Excuse me, Bricker and SwimmingRiddles...

[Flypsyde]

In the spirit of competition and camaraderie, I propose a contest of sorts between SwimmingRiddles and myself.

Here's the deal: if Bricker has the ammo, we go 10 rounds of Three-Minute Mysteries. Others will be allowed to play as well, giving us extra incentive to be quick on the keys. At the end of ten (with Bricker as the scorer, of course), the one with the highest score wins. Simple enough?

But what's a game like this without a wager? What contest would be complete without the threat of monetary loss or bone-chilling humiliation? Well, relax, I don't want your cash. Here's the stakes. The loser must post with a signature picked out by the winner for 2 weeks. Nothing too gross, like "I'm MarkSerlin's love slave" or anything like that. Just something slightly belittling, to rub the loss in every time someone reads a post and foster a healthy desire for revenge if we decide to do this again?

Do we have a deal, Ms. Riddles? And Bricker, do you have the goods for us?

------------------
Battles are won in nuance.

[SwimmingRiddles]

::thwack:: That would be the sound of me throwing my glove down.

[Flypsyde]

Well, the battle is joined! As soon as Bricker can start, we'll get this thing moving.

[Falcon]

And I'll be proud to be one of those hecklers on the side, thanks... :)

------------------
Winner, SDMB's Biggest FEMALE Chat Addict (Happy, Jophiel?)

"Only two things that'll soothe my soul - cold beer and remote control."

[phouka]

Guys, I have just posted Bride of Three Minute Mysteries (http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006614.html). You may join battle there.

[SwimmingRiddles]

There are too many kids in the water at Bride of. I say we hold off official compitition until Bricker can moderate.

[Flypsyde]

Agreed, SR, though no offense to you, phouka.

[SwimmingRiddles]

I leave work in 15 minutes though, so we'd better plan on our deul being tomarrow.

[phouka]

*sigh* Okay, fine. I see how it is.

No, no, that's okay. Really, I don't mind.

I'll just be over here.

In the corner.

All by myself.

[Bricker]

Wow. It's like Fraiser and Ali!

I certainly have the ammunition... the only problem is timing...

I have a proposal meeting tomorrow morning that won't be over until 2:00 PM.

Friday morning I have to be out of the office by 11:00 AM for s lunchoen... should be back by 1:30.

Ten rounds may take over two hours. I would suggest six rounds, for timing purposes, and agree to start at 2:30 PM tomorrow, or 1:30 PM Friday.

- Rick

[SwimmingRiddles]

2:30 PM today works for me. I am moving on Friday.

The game us afoot!

[SwimmingRiddles]

Wait a minute, that doesn't work for me, I'm leaving at 3:00 today. Can you do it any earlier, Bricker?

[Flypsyde]

Since we're hit and miss on the timing, I have no problem with waiting until after the weekend, if it's okay with you guys.

And we don't have to do them all at once, either. I say we go the whole ten, with just 2 or 3 a day. Trust me, I'm not going to forget my score.


------------------
Battles are won in nuance.

[Bricker]

No... today I have a team in from out of town working on a proposal... they leave at 2:00, and I need to work with them until then.

Maybe Monday of next week? Or Sunday? Or a conference call (voice) over the weekend?

- Rick

[SwimmingRiddles]

While I imagine it is difficult to assertain from my post, I am terribly amused by this whole thing. Conference call? Bricker, you rock.

Monday's good for me.

[NothingMan]

Its like the battle at the O.K. Corral. Well, except that no one in that battle said "stop, I need to check a telegraph". Oh, and no one was playing "three minute mysteries". Or like knew each other in real life. So . . . . never mind.

------------------
"Empty stares from each corner of a shared prison cell . . ." Pearl Jam

[Flypsyde]

Just so I don't throw this thing into a tailspin, can we hold off until, oh, after lunch? My supervisor called in sick, and I came in to find two sites down. Flyp's going to have a busy morning.

------------------
Battles are won in nuance.

[Bricker]

No objections here...

Maybe we'll do a warm-up or two without you, though...

- Rick

[Coldfire]

Oh yes, let's!

[meek]

Laaaaaadies and Gentlemen....

Welcome to the 3-minute mystery heavyweight championship of the world.

In the red corner, weighing in at 98 lbs, hailing from Springfield Il,
With a record of 0 wins, 0 loses, and 0 draws, none by knockout, the current self proclaimed SDMB champ,
Flaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaming Flyyyyyyyyyyyyypside!
(Crowd roars)

And in the blue corner, weighing in at "none of my damn business", the product of Burlington, VT, with a amateur record of 0 wins, 0 loses and 0 draws, the self ranked #1 SDMB contender...

Slammin' Swimmmmmmmming Ridddddddles!
(Crowd roars)

Tonight’s referee, a 3-minute mystery expert, will be Bricker. (Crowd is indifferent)

Let's get reeeeeaaaaady to rumble!

Now... No shots below the belt, break up clean, and return to a neutral corner if there is a knockdown. Go to your corners and come out fighting at the bell.

Good luck. (Early Vegas odds have the champ listed as a slight favorite.)

[SwimmingRiddles]

I AM THE GREATEST! Where is everyone else?

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

I haven't missed any of this have I? I saw above that the actual challenge wasn't going to begin until this afternoon.. but it looked like some "warm ups" were forthcoming.. have I missed them?

(placing a small wager on Swimming Riddles to win the challenge)

------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Bricker]

OK. If Flypsyde is here...

?

- Rick

[Bricker]

If not, we can do a warm-up.

The famous shoot-out at the OK Corral, in Tombstone, Arizona, happened on Thursday. A man rode into Tombstone on Friday, stayed three days, and left on Friday.

How come?

[meek]

Horse's name was friday?

[StGermain]

His horse was named Friday.

[Bricker]

That was a quick warm-up!

Yes, indeed, smug. :)

Another?

I dropped a sugar cube into my coffee this morning, waited two minutes, then lifted it out - completely intact.

How come?

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

Ahh.. the old horse named Friday trick...



------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Shayna]

Hehehehe, Bricker. I know this one ;)

I'm looking forward to this face-off. Anyone placing any wagers?

------------------
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." - Anne Frank

"Mom, he's a neo Nazi! He's a doctor also? Well..." - WallyM7

[Bricker]

Warm-ups are easier, in general -- no cigars for the winners, although I might have some penny candy around somewhere.... :)

[Random]

Coffee was unbrewed? (dry)

[Bricker]

And a penny candy for Random!


All right, perhaps I need to dial it up a bit.

This is a bit trickier, so pay close attention. Imagine we're all sitting around the room and listening to me give this puzzle. I tell you, "A woman opens an envelope... and dies."

How come?

[Bricker]

kbutcher asks: Did the bricks fall on the man?
NO

Were the bricks in a pile before the man died?
YES, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING

Is the book on the ground?
YES

[Flypsyde]

n the red corner, weighing in at 98 lbs,

Gotta remember to put both feet on the scale next time....

Okay, chiming in from CDT. I'm here. After the warm-up, shall we start a new thread?

Oh, and hats off to both smug and my esteemed competitor. Thanks for the intro, smug.

And kiss your money goodbye, I.M.

------------------
Battles are won in nuance.

[Bricker]

Once this puzzle is over, I'll start the competition thread.

- Rick

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

Originally posted by Flypsyde:

And kiss your money goodbye, I.M.



Yikes.. I don't have much to spare. Being a philosopher doesn't pay what it used to, you know! I'm counting on you Riddles.. make me some money!

Let the games begin!


------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Flypsyde]

Gadzooks! Is everyone having trouble with getting the new posts? This should make the bout interesting-crappy MB response times.

[SwimmingRiddles]

Was the bug

a mosquito?

a bee (or other stinger-equiped bug)?

a spider (or other aracnid)?

a fly?

Was the guy at a construstion site at the time of his untimely death?

[Bricker]

SwimmingRiddles asks:

Was the bug a mosquito?
NO

a bee (or other stinger-equiped bug)?
NO

a spider (or other aracnid)?
NO

a fly?
NO

Was the guy at a construstion site at the time of his untimely death?
NO

[Flypsyde]

Was the bug squashed?

Was the bug instrumental in the man's death?

Were the bricks? How about the book?

[Lord Jim]

Bricker you seemed to have skipped my questions, but with the board so slow, don't go back looking. Here they are again.

Did the man die as a result of a fall?

Are the brick in a pile from falling?

Was the book used to kill the bug?

Did the man, bricks, bug & book all fall from the same general location?

Plus,
And at the same time?
Was the bug a termite?

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

Were the "bricks" bricks such as are used for building?

Were the "bricks" bricks of firecrackers?

Were the "bricks" bricks of money? gold?



------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Bricker]

Flypsyde asks: Was the bug squashed?
NO

Was the bug instrumental in the man's death?
YES

Were the bricks?
YES

How about the book?
NO

[Flypsyde]

Did the bug kill the man?

Did the man kill the bug?

[Bricker]

JimB asks: Bricker you seemed to have skipped my questions, but with the board so slow, don't go back looking. Here they are again.
SORRY!

Did the man die as a result of a fall?
YES, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING.

Are the brick in a pile from falling?
YES, IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING.

Was the book used to kill the bug?
NO

Did the man, bricks, bug & book all fall from the same general location?
NO

And at the same time?
NO

Was the bug a termite?
NO

I.M.Kierkegaard asks: Were the "bricks" bricks such as are used for building?
YES

Were the "bricks" bricks of firecrackers?
NO

Were the "bricks" bricks of money?
NO

gold?
NO

[Bricker]

Flypsyde asks:
Did the bug kill the man?
YES

Did the man kill the bug?
NO

[Flypsyde]

Was the man a paleoentomologist (i.e., did he study ancient bugs)?

Was the book some sort of field guide to bugs?

Did the man die of a heart attack?

Were the bricks from a tomb or monument?

[SwimmingRiddles]

Was the man allergic to the bug?

Did the bug BITE the man?

[kbutcher]

Was the bug an incect?

Was the bug of the computer variety?

Does the kind of book matter?

[Lord Jim]

Is the bug poisonous?

Is the name of the book significant?

Is the book openned?

Was the man reading the book at the time of his death? (well, just before it)

Did the bug bite the man?

[SwimmingRiddles]

Well, guys, I gotta go to class. Face-off tomarrow?

[Bricker]

Flypsyde asks: Was the man a paleoentomologist (i.e., did he study ancient bugs)?
NO

Was the book some sort of field guide to bugs?
IN A MANNER OF SPEAKING, YES.

Did the man die of a heart attack?
NO

Were the bricks from a tomb or monument?
NO

SwimmingRiddles asks: Was the man allergic to the bug?
NO

Did the bug BITE the man?
NO

kbutcher asks: Was the bug an incect?
NO

Was the bug of the computer variety?
NO

Does the kind of book matter?
YES

JimB asks: Is the bug poisonous?
NO

Is the name of the book significant?
YES!

Is the book openned?
YES

Was the man reading the book at the time of his death? (well, just before it)
YES

Did the bug bite the man?
NO

[Lord Jim]

Was the bug already dead before the man died?

Was he studying the bug?

Was the bug a speciman?

Was the man walking while reading the book?

... sitting?

Does it matter?

[SwimmingRiddles]

Is this going to turn out to be some lame play on words?

Was the bug a dragonfly?

Is this a common bug?

Is it a ladybug?

I've run out of bugs here.

[Flypsyde]

The bug was not an insect. Was it a living thing?

[kbutcher]

Was it a VW Bug?

Was the man a mechanic?

Was he working on a VW Bug, perhaps underneath the car?

I can't figure out how the bricks figure in...

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

I'm sure the answer will be up here before my post shows up.. durn slow servers.

The guy was working on a VW Bug that had "died". He had it up on bricks so he could work underneath it. The book is an autorepair manual. The Bug slipped off the bricks, causing his death and landing on top of the book.

Good one, indeed.. is the challenge postponed until tomorrow?


------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Bricker]

JimB asks: Was the bug already dead before the man died?
YES

Was he studying the bug?
NO

Was the bug a speciman?
NO

Was the man walking while reading the book?
NO

... sitting?
NO

Does it matter?
YES

SwimmingRiddles asks: Is this going to turn out to be some lame play on words?
NO.
I would never do one of those "he broke the stick in half, two halves make a whole, and he crawled out the hole" so of puzzles. On the other hand, the baseball puzzle (A man's afraid to gome home because another man with a mask is waiting for him) capitalizes on the dual meaning of 'home'. That's not a lame play on words, as I see it.

Was the bug a dragonfly?
NO

Is this a common bug?
NOT THESE DAYS, NO. IN THE SIXTIES...

Is it a ladybug?
NO

I've run out of bugs here.
SORRY.

[kbutcher]

Was it a VW Bug?

Was the man a mechanic?

Was he working on a VW Bug, perhaps underneath the car?

I can't figure out how the bricks figure in...

[Flypsyde]

Sure thing, SR.

Okay, it sure seems as though this is a VW Bug we're talking about. Were the bricks being used as a makeshift jack? And was the book something like a Chilton's manual for Bugs?

[Lord Jim]

I think Kbutcher is on the right track.
Was the book a maintenance manual for VW bugs?

Was the man working on the brakes of a VW and during testing, he was run over and the car crashed into a brick wall?

[Bricker]

I.M.Kierkegaard asks:

The guy was working on a VW Bug that had "died". He had it up on bricks so he could work underneath it. The book is an autorepair manual. The Bug slipped off the bricks, causing his death and landing on top of the book.

Good one, indeed.. is the challenge postponed until tomorrow?

BING BING BING! The last of the penny candies goes to I.M. - well done!!

Yes, it looks like the board's crash stymied us.

Tomorrow it is...

- Rick
------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."


Flypsyde
Member
Posts: 691
Registered: Oct 1999
posted 04-03-2000 02:10 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sure thing, SR.
Okay, it sure seems as though this is a VW Bug we're talking about. Were the bricks being used as a makeshift jack? And was the book something like a Chilton's manual for Bugs?


JimB
Member
Posts: 338
Registered: Oct 1999
posted 04-03-2000 02:11 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think Kbutcher is on the right track.
Was the book a maintenance manual for VW bugs?
Was the man working on the brakes of a VW and during testing, he was run over and the car crashed into a brick wall?

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

It may be a bit unfair to claim victory when the boards were crashing and flip-flopping on the shore like a dead fish.. but this is my first such victory, and I'll savor it nonetheless. Thanks for the candy Bricker.

Oh.. and I'm impatiently awaiting tomorrow's challenge.. my money is still on riddles, though judging by my office pool on this year's NCAA tourney I may not be the wisest gambler out there!

Take care all.

------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[Random]

dies or dyes?

[I.M.Kierkegaard]

Is it important that we are all sitting?
Is it important that we are all in the same room?
Was there anything in the envelope?
Did the woman die as a result of anything in the envelope?

------------------
--I am Soren Kierkegaard.--
"People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

[meek]

Shock from the internet bill?

ok ok -

wild stab

Seeing how we are imagining you tell us this, anything is possible in one's imagination.

[Bricker]

Random asks:
dies or dyes?

*sigh*

Dyes.

Very good. Another penny candy for random.

Hmmm. We don't seem to have either of our main contestants here.

¿Uno mas?

A dead man lies on the ground, near a pile of bricks and a dead bug on top of a book.

How come?

[Bricker]

Is it my imagination, or is the baord deadly slow?

I fear a MPSIMS crash coming...

[Finagle]

Originally posted by Bricker:

A dead man lies on the ground, near a pile of bricks and a dead bug on top of a book.

How come?

Immensely poor building construction?

[Random]

Originally posted by Bricker:
Is it my imagination, or is the baord deadly slow?

I fear a MPSIMS crash coming...

Agree. Also, that last one was great, and the only reason I got it was because of the hint that the answer had something to do with something that sounded different than it read. If the question was presented verbally, it would have been much harder.

[Bricker]

Finagle asks: Immensely poor building construction?
NO

[Finagle]

The Bricker did it?

Um, man slams bug with book. Goes to window to dispose of carcass. Karmic retribution comes in the form of bricks from construction above, sending him plunging to his death.

[SwimmingRiddles]

HEY! I was at lunch, no fair starting without me.

::flexes fingers::

Was the man murdered?

Did the man die by accident?

Was it suicide?

Does the species of the bug matter?

Is the book National Geographic? (just kidding.)

Was the man standing on the bricks before they fell?

That should keep Bricker busy.

[Bricker]

Finagle asks: The Bricker did it?
LOL. BUT NO.

Um, man slams bug with book. Goes to window to dispose of carcass. Karmic retribution comes in the form of bricks from construction above, sending him plunging to his death.
NO. NOTE: "KARMIC RETRIBUTION" IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO THE AWNSER TO ANY PUZZLE I GIVE.

[Bricker]

SwimmingRiddles asks: Was the man murdered?
NO

Did the man die by accident?
YES

Was it suicide?
NO

Does the species of the bug matter?
YES!!

Is the book National Geographic? (just kidding.)
NO

Was the man standing on the bricks before they fell?
NO

That should keep Bricker busy.
YES :)

[kbutcher]

Did the bricks fall on the man?

Were the bricks in a pile before the man died?

Is the book on the ground?

[kbutcher]

Did the bricks fall on the man?

Were the bricks in a pile before the man died?

Is the book on the ground?

[Lord Jim]

Did the man die as a result of a fall?

Are the brick in from falling?

Was the book used to kill the bug?

Did the man, bricks, bug & book all fall from the same general location?