HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR)
Subject: Re: Why GREENSleaves?
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 06:09:38 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.150749.14551@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com> 
johnson@sleipnir.mnesouth.corp.mot.com writes:
>Perhaps there were once black plants, but they all died of boredom?

Don't mildew qualify as black plants?

From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Why GREENSleaves?
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 23:11:50 -0500

mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:

 MA> Why is most vegetation green? Is this a result of random evolution or
 MA> is there any particular reason for not growing blue?

There are several steps to the answer, at least as it was explained to me a
while back.

1.  What makes it green?  The green comes from chlorophyll, which acts as a
catalyst in the presence of light, enabling the plant to photosynthesize.  (To
those who don't remember their high school biology classes, this means to
combine carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) to make a simple sugar (C6H12O6)
and oxygen (O2).  The plants can later use the sugar as food.)

2.  Why do most plants share the use of chlorophyll?  Most likely (and I'm
SWAGing here) because it's part of the "inheritance" from the original
successful species of plant, rather than a bunch of identical mutations.  The
question is akin to "why do female mammals bear milk".

3.  Now the non-obvious part.  Why is chlorophyll green?  Look at it from the
reverse angle and ask why it absorbs all the other colors.  Turns out that the
sun's light is pretty strong in most of the other colors, and not so hot in
green, so something that absorbed the other stuff would do better than something
that didn't.  (BTW, I've heard that green is a VERY rare color for a star, so
plants on other worlds would probably be green too!)

Of course, the ultimate would be something that absorbed ALL colors (unless
maybe there's some reason I'm missing).  So why didn't plants based on some
black catalyst predominate?  Maybe they just didn't happen to happen - one must
keep in mind the statistical nature of evolution and mutation.  Or maybe in
spite of reflecting some colors, chlorophyll happens to work best of all the
stuff that happened to happen.  The world may never know....
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: eternal life
Date: 23 Jul 92 10:40:22 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

In article <14808@claris.com> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:

>In article <1992Jul21.095419.49373@ccvax.ucd.ie>, bharat@ccvax.ucd.ie writes:
>> 
>> In article <1992Jul20.135359.14577@ugle.unit.no>, mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:
>> > If the paralell-universes theory is right, one could get eternal life
>> > in one of these while dying in another????
>>  
>> I have heard about anti-universe. But paralell-universe is new to me????

>The parallel universe theory says that any decision point, two or more
>universes are created--one for each branch of the decision.  There is an
>entire subgenre in science fiction devoted to this theory; these stories
>involve the ability to travel from one of these universes to at least
>one other, and usually to many others.  L. Neil Smith wrote a series of
>stories, using this principle, to show how the United States would be
>today (and in the future) if it had adopted the principles of
>libertarianism at the beginning of its history.  Also, the book "Ring
>Around the Sun" is an excellent example of this subgenre.  The latter
>books by Robert A. Heinlein are also based in part on this theory (with
>the extra twist that all works of fiction have also spawned their own
>universes where the fiction turned out to be real).

And didn't Phil Dick write some fun stuff using the parallel universe idea?
He certainly got some mileage out of time travel.


+--Great Quotes of our Time-------------------------------------------+
|        You should never have a hobby that eats                      |
+--------------------------------------Amarillo Slim Preston----------+          
|  Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England  (44)061-275-6033   |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T/ Re: Joining
Date: 30 Jul 92 03:56:17 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1992Jul30.021136.19068@ncsu.edu> tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us writes:

>
>So MENSA amounts to a social club with a test score requirement?  I see...
>
>-- Scott Tai

   Yes.  Why not?     

                Nick

-- 
   _/   _/  _/  _/_/_/   _/   _/  
  _/_/ _/  _/  _/   _/  _/_/_/
 _/ _/_/  _/  _/       _/ _/                    Nicholas C de Mello
_/   _/  _/   _/_/_/  _/   _/                     Nick+@pitt.edu
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T=Constructive Criticism
Date: 29 Jul 92 22:34:11 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.094248.28023@walter.cray.com>, sonic@artgate.cray.com (Curtis Swanson) writes:
> 
> 
> In article <1992Jul28.222308.27560@ncsu.edu> some.obnoxious.pr*ck tai-sa@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
> 
> >I feel almost no need to justify myself to 90% of the people who continually
> >flame me.  They do so completely based on the story of the Steiner gang,
> >without attempting to hear my side of events. 
> 
> Yup, thats me!  Mike got me my job, found me a good place to live, runs
> interference with the bill-collectors for me and, next week, he's going to
> find me a mistress and father my child!  What a guy, eh?

You weren't supposed to tell.  Now everyone is going to want me to do the
same for them.  Sheesh; I get this guy in the DC area a wife from Calgary,
and I get you a mistress.  Isn't that enough?
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: PUT TAI IN THE FAQ (was:Re: T=What Correlation?)
Date: 30 Jul 92 20:30:26 GMT

In article <712468889.F00003@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> 
> phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) writes:
> 
>  PH> I still haven't decided the best (if any) way to put 
>  PH> "Beware the Tai" into the FAQ.
> 
>  Beware the jabber Tai, my son;
>  The lies that bite, the thoughts that match....

What thoughts?
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 23:19:08 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.190122.26182@ttinews.tti.com>, hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
> In article <1992Jul23.210747.23644@infonode.ingr.com> crossgl@infonode.ingr.com (Gordon Cross) writes:
> 
> }Actually, I understand that it takes some number of *millions* of years for
> }the energy created in the sun's core to reach its surface.  Sudden failure
> }of solar fusion wouldn't be noticed for some time.  Who knows but what it may
> }have quit 10,000 years ago.
> 
> I understand there's concern about this in some scientific circles.
> Something about the Sun not producing the predicted number of neutrinos.

As if I don't have enough to worry about.

Okay, okay, I'll get on it.

GMS
From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: IQ vs. Faith
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 22:01:08 -0500

pmailman@genesis.nred.ma.us (Paul Mailman) writes:

 PM> "Before the Beginning, there was this Turtle..."
 PM>        -- the Firesign Theater, "I think we're all Bozos on this bus"

Not just one - "it's turtles, turtles, turtles, all the way down!"
From: schin@pub2.bu.edu (neil schier)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Looking for Hunter College High and Stuyvesant High '86 grads
Date: 30 Jul 92 21:49:14 GMT
Organization: Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
Originator: schin@pub2.bu.edu

Hello

I am desperately trying to get ahold of two people who attended Hunter
College High. If you would, kindly respond to me directly.

Regards
Neil Schier
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: M email directory
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 22:31:57 GMT

In article <Bs3u22.K51@world.std.com> rhs@world.std.com (Richard H Schwartz) writes:
}My follow was intended to refer to the concern for making the e-mail
}directory available only to Mensans.  I deleted the wrong paragraph...
}
}rhs@world.std.com (Richard H Schwartz) writes:
}
}>Piece of cake!  Just encrypt it and don't give anyone the key.  Use a
}>code that only a Mensan can break.  :-)

}[ ... ]

Why the concern?  Our e-mail addresses are hardly private as it is.
Anyone can monitor r.o.m and get them from the headers.  Most of us put
them in our .signature files besides.  My only worry would be the
possibility of junk e-mail being sent to all of us.  I think the sheer
volume of return fire that would generate would quickly discourage the
practice. (Besides, it's easier and cheaper to post to the group).

Just do it.

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: willism@engin.umich.edu (Mark Benjamin Willis)
Subject: Re: daylength
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 92 22:04:29 EDT
Organization: University of Michigan Engineering, Ann Arbor

I have a newspaper article somewhere in my files in which a group of 
scientists created a model of the celestial movements.  They ran the 
model forward and backward and found a day missing.  They checked the 
model several times and everything fit perfectly except that a day was
missing a couple thousand of years ago.  One remembered the Bible story
about Joshua and they found the story and discovered 23:15 of their 
missing day.  They still needed 45 minutes to reconcile the model with
reality.  Turns out there is another Bible story in the Old Testament
where a prophet demonstrates his authority as God's mouthpiece by causing
the sun to go backwards 3 steps (if memory serves).  Each step was 15 
minutes in their time keeping mechanism.  The article reported that these
scientists, non of them Christians were faced with a dilemma because 
without the Biblical accounts their nearly perfect model was flawed and
with them, it was perfect.  I could try and dig up the article for 
reference is anyone is interested.

Mark Willis                   		willism@caen.engin.umich.edu 
9319 Harbor Cove Circle #312
Whitmore Lake, MI  48189                Bumpersticker:  He who dies with the
(313) 449-5638                                          most toys is dead!
From: SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: More on the AG
Date: 22 Jul 92 01:42:47 GMT
X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA07570; Tue, 21 Jul 92 18:42:56 -0700
X-Received: by inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com; id AA13314; Tue, 21 Jul 92 18:42:48 -0700
X-To: rec.org.mensa.usenet
X-Vmsmail-To: smtp%"rec.org.mensa.usenet@decwrl.dec.com"


jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper) writes:

>I also post the mini-minutes on the Mensa Forum, in
>the Mensa Publications library.  I have no objection
>to posting them here or on other BBS, but I have not
>had the time.  I think posting the full minutes here
>is a waste of "bandwidth", considering their size.

  By all means, please post them here too. A synopsis
  of the meetings (mini-minutes) would suffice, I should
  think.

--               
                                              --Syed Shibli
                                                ssr48327@vax1.utulsa.edu
                                                +1 918 631 3257
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T=Constructive Criticism
Date: 30 Jul 92 19:10:17 GMT
Organization: The Cat Factory


Since we now know ailab.ncsu.edu is a non-existant machine, here's
this week's flame retardant:

/ailab.ncsu.edu/h:j
/ T=/j

Enjoy.

The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@polymath.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Turn the rascals out!
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (310) 450-9111, x2483     No incumbents in '92!
Santa Monica, CA  90405
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai)
Subject: T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Reply-To: tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
Organization: NCSU Artificial Intelligence Systems Laboratory
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 02:49:58 GMT


In article <1992Jul27.203342.17234@eagercon.com>, eager@eagercon.com (Michael J. Eager) writes:
|>In article 3203@ncsu.edu, sat@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Andrew Tai) writes:
|>>
|>>     I have felt for some time that MENSA members can be roughly
|>>categorized into one of two groups.  Group A consists of those people
|>>whose lives are centered around a test score, and joined for the ego
|>>stroking they believe an elite organization can give them. Group B
|>>are those people who joined for more nobler reasons as stated in the
|>>MENSA charter.  The responses I've received were consistent with this
|>>grouping.  The telling point separating the groups is not whether they
|>>agreed with me or not; it's the approach they took when confronted with
|>>an idea challenging and possibly disturbing.
|>
|>It seems that there are two groups of people: those who divide people
|>into two group, and those who do not.
|>
|>I don't see that I fit in either of your groups and most Mensa members
|>I am aquainted with don't either (although I'm sure that you would force
|>them in one or the other).  

Not necessarily.  The subset of MENSA members I've encountered may well
not be representative of the group as a whole.

|>The Group A folks are the silent members.  You most likely will not 
|>find them at a Mensa event or contributing to this newsgroup.  As you 
|>mention, they are satisfied with having qualified and that is sufficient.

I believe we have more than a few Group A members contributing to this
newsgroup...

|>The group which you ignore is the majority of Mensa members.  These are
|>folks who enjoy the other members and enjoy participating in the various
|>activities which the members organize.  Most of these folks seem interested
|>in intellectually challenging or interesting activities, or ones which are
|>best described as "fun".  

Okay.  I don't have a problem with social organizations, per se.  The
2% rule has been, and will continue to be, the major problem with 
MENSA, in my opinion.

|>When I was at university, I was surrounded by bright people who talked
|>about a wide range of topics.  I probably would not have been interested
|>in Mensa at that time.  I can understand that you might not understand
|>this, since you are at a university, but the world outside the campus
|>is not as you would have it be.

Granted.  I agree that things are different outside the university
environment.

|>P.S. This is the first posting from you which I have read which seemed
|>to invite any reasonable response.  Congratulations.

Thank you.  I'll continue, as always, to strive to make quality postings :)

-- Scott Tai
   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Look out guys - Mensan denies evolution
Date: 21 Jul 92 13:35:36 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

To be published (UK only?) on 27Aug92:
The Facts of Life, by Richard Milton      16.99sterling from Fourth Estate

This guy sets out to rubbish evolution.  The dangers here are:
The creationists may notice and say 'a Mensan is on our side' or even 'Mensa 
agrees with us'
The evolutionists may notice and write us off.

Claims (from an article in UK Mensa magazine):
Geochronometry using radioactive dating has been shown to be deeply flawed 
and unrelaible.
Earliest fossil dating = date surface water first appeared.  Hole-in-1 very 
unlikely.
Where is the helium from decaying uranium?
Sedimentary layers should take millions of years to form but contain eg 
whole trees in vertical positions.
Usual stuff about horrendous gaps in fossil record.
No sign of missing link - all hominids are human or ape.

I expect most of these problems are well known to the evolutionists, who can 
no doubt explain them or are working on them, but the association of the 
Mensa name with this book may do us some harm in the eyes of the public.

P.S. I sent off an sae to Densa, just to see - no response.

+--Great Quotes of our Time-------------------------------------------+
|        You should never have a hobby that eats                      |
+--------------------------------------Amarillo Slim Preston----------+          
|  Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England  (44)061-275-6033   |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T=Killfiles and whoami
Date: 29 Jul 92 17:29:59 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.225210.28598@ncsu.edu>, tai-sa@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
> 
> 
> In article <1992Jul28.203530.24028@seanews.akita.com>, billmcc@seanews.akita.com (Bill McCormick) writes:
> |>> sat@ailab.ncsu.edu
> |>
> |>Ah, not only is he a virus, he's a *mutating* virus.  Off I go to edit my
> |>kill file again.
> |>
> |>"Scott Tai", you're a dick.
> |>
> |>Bill
> 
> I guess I am what you eat.
> 
> Maybe if your hollombe friend discontinued posting kill files for my id, 
> I wouldn't have to continually modify it.  Then everyone would be happy.  
> 
> Get it?

If you would post under your real name and real address, you might be tolerated.
The only way that you would make everyone happy around here would be by your
departure from this newsgroup.

However, you have evidenced every sign of being too immature to understand this.
From: SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: eternal life
Date: 31 Jul 92 00:15:53 GMT
X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA04358; Thu, 30 Jul 92 17:16:00 -0700
X-Received: by inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com; id AA06768; Thu, 30 Jul 92 17:15:55 -0700
X-To: rec.org.mensa.usenet
X-Vmsmail-To: smtp%"rec.org.mensa.usenet@decwrl.dec.com"


mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:

>In article <1992Jul21.095419.49373@ccvax.ucd.ie>, bharat@ccvax.ucd.ie writes:
>> 
>> In article <1992Jul20.135359.14577@ugle.unit.no>, mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:
>> > If the paralell-universes theory is right, one could get eternal life
>> > in one of these while dying in another????
>>  
>> I have heard about anti-universe. But paralell-universe is new to me????
>
>The parallel universe theory says that any decision point, two or more
>universes are created--one for each branch of the decision.  There is an
>entire subgenre in science fiction devoted to this theory; these stories
>involve the ability to travel from one of these universes to at least
>one other, and usually to many others.

  I shall be telling this with a sigh,
  Somewhere ages and ages hence:
  Two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
  Took the one less traveled by,
  And that has made all the difference.


  I'm not sure if Frost had any idea what the Parallel Universe theory
  meant when he wrote those lines. 

-- 
Syed Shibli                           | Tel: +1 918 631 3257
505 South Gary, #14, Tulsa, OK 74104. | ssr48327@vax1.utulsa.edu
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: TRUE BLUE?
Date: 29 Jul 92 00:01:07 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.205220.2240@ugle.unit.no>, mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:
> 
> How come the sky is blue?

Refraction.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: sonic@artgate.cray.com (Curtis Swanson)
Subject: Re: Daylenth
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 28 Jul 92 17:22:30 CDT


In article <712351487.F00003@blkcat.UUCP> Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner) writes:

> EP> From: gpowell@ent1.ent.ncsu.edu (Eugene Powell) Newsgroups:
> EP> ... We didn't even get into changes in spinrate of
> EP> earth that might allow vast sums for human ages, or constant knee
> EP> problems for volleyball players, since slowing down has increased
> EP> gravity?
>
>Gravity is independent of spin, is it not?

Yes, but the spin of the earth partially counteracts the force of 
gravity.  Not significant if I remember right but measurable.

--
***  Curt Swanson  ***  sonic@romulus.cray.com  ***  IOTTMCO  *********
HOME:n - That mythical place where you can go and relax.......
I'd rather be in a coma.........
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: student membership
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:16:07 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.114211.12122@news.Hawaii.Edu>, macknik@uhunix.uhcc.Hawaii.Edu (Elizabeth A. Macknik) writes:

> In closing, many kind and generous members have sent me email with instructions
> on how do apply for a reduced/waived membership fee for Mensa.  So I will
> soon join your ranks and see if the membership is as interesting as the
> members' discussions on USENET.  

I think that you will find that the membership is more interesting than
what you have found here.  This is a very limited segment of Mensa--consisting
only of a portion of those of us who have access to the newsgroups.

In any event, welcome.
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Date: 27 Jul 92 18:49:43 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.002249.3716@ncsu.edu>, RMS0214@MVS.CC.NCSU.EDU writes:
> 
> 
> In article <712134035.F00002@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> |>nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello) writes to Scott Tai:
> |>
> |> n>   I admit I'm a little confused.  If I understand right, you do not
> |> n> object to clubs restricted to people of certain, arbitrary, qualities:
> |> n> age, religion, or certain scores on IQ tests - in general.
> |>
> |>If you understand his statement to that effect, perhaps.  But it completely
> |>contradicts his angle of bashing in the past.  But then, what can we expect from
> |>a proven liar who hides behind a nonexistent address, constructs invalid
> |>arguments from outdated evidence, and ignores not only current data, but even
> |>those who know what they're talking about from firsthand experience?
> 
> Do you have anything better to do with your time than launch
> personal attacks on individuals attempting to do some good?
> I have no idea who Scott Tai is, but your post is clearly a
> personal attack which has little to do with the Mensa issue.
> 
> Grow up.

If that message had not come from NCSU, it might have some meaning.  Listen, Scotty
boy, at least have the integrity to post under your own name. Take your own advice
and grow up yourself.