@Amy: have a look at this article, about a gutsy school board member who pretty miserably fails the standardized tests for 10th graders. The article includes sample questions from the 4th grade and 8th grade exams (unfortunately, not from the one he took).

The guy's thoughts are interesting. He clearly thinks the skills required are unnecessary, since he is successful despite his horrible exam results. However, other conclusions are possible - not least, the idea that success in D.C. depends on anything and everything other than ability.

The correlation I like to use is the sale of ice cream causes domestic violence.

It wouldn't be that everyone is hot and tired in the middle of summer.

I guess it's hilarious...until you realize that the majority of voters are actually duped by this sort nonsense.

Why didn't they make that mountain picture a panorama? We could tell the future!