i mentioned Kishore Mahbubani when asked to cite someone who's "intelligent" (inverted comas cuz it's the exact word). he's the author of my favourite book, and he's proud to be an Asian who thinks Asians can't think. of course Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela and Lee Kuan Yew and Thomas Friedman would make the list any time.

and "intelligent" tests are so skewed any way i look at it. the SAT, the GRE, and you-fill-in-the-blank. psychology class was on intelligence. as long as you're no less than an average Joe and you study hard, likely that you would be more "intelligent" than you actually are. well not saying this to justify my dismal 1980 for SAT but yeah...

i believe in Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences (though some "intelligent" critics think the man mistook talents for intelligences). high SAT scores might mean one'd do well in college. but that should be about it. in fact, my RMSS group's research is on how physical attractiveness influences one's success in life.

and how should i drain the S'pore River?