[invisiblemimsy] Nothing lasts forever

[invisiblemimsy]

An old man loses his dear wife of many years. He doesn’t have much money, but he finds a way to be with her for a finite amount of time.

[trebor]

Loses her as in she dies? As in one of them (him? her?) gets lost?

Assuming death, is she cremated? Does he physically spend time with her corpse? Ashes? Does he find a way to prolong her life? To interact with a digital version of her? To reanimate her?

[invisiblemimsy]

Loses her as in she dies? yes As in one of them (him? her?) gets lost? no

Assuming death, is she cremated? yes Does he physically spend time with her corpse? no Ashes? yes Does he find a way to prolong her life? no To interact with a digital version of her? no To reanimate her? no

[Earnest]

Were the ashes in his home? Diffused somewhere? Did he spend money to be with her? Did he spend time with her many time after she died? Soon after?

Spend time with ashes = he found the ashes? He celebrated a funeral? Did he know how his wife died? Where she died?

Did he need to travel to spend time with her? Did he need to ask a special permission? To go to a specific place? Relevant that he was old? Did he know the way to spend time with her before becoming old? Had he ever tried? Relevant?

[invisiblemimsy]

Were the ashes in his home? Yope, possible FA Diffused somewhere? no Did he spend money to be with her? yes Did he spend time with her many time after she died? If you mean 'any' time, yes Soon after? Well, fairly soon, but there was a gap first

Spend time with ashes = he found the ashes? Same FA He celebrated a funeral? yes, a cremation Did he know how his wife died? old age Where she died? irrel, assume home or hospital

Did he need to travel to spend time with her? no Did he need to ask a special permission? no To go to a specific place? no Relevant that he was old? Yes, explore Did he know the way to spend time with her before becoming old? They spent lots of time with each other from their marriage until her death... is that what you mean? Had he ever tried? Had he ever tried to do what? Relevant?

[Earnest]

Did he know the way to spend time with her before becoming old?  --> no i meant if he knew a way to spend time with the ashes before becoming old (I assumed the woman died many time before)

He spend time with her ashes right? Is the FA the fact that he was not home? That they brought him the ashes?

Was him present next to her till she died? Did he need to spend money to stay with her in order to: pay the cremation?

Finite amount of time in the statement = more than an hour? More than a month? Relevant that is a finite amount of time? Because he died right after? Did he die sooner after having spend time with her?

[invisiblemimsy]

Did he know the way to spend time with her before becoming old?  --> no i meant if he knew a way to spend time with the ashes same FA before becoming old He got the idea for how to spend time with her shortly after she died (I assumed the woman died many time before) No, they were both very old and she died recently.

He spend time with her ashes right? Same FA Is the FA the fact that he was not home? No, and in fact he WAS home when he spent the time with her That they brought him the ashes? Assume they gave him her ashes a few days after the cremation - I think that's standard

Was him present next to her till she died? Probably but irrel Did he need to spend money to stay with her in order to: pay the cremation? BUWT, and assume the cost of the cremation is irrelevant

Finite amount of time in the statement = more than an hour? yes More than a month? It could be... depending... explore Relevant that is a finite amount of time? yes Because he died right after? no Did he die sooner after having spend time with her? no

Great questions, Earnest!

[Earnest]

 he finds a way to be with her  --> when she was alive? Soon after she died? Before she has been cremated?
Spend time with her = interacting with her? Talkong with her? Crying on her death body? Did he delay the cremation? Was him in a prison (strange question)?

Did she want to be cremated? Did he want her to be cremated? Did he want to see her for the last time? Is the old man profession relevant? Was he retired? relevant his past job? (E.g. he was a veteran)
Relevant his religion? Her religion? Was it the same?

Is being old an advantage for him? Did he live alone? Relevant? Was he ill? Was he going to die? Was he older than she was when she died? Younger? Relevant? Relevant how much older/younger?
Did he exploit his old age as: sign of respect? To induce piety/compassion on others? To exploit his right to do something (e.g. have some drugs...)? To make a point (e.g. "I will die soon")? To exploit the argunent that he will die soon?

Is the choice of grave relevant? Did he want to be cremated as well? To stay with her in the grave?

Is the fact that the amount of time spend with her (assuming her death body) is finite mainly due to: natural reasons? Hygenic reasons? Helth care? The causes of her death? His will? Her will (to be cremated after death)? Circumstances? The will of someone else (people of an hospital/funeral homes/mortuaries...)?

[invisiblemimsy]

 he finds a way to be with her  --> when she was alive? They did spend their married life together, and this is relevant... but the 'way to be with her' is after her death. Soon after she died? a little while after, perhaps a few weeks, but exact time irrel. Before she has been cremated? no, after
Spend time with her = interacting with her? yesish, he thinks so anyway Talkong with her? no but OTRT, explore Crying on her death body? no Did he delay the cremation? no Was him in a prison (strange question)? no

Did she want to be cremated? assume yes, and cremation is relevant Did he want her to be cremated? assume yes Did he want to see her for the last time? SVV of 'see', and 'times' would be more accurate Is the old man profession relevant? Was he retired? relevant his past job? (E.g. he was a veteran)
Relevant his religion? Her religion? Was it the same? Irrel to all these

Is being old an advantage for him? no, but age/time is relevant Did he live alone? after her death, yes Relevant? yes Was he ill? no Was he going to die? irrel Was he older than she was when she died? Younger? Relevant? Relevant how much older/younger? all irrel, assume they were about the same age
Did he exploit his old age as: sign of respect? To induce piety/compassion on others? To exploit his right to do something (e.g. have some drugs...)? To make a point (e.g. "I will die soon")? To exploit the argunent that he will die soon? no to all, BUWT

Is the choice of grave relevant? there is no grave, and this is relevant Did he want to be cremated as well? irrel To stay with her in the grave? no

Is the fact that the amount of time spend with her (assuming her death body) It's not her actual body, she's been cremated, remember is finite mainly due to: natural reasons? Hygenic reasons? Helth care? The causes of her death? His will? Her will (to be cremated after death)? Circumstances? This is the crux of the puzzle The will of someone else (people of an hospital/funeral homes/mortuaries...)? no to everything else

[GalFisk]

Are her ashes relevant? Does he spend time with her ashes? Is the finite amount of time determined by: her? Him? Some other human? Does he use her ashes for something? Such as fertilizing a garden?

[Earnest]

Is something metaphysical relevant? Mediums?

Were the ashes in a box? Did he diffuse them in his house? Did he change them with others? Did he open the box? Did he interact with ashes all the time he was with them? Had someone come to visit him, would he have interacted with ashes? Would the visitor? If so because he would have "lead" him/her to interact with the ashes? Would the visitor pander to the old man? Alzeimer or other mental diseases relevant?

Ok creepy question...did he smoke? Did he exploit ashes somehow?

Interaction = kissing? Touching? Sleeping? Making an every day action with her? Plants relevant?
Did the interaction stop because: he was discovered? Something illegal went on? The ashes was over? He stopped the interaction voluntarily?

[invisiblemimsy]

Are her ashes relevant? Yes Does he spend time with her ashes? noish Is the finite amount of time determined by: her? no Him? partly Some other human? no Does he use her ashes for something? yes Such as fertilizing a garden? no

[invisiblemimsy]

Is something metaphysical relevant? Mediums? no

Were the ashes in a box? Irrel Did he diffuse them in his house? No Did he change them with others? no Did he open the box? irrel Did he interact with ashes all the time he was with them? Same FA, but good question - his interaction would not have been constant Had someone come to visit him, would he have interacted with ashes? Would the visitor? If so because he would have "lead" him/her to interact with the ashes? Would the visitor pander to the old man? Any visitors irrel Alzeimer or other mental diseases relevant? no

Ok creepy question...did he smoke? irrel Did he exploit ashes somehow? what do you mean by ‘exploit’?

Interaction = kissing? Touching? Sleeping? no to these Making an every day action with her? this, although possibly not every day, because... Plants relevant? no
Did the interaction stop because: he was discovered? no Something illegal went on? no The ashes was over? Something was over He stopped the interaction voluntarily? no

[GalFisk]

In the process, were the ashes changed somehow? If so: dispersed? Diluted? Consumed? Contaminated? Lost? Did he stop because he ran out of ash?

[Earnest]

Is tea relevant? Coffee? Perfumes? Ointments? (Veeeery creepy) to be sure: can we assume that the ashes were the ones of the woman and he was sure of that? Is Easter relevant?

Did he interact with ashes all the time he was with them? Same FA --> did someone else interact with the ashes? Is the interaction directly with ashes? is the FA the fact that he did not interact directly with ashes? That he was not physically with them? The fact that he could not stay with them all the time?

Was the "every day action" not done every day because -> he was old? Could anyone else do the action every day had he/she wanted to? Is the action related to: food? Drink? Washing? Health care? Perfumes? Pills?

[Earnest]

Hair color relevant? Did he mix ashes with other substances?

[invisiblemimsy]

In the process, were the ashes changed somehow? YES If so: dispersed? Diluted? Consumed? This is closest Contaminated? Lost? Did he stop because he ran out of ash? He ran out of something, laterally speaking

[invisiblemimsy]

Is tea relevant? Coffee? Perfumes? Ointments? No to all (Veeeery creepy) Lol, and no mummification either! to be sure: can we assume that the ashes were the ones of the woman and he was sure of that? yes Is Easter relevant? no

Did he interact with ashes all the time he was with them? Same FA --> did someone else interact with the ashes? It's 'changed' ashes, per Galfisk's latest post above, and no, he alone interacted Is the interaction directly with ashes? no is the FA the fact that he did not interact directly with ashes? yes, so FA cleared That he was not physically with them? he was with them, but as established now, not the actual ashes The fact that he could not stay with them all the time? The fact that he only had a finite period of time is relevant, because...

Was the "every day action" not done every day because -> he was old? no, that's not the reason Could anyone else do the action every day had he/she wanted to? In theory, yes, but the only people relevant to this puzzle are the man and his wife. Is the action related to: food? Drink? Washing? Health care? Perfumes? Pills? none of these

[invisiblemimsy]

Hair color relevant? no Did he mix ashes with other substances? no

[Earnest]

Hourglasses relevant?
Did he run out of something and hence used the ashes? Or the other way round (he run out of ashes because he was doing something)?
Consumed = the changed ashes? The real ones? Did he know that the ashes were changed?
Consumed = burned? Eaten (by a human? An animal? A plant?)? Digested? Fireworks relevant? Weapons?

Were the ashes changed by someone relevant?
The fact that he only had a finite period of time is relevant, because... --> did the amount of time coincide with a specific part of the year? A specific time that was relevant for him? A cure time? Woud a change happen after the finite amount? To the man directly? To his life? To his house? Would he have to move?

Is the every day action typical of old men? Does it involve: watching TV? Reading book? Cleaning? Clothing? Relaxing? Sleeping? Snorling? Eating? Going to bathroom?
Are the changed ashes the ashes of someone else? The ashes of the wife but replaced with a new element (e.g. a liquid...)? General ashes of no one in particular?

[invisiblemimsy]

Hourglasses relevant? no
Did he run out of something and hence used the ashes? no Or the other way round (he run out of ashes because he was doing something)? no, there was plenty of ashes but that wasn't the issue
Consumed = the changed ashes? The 'changed ashes' - whatever that was - would be finite and therefore would get consumed at some point The real ones? Possible FA - the ashes were genuinely those of his wife Did he know that the ashes were changed? yes
Consumed = burned? Eaten (by a human? An animal? A plant?)? Digested? Fireworks relevant? Weapons? no to all

Were the ashes changed by someone relevant? there was a 3rd party who did the 'changing'
The fact that he only had a finite period of time is relevant, because... --> did the amount of time coincide with a specific part of the year? no A specific time that was relevant for him? no A cure time? no and BUWT Woud a change happen after the finite amount? not as such, but there would be nothing remaining after that To the man directly? only in as much as he would be extremely sad/bereft after it finished To his life? he would feel that his life was completely empty at that point To his house? Would he have to move? no

Is the every day action typical of old men? no Does it involve: watching TV? this is closest Reading book? Cleaning? Clothing? Relaxing? Sleeping? Snorling? Eating? Going to bathroom? no to all
Are the changed ashes the ashes of someone else? no The ashes of the wife yes but replaced with a new element OTRT (e.g. a liquid...)? no General ashes of no one in particular? no, the ashes were indeed his wife's

[trebor]

Sorry, what does BUWT stand for?

Were the ashes made into jewelry? Were hey incorporated into something he already owned? Is a hobby of his or his wife’s relevant? Pets relevant?

[invisiblemimsy]

Sorry, what does BUWT stand for? Barking Up Wrong Tree

Were the ashes made into jewelry? No but very much OTRT Were hey incorporated into something he already owned? Yes Is a hobby of his or his wife’s relevant? Yes Pets relevant? No

[Earnest]

Minerals relevant? Did the old man need to buy an object/something in order to stay with his wife? Is the finiteness of time due to the fact that ashes would have been replaced? Is this a natural process? Is this a process due to the object in which the ashes found themselves?

[invisiblemimsy]

Minerals relevant? yes Did the old man need to buy an object/something in order to stay with his wife? He thought so, at least for SVV of 'stay' Is the finiteness of time due to the fact that ashes would have been replaced? no Is this a natural process? Is what a natural process? Is this a process due to the object in which the ashes found themselves? I don't understand what you mean by this.

[Earnest]

Recap: ashes = the one of the woman, but were changed at a certain relevant point right? And the man thought they were the woman's ones?

Mineral = calcium carbonate? Wood ash? A valuable mineral? Graphite? Pencils? charcoal pencil? Painting/drawing relevant? .....again it's creepy but I am thinking of a picture (a portrait?) drawn with a pencil/tool made through the woman's ashes...
Is the mineral commonly used? If so used in technological tools? In appliances? In every day objects? In electronics? Or maybe it is more commonly collected?collectionism relevant?

Does the consumption of the ash happen in minutes? Weeks? Hours? Days? Does the consumptioj derive from the usage/exploitation of a certain tool? Does the consumption implies the appearence of the ashes in another form somewhere else? Or do the ashes completely disappear after having been consumed?
Relevant the amount consumed each fraction of time (e.g. if they are consumed in weeks, relevant the daily consumption of the ashes?)? If so, does the amount consumed vary with respect to something? To the time that the old man make an action? Watch a monitor? Listen to radio? Use a certain object?

A derivative of ash? Is "human ash" relevantly different from "wood ash"? If so are chemical components relevant? Do they increase the value?

[invisiblemimsy]

Recap: ashes = the one of the woman, but were changed at a certain relevant point right? Yes, they were "changed" during a relevant time period
And the man thought they were the woman's ones? He KNEW they were the woman's ones.

Mineral = calcium carbonate? Wood ash? A valuable mineral? yes Graphite? Pencils?
charcoal pencil? Painting/drawing relevant? .....again it's creepy but I am thinking of a picture (a portrait?) drawn with a pencil/tool made through the woman's ashes... none of these
Is the mineral commonly used? It has lots of uses If so used in technological tools? yes In appliances? yes In every day objects? yes In electronics? yes Or maybe it is more commonly collected? yes collectionism relevant? what do you mean by "collectionism"?

Does the consumption of the ash happen in minutes? Weeks? Hours? Days? Assuming you mean the consumption of the "changed ashes," it could be anywhere from 500 to 1000 hours, though once you got past 500 you would be on "borrowed time," so to speak. Does the consumptioj derive from the usage/exploitation of a certain tool? yes Does the consumption implies the appearence of the ashes in another form somewhere else? Or do the ashes completely disappear after having been consumed? I don't know what you mean, can you reword?
Relevant the amount consumed each fraction of time (e.g. if they are consumed in weeks, relevant the daily consumption of the ashes?)? Yes, it's up to the old man. He could choose to use it for an hour a day, 10 hours a day, none on some days, whatever he likes. If so, does the amount consumed vary with respect to something? To the time that the old man make an action? yes Watch a monitor? Listen to radio? OTRT Use a certain object? yes

A derivative of ash? yes Is "human ash" relevantly different from "wood ash"? yes If so are chemical components relevant? yes Do they increase the value? yes

Great questions!

[Earnest]

Electronical devices = remote controller? Medical device? Phone? iPod? Music relevant? LP? Juke boxes?stereo? Is iron relevant? Batteries relevant?
Are ashes used in electronics in form of dust? Liquid? Are used as "fuel"? Conductor?

Device producing lights relevant? Noises? Radio waves? Radar? Rec? Films?

[invisiblemimsy]

Electronical devices = remote controller? Medical device? Phone? iPod? no to these Music relevant? Yes LP? Yes Juke boxes?stereo? Stereo record player Is iron relevant? no Batteries relevant? no
Are ashes used in electronics in form of dust? Liquid? Are used as "fuel"? Conductor? no to all

Device producing lights relevant? Noises? Radio waves? Radar? Rec? Films? no to all

[Earnest]

Is music heared by the old man through an LP? A stereo record player? If so, is ash exploited in the engines of such devices?

Ok strange question...are ashes used in the LP ( I mean in the vynil)? In a CD?...ok I'll explain: I know that basically when a LP is played the music is produced because there are sort of very small lumos and bumps on the vynil...the idea is that you can somehow put the ash to create such bumps and lumps...the problem is that I don't know how you can fix it to the LP in case...you have to have a direct interaction with ash...

[invisiblemimsy]

Is music heared by the old man through an LP? yesA stereo record player? yes If so, is ash exploited in the engines of such devices? no

Ok strange question...are ashes used in the LP ( I mean in the vynil)? In a CD?...ok I'll explain: I know that basically when a LP is played the music is produced because there are sort of very small lumos and bumps on the vynil...the idea is that you can somehow put the ash to create such bumps and lumps...the problem is that I don't know how you can fix it to the LP in case...you have to have a direct interaction with ash... no to all, BUWT

[Earnest]

Did the old man do something else relevant while listening to music? Is the indirect interaction with the ashes through the music heared? Through the devices (LP and stereo)? Does he dance? Just listen the music and enjoy it?

[Earnest]

Are CDs relevant? Is the ash physically somewhere in the electronical device? E.g. the electrons? A part of the ash? Fossil ash? Is the color black relevant? Is consumption of ash due to usage?

[invisiblemimsy]

Did the old man do something else relevant while listening to music? no Is the indirect interaction with the ashes through the music heared? yes Through the devices (LP and stereo)? yes Does he dance? irrel Just listen the music and enjoy it? yes

[invisiblemimsy]

Are CDs relevant? no Is the ash physically somewhere in the electronical device? Yes, the “changed ash” is. E.g. the electrons? A part of the ash? Fossil ash? Is the color black relevant? Is consumption of ash due to usage? the consumption of something is due to usage

[Earnest]

Is the changed ash : a liquid? A gas? A solid? Film? Plastic? Energy? Electricity? Sound wave? Dust? The residual of the consumption of something? Is heat relevant?
Is the changed ash touched by the man when activating the device? Is the changed ash compressed? Does it constitute a relevant part of the device? Is it present also when no CD is put in the LP?

Is the ash physically somewhere in the electronical device? Yes, the “changed ash” is. --> can I invoke the list of components?

Relevant the kind of music coming from the LP? Can we assume random music? Music played by someone relevant?

Had the changed ash of the woman not been present would it have been used wood ash instead?

[GalFisk]

Is the ash made into record player needles?

[invisiblemimsy]

Is the changed ash : a liquid? A gas? A solid? this Film? Plastic? Energy? Electricity? Sound wave? this is relevantDust? The residual of the consumption of something? yes Is heat relevant? not sure
Is the changed ash touched by the man when activating the device? yesish Is the changed ash compressed? very much so Does it constitute a relevant part of the device? very much so Is it present also when no CD is put in the LP? yes, although not CD's

Is the ash physically somewhere in the electronical device? Yes, the “changed ash” is. --> can I invoke the list of components? the needle of the record player

Relevant the kind of music coming from the LP? yes Can we assume random music? no Music played by someone relevant? Yes, assume their favourite singer

Had the changed ash of the woman not been present would it have been used wood ash instead? no, this would have been pointless

Well done... $poiler coming up... see below!

[invisiblemimsy]

**********************$POILER***************************

“An old man loses his dear wife of many years. He doesn’t have much money, but he finds a way to be with her for a finite amount of time.”

They have been married for 60 years when she dies. They had just celebrated their diamond anniversary, and this gives him the idea of having her ashes made into a diamond, to wear in a ring.

Unfortunately, when he investigates this, he realises that he cannot possibly afford it. However, he manages to persuade the cremation diamond company to make him a tiny diamond which is just big enough to be the tip on a record player needle, at a price he can just about afford.

They both shared a love of music, particularly the music of Peggy Lee, and these are the record/s he plays on the record player. In this way, he feels he is with her again. However, a record player needle typically lasts 500 hours, and up to 1000 hours at a push, with reduced performance. He must ration himself, and towards the end the music will fade...

Nothing is forever - not even diamonds.


Well done to Earnest (especially your tenacity!) and Galfisk for the solve, also to Trebor.

[Earnest]

Cool..well very nice of him