Q: Here's a harder challenge. Name a musical instrument plus part of that instrument. Drop the last letter of the instrument then rearrange all the remaining letters to name another musical instrument. What is it?The deadline is Wed. Nov 22 at 3PM ET because of Thanksgiving.
The 1st and 3rd letters of the final musical instrument are the initials of someone famously associated with that instrument.
Edit: Christopher Walken is (in)famous for the "More Cowbell" skit on SNL.
A: CELLO (-O) + BOW --> COWBELL
Congrats, lego!
ReplyDeleteDelete
Well done, Joseph!
ReplyDelete(This is hard -- I had a couple of ideas but they flopped.)
Ditto. You seem to have become Will's right hand man. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete(Musical instrument part pun intended?)
DeleteCongrats, Lego! So glad you were instrumental in creating this week's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to ecoarchitect for two honorable mentions on the creative challenge!
ReplyDeleteI think I've got it. Now for a hint...
ReplyDeleteThe answer I have come up with makes me think of Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThe Rolling Stones...
ReplyDeleteFunny, I would not have chosen a British rock group.
DeleteThere were others in that category I could have chosen....
DeleteI didn't find the puzzle all that hard. Answer was the third instrument that popped into my head.
ReplyDeleteDidn't have to phone a friend or anything.
It's nice when you stumble across the answer quickly. I, on the other hand, have been working on this for a while, and have not yet come across the answer. I expect I will be thankful when I solve it.
DeleteI wasn't able to find the regular link on today's NPR post to submit my answer and used a link from a previous week's puzzle. Does anyone know if you use a link for a past week whether it goes into the dustbin or whether it counts for the current week?
ReplyDeleteIt's the same link each week. You can also find it at the bottom of the comments here on this blog where it says, "submit it to NPR".
DeleteOn another note, I solved this very quickly, unless there is more than one possible answer. Fun puzzle.
ReplyDeleteJust a reminder that last week's post on this blog has Will's favorite geographical acrostic (Stratford-Upon-Avon) and the 64 honorable mentions.
ReplyDeleteMy answer was formed by a Spoonerism, not an anagram.
ReplyDeleteNot a bad puzzle, but it left me wanting more...
ReplyDeleteSometimes I walk in late to the answer.
ReplyDeleteFour Eight
ReplyDeleteA poorly worded puzzle. No one would call a pick a part of the guitar. It's associated with playing the guitar, not a part of it.
ReplyDeleteWait a minute. I had the answer to the puzzle if it is reworded "Name an instrument and something associated with that instrument." But I didn't think that was the question.
DeleteI got that one too, but I assumed that was just a coincidence.
DeleteI suspect Jan got it too, actually.
Oh, and now I think clotheslover has this answer too.
DeleteIn fact, these two items are often sold separately, especially when you're dealing with professional quality instruments.
DeleteUntrue. My Hendrix Flying V came with not only a few picks and a case, but also photos and a patch cord.
DeleteBuck Bard,
DeleteAt first I could not answer the puzzle, not because it was poorly worded, but falsely worded. I got into the same hassle you got into with a different instrument. But I did get the answer supported by my ultimately understanding the clues (Even Blaine's). "Used with" in the puzzle would have made a great difference. Thanks. I rarely rant about puzzles.
I would argue that the connection between this instrument and the so-called “part” is a bit closer than the connection between a pick and a guitar, in that playing guitar without a pick is far more common than playing this instrument without this “part.” Nonetheless, I agree that the phrasing isn’t great
DeleteWhat does New York City's famed Pizza Rat fear?
Delete@IAmHobbesAlphaDog That was a special bundle created by Gibson as a commemorative piece. If you buy any other Gibson or Fender you get a cardboard box. I'll bet they wouldn't even give you that if they could figure out how to ship them naked!
DeleteIn the evening I'm going to ask how many more times will we get 5 minute puzzles. But not going to let it bug me today.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the clarification. I got the answer quickly from your comment.
DeleteOne of the instruments reminds me of Erik Satie.
ReplyDeleteA cowbell is like Satie because his last words were "Ah, the cows..."
Delete(insert funny catchphrase here)
ReplyDelete(indeed, the same catchphrase Blaine had in mind!)
DeleteAssuming I have the right answer, I agree with Buck Bard that this puzzle could have been worded differently
ReplyDeleteCinematic Clue: Pulp Fiction
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to find a musical composition that features only the two instruments.
ReplyDeleteReminded me of a body part at first.
ReplyDeleteAll I needed was the right tracking device.
ReplyDeleteOne of the instruments reminds me of Villa-Lobos.
ReplyDeleteCongrats, Joe! It’s not a theremin, this time. (This clue’s for you.)
ReplyDeleteOn tonight's episode of "Time Warp With Bill St. James", they did mention the theremin in a segment about weird musical instruments, including a clip of the Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations", which is perhaps the most famous use of one in a rock or pop song. As for the two instruments in this week's challenge, neither were referred to on the show(although one of the two has been given its own separate segment at least twice that I've heard lately in the past, and of course I don't dare say which one it was, so I'll just leave it at that).
DeletepjbDidFindOutThatInstrumentWeHearOnTheTroggs'"WildThing"WasAnOcarina
No wonder we most often get super easy puzzles here if he really considers this to be hard.
ReplyDeleteGod darnn, Will Shortz is gay?
ReplyDeleteAnd you really did not know?
DeleteDoes it matter?
DeleteNo, I didn't know, and it doesn't matter. I just imagined he mumight have married Temple Grandin, with his love of puzzles and horses.
DeleteIt may not matter to you, and although that can mean different things, and I believe you mean well, but it also does matter. Why are so many amazed when they discover someone they know and admire happens to be gay? If ten or more percent are gay, then why is this such a surprise? Where are they all hiding? Are you also comfortable with Abe Lincoln being 100% homosexual? I suspect you are not, and will say you are, but it cannot be true. Well, it is true. It is well documented, but he has always been protected from this reality. He slept in his bed with his much younger Army Captain bodyguard when his wife was away. Oh, and by the way, they shared separate bedrooms and never slept together. But he had children, you will undoubtedly say. Yes, and so what? When I returned from my 3 looooong years in the army and took a job at Boeing, one of our rotating supervisors happened to be gay and was married to the same woman he said bore him 9 children, and he insisted he was not at all bisexual. He had been a sailor during WWII and showed me a photo as backup. Same thing with Paul Newman. My question is, if you are so comfortable with someone being gay, but cannot believe it could be someone you admire, then are you really as comfortable as you insist? I think not.
DeleteBTW, I tried over and over to delete those blank lines, but was unable to.
DeleteIt definitely matters to some people. I expect our new Speaker will soon move to ban the Sunday Puzzle from the public airwaves, as promoting an immoral lifestyle.
DeleteSDB: Did you try deleting your post and reposting?
DeleteNo. I consider it to be a White Hole. Nothing ever gets sucked into it.
DeleteBlaine can probably fix it.
DeleteI'm surprised because I pictured him with Temple Grandin. Poor temple, forsaken for a man's hairy ass.
DeleteMusinglink:
DeleteDo you get some kind of ego boost being a bigot?
There were a couple a previous episodes where the NPR host seemed to be trying to out Will Shortz as gay. He was asked some leading questions, where he could have volunteered that he was gay.
DeleteWhat a surprise! NOT. In all the many, many hundreds of pages Carl Sandburg wrote about Lincoln, this is all he said: "In his 1926 biography, the poet Carl Sandburg wrote that the President and Speed possessed "a streak of lavender and spots soft as May violets"--a lyrical though curious phrase that seems to suggest something unmasculine. Lavender was the term du jour, rather than pink, at the time for being gay.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI haven't gotten it , but here's a spinoff puzzle. Name two instruments spelled the same except for two letters. What are they?
ReplyDeletePS Its easier to make up puzzles than to solve this one.
DeleteViola and violin?
Deletesaxophone, xylophone
DeleteHarmonica & Harmonium
DeleteVery nice!
DeleteBlaine, there must be something wrong -- I understand your clue!
ReplyDeleteOh good, finally an understandable clue that confirms the answer but one that hopefully doesn't give it away.
DeleteSame here!
DeleteI think the clue is almost as good as the puzzle itself. It's a very subtle way of making a connection that others have made here with less subtlety. Congrats to lego and to Blaine this week!
DeleteAnd here!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePuzzles like these are great! I think we need more of them! Not so easy that the answer comes right away, but not super obscure as to require a search through lists to get to the answer. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Rosalynn Carter
ReplyDeleteTIL that she was delivered by Jimmy's mother, Miss Lillian, who was a nurse.
DeleteSweet!
DeleteI am not a conspiracy theorist, but there are some conspiracies. I just ran across this review of a new book and found it very compelling. It is about who the second JFK assassin may have been.
ReplyDeletehttps://news.yahoo.com/lifestyle/friend-secret-cia-agent-think-190000508.html
DeleteA Woman I Know: Female Spies, Double Identities, and a New Story of the Kennedy Assassination Hardcover – November 14, 2023
by Mary Haverstick (Author)
I’m thinking of a musical group….but any further comment would earn the Wrath of Blaine.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I got the answer. My apologies Blaine.
ReplyDeleteHello, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that no one has yet commented that this puzzle might have been presented without calling for anagramming, making it easier to solve. Maybe discuss on Thursday, Lego?
ReplyDeleteSomeone already did.
DeletePerhaps wanted to make it not so obvious.
DeleteYes, I commented that my answer, anyway involved Spoonerizing, not anagramming.----Gemple Trandin.
DeleteI was thinking about something like: Name a musical instrument plus part of that instrument. Switch the order, swap the first letters, then drop the last letter of the instrument, to name another musical instrument. What is it?
DeleteThe answer popped in my head late last night, and matches a bunch of clues here. I even understand Blaine's clue!
ReplyDeleteI am tempted to name one half of a well-known comedy duo, because there is a character played by that person, where I can then use part of the puzzle steps, to change the character name to the name of an individual that is very well known for playing the first instrument. However, the comedian is also known for playing a different instrument that is not involved with the puzzle. Since that could lead to confusion, I will just leave this long description, which some of you may figure out.
DeleteI think the diagram for this post was misleading as well as the wording of the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI always try to pick an image that is representative of the puzzle but not a giveaway. If anything, it will often be misleading. So I was successful there. 😉
DeleteBlaine, glad I followed the posts instead.
Delete(Apologies in advance if this is on the wrong side of the line:)
ReplyDeleteChange one letter in one instrument to name a pair.
Blaine's clue points me to two famous people, I think the first one that came to my mind was not his.
ReplyDeleteSame here.
DeleteWere you thinking Charlie Watts, too?
DeleteI liked Blaine's clue but did not help me solve puzzle.
ReplyDeleteTropicana
ReplyDeleteI spent most of the weekend under the weather, but not so much that I was unable to solve this week's puzzle. Finding the answer may have even helped me feel marginally better.
ReplyDeleteI am reminded of back in the late 1950's when I delivered the Seattle Times newspaper every day after school, not to mention Saturday afternoons and the dreaded Sunday mornings. Well, anyway it all had its rewards too. One I had long ago forgotten about is the middle aged, heavyset man in a cheap light gray suit who would on occasion stop by our paper shack as we were all awaiting our frequently late sheets to arrive. This guy was apparently paid by the manufacturer of a popular toy at the time to go around to where boys were congregated and demonstrate his expertise with this silly object, and boy was he good at his job. That is not a question, but rather an affirmation. I too taught myself to parody a few of his tricks, but some others I never even attempted. Life was so different back then. Can't imagine why I am now telling you all this, but I may add a bit more later.
ReplyDeleteI thought it might be an allegorical depiction of a certain presidential candidate. Or more than one.
DeleteOr maybe an oblique hint...
DeleteI'm thinking it's related to the comment I made yesterday.
DeleteNot so much when I returned home from delivering my paper route, but after being away all day playing with friends my mother would frequently ask where I had been and what did I do. The answer was always the same: “Nowhere” and “Nothing.” But one time I do recall replying differently.
DeleteExactly. Sdb’s story had me spinning.
DeleteWithout googling see if you can come up with a common, one syllable, 5 letter word containing 4 vowels.
ReplyDeleteThe only word I can think of has two different vowels, each repeated once. Are we actually talking about four different vowels here?
Deletepjb'sWordAlsoSoundsPhoneticallyLikeAConsonant(AndIsNotNecessarilyAsCommonAWordHereAsItIsAcrossThePond)
I did not use the word, different. Anyway you do have the correct answer.
DeleteThere are two words meeting your criteria. The first, which seems to be your intended answer, has four vowels in a row. The second has its consonant in the middle.
DeleteI got the same answer as cranberry almost immediately (no Google involved) but haven’t come up with SuperZee’s second one.
DeleteIn the meantime, here’s a perhaps familiar puzzle: Think of a 10-letter word. Say letters 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 aloud, and you will also have pronounced the word. What word is it?
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.
Chat got the answer!
DeleteNatasha, you must be using a smarter version of Chat. I posed the puzzle to ChatGPT 3.5, and here's what it had to say:
DeleteSure, let's start with "guitar."
Part of the guitar: "string"
Now, drop the last letter and rearrange: "stirng"
This rearranged letters form another musical instrument: "strings"
Not that Bard did any better:
Sure. Here is an example:
Musical instrument: Trumpet
Part of that instrument: Mouthpiece
New instrument: Mouthpiecttrumpe
The last letter of the instrument, "t", is dropped and added to the end of the part of the instrument, "mouthpiece". The remaining letters of the instrument, "mouthpiec", are then rearranged to form the word "trumpet".
jan, I think Natasha is referring to the above Dr K. puzzle.
Deletejan, I was referring to sdb's five letter word puzzle. It did need some corrections at first though.
DeleteCELLO, BOW >>> COWBELL
ReplyDelete"Four Eight" The COWBELL skit on SNL premiered on 4-8-2000.
CELLO + BOW - O -> COWBELL
ReplyDelete> Not a bad puzzle, but it left me wanting more...
More COWBELL!
> I was surprised to find a musical composition that features only the two instruments.
Szabó: Suite for Cello Solo with Cowbells
> Hello, beautiful!
Or, in Italian, sounding a bit like a musical instrument, Ciao Bella!
> What does New York City's famed Pizza Rat fear?
Pizzicato!
> Change one letter in one instrument to name a pair.
Cow, bull
And, in case you were wondering where they came from...
When I saw "Hello beautiful," jan, I thought the hello was intended as a rhyme for cello, while the first four letters of "beautiful" were intended to provide the bow. I almost thought it was TMI!
DeleteCELLO, BOW —> CELL + BOW —> COWBELL
ReplyDeleteHint: “The Rolling Stones...” —> “Honky Tonk Women” uses a COWBELL.
There are in fact many rock-and-roll groups and songs that have used the cowbell (and many others that have used the cello).
It’s arguable whether or not the “bow” is part of the cello, but we’ve seen other somewhat loosely-worded puzzles before, so I just it shrugged off and went with the answer.
My comment to your earlier post was a hint to “We’re an American Band” that also features the cowbell.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThere is an extensive list on cowbellsongs.com/the-list.
DeleteCello – o + bow >> Cowbell
ReplyDeleteI was reminded of the musical group, The Cowsills but, for obvious reasons, opted not to mention them…until reveal time.
It strikes me as more than strange that Dr. K didn’t come up with the alternate answer to Skydiveboy’s puzzle (five letter words with four vowels.) In fact it was downright eerie. (I'll let SDB present his answer.)
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
EERIE, QUEUE, ADIEU. AUDIO. I'm sure there are others.
DeleteSdb's puzzle specified a one-syllable word. I think only one 5-letter, 4-vowel word satisfies that criterion as well.
DeleteCELLO and BOW >>> CELLBOW >>> COWBELL
ReplyDeleteMy Hint:
“I am reminded of back in the late 1950's when I delivered the Seattle Times newspaper every day after school, not to mention Saturday afternoons and the dreaded Sunday mornings. Well, anyway it all had its rewards too. One I had long ago forgotten about is the middle aged, heavyset man in a cheap light gray suit who would on occasion stop by our paper shack as we were all awaiting our frequently late sheets to arrive. This guy was apparently paid by the manufacturer of a popular toy at the time to go around to where boys were congregated and demonstrate his expertise with this silly object, and boy was he good at his job. That is not a question, but rather an affirmation. I too taught myself to parody a few of his tricks, but some others I never even attempted. Life was so different back then. Can't imagine why I am now telling you all this, but I may add a bit more later.
Not so much when I returned home from delivering my paper route, but after being away all day playing with friends my mother would frequently ask where I had been and what did I do. The answer was always the same: “Nowhere” and “Nothing.” But one time I do recall replying differently.”
My Hint Explained:
What I replied was: “I watched a man with a toy made by Duncan doing amazing tricks. He had a yo-yo, Ma.” (Yo-Yo Ma is a world famous American cellist.)
Yup, you got to the same person, by a different route.
DeleteSDB!!! People are lining up to see your answer to your five letter/four vowel challenge!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is only one answer that works for my puzzle, and it is not EERIE, which has 2 syllables. The word that works is QUEUE. I came up with the puzzle last evening while reading, Tomorrow Perhaps the Future:
DeleteWriters, Outsiders, and the Spanish Civil War, by Sarah Watling and published this year. She is British, so for her to use QUEUES did not surprise me, but it did cause me to see if I could make a puzzle out of it. Good book BTW.
cello, bow->cowbell
ReplyDeleteSince SDB seems to have missed his cue, his intended five letter word, with four vowels (and the one Cranberry got) is queue, which was a Wordle solution a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteI do Wordle every day unless camping and solve them all, but soon forget the words, so I did not make that connection. If you have found a common, one syllable word that qualifies I would like to know what it is.
DeleteHow 'bout Yo Mama? Anyway, cello, bow and the Spoonerized result: cow bell.
ReplyDelete---Gemple Trandin.
Cello –o +bow --> cowbell
ReplyDeleteLast Sunday I said, “Congrats, Joe! It’s not a theremin, this time. (This clue’s for you.)” This non-clue would have no meaning to anyone except Joe because the first puzzle I ever sent Lego involved a Theremin.
Yes, Chuck. And I learned a new word thanks to you.
DeleteLegoWhoNotesThatChuckHasProvidedPuzzleria!WithScoresOfExcellentPuzzlesSinceThatAuspiciousBeginning
Cello --> cell + bow --> cowbell. "Reminded me of a body part at first." ("Cell bow" rhymes with "elbow.")
ReplyDeleteMy clue was Tropicana, the Tampa Bay Rays stadium fondly known as "the Trop". The cowbells are deafening in that indoor field. When it's time for cowbells, they play the SNL bit with Christopher Walken on the jumbotron. At least they used to. It's been a while.
ReplyDeleteCELLO, BOW, COWBELL for me. But I agree with the others that a BOW isn't really a part of a CELLO.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I play a very large CELLO and I don't ever use a BOW, nor do I own one.
Google saith: "To play the cowbell, you simply strike the instrument with a beater—most commonly with drumsticks". Or check out YouTube, the ultimate authority.
ReplyDeleteWould a Dodge PT Cruiser work?
Delete"Saturday" Night Live with Christopher Walken. Those "More cowbell" skits were not very funny to me, but that's often the way of SNL. First time in months I actually got Blaine's clue.
ReplyDeleteCELLO, BOW, COWBELL
ReplyDeleteBoth Vandal In Seattle and I may have had our earlier posts removed, but I did truly get this one from VIS saying he/she misses Will Ferrell on SNL. BTW The two former cast members who are both adept at playing the cello are Rachel Dratch and Kate McKinnon. It'd be interesting to see them do a sort of "Dueling Banjos" duet together, only with cellos instead.
pjbOnlyRecallsThereBeingOne"MoreCowbell"Skit,AndBecauseOfThisHeCanLongerHear"Don'tFearTheReaper"TheSameWayAgain(PersonalFavoriteRockSongFeaturingAProminentCowbell?"HairOfTheDog"ByNazareth,1975.SonOfAB---h!)
Sorry, that should read "NO longer".
ReplyDeletepjbWishesBlaineAndAllTheRestOfTheTurkeysHereAVeryHappyThanksgiving!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIf you put a TUBA in a SACK, might it turn into a TROMBONE?
DeleteYes... A SACKBUT!
DeleteThere are blessings galore to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful for Blaine and all you brilliant Blainesvillians and for all who participate (by posting comments and/or puzzles) on our Puzzleria! blog. We are blessed to have an invaluable collection of about 15 talented puzzle-making contributors in our rotation, including:
ReplyDeleteskydiveboy, Mathew Huffman, Ken Pratt (geofan), Paul, Patrick J. Berry (cranberry), Chuck, Jeff Zarkin, Plantsmith, Nodd, GB, Tortitude, Bobby Jacobs, ViolinTeddy, Rudolfo... and Greg VanMechelen (Ecoarchitect) whose "Econfusions" we are featuring on this week's edition of Puzzleria!
Eco's puzzles this week are titled:
1. "Thanksgiving Oxen?"
2. "Phenomenanimal!"
3. "Newsworthy words," and
4. "A movement backwards."
We will upload Puzzleria! sometime later this Thanksgiving Day. (Think of it as a Dessert to top off your Turkey-Day Tryptophan high.)
Also on this week's "Pilgrim's-Day-Platter":
* a Schpuzzle of the Week titled "Ham ‘n’ Eggs, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, Burger and Fries...?"
* a Heavenly Hors d’Oeuvre titled "Holy word and two birds!"
* a Savory Slice titled "Seven-letter life-saver,"
* a Paradoxymoronic Dessert titled “253 equals 254 equals 258?” and
* a dozen Riffing Off Shortz And Young Slices titled “I gotta have less cello, more cowbell!”
LegoGivingThanksToAllBlainesvilliansAndPuzzlerians
What is the difference between a steak cooked to perfection and an authentic fortune teller?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOne is x_____ y___.
DeleteThe other is a y___ x_____...
where y = xROT5.
LegoWhoCongratulatesTheProlificallyPuzzlingskydiveboyOnAnotherOfHisCleverPosers
One of those I believe is correct.
DeleteWell done!
DeleteI had commented about one half of a comedy duo (The Smothers Brothers, and specifically, Tommy Smothers.) Tommy would do a bit where he played the part of Yo-Yo Man, performing various tricks with a yo-yo. Following part of the puzzle solution, you drop the last letter to get Yo Yo Ma, a famous cello player.
ReplyDeleteExcellent hint, JAWS. Yo Yo Ma is one of the best names ever!
DeleteLegoWhoNotesThatThereWereManyExcellentHintsGivenThis Week
Think of an 8 letter word meaning theatrical. Change the first letter to a vowel and it becomes a pleasant smelling word, whereas the beginning word in some cases might stink. What are these words?
ReplyDeleteIf I have your intended answer, skydiveboy, I would say the altered word sounds like a pleasant smelling word but does not "become a pleasant smelling word."
DeleteVaudevillego
I cannot argue with that. Shakespeare said, “What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.” Mexicans say, arroz by any other word is still rice. I say, let's forget all that and look a bit closer to what is actually happening here today. Donald Trump implied that the Mexican immigrants attempting to cross into our stolen land stink. He did not use that word, but a more damning one. I have to agree with him that most of them after traveling that far for so long probably did stink. However, their smell was an honest one, not the stench that surrounds Donald Trump and his gang of thugs.
DeleteRemove the sixth letter from the second answer and you get an ancient tongue spoken by a significant historical figure.
DeleteI thought I solved SDB's puzzle, but the "pleasant smelling" word isn't spelled correctly. Am I missing something?
DeleteScarlett,
DeleteYou are right. My bad. I did think about checking the spelling to be sure, but didn't because I really thought I had it right. My apologies.
It still works fonetickly :)
DeleteYes, I noticed that too, and then wondered if I would try and make that work instead of scrapping the whole thing. I don't like to have to make too many changes in producing a puzzle or a joke.
DeleteTbh, that's what I thought you meant, but when I reread the puzzle, it didn't say 'phonetically'. So yes, I think you should go with that. Don't scrap it! Of course, there's gonna be sticklers who will take issue with the phonetics.
DeleteWell I am already done with it. I am no longer sending anything to NPR. By scrapping it meant I would not have posted it here. Every once in awhile I get an idea for a puzzle that I think will be really good, but then when I research it I find some tiny, little issue that causes me to reject the idea.
DeleteI came up with the idea for this one while I was watching a movie last evening. Six Minutes to Midnight, and it came out on DVD October 5, 2021. I had not heard of it until yesterday and picked it up at the library. Since it included Carla Juri, James D'Arcy, Jim Broadbent, and Dame Judi Dench in the cast I thought it was worth a try. However at 22 minutes in there was a screen shot for just a couple of seconds showing a chess board and many of the pieces in various positions on a table in a drawing room. It was just to set the scene and had nothing to do with the film, but I hit the pause button on my remote in order to take a closer look at the chess layout. I was amazed to find the pieces arranged in a completely impossible manner on the board. I took that as a clue that with such sloppy attention paid to this detail the rest of the movie might be a waste of time. I was right about that. The movie is supposed to be based on a girl's school in 1939 England that had a bunch of German girls in attendance for some unknown reason. The writer took this supposed fact and put together an impossible suspense mystery that did not work at all. Had I stopped watching it early on, as I should have, I would not have come up with the puzzle though. Certain parts of the dialogue were a bit hard to understand and I turned on the subtitles. Later in the movie a caption flashed on that said: Dramatic music. That is what caused me to coin the puzzle.
Good catch with the chess board! I love to catch continuity errors in movies and TV....like when a glass is almost empty, then it's full, then it's about 3/4 full, then full again. I'm cursed with an eagle eye.
DeleteI may have posted about this here several years ago. The Seattle Times Sunday edition always has had a pictorial section under several different names throughout the years. The cover is always some eye catching color photo of something in this area. One cover was taken in the very heart of the downtown shopping part at an outdoor gathering place called Westlake Mall. The actual mall is across the street. The photo was taken because there was a chessboard and human size pieces set up on the mall showing a couple of people playing chess on it. I wrote in the the paper, pointing out that they were playing side to side instead of properly. I doubt anyone else caught it.
DeleteJust got back from the zoo with the grandkids. The ground in the wildebeest enclosure was covered with markings left by their hooves. It was all the gnus that's feet to print.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of when I was growing up and my two younger brothers and I were taken to the zoo by our parents. We managed to find our way back home though.
DeleteThis week's challenge comes from listener Tom Helfrick, of Sacramento. Think of a common sign seen along a highway. Rearrange the letters to name something inside a car.
ReplyDeleteThis week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Tom Helfrick, of Sacramento. Think of a common sign seen along a highway. Rearrange the letters to name something inside a car.
ReplyDeleteSynonyms!
ReplyDeletePost
ReplyDelete151 correct entries last week.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more cowbell exposure needed for this audience
DeleteAnswer submitted before the puzzle even aired. Hope I didn't miss the speed-limit sign.
ReplyDelete