HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: What did Judas betray?
Date: 13 Nov 92 18:23:47 GMT
Article-I.D.: onion.GERRY.92Nov13132347
Reply-To: gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston)
Organization: Field Robotics Center, CMU

In article <1992Nov13.020453.3520@imagen.com> avi@seal.imagen.com writes:

   The actual date when the Talmud was first WRITTEN is irrelevant. The Talmud is
   a continuation of the ORAL LAW, starting from Moses and kept alive (memorized)
   by people of enormous mental capabailities and supreme memory, who were
   specifically chosen for this task. So, writing it down simply preserved it
   on paper - but it was NOT changed before, during or after.

HA HA HA HA HA!

Boy, have I got some nice shoreline in Colorado to sell you!

--
Gerry Roston (gerry@cmu.edu)    | The most foolish mistake we could possibly
Field Robotics Center,          | make would be to allow the subjected people
Carnegie Mellon University      | to carry arms, history shows that all
Pittsburgh, PA, 15213           | conquerors who have allowed their subjected
(412) 268-3856                  | peoples to carry arms have prepared their own
                                | fall. Adolph Hitler
The opinions expressed are mine | 
and do not reflect the official | 
position of CMU, FRC, RedZone,  | 
or any other organization.      | 
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: ccw@prefect.uucp (26554-wood)
Subject: Re: Audi 5000
Organization: Bellcore, Livingston, NJ
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 19:39:04 GMT

In article <BxIGC4.75C@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca> rlbell@babbage.uwaterloo.ca (Richard Bell) writes:
>In article <GERRY.92Nov9123747@onion.cmu.edu> gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:
>>Despite all the talk, I find it hard to believe that the problem was
>>solely the fault of the drivers.  Even if the pedals were marginally
>>closer than the norm, this can not explain why such a disproportionate
>>number of accidents happened with Audis but not other cars.  I do not
>>believe in conspiracy theories, but I suspect that Audi went out of
>>its way to cover up the facts to prevent being sued out of business.

>  The cause of the accidents was a combination of Audi's engineers assumption
>of what "normal use" was, and drivers, whose habits caused a new, unanticipated
>failure mode in the Audi transmission.  The vast majority of audi 90's (?)
>did not have problems, and none would have developed.  This is from the IEEE
>Spectrum magazine focussing on new automotive technology (about 4 years ago).

I have heard of no evidence of a transmission failure.  I have seen
comparative analysis of pedal placement in the audi 5000 vis-a-vis other
cars, and the pedal location and separation were not extreme.  The only
identifiable cause of this "phenomenon" is all the bad press that Audi
received, along with inadequate driver training.  Some bad press
resulted in more people hearing that the cars had a problem, resulting
in more "you know, something funny happened to me when I was driving
one" stories, which, when taken too literally, caused more bad press. 
That's it.

By the way, I had an "unintended acceleration" incident once; the car
surged ahead very suddenly.  The proper driver behavior is to take one's
feet off of all the pedals.  The car no longer accelerates, and it's
easy to find the brake pedal.  The car was a '73 dodge dart.  Call the
newspapers!!!!! 




Chris Wood     Bellcore     ...!bellcore!prefect!ccw
                         or ccw@prefect.cc.bellcore.com

Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: dmcanzi@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (David Canzi)
Subject: Robert E. McElwaine's existence PREDICTED by MARTIANS.
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 02:59:19 GMT

The VERY FIRST LINE spoken by the character UNCLE MARTIN in the old
sitcom MY FAVORITE MARTIAN accurately predicted, VERBATIM and THREE
DECADES IN ADVANCE, what goes through our minds when we read one of
Robert McElwaine's postings.  Thus it is ESTABLISHED that there is
INTELLIGENT LIFE ON MARS, that Martians have powers of PRECOGNITIVE
TELEPATHY that are BEYOND THE UNDERSTANDING of ORTHODOX REDUCTIONISTIC
WESTERN "SCIENCE", and that they have been IN COMMUNICATION with the
producers of TV SITCOMS.

Since the MARTIANS considered McElwaine SO IMPORTANT that they worked a
PREDICTION of him into the SCRIPT of a sitcom (via Uncle Martin's line,
"Are you for real?"), it follows that McElwaine's ideas are NO JOKE,
not to be LAUGHED OFF, but in fact should be taken SERIOUSLY.
-- 
David Canzi
From: cvakgabb@vmsb.is.csupomona.edu
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: HOTDOGS IN HEAT
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:57:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: vmsb.1992Nov5.125707.1
Organization: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Nntp-Posting-User: cvakgabb

How's that for an attention-getting topic?

Anyway, getting back to what the topic of this board is all about, I'd like to
say that I'm pretty skeptical about this whole science thing.
	
Prove something to me.


GDS

CVAKGABB 
at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO)
Subject: Re: What did Judas betray?
Organization: HFS, Inc., McLean VA
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 14:56:43 GMT

In article <1dq8geINNnhs@gap.caltech.edu> carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:
>In article <1992Nov11.020311.1270@hfsi.uucp>, ata@hfsi.uucp (John Ata - FSO) writes:
>>Just for grins, I looked up "Jesus" in my
>>copy of the "Random House Dictionary" (hardly a Chrisitian
>>publication).  It's definition is as follows:
>>
>>Jesus : born 4? B.C., crucified A.D. 29?, the source of the Christian religion.
>>Also called Jesus Christ.
>>
>>As a control :) the definition of "Lincoln" is:
>>
>>Lincoln: 1. Abraham 1809-65, 16th president of the US, 1861-65.
>
>Why not try a few more controls, including some that might have a chance of
>falsifying your hypothesis (i.e., EFFECTIVE controls;  you *DO* know what that
>means, don't you?).  Have you looked up, for example, Santa Claus?  How about
>Odin?  Odysseus?

Actually I did look that up.  Mythical characters do not have dates associated
with them.  They are also stated for what they are.  The dictionary does not
try to pass off fictional characters as fact.

>
>>While not definitive proof that Jesus was crucified, it certainly bears out
>>the contention that it is the historically accepted version which is in
>>complete agreement with all four Gospels.
>
>Depends on whether the Random House dictionary is willing to define fictional
>characters, doesn't it?  And, of course, your self-serving "control" didn't
>bother to check for that, did it?  Does being a Christian REALLY destroy brain
>functionality THAT much?

Carl, fictional characters are defined as such with no historical
data associated with them like dates.

But come now, if I had, for example, included Zeus which I had
looked up, you wouldn't believe that now would you.  By your past
behaviour, you would want me to list *all* mythical characters in
the dictionary... :)

Nice try though.

>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL
-- 
John G. Ata - Technical Consultant | Internet:  ata@hfsi.com
HFS, Inc.		  VA20     |     UUCP:  uunet!hfsi!ata
7900 Westpark Drive	 MS:601	   |    Voice:	(703) 827-6810
McLean, VA  22102	           |      FAX:	(703) 827-3729
From: zzassgl@uts.mcc.ac.uk (Geoff Lane)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: When will K2 grow up?
Date: 11 Nov 92 14:52:15 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre, Manchester, England, M13 9PL.

In article <7788@lib.tmc.edu> draper@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu (E.J. Draper) writes:
>
>What this about K2 being taller?




It all depends where you are measuring from...mean sea level or distance
from the nominal centre of the earth.


At least that's what I've been told.


-- 
Geoff. Lane. | Internet: zzassgl@uts.mcc.ac.uk | Janet: zzassgl@uk.ac.mcc.uts
UTS Sys Admin,  Manchester Computing Centre,  Oxford Rd,  Manchester, M13 9PL
During a week's TV I want to be entertained, bored, delighted, disgusted, made
happy, saddened, enlightened, mystified, else they aren't doing the job right.
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: parson_r@cubldr.colorado.edu (Robert Parson)
Subject: Smallpox (Re: 1950's Darryle, damnit.
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 04:22:57 GMT

In article <1689C104A9.C558172@mizzou1.missouri.edu>, C558172@mizzou1.missouri.edu writes:
>>
> smallpox was easily transmittable. The normal method used on the American
> Indians was to sell them the blanket used by somebody who had died of it.
> Notice that Europeans had a higher immunity to smallpox than Indians.
> Indians were dying of European deseises (how do you spell it??) before
> the Europeans realized the cause and used it against them.

 Yes, smallpox appeared in the Caribbean as early as 1507. It had its greatest
 impact in the 16th-17th centuries, when it decimated the population of
 Mexico, for example. It, or possibly some other plague, devastated the
 New England Indians a few years before the Pilgrims landed, which is a major
 reason that they were able to establish themselves so easily.

> There was
> no central conspiricy to wipe out the Am. Inds. As far as I know the
> government was not involved -- settlers did this on their own.
>  
 There is one documented case of (British) government involvement. During the
 1763 Pontiac Rebellion, a war that was marked by extensive atrocities on both
 sides, the British General Jeffrey Amherst suggested to his commander at 
 Ft. Pitt, a Colonel Bouquet, that smallpox-infected blankets be distributed 
 among the Indians besieging the fort. (The letters are reproduced in Francis
 Parkman's _The Conspiracy of Pontiac_; I can post them if anyone is interested)
 There is no direct evidence that the plan was actually carried out, and I
 wonder if it would actually have worked. How long can the smallpox virus 
 survive outside a living host? Usually it is transmitted person-to-person.
 
 I have heard the "infected blanket" story many times, but this is the only
 documented incident that I know of. 

 Robert
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: jlg@cochiti.lanl.gov (J. Giles)
Subject: Re: 2nd Ammendment
Keywords: None
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 19:29:19 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.182632.22314@Happy-Man.com>, josh@Happy-Man.com (Joshua_Putnam) writes:
|> In <1992Nov5.133648.1557@cbfsb.cb.att.com> colten@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (marc.colten) writes:
|> 
|> >In article <51419@seismo.CSS.GOV>, tcarter@seismo.CSS.GOV (Thomas Carter) writes:
|> 
|> >1)  A 12 year old boy takes his father's pistol to school with him.
|> >    Can school officials take it away?
|> 
|> The boy is violating Federal law by carrying the pistol to
|> school, so even if the states had no power to regulate the
|> carrying of concealed weapons, the gun can be taken and the
|> boy arrested.

The real problem here is that the boy will be released with nothing
done (except to confiscate the weapon).  Since parents *should* be
responsible for their children, the action shouldn't stop there.
There should be a fine against the parent, or community service,
or something.

-- 
J. Giles
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: m23364@mwunix (James Meritt)
Subject: Re: When will K2 grow up?
Organization: MITRE Corporation, McLean VA
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:05:36 GMT

In article <7788@lib.tmc.edu> draper@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu (E.J. Draper) writes:
}In article <1992Nov9.172144.20865@maths.tcd.ie> Derek Bell,
}dbell@maths.tcd.ie writes:
}>		I'd heard that there were errors in the measurements that
}>showed K2 as the highest mountain on Earth; when corrected for Everest
}was
}>reinstated as the title holder. It made the (end of) tv news shows for a
}>short while on BBC & ITV a while ago. (Sorry, I don't have any
}references,
}>alas!)
}
}As I understand it, Everest was proven to be the highest mountain on
}Earth based on studies utilizing satellite telemetry.  If I remember
}correctly, these studies were done in the mid 1980s and were accurate to
}the inch.
}
}What this about K2 being taller?

"taller" or "higher"?  What is being compared?  For instance, I thought that
the mountain with the greatest elevation difference between the base and the
peak was in the US...


Xref: sparky sci.skeptic:19473 alt.messianic:3442
From: rlbell@babbage.uwaterloo.ca (Richard Bell)
Subject: Re: Audis (was Re: Repressed Memories, Ruined Lives)
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:24:03 GMT

In article <GERRY.92Nov9123747@onion.cmu.edu> gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:
>Despite all the talk, I find it hard to believe that the problem was
>solely the fault of the drivers.  Even if the pedals were marginally
>closer than the norm, this can not explain why such a disproportionate
>number of accidents happened with Audis but not other cars.  I do not
>believe in conspiracy theories, but I suspect that Audi went out of
>its way to cover up the facts to prevent being sued out of business.
>
  The cause of the accidents was a combination of Audi's engineers assumption
of what "normal use" was, and drivers, whose habits caused a new, unanticipated
failure mode in the Audi transmission.  The vast majority of audi 90's (?)
did not have problems, and none would have developed.  This is from the IEEE
Spectrum magazine focussing on new automotive technology (about 4 years ago).
From: kambic@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (Bonus, Iniquus, Celer - Delegitus Duo)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Measurement & Precision
Date: 9 Nov 92 14:55:30 EST

In article <1992Nov9.124140.15658@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU>, dabbott@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU (Derek Abbott) writes:
> In article <1d9tk0INNsqf@gap.caltech.edu> carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:
>>In article <1992Nov3.035737.21533@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU>, dabbott@augean.eleceng.adelaide.edu.AU (Derek Abbott) writes:
>>>In article <1d39m7INNcir@gap.caltech.edu> carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:
>>>>In article <6123@tuegate.tue.nl>, wsadjw@rw7.urc.tue.nl (Jan Willem Nienhuys) writes:
>>>>>In article <1d2gqeINNrnn@gap.caltech.edu> carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU writes:
>>>>Perhaps, Jan, you joined this newsgroup sometime since Derek's last foray into
>>>>QM and free will.
>>>The last foray has nothing to do with this post. QM, free will etc
>>>were only mentioned as examples of philosphical mysteries. They are
>>>not central to this discussion.
>>In that case, you blithering idiot, WHY DID YOU WASTE BANDWIDTH BY INCLUDING
>>SOMETHING THAT YOU NOW CLAIM WAS TOTALLY UNIMPORTANT?
> It was obvious. Did you miss that little "eg" before the examples?
>>>Please control your hormones, Carl :-)>
>>As it turns out, I don't have a lot of control over when the insulin I inject
>>each morning finally makes its way into my bloodstream.
>>>Your summary of the last foray was coloured by the fact that you didn't
>>>understand what I was trying to acheive by my questions.
>>>eg. my goal _might_ have been to acheive a long thread :-)
>>Well, in that case you're a liar, because you made statements during that
>>previous thread that are inconsistent with a claim that you simply wanted to
>>start a long thread.
> Carl, you've missed that little "eg" again.
> Are you sure that insulin you are taking isn't affecting
> your eyesight?


Well Derek, you've sunk to a new low, not that Carl needs any defense from me. 
Carl has accurately characterized your posts.  

Here, try this.  You're completely right.  Now go away.

GXKambic
standard disclaimer

Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: warren@nysernet.org (Warren Burstein)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Off Topic Topic
Date: 8 Nov 92 10:59:25 GMT
Reply-To: warren@nysernet.org
Organization: Mail to News Gateway at Wang Labs

In <n0d99t@ofa123.fidonet.org> David.Rice@ofa123.fidonet.org writes:

>so I'll end my tantrum here (it isn't a sci.skeptic topic, after all).

Yes, as we all know, sci.skeptic is for arguing about gun control.
-- 
/|/-\/-\       I'll leave you with this saying:
 |__/__/_/     I'm also pre-POURED pre-MEDITATED and pre-RAPHAELITE!!
 |warren@      
/ nysernet.org
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: What did Judas betray?
Date: 7 Nov 1992 01:53:49 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <1992Nov5.235359.14072@imagen.com>, avi@hawk.imagen.com writes:
>1) The term "round number" is foreign to Hebrew, or the ancient Jewish culture.
>   When the Talmud says "70 years" them mean "70 years".

Gee.  It's pretty amazing then just how many things happened that took exactly
40 days and 40 nights.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
From: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU (Carl J Lydick)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: Legitimate but Trivial Anomalies ?
Date: 8 Nov 1992 18:44:00 GMT
Organization: HST Wide Field/Planetary Camera
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carl@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU
NNTP-Posting-Host: sol1.gps.caltech.edu

In article <6214@tuegate.tue.nl>, wsadjw@rw7.urc.tue.nl (Jan Willem Nienhuys) writes:
>>CJL>Then just how many studies were done to test this hypothesis, how many of them
>>CJL>supported it and how many failed to support it?
>
>Maybe it would be a good idea for Carl to not stray down on abbott-road,
>asking all kinds of questions without bothering to read the literature.

Maybe it would be a good idea for someone who claims to have read the
literature to answer the question.

>A good guide to further literature can be found in the articles by
>C. de Jager & Rieks Jager, Koppeschaar, Ertel and F. Gauquelin in the 
>Proceedings of the 3rd EuroSkeptics Conference 1991.

Where do I find these proceedings?

>Old issues of the
>Skeptical Inquirer also can give a pretty good idea what the problem
>is about (consult the 10 year index to the S.I.).

Do they sell back issues?

[warning: flame ahead]   I don't quite like some guy, who
>possibly knows more about it but does an excellent job in hiding his
>knowledge, to blather about that it is just some silly error that just
>about anybody who knows about VAXes can spot with his eyes closed.
>[end of flame]

Beginning of new flame:  I have not claimed to know about Gauquelin's data,
Jan.  Please reread my posts.  You, on the other hand, DO claim to have studied
it.  That's why I asked you the question.  Do you understand how that works?
You say you know about it, I say I don't.  I ask you a question, hoping that
I'll learn something about it.  Perhaps thing work differently in the
Netherlands.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl J Lydick | INTERnet: CARL@SOL1.GPS.CALTECH.EDU | NSI/HEPnet: SOL1::CARL

Disclaimer:  Hey, I understand VAXen and VMS.  That's what I get paid for.  My
understanding of astronomy is purely at the amateur level (or below).  So
unless what I'm saying is directly related to VAX/VMS, don't hold me or my
organization responsible for it.  If it IS related to VAX/VMS, you can try to
hold me responsible for it, but my organization had nothing to do with it.
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
From: n9020351@henson.cc.wwu.edu (James Douglas Del-Vecchio)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic,misc.legal
Subject: Re: 2nd Ammendment
Date: 7 Nov 92 05:44:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: henson.1992Nov7.054459.26903
Organization: Western Washington University

gerry@cmu.edu (Gerry Roston) writes:
>token, it is illegal in all states for a person under 18 years of age
>to purchase a handgun.  Children of a certain age (I forget what it
>is, 16 I think) are allowed to buy rifles and shotguns though, as

21 for pistols, 18 for long-guns

>   3)  I rent an apartment overlooking a schoolyard.  Early one morning
>       I screw down the tripod of an automatic weapon to the window sill,
>       attach the gun so it points down towards the schoolyard,
>       and sit there by the gun, smiling, waiting for recess.  Can
>       anyone make me not do this?

>The worst you could be gotten for is disturbing the peace.  You are
>not committing a crime, nor are you necessarily even planning one.
>P.S., getting a license for a fully automatic weapon is not cheap.

Assault.  Pointing a gun at someone is assault.   Same for the 
"psycho-busride" scenerio below.   All the situations the poster
poses involve the breaking of various laws, and do not involve
any protected rights of the perp.   We must assume the original
poster knows this and is just intentionally being silly.

>   4)  You like to ride on public transportation, holding your Magnum
>       in your hand.  Is this against any law?  Occasionally you playfully
>       point it at an old lady and "Pow!  Pow!".  Is this legal?

>In PA, even with a carry permit, you must carry concealed, otherwise
>they get you for disturbing the peace.  To specifically point a gun at
>a person (unlike #3) can be construed as attempted assualt.

Pointing is assault, firing is aggravated assault, firing and not missing
is aggravated battery.   (to the best of my knowledge.  Misc.legal posters
could be more specific)

Jim Del Vecchio
From: draper@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu (E.J. Draper)
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic
Subject: Re: When will K2 grow up?
Date: 9 Nov 1992 18:33:50 GMT
Organization: U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
X-UserAgent: Nuntius v1.1.1d12
X-XXMessage-ID: <A7240C3E9501019A@mdarpi1.mda.uth.tmc.edu>
X-XXDate: Mon, 9 Nov 92 18:38:22 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.172144.20865@maths.tcd.ie> Derek Bell,
dbell@maths.tcd.ie writes:
>		I'd heard that there were errors in the measurements that
>showed K2 as the highest mountain on Earth; when corrected for Everest
was
>reinstated as the title holder. It made the (end of) tv news shows for a
>short while on BBC & ITV a while ago. (Sorry, I don't have any
references,
>alas!)

As I understand it, Everest was proven to be the highest mountain on
Earth based on studies utilizing satellite telemetry.  If I remember
correctly, these studies were done in the mid 1980s and were accurate to
the inch.

What this about K2 being taller?


      |E|J-  ED DRAPER
 rEpar|D|<-  Radiologic/Pathologic Institute
             The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
             draper@odin.mda.uth.tmc.edu
Newsgroups: sci.skeptic,alt.paranormal,alt.alien.visitors
From: ydobyns@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (York H. Dobyns)
Subject: Re: Innumeracy (Was: Re: Jeane Dixon Predicts Bush Victory)
Originator: news@nimaster
Organization: Princeton University
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 22:36:28 GMT

In article <1992Nov11.194952.19765@rosevax.rosemount.com> grante@aquarius.rosemount.com (Grant Edwards) writes:
>I heard an education expert interviewed on public radio a while back.
>[...]  She then stated that with new methods
>like OBE, and hard work, and commitment from parents "everybody could
>be above average."  She wasn't ripping off Garrison Kiellor's joke
>either, she was dead serious.

And her comment isn't innumerate, or not necessarily so, because its
interpretation is ambiguous. (Natural languages don't parse.)

If she is saying "Everybody could perform better than the concurrent
population mean performance level" she is indeed being innumerate.

If she is saying "Everybody could perform better than today's established
mean performance level" she is probably right, given the atrocious state
of education today.  It is, for example, neither contradictory nor
innumerate to imagine that by 2012 the entire U. S. population 
could consist of well-educated people, trained in reasoning, all of whom
score above 100 on a 1992 IQ test and associated grading scale.

There is no way of telling, without further context, which statement the
speaker intended to convey.

-- 
York Dobyns		ydobyns@phoenix.princeton.edu
Xref: sparky sci.skeptic:19522 alt.paranormal:2483 alt.alien.visitors:8274