| Author | Message | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1281 Registered: 5-2007 |
The longer the search continued, the less likely it was to succeed. | ||
| Eliott85 (Eliott85)
New member Username: Eliott85 Post Number: 106 Registered: 12-2008 |
Search: Literal search? For a person? An item? An emotion? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1282 Registered: 5-2007 |
Search: Literal search? yes For a person? An item? this one An emotion? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3899 Registered: 1-2007 |
Nice to see you back woubit. We've all been worried about you Any current news events relevant? any relevant technology? | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 1340 Registered: 1-2011 |
Is the searcher a one person? A group of people? Do the searcher(s) search an item to acquire it? to destroy it? just to know where it is? | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2668 Registered: 2-2011 |
Higgs Boson particle? is the object larger than a finger? a hand? a football? a breadbox? a fridge? a car? is the object unique in some way? is it a clue? is it alive? animal? vegetable? mineral? were the people searching police? military? was the search itself likely to obscure the view? was the search conducted indoors? | ||
| Mimino (Mimino)
New member Username: Mimino Post Number: 73 Registered: 6-2005 |
Was the item hidden? Is it a tangible item? (if not: is it a word?) Did (or does) it exist at all? Was the purpose of the search merely to prove the existence of this item? The longer the search continued .. the more difficult it would be to narrow down where the item is located? (because it is moving?) .. the more likely the item would change its appearance? stop to exist? vanish? get stolen? Would "succeed" in the puzzle statement mean to find the item before someone else does? Is any of your puzzles in the limbo section relevant here? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1283 Registered: 5-2007 |
Any current news events relevant? no any relevant technology? yes Is the searcher a one person? A group of people? this one Do the searcher(s) search an item to acquire it? well, to reacquire it to destroy it? no just to know where it is? not "just" - the idea is that when they have found it, they will reunite it with its owner Higgs Boson particle? no, but good thinking is the object larger than a finger? yes a hand? about this size a football? a breadbox? a fridge? a car? smaller than all of those is the object unique in some way? no is it a clue? no is it alive? no animal? vegetable? mineral? primarily this one were the people searching police? military? no - just ordinary people was the search itself likely to obscure the view? no was the search conducted indoors? in part Was the item hidden? no Is it a tangible item? yes (if not: is it a word?) Did (or does) it exist at all? yes Was the purpose of the search merely to prove the existence of this item? no The longer the search continued .. the more difficult it would be to narrow down where the item is located? yes (because it is moving?) no .. the more likely the item would change its appearance? stop to exist? vanish? get stolen? none of those Would "succeed" in the puzzle statement mean to find the item before someone else does? no - there was no race to discover the item Is any of your puzzles in the limbo section relevant here? no | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16250 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is the object well-known? To the ordinary people? Is some sort of treasure hunt going on? Is the object a rock? A gem? Is the object's owner relevant? Did the owner hide the object? Lose it? Does the owner still actually have the object? Welcome back, woubit! We've missed you! | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 617 Registered: 8-2011 |
Is it unlikely to succeed because the owner will die? Because something will happen to the item? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5255 Registered: 9-2010 |
woubit! you're back!!! =) please don't leave us again woubit, if you can help it that is... were they looking for a rock? a stone? the Blarney Stone? Rosetta Stone? Stone of Scone? Scone of Stone? that one was a joke, of course, lol | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16255 Registered: 4-2010 |
This Scone of Stone? | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5257 Registered: 9-2010 |
lol! I didn't even know about that one =) | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2677 Registered: 2-2011 |
I've just ordered it on Amazon is it biodegradable? will its colour fade and make it harder to detect? will it melt? is it fragile? made of glass? | ||
| Redwine (Redwine)
New member Username: Redwine Post Number: 1359 Registered: 1-2011 |
Are the searchers making still bigger mess, which makes it harder to find the object? Do they search it in a defined place? At home? Is it relevant how the object was lost? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1284 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is the object well-known? yes To the ordinary people? yes Is some sort of treasure hunt going on? no Is the object a rock? A gem? neither of those Is the object's owner relevant? not especially Did the owner hide the object? Lose it? this one Does the owner still actually have the object? no Is it unlikely to succeed because the owner will die? no Because something will happen to the item? yes were they looking for a rock? no a stone? no the Blarney Stone? Rosetta Stone? Stone of Scone? Scone of Stone? none of the above, not even the last one is it biodegradable? no will its colour fade and make it harder to detect? no will it melt? no is it fragile? somewhat made of glass? somewhat Are the searchers making still bigger mess, which makes it harder to find the object? no Do they search it in a defined place? yes At home? no Is it relevant how the object was lost? a little | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16267 Registered: 4-2010 |
Will the item break? Decay? Dissolve? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1285 Registered: 5-2007 |
Will the item break? no Decay? no Dissolve? no | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16269 Registered: 4-2010 |
Will the object be further lost? Is the object hidden? Or just lost? | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 626 Registered: 8-2011 |
Is the object useful? Will the object be less useful if found later? useless? Is the owner already dead? Was the object lost recently (within the last year)? Last 10 years? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3927 Registered: 1-2007 |
Will the object reduce in size? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1286 Registered: 5-2007 |
Will the object be further lost? I am not quite sure what this means. The object will become (or "would have become") less likely to be found if the present mode of searching for it continues. Is the object hidden? no, or at least not deliberately concealed Or just lost? yes Is the object useful? yes, or at least regarded as useful - nay, indispensable - by its owner Will the object be less useful if found later? no useless? no; once discovered, the object can easily be restored to its former state of usefulness Is the owner already dead? no - there is no crime or other dark mystery here Was the object lost recently (within the last year)? it was lost in November 2011 and recovered in the same month, week and day as it was lost, after about three hours of searching Last 10 years? see above Will the object reduce in size? no | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16285 Registered: 4-2010 |
Was the object particularly valuable? Is the owner relevant in any way other than simply being the owner? Is the owner royalty? Famous? Rich? Is the LTPF relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1287 Registered: 5-2007 |
Was the object particularly valuable? no more so than other objects of its kind Is the owner relevant in any way other than simply being the owner? no Is the owner royalty? Famous? Rich? he happens to be a rich man, but the puzzle would work just as well if he were not; he is not a member of any royal house, nor is he a famous man Is the LTPF relevant? no. This is a very commonplace puzzle indeed - the object in question is an instance of an object that I am sure most of you possess; the method of searching for it is one that at least some of you have certainly employed; no one died... | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2681 Registered: 2-2011 |
is it a contact lens? or some specs? I think if you're earching for a contact lens there'd be a danger of stepping on it and crushing it | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1288 Registered: 5-2007 |
is it a contact lens? or some specs? neither of those, but good thinking I think if you're searching for a contact lens there'd be a danger of stepping on it and crushing it I think so too, and the danger in the actual case is not dissimilar... | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 633 Registered: 8-2011 |
So it's the way the searchers are searching that is causing problems? Is my assumption correct? If so, are they using equipment? using animals? in vehicles? just walking around looking? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1289 Registered: 5-2007 |
So it's the way the searchers are searching that is causing problems? exactly and precisely so Is my assumption correct? in every detail. But it was not their fault - the way they were searching for this lost object is the way that everyone does. However... If so, are they using equipment? this one using animals? in vehicles? just walking around looking? they should have done this instead - after all, that was how we found the blasted thing in the end | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 635 Registered: 8-2011 |
Is the object spherical? flat? Is it something most people use daily? Is it something a person would keep in the home? Any one particular room? Is it something found in public places? Is it something a person would keep in a pocket or purse? The equipment: Something that would detect the object somehow (like a metal detector or one of those key finders that beeps)? Something that would make it easier to see (such as a magnifying glass or a flashlight)? Does it run on electricity? Any moving parts? You said everyone looks for this item this way- would most people have this equipment in their home? In their pocket/purse? At a public place? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16289 Registered: 4-2010 |
Were they using a metal detector? A vacuum cleaner? (with a sock over the end?) | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1290 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is the object spherical? no flat? this is much closer than "spherical", yes Is it something most people use daily? strictly speaking, no - "most people" in the sense of the majority of the world's population do not possess such an object. But in developed and even developing societies, it is a commonplace and almost an everyday object. Is it something a person would keep in the home? these days I expect they would, but... Any one particular room? no Is it something found in public places? yes, though it is not for public use - quite the contrary Is it something a person would keep in a pocket or purse? yes The equipment: Something that would detect the object somehow (like a metal detector or one of those key finders that beeps)? not that kind of thing, no Something that would make it easier to see (such as a magnifying glass or a flashlight)? no Does it run on electricity? yes Any moving parts? not in the sense you probably intend the question, no, though the strict answer is "yes" You said everyone looks for this item this way- would most people have this equipment in their home? see above - most people who have this equipment would at one point or another have it in their home In their pocket/purse? yes At a public place? yes | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1291 Registered: 5-2007 |
Were they using a metal detector? no A vacuum cleaner? (with a sock over the end?)no | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 637 Registered: 8-2011 |
Is the object a gun? Is it a phone? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16290 Registered: 4-2010 |
Were they trying to call the phone to hear it ring (but it was on vibrate)? Which would drain the phone's battery? But if you had just looked for it, you'd have found it much sooner? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1292 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is the object a gun? no Is it a phone? yes Were they trying to call the phone to hear it ring (but it was on vibrate)? Which would drain the phone's battery? But if you had just looked for it, you'd have found it much sooner? that will do very well enough... ***** INTERIM SPOILER ***** As usual, someone had lost their cellphone. This time, though, it was lost somewhere in a wide open space (Hyde Park in London). People did the usual thing - they called the phone, in order to locate it where it rang. But once this had failed to work the first time, it ought to have dawned on the assembled company that it was less likely to work the more they tried it. For as Balin says, the phone's battery would be drained in the process. To my everlasting shame, I was among the company that ran around the Park frantically calling my friend's number. Coming as darkness came on to my senses, I went back to where we'd all had lunch. Sure enough... ...you have enough to solve the real puzzle. What is my friend's surname? | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16324 Registered: 4-2010 |
Is your friend's surname related to the puzzle title? To cell phones? Is the LTPF relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1293 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is your friend's surname related to the puzzle title? yes To cell phones? no Is the LTPF relevant? no more than usually, but may I say how glad I am to be back in company as sharp as this | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16328 Registered: 4-2010 |
I'm glad you're back too! Not a button: another form of fastener? A zipper? Snaps? Shoelaces? Velcro? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1294 Registered: 5-2007 |
Not a button: another form of fastener? A zipper? Snaps? Shoelaces? Velcro? nothing like this... it has often occurred to me to add BUWT to the acronyms I appear to have contributed to the LTPF. What BUWT stands for is LAEFTR. | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2701 Registered: 2-2011 |
key? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1295 Registered: 5-2007 |
key? no | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5273 Registered: 9-2010 |
does the W in BUWT stand for woubit? because I is a very puzzled kaylee! =( I do, however, know what LAEFTR means, however...at least, what I think it means. It means something should be obvious, no? well, woubit is obviously too clever for kaylee, so it isn't obvious for me. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5274 Registered: 9-2010 |
a note to woubit of woubits inc., pedants to the gentry: while I have often been in horrific defiance of proper English grammar (i.e. a big fan of LOLcats) these days, any grammatical errors in that last post were unintentional. It is still early and I have woken up from a nightmare of rather horrific proportions, compounded by the frightening thought that I was grammatically incorrect on a woubit puzzle. =( | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 665 Registered: 8-2011 |
Button...mushroom? Button badge? Panic button? Button that holds clothing on? Button that can be pressed in order to make something happen (such as elevator buttons or web buttons)? Curling relevant? | ||
| Rbruma (Rbruma)
New member Username: Rbruma Post Number: 1912 Registered: 9-2009 |
Benjamin? (Thinking of the movie) | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 930 Registered: 6-2003 |
I guess BUWT means to Bark Up the Wrong Tree (or Be Un the Wrong Track : ) Is your friend's surname Jenson? Or, as he is "not a Button", maybe Lewis? Mark? Felipe? Nico? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1296 Registered: 5-2007 |
Button...mushroom? Button badge? Panic button? Button that holds clothing on? this one Button that can be pressed in order to make something happen (such as elevator buttons or web buttons)? Curling relevant? no, but an interesting thought Benjamin? (Thinking of the movie) no I guess BUWT means to Bark Up the Wrong Tree you guess correctly Is your friend's surname Jenson? no Or, as he is "not a Button", maybe Lewis? no, but... Mark? Felipe? Nico? none of those | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3938 Registered: 1-2007 |
Did you have lunch in a restaurant? or at a picnic table or similar? If a restuarant is it's name relevant? Is formula one relevant or is that just a good example of the right kind of thinking. | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1297 Registered: 5-2007 |
Did you have lunch in a restaurant? well, it was a cafe in the park or at a picnic table or similar? If a restuarant is its name relevant? no Is formula one relevant no, neither to this puzzle nor to anything else or is that just a good example of the right kind of thinking. not the right kind of thinking, but... | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 932 Registered: 6-2003 |
Is your friend's surname relevant to where you found the phone? A specific type of button relevant? a missing button? a button hole? a person named (or nicknamed) Button? Is your friend male? female? is this relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1298 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is your friend's surname relevant to where you found the phone? not to where we found it, but to the time of day at which we found it (already alluded to) and to the title of the puzzle A specific type of button relevant? no - all that is known about the actual button in question is that it was (or rather, it wasn't) a standard button used for fastening some kind of clothing such as a coat or certain types of boot a missing button? a button hole? a person named (or nicknamed) Button? not this Is your friend male? this one female? is this relevant? perhaps a little | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5285 Registered: 9-2010 |
"button, button, who's got the button?" I'm vaguely recalling this phrase from somewhere...might have been a game in elementary school or Girl Scouts or something. In any case, it's been at least a decade, if not a decade and a half, since I've heard it...so I can't precisely recall what it was about. But I am sure the great and powerful woubit, whose powers are beyond my imagination, can decipher it...after all, woubit knows the difference between a courgette and a zucchini and the meanings thereof. is it at all relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1299 Registered: 5-2007 |
"button, button, who's got the button?" nothing to do with this, which is indeed a popular children's game. There are a number of variations, but all of them involve guessing who has a concealed button, or in which hand a button is concealed. You may have played the game, or you may have read a poem by Robert Frost called "The Witch of Coos" in which appear the lines: Folks think a witch who has familiar spirits She could call up to pass a winter evening, But won't, should be burned at the stake or something. Summoning spirits isn't button, button, Who's got the button? I would have them know. | ||
| Ciaobella (Ciaobella)
New member Username: Ciaobella Post Number: 671 Registered: 8-2011 |
Any of these words relevant? -evening? -twilight? -sunset? -afternoon? -night? -buckle? -Velcro? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3939 Registered: 1-2007 |
Is the expression 'bright as a button' relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1300 Registered: 5-2007 |
Any of these words relevant? -evening? -twilight? -sunset? -afternoon? -night? -buckle? -Velcro? not especially, no Is the expression 'bright as a button' relevant? no | ||
| Shez (Shez)
New member Username: Shez Post Number: 2719 Registered: 2-2011 |
sundown? eventide? PM? late? nightfall? dusk? is the fastener a toggle? hook? strap? stud? frog? mandarin? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1301 Registered: 5-2007 |
sundown? eventide? PM? late? nightfall? dusk? looking for exact synonyms for the time at which darkness came on will not avail you. Instead, you should focus on those words themselves... is the fastener a toggle? hook? strap? stud? frog? mandarin? ...as you should on the words "not a button"; the non-button in question is not not a specific kind of button, rather, it is not any kind of button. If you see what I mean. | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3942 Registered: 1-2007 |
so am I right in saying that we should focus on the words 'the time at which darkness came on' and 'not a button' Any anagrams or wordplay? | ||
| Peter365 (Peter365)
New member Username: Peter365 Post Number: 3943 Registered: 1-2007 |
Sorry forgot to ask ... ....is the moon relevant? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1302 Registered: 5-2007 |
so am I right in saying that we should focus on the words 'the time at which darkness came on' and 'not a button' "till darkness came on" would be more appropriate, but otherwise yes Any anagrams or wordplay? no, although... ....is the moon relevant? no | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 935 Registered: 6-2003 |
You were hunting till darkness came on? but you found not a button, or feather or Mark? | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1303 Registered: 5-2007 |
You were hunting till darkness came on? but you found not a button, or feather or Mark? exactly so, from which you will have gathered why it is that Lewis was a more relevant name than Jenson or Filipe or Nico. But my friend's surname is not Mark (nor is that his first name). | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5295 Registered: 9-2010 |
is Carroll his surname? Dodgson? | ||
| Sundowner (Sundowner)
New member Username: Sundowner Post Number: 936 Registered: 6-2003 |
Is the surname any of the professions mentioned in the poem? Bellman? Butcher? Baker? Banker? Barrister? Broker? (I would guess it is nothing so obvious as Snark or Boojum ..?) | ||
| Balin (Balin)
New member Username: Balin Post Number: 16348 Registered: 4-2010 |
(Or Boots, but that would be more likely if your friend were a cat...) | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1304 Registered: 5-2007 |
is Carroll his surname? Dodgson? neither of those, but help is at hand Is the surname any of the professions mentioned in the poem? Bellman? Butcher? Baker? this one Banker? Barrister? Broker? (I would guess it is nothing so obvious as Snark or Boojum ..?) if anyone were to suggest that "Snark" or "Boojum" was an obvious surname in the British Isles, or anywhere else, I would respectfully have suggested that they were a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic. However, diligent research reveals that there is at least one person named "Snark" (Martin of that ilk) residing in London; for aught I know he may have several descendants, and it is almost certain that he had at least one parent, so I am suitably abashed. A global search for people with the surname "Boojum" has conformed more precisely with expectation. (Or Boots, but that would be more likely if your friend were a cat...) actually, it would not - the same kind of research indicates that "Boots" is a more popular surname by far than "Broker" or "Barrister". It's not even close between "Boots" and "Banker" - only "Bellman", "Butcher" and "Baker" are more common than "Boots" which, after all, is the name of our leading high-street (sorry, main-street) chem... er, drugstore. ***** SPOILER ***** But enough. This puzzle was inspired, if that is the word (which it almost certainly is not) by an incident in which my fried James Baker lost his cellphone in Hyde Park. As originally described, we ran around like headless chickens calling the phone, until it dawned on one of us that this would no longer work because the phone would no longer be able to respond. So, we reverted to more traditional methods of looking for things - "where were you when you last had it?" and the like - and we found it just as the Park was closing for the day (most English parks close at dusk). The juxtaposition of "hunting till twilight came on" and "Baker" struck me as apposite enough for something, though I knew not what. Then I remembered the LTPF... | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1305 Registered: 5-2007 |
Postscript: for those who have not read Lewis Carroll's "The Hunting of the Snark", you should. You really should. For those who have, you should read it again. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5301 Registered: 9-2010 |
Duly noted, woubit =) I shall do so, and I am most pleased you have returned. Do you perhaps have more of these wonderfully puzzling woubit puzzles to share? You have been greatly missed. | ||
| Woubit (Woubit)
Moderator Username: Woubit Post Number: 1306 Registered: 5-2007 |
Do you perhaps have more of these wonderfully puzzling woubit puzzles to share? You have been greatly missed. very well. But no more Mister Nice Guy. | ||
| Kayleetonkslupin (Kayleetonkslupin)
New member Username: Kayleetonkslupin Post Number: 5304 Registered: 9-2010 |
no, just mr. nice woubit. =) |
