# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 183
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3641 "2025-07-21T01:11:40Z")
Your furnace in the winter is on for longer times than the AC is on in the summer. So your dry warm air in the winter time results in less condensation, than the summer because your AC is not constantly running and drying out the air. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3642 "2025-07-21T23:50:01Z")
No. But you’re on the right track. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3643 "2025-07-22T01:29:23Z")
How about this. You have a [thermocline](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermocline). in the Summer your AC is trying to cool the whole house, the upper floors are paticularly hard to cool becuase the hot air rises and the insulation is poor so it is being heated by the outside. All of this cold air is settling in the basement making it quite chilly. In the winter, you heat the house and although the hot air rises, the fact that the basement in underground limits how much heat it loses so it is actually warmer than it would be in the summer. Is that about right? ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3644 "2025-07-22T03:21:01Z")
Yep. That’s pretty much it. The basement by it’s nature is far better “insulated” then the upstairs. Mainly because the upstairs is mostly an “open” design and has a decent amount of windows relative to the size. Also since the space isn’t big, some of the furniture is no doubt reducing the efficiency of the registers ability to get the air to circulate fully upstairs…which is where the thermostat is. So while cold-air sinks, and that contributes somewhat, the main issue is that the thermostat upstairs takes much longer to cool down to the hysteresis temperature that turns off the A/C. Meanwhile, the much more efficient basement is cooling down much faster effectively. So when the upper floor finally reaches the temperature set by the thermostat, the basement is considerably lower. In the Winter, the situation reverses itself, though not nearly as dramatic as in the summer. Probably because heat rises which means the extra heat from the basement works it’s way upstairs and the furniture that partially blocks the flow from the registers factors in less because the air is rising around it. So when the outside air is really hot in the summer, or really cold in the winter, the basement paradoxically will be warmer in the winter and colder in the summer. The upshot is when taking a shower the steam hits a colder mirror in the summer and so the mirror steams up more. ---
**Author:** ![Hoopy\_Frood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hoopy_frood/32/8452_2.png) [@Hoopy\_Frood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoopy_Frood)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3645 "2025-07-22T03:24:56Z")
Also, thanks for teaching me a new word today. I knew of the general idea of a thermocline, but didn’t know what the term for it was. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3646 "2025-07-27T18:31:42Z")
I was streaming an episode a TV series last night. On the show two characters, Carol and Tony, broke up their relationship. The given plot reason for the break-up was that a man was painting nearby, though neither character knew that was the plot reason (Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else). But neither of these plot reasons was the real reason for the character relationship break-up. What was? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3647 "2025-07-27T18:37:24Z")
So, ‘painting’ as in maybe doing a hauntingly beautiful portrait, or more like ‘painting’ as in maybe just putting a fresh coat on the wall? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3648 "2025-07-27T18:40:19Z")
Painting as in a portrait. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3649 "2025-07-27T18:43:08Z")
Portraiture of Carol, or Tony, or both, or neither? Self-portrait of the artist? Someone else entirely? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3650 "2025-07-27T18:44:20Z")
- > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Portraiture of Carol, or Tony, or both, or neither? Self-portrait of the artist? Someone else entirely? Someone else. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3651 "2025-07-27T18:46:11Z")
Is the “real reason” a reason that exists _within the fictional universe of the show?_ Or is it something outside of the show (e.g., the actor playing one of the characters wanted to quit)? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3652 "2025-07-27T18:52:19Z")
- > [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Is the “real reason” a reason that exists _within the fictional universe of the show?_ Or is it something outside of the show (e.g., the actor playing one of the characters wanted to quit)? Not sure how to answer this. Both elements are needed to create the true reason. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3653 "2025-07-27T18:57:11Z")
“Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else” — the painter? Or the subject of the painting? Or no one _in particular,_ it’s just, like, Carol found lipstick on Tony’s collar, or a scribbled phone number in his pocket, or whatever, and doesn’t know from whom? Or something else entirely? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3654 "2025-07-27T19:00:57Z")
- > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > “Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else” — the painter? Or the subject of the painting? Or no one _in particular,_ it’s just, like, Carol found lipstick on Tony’s collar, or a scribbled phone number in his pocket, or whatever, and doesn’t know who from? > > Or something else entirely? The subject of the painting. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3655 "2025-07-27T19:09:43Z")
Of Carol and Tony and the painter and the paintee, which characters are regulars on the show? ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3656 "2025-07-27T19:16:43Z")
- > [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Of Carol and Tony and the painter and the paintee, which characters are regulars on the show? All. Less so recently for the painter. The painter only makes a few appearances this season (his last, alas). The other characters continue on with the same actors for many more episodes and seasons. ---
**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:** [July 27, 2025, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3657 "2025-07-27T19:21:33Z")
Is this show currently new? Are they making new episodes? If not, what decade is it from? I can ask each decade individually, but would rather not. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2025, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3658 "2025-07-27T19:28:55Z")
- > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is this show currently new? Are they making new episodes? > > If not, what decade is it from? I can ask each decade individually, but would rather not. Not new. No more episodes. From the 1960’s and 1970’s. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3659 "2025-07-28T02:15:21Z")
Let me just make sure I have this straight: > [@Biotop](#): > > The given plot reason for the break-up was that a man was painting nearby, though neither character knew that was the plot reason (Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else). But neither of these plot reasons was the real reason for the character relationship break-up. What was? Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else, and Carol and Tony broke up, but _not_ because Carol thought Tony was seeing someone else — and someone nearby was painting whoever Carol thought Tony was seeing, which (a) was ‘the given plot reason for the break-up,’ but which (b) wasn’t the real reason. Is that accurate? So the real reason could be pretty much _anything_ — maybe the actor and actress split up in real life; maybe the ratings had plummeted while the producers got toms of letters from fans who didn’t want those characters together; maybe the writers simply decided it’d be funnier and more interesting to have Tony swear off women and become a priest — just so long as it wasn’t _actually_ due to the Carol-Thought-Tony-Was-Seeing-The-Person-Being-Painted plot, right? That’s the only thing being ruled out? ---
**Author:** ![Ana\_Byrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Ana\_Byrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ana_Byrd)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/3660 "2025-07-28T02:33:17Z")
Was the real reason some out-of-universe circumstance? Say, one of the actors leaving the show? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=182) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=184)