tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57303912024-03-19T01:48:31.682-07:00Blaine's Puzzle BlogWeekly discussion on the NPR puzzler, brain teasers, math problems and more.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-43811569277100240632016-11-13T06:21:00.001-08:002016-11-13T06:21:19.498-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 13, 2016): Creative Challenge - Beat the Rap vs. Wrap the Beet<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/11/13/501763045/tween-team-2-letters-get-right-in-the-middle-of-this-puzzle">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 13, 2016): Creative Challenge - Beat the Rap vs. Wrap the Beet</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01m8sS263agB2z9YU6QnzYCKwwR_s7KQfKjPuPXjt6DfoIpCbcyMb5RguvcINRnjWjhO8uQy43f-Jp2kqa3Iv0Gc9mKAyzzHVZB7kcUm8U5VcdHyNTphPqwlvL_NdiBaSUlGa/s1600/WrapBeet.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/AVvXsEg01m8sS263agB2z9YU6QnzYCKwwR_s7KQfKjPuPXjt6DfoIpCbcyMb5RguvcINRnjWjhO8uQy43f-Jp2kqa3Iv0Gc9mKAyzzHVZB7kcUm8U5VcdHyNTphPqwlvL_NdiBaSUlGa/s200/WrapBeet.jpg" width="200" height="200" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>This is a two-week creative challenge. The object is to write a conundrum or riddle that starts "What is the difference between ..." — in which the answer involves a transposition of words.<br />
<br />
For example: What is the difference between a chatterbox and a mirror? Answer: One speaks without reflecting while the other reflects without speaking. Or: What is the difference between a lucky criminal and some Saran with a garden vegetable? Answer: One beats the rap while the other wraps the beet.<br />
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Change of spelling in the words is allowed, but not necessary. Entries will be judged on their sense, naturalness of wording, humor, elegance and overall effect. You may submit up to three entries. Mr. Shortz will announce his favorites — and the overall winner — in two weeks.</blockquote>Hmm... not much to comment on this week. Obviously this is different than most of Will's puzzles in that it is open-ended and is a <a href="http://puzzles.blainesville.com/2010/07/npr-sunday-puzzle-july-25-2010-make.html">two week challenge</a>. Start collecting your ideas and we'll discuss them all in two weeks after the deadline.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com241tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-53313283233124165142016-03-27T07:11:00.002-07:002016-04-03T07:01:49.476-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (March 27, 2016): Both man and woman...<a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/03/27/471979694/a-pair-of-fivers-holds-the-key-to-each-of-this-weeks-little-riddles">NPR Sunday Puzzle (March 27, 2016): Both man and woman...</a>: <blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVLTl-fk8x3duaeBNY-pT_0xCAYPg6WShaJ2IUPG8iYb4iBEJ7vg1lESZ7ktLJVvGsiE6IRXWy8OYnYnEhp_PdVtopiXWdTpkNh7CkgiQSb0Ts7acGkI-RCAuMUhU20lJRLkY/s1600/Rebus.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/AVvXsEioVLTl-fk8x3duaeBNY-pT_0xCAYPg6WShaJ2IUPG8iYb4iBEJ7vg1lESZ7ktLJVvGsiE6IRXWy8OYnYnEhp_PdVtopiXWdTpkNh7CkgiQSb0Ts7acGkI-RCAuMUhU20lJRLkY/s200/Rebus.png" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>It's a two-line verse from the Nov. 12, 1803, issue of the Boston Weekly Magazine:<br />
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I am both man and woman too,<br />
And go to school as good boys do.<br />
Will Shortz is looking for the answer to this riddle so submit your best answer to the NPR website.</blockquote>I've pulled <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVLTl-fk8x3duaeBNY-pT_0xCAYPg6WShaJ2IUPG8iYb4iBEJ7vg1lESZ7ktLJVvGsiE6IRXWy8OYnYnEhp_PdVtopiXWdTpkNh7CkgiQSb0Ts7acGkI-RCAuMUhU20lJRLkY/s1600/Rebus.png">an image</a> from the original issue of the <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=i6bQAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false">Boston Weekly Magazine (November 12, 1803)</a> if that helps.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>The same rebus/riddle appeared in the <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ifURAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA677#v=onepage&q&f=false">December 1759 issue of The London Magazine</a>. The <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=s8gqAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=rebus&f=false">answer given in the following month</a> was that the answer is "I". But this answer was less than satisfying so Will picked a different answer.<blockquote><b>A: </b>Ruler</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com158