Prof. Templeton

Yes. The number of children is irrelevant.

Long before Professor Templeton started his career at Redrum University he had a job as a stockboy at the Manhattan Fruit Exchange. One day the Prof. had placed nine baskets of apples into a three by three square and being of a puzzling mind even back then he arranged the apples so that the number of fruit in each basket would form a magic square with no two baskets containing the same amount. Just as he finished, his manager was leading a tour of school children past and the manager instructed the Prof. to distribute one of the baskets fully to the group of students so that each student received an equal amount of apples to take home. The Professor having just made a magic square out of those very baskets told his manager that the task was quite impossible. So now I ask you, what were the quantities of apples in those baskets? In order to help you out in discovering how many each basket contained, I’ll tell you a little bit about the baskets or bushels. They were very much similar in size to those that you might put laundry into. If they were capable of retaining water they might hold 10 gallons or so. Some of the baskets were quite full and others held considerably fewer apple, but none of them was nearly empty as far as baskets of apples go.

Short but sweet. Well done both.

Professor Templeton had a rich but eccentric uncle (aren’t they always). As he got on in years he would think of new and interesting ways to disperse his substantial funds. One afternoon he decided to give away one million dollars to several of his friends, but imposed certain restrictions on himself. He would never give a gift that wasn’t either one dollar or some power of seven. Another stipulation was that seven or more persons would never receive the same amount. Can you determine how many ways the million might have been handed out and to how many people?

This reminds me of the CapitolOne Visa commercial. "What's in your wallet" Those that know Gardner will know what I'm talking about.

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I've come across this gem before and it always reminds me of another. My brother and I were out hunting quail and as we crossed a pasture, all of a sudden, twenty four of the birds took to flight right in front of us. I was the first to shoot and two thirds of them dropped dead at my feet. My brother then had his shot at those that were left and brought down three twenty-fourths of them, shot through the wing. Now, out of those twenty four birds how many still remained? The answer is

I just looked it up

I believe the plantation was won in a poker game by Gerald, but that might only be in the book. I haven't seen the movie in many years.

You can find alot of long ones. Most of them end in Here's a real longy

Oh I disagree. These sorts of posts do fall into various catagories. For example: Optical Illusion: One is forced to see through the presented guise (usually the title, like "No Presciption Pharmacy" might, at first, lead one to believe a riddle with a pharmacutical theme may be contained within). Riddle: This of course is obvious. One is immediately left puzzling the nature of the inane individual who made the post or the nature of the individual that is at least responsible. Also, one may find a riddle in wondering if such postings actually get people to purchase Viagara from a foreign country. Paradox: Not a catagory that Romulus064 referred to, but one that certainly applies. The harder the Moderators try to prevent such postings, the more they seem to show up. Game: Also not a catagory suggested in the OP, but this seems to fit best of all. One can find great sport in attempting to keep oneself from clicking on the post, or failing that, leaving some sort of rebuttal. Another great form of sport is participating in a pool that is based on how long the post will remain until removed. Great fun!

I can't believe this is still here. I knew what it was almost immediately after doing Y-san's enigmatic riddles.

Ahhh, I see it.

Oh, it could be. Depends on who the Rich Kid voted for, which I, being the Jock, have absolutely no way of knowing. Actually had we known that it was going to be so close, we would have had the Rich Kid vote for Magic_luver. I would have loved to have gotten another chance to walk around in the real Jocks skin some more. I think it was starting to bother them. JS and SD, it's been fun sparring with you. I didn't think I would last this long. Hooliganz Rulz!!!

I think it's possible that the Rich Kid voted for you (with his +3 vote). Which means it gets decided on a coin flip. So, yeah, you could be toast. Sorry about that, but I'll take 50/50 over certain death.

Oh I think it's too late for that. I hope I do survive one more day. I always wanted to be a Jock.

Ahhh, come on. Your hurting my feelings. And after I tried to convice the Drum Major to save you from a beating no less. School Administrators: Gmaster479 & scsw School Roster: 1. Clozobozo - voting for Magic_luver101 2. Abhisk - voting for Magic_luver101 3. Peace! 4. underground_dan - voting for Prof. T 5. Limey - voting for Prof. T 6. RPGBully voting for Prof. T 7. Eeeeep - voting for Prof. T 8. Mekal - lynched and found to be the [Goth] 9. Phaze- suspended by the Hooligans 10. Amberrock - voting for Magic_luver101 11. Blue of thout- Needs a replacement 12. Reaymanator - suspended by the Hooligans 13. andromeda - voting for Prof. T 14. Social Darwin - voting for Prof. T 15. RainThinker - voting for Magic_luver101 16. Prof. Templeton - voting for Magic_luver101 17. Magic_luver101 - voting for Prof. T 18. JS - voting for Prof. T 19. GC - voting for Prof. T

The students are sealing their fate, but I don't think anyones vote will be swayed by what I say. I feel I must put the truth out there even though most refuse to see it. I tried to show that JS is probably an independent, in fact I believe him to be the School Idol. I tried to tell the Drum Major that SD was a better recipient of a fanfare then JS. The Drum Major is already believing the false accusations laid against me since he did the opposite. From the Night post, SD clearly should have gotten the help of the Drum Major. I tried, in vain, to get rid of JS. I appologize to the School Genius for my earlier comment. I read through the post too quickly and didn't realize my attack was stopped by a fanfare. Since I said yesterday that I would either be vindicated or dead, I don't expect people not to vote for me at this point. It was a well played gamble by the Hooligans to assume the Drum Major would either do as JS had requested or at least treat me to a lulliby. I was sure they would try to kill me and dispense with the Jock's kill ability or if they didn't I could succeed in getting rid of the School Idol, JS, who would be outed when he died and everyone could finally see that I was telling the truth. I have no way of gathering information other then trying to piece things together from the posts. If anyone knows the ID of a Hooligan I encourage you to come forward with it now and maybe we can still get the students moving in the right direction. Otherwise I'll bid everyone a farewell. I die at least knowing I tried.

Actually, I had targeted JS to go to the hospital. I totally forgot about the fanfare, so I probably wasn't acted on by the genius. I really didn't think everyone would rally behind the School Idol like they have, but to each his own. SD doesn't seem to understand that if I didn't tell my role as the Jock I would have died anyway and there would be no killing role left for the students, but I gave my role and I'm still alive. I'll have to wait 2 nights to act again though.

Well it appears the school genius predicted that I would target JS. Not so smart for a genius. No vindication I'm afaid. You guys can lynch me if you want, but you'll lose your only killing role. Sorry to have let everyone down.

It is true, but I really don't have the energy to keep restating it anymore. We'll see what the night brings. I'll either be vindicated or killed or maybe both.

Actually, you claimed to have reached a decision about me before JS made his outlandish claims... But anyway. I agree you should certainly get the Drum Majors fanfare over JS. You seem a better target for it in my eyes since I'm pretty sure I understand your role and JS is probably the School Idol.