Sunday, February 02, 2020

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 2, 2020): Forwards and Backwards

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 2, 2020): Forwards and Backwards:
Q: The actress Michael Learned, who played the mother on The Waltons, has an unusual property in her name. The last three letters of her first name are the same as the first three letters of her last name reversed. The name of what current celebrity has the same property? Here's a hint: The first and last names each have 6 letters.
I guess I'll just be content knowing I finally have the answer, even if I had to ask family members for help.

Edit: In particular, a younger member of the family. Also her initials are hidden in the word "be".
A: BILLIE EILISH

247 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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had never heard of this person either...

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    2. Not sure if my answer acceptable as ws only asked for last 3 letters to be reversed.

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    3. Speaking of your family members, Blaine, I never got your reference to your grandpa a couple of weeks ago. ("I'm pretty sure my grandpa doesn't have this.") Or were you just saying that he's deceased?

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  2. (Re-posting)

    I listened on air and was not familiar with Michael Learned. Since when is Michael a female’s name?

    Eco - just want to make sure the “snip” references last week were not directed at me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Snipper, they billed her as Miss Michael Learned on The Waltons until folks Learned her name. . .

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    2. As a Jan, I can tell you there are many names that can be both male and female.

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    3. Investigating my intent might take you down a Snippery Snope.

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  3. I posted on Sun Feb 02, at 06:16:00 AM PST on last week's thread:

    I've found one actor, unfortunately not well known, that's 6 and 6 and HIS ENTIRE LAST NAME IS HIS ENTIRE FIRST NAME REVERSED!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looked on IMDB for actors with six letters in both names. There were 375 males and 300 something women. So I just went with the actor you're thinking of because it was the first name I thought of.

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    2. If the correct answer is an actor, would WS have said "actor" instead of "celebrity"? Not sure.

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    3. I just assumed (I hate that word) so, because the example he gave was an actress.

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    4. Only on PALINDROMIC Sunday, 02/02/2020, could we have someone whose "entire last name is his entire first name reversed."

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  4. I think there is a soccer player not that well-known: CARLOS SOLANO.

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    Replies
    1. I think there are a lot of Soccer Players who are not well known. Unless you count the rest of the planet, but what God-fearing American would do a crazy thing like that?

      And, of course, the rest of the planet doesn't call them Soccer Players anyway.

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  5. Even my grandmother would know this name – I myself am not up on popular culture, but it was the first name that came into my head. There will be a thousand answers this week.

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

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    2. I appreciate that you got my hint, but I deliberately didn't make it that explicit. Perhaps you might delete your remark?

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    3. Careful DSB77, this group can get cross.

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  6. Nice virtual Nancy Pelosi clapping by the on-air player.

    I did like addend and attend, Caddy and catty, meddle and mettle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But the thing that got me was that she didn't know what addend meant! Don't subtrahend my minuend unless you know the difference. 😁

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  7. Replies
    1. Jan - I noticed that too. What were they thinking?

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    2. Maybe they just mis-heard. Cf, Gilbert & Sullivan.

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    3. I'm down with that. Meanwhile what is a rheebus that Mr.Will mentioned on air?

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    4. A rebus is when they have to send another one when the first one breaks down, or gets stuck on a hill in the snow. I hope I'm right about this.

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    5. Clever. And is it now retired?

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    6. No, the tires were fine. They just put chains on.

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

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  9. Delete two letters, each which appears more than once in the name. Add a letter that appears more than once in the name. Rearrange to spell a word in the title of a situation comedy.

    LegoGivingAStraightforwardHintForAChange

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  10. Current celebrity...bah! In MY day...

    Excuse me while I yell at some kids on my front lawn...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great - another puzzle where I'll spend half the week looking through lists of "celebrities" who I've never heard of.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Iris Corona - My point is that I probably won't waste my time participating in this puzzle.

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  12. I didn't see this at first, hard to think of a lamer puzzle.

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  13. Can’t believe it took me so long to get this!

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  14. I found an author with three titles listed on Amazon who probably doesn't meet the "celebrity" test.
    I wish I'd been able to find the intended answer on my own, but I wasn't.
    I guess I'm just a born loser.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't feel so bad there,Paul. Just a second ago I realized the correct answer, and I already sent in the wrong one!

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    2. The Born Losers (1967) introduced the Billy Jack character.
      Billie Holiday observed that "them that's got shall get; them that's not shall lose".
      "Grammy" led me to the answer. "Grandmother" did not.
      Here's Edward Draper's Amazon page. The cover of Breaking Truth informs us that "facts are for losers".

      Delete
  15. Before I even began trying to solve this, or deciding not to even try, I knew it was not going to be an actor, nor would it be someone I ever heard of. It's nice to be right sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah - I agree. I probably don't know this "celebrity" either...

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  16. I had never heard of this person before today. But I’m a good list looker-upper.

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  17. It is false to say that my mom did not solve this.

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  18. I'm afraid when I fall asleep tonight, I'll have anxious dreams about a monstrous verminous bug in a red cardigan sweater.

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  19. If I met this person in a restaurant, would they pick up the tab?

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  20. justin nitwit? Could not resist. Sorry

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  21. Second name that popped into my head. Had heard the name before, but I know it's not an actor's name. Hard to come up with a clue for it, though. Here goes nothing:
    Musical Clue: Dr. John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're in the right place, maybe the wrong time.

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    2. Don't give it away! I'll explain the connection Thursday.

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  22. A popular celebrity indeed, but probably unknown to most on this blog.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Has been interviewed by NPR more than once.

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    2. musical selection "Strange fruit"

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    3. Billie Eilish.
      David Sadaris singing "Away in a manger in the style of Billie Holiday. Unforgettable.

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    4. Or singing the Oscar Mayer bologna jingle in the same style.

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  23. I did not know about this person before. Good puzzle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! I was in the car with my husband and adult son trying to solve by looking at lists, and then said "Oh, wait, it's [current celebrity]; I didn't get that from a list." I'm not familiar with [currently celebrity]'s artistic endeavor, but I'm not one of *those* people who complains about such things.

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    2. My mom was actually pleasantly surprised by the celebrity in question, the first time she heard them(I must conceal the celeb's gender, of course)speak. Mom found this person to be normal and rather down-to-earth, despite the looks. Never judge a book by its cover!

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    3. The more I learn, the more impressed I am. This person's work ethic is impressive.

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  24. I didn't think this puzzle was worth the time, but I wanted to check out the hints and so got the answer.
    There must be a few more celebrities whose names meet the criteria; I hope we hear them.

    I got a kick out of the on-air player.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I did too and loved her enthusiasm!

      Got the answer and I can confirm it is not Assistant US Attorney Philip Pilmer!

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  25. I have only been to one football game I didn't enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Replies
    1. I'm guessing the wife beatings are going strong in my neighborhood!

      Meanwhile, our Leader will make a NEW PROCLAMATION tomorrow morning.

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    2. Looks like "Sharpie Time" again for Donnie! Maybe Pompeo has a few spare maps DJT can borrow!

      Delete
  27. Goodnight, John boy! Goodnight Mary Ellen! Goodnight Grandpa!
    (Grandma to Grandpa: Say goodnight, y'old goat!)

    ReplyDelete
  28. This person has something else in common with Michael Learned as well..

    ReplyDelete
  29. SDB: Do you really like football?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never said I like football.
      I said:
      "I have only been to one football game I didn't enjoy."

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    2. SDB: Reminds me of a conversation I might have with the Cheschire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.

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    3. Natasha: Perhaps you were asking the wrong question. Read carefully what I posted.

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  30. Thomas Samson - the luggage guy
    Allisa Asimov - Issac's daughter
    Eileen Needle - she's a stickler
    and if we did not have the six-six letter constraint,
    take it away Blainesville

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "Samson" would've been a good name for the gorilla in those old luggage ads.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Very inventive and fun exercise, TomR.
      Here are a few more:
      Paul Luau: Hawaiian tour guide
      Blaine Enigmatologist: Puzzle-blog administrator
      jan naj: a superlative Blainesvillian
      Curtis Sitter-upper: Best abs on the planet!
      Tom Motaur: Half-man, half-motorcycle
      Ben Nebula: Meteotologist
      Rob Borden: Dairy farmer
      ron norton: Literary anthologist
      Snipper Repartee: Professional raconteur and wordplayer
      Clark Kraptonite: Scientist who discovered a new Periodic Table element (which doubles as a laxitive!) from which he is, thankfully, immune

      LegoLamdaAdmitter:OfBeingGuiltyOfBadPuns!

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    4. If 4 digit IMDB #'s qualify as celebrity then Steven Nevius would fit.

      NPR did broadcast a courtesy call on the answer.

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    5. LegoLamda - Admirer of Snipper! I love it! Thanks for the shout out!

      Delete
  31. Sdb: At first it seemed you were saying you had only been to one ftball game and did not enjoy it. But that seemed not right. Who has only been to one game?

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    1. Natasha: I have only been to one football game.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Did you live on North Campus?

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    4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    5. Buck: Did you go to u. Michigan?

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    6. Yes, back in the 1980s. Freshman year at Bursley, and a lot of music students lived there as it was next to the school of music.

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  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For reasons I'll explain on Thursday, you may want to consider deleting your comment.

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    2. Sorry, Jan. I didn't realize....

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    3. Thanks, Dr. K. Your person's website can lead to the answer person.

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  33. Ever have to deal with a fussy 3 year old? Apparently we all do.

    How many times have you said "I'm shocked, but not surprised."

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  34. Iowa Democrats can't even run a caucus vote and you think we are going to defeat Trump in November! Get a clue folks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will Rogers must have been thinking about the Iowa Caucus vote tabulation when he said, “I am not a member of any organized political party — I am a Democrat”.

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    2. Nevada plans to use the same app for their caucus in a few weeks.

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    3. If this caucus is not working then let professionals take charge. So tired of incompetence.

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    4. Natasha,
      Washington has now stopped being a caucus state and we have gone to a primary election instead. You cannot have a caucus and have it run by professionals. When I first began attending our caucuses decade ago they were frequently held in a neighbor's home. Not very many attended. Many times later on when they were jointly held in a school lunchroom I would be the only attendee for my precinct district, and the others were mostly not much better, and some a zero. They are a messy thing, but at least those who attend are more likely to be the best informed about politics and the political situation.

      Delete
    5. SDB: I heard it on CNN the suggestion that the IOWA Caucus be run by professionals. I may have misunderstood. Thank you for the information. Regarding Tweets: If Twitter were extinguished that would at least stop dt. I guess there is a lesson to be learned from all of this.

      Delete
    6. Getting rid of Twitter will not silence Trump. The only thing that will silence Trump is his dementia progression.

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    7. SDB: Amazing how he gets away with everything. I cannot even get away with paying a bill late...which I never do.

      Delete
    8. SDB - I think his dementia will only make it worse!
      His pill (er, poll) numbers will probably increase too.

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    9. I agree that it will make it worse at first, but when it gets to the point where he can't even remember to change his Depends it will stop.

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    10. This actually happened today: News of the Iowa Caucus results interrupted Final Jeopardy this afternoon. My mom was not pleased, to say the least.

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  35. Has anyone else here thought about what Trump will do should he be removed from office either by force or election? He will not go quietly into retirement, but will continue tweeting against whoever is the new POTUS, making it harder to govern.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully, once out of office the press will stop reporting on his tweets.

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    2. I wouldn't bet the farm on that happening.

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  36. When there’s a line up at the lavatory it becomes a process of elimination.

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  37. SDB, the (serious) answer to what DT will do next. Take over for Rush. Who else, when that time comes?

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    Replies
    1. That is an interesting thought, but I doubt he is up to the work it would require. I hope so anyway. Maybe he could give lessons on how to cheat at golf.

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    2. You mean this Rush?

      If someone had written all this as a novel 5 years ago they would have been laughed out of the publisher's office.

      Not a lot of excuses for Germany in the 1930's, but at least they hadn't seen this all before...

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    3. Sure takes the glamour off of the previous winners...

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  38. Ron, thanks for posting these.
    There are some very insightful cartoons there, but I like "this one about Pompeo the best.

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  39. Buck: I remember that music building. What was your major?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Started out Aerospace Engineering, ended up something lesser. I enjoyed my time there.

      Delete
  40. Amazing! Even Nancy Pelosi stood and applauded Juan Guaidó. What a shame.

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    Replies
    1. Will you never learn that socialists (Chavez, Maduro, Sanders) are worse than dictators, tyrants, and mass murderers? This is a bi-partisan issue, and you must adhere if you belong to one of those parties!!!

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    2. Yeah, leaders who are really out to help their countrymen, such as Mohammad Mosaddegh, really are an annoyance.

      Delete
  41. It's about time Rush Limbaugh finally got what he deserves. Oh and he also got the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Too bad on that one.

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    Replies
    1. Why would Melania award that medal to Limburger and not sluggo himself?? If it were that special an award why not present it in a stand alone ceremony?

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    2. Who ever runs against DJT better be ready to use theatrics to their fullest. People just fall under his gimmicks like lemmings.

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    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    4. None of dems can compete. Dems need to get busy.

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  42. Nancy Pelosi ripping up 45*'s speech made sitting though it worthwhile. All eyes on Pelosi, not 45*, at the end.

    *impeached

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  43. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  44. Will the result be holding 49-51 again?

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  45. We all know Trump did not write the bullshit speech he spewed last night, but were you at all surprised he mentioned Wyatt Earp? Trump doesn't know anything about who Wyatt Earp was. And speaking of being ignorant of our history, recently I have been amazed to discover that those in their twenties and younger have never even heard of Wyatt Earp. I keep being amazed at the lack of knowledge younger people have when it comes to what is common knowledge for more mature generations.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. I thought the same thing too, when I heard that part of the speech (actually, a lot of his speech). I wondered at the time "who the heck is writing this 'stuff'"? It's always been my belief that Stephen Miller has the biggest input on his diatribes.

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    3. To play devil's advocate (call me Dershowitz), was Wyatt Earp really an important historical figure that should be known?

      He was a reasonably competent lawman, and clever businessman opening brothels and saloons in gold mining towns. But he was hardly extraordinary and had little influence on culture except through a mythology that grew after his death. Best known for the shootout at Tombstone, but I suspect there were lots of shootouts at that time and in those places.

      Per Wikipedia:
      Unlike most legendary lawmen of the American West, Earp was relatively unknown until Stuart N. Lake published the first biography of Wyatt Earp, Wyatt Earp: Frontier Marshal in 1931, two years after Earp died."

      It was books and later Hollywood that glamorized him and made his name; it bothers me not at all that young folks don't know him, his hype was much inflated.

      Some people get lost to history. Do you remember Edward Everett? Important in his time, now lost to all except true historians.

      Delete
    4. I’m sure Trump about Earp’s travails in Kansas (which is now the home of the Chiefs).

      Delete
    5. Yes, eco, you are quite correct in comparing yourself to Dershowitz in this matter because in the rest of what you say about Wyatt Earp you are incorrect.

      He was anything but "a reasonably competent lawman" and "hardly extraordinary and had little influence on culture except through a mythology that grew after his death." He was in fact quite an extraordinary lawman of his time and highly respected for his bravery and competence. He was also well known throughout the country due to much being reported of him by several prominent writers of the time. The Lake book did add to his public awareness later, but he was anything but unknown prior to that rather mediocre book.

      You are also mistaken in your supposition that "there were lots of shootouts at that time and in those places." This a myth primarily fueled by the gunfight outside the O.K. Corral which is also the primary reason for all the Western movies from the beginning days of Hollywood.

      I would again suggest, if you are truly interested in this chapter in our history, that you read the above book I mentioned. It is an extremely interesting look into that period and its politics and it will surprise you far beyond anything Stuart N. Lake was able to do. But I doubt you are really interested in the subject.

      Delete
    6. We will have to disagree about the relevance of Wyatt Earp. But don't worry, I won't hold it against you that you're wrong.

      How common were shootouts is a relative question (kind of like mass shootings today), but Wikipedia lists 13 in the 1880's, and about 40 in the late 19th/ early 20th centuries.

      Delete
  46. I fell asleep at 58 minute mark. Wyatt-missed him. But did enjoy Tombstone especially Dana Delaney.
    Which item here seems out of place? All medal winners.
    Martin Luther King,Mother Teresa, Billy Graham, The Donald.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may have enjoyed Tombstone, but that movie is a complete fabrication. If you want to really understand who Wyatt Earp was, and the gunfight outside the O.K. Corral, you will need to read the book by Casey Tefertiller, Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend, 1997. I highly recommend it. BTW, the photo on the cover is reversed, left to right.

      Delete
    2. Of course, it was a complete fabrication. By the Melkotians. The Earps weren't real, their bullets weren't real; that's why Chekov wasn't really killed. Don't you remember Spectre of the Gun???

      (Dr. McCoy had previously played Morgan Earp.)

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    3. I will look for that one. Did you read, "Boys in the Boat" about U Wash crew team in 1936 Olympics,? Very good.

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    4. No, but I do have a copy. I intended to read it, but after watching the PBS documentary, I decided I had learned enough to satisfy me. I understand it is a good read, but there are so many other topics I am more interested in reading about. I am now reading a new book about Herschel Grynszpan, by Stephen Koch, Hitler's Pawn: The Boy Assassin and the Holocaust.

      Delete
    5. I could not find the W.E. book on KCLS Ebooks. I will keep looking. Also Gadwells new one is on the list.

      Delete
    6. SPL & KCLS each have only one copy. It is too bad that some really good books get sidelined, while some other poor ones stick around. I am frequently looking for a used copy of it at Goodwill, but haven't found one yet. I read it while in Spain in April 1999, but I would like to have a copy for reference. It is one of my favorite reads. Of course you can follow eco's example and read what Wiki has to say about it and then you will know everything. Why bother to actually read books anyway?

      Delete
  47. A Presidential medal of fiefdom to anyone who can come up with the cleverest anagram for Rush Hudson Limbaugh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rush Hudson Limbaugh
      Uhh, Salmon Rushdi bug?
      (Spelling liberties taken, of course!)

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    3. Or perhaps:
      Glib round mass? Uh-huh!

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    4. Hail bum on drugs? Hush!
      (reference to his Oxycontin days)
      Hush---hold mug's burial!
      (reference to his lung cancer, a wee bit mean, or not mean enough, your call)

      Delete
  48. A few anagrams for FREUDIAN SLIP:
    A SINFUL PRIDE
    PAINFUL RIDES
    A FLUID SNIPER
    PAUL IS FRIEND
    FRAUD IN SPIEL
    FRAULEIN'S DIP
    SPIRAL IN FEUD
    DIP IS FUNERAL
    A FLIP'S RUINED
    PRUDE'S IN FAIL
    I FAIL, SPURNED
    FAIR PUN, I SLIDE
    IS PLIED, UNFAIR
    U.S. INFIDEL RAP
    PERUSAL I FIND
    SIN, IF PURE LAD
    IF I'D PLAN, SURE
    IF I'D PLAN RUSE
    APRIL INFUSED
    IF UNREAL, DIPS
    IS F'D UP, I LEARN
    Without the S:
    PLAIN, IF RUDE
    Without the D:
    A PERIL IS FUN
    I'm sure many others are possible.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sigmund Freud wore a slip?
      Or did Jung give him the slip?

      Delete
    2. He was only Jung at heart. Cue the groans and/or rimshot.

      Delete
    3. Hey, I just thought of a good name, Eco-archetype.

      Delete
  49. We are officially tribal. When the party’s over you can bellyache all you want. All the good girls are going to hell and all the boys will see the end of the world and regret the game. Get what you can, that’s all that matters.

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  50. So will this now and forever be known as his Bullshit Speech?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I listened for about thirty seconds and couldn't take any more.

      Delete
    2. I forced myself to listen to the entire tantrum. It was extremely painful, but I thought everyone should listen to it. It says so much.

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  51. BILLIE EILISH

    > As a Jan, I can tell you there are many names that can be both male and female.

    "Billie", for instance.

    > Arrr!

    Her middle name is Pirate.

    >> There actually is someone who, for professional reasons, changed her name from Alison Segura to Alison Nosila.
    > For reasons I'll explain on Thursday, you may want to consider deleting your comment.

    Nosila's website specifically says she draws inspiration from Billie Eilish, among others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since she officially has 4 names, is PIRATE her middle-ish name? ;-)

      Delete
  52. I wrote, “Even my grandmother would know this name.” The hint was to Grammy, of which the celebrity abounds.

    ReplyDelete
  53. BILLIE EILISH. She just won 5 grammys last week (Jan. 26, “current celebrity”), but I had never heard of her!

    Lego's challenge: BILLIE EILISH (-E, -I, +L) yields (The Beverly) HILLBILLIES.

    The character actor whose “entire last name is his entire first name reversed,” a perfect palindrome: ROBERT TREBOR.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Billie Eilish

    I didn't see this at first, hard to think of a lamer puzzle. A homophonic and synonymic reference to her first hit "Ocean Eyes" - sea, see. La Mer is a Debussy classic.

    A bit of irony in that. In response to Lego's "Hillibillies" anagram, Fred Silverman, who eliminated The Beverly Hillbillies as part of the 1971 rural purge, ironically died on Thursday.

    Careful DSB77, this group can get cross. Before Billie Eilish, Christopher Cross was the only artist to "sweep" the Grammy Awards, winning Best Album, Song, New Artist, and Record in the same year. Cross did this in 1981, perhaps a year this group could "get".

    NPR did broadcast a courtesy call on the answer. Bill Curtiss(y) referred to her in the "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me" intro, saying she had the Grammy, but he was the Grampy.

    Will the result be holding 49-51 again? In Roman numerals 49-51 = IL-LI (yes, ponderous ones, I know IL = 49 is wrong), "be" holding that yields BILLIE.

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  55. Trump: I’m the bad guy
    The world: duh

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  56. We're at 195 comments this week. After 200, scroll down and hit "Load more" to see more.

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  57. I never heard of Billie Eilish (old fart that I am), but i got it because of an obvious reference to Grammy. But in good faith, I don't know if it was the clue that helped or the hullabaloo made about it that underlined that I should regard it as one.

    ReplyDelete
  58. BILLIE EILISH

    "Some awls have these covers."

    Her brother, FINNEAS, stylizes his name in ALL CAPS (AWL CAPS).

    ReplyDelete

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.