NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 24, 2013): Let's Ask Colonel Sanders...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 24, 2013): Let's Ask Colonel Sanders...:

Q: Name a tree whose letters can be rearranged to spell two herbs or spices. What are they? Hint: The tree has a two-word name.

If Will hadn't provided the extra hint, I would have said the Peppermint tree. I'm still waiting for the answer to hit me over the head.

A: OSAGE ORANGE --> SAGE + OREGANO

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 17, 2013): Quarrel Synonyms

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 17, 2013): Quarrel Synonyms:

Q: Think of a word meaning "quarrel" in which several of the letters appear more than once. Remove exactly two occurrences of every repeated letter, and the remaining letters can be rearranged to spell a new word meaning "quarrel." What are the two words?

I did not search my synonym list thoroughly enough the first time...

Edit: The first four words "I did not search..." start with I, D, N, S which are the pairs of letters that are removed.

A: MisUndERsTAndiNG --> ARGUMENT

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 10, 2013): Where Do Politicians Eat?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 10, 2013): Where Do Politicians Eat?:

Q: There is a politician today, sometimes known by his or her full three-word name, whose initials are also the initials of a popular chain of restaurants. Who is the politician and what's the restaurant?

Seems like Will is stuck on a theme...

Edit: We've had several recent puzzles relating to stones which was a hint to rock. In addition, there's that saying about being stuck between a rock and a hard place.

A: Hillary Rodham Clinton --> Hard Rock Café (HRC)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 3, 2013): Same Last Names, Famous Musicals

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 3, 2013): Same Last Names, Famous Musicals:

Q: A famous actress and a famous director share the same last name, although they are unrelated. The first name of one of these is a classic musical. The first name of the other is an anagram of a classic musical. Who are they?

No need to be a great detective to figure this one out; all the clues are there.

Edit: My hint was Sherlock Holmes --> Dr. John Watson --> Emma Watson --> Emma Stone.
Another connection is Sherlock Holmes --> Oliver Wendell Holmes --> Oliver Stone.

A: OLIVER and EMMA STONE --> "OLIVER" and "MAME"