Tyrone

Have you considered joining a Think Tank? The reason I ask this is that I have been noticing that there are a significant number of highly intellectual people out there. Indeed, these folks should be using their brain power to solve problems and the challenges that face mankind. Our online Think Tank or Brain Trust gets a tremendous number of applications and yet there is something that has been bothering me about these applications.

More and more people are not capitalizing "I" in their sentences so if you apply to a Think Tank, any Think Tank, can you please capitalize "I" because on a personal note, anyone with low self-esteem or lacking strength of character is no one I ever care to associate with. I also believe others will consider your ideas and concepts less if you do not properly capitalize "I" in your sentences.

Now it is fully understood that this is a new trend amongst younger folks as to not appear to be conceited, and yet, it does not do well for your presentation. Many academics call it pathetic, although I am not an English teacher, nor ever care to be, I am concerned. It puts up huge "red flags" for me when I see this. It is not proper to allow someone who thinks so little of themselves not to capitalize "I" because if you do not think much of yourself, well what does that say about your ideas?

There is nothing wrong with "Self" and those who think that they, as an individual, do not matter fail to understand that the strongest civilization or society is one where each individual is strongest. Weakness, bureaucracy and laziness maybe perhaps the true evil in the world, do not add those to your problem of procrastination, after all you have considered joining a Think Tank, and yet have never applied.

Be only the best, work for only the best and expect only the best. Think about it, not to harp on the "I" thing much, but what difference does IQ make if you do not respect your own intelligence or self? This is not the Borg, live strong, why waste such a life experience degrading self, this is not a contest to please anyone and a think tank is a place to prevent and/or solve problem, not create them using committees drowned in political correctness.

Now with that said, let's discuss some of the topics we discussed this week in our Think Tank and perhaps this will pique your curiosity and be of interest to you:

1. Hong Kong and Their Next Big Earthquake Cometh - Much of Hong Kong is built on a landfill, so god help them when a big Earthquake comes and well, history shows that it will. Shifting foundations are the worst nightmare for those who live under Earthquake Faults. If China re-acquires that region and then a major catastrophe hits, then what?

2. "Supreme Court Justice Roberts Taken to Hospital After Fall" Did anyone notice that when the SUV left the hospital, that whoever was driving Roberts, failed to stop at the stop sign leaving the Hospital Parking Lot? Now, I am a Republican, but, why is it that those in leadership positions and those they associate with continually think this is acceptable behavior and that they are above the law? Hmm? We would like to know, so tell what are your thoughts on this matter.

3. Where Online Thoughts Are Not Your Own Anymore - for those who Blog and put out thoughts to the world one has to ask why they often complain that others have borrowed their ideas or concepts and/or stolen them. If you put your thoughts out to the world in such a way are they really yours anymore? Why attempt to claim them once you have freely given them out.

4. Osama and Obama - Both Lose Ground to Grounded Americans. Al Qaeda is on the run and Obama is losing ground to Hillary Clinton's political machine fast, even with the huge campaign fund war chest of dollars. Is the Democratic Ticket for President already wrapped up; many political analysts think so. As for Al Qaeda, are they losing public appeal also? Some say yes and others decline to comment, you decide.

5. Human Infrastructure crumbling, bridges in the US and China, Roller Coasters in Japan? This came in from: Japan Today Article July 31, 2007 - "Flaws Found in 59 Roller Coasters - The transport ministry said Tuesday it has found flaws in 59 roller coasters and similar rides in 47 amusement parks nationwide through an emergency survey of 2,265 such rides. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has yet to ..."

6. Would you like to talk with someone who had an IQ of 180 or 180+? If so, you might be surprised to find that not all these folks are so interesting to talk to, some cannot do much, lost in thought, only a few Geniuses actually exist, IQ tests can be practiced and one can bump their IQ, thru studying tests, which should not impress you. Creative Geniuses and imminent achievers are much more than a simple IQ number. Am I 180 IQ? Extremely doubtful, never been tested, although I can hold my own with anyone I have ever met, so who knows what that means, probably nothing.

Some say that human IQ cannot be measured with a single score is this true? Well, that is part of the debate, along with some points in which defenders of IQ say that the tests show that there is a relatively unitary intelligence. IQ tests specifically have been designed to measure intelligence and IQ scores have been pitted against actual academic performance and accurately align and we do not completely understand what brain activity is responsible for intelligence, thus these IQ scores are worthy of mention to equate an individuals abilities.

Unfortunately, IQ scores have little to do with success in life beyond academics, different cultures have different nurturing and therefore IQ tests may indicate errors. Further, there is some interesting evidence and much research that a distinct neurological organization of an individuals mind will determine how they place in anyone one of the 7-8 different types of intelligences.

Personally, I believe that winning, achieving and success are far more important than pure IQ and those who are the most successful have chemical flows in their brains that allow them to do much better if they apply themselves and perseverance is another one of those wild cards, which I wouldn't leave home without.

When you join a Think Tank you just never know what the topics might be, they vary significantly from day to day. I hope this glimpse into the life of a Think Tanker finds you with more thoughts to ponder and helps you decide if you are right or ripe to join in. Think on it.

L. Winslow is an Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur http://www.worldthinktank.net . Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.