tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57303912024-03-19T01:48:31.682-07:00Blaine's Puzzle BlogWeekly discussion on the NPR puzzler, brain teasers, math problems and more.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.comBlogger392125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-89090714508120040202024-03-10T05:49:00.000-07:002024-03-14T12:18:42.147-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 10, 2024): Yet Another Body Part Puzzle<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/10/1236986870/sunday-puzzle-can-you-guess-the-body-part-with-these-clues">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 10, 2024): Yet Another Body Part Puzzle</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAx1DzhmlSHKO_C7hUxglyeCYt7yHg5ecAvu_gel3L_W7RMc6Mp_BPtf-_Ynz3AkDXgNd0guaIwuVRZ1I5en4NzgR2ToO7z228hTT4ZjHnbn0BVoCs8Tbr8Bc3r_49bIglFT6Cc9lu9hgH5of9j9Xr83be9nC_s2AVw8Pwy_VNXHOdfJ9WCdw/s880/Body%20Paint.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="880" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAx1DzhmlSHKO_C7hUxglyeCYt7yHg5ecAvu_gel3L_W7RMc6Mp_BPtf-_Ynz3AkDXgNd0guaIwuVRZ1I5en4NzgR2ToO7z228hTT4ZjHnbn0BVoCs8Tbr8Bc3r_49bIglFT6Cc9lu9hgH5of9j9Xr83be9nC_s2AVw8Pwy_VNXHOdfJ9WCdw/s200/Body%20Paint.jpg"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Take a body part. Add one letter at the beginning and another at the end to get a different body part. Then again add a letter at the beginning and another at the end to get something designed to affect that body part.</blockquote>I can tell you it isn't a knee.<br/><br/>I used the same hint <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2017/06/npr-sunday-puzzle-june-18-2017-putting.html">last time this puzzle was used</a>. Knee was a hint to NEA which is the National Endowment For The Arts. My image could be considered "art" and she has a heart painted on her side.<blockquote><b>A: </b>EAR --> HEART --> THE ARTS</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com128tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-79599609033675130262024-03-03T05:25:00.000-08:002024-03-07T12:12:33.678-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 3, 2024): Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/03/1235185763/sunday-puzzle-mo]untain-ho]use-getaway">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 3, 2024): Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzb-La7SC4CesaLElSbniSktOQezfuuJ8xyuSn2TvSJIdQpKNGzfBEeGRpsxQ2anAxv85pJc3nDd__DSLHJCr73kI3EIPOF8t9Zz44zmTOzPTtAf9G4IEGxtmi38sdf88tGLRmwYlqaeHhDw3NSZYdxN-fr1AyinwVmuL2WlW3N4v31opVd2b/s500/Nobel_Prize.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzb-La7SC4CesaLElSbniSktOQezfuuJ8xyuSn2TvSJIdQpKNGzfBEeGRpsxQ2anAxv85pJc3nDd__DSLHJCr73kI3EIPOF8t9Zz44zmTOzPTtAf9G4IEGxtmi38sdf88tGLRmwYlqaeHhDw3NSZYdxN-fr1AyinwVmuL2WlW3N4v31opVd2b/s200/Nobel_Prize.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Take the <b>last name</b> of a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Remove the middle three letters and duplicate the last two letters to get the <b>first name</b> of a different Nobel Peace Prize winner. What are those two names?</blockquote>I gave a major clue to this week's puzzle previously.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Last week's post had an image of "I Dream of Jeannie" and Major <i>Nelson</i><blockquote><b>A: </b>Nelson MANDELA --> MALALA Yousafzai</blockquote>
Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-25873027525088509792024-02-25T06:05:00.000-08:002024-02-29T12:05:21.805-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 25, 2024): Here to Grant Three Wishes<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/25/1233435347/sunday-puzzle-hidden-figures-in-two-word-phrases">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 25, 2024): Here to Grant Three Wishes</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Mk9Tv995RVU8GldNCMY98lpghTCT6HRjvYD_WGN4SK45QVfbcBAi4IJBvXEDQWJIR7bmzo9yTwHR7Tahlx4woKUF7F3YlOpftg8wBUkwxqw8DnA2MHCkpVw-8iqJ9EO714e2_ckh7JK-dBcdnzIs0614TrakRqNjMBEaFkXIKrUKo8Snu0d/s2029/jeannie.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="2029" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0Mk9Tv995RVU8GldNCMY98lpghTCT6HRjvYD_WGN4SK45QVfbcBAi4IJBvXEDQWJIR7bmzo9yTwHR7Tahlx4woKUF7F3YlOpftg8wBUkwxqw8DnA2MHCkpVw-8iqJ9EO714e2_ckh7JK-dBcdnzIs0614TrakRqNjMBEaFkXIKrUKo8Snu0d/s200/jeannie.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Take the word <b>SETS</b>. You can add a three-letter word to this <b>twice</b> to get a common phrase: <b>S<u>PAR</u>E <u>PAR</u>TS</b>. Can you now do this with the word <b>GENIE</b>, add a three-letter word to it twice to get a common phrase?</blockquote>Hey you!<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Sounds like "Au" = Gold<blockquote><b>A: </b>G<u>OLD</u>EN <u>OLD</u>IE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com163tag: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-14129900891666162062024-02-11T05:21:00.000-08:002024-02-18T05:07:43.808-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 11, 2024): Types of Movies<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/02/11/1230606447/sunday-puzzle-youd-better-sit-down-for-this-one">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 11, 2024): Types of Movies</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSgLYIpSQ3fwyJyZkHS-_sJ2tSUDnzoHX54IxVLEvwrnDgO7B8DDMHqhZzwU5evSgJxUak6ACxCX61oIBuw-rlA0Z1yhzbWu0hOU1J0wnxI9cM_aLrmGPa1OXwo45vRHKJb49aAC80kLXv93DxFSRbnH7w3V_hhPNwYf4CwAcCPdkVhEnxlD-/s673/MovieGenres.png" 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="673" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSSgLYIpSQ3fwyJyZkHS-_sJ2tSUDnzoHX54IxVLEvwrnDgO7B8DDMHqhZzwU5evSgJxUak6ACxCX61oIBuw-rlA0Z1yhzbWu0hOU1J0wnxI9cM_aLrmGPa1OXwo45vRHKJb49aAC80kLXv93DxFSRbnH7w3V_hhPNwYf4CwAcCPdkVhEnxlD-/s200/MovieGenres.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Start with the name of a blockbuster movie star. Remove the first letter of the first name and last two letters of the last name to get the types of movies he almost never stars in. Who is this?</blockquote>I'm glad Will included "almost never".<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Early in his career, he <a href="https://tribecafilm.com/news/remember-when-vin-diesel-was-an-indie-filmmaker">directed and starred in a couple of independent films</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>VIN DIESEL --> INDIES</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com161tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-8302726718926680392024-01-21T05:35:00.000-08:002024-01-25T14:28:35.725-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 21, 2024): There Is No Time Like The Present<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/21/1225885765/sunday-puzzle-lets-start-and-end-the-same">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 21, 2024): There Is No Time Like The Present</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB7E0VGs1YA0Z9QGnPtEzPbrRQ-z-e-OC5VGQmojdpinMklhZRncVEGFHXqVab_VsDQpbBVs9pL6_f0Kgwv5P6l-XEwh_nHj_k9wCjynDW8Af2yzx-DbIwi1wd3lbEd6gda5iaWsQ2rEDpuPLCFjLaxT0F7eF17yhdSZSthIGecQWhTrmaH7g/s1310/foodbox.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB7E0VGs1YA0Z9QGnPtEzPbrRQ-z-e-OC5VGQmojdpinMklhZRncVEGFHXqVab_VsDQpbBVs9pL6_f0Kgwv5P6l-XEwh_nHj_k9wCjynDW8Af2yzx-DbIwi1wd3lbEd6gda5iaWsQ2rEDpuPLCFjLaxT0F7eF17yhdSZSthIGecQWhTrmaH7g/s200/foodbox.jpg"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a familiar saying in seven words. The initial letters of the first three words in order spell a type of container. And the initials of the last four words in order spell something edible that might be found in this container. What's the saying?</blockquote>No comment.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>The title starts TIN... I thought giving it as a joke answer would lead people astray, but in retrospect it was too close so I deleted the hint. Unfortunately the title is in the URL which I couldn't change without deleting the whole post and comments.<blockquote><b>A: </b>There Is Nothing New Under The Sun --> TIN of NUTS</blockquote>
Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com165tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-26469320642727511582024-01-14T06:16:00.000-08:002024-01-18T13:40:50.345-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 14, 2024): Helping Hurting<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/14/1224611411/sunday-puzzle-true-or-false">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jan 14, 2024): Helping Hurting</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG7WMil-l7jh_aCOXnuN3f6UY7Q09PVANyUJOkD26FHZ3gynz3ngiTayBkJcwEUPNQnNI3GRGCmVwoOZoVqm9j4zd70IGfObhcGteSxLtf8NCHDdorM9GpXk9s-Dv45o2OdSkn3Lm5E7d_0_qW4NIAuV9iVPX723mY-_WykKtgVz-WyqtnKD/s1261/HelpHurt.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AG7WMil-l7jh_aCOXnuN3f6UY7Q09PVANyUJOkD26FHZ3gynz3ngiTayBkJcwEUPNQnNI3GRGCmVwoOZoVqm9j4zd70IGfObhcGteSxLtf8NCHDdorM9GpXk9s-Dv45o2OdSkn3Lm5E7d_0_qW4NIAuV9iVPX723mY-_WykKtgVz-WyqtnKD/s200/HelpHurt.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a word for a person who helps you. Copy the last three letters and repeat them at the front, and you'll get a new, longer word that names a person who hurts you. What words are these?</blockquote>If you rearrange the letters in the longer word, you get something you might do at a marina.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>RENT MOTOR<blockquote><b>A: </b>MENTOR, TORMENTOR</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com147tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-63617658200122126932023-12-03T05:52:00.000-08:002023-12-07T12:45:06.702-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 3, 2023): Car Parts To Wear Out<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/12/03/1216754014/sunday-puzzle-state-that-city">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Dec 3, 2023): Car Parts To Wear Out</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7AGFNYsSywW9z9IEeYimuMIPCQRl4STgNax3C3KpyNl_B2PwnRsA9XPbw0CgNHo_Dy26hsxMYO3obXo2VE02wPpUL7bdzpFM3nM7ZjOE3LD_RAhSFH2Cs-shnw1Qpnh9XuZQj_J0y-oGyk4ZOPfrxC7GCdgrg14Oq1DbULoNu-j9jYAxdCT6/s449/Car%20Parts.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="143" data-original-width="449" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS7AGFNYsSywW9z9IEeYimuMIPCQRl4STgNax3C3KpyNl_B2PwnRsA9XPbw0CgNHo_Dy26hsxMYO3obXo2VE02wPpUL7bdzpFM3nM7ZjOE3LD_RAhSFH2Cs-shnw1Qpnh9XuZQj_J0y-oGyk4ZOPfrxC7GCdgrg14Oq1DbULoNu-j9jYAxdCT6/s200/Car%20Parts.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>A muffler is part of an automobile. It's also the name of something you can wear. Think of two other parts of automobiles that are also things you can wear. These two words have the same number of letters and the same first two letters in the same order.</blockquote>I wanted to wear a belt, but couldn't find anything to go with it. As for the answers, I wear one part much less frequently than the other.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>I occassionally wear a hood (with a jacket), but the other much less frequently.<blockquote><b>A: </b>HOOD, HOSE</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com144tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-52506629162584704792023-10-29T05:51:00.007-07:002023-11-05T05:34:49.284-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 29, 2023): My Alarm Didn't Go Off...<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/10/29/1209313553/sunday-puzzle-dont-pass-this-up">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 29, 2023): My Alarm Didn't Go Off...</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PnGtrm0ROm9dwCQvQKpdJhiUJE-GbiBvefCj6Rxmnp-kfiGLXacW6HHJme6cRPXg9ZZwt5UN_eJRpUF72e5XU_nDbd3VOQMJeSYMVAkAxJIgEawsh5ssZSuoxrB_L3jCOW2dWCAsD22hTLLXb3BUK67813t8TNuBkzGinwCZ4GwcofXCPuKu/s3084/alarm629.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1998" data-original-width="3084" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PnGtrm0ROm9dwCQvQKpdJhiUJE-GbiBvefCj6Rxmnp-kfiGLXacW6HHJme6cRPXg9ZZwt5UN_eJRpUF72e5XU_nDbd3VOQMJeSYMVAkAxJIgEawsh5ssZSuoxrB_L3jCOW2dWCAsD22hTLLXb3BUK67813t8TNuBkzGinwCZ4GwcofXCPuKu/s200/alarm629.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>The time 6:29 on a digital clock, ignoring the colon, also reads 6:29 upside down. How many times in a day can a digital clock, ignoring the colon, read the same right side up as upside down? We are not accepting military time.</blockquote>I'd much rather spend my time <i>on an African safari.</i><br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My initial clue was about a Rubik's cube which has 6 sides each with 9 "stickers" but that was clearly TMI, so I switched to Africa which has 54 countries.<blockquote><b>A: </b>54 times (12:21, 1:01, 1:11, 1:21, 1:51, 2:02, 2:12, 2:22, 2:52, 5:05, 5:15, 5:25, 5:55, 6:09, 6:19, 6:29, 6:59, 8:08, 8:18, 8:28, 8:58, 9:06, 9:16, 9:26, 9:56, 10:01, 11:11 = 27 times, but then repeated for both AM and PM).</blockquote><b>Update: </b>Will went for the Daylight Saving Time answer of 58, when you can see 1:01, 1:11, 1:21 and 1:51 <i>twice</i> when the clocks go back 1 hour at 2 AM.Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com155tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-50188473966369989452023-10-01T05:39:00.002-07:002023-10-15T05:31:19.245-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 1, 2023): City Animal<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/10/01/1202849224/sunday-puzzle-an-i-and-an-a-the-long-way">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Oct 1, 2023): City Animal</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink1CRxcAcKhIYuyrjbvx28uOK-iVmIq9fOT5B9gNuxc6rckd4V4FJI9ILQuB561xSz2qvNRx142w6PmBpYJRLbjuJfzCnKn9QZDp2YP6pCeWVx2omw3XGvhnNxdWo1tMhBv1mpU7Okokj033ECbLrSYCaGHHaHFN68xQpfbq1BrIQDzOMT2Ex/s1920/cityanimals.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink1CRxcAcKhIYuyrjbvx28uOK-iVmIq9fOT5B9gNuxc6rckd4V4FJI9ILQuB561xSz2qvNRx142w6PmBpYJRLbjuJfzCnKn9QZDp2YP6pCeWVx2omw3XGvhnNxdWo1tMhBv1mpU7Okokj033ECbLrSYCaGHHaHFN68xQpfbq1BrIQDzOMT2Ex/s200/cityanimals.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a well-known U.S. city in four syllables. The first two syllables, with a letter inserted, will name an animal — that might be found in the place named by the last syllable. What city is it?</blockquote>The third syllable is also the sixth.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>MA (Massachusetts) was the sixth state to join the Union.<blockquote><b>A: </b>KALAMAZOO --> KOALA, ZOO</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com152tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-25142412784817476122023-09-10T06:21:00.002-07:002023-09-14T12:08:14.194-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 10, 2023): Creatures of the World<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/10/1198507860/sunday-puzzle-switch-it-out">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 10, 2023): Creatures of the World</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nI3Geo03hWWRXGBN08HPWETXoho_9wHBEl06TCKM4_u-CN_41s29BpT5mS1mqQuLVbWAm1JL3sI04PWKzaigaCobxy8X3rVjz2LdywEHByJKZDae9fOUHsOaBIebG5D2U5Vs3POjUPbc_3VCJz2OGam0KXl7JFi7HGc1vIi5QO5B2-NlM8ZU/s5812/animal-map.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="3084" data-original-width="5812" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nI3Geo03hWWRXGBN08HPWETXoho_9wHBEl06TCKM4_u-CN_41s29BpT5mS1mqQuLVbWAm1JL3sI04PWKzaigaCobxy8X3rVjz2LdywEHByJKZDae9fOUHsOaBIebG5D2U5Vs3POjUPbc_3VCJz2OGam0KXl7JFi7HGc1vIi5QO5B2-NlM8ZU/s200/animal-map.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a creature that has a world capital in its name. Replace the capital with another creature and you'll get another world capital. What is it?</blockquote>I spent too long trying to end up on DODOMA (Tanzania). I just had to think a little more.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>I did get sidetracked thinking "creature" was deliberately chosen to include things like unicorns, fairies, yetis, elves, leprechauns, werewolves, king kong, etc. Once I narrowed my focus, I was able to think of a <b><i>little</i></b> creature.<blockquote><b>A: </b>MOS<i>QUITO</i> --> MOS<i>COW</i></blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com142tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-56280670554840901422023-09-03T05:55:00.005-07:002023-09-07T12:09:37.512-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 3, 2023): Strumming on the Old Banjo<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/03/1197212316/sunday-puzzle-h-r-you-ready-to-play-the-puzzle">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Sep 3, 2023): Strumming on the Old Banjo</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj6qX251zvUxQY8-Cl-oVHTBBAfMMr4NCZY5261aBc9J1vYevcbC7VDRb_k4eVPTs5luduQkQLE5eITOdyATDiQN4ZkdTJqX481Uzb6fU5vpElfQqTKsahMcJPX3byi2GTD3cukaSKK6u-GMKAyWZMSQTVL06zvE73azQSFQYxbqtfGxKbRei/s681/instruments.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="681" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimj6qX251zvUxQY8-Cl-oVHTBBAfMMr4NCZY5261aBc9J1vYevcbC7VDRb_k4eVPTs5luduQkQLE5eITOdyATDiQN4ZkdTJqX481Uzb6fU5vpElfQqTKsahMcJPX3byi2GTD3cukaSKK6u-GMKAyWZMSQTVL06zvE73azQSFQYxbqtfGxKbRei/s200/instruments.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name certain musical instruments (plural). The first, third, fourth, and fifth letters spell something that holds the things named by the last five letters. What instruments are these?</blockquote>I'm pretty sure I saw this on an episode of Star Trek.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>In the original series, Dr. McCoy was known as "<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Bones">Bones</a>". There was also an episode set at the O.K. Corral in <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Spectre_of_the_Gun_(episode)">Tombstone</a>, Arizona. In the Next Generation, Cmdr. Riker was occasionally seen playing the <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Trombone">trombone</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>TROMBONES --> TOMB, BONES</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com188tag: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-73050637920166113012023-08-06T05:22:00.004-07:002023-08-12T09:45:22.146-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 6, 2023): Found In England<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/06/1192355816/sunday-puzzle-batter-up">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 6, 2023): Found In England</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzsyS5RezHTw4xTW1hnBrzb9M6dcbWly-h3g1cmIrEEqNNLJUeHa8IHpKJ9ueksIEA6rBm4AzTbgDQmv3EaHT5pcNzw6rto7BRpmsgrZ4ZLUBYP2bh2FqqgAT3mRLz7AnAJ2hxDMPUD83hhVEvSV-3lYmgSkB6NY2U-oAlpnYfbnGAJL2rp-9/s768/london.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzsyS5RezHTw4xTW1hnBrzb9M6dcbWly-h3g1cmIrEEqNNLJUeHa8IHpKJ9ueksIEA6rBm4AzTbgDQmv3EaHT5pcNzw6rto7BRpmsgrZ4ZLUBYP2bh2FqqgAT3mRLz7AnAJ2hxDMPUD83hhVEvSV-3lYmgSkB6NY2U-oAlpnYfbnGAJL2rp-9/s200/london.jpg"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name something found on a map of England. Two words. The last two letters of the first word are the same as the first two letters of the last. If you go to England, you can't see this place. You can see it only on a map. What is it?</blockquote>Don't forget to <a href="https://help.npr.org/contact/s/contact?request=Submit-a-puzzle-answer">submit your answer</a> by Thursday, Aug 10 at 3pm ET. Hopefully you'll get the call.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My comment included a few hints. "3pm ET" was a hint to the initials PM in Prime Meridian and Eastern Time being a time zone relative to Greenwich Mean Time. In addition, "get the call" could have been phrased as "be on the LINE (with)".<blockquote><b>A: </b>PRIME MERIDIAN</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com224tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-62296112791886645742023-07-30T05:47:00.003-07:002023-08-06T05:35:21.466-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 30, 2023): I'll Drink to That<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/30/1190970464/sunday-puzzle-let-the-categories-guide-you">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 30, 2023): I'll Drink to That</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdX204ofFiiOfEr1vSU77TZm9Ir7C6axa7xMs1lBVm1b3t-tCE0z0Mwgd27ffV12Cs3DRGpO8refEbfszH0toMI2mMaiIzsPXq5BTI75aY9nfWYpGmhVcAVebT8BWwe05etvth2JNz4260dZTE5ZvnzWVj3zbhBOb2l-YaI2Wsqwx2MjmdTwIt/s716/juices.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="716" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdX204ofFiiOfEr1vSU77TZm9Ir7C6axa7xMs1lBVm1b3t-tCE0z0Mwgd27ffV12Cs3DRGpO8refEbfszH0toMI2mMaiIzsPXq5BTI75aY9nfWYpGmhVcAVebT8BWwe05etvth2JNz4260dZTE5ZvnzWVj3zbhBOb2l-YaI2Wsqwx2MjmdTwIt/s200/juices.jpg"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a well-known U.S. city in nine letters. Change the third and fifth letters to get the name of a beverage. What is it?</blockquote>Remove the fourth letter of the city, rearrange and... not again!<br/><br/>This was a callback to the <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/2009/02/npr-sunday-puzzle-feb-15-pensacola.html">NPR puzzle from Feb 15, 2009</a>, possibly the first involving a common <a href="https://puzzles.blainesville.com/search?q=al+capone&max-results=20&by-date=true">historical person</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>PENSACOLA --> PEPSI-COLA</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com163tag: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-71089067614802523592023-07-02T05:30:00.002-07:002023-07-06T15:22:57.966-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 2, 2023): Time To Play!<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/07/02/1184830903/sunday-puzzle-time-to-flip-flop">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jul 2, 2023): Time to Play!</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TL4RwDWhEhgoX7MSgKsYkcIcdgsvaaoMmdrFvn0R63yCyMVrq6VZHf6Vyh_IOInOvrc9wr49LKnIgBsduK4GIOA0HEJiT1wQTrjy6EpXRx5VB9Ny5QoRVxAEx6MXhfinU54mvH3k8vDX_dJCthamaWuApPyazjlbKtVKQKtJ-VwW6LCrOLqa/s3184/stadiums.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="2192" data-original-width="3184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TL4RwDWhEhgoX7MSgKsYkcIcdgsvaaoMmdrFvn0R63yCyMVrq6VZHf6Vyh_IOInOvrc9wr49LKnIgBsduK4GIOA0HEJiT1wQTrjy6EpXRx5VB9Ny5QoRVxAEx6MXhfinU54mvH3k8vDX_dJCthamaWuApPyazjlbKtVKQKtJ-VwW6LCrOLqa/s200/stadiums.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name a sports facility in two words. (This is a general term, not a specific place.) Three consecutive letters in the first word also appear consecutively in the second word. If you reverse these three letters, you'll name something seen in this sports facility. What is it?</blockquote>Take the last letter of the sports facility. Change it to the letter that appears 3 earlier in the alphabet. Rearrange to get a word or phrase used in a recent puzzle.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Change the ending K to an H and rearrange to get CHARACTER.<blockquote><b>A: </b>RACE TRACK --> CAR</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com174tag: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-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-84212777105977060602023-04-16T05:41:00.004-07:002023-04-20T13:42:41.743-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 16, 2023): Topsy-Turvy<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/04/16/1170262935/sunday-puzzle-a-city-scramble">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 16, 2023): Topsy-Turvy</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4I85Ypp3WWrWz0HXAcALx6paHi-q-MqUn76Zp_l8Ml6nsGVnNoZc4zy_p19gn8WWj2Du-l7aSbnIfhSUKJQvd88lBsBdOsH7OEmRRpggbHTl-It3iUQgg_OdmRCjb-oUWujS5Lkj9tSFHWQFoSIXaB2ZOU0N8nhKUVQ9wrdyy5XS0VltWA/s650/upside-down.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" height="200" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4I85Ypp3WWrWz0HXAcALx6paHi-q-MqUn76Zp_l8Ml6nsGVnNoZc4zy_p19gn8WWj2Du-l7aSbnIfhSUKJQvd88lBsBdOsH7OEmRRpggbHTl-It3iUQgg_OdmRCjb-oUWujS5Lkj9tSFHWQFoSIXaB2ZOU0N8nhKUVQ9wrdyy5XS0VltWA/s200/upside-down.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of a common 8-letter word, in which the first three letters spell a word, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh letters also spell a word. These two little words mean the same thing. The fourth letter, when rotated 180°, becomes the eighth letter. What word is this?</blockquote>Drop the second and eighth letters and rearrange to get a word. That word could describe an item that was taken to a place also described by the word by someone whose name sounds like the original word.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Alan <i>Shepard</i> hit a golf ball (<i>sphere</i>) on the moon (<i>sphere</i>).<blockquote><b>A: </b>shepherd --> she, her, p/d</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com247tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-53240442450554251882023-04-02T05:43:00.005-07:002023-04-08T22:13:29.698-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 2, 2023): Musicians and Writers Wanted<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/04/02/1167402343/sunday-puzzle-its-the-r-and-the-t-for-me">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 2, 2023): Musicians and Writers Wanted</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-pvsRqseisByhnBYyMmarNteI1nWIDbia57UmSK2Cu4oj5YSDIMtrnZvQFvnZW36Qpq6DQpkYqF9TPkjDDCYDAHDu23cmds5zAIIAe8NlNA6_5kVTZZ0Feo8S9Mocyp-NjY0sPy2_lnynbtMmYcXhYiTgU4XAy-rMhU8ogJeu9Ukd9otdQ/s5760/composer.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="5760" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-pvsRqseisByhnBYyMmarNteI1nWIDbia57UmSK2Cu4oj5YSDIMtrnZvQFvnZW36Qpq6DQpkYqF9TPkjDDCYDAHDu23cmds5zAIIAe8NlNA6_5kVTZZ0Feo8S9Mocyp-NjY0sPy2_lnynbtMmYcXhYiTgU4XAy-rMhU8ogJeu9Ukd9otdQ/s200/composer.jpg"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Think of an eight-letter word for a certain musician. Switch the order of the second and fourth letters and you'll get a word for a certain writer. What words are these? The answers are words, not famous people.</blockquote>Add three letters and rearrange to name a person who might work on a movie.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>Add H, L, Y and rearrange to get HAIRSTYLIST.<blockquote><b>A: </b>SITARIST, SATIRIST</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com186tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-29895003383978582252023-03-12T05:44:00.003-07:002023-03-16T12:40:24.400-07:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 12, 2023): Around the World<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/12/1162867188/sunday-puzzle-around-the-world-in-nine-words">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 12, 2023): Around the World</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCO7zvVdG8OVheXMnrjAUFMaabNa1vqaWSlyh8VWrk9QBhbiU03wkw-IhNmc_7q0Ema4KvrlHFcx8c3qNGMVDms9KF7zQF1u9IEVAqqzkHvYf4ruQKKtGux9HxJO2ou9yKfx4T7hVn1hsvv4FT-neuztnTk7vsLlrclRa-KDs0on7MHlQfA/s900/UN%20Logo.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCO7zvVdG8OVheXMnrjAUFMaabNa1vqaWSlyh8VWrk9QBhbiU03wkw-IhNmc_7q0Ema4KvrlHFcx8c3qNGMVDms9KF7zQF1u9IEVAqqzkHvYf4ruQKKtGux9HxJO2ou9yKfx4T7hVn1hsvv4FT-neuztnTk7vsLlrclRa-KDs0on7MHlQfA/s200/UN%20Logo.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>This week's challenge is a spinoff of the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/12/1162867188/sunday-puzzle-around-the-world-in-nine-words">on-air puzzle</a>. Name <b><i>two countries</i></b> that have "consonyms" that are <b><i>nationalities of other countries</i></b>. In each case, the consonants in the name of the country are the same consonants in the same order as those in the nationality of another country. No extra consonants can appear in either name. The letter Y isn't used.</blockquote>If I add up the years that each of my four countries became members of the U.N. and divide by 5, I get a prime number.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My countries were Lebanon (1945), Albania (1955), Cameroon (1960) and Comoros (1975). The sum is 7835 and the prime is 1567. My list of nationalities separated North and South Korea, so I didn't get the more obvious answer of UKRAINE and KOREAN.<blockquote><b>A: </b>LEBANON → ALBANIAN (from Albania)<br/>UKRAINE → KOREAN (from N. or S. Korea)<br/>CAMEROON → COMORAN/COMORIAN (from Comoros)<br/>MAURITANIA → MAURITIAN (from Mauritius)<br/>RÉUNION → IRANIAN (from Iran)<br/>Any others?</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com189tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-48686274731464805862023-03-05T05:44:00.008-08:002023-03-09T12:22:17.835-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 5, 2023): MeDiCaL XaVier<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/03/05/1161192410/sunday-puzzle-in-reverse">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Mar 5, 2023): MeDiCaL XaVier</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh9CRq0kpKHbJy39G1gs8Lu2hqo5wEc8-lmueQSoMcyBZD6Wxau9u2lec1yVOdaYC1XTZFcuDtIiVcdsQ8waKDandyAly-_VRuBec0-69XvpJF6Vmope3bPgcT0DQUA53ybOY8AS39JMsfPxNKNjW4zffu-4TeTa3IqRoCJAZpuaN2AfUEQ/s1100/clock%20face.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTh9CRq0kpKHbJy39G1gs8Lu2hqo5wEc8-lmueQSoMcyBZD6Wxau9u2lec1yVOdaYC1XTZFcuDtIiVcdsQ8waKDandyAly-_VRuBec0-69XvpJF6Vmope3bPgcT0DQUA53ybOY8AS39JMsfPxNKNjW4zffu-4TeTa3IqRoCJAZpuaN2AfUEQ/s200/clock%20face.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Name something scary in two words. Five of the letters are vowels, which are all the same. And the consonants are all Roman numerals. What scary thing is this?</blockquote>I found a weird connection to last week.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>When you combine <i>weird</i> with the theme of <i>science</i> from last week's puzzle, you get Oingo Boingo's song <a href="https://youtu.be/Jm-upHSP9KU?t=73"><i>Weird Science</i> (YouTube link)</a> which mentions:<br/>"magic and technology, <b><i>voodoo dolls</i></b> and chants, electricity"<blockquote><b>A: </b>VOODOO DOLL</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com229tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-11457761265753274042023-02-26T05:28:00.002-08:002023-03-02T12:02:24.909-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 26, 2023): It Doesn't Add Up<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/02/26/1159528506/sunday-puzzle-orange-you-glad-you-played-the-puzzle">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 26, 2023): It Doesn't Add Up</a><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGosjaJmK3h3ohc1Sf8y3p8BfkBS-kr0zw82QfHwuwrJCxoQ9cHi0MnPO-wrOS0QTH2Uv6oQdTxR3LElqQsCHYjXCLg7M2plFBy05i_iZ3Hr17f5dJYxONz1aisNE9cPaoS8rFDIuvmKxxlLkbu50z4cR7LV7Ww6OH6CuA6PyNuFTdVgAYA/s900/math.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGosjaJmK3h3ohc1Sf8y3p8BfkBS-kr0zw82QfHwuwrJCxoQ9cHi0MnPO-wrOS0QTH2Uv6oQdTxR3LElqQsCHYjXCLg7M2plFBy05i_iZ3Hr17f5dJYxONz1aisNE9cPaoS8rFDIuvmKxxlLkbu50z4cR7LV7Ww6OH6CuA6PyNuFTdVgAYA/s200/math.png"/></a></div><b>Q: </b>Take this equation: 14 + 116 + 68 = 47. Clearly this doesn't work mathematically. But it does work in a nonmathematical way. Please explain.</blockquote>It makes about as much sense as 22 + 11 = 26 + 39.<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>My equation turns into Ti + Na = Fe + Y, referring back to the recent chemical elements puzzle where Tina Fey was the answer.<blockquote><b>A: </b>Looking at the periodic table and replacing the numbers with the chemical symbols, we get Si + Lv + Er = Ag</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com221tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5730391.post-7904315880276967722023-02-05T06:10:00.005-08:002023-02-10T07:28:33.770-08:00NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 5, 2023): Would You Like Fries with That?<a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/02/05/1154506427/sunday-puzzle-double-or-nothing">NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 5, 2023): Would You Like Fries with That?</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMR4ztYnv03nTcF5QbOFabHeB02DVSeaxAumBm-9xlzd94KbeAUueImQRK8nMU5R1umygmC5JgJqmSc1KxtGxvNwGNI6-9XbbfoSt1o0g2x-gIbGnB3KxDOkErO2_vAorJWdYeVDEMjbxzv_XHZ36b5huzlaWPiRmL2h6X9fqQcnCu06FDNw/s915/fastfood.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: right; float: right;"><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="915" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMR4ztYnv03nTcF5QbOFabHeB02DVSeaxAumBm-9xlzd94KbeAUueImQRK8nMU5R1umygmC5JgJqmSc1KxtGxvNwGNI6-9XbbfoSt1o0g2x-gIbGnB3KxDOkErO2_vAorJWdYeVDEMjbxzv_XHZ36b5huzlaWPiRmL2h6X9fqQcnCu06FDNw/s200/fastfood.png"/></a></div><blockquote><b>Q: </b>Name a food item you might order at a fast food restaurant. The first, second and last letters in order name another food item. Remove those letters and the remaining letters spelled backwards name yet another food item. What foods are these?</blockquote>Hint: 65003<br/><br/><b>Edit: </b>In the Online Encyclopedia of Integer Sequences (OEIS), <a href="https://oeis.org/A065003">A065003</a> contains the <a href="https://oeis.org/A065003">Not McNugget Numbers</a>. Back when McDonald's only sold McNuggets in boxes of 6, 9 or 20 the question arose as to which quantities of McNuggets you could or couldn't buy. It turns out that 43 was the highest possible <a href="https://oeis.org/A065003">Not McNugget Number</a>.<blockquote><b>A: </b>NUGGET --> NUT, EGG</blockquote>Blainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06379274325110866036noreply@blogger.com204