Jan 01, 2007 One Word Wonder Puzzle

hello

dont get it at all. do the words behind the letter help?

Congrats to David Green for kicking off the contest results!

Congrats to David Green for being a mean bastich! ;-)

I'm intrigued by the fact that none of the numbers match. It might mean nothing.

Words in the background shouldn't be much help. I can't make out most of them. Yeah, I can't find use for the numbers mentioned in the document. That zero is throwing me off.

Methinks Aaron is sitting in front of his PC laughing his a-double-q off thinking "Not so fun, is it David?"

Fun facts I haven't used yet:
15 letters in "Best of luck to you."
8 unique letters in "Sufficiently".
Meh.

Interesting. The names appear to mean something.

Sufficient, that is. No 'ly'.

Also 8 letters in 'activate' which seems out of place.

It took you 6 minutes and 20 seconds.
You are the 2nd fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 2nd Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Clever

Ignoring the capital letters in the first line gives you "ye arcana" or "year cana" but I have no clue what that means.

At least I know it's solvable, now, MMM. Um, Tanga guys? Is there any chance of selling rotten tomato shields sometime this month?

Very solvable. Just follow the directions.

-MMM

11 lines, 11 numbers on the bottom. Coincidence?

I think I have the appropriate letters, any hint on how to choose which ones?

I think dajagr IS David Green, breathing a sigh of relief that someone got it. I agree that it's validation of sorts if people can figure it out.

I gathered that that was David. The hint was for the rest of you :)

-MMM

And that also explains why MMM wasn't first. At least I assume David was the quickest to solve this one!

MMM, I missed the hint though. Whatever lightbulb needs to go on for me has apparently burned out long ago.

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 27 minutes and 3 seconds.
You are the 3rd fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 3rd Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

As usual, the instructions are all there in the text - more or less. Key in on the unusual aspects of the puzzle, especially for the second step.

How can Dajagr be David? Aaron said the puzzles would be attributed to screen names, not real names.

Clever puzzle David. Unless I'm not seeing the significance of some of the puzzle elements, there seem to be a few red herrings...

Background doesn't come into play does it?

For those of you who aren't typesetters or graphic designers, the background copy is Lorem Ipsum text. You can read about it here, if you're so inclined:

http://www.lipsum.com/

Of course, I have no idea if that's significant. Because I haven't solved a darned thing.

Completely off-topic, but I noticed that before the new puzzle went live, the "daily fun" page was pointed at January, but the "today's puzzle" link was still pointing at the December 31 puzzle (as it should have been). Also, the December list of puzzles currently includes today's (1/1/2007) puzzle. Looks like a glitch or two in the system.

must...have...believe... ???

The problem I'm having is with the zero. None of my ideas for how to start solving this work with the zero in there.

unless it's not a zero (and this is me talking through my hat, because I've got nuthin')

Exact same problem, nrkii. It just doesn't work. The directions are... vague.

There are 14 capital letters, removing the repeats leaves 8. But that is not getting me anywhere.

Yeah, I'm gonna call the police, that zero is murdering me.

I keeping thinking "the first three times" means something is repeated three times. As filler maybe?

first three times is 15 letters

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 42 minutes and 18 seconds.
You are the 5th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 5th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Wow, that *was* nice. It turns out the names were significant, and I nearly had the answer on a guess. I just didn't have the *length* of the answer correct.

Hints:
1. The background is not.
2. The answer is not eleven letters long.
3. Follow MMM's hint *while looking at the numbers*.

the phrase "it out for you" is 11 letters, but using "it" three times makes it fifteen. That's one thought I had

I also have nothing, but...

The "first three" words of the letter have 15 letters, but more than 8 unique.

The words "first three times" have 15 letters and 8 unique, but I can't do anything with the letters firsthem.

Well, at least I don't feel too stupid - if after 45 minutes, only five people have solved this, then I'm not retarded. You guys are all just mensa.

That should've said "The background is not significant." Hope that didn't scare anyone.

Arnott, check email.

!!!!!

OK. 53 minutes of staring is long enough. I'll just pick it up tomorrow. If savants like Uethym take 42 minutes to solve it I will NEVER get it without being hand-held. Goodnight.

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 34 minutes and 12 seconds.
You are the 8th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 11th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

36. did it for me, although if the names mean anything I'm not making that connection.

It took you 50 minutes and 54 seconds.
You are the 7th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 7th Tanga member to solve this puzzle

I think the floodgates will open soon with this one.

GOT IT. Thanks to one brilliant comment from my mom, who is on the other end of the phone solving with me.

Clever, indeed. Also, 55 minutes I don't get back. ;P

The key for me was trying to figure out how to get a particular number of letters from eleven numbers by following the directions.

I don't see any significance to the names -- maybe it's a hint I missed.

I still don't see the names connection myself.

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 25 minutes and 34 seconds.
You are the 8th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 12th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Well, I figured it out, but...

Some of the salt above is nothing but crimson fish.

Yeah!

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 23 minutes and 0 seconds.
You are the 7th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 17th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

*beaming out for tonight*

I'll put the tenuous name connection in spoiler text at BGG.

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 56 minutes and 46 seconds.
You are the 19th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 19th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

6 minutes later than [46]; it would appear so

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 9 minutes and 1 second.
You are the 4th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 18th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Clever!

One thing that I was unsure of when starting on this puzzle was the first character of the last line (not the credits), wondering if it is a letter or a numeral. It is indeed a numeral. Hope this helps!

If this is going to be a month of person after person trying to show off how difficult of a puzzle they can make, then I suspect Tanga will regret doing this.

I'm sure Tanga will throw out any lemons, or in our case, butters.

Very clever. I am not sure how it clicked but it did. Spelling really helps separate the numbers from the rest.

I'm glad the puzzles I made were exceedingly easy, then, but considering that I solved this one relatively quickly I think what made this one difficult was only the new puzzle-master, not the puzzle itself. Having a consistant puzzle-maker makes it easier to tune into a style.

-MMM

Wow.
You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 40 minutes and 9 seconds.
You are the 19th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 30th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Great puzzle.
Thanks David and thanks [36] Uethym

Well, if they use mine, I promise it will be easier. For some people, it will probably be way too easy.

I for one loved tonight's puzzle, even though it kicked my butt.

I solved it ([52]'s spoiler at BGG gave me what I needed), but for the life of me I have no idea how one gets to the solution.

Good point, MMM. It still was clever. Congrats to David Green.

what is BGG?

Well, that was interesting. Uethym, I love that name connection. I doubt it could be coincidence, so it's pretty funny.

Now to wonder if the user puzzle order is random, or if they started with what they felt were the easier puzzles. If so.. This will be one interesting month.

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 54 minutes and 14 seconds.
You are the 29th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 37th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Wow, that was a tough one. Still not entirely sure how I got it though...

NotJeff's [48] was what got me thinking about the "directions" correctly.

still struggling, any more salt please?

Scott, www.boardgamegeek.com

scottmueller801

Here is a link to the BGG thread, though you should be warned that the discussions tend to be more explicit in how to solve.

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/thread/131250/page/95

Yes, 48 is a good one.

I got the answer, using Uethym's name thing at BGG, but I have absolutely no idea how to get there given the puzzle. I can't even reverse-engineer a solution, even with the answer.

You need to figure out how to separate the right numbers. I can't spell it out for you any clearer than that, sorry :)

You have already solved this puzzle.
It took you 44 minutes and 50 seconds.
You are the 24th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 42nd Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

After solving it with the BGG name salt and reverse engineering, it is a very clever puzzle.

okay, I just completely guessed the answer based on the name clues, now if I only knew how to come up with it... Time to back solve

InfinityMax - For reverse engineering, there is only one way to get a certain letter in the answer. Once you figure out how to get that letter the rest is pretty simple.

Hehe... it finally came to me!

Hmm.. Clever puzzle. I struggled down many wrong turns. The basic problem is where to come up with 15 letters, and why there are 11 numbers at the bottom. you've got a lot of numbers floating around.. 8, 3, 11, 15... the instructions seem to lack specificality. It was a conundrum, but it can be figured out.

All this salt is giving me high blood pressure. I've quit trying to figure out how to solve it and started guessing based on the names. No dice. Anybody wanna put me out of my misery?

Wow that was a tough one! I did the first step right almost immediately but didn't realize it.... then I tried dozens of different incorrect attempts at solving only to finally come back to my initial first step and realize that it gave me everything I needed for the answer....

My Dear McTangans,
Apparently, I have taxed many of you beyond the bounds of natural puzzle suffering. Even though I did attempt to playtest the puzzles, it appears that it is difficult to
tell how difficult a puzzle is while you're creating it. Still, if I have learned anything, it's a lot of respect for Aaron and all the Tanga folks.
My sincere apologies to those with headaches (I don't get any kickbacks from the pain reliever industry, I swear).
Sincerely,
Mr. Green

3, 1, 4, 1, 5, 9, 2, 6, 5, 3 (okay, I couldn't think of better numbers to close with --DG)

Thanks to xpsdude for the help. Now I can see how the answer was divined.

P.S. The name thing? Deliberate, although more meant to be appreciated after solving the puzzle. It seems "appreciated" is a loose term in this particular context. :-)

David, I will refrain from cursing you, as I have yet to have my turn in the barrel. But well done, sir!

David-

So it was deliberate? Gobble, gobble. Thanks for a clever puzzle.

I am having visions of a one eyed monster cursing you.

Only 35% of Tangans have solved this after 1 hour 45 minutes. I have solved it with much salt and still have difficulty with connecting the clues to getting the final 8 letters from the initial 8. Does the word activate give a clue?

sorry <the>...see my head is still hurting after trying to solve this one. I give a lot of credit to the puzzle makers.

I wish you guys would keep your wrong ideas to yourself! I have enough of my own without considering yours in with them!!!!!

should read (initial 15 letters)

side note. Second day in a row that Tanga's deal of the day is for a summer seasonal item??? Tomorrow should bring a case of suntan lotion for us Tangans.

It took you 54 minutes and 29 seconds.
You are the 59th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 89th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

i basically only got it b/c of the names and an internet synonym finder.....anxious to see how it is suppose to me gotten

sorry bout the double comment y'all

synonym for what???

dajagr,
You win! I'm reduced to trying to guess answers about an old video game. Congratulations!

"it out for you" is 11 letters, the first three times might refer to "it it it out for you" which is 15 letters. I'm not sure which 8 letters to use, or how to decide, or what that 0 is for.

Entered the right answer in 45 minutes. Finally figured out how to arrive at the answer after another 45 minutes.

My issue: I can't get myself to ignore words in sentences.

sedjtroll- You are very COLD.

It took you 1 hour, 37 minutes and 20 seconds.
You are the 101st fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 75th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
----------------------------------------------
I have the feeling that I will end up being the 600th fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle!!!
----------------------------------------------
http://wordsmith.org/anagram/

Is an internet anagram solver

Putting the right fifteen letters into it gives the correct answer

g'nite

It took you 55 minutes and 59 seconds.
You are the 72nd fastest Tanga member to solve this puzzle.
You were the 110th Tanga member to solve this puzzle.

Wow, that was painful. But a very clever puzzle. It is a two step process and numbers are used in both steps.

Although using the anagram solver can point you in the correct direction, it is not necessary to get the answer.

uncle....Uncle...UNCLE!!! <whimper>

This is helpful...

[96] daw65: "My issue: I can't get myself to ignore words in sentences."