MACARTHUR FOUNDATION GENIUS GRANT FOR BLOGGER

The MacArthur Foundation takes it upon themselves to find people to give money to.

Tagging the recipients of a $625,000 grant as genius is just icing on the cake.

If getting the grant requires a genius level IQ, I’ll just stop right here.

On the other hand, I think an extra, unexpected, $625K would make anyone feel extra smart.

I get an extra boost by thinking about those people getting that phone call.

What if it was you, or me?

“Hello, this is David.”

(That’s how I answer the phone when I don’t recognize the number.)

“This is the MacAthur Foundation calling for David.”

“The what?”

“The MacArthur Foundation. We are calling for David with good news.”

“The Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstake knocking on my door is good news. What’s your good news, Mac.”

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur is placing a few big bets that truly significant progress is possible on some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, decreasing nuclear risk, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., and reducing corruption in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago.

The Genius Part

Let’s agree that it will take smart people to advance global climate solutions.

Your uncle pouring gas into a lawnmower carberator in the front yard is not one of them.

“Shee-yit on global climate change. We had hot days back in the Seventies. Real hot, and we never complained or pointed to a dirty diesel blowing black clouds out of an exhaust stack on a pick-up. It was how things were.”

And you don’t want some yahoo working on decreasing nuclear risk.

In the video, you can watch Galen lick a pile of highly radioactive uranium off the palm of his hand and ignite a chunk of plutonium into a shower of flaming dust.  The guy also drank reactor cooling pool water for fun and liked to go swimming in the pool to relax.  He also spiked the basement flooring of his own home with enough radioactive material to send any Geiger counter reading off the scale to disprove the fear mongering surrounding radon at the time.

What kind of a genius is this guy?

Genius Grant For Blogger

There’s no mention of genius here:

• 1 to 24: Profound mental disability
• 25 to 39: Severe mental disability
• 40 to 54: Moderate mental disability
• 55 to 69: Mild mental disability
• 70 to 84: Borderline mental disability
• 85 to 114: Average intelligence
• 115 to 129: Above average or bright
• 130 to 144: Moderately gifted
• 145 to 159: Highly gifted
• 160 to 179: Exceptionally gifted
• 180 and up: Profoundly gifted

An IQ breakdown is a good measure mental ability, but I’m more a fan of practical application.

Take Richard Feynman for example.

He said he wasn’t surprised at how much he did, but that he did it with an IQ of 125.

That’s an inspiring thing, that you don’t have to be loaded up on the high end to do high end things.

Just smart enough.

What would it take for a blogger to qualify for MacArthur Foundation Grant?

They should be passionate about writing and show the evidence.

Give some focus to health and wellness.

Try and let love have a voice in life.

The combo of writing, health, and love ought to do it?

Mix in some sports? Okay.

This year’s class of genius grants is past, but next year is the year.

Next year a driven, yet quiet, blogger is ready to accept the accolades. Not a performer with an answer to every question, but a journeyman willing to ask questions, an average Joe with a high aim.

And definitely not a genius, but let’s keep that part quiet just in case.