tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post2148817960770142476..comments2024-03-28T16:39:55.561-07:00Comments on Blaine's Puzzle Blog: NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 22, 2010): Countries Trading ChemicalsBlainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-29484315192226873622010-08-27T11:16:47.944-07:002010-08-27T11:16:47.944-07:00North Korea and South Korea was another near miss....North Korea and South Korea was another near miss.kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05882757881891590225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-62072740657396303262010-08-27T08:21:37.064-07:002010-08-27T08:21:37.064-07:00Thanks Hugh, I figured it was about the atomic num...Thanks Hugh, I figured it was about the atomic numbers but did not get it til now.<br /><br />Ben, thanks for the video link. Salif is wonderful!! My dance co. here in Baltimore does similar dances and we have been to Senegal to study, but I would love to visit Mali.Robin Thomas Poponnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703107344880425239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-39739638151963538192010-08-27T08:05:57.287-07:002010-08-27T08:05:57.287-07:00RoRo, Confirmation numbers:
3=number of solutions
...RoRo, Confirmation numbers:<br />3=number of solutions<br />300=sum of atomic numbers<br /><br />My clue was in (297-242x+120x^2-16x^3)/3 <br />(So obscure to be just another confirmation?)<br /><br />for x = 1,2,3,4; equation = 53,55,73,75.<br /><br />My eye skipped a line looking up atomic numbers in the dictionary. 55 should have been 58.<br /><br />So I found Iceland/Ireland, Mali/Malta in that order.<br /><br />Shouldn't do this stuff before breakfast.hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914509834442545746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-75212524034076319612010-08-26T17:33:43.426-07:002010-08-26T17:33:43.426-07:00I went with Iceland/Ireland and Algeria/Nigeria. ...I went with Iceland/Ireland and Algeria/Nigeria. Tonga and Togo is close but no cigar.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-1147317303379032372010-08-26T16:37:17.665-07:002010-08-26T16:37:17.665-07:00In fact, since many of you may never get the chanc...In fact, since many of you may never get the chance to hear Salif Keita sing, here it is -- your briefest intro to Mali's music.<br /><br />Salif Keita was born an albino, and would have been an outcast in Malian society. But his remarkable vocal prowess and the fact that he is a direct descendant of the founder of the Mali Empire, Sundiata Keita, gave him his chance. He is now the most famous musician in MALI, if not in northern Africa.<br /><br />Here is a video of him singing "Madan":<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vmLW8Tqg14Benhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00600537639204656778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-17573220451462126092010-08-26T16:30:27.483-07:002010-08-26T16:30:27.483-07:00Hey RoRo, funny you should ask.
In fact, I have a...Hey RoRo, funny you should ask.<br /><br />In fact, I have a degree in chemistry that I use perhaps once every five years or so. So maybe that's why I found Iceland and Ireland as well as Mali and Malta. After all, Rhenium and Tantalum are my friends. <br /><br />Once I found two pairs, I really didn't search more even though Algeria and Nigeria seem easier than the ones I found with hindsight.<br /><br />As for clues, "Kathy Banned the Super Rails but not Griffin" was a clue to IRELAND and MALI -- as in supermodel Kathy IRELAND. And of course everyone at Blainesville knows that one of the leading musical groups in MALI is the SUPER RAIL BAND of Bamako, which has introduced Malian superstars such as Salif Keita.<br /><br />(You must see Salif Keita sing if you ever get the chance. Really!)<br /><br />"Rotten hit a Bogey but not Johnny" was a clue to Robbie Rotten, the most compelling character in the ICELANDIC children's show Lazytown, which is pretty much a sad affair except for the amazing physical comedy of Steffan Karl, playing the role of Robbie. And Bogey was a reference to Humphrey Bogart's classic role in the MALTESE Falcon.<br /><br />Numerical clues of 20 and 17 refer to the distance on the Periodic Table between the elemental pairs that solve the puzzle -- Iodine is number 53 and Tantalum is number 73; Cerium is 58 and Rhenium is 75.<br /><br />-- Other BenBenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00600537639204656778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-16510724959731068912010-08-26T14:41:28.465-07:002010-08-26T14:41:28.465-07:00Doc, those were my choices as well. I used my dau...Doc, those were my choices as well. I used my daughter, Olufunmike's name as a hint because she was born in Nigeria and has a name from the Yoruba people, most well known region. I started to say I would bring the whiskey to Blaine's future party but I figured we were all a bit of the "wild Child" from the anagram series a couple of weeks ago and certainly my Irish friends would get on my case since Ireland is known for a lot of other wonderful things besides whiskey - potato salad? don't know. May also be a point of contention.<br />So Ben and Hugh what were the Rotten Bogeys and the 3 and 300?Robin Thomas Poponnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703107344880425239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-15646010626594362822010-08-26T14:33:48.351-07:002010-08-26T14:33:48.351-07:00Yep, those were the ones I found too. I found Mali...Yep, those were the ones I found too. I found Mali/Malta and Iceland/Ireland first, then Algeria/Nigeria last.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure that Will hadn't thought of Iceland and Ireland. Certainly it doesn't work to swap C and R (only Carbon is an element). Similarly you can't swap Ic and Ir (only Iridium is an element). But if you swap Ce and Re, you can do it. That's the "tricky" pair.Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-89601382241517704702010-08-26T12:13:56.798-07:002010-08-26T12:13:56.798-07:00OK, here are the solutions I came up with (with so...OK, here are the solutions I came up with (with some cybernetic help :)<br /><br />1) Algeria -> Nigeria (Al=Aluminum -> Ni=Nickel)<br /><br />2) Iceland -> Ireland (Ce=Cerium -> Re=Rhenium. Never heard of either of these)<br /><br />3) Mali -> Malta (I=Iodine -> Ta=Tantulum. Only heard of the latter because of tantalum capacitors, I'm a bit of an electronics hobbyist)Doctechnicalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06817162059249352531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-5719819305903977932010-08-26T11:16:04.177-07:002010-08-26T11:16:04.177-07:00guess i have run out of time for solving the puzzl...guess i have run out of time for solving the puzzle - was too busy sewing this weekMy Little Family:https://www.blogger.com/profile/17240741117809295524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-78005070303666369662010-08-25T11:39:44.567-07:002010-08-25T11:39:44.567-07:00Tom,
Bravo!!!
RoRo,
The Western Hemisphere got sh...Tom,<br />Bravo!!!<br /><br />RoRo,<br />The Western Hemisphere got short shrift,<br />Possibly due to Continental Drift.kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05882757881891590225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-14942713534779491672010-08-25T10:25:20.901-07:002010-08-25T10:25:20.901-07:00oooh, I just got the third one which was so obviou...oooh, I just got the third one which was so obvious I wonder which of my original two is supposed to be the obscure one. So now half of my countries are on the same continent. My daughter, Olufunmike could have given me a clue if I had only consulted her first.Robin Thomas Poponnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703107344880425239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-13139642265775375102010-08-25T09:58:20.113-07:002010-08-25T09:58:20.113-07:00Wow T.! I will never call my hints poetical again...Wow T.! I will never call my hints poetical again after that. I only got two answers. My third was between two island nations but one was not independent. I'll chew on your pastriotic clues some more.<br /><br />So Blaine, if you do get chosen, I say we should all meet in a central location and party!Robin Thomas Poponnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703107344880425239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-66025880915451420542010-08-25T09:24:25.810-07:002010-08-25T09:24:25.810-07:00Ken, I agree whole heartedly.
“An Icier Tale”
A ...Ken, I agree whole heartedly.<br /><br />“An Icier Tale”<br /><br />A submitter of two and a submitter of three <br />Would definitely be “in a clear tie.”<br />For Will to claim that the third isn’t valid<br />Is absolutely ”a certain lie.”<br /> <br />His possible coolness to the third tricky answer<br />Simply wouldn’t sit well with me.<br />But perhaps while he dips his biscotti in espresso<br />He might consider dipping his “éclair in tea.”<br /><br />While the “Italian” solution is the one that may stick<br />As Will flirts with Mediterranean mania.<br />Our cold Northern neighbors have something we share –<br />The sharpness of an “elite crania.”<br /><br />The EndTommy Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03373838653732634600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-4359924230455804262010-08-24T22:01:00.268-07:002010-08-24T22:01:00.268-07:00Tom, I think Will has to accept any combination of...Tom, I think Will has to accept any combination of the three pairs. Besides the "real nice" solution, there's the "Italian" solution and the "I create" solution.kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05882757881891590225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-8319494140491243832010-08-24T18:52:01.700-07:002010-08-24T18:52:01.700-07:00Ken, I was insanely envious of your perfect clue. ...Ken, I was insanely envious of your perfect clue. Sadly, I am in agreement that one pair is not part of the intended answer. Hope I don't sound like a malcontent. TomTommy Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03373838653732634600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-16817007082457772202010-08-24T14:40:03.379-07:002010-08-24T14:40:03.379-07:00I had to spell each country backwards to get the t...I had to spell each country backwards to get the third pair - I think there are only three valid pairs though.DaveJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10386638780058713432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-15973015674612864742010-08-24T14:02:32.745-07:002010-08-24T14:02:32.745-07:00I agree, the second pair is tricky. Guess I had s...I agree, the second pair is tricky. Guess I had some luck in figuring it out.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359746462038374457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-36362988533090467622010-08-24T10:47:29.720-07:002010-08-24T10:47:29.720-07:00Hugh, I had the same experience. I found two and s...Hugh, I had the same experience. I found two and stopped. I like the "trickiness" of the pair that I ended on, but I think it must be the pair that Will hadn't counted on.Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-32324863929930777682010-08-24T08:42:28.149-07:002010-08-24T08:42:28.149-07:00I find it hard to believe that I missed the pair t...I find it hard to believe that I missed the pair that I did. The fact that they were the farthest apart on a sorted list shouldn't have been a problem. I just stopped looking when I found 2 solutions. 3 and 300 by way of confirmation.hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16914509834442545746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-88420052578969498622010-08-23T21:57:17.479-07:002010-08-23T21:57:17.479-07:00I had one with well-known elements, another with o...I had one with well-known elements, another with one known and one not so well known. I think those are the intended answers.<br /><br />The third pair has elements that would probably be only known if you looked them up a table.Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-24742395511633536682010-08-23T20:49:47.686-07:002010-08-23T20:49:47.686-07:00I was not familiar with that element either...Must...I was not familiar with that element either...Must be a new one since I memorized the periodic table. I submitted my entry with an alias name this time to see if it improves my chances of a call.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139505187498448200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-57615315726047749512010-08-23T20:33:11.409-07:002010-08-23T20:33:11.409-07:00One of the pairs I came up with contained the symb...One of the pairs I came up with contained the symbol for an element I wasn't familiar with before now (we English majors didn't have to memorize the Periodic Table). I don't think I can name it without dropping a dime on the whole answer.Curtishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05685055278145414455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-20787864968009202222010-08-23T19:15:08.658-07:002010-08-23T19:15:08.658-07:00Whatever. I'm destined to never get called any...Whatever. I'm destined to never get called anyway...Blainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-8638903011199976352010-08-23T19:13:23.647-07:002010-08-23T19:13:23.647-07:00Blaine, I hope the screening of answers is not set...Blaine, I hope the screening of answers is not set up to deselect submissions that have more than two answers.Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139505187498448200noreply@blogger.com