Apr 28, 2008 One Word Wonder Puzzle

Yikes!

I figured out the meaning of the clues we don't need... but none of the ones we DO need. Sheesh.

I've got three or four of them--assumed I would need them all!

[2] I'm in exactly the same boat.

Do you want to discuss this on BGG?

Nah. I'm not registered to post on BGG, though I sometimes read the forum there for extra salt.

The clues I did figure out were pretty straightforward (though not useful)... but the rest don't seem to follow the same logic.

Sounds like we've all reached a (answer to clue #2)!

[2], [4] Does that mean you know for some reason that there *are* clue answers that we need? I got 1 and 4. If I read 0 correctly, there are way too many answers unless there's a theme.

Jenny's number tells us which one we need. I only know what I need for one of those - but don't know what to do with what I get!

[9] Which one do you have?

[9] I see that you're right that it points out clues, but that doesn't necessarily mean we need the answers. Since we can't solve them, maybe they're just gibberish.

(I did get #2 as well now.)

Could the title be an example of (answer to clue #4)? I sure hope not!

Besides 2 & 4, I have 7 - but can't translate it into anything.

[13] For 7, did you use a year for HAL?

[12] I'm thinking the title gives us the order in which to place the answers...if we could ever come up with them!

[14] I tried both the year and the 'model' number for HAL

For #8, I was thinking we are making a word that starts with a 3 letter pre-fix, followed by the number indicated...and then the rest of the word from 'protective eyewear', but that's a huge guess.

I'm puzzled by the space before the comma in 7.

Do you think the misspelling of "sulfur" in 6 is just a mistake?

Either way, we end up with two large numbers separated by a comma.

[17] I was thinking "before the refrain" referred back to the title, so I've got "number 10" protective eyewear. (If that's too salty, please explain how!)

For #6 I tried using the elemental symbols and their atomic weight value mathematically. Neither works if we are trying to end up with letters. The only thing numerically I get is the area code for Nevada.

[18] If not, I guess we need to find someone who sulfs! Until the last step, I had a Greek letter, but I can't figure out how to remove sulfur (or sulfer) from it.

[22] Unless "start" in 6 = "S". Then you end up with a tool.

[22] If you remove sulfur from the Greek letter (numerically), it takes you to the first letter???

We're not going to get any salt from MMM. He's not active.

I used the the model number and got two numbers for #7
Now what

[24] So, we're mixing atomic numbers with Greek Tanga numbers? that would definitely make this a Hard OWW!

[22] If "remove"=DE, then #6 results in a 6-letter proper name.

In searching for 6, I came across a color theory called the Hering theory where Rho=Red, but it doesn't explain where the sulfer comes in.

[15] I agree with you. Jenny's number doesn't use 1,2,4.

If ever the end of the workday came at a bad time, this is it!

[31] lol

Bachelor of science is BS so do we need 9

[30] Yet they are the only ones with unambiguous answers.

[33] If we do, it should come last. But what's up with "put into a"?

[33] I'm thinking it's a degree.

[34] The easier to dispose of them, I guess.

[33] or SB

[36] So if I "put in, to a degree" is that like "putting out" but not going all the way? ;-)

Is that why Jenny's number was on the wall???

(Just got here & am catching up!)

Am wondering if #9 could be along the lines of a NYT cryptic/puns crossword answer? If so, maybe something like "braises" or "basks"...? Just another idea.

[38] lol!

[38] Jewelia, you're funny!

[39] Yay, epaz is here! To help us ponder!

[39] I've also tried a word for "put" it "abs". But haven't come up with a good answer. I don't think "raise" and "ask" would be clued with "put".

[41] Best I've come up with is "belays" (using the "b" phonetically), but I don't like it.

[42] If you're going phonetic, you can get "ablaze", but I don't like it either.

Perhaps it is put NINE into BS - benines (benigns?)

[40] aw, I feel so special now! :-) (Now I _really_ hope I can help figure this sucker out, as I sneak back and forth from "work" stuff to tanga! Shh, don't tell!)

[41]-[43] yeah, I'm not happy with mine either... nor with "bares" (from "bairs"), though it makes more sense than "benters"...

This puzzle is EXACTLY why we need moderators. If ever anything cried out for one, this is it. :-)

For 0 - Deity (God) backwards - cartoon's dog pal? Snoopy? Odie?

If any of this later proves too salty, I will go back and edit it out. But right now, short of the actual answer, I don't think much could be TOO salty!!

[47] or Pluto, Goofy, Ren, Stimpy, ...

I will be back and forth. I apologize for not being able to stay and be COMPLETELY FRUSTRATED with the rest of you!

I'm going to have to cut out for a while too.

[49], [50] Tag! :-)

[48] Since Pluto is the name of a Roman diety, that would seem to be the most likely choice.

Wow! Minimum school day and I'm bored in detention so I think, "Let's see what's on Tanga. Maybe a quick puzzle."
Guess not.

While I'm hoping we can just use the first letters of each answer, I can't help but think there could be another step after we get the numbers...

[54] I was thinking that if we just read the seven good answers (words) in the order corresponding to Jenny's number, then that would give us the final clue.

[55] ohh, that'd be nice!

[48] Stimpy was a cat. I like the Pluto idea...

I got pulled away for over an hour--was hoping you all would have it figured out by now!

I agree--Pluto was my first choice, but I wonder, are we looking for the backwards deity, or is the apostrophe misplaced (i.e., "cartoon dog's pal," which might be a mouse)?

[58] backwards...a hint to another of the club that was backwards and a tall friend of Pluto? I had his watch and it ran backwards (counter-clockwise) so maybe I'm reading too much into this.

60 comments in over 3 hours without a single solve yet. I'm throwing in the towel for now.

What [60] said. Need a brain break. Good luck, all!

BTW, I just tg'ed MMM. He was last active a coupla weeks ago, so who knows?

Has everyone given up?

[62] Yeah. 5 hours ago...

HahaHahAAhhaaa....phew...

This puzzle is driving me crazy...

Hey! Sorry for the headaches. 55 is closest. Further, the clues are not independent. When you're done with the first one, don't just set those answers aside...

[64] But what if we can't get the first one?

As far as I know, the only clues that have been solved are 1, 2, and 4.

The first one being 0 or the first one being ... the other number??

First in jenny's phone number

You mean verse;ten;goggles?

[64] I had some idea it might be like that, except that I couldn't figure out how to apply the second to the first. The second stage was throwing me.

second stage, has three clues...first stage has three clues...

and it all clicks.

[68] Yes. I had that hours ago and it finally worked out. Keep applying.

[70] Aha! So obvious in retrospect.

good puzzle once you get that starting nudge.

Then my work here is done. Sorry for any frustrations!

-MMM

Nice!

Getting stuck on what happens in step 5.
(This "post and solve" thing is really incredible.)

[77] Synonym for the word in quotes.

[77] step 5 "third entry" or other?

Actually, the "synonym" for the word in quotes is misspelled-- it's less of a "grip" than it is a particular form of depravity. (And if you want, you can skip ahead and just solve with the last two steps!)

Thanks for the help, all! :-)

[80] I figured a homophone was just part of the puzzle.

First time looking at this since yesterday afternoon. Guess I have some catching up to do.

After I'd solved it, I was angry with myself. As [80] pointed out, it's solvable by ignoring everything but the last two steps.

[84] I also was mad at myself after solving but it wasn't because of that. It was because I wasted so much time on this puzzle

Ouch!!
Thanks everyone here and on BGG for the salt, never would have gotten it without.

A very interesting puzzle with terrific mechanics... unfortunately (and obviously) they were buried too deep to get started without MMM's outside help.

Once started, it rolls along beautifully.

This is the second puzzle in a short time to misuse 'clamp' as a clue for a certain target word. They're only categorically related, but functionally not at all synonymous. I think more diligence is called for in double-checking clues.

The answer to #5 is no longer the 3rd entry. Use common sense as to what would likely help this to roll along.