HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mcbeanb@brandonu.ca
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Why GREENSleaves?
Date: 30 Jul 92 23:09:56 GMT
Organization: Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

In article <1992Jul29.182205.26652@ttinews.tti.com>, hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
> In article <920725183852.2080b106@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU>, SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli) writes:
> }> mcbeanb@brandonu.ca writes:
> }> 
> }>>In article <1992Jul23.134510.4261@ugle.unit.no>, mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) writes:
> }>>> Why is most vegetation green? Is this a result of random evolution or
> }>>> is there any particular reason for not growing blue?
> }>>
> }>>Cuz the chlorophyll pigments make them green...  without chlorophyll you
> }>>get a real dull plant that's no fun at parties.
> }> 
> }>   I remember extracting some cholorophyll from a few leaves as part of
> }>   Biology lab. Pure cholorophyll is actually more bluish than green.
> }>   I think the green hue comes from the mixture of sugar and the
> }>   cholorophyll itself. 
> 
> I remember a similar experiment.  I also remember the chlorophyll extract
> appeared green under ambient room light, but red when an intense spot lamp
> was shined on it.  The teacher had no good explanation for that.

Maybe they were hot.  Maybe they were bleeding.  Maybe someone forgot
to wipe the ketchup off the lamp.
 
> 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

Brian McBean  -  McBeanB@BrandonU.Ca
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 02:51:46 GMT


In article <weRDEiW00VRSQUNSdq@andrew.cmu.edu>, "Stephen P. Marting" <sm6h+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
|>>     (1) The tests are culturally biased towards white Anglo-
|>>         Saxon Americans, generally from the middle to
|>>         upper-class.  What they test is your linear
|>>         distance from the bias of the test-maker, who is almost
|>>         always white, male, and upper-middle class.
|>>     (2) Minority groups are less intelligent than whites, as
|>>         demonstrated by your beloved "measurements..."
|>>  
|>>      Sorry, but if you eliminate differences in education, social
|>> background, culture, "coaching," and upbringing as possible factors,
|>> you must conclude that #2 is the correct answer.  And if you do, you
|>> have just jumped into the pit with Hitler, Brigham, Laughlin, Galton,
|>> and a bunch of other cool dudes.  Enjoy the smell.
|>>  
|>>      And if you pick #1, then you must conclude that the college 
|>> selection system in America as well as MENSA's own membership criteria
|>> are both fundamentally flawed.  (If you find another possibility, I
|>> would like to hear it.)
|>
|>Easy answer #1: The differeces in education, social background, culture,
|>"coaching" and upbringing ARE the difference.

Now prove it.

-- Scott Tai
   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR)
Subject: Re: Heroditus
Organization: SOCS, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 19:50:40 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.165117.1460@cbnewse.cb.att.com> 
gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart) writes:

>Who invented "silent letters"?

Helen Keller?

Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: Joining
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 03:38:52 GMT


prock@walrus.micro.umn.edu (Andrew C. Prock) writes:
>Does the organization require verification of intellegence on a periodic 
>	basis?  (could someone who had a stroke continue as a member?)

Of course they could. Haven't you heard of a stroke of genius? 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|   Christopher J. D'Costa           cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: SSR48327@VAX1.UTULSA.EDU (Syed Shibli)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re:  GREENs only
Date: 29 Jul 92 01:47:12 GMT
X-Received: by usenet.pa.dec.com; id AA01889; Tue, 28 Jul 92 19:34:35 -0700
X-Received: by inet-gw-1.pa.dec.com; id AA20203; Tue, 28 Jul 92 18:47:13 -0700
X-To: rec.org.mensa.usenet
X-Vmsmail-To: smtp%"rec.org.mensa.usenet@decwrl.dec.com"


From: eab@msc.edu (Edward Bertsch) writes:

> % echo "potatoe potato" | spell
> potatoe
> %

  % echo "potatoe potato" | spell
  potato
  %

  The VP says so!

-- 
Syed Shibli                           | Tel: +1 918 631 3257
505 South Gary, #14, Tulsa, OK 74104. | ssr48327@vax1.utulsa.edu
From: werme@alliant.com (Ric Werme)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T=Constructive Criticism
Date: 29 Jul 92 13:39:00 GMT
Organization: Alliant Computer Systems Corp.

In article <1992Jul28.222308.27560@ncsu.edu> tai-sa@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
>Notice that the majority of flames are coming from one Mike Steiner:

That's because the rest of us are better disciplined at ignoring you.
We're not perfectly disciplined, as this posting proves, just better.

>Thanks for ruining my enjoyment of this group. I truly appreciate it.

So that's why you stick with it?

>-- Scott Tai
>   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us

They ran you out of North Carolina?


-- 
| 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		|
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: TRUE BLUE?
Date: 29 Jul 92 16:40:19 GMT

In article <712393219.F00006@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> 
> mortenaa@Lise.Unit.NO (Morten Aagaard) asks:
> 
>  MA> How come the sky is blue?
> 
> 'Cuz if it were green we wouldn't know which way was up.
> 
> Naw, really, an oversimplified explanation is that it's 'cuz the light gets
> diffracted (or is it refracted?  I always get 'em mixed up...) when it hits the
> atmosphere, and the blue light being the most energetic has its path bent the
> least, so it seems to be coming from "up" more than other colors.

As I said, "refracted."  Also, blue is refracted more, not less.  The longer
wave lengths aren't refracted enough to go down; they go around the earth,
skimming it when the light is almost tangential to the surface of the
earth.  That's why the sky (and the sun) is red in the evening and in the
morning (the fourth day).
From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: speed of light and age of the universe
Date: 28 Jul 92 22:08:32 GMT
Reply-To: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation


In article <712351487.F00006@blkcat.UUCP>, Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner) writes:
|>  PZ> From: phz@cadence.com (Pete Zakel) Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
|>  PZ> Organization: Cadence Design Systems
|>  PZ> 
|>  PZ> Eh? Our measurement of a day is EXTREMELY precise.  Wobbles in the
|>  PZ> earth require an occasional leap-second be added to the atomic clock. 
|>  PZ> This is more precise than you can even imagine.
|>  PZ> 
|>  PZ> The reason we have leap-years, however, is not due to wobbles or bad
|>  PZ> measurements...
|>
|>Does anyone happen to know much more about the "wobbles"?  Wobbles implies to me
|>that it may increase *or* decrease slightly from time to time.  Yet we only ever
|>*add* leap seconds, as far as I can recall.  Is this a semantic issue, perhaps,
|>or is there more involved than that?

There are two variations that make "leap seconds" necessary:

Due to the action of tides, the earth has slowed slightly.  This by itself would
make it necessary to add leap seconds at regular intervals.

Due to "wobbles" the earth speeds up and slows down irregurally.  Due to mass
shifts within the earth I believe (a net motion of mass toward the axis of
rotation would increase rotation speed and vice versa)  By itself this would
require irregular addition and subtractions of leap seconds.

Add the two effects and you only have to add leap seconds, but at rather
irregular intervals.

-Mike
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: BEACH-BABES
Date: 28 Jul 92 18:25:47 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.232434.14688@cs.mcgill.ca>, mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR) writes:
> 
> In article <14862@claris.com> mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner) writes:
> >
> >There is a flaw in your theory, Gil.  The water at a beach is not
> >electrically neutral.
> 
> Positive?

Ion sure.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR)
Subject: length of day (was Re: IQ vs. Faith)
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 05:14:08 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.190618.21468@ttinews.tti.com> 
hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
>
>You can't have it both ways.  Either the Bible errs in calling the first
>four days "days" (in which case the validity of the entire work is called
>into question) or "day" in Genesis doesn't mean "sunset to sunrise."

Or, day could simply represent the length of time which roughly
corresponds to sunset to sunset.  The Bible doesn't have to be a Pascal
program where everything has to be defined before being used.

It seems to me that it's quite possible that the original scribes who
wrote down Genesis thought that the universe was indeed created in six
days.

From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: T: To All MENSA Members...
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 22:20:06 -0500

sat@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott Andrew Tai, or at least so he claims) writes (or at
least Chris Lawrence quotes him as writing B-):

 ST> for years we have been going through
 ST> anti-intellectual phases and anti-science phases.  Textbooks are being
 ST> dumbed down and rewritten to accomodate social
 ST> agendas.  Achievement tests
 ST> are being de-emphasized or dropped for the same
 ST> reasons.  Gifted programs
 ST> in many counties are being dropped.  In primary and secondary schools,
 ST> classroom groupings based on achievement and ability are being dropped
 ST> under the theory that sacrificing the intelligent is fine because it's
 ST> not fair that they're smarter.  Society seems to be slipping into an
 ST> egalitarian phase and is denying differences exist.  If differences are
 ST> too great to pretend they're not real, then programs to level the
 ST> differences are initiated.
 ST>
 ST>      The problem with MENSA is the 2% rule, and it should be dropped.

Don't you see this last line as completely contradictory to your lamentory tone
in the preceding paragraph?  You bemoan what society is doing, and then advocate
that we do the same.  Perhaps your rationalization that was omitted from Chris's
quote explained it well enough, but I doubt it....
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Chess
Date: 27 Jul 92 14:43:26 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre
Originator: netnews@uts.mcc.ac.uk

Apparently Bobby Fischer has signed a 2.6million sterling contract to play 
Boris Spassky in Belgrade.  It's a woo-woo!

+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  I don't take part in any sport that requires me to change clothes  |
|  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=Constructive Criticism
Date: 29 Jul 92 17:15:49 GMT

In article <1992Jul28.222308.27560@ncsu.edu>, tai-sa@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
> 
> 
> wchenaul@cyclone.mitre.org (William W. Chenault) writes:
> 
> |> I would have rather heard your points and their counter points without 
> |> having to wade through the rest of the flaming sewage that has been posted 
> |> in this thread's preamble.
> 
> Undoubtedly.  
> 
> Notice that the majority of flames are coming from one Mike Steiner:

That is because I have a lower tolerance for liars and hypocrites than do
most other Mensans.
 

> 
> 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.  They form a jury who has 
> already arrived at a verdict without caring for what the accused has to say.

We *have* heard your side of the events, and your side of the events is full
of lies--as is your instant message.

> When I first saw this newsgroup appear, I thought, "Great!  Someplace where 
> MENSANS and non-MENSANS who are interested in the organization alike can join 
> together in a discussion about whatever..." but my interest in this newsgroup 
> has been completely put off by your close-mindedness and need to force others 
> to listen to your arguments.

I don't know what you thought, but your actions here have done nothing to show
that what you wrote is true.  From the very beginning, you have posted lies,
slander, and hypocritic bullshit, just as you did in the above quote.

> You are unrelenting in your arguments and don't even change or allow for 
> contradictory evidence in your replies.  This discussion with you is hopeless 
> and was from the start.  NOBODY can change your mind.  This doesn't mean you 
> were right and I was wrong, or vice-versa; only that communication, for all 
> useful purposes, has seriously broken down.

You have never shown any interest in discussion.  YOU are the one who has been
unrelenting in your arguments, and who refuses to allow for contrary evidence.
*You* are the one who posts under multiple aliases with no intent other than
to wreak havok in the newsgroup.
 
> I am regretful that Mike Steiner has chosen to immaturely seek vengeance, 
> causing this inconvenience to all of rec.org.mensa's readers, and I sincerely 
> hope that others will not be likewise injured by any of his actions.

The only immature person on this newsgroup is you--YOU are the one who is
causing this inconvenience.

> Thanks for ruining my enjoyment of this group. I truly appreciate it.

I'm soooo sorry that I'm not letting you enjoy spreading your lies and
slander freely.  If you think that you sanctimonious bullshit is fooling
anyone, you're a bigger ass than I thought.  Grow up already!
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: ph@tesla.ama.caltech.edu (Paul Hardy)
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Organization: California Institute of Technology
	<1992Jul27.230910.15059@isrc.sandia.gov>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 01:43:57 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.230910.15059@isrc.sandia.gov> smlacke@isrc.sandia.gov (Scott M Lackey) writes:

>   From article <1992Jul27.190122.26182@ttinews.tti.com>, by hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath):
>   > 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.
>   > 
>
>	   My knowledge on neutrinos may be well out of date, but I was
>     under the impression that neutrinos interacted so weakly with 
>     other matter that we could not easily detect them.  Is it
>     really possible to detect them easily enough for a comparison
>     with prediction to have any meaning?

No, it has not been easy.  However, recently more sensitive devices have
been developed that detect far more neutrinos and match theory a lot closer,
so for now we can rest at ease.  What bothers me is that the sun only has
an expected lifetime of another five billion years or so before becoming
a red giant.

				--Paul
--
This is my address:         ph@ama.caltech.edu
This is UUCP:               ...!{decwrl,uunet}!
This is my address on UUCP: ...!{decwrl,uunet}!caltech.edu!ama!ph
Any questions?

"Does Emacs have the Buddha nature?"  --Paul Hardy   "Yow!" --Zippy
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: More on the AG
Date: 24 Jul 92 17:27:55 GMT

In article <1992Jul24.125213.12781@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil) writes:
> 
> In article <14826@claris.com>, mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
> writes:
> 
> >We were talking about local groups *within Mensa*.  The existence of non-
> >Mensa groups is completely irrelevant, as is your statement.
> 
> The existence of non-Mensa groups is not irrelevant.  Can you not learn
> anything about Mensa groups from non-Mensa groups?  Do Mensa groups not
> have characteristics in common with non-Mensa groups?  Do Mensa groups
> follow some logic that other groups do not?
> 
> I cited other groups as an example that local groups can exist without a
> national organization.  The same could be true of Mensa groups.

Then they wouldn't be Mensa groups.  BTW, why do you keep ignoring that I
wrote "national or international"?
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Date: 30 Jul 92 15:45:09 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Jul30.023513.20194@ncsu.edu>, scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Jul27.115417.2527@walter.cray.com>, sonic@artgate.cray.com (Curtis Swanson) writes:
> |>Indeed, these are serious problems which need fixing.
> 
> Can it be true?  There's a MENSAN who not only doesn't flame my article,
> but agrees with my point of view?  Wow! 
> 
> |>>     So what needs to be done?  I think dropping the 2% rule would do 
> |>>wonders.
> |>Again, it does not automatically follow that dropping the 2% rule would 
> |>transform Mensa into an organization capable of sweeping changes in 
> |>government policy over the objections of all those who disagree.  
> 
> Okay, but the "2% rule" is inherently flawed:
>    -- Intelligence has several facets, some of which are not measured
>       by intelligence tests;
>    -- Intelligence level varies with time;
>    -- Some of the more commonly used tests for qualification to MENSA
>       are not intelligence tests at all;
>    -- Some qualifying practices condoned by MENSA defeat the 2% limit;
>    -- Achievement, not test score, is a better measure of ability.
> 
> -- Scott Tai
>    tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us

I have to admit, Scott, that you're very confusing and hard to follow
when your posts, although containing many of the same tag lines,
contradict each other.  I don't know if you're fatigued (I guess
you're in grad school or something, so that's understandable).

Anyway, yes, many of the tests (as I pointed out to you in a
previous posting -- sorry to be redundant) are achievement tests.
Secondly, since that is true, your last list item is satisfied.
Further, I think that if your estimate of 20% is true, that 
satisfies your other suggestion of dropping the 2% rule.  So
your complaints appear groundless.  So please clarify what your
real complaint is.

Thanks.

GMS
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Newsletters and Dues (was Re: Mensa national versus local, New York Cit
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 17:28:18 -0500

  JL> From: jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper)
  JL> 
  JL> Hey, am I supposed to be the "angel in the loft" here? 8^)
  JL> 
  JL> Ask me a question and I'll try to give you a direct answer, but I'm
  JL> not going to monitor conversations.
  JL> 
  JL> If you want a copy of the pertinent ASIE (Actions Still in Effect)
  JL> that describe what is considered a "newsletter" for the purposes of
  JL> getting the dues allottment, I will be glad to search it out. -- Jean
  JL> L. Cooper   

Thanks, Jean.  I appreciate your efforts here.  (btw:  No, I'm not asking for a
copy...)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Why mammal lips?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 15:05:33 GMT

In article <60730002@hpcc01.corp.hp.com>, loftis@hpcc01.corp.hp.com (Kirk Loftis) writes:
> / hpcc01:rec.org.mensa / mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR) /  5:31 am  Jul 24, 1992 /
> | Why are most mammals lipped?  Is this a result of random
> | evolution or is there any particular reason for not being
> | duck-billed?
> ----------
> 
> 	Can it be a simple answer, to nurse with????  Are lips better
> for nursing than non-lips?  

Now that you mention it, every nurse I've ever met has had lips.
That's probably it.


GMS
From: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: More on the AG
Date: 23 Jul 92 17:23:40 GMT
Reply-To: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

In article <1992Jul23.154703.5574@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>,
jlc5f@poe.acc.Virginia.EDU (Jean L. Cooper) writes:

>I'm trying to answer your
>questions in as factual a manner as I can.  Obviously,
>I simply can't figure out what it is you want to know.

Questions?  Did I ask a question before?  I simply expressed amazement
at a statistic.  Now I will express my amusement at a candidate's
reaction to a candid statement.  That reaction has proven more
interesting and informative than the statistic.  Thank you.


                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@alien.enet.dec.com
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Date: 28 Jul 92 16:50:45 GMT

In article <712296062.F00004@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> 
> 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!"

we gota lovely bunch of turtles,
there they are all standing in a row.
Fat ones, this ones, some as big as your head...
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa