The solutions to the Wacky Wordies appear to be:
+
+
+
+
+
That's beside the point
+
+
Higher education
+
+
Every dog has its day
+
+
+
+
Mixed nuts
+
+
Increase Mather
+
+
Top of the morning
+
+
+
+
Vacant lot
+
+
Back in my day
+
+
Upside-down cake
+
+
+
+
Three little pigs
+
+
Tree pruning
+
+
Out of Africa
+
+
+
+
"Nothing left to do but cry" by Lulu
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
The "to do but cry" part of the title of the song by Lulu is not
+ clued, and perhaps the title was abbreviated to the first two
+ words somewhere. And the last two boxes just tell you these are
+ Wacky Wordies. The initials spell THE MITV BUTTON. This refers to
+ a button from a Java applet described here
+ which once let people at MIT select programs from a list to play
+ on MITV student cable channel 36.
+
+
Then we have the blanks:
+
+
+
2------ ---
+ -5----4
+
+
--------1 ----
+ ------6--
+
+
4--- --- --1--
+
+
--7--5- --- --
+ --- 6----
+
+
--7-----
+ 6-----5--7
+
+
-1- --- 2-- --5
+ -- --- ---
+
---- -3-- --7
+ 2-4--
+
+
3--7-, -6---- --4
+ ----
+
+
-3--- -- --7-
+
+
-5--- --- ---6-
+
+
--- ---3 --
+ -45----
+
+
---6-5--- -1---
+
+
3----7- --- ---
+ 5---- ---- -- ---2
+
+
+
There is an HTML comment at the bottom of the page which says What
+
+
+ are you doing reading this? Go watch the movie!
+
+
The page with the blanks was discovered in 2021, and a
+ thread on Reddit has a comment from a member of Palindrome
+ saying she found this page on her computer, suggesting it was
+ meant to be part of the Hunt. Probably, there was a program Hunt
+ makers added to the selection on MITV which directed people to the
+ blanks page and provided some more wacky wordies or other puzzle
+ content to put on the blanks.
+
+ Some of the enumerations are difficult to match, such as #6 (3 3 3 3
+ 2 3 3) and #13 (7 3 3 5 4 2 4). #8 is given with a comma and most
+ sensibly matches the phrase "shake, rattle and roll" and #6 only
+ reasonably matches the phrase "let the cat out of the bag." Prior to
+ having the printed page of wcky wordies, and given the HTML comment,
+ an attempt was made to match this against script text, DVD chapter
+ titles, etc, in some dream-related movies, and against movie titles
+ in general, but the difficult ones again generally had no matches.
+ One of the Wacky Wordie answers is a movie: Out of Africa. I
+ didn't find matches for #6 or #13 in its script.
+
The extraction from these numbers is probably meant to work the
+ same way as in 19.7 Cryptography from
+ freshman year of this hunt; that is, we take all the letters that
+ fall on the 1s and anagram them into a word, then all the letters
+ on the 2s, and so forth. That means we are extracting a seven-word
+ phrase with enumeration 4 4 5 5 8 6 7.
+
+
We are told in the metapuzzle solution supplied with the new
+ archive documents that the final answer is AL.
+
The solutions to the Wacky Wordies appear to be:
+
+
+
+
+
That's beside the point
+
+
Higher education
+
+
Every dog has its day
+
+
+
+
Mixed nuts
+
+
Increase Mather
+
+
Top of the morning
+
+
+
+
Vacant lot
+
+
Back in my day
+
+
Upside-down cake
+
+
+
+
Three little pigs
+
+
Tree pruning
+
+
Out of Africa
+
+
+
+
"Nothing left to do but cry" by Lulu
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
The "to do but cry" part of the title of the song by Lulu is not
+ clued, and perhaps the title was abbreviated to the first two
+ words somewhere. And the last two boxes just tell you these are
+ Wacky Wordies. The initials spell THE MITV BUTTON. This refers to
+ a button from a Java applet described here
+ which once let people at MIT select programs from a list to play
+ on MITV student cable channel 36.
+
+
Then we have the blanks:
+
+
+
2------ ---
+ -5----4
+
+
--------1 ----
+ ------6--
+
+
4--- --- --1--
+
+
--7--5- --- --
+ --- 6----
+
+
--7-----
+ 6-----5--7
+
+
-1- --- 2-- --5
+ -- --- ---
+
---- -3-- --7
+ 2-4--
+
+
3--7-, -6---- --4
+ ----
+
+
-3--- -- --7-
+
+
-5--- --- ---6-
+
+
--- ---3 --
+ -45----
+
+
---6-5--- -1---
+
+
3----7- --- ---
+ 5---- ---- -- ---2
+
+
+
There is an HTML comment at the bottom of the page which says What
+
+
+ are you doing reading this? Go watch the movie!
+
+
The page with the blanks was discovered in 2021, and a
+ thread on Reddit has a comment from a member of Palindrome
+ saying she found this page on her computer, suggesting it was
+ meant to be part of the Hunt. Probably, there was a program Hunt
+ makers added to the selection on MITV which directed people to the
+ blanks page and provided some more wacky wordies or other puzzle
+ content to put on the blanks.
+
+ Some of the enumerations are difficult to match, such as #6 (3 3 3 3
+ 2 3 3) and #13 (7 3 3 5 4 2 4). #8 is given with a comma and most
+ sensibly matches the phrase "shake, rattle and roll" and #6 only
+ reasonably matches the phrase "let the cat out of the bag." Prior to
+ having the printed page of wcky wordies, and given the HTML comment,
+ an attempt was made to match this against script text, DVD chapter
+ titles, etc, in some dream-related movies, and against movie titles
+ in general, but the difficult ones again generally had no matches.
+ One of the Wacky Wordie answers is a movie: Out of Africa. I
+ didn't find matches for #6 or #13 in its script.
+
The extraction from these numbers is probably meant to work the
+ same way as in 19.7 Cryptography from
+ freshman year of this hunt; that is, we take all the letters that
+ fall on the 1s and anagram them into a word, then all the letters
+ on the 2s, and so forth. That means we are extracting a seven-word
+ phrase with enumeration 4 4 5 5 8 6 7.
+
+
We are told in the metapuzzle solution supplied with the new
+ archive documents that the final answer is AL.
+
Each description actually clues two different rooms. Taking the difference of the room numbers gives a number between 1 and 26, which maps to a letter.
+
+
+
If you took 18.112 or 3.080 in Fall 2013, you're probably pretty familiar with this classroom.
+
+
4-153: Where 3.080 was taught in Fall 2013
+
4-149: Where 18.112 was taught in Fall 2013
+
4 → D
+
+
+
+
+
I listen to the Rainbow Lounge Nightly News every weekday from 5:30 to 6:00.
+
+
50-005: Rainbow Lounge
+
50-030: WMBR (which broadcasts WMBR Nightly News on weekdays from 5:30 to 6:00)
+
25 → Y
+
+
+
+
+
If you've ever wanted to read "Escape to Witch Mountain" while hiking up a mountain, this student group (whose office can be found in the student center) is for you.
+
+
W20-473: MITSFS office
+
W20-461: MITOC office
+
12 → L
+
+
+
+
+
In 2011, Bexley called this "a door for dwarves." I guess that means the director is a dwarf?
+
+
8-137: Bexley 2011 i3: "This door is for dwarves"
+
8-138: Center for Materials Research in Archaeology & Ethnology: Office of the Director
+
1 → A
+
+
+
+
+
The 26 third floor men's room is just to the left of a poster with some TV cartoon characters.
+
+
26-348: To the left of a poster on photon-photon interactions featuring Pinky and the Brain
+
26-334: 26 third floor men's room
+
14 → N
+
+
+
+
+
As I passed through the double doors from 18 to 56, I noticed that the room directly across from me was the BPEC plate reader room.
+
+
56-402: Sits across from the double doors to 18 on the fourth floor of 56
+
56-421: BPEC Plate Reader room
+
19 → S
+
+
+
+
+
As I passed through the double doors from 18 to 56, I noticed that the room directly across from me had a poster of a pine forest in the window.
+
+
56-002: Sits across from the double doors to 18 in the basement of 56
+
56-022: Has a poster of a pine forest in the window
+
20 → T
+
+
+
+
+
Unauthorized items left in this 56 basement room will be discarded... but only if they're recyclable.
+
+
56-086: "Recycling only -- no trash!" sign
+
56-085: "Unauthorized items will be discarded" sign
+
1 → A
+
+
+
+
+
Course 1 is headquartered across from the words "Parts Required."
+
+
1-290: Course 1 headquarters
+
1-276: Room located across from the words "Parts Required," which appear on a print in Chris Burden's series "The Master Builder"
+
14 → N
+
+
+
+
+
This room is across from a picture of a legendary monster and to the right of a Jacob's ladder.
+
+
4-410: To the right of a Jacob's ladder
+
4-406: Across from picture of Loch Ness monster
+
4 → D
+
+
+
+
+
Where is Professor Golay's office? I just can't remember....
+
+
24-223: Office of Prof. Michael Golay
+
24-214: Office of Prof. Benoit Forget
+
9 → I
+
+
+
+
+
Two doors to the left of the closed Athena cluster recently absorbed by Course 16, there's a door with a picture of some rather negative Muppets.
+
+
(37-332 or -312: Cluster absorbed by Course 16)
+
37-344a: Door two doors to the left of 37-332
+
37-344: Door two doors to the left of 37-312
+
37-358: Has picture of Muppets saying "Join the SSL? Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope..."
+
14 → N
+
+
+
+
+
An Athena printer can be found in Building 1 in an alcove directly across from Dr. Schuhmann's office.
+
+
1-165: Room directly across from the Athena printer
+
1-172: Dr. Schuhmann's office
+
7 → G
+
+
+
+
+
While taking a drink from the 26 basement water fountain, I noticed to my left a door with a "DANGER! HIGH VOLTAGE!" sign, but a sign next to the door suggested I'd be welcome to enter anyway.
+
+
26-018: High voltage room
+
26-027: Door with "you are welcome here" sticker
+
9 → I
+
+
+
+
+
The Lockheed Martin Classroom (named after an MIT '73 alum and his wife) can be found on the first floor of the Stata Center.
+
+
32-141: Lockheed Martin Classroom
+
32-155: Mary Lee and Vernon Altman ('73) Classroom
+
14 → N
+
+
+
+
+
This Building 16 alcove (which has its own room number) is lined with videodiscs. It's situated in the hallway between a blackboard and a bulletin board.
+
+
16-655: Alcove with videodiscs
+
16-635: Door between a blackboard and a bulletin board
+
20 → T
+
+
+
+
+
I went to turn in my add form, and while I was there, I downloaded and printed out the class's syllabus.
+
+
11-120: Student Services Center, where add forms are turned in
+
11-112: Quickstation cluster with printers
+
8 → H
+
+
+
+
+
To the left of a timeline on naval technology live some Seussian marine animals.
+
+
5-224: Door to the left of the naval technology timeline
+
5-229: Door has a picture of the cover of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
+
5 → E
+
+
+
+
This spells out DYLAN STANDING IN THE, which clues the answer to the puzzle, DOORWAY.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/alpha-7.png b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/alpha-7.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6ada2a44ad7cdf518da0749cbd42b4a331846340
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/alpha-7.png
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:9a45bb6b06b4537878e0e38b7d32d355f39ed792631c94f1cf0bbf9b68b2a922
+size 5801
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/beta-8.png b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/beta-8.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..6aa8c5a60096d11bbf01d45b35d8b3b3e03dde6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/beta-8.png
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:3cde632dc51b359a7a5f3cf9f4b4d6a1f2304363d4985c6df09f240a602297ac
+size 5754
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/gamma-12.png b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/gamma-12.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..d4e7bba7125ba6074c06977699ddf494aa3ee791
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r209_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Oyster_Card/gamma-12.png
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+version https://git-lfs.github.com/spec/v1
+oid sha256:02a878712cb4e0864520089a3cb96893c785be0df4b46d80d1bb99c61ac404ab
+size 5801
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r216_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_The_Most_Dangerous_Night/index.html b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r216_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_The_Most_Dangerous_Night/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..c515ecedba74d9e4d17105c01c90640087b3d075
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r216_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_The_Most_Dangerous_Night/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+
+
+
+ The Most Dangerous Night (The Tea Party)
+
+
+
+
+
+
There are 4 chair puzzles and 12 teacup puzzles. Of the teacup puzzles, there are four associated with the Mad Hatter and his tea, chinese oolong, four associated with the March Hare and his tea, moon tea, and four associated with the Dormouse and his tea, yule tea. The beast (Alice) has no puzzles associated with her -- just an empty saucer indicating that her puzzle is the meta.
+
+
The four characters are arranged around the table as follows, going clockwise: the beast, March Hare, Dormouse, Mad Hatter. While they can shift around seats, this order is always maintained. [This is stated clearly in the introduction text.]
+
+
The answers for each character are associated with three separate "calendars." The Mad Hatter (oolong tea) answers are associated with the Chinese Zodiac. The March Hare (moon tea) answers are associated with the Farmers' Almanac moons. The Dormouse (yule tea) answers are associated with the gifts during the 12 days of Christmas. The associations are as follows, and form an ordering from 1 to 12:
+
+
+
Character
Answer
Association
Order
+
Dormouse
SUZANNE CROUGH
Partridge in a Pear Tree[1]
1st Day of Christmas
+
March Hare
NOREASTER BLIZZARD
Snow Moon
Full Moon of February (2nd month)
+
Dormouse
COQ AU VIN
French Hen
3rd Day of Christmas
+
March Hare
ALECIA MOORE
Pink Moon[2]
Full Moon of April (4th month)
+
March Hare
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Flower Moon
Full Moon of May (5th month)
+
Mad Hatter
RHINOCEROS VIPER
Year of the Snake
Year 6 of Chinese Zodiac
+
Dormouse
NATALIE PORTMAN
Swans-a-Swimming[3]
7th Day of Christmas
+
Mad Hatter
BELGIAN FAWN
Year of the Goat[4]
Year 8 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
March Hare
PEARL HOMINY
Corn Moon
Full Moon of September (9th month)
+
Mad Hatter
CHANTICLEER
Year of the Rooster
Year 10 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
Mad Hatter
GERMAN SHEPHERD
Year of the Dog
Year 11 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
Dormouse
BUDDY RICH
Drummers drumming
12th Day of Christmas
+
+[1] - Suzanne Crough is most noted for her role in The Partridge Family.
+[2] - Alecia Moore performs under the stage name P!nk
+[3] - Natalie Portman won an Oscar playing Nina in The Black Swan.
+[4] - Belgian fawn is a breed of goat.
+
+
The solution to the four chairs are arranged around the table as follows:
+
+
+
12 o' clock:
poTaTobeeTle
+
3 o' clock:
sTraighTseTs
+
6 o' clock:
TesTosTerone
+
9 o' clock:
operaTorTesT
+
+
+
Each of these words is 12 letters long. In addition, the letter T occurs in each place from 1 to 12 exactly once. To extract the final solution phrase, for each word, identify the relevant number from the calendar, then use the chairs to find which chair the character was sitting in, the determine which chair the beast was sitting in. Finally, take the appropriate letter from that word (3, 6, 9, or 12) to spell out the final answer, GIVE HIM A HAND.
+
+
+
Answer
Number/T word/Chair
Character
Location of the beast when character is on associated chair
Index of the beast's location into answer word
+
SUZANNE CROUGH
1/Testosterone/6 o'clock
Dormouse
12 o'clock
G
+
NOREASTER BLIZZARD
2/sTraight sets/3 o'clock
March Hare
12 o'clock
I
+
COQ AU VIN
3/poTato beetle/12 o'clock
Dormouse
6 o'clock
V
+
ALECIA MOORE
4/tesTosterone/6 o'clock
March Hare
3 o'clock
E
+
CHRYSANTHEMUM
5/potaTo beetle/12 o'clock
March Hare
9 o'clock
H
+
RHINOCEROS VIPER
6/operaTor test/9 o'clock
Mad Hatter
12 o'clock
I
+
NATALIE PORTMAN
7/testosTerone/6 o'clock
Dormouse
12 o'clock
M
+
BELGIAN FAWN
8/straighTsets/3 o'clock
Mad Hatter
6 o'clock
A
+
PEARL HOMINY
9/operator Test/9 o'clock
March Hare
6 o'clock
H
+
CHANTICLEER
10/potato beeTle/12 o'clock
Mad Hatter
3 o'clock
A
+
GERMAN SHEPHERD
11/straight seTs/3 o'clock
Mad Hatter
6 o'clock
N
+
BUDDY RICH
12/operator tesT/9 o'clock
Dormouse
3 o'clock
D
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r2x_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Tea_Party_Meta/solution.html b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r2x_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Tea_Party_Meta/solution.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..aea0ec1cd256d81d20dbc8fe8e6c44683b9949a2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r2x_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_Tea_Party_Meta/solution.html
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+
+
+
+ The Tea Party
+
+
+
+
+
There are 4 chair puzzles and 12 teacup puzzles. Of the teacup puzzles, there are four associated with the Mad Hatter and his tea, chinese oolong, four associated with the March Hare and his tea, moon tea, and four associated with the Dormouse and his tea, yule tea. The beast (Alice) has no puzzles associated with her -- just an empty saucer indicating that her puzzle is the meta.
+
+
The four characters are arranged around the table as follows, going clockwise: the beast, March Hare, Dormouse, Mad Hatter. While they can shift around seats, this order is always maintained. [This is stated clearly in the introduction text.]
+
+
The answers for each character are associated with three separate "calendars." The Mad Hatter (oolong tea) answers are associated with the Chinese Zodiac. The March Hare (moon tea) answers are associated with the Farmers' Almanac moons. The Dormouse (yule tea) answers are associated with the gifts during the 12 days of Christmas. The associations are as follows, and form an ordering from 1 to 12:
+
+
+
Character
Answer
Association
Order
+
Dormouse
SUZANNE CROUGH
Partridge in a Pear Tree[1]
1st Day of Christmas
+
March Hare
NOREASTER BLIZZARD
Snow Moon
Full Moon of February (2nd month)
+
Dormouse
COQ AU VIN
French Hen
3rd Day of Christmas
+
March Hare
ALECIA MOORE
Pink Moon[2]
Full Moon of April (4th month)
+
March Hare
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Flower Moon
Full Moon of May (5th month)
+
Mad Hatter
RHINOCEROS VIPER
Year of the Snake
Year 6 of Chinese Zodiac
+
Dormouse
NATALIE PORTMAN
Swans-a-Swimming[3]
7th Day of Christmas
+
Mad Hatter
BELGIAN FAWN
Year of the Goat[4]
Year 8 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
March Hare
PEARL HOMINY
Corn Moon
Full Moon of September (9th month)
+
Mad Hatter
CHANTICLEER
Year of the Rooster
Year 10 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
Mad Hatter
GERMAN SHEPHERD
Year of the Dog
Year 11 of the Chinese Zodiac
+
Dormouse
BUDDY RICH
Drummers drumming
12th Day of Christmas
+
+[1] - Suzanne Crough is most noted for her role in The Partridge Family.
+[2] - Alecia Moore performs under the stage name P!nk
+[3] - Natalie Portman won an Oscar playing Nina in The Black Swan.
+[4] - Belgian fawn is a breed of goat.
+
+
The solution to the four chairs are arranged around the table as follows:
+
+
+
12 o' clock:
poTaTobeeTle
+
3 o' clock:
sTraighTseTs
+
6 o' clock:
TesTosTerone
+
9 o' clock:
operaTorTesT
+
+
+
Each of these words is 12 letters long. In addition, the letter T occurs in each place from 1 to 12 exactly once. To extract the final solution phrase, for each word, identify the relevant number from the calendar, then use the chairs to find which chair the character was sitting in, the determine which chair the beast was sitting in. Finally, take the appropriate letter from that word (3, 6, 9, or 12) to spell out the final answer, GIVE HIM A HAND.
+
+
+
Answer
Number/T word/Chair
Character
Location of the beast when character is on associated chair
Index of the beast's location into answer word
+
SUZANNE CROUGH
1/Testosterone/6 o'clock
Dormouse
12 o'clock
G
+
NOREASTER BLIZZARD
2/sTraight sets/3 o'clock
March Hare
12 o'clock
I
+
COQ AU VIN
3/poTato beetle/12 o'clock
Dormouse
6 o'clock
V
+
ALECIA MOORE
4/tesTosterone/6 o'clock
March Hare
3 o'clock
E
+
CHRYSANTHEMUM
5/potaTo beetle/12 o'clock
March Hare
9 o'clock
H
+
RHINOCEROS VIPER
6/operaTor test/9 o'clock
Mad Hatter
12 o'clock
I
+
NATALIE PORTMAN
7/testosTerone/6 o'clock
Dormouse
12 o'clock
M
+
BELGIAN FAWN
8/straighTsets/3 o'clock
Mad Hatter
6 o'clock
A
+
PEARL HOMINY
9/operator Test/9 o'clock
March Hare
6 o'clock
H
+
CHANTICLEER
10/potato beeTle/12 o'clock
Mad Hatter
3 o'clock
A
+
GERMAN SHEPHERD
11/straight seTs/3 o'clock
Mad Hatter
6 o'clock
N
+
BUDDY RICH
12/operator tesT/9 o'clock
Dormouse
3 o'clock
D
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r410_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_NOWHERE_MAN/index.html b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r410_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_NOWHERE_MAN/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b4e618ffd899a9c50c9f78d65abd75bd9bc64dc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r410_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_NOWHERE_MAN/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+
+
+
+ A Puzzle with the Answer NOWHERE MAN (The White Queen)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Congrats! You've solved this puzzle. The answer is NOWHERE MAN. However, you don't know the puzzle's title. When you think you've gotten the title, submit it.
+
51. Former Yankee, a soldier, and the beheaded king of Ena
+
53. Piglet's rally confused mire with additional space
+
54. Braidy youngster sinned, he heard
+
55. Nit might be expelled by a Persian emcee named Monty, holding a degree
+ in International Relations
+
56. Find once again that chihuahua of flame consumes tragic king
+Down
+
An orphan that Guy primarily divides in two
+
Apple festival
+
As some Brits say, warm up and chow down
+
Audibly requests to enter fort that's tough to get into
+
Beginning of the day spun wildly around you when texting?
+
Borat moved around a drum
+
Clumsily handled what occurred at daddy's marriage ceremony
+
Coddle Spanish grease
+
Drunk bum under center of ledge is speechless
+
Half the combatants retreating head first, ignoring the odds
+
Human resources is after Los Angeles Lion player
+
I heard!
+
Institute Day came out of order
+
Lead in Othello's done crazy theater
+
Like some cars spliced together after removing the hood
+
Make a roof close with wax when spoken
+
McCartney title appearing in Douglas, Ireland
+
Middle of average period
+
MIT publication might confuse critic with final entries
+
New storyline: he's into drugs
+
Pair of homeowners, upset, let temporary housing
+
Pair of twins I directed after Republican spun around
+
Performer Duncan and writer Gershwin consuming nasty soda
+
Revolutionary Argentinian flanks behold Egoyan film
+
Seaman returning as officer, ranking below cap'n
+
Someone taught an Egyptian king part of course six
+
Something used to treat salt overdose after I tossed prize piano away
+
Spot able to adjust
+
Start and then stop an opportunity for free booze?
+
Ultimately, Engels and former commie smiled in a twisted way
+
Woody plants drink successes from a pitcher
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
diff --git a/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r415_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_A_HARD_DAY_S_NIGHT/index.html b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r415_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_A_HARD_DAY_S_NIGHT/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1d5248d07145d14bab58c632272564cde93d635f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/benchmark/MIT_Mystery_Hunt/puzzles/2014/mit2014r415_MIT_Mystery_Hunt_2014_A_Puzzle_with_the_Answer_A_HARD_DAY_S_NIGHT/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,91 @@
+
+
+
+ A Puzzle with the Answer A HARD DAYS NIGHT (The White Queen)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+Congrats! You've solved this puzzle. The answer is A HARD DAYS NIGHT. However, you don't know the puzzle's title. When you think you've gotten the title, submit it.
+
+
+
+
+
Sometimes the pawns get bored with regular chess and decide to play chess on ice.
+
+
+
+
The sweep calls given for each throw in order...
+
+
+
+
The game was tied going down to the final end. All descriptions of stones thrown refer to stones in this final end. Curling stones in Wonderland are exactly 1 foot in diameter and teams play on a regulation curling sheet. Stones are thrown in standard numerical order and the teams threw in the standard order of Lead, Second, Vice, Skip -- meaning the leads threw stones 1 and 2, the seconds threw stones 3 and 4, etc. All curlers are right handed (i.e. in-turns curl to the right) and gender can't be inferred by voice or by name. Sweepers listened to the skips and only swept stones when the person in the house called them on by yelling "HARD!"
+
The red team played in alphabetical order. The final end was not stolen.
+
Fawn played on the same team as a lead whose stone always landed exactly on the T line. Fawn's first shot ended up as the mirror reflection across the center line of the stone furthest in the front inside the house. Fawn's second shot curled in the opposite direction and froze onto that same stone.
+
Frog aimed the stone exactly at the skip's broom as she released it on her first shot, which was sitting on the button, with an out-turn handle and hit perfect T line weight. This shot wound up counting, resulting in Frog's team winning the end. Frog's second shot was heavy and went through the house.
+
The sum of the numbers on the stones Haigha threw was one less than a perfect square. Haigha aimed at the broom on the button two times in a row. The first was an in-turn handle and the second was an out-turn handle. Haigha hit both shots at the called weight. All in a day's work.
+
Hatta attempted two take outs. The stone that wasn't swept at all successfully took out an even opponent's stone and replaced it. The other stone was off line and sailed through the back of the house, without affecting any of the stones in play.
+
Lily, who was on the winning team, threw the first two guards of the game. Both were perfect centerline guards, the second stopping exactly two feet in front of where the first was thrown.
+
Oyster, who was on the losing team and would only agree to skip if playing on Hatta's team, froze the first stone to the inside of the stone furthest back in the house, in a direct line with the center of the stones and the button. Oyster's second shot froze to the front of the stone closest to the hogline.
+
Rose had a late night and can't yell, and thus won't play vice or skip. The first shot Rose threw was a come-around that curled behind an opponent's stone. It was 3.5 feet from the button at its closest point. It was 1.828 feet directly behind the opponent's stone but was not shot rock. The second shot Rose threw was exactly 180 degrees opposite the button of the first shot.
+
One of Tiger-Lily's shots was heavy, but hung on to bite and hug the back line to stay in play. Tiger-Lily's other shot hogged (i.e. did not travel far enough to be in play), and yet, the sweepers were never called on.
Actress who once portrayed Hillary opposite Tina / ___-relief / Robber’s
+counterpart / Biannual clock adjustment not performed in AZ / Dir. from
+Random Hall to the Green Building
+
George Michael’s sometime girlfriend on Arrested Development /
+Indigo, for one / Card game with unspoken rules / Layer / It might be
+black, white, or green
+
+
+
Down
+
+
Words in a simile / “Ya wanna ___?” / Nickname for Steve Rogers /
+Performed / Street with Diesel and Anna’s
+
Tokyo, once / Be nosy / Precursor to reggae / When doubled, an African
+fly / Currency in modern-day 2-Down
+ Hi, I’m Spongebob! My friends and I at the Premiere Aquatic Dance Institute had a bit of a dance snafu. I said I’d take care of things here, but I think I’m a bit out of my depth. Can you help me? Here’s a table of what you’ll need.
+
! - Booty
+$ - Muscles by the belly
+& - A good spot for sleeping
+( - Very proper
+( - Ave., lane, or blvd.
+( - NOAA datum
+4 - Clock's face
+4 - Shell command for parsing and transforming text
+4 - Sequence of things
+@ - Thirst, in Guadalajara
+@ - Eng.'s specialty, maybe
+@ - Safety feat. in a vehicle
+@ - Who a maj. might answer to
+A - Man who arbitrates a sports game
+A - Meeting (abbr.)
+B - Subpar grades
+B - All _____ Children
+B - Gorillas in the _____
+C - Actor Selleck
+D - Div. within a sports league
+G - Much _____ About Nothing
+H - Cease
+H - Dir. from Simmons Hall to Westgate
+I - Belonging to number one
+L - You put it on the floor by the front door
+M - Handheld console produced by Nintendo (abbr.)
+P - Phenomenon caused by water droplets suspended in midair
+P - Big hoopla
+P - It has "Ideas Worth Spreading"
+P - A Rasta's way of addressing you, perhaps
+P - Vertical region within a spreadsheet (abbr.)
+Q - Partner
+R - First word of sitcom starring Calista
+T - Cause distress to
+` - Short-term employee
+` - Title for a miracle worker (abbr.)
+` - Donkey
+a - Hunger Games character
+a - Counterpart of an odd?
+b - Titular fuzzy bear played by Seth MacFarlane
+c - Feel not quite good
+d - Sect. in a library
+d - Tomorrow, given that yesterday was Sat.
+d - One maker of soap products
+f - Wheel of Time character
+p - Big noisy fight
+q - Where flowers may grow
+q - Jerry's foe
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Each series of numbers on the left matches up one series of numbers on the right. (A couple of these are shorter than the rest, allowing solvers to match them and study them without understanding how the puzzle works.) All numbers in each series on the left are squares; all numbers in each series on the right are even. When every series on the left has been correctly matched to a series on the right, the numbers in each series can be paired off.
+
+
Taking each pair as coefficents for the x-squared and x terms of a polynomial produces a polynomial to which completing the square can be applied by adding a number; for instance, the 9 and the 6 pair formed from the start of the four-number series form the polynomial 9x^2 +6x, and adding a 1 to complete the square yields 9x^2 + 6x + 1, which is the square of 3x + 1. As a result of this, an additional series of numbers can be derived which corresponds to the non-coefficient term in each of the polynomials which is squared. These numbers are all below 26 and can be converted to letters using the standard A=1, B=2, etc. assignment.
+
+
Making the conversion to letters described above yields the following sets of letters (in order of the series on the left used to produce it):
Each series of numbers on the left matches up one series of numbers on the right. (A couple of these are shorter than the rest, allowing solvers to match them and study them without understanding how the puzzle works.) All numbers in each series on the left are squares; all numbers in each series on the right are even. When every series on the left has been correctly matched to a series on the right, the numbers in each series can be paired off.
+
+
Taking each pair as coefficents for the x-squared and x terms of a polynomial produces a polynomial to which completing the square can be applied by adding a number; for instance, the 9 and the 6 pair formed from the start of the four-number series form the polynomial 9x^2 +6x, and adding a 1 to complete the square yields 9x^2 + 6x + 1, which is the square of 3x + 1. As a result of this, an additional series of numbers can be derived which corresponds to the non-coefficient term in each of the polynomials which is squared. These numbers are all below 26 and can be converted to letters using the standard A=1, B=2, etc. assignment.
+
+
Making the conversion to letters described above yields the following sets of letters (in order of the series on the left used to produce it):
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Each series of numbers on the left matches up one series of numbers on the right. (A couple of these are shorter than the rest, allowing solvers to match them and study them without understanding how the puzzle works.) All numbers in each series on the left are squares; all numbers in each series on the right are even. When every series on the left has been correctly matched to a series on the right, the numbers in each series can be paired off.
+
+
Taking each pair as coefficents for the x-squared and x terms of a polynomial produces a polynomial to which completing the square can be applied by adding a number; for instance, the 9 and the 6 pair formed from the start of the four-number series form the polynomial 9x^2 +6x, and adding a 1 to complete the square yields 9x^2 + 6x + 1, which is the square of 3x + 1. As a result of this, an additional series of numbers can be derived which corresponds to the non-coefficient term in each of the polynomials which is squared. These numbers are all below 26 and can be converted to letters using the standard A=1, B=2, etc. assignment.
+
+
Making the conversion to letters described above yields the following sets of letters (in order of the series on the left used to produce it):
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
Can we try to use metadata in the puzzle files or the source code of the puzzle to get extra information?
+ Yep.
+
+
+
Can we try to hack the hunt site to get extra info?
+ Please don't. :(
+
+
+
Can we ask other teams for help on a puzzle?
+ Please don't. If you're not having fun, please let us know and we will help!
+
+
+
Can we have a hint?
+ We are not currently releasing hints to puzzles.
+
+
+
How long will HQ be open?
+ Until 6pm on Sunday.
+
+
+
How do I contact HQ?
+ Use the Contact Us form on the website, please. If that is absolutely not working, email us at puzzle@mit.edu, or call us at (617) 555-1212.
+
+
+
Help! We don't know where to start!
+ That's not a question, but I'll let it slide. You should check out the helpful resources on this page. ACME's "Have You Tried?" list may be particularly helpful.
+
+
The R.O.U.S's are KenKen puzzles, with mathematical sign left unindicated. Solutions follow below.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
There is exactly one way to fit all six of the R.O.U.S. solutions into the fire swamp grid so that none of the solutions place a digit over either black square, and so that no square contains two different digits.
+
+
+
+
+
A few of the outlined areas in each R.O.U.S puzzle do not have a clue. When the R.O.U.S's are placed in the Fire Swamp, each unclued outlined area overlaps another, as seen below.
+
+
+
+
Note that the outlined areas form one minus sign and seven plus signs. Using subtraction on the numbers in the minus sign (9-3-4) and addition on the numbers in the plus signs yields the numbers 2, 21, 26, 26, 11, 9, 12, and 12 in top-to-bottom and left-to-right order. Using the standard A=1, B=2 decoding, this yields the answer BUZZKILL.
The R.O.U.S's are KenKen puzzles, with mathematical sign left unindicated. Solutions follow below.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
There is exactly one way to fit all six of the R.O.U.S. solutions into the fire swamp grid so that none of the solutions place a digit over either black square, and so that no square contains two different digits.
+
+
+
+
+
A few of the outlined areas in each R.O.U.S puzzle do not have a clue. When the R.O.U.S's are placed in the Fire Swamp, each unclued outlined area overlaps another, as seen below.
+
+
+
+
Note that the outlined areas form one minus sign and seven plus signs. Using subtraction on the numbers in the minus sign (9-3-4) and addition on the numbers in the plus signs yields the numbers 2, 21, 26, 26, 11, 9, 12, and 12 in top-to-bottom and left-to-right order. Using the standard A=1, B=2 decoding, this yields the answer BUZZKILL.
The petal puzzle crushword variant has the following solution:
+
+
+
Clockwise
Counterclockwise
+
FR/A/N/C/IUM
FR/A/G/RA/NCE
+
P/O/I/N/T
P/A/R/ASA/IL
+
K/AT/EMO/S/S
K/O/N/TI/KI
+
V/AND/O/R/EN
V/AT/I/C/AN
+
P/H/ONE/M/E
P/AND/EMO/N/IUM
+
G/O/TWO/R/SE
G/H/O/S/T
+
SCH/N/A/U/ZER
SCH/O/ONE/R/S
+
STU/MP/F/O/R
STU/N/TWO/M/EN
+
CO/R/O/NE/R
CO/MP/A/R/E
+
PE/N/N/IE/S
PE/R/F/U/SE
+
S/A/L/IN/E
S/N/O/O/ZER
+
T/AL/E/S/E
T/A/N/NE/R
+
P/I/S/S/ON
P/AL/L/IE/R
+
L/A/TEN/I/TE
L/I/E/IN/S
+
IMP/OR/T/A/NCE
IMP/A/S/S/E
+
H/A/ND/RA/IL
H/OR/TEN/SE
+
N/A/G/ASA/KI
N/A/T/I/ON
+
M/A/R/TI/AN
M/A/ND/A/TE
+
+
+
The letter string below the puzzle can be broken into segments between one and three letters in length which correspond uniquely to the outer numbered petals. Note that the middle ring of petals contains ONE and TWO next to each other, and TEN some distance away. Using these three numbers as reference points, it is possible to number the middle ring in clockwise order so that ONE has the number 1, TWO has the number 2, and 10 has the number 10. Converting the letter string to the numbers on the outer petals (3-7-11-3-14-9-11-18-15-8), then decoding these numbers using the numbered middle ring, yields the answer ALTAR STONE.
The petal puzzle crushword variant has the following solution:
+
+
+
Clockwise
Counterclockwise
+
FR/A/N/C/IUM
FR/A/G/RA/NCE
+
P/O/I/N/T
P/A/R/ASA/IL
+
K/AT/EMO/S/S
K/O/N/TI/KI
+
V/AND/O/R/EN
V/AT/I/C/AN
+
P/H/ONE/M/E
P/AND/EMO/N/IUM
+
G/O/TWO/R/SE
G/H/O/S/T
+
SCH/N/A/U/ZER
SCH/O/ONE/R/S
+
STU/MP/F/O/R
STU/N/TWO/M/EN
+
CO/R/O/NE/R
CO/MP/A/R/E
+
PE/N/N/IE/S
PE/R/F/U/SE
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S/A/L/IN/E
S/N/O/O/ZER
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T/AL/E/S/E
T/A/N/NE/R
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P/I/S/S/ON
P/AL/L/IE/R
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L/A/TEN/I/TE
L/I/E/IN/S
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IMP/OR/T/A/NCE
IMP/A/S/S/E
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H/A/ND/RA/IL
H/OR/TEN/SE
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N/A/G/ASA/KI
N/A/T/I/ON
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M/A/R/TI/AN
M/A/ND/A/TE
+
+
+
The letter string below the puzzle can be broken into segments between one and three letters in length which correspond uniquely to the outer numbered petals. Note that the middle ring of petals contains ONE and TWO next to each other, and TEN some distance away. Using these three numbers as reference points, it is possible to number the middle ring in clockwise order so that ONE has the number 1, TWO has the number 2, and 10 has the number 10. Converting the letter string to the numbers on the outer petals (3-7-11-3-14-9-11-18-15-8), then decoding these numbers using the numbered middle ring, yields the answer ALTAR STONE.
The petal puzzle crushword variant has the following solution:
+
+
+
Clockwise
Counterclockwise
+
FR/A/N/C/IUM
FR/A/G/RA/NCE
+
P/O/I/N/T
P/A/R/ASA/IL
+
K/AT/EMO/S/S
K/O/N/TI/KI
+
V/AND/O/R/EN
V/AT/I/C/AN
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P/H/ONE/M/E
P/AND/EMO/N/IUM
+
G/O/TWO/R/SE
G/H/O/S/T
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SCH/N/A/U/ZER
SCH/O/ONE/R/S
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STU/MP/F/O/R
STU/N/TWO/M/EN
+
CO/R/O/NE/R
CO/MP/A/R/E
+
PE/N/N/IE/S
PE/R/F/U/SE
+
S/A/L/IN/E
S/N/O/O/ZER
+
T/AL/E/S/E
T/A/N/NE/R
+
P/I/S/S/ON
P/AL/L/IE/R
+
L/A/TEN/I/TE
L/I/E/IN/S
+
IMP/OR/T/A/NCE
IMP/A/S/S/E
+
H/A/ND/RA/IL
H/OR/TEN/SE
+
N/A/G/ASA/KI
N/A/T/I/ON
+
M/A/R/TI/AN
M/A/ND/A/TE
+
+
+
The letter string below the puzzle can be broken into segments between one and three letters in length which correspond uniquely to the outer numbered petals. Note that the middle ring of petals contains ONE and TWO next to each other, and TEN some distance away. Using these three numbers as reference points, it is possible to number the middle ring in clockwise order so that ONE has the number 1, TWO has the number 2, and 10 has the number 10. Converting the letter string to the numbers on the outer petals (3-7-11-3-14-9-11-18-15-8), then decoding these numbers using the numbered middle ring, yields the answer ALTAR STONE.
By Andrew McManus, James Hopkin, and Jeremy Horwitz, with Dave Hardtke on guitar
+
Answer: Click here to reveal
+
+
+
Songs played by the band are given in alphabetical order; all
+ are included in a list of known cowbell songs on an internet
+ search. The full list is:
Bruce Dickinson mentions a different letter of the Nato
+ Phonetic Alphabet in his commentary about every song.
+ Reordering the songs by the order of these letters produces the
+ new list:
The next step is to recognize that Mr. Dickinson's repeated call
+ for "more cowbell" should focus the solver's attention on the cowbell
+ hits in the songs. A close inspection of each song reveals that,
+ while the cowbell strikes for each song are all in a constant rhythm,
+ the cowbell player misses a single strike on each song (as an example,
+ for DANCETHENIGHTAWAY, this is the 7th strike), often using a 'pump
+ fake' where he misses the cowbell with the beater.
+
+
Indexing the reordered list of songs by the number of the
+ missed cowbell strike gives the clue phrase "HENRY M CLARK
+ BREED". The puzzle answer is BROWN SWISS.
By Andrew McManus, James Hopkin, and Jeremy Horwitz, with Dave Hardtke on guitar
+
Answer: Click here to reveal
+
+
+
Songs played by the band are given in alphabetical order; all
+ are included in a list of known cowbell songs on an internet
+ search. The full list is:
Bruce Dickinson mentions a different letter of the Nato
+ Phonetic Alphabet in his commentary about every song.
+ Reordering the songs by the order of these letters produces the
+ new list:
The next step is to recognize that Mr. Dickinson's repeated call
+ for "more cowbell" should focus the solver's attention on the cowbell
+ hits in the songs. A close inspection of each song reveals that,
+ while the cowbell strikes for each song are all in a constant rhythm,
+ the cowbell player misses a single strike on each song (as an example,
+ for DANCETHENIGHTAWAY, this is the 7th strike), often using a 'pump
+ fake' where he misses the cowbell with the beater.
+
+
Indexing the reordered list of songs by the number of the
+ missed cowbell strike gives the clue phrase "HENRY M CLARK
+ BREED". The puzzle answer is BROWN SWISS.
by Dave Shukan, Joseph DeVincentis, and Rachael Groynom
+
Answer: Click here to reveal
+
+
+
Solve the clues. Each refers to a famous duo. In clue order, these are:
+
+
THELMA & LOUISE
+
ANTONY & CLEOPATRA
+
PINKY & THE BRAIN
+
BLONDIE & DAGWOOD
+
ROGER & JESSICA
+
FERDINAND & ISABELLA
+
ABBOTT & COSTELLO
+
HANSEL & GRETEL
+
TRISTAN & ISOLDE
+
ROMULUS & REMUS
+
FRANKIE & JOHNNY
+
TOM & JERRY
+
ROMEO & JULIET
+
CURRIER & IVES
+
SAMSON & DELILAH
+
HOMER & MARGE
+
GILBERT & SULLIVAN
+
BONNIE & CLYDE
+
FRED & WILMA
+
HALL & OATES
+
BATMAN & ROBIN
+
PUNCH & JUDY
+
+
Each name is to be entered separately into the somewhat unconventional
+ looking, disconnected criss-cross grid. Despite its disconnection, the
+ solution is unique except for REMUS and ROMEO, whose spots are
+ interchangeable, both crossed at the R and M only.
+
Now keep in mind the title, Missed Connections. None of the people in the
+ grid intersects their partner, but some of them almost do. ISABELLA is
+ as close to FERDINAND as she could be without touching him, and COSTELLO
+ is looking ABBOTT right in the eye... no, actually in the first B.
+
In fact, one person in each couple could move within their row or column
+ to meet the other, but are prevented from doing so because of a mismatched
+ letter in the partner's name. Take those letters in the original clue order
+ to spell TYPE OF BALLOT OR LANDLORD which clues the answer, ABSENTEE.
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