Fifty-Fifth Journal Entry

[puzzledprof]

[Backdated to Saturday

Comments

[notmanaging]

[There's the sound of a pen scribbling on a piece of paper ass she tries to figure out the first puzzle, but in the meantime...]

Did they spook each other's horses or something?

[puzzledprof]

Not quite, but you're focusing on the right part of the puzzle.

[notmanaging]

[Gives it a bit more thought, scribbles a little more on the paper.]

Do you count 11:11 once or twice?

[puzzledprof]

Just once. Perhaps I should have said "three or more".

[notmanaging]

It's...[she starts counting up.] 33! No, 34...no, it's 33.

[puzzledprof]

34. It's an even number, since a 12-hour clock covers only half the day.

[notmanaging]

Oh...I see. I think I didn't get that part.

[puzzledprof]

It's quite alright. You got the answer in the end, and it was fun thinking it through, wasn't it?

[notmanaging]

There were too many numbers for my liking.

[Now, back to thinking about the horses!]

[puzzledprof]

Ah, well, I'll try another kind of puzzle next time.

[notmanaging]

Oh, other people might me more...numerically inclined.

So, they didn't spook the horses...maybe they decided that winning wasn't everything?

[puzzledprof]

Ah, I'm afraid that's not it. Would you like a hint?

[notmanaging]

I guess it was foolish to try and apply emotion to a puzzle.

...Yes, please.

[puzzledprof]

Not always -- it's just not the solution in this case.

The winning condition of the race mentions the horses, not their riders.

[notmanaging]

...So they swap?

[puzzledprof]

Exactly!