With considerable intrigue I read in my national newspaper 'New Zealand Herald'that:

'In a paper to be published in a leading research journal, one of Britain's most outspoken academics will argue that men have larger brains and higher IQs than women, to such an extent that they are better suited to 'tasks of high complexity'.

'Richard Lynn, emeritus professor of psychology at Ulster University, who has caused outrage in the past with claims that white people are more intelligent than blacks and that criminal traits are genetic, will publish the work with Dr Paul Irwing, senior lecturer in organisational psychology at Manchester University'.

Now this older male, self-appointed 'professor of life' for the purpose of this writing, is a little confused at the claims of such eminent academics. As examples:

Ms Condoleezza Rice is an attractive black American who, with the claimed smaller, less intelligent brain than mine just happens to be 'The Secretary of State" for the United States of America. I would believe that to be a task of extremely high complexity, wouldn't you?

Ms Wu Yi another nice looking lass is a Vice Premier, minister of health in China. How complex can that job be with a billion people?

Ms Helen Clark, a swishy, healthy and attractive woman. Prime Minister in New Zealand for the past two three year terms and quite likely a third term this year. An expert multi-tasker in administering her minions.

What about Oprah Winfrey? With her smaller brain and apparent lesser intelligence than I she is known millions of folk more than I am and has made many hundreds of millions of dollars more than I have.

Just a simple search on the Internet will throw up untold numbers of women around the world who, with these smaller brains appear to have gained outstanding achievements, wealth and power in all sectors of society.

'The researchers acknowledge that women outnumber men at every stage of educational achievement, except PhD level'.

For Gods Sake, women have been, dare I use the word 'emancipated' during the last 60 years. So, if they have reached this 50% plus educational level to date, then based upon simple viral expansion women must dominate the educational achievement scene within the next 10 years or so and thus in turn dominate that PhD level.

Perhaps in reality we are looking at the scenario where 'Big is not necessarily best' and that 'Quality is more often found in smaller packages'

I rest my case and may God help me should any of my male friends read this.

Ted Burgess turned to the computer at age 63 as a possible mental rehabilitation tool after heart attacks and strokes. His interests cover many subjects as reflected in his web site at http://www.assetsoflife.com.htm