The Einstein Quiz

Albert Einstein said that 98% of the people in the world can not solve the following puzzle. I have no idea if that’s true, but I’m willing to give Einstein the benefit of the doubt. :o)

I think this puzzle is tough, but fair. It was slow going at first, but once the pieces started fitting it went quickly. I needed 40-45 minutes to solve it [on my ::cough:: first ::cough:: try--kudos to me! ;o)].

So without further ado, on to the question.

The Einstein Quiz: Who has the fish?

Facts:

1. There are 5 houses in 5 different colors.
2. In each house lives a person with a different nationality.
3. These 5 owners drink a certain beverage, smoke a certain brand of cigar and keep a certain pet.
4. No owners have the same pet, smoke the same brand of cigar or drink the same drink.

Hints:

1. The Brit lives in a red house.
2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets.
3. The Dane drinks tea.
4. The green house is on the left of the white house.
5. The green house owner drinks coffee.
6. The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.
7. The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The man living in the house right in the centre drinks milk.
9. The Norwegian lives in the first house.
10. The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats.
11. The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.
12. The owner who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.
13. The German smokes Prince.
14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house.
15. The man who smokes Blend has a neighbor who drinks water.

Problem: Specify who lives in each house, what animals they own, what they drink and what they smoke, and then, by this process, determine who has the fish.

Update: Follow this link only if you want the answer! Solution to The Einstein Quiz.

UPDATE 2: Warning! Answer is posted in the Comments section.

Robert Jordan dies at 58

Fiction author Robert Jordan has died of a rare blood disease:

"Author Robert Jordan, who was best known for the Wheel of Time series of fantasy novels, has died of a rare blood disease aged 58.

Jordan - whose real name was James Oliver Rigney Junior - died at the Medical University of South Carolina.

His personal assistant, Maria Simons, said the disease caused the walls of his heart to thicken.

Jordan's first fantasy book, The Eye of the World, was published in 1990 and went on to sell millions of copies.

He also wrote a trilogy of historical novels set in Charleston under the pen name Reagan O'Neal in the early 1980s.

After turning his hand to the Wheel of Time series, he went on to publish 11 books and had been working on the 12th at the time of his death.

Jordan's books tell of Rand al'Thor, also known as The Dragon Reborn, who is destined to battle evil in a mythical land.

The author is survived by his wife, Harriet McDougal Rigney." --bbc.co.uk

I really enjoyed the earlier books in the Wheel of Time series and I remember how eager I was for the next installment to be published. Despite growing frustrated with the series and giving up after the 5th or 6th novel, I still have fond memories of how much fun I had reading his earlier work.

US Open 2007 Champion: Justine Henin

Yowza! Justine Henin df. Svetlana Kuznetsova (6-1,6-3) to win her 2nd U.S. Open championship and her 7th major.

Henin came out swinging and quickly took a 4-0 lead in the first set; she outplayed Kuznetsova from the start and dominated the match. Kuznetsova was never able to get herself going; Henin was just too good. Kuznetsova had a few chances to break, including two games at 15-40 in the 2nd, but Henin pulled through.

I find it amazing that Henin's serve percentage was so low but she was still winning points and never broken in this match despite several double-faults, including 3 in one game, if I remember correctly. Henin came through this tournament never dropping a set, passing both S.Williams and V.Williams in the quarter- and semi-final, respectively.

Oh yeah, I've mentioned this before (2006 US Open and Tennis etiquette), but it annoys me to no end when people insist on screaming and yelling in the middle of a player's serve. Show a little sportsmanship, please. This time it was Henin serving for the match leading 5-3 in the 2nd, up 15-love, when someone shrieks in the middle of Henin's toss. Henin goes on to double-fault to 15-15. Henin double faults again to go down 15-30 and loses the following point to 15-40. Ugh. Fortunately Henin managed to climb back to deuce, and ulimately win match point, but recalling it now I'm still annoyed and frustrated with the shrieker's lack of respect.

Djokovic df. Ferrer 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

Hurrah! In the U.S. Open semi-finals Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer in three sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-3). Although it was straight sets it wasn't easy. Djokovic was down 0-3 or 1-4 in the first set before settling down. The hot, humid weather also appeared to affect Djokovic more than Ferrer--Djokovic called for a doctor early in the second, and also in the third.

I don't want to get my hopes up too high, but can Djokovic defeat Federer again, but in a major? Djokovic did defeat Roddick, Nadal, and Federer--in sequence!--in Montreal earlier this year, so at least he knows he can do it. Nevertheless, Federer is still the overwhelming favourite, I think.

Of course, this is assuming Federer defeats Davydenko in the last semi-final, but I think it's a safe assumption.

Henin defeats Williams!

Hurrah! Justine Henin went throught the semis and into the US Open Finals by defeating Venus Williams, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4. Henin will be up against Svetlana Kuznetsova on Saturday.

US Open quarterfinals

Congratulations to Justine Henin, who defeated Serena Williams in the US Open quarterfinals (7-6, 6-1). Henin played well, but my impression is that her 1st serve percentage could have been better. Hopefully that will improve in the semifinals where Henin will probably be up against Venus Williams who also has been playing well.

I've been rooting for Henin to win the year's last major, though it will be tough going to get through the the semi-finals (go Jankovic!). On the men's side, I've been rooting for someone, anyone, to take out Roger Federer. Wishful thinking? Probably, but hope springs eternal. :o) If I had to choose who had the best chance against Federer in this tournament, I'd actually pick Novak Djokovik over Rafael Nadal.

Hmm, I should say that it's not that I dislike Federer, but I just think he needs more competition, and being a fan of Pete Sampras anything that delays Federer breaking Sampras' majors record is all good. :p

Site visitors in August 2007

The top 5 visitors in August 2007, listed by countries:

1) United States,
2) Canada,
3) Australia,
4) China,
5) an European country.

If memory hasn't failed me, I think this is the first time China has made it in to the top five. Ahhh... variety is the spice of life. ;o)

Full list of visitors in August 2007.

Statistics for previous months.