John McCain vs Barack Obama Mega-Politic-Thread of super fun awesomeness.

[Pearl Jam]

Noting that most countries teach a 2nd language in the elementary years rather than the last 4 years of High School makes sense and would also be a help to students here in the States to comprehend their own language as far as reading and correct grammatically writing are concerned.

The main point of what I was noting in my previous point was that Finland ranked #1 in math and science internationally.

I had learned 3 foreign languages early in my life and I find it has helped me in all walks of my life, be it traveling or work related matters.

The lack of learning of a 2nd language is only the tip of the educational problems we have today.

I think educational problems are going to be found no matter where you are in the world to some degree, although I do agree that our secondary language education in America is severely lacking. I'm half-hispanic, so I grew up around relatives who spoke Spanish first, then English. Studies have proven that the best time to start learning a second language is early on in life rather than later. I wish we'd apply that to the classroom.

EDIT: On topic- I'm by no means a giant fan of either candidate, but after viewing the final debate it's Obama's race to lose (in my opinion, of course).

EDIT2: Back to language - Has anyone ever tried that Rosetta Stone program? I know 2 people using it and it seems legit.

[Capital Knockers]

I still want him as president, even if he looks like that. Cool Papers

[DankNuggets]

I think educational problems are going to be found no matter where you are in the world to some degree, although I do agree that our secondary language education in America is severely lacking. I'm half-hispanic, so I grew up around relatives who spoke Spanish first, then English. Studies have proven that the best time to start learning a second language is early on in life rather than later. I wish we'd apply that to the classroom.

EDIT: On topic- I'm by no means a giant fan of either candidate, but after viewing the final debate it's Obama's race to lose (in my opinion, of course).

EDIT2: Back to language - Has anyone ever tried that Rosetta Stone program? I know 2 people using it and it seems legit.

I've noticed a trend towards bi-lingual teaching. The first time I could've taken a foreign language was 6th grade. I continued in that language until my 2nd year of college, but in all honesty, even though i always made A's, I don't think I could've had too many good conversations.

My little brother is 2 years younger, and they started teaching spanish in to him in 4th grade (same time i was in 6th). Now they teach spanish at least once a week from 2nd grade on in our former elementary school.

We're trying to catch up it seems.

On the Rosetta Stone: It seems a lot like the Learnables we used in HS Spanish. I'm sure it would work well, but you'd have to really devote yourself to learning the language. It's by no means an easy way out, it just allows you to learn a lot faster if you're willing to.

[Epinephrine]

EDIT: On topic- I'm by no means a giant fan of either candidate, but after viewing the final debate it's Obama's race to lose (in my opinion, of course).

That's why Obama's strategy now (and in the debates) is basically... be as boring as possible.

[Capital Knockers]

so wait, did she actually say that, or did someone just cleverly throw that together?

nevermind, i dont know whats worse, the fact that i thought it might be real - or the fact that you guys have someone running for VP that makes me wonder if she actually said something like that in debate.

[Liquid Blue]

you gotta admit though, that'd be pretty fucking funny if she said that

[Vykromond]

No, she did not actually say that.

MCCAIN ACTUALLY SAID THIS THOUGH
what its broken

Rosetta Stone is legit, it's not like god's gift to learning foreign languages or anything but it's not bad

[Vatican Assassin]

So did you catch what McCain said about the JFK assassination? With a slip of tongue, he refered to it as an "intervention," then quickly backtracks and calls it a tragedy. WATCH THIS. Watch his eyes pop open with disbelief at what he just said in the final debate!!! He quickly rubs his nose in the WORST poker face I have ever seen. Then, after watching the clip, google "CIA intervention" and realize JUST HOW BIG A SLIP UP IT WAS! This is BY FAR the BIGGEST mistake in the whole election, and this is all you're likely to hear about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAsH...yhappened.com/

[Galleleo]

I find it funny that Wark attacked Finland out of all countries. Because from what I have read and heard Finland is regarded as one of the countries with the best educational system. As could also be seen with 404 pointing out Finland ranked first in Math and Science

I also know that classes in the US university are easier than at a Dutch university, as I heard this from everyone who has studied in the US and I was told this when doing my application for my semester in the US.

Then again, this really doesnt make a difference as we all know that Wark is just trolling and has no idea what he is talking about.

[kthx]

I know exactly what I am talking about.

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Internet addicts sent home from Finnish military

Too depressed to shoot anything

By Ashlee Vance in Chicago • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 3rd August 2004 20:15 GMT

It used to take a bum leg or a penchant for same sex love to get out of the army. These days, however, young Fins are using Internet addiction as a means of avoiding required military service.

Finnish "packet poppers" sent off for service have exhibited painful longing for their PCs - a longing so profound that military doctors have become concerned for the youngsters' condition. The Finnish Defense Forces, showing their kind hearts, have decided to excuse IP addicts from their six months duty all together, according to a report from Reuters.

"For people who play (Internet) games all night and don't have any friends, don't have any hobbies, to come into the army is a very big shock," Commander-Captain Jyrki Kivela at the military conscription unit told the news service. "Some of (the conscripts) go to the doctor and say they can't stay. Sometimes, the doctors have said they have an Internet addiction."

There are no numbers of just how many net-addled men have run back home where they can up their frag count in comfort. But 9 percent of the 26,500 men called up in 2003 were dismissed for medical reasons, Reuters said.

If the youngsters can kick "the horse," they're allowed back in the military.

"They get sent home for three years and after that they have to come back and we ask if they are OK ... they will have had time to grow up," Kivela told Reuters.

By that time, however, they're probably making a good wage at Nokia and more interested in N-Gage bluetooth wars than real battle training. ®

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Bunch of queer draft dodgers who are too depressed to shoot a gun in real life so go back to shoot monsters in WoW and Continuum.

[Displaced]

you keep on bringing up the same points over and over, is it really that hard to understand?

we have a conscription army, i.e. it is mandatory for every male once they turn 18 to serve in the military. There are bound to be some people who are unfit to serve, whatever the reason.

do you really think if the US had a conscription army that they wouldn't have people unfit for the military?

[kthx]

lol being addicted to the internet makes you unfit to serve LOL. Only in a terrible country.

[Da1andonly]

No, because America is the best country.

[Galleleo]

You do realise that that article has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of the Finnish educational system, or the quality of that system compared with the US one?

And before you are going to go: Finland is a worthless country because it has people that play on the computer all night and day and have no friends. I am sure you can find more Americans that fit that description than Finnish people.

[Da1andonly]

NO, because America is the best country.