The Smartest People in the World

[Fat Abe]

Another silly survey has appeared, and it lists the ten smartest people in the world:

http://specials.msn.com/A-List/World...ex=1&gt1=36010

First, I am upset that my name was not on the list, and second, that no other MR forum members made the final cut. Sorry, Kali Yuga. You seem to have the highest IQ on the board, but I'll admit I can't understand half the things you say. Nor do I fully comprehend Recluse, but neither does the man himself.

Warren Buffett is the most obvious choice for the top ten, as the wizard of Omaha has bested me many a time at stock-trading, the toughest and most ruthless game in town. Who could argue with Stephen Hawking as a choice? But, Marilyn vos Savant? The smartest woman never to have accomplished anything of significance? I would boot her off the list and put in Andrew Wiles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermat'..._general_proof

He proved Fermat's Last Theorem, a problem that bedeviled me in grad school. Savant contested Wiles' proof, and demonstrated that she is a dilettante:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_vos_Savant