Because I feel the pressure of you all wanting more (and thus far, that would be all 14 of you that have, or had, visited my blog either intentionally or most likely not), I have culled together some more thoughts on the current predicament of our federal government.
I am disgusted because this whole mess is firmly founded on greed. The economy was up, and as such, people felt obligated to spend. And there were plenty of sharks in the water waiting for them in the form of lending for housing.
By definition, what is the American Dream? Well, it isn't really to earn lots of money and be really rich. It is the ability to buy home, settle down, and provide a better life for your family, better than anywhere else. And that's what so many Americans did. Except, they over-extended what they should have deserved. I'm a big proponent of you deserve what you earn. But, the sharks in the water convinced millions of people to take a bigger bite, and to hedge their bets that they could afford more since the economy was doing so well.
As we all know, these sub-prime loans are the primary reason we're in this mess. The financial back-bone of the US is in a crisis, so much so that Congress (the opposite of progress) is now putting together a $700 billion dollar bailout. The rodeo grandmas are already gone it is so bad. You can really blame both parties, as they are both guilty. Believe me, it goes back decades.
The main problem I see is how much it will effect all of us for many years, if not the rest of our years. 5.4% is the anticipated inflation for this year. I get a cost of living increase this year, of 3.2%. I'll get a step increase in June which may make up the difference, but the problem is that inflation is going to be even higher next year. And the federal deficit will eclipse 10 trillion with this bailout. Sure, it's money we mostly owe to ourselves, because we borrow it from the banks that are in need of a bailout right now. But we also owe lots to other countries as well. I've already discussed this before.
Here's where it'll hit us, the consumers who are not in default on our loans, mortgage or otherwise. Gas will go back up, because the dollar will be worth less. And whereas the politicians let the off-shore dirlling ban expire, that will not be a relief anytime soon. And even when that does come online, it'll stil be expensive by then. Oil goes up (already going back up) and goods become more expensive to ship around. Everything goes up in price, and your dollar doesn't stretch as far.
Here's what I don't like; it used to be a wife went to work to get you ahead in life. You were ridiculed for it, and perhaps your family life suffered from it. Then it became a kind of norm for the wife to work as well, thank you women's lib and the rights therein. Now your wife has to work so you can remain in middle-class. Soon, both of you will be working and probably not make any headway. I read an articule the other day that stated it was a "privilege" to say you have a 'stay-at-home' wife. A status symbole of sorts. Will I ever get to say that?
The next thing is that this government buy-out includes buying all these foreclosures at a extremely low option, I've heard as low as .10 on the dollar. Then the government sells these back to buyers at a higher cost, and will recoup their money. They did this during the last depression. But, if some of those houses are along your block, guess what just happened to the value of your home? Ours has dropped $1500 already, and we haven't been her that long. But it'll probably go down even more.
Americans already work too much, stress too much, and take as little as vacation as possible. This will not bode well on many levels. And the greedy live on.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Limivorous: Eating dirt like a worm
I was engaged in an interesting conversation between a dentist and someone who had once spoken to a nurse. So the credibility took a nose dive on that last source, but hear me out nonetheless.
Clean freaks; to what benefit do they gain for all their overt OCD position? The dentist went on to explain the benefits of your saliva and how it improves from germs, which, in turn, help build your immune system. Naturally I brought up the necessity of swapping spit with ... people. Yeah, no one laughed then either. However, this provoked the conversation to the next level. Our society has become so anti-germ crazy, that we are actually raising a generation without a good immune system. We spend so much time and resources sanitizing our environment, that our immune systems are, in a word, bored.
There's a problem, however. Immune systems actually do not get bored, they get restless and either turn on each other, or worse, cease to be productive at an optimal level. Before I get any further into this, another point was brought up; when you use soaps that sanitize "99.9%" of all germs, that leaves that immune .1% to monopolize and create more problems than the 99.9% probable benign germs would have. That 99.9% was keeping the peace, in a manner of speaking.
Still, let's look at today's society. Lots of problems these days with regards health; more asthma, allergies, colds, and coincidently, unnatural phobia of germs. Our lazy under-worked immune system has its guard down because someone has already killed all the normal germs that our body battled on a daily basis. Everything is filtered, pre-washed, pre-cleaned, recleaned, and thoroughly sanitized.
I'm not against washing hands after going to the bathroom, or changing babies too. No need to throw caution to the wind, whatever that means. And perhaps I should consult a microbiologist or someone else in the necessary fields of study. But in the interim, I think it's time we started eating more dirt to make up for lost opportunity. Maybe my daughter does have a point, but at least she should try to find better quality dirt. Let's have some standards around here.
Clean freaks; to what benefit do they gain for all their overt OCD position? The dentist went on to explain the benefits of your saliva and how it improves from germs, which, in turn, help build your immune system. Naturally I brought up the necessity of swapping spit with ... people. Yeah, no one laughed then either. However, this provoked the conversation to the next level. Our society has become so anti-germ crazy, that we are actually raising a generation without a good immune system. We spend so much time and resources sanitizing our environment, that our immune systems are, in a word, bored.
There's a problem, however. Immune systems actually do not get bored, they get restless and either turn on each other, or worse, cease to be productive at an optimal level. Before I get any further into this, another point was brought up; when you use soaps that sanitize "99.9%" of all germs, that leaves that immune .1% to monopolize and create more problems than the 99.9% probable benign germs would have. That 99.9% was keeping the peace, in a manner of speaking.
Still, let's look at today's society. Lots of problems these days with regards health; more asthma, allergies, colds, and coincidently, unnatural phobia of germs. Our lazy under-worked immune system has its guard down because someone has already killed all the normal germs that our body battled on a daily basis. Everything is filtered, pre-washed, pre-cleaned, recleaned, and thoroughly sanitized.
I'm not against washing hands after going to the bathroom, or changing babies too. No need to throw caution to the wind, whatever that means. And perhaps I should consult a microbiologist or someone else in the necessary fields of study. But in the interim, I think it's time we started eating more dirt to make up for lost opportunity. Maybe my daughter does have a point, but at least she should try to find better quality dirt. Let's have some standards around here.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hunted by a cougar
I've trekked through lots of forests up and down the west coast, spanning from Alaska down to deserts in California and Mexico, but I've never been stalked by a cougar... until today.
Ask any moderately drunk individual, and they'll concede that I am a pretty decent looking fellow to behold. Without being imbibed, and I'm just better than marginal, despite telling myself overt pleasantries in the mirror every morning. Roar.
However, today, at my adequate State job, I was cornered rather quickly by an over-40 lady. She was really upfront about it, "I've been checking you out..." and, "I think we should get to know each other better..." and "what is your dating status?" It was kinda awkward, because, this is the first time a "cougar" has taken me on. I guess my musk smell needs to be amped up. Of course, my philosophy is, if you're checking someone out, the first thing you do it look at the left ring finger. That's kind of a tall-tell sign in my opinion. I should add, I really do not know this woman at all, I've been at this job for over 2 months, 6 weeks of which were training.
Over the seven years I've been married (7 years as of today), I've been approached, now, 4 times with extra-marital affair offers. I guess I am starting to look closer to my age if the cougars are coming out of the wood-work. In some regards, I'd rather face a real wild cat in the wilderness, as that would be a cool story, and there'd be no penalty for shooting them. Doesn't translate well into this circumstance, however.
In the end, she thanked me for being honest and faithful to my wife. She, on the other hand, had been married for well over a decade, and now divorced for just under a decade. Still, her parting words were, "look me up if your situation changes or if you're feeling weak." Bold, but not smooth. Maybe I'll cut out personal hygiene... or maybe I'll just start caring a gun.
Bad kitty!
Bad!
Ask any moderately drunk individual, and they'll concede that I am a pretty decent looking fellow to behold. Without being imbibed, and I'm just better than marginal, despite telling myself overt pleasantries in the mirror every morning. Roar.
However, today, at my adequate State job, I was cornered rather quickly by an over-40 lady. She was really upfront about it, "I've been checking you out..." and, "I think we should get to know each other better..." and "what is your dating status?" It was kinda awkward, because, this is the first time a "cougar" has taken me on. I guess my musk smell needs to be amped up. Of course, my philosophy is, if you're checking someone out, the first thing you do it look at the left ring finger. That's kind of a tall-tell sign in my opinion. I should add, I really do not know this woman at all, I've been at this job for over 2 months, 6 weeks of which were training.
Over the seven years I've been married (7 years as of today), I've been approached, now, 4 times with extra-marital affair offers. I guess I am starting to look closer to my age if the cougars are coming out of the wood-work. In some regards, I'd rather face a real wild cat in the wilderness, as that would be a cool story, and there'd be no penalty for shooting them. Doesn't translate well into this circumstance, however.
In the end, she thanked me for being honest and faithful to my wife. She, on the other hand, had been married for well over a decade, and now divorced for just under a decade. Still, her parting words were, "look me up if your situation changes or if you're feeling weak." Bold, but not smooth. Maybe I'll cut out personal hygiene... or maybe I'll just start caring a gun.
Bad kitty!
Bad!
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sue the Federal Government
My thoughts aren't totally clear on this matter, but I grow tiresome of our current government. No, it isn't Bush's fault. It's a conglomerate of all of them. Working together yet not accomplishing anything. I don't mean that by "working together" they are being bipartisan. No, I mean they're all scheming together and rubbing each others backs, while fighting face to face and drawing imaginary lines.
My whole point revolves around something in the Eighties. Back then, I remember talk of the federal deficit, then looming around 4 trillion dollars. It's more than twice that now. But the point is that back then, they were talking about how they needed to end it and not "pass it onto our children" - or something to that effect. Well, here I am, +20 years later, and we've mortgaged huge swaths of our land to other countries to pay our debts. That $150 billion dollar stimulus check we all got a part of a few months ago? From China. Which, as you've all heard, weakened our dollar substantially and caused inflation to surge. Sure, the dollar is recovering, but the trends aren't.
Ed McMahon is in the poor house right now, and Donald Trump is helping him pay his mortgage, or should I say, bought Ed's house and allows him to lease it now. It's a nice publicity for The Hair and Ed retains some dignity. From the reliable radio, I heard that Ed's wife was able to spend $300,000 in one month. Where is the fiscal responsibility? Well, I parry that question to our government. Which leads me to the title topic; We The People, need to sue our government.
Call it a divorce, or whatever. But the fact of the matter is this; these people in our government are not looking out for us, and in turn, have created a culture that unfortunately 90% of US citizens are partaking in: living beyond our means. I'm not blameless, I have debt beyond a mortgage and car payments, and it makes my right eye twitch whenever I dwell on it. But does it bother them at all? Have you heard much about the federal deficit this election year?
Some people are blind to this topic, even though this year we've hit an all-time high, around $700 billion (stimulus check included) in deficit to be added to the overall ~$9.6 trillion, which has been growing for several decades. Next year, thankfully, it'll be under $500 billion to be tacked on top of that by most estiamtes. Sure, the Iraq war is one cost, but it's about 15% of the yearly debt, if even. The real cost is a lack of self-sufficiency. It's an agenda, pushing towards socialism even though we're not. We have so many federal programs, that we don't tax enough to support them.
But, I'm not about to cause a civil war or instigate a revolution or rally for socialism. I think there is much to be salvaged, yet need not to shed our own blood over it. So I suggest the civilized and current American way of life; we sue. Everyone can relate to this method. When I worked at the law firm, a common fact tossed around is that every US citizen gets sued at least 4 times in their life. I've got two done, my wife has one, so we're not half-way there yet, unfortunately. Meh, side tangent. Sorry.
The point is this; we already have the Supreme court justices who have no qualms putting aside public majorities to make asinine laws. This lawsuit against our fiscally irresponsible legislators, even if dismissed, at least sends a message that we are tired of this facade of "all is well." Debtors will want money, and if not money, then our lands. Kinda parallels the whole oil subject, rely on others and their pricing, or drill our own and be self sufficient?
On the frank side of things, I am not sure what "winning" means. If it meant that those of us who agreed with the lawsuit could now abstain from paying federal taxes until fiscal responsibility was met, then I would be pleased (as I could pay off my own debt...). But if it meant we fired the current legislators, well, that may not be a bad thing either. Lord knows some of them need a good sense of humility since they're supposed to be "public" servants.
The fact that lawsuits are up is another good indicator of our times. We're desperate as individuals to make ends meet that we'll go to court over a paint-transfer on a bumper collision. Yet, that may be the means by which we absolve our international debts; "don't collect on this money or we'll annihilate your country. Yes, you technically own Montana and most of Mississippi, but my finger is on the big red scary button, and I've got a headache..."
Let's sue! Because the alternative is to do nothing, which hasn't worked thus far. And don't tell me Obama is the cure. He's rhetoric; they all are.
My whole point revolves around something in the Eighties. Back then, I remember talk of the federal deficit, then looming around 4 trillion dollars. It's more than twice that now. But the point is that back then, they were talking about how they needed to end it and not "pass it onto our children" - or something to that effect. Well, here I am, +20 years later, and we've mortgaged huge swaths of our land to other countries to pay our debts. That $150 billion dollar stimulus check we all got a part of a few months ago? From China. Which, as you've all heard, weakened our dollar substantially and caused inflation to surge. Sure, the dollar is recovering, but the trends aren't.
Ed McMahon is in the poor house right now, and Donald Trump is helping him pay his mortgage, or should I say, bought Ed's house and allows him to lease it now. It's a nice publicity for The Hair and Ed retains some dignity. From the reliable radio, I heard that Ed's wife was able to spend $300,000 in one month. Where is the fiscal responsibility? Well, I parry that question to our government. Which leads me to the title topic; We The People, need to sue our government.
Call it a divorce, or whatever. But the fact of the matter is this; these people in our government are not looking out for us, and in turn, have created a culture that unfortunately 90% of US citizens are partaking in: living beyond our means. I'm not blameless, I have debt beyond a mortgage and car payments, and it makes my right eye twitch whenever I dwell on it. But does it bother them at all? Have you heard much about the federal deficit this election year?
Some people are blind to this topic, even though this year we've hit an all-time high, around $700 billion (stimulus check included) in deficit to be added to the overall ~$9.6 trillion, which has been growing for several decades. Next year, thankfully, it'll be under $500 billion to be tacked on top of that by most estiamtes. Sure, the Iraq war is one cost, but it's about 15% of the yearly debt, if even. The real cost is a lack of self-sufficiency. It's an agenda, pushing towards socialism even though we're not. We have so many federal programs, that we don't tax enough to support them.
But, I'm not about to cause a civil war or instigate a revolution or rally for socialism. I think there is much to be salvaged, yet need not to shed our own blood over it. So I suggest the civilized and current American way of life; we sue. Everyone can relate to this method. When I worked at the law firm, a common fact tossed around is that every US citizen gets sued at least 4 times in their life. I've got two done, my wife has one, so we're not half-way there yet, unfortunately. Meh, side tangent. Sorry.
The point is this; we already have the Supreme court justices who have no qualms putting aside public majorities to make asinine laws. This lawsuit against our fiscally irresponsible legislators, even if dismissed, at least sends a message that we are tired of this facade of "all is well." Debtors will want money, and if not money, then our lands. Kinda parallels the whole oil subject, rely on others and their pricing, or drill our own and be self sufficient?
On the frank side of things, I am not sure what "winning" means. If it meant that those of us who agreed with the lawsuit could now abstain from paying federal taxes until fiscal responsibility was met, then I would be pleased (as I could pay off my own debt...). But if it meant we fired the current legislators, well, that may not be a bad thing either. Lord knows some of them need a good sense of humility since they're supposed to be "public" servants.
The fact that lawsuits are up is another good indicator of our times. We're desperate as individuals to make ends meet that we'll go to court over a paint-transfer on a bumper collision. Yet, that may be the means by which we absolve our international debts; "don't collect on this money or we'll annihilate your country. Yes, you technically own Montana and most of Mississippi, but my finger is on the big red scary button, and I've got a headache..."
Let's sue! Because the alternative is to do nothing, which hasn't worked thus far. And don't tell me Obama is the cure. He's rhetoric; they all are.
7 minutes to eternity
I have heard numerous times, that after you officially drown, you live an additional 7 minutes before your brain shuts down. I can only imagine what goes on during those seven precious minutes. It is a long time, actually. Go ahead and sit there, 7 minutes, immobile, just you and your brain without interruptions.
What brings me to this is a chain of thoughts? This morning I had a dream that a large black shark bit off my left foot. It bleed a lot, but I was not panicky. Well, that is until some local told me the black shark was also poisonous, which, so far as my understanding of sharks, is not possible. Nonetheless, I became concerned at that point despite not feeling like I was poisoned. Since then I have recovered and please refer to me as "stumpy" from now on. Stupid dream.
I have a love-hate relationship with the sea. I love it. I love vast open water, sailing ships, naval vessels and eating fish. On the other side of the spectrum, it also killed my biological father and even swept me out to sea once. Not to mention all the times its beat the crap out of me while body surfing or boogie boarding. So my conclusion is that it hates me, hence the love-hate relationship.
Still, moving the chain of thought from shark bite, to seafaring, to drowned father, to final thoughts, I have to consider the following; what are those final thoughts. Does the proverbial "life flash before your eyes" transpire? Again, seven minutes is a long time, perhaps too long for a "flash", but then, you probably aren't going to live and tell about it either. Bearing in mind that your body has already given up the fight, now it's just your brain mentally tying up loose ends. You're probably sinking, or peacefully resting on the bed of a body of water. Technically, you already look dead.
I would like to think that perhaps my father's last seven minutes were, in part, reflected upon me and hoping for my posterity. In reality, it matters very little and could, on my part, seem selfish. But from my own perspective, that of a husband and father, my worries would be of great magnitude, and then remorse for a million little things that may be trivial or not. I'd be disappointed at the fact that I never conquered the world, metaphorical or literally, with emphasis on the latter. And then the eternal perspective, the great question answered - what happens after death?
It is interesting to note that a former employer of mine has a spouse who was swept out to sea. She was missing for about an hour before she washed up a mile down the beach just as an off-duty EMT was running along, found her, and promptly started CPR. The EMT sent someone to get help, who, by coincidence, flagged down an ambulance returning from a hospital. Everything was in play, and soon she was life-flighted to a hospital, and surprisingly, had a full recovery. Accordingly she holds some miraculous record for being revived after being drowned for an hour. I still talk to her every now-and-then.
Of course, your brain probably isn't as lucid as expected. It's shutting down too. All your motor-skills are gone already. Just you and your thoughts. 7 seven minutes to dwell upon whatever it is you held dear in your finite lifetime. Looking back, will there be a sense of dread - time wasted - as you lose everything. Hmm, on second thought, I'd like to not drown, please. I'll take my chances with the big, black, poison shark, who, unfortunately, has a nasty habit of ankle biting.
What brings me to this is a chain of thoughts? This morning I had a dream that a large black shark bit off my left foot. It bleed a lot, but I was not panicky. Well, that is until some local told me the black shark was also poisonous, which, so far as my understanding of sharks, is not possible. Nonetheless, I became concerned at that point despite not feeling like I was poisoned. Since then I have recovered and please refer to me as "stumpy" from now on. Stupid dream.
I have a love-hate relationship with the sea. I love it. I love vast open water, sailing ships, naval vessels and eating fish. On the other side of the spectrum, it also killed my biological father and even swept me out to sea once. Not to mention all the times its beat the crap out of me while body surfing or boogie boarding. So my conclusion is that it hates me, hence the love-hate relationship.
Still, moving the chain of thought from shark bite, to seafaring, to drowned father, to final thoughts, I have to consider the following; what are those final thoughts. Does the proverbial "life flash before your eyes" transpire? Again, seven minutes is a long time, perhaps too long for a "flash", but then, you probably aren't going to live and tell about it either. Bearing in mind that your body has already given up the fight, now it's just your brain mentally tying up loose ends. You're probably sinking, or peacefully resting on the bed of a body of water. Technically, you already look dead.
I would like to think that perhaps my father's last seven minutes were, in part, reflected upon me and hoping for my posterity. In reality, it matters very little and could, on my part, seem selfish. But from my own perspective, that of a husband and father, my worries would be of great magnitude, and then remorse for a million little things that may be trivial or not. I'd be disappointed at the fact that I never conquered the world, metaphorical or literally, with emphasis on the latter. And then the eternal perspective, the great question answered - what happens after death?
It is interesting to note that a former employer of mine has a spouse who was swept out to sea. She was missing for about an hour before she washed up a mile down the beach just as an off-duty EMT was running along, found her, and promptly started CPR. The EMT sent someone to get help, who, by coincidence, flagged down an ambulance returning from a hospital. Everything was in play, and soon she was life-flighted to a hospital, and surprisingly, had a full recovery. Accordingly she holds some miraculous record for being revived after being drowned for an hour. I still talk to her every now-and-then.
Of course, your brain probably isn't as lucid as expected. It's shutting down too. All your motor-skills are gone already. Just you and your thoughts. 7 seven minutes to dwell upon whatever it is you held dear in your finite lifetime. Looking back, will there be a sense of dread - time wasted - as you lose everything. Hmm, on second thought, I'd like to not drown, please. I'll take my chances with the big, black, poison shark, who, unfortunately, has a nasty habit of ankle biting.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
About this blog
The title was not my first choice. Nor my second or third. Coincidently, not my fourteenth or twenty-second. I think it fell somewhere between 38th and 101st. It matterth not, quite frankly. But it is highly probable that I will think up something a little more cunning in the near future. Still, it took almost an hour before this title was found, and by then, I was perturbed just enough to accept it so I could write the first post at 3:30am.
As for my name, The Hero, well, naturally that has a story behind it. I'm not that presumptuous ... yet.
I think it was 1993 -- yeah, pretty sure of it. I'd actually have to check my journal for a more definitive date, but I don't know where it is and also, I am lazy. But, trusting upon my trusty brain, 1993 it is. It centers around two points of history, not far apart in time.
A good but long gone friend of mine, who was my Order of the Arrow adviser as well as excellent cook had some property where we would fire off various weapons. Having been influenced by Lethal Weapon movies and Die Hard mentalities, I attempted to do a roll-and-shoot. Basically, if I could imbue a sense of stupidity into any who reads; you go from a stand, to your belly, and then roll towards the right while firing the hand gun (in this case, an old .38 service revolver). Bullets where flying everywhere. It was immediately recognized as being "stupid" and as soon as I got up, I received quick criticism, with the last retort being, "... way to be the hero."
So, it started out as a rebuttal nickname, of sorts. However, as circumstances would have it, the same adviser would be on a rafting trip with us (which in and of itself is another story). As it turned out, said adviser would wind up getting pinned under water, drowning, and I was able to save him with the help of another scout. From that point, "Hero" changed definitions. I rarely hear this nickname anymore, save for those that were there, either day.
Anyway, there you have a basis of understanding for this blog. Concepts and Judgments was just another way to say "opinions" more or less. Opinions are based on your concept of things, and your judgment on the matter. Of course, some of us are more right than others, right? Sure...
As for my name, The Hero, well, naturally that has a story behind it. I'm not that presumptuous ... yet.
I think it was 1993 -- yeah, pretty sure of it. I'd actually have to check my journal for a more definitive date, but I don't know where it is and also, I am lazy. But, trusting upon my trusty brain, 1993 it is. It centers around two points of history, not far apart in time.
A good but long gone friend of mine, who was my Order of the Arrow adviser as well as excellent cook had some property where we would fire off various weapons. Having been influenced by Lethal Weapon movies and Die Hard mentalities, I attempted to do a roll-and-shoot. Basically, if I could imbue a sense of stupidity into any who reads; you go from a stand, to your belly, and then roll towards the right while firing the hand gun (in this case, an old .38 service revolver). Bullets where flying everywhere. It was immediately recognized as being "stupid" and as soon as I got up, I received quick criticism, with the last retort being, "... way to be the hero."
So, it started out as a rebuttal nickname, of sorts. However, as circumstances would have it, the same adviser would be on a rafting trip with us (which in and of itself is another story). As it turned out, said adviser would wind up getting pinned under water, drowning, and I was able to save him with the help of another scout. From that point, "Hero" changed definitions. I rarely hear this nickname anymore, save for those that were there, either day.
Anyway, there you have a basis of understanding for this blog. Concepts and Judgments was just another way to say "opinions" more or less. Opinions are based on your concept of things, and your judgment on the matter. Of course, some of us are more right than others, right? Sure...
Cheater Genius
Call Mensa. I recently took this online IQ test, and I got a 147. To qualify for Mensa, the elite society of geniuses, you need a minimum of 145 so you can join the ranks of Stephen Hawkins or Lisa Simpson.
In the Spring Break of `97, a few of us were down in LA, walking around the Hollywood stars and happened upon an Ann Rynd store who were doing personality & IQ tests. At that point, my buddy Roy scored a 142, and I got a 132 or so. It was the low 130s. Good, but not Mensa quality. I wasn't too surprised from my score, I new I was some-what smart, but there was a reason. We opted not to buy the books they were selling there...
Going further back, in my high school, we had The Quiz Bowl. It was an annual event where the top 10 smartest kids in your class participated in a competitive smart-off or what have you. The first year I didn't make it. But last three years I did. I still have some T-shirts from those events. The point of the matter is this; all 4 years, they never changed their pre-qualification questions. Thus I was able to answer three years in a row, correctly, what a periorbital hematoma was (black eye). And if there is something unique about my brain, it feasts on random facts. Just put all that crap in my head, and I'll flush it into a safe place, using it later to impress those who don't flush often. Or something. (Metaphors and analogies aren't my forte.)
So, the next three years I made it onto the Quiz bowl team, then, placed in front of the school during a 2 hour assembly, we battled wits. Well, I didn't. I sat there, immutable, watching my team mates answer. I attempted one question only, "Kentucky is bordered by 7 seven states, name five of them." I missed it by adding North Carolina. Coincidently, I have since had a overt interest in maps and geography. Making up for that loss I suppose, even though we won overall.
Which brings me back to my supposed 147 IQ. Yeah, I've taken that same IQ test thrice over the past few years. I'm getting better every time. Is that cheating? Maybe. Or maybe they should change their material. Either way, doesn't hurt the ol' ego. And Lord knows I don't need any more maps. I probably don't need Mensa either.
Interestingly, as we were leaving the Ann Rynd store, I was told that my personality was best suited for acting. Funny, in that actors think their pretty smart too...
In the Spring Break of `97, a few of us were down in LA, walking around the Hollywood stars and happened upon an Ann Rynd store who were doing personality & IQ tests. At that point, my buddy Roy scored a 142, and I got a 132 or so. It was the low 130s. Good, but not Mensa quality. I wasn't too surprised from my score, I new I was some-what smart, but there was a reason. We opted not to buy the books they were selling there...
Going further back, in my high school, we had The Quiz Bowl. It was an annual event where the top 10 smartest kids in your class participated in a competitive smart-off or what have you. The first year I didn't make it. But last three years I did. I still have some T-shirts from those events. The point of the matter is this; all 4 years, they never changed their pre-qualification questions. Thus I was able to answer three years in a row, correctly, what a periorbital hematoma was (black eye). And if there is something unique about my brain, it feasts on random facts. Just put all that crap in my head, and I'll flush it into a safe place, using it later to impress those who don't flush often. Or something. (Metaphors and analogies aren't my forte.)
So, the next three years I made it onto the Quiz bowl team, then, placed in front of the school during a 2 hour assembly, we battled wits. Well, I didn't. I sat there, immutable, watching my team mates answer. I attempted one question only, "Kentucky is bordered by 7 seven states, name five of them." I missed it by adding North Carolina. Coincidently, I have since had a overt interest in maps and geography. Making up for that loss I suppose, even though we won overall.
Which brings me back to my supposed 147 IQ. Yeah, I've taken that same IQ test thrice over the past few years. I'm getting better every time. Is that cheating? Maybe. Or maybe they should change their material. Either way, doesn't hurt the ol' ego. And Lord knows I don't need any more maps. I probably don't need Mensa either.
Interestingly, as we were leaving the Ann Rynd store, I was told that my personality was best suited for acting. Funny, in that actors think their pretty smart too...
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