tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57303912024-03-14T20:34:15.060-07:00Blaine's Puzzle BlogWeekly discussion on the NPR puzzler, brain teasers, math problems and more.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-49960729490965335742024-02-18T05:34:00.000-08:002024-02-22T12:01:31.424-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 18, 2024): Famous Year in History<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/18/1232027200/sunday-puzzle-p-is-for-president">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 18, 2024): Famous Year in History</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4QZ299j57F1D4SQdT-hdNqCIy1-vWSHrpunV0Hx8mFdgzYirxBUh_yfv7wDydRxYm2dx50Zn3SFC_39RLfFDnFp1a62BFsB51ZIICNS1zUh78z39S57NPltl8lnHVPmnnu0q8H__fEG1Mc67Wuejp4p-aKeJzwMUGeouSufjl-lqp1VRhOML/s600/lettervalues.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4QZ299j57F1D4SQdT-hdNqCIy1-vWSHrpunV0Hx8mFdgzYirxBUh_yfv7wDydRxYm2dx50Zn3SFC_39RLfFDnFp1a62BFsB51ZIICNS1zUh78z39S57NPltl8lnHVPmnnu0q8H__fEG1Mc67Wuejp4p-aKeJzwMUGeouSufjl-lqp1VRhOML/s200/lettervalues.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of a famous character in American literature. Change each letter in that character's name to its position in the alphabet — A=1, B=2, etc. — to get a famous year in American history. Who is this person and what is the year?</blockquote>The author was born shortly after the famous year.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Herman Melville was born in 1819.<blockquote><b>A: </b>(Captain) AHAB --> (War of) 1812</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com175tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-33316731650395693522023-10-15T05:26:00.002-07:002023-10-19T12:37:08.346-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 15, 2023): If Life Gives You Fruit... <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/10/15/1205950960/sunday-puzzle-body-swap">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 15, 2023): If Life Gives You Fruit...</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqZu0ex8ZoAqRkzQHIN5xmi2sxrKCuv8Kp8jAMBOoVRi0lOMrBZlOuDP-ieFk-814wXlLO6up8Nbui7KkJpM5XP1d5iXx9QkRKZM0AWoRjWh1blxVeNgK3h29e3SS9AOPsCHkF6lLwVrV571cBf6fEk_FefE9IWEF7DreeLd3ihVHNp6VZnii/s1024/fruit%20drinks.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqZu0ex8ZoAqRkzQHIN5xmi2sxrKCuv8Kp8jAMBOoVRi0lOMrBZlOuDP-ieFk-814wXlLO6up8Nbui7KkJpM5XP1d5iXx9QkRKZM0AWoRjWh1blxVeNgK3h29e3SS9AOPsCHkF6lLwVrV571cBf6fEk_FefE9IWEF7DreeLd3ihVHNp6VZnii/s200/fruit%20drinks.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a famous athlete, first and last names. Interchange the initials of those names. Then add an appliance. The result, reading left to right, will name a fruit. What is it?</blockquote>Take the athlete's middle name. Keep the first letter and the last four letters. Insert a fruit and phonetically you have another fruit.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Constantine --> C + LEMON + TINE --> Clementine<blockquote><b>A: </b>DAN MARINO --> MAN DARINO + RANGE --> MANDARIN ORANGE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com218tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-9443646097688240332023-08-13T05:29:00.002-07:002023-08-17T19:16:54.202-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 13, 2023): Contemporary Singer on Repeat<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/13/1193621080/sunday-puzzle-fill-in-the-blank">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 13, 2023): Contemporary Singer on Repeat</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LllqaKqxEh5QYiv9hYDh1_xli79tMASuGpTM2agVTbGidMY7mJB_2K2YIxl-XJlJqhDizjlavDrbbDiSMuveUd8mK6bsWMROFUAzX31qVPBMWDzGU2571msOlp_wkAkvGBDA2hhVbGCknyTY1E5qNNBAtukPaEZ_G1xYbgynar_N5uviVtd6/s960/songstuck.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6LllqaKqxEh5QYiv9hYDh1_xli79tMASuGpTM2agVTbGidMY7mJB_2K2YIxl-XJlJqhDizjlavDrbbDiSMuveUd8mK6bsWMROFUAzX31qVPBMWDzGU2571msOlp_wkAkvGBDA2hhVbGCknyTY1E5qNNBAtukPaEZ_G1xYbgynar_N5uviVtd6/s200/songstuck.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous contemporary singer (6,4). The second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and ninth letters, in order, spell a repeated part of a song that everyone knows. What is it?</blockquote>It's not the first time someone's made this observation.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b><a href="https://youtu.be/9FEr4LbnFKU">Celine Dion Had A Farm</a><blockquote><b>A: </b>CELINE DION, "Old MacDonald had a farm. E-I-E-I-O!"</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-52599606136005573692023-07-23T05:54:00.005-07:002023-07-27T15:19:36.057-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 23, 2023): Classic TV Show<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/23/1189601109/sunday-puzzle-can-you-guess-these-popular-tv-shows">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 23, 2023): Classic TV Show</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrsFuEyyETD3ecjGDEwedhR2uVY3oQTKq0sIf7ssYFT6nUN-6orpS7-Pex-mc1eM_9jMWRwQB9pLwk4_uscJ879PfYIcZ4zY0XpgaaSe94dvjF8PvZ0uxYWSjOAR3fhu01EnQxLyPun3XWdslGaHJnzeWF5luvrX6CHGlbpwo6vI_meTfk_rm/s1024/startrek.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDrsFuEyyETD3ecjGDEwedhR2uVY3oQTKq0sIf7ssYFT6nUN-6orpS7-Pex-mc1eM_9jMWRwQB9pLwk4_uscJ879PfYIcZ4zY0XpgaaSe94dvjF8PvZ0uxYWSjOAR3fhu01EnQxLyPun3XWdslGaHJnzeWF5luvrX6CHGlbpwo6vI_meTfk_rm/s200/startrek.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a classic TV show in two words, in which the respective words rhyme with the first and last names of a famous writer - four letters in the first name, five letter in the last name. Who is it?</blockquote>This is kind of a spinoff of the on-air puzzle.<br/><br/>The initial letters of "Kind Of A Spinoff" when rearranged spell KAOS.<blockquote><b>A: </b>Get Smart, Bret Harte</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com202tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-68917517464284837712023-07-16T05:28:00.002-07:002023-07-20T12:31:58.433-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 16, 2023): Lovely Day for a Picnic<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/16/1187565845/sunday-puzzle-two-words-scrambled-please">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 16, 2023): Lovely Day for a Picnic</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFhyz28BBw7ONbKAvSwI2dRH1FEZj7SADxHTRtxiF96VOzJ2F8FPoyW1Wx9l9oEZ680rI5HOGZ8RDWRhjGCiXPgvfgjHS136tB-9JL3cpzy2MYLsG5-jBseL9h3PpxnVyi7-xv2bYDW8xwS6F7KN8undiBePdoiv83hNOej87aN93UG2YABmU/s1500/picnic%20basket.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFhyz28BBw7ONbKAvSwI2dRH1FEZj7SADxHTRtxiF96VOzJ2F8FPoyW1Wx9l9oEZ680rI5HOGZ8RDWRhjGCiXPgvfgjHS136tB-9JL3cpzy2MYLsG5-jBseL9h3PpxnVyi7-xv2bYDW8xwS6F7KN8undiBePdoiv83hNOej87aN93UG2YABmU/s200/picnic%20basket.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous singer (first and last names, 12 letters in all). Add a Y at the end, and the result, with respacing but not rearranging any letters, will spell a possible contribution to a picnic and how it might be served. What singer is it?</blockquote>The answer is a little contrived, but at least I don't need to use my "Phone a Friend" lifeline.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My hint was to the song <a href="https://youtu.be/YG6UllZwj9c?t=29">"Who Wants to be a Millionaire" from "High Society"</a><blockquote><b>A: </b>Frank Sinatra --> Franks in a tray</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-62804027160268351562023-07-09T05:29:00.004-07:002023-07-15T13:15:29.560-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 9, 2023): Lights, Camera, ...<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/09/1186650754/sunday-puzzle-fill-in-the-blank">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 9, 2023): Lights, Camera, ...</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1iohhjloYBtP4KqkAQ4sKrE2DgyRqqFOZc4pFkHTYAEkOH1z8MwnOGKyPXkKkLTRUpOIni6FaW0i-U1dCK-f27cdtdSt9KSDUoHbv9C4srvOx4KMlqIC4M9v83G1BM7qNLhS2P7j-eseoBhjjn3xGNKu2NqbpGFDFtI5voeYcY8APie22o6n/s800/Clapper.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="775" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1iohhjloYBtP4KqkAQ4sKrE2DgyRqqFOZc4pFkHTYAEkOH1z8MwnOGKyPXkKkLTRUpOIni6FaW0i-U1dCK-f27cdtdSt9KSDUoHbv9C4srvOx4KMlqIC4M9v83G1BM7qNLhS2P7j-eseoBhjjn3xGNKu2NqbpGFDFtI5voeYcY8APie22o6n/s200/Clapper.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the first name of a famous movie director. Write it in upper- and lowercase letters. Rotate the third letter of this name 180° and you'll get the name of the main character in one of this director's most popular movies. Who is it?</blockquote>Take the full name of the director. Remove the third from the last and the last letter of each name. You can rearrange the letters to get an apt anagram. Or rearrange them again to get a different apt anagram.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>RID(l)E(y) SC(o)T(t) --> DIRECTS, CREDITS<blockquote><b>A: </b>Ridley (Scott) --> (Ellen) Ripley</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com151tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-75231165492719680032023-06-25T06:09:00.003-07:002023-06-29T14:46:08.035-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 25, 2023): Who's Your Favorite TV Character?<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/25/1183823383/sunday-puzzle-opposites-attract">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 25, 2023): Who's Your Favorite TV Character?</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrLQAHlAWMRhVffee9cKa6mMTYj-WHmgSbjLQskE1oMAfeGahzNAgLZ6dYMVTzkGUA7M4MbBXe1iSI16fjA3oZhYqjihRqqkc1v_DY5df4iRcso5b4ATGGUzpqX2d7EabG_6Zf-O0CXTbX82CyC2RHB4peK0aDdfagFrnh3LVRODum0PgRZb/s1300/tv%20chars.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhrLQAHlAWMRhVffee9cKa6mMTYj-WHmgSbjLQskE1oMAfeGahzNAgLZ6dYMVTzkGUA7M4MbBXe1iSI16fjA3oZhYqjihRqqkc1v_DY5df4iRcso5b4ATGGUzpqX2d7EabG_6Zf-O0CXTbX82CyC2RHB4peK0aDdfagFrnh3LVRODum0PgRZb/s200/tv%20chars.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a well-known TV character (5,6). Change the first letter of the first name to a Y and read it (the modified <i>first</i> name) backward. You'll get a synonym of the character's last name. Who is it?</blockquote>The name of the TV show can be rearranged to two related words -- ones you might hear today.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>This was a callback to the puzzle from <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2020/11/npr-sunday-puzzle-nov-15-2020-watch-tv.html">Nov 15, 2020</a> (PERRY MASON --> PRAY, SERMON)<blockquote><b>A: </b>DELLA STREET --> ALLEY, STREET</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com193tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-50532524838387893012023-06-11T05:51:00.005-07:002023-06-15T15:06:50.323-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 11, 2023): Sing It Again<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/11/1181509923/sunday-puzzle-a-lesson-in-geography">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 11, 2023): Sing It Again</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tt6hja801TYJDgM2YkDtZ2ZUTvUp-2-aAsonJ3HHQ6FtFMjmo_mZ1QaIgn6KP25RwhFD63jzNaQUiFmoRi_K_MuC0fDkpUgVvwPtJqNvCgTZlUn8s5kncnjb3LIPR80mVEAtY64CJ3Z5gyg4F1Zenii3d2jcWqxWyJQp4t0EZowu1iIQzw/s600/singing-wave.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tt6hja801TYJDgM2YkDtZ2ZUTvUp-2-aAsonJ3HHQ6FtFMjmo_mZ1QaIgn6KP25RwhFD63jzNaQUiFmoRi_K_MuC0fDkpUgVvwPtJqNvCgTZlUn8s5kncnjb3LIPR80mVEAtY64CJ3Z5gyg4F1Zenii3d2jcWqxWyJQp4t0EZowu1iIQzw/s200/singing-wave.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous singer (6,6) whose last name is a body of water. And if you remove a letter from the first name you'll get a landform. What singer is this?</blockquote>I've looked nearly all around my globe for bodies of waters that could be the last name of a singer.<br/><br/><b>A: </b>On his expedition to circumnavigate the globe, Magellan sailed a strait in southern Chile, later named in his honor as the Strait of Magellan.<blockquote><b>A: </b>GEORGE STRAIT --> GORGE, STRAIT</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-23917922002842444872023-06-04T05:37:00.004-07:002023-06-11T05:53:06.162-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 4, 2023): A Singer Does Some Singing<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/06/04/1179475233/sunday-puzzle-you-tor-through-it">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 4, 2023): A Singer Does Some Singing</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZKAlxledjmmYIJTxSU33g2WpP3sXkEbB_GAIy6RNb3LDPWC_Rjoj6pGrr0qi_9_tGP7Wr51WOSKGUBneCj4SR3yv8nHR7oeKciIrp7gW6ZKrxBKa98-zO4aWo-j5I7R31RGLHQsH60A93R09_CUPV5nzwMtlQgnx63cvjvwjGjnDguEhww/s304/singer1.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZKAlxledjmmYIJTxSU33g2WpP3sXkEbB_GAIy6RNb3LDPWC_Rjoj6pGrr0qi_9_tGP7Wr51WOSKGUBneCj4SR3yv8nHR7oeKciIrp7gW6ZKrxBKa98-zO4aWo-j5I7R31RGLHQsH60A93R09_CUPV5nzwMtlQgnx63cvjvwjGjnDguEhww/s200/singer1.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous singer (6,4). Remove the last letter of the first name and the first letter of the last name. The result, reading left to right, is a word for some singing. What is it?</blockquote>You can also rearrange the 10 letters of the famous singer to get a color and an action.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>ORANGE, LICK<blockquote><b>A: </b>CAROLE KING --> CAROLING</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com144tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-80838575872956011292023-05-28T05:00:00.007-07:002023-06-04T05:32:48.786-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 28, 2023): Author turned Pro Athlete<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/05/28/1178597483/sunday-puzzle-bridge-those-words">NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 28, 2023): Author turned Pro Athlete</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU198c6PwAHjIAwyyZ8Pnse90TaaIbPg_PG4lYMFAvXHHCbp-n18ngSJ7a71ptfPKsswA2WgIkfnzi9eHXTir41pfE2BBZkOj2JmKm-JBvEmgtEhGMSQG4JX9nj2br0_7yXaI_DRdq6oYO3IlKWwmn08StlcviuPh4b0Y5qUx6zIoiuJclA/s1024/pngwing.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1024" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU198c6PwAHjIAwyyZ8Pnse90TaaIbPg_PG4lYMFAvXHHCbp-n18ngSJ7a71ptfPKsswA2WgIkfnzi9eHXTir41pfE2BBZkOj2JmKm-JBvEmgtEhGMSQG4JX9nj2br0_7yXaI_DRdq6oYO3IlKWwmn08StlcviuPh4b0Y5qUx6zIoiuJclA/w200-h141/pngwing.com.png" width="200" /></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a well-known author whose first name is nine letters long, and last name six letters. Change the first letter of the last name and anagram those six letters to spell a word. Now read everything together — the author's first name plus the anagram with a letter changed of the last name — and you'll get a certain professional athlete. Who is it?</blockquote>The new 6-letter part can also be rearranged to get the last name of an actor whose first name starts with the same 5 letters as the author or athlete.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Charl(ize) Theron<blockquote><b>A: </b>CHARLOTTE BRONTE, CHARLOTTE HORNET</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com131tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-38193039162928244832023-01-08T05:28:00.006-08:002023-02-26T06:56:39.322-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 8, 2023): Elementary!<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1146917371/sunday-puzzle-word-family-finds">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 8, 2023): Elementary!</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYV5BieEpg3hZoPVAm_fvKvVWDOVQsxRVyCV0ZUBXaTJRJkHhk4bQdKALAtLp3OE5hS3F7nNtIsI3IXrV7lGcgXY7UxpOIoEY1wyfoJKkYJi2Z9FaF8Eu9WQWpQooQz4_-f6NhLubJLH7lRcTmePA6hpukoz2Z_Nk2nETIpqCfF1SJ351Yw/s367/Surprise.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYYV5BieEpg3hZoPVAm_fvKvVWDOVQsxRVyCV0ZUBXaTJRJkHhk4bQdKALAtLp3OE5hS3F7nNtIsI3IXrV7lGcgXY7UxpOIoEY1wyfoJKkYJi2Z9FaF8Eu9WQWpQooQz4_-f6NhLubJLH7lRcTmePA6hpukoz2Z_Nk2nETIpqCfF1SJ351Yw/s200/Surprise.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a famous <b><i>living</i></b> person — first and last names. If you drop the last letter of the first name, you get an element on the periodic table. And if you drop the last letter of the last name, you get the chemical symbol of another element. What celebrity is this?</blockquote>I found an answer for a non-living celebrity which led directly to the correct answer. Note: If you take the movie or series that the person is best known for, each word starts with a chemical symbol (one letter for the first word, two letters for the rest).<br/><br/>My initial thought was Tiny Tim before switching to Tina Fey.<br/>Note: S(aturday) Ni(ght) Li(ve) = S(ulfur) Ni(ckel) Li(thium)<blockquote><b>A: </b>Tina Fey --> Tin, Fe (Iron)</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com171tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-36173797338060262372022-09-25T05:34:00.003-07:002022-09-30T11:55:20.477-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 25, 2022): White Collar Crime<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/09/25/1124931137/sunday-puzzle-find-the-sport">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 25, 2022): White Collar Crime</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvlv9mSSpMpNriU9HWC85ph6wkE395LGk8RX3FhSZflkE_jLvl3XyfGPf5GlVLjIZ0OUbcjmYtROl7yVD7XEyezqyYvfhlVWSGDZzVRkpB-5qpZVoGypBZvEo_d3jNIAgK4Cz9wG63Q9hHSTC7qVa0CZrBM5X85W3C1Z64hkzA39DvTcRJA/s3636/WhiteCollar.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="3636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMvlv9mSSpMpNriU9HWC85ph6wkE395LGk8RX3FhSZflkE_jLvl3XyfGPf5GlVLjIZ0OUbcjmYtROl7yVD7XEyezqyYvfhlVWSGDZzVRkpB-5qpZVoGypBZvEo_d3jNIAgK4Cz9wG63Q9hHSTC7qVa0CZrBM5X85W3C1Z64hkzA39DvTcRJA/s200/WhiteCollar.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the name of a large financial corporation in 10 letters. Drop the fourth and fifth letters. Move the sixth and seventh letters to the front. You'll name a person associated with financial misdeeds. What is the company, and who is the person?</blockquote>This person was due for a puzzle — !<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>This makes <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/search?q=capone">at least the 4th puzzle about this person</a>. If you hold down the SHIFT key and type a 1 (a "capital one"), you get an exclamation point.<blockquote><b>A: </b>CAPITAL ONE --> AL CAPONE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com162tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-29396352667104627482022-08-21T05:43:00.002-07:002022-08-25T15:01:51.842-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 21, 2022): A Pair of Girls Names<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/21/1118632912/sunday-puzzle-double-down">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 21, 2022): A Pair of Girls Names</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgW9T3TanqyUM4Gdjjubl8CjAEo3OivI3EfJHrSB9LHhG6xsgwibHKdSeSNdk8j1iCRt041Iz7f5W3z52AWwNxAu3qsruTw59EOrUvGa2YMi1Xela3ijThAhzYA8Yc1Es1U0yg5mmK0ajPCJBHzOhxbBEuZleHTYSPRa2ZdjgoEhYQ5laog/s2283/two-baby-girls.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="2283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgW9T3TanqyUM4Gdjjubl8CjAEo3OivI3EfJHrSB9LHhG6xsgwibHKdSeSNdk8j1iCRt041Iz7f5W3z52AWwNxAu3qsruTw59EOrUvGa2YMi1Xela3ijThAhzYA8Yc1Es1U0yg5mmK0ajPCJBHzOhxbBEuZleHTYSPRa2ZdjgoEhYQ5laog/s200/two-baby-girls.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of an eight-letter noun composed phonetically of two consecutive names traditionally given to girls. Remove the sixth letter and rearrange the result. You'll get an event where you might hear the thing named by the original noun. What words are these?</blockquote>If you remove the <i>first</i> letter and rearrange, you get a place you probably wouldn't want to hear the original noun.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Removing the first letter and rearranging you get LATRINE.<blockquote><b>A: </b>CLARINET (CLAIRE, ANNETTE) --> RECITAL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com159tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-4184902429784009222022-07-31T05:36:00.001-07:002022-08-06T10:51:18.255-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 31, 2022): American TV Personality<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/31/1114717889/sunday-puzzle-or-shall-we-say-sunday-sell-ebration">NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 31, 2022): American TV Personality</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDEGB2mABlOWHO_TjV-gKrFpSao_g7UbwQXKzRM6IfzfDvmmH4z3AjbMlunebKmTJBbVFcmw30vjnHFUA9A4KZ6ZcucODJWH-rRBd684HHCvrAVkK7ODQkrV-tg80pxDrWEOJym9EY3gSvlwz7ba49KznfB7FMQMrTqaGJlybbrW3rA2zSw/s1000/pngwing.com%20%281%29.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDEGB2mABlOWHO_TjV-gKrFpSao_g7UbwQXKzRM6IfzfDvmmH4z3AjbMlunebKmTJBbVFcmw30vjnHFUA9A4KZ6ZcucODJWH-rRBd684HHCvrAVkK7ODQkrV-tg80pxDrWEOJym9EY3gSvlwz7ba49KznfB7FMQMrTqaGJlybbrW3rA2zSw/s200/pngwing.com%20%281%29.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous person in American television — 6 letters in the first name, 4 letters in the last. Switch the last letter of the first name with the first letter of the last. Then reverse the order of the two modified names. You'll get a phrase meaning "almost typical." What is it?</blockquote>There's clearly a reason this puzzle was picked. That being said, I can't think of a single show I've seen them on.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>There was c<b>LEAR</b>ly a reason, since he just celebrated turning 100. He's a famous person for <b>writing and producing</b> numerous television shows, but he's had only a smattering of acting roles. He has appeared on lots of shows as himself however.<blockquote><b>A: </b>NORMAN LEAR --> NEAR NORMAL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com163tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-23651872380722228902022-07-10T05:14:00.001-07:002022-07-14T12:01:13.368-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 10, 2022): Presidential Motorcade<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/10/1110685488/sunday-puzzle-theres-a-word-somewhere-in-there">NPR Sunday Puzzle (July 10, 2022): Presidential Motorcade</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo1PA0gIg3k_swjamDn3kdJ8yI3JaAzIxcYC8bIkE7Q6aGdVUf1UiXKw9pzhXKsMg4gwxFF412PaixnU4c12LfTMuyDLyiL0cbc7D8Ol5eMmiT-N6N5GWuhEK0ZpR4s3I4XQJARAepQU30Vme6yLFWRASrMBTuDjz7LhVCIyhKHBrOkzCCQ/s3000/motorcade.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRo1PA0gIg3k_swjamDn3kdJ8yI3JaAzIxcYC8bIkE7Q6aGdVUf1UiXKw9pzhXKsMg4gwxFF412PaixnU4c12LfTMuyDLyiL0cbc7D8Ol5eMmiT-N6N5GWuhEK0ZpR4s3I4XQJARAepQU30Vme6yLFWRASrMBTuDjz7LhVCIyhKHBrOkzCCQ/s200/motorcade.jpg"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Write down the last names of two U.S. presidents. Move a letter from the second name into the first one. You'll name a vehicle that's used for special occasions. What is it?</blockquote>Coincidentally, the names are in the order they were president.<blockquote><b>A: </b>CARTER, BUSH --> CHARTER BUS</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com156tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-51114316503849705022022-06-19T05:47:00.002-07:002022-06-23T13:15:19.861-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 19, 2022): Who Are These People?<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/06/19/1106060697/sunday-puzzle-triple-purpose">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 19, 2022): Who Are These People?</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_NYx2m0Vr6n4-V_1PQrG6CD_--5fwwJFe88Gzffa5lAKFZDmb6cqPVsZ8GR5GWkoDXAxybu22nPl6q_ozJiRLwpyarvTbZAHtHf2btAGXyd5YZM-_nUk4XrQlPFlb_JiEOS9Djgw1UtSZ4L-nc1LFDjscOZHQmN4INp4bEaRnzGTNzmzjA/s630/twopeople.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_NYx2m0Vr6n4-V_1PQrG6CD_--5fwwJFe88Gzffa5lAKFZDmb6cqPVsZ8GR5GWkoDXAxybu22nPl6q_ozJiRLwpyarvTbZAHtHf2btAGXyd5YZM-_nUk4XrQlPFlb_JiEOS9Djgw1UtSZ4L-nc1LFDjscOZHQmN4INp4bEaRnzGTNzmzjA/s200/twopeople.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of two famous people — one from business and one from entertainment — whose last names are anagrams of each other. Now take their first names, drop the last letter of each of them, and put the result together, without rearranging, and you'll get the full first name of a famous fictional character. Who are these people?</blockquote>You can also rearrange the last names to get a place that you might have seen one of these people, maybe both.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Their last names also anagram to STAGE<blockquote><b>A: </b>(BIL)L <b>GATES</b> + (BO)B <b>SAGET</b> --> (BILBO) BAGGINS</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com136tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-46510467040076802402022-06-12T05:52:00.005-07:002022-06-19T06:10:13.112-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 12, 2022): Twentieth Century American<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/06/12/1104399887/sunday-puzzle-spooky-anagrams">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 12, 2022): Twentieth Century American</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc4hOjEBgTygCzzF4Y1sHcbs4zQGjelZyjiFdcWboL5IXzlxAMNoNUPZDUCaPekctTJM6zQRvDcQzKxctu2BAN8UtR-eBVKotwtL3xhFuPOhUXSu8eIBZYd_Yxs3K-z7qNatI0UNZdNaCw7RpBU10TTotro79pdumJ4XimVaHpaPmJI8gHA/s1260/20thCentury.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="823" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLc4hOjEBgTygCzzF4Y1sHcbs4zQGjelZyjiFdcWboL5IXzlxAMNoNUPZDUCaPekctTJM6zQRvDcQzKxctu2BAN8UtR-eBVKotwtL3xhFuPOhUXSu8eIBZYd_Yxs3K-z7qNatI0UNZdNaCw7RpBU10TTotro79pdumJ4XimVaHpaPmJI8gHA/s200/20thCentury.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Take the last name of a famous 20th-century American. The 5th, 6th, 7th, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd letters, in that order, name a European capital. Who is the person, and what capital is it?</blockquote>Change one letter in the capital and rearrange to get a country. Repeat the process to get an element. Repeat the process one last time to get some gemstones.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>BERLIN --> BRUNEI --> ERBIUM --> RUBIES<br/><br/>I had to change the book cover I originally used because it featured pictures of <a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91qy+6qjwFL.jpg">Lusitania, JFK and the Berlin Wall</a>. Oops!<blockquote><b>A: </b>LIN(d)BER(gh) --> BERLIN</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-33500503728052456112022-05-15T05:33:00.002-07:002022-05-20T10:28:04.567-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 15, 2022): Merci Beaucoup<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/15/1098966112/sunday-puzzle-sandwich-the-letters">NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 15, 2022): Merci Beaucoup</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecP7dE7kfr0LLmt0UK_zfbLaD0ccTskMWQ2aS07ROvwCp8Tt8ljZ9zM8CPD4rib52DknO3Iva7JLKoYAir6u8KhEiTiF7n39fAxkNZyjxsMb9B1XxqOcKx_6oKquxXeiqW4NztgBgqYTOf9LWAOU2_jInmqAHlAarEpyfqdQHsU53EwnmzQ/s961/bonjour.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="961" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecP7dE7kfr0LLmt0UK_zfbLaD0ccTskMWQ2aS07ROvwCp8Tt8ljZ9zM8CPD4rib52DknO3Iva7JLKoYAir6u8KhEiTiF7n39fAxkNZyjxsMb9B1XxqOcKx_6oKquxXeiqW4NztgBgqYTOf9LWAOU2_jInmqAHlAarEpyfqdQHsU53EwnmzQ/s200/bonjour.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a famous living movie star. Insert an R in the middle of the first name, and drop the last two letters of the last name. You'll get a familiar French phrase. What is it?</blockquote>Déjà vu, for the third time<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Variations of the puzzle appeared in <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2014/04/npr-sunday-puzzle-april-27-2014-actors.html">April 2014</a> and <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2015/11/npr-sunday-puzzle-nov-29-2015.html">November 2015</a>. I also mentioned the actor in another puzzle from <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2022/02/npr-sunday-puzzle-feb-27-2022-oscar-for.html">February 2022</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>CATE BLANCHETT --> CARTE BLANCHE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com211tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-41741950138631829762022-04-03T05:28:00.003-07:002022-04-07T12:26:47.191-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 3, 2022): Celebrities of the Past<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/03/1090460775/sunday-puzzle-it-takes-two">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 3, 2022): Celebrities of the Past</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih6yhOfVY6cKMz-iPHelh0JWuVl4qVfU59V7VnA8BvJ9ISuEmnLPsb6bo0lspikRs3m6yqOvA4zIXjjHWWXjlHPfaY4Hmoe0O3slZeFxAvEC0wmdj_4JoRzGQTNXBcHfDBZ1buECxdb-L_41R6DMKVG9pA_9C_-jlkJz5252KEgf80acXEQ/s600/celebrities%20past.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhih6yhOfVY6cKMz-iPHelh0JWuVl4qVfU59V7VnA8BvJ9ISuEmnLPsb6bo0lspikRs3m6yqOvA4zIXjjHWWXjlHPfaY4Hmoe0O3slZeFxAvEC0wmdj_4JoRzGQTNXBcHfDBZ1buECxdb-L_41R6DMKVG9pA_9C_-jlkJz5252KEgf80acXEQ/s200/celebrities%20past.jpg"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name two well-known celebrities of the past who had the same six-letter first names and the same initial in their last names. What follows that initial in one of the last names is a criminal activity. And what follows that initial in the other name is the result of that criminal activity. What celebrities are these?</blockquote>The first celebrity I had in mind wasn't that far off, but as a result it took me quite a while to get there in the end.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>I first thought of George Burns which coincidentally had BURNS and URNS. In the end we all turn to ASH but we can all hope we take as long as George Burns to get there.<blockquote><b>A: </b>JOHNNY CARSON, JOHNNY CASH --> ARSON, ASH</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com193tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-22865498267204614622022-02-27T06:36:00.002-08:002022-03-03T12:46:01.992-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 27, 2022): The Oscar for Best Animal Goes To...<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/02/27/1083032736/sunday-puzzle-opposites-attract">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 27, 2022): The Oscar for Best Animal Goes To...</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs0IgeL056qR1PjPAqwrvVO4JEaqGRFeY4X7h75qIpsziEVE96e_Y_Wv6ufcb1LkKhHeATcOfwT6FdWcYTxqEMy9q3HUykznREbHU8NY_DvOK75Ro9kSiZl3hu2oNCH0fxAXVqgPGX8WIJxO3gFKMa3Uuigm2-vyyPGzqgqHpdoQJ0_qwCDg=s500" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgs0IgeL056qR1PjPAqwrvVO4JEaqGRFeY4X7h75qIpsziEVE96e_Y_Wv6ufcb1LkKhHeATcOfwT6FdWcYTxqEMy9q3HUykznREbHU8NY_DvOK75Ro9kSiZl3hu2oNCH0fxAXVqgPGX8WIJxO3gFKMa3Uuigm2-vyyPGzqgqHpdoQJ0_qwCDg=s200"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a famous actor — first and last names. Remove the last letter of each name. You'll be left with an animal and an adjective that describes that animal, respectively. Who is the actor?</blockquote>Figuring "actor" could apply to either gender, I tried to make Cate Blanchett and Elke Sommer work. Suddenly the planets aligned to give me the answer.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>One hint was <i>gender</i> (male) and the other was <i>planet</i> (Mercury). The actor portrayed Freddie <i>Mercury</i><blockquote><b>A: </b>RAMI MALEK --> RAM, MALE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com169tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-29942870635482280622022-01-16T06:08:00.002-08:002022-01-20T12:43:31.914-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 16, 2022): 5-Letter Nicknames<a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/01/16/1073335623/sunday-puzzle-hitting-the-right-key">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 16, 2022): 5-Letter Nicknames</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpvI23c50Rdo9yMNXGKqRpIznNDeIogXIuluNCcjxAAMahe89x_RgOVIll8dPSGhGLpyRQAvM3trzhJA7_lLh7f5VHDIlVJb5MbDs8crrUAb-EszaU9I66ZCpDB_2JTwjKCY73-T9DFhaM3wf965253pFDILgEKezzqNU1d4a8N4NFYi_rOA=s2000" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1185" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpvI23c50Rdo9yMNXGKqRpIznNDeIogXIuluNCcjxAAMahe89x_RgOVIll8dPSGhGLpyRQAvM3trzhJA7_lLh7f5VHDIlVJb5MbDs8crrUAb-EszaU9I66ZCpDB_2JTwjKCY73-T9DFhaM3wf965253pFDILgEKezzqNU1d4a8N4NFYi_rOA=s200"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>What three common five-letter nicknames have the same last four letters and alphabetically consecutive initial letters? Or to put it another way, think of three common five-letter nicknames that have alphabetically consecutive initial letters and the same last four letters. Which common nicknames are these?</blockquote>L'Eggo my Eggo!<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b><i>Lego Movie 2</i> introduced members of <a href="https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-70841-bennys-space-squad/">Benny's Space Squad</a><blockquote><b>A: </b>JENNY, KENNY, LENNY</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-58587443788164062912021-12-19T06:41:00.001-08:002021-12-24T02:36:38.023-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 19, 2021): Not Formerly Known as Prince<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/12/19/1065524934/sunday-puzzle-yes-you-candy">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 19, 2021): Not Formerly Known as Prince</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjunKITC6PjXeRkpOP93OjKJZPlDEP6sEKzCwuPm3bsWk6TCiSuIfnAb13_dAU0XaPOtYLTSwrN_ZfXMml8kDJ5lRIvaVFGiguPtXRBT_kL_Dhv3XyWrMY2w8F-FScs44sutsHwmFJOACTi1c-0N9Qwz1Kg6VZFA3KqN0-5lORcvh-waflArg=s700" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjunKITC6PjXeRkpOP93OjKJZPlDEP6sEKzCwuPm3bsWk6TCiSuIfnAb13_dAU0XaPOtYLTSwrN_ZfXMml8kDJ5lRIvaVFGiguPtXRBT_kL_Dhv3XyWrMY2w8F-FScs44sutsHwmFJOACTi1c-0N9Qwz1Kg6VZFA3KqN0-5lORcvh-waflArg=s200"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take the name of a well-known artist. The first name can be divided to form two common words that are synonyms. The last name can be anagrammed to form an antonym of those two words. Who is the artist, and what are the words?</blockquote>Add 3 letters in front of the first name to get a destination. Insert 1 letter in the last name to get a different destination.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>San Diego and Riviera<blockquote><b>A: </b>DIEGO RIVERA --> DIE, GO, ARRIVE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com207tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-13473217872074593922021-11-14T05:55:00.001-08:002021-11-21T05:51:24.208-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 14, 2021): An Actress and a Musician<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/14/1055538268/sunday-puzzle-start-at-the-end">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Nov 14, 2021): An Actress and a Musician</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeijkmdvPTAWexOWycstF6neEPzxhEcTb73lbcszWJWJZhoFEjKDHLJkdoTCOx8DPJ0lnvi0TxkrmZuvPcVU52MjDBBWnNyhP8vx9IhpLH832AjgCRo1YOjVFase-gOYp2E1d-/s1200/drama.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeijkmdvPTAWexOWycstF6neEPzxhEcTb73lbcszWJWJZhoFEjKDHLJkdoTCOx8DPJ0lnvi0TxkrmZuvPcVU52MjDBBWnNyhP8vx9IhpLH832AjgCRo1YOjVFase-gOYp2E1d-/s200/drama.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a famous TV actress of the past. Double her first name phonetically. You get the first name of a famous musician. If you put the last names of the musician and the actress together, in that order, you'll name a great legendary figure. Who is it?</blockquote>If the actress had used the actual spelling of her husband's last name, the puzzle wouldn't have worked the same.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Her first husband was Robert Alan Aurthur whose last name she took but using the spelling of Arthur.<blockquote><b>A: </b>BEA ARTHUR, B.B. KING --> KING ARTHUR</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com164tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-69426625725020932522021-10-31T05:23:00.001-07:002021-11-04T13:51:21.236-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 31, 2021): Halloween Travel Puzzle<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/31/1050807894/sunday-puzzle-pay-a-t-tention-to-these-words">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 31, 2021): Halloween Travel Puzzle</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnT2rl8uwXS-_erd23PvDcdavaxcWtHwQy7StTqjZNZ86CooKMDWEkqh9M-CJXGZbnn2Sb50VU6rS50i9RirfaDY51ExQJ5xGWQhebAfh-TWaPmKC-XDkamYXKHrqvpz2rKpI/s1100/tourism.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDnT2rl8uwXS-_erd23PvDcdavaxcWtHwQy7StTqjZNZ86CooKMDWEkqh9M-CJXGZbnn2Sb50VU6rS50i9RirfaDY51ExQJ5xGWQhebAfh-TWaPmKC-XDkamYXKHrqvpz2rKpI/s200/tourism.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of a popular tourist attraction in two words. The second, fourth, and sixth letters of the second word, in order, spell the first name of a famous author. The last four letters of the first word spell the author's last name. Who is the author, and what is the tourist attraction?</blockquote>Meh, Solved. Now back to planning for spooky visitors tonight.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>"Meh" was a hint to "Atlas Shrugged". And you'll find Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.<blockquote><b>A: </b>GRAND CANYON --> AYN RAND</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com218tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-1735752970236787032021-09-12T05:54:00.008-07:002021-09-17T13:27:14.907-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 12, 2021): Same Name Singers<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/09/12/1036328447/sunday-puzzle-names-and-fame">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 12, 2021): Same Name Singers</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_WdJSynUs8byz1e_lV3-1UhR2ViE1Lw_gS8IxhDlUAqkbmggHg1svmfx8cfpQ3yo85J7OaqFGUkVLNPXUVThKZWp-jvkkLrwAL2MgAfBVAsDGMOyIFAIsAyKinR8m0UeI57r/s600/Elvises.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_WdJSynUs8byz1e_lV3-1UhR2ViE1Lw_gS8IxhDlUAqkbmggHg1svmfx8cfpQ3yo85J7OaqFGUkVLNPXUVThKZWp-jvkkLrwAL2MgAfBVAsDGMOyIFAIsAyKinR8m0UeI57r/s200/Elvises.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Think of two famous singers with the same five-letter first name. Take the last name of one of these singers. Switch the second and third letters. Then advance the resulting first and third letters each to the next letter in the alphabet. The result will be the last name of the other singer. What singers are these?</blockquote>I created an Excel spreadsheet with functions to perform the transformations. Fortunately my wife suggested I do letter transformations both ways because one of the names wasn't in my original list.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My hint contained both the phrase "I do" (as in <i>White Wedding</i>) and the consecutive letters "I do l". My original list only had Billy Joel so it was good that I worked it backwards to get Billy Idol.<blockquote><b>A: </b>BILLY IDOL, BILLY JOEL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com248