Q: Complete this analogy:This puzzle makes me think of Prince Edward's visit in 1924.
'Banjo' is to 'ferns' as 'pecan' is to _______.
Edit: My hint was a reference to plus fours which are trousers that extend 4 inches below the knee and are often associated with golf. According to Wikipedia they were introduced to America during a diplomatic trip by Edward, Prince of Wales, in 1924. In this way, my clue is a double hint to both the way you get the answer (add 4 to each letter position) and a well-known golf player.
A: 'Banjo' is to 'ferns' as 'pecan' is to 'TIGER'.
To get to the second word in each pair, move each letter four later in the alphabet.
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.
ReplyDeleteToo easy, especially while watching the Open Championship
ReplyDeleteThis is the easiest puzzle in years. I wouldn’t call it a gem...
ReplyDeleteChuck
Musical hint: Vivaldi.
ReplyDeleteI went clubbing last Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I can tell, absolutely no women were consulted in the creation of this puzzle, nor does the answer directly refer to any. If I were Blue, I'd sue.
ReplyDeleteMy musical clue is Survivor
ReplyDeleteAnTONIa, by way of herstory, already now knew -- -- even by July 2176, and through multiple generations of her granddaughters and great - granddaughters and even with all of the science likely known by then, that -- -- for her and for the World's nearly 54% (its DEhuman population figure), they will still not have, let alone, be able to claw their selves in ... to a true Independence Day. mEEEEOOOOw!
ReplyDeleteThis is an appropriate puzzler for this year (at least until Feb 2, 2011)
ReplyDeleteFine puzzle - Easy once intuited.
ReplyDelete(William, that is.)
The above clues gave the answer away. I figured out the answer even though I have no idea why the answer is correct.
ReplyDeleteJulius Caesar would have found the Vivaldi hint much too obscure. He would have known how to hide the answer.
ReplyDeleteDave - you're right, clues way too obvious.
ReplyDeleteAnd others are right - puzzle way too easy.
Though I've got every reason to complain, I can't now.
Let's see if I understand the process here.
ReplyDeleteThe deadline is 3:00 PM EDT on Thursday, right?
The winner gets a call about 3:00 PM EDT on Thursday, too, right?
Does that mean the effective deadline is really a couple of days earlier, or do they look at and maybe select an entry right up to the last minute?
With this limitation in mind, I suggest that this week everyone should HOLD THAT ANSWER, at least until 2:59 PM EDT on Thursday!
Larry - I need to keep my clues obscure. I used to go with more obvious stuff, and Blaine rightfully deleted my entries.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the details on how the winner is selected? e.g. Are the emails all exported to Excel and a random number is generated to select the row of the winner?
ReplyDeleteI imagine you could quickly filter all received e-mails for text representing the correct answer, then export to a CSV file, etc.
I may e-mail NPR to ask if no one knows....
Dave, exactly what time did they call you?
My musical clue is Tom Jones.
ReplyDeleteBD: It's not Unusual, She's a Lady..?
ReplyDeleteDave
ReplyDeleteThe answer is between the devil and the deep blue sea. You just have to know the difference
By the way, BlogMaster Blaine: Lovely format and wallpaper! Quite friendly.
ReplyDeleteI note, too, that one’s own rubbish barrel is … back!
Likely, that barrel will not be collecting as much trash as … it needs to be, not?
Blaine, I second BoCI, love the new look, as for the puzzle I knew how to solve it but was too lazy to do it in my head but once I had pen and paper it was as easy as pecan pie!(no clue here)
ReplyDeleteDave: Knowing the answer is not sufficient. Proper explanation is necessary (although not required by Will).
ReplyDeleteI just learned of a new five step program for compulsive puzzle bloggers. It originated in Asia this year. I have to go get something in my gas tank, so I can make it to the local meeting. Have to have a bowl of cereal first. Love those frosted flakes. Oh pooh. All out.
ReplyDeleteI still don't have the answer. When you all say how easy it is, well, I feel real stupid. I kind of have an idea, sort of, maybe, perhaps, of what type of answer I am looking for. But, not so much.
ReplyDeleteI figured the puzzle out last night, thanks to my fifteen year old son. He's not a puzzle solver, but he got this one right away. It made him feel pretty good that he figured one out that I couldn't.
ReplyDeleteB-D, I got the call at 12:10 on a Thursday. During the recording on Friday, Will excused himself so he could ask the lawnmowing crew to wait a few minutes. I asked Liane how they determine the next week's contestant and she told me that they go through all of the entries to see which ones are correct, then choose a random number to pick the contestant. I think it would be a lot easier if they chose a random number first, then saw if that contestant had the correct answer. If not, then they should choose another random number.
Sharon, look at the relationship of the first two letters of each word, banjo and ferns. That might help.
Ok, Dave, I will look at the letters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info about being called.
jutchnbev - enjoyed your hint, or shall I say hints. More enjoyable than actually doing the puzzle. Oh my.
ReplyDeleteSo Dave, are you are saying that you "won" for the previous week submission? Or was the 12:10 phone call a difference in our time zones?
ReplyDeletejutchnbev that cereal dinner would not do it for me - when it comes to nightly meals, I'm a carnivore.
Sharon, When they say how easy it is, it is because they already solved it. All the clues are helpful once you know what the answer is. Until then. . . not so much some times!!!! Just follow the bread crumbs above, tho, and you'll figutre out what the answer is even if you can't see how it is gotten. . .
ReplyDeleteMy Little Family--where I am, it is still breakfast time and my stomach is growling.
Maybe Ben (last week's puzzle submitter) can contact Will Shortz via e-mail and ask him about the selection process for a winner. My assumption was that I could subit an answer on Thu@2:59PM ET and still have my answer selected. But that conflicts with a couple things that Dave mentioned about the timing of his call and Liane saying they go through all the answers first to determine which answers are correct.
ReplyDeleteSo Ben, how about it? Can you get the official word from Will? Or does anyone have contacts with Liane?
Perhaps this week they'll just use "EENY, MEENEY, MINEY, MO..." to get a winner.
ReplyDeleteMLF, I was the on air contestant on May 30. I should have been more specific about the time that I got called. It was at 12:10 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday.
ReplyDeleteso that is 10 minutes after the 3pm ET deadline meaning the correct answers must be sorted out as they come in
ReplyDeleteSharon: It's not a vegetable.
ReplyDeleteLOL Mario. That helps? I will keep working on it, Why do I have so much trouble solving these puzzles. I am not dumb but my brain just doesn't decipher well apparently.
ReplyDeleteOkay...I got it! SO: banjos are commonly played in the bayou right? And ferns grow down there too. Pecans grow in Louisiana among other places, so clearly the answer is:
ReplyDeleteBOBBY JINDAL.
'cause he plays banjo. And duels. And grows ferns too, I hear.
Um, okay maybe not. Maybe I need to go hang out at LSU. ;)
I really felt completely lost in the woods on this one, then it finally came to me. Dave, thanks for your clue, and especially for the information on how the winner is chosen.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to figure it out, and while explaining to someone that Will uses word puzzles, rather than meaning puzzles, I hit upon the answer in moments. Of course, it helps that I was explaining the problem to the LADY of my house, not the ...
ReplyDeleteDon't think I will get this one solved this week. How embarrassing. *Hides head in shame.* :)
ReplyDeleteSharon: It's not a mineral. Therefore, it is...
ReplyDeleteI took my mom for cataract surgery and with hints from Dave and Nachy, I was able to solve the puzzle during the 30 min. surgery. Yipee!
ReplyDeleteI am going to submit my answer after I go pet my ferocious cat. I have 3 actually.
Sharon: don't submit it until we are close to the deadline tomorrow, so they will have to review all of them at the very last minute:
ReplyDeleteHOLD THAT ANSWER!
TONI = Toni, the Tigress
ReplyDeletey2176 = century – increment of four (4) … since y1776
multiple = increment synonym
science = self – explanatory re Truths
nearly 54% = another four (4) number – increment; actual % is … 53%
claw / mEEEEOOOOw = feline – related
(USA’s y1776 – related) Independence Day = another four (4) number – increment as with 04 July
I doubt that neither Will nor Liane are directly involved in the selection of the winner. They have lots of staff help.
ReplyDeleteSo did anybody figure out my clue beforehand?
ReplyDeleteMario - My musical clue - Tom Jones:
ReplyDeleteWhat's new Pussycat?
Blaine -
I'll echo others' compliments on the new blog look. Thanks for all you do.
Did our new blogger NYT puzzle (Evelyn?)person ever give answer to her sports puzzle? If so I missed it.
ReplyDeleteBlaine - moree kudos on the new look.
Answer to last week's sports puzzle: Playoffs and Layoffs. Nice puzzle.
ReplyDeleteFine puzzle - Easy once intuited.
ReplyDelete(William) BLAKE = FPEOI
Author of TIGER, tiger, burning bright.
Interesting that
PECANS = TIGERW
My clue was “This is the easiest puzzle in years. I wouldn’t call it a gem...”
ReplyDeleteThere’s a gemstone called Tiger’s Eye and there’s a “gem” and an “I” in the clue. Perhaps wound a little too tight but that was my thinking...
Chuck
HOLD THAT ANSWER = HOLD THAT TIGER.
ReplyDeleteI got the idea that Tiger was the answer based on the clues (Chinese year of the Tiger, woods, clubs, etc.). I just had no idea that it was an increment the letter puzzle. I never thought to check the relationship of each letter in the example. Oh, well.
ReplyDelete