Haven't some polls said that over 25% of the US adults are illiterate? I assume that means english and I would wager it is much higher in California.

Whot, uew sain kalfernians kant reed our rite? Dem iz fiten werds!

I read some numbers like that a few times.

try asking HS grads to figure 34% of a dollar for laughs. Most can't figure it out.

Re: is it rude to ask, "can you read?"
 

Seriously . . no really . . .the question would really be irrelevant since you don't need to know the answer.

Ron;

The change due register is required here in SoCal. Same deal. Power went out to the wall outlets in one of my favourite restaurants a week ago. No computers, no register. Teeny-bopper waitresses could not take orders, meant having to write the order (actually meant having to remember the order long enough to get it on paper), then actually deliver it to the cooks. When time to total the bill, were absolutely clueless. Had no idea how to tax the final amount. Of course, no way to make change.

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was an exaggeration.

I am in NYC first part of this week, wanna get together and challenge a few waitresses over a beverage?

I would not be able to partake for a day or two prior to flying in case Porsche-O-Phile is reading this.

Michael.

I once had a manager come up to me and ask me something like, "Steve, you are up on current events, right?" I was a little confused. I don't really stay up on current events, but I eventually know about most of the big ones. What really shocked me was when he asked me, "how many states are there?" Now I was really concerned. I told him that the last time that I had checked there were 50. He was greatly relieved. He thought there were 50 too, but since he had asked about 15-20 different people, customers and employees where I worked and not a single one had said "50" he had begun to wonder if he had missed something.

Scary isn't it.

I sent you my phone number thru a PM a few weeks ago.