IQ is not Intelligence

I've heard the claim about many kinds of intelligence before.  Believers in IQ promote the idea that IQ type intelligence underlies them all.  But clearly they are not the same, so there must be other factors also.

Here's a different kind of delineation than I've seen before: Analytical Intelligence (like IQ), Practical Intelligence, and creative intelligence, as described in this Guardian article.

IQ tests only capture analytical intelligence; this is the ability to notice patterns and solve analytical problems. Most standard IQ tests miss out two other aspects of human intelligence: creative and practical intelligence. Creative intelligence is our ability to deal with novel situations. Practical intelligence is our ability to get things done. For the first 20 years of life, people are rewarded for their analytical intelligence. Then we wonder why the “best and brightest” are uncreative and practically useless.

Here's the book of the authors.

https://profilebooks.com/the-stupidity-paradox.html


Here's another recommended book

http://www.cambridge.org/gb/academic/subjects/life-sciences/neuroscience/beyond-iq-triarchic-theory-human-intelligence

Why the British Labor Party should not adopt a definition of Anti-Semitism

The very most definitive answer, from a few days hence to the distant past, addressing this issue, by the most thorough scholar Norman Finkelstein.

Also quoted at Mondoweiss.


I've mostly focussed on the political angle, of the neoliberal Blairites, like their American counterparts, using identity politics to destroy leftism.  This outer shell--and what some might call conspiracy theory (but in this case, widely recognized)--is not mentioned by Finkelstein.  He sticks to the facts of the specific decision that will be made by the Labour Party soon.

He looks within the immediate issue, and finds the demand of what he calls British Jewry to be way beyond the pale in every way.  They are attempting to define legitimate criticism of Israel as antisemitism.

I agree totally, and further that such free speech principles as the Labour party has had in the past ought apply even moreso in America, where they have been under similar attack.

Truth and Context

Context is a key part of the whole truth.

Electric Cars

I have canceled my preorder of a Tesla Model 3.  I completely dislike removing all displays and controls (except for steering wheel and pedals) in front of the driver.  Certain displays and controls must be directly at hand for reflexive use, like speedometer, warning lights, wipers, lights, mirror controls.  The customary way this is done is fine.  I think my 2006 Prius is exemplary in this respect (and most others), with the full complement of stalk controls, steering wheel buttons, and fixed dash control for light, power, and electronic shift, and full internally reflecting (for greater depth...less eyestrain when watching environment mostly) speedometer main display, centered in front of the drivers.

I also had issue with the height of the rear window in the Tesla Model 3, said to allow about as much rear visibility as a Corvette, as measured by Car and Driver.

And the width, 5 inches more than my 2006 Prius (which is physically the perfect design, especially for a bottom heavy automobile, automakers should just clone the package design of the 2006 Prius which combines a relatively narrow and tall design with very good aerodynamics--it's actually brilliant--and the Ford Model E seems to be very similar, and the smooth curves of both are easy on the eyes, sadly the Model E is just slightly too wide for me, and no power folding mirrors that I can see).

Now, I could imagine Tesla fans would point to the automated systems minimizing the need for controls.  And the camera allowing for rear visibility through the monitor screen.  And the power folding mirrors.  (Most car mirrors will fold in, but it's unacceptable to have to get out of the car every day and fold them in to get into garage, and out when leaving.  It's a waste of time, it might be raining, you might be in a hurry and forget, etc.  Because Tesla thought of this, width isn't the #1 issue for me on the Model 3...the controls and displays are...but width is still problematic.  On the Ford Model E, width is the #1 issue)

I don't think one should need to rely on those things.  All the more so if actually doing the driving less.

Anyway, what other cars to consider?

Under consideration are the 2018 Chevy Bolt, and 2019 version of Hyundai Kona, and 2019 Ford Model E.

Ford Model E looks to too wide without motorized retractible mirrors, and I don't see them offered.

Chevy Bolt may look best now, things may change.

Leaf looks fine in 2019, check the details then, particularly active thermal management.

Hyundai Kona, I don't know, it may be best or one of, but also very hard to get.  I'm not fond of the angular stying and it looks like it might be small but that's better than too large.

Here's a Hyundai union leader criticizing EV' as job killers.   I hope and believe US union leaders would not feel this way or say this.  The GM CEO says GM is committed to a future of EV's.

Tesla fans often say that  all other ICE manufacturers including Hyundai building EV's may be a greenwashing exercise, and may involve getting more emissions credits to sell big trucks and the like.  They would claim, it's not sustainable.  So, they're not serious, they wouldn't ramp up if demand warranted.

I think demand will increase and they ultimately WILL ramp up, with EV's displacing ICE as the majority personal vehicle in 10 years or less.  That's what I understand many analysts as saying, and of course Elon Musk himself.  As well as being what I strongly hope will happen.  The most important thing is for those concerned like myself to buy EV's.  WRT the success of the EV revolution, it's less important who to buy it from, and nobody knows which manufacturers will be more sustainable anyway, that depends on many unknowns.

It might be worth noting that GM, Hyundai, BMW, Ford, and other mainstream auto companies are unionized.  Tesla and Nissan USA aren't.

It seemed the vast majority, perhaps 97%, of commenters on the EV blog were strongly opposed to unions.  I thought that strange, greens would most often I believe tilt left, and therefore mostly be favorable to unions, and wondered therefore if many of the commenters were were company trolls.  But all my assumptions could also be sufficiently incomplete or untrue so that when combined with the types who read such blogs it tilts like that.

The claim most often made to denigrate automobile unions is that they result in low quality cars.  This claim is demonstrably false, as most of the best quality cars in the world are union made.  It is true the US made poor quality cars in the late 1960's, and had (and still mostly has) a unionized workforce.  I know because my family owned a 1970 wagon that was virtually falling apart the day we bought it.  But subsequent to that, the US automakers cleaned up their act, and started making (mostly) quality cars again.  It seems what really led to low quality cars was the lack of high quality competition.  Once the high quality competition became available in the form of imported Japanese cars, US automakers were forced to make good cars, even if labor costs had gone up recently.  Quality is really a management decision.  Actually unionized companies, such as Ford, will always say that unions help them keep the quality level higher.

Personally I'd rather buy a union made car on the belief that the workers were less likely to be mistreated, and that unions help keep up wages and benefits for everyone including nonunion workers.  As the unions have faded away in USA, so have wages vs profits, and if all unions go away, workers might be toast.  It's another thought to consider when considering a Tesla.  And it tends to point to Chevy Bolt and Ford Model E, or anything made by Hyundai or German manufacturers as being the top choices for a leftist at present.

Tesla deserves a similar rating for at least paying decent wages and benefits now, AND being dedicated to electric transportation and energy.  But not enough to say ONLY buy Tesla, especially in view of their limited selection, quirky designs, and high prices.

And, of course anyone concerned about the future should buy nothing new except EV's, if possible.

However, the #1 issue in buying a product that meets my needs.  A car with terrible seats does not, nor does a car with inadequate controls, or that's too wide.

The above reasoning had me thinking of getting a Bolt, this year, before the tax rebate expires.  The Bolt has sufficient range, small enough size, and nice normal instrumentation combined with touch screen.  It has excellent performance (better than any car I've owned in decades).  And it's union made--at least the chassis and body.  Sadly, however, the front seats are notoriously uncomfortable, especially for heavier or wider people.  Even with the $6000 upper tier, which provides leather seats and other amenities, the seats are uncomfortable (even worse, according to many reports).  Seats are not replaceable anymore since they are wired into sensor electrical systems (seat pressure, seat belt confirmation) and possibly include airbags.  There was a possibility the Buick version would have better seats, it had been said they were going to be power seats, but the Buick EV based on Bolt will not be sold in the USA for another few years.  BTW, my 2006 Prius has fabulous seats, with very thick foam cushions on the bottom and on the side bolsters, and mine are still in perfect condition structurally, and has always had excellent lumbar support.  The 2001 Prius seat was not as good, I had to supplement it's lumbar support.

So, I'm back to waiting on a 2019 Kona, if I can get one, or a Leaf, if it appears the battery has sufficient thermal control in the new generation.

The way

Doug Henwood's twitter (which is fabulous, I keep reading) quotes Anne Boyer tweeted last year that the way to reduce both sexual harassment & partner violence is to make sure everyone has food, shelter, healthcare, and what they need to survive not contingent on employment or romantic partnership.

Wow.  And just about everything else bad, I think, and yet it's so simple.

And not that expensive, I think, compared with other things we could probably live without, like full spectrum military dominance.

But, it's just at odds with that large goal of capitalism, to get human labor power as cheaply as possible.

And the solution to capitalism's declining demand problem (as capitalist societies get more unequal, spending drops, ultimately in a self-perpetuating cycle causing collapse unless stopped, usually by government fiat), as determined by mid 1940's planners, was not a citizen utopia, with permanent public sector development for free institutions of all kinds: education, healthcare, entertainment, electrification, communication, etc.  That would compete with private industry, it was said.  (Well, actually, it should eliminate near "private industry" in some areas, but so what...if everybody gets high quality free education, why need there be a private industry for most people?  Etc.)  Instead, and this is well documented, the US Planners from the start (before Soviet 'provocation', which could be interpreted as western provocation) decided on endless war.

Now we've gotten so "used" to endless military spending, it would indeed be a challenge to wind down to a society directed to human needs rather than imperial ambition.  I suggest a corresponding ramp up in public Free Renewable Energy systems, and we need about that scale, just to keep from downward economic spiral.

Few understand we "must" spend staggering amounts...just to keep the capitalism going.  But there's no reason why it has to be on making craters and dead bodies, and in pursuit of global ecocide.

We need to make these changes, I hope that's understood.  Ultimately to the simple result of everything needed for life be free.  (That is my goal, a better one than UBI, I feel, for many reasons.)

The goal is simple, but the journey is challenging.

When the growth era ends, the result is communism or total destruction.

It's simple to see and say that, less simple to lead the way.  To communism.