Thursday, December 16, 2010

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 12, 2010): Mixed-up Companies

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 12, 2010): Mixed-up Companies:
Q: Rearrange the letters of 'Wayne Manor' to name two well-known American corporations, past or present. What corporations are they?
Anyone remember that the two companies had a deal in the works in the late 90s? Everyone does remember what happened after that though.

Edit: Hint, the first sentence in my comments started with "A", the second with "E".
A: Wayne Manor --> Amway + Enron

27 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. Someone talked me into working for one of those corporations years ago. Lots of online critics of the corporation.

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  3. I did not know about the proposed partnership. Whoever pulled out was the smarter company in the deal.

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  4. Yawn. One arm tied behind my back.

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  5. Phred - I had a number of friends try to recruit me into that company in the 80s and 90s. It never interested me. Funny thing, though, about those friends - I offered to buy the company's products from them, but they didn't show any interest in making money through actually selling product.

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  6. Interestingly, I got the first corporation almost immediately. Funny how one’s brain can do that sometimes. Of course, once you get the first corporation the second is much easier.

    Chuck

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  7. Wayne Manor was a two story mansion with a central staircase.

    Tommy Boy, Googling "29666" brings up
    Ninety Six, SC 29666
    I figured Blaine would delete that post if I didn't obscure it.

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  8. Fairly simple, one of the companies sort of jumps out at you due the the letter order. Using the letters left over I couldn't quite figure out the second, so I wrote a letter permute program I'd been meaning to write for a while, then the 2nd answer was obvious. Overall, yes, a simple puzzle.

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  9. I love it! A Rochester person gets his puzzle on the air. Puzzlers of Western New York unite!

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  10. Nice clue, Lorenzo.

    Joseph, are you from the 'Chester? I graduated from U or R. Meliora!

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  11. Dave, thanks. As for the other corporation, one could say that finding the answer was easy. Like a lay up on a fast break. Not much skill required.

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  12. Aesop:

    "In revenge, the serpent spat some of its poison into the man's drinking horn."

    Lorenzo, I can see either company referenced in each of your posts. I originally attributed your first post to the serpent, though I now believe you did not intend it that way.

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  13. Tommy Boy, I'm glad that your vision has improved and that you now see the particular references in my second comment. I do agree, however, that my first comment could be taken on more than one level.

    Now I just have to figure out what "bsd" refers to!

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  14. I have to believe your second post could also be taken on more than one level. In fact, a masterful double entendre.

    Alpha Omega.

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  15. And I am back to attributing your first post to the serpent.

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  16. Tommy Boy, could a basketball arena have anything to do with your comment on my second comment?

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  17. You don't have to be the smartest guy in the room to solve this puzzle.

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  18. Nice one, Eddie.

    Lorenzo, as a fan I picked up on that one first, followed by the top dog. When I discovered the other dogs I realized that was your intention (very clever). Therefore, number one goes to the serpent.

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  19. You don't have to be a king to solve this puzzle, either.

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  20. When all of this was happening, where was Barbie (not talking about Klaus)?

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  21. I am way out of my depth on this one and it's taken Ron (not the smartest guy in the room) even longer than me (hey it's after 3 EDT)

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  22. The answer to my question above is: Barbie was with Frito (Ken's brother) -- Of course, I'm talking about Ken Lay!

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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.