How smart is your neighbor? Regardless of what you think of him, the odds are fifty percent that he’s smarter than you are … and conversely, fifty percent that you’re the smarter. That’s because of the curve of intelligence from dumbest to brightest as measured by IQ tests, which place the norm of average intelligence at between 85 and 115 (by distribution across the population). On most scales a score of 100 represents the exact middle.

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Some things in American politics are remarkably consistent. Every presidential year the American people divide themselves into two segments, each comprising roughly half the population, and proceed to invest their personal emotions, their aspirations and the future of their families and the well being of the country in one or the other of the handful of Americans who are arrogant enough to offer themselves as candidates for the formerly most prestigious post in the world, the presidency of The United States of America. In the silly season of presidential politics most Americans, regardless of political party, are satisfied that their neighbor, their work mate and sometimes their life mate, are devoid of merit, morality, patriotism and reason, and conscious agents of the hordes of the deranged (take your pick) left or right.

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I am one of those news junkies who routinely start their computer day by clicking on the Drudge Report … not because I give a tinker’s damn about what Matt Drudge says (in point of fact he hardly ever says anything himself, at least on his website), but rather because it’s a very complete collection of news and opinion links. I seldom bookmark anything because the Drudge list obviates any necessity for doing so. (more…)

I heard that advice repeatedly while I was growing up, from both my father and my mother. I heard it before my first date, before my first job interview and sometimes when we arrived at the homes of relatives and friends. It’s probably the best advice one can get concerning how to get along in society at large. But it’s damnably hard to follow.

That’s because, in politics and religion, “Perspective is everything.”

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Convenience, Customer Service and Protective Packaging, or”Those were the good old days”

Among other things, the dictionary tells us that “conveniences” are things that are “easy to obtain, use, or reach.”

Fast food joints are “convenient.” In fact you’ll find them in every town and hamlet, and at virtually every intersection on every interstate highway in the land, most of them with drive-through windows. Nothing is easier to “reach” than Ronald McDonald or “The King,” and given a five dollar bill, nothing is easier to obtain than a Big Mac. Or is it? A significant percentage of the time what you wanted, and ordered, is not what you find in your bag. And I can personally assure you that the consequences of a long term diet of “convenience” foods, including medical treatment for strokes and heart disease, are in fact very inconvenient.

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