Changing values

Night before last, I went to a delightful dinner with a student who just graduated, his family, and his math teachers. At dinner I argued with the student, Tagore, about which city has the longest subway system. He thought London but I suggested Tokyo. He pulled a Nokia E-61 out of his pocket and began to google.

"You know, Tagore," I told him, "my generation would consider it rude to start surfing the internet on your phone at a dinner party . . . but I'm taking my values from your generation these days . . . " and I pulled out my Samsung I-780 and double-checked him.

We were both wrong--it was New York.

Last night I had a wonderful dinner with Poo and my famiy and during the dinner Poo commented on how loud the restaurant was.

"Everywehre in Thailand is loud," I said, "that's why my next contract will be in Japan. The Japanese understand the importance of quietude."

"Do you know which country has the highest suicide rate?" asked Poo.

"I think it's Finland or Norway."

"No," said Poo, "Japan."

"No, I know Japan has a problem, but in those northern countries they get no daylight in the winter and they get depressed," I informed her.

"No, I think it's Japan . . . Japan or Korea," she said.

"There's no point arguing about it . . . I can just google it!" and I pulled out the Samsung.

We were both wrong--it was Lithuania.