Pilferland Puzzle: Newsletter Challenge (August 2019)

Of course Jon had to install a larger clasp on the box, which nobody mentioned...so he cheated....clasps generally only accommodate one lock, which is the assumption...To think that a locked box is secure requires suspension of reasoning to begin with, and the lack of locksmiths doesn't make sense either....

..and as we all know, with the right tool, a lock is no obstacle...

A lockout/tagout hasp would cover it.

you know what happens when we assume something.

Sounds a bit like Public Key Cryptography...

Reminds me of the Boss 302 with 2 keys...

Excellent solution

"Maura receives box, removes her lock, and"..... by that time Schrödinger's cat is dead from starvation.

simple, just saw the lock off...done :)

The hasp is often hardened, so a saw wouldn't work. But an abrasive cutoff wheel should. Or the "hot wrench."

dremel tool works on hardened locks

Send the ring in a padlocked box and call Maura and tell her the key number and have her make a key to the box, or just send the box with a combination padlock box and tell her the combination.

Very easy to solve when you think out of the box.

Jon could send Maura the key by separate route, or ask Maura to send him a padlock and key.....useful if needed again).

I think that Jon needs to save his money, so he can buy a place outside of Pilferland, someplace like Grafton, Ohio where we keep that vermin out.

Use a combination lock. - No key. -- JHF

John gets in the box and mails himself with the ring, and gets pilfered by Julie who is even more beautiful than what's her name and they live happily ever after.

Jon should man-up and travel directly to Maura to present her the ring, personally, after both have ''sensed'' enough of the mutual chemistry, non-electronically, to justify actually ''tendering'' the offer in question...

Break off the engagement. Maura has shown she's too high-maintenance. Exchange the ring for cash, put a down payment on one of those lifelike programmable robot girls. Jon will be better off. Maura is probably made up. Some 40 year Nigerian fraud guy.

Since they've only met online, he should send her a virtual ring, using online photos from jewelry stores or anywhere else. He can take his pick of images of the most beautiful and valuable rings ever made, ever imagined, or ever unmade, even the One Ring to Rule Them All. That one may be a bit on the dangerous side, and is better for birthdays, not engagements. How about Nenya, the ring Galadriel wore?

Joe can email a CAD/CAM file with the design of the ring and she can get it 3D printed using a filament, High speed sintering, or laser sintering process.

Hey, Joe. Just send her the ring in a lockbox.

Then scan the key and send her the file so she can print it on a 3D printer.

While you're at it, scan the ring in case the technology advances to the point you can reprint it in gold if she ever loses it.

The technology exists. See my post above. Laser sintering of metals is very common. Gold should be a cinch.

If this is considered difficult.... Simply hand it to her.

There would appear to be number of solutions? With the answer evolving around the word KEY, and the things at his disposal. Post, internet and time?

(1) Key in the post, a very good answer given by SE.

(2) Key too a combination lock, given over the internet.

(3) Key too her account received over the internet, buy the ring herself.

(4) Key of time, buy ring herself and pay at a later date.

So what's the KEY too the puzzle?

Answer is posted.