Q: This week's challenge is more challenging than last week's. Write down the name of a number. Move each letter four spots later in the alphabet — so A would become E, B would become F, etc. The result will be a number that's 44 more than your first one. What numbers are these?More challenging? That's debateable. This is basically a Caesar cipher, except shifting by 4 letters.
Edit: In retrospect, perhaps mentioning a Roman statesman whose eponymous cipher usually involves a shift of three letters was a bit too revealing.
A: THREE --> XLVII (47)
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.
ReplyDeleteYou 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.
Yes, there are logical ways to solve this.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have it...
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the few times I understood Blaine's response, after I solved it. --Margaret G.
ReplyDeleteAnd you brute force your way to the answer
ReplyDeleteI too solved it.
Delete:-)
Add the two numbers. Advance a letter of the name of this sum eight spots. You get a neato result.
ReplyDeleteKeen!
DeleteGroovy, baby.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteLegendary clue: Sir Galahad.
ReplyDelete"One, two, five!" "Three, sir." "Three!"
DeleteThat was easy. When I heard it on air, I thought I would build a spreadsheet to help me shift the letters. But I got it before I could even boot the computer.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteHoly moly ...
ReplyDeleteBlaine - To reply to your question on the previous blog, I had never heard of Duotrigordle until reading your post. I played it and also Sedecordle, as Ben mentioned. They're both challenging enough while still being contained (unlike Semantle), so they make for good play and a step up from Wordle, in my opinion as a pedestrian puzzler. Thanks to both of you for the mention. No hint in this. . . unless. . . .
ReplyDeletehttps://medium.com/floodgates/the-complete-and-authoritative-list-of-wordle-spinoffs-fb00bfafc448
DeleteIf my answer is correct, this puzzle should be a welcome break from the ordinary for NPR puzzle fans.
ReplyDeleteWhat if some of us were unfaithful to this blog?
ReplyDeleteWhat if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? - Romans 3:3
DeleteFound the answer. Haven't found a non-obvious clue, although I could probably find one in something already found.
ReplyDeleteI never did explain this clue, did I? I was referring to state, city, and college seals which often display the year of the institution's founding in Roman numerals.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteSorry, Blaine.
DeleteFor the first time ever I think the hint is too obvious.
ReplyDeleteTMI, me thinks.
DeleteI didn't understand it; ergo, it was TMI for me.
DeleteI didn't want to say hint was TMI, because that could be TMI. But since you broke the ice...
DeleteLike Yogi, I could claim, “I really didn’t say everything I said,” but I won’t, so bear with me. Given our collective concern with illness, viruses, and bacteria, I went on a word hunt yesterday and found streptobacilli again.
DeleteReverse the offset and what does TMI get you????
DeleteWith a -4 offset TMI gets you PIE
DeleteHow do you approach this? Max Planck said it best, I think.
ReplyDeleteGee, there is a comment place here. Thanks WW.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteI put my hands in front of my face when I read Blaine's intro.
ReplyDelete541165353 sort of
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle has little to do with last week's
ReplyDeleteBut quite a bit to do with today's on-air challenge.
DeleteTHREE little pink oinkers
DeleteThe number 44 is much storied in Syracuse University history, having been worn by Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown and Floyd Little and Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis. The university was assigned the Zip Code 13244.
ReplyDeleteMusic Clue: Chords
ReplyDeleteI guessed what the key to solving this was while still in bed, but it still took me a few minutes to solve it. Good puzzle!
ReplyDeleteMusical/mathematical clue: Beyoncé/2
ReplyDeleteSolved enroute to Sunday services. I found it a wee bit charming and it elicited a "huh."
ReplyDeleteNo exclamation point, though.
And certainly not an interrobang...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is a prime puzzle!
ReplyDelete3 and 47 are both prime numbers.
DeleteAh, got the answer, now off to enjoy the mild weather!
ReplyDeleteGod damn it! Where's Moses when you need him?!?!?
ReplyDeleteYou could have just given us the actor's name and spared us the offensive post. Your clues lead us straight to him anyway. Even on this blog, there are holdout "mouth-breathers" like me who believe in God and love Him. Predictable atheist onslaught begins in: "3-2-1-!"
DeleteRalph Loizzo,
DeleteYou have nothing to apologize for. We are supposed to have freedom from religion, but nothing could be further from the truth. I am very spiritual and love profanity and anything else that infuriates those who feel they have the right to force their ridiculous beliefs on the rest of us. My ridiculous beliefs are the only ones that should count.
Wait, that was a clue to an *actor*?
DeleteI thought it was a very clever clue, but not to an actor.
Crito - you are correct. I was not alluding to an actor.
DeleteI truly meant no offense in my post - just a clue in its entirety. The posts above by SDB (thank you for the defense) and myself contain clues to the answer. Unless I'm posting something obvious on someone else's clue - like "great clue!", I'm usually veiling my clues to the puzzle itself. Sometimes these discussions grow into beautiful gardens of thoughts and ideas, and sometimes they just spread like poison ivy.
After a string of relatively easy puzzles for several weeks in a row, I thought I’d take Wayne (The Great One) Gretzky’s advice and take a shot at this more aggressive puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI think some regulars might be missing today, perhaps due to the new Blogger format. It threw me off.
ReplyDeleteJust click to the right of the B at the bottom in what looks like a dead field.
A cursor will appear and you are off.
A Caesar cipher? As in Little Caesar’s? I’m thinking more like Jimmy John’s!….upon further review, no coaching needed for this week’s challenge.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in New York, but they didn't have this then.
ReplyDeleteClever puzzle.
ReplyDeleteBlaine: I like this blog.. I am wondering 1) how do you know the answer in a few seconds or minutes for EVERY Sunday puzzle.. 2) do you have a staff that monitors and immediately removes any answer posted before Thursday?
ReplyDeleteBlaine has a staff of thousands of highly paid, sworn to secrecy members who are funded by Elon Musk and supported by the C.I.A. along with Birds Aren't Real. Please do not pass on this private information. This post will self destruct in due order.
DeleteBlaine is known to employ three tricks to solve the puzzle within seconds of posting.
DeleteFirst, Blaine is an acknowledged Super Genius with an IQ of -- well, it's classified. But it's certainly well over 100 and may be even higher than that.
Second, he lives in the SF Bay Area, a full three time zones behind the media centers of Washington DC and New York. And although readers of this blog note that Blaine appears to have a loving family featured on this blog every year at Christmas time, surrounded by many baked goods, their patience may not last on many a Sunday morning. And since Blaine has to set his Sunday alarm for 6am, his family may alternately cajole and brow beat Blaine to solve the puzzle instantly and come back to bed immediately. We have all gotten to know this family, remotely. But until you meet them, you have no idea the peril Blaine is in until he solves the puzzle and returns to sleep. It’s terrifying, truly terrifying, and our leader has thus become a reluctant speed solver.
(And please don't come to me with any nonsense about how NPR isn’t DC and NY-based, has opened San Francisco and Los Angeles bureaus, blah blah blah. Here at Blainesville, we all know who really controls the media. They try and distract us with satellite offices and exotic names, like Sylvia Poggioli in Rome, Ofeibea Quist-Arcton in Dakaaaaah, and everyone's dream date, Doualy Xaykaothao. We know better.)
Finally, no less than Tucker Carlson has asked the question on air if Blaine may actually be Will Shortz. At the very least, nobody on this blog has ever seen them both at the same time. I’ll leave this one to SDB and his Birds Aren’t Real brethren. But let’s just say that we need to ask the question.
The defense rests.
Or, put in a FOI request down at the Ministry of Truth.
DeleteApparently Ben is experiencing one of his Dakaaaaah moments.
DeleteI am going with Sylvia. Such a hottie.
DeletePass the Canoli Poggioli.
DeleteHappy Eid al Fatir everyone.
DeletePoggioli is a great journalist, but Xaykaothao is a better Scrabble play.
DeleteShe reminds me of a young Claudia Cardinale. Who can forget her performance in "Pink Panther Returns."
Delete[]
ReplyDeleteAre you the one who wrote all of the letters?
DeleteNo, but I purloined one.
DeleteWell, that guy Paul, one of his letters was to the Romans.
DeleteWhat if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? - Romans 3:3
How does Blaine monitor this site 24/7?
ReplyDeletePraise Shiva...I got the answer!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know what happened to Blogger that's preventing me from posting from my iPhone? It no longer lets me sign in; specifically, I'm prompted to click the button that says SIGN IN WITH GOOGLE, but when I do, I'm just presented with the same prompt, and not allowed to post. Everything works fine when I'm using my Windows PC, but not from the phone. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI am having the same problem on my phone.
DeleteSounds like a phony problem to me.
DeleteCall it what you like, SDB!
DeleteRead my post again, Natasha.
DeleteI got it right away. Reread mine. Guess not too good a retort.
DeleteI too am having the same problem - no matter which browser I use on my iphone.
DeleteYeah, I've been seeing the same thing. I usually view Blaine's blog on my iPhone or iPad, and haven't been able to comment. From my computer, I now see new things, like the Notify Me check-box
DeleteAnyway, I'm surprised by Blaine's clue, and will only say that this puzzle would've been more appropriate about 8 weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteDidn't we see this answer back in 2013?
ReplyDeleteHey Jan - I think we are thinking similarly if you get my drift(s) in my post above?
DeleteI thought the timing of jan's comment was interesting.
DeleteStill have a problem with Putin having his pie grabbers in Ukraine!!! :~(
ReplyDeleteI hope I am not the only one here who sees the connection between the Putin tyranny and our Supreme Court tyrants. In other words; one step at a time.
DeleteSounds like Michael Caine, yes sir!
ReplyDeleteI have shared your chip monk joke with my YMCA senior men's fitness group and they have voted it-joke of the month.
DeleteHere another new health club has opened up for religious minorities. It is called Jehovah Fitness.
Last night I attended a solo recital for pianist Joyce Yang at Meany Center for the Performing Arts. We were all required to show proof of Covid 19 vaccination in order to enter. Almost everyone was wearing M95 cloth face masks also, as required. Apparently it was a black mask event, but fortunately I was not the only one in attendance who was uninformed and was wearing a white mask. How embarrassing!
ReplyDeleteSDB: I have not seen Joyce Yang. I just viewed her on youtube. Seems wonderful. Glad that you saw that concert. What did she play? I used to play piano.
DeleteI learned about the history of the name Meany too.
DeleteNatasha: She played the piano.
DeleteOkay, I promise to behave.
J.S. BACH: French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816
S. RACHMANINOFF: Ten Preludes, Op. 23
P.I. TCHAIKOVSKY: Barcarolle in G Minor “June” from The Seasons, Op. 37a
R. SCHUMANN: Carnaval, Op. 9
R. N. DETT: Adagio Cantabile from the Suite Cinnamon Grove
Thanks. I found the site and the program. A lot of playing for one person. I watched the youtube on that site. Thank you so much. I wish I could play like that.
DeleteSDB: I guess you were living up to the name of the concert hall by asking that question. I should have phrased it better. I am not as careful as I should be these days since I am teaching less.
ReplyDeleteI am fully aware no one here wants to hear what I am about to say, but you should listen. What our Supreme Court is poised to do is about to push us over the brink to a second civil war. I know most hearing this will not be able to even conceive of this happening in our country, but regardless of how you may feel about what is happening the reality is that we are tearing ourselves apart and if we do not wake up to this reality and do something about it we are doomed to our destruction.
ReplyDeleteSDB: Solutions?
DeleteGreat question. I wish the answer were so simple. Begin by becoming educated and aware of what is happening in our country. Read relevant books. Demand more from government. Get involved. Stop hoping things will work out by themselves; they won't. Stop blaming government. Good government is a solution; not a problem. Discuss with others.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteNatasha;
DeleteGetting back to your question. By coincidence, although I had recognized to the need for me to read this book as soon as I learned of its publication this year, I just now received my copy from the library where I had it on reserve. The book is, How Civil Wars Start and How To Stop Them, by Barbara F, Water. This the ending to chapter one:
Why do some countries safely navigate the road through the anocracy zone, while others become engulfed in cycles of chaos and violence? The story of Iraq again offers a clue. When I asked Noor to describe what changed before civil war erupted in her homeland, she looked at me for a moment. Soft-spoken and reserved, she radiated the quiet confidence of someone who doesn't break easily. Her face, however, was heavy with sadness. "People began asking whether you were Shia or Sunni," she said.
People had never asked her this before, she explained. In Baghdad, there were no Shia or Sunni neighborhoods; she had never been told she couldn't marry someone from a different ethnic or religious group. She had no sense that she was a minority or that religion mattered; she didn't even know which of her friends were Shia or Sunni. "But then people started asking about it publicly. What are you? Where are you from? What is your religion?"
Noor shook her head. "I would say, "I am Iraqi. Why are you asking me this'?"
Well, this has been my week to be stupid. I'm waiting until 12 noon for you folks to tell me the answer.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Keep trying. It is really not difficult. Think logically.
DeleteI strongly feel that when the answer IS revealed - just a little over an hour from now, MANY will be those who think "AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!! I feel like I never even TRIED!!!
Delete(I only just now noticed that it seems we no longer have the option to preview our post before we publish. Bummer!)
Come on, Cap! You can do it! Did you ever see Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?
DeleteTHREE → XLVII< (47), so 3 + 44 = 47.
ReplyDeleteYes! This type of puzzle has been given before.
DeleteTHREE = XLVII which is 44 in Roman Numerals (3 + 44 = 47) (III + XLIV = XLVII)
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTHREE —> XLVII
ReplyDeleteFirst hint:
“Pythagoras” was removed by Blaine. Mea culpa. Since both Haris H. and Ben thought it was TMI even before Blaine exercised his prerogative, I considered replying to Blaine, “Sorry, Blaine et al.,” but I reconsidered. After all, I didn’t want to be the first to have an apology removed by Blaine as TMI, so I reduced it to the simpler “Sorry, Blaine.” Discretion was the better part of valor; no coals to Newcastle for me.
Second hint:
“Yogi…bear” —> the 1960 novelty song “Yogi”—about the Hanna-Barbara animated animal character Yogi Bear—was performed by the group the Ivy THREE
and
the phrase “streptobacilli again” contains in sequence “li” and “ag,” the periodic table abbreviations for lithium—Li—and silver—Ag—elements #3 and #47.
Nice puzzle.
THREE, which becomes XLVII, which is 47 in Roman numerals.
ReplyDelete"But I got it before I could even boot the computer." A reference to Italy, shaped like a boot.
"Did you ever see Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?" - There is a scene in a library, where Indy and others a searching for the Roman numeral 10, which marks the location of a knight's tomb. (Turns out they were standing on it.)
THREE and XLVII.
ReplyDeleteALTERNATE ANSWER: 100 and 144, from C and G or, alternatively, CN and GR. C = 100 in Roman numerals; G is an abbreviation for “gross,” as in GDP. Or, CN is phonetically “cien,” 100 in Spanish, and GR is another abbreviation for gross.
"Puzzle Fun by Bobby Jacobs" will be our featured puzzle on this week's Puzzleria!
ReplyDeleteOur friend Bobby has created a gem of a puzzle for us titled “A Chain between Companies.”
We upload Puzzleria! just after Midnight Friday morning PDT.
Also on our menu this week is "Caesar Ciphers and Roman numerals," eight riff-offs (that's one shy of three-times-III) of Will Shortz's clever NPR puzzle.
LegoWhoWhenHeThinks"Bobby"AlsoThinks"PuzzleFun!"
I wrote, “Add the two numbers. Advance a letter of the name of this sum eight spots. You get a neato result.” That’s FIFTY / NIFTY
ReplyDeleteTHREE -> XLVII (47)
ReplyDelete> This puzzle would've been more appropriate about 8 weeks ago.
On the Ides of March.
> Didn't we see this answer back in 2013?
Super Bowl XLVII
> Sounds like Michael Caine, yes sir!
"Ex-Alfie aye-aye" -> XLVII
Jan,
Deleteit would have been appropriate for April 1
Painful, jan, but clever!
DeleteDespite a clue given me by a friend of the blog, I still didn't get it...DUH!
ReplyDeleteTHREE->XLVII
ReplyDelete3+44=47
A month or two ago, I made the mistake of starting at the wrong end of a series (list) and wasted hours. I was lucky enough to start at the best end this time.
ReplyDeleteThis is far from the first (or third) puzzle with this trick. I hope it doesn't reach 47.
THREE->XLVII
ReplyDeleteMy clue was contained within my monologue about Blaine.
I noted Blaine had Three Tricks he employed to solve the puzzle instantly, even though he lives Three Time Zones from NPR HQ.
Great puzzle, my compliments to the chef.
THREE --> XLVII ( 3 --> 47 )
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “After a string of relatively easy puzzles for several weeks in a row, I thought I’d take Wayne (The Great One) Gretzky’s advice and take a shot at this more aggressive puzzle.” Some folks think an AK-47 is aggressive.
For those of you who were born after the digital revolution, my earlier comment about putting my hands in front my face was in reference to an analog clock, (or watch,) Some have Arabic numerals. some Roman.
ReplyDeleteI, but not TMI.
.
That was a great clue.
DeleteMy clue was: "I grew up in New York, but they didn't have this then." Because NYC now has an area code 347.
ReplyDeleteMy irreverent clue was the "third" commandment - which I broke in giving my clue. Also Mea culpa - latin - and the intial letters are roman numerals.
ReplyDeleteAha, that's what I thought!
Delete(But I still don't get why Blaine removed the 'Pythagoras' hint.)
I complained about Putin's pie grabbers in Ukraine which, in addition to being heartfelt was an allusion to the old joke about Russian Fingers and Roman Hands since the answer is in Roman Numerals.
ReplyDeleteMy post - regarding “Jimmy John’s” and “coaching” - were referencing Super Bowl XLVII which pitted sibling coaches - Jim Harbaugh and John Harbaugh - against one another…..oh brother!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm kinda late to the party…
ReplyDeleteTHREE — XLVII (47)
My clue:
How do you approach this? Max Planck said it best, I think.
I was alluding to the Max Planck quote, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." Meaning, when you change the way you look at letter combinations, they might just turn into Roman numerals.
Hey Blainsville! I just got an e-mail from Will Shortz. A puzzle I submitted a few weeks ago will be used this Sunday! This is the 10th time one of my ideas will air. Happy Solving!
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Al!
DeleteCongratulations, Al! I'm looking forward to hearing your puzzle Sunday.
DeleteYay! Good job, Al!
DeleteTo all those who are protesting the upcoming Supreme Court ruling to strike down Roe v. Wade:
ReplyDelete"Damn the Alitos, full speed ahead"
At the risk of nibbling on the hand that feeds us, I was a little surprised by Blaine's "Caesar cipher" clue, which seemed to point too directly toward Roman numerals. Anyone else?
ReplyDeleteThat thought did cross my mind.
DeleteIt was too clever a comment to pass up.
DeleteI think Blaine was showing his dismay at Shortz' returning to the worn-out gimmick once again.
It has worn me out, too.
Yes. The roamin' numeral schtick trick grows old after awhile. That while was awhile ago. . .
DeleteIt was particularly helpful for people like me who had never heard of a Caesar cipher and could therefore not experience the misdirection. Fortunately, I had solved the puzzle before I saw the clue.
DeleteIt seems Russian navy ships are Nazi worthy.
ReplyDeleteMy clue was "Praise Shiva...I got the answer". Shiva, known as the Hindu god with three eyes (or III) was my way of cluing into the initial number 3 as well as the puzzle containing a Roman numeral.
ReplyDeleteClarence Thomas has made it clear that the bullies on the Supreme Court will not be bullied by the people they represent.
ReplyDeleteThe Kentucky Derby got back to normal (normal for them anyway) and the horses were not required to wear face masks. Hurrah!
ReplyDeleteThis week's challenge comes from listener Al Gori, of Oak Ridge, N.J. The initial letters in the title of a popular movie from this century spell the name of a popular sitcom from the last century. What titles are these?
ReplyDeleteThis week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Al Gori, of Oak Ridge, N.J. The initial letters in the title of a popular movie from this century spell the name of a popular sitcom from the last century. What titles are these?
ReplyDeleteMore than 1400 correct responses this week.
ReplyDelete