December Puzzles

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New Picture Puzzles and “Mixed Bag” Questions are in their usual spot at the top of the PUZZLES PAGE
The December 2014 SKEPTICAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE has Famous Skeptics as its theme; and there are ten new LOGIC & MATHS PUZZLES
Enjoy!

December 2014 Logic & Maths Puzzles – Solutions

1. Nine ways: 2 X $20; 1 X $20, 2 X $10; 1 X $20, 1 X $10, 2 X $5; 1 X $20, 4 X $5; 4 X $10; 3 X $10, 2 X $5; 2 X $10, 4 X $5; 1 X $10, 6 X $5; 8 X $5
2. Sixteen ways
3. The cube
4. Queen-1; King-7; Pawn-5; Knight-4; Bishop-2
5. (a) 6 snakes, (b) 14 lizards, (c) 7 people
6. 72 metres
7. Four ducks
8. 11 times
9. (a) 13; (b) 1 in 144 or 1:143
10. Alice is 10, Bill is 5, Charlie is 9

“Mixed Bag” Questions December 2014 – Answers

1. A. Foot; B. Hand; C. Fish (or finger); D. Ear

2. Commander Quinton McHale

3. Australia v West Indies, Cricket

4. Reduced, secured, seducer

5. A. Orange (The Netherlands); B. Scotland; C. Hanover (Germany)

6. Sanyo

7. Hans Christian Andersen

8. Five miles

9. Magazines (Vogue, Vanity Fair, New Yorker, GQ among others)

10. Handel

HARDER:

11. One

12. Shortest reign (12 days)

13. Makes shoes

14. Charlotte Corday

15. 1869

16. 12 days

17. Eight

18. Nicholas Beakspear, aka Adrian IV

19. Fauntleroy

20. Thomas Sullivan

An Atheist in the Army

by Roy Arnott

Roy Arnott is the Treasurer of Australian Skeptics Victorian Branch.(Vic)

Roy enlisted in the CMF (later the Australian Army Reserve) in 1959 retiring as a Warrant Officer Class 2 in 1996.

His civilian career was in the Australian Public Service, mainly in Defence related departments. In the latter years Roy transferred from Defence and his terminal posting with the APS was a six year term with the Australian National Audit Office.

No Religion

badgeIt started on Day 1. When I enlisted back in 1959, we got to the question on the form about religion. I said that I did not have any. The Attestation Officer said, “You have to be something, I will put down Church of England”. Later, when I knew a bit more about things than the average recruit, I had my file corrected to read “No Religion”.
The Army personnel system does not have a classification of “Atheist”.
I think the descriptor “No Religion” is fair enough. We do not need to coin a word for other non believers – in, for example, fairies, ghosts, or Easter Bunnies View More An Atheist in the Army

Happenings – October/November 2014

1. The Genesis II Church advertised a seminar at Clayton Community Centre from 14th to 16th of November at $500 per participant. The Church’s leader, Jim Humble promotes MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution) as a cure for diseases such as Malaria, HIV, autism and Ebola. MMS contains bleaching agents – including sodium chlorite, chlorine dioxide and calcium hypochlorite.

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These are seriously dangerous chemicals. A spokesperson for the Victorian Poisons Information Centre said a total of 10 people – with four needing further treatment at the hospital – had reported feeling ill after administering MMS with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Genesis II Church’s practices have already been the subject of joint FDA and ACCC investigations and legal action. View More Happenings – October/November 2014