Author: billielee

Program Live and via Zoom, 7:00 pm (EDT) Saturday, April 19, 2025:

Enigmatic mediums, murders, monsters, and more are all part of our mysterious and sometimes supernatural history. For example, the will of Detroit’s first millionaire, Eber B. Ward, was hotly contested because he took the financial advice of spirits. Marian Spore Bush, Bay City’s first female dentist, moved to New York City, where she became a psychic wonder–and a secret philanthropist. And according to Amberrose Hammond our speaker this month, old witchcraft superstitions drove a Midwest family insane and caused another man to murder his godmother. All this and other notable occurrences that took the headlines throughout the U.S.

Join us at 7:00 pm (EDT) on Saturday, April 19, when Ms. Hammond will bring to light strange and unusual tales from our colorful and exciting past. For more than two decades, Amberrose Hammond has been delving deep into our eerie and unconventional past. As a passionate lover of history and cemeteries, she has traveled across Michigan to spread the word about the state’s weirdest and most off-beat tales. Through compelling lectures and historical cemetery tours, Amberrose has captured the imaginations of thousands with her infectious enthusiasm for our spooky side. With her expertise and deep knowledge of the paranormal, she has authored “Ghosts & Legends of Michigan’s West Coast” and “Mysterious Michigan” as well as two true crime books, “Wicked Ottawa County” and “Wicked Grand Rapids”. For those who want to explore the strange and unusual even further, Amberrose invites you to check out her website “Mysterious Michigan” and subscribe to “Ghostly Talk”, the podcast she cohosts.

Please note that this program will be presented live and on Zoom. You can attend the live presentation, for a chance to also mingle with your fellow Mensans and guests, at our usual location:
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church in Southfield
23925 Northwestern Highway
Southfield, MI 48075

Doors open at 6:30 pm (EDT). The program begins at 7:00 pm
(EDT).

Ticket prices for the in-person program are:
Members 13 years old+: $5 or buy a strip of 4 tickets for $15.
Guests 13 years old+: $7, Members and guests 12 & under: Free
Exact change is appreciated!

Following the presentation, please join us for dinner at Buddy’s
Pizza, located at 31646 Northwestern Highway, in Farmington
Hills, just northeast of Middlebelt Road.

If you can’t join us in person, the Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm
(EDT) for mingling.

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone went up 70% in the past year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to PayPal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.

Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-
Gathering. And choosing “April 19, 2025 6:30 pm” from the drop-
down box. The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT)for mingling.
The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

Even in re-runs, something astonishing keeps cropping up on
TV’s “The Big Bang Theory” and its highly successful spinoff,
“Young Sheldon” – namely, actual science. What’s so hilarious
about Schrodinger’s cat, Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, and
glow-in-the-dark jellyfish? Though both shows are comedies,
they’re peppered with real-life scientific references: Characters
chat about cutting-edge and classical experiments; historic
formulae adorn living room whiteboards; and famous techno
luminaries and science educators guest-star as themselves. The
Big Bang Theory, which is still watched regularly on at least ten
different local stations, cable channels, and streaming services
around the world, features an assortment of very smart characters
wisecracking about these and other real-life high-IQ concepts —
and now you’ll be able to, too.

Join us at 7:00 pm (EDT) on Saturday, March 15 to learn why
CBS became PBS… sort of. This month’s guest speaker, science
humorist Dave Zobel argues that the two hugely popular “funny
nerd” shows still fill a vital (if nontraditional) role in popularizing
science: Their subtle celebration of scientific inquiry draws
viewers into conversation about science, technology, math – even
philosophy. And that’s a gift to every science geek … or science
denier. Part one-man colloquium, part comedy routine, Mr. Zobel’s talk just might show you enough of what’s fun and funny about
science to earn you a spot on Sheldon’s couch!

Dave Zobel has appeared on the TV channels G4 and Discovery
and has penned segments for the radio shows “StarDate”, “Day to
Day”, “Says You!” and “The Loh Down on Science”. For the LA
nonprofit “T4T” (Trash for Teaching), he designs STEM teaching
kits out of rescued and repurposed manufacturers’ discards.

Please note that this program will be presented only via
Zoom.

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but, due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone are up 70% this year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to PayPal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.
Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-
Gathering. The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EDT) for mingling.
The program starts at 7:00 pm (EDT).

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in
1960, and are widely regarded as the most influential band of all
time. Whether you liked them or not, they were integral to the
development of the 1960s counterculture and the recognition of
popular music as an art form.

The Beatles were a cultural tsunami that forever changed fashion,
manners, humor, media, values, and style while influencing
musical genres and future musicians long after the group’s
demise.

Join us at 7 pm (EST) on Saturday, February 15, when Kansas
University’s “Professor of Rock”, and lifelong educator Steve
Lopes will lead us in a review of the Beatles’ origin story and
Beatlemania, and how they became so fabulous. Participants
wishing to do so will also have an opportunity to engage in a trivia
quiz and a discussion of the “Fab Four’s” legacy.

Steve Lopes was a technology educator for fifteen years before
becoming a union organizer. After 30 years with the Kansas
National Education Association, he returned to teaching, this time
leading history of rock classes for Lifelong Learners at the
University of Kansas, University of Missouri- Kansas City, and
Washburn University. Steve enjoys researching Rock ‘n’ Roll
history and sharing it with his students. He also donates his
organizing skills in support of progressive causes and candidates.

Please note that this program will be presented only via
Zoom.

The Zoom room opens at 6:30 pm (EST) for mingling. The
program starts at 7:00 pm (EST). 

There is no charge for the Zoom presentation, but due to rising
costs, (Meetup charges alone are up 70% this year!) your
donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated. Please donate $5! To
donate go to paypal.com, login, and click on the “Send” button.
Enter the e-mail address: treasurer@nullmensadetroit.com, click on
“Next”, fill in your payment amount, and in the “What’s this for”
dialogue box enter: “SEMM Zoom Presentations.” Click “Next”,
select your payment method, and click “Send”.

Please remember that all attendees need to pre-register by
clicking on the following link: https://tinyurl.com/SEMM-2025-Gathering.