HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: skh4161@mvs.draper.com (Kjeld Hvatum)
Subject: Re: Why these computer solutions?
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 18:49:00 GMT


>From: SSR48327@vax1.utulsa.edu
>Message-ID: <920817175638.216018cc@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU>
>
>From the keyboard of Steve Bacher, who writes:
>
>>The reason I'm posting these computer solutions to puzzlers is to emphasize
>>that times have changed.  The days when people could amuse each other with
>>simple arithmetical "brain teasers" are slipping away,
>>[stuff deleted]
>>Brain teasers will have to be more sophisticated - either closer to being
>>NP-complete, or involving a much larger number of potential solutions,
>>[stuff deleted]
>
>  Not necessarily. A lot of the appeal of solving brain teasers is that you
>  get a chance to use your intellectual dexterity (and I'm not referring
>  to writing a computer program) to solve the problem. I think of this as
>  similar to solving a PDE. You can solve a problem numerically, but
>  nothing beats the satisfaction of coming up with a solution analytically.

Yes, I agree - I find it very rewarding to use a system like
Macsyma, Mathematica, Maple, Reduce, Derive, or Scratchpad to
let a computer analytically (not numerically) come up with
an answer.  :-)
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Problematic smurfs!
Date: 1 Sep 92 17:35:42 GMT

In article <23325B@erik.naggum.no>, enag@ifi.uio.no (Erik Naggum) writes:
> 
> Mike Steiner <mike_steiner@qm.claris.com> writes:
> |
> |   > |   > They can only wear one color. The color hat on their head is ...
> |   >       ^^^^ A smurf                                   ^^^^^ a smurf's
> |
> |   That changes the problem.
> 
> No, it only limits the number of interpretations of the originally
> stated problem.  "They" and "their" are used as singular gender-
> indeterminate pronouns.  (BTW, this usage is not new with political
> correctness.)

This usage is neither correct grammar nor correct English usage.
 
> |   > |   >      One day the mayor, not apart of the 1000 smurfs, decides ...
> |   >                                   ^^^^^^^^ among
> |
> |   That also changes the problem.
> 
> No, as above.  You have to interpret "apart of" somehow, since it isn't
> very meaningful as is.  So it's either "apart from", or "a part of".
> I'm opting for the least number of typos, i.e. missing space.

I've seen "apart of" used synonymously with "apart from" for more than 30
years, so I had no ambiguity with it.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ta-vg11@muddnext4.cc.columbia.edu (Vikas Gupta)
Subject: NYC local group
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:48:56 GMT



Hi 

I am a new member of MENSA.
Are there any Mensans from NYC on the net. 

What local group activities do they have ?

My e-mail add:
ta-vg11@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: werme@abyss.zk3.dec.com (Eric Werme USSG)
Subject: Re: The World According to Student Bloopers
Reply-To: werme@abyss.zk3.dec.com (Eric Werme USSG)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation - Nashua, NH
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 13:29:54 GMT

In article <1992Sep2.013027.14014@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>,
mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
|> In article <1992Sep1.191019.12908@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper) writes:
|> >This article is probably copyrighted, since Richard Lederer
|> >is a well-known author.  He is in New Hampshire Mensa.
|> 
|> I thought of that, too...but checked and could not find any copyright 
|> information on it.  To the best of my knowledge, it was distributed through
|> the public domain.

I believe this was first printed as a newspaper column, and then included
as a chapter in _Anguished_English_.  I'd have to do some rumaging to
find out.  I think I'll be seeing him this month, I'll try to ask about
his policy.  I vaguely remember him talking about how that particular piece
has taken on a life of its own.

Sorry about the non-definitive answer (but hey, this is USENET), but I'm
still trying to handle the transition from Alliant to DEC.

	-Ric Werme, werme@zk3.dec.com  [***Note new address***]

.signature belongs here, but I left it at Alliant....
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: suopanki@zombie.oulu.fi (Heikki Suopanki)
Subject: Re: Stephen Hawking, Mensan
Reply-To: suopanki@phoenix.oulu.fi
Organization: Unixverstas Olutensin, Finlandia
	<DENS.92Aug26072603@flammulated.owlnet.rice.edu>
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 23:37:24 GMT

>>>>> On Wed, 26 Aug 1992 13:26:03 GMT, dens@flammulated.owlnet.rice.edu (Dennis Allen Schmitz) said:

Dennis> Next thing you know, someone will tell me there was a movie version of
Dennis> War and Peace.

You mean you have not seen it?

-Heikki
--
*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*
<* Heikki T. Suopanki <*> suopanki@phoenix.oulu.fi <*> Oulu, Finland *> 
*> IRC: heska  <*>  Pink dreams and blue thoughts  <*>   @>-,--'--   <*
<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>*<*>
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: Mensa on Letterman
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1992 05:37:51 GMT


I missed the show but I caught the next days's 'Late Night'and 
Letterman  never lost an opportunity to brag about how "60 geniuses
brought me a soda" ..well, at least HE thinks we're geniuses ;-)
Did those Ms do anything else on the show besides bring him the soda?
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ron@syacus.acus.oz.au (Ron Williams)
Subject: Re: Mensa on Letterman
Organization: ACUS Australian Centre for Unisys Software, Sydney
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL5
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 03:04:55 GMT

mcbeanb@brandonu.ca wrote:
: Maybe they were just a bunch of Mensans who had senses of humour, and
: they were able to have a good time while laughing at themselves.
: Imagine that:  Smart, and a sense of humour.  Who woulda thought?
: 
: Brian McBean

Yeah, but I think this Letterman was probably setting them up simply to
take the mickey out of them. Cheap shot. Look how dumb these 'Geniuses'
are.

--
Ron Williams                  ACSnet : ron@syacus.acus.oz
Ph : +61 2 390-1366         Internet : ron@syacus.acus.OZ.AU
Fax: +61 2 390-1391             UUCP : uunet!munnari!syacus.acus.oz.au!ron
Standard Disclaimers Apply
From: quest@iowegia.uucp (Steve J. Quest)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The nerd stereotype
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 13:58:26 CDT
Distribution: world
Organization: Iowegia Waffle BBS, Clive IA USA, +1 515 226 2156

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

> >         A nerd can be found eating pizza, pop, and candy in front 
> > of a computer screen.
> >         A geek can be found eating pizza, pop, and candy in front 
> > of Star Trek on TV.
> >         A nerd reads scientific journals, magazines and etc.
> >         A geek reads comic books, sci-fi novels and etc.
> >         a nerd is incapable of interpersonal relationships.
> >         So is a geek.
> >         Flame away................sq
> 
> Aparently, it is possible to be both a nerd and a geek simultaneously
> at the same time.


Mike,

        I must confess, I too can be found in front of the 
boob-tube once in a while, but I usually can be found watching Ren 
& Stimpy!  This is not to say that I don't watch ST:TNG    ;)

sq
From: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The World According to Student Bloopers
Date: 2 Sep 92 15:48:25 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Sep2.132151.7140@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU> jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper) writes:
>Absence of a copyright statement does not negate the author's
>copyright.  Any work of authorship is automatically copyright
>when it is set into a fixed form, such as print or electronic
>file.  (This is detailed in the brochures published by the
>Copyright Office, which are available at your nearest government
>documents depository library.)
>--
>Jean L. Cooper    (BITNET: JLC5F@virginia.edu   CIS: 70253,1114)
>"The true University of these days is a Collection of Books." 
>                                           --Carlyle                        

You are forgetting the the author in question did not write the bloopers.
He only compiled the list.  If he did attempt to claim a copyright, then
he could be sued by each student whose essays were included.
-- 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
|   John Mechalas      |   Send all fan mail to: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu   |
|   Purdue University  |   Send all hate mail to: someone else                |
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Organization: Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 15:02:36 -0400 
From: Sandy Topping <st15+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: Famous Mensans besides Isaac Asimov and Mel Lazarus, Chekov (ST)
	<15072@claris.com>

The name is Theodore Bikel, NOT Theodor Bikkel.  

Sorry -- I'm having a bad day, or I wouldn't be so picky about the spelling.

Sandy
From: lotspeic@sal-sun47.usc.edu (David Lotspeich)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Food groups
Date: 3 Sep 1992 12:04:42 -0700
Organization: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
NNTP-Posting-Host: sal-sun47.usc.edu

Speaking for college life there are truly only two food groups:

1) Free food.  (Donations are always accepted, especially for attending
	university functions.)
and

2) MY food.  (Herein are contained those subdivisions which you are so 
	pettily arguing about.  Personally sugar provides ~80% of all
	my daily nutrients.)











	-- David Lotspeich  (lotspeic@usc.edu)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa,misc.education
From: eab@msc.edu (Edward Bertsch)
Subject: Re: Demise of honor programs in public high schools
Organization: Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Minneapolis, MN
Distribution: na
Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1992 20:01:28 GMT


Well, I can imagine that people figure that this will be good for the
slow students (let's call the vegetables, to be cute).  But what exactly
is in this deal that benefits the quick students?  And for that matter,
perhaps the smart kids will resent their 'mission of mercy' and actually
won't be that good for the veggies.

Folks in misc.education, do you have any real-world data on what happens
when students are grouped with no respect for differences in ability?

In article <1992Aug17.150702.10728@alliant.com>, werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme) writes:
|> The latest public school bandwagon seems to be "heterogeneous grouping",
|> where kids of all abilities are mixed into a class.  The claim is that
|> with ability grouping, the slower students are put into the slow
|> group and never have a chance to reach their potential.  (There is another
|> school of thought that look-say and whole language learning instead of
|> phonics is the reason why a lot of these students are slow, but that's
|> another topic.)
|> 
|> This is being implemented a new high school that includes my town, and is
|> also going into effect at a school in Alaska.  There is a marvelous article
|> on the subject over in misc.education. Every Mensan who benefited from
|> honors courses, was harmed by honors courses, or cares for some other
|> reason should hop over and take a look.
|> 
|> BTW, the flame level in misc.education is much lower than over here.  If you
|> respond, please try to behave yourself!  (He says, right after posting a
|> moderate flame in response to a press release from AFT condemning school
|> voucher programs.)
|> 
|> Things are fairly quiet over here lately.  Guess I'll post here an article
|> I posted there, that I wrote for our local paper.  Coming up right after this
|> one!
|> -- 
|> | A pride of lions               | Eric J Werme                 |
|> | A gaggle of geese              | 77 Tater St                  |
|> | An odd lot of programmers      | Mont Vernon NH  03057        |
|> | A Constitution of Libertarians | Phone: 603-673-3993          |

--

Edward A. Bertsch (eab@msc.edu)   Minnesota Supercomputer Center, Inc.
Operations/User Services          1200 Washington Avenue South
(612) 626-1888 work               Minneapolis, Minnesota  55415
(612) 645-0168 voice mail         [DISCLAIMER: MY OPINIONS; NOT MSCI'S]

      ___________________________________________________
      Dump the Republocrats:      vote Libertarian in '92
      ---------------------------------------------------

% echo "potatoe potato" | spell
potatoe
%
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: drich@sandman.lerc.nasa.gov (Daniel Rich)
Subject: Re: Mensa on Letterman
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Distribution: usa
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 14:10:38 GMT

In article <15077@claris.com> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
>Mensa's PR firm posted a message on Compuserve last night that Thursday's
>David Letterman show will have about 50 to 60 Mensans on it.  He didn't
>say much more than that.

I have only watched the first 15-20 minutes so far, but it is nice to
see that Letterman has found a use for Mensans.  We finally have an
answer to that age-old question, "What is it that Mensans do?"  Well,
as you can see, we get soda for celebrities! :-)

Actually, it is rather strange turning on your TV and seeing a bunch
of people you know standing in line, passing a can of soda....

-- 


-- 
Dan Rich                    | drich@lerc.nasa.gov   |  (216) 433-4000
Sr. Systems Engineer        | "Danger, you haven't seen the last of me!"
RMS Technologies, Inc.      |    "No, but the first of you turns my stomach!"
NASA Lewis Research Center  | -- The Firesign Theatre's Nick Danger
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Who needs intelligence (cont.)?
Date: 28 Aug 92 23:59:38 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.124416.1@woods.ulowell.edu>, welchb@woods.ulowell.edu writes:
> 
> My sincere question is somewhat similar to "If we can send a (wo)man to 
> the moon, why can't we .... ?", so here it is.
> 
> How do Mensans, or other people of intelligence, accomodate their careers,
> objectives, lives, etc. to the fact that there are terrible atrocities, 
> wars, social ills, etc. continually going on?  Should you feel even more
> responsibility than the average person?  Does mathematics or rocket science
> or philosophy matter when babies are being used for bayonet practice (just
> saw that one last night on tv) or people are starving (unnecessarily)?
> 
> I am not looking for flames, or for the question to be turned back on me,
> just for answers.

I doubt that you will find what you are looking for.  I just read three
replies from three different people; each was unique, and each was equally
valid.  Each person must choose for him/herself what to do and what not to
do.  I could try to become President of the United States, and if elected,
throw the resources of the country toward eliminating war, poverty, and
hunger.  However, there are people much more capable than I am who are
doing that, or who will be doing that.  So, in my own way now, I work in a
field that creates and builds tools for others to use in their endeavors; if
they choose to use those tools toward helping other people, that is all the
better--and I can be satisfied that I helped provide them with those tools.
Mathematics and rocket science--and yes, even philosophy--can ultimately
help aleviate the ills of the world, for they also provide tools for those
people who are able to work on the cures.

I started this message by saying that I doubt that you will find what you
are looking for.  Perhaps my assumption that you are looking for a way to
end these problems is wrong, but if that assumption is correct, I stand by
what I wrote.  If it is not correct, then I don't know, because I also do
not know what you are looking for.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: BACS Data Communications Group <commgrp@silver.ucs.indiana.edu>
Subject: Re: Food groups
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1992 16:58:20 GMT

In article <1992Aug28.181552.19246@lmpsbbs.comm.mot.com>, johnson@sleipnir.mneso
uth.corp.mot.com (Mark Johnson) writes:
> 
> In article <BtoCvt.4DF@nntp-sc.Intel.COM>, isinyak@provx30.intel.com (Igor Sin
yak) writes:
> =)Instant
> =)Canned
> =)Frozen
> =)Light
> =)
> When I was single, the four food groups were:
> McDonald's
> Wendy's
> Burger King
> Domino's

The four basic food groups are 

   Sugar 
   Salt 
   Caffiene
   Preservatives.

A medical doctor told me that, so it must be true!  *(:-)

--

Frank     reid@ucs.indiana.edu
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Mensa on Letterman
From: mcbeanb@brandonu.ca
Date: 31 Aug 92 13:27:00 CST
Organization: Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

In article <1992Aug31.081449.3826@syacus.acus.oz.au>, ron@syacus.acus.oz.au (Ron Williams) writes:
> Mike Steiner (mike_steiner@qm.claris.com) wrote:
>> floor.  One of them bought a can of soda from a machine, passed it to the
>> next person, and they relayed the can along the line (which extended down
>> a stairwell) until it reached the one at the doorway.  She then opened the
>> door, and ran with the can about 50 feet or so to Letterman's desk, where
>> she gave him the can.
>> 
>> A camera followed the can all the way to the door, and one of the studio
>> cameras picked it up when the last Mensan entered the studio.
> 
> These people might be smart, but in my opinion they lack self-respect.
> 
> They certainly were probably not geniuses.

You are certain that they probably weren't geniuses.  Is it just me,
or is that a weak statement?

Maybe they were just a bunch of Mensans who had senses of humour, and
they were able to have a good time while laughing at themselves.
Imagine that:  Smart, and a sense of humour.  Who woulda thought?

Brian McBean
From: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The World According to Student Bloopers
Date: 2 Sep 92 15:51:46 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <1992Sep2.132954.27329@decvax.dec.com> werme@abyss.zk3.dec.com (Eric Werme USSG) writes:
>In article <1992Sep2.013027.14014@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>,
>mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (John P. Mechalas) writes:
>|> In article <1992Sep1.191019.12908@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
>jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper) writes:
>|> >This article is probably copyrighted, since Richard Lederer
>|> >is a well-known author.  He is in New Hampshire Mensa.
>|> 
>|> I thought of that, too...but checked and could not find any copyright 
>|> information on it.  To the best of my knowledge, it was distributed through
>|> the public domain.
>
>I believe this was first printed as a newspaper column, and then included
>as a chapter in _Anguished_English_.  I'd have to do some rumaging to
>find out.  I think I'll be seeing him this month, I'll try to ask about
>his policy.  I vaguely remember him talking about how that particular piece
>has taken on a life of its own.
>
>Sorry about the non-definitive answer (but hey, this is USENET), but I'm
>still trying to handle the transition from Alliant to DEC.
>
>	-Ric Werme, werme@zk3.dec.com  [***Note new address***]

If you can find proof that this article was somehow copyrighted without the
consent of the students whose essays make up the article, then I will cancel
the post.  But for now, I am going on the basis that the article can not
be copyrighted without the students' consent, and a list of footnotes and
bibliographies.  If it can be copyrighted without their consent, then I
must admit I fear there is some sort of ethical question involved with such
a process, as someone pointed out earlier.
-- 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
|   John Mechalas      |   Send all fan mail to: mechalas@gn.ecn.purdue.edu   |
|   Purdue University  |   Send all hate mail to: someone else                |
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Mensa on Letterman
Date: 30 Aug 92 22:40:48 GMT

In article <1992Aug30.053751.26056@ncsu.edu>, cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA) writes:
> 
> 
> I missed the show but I caught the next days's 'Late Night'and 
> Letterman  never lost an opportunity to brag about how "60 geniuses
> brought me a soda" ..well, at least HE thinks we're geniuses ;-)
> Did those Ms do anything else on the show besides bring him the soda?

Nope.  In fact, they stayed in place just in case Letterman decided to
do it again (either for himself or a guest), but the show ran over, so
they didn't repeat it.

I missed the Friday night show; Sharon and I went out to catch _A Brief
History of Time_, which was probably much better than Letterman could
ever be.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: sean@cae.wisc.edu (Sean Rutledge)
Subject: Re: Demise of honor programs in public high schools
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Distribution: na
Date: 2 Sep 92 09:37:24 CDT

In article <1992Aug18.230739.16097@cbnewse.cb.att.com> gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:
>In article <1992Aug18.213734.13210@cbnewsl.cb.att.com> jlacey@cbnewsl.cb.att.com (james.w.lacey) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug17.150702.10728@alliant.com> werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme) writes:
>>>The latest public school bandwagon seems to be "heterogeneous grouping",
>>>where kids of all abilities are mixed into a class.  The claim is that
>>>with ability grouping, the slower students are put into the slow
>>>group and never have a chance to reach their potential. ....
>
>Cool.  Did the faster runners on the track team help the slower
>runners?  I wonder if this win-win solution will help us at
>the Olympics?
>
I read about a high school recently that allowed self-tracking.  The school offered
the honors classes to anyone that wanted to attend, not just honors students or 
whatever.  They were astounded by the number of regular students that 
attended these classes.

Self-motivation is a tremendous indicator for education.  I probably learned more
outside of school about traditional subjects (history, philosophy, business, ...)
than in school.  School should try to help those that want to help themselves.


sean rutledge                              murphy was an optimist!!!
sean@cae.wisc.edu



Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: seb@draper.com (Steve Bacher)
Subject: Brown and black hats (was:  Problematic smurfs!)
Organization: Draper Laboratory
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 12:02:00 GMT

I came up with a different solution:

Since someone standing on line who can only see those in front of - er - 
them - has no way of obtaining information about those in back of - er -
them - unless they can hear them, the only possibility is that the front
guy heard someone talk.  Someone can talk only if they know the color of
their hat, and they in turn can only find this out if they see someone
in front leave or hear someone talk.  Therefore, I conclude that the
fellow in the back must have talked.  The only information he would have
is the color of the other two guys' hats, which therefore must both be
black.  So the guy in front realizes this and leaves.

Why didn't the second guy leave?  Because (1) he's deaf and couldn't
hear the third guy, or (2) he's not a Mensan and couldn't come to the
same conclusion.

Why didn't the first guy realize that the second guy might not have
talked because he was deaf or non-Mensan?  It doesn't matter, because
the third one spoke and the second one didn't, which is the only way
that information could positively have been transmitted to the first.

 - seb
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: <None>
From: ** Sender Unknown **
Date: 2 Sep 92 13:23:12 EST

ld.so: warning: /usr/lib/libc.so.1.6.1 has older revision than expected 7