Business is Good
Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
Yeah, they keep me locked up, but I guess I'm thankful, in short.
I hand out the beatings, while my neighbors import and export.
We make a good team, especially me as the muscle,
But with two dozen guards, I'm glad we never tussle.
But really, I got a lotta my own connections,
Imports, exports, with thousands collectin'.
But between us, there's really no competition,
I call it harmonizin' cause we're on the same mission.
No one is unnecessary, or, you know, too small,
The guy upstairs is the boss of it all.
He's also incarcerated, but for his good I bet it is,
Business is good, so long as we get the messages.
Question:
Who's doing the talking, and who are the other players in this riddle? (there are a total of 28, minus the narrator's connections)
Answer
The parentheses are used to number the parts mentioned.
The HEART (1) is the one doing the talking. He is thankful to be "locked up" or guarded by the "two dozen guards," the (24) ribs that normal humans have in 2 pairs. The ribs protect, and guard both the heart and the LUNGS. The LUNGS are the 'neighbors' (2) that have the job of "Importing" and "Exporting" Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide. The heart is- literally speaking- the muscle, and 'hands out the beatings' (heart beats). Of course, the heart itself has many "connections" or veins, arteries, and capillaries that "import" and "export" that valuable fluid we call blood. None of these members' job is unnecessary, or small, and they never compete with each other because they have the one mission of keeping a person alive. And, last but not least, the "guy upstairs" who is "the boss of it all" is 'incarcerated' by-yes-the skull. He is none other than the BRAIN (1), which sends electrical messages to all the other members via nerves, which tell them what to do. Business is good so long as these messages are sent. If they aren't, nothing is moving, and....well, then you're DEAD. (28)
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Comments
just_moi  
May 22, 2003
| Codammanus this was FANTASTIC!!! two thumbs up... but unlike ur other teasers i got it at once :-D |
Codammanus
May 22, 2003
| Glad you enjoyed it! Let's see who can follow in your footsteps. Or will I stump em? |
jucy-lu
May 23, 2003
| well u stumped me, it was one of the best on here. how u thought that one up i will never know....... |
griphook
May 23, 2003
| business as USUAL. excellence from COD always assured. ( but far too may clues my friend, you are too generous with this one) wink |
Codammanus
May 23, 2003
| I think I know who to thank for that trait. (But I won't say). I was on a NO HINT policy, but It doesn't seem to work. |
Codammanus
May 23, 2003
| WHAT AM I SAYING? Although hints are not really MY thing, I have to say the generosity here is my own. Actually, Griphook, I didn't bother to revise this one from its original form. I liked it the way it came out. (Product of a 58 minute Brainstorm) I thought it would be a gamble, but I was proud of this so I let it fly. |
griphook
May 23, 2003
| and soar it did. |
jimbo 
May 24, 2003
| Well you're not surprised to find that I think this is a fantastic teaser but by the ratings, so does everyone else! Keep it it up! |
master123
May 25, 2003
| It was one of the best teasers I have ever read. It stumped me. Good job, keep up the good work. |
scramble
May 27, 2003
| Without a doubt, a CODAMMANUS !
The latest synonym for EXCELLENT TEASERS. |
Codammanus
May 27, 2003
| Scramble, I thank you sincerely! |
CCat20 
May 30, 2003
| God, how do you think up this stuff, that was excellant. |
Codammanus
Jun 01, 2003
| You guys and gals are making Manus Blush. I Like! |
ChemicalBoy08
Jun 14, 2003
| I actually got that one!!! |
dakini
Jun 16, 2003
| I wouldn't have changed a thing!;D |
dsquared
Jun 18, 2003
| Great work Manus.. Got it nice and easy, but even easy riddles are sometimes a great read and fun to look back through the clues once you get the answer to see the cleverness in the different lines. A great addition to the collection. |
willymapo 
Jun 18, 2003
| Simply great. And fun, besides. |
2hot2handle
Jun 19, 2003
| :| wow, got me stumped!!! |
(user deleted)
Jun 23, 2003
| that's good i was thinking the narrator was some part oph the body(but i didn't know which one) and i guessed the "guy upstairs" was the brain it's really cool how you worked it all out |
timmyboym
Nov 03, 2003
| This was a cool teaser, I got it- zoomed through the answer- knew it all- didn't need the explanation  |
jacintan
Jun 18, 2004
| I only half get this teaser. It's a bit weird, but still good. I would never have guessed it. |
vbfreak55
Jun 22, 2004
| wow!! WAY too hard for me!! but, very good!  |
wolfy68
Jun 19, 2005
| Excellent! Thanks...  |
betterge
Jun 19, 2005
| Great teaser, really a fun read. One of the few that I actually got. I must say, you are a very intelligent person to come up with this!
betterge |
cliff
Jun 19, 2005
| This was a very creative and entertaining teaser. However, I solved this teaser (besides the lung part, which I overlooked as I wasn't counting) in about ten seconds. Also, I rarely solve any teasers at all, but this one seemed incredibly simple. I'm not trying to be an a-hole, its just that I was shocked that this teaser almost had a three for its difficulty when I read it. Anyway, really cool teaser, blah blah blah, just a bit easy... |
MissLadyBug
Jun 19, 2005
| This was great.  Added to my favorites
Wish i could come up with something like that. 
Keep them comming. Look foward to your next one  |
Chakoteya
Jun 19, 2005
| Superb! |
judysmith
Jun 19, 2005
| wonderful |
redneck_woman
Jun 19, 2005
| I can't believe I didn't get this one! I was on the track of an orchestra?! I guess I'm more hung-over than I thought... |
Gadget
Jun 19, 2005
| Well Done... A bit obvious, but a lot of fun...  |
gummbypal
Jun 19, 2005
| Now I know how many ribs I have. Excellent work. |
Kukmiester
Jun 19, 2005
| Stumped me but then I'm not to awake yet... Great riddle!  |
bhssoccer23
Jun 19, 2005
| That was sooooooooo cool. I Would have never thought of that in a million years! How do you do that?  I'm adding this one to my favorites! Thanks for the brain workout! |
positiveneutron
Jun 19, 2005
| wow, i would have never thought of that!!! at first i thought it had something to do with a ship or cabin---you know, importing exporting....haha
really good teaser |
daffy
Jun 19, 2005
| I was thinking it was a computer with the motherboard doing the talking!!! Great teaser! |
Aarghonauts
Jun 19, 2005
| I like that one! Took me a bit, but I got it. Those are the best kind.  |
MBBZN
Jun 19, 2005
| you must be some sort of genius or somthing, i would have never thought of that. me like! |
crzyness4lyfe
Jun 19, 2005
| that wz good! a little hard...4 sum reason i thought it might be chess or sumthin and the narrarator is the king...i don noe..lol...great job tho! |
dixie_pumkin
Jun 19, 2005
|  A Very Hard Teaser |
brainfog
Jun 19, 2005
| That was great and really well written! I guessed the heart right away, but didn't get the ribs. Love the answer. |
newfan8
Jun 19, 2005
| Cute! |
MTK_90
Jun 19, 2005
| LOL-U KEPT ME GUESSIN' |
troydunn
Jun 19, 2005
| Fantastic! An extremely witty and thought-provoking teaser. Such a clever one! |
FeaerFactorY666
Jun 19, 2005
| Interesting......... |
barrelmaker
Jun 19, 2005
| I would have gotten this had it been anatomically correct. A man has one less rib than a woman. |
jennysugars
Jun 19, 2005
| This was by far the BEST who-am-I teaser I have ever read! Being a science buff, not to mention a lover of a good teaser, this one is going on my list of favorites! |
smartypants501
Jun 19, 2005
| i didn't really like this teaser i thought it was kind of retarded!!!!   |
riddlelover
Jun 19, 2005
| Very out there, very fun, tho i was far from getting it!  Good job |
Dustar90
Jun 19, 2005
| WOW! That was extrodinary!!!!!
very sharp |
sassy_101
Jun 19, 2005
| well you certainly did ur reasearch! |
iblondhaha
Jun 19, 2005
| Umm, yeah . . . I wasn't even close in what i was thinking. Wow, that was really good |
PCDguitar
Jun 19, 2005
| amazing omg amazing that was really good!!!!! |
PCDguitar
Jun 19, 2005
| amazing omg amazing that was really good!!!!! |
RichNCoco
Jun 19, 2005
| Clever, intelligent and different...Good job! |
tamjp
Jun 20, 2005
| Brilliantly written !
Thank you for entertaining me and building up my confidence! I GOT IT
I was also super impressed with how you created it in a burst brainstorm! Way to go! |
skimela
Jun 20, 2005
| very well written!! i was way off the mark, yet it all makes so much sense on looking at the answer...great teaser! |
ginny322
Jun 20, 2005
| Very witty and clever of you! I would never have guessed it. Keep up the good work! |
Blondie116
Jan 17, 2007
| LOVE IT!!! |
J-Mac
Jun 19, 2008
| Actually, very easy. But great fun! I liked it!
Jim |
sourdough
Jun 19, 2008
| SourDough thinks this puzzle is very insightful; yet delightful, yes indeed!
Wow! Yes indeed!
$D |
firien
Jun 19, 2008
| Astoundingly good riddle, absolutely fantastic |
bradon182001
Jun 19, 2008
| What can I say that hasn't already been said, both pro and con. I can only add that I totally didn't get it.I had no clue. |
4princesses
Jun 19, 2008
| When I saw 28 things to figure out, I decided to not even try. Didn't care at all for this teaser. |
castillion
Jun 19, 2008
| This was one of the best I've ever seen! Even though I didn't get the answer it was superb - well done. |
ygtbjkn
Jun 19, 2008
| Tooooooooootally Cool! |
zaya
Jun 19, 2008
| Huh?!? I'd like a teaser next time, not a SAT test. |
wordmama
Jun 19, 2008
| Hey! Thanks for that riddle! I don't usually get them. I got the brain on the second read-thru (thought it was G-d first time) and the speaker on the third--figured that was the most important answer. Couldn't get the ribs as the guards and didn't think of lungs; thought of veins and arteries as the importers and exporters.
NOW I'll get dressed and ready for work! |
warriorsrule95
Jun 19, 2008
| oh that's cool
as usual I'm to lazy to solve but I'm sure if I put my mind to it I could have figured it out
great teaser |
moriarty94
Jun 19, 2008
| Excellent brain (and heart and lung) teaser |
giggles7620
Jun 19, 2008
| That was a tough one! I kept wanting to think chess pieces for some strange reason. Your hard work surely paid off! Great job! |
SweetPotato
Jun 19, 2008
| Ecellent Teaser, although I was slightly off. I thought it was the tongue. Similarly, The TONGUE (1) is the one doing the talking. He is thankful to be "locked up" or guarded by the (approx)"two dozen guards," the (26) teeth that normal humans have. The teeth protect, and guard the tongue. The LIPS are the 'neighbors' (2) that have the job of "Importing" and "Exporting" Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide and FOOD. The heart is- literally speaking- the muscle, and 'hands out the beatings' (passes food to be chewed by the teeth). The Brains follows as described.
Again ... great teaser, I just didn't think it through. |
SweetPotato
Jun 19, 2008
| eXcellent |
math321
Jun 19, 2008
| well good teaser. but i have to say, some people who have been on braingle for 5 years or more have negitive karma. thats not good. they better find a way to fix that. that's sad that somthing would happen to someone like that. |
monkey289
Jun 19, 2008
| wow great teaser, I gave up too early... especially since I'm supposed to be studying for my anatomy exam next monday! |
SweetPotato
Jun 21, 2008
| Another mistake in my comment (above) ... I meant the TONGUE passes the food to the teeth to be chewed. |
composer
Jun 21, 2008
| Shouldn't "ribs that normal humans have in 2 pairs" in the answer read "ribs that normal humans have in 12 pairs?" |
SweetPotato
Jun 23, 2008
| 12 pairs amounts to 24 ribs ... sounds good to me. |
avonma
Aug 19, 2008
| Oh, my goodness! That was spectacular!
I couldn't figure it out, but when I read the explanation, it was obvious and SO WELL DONE!
Congratulations! |
auntiesis
Jun 19, 2011
| I did not get it, but it was very well done. A lot of thought went into this one. |
doehead
Jun 19, 2011
| I don't know where I was. Wasn't even in the ballpark on this one. Great teaser. |
gaylewolf
Jun 19, 2011
| Very clever teaser - but my mind was a thousand miles away!
Happy Father's Day, DADS! |
dani4w45t
Jun 19, 2011
| This was really easy but AMAZINGLY GOOD! I'm definitely adding this to my favorites. Keep em coming! |
Bastet
Jun 28, 2011
| Totally cool! |
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