Take a look at the latest edition of the Phillips and Blow Monthly Bulletin!
the Phillips and Blow Monthly Bulletin
7700 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 100 Centennial, CO 80112 303-741-2400 www.phillipsandblowlaw.com
10 .2020
Let Us Know if YouThink You Have the Answer! Can You Solve 1 of the World's Hardest Brain Teasers?
As you might have ascertained from the trivia questions and puzzles we put in this newsletter every month, brain teasers are a source of amusement for our office, and for me in particular. However, any brain teaser we’ve previously published here would pale in comparison to the one I’m about to share with you now. It’s a logic puzzle that is definitely not for the faint of heart and one I’ve shared with people for 40 years. I learned this logic problem when I was hitchhiking in Europe in the 1970s. While I’m not the one who came up with this problem, I am not sure where the problem originated. I’ve heard rumors that it was on the entrance exam to get into Oxford or maybe Cambridge University in the 1960s. I have no way of verifying whether or not that’s true, but you know what they say: Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story. My point is that this brain teaser is hard, and only the cleverest people in the world will be able to solve it — so I’m sharing it with all of you, of course! Without further ado, here is what I believe to be one of the most challenging brain teasers in the world.
You are being held captive by an evil wizard (or mad scientist, or government agent, or whatever your favorite pariah is) who intends to do you in. However, for their own amusement, they’re going to give you one chance to save your own life. If you’re able to solve their riddle, you walk free. They place before you 12 pills that all look exactly alike. Eleven of them contain a deadly poison with no known antidote. However, the 12th pill is filled with a poison for which the evil wizard has an antidote. The only difference between this pill and the other 11 is its weight. The evil wizard tells you that the different pill weighs a little bit more or less than the other pills. However, just when you think he’s shared all the info with you, he also tells you that you must also discover with absolute certainty whether the different pill is heavier or lighter. That will determine which antidote he will give you — and whether or not that antidote will save you. The evil wizard gives you a weighing scale, with a plate on each side, and tells you that you can only use it three times to try and find the poisonous pill with an antidote. If you do this successfully, the evil wizard, having a surprising amount of integrity for someone in his profession, will let you go free.
It’s easy to get lost in the narrative of the riddle, so let’s recap the crucial elements to make sure you can escape with your life:
•
There are 12 pills – all of which have poison in them, but only one has an antidote.
•
That pill weighs a little more or a little less than the other 11 pills.
•
You must not only discover which pill has a different weight but also whether it is heavier or lighter, as the evil wizard has a different antidote for each case.
•
Only one of the two antidotes will save you.
•
You have only three tries with the evil wizard’s weighing scale to find the right pill and discern whether it is heavier or lighter.
While I won’t give away any hints on how you might go about solving this riddle, I will tell you that the answer takes about four pages to explain — so it’s a little too long to include in this newsletter! However, you’ll be able to find the answer by visiting our website, PhillipsAndBlowLaw.com. If you have any questions about how to find the answer, just give us a call using the number on the website, and we’ll tell you where it is. I hope you all have as much fun as I did spending hours racking your brain to solve this brain teaser!
“IT’S A LOGIC PUZZLE THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, AND ONE I’VE SHARED WITH PEOPLE FOR 40 YEARS.”
–John Phillips
1
303-741-2400
To unsubscribe from this monthly newsletter, call our offices at 303-741-2400.
We Coloradans are lucky to live in such a beautiful state. Websites like OutThereColorado.com, which has all sorts of great information about current events, beautiful scenery, and updates on which outdoor attractions are open and closed, highlight what we can enjoy in our state. However, sometimes updates on the website are more about what can happen if you don’t enjoy our state safely. Specifically, one update from a few months ago was about drownings. Many of us most likely know how to swim, and some of us are probably confident we could swim across a lake — depending on how large it was, of course. However, have you ever considered what could happen if you got out in the middle of the water and were suddenly too tired to swim to shore? What would happen then? One case this story highlighted was about an 18-year-old young adult who had been seen struggling about 60 yards (or around 180 feet) offshore. That doesn’t seem very far, right? But also imagine that you are extremely exhausted from swimming all day in the summer heat. When you finally decide to swim back, you realize you don’t have the energy to keep going. It took search teams six days to find this young man’s body. He was about 17 feet underwater. He was 18 years old and perfectly healthy, but he hadn’t been wearing a life vest. Honestly, I can’t say I would have put on a life vest when I was 18 years old, either. But this young man’s death was the 23rd drowning to occur in one of Colorado’s lakes or rivers, and one common factor in many of these deaths is they weren’t wearing life vests. Sure, we’re all a little stir-crazy right now, and safety measures like life vests might not always be “cool,” but as we find ways to get outside and enjoy the crisp autumn air, we need to keep safety at the top of our minds. Don’t ever assume you’ll be one of the ones who won’t get hurt or worse. When you’re outdoors, stay safe and stay healthy. Stay Safe and Healthy in Colorado's Outdoors Don’t Assume You’ll Never Get Hurt
How to Budget for and Maximize Your Savings
While saving money is difficult for some and easy for others, we can all agree that doing what we can to put a little money aside can help us in the long term. Here are two ways you can get the most out of your savings.
OPEN A HIGH-YIELD SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
There are multiple ways to open a savings account, but which is the best? If you want the highest interest rates and low (or no) fees, a high-yield savings account is your best choice. The main difference between this kind of account and a traditional savings account is the annual interest rate. While some brick-and-mortar banks do offer high-yield accounts, many — and those with the highest interest rates — are offered through online-only banks. Why is it worth moving your money into a high-yield account? They offer interest rates that are 20–25 times higher than traditional savings accounts. Whereas a savings account at a traditional bank may offer a 0.01% interest rate, a high-yield savings account offers rates between 1%–2.2%. So, if you put $10,000 in a traditional savings account with a 0.01% interest rate, then you’d earn $1 at the end of one year. But if you put the same amount into a high- yield savings account with a compounding interest rate of 1%, you would earn around $135 in one year.
PAY YOURSELF FIRST.
Even if you have a great savings account with a high interest rate, it won’t do much good if it’s empty or not being added to regularly. Many people don’t think about their savings until after the bills have been paid each month. However, it’s actually better to save first! Contributing to your savings before you pay your bills or make other purchases will ensure you prioritize saving and maximize your great interest rate. As a bonus, when you put money into your savings first, then pay your bills, you’ll minimize the temptation to spend on unnecessary extras. To figure out how much to save each month, start by making a simple budget. Add up your monthly expenses, then see how much is left and how much of that you can put away. Make saving a priority by building this habit into your monthly routine, and you will rest easy knowing that you have a little extra tucked away for a rainy day.
2
WWW.PHILLIPSANDBLOWLAW.COM
Trusts • Probate • Long-Term Care Planning • Elder Law
What Is Common LawMarriage?
And Why Does It Matter for Estate Planning?
We frequently come across situations having to do with “common law marriage.” It’s a particular issue we keep an eye out for because in the state of Colorado, it can complicate situations down the road if not addressed early on. To understand what makes it such a difficult issue, we need to first understand what common law marriage actually is.
marriage. A determination as to whether or not a common law marriage existed can be made only by a court, and then only after the fact. You cannot just declare yourselves to be married or ask a court to declare that you are married. You would just get a marriage license and follow the requisite state rules. Over the years, in the states that recognized common law marriage, a number of differing requirements were employed, such as “how long the couple had lived together.” In Colorado, only three elements control whether or not a common law marriage existed: First, the couple must have intended that they were married; second, the couple must have held out to others that they were married; and third, they must have consummated the marriage. Ultimately, since only courts govern common law marriages, and judges are still subject to their own opinions and prejudices, common law marriages can still be difficult to determine and the same, or similar, facts may give different results, depending on the judge. That brings us back to the world of estate planning. When there is a split between a couple or when one dies, it sometimes happens for a partner to try to assert that a common law marriage existed in order to receive rights and privileges of a spouse or a surviving spouse. That’s why it’s important to seek the knowledge of a skilled attorney if there is any possibility that a common law marriage claim can be made.
Our legal system is a mix of “common law” (historical rules and traditions) and statutory law (legislated legal codes).
Common law marriage is a marriage that is recognized under traditional “common law” rather than under the laws of a state. Historically, this was to allow some couples who were not formally married to be treated as if they were married if they met specific criteria. Back when the U.S. was still young, transportation was difficult and slow. People were spread out, so many couples didn’t have the resources to get an official marriage license and formal ceremony conducted by an appropriate official. Because it would be unfair to deny the rights and privileges of marriage to those who were unable to fulfill the formal requirements (and “bastardy” was very serious), judges, acting in accordance with the “common law” as we inherited it from England, allowed for such isolated families to be treated as if they were formally married. Since the “common law” is derived from court action and not from statutory laws, the requirements for a valid “common law” marriage varied from state to state and from time to time. As modes of transportation got better and statutory marriage became easier, common law marriage became less and less necessary. Today, only eight states, including Colorado, still have provisions for common law
For any questions or concerns regarding estate planning and common law marriage, call our office today at 303-741-2400 for a free consultation.
Trivia
Roasted Rosemary Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes
How did the term “gerrymandering” come about?
If you’re having trouble getting the kids to eat Brussels sprouts, try this delicious vegan recipe as a side dish. Every vegetable tastes better roasted!
Submit your answers to Email@JRPhillipsLaw.com.
INGREDIENTS:
•
1 3/4 lbs fingerling potatoes, halved lengthwise 3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
• • • • •
2 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
4 tsp olive oil 1 1/2 tsp sugar 1 tsp sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper
Correct answers will be entered into a drawing on Oct. 31 for an Amazon gift card.
•
•
3 cloves garlic, minced
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Toss until the Brussels sprouts and fingerlings are evenly coated with oil and seasonings. 3. Spread the mixture on the baking sheet, then bake 35–38 minutes, stirring halfway through. Add more salt and pepper as desired, then serve!
Inspired by ‘The Oh She Glows Cookbook’
3
303-741-2400
To unsubscribe from this monthly newsletter, call our offices at 303-741-2400.
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
7700 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 100 Centennial, CO 80112
303-741-2400 www.phillipsandblowlaw.com
inside
Can You Solve 1 of the World’s Hardest Brain Teasers? this issue
1 2 2 3 3 4
How to Save More Money
Stay Safe and Healthy in Colorado’s Outdoors
What Is Common Law Marriage?
Roasted Rosemary Brussels Sprouts and Potatoes
A Previously Unknown Benefit of Vitamin D
Does Vitamin DHelp Our Bones and Our Muscles? A Previously Unknown Benefit of Vitamin D
As the weather cools and the days get shorter, we can’t rely as much on the sun for our daily dose of vitamin D. The primary function of vitamin D is regulating the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body. These nutrients are necessary for strengthening our bones and teeth, which becomes increasingly important as we age and our bones naturally become more brittle. While these benefits of vitamin D are well documented, did you know that getting your daily dose of vitamin D can also contribute to healthier muscles?
Vitamin D enters the body in an inactive form. It doesn’t become active until it comes in contact with the right enzymes in either the liver or the kidneys. To learn more about what factors affect this vitamin’s rate of absorption and activation in the body, researchers observed the levels of inactive vitamin D in 116 women ages 20–74. What they found was that women with higher muscle mass had lower levels of inactive vitamin D, while women with lower muscle mass had higher levels of inactive vitamin D. The conclusion researchers drew was that active vitamin D might help optimize muscle strength. While that conclusion is not ironclad, vitamin D’s other well-known benefits still make it worth getting your daily dose. It can aid weight loss, enhance mood, support cardiovascular health, boost the immune system, and strengthen bones, among many other benefits. So, its potential muscle-boosting properties are just another reason to get more vitamin D. To get more of this important vitamin in your diet, try adding salmon, mushrooms, and even canned tuna to your menu. Also, as winter approaches, it might be time to start taking a vitamin D supplement. Whether you’re 20 or 74 years old, it’s never too late to find ways to strengthen your muscles.
A few years ago, researchers published a study that seemed to show that vitamin D could potentially help people gain muscle mass. While the research team said their results weren’t conclusive, their findings were certainly interesting.
4
WWW.PHILLIPSANDBLOWLAW.COM
Trusts • Probate • Long-Term Care Planning • Elder Law
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator