Born and raised in the United States has been a great experience for me. Politics notwithstanding. Freedom and liberty seem to abound for the most part although those two issues appear to be up for grabs lately in the hands of bigger and bigger government. But, that's the way it is and I'll live by it. Each generation has it's own experiences and perspectives doesn't it? Just like automobiles, before it was carburetors, now it is fuel injection. To some it's progress, to others it's a shame. All of that being said, I am grateful to live in a country where I can still have an opinion and express it openly. Today it's football and the National Anthem.
Yesterday there were two well known singers expressing their individual renditions of our National Anthem before the playoff games. Over the years there have been some truly memorable, respectful, beautiful renditions and also some downright awful ones too. I believe yesterday, both singers, Kristin Chenoweth and Steven Tylor performed in what they believed to be a respectful way. However, the one that pulled it off in a most spectacular, unforgettable way was hands down, Kristin Chenoweth. She belted that anthem out wholeheartedly and with so much power the crowd was standing and applauding after the first two lines were sung. She, in turn turned up the voice and gave them even more. I was impressed! Being a sports fan I've witnessed what I believe to be the best and the worst in the past few decades. Kristin Chenoweth was superb! I thank her for showing so much respect towards the country of my birth. Some people still do have high standards and integrity. You go girl! You just got another fan.
No winner yet in the treasure hunt. The medallion is still out there.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Games and perspective
i1t1'1s1a1d1i1f1f1i1c1u1l1t1t1h1i1n1g1t1o1w1r1i1t1e1t1h1i1s1w1a1y1b1t1w1i1t1'1s1n1o1t1a1h1i1n1t1
In a game like this treasure hunt the solution lies in the ability to decipher what went through the designer's mind. If you followed behind me, in my exact tire tracks, only moments after, you would have seen something different. It still would have required you to do some thinking to figure out what it is that I saw. Perspective! Several years back the medallion was on a telephone pole located on the corner of two streets. The pole was sunk in the edge of the wedge where the two sidewalks intersected. The medallion was on the inside of the intersection, facing the house on the corner, away from the street. It was attached to the pole by a Phillips screw and sunk about an inch into the ground, clearly visible if one looked. A fellow that played the game every day also walked his dog every morning about 9:00am before going to work. He often carried the riddle and clues with him to look over while the dog dallied as dogs do some times. As he explained to me later, there was a fire hydrant next to that telephone pole that his male dog found to be of great interest. He would lean on the telephone pole, reading and thinking about the riddle and clues while his dog followed his instincts regarding that fire hydrant. Almost every day of the four months the game took to be solved. There were a couple occasions the dog found interest in the telephone pole too, all around it in fact. While this guy diligently tried to decipher the riddle and clues. Someone else found it just after he went on one of his dog walks. Perspective!
That's what games are all about. Last night Michigan had the perspective, Michigan State didn't. They were left at the doorstep. Both excellent teams with loads of talent. Such is the way of games. Two more seconds and perhaps a different outcome. Don't get caught leaning on the pole while someone else does the looking.
In a game like this treasure hunt the solution lies in the ability to decipher what went through the designer's mind. If you followed behind me, in my exact tire tracks, only moments after, you would have seen something different. It still would have required you to do some thinking to figure out what it is that I saw. Perspective! Several years back the medallion was on a telephone pole located on the corner of two streets. The pole was sunk in the edge of the wedge where the two sidewalks intersected. The medallion was on the inside of the intersection, facing the house on the corner, away from the street. It was attached to the pole by a Phillips screw and sunk about an inch into the ground, clearly visible if one looked. A fellow that played the game every day also walked his dog every morning about 9:00am before going to work. He often carried the riddle and clues with him to look over while the dog dallied as dogs do some times. As he explained to me later, there was a fire hydrant next to that telephone pole that his male dog found to be of great interest. He would lean on the telephone pole, reading and thinking about the riddle and clues while his dog followed his instincts regarding that fire hydrant. Almost every day of the four months the game took to be solved. There were a couple occasions the dog found interest in the telephone pole too, all around it in fact. While this guy diligently tried to decipher the riddle and clues. Someone else found it just after he went on one of his dog walks. Perspective!
That's what games are all about. Last night Michigan had the perspective, Michigan State didn't. They were left at the doorstep. Both excellent teams with loads of talent. Such is the way of games. Two more seconds and perhaps a different outcome. Don't get caught leaning on the pole while someone else does the looking.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Riddle help Clue #1
Ah, the anticipation and expectation of more food for thought has more quickly born fruit this year. The first two weeks are behind us without a winner so it is time for clue #1 to help you solve the January 3rd treasure riddle. This ought to be of great help to you and perhaps bring a smile to your face to boot. Here tis:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For help you could kind of look for the arch and jelly. You figure out the why or not."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There you go! If no winner there will be another clue in two weeks on January 31st.
Good luck! More info available in today's Grand Rapids Press or Advance newspapers, www.Mlive.com or Greg's site at www.wyomingriddler.com I just may let you in on what the treasure consists of sometime in the near future. Watch for it...................Joe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For help you could kind of look for the arch and jelly. You figure out the why or not."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There you go! If no winner there will be another clue in two weeks on January 31st.
Good luck! More info available in today's Grand Rapids Press or Advance newspapers, www.Mlive.com or Greg's site at www.wyomingriddler.com I just may let you in on what the treasure consists of sometime in the near future. Watch for it...................Joe
Monday, January 16, 2012
Treasure Hunt Riddle news
Hundreds more people are in the search for the medallion right out of the chute this year because of the January start and anticipation of a faster pace due to the more frequent clue announcements. In spite of the increased activity there is still no winner so the next clue will be revealed tomorrow January 17th 2012. I was virtually mobbed yesterday morning at church and then again at the grocery store by folks hoping for some added information. All in good fun of course because I do not give out secrets as everyone already knows. That's some of the fun of this game: Conversation and ideas, using the old noggin, anticipation, hope! I see nothing at all wrong with any of that, do you?
I had a fantastic experience last Friday by having the honor of being interviewed by Josh Leng on 1340am radio in Grand Rapids. The interivew lasted almost 25 minutes but seemed to go by in a flash. They spoke about the riddle and even read a quote from "Joe's Story: The Book of a Lifetime. Those guys know their business all right and I received a huge response from people I know and others I don't know too saying they enjoyed it. Anything that points out the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a definite plus as far as I'm concerned. Thanks guys!
The new clue will be in the Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers tomorrow and also on Mlive.com and Greg will follow on his website www.wyomingriddler.com too. We're right in the thick of it right now and for those that pursue it on a daily basis the weather is quite cooperative too. Last year it was over a foot deep and the guy that won just kept digging and digging through it until he found the medallion. Will it be you this year? We'll find out won't we? Til tomorrow then.
I had a fantastic experience last Friday by having the honor of being interviewed by Josh Leng on 1340am radio in Grand Rapids. The interivew lasted almost 25 minutes but seemed to go by in a flash. They spoke about the riddle and even read a quote from "Joe's Story: The Book of a Lifetime. Those guys know their business all right and I received a huge response from people I know and others I don't know too saying they enjoyed it. Anything that points out the danger of Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a definite plus as far as I'm concerned. Thanks guys!
The new clue will be in the Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers tomorrow and also on Mlive.com and Greg will follow on his website www.wyomingriddler.com too. We're right in the thick of it right now and for those that pursue it on a daily basis the weather is quite cooperative too. Last year it was over a foot deep and the guy that won just kept digging and digging through it until he found the medallion. Will it be you this year? We'll find out won't we? Til tomorrow then.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Radio interview
If you have time on friday morning 01/13/2012 please tune into the Grand Rapids radio station 1340 WJRW with Josh Leng at 9:30am. He has asked me to bew on the show for a short interview. It should be a lot of fun. He'll be asking me questions about the riddle, the treasure hunt and other things that are going on. Their web site ahs ways you can stream the show on your computer or other electronic device. http://www.wjrwam.com/
No winner yet for the treasure hunt. Keep looking. New clue on tuesday already............Joe
No winner yet for the treasure hunt. Keep looking. New clue on tuesday already............Joe
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Riddle stories
The new starting time for the Silver Treasure Hunt seems to be a hit so far. With the holidays behind us time is available to pursue the quest for the medallion in full earnest. From what I am hearing most of you are enjoying the game as it was intended. Even after less than a week since the riddle was divulged there are already several "Hot Spots". Individuals and groups sort of gather on specific ideas concerning the little metal piece's whereabouts. Streets, corners, and landmarks become popular and people can be seen milling around, trying not to be too obvious so as not to give away the prize to someone else. For most, secrecy is as much a part of the game as any other aspect. "Covert operation", makes for a bit more fun. Gleaning as much information from others without allowing them to glean anything from you. In the competition of a past game the story came to me concerning just that sort of thing. It seems that this one guy happened across a car filled to overflowing with a group of guys searching in earnest for the elusive game piece on a street corner. To him it was obvious the carload was involved in the treasure hunt so he stopped and attempted to chat and perhaps join forces to find it and share the treasure. The car load of guys wouldn't have any part of that idea at all, to the point of becoming somewhat obnoxious about it. They ended the conversation saying they were going one way and the other guy had better not follow or there would be consequences. The friendly guy, not really discouraged, after all it was only a game, went the other way. It took him only about five minutes to retrieve the medallion and he won.
Yet another year two guys were searching in separate areas so they could increase their efforts and hopefully find the medallion. They searched and searched for hours but to no avail. Nothing! Finally, as dinner time and darkness drew near they made contact by phone and decided to meet at a restaurant to decide where they would look next. One of the guys arrived first and had to wait for his buddy. He was a little tired and leaned against a telephone pole for support. He stepped on a stone as he leaned so he looked down for a smoother surface. As he looked by his feet he saw a silver flash from the nearby street light bouncing off something on the pole. Curious, he reached down to investigate and pulled the medallion from the crevice where it had been placed months before by that crafty riddler guy.
By the end of the game this year I am sure there will be more stories to be told about our exploits. I look forward to hearing them.
Yet another year two guys were searching in separate areas so they could increase their efforts and hopefully find the medallion. They searched and searched for hours but to no avail. Nothing! Finally, as dinner time and darkness drew near they made contact by phone and decided to meet at a restaurant to decide where they would look next. One of the guys arrived first and had to wait for his buddy. He was a little tired and leaned against a telephone pole for support. He stepped on a stone as he leaned so he looked down for a smoother surface. As he looked by his feet he saw a silver flash from the nearby street light bouncing off something on the pole. Curious, he reached down to investigate and pulled the medallion from the crevice where it had been placed months before by that crafty riddler guy.
By the end of the game this year I am sure there will be more stories to be told about our exploits. I look forward to hearing them.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Free game starts January 3rd 2012
January 3rd, 2012 is the beginning of the 31st Silver Treasure Hunt.
There are a couple of minor adjustments to the rules this time around. The clues will be issued every two weeks instead of once a month. There will no longer be the long wait involved. The intensity of the game is also increased because the game will now end in one of two ways: When someone locates the medallion and brings it to me to claim their prize, the same as in the past 30 years. That is the desired conclusion. Or, if by midnight of February 29th no one has found it, I will retrieve the medallion personally, the game will end and the treasure will be added to next year's prize. The clues, as always are designed to help you solve the riddle.
The Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers as well as Mlive.com are poised to cover the event as closely as space allows. Greg has stated that he will also maintain updates on his site www.wyomingriddler.com
This will be a new experience with a long time tradition and there has been a lot of excitement expressed to me by past and new treasure hunters alike. The pace of life has changed considerably since the very first treasure hunt in 1980. My gosh! The Internet did not exist, and cell phones? What were they anyway? Facebook? Twitter? Cloud? Now the game is played all around the world electronically. Get a copy of the Greater Grand Rapids city map and: Let's get it on!
I can't hardly wait!
There are a couple of minor adjustments to the rules this time around. The clues will be issued every two weeks instead of once a month. There will no longer be the long wait involved. The intensity of the game is also increased because the game will now end in one of two ways: When someone locates the medallion and brings it to me to claim their prize, the same as in the past 30 years. That is the desired conclusion. Or, if by midnight of February 29th no one has found it, I will retrieve the medallion personally, the game will end and the treasure will be added to next year's prize. The clues, as always are designed to help you solve the riddle.
The Grand Rapids Press and Advance Newspapers as well as Mlive.com are poised to cover the event as closely as space allows. Greg has stated that he will also maintain updates on his site www.wyomingriddler.com
This will be a new experience with a long time tradition and there has been a lot of excitement expressed to me by past and new treasure hunters alike. The pace of life has changed considerably since the very first treasure hunt in 1980. My gosh! The Internet did not exist, and cell phones? What were they anyway? Facebook? Twitter? Cloud? Now the game is played all around the world electronically. Get a copy of the Greater Grand Rapids city map and: Let's get it on!
I can't hardly wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
