What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?

Subject: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Jan 99 - 03:38 AM

A while ago we had a thread ("Cheer me up", I think) with not a few riddles of the how many ... does it take to change a light bulb? variety. We can do better than that, can't we?!

I'll start the ball rolling with one by a long-gone Lord McCauley. It was written in rhyme, but I've forgotten the rhyme, so here it is in prose:
I'm a fish. If you cut off my head I appear plural; if you cut off my tail I'm singular. My head is a sounding sea; my tail is a rushing river. Though my middle's left, there's nothing there.

I'll come back with the answer in the unlikely event no-one knows it. Meantime, over to you ...

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: The Shambles
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:16 AM

Can you give us an easier one Steve?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:25 AM

I'll post the answer later today. You'll kick yourself - well, you might kick me! How about "why is a raven like a writing desk"? Even Lewis Carrol didin't know that one.

Hey, why should I do all the work? Let's hear some of yours!

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 03:59 PM

The nearest I can get is "sole" but that's not it, surely. As to the Raven/Writing desk, Carroll's solution was that "they should both be made to shut up".

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: MMario
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:08 PM

Let me try this again. I posted some time back - but it has disappeared.

is the answer:

COD?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: --seed
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:14 PM

Steve, I know how the thing works, but I can't solve it. I can, however, offer some clues to other solvers. It's a multi-syllable word: "head" means first syllable, "tail" is last syllable, "middle" is one or more syllables remaining after first and last are taken off (hence "middle" is "left"?), and means nothing. Maybe with a little help from my thesaurus I'll figure it out... --seed

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: SteveF (inactive)
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 04:56 PM

I think MMario's answer is correct, since it fits most of the clues...but I'll need an explanation for the others.

In the meantime, one magician said to the other, "Who was that short woman I sawed with you last night?"

"That was no short woman; that was my half-sister." (Exit - stage left!)

-- SteveF

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Armand (inactive)
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 07:13 PM

Can't think of an answer better than COD.

This one is bad, but what can ye do?

What can you sit on, eat, and clean your teeth with?

Armand

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: northfolk/al cholger
Date: 28 Jan 99 - 07:32 PM

I have always been curious to know why blackberries are red when they're green?

Subject: The "fish" answer ...
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 09:19 AM

Yep! It's COD.

Armand, I'll give it some thought over the weekend.

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bert
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 09:57 AM

Seeing the Pawnbroker's wife thread reminded me of this one.

On a Pawnbrokers sign, Why does the center ball hang lower than the other two?

Bert.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:02 AM

Blackberries are red when they are green because it tells you to stop before you eat them.

I've always wondered, "Why is a duck?"

MMario

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Jon W.
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:24 AM

Sorry, maybe I'm just a dumb American, but what is plural about OD?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:46 AM

take away the head (the C) and you have two letters left (plural) but take away the tail (od)(as they are pronounced together) and you have only 1 letter.

the "c" is hard, thus a "sounding sea"

[I'm not sure of this part at all]

the tail is the "d" --the Dee - a rushing river

the middle is "o" = oh = common expression for Nothing.

at least that's what I figured on.....

MMario

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: The Shambles
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 11:11 AM

Northfolk

That's the colour they are when they're green.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 11:32 AM

Let's see if we can relate this to music:
-------

My first is in wood but isn't in tree,
My second's in four and also in three,
My third is in music and also in tune,
My fourth is in May but isn't in June,
My whole makes a noise
You can hear down the street.
What am I?

(I have 101 of these, so like the jokes on the cheer up thread, I can go on.. and on.. are you sure you want to, Steve?)

alice in montana

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 11:52 AM

drum

MMario *suffering from a serious case of "It's friday and I really would rather play on the MudCat then work"

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 12:04 PM

MMario. yes, drum, and yes, I should also be working instead of Mudcatting - but this is too much fun.

Here are more.
--------

There is a thing that nothing is,
And yet it has a name:
It's sometimes tall
And sometimes short,
It tumbles if we fall,
It joins our sport,
And plays at every game.

------

First I am as white as snow,
Then as green as grass I grow,
Next I am as red as blood,
Lastly I'm as black as mud.

alice

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Armand (inactive)
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 03:11 PM

Bert - I've never seen a pawnbroker's sign. Is it a visual clue, or can I just muck it out from the words?

Still working on Alice's second set.

Armand

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Paddy
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 03:17 PM

In memory of the late Luke Kelly (15 years dead this month)

His conundrum, I believe

What's the difference between a duck?

Neither of its legs are both on the same side.

PS: Its way past closing time wher I live!!

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bert
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 05:07 PM

Armand,

A pawnbroker's sign consists of three brass balls. They are spaced at the points of an equilateral triangle with two balls at the top and the center ball at the bottom.

Bert.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 07:14 PM

----------
The greater it is
The less you can see.

---------

(here's an easy one)

My voice is tender,
My waist is slender,
I'm often invited to play.
Yet wherever I go,
I must take my beau,
Or else I have nothing to say.

--------

A father's child
A mother's child
Yet no one's son.

--------

My first is in football but isn't in shoot,
My second's in treasure but isn't in loot,
My fourth is in swallow and so is my third,
My whole on a Sunday is far and wide heard.

alice

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Helen
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 09:18 PM

Can someone help me please - give me a hint or something on this joke.

Helen

The hints given are:

1.The joke consists of a play on words, or rather an implicit play on words. 2.It is slightly coarse. 3.You will definitely know when you get it.

If you are still desperate - wait 72 hours, take 4 asprin and then send me an email with a good joke or puzzle. I will send you the answer.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/sloane/eagles.HTM

The Infamous Eagles Joke

You should be warned that the following joke can be infuriating. It is said that it was used at Cambridge University as an intelligence test for undergraduates - those that got it were intelligent.

If you get it - well done. If you don't get it - well neither do most people when they hear it. It is a regular (though rather subtle) joke which requires no special knowledge for its understanding. Here it is:

Two climbers were climbing roped together in the Scottish Highlands. They saw some eagles soaring above them. Later the climbers slipped over the edge of a precipice and unfortunately plunged to their deaths. Their souls left their mortal bodies and ascended to heaven. As they rose they saw the same eagles and one soul cried out to them, 'Ah - Eagles' But the eagles, being polite, said nothing.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Duane D.
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 09:47 PM

This all reminds me of something I heard some years ago.

Q: Why is a stove?

A: The you polish it, it gets.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Teresa
Date: 29 Jan 99 - 10:29 PM

Helen,Could it be that the eagles either couldn't see the souls, couldn't talk, or both? Am I being too literal-minded? (a rarity for me, I might add.) Teresa

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 12:36 PM

before this drops off the list, does anyone want the answers to the ones I posted? alice

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: katmuse
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 12:55 PM

alice -- my guesses (or vague recall):

(1) darkness

(2) violin

(3) daughter

(4) ??? (yes, please give answer)

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 03:27 PM

After Drum, which MMario got,

'there is a thing that nothing is...' is a shadow

'first I am as white...' is a blackberry (northfolk, MMario, and Shambles, did you see that one?)

the next three, katmuse got,
darkenss, violin, daughter

'first is in football...' is a bell.

-------

more:

In spring I am gay
In handsome array
In summer more clothing I wear;
When colder it grows
I fling off my clothes,
And in winter quite naked appear.

-----

I come out of the earth,
I am sold in the market,
He who buys me cuts my tail,
Takes off my suit of silk,
And weeps beside me when I am dead.

-----

Four fingers and a thumb,
Yet flesh and blood I have none.

alice

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: magee_ (inactive)
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 04:25 PM

Durex

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 04:46 PM

No Teresa, I don't think it is anything like that. It's a play on words rather than a logical problem. The hint says it has to be done in an English accent so it must be something which sounds like "Ah,eagles" I think.

Helen

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 04:48 PM

Alice, 1) a deciduous tree 2) an onion 3) ? Helen

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 07:40 PM

Helen, yes,
a tree
an onion
the next is.... a glove.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 08:38 PM

If a college used that joke as an intelligence test what else could you say about such, well, "Ah-Souls"?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 09:09 PM

Lonesome EJ Thanks. I get it now. I was looking at the words "ah, eagles" and not thingking about the probable reply from the eagles.

Helen Now out of her misery - well, for a short time only. I'm sure there will be more connundrums here to fret over.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 09:29 PM

What has a mouth but does not speak,
And has a bed but does not sleep?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 10:33 PM

the river

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Jan 99 - 11:18 PM

you got it

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Teresa
Date: 31 Jan 99 - 02:23 AM

To Helen: Which proves I ain't college material. So much for profundity. (grin ... blush)--Teresa

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Helen
Date: 31 Jan 99 - 06:33 AM

Teresa, It seems it was a choice between profundity & profanity, and profanity won.

The funny thing for me was that I was on the wrong track partly because of the hint about using an "English accent". We use the same pronunciation of that particular term in Australia so I was trying out all sorts of variations on aristocratic English when I could have got the joke just by thinking Australian.

Helen

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 03:48 AM

Maybe I should admit that I'm utterly hopeless at riddles - I just thought conundrum was too good a word to keep to myself. I can't play the violin either, but I love to listen to those who can.

I got the impression that one or two didn't get the whole thing about the COD. If you did, skip this bit, if not ...
co is plural, as in "Stalky & Co"
od[d] is "singular", i.e. "strange". I keep hearing that Americans aren't really into puns, so maybe that's not obvious.

Here's a joke about a riddle:
Col. Cholmondley-Featherstonehaugh (pronounced Chumley-Fanshaw; don't ask!), RHA (retd.), spent some time in Singers (that's Singapore to you and me) after he left the army. He went into the bar at Raffles' Hotel, where he was staying, and got chatting to the barman. The conversation turned to riddles, and the colonel said, 'I've always loved riddles, but I can never work out the answers.'
'I've got a good one,' said the barman, 'would you like me to tell it you?'.
'Go on then, I'm game!'.
'"It isn't my sister, it isn't my brother, but still it's the child of my father and mother". Any ideas?'

Well, the colonel thought and thought, but he didn't realy have a clue, and finally gave up.
'It's me!' said the barman.
'Er ... oh - ah - yes! Very good! Very good indeed!' cried our hero.

When the colonel got back to England he stayed at his London club for a few days. Chatting to the barman there, the conversation once again turned to riddles.

'I've a good one,' said the colonel, '"It isn't my sister, it isn't my brother, but still it's the child of my father and mother". Well?'
'No idea, sir,' replied the barman, 'who is it?'
'It's the barman at Raffles' Hotel in Singapore!'

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From:
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 01:37 PM

What is the difference between a duck ? - One of its legs is both the same.

What is the difference between a train ? - All the carriages go at the same speed, especially the last one.

Anyone know any more decent ones ?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From:
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 02:20 PM

In marble halls as white as milk,

Enrobed in curtains soft as silk,

In center of the shining hall,

There hangs a bright and golden ball.

No doors are there to this stronghold,

Yet thieves break in and steal the gold...

Alricht, it micht be eejit-obvious, but I thocht I'd add ma ain wee bit... Hae a gae, then!

--Cuilionn

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: MMario
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 02:30 PM

Cuilionn - Would that be an egg? MMario

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: hotspur
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 09:31 PM

Round as a saucer and deep as a cup, All the Mississippi can't fill it up

and

On the green hill stands a white house In the white house stands a red house Inside the red house live a lot of little black and white men

These two i learned from my grandmother.:)

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 05:58 AM

Well, I give up, Hotspur, although the "green hill" sounds familiar ...

Here's one with a slightly scientific bent - but don't let that put you off:
Why does a mirror reflect an image from left to right - why not top to bottom?

Clue: if the answer doesn't make sense, there's probably something wrong with the question!

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Sean MacRuairaidh
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 09:12 AM

The image observed after reflection of light in a mirror has the left hand on the left hand side of the image and the right hand on the right hand side of the image i.e. no reversal has taken place. The important thing to remember is that the image is exactly that - just an image - and not a real person.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:10 AM

Not to get too metaphysical here, but.......Are You Sure?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bert
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:25 AM

When you raise your right hand, the image 'appears' to raise it's left hand. So a transposition HAS taken place. However, it wasn't the mirror that did it, it was in your mind. Because we are roughly symmetrical about a vertical axis our mind assumes that the right hand of the image is really a left hand of a person who has turned around and is looking at us.

Trouble is, the more you try to decribe the phenomenon the more confusing it gets.

Bert.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Sean MacR
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:51 AM

I have it - everyone so far is wrong - the mirror does actually do a vertical inversion however the image is invisible. Not only is it invisible but it also has the additional following property :- it cannot be seen. Despite the fact that it is both invisible and cannot be seen it projects an image of itself onto the retina. Unfortunately this image always focusses on the blind-spot so no-one knows it exists. I only know of its existence from an equation I saw in a physics book that was written before writing was invented.In this non-existant book there was an equation that linked something to something else and slap bang in the middle of it, right at the end, there was added the constant of variability. This was followed by a footnote that was explained in the next volume. The footnote referenced an obscure Ghanian piece of music. The music when transposed to the western octave and the notes written down yielded the following sentence - 5 years hard labour.

Then he lost the plot and went back to work ....

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:51 AM

So perhaps metaphysics should again rear it's ugly head and ask again, re: the image...Are You Sure?

catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:57 AM

Sean...a nice try...a bit too much Douglas Adams, but a wonderful stab at it nonetheless.

catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Pete M
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 09:37 PM

Argghh, I'm not sure I can do this without smoke and mirrors or at the very least drawings.

A reflection is a transformation in the same plane as the mirror. A vertical transposition is impossible as the mirror conceptually does not exist in the required plane (it has zero thickness) In the limit if you consider the mirror as two dimensional, then the object and its relection are also two dimensional and the concept of a vertical transposition is meaningless.... on the other hand it could be because thats the way the fairies that live in the mirror like to paint you!

Pete M

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 99 - 10:35 PM

But is the object real? How do you prove only 2 dimensions if the required plane you mention has zero thickness? If you can see 3 dimensionally in the mirror, why doesn't the dimension exist? I kinda' like the fairy thing though!

catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 03:30 AM

Didi you ever start something and then wish you hadn't? That's not a conundrum! (More a way of life for some of us.)

Right. Listen up. Stand your mirror up east-west, with the looking side facing south: when you look in the mirror, you face north, your image faces south. Got it? If you wave your east-side hand, so does your image. All clear?

Steve

P.S. Looking-glass milk wouldn't be good for you, because all the sugar molecules would have the wrong handedness.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: M.Hatter
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 05:14 AM

What if the fairies, who live inside the mirror in the third dimension, are only reflections from another mirror also existing within the third dimension ?

M.Hatter

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 07:11 AM

OOOOOO.......Da' Hatter got a strong possibility there. Steve, if the image waves it's west side hand, do you wave yours? If so, back to my original question.

catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 07:33 AM

I tried it, Catspaw, and I did, but it doesn't count, because I was gonna wave anyway. Maybe if I went around the other side and swapped places ...?

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 07:42 AM

Great job Steve....and you were right a few posts back, as it is so typical of many threads, it's kinda' like paraphrasing Arlo..."remember conumdrums? This is a Thread about Conumdrums." But I really crack up over where some of these things go! I tend to check in on everything just to see what's actually being discussed as opposed to the thread name.

catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: catspaw49
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 07:44 AM

Alright...let's do a spelling thread...CONUNDRUM>

Vice President Quayle, your word is potato.

Sorry,catspaw

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: AndyG
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 08:47 AM

This is one of my favourite puzzles:
What is strange about the following sentence ?

Show this bold Prussian that praises slaughter, slaughter brings rout.

You'll know when you get it, I promise.

AndyG

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: M. Hatter
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 09:49 AM

Take the first letter away from each word and this forms a new sentence - how his old Russian hat ....

Do I get a free t-shirt ?

M. Hatter

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 09:55 AM

Hotspur, I learned these from my grandma too, but i only remember the second.
(watermelon)
There was another similar one of hers about rows of little white men... anyone?

And she used to say:
Two legs sat upon three legs with one leg in his lap.
In came four legs, snatched up three legs;
Threw it after four legs,
To try and make him bring the one leg back.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Pete M
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 02:48 PM

Hmm Catspaw, reminds me of Tom P's "Song of Spiro Agnew"

you know -"I'll sing of Spiro Agnew and of the things he's done." End of song.

Anyway back to the mirror, I tried putting my mirror East West like you said but the faires sulked because the sun was in their eyes and wouldn't wave. Any more ideas?

Pete M

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From:
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 05:02 PM

2 legs=a man sitting on 3 legs=a stool with 1 leg=a chicken leg(?) and 4 legs+ a dog or cat.SO a man sat on a stool eating a chicken leg, the dog came in and grabbed it, whereupon the man picked up the stool to try to get the dog to release the contraband.Right? LEJ

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Barbara
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 06:51 PM

My grandmother said it was a leg of lamb and a dog, but who knows? Sounds right to me Lonesome.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Pete M
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 08:00 PM

You mean if you wave at the mirror a leg of lamb and a dog wave back??

Pete M

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 08:23 PM

the oldest one I can remember.."What will go up a chimney down, but won't go down a chimney up?"

my dear old daddy used to tease us kids with things like..

"if you were carrying all the feathers you could carry, could you carry ONE more?"...

and... "If a hen-and-a-half could lay an egg-and-a-half in a day-and-a-half, how long would it take a cross-eyed grasshopper with a wooden leg to kick the seeds out of a dill pickle"

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 99 - 08:58 PM

"Which dreamed it?" Alice asked upon her return through the looking glass.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 03:43 AM

Remember the old one about which is heavier: a pound of gold or a pound of feathers? Well, one is heavier. Tell you why later, if no-one knows. Doesn't work in metric (or without gold!).

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: M. Hatter
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 05:08 AM

'the sun was shining on the sea, shining with all its might, she did her very best to make, the billows smooth and bright, and this was odd because it was, the middle of the night'

The answer to the one about the chimney is UMBRELLA.

The riddle about the legs etc. is very similar to the one in the Hobbit in the chapter 'Riddles in the dark' where Bilbo and Gollum have a riddle competition.

In the vein of a recent posting :-

1. A wise man asked of me, How many strawberrys grow in the sea ? I answered him as best I could As many wild herrings as grow in a wood.

2. There was a man of Thessaray and he was wondrous wise, He jumped into a bramble bush and scratched out both his eyes, And when he saw his eyes were out, With all his might and main, He jumped into another one and scratched them in again.

(these lyrics actually appear in a song by Ian Campbell Folk Band )

Everyone knows the next two but just in case -

3. One fine day in the middle of the night, two dead men got up to fight, back to back they faced each other, they drew their swords and shot each other.

(These lyrics actually appear in a song of bawdy Nursery Rhymes )

4. As I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn't there, He wasn't there again today, Oh how I wish he'd go away.

Thats all folks ...

M. Hatter

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 07:38 AM

As I was letting down my hair,
I met a man who didn't care.
He didn't care again today -
I love it when they get that way!


My friends in the prison they ask it of me,
How good, how good does it feel to be free?
And I answer them back most mysteriously,
Are the birds free from the chains of the skyway?

Maybe not, but at least they're not banged up behind bars. I hate a smart-arse (present company excepted, of course).

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: AndyG
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 08:21 AM

No cat has eight tails.
Every cat has one tail more than no cat.
Therefore . . .

AndyG

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 09:18 AM

therefore..*smile* ..the intended conclusions fails because of The Fallacy of Equivocation:

" Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass: "You couldn't have it if you did want it," the Queen said. "The rule is jam tomorrow and jam yesterday - but never Jam today." "It must come sometimes to Jam today," Alice objected. "No, it can't," said the Queen. "It's jam every other day: today isn't every other day, you know".

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Barbara
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 09:25 AM

The answer to Steve's which is heavier has to do with Troy, but I can't remember which way it's different.

Another of my grandmother's, another one that I suspect most everyone knows, is:
As I was going to St. Ives
I met a man with seven wives,
And each wife had seven sacks,
And each sack had seven cats,
And each cat had seven kits;
Kits, cats, sacks and wives --
How many were going to St. Ives?

Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: AndyG
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 10:24 AM

Bill D,
therefore... *hopeful grin* ... you admire the Rev. Dodgson.
(If you've played any Mornington Crescent you might like these)

AndyG

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: M.Hatter
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:44 AM

gold or feathers ?

1. if you were to purchase to the value of one UK pound, some gold then this would weigh much less than the amount of feathers you could buy for one UK pound. Therefore a pound of gold is less than a pound of feathers.

2.if a UK pound was made of gold then this would be heavier than one made of feathers. Therefore a pound of gold is heavier than a pound of feathers.

3. If you were to fill a pound (enclosure) with gold then this would be heavier than one filled with feathers. Therefore a pound of gold is heavier than a pound of feathers.

St Ives

There is only one person going to St Ives, the rest are returning.

An old joke

An man decides to swim the Pacific ocean. Everything starts off well but half-way there he decides he isn't going to make it so he swims back again.

M. Hatter

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: The fairies
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:54 AM

Mudcatters,

We fairies are sick of living inside mirrors drawing things all day.

If you can help us get out of this crazy mixed up world then please send assistance immediately.

As to the means, please seek advice from our friends at the bottom of the garden.

The Fairies.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Jon W.
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 11:58 AM

Gold is measured in Troy pounds, feathers in avoirdupois. An avoirdupois pound weighs more than a troy pound so the feathers weigh more than the gold. I hope I spelled that right.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Pete M
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 03:47 PM

Fairies, assistance is available (at least in the UK) from the National Elf Service.

Meanwhile can I have my leg of lamb back?

Pete M

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 06:01 PM

Andy G..don't know 'Mornington Crescent'..but those were delightful!...(I used quotations from Alice a few times in Philosophy papers..there always seems to be one that is relevant)

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Barbara
Date: 11 Feb 99 - 07:33 PM

Hotspur!
Round as a saucer, deep as a cup;
The whole Mizzip can't fill it up.

A sieve.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 06:55 AM

Weight and see... yes, Troy weight is heavier than avoirdupois, for reasons that quite escape me. Alternatively, for a pound of lead and a pound of feathers, I've heard "a pound of lead, if it fell on my head", which sounds reasonable.

As far as St Ives is concerned, I've always pictured myself as overtaking the man, wives, etc., so the answer would be 1+7+7²+..+7ⁿ, not forgetting to add 1 for myself, of course.

As I was coming back from St Ives, I met a bunch of 'Catters squabbling amongst themselves ...

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Peter T.
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 09:46 AM

Andy G., What is Mornington Crescent? (to echo another, not mirror). I once lived on Mornington Crescent, but there were no games there.

Speaking of echoes, is the echo of an echo the original sound?

Yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: AndyG
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 10:09 AM

Mornington Crescent is a game of skill played, some say definitively, on the BBC Radio panel game "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" (ISAHAC).
I can only refer you to this prime site for on-line play. Where you are advised to study the games and read the hints for beginners before attempting play.

AndyG

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 10:38 AM

Peter T: no!

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Jon W.
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 12:45 PM

I'm not so sure the Mighty Muddy Mississippi couldn't fill a sieve. Wouldn't the mud plug up the holes pretty quick?

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Barbara
Date: 12 Feb 99 - 12:51 PM

Perhaps, but the logs (and other debris) might do it faster. Jeez, John, it's a allegory, right? Or maybe it was written when the Mississippi was still clean...
So what is the answer, Hotspur?
(and for that matter, I haven't figured out either Armand's question about the toothbrush/edible/seat or the pawnbroker's sign).
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 03:29 AM

If anyone's interested, I found the original of the riddle I asked way back at the start of this thread:

Cut off my head, and singular I am,
Cut off my tail, and plural I appear,
Although my middle's left, there's nothing there!
What is my head? A sounding sea;
What is my tail? A rushing river.
And in their mingling depths I fearless play,
Parent of sweetest sounds yet mute forever.

Steve

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bert
Date: 30 Aug 99 - 01:06 PM

'cos it's on a longer chain.

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Aug 99 - 03:55 PM

Bert: is that as in bigger is better??*g*

Subject: RE: What conundrums do Mudcatters prefer?
From: Bert
Date: 30 Aug 99 - 04:04 PM

?? It's the answer to the riddle I posted to the thread on 29th. Jan.