June 26 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: What is the “common good”? We hear so often it is for “the common good.” What do we mean? Hosted by George Fuller. See July 3. (RSE Su)

7p    Channing Club. See July 24. (RSE 4 Su)

27 – Monday

4p    Pub Crawl in Rockridge – One More Time. Join us for another Pub Crawl in the Rockridge area of Oakland! The first one in May was fun and well attended, so we’re doing it again. This time, we will meet at George & Walt’s Grill, 5445 College Ave., Oakland 94618, to start off, and then decide how long to stay there and where to go next. For those who aren’t familiar with the Rockridge area, it’s very nice, with lots of restaurants, shops, etc. There is a BART station (on the Yellow/Antioch Line) in Rockridge, and George & Walt’s is just 3 blocks south of it. If you can join us, RSVP to Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. If you arrive late and we’re not there, text me at (415) 336-8342, and I’ll let you know where we’ve moved on to. PC, NC

29 – Wednesday

6p    Basic Economics Book Discussion: One chapter a week. This week we’re reading Chapter 26: The History of Economics. See July 13. (RSE W)

July 2 – Saturday

6p    Start The Month Right. It’s barbecue time! At Elna and Adrian Tymes’ home in Mountain View. Come celebrate the 42nd year and longest running monthly social event in all of American Mensa (at Elna’s home every month since 1981)! Potluck dinner, unstructured socializing, games, and talk. Bring bread, salad, or dessert to share, and YOB; hamburgers and hot dogs available or bring your own meat to grill. $1 donation requested. No reservations needed. Info (650) 969-6650. Guests of Mensans must be accompanied by the member. Masks optional. PC, SO, WBC, WCD, C/D (RSE 1 Sat)

3 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Fun with Flags. Symbolism, semaphore, semantics, and more. Hosted by Sue Bender. Cafe Discussions are lively, interesting, and you always come away with something to think about in the week to come. Drop in and stay for as long as you like. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. PC (RSE Su)

4p    Albany Hill Hike. Join us for a one-hour scenic and historic hike up and around Albany Hill. The trail is steep in spots, but the views are expansive. Special bonus: We have scheduled the Sather Tower Solar Beacon to shine directly upon us as we arrive at the top of the hill. Meet under Pacific East Mall Jumbotron just behind the bus stop on the east side of Pierce St. between Central Ave. in El Cerrito and Washington Ave. in Albany. Free parking is available in the mall lot, which is seven tenths of a mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station. Please contact Roberta Maguire to make sure she is in town at robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com or (510) 292-6370. PC, ACW, NMPCW, NS, WCI, NXM (RSE 1 Su)

5 – Tuesday

5:30p    Tuesday Tipplers will meet at San Rafael Joe’s, 931 4th St., San Rafael 94901, at 5:30p for drinks in the bar and then move on to dinner in the dining room after an hour or so. Park on the street or in the city garage behind the restaurant. If you have questions e-mail Carole at caroleptaylor/a/t/gmail.com or call (415) 472-1207. PC (RSE 1 Tu)

    Intelligencer Deadline. Deadline for calendar events, advertising, members’ free ads, and all other content. See above for information on submitting events. PC (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)

6 – Wednesday

    Basic Economics Book Discussion will not meet this week. See you at the Annual Gathering in Sparks, NV. (RSE W)

9 – Saturday

11a    East Bay (Inland) Brunch & Games at Da Boccery, 175 E. Vineyard Ave., Livermore 94550, www.daboccery.com. Come join fellow East Bay members and grab some drinks and food, and have some friendly competition. Did someone say Bocce Ball, Axe Throwing, Footpool, Shuffleboard, and Cornhole? Not your thing? There are some arcade games, too! From competitive PacMan to Air Hockey to Pinball – there is something for everyone and the whole family. Please feel free to bring your family. RSVP and/or contact Lynna Do with any questions or suggestions for future events at eastbay925/a/t/sfmensa.org with subject “EastBay Inland”. PC, WCE, SO

10 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Humanity as a Species. What aspects of humans have made us a successful species? Are humans better at creation or destruction? Hosted by James Monschke. See July 3. (RSE Su)

11 – Monday

12n    Monday Munchers. Back from pandemic and rising up from the old Ethnic Dinner, a lunch group in Marin dedicated to trying different restaurants. This month we will visit Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana, 223 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera 94925, (415) 927-4400, www.ilfornaio.com/location/il-fornaio-corte-madera/. RSVP by Thursday, July 7, to Elizabeth Calaway at (415) 456-9220 or elizterrycalaway/a/t/aol.com. PC (RSE 2 M)

4p    San Francisco Pub Get-Together. Stop by after work or, if you don’t work downtown, just come anyway. All Mensans and their guests are welcome, provided that they are at least 21, at Patriot House in 2 Embarcadero Center (Sacramento St. between Front St. and Davis St.), SF 94111. Take the inside escalator to the 2nd floor, turn right twice, and then follow the sign to the stairs to the 3rd floor. The restaurant’s entrance is near the top of those stairs on the 3rd floor. Look for the Mensa logo on our table or ask one of the waitresses to find us. Starting at 4p, but arrive when you can and leave when you’re ready. We will be there for several hours. They have a Happy Hour from 4p until 6p, with the kitchen closing at 9p and the bar closing at 10p. RSVP preferred on Mensa’s Meetup site at www.meetup.com/SFMensa, less preferred by e-mail to Barry Krasner at bwkbwk/a/t/pacbell.net. If you find that you can’t come after RSVPing “Yes”, please change your RSVP to “No” before the event takes place. PC, NC, NS, NMPCW (RSE 2 M)

12 – Tuesday

6:45p    Puzzled Pint. (NOTE: If Game Control has not chosen a pub, this will instead be a virtual event on Zoom. Contact Karl as below for instructions on how to connect.) Who likes PUZZLES? The kind where part of the game is to figure out what you need to be doing in the first place? Want to do it as part of a team, so you can bounce ideas off each other, and let someone else do the parts that you find uninteresting? This is a monthly event held in the Bay Area (and simultaneously elsewhere in the world), at a convenient pub where we might order food and drink before or during the game. RSVP to Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594 (voice or text) to reserve your spot and learn the address; it’s almost always either Sunnyvale or Mountain View, near Central Expressway. PC, NMPCW, NS, NXM (RSE 2 Tu)

13 – Wednesday

6p    Basic Economics Book Discussion: One chapter a week. We’re reading Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy by Thomas Sowell. Basic Economics is a citizen’s guide to economics, written for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Sowell explains the general principles underlying different economic systems. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. This is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions. This week we’re reading Chapter 27: Parting Thoughts. This is a joint Oregon Mensa and SFRM Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Pia Smith and Jeff Fisher. PC (RSE W)

14 – Thursday

11:45a    South Bay Lunch. Meet at Scrambl’z, 5055 Almaden Expressway, San Jose 95118 (near Hwys. 85 & 87), (408) 269-2900. Voted one of the best breakfast restaurants around. Extensive menu online at www.scramblzalmaden.com. Sandra Anderson, (408) 997-3187. PC, NMPCW, WCE (RSE 2,4 Th)

15 – Friday

    Pub Trek is on hiatus for July. We’ll see you in August. (RSE 3 F)

16 – Saturday

4p    Big Ideas Reading Group (NOTE ONE-TIME CHANGE OF WEEK): The Myth of Artificial Intelligence – Why Computers Can’t Think the Way We Do by Eric J. Larson. Larson is a computer scientist and tech entrepreneur. The founder of two DARPA-funded AI startups, he is currently working on core issues in natural language processing and machine learning. Many futurists insist that AI will soon achieve human levels of intelligence. The Myth of Artificial Intelligence argues that such claims are just that: myths. Modern AI is based on inductive reasoning: computers make statistical correlations to determine which answer is likely to be right, allowing software to, say, detect a particular face in an image. Humans do not correlate data sets; we make conjectures sensitive to context. We haven’t a clue how to program this kind of reasoning, known as abduction. Larson argues that all AI hype is bad science and bad for science. For August 13 on Zoom: Think Again by Adam Grant. We have a list of books read at www.bigideasreadinggroup.com/BIRG2.html. For questions and directions please contact Chris Boyd at snoboyd/a/t/sbcglobal.net. PC, NMPCW, NXM (RSE 2 Sa)

7p    Teton Tea. Teton Tea Parties are folk-singing parties going back to the 1950s. We welcome both traditional folk singing and singer/songwriters. Our meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WVlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 3 Sa)

17 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Festivus in July (Might it be advantageous to air grievances?). How do you gauge when you should/shouldn’t put thoughts and opinions out in the open, versus choosing to stay quiet and mentally burdened? Hosted by Sue Bender. See July 3. (RSE Su)

2p    Speaker Series: “Between the Lines: Adventures and Misadventures of a Reporter” with Janet Silver Ghent. Ghent will share excerpts from her as yet unpublished memoir, Act II: Reboot in a Toy Store, as well as her columns. Act II begins with a divorce at age forty-five, reveals her comic forays in the singles world, and opens up about late-life remarriage with poignancy and humor. Hosted by Pia Smith and Judy Unger. This is a Zoom meeting; see Meetup for login details. PC

18 – Monday

6p    Online Board Games. Come explore some board games that can be played on the Web. If you’re new, please create a (free) account at boardgamearena.com and follow the setup instructions. We’ll meet online with Zoom to establish voice contact, and then we’ll decide on a game to try out. RSVP on the Meetup calendar if possible, otherwise contact Karl Heuer at puzzles/a/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594. PC, NMPCW, ACW

19 – Tuesday

7:30p    Intelligencer Peel and Stick (NOTE ONE-TIME CHANGE OF LOCATION). Come help mail, and get one of the limited-edition July Intelligencers. I’ll provide snacks and drinks. Held at the home of Gary Koerzendorfer, 1541 Market St., Santa Clara 95050, (408) 858-5637. PC, NS, C (RSE Tu after 3 Sa)

20 – Wednesday

5:30p    Re-BORG. Berkeley-Oakland Restaurant Group is reborn and revived in honor of the incomparable Cathy Roha, who initiated this event and hosted it for many years. Assimilate delicious food and interesting conversation at a good restaurant somewhere in the central East Bay. Bring cash, your vaccination card, and a mask. Limited seating. E-mail or call ahead for location up to a week ahead. RSVP by 3p on Tuesday, July 19. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguire/a/t/hotmail.com, (510) 292-6370. PC, NS, NMPCW, ACW (RSE 3 W)

22 – Friday

6:30p    Virtual Happy Hour. Mix up your favorite beverage. Bring out some happy-hour munchies and join us for a virtual relaxing time. RSVP on Meetup for the Zoom Link. Hosted by Judy Unger, junger2040/a/t/gmail.com. PC (RSE 4 F)

23 – Saturday

5:30p    Marin Drinks and Dinner (NOTE NEW LOCATION). Join your fellow Marin Mensans for drinks and dinner at Pacific Catch at 133 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera 94925, pacificcatch.com/locations/corte-madera/. New and lurking members are particularly welcome. Bring ideas for future Mensa events in Marin and other restaurants for this monthly dinner. RSVP so that we know how many to expect; Meetup is preferred, or send an e-mail to northbay/a/t/sfrm.org, with subject “July Dinner”. Please bring cash in small denominations to cover your drinks and dinner in case they won’t do separate checks. Re COVID: Please take whatever measures you feel will make you comfortable. We’ll try to get an outside space with heaters. We hope to see you there! PC, NC, NS, WCE

24 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Are Palestinians experiencing genocide? Palestinians in Hebron say the Palestinian people are facing cultural genocide. Do you agree? Hosted by George Fuller. See July 3. (RSE Su)

7p    Channing Club is a wide-ranging discussion group which has been meeting, in one form or another, for over half a century. There are no assigned topics; we discuss whatever is on participants’ minds. Our meetings are currently on Zoom. Join the Zoom meeting: us02web.zoom.us/j/6912937135?pwd=WVlpMEs1SCs0c1FoZk5seUhoREVaZz09. Meeting ID: 691 293 7135. Password: berkeley. Hosted by Kevin Langdon, kevinlangdon86/a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 4 Su)

28 – Thursday

11:45a    South Bay Lunch. See July 14. (RSE 2,4 Th)

29 – Friday

7p    Palo Alto Dining at Tamarine Restaurant. About a half mile from the Palo Alto/University Avenue Caltrain station, Tamarine Restaurant features Vietnamese cuisine. It is located at 546 University Ave., Palo Alto 94301. Dishes include shrimp spring rolls, tea leaf beef, green papaya salad, lemongrass sea bass, and more. See their menu at tamarinerestaurant.com. Join us for good food and good conversation. To reserve, contact Susan Heimlich at susan.heimlich/a/t/gmail.com or call/text (650) 714-4972 by Wednesday, July 27. Be sure to get a confirmation. Please bring cash. For last minute changes, call (650) 714-4972. PC, NMPCW 

30 – Saturday

6p    Online Board Games. See July 18.

31 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Celebrations. How important are celebrations to you? Has that varied throughout your life, and where you have lived? Hosted by Sue Bender. See July 3. (RSE Su)

August 2 – Tuesday

5:30p    Tuesday Tipplers. See July 5. (RSE 1 Tu)

6 – Saturday

6p    Start The Month Right. See July 2. (RSE 1 Sat)