Mum (27th Apr 2008)

Hitchin

Dear Dan, And what is the name of the young lady born in Hitchin Hospital?? What a co-incidence!!!! I like your criteria for the 'niceness' of a place. I can see we will need to watch a number of films/movies when you get home, ones that reflect your travels, and then you can say 'I've been there, and it wasn't like that at all'. !!!! Much love Mum x x x

Suzanne Gadilhé (26th Apr 2008)

Fab site

Love this blog website - v cool. keep up with the diary - i love hearing what you're up to! xxx

Mum (25th Apr 2008)

Houston

Dear Dan, Houston looks really interesting. No doubt Dad and I would have spent AGES reading every notice and bit of info. The Mississippi in flood is vast.So far iyour travels have been really varied. It's great reading your daily diary. Thanks. Take care. Much love Mum x x x

Tino (24th Apr 2008)

Hear Yeee for McM

Dan, I hope that you don't shy away from criticizing America, I want you too, specially since you're going to visit places that I have never been to... Keep it coming... On separate note, McM's comment is accurate...

McM (24th Apr 2008)

Re: LSU Physics Class

DC: I hate to defend the American education system (with Tino), but I'd have to say that statistically speaking, you'd have a different attitude if you had more data points in which to consider a "trend". LSU is actually NOT a rated institution, unless you are considering SEC football. The dumbing down of American universities you have had a taste of is truly an extension of the inability of the education system at lower and local levels to deliver the basics and deliver accurate feedback (grades). The political fight between teacher unions, local control of schools, the federal Department of Education and every parent who thinks "Johnny" is a perfect gentlemen in school is causing the whole system to become moribund, all within two generations. The technical education system isn't promoted more, more people actually belong there. The schlock mills (those schools you mentioned) do have some value (most students get out of it what they put in) but many are s**t as you said. However, there are glimmers of hope, teachers who don't take any guff, institutions that have remediation programs that will bring High School "graduates" up to "freshman" level, but you have to look and do your homework beforehand. My high school was staffed with disaffected hippies and left-wing revolutionaries who'd given up on their careers, and this was one of the well respected high schools in Florida! I only realized this in later life, after taking a variety of graduate and undergraduate classes separate from my degree-granting institutions. The information learned in primary schools today alternately baffles and impresses me. There are AP (Advanced Placement) classes going on, where college-level material is being delivered, and then English as a second language and basic classes with technology that have no place being offered to students who haven't mastered the basics yet. Yet our country sees fit to have an H1B and H2B visa program (which I believe you were a part of) that imports MORE superlative education and experience. Therefore it looks like there is opportunity all around with all of these faulty systems. Maybe that's the whole point of it, don't even try to gain that level of excellence, somebody will (and we don't want to pay for it). These above facets provide debate material for 20 "reality" TV shows, but it will never be broadcast in fair proportion to its importance. Politicians have a hard enough time spelling "potato", much less enabling education reform. I sent a list of top physics programs to your email, maybe you can convince yourself to stay for a few years for a nice masters' degree (and maybe some philosophy and political science electives to argue education reform) Out of characters! So I gotta go for now! McM PS: Our author and national wit Mark Twain had a Benjamin Disraeli quote in his autobiography (1924), "there are three kinds of lies, lies, damned lies, and statistics".

Tino (23rd Apr 2008)

LSU isn't a good barometer...

... of an American University, remember that you are in a backwater/backwards arse american state... so don't go judging our higher learning by LSU's standards... What, no LSU babes???

McM (23rd Apr 2008)

Re: What-a-burger

More Whataburgers in Texas than blackflies in Corsicana, breakfast burritos! Every small town (One flashing light = one Dairy Queen, Two flashing lights = a speed trap, beware) is an experience there.

McM (23rd Apr 2008)

Carlsbad Caverns

I swear it will be cool in there! It's worth the detour! Lots of cheapie hotels. PS: You gotta drive on at LEAST a little bit of Route 66 (Chicago to LA), dunno how with your map. Very auto-historical and lots (used to be) of retro businesses geared toward the highway culture of 1950s-60s America.

Laura (23rd Apr 2008)

Letter

Hey Mr. The blog is great, nice to hear you are having a great time Got a letter from Berkley Run today and I will email you the details. Take care x

Veronica clarke (23rd Apr 2008)

Reading about NOLA

Hi Dan, Yes it is interesting to revisit and get a different perspective on a place. You certainly seem to be having a wide variety of experiences. I found your comments about sleeping in a dorm amusing!! I'm sure you enjoyed the guitar jamming session- long time -no play. Take care and keep the blog coming. Much love Mum x x x