Frazz by Jef Mallett for August 25, 2016

Two Civs and a wonder fully explored that sounds like a Typical Civ game day. Not much time left after that for much else. Unless it is a small map.

The 5 greatest bargains in America: (1) sunshine (2) fresh air (3) clean water (4) public libraries (5) public schools

If you want to do Spain in the afternoon, take a nap.

Alex, love those guys and that song!

Never Been To Spain

She’s going to Spain to watch it rain on the plain. Or maybe watch it from a plane.

My son is in Spain now! He’s a short term foreign exchange student. He’s been emailing us pictures and I am so jealous. Last week he was snorkeling in the Med. off of Barcelona, and today they are going to visit Andorra. (It’s a tiny country on the boarder between Spain and France.)The Rotary short term foreign exchange student program is the way to go! They pair up students of similar age, and interests. One student travels to the other’s home and they spend 3 weeks in the summer there. Then they travel together to the first student’s home and spend 3 weeks together there,The host families get an extra kid for 3 weeks, and no kid for 3 weeks. The added living expenses balance out. The real cost is just travel and spending money.One great thing is that it is over the summer, so it does not put any hold on their education. Most times the schooling a student receives on a full year exchange doesn’t count toward their diploma. They effectively get held back a year. That’s why they tend to go so crazy and party all year.The best part of the short term program is the shared experiences of the two students make them lifelong friends.

I have traveled all over the world an to other times, worlds and dimensions. Libraries, so nice.

The public library in El Centro was my second home during the summer when I was growing up. It was close enough to bike to and I could spend hours browsing until it was time to go home for dinner. I discovered a copy of “The Joy of Sex” in the adult section—VERY educational but my parents would have had a fit! When I browsed the mystery section I would look for Page 20. If the “0” was filled in that meant my dad had read that book. Mysteries were an interest that we both shared.

Robyn PyleI was eight when I discovered I was not required to stay in the children’s department – and the universe opened to me, especially the magazines in the reference room, including National Geographic going back to 190something.

Public schools, like so many things, are a bargain ONLY if they are properly funded and maintained! You cannot establish them and just walk away. They are like gardens – just sowing the seeds or planting the sprouts is just the first step.

Then vote smart. If the GOP takes over, libraries won’t be around for long.

comicsssfanI was not reading the Nat Geo for the traditional tropical fashions (that was a side benefit) but to see the parts of the world I would never get to see in person.