My family sings Christmas carols at the hospital where my wife works. We do this every year and since we started, have not missed a single year. The next time we do this will be the 18th consecutive Christmas. My 15 year old daughter has been every time.
She was born in March 1999 so the first year she came was December 1999 (before her 1st birthday). Her first time was when she was 0, second time when she was 1, third time when she was 2, etc…
Now that she is 15, she has been 16 times. Oh and of course she was also present in December 1998 in her mum’s belly, due to be born the next March.
So, a total of 17 times and next time will be the 18th.
Thanks to Michael for submitting this real-life brain teaser about his family.
The phrase, “This too shall pass.” According to Wikipedia, the well-known phrase is often attached to a fable of a great king who is humbled by these words, and to someone who is experiencing something wonderful, it can be saddening. But to one who is in the pits of despair, it is a phrase that brings relief and hope.
In other words, if a happy person is told, “This too shall pass” it will make them sad. But to a person on hard times, hearing, “This too shall pass” will cheer them up.
If a cork is placed into a glass of water, it will almost always drift to the side of the glass. There is one simple way, however, to get the cork to float in the center of the glass. What is it?
Water, the glass, and the cork are all that is required.
The reason that a cork drifts to the side of a glass is that it floats to the highest point. Since water “clings” to the glass, the highest point is around the edge of the water. To get the cork to float in the middle of the glass, all you have to do is fill the glass as much as possible. The water will form a convex shape above the glass, with the highest point at its center. This is where the cork will settle.
Pair these words to make nine titles of books by Charles Dickens:
A LITTLE 1 RUDGE
B PICKWICK 2 COPPERFIELD
C EDWIN 3 TIMES
D BARNABY 4 CHUZZLEWIT
E NICHOLAS 5 PAPERS
F HARD 6 HOUSE
G BLEAK 7 DROOD
H DAVID 8 DORRIT
I MARTIN 9 NICKLEBY
A 8 = LITTLE DORRIT B 5 = PICKWICK PAPERS C 7 = EDWIN DROOD D 1 = BARNABY RUDGE E 9 = NICHOLAS NICKLEBY F 3 = HARD TIMES G 6 = BLEAK HOUSE H 2 = DAVID COPPERFIELD I 4 = MARTIN CHUZZLEWIT