Perhaps it’s a separate subject, but the fact you praise my writing and reason skills is really a sad reflection on our educational system. I do think that my writing skills are above average when compared against my peers (I’m talking every day work, not other writers) but compared to a generation ago, I feel mediocre at best.

I feel very lucky to have parents who valued reading, been able to go to a public high school with an excellent journalism class, and attend a college where they taught writing as part of the freshman curriculum.