A ridiculously comprehensive answer to the question, “If you became the last person on Earth, what would you do?”

From what I can tell the most important things to have are:

• Propane (the post-apocalyptic fuel of choice)
• A Weed-whacker (for both horticulture and boating)
• A  gun

Let’s be honest, if you knew you were the last person alive you’d probably forgo the propane and weed-whacker.

(via kottke)

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-Robert A. Heinlein

I reckon I’d do alright at most of those. Josh Kaufman’s list of 12 core human skills also sound sensible. It would be an interesting (if pointless) exercise to see (in a Sims-esque fashion) if you could only pick three of the twelve to be proficient in which you would pick? Would you go for three all related to communication or problem-solving or would you spread your wealth around a little? Which I guess is sort of going back to the point of the article, be awesome at one thing or very good at a few (even if this way removes any sort of time investment in order to develop the skills or indeed any uncertainty about whether you’ll be able to develop them to an adequate level).

I fear I may need to crack out KOTOR purely to sate the character creation craving this has brought on.

(via Kottke)

A NY Times Article about how to raise IQ, covering the malleability of IQ, the role of genetics and class, and the effects different schooling practices can have.

Also, average IQ has risen over time meaning:

…the average I.Q. of a person in 1917 would amount to only 73 on today’s I.Q. test. Half the population of 1917 would be considered mentally retarded by today’s measurements…