OK, here's another one ... maybe a bit easy, but here it is:

How can paper burn without any damage?

This question seems awful riddle-like, but the only answer I can think of is more science-oriented. Since I can't think of anything else (besides a newspaper printing libel--which still causes damage, though not to the paper), I'll just use the scientific answer.

If you soak the paper in a liquid that burns below 451 F (not sure what but does, but I bet one of the lighter alcohols does...maybe methanol, ethanol, or isopropynol) then you can light the paper on fire, but the only thing that will burn would be the alcohol.

So there's my weak attempt to answer this one. I'm sure the real answer's much more clever than that, but oh well.

50% isopropyl alcohol would do the trick, I think. Although you'd need to add something to it if you really wanted to see the flame clearly. Table salt should do it I think...

Was that what you were going for, Bumblebee?

You were both right, this is not a riddle at all but a science question.

Soak the paper in 50% isopropyl alcohol.
Then, the alcohol burns and the paper does not.
Alcohol molecules do not bond as tightly, so alchohol burns at a lower temperature than does the paper. You can add NaCl (sodium chloride or common table salt) so it will burn with a yellow flame, and make the flame more visible.

Kids: If you want to try this, have a parent or guardian to help -- playing with fire is dangerous!


Sam was quicker, but Omerus_Banning had the more complete answer (adding the salt) ... so I leave it up to you guys who wants to go next.

Hmm... I think I got all the important points about how to make paper burn without damaging it (adding the salt just makes it more visible--turning out the lights might work better than salt), so, even though I usually am quite happy when someone else has to think up the next riddle, I'll take the next one.

There are three distinct groups named GO PEEVES, INVAID, and FAWKES that each contain five members (a total of fifteen people). The three groups are interested in going to Google, searching for Harry Potter and clicking on the link to VTM in order to raise VTM's rank in the results returned by Google. GO PEEVES owns 8 computers, INVAID owns 7 computers, and FAWKES doesn't own any. FAWKES has fifteen coins it wishes to pay the other groups in order to have the privilege of using one computer per group member in order to bring fame and glory to VTM. Since GO PEEVES has 8 computers and INVAID has 7, FAWKES decides to pay 8 coins to GO PEEVES and 7 to INVAID. How should the coins have been divided up in order to fairly pay the two groups for the computers used? Also, the three groups would like to combine to form one group, which of the three names should they use?

In order to get the riddle correct, it is only necessary to answer the first question correctly. If you would like to answer the second question, simply follow any of the links in this post.

What a great riddle! I'm amazed that no one has come up with the answer yet or at least commented on it, because you've done a marvellous job personalizing the riddle to VTM's current situation!

Now for the answer ... it's a pity really to post it ... I want more people to see the riddle! ... I'll wait for another day, besides, that this forum shouldn't be just Annie and Sam riddling against each other.

Cool Riddle!! I'm going to have a random guss and say that GO PEEVES should receive 3 coins so FAWKES can use 3 of it's computers and INVAID should be paid 2 coins so FAWKES can use 2 of it's computers. I'm probably no where near the right answer but i had a go

Good guess, beyond_the_veil--you're headed in the right direction. We're looking for a way to divide up all 15 coins so that it is distributed among GO PEEVES and INVAID according to computer usage.

Heading the right direction? Oooh... one of my guesses was headed that way last night.

Okay, continuing from beyond_the_veil, on the first round,

FAWKES give 3 coins to GO PEEVES to use the other free 3 computers (there's only five members in each club, so they're able to put the other 3 compies for rent)

FAWKES give 2 coins to INVAID to use the other free 2 computers (same situation as the above)

Everyone gets on clickety clicks... ()

So now FAWKES has 10 coins left. So, second round,

FAWKES give another 3 coins to GO PEEVES to use the other free 3 computers
FAWKES give another 2 coins to INVAID to use the other free 2 computers

FAWKES is left with 5 coins. Third round,

FAWKES give another 3 coins to GO PEEVES to use the other free 3 computers
FAWKES give another 2 coins to INVAID to use the other free 2 computers

In the end, GO PEEVES gets 9 coins and INVAID gets 6 coins. Why is this fairly distributed? Because all of the three groups have the same goal, to promote VTM in Google. So, it's not the matter of who gets how many coins, it's the matter of using the computers in the most effective way.

Erm, is that right or it's not the direction you meant...

Yeah, that's right Zyra. Even though GO PEEVES has 8 computers and INVAID has 7, it doesn't make sense for GO PEEVES to get 8 coins while INVAID gets 7 since GO PEEVES rented out 3 computers and INVAID rented out 2, so GO PEEVES should get 3/5 of the 15 coins while INVAID gets 2/5, or 9 coins and 6 coins respectively.

In retrospect, this one would have been slightly more interesting if GO PEEVES had had 9 computers and INVAID had had 6, since the resulting distribution of coins (12 and 3) would have been further from the intuitive answer (9 and 6).

You got it right, zyra, so you're up!

Thanks!

Alright, this is an easy one. All you need to do is to have a pencil and paper ready.

There are 4 men who want to cross a bridge. They all begin on the
same side. You have 17 minutes to get all of them across to the other
side. It is night. There is one flashlight. A maximum of two people
can cross at one time. Any party who crosses, either 1 or 2 people,
must have the flashlight with them. The flashlight must be walked
back and forth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each man walks at a different
speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man

Man 1: 1 minute to cross
Man 2: 2 minutes to cross
Man 3: 5 minutes to cross
Man 4: 10 minutes to cross

For example if Man 1 and Man 4 walk across first, 10 Minutes have
elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Man 4
returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed, and
you have failed the mission.

Good luck!

Ok this is my first attempt at one of these so please be kind and not ridicule me if I am way off the mark wih my answer, please *puppy dog eyes*

Here goes

1) I think that The Man 2 and Man 1 cross first (so thats 2 minutes),
so thats Man 1 and 2 at otherside

2) then Man 1 goes backwith the flashlight (because he's the faster - so 1 minute)
So that leaves Man 2

3) Then man 4 and Man 3 go accross together (10 minutes)
Man, 2 ,3 and 4 at otherside

4) Then Man 2 goes back with the flashlight (thats where I nearly got stuck because I originally had man 3 going back because I had the 10/5 couple in my head) - (2 minutes)
Man 3 and 4 are at other side

5)Then Finally (hopefully unless I've missed someone), Man 1 and Man 2 go across (2 minutes)
Hopefully now man 1,2,3,4 are all at other side

2 + 1 + 10 + 2 + 2 = 17

Hopefully I've got that right (sorry if not, we are supposed to post the answers on the forum aren't we - sorry I got a little confused as to whether or not we were supposed to PM or post them, I took a chance - sorry if it was wrong )

Thanks

YAY!! That's correct, Velvet! Yeah, I was stuck at step 4 too. I know we need to make Man 1 and Man 2 to go back and forth and just a one trip of Man 4 but it took a while to figure that they need to hand the flashlight to other person left there.

Oh, and you can have another correct answer by switching step 2 and 5, where you make Man 2 to go back instead of Man 1. And then, at step 4, Man 1 go over so that he can bring Man 2 over. It works either way.

And yes, everyone post their guesses/ answers in here so don't worry, you did the right thing.

Your go! *waits anxiously*

Yay *does a jiggy little dance* - Thankyou so much, it was fun (although I am a little balder after tearing my hair out over step 4 j/k)

I've was staring at a blank post screen for about 10 minutes without the slightest idea for a puzzle (or even the faintest memory of one) so I have cheated and copied one (actually I asked Andi to find one, so I could have fun too - he's emailed the answer to me, so I'm trying to resist temptation )

Heres the question - I hope that it is okay (and sorry if it has already been presented before)

General Foster, has been accused of high treason, he has been sentenced to death by the court-martial. He is permitted to make a final statement, after which he will be shot if the statement is false or will be hung if the statement is true. General Foster makes his final statement, consisting of only 4 words and is subsequently released. What did he say?

I hope that ok

EDIT: - (I'm usually on from 10am GMT - I'm a 'lazy' student (and post grad still counts - thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it )- so if you are waiting for a confirmation of the answer or a clue (I think I need one myself ) then thats when I'll be on, if that helps)

Wow... this took me a long time to come up with.... I could be totally wrong... but I'll give it a try... were his last words "I will be shot". If this is the case, and they took the statement to be true, then they would have to hang him... consequently making his statement false because the penalty for a false statement is being hung... it would be an ongoing thing... its quite confusing to explain really. Basically, General Foster will have gotten of on a technicality... but I'm sticking with it and saying that his final statement would consist of the four words "I will be shot". Am I even close?!?!?!

Wow, yes you are right

seriously, I had to re-read the answer given to me in Andis' before I properly understoon the concept:

Shot = false,

Hung=true,

but if he says he will be shot and he is subsequently shot then the statement was true (hence making shooting invalid)

and he was hanged then the statement was false (which means he should have been shot - which again nullifies it)

- wow you're right it is hard to explain , but yeah a technicality (I'm resisting the temptation to make several judgement on the UK justice system at this point on the basis of technicalities )

you are so good at these, I would never have got it without Andi caving in and allowing me to sneak a peak at the answer

You're up

Alright here it goes... this one is probably going to be quite simple for most... but I'm not good at coming up with riddles, just answering them! Anywho, here it is:


A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a shotgun and points it at him. The man says, thank you and leaves. Why?

Good luck everyone!

I've heard this one before. The man has hiccups so he asks the barman for a glass of water. The barman notices the man's hiccups and points a gun at him, to try and scare him so his hiccups will go away. They do and the man says thank you and walks out.

Alright beyond_the_veil you got it right! The man did indeed have the hiccups. Haha, I knew someone would get that one quickly... hope you didn't waste too much brain power! Haha, anywho, you're up! Have fun!

Right people have probably heard of this before but i love it! You have to answer them all correctly to get it right.

1. How do you put an elephant in a fridge?

2. How do you put a giraffe in a fridge?

3. An elephant and a giraffe have a race. Who wins?

4. The Lion King hold a special meeting for all the animals. Which animal is missing?

5. A man is trying to cross a crocodile infested river. How does he cross?

6. An American travels to Antarctica for a research project, who does he consult about the cold climes before going?

Good Luck

Oh I actually remember this one, because my friend told my in the pub (I got it totally wrong and actually felt really dumb when she told me the answer, its a test of common sense isn't it (which I lack )

ok

1) Open the door, Removes any shelves, squish the elephant in and close the door

2) Open the Door, take the elephant out, squish the giraffe in instead of the elephant and close the door

3) oh no I don't remember this one - is it the elephant because the giraffe doesn't show up for the race because he's in the fridge so he wins by default

4) The girafffe, he's still in the fridge (he must be getting cold by now)

5) oh I loved this one, easily swims accross because the crocodiles are at the meeting

6) oh no, this one wasn't in my friends either - the giraffe? because he's the only one not at the meeting, oh and he's cold he's been living in the fridge for, well 5 questions now , so he's know how to cope with the cold weather in antarctica

I think that she missed out questions 3 and 6 when she told me, so I've probably got those wrong (I really lack common sense)

sorry for butting in on this one again, I just got so excited when I saw the question because it baffled me so much in the pub - I was talking about chopping the elephant up, and trying to squish both of them in together and walking on stilts across the river

I think that she said that it was a test for the army or something like that

*crossed finger*

Well Velvet you got it right- and so quickly! I only posted that like 10 minutes ago. I hadn't heard of number 6 either but i read it the other day so i had to put it in. I thought that might stump some people.. Anyway i love that joke so i just had to post it.

You're up.

I love it too, I'm actually smiling at the memory of my friends face when I answered her

Is it okay If I think about a riddle for a bit (I'm hopeless at actually thinking them up - I'm not usually that good at answering them, I did jump the gun a bit with that one but as soon as I got the email (I've subscribed to this thread) I was so giddy that I actually recognised one

Unless you want to think of another one, because I was a bit rude in not letting other people even have the chance to read it before I got too-excited - sorry
-

Definitely your turn Velvet. Fair's fair, and if you happen to jump on because you're around and you get it right, nobody really loses out--it just means the thread progresses a bit more quickly (a very good thing--this thread has been known to move painfully slow in the past).

Now I think you're beginning to realize why this thread goes slow at times--it gets harder and harder to think up new riddles, so sometimes people don't want to answer because they don't want to be the one who has to post.

Can't wait to see what you've got next!

Thankyou both of you, and you are so right about the puzzles

I tried to think up a harry potter related one, it is my first ever totally made up one so I hope it works (sorry if not)

My first is in vampire but never in bat
My second is in traitor, but not in rat
My third is in life and again in soul
My fourth is in dark and in dumbledore
My fifth is in spell but not in book
My sixth is in cauldron but never in cook
My seventh is in moon but not in night
My eighth is in terror but not in fright
My ninth is in dark and again in lord
My tenth is in battled but not in warred

Who am I?

Good luck and Have fun , and thankyou once again

I think I mostly got it, but one letter is really causing me trouble. Here's what I have so far:

1. V
2. O
3. L
4. D
5. E
6.
7. M
8. O
9. R
10. T

Number 6 is really hanging me up at the moment so I can't really give an answer right now. I may be way off, so I'll make the list again, but I'll list all possibilities.

1. VMPIRE
2. IOR
3. L
4. DR
5. SPEL
6. AULDRN
7. MO
8. EO
9. DR
10. BTL

I thought I had an answer when I first looked at this one, but the sixth still throws me off. I'll play with the letters a bit and then come back with a final answer.

Oh you are so close, the name of the person all put together is what I'm looking for, if that helps (number nine is really really big clue as to who is it ) I know that you've probably already guessed who it is, Thankyou for taking the time to do it

Sorry I am so bad at making up puzzles, but you are so good to have got so far so quickly from such silly clues

I got all the same answers as Albus-Wan... and for number six I was thinking it to be an R.... which would make the word Voldermort.... which I would take to mean Voldemort... but with an extra letter?? Is it supposed to be Voldemort but maybe there was a little slip up?? Or maybe it is like that to trick us... hmmm..... I wonder...... lol

*slaps forhead* I am so sorry I can't believe that I did that, I added an 'r', by mistake - sorry

you are right it is Voldemort (what was I thinking), erm..I'm not sure who won though because you got it but so did Albus-wan first (if you take away my silly mistake)

I am so sorry, I really have no idea why I added an r perhaps I was thinking of Voldemorts distant cousin

The answer was indeed Voldermort

sorry

Haha, don't worry probably happens a lot when people spell his name! Albus-Wan you can have this one if you want, I'm not very good at coming up with riddles! Lol, so you can go ahead if you would like!

Actually, I hadn't made an official guess, yet--I was just stating what I had gotten so far, so since marrymerupert had actually ventured a guess, I think it should be marrymerupert's turn.

Thankyou so much for being understanding about it



Me either , I think that from now on I'll stick to stealing them from other people

and thankyou both for being willing to give up your go because of my silly mistake - I think that whoever wants to do it more should come up with the next riddle and we all proclaim that you both won (and that I should never venture into riddle-making again) - sorry once again

well done both of you

Hmm, alright then... I will try my best to make this one a little more difficult than the last one I did! When I was in school, my teacher used to start up his class with brain teasers and such at the beginning, and he used to do language equations with us. If you don't know what a language equation is, here is an example:

1=E on a C the answer to this would be 1 eye on a cyclops

Basically the number before the equal sign is how many of the thing you are talking about, and then the letters after the equal sign are describing the thing... if that makes any sense... oh I'm so bad at this! Heres another example:


7=D in SW so if you work it out, it would end up being 7 dwarfs in Snow White

So if this makes any sense to you, I'm going to put a list of different number equations and the first person to get them all will get to post next I guess.... so here goes:

1=KK on the ESB
2=P in a P
3=L on a T
4=S in a Y
5=F on a H
12=D of C
24=H in a D
28=D in F
101=D
365=D in a Y

Alright so there ya go... if I didn't explain it very well (which is quite possible) let me know and I will try to elaborate more! Alrighty, well ciao for now! Have fun all!

I think I can get most of them. Here goes:


1 King Kong on the Empire State Building
2 Peas in a Pod (people in a pair?)
3 ??
4 Seasons in a Year
5 Fingers on a Hand
12 Days of Christmas
24 Hours in a Day
28 Days in February (and the rest of the months as well )
101 Dalmations
365 Days in a Year

You're so close Albus-Wan!!! All the ones that you have quessed so far are correct! I told you I'm not too clever with these things! Just leaves 3=L on a T!!! Keep thinking you're almost there!

3 legs on a tripod?

Although Albus-Wan got all of the others... so, if I'm right, I'll leave it to him for the next riddle.

3 legs on a tripod is correct Zyra!! You two can decide who goes next... I'm just glad it's not me... I'm so bad at coming up with them! Have fun!!!

Oh, erm... I just thought of a riddle that I want to post. So, I hope Albus-Wan won't mind (you can have my turn if and when I guessed the correct answer next time ) I've just finished reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, and I thought there's a very interesting encryption technique I'd like to share. But of course, where's the fun if I didn't let you all a chance to break it first?!

It's a bit difficult, but once you get it, you'll see that it's very easy actually. This is the technique they used to solve the main puzzle/code at the end of the story (that's the big hint).



Break this code, answer the question encrypted inside and you've got it! Good luck!

Actually, zyro, I'm glad you posted--even if I had thought of the last one, I didn't have another riddle to post, so this works out great.

Hmm...encryption, huh. Well this one's not immediately apparent to me so I'll have to think on it awhile. *runs off to start working out the code*

Ooo this is a hard one, I'm not sure but am I even slightly on the right lines by saying that you have to put the groups (either the groups of four or five or the rows) and read them downwards and that the trick is finding out the groups and then afterward reading them downwards figuiring out where the spaces go? - I've tried it and it didn't work so I'm probably wrong or got the wrong groups

am I even close? (am I allowed to ask that question? - sorry if not)

EDIT: after trying this for about half an hour, I think that I am definately wrong

Good riddle though, definately got me thinking

I have the answer, i think. That was really hard.Anyway here it is. The code asked you to give the first ten prime numbers and they are

2,3,5,7,11,13,17,19,23,29

Wow. I dunno... but beyond_the_veil is correct!

I would thought that this would last at least a day... So, you've read Digital Fortress, I see?

Yes, the code asked you to give me the first ten prime number. Good job, beyond! Do you want to share how you break the code or shall I?

Well i knew that you had to arrange the number in a square so you could read what it said from to to bottom, left to right. a friend who'd read Digital Fortress showed me how to do the code so i suppose i should really thank them! So i counted all the letters- there were 121, which means that it would be an 11x11 square. Once i'd done that i just read what it said and answered the question.

P.S My 150th post! Yay

Yes, that's exactly how it works. The main code in the book has a 64 letters and thus it was mapped into a 8 x 8 boxes. I thought of making it a bit hard, increased it to 121 letters. You know, the first time I post the letters, it was directly out from the boxes, so you can immediately read them downwards! So, I tweak a bit to make it less apparent. Velvet, you're half way there actually, mate. But the solution to finding the groups, is by counting the letters first. So, yeah, you are close!

Enough babbling from me... Beyond, hit us with a good one!!

Okay here we go. This wil probably be really easy. I couldn't think of a really hard riddle.

The two sons of an Arab sheik were overwhelmingly proud of their own camels. When the sheik died he left instructions in his will that the two sons have a camel race. "The son whose camel comes in second in a race from here to Baghdad shall inherit my entire fortune," the will read. The two sons started to race at full speed but gradually slowed down and stopped, not knowing what to do. After several days the two sons were moving at such a slow pace that it appeared neither would ever reach Baghdad. Not knowing what to do they, knocked on the door of a shack they had come across. Inside lived a wise man. The two sons told the wise man of their troubles and showed him the will's instructions. After studying the document for several minutes, the wise man looked up and uttered two words. The two sons thought for a second and then ran outside, jumped on the camels, and raced as fast as they could all the way to Baghdad.

What was the advice the wise man gave them?

Taking a wild guess here, but did he tell them to "Switch camels"? The will said that the son who's camel comes in second will inherit his fortune.... therefore if they switch camels and then race normally...they would both be wanting to comein first because it would then be their own camel who came in second..... once again I'm not very good at explaining... but it makes sense in my head atleast.... lol

That is correct the wise men told them to swop camels You are right in saying that if the swopped they would come in first, but their camel would come in second.

Your turn

Alright, so this will probably be an easy one again, but here it goes! I was watching the Cosby show the other day and they said this riddle on there, some people will get it right away, other may hit themselves after seeing the answer... so anyways, have fun!


A father and his son are driving down the road when a car hits them. The father dies instantly. The ambulance takes the son to the hospital. When the doctor is asked to operate, the doctor says: "I cannot operate. He is my son!" How is this possible?

...Wow, I've seen that same episode! This is my new favorite riddle, and I knew the answer before it was said, so I felt proud of myself for that one moment, heh.
The surgeon was the boy's mother. It's a bit amazing how most people forget that women are doctors too.

Ofcourse, you are right Hermione_Resilda! So you're up!

Here's a fun fact for everyone! Every single male that I have asked this question to has given an answer of "Was it is stepfather, grandfather, even godfather!" not one has guessed that the surgeon could be his mother!
Yet, with the exception of my grandma who is still living in the past, every single female I have asked this question to has looked at me like I'm an idiot and said "It was is mother!" and gotten it right away! Just shows how the different minds work I guess!

Anywho, good job on getting it right! Have fun!