Elsewhere (305)
Noah Carl on the undiscussable:
Consistent with earlier studies, [Louis Jacob and colleagues] observed a moderately strong negative association between IQ and obesity… The authors also found that the association remained statistically significant when adjusting for a range of other variables. However, their findings were not warmly received in all quarters. On 26 February, the journal [Lifestyle Medicine] published a letter to the editor titled ‘Concerns regarding “Association between intelligence quotient and obesity in England” and unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies.’ Despite comprising only a couple of thousand words, the letter has thirteen authors, which tells you something really needed saying.
After introducing themselves as “academics, health professionals, health psychologists and lay experts in weight stigma and discrimination, public health, patient advocacy and risk communication,” the critics assert that “the contents of this paper are likely to cause unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies.” I had assumed that ‘obese’ was the correct medical term, but that is evidently no longer the case. Perhaps if the original authors had referred to the “association between intelligence quotient and bigger bodiedness,” they could have forestalled some of the criticism.
Note the signatories’ conceit that “people in bigger bodies” should have some kind of veto over research into obesity.
Via Captain Nemo, Damian Counsell on race, facts, and fervour:
[A] senior elected representative in two of the most powerful institutions of the establishment Left has invoked the phrase [“institutional racism”] to justify telling a non-white woman occupying one of the three great offices of state that she should be expelled from the country of her birth. For a segment of the self-proclaimed Left, the words “institutional racism” conjure a threat so cryptic that it requires no evidence, and so evil that it excuses overt racism. [Howard] Beckett deleted the tweet, but his subsequent apology is even more revealing. “I’m very sorry for my earlier tweet,” he wrote. “I was angry to see Muslim refugees being deported on the morning of Eid Al Fitr.” At the time of writing, the immigrants in question are believed to be Sikhs, not Muslims; but such distinctions matter little to a particular kind of crusader.
And Simon Webb on black “microaggressions”:
Since we’re all very familiar with the things which white people do which are sometimes identified as being racist “microaggressions”… I thought it might be amusing to reverse the process and think about things which some of those who are of African and Caribbean heritage routinely do but which can be construed in a negative or racially charged way… Such frictions cut both ways and I think it is a mistake to single out white people as the group always giving offence.
Curiously, the terms “black microaggressions” and “microaggressions by black people” yield few pertinent Google results and the phenomenon of, say, overtly contemptuous teeth-sucking, a common enough occurrence in some classrooms, is not, it seems, widely discussed. Except, of course, when exalted as a great accomplishment.
As usual, feel free to share your own links and snippets, on any subject, in the comments.
Except, of course, when exalted as a great accomplishment.
Clown World art.
Clown World art.
Ah, but Ms Newsome, our fearless and radical artist, is “exploring issues of Black authorship, appropriation, identity and belonging,” and “creating expressive linguistic symphonies.” Of surly teeth-sucking. You see, “It’s an expression of the anger and pain that many Black people often experience living in Canada.”
That white devil Babylon.
’… the critics assert that “the contents of this paper are likely to cause unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies.”’
Well, don’t worry too much, critics, I’m sure diabetes, hypotension and heart disease will beat hurty words to the punch.
Curiously, the terms “black microaggressions” and “microaggressions by black people” yield few pertinent Google result
Presumably this is because blacks focus more on macroaggressions eg murder, rape, assault, robbery, home invasion, looting etc, where the incidence of black on white aggression is vastly greater than the other way round.
“. . .the terms “black microaggressions” and “microaggressions by black people” yield few pertinent Google results . . .
This is impossible by academic definition, so bringing it up is itself a microaggression and just more evidence of systemic racism and white supremacy.
Hey, I’m just the messenger.
Meanwhile, in the woke utopia of Portland.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9588595/The-FA-not-punish-fans-players-clubs-display-Israel-Palestine-flags-final-games.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43350447
Compare and contrast.
… the critics assert that “the contents of this paper are likely to cause unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies.”’
As best I recall, only a few of the Mensa members I’ve met were obese (it was their egos that were morbidly obese) but I have refused to attend Mensa events so my sample size may be unrepresentative.
Presumably this is because blacks focus more on macroaggressions eg murder, rape, assault, robbery, home invasion…
I denounce you for calling attention to counterrevolutionary facts.
But seriously, in my experience blacks are far more likely to utter racial slurs–and at the drop of a hat.
Portland residents say they now try to avoid going downtown in their own city
It’s been a year…actually more…perhaps someone needs to tell them?
As for knife wielding man, we don’t really know the full context. Maybe the “victim” microaggressed against keeping Portland weird.
“the contents of this paper are likely to cause unjustifiable harm to people in bigger bodies”
Ah, that’s not a crunchwrap, dearie.
Noah Carl on the undiscussable.
Low IQ and conservatism sure seems to be “discussable.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/millennial-media/201304/do-racism-conservatism-and-low-iq-go-hand-in-hand
https://www.ibtimes.com/people-low-iq-tend-be-socially-conservative-new-study-401470
https://www.livescience.com/18132-intelligence-social-conservatism-racism.html
…and on and on and on.
I feel unjustifiably harmed. Where’s the manager?
I feel unjustifiably harmed. Where’s the manager?
According to current leftist precedents you are entitled to skip meetings with management and go directly to direct action. 😉
“…some kind of veto over research….”
Indeed, that is exactly what they want. Editors of journals should be woke enough by now to include “community representatives” on any decisions about whether to publish a paper. In fact, the editor should leave that decision entirely to the “community”.
Going further upstream, an expectation is emerging that research design, data collection, analysis and conclusions should also be subject to “community review”.
Ultimately, research funding itself should be in the hands of “community representatives”. Some questions should not be asked, or answered.
The question of “IQ” and “IQ testing” actually being indicative of real intelligence is arguable.
And, I would argue that if you look at the world around us, as built, run, and influenced by those who did “really, really well” on the tests, I might point out that the actual, y’know… Results? They’re not quite living up to the promise.
I suspect that because the more chimeric bits of what make up “real intelligence”, like the qualities we label “common sense” and “wisdom” aren’t being measured, simply because they’re unmeasurable in the format we’ve invented for testing “IQ”, whatever that is actually a measure of. Myself, someone who also happens to do really, really well on tests, I suspect that what our traditional IQ test actually measures is a sort of high-functioning autism that tends to become highly self-referential and self-perpetuating, something that has warped our society completely out of contact with reality.
Ever listen to these people, and wonder how they got to be in charge? Yeah; like as not, they did really well on their tests in school, yet another institution that parted ways with reality some generations ago.
So, it’s not really a canard that “conservatives don’t do well on IQ tests”, it’s more a recognition that only the autistic educated-yet-idiot side of the equation tends to believe really, really hard in the things-that-aren’t-quite-real which make up modern liberal thinking.
Speaking of flags, this didn’t go quite to plan…
Further to recent rumblings, more Marvel movie woes.
Presenting vulgar noises as a great accomplishment is different from praising a small child for using a potty how?
I’m still processing the term “people in bigger bodies.” It’s contrived and rather silly, but the connotations are interesting. It almost suggests that the person is merely inside some random fat body, separate from it somehow, like borrowing a big coat, and in no way responsible for its proportions, or what may follow from those proportions.
It almost suggests that the person is merely inside some random fat body, separate from it somehow

more Marvel movie woes
Marvel is certainly screwing up their brand as hard as the Star Wars business unit is, but I think ultimately this was inevitable: superhero stories are fundamentally hero myths, and there’s only so many of those. Marvel managed to keep the ball rolling by blending teen romance tropes into the genre, and DC did it by blending detective fiction into it. The MCU hasn’t really done much to extend the genre, and as David has pointed out nearly all MCU movies (plus a fair number of pre-MCU Disney movies) have the exact same core plot arc.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s comics were famous for appropriating whatever pop culture wasn’t nailed down – Claremont stole Star Wars and Alien for some now-iconic issues, and Marvel crossed over Hammer Horror, Howardesque Sword & Sorcery, and Steve Reeves Sword & Sandal movies into their main superhero lines.
You can get away with that when you’re writing for kids who still think lasersharking is cool, but when Marvel announces Shang-Chi the response is going to be a resounding, “aren’t there like seven hundred movies like that on Netflix already?”
Thanks for introducing me to the word ‘lasersharking’.
but when Marvel announces Shang-Chi the response is going to be a resounding, “aren’t there like seven hundred movies like that on Netflix already?”
If I were as mean-spirited as rumour has it, I’d be amused by how horribly the diversity positioning has apparently backfired.
I saw, or rather glimpsed, an interview with the lead, Simu Liu, who was insisting that the film will be distinctive for its eye-catching fight choreography, which supposedly tops that of any other Marvel film. Well, okay, maybe it will. But why didn’t they put any of it in the trailer? It looks so… generic.
That sounds as if you expect those follow-ons to be negative, h8r. Any unfortunate consequences of Brobdingnagian girth are entirely the result of the Big Thin Cabal’s diabolical machinations. That’s the only possible explanation.
It does rather remind me of the term ‘falling pregnant.’ As if someone tripped and got a baby accidentally wedged into her uterus.
Any unfortunate consequences of Brobdingnagian girth are entirely the result of the Big Thin Cabal’s diabolical machinations.
Bwa-hah-hah-hah. We cruise around the city at night, looking for unwary victims whom we snatch off the street and force-feed a slurry of potato chips, candy bars, and Pepsi.
If I were as mean-spirited as rumour has it,
*zips mouth*
force-feed a slurry of potato chips, candy bars, and Pepsi.
Ummm, are you appearing in my neck of the woods? I feel a bit peckish.
Maybe the “victim” microaggressed against keeping Portland weird.
The only thing “weird” or at least, unusual about Portland, is the firm conviction by a large number of residents that it is an extra special, super unique city–unlike any other.
It’s not. It’s like every other smug, rich, enclave convinced of it’s own specialness.
See San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor etc.
Speaking of flags, this didn’t go quite to plan…
Rita Panahi is an island of sanity on twatter.
a moderately strong negative association between IQ and obesity
PE teachers are just an outlier then?
the film will be distinctive for its eye-catching fight choreography
So they’re going to remake every John Woo/Tsui Hark/Yuen Wo-Ping movie ever?
If Marvel Studios had any competent writers, they could just grab any classic drama – Shakespeare is always a good choice – mix in some bright colours and action scenes and churn out perfectly serviceable superhero movies for another ten years.
(Now that I mention it, I find myself wondering if Jupiter’s Legacy isn’t just King Lear in spandex)
Presenting vulgar noises…
Oh, come on now people…13 following comments…several hours elapsed…y’all are really slipping here….BAND NAME! Or at the very least Vulgar Noises with first album “Presenting…”
BAND NAME!
Band name.
Band name
Well, seeing as there already has been The Band…and also The The, I suppose we could still stand to have a band called Name. Assuming it hasn’t already been done.
slurry of potato chips
Coincidentally, Yesterday I saw on YouTube where you can make mashed potatoes from potatoe chips. YMMV
To lighten the mood, a Dutch horticultural drama…
Reminiscent of the film “A Town called Panic” where an order of 50 bricks to build a barbecue becomes 50 million.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9588595/The-FA-not-punish-fans-players-clubs-display-Israel-Palestine-flags-final-games.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43350447
Compare and contrast.
Taken from the Daily Mail article above:
A number of sports stars have posted messages of support with Palestine with Arsenal’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny tweeting on Monday: ‘My heart and my soul and my support for you Palestine,’ followed by a picture of the Palestine flag and a peace emoji.
Elneny’s post resulted in a backlash from Arsenal’s Jewish supporters because his tweet also included an image with the text ‘Palestine Lives Matter,’ which shows an outline of Israel with pro-Palestine pictures within.
According to the Jewish Chronicle, the Gunners’ sponsor and coffee group Lavazza have since contacted the club to register their concern about them being linked with Elneny’s message, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
The coffee company said the post did not align with their own values, while Arsenal defended Elneny by stating he had the right to defend his own platforms.
This, of course is the same Arsenal which had this to say in December 2019:
Arsenal have distanced themselves from comments made by Mesut Özil on Instagram, in which he spoke out strongly against China’s persecution of the Uighur population in the north-western region of Xinjiang and criticised Muslims for not doing more to highlight the issue.
The club sought to limit any damage caused to its business in China, where it has numerous commercial interests including a chain of restaurants, by releasing a statement on Weibo – a leading Chinese social media site – as well as other platforms stressing it is apolitical and does not associate itself with Özil’s views.
“Regarding the comments made by Mesut Özil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement,” it read. “The content published is Özil’s personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics.”
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/13/arsenal-distance-themselves-from-mesut-ozil-comments-china-uighur-people
Coincidentally, Yesterday I saw on YouTube where you can make mashed potatoes from potatoe chips.
Isn’t that the reverse process of how Pringles are made? Whereas regular potato chips (crisps) are made by deep frying thinly sliced potatoes, I had always thought Pringles were made from mashed potato slurry baked into wavy crisp shapes. I could be wrong.
Ummmmm . . . slurry . . .
Well, partially potato. 42%. Which led to the Court of Appeal considering the Aristotelian question of the essence of potatoness…
Disturbing advertising slogan: “Pringles: You don’t just eat ’em”.
There’s arete and then there’s aretater.
The question of “IQ” and “IQ testing” actually being indicative of real intelligence is arguable.
“Real” intelligence being … what?
IQ testing is intended to identify the cognitive complement of those being tested. It’s not a guarantee that they’ll ever amount to anything. It’s much like an NFL hopeful’s time in the 40 yard dash of the NFL Combine. Doing well in it doesn’t mean the prospect will be successful in the NFL; it just means he has one of the attributes that could reflect promise in that endeavor.
And as such, both IQ testing and 40 yard dash times serve a useful purpose.
“Whereas regular potato chips (crisps) are made by deep frying thinly sliced potatoes, I had always thought Pringles were made from mashed potato slurry baked into wavy crisp shapes.”
Pringles are basically Discos with an education.
There’s arete and then there’s aretater.
Someone should write a biography of the developer of the Pringle, and title it “Engineer of Arete”.
Consistent with earlier studies, [Louis Jacob and colleagues] observed a moderately strong negative association between IQ and obesity
To the surprise of … no one. Probably the same thing obtains with smoking. The mechanism isn’t hard to conjecture: ability to anticipate outcomes and consequences probably correlates with IQ, and those who do not prone to anticipating outcomes and consequences are probably more likely to be obese or to smoke.
ability to anticipate outcomes and consequences probably correlates with IQ, and those who do not prone to anticipating outcomes and consequences are probably more likely to be obese or to smoke.
Agree…ish…but now do alcohol. And possibly LSD.
Pringles are basically Discos with an education.

Or uniformly pressed and fried Munchos.
Agree…ish…but now do alcohol. And possibly LSD.
How about engaging in crime? My favorite is the guys who rob a liquor store, pocketing a neat $200, and getting incarcerated for five years as a consequence.
Let’s see, I make their net income from the robbery at about $0.11/day.