Here is a quiz:
Q1 How many American men are six feet tall or more?
Q2 What is the average height of American men?
Q3 What percentage of CEOs of the Fortune 500 companies are six feet tall or more?
I owe Malcolm Gladwell and his book, Blink, for these questions, as well as the answers, which appear at the bottom of this post.
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It's summer here, as you know, which means it is barbecue season in The Mission. So, that's what we did here at my place, cooking chicken in the backyard under the plum tree, with its leaves hanging low, rich with ripening fruit, so red and tempting.
Rather like my elusive smoker, in her short terrycloth robe, with a tattoo on her shoulder. She's such a mystery.
People come, and then they go. In and out of sight. You might never see them again. or you might.
A1 -- ~14.5% (about one in seven)
A2 -- 5 Ft. 9 inches
A3 -- 58%
Gladwell calls this (awarding men on the basis of their height) the "Warren Harding Error." Harding was a tall, handsome man that Americans elected President because he looked "Presidential" -- even though he was completely unqualified, and is generally recognized by historians as our worst President ever.
Of course, the books are not yet closed on his likely successor to that dubious title: George W. Bush.
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