columbus area mensa, col-m, quest, 2000 march

Last month's Quest asked for the common denominator of each of six pairs of men. The answer: each of the pairs was married to the same woman at some time in their life. Correct answers came from Dick Kriger, Sam Gerhardstein, and Alma Litten. As a movie buff, Dick knew about several of the pairs and came to the correct conclusion. Alma, in her thorough fashion, had the names of all the wives as well.

Here are the correct matchups:

Steinbeck and Scott Elaine Anderson

Remarque and Chaplin Paulette Goddard

Mahler and Gropius Alma Schindler

Burroughs and Kerouac (See below.)

Wells and Kahn Rita Hayworth

Rooney and Sinatra Ava Gardner

I was wrong about Burroughs and Kerouac due to an incorrect interpretation of a writeup about them. Although they were friends and part of the "Beat Generation" (a name Kerouac invented), Burroughs was the common law husband of Jane Wollmer Adams (whom he later accidentally killed in William Tell style while demonstrating his marksmanship). Kerouac was briefly married to Edie Parker, friend and roommate of Jane Wollmer Adams. Allen Ginsburg was another member of this Columbia group.

This month's Quest looks to decipher some acronyms/abbreviations. I was disappointed in researching this one out to find that POSH does not really stand for Port Out, Starbord Home (although a great story) and SPAM (the meat product) does not stand for SPiced hAM, although that was its original name. It was merely a contest winning name with no official designation. Nevertheless, see what you can do with the underlined or circled acronyms (they may get harder as you go along).

1. It's a Snafu.

2. The Army's Jeep

3. Scuba diver equipment

4. Laser beams

5. a NIMBY situation

6. Install a GFCI

7. NEAT observations in 2000

8. A woman's G-spot

9.