Ben Bass and Beyond: Recommended reading

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Recommended reading

1 comments:

Steve Scholz said...: Darn, I just sold the commemorative Nixon White House issue on eBay.; August 7, 2008 12:45 AM

NPR Sunday puzzle

This week's puzzle comes from listener Ben Bass of Chicago (hey, wait, that's me!).

A few weeks ago, we pointed out that when the name KEVIN KLINE is written in capital letters, it consists of two five-letter words with 13 straight lines each and no curves. We asked you to name another celebrity whose first and last names also have five letters, each name consisting of 14 straight lines. The answer was VANNA WHITE.

Here's this week's challenge: Name a genre of music in two five-letter words, each word consisting of exactly 15 straight lines and no curves.

Enter here or email me for a hint. (Can I still give a hint when it's my puzzle? I guess so.)

Last week: This puzzle comes from Craig Hamilton, editor of the National Puzzlers League. Think of two terms that mean "to divulge information." Write them one after the other with no spaces between words. The result is a nine-letter word for a card that you might hold in a card game. What card is it? Highlight for answer: Singleton = sing + let on

Two weeks ago: Take "tire" and "exhaust." They're both things a car has. But as verbs, in a noncar sense, they're synonyms. Name two articles of apparel, each with four letters. As verbs, in a nonapparel sense, the two words are synonyms. What words are they? Highlight for answer: Sock and belt (and cuff)

Three weeks ago: This puzzle comes from well-known crossword constructor Henry Hook. Take the name Kevin Kline. The first and last names both have five letters. Written in capital letters — KEVIN KLINE — each name consists of exactly 13 straight lines and no curves. Name a well-known TV personality with five-letter first and last names. Each name, written in capital letters, contains exactly 14 straight lines and no curves. Who is this? Highlight for answer: VANNA WHITE