Thursday, March 19, 2009

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 15): Female TV Host Puzzle

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 15): Female TV Host Puzzle
Q: Name a female host of a popular TV program. Rearrange the letters of her first name to name a god in mythology. Rearrange the letters in her last name to name a type of god that this god is not. Who is the TV host and what are the anagrams?
So you've looked at this week's NPR puzzle and you've decided you need some help. Okay, before you light a signal fire, the puzzle really isn't that difficult. So that you don't waste time, I'll tell you that it is *not* the Babylonian god Marduk, but you can try anagrams of that if you like...

Edit: There were several hints in my post. I used the word "SO" a couple times. Also, if you read the first letter of each sentence you get S.O.S. I also mentioned help and a signal fire a few times which again points to S.O.S. That all leads to the name of the person and her show. Next the Roman equivalent of Zeus was Jupiter. And the Babylonian equivalent of Jupiter was Marduk.
A: SUZE ORMAN (CNBC host of the Suze Orman Show)
--> ZEUS, ROMAN
Posted by Blaine at 1:23 PM
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30 comments:

  1. P.S. Remember the rules. Don't post the outright answer or even obvious clues that will give it away until after the Thursday 3pm ET deadline.
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  2. ... and why the apparent "need" to state in the puzzle the word "female" at all? Why not just state, "Name a host of a popular TV program, yada, yada, yada."

    Could be / IS ... cuz she regularly, on her show, demonstrates for us all WHY, if not stated, nearly almost all persons' thinking goes first and straight to patriarchally, androcentrically and AUTOMATICALLY thinking on hosts' ... male.

    Same as why in nearly all broadcasts and writings, media -- and most others in adulthood as well -- stupidly go on and on about the "woman farmer," or the "female researcher" or the "woman preacher," or the "female financier," or the "woman anchor," even the "female prisoner,", even the "female lesbian!" Stupid.
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  3. This woman's first name is not spelled in a traditional way; at least, I'd never seen this name spelled this way before seeing it in this person's name.

    And I'd definitely mention her with some of the great leaders of our country - Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, etc.
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  4. oprah came to mind---but harpo was a marxist with herpes
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  5. She's always exhorting me not to do stupid things. Does that make her a nag?

    In honor of the day's festivities, I'll be going to the Gaelic American club to watch the joint erupt.
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  6. I funny thing happened on the way to the canal, I was stopped by the pope...
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  7. All the fun clues I can think of (and they are numerous) would make this too easy. I'd bet real money most of you will figure this out quickly.
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  8. her plan of action is greek to me
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  9. For some reason, Mededith Vieira comes to mind.
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  10. Oh heck, here's the answer for all you halfwits: Martha Stewart. Ramtha is an Indian deity who represents, and inspires reverence for, the insect world. Stewart can be rearranged to spell "swatter."
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  11. jeeez, I was only kidding... I'm sorry. Come back everybody...
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  12. I can anagram MARIA BARTIROMO into "I, MARIMBA ORATOR."

    But that doesn't really matter, does it? Jon Stewart has let us know we shouldn't be watching CNBC, anyway.

    JOEY RAMONE loves Bartiromo, and he is a god, but so what!?!

    - Other Ben
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  13. I got it by looking at a few lists and thinking about some of the above clues.
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  14. I ran thru the obvious female hosts -- Ellen, Martha, Oprah, Bonnie Hunt -- before the answer popped into my head like a bolt of lightning.

    -Original Ben
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  15. Great hint, Ben.

    Blue of Central Iowa, maybe Will wanted to make the puzzler a little easier by specifying the sex of the television host. You can find sexism in the puzzler if you really want to, but I'm sure it wasn't intended. Besides, the word host implies male. Would you have preferred that Will had worded it as television hostess?
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  16. I don't watch enough TV, so I might need some help. Are these clues painting me a "flowery" picture?
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  17. I saw a list recently that had the answer in the #1 spot when considered one way, and the #5 position when considered another way. Incidentally, the list was shortened recently when the last position was eliminated.
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  18. I would have bet all my money that I wasn't motivated enough to figure this one out until I read Ben's post.
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  19. Lian Hansen reported: "Our listeners were definitely not at a loss for words on this one. About two thousand people sent in entries."

    This week's hostess has a fascinating
    biography on Wikipedia.
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  20. Geri, you're absolutely right. I didn't know anything about her before reading the Wikipedia entry. Pretty amazing how she lost the money that was lent to her by a customer, then managed to get it back so she could repay him. Cool story.
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  21. Will's puzzle are not as stimulating lately. Does anyone else agree?
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  22. Natasha, I agree. Our comments and clues are more interesting!
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  23. Natasha and Lorenzo, Read her biography on Wikipedia. She has led a most interesting and diverse life.
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  24. people get sued for stupider [sic] things besides sexism, racism and religion--so if you're black or white, woman or man, you have the right to believe in a god or not...
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  25. It's after the deadline so it's okay to explain your hints. Timmy had a similar idea to mine, including the word "stupider" in his comment. My comment about a list was referencing a list of planets. Jupiter is the largest planet in size and the fifth planet in position from the sun. Obviously Jupiter is the Roman equivalent of Zeus.
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  26. A funny thing happen on the way to the canal(Suez, I was stopped by the pope( Lives in Rome. Also this is a takeoff of the play "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" a Greek comedy!
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  27. Meredith Vieira is the host of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which seemed somewhat related.
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  28. I wrote about Maria Bartiromo and Joey Ramone's love for her:

    (a) because it is true and a fun story
    (b) because it allowed me to type BartiROMO and RAMONE, which are alliterations of Suze ORMAN if not outright anagrams -- and both names also hint at ROMAN, the second answer, and
    (c) it allowed me to mention CNBC, Orman's home network.

    - Other Ben
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  29. I just figured out the new puzzle for March 22!!! Did anyone else???
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  30. Yes, Natasha. He must have vowed to make them harder but it was a snap!
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