Bernard's home page. My AllExperts main page.
My aim is to be helpful and indeed the vast majority of questions I get are attempted, but there are some places I won't go. This page will probable evolve over time, but here's a first crack at it.
Ask by all means, but you probably won't get an answer. In the first place my batting average on these is low, less than 50%. If it's defeated you, and probably all your mates, then it's probably a tough one, and, while I'm good, I'm not super human. Secondly, I'm a cacher myself and set my own puzzle caches. I expect people, particularly the FTF, to solve the puzzle for themselves. That said, I will contact the cache setter and be guided by them. If they say OK, then I'll pass on the solution (always assuming I can solve it!).
It started with the Golden Hare and runs through to Perplex City. These puzzles are incredibly complex and difficult and I simply will not get involved, at all.
I never did track down the actual show, but the basic premise is that you are invited to add up a series of numbers and ring in with your answer. On the surface it seems simple, but it is not! A virtually impossible algorithm has been invented which must be guessed and then applied to the question to get the answer. There was one puzzle that even after the answer had been given nobody could work out how it was arrived at! As above, I will not get involved.
If it's going to take hours and hours of my time then I am unlikely to take it on. However, if it is sufficiently intriguing and catches my imagination I may just have a go....
The above should not be regarded as my definitive list of exclusions - there's bound to be something I've forgotten!