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It's a Puzzlement
Orienting Bottles
by John P. Robertson
You are blindfolded and seated before a square rotating table, which has a bottle at each of the four corners. Each bottle may be upright or inverted. Your job is to orient all four bottles the same way. Here's what you are allowed to do. You can call out "adjacent" or "opposite." If you call "adjacent," someone will rotate the table and guide your hands to two bottles at adjacent corners, like home plate and first base. You can feel whether the bottles are upright or inverted, and you can change or not change the orientation of either or both bottles. If you call "opposite," the table will be rotated and your hands will be guided to two bottles at opposite corners, like home plate and second base. Again, you can change the orientation of neither, one, or both bottles. The person rotating the table can see the orientation of each bottle, but is not necessarily trying to help you succeed. You can ask for "adjacent" or "opposite" as many times as you want. What is your strategy?
Easy Questions?
What follows are the questions, my intended answers in brackets, and then David Uhland's answers.
How long did the Hundred Years War last?
[116 years, from 1337 to 1453]Although the Hundred Years War lasted more than 100 years, it did last 100 years (as it also lasted 101 years, and 102 years, etc.).
Which country makes Panama hats?
[Ecuador]Panama hats are made in many countries, but every hat made in Panama, no matter the style, may be referred to as a Panama hat.
From which animal do we get catgut?
[Sheep and horses]Catgut is made from intestines of various animals including sheep, but that doesn't mean you couldn't get it from any animal. For example, a dog might find it in the street and bring it home to you; in this way you can get catgut from any pet, including a cat, with no harm done to it!
In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
[November]The revolution occurred in November, so that is the month some Russians celebrate it. However, for some Russians there is no month in which the revolution is celebrated, while others might, in their own way, celebrate it year-round.
What is a camel's hair brush made of?
[Squirrel fur]Camel's hair brushes can in fact be made of camel hair, but may be made of some substitute. On the other hand, a camel's hair brush can be made of anything, depending on what the camel's owner buys for it.
The Canary Islands in the Atlantic were named after what animal?
[Dogs]The islands were previously called "insulae canriae," or island of dogs, but it's also true the islands were named after many animals. Although scientists continue to discover and name species, the Canary Islands were named after thousands of animals.
What was King George VI's first name?
[Albert]The person who became King George VI was born Albert Frederick Arthur George Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and so one might consider (all of) that his first name. However, when he was King George VI his first name was George.
What color is a purple finch?
[Crimson]A purple finch is purple, but a male Purple Finch has a red head, breast and rump, and is brown and white elsewhere. Female Purple Finches are brown and white all over.
Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
[New Zealand]Chinese gooseberries are also known as kiwis. Kiwis are grown predominantly in New Zealand, the United States, Italy, Japan, France, Greece, Spain, Australia, and Chile, but of course with the proper temperature, moisture, light, and soil they could be grown anywhere in the world. On the other hand, according to Webster's, Chinese gooseberries simply might be silly people from China.
Who is buried in Grant's Tomb?
[Grant and his wife]Ulysses and his wife are entombed there, but no one is buried there.
Gary Venter's answer to, "How do you answer these questions?" was, "Go to ask.com." He also noted the distinction between "buried" and "entombed."
