Friday, April 04, 2008

Introvert or Extrovert?

Dear MensaGrrl,

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?

Signed,

Just Curious

...

Dear Curious,

Introvert.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Are We Seeing Things?

Dear MensaGrrl,

How much of what we see with our eyes do we actually see as it really is?

Signed,

Keen Observer

...

Dear Keen,

None of it.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Ask Marilyn

Dear MensaGrrl,

Do you read Marilyn vos Savant's Ask Marilyn column in Parade magazine?

Signed,

Marilyn Fan

...

Dear Fan,

No. I don't have the time. I'm sure Marilyn would understand.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Touching the Sky

Dear MensaGrrl,

Can anyone touch the sky?

Signed,

Pondering the Possibilities

...

Dear Pondering,

Someone once answered this question by saying, "No, because it doesn't exist. There is no such thing as 'sky', and the blue sky is actually many layers of the atmosphere scattering blue light. Trying to touch the sky is like touching a mirage."

While this answer contains valid points, such as the sky's not actually being blue in color, the fundamental definition of "sky" is critical--and this answer is fundamentally incorrect.

If we are to assume, as is stated in the American Heritage Dictionary as the primary definition, that sky is "the expanse of air over any given point on the earth," then it follows logically that we are "touching" the "sky" all the time.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Aspiring Poet

Dear MensaGrrl,

What word rhymes with autumn?

Signed,

Aspiring Poet

...

Dear Aspiring,

There are no words in the English language that rhyme perfectly with the word autumn.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Carats and Rocks

Dear MensaGrrl,

How can you tell if a diamond ring was cheap?

Signed,

Possibly Engaged

...

Dear Possibly,

The best way is to take it to an jeweler or, better yet, jewelry appraiser.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Insurance Rates for Teens

Dear MensaGrrl,

What are car insurance rates for young drivers?

Signed,

Waiting to Cruise

...

Dear Waiting,

High.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Teenage Lust

Dear MensaGrrl,

Can a 19 year old be date a 13 year old?

Signed,

Mature Teen

...

Dear Mature,

Yes, a 19-year-old can date a 13-year-old. Whether he should or whether it's legal where he lives is another question entirely.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Analyzing Daily Life

Dear MensaGrrl,

What percentage of time will you spend on various tasks?

Signed,

Analyzing Life

...

Dear Analyzing,

Every individual will spend precisely 100% of (their) time on various tasks.

Given that everyone is doing something every second of every day, the total percentage of time spent on "various tasks" will necessarily total 100% in every case.

And yes, in case you're wondering, sleep is a task; it is something beings like we humans must "perform" for purposes of self-preservation. If, by chance, we don't "perform" this "task," we would be engaging in alternate activities which could also be defined as tasks.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Substandard Working Conditions

Dear MensaGrrl,

What is the definition of substandard working conditions?

Signed,

Below Par

...

Dear Below,

A "substandard working condition" is defined as a working condition that is "sub" or "below" (a given) standard. Simple. The applied definition would be, in most cases, too subjective to define in absolute terms.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

I Don't Like The Guy

Dear MensaGrrl,

What do you say if someone likes you and you dont like them?

Signed,

Don't Like Him

...

Dear Don't Like Him,

Honesty is best in a situation like this. It does help to be tactful, though, so as to avoid unnecessarily hurting the other person's feelings.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Love Versus Sex

Dear Mensa Grrl,

How do you distinguish between love and lust?

Signed,

Confused in Miami

...

Dear Confused,

Duration.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Related to John

Dear MensaGrrl,

What should I call my brother's wife's brother?

Signed,

Related to John

...

Dear Related,

Try "John."

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Q Traveler

Dear MensaGrrl,

What are names of cities that begin with Q?

Signed,

Q Traveler

...

Dear Traveler,

The names of world cities (with populations of over 100,000) that begin with the letter "Q" are as follows:

Qa'em Shahr
Qamishli
Qarchak
Qazvin
Qasemabad, Islam Shahr
Qianjiang
Qidong
Qingdao
Qingtongxia
Qingyang
Qingyuan
Qingzhou
Qinhuangdao
Qinyang
Qinzhou
Qiqihaer
Qitaihe
Qom
Quanzhou
Québec City
Queimados
Querétaro
Quetta
Quevedo
Quezon City
Qufu
Qui Nhon
Quilmes
Quilpué
Quito
Qujing
Quzhou

Of these, perhaps the most widely-known is Québec City.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

CSI Hopeful

Dear MensaGrrl,

Do you have to be a police officer in order to become CSI?

Signed,

CSI Hopeful

...

Dear Hopeful,

No.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Above Average

Dear MensaGrrl,

What is the average result in an intelligence questionaire test?

Signed,

Above Average

...

Dear Above Average,

The "average" result on an intelligence (commonly referred to as "IQ") test is considered to be the mean. This is usually 100, but not all IQ tests have standard means and deviations. Sometimes, the mean or "average" of an IQ test is adjusted by "renorming" if the original norming proves to not be accurate after a larger sample is obtained.

Signed,

MensaGrrl

Going for Broke

Dear MensaGrrl,

How long does bankruptcy affect an individual?

Signed,

Going for Broke

...

Dear Going for Broke,

Bankrupcy, like any major life event, affects an individual for the rest of their life.

Signed,

MensaGrrl