U2 at Superbowl this year?

[The Sushi Hunter]

I'm almost convinced that U2 is going to be performing at the Superbowl halftime show this year (as I mentioned them in the other Superbowl halftime thread).

Digging through a box of shit up in my closet today, I found a brain teaser that my friend had e-mailed to me back in the late 90's. Thought maybe it would be interesting to pass this on here.

The music group "U2" will be playing at the Superbowl halftime show, in 17 minutes from now and they must all cross a bridge to get there. All four men start on the same side of the bridge. You must help them across to the other side. It's night and there is only one flashlight. A maximum of two people can cross the bridge at one time. Any party who crosses, either one or two people, must have the flashlight with them. No trips across the bridge shall occur without the flashlight. The flashlight must be walked back and fourth, it cannot be thrown, etc. Each band member walks at a different speed. A pair must walk together at the rate of the slower man's pace:

Bono - 1 minute to cross
Edge - 2 minutes to cross
Adam - 5 minutes to cross
Larry - 10 minutes to cross

For example, if Bono and Larry walk across first, 10 minutes have elapsed when they get to the other side of the bridge. If Larry returns with the flashlight, a total of 20 minutes have passed and you failed the mission.

Note: There is no trick behind this. It is the simple movement of resources in the appropriate order. There are two known answers to this problem. This is supposedly based on a question Microsoft gives to all proospective employees. Microsoft expects the answer in under 5 minutes.

Reportedly, one guy solved it by writing a C program (whatever that is), although that took him 37 minutes to develop (compiled and ran the first try though). Another guy solved it in three minutes. A group of 50 at Motorola couldn't figure it out at all. See how long it takes you to get the answer.

Back when I received this in the late 90's, I did get the answer in right at 5 minutes. Today when I stumbled upon it in my box of shit, I tried it out and it took me right around 8 minutes to figure it out.

Have fun......post the answer if you get it. Remember, they all have to get over the bridge in 17 minutes maximum.

[Don]

Bon Jovi has the inside track here. Documentary out this month, new album next month. A bunch of Stadium shows for their upcoming tour. The SuperBowl fits their plans perfectly.

[The Sushi Hunter]

Bon Jovi has the inside track here. Documentary out this month, new album next month. A bunch of Stadium shows for their upcoming tour. The SuperBowl fits their plans perfectly.

I'd agree that it's between U2 and Bon Jovi. Either one of the two and I won't be surprised.