Esquire's Hardest Quiz Ever - Page 4

Draft Dodger · 11-14-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRO

If it does, then it doesn't satisfy the two words part of the equation. We have to have 5 total words, of which only 2 unique words are used.

ah, read that wrong.
ignore me.

cthomer5000 · 11-14-2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

could it be "Surfin'" and "Surfin' U.S.A"?
does USA count as 3 words?

no good. My first thought revolved around Fun, Fun, Fun actually, but i came up with nothing (and they had a few hits before that anyway).

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I'm trying to get a mental picture - but the country must, presumably, fit completely inside the circle with a diameter of 600km, right? It's possible that it has segments that would be 500km or so from end to end... as long as, from the selected starting point, you get out in 300km. Agreed?

I'm not sure if there is disagreement on this, really...

This is really the clearest picture of the issue.

Maple Leafs · 11-14-2005, 09:27 PM

I have #28, but won't post it just yet since people seem to be having fun with it.

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:27 PM

Hmmm....

Draft Dodger · 11-14-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I have #28, but won't post it just yet since people seem to be having fun with it.

"Herpes" is a song title?

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

Than the largest country it can be would be no more than approx. 360,000 sq km.

That was what I thought originally but then got off on a tangent (no pun intended) that it not being the center point - but it was after all.

cthomer5000 · 11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I have #28, but won't post it just yet since people seem to be having fun with it.

only if banging my hand in frustration on one I thought i just had and then realized i didn't is fun....

would you mind PMing me the answer?

Draft Dodger · 11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TazFTW

Still trying to figure out who 15.1 is. First thought was a politician but now I'm thinking I've seen him in a movie/tv show where he played a politican or was the main character's boss.

looks like Danny Aiello to me

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

So, for the country in the circle, the greatest geographic area possible would be about a quarter million square kilometers. Find somethign approaching that size, that's fairly evenly shaped (as close to round as possible), and you'll have a decent guess, I think.

Draft Dodger · 11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cthomer5000

only if banging my hand in frustration on one I thought i just had and then realized i didn't is fun....

would you mind PMing me the answer?

fuck that, just post it.

Maple Leafs · 11-14-2005, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

"Herpes" is a song title?

I'm going to IM you, in real-time, with every Avalanche score for the rest of the season.

cthomer5000 · 11-14-2005, 09:32 PM

yeah, please post it.

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Than the largest country it can be would be no more than approx. 360,000 sq km.

That was what I thought originally but then got off on a tangent (no pun intended) that it not being the center point - but it was after all.

Actually 282,600. Maximum area would be a circle. We only eliminate about 12 countries with this number too. Much ado about nothing

OK, few more than 12, chart I was counting off of was showing states and countries in the list

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draft Dodger

looks like Danny Aiello to me

At first I dismissed him, but the more I look, the more I can buy this. Not 100% sold though.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

So, for the country in the circle, the greatest geographic area possible would be about a quarter million square kilometers. Find somethign approaching that size, that's fairly evenly shaped (as close to round as possible), and you'll have a decent guess, I think.

Romania doesn't look like a bad candidate to me, initially. Area is about 230,000 sq km.

digamma · 11-14-2005, 09:36 PM

My question on the country question is whether you have to remain on dry land. One would assume, no?

Maple Leafs · 11-14-2005, 09:37 PM

A helper for #28 - don't assume there's actually any overlap between the two songs.

TredWel · 11-14-2005, 09:38 PM

On a completely different subject, #34 is Sissy Spacek.

BrianD · 11-14-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRO

Actually 282,600. Maximum area would be a circle. We only eliminate about 12 countries with this number too. Much ado about nothing

I think we should be looking at a country with an area of 70,650, or 1/4 a circle with a 300km radius.

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Romania doesn't look like a bad candidate to me, initially. Area is about 230,000 sq km.

Plus a couple African countries, Burkina Faso and Western Sahara - but not looking at a map.

cthomer5000 · 11-14-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

A helper for #28 - don't assume there's actually any overlap between the two songs.

I'm blown away by this one. They were one of the groups i thought of then researched, and somehow the 2nd hit wasn't even on the greatest hits compliation i came across, so i scrapped them.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

A helper for #28 - don't assume there's actually any overlap between the two songs.

Sure makes Fun, Fun Fun sound better and better.

ThunderingHERD · 11-14-2005, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Sure makes Fun, Fun Fun sound better and better.

Except Surfin' USA was their first top 10 hit.

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digamma

My question on the country question is whether you have to remain on dry land. One would assume, no?

I don't know. We know it's not an island but it says "you would no longer be in the country you started from". Does that imply that you are now in another country or just outside of the country?

Solecismic · 11-14-2005, 09:42 PM

For #19, I'm working on a solution where you can add an "a" to the first syllable to make a new word. That would make the solution "rabbi - arab." But I can't get "tennis" to work, the other five words do.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderingHERD

Except Surfin' USA was their first top 10 hit.

Maybe they discount "USA" as not a word, and count the two words as "Surfin'" and "Fun" in total?

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Romania doesn't look like a bad candidate to me, initially. Area is about 230,000 sq km.

Might be a shade too wide. I'm checking with a mapping program and it seems there are some widths larger than 600km.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:44 PM

One very round country, Romania

TazFTW · 11-14-2005, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRO

At first I dismissed him, but the more I look, the more I can buy this. Not 100% sold though.

I don't believe it is Aiello.

Maybe someone can upload a better scan of #15 (in color).

BrianD · 11-14-2005, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRO

Might be a shade too wide. I'm checking with a mapping program and it seems there are some widths larger than 600km.

I still think a width larger than 300km is going to give you trouble.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD

I still think a width larger than 300km is going to give you trouble.

I have reread the question, and just disagree. I think the 600km diamater circle is the correct mental picture here.

JeeberD · 11-14-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

Maybe they discount "USA" as not a word, and count the two words as "Surfin'" and "Fun" in total?

But "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Surfin'" doesn't equal five words...

Craptacular · 11-14-2005, 09:48 PM

Is #15-3 Sandra Bullock? That was the name that jumped out at me immediately.

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:48 PM

Ok, back to the old argument. What specific point are they talking or should we assume?

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

But "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Surfin'" doesn't equal five words...

Full point.

Maple Leafs · 11-14-2005, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeeberD

But "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "Surfin'" doesn't equal five words...

Fun, fun, fun is the wrong path.

Solecismic · 11-14-2005, 09:49 PM

My thinking on #32 is the word Harp - the others are all images on the current 1 Euro coin.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buccaneer

Ok, back to the old argument. What specific point are they talking or should we assume?

The question just assumes that there exists such a starting point. It ends "what is the largest country you could have started from?" -- this pretty clearly means you/we get to select the point necessary to accomodate the largest possible country. I don't think it's ambiguous at all.

BrianD · 11-14-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

I have reread the question, and just disagree. I think the 600km diamater circle is the correct mental picture here.

What if the specific point is on the edge of that circle?

digamma · 11-14-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD

What if the specific point is on the edge of that circle?

We can find a bigger country where the specific point is in the center, most likely.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD

What if the specific point is on the edge of that circle?

You and I are just not connecting.

The specific point is, by definition, the center of the circle. And no spot on the edge of the circle can include any part of the country. Parts can, theoretically, be 599 km apart, but thay can never be 600km apart.

With me?

Maple Leafs · 11-14-2005, 09:53 PM

I read the question as "In the country we're thinking of, there is at least one point that satisfies the requirements on the questions". If there was one and only one point in the entire country, even if it was wedged in the corner, the answer would be correct.

And it's also worth point out the obvious -- it says "no longer be in the country", not "be in a different country".

Buccaneer · 11-14-2005, 09:54 PM

I agree (with QS) since it says "any direction" which means "all directions". The other key word is "largest country" since any of the smaller, non-island countries would also fit.

ThunderingHERD · 11-14-2005, 09:55 PM

First I'm looking at #21... but what about the US, if you started in Alaska?

BrianD · 11-14-2005, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuikSand

You and I are just not connecting.

The specific point is, by definition, the center of the circle. And no spot on the edge of the circle can include any part of the country. Parts can, theoretically, be 599 km apart, but thay can never be 600km apart.

With me?

I'm with you, I just disagree with the way you are reading the question. I don't think we get to pick the midde of the circle. I read the question as finding a country were no point within the country is more than 300km from a border.

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:56 PM

FWIW, I think the answer could end up being something other than a "roundish" country. I'm thinking something with a potentially wierd shape like Laos or the like.

Someplace with a curvature that makes a strip that is no more than 600km wide.

QuikSand · 11-14-2005, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRO

Might be a shade too wide. I'm checking with a mapping program and it seems there are some widths larger than 600km.

Looks like you're right... using primitive methods, I'm guessing it's about 650km across, even if you set aside the Dobrogea region. Dammit.

BrianD · 11-14-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThunderingHERD

First I'm looking at #21... but what about the US, if you started in Alaska?

I think this has possibilities.

TRO · 11-14-2005, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianD

I'm with you, I just disagree with the way you are reading the question. I don't think we get to pick the midde of the circle. I read the question as finding a country were no point within the country is more than 300km from a border.

Which means that it can be 300km from a border, each direction. 600km total.

11-14-2005, 09:27 PM	#154
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	I have #28, but won't post it just yet since people seem to be having fun with it. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

11-14-2005, 09:37 PM	#168
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	A helper for #28 - don't assume there's actually any overlap between the two songs. __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

11-14-2005, 09:38 PM	#169
TredWel High School Varsity Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Old Forge, PA	On a completely different subject, #34 is Sissy Spacek. __________________ There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people...religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin. - Linus Van Pelt

11-14-2005, 09:53 PM	#193
Maple Leafs Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002	I read the question as "In the country we're thinking of, there is at least one point that satisfies the requirements on the questions". If there was one and only one point in the entire country, even if it was wedged in the corner, the answer would be correct. And it's also worth point out the obvious -- it says "no longer be in the country", not "be in a different country". __________________ Down Goes Brown: Toronto Maple Leafs Humor and Analysis

11-14-2005, 09:54 PM	#194
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	I agree (with QS) since it says "any direction" which means "all directions". The other key word is "largest country" since any of the smaller, non-island countries would also fit. Last edited by Buccaneer : 11-14-2005 at 09:54 PM.

11-14-2005, 09:27 PM	#155
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	Hmmm....

11-14-2005, 09:30 PM	#157
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	Than the largest country it can be would be no more than approx. 360,000 sq km. That was what I thought originally but then got off on a tangent (no pun intended) that it not being the center point - but it was after all.

11-14-2005, 09:30 PM	#160
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	So, for the country in the circle, the greatest geographic area possible would be about a quarter million square kilometers. Find somethign approaching that size, that's fairly evenly shaped (as close to round as possible), and you'll have a decent guess, I think.

11-14-2005, 09:36 PM	#167
digamma Torchbearer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: On Lake Harriet	My question on the country question is whether you have to remain on dry land. One would assume, no?

11-14-2005, 09:42 PM	#176
Solecismic Solecismic Software Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Canton, OH	For #19, I'm working on a solution where you can add an "a" to the first syllable to make a new word. That would make the solution "rabbi - arab." But I can't get "tennis" to work, the other five words do.

11-14-2005, 09:44 PM	#179
QuikSand lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Annapolis, Md	One very round country, Romania

11-14-2005, 09:48 PM	#184
Craptacular College Starter Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Mad City, WI	Is #15-3 Sandra Bullock? That was the name that jumped out at me immediately.

11-14-2005, 09:48 PM	#185
Buccaneer Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Colorado	Ok, back to the old argument. What specific point are they talking or should we assume?

11-14-2005, 09:49 PM	#188
Solecismic Solecismic Software Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Canton, OH	My thinking on #32 is the word Harp - the others are all images on the current 1 Euro coin.

11-14-2005, 09:55 PM	#195
ThunderingHERD College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: North Carolina	First I'm looking at #21... but what about the US, if you started in Alaska? __________________ "I'm losing my edge--to better looking people... with better ideas... and more talent. And who are actually really, really nice." "Everyone's a voyeurist--they're watching me watch them watch me right now."

11-14-2005, 09:56 PM	#197
TRO College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Louisburg, KS	FWIW, I think the answer could end up being something other than a "roundish" country. I'm thinking something with a potentially wierd shape like Laos or the like. Someplace with a curvature that makes a strip that is no more than 600km wide. __________________ TRA, the Royal Ape

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