Friday, October 9, 2020

Changing the tone of leadership; Pound o’ prevention = Ton o’ cure; Try solving these Triclops posers; Mere mortals emerge from mythological mix; Spoon River Anthropomorphology

PUZZLERIA! SLICES: OVER 3(7!) SERVED


Schpuzzle Of TheWeek:

Spoon River Anthropomorphology

🥄1. Write down the surnames of two well-known living people in alphabetical order. Spoonerize the result  – that is, switch the initial consonant sounds.

The first part of the result sounds like the surname of a classical composer.

The second part of the result spells the surname of a person associated with an instrument heard in symphony orchestras.  

Who are these four people?

🥄2. Write down the surnames of two well-known living people in reverse-alphabetical order. Spoonerize the result  – that is, switch the initial consonant sounds. 

The first part of the result is another word for one’s heart.

The letters of the second part of the result can be rearranged to form a synonym of “heart.” 

Who are these two people?

What are the two words associated with “heart”?


Appetizer Menu

Econfusions Appetizer:

Changing the tone of leadership

(Exactly what we need right now!)

1. Think of a recent event, in six letters.

Change the fifth letter to the one previous in the alphabet (for example, “b” becomes “a”) and the result will be an verb that characterizes what that event did to everyone.  

Note: For Econfusions #2 through #7, the following example may be helpful:

If you add an “e” to the word “on,” the first letter changes pronunciation in the resulting

word “one.”  This is not rare in words of 2 to 3 letters (for example, “at” becomes “ate”).

2.  Can you find a common, uncapitalized 3-letter word which, when you add a letter onto
the end, results in a 4-letter word with the first letter pronounced differently?

3.  Can you find a common, uncapitalized 4-letter word which, when you add a letter onto

the end, results in a 5-letter word with the first letter pronounced differently?

4. Take a common, uncapitalized 5-letter word.  Change the last letter to the next letter in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “b”), and the result will be another common word, with the first two letters pronounced differently.

5.  Take a common, uncapitalized 5-letter word.  Move the last letter eight places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “i”). 

The result will be another common word, with the first four letters pronounced
differently... and of course the last letter too.

6.  Take the last name of members of a well-known singing group.  Move the last letter three places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “d”), and the result is a common word with the first two letters pronounced differently.

What is this common word?


7.  Take the last name of a well-known actor.  Move the last letter six places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “g”), and the result is a common word whose first two letters are pronounced differently from the first two letters of the actor’s last name.

Who is this actor and what is the common word?

Bonus Econfusion Puzzle:

8. In an answer to one of the seven Econfusions above, change the third letter to a letter adjoining it on a standard keyboard.

The pronunciation of all the letters in the word will change (except for one letter that remains silent).  

What are the words?

MENU

Greek and Roman Goddesses Slice:

Mere mortals emerge from mythological mix

Rearrange the fourteen combined letters in Venus and Aphrodite, the Roman and Greek

goddesses of love, to spell the names of two non-gods from Rome and a 5-letter noun.

The names and noun, taken together, are associated with the years 68 AD and 1572 AD. 

What are these names and noun?


Riffing Off Shortz And Margolies Slices:

Try solving these “Triclops” posers   

Will Shortz’s October 4th NPR Weekend Edition Sunday puzzle, created by Micah Margolies of Lenexa, Kansas, reads:

Think of an 8-letter word with three syllables that contains the letter “i”  in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “i” sound, either long or short. The answer is not a plural. What word is it?

Puzzleria!s Riffing Off Shortz and Margolies Slices read:

ENTREE #1:

Take the surname of a recently deceased writer who penned a short poem titled “Odysseus.” Change the fourth letter to an “L” to name a legendary figure featured in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry. 

Now take a 4-syllable noun associated with the feats of Odysseus and a 3-syllable

adjective associated with the legendary figure. Rearrange their combined letters to spell the name of a puzzle-maker. 

Who is  this puzzle-maker?

Who are the writer and legendary figure?

What are the noun associated with the feats of Odysseus and the adjective associated with the legendary figure?

ENTREE #2:

Think of an 9-letter noun with three syllables that contains the letter “i”  in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “i” sound, either long or short. The noun can be either singular or plural, and is something edible. 

What word is it?

ENTREE #3:

Think of an 9-letter adjective with three syllables that contains the letter “u”  in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “u” sound, either long or short. 

The adjective is not a plural but it does end with an “s.” And it begins with an “m.” 

Its first two syllables are identical. 

What adjective is it?

ENTREE #4:

Think of an 8-letter word with three syllables that contains the letter “a”  in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “a” sound, either long or short. 

The answer is not a plural word. 

The word begins with a “b” and is a card game played by gamblers.

What word is it?

ENTREE #5:

Think of an 8-letter word with four syllables that contains the letter “o” in all but the final syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “o” sound, either long or short. 

The answer is not a plural. 

The word is associated with the fruit of the vine. 

What word is it?


ENTREE #6:

Think of an 7-letter word with two syllables that contains the letter “e”  twice in the first syllable and once in the second syllable.

But, strangely, the word doesn’t contain a single “e” sound, either long or short. 

Glasses and goggles are two examples of this word. 

What word is it?

Note: Entree #7 is a bonus riff-off puzzle created by ecoarchitect,  author of our recurrent “Econfusions” feature. (See the “Changing the tone of leadership” Appetizer, above).

ENTREE #7:

Think of the surname (in 4 syllables and 8 letters) of a well-known person in the news. 

Three of the four syllables contain the letter “i”, but the surname doesn’t contain a single “i” sound, either long or short.  

Who is this person?

Dessert Menu

Measure For Measure Dessert:

Pound o’ prevention = Ton o’ cure

A two-word preventive measure may keep your face from becoming two things: 

1. the first five letters of the measure, and 

2. the last three letters of the measure.  

What preventive measure is this?


Every Friday at Joseph Young’s Puzzleria! we publish a new menu of fresh word puzzles, number puzzles, logic puzzles, puzzles of all varieties and flavors. We cater to cravers of scrumptious puzzles!

Our master chef, Grecian gourmet puzzle-creator Lego Lambda, blends and bakes up mysterious (and sometimes questionable) toppings and spices (such as alphabet soup, Mobius bacon strips, diced snake eyes, cubed radishes, “hominym” grits, anagraham crackers, rhyme thyme and sage sprinklings.)


Please post your comments below. Feel free also to post clever and subtle hints that do not give the puzzle answers away. Please wait until after 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesdays to post your answers and explain your hints about the puzzles. We serve up at least one fresh puzzle every Friday.

We invite you to make it a habit to “Meet at Joe’s!” If you enjoy our weekly puzzle party, please tell your friends about Joseph Young’s Puzzleria! Thank you.

45 comments:

  1. Last week when i looked up sausage capitol of the world a little note popped on Tuatare, New Zealand and a nicely little written travelogue about this out of the way place.
    I need to look at PBJ's tutorial again and promise to do better. They are puzzles inside of puzzles. Really fun. I am on call this week so not sure how much puzzletime i wll get.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love your phrase "puzzles inside of puzzles" as a description of Patrick J. Berry's excellent Cryptic Crosswords. Plantsmith.
      Every clue he writes is a self-contained "mini-puzzle."

      LegoWhoNotesThatHisNephewLivesInNewZealand

      Delete
    2. I have only been to the Aukland airport on way back to US from Australia. Hope to visit someday. Such a beautiful place.

      Delete
  2. Good Friday everyone!
    Monday I am to meet with a neurologist concerning my recent MRIs and MRA after my accident at the condo this past Spring Break. I hope all goes well. Today I had to go to the hospital to check on something concerning that. After that I went through my usual puzzles and podcasts before getting here.
    Now for my progress on this week's toughies:
    I've solved Econfusion #6, the Greek and Roman Slice, and Entrees #1, #4, and #6. Lego, don't leave the hints until the last minute like last week! Good luck and good solving to all, stay safe, and don't forget those masks! Cranberry out!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Saturday hints:

    Schpuzzle Of TheWeek:
    1. The two well-known living people are a man and woman. You hear their names a lot lately.
    2. The two well-known living people are two men. You hear their names a lot lately.
    In my sign-off to cranberry's Friday post, my "YeahThat'sTheTicket...That'sTheTicket" was a hint to both answers.

    Econfusions Appetizer:
    1. The recent event anagrams to two 3-letter words (adjective and noun) that might explain why your drive on the par-5 Number-18 hole at Pebble Beach might slice or hook into Carmel Bay (depending of course on whether you're a southpaw or a righty).
    2. The common, uncapitalized 3-letter word is a verb, the 4-letter word a noun.
    3. In the orchestra hall, there's always room for the 5-letter word.
    4. Mike, Graeme, Justin, Ray and John were searching for one of these 5-letter words.
    5. One of the 5-letter word follows "The Paper..." and precedes "... Manhattan."
    6. The well-known singing group consists of a trio of related men from the Isle of Man.
    7. A not-so-well-known deceased actor (with the same last name of the actor we seek) has the first name of a well-known puzzle-maker.
    8. The "one of the seven Econfusions above" is Econfusion #6.

    Greek and Roman Goddesses Slice:
    The two non-gods from Rome are an emperor and a pope.

    Riffing Off Shortz And Margolies Slices:
    ENTREE #1:
    If you spell backward the name of the legendary figure featured in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry, the result is a synonym of "zero" and a band from Athens.
    ENTREE #2:
    The three syllables that contain the letter “i” are pronounced as long-e, long-e and long-u.
    ENTREE #3:
    The band from Athens (in my Entree #1 hint, above) recorded, very early in their existence, what I think is their best album. The title of that album is the first two syllables of the adjective you're seeking.
    ENTREE #4:
    I wonder if the composer of these songs ever played this card game...
    ENTREE #5:
    "Oedipus Rex" is an epic oeuvre of literature. Vintage stuff.
    ENTREE #6:
    Take a "Happy" day that we celebrate, in two words. Change an N to an E and rearrange to spell the word we seek.
    ENTREE #7:
    Igor and Lev.

    Measure For Measure Dessert
    "You're ruddy (not in a healthy way) and your're running a fever!

    LegoNotesThatIfYouAreHankeringForAVintageDictionaryYouMayWantToConsiderGettingTheOED

    ReplyDelete
  4. Got the Schpuzzle, Econfusions #2-5 and #8, and Entree #7, and I'm about to look up Entree #3.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Better get two cents' worth in for the new week: am pleased to report that PRIOR to the hints, I had solved the Schpuzzle (the first part of its #1 was easy, but then I got hung up on the orchestral instruments...as you might imagine for ME...going for the obvious strings!)

    I'd also been able to get the Myth'l Slice, Appetizers #1, 6 and 8; and all the Entrees except #7.

    Post hints, have all the Appetizers except #7 (haven't been able to pin down the not-so-well-known dead actor), although I'm not sure about #2....I suspect I have two alternate answers for it.

    And the hints also helped with Entree #7 (finally!) and the Dessert, which I thought was clever.

    THus, I need still only that dead actor of Eco's #7. END OF REPORT! : O )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The dead actor played the patriarch in a very successful family-friendly TV drama. The actress who portrayed his daughter-in-law
      has a traditionally male first name and a surname that is a synonym of "scholarly."
      Also, the surname of the living actor that is the answer to Ecofusion #7 is not spelled the same as the deceased actor's surname, but it is a homophone.

      LegoNotesThatBothActors'SurnamesAreAlsoHomophonesOfAnObjectThatIs"Cogged"

      Delete
    2. It appears that after the Saturday hint, I have a good alternate to Econfusion #7. From the Monday hint, I knew the dead actor (from his character) but had not heard of the living one. Also, had never heard of the G-spelling of the solution word -- know it as beginning with a J only.

      My alternate solution refers to a member of the Dionne siblings, among others. Again had not heard of the actor/comedian. The dead actor was a Canadian silent-film actor.

      Otherwise, have all intended answers except the Dessert, for which I need a hint.

      Delete
    3. I look forward to seeing your not-Eco's-intended solution to Econfusion #7.
      Dessert Hint:
      The two words in the preventive measure contain a total of seven letters. The first word is a shorter form of a longer word, by a factor of 3.

      LegoWhoWouldLikeToExplainTo"MedicalExpert"EricTrumpThatHisFatherWasNotGivenAVaccine!

      Delete
    4. Me too, geo, re the spelling of Ecoconfusion #7's resultant word! Never would have gotten this in a million years, if the hints hadn't essentially painted the picture, and I HAVE certainly heard of the living actor. Too bad I hadn't come up with the correct deceased actor from all the lists I perused, given that I DID use the correct first name for him. But even so, I would have thought I was wrong, given that the 'common' word answer I've most certainly never heard of!

      Delete
    5. My alternate answer imho trumps (pun unintended) Eco's answer, in that the resulting word is found in standard dictionaries (MW, Wiktionary, etc.). Eco's word is not.

      Delete
    6. I got the daughter-in-law's name, but can't make anything out of the dead actor's name. Have I got the right patriarch on the show?

      Delete
    7. "Waite, Waite, don't tell me it's not Ralph!"

      LegoWhoNotesThatThereSeemsToHaveBeenLotsOfPolitical/SocialActivistLeaningsAmongTheCastMembersOfThatTelevisionSeries!

      Delete
    8. My apologies, cranberry.
      In my original hint, I wrote:
      7. A not-so-well-known deceased actor (with the same last name of the actor we seek) has the first name of a well-known puzzle-maker.
      That was not correct. The names sound the same but are spelled differently, as I noted in my post early this morning:
      Also, the surname of the living actor that is the answer to Ecofusion #7 is not spelled the same as the deceased actor's surname, but it is a homophone.
      You are correct about the "Geex" you get when you move the last letter of the deceased actor's surname six places later in the alphabet.
      But when you move the last letter of the living actor's surname six places later, you do indeed form a real word.
      Very sorry!

      LegoWhoNeedsToEnrollInSurnameSpellingLessons

      Delete
    9. I had never heard of this word before.

      Delete
    10. It is not a word, at least in Merriam-Webster, dictionary.com, or wiktionary.org. From a Web search, it appears to be a new slang "word" that is not yet accepted.

      But overall, this was a good week: many pure wordplay puzzles, relatively uncontaminated by stand-up comedians or obscure 1970's rock groups. Only this #7 was a sour grape in an otherwise excellent vintage.

      Delete
  6. GB, are you okay? I miss (and I believe we all miss) your insightful comments. Hope you are in good health.

    LegoALittleConcerned

    ReplyDelete
  7. We need more hints! It's the eleventh hour! Come on, Lego!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I see the problem with #7 (living actor, change the last letter 6 places later). Not sure how this happened, but it should have read "move the last letter 8 places later in the alphabet." This makes an all-too-common word.

    To make up for it a Special Bonus Puzzle. Name a well-known person. Move the second letter of the first name that is often used 8 places earlier in the alphabet, and move the third and fourth letters 6 places later in the alphabet, and the result will be the person's last name.

    Appropriately, this person will be launching an investigation into the 6 and 8 letter Econfusion...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Got the bonus puzzle immediately, as my army of trained snoops had read your now-deleted post from 11:09 PM.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the Special Bonus Puzzle, eco.

      LegoWhoIsAPuzzleLovingPuppyChewingOnABonus

      Delete
    3. Geofan: sometimes I don't recognize a puzzle when it's staring me in the face, and it was the merest coincidence that the person's name had the same letter slide (6 & 8) as the incorrect and correct puzzle.

      I am so Econfused.

      Delete
  10. 11th-hour hints:

    Econfusion #7. The common word precedes "warfare" and follows "wheat."
    ENTREE #1:The legendary figure featured in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry is the first name of a member of the Fearsome Foursome (along with Lamar, Rosie, et.al...)
    ENTREE #2:
    Phonetically the noun sounds like
    1. an ivory or ebony
    2. a small synonym of "small"
    3. a word that rrhymes with "newt"
    ENTREE #4:
    Spelled backward, the card game begins with a fictional plantation and ends with a taxi.
    ENTREE #5:
    The science of winemaking
    ENTREE #6:
    The answer begins and ends with a sensory organ found above the neck.
    Measure For Measure Dessert
    Solving this Dessert should give you a real shot in the arm.

    LegoWhoHasInHisHandADeuceTreyEightJackAndAceOfSpadesAndACopyOfTheOldTestament

    ReplyDelete
  11. I got everything but the first two Econfusions. How about hints for those?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Econfusion #1: It is "virtually" impossible for the same event to happen this week. But maybe next week.

      Econfusion #2: Apparently in your search you are not looking in the right area. Blaine would blog administer that in a nano second.

      Delete
    2. Thanks, eco, for providing those fine hints.
      Also, the first and last letters in the 4-letter word are identical.

      LegoWhoSaysThatIfBlaineWereBlogAdministeringOurPuzzleria!Blog(WhichMightNotBeSuchABadIdeaActually)HeWould"BlogAdminister"NinetyNinePercentOfMyHints!

      Delete
  12. BIDEN, HARRIS > HAYDN, BARRIS (GONG)
    TRUMP, PENCE > PUMP, CENTER
    DEBATE > DEBASE

    NERO, PIUS V, DEATH

    RUDY GIULIANI

    ReplyDelete
  13. Schpuzzle
    1. BIDEN, HARRIS => HIDEN (Haydn), (Chuck) BARRIS (the Gong Show)
    2. TRUMP, PENCE => PUMP, TRENCE => PUMP, CENTER

    EcoAppetizer:
    1. DEBATE, change T to S => DEBASE
    2. ARE, AREA Alternates: ALL, ALLY / EAR, EARL / EVE, EVER / HER, HERB (US English)
    3. Alternates: AMEN, AMEND / AMID, AMIDE / GEES, GEESE (did not get intended word-pair)
    If first 2 letters can change sound: CHAI, CHAIM / CHIC, CHICK / EDIT, EDITH / ERAS, ERASE / THAN, THANK / THEM, THEME / THIN, THINE (TH - all ð vs. þ or vice versa). The puzzle did not state that the 5-letter word must be uncapitalized, so the proper names CHAIM, EDITH are OK.
    4. CHORD CHORE
    5. CHASE => CHASM
    6. GIBB(Bee Gees), change B to E => GIBE
    7. post-Sat-hint: (Colin)QUINN, change N to T => QUINT (Sat hint: Will Shortz => William Quinn, 1884-1965, Canadian).
    post-Mon-hint: (Will) GEER; (Richard) GERE, change E to K => GERK [geriatric jerk, slang, not an accepted word]. Post-Wed-correction (shift 8, not 6 letters): GERM (change E to M).
    8. GIBE, change B TO V => GIVE

    Eco-Special-Bonus(14 Oct): BILL, change I to A and LL to RR => BARR.

    Greek/Roman Goddesses Slice: VENUS + APHRODITE => NERO, PIUS V, DEATH

    Entrées
    #1: MERWIN(Odysseus) / MERLIN => HEROISM, MAGICAL => MICAH MARGOLIES
    #2: KIWIFRUIT
    #3: MURMUROUS
    #4: BACCARAT (but has two ä sounds)
    #5: OENOLOGY
    #6: EYEWEAR
    #7: (Rudy) GIULIANI

    Dessert: (alternate) PASSENGER AIRBAG => PASSÉ, BAG / post-Wed-hint: FLU SHOT

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mostly good additions Geofan, though the Edith and Chaim are pushing the rules. I try to keep the questions short, obviously we're going to take a different tack.

      I had chic → chick in my notes, but had forgotten about it. Are you channeling Ron in THe pronunciation game?

      The intended answer for Econfusion #4 was cell → cello. This puzzle came while listening to Arvo Part's Spiegel Im Spiegel (Mirror in Mirror). I think it's one of the most sublime pieces I've heard in years, and we could all use stress relief.

      Other versions exist, with viola or violin as strings, and even a harp instead of piano. This remains my favorite, curious what others think.

      Delete
    2. Eco, I was merely interpreting the rules literally (cf. current political cross-examinations). But I liked these puzzles!

      Delete
    3. Per current wretched affairs: "I am not able to respond to that." Too bad for you!

      Delete
    4. Eco that is a very nice piece of music though i am more a jazzer. But at one hour long i am afraid i fell asleep but i guess that was the intent?
      Another Covid fave of mine is "Shelter me" by Father Michael Joncas done by Spiritu. I will add yours to my Covid play list.

      Delete
  14. Schpuzzle1. Levitz/ Listz and Igor Levit?? Courtney Love??

    Appetister 1. Debate--Debase
    2,Ear--earl
    3??


    Greek/Roman Goddesses Slice: VENUS + APHRODITE -- NERO, DEATH???

    Entrées
    #1: MERWIN(Odysseus) / MERLIN - HEROISM, MAGICAL - MICAH MARGOLIES
    #2: KIWIFRUIT
    #3: MURMUROUS
    #4: BACCARAT
    #5: OENOLOGY
    #6: EYEWEAR
    #7: 0??

    Dessert: Flu-shot Flush, hot.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Schpuzzle
    1. (Joe)BIDEN, (Kamala)HARRIS, (Franz Joseph)HAYDN, (Chuck)BARRIS
    2. (Donald)TRUMP, (Mike)PENCE, PUMP, CENTER
    Appetizer Menu
    Confusions
    1. DEBATE, DEBASE
    2. ARE, AREA
    3. CELL, CELLO
    4. CHORD, CHORE
    5. CHASE, CHASM
    6. GIBB(Bee Gees), GIBE
    7. (Will)GEER, (Richard)GERE, GERM
    8. GIBE, GIVE
    Menu
    Greek-Roman Slice
    VENUS, APHRODITE, NERO, PIUS V, DEATH
    Entrees
    1. MICAH MARGOLIES, (W. S.)MERWIN, MERLIN, HEROISM, MAGICAL
    2. KIWIFRUIT
    3. MURMUROUS
    4. BACCARAT
    5. OENOLOGY
    6. EYEWEAR
    7. RUDY GIULIANI
    Dessert
    FLU SHOT, FLUSH, HOT
    Uh, Mr. Vice President, a fly just landed on your...oh, never mind.-pjb

    ReplyDelete
  16. (VT, Are you okay)
    This week's official answers for the record, part 1:

    Schpuzzle Of TheWeek:
    Spoon River Anthropomorphology
    1. Write down the surnames of two well-known living people in alphabetical order. Spoonerize the result – that is, switch the initial consonant sounds.
    The first part of the result sounds like the surname of a classical composer.
    The second part of the result spells the surname and a person associated with an instrument heard in symphony orchestras.
    Who are these four people?
    Answer:
    Joe Biden, Kamala Harris; Joseph Haydn, Chuck Barris (who emceed "The Gong Show")
    BIDEN+HARRIS-->HIDEN+(BARRIS-->(Joseph)HAYDN+(Chuck)BARRIS
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong#Use_of_gongs_in_symphony_orchestras
    2. Write down the surnames of two well-known living people in reverse-alphabetical order. Spoonerize the result – that is, switch the initial consonant sounds.
    The first part of the result is another word for one’s heart.
    The letters of the second part of the result can be rearranged to form a synonym of “heart.”
    Who are these two people?
    What are the two words associated with “heart”?
    Answer:
    Donald Trump; Mike Pence
    TRUMP+PENCE-->PUMP+TRENCE-->PUMP+CENTER

    Appetizer Menu

    Econfusions Appetizer:
    Changing the tone of leadership
    (Exactly what we need right now!)
    1. Think of a recent event, in six letters. Change the fifth letter to the one previous in the alphabet (for example, “b” becomes “a”) and the result will be an verb that characterizes what that event did to everyone.
    Answer:
    "debate" becomes "debase"
    2. Can you find a common, uncapitalized 3-letter word which, when you add a letter onto the end, results in a 4-letter word with the first letter pronounced differently?
    Answer:
    are, area
    3. Can you find a common, uncapitalized 4-letter word which, when you add a letter onto the end, results in a 5-letter word with the first letter pronounced differently?
    Answer:
    cell, cello (listening to this amazing piece of music started the whole process of creating this puzzle for Ecoarchitect)
    4. Take a common, uncapitalized 5-letter word. Change the last letter to the next letter in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “b”), and the result will be another common word, with the first two letters pronounced differently.
    Answer:
    chord, chore
    5. Take a common, uncapitalized 5-letter word. Move the last letter eight places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “i”), and the result will be another common word, with the first four letters pronounced differently... and of course the last letter too.
    Answer:
    chase, chasm
    6. Take the last name of members of a well-known singing group. Move the last letter three places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “d”), and the result is a common word with the first two letters pronounced differently.
    What is this common word?
    Answer:
    gibe (Gibb, as in the Bee Gees. or Brothers Gibb)
    7. Take the last name of a well-known actor. Move the last letter six places later in the alphabet (for example, “a” becomes “g”), and the result is a common word whose first two letters are pronounced differently from the first two letters of the actor’s last name.
    Who is this actor and what is the common word?
    Answer:
    (Richard) Gere, germ
    8. In an answer to one of the seven Econfusions above, change the third letter to a letter adjoining it on a standard keyboard, and the pronunciation of all the letters in the word will change (except for one letter that remains silent). What are the words?
    Answer:
    Gibe, give

    Lego...

    ReplyDelete
  17. This week's official answers for the record, part 2:

    MENU
    Greek and Roman Goddesses Slice:
    Mere mortals emerge from mythological mix
    Rearrange the fourteen combined letters in Venus and Aphrodite, the Roman and Greek goddesses of love, to spell the names of two non-gods from Rome and a 5-letter noun.
    The names and noun, taken together, are associated with the years 68 AD and 1572 AD. What are these names and noun?
    Answer:
    Nero, Pius V, death
    (Nero died in 68 AD, and Pope Pius V died in 1572 AD.

    Riffing Off Shortz And Margolies Slices:
    Try solving these “Triclops” posers
    ENTREE #1:
    Magical Heroism
    Take the surname of a recently deceased writer who penned a short poem titled “Odysseus.” Change the fourth letter to an “l” to name a legendary figure featured in Arthurian legend and medieval Welsh poetry.
    Now take a 4-syllable noun associated with the feats of Odysseus and a 3-syllable adjective associated with the legendary figure. Rearrange their combined letters to spell the name of as puzzle-maker.
    Who is this puzzle-maker?
    Who are the writer and legendary figure?
    What are the noun associated with the feats of Odysseus and the adjective associated with the legendary figure?
    Answer:
    Micah Margolies
    (W.S. Merwin, Merlin (the Magician)
    Heroism; Magical
    ENTREE #2:
    Think of an 9-letter noun with three syllables that contains the letter “i” in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “i” sound, either long or short. The noun can be either singular or plural, and is something edible.
    What word is it?
    Answer:
    Kiwifruit
    ENTREE #3:
    Think of an 9-letter adjective with three syllables that contains the letter “u” in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “u” sound, either long or short. The adjective is not a plural but it does end with an “s.” And it begins with an “m.” Its first two syllable are identical.
    What adjective is it?
    Answer:
    Murmurous
    ENTREE #4:
    Think of an 8-letter word with three syllables that contains the letter “a” in each syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “a” sound, either long or short. The answer is not a plural. The word begins with a “b” and is a card game played by gamblers.
    What word is it?
    Answer:
    Baccarat

    Lego...

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  18. This week's official answers for the record, part 3
    Riffing Off Shortz And Margolies Slices (continued):

    ENTREE #5:
    Think of an 8-letter word with four syllables that contains the letter “o” in all but the final syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “o” sound, either long or short. The answer is not a plural. The word is associated with the fruit of the vine.
    What word is it?
    Answer:
    Oenology
    ENTREE #6:
    Think of an 7-letter word with two syllables that contains the letter “e” twice in the first syllable and once in the second syllable — but, strangely, doesn’t contain a single “e” sound, either long or short. Glasses and goggles are two examples of this word.
    What word is it?
    Answer:
    Eyewear
    Note: Entree #7 is a bonus riff-off puzzle created by ecoarchitect, author of our recurrent “Econfusions” feature (see the “Changing the tone of leadership” Appetizer, above).
    ENTREE #7:
    Think of the surname (in 4 syllables and 8 letters) of a well-known person in the news. Three of the four syllables contain the letter “i”, but the surname doesn’t contain a single “i” sound, either long or short.
    Who is this person?
    Answer:
    (Rudy) Giuliani

    Dessert Menu

    Measure For Measure Dessert
    Pound o’ prevention = Ton o’ cure

    A two-word preventive measure may keep your face from becoming two things: the first five letters of the measure and the last three letters of the measure.
    What preventive measure is this?
    Answer:
    flu shot (The flu causes one's face to become flush and hot.)

    Lego!

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