The Newsletter of Mid-Hudson Mensa
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Mid-Mensan
The Newsletter of Mid-Hudson Mensa |
December 1997 |
| Paws for Reflection | Betsy Burke |
Holiday gift giving got you down? How about stocking up on Entertainment '98 Books? These books cost $25, of which our scholarship fund gets a $5 donation for each book sold. Remember, these books not only contain valuable coupons for reduced prices on meals at many fine (and not so fine) restaurants but also have coupons for services such as dry cleaning, ski resorts, golfing etc. If interested, please call Ron McMurdy and he'll arrange to get you a book or two.
Another gift you could give a friend is a pre-qualifying Mensa test. This test is $18 and is done at home. It is then sent into National where it is scored. Depending upon the results, one is encouraged to take the proctored test. Jim Jelacic proctors these tests on the 4th Sunday of every even-numbered month (except December) at the Marlboro Library. Jim would welcome others who would be willing to proctor these exams either at the Marlboro Library or some location closer to home. Contact me if you're interested in becoming a proctor, and I'll be glad to give you information.
Speaking (or writing) of donations to our scholarship fund, you might want to make a donation to the Community Foundation of Dutchess County yourself. This tax deductible contribution should be made out to the above but make sure you include a letter stating that you want the donation to go the Mid-Hudson Mensa Scholarship Fund. Their address is 9 Vassar St., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
Want to do something for Mid-Hudson Mensa? Please... We need 6 judges to help judge Mensa's scholarship competition. 3 of these judges are needed for our local judging, and 3 more are needed for Region 1 judging. This is an interesting way to get involved and donate some time to your chapter. It involves reading and rating the essays. You do not need to be an English teacher or journalist to perform this needed task. However, you do need to be able to read papers relatively quickly as usually a week is allowed for each judge to read the entries submitted.
Have you checked out Mid-Hudson's home page lately? Alan Hauck continues to update and improve our almost-award-winning home page. I'm especially impressed as I get annoyed at a number of pages that other groups have that are not updated regularly. Thanks for doing this job, Alan. Do any of you have a home page? If you do, how about letting us point to it from ours?
Buster had to be "put to sleep". His kidneys failed. Even though he was afraid of the world he'd been a good friend for 10 years. He'll be missed. It's hard to believe that all 3 of my dogs died this year.
Holiday time can be both a joyous and a difficult time for many of us. My mom died just before Christmas several years ago and I still find the holiday difficult to celebrate. Any of us who have lost family members know that celebrations have a new meaning and it's hard to be joyous when you're grieving and remembering how things used to be. I'm around children and they help me remember the joy a child feels at Christmas and Hanukkah. That helps as does the support of friends. There are many support groups meeting at this time of year. If you're hurting and feel alone I strongly urge you to get in touch with one of these groups. Hospice was my lifeline when my mother died and they were there for me again when my husband died.
Happy Holidays!
| From the Editor | Bill Zigo |
| Membership | Bibi Sandstrom |
Members In The News:
(From Ziggy:) We continue to get reprints in other Mensa newsletters.
Jim Jelacic's
pun of the month from September,
from Sharon Lydick of
Pennsylvania, was reprinted as the "Groaner of the Month" in the November
issue of HMMmm..., the newsletter of High Mountain Mensa. Speaking of
HMMmm..., Tom Rankin's column, "What's Up" is also going to become a
regular column in that newsletter.
And Karen Ditsch's Mensa Mom article,
"Logic and the Two-Year-Old Mind"
was reprinted in the November issue of
Tampa Bay Sounding, the newsletter of
Tampa Bay Mensa.
And Mid-Hudson Mensa itself got a very nice writeup from Gail Kowalski of Delaware Valley Mensa, in the November issue of Proteus, in her writeup of Autumn In New York: Transylvanian Summer Camp. Besides enjoying the overall atmosphere, Gail specifically mentioned her 3 biggest highlights. One was "The Werechilla," a film produced by Mid-Hudson Mensa as a Creativity Corner event in 1996. Another was the game "Frankenmarmot," reminiscent of the game "Cootie," in which each mad scientist tried to be the first to assemble their zombie marmot. (Is it any coincidence that Gail enjoyed this game, AND she won?) Finally, there was "Addams Family Feud", in which the Delaware Valley Mensa team first beat the Blonde team in the semi-finals and the Mid-Hudson team in the finals. (Gee again, I wonder why Gail enjoyed this so much, being on the winning team?) But THANKS GAIL!
By the way, this might be a good time and place to mention that our theme for next year's RG is: "Shakespeare In the Woods."
We would also like to express our regret at the passing of Arnold (Dick) Panzl, local secretary of Mensa of Northeastern New York (MONNY). Dick was very involved with the recent successful LOTS held in Albany. He and his wife, Vona, also frequently attended Mid-Hudson events which were held jointly with MONNY, most recently our visit to the world's largest kaleidoscope earlier this year.
| CryptoGrams | Jim Jelacic |
Easy:
TM HZR AFYO OZ DKK F DQZNOKN ATYOKN,
GZNNZA XZYKH OQFO'D JRK TY OQK
DLNTYP.
Hard - no punctuation, grouped in 5:
TZXJM JZMVJ IUPYR KUZXH NJKZW YHEPY
ZKRYZ SVJIL JZHNJ UTQWT HLEUL VJ
Answers near the end of this newsletter.
| Mensa Mom | Karen Ditsch |
In case you haven't noticed, Mensa Mom is really just an old child. In fact, in quite a lot of ways, I'm more childish than my children are. Christmas is a prime example of this. My children are still really young. But one of the benefits of having these kids is HOLIDAYS! Did you ever notice that adults don't get to go trick or treating without a kid along? (I've thought about equal protection suits on that basis, but I'd be too embarrassed to file them!) Well, during those college years when what I really wanted for Christmas was toys, and all I got was sweaters and car insurance, I consoled myself that one day when I had kids of my own, Santa would not be bringing any underwear.
So I get to shop for the month of November for toys that I think I want to play with and justify it as being a loving mother to my children. Boy was I happy when that second baby was a girl, because my husband just wasn't buying my story that my big Barbie doll house was exactly what my little boy was yearning for. (He got a 12" GI Joe that Christmas, who's currently dating the French Barbie that Santa brought me the same year.)
But I'm still waiting for Kyle to really get the Santa myth in his head. (Yes, I fully intend to lie to my child and make him believe in this totally untrue story. I was only five when I figured out that it was not possible for a fat guy to fit through a chimney, and I don't even remember believing in Santa, but maybe my kids will be more gullible.) I only get a precious few Christmases where he'll still be small enough to buy my story, but big enough to understand it.
Let me expand on this "understand it" point. On Kyle's first Christmas, he was still hooked to a breath and heart monitor and there were more toys there than there was baby. We dressed him up in a Santa suit and he was quite adorable, but hardly cognizant of its being a holiday at all. On his second Christmas, he didn't know he was supposed to wake up early, so we were all up and he got quite upset with us when we awakened him from his sleep and then he only wanted to play with the unwrapped wagon Santa brought and was totally disinterested in unwrapping packages. I ended up playing with the toys while he crunched the paper. Last Christmas, I knew better, and didn't wrap up any of the toys. He was quite ecstatic that several new Thomas the Tank Engine figures were waiting for him under the tree, but I really couldn't say that he had any idea who this "Santa" we kept referring to was. This Christmas, I think he's ready to anticipate, and it's the anticipation that makes the moment. I think I'm only going to get a precious few Christmases with the pitter patter of little feet and the sheer joy of innocent belief, and I intend to make the most out of this one.
I should say that Kyle's disinterest in the material things taught me that Christmas is so much more than those material things and it's really about being with family, and all that. And Christmas is about all of those things, too. But I'm not ready to be grown up enough to not enjoy the toys. So Merry Christmas to all and enjoy your toys!
As part of the "Addams Family Feud" game we ran at our recent Regional Gathering, 101 people filled out a questionnaire. The tabulated responses to many of the questions were used in the Feud game. As space permits, we'll publish some of the results of some the questions that were... and weren't... used in the game. Our first selection was question #1 on the survey:
What is the best horror film of all time?
Other interesting answers which received only 1 vote:
Dawn of the Dead, Creature From the Black Lagoon, my baby pictures, Diabolique, Poltergeist, The Mummy, It Came From Outer Space, Friday 13th, The Birds, The Crawling Eye, Aliens, King Kong, Nightmare On Elm St., Invasion of the Body Snatchers, The Wizard of Oz, Cujo, It, Cat People, Sleepaway Camp Call, Plan 9 From Outer Space, The Blob, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Ghost & Mr. Chicken, Warlock, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Piano, The Exorcist, Fall of the House of Usher.
| Living Smarter | Bill Zigo |
Here's a first for our column! This month, June Smith is sharing some of the tips she has accumulated for repelling deer; but, at the same time, she would appreciate feedback as to whether the tips are sound, can be improved, etc. June says:
1) I was told that Irish Spring soap would repel deer. I bought an eight-pack of bars and left them on the kitchen table. I don't know if they repel deer, but they certainly repelled my husband. They are HIGHLY perfumed. Phil took them to the garage. The next day I stepped into the garage and the smell nearly gassed me out (though they were still in their plastic packages). That gave me encouragement, so I tried it. I cut those bars into pieces and spread them around my gardens. In fact, the deer haven't been a big problem this year. Is that because of the Irish Spring? I don't know. Maybe this is just a year when their numbers were depleted and/or the foraging was better elsewhere?
2) I've looked at the expensive commercial deer repellents. It turns out there are two kinds. One is a mysterious chemical, and the other is simply essence of rotten eggs. I figured that I didn't need to pay $50 to get rotten eggs! I got out the blender, mixed 3 eggs with 2 gallons of water, and left it in the sun for a couple of days. Boy, did it stink! Then I splashed that stuff all over the hosta that the deer seem to love. After that, nary a chomp! Is this a fix? I don't know. It could all be a coincidence.
What say you and your readers? Anybody else got some ideas to try?
Regards, June
| Pun(s) of the Month | Jim Jelacic |
Our "regular" pun is from Charlie Rovner.
Our Christmas pun is also from Charlie Rovner:
Send your groaner to PUNS c/o Jim Jelacic.
| If The Dentist Isn't There | Helen Schimpf |
My footsteps falter toward my goal;
The ominous dentist's chair.
I hope with all my heart and soul
The dentist isn't there.
The drill, the pick, the pick, the drill --
Oh, what a gruesome pair!
I'll be extra good, I will --
If the dentist isn't there.
My legs are trembling as I plant
My foot upon the stair.
I can't go on; I know I can't.
Unless he isn't there.
I have so many times received
The pain, so hard to bear.
I'll be so very much relieved
If the dentist isn't there.
That's his name, upon the door.
Do you think I dare
Turn the knob and cross the floor?
Please, dentist, don't be there.
At last, I hear the young girl say,
"I'm very sorry, Clare,
Can you come back another day?"
The dentist wasn't there!
| Trivia, December '97 | Jim Jelacic |
Greetings, Fellow Trivians!
Here are the answers to October's questions:
Q62: King Canute invaded Britain and ruled over London in 1016-1035.
Which Scandinavian country was he from?
A62: Denmark.
Q63: Although there are about 40 movies made, the first "Tarzan" actor
(1918) has a name that is comprised of a Sesame Street character's and a
president's. Name him.
A63: Elmo Lincoln.
Q64: Name the ex-military President who participated in the first filmed
(both TV and motion picture newsreel) presidential press conference.
A64: President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 19 January 1955.
Q65: Who won 4 Pulitzer Prizes for Drama for the plays "Beyond the
Horizon", "Anna Christie", "Strange Interlude" and "Long Day's Journey Into
Night"?
A65: Eugene O'Neill.
Q66: In what field of study would you find a bass register, treble keyboard
and a bellows strap?
A66: Musical instruments: these are parts of an accordion.
Q67: Does Angora wool come from Angora sheep?
A67: No, it comes from Angora goats. There are no Angora sheep.
Q68: On the TV series "Lassie", who played the role of Ruth Martin (Timmy's
mom) before June Lockhart?
A68: Cloris Leachman.
Q69: How many miles of fence were used for Woodstock '94 (±5 miles)?
A69: 22.
Q70: What are 2 of the longest English words that can be formed from a
single row of typewriter keys? (Hint: there are 4 words.)
A70: Perpetuity, proprietor, prerequire and typewriter, all 10 letters long.
The winner is Les Herring with 7 correct answers. Tom Rankin had 5 correct answers. The Kosowski family, ineligible this year for winning last year, had 7 correct answers. The best Off-the-Wall observation was Les's Woodstock answer: "To be picky, the answer is none... Since no attempt was made to enforce security, the fence wasn't used at all."
And now, this month's questions:
Q81: What Central American country about the size of Tennessee was home to the Mayan Empire 1000 years before they became a Spanish colony in 1524?
Q82: What is currently the longest running TV show on the Fox network, easily beating the Flintstones record of 6 seasons?
Q83: The last major German offensive of WWII began December 16, 1944 as the German forces punched through Allied defenses in the Ardennes. What is this battle called?
Q84: What Victorian novel has the adopted Heathcliff taking revenge after being rejected by Catherine because he is socially unacceptable?
Q85: In what field of study would you find a nucleolus, a ribosome and a chloroplast?
Q86: A "NO STANDING" traffic sign means A) you may only stop temporarily to load or unload merchandise or passengers, B) you may only stop temporarily to load or unload passengers, or C) you may stop only in order to obey a traffic sign, signal or officer?
Q87: On the ceiling of Carnegie Hall, there are two concentric rings of lights. How many bulbs (±5) are in the outer ring? (Submitted by David Nuss)
Q88: When doesn't an owl give a hoot? (Submitted by Dave Cardall)
Q89: In the 19th century, astronomers were looking for a planet they were planning on naming Vulcan. Where was this planet supposedly located? (Submitted by Bill Zigo)
Send your answers and questions (with answers) to TRIVIA CONTEST c/o Jim Jelacic by December 31.
| So You Think You Know the Big Guy? |
| Santa Claus Trivia from Jim Jelacic |
'Tis the season that the jolly old elf, Santa Claus, comes sledding out of the North Pole and brightens the cold days of December, especially on film and TV. Here is a little quiz to see just how much of a Santa Clausian you are.
[Answers follow, after a bit of "Spoiler Space."]
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Answers:
| What's Up? Current Topics in Astronomy |
Tom Rankin Mid-Hudson Astronomy Assoc. |
In November I mentioned the planets as great observing targets, and the Leonid Meteor shower. Did anyone try any of these?
The Planets: In December there are several easy planetary targets. In the evening sky at the beginning of the month, Mercury and the moon are close together. Next comes Mars and Venus. The God of War and the Goddess of Love have been spending quite a bit of time together lately, haven't they? Jupiter is still well placed for early evening viewing in the South West, while Saturn is high in the South. The Moon will pass close by to all of these planets as the month goes on, especially Saturn on the 9th.
Other December Events: On the night of the 12th, the moon will be very close to the bright star Aldebaran. This is the eye of Taurus the Bull. The very next night, one of the best meteor showers of the year peaks. Called the Geminids because they appear to radiate from that constellation, they will be visible all night long, first in the East, then high in the South as the evening goes on, and then in the West in the early morning. And we get 2 meteor showers this month! The Ursids, which appear to come from the Little Dipper in the North, are another shower that may have a decent showing this month, around the 22nd.
Astro News: Aloha Pathfinder. The craft has apparently fallen silent, as of this writing. It did outlive the projections for its lifetime by several weeks though. Good job NASA! The Mars Global Surveyor is still aerobraking around the planet, and while the original orbit will not be obtainable, the replacement one is almost as good.
The Hubble Space Telescope has discovered what may be a new class of objects. A bright blue (hence young) star in a globular cluster (which are very old). It is believed that the star may have been formed by a merging of 2 old stars!
Don't mothball the 200-inch scope on Mt. Palomar yet! Recently, it was used to discover 2 new moons around Uranus, bringing the total of known satellites around that planet to 17.
Like it or not, the Cassini space probe, nuclear fuel and all, was launched last month, on its voyage to Saturn. You'd think this would have ended the controversy, but the debate rages on over the 'Net.
Late breaking news: Astronomers have found a rapidly changing magnetic carpet covering the Sun which changes on a time scale of about 40 hours. More details as they are available.
Upcoming MHAA Events (for Southeastern New York State):
12/02 - 7:30 PM Outdoor meeting at SUNY - See lots of Planets! 12/06 - 7:30 PM Outdoor meeting at Bowdoin Park - Early Winter sights 12/16 - 7:30 PM Indoor meeting at SUNY LC 112 - Topic TBD
Call 914-473-7602 for the MHAA Hotline: Information, Astronomy News, and more! Would you like to borrow a telescope from the Club for a month? Let me know! We've got several 'loaner' scopes that are very easy to use. We have lots of other Astro stuff to lend as well!
Next Time: January brings another good meteor shower. Clear Skies, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
MHAA Home Page:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/5679
Don't miss the weekly trivia quiz!
| Insult To Our Intelligence Contest | Bill Zigo |
From the nominations we received, the following are our 4 finalists in our "Insult To Our Intelligence Contest":
Now it's up to you. Send me your vote for the biggest insult to our intelligence. The result will be printed in the January issue. Your vote must reach me by December 15 to be eligible.
| The Game Page | Bill Zigo |
Since the 1970's one of my favorite games has been Acquire
The game board is a grid of numbers and letters, and there is a tile for each square on the grid. The tiles are placed face down in a pile at the start of the game. To start, each player gets money and draws one tile, placing it on the board (to start things going and to see who goes first) plus 6 more tiles for their tray. A turn consists of placing a tile on the board, drawing a replacement tile from the unused pile, and purchasing stock.
If a play creates a group of 2 or more adjacent tiles on the board, a hotel chain is formed. The player may choose the name of the hotel and receives one share of stock in that hotel. Hotel chains vary in quality, with the stock of a better quality hotel being more valuable. At the end of a turn, a player may purchase up to 3 shares of stock among all existing hotel chains. Each time another tile is placed adjacent to an existing hotel chain, the chain grows. The stock in that hotel increases in value, but the cost of a share of stock also increases.
If a tile is placed which connects two hotel chains, the chains are merged (the larger chain absorbs the smaller, or, in the case of an equal number of tiles, the merger chooses the absorber). The individuals who hold the largest and second-largest number of shares of the "bought-out" chain are awarded cash bonuses. Then each player, in turn, has a choice of a) trading shares of the defunct chain in for shares of the larger chain on a 2:1 basis (but only as long as stock lasts), b) selling their stock for immediate cash, or c) holding on to the stock, on the assumption that the chain may be restarted again at a later time. Once a chain reaches 11 or more hotels, it is a "safe chain" and cannot be merged into a larger chain. Safe chains may continue to grow and merge with smaller chains, but the value of a safe chain's stock grows at a slower pace.
Play continues until either all the chains on the board are safe or there is a chain with 41 or more hotels. At that time, each player, on his or her turn, has the option of ending the game. At that point, the players receive cash for their hotel stock, both bonuses for first and second largest holdings, and then the cash value of their stock. The richest person wins!
The latest version of Acquire has added special rules to make a 2-player game more interesting, plus several optional special-power tiles. Each tile, when played, gives a player a one-time special option. While it may make the game a bit more exciting, as a purist I prefer the game without these tiles, helping keep the game focused on strategy rather than chance.
Puzzle answers follow, a page or so onward...
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Easy:
If you want to see a shorter winter, borrow money that's due in the spring.
Hard:
Some people drink from the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.