October 2001 October 2001
Mid-Mensan
The Newsletter of Mid-Hudson Mensa
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 6
Science Snippets 8
October MG Speaker 9
Dear Miss Mensas 10
Letters 12
Pun of the Month 14
SIGHT 15
October Calendar 16
Program Notes 18
Wanted 18
Ex Comm Mini-Minutes 18
RG Report 20
Paws For Reflection 21
So, What Do You Do? 22
Remembering 23
PotPourri 24
What's Up? 25
Cryptograms 26
TV Trivia 27
Music Trivia 28
Fundraiser 28
October Trivia 29
Top 5 List 29
Answers 30
Jim Jelacic with Dixie
There are a million stories in the Naked City, ...
I've talked to many Mensans over my decade-plus membership, and each one of them seems to have a story as to how or why he or she joined Mensa. Some did it for the prestige of belonging to a nationally recognized and dignified society. Some for the chance of an intelligent conversation. Some just for the bragging rights to say they made it in to a "high IQ" group. There are a lot of interesting stories. I, too, have one. Here's mine:
I'm talking with my cube-mate at work about something I had done that was particularly stupid. I was feeling very low about my mistake, and he was thoroughly enjoying my predicament. He wasn't a bad sort, but he did like to "rub it in" whenever he could. "I would never do anything THAT stupid!" he bellowed. "I'm incapable of doing anything stupid."
I was beginning to get riled. "How come?" I asked edgily.
Grinning from ear to ear, he exclaimed "Because I'm a card carrying Genius!!!" and pulled his Mensa membership card out of his wallet.
I had heard of Mensa back in high school and even entertained the thought of trying to join. But my SATs stunk, and I didn't want to embarrass myself if I tried and really blew it. But, here's my cubie, sitting there, lording over me, gloating from head to toe, saying he's so much smarter than me.
I said to myself, "Well, if this loudmouth, over-bearing blow-hard can get in, so can I!"
And I stated so ... in a more dignified manner. "I think, if I tried, I can get in."
Laughingly he challenged, "I bet you a buck you don't make it!" He took a dollar out of his wallet and waved it in front of my face.
Needless to say, I accepted the bet, took the test and, to his surprise, won a very satisfying dollar. I got into Mensa on a bet!
On October 20th, Mensa is holding its annual National Testing Day. It's a day where every chapter across the U.S. holds a Mensa Admissions Test open to anyone who wishes to see if they have the smarts to join. A lot of people try. A lot of people would like to try, but they need a nudge to take it. This is where you come in. Get out there and give your friends and family the nudge. Tell them they are as smart as their mothers always said they were. Challenge them to take the big step. And when they join, won't you feel terrific. Bet you a buck.
Bill Zigo
This has been the hardest column and issue I've ever had to write. I could not make up my mind whether or not to give priority to the 9/11 tragedy, catharsis, entertainment as relief, or some combination. Finally, I decided that since this is a Mensa newsletter, I'd devote my own column to all of the Mensa-related activities I've gone through the past few weeks, with some closing thoughts at the end. I have several 9/11-related items in the issue as well.
Before 9/11: We had a successful RG, and we're winding down for the end of the year. But some of my Mensa friends are feeling the crunch of the unsteady economy, as several of them -- particularly in New England -- have to deal with layoffs.
The afternoon of 9/11: Being an active Mensan in a chapter bordering Greater New York Mensa, it's not surprising that I know a lot of Mensans who live or work in New York City. So shortly after noon, the flurry of e-mails began. Every time one of us heard that another of our friends was safe, we'd breathe one more sigh of relief and pass the word on. Ironically, yet another of my friends in New England -- who had to wait to hear that family members working in Manhattan had gotten home safely -- was also laid off that same day.
Approximately 1 in every 5000 Americans is a member of Mensa. As I wrote this article, there were still over 5000 innocent victims still unaccounted for. As I write this, I know of no Mensans on this list; however, the law of averages alone implies we may have lost members. I would not be surprised if we had a significant number of members who worked in one of the towers.
The evening of 9/11: More phone calls and e-mails. Some folks just needed to hear another voice to help provide comfort. I received an e-mail from Sam Sharmat, who recently moved back to NYC. A Mensan and physician, Sam talked about his first day working at the trauma center at St. Vincent's.
The rest of the week: More e-mails and phone calls, as we tried to make sense of everything. I visited friends in New England over the weekend. In the Boston area, the tragedy includes the victims on the airplanes.
Monday, 9/17: I received my first (and hopefully last) e-mail from a self-proclaimed Mensa troublemaker, who maintains there are all kinds of conspiracies going on, and that Mensa is involved. He is filled either with hate, or with a need to enrage other people. I don't understand why people are so desperate for attention that they feel the easiest way to get any attention at all is to create negative attention by enraging others. I simply responded with my non-patented, one-word reply: "Yawn." The last thing people like this want to hear is that they're boring.
Mensans are a cross-section of society. Just as some of the innocent victims are members of Mensa, some portion of the population -- whom many of us may find difficult to endure -- are also members of Mensa. This is the price we pay for not limiting our membership beyond the IQ requirement. Just as we have to learn to cope with a world that has just changed, so too do we have to learn how to cope with people who disagree with us.
It's important to remember that Mensa, as an organization, has no opinions. But Mensans do. This was pretty obvious from the e-mail I mentioned above. I have a couple of opinions of my own, which I'll indirectly present here, by asking you to think about these two things:
1. Movie and TV Network executives are currently culling upcoming movies and TV shows. Several executives believe some of these can be run around mid-October. Are they implying that one month is all folks should need to get past grieving for a lost loved one?
2. The (as I write this) supposed terrorist leaders are multimillionaires. Think about how they acquired all that money, and how that may have been influenced by some of the decisions made in this country in the past.
Let's hope we are capable of demonstrating the intelligence we've supposedly proven we have to go forward from here.
Several of our writers took very different approaches to their columns this month, all of which were fine with me. Barbara Neumann did not feel comfortable writing a humorous column, so she supplied some material she had previously received from her brother, Doktor Mainframe. Vehig Tavitian, on the other hand, has written a very moving PotPourri column.
After five years as editor of the Mid-Mensan, I will be stepping down. Our next newsletter editor will be Angela Tremain of Marlboro. Angela has been phasing in as my successor for a bit over a month now. She has previous experience as an editor in other organizations, and she has shown herself to be an EXCELLENT proofreader besides. The December Mid-Mensan will be my last issue as editor, and Angela will produce the January/February 2002 issue.
I expect I won't get much rest, though. I hope to continue to write some columns, host some events, and I've opted to be next year's RG chair.
Thanks to this month's proofers: Angela Tremain, Alan Hauck, Barbara Rankin, Merrill Loechner, and Vehig Tavitian. Thanks also to last month's FSM crew: Alan Hauck, Joanne Schultz and Dave Kochler.
Merrill Loechner
and Bill Zigo
10/2 - Shane McConnell
10/4 - James Fiser
10/7 - Tom Rankin, Vehig Tavitian
10/10 - Robert Fuller
10/12 - Carmen Langevin, Ron McMurdy
10/18 - Gail Sunray
10/20 - Martin Davis
10/23 - Paula Bagomolny, Frederick Carlson, Eugene Thompson
10/24 - Constance Hornbeck, Sharon Weiss
10/25 - Marvin Eisenberg
10/27 - Kathie Vanleer
10/30 - Slavtcho Gueorgulev
10/31 - Alice Tierney
2000 - Angela Tremain
1994 - Katherine Eason, Maria Weinberg
1985 - Richard Corrado
1983 - Dave Cardall
1982 - Alice Tierney
1979 - Theresa Booth
Welcome to Guy Van Dunk, who recently moved from Orchard Lake, MI, to Middletown. Welcome back to Gail Sunray of Fishkill.
I'd also like to include a special farewell to Sam Sharmat, formerly of Rhinebeck, who recently moved back to New York City. Sam is a physician, and shortly after having returned, he was called upon to help after the tragedy at the World Trade Center. Sam sent me an e-mail that evening recalling what he went through that day, and he has given me permission to reprint it, which I've done in the Letters section of this issue.
Buff McAllister had a display at the Sullivan County Museum, Beck Gallery, in Hurleyville called The Woven Image - Collages in Fiber, from August 5th through the 26th, and Buff was at an artist's reception there on Sunday the 5th. Buff sent me a post card with her design on it -- neat!
Do you listen to radio commercials? If you've heard some of the recent ones for Adams Fairacre Farms, then you've heard Mark Adams. Mark also gave an impressive impromptu banjo concert at our RG.
And the article which has probably been reprinted the most times over the past few years, You Know You're a Mensan When, by Alison Bentley (the article has actually exceeded Alison's membership) was once again reprinted, this time in the September 2001 issue of Memphis Mensa Newsletter, the newsletter of Memphis Mensa (and parts of Arkansas too), Barbara Hunt editor.
Upcoming RG's
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
Winter Solstice - December 14-16, at the Eden Resort Inn and Conference Center, in Lancaster, PA, tel. (717) 569-6444, rooms $84, guaranteed through 11/16. Registration $60 to 12/7, $65 thereafter. Contact Val Weiner, 39 Kensington Square, Mechanicsburg, PA, 17050, (717) 691-6654, valerie@ezonline.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.
50 Year Droughts? The Dust Bowl that struck our southern plains in the 1930s was caused by a 7 year drought. Sediments from a North Dakota lake reveal that 8000 years ago, the plains oscillated between droughts and wet periods that lasted 40 to 50 years at a time. Increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases could turn our interior warmer and drier and cause similar long droughts now. Science, Vol. 289 (9/22/00), p. 2031
Weather and Climate Extremes: In 1870 the Weather Bureau was established to protect life and property by focusing on storm and flood warnings. Atmospheric extremes have resulted in steady increases in economic costs and lives lost in the U.S. since the Dust Bowl days of the 1930s. Most assessments of recent increases in losses, such as from the 1997 El Niño, blame society and human behavior. The growth of our population and wealth plus shifts of people to coastal areas and metropolitan areas have increased our vulnerability to weather losses. More than 90% of our natural disasters are a result of weather or climate extremes. Societal costs have begun a shift in policy from focusing on costly relief assistance to emphasizing more mitigation and personal responsibility for living in dangerous areas. Science, Vol. 289 (9/22/00), p. 2053
Babel: Sequencing an entire genome (all functional genes on chromosomes) such as ours, is a major achievement but leads to an enormous amount of information that we don't understand. Theoretically: locate the genes, translate the coding region to determine the protein's sequence, perform similarity searches with previously characterized sequences and assign function by evolutionary logic. Reality: it is not always clear what a "gene" is and a degree of similarity of sequence may not mean a similarity of function (with few functions or structures known). Science, Vol. 290 (10/20/00), p. 471
Trans-Pacific Air Pollution: Air pollutants are transported on mid-latitude westerly winds from Eurasia to the Pacific Ocean basin and across to North America. The expected economic boom around the Pacific Rim and in the rest of the world will produce even more air pollution unless preventive measures are taken. Adverse effects throughout the Pacific region and remote areas such as Arctic and alpine environments can be expected. Ocean productivity may be altered. Science, Vol. 290 (10/6/00), p. 65
Computers and Vaccines: The immune system chops foreign proteins into small peptides, each containing about 10 amino acids. Some of these peptides are displayed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, where they are held in place by proteins of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and attract the immune system's T cells. Computers can help predict which fragments of proteins will fit the MHC so that vaccines can be made to our design. Science, Vol. 290 (10/6/00), p. 80
October Monthly Gathering Speaker Bibi Sandstrom
Oral in October
You've been reading about artists, writers, and musicians. Read, draw, write, play... they all have to do with communication. Our October Monthly Gathering will show us how to communicate better orally!
A local Toastmasters International club has agreed to come to Marlboro to put on a speaking demo for us. On Friday, October 12th, some Toastmasters members have agreed to do a "demo meeting." "Your members will see what actually happens at a Toastmasters meeting and would even have a chance to participate if they wanted to," says Walter W. Beveridge, the Division A Governor. [Editor's note: Toastmasters is an international organization. Our area is in District 53, and Division A is a subset of that district.]
Many of our Mid-Hudson Mensa members have been stand-out members of Toastmasters, and speech contest winners. This includes editor Bill Zigo, president Jim Jelacic, Phyllis Harrington, and columnist Barbara Neumann. Why not come to the Marlboro Library in October and hear what good speaking is all about? See you at 7:00 pm on October 12th; let's draw a good crowd!
Alan Hauck has had to abandon his position as Columbia County Area Contact, mainly because he recently moved out of Columbia County (but still remains 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.
Congratulations to Lauren Klatsky of Rumson NJ, a student at the Culinary Institute of America, who won a MERF scholarship this year. Unfortunately, due to "technical difficulties," I haven't been able to get a copy of the essay to publish yet. But when I do, I'll include it in the newsletter.
Dear Miss Mensa
© 2001, Barbara Neumann
This month's column written by Miss Mensa's brother, our own Doktor Mainframe:
Dear Doktor Mainframe -
I've been hearing astronomers saying that we need to be doing more to watch out for asteroids that might hit the earth. What do you think?
- Duck and Cover
Dear Daffy Duck -
In recent years there has been a rash of astronomers claiming that we should spend more money watching out for asteroids that might hit the earth. This is because of a claimed "danger" from asteroid impacts like the one believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs. The latest voice to join this chorus is astrophysicist Duncan Steel of the University of Salford in England, quoted in a September 6, 2001 Reuters news account as saying "Such cosmic calamities pose a surprising yet significant danger to us all," and "I would challenge anyone who could find a project with a better cost/benefit ratio."
Professor Steel is sadly misguided. Asteroids, especially the ones that hit the earth, are our friends, not our enemies. And a policy of benign neglect towards asteroids would have a more favorable "cost/benefit ratio" than any expenditure to watch for asteroids, which sum would be a deadweight loss to everyone other than the astronomers collecting the money to ostensibly watch over the rest of us.
The human species and its ancestors, going back to the beginning of life on earth, have obviously survived all previous asteroid impacts. We are here, after all.
However, many species that might reasonably have posed a threat to humans or our ancestors, or at least have been competitors for food with us, going all the way back to the beginning of life on earth, have presumably been knocked off by asteroid impacts, which are now believed to have caused various extinctions. These species, having suffered from asteroid-related fatalities, are no longer around. From the human perspective, no big loss, and likely a big plus.
But there's no evidence to suggest that previous asteroid impacts have harmed us humans or our ancestors in the least. Quite to the contrary, such impacts as have occurred likely gave our ancestors opportunities at ecological niches they otherwise might not have had a chance at occupying. So, based on past experience with impacts, a policy of benign neglect towards asteroids would be entirely appropriate for us humans.
But, the astronomers may argue, all the species alive today could make the same claim. And some will surely be knocked out by the next big impact.
Yes, that's probably true. But not us. Humans are, after all, highly adaptable. We're one of the most adaptable species on earth, and certainly the most adaptable land animal in our weight category, just judging from the surface area of the planet we've occupied. (Sure, ants and earthworms are up there too, but they're in the lightweight category.) The species which need asteroid protection are the low-to-non-adaptable species, the finicky ones that need a just-so environment and can barely scrape by in the best of times. Giant pandas should pay for an asteroid-watching program. Spotted owls should pay for an asteroid-watching program. Humans? Forget it.
Asteroids? Bring 'em on. We humans eat asteroids for breakfast.
-- Doktor Mainframe
Dear Doktor Mainframe:
To what do you attribute your recent excellent health results on cholesterol? Do you recommend any specific health foods?
Signed, Hungry for More Chocolate
Dear Mensa Reader -
I think taking flaxseed oil and fish oil has helped. These supposedly boost HDL, so they should be helping with the HDL, %HDL, and Chol/HDL Ratio numbers. Also I think soy foods are helping, thanks to Miss Mensa for the steer on that. I'm drinking the "soy milk" stuff most days, also eating the roasted soybeans and "cultured soy" (fake yogurt) some days. I gave up on the soy fake meat stuff; it's not my thing. Some credit also goes to the tuna fish.
Like an actor at the Academy Awards, " ... I'd also like to thank my executive producer, my agent, and my hair stylist for such fabulous work ... ". Me: "I'd also like to thank my sister for suggesting the soybean products, thank the tuna fishes, who've worked so hard out there in the ocean, and give a shout out to the flaxseed oil, you're all fabulous ..."
-- Doktor Mainframe
"The terrible thing about terrorism is that ultimately it destroys those who practice it. Slowly, but surely, as they try to extinguish life in others, the light within them dies." - Terry Waite (b. 1939), British religious adviser and hostage in Lebanon, from The Guardian, 2/20/1992.
Dear Ziggy,
I'm so sorry NOBODY sent you material for your theme, but I liked the September issue of Mid-Mensan anyway.
For a long time, I've been wanting to tell you about my marmot neighbors in Ancramdale, Columbia County (they were there first!). My late husband and I lived in our dream-come-true cottage, fairly isolated, surrounded by wildflowers, fantastic views to the south and east, protected by higher hills to the west and north. (No scorching summer sunsets, no icy winds from the north in winter.)
At the north end of our small property there stood a group of birch trees on a small hummock; we let that area overgrow, wild. At the edge of the hummock, there was a 6 to 8 inch hole built into it, like an open doorway. I could see into it for a foot or so. To one side of the "doorway" there was a small wild rose bush. It stayed small throughout the years.
Within the "home" whose entrance I've described dwelt a marmot (and his family?). I never did come across the other entrance -- or exit -- to the marmots' home.
Nearby, and visible from our dining area, my husband, Herb, had planted a small vegetable garden. Early one evening at dinner, I saw Mr. (Or Mrs.) Marmot enjoying a leisurely meal among the veggies. He was there for 15-20 minutes; not a care in the world. He was big! Old, I suppose.
Encouraged, I walked slowly to the garden, and watched him, and he returned my gaze. As softly as I could, I said, "Oh, you know that I won't hurt you." He was startled, very obviously, at the terrible unexpected sound!! He hurried away, as fast as he could, on those tiny legs under that very rotund body. Have you ever seen a marmot hurrying? I'll never forget it!
To the south of our home, early each spring, a marmot would appear, upright, facing south to New York City beyond the horizon and the curve of the earth. Surveying his domain? He stayed there for an hour or so, each time, at least an hour, for days in a row. Was he part of the "wild rose" family? Maybe its patriarch?
By this time, you may be thankful that you haven't heard more often from this verbose old girl (83 now!). But I did respond a few times to your requests for practical household tips, years ago.[My "Living Smarter" column - Ed.] I've lived here at Fox Hill for eleven years now, and one of the highlights of these years has been the visit of the executive committee [and others - Ed.] here for a meeting, along with Ron's [McMurdy - Ed.] darling dogs. I really did enjoy that. It was nice to meet you all.
With good wishes to you, always,
Martha Offerman
Martha, it was a pleasure to hear from you. I do recall our visit, part of our "Have Brains, Will Travel" experiment several years ago. I guess it's fair to say that a lot of things change, but Marmots don't. - Bill.
Editor's Note: The next letter came to me as an e-mail from Sam Sharmat, who recently moved back to NYC from Rhinebeck. Sam, a physician, was called upon to help after the World Trade Center towers were destroyed. Sam gave me permission to reprint his e-mail in its entirety in this issue. Thank you for being there, Sam:
Hi everyone,
It's been an exhausting day and I can't possibly answer all of the e-mails so here's the quick update:
I'm okay. I spent the day working at the command center of the designated trauma center, St. Vincent's Hospital. Despite oppressive emotional turmoil, things were
quiet as we readied the hospital for the worst.
Due to rescuers unable to reach victims through suffocating smoke, the only patients brought in for the longest time were injured rescuers themselves. Additionally, due to the collapse of the third building, no rescuers were permitted into the area at all until the area was determined to be safe.
Finally, a full-scale rescue attempt was initiated and the patients started to be triaged to the area medical centers. St. Vincent's was at full readiness when I was relieved at 8 PM. They are bracing themselves for a wave of casualties that should be coming in around midnight. Wish them well.
Pray for the deceased and for those who survive them. Keep in touch.
Love,
- Sam
Here are more quickies sent in by Christine Burley:
An Indian chief was feeling very sick, so he summoned the medicine man. After a brief examination, the medicine man took out a long, thin strip of elk hide and gave it to the chief, instructing him to bite off, chew and swallow one inch of the leather every day. After a month, the medicine man returned to see how the chief was feeling. The chief shrugged and said, "The thong is ended, but the malady lingers on."
A famous Viking explorer returned home from a voyage and found his name missing from the town register. His wife insisted on complaining to the local civic official who apologized profusely saying, "I must have taken Leif off my census."
A thief broke into the local police station and stole all the lavatory equipment. A spokesperson was quoted as saying, "We have absolutely nothing to go on."
By the way, I know the guy who wrote these 9 puns. He entered them and one other in a contest. He figured with 10 entries he couldn't lose. As they were reading the list of winners he was really hoping one of his puns would win, but unfortunately, no pun in ten did.
Send your favorite groaner to PUNS, PO Box 133, Esopus NY 12429-0133 or jimjelacic@mybizz.net.
Income:
Registration $4,014.00
Hospitality Food/Soda buy-back $5.00
Total Income: $4,019.00
Expenses:
Ashokan Field Campus $3,360.85
Entertainment $200.00
Hospitality, Games, Phone Calls $250.41
Total Expenses: $3,811.26
Net Profit: $207.74
SIGHT (Service of Information, Guidance and Hospitality to Travelers)
Marsh Norris, San Francisco Mensa SIGHT Coordinator
Most of us joined Mensa to meet and mix with other Mensans. Being a SIGHT host provides an additional, wonderful opportunity to do more of just that and it's a chance to meet interesting people from all over the world. SIGHT is set up to assist travelers on short visits to our area. Our area is very popular, and Mensans visiting here need information about places to stay, points of interest, and local Mensa events. You've traveled and you know what it's like to visit an unfamiliar area. If you can answer an email, talk on the phone, respond to a letter, you can be a SIGHT host. It's a real help if you're also the kind of person who can pick the traveler up at the airport, if you can provide accommodations, or of you can take them sightseeing. All this is purely voluntary. Hosts can specify the kinds of guests they're willing to accept, and can reject smokers, pets, children, or whatever their house rules call for. SIGHT hosts are not obliged to take a guest nor to put up with bad behavior, and they can ask for a stipend to help defray guests costs. How can you use SIGHT? Just contact sight@us.mensa.org when you're ready to travel and you will receive info on the SIGHT coordinator at your destination. Fill out the Guest Form on-line and your SIGHT coordinator can find you the best match.
To become a SIGHT Host (for a local event) please complete the form or provide the information to your local SIGHT contact .
[Mid-Hudson Mensa's SIGHT contact is Ronnie Brown, whose contact information is on the inside back cover - Ed.]
After several successful years of raising money for our scholarship fund by selling Entertainment books, we have decided not to participate this year. The reason is that the people who provide the books have flooded the local area. There are so many other groups competing to sell the books that last year we barely made 50% of the money we had made in past years.
If you would like an Entertainment book for the Mid-Hudson area, we encourage you to find another worthwhile organization selling them and purchase one. And if you'd still like to donate to the Mid-Hudson Mensa Scholarship Fund, you can do so by:
1. Making out a check to The Community Foundation of Dutchess County
2. Including a letter saying that you want this money to be deposited in the Mid-Hudson Mensa Scholarship Fund.
3. Send the check and letter to: The Community Foundation of Dutchess County, 80 Washington Street, Suite 201, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.
4. Please consider sending a copy of your letter to Nancy Keyes-Crosby as well. We have recently had some discrepancies between the amount we believe is in the account and the reported amount; your copy helps Nancy keep things in check.
10/6 - Mirthday
10/12 - Monthly Gathering
10/14 - Veg Out With Michelle
10/18 - TTT
10/20 - National Testing Day
10/20 - Animation Fest
10/24 - FSM
10/27 - Smoke-free Dining
10/28 - 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
Saturday, 10/6 - Noon
Mirthday
Red Hook - K
Tom Rankin (845) 758-6305
X
Since tomorrow is his birthday, Tom Rankin has agreed to host October's Mirthday at White Rabbit Café in Red Hook. Besides a wide variety of coffees and teas, White Rabbit also has decadent desserts and interesting sandwiches and wraps. Please contact Tom for information or directions.
Friday, 10/12 - 7:00 pm
Monthly Gathering
Marlboro - K/N/Y
Bibi Sandstrom (845) 255-5528
bibis@juno.com
Tonight, you'll have an opportunity to see how members of Toastmasters International learn to be better leaders and speakers, without having to picture the audience naked. The MG is at the Marlboro Free Library and is free and open to the public. Please consider supplementing the snack table with a yummie, too, and contact Bibi for directions or information.
Sunday, 10/14 - 6:00 pm
Veg Out With Michelle
Poughkeepsie
Michelle Wojtaszek
(845) 338-3766
darlingdemoniac@aol.com
September's site, Plum Bayou, suffered "The Pizza SIG Curse" -- it closed before we got there. Let's hope October's choice, Swagat, an Indian restaurant, fares better. Swagat is in the Poughkeepsie Plaza Mall on US 9 North (across from the Price Chopper just north of IBM).
Thursday, 10/18 - 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.
If you haven't already read Jim's column on page 3, why not reread it, and why not invite some folks to take the Mensa Qualification Exam today? Jim will give the test at 1:00 pm at the Marlboro Free Library. A second session will be set up at 10:00 am if necessary. Please contact Jim in advance for additional information.
Saturday, 10/20, 7:00 pm
Semi-Annual Animation Fest
Hyde Park - N/Y
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
My October animation fest typically features full-length animated films. This year, I'm trying something a little different. Read about it in Program Notes, and if you're interested in attending, please contact me for information or directions.
Wednesday, 10/24 - 7:00 pm
Fold, Staple, Mutilate
Hyde Park - N
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
If you're good at helping us assemble the November issue of the Mid-Mensan, your treat is a pizza reward afterwards. If you're bad, you get Halloween candy -- last year's! Please call for info or directions.
Saturday 10/27- 7:00 pm
Smoke-free Dining
New Paltz, Ulster County
Andi Weiss Bartczak
(518)-943-6517
andiwbartczak@yahoo.com
This is Andi's second in a series of meals for those who want unpolluted air with their food. Dinner is at Anatolia's, a small restaurant on Main Street. The food is authentic Turkish (yumm). Call for directions or parking suggestions. Suggestions for future venues in Poughkeepsie, Kingston, etc., are welcome!!
Sunday, 10/28 - 5:00 pm
Pizza SIG
Hyde Park - K
Bill Zigo (845) 229-8746
bzigo@compuserve.com
If we were to actually try to rank the pizzerias on our Hall of Fame list, we would undoubtedly place the Hurley Mountain Inn at the top. But many folks agree that this month's location, Coco's on US 9 in Hyde Park (near the traffic light in front of what used to be the Grand Union) probably comes in second. Please contact Bill (who is one of those believers) for directions or information.
Calendar Editor
Bill Zigo
For this year's Animation Fest, I decided to get input from the "animation junkies" in the chapter (and there's a lot of you out there). I polled Jim Jelacic and Barbara Rankin to find out what animated films they had, beyond my own collection. Then I sent an e-mail with the full list to a number of chapter members. I asked them to vote for the two films they would most like to see, and the top two vote-getters would be the feature films for the evening, plus a cartoon short first (you've GOT to have the cartoon before the movie). Anyway, the votes are in, and the two films I will be showing are:
A Bug's Life (thank you Barbara, for providing this)
The Emperor's New Groove (thank you, Jim, for providing this)
And as always, if time permits, additional 'toons are possible.
Still Wanted: A Few Good Mensans Jim Jelacic
Our call for talented people to take over for retiring volunteers have been partially answered. Angela Tremain has graciously come forward to take the reigns of the editorship of this award-winning newsletter as Bill Zigo leaves, taking a little bit off his already piled-high plate of things to do. Rich Dennison is our new WebMeister as Alan Hauck will be taking on other ventures. This leaves two positions still in need of energetic people:
Newsletter Publisher: You duties are to organize the FSM (Fold, Staple and Mail) of the newsletter for each of the ten issues per year and to be the Post Office liaison in mailing the issues. After nine years, Ron McMurdy can do it in his sleep and is willing to show you how to do it.
Monthly Meeting Speaker Coordinator: The duties are to locate and schedule speakers for our popular Monthly Meeting 10 times a year and to host the meetings. This job can be easily divided between two people, each one responsible for 5 speakers and meetings per year. Bibi Sandstrom, who has been doing the work of many more that 2 people, is stepping down and will eagerly show you the ropes of speaker wrangling.
Your Mensa is only as good as the effort you put into it. Volunteer your desperately needed services today. Contact Jim Jelacic at (845) 691-8009 or jimjelacic@mybizz.net.
Executive Committee Mini-Minutes Bill Zigo
In attendance: Rod Cowan, Nancy Keyes-Crosby, Merrill Loechner, Michelle Wojtaszek and Bill Zigo. Cowan, covering for president Jim Jelacic, who could not attend, opened the meeting at 2:15 pm.
Officer's Reports
President (Cowan for Jelacic): A Mensa Mediator's Handbook is now available. Certificates for this year's Publications Recognition Program were given to Zigo and Hauck (via Zigo) (Jelacic also received one). American Mensa is looking for a group to sponsor Mensa Mind Games 2003; Zigo would check with "avid gamers" in the chapter to see if there is enough interest in submitting a bid. Reminded everyone about Mensa's Community Activities Program, followed by discussion of whether Mid-Hudson Mensa should participate. Wojtaszek will investigate possible activities for gifted children. Jelacic had one individual take the Mensa Qualification Exam in August. National Testing Day is approaching; Jelacic will work with Wojtaszek to get out publicity.
Vice-President (Cowan): Nothing to report
Treasurer (Keyes-Crosby): Statements recently received from the Community Foundation indicate a discrepancy between what we believe we have in the scholarship fund versus what they state -- their report this year lists a total lower than last year's, and we've done nothing but make deposits. Keyes-Crosby will continue to investigate. After upcoming expenses (mostly newsletter), general fund will have a balance of approximately $2500. Scholarship committee (Burke, Keyes-Crosby) received feedback from MERF that Mid-Hudson can administer our fund and awarding of scholarships as we would like.
Membership (Loechner): Receives monthly membership data diskette and now has a database available for membership queries. Has not been receiving mailing labels for new and prospective members (turns out they've been going to Zigo).
Publicity (Wojtaszek): Has finished reviewing all previous publicity material received from Bibi Sandstrom. Preparing publicity for National Testing Day. Will investigate times and places for membership activities in addition to Monthly Gatherings.
Editor/RG (Zigo): Angela Tremain is willing to produce the January 2002 issue as her first, so she must be appointed as editor by 12/1/01. Motion by Keyes-Crosby, seconded Loechner to appoint Angela as next Mid-Mensan editor. Approved unanimously. RG was successful, with a profit of $207.74. Zigo will chair next year's RG, Betsy Burke will chair hospitality.
Old Business: None
New Business: None
Meeting was adjourned at 3:30. The next meeting will be Sunday, November 11th, at 2:00 pm at Rod Cowan's home.
Autumn In New York 14 Report Bill Zigo
I don't think we could have asked for better weather for this year's RG, and the approximately three dozen attendees this year would probably all agree. It was warm enough to wear shorts and to swim in the pond (as Tom Rankin can attest), and cool and comfortable in the evenings.
Several members of Mid-Hudson Mensa attended their first Autumn In New York this year, including ex-comm members Jim Jelacic and Michelle Wojtaszek, as well as the rest of the ex comm (Merrill Loechner, Rod Cowan and Nancy Keyes-Crosby). We also welcomed Eve Hinderer, who has agreed to do a "Yoga 101" session at next year's RG.
We hope to have photos from the gathering on our website, compliments of many of our chapter members with cameras present, including Charlie Rovner, Tom Rankin and Tom's wife, Dawn Hamilton.
Friday evening's "After Dinner Mint Theatre" this year was a really cheesy play where the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation met the crew of Lost In Space, complete with really bad commercials -- but they were a riot when delivered by "Cheesy Ad Lady" Nancy Keyes-Crosby, and Dave Cardall, who played the part of the "singers" for the commercials. Besides the scheduled activities on Saturday (hikes and a "lifesaving 101" class by Ron Norris of Rhode Island Mensa), impromptu events included origami animal-making (including some neat origami marmots by Rod and Candace Cowan), and a banjo serenade in the afternoon by Mark Adams.
Saturday evening, our featured speaker was Judith Havrilla of the "Return To The Wildlife" project, along with Arwen, her 3-year old Eurasian Eagle Owl, both of whom were featured at one of our Monthly Gatherings two years ago. This year, Arwen was even more animated, and she vocalized several beautiful and deep "Hooooo's" during the evening.
I would especially like to thank Betsy Burke who was this year's RG Chairman (into whose shoes I will step next year) and hospitality shopper extraordinaire.
Next Year's RG will be a different weekend, to avoid conflicting with the Jewish Holy days. Autumn In New York 15 will take place the third weekend of September, and our theme will be "Gadgets and Gizmos." So be prepared as we "toy" with you at next year's RG. It's not too late to offer your services to help us. If you'd like to, please contact me. We're always looking for volunteers.
RVC Betsy Burke, with Casper and Lambchop
Recently I attended one of my favorite Mensa events in the Mid-Hudson area. It's called Moonlight Madness. The hostess of this event is lucky enough to live in the servants' quarters of an estate overlooking the Hudson River.
Anyhow, while at this event I had a conversation with a group of people as to why the AMC is needed. I have to admit that sometimes I wonder that myself. After all, it's my job to act as your intermediary between Mensa on a local level and Mensa on a national level. If you're curious as to what goes on with Mensa and the AMC, take a half hour or so to read the agenda of the September meeting. Also, try to get in the habit of reading all of these on a quarterly basis. I'm interested in your thoughts on these agenda items.
Remember that October is National Testing Month. Not every group is involved in this push to attract new members, but if your group is, then why not inform some of your friends about this event. After all, if you know 100 people, it's probable that at least 2 of them should qualify for membership!
For those of you who don't have 100 friends outside of Mensa, you might be interested in attending one of the following gatherings!
Mensautumn 2001
C&WM's 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 RG to Die For
Boston's AG will be Nov.30-Dec. 2 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
I truly believe that the best thing a company can bestow on an employee is a job title. Forget about pay, benefits, type of work, etc. A job title has the daunting task of relieving a person of having to scrounge up a definition of himself when he comes in contact with other people.
Think about it. Whenever you meet someone for the first time, you always ask "What do you do?", and more often than not, the person you're meeting efficiently spouts off his name and rank (unless he's suffering from amnesia, in which case he refers to his business card).
Why is this the case?
Theory #1: Everyone breathes
and sleeps.
The two things people do most often are breathing and sleeping, with work being a close third. However, introducing ourselves as "breathers" or "sleepers" would make parties rather boring.
"Hi. I'm Bob. I'm a breather."
"Wow! What a coincidence! I breathe too! In fact, I'm breathing right now!" And so on and so forth until the party turns into a full-fledged Lamaze class, after which everyone would fall asleep.
So, job titles make us seem more exciting, which leads me to my second point.
Since we really can't get anyone from the opposite sex to date us by saying we breathe and sleep, we use job titles as a means to impress people we'd like to date and to make others of the same sex with less important titles look up to us. For instance, ladies, which of these two fellows would you like to date?
"Hi. I'm Fred. I'm the CEO of SuperHugeMegaInternational Corporation. I own half the world, and I'm in position for a hostile takeover of the other half. By next quarter, I should have Venus too."
"My name's Ray. I'm a camel farm worker. I shovel out around 100 pounds of camel dung a day."
After Ray (presumably) gets rejected (after all, some of you ladies may find camel dung attractive), the first thing he does is not pout, cry, or plot revenge, but, you guessed it, ask his boss for a new job title for performing the same job duties.
This sort of healthy competition is the basis of evolution. Homo Erectus stole Cro-Magnon man's girlfriend away not because he walked upright, but because Homo Erectus sounded much more impressive than Cro-Magnon.
Theory #3: You don't get paid
for your hobbies.
Despite how interesting, fulfilling, and awe-inspiring your hobbies may be, the fact that you don't get paid for doing them makes them less important than your job, all things being equal. As a recent layoff victim, all I have to do all day (aside from breathing and sleeping) are things I enjoy the most. However, since I don't earn one red cent for them, I'm placed low on the depth chart of the competitive hierarchy (see Theory #2). This makes me a very lonely person at parties.
"Hi. I'm Murray. I'm an accountant for Death & Taxes Inc. What do you do?"
"Well, my name's Joel, and I sit on my couch in my underwear, drink beer, and watch the Game Show Network all day.""Amazing! How much do you get paid for that?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, I see. Hey Ray, how's the camel dung business treating you?"
Unfortunately, this trend of defining people by their job titles will continue until work is abolished, a highly tempting but nevertheless unrealistic proposition. So, if you want to dazzle everyone you meet, follow the guidelines in theories stated above. Better yet, don't even bother. Since writing is a hobby of mine, you won't listen to me anyway.
Now if you will excuse me, The $25,000 Pyramid is on.
Editor's Note: I received the e-mail below from members of Greater New York Mensa. I asked the editor of their 'Mphasis' newsletter, Deborah Yaffe, for permission to reprint it in our newsletter. Deborah gave permission and invites us to forward it to anyone else as we see fit.
In the November/December issue of Mphasis, there will be a memorial section listing both the names of members we have lost in the attacks, and also if any member wishes, the names of people they are mourning (who might not be members).
Please send names for this memorial section to Mphasis editor Deborah Yaffe, at dkyaffe@aol.com.
Tavitian
E
P H
Pourri
T G
Let's travel backward in time. Put yourself in the shoes of your grandparents, great-grandparents, or perhaps even your parents. There were no airliners flying the skies 100 years ago or even 75 years ago.
You were leaving your family, village/town, and homeland forever. Amid tears and anguish you board a steamship -- third class or steerage -- and head for the unknown. You are headed for America, the land of "gold-paved streets," where you do not have to face the police, gendarmes, or worse, who were permitted to arrest or kill you on the spot for nothing you had done that was unlawful. A person may have been merely walking out of a house of worship, or wearing gold earrings, or had a smile on his/her face! That was cause enough, and so pogroms, massacres and genocide were de rigeur for the times -- and in some countries continue to be today.
After being seasick for most of the 10-12 day voyage, you are told to get your baggage together, because the ship is entering New York harbor. Your excitement and anxiety know no bounds. You hastily gather up your belongings, stuff them into your carrying case or bag. America, America, AMERICA, AMERICA -- unbelievable until you rush to the upper deck and race to the rail to catch the first glimpse of land on a different continent!!!
You may or may not have heard about the colossus on an island in the middle of the harbor of New York City. But, whether or not you knew about it is immaterial. Your eyes cannot believe its magnificence and size. You are astounded and find the tears running down your face. You learn later that she is named Lady Liberty and is said to welcome all who seek refuge from tyranny. Her torch is a beacon of hope for all the downtrodden peoples of the world.
All immigrants are taken off the ship and land at Ellis Island, the gateway into the United States. One is subjected to a thorough medical examination and prays that the words "non bonne" are not pronounced for themselves. A clean bill of health and being literate in one's own language by reading a text proffered by the examiners is the passport to the Manhattan mainland.
Next step, learn English as quickly as possible in order to apply for citizenship so that you can proudly say, "I am an American!"
And if you have complaints about our great and glorious nation, then write, yes -- write -- to your Congressman or Senator. Don't just sit back and gripe.
Vice-President,
Mid-Hudson
Astronomy
Association
(MHAA)
In September, we had Mercury and Mars in the evening, and Saturn, Jupiter and Venus in the morning. Did anyone see any of the planets? We saw Mars at the RG, as well as several other celestial sights.
Mars is still visible in October, but not for long. It will be low in the Southwest after sundown. Saturn will be rising in the East around 10 P.M., followed by Jupiter around midnight. If you're an early riser, you can see Venus rising shortly before dawn. Mercury will be very close to Venus at the end of the month.
We should have a decent meteor shower this month, the Orionids. The peak of this shower is 10/21, in the early morning, centered around the top of Orion. See URL #1 at the end of my column for details.
There is also a lesser shower right around my birthday, 10/7, the Draconids.
Data from Hubble's Digital Sky Survey, along with radio and X-ray studies, have combined to discover a very old black hole zooming through our galactic neighborhood. See URL #2 at the end of my column for details.
- Has produced evidence that our Galaxy's center must contain a black hole, by observing drastic X-ray energy changes in as little as 10 minutes.
- Discovered a neutron star named KS 1731-260 that is the same temperature as its more tranquil brethren, even though thermonuclear explosions with the force of billions of hydrogen bombs take place every second across a region only a few miles wide. Either these stars take a long time to heat up, or cool very quickly.
- Observed rare isotopes, which researchers used to think were created by supernova blasts, but are now believed to have been formed by stars such as the Sun during huge solar-flare outbursts in their younger days. The isotopes aluminum-26, calcium-41, and beryllium-10, were detected in young stars in the Orion Nebula.
- And in brief, observed pulsating white dwarf stars, dark matter, and
quadrillion-volt pulsars.
For more information about Chandra's discoveries over the past two years, see web site: http://chandra.nasa.gov/.
Next time: I'll discuss the prospects for the Leonid Meteor shower in November.
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 MHAA< http://jump.to/mhaa
Tom's web page references for this issue:
(Included here because they're too long to fit into a single column - Ed.)
1. http:www.novac.com/orionids.html
2. http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/2001/29/
Easy:
ESWAMW IDBRPGW: X'R NPFS BP UP PDB GXBV JPD,
ODB X'E QPWFSKBXWU EJ QMNSWRMK GMBQV TKPE
YDNXMW BP UKSUPKXMW.
Hard - no punctuation, grouped in 5:
NLNOZ AOCBR CLKDT BTFOB ZDYTZ ALNPP ZTSBY
TOYTZ AVZOZ AYTS
"Which Witch is Which?" TV Trivia Jim Jelacic
Halloween is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than to explore the magical and mysterious ways of TV's witches. Stir up your cauldron and see if you can conjure the names to these shows.
1) These sisters form the "Power of Three" to battle demons in San Francisco.
2) More fun happens when mother-in-law Endora antagonizes the mortal husband and exasperates her witch daughter.
3) Although this witch doesn't have a show on Saturday mornings, she appears in her best friend's show: Casper, the Friendly Ghost.
4) A British import to HBO, follow the exploits of a misfit girl attending Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches.
5) Samantha's daughter's own TV show.
6) A husband and wife private detective team features the husband solving crimes by logic, the wife by witchcraft.
7) The Queen with her Magic Mirror cast a spell where she and Snow White and her family were transported to Van Oaks, California in the year 1987.
8) Set in King Arthur's time, Evil Prince Blackpool seeks to conquer the Kingdom of Camarand by using Wizard Vector and sexy Witch Bethel.
9) A New York City detective wears a bracelet amulet that gives her powers to fight crime.
10) Just finishing high school, this witch left her two witch aunts to attend college.
Did We Miss Your Birthday? Bill Zigo
Last month, I reported that more than 25% of our members don't have their birthday listed in the monthly roster I receive, and if you don't see your birthday listed in the newsletter for the appropriate month, it means it's not listed.
I recently chatted with one of our chapter members in this situation. We discovered that not only was her birthday no longer listed, neither was her phone number. She had not done anything to request that either of these be suppressed.
If you don't see your birthday listed in the Mid-Mensan, please contact me. I can let you know if it has been listed as withheld on my monthly roster, as well as your phone number. If you would like them to be listed, you should contact the National Office, either at your convenience or when you next renew your membership.
"80's Music Videos" Music Trivia Bill Zigo
In the 1980's, during MTV's early years, music videos seemed more original, at least to me. Since music videos were still very young, videos which were innovative, eccentric, or just plain different, caught my attention. See if you can remember the songs associated with these videos:
1. An attractive, but shy woman is having bad luck attracting a cute guy, and she's being picked on a lot by other people too. Then some flashy women arrive in a flashy red car and give her a "Rock & Roll Makeover" which features short shorts.
2. A male singer belts out a song, while five women -- dressed in identical black outfits, pantomime accompanying him on musical instruments.
3. A woman balances being a waitress and a single mother but daydreams about the career as a dancer she might have had.
4. The band re-enacts the Mad Hatter Tea Party, and at the end, poor Alice winds up being baked into the dessert cake.
5. Computer-animated movers complain about how Rock & Roll singers do almost nothing and get lots of money and women.
6. A couple faces a werewolf and an army of undead. The man succumbs and starts dancing with the zombies.
7. The lead singer of the band rues discovering a female high-school classmate has appeared in a men's magazine, while lots of women dance around wearing negligees and holding schoolbooks.
8. The British puppeteers, Spitting Image, simulate a Ronald Reagan "Nuke 'em!" folly, while musicians and celebrities take up causes to improve the world.
9. Band members wearing flowerpot hats have fun with cowboy equipment and mashed potatoes.
10. A singer portrays an actress who re-enacts Marilyn Monroe's classic "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend" routine. Off stage, however, this actress maintains she actually has simple tastes.
Trivia, October 2001 Jim Jelacic
Greetings, Fellow Trivians! It's too soon for September's answers. Here are this month's questions:
Q61: Which is farthest west: Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan?
Q62: Of the 3 B's of classical music, Beethoven, Brahms and Bach, who was born first?
Q63: In US history, what is the significance of these letters: E, K, J, N, F, C, R, B, C, B.
Q64: In Greek mythology, Icarus fell to his death when the sun melted the wings his father built for him. Who was his father?
Q65: Which element was named after a Greek word meaning "goblin or demon of the mines?"
Q66: True or False: The English Horn is really a woodwind.
Q67. In 1958 a landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska caused the highest recorded tidal wave. In feet, how high was it? (Submitted by Dave Cardall)
Q68. Where is the world's largest rock? (Submitted by Dave Cardall)
Q69. How old is plastic surgery (hint: it doesn't depend on the invention of plastic)? (Submitted by Dave Cardall)
Send your answers to TRIVIA CONTEST, PO Box 133, Esopus NY 12429-0133 or jimjelacic@mybizz.net by October 31.
Restaurants that Mensans wouldn't eat at.
5) E. Coli's Burger World
4) Soys R Us
3) Burnt Offerings
2) Salmon Ella's Fish and Chips
1) Silence of the Lambchops
[Ummm, Dave, regarding #4 - some of us really do like soy! - Ed.]
Cryptogram Answers
Easy: Mensan putdown: I'd love to go out with you, but I'm converting my calendar watch from Julian to Gregorian.
Hard: A man is not complete until he is married - - then he is finished.
"Which Witch is Which?" TV Trivia Answers
1) Charmed.
2) Bewitched.
3) Wendy, the Good Witch.
4) Worst Witch.
5) Tabitha.
6) Tucker's Witch.
7) The Charmings.
8) Wizards and Warriors.
9) Witchblade.
10) Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
"Who Are They Singing About?" Music Trivia Answers
1. Legs by ZZ Top
2. Addicted To Love by Robert Palmer
3. She Works Hard For The Money by Donna Summer
4. Don't Come Around Here No More by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
5. Money For Nothing by Dire Straits
6. Thriller by Michael Jackson
7. Centerfold by the J. Geils Band
8. Land of Confusion by Genesis
9. Whip It by Devo
10. Material Girl by Madonna
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
3 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-6504 (845) 485-2050
Secretary: Bill Zigo BZigo@compuserve.com
194 Roosevelt Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538-2300 (845) 229-8746
Treasurer: Nancy Keyes-Crosby njkc@msn.com
P.O. Box 243, West Park, NY 12493-0243 (845) 384-6553
Membership: Merrill Loechner MerrillL@worldnet.att.net
38 Sunny Valley Rd., Apt. 31, New Milford, CT. 06776-3348 (860) 355-8699
Editor/Calendar Editor: Bill Zigo BZigo@compuserve.com
194 Roosevelt Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538-2300 (845) 229-8746
Publisher: Ron McMurdy ronmcm@attglobal.net
9 Miller Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603-4611 (845) 473-0723
Proctor Coordinator: Jim Jelacic jimjelacic@mybizz.net
Gifted Children Contact: Position available
Scholarship Contact: Betsy Jane Burke betsyb4@aol.com
3 North Cross Rd., Staatsburg, NY 12580-5301 (845) 889-4588
S.I.G.H.T. Coordinator: Ronnie Brown ronniebrown@juno.com
11 Potter's Ridge, Newburgh, NY 12550 (845) 565-6329
Webmaster: Rich Dennison brainiax@yahoo.com
211 Old Bates Gates Rd., New Hampton, NY 10958-3318 (845) 374-2378
Kingston and Northern Ulster County:
Les Herring (lherring1@juno.com) (845) 338-0383
New Paltz and Central Ulster County:
Bibi Sandstrom (bibis@juno.com) (845) 255-5528
Northern Orange County:
Ronnie Brown (ronniebrown@juno.com) (845) 565-6329
Southern Orange County:
Janet Droll (sodroll@hotmail.com) (845) 783-0104
Sullivan County:
Nick Roes (NickARoes@aol.com) (845) 557-8713
Columbia County:
New contact sought
Northern Dutchess County:
Bill Zigo (BZigo@compuserve.com) (845) 229-8746
Southern Dutchess County
Ollie Simpson (ollie_simpson@earthlink.net) (845) 298-8379
