Things that I don't know but I should know

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in DC most of my life and I have no clue how the US gov't works. I don't get the difference between Congress and the Senate, how bills get passed...

I'm so embarassed. This thread has inspired me to read US Gov't for Dummies, or the like.

I have no idea how I made it through private high school, a top university, and law school without this basic knowledge.

There. I said it.

This just made me chuckle. I wonder if you are pretty young -- because all you need to know was captured in Schoolhouse Rock's "I'm Just a Bill" back during Saturday morning cartoons in the 70s.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

[Anonymous]

P.S. Don't get me started on the stock market. It is a house of cards!

[Anonymous]

Basic Premise of Islam are based on the 5 pillars

Faith or belief in the Oneness of God and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad;
Establishment of the daily prayers;
Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
Self-purification through fasting; and
The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.

[Anonymous]

On the one hand OP, I'm pretty shocked at what is on your list. On the other hand, I suspect 60% of Americans either don't know Bangladesh is a country, where it is, or why it's status as a country should be of interest.

Hint: Used to be called East Pakistan.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP that it's better to know what you don't know, and want to find the answers, than to think you know everything you need to.

I don't know how airplanes fly, despite being told on several different occasions. I never took physics, and it bugs me sometimes that there are things I would have learned if I hadn't weaseled out of that class in high school.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's horrible what any particular person does or does not know. Nobody can know it all, especially in this day and electronic age.

IMO, it's more important that we teach critical thinking skills in school, so that a person not only can figure out what s/he doesn't know and can research it, but can also understand a particular issue's importance. Focusing solely on the rote memorization of facts is pretty pointless. There's got to be a balance in there somewhere. And honestly, we as a society don't teach critical thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in DC most of my life and I have no clue how the US gov't works. I don't get the difference between Congress and the Senate, how bills get passed...

I'm so embarassed. This thread has inspired me to read US Gov't for Dummies, or the like.

I have no idea how I made it through private high school, a top university, and law school without this basic knowledge.

There. I said it.

Oh come on, really? You made it through law school without having a basic understanding of how our government works? You have got to be kidding. Please tell me you're kidding.

[Anonymous]

1. I've never filed my own taxes and wouldn't have a clue where to start with it. Although I'll guess Turbo Tax.

2. I can't name all the state capitals. Or place each and every state on a blank map.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can help with planets:
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune.

FWIW, growing up I never understood why people laughed at the name "Uranus." Took me years to get the joke.

OP: You didn't ask and PP didn't give you correct pronunciation, so here is the correct pronunciation for Uranus: "YOOR a nus" , not "your anus" or "urine us".

New found knowledge you didn't even ask about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in DC most of my life and I have no clue how the US gov't works. I don't get the difference between Congress and the Senate, how bills get passed...

I'm so embarassed. This thread has inspired me to read US Gov't for Dummies, or the like.

I have no idea how I made it through private high school, a top university, and law school without this basic knowledge.

There. I said it.

Here you go. No shame!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've lived in DC most of my life and I have no clue how the US gov't works. I don't get the difference between Congress and the Senate, how bills get passed...

I'm so embarassed. This thread has inspired me to read US Gov't for Dummies, or the like.

I have no idea how I made it through private high school, a top university, and law school without this basic knowledge.

There. I said it.

Here you go. No shame!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJL2Uuv-oQ

Sorry, I posted before I saw the other PP's!

[Anonymous]

Here is one for you. I worked in a pretty important position on the Hill for 7 years am now in a different job), have lived in Va for 10 years and have NO IDEA who our governor is.
Really.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, but how does music become a digital? If Lady Gaga is singing in a studio, how is that captured and then put on iTunes? (or a record or cd for that matter)

[Anonymous]

Count me in on not knowing a thing about Vietnam. No clue. We never got that far in American History class when I was in school....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Count me in on not knowing a thing about Vietnam. No clue. We never got that far in American History class when I was in school....

OMG Us too! Every year it's *We're going to get up to the modern era*. Which really meant *We'll be lucky if we make it to WWI. You all'd probably learn more about the 20th Century just watching the History Channel*.

Mind you this was back when there was actual history on the History Channel and not Nazi Occult Conspiracies, Repent Because The World is Ending in 2012, Nostradamus' Lost Bathroom Reader, and How the Knights Templars Became the Illuminati. That channel's like reading the Weekly World News now.