This month, you’ll find mixed treats. First, renew your Mensa Membership right away to receive one of the new plastic cards. Go on-line and renew, check the spelling of your name and whatever seems necessary. But do it now. Then check back here, under NOTES & QUERIES, for the facts about swine/bird flu (with thanks to Jeff Pugh). Next, scan FOR YOUR CONTEMPLATION and learn about Neolithic surgery. This was 7,000 years ago, but we knew about bone structure, blood vessels, aseptic conditions, and anaesthetic.

Also in FOR YOUR CONTEMPLATION, review the first of the New York Times’ series on negligence in radiation treatments, the awful effects and concealment of blunders by private institutions and government, failure of medical colleges to police themselves, and the foolishness of placing blind faith in doctors. These political and medical failures, motivated by greed and laziness, promise to be a big scandal. What’s the betting that Canada’s system is worse?

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