| Author | Message | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 38 Registered: 3-2009 |
The question remained unanswered after he and his machine were destroyed. My first attempt at posting a puzzle. I have no idea if this will be easy or hard or if it fits this forum so I'll solicit your opinions after it's solved. | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 7 Registered: 5-2009 |
He = H/A/M? Is the machine physical or metaphorical? If physical: is the machine huge (bulding-sized or larger) large (SUV-sized) medium (person-sized) small (desktop computer tower) or tiny (one-hand-portable) or micro (thumb-sized or smaller)? Destroyed by: Fire or explosion? :D Smashing? Dismantling? Removal of vital parts? Cutting of power? Deletion of software, etc? Equipment failure? Other? If metaphorical: Comprised of people? Ideas? Destroyed by: Fire or explosion? :D Desertion? Downsizing? Breaking up? Merger? Evaporation of funds? Loss of leader? Loss of members to death, etc? Other? | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 185 Registered: 5-2009 |
Is Kafka relevant? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 41 Registered: 3-2009 |
He = H/A/M? Yes Is the machine physical or metaphorical? Physical If physical: is the machine huge (bulding-sized or larger) large (SUV-sized) medium (person-sized) small (desktop computer tower) or tiny (one-hand-portable) or micro (thumb-sized or smaller)? Medium to Large Destroyed by: Fire or explosion? :D Smashing? Smashing Dismantling? Removal of vital parts? Cutting of power? Deletion of software, etc? Equipment failure? Other? | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 189 Registered: 5-2009 |
You missed my question, Dave. :3 | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 42 Registered: 3-2009 |
Is Kafka relevant? No | ||
| Pikachizzle (Pikachizzle)
New member Username: Pikachizzle Post Number: 190 Registered: 5-2009 |
Did he destroy his own machine? Was he destroyed at the same time as his machine? Did his machine destroy him? Is this a true story? Can this machine exist in real life? If so, will I find one in a common household? Office? School? | ||
| Flemsneezy (Flemsneezy)
New member Username: Flemsneezy Post Number: 53 Registered: 5-2009 |
Is this puzzle related to a written work? | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2009 |
Does the machine produce something? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 43 Registered: 3-2009 |
Did he destroy his own machine? No Was he destroyed at the same time as his machine? Yes Did his machine destroy him? No Is this a true story? No Can this machine exist in real life? No Is this puzzle related to a written work? Yes, for svv of written work Does the machine produce something? No | ||
| Flemsneezy (Flemsneezy)
New member Username: Flemsneezy Post Number: 68 Registered: 5-2009 |
Is this puzzle related to a written work? Yes, for svv of written work What does your response mean? | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 17 Registered: 5-2009 |
Were he and his machine smashed by a person? Some other animal? A non-living thing? Were there many destroyers (+20)? Few? One? Was the question asked by him? His machine? The destroyer(s) of him/the machine? Was the question about him? His machine? The destroyer(s) of him/the machine? Was he supposed to answer the question? Was his machine? Were the destroyer(s)? | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 988 Registered: 9-2003 |
Was the machine calculating a question to The Answer? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 45 Registered: 3-2009 |
What does your response mean? for Sufficiently Vague Value of written work. I didn't want to mislead you with a simple yes to conclude that the written work was a book. I could have also answered yes or yesish . Were he and his machine smashed by a person? no Some other animal? Yes A non-living thing? no Were there many destroyers (+20)? Few? One? one Was the question asked by him? Yes, beware of FA His machine? The destroyer(s) of him/the machine? Was the question about him? His machine? The destroyer(s) of him/the machine? This one Was he supposed to answer the question? Yes, beware of FA Was his machine? Were the destroyer(s)? Was the machine calculating a question to The Answer? No | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 26 Registered: 5-2009 |
Was the animal a real animal? Mythical? Legendary but not mythical (i.e., Nessie, Bigfoot, aliens, etc.)? If real: do examples of this creature still exist, or are they extinct? Will be extinct? Is the machine a time machine? Does the machine move (in space) under its own power? Is it designed to be mobile/portable (in space)? Irrelevant? Does the machine have moving parts? Was the question quantitative? Qualitative? Both? Physical? Metaphysical? Philosophical? Theological? | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 1034 Registered: 5-2003 |
Was the machine a vehicle? Did it crash? Was it experimental? Was the man trying to solve a problem? If so, did the problem remain after he and the machine were destroyed? Was the machine something he could enter? Was it analog or digital? If, afterwards, someone else built the same or a similar machine, could that someone else solve the problem? Could he do so if he improved the machine? Did the machine calculate something? Is the location relevant? Time period? Other people? Is the answer to the problem tangible? Intangible? A measurement? A step towards the solution of another problem? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 49 Registered: 3-2009 |
Was the animal a real animal? Yes Mythical? Legendary but not mythical (i.e., Nessie, Bigfoot, aliens, etc.)? If real: do examples of this creature still exist, or are they extinct? Extinct Will be extinct? Is the machine a time machine? Yes - you figured that out pretty quick Does the machine move (in space) under its own power? Is it designed to be mobile/portable (in space)? Irrelevant? Does the machine have moving parts? Was the question quantitative? Qualitative? Yes Both? Physical? Yes, I think Metaphysical? Philosophical? Theological? Was the machine a vehicle? Yes, a time machine Did it crash? Was it experimental? Was the man trying to solve a problem? Only that he was trying to find the answer to a question If so, did the problem remain after he and the machine were destroyed? the question remained unanswered Was the machine something he could enter? Yes Was it analog or digital? If, afterwards, someone else built the same or a similar machine, could that someone else solve the problem? Yes Could he do so if he improved the machine? Did the machine calculate something? Is the location relevant? Time period? Yes Other people? Is the answer to the problem tangible? Yes Intangible? A measurement? Yesish A step towards the solution of another problem? Yesish No to any question not answered | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 49 Registered: 5-2009 |
Was the animal a dinosaur? An ice age creature? Something else? Was his encounter with the destroyer of him/the machine intentional? Or was it an accidental encounter? | ||
| Indianforce (Indianforce)
New member Username: Indianforce Post Number: 30 Registered: 4-2009 |
Calvin and Hobbes relevant? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 51 Registered: 3-2009 |
Was the animal a dinosaur? Yes An ice age creature? Something else? Was his encounter with the destroyer of him/the machine intentional? Yes Or was it an accidental encounter? Calvin and Hobbes relevant? No | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2009 |
So a man travels through time to the time of the dinosaurs, where he hopes to answer the question: "What do dinosaurs look like?" "What do dinosaurs sound like?" "What do dinosaurs smell like?" "What do dinosaurs taste like?" "What do dinosaurs feel like?" "Are dinosaurs really like what we imagine?" "How much do they eat?" "How fast can they run?" Some other question? Unfortunately, before he can ascertain the answer, he and his machine are smashed by one of the dinosaurs he is interested in. The question therefore remains unanswered. Correct? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 66 Registered: 3-2009 |
So a man travels through time to the time of the dinosaurs, where he hopes to answer the question: "What do dinosaurs look like?" "What do dinosaurs sound like?" "What do dinosaurs smell like?" "What do dinosaurs taste like?" "What do dinosaurs feel like?" "Are dinosaurs really like what we imagine?" "How much do they eat?" "How fast can they run?" Some other question? Yes Unfortunately, before he can ascertain the answer, he and his machine are smashed by one of the dinosaurs he is interested in. The question therefore remains unanswered. Correct? Precisely | ||
| Jenburdoo (Jenburdoo)
New member Username: Jenburdoo Post Number: 1055 Registered: 5-2003 |
How the dinosaurs went extinct? | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 82 Registered: 5-2009 |
Is the question about an intrinsic quality of dinosaurs (e.g., skin colors), or just about them in general (e.g., Jenburdoo's question)? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 75 Registered: 3-2009 |
How the dinosaurs went extinct? No Is the question about an intrinsic quality of dinosaurs (e.g., skin colors) Yes , or just about them in general (e.g., Jenburdoo's question)? I think I understand your distinction; however, the intrinsic quality would apply to dinosaurs in general. | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 88 Registered: 5-2009 |
[Insert LTPF List of Intrinsic Dinosaur Qualities here] Because I'm sure such a handy and oft-used list as that exists! (Feel free to not answer that!) But, just in case anyone should ever need a list of all possible qualities intrinsic to dinosaurs, I shall define one here: Skin color, height, weight, mating habits, parental instincts, smell, sound, taste, skin texture, hair color, eye color, body structure (quadruped, bipedal, etc.), age of individual dinosaur, age of species, era in which the species lived, land speed, swimming speed, burrowing speed, air speed velocity (laden), air speed velocity (unladen), sharpness of sight, sharpness of smell, sharpness of hearing, muscle structure, intelligence, level of sentience, level of sapience, existence of hive-mind, migration patterns, natural habitat, lifespan, age of maturity, gestation period, or other. | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 98 Registered: 3-2009 |
[Insert LTPF List of Intrinsic Dinosaur Qualities here] Because I'm sure such a handy and oft-used list as that exists! (Feel free to not answer that!) But, just in case anyone should ever need a list of all possible qualities intrinsic to dinosaurs, I shall define one here: Skin color, height, weight, mating habits, parental instincts, smell, sound, taste, skin texture, hair color, eye color, body structure (quadruped, bipedal, etc.), age of individual dinosaur, age of species, era in which the species lived, land speed, swimming speed, burrowing speed, air speed velocity (laden), air speed velocity (unladen), sharpness of sight, sharpness of smell, sharpness of hearing, muscle structure, intelligence, level of sentience, level of sapience, existence of hive-mind, migration patterns, natural habitat, lifespan, age of maturity, gestation period, or other. Regrettably, after consulting a dictionary on sapience, other. I particularly appreciated the reference to the air speed flight velocity of an unladen dinosaur. You are completely on the right track - the question is about (and only about) a specific intrinsic quality of dinosaurs. | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 92 Registered: 5-2009 |
"Warm-blooded, or cold-blooded?" LTPF List of Intrinsic Dinosaur Qualities, Part II: Warm-blooded, cold-blooded, mammal, reptile, vertebrate, invertebrate, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, scavenger, hunter, gatherer, grazer, deuterostome, protostome, clawed, feathered, echidna, venomous, lays eggs, live young, raises young, abandons young, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, hermaphrodite, color-blind, herd creature, solitary creature, or still "other." I hope I get this soon; I'm running out of qualities! | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 99 Registered: 3-2009 |
"Warm-blooded, or cold-blooded?" Bingo LTPF List of Intrinsic Dinosaur Qualities, Part II: Warm-blooded, cold-blooded, mammal, reptile, vertebrate, invertebrate, carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, scavenger, hunter, gatherer, grazer, deuterostome, protostome, clawed, feathered, echidna, venomous, lays eggs, live young, raises young, abandons young, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, hermaphrodite, color-blind, herd creature, solitary creature, or still "other." I hope I get this soon; I'm running out of qualities! I would say that you definitely have established THE list of animal qualities that I will be brandishing at first opportunity. | ||
| Haenlomal (Haenlomal)
New member Username: Haenlomal Post Number: 992 Registered: 9-2003 |
Sorry, but I have to ask this one... Time Master Tim relevant? :D | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 108 Registered: 3-2009 |
Time Master Tim relevant? Nope | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 101 Registered: 5-2009 |
So a man travels through time to the time of the dinosaurs, where he hopes to answer the question: "Are dinosaurs warm-blooded, or cold blooded?" Unfortunately, before he can ascertain the answer, he and his machine are smashed by one of the dinosaurs he is interested in. The question therefore remains unanswered. Is that correct? Am I missing anything? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 111 Registered: 3-2009 |
There is one remaining element, which ties it all together, while giving it a certain Monty Pythonesque quality. I'm afraid that the slightest hint will tip you off and deprive you of the laugh that I know I would get if I got to solve this. | ||
| Logician (Logician)
New member Username: Logician Post Number: 484 Registered: 6-2003 |
Does the man interact with the dinosaur? With any other dinosaurs? With any other creatures of the period? Is there any any motivation behind the dinosaur smashing the man/machine? Or is it accidental? Does the man do anything relevant in his pursuit of finding the answer that leads to him getting smashed? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 115 Registered: 3-2009 |
Does the man interact with the dinosaur? Yes With any other dinosaurs? No With any other creatures of the period? No Is there any any motivation behind the dinosaur smashing the man/machine? Yes Or is it accidental? No Does the man do anything relevant in his pursuit of finding the answer that leads to him getting smashed? Yes | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 105 Registered: 5-2009 |
Did the man somehow anger the dinosaur? By attempting to answer his question? With a thermometer in a less-than-pleasant place? Was the time machine responsible for the dinosaur's anger? Did it crush the dinosaur's eggs? Its young? Was the man inside his time machine when it was smashed? Next to it? A little ways off? | ||
| Davesnothere (Davesnothere)
New member Username: Davesnothere Post Number: 134 Registered: 3-2009 |
Did the man somehow anger the dinosaur? See below By attempting to answer his question? Yes With a thermometer in a less-than-pleasant place? see below ********* SPOILER ************  An instant later, both Professor Waxman, and his time machine are obliterated, leaving the cold-blooded / warm-blooded dinosaur debate still unresolved. Higher res image at http://www.pulse.org.za/pulse/farside.html This is my all-time favorite Far Side cartoon which illustrates my often juvenile sense of humor. I named the puzzle Absurd Lengths because I often laugh about the absurd lengths that men will go to (and it's definitely a guy thing) in the pursuit of some obscure hobby or bit of knowledge. | ||
| Caesarachilles (Caesarachilles)
New member Username: Caesarachilles Post Number: 106 Registered: 5-2009 |
Yay! Far Side is for the win! That was a good puzzle; I definitely enjoyed it! Congratulations to all who participated! |
