Belief in God in the United States, probably in the Western world generally, is at an all-time low.  Between 1944 and 2011,the belief in God in the United States remained above 90%. In 2017, it dropped to 87%.

Now, with changes in the religious and theistic landscape of American society, we are watching the erosion of theistic belief on the order of millions of people per year. The number is now 81%.          

Atheists, agnostics, and the like, have been and continue to be an increasing demographic in the United States. The most likely groups to witness this decline are Democrats at 72%, young adults at 68%, and liberals at 62%.

Interestingly, no change appears to have happened to married adults and conservatives. These reflect more dramatic changes in the attendance at religious services in the United States. Less than 50% of Americans are explicit members of a church, mosque, or synagogue, and 36% having confidence in organized religion.

Most American citizens have doubts about the existence of God, while 19% have no belief in God. These shifts appear driven mostly by the young.

With files from Gallup

*Updated June 15, 2022.*

*If not included/missed, and if wanting inclusion, please send an email to Scott.Douglas.Jacobsen@Gmail.Com, then I can include the publication in the listing. I want everyone included in the international community here.*

High-I.Q. societies continue to give a modicum of fascination to me. Whenever I think the trail ends, other people come forward and present new information and material. In general, where one finds individuals with numerical, spatial, verbal, or reasoning talent, or all of the aforementioned, one tends to find individuals in professions demanding intellectual facility. When others want, typically, a digital community, a safe space for communication, correspondence, and the like; the high-I.Q. communities give such place for quiet felicity in interaction with the like-talented.

Publications, in this sense, provide a platform for the members to show talents, interests, thoughts, and productions. A short-form list of found publications will be listed at the end of the article. This resource will be built on the listing of non-defunct societies listed in” World Intelligence Network Addendum I – Non-Defunct Societies Membership” with some extensions. The purpose is to catalogue some high-I.Q. publications for individuals curious about the high-I.Q. communities and as a piece of personal curiosity. The prior non-defunct societies, as follows:

1. The Cogito Society

2. The International High IQ Society of Nathan Haselbauer

3. The Deep Brain Society of Anna Maria Santoro and Vincenzo D’Onofrio

4. Mensa Society of Lancelot Ware and Roland Berrill

5. The High Potentials Society of Max Tiefenbacher

6. Intertel of Ralph Haines

7. The Top One Percent Society (TOPS) of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

8. The Colloquy Society of Julia Cachia

9. The CIVIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

10. The Glia Society of Paul Cooijmans

11. International Society for Philosophical Enquiries/International Society for Philosophical Inquiry (ISPE) of Christopher Harding

12. The Triple Nine Society (TNS) of Richard Canty, Dr. Ronald Hoeflin, Ronald Penner, Edgar Van Vleck, and Kevin Langdon

13. The AtlantIQ Society of Beatrice Rescazzi and Moreno Casalegno

14. The EpIQ Society of Chris Chsioufis

15. The IQuadrivium Society of Karyn S. Huntting

16. The Society for Intellectually Gifted Individuals with Disabilities of Nathaniel David Durham/Nate Durham with assistant Lyla Durham

17. The Encefálica Society of Luis Enrique Pérez Ostoa

18. The Greatest Minds Society of Roberto A. Rodriguez Cruz

19. The Mysterium Society of Greg A. Grove

20. The Sigma II Society of Hindemburg Melão

21. The Mind Society of Hernan R. Chang

22. The Infinity International Society (IIS) of Jeffrey Osgood

23. The Sigma III Society of Hindemburg Melão

24. The Milenija Society of Dr. Ivan Ivec and Mislav Predavec

3.13 Sigma to 4.8 Sigma

25. ISI-Society of Dr. Jonathan Wai

26. Epida Society of Fernando Barbosa Neto

27. SPIQR Society of Marco Ripà

28. Vertex Society of Stevan M. Damjanovic

29. Epimetheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

30. HELLIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

31. Prometheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

32. Sigma IV Society of Hindemburg Melão

33. Tetra Society of Mislav Predavec

34. UltraNet Society/Ultranet of Dr. Gina Langan (formerly Gina LoSasso/Gina Losasso) and Christopher Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Michael Langan

35. GenerIQ Society of Mislav Predavec

36. Mega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

37. Omega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

38. Pi Society of Dr. Nikos Lygeros/Dr. Nik Lygeros

5. Sigma to 7. Sigma

39. Mega International Society/Mega International of Dr. Gina Langan (formerly Gina LoSasso/Gina Losasso) and Christopher Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Michael Langan

40. OLYMPIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

41. PolymathIQ Society of Ron Altmann

42. Sigma V Society of Hindemburg Melão

43. Ultima Society of Dr. Ivan Ivec

44. GIGA Society of Paul Cooijmans

45. Sigma VI Society of Hindemburg Melão

46. Grail Society of Paul Cooijmans

47. Tera Society of R. Young

The overlay following this listing will incorporate descriptive commentary for some societies based on the listing followed by newer resources outside of the previous listing:

1. The Cogito Society

No found publication for The Cogito Society.

2. The International High IQ Society of Nathan Haselbauer

Duly note, Nathan Haselbauer is deceased. He committed suicide. The International High IQ Society appears functional with some provisions for members regarding correspondence and discussion, while no formally listed publication, as follows:

When you join IHIQS, you get a membership certificate and you can become a part of our online community to participate in forum discussions, learn from top experts, connect with intelligent people and advance yourself.

We have a private online forum at our website and are available on Facebook as well as LinkedIn and Instagram. We currently have no offline events, but other members may well live close by. As long as you “kick the ball and not the player”, you will find yourself in an open-minded environment where you are allowed to kick the ball quite hard.

You do not have access to a representative publication. You have access to a private online forum, Meta/Facebook discussions, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

3. The Deep Brain Society of Anna Maria Santoro and Vincenzo D’Onofrio

A publication, Profondamente (DeepBrain Society Magazine/DeepBrain Magazine), is listed with the Executive Editor, Anna Maria Santoro. Contributors are not remunerated for submissions. This may be a pervasive fact with high-I.Q. society publications. Two issues have been published: 2010 and June, 2012.

4. Mensa Society of Lancelot Ware and Roland Berrill

Mensa World Journal is the flagship international publication of ‘Mensa Society’ or Mensa International. It replaced the International Journal in 2013.

5. The High Potentials Society of Max Tiefenbacher

There is a listed point or not to a Society Magazine. However, finding a hyperlink to such a point of reference is not present, perhaps, this remains only accessible to members. I hold no formal memberships in any high-I.Q. society, as I take this as an independent journalistic endeavour. Thus, a publication or magazine may exist, though the access may be restricted to members and not the general public.

6. Intertel of Ralph Haines

Intertel has a flagship publication, Integra. Its members are encouraged to contribute to it. They state, “Because members of Intertel are so geographically widespread, communication is very important. All members are encouraged to contribute to Integra, the Journal of Intertel, published ten times a year. In addition, regional newsletters are published periodically, and many members correspond via e-mail or a growing variety of online forums. There is an annual gathering (this year in Prague), and the various regions schedule social activities.”

7. The Top One Percent Society (TOPS) of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

Termite is the official publication of TOPS. It appears as if limited to members.

8. The Colloquy Society of Julia Cachia

A flagship publication does not appear available. However, a series of articles are open for reading to an interested community.

9. The CIVIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

No individual publication appears to exist for The CIVIQ Society. However, its umbrella World Intelligence Network’s flagship publication is Phenomenon.

10. The Glia Society of Paul Cooijmans

Thoth is its flagship publication. The Glia Society website states, “The journal “Thoth” is available only to members and appears in digital format. It guarantees absolute freedom of speech and has no editorial changes or censorship of any kind. Thoth is filled with members’ submissions, and occasionally contains material by others.

Thoth has a variable number of pages of A5 size. Images are frequently included.

Thoth is named after the Egyptian moon god, who weighed the hearts of the deceased to determine if they would be admitted to the hereafter or, if the examination was failed, torn apart by a monster. Thoth is also the name used by the future Grail Society member.”

11. International Society for Philosophical Enquiries/International Society for Philosophical Inquiry (ISPE) of Christopher Harding

Telicom is its flagship publication. It has a robust presentation online as a provision for its membership. This appears to be – out of the 11 examined so far – one of the more publicly well-presented publications.

12. The Triple Nine Society (TNS) of Richard Canty, Dr. Ronald Hoeflin, Ronald Penner, Edgar Van Vleck, and Kevin Langdon

Vidya is the official publication of the Triple Nine Society. It states, “Vidya content is exclusively provided by members. There are personal stories and experiences, semi-scientific articles, puzzles, pictures, poems, news about the society – and everything in-between. Below are some articles that will hopefully give you an impression of the diversity you can expect in TNS. And they are good reads, too.”

13. The AtlantIQ Society of Beatrice Rescazzi and Moreno Casalegno

Leonardo is the official publication of the AtlantIQ Society. It has 48 issues to date. It amounts to a multi-society publication hosted on the new AtlantIQ Society website. They state, “These are the issues of the new Leonardo – the magazine of the AtlantIQ Society, STHIQ Society and the Creative Genius Society – and the previous AtlantIQ Society Members’ Magazine issues. They are freely readable and downloadable by everyone.
This is a multimedia magazine: you can click on photos and links to know more about the article you are reading. 
You can easily read the magazine after clicking the image links and going full screen (click the square button in the lower right side of the preview window).”

14. The EpIQ Society of Chris Chsioufis

A magazine connected to EpIQ Society via the IQ Nexus is IQ Nexus Journal.

15. The IQuadrivium Society of Karyn S. Huntting

No discernible publication exists for The Iquadrivium Society.

16. The Society for Intellectually Gifted Individuals with Disabilities of Nathaniel David Durham/Nate Durham with assistant Lyla Durham

No publication appears to exist for The Society for Intellectually Gifted Individuals with Disabilities.

17. The Encefálica Society of Luis Enrique Pérez Ostoa

No discoverable publications for The Encefálica Society.

18. The Greatest Minds Society of Roberto A. Rodriguez Cruz

No found publication for The Greatest Minds Society.

19. The Mysterium Society of Greg A. Grove

No apparent publication for The Mysterium Society.

20. The Sigma II Society of Hindemburg Melão

No apparent flagship publication for this society, though under the rubric of the Sigma Society. Sigma Society website has a database of articles relevant to its international community of about 200+ members.

21. The Mind Society of Hernan R. Chang

No formal publication exists for Mind Society. However, the society exists a means by which members can communicate with other members without affiliation with other societies.

22. The Infinity International Society (IIS) of Jeffrey Osgood

Its publication exists under the rubric of IQ Nexus, where IQ Nexus Journal amounts to the journal for The Infinity International Society and others.

23. The Sigma III Society of Hindemburg Melão

No apparent flagship publication for this society, though under the rubric of the Sigma Society. Sigma Society website has a database of articles relevant to its international community of about 200+ members.

24. The Milenija Society of Dr. Ivan Ivec and Mislav Predavec

No apparent publication at this time. Nonetheless, Ivan Ivec retired from test construction. Mislav Predavec may be different.

3.13 Sigma to 4.8 Sigma

25. ISI-Society of Dr. Jonathan Wai

The Isi-s Discussion Group, WIN Board: WIN, and IQ Nexus forum, exist for communication of members. No formal publication found at this time for ISI-Society.

26. Epida Society of Fernando Barbosa Neto

No publication at this time.

27. SPIQR Society of Marco Ripà

No flagship publication at this time. In fact, membership considerations are suspended at the moment.

28. Vertex Society of Stevan M. Damjanovic

Zero publications for Vertex Society.

29. Epimetheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

A section of the website states “Termite.” This may be a reference to the aforementioned publication Termite for TOPS.

30. HELLIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

No individual publication appears to exist for The HELLIQ Society. However, its umbrella World Intelligence Network’s flagship publication is Phenomenon.

31. Prometheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

An interesting and distinct setup for The Prometheus Society. They have a primary forum discussion group entitled The Fire List. It is open to Prometheus Society members and subscribers. Its flagship publication is Gift of Fire published 0 to 10 times per year available to members and subscribers.

32. Sigma IV Society of Hindemburg Melão

No apparent flagship publication for this society, though under the rubric of the Sigma Society. Sigma Society website has a database of articles relevant to its international community of about 200+ members.

33. Tetra Society of Mislav Predavec

No discernible publication for Tetra Society.

34. UltraNet Society/Ultranet of Dr. Gina Langan (formerly Gina LoSasso/Gina Losasso) and Christopher Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Michael Langan

An online Meta/Facebook group discussion exists with administrators and moderators as Christopher Michael Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Langan (brother of Mark Langan, Jeffrey Langan, and Colter Langan, and son of the late Mary Chappelle Langan-Hansen), Dr. Gina Langan, Torbjørn Brenna, Freidank Eike, Erin J. Morgart, and Laney Ellis. No formal publication appears to exist.

35. GenerIQ Society of Mislav Predavec

No publication discernible for GenerIQ Society.

36. Mega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society or Noesis is the flagship publication of the Mega Society.

37. Omega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin

A section of the website states “Termite.” This may be a reference to the aforementioned publication Termite for TOPS and for the Epimetheus Society.

38. Pi Society of Dr. Nikos Lygeros/Dr. Nik Lygeros

Its journal appears to be Perfection.

5. Sigma to 7. Sigma

39. Mega International Society/Mega International of Dr. Gina Langan (formerly Gina LoSasso/Gina Losasso) and Christopher Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Michael Langan

Noesis-E and Ubiquity were publications of the larger non-profit organization The Mega Foundation of the same individuals.

40. OLYMPIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis

No individual publication appears to exist for The OLYMPIQ Society. However, its umbrella World Intelligence Network’s flagship publication is Phenomenon.

41. PolymathIQ Society of Ron Altmann

No discernible publication

42. Sigma V Society of Hindemburg Melão

No apparent flagship publication for this society, though under the rubric of the Sigma Society. Sigma Society website has a database of articles relevant to its international community of about 200+ members.

43. Ultima Society of Dr. Ivan Ivec

No found publication.

44. GIGA Society of Paul Cooijmans

A members-only publication named Nemesis is active.

45. Sigma VI Society of Hindemburg Melão

No apparent flagship publication for this society, though under the rubric of the Sigma Society. Sigma Society website has a database of articles relevant to its international community of about 200+ members.

46. Grail Society of Paul Cooijmans

G is the publication, unpublished to date.

47. Tera Society of R. Young

Minds that Matter is the publication with one issue in October, 2014 by Editor Moira Greyland.

The shorthand of this listing of 47 with publications can be cut down. The total of 47, in reality, has about 21 discernible publications. While, within a little bit of analysis, these have plenty of replication. So, even further, the 21 would, in fact, be fewer. To start, those 21 would be the following:

The Deep Brain Society of Anna Maria Santoro and Vincenzo D’Onofrio has the publication Profondamente (DeepBrain Society Magazine/DeepBrain Magazine).

Mensa Society of Lancelot Ware and Roland Berrill has the publication Mensa World Journal. 

Intertel of Ralph Haines has the publication Integra.

The Top One Percent Society (TOPS) of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin has the publication Termite.

The Glia Society of Paul Cooijmans has the publication Thoth.

International Society for Philosophical Enquiries/International Society for Philosophical Inquiry (ISPE) of Christopher Harding has the publication Telicom.

The Triple Nine Society (TNS) of Richard Canty, Dr. Ronald Hoeflin, Ronald Penner, Edgar Van Vleck, and Kevin Langdon has the publication Vidya.

The AtlantIQ Society of Beatrice Rescazzi and Moreno Casalegno has the publication Leonardo.

The EpIQ Society of Chris Chsioufis has the publication IQ Nexus Journal.

The Infinity International Society (IIS) of Jeffrey Osgood has the publication IQ Nexus Journal.

Epimetheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin may have the publication Termite.

HELLIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis has the publication Phenomenon.

Prometheus Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin has the publication Gift of Fire.

Mega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin has the publication Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society.

Omega Society of Dr. Ronald K. Hoeflin may have the publication Termite.

Pi Society of Dr. Nikos Lygeros/Dr. Nik Lygeros has the publication Perfection.

Mega International Society/Mega International of Dr. Gina Langan (formerly Gina LoSasso/Gina Losasso) and Christopher Langan/Chris Langan/Christopher Michael Langan have, or had, the publications Noesis-E and Ubiquity.

OLYMPIQ Society of Dr. Evangelos Katsioulis has the publication Phenomenon.

GIGA Society of Paul Cooijmans has the publication Nemesis.

Grail Society of Paul Cooijmans has the publication G.

Tera Society of R. Young has the publication Minds that Matter.

Yet, when looking at these 21 without replication and with more recent activity, we find 10:

1. Mensa World Journal. 
2. Thoth.
3. Telicom.
4. Vidya.
5. Leonardo.
6. Phenomenon.
7. Gift of Fire.
8. Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society.
9. Perfection.
10. Nemesis.

Even eliminating ones only meant for once new membership arrives or has clear presentation to the public or to the membership, we have fewer in number with 8:

1. Mensa World Journal. 
2. Thoth.
3. Telicom.
4. Vidya.
5. Leonardo.
6. Phenomenon.
7. Gift of Fire.
8. Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society.

Others with an honourable mention with three issues intermittently published in the last couple of years, or so, are Deus VULT of CatholIQ Society with Domogoj Domo Kutle/Domagoj Kutle BScEE, Dalibor Marincic MEng, Patrick O’Shea, PhD, Mislav Predavec, Stephan Wagner Damianowitsch, Iakovos Koukas PhD, Thomas Hally, Phillip Power, Kirk Raymond Butt, PhD, DTh, Eick Sternhagen, PhD, Sandra Schlick, PhD, Ivan Ivec, PhD, Dalibor Marincic, MEng, and Patrick O`Shea, PhD., and USIA Research Journal of United Sigma Intelligence Association (formerly United Sigma Korea) with Bryan Kim/YoungHoon Bryan Kim/YoungHoon Kim and Ian Bott, and GENIUS: Proceedings and Publications of the GENIUS High IQ Network/GENIUS: Journal of the GENIUS High IQ Network of The GENIUS High IQ Network with Iakovos Koukas and Daniel Pohl.

Deus VULT listed as a semi-newsletter in the first issue and as a journal in the latest issue. USIA Research Journal listed as published irregularly. GENIUS: Proceedings and Publications of the GENIUS High IQ Network/GENIUS: Journal of the GENIUS High IQ Network with four issues: “Gnorizon,” “Logicon,” “Thymicon,” and “Noemon,” standing for science/knowledge, logic/philosophy, art/literature, and intelligence/psychology, respectively. If incorporating these with the list of 8, we have 11 active high-I.Q. publications with variations in provisions, rarities, frequency, length, style, content, and tone:

1. Mensa World Journal.

2. Thoth.

3. Telicom.

4. Vidya.

5. Leonardo.

6. Phenomenon.

7. Gift of Fire.

8. Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society.

9. Deus VULT.

10. USIA Research Journal.

11. GENIUS: Proceedings and Publications of the GENIUS High IQ Network/GENIUS: Journal of the GENIUS High IQ Network.

Not everyone, clearly, but it’s a start – there you go; well done to all, and to your communities, as such, murmurs in the void with some eyes watching and comprehending.

Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash

Richard May (“May-Tzu”/“MayTzu”/“Mayzi”) is a Member of the Mega Society based on a qualifying score on the Mega Test (before 1995) prior to the compromise of the Mega Test and Co-Editor of Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society. In self-description, May states: “Not even forgotten in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), I’m an Amish yuppie, born near the rarified regions of Laputa, then and often, above suburban Boston. I’ve done occasional consulting and frequent Sisyphean shlepping. Kafka and Munch have been my therapists and allies. Occasionally I’ve strived to descend from the mists to attain the mythic orientation known as having one’s feet upon the Earth. An ailurophile and a cerebrotonic ectomorph, I write for beings which do not, and never will, exist — writings for no one. I’ve been awarded an M.A. degree, mirabile dictu, in the humanities/philosophy, and U.S. patent for a board game of possible interest to extraterrestrials. I’m a member of the Mega Society, the Omega Society and formerly of Mensa. I’m the founder of the Exa Society, the transfinite Aleph-3 Society and of the renowned Laputans Manqué. I’m a biographee in Who’s Who in the Brane World. My interests include the realization of the idea of humans as incomplete beings with the capacity to complete their own evolution by effecting a change in their being and consciousness. In a moment of presence to myself in inner silence, when I see Richard May’s non-being, ‘I’ am. You can meet me if you go to an empty room.” Some other resources include Stains Upon the Silence: something for no one, McGinnis Genealogy of Crown Point, New York: Hiram Porter McGinnis, Swines List, Solipsist Soliloquies, Board Game, Lulu blog, Memoir of a Non-Irish Non-Jew, and May-Tzu’s posterous. Recently, we released an ebook, here (hyperlinked).

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Where does the original book’s title Stains Upon the Silence start? Who coined it? What is the idea behind it?

Richard May: Please allow me to quote one of the innumerable people who do not know Richard May/May-Tzu viz. Richard May/May-Tzu at the beginning of our second interview: 

Richard May[1],[2]*: I think the expression that “each word is a stain upon the silence” originated with Samuel Beckett, who may have implied that his words were less true and beautiful than silence. The silence of pure consciousness in the moment is suggested to and by me, but not necessarily meant by Beckett, analogous to sunyata, the Buddhistic void. 

“— Something for no one” anticipates that the book is unlikely to immediately be made into a hit TV series or become a popular film. Only the subset of the general population with both fairly high cognitive ability and a degree of “right-brainedness” and/or appreciation of artistic creativity are likely to value the work. These two factors probably have a correlation of about zero (0). So this is not a large potential audience.

Jacobsen: Its structure seems almost ‘damn-it-all’ as if not there, though discernible in snippets. What is the intended “structure” if any of Stains Upon the Silence?

May: I just arranged material which had been published in Noesis, and, hence in some sense vetted, sequentially in what appeared to be to me an not entirely random order by meanings. But each writing was done separately and independently of the others, so in fact there is only little order.

Jacobsen: You were the second person to earn a perfect score on the verbal section of the Mega Test of Ronald Hoeflin, the first being Marilyn vos Savant (Marilyn Mach vos Savant), which permitted entrance into the Mega Society. A theoretical 1-in-a-million high-I.Q. society based out of the United States of America, primarily, though international if considering an online environment for readers and contributors to the journal, Noesis: The Journal of the Mega Society. You are the Co-Editor with Ken Shea of Noesis. Even with these, for the most part, as you note, you have avoided the media. Why avoid the media? 

May: I have little respect for the rather biased main stream media today. I have no desire to be famous. How does it enhance me if I have, or imagine that I have, millions of drooling fans and even less privacy? Some may use media attention to make money, which is a different matter. My persona or false personality should not be propped up, especially by strangers or by imaginary ‘friends’ on Meta or whatever.

Jacobsen: With these decades of avoiding the media when intermittent opportunities arose for you, when I asked for In-Sight Publishing, why accept the interview(s)? 

May: Your interviews with Rick Rosner had been published in Noesis, so I thought you probably would not do a drive by shooting.

Jacobsen: The interviews, so far, carried into 11 sessions, which shows commitment and patience from you. Why stick it out?

May: Maybe these interviews are my children, pathetic from a normal perspective, I suppose. But at least I don’t have to change their diapers. The shit remains right where it is — in the interview. I don’t have to pay their college tuition either. And I don’t need to have the Nature inspired delusion that I am my genes and will somehow live on in my progeny.

Jacobsen: Our first formal book production became Stains Upon the Stains. Why choose this title?

May: If my writings are stains upon the silence, then my commentary on the writings would be stains upon the stains, if I’m lucky.

Jacobsen: What can readers future-past or past-future ‘expect’?

May: My hope, of course, is that this will all be made into a major motion picture that no one will go to.

Jacobsen: Thanks, Chard.

May: I’m only a shard of chard now. But thank you and you are very welcome.

Bruxy Cavey (57), disgraced Canadian pastor, has been charged with sexual assault against an adult female. Cavey is a pastor of one of the largest churches in Canada, The Meeting House. It has 20 campuses across Ontario. The charge came May 31.

In March, Cavey was requested to resign from post as a pastor of the church in March of 2022. The March request came after an independent investigator found Cavey had a years-long sexual relationship with a member of the church.

The church investigator stated the prior relationship was “sexual harassment” and an “abuse of power.” Detective Jeremy Miller, Hamilton Police Service, stated the unit received a “publication ban.” This means some information cannot be released to the public.

Cavey came voluntarily to the police station. He was charged and released. He will appear in court on June 27. The alleged assault happened off church property in Hamilton. Days after resignation, two more allegations of sexual misconduct emerged against Cavey.

In a June 6 press release, the Hamilton police believe more victims may be extant. Cavey considered the first accusations as true and “an extramarital affair.” No statute of limitations exists for criminal charges brought on sexual assault in Canada.

Consent in Level 1 sexual assault, as brought to Cavey, means the abuse of trust, power, or authority.

With files from Religion News Service

Photo by John Price on Unsplash

Injuries remain common in all sports. Each comes with statistical tendencies in injury rates and severities. Equestrianism harbours its own unfortunate cases, even among the most accomplished riders in the sport’s Canadian history.

Not a lot of up-to-date information exists on the rates of injuries in the 2020s for equestrians, however, the Government of Canada has some statistics from 1996 archived. I could be wrong here. At the time, 48.1% of injuries were children 10-to-14 years of age. For riders, this, probably, makes sense as those are the ages many youths enter into horse riding.

As with anyone entering a sport for the first time, injuries will occur. 76.5% of all equestrian injuries were women. Again, this makes a lot of sense, as most of the riders are women in Canada, if agglomerating the participation numbers over all age cohorts. Those with more experience in the industry would be able to provide plausible reasons as to the injuries occurring in the summer (40.9%), the weekends (46.9%), and between 12:00 and 20:00 (62.2%).

These statistics seem to tell a story of summer weekends between 12:00 and 20:00 as the most likely time for injury, especially amongst 10-to-14-year-old girls. The majority of these injuries (62.1%) happened when the rider fell from the horse. As someone new to the industry, this is commonly stated. It’s dangerous to ride a horse. If you ride, you’re going to fall. If you fall, you’ll likely get hurt. Regardless, take some Advil and get back on the horse, the day is still here, and long.

In the industry, in equestrianism, in Canada, the risk of injury is high. Yet, as I have witnessed in working in the industry, the people, mostly women – who tolerate me (lucky me), remain devoted to the activity. They love riding. They love horses, particularly theirs. They love the social life. They love the art and sport of horsemanship. In Canada, one could, with a neologism, legitimately quip, “The art and sport of Horsewomanship.”

As stated in the first article entitled “Canadian Equitation Equation Introduction: Langley, Horse Capital of B.C.,” the major players in the history and active communities of equestrianism can be catalogued rather tightly: “Amy Millar, Eric Lamaze, Erynn Ballard/Erynn L. Ballard, Ian Millar, James Day, James Elder, Jill Henselwood, Laura Balisky (Tidball-Balisky/Tidball), Lisa Carlsen, Mac Cone, Mario Deslauriers, Michel Vaillancourt, Nicole Walker, Thomas (Tom) Gayford, Tiffany Foster, Yann Candele.” I am happy to include others. Neither snubbing nor ignoring, merely an organic development of knowledge from a base zero.

Others exist. Yet, the aforementioned comprise a close-knit listing of the country’s best in class over a span of several decades, as noted by Olympic participation, for example. The natural question in a brief look at statistics more than a quarter of a century old: “What about the most accomplished riders?” Indeed, they have experienced extreme injuries, several of them. The biographical data may be disparate for some.

Nonetheless, these individuals will partake of a natural consequence of riding horses for a long time and jumping at the 1.60m level. One could infer: If jumping higher, then falling farther, so injuries being more severe when occurring.

By the way, equestrians state things in a particular patois. They have a world unto themselves, thus a lingo, too. In this manner, most Canadians would state 1.60 metres as “one point six zero metres.” Equestrians say, “A metre sixty.” Language always gives people away. Horse people, in this way, have a consistency with everyone else, in nuanced speech acts and patterns delineating a linguistic culture.

Let’s look at them alphabetically from first name, as presented above:

Amy Millar does not seem to have suffered a major injury when looking into popular reportage. Unless, naturally, or of course, I am missing a narrative. The only period of requiring time away from riding appears to be giving birth (son, Alexander; daughter, Lily).

Eric Lamaze, as some commentators note, looks as if deserving of a book devoted to his professional narrative. The death of Hickstead with an acute aortic rupture at competition, the cocaine basis for rejection in competing with an overturn of the decision by an arbitrator (and cold medication, diet pills, and cocaine, in a later occasion), the Olympic medals and comebacks, the battle with brain cancer, and, most recently, the announcement of formal retirement in March of 2022, can set some points of future reflection and writing. As this particular article’s foci are injuries, he was out for three weeks from a foot injury with aggressive surgery involving screws at one time, which seems minor to other eventualities of personal choices, in some considerations, and happenstances of unfortunate fate, in others.

Erynn Ballard/Erynn L. Ballard, in May of 2013, fell and broke a collarbone and damaged a shoulder joint. This resulted in nerve damage and a nearly paralyzed arm. Within one year, she returned. Another story of triumph amongst Canadian equestrians.

Ian Millar, “Captain Canada,” had an accident at his farm in Perth in October, 2020. He was 74-years-old. When riding a young mare that reared her hind legs, came down hard and spun around, Millar went through the air, landed, and the mare came down on him 3 times. He suffered major blood loss in his left arm above the elbow. He reported seeing nerves and muscles in the injury. He returned after treatment to his home in about 6 hours.

James Day harbours an incredible equestrian pedigree in Canadian show jumping history. To his credit, as far as I can find, I do not see a history of a major injury for Day.

James Elder, similar to Day and of the same pedigree, I cannot find an explicit story – perhaps, due to the historical nature of the accomplishments and legacy – about an injury.

Jill Henselwood, similar to Day and Elder, did not acquire a major injury in the midst of performing in a basic review of some online resource. For a period of her career, Henselwood had significant luck, by some reportage.

Laura Balisky (Laura Tidball-Balisky/Laura Tidball), first Canadian and youngest woman to win both the ASPCA Maclay Medal Final (1980) and the AHSA Medal Finals, does not seem to have a significant injury on the records in a simple examination of records.

Lisa Carlsen, as another without an apparent record of injury, seems to have come out unscathed in the major injury department of Canadian equestrians.

Mac Cone appears to only have an injured horse hindering career progression on the record.

Mario Deslauriers did not appear to suffer a significant injury. In fact, he simply appears remarkable for returning after 33 years to the sport.

Michel Vaillancourt did not suffer from a major injury. However, his father, in fact, died from an accident in 1971, where his mount fell on him, which seems particularly tragic for a young man.

Nicole Walker had an incident, according to her, of ingesting coca tea, which lead to a drug test resulting in cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine identification. A Prohibited Substance under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code, this resulted, eventually, in Canada’s disqualification from the 2020 team spot at Tokyo. Panam Sports accepted the coca leaf consumption claim. She suffered a more serious professional injury of the knee. She tore the ACL or anterior cruciate ligament, had minor tears of other ligaments, and fractured the fibular head. She recovered by 2021 and has been competing successfully. Another rising story of success and triumph.

Thomas (Tom) Gayford has been a historical figure, as with James Day and Jim Elder, as highly successful figures in Canadian show jumping. However, as with Day and Elder, I cannot find a significant injury of the gentleman. Although, one can find lots of medals.

Tiffany Foster, when schooling an inexperienced 6-year-old mare, attempted to teach the mare to jump a line of small jumps measuring about one metre in height, or a cavalettis, slower than before. Something bad happened. Next thing Foster knew, she woke up, face in the sand with “searing pain” – then unconscious again. She awoke strapped-up in an emergency room in a local hospital. She had a burst fracture at the T-6 vertebrae, loose bone particles floated around her spinal cord. An 8-hour surgery led to “a plate, six screws, six clips, and two titanium rods inserted, and [her] spine fused from T-2 to T-10.”

Yann Candele, as with others, does not appear to have suffered a major injury, while being a successful international show jumper for Canada.

Injuries don’t always happen to equestrians. When they happen at the highest level, they tend to be significant and require weeks to months of reparative work. All this analysis side-steps the lifelong issues, potentially, sitting before all equestrians with issues of the hip, back, and elsewhere, due to the strain on the body from riding. These side-stepped issues are not pins, screws, bolts, and titanium plates; they’re gradual erosion of the body in an all-consuming, entirely demanding professional sport. Others can be examined of prominence in equestrianism in Canada, and more in-depth research can be done. Nonetheless, all this says, “It’s a lifestyle.”

Life lesson: Apparently, injuries are common at all levels, sometimes highly damaging physically, with international show jumping as a do-or-die sport; bottom line, equestrians make a ‘beast of burden’ do something almost civilized, somewhat human-like, with an ever-present risk of bodily damage at all stages and ages.

Photo by Anna Claire Schellenberg on Unsplash

Randomized arrival testing at Canadian airports will be suspended (on the prior mandatory basis). Only unvaccinated travellers on June 11 forward will require testing upon re-entry into Canada.

Previously, fully vaccinated travellers were subjected to randomized testing too. It amounts to a pause on the random arrival testing between June 11 and July 1. July 1, the randomized testing, presumably, will begin once again.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos’ spokesperson, Marie-France Proulx, stated, “…this is the only way we have of detecting new variants coming into the country, given that provinces and territories are no longer doing any PCR testing.”

Airports, with these changes, can dismantle testing sites dedicated specified in particular spaces at airports. The three-week period permits to shift to off-site testing of COVID-19.

Tourism Minister Randy Boissonnault said, “It’s going to make sure that the airports flow more quickly. The airports aren’t designed to be mini health care centres and so this will help with staff, it’ll help with congestion… So this is a good step in the right direction.”

With more widespread vaccination, especially among Canadians, and a vaccine-induced immunity to the virus, a widespread testing regime may become less necessary, according to public health experts. The removal of upon-arrival testing sites will reduce clogged airport systems and delays at airports.

However, the Government of Canada has defended the arrival testing program on the grounds of finding novel variants of the coronavirus, potentially, entering into the country and tracking the number of COVID-19 cases coming into Canada.

A major concern for all parties has been Toronto Pearson International’s hours-long waits as of recent. Staff may be overburdened in the midst of this. Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA) has expressed this concern of delays. This will become worse, if kept up for the busy summer months.

The Canadian Government has hired 800 Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) screening officers to process this deluge of passengers. Opposition Conservatives urge the Government of Canada to drop vaccine mandates. These require travellers to give proof of vaccination. Passengers are required to show proof of vaccination, which the Opposition Conservatives disagree with as a policy.

Vaccine mandate is still required for federal employees and transport workers. Some claim this is resulting in staff shortages for airports.

With files from CBC News

Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash