August 28 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Is the Mensa Organization Prejudiced Against People of Color? Is there an intelligent reason why people of color are not attending Mensa meetings? See September 4. (RSE Su)

7p    Channing Club. See September 25. (RSE 4 Su)

September 3 – Saturday

6p    Start The Month Right. At Elna and Adrian Tymes’ home in Mountain. 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. We provide the main dish; you bring salad, bread, or dessert to share and YOB. $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)

4 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Outstanding G-rated Words. Which words do you love to say? Which words make you cringe? Some words look really strange in print. Definitions (denotations, connotations, constructs, etc.) of words range from being very specific to being very vague. 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. Hosted by James Monschke. 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 robertamaguirea/t/hotmail.com or (510) 292-6370. PC, ACW, NMPCW, NS, WCI, NXM (RSE 1 Su)

5 – 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 puzzlesa/t/sfmensa.org or (650) 648-3594. PC, NMPCW, ACW

6 – 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 caroleptaylora/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)

7 – Wednesday

6:30p    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Book Discussion. We are reading one chapter a week of The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe: How to Know What’s Really Real in a World Increasingly Full of Fake by Dr. Steven Novella. This week we’re reading Chapter 1, Scientific Skepticism. Join us for one, a few, or all discussions. This is a Zoom event. The login details are listed on Meetup. Hosted by Mickie Winkler. PC (RSE W)

8 – 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)

9 – Friday

7p    Palo Alto Dining at Yayoi, a Japanese restaurant located at 403 University Ave., 94301, on the corner of Waverly St. This restaurant has an interesting and tempting variety to tease our palates. Entrees are generally $20 to $30. Join us for good food and good conversation. To reserve, contact Susan Heimlich at susan.heimlicha/t/gmail.com or call/text (650) 714-4972 by Wednesday, September 7. Be sure to get a confirmation. Please bring cash. For last minute changes, call (650) 714-4972. Vaccinated people only. PC, NMPCW

10 – Saturday

4p    Big Ideas Reading Group: Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth by Stuart Richie. Ritchie reveals the very human biases, misunderstandings, and deceptions that undermine the scientific endeavor: from contamination in science labs to the secret vaults of failed studies that nobody gets to see; from outright cheating with fake data to the more common, but still ruinous, temptation to exaggerate mediocre results for a shot at scientific fame. By illustrating the many ways that scientists go wrong, Ritchie gives us the knowledge we need to spot dubious research and points the way to reforms that could make science trustworthy once again. For October 8 on Zoom: System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot by Rob Reich. We have a list of books read at www.bigideasreadinggroup.com/BIRG2.html. For questions and directions please contact Chris Boyd at snoboyda/t/sbcglobal.net. PC, NMPCW, NXM (RSE 2 Sa)

11 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: “Us” vs. “Them”: Is the distinction learned or genetic? Is tribalism and people separating themselves into “us” and “them” groups a learned or genetic trait? Can it be overcome? If so, how? See September 4. (RSE Su)

12 – Monday

    Monday Munchers is canceled for September. We’ll be back in October on a different day. 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 bwkbwka/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)

13 – 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 puzzlesa/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)

14 – Wednesday

6:30p    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Book Discussion. This week we’re reading Chapter 2, Memory Fallibility and False Memory Syndrome. See September 7. PC (RSE W)

16 – Friday

5p    Pub Trek. Join us for the resurrection of Pub Trek, where we can sample new beers at brew pubs, breweries, or tap houses each month in the South Bay. September’s event is scheduled in Sunnyvale at the Faultline Brewing Company, 1235 Oakmead Pkwy., Sunnyvale 94085, (408) 736-2739, www.faultlinebrewing.com/sunnyvale-menu. More than a brewery, Faultline blasted onto the microbrew scene in December 1994. Their approachable contemporary eclectic menu complements their wide variety of beer styles in a pleasant setting. Their full bar offers options for all, with some happy hour pricing until 6p. Drop by anytime starting at 5p continuing to approximately 7p. RSVP and/or contact Rosemary Greenlaw with any questions or suggestions for future events at (408) 206-4905 or rbgreenlawa/t/gmail.com. PC, NMPCW, NXM, SO (RSE 3 F)

17 – Saturday

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, kevinlangdon86a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 3 Sa)

18 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Choice & Decision-making (in non-political realms of life). How do you approach “all things being equal” options that are presented to you? This could include: your favorite childhood toy, educational pursuits, career(s), brand of green beans, etc. See September 4. (RSE Su)

20 – Tuesday

7:30p    Intelligencer Peel and Stick (NOTE: ANOTHER CHANGE OF LOCATION). Come help label the newsletter. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Held at the home of the editor, Betty Hass, 824 Farley St., Mountain View 94043, (239) 634-2819. PC, NS, C (RSE Tu after 3 Sa)

21 – 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, September 20. Roberta Maguire, robertamaguirea/t/hotmail.com, (510) 292-6370. PC, NS, NMPCW, ACW (RSE 3 W)

6:30p    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Book Discussion. This week we’re reading Chapter 3, Fallibility of Perception. See September 7. PC (RSE W)

22 – Thursday

11:45a    South Bay Lunch. See September 8. (RSE 2,4 Th)

23 – 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, junger2040a/t/gmail.com. PC (RSE 4 F)

24 – Saturday

6p    Online Board Games. See September 5.

25 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Should the government legislate moral behavior? If so, to what extent? See September 4. (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, kevinlangdon86a/t/yahoo.com. PC (RSE 4 Su)

28 – Wednesday

6:30p    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Book Discussion. This week we’re reading Chapter 4, Pareidolia. See September 7. PC (RSE W)

October 1 – Saturday

6p    Start The Month Right. See September 3. (RSE 1 Sat)

2 – Sunday

12n    Cafe Discussion: Giftedness & Curiosity (inspired by the Einstein quote). Albert Einstein said, “I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” What do you think about this quote? How do you view “giftedness,” “curiosity,” and how the two terms may be related? See September 4. (RSE Su)

4p    Albany Hill Hike. See September 4. (RSE 1 Su)

4 – Tuesday

5:30p    Tuesday Tipplers. See September 6. (RSE 1 Tu)

    Intelligencer Deadline. See September 6. (RSE Tu after 1 Sa)

5 – Wednesday

6:30p    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Book Discussion. This week we’re reading Chapter 5, Hyperactive Agency Detection. See September 7. (RSE W)

8 – Saturday

4p    Big Ideas Reading Group. See September 10. (RSE 2 Sa)

15 – Saturday

6p    East Bay Movie Night. 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of Gene Kelly & Stanley Donen’s iconic Singin’ in the Rain. In celebration, we will be screening this movie outdoors at member Erin Putnam’s house in Concord. Members, their kids, and their guests are welcome to attend. Well behaved pets are also welcome so long as your pet is socialized to be around both other pets and small children. Light refreshments will be available but please feel free to bring something to share with the group. Please bring a camping chair or blanket to sit on during the movie as seating is limited. RSVP via SFRM Meetup at www.meetup.com/sfmensa/events/287794832 or by emailing Katie To at tiggr0272a/t/hotmail.com. The exact address will be provided to those who RSVP. PC

22 – Saturday

11:30a    SFRM Fall Picnic. Come join us for our annual Fall Picnic at Marlin Park, 500 Cringle Dr., Redwood City 94065. At this family friendly event, people can relax over hamburgers, hot dogs, and various beverages while enjoying our great fall weather in a socially distanced setting. This event is sponsored by SFRM so it is free for our members, their guests, and their kids. RSVP via SFRM Meetup at www.meetup.com/sfmensa/events/287721344. Please feel free to contact Katie To at tiggr0272a/t/hotmail.com if you have any questions. PC