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The answers to the riddles are (in order): Master Robyn, As per request: you have , at least, one correct. Oh! Would you like to know which one? :) "A belch" I don't believe that any of the other answers truly satisfy the riddles (though I am fond of your 'cod piece." -- Take that in the best possible way, please.) Your Most Obedient, Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Tuesday, July 27, 1999 at 14:51:08 Sir Baržolimieu, In order of the below riddles, I submit -- going purely off of first impressions much like those silly little ink blot portraits that always look like moths to me: A lap, a codpiece, a belch, a dam, and death. Pray tell me that at least one of those answers meets the criteria... and I would be ecstatic to hear that more do. Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <robynsotherby@yahoo.com> Bristol, WI USA - Tuesday, July 27, 1999 at 11:34:12 It's riddle time again. Here are some simple ones I wrote too many years ago to tell. I sit in shadows while it's bright. I hide here well, my form is slight. But when you crouch my post is near. To catch that which you hold least dear. --------------------------------------- I'm fixed midway and dangle there, A tiny tent that pleats the air. A sheep went bare that I might be. If he looks good, it's thanks to me. ------------------------------------- The rumbling of internal thunders, Oft' so great it merits wonders. How such sound can fill a hall Or issue from inside at all? ---------------------------------- You'll pierce my side to draw my blood Or bash my head to free a flood. For years, in cool and dark I wait For you to bring me to my fate. ------------------------------------- A stony mansion, strong and grand. A table spread for no man's hand. A door that's closed for one last time. Pray God, it's never yours or mine. I remain Your Most Obt., Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Friday, July 23, 1999 at 20:12:53 The most devious and (to the ladies) most good Robyn did come to me with a solution to this puzzle this weekend at the Faire. Unfortunately I do not recall the exact phrasing of his answer ('twas the start of a long day.) I do apologize. I believe he suggested Boris, which tribe tells the truth? This does identify Boris for us. We'll set this island aside for now. However, new things are discovered there on a daily basis, so we may return again. Your Most Obedient, Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Monday, July 19, 1999 at 12:48:31 Good Sir Baržolimieu, Methinks devious may be most fitting; yet, I also care for being considered "good." Mayhaps, It would be appropriate to say I am deviously good -- or goodly deviant. In the manner of address, however, one of the fair maids of honor at Bristol opted to refer to me as "Master Robyn Sotherby." It pleases me so long as that precious jewel continues to let me escort her throughout the village, though I must admit, her uncle was a might bit miffed. Now, back to dwelling upon the puzzle.... Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <robynsotherby@yahoo.com> Bristol, WI USA - Wednesday, July 14, 1999 at 15:20:13 Most Devious Robyn (better?), No matter what they may think or understand, they can only reply with IST or ITST. So an IST would not be able to answer at all and would probably drop dead at your feet. An ITST would understand this and, to be contrary, would live and have no trouble saying IST or ITST since both are lies. (It seems that the opposite of no answer is ANY answer. And that no answer is an answer in this case.) However, by surviving, he would have shown himself to be ITST and would immediately convert. I, also suspect, that some ISTs are not 100% firm in their faith and might convert to ITST to save their lives, but these would be few and far between. They would undoubtedly require a long recuperation period. (To be fair, your solution would work otherwise. And, I did add the restriction on response to make these puzzles a bit harder.) The important thing to remember is that these are logic puzzles and any answer that works is one of many proper answers. Don't forget that last restriction about referring to others not present. An alert IST might save his life in that way. Oh! Think about lining up seven truth tellers and teaching them ASCII. :) Your Most Obt., Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Wednesday, July 14, 1999 at 11:48:14 Sir Baržolimieu, You certainly did take a little poetic license! You may tarnish my reputation, after all. Though I know there is some failing in my approach, for there would be many questions of such a nature that could be posed to Boris, I am curious as to how he would respond if I were to ask on a clear day, "Boris, which tribe would say ,'the sky is blue'?" This, of course, assumes that the natives are able to say somethings other than "IST" and "ITST" (this being where my approach may be in error). However, if I follow my discussion to its conclusion: If Boris is IST, he should say, "IST." If Boris is ITST, he should say, "ITST." Methinks I'm about to get thwapped! Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <robynsotherby@yahoo.com> Bristol, WI USA - Tuesday, July 13, 1999 at 18:43:44 Good Robyn (poetic license), You do me honor and you do remind me that my next and most imperitive project must be to start my own links page. There are far too many friends' sites and useful places to visit for me not to start my own list. (Which is NOT to suggest that friends' sites and useful places to visit are in any way mutually exclusive.) However, I am going to have to encrypt the page for the location of the NAKED STEEL. (I can e'en now envision the blush rising to the cheeks of the fair ladies at the very thought of "mettallica au naturale.") Your Most Obedient, Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Monday, July 12, 1999 at 19:50:34 I have taken the liberty of posting this from our friend Robyn which came by way of EMail. His last line will explain why I felt so free. ----Sir Baržolimieu Again, I see that you have created a problem which defies my knowledge of a previous riddle. I believe the one from which this is based goes something like this: All those on the west side of the island are liars, all those on the east tell the truth. There are no maps on the island and the residents mingle amongst each other throughout the day. If you should get lost upon the island, what question could you ask to figure out which side you are on? The question is "Do you live on this side of the island?" If I am on the west side of the island, all will answer "no." If I am on the east side of the island, all will answer "yes." Now, attempting to apply the same logic to the puzzle you have posed just does not work. Further, I believe a similar problem existed in the movie Labyrinth which (if I recall correctly) is the situation you have detailed in the puzzle and already "solved." So, drat, I have some thinking to do... and, while I think about it, I'm going to give a link upon my site to yours so that hopefully others share the torment :) Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby I have no idea why I didn't post this to your board... Robyn Sotherby <robynsotherby@yahoo.com> Bristol, USA - Monday, July 12, 1999 at 19:31:20 Greetings, I was just playing with one of my favorite logic puzzles and I thought I would share one example here. To play this game you must understand that we are on a mysterious island in the pacific which is populated with two tribes whose names translate as "I speak truely" (IST) and "I, too, speak truely" (ITST) Now, the ISTs are compulsive truth-tellers with a supernatural ability to be accurate. The ITSTs are compulsive liars who will always answer with the opposite of the true answer. The situation is a bit more complex because after all these centuries of living next to each other and being confronted with these different world views, their language permits only two possible answers to any question: IST and ITST. For some reason beyond reason, you wish to communicate with these people but you are not interested in working with a liar. It would be confusing at best. So, you need to know which of the natives are truth-tellers, then you can begin to teach them a more expressive language. On day I meet two natives, Albert and Boris. I ask Albert, "What would Boris say if I asked him which tribe he is from?" (If I asked Boris what tribe he is from If Boris is IST he would say, "IST." If Boris is ITST he would say, "IST.") (If I asked Albert what Boris would say If Albert is IST he would say, "IST." If Albert is ITST he would say, "ITST.") Albert's answer identifies him. If Albert is an ITST, having identified himself unambiguosly (a heinous crime in his creed), he would depart for the IST temple to be cleansed and would never lie again. If Albert is an IST, he runs off to the temple to clebrate his faith and the powers it gives him. Before you say to yourself, "I'll just watch and see who comes out of the temple." You should know that the temple is built around the only well on the island and all the natives come out of it eventually. You could know who belonged to which tribe if you went inside because there is only one temple on the island. It has a shrine for each of the tribes. All you would have to do is see which side of the temple the native prays on. The problem is that you are not allowed to enter the temple. I'm sure you can see the devilish nature of things here. These anthropolo- gists are causing the loss of the ITST society through their very desire to study and understand. And, they are changing the ISTs by teaching them verbal skills they never had before using a language that has no single word for "truth-teller." Still, you ARE an anthropologist and you NEED your data. You know about Albert. What about Boris? What one question would you ask to identify his tribe with the understanding that tribal custom does not permit any answer about someone who is not present? So you can't ask anything related to Albert. Your Most Obt., Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Post Scriptum: Isn't it traditional that the keeper of the gate should pose questions to those who would pass through? TRADITION! Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Friday, July 9, 1999 at 12:30:41 Most thwartsome Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson, :::shaking head and laughing!!!::: I saw the question mark, immediately pondered if that was indeed part of the riddle, then promptly forgot it as the answer presented itself *sigh*. And that other piece of knowledge in regards to the dear Reverened is something that I can say I just learned today! Praying dreams to be well met, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <marci001@uwp.edu> Bristol, WI USA - Tuesday, June 29, 1999 at 00:04:49 Good Robyn of indeterminate ranke and eon, You are correct, the commonly accepted answer to that riddle is "an oyster" and there is nothing there to exclude any other shell fish. HOWEVER . . . (Nya-ha-ha!) Remember that the Right Reverend Dodgson was a logician as well as being Lewis Caroll and Alice's 'Uncle.' Now, re-read the last two lines of the riddle and note the question mark. This question, sir, I am not sure we can resolve; save to say we have 'dishcovered the riddle' without touching an oyster, my prefered solution Good day to you, sir! I remain Your Most Obt., Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Monday, June 28, 1999 at 22:06:04 Oh Sir Baržolimieu... WELL MET indeed! I can not begin to describe the clearance of the storm from my mind upon that merry occasion of discovering the answer to that most thartsome riddle. It certainly was good for a chuckle at the closing of the gates last Saturday eve. I am looking forward to such a fun-filled season at our festive village... e'en if some of us tarry a tad late :) A new riddle posed, I see. Alas, though, it is a might to easy. Were it just for the riddle itself, I would find it another plague of my mind; however, with the hint given forth the answer easily presents itself as an oyster or a "shell fish." And, of course, if you require an answer to the authorship, well Alice's creator was Lewis Carroll... a man of most delightful stories, dreadfully boggling puzzles, and twisted verse. I must offer you my gratitude for the intellectual exercise with a riddle for you. P'raps I may give you such a gift at the gates this weekend if I can find a store of suitable challenge :) Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <marci001@uwp.edu> Bristol, WI USA - Monday, June 28, 1999 at 15:57:36 Goodly Folk, one and all, I do beg to report that, with some chastisement and aid from mine own humble personage, Good Robyn did, in mine own presence, learn to return to the innocence of his youth and did solve the riddle which has so perplexed him and others of us over the past several months. Let us all breathe a sigh of relief for him and offer our congratulations as this had sorely perplexed him. To prove that there is no ill will at the overcoming of this challenge, I do offer here a classic riddle, one of my favorites, and a clue to its solution, and author, in the form of, what else, another riddle. 'First the fish must be caught.' That is easy, a baby, I think, could have caught it. 'Next the fish must be bought.' That is easy: a penny, I think, would have bought it. 'Now cook me the fish!' That is easy and will not take more than a minute. 'Let it lie in a dish!' That is easy, because it is already in it. 'Bring it here! Let me sup!' It is easy to set such a dish on the table. 'Take the dish-cover up!' Ah, that is so hard that I fear I'm unable! 'For it holds it like glue - Holds the lid to the dish while it lies in the middle.' Which is easiest to do, Un-dish-cover the dish, or dishcover the riddle? ---------------------------------------------------- 'Tis flat and not flat, A saucer, nay two, A gay castenet Bound up tight with sinew. Not a gill to be seen, Yet 'tis seen in the seas Yet 'tis oft' seen aground But it "haint got no knees!" It is hard like rock. It's as soft as marshamallow That's been soaked in the tide- "Ha most DEEscustin' fellow!" And it's not like it fights You to force you to eat it. The first person to try Was quite likely defeated. Now the Reverend, here, Seems to fancy it's flavor Or as Alice might say, "It's a taste that I savour." But not I, I say, And I say it quite loudly, Till I'm told to "Shut up!" Which I do, sir, quite proudly. If you have heard the first before, why that is the nature of a classic. Hold your tongue, 'remembering' does not count as 'solving.' And the virtue of that is that no one can understand a word that you are saying so long as you hang on tightly. God save you all. Your Most Obedient, Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Sunday, June 27, 1999 at 23:29:31 Journeyman Griffin and Good Robyn of undisclosed yet fearful rank, This tiny riddle grows tiresome for it has such a silly answer. No, the answer is not 7 and it is not 9 which are simply numbers after all. There is a time expressed here in common parlance. In fact, there are two, or four, if you are picky, or six, if you are also digitally minded. Your Most Obt., Sir Baržolimieu Roderickson of Barrow House, Knight Bachelor Master of the Gate, Bristol Barton Rolsky <brolsky@starnetinc.com> USA - Tuesday, June 22, 1999 at 13:27:06 Good Sir Baržolimieu, Very well, if you must know, it's true http://members.xoom.com/Robyn72 Is where this Robyn has made a virtual nest That is, if you hadn't already guessed. By the way, I guess I'll ask Given the previous riddle task If seven be not all that fine, P'raps it wouldn't be "nine." Anon and good days, Robyn Sotherby Robyn Sotherby <robynsotherby@yahoo.com> Bristol, USA - Monday, June 21, 1999 at 16:17:38 |
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