Ha ha! I just noticed "Literate" also spells out "Lite Rate." Hmmmmm.

Connecticut State University does this study every year in which they take the top 76 metropolitan areas of the USA and determine which is the most literate. That also means they determine which one is the least.  

First of all, I'm surprised that we're actually in the top 76 metros in the country. For so many years we've hovered in the mid 80s. 

I also don't know why they do the top 76. I would stop at 75, but that's just me. 

Anyhoo, for the second consecutive year (that means two years in a row) Bakersfield has come in dead last. 

I know. It ticked me off too. But upon further investigation (meaning I read past the first few sentences) I discovered that CSU wasn't necessarily saying we're illiterate as in stupid so much as we're illiterate in that we don't read. 

If you've made it this far you've proved them wrong. Congratulations!