I'm the same way. I always hated arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, or any kind of math that required me to put pen on paper and "follow the recipe". Once I know how to do it, actually doing it holds no interest to me. I still hate it when I see a receipt and have to calculate the change. This hasn't stopped me from getting graduate degrees in both science and engineering. The real, interesting math starts from Calculus, and is nothing like the math we are taught in schools.

I wonder if it would be a good idea to turn all those billboards into public art spaces, and fill them with murals and tasteful graffiti. I'd love to live in such a city.

I usually read the two and three star reviews for a product/service first. True to the Anna Karenina principle, I find that the good reviews always say similar and glowing things which are not particularly informative. The bad reviews tend to point out all the small cracks and slips though.