The WELL: pre.vue.131: Convoluted Conundrums

#19: Hildegard (hildegard) Wed 27 Dec 06 09:27

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 09:27:00 PST

They were *union* musicians. [Read entire topic]

#18: Moon howls back (poet-lariat) Tue 26 Dec 06 22:12

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 22:12:00 PST

"all had made quite fair amounts"

might cast some doubt on that answer! [Read entire topic]

#17: Hildegard (hildegard) Tue 26 Dec 06 04:29

Tue, 26 Dec 2006 04:29:00 PST

Yes!! Chalk one up for Bubbles. [Read entire topic]

#16: Lisa Harris (lrph) Mon 25 Dec 06 07:02

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 07:02:00 PST

By G-d I think he's got it? [Read entire topic]

#15: Tom Digby (bubbles) Mon 25 Dec 06 01:29

Mon, 25 Dec 2006 01:29:00 PST

<hidden> [Read entire topic]

#14: Hildegard (hildegard) Sun 24 Dec 06 10:09

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 10:09:00 PST

Four men sat down to play, They played all night `till break of day. They played for gold and not for fun With separate scores for everyone, When they came to square accounts, They all had made quite fair amounts. Can you the paradox explain, In no one lost, how could all gain?

(courtesy of Mindtrap) [Read entire topic]

#13: (satyr) Sun 24 Dec 06 10:00

Sun, 24 Dec 2006 10:00:00 PST

The story of Grinch, it turns around questions, ranging from riddles to scurrilous suggestions.

An easy example of moderate cunning: "Is your subzero chillerbrator running?"

While this set the stage for a scene quite overflowing with spice: "Martha, have you ever kissed a man who lost his tonsils twice?"

This question first hinted of what was to be: "If the Grinch was so bad, then why did he save me?"

Such a perplexed lass, was young Cindy Lou, to have such words to say: "Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?"

The Grinch did frequently pose himself questions, most were quizzical, but some self-deceptions.

When his plan to steal Christmas had clearly failed, he gazed down on the town from his perch and railed:

"How could it be so? "It came without ribbons. "It came without tags. "It came without packages, boxes, or bags."

As if deeply warmed by the dawning new day, he cried, and he cried, and he had this to say:

"What's happening to me? "I'm all toasty inside, and I'm leaking."

But before he'd a chance to think the thing through, twas once again time to save young Cindy Lou.

And so in the end the Grinch became social, the life of the party, humble yet boastful. [Read entire topic]

#12: metric buttload of (cjp) Wed 20 Dec 06 13:11

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 13:11:00 PST

Jeez, I don't think I've ever even heard of a Grinch riddle. But then again, I come from a broken home and feel that's the cause of all my social problems. [Read entire topic]

#11: fluted pan (satyr) Wed 20 Dec 06 10:54

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:54:00 PST

This Wikipedia article...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_I_Was_Going_to_St_Ives

lists three only slightly different variations. The above arguments apply to all three.

> The "standard" answer is One, on the assumption that the word "met" > implies the other person and his entourage is going the opposite > direction, away from St. Ives.

Not the only example of standard answers which are nevertheless wrong.

In the interest of being seasonal, does anyone have a favorite Grinch riddle? [Read entire topic]

#10: Hildegard (hildegard) Wed 20 Dec 06 10:25

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 10:25:00 PST

Ha..I haven*t thought about that one in years, but I do associate that with a specific age in my life..like around 5th grade when we were beginning to learn math story problems, which I loved. Therefore, I remember trying to cleverly work out the math in this conundrum, thinking it was just like the stuff my sadistic teachers at school were making us do in class. I think it was also one of the first times I realized how easily we fall into assumptions when we don*t read things carefully--We *assume* the important part is the section with the numbers--because we were all drilled in those kinds of problems as kids--but the answer actually hangs on one little word "as". [Read entire topic]