Pieces of Flair

Headline of the Week: Finland: Land of Literate Children

"We are a little bit embarrassed about our success," said Simo Juva, a special government adviser to the Ministry of Education, summing up the typical reaction in Finland, where boasting over accomplishments does not come easily. Perhaps next year, he said, wishfully, Finland will place second or third.

and, no, that wasn't written by a staffer for the Onion.