[geocentrism] Re: Puzzle
- From: "Robert Bennett" <robert.bennett@xxxxxxx>
- To: <geocentrism@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:57:06 -0400
Paul,
What's a first order wish? Is that a UK thing?
Robert
-----Original Message-----
From: geocentrism-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:geocentrism-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Paul Deema
Sent: Monday, March 26, 2007 4:02 PM
To: Geocentrism@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [geocentrism] Puzzle
Greetings all.
Having now received permission to post the puzzle (has anyone observed a
proliferation or preponderance of examples of aliteration involving the
initial 'p'?) I hereby pose the puzzle!
This was promised to Martin S some little time ago. At the time I raised the
issue, I indicated that it might be the basis of a competition, so I ask
anyone who wishes to offer a solution, to please send it to -
paul_deema@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:paul_deema@xxxxxxxxxxx>
with the subject 'Solution' so as to give everyone an equal chance of
solving it alone.
If anyone has an uncertainty about the puzzle, ie I didn't cover something
adequately in the definition, then ask on the open forum so all may benefit
from the clarification.
To guarantee the integrity of the process, I have attached the solution in a
self extracting, password protected file. The password will be given shortly
after the close of the competition together with the identity of those I
judge to have solved the puzzle.
Unless there is a concensus otherwise (or an edict from the management) I
propose that the cutoff date for solutions be 2007.04.02 24h00Z (midnight in
Greenwitch Mon 02 Apr 2007).
Enjoy!
Paul D
PS When I tried to attach the self extract file, Solution.EXE, Yahoo!
refused on the grounds that it was a virus which it certainly is not. I
tested several other .EXE files and Yahoo! was happy with those, so it is
something about my file it doesn't like. As there is more than one way to
skin a cat, I then converted Solution.EXE to a five letter code group file
Solution.ALF which Yahoo! accepted and is attached, but when I tried to
attach codegroup.exe -- so you can convert Solution.ALF to Solution.EXE --
Yahoo! again complained that it had a problem, again something to do with a
virus, but asked if I'd like to attach it anyway! Can you believe that? I
won't do that so I suggest that you go to http://www.fourmilab.ch/codegroup/
and download the codegroup.ZIP file. It is dead simple to use -- the
instructions are given at the site and in the zip file. Sorry about that,
but not my fault.
So in summary, the steps are (1) obtain codegrp.zip, extract, and RUN
codegrp -d solution.alf > solution.exe (2) RUN solution.exe -s<password
supplied next monday>.
============================================================================
=========
Utopia is a land where every citizen of that land is blessed with the power
of clear logical thought, from the king down to the lowest peasant. It is
the stage for this conundrum.
The Wondrous Pot.
One day, a smooth-talking salesman from a foreign land came to the court and
begged an audience with the king, stating that he had a proposition in which
he believed the king would be interested. The official with whom he had
lodged the request, thanked the salesman for his interest and bade him
return the following day at 10 o'clock at which time he would be informed
whether or not an audience would be granted.
The next day, promptly at 10 o'clock, the salesman presented himself and was
called by the official. He was informed that the king had been informed of
the salesman's offer, that the king was interested, and that an audience of
one hour's duration had been scheduled for 2 o'clock the following Tuesday
afternoon. The official then requested the salesman present himself 15
minutes before the scheduled time of the audience to allow for staging.
Delighted, the salesman departed.
Again, promptly on time, the salesman, carrying a small hard case by a strap
over his shoulder, presented himself at the appointed time and was shown to
an ante-room from whence at precisely 2 o'clock, he was escorted to the
king's chamber of audiences.
Upon entering the chamber, and after protocols had been enacted, the king
bade him sit at the table and explain his proposition. The salesman placed
the small case on the table to his left, loosed the catch, swung the lid up
and over, reached inside and carefully removed a small simple un-glazed pot
with no lid. This he placed on the table directly in front of him in full
view of the king.
"This pot," said the salesman, "Has a remarkable property. It confers upon
its owner, the benefit of granting him his first order wishes so long as he
is still the owner when the wish is to be fulfilled and so long as he lives;
but it also has a less desirable property. It is this -- if the owner dies
while still in possession, then he will, without appeal, be consigned to the
fires of hell for all eternity. To avoid this fate, he need only sell the
pot with its powers intact under the same conditions which obtained when he
purchased it except that it must be sold for less than he had paid for it."
"Now to own an object possessed of such power," the salesman continued, "A
heavy expenditure is clearly justifiable. However, on this occasion, I am
able to offer it to you for the very reasonable sum of $1250.000. This sum
is payable on delivery but may be placed in escrow until either its utility
has been established or 30 days have passed whichever is the sooner.
Ownership begins from the moment of the handshake as a token of the
agreement to purchase."
"I thank you sire for your attention", the salesman concluded.
The king thought for a few moments, then addressed the salesman thus - "I
thank you sir for your presentation, which I judge to have been without
guile, and for allowing me the opportunity of owning this remarkable
artifact. The price and terms of the transaction appear satisfactory, but I
ask your indulgence for 24 hours while I consider the matter", to which the
salesman readily agreed and the audience concluded.
Next day at the appointed time, the salesman was received, escorted to the
ante chamber, and thence to the chamber of audiences where the prescribed
courtesies were again enacted. The king then addressed the salesman.
"I thank you again for your journey to my kingdom," he said, "An expedition
not without its hazards, with the object of offering me your remarkable
artifact, at a reasonable price, and under fully acceptable terms and
conditions. However, I regret to inform you that I must decline your offer
and that I require you to leave the kingdom within 24 hours."
The salesman was thunderstruck. In a daze, he stumbled through the closing
protocols, departed the chamber, the court and the country, never to return.
Why did the king refuse the salesman's offer?
===========================================
Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com
Other related posts:
