Glenn already posted on this, but it's worth repeating. It's from a seventeen-year-old high-school student in the Detroit area.

We must achieve the almost impossible to go further then you. To go further then you we have to establish human life beyond the confines of our home. That is a mighty task you have left us with. Hopefully we can do that while finding the solutions to earthly problems in the process. We need a place to go, and we'll find that place. Then we will go there, with our kids in the backseat (of the spacecraft) asking "Are we there yet?"

People like David are why we have to get it right this time. One generation's dreams betrayed are enough.

[Via Kathy Kinsley]

I hate to be the fly in the ointment. I feel its admirable that this young person has written how he feels about our future, its sad that a 17 year old uses THEN instead of THAN, not once but twice. He obviously goes to public school. I tried to find the original post from said young person but could not find the original.

I just hope he takes me up on that offer to watch the kids. ;)

Steve, I suspect he'll learn. Back in the seventies, I also went to a public school that didn't bother to teach such things.
It is a handicap, I still have to stop and think at times. But I usually get it right, along with affect/effect and others. I have even become a fanatic on the subject of it's/its and their/there/they're.
He'll do fine.

If I can ever get people to understand the difference between "lose" and "loose," I'll die a happy man. Whenever I see this one screwed up, I loose it.

Steve,
Thanks for sounding like my mother. These people are correct though. I have not learned the exact way to use than and then. However I am going to be watching myself now as some people have spotted this error in my post from Sunday.

-David

P.S. Some private school kids can be far dumber (than/then? I don't know, you tell me)public school kids.

David, I survived the Michigan public school system. You will as well, if you work at it.

But I think that the comparison was against home schooling (which seems to dominate things like geography and spelling bees)--not private schools.

If I can ever get people to understand the difference between "lose" and "loose," I'll die a happy man. Whenever I see this one screwed up, I loose it.

Rand, what's you're problem?

:)

David,
I was a private school kid who became and public school drop out. No way I'll ever say the KIDS are to blame for what they have not been taught. Just wanted to try to make a difference in someones future. Pay it forward!!

David, at least no one can blame you for that unclosed tag. ;-)