# Bricker Challenge 2003 #5 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2003, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606 "2003-07-01T17:08:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![manwithaplan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@manwithaplan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manwithaplan)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/61 "2003-07-04T10:42:13Z")
1. NH3. In water. What happens? NH[sub]3[/sub]+H[sub]2[/sub]O=NH[sub]4[/sub]OH NH3 added to Water gives Ammonia 48. What Monty Python character is proud of the fact that he sleeps all night and works all day? The Lumberjack (Michael Palin) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/62 "2003-07-04T14:32:55Z")
I used to give half points as partial credit, back in the old days. If I were still doing that, manwithaplan would have gained a half point, and I would have given MaryEFoo a half-point more when I scored her. But in the new all-or-nothing realm… no change. ---
**Author:** ![Fang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fang)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/63 "2003-07-04T17:14:19Z")
Just a guess on the Qui Tam Question (#25), since I can’t tell whether the answers so far have been considered right or wrong: Legal principle: Short for “Qui tam pro domino rege quam pro siepse” - literally “He who is for the rule of the king is as much for himself”, meaning that a private citizen who knows of fraud against the government may sue the defrauding party on the government’s behalf and share in the proceeds of the suit. Mikado: (Just a guess here, and somewhat as a result of googling) Many of the characters in _The Mikado_ have Japanese names which are formed by joining two syllables – e.g. Ko-Ko, Pooh-Bah, and Pish-Tush. “Qui Tam” seems to follow this pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/64 "2003-07-04T19:12:26Z")
1. NH3. In water. What happens? NH3 + H20 =\> NH4(+) + OH(-) The ammonia and water ionize to form ammonium ion and hyrdroxide ion in solution. This is what is known as “household ammonia”…ammonium ion in solution. Pure ammonia is a gas at room temperature. 1. What Monty Python character is proud of the fact that he sleeps all night and works all day? Don’t know if you noticed, but I added “The Lumberjack” to my quote above. But I’m pretty sure you were giving full credit to that one. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/65 "2003-07-04T20:51:27Z")
Fang: 1 Lemur866: 49 ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/66 "2003-07-04T20:57:15Z")
Fang: 1 Lemur866: 49 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/67 "2003-07-04T21:44:14Z")
1. Qui Tam is not a character in The Mikado, but a legal principle meaning… what? And why would I even think that it might be a character in The Mikado? Legal principle: Short for “Qui tam pro domino rege quam pro siepse” - literally “He who is for the rule of the king is as much for himself”, meaning that a private citizen who knows of fraud against the government may sue the defrauding party on the government’s behalf and share in the proceeds of the suit. The Gilbert and Sullivan opretta “The Mikado” features many made up names that are combinations of two short nonsense words. Examples include Ko-Ko, Nanki-Poo, Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo, Pooh-Bah, and Pish-Tush. Qui Tam sounds similar to one of those made up names. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/68 "2003-07-05T02:08:38Z")
Lemur: 50, and the game ends with a mere five hours and sixteen minutes left on the clock! The last two stickers were the ammonia and the Qui Tam. Everyone got the legal meaning of Qui Tam, but despite explicitly asking “Why would I think it was in the Mikado?” no one really took that up. And asking NH3 would, I hoped, have been a signal that I wanted something back that discussed what was in the water – ammonium and hydroxide. Any other questions left unresolved? Congrats, Lemur! ---
**Author:** ![Humble\_Servant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/47e85d/32.png) [@Humble\_Servant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Humble_Servant)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/69 "2003-07-05T02:34:18Z")
Heh, heh. I completely over-analyzed the qui tam question, which I figured out when you posted the hints about it. Most attorneys know “qui tam” and “whisteblower” as synonyms. So, if you were being really sneaky, in a way which would thwart anyone searching google for qui tam (whistleblower will come up as an alternative, but casual readers won’t know it is the most common usage), you would have been asking, “Why would I think whistleblower is a character in Mikado?” Mikado is a type of railroad engine. So if you were confused and thought that The Mikado was a play about a railroad engine, that’s a reason to think whistleblower might be a character in it. I realize now this was too much, even for trivia. Then I couldn’t believe that article someone fround from New South Wales about whistleblowers and The Mikado. Did you know about that? It didn’t answer your question, in any event, but it was pretty surprising. Humble Servant, attorney-at-law member, Illinois Railway Museum ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/70 "2003-07-05T03:04:37Z")
Yeah, I completely didn’t get the obvious with Qui Tam…that it just sounds like a funny name. D’oh! I was reading plot synopses, lyrics, trying to find a similar plot element or character bit where someone helps the king to help themselves…ah well. I’ll take my payment in small unmarked bills. Put the bills in a brown paper bag and leave it on the park bench on the corner of 38th and Madison at 3:45. Don’t be late. Just put the bag down and keep walking. And if I see any cops, or any funny business then the deal is off. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/71 "2003-07-05T13:40:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Humble Servant \* > Most attorneys know “qui tam” and “whisteblower” as synonyms. So, if you were being really sneaky, in a way which would thwart anyone searching google for qui tam (whistleblower will come up as an alternative, but casual readers won’t know it is the most common usage), you would have been asking, “Why would I think whistleblower is a character in Mikado?” > > Mikado is a type of railroad engine. So if you were confused and thought that The Mikado was a play about a railroad engine, that’s a reason to think whistleblower might be a character in it. > > I realize now this was too much, even for trivia. Yes – but when you posted your statement, I realized you were talking about ‘whistleblower’ and resolved that that alternative answer would get full credit as well. Not what I thought of, but an ingenious link - you see, I had considered, and sidelined, an earlier question about confusing Mikado-the-operatta with Mikado-the-engine. > [@](#): > > Then I couldn’t believe that article someone fround from New South Wales about whistleblowers and The Mikado. Did you know about that? It didn’t answer your question, in any event, but it was pretty surprising. I was stunned. I remember thinking, “Everything that could possibly exist is on the Internet!” Lemur866 - well done! you join the ranks of **lno** , a three-time winner, and **cole burner** , as far as the 2003 challenges go. Next one next week sometime! - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Stage\_Manager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stage_manager/32/7267_2.png) [@Stage\_Manager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stage_Manager)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/72 "2003-07-05T19:01:30Z")
So where do I sign up for my T-shirt? Oh, never mind – that was a different [thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=190370) ---
**Author:** ![SteverinoAlaReno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@SteverinoAlaReno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteverinoAlaReno)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/73 "2003-07-07T16:43:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by manwithaplan \* > \*\*I think these are the only two questions not answered correctly so far. I’ll have a go. > > 1. I own St. James, Tennessee, New York, Kentucky, and Indiana. You land on New York and then roll a 4. What’s the total rent I get? > > $50 > > \*\* Sheesh, I don’t get any respect. I answered that one right out of the gate. Now, my answer assumed: 1. that Bricker didn’t have a house on New York 2. that Bricker didn’t also own Illinois Avenue 3. that I rolled doubles to land on New York and 4. that the 4 I rolled was either not doubles or it was my second roll on that turn (a third doubles would have sent me to Jail). If all of those assumptions are correct, then Bricker would collect $50 in rent from me: $32 for New York (base rent of $16 doubled for owning the color group) and $18 for Indiana (or is it Kentucky?..I don’t have a picture of the board handy) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/74 "2003-07-07T18:44:30Z")
**SteverinoAlaReno** : your answer was correct, as were your assumptions, with the exception of the irrelevency of rolling doubles. It’s true that the doubles would make your next roll happen immediately instead of next turn, but that’s not germane to the total rent collected from those two transactions. The key element of the question was knowing that rent on undeveloped properties is doubled when all three are owned by the same player. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/75 "2003-07-09T18:38:55Z")
Hey, I think I would have gotten at least a half-point under the old rules, too, unless the expression of doubt is a no-no: > [@](#): > > 1. Qui Tam is not a character in The Mikado, but a legal principle meaning… what? And why would I even think that it might be a character in The Mikado? > > From Black’s: “An action brought by an informer, under a statute which establishes a penalty for the commission or omission of a certain act, and provides that the same shall be recoverable in a civil action, part of the penalty to go to any person who will bring such action and the remainder to the state or some other institution.” I don’t get the Mikado reference, **unless it’s similar to the name of a character**. (Finally back from vacation - congrats to those who finished the game!) ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2003, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/76 "2003-07-09T20:04:49Z")
I’m still mulling over what to get with my $25. Thing is, Amazon pretty much offers just about EVERYTHING nowadays. Should I get Rise of Nations? Or maybe a new Segway. My only other question: when’s the next challenge? Lemur Junior needs some Huggies… ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/77 "2003-07-11T09:32:10Z")
Nitpick on #24: You may be referring to the film, which I’ve only seen once or twice, and don’t have memorized. But in the book, the squirrels found Veruca to be a bad **nut** , not a bad egg. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606/78 "2003-07-11T11:15:28Z")
On #24, I was referring to the film, since “Don’t care how, I want it now,” are the lyrics from the song Veruca sings in the movie, and have no particular relevance (other than as a general descriptor of attitude) for the book. But I gave credit to anyone who mentioned Veruca Salt, even if they tossed in squirrel references, which were from the book and not the movie. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bricker-challenge-2003-5/185606.md?page=3)