Never Go In Against a Sicilian

This story begins earlier this year when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, behind closed doors, either did or did not call his boss, President Donald J. Trump, a "moron." Tillerson is alleged to have disparaged the president in a meeting with national security personnel at the Pentagon in July. Since the incident was first reported by NBC News on Oct. 4, Tillerson has reiterated his support for Trump without precisely denying that he ever used the M-word.

Never one to let an insult pass — even an insult reported months after the fact and attributed only to "three officials familiar with the event" — Trump fired back this week in an interview with Forbes magazine: "I think it's fake news, but if he did that, I guess we'll have to compare IQ tests. And I can tell you who is going to win." Trump did not in fact, tell reporter Randall Lane who he (Trump) thinks would win, or least not that Lane reported.

It's highly doubtful, however, that the president would pick Tillerson to emerge victorious. Frankly, it's probably safe to say that there hasn't been anyone this confident of prevailing in a Battle of Wits since Wallace Shawn agreed to a lethal meeting of the minds with Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride. Both men hold bachelor's degrees (Trump's is in economics, whereas Tillerson studied civil engineering), so it's probably at least a fair fight.

Most of us aren't directly challenged, mano a mano, to prove the size or impact of our mental acuity on a daily basis, or even every so often. And yet there's another sense in which we engage in an individual battle of wits every time we show up for work. Most workers have some sort of credential that verifies a level of past achievement in academic pursuits, and it's largely on that basis that we're expected to confront and solve problems in the workplace.

That's one reason to choose TestOut Pro certifications when looking for IT training that can help you get started on a tech career. TestOut Pro training doesn't just help you learn the skills you'll need. We stand behind that learning with a cash guarantee. If an employer gives you a job, and they aren't satisfied with your performance after three weeks, then TestOut will pay them up to $1,000.

We know our TestOut Pro courseware is that good. And we're willing to bet on anyone who uses it to acquire job-ready IT skills. If working in IT really is like engaging in a battle of wits, then you could say that getting your IT training from TestOut Continuing Education is like having a powerful ally support your cause. It's the opposite, really, of having one of your top supporters call you a moron. We think you're an expert, and we've got your back.