tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post882029555010099895..comments2024-03-28T18:08:45.225-07:00Comments on Blaine's Puzzle Blog: NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 8): Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-35258665744218020772010-03-03T07:58:54.946-08:002010-03-03T07:58:54.946-08:00"HAITIAN" IS A NATIONALITY!,"IIAITI..."HAITIAN" IS A NATIONALITY!,"IIAITIAII" IS NONSENSE!...in short,will shortz is a fraud,and does not respect his audience enough to actually do the puzzle himself...OR HE WOULD HAVE SEEN HIS MISTAKE RIGHT AWAY!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06336793828388168968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-76555115000627085502009-11-15T00:01:45.402-08:002009-11-15T00:01:45.402-08:00Other Ben, As a part of a Caribbean cruise
I took...Other Ben, As a part of a Caribbean cruise<br />I took an inland tour of Haiti where I saw<br />abject poverty and hungry children. Are conditions there still horrible?gerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699362527317413011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-59367438285996675302009-11-13T22:12:06.016-08:002009-11-13T22:12:06.016-08:00Chezedog asks "how obscure can you get?"...Chezedog asks "how obscure can you get?"<br /><br />Well, Chezedog, try this -- I wrote:<br /><br />To guess this nationality, you need to find your thinking Cap. Sounds like a compass could help find this place.<br /><br />- I capitalized "Cap" because "Cap Haitien" is the capital of Haiti's north where the famous Citadel is located. <br /><br />- "Sounds like a compass could help find this place" because "Compas" (pronounced KOM-pah) is the kind of music played in Haiti. <br /><br />Personally, I'm slow as a turtle, so I need to relax to figure it out. <br /><br />- Turtles are mentioned because "Ile de la Tortue" (or Island of the Turtle) is a tourist destination off of Haiti's north end. And Gerard Tortue was for some time the Interim prime minister. I love that the country was run by Mr. Turtle.<br /><br />Perhaps a drink? I don't like the Frappacino, so perhaps dlo.<br /><br />- I said nobody likes a Frappacino because Haitians hate the FRAPH (pronounced FRAP), the bloody totalitarian police wielded by Haitian strongman Emmanuel Constant, recently arrested in New York for his crimes in the USA and in Haiti.<br /><br />- I offered "dlo" instead. DLO is how you say "water" in Haitian Creole.<br /><br />We all miss TT but where will it end? <br /><br />- "We all miss TT" refers to "Titi," the nickname of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the most popular of Haitian's recent rulers.<br /><br />Not really hispanic, but perhaps half like hispanic.<br /><br />- This refers to the fact that Haiti is not Hispanic. It is a French- and Creole-speaking island. But "Half like Hispanic" refers to the fact that Haiti occupies half of the Island of "Hispanola." The other half of the Island is the Dominican Republic, which is indeed a Hispanic nation.<br /><br />-- Other BenBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00600537639204656778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-20329402220875016952009-11-13T19:32:48.689-08:002009-11-13T19:32:48.689-08:00DaveJ, It was exciting to hear you on NPR and
you...DaveJ, It was exciting to hear you on NPR and<br />you were great answering the quiz. <br /><br />Last Wednesday you triggered my favorite quibble: The use of "THE" bible(at least you didn't capitalize the "b"). I once heard someone say that the proper reply to the question, "Do you believe in the bible?" is, "Which one?" There is no such thing as "THE" bible. One of the bibles I have<br />omits the admonition that all those with a<br />"flat nose" are not permitted to worship at<br />the alter--Leviticus 21:18gerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699362527317413011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-30153324885501795862009-11-13T11:48:07.852-08:002009-11-13T11:48:07.852-08:00My (Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged...My (Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged) dictionary has Tai as an alternate spelling for Thai.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01246059125125085392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-40917007405579791402009-11-13T07:56:33.249-08:002009-11-13T07:56:33.249-08:00Perhaps Al meant Tai as in Taiwanese?
I agree tha...Perhaps Al meant Tai as in Taiwanese?<br /><br />I agree that Mayan isn't the right answer, but it was close...<br /><a href="http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/936/mayan.gif" rel="nofollow">MAYAN reflected</a>Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-19516576665103314052009-11-13T07:29:44.213-08:002009-11-13T07:29:44.213-08:00Al, what nationality is Tai? Do you mean Thai?
B...Al, what nationality is Tai? Do you mean Thai?<br /><br />Blaine, I don't think that Mayan is a nationality. Would you consider Hopi or Navajo a nationality?Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-52182670696233093142009-11-13T06:03:18.678-08:002009-11-13T06:03:18.678-08:00My wife came up with MAYAN. It works if you write ...My wife came up with MAYAN. It works if you write your M like on a typewriter (or in the Courier font) but without the serifs.<br /><br />You remove the downward diagonal stroke on the M and the bottom part of the diagonal stroke on the N, the result reflects in a mirror, and you still see most of the word MAYAN.<br /><br />Is it a "nationality" though?Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-9722722074846351582009-11-13T05:25:01.723-08:002009-11-13T05:25:01.723-08:00My answer was"TAI" Remove the top of th...My answer was"TAI" Remove the top of the "T" and the bottom serif of the "I" making it look like a "T" with a small top. Now in the mirror it still looks like"TAI".Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01246059125125085392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-45454450098894012842009-11-12T21:48:40.210-08:002009-11-12T21:48:40.210-08:00Afterthoughts:
A diversion back to last week's...Afterthoughts:<br />A diversion back to last week's puzzle . . .<br />If Will had used "Death of a Salesman" (no "The"), he could have started with:<br /> <br />"Noah Adams last fee"<br /> or one of these:<br />"Salmon feast ahead"<br />"Fan shades oatmeal"<br />"Shoe fleas adamant"Joe Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115545643638113334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-26735667563852389072009-11-12T15:40:20.395-08:002009-11-12T15:40:20.395-08:00DaveJ, belated congratulations!!! I heard you on ...DaveJ, belated congratulations!!! I heard you on the air, but had no idea that you're the same Dave as the Dave on the show.<br /><br />Geri, and to whoever else is trying to figure out the answer to my puzzle (nice job, Ken!), the answer to this week's Will Shortz puzzle will help you figure out the answer to my puzzle.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-35250004370646776922009-11-12T15:15:57.999-08:002009-11-12T15:15:57.999-08:00"Blunted On Reality" is an album by The ..."Blunted On Reality" is an album by The Fugees, one member of which, Wyclef Jean, was born in Haiti.<br />How obscure can you get?Chezedoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02844542722322524691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-88143826358353383672009-11-12T13:22:11.525-08:002009-11-12T13:22:11.525-08:00My little hint referred to the Steely Dan song - I...My little hint referred to the Steely Dan song - IIAITIAII divorceDaveJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386638780058713432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-64940807858528726552009-11-12T00:44:03.134-08:002009-11-12T00:44:03.134-08:00Dave, I'm still working on the Whatever Puzzle...Dave, I'm still working on the Whatever Puzzle.<br />But it's now Thursday. May we know the answer?gerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08699362527317413011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-87137677913286731762009-11-11T16:25:36.901-08:002009-11-11T16:25:36.901-08:00Thanks Ken and everyone who commented on my appear...Thanks Ken and everyone who commented on my appearance - Liane and Will were both tremendous to talk to in person, and I found the puzzle on air is even more nerve racking than I expected. Keep posting though - if I got picked so can you !<br /><br />FYI Hugh, all three of my bosses went to RPI they turn out darned good engineers. <br /><br />One the categories they didn't air, was books of the bible (R.A.D.I.O - try it yourself I found it really tough !)<br /><br />I divorce myself from clue giving on this weeks puzzle.DaveJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386638780058713432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-12617394267786442612009-11-11T14:17:21.606-08:002009-11-11T14:17:21.606-08:00First of all, a belated congratulations to DaveJ f...First of all, a belated congratulations to DaveJ for being on the show. You did great, and I loved your enthusiasm.<br /><br />Secondly, I can't tell if anyone has responded to Dave's Puzzle #Whatever (maybe someone left clues too sublime for me), but I want Dave to know that he should not feel ignored, as if he is on an island in the middle of the ocean.kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05882757881891590225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-41586956738054036662009-11-11T07:49:14.610-08:002009-11-11T07:49:14.610-08:00Gee whiz. What is with the literal-mindedness here...Gee whiz. What is with the literal-mindedness here? I find it as aggravating as y'all find clues which aren't 100.0000000000% precise. It reminds me of the crossword tourney a few years ago when I overheard a guy grouse about a clue for a "sport utility vehicle" when the answer "was clearly a crossover!!!"Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06541740624788302923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-75863825550489507232009-11-10T18:47:37.178-08:002009-11-10T18:47:37.178-08:00To guess this nationality, you need to find your t...To guess this nationality, you need to find your thinking Cap. Sounds like a compass could help find this place. <br /><br />Personally, I'm slow as a turtle, so I need to relax to figure it out. Perhaps a drink? I don't like the Frappacino, so perhaps dlo. <br /><br />We all miss TT but where will it end? Not really hispanic, but perhaps half like hispanic.<br /><br />-- Other BenBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00600537639204656778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-19399962078507816522009-11-10T08:49:59.628-08:002009-11-10T08:49:59.628-08:00Carl, I think that you're right on with your e...Carl, I think that you're right on with your explanation.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-67671689890762180132009-11-10T07:37:04.179-08:002009-11-10T07:37:04.179-08:00Curtis, I'm sure I have the same answer allude...Curtis, I'm sure I have the same answer alluded to by many of the bloggers on here. Just wanted to clarify what I see as the puzzle's flaw.carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06326278670265938424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-60493761275913059462009-11-10T04:55:54.847-08:002009-11-10T04:55:54.847-08:00Carl, I approached the puzzle the same way you did...Carl, I approached the puzzle the same way you did. Given that, I looked for nationalities that were symmetrical without the first and last letters.Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05685055278145414455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-60804842753689506152009-11-09T22:56:10.619-08:002009-11-09T22:56:10.619-08:00I think the mistake in the wording is that you are...I think the mistake in the wording is that you are NOT intended to still have the word you started with. You remove a stroke from both first and last letter and <i>what is left</i> is something that looks the same in the mirror. I may be proved wrong (wouldn't be the first time, that's for sure), but I think Will's error was to say you would see "the name of the nationality" reflected perfectly.carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06326278670265938424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-14633485246408352012009-11-09T17:21:35.557-08:002009-11-09T17:21:35.557-08:00I'm hating the confusion surrounding the last ...I'm hating the confusion surrounding the last two NPR puzzles, but Blaine explained this one very well.<br /><br />DAVE'S PUZZLE WHATEVER (I've lost track), and this one should be very easy:<br /><br />Remove the first letter from a nationality and reverse the resultant first two letters to get another nationality.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-72922773264675185322009-11-09T16:53:37.609-08:002009-11-09T16:53:37.609-08:00Hey patdugg79, I know all too well the combination...Hey patdugg79, I know all too well the combination of pride and embarrassment that comes from having a child top me at a sport or other challenge. But all for all the dads out there, and all the babies too, you don't have to be a doctor to figure out this one.chrisidorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08850887151974234615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-7004011919215979732009-11-09T15:44:15.718-08:002009-11-09T15:44:15.718-08:00One definition of remove is :to change the locatio...One definition of remove is :to change the location, position<br />However, in the puzzle on the NPR site "from" is also stated. <br />This is misleading.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139505187498448200noreply@blogger.com