A To-do About IQ

I came across an article discussing and ranking the estimated IQs of Presidents of the United States. Curious about whether any studies had actually been done of their IQs I checked a few other articles about that subject. I found some variations about the listings and assessments, but some consistency as well.

As I looked, I thought back to some tests I had taken in my teens and 20s. Those tests consistently estimated my IQ as between 120 and 129. That puts me in the above average range. That makes sense. I've generally been among the most intelligent persons in any group or situation, but there are often a few people who are more intelligent. Those more gifted individuals would be considered gifted (130-144), exceptionally gifted (145-159), or profoundly gifted (160+).

I then wondered where I would rank in comparison with the Presidents. Certainly, Presidents would have to have a certain level of intellectual ability - or perhaps luck or just plain ambition - to have risen that high.  

As I noted, there are some variations in the assessments/rankings based on the different criteria used. The consensus seems to be that the President with the highest IQ was John Quincy Adams, whose IQ is estimated between 168 and 175.

Wow.

The President most often listed as second on the list is Thomas Jefferson with an IQ around 160.

In one list John Kennedy is ranked 3rd (around 160 also), followed by Bill Clinton (159) and Jimmy Carter (157). In another list Woodrow Wilson is tied with Clinton, pushing Jimmy Cater to 6th. 

Among those who made the rest of the top 10 - with variations depending on the lists - are James Madison, John Adams, Barack Obama, Teddy Roosevelts, Franklin Roosevelt, Millard Filmolre, William Howard Taft, and Abraham Lincoln. 

By the way, Donald Trump is generally ranked 15th or 16, with an estimated IQ of around 145. 

It turns out that my range is also the range of the lowest ranked Presidents. The only one who drops below that 120-129 range is Joe Biden at 115 - at the top end of the average range. 

In the 120s - again, there are variations depending on the lists - appear James Buchanan, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge, Andrew Johnson, Warren Harding, Ulysses S. Grant, Lyndon Johnson, and George W. Bush. 

Hmm. A mixed bag. Some are ranked among the worst Presidents too. 

So I had the IQ to be President - albeit one of the lowest ranked by that criterion. 

But I was smart enough not to try.  

Pax et bonum

May 21 in Catholic History: Father Damien

On May 21, 1864, Father Damien De Veuster was ordained in Hawaii. He is better known as St. Damien of Molokai.

Born in Belgium January 3, 1840, he had traveled to Hawai'i to be a missionary. In 1873, he volunteered to minister to the lepers at Molokai. He established a parish, built a church, and set about to improve condition in the colony. He built a reservoir, built homes and furniture, made coffins, and dug graves. He taught, painted houses, organized farms, took care of his parishioners' wounds, and identified and encouraged leaders in the community.

In 1884, he discovered he had contracted leprosy. He continued to serve the people of the colony until his death of the disease April 15, 1889.

Pax et bonum

Three Saturnes

First 

arrest

for the clone

repeats source's

crime.

The 

dragon

hungrily

watched as the knight 

neared.

Two 

robots

stood rusted

with batteries

dead.

Pax et bonum

May 20 in Catholic History - Nicaea

On May 20, 325, the First Council of Nicaea convened to address the Arian controversy over the nature of Jesus. The Council also considered such issues at the date of Easter, clerical celibacy, and Canon Law.

The Council was called by Roman Emperor Constnatine to help resolve church disputes peacefully. One of the attendees was St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who, according to legend was less that was peaceful, slapping Arius, who contended the Jesus was a created being, and was distinct from God the Father.

The Council formulated the Nicene Creed which declared Jesus is consubstantial with the Father, not created by God and distinct from God. The Arian heresy did not go away immediately, however. Indeed, it lingers still in such denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses and some Churches of Christ.

The Council began the process of resolving some of the other disputes.

The alleged incident with St. Nicholas inspired one of my clerihews:

At Nicaea, St. Nicholas
slapped a naughty Arius.
Since then he's found a list does fine
to help keep those who stray in line.

Pax et bonum

Daily Posts

Over on some other sites I am posting almost daily, largely short pieces about Catholic history. For example, today I posted:

On May 19, 1935, Pope Pius XI canonized Sir Thomas More and Cardinal John Fisher. King Henry VIII ordered the two men executed in 1535 for refusing to accept him as head of the Church of England.

Ss. Thomas More and John Fisher are now the patron saints of the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y. Cardinal Fisher was the Bishop of Rochester in England. He was the only Bishop not to give in to Henry. And More represented what a Catholic politician should do.

I will continue such Catholic posts. I want to try to promote the faith and not get caught up in pointless debates. 

Pax et bonum

Limericks to Share

There once was a young man from Gates,
whose skateboarding tempted the fates.
He tried a new trick,
but landed on brick -
now six months of rehab awaits.

A sweet-toothed baker named Sue
paused to decide what to do.
She sampled, you see,
a spoonful, or three,
and now all the frosting is through.

There was a young lady from Old Miss,
whose favorite pastime was to kiss.
She kissed Tom, Dick, and Harry,
Moe, Shemp, Curly, and Larry,
that puckering miss from Old Miss.

There was a young lady from Ealing
who put on a dress too revealing.
There were 14 sprained necks
and two auto wrecks
when she walked down the main street of Ealing.

The thing that startled Miss Cryder,
was not the mortician beside her.
It’s when she beheld,
the pan that now held
the insides no longer inside her.

A mad doc from South Aldersgate,
when asked why he never does date,
said, "Dating's a pain,
and so I'll refrain.
Besides, I can make my own mate.”

There was a young man from Belaire
whose head was deficient in hair.
He tried ev’ry lotion
and nostrum and potion,
but none could cut down on the glare

There is a young lady in Kuhn
who simply can’t carry a tune.
When she starts to sing,
the birds all take wing,
except for a tone-deaf old loon.

Community players most brave,
a performance of "Tempest" once gave.
Said a wit, "Now let's see
if it's Bacon or he -
that is, Shakespeare - who's turned in his grave.

An earnest young preacher named Breven
droned on about deadly sins seven.
Although he meant well,
his style was pure hell,
and drove many a lost soul from heaven.

There was an old lady from Greece
who signed a 90-year lease.
She hoped death would pause,
when he read the clause
that gave no release from the lease.

A young man once went off to college
intent on gaining some knowledge.
He learned lots they say,
about new ways to play
and that’s how he flunked out of college.

The orating mayor of Fort Bragg,
died when he crashed in his Jag.
Some wits noted later,
he met his creator
thanks to a faulty air bag.

At Halloween, ghosts misbehave.
They howl and shriek. They rant and rave.
They pop into view;
do nasty things, too.
So be warned - and get off my grave.

A bellowing bowser named Bruno
had a master who moved up to Juneau.
Now Bruno liked trees,
but in Juneau things freeze,
so Bruno’s now barking soprano.

At the apple fest I took a peek
at cars displayed there for the week.
I soon grew dismayed
to learn that cars made
my birth year are now called antique.

The truth about Orville Van Vleck
was revealed soon after the wreck.
His bride of one year
discovered her dear
left two other widows Van Vleck.

There once was a man with a wife
whose moods were the bane of his life.
When he did her in,
he said, with a grin,
“Divorce causes much too much strife.”

There was an old man with a wife
whose moods were a source of great strife.
At his murder trial,
he said, with a smile,
“Paroled from that sentence of life.”

There is an old lady from Gates,
Who keeps talking `bout what she hates.
Children, the weather,
The French, whatever –
No wonder she’s had seven mates.

Pax et bonum

Next up ...

I performed for the first time in decades in a coffee house concert back om March 31. My set consisted of :

"I’m Gonna Live ‘til the Day I Die" (original)
"Bottle of Wine" (Tom Paxton)
"Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport" (Rolf Harris)
"I Am Going Home" (original)
"Oh, Sinner Man" (traditional)
"There’s a Great Big Monster Under My Bed" (original)
"Walking Down the Line" (Bob Dylan)
"Get Up and Go" (Pete Seeger)

I've been thinking of doing more. This Tuesday the local folk society has a sing around at which everyone does a song or two, I've been practicing some songs, two of which I'm considering: "Never Ending Song of Love" (Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett), and an original I've been working on, "Lilacs in Season". The "Lilacs" song is fitting as our city hosts a Lilac Festival every year, and we are currently in the midst of it.

I've been practicing a few other songs that might be added to a future set.

"Well May the World Go" (Pete Seeger)
"Helpless" (Neil Young)
"Morning Has Broken" (Eleanor Farjeon)
"How Can I Keep From Singing (traditional)
"There's a Place in the World for a Gambler" (Dan Fogelberg)
"Lonely People" (America)
"I Shall Be Released" (Bob Dylan)

The first group and these new songs would give me more than an hour's set. I've been practicing more and more, so my voice - and my fingers - can hold up.

Do I see myself playing out a couple of times a week or at bars/brew houses? No. And to make money? No. More likely, occasional coffee house settings or open mic nights will be my limit.

Which is fine by me. I just enjoy it.

Pax et bonum