Regional Rove

Over the late May bank holiday weekend we're hosting a series of events around our region. These are planned so that you can start in the north and work your way southwards doing all the events both day and night. But if you prefer a more leisurely bank holiday then you are free to 'mix and match' whichever events you prefer or are local to you.

Start the weekend with an Italian themed evening on Friday 27th May at Maxine's home in Langley Mill. Your journey will be rewarded with various pizza and pasta dishes (with vegetarian options) with a welcome drink of Italian wine.

On Saturday 28th May we're hiring a self-steer narrowboat to sail a route from the new Harborough Basin to Foxton Locks and back. This is a leisurely day sailing through the Leicestershire countryside with chance to visit the canal museum at Foxton plus a pub lunch.

Continue southwards to Milton Keynes where Jo and Chris will be hosting an evening of socialising and boardgames on Saturday 28th May. Here's your chance to try out the new Mensa Connections game or bring your own favourite. A buffet will be provided but please BYOB.

"LHCJO BNOTC KURLI ONHHD DVECQ AFIUW SVXTY E". If you would like to decipher this code join us at Bletchley Park on Sunday 29th May. During World War II 12,000 people worked in complete secrecy at this Buckinghamshire country estate and against all odds cracked the Nazi Enigma code to shorten the war and save countless lives. A guided tour, various exhibitions and a film are all included in the admission charge of £10. See www.bletchleypark.org.uk for further info and book your place with Paul by 22nd May.

Richard kindly invites us to his home in Letchworth Garden City from 6.30 pm on Sunday 29th May. A garden party if the weather is nice or indoors otherwise. Again food will be provided but please bring whatever you'd like to drink.

Our final event of the weekend is a day out in St Albans on Monday 30th May. We will explore the Verulamium Roman museum before a pub lunch. In the afternoon we'll visit the famous cathedral and other sights before a fond farewell.

New faces of all ages are welcome at these events. Do join us over the bank holiday weekend!

Tony Hirst Wins Logo Competition

Congratulations to East Midlands member Tony Hirst for his logo which has won the popular vote of Mensa members worldwide and will be adopted as the formal Mensa International Ltd 2006 Diamond Anniversary/60th Birthday logo.

"Clean, classy and eye-catching", "bold", "simple" were among the most common reasons given by Mensans voting for the design.

The logo of Nottingham member Tony had already been adopted for the 2006 British Mensa Annual Gathering which is being hosted in Nottingham but will now be used for as the main logo of the Diamond Anniversary. It is pictured below.

Graphic of Mensa table and globe icon surrounded by a truncated diamond shape. Text below is 1946-2006

Regional News

This month we have something special which we are calling "Regional Rove". Basically this is a series of events throughout our region working north to south from Friday evening to Monday afternoon of the late May bank holiday weekend. You and your family are welcome to join in any or all of these events whether you are a regular attendeee of our social events or a brand new member.

If you join us for "Regional Rove" or any other event in the East Midlands then we'd love to know what you thought of it. As an incentive we're offering a £10 cash prize for the best review sent in to the Empress Editor by 20th August. So get those fingers on your keyboard or put pen to paper!

I'm delighted to say Nottingham member Tony Hirst won the competition to design a logo for the diamond celebrations in 2006 and this will now be adopted worldwide by Mensa groups. Congratulations Tony! Though simple in design many hours of work were involved to ensure it met all rules and regulations. Plans are progressing well for the British Mensa Annual Gathering that will take place in Nottingham 28th September to 2nd October 2006 and many people have already reserved their accommodation. For details of these diamond celebrations see www.mensa.org.uk/diamond. Registration is also open for the World Gathering taking place in Orlando 8th-14th August 2006. This is currently $60 until June 2005 and includes a welcome pack, 24 hour access to the hospitality suite with food and drink plus the programme of lectures/workshops. See www.wg06.us.mensa.org

Situations vacant! We're still in need of a Regional Publicity Officer and Bedford Local Secretary. Both roles only require a minimum amount of time.The former will be a point of contact for our region for newspapers and radio stations who wish to conduct short interviews. Interest is usually shown when a test session is taking place in a certain town. At the moment the Mensa office are fielding enquiries but the media always prefer to speak to a local member. The Bedford LocSec will be a point of contact for members living in that area and is encouraged to host occasional events so that members can get together. It's definitely a case of the more you put into Mensa the more you get out! Please contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email] if you may be interested in either of these valuable roles.

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

20 Questions (No. 44)

Did you guess the young animals in our March quiz? They were kitten, fawn, elver, fry, gosling, poult, leveret, calf, joey, whelp, squab, pup, cygnet, calf, foal, bloodworm, leather jacket, kitten, kit and jack. Thanks to Geraldine Ellis of Nottingham, Michael Warren of Derby, Paul Henchliffe of Nottingham, Martin Wesley of Luton, Alan Tonks of Mansfield, Andrew Green of Mansfield, Margaret Branston of Grantham, Barbara Southam of Derby, Tim Gibson of Nottingham,Gill Bensley of Milton Keynes, Jocelyn Binks of Bedford and Lynn Faulkner of Nottingham for entering. Geraldine wins the £5 W H Smith voucher and Mensa presentation pen.

As the Eurovision Song Contest takes place this month, here is a musical quiz. Can you unscramble the anagrams of these 80s pop groups?

1. RARE USE

2. MINDLESS IMP

3. ALL BAD PUNS EAT

4. SAFE FOR ARREST

5. ACE MAT CRAZE

6. HANDY CURE

7. WORN DEER

8. KNOW A TERM

9. TRIED STAIRS

10. ELITE CHOP

11. I CUT RHYMES

12. MADE MY ARCADE

13. A BRISK T BONE

14. DEEM HE COPED

15. ELUDE BACON

16. I WIRE CLOCKS

17. PRISTINE SHORT TEES

18. DO SUMMER CHANT

19. I DO ENTWINE

20. MAD OMEN CORNER

Answers to '20 Questions (No. 44)', [Address], to arrive by 20th May please for your chance to win a £5 W H Smith voucher and Mensa pen.

Events and Meetings

Notts News

On Thu 5th May at 8:00pm

Join us for a pre-Oasis drink and chat at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road near the railway station and find out what silly costumes we'll be wearing at this year's party weekend. The themes are "Invaders" and "Kids TV" so lots of scope! We'll be displaying the yellow Mblem to the left of the bar from 8.00 pm. New faces welcome.

Clipart image of man getting himself in a twist because he has failed to release his bowl.
Fancy a game of 10 pin bowling? See left.

On Wed 11th May at 7:30pm

Our ten pin bowling event in February had to be cancelled due to snow so we're trying again . Meet us inside the entrance to Megabowl on Clifton Boulevard but please confirm attendance with me by 9th. Two games with shoe hire cost £8.50 with the option of an extra game for only £1.00. All ages and abilities welcome.

Regional Rove

On Fri 27th May at 8:00pm

The first event of "Regional Rove" takes place at my house in Langley Mill from 8.00 pm on Friday 27th. Join us for pizza, pasta and a welcome drink of Italian wine. Bring whatever else you'd like to drink, swimwear/towel if you fancy a dip in the hot tub in the garden and a sleeping bag if you'd like to stay over. To help catering please let me know if you'll be coming a few days in advance. Contact on [Phone Number] or [Email]

Ciao for now!

Maxine Bates

Leicestershire

On Tue 24th May at 7:30pm

Join us for a meal and/or drinks at The Red Cow on Hinckley Road in Leicester Forest East on Tuesday 24th May. A wide selection of food is available to cater for all tastes. Meet from 7.30pm onwards. Parking available. Mensa magazine will be on the table, we will be sat on a table to the left of the pub. For directions email [Email]

Rebecca Mawby

Regional Rove

On Sat 28th May at 10:00am

As part of "Regional Rove" we're hiring a narrowboat to sail from Market Harborough Basin to Foxton Locks and back on Saturday 28th. The day lasts from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm and costs £10 per person. We have been narrowboating several times in the past and it is always a relaxing and enjoyable day out. The boats are easy to steer and come equipped with toilet and kitchen. Numbers are limited so first come, first served! Book with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email].

On Tue 31st May at 7:30pm

This month our Globetroughers event is in Leicester city centre at Café Bruxelles, 90-92 High Street, at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 31st. Taste 'mussels from Brussels', Belgian chocolate and more. See menu at www.cafebruxelles.co.uk. Their a la carte menu is 2 for 1 on a Tuesday - so bring a friend! - and there is also a wide variety of starters, light bites and desserts. A £5 deposit is required by 20th please. Book your place with Maxine. Unless you can recommend any further foreign restaurants this will be the last of our "Globetrougher" events in Leicestershire.

Derbyshire

On Sun 15th May at 10:00am

Meet Farmyard Inn, western end of Main Street, Youlgreave (GR 208642). Walk Bradford Dale. Mix for lunch 1pm. Meet 2pm walk, Upper Lathkill Dale. Contact: [Phone Number] or e-mail [Email]

Ray Calverley

Lincoln

On Wed 4th May at 7:00pm

It's sometime since we had a midweek meeting and I thought it may be appreciated whilst the evenings are lighter. So please join us at The Ritz on the High Street where we will hopefully have an inexpensive supper, drinks and lively chat. It's a Wetherspoons so coffee, etc served in the evenings if you need to drive.

We will sit on the middle level with a magazine on the table but please ring if you need directions to the venue or nearby parking. Everyone very welcome.

Jacquie Harrison

Milton Keynes

On Sun 22nd May at 1:00pm

fLunch Part 1: Join Chris for our regular film & Sunday Lunch meeting at Xscape in Central MK. Lunch (venue tba) 1 pm, film not compulsory! Contact Chris for further details at [Email] (mention fLunch in subject) or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

On Sun 22nd May at 3:00pm

Flunch Part 2: Join Chris for our regular Film & Sunday lunch meeting at Xscape. Film (to be agreed at lunch) starting 3 pm-ish; check www.cineworld.co.uk (select "Milton Keynes") for possible choices & cinema info. Call Chris for our decision after 1.30 pm, [Phone Number], if not attending lunch.

Regional Rove

On Sat 28th May at 8:00pm

Join us "At Home" for the MK leg of "Regional Rove": an informal social evening with board games and buffet. Contact Jo or Chris for address, directions & further info, details as per FThotM or fLunch. Soft drinks provided but BYOB. NSI, Cats in residence, LONA or can provide B&B, hotel, YHA info.

Jo Sidebottom & Chris Lonsbrough

Picture of an Enigma coding machine.
The German Enigma machine codes were cracked at Bletchley Park. See left.

Regional Rove

On Sun 29th May at 11:00am

Find out about World War 2 code breakers at Bletchley Park. Exhibits, films, cafe and much more. £10 entry. Pre-book with Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 22nd.

Maxine Bates/Paul Henchliffe

On Mon 30th May at 10:15am

We're repeating last year's successful bike ride & pub crawl, this time south through MK and Fenny Stratford. Aiming for lunch in Soulbury; regular refreshment stops. Meet Stonepits Field car park, Great Linford 10.15am for 10.30 prompt departure. Contact Ian or Colin for full itinerary, and any late changes by previous week, [Email] / [Phone Number] or [Email] / [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

Ian Parker/Colin Zealley

Northants NNotes

On Tue 31st May at 8:00pm

Just scraping into May with this month's Roadshow. Meet all the regulars at The Talbot, Meadow Road in Kettering. Look for us in the lounge.

For both events look for the Mensa mag on one of the table. For more details contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email].

Ian Sargent

Luton/Dunstable

On Sat 14th May at 8:00pm

"E is for Entertainment"

This promises to be a fun-filled evening in Totternhoe, combining a mix of activities from the world of entertainment. The programme includes:

  • a performance from a member of the Magic Circle,
  • Roald Dahl's revolting rhymes and other humorous poetry
  • a secret "Generation Game" hands-on activity,
  • a round of amusing folk songs, accompanied on the guitar
  • a mix of jokes, quips and word games

Let us know if you want to perform your own "spot", either as part of the activities listed above or perhaps to demonstrate some other talent.

Or just come along, join in and offer your unlimited applause.

Please bring your own drinks and we will provide the nibbles. For Directions and encouragement please contact Caroline on [Phone Number].

Come along and collect another stamp for your passport !!

Tara Morgan

Hertfordshire

On Wed 18th May at 8:00pm

It's been a while since we had an Italian meal, so this month we are going to L'artista, on Eastcheap, Letchworth. Meet at the Three Magnets pub (Wetherspoon's) on Leys Avenue (two minutes' walk away) at 7.30pm. Contact Richard to book on [Phone Number].

Regional Rove

On Sun 29th May at 6:30pm

The final party of the East Midlands Regional Rove will take place at my place in Letchworth Garden City. Indoors if usual Bank Holiday weather otherwise it will be a garden warming party! Please bring a bottle - food and whisky will be provided and limited overnight accommodation available - call me on [Phone Number] for further details. Please let Richard know by Sunday 22 May if you're coming so I know how many to cater for!

Regional Rove

On Mon 30th May at 11:00am

The final day out of the East Midlands Regional Rove will be to St Albans. Meet at the Verulamium Museum, St Michaels Street. Car parking available (there is a charge). After visiting the Museum, we will go for a pub lunch and decide what to do in the afternoon. Call me on [Phone Number] for further details. St Albans has good rail links from London, Luton, Bedford and the East Midlands and good local bus connections from other places.

Richard Allen

On Tue 10th May at 7:30pm

Pub meal at the Three Moorhens, Hitchin. Once again, good food and good beer both available! Call Helen Rees for more details and encouragement on [Phone Number].

Helen Rees

South Bucks

On Sat 21st May at 7:30pm

Join us at Rajasthan, a smart new Indian restaurant in Chesham with a wide range of interesting, exotic and affordable dishes on offer. Call Neil on [Phone Number] to book your place.

Neil Matthews

On Sat 7th May at 12:00pm

A visit to the famous Hellfire caves built by the Dashwood family in the 1750s. It is a fascinating and slightly earie experience and you may get to meet Wycombe's version ogf the Loch Ness Monster, Wessie. We'll go for lunch afterwoods in one of West Wycombe's hostelries. Call Alistair on [Phone Number] or email [Email].

On Wed 11th May at 8:00pm

We visit EAMAYL (Eat As Much As You Like), the Chinese buffet restaurant in Pauls Row, High Wycombe opposite the side entrance to the Falcon pub, where you can do just that. Delicious food with friendly staff. Call Alistair as above for encouragement.

On Sun 15th May at 12:30pm

Tank up with petrol and get the shopping in before joining us for Sunday Roast (for £3.99) in the cafe at Morrison's in Temple End the A4128 just before Hughenden Road. Call Alistair for encouragement on [Phone Number] or email [Email]

Alistair Blackett

Regulars - see main mag for details

Sun 1st May8:00pmSt AlbansFSuOTM The Plough at Sleapshyde Lesley Chester

Thu 5th May8:00pmRoystonFThOTM Old Bull Dan Ormsby

Thu 5th May8:00pmWoughtonFThOTM Ye Olde Swan Jo Sidebottom

Thu 12th May9:00pmHarlestone2ThOTM The Dusty Fox Ian Sargent

Wed 18th May8:00pmCentral MK3WOTM Wetherspoons Jo Sidebottom

Wed 18th May7:30pmDerby3WOTM Standing Order on Irongate Bernard Briggs

Wed 18th May7:45pmBerkhamsted3WOTM Old Mill Pub Jenny Habib

Fri 27th May8:00pmHertingfordburyLFOTM White Horse Richard Allen

Light

(A light-hearted view of modern science)

According to Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity the speed of light in a vacuum is constant.

This theory has led to the commonly accepted conclusions that:

· Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.

· Objects that travel at speeds approaching the speed of light experience time dilation and shortening of length (please note that "Viagra" does not cure this).

· The latent mass of an object at rest is always equivalent to a (large) fixed amount of energy. This is expressed in Einstein's most famous equation e=mc2, where e is Energy, m is Mass and c is the Speed of Light (and 2 is the magic number).

Is this true or is there some other explanation?

First let's consider what we mean by a "vacuum". A "vacuum" is generally accepted as being a total absence of mass in a confined space. It's a bit like driving down the M1 from Leeds to London and not having any other cars, lorries or caravans on the motorway! So, if an object is travelling in a "vacuum" it doesn't have to slow down or swerve around something to avoid bumping into it.

Recent research in Particle Physics (within the last 50 years) has shown that light energy is carried by a particle that scientists have called a "Photon".

A Photon carries light energy (and other types of energy like microwaves). The main weapon on Captain Kirk's "Star Ship Enterprise" was a "Photon Torpedo" - although Doctor Spock may not agree.

A Photon "may" have a small mass - no one knows for sure at the moment but it is very likely that scientists will soon demonstrate that a Photon has a very small mass that is many millions of times smaller than the mass of a hydrogen atom.

Objects that have a mass often have an "electrical charge" that is either positive or negative. For instance, we "know" that an electron that orbits the nucleus of an atom has a very small mass and a negative charge. It is the flow of electrons in a closed circuit that provides the electrical current that makes all our electric gadgets work. I have always found it ironic that something with such a small negative charge is responsible for such a large positive charge from my electricity supplier.

We also "know" that the nucleus of an atom contains at least one Proton that has a much larger mass than an electron and a positive charge equal (but opposite) in magnitude to the charge of an electron. If all our electric gadgets were driven by a flow of Protons the electric companies would have to pay us to use electricity!

We also know that some objects that have mass do not have a positive or negative "electrical charge" - this includes the Catholic Church. For instance we "know" that the nucleus of an atom can contain one or more Neutrons that have a mass slightly larger than a Proton but have no "electrical charge".

It is worth saying at this point that the traditional view of atoms being made up only of electrons, protons and neutrons that is still taught at Secondary Schools and Colleges is a little way off from the accepted scientific wisdom of today. The existence of sub-atomic particles called "Quarks" has been accepted in scientific communities for over 20 years. Quarks are the building blocks of Protons and Neutrons as well as many other particles like "Neutrinos" that are not as well known. If you want to study Particle Physics at this sort of level it helps if you have your brain cells completely erased. An alien from the planet "Zob" more easily understands the "goings on" at this sub-microscopic level. Some Quarks "spin" at different rates. Quarks have a "charge" that is defined in terms of "colour". Some Quarks are bigger than a Proton, some are so small that it is difficult to tell whether they exist. Some Quarks are so unstable that they can only exist for an instant.

What a load of twaddle!

If we are asked to believe that nothing can actually achieve the speed of light, why should we believe that there is any such thing as a vacuum? Can we really evacuate all the mass from a small space? Even if we could evacuate all the mass from a small space could we keep the energy out?

There is a certain type of Neutrino (a Tau) that has recently been discovered to be so small that it has the ability to travel right through the core of the Earth from one side to the other - and it has now been shown that it has a mass! How do you stop something like this from getting into your vacuum? If you do manage to stop this particle how do you know that there isn't an even smaller particle that has managed to sneak through your defences?

If we can't keep the energy out, how do we ensure that none of this energy inside the vacuum is turned into mass? Remember, e=mc2 means that energy can be converted into (a small amount of) mass if the right conditions exist. If only a small amount of this energy is turned into mass then we have a problem. Something suddenly materialises - energy turns into mass.

So, you are driving down the M1 from Leeds to London and there is absolutely no traffic. Your warp engine has got you up to a speed that is two metres per second less than the speed of light. Suddenly a tractor appears from nowhere. You have one billionth of a second to react. You apply your warp brakes to reduce your speed and swerve around the tractor. You are now travelling at 5,000 metres per second less than the speed of light. Never mind - it could have been worse - it could have been a "White Dwarf" van!

Breaking News!

I have discovered 2 new particles that go some way towards explaining the paradox of the creation of energy from mass. The "Moveon", as I have called it, appears to have properties that demonstrate a measurable loss of mass as energy increases. If an Electron "gets" a "Moveon" it gains energy and loses mass. The Electron starts to move so quickly that it breaks free from its atomic orbit and continues to register loss of mass until it reaches the levels of energy and mass of a Photon. The particle "spin" constant jumps from discrete integer values to a fractional imaginary number. As the "Moveon" disintegrates, according to "Feynman" principles, an elementary force-carrying particle is created - I have called this an "innit-Chavon". Unfortunately there appears to be no logical behaviour associated with this elementary particle so my research has ground to a halt.

The serious point!

We are defining something as important as the speed of light in relation to a vacuum. Is it possible to create a true vacuum that allows us to measure the speed of light experimentally?

If a Photon carries light energy and scientists discover that a Photon has mass, then light can never travel in a vacuum - the presence of its own mass invalidates the vacuum.

If we can't measure the speed of light how do we know that it is a constant? If the speed of light is not a constant then Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity is constrained to a domain that is within our experimental experience. Einstein is then in a similar position to Newton - Newton's laws are still valid within defined limits but do not work at the extremes of our existence.

Feedback

I welcome feedback on this article. Please direct feedback through MENSA as my e-mail account at the psychiatric clinic has been cancelled.

Thanks

Keith Stendall

B.Sc. Hons. (Applied Maths & Computer Science)

Editorial

Do you ever feel like smacking someone when you hear an urban myth repeated for the umpteenth time when you know full well that it's wrong? I know I do.

When I started the list of "Useless Information" roundels on the front page of Empress last year, the snippets were taken from a typical internet circular, and I didn't bother to verify them. I later came across a very similar list with many of the same claims but also included the statement "A duck's quack doesn't echo, and no-one knows why" which I knew was simply untrue. It's quite clear that it doesn't take much to allow these myths to propagate.

In an attempt to make amends just a little, I have collected a small group of very well known and oft-repeated "factoids" that are nothing of the sort and I will be presenting them in the box below over the next four months. But I'm sure there must be plenty of others out there, so please write/email/phone me with your most hated urban myth, I'll print it here and we can all grow a little wiser.

In the same vein, many thanks to Keith Stendall for his article on pages 6 & 7 of this Empress . Like it? Don't like it? Think you could do better? If so, have a go. My email address is on the left.

Nick Stimpson

Urban Myths Exposed - #1

A duck's quack most definitely does echo. Salford University put Daisy the duck in an echo chamber and recorded very clear echos. The results (with a full explanation) can be heard at http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_world/duck/duck.htm