Sunday, October 30, 2022

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 30, 2022): (Blank) of my (Blank)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 30, 2022): (Blank) of my (Blank)
Q: Think of a common phrase in the form "___ of my ___." The word that goes in the first blank is the name of a well-known company. And the word that goes in the second blank sounds like part of the names of many of that company's products. What phrase is it?
The puzzle is easy -- a clue, not so much.

A: Easy as (apple) pie.
A: APPLE of my EYE (I in iMac, iPhone, iPod, iPad, etc.)

Sunday, October 23, 2022

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 23, 2022): Movie with a Five-Word Title

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 23, 2022): Movie with a Five-Word Title
Q: It's unusual for a multi-word movie title to consist entirely of words starting with vowels, none of which are the article "a." or pronoun "I." Can you name a popular movie with a five-word title — with word lengths 10, 10, 3, 2, 4 — all of which start with vowels?
Popular movie? I hadn't heard of it. But I like movies like "Spider-Man: No Way Home" so maybe I'm not the right audience?

Edit: Spider-Man: No Way Home also tells a story of a multiverse.
A: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Sunday, October 16, 2022

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 16, 2022): Confrontation or Cooperation

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 16, 2022): Confrontation or Cooperation
Q: Think of a pair of two-syllable words that are pronounced the same, except one is accented on the first syllable while the other is accented on the second. The word that's accented on the first syllable is associated with confrontation, while the word that's accented on the second syllable is associated with cooperation. What words are these?
This is a real chestnut of a puzzle.

Edit: In Britain, children each select a "conker" (horse chestnut) as their own, attach a string and then take turns swinging at their opponent's conker until one child's conker breaks and the surviving conker is declared the victor.
A: CONQUER, CONCUR

Sunday, October 09, 2022

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 9, 2022): Building Materials

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 9, 2022): Building Materials
Q: Name two things that many houses are built with: "[blank] and [blank]." Drop the first letter of the first thing. Change the last two letters of the second thing to a "Y." And you'll name a popular TV show, "[blank] and [blank]." What show is it?
Is a piano involved?

Edit: A piano has 88 keys. The Delorean in Back to the Future will time travel at 88 mph. Doc and Marty are the inspiration for Rick and Morty.
A: BRICK and MORTAR --> RICK and MORTY

Sunday, October 02, 2022

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 2, 2022): A Couple Brand Name Products

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 2, 2022): A Couple Brand Name Products
Q: Think of two well-known brand names, each in eight letters that have the same first six letters in the same order. Both brands are of products, one found in a supermarket and one for something used outdoors. And even though the first six letters of the names are the same, they're not pronounced the same. What products are these?
Edit: The picture of the supermarket shows a vehicle with tires, presumably Michelin :)
A: MICHELOB, MICHELIN