2020-11-15 NPR puzzle Synopsis
Joe Wander
NPR Weekend Edition Puzzle
Lourdes Garcia-Navarro and Will Shortz
2020-11-15
Last week's challenge from listener Eric Berlin of Milford, Connecticut: There are several words that consist of the consonants N, P and R and an assortment of vowels — for example, APRON, PIONEER and EUROPEAN. But there is only one common phrase that contains exactly two N's, two P's and two R's with no other consonants. You can add vowels as needed. What phrase is this?
Will's answer is PROPER NOUN.
Lulu reported about 650 correct responses. This week's on-air player was Rick Tett from Plano, Texas, a software engineer who worked his way to the answer fairly easily. Rick and his wife are sustaining members of KERA.
The theme of today's puzzle posted to the NPR site is "A--T, As in Alex Trebek." Today's puzzle is a tribute to Alex Trebek, the longtime host of "Jeopardy!," whom we lost last Sunday. Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or name with the initials A-T.
For the example given, "180-degree reversal," the answer would be "ABOUT TURN."
Prompts (*A hint was given)
1. Part of an orchard
2. Something controlled by a tower at O'Hare or LAX
3. Clumsy
4*. Appreciation for something that you get only through repeated exposure
5. Clock setting in Anchorage or Fairbanks
6. Something you can hike from Georgia to Maine
7. LSD experience
8. Band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone
9. Sticky material for fastening things
10. Worker with tigers and elephants at old circuses
11*. Author of "The Joy Luck Club"
12. Something affixed to a wall or ceiling in a sound studio
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Editor's notes:
Continuing the pattern since we finally engaged in isolating from covid-19, no news items or upcoming events announced. Steve, with a single exception, ripped through Will's challenges.
Puzzles, and contents of Weekend Edition/Sunday puzzle segment are copyrighted 2020, by Will Shortz and NPR. Reprinted here with permission.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~* ~ * ~ * ~ *
Mail:
NB, please: We editors are always eager to receive e-mail comments (even when you are pointing out one or more of our slips), and we will generally add them to this section of the following week's synopsis. Please let us know in the first line of your message that you would like your comment included (or withheld) from the synopsis. Also, if you DO want your comment included, let us know if it is okay to share your name and email address! If no constraints are mentioned, we will assume it is okay to publish it as it arrived---with comment, name, and e-mail address intact.
Correspondence this week: None
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
This week's challenge from listener Bruce Campbell of Kansas City, Missouri. Name a title character from books and TV (5, 5). You can rearrange the letters to get two words describing what you can hear and do in church. What character is it?
Here is our current monthly puzzle transcription schedule :
1st Sunday Joe
Hints:
4. Learning to like odd foods, drinks after a few tries.
11. 3 and 3 letters, not Ann
How do I subscribe to this podcast?
1. Part of an orchard -- apple tree
2. Something controlled by a tower at O'Hare or LAX -- air traffic
3. Clumsy -- all thumbs
4*. Appreciation for something that you get only through repeated exposure -- acquired taste
5. Clock setting in Anchorage or Fairbanks -- Alaska Time
6. Something you can hike from Georgia to Maine -- Appalachian Trail
7. LSD experience -- acid trip
8. Band of tissue that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone -- Achilles tendon
9. Sticky material for fastening things -- adhesive tape
10. Worker with tigers and elephants at old circuses -- animal trainer
11*. Author of "The Joy Luck Club" -- Amy Tan
12. Something affixed to a wall or ceiling in a sound studio -- acoustic tile
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Panama City, Florida