Sunday, June 20, 2021

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2021): Take the Car out for a Spin

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 20, 2021): Take the Car out for a Spin
Q: Name a make of car. Write it in all capital letters. Rotate one of the letters 90 degrees and another letter 180 degrees to make a woman's name. What is it?
I think this might be Will's favorite make of car.

Edit: We've had several puzzles involving MAZDA including Mazola->Mazda, Madagascar+Z->Mazda/Gas car, Amazed-E=Mazda and Wanda->Mazda. That last puzzle (from July 2, 2017) was the same puzzle but in reverse.
A: MAZDA --> WANDA

215 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. There are two kinds of 90° rotation: clockwise & counter clockwise.

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  2. Yup, the bar is set low on this one.

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

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  4. I wonder if they start with that car model and try to see how many puzzles they can come up with.

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    Replies
    1. This week we have "make of car." We had "brand of car" with the Civic/GMC puzzle.

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  5. 900 correct last week. I wonder how many we will get this week.

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    1. They got more than 1,900 the last time.

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  6. I have a coworker by that name, although she goes by another name—possibly because she doesn't want to be associated with that make of car…? 🤔

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  7. Another rotating letters puzzle. Works well in this case. Wonder if there will be the usual debates over typefaces and technically accurate letter shapes.

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  8. Oh, Will, we meant recycling cans, bottles, plastic and paper, not puzzles.

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    Replies
    1. If only there were a way to check this beforehand. . .

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    2. There is an unusual twist in this case.

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    3. Natasha, I was hitting the sarcasm button there (twice).

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    4. WW, I never knew about the "sarcasm" button. Thanks!

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    5. See also:
      sarcasm font
      , though I could not get the "code" tag accepted here in Blainesville.

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    6. @before and after comment. That is what it says on that site. What code did you use?

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    7. I used the CODE tag they suggested. Or maybe the author was being sarcastic!

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    8. Part of the purpose of being sarcastic is letting the reader get it without a clue.

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    9. Most often I've seen comments that end with the "sarcasm switch" (/s) which indicates the statement was meant sarcastically.

      The upside down smiley �� was introduced to Unicode in 2015 an was intended to indicate sarcasm, but never really caught on.

      Blogger can do limited things like bold or italics, but not a font switch.

      Delete
    10. Blaine, well then, MANY of the comments Blainesville are /s.

      And /s/ is used to denote signature. Therefore, is /s/s/ a sarcastic signature? ��

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    11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    12. WW/Blaine: Where do I find the ?? in the black diamond? What does it mean? What is it called?

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    13. Natasha, You could always stand on your head.

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    14. It means that the Unicode character didn't render correctly. Let's see if this works → 🙃

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    15. Blaine, how did you get it �� to work this time?

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    16. I read about the upside down happy face. Did not know that is to what you were referring. Cool!

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    17. https://emojipedia.org/upside-down-face/
      Upside down face can be copied from this site.

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    18. Sdb: or i could tell reader to turn cell upside down.

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  9. To all who celebrate: Happy Father's Day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you , Sir K... Same to you

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    2. Thank you and back at you, Dr. K. I'll be grilling seafood with the family.

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    3. new Kevin Hart flick "Fatherhood" supposed to be good.

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    4. For Father’s Day, I Zoomed with my son and his wife, and just for fun I threw the puzzle his way. He solved it within seconds (no hints or clues). I knew he had the puzzle gene years ago—it was February 1998—when he solved Will’s offering as we were driving to NYC to attend the NBA Jam Session at the Javits Center (part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, held in NYC that year). At the time, he was 8.

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    5. Ben, that is a terrible idea!
      The seafood should be grilled first.

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    6. I miss my Dad, God rest his soul. We lost him in 2007. Hope my brother Bryan's having a great Father's Day!
      pjbMustSayRIPJWB(JamesWilsonBerry,1938-2007)

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    7. MAZDA, WANDA. I posted TOO MANY clues this week.

      I kept thinking about A FISH CALLED WANDA. I only posted about grilling seafood for Father's Day because I was thinking about Kevin Kline eating Michael Palin's goldfish.

      Although I can oft be found grilling seafood indeed.


      Delete

  10. If you Google the woman’s name, the second result is someone I saw in a very recent season finale.

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  11. I need to ask my friend with that name what kind of car she drives.

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  12. I’ve never known a woman of that name, but did own one of the makes cars. It was a blast to drive.

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  13. I submitted answer in capital letters. Wonder if required by NPR. LOL

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  14. There is a divine connection here.

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    Replies
    1. If you make that connection: change one letter, and you'll get another make of car plus the one in this week's puzzle.

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    2. ... which in fact is the origin of the name. Anyhow, I own one ... whose model name is interesting too.

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  15. I got this one very fast, first make I tried, lists unconsulted. If I do say so myself, I don’t call that dense, brainless, or dull.

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    Replies
    1. Agree. But first i am heading to auto row in Canton.

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  17. Whoa, NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday went from Chrissy Teigan to Meghan Markle today. What?

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  18. I happen to have this car but I think everyone will get it quite quickly, without having to set up any type of meeting.

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  19. Easy. Only two letters become different letters when rotated 180°...

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    Replies
    1. True, but "different" was not specified. I once taught a girl named Cooper; disqualify her if you can! /s

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    2. I want to say what I think that girl's first name was, but that would be TMI (on all counts).

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    3. There is no point in rotating a letter 180° that just remains the same...

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    4. ron, you seem to be looking at this puzzle from the axis of evil perspective.

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    5. ron, no point. . .or perhaps infinite points -- OOOO.

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  20. Now it is racial??oh critical race theory in the K-12.

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  21. There even is a sort of a connection to last week's puzzle.

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  22. While electric cars are on the horizon for this company, it currently offers only gas cars

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    Replies
    1. Actually they have one selling today, just not in the US. Supposedly coming this year.

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  23. The more I looked at this puzzle the more I like it.

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  24. My friend with this name could not have a better name.

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    Replies
    1. One of my coworkers dated (later married) someone by this name when they lived in different time zones. We came up with a dictionary definition of their relationship.

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    2. I think I submitted a similar hint last time around. Long story short: he was dating Wanda, so we cut and pasted our definition of "Wandalust" into the dictionary: "the insatiable desire to travel to see Wanda."

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  25. Rotating letters is appropriate for some of this company's historical models

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    1. I wonder if enthusiasts of the older models have their own club. It might be a civic club, but not a CIVIC club

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  26. This puzzle is pretty cute, but hardly visionary...Will's favorite is right!

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  27. This puzzle sounds funnier with a foreign accent.

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    Replies
    1. Again this was a FISH CALLED WANDA clue.

      MAZDA, WANDA. I posted TOO MANY clues this week.

      Why foreign accents? See the movie.

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  28. The "Six Degrees" game links Kenan Thompson to Vivien Leigh.

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    Replies
    1. Vivien Leigh was in "A Streetcar Named Desire" with Marlon Brando, who was in "The Godfather" with Abe Vigoda who was in "Goodburger" with Kenan and Kel. Also Abe Vigodo played Det. Fish on "Barney Miller" and Fish (may have) Called Wanda.

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  29. Reminds me of an older movie scene in a parking lot involving 2 cars, and a very empowered woman. Neither car was the make in this puzzle.

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  30. There are some weeks when WS doesn't earn whatever it is we pay him.

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    Replies
    1. You might enjoy it more when he uses it next time.

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    2. Now i know how to derive a puzzle to submit.

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    3. Natasha:
      That's funny and reminds me of a puzzle I made up and was going to submit years ago, but checked first only to discover a variation had already been used. I was so glad I checked first.

      Do you remember the hint I used last time this turkey was used, and how it confused you?

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    4. Maybe we shouldn't complain when Will keeps on using puzzles he has run before, and just remind ourselves that what goes around just keeps going around.

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    5. SDB: I looked at the old one and could not find the hint you used. Let me know on Thursday plz.

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    6. Look at my noon post and your reply.

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    7. SDB: Do not see the noon post.

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    8. My noon answer post on the Thursday.

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    9. I did see the noon post on thursday but thought you meant Sunday. I still do not get what you mean about the Thursday post. I do not know what I was thinking of when I posted response to you. Can discuss Thursday...at noon..lol.

      Delete
    10. Yes, 'tis lovable, Natasha...
      but is it really an emoji inverted, or just a Muppet "imBerted"?

      LegoSweepin'TheCloudsAway(ButAlasSimultaneouslyImplantingAnEarwormInYourCranium!)

      Delete
  31. Oddly, this is a repeat puzzle. That is not fair. My parents used to drive this car.

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. The Mazda, Wanda puzzle was also the puzzle on July 2, 2017. Wanda is one of Timmy Turner's fish in The Fairly OddParents.

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  32. For those who have already solved this puzzle, here are two puzzles running on this week's Puzzleria!:
    1. Name a practitioner of a certain discipline and a surface upon which the discipline may be practiced. Rearrange the combined letters of these two words to name a world capital city and its country.
    2. Take the one-word title of a novel published near the turn of a century. Spell it backward, and add a “c” someplace. Divide the result in half to spell what a U.S. presidential candidate, about 90 years later, apparently had. What is this novel?

    Please do not post answers here, but hints are okay. We reveal our answers on Puzzleria! beginning at Noon PDT on Wednesday.

    LegoJunoDeva

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    Replies
    1. I hope when Shortz reads your puzzles he has a sense of inferiority. It would be well deserved.

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    2. Uh, Lego, should you really be showing some of your Puzzleria! offerings here? If some of us have yet to solve them on your website, what makes you think we'll get them on Blaine's?
      pjbAlreadyHas#2,ButStillNeedsAHintFor#1!

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    3. In Puzzle #1, a person after whom a cartoon character was named sounds as if he/she may have been a "practitioner of (the) certain discipline..." but likely was not.

      LegoAddsThatTheU.S.PresidentialCandidateInPuzzle#2WasOnceComparedToSnoopy

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  33. I sent a similar puzzle to will some months ago. He never used it "Drat". See what you think of it. Take the name of a make of car. Remove two letters. Read the remaining letters and get a synonym of the make. What's make and what's the synonym?

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  34. In my opinion this puzzle has not improved with age.

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  35. I guess Will agreed when I sent it in.

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  36. Don't mess with Will, even if he does get lazy from time to time. Appropriately enough, given yesterday's holiday, this puzzle has me thinking of not one, but two African-American comedians.

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  37. I solved it right away sans lists, but can only think of one African-American comedian. A few Caucasians from across the pond come to mind, though.
    pjbThinksSomething'sFishyHere,ButWon'tElaborate

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  38. "And one more thing.' The name of the story by M.Twain is " The Celebrated frog of Calaveras county" It is not the "Celebrated toad of Calaveras county. " Toads have short squat legs and toads can't jump. No comparison. To say a toad is also a frog is well- preposterous. Toads can't jump.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aren't you late for your BINGO night?

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    2. And here is a link that shows a toad jumping:

      https://youtu.be/L3RGx583piI

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    3. Yes. Would you like to know what I call you?

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    4. SDB, I think you know that I enjoy your wit with words and sense of humor, but for the sake of pleasantness and decorum ask you to not keep baiting Plantsmith. You must know it offends him, but it gets out of control. Its unpleasant and it demeans you. It isn't my intent to put you down, but please think about what I'm saying.

      Delete
    5. Cap,
      I have been thinking a great deal about what you are saying. I expected you would post a criticism, as you have above. It amazes me though, because you say you are a shrink. So I keep asking myself why then you cannot see what is going on here, but instead are playing the old game of Blame the Victim.

      I have NOT been baiting PS. He has been baiting me. Don't you read all his posts baiting me that I completely ignore? If you only look for my posts then you will not be able to see that he is a bully, most likely acting out some jealousy issues. I learned, mostly in junior high, that you cannot stop a bully by ignoring him. I also learned that most bullies are smarter than the adults who "deal" with bullying by telling both parties to "just stop it and get along." It never works, but you have done it here too.

      Have you not seen all his posts attacking Seattle that are directed at me with absurd accusations? I have ignored all of them. Did you somehow miss that? Did you miss where he tries to bait me by bringing up linguine, which he cannot even spell correctly, in order to continue the pointless argument? I have ignored it completely. I could go on and on with more recent examples, but why bother?

      Did you miss that he was baiting me with his above frog/toad post? Did you overlook the fact that he brought up his cult, not me? Did you miss his recent posts attacking me for living in Seattle? I ignored all of them. BTW, I do not believe he has ever lived in Seattle as he claims. Skyway is not part of Seattle. I was born here, yet he says he wants to "return" here to the city he criticizes me for living in. It makes no sense at all, but I have not responded to any of it. Why have you apparently missed all that and more? I would expect more objectivity from someone in your profession.

      Delete
    6. To be honest, he's not my favorite blogger, so you're right about my not paying attention to his posts whereas I always pay attention to yours. But it does take the two of you to keep it going.Again as I've quoted before, "Life is too important to be taken seriously". I still completely enjoy your wit and quickness with words.

      Delete
    7. Cap,
      I appreciate your reply, but I cannot disagree more with you that it takes two to keep it going. I would love to discuss this in more detail with you, but not here and not in this form. If you feel like it email me at Yahoo.com. You can figure out the beginning. We can then arrange a phone conversation if you so desire. I think you might find it informative.

      Delete
    8. Cap: I meant Plantsmith in my email.

      Delete
    9. SDB,

      The obvious email address didn't work. Send me the info via my website at mudmusicstudio.com and I'll get it at my business email and we'll go from there.

      Cap

      Delete
  39. This comes from a Canadian listener. This is interesting as we live not far from the Canadian border and this make of car is pronounced differently in Canada than it is here is the United States!

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  40. This comes from a Canadian listener. This is interesting as we live not far from the Canadian border and this make of car is pronounced differently in Canada than it is here is the United States!

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comes from a Canadian listener. This is interesting as we live not far from the Canadian border and this make of car is pronounced differently in Canada than it is here is the United States!

    ReplyDelete
  42. I would never own this car because the solution is a girl I once dated...Both seems to have a very bad reputation.

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    Replies
    1. Dos not the engine type start with the same letter?

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    2. I also never had luck with the J's--Jezebel, Jolene etc..Jennie.

      Delete
  43. Literary clue: Vonnegut.
    Movie clue: Not The Incredible Mr. Limpet.

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  44. OK, It may not be "The Incredible Mr. Limpet", but a la last week, it starred an actor (either male or female) with three names.

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  45. Fairly odd that they've used this auto make in so many puzzles. If ever I start my own auto company, I'll have to choose a name that's highly conducive to puzzle-making so Will can give me some free advertising.

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    Replies
    1. Noah, agreed.

      Take the name of a U.S. car brand, subtract the last name of a U.S. President, rotate that 180° to reveal this puzzle's degree of difficulty.

      Delete
  46. Had one of these cars once. It was great fun, loadin' it up and headin' out on a road trip...

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  47. Now take the first letter from that make of car and put it in front of another make of car, then remove the last letter. You will be left with another woman's name. What is it?

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    Replies
    1. Correction: Now take the first letter from that make of car and put it in front of another make of car, then replacement the last letter with an "E". You will be left with another woman's name. What is it?

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    2. Actually, either puzzle yields a correct answer. :)

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    3. God'll get you for that, Unknown.
      pjbMustSay"RightOn!"ToThatRiff-OffPuzzleOfYours

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    4. Answer: M from Mazda -> AUDI -> MAUD OR MAUDE

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  48. For my fellow NBA fans, word is that Detroit tonight won the top seed in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So...who? Cunningham? Suggs? Somebody else?

      I'm going to have to ask my son. He's the family's NBA expert. For quite a while, he was the Managing Editor of the Brooklyn Game, covered the Nets, and frequently appeared on the YES Network's pre-game shows as an analyst.

      BTW, Ben, I'll soon be watching Oslo. Thanks for the heads up.

      Delete
    2. Oh, I don't care who they pick. I was only posting a clue because Detroit is the PISTONS and my whole childhood the MAZDAs were advertising themselves AGAINST the PISTON engine and trying to teach us all about the WANKEL ROTARY ENGINE.

      Delete
  49. Congratulations to India Walton who looks like she will soon become Buffalo, New York's Socialist mayor. Maybe there still is some hope for this country that is trying so hard to self destruct.

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    Replies
    1. Kshama Sawant (socialist) just pleaded guilty to ethics violation- on Seattle city council. Yea-lots of hope there.

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  50. SDB, I wish that I could say your wrong...but alas. I think if we are wrong, we'd both enjoy eating crow.

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  51. Cap,
    I found your post somewhat ambiguous, but I read it again and think I understand it better now. I can't be wrong about this because our system of government is not working. Something must change. That is why Trump was elected. Not because most voters liked him, but because things have become so bad for so many that they were ripe to vote for any populist clown. It is a tried and true scenario to how tyrants take over. Our constitution is not working. It was designed for a small group of colonies with a tiny population. It was not democratic either. It was designed for the wealthy to prosper at the expense of the common man. They were so clever in convincing the people that it was divinely inspired and a gift from god. No it wasn't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You took more time than I did because I agree with you point of view. I've really gotten tired of all of what's happening in our country with no letup. Next time lets talk about something else not because of denial, but from feeling overwhelmed by that which isn't in my control.

      Delete
    2. PS, My vote doesn't even have the power it used to. Maybe I've just gotten too old.

      Delete
    3. Cap,
      No, it isn't that both you I are getting too old, but I see why you may think that. No, I believe it has a lot more behind it. We are a country wallowing in all kinds of denial. i.e. slavery, racism, avarice, greed, hypocrisy. All this and more is catching up with us at an accelerating rate. We are quick to condemn foreign governments we disagree with, but fail to recognize that we engage in the same crimes. This is not to say we have not done some things we have every right to be proud of, but to me they seem to be in the minority. Our advanced age and paying attention to politics and history makes us more aware of where this is all heading. Unfortunately while wisdom may in some cases come with age and maturity, it does not easily transfer downward to those who would be well advised to pay attention to their elders. This is not a western concept. I doubt Paul Revere would be considered worth paying attention to were he alive today. Most citizens would rather he just keep his horse in the barn.

      You are right to suspect your vote no longer has the power of one vote one person behind it. We are not taught in our schools that our system was not designed to empower each citizen equally. It was designed to do just the opposite.

      Delete
    4. Neither of you are wrong. I rail about this with friends all the time. You’re both assuming at some level the population has the same skills and reason you do. Sadly, that is not America. The majority are simply uneducated and take their cues from others that do not have their best interests at heart.

      “Never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.”

      We are empowered equally, we are simply not equal.

      Delete
    5. BB:
      I like your post, but I doubt seriously either of us assumes the population is that smart.

      I was just looking up this wonderful quote 2 days ago. "nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public."
      Widely attributed to American author and social critic H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) but not found exactly verbatim in his published works, so the source and original form of this expression are not known with absolute certainty.

      Delete
    6. I should further point out that Absolut certainty can only be obtained by drinking enough of the swill to ensure you are totally drunk as must be your intention otherwise you would not drink that shit.

      Delete
  52. Cap,
    Do not take this personally; it is just a thought I had after reading your above posts again.
    you said, "Next time lets talk about something else not because of denial, but from feeling overwhelmed by that which isn't in my control."

    This got me to thinking that it would be interesting if we could get into the mind of straw. I would like to know what the straw that broke the camel's back was thinking just before it was lifted into place. I doubt it thought it could have such power. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Point made. Cynicism s a side effect of my age. Something to watch out for, but it's hard! I once had someone once told me "Hard isn't the same thing as impossible." More later for other modalities of communication.

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    2. I suspect age is a scapegoat when it comes to blaming it on longevity. I think it more likely cynicism comes from the accumulation of knowledge from our life experiences. Of course that also relates to age, but perhaps in a different light.

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    3. The ways of learning cynicism can be subtle. When in my 20's I witnessed a car accident and wanted to report it to the police as a witness. Before cell phones, I waited to get home to call the police over my father's protestations to the contrary. The PD was uninterested and gave my father an "I told you so moment."

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    4. The best takeaway from that experience is to know that regardless of the outcome you did the right thing.

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    5. Hey, who's the therapist here? I hope you know I'm joking.

      Delete
  53. Another hint: the answer rhymes with another car make

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  54. MAZDA, WANDA

    "Yup, the bar's been set low on this one." was a reference to "A Fish called WANDA" written, directed, and starring Barbara Loden.

    If Will is recycling his puzzles, I'm going to recycle my clues (last used in July 2017).

    ReplyDelete
  55. MAZDA >>> WANDA

    My Hint (Removed):
    "It was so nice not to have to be fishing through a list this time." Hinting at A Fish Called Wanda movie.

    We last time had this puzzle just under four years ago. At that time I hinted by posting that I was going to attend a Rotary meeting with my uncle. This was hinting at the Wankel engine used in Mazdas. This hint confused Natasha, who thought I had lost my mind by becoming a Rotarian. No chance of that happening! I have attended a few Rotary meeting with my late uncle in the past, but found them a total bore. I think I had more fun as a child when I was bored and would watch a dog turd on the lawn turn white.

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  56. MAZDA -> WANDA

    >> 900 correct last week. I wonder how many we will get this week.
    > They got more than 1,900 the last time.

    On July 9, 2017. (The puzzle was posted on July 2.)

    ReplyDelete
  57. MAZDA—>WANDA

    My clue: “You could die laughing.”

    While a Danish gentleman was watching A Fish Called Wanda in 1989, his heart rate rose to an estimated 250-500 beats per minute as he laughed almost uncontrollably during the scene in which Michael Palin’s nose was stuffed with French fries. The resultant heart fibrillation brought on his death.

    I considered clues related to Maxfield Parrish (i.e., Edison Mazda) but thought they'd be tmi.

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  58. MAZDAWANDA

    Only M & W, when rotated 180°, make a different letter and only Z & N or U & C (depending on the font used), when rotated 90°, make a different letter.


    This is a "reverse repeat" of the July 2nd, 2017 puzzle. See answer HERE.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I wrote, “I got this one very fast, first make I tried, lists unconsulted. If I do say so myself, I don’t call that dense, brainless, or dull.” This refers to Otto’s repeated line, “Don’t call me stupid” in _A Fish Called Wanda_. I was going to leave it “I don’t call that stupid,” but putting that phrase into Google brought up references to the movie.

    ReplyDelete
  60. Our friend GB has concocted a potently pleasing two-puzzle cocktail for your solving pleasure on this Friday's Puzzleria!
    * One puzzle involves something Americans have, but have no word for... (but the Germans do!)
    * The other puzzle asks you to discover a "very verbally versatile word."
    Puzzleria! is uploaded in the wee hours every early Friday at Midnight Pacific Daylight Time.
    On our menu you will also find:
    * a Schpuzzle of the Week about animal breeds, birds... and a bit of piscatology,
    * a Puzzle Slice that "wonders wonders who, who wrote two books of what,"
    * a Tricky, Deceptive, Gimmicky Dessert Puzzle that may or may not amuse you, and
    * Nine riff-off puzzles that seek to answer the question: "Why would Wanda want a Honda?"
    Drop by for a bite, and for a bit of fun.

    LegoWhoBelievesTheGermansHaveAWordForEverthing(HeBelievesItIsAlles

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    Replies
    1. Lego, I am guessing the German word: schadenfreude?

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    2. I suppose you'd enjoy my having to look that up?

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    3. GB, not at all. I am guessing that's not it. ;-)

      Delete
    4. 'Tis a great guess, however, Word Woman.
      I my memory serves me correctly, didn't you once concoct an ingenious puzzle that involved the word "schadenfreude"?
      Incidentally, here are the answers to the two Puzzleria! puzzles from this past week that I posted on Blaine's Blog this past Sunday:
      1. Name a practitioner of a certain discipline and a surface upon which the discipline may be practiced. Rearrange the combined letters of these two words to name a world capital city and its country.
      Answer:
      Cairo, Egypt; Yogi, Carpet
      2. Take the one-word title of a novel published near the turn of a century. Spell it backward, and add a “c” someplace. Divide the result in half to spell what a U.S. presidential candidate, about 90 years later, apparently had. What is this novel?
      Answer:
      "Dracula," by Bram Stoker
      ACLU Card (which George H.W. Bush's henchmen "accused" candidate Michael Dukakis of having)

      LegoWhoWouldImagineThatWordplayPuzzlesInGermanWouldBeABlastToCreate!

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  61. Of course MAZDA WANDA. I started working with M and Z almost immediately as letters to be rotated.

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  62. My clue said that a puzzle involving rotation of letters was appropriate in this case, referring to the Wankel rotary engine Mazda formerly used in some models and reportedly is going to bring back in some capacity next year.

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  63. Easy to find WS recycled puzzles.

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  64. MAZDA, WANDA

    Last Sunday I said, “Standing here washing the dishes and looking longingly out the window on this beautiful first day of summer, I wonder if I should just bag the puzzle and go fishing all day instead.” “Window” and “wonder” evoking Wanda. “Fishing” evoking the movie, “A Fish Called Wanda,” and “bag” evoking the bag-job plot of the same movie. However, Blaine deleted my post so it wasn’t a clue for anybody anyway.

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  65. Mazda- Wanda. Is not its engine the same Ist letter? Wankel- engine- Not in use now? Also a Beach boy tune-" Help me Rhonda."

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  66. MAZDA WANDA

    My clues:

    There is a divine connection here. — Ahura Mazda
    Change one letter, and you'll get another make of car…Acura

    (Replying to Lancek's remark "I once taught a girl named Cooper":)
    I want to say what I think that girl's first name was, but that would be TMI (on all counts).
    From "MINI" (Cooper)," you could make "WIZI" (silly as that seems for a name). The reason For "TMI (on all counts)" was that you would take the exact same letters, and rotate them the same way, as in the puzzle answer: W, by 180°; and N, by 90°.

    There even is a sort of a connection to last week's puzzle.
    I intentionally put a superfluous a, one you might remove.
    Remove one a from "WANDA," and you get "WAND"—as in…
    MAGIC (Johnson) WAND.

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  67. My "gas cars" clue was in reference to the Ma(z)dagascar puzzle from 2009.

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  68. My clue -

    If you Google the woman’s name, the second result is someone I saw in a very recent season finale.

    This was a reference to Wanda Durant, Kevin Durant’s mom, who was shown continuously on tv during the Nets season ending loss last weekend.

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  69. MAZDA, WANDA
    Like many others here, I too referenced "A Fish Called Wanda"(Caucasian comedians from across the pond being John Cleese and Michael Palin of course), as well as Jamie Foxx's "Ugly Wanda" character from "In Living Color". I even referred to "Maude" in response to Unknown's riff-off puzzle.
    pjbAlsoWentForAnMRIThisAfternoonAndTheJanitor'sNameWasActuallyWanda...Coincidence?!

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  70. MAZDA/WANDA "Towanda!" was the phrase used in Fried Green Tomatoes, when Kathy Bates joyfully smashed her car into another woman's car after the woman took her parking space.

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  71. Oops!!! Was out enjoying my new motorcycle yesterday and forgot to post. Mazda/Wanda…. I owned a Mazda Miata years ago. It was a blast to drive…in good weather. As soon as roads got wet, it had an annoying tendency to want to swap ends. Not being willing at the time to have a vehicle I could only use in good weather, I traded it in.

    Later I got into motorcycles… Hmmmmm.

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  72. Keep the rubber side down, as they say, superzee.
    My clue was Vonnegut, a reference to Happy Birthday, Wanda June and "not Mr. Limpet," which was supposed to lead to a Fish Called Wanda.
    I couldn't think of any clues for Mazda.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks WS! Greasy side down, shiny side up, is the objective. The one time I violated that rule resulted in a broken collar bone and six broken ribs.

      Delete

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