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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS);faqs.062
Name: procmail
Author: Stephen R. van den Berg <berg@pool.informatik.rwth-aachen.de>
Latest known version: 2.71
How to get it: (1) Get "procmail" from volume 31 of comp.sources.misc
archives. (2) "/pub/unix/procmail.tar.Z" via anonymous ftp from
ftp.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (possibly more up-to-date).
Implementation language: C
Supported platforms: generic UNIX (or any posix compliant OS)
Comments: This isn't a full-fledged archive server, it's a program to
parse incoming mail and sort/invoke other programs based on the
results, but it can be used as a very reliable front end to some
of the archive servers mentioned here.
- It includes a utility program called formail, which is
particularly intelligent in figuring out return addresses and
generating auto-reply headers.
Name: qdms
Author: Lars Magnusson <lmn@z.amu.se>
Latest known version: 1.0
How to get it: (1) Get "qdms - a simple mailserver for cramped disks."
from the alt.sources archives. (2) Get a (possibly more
up-to-date) version from mailserver@z.amu.se.
Implementation language: Bourne shell, requires shell functions
Comments: Looks like it has some sort of access control and
blacklisting. Don't know what else.
Name: Relcom
Author: vak@kiae.su (Serge Vakulenko)
Maintainer: vak@kiae.su (Serge Vakulenko)
Latest known version: 1.0
How to get it: Send a message to mailserv@kiae.su with "get
mailserv.tar.Z" in the body.
Implementation language: C
Name: RNALIB
Author: Paulo Ventafridda <venta@otello.sublink.org>, Marco Lorenzini
<marlor@gear.sublink.org>
Latest known version: 2.2 beta-3
Implementation language: bourne shell
How to get it: (1) Get "rnalib2" from volume 15 of comp.sources.misc
archives. (2) Get "RNALIB 2.2 beta" and "upgrade to beta-3"
from alt.sources archive on valhalla.ee.rochester.edu.
Comments:
- Completely implemented in one bourne shell script plus
several data files.
- Allows libraries to be all over the filesystem hiearchy
(i.e. not in fixed data directory).
- Understands a variety of packing formats, and detects binary
file automatically (and uuencodes them).
- Requires bourne shell with support for functions.
- Very poor address parsing.
- No queueing.
- Has "blacklists" to prevent people from transferring and
"whitelists" to allow specific people to tell the server to
deliver to third parties.
- Detects "hogs" and imposes maximum credit limits.
Name: Squirrel Mail Server
Version: 3.1
Author: Johan Vromans <jv@mh.nl>
How to get it: Send a mail message to <mail-server@nluug.nl> with
contents
begin
send mail-server
end
Implementation language: perl
Description (from the author):
The Squirrel Mail Server is a mail response program. You can
send email to it, and it will try to react sensible to your
message.
Main purpose of the mail server is to obtain files from a
local archive or FTP server, but other functions can be added
easily.
The Squirrel Mail Server Software is distributed under the
terms of the GNU Public Licence.
New and improved features in version 3.1:
- Transparent (anonymous) FTP interface. You can fetch files
from remote FTP servers. Files retrieved are cached
locally, so subsequent requests can be honoured from the
cache.
- Delivery can take place via email or uucp or both.
Delivery via UUCP can be made preferred.
- FTP requests can be restricted to UUCP delivery.
- Multiple servers can be installed using the same software.
A brief survey of old and new features:
- All written in perl, hence portable and easily
maintainable. Code is readable; useful, plentiful
comments. Very extentable and easily modified.
- Easy to install.
- Good at letting person making request know what happened.
Good "help" reply.
- Archives can be split over a number of directories or file
systems.
- Requests are queued and processed by a separate daemon
process (e.g. from cron). This cuts down on the system
load. Moreover, you can control when the queue is being
run.
- Requests can be honoured `as is' (name the file and you'll
get it), but the server can also perform directory
searches and index file lookup. You need GNU find and
locate for the index lookup feature.
- While looking for files, the server knows about commonly
handled filenames (e.g. ".tar.Z" in "foo.tar.Z") and
pseudo-standard version numbering (e.g. "gcc-2.1.tar.Z").
It is quite well possible that a simple request for
"emacs" will actually transmit the file
"gnu/emacs-18.58/dist/emacs-18.58.tar.Z".
- Requests can be encoded using a number of encoding
schemes, e.g. uuencode, xxencode, Dumas' uue and btoa.
- Requests that are too large to send in one piece are
automatically split and transferred in parts. The server
provides a smart unpacking program on request,
- Parts of requests can be re-transmitted in case of
failure.
- Requests can designate a directory. In this case the whole
directory tree is packed using some popular packing
programs (compressed tar, zoo or zip).
- Requests can be sent by email, or via uucp.
- The server can be asked to return a list of archive
entries that match a given request, thus obsoleting the
need to transfer huge "ls-lR" type index files to find out
whatsitcalled.
- All transfers can be logged. Maintenance procedures
include a reporting tool.
- Transparent anonymous FTP interface. Files retrieved via
FTP can be stored locally, so subsequent requests can be
granted without new transfers.
Probable future directions:
- Automatic (and transparent) downloading of unknown archive
entries from other archive servers.
- Archive lookup by keyword.
- Notifier services (you'll be notified if archive entries
are added).
- Remote maintenance of the archives.
Requirements:
- Perl 4.0 patchlevel 35 or later.
NOTE that perl 4.0 pl35 contains a bug that can be fixed
by a patch obtainable from the NLUUG mail server -- see
below.
- GNU find 3.5 or later (only if you want to exploit the
index features).
- A decent mail system that can deliver mail to a process
(sendmail, smail3, or smail2.5 w/ mods).
=====================
Some unofficial Patches to perl 4.0 patchlevel 35 can be
obtained from the NLUUG mail server by sending a mail to
<mail-server@nluug.nl> with contents:
begin
send XPatch-4.035.tar.Z
end
------------------------------------------------------------------
Archive Site Instructions
-------------------------
CLARKSON: Send mail to "archive-server@sun.soe.clarkson.edu" with
"send <what you want>" as the text of the message, e.g. "send
archive-server". If you want it to be archived as a shar
file, then add a line saying "archiver shar" before the "send"
line. You can also use "archiver tar". If you don't specify
an archiver, then the files in the request will be separated
by "--- cut here ---" lines and you'll have to extract them by
hand or write some sort of script to do it.
JASON-ARCHIVE: Send mail to "penneyj@slc.com" with a subject line
containing the string "jason-archive-request" and a body
containing "send <what you want>", e.g. "send misc/kiss.shar".
If you want multiple files, you can specify multiple requests
on separate lines of the file.
NETLIB: Send mail to "netlib@research.att.com" with "send
<what you want>", e.g. "send netlib from misc", as the text of
the message.
pit-manager: Ftp to pit-manager.mit.edu [18.172.1.27] and look in
/pub/mail-servers, or send mail to
"mail-server@pit-manager.mit.edu" with "send
mail-servers/file", e.g. "send mail-servers/b-server.shar", in
the subject or body of the message.
UTRECHT: Anonymous ftp to ftp.cs.ruu.nl and look in the directory
/pub, or send mail to "mail-server@cs.ruu.nl" with the lines:
begin
send <filename>
end
You replace "<filename>" with the file you want to retrieve,
e.g. "send UNIX/mailserver.tar.Z".
--
Jonathan Kamens jik@MIT.Edu
Aktis, Inc. Moderator, news.answers
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.org.mensa:6922 news.answers:3223
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!mintaka.lcs.mit.edu!olivea!spool.mu.edu!agate!linus!alliant!merk!miracle!phil
From: phil@miracle.com (Phil Hill)
Newsgroups: rec.org.mensa,news.answers
Subject: Mensa - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions [monthly]
Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked
Questions (and their answers) about Mensa. It
should be read by anyone who wishes to post to the
rec.org.mensa newsgroup.
Message-ID: <92faq09@miracle.com>
Date: 29 Sep 92 00:16:52 GMT
Expires: 1 Nov 1992 00:00:00 GMT
Followup-To: rec.org.mensa
Organization: Boston Mensa
Lines: 1026
Approved: news-answers@MIT.edu
Archive-name: mensa-faq
Version: 1.1
This is the answers to frequently asked questions in rec.org.mensa.
Before posting a message asking a question, read this article. Chances
are the answer is in here.
This article includes answers to:
1) Who is Mensa For?
2) Why Should I Join Mensa?
3) What are Members of Mensa Like?
4) What are the Qualifications for Mensa?
5) How do I apply for Membership in Mensa?
6) How do I Re-Join Mensa?
7) What are Mensa's Dues?
8) What does "Mensa" mean?
9) Where do I get more Information?
10) What other High-IQ Societies are there?
11) What famous people are in Mensa?
12) What is the Mensa Test Like?
13) What unanswered questions does Phil Hill have?
The answers in this posting apply mostly to American Mensa. It is the
only organization I have experience with. If you can answer these
questions for any other national Mensa, please send me your responses.
Corrections, suggestions, and additions to phil@miracle.com
========================================================================
1) Who is Mensa For?
Mensa is for those who rejoice in the exercise of the mind. If you
enjoy mental challenges and revel in the interplay of ideas, Mensa is an
organization that will stretch your mind and expand your horizons.
Mensa is an international society that has one - and only one - unique
qualification for membership: you must score in the top 2% of the
population on a standardized IQ test.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Why Should I Join Mensa?
There are many intelligent reasons to join Mensa. Whether you actively
attend Mensa meetings, or simply relish the intellectual stimulation
that membership promotes, you'll find the benefits of Mensa membership
to be numerous indeed.
* JOIN FOR THE INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION.
Think-two-three, think-two-three! Mensa provides intriguing ways to
flex your mental muscles. You'll find intellectual resources in the
Mensa Bulletin, in local newsletters, in Special Interest Group (SIG)
newsletters, and at our annual and regional conventions.
* JOIN FOR THE SOCIAL INTERACTION.
Mensa meetings are anything but dull! Local groups meet at least
monthly... for dinner and drinks on a Friday night, get-togethers
featuring a speaker, or a lively, free-wheeling discussion. All with
fellow members who share your intellectual interests.
Some groups have special get-togethers or activities throughout the
month. Others, especially the larger groups, have events on
practically every day. Of course, participation in local group
activities is always entirely at your option.
There's also a widely attended annual convention offering workshops,
seminars, and parties. Plus, some 50 regional gatherings are held
around the country each year, offering social and intellectual
excitement.
* JOIN FOR YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS.
Whatever your passion, there's almost certain to be a Special Interest
Group (SIG) filled with other Mensans who share it! Mensa offers
approximately 200 SIGs, in mind-boggling profusion from African
Violets to zoology. Along the way you'll find microbiology, and
systems analysis, but you'll also find Sherlock Holmes, chocolate and
Star Trek. There's the expected: biochemistry, space science,
economics -- and the unexpected: poker, roller skating scuba diving,
UFOs and witchcraft. There are SIGs for breadmaking, winemaking,
cartooning, silversmithing, and clowning. Heraldry, semantics and
Egyptology co-exist with beekeeping, motorcycling and tap dancing.
Sports SIGs cover the classics (baseball, basketball, football) and
the not-so-classic (skeetshooting, hangliding, skydiving). And any
Mensan who can't find a SIG to join can easily start one.
* JOIN FOR THE PUBLICATIONS YOU'LL GET.
Ten times a year, you'll receive our interesting and thought-
provoking magazine, the Mensa Bulletin. It incorporates the
"International Journal," and both publications contain views and
information about Mensa, as well as contributions by Mensans on a wide
variety of subjects.
Also, you'll get lively local newsletters informing members of local
activities and events, and other items of interest and announcements
of special interest.
"Interloc" (also published ten times yearly) is free to officers--and
for other active members on request. It contains news an information
about various society administrative and internal matters.
The "Mensa Research Journal," published quarterly by MERF, reports on
Mensa-supported research. It also publishes original articles in
diverse fields of interest, and is available for a small subscription
fee.
"Isolated M" is a popular and informative newsletter sent to those
members who are geographically or otherwise isolated from a local
group. It, too, is available at nominal cost to any other member.
The Mensa "Register," published every other year, lists all the
members and includes such information as geographic location, areas of
expertise and/or interest and other professional and personal data.
In addition, Mensa books, gifts and other materials are available to
members.
* JOIN FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS.
Mensa sponsors a members-only credit card and insurance program.
There's also a program that aids traveling Mensans.
* JOIN FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR COMMUNITY.
Mensa members also find opportunities to contribute to the betterment
of society through programs such as:
* The American Mensa Education and Research Foundation (MERF)
MERF is a philanthropic, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization funded
primarily by gifts from Mensa members and others. MERF awards
scholarships, sponsors colloquia, grants research awards, and
publishes articles. Of particular interest to MERF is the study of
the intellectually gifted. Research projects in the social and
psychological sciences supported by MERF have included: measurement
of the upper levels of intelligence, psycho-social adjustment,
identification of cultural differences, educational strategies and
neurophysiological attributes of giftedness, and intelligence and
aging.
Scholarships are awarded to approximately 60 students nationwide
each year. More than 5,000 students apply for these awards, which
range from $200 to $1,000. Awards are made to applicants enrolled
in degree-granting programs at accredited American colleges and
universities based on a competitive essay. There are also awards
made from several endowed funds, including awards to women who
re-enter academic study after a period of employment or family
management, and awards for the study of engineering, mathematics,
medicine, the physical sciences, and history.
MERF also sponsors weekend-long meetings on serious issues.
Authorities are invited to speak and discussion follows. Themes for
past meetings (Colloquia) have included "Science and Society: Our
Critical Challenges," "The Impact of the Arts on Civilization," "The
Gifted in Society," and "Forecasting a Valid Tomorrow."
* The Gifted Children Resource Program.
Which compiles and provides information for gifted children at the
national and local levels.
* Mensa groups also get involved in many volunteer activities within
their communities.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) What kind of people are Members of Mensa?
Mensa: We Think, Therefore We Are. Mensans are the kind of people you
meet every day ... except that they enjoy using their minds more than
most. And they have IQ scores that would impress their neighbors!
Today there are some 100,000 Mensans in 100 countries throughout the
world. There are active Mensa organizations in 18 countries in Europe,
North America and around the Pacific Rim. American Mensa, Ltd. has
some 150 local chapters with more than 50,000 members. Founded at
Oxford University in 1946, Mensa has three stated purposes: to identify
and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, to encourage
research in the nature, characteristics and uses of intelligence, and to
promote stimulating intellectual and social opportunities for its
members.
There is simply no one prevailing characteristic of Mensa members other
than high IQ. There are Mensans for who Mensa provides a sense of
family and others for who it is casual. There have been many marriages
made in Mensa but for many people, it is simply a stimulating
opportunity for the mind. Almost certainty most Mensans have a good
sense of humor and they like to talk. And, usually, they have a lot to
say.
Mensans range in age from 4 to 94, but most are between 20 and 49. In
education they range from preschoolers to high school dropouts to people
with multiple doctorates. There are Mensans on welfare and Mensans who
are millionaires. As far as occupations, the range is staggering.
Mensa has professors and truck drivers, scientists and firefighters,
computer programmers and farmers, artists, military people, musicians,
laborers, police officers, glassblowers - you name it. There are famous
Mensans and prize-winning Mensans, but there are many, many whose names
you wouldn't know.
* MENSA DEMOGRAPHICS (USA)
64.4% male, 35.4% female (0.2% won't say)
54% between 30-49 years of age, 14% under 29, 0.32% over 80
31.2% in first marriage, 29.82% never married, 13.32% divorced once,
9.53% in second marriage after a divorce
Just over half have no children, 12.4% have one child, 18.66% have 2,
9.95% have 3, 4.37% have 4, 1.29% have 9+
about 30% earn $20-40,000, 10% earn $50-75,000, 9% earn $40-50,000
and about 0.5% earn more than $250,000.
17.93% Master's degree or equivalent, 17.56% four year graduates,
one in 11 are Ph.D.s.
41% work in private industry, 13% in government, 13% self employed.
88% European ancestry.
49% Christian, 3% Unitarian, 9% Jewish, 7% agnostic, 3.6% atheist,
9% no religion
14% only children, 19+% older of two, 12.5% younger of two,
11.5% oldest of three, 6.8% middle of three, 5.8% youngest of three,
9.7% oldest of more than three, 10.8% middle of four or more,
4.4% youngest of four or more
Computer related occupations 10%, 3.75% own their own business,
Electrical Engineers are 2.6%, 7.5% are in education, 3% lawyers,
0.11% judges, 0.02% are in astronomy.
* WORLDWIDE NUMBER OF MEMBERS
Country Members
USA 50483 New Zealand 327
UK+Ireland 35608 Denmark 295
Canada 2546 Austria 287
Malaysia 2181 Channel Islands 257
Germany 1204 Spain 251
Finland 1107 Singapore 245
Yugoslavia 1100 India 200
Australia 961 Sweden 146
Netherlands 922 Belgium 117
Czechoslovakia 715 Japan 101
France 708 Switzerland 101
Poland 700 Hong Kong 100
Italy 400 OTHER 320
South Africa 395
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total Worldwide Membership 101813
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Do I Qualify for Membership in Mensa?
* QUALIFICATION BY PROVIDING PRIOR EVIDENCE.
Applicants must supply evidence of intelligence test scores in the top
2% of the population, or arrange to have it sent. All documentation
will be returned. Notarized photostatic copies of original documents
are usually acceptable.
A list of qualifying scores for several of the major intelligence
tests is given below:
* QUALIFYING TEST SCORES#
-----------------------
California Test of Mental Maturity IQ 132
(California) Test of Cognitive Skills IQ 132
Cattell IQ 148
Stanford Binet, Form L-M IQ 132
Wechler Adult and Children Scales
(WAIS and WAIS-R, WISC and WISC-R) IQ 130
Otis-Lennon Tests IQ 132
Otis-Gamma Test IQ 131
SAT or CEEB (Verbal and Math combined) prior to 9/77 1300
effective 9/77 1250
GRE (Verbal and Math combined) 1250
LSAT prior to 1982 662
effective 1982 39
ACT Composite 29
Miller Analogies Test - raw score 66
MCAT or GMAT (overall) 95%
Army GCT prior to 10/80 136
Navy GCT prior to 10/80 68
Many other intelligence tests may also be accepted subject to
individual appraisal of the documentation by Mensa's Supervisory
Psychologists, e.g.: Henmon-Nelson, NY State Regents Scholarship
Test(Aptitude section only), Cattell Culture Fair, SRA Primary
Mental Abilities.
# Note: The term "IQ score" is used as a convenient, easily
understood reference. Candidates for membership in Mensa
must achieve a score at or above the 98th percentile on a
standard test of intelligence. The "IQ Score" varies from
test to test, as shown by the list above.
Mensa reserves the right to alter or change these norms as
the tests shown are renormed or restandardized. All prior
evidence submitted to Mensa will be appraised individually
and Mensa reserves the right to make the final determination
about the acceptability of any test.
* TO OBTAIN PRIOR EVIDENCE:
* I.Q. TESTS GIVEN IN ELEMENTARY OR HIGH SCHOOLS.
Write to the school you attended, and ask for a CERTIFIED copy of
your score. It must include your birth date, the grade in which
you took the test, the name of the test, and a clearly defined
number, i.e., IQ, or percentile rank nationally. Mensa does not
accept achievement tests. School seal must be stamped.
* ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, OR MARINE SCORES
A certified copy of your records, which you may have, or a copy
from Demobilized Records Branch, St. Louis, MO. Unfortunately, a
fire there destroyed many records some years ago.
* MEMO ON MILITARY SCORES
The only scores that Mensa can accept are: the AGCT scores from
the Army - before the use of the ASVAB, and the GT scores from
the Navy - also prior to the use of the ASVAB. The new military
tests are vocational aptitude tests and are not suitable for
Mensa admission. Mensa has been asked specifically not to use
them for this purpose. This is unfortunate, but communication
with the government agency that makes up and distributes the
tests (ASVAB) indicates clearly that they are unsuitable for
Mensa purposes.
* SAT and GRE
Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ 08541. They will send
you your score, but call (609) 921-9000 for the latest information
on how to get such scores. The price for the service, and the
details of whether you must write or phone can vary.
* ACT: American College Testing Program.
Mensa will take scores for tests administered before the date of
Oct. 1989. ACT states it is now content oriented. As of that
date, the test is no longer acceptable, as the content changed
from aptitude to subject mastery, which Mensa does not accept.
Address: P.O. Box 163, Iowa City, Iowa 52243.
* MEDICAL, DENTAL, LAW and OTHER PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS.
These tests are administered by the many professional associations
that require them for admission to their program. Write directly
to the association.
* INDIVIDUAL TESTING DONE BY A PSYCHOLOGIST, OR AGENCY.
The report must be sent to Mensa on professional letterhead, with
the psychologist's or agency's license or registration number.
Mensa accepts only tests given by those people qualified to do
testing privately in the state in which the examiner resides.
Date of test, name of test, and full score must be given, and the
report must be signed.
* MILLER ANALOGIES TEST (MAT)
Psychological Corp., 555 Academic Ct., San Antonio, TX 78204 Call
(512) 299-1061 for latest advice.
* QUALIFICATION THROUGH MENSA TESTING
If you're not sure whether you're Mensa material, simply complete the
application below, and return it with your check or money order for $12.
Mensa will send you a pretest you can take in the privacy of your home.
When you've finished it, send it back to Mensa. It will be scored, and
you will be notified of the results. If your score indicates an IQ at
or above the 95th percentile, you'll be invited to take the qualifying
supervised test#, which costs $25. (Although the pre-test is not
required for admission, many people take it anyway simply for the
challenge.)
If you prefer, you may apply directly to take the supervised test at one
of many locations convenient to you. If your score on that test is at
or above the 98th percentile, you'll be offered membership in Mensa.
# Note: Mensa's tests are not valid for people under the age of 14; they
can qualify for membership via prior evidence, described
earlier.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5) How do I apply for Membership in Mensa?
cut here--------------------------------------------------------cut here
APPLICATION FORM
Mail to:
American Mensa, Ltd.
Dept. Usenet
2626 East 14th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235-3992
(718) 934-3700
(800) 66-MENSA
Name _______________________________________ Date of birth _____________
Address ________________________________________________________________
City _______________________________ State ______________ Zip _________
Home phone (____) _______________
Work phone (____) _______________
[ ] Please send me the at-home pre-test. I understand that if I score
in the top 5%, I will be invited to take the supervised test.
Enclosed is U.S. $12 (check or money order) for the pretest.