# 53 bicycles: A lateral thinking puzzle **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 9, 2017, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868 "2017-07-09T19:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 178
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3542 "2018-09-23T12:22:48Z")
> [@j666](#): > > A business case that involved a law that referred to human beings, concerning whether Silver Surfer was a human, that did not involve pornography. Or copyright. Or royalties. **Correct** > > Did the case refer specifically and only to the Silver Surfer? **No, other comic book characters were also involved. I didn’t mention them to avoid making the answer easily Googleable. But for each character, the question was the same (are they human?), and the reason behind the question was the same.** > > Did the case involve cigarette endorsements? **No** AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3543 "2018-09-23T14:54:46Z")
Did the law involve some activity that only human beings can engage in? Did the law involve some activity that human beings are forbidden from engaging in? Did the law involve gambling? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3544 "2018-09-23T15:49:24Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Did the law involve some activity that only human beings can engage in? **No** > > Did the law involve some activity that human beings are forbidden from engaging in? **No** > > Did the law involve gambling? **No** AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3545 "2018-09-23T17:00:43Z")
Does the law involve money - what can be paid for or methods of payment? Does the law involve employment? Does the law involve some type of time limitation - a date or period of time after which something happens? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3546 "2018-09-23T17:49:45Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Does the law involve money - what can be paid for or methods of payment? **Yes, it involves money** > > Does the law involve employment? **No** > > Does the law involve some type of time limitation - a date or period of time after which something happens? **No** AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3547 "2018-09-24T00:58:24Z")
Was it a lawsuit? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3548 "2018-09-24T08:36:48Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Was it a lawsuit? I believe the correct answer to this is ‘Yes’, unless there is a particular definition of ‘lawsuit’ that I’m not aware of. Suffice to say that Party A sued party B and as a result a case was heard in a US court. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3549 "2018-09-24T10:16:49Z")
A lawsuit over money that does not concern copyright, royalties, or employment and therefor wages … actually, we only know money was involved Did Party A sue Party B for money that PA believed was already owed to them? Was the money involved only claims for damages in the lawsuit? Did the lawsuit involve libel? Did the lawsuit involve slander? Did the lawsuit involve physical property? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3550 "2018-09-24T11:34:12Z")
> [@j666](#): > > A lawsuit over money that does not concern copyright, royalties, or employment and therefor wages … actually, we only know money was involved **Correct** > > Did Party A sue Party B for money that PA believed was already owed to them? **I would characterize it this way: Party A believed that the amount of money it had been (and would continue to be) required to pay Party B was excessive.** > > Was the money involved only claims for damages in the lawsuit? **It was not a claim for damages.** > > Did the lawsuit involve libel? **No** > > Did the lawsuit involve slander? **No** > > Did the lawsuit involve physical property? ( **I assume you mean land and buildings? No** ) AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3551 "2018-09-24T12:51:56Z")
> [@j666](#): > > A lawsuit over money that does not concern copyright, royalties, or employment and therefor wages … (snip) > Did the lawsuit involve physical property? Intellectual property (but not copyright)? If so, trademark? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3552 "2018-09-24T13:21:52Z")
> [@snoe](#): > > Intellectual property (but not copyright)? **Neither** > If so, trademark? **No** AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3553 "2018-09-24T14:34:23Z")
Does the lawsuit have to do with tariffs? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3554 "2018-09-24T14:41:24Z")
> [@Nauplius](#): > > Does the lawsuit have to do with tariffs? **Yes** AIQ. ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3555 "2018-09-24T14:43:16Z")
I think I know it: Did it involve toys? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3556 "2018-09-24T15:49:51Z")
> [@Nauplius](#): > > I think I know it: > > Did it involve toys? Yes, I think you’ve got it. Had you heard of the case before? ---
**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3557 "2018-09-24T16:22:35Z")
> [@hammos1](#): > > Yes, I think you’ve got it. Had you heard of the case before? Yeah, I’d heard about this case on a podcast some years ago. **Chronos’** clue about Wolverine plus your giant clue in post 3539 really helped. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3558 "2018-09-24T20:19:03Z")
Were the tariffs different for “human action figures” compared to “non-human toys” or “non-human dolls” or something like that? So the argument was to classify Silver Surfer as a “non-human doll” to get a better tariff? ---
**Author:** ![hammos1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@hammos1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hammos1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3559 "2018-09-24T20:28:49Z")
That’s exactly it: [Toy Biz, Inc. v. United States - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Biz,_Inc._v._United_States) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3560 "2018-09-24T23:28:12Z")
> [@Nauplius](#): > > Does the lawsuit have to do with tariffs? How did you come up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868/3561 "2018-09-24T23:46:05Z")
**Two brothers bring home two cats from the same litter. While the brothers are together at the first brother’s house, the second brother notices his brother’s cat is much quieter than his. Like, it never meows at all. The strange thing is, his cat is very loud. Why?** [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=177) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/53-bicycles-a-lateral-thinking-puzzle/790868.md?page=179)