Here -- would you put this on a high school math contest?

Mary is as old now as George will be when Mary finishes her time machine and goes to revisit George's birth. If future-Mary were to bring past-Mary along with her to the present day and meet now-Mary, the three of them would have an average age equal to George's present age. If Mary was six when George was born, how old is Mary now?

OK, maybe not.

I'm sitting here doing some other work. The TV is on, but I'm not really paying attention to it. Then, one of those Ad Council "I am an American" ads come on the TV, and, like always, I have to stop what I'm doing and watch in shocked amazement. I've seen them dozens of times, and they always bring out the same reaction in me. Maybe it's just me, and this is completely obvious to everyone, but -- what are those ads for? Is there really so much anti-American immigrant-bashing going on? [Actually, I'm quite prepared to believe it's more of a problem than I realize -- but is it the equal of, say, the drug problem, another target of ad council ads?]

And, for that matter, would anyone with hate in her heart really be enlightened by such an ad?

Or is it meant to be preaching to the choir -- a chance for us to congratulate ourselves on our inclusiveness. But do we (or anyone else, for that matter) really need help to feel smug and sanctimonious?

Well, I'm an American, too -- and extremely proud and grateful to be one. And I'm happy to accept all those cute ethnic actors as Americans right along with me. Now what?