Amuse-bouche:

Despite spanning five geographical time zones, China follows a single standard time across the country. So, if you were to cross into Afghanistan from Western China through the Wakhjir Pass, you’d be going 3.5 hours back in time in a matter of seconds. It’s the sharpest time change of any international frontier.

– Morning Brew

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Today’s Wonderful Word: “grimoire.”

Definition: a manual of magic or witchcraft used by witches and sorcerers.
Etymology: First recorded in 1850–60; from French, alteration of grammaire, or “grammar.”

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Do not go gentle into that good night

Dylan Thomas; 1914 – 1953

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

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John Steinbeck’s professor told him that Steinbeck would be an author “when pigs fly.” When Steinbeck became a novelist, he printed an insignia on his books. “Ad astra per alas porci,” he would sign. “To the stars on the wings of a pig.” For a little extra flare, he would often sketch a “pigasus” next to the words.

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Answer to Saturday’s riddle:

Step 1: First Weighing 

Divide the 12 people into three groups of four. Place Group A (people 1, 2, 3, 4) on one side of the seesaw and Group B (people 5, 6, 7, 8) on the other. 

• If the seesaw is balanced: The odd person out is in Group C (people 9, 10, 11, 12). Proceed to Step 2a. 
• If the seesaw is not balanced: The odd person out is in either Group A or Group B. You also know if they are heavier or lighter based on which side went down. Let’s assume Group A went down, meaning the odd person is either a heavier person in Group A or a lighter person in Group B. Proceed to Step 2b.

Step 2a: If the Seesaw Was Balanced 

Place people 9, 10, and 11 on one side and people 12, 1, and 2 on the other. People 1 and 2 are known to have a standard weight. 

• If the seesaw is balanced: Person 12 is the odd one out. 
• If the seesaw is not balanced: The odd one out is among people 9, 10, and 11. You can tell if they are heavier or lighter based on which side went down. Proceed to Step 3a.

Step 2b: If the Seesaw Was Not Balanced 

Move people 1, 2, and 5 to one side of the seesaw, and people 3, 4, and 6 to the other side. Person 7 is set aside. 

• If the seesaw is balanced: The odd person is either person 8 (from Group B) or person 7. Person 8 was originally on the light side, so they must be lighter. Person 7 was not part of the first weighing, and would be the odd one out only if the original odd one out was in neither of the original weighing groups. This scenario would not happen with this step. Person 7 was part of the original weighing and was in the heavy Group A. If the odd one out is person 7, they must be heavier. You can now use your final weigh to compare person 7 to a known standard weight to verify. 
• If the seesaw is not balanced: You can identify the odd person out and their weight relative to the others. Proceed to Step 3b.

Step 3a: Identifying the Odd One in Group 9, 10, 11 

Place person 9 on one side and person 10 on the other. 

• If the seesaw is balanced: Person 11 is the odd one out. 
• If the seesaw is not balanced: The heavier or lighter person is either person 9 or 10.

Step 3b: If the Seesaw Was Not Balanced 

Place person 1 against person 2. 

• If the seesaw is balanced: The odd one out is either person 3 or person 4. You can compare either of them to a known standard weight to see which one is the odd one out. 
• If the seesaw is not balanced: You can identify the odd one out and their weight relative to the others.