November 25, 2009
Answers: Initial Inclination
There weren’t as many people with the initials T.T. as I thought there would be. My list is only 11 names long:
Toni Tennille, Twyla Tharp, Tiffany Thornton, Tiny Tim (and he sang “Tiptoe through the Tulips”!), Tom Toles (editorial cartoonist), Travis Tritt, Tanya Tucker, Tommy Tune, Ted Turner, and Tina Turner.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
November 23, 2009
Initial Inclination: T.T.
How many famous people can you think of who have the initials T.T.?
I chose this combination because someone named Tiffany Thornton is performing in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Kermit the Frog. Even though I hadn’t heard of Tiffany until today, if she’s singing with Kermie, I’m sure she’s well known enough to be a valid answer for this puzzle.
I will post my list on Wednesday. Even though I don’t have anyone on it right now, other than Ms. Thornton, I’m guessing I’ll have about 20 by then.
Note: Answers must be real people, not fictional characters. They should also be names that are recognizable by the general population.
November 21, 2009
November 18, 2009
Answers: IGI Three-Peats
There were more answers than I expected for Monday’s puzzle challenge (find as many words as you can that contain the three-letter string IGI). I’ll list the 21 words I found below. Note: As I stated on Monday, only one variation of a word will count (so if you use origin, you may not count original, etc).
Aboriginal (which doesn’t have to be capitalized), dirigible, digit, eligible, flibbertigibbet, frigid, fuliginous, incorrigible, litigious, negligible, obliging, origin, parmigiana (also, doesn’t need to be capitalized), prestigious, prodigious, religious, rigid, vertiginous, vestigial, vigilante, and whirligig.
There are, of course, a few obscure words that also fit the rules, such as sigil (a seal), and krigia (an herb).
November 16, 2009
November 14, 2009
Smile: From the Kitchen
Here’s a smile I found in a home store recently:
Can you name this kitchen implement? Hold your cursor over the picture for the answer.
Speaking of answers, here’s my list of 25 green vegetables from yesterday’s puzzle: artichoke, arugula, asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, collard greens, cucumber, endive, green beans, green pepper, green onion, jalapeno pepper, kale, leek, lettuce, okra, pea, romaine, seaweed, snow pea, spinach, tomatillo, and zucchini. (There are a few, more obscure salad greens and others, I’m sure).
Note: Avocado and green tomato are fruits.
November 13, 2009
November 11, 2009
Answers: Constant Consonants RS
It turns out there are a lot of words that contain only the consonants R and S, in that order. Did you think of both of the flowers? I’ve listed below the 34 total words that I found.
Aeries (also eyries, eagles’ nests), airs, areas, ares (an are is 100 square meters), arias, arise, arse, arose, arouse, auras, ires, iris, ears, eras, errs, eros, euros, oars, ors, ours, raise, rays, reuse, rise, roes, roos, rose, rosy, roués (lechers), rouse, rues, ruse, ryes, and ureas.
Obscure words include: arris (a ridge on a column) and reseau (a network). I’m sure there are others.
November 9, 2009
Constant Consonants: RS
How many words can you think of that contain the consonants RS, in that order, and no others? Words may not be capitalized. You may repeat a consonant as long as you repeat it without any vowels in between (for example, Ross would count, except that it’s a proper name). You may use as many vowels as you want. Full rules are at the link at the upper right.
I think I’ll have a longer list, let’s say 25 or so words by Wednesday, when I’ll post the answers.


