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August 11, 1946

August 11,1946, is the birth date of Parade magazine columnist, Marilyn vos Savant. She answers questions based on her record high intelligence, posed by an audience trusting in IQ statistics. She has also published several books, including, Growing Up: A Classic American Childhood (2003).  The book is composed of checklists, which give the readers ideas for expanding their awareness, and that of their children. Here are some checklist items I picked out:

Have groomed a dog, and given him or her a bath. Forget trying to bathe and groom a cat.

 Have volunteered to work at an animal shelter but not taken home any animals afterwards.

 Know a few tricks for falling back asleep after you've been rudely awakened, such as when your cat lands on your chest unexpectedly om the middle of a nighttime chase.

and

Have attended a dog show and a cat show and witnessed what it takes to be a champion.

Until this last we at least thought the writer harmless. But -- have you ever met a dog or cat who was NOT a champion.  Then I thought she slyly meant that the show was about the people presenting their animals, but then you reread the item and realize that makes no sense either. And in this check list item, we have a real question---what makes championship, among people, and intellectual inquiries, and how can such be determined.  This is a question. Questions only really help people think, when the answers are not dispensable, like kibble, in a bowl.

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