Yeah! A lot of times, hanging around with people you share things in common with leads to friendships. In friendships you might discover a few more things in common. No worries ... if it's fun and the chemistry is good, the rest will follow.

I ran across the unglobed map before I found the planisphere at the online British Museum's 'Silk Road' exhibition. Go there and look for the text 'Map of the world from al-Idrisi'. https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/british-museum-silk-roads-exhibition-1234722468/

I found the planisphere image on the Wikipedia page for ' Tabula Rogeriana', which shows several chunks of the map. (Idrisi maps all have 'South' on the top of the map.) In the 'significance' section, there's a big version of the map. None of them are maps of the whole Earth ... it's said that his maps were all based on what people who'd been there told him.

Some thought that ... and some didn't. Some noticed the shape of the Earth's shadow on the Moon was round. Some noticed that as ships sailed into the distance, they 'sank down' until only the sails were visible. All 'people' weren't smart about it.

Anyway, putting a big map like that on a 6-foot globe, you could stand in one place, spin it, and see it all.

Related fact: the Greek astronomer Anaxagoras taught that the Earth went around the Sun ... 1500 years before this map was made.

There are multiple kinds of 'smart'. The following section in Wiki breaks them down into IQ, emotional, social, and moral. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence#Human

Historically, a lot of 'high IQ' people didn't necessarily 'fit in' to society. See the story of William James Sidis ... 'He entered Harvard University at age 11 and, as an adult, was claimed by family members to have an IQ between 250 and 300'.

Also historically, people smart enough to see that a lot of the world is about shuckin' and jivin' and not giving a crap? may not be not interested in playing the game. Some find other interests and don't see the point in 'accomplishing' things that will mostly be forgotten. Ramanujan had a HUGE talent for math ONLY, unrecognized until he wrote a professor halfway around the world.

We were all born without a manual. There are ways to enjoy life on your own terms.

There are different kinds of smart. A person can be quick and creative at something (math, mechanics, music, marketing ...), and less so at everything else.

If the something is -complicated-, then a lot of learning is needed, and a good qualified teacher will help you sort out what is really important to know. Chess is complicated, and you need to learn basic strategies of how to move and not get eaten alive. There are some books that can help with that. But a human teacher can get you there a lot faster. If you're really motivated but you're not remembering enough? it may not be your 'something' !

It's gross, fraudulent as three-card monte, and ... as with many corporate tricksters ... there needs to be a law with prison terms.

I specially liked the part where he collected $50k by clueing the affected companies.

IMO owning an unoccupied house thats off-market, or prohibitively-priced is probably a gambling chip.

IF there are ANY families in the same county that are homeless, it should begin being taxed as a gambling-chip. Sell-it very soon or it may used for a free shelter for however it remains unoccupied by the owner.

It's my opinion that housing is so basic a need that no house should be allowed to use for a gambling chip.

The 'housing market' needs to be broken in favor of individual ownership. (For many, speculation has driven ownership out of reach.)

Only individuals may purchase individual homes, and must agree to occupy them as their primary and only residences until they sell and vacate them. (Live-in landlords included, e.g. boarders.)

As part of the deal, they must first find another individual buyer (under the same terms) for their present home.

(Futher stipluations needed, but none that permit violation of the above principle. )

"We don't pay taxes; only the little people pay taxes." - Leona Helmsley. (~ 1989)

(Convicted of extortion; sentenced to 16 years; released after months.) Her husband's death left her with the Helmsley hotels, the Helmsley Palace and the Empire State Building. (Yes, that one.)

I ... don't get it. What is the purpose of a tax writeoff? Suppose it saves them money this year. But they lose a much larger profit. Is it being saved for later when their fortunes are lower?