YES, the news media and those who believe what they hear from them.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Brandt [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 2:02 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] OT: 2003 Smartest State Rankings in U.S.


Does anyone really take these things seriously?

At 05:05 PM 10/9/2003 -0400, Mark Wonsil wrote:
>Wirt recounts:
> > Those rankings have to be taken in context -- and "smartness" of the
> > students has very little to do with them. The publishers' primary
> > considerations concern themselves with the dollar value spent per
> > student. In that form of metric, the northeastern states will always
> > come out on top, simply in part because those states also have the
> > very highest per capita incomes and spending per student tends to be
> > based on the available tax base.
>
>Of course Wirt uncovers the mystery immediately.  This is the same company
>that does the "Safest Cities" rankings.  I really don't know how scientific
>these rankings are (you have to buy the book for $50.00 to get the details)
>but one press release and things like this get picked up and strewn around
>like real facts.  I think Denys alone can give us proof that people in
>Massachusetts are not really that smart.  ;-)
>
>Mark "Dusty Baker is looking pretty smart right now" W.

--
Tom Brandt
Northtech Systems, Inc.
130 S. 1st Street, Suite 220
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1343
http://www.northtech.com/

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