Sunday, December 24, 2017

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 24, 2017): Fifty Nifty United States

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 24, 2017): Fifty Nifty United States:
Q: The name of what well-known U.S. city, in 10 letters, contains only three different letters of the alphabet?
The same could be said about a city in Australia.

The Australia city is WAGGA WAGGA.
A: WALLA WALLA (Washington)

152 comments:

  1. Here's my standard reminder... don't post the answer or any hints that could lead directly to the answer (e.g. via a chain of thought, or an internet search) 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.

    You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't give the answer away. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the Thursday deadline. Thank you.

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  2. If I had to refer to something twice, wouldn't that make me a re-referrer? Or if I made someone a referee a second time, would I be a re-referee-er?

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    1. Longest "real" word using just 3 letters: assesses (8 letters) and some others. Can you come up with longer "real" words? SENSELESSNESS, doesn't work (4 letters).

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    2. Are you re-gifting Ron's answer already?

      Snarky Christmas! I can't use the M-word since DJT ruined it.

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  3. Shame on you if you don't solve this.

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  4. Replies
    1. WALLAZOOM, the name of a digital advertising venture that will be a competitor to YELP, as a digital version of the Yellow Pages with interactive capacities.

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  5. I bet I am not the only one who got this immediately. Goody goody for me!

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    1. “Goody Goody”, Of Thee I Sing Sing – Sing Sing and Walla Walla, both are double-named places that have prisons.

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  6. Replies
    1. Google “Good King Sauerkraut”, and You will get a page with several links, one of them being “A Pogo Christmas Carol” by Walt Kelly:
      Deck us all with Boston Charlie
      Walla Walla Wash and Kalamazoo
      Nora’s freezin on the trolley

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  7. I selected all the squares with street signs and all the squares with vehicles.

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    Replies
    1. I had to successfully “perform” this Captcha test in order to submit the puzzle answer to NPR.

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  8. Don't HANG on this one too long. (Ouch!)

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  9. First city that came to mind, LOL

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  10. Happy Holidays my blog friends. Thank you for all the fun. Enjoy!

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  11. Has a college, a pen, an iceburg, and a well known red firehouse. (typing on my phone)

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  12. It’s interesting the answer doesn’t show up on the “US Cities with 10 letters” lists that I found but the answer jumps right out when you change the search to Oz. Maybe a too revealing clue from Blaine.

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  13. Trump's favorite puzzle of the year.

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  14. This is the second time that Will has used a puzzle that I've sent him and didn't cite me on air. This was his response when I emailed it to him:

    Hi Dave,

    Thanks for the NPR puzzle suggestion -- which I'm afraid I don't love quite enough to use on the air.

    But I appreciate the offer.

    --Will

    Hmmm . . .

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    Replies
    1. You and Anita Hill with all your false accusations! (Just kidding, it says more about WS than it does about you.)

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  15. "...to see who's naughty or nice."

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  16. A slightly shorter and easier repeat of an earlier Shortzer puz.

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  17. I'm afraid I got hit with the disappearing post problem this morning. I had posted something very similar to Siz's post above. But it ain't here.

    Anyway, I was busy for the first airing of today's puzzle. And the repeat was preempted by a seasonal music special. So could some kind soul tell me how many folks got last week's puzzle right?

    Merry Christmas, all.

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    Replies
    1. "Around 150," Chuck.

      --Kind Soul here--

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    2. Wordnerd posted an incorrect answer to last weeks's puzzle at noon Thursday that didn't make the cut either. I think it may be the Grinch.

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    3. Chuck: the sunday puzzle is broadcast of the website. You can listen to tape.

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    4. Thank you Skydiveboy For pointing out my incorrect answer! And Yes, it did get "cut"! We have a lot in common. My first Dive still remains as a lasting memory....still haunting me today! Merry Christmas to you, and all of the bloggers here!

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    5. You have me curious now. Why is your first jump haunting? How many do you have?
      Merry Christmas.

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  18. This answer should be no problem for this crowd.

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    Replies
    1. This was a reference to the Walla Walla crowd radio sound effects.

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  19. This is one of those cities, like Rancho Cucamonga, that just seems fun to say.

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    Replies
    1. I like the address of the city's official website.

      John & Maxine & Roger & Alice should move there.

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    2. I suppose we could play either popular version of Take Me to the River, from Al Green or the Talking Heads.

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  20. I think there is one blogger on here who can view this city from their window at home.

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  21. Take a two letter state abbreviation - then with the remaining letters of that state name, write all next to the abbreviation. Shuffle the result and you'll be half-way there. (my first post disappeared again - what up wit dat?)

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  22. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    Replies
    1. That leads directly to the answer via a Google search.

      Sorry for my late participation. I was busy playing in the pool with my granddaughter, biking the Bermuda Railway Trail, and basically just relaxing with the family.

      Merry Christmas to all of my Blainesville friends!

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    2. jan: Glad it helped you, but confirming a suspected breech of hinting rules may only compound the offense.

      My season's best to this puzzling crew.

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    3. No, Mendo Jim: once the offending clue is removed, my comment gives no hint at all.

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  23. A simple challenge for the holidays. How perfect. Merry Christmas to all!
    My hints: Bugs Bunny and Bill Murray have both mentioned this city, but out of context.

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  24. A Glen Miller top hit: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H-I got a gal in Kalamazoo zoo zoo zoo zoo

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  25. Replies
    1. I heard it as a story about a monastery's fish-and-chips dinner. "I'm the fish friar, he's the chip monk."

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    2. Anyway, I sometimes used the song to tease a somewhat unorthodox colleague of mine at work.

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    3. Ha! Enjoy the warmth in Bermuda! It was 2 degrees F this morning and we are getting a new furnace next week.

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    4. Jan - that’s an old and favorite joke. But neither your, nor WW’s, comments appear to have divined my intent.

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    5. We have, I believe, divined intent, SuperZee...We are merely pointing out the chipmonk vs chipmunk spelling (at least, I am).

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    6. If you know my line of work, SuperZee, you can see how my second comment confirms that I got your hint.

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    7. Jan, I hadn't been aware of your professional activities until I clicked your details. But now that I am, I see the link. I also recall another old joke, one which, under the circumstances is best saved for Thursday.
      WW - I never said I could spell! (Same old joke applies.)

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    8. Which doctor would you be less inclined to visit - Dr. Ben Dover or Dr. Acula?

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  26. Surprised Trump doesn't have a real estate operation there. Will Will be on air next week or is this a two weeker?

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  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

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

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Sdb:was the other ones name harriet?

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    3. Yes, Virginia, there is a Harriet.

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    4. So she gave away the answer and i missed it! Now millions have the answer and i have no chance of getting the call. Btw.. Did you see the nurcracker? Trying to get thete with a ballet friend. Need inspiration

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    5. It would take an enormous amount of "inspiration" to get me to suffer through another Nutcracker performance.

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    6. SDB: Most people I know will not go anymore. Going tonight with loyal ballet friend. Maria Kochetkova is dancing and she is worth all the boring moments of the ballet to see her perform.

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  29. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  30. I love this puzzle. 'Twas made for someone with my particular interests.

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  31. Happy Holidaze to all. Me thinks this puzzle pails in comparison to some others recently.

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  32. Replies
    1. I am really excited at how much longer the daylight hours are now!

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    2. sdb, I'll second(s) that.

      Merry Christmas!

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    3. That won't take you long.

      (Personal note: Did you get the email I sent you last week?)

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    4. (sdb, I just checked that email and wrote to you. )

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  33. This state has had at least one other city appear as a puzzle answer.

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  34. Replies
    1. Well, that was odd. Patrick Stewart seems to pick somewhat non-mainstream projects lately.

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  35. De do do do de da da da that is all I say to you

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  36. Usually is it sad movies that make me tear up but there a few sweet ones that make me as well.

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  37. Replies
    1. ANSWER: Walla Walla.
      ta-da! ta-da! is an English translation
      for the FRENCH 'voila! voila!' which is
      pronounced: /vvwäˈlä/, i.e., walla. (x2)
      ​ How to pronounce voilà exclamation
      in American English;
      https://dictionarcambridge.org/us/pronunciation/
      english/voila
      oui oui is a a reference to French.
      ta-da! ta-da! is voila! voila! is vwalla! wvalla! is
      Walla Walla.

      Delete
  38. This was a fun puzzle, mainly because I got it immediately. The first time I heard the name, when I was a very small child, I thought of hippopotami.

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  39. If this week is Will's annual New Names in the News, any thoughts on what names might come up in the 2017 edition?

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    Replies
    1. Tarana Burke
      Doug Jones
      George Papadopoulos
      Natalia Veselnitskaya
      Christopher Steele

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    2. and Stephen Paddock and Devin Kelley.
      Harvey, Irma, and Maria
      Carmen Yulín Cruz Soto

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    3. Doug Jones
      Summer Zervos
      Samantha Holvey
      Jessica Leeds
      Rachel Crooks

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    4. Good heads-up, whost. One of us might be called in about an hour to play on-air on Sunday, and we gotta be prepared!
      Some possibilities:
      Greg Gianforte/Ben Jacobs
      Louise Linton
      Shelly Simonds/David Yancey

      LegoWhoIsInTheJunkanoos(SeeTomorrow'sPuzzleria!)

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    5. Danica Roem
      Was Anthony Scaramucci a known entity before this year?

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    6. How odd. A word of the year 2017 by Oxford English dictionary that "no one " has heard of before.

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    7. Fethullah Gulen, not a young Turk.

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    8. Emmanuel Macron should certainly be on the list

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  40. WALLA WALLA (WA)

    "This came to me right away." -- WW knows WW.

    "blue" >>> Vida Blue >>>Vidalia Onions >>> Sweet Onions grown in WALLA WALLA, WA.

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    Replies
    1. "Curtis, I don't know how you could have missed WW's blue clue (not!)."

      Are we even yet?

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    2. Thank you, eco. Obscurity is my middle name. {WOW}

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  41. Walla Walla, Washington

    My hint:

    "...to see who's naughty or nice."
    I left out the earlier part where he's checking it twice, as a hint at their being two walla's.

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  42. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  43. Walla Walla

    Last Sunday I posted, “Only Trump supporters live there” but no one read my words because the Blainesville post poacher ate the post. Anyway, the residents really like the concept of a wall, just like Donald. In fact, they might even support building two walls…

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  44. WALLA WALLA, WA.(Washington)

    The State, itself, has 10 letters and the State Abbreviation (WA) uses 2 of the city's letters...

    The 10-letter city in Australia with the same property: WAGGA WAGGA.

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    Replies
    1. There's also a Walla Walla in New South Wales, Australia.

      Delete
  45. My clue was also a Trump wall reference. I also asked "will will be on air next week" with "will will" being a reference to walla walla.

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  46. An easy puzzle is a good idea - in the 70's there was an ad campaign "55 mph, not just a good idea, it's the law". The 3 letters can spell law. I prefer this version.

    I like the address of the city's official website - https://www.wallawallawa.gov/ - almost palindromic.

    John & Maxine & Roger & Alice should move there: Walla Walla's name means "place of many Waters".

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  47. De doo doo doo de da da da, Song hint by the Police. Walla Walla, WA is the home of a Dada museum

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  48. On October 7, 2007, the puzzle was "Name a well-known city in the United States, two words, 10 letters altogether. Add the letter A at the front, add the city's two-letter state postal abbreviation at the end, the resulting 13-letter chain will be palindromic, that is, it will read backward and forward the same. What city is this?"

    It looks like Blaine only had one comment that week. (from old phredp, wherever he may be).

    That shortage of input seems to have been common back then. Maybe Blaine remembers why.

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  49. Greetings from Tasmania where we saw a pair of wallabies this morning

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  50. WALLA WALLA.
    My misspelled Chipmunk comment was a reference to Dave Seville, who in addition to recording the Chipmunk songs, recorded the Witch Doctor song, with the lyric, “Ooo eee ooo ah ah, ting tang Walla Walla bing bang.”

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    Replies
    1. I know that song. I just couldn't figure out a good way to clue it without giving away the whole shootin' match.

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    2. I’d figured the same artist link was sufficiently obscure...but Word Woman and Jan, who had both already solved the puzzle quickly saw the linkage.

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    3. Chuck, Could it have been clued, 'bing bang'? or 'ching chang'? Or would one of those also give it away?

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  51. WALLA WALLA(Washington)
    In the 1963 Warner Bros. cartoon "Transylvania 6-5000", Bugs Bunny fights off a vampire at a spooky hotel after reading a book about "Magic Words and Phrases". Bugs mixes up "hocus-pocus" and "abracadabra", which mixes up the vampire's body parts(half-man, half-bat), then says "Newport News", which turns him into a witch, and finally says "Walla Walla Washington", which turns him into a two-headed vulture and a possible love interest for a female two-headed vulture seen earlier in the cartoon.
    Bill Murray sang a made-up song in the 1979 film "Meatballs" in a scene where everyone is canoeing on the lake. Murray's character, "Tripper", sings as his would-be girlfriend "Roxanne" paddles the boat. At some point in the song Tripper sings the line, "let's walla walla down by the mango tree".
    I had actually forgotten "walla walla" was part of the lyrics in "Witch Doctor". When I first saw the "oo we oo ah ah" part, I didn't make the connection. How silly of me! BTW Happy 75th Birthday to my mother Linda today!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I deleted my clue,'OO EE OO AH AH', originally posted 12-25-2017, 6:30p, PST, because Natasha
      objected to it as too revealing.

      Delete
  52. Walla walla, my hint at pails, refers to pails of water, indian name means many waters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Which Indians? Which tribe?
      A related clue could be: 'Helen Keller' But maybe too revealing?

      Delete
  53. WALLA WALLA (Washington)

    My clue: I love this puzzle. 'Twas made for someone with my particular interests.

    "'Twas made" is an anagram of Adam West, who was born in Walla Walla, Washington. I learned this at a young age when I was in the first throes of Batmania. We had an almanac that listed celebrity birthplaces and, of course, I immediately looked to see if Adam West was listed.

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  54. ta da! ta da! oui oui. Ta da!(but more correctly ta-da) is one English translation for the French expression voila! Times 2, voila! voila! Pronounced: /vwa la/ /vwa la/, walla walla!


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  55. This week's Puzzleria! is now available. Go to Blaine's PUZZLE LINKS and click "Joseph Young's Puzzleria!"
    You can:
    1. Take a Ramblin' ride to a Bahamian Junkanoo (and learn what the heck a "junkanoo" is too);
    2. Learn what it means to "be little";
    3. Slip crib notes to your classmates under the oblivious nose of your substitute teacher;
    4. Revisit and solve updates of the best pre-Puzzleria! puzzle I ever posted on Blainesville; and
    5. Grapple with five piggyback puzzles that riff off Will Shortz's WallaWallapalooza puzzle from this past Sunday.
    Hey, like WS himself said, and I quote, Puzzleria! "is a lot of fun!"

    LegoWhoWasBornWithAPlasticSporkInHisMouth

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  56. Would a carpenter in the Indian navy be referred to as a Bulkhead Wallah?

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  57. ta-da! ta-da! oui oui = the english translation of the FRENCH voila! voila! = \vwä-ˈlä\ \ vwä-ˈlä\ = Walla Walla.

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    Replies
    1. Wee Wee! I have a friend who likes to tell about a former coworker of his in IT who like to pronounce that word as VI-ola whenever he solved a computer issue.

      Delete
  58. Next week's challenge: This challenge comes from listener Patrick Berry (go cranberry!) of Jasper, Ala. Name a famous singer — 3 letters in the first name, 5 letters in the last. Drop the middle letter of the last name and rearrange the result to name a variety of singing group. What is it?

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. Sorry, that was too revealing.

      I gotta stop spending so much time watching Cookie Monster videos on my cell phone.

      Delete
  59. Next week's challenge: This challenge comes from listener Patrick Berry of Jasper, Ala. Name a famous singer — 3 letters in the first name, 5 letters in the last. Drop the middle letter of the last name and rearrange the result to name a variety of singing group. What is it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I am counting correctly, that is the THIRD puzzle created by Patrick J. Berry (cranberry, to us) that Will has used in 2017. That must be some kind of record. Hearty congratulations, Patrick!

      LegoImpressed

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  60. Almost 2000 correct answers last week. (The winner said he was helped by thinking of the Pogo song.)

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  61. Good puzzle! Happy New Year!

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  62. Some might need help to solve this good puzzle.

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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.