NEW CHALLENGE

As of 0730, no correct, independently developed solution has been submitted. 

Here's a new cadet challenge:

There are 100 coins scattered in a dark room. 90 have heads facing up and 10 have tails up. You cannot distinguish (by feel, etc.) which coins are which. How do you sort the coins into two piles that contain the same number of tails?

This challenge will close out at 0730, Friday, 3 May.  There will be a suitable prize for the winner.  Good luck!

Coins like these

TRICKY TRAY WRAP UP

As you know, we held our annual tricky tray fundraiser on Friday, 26 April at Maple Hill Elementary School.  About 200 people attended and it looks like we made about $2,750.00 clear profit after accounting for all expenses.  While this was not our biggest tricky tray ever, it was very well organized and very well run.  Thanks again to all the Boosters and cadets who participated and made the evening a success!

A WEIGHTY NEW CHALLENGE

Here's a really tough puzzle originally published by Sam Lloyd (1841-1911), one of America's greatest puzzle makers.  This challenge will close at 0730 29 April.  Good luck.

The Puzzle: The five school children in couples weigh 129 pounds, 125 pounds, 124 pounds, 123 pounds, 122 pounds, 121 pounds, 120 pound, 118 pounds, 116 pounds and 114 pounds on a weighing machine. What was the weight of each one of the five little girls if taken separately?

AN EINSTEIN CHALLENGE

Cadet Zach Nyaware has qualified to participate in the $50 year-end challenge.  To help the participants practice, here is a new challenge:

Five people are standing in a queue for plane tickets in Germany; each one has a name, an age, a favorite TV program, a residence where they live, a hairstyle and a destination.

Names: Bob, Keeley, Rachael, Eilish and Amy
TV programs: The Simpsons, Coronation Street ("Corrie"), Eastenders, Desperate Housewives and Neighbours.
Destinations: France, Australia, England, Africa and Italy
Ages: 14, 21, 46, 52 and 81
Hairstyle: Afro, long, straight, curly and bald
Residence: A town, a city, a village, a farm and a youth hostel

1. The person in the middle watches Desperate Housewives
2. Bob is the first in the queue
3. The person who watches the Simpsons is next to the person who lives in a youth hostel
4. The person going to Africa is behind Rachael
5. The person who lives in a village is 52
6. The person who is going to Australia has straight hair
7. The person travelling to Africa watches Desperate Housewives
8. The 14-year-old is at the end of the queue
9. Amy watches Eastenders
10. The person heading to Italy has long hair
11. Keeley lives in a village
12. The 46-year-old is bald
13. The fourth in the queue is going to England
14. The people who watch Desperate Housewives and Neighbours are standing next to each other
15. The person who watches Coronation Street stands next to the person with an afro
16. A person next to Rachael has an afro
17. The 21-year-old lives in a youth hostel
18. The person who watches Corrie has long hair
19. The 81-year-old lives on a farm
20. The person who is travelling to France lives in a town
21. Eilish is not next to the person with straight hair

So, the question is, who lives in the city?  This challenge will end at 0730 Monday, 22 April.  The prize will be a "N" style Navy ball cap.  Good luck!

A LOOK AHEAD

Here's a look ahead at the rest of the year.

• Billet selection.  Billet applications are due tomorrow, 16 April.  We will then start to make selections and certain cadets will be invited to attend formal selection boards convened to review candidate for key billets.  Selections will not be announced early.
• Military Ball.  Our Military Ball will be held at the Middletown Holiday Inn  at 6 p.m. on Friday, 31 May.  Tickets are $42.  There will be a social hour with build your own tacos and soda, a buffet dinner, dancing with a DJ, and, of course, a few other things just for fun. 
• End of the year awards ceremony.  Our end of the year awards ceremony and change of command will be Tuesday, 4 June at 6 p.m. in our theater.  Cadets are expected to attend.  Parents, friends, and family are cordially invited. 
• At the end of the year ceremony we will announce, in addition to the other awards, the new cadet chain of command.
• We will also announce the winner of the $100 local Gilliam Award and the $50 year end cadet challenge.  The cadet challenge will be promulgated shortly.  Eligible to compete this year are Cadets Migliori, Geagley, Ferguson, Barone, Esquivel, and Soriano.  If you have answered at least three of the challenges throughout the year and would like to participate, see me and I will determine if you are eligible.

Old Ironsides

WE'RE BACK...

Okay, so it's been awhile since I posted.  The firewall issue has been resolved.  So here's a challenge:

You need to fill the sump of a helicopter engine with exactly 4 gallons of 2190 TEP oil.  The trouble is, the only things you have available, aside from the helo itself, is a 200 gallon tank of oil, a 5 gallon can, and a 3 gallon can.   Although you can measure exactly 3 or 5 gallons precisely, you can not “eyeball” or estimate any other amount.  How do measure exactly 4 gallons?

This challenge will expire at 0730, Tuesday, 16 April.  Good luck!

"Looks like about four gallons to me."

NAME THE CADET

This week, we start a new feature--"Name the cadet."  (Notice the haircut hasn't changed!)



YOU AIN'T READY FOR THIS

Congratulations to Cadet Ylexice Davis who correctly answered that the twins are two, their older sibling is nine, and the address is 13.  Good job! (Good job to Cadets Jorge Esquivel and Zachary Nyaware, too.)

Here's the latest brain teaser:

Tom is from the census bureau and greets Mary at her door. The have the following conversation:

Tom: I need to know how old your three kids are.

Mary: The product of their ages is 36.

Tom: I still don't know their ages.

Mary: The sum of their ages is the same as my house number.

Tom: I still don't know their ages.

Mary: The younger two are twins.

Tom: Now I know their ages! Thanks!

How old are Mary's kids and what is Mary's house number? (Yes, there is enough information here to solve the problem!)

Even though this is one of my golden oldies, it is still tough.  Answers are due NLT 0730 Friday, 5 April.  Be prepared to describe your work.  Good luck.

MORE BOSTON/NEWPORT PICTURES

Here are a few more photos from our Boston orientation trip.  

Shopping really is easier than math!

Mr. Freely conducts a tour of the USS Constitution.

The Minister of Silly Hats

The IDA LEWIS, Cadet barone's new home.

The contriol room of the USS Nautilus.

"On the line!"

Mock up of hammocks on the USS Constitution.

The North Bridge at Concord, Mass., scene of the "Shot heard 'round the World."

BARBIE SEZ...

CDR:  What part of an hour is 6 minutes?

CR2N2E:  (Thinking hard)  ...The first part?