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#3051 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-21 23:49:20
This one was hard!
Sure was! I retract my premature "piffling trifle" assessment. >feeling humble<
those aren't words.
One day we'll have a solution made up entirely of such seemingly non-words!
MOON
MORN
MORS
MARS
CARS
CARN
CAIN
CHIN
CHIP
SHIP
REAL -> BLUE -> ROSE
#3052 Re: Puzzles and Games » Add 13 more and post it forever. » 2010-05-21 22:07:45
Hey, ZHero! Did Joan change her phone number from a 6-digit positive one to an 8-digit negative one?!! She didn't tell me! 
#3053 Re: Puzzles and Games » Add 13 more and post it forever. » 2010-05-21 21:27:50
Brilliant, ZHero! I like that!! 
6474
6-4+7+4 = 13
#3054 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-21 13:51:33
Hi Bobby,
How come you didn't do it if it was so easy?....Could it be, it is a PT?
I was faaaar too busy thinking of something silly to write to you than to be bothered with solving a puzzle that's only a PT - Piffling Trifle - but I'll have a go at doing it this evening after work.
Havta go now.
#3055 Re: Puzzles and Games » Word Game #57 » 2010-05-21 06:57:59
#3057 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-21 06:16:49
Do you leave something to work on, I'm going crazy here.
Now that ZHero has posted a solution to a puzzle - his own(!), thereby breaking convention (and he gave himself an easy one at that(!!) - we can probably try solving the puzzle he gave in post #126.
It might go against the grain somewhat for you to do that, Bobby, given that you're such a stickler for sticking strictly to the rules, but I hope you'll take up my suggestion because I wouldn't want to have you going crazy over there! 
#3058 Re: Puzzles and Games » Word Game #66 » 2010-05-21 05:55:22
Yes, I do. I like that. 
As you've found already, not all submissions are in the POD, but those occasions will be rare because despite its small size it is quite comprehensive. I have an old electronic version of it that I used to check my words before I posted the list.
#3059 Re: Puzzles and Games » Joan's telephone number & my YOB » 2010-05-21 05:31:30
Hi ZHero,
Your answer to Part A is correct.
Just thought I'd confirm that for you because Part B's solution relies on the answer to Part A being correct.
I've started to have a look at your method for Part A, but have a way to go with it yet.
part-B? I'm already panicked by your repetitive instructions to use a computer to solve it.
I was just trying to be helpful, wanting to save you a few years' time if you did it by hand.
It should be possible to do by hand, because, contrary to what I said in my first post, I initially composed it by using paper, pen and a scientific calculator. Transferring it to Excel helped me to refine it and increase the difficulty level.
#3060 Re: Puzzles and Games » Self-Referential Aptitude Test » 2010-05-21 04:58:08
has it got something to do with anagrams?
No, not at all.
#3061 Re: Puzzles and Games » Word Game #66 » 2010-05-21 04:43:52
Hi gurthbruins,
I'd like to make a suggestion about the adjudicating dictionary you use for this game - and maybe other such games - that you consider changing it to the online version of the Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary, found here.
It checks words up to and including 15 letters in length, contains a very large word list and is an easily-accessible standard for us all.
If you agree to that, I should mention that a small number of words that were previously disallowed would now be deemed valid...which may (or may not! ) help others to find the hidden rule.
#3062 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-20 22:05:20
Hi Bobby,
secs to me a little shaky.
secs is valid, according to the few sources I tried.
It's quite common here in Aus: eg, "Just wait a couple of secs".
I use this SOWPODS link for 4-letter words:
http://members.ozemail.com.au/~rjackman/4fours.html
And this one to check for Scrabble words:
http://www.collinslanguage.com/extras/scrabble.aspx
Btw, can we allow ZHero's puzzle before he's solved one first???!!!!!
#3064 Re: Puzzles and Games » Word Game #66 » 2010-05-20 01:22:21
Hi gurthbruins,
Now that I've got 10 valid words, do I stop posting lists?
Nice game, by the way. Simple, as you said...but tricky, just the same!
#3065 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-20 00:34:43
As Tarzan said to Jane, "Bird kill bugs." 
BIRD
BIRL
BILL
KILL
TILL
TILS
TIGS
BIGS
BUGS
THEY -> FEEL -> SICK
#3066 Re: Puzzles and Games » Word Game #57 » 2010-05-19 23:16:06
Curious!
Don't know how to start this off...the beginning of the intro will do. 
#3067 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-19 03:28:53
MOTH
MOTE
MORE
MIRE
FIRE
FIRN
BIRN
BURN
DAWN -> TILL -> DUSK
#3068 Re: Puzzles and Games » Self-Referential Aptitude Test » 2010-05-19 02:21:46
Hi ZHero,
I can wait till then (just don't forget
'k.
And i'd like to know what's special bout the answer according to you and mathsyperson??
I shouldn't have drawn your attention to it...it's rather lewd. Sorry.
#3069 Re: Puzzles and Games » Self-Referential Aptitude Test » 2010-05-18 22:55:10
Hi ZHero!
All correct and ! 
I'll dig up my solving notes because I'd like to see how our approaches compare; and I'll get back to you, but that might take a little while.
Glad you liked it...and thanks for posting your comments and strategy!
#3070 Re: Puzzles and Games » Add 13 more and post it forever. » 2010-05-18 22:39:00
Hi Bobby,
...why not make it sooner?
Time constraints. Work's far too demanding time-wise at the moment, and I can't see it easing for quite a while. As it is, I've got some things simmering away on the back burner that should really get more attention...if it were not for MIF's pull and the lure of puzzling. Real Member status won't help that situation either, so I'll let that go for now. But...thanks.
#3071 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-18 22:21:51
Hi Bobby,
All words ok.
Bose isn't in SOWPODS nor the Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary, but it's in the O.E.D. as v To test (ground) for the presence of buried structures by noting the sound of percussion from a weighted rammer. It's also in Webster's T.N.I.D. and Dictionary.com.
my answer.
GOON
BOON
BORN
BORE
BARE
BABE
BARE
BERE
SERE
SERR
SEER
DEER
DOWN -> GREY -> DEAD
#3072 Re: Puzzles and Games » Add 13 more and post it forever. » 2010-05-18 12:30:29
post #458 is correct!
Thanks, Bobby!
I was keen to find out if that was a dud post or not...and this also reestablishes faith in my calculator because that was a HUUUGE sum! I'd thought about installing Maxima and trying that sum out on their calculator, but after reading some of the blurb on their site it looks like there's a fair learning curve and I'm glad I don't have to do that now. But maybe one day I will...
#3073 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-18 04:26:47
FOOD
POOD (a Russian weight)
PLOD
PLOW
FLOW
GLOW
GROW
GROT
TROT
TOOT
TOOL
TOLL
TALL
BROW -> NOSE -> CHIN
#3074 Re: Puzzles and Games » Add 13 more and post it forever. » 2010-05-18 04:05:33
Post #458, that features the number 5941 with a heap of squares and factorials.
#3075 Re: Puzzles and Games » Metamorphosis » 2010-05-18 03:50:29
Hi Bobby,
poot : n the name for the young of various animals; also v to push (O.E.D.)
It's also in the Chambers Dictionary, Collins Official Scrabble Dictionary, Webster's Third New International Dictionary and SOWPODS...with some other associated meanings.