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what's this
Apr. 4th, 2014 04:47 pmWhat's this?
Extra credit: specifically, which one is it? I'm looking for a tail number here.
Answer in the comments.
Extra credit: specifically, which one is it? I'm looking for a tail number here.
Answer in the comments.
what's this?
Apr. 12th, 2013 11:16 amIt's been a while, hasn't it?
Anyway, I thought this was a fun one. To be clear, I am looking for the identity of the object located at the center of the map, not the name of the location.
Answer (and an extra credit question) in the comments.
Anyway, I thought this was a fun one. To be clear, I am looking for the identity of the object located at the center of the map, not the name of the location.
Answer (and an extra credit question) in the comments.
the rules of the game
Jan. 28th, 2011 04:29 pmI didn't invent the "what's this game" and don't claim authority, but my intent with my particular puzzles is that the contestants will, for the most part, use any tools available to them to help them solve the puzzle. A few of my readers are very good at this game and like to solve the puzzles without using tools, and if that makes it more fun for them I encourage it. There exist one or two obscure1 tools which tend to make all my puzzles a lot easier if you know about them and I know of at least one reader who tries to solve the puzzles without using those tools first and only resorts to them if they can't get it without them -- again, all's fair, and you should do whatever makes it fun for you.
As a puzzle constructor my aim is to make puzzles that, on average, about 50% of the people who attempt them can solve. That 50% is a mix of spatial reasoning, knowledge of or skill at finding relevant information resources, time available for the puzzle, and dumb luck. Secondarily, I like it if each of my readers is at least occasionally stumped by something that someone else can get, and also if each of them can at least occasionally answer a puzzle without having the satisfaction of it taken away by feeling that it was made deliberately trivial.
1 By obscure I mean that a distinct minority of my readers know they exist. I do not generally check my puzzles against these tools when determining whether a puzzle has an appropriate difficulty level.
As a puzzle constructor my aim is to make puzzles that, on average, about 50% of the people who attempt them can solve. That 50% is a mix of spatial reasoning, knowledge of or skill at finding relevant information resources, time available for the puzzle, and dumb luck. Secondarily, I like it if each of my readers is at least occasionally stumped by something that someone else can get, and also if each of them can at least occasionally answer a puzzle without having the satisfaction of it taken away by feeling that it was made deliberately trivial.
1 By obscure I mean that a distinct minority of my readers know they exist. I do not generally check my puzzles against these tools when determining whether a puzzle has an appropriate difficulty level.
a what gets easier
Dec. 15th, 2010 06:43 pmA while ago I posted a what's this that was too hard. The problem was that it was the location of something that hadn't been built yet. Or rather, it had, but Google's aerial photography hadn't picked it up.
Now it's too easy, if you turn on the Wikipedia feature of Google Maps, or even if you just turn on the photos feature. But the thing in question has in fact now been built -- and photographed -- about 800 feet from where I thought (not bad for the middle of the desert). You might be able to figure it out from just the pictures.
Comments screened. ETA: comments here are so far general comments; puzzle solutions are (or will be, when I unscreen them) in the original post.
Now it's too easy, if you turn on the Wikipedia feature of Google Maps, or even if you just turn on the photos feature. But the thing in question has in fact now been built -- and photographed -- about 800 feet from where I thought (not bad for the middle of the desert). You might be able to figure it out from just the pictures.
Comments screened. ETA: comments here are so far general comments; puzzle solutions are (or will be, when I unscreen them) in the original post.
what's this?
Jul. 26th, 2010 05:19 pmthis is not bike-related at all. Well, hardly at all. Don't worry, I'll get back to the trip write-ups soon.
Comments screened (a small hint is there).
Comments screened (a small hint is there).
what's this?
May. 3rd, 2010 03:32 pmwhat's this?
Hint: The reason this object is interesting is actually visible in the aerial photo, though it's hard to make out.
Answer in the comments.
Hint: The reason this object is interesting is actually visible in the aerial photo, though it's hard to make out.
Answer in the comments.
