Welcome to the Mensa -affiliated, transnational, special interest group of Electricians, Inspectors, Engineers and Interested
Others focusing on power, lighting and communications.
IDENTITY
We're a club -- we sometimes visit, talk, help each other out on questions or projects. Our far most regular endeavor is The Flexible Conduit, our newsletter. Incidentally, we take our work seriously, sometimes even passionately; but we try not to take ourselves too seriously. Our April issue, for instance, usually has been devoted to foolishness.
AFFILIATION REQUIREMENTS
You're expected to be bright, and involved or interested in the electrical industry or some aspect of electricity. If you are not already a member, you are strongly urged to join Mensa, and to let me know when you do. (Mensa membership simply requires proof that your IQ is or was within the top 2%, and payment of annual, or one-shot lifetime, dues.)
People affiliate by getting on our mailing list. There are two forms of affiliation: one gets you printed newsletters, the other, pdf files. The admittedly-primitive hard-copy mailing list is an envelope containing a mix of self-addressed, stamped envelopes (SASE's) and of mailing labels.
The e-list encompasses those members--most of us--who have indicated that they prefer to receive the newsletter online, and who contribute something to pretty much each issue. (This can be as simple as sending in a few lines of comment on what appeared in the previous issue.) The SIG's membership definitely is more than a tally of newsletter subscribers. Before receiving a first hard copy* of The Flexible Conduit (FC), you must send in a dollar and SASE (unless you're outside the U.S.) with a note, a diskette, or e-mail, telling us about yourself. Resumes will do, although they're usually impersonal. We'd like to know YOU.
If you're clear you would like to join as an e-member, and are prepared to participate actively as this mode of membership entails, you're welcome to start out with the bio alone, emailed. This will get you an e-copy of the most-recent issue. Based on that sample, you let me know whether you want to stay on board, in which case your bio will be shared.
How much should you write? We're talking more than a few lines, but not multiple pages, at least at first. Once you join, that letter will appear in the newsletter to introduce you to your colleagues.
COSTS
To get on board for snailmailings, send in something to get a physical version of the newsletter printed and mailed to you. This can be a stack of SASE's; mailing labels and the cost of postage; or just postage plus a little extra to cover my buying and printing up envelopes for you. For U.S. mailing, as of 2009 postage costs 44 cents an issue. I recommend using the USPS's "Forever" stamps. I'm perfectly willing to airmail the newsletter to members outside the U.S. I'll have to check postage rates at the time you join. A year's affiliation usually means twelve issues. Unless you feel poor, for hard copy membership I ask you to add $5.00 or $10.00 per year to cover paper, copying and other expenses. Some send in a bit extra, to compensate for those who can't.
You can join for longer or shorter periods. This means that if you simply send money, tell me how long a period you are joining for. When you send labels, I keep the FC coming as long as I have labels -- and trust you paid what was fair in your circumstances. If someone sends 30 labels and $15, he or she gets 30 issues, just as if the money had been $30 or $50.
If you would like to join us as an e-member, you are welcome. This does mean you are taking on a considerable responsibility. Just as each month I try to put out a newsletter, you are asked to get in touch every month and contribute something, if only a commetn saying, "neat article by Stephen" or "I really can't agree with what Mike said last month." Of course, if you send in a substantial article or a series of crisp, relevant photos, that may be good for 2-3 issues. However, without a stack of SASEs, the only way we can know you're still on board is if you keep talking to the rest of us. Besides, the reason we want you to join is to share your thoughts.PUBLISHING POLICY
Our newsletter comes out roughly monthly. Once upon a time the FC was created by my copying what people send in -- typed single space, or sketched in black ink. Nowadays, I ask those who can do so to submit material electronically, by email to sig@davidelishapiro.com or by diskette. I want to be inclusive, and share whatever members without computers can offer, but I have precious little time for keying in text and only moderate success scanning photos. I do not reproduce anything copyrighted (e.g. previously published) unless I have a written release--an exception being if you're the copyright holder. DO earmark anything that you tell me or send me--printed or by email-- that you do NOT want published.
YOU need to contribute a note, article, response, comment, something that puts ink on the page, periodically, whether you sign up for the print or the pdf version. Without this, our SIG cannot survive. At times, members have volunteered to contribute columns on a more-or-less regular basis, and that's great. Still, even when that is true, no section of the newsletter is reserved (in either sense of the word). Because our more-active members have been involved primarily in designing, installing, and inspecting U.S. power wiring, that is what we have talked about more than anything else. Some of us particularly enjoy comparing different countries' ways of dealing with electricity. We also cover other aspects of the electrical industry, engineering, and inspection. So talk about them, if that's where your interests lie.
I edit very lightly, based on my perception of our conjoint interests: electrical, safety, personal, business; tales, boasts, queries, humor, horror; reviews (books, research, tools, software, seminars, materials/equipment/devices). Finally, I won't reprint something we've already run--even if it was before your time. When I delete or significantly paraphrase input, I announce the fact. This gives other members a chance to chime in and say, "Hey, let's see that."
I do correct English slips, ably guided by Alexander Brittain, our long-term volunteer copy editor. Alexander's an English and ESOL teacher; I have a writing and editing business in parallel (and often intermingled) with my electrical career. Exceptions to standard grammar and orthography are a-ok when used for effect. I in turn welcome both factual and linguistic corrections and challenges to what I write. We're on a first-name basis.
We're on a first-name basis. While we have some godly members, they put up with the occasional off-color or crude material. The only thing I'm unwilling to print is clearly malicious or otherwise hurtful material such as seriously-meant racial, ethnic, gender, or suchlike slurs. Satirical ones are a judgment call. My writ is not wholly holy.
To get some sense of what we print, here are sample years from the index to The FC,
which I certainly have not kept up to date. Issue 242 went out at the beginning of December, 2007; issue 254, December 2008.
Pre # 1: Stuart Bridgman (New Zealand Design/ consult engnr, ham operator, Call sign ZL2AAC) & I chat by mail.
Brian Saper (hobbyist, electronics, electric moonlighter)
March 1991
Electrophobia - Physics & Society
Quote: 1-shock learning
LXXXII March 1994
Quote: Plug Adapters
Member News
Alan Nadon & GFCI's
Intro: Greg Campbell
James Shepheard
Follow-Up
PLC's
Ray-ovac
Curve Coordination
Review
Polypro bushings
From the Press
Solar tax credits
Prototype fuel cells
Westinghouse, IEC shrink
LXXXV June 1994
Quote : Electrons timid but notional - Heinlein
Tidbits
Alternative fuels hotline
Automotive HID
Split-bus backfeeds
Reviews
Real Goods News
Easyscan
The Constructor
Dirigo Energy
Queries
Fuel cells and reactive power
Define supervision
Sodium vapor fluorescence?
Acid Rain reconsidered -- Sullivan
LXXXX November 1994
Quote: falling workers
Letters
Charlie Eldridge re bonding
Creighton re bonding
Intros
Angela McDonald
Bill Edwards
El's Quiz
LXXXXII Holiday 1994-January 1995
Quote: What's a BTU?
Query quashed -- circline problem solved
Introduction - John Wiles
From the Press: Sulfur lamp
Review: Tedesco teaches
Letters
Stuart Bridgman -- ELF-EMF; fluorescent UV; electronic ballasts
Alan Nadon -- query: water pipe bonding or water pipe as ground?
LXXXXVI May 1995
Quote: NEMA backwards
Introduction: David Koblick, Austria
Member News
Dale Miller
Angela McDonald
Stuart Bridgman
James Shepherd
From the Press
Northern California Fluorescents
LXXXXVIII July 1995
Quote: from the flattered lightning bug Don Marquis
Member News - Pete Stiles joins
Letter - James Shepherd - reviews Programmable Controllers... by Filer and Leinonen
From the Press: Ground Fault locator patent
Reviews: Lockout pamphlet
This Old House
El's Code Quiz
Electrical Safety : Rosalie Beasley on OSHA course, Part II
CIII December 1995
Quotes: Edison
Putting the leather to it
Member Notes -- Nora Chermak
Exposition Notes
Wirenut history
Aluminum splices
smoke detector energy storage
Code Quiz
Reviews
Brimmer stripper
Fan Brace fan support box
Code questions
Code Changes
CIV Holiday 1995-January 1996
Quote: Van Arsdale
Member Notes
-Chermak
-Schwan
Code Quiz
From the Press -- IEC vs salting
NEC Proposal
Skill Standards
CV F'Arch 1996
Quote: Rocky Flats lamp change
Dedication: Ren Wanding
Member Notes
-Eldridge
-Yerks
Threat
Code Quiz
Skill Standards Redux
Cryptic follow-up live PVC drain
CXXXXII April Fool 1999
Quote: Schrödinger
Dedication: Darwin Award Finalists
Endless light bulb jokes
Silly stories
Absurd quotes
CLV June 2000
Quote: South Dakota seasons
Dedication: Benj Franklin
Picture: Early table fan, from Smithsonian archives
Member Notes:
Creighton Schwan: stained glass, ethics
Alexander Brittain: injury
John Wiles: bio, magnetic-hydraulic breakers
Humor: X-files/ light bulbs
Gossip:
Tasco vs Suretest
Eagle Hospital-grade receptacles
UEI Testers
Berkeley attic insulation requirement
Strange steel boxes
Web Sites:
Friedman
Electrical-contractor.net
trades.net
appliance411.com ring
Seminar Miscellany:
Redwood Kardon talk, various rules
Hilton Moreno: the Brazilian way
Press notes:
Popular Mechanics gaffe
EPRI: "Sharewars" - people pay for premiums for good power
EC&M: Stallcup promising
Safety Compliance Alert: fatalities, OSHA fines due to no backup power
RMI Solutions: e-commerce's energy cost or savings; solar vs nuclear
Queries:
Panel fill rationale
Curved fan blades
Receptacle/ prong contact
Fluorescents tripping gfcis
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