Noesis

The Journal of the Mega Society

May 2004 Issue 169

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 #169 – May 2004

In Noesis issue #169, we cover a variety of topics.

First, we have two new non-member subscribers – Fanny K. “Faye” Yannone and Vincent Yannone – both from New Jersey. Welcome aboard Faye and Vinnie – we look forward to your interesting articles for Noesis!

We start by teaming with Layman E. Allen – a graduate of Princeton with an A.B., Harvard with an M.P.A., and Yale with an LL.B. Dr. Allen’s research interests are mathematical logic, computers and law, instructional gaming, and artificial intelligence. He went to Michigan Law School from Yale in 1966. We open with his original, famous game of modern logic – WFF ‘N PROOF.

Next we include the Mega Society member biography checklist. Members who have not submitted their biography to the editor, please consider leveraging this outline.

We next present an article on The Lost Art of Letter Writing. In an era of cell phones and electronic mail (email), this article rekindles the power of the Pony Express.

A chunky part of this issue is provided by an unusual person in the Netherlands – Paul Cooijmans. Paul devoted about 4 years in developing his Test for Genius – an excellent prospective test for the Mega Society to consider for use as an admissions test. The Test for Genius is comprised of three parts. The IQ ceiling is adequate for the Mega Society. I’d like to propose members review this test and send their comments to the editor as soon as possible. After comments have been received and issued in a forthcoming issue of Noesis, a vote to use this for admission into the Mega Society will be called. A nice part of Paul’s test is that the verbal sections are available in French, German, Dutch, and English. In this issue we include the German language version – for my special friends – Lisa and Otto Rittenbach. Paul has been extremely generous via his email interchange and has a built-in mechanism to score his Test for Genius fee-of-charge to those who complete his online questionnaire! I consider Paul one of the “pioneers” in the area of Hi-ceiling IQ testing.

We next team with Russell Ash, author of the famous-selling book for 2004 titled “The TOP TEN of Everything 2004,” by world-class publisher DK (Dorling Kindersley) Limited in Great Britain. In this section, we extract a variety of Russell’s lists – and transform them into a set of enticing exercises for our readers. Completed tables, with added insight and information, are provided elsewhere in this issue of Noesis. We add 3 bonus miscellaneous records questions as well.

By popular demand by our readers, we’ll continue to include articles on FAMOUS QUOTES. These quotes are presented with blank entries first – to help spark the imagination of our readers – and to increase their appreciation upon learning who the authors are. The names are presented elsewhere in this issue of Noesis.

Next, we make a few comments on Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin’s new book, “To Unscrew the Inscrutable: A Theory of the Structure of Philosophy.” For our new non-member subscribers and readers we include the biography provided in Dr. Hoeflin’s 700-page book. Dr. Hoeflin mailed in a short biography where he requests articles on psychometrics. The editor solicits help! I will try to contribute something in the future – as I learn more about psychometrics.

Next, Administrator Jeff Ward provides the results of the BALLOT for (a) considering Brian Schwartz for membership and (b) the use of the Sigma Society’s SIGMA VI Test for admission into the Mega Society. On the same page, Mega Society member Chris Cole reports on the number of “visitors” to our Mega Society website. Please put on your thinking caps when you read the statistics – and get back to the editor with your ideas.

Next, we review how things were 75 years ago from the editor’s perspective – and then Happy Birthday by an anonymous contributor – to a special Mega Society member!

Next, we share a handful of famous short poems – to lighten your reading intensity. Poetry relaxes the mind. I invite our readers to submit original poems.

Next, we return to Dr. Layman E. Allen – with his favorite game called Equations – where our readers (young and old) will be challenged – on trying Elementary Problem E1. NASA rocket scientists were unable to get the complete solution! The game Equations, regularly played by elementary school students, successfully mitigates absenteeism and markedly improves student’s performance on standard math and IQ tests. The game Equations develops your mind to reverse-engineer as in the Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) – Las Vegas television series – where the CSI team works backward to analyze and understand the crime.

Next, we take a short detour in commenting on the caliber of the IMO (International Mathematics Olympiad) students. On the same page, we then test your knowledge on U.S. paper currency in Name That Portrait.”

We next extend hearty congratulations to a Mega Society member for his noteworthy recent technical achievements.

We next share the extraordinary biography of Mega Society member Christopher P. Harding from Australia. Anyone reading this outstanding biography will be encouraged to push themselves harder in life. Chris Harding’s volunteer spirit and undying involvement in a plethora of activities will motivate readers of any age!

Mega Society member from Nebraska, Eric Erlandson, requested in the biography he mailed in that readers contribute articles on recreational mathematics. To initiate satisfying Eric’s request, the editor contacted Joseph Madachy – the author of an excellent book and former editor (and now Editor Emeritus) of the Journal of Recreational Mathematics. We briefly introduce this journal, its subscription rate, etc. We hope to include problems in the area of recreational mathematics in the June issue of Noesis. Readers – please submit your favorite problems! Because Joe’s first book dates back almost 40 years ago, I assumed Joe was deceased. I was pleasantly surprised to hear his youthful voice on the phone!

In Noesis issue #168 (April), we presented Albert Frank’s Fourth International Contest of Logical Problems. Albert (from Belgium) sent a correction – presented in the Prometheus Society journal Gift of Fire, issue 148, May 2004 for the figure used in problem 20.

Next, we team with Mac Anderson – founder of Successories. In Mac’s new book The Nature of Success, in the chapter titled “Persevere!” we read of a fascinating story given to Mac by his assistant, Marj Webber, titled “Shake It Off And Stand Up.” Noesis readers, young and old, can learn several valuable lessons from this thrilling story.

Next, for our spiritually-minded readers, the editor shares some simple encouragement for our lives, via Psalm 23.

We end this issue with two copyrighted articles by non-member subscriber Paul Maxim - Transformation of a Text (a literary puzzle) and Mallarmé’s Cigar-Puzzle of 1895. Paul Maxim exudes enthusiasm for the success of the Mega Society. His many letters and timely, encouraging voicemail messages are unexpected treats.

NOESIS Journal – May 2004 – Issue #169

CONTENTS
#	TITLE	AUTHOR	PAGE
1	Yale Law School “Training in Logic” Part 1 – “WFF ‘N PROOF”	Dr. Layman E. Allen	5
2	Biography on Layman E. Allen	Dr. Layman E. Allen	8
3	Member Biography Checklist	Officers	9
4	The Lost Art of Letter Writing	Editor	10
5	Biography of Paul Cooijmans - Netherlands	Paul Cooijmans	11
6	Test for Genius – by Paul Cooijmans	Paul Cooijmans	13
7	Test for Genius – Parts I and II in German	Paul Cooijmans	23
8	The TOP TEN Exercises	Russell Ash / Editor	24
9	3 Bonus “Miscellaneous Records” Questions	Russell Ash / Editor	26
10	Encouraging Quotes	Editor	27
11	The TOP TEN Exercises - Answers	Russell Ash / Editor	29
12	Answers to 3 BONUS “Miscellaneous Records” Questions	Russell Ash / Editor	34
13	Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin’s New Book	Editor	35
14	Dr. Hoeflin’s Biography – as it appears in his new book	Editor	36
15	Ballot Results	Jeff Ward	37
16	Mega Society Website Visitation Statistics	Chris Cole	37
17	Encouraging Quotes - Answers	Editor	38
18	How Were Things 75 Years Ago?	Editor	40
19	Happy Birthday Memories	Anonymous	41
20	Some Poetry Favorites	Editor	43
21	Yale Law School “Training in Logic” Part 2 – “EQUATIONS”	Dr. Layman E. Allen	44
22	Some Odds and Ends – IMO Students	Editor	46
23	Name that Portrait	Editor	46
24	Hearty Congratulations to a Mega Society Member	Editor	47
25	Extraordinary Biography of a Mega Society Member	Chris P. Harding	49
26	Name that Portrait - answers	Editor	61
27	The TARDY BUS Problem - answers	Editor	61
28	Mathematical Recreations	Joe Madachy	62
29	Correction to Problem 20 “Graphic” – 4^th Int. Contest of Logical Problems	Albert Frank	63
30