HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Chess
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 00:51:52 -0500

sya@pe1.pe.utulsa.edu (Syed Shibli) writes:


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

 SS> The Boston Globe (7/26/92) says the winner [of the Fischer/Spassky
 SS> chess match] will receive $3.35 million and the loser $1.65 million.

Heck, for that kinda money, I'd even let him win!

From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Ducks (was Re: Why mammal lips?
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 23:09:28 -0500

zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd) writes:

 db> This duck goes into a chemist's, picks up a tube a lip salve.
 db> The assistant says "that'll be 78pence please"        [OK read cents]
 db> The duck says "Put it on my bill"




 db> The old ones are the best.

Must be the same duck who hears other duck in the pond say "Please pass the
soap", and responds "What do I look like, a transistor radio???"....
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Newsletter costs (was Re: Mensa national versus local)
Date: 31 Jul 92 19:22:51 GMT
Organization: The Cat Factory

From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill)

}I don't think that national is giving us enough money "publich a
}calendar of local events and mailit out first class, period".  We send
}1200 copies: .29 postage = $348.  Our calendar section is 12 pages,
}printed two pages per side: six sides @ 3 cents a copy + 1 cent a copy
}for colored paper = $288. ...

This just registered with me.  I just checked my August copy of "Lament."
With over 100 events every month our calendar section covers 8 pages.  One
of those is a redundant summary.  Half a page is instructions for
submitting calendar entries.  A smaller fraction is filled out with events
for the following month.

In other words, we could easily fit our calendar into 6 pages and used to
do it in less before the calendar editor got generous with space.  We also
print on plain white paper.

No wonder you're running out of money.

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
Xref: sparky rec.org.mensa:5419 talk.origins:8662
From: clong@remus.rutgers.edu (Chris Long)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa,talk.origins
Subject: Re: Look out guys - Mensan denies evolution
Date: 24 Jul 92 17:00:36 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.


Forwarded to the appropriate newsgroup.  Notice the "helium"
argument; is this becoming a fad among cranks?


In article <zlsiida.1001@fs1.mcc.ac.uk>, dave budd writes:
  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.
-- 
Chris Long, 265 Old York Rd., Bridgewater, NJ  08807-2618

"In a study of schoolboys, an educator discovered a correlation between size
 of feet and quality of handwriting.  The boys with the larger feet were,
 on the average, older."        Wallis & Roberts, _The Nature of Statistics_
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Subject: Re: More on the AG
Reply-To: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 13:27:27 GMT

In article <14818@claris.com>, mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
writes:

>Criticism is one thing; offering a solution to the problem that is being
>criticised is another.  I haven't seen any recommendations from you for
>a solution.  In fact, when one was offered to you (that you run for the
>position) you rejected it.

Offering a solution to the problem is one thing; criticism is another. 
So what?  Is criticism not valuable without a solution.  NO!  Criticism
is information which can be used to make decisions even in the absence
of a solution.  It can guide the search for a solution or show what to
do to mitigate damages until a solution is found.

As I explained, running for Secretary myself is not a solution because
it causes more harm (loss to the more important local group) than good
(gain for national).  And I did mention a solution:  making full tapes
available upon request while transcribing only motions and votes.  Other
solutions are obvious (finding other candidates), so why should I
mention them?  Are Mensans not capable of figuring out that a person
performing a job poorly should be replaced?


                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@alien.enet.dec.com
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Mensa national versus local, New York City
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 15:27:30 -0500

  PH> From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
  PH> Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants
  PH> 
  PH> hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
  PH> 
  > GLAAM manages to print and distribute thousands of copies of a 32 - 40
  > page newsletter every month with available funds.
  > 
  > The newsletter money from American Mensa is supposed to be enough to
  > publish a calendar of local events and mail it out first class, period.
  > Financing anything more is up to the local group.  I suggest you start
  > by applying for a 2nd class permit, as we did.  Then consider taking on
  > some advertising for additional revenue, as we do.
  > 
  PH> Jerry, you had better check your facts here.  I am under the
  PH> impression that GLAAM suplements it's newsletter through contributions
  PH> from the members of it's group.  I've seen the GLAAM newsletter, and
  PH> it's impressive.  But there is _NO_ way they can produce it on the
  PH> budget given by national.

I believe you missed his point.  Re-read the first sentence of his second
paragraph, especially the part referenced by "period."
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 02:54:23 GMT


In article <1992Jul28.141155.6246@linus.mitre.org>, wchenaul@cyclone.mitre.org (William W. Chenault) writes:
|>In article <1992Jul27.214609.12298@ncsu.edu> tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us writes:
|>>     No one can deny that minority groups in this country do poorly on
|>>standardized intelligence tests, particularly on the SAT and PSAT.
|>>Schools, universitites, and Old Guard fans everywhere use this to
|>>uphold their own racial stereotypes, to label minority groups as
|>>"ineducable."
|>
|>They are NOT ineducable.

I never said they weren't.  You're missing the whole point of my post.

|>	And just for the heck of it, I have this to say about that (that is,
|>this thread).  I came on in the middle of this thread, when people were 
|>already claiming Scott A. Tai to be a liar and worse.  I don't know what he
|>did to deserve this label, but would appreciate it if people included facts or
|>quotes about what he said and what independent source that was shown to
|>contradict when making claims like this on the net.  

Wouldn't we all... :(

-- Scott Tai
   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
From: nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: Killfiles
Date: 30 Jul 92 16:45:48 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh

In article <1992Jul30.145115.24881@engage.pko.dec.com> moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com () writes:
>
>For the killfile:
>
>/@ailab.ncsu.edu/h:j
>
>for those who don't already have it.  We know 'ailab.ncsu.edu' is a forged
>address, so nothing that anyone is willing to stand behind will be missed.

Mike:

  How do you know it's a forged address?  For that matter, how does
one go about forging an address?  Isn't it appended by the mail
server?

                                     Nick


-- 
   _/   _/  _/  _/_/_/   _/   _/  
  _/_/ _/  _/  _/   _/  _/_/_/
 _/ _/_/  _/  _/       _/ _/                    Nicholas C de Mello
_/   _/  _/   _/_/_/  _/   _/                     Nick+@pitt.edu
From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: BEACH-BABES
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 20:32:54 -0500

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

 MA> Most humans are attracted to the beach when the sun glows hot, is anybody
 MA> capable of some good explaination?

Sure, they go there to swim and cool off.  And of course there's the attraction
you cite in the subject line - the weather being hot, people will naturally be
scantily clad....


Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Subject: Re: BEACHBABES
Originator: cjdcosta@zepplin.ece.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: cjdcosta@eos.ncsu.edu (CHRISTOPHER J DCOSTA)
Organization: North Carolina State University, Project Eos
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 03:57:32 GMT


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

> Most humans are attracted to the beach when the sun glows hot, is anybody
> capable of some good explaination?

a) Quick free tans.
b) Scantily clad MOTOS.
c) Volleyball.
d) News server's down.
e) Enjoy getting sand in the shoes, car, and house.


 
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai)
Subject: T/ 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 02:16:28 GMT


In article <3762@blue.cis.pitt.edu.UUCP>, nick+@pitt.edu (Nick C De Mello) writes:
|>In article <1992Jul23.213518.6135@ncsu.edu> tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us writes:
|>>
|>>MENSA is simply one more dangerous way in which one group of people
|>>attempt to set themselves apart -- and by 'apart' one invariably finds
|>>'superior', since few people desire to join an organization which
|>>claims its members are 'inferior' -- from the rest of the populace.  Of
|>>such "harmless" little groups are born the divisive philosophies which
|>>feed nationalism, racism, and separate us from each other.
|>>
|>   No, I wouldn't join a group that claimed it's membership was inferior
|>to others.  Neither would I join one that claimed superiority to others.
|>I think you're right, either attitude breeds unnecessary conflict.  I'm
|>quite satisfied with mensa, which claims only the third and unmentioned
|>option of equality.

Hardly.  By insisting on a test score for membership, MENSA attempts to
give the impression that its members are intellectually superior to the
general population.  

-- Scott Tai
   tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us
From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Pt 3/5: FAQ for rec.org.mensa - old copy
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 10:19:27 -0500

  EB>  Canada: Wendy Marsh, Executive Director, POB 505, Station St.,
  EB>  Toronto, Ont., M5M 4L8, Canada, Phone:  (416) 497-7070

I'm told this is still the correct address, but Wendy Marsh died a few months or
so ago, and the contact name should probably be updated by someone who knows the
name of the new Executive Director.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Subject: Re: Mensa national versus local, New York City
Organization: The Cat Factory
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 23:45:35 GMT

In article <27Jul92132752@miracle.com> phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) writes:
}Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner) writes:
}>
}>  PH> From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill) Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
}>  PH> Organization: Miracle Computer Consultants
}>  PH> 
}>  PH> hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath) writes:
}>  PH> 
}>  > GLAAM manages to print and distribute thousands of copies of a 32 - 40
}>  > page newsletter every month with available funds.
}>  > 
}>  > The newsletter money from American Mensa is supposed to be enough to
}>  > publish a calendar of local events and mail it out first class, period.
}>
}>I believe you missed his point.  Re-read the first sentence of his second
}>paragraph, especially the part referenced by "period."
}
}No I didn't.... Read the first paragraph.   I beleive that it's impossible to
}produce newsletters with 'available' funds.

It's not supposed to be.  It is possible to produce a calendar of events.

}I also beleive that national *SHOULD* be giving local groups enough money to
}produce quality newsletters.  Ask 1000 mensans if they would rather give up
}their local newsletter or the Bulletin.  I'll bet that 900 of them would
}ditch the Bulletin.

Whether AMC _should_ give local groups more newsletter money is a
different issue.  I certainly wouldn't object.  I wouldn't even mind my
dues subsidizing other group's newsletters (your mileage may vary).

So, how does the rank and file get this issue before the AMC?  I'll
mention it to Dave Felt next time I see him, but I don't know if that's a
useful mechanism.

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: mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR)
Subject: Re: Why GREENSleaves?
Organization: SOCS - Mcgill University, Montreal, Canada
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 08:06:07 GMT

I mean Martian, not Marsian.

From: Craig.Wagner@p2.f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Craig Wagner)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Newsletter costs
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 11:48:03 -0500

  PH> From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill)
  PH> 
  PH> 
  > Someone has to decide what's "reasonable" to ask members to subsidize in
  > the way of calendar events they may never attend, or articles they may
  > never read.  In this case, since national is disbursing the funds, that
  > "someone" must be national.
  > 
  PH> When you join a group, you join to be *able* to take advantage of what
  PH> benefits it offers.  The fact is that 90% of *any* social group
  PH> remains inactive, and won't get much benefit from membership.  So
  PH> don't look at it as subsidizing articles you may never read, look at
  PH> it as not choosing to read articles you have already subsidized.
  PH> 
  PH> And where did you get the idea that your dues are going to subsidize
  PH> calendar events?  Of the money sent to local groups, most of it (if
  PH> not *all*) goes toward production of your local newsletter.

OK.  If we're not "subsidizing" articles which are not of interest to members
who choose not to read them, we're also not "subsidizing" calendar events by
publishing their notices, even though those calendar notices may become costly
as the number of pages grows (you've stated that the newsletter allotment from
national won't cover printing and mailing your calendar).  I'll accept that.


**  The following is getting WAY off topic, but _may_ reflect why I used the
term "subsidize" to refer to calendar events.

    I suppose the situation I was thinking of was the argument that calendar
events which aren't open to all members are being subsidized by people who
aren't entitled to attend them. (see ** above)   (Some groups have listings for
"women only" and/or "men only," leaving open the possibility, I suppose, that
someone some day will argue that they're entitled to have their local group
publish, at the general members expense, a meeting for "whites only" or "blacks
only," to which there will no doubt be understandable objections.  If people
want an event for "women/men/whites/blacks only," they can join such a group and
have *them* post the event in *their* calendar, rather than with Mensa members
dues.)  There's the counter-argument that anyone should be able to host an
event without allowing into their home (or hosting elsewhere) people with whom
they prefer not to associate (ex- spouse, -lover, -business-partner-gone-bad,
whatever), but when those exclusions begin to include *groups* of people,
objections understandably begin to get raised, one of which is that excluded
members are being forced to help advertise an event they're prohibited from
attending.  When I consider this argument, the term "subsidize" comes to mind. 
(But I'll refer you again to the above ** disclaimer.  It's just what came to
mind at the time I was writing the above.  I hope that explains it.)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 15:54:37 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.025634.21211@ncsu.edu>, scott@ailab.ncsu.edu (Scott A Tai) writes:
> 
> In article <1992Jul28.200644.24124@nntpd.lkg.dec.com>, edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil) writes:
> |>>In article <1992Jul27.214609.12298@ncsu.edu> tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us writes:
> |>
> |>>     Personally, I have absolutely no doubt that blacks, Hispanics, 
> |>>and other minorities are of equal intelligence, on average, to the 
> |>>average white.  I do not want to accuse MENSA of racism here, but 
> |>>how the hell do you explain these testing differences?  If you assert 
> |>>that IQ and aptitude tests measure skills that are unrelated to 
> |>>differences in education and social background (which is the position
> |>>of all psychometric purists), you can come to only two logical 
> |>>possibilities:
> |>
> |>You ignore my previous posting in which I explained there is a third
> |>possibility, one backed not only by logic, but also, unlike your
> |>postings, by data.
> 
> You want data?  You got it... see upcoming posts.
> 
> -- Scott Tai
>    tai@m-net.ann-arbor.mi.us

Scott, I've been meaning to ask you since the first time I read
the articles you posted.  I enjoyed the articles, but I don't
seen anything in them that supports what I interpret to be
your position.  As a matter of fact, they seem to support the
opposition.  Could you clarify this?

GMS
From: mike_steiner@qm.claris.com (Mike Steiner)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: The Tai'ster......
Date: 27 Jul 92 18:20:33 GMT

In article <712047616.F00002@blkcat.UUCP>, Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson) writes:
> 
> sonic@artgate.cray.com (Curtis Swanson) writes:
> 
>  CS> don't be suprised that people insult the s**t out of you.
> 
> But if we insult the s**t out of Tai, there will be nothing left!

Unfortunately, that doesn't work.  I tried it a few months ago, and
found that it does regenerate itself.
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: gmark@cbnewse.cb.att.com (gilbert.m.stewart)
Subject: Re: Is the Bible really what the authors wrote?
Organization: AT&T
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 22:07:34 GMT

In article <1992Jul27.082714.21073@eskimo.celestial.com>, ericj@eskimo.celestial.com (Eric Jorgensen) writes:
> 
> So my question was - What makes the Bible so different as to not be subject to
> the same amount of criticism as the Illiad or Odyssey?  It cannot be said that
> the difference is the mention of 'God', because both of the Homer books also
> contain mentionings of 'gods'.
> 
Faith.  Mythology is what you believe, religion is what I believe.
I don't think many people would disagree with the logic of that.
(Well, they could, I guess, but they'd be wrong :-) )

GMS
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
From: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Subject: Re: T/ Re: T: To All MENSA Members...
Reply-To: edp@math.zko.dec.com (Eric Postpischil)
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 13:37:16 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.025634.21211@ncsu.edu>, scott@ailab.ncsu.edu
(Scott A Tai) writes:

>|>You ignore my previous posting in which I explained there is a third
>|>possibility, one backed not only by logic, but also, unlike your
>|>postings, by data.
>
>You want data?  You got it... see upcoming posts.

I examined your subsequent postings.  They were nonresponsive; nothing
in them contradicted the point that differences in intelligence test
scores between blacks and whites are explained by environmental factors.
Thus, your statement that the only two explanations are that blacks are
inferior or tests are biased is false.  There is a third explanation,
backed by data and unrebutted by you, that blacks are at disadvantages
socially in ways that impair their opportunity to develop their
intelligence.


                                -- edp (Eric Postpischil)
                                "Always mount a scratch monkey."
                                edp@alien.enet.dec.com
From: Dave.Aronson@f120.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Dave Aronson)
Sender: Uucp@blkcat.UUCP
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Why GREENSleaves?
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 01:18:28 -0500

To: mcbeanb@brandonu.ca

 m> wait-a-sec!  Are they?  somebody help me out: the five 
 m> kingdoms of life are:
 m>            1)  Animal
 m>            2)  Plant
 m>            3)  Protozoans (?)
 m>            4)  isn't Fungi one of em?
 m>            5)  I forget

No, they're: East, Mid, Atlantia, Calontir, and Trimaris.

Anybody going to Pennsic?
From: hollombe@polymath.tti.com (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa
Subject: Re: IQ vs. Faith
Date: 29 Jul 92 18:18:47 GMT
Organization: The Cat Factory

In article <1992Jul28.004937.15853@cs.mcgill.ca> mingmar@cs.mcgill.ca (Ming MAR) writes:
}>there are many clinical records of people going into deep trance
}>states such that they appear dead and then reviving.  ...  Some
}>can stop and start their heart beat for minutes at a time
} 
}Stop their heartbeat?  Or stop their pulse?  A simple trick is to
}place a hard object (like a rock or an orange or a fist) in the
}armpit and squeeze it.  This causes the object to press against
}an artery in the armpit and thus stop the pulse at the wrist.
}The heart hasn't stopped, just the pulse.

There are some people who can actually stop and restart their hearts.
(These folks are professionals, kids.  Don't try this at home).  Back
in my psych student days I remember reading about a man who had learned
to stop his heart so he could practice restarting it.  He had some odd
medical condition that occasionally stopped it involuntarily.

More mundanely, I've seen a number of TV news reports of people thought to
be dead waking up on slabs in a morgue.  Hardly a common event, but it
happens.

Believe it or don't.

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