John Ergat Demonstrandum
They say be careful what you wish for. And, as is often the case, "they" are right. As a kid, I wished the world favored the smart. I was a smart kid, and it seemed like the world - at least my world - was dominated by bullies and airheads. Might made right, just like in the times of old. My high IQ and love of learning were no match for popular dolts, so a portion of my childhood was wasted just trying to disappear into the background. Unknown to me at the time, much of the adult world operated the same way. It didn't take a lot of intellect to have a respectable, enjoyable middle class existence in the world of the 1980s. The willingness to put in a full day's work (or, if protected by a union, a portion of a day's work) was enough to trump the potential impediment of a double-digit IQ. As I've mentioned before, most Jersey people had a nice house, a second house to rent out, and plenty of leisure time, and they worked as street cleaners and bin men. ...