# 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:** 205
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4081 "2025-11-27T16:54:05Z")
> Is the weather event snow? Rain? Thunder? Wind? excellent: No No No Yes ---
**Author:** ![SailorHG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SailorHG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SailorHG)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4082 "2025-11-27T19:33:02Z")
Do you have a basement fireplace that resonates when it’s windy outside, like a flute or other instrument? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4083 "2025-11-27T19:45:41Z")
> Do you have a basement fireplace that resonates when it’s windy outside, like a flute or other instrument? also very good guess, but no. If I slept through a windy period I wouldn’t know resonant flute noises had happened. The phenomenon I’m referring to also allows me to know it had happened in the recent past (like a few hours ago) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4084 "2025-11-27T20:34:55Z")
Your power supply is batteries that are recharged by a wind turbine. You know there is wind happening if the battery power level remaining indicator is climbing. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4085 "2025-11-27T21:39:17Z")
No. Its a normal house with normal mains electricity, normal plumbing just like a regular house, normal gas lines coming in off of the street. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4086 "2025-11-27T22:34:23Z")
Are sealed containers, such as food cans or jars, relevant? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4087 "2025-11-27T22:36:45Z")
Do you own a [Beverly Clock](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beverly-clock)? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4088 "2025-11-27T22:59:19Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Are sealed containers, such as food cans or jars, relevant? not relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4089 "2025-11-27T22:59:39Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Do you own a [Beverly Clock](https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/beverly-clock) no. another clue forthcoming. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4090 "2025-11-27T23:03:05Z")
We’ve established the weather phenomenon is the wind. I can tell if it is unusually windy outside while its happening, though I do have to check an item to establish this. That item is a regular normal item, nothing unusual and found in probably over 90% of homes. Similarly, if it has been windy in the recent past, I can check that item and note that it had been windy. By recent, I mean over the previous few hours. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4091 "2025-11-27T23:10:14Z")
You find a house on your sister? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4092 "2025-11-27T23:20:55Z")
ha!….no. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4093 "2025-11-27T23:24:59Z")
So, this item you’re checking: I’m assuming that in general, the primary reason it’s manufactured, sold, and used is for some non-wind-checking purpose. Is that correct? When you check it, is it a simple matter of just looking at it? Or do you have to do something else? If I have one, is the most likely place for it in the kitchen? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4094 "2025-11-27T23:31:22Z")
The primary reason and use for it is NOT checking the wind. It has a primary common useful function, non weather related. Yes, just looking at it will give me the information. Generally don’t have to do anything else, though I do note that sometimes people have it ‘covered’ and have to ‘uncover’ it for use. not in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4095 "2025-11-27T23:34:52Z")
Does the wind affect the item directly? Or indirectly? Is the amount or direction of change in the object related to the wind velocity? Or direction? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2025, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4096 "2025-11-27T23:57:31Z")
good questions…and I’m not sure I can answer them well. I would say the wind affects the item indirectly. The amount of change in the object is related to wind velocity. The harder the wind is blowing, the more noticeable the effect. Wind direction is not really relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4097 "2025-11-28T01:16:58Z")
You said that you can tell if the wind blew in the past, so can we assume the object does not go back to its original condition when the wind stops? Does the condition of the object change when the wind stops blowing? Is there a draft in the basement? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4098 "2025-11-28T02:02:14Z")
That is correct, the item does not return to its original state after the wind event. I have to ‘reset’ it. The condition of the object does not change after the wind stops blowing. So, before the wind, the item is in its original state….then the wind affects it, changes something about it, and then the item stays in that changed state until I reset it back to its original condition. There is no draft, so I don’t ‘feel’ a breeze or wind myself. A candle in the basement would not flicker. Recall that we earlier established that air pressure is involved. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4099 "2025-11-28T02:07:34Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > Recall that we earlier established that air pressure is involved. As a clarification: barometric pressure or the pressure of the wind against something? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/4100 "2025-11-28T02:11:41Z")
> As a clarification: barometric pressure or the pressure of the wind against something? Hmmm. It is definitely a change in air pressure caused by the wind blowing past something. It is not pressure of the wind blowing against an object like a flat board. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=204) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=206)