Noesis

The Journal of the Mega Society

April 2004 Issue 168

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·sis – Greek 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.net 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 #168 – April 2004

Welcome to a kaleidoscopic treat – Noesis #168.

First, please find enclosed a small gift in a small brown coin envelope – for members and non-member subscribers – a memorable, wallet-sized, Mega Society card!

In this issue we cover a variety of topics – totally prepared in Microsoft WORD this time.

We start with a surprise wish to someone we all hold dear. His long-term dedication, spanning over a quarter of a century in the intelligence testing arena, and establishing several Hi-IQ societies, has made his name synonymous with “IQ” throughout the world.

The next item is an interesting twist on chessboard design and game strategy, corresponding to a Polish-developed chess-for-three product. Future Mega Society “admissions test” developers should consider leveraging chess-for-three as a tantalizing test problem.

Next, we learn a little about Mega Society veteran, W. H. “Bill” Corley. Bill developed the column “DIVERTISSEMENTS” in the 1984 Megarian publications – where he presented challenging verbal and math exercises. We encourage Bill to resume this column for future Noesis journals after he settles into his new home.

Next, we read a letter from long-time Mega Society veteran Christopher P. Harding (Australia). Chris expended an exorbitant number of hours to develop six candidate admissions tests. We disperse the six tests throughout the journal (1/2, 3/4, and 5/6). Chris would appreciate constructive criticism on any/all of his six tests. The solutions are intentionally not provided. Chris was born in the UK in 1944. He is a co-author of a book I purchased in November 1994 titled “The Ultimate IQ Challenge” with Marcel Feenstra and Philip J. Carter [ISBN 0-7063-7232-8]. What’s interesting is the three authors present an I.S.P.E. (International Society for Philosophical Enquiry) Vocabulary Test in the back of their book that has 70 questions and accompanying percentile score table. An average score on this test is approximately 16/70 correct – the top 45 percent. At the time the book was printed, the top score of 65/70 corresponded to the top 0.0004 percent.

Next, we developed a word/definition matching exercise. Here we delve into the intense “word world” of Josefa Heifetz. Jascha Heifetz, Josefa’s father, allowed her hobby of collecting odd words to sidetrack her own musical career as a concert pianist and composer. Working alone, she spent ten years searching through innumerable lexicons and unabridged works too bulky for browsing. She examined and rejected hundreds of thousands, before deciding on the words that appear in her 264-page book. Some of the selected words look like JUMBLES! To keep the intensity elevated, we present the answers elsewhere in this journal.

Next, we capture a very interesting study conducted by an insurance research company, Quality Planning Corporation (QPC). QPC presents a table that lists occupations of drivers involved in accidents and speeding violations. You’ll be surprised at the two professions that ironically contribute to the top-five ranked!

Next, we return for more mental gymnastics, by presenting 26 famous quotes – the authors of which you are to identify. The answers appear separately in this journal.

Next, Dean Inada, long-time Mega Society member, does an article to complement Chris Cole’s efforts. Dean’s paper is on “Bayesian Estimate of IQs.”

Next, Christopher P. Harding sent us a CD ROM with an article commenting on Chris Cole’s “Speculations on Physics VI” in the March Noesis #167

Next, we present three fun chess exercises with a twist – either for yourself, your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, or someone you know appreciates chess. The exercises are dispersed throughout the journal. We do not include the answers. Dr. Miodrag Petkovic is a professor at the University of Nis, Yugoslavia. He has published over 130 scientific papers and the author/co-author of 6 books. The 3 problems are “historical” – but have interesting “twists” to them.

Next, we explore a progressive “adjective JUMBLE” exercise – where the first part looks at unveiling JUMBLES, the second places them in interesting sentences, and if this is still too difficult, in the third presentation the JUMBLES are placed in their corresponding sentences to aid your investigation. Here, we team with Dr. Eugene Ehrlich - coeditor of The Oxford English Dictionary and the author of dozens of books.

Next, based on item (6) below, I received the April issue of Gift of Fire, the journal of the Prometheus Society. I like the diverse author “team.” The immediate article that caught my attention was by Albert Frank from Belgium – a member of Dr. Hoeflin’s OATH (one-in-a-thousand) high-IQ society. Albert and Philippe Jacqueroux developed the first 3 (of 4) “International Contest of Logical Problems” exercises. The April issue of Gift of Fire has the “Fourth International Contest of Logical Problems” developed by the members of Albert Frank’s Ludomind Society. We include the 3^rd and 4^th contests in this issue of Noesis – with enthusiastic permission by Albert Frank – and a short introduction on Albert. The URL for the Ludomind Society is: http://www.digimind.org/ludomind

Next, a few words from past Noesis issues.

1. The BALLOTS distributed with Noesis issue #167 should have been addressed to Jeff Ward, our Administrator. I apologize. About a dozen BALLOTs were forwarded to Jeff Ward. A word of thanks to the members. All BALLOTs were received or post-marked 31 March. Nice work!

2. It wasn’t until Paul Maxim wrote a letter inquiring on the missing page 37 (Noesis #167) that I determined that it was really missing. This page is enclosed for you to paste it in the back inside card-stock cover of Noesis issue #167.

3. Regarding the statement by Ron Hoeflin for a call-for-a-vote to reduce the Mega Society admissions cut-off, I inquired with Ron Hoeflin and he was nice to respond back in a letter dated March 23, 2004. As a result of his response (below), we will not be calling for a vote to reduce the Mega Society cut-off.

“I am impartial to how the Mega Society handles its admissions cut-off, i.e., whether the Mega Society keeps the 1-in-a-milion standard or adopts a 15-per-million standard.”

4. As you can see from Noesis issue #166, and this present Noesis issue, I r-e-a-l-l-y would appreciate enlightening articles from my fellow Mega Society comrades. Rick Rosner, a former editor, will try to do an article in the future. Ideally, my job would be considerably more tractable if each member contributed a couple of articles per year. To prepare the articles, orchestrate the Noesis journal outline, and publish the journal in a professional manner, can be a full-time job. I entreat my comrades to support our global endeavor. The members make up the “fabric” of the Society, and our readers will be thrilled to see the “bouquet” such an intelligent cluster can dynamically create in each forthcoming issue of their “flagship product” – the Noesis journal.

5. In Noesis issue #167, I did an article titled “Another Avenue for Seeking out Prospective Members for the Mega Society.” We’ve made great headway. I prepared a cover letter that was sent to the USAMO/IMO advisory panels with accompanying email/URLs to the Mega Society home page and Titan Test. In speaking with the new CAMC Director, Steve Dunbar, he says getting the Titan Test to the USAMO (United States of America Mathematics Olympiad) and IMO (International Mathematics Olympiad) winners over the past several years is a great idea. Steve said these USAMO/IMO winners have excellent verbal skills as well, and said in regard to the VERBAL portion of the Titan Test, these candidates should do well. Steve had his secretary forward the email to these winners. The CAMC keeps track of these young, stellar, mathematicians for decades! I have inquired with our founder and Titan Test developer, Dr. Ron Hoeflin, to waive the scoring fee for these specific individuals. I mentioned to Ron Hoeflin that this would open the door to some potentially outstanding Mega Society candidates. I further offered a small personal, contribution to Ron Hoeflin for each “USAMO/IMO winner” Titan Test he scores. A short article on the 2001 USAMO/IMO winners is provided in this issue of Noesis.

6. In a telephone “fireside chat” with Internet Officer Kevin Langdon in March, we discussed ideas for future articles in Noesis. One was the AMC (American Mathematics Competitions) presented in Noesis issue #167. I went the extra mile in the AMC article – and looked at it as a mechanism to reach well-qualified Mega Society candidates. A second topic Kevin suggested was for me to read some issues of the Prometheus Society’s journal, Gift of Fire (GoF), edited by Fred Vaughan. My mind churned at the speed of light, and I instantly offered to exchange Noesis for GoF with Fred Vaughan. To make a long story short, Fred responded in a very positive manner, and Brian Schwartz (Treasurer) said he would pay for my subscription to GoF! Fred and I have similar professional backgrounds.

7. Brian Schwartz, our friendly Prometheus Society treasurer, submitted three articles relative to the SAT issue. Two articles are responses to articles Kevin Langdon and Chris Cole presented in Noesis issue #167. Brian’s third article is titled “How ‘Selective Tests’ Test.”

8. The editor continues to communicate with other organizations and publishers for purposes of introducing them to the Mega Society, its impressive history, and to define avenues to “advertise” the Mega Society’s desire to solicit high-likelihood candidates via publication of the Titan Test.

9. There continues to be high interest by many active Mega Society members to have a questionnaire that helps get to know one another. Our principal “vehicle” to meet one another is via our “flagship product” – Noesis. In the back of this issue the Mega Society officers developed an initial questionnaire “shopping list” for members to add to. We desire members mail their additional comments or itemized questionnaire list to the Editor via the enclosed pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope. After processing the inputs, we will include the official questionnaire in a forthcoming issue of Noesis. As the title to a delightful song in The King and I goes, “Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.”

NOESIS Journal – April 2004 – Issue #168

CONTENTS
#	TITLE	AUTHOR	PAGE
1	Happy Birthday to someone “Special”	Mega Members	7
2	A new Twist in Chess Games (with Fess, Luberda, & Givli)	Ron Yannone	8
3	Mega Society member H. W. “Bill” Corley – Yannone & Corley	Bill Corley	11
4	Bill Corley’s 2004 “Dirty Dozen” Exercise Set	Bill Corley	13
5	Letter from Mega Society veteran Chris Harding on 6 Hi-IQ Tests	Chris Harding	17
6	Candidate Hi-IQ Tests #1 and #2 for your Review and Comments	Chris Harding	18/21
7	Answers to Bill Corley’s “Dirty Dozen” Exercise	Bill Corley	25
8	“Uncommon Words” Matching Quiz	Ron Yannone	28
9	Accidents and Speeding by Occupation	Ron Yannone	29
10	Candidate Hi-IQ Tests #3 and #4 for your Review and Comments	Chris Harding	30/34
11	Name-that-Author	Ron Yannone	38
12	“Uncommon Words” Matching Quiz (answers)	Ron Yannone	40
13	Bayesian Estimate of IQs	Dean Inada	41
14	Comments on Chris Cole’s “Speculations on Physics VI” in Noesis #167	Chris Harding	47
15	Chess-ercizes – Problem 1 (“zig-zag”) – with Dr. Miodrag Petkovic	Ron Yannone	50
16	Name-that-Author – (answers)	Ron Yannone	51
17	Chess-ercizes – Problem 2 (“pistol-theme”)	Ron Yannone	52
18	“Adjective JUMBLE” Exercise – with Eugene Ehrlich	Ron Yannone	53
19	International Contest of Logical Problems – intro by Ron Yannone	Albert Frank	54
20	Chess-ercizes – Problem 3 (“invisible” chess)	Ron Yannone	59
21	PART 2 – “Adjective JUMBLE” Exercise – sentences with “blanks”	Ron Yannone	60
22	Hi-IQ Tests #5 and #6 for your Review and Comments	Chris Harding	62/66
23	AMC Article – Reaching out to USAMO/IMO Winners via Titan Test	Ron Yannone	70
24	Letters from the Editor	Ron Yannone	72
25	Reply to Kevin Langdon – Relative to SAT Topic Noesis issue #167	Brian Schwartz	74
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