What's All This Puzzle Stuff, Anyhow?

Well, April has rolled around again-and that means one thing: 'Tis the season to raise questions. Answers will come in the next issue.

1. Little Egbert has some long, rigid cylinders-a whole lot of them. He observes that he can arrange 2 of them to touch, and, of course, he can arrange 3 to touch each other. If he stands one on end, he can make 4 cylinders each touch each other one. How long can he go on with this? Can he get 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 cylinders to each touch each other? Of course, bending, warping, or deforming the cylinders is not permitted.
2. In the above problem, it is safe to assume there is a solution. In that solution, how long do the cylinders have to be-what is the minimum ratio of L/D? (For n = 4, L/D = 0, but that's trivial...)
3. What is it, that is Greater than God, and Worse than the Devil, and if you eat it you will die? (Hint: This riddle is probably at least several hundred years old.)
4. Take a doughnut. Or a bagel. Or any toroid. Cut it with a straight (planar) cut. Do not rearrange the pieces. Cut again. Then cut a third planar cut. How many pieces can you cut the toroid into? Note, a doughnut really is DIFFERENT from a biscuit (8 pieces max)! However, in this case, it makes no difference if you use a SOLID toroid, or just a SHELL. The answer is the same.
5. The same problem as above, but, you are permitted to rearrange the pieces before you re-cut. How many pieces can you get with 3 cuts?
6. What is it that God has none of, the Queen of England has very few of, and I have lots of? Note: This riddle is probably not half as old as number 3.
7. A cowboy rode into town on Friday. Four days later, he rode out on Friday. How did he do that?
8. A cowboy rode into town on Thursday October 4. In less than a year, he rode out of town on Thursday October 21. How did he do that?
9. What two MAKES of automobiles can have their names turned into another MAKE of automobile by adding one letter and rearranging the letters?
10. Can you take a piece of paper and fold it over (fold it in half) 10 times? Here's a $10 bill. If you can fold it in half 10 times in a row (and not unfold it each time), you get the $10. If you can't, you owe me $10. Now, are you having trouble folding it in half 10 times? I can fold a piece of paper in half (repeatedly) up to 10 times. How come??
11. Extra credit: Here is the answer to a question-aggry (a Ghanian burial bead) and puggry (a scarf worn under a hat, to protect the back of the neck, in India). NOW-what is the QUESTION? This is a trick question; don't feel bad if you can't guess.

All for now. / Comments invited!
RAP / Robert A. Pease / Engineer

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