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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / January 2005[OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts
For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: A toy shop prices toys on the whim of the owner: A doll is $12, a kite $15, a skateboard $34, and a ring toss $24. How much is a blackboard? My whole family has been working furiously on this puzzle, but even though we know the answer (it was printed on the box) we have no idea *why* $31 right Can anyone out there in RPCA land explain the solution? It will save the Greater Chapman Clan from going utterly bonkers. Yowie > For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each > day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Yowie I can't wait to hear explanations for this one. Personally, my thoughts are a)that it says "on the whim", therefore one would not expect a pattern, and b) because the owner said? ;-) - Denise Brennasmeowmy > I can't wait to hear explanations for this one. Personally, my thoughts are > a)that it says "on the whim", therefore one would not expect a pattern, and > b) because the owner said? ;-) One can have a whimsical pattern!  Signaturemonique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH with an attitude! > For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each > day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Yowie By putting a piece of the puzzle into Google I got the following suggestion for a solution: QUOTE It could be based on the vowels in the words. dOll = $12 implies O = $12 rIng tOss = $24 implies I = $12 kItE = $15 implies E = $3 blAckbOArd = skAtEbOArd - E = $34 - $3 = $31 UNQUOTE Source: http://www.able2know.com/forums/about41755.html SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 > By putting a piece of the puzzle into Google I got the following suggestion > for a solution: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Source: http://www.able2know.com/forums/about41755.html What I don't get is why this sort of thing is supposed to be a test of intelligence. It's a lot like those pop quizzes they like to throw you at interviews. You might be able to determine intelligence/creativity by seeing how many possible approaches a person tries, and whether they intelligently reject the poor ones, but you can't judge intelligence by whether or not they stumble onto this particular approach! Bah! I thought about number of letters, and I thought about scoring based on height above ground at which the item was used, and a few other things ... but I didn't stumble on the vowel thing, it's true. Can you tell I don't do well on these sorts of things and have a chip on my shoulder about them? Heh. Signaturemonique, who is sometimes allowed to pet Oscar, a grey^H^H^H^Hblue-cream DLH with an attitude! > > By putting a piece of the puzzle into Google I got the following suggestion > > for a solution: [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Can you tell I don't do well on these sorts of things and have a chip on my > shoulder about them? Heh. I didn't figure it out either, and I've been a member of Mensa for many years. I don't know what my reading speed is, but I do read fast, so that probably contributed to my score. Also, people who read a lot are more likely to know the answers to some of the questions. For many years I was a closet Mensan. I didn't mention my membership to anybody, because many people don't know what Mensa is. How do you explain that without souding boastful? I finally realized that I know many brilliant, talented people who wouldn't qualify for Mensa. My Dad, for instance, was probably the smartest person I've ever known, but he was a very slow reader. I also realized that IQ tests don't check for imagination, ingenuity, common sense or various types of talent. Not only that, I know many Mensans who have very poor people skills, and some with rather odd personality quirks. A Mensan I knew was killed when the ceiling-high stacks of newspapers in his house fell on him and crushed him. Now if I mention a Mensa event and somebody asks, "What is Mensa?" I say, "It's an organization for people who are good at taking IQ tests. As far as I'm concerned. that's all those tests prove - how good you are at taking that kind of test. I know highly intelligent people who freeze up when they have to take any kind of tests. I enjoy doing various word puzzles, and look at IQ tests as fun, similar to a puzzle. My good score on an IQ test doesn't prove I'm smarter than you or someone else in ways that matter much more than taking tests. Joy [snips] > I didn't figure it out either, and I've been a member of Mensa for many > years. Twenty-seven years, and a life member, here (and no, I didn't solve the puzzle, either). I'm in the Mensa 76 group. Hugs and Purrs, Mark SignatureProof of Sanity Forged Upon Request > [snips] > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Hugs and Purrs, > Mark Hi Mark! Would that be Philadelphia? I'm not familiar with a numeral designation for a group. I'm part of GLAAM - Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa. Joy [Mensa 76] > Hi Mark! Would that be Philadelphia? I'm not familiar with a numeral > designation for a group. I'm part of GLAAM - Greater Los Angeles Area Oops, sorry. That's the 76xxx zip-code area, which is basically Fort Worth, Arlington, and a few isolated towns in the west end (or thereabouts) of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, in Texas. Hugs and Purrs, Mark SignatureProof of Sanity Forged Upon Request > [Mensa 76] > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Hugs and Purrs, > Mark Okay. Now I know where you are. Joy > > [snips] > > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Joy No, Mensa 76 is in Fort Worth, Texas. Here's a link to their site: http://mensa76.us.mensa.org/ Hugs, CatNipped > I didn't figure it out either, and I've been a member of Mensa for many > years. I don't know what my reading speed is, but I do read fast, so that > probably contributed to my score. Also, people who read a lot are more > likely to know the answers to some of the questions. Me too! Joy, what local chapter are you with? I'm with Gulf Coast Mensa - in fact, I'm their webmaster (http://www.gcmensa.org/). > For many years I was a closet Mensan. I didn't mention my membership to > anybody, because many people don't know what Mensa is. How do you explain > that without souding boastful? Me too! I fear that people will ask if I cheated on the test! I've done such *INCREDIBLY* stupid things in my life (not the least of which was my first husband!!). > I finally realized that I know many > brilliant, talented people who wouldn't qualify for Mensa. Me too! > My Dad, for > instance, was probably the smartest person I've ever known, but he was a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > rather odd personality quirks. A Mensan I knew was killed when the > ceiling-high stacks of newspapers in his house fell on him and crushed him. LOL. I was once at a Mensa Party at a member's house and we were sitting beside the pool watching as three guys were setting up a standing lamp since it was getting dark out. My friend looked over and commented, "Hmmm, three Mensans, an electrical appliance, and a large body of water. Should I call 911 now to save time later?" > Now if I mention a Mensa event and somebody asks, "What is Mensa?" I say, > "It's an organization for people who are good at taking IQ tests. Me too!!! (Gee, isn't this a stimulating, brillian, scintillating conversation??!! > As far as > I'm concerned. that's all those tests prove - how good you are at taking [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > doesn't prove I'm smarter than you or someone else in ways that matter much > more than taking tests. That says it all!!! Hugs, CatNipped > Joy "CatNipped" <CatNipped@ix.netcom.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: >LOL. I was once at a Mensa Party at a member's house and we were sitting >beside the pool watching as three guys were setting up a standing lamp since >it was getting dark out. My friend looked over and commented, "Hmmm, three >Mensans, an electrical appliance, and a large body of water. Should I call >911 now to save time later?" [snicker] At least they weren't using liquid oxygen to jumpstart a barbecue grill. :-) Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > "CatNipped" <CatNipped@ix.netcom.com> had some very interesting things > to say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > [snicker] At least they weren't using liquid oxygen to jumpstart a > barbecue grill. :-) There was a member of Inland Empire Mensa, who was an engineer or a scientist of some kind. I met him several times, but I wasn't at the party where he decided to demonstrate a volcano he had built. It blew up in his face and put him in the hospital with third degree burns. Joy "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: >> [snicker] At least they weren't using liquid oxygen to jumpstart a >> barbecue grill. :-) >There was a member of Inland Empire Mensa, who was an engineer or a >scientist of some kind. I met him several times, but I wasn't at the party >where he decided to demonstrate a volcano he had built. It blew up in his >face and put him in the hospital with third degree burns. OWIE!!! An *engineer* did this? Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > Me too! Joy, what local chapter are you with? I'm with Gulf Coast Mensa - > in fact, I'm their webmaster (http://www.gcmensa.org/). Cool! I'm with GLAAM - Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa. > > For many years I was a closet Mensan. I didn't mention my membership to > > anybody, because many people don't know what Mensa is. How do you explain [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > such *INCREDIBLY* stupid things in my life (not the least of which was my > first husband!!). A late member of GLAAM used to have a program called "Stupid Things Mensans Do" at our RG every year. People would get up and tell about something stupid they had done, whereupon they would be presented with a "Densa" certificate. > LOL. I was once at a Mensa Party at a member's house and we were sitting > beside the pool watching as three guys were setting up a standing lamp since > it was getting dark out. My friend looked over and commented, "Hmmm, three > Mensans, an electrical appliance, and a large body of water. Should I call > 911 now to save time later?" I can picture that. ;-) > > Now if I mention a Mensa event and somebody asks, "What is Mensa?" I say, > > "It's an organization for people who are good at taking IQ tests. > > Me too!!! (Gee, isn't this a stimulating, brillian, scintillating > conversation??!! Absolutely! You're obviously a good conversationalist, since you agree with everything I say. <G> Hugs, Joy > > Me too! Joy, what local chapter are you with? I'm with Gulf Coast > Mensa - [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > stupid they had done, whereupon they would be presented with a "Densa" > certificate. I saw that! I think he put it on at the "Black Gold Blowout" (50th anniversary of American Mensa) AG (annual gathering of American Mensa) we held here in Houston a few years back (or it could have been at another AG). It was amazing some of the really idiotic things supposedly "smart" people have done. I also think it's great that they can admit it and not take themselves too seriously. When I first joined I was afraid to go to a meeting. I thought I had somehow fluked the test and I was scared stiff that I would feel really out of place and dumb around all those "geniuses". After years of being a "silent" member I finally volunteered to do the program book for the above-mentioned AG and I was pleasantly surprised that the people were just as, ahem, eccentric as I am - and they were very down-to-earth and humble. But then again, the requirements allow for one out of every fifty people to qualify, so we *do* cover a broad spectrum of the population. Judging by the comments and quality of conversation here in rpca I've always felt that there are just *tons* of people on this group who would qualify. Hugs, CatNipped > > LOL. I was once at a Mensa Party at a member's house and we were sitting > > beside the pool watching as three guys were setting up a standing lamp [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > Hugs, > Joy "CatNipped" <CatNipped@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message > > I saw that! I think he put it on at the "Black Gold Blowout" (50th > anniversary of American Mensa) AG (annual gathering of American Mensa) we > held here in Houston a few years back (or it could have been at another AG). > It was amazing some of the really idiotic things supposedly "smart" people > have done. I also think it's great that they can admit it and not take > themselves too seriously. I'll have to see if I can't get hold of the words to "The Mensa Song". It was written by a San Diego Mensan, and is hilarious. It is very much to the point about not taking ourselves too seriously. > When I first joined I was afraid to go to a meeting. I thought I had > somehow fluked the test and I was scared stiff that I would feel really out > of place and dumb around all those "geniuses". After years of being a > "silent" member I finally volunteered to do the program book for the > above-mentioned AG and I was pleasantly surprised that the people were just > as, ahem, eccentric as I am - and they were very down-to-earth and humble. I talked to a lot of people at my first RG (Regional Gathering). I felt the same way (about it being a fluke), and found that most of the people I talked to felt the same way. There are a few arrogant jerks, of course, but you get those in nearly every group. This one seems to be an exception. > But then again, the requirements allow for one out of every fifty people to > qualify, so we *do* cover a broad spectrum of the population. Judging by [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > CatNipped I agree. Hugs, Joy No cluons were harmed when "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> said: >A late member of GLAAM used to have a program called "Stupid Things Mensans >Do" at our RG every year. People would get up and tell about something >stupid they had done, whereupon they would be presented with a "Densa" >certificate. In the late seventies, there was a column in the national Mensa Bulletin, called "Turn of the Table" ('Mensa' being Latin for 'table'). It told many a tale of stupid things done by other Mensans. One of my very favorite stories (and no, it isn't about me - grin) was about the person who found a wasp's nest outside the kitchen door. Not wishing to be stung, they used the vacuum cleaner, with all extension tubes, to suck the wasps into the vacuum. This would have been great, but they now had a vacuum cleaner, full of angry wasps, which they could now NOT turn off. Oho! No problem! They decided they could suck natural gas from the gas stove, into the vacuum cleaner. That would kill the wasps for sure! So there they were, merrily sucking gas into an electrical appliance, wondering "Gee, what is the critical volume of gas necessary, to cause a spark from the motor in the vacuum cleaner, to ignite the gas?" At which point, the vacuum exploded. But, according to the story, it DID kill the wasps... Hugs and Purrs, Mark -- Proof of Sanity Forged Upon Request Mark Edwards <Mark-Edwards@comcast.net> had some very interesting things to say about [OT] Stupid Mensan tricks: >In the late seventies, there was a column in the national Mensa >Bulletin, called "Turn of the Table" ('Mensa' being Latin for [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >At which point, the vacuum exploded. >But, according to the story, it DID kill the wasps... This is hilarious, but sounds a bit like an urban legend. :-) Hang on while I check Snopes. Hmmm, Snopes doesn't have anything on this. Might even be true. :-) Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > Mark Edwards <Mark-Edwards@comcast.net> had some very interesting > things to say about [OT] Stupid Mensan tricks: [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Hmmm, Snopes doesn't have anything on this. Might even be true. :-) Nope, I know the column Mark is talking about. There are actual things that actual Mensans have done - and are some of the most incredibly stupid things anyone could imagine doing. I hate to perpetuate the myth that smart people have *NO* common sense, but, here's just one of the things I've done... Right after my divorce, I started seeing the oil light come on in my car. I'd seen my ex check the oil, so I felt competent enough to do so for myself and the dipstick showed fluid all the way up to the little line that indicates "full" - this went on for a couple of weeks and that darned light just stayed glowing brightly. I had been warned repeatedly that any mechanic would surely take advantage of a woman bringing in a car with mysterious problems, so I researched what it could possibly be before bringing the car in to be serviced. At the repair shop I hopped out of the car and told the mechanic, in an authoritative manner, "There is a fuse burned out in my dash that's causing my oil light to stay on." The mechanic asked if I had checked my oil and I replied, "Of course." At that point I popped my hood, removed the dipstick, wiped off the excess fluid, put the dipstick back in then pulled it out to show the man that the fluid was all the way up to the little line that indicates "full". "See, I said, it's topped off with oil, so it must be a burned out fuse - I'm not paying for any other work on this car, just change the fuse and I'll be off." The mechanic was clearly trying to hide the grin on his face as he told me, "Lady, you just checked your transmission fluid." He then proceded to pull out the *actual* oil dipstick to show me that my oil pan was bone dry!!! Hugs, CatNipped > :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL "CatNipped" <lcrews@houston.rr.com> had some very interesting things to say about Re: [OT] Stupid Mensan tricks: >The mechanic asked if I had checked my oil and I replied, "Of course." At >that point I popped my hood, removed the dipstick, wiped off the excess [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >told me, "Lady, you just checked your transmission fluid." He then proceded >to pull out the *actual* oil dipstick to show me that my oil pan was bone dry!!! Sounds like something I'd do, which is why I leave car care to DH [who's actually competent :-)]. I also don't deal with mechanics without backup [last time I was faced with having to do so without DH available, DFIL was nearby, so I asked him to come along, which he did]. Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL >> Right after my divorce, I started seeing the oil light come on in my car. > I'd seen my ex check the oil, so I felt competent enough to do so for [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > CatNipped LOL! It is just not possible for *women* to understand cars...(not). Dec 26th my car, a Citreon AX that I call Mr F - not just because his registrations letters are MRF but because I bought from from a very nice elderly gentleman called Mr Field - refused to start after an initial Ruh, ruh, ruh.. weather -6C. New battery required, but nowhere open. The following day my brother Andrew came to fetch me to take me to get a new battery for Mr F. We got to the garage and I queued up at the sales desk. When it was my turn, I said I needed a battery for a Citreon AX, year so and so. P reg anyway, those in UK will know. Can you believe that although he heard what I said, he immediately ignored me and started talking to my brother about it!!!! Like why would he know? The garage chap just assumed that my brother was "the Man". I was amused in one way, and annoyed in another. So as he was looking over my head and talking to my brother, I waved to him and said "excuse me, it's *my* car, and * I* will decide whether I want a two, three or four year warranty on my new battery." I suppose you have to laugh, but sometimes it's a forced one. Oh, just to keep on the Mensa thread. I took a test and was invited to join, but turned it down when I realised there was a membership fee. I lurch from financial crisis to financial crisis because of my sight and all the ops I've needed, so the Mensa membership fee was out. Anyway. most of the people who post here, IMHO, would qualify and we have lovely intelligent debates, so why do I need Mensa? Tweed > >> Right after my divorce, I started seeing the oil light come on in my car. > > I'd seen my ex check the oil, so I felt competent enough to do so for [quoted text clipped - 54 lines] > > Tweed You have a very good point - about joining Mensa and about women and cars. Fortunately, there are a few mechanics, etc. who believe women have brains and don't try to take advantage of them. I was lucky enough to find one recently. One day I tried to start my car, and absolutely nothing happened when I turned the key. I called the auto club, and the man who checked it said I needed a new battery. He got it started for me, but warned me not to turn it off until I got to where the battery would be installed, because it wouldn't start again. He said to let it run for about 10 minutes before driving it. I had to decide where to go for a battery. I don't like to go to a Toyota dealer, because they charge too much and often tell me I need things I don't. I haven't really needed a mechanic for years. As a volunteer driver for the American Cancer Society, I had recently received a coupon for a free oil change at a local garage. I decided if they were nice enough to give free coupons to volunteers, they might actually be good guys, so I went there. I pulled up outside the office and left the car running while I went inside. I told the man behind the desk exactly what the Auto Club man had said - that I needed a new battery, and that I shouldn't turn it off because it wouldn't start again. He asked permission to drive the car into a bay, after which, he immediately turned it off. He checked everything thoroughly and said I didn't need a new battery. When he re-started the car, he noticed that the dome light was on. I had last driven the car in daylight, so I hadn't noticed that, and it sat in the garage for about 24 hours before I found it dead. Anyway, he could have easily sold me a new battery, and I would have been happy. Instead, he told me I don't need one, and he didn't charge me for that. Joy > > >> Right after my divorce, I started seeing the oil light come on in my > car. [quoted text clipped - 100 lines] > happy. Instead, he told me I don't need one, and he didn't charge me for > that. I borrow Joel's best friend Claudio for that sort of thing. Claudio is Italian, and looks every inch a dark, swarthy "rev head", especially if he borrows his mother's gold chain, and we give him the baseball cap to wear backwards. Claudio doesn't know the first thing about cars either, but no-one would be game enough to try and scam a 6'5" Italian "hoon". Hehehe. Yowie <snip> >I borrow Joel's best friend Claudio for that sort of thing. Claudio is >Italian, and looks every inch a dark, swarthy "rev head", especially if he [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Yowie Boy, wish I could borrow Claudio, too! I went through 5 mechanics here in Ft. Worth, TX before I found one who listened to me. I do know about cars. My brother and I built and raced a car for several years. I drove and he wrenched, but I worked right alongside him and learned an awful lot about cars. Here in the south US, I've found men do seem to think most women are not too smart. Course, some women I've run into validate that assumption, but that's another story...:) --Kim, slave to Lucy (aka The Grumpster) and step-meowmie to Tiger and Casper, who've finally figured out there's another lap in the house.... >LOL! It is just not possible for *women* to understand cars...(not). >Dec 26th my car, a Citreon AX that I call Mr F - not just because his [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >two, three or four year warranty on my new battery." >I suppose you have to laugh, but sometimes it's a forced one. Of course stories like this are not just to do with cars. My main interest is bridge - the card game - and I am a leading Tournament Director. That is I run a tournament, also acting as a Referee. When there is a problem at a table one of the players calls "Tournament Director" and one of the directors present goes to the table to find out what is wrong. A Dutch friend of mine is probably the fourth best [or thereabouts] director *in the world*. She says that every so often when she goes to a table in response to a call she gets comments like "Get us a real director, there's a love" or "Nothing to do in the kitchen then?" or "Isn't there a male director?". I know a number of female directors - in fact I am married to one - and they all have stories of this sort. Of course, discrimination is not just about gender. Another friend was directing in a World Championship held in the USA. It was an event open to everyone above a certain standard so it was enormous with thousands of Americans playing. When he was called to a table and they realised he was English he was asked to get a real director on a couple of occasions. He *is* the best director in the world! SignatureDavid Stevenson Storypage: http://blakjak.com/sty_menu.htm Liverpool, England, UK <cat2@blakjak.com> Emails welcome Nanki Poo: SI O+W B 11 Y L+ W++ C+ I T+ A- E H++ V- F Q P+ B+ PA+ PL SC Minke: SI W+Cp B 2 Y L W+ C++ I T A- E H++ V++ F- Q- P B PA+ PL+ SC- > A Dutch friend of mine is probably the fourth best [or thereabouts] > director *in the world*. She says that every so often when she goes to [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > I know a number of female directors - in fact I am married to one - and > they all have stories of this sort. I play MMORPGs (online roleplaying games), and studies have shown that people in these games are more likely to follow the orders/suggestions of a male character than a female. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > No cluons were harmed when "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> said: > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > Hugs and Purrs, > Mark That makes me feel better about some of the stupid things *I've* done. <G> Joy > That makes me feel better about some of the stupid things *I've* done. <G> Here's an entertaining IRC log, though the guy is probably lying. I mean, it *is* IRC. Oh, bash.org can be very funny, but don't go browsing around unless you aren't disturbed by some pretty sick senses of humor. http://www.bash.org/?120095 Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > That makes me feel better about some of the stupid things *I've* done. <G> > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > http://www.bash.org/?120095 LOL! What is IRC? Joy > LOL! What is IRC? IRC is an old, old way to chat online. You connect to a server, and then choose to join some number of "channels" on the server. I've read articles describing it as the deep, dark, scary place on the net where all the bad things happen, but of course that's silliness. It's no more deep and dark than anything else online, but it does tend to be populated by people who are more computer-savvy than most. My gaming guild has its own IRC channel, which is how I became familiar with IRC. Many open source software development projects have their own channels, too. bash.org is a site where you can submit funny IRC logs. If you don't mind reading some extremely vulgar stuff, you can browse around and get a fair taste for the IRC community. It's not much like this newsgroup, I'll tell you that much. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > LOL! What is IRC? > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > taste for the IRC community. It's not much like this newsgroup, I'll tell you > that much. I think I'll pass. ;-) I can't keep up with the newsgroups I subscribe to now. Joy > I think I'll pass. ;-) I can't keep up with the newsgroups I subscribe to > now. A wise decision. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > I think I'll pass. ;-) I can't keep up with the newsgroups I subscribe to > > now. > > A wise decision. Hey, even Catslaves had its own IRC channel, but for the life ofme I can't remember what it was, or even if it still operates. It seems that chatting with fellow catslaves has lost its initial popularity - because in its heyday we could get a good 15 - 20 catslaves in a Yahoo IM room (with all the crashing and mothership probes included) and talk about some *really* bizarre stuff. These days it seems that barely anyone used YahooIM any more. I'm still on occasionally, but don't have much time for the marathon chats of old. The Yowlet demands attention (how rude!) too often for me to have a good solid IM chat with anyone these days - and even old fahsioned telephone conversations have to be carefully timed. Ah, the joys of parenthood. Yowie "Yowie" <yowie9644.DIESPAMDIE@yahoo.com.au> had some very interesting things to say about Re: [OT] Stupid Mensan tricks: >These days it seems that barely anyone used YahooIM any more. I'm still on >occasionally, but don't have much time for the marathon chats of old. The >Yowlet demands attention (how rude!) too often for me to have a good solid >IM chat with anyone these days - and even old fahsioned telephone >conversations have to be carefully timed. Ah, the joys of parenthood. I pop on occasionally, but usually don't stay on long unless someone I know is around [usually, I'm checking to see if my mother's online, since that's our major form of communication]. Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > These days it seems that barely anyone used YahooIM any more. I'm still on > occasionally, but don't have much time for the marathon chats of old. The > Yowlet demands attention (how rude!) too often for me to have a good solid > IM chat with anyone these days - and even old fahsioned telephone > conversations have to be carefully timed. Ah, the joys of parenthood. I'm on as bounceswoosh on yahoo, but my client is screwy so I can't see when other yahoo people are online. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > LOL! What is IRC? > > Joy It stands for, Internet Relay Chat. Not used much these days, mostly replaced by chat rooms. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. >>LOL! What is IRC? >> >>Joy > > It stands for, Internet Relay Chat. Not used much these days, mostly > replaced by chat rooms. Not used much?? You haven't been on IRC for a while, huh? IRC is more versatile than chat rooms, and besides, it was invented in Finland! :) SignatureChristine in Vantaa, Finland christal63 (at) yahoo (dot) com photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/christal63 >>>LOL! What is IRC? >>> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Not used much?? You haven't been on IRC for a while, huh? IRC is more > versatile than chat rooms, and besides, it was invented in Finland! :) I stay logged onto certain IRC channels 24/7. I have never used chat rooms, and multi-person discussions on IM tools are a pain. I'd rather use ytalk =P Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > > By putting a piece of the puzzle into Google I got the following > suggestion [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > rather odd personality quirks. A Mensan I knew was killed when the > ceiling-high stacks of newspapers in his house fell on him and crushed him. My sister tells the story from her work - 5 radiologist/oncologists, all with PhDs and many years experience, plus her, the technician, fresh out of highschool. She was always called to cut the cake, as none of the other 5 could figure out how to cut it properly so everyone got the same sized slice. When my sister said to start by cutting the cake in half - they did. And then they had two much thinner round cakes and still none the wiser. My old boss (who is a great bloke when he's not being the boss) says that the place I work is a "sheltered workshop for the gifted". I am one of the least educated there, most people have PhDs, and a goodly portion of my colleagues are what the English would politely call "eccentric". Oh, they are are *brilliant* all right, the IQs would be off scale, and they know all there is to know about their specialisation, but most of 'em don't have a *clue* about the outside world. Only in a sheltered workshop for the gifted would a man who insists on doing animal impersonations before and after he talks to you would be tolerated. Or a man who will happily tell you anything you could ever think of about the London Underground and keeps cpoious notes on every single train he has ever seen (logged to the *second*). Another talks to himself *all* the time, you can happily eavesdrop on his entire thought process if you can keep up (I can't). My current boss is an utter literalist, so you have to be careful to say exactly what you mean, or he'll get confused. Me, I'm just as nuts, there's cat paraphenalia all over my office, and I meow at the guy who does animal impersonations and we have proper conversations in Cattish. And everyone takes this as perfectly normal. And its always a big shock when I start reading the internal work newsgroup and discover just how - errr - how different the folks out on the production line are to the people I usually work with. I guess if we can put up with the Train mad person, The Animal Impersonator, the Mad Cat Lady, The Guy That Must Whistle In the Corridor and the rest of the eccentricities in tbe building, we are a very tolerant and accepting lot. And if I throw in you here in RPCA, and the rest of the people I hang out with, it always comes as a bit of a surprise and shock that not everybody on this planet are as tolerant and accepting as the people I spend my life with. Yowie "Yowie" <yowie9644.DIESPAMDIE@yahoo.com.au> wrote in > > My sister tells the story from her work - 5 radiologist/oncologists, all > with PhDs and many years experience, plus her, the technician, fresh out of > highschool. She was always called to cut the cake, as none of the other 5 > could figure out how to cut it properly so everyone got the same sized > slice. When my sister said to start by cutting the cake in half - they did. > And then they had two much thinner round cakes and still none the wiser. LOL! That sounds like something Mensans would do. They often make things more complicated than they need to be. > My old boss (who is a great bloke when he's not being the boss) says that > the place I work is a "sheltered workshop for the gifted". I am one of the [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Yowie Tolerant and accepting is good. Many Mensans are, but some are snobs, and truly believe they are both smarter and better than everybody else. Actually, your entire gang, including you, would probably qualify for Mensa membership - both in intelligence and eccentricity. I actually know two Mensans who are millionaires. One of them buys all his clothes at garage sales, goes to Happy Hours so he can fill up on free food while nursing one drink, and leads "urban hikes" that always end up at a buffet restaurant just in time to get the lunch prices. Joy "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> had some very interesting things to say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: >Tolerant and accepting is good. Many Mensans are, but some are snobs, and >truly believe they are both smarter and better than everybody else. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >drink, and leads "urban hikes" that always end up at a buffet restaurant >just in time to get the lunch prices. What's wrong with not wanting to pay more than necessary? ;-) Signature"The universe is quite robust in design and appears to be doing just fine on its own, incompetent support staff notwithstanding. :-)" - the Dennis formerly known as (evil), MCFL > "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> had some very interesting things to > say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > What's wrong with not wanting to pay more than necessary? ;-) Yeah, maybe that's how he *became* a millionaire. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> had some very interesting things to >> say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >> > Yeah, maybe that's how he *became* a millionaire. And *stayed* a millionaire! Jill > >> "Yoj" <joygaylord@sbcglobal.net> had some very interesting things to > >> say about Re: [OT} Puzzle thats driving us nuts: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jill Yeah, sometimes I think about how my life would change if I won the lottery. Sure, I'd get a nice house and nice car, etc... but I think I'd still seek out "Cheap Chicken Wing Wednesdays" and beer specials in pubs and get clothes on sale and all that stuff. Somehow getting a bargain makes it more fun! Which is probably why I shop so much here in Thailand because it always seems that I'm getting a bargain ;-) -- Britta Sandpaper kisses, a cuddle and a purr. I have an alarm clock that's covered in fur! Check out pictures of Vino at: http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album > I didn't figure it out either, and I've been a member of Mensa for many > years. I don't know what my reading speed is, but I do read fast, so that [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > doesn't prove I'm smarter than you or someone else in ways that matter much > more than taking tests. I used to do really well at IQ tests. No idea how I'd do anymore; it seems like over the years I have developed such a sensitivity to nuance that it's actually a handicap. I second-guess the assumptions in the questions. Also, if I don't immediately see the answer, I sometimes freeze up and can't get my brain to start exploring. Anyway, I've certainly noticed that intelligence and performance on standardized tests are only somewhat related. I was lucky enough to perform really well on SATs and ACTs. Some of my very intelligent friends didn't do well at all. Actually, I took a seminar on the philosophy of liberal education, and the professor happened to also be the dean of faculty. He told us that standardized tests are useful in predicting one thing: whether or not you will drop out. That's it. Not intelligence, not creativity, not any of those qualities. Just whether or not you'll make their statistics look good. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > I didn't figure it out either, and I've been a member of Mensa for many > > years. I don't know what my reading speed is, but I do read fast, so that [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > you will drop out. That's it. Not intelligence, not creativity, not any of > those qualities. Just whether or not you'll make their statistics look good. The chances are, you could probably qualify for Mensa membership, as long as you have proof of one of your ealier scores. I suspect a lot of us wouldn't do as well today as when we first took the tests. In fact, it's almost a running gag among Mensans I know. Whenever somebody does something even mildly stupid, someone else will say, "Retest!" Most of the Mensans I've talked to feel we qualified on a fluke and would probably flunk a retest. I keep my membership because I enjoy a few of the social events. Joy > I used to do really well at IQ tests. No idea how I'd do anymore; it seems > like over the years I have developed such a sensitivity to nuance that it's > actually a handicap. I second-guess the assumptions in the questions. Also, > if I don't immediately see the answer, I sometimes freeze up and can't get my > brain to start exploring. The original question that started this thread was from a Mensa Puzzle calendar: A toy shop prices toys on the whim of the owner: A doll is $12, a kite $15, a skateboard $34, and a ring toss $24. How much is a blackboard? CK (christal63@yahoo.com) found a solution at http://www.able2know.com/forums/about41755.html : It could be based on the vowels in the words. dOll = $12 implies O = $12 rIng tOss = $24 implies I = $12 kItE = $15 implies E = $3 blAckbOArd = skAtEbOArd - E = $34 - $3 = $31 However, the answer in the calendar itself is: Vowels = 5 Consonants = 2 Syllables = 1 Now it just so happens that using both systems comes up with the same answer for those particular sets of words. However, I'm sure that if you happened to pick "Jack in the box", using the first system it is equal to $36.50, but using the second it is $40. Another example, which is visual (so bear with me): which is the odd one out? A square, a trapazoid, a parallelogram or a triangle? answer 1: triangle, all others have 4 sides answer 2: square, all others have at least one sloping side answer 3: trapezoid, all others have equal length sides All are perfectly correct in their reasoning, but in a multiple choice test, you'd only get a correct answer for one of those responses, which one happens ot be correct depends on the bias of the test designer :-). Yowie > > I used to do really well at IQ tests. No idea how I'd do anymore; it > seems [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > Yowie I hadn't thought of it that way, but of course you're right. Joy > Another example, which is visual (so bear with me): which is the odd one > out? [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > you'd only get a correct answer for one of those responses, which one > happens ot be correct depends on the bias of the test designer :-). According to my husband, #1 is the odd one out because it is the only one that is correct strictly as written. #2 and #3 would require specific visual examples to go with the problem. By definition a square, trapezoid and parallelogram all have 4 sides. So help me understand how all 3 answers could be correct. Not a person who does math well. Diane >> Another example, which is visual (so bear with me): which is the odd one >> out? A square, a trapazoid, a parallelogram or a triangle? [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Not a person who does math well. I think you're right. I didn't read it closely, but now that I have ... Squares *are* parallelograms, so 2 is out Only equilateral triangles have equal-length sides, so 3 is out Perhaps the visuals are actually necessary for this example =) Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* This thread has solved one puzzle for me, I got a late card yesterday, from Phil and Diane{and thank you, it will sit on my wall a few days along with Meowmie Debby's and any other late cards }also on the bottom I read Pmendhall and coudn't quite make out if it was a mistake or I wasn't reading it right,sorry Dianne, that puzzle is now solved, thanks to all you test takers , what a happy girl I am Jean.P. > > Another example, which is visual (so bear with me): which is the odd one > > out? [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Diane I included the name that appears, since I don't post that often. Glad that puzzle was solved. Diane > This thread has solved one puzzle for me, I got a late card yesterday, > from Phil and Diane{and thank you, it will sit on my wall a few days along [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > Diane >I included the name that appears, since I don't post that often. Glad that >puzzle was solved. [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] >> > >> > Diane Answer 3 wouldn't work because a parallelogram doesn't have to have equal sides. A parallelogram with equal sides is a rhombus. > > Another example, which is visual (so bear with me): which is the odd one > > out? [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > So help me understand how all 3 answers could be correct. Its a visual thing. I'd have to draw the question, but I'm sure you could envisage a square, a trapezoid, a parellogram with 4 equal sides with two angles of (say) 60 and the other two angles of 120, and an equilateral triangle. Does that help? If not, I'll make a picture and send it to you. Yowie > Its a visual thing. I'd have to draw the question, but I'm sure you could > envisage a square, a trapezoid, a parellogram with 4 equal sides with two > angles of (say) 60 and the other two angles of 120, and an equilateral > triangle. > > Does that help? If not, I'll make a picture and send it to you. Yay!!! ASCII art!!! Ahem. Sorry. Had to be done. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* Hubby asks how you can do a square with angles of 60 and 120, since by definition a square has to have four right angles of 90 and four equal sides. You could turn the square so it looks like it slopes, but since all sides are right angles, it would still be a square. Diane > Its a visual thing. I'd have to draw the question, but I'm sure you could > envisage a square, a trapezoid, a parellogram with 4 equal sides with two [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Yowie Now I am confused. I didn't think I wrote anything that implied a square had anything other than 90 degree angles. Perhaps I should send the picture? Anyway, this is all getting beside point - what I was trying to show was that there can often be more than one answer correct answer to one of those "IQ Test" questions, and the answer that they want depends on the bias of the test designer. For example, cloud : sky ice : ? How did you arrive at that answer? Yowie > Hubby asks how you can do a square with angles of 60 and 120, since by > definition a square has to have four right angles of 90 and four equal [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > Yowie I think hubby misread your post. :) I understand that there can be more than one correct answer, I just didn't understand this example. But again, I'm mathematically challenged, so that is no surprise, hence the reason hubby was brought in to explain how they could all potentially be correct. What is really scary is that I work in a business/financial group. I don't do the numbers, thank goodness. They learned that one all too well. :D Diane > Now I am confused. I didn't think I wrote anything that implied a square had > anything other than 90 degree angles. [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > > > > > Yowie > For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each > day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/04 You might try posting this question at alt.mensa Brigitte > For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each > day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/04 Definitely not a Mensa person. My first reaction was -- why not ask the owner? MLB Try this for fun. Write the letters A through Z. Number them A = 1 through Z = 26. Add the values of each of the letters, and then compare the sums to the prices given. I suspect it's a quarter per letter, but I'd ahve to run it out on paper to be sure. I'm nto a Mensa person. SignatureChristopher A. Young This space intentionally left blank www.lds.org www.mormons.com For Christmas, my parents were given a Mensa calender with a puzzle for each day. They haven't opened it yet, but the sample question was: A toy shop prices toys on the whim of the owner: A doll is $12, a kite $15, a skateboard $34, and a ring toss $24. How much is a blackboard? My whole family has been working furiously on this puzzle, but even though we know the answer (it was printed on the box) we have no idea *why* $31 right Can anyone out there in RPCA land explain the solution? It will save the Greater Chapman Clan from going utterly bonkers. Yowie I thought that, but it isn't. Tweed > Try this for fun. Write the letters A through Z. > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/04 > Try this for fun. Write the letters A through Z. > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > I'm nto a Mensa person. No, that pricing convention would make the ring toss more than the skateboard, which it is not. E.g. the doll = 43, kite = 45, skateboard = 96, ring toss = 121. At a quarter per "point" that would be doll = $10.75, kite = $11.25, skateboard = $24.00, ring toss = $30.25. I think Christine had the correct answer. Hugs, CatNipped > Christopher A. Young > This space intentionally left blank [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.799 / Virus Database: 543 - Release Date: 20/11/04 |
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