Thursday, July 27, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 30): What's Your Drink Order?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 30): What's Your Drink Order?:
Q: Name something you might order in a bar. It's two words; three letters in the first word, five letters in the second. Change the second letter of the first word from a U to an A. The result will be a new two-word phrase, naming something you don't want to be seen in. What is it?
There are so many clues given in this puzzle (letters, word lengths) that you don't need any help from me. But I will say, one word is short for another word...
Edit: "Hey bartender, give me a light. No, I mean..."
A: BUD LIGHT --> BAD LIGHT

Friday, July 21, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 23): He, she or they? Figure in Greek Mythology...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 23): He, she or they? Figure in Greek Mythology...
Q: Name a well-known figure in Greek mythology, whose name consists of two consecutive pronouns. Who is it?
I would debate the well-known part of this question. I think you'll recognize the answer but it may not be the first Greek figure you think of. Don't forget to try all the possessive and demonstrative pronouns you can think of and consider the subjective, objective and possessive forms. My first thought was HERMES, but that isn't exactly right... think a little more and the answer will come to you.
Edit: In addition to pronouns like he, she, they, him, her, we, us, me, my, mine, ours and yours I hope you remembered it, its, that, this, these and those. Here's the answer I came up with.
A: THESE + US --> THESEUS (Greek Θησεύς) was a legendary king of Athens, son of Aegeus (or of Poseidon) and of Aethra. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes.

Friday, July 14, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 16): Criminals and the Crimes they Commit

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 16): Criminals and the Crimes they Commit
Q: Think of a word meaning criminals. Think of another word for a certain crime. Read these words one after the other, and you'll get a new word for something that may be a crime. What is it? Also, the longer word is unrelated etymologically to the shorter word.
The first word is obviously a plural. As a hint, the second word starts with a consonant and its vowel sound changes in the final word. And yes, all the answers are words, not phrases.
Edit: My wife gets the credit for coming up with the answer first.
A: CONS + PIRACY --> CONSPIRACY

Thursday, July 06, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 9): Roman Numeral Name

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 9): Roman Numeral Name
Q: Name a well-known American of the past consisting of eight letters. This is the person's full name, as he or she was known. Six of the letters are consonants, and all six of these consonants are Roman numerals. Who is this famous person?
First it helps to know your roman numerals (I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1000). The consonants are V, X, L, C, D and M. The other thing is to remember that it is the person's full name. But don't be thrown by this. I thought the first name might be something short like AL, ED, MAX, etc. You might be surprised by the answer. One hint, the person's name has 3 syllables.
Edit: The deadline has passed, so it's time to reveal my answer...
A: Black Nationalist and spokesperson for the Nation of Islam, MALCOLM X (born Malcolm Little).

Sunday, July 02, 2006

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 2): Boy to Bird to Brit

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 2): Boy to Bird to Brit
Q: Think of a boy's first name in six letters. Move the first two letters to the end, and you'll get a word meaning, a bird. Then, move the first two letters of that to the end, to name a well known English writer of the past. What words are these?
Well, I struggled with this one and never got past the bird... Now that I've heard the answer I realize it was a type of bird, not a species of bird. And I'm not familiar with the author either... anyway, here's the puzzle answer they gave.
A: ERNEST (Boy's first name, e.g. Hemingway)
NESTER (Bird that builds a nest)
STERNE (Laurence Sterne, English Writer 1712-1768)