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Hawks
SFN Regular

Canada
1383 Posts

Posted - 03/06/2012 :  20:59:46  Show Profile  Visit Hawks's Homepage Send Hawks a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I am in a square within myself.

In spite of the long white cloud above me there is enough blue to make a pair of trousers for a dutch boy. Is it a bird? Shoe polish, people say.

The queen, rook and bishops are no longer here. I am deserted, but the house is crowded. It will, ultimately, not be my friends church that brings me down. How bizarre.

METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden!

HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 03/06/2012 :  21:32:22   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That looks like a tough one. Nothing (or, worse, everything) comes to mind. Surely this riddle is proof against solution by a set that includes idiots and myself.

Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
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sailingsoul
SFN Addict

2830 Posts

Posted - 03/07/2012 :  11:54:59   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send sailingsoul a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Beats me.

There are only two types of religious people, the deceivers and the deceived. SS
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie

USA
4826 Posts

Posted - 03/07/2012 :  12:23:14   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Valiant Dancer's Homepage Send Valiant Dancer a Private Message  Reply with Quote
WAG here.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jacob-van-ruisdael-a-landscape-with-a-ruined-castle-and-a-churchLinky here[\url]

Jacob van Ruisdael, An Extensive Landscape with Ruins circa 1665-1675.

Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils

Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion
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Hawks
SFN Regular

Canada
1383 Posts

Posted - 03/07/2012 :  20:18:24   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Hawks's Homepage Send Hawks a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by Valiant Dancer

WAG here.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jacob-van-ruisdael-a-landscape-with-a-ruined-castle-and-a-churchLinky here[\url]

Jacob van Ruisdael, An Extensive Landscape with Ruins circa 1665-1675.

That was pretty good. Not what I had in mind at all, though. I'll flesh it out a bit:

I am in a square within myself.

In spite of the "long white cloud" above me there is enough blue to make a pair of trousers for a dutch boy. Common denominator for bird, shoe polish, people, fruit.

The queen, rook and bishops are no longer here, oh minster of king of rois. I am deserted, but the house is crowded. It will, ultimately, not be my Friends Church that brings me down. How bizarre.

METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden!
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TG
Skeptic Friend

USA
121 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  08:32:42   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send TG a Private Message  Reply with Quote
There's a Kiwi in it ... something to do with your avatar?

Tom
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HalfMooner
Dingaling

Philippines
15831 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  08:53:25   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send HalfMooner a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by TG

There's a Kiwi in it ... something to do with your avatar?

Tom
You are onto something, I'm guessing!

Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive.
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  12:14:19   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I admit to being stumped. Several of the clues, including the "square within a square" makes me think of a chess board, as queens, rooks, bishops, and kings are all chess pieces. The "long white cloud" could mean an array of white chess pieces surrounding the black king who is about to be mated, but not by the opponent's bishop (not his "Friends Church").

But I still cannot make heads nor tails out of the "blue to make a pair of trousers for a dutch boy" and the "common denominator for bird, shoe polish, people, fruit."


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
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TG
Skeptic Friend

USA
121 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  12:46:23   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send TG a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The "common denominator for bird, shoe polish, people, fruit" is what led me to 'Kiwi', although in admitting to remembering Kiwi shoe polish I've seriously dated myself.
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  12:55:54   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
So it's a chess game being played on a table covered by a Hawks avatar!


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
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Hawks
SFN Regular

Canada
1383 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  13:29:13   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Hawks's Homepage Send Hawks a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by TG

There's a Kiwi in it ... something to do with your avatar?

Tom


Yes, kiwi. You're almost halfway there. But it hasn't really got anything to do with my avatar - at least directly.

METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden!
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TG
Skeptic Friend

USA
121 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  13:35:23   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send TG a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The second time Hawks gave the riddle he capitalized 'Friends Church', so I'm guessing that implies the Quakers. His avatar has the Swedish flag in the background, for what that's worth.

Just throwing things out; still no idea how it fits together.
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Hawks
SFN Regular

Canada
1383 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  13:41:58   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Hawks's Homepage Send Hawks a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by H. Humbert
Several of the clues, including the "square within a square" makes me think of a chess board, as queens, rooks, bishops, and kings are all chess pieces.

It does sound like chess, doesn't it. Unfortunately, it isn't.

The "long white cloud" could mean an array of white chess pieces surrounding the black king who is about to be mated


The long white cloud has nothing to do with chess but rather ties in with the denominator (and "how bizarre" and a "crowded house", for that matter)

, but not by the opponent's bishop (not his "Friends Church").


The "Friends Church" means something different entirely.

But I still cannot make heads nor tails out of the "blue to make a pair of trousers for a dutch boy" and the "common denominator for bird, shoe polish, people, fruit."


The blue for the dutch boy is, I must admit, probably not much help. There is, however, a dutch connection.

METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden!
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Hawks
SFN Regular

Canada
1383 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  13:43:06   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Hawks's Homepage Send Hawks a Private Message  Reply with Quote
We are looking for a specific location on planet Earth.

METHINKS IT IS LIKE A WEASEL
It's a small, off-duty czechoslovakian traffic warden!
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TG
Skeptic Friend

USA
121 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  14:12:48   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send TG a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Aotearoa, New Zealand?
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard

USA
4574 Posts

Posted - 03/08/2012 :  14:25:10   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send H. Humbert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Originally posted by TG

Aotearoa, New Zealand?
Reasoning?


"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman

"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie
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