On Thu, 26 Aug 1999, Gray, Tom wrote:

> > 1. Pick a number from 2 to 9. It can be 2 or it can be 9, or any
> > number in between.

The way this works, it doesn't matter what number you pick, because the
result is the same.

> > 2. Take that number that youve chosen, and multiply it by 9.
> >
> > 3. That should give you a two digit number. Take those two
> > digits and add them together.

The sum of the digits of multiples of 9 in this range is always nine: 18,
27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81.  So the answer at this step is always 9.

> > 4. Take the resulting number and subtract 5 from it.

Which always gives you 4.

> > 5. Take that number and correspond it to the alphabet,
> > numbering the letters. A =1, B=2, C=3, and so on.

So you have "D".

> > 6. Take your letter, and think of a country that begins with
> > that letter.

The most obvious example of a country starting with "D" is Denmark.  Did
someone come up with Djibouti or Dominican Republic?  Dahomey was renamed
"Benin" years ago, and we call Deutschland "Germany".

> > 7. Take the last letter in the name of that country, and
> > think of an animal.

Having chosen Denmark, we get "K" here, and the most likely animal is
going to be Kangaroo.  Maybe I lack imagination, but I can't even think of
another non-obscure choice.

> > 8. Now, take the last letter in the name of that animal, and
> > think of a color.

Having chosen Kangaroo, we get "O" here, and (with very limited choices)
go directly to Orange. I suppose Ochre would be the more offbeat
selection.

> > 9. But remember...
> >
> > There are no ORANGE KANGAROOS in DENMARK.

Of course not!

---
Lawrence Kestenbaum, [log in to unmask]
The Political Graveyard, http://politicalgraveyard.com