Sunday, June 21, 2015

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 21, 2015): I am a Monarch

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 21, 2015): I am a Monarch:
Q: Take the phrase "I am a monarch." Re-arrange the 11 letters to name a world leader who was not a monarch but who ruled with similar authority. Who is it?
I read the clue incorrectly the first time. Hopefully you'll do better.

Hint: Better dead than read (or something like that)
A: CHAIRMAN MAO

134 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
    Replies
    1. From the tail-end of last week:

      Sun Jun 21, 05:09:00 AM PDT

      Queueing up to answer this one. . .

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  3. Not really a hint, but a Google search turned up this:

    -The Monarch's Daughter-

    Once upon a time a handsome honey bee, fell in love
    . . . with a butterfly he met in a tulip tree.
    He said " I love you madly and I want to share your life.
    Let's fly together away. Will you be my wife?"
    " No, no, no," cried she. For I am a monarch's daughter. . .
    . . . and you're just a son of a bee."

    -Allison Sanders-

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    Replies
    1. And, as I said at the end of last week's blog: rodent droppings.

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  4. So now what?

    Mow the lawn? Wish dads here a Happy Fathers Day? (yes and yes)

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    Replies
    1. If it's for all of us fathers, shouldn't it be Fathers' Day?

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    2. Sure, jan, why not?! Happy Fathers' Day!

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    3. Mother's Day was established first and was set so each family to celebrate its mother. Grammatically speaking, it could be Mothers' Day (i.e., a day to celebrate all the mothers in the world). However, the singular possessive Mother's Day is the version used in the law which made the day an official holiday.Later when Father's Day was established by Congress in 1913 it followed this precedence of a singular possessive. Happy Father's Day!

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    4. Congress schmongress.
      Happy Fathers' Day, Blaine, et al..

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    5. Yes, it has always kinda bugged me about those apostrophes in MD and FD. But, not nearly so much as the motel sign on our recent road trip "Pet's Welcome."

      Fathers, you all are welcome on this Fathers' Day! I agree with Paul about Congress schmongress!

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    6. Got an invitation to a block party, urging us to "get to know you're neighbors". But it's the thought that counts.

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    7. i like the signs I see frequently at places such as GOODWILL stores that say: MENS or WOMENS.

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    8. Could've been a typo. You have to demonstrate mens rea.

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    9. At least it wasn't "get to no you're neighbor's."

      Maybe, some day, we can all follow the Apostopholic Creed.

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    10. Ahem, Apostropholic. Checking my mens rea.

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  5. After I got the answer (one of the easiest puzzles ever), I moved again onto my recliner; it's going to be a day of reading for me, thank goodness. ---Rob

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  6. Confucius say, "Man who runs behind car gets exhausted!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And he who runs in front of car gets tired, I guess.

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    2. And he who runs in front of bicycles gets too tired.

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  7. For some reason I got this in just a few seconds – before I had even turned off the radio and gotten out of bed. I am reminded of a famous performer.

    Chuck

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  8. I submitted my answer an hour ago, but I have not gotten the automated e-mail message acknowledging receipt yet. I have checked AnteSpam, which my e-mail provider uses, but it is not there. Has NPR stopped sending those messages?

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  9. As Captain Oveur suggested, Will should have kept this one to himself.

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  10. Got to have chow with Shawne Merriman last week. Not at all like you would think, comrades.

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  11. Replies
    1. This was my favorite comment this week.

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    2. done shopping.- Deng Xiaoping, Mao's Secretary General.

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  12. Didn't someone try to take out his "Number" once?

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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    1. zeke, not appropriate for today, if you get my meaning. Please delete.

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    2. Oh, crap, now nobody will be able to figure out my Beatles hint.

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    3. How about a Pete Seeger / Byrds hint to your Beatles hint?

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    4. Naw man! you got to go back way back, to doo wop. There was a mama version but the papa versiou was more popular.

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    5. Naw man! you got to go back way back, to doo wop. There was a mama version but the papa versiou was more popular.

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    6. Between the news from Charleston and this puzzle, I'm thinking of "Eve of Destruction".

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  14. So sorry, Charlie. Potty humor not apropoo. :)

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  15. We need a new topic. Any taker's? (sic) AND ;-)

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  16. OK, WW.

    Me archangel.

    He was no angel but he was a monarch.

    Chuck

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  17. Wow! Reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons!

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  18. My musical clue is also the Beatles. We must all be thinking of the same song. This was the first thing that came to mind when I solved it.

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  19. Ham macaroni pretty much rules any dinner table.

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  20. I was quite surprised that the answer to this puzzle bears quite a resemblance to one of a few weeks ago! Or perhaps, now that I think more clearly about it, to answers batted around on this blog, rather than to what was the actual answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree - I was also reminded of a similar misplaced anagram with an E instead of an A. --Margaret G.

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  21. Frank Sinatra ruled like a monarch.

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    Replies
    1. Leo,

      This past weekend was the Old Timers Day game at Yankee Stadium. When Whitey Ford was introduced, he received a roaring ovation. That reminded me that when he played for the Yankees in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s he was as popular in New York as anyone ever was, including Frank Sinatra.

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    2. In fact, something similar might be appropriate to say about Will Shortz...

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  22. All I can say about this puzzle is oh, meow.

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  23. Now that you have all finally solved this easy puzzle you might enjoy a trip over to Lego's puzzle blog and see if you can solve the photo puzzle I came up with last week and Lego is running. It is easy if you pay close attention to my presentation.
    http://puzzleria.blogspot.com/

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  24. Earlier, I noticed the cleaning lady had disturbed my collection of twelve commemorative coffee cups. After rearranging them, I saw the answer.

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  25. I solved this puzzle while eating.

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  26. Clues can be found from other performers besides the Fab Four.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Besides Frank Sinatra and the Beatles, other performers have names and/or works related to this week's puzzle.

      Chairmen of the Board was name of a soul group that had a few hits in the early 1970's "Give Me Just a Little More Time").

      Then there's the non-musical comedy album "The First Family", Vaughn Meader's classic impression of JFK and the era of the Kennedy Presidency. One skit has JFK hosting world leaders at the White House. When he asks Chaing Kai Shek what he would like for lunch, the Taiwanese leader responded with "a club sandwich." JFK then asked him "Would you like a little mayo on that sandwich?" to which the General vehemently answered "Please--do not mention that name" (MAYO = MAO). A classic album for the ages, even over 50 years since it was released,

      Delete
  27. The answer came when I jumped head first.

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  28. Near the end of last week's thread I posted on Sun Jun 21, at 05:52:00 AM PDT:

    This coming Thursday at around noon my time, I plan to post something similar to the following:


    ─I────A──M────A────M──O──N──A──R──C──H───
    ═╪════╪══╪════╪════╪══╪══╪══╪══╪══╪══╪═══
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──*

    Ok, what I post Thursday won't look quite this good, but it should still look pretty good, nevertheless.

    ReplyDelete
  29. February may be the shortest month, but IMHO, it's not nearly short enough for those of us in the Northeast. I say we knock a few more days off and give them to the next month.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Speaking of which, how about the second Sunday of the third month?

      Delete
    2. Actually, we would be better off moving days from July and August to February. This would both even out the length of months, but also help with global warming, since we are moving days from hot months to a cold month.

      Delete
    3. President David!...

      "David's our Fave!"
      In your brain you know he's bright!"
      "The David: Not one to trump his own horn!"
      "We crave David in 2016... which, as David can tell you, if you take the sum of its square and cube, results in a number containing one of each digit!"

      LegoDavid'sCampaignManager

      Delete
  30. And I got it while sitting on the throne--how appropriate.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mr. Commodude,
      Say what!?

      LegoLambdaChamberPotCallingTheBathtubWhite

      Delete
  31. Howdy Lego and WW,
    Speaking of bathtubs, and segue to birdbath, could the answer be the bird?

    ReplyDelete
  32. Pardon my last minute comment, but I was busy cat-sitting all week. Now, I'll just wait for the 'Will Call' this afternoon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I AM A MONARCH >>> CHAIRMAN MAO

      "Queueing up to give the answer" pointed to Jiang Qing, Chairman Mao's fourth wife.

      Moose dung is not quite mouse dung but it's kind of close.

      "Passersby" in my reply to zeke creek referred to the Passer domesticus, the sparrow Chairman Mao tried to eradicate.

      Delete
    2. WORD BIRD, as all know, the bird is the word, ababba who MAO MAO.

      Delete
    3. Roro's was my second favorite comment this week.

      Delete
  33. CHAIRMAN MAO

    My hints:

    My first hint was deleted by Blaine, but since then several other posters posted similar hints which were not deleted. I suspect Blaine has been conspicuous by his absence again. My deleted hint was:

    “I don't think it was Frank Sinatra.” His nickname was Chairman of the Board.

    “Didn't someone try to take out his "Number" once?” This hint is pointing in the direction of Chinese take out food, which usually has numbered items on the menu. I have no evidence there is a dish named after him, but if not, I suspect it is only a matter of time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sometimes famous people get dishes named after them, but I'm not sure that's generally ... the case.

      Delete
  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. CHAIRMAN MAO (I threw that photo in for Will.)

      > Rodent droppings.

      Mousie dung.

      > A best-seller, maybe a self-homonym?

      A much-purchased but little-read book?

      > How about a Pete Seeger / Byrds hint to your Beatles hint?

      "Turn! Turn! Turn" -> Revolution

      > Between the news from Charleston and this puzzle, I'm thinking of "Eve of Destruction".

      "Think of all the hate there is in Red China,
      Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama."

      > February may be the shortest month, but IMHO, it's not nearly short enough for those of us in the Northeast. I say we knock a few more days off and give them to the next month.

      Making a Long March.

      > Speaking of which, how about the second Sunday of the third month?

      Daylight saving time starts: Spring ahead, i.e., Great Leap Forward.

      Delete
  35. Chairman Mao

    Last Sunday I said, “For some reason I got this in just a few seconds – before I had even turned off the radio and gotten out of bed. I am reminded of a famous performer.” Like Frank Sinatra, Chairman of the Board.

    Chuck

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  36. I wonder if the Bureau of Labor Statistics has been puzzling over that transient little dip in productivity every Thursday at 3 p.m. ET?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. I AM A MONARCH >>> CHAIRMAN MAO

      "Queueing up to give the answer" pointed to Jiang Qing, Chairman Mao's fourth wife.

      Moose dung is not quite mouse dung but it's kind of close.

      "Passersby" in my reply to zeke creek referred to the Passer domesticus, the sparrow Chairman Mao tried to eradicate.

      Delete
    5. The uncommanded reposting is a pain. . .but I could listen to that Beatles rendition 5 times and more. . .

      Delete
    6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    8. Any way to stop the reposting, Blaine?

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    9. I've found that closing the browser window immediately after posting seems to help.

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    10. Are we sure it's on Blaine's end? I mean, one person's headache could be ...

      Delete
    11. I reported it to Blogger over at Partial Ellipsis of the Sun and it did seem to mostly stop the reposting, especially more than once.

      I will also try closing my browser, jan.

      Delete
  37. I am a monarch.

    ─I────A──M────A────M──O──N──A──R──C──H───
    ═╪════╪══╪════╪════╪══╪══╪══╪══╪══╪══╪═══
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼──C──┼──C
    ─┼────┼──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼─────H──H
    ─┼────A──┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼────────A
    ─I───────┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──┼────────I
    ─────────┼────┼────┼──┼──┼──┼──R────────R
    ─────────┼────┼────M──┼──┼──┼───────────M
    ─────────┼────┼───────┼──┼──A───────────A
    ─────────┼────┼───────┼──N──────────────N
    ─────────┼────┼───────┼─────────────────
    ─────────M────┼───────┼─────────────────M
    ──────────────A───────┼─────────────────A
    ──────────────────────O─────────────────O

    Chairman Mao.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. These always remind me of the plugboards on the Colossus computer, EAWAF. It's an enigma...

      Delete
    2. Enya_and_Weird_Al_fan’s grids always remind me of crooked rain, crooked rain.

      LegoMao’sWasACrooked“Reign”

      Delete
    3. Nothing always reminds me of anything.

      Off to investigate crooked rain.

      Delete
    4. Paul,
      That is bad. But not as bad as this.

      LegoNothing/Something/Anything

      Delete
  38. The Simpsons episode Goo Goo Gai Pan (2005): Madam Wu says " I give you the great American acrobat Homer Simpson to attempt our most popular stunt-- Chair Man Wow! "

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  39. My Mon Jun 22, 04:30:00 PM PDT comment, responding to Jay:
    Mr. Commodude
    Say what!?

    Mr. = Mr.
    Commod(e) = chair
    Dude = man
    Say = tse
    What!? = dung

    Legungdungho

    ReplyDelete
  40. I AM A MONARCH=CHAIRMAN MAO "But if you go carryin' pictures of Chairman Mao, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow." One of my favorite Beatles tunes, by the way.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I checked in to see if any jubilant Blainer could report getting the call yesterday; it seems not. I had written on Sunday, "After I got the answer (one of the easiest puzzles ever), I moved again onto my recliner; it's going to be a day of reading for me, thank goodness." There's the chair, and I am the man, and I _M_oved _A_gain _O_nto, but it wasn't just a hint that I'd got it, it was true reporting. ---Rob

    ReplyDelete
  42. My clue included Whitey Ford and Frank Sinatra, both of whom were nicknamed “The Chairman of the Board.”

    It occurred to me that we should give Will Shortz a new nickname, in addition to the “NPR’s Puzzlemaster.” How about “Chairman of the Board (Games)?”

    Any comments?

    Thanks – Phil J.

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  43. My comment regarding rearranging 12 coffee cups was based on rearranging "a dozen mug(s)" to Mao Zedung. Only later did I realize the preferred spelling is Mao Zedong. The joys of transliteration...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phil J.,
      Mahjonggarvelous idea!

      SuperZee,
      Close enough. We prefer your spelling.

      LegoTransliteramba

      Delete
  44. Next week's challenge: The challenge comes from listener Daniel Grossman of New York City. Name a major American company. Drop its first and last letters, and the remaining letters in order will name a famous singer — both first and last names. What company is it?

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    Replies
    1. Not hard to corner this answer

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    2. Look up the famous singer in Wikipedia, and scroll down to that person's Discography. Take the second item listed. Remove the last letter. What remains, including spaces, is a statement involving two colors which is incorrect.

      Delete
  45. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  46. Alternatively, start with another company, remove a word and rearrange.

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  47. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  48. Lorenzo - clever clue. Makes a lot of sense!

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  49. Having solved today's puzzle, I will head to the kitchen and see if my latest home brews are ready for bottling.

    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.