Thursday, July 15, 2010

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 11, 2010): Landmark Anagram

NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 11, 2010): Landmark Anagram:
Q: Take the phrase 'Deep Cleanse' — a way of ridding the body of toxins or clearing the pores. Rearrange the 11 letters of 'Deep Cleanse' to name a well-known American landmark. The number of words in the answer is for you to determine.
This puzzle came from one of the frequent visitors to this blog. And it uses one of Will's favorite puzzle formats, the anagram. There are so many easy clues to give this away (if you haven't figured it out already) that I'll just say "EURO NOTES".

Edit: I mentioned that the puzzle is an anagram, but so was my hint. EURO NOTES can be anagrammed to OUTER NOSE. You can pair each of those words with part of the answer (Outer SPACE, NEEDLE Nose).
A: DEEP CLEANSE --> SPACE NEEDLE

50 comments:

  1. Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any outright spoilers 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. Thank you.

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  2. Congratulations, Ben! How many times has Will used your puzzles on the air?

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  3. According to the history sphere of this landmark’s official website and according to Wikipedia’s dimension of it as well, one can easily be taught the notion, thus, the errantly tailored belief, that: no human females ––– not one ––– are, or ever were, woven in to the extent and girth of, let alone, the actual designing, marking and / or making of, this thingy as … an American landmark.

    Over any years’ worth since its designation and / or construction as a coutured landmark (which has, in its name, a lot of the vowel – e letters!), only as passive, touristy journeyers to it is one led to believe that human females are or ever were, regarding any of its machinations at all, anything more than wonderers or wanderers thereof.

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  4. Musical Hint: "Purple Haze" and "Come as You Are."

    This clue was brought to you by the number 27.

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  5. I think Will, himself, gave a small – perhaps unintentional – clue in the spoken – as opposed to printed – version of this week’s puzzle.

    Chuck

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  6. I wonder if Betsy Ross would have like this place?

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  7. Hey guys, thanks for noticing.

    Dave, this was my third time getting a puzzle on the air, but as a band once sang, it feels like the first time.

    Not sure I follow Blaine's clue, but I think Chuck is on to something.

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  8. Got it before I finished my coffee

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  9. Chuck, I agree. Will unintentionally gave the puzzle away.

    Ben, nice going, chief. I've had my puzzle read once and been an on air contestant once. I submitted several more puzzles and maybe Will will use them one day. Maybe I can will Will to do so. Will Will?

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  10. Will gave it away :( Congrats to Ben!

    Oh well, we have the bluest skies you ever seen today so I spent it outside instead of working on the puzzle.

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  11. I forgot to mention that I performed my first wedding ceremony last weekend. And yes, that statement is true and does contain a hint that, coupled with my above post, might just be too easy for some oldies.

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  12. Cross my heart and hope to die, I solved this puzzle in just one try.

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  13. Another sleepless night ahead trying to solve the puzzle...good thing I've plenty of coffee.

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  14. Hey, all. New to the site,read some archives. I submitted the 8/21/2008 puzzle. As editor of the NYT crossword, Will did a lot of "editing" on my puzzle. Here's another submission that didn't make the cut. Think of an 8 letter word that names something most sports fans love to watch. Remove the first letter to name a 7 letter word that names something most people hate to see.

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  15. Eleanor, welcome to the blog. As for your puzzle, some who disappoint during the 8 letter word could be subject to the 7 letter word. Others simply move to Miami.

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

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  17. Eleanor, Good one! But just to be picky, I think the phrasing of your clue would be internally more consistent if you transformed 7 letters to 6, (assuming I have the correct answer). That change allows me to say that the 6 letter word is a synonym for one of Jack Benny's frequently used lines.

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  18. I'll ride my camel there where it rains every afternoon

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  19. This puzzle may refer to a camel's difficulties, but rich men have even more trouble. . .

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  20. You removed my comment, but not that of jutchnbev?! An eye for an eye!

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  21. Some people mistakenly believe this landmark is in the middle of a cane field.

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  22. A lot of great concerts are coming to my city this summer. Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, Lyle Lovett. I might even see a Tull concert.

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  23. Dave, if you follow sports and current events, refer to Lorenzo's comment above.

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  24. Dave, the name of this puzzle is "Business or Pleasure".

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  25. I follow sports and current events, but I'm stumped. Do both words end with ing?

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  26. Dave, neither ends with "ing".

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  27. Dave, the only word that ends with ing is king...but, alas no more. A soul was sold. Some people are quite ticked OFF about it.

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  28. Anagrams have never been my strength, but I got this week's answer just before my time was up. Once again this weekend I'll be listening.

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  29. Is it the name of a specific sporting event, i.e., world cup?

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  30. sphere, dimension, extent, girth, journeyers, wonderers, wanderers = … space – related words

    notion, tailored, woven, girth, designing, marking, making, construction, coutured, machine = sewing – , fabric – , thus, … needle – related words

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  31. Blaine, you have stumped me yet again. How do EURO NOTES relate to SPACE NEEDLE ?

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  32. Dave, do you know the former king to whom I refer?

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  33. DaveJ,

    Anagram EURO NOTES to get OUTER NOSE

    Pair each with part of the answer:
    Outer SPACE + NEEDLE Nose (Pliers)

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  34. Blaine, if your goal was to come up with ONE SURE TO baffle us, your hint certainly succeeded. Very clever!

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  35. My clue:

    "Some people mistakenly believe this landmark is in the middle of a cane field,"

    was a reference to the Kennedy SPACE Center. Most of the other clues were references to NEEDLE.

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  36. I should add that "cane field" is a reference to Canaveral, as in Cape Canaveral.

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  37. My clue referred to Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain. Both were born in the Seattle area. The number 27 referred to the age at which both passed away. I hope that wasn't too morbid.

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  38. What was the unintentional clue that Will gave in the on-air version?

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  39. will said. "This week's comes from ... in Seattle".

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  40. My clue was " . . . see a Tull (Seattle) concert."

    Eleanor, king of soul? James Brown? I'm clueless.

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  41. In describing how he got the puzzle, Will said "...gave me this puzzle at the National Puzzlers' League Convention last week in Seattle..."

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  42. Article re WS, etui = needlecase

    http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2009/02/15/farewell_etui/

    My clue "iute" = case needle.

    Back to my sound-close-tos. Figured that was close enough.

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  43. Eleanor,
    Welcome. So what's the answer, I am stumped. I tried to wing it when i could not swing it.

    BTW I visited Seattle once, sponsored by StarBucks to dance at a great Children's festival there. I luuuuved it.

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  44. My clues were from an old television series I watched as a kid (while living in Seattle) with "bride" in the title and the theme song where they say the "bluest skies" you ever seen are in Seattle. It was a western about women brough to the northwest as brides. I am the only one who has seen it?

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  45. My Little Family, I think I remember the program that you're referring to. I think it was called Here Come the Brides and starred Bobby Sherman. I'd fight with my four sisters who wanted to watch that (and Petticoat Junction) when I wanted to tune in something intellectually more stimulating like Lost in Space. Danger Will Robinson, danger...

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  46. LOL Tom....Bobby Sherman - that must be why I wanted to watch it!

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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.