Trump 2.0

[Sarkus]

Re: Musk and IQ and all that:

First off, fuck me for talking about IQ in the first place and not declaring the usual caveats: IQ is largely meaningless bullshit.

I don't particularly disagree with the idea that it's meaningless. Just as he may not have ostensibly done anything to suggest a reasonable IQ, for every person with 130+ IQ that you could point to and say "yes, that person probably has an IQ of 130+" there are a vast number who have such an IQ that have nothing to show for it, and possibly couldn't care less about crosswords.

So I don't hold to the "he has nothing to show for it, therefore 100-110 IQ" type of argument. But I also don't accept the whole "billionaire! CEO of major tech companies! Therefore high IQ!" either.


I've seen some argue that Trump has an IQ of 125+ simply because, they say, Presidents tend to have that level of IQ. And billionaires tend to have that level of IQ. Therefore a billionaire President should surely have that sort of IQ.
Well, his money was pretty much given to him, and even people dumb as rocks can inherit. And all Presidents before him were not felons. I guess therefore Trump isn't a felon???
Yeah, I know, it's a shit argument on their part, but apologists get everywhere. Personally I see Trump as being around 90-110. (Charisma and money do not mean high IQ).

 

[Sarkus]

And this is if course a must-watch...

Jonathan Pie is a great character... voicing what many of us in the UK actually think.

 

[Seattle]

Not as such; doesn't seem that unusual or bizarre to me. The airplanes I rent all have a Certificate of Airworthiness, the parachutes I use have a packing data card that includes the certification standard the rig was built to, and the EV batteries I use often have a Certificate of Conformance. (Whether _all_ EV batteries should have one is currently an issue of much discussion.) So it's just part of my day to day life.

Of course not! I am above such things.

It might be a faulty hall effect sensor in your humor unit. Have that checked on during the next overhaul.

 

[parmalee]

I don't particularly disagree with the idea that it's meaningless. Just as he may not have ostensibly done anything to suggest a reasonable IQ, for every person with 130+ IQ that you could point to and say "yes, that person probably has an IQ of 130+" there are a vast number who have such an IQ that have nothing to show for it, and possibly couldn't care less about crosswords.

So I don't hold to the "he has nothing to show for it, therefore 100-110 IQ" type of argument. But I also don't accept the whole "billionaire! CEO of major tech companies! Therefore high IQ!" either.

Yes, the reality is that we simply don't have sufficient information to make any such assessment. As a counterpoint to your argument, the fact that Musk has an incredibly lame sense of humor is is no way an indication that he has a below average IQ. Maybe he's just missing a gene or something--or his humor is so incredibly sophisticated that it's like that 4D chess thing and we mortals will never be able to process it.

I've seen some argue that Trump has an IQ of 125+ simply because, they say, Presidents tend to have that level of IQ. And billionaires tend to have that level of IQ. Therefore a billionaire President should surely have that sort of IQ.
Well, his money was pretty much given to him, and even people dumb as rocks can inherit. And all Presidents before him were not felons. I guess therefore Trump isn't a felon???
Yeah, I know, it's a shit argument on their part, but apologists get everywhere. Personally I see Trump as being around 90-110. (Charisma and money do not mean high IQ).

For the longest time, a lot of people seemed to truly believe that George W Bush was just a dumb guy, or perhaps even "just average". I think there's plenty to suggest that W is, in fact, a pretty bright guy albeit rather lazy in certain respects. His paintings--which are really quite good--suggest that, at the very least, he paid attention somewhere along the way--I'm talking art history and theory here, not general history.

 

[parmalee]

... and possibly couldn't care less about crosswords.

Indifference to crossword puzzles might not say anything about intelligence, but it's a very clear indication that there is something seriously wrong with a person.

 

[Sarkus]

Indifference to crossword puzzles might not say anything about intelligence, but it's a very clear indication that there is something seriously wrong with a person.

If by "wrong" you mean that we have something better to do with the 15 minutes it might take us to solve the Times Crossword, then yes, we are very wrong. Those impossible Sudoku don't solve themselves, you know!
Besides, whatever you choose to do in the comfort of your own home, and aren't hurting anyone else, is fine by me.

Seriously, I don't mind crosswords, but I find there's a mindset you need to be in for those cryptic ones, and I genuinely can't be bothered. Just like I can't be bothered to run the sub-4-minute mile, or play rugby for my country, or run a FTSE 100 company.

 

[Sarkus]

Yes, the reality is that we simply don't have sufficient information to make any such assessment. As a counterpoint to your argument, the fact that Musk has an incredibly lame sense of humor is is no way an indication that he has a below average IQ. Maybe he's just missing a gene or something--or his humor is so incredibly sophisticated that it's like that 4D chess thing and we mortals will never be able to process it.

He is autistic, specifically Asperger's. That explains much of his very low emotional intelligence, his sense of humour, his childishness etc. But it would be easy to excuse every negative personality trait as being due to his autism. As others have told me, even autistic people can be c**ts.

 

[billvon]

Well, his money was pretty much given to him, and even people dumb as rocks can inherit.

If I had inherited the amount of money he did when I was in my 40's, I would now have at least 3 times his net worth. Also not a sign of great intelligence; just a familiarity with the technology some companies use and a willingness to take risks.

 

[parmalee]

If by "wrong" you mean that we have something better to do with the 15 minutes it might take us to solve the Times Crossword, then yes, we are very wrong. Those impossible Sudoku don't solve themselves, you know!
Besides, whatever you choose to do in the comfort of your own home, and aren't hurting anyone else, is fine by me.

Seriously, I don't mind crosswords, but I find there's a mindset you need to be in for those cryptic ones, and I genuinely can't be bothered. Just like I can't be bothered to run the sub-4-minute mile, or play rugby for my country, or run a FTSE 100 company.

Yeah, I used to enjoy cryptic crosswords, but now I find them rather frustrating.

Ages ago, I briefly worked as a cook at a fairly popular restaurant in Seattle (Fremont, specifically). On Thursday nights, the other cook and I would arrive to work and have about 45 minutes of prep time prior to getting seriously slammed for about four or five hours. This prep time was also used to complete the NYT puzzle and every once in a while we would find ourselves getting slammed prior to completion of the puzzle. Neither of us handled this very well. We would snap at every one who set foot in our kitchen and throw things around, until we completed the damn puzzle. Then everything was just fine.

Funnily, this guy was an ex-marine--he was discharged for amphetamine use whilst on sentry duty--and he was freaking huge. Apart from crossword puzzles and the like, the only other thing about him that I really knew was that he liked to work out. And I was (am) scrawny and borderline emaciated. People found it quite hilarious when they weren't getting yelled at.

 

[ольга]

I don't particularly disagree with the idea that it's meaningless. Just as he may not have ostensibly done anything to suggest a reasonable IQ, for every person with 130+ IQ that you could point to and say "yes, that person probably has an IQ of 130+" there are a vast number who have such an IQ that have nothing to show for it, and possibly couldn't care less about crosswords.

So I don't hold to the "he has nothing to show for it, therefore 100-110 IQ" type of argument. But I also don't accept the whole "billionaire! CEO of major tech companies! Therefore high IQ!" either.


I've seen some argue that Trump has an IQ of 125+ simply because, they say, Presidents tend to have that level of IQ. And billionaires tend to have that level of IQ. Therefore a billionaire President should surely have that sort of IQ.
Well, his money was pretty much given to him, and even people dumb as rocks can inherit. And all Presidents before him were not felons. I guess therefore Trump isn't a felon???
Yeah, I know, it's a shit argument on their part, but apologists get everywhere. Personally I see Trump as being around 90-110. (Charisma and money do not mean high IQ).

А мне вот что интересно: когда об этом самом Маске много говорят у вас в Штатах, я могу ещё как то понять. Но когда в России открываешь колонку новостей, и из каждого утюга слышишь: "Маск сказал это, Маск сказал то..." - я начинаю задумываться. Возможно, он просто покупает некоторых журналистов, чтобы постоянно быть на слуху? Потому что, кто такой этот Маск в России, в которой большая часть населения эту самую "Теслу" в глаза не видела? У нас её популярность ближе к нулю, как некая экзотика для любителей.

 

[Sarkus]

But here's what's interesting to me: when this Musk is talked about a lot in the States, I can somehow understand. But when you open a news column in Russia and hear from every iron: "Musk said this, Musk said that..." - I start to wonder. Maybe he just buys some journalists to be constantly on everyone's lips? Because who is this Musk in Russia, where the majority of the population has never seen this very "Tesla"? Its popularity here is close to zero, like some kind of exotic thing for amateurs.

There are a few possible explanations:
1. Musk has indeed purchased media-space in Russia, to raise his name and therefore the profile of his businesses so that if/when Russia become "open for business" again, he'll be better known and better placed.
2. Putin and Musk (with or without Trump) have orchestrated the same thing, to boost Musk's image in Russia, to aid both of them.
3. There is nothing nefarious going on. Musk is the richest person in the world, and he is heavily involved with the current US administration, so maybe it's not surprising that he is getting more visibility in Russian news, whether or not Tesla is yet a thing in Russia.

There may be other possibilities, of course, and the first 2 are really just me being cynical.

 

[exchemist]

No, of course not. Do you not see any humor in Certificate of Conformity? Do you do humor?

Ah, the Schrödinger Gambit.

 

[ольга]

There are a few possible explanations:
1. Musk has indeed purchased media-space in Russia, to raise his name and therefore the profile of his businesses so that if/when Russia become "open for business" again, he'll be better known and better placed.
2. Putin and Musk (with or without Trump) have orchestrated the same thing, to boost Musk's image in Russia, to aid both of them.
3. There is nothing nefarious going on. Musk is the richest person in the world, and he is heavily involved with the current US administration, so maybe it's not surprising that he is getting more visibility in Russian news, whether or not Tesla is yet a thing in Russia.

There may be other possibilities, of course, and the first 2 are really just me being cynical.

Маск постоянно мелькал в новостных колонках в России и до избрания Трампа. И всегда в положительном ключе. Это странно: о Штатах писали плохо, а о Маске хорошо. Хотя он из Штатов. Похоже на Троянского коня.

 

[TheVat]

Well, a Musk company, Starlink, is key to Ukraine's use of drones in the war. So I wouid think the Russian press wouid be giving Musk some attention on that basis, too. It's an interesting position for Musk, trying to bond with Trump's pro-Putin views while also providing key military support to Ukraine.

 

[ольга]

Well, a Musk company, Starlink, is key to Ukraine's use of drones in the war. So I wouid think the Russian press wouid be giving Musk some attention on that basis, too. It's an interesting position for Musk, trying to bond with Trump's pro-Putin views while also providing key military support to Ukraine.

Я думаю всё намного проще и прозаичней. Всегда нужно в первую очередь смотреть кому выгодна та или иная ситуация. Тем более, что сейчас уже "карты вскрыты", и никто уже особо не скрывает своих намерений. Запасы лития в мире не слишком велики, а спрос на него растёт гиганскими темпами. Не зря его называют "белым золотом 21 века". Кому как "воздух" нужен литий? Чей бизнес без лития "загнётся"? Не литиевые ли батареи являются основной деталью в "Тесле"? В России его очень мало, всего около 1% от мировых запасов. Зато много в Украине, и к тому же там оно легко добываемо, что делает его добычу самой рентабельной в мире. Запасы лития на Донбасе могут покрыть половину мирового дефицита. И ещё: в Канаде тоже есть литий. Его там не так много, как в Украине, но всё же в несколько раз больше, чем в России. Путём несложных размышлений, как вы думаете: кому и зачем понадобились Украина и Канада? Почему, например, не Мексика? Она же тоже находится рядом, "под боком? Вот так всё прозаично: люди, не обременённые эмпатией, альтруизмом и совестью, просто делают деньги - "ничего личного, просто бизнес..."

 

[ольга]

Well, a Musk company, Starlink, is key to Ukraine's use of drones in the war. So I wouid think the Russian press wouid be giving Musk some attention on that basis, too. It's an interesting position for Musk, trying to bond with Trump's pro-Putin views while also providing key military support to Ukraine.

Да, я ещё забыла добавить, что недавнее таяние ледников обнаружило значительные залежи лития в Гренландии. По "случайному" совпадению она тоже вдруг понадобилась Трампу.

 

[TheVat]

It is quite prosaic I agree. Ukraine has some, though most of the world's reserves are in the "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile - more than 63% of the world's lithium reserves. Then Australia is next, and is currently the leading producer. So, yes, for Putin it would be easier to try and get lithium from Ukraine, with complete control of their operations. China won't provide any for Russia because they need all their domestic lithium and more.

I'm sure Trump's liking for Javier Milei has something to do with all the lithium he is sitting on.

 

[ольга]

It is quite prosaic I agree. Ukraine has some, though most of the world's reserves are in the "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile - more than 63% of the world's lithium reserves. Then Australia is next, and is currently the leading producer. So, yes, for Putin it would be easier to try and get lithium from Ukraine, with complete control of their operations. China won't provide any for Russia because they need all their domestic lithium and more.

I'm sure Trump's liking for Javier Milei has something to do with all the lithium he is sitting on.

Ну вообще то в Украине лития что то около на 13 триллионов долларов, насколько я помню. Не так уж и мало. Литий много где есть, но не везде его добыча рентабельна. В Украине его себестоимость самая низкая в мире.

 

[Sarkus]

Ну вообще то в Украине лития что то около на 13 триллионов долларов, насколько я помню. Не так уж и мало. Литий много где есть, но не везде его добыча рентабельна. В Украине его себестоимость самая низкая в мире.

Nah, not that much Lithium. I've read that their total mineral resources are worth around that much - but Lithium is just one of a number of elements they have, including titanium and uranium. Apparently they have considerable levels of 21 of the 30 minerals that the EU has marked as critical. Their lithium is worth about $50-100bn (sources suggest 0.5 to 1.5 million tonnes, at $75k per tonne).

 

[exchemist]

It is quite prosaic I agree. Ukraine has some, though most of the world's reserves are in the "Lithium Triangle" of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile - more than 63% of the world's lithium reserves. Then Australia is next, and is currently the leading producer. So, yes, for Putin it would be easier to try and get lithium from Ukraine, with complete control of their operations. China won't provide any for Russia because they need all their domestic lithium and more.

I'm sure Trump's liking for Javier Milei has something to do with all the lithium he is sitting on.

I understand the key vulnerability regarding Li is not so much the mineral deposits but the processing, which is messy and currently nearly all done in China. I think I read that the Salton Sea has a lot of Li. But I have not read of any moves to set up purification operations to lessen strategic dependence on China.