helped me understand things that I ended up studying a few years later in college working with a 68K board and assembly. It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience. As mentioned. I could go on and on about it and the related things I did.

I'm sorry, but today's so called smart phones (both apple and android) are crap. They are more trouble than they are worth unless you are simply looking for a distraction. I want something that will allow me to effectively manage my email, make and receive calls, manage my contacts, maybe browse the web and do it all without the pain and lack of privacy involved with today's devices. It really isn't too much to ask for. The very fact that so many people put up with the crap manufacturers put out today is just amazing.

No. Most people don't actively protest. Look how long it took for the protests in the Mid-East. No, too many people think the system isn't bad enough for them to skip work, not take care of their families, etc in order to take to the streets. To assume that it is working when they vote the way you want, but not when they don't, is the wrong assumption. Why couldn't it just be that sometimes you agree with the lobbyists and Congress always follows their lead? That could mean that your assumptions may make you part of the problem, if there is one.