Sunday, August 27, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 27): Company - TE times 3

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 27): Company - TE times 3:
Q: Name a well-known company in U.S. history, still in existence today. There are three words in its name. Each word contains the letter pair T and E. What company is it?
My wife and I were on the way up to Crater Lake with the kids last week and this puzzle kept us occupied. (This also explains why I didn't post before the deadline) I kept focusing on AT&T (American Telephone and Telegraph). I also had "United States..." but couldn't complete it. Once again my wife trumped me and came up with the answer first.
A: UNITED STATES STEEL

Friday, August 18, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 20): "And the Oscar goes to..."

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 20): "And the Oscar goes to..."
Q: Name a well-known person in show business, who might be seen at an awards ceremony. Take the first letter of this person's first name, plus this person's last name, in order, from left to right. The letters will spell something this celebrity might say at an awards ceremony. Who is the celebrity and what might this person say?
Well, I've given away a large clue with the title of this post. The answer would not apply to a music awards show; instead think of people involved with movies. I had the answer within a minute, so I don't think it is that hard. The answer for what they might say is a single word, not a phrase.

Edit: Did you figure it out?
A: TOM HANKS --> THANKS

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 13): You Put My Car in What!?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 13): You Put My Car in What!?
Q: Name a make of car containing the letter 'N.' Rearrange the letters to get a new word starting with 'N' that names something you might put a car in. What is it?
My wife and I figured out the answer together. Like last week, we worked backwards. I figured out the 'N' word, she figured out the car make. And I'll reiterate that it is a car make not a model. Think also about the clue for the 'N' word. It's obviously not something like a garage or a carport. So what do you put a car in?

Unfortunately, we are taking five days vacation starting Thursday, so I won't be able to post the answer until after the answer is revealed on the air... hopefully we've given enough hints here so you can figure it out (while we are spending our time idling on the beaches in Cancun!)

Edit: We are back safely with only minor delays from the increased security. We had to transfer all our liquid/gel items into a single bag which then got checked as luggage. Anyway, the answer has already been announced on the air, but here it is:
A: RENAULT --> NEUTRAL

Thursday, August 03, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 6): Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 6): Clockwise or Counter-Clockwise
Q: Take the last name of a well-known 20th century world leader -- seven letters. Write these letters in a circle, reading clockwise. Then, starting with the fourth letter of the name and reading counter-clockwise, you'll name an important period in human history. What is it?
This answer came to me almost immediately but I worked on it going backwards. The name should be familiar to anyone who has paid attention to history in the last 3 decades or so.

Edit: Well, you would have heard this name in the news in the late 1980s. And to the person that asked, yes the country would be a big clue, wouldn't it?
A:
NORIEGA (Manuel Noriega, the de facto military leader of Panama from 1983-1989)
IRON AGE (As in Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age)