| Author | Message | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2899 Registered: 4-2010 |
A man is cleaning. A short while later, his wife expects to receive a whole lot of money. Possible quickie | ||
| Whirligig (Whirligig)
New member Username: Whirligig Post Number: 59 Registered: 8-2010 |
He uncovers a 42ct diamond. Is Stella the wife's name? Can we call the man Steve? Man and wife = HAM/HAF? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2902 Registered: 4-2010 |
He uncovers a 42ct diamond. No, but good thinking. Is Stella the wife's name? No, but you can call her that if you'd like. Can we call the man Steve? Sure Man and wife = HAM/HAF? Yes to both | ||
| It_so_happened (It_so_happened)
New member Username: It_so_happened Post Number: 468 Registered: 5-2010 |
Receive money: Win the lottery? A prize of some sort? Insurance money? Lawsuit? Inheritance? Injury-related compensation? Money in exchange for an expensive object? Money in exchange for a service? Finding hidden treasures? Job-related? Government-provided (e.g. a grant)? Something else? | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 486 Registered: 5-2009 |
His = the man who is cleaning? Is the man cleaning his own house? Is he a maid to some Billionaire and his wife expects a large salary? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2922 Registered: 4-2010 |
Receive money: Win the lottery? A prize of some sort? Insurance money? Lawsuit? This Inheritance? Injury-related compensation? Money in exchange for an expensive object? Money in exchange for a service? Finding hidden treasures? Job-related? Government-provided (e.g. a grant)? Something else? His = the man who is cleaning? Yes Is the man cleaning his own house? No, but... Is he a maid to some Billionaire and his wife expects a large salary? No | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 487 Registered: 5-2009 |
Do the man and the wife live in separate houses? Is the wife filing the lawsuit against her husband? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2930 Registered: 4-2010 |
Do the man and the wife live in separate houses? No Is the wife filing the lawsuit against her husband? No | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 488 Registered: 5-2009 |
Is he actually cleaning? Or is he looking for something? How many people are involved? 1? 2? 3? 4 or more? Are any of the following relevant about any involved parties?: -Occupation -Hobbies -Relationships | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2931 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is he actually cleaning? Yes Or is he looking for something? Hence no How many people are involved? 1? 2? 3? 4 or more? The man, his wife, and two groups of people. Are any of the following relevant about any involved parties?: -Occupation This -Hobbies Yope to this -Relationships Yope to this - only the man and his wife. | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 489 Registered: 5-2009 |
Are the man and woman happily married? Do the man and his wife have the same job? If yes, are they co workers? Are the two groups of people the two parties of court, since you did say that this involves a lawsuit? | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 490 Registered: 5-2009 |
Are the man and woman happily married? Do the man and his wife have the same job? If yes, are they co workers? Are the two groups of people the two parties of court, since you did say that this involves a lawsuit? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2932 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are the man and woman happily married? Irrel, assume yes Do the man and his wife have the same job? No, irrel If yes, are they co workers? No Are the two groups of people the two parties of court, since you did say that this involves a lawsuit? No, but... | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1787 Registered: 3-2006 |
Does the man die horribly during the course of the puzzle? (This is the LTPF, after all.) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2951 Registered: 4-2010 |
Does the man die horribly during the course of the puzzle? (This is the LTPF, after all.) Yes ;-) | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1794 Registered: 3-2006 |
Haha, I knew it! Okay: is the man a professional cleaner? Is he cleaning a particular object? Or just a spot of household dusting? If it's a particular object, is it larger than a cat? Larger than an average car? Is he planning to use the object after he has cleaned it? Is he using a particular kind of cleaning equipment? A vacuum cleaner? Is it 'cleaning' in the usual sense, or some figurative sense, like laundering money? Does he use any relevant liquids or detergents? Any non-human animals relevant? Does he get eaten by a crocodile? Does his wife have a role in the puzzle, other than just being his widow who wins damages after his demise? Would it help to find out more about her? Is he being paid to do the cleaning? Does he shout 'Stella' at the moment of death? Does he actually say 'Stella' at all? Is Stella Artois relevant? Or is he beginning to say something longer? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2964 Registered: 4-2010 |
Haha, I knew it! Okay: is the man a professional cleaner? No Is he cleaning a particular object? Yes Or just a spot of household dusting? No If it's a particular object, is it larger than a cat? Yes Larger than an average car? Yes Is he planning to use the object after he has cleaned it? Yes, slight DOYD of "use" Is he using a particular kind of cleaning equipment? Yes, DOYD of "cleaning" A vacuum cleaner? No Is it 'cleaning' in the usual sense, This or some figurative sense, like laundering money? Does he use any relevant liquids or detergents? No, but... Any non-human animals relevant? No Does he get eaten by a crocodile? No Does his wife have a role in the puzzle, other than just being his widow who wins damages after his demise? No, and an FA which may or may not be an FA Would it help to find out more about her? No Is he being paid to do the cleaning? No Does he shout 'Stella' at the moment of death? No Does he actually say 'Stella' at all? No Is Stella Artois relevant? No Or is he beginning to say something longer? No | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1796 Registered: 3-2006 |
So he's cleaning an object, larger than a car, and it's fair to say that the puzzle is really about his death, so we'd be better off not concentrating on his wife and any subsequent courtcase? About my FA: would the money be from a negligence case? Was some party actually negligent? Would it be fair to say that a person or persons caused his death? Did he die of asphyxiation? Drowning? Shooting? Hanging? Shock? Impact with the ground? Impact with a blunt instrument? Frustration from excess puzzlement? Is the object bigger than a regular terraced house? Is it hollow? Is it a cage? A room? An enclosed space? Is it made of wood? Metal? Plastics? Is it a swimming pool? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2974 Registered: 4-2010 |
So he's cleaning an object, larger than a car, and it's fair to say that the puzzle is really about his death, This is partially true... so we'd be better off not concentrating on his wife ...and this is also true... and any subsequent courtcase? ...but this part is VERY relevant. About my FA: would the money be from a negligence case? No, same MFA (Might be a False Assumption) Was some party actually negligent? No Would it be fair to say that a person or persons caused his death? No, but... Did he die of asphyxiation? Drowning? Shooting? Hanging? Shock? This - he was electrocuted Impact with the ground? Impact with a blunt instrument? Frustration from excess puzzlement? I wish ;-) Is the object bigger than a regular terraced house? No Is it hollow? Yes Is it a cage? No A room? No An enclosed space? Yope Is it made of wood? Metal? Plastics? See next answer Is it a swimming pool? Yes!! | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1797 Registered: 3-2006 |
Complete serendipity: I've no idea where that guess came from. Okay, this poor guy is cleaning a swimming pool and gets electrocuted. Is he electrocuted by the heating system? By an alarm? By some other component of the pool? Or by some electrical equipment he uses to clean it? Or by an extraneous piece of electrical equipment (like a heater or toaster)? Or by static electricity? Or lightning? Was it his own silly fault? Silly question, but was he actually murdered? The courtcase: would this be a civil case or a criminal case? Is this something to do with my possible FA? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2981 Registered: 4-2010 |
Complete serendipity: I've no idea where that guess came from. My guess: your very lateral mind. Okay, this poor guy is cleaning a swimming pool and gets electrocuted. Yes Is he electrocuted by the heating system? No By an alarm? No By some other component of the pool? No Or by some electrical equipment he uses to clean it? No, but... Or by an extraneous piece of electrical equipment (like a heater or toaster)? No, but... Or by static electricity? No Or lightning? No Was it his own silly fault? Oh, definitely. Silly question, but was he actually murdered? No The courtcase: would this be a civil case or a criminal case? Civil Is this something to do with my possible FA? Not really | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1798 Registered: 3-2006 |
In the hypothetical courtcase, who would be expected to pay his widow: the pool owner? the owner of some club or premises? a council? the owner of some electrical item? the electricity company? (I'm still puzzled as to why his widow would expect a payout if it was his fault.) Would his widow necessarily know that it was his fault? Would she be likely to think he had died from some other cause? Was he of sound mind at the time he was electrocuted? Are overhead pylons relevant? Is he anywhere near an electrical power station? Does he use an unconventional cleaning method? Is he trying to do the job more quickly than usual? Does he misread or misunderstand any instructions? Does he own the pool? Are motor vehicles involved? Does he have a pacemaker? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2988 Registered: 4-2010 |
In the hypothetical courtcase, who would be expected to pay his widow: the pool owner? the owner of some club or premises? a council? the owner of some electrical item? the electricity company? This, and one other company you haven't mentioned. Although, by common sense, nobody should be expected to pay. Oh, and this is a true story. (I'm still puzzled as to why his widow would expect a payout if it was his fault.) Google "lawsuit" and "stella" and see what you come up with; that should answer your question. Don't peruse the site too much, though, as this case is included on there, and I'm planning to do a few more of these sometime in the future. Would his widow necessarily know that it was his fault? Yes, but... Would she be likely to think he had died from some other cause? No Was he of sound mind at the time he was electrocuted? Yes Are overhead pylons relevant? Close enough - power lines Is he anywhere near an electrical power station? Irrel - assume no Does he use an unconventional cleaning method? No Is he trying to do the job more quickly than usual? No Does he misread or misunderstand any instructions? Noish Does he own the pool? Yes Are motor vehicles involved? No Does he have a pacemaker? No | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 492 Registered: 5-2009 |
Did he have the pool built on a stupid spot, i.e. near some power source? And because he was cleaning, he accidentally: tore a wire? removed a label? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 2998 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did he have the pool built on a stupid spot, No i.e. near some power source? Yope And because he was cleaning, he accidentally: tore a wire? No removed a label? No | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1801 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is he listening to an iPod? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3003 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is he listening to an iPod? No | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 916 Registered: 6-2008 |
Did the power lines fall into the pool? or did he throw something up over the power lines? or reach up to them with a pole or similar? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3009 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did the power lines fall into the pool? No or did he throw something up over the power lines? No or reach up to them with a pole or similar? Yes!! He used a pool skimmer. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 917 Registered: 6-2008 |
So I take it the other company that would need to pay was the manufacturer of the pool skimmer? Did he touch the skimmer to the line intentionally? or was he simply not watching out for it? Is there a particular reason these power lines are so low over the pool that it is possible to reach them easily? (most seem to be at least 20-30 feet above the nearest point on the ground) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3014 Registered: 4-2010 |
So I take it the other company that would need to pay was the manufacturer of the pool skimmer? Yes!!!! Did he touch the skimmer to the line intentionally? Yope or was he simply not watching out for it? Yope Is there a particular reason these power lines are so low over the pool that it is possible to reach them easily? Irrel, assume no (most seem to be at least 20-30 feet above the nearest point on the ground) You've got everything except why he stuck the pool skimmer into the power lines. Once you get that, I'll $poyle. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 918 Registered: 6-2008 |
Did he realize that the power lines were, in fact, power lines? or did he think they were something else? for example, clothes lines? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3020 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did he realize that the power lines were, in fact, power lines? Yes or did he think they were something else? for example, clothes lines? No | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 919 Registered: 6-2008 |
Did he misunderstand an instruction that came with the skimmer? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3031 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did he misunderstand an instruction that came with the skimmer? No. Recall that the lawsuit is frivolous. | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 920 Registered: 6-2008 |
Well, I'd say any lawsuit that comes from understanding an instruction as "touch power lines while using" is frivolous... Did he think that touching the power lines would make the skimmer more "powerful" in some way? Did he just want to touch something, saw the power lines, and thought "those will do"? or did he touch them specifically because they were power lines? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3040 Registered: 4-2010 |
Well, I'd say any lawsuit that comes from understanding an instruction as "touch power lines while using" is frivolous... FA - there was no instruction relevant. Did he think that touching the power lines would make the skimmer more "powerful" in some way? No, FA Did he just want to touch something, saw the power lines, and thought "those will do"? No, FA or did he touch them specifically because they were power lines? No, FA | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 922 Registered: 6-2008 |
I didn't mean for those two questions (the first was a statement!) to be referring to an instruction, I mean literally did he think those things (for any reason)? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3044 Registered: 4-2010 |
I didn't mean for those two questions (the first was a statement!) to be referring to an instruction, I mean literally did he think those things (for any reason)? No, and that's actually a different FA than the "instruction" one. BLOOPER: "Did he touch the power lines intentionally" should be a Noish. That might clear up some confusion. | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1804 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is he using a telescopic pole? Is this relevant? | ||
| Biograd (Biograd)
New member Username: Biograd Post Number: 925 Registered: 6-2008 |
So he did not intend to touch anything? but he touched the power lines? even though he realized what they were? Or he intended to touch something else, that was close to the lines, but ended up touching the lines by accident? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3060 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is he using a telescopic pole? No Is this relevant? No So he did not intend to touch anything? No but he touched the power lines? Yes even though he realized what they were? Yes Or he intended to touch something else, Yes that was close to the lines, Not quite... but ended up touching the lines by accident? Yes | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1806 Registered: 3-2006 |
Did he insert the handle between two electrical lines? Was he trying to clean the pool from above? Perhaps in a cherry-picker or something? Or was he on the ground when cleaning? Or was he actually swimming in the pool and perhaps used the handle to steady himself? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3069 Registered: 4-2010 |
Did he insert the handle between two electrical lines? No Was he trying to clean the pool from above? No Perhaps in a cherry-picker or something? No Or was he on the ground when cleaning? Yes Or was he actually swimming in the pool and perhaps used the handle to steady himself? No BLIG BOOPER: "...that was close to the lines,..." should be Yesish. | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1808 Registered: 3-2006 |
Are these unusually low power lines? Did he try to switch the power off by poking at a switch connected to the lines? Did he think he was doing something to make him safer? Was he chasing birds away from the power lines? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3088 Registered: 4-2010 |
Are these unusually low power lines? Assume no Did he try to switch the power off by poking at a switch connected to the lines? No Did he think he was doing something to make him safer? No Was he chasing birds away from the power lines? No, but this is closer | ||
| It_so_happened (It_so_happened)
New member Username: It_so_happened Post Number: 486 Registered: 5-2010 |
Is there a chance of a recap? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3107 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is there a chance of a recap? A pretty good chance, in fact. RECAP: A man was cleaning his pool using a pool skimmer, when he stuck the skimmer into the power lines for reasons yet to be determined, and he was electrocuted. His widow filed a lawsuit against both the power company and the store that sold the pool skimmer, seeking damages for her husband's death. The only thing yet to be determined is the reason the man stuck the skimmer into the power lines. We have established that he was standing on the ground, he knew that the lines were power lines, and he was trying to touch an object which was "Yesish"-ly close to the power lines (but not chasing birds off the lines). | ||
| Galfisk (Galfisk)
New member Username: Galfisk Post Number: 3006 Registered: 9-2009 |
Was he touching something that was not close to the lines, but in order to touch it he brought some part of the skimmer close to the lines? Was the something an animal? Did he intentionally bring the skimmer close to the power lines? Was his knowledge of electricity lacking in any relevant way? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3125 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was he touching something that was not close to the lines, No (HINT: I said "Yesish" because "close" isn't the word I'd use) but in order to touch it he brought some part of the skimmer close to the lines? Yes Was the something an animal? No Did he intentionally bring the skimmer close to the power lines? Yes Was his knowledge of electricity lacking in any relevant way? No | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1809 Registered: 3-2006 |
Was the object touching the power lines? Leaves? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 3130 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the object touching the power lines? Yes! Leaves? Voila! **********SPOILER********** John Kincannon, a 46-year-old lawyer from Lemon Heights, was cleaning his pool with a pool skimmer when he noticed a palm frond dangling from the power lines. Trying to keep things nice and tidy, he tried to knock the palm frond down with the skimmer and was electrocuted. His widow, Francilene, filed a lawsuit against South California Edison seeking general damages, and also against Leslie's Swimming Pool Supplies (the company that sold the pool skimmer), for failing to provide a warning sticker on the skimmer saying it's dangerous for people to stick metal objects into power lines. (As if common sense wasn't enough.) Their actions earned John a Darwin Award and Francilene a Stella Award ("honoring" frivolous lawsuits). If anyone's curious, the early FA in the puzzle was because I don't know the results of the case, although it was filed in 2003. The case may even still be pending, as the wheels of the American justice system grind alowly. Very slowly. Good job to everyone who worked on this puzzle, notably Woodworm for the dismissal. Expect more Stella Award puzzles in the future, and would someone please put my rulebreaker out of its misery? It's lingering longer than this lawsuit. |
