HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Subject: Re: WARNING! (Re: Since we are on the topic of puzzles ...)
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 18:52:02 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.172030.28666@cbnewse.cb.att.com>, gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
|> 
|> So, what's the Mega Test like, how long is it, how do you get it, etc.?
|> 
|> GMS

The Mega Test has 48 questions: 24 verbal (analogies), 24 math (spacial,
number series, probabilities, etc.).  The test is self-administered and
untimed (one month is generally considered as adequate).  The test may
be obtained from:

  Ronald K. Hoeflin, Ph.D.
  P.O. Box 539
  New York, NY 10101

The test itself is free, but there is a $25 scoring fee.  The test can
also be found in the April 1985 issue of OMNI magazine.  As for what it
is like, I found it compulsively challenging.  There is also the newer 
Titan Test, which has the same format but test a slightly different range
(they're both fairly accurate around the 120-190 IQ range).  The Titan
Test can also be obtained from the above address, or it can be found in
the April 1990 issue of OMNI.  A third test is also in the making and will
be called the Ultra Test.  

Now for my question: Can anyone give similar information about the
Langdon Adult Intelligence Scale?
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodney G. Adams
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of my employer.
As if you didn't already know that....
"No one tests the depth of a river with both feet." - African proverb
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: shapiro@trade.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Subject: Newest Mensan
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Date:  5 SEP 92 08:53:11 EST


                              INTRODUCING
                         SHAPIRO RELEASE 3.0
                     From Steve and Jill Shapiro

                        DAVID EVERETT SHAPIRO

Date: 9/3/1992
Time: 12:51pm EDT
Weight: 8lbs
Length: 19 1/2"

SPECIFICATIONS:

Blue eyes; light brown hair. Fully operational upon release; incl. all
standard features; no special connections required for interfacing; user
friendly; thoroughly checked by experts and certified virus free; excellent
output and communications power; continued enhancements (read constant changes)
expected. Fast, fast delivery (1.5 hours).

This new release joins the sensational set of Shapiro releases and compliments
the Sara and Rachel components of the sibling line of deliverables which is now
a complete set.


Regards,
Steve.

/*********************************************************************
*                               *                                    *
* Steve Shapiro                 * All views and opinions expressed   *
* SKS Computer Consulting, Inc. * are my own and do not neccessarily *
* Specializing in: HP/SUN/UNIX  * reflect those of my clients,       *
* DEC/VAX/VMS/ULTRIX, IBM PC    * employers, employees, children,    *
* C, FORTRAN, PASCAL, PL/1      * parents, spouse or even myself!    *
*                               *                                    *
**********************************************************************
* The Contract Professional BBS, North Reading, MA                   *
* FidoNet 1:101/440 (508) 664-6354                                   *
* Steve.Shapiro@f440.n101.z1.fidonet.org                             *
*********************************************************************/

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: 4 triangles of equal size out of 6 straws of equal length.
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 03:35:35 GMT


Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
>Related problem: using 6 straws of equal length, make 6 equal triangles - not
>just in size, but also in angles (i.e., congruent).  Hint: probably easier for
>certain people, to whom the pattern is familiar.  The same principle can be
>applied to any even number greater than 4, and also to 5.

It's your star, right Dave?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|   Christopher J. D'Costa           cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Poster of "other hi-IQ groups", please repost.
Date: 11 Sep 92 21:02:53 GMT

In article <1992Sep11.165905.27189@cbnewse.cb.att.com>, gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Sep9.153145.16658@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
> >In article <1992Sep9.150158.9513@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
> >>>In article <13678294@gloin.unh.edu>, kalter@unh.edu writes:
> >>>|> Do you have addresses for the other groups?  If not, would be stisfied
> >>
> >>Well, there's me.  But there's only one in my group, and it's pretty
> >>exclusive.  The entrance exam has to do with DNA matching.  If you can
> >>prove you're me, you're in.
> >>
> >>GMS
> >
> >Hmmm....sounds pretty shakey to me.  I mean, how do *we* know that you are
> >you?  After all, comparing your DNA to your own DNA doesn't really prove
> 
> It's too complicated to explain to anyone not in the GMS society.
> 
> BTW, there's no "e" in "shaky".

If it's a pizza, there is.
From: dh4j+@andrew.cmu.edu (David O Hunt)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: An even SHORTER Puzzle
Date: 7 Sep 92 18:15:50 GMT
Organization: Masters student, Materials Science and Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

The answer is 7!

David
From: ndb034@nov.hb.se (Jesper Hgstrm CMB-K/CRR)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: 4 triangles of equal size out of 6 straws of equal length.
Date: 15 Sep 92 22:58:41 GMT
Organization: Gothenburg Universities' Computing Centre

In article <716227521.F00003@blkcat.UUCP> Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:

>Related problem: using 6 straws of equal length, make 6 equal triangles - not
>just in size, but also in angles (i.e., congruent).  Hint: probably easier for
>certain people, to whom the pattern is familiar.  The same principle can be
>applied to any even number greater than 4, and also to 5.


     If Straws are allowed to be as well crossed as broken; Cross three 
straws in as *-like mode (on my screen a "snowflake" star w/ 60 degrees 
between all strawes. Then braek three strawes in half. Fill the missing gap. 
Done.

     If not; make a heptagram (Star of David). You end up w/ half of the 
area created unused, but still :-)

//Jesper
From: shapiro@trade.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Poster of "other hi-IQ groups", please repost.
Date: 10 Sep 92 14:21:12 GMT
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Marlboro, MA
Organisation: SKS Computer Consulting, Inc.


In article <1992Sep9.153145.16658@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>,
mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes...

>Hmmm....sounds pretty shakey to me.  I mean, how do *we* know that you are
>you? 

Well, when I awoke this morning I looked in the mirror and there I was. 

If you would like to do the same, feel free to drop by. 8-)

Regards,
Steve.

/*********************************************************************
*                               *                                    *
* Steve Shapiro                 * All views and opinions expressed   *
* SKS Computer Consulting, Inc. * are my own and do not neccessarily *
* Specializing in: HP/SUN/UNIX  * reflect those of my clients,       *
* DEC/VAX/VMS/ULTRIX, IBM PC    * employers, employees, children,    *
* C, FORTRAN, PASCAL, PL/1      * parents, spouse or even myself!    *
*                               *                                    *
**********************************************************************
* The Contract Professional BBS, North Reading, MA                   *
* FidoNet 1:101/440 (508) 664-6354                                   *
* Steve.Shapiro@f440.n101.z1.fidonet.org                             *
*********************************************************************/
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ecsd@tfs.com (Eric C. S. Dynamic)
Subject: Re: WARNING! (Re: Since we are on the topic of puzzles ...)
Organization: TRW Financial Systems
Date: Sat, 12 Sep 1992 11:53:13 GMT

 "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA> writes:
>, crossgl@infonode.ingr.com (Gordon Cross) writes:
(1-100 puzzle)

>DO NOT POST THE ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM!!!!!  This problem is found on 
>Rodney G. Adams

Sorry. Chaos rules. Information is free . . .
Besides, you're just too late.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: johnson@sleipnir.mnesouth.corp.mot.com ("Johnson")
Subject: Re: A Short Puzzle
Reply-To: johnson@sleipnir.mnesouth.corp.mot.com
Organization: Motorola Wireless Enterprises, Schaumburg, IL
Distribution: na
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 21:44:12 GMT

In article <1992Sep04.170223.28643@bnr.ca>, radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams) writes:
=)In article <1992Sep4.055131.26719@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>, mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
=)|> In article <1992Sep4.050444.27407@unixg.ubc.ca> Sundar_Prasad@mtsg.ubc.ca writes:
=)|> >In article <1992Sep3.010437.28296@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu
=)|> >(John P. Mechalas) writes:
=)|> >>Here's an interesting puzzle someone pulled on me today:
...now-familiar puzzle deleted
=)|> >>
=)|> >If I'm not missing any tricks, the only possible solution is if the frog
=)|> >can START with a 2 square jump (the above puzzle only says alternate jumps
=)|> >of 3 and 2 squares, but not that the first jump HAS to be a 3 square one).
=)|> >Am I right ;-) ?
=)|> 
=)|> You are on the right thread, though not quite right.  This puzzle was created
=)|> by someone (whose name I can't remember offhand) to show how people commonly
=)|> assume information about a problem that is not actually given.  In this case,
=)|> it is assumed that the frog is starting in square three.  But, the problem
=)|> never states whether or not the frog is *starting* to move, or if it is in
=)|> the *middle* of a move.  It only says that the frog is currently in square 3.
=)Or, you can do it this way:
=)
=)>    Imagine a frog that is in square three of a row of six squares.  
=)
=)OK, I'm imagining a frog in square three, as depicted below.  Meanwhile, 
=)the REAL frog is sitting in square six.  He then hops to square three and
=)back to square five.
=)                                                                     Square   

Or, to simplify the "questioning your basic assumptions" motif, you can assume
that two=0 and three=1.  The beauty of the "assumptions" problems is that
you have to make so many assumptions to even communicate that the problem
is easily circumvented by ignoring just about any of them.  Example: the
extended 9-dot puzzle.

Draw 9 dots in a square 3x3 grid on a piece of paper, i.e.,

...
...
...

Now try connecting the dots with:

5 lines
4 lines (this is the one most people know)
3 lines (here it starts to get hard)
2 lines
1 line

Answers posted next week if there's any interest.
-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  "Johnson"                              | "                               " |
|  johnson@sleipnir.mnesouth.corp.mot.com |               -- Marcel Marceau   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Disclaimer:  It's just my Tourette's Syndrome acting up again.             |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: seb@draper.com (Steve Bacher)
Subject: Re: Newest Mensan
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 12:57:00 GMT

In article <1992Sep5.125251.5863@ryn.mro4.dec.com>,
shapiro@trade.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:
|>                               INTRODUCING
|>                          SHAPIRO RELEASE 3.0
|>                      From Steve and Jill Shapiro

|>                         DAVID EVERETT SHAPIRO

etc.

But.........  has he been TESTED?   How can the validity of the
Subject: contents be assured otherwise?

 - seb
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Poster of "other hi-IQ groups", please repost.
Date: 11 Sep 92 16:59:05 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Sep9.153145.16658@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
>In article <1992Sep9.150158.9513@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
>>>In article <13678294@gloin.unh.edu>, kalter@unh.edu writes:
>>>|> Do you have addresses for the other groups?  If not, would be stisfied
>>
>>Well, there's me.  But there's only one in my group, and it's pretty
>>exclusive.  The entrance exam has to do with DNA matching.  If you can
>>prove you're me, you're in.
>>
>>GMS
>
>Hmmm....sounds pretty shakey to me.  I mean, how do *we* know that you are
>you?  After all, comparing your DNA to your own DNA doesn't really prove

It's too complicated to explain to anyone not in the GMS society.

BTW, there's no "e" in "shaky".

GM("Just Uppity Enough")S
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: darylm@sequent.com (Daryl V. McDaniel)
Subject: Re: Hot cross puns
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: sqnt
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 92 22:38:25 GMT

muchow@venus.iex.com (Don Muchow) writes:

>This has been floating around the office where I work.  Enjoy!

>...or should I say "Thistles bean flat Inga Rondele a fish wear eyework"?


>		TWEEZE DENIED BEEF WORKER ISTHMUS

>Tweeze denied beef worker isthmus, winnow Trudy how's,
> ... Rest deleted ...

This is an example of "Anguish Languish".  There is a society, SPAL, which is the "Society for
the Preservation of Anguish Languish."  More information is available from the book "Anguish
Languish", 1956 (or 1954?), published by Prentice Hall.

One rule is that every word in Anguish Languish is a real, verifiable, word in the English
Language.  The very best examples of Anguish Languish seem to tell two different stories, one
in the Anguish Languish and one in the English Language.

This would make a great SIG, but I think it would languish after about six months.

One of my favorite songs is "Hormone Derange".  Other favorites include "Oiled Murder
Harbored" and "Ladle Rat Rotten Hut".

-_-_-_-_
Daryl V. McDaniel	Oregon Mensa Information --> mensa@mnet.com
Sequent (Contractor)		(503) 578-3383		darylm@sequent.com
Micronetics			(503) 643-6137		darylm@illian.mnet.com

"Yonder nor sorghum stenches, shut ladle gulls stopper torque wet strainers."
					Ladle Rat Rotten Hut -- mural
From: ta-vg11@muddnext21.cc.columbia.edu (Vikas Gupta)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: An even SHORTER Puzzle
Date: 11 Sep 92 17:31:09 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Columbia University

In article <1992Sep10.183603.13641@ryn.mro4.dec.com>  
shapiro@trade.enet.dec.com (Steve Shapiro) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Sep10.140204.2437@gmuvax2.gmu.edu>,  
kaufman@gmuvax2.gmu.edu
> (Ken Kaufman) writes...
> 
> >In fact, if we credit the butts as possibilities for future recursive
> >recycling, we can easily sum the infinite series (6 + 1 + 1/6 + 1/36 +  
..)
> >and see that his supply of 36 butts can ultimately supply him with
> >precisely 7.2 smokes.
> 
> Nope, .2 is not reasonable. First it is not an infinite series as a  
cigarette
> butt has a physical limitation. If a butt is 1/6 of a cigarette, there 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
is NO
^^^^^^
> WAY it can approach a limit which achieves 1/5. This would imply 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
physical
^^^^^^^^^^^
> characteristics which do not exist.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


In all of the solutions when you consider that a cigarette has been smoked  
leaving 1/6 th as the butt youn count it as 1 eventhogh only 5/6 th has  
been smoked. by  the same token the answer 7.2 is correct .Of course youe  
following objections are of a different category and may hold true..
> 
> Also, your implied assertion is that a single butt is a smokable entity.  
Well,
> with a filter or a holder it would be, otherwise one would have to have  
very
> tough lips. However, filters and holders were not a part of the original
> problem.
> 
> As an aside, consider this:
> 
> What if he lights subsequent cigarettes with the butts of the current
> cigarette? Would that be considered a SINGLE (albeit somewhat lengthy)  
smoke?
> 
> But I digress... 8-)
> 
> Regards,
> Steve.





VIKAS 
>
From: quest@iowegia.uucp (Steve J. Quest)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The nerd stereotype
Date: Sat, 05 Sep 92 19:08:56 CDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Iowegia Public Access Usenet/UUCP, Clive IA USA.

ericj@eskimo.celestial.com (Eric Jorgensen) writes:

> I eat pizza (my favorite edible solid (hamburgers are second favorite)), drin
> Coca-Cola, and have a tin o' candy next to my computer screen (one has a bit
> of candy left in it, another is filled with coinage of various value).  I am
> currently not only typing this message, but am also eating a slice of pizza,
> drinking a Coke, AND listening to ME/U (on cable).
> 
> I visit the science (and law) areas of the college library almost as often as
> go to classes; I subscribe to science journals AND sci-fi mags (I even WRITE
> science fiction).  I also read/collect "Akira" issues (Japanese graphic novel
> (larger than 'comic books', and with MUCH better art, IMHO)), among other
> Japanese books (and animation videos).
> 
> I've also had the same prob's with personal relationships that a couple peopl
> here have explained (I have yet to have anyone consider 'it' (being together,
> etc) a 'date').
> 
> And yes...I wear glasses (hey, at LEAST they're wire frame instead of plastic
> with-tape).
> 
> So, which am I?  :)
> 


Eric,

        You my friend, must be a Neek (or is that Gerd?)........sq

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: yoo@netcom.com (Young-Kyu Yoo)
Subject: Re: Small 'un
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 92 01:34:38 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

>If swabs live in Swabsville,
>And troks live in Troksville,
>Who lives in Winchmore?
>And why ?



Yes, W-h-o is in Winchmore.

or

No, Who has been dismembered by the mysterious incmre.   :)

Young-Kyu Yoo
NeXT Software Developer


Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: simple puzzle
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 02:00:46 GMT


I wrote:

>So the minimum number of weighings within which the odd coin &
>the nature of it's oddity CAN be found is THREE, PROVIDED you're
>lucky. Otherwise, you'll need FOUR tries.

Sorry, the answer (as many have shown) is three. Kinda waded in
last night with a faulty solution.
From: bernard@sirius.gte.com (Bernard Silver)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Poster of "other hi-IQ groups", please repost.
Date: 9 Sep 92 18:55:11 GMT
	<1992Sep9.150158.9513@cbnewse.cb.att.com>
Organization: GTE Laboratories Incorporated
In-reply-to: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com's message of 9 Sep 92 15:01:58 GMT

In article <1992Sep9.150158.9513@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:

   >In article <13678294@gloin.unh.edu>, kalter@unh.edu writes:
   >|> Do you have addresses for the other groups?  If not, would be stisfied

   Well, there's me.  But there's only one in my group, and it's pretty
   exclusive.  The entrance exam has to do with DNA matching.  If you can
   prove you're me, you're in.

   My e-mail address is included in this post, if you're interested.


I'm interested.  Before I apply, could you tell me some of the
advantages of joining?  Do you (or is that "You") have a GMS
newsletter, annual meeting or similar events?  

I'm pretty confident of passing the test as all my life people have
said to me "You look *exactly* like that nice Gilbert M. Stewart"
--
				Bernard Silver
				GTE Laboratories
				bsilver@gte.com
				(617) 466-2663
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: radams@BNR.CA (Rodney Adams)
Subject: Re: 4 triangles of equal size out of 6 straws of equal length.
Reply-To: "Rodney Adams" <RADAMS@BNR.CA>
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ltd.
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 18:30:43 GMT

In article <716227521.F00003@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@p11.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
|> Related problem: using 6 straws of equal length, make 6 equal triangles - not
|> just in size, but also in angles (i.e., congruent).  Hint: probably easier for
|> certain people, to whom the pattern is familiar.  The same principle can be
|> applied to any even number greater than 4, and also to 5.
|> 

Might those people be ... um ... Jewish?
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodney G. Adams
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of my employer.
As if you didn't already know that....
"The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that still
carries any reward."                             - John Maynard Keynes
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: skh4161@mvs.draper.com (Kjeld Hvatum)
Subject: Re: 4 triangles of equal size out of 6 straws of equal length.
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 20:33:00 GMT


>From: Bob Daniel <rad@genco.bungi.com>
>Message-ID: <39@genco.bungi.com>
>
>Last time I was at a bar in San Francisco, I was playing straw games with
>the bartender.  She had one that took me about 10 minutes to solve (with a
>couple beers in me :-).  She has tried it on atleast 100 people and said
>that only one person other than myself has gotten it.  Judging from the
>patrons of the bar, I didn't get the feeling that many there would give
>it much effort.  Nevertheless, it might make a great addition to
>Mensan testing.
>
>With 6 straws of equal length, make 4 triangles of equal size (in area).

Sounds like a tetrahedron to me - the simplest of the five
Platonic solids.  Solution time: about 5 seconds.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa