Saturday, November 30, 2013

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 24, 2013): Let's Ask Colonel Sanders...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 24, 2013): Let's Ask Colonel Sanders...:
Q: Name a tree whose letters can be rearranged to spell two herbs or spices. What are they? Hint: The tree has a two-word name.
If Will hadn't provided the extra hint, I would have said the Peppermint tree. I'm still waiting for the answer to hit me over the head.
A: OSAGE ORANGE --> SAGE + OREGANO

71 comments:

  1. Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any hints that could lead directly to the answer (e.g. via a chain of thought, or an internet search) before the deadline of Thursday at 3pm ET. If you know the answer, click the link and submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.

    You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't give the answer away. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the Thursday deadline. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Is it just me, or is it getting hot in here?

    My comment is at the end of last week's thread.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Not to mince words, Blaine, but peppermint is a plant, not a tree, with square stems (a characteristic of all members of the Mint Family).

    Speaking of square and quarrels, I wonder if the root of quarrel in the word square lends itself to the phrase "to square off?"

    Okay, back to the tree/spice/herb puzzle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's irrational to quarrel over square roots, you two.

      Delete
    2. Right! Roots is so Alex Haley and 1970's.

      Delete
    3. Jan, radical! And very clever.

      Delete
    4. And, yes, indeed, Blaine, the "Peppermint Tree" Argonis Flexuosa in southwest Australia exists but is more often called a Peppermint Willow," but I can live with that. :-)

      Peppermint is also used as slang for currency down under. Now where did I put that peppermint?

      Delete
  4. ? : French :: Yew : English

    Instant solution. Great to play with as a kid in IL. Noisy and messy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The tree relates "indirectly" to WW's clue of "b's and q's" of last week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ron, your clue this week headed me straight in the right direction.

      Delete
    2. The OSAGE ORANGE Tree. See:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maclura_pomifera


      This anagrams to SAGE & OREGANO.

      The French settlers called this wood “bois d'arc” or bow-wood. The Osage tribe esteemed it especially for making bows.
      Obviously the “yew clues” refer to the yew being used (yewsed) as the wood of choice to make longbows.

      WW's clue to “quarrel” as minding “b's & q's,” bolts and quivers, the bolts being used with crossbows, became my clue for this week's tree and the wood's use as a bow or as the club that Blaine was waiting to be hit over the head with. Yes. This wood was used by the Osage Tribe to make clubs also.

      HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone. Don't forget to set your scales back 10 lbs tomorrow at 3:00 pm EST!

      For some wonderful autumn colors in the lower 48 (Find your state's photo among these), click on this link:

      http://www.lovethesepics.com/2013/10/american-the-beautiful-in-autumn-peak-fall-foliage-dates-for-48-states-50-pics/



      Delete
    3. I should have said: "Copy and paste this link into your browser." See above for link.

      Delete
  6. I presume we will be posting our answers on WEDNESDAY, as the deadline for this week is 12:00 noon EST.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had quite an education about this tree on a flight from LA to Texas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A long story involving a geologist on a short flight?

      Delete
    2. Hugh, it's like you were there!

      Delete
  8. Replies
    1. As for the cartoon, there is a large mongoose lurking about that no one seems to have noticed.

      Delete
    2. You will have to describe where. I have printed out full page copies of the cartoon and no mongoose is present in any of them, and even if there were it would not fit with Kanin's style.

      Delete
    3. The solution to this week's challenge is "lurking about" in the letters of A LARGE MONGOOSE. Remove LMO and rearrange the remaining letters to form OREGANO + SAGE, or OSAGE ORANGE (the tree), or GARAGE + NOOSE!

      Delete
    4. I'm sure glad you explained that. I couldn't figure what you were seeing.

      Delete
  9. I finally found a tree that works, but I will be surprised if it turns out to be the one intended.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  11. In the deep South, we are known to spice food with an "American Donut" (Mountain Cedar).

    ReplyDelete
  12. It took me awhile, but I finally discovered the intended answer (tree). I had not heard of this tree before and the lists I was slogging through did not list it as two words, but one compound word. However, I think it is more properly a two word tree. So, now I have two answers that work—both with trees I am not familiar with. I have enough trouble trying to get to know my family tree. I guess I am branching out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forgot to provide a hint. So here it is. There is something this tree has in common with one of my posts from last week. Tune in Wednesday for conclusion.

      Delete





  13. I have a straight-forward answer to this puzzle, and I was not familiar with the tree before. But I do not see a connection to an SDB post from last week. Of course there were quite a few of those, so I may have missed it.












    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is obscure, but if we have the same tree in mind, and you look very carefully you might see the connection, especially if you re-read my above post more carefully.

      Delete
  14. this may be a really stupid question but is the word "tree" included in the anagram?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're barking up the wrong tree, RoRo.

      Delete
    2. No, but 3/4 of the letters in tree are included in the answer, RoRo.

      Delete
    3. This is not a math puzzle, WW. I see no reason to Spruce it up.

      Delete
    4. That's funny. . .What's your Engle, mann?

      Delete
    5. Nada, but life as a tree must be a real pitch.

      Delete
  15. Replies
    1. Oak A, stop yer Weeping Willow Yew?

      Delete
    2. You sprouts have your fun. As for me, I'm alder but no wiser.

      Delete
    3. Alderfer/Three Sisters Mountain Park in Evergreen is almost a Doubletree. . . very accommodating.

      Delete
  16. I'm not Wicked, but I know about Pop'lar.

    Soon we'll all cedar answer.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Back in the day, as a college freshman, one of the professors started out: "My name is Pines, maples, oaks and pines." Everyone laughed.

    ReplyDelete
  18. OSAGE ORANGE > SAGE & ORANGE

    ALSO:

    CRAPE MYRTLE > CAPER & MYRTLE


    My Hints:

    “There is something this tree has in common with one of my posts from last week. Tune in Wednesday for conclusion.”

    Last week I posted something in a reply having to do with orange segments. Also “Tune in ~ for conclusion.” Indicates a TV sitcom/soap segment.

    ReplyDelete
  19. OSAGE ORANGE >>>> SAGE, OREGANO

    “I had quite an education about this tree on a flight from LA to Texas.”

    This referred to Scottish-born geologist, William MACLURE, who is the namesake for Maclura pomifera , the Osage Orange. Maclure believed universal education, especially for women, was critical (And I did get quite an education at Smith). I believe Hugh was also referring to Maclure on my imaginary plane ride (see below).

    The flight from LA to Texas referred to LATEX, a naturally occuring emulsion of polymer particles in an aqueous medium found in Osage Orange and other plants.(It’s that milky white stuff.)

    Also, the natural range of the tree is mostly in east TEXAS, home of a few oil wells and where I started my geologic career (the glamorous life sitting wells from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., 7 days a week, next to those lovely, milky, monkey-brain Osage Oranges).

    Getting to Tyler, TX, for my first well was, well, something. The person doing the travel plans did not have a map I guess and flew all 20 of us to Houston. Then, those of us going to Tyler and environs flew back to Dallas so we could drive to Tyler. Upon arriving at the well site, the geologist who was to teach me the ropes proclaimed “Aw, you look like you can figure it out. I’m going in the back of the trailer to get drunk.” I did think the well might blow at any minute. . .

    May all your holiday travel plans involve maps when necessary and may your wells never blow. Happy Thanksgiving to some of my favorite bloggers!

    ReplyDelete
  20. You guys work too hard:

    The name of the PEPPER CINNAMON tree (Canella winterana) can be rearranged (not surprisingly) into CINNAMON and PEPPER.

    And a merry Thanksgivukkah to all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking of trees not on the lists, did anyone find it interesting that Mango tree did not show?

      Delete
    2. Mango is on this list:

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_trees_and_shrubs_by_taxonomic_family

      Delete
    3. jan:
      Now tell us the truth. Were you able to unravel PEPPER CINNAMON into CINNAMON PEPPER on your own, or did you utilize an anagram solver? I would have had a hard time with it, had I even discovered it on a list.

      I found BAMBOO on some lists, and it is a grass, not a tree. But some actual trees never showed up at all.

      Delete
    4. Mango seems to be poplar at sporting events. You hear the spectators yelling "Go Mango!"

      Delete
    5. I have been under the weather and eating more oranges than I care to admit. You would have thought I would get a clue. SDB, I fixated on dates when I looked at your old clues which lead me down a path (lovely as it was) of Mediterranean trees. So outside of Texas and Ohio folks do you think a lot of people came up with the answer?

      Delete
    6. Well, RoRo, since it seems most of us have not heard of this tree, including me, and that the lists seem to list it as a single word, when in fact it is a two word name, I would say you have it right, and very few of yew will have sent in the correct answer. Does this now make me an old Sage? Or perhaps just an Oreganoian.

      Delete
    7. RoRo, hope you are feeling better. Were your ears burning? A fellow Smithie and I were talking about you, dancing and Meryl. ;-)

      There are two Osage Orange trees at Smith. http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readfile.pl/dataset=smith/parent=names407/filename=acc407?5305994|retq=ETI%3Dosage%2Borange|firstval=1|lino=1|nocount=|dataonly=|SID=5376.1385788238

      I remember the one near Sessions Annex. That milky latex stuff is amazing.

      Saw "Hunger Games:Catching Fire" today. Lots of crossbows but no Osage Orange trees.

      Delete
    8. WW Now that you mention it I knew I had seen that fruit somewhere. It was sticky and we sometimes threw them like snowballs. Only if we were wearing jeans. Thanks for thinking of me All that, I believe, helps the healing process. I snuck out of the house tonight because I was not going to let my jazz/symphony ticket go to waste. New Orleans Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Lots of fun.

      Delete
    9. Had not read Hunger Games but was interested. Now that I know Jeffery Wright is in it I will go next week. I have seen him in diverse roles. He played a mean role so scary and funny at the same time that you almost did not mind the rest of the movie was not so hot.

      Delete
    10. Is it Prickly Pear or pickley prayer? Please pare with me on this one. And remember, you can pick your nose, or nick your pose, but you can't prick your rose.

      Delete
  21. My comment at the end of last week's thread, "Lett's just say you're getting warm . . . getting warmer . . . getting hot . . !"

    Not a typo - Tracy LETTS is the author of the play (later movie) "August: Osage County", my marker for Osage Orange (since August is hot in the Northern hemisphere!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No wonder I couldn't figure out your clue, Bob, I live in Seattle. What does hot mean?

      Delete
    2. Bob, I thought you were referring to sage and oregano inside the dressing in a Thanksgiving turkey getting hotter and hotter.

      Delete
    3. I suspect you were only having a hot flash. :-)

      Delete
  22. I spent so much time this week browsing lists of spices and (nut) trees that I almost forgot the spicy nuts I make every Thanksgiving. But not quite. Enjoy:

    Spicy Nuts

    Makes 4 cups

    3 Tablespoons peanut oil
    2 cups whole almonds
    2 cups whole pecans
    1 cup sugar
    1 Tablespoon salt
    1 Tablespoon ground cumin
    1 Tablespoon hot red pepper flakes
    2 Tablespoons sugar

    Heat the oil in a heavy pan over medium-high heat. Add the nuts and sprinkle the 1 cup sugar over them. Saute until the nuts become golden brown and the sugar completely caramelizes.

    Remove the nuts from heat and toss with the salt, cumin, pepper flakes, and the remaining sugar.

    Spread onto baking sheets to cool. Store in an airtight container.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I was sure when I was on the right track with Bald Cypress, but after Parsley, I had used all the vowels and the consonants weren't MSG.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard Disodium Beta-carotene can enhance the flavor of food, but I'm afraid of the side-effects.

      Delete
  24. I swear this puzzle was used previously:

    Next week's challenge: Name a dance. Change one of the letters to a U. The resulting letters can be rearranged to name an event at which this dance is done. What is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yup: definitely used within the past decade.

      Delete
    2. This overused puzzle should get laid to rest.

      Delete
  25. Having solved this puzzle I will now head out to edge my lawn.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Darn, doesn't quite fit, but I seem to recall reading somewhere recently that all the hipsters in Brooklyn are doing "a twerk" while "at work" in their underground clubs. (Why can't it be "at wurk"?)

    ReplyDelete

For NPR puzzle posts, don't post the answer or any hints that could lead to the answer before the deadline (usually Thursday at 3pm ET). If you know the answer, submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.

You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't assist with solving. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the deadline. Thank you.