Noesis

 

 

 

The Journal of the Mega Society

 

 

June 2004                   Issue 170

 


 

 

 

Officers

 

Editor and Publisher:                           Ron Yannone

189 Ash Street #2

Nashua, NH 03060

 

Administrator:                                     Jeff Ward

13155 Wimberly Square

San Diego, CA 92128

 

Internet Officer:                                    Kevin Langdon

P.O. Box 795

Berkeley, CA 94701

 

Founder:                                             Ronald K. Hoeflin

P.O. Box 539

New York, NY 10101

 

 

no·e·sisGreek Þ understanding – to perceive.  Psychology Þ the cognitive process

 

The Mega Society was founded in 1982 and has been documented in the GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS during the 1980s as the most exclusive society.  Mega means million and denotes the one-in-a-million status of its members.   Presently, the only viable adult-level admissions test is the Titan Test, developed by its founder, Ron Hoeflin – where 43/48 correct answers corresponds to the minimum accepted IQ level of 176.  See www.megasociety.org  Since its GUINNESS “distinction” in the 1980’s, the Mega Society with its 99.9999 percentile member status, remains “the most elite ultra-high IQ Society.”

Editorial Introduction to NOESIS Issue #170 – June 2004

 

 

By the time readers receive Noesis issue #170, it’ll be close to July.  To get our mindset in tune, we exude our Patriotic Flair – and wish our Nation – The United States of America – a hearty Happy Birthday! – July 4th 1776 . . . “. . .  one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”  I hope our readers from England and Australia will celebrate with us!

 

We want to extend a Happy Birthday to Bill Corley over in Texas!  Bill is engaged in an exciting part of his life – and the avid readers of Noesis want to wish you all the best!  If there is something you feel the members of the Mega Society can do to lighten your load, please send your requests to the editor – and he can present them to our readers.  Bill sent the following encouraging email on May 28, 2004:

 

“You are doing a terrific job as editor. Sorry I'm not contributing more, but this is the most creative phase and busiest time of my life. Plus, with 4 daughters, I just had a grandson here for 5 day, etc. It's terrific to be 60 (on June 12 to be celebrated in the Caribbean) and still feel 35. . . . I'll eventually get you a biography (and picture of townhouse). As for other stuff, I'm now using LaTeX for all my papers. Many journals demand it.”   Godspeed!    Bill Corley

 

In this patriotic issue, we first present the Declaration of Independence. We hope our readers will contemplate the many sacrifices made by our Forefathers to secure INDEPENDENCE for our Nation.

 

We next list the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  Take a moment to visualize these pioneers – and the era in which they lived.

 

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”  Here, the editor selects photographs of some former Presidents of the United States of America.  We have nothing to fear for the future, lest we forget the past, and remember the way in which God has led us.

 

To get the brain cells churning, we next present famous quotes by different U.S. presidents.  Here we team with Bryan Curtis – the editor of the book used.

 

Hot topics were raised in March Noesis issue #167.  Two of these are the war in IRAQ and same-sex marriage.  Both topics bombard us daily via diverse media.  The editor presents one view of the same-sex marriage issue.  He invites other views.

 

“All work and no play can make Jack a dull boy” – so here we present some jokes and puns the editor recalls during his life.  May these quips bring a chuckle to your countenance.

 

Back to our patriotic theme, we present the Star-Spangled Banner – by Francis Scott Key.  Contemplating the historical setting brings a lump to one’s throat.

 

Next, we revert back to mental stimulation for our young and novice readers – with recreational problems by Michael Holt.

 

Bill Corley provided his 2003 DIRTY DOZEN exercise set for more mental stimulation.  Mega Society member Eric Erlandson will be in his glory – and the editor requests that Eric develop an intriguing set of mathematical recreations for an exciting forthcoming issue of Noesis.

 

Next, among the many exciting products provided by Dr. Layman E. Allen’s WFF ‘N PROOF website, one item is the topological puzzle by J. R. O’Neil.  We present this puzzle on paper, and provide the ‘800’ number to order it as well.

 

Back to the light side, we present a few chess jokes.  We welcome your favorites for publication!

 

We next move to a serious technical area – that of language translation to thwart terrorism – and the 9/11 saga.  We tap Michael Erard, and his article that appeared in a recent MIT Technology Review magazine issue.

 

Next, we present an excellent book on practical engineering math applications for our children’s stimulation – by teaming with Holbrook Horton.  Our avid readers would also greatly benefit from reading through this book!

 

Next, we present a condensed sample of the fascinating Wonderlic Personnel Test by Wonderlic, Inc.  More than 120 million people at thousands of organizations worldwide have taken the 12-minute, 50-question test.

 

By request of Ron Hoeflin, we present an article in memory of the late Dr. Lewis Aiken on commercially available performance tests.  Dr. Aiken is author of about 10 books in areas that span psychometrics.

 

Next, we move into futuristic robotics research for the U.S. Army – engaged by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) – with prize money that even our creative readers can consider winning – DARPA’s “Grand Challenge”!

 

The editor is a lover of WWII history and as such – the exciting article on The Secret in Building 26 will captivate readers – young and old.

 

We next present a reply article to Brian Schwartz’ articles on psychometric testing and the SAT (Noesis #169) prepared by Mega Society’s Internet officer, Kevin Langdon.

 

The editor likes Fibonacci numbers and shares a fantastic, award-winning website by Ron Knott – aimed at all levels of mathematical ability.

 

Along the lines of the previous article, we share the intriguing Fibonacci Journal by Gerald E. Bergum (editor).  We add a few exercises that appeared in earlier issues to spark your brain cells.

 

Next, we return to our patriotic flair by paying tribute to the late President Ronald Reagan.  Here, David von Drehle’s article is the source of the warm sentiments presented.  The editor vividly recalls President Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), or Star Wars, program.

 

The editor next shares some of his favorite nursery rhymeswith the hope that readers will develop complementary mathematical nursery rhymes – that can be used to instill a love for mathematics in children.

 

The editor presents a rendition of Ron’s MATH-O-DAY for the upcoming American holiday.  The last one the editor prepared was in the late 1980s.

 

We close this patriotic issue with The Man of Few Words.

 

STATISTICS for June Noesis issue #170: 719 revisions; 25 hours actual editing time (at the PC); approximately 21,000 words; and over a 1000 paragraphs.


NOESIS Journal – June 2004 – Issue #170

 

 

CONTENTS

#

TITLE

AUTHOR

PAGE

1

July 4th – Independence Day

Forefathers

5

2

Signer’s of the Declaration of Independence

Forefathers

8

3

Some of America’s Well-Appreciated Presidents

Editor

9

4

Name that President

Editor/Bryan Curtis

10

5

Same-Sex Marriage – A Biblical and Sympathetic View

Editor

14

6

The Pledge of Allegiance

Forefathers

17

7

Simple Math Quickies for Young and Novice Readers

Editor/Mike Holt

17

8

On the Light Side

Editor

18

9

The Star-Spangled Banner

Francis Scott Key

19

10

Simple Math Quickies for Young and Novice Readers - continued

Editor/Mike Holt

20

11

Name that President - Answers

Editor/Bryan Curtis

21

12

Puzzles – DIRTY DOZEN

Bill Corley

24

13

Simple Math Quickies for Young and Novice Readers - Answers

Editor/Mike Holt

28

14

Chess-Lover Jokes

Editor

28

15

A Topological Puzzle

J. R. O’Neil

29

16

Solicitation for Foreign Language Translation Ideas

Editor/Mike Erard

30

17

DIRTY DOZEN - answers

Bill Corley

32

18

Practical Engineering Applications of Math for Children

Editor/Horton

35

19

Wonderlic Personnel TestTM (WPTTM)

Editor/Wonderlic Inc.

36

20

Commercially Available Performance Tests

Dr. Lewis R. Aiken

39

21

DARPA’s Dust-busters – “Grand Challenge”

Jean Kumagai

41

22

The Secret in Building 26

DeBrosse/Burke

42

23

Reply to Brian Schwartz' Articles on

Psychometric Testing and the SAT in Noesis #169

Kevin Langdon

45

24

Fibonacci Numbers

Editor/Ron Knott

51

25

About the Fibonacci Quarterly

Gerald E. Bergum

52

26

President Ronald Wilson Reagan (1911-2004)

David von Drehle

57

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