plasmid
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I just checked back in to post one and realized I gave an answer that was already stated in the riddle. I'm looking forward to days when I have more than a few odd minutes to spend here. In the meantime,
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The famous BrainDen quote... you realize that means it's going to be a 50-guesser now, right?
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Not sure if Mrs P's guess earlier ruled this one out, but...
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Got it, this is the life of
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Just handle each operation one-at-a-time, in the usual order of precedence. For the example above, I would first re-write it in standard scientific notation (none of this ###.## x 10x BS) to get [ (3.459*108) + (0.1234) ] / 2.34625*103 So the first operation you do is to evaluate is the thing in the brackets. In this case, that would simply be (3.459*108) / 2.34625*103 because the second term is so small that no sig figs from the first term are affected. Then do the division knowing that the numerator has 4 sig figs and the denominator has 6 sig figs, so the final answer has 4. So in general, for your actual problem, just do one step at a time (and maybe convert everything to standard scientific notation if that helps) and you should be able to handle whatever they throw at you.
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I kind of like rat as an answer; its venturing into a human's house might explain the transition from dirt higways to a technological environment. Trouble is, there really isn't much in the way of "higways" for them outside, and they don't die a very dignified death for a noble cause. For a wheel, this would be a strange story and certainly not one that would apply to most wheels. Maybe it could apply to some particular specialized kind of wheel, but for the sake of not leading you astray I'll just say that's not where I'm heading. A little concerning that the riddle hasn't been solved by Braindenners in over a week, kind of makes me think that it might have been too vague or too esoteric or something. Admittedly it's related to my work, but the general population would still be familiar with it (that is a hint), and I think it's fairly unique in being a slam-dunk match for all the clues so I'll give it a bit longer. Apologies again for not being able to check in often.
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Quite a few guesses along the lines of minerals. The similarity to mining is understandable, considering what the answer is, but minerals don't really do much traveling along highways and therefore you wouldn't really have a good reason to say that they're making a U-turn when being mined.
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Well, this is made with carbon and molecules; and isn't a font. To recap the clues: I'm something that travels along a set of "highways of dirt" with many tortuous paths to be explored. But one day I took a turn (u-turn as a matter of fact) onto a shining, gleaming "gangplank". I ended up looking out a window onto a rather high-tech scene. It got chilly. I died for the benefit of those like me who were left behind; and did not do much "bonding" in the process.
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For insects, an experimental drosophila would fit nearly every clue except for the gangplank... considering my background, it's surprising I didn't think of it and add a few more clues to "rule it out" when I was writing this one. Diamonds wouldn't fit the last couple of lines (as any James Bond fan knows). Water, especially if it were bottled water, could be a very good answer, but there's something I'm getting at with the last two lines of the riddle that water doesn't quite fit the bill for.
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Nice to see you back, lotus.
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Nothing military or with aviation; that's the type of answer that the title is meant to exclude. An outlaw wouldn't have a particularly dignified purpose. It would seem like an odd description for a cattle drive. HAL 9000 would be a great fit for the end, but not really for the dirt paths of the first stanza. Oil would be a great answer if there's such a thing as migratory oil that would fit the first stanza... and as a matter of fact it's rather similar in spirit to what I've got in mind.
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Sorry I've been out so much lately, I'm getting a real beatdown at work, and unlike word riddles, I can't really do any VNA-ing without sitting down at a computer for an extended period of time. I've also had to postpone posting Phronism on dawkins.net for the same reason; I'd rather wait until I actually have some time to devote some thought to it instead of posting right away and not being able to really get into a discussion. But from what I've seen I like the prospect of getting a guided-missile, one-line killer program that decisively beat the brute-force carpet bombing approach.
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I do like salmon. Not to eat, but as an answer. Not what I'm getting at, though. There are some clues pointing in another direction than most of the guesses so far, particularly in the third stanza (er, lines 11-14).
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Cruising highways of dirt that I've traveled It seems for my whole life long Much I've seen, many paths I've unraveled But this I've not come upon Feels strange. Need a change. Screw this life, I'll leave the range. Take this path unlike all the others The gangplank, it shines and gleams Lone way out for I can't see another Must follow this route, it seems U-turn. Tires burn. From this trek will I return? Out this window, so awestruck I gander My gaze, it bewilders me Sights and sounds, technological grandeur Adventure's a guarantee Struck gold. Glad I'm bold. Say, you think it's getting cold? Fly through skies with my buddies in service Although we don't really bond Soon we die with a dignified purpose For those still at home, so fond Trying something a little different. Still a what-am-I riddle, but not as heavy on lots of clues that need to fit just right, just focusing more on telling the story. Again, apologies in advance if I can't check in too often, but work's a real bear.
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My apologies again for being out so long, but DD got this one, which often comes with an alarm attached.
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The first would be a superset containing buzzards, the second might come long after the scene described but I don't think would fit as the "I" in the riddle. You could in an abstract sense say that it's describing such a scene, but this is describing something more specific and you're supposed to figure out what "I" am. A few things stand out that wouldn't work so well with that guess, like all but bone being consumed. A good answer, but there's something that fits better with the first five lines. Interesting take. The last stanza would be a bit odd, though. Would fit with all but the ninth line: circling high my wings are spread
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Far above the plains I perch To gaze upon the land Motionless I ever search 'til roused I stay my hand Eyes alight at scent of death And slumber's at an end Bloody prey draw final breath Against you I'll contend Circling high my wings are spread As I strike forth at thee Shrieks cry out and conjure dread So all will surely flee Nobly fought but awful turn And all but bone's consumed Scavengers make their return In hopes that more's exhumed Apologies in advance that I won't be able to log in very often to check on answers
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Far be it from me to go hiding double meanings in my riddles! Though I admit, this time it really was completely unintentional. Good perspectives on the process, everyone.
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The riddle rewrite: Mocking and scoffing, jeer. Witty jest, not very sincere. Quite sarcastic and sharp, A really cunning remark. A practical joke, a trick. A real gibe, make it stick. made me think of "A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift, so my guess would be
