September 2001 September 2001
Mid-Mensan
The Newsletter of Mid-Hudson Mensa
And the Waldenbooks ® Coupon Faire is our only product placement
MID-MENSAN (ISSN 1052-1046) is published monthly except February and August (10 issues per year) at 9 Miller Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603. Subscription is $3.50 per year for current members of Mid-Hudson Mensa, and is included as part of their annual membership dues ($49.00).
Subscription fee for non-members of Mid-Hudson Mensa is $6.00 per year. Periodical rate paid at Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
Postmaster: Send address changes to American Mensa Ltd., 1229 Corporate Dr. West, Arlington, TX 76006-6103.
MID-MENSAN is the official publication of Mid-Hudson Mensa, group 124. Mensa is an international society in which the sole requirement for membership is a score at or above the 98th percentile on any of a number of standard IQ tests. Mensa is a not-for-profit organization whose main purpose is to serve as a means of communication and assembly for its members. Inquiries should be directed to American Mensa, Ltd., 1229 Corporate Dr. West, Arlington, TX 76006-6103. Telephone: (817) 607-0060, or e-mail to AmericanMensa@mensa.org.
The opinions expressed in MID-MENSAN are those of the individual authors and are in no way intended to express the opinions of local or national Mensa, which has no opinion. Other Mensa publications may reprint any portion of this newsletter which is not individually copyrighted as long as credit is given to the author or artist and to MID-MENSAN.
The deadline for contributions for each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Anything not received by then will be held for consideration in the following issue. Contributions must be signed by the author or artist but may be published using a pen name or anonymously.
From the President's Doghouse 3
From Under the Marmot 4
Amid-Hudson Mensans 5
Science Snippets 7
Dear Miss Mensa 8
Mensa Mind Games Winners 8
Pun of the Month 9
Paws For Reflection 10
Treasurer's Report 11
MG Speaker 12
Autumn In NY Reminder 12
New Webmaster 12
Area Contact Sought 12
Waldenbooks Coupon 13
September Calendar 14
Program Notes 16
How to Give Directions 17
PotPourri 18
What's Up? 20
Cryptograms 22
TV Trivia 22
Music Trivia 23
September Trivia 24
Top 5 List 26
Answers 26
Chapter Contacts 27
From the President's Doghouse
Jim Jelacic with Dixie
Did you ever volunteer to be a donor at a blood drive at work? With the massive shortage of whole blood out there, it seems like they're here every week asking you to stick out your arm. It's bad enough that your work is already draining the life force out of you. Now they're doing it literally. You begin to feel that there's a vampire convention and you're the Guest of Honor at the banquet. ("Yes, we'd love to have you for dinner!")
And yet, many good things come from volunteering your blood. You get an hour off of work and can lay down on the job without management going into convulsions. You can use nifty, new pickup lines: "I'm an O-Pos. What's your sign?" or "I'm looking for a real, red blooded, American girl/guy and I see you're my type."
The best reward for volunteering is knowing you're giving someone a new chance at life. That satisfaction leaves you feeling like a million bucks. A deep, comforting satisfaction that's good to the last "drop." And you get lots of cookies.
Your local Mensa chapter is looking for a few volunteers to infuse some new blood and keep alive programs you have taken for granted that have become endangered of ending. We are still looking for a capable publisher for our award-winning newsletter and one or two fantastic people to recruit speakers for our monthly speakers' meeting. You'll have a chance to do something rewarding and satisfying for your Mensa friends. You'll get some recognition. You'll be able to put your stamp on something for others to follow in the years to come. You'll feel good. And you'll get lots of cookies.
"Nobody is stronger, nobody is weaker than someone who came back. There is nothing you can do to such a person because whatever you could do is less than what has already been done to him. We have already paid the price." Elie Wiessel (b. 1928), Rumanian-born U.S. Writer, from an interview in Writers at Work, editor George Plimpton, 1988.
Editor
Bill Zigo
Well, unfortunately, it's very tough to generate material on a theme about the writers in our chapter when absolutely NOBODY sent me any material. I would, however, like to thank Vehig Tavitian for writing a PotPourri column along the lines of the theme.
I have to conclude that all the writers in our chapter are too humble and modest to provide mention of the books, articles or web pages they've created.
The bad news is that given the lack of participation, I'm going to discontinue the themes I had planned for the issues for the rest of the year. This doesn't mean I won't do newsletter themes. It just means I'm less likely to do themes for which I solicit input from the chapter members in advance.
The good news is that the lack of theme material in this issue allows me to include more on our RG. Have you registered for our RG? There's still time! We even offer a day rate on Saturday.
We Won a Newsletter Award! For the second year in a row, Jim Jelacic won the newsletter award for puzzles and games. Congratulations, Jim! Hmmm, I wonder, now, if I should resurrect my Are You Game? column? By the way, Jim's puzzles and trivia from last year's issues will be reprinted in an upcoming issue of the Mensa Bulletin which spotlights this year's award winners.
FSM has had to change its site, due to changes going on with publisher Ron McMurdy. Please see the calendar entry and Program Notes for additional details on this.
This is the full mailing issue. This is the issue that goes out to all the other editors in American Mensa. Hi! Apart from my little "rant" a couple of paragraphs ago, this is a typical Mid-Mensan. We don't dress up either our full-mailing issue or issues for the newsletter awards contest. I hope you like what you see/read.
Thanks to this month's proofers: Angela Tremain, Alan Hauck, and Bibi Sandstrom.
Merrill Loechner
and Bill Zigo
9/5 - Donna Hughes, John Lemek III
9/7 - Joseph Torella
9/10 - Dan Friedman
9/13 - Lloyd Jeffords
9/15 - Gary Patton
9/19 - Chip Wood
9/24 - Wayne Namerow, Philip Zand
9/26 - Candace Cowan, Janet Droll
9/27 - Amber Wellock
9/28 - Bill Zigo
9/29 - Jean Castinidos
Did you know that of the 185 members currently in our chapter, 47 of you have chosen to withhold your birth date? That's more than 25% of you, and by doing so, you see your name one less time per year in the Mid-Mensan.
1999 - Philippe Benthien, Betty Olson, Ollie Simpson
1997 - Greg Spira
1995 - William Key Jr., Tom Rankin
1989 - Donna Hughes
1988 - Lloyd Jeffords, Bill Zigo
1986 - Janet Droll, Sharon Weiss
1981 - Mark Ross
1979 - Irving Roth
1976 - Jack Spyker-Oles
Welcome to new members Sheri Levson, of Highland Mills and Bernard Guerrero in Walden. Farewell to David Helm Sr., who moved from Barryville to Milford, PA.
Mid-Hudson Mention
Eve Hinderer was one of the featured artists in Diversity in Newburgh at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum on June 16th. Eve had two photographs on display, Lynn I and Lynn II.
Andi Weiss Bartczak had a letter in the Poughkeepsie Journal on July 21st suggesting an increased number of overpasses on the Taconic State Parkway to deal with the problem of dangerous intersections.
Barbara Neumann, a.k.a. Miss Mensa, recently received the Advanced Leader (AL) and Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) awards in Toastmasters. Barbara will undoubtedly be attending our Monthly Gathering later in the year in which will feature members of local Toastmasters clubs.
Don Byron appeared as a guest with Joe Henry and his band on Late Night with David Letterman (CBS) on Thursday, August 23rd. They performed Stop from Henry's new album Scar. [Don, which band member were you? They didn't introduce any of you. - Ed.]
And Jim Jelacic continues to have his cryptograms reprinted on a semi-regular basis in Menzia, the newsletter of New Mexico Mensa, Roger Holloway, editor.
Upcoming RG's
Autumn In New York 14 - September 7-9 - contact Bill Zigo, 194 Roosevelt Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538-2300, (845) 229-8746, Bzigo@compuserve.com, and check the article on the RG later in this issue.
Liberty Bell XI -- Where The Wild Things Are! - October 19-21, 2001 - contact Ellen Bauer, 416 Jean Drive, King of Prussia PA, 19406, (610) 337-2046, embauer@juno.com
Mensautumn 2001 - A Space Odyssey - October 26-28, 2001, in Hartford, at the Hilton (860) 728-5151. Registration is $45 through 4/30, $55 thereafter. Contact Barb Holstein, 2 Colony Lane, Cromwell, Ct 06416, (860) 632-7873, or e-mail BarbCPA@worldnet.att.net
The New England Pilgrimage - November 30 - December 2, 2001, at the Sheraton Ferncroft Danvers, MA. Wendy Birchmire, 70 Oak Hill Road, Needham, MA 02492, (781) 444-8213, wab@birchmire.com
Snowball XXVIII - March 15-17 - at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Piscataway, NJ (same place as last year). Registration is only $35 through 9/15, $40 through 11/15, $45 through 1/15/02, $50 to 3/5 and $55 thereafter. Contact Andrea Gallini Garnieri, 632 Salem Avenue, Apartment 102, Elizabeth, NJ 07208, or by e-mail at andreabgg@aol.com.
Testing Positive For Drugs: Over the last decade, European chemists have been documenting widespread contamination of lakes, streams and groundwater by prescription drugs. U.S. and Canadian scientists have offered preliminary confirmation that traces of drugs excreted by humans and livestock pollute American waters. Many North American cities use less sophisticated sewage treatment than Germany; this has led to higher levels of anti-cancer drugs, psychiatric drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs, leaving plants untreated.
Twenty years ago, EPA scientists measured sludge from a sewage treatment plant and determined that incoming sewage contained excreted aspirin, caffeine and nicotine. At the same time they found that the cholesterol- lowering drug clofibric acid contaminated a Phoenix groundwater reservoir from the treated sewage the city used to replenish the aquifer. Since people discard drugs, landfills can also be a source of drug contamination.
Federal scientists have begun to explore another source of drug pollution- large feedlots for livestock. An estimated 40% of the antibiotics produced in the U.S. are fed to livestock as growth enhancers. The three antibiotics which frequently show up in hogwaste lagoons often appear in local waters; they are also frequently prescribed for humans. Scientists at the CDC have begun sampling bacteria from the contaminated waters to see if they have become resistant to the antibiotics in the water.
One German scientist has reported finding traces of drugs, near the limits of detection, in his tap water. Luckily, running the water through an activated carbon filter removed the drugs from the water. Two disinfection agents, activated carbon and ozone, which are used in many European water treatment plants, generally remove any traces of drugs. Since these expensive treatments aren't used to treat sewage, drugs can pass through the sewage treatment plants.
Most of the scientists involved suspect that chronic exposure to low levels of these drugs may be most harmful to aquatic life, but who knows? Science News, Vol. 157 (4/1/00), p. 212
Don't Need It: Iron is an essential nutrient for most bacteria. The spirochete responsible for Lyme disease lacks any iron-containing proteins, using manganese instead. In that way it can circumvent one of humanity's natural defense systems- the severe lack of the free iron in the body. Science, Vol. 288 (6/2/00), p. 1547
Defying Gravity: The Tokay gecko runs up walls and upside down across ceilings. It can hang from one toe pad. Its secret - rows of tiny hairs with multiple split ends on the bottom of each pad. Weak attractive forces between the 1000 or so split ends on each hair and the ceiling grab even the smoothest surface. Changing the angle of the hairs negates these forces, so the lizard moves easily. Science, Vol. 288 (6/9/00), p. 1717
Dear Miss Mensa
© 2001, Barbara Neumann
MM's column is abridged this month due to vacation. She finds that with Gary Condit's son being named Chad, humor columns almost write themselves.
MM notes that the former M&T bank on Route 9 is closed but always displays a temperature at 65. It must be right some of the time, just as it was right twice a day when the clock stopped. It's amazing how stopped clocks and unchanging thermometers still obey the laws of physics.
MM recently had young relatives visiting who wonder why she goes to the Barnes & Noble in Rochester, rather than the local one. These young relatives found more local wildlife here in Dutchess County than on a number of Girl Scout trips across the state.
A skunk's encounter with an empty pizza box on MM's front porch almost combined the two Mid-Mensan themes of marmot and pizza. MM notes that her relatives, not computer programmers, do some kind of primitive human thing of lying quietly and resting in darkness for 8-9 hours per night. She thinks they call it "sleep." MM finds it "very refreshing."
2001 Mensa Mind Games Winners
Brainstorm - A unique game where the players make up the words. Players have 60 seconds to ask questions fast to determine who, what, and where they are.
DAO - The game that requires an ever-changing scenario, strategy, and precise balance of movement.
Metro - Engineer the most extensive network of track in the Paris underground while attempting to cut off your opponent's tracks.
Shapes Up - Players fit shapes together like a tangram to cover their boards and form multi-colored squares.
The Poll Game - Choose from 750 yes/no questions or create one of your own. The object is to guess how many players will answer yes to each question.
These quickies were sent in by Christine Burley:
Evidence has been found that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers. However, all the league records were unfortunately destroyed in a fire. Thus we'll never know for whom the Tells bowled.
A man rushed into the doctor's office and shouted, "Doctor! I think I'm shrinking!!" The doctor calmly responded, "Now, settle down. You'll just have to be a little patient."
A marine biologist developed a race of genetically engineered dolphins that could live forever if they were fed a steady diet of seagulls. One day his supply of the birds ran out, so he had to go out and trap some more. On the
way back, he spied two lions asleep on the road. Afraid to wake them, he gingerly stepped over them. Immediately, he was arrested and charged with transporting gulls across sedate lions for immortal porpoises.
A skeptical anthropologist was cataloging South American folk remedies with the assistance of a tribal brujo who indicated that the leaves of a particular fern were a sure cure for any case of constipation. When the anthropologist expressed his doubts, the brujo looked him in the eye and said, "Let me tell you, with fronds like these, who needs enemas?"
Send your favorite groaner to PUNS, PO Box 133, Esopus NY 12429-0133 or jimjelacic@mybizz.net.
RVC Betsy Burke, with Casper and Lambchop
I have some good news and some bad news. As I'm the type who likes to tackle the bad news first, let me report that Maine Mensa has disbanded. The members have been given the option of joining the Isolated M's or New Hampshire. It's difficult to maintain an active group when it extends over a large geographic area. The good news is that I expect New Hampshire Mensa to get an award this year for greatest membership growth.
We can't expect to help bands of volunteers keep a group active. Mensa is an organization run on a local level by its volunteers. It really behooves us all to try and help out occasionally. You don't have to be a member of the executive committee of your group, as there are many small jobs that you can do to help your group and yourself. Going out for lunch or dinner? Why not make it a calendar event. The same goes for other activities you like such as the movies, theater, walking, and hiking, or even petting dogs. (If you haven't ever seen a dog agility trial go see one. They are fun to watch and relatively inexpensive.)
October is National Testing Month with the official testing date scheduled for October 20th. Testing is one of the ways to recruit new members. Some groups also like to make this into an event with a pizza party afterwards for those who took the tests. What is your group planning?
For those of you looking for a social outing with other Mensans, consider attending these following gatherings:
Mid-Hudson's Reality Gathering
Can you survive a weekend at the Ashokan Field Campus of SUNY New Paltz? This gathering is quite different from others as its all-inclusive price of $129 includes 6 meals, (prepared by a CIA graduate), as well as sleeping accommodations in the bunkhouses. Of course, if you want to sleep in tents that's fine with us if you bring your own. Yes, we do have indoor plumbing! Dates are from Sept 7th 9th. Contact registrar Bill Zigo at 194 Roosevelt Road, Hyde Park, NY, 12538, e-mail bzigo@compuserve.com.
Mensautumn 2001
C&WMs gathering will be in Hartford CT at the Hilton Hotel, where the room rate is only $70 with an additional $5 per day for parking. Registration fee is $55 through Sept 30th. Contact registrar Barb Holstein at 2 Colony Lane in Cromwell, CT, 06416. Phone number (860) 632-7873 or e-mail BarbCPA @ worldnet.att.net
Pilgrimage an AG to Die For
Bostons AG will be Nov.30-Dec. at the Sheraton Ferncroft Resort in Danvers Ma. (800) 325-3535) Registration fee is $55 and room rate is $82. Contact Wendy Birchmire, 70 Oak Hill Road, Needham, MA 02492, (781) 444-8213, or e-mail her at wab@birchmire.com.
Betsy Jane Burke
3 North Cross Rd.
Staatsburg, NY 12580-5301
(845) 889-4588
betsyb4@aol.com
Balance Forward January 1, 2001 $2,170.23
Sources of Income
National Support $933.34
Waldenbooks Coupon Faire $25.55
Total Income $958.89
Cash Available $3129.12
Expenses
Newsletter
Printing $394.78
FSM $60.00
Total for Newsletter $454.78
Trivia Contest Prize $15.00
Postage $34.00
Expense Total $503.78
Ending Balance $2,625.34
September Monthly Gathering Speaker Bibi Sandstrom
There's music in the air!
Our next Monthly Gathering, on Friday September 14th, will spotlight Mid-Hudson Mensan and musician Susan Russell.
Susan is a member of the GERMANIA SINGERS and will be bringing her group with her to the Marlboro Library that evening at 7:00 pm to share their expertise with us.
Don't forget that the early registration rate of $129 for this year's RG ends on August 31st. Thereafter, the rate is $139. If you'd like to attend, please send a check, payable to "Mid-Hudson Mensa -- RG" to: Bill Zigo, 194 Roosevelt Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538-2300. Vegetarian and vegan meal plans are available on advance request. Please contact Bill for questions, directions, or additional information. Or e-mail him at either of his two e-mail addresses, bzigo@compuserve.com or his new address, mr.marmot@worldnet.att.net.
A Saturday Day Rate Is Available. If you would like to attend for just the day on Saturday, you can register for $55 ($60 after 9/1). This would include three meals, hospitality, all the Saturday events, and full use of the Ashokan grounds for the day, but not overnight accommodations.
Richard (Rich) Dennison, of New Hampton, has taken over as webmaster for Mid-Hudson Mensa. Rich replaces Alan Hauck, who guided our web pages through years of marmots and several publications recognition program web page nominations. Thank you, Alan, for all your hard work, and welcome, Rich.
Rich's address, phone number and e-mail address now appear on the inside back cover.
Alan Hauck will shortly have to abandon his second role as Columbia County Area Contact, mainly because he will be moving out of Columbia County (but still remaining within the bounds of our chapter). If you would like to become the new Columbia County Area Contact, please contact either Jim Jelacic or Bill Zigo.
9/1-9/15 - Waldenbooks Coupon Faire
9/1 - Moonlight Madness
9/7-9 - Autumn In New York
9/12 - Mirthday
9/14 - Monthly Gathering
9/20 - TTT
9/22 - Smoke-Free Dining Out
9/23 - Ex Comm
9/23 - Veg Out with Michelle
9/25 - FSM
9/30 - Pizza SIG
B - BYO drink
K - Suitable for kids
K+ - Suitable for kids over 10
$ - Fee involved
P - Pets at event site
R - RSVP please
Y - Yummies welcome
S/N - Smoking/no smoking
September 1-15
Waldenbooks® Coupon Faire
Four Locations
Bibi Sandstrom (845) 255-5528
bibis@juno.com
Make a copy of the coupon on the other side of this page and present it to the cashier at your favorite local Waldenbooks®. You will get a 10% discount on your purchase, and Waldenbooks® will match that discount as a donation to Mid-Hudson Mensa!
Saturday, 9/1 - 7:30 PM
Moonlight Madness
West Park - S/Y
Nancy Keyes-Crosby
(845) 384-6553
njkc@msn.com
This is our most relaxing event; it's also one of our most popular. Join us in Nancy's back yard as we recline, sip our beverage of choice, listen to relaxing music and watch the full moon rise over the Hudson River. Nancy provides snacks and champagne; please feel free to supplement the yummie table. Call Nancy for directions or additional information.
September 7-9
Autumn In New York RG
SUNY Field Campus at
The Ashokan Reservoir
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
It's not too late to register, but if you wait until 9/1 or later, it will cost you an additional $10. Join us for our always-fun summer-camp-style RG, mentioned in various places in this month's newsletter.
Wednesday, 9/12 - 7:30 pm
Mirthday
New Paltz - K
Bibi Sandstrom (845) 255-5528
bibis@juno.com
We hope you have a "peaches and cream" birthday by joining us as we celebrate September birthdays at "Cookies and Cream" (formerly David's Cookies, also up the road a little bit and on the other side of Main Street from where they used to be). Please contact Bibi for additional information or directions.
Friday, 9/14 - 7:00 pm
Monthly Gathering
Marlboro - K/N/Y
Bibi Sandstrom (845) 255-5528
bibis@juno.com
Monthly Gatherings return after their summer break. Our first set of "speakers" will actually sing -- Mid-Hudson Mensan Susan Russell and the Germania Singers will entertain us for the evening at, as always, the Marlboro Free Library. MG's are free and open to the public. Please consider supplementing the snack table with a yummie too, and contact Bibi for directions or more information.
Thursday, 9/20 - 11:45 am
Third Thursday Therapy
Poughkeepsie - K+
Charlie Rovner (845) 462-4787
CRovner@juno.com
Take a break from the hectic pace for some therapy, at Umberto's of Mamma Marissa's at the intersection of US 9 and South Gate Drive, next to Red Lobster. The buffet is $6.95 plus beverage, tax, tip (and dessert if you choose). Please contact Charlie for information or directions.
Saturday, 9/22 - 7:00 pm
Smoke-free Dining
Catskill, Greene County
Andi Weiss Bartczak
(518) 943-6517
andiwbartczak@yahoo.com
This is the first of a series of meals for those who want unpolluted air with their food. Dinner is at Wasana's, a small restaurant in my village. The cook is from Thailand and her husband is a graduate of the Culinary Institute. There are meals for omnivores as well as vegetarians. Call for directions. Suggestions for future venues are welcome. [And if you have an Entertainment® book for the Albany area, bring coupon B93 for a discount - Ed.]
Sunday, 9/23 - 2:00 pm
Executive Committee Meeting
West Park - S
Nancy Keyes-Crosby
(845) 384-6553
njkc@msn.com
All traces of madness by moonlight should be gone by now, as the always sane (yeah, right) executive committee descends upon Nancy's abode. Meetings are open to any interested members. If you'd like more information, please contact Nancy.
Sunday, 9/23 - 5:00 pm
Veg Out With Michelle
Kingston
Michelle Wojtaszek
(845) 338-3766
darlingdemoniac@aol.com
If you need to veg out after the ex comm meeting -- or for any reason, join Michelle at Plum Bayou, on Broadway in Kingston in the historic waterfront area. Call Michelle for directions or more information.
Calendar continues
Tuesday, 9/25 - 7:00 PM
Fold, Staple, Mutilate
Hyde Park - N
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
Due to the fact that Ron McMurdy's home is no longer available (see Program Notes), FSM is temporarily at Bill's house until we can get a new publisher. Participants will still be rewarded with delicious pizza afterwards. Please contact Bill for directions or additional information.
Sunday, 9/30 - 5:00 pm
Pizza SIG
Beacon - K
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
You might not expect a restaurant which serves vegetarian pepperoni to be in our Pizza SIG Hall of Fame -- at least until you've tried the pizza at The Vegetable Garden. The restaurant may or may not have changed its name since we last visited, but it's still there -- "there" being approximately 2½ miles south of I-84 exit 12 on BUSINESS NY 52. Please call Bill for info or directions.
Calendar Editor
Bill Zigo
Publisher Ron McMurdy's house is literally no longer available, as he is in the process of moving, and someone else is currently residing in his house. Until this is resolved (hopefully when we establish Ron's successor as publisher), I will be hosting FSM at my place. Ron will continue to deliver the newsletter to the post office. FSM participants will continue to be rewarded with pizza dinner, most likely from my nearby Pizza SIG Hall of Fame pizzeria, Coco's.
Andi Weiss Bartczak is initiating a new dining event this month, Smoke-Free Dining Out. If you'd like to suggest places to consider for future dining events, especially in Greene and Ulster Counties, please contact Andi. P.S. I'm thinking of resurrecting EEE - Ethnic Eating Expedition. Any interest?
Unless we find sponsors beyond October, this month's Mirthday may be our next-to-last. Event contact Bibi Sandstrom writes: "The penultimate Mirthday will partake of cookies, smoothies, and/or ice cream at Cookies and Cream, formerly David's Cookies, in New Paltz. They have moved across the street and a few doors west from their previous location at the corner of NY 299 and the intersection of NY 32 north and NY 208, and they now have a marvelous mountain view. (Park in the post office parking lot and walk a few doors down)."
How to Survive Giving and Getting Directions Bill Zigo
I've lived in the same house now for over eighteen years, in a large housing development. Since I host Mensa events, I've had to give directions to Mensans for thirteen of those years, as well as directions to various other places for Pizza SIGs, the Hudson Valley Balloon Festival, restaurants, etc. I've discovered -- and this is no big surprise -- that people (even Mensans) have different degrees of giving and understanding directions. I don't know if this makes me an expert, but I have learned things over time:
Rule #1 - People are usually left-brained (logical) or right-brained (creative) when it comes to directions. Left-brained individuals will do best with a starting point, odometer readings and turns at various intersections. Right-brained individuals prefer points of reference or landmarks. Until you know which method any individual prefers, give both left and right-brained references for directions.
Rule #2 - Make sure people know when and when not to make reference to road signs. For example, to get to my house from the south, you have to drive on a stretch of NY 9G. However, if you are coming up US 9, you first see NY 9G in front of Marist College. If you take that, not only do you not find my house, but you also find yourself in "not so good" sections of Poughkeepsie.
Rule #3 - Make sure you distinguish between "regular" traffic lights and flashing traffic lights. Most people don't consider the "single-level" flashing light (typically yellow one way, red the other) to be a traffic light. However, there may also be "regular" traffic lights which flash at various times (e.g. in front of schools, malls late at night, etc.). If you're telling someone to count traffic lights, you may need to tell people whether they include these lights in their counts.
Rule #4 - Guide folks through unusual traffic patterns or intersections. Another example -- can you get somebody onto US 9 north after they've crossed the Mid-Hudson Bridge?
Rule #5 - If you have Internet capability, check online maps in advance. The site I most often use is Mapquest, but other sites are often just as good (for example, AAA). Be aware, however, that the programs are not always perfect. For example, if you let Mapquest plan your trip, it almost always assumes an interstate highway is the absolute best way to get anywhere, and it may lead you many miles out of your way to stay on one. Also, their low-level detail maps can still be off. Mapquest may still be flagging US 9W on the west side of the Hudson as US 9.
Rule #6 - When you've gotten directions and are doing the driving, always bring reference materials with you. For me, this often includes a statewide topographical atlas, detailed city maps, and lists of phone numbers.
Rule #7 - If the passenger in a car is giving directions to the driver, give the driver enough time to react, especially if it's difficult to slow down, stop short, etc.
Rule #8 - Always read any directions back to the giver after you get them.
Tavitian
E
P H
Pourri
T G
A sagacious elderly lady once made a very puzzling statement -- to this then 15-year old; to wit: "Everyone has three ages, none of which are identical," and then went on to list them.
Several years later, the comic strip "light bulb" lit up. Aha, I finally understood her observation. The ages were:
1. One's Calendar age -- the number of years from your birth date.
2. One's Physical age -- how well you've kept yourself.
3. One's Mental age -- the age you manifest to those around you.
While observing some of the Fourth of July celebrations, it occurred to me that our country, too, has three ages:
1. Its Calendar age is 225 years old this year -- July 4th, 1776.
2. Its Physical age is difficult to determine, because it depends on how we inhabitants have opted to treat it. For example:
Have we been good stewards of the land?
Have we replaced/replanted what we have taken out?
Have we improved the areas in which we live and work?
Have we been fastidious about leaving the "campsite" cleaner than we found it?
A. Many corporations have been not only delinquent in cleaning up but
also arrogant about it when asked to do so -- spending money to go to
court rather than spending the funds to clean up the pollutants
B. Many cities, towns, and villages have turned a blind eye to the
devastation and destruction in their area because they receive tax
revenues from the polluters.
C. Many people are, themselves, irresponsible. They couldn't care less
about the carelessness around them.
(1) They indiscriminately toss candy and gum wrappers onto
the streets or throw them out of car windows.
(2) They leave behind trash at the picnic and/or campsite they
have used anywhere and everywhere throughout the country.
Who is the loudest one to complain about the "mess?" The very same SLOB who is guilty of littering indiscriminately.
Unfortunately, too many people think that the words FREEDOM and LIBERTY are synonymous with license. Neither Freedom nor Liberty gives anyone the license:
To denigrate any other individual of whatsoever race or ethnic group
To destroy the natural resources with impunity
To pollute the air and waters unconsciously
To kill
1. With a gun, knife or fire.
2. With a car or truck -- road rage
3. With words or actions -- psychologically
My solution for reversing this anomaly probably will cause a few snickers, some raised eyebrows, or double takes, but here goes anyway.
Every person must vow to celebrate two birthdays: first, their own calendar birthday, and second, that of the United States of America with all the bells and whistles concomitant with each. If one's birthday is too close to July 4th, then they should choose a January date (some 5 or 6 months later) to celebrate Uncle Sam's Birthday.
Now comes the "Huh!" part. At each of these two birthday celebrations, write a Birthday Letter to:
The CEO or COO of a known polluting or destroying of the habitat corporation, pointing out the destructive results foisted on the population and the country.
A senator or representative in Washington, D.C., or New York State, asking them to forego PAC contributions and legislate for restoring our land and waters to the pristine condition we need for healthy living as well as to clean up all air pollution.
The U.S. President, reminding her/him that her/his oath of office is binding and that s/he has a PACT with the voters to leave our country in a better condition than when s/he took office.
By writing on these two occasions, we could make an impact -- whether by pen or typewriter, or e-mail, it matters not, just WRITE.
Each of us should endeavor to have our mental age be closer to our calendar age. What matters is that the collective mental age of the population then becomes the MENTAL AGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The important thing to remember is that I admonish you to join me in writing at least two letters per year to the so-called "people in charge," even knowing that they are self-serving misanthropic individuals. Perhaps with the drip, Drip, DRIP of our letters, we may be instrumental in regaining a healthier and happier homeland.
Vice-President,
Mid-Hudson
Astronomy
Association
(MHAA)
In July and August we had Mars in the evening sky, Comet LINEAR in the East, and a host of morning planets, culminating with Jupiter and Venus together in the eastern sky before dawn on August 6th. We also had the Perseids Meteor shower. Did anyone see any of these events? I hope so!
Mars is still visible in September low in the south west sky after sundown. Saturn will make an appearance by the end of the month, rising before midnight in the Eastern sky.
For the RG, we'll have a waning moon rising around 10 p.m. Hopefully we'll be able to view other celestial objects, if the weather cooperates, with binoculars and telescopes.
Astro News
Tiny diamond grains from outside the Solar System are being studied by astronomers to help determine the history of the Galaxy.
NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite has provided astronomers their best glimpse yet at the cobweb-like filaments of helium gas left over from the Big Bang, which underlies the universe's structure. The helium is not in galaxies or stars but spread thinly throughout space. The helium traces the structure of the universe back to very early times. This structure arose from small gravitational variations seeded in the cosmos just after the Big Bang.
With 12 more moons just discovered, Saturn is once again the planet with the most known moons, surpassing Neptune.
A daytime fireball, brighter than the full Moon, was reported by hundreds of witnesses around 6:20 p.m. on July 23rd, streaking East to West over Pennsylvania, and possibly landing in a state park in western Pennsylvania. Working the path backwards shows that the meteoroid passed directly over the Hudson Valley just before entering the atmosphere! See the URL at the end of my column for details.
A star (Altair) spinning so fast that its mid-section is bulging out has been directly measured by an ultra-high-resolution NASA telescope system on Palomar Mountain near San Diego.
A nearby red star, CN Leonis, has become the first star apart from the Sun to have its corona imaged.
Next time: I'll discuss the prospects for the Orionid Meteor shower, remnants from Halley's Comet!
If you want to see what the MHAA is doing this month, outdoors or indoors, check out our web page, http://jump.to/mhaa, or call our Hotline, at (845) 485-5669.
Tom Rankin - (845) 758-6305 http://jump.to/mhaa
Probably not like this
Artwork by Dave Kochler
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"You Must Remember This ..." TV Trivia Jim Jelacic
The fall season is upon us with the promise of more, better entertainment. (Yeah, right!) Every new show is memorable. Here is the description of ten "new" shows from last season. Let's see how good your memory is. The beginning tag line is straight from last year's TV Guide "Fall Preview" issue.
1) "Secretagent.org could be the homepage" of this cyber-crime fighting crew.
2) "X-Files meets Blair Witch Project" in this multi-media creep show's website and paranormal investigations.
3) "Playing paranoia for laughs." A pack of neurotic misfits and their therapist.
4) "When the military takes over a shattered U.S. government in a sudden coup, it's up to four hard-bodied gladiators ... to join and lead the resistance movement."
5) "Bewitched, bothered and bewildered." A guy gets hexed by a revengeful blind date and has perpetual bad luck.
6) "Going for brokers. Sex and stock trading share equal billing in this steamy ensemble drama about sleek Wall Street sharks ...."
7) "He is what he is." The stories of a gay father in a small, Midwestern town.
8) "Part reporter, part detective, he's Super Columnist." Tabloid reporter does detective work.
9) "Suds, studs and sirens, as shameless and mindless as possible." In this prime time melodrama.
10) "Kramer, P.I." A comedy detective show for a previous second banana comedian.
"Who Are They Singing About?" Music Trivia Bill Zigo
Sometimes a song will be about someone without it being obvious. I've provided ten songs and ten individuals or collectives. Match each song to the person or people to whom it refers.
1. All Those Years Ago by George Harrison
2. Black Velvet by Alannah Myles
3. The original version of Candle In The Wind by Elton John
4. Creeque Alley by The Mamas & The Papas
5. The Immigrant by Neil Sedaka
6. Missing You by Diana Ross
7. Smiling Faces Sometimes by The Undisputed Truth
8. Starry, Starry Night by Don McClean
9. You Light Up My Life by Debby Boone
10. You're So Vain by Carly Simon
A) Autobiographical (i.e. the recording act himself/herself/themselves)
B) The artist's father
C) Warren Beatty
D) Marvin Gaye
E) God
F) John Lennon
G) Marilyn Monroe
H) Richard Nixon
I) Elvis Presley
J) Vincent Van Gogh
The evil twist: One of the referrals is for two songs, and one entry isn't used.
"There are two kinds of artists left: those who endorse Pepsi, and those who simply won't." Annie Lennox (b. 1954), from The Guardian, 11/30/1990.
Trivia, September 2001 Jim Jelacic
Greetings, Fellow Trivians! Here are the answers to June and July/August's questions:
Q31: In what city did the first Continental Congress (1774) meet?
A31: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Q32: Who created Horatio Hornblower?
A32: C. S. Forester.
Q33: To whom did George McGovern lose his bid for President of the United
States?
A33: Richard Nixon.
Q34: What is the longest running play on Broadway?
A34: Cats.
Q35: Jim Lovell, Fred Haise and Jack Swigert survived what accident?
A35: The Apollo 13 oxygen tank explosion.
Q36: True or False: Mexico City has more taxis than any other city.
A36: True - over 60,000.
Q37: What US president was formerly a college professor of Latin and Greek?
A37: James Garfield.
Q38: Nancy and Ronald Reagan appeared together in only one movie; name it.
A38: Hellcats of the Navy.
Q39: Date the first commercial video recorder (± 3 years).
A39: November 1956.
Q40: How many TV stations were in the US in 1928 (± 3)?
A40: 15.
Q41: In which city and state did John Brown commit his raid on the government arsenal in October 1859?
A41: Harper's Ferry, Virginia; it was changed to West Virginia in 1863.
Q42: In which Charlie Chaplin silent movie did he do the "dance of the dinner rolls" and eat his shoe?
A42: The Gold Rush.
Q43: How many kings of England were named "Henry"?
A43: Eight.
Q44: Who wrote the techno-thrillers The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games?
A44: Tom Clancy.
Q45: How long is an Astronomical Unit (± 10 million kilometers)?
A45: About 150 million kilometers - the distance from the earth to the sun.
Q46: True or False: OPEC is made up of only Middle Eastern oil producing
nations.
A46: False - It also includes Venezuela, Algeria, Gabon, Nigeria and Indonesia. Ecuador joined in 1973 but left in 1992 since it couldn't afford the annual $4 million in dues.
Q47: What chemical element was named for the Greek word for the morning star (Venus)?
A47: Phosphorus. (Reference: National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky)
Q48: Who was the 1st politician to be on live TV?
A48: Herbert Hoover, 1927.
Q49: Name four of the five members of the 1950s Hollywood "Rat Pack?"
A49: Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford.
Q50: Two presidents are buried in Arlington National Cemetery. JFK was one. Who is the other?
A50: Taft.
The winner for June is Dave Cardall with a perfect score of 10 correct answers. Les Herring had 5 correct answers. Ed Quinn, ineligible since he won last year, had 10 correct answers.
The winner for July/August is Dave Cardall with 8 correct answers. Les Herring had 6 correct answers. Ed Quinn, still ineligible, had 9 correct answers. Best off the wall answer was Dave Cardall's Apollo 13 answer "Though reported as an accident by our rarely forthcoming government, it was caused by an alien attack."
And now, this month's questions:
Q51:What city was the nation's capitol before it moved to Washington, DC?
Q52: What were the names of Kate Bradley's daughters on Petticoat Junction?
Q53: Who was the founder and the first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire?
Q54: What platinum blonde, crew-cut, TV infomercial guru blasts the fitness industry in the weight loss book Stop the Insanity?
Q55: What was the medical/engineering breakthrough about the artificial heart transplant this past July?
Q56: True or False: For easier storage, the Japanese are growing square watermelons.
Q57: What is a Pink Fairy?
Q58: How many teeth did George Washington have when he took office (± 3)?
Q59: How many children did the Father of our Country, George Washington, father?
Q60: Worldwide, how many lightning strikes occur per minute (± 200)?
NOTE: I have a new email address!! Send your answers to TRIVIA CONTEST, PO Box 133, Esopus NY 12429-0133 or e-mail them to jimjelacic@mybizz.net by September 30th.
"Necessity makes an honest man a knave." Daniel Defoe (1661? - 1731), from Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe, ch. 2.
5 Reasons a Mensan would be booted off of Survivor.
5) The people voting are morons.
4) Referred to the producers as "People who would sell their mothers into slavery if there were ratings in it."
3) Quoted as saying, "I didn't go to college to eat rats. I don't care how much they pay me!"
2) Said of fellow contestants (with Bugs Bunny's accent) "I've seen better heads on a glass of root beer."
1) Since they're intelligent, a Mensan could only be a participant on this show by accident or curse. Either way, kicking them off would be doing them a favor.
Cryptogram Answers
Easy: The best way to make a fire with two sticks is to make sure one of them is a match. Will Rogers
Hard: Blessed be those who initiate lively discussion with the hopelessly mute, for they shall be known as dentists.
"You Must Remember This ... " TV Trivia Answers
1) "Level 9".
2) "Freaky-links".
3) "The Trouble with Normal".
4) "Freedom".
5) "Cursed".
6) "The Street".
7) "Normal, Ohio".
8) "Deadline".
9) "Titans".
10) "The Michael Richards Show".
"Who Are They Singing About?" Music Trivia Answers
President: Jim Jelacic Jimjelacic@mybizz.net
P.O. Box 133, Esopus, NY 12429-0133 (845) 691-8009
Vice President: C. Rod Cowan crcowan@attglobal.net
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Ronnie Brown (ronniebrown@juno.com) (845) 565-6329
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New contact sought
Northern Dutchess County:
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Southern Dutchess County
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