tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57303912024-03-18T19:20:53.837-07:00Blaine's Puzzle BlogWeekly discussion on the NPR puzzler, brain teasers, math problems and more.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-26469320642727511582024-01-14T06:16:00.000-08:002024-01-18T13:40:50.345-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 14, 2024): Helping Hurting<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/14/1224611411/sunday-puzzle-true-or-false">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 14, 2024): Helping Hurting</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG7WMil-l7jh_aCOXnuN3f6UY7Q09PVANyUJOkD26FHZ3gynz3ngiTayBkJcwEUPNQnNI3GRGCmVwoOZoVqm9j4zd70IGfObhcGteSxLtf8NCHDdorM9GpXk9s-Dv45o2OdSkn3Lm5E7d_0_qW4NIAuV9iVPX723mY-_WykKtgVz-WyqtnKD/s1261/HelpHurt.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG7WMil-l7jh_aCOXnuN3f6UY7Q09PVANyUJOkD26FHZ3gynz3ngiTayBkJcwEUPNQnNI3GRGCmVwoOZoVqm9j4zd70IGfObhcGteSxLtf8NCHDdorM9GpXk9s-Dv45o2OdSkn3Lm5E7d_0_qW4NIAuV9iVPX723mY-_WykKtgVz-WyqtnKD/s200/HelpHurt.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a word for a person who helps you. Copy the last three letters and repeat them at the front, and you'll get a new, longer word that names a person who hurts you. What words are these?</blockquote>If you rearrange the letters in the longer word, you get something you might do at a marina.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>RENT MOTOR<blockquote><b>A: </b>MENTOR, TORMENTOR</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com147tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-26105830309598080122023-01-01T05:18:00.004-08:002023-01-06T16:01:04.460-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 1, 2023): Opposites Attract<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146061435/sunday-puzzle-who-was-who-in-2022">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 1, 2023): Opposites Attract</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlmWuXbu49SjMqtBOviycDjyZ_WZYNA2hsbujyT7U7_BRi3sVW4oOck15I6fXYNnoRZHIXjH2XESuXq53VDltMRdKQ01bOsaJ0dhjbuRH6VBJubuEjh2E2SM8Nx7z2p-USE6ThiIMfq_U4niUgoeBecloMlnNZTy9Kji-rwBxtCSazIZSMA/s3944/happysad.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="3208" data-original-width="3944" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlmWuXbu49SjMqtBOviycDjyZ_WZYNA2hsbujyT7U7_BRi3sVW4oOck15I6fXYNnoRZHIXjH2XESuXq53VDltMRdKQ01bOsaJ0dhjbuRH6VBJubuEjh2E2SM8Nx7z2p-USE6ThiIMfq_U4niUgoeBecloMlnNZTy9Kji-rwBxtCSazIZSMA/s200/happysad.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a U.S. state capital for which the name of another well-known U.S. city is an antonym. The second city has a population of more than 100,000</blockquote>The second city was the setting of a sitcom from the '70s.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Mork and Mindy was set in Boulder, Colorado.<blockquote><b>A: </b>LITTLE ROCK and BOULDER</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com184tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-69433713272944921772022-01-09T05:45:00.005-08:002022-01-13T12:20:39.425-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 9, 2022): A=1, B=2, C=3...<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/01/09/1071581311/sunday-puzzle-movie-shmovie">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 9, 2022): A=1, B=2, C=3...</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs8NyJ87ISFFOsl9hX2Kz03Q_NAvmytodUEJICBb5XPY_Ot0ep5Zf8uqe1ekuyYk4Lk0QIgweQthKMbZcu3o07U9-20AHdu_gCXmqrva8wT_lCiqm7kwvyEgwdn7Iu_LJrWtKE6fXlc2eqdKOOf3xwxJpIolXNPcjAxooqVRDd3fmm9ZdbxA=s600" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjs8NyJ87ISFFOsl9hX2Kz03Q_NAvmytodUEJICBb5XPY_Ot0ep5Zf8uqe1ekuyYk4Lk0QIgweQthKMbZcu3o07U9-20AHdu_gCXmqrva8wT_lCiqm7kwvyEgwdn7Iu_LJrWtKE6fXlc2eqdKOOf3xwxJpIolXNPcjAxooqVRDd3fmm9ZdbxA=s200"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Let A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, etc. Think of a five-letter word whose letters' values add up to 51. Now take this word's last two letters. Add their values. (For example A and C would total 4.) Change these two letters to the single letter of the alphabet that represents their total. (In this case, D.) The result will be a new word that is the opposite of the original. What words are these?</blockquote>I threw together a chart to help us.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>"Threw" is a homophone for "through". Also the diagram is made up of thick and thin lines around the boxes.<blockquote><b>A: </b>THICK and THIN</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com235tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-58587443788164062912021-12-19T06:41:00.001-08:002021-12-24T02:36:38.023-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 19, 2021): Not Formerly Known as Prince<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065524934/sunday-puzzle-yes-you-candy">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 19, 2021): Not Formerly Known as Prince</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjunKITC6PjXeRkpOP93OjKJZPlDEP6sEKzCwuPm3bsWk6TCiSuIfnAb13_dAU0XaPOtYLTSwrN_ZfXMml8kDJ5lRIvaVFGiguPtXRBT_kL_Dhv3XyWrMY2w8F-FScs44sutsHwmFJOACTi1c-0N9Qwz1Kg6VZFA3KqN0-5lORcvh-waflArg=s700" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjunKITC6PjXeRkpOP93OjKJZPlDEP6sEKzCwuPm3bsWk6TCiSuIfnAb13_dAU0XaPOtYLTSwrN_ZfXMml8kDJ5lRIvaVFGiguPtXRBT_kL_Dhv3XyWrMY2w8F-FScs44sutsHwmFJOACTi1c-0N9Qwz1Kg6VZFA3KqN0-5lORcvh-waflArg=s200"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the name of a well-known artist. The first name can be divided to form two common words that are synonyms. The last name can be anagrammed to form an antonym of those two words. Who is the artist, and what are the words?</blockquote>Add 3 letters in front of the first name to get a destination. Insert 1 letter in the last name to get a different destination.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>San Diego and Riviera<blockquote><b>A: </b>DIEGO RIVERA --> DIE, GO, ARRIVE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com207tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-69696162469148341182020-07-19T05:28:00.001-07:002020-07-23T12:23:17.676-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 19, 2020): Not A Wear<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/19/892634123/puzzle-fast-and-famous">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 19, 2020): Not A Wear</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/07/19/892634123/puzzle-fast-and-famous"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0onkRXRGki9qDQ-AI80ee2wCqYgX6LV5zsBLdAMP3MrIF_7Hnav39ti6q53Cl_-Zhq_5ndVGaSaYMNgrYR2LSQWxA-O7YT4gsP8WaDSZIl4AHilLMWgnQ1oKt_UR5ASSMQQ2r/s953/clothing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="937" data-original-width="953" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0onkRXRGki9qDQ-AI80ee2wCqYgX6LV5zsBLdAMP3MrIF_7Hnav39ti6q53Cl_-Zhq_5ndVGaSaYMNgrYR2LSQWxA-O7YT4gsP8WaDSZIl4AHilLMWgnQ1oKt_UR5ASSMQQ2r/w200-h196/clothing.png" width="200" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a six-letter word for something you might wear. Insert an "O" in the exact middle, and you'll get a phrase meaning "Not aware." What is it?</blockquote>A Rubik's Cube<br/><br/>A Rubik's Cube is 3 x 3 x 3 which is 27. The 27th president was TAFT who shares the same 3 consonants (in order) as the answer.<blockquote><b>A: </b>OUTFIT --> OUT OF IT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com148tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-44257875940540975502020-06-28T05:40:00.003-07:002020-07-05T14:45:07.684-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 28, 2020): Five-letter animals<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/06/28/884245289/sunday-puzzle-starting-a-new-phrase">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 28, 2020): Five-letter animals</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsA0mGOlwc6Hqi_hThr1GzMvu3cX2x-d9yFjlHUmrkbk6A5sY_bLjXI7vIWpp-8nXKwmNKQNIIXltIwIXqPdptXezJFo9XzClmkPOo6SCtsr9U_1kA0AXnhiLX0aCxdEDt_Uz/s489/panda.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="459" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsA0mGOlwc6Hqi_hThr1GzMvu3cX2x-d9yFjlHUmrkbk6A5sY_bLjXI7vIWpp-8nXKwmNKQNIIXltIwIXqPdptXezJFo9XzClmkPOo6SCtsr9U_1kA0AXnhiLX0aCxdEDt_Uz/w188-h200/panda.png" width="188" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a five-letter animal. Remove the middle letter, and two opposites remain. What animal is it?</blockquote>I have two answers. One would be familiar to crossword solvers, the other (intended) answer is probably simple enough for an elementary school student.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Crosswords have made me familiar with quite a few 5-letter african animals (OKAPI, ELAND, NYALA...) and it was the last one that results in two cities (New York and Los Angeles) on opposite coasts. Not the intended answer, but I liked it nonetheless.<blockquote><b>A: </b>SWINE --> SW (southwest) and NE (northeast)</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com167tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-33489535031028538412019-11-10T06:17:00.000-08:002019-11-17T06:13:49.351-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 10, 2019): Five Letter Antonyms<a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/11/10/777941999/sunday-puzzle-7-letters">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 10, 2019): Five Letter Antonyms</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaSQfQ7F9b1dxVmP5PajW30dUCGXv2zqOHgBoQUPiIKMdbkk06hz2nGM0x_kZgKkEhrwK8W5ROrfYZOiDdRHDJL1IqfzlzqWoLCzAe03QO6CF6fDcjE-ntgilIAlqLvtWmWiF/s1600/Opposites2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaSQfQ7F9b1dxVmP5PajW30dUCGXv2zqOHgBoQUPiIKMdbkk06hz2nGM0x_kZgKkEhrwK8W5ROrfYZOiDdRHDJL1IqfzlzqWoLCzAe03QO6CF6fDcjE-ntgilIAlqLvtWmWiF/s200/Opposites2.png" width="200" height="184" data-original-width="461" data-original-height="424" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of two five-letter words that are opposites. One of them begins with E, the other ends with E. Drop both E's. The remaining eight letters can be rearranged to spell a new word that is relevant. What are these three words?</blockquote>The hardest part is coming up with a clue that is relevant.<blockquote><b>A: </b>ENTER, LEAVE, RELEVANT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com113tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-23412033611141071572019-08-04T06:26:00.001-07:002019-08-08T15:25:45.275-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 4, 2019): Synonyms and Antonyms<a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/08/04/748002198/sunday-puzzle-great-crate">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 4, 2019): Synonyms and Antonyms</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAi-TgUVpdNkb0UfseHm0qEIrPUcE4RzfzKdH7B7vyr4M1V0yBkRkw1RM6UkhnkK7mpB7jXVOffQo_smdfJrUhxIXw_qw_lEzUfxBl-BNdccAJD3RCPtz7ebXuDzBkFqNzhTb/s1600/antonyms.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqAi-TgUVpdNkb0UfseHm0qEIrPUcE4RzfzKdH7B7vyr4M1V0yBkRkw1RM6UkhnkK7mpB7jXVOffQo_smdfJrUhxIXw_qw_lEzUfxBl-BNdccAJD3RCPtz7ebXuDzBkFqNzhTb/s200/antonyms.png" width="200" height="162" data-original-width="309" data-original-height="251" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a two-letter and a five-letter word that are synonyms. The two-letter word and the last syllable of the five-letter word sound like new words that are antonyms. What words are these?</blockquote>If today is Day 1, I'll definitely give you the answer before Day 6.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>The South Korean boy band <i>Day6</i> has a song named <a href="https://youtu.be/D7c7rBv-FUU?t=59">Hi Hello</a> on their <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonrise_(Day6_album)">2017 Moonrise album</a>. Also in the picture, the big bee is higher and the small bee is lower.<blockquote><b>A: </b>HI, HELLO --> HIGH, LOW</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com184tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-30090381224068615662019-07-21T06:04:00.000-07:002019-07-28T06:04:37.827-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 21, 2019): Easy Money<a href="https://www.npr.org/2019/07/21/743840248/sunday-puzzle-rhyme-time">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 21, 2019): Easy Money</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEgWHBCZL4mX4P2HTiE1CeypiXzvb_m811oMxTF9HSKdGlN0RRK8xdHpG0g58RALOkNRXec2BuUg0zD5J9NiIjQj_diJD11jKliQ3hOibe2n6M1pB_JVz6JK5E0Si0NLu1oOo/s1600/Money.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsEgWHBCZL4mX4P2HTiE1CeypiXzvb_m811oMxTF9HSKdGlN0RRK8xdHpG0g58RALOkNRXec2BuUg0zD5J9NiIjQj_diJD11jKliQ3hOibe2n6M1pB_JVz6JK5E0Si0NLu1oOo/s200/Money.png" width="200" height="133" data-original-width="600" data-original-height="400" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a common two-word phrase, in nine letters, naming something that makes it easy to get money. Rearrange its letters to spell another common two-word phrase naming something that makes it hard to get money. What phrases are these?</blockquote>May you have the first but not the second.<blockquote><b>A: </b>DEBIT CARD <--> BAD CREDIT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-52999567997563526972017-09-17T05:14:00.000-07:002017-09-21T12:18:57.365-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 17, 2017): Back to School Puzzle<a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/09/17/551562686/sunday-puzzle-three-words-two-homophones-one-conjunction">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 17, 2017): Back to School Puzzle</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3p4sFuICzheB6p2UT9AbF8NpJlJ8FblKFN_CTDIPuqt9060bl1ZdNSKypB0bD9zPDaX0ajp7pePSgWN1rLb8cAi8mS4CoQ63yd9j6LnRL6HpYE5naJzNVbKz4QtzveegOc4M/s1600/backtoschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3p4sFuICzheB6p2UT9AbF8NpJlJ8FblKFN_CTDIPuqt9060bl1ZdNSKypB0bD9zPDaX0ajp7pePSgWN1rLb8cAi8mS4CoQ63yd9j6LnRL6HpYE5naJzNVbKz4QtzveegOc4M/s200/backtoschool.jpg" width="200" height="143" data-original-width="1050" data-original-height="750" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>This puzzle is for the new school year. Think of two antonyms, each in three letters. Set them side by side. In between them arrange the letters of TRY TO ACE in some order. The result will name someone at school. Who is it?</blockquote>Don't make the mistake I did.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>I originally thought all the letters had to be anagrammed, not just the ones in the middle. It was much easier to solve after that. And my hint was a reference to the quote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (or any of the numerous variations of that quote).<blockquote><b>A: </b><b>HIS</b>TORY TEAC<b>HER</b></blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com278tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-74918942744976239512016-09-04T06:34:00.001-07:002016-09-08T12:10:52.699-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sept 4, 2016): Anyone Call For An R.N.?<a href="09/04/492557498/the-answer-remains-the-same-whichever-way-you-want-to-look-at-it">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sept 4, 2016): Anyone Call For An R.N.?</a>: <br />
<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV01y_PUUffZ2bkv8gCY3hVI2ihAX65d3t4A-bL0sk4zSEfIyaIAWHRb2XydYLVkKq7KRQUThuvjOQadp5JTh2LglnFvIA7iVRutbXFGcdkQfRWXMDwlzyxLf864qRl8GETMd8/s1600/nurse-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV01y_PUUffZ2bkv8gCY3hVI2ihAX65d3t4A-bL0sk4zSEfIyaIAWHRb2XydYLVkKq7KRQUThuvjOQadp5JTh2LglnFvIA7iVRutbXFGcdkQfRWXMDwlzyxLf864qRl8GETMd8/s200/nurse-04.jpg" width="182" height="200" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>If you squish the small letters "r" and "n" too closely together, they look like an "m." Think of a common five-letter word with the consecutive letters "r" and "n" that becomes its own opposite if you change them to an "m."</blockquote>I have a myriad of excuses as to why I forgot to post the puzzle and answer last week running the gamut from A to Z, but mainly my wife and I were very busy constructing costumes for the family to attend a convention this weekend. I intended to post as soon as I figured out the answer last Sunday but never came up with it, so forgot to get back to it. Apologies to all.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My hint was "running the gamut from A to Z". On a boat the equivalent would be from stem to stern.<blockquote><b>A: </b>stern --> stem</blockquote>
Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com148tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-41964182341879839362016-07-03T07:15:00.002-07:002016-07-10T06:39:34.607-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 3, 2016): Shall we play a game?<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/07/03/484502061/just-in-time-for-the-4th-heres-a-puzzle-tailor-made-for-the-patio">NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 3, 2016): Shall we play a game?</a>:<blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxOmKhbqkKt8t6JLJALr-Wl6oC3I7oslmotp3cNdO6rtglmFaATZOmjk9OG8ir6ALJOp9IJ2BRiT-Su0B2XDkAK5U1PK5xti3-jF_UTsngqPgFeGKhaEHmDffjXatOtJC5N8G/s1600/Opposites.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxOmKhbqkKt8t6JLJALr-Wl6oC3I7oslmotp3cNdO6rtglmFaATZOmjk9OG8ir6ALJOp9IJ2BRiT-Su0B2XDkAK5U1PK5xti3-jF_UTsngqPgFeGKhaEHmDffjXatOtJC5N8G/s200/Opposites.png" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the word FALSE and divide it between the L and the S (e.g. FAL and SE). FAL is the <i>start</i> of the word FALL, and SE is the <i>end</i> of the word RISE. And, of course, "fall" and "rise" are opposites. Do the same thing for the word SHALL. Divide it into two parts, so that the start of it starts one word and the end of it ends another word — and those two words are opposites. The dividing point is for you to discover. There are three different solutions and you are to find all three.</blockquote><blockquote><b>A: </b>SHORT and TALL, SHARP and DULL, SHAKY and STILL and SHAN'T and WILL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com173tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-1517054936549755362016-06-19T06:48:00.000-07:002016-06-26T06:06:30.211-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (June 19, 2016): There Is Still Work to Do<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/06/19/482612712/a-pair-o-definitions-for-a-pile-of-para-puns">NPR Sunday Puzzle (June 19, 2016): There Is Still Work to Do</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJljdfchvGB040PPwRBxyk9COep9bCoDSAbjLmaj7qeVDugHNB7kA6L72kbf7TNSvLdp9WFGzKHPc4HFIyxpcZIlvfIfUC0AhsZlywy2C5WOURyO6oiwncA-Johm6XydBtCeB/s1600/to+do+list.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJljdfchvGB040PPwRBxyk9COep9bCoDSAbjLmaj7qeVDugHNB7kA6L72kbf7TNSvLdp9WFGzKHPc4HFIyxpcZIlvfIfUC0AhsZlywy2C5WOURyO6oiwncA-Johm6XydBtCeB/s200/to+do+list.jpg" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a word that means "unfinished." Add one letter at the start and one letter at the end, and you'll get a new word that means the opposite of the first. What words are these?</blockquote>For some reason this reminds me of the <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5677023">Tom Hanks --> Thanks</a> puzzle from nearly 10 years ago.<br/><br><b>Edit: </b>Dennis the Menace's dog was named RUFF. The cartoonist for Dennis the Menace was HANK Ketcham. Add a letter before and after and you get THANKS.<blockquote><b>A: </b>ROUGH --> WROUGHT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com142tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-80796823579847022792016-05-01T06:25:00.001-07:002016-05-08T00:20:31.774-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 1, 2016): Entrance and Exit<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/05/01/476310217/follow-the-rhyme-to-solve-the-mystery-of-the-missing-pair">NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 1, 2016): Entrance and Exit</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADLDuLWDIvLzPJihDhZG2V0eehoarx70ymB17UKIhyiO6YEXBty5N-KmAT6QG7-2TjmDRPgV_zZEIWiPjbuGnI3Vhiy1NlOOFAClgGzEsMBkv-ZzQnLoor4UaUNRHAzxeHVyf/s1600/Entrance-Exit.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADLDuLWDIvLzPJihDhZG2V0eehoarx70ymB17UKIhyiO6YEXBty5N-KmAT6QG7-2TjmDRPgV_zZEIWiPjbuGnI3Vhiy1NlOOFAClgGzEsMBkv-ZzQnLoor4UaUNRHAzxeHVyf/s200/Entrance-Exit.png" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a word that means "entrance." Interchange the second and fourth letters, and you'll get a new word that means "exit." What words are these?</blockquote>Anyone watch <i>Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego</i>?<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>An episode of the show from 1991 was entitled "Gateway Getaway" where Robocrook steals the St. Louis Arch. It's especially notable for what <a href="https://youtu.be/f0hx-JA5bZM?t=16m57s">happened in the final round</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>GATEWAY --> GETAWAY</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com132tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-40171335389730856472015-03-22T07:26:00.001-07:002015-03-29T08:36:19.263-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 22, 2015): Roll the Die<a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/03/22/394322594/whats-last-comes-first">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 22, 2015): Roll the Die</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXD8DBGCz2v9ZugUJquhx8CtBvk7eyQabAsuBRIY-BEjT3v2mY5V1wM2LYLR_QYXJQzkQWEUhICr8iT3xD3FQIGyS_Wox1sPk8l8HmfuH8W1iTCsuGrnSCP_b-hx5cqmF7kOe/s1600/die.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXD8DBGCz2v9ZugUJquhx8CtBvk7eyQabAsuBRIY-BEjT3v2mY5V1wM2LYLR_QYXJQzkQWEUhICr8iT3xD3FQIGyS_Wox1sPk8l8HmfuH8W1iTCsuGrnSCP_b-hx5cqmF7kOe/s200/die.png" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the word <i>die</i>. Think of two synonyms for this word that are themselves exact opposites of each other. What two words are these? A hint: they have the same number of letters.</blockquote>How does the puzzle rate this week? Like? Dislike?<blockquote><b>A: </b>PASS, FAIL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-89928435402184912872015-02-08T08:10:00.001-08:002015-02-15T10:03:24.254-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 8, 2015): Knock! knock!<a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/02/08/384533313/two-is-company-three-is-a-crowd">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 8, 2015): Knock! knock!</a>:<blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqMwVhIsHuI2rILvqN-eZrhRYqmHis8AS0Af3MyimpQL9Dr3HhKdgLWYYQpBiTuwJ1k70HdghPMqLrNNR0ympEpNXKn_NcDDmbWeGXNVumywVq1z-wQcJuMpadhihd_fjcX2s/s1600/KnockKnockJoke.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqMwVhIsHuI2rILvqN-eZrhRYqmHis8AS0Af3MyimpQL9Dr3HhKdgLWYYQpBiTuwJ1k70HdghPMqLrNNR0ympEpNXKn_NcDDmbWeGXNVumywVq1z-wQcJuMpadhihd_fjcX2s/s320/KnockKnockJoke.png" height="200" width="118" /></a><b>Q: </b>Name someone who's the subject of many jokes; two words. Remove the space between the words. Insert the letters O and N in that order — not necessarily consecutively — inside this string of letters. The result, reading from left to right, will be two words of opposite meaning that this someone might say. Who is it, and what are the words?</blockquote>Who's there?<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My hints this week were to arriving at the pearly gates hoping to enter. As for the discrepancy in the wording regarding the missing period in ST. PETER, that didn't bother me. Knowing that the puzzle's creator (Peter Collins) as well as Will Shortz are cruciverbalists, they would both be familiar with fitting a name like ST. PETER into a crossword answer as just STPETER<blockquote><b>A: </b>ST PETER --> STOP ENTER</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com152tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-20922283611443989382015-01-25T09:51:00.001-08:002015-02-01T07:41:21.181-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 25, 2015): Welcome, now Go Away!<a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/01/25/379607759/a-puzzle-full-of-air">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 25, 2015): Welcome, now Go Away!</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMn6fHNXRpRpx_zmXB_6H_7Uj1DSle1yIbw5v839cl0PvLeM6m_VlxNUc15X8SGRh6bsYo340nGkMENdy0VB9k_49hpliJq09Zyg7bfcKjSwbI6Q9cicFLBAxMeaPxgmUt-x_U/s1600/WelcomeMats.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMn6fHNXRpRpx_zmXB_6H_7Uj1DSle1yIbw5v839cl0PvLeM6m_VlxNUc15X8SGRh6bsYo340nGkMENdy0VB9k_49hpliJq09Zyg7bfcKjSwbI6Q9cicFLBAxMeaPxgmUt-x_U/s200/WelcomeMats.png" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name someone who welcomes you in. Insert the letter U somewhere inside this, and you'll name something that warns you to stay away. Who is this person, and what is this thing?</blockquote>I initially thought of a Siren and a siren, but there's no U added. I'll let you take it from here.<br/><br/>Thinking of the ocean and warnings should hopefully have led you to <i>bell buoy</i>, but if not, "let you take it from here" was a hint to a <i>bell boy</i>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>BELL BOY --> BELL BUOY</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com119tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-2019863600478643482014-08-31T09:21:00.000-07:002014-09-04T12:00:07.412-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 31, 2014): Before and After<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/08/31/344592847/the-same-until-you-shuffle">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 31, 2014): Before and After</a>: <blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFqdJLjmpiSE2lprP99PYu-Mr4UcO1mCeWrPn5Lb_RsjzaN7rzXYgULntDpSP1rlOLvlZLPD2bmkFTT5rIExRhQ8dXf-tSoPw0qbEBJaJVOrKHlPkKmm627R-2teLTqLBPi2H/s1600/ChickenEgg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFqdJLjmpiSE2lprP99PYu-Mr4UcO1mCeWrPn5Lb_RsjzaN7rzXYgULntDpSP1rlOLvlZLPD2bmkFTT5rIExRhQ8dXf-tSoPw0qbEBJaJVOrKHlPkKmm627R-2teLTqLBPi2H/s200/ChickenEgg.png" /></a><b>Q: </b>Think of a word that means "to come before." Replace its last letter with two new letters to get "someone who comes after you." These two words are unrelated etymologically. What words are they?</blockquote>The anagram of one of the words makes me want to cry.<br/><b>Edit: </b>The anagram is TEARDROP.<blockquote><b>A: </b>PREDATE --> PREDATOR</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com105tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-1327317913229774702012-09-30T11:05:00.000-07:002012-09-30T13:38:43.707-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 30, 2012): Opposites Attract<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LcaobML8OPoZNVHNfC48KEz2BP63pE0OuvvqNtSmGNc8FMhSl1XPEYEWm8xfvJFi0KwrzsmczudztBBBu2wUB9PzXJ-m-a-y-vdxbhokGYPjcgh17ZpigLz-WAIym7dXR1-e/s1600/Opposites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:right; float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="100" width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LcaobML8OPoZNVHNfC48KEz2BP63pE0OuvvqNtSmGNc8FMhSl1XPEYEWm8xfvJFi0KwrzsmczudztBBBu2wUB9PzXJ-m-a-y-vdxbhokGYPjcgh17ZpigLz-WAIym7dXR1-e/s200/Opposites.jpg" style="border: 8px solid rgb(255,255,255);" alt="Opposites, 12Story@flickr"/></a><a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/09/30/162024261/seeing-double">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 30, 2012): Opposites Attract</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of a word in which the second letter is R. Change the R to an M, and rearrange the result. You'll get the opposite of the original word. What is it? (Hint: The two words start with the same letter.)</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-89281768725270736912011-12-29T12:19:00.000-08:002011-12-29T12:20:48.037-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 25, 2011): Unusual, Uncommon Entertainer<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/12/25/144234795/unwrap-the-phrase-to-reveal-a-gift">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 25, 2011): Unusual, Uncommon Entertainer</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name an occupation in nine letters. It's an entertainer of sorts — an unusual and uncommon but well-known sort of entertainer. Drop the third letter of the name, and read the result backward. You'll get two four-letter words that are exact opposites. What are they?</blockquote>I'm sorry for the late post of the puzzle. There was some problem with our internet where it would be up for a little bit, but before I could finish a post, it would come back down. Anyway, it seems to have sorted itself out and my elder son is just grateful that he can get online with his Xbox again.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Okay, so our internet wasn't really <i>dead</i> (we were just busy with Christmas), but I did like the visual of something going up for a little bit and back down, like a daredevil jumping a canyon or a row of buses. The other hints were Grateful (<i>Dead</i>) and Xbox (<i>Live</i>) which are the antonyms.<blockquote><b>A: </b>DAREDEVIL --> LIVE + DEAD</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-2337171673343504112011-07-07T12:18:00.000-07:002011-07-07T12:19:41.128-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 3, 2011): Famous Film Director Puzzle<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/07/03/137580289/losing-letters-one-blank-at-a-time">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 3, 2011): Famous Film Director Puzzle</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of a common four-letter adjective. Then take its opposite in French. (It's a French word that everyone knows.) Say the two words out loud, one after the other, and you'll name a famous film director. Who is it?</blockquote>It's déjà vu, all over again.<br />
<br />
<b>Edit: </b>I used the comment "déjà vu" recently on the post entitled <a href="http://puzzles.blainesville.com/2011/05/npr-sunday-puzzle-may-29-2011-same.html">Same Puzzle: True or False?</a>. In addition, a very similar form of this puzzle appeared back in <a href="http://puzzles.blainesville.com/2007/01/npr-sunday-puzzle-jan-28-is-that-really.html">January 2007</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>TRUE + FAUX --> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_Truffaut">François TRUFFAUT</a></blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-47498840984045717082011-06-02T12:30:00.000-07:002011-06-02T12:30:15.620-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 29, 2011): Same Puzzle: True or False?<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/05/29/136753286/audie-cornish-is-the-new-host-true-or-false">NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 29, 2011): Same Puzzle: True or False?</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of two five-letter words that are exact opposites, in which the first two letters of each word are the same as the first two letters of the other, only reversed. Hint: The fourth letter of each word is A. What two words are these?</blockquote>Déjà vu. Okay, so time for some open discussion. What do you think of Audie being the regular host of NPR: Weekend Edition Sunday? Is she doing a good job? How does she compare to Liane? How is Will with a new puzzle partner? Do you even listen to the puzzle on-air or do you read it online only? What do you think of them repeating a puzzle? Do you have a better puzzle?<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>A: </b>Same as <a href="http://puzzles.blainesville.com/2011/05/npr-sunday-puzzle-may-22-2011-five.html">last week</a></blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-82380457352093404262011-05-26T12:00:00.000-07:002011-05-26T12:05:40.608-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 22, 2011): Five Letter Opposites<a href="http://www.npr.org/2011/05/22/136537410/everythings-coming-up-roses">NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 22, 2011): Five Letter Opposites</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of two five-letter words that are exact opposites, in which the first two letters of each word are the same as the first two letters of the other, only reversed. Hint: The fourth letter of each word is A. What two words are these?</blockquote>I don't know what they mean... for about two months now.<br />
<br />
<b>Edit: </b>The lines above are from a funny YouTube clip. Try not to laugh too loudly! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUY3UJTQvBk">Newlywed Game: Urban or Rural</a><blockquote><b>A: </b>URBAN and RURAL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-87842987347422753762010-07-08T13:23:00.000-07:002010-07-08T13:23:56.831-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 4, 2010): Good Child / Bad Child<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128291704">NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 4, 2010): Good Child / Bad Child</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Take an eight-letter term that's often used to mean 'a good child.' Remove the first two and last two letters, and reverse what remains to get a four-letter word meaning 'a bad child.'</blockquote>This may be the worst clue I've given recently: Brumby<br />
<br />
<b>Edit: </b>The two clues were "worst" (as in BRATwurst) and "Brumby" (the Australian version of the Subaru BRAT). Working backwards you should have gotten the original 8 letter term.<blockquote><b>Q: </b>ALTAR BOY --> BRAT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-75014753172993094612010-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:002010-06-24T14:22:32.065-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2010): Fathers' Day trip to the Hardware Store<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127957915">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2010): Fathers' Day trip to the Hardware Store</a>: <blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of a product for sale at a hardware store. It's a generic two-word name. Replace the first letter of the first word with an S, and replace the first two letters of the second word with an S, and the result will be two new words that are opposites. What are they?</blockquote>Hints: Black Turtleneck or Black Lady<br />
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<b>Edit: </b>Both my clues were musical hints. One of the members of Black Turtleneck is Jason Amm who goes by the alias "Solvent". Charles Mingus had an album entitled "The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady".<blockquote><b>A: </b>PAINT THINNER --> SAINT, SINNER</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com30