Comments on Blaine's Puzzle Blog: NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 5): I Won't Divulge the Ans...

Singleton is used often when discussing bridge, bu...

2009-07-13T13:11:35.044-07:00

Singleton is used often when discussing bridge, but I've not really heard it used in other contexts. It doesn't seem like it would be very meaningful in games where the suits aren't significant.

That IS cool, Lorenzo! Twice in 3 months, what are...

2009-07-12T06:54:40.114-07:00

That IS cool, Lorenzo! Twice in 3 months, what are the chances?! Good to know that if you don't answer that they just move along to the next person; I've wondered what would happen if they called DH or me and we didn't answer. DH works in the basement of an armory where signal is spotty, and Thursdays are usually my busiest days at work. Dave, like you, I haven't been playing long. My husband and I just started dating less than 2 years ago and he's the one that got me listening to it (he never submitted answers before I came along), so it's probably been a year, give or take a few months.

Lorenzo, that's very cool! A guy I know here ...

2009-07-11T15:58:09.253-07:00

Lorenzo, that's very cool! A guy I know here in Eugene got called and was on the air a couple of months ago. I just started participating earlier this year, so I'm not disappointed that I haven't gotten called yet.

JenJen and Geri, My wife Janice and I have been pl...

2009-07-11T09:31:05.904-07:00

JenJen and Geri,
My wife Janice and I have been playing the puzzle for many years, each week submitting only one entry between us. In 2007, we were actually called twice. The first time we missed the call by 5 minutes and by the time we called back, a new winner had been chosen. Then, only three months later, we were called again. Janice played on the air on October 7, 2007. The audio transcript is still available at www.npr.org

JenJen, Yes a person who was on the air and who ca...

2009-07-11T04:15:48.522-07:00

JenJen, Yes a person who was on the air and who called himself MinnCognito posted with us afterward but has not made any comments lately.

Giving a clue on Friday seems silly, but I just ca...

2009-07-10T16:06:13.185-07:00

Giving a clue on Friday seems silly, but I just can't help myself: "There is NO way Rich Hall would get this, anagramatically speaking."
There, I feel better now...

The term "sing" has a primary definition...

2009-07-10T08:55:26.962-07:00

The term "sing" has a primary definition of "to produce music vocally." Its secondary definition of "to divulge information" is often used in the context of prison. Thus, to sing in prison is to snitch or to rat on other inmates.

Using the primary definition, Paul and Silas in the Bible sang in prison. Also, JC (Johnny Cash) famously sang at Folsom.

I think maybe the intended interpretation of '...

2009-07-10T08:13:11.824-07:00

I think maybe the intended interpretation of 'sing' is like used in 'sing like a canary' - i.e. tell all you know, generally regarding some crime about which one may have inside information.

This was a hard one for me; I have never heard of ...

2009-07-10T05:48:38.987-07:00

This was a hard one for me; I have never heard of singleton as a card term (but then again I don't play cards much), nor do I think sing seems like a definition of divulge. I had a feeling "let on" was going to be part of it though before you guys helped me solve it.

So, has anyone here ever been lucky enough to do the on-air puzzle?

‘nd, as well without Mr Shortz’s call, Blue’s clue...

2009-07-09T13:09:18.975-07:00

‘nd, as well without Mr Shortz’s call, Blue’s clues –

no spaces – no spaces
operatic aria – sing
permit – let
solitude on – single on
plank to nowhere – bridge
wrestle / wrestling – singlet
on – on
my hair down – let on
inlet – singlet – word sound – alike
Arctic Ocean mammal mamas very often only bear … singleton births
baby – one – baby – a singleton birthing
baby – O – baby – John Singleton, film director, 2001’s “Baby Boy”
soloed – sing and single
alONE – single

Another week and Will hasn't called. Anyway,...

2009-07-09T12:15:03.327-07:00

Another week and Will hasn't called. Anyway, these were my attempts at clues:

"twice as heavy" > double ton

"don your sleeveless shirt" > singlet on

DaveJ

Thanks everyone! I got it. I never would have come...

2009-07-08T05:45:49.149-07:00

Thanks everyone! I got it. I never would have come up with one of the terms because it doesn't seem like it exactly means "to divulge information." Glad I found your blog, Blaine!

Paul and Silas did it, and so did JC.

2009-07-07T21:21:46.116-07:00

Paul and Silas did it, and so did JC.

"Baby-O-Baby-O-Baby-O...ne-Baby!"soloedt...

2009-07-07T20:56:20.644-07:00

"Baby-O-Baby-O-Baby-O...ne-Baby!"soloedthewrestlingwoman-alONE.

JenJen - all I can suggest is try the visual thesa...

2009-07-07T19:07:26.191-07:00

JenJen - all I can suggest is try the visual thesaurus and consider Lorenzo's words...

^Oops...banging my head against a wall was a state...

2009-07-07T18:44:48.450-07:00

^Oops...banging my head against a wall was a statement, not a question!

I can't figure it out and I'm ready to ban...

2009-07-07T18:44:05.243-07:00

I can't figure it out and I'm ready to bang my head against a wall? Can I have a blatant hint, i.e. is it a solitaire or bridge term? This has been driving me crazy all week! Thanks. =)

Got it! Thanks, Curtis. Nice clues, Phredp and D...

2009-07-07T17:59:04.464-07:00

Got it! Thanks, Curtis. Nice clues, Phredp and DaveJ. Blue, I understand only the parts of your clue that reveal the first two words.

I had never heard this as a card term before today...

2009-07-07T16:43:08.830-07:00

I had never heard this as a card term before today. I had to Google some terminology to span the gap in my knowledge.

Ha ha phredp ! Good luck and don't forget to...

2009-07-07T15:22:14.330-07:00

Ha ha phredp ! Good luck and don't forget to don your sleeveless wedding shirt !!

Lorenzo, your clue helped. BTW, wish me luck, I&#...

2009-07-07T13:27:54.348-07:00

Lorenzo, your clue helped. BTW, wish me luck, I'm going to Vegas next week to get married by Elvis. This fat boys' bachelor days are over!

Blue, what a clever collage of clues you concocted...

2009-07-07T09:42:50.857-07:00

Blue, what a clever collage of clues you concocted! I loved "unhinged plank to nowhere!" which lead me to "crazy part of the party platform." I'd be interested to know some other thoughts you included in the creation, though I'd understand if you prefer to leave it to readers to discover.

Blaine, great clue!!!

2009-07-07T09:42:34.827-07:00

Blaine, great clue!!!

Hugh, I'm pretty baffled by this one. I'm...

2009-07-07T09:20:12.048-07:00

Hugh, I'm pretty baffled by this one. I'm guessing that the clue refers to Blondie the singer. Maybe "The Tide is High" and Blue's "unhinged plankton" refer to the same thing. Or maybe not. I don't know.

Dave, so did you figure out which Blondie or neith...

2009-07-07T08:24:30.550-07:00

Dave, so did you figure out which Blondie or neither was in the cards?