New Mars Forums

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was Cindy being silly just then?

*Nope.  Just trying to figure out...well heck, why should I let you in on my sleuthing techniques, hmmm?    ???

--Cindy   :;):
(I'm only silly after sunset...sometimes...occasionally...well, once in a while...)

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

*Okay, "Clarkie," I have a few more questions:

Had the man been on a ladder just prior to his death?

Was the puddle some sort of paint or paint-like substance?

Is the man Caucasian?

Is the man over 50 years of age?

Is the stick a measuring device?

Is the stick made out of wood?

Is the stick made out of metal?

--Cindypoo (being silly now, Josh!) 
   

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Heheh!

Good questions, Cindy. 

Quickedit, if you didn't notice, this game is driving me a bit crazy. clark's philosophical what-if's are much easier.  :;):

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

clark

Member

Registered: 2001-09-20

Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:
Did the liquid CAUSE the mans death?
NO.
Did the stick CAUSE the mans death?
NO.
Did the man CAUSE his own death?
YES.
Did the main faint before dying?
YES.
Did the stick touch the man at any momment before his death?
YES.
Did the stick touch the man with force (enough force to cause injury)?
NO.
Did the man know he was about to die?
NO.
Did the man try to prevent his death?
NO.

Cindy asked:
Had the man been on a ladder just prior to his death?
NO.
Was the puddle some sort of paint or paint-like substance?
NO.
Is the man Caucasian?
YES.
Is the man over 50 years of age?
NO.
Is the stick a measuring device?
NO.
Is the stick made out of wood?
YES.
Is the stick made out of metal?
NO.

CalTech2010

Member

From: United States, Colorado

Registered: 2002-11-23

Posts: 433

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was the man squeemish at the sight of blood?

Was it hot out that day (above 80 F)?

Was it cold out that day (below 45 F)?

Was the man walking somewhere?

Was the man standing around doing nothing?

---

"Some have met another fate.  Let's put it this way... they no longer pose a threat to the US or its allies and friends." -- President Bush, State of the Union Address

Shaun Barrett

Member

From: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2001-12-28

Posts: 2,843

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was the man wearing any clothing?
    Was he naked?
    Was he inside a building?
    Was he out in the open?
    Were any of his bones broken?
    Were there any burns on the man's body?
    Was a lack of oxygen involved in his death?
    Was the stick less than 30 cms long?
    Was the stick between 30 cms and 100 cms long?
    Was the stick straight (manufactured)?
    Was the stick irregular in shape (not shaped by man)?
    Was the stick hollow?
    Did the stick weigh less than 100 grams?
    Did the stick weigh between 100 grams and 1 kg?
    Did the stick weigh more than 5 kgs?
    Was the puddle mainly water?
    Any sugar molecules in the puddle?
    Was the volume of liquid in the puddle less than 1 litre?
    Was the volume of liquid in the puddle more than 10 litres?
                                       ???

---

The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it Jumping Up and Down.   - Rita Rudner

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

*Was it Mr. Green in the Library with the Candlestick?? 

No, seriously:

Was the pool of red liquid there ::prior to:: the man dying, and before he even came along to that area?

Did the pool of red liquid come from a vehicle/machinery?

--Cindy

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)

clark

Member

Registered: 2001-09-20

Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Cal asked:
Was the man squeemish at the sight of blood?
NO.
Was it hot out that day (above 80 F)?
NO.
Was it cold out that day (below 45 F)?
NO.
Was the man walking somewhere?
YES.
Was the man standing around doing nothing?
NO.

Shaun asked:
Was the man wearing any clothing?
YES.
   Was he naked?
NO.
   Was he inside a building?
NO.
   Was he out in the open?
YES.
   Were any of his bones broken?
NO.
   Were there any burns on the man's body?
NO.
   Was a lack of oxygen involved in his death?
YES.
   Was the stick less than 30 cms long?
YES.
   Was the stick between 30 cms and 100 cms long?
NO.
   Was the stick straight (manufactured)?
YES.
   Was the stick irregular in shape (not shaped by man)?
NO.
   Was the stick hollow?
NO.
   Did the stick weigh less than 100 grams?
YES.
   Did the stick weigh between 100 grams and 1 kg?
NO.
   Did the stick weigh more than 5 kgs?
NO.
   Was the puddle mainly water?
YES.
   Any sugar molecules in the puddle?
YES.
   Was the volume of liquid in the puddle less than 1 litre?
YES.
   Was the volume of liquid in the puddle more than 10 litres?
NO.

Cindy asked:
Was the pool of red liquid there ::prior to:: the man dying, and before he even came along to that area?
NO.

Did the pool of red liquid come from a vehicle/machinery?
NO.

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Was the liquid a solid (ice) at any point?

Was it a popsicle stick?

Was there poison involved?

Did the man eat a poison popsicle and die?

Did the man accidently choke on the popsicle or stick and die?

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

clark

Member

Registered: 2001-09-20

Posts: 6,362

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Josh asked:

Was the liquid a solid (ice) at any point?.
YES.
Was it a popsicle stick?
YES.
Was there poison involved?
NO.
Did the man eat a poison popsicle and die?
NO.
Did the man accidently choke on the popsicle or stick and die?
YES!

The man was eating a cherry flavored popsicle. He tripped, and knocked his head when he fell. He then choked on the popsicle as he lay unconsious. The popsicle eventually melted, and the popsicle stick fell from his mouth, to lie next to his head.

A man lying dead,
next to a puddle of red,
with a stick beside his head.

good job Josh.

And good questions Shaun, i think you had a lot to do with the solution. 

Josh Cryer

Moderator

Registered: 2001-09-29

Posts: 3,830

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Yeah, Shaun helped quite a lot (most of our questions were NO).

I actually meant to ask if it was a manufactured stick, though!

---

Some useful links while MER are active. [url=http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html]Offical site[/url] [url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Web.html]NASA TV[/url] [url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/mer2004/]JPL MER2004[/url] [url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/mera/statustextonly.html]Text feed[/url]
--------
The amount of solar radiation reaching the surface of the earth totals some 3.9 million exajoules a year.

Shaun Barrett

Member

From: Cairns, Queensland, Australia

Registered: 2001-12-28

Posts: 2,843

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

Yeah, well done Josh!

    Very absorbing little puzzle - thanks, Clark!
                                   

(PS That was a good team effort. We gradually narrowed it
      down to a logical conclusion. Congrats all round! )

---

The word 'aerobics' came about when the gym instructors got together and said: If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it Jumping Up and Down.   - Rita Rudner

Palomar

Member

From: USA

Registered: 2002-05-30

Posts: 9,734

Re: A puzzle - Ask only yes or no questions

*Shaun and Josh should go into detective work...if they're not already.  Shaun, it's nice of you to congratulate us all around...but (speaking only for myself, of course) I wasn't anywhere -near- to solving the puzzle. 

Hmmmm.  How about another one, "Clarkie"? 

--Cindy (not Nancy Drew)

---

We all know [i]those[/i] Venusians: Doing their hair in shock waves, smoking electrical coronas, wearing Van Allen belts and resting their tiny elbows on a Geiger counter...

--John Sladek (The New Apocrypha)