Top GL'er Vegas - Zag

[MNOWAX]

The first Quickfire is a simple, yet very complex quickfire, you will have only two weeks to complete the making of this puzzle. You must make a puzzle using 25 words or less. It may not involve pictures, animations, or other items, just words.

Paradise!

Lincoln
Waubay
Indianapolis
Nakusp
Nashville
Hardwicke Island
Killeen
Bayhorse
Memphis
Latimer, Utah
Indio
Rome, Pennsylvania
Dover
Anza

Pittsburgh
Virden, Manitoba
Tulsa
Strunk
Savannah
Curwensville
_________________
The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[Zag]

Now I'm sad that this one has gotten no responses. I had considered laying them out slightly differently, but I was afraid that would make it too easy! I guess I misjudged it.

[referee]

I'm letting the USians tackle it.
_________________
Jan 21st, 2008: The pillaging continues.
Mar 4th, 2008: Rest in Peace, Gary Gygax. May your dice always roll a natural 20 wherever you are.

Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!

[Quailman]

I mapped out these locations, guessing that Dover and Lincoln are in Delaware and Nebraska, respectively. Then I connected the dots in order. I see nothing. I did two sets, since the last six are separated from the rest by a blank line.

If I ignore the order (reasonable based on Zag's comment?), and conect them by proximity or just look for a pattern, I still get nothing. I do not see any constellations in the layout either.

[Zag]

Well, I guess it will lose me some points, but I feel obligated to give a hint. I'm just going to bold all the ones that are cities.

Paradise!

Lincoln
Waubay
Indianapolis
Nakusp
Nashville
Hardwicke Island
Killeen
Bayhorse
Memphis
Latimer, Utah
Indio
Rome, Pennsylvania
Dover
Anza

Pittsburgh
Virden, Manitoba
Tulsa
Strunk
Savannah
Curwensville

[Oscar]

OK I guess if you link all the mid-points of the city/town pairs you get a pretty good approximation of G and L. I suppose that the mid point of the last pair being Eden NC was deliberate, Zag, fitting in with the paradise theme?

[Zag]

[groza528]

Elimination Challenge 1: What's on TV?
During this challenge players were asked to create a puzzle inspired by a favorite television program. The genre of the program was not important, but contestants were instructed to demonstrate through their puzzles why the program was worth watching.

This puzzle is based on the TV show "The Mentalist" in which Patrick Jane, former fake psychic and brilliant, hyper-observant consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation, irreverently solves crimes Columbo-style, by noticing miniscule details and putting together amazing theories (which usually turn out to be true) based on some pretty flimsy evidence. The twist in this show is that he always has a scheme or ruse that he puts together in which the killer somehow reveals himself, though it usually is clear that he knew who the killer was already.

You, dear reader, will play the part of Patrick Jane; Theresa Lisbon is your boss, and Kimball Cho is your associate at the bureau. Because of your incredible skills of observation, you always know when someone is lying, though you don't necessarily always know why he does so. Lies will be pointed out in the text, and you can assume that anything not so pointed out is what the person speaking believes to be the truth. In the interest of brevity (not that I've succeeded on that point) I will qualify that one of the three suspects is, in fact, the killer, which, of course, as a viewer of the show you always know to be true, also.
Marcia Collins, formerly Jacobs, formerly Donalson, nee O'Conner, was found murdered in her beautiful 7000 square foot house in downtown San Francisco. She bled to death in her bedroom after someone beat her, then left her to die in the bed.

The murdered woman's husband, Tyler Collins, dot-com millionaire:. I found the body when I arrived home from golf this morning. (Lie)
Lisbon: What time was that?
Collins: I finished playing around 10:00, so about 10:15, 10:20.
Lisbon: What did you do when you saw her?
Collins: I ran to her to see if she was alive, but she was already cold. Then I called 911.
Lisbon: Do you know anyone who would hurt her, who might have a reason to kill her?
Collins: No, no one. Unless those bastards at Microsoft are trying to send me a message. I will NOT sell the company to them, I'd go bankrupt first. (This is not completely true, but probably just bluster.) I've been working non-stop on this project, 14 hours a day for months. That one game of golf is the first break I've taken from work since March. It's like karma -- I take one break, and this happens.
Lisbon: Was the house locked up when you arrived?
Collins: Yes, my wife always kept it locked up when she was home, so that wasn't unusual for me to need my key to get in, even though she was here.
Lisbon: Does anyone else have a key?
Collins: No (Lie).

Lisbon continues to interview the man, but you lose interest and start to wander his house. The rooms are impeccably neat and absolutely spotless, except for the golf bag dumped in the hallway and dirty golf shoes dropped carelessly nearby. The shoes have some dark brown mud in the cleats (still slightly damp), and some fine sand, as well. You notice that the bag has several old clubs, but a brand new driver and a brand new 3-iron. Also, there is no pitching wedge, nor a 9-iron.
Wandering into the bedroom, the techs are processing everything, under the guidance of your associate Kimball Cho. You see that she wears little jewelry, only an engagement ring / wedding band combination. Though her ears are pierced, she has no earrings on. When the medical examiner turns her over, you can see bloody mess of her throat where the murderer apparently crushed her larynx. Several indentations are quite clear, made by a cylinder about 1/2 inch in diameter.

Excluding the blood all over the bed and splashed about, the room is very neat except for Ms. Collins' bureau and the adjacent vanity. Both are cluttered with assorted brushes, powders, dozens of mascara and lipstick tubes, nail polish, hair spray, etc. It is a jumbled mess with no order that you can tell. In the bathroom are more bottles of body, face ,and hair care products, but they are very neatly arranged by function and height.

On the way out, you see that Lisbon is wrapping up her interview with the husband. You stop to interject one more question
You: What did you shoot today?
Collins: Huh? Shoot? Oh, umm, 97, I think. (Lie)

The following day you accompany Lisbon to the law office of former Congressman Art Jacobs, who is busy with his election campaign. He lost his seat last year to Andrew Lejeune, a popular Democrat, and he is now working to regain it in the next election. The election that he lost was a dirty fight at the end, and this one promises to be dirty the whole way through.
On the way in, Lisbon admonishes you not to "start anything" with the congressman. He may be out of office right now, but he is still a wealthy and powerful man who would make a bad enemy. Upon entering, you see that his eyes are slightly bloodshot, and his nose looks a little raw.

Lisbon: Good morning, Mr. Jacobs. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. This is Patrick Jane, a consultant who works with the C.B.I.
Jacobs: So, I heard someone killed Marcia. It is such a shame -- I really am more broken up by this than I would have thought. (Lie) (He sniffs and wipes his nose with a handkerchief.) We had gone our separate ways, but it was an amicable parting. (Lie)
Lisbon: I understand, sir, that you're a very busy man, but we need to be thorough, talk to everyone who had a connection with the victim. Talking to you -- it's just a formality really. (Lie)
Jacobs: Of course, Agent Lisbon, I understand that you have to do your job, and I bear you no ill will. (Lie)
Lisbon: What do you know about the killing?
Jacobs: I heard that it was horrible -- (he makes a face like someone holding back tears, then rubs his nose with the handkerchief again) -- that the killer destroyed her larynx. Ironic, or maybe intentional, she had such a beautiful voice. Did you know that she gave up a promising singing career when she married me?
Lisbon: (suspicious) How did you know about that? The information about the larynx has not been released.
Jacobs: Oh, please, Agent Lisbon. I may be out of office, but I still have my friends. They know I'll be back in office again soon.
Lisbon: Can you tell us where you were yesterday from 6:00 to 10:00 am?
Jacobs: I rose at 6:30, as I do every Saturday, and took my morning jog. I jog 3 miles every morning. (Lie) I showered, read the paper over breakfast, and dressed. Then I came straight to the office here. (Lie) I was here by 7:45 and stayed here until noon. I'm sure I can find several staffers who can confirm the time.
You: That won't be necessary. Where did you go, though, before you came here?
Jacobs: What? Nowhere. (Lie.) I came straight here from the house. (Lie) (Getting angry) Who are you to be accusing me? I am not a man to be trifled with. Agent Lisbon, who sent you here? Was it Lejeune?

Lisbon, trying to calm the congressman, kicks you out of the interview. She give you a conspiratorial nod, though.

The final interview is later that day, with actor Marc Donalson. He has been in and out of rehab, but manages to maintain his role on a soap opera that still airs, though its ratings are falling every year. He is currently in San Francisco doing live theater while the soap opera is on summer hiatus, but there are rumors in the industry that it will not be starting up again in the fall. He is starring in an original musical that is getting mediocre to bad reviews -- the bad reviews tend to focus on Donalson's singing talent, or lack thereof. You and Lisbon interview him backstage at the Curran Theater, where he is preparing for an afternoon show in an hour. Lisbon introduces herself and you, and says that she needs a few moments of his time.

Donalson: Can you make this quick? I need some time to get in character. I'm a method actor, you know. (Not a lie, exactly, but his self-confidence is lacking)
Lisbon: Did you know that your ex-wife was murdered yesterday?
Donalson: Yes, I heard it on the news after last night's show. What a bummer.
Lisbon: What do you know about it?
Donalson: I heard on the news that it was horribly bloody, that she was beaten to death. Horrible. (His horror seems feigned.)
Lisbon: Have you been in touch with her, lately?
Donalson: Well, yes, actually. When I decided on doing this show here in San Fran, I let her know, I arranged for some front row tickets for her. I don't know if she ever used them, though. (Lie)
Lisbon: Where were you yesterday morning between 6:00 and 10:00 in the morning?
Donalson: You're kidding, right? The last show on Friday night ended at 12:30, then we get drinks, you know, wind down. I'm not even in bed until four in the morning, at the earliest.
Lisbon: So, you're saying you were in bed?
Donalson: Well, maybe not my own bed. (grins)
You jump in: What did her companion think of the play?
Donalson: (angry) She ... Why, she ... (under control again) I don't know if Marcia even saw it. (Lie) I told you that.
Lisbon: Do you know anyone who would want your ex-wife killed?
Donalson: She used to joke that she had slept with some mob boss back in Vegas. She always said that she could put him in prison if she were to tell his secrets. I never believed her though. (Lie? -- uncertain, anyway) Maybe I was wrong, maybe he finally decided to shut her up.
Lisbon: Do you know the name of this alleged mob boss?
Donalson: No, she would never say.

Checking later, Cho traces out the route from the congressman's house to his office. It would take about 10 minutes to drive. If he were to detour to the Collins' house, it would add 35 minutes to the trip.
The coroner says that the death occurred between 7:00 and 9:00 am.

Looking back in her life, she was a showgirl in Vegas for some time, but there's no evidence she was ever connected to any mob boss.

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Now, intrepid detective, you should know who the killer is, even though you know that your evidence won't hold up in court. You have to choose which of three plans you will set in motion in order to trap the killer into revealing himself:

1. Let it "leak" to the press that you believe that the murder weapon was a golf club, and that you are looking for it. Make sure it is clear that modern forensics will be able to get trace amounts of blood and/or DNA from it, even if the murderer has tried to clean it. Then put a tail on Tyler Collins until he reveals himself.

2. Put into the official report that tire tracks were found at the murder site which do not belong to any of the cars that belonged there. Make it clear that the next steps will be to check the tires of all the persons of interest. Trust that this information will get back to the congressman, then watch him for when he tries to deface or replace his tires.

3. Have an agent pretend to be an operative from the Vegas mob boss. Have him explain that "da boss" wants to thank him for doing this little favor, and wants to set him up with a regular show in Vegas for 6 weeks of every year. They just need a little evidence that he is, in fact, the person to whom the boss owes his gratitude.

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For a "win" you should choose the correct ruse, and say how you know for certain that it wasn't either of the other two suspects. For a "complete win," you should be able what it was that the other two were lying about in the places that they lied. For the bonus, speculate as to the motive of the killer.

[Zag]

I'm a little sad at the lack of commentary. I'm curious if people found it too long, too boring, what? I was going for the aspect of the "One-minute Mysteries" puzzles (but not as stupidly easy as those usually are), but with the feel of the actual TV show it is based on. Did anyone try to work it out?

[Duke Gnome]

I read it. I have absolutely nothing to add or suggest.

[Duke Gnome]

Has anybody made any headway on this?

[Duke Gnome]

What was the answer?

[ralphmerridew]

I'm inclined to believe Jacobs; a person who knew because he'd gotten the autopsy report would use the medical term (larynx); a person who'd knew it because he killed her would just call it the throat.

[Zag]

Here's my answer.

The correct ruse is #3, the one to trap the actor, Marc Donalson.

Collins can't be the killer, because he really was playing golf that morning. Not only is the mud on his shoes fresh, but he said several true statements declaring he was playing golf.

Patrick Jane immediately saw that they must have a maid. The house is kept spotless -- obsessively so. However, clearly neither of the two Collins is a neat freak. Mr. Collins was willing to dump his clubs and his dirty shoes in the hall, and Mrs. Collins kept her vanity and bureau a mess. The secret that he is hiding is that they have an illegal working for them as a maid, who has a key to the house. The missing golf clubs are because he is really not a very good golfer, and he has a bad temper about it. His sand wedge is currently at the bottom of one of the water hazards.

The congressman couldn't have done it. While he lied about some things, he did definitely rise at 6:30, jog for some distance, perhaps not as much as 3 miles, shower and then read the paper over breakfast. If he also had to drive 45 minutes to kill Marcia, and clean up after it, since the killer would have gotten blood splattered on himself, there is no way he could have arrived in his office by 7:45.

He was lying about stopping to pick up cocaine for his habit. The signs are there: bloodshot eyes, runny nose, paranoia.

The actor cleverly implied, but never actually said that he was in bed during the time in question. He clearly knew that Marcia had been to see his play, and Jane deduced that she had brought some other companion, not her husband. (Before his one day of golf, her husband hadn't taken any time off for fun since March, and it is now summer.) In fact, the companion was a well-known blogger in San Francisco art scene, and totally trashed the musical and especially Donalson's performance in it. When he came to confront her about it, she ridiculed him, saying that her singing voice was always better than his. In his frustration, he killed her. His comment about the mob boss was just an attempt to misdirect, and perhaps to explain the attack on the larynx, though he was smart enough not to mention it directly.

(This last bit, of the motive, was not really there in the text -- it's just what I had worked out as the basis. I don't really expect that anyone would really get it in the same form I had thought of it. If you're even in the ballpark, consider it a bonus win.)

[Zag]

That was the official answer I sent with the puzzle. I have a couple other comments:

Exactly right, rm. That was intentional -- to use the medical language that way. You'll also note that the ruse which would have been intended to trap the congressman would not make sense if you assume that his knowledge was first-hand. That is, if you assumed he knew the details NOT through his connections but because he was the killer, then you should not then assume that he does have access to the police reports.

You know that the victim's companion when seeing the play was a woman. When the actor lost control for a second, he referred to her as "she" and, though he tried to cover it, he was clearly referring to the companion, not his ex-wife. There are a few possible interpretations as to why he would lie about this, but hiding that he had contacted his ex-wife at all is a very reasonable one.

One of the criticisms was that the initial qualifier that the murderer was definitely one of these three was a overly helpful, and necessary to choose the killer, purely by process of elimination. I can't argue with that, especially, since the lies he said could be explained in other ways. However, this qualifier -- that one of the people under suspicion is the killer -- is also true when watching the show, and often as necessary in beating Patrick Jane to the punch. My goal was, if you liked the puzzle, you'll like the show, which is one interpretation of the original assignment, where it said "demonstrate through their puzzles why the program was worth watching."

Anyway, for anyone who read the whole long thing and at least took a shot at it, I hope you enjoyed it and didn't feel cheated by the answer.

[MNOWAX]

Quickfire #2: Hang by a Thread

Quickfire for the next round is another classic from the last round

You must pick a Topic in the Grey Labyrinth to base a puzzle off of. VSP is banned from being picked, as are the GL's front page puzzles. Additionally, a topic can not be picked that has been made after the start of this quickfire.

You may not use visual aides for your puzzle. it must be in all text, and the words may not be used to create a visual puzzle.

You have one week to complete this puzzle

Oh and one last thing. If you win this challenge, you can not be eliminated in the next elimination challenge.


This paragraph puzzle is based on the thread "Deathwatch 2010" in Visitor Games. http://www.greylabyrinth.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=13517.
___________________________________________________

If man tried, he awed. He eloquently illuminated; amazed many; created startling, mind-bending knots. Aggregating mathematical tricks, ideas, and perplexities, providing mysteries for our sweet diversion, glorified elder (obviously), he amused with assorted, usually bewitching, oddities.
_________________
The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[xalolo]

[LordKinbote]

[ralphmerridew]

Well, "startling" has a well known property: You can remove one letter at a time, having a word at each step: startling -> starling -> staring -> string -> sting -> sing -> sin -> in -> i.

A few other words have the same property, maybe: tricks -> ticks -> tick -> tic -> ti (musical note) -> i. tied -> tie -> ti -> i. knots -> knot -> not -> no -> o.

Could be a coincidence, though.[/spoiler]

[xalolo]

[LordKinbote]

[Zag]

Also the very first puzzle I ever posted on Grey Labyrinth:

http://www.greylabyrinth.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=45483&highlight=#45483

[Oscar]

Great wit, special, amusing, mainly brain stretching pieces in clever journals. Understandably ageing flowers wither over years, azaleas wax again.
[edited to inject a little more elegance]

[Zag]

Solved! Assiduous scholarly labor. Great!

[Does not follow rule: Thanks, Oscar! I'll respond to anyone who gets it with his or her name, which should be a significant help to others.]

[PuzzleScot]

Find an ode here - He adored short verses. Two lined clues plenty.

[Zag]

Splendid dude! Azimuth! Ozone-layer! (~gloomily regretting assurance -- achingly-hard moniker -- stumped!)

[jjkklepton*]

[Zag]

[dnfr] no mistake. "mind-bending" is all one word, at least for the purpose of this rule. (It is, anyway. It is sometimes written without the hyphen. 'ozone-layer,' of course, is not.)[/dnfr]