The Sphinx's Lair

12:27 AM

wordhippo's first-in-section words of appropriate length: GOAL, BEST, GEM, LOOT, GOOD, JOY, TOP, PRY, LOVE

ah no wait, that's backwards... "prize" should appear first when looking for the answer component

DUDE or MALE could be words for "guy" as well... although i don't know any first names in the format DUx

Rand al'Thor

12:48 AM

@Jafe Yep, BEST and WORST was the example I was thinking of. FRONT and BACK is another (almost) good one though.

never heard "worst" used in that sense... TIL

1 hour later…

2:13 AM

Not every place is winter now.

But i did. Ventured out in bare feet on frozen soil.

Felt more than good.

1 hour later…

3:39 AM

i have resurfaced from a deep wordhippo dive

here are short synonyms of prize that have prize as the first suggestion under at least one heading:

BEST, COAX, FAT, GOLD, HAUL, LEAD, MEED, PLUM, POT, PREY, STAR

had so many tabs open that i almost crashed my browser and probably generated a wheelbarrowful of ad revenue for wordhippo... that said it's likely i've missed many more possibilities

@Jafe :Omegalul:

3:56 AM

how about BEST in BOY -> Bob Esty? he doesn't have an article in wikipedia but is mentioned there as a songwriter and producer (e.g. here)

@msh210 ^

also, if that's the intended answer, you're absolutely correct that he could easily have a separate article

one of the guidelines is having "credit for writing or co-writing either lyrics or music for a notable composition", and esty has co-written several songs notable enough for their own article (e.g. 1, 2, 3)

related confession: occasionally when a puzzle of mine says "every destination is notable enough for its own article on the english wikipedia", that sentence is only true because of me writing the article in question before posting the puzzle

AncientSwordRage

4:15 AM

@Jafe I've done similar at least once, I'm sure 🤔

1 hour later…

5:28 AM

@Jafe yep!

that was hard to find even with pretty straightforward wordplay

And he has tons of credits and, oddly, even a Wikipedia category, just no article.

so many options for each word

CCCC: Quit appearing in American film, Mr Chairman! (4)

@Jafe Your recent mention has put "Mao" in my head, but I suspect that's a red herring.

@Jafe oh it's E.(Xi)T.

@Jafe that's dedication to puzzling!

5:59 AM

@msh210 that's right

@Jafe CCCC: Perhaps Chinese chairman gets into row with U.N. (10)

Enjoy music. Rakas. Or else:

ELP - Bitches Crystal

►

"Rakas" = with love, even with hate.

@humn rakas, or else rooli

Mostly love! I puzzle to enjoy.

(just picked a random Finnish noun that sounds like English "roll") (not really random: it's the first one I found)

6:11 AM

Truly so. My most difficult puzzles are labors of love.

@humn I suspect that's true of all this chat's denizens

@msh210 , . !

You mind reader!

And i suspect that everyone here is a mind reader. Takes one . . .

Some are also custodians. More than one ability.

I'm a custardian, myself.

Clean up after yourself!

Rudely typed.

@Jafe nice spot

6:21 AM

Oh, @msh210 , i just noticed how cleverly you twisted words.

@msh210 perhaps Chinese = MANCHURIAN, CHAIRMAN getting into row with UN

@oAlt yep yep!

if you're consumed by nightmares involving people of east chinese ethnicity you might be a min dreader

@humn also same lol

i like the surface, sounds like something that might actually happen hehe

6:25 AM

@oAlt , yuuuuuuuuuuuu!

I play to tie. And sometimes wear one.

Rarely.

Jokaisen. (for @Jafe )

CCCC: Singer-songwriter Kelly with constant following – that guy's famous (8)

Constant following means hard letters.

Can't fool me. But keep trying!

Signed, everyone's fool.

@Jafe thanks

6:44 AM

I stir the pot and get spilled out on occasion.

But never meaning to offend.

Offense is possible. Too easy.

singer-songwriter Kelly is R., followed by Euler's number e, and "that guy" is now Ned, yielding renowned #GreatC4Solutions

! and !

Back to Troll

7:11 AM

And rebound.

Suomen/Finnish word for "listen": Kuuluu

Don't know what worth listening to. But what a word!

So many uuuuuuuuu.

I love language.

It's a fetish. Almost as much as mouths.

. . . again, back to Troll.

7:28 AM

@humn tr(u)

War Child (2002 Remaster)

@oAlt , i'm a war child. Survivor. Could be worse.

►

8:22 AM

"I know." Last words Mom said.

Signed, again, Mama's boy.

Tough as nails no less.

8:39 AM

I don't beg for sh!t. I lap it up!

2 hours later…

Sphinx

10:42 AM

Q: Chess Tournament Quiz

I recently had an interview in which there was the following quiz, and I got stucked, if any one has idea on how to solve it, or at least how to approach it that would be amazing. “Peter and Julia go to a chess event together with other 4 couples. A bunch of matches takes place with the rule that...

11:23 AM

@oAlt welcome!

Hi :00

I have a favor to ask of you.

I'm kinda surprised the C4 didn't go quickly lol

@someoneinexistence what is it

I was thinking something like xinpi(row)ng

but other order

Could you make a picture for me?

There's a new C4

11:24 AM

There is?

Oh wait

Yeah

Could someone pin it :0

I can't lol

something about Clarkson+(x or y, or z)

Time to pull out the Anagrammer and my trustworthy M-W Unabridged.

Thanks still for starring it, so that someone who can pin can see it

Wait.

You would have to remove a letter...

unless it isn't Kelly Clarkson...

but there isn't a removal indicator (unless I'm high on apple cider)

Azmoun just got taken off against Wales. This is a bad thing.

IT SAYS KELLY CLARKSON IS THE ONLY ONE!!!

(thanks Gareth for the pin)

11:31 AM

(also thanks Gareth so I can stare at it more and agonize)

Kelly Rowland...

Dan Lowry? Wait, no...

I misread that as Amazon for some reason

Internet is bad that was supposed to send earlier

It's Black Friday. Everyone does that on Black Friday.

@oAlt is famous singers named Kelly on the right track

Heh

Ugh another late send

The best anagram I got was FREAKING DAN LOWRY

@someoneinexistence I won't confirm nor deny :P

11:34 AM

@oAlt I wonder if that's an oAlt's cat reference...

Can you at least tell me:

Is "constant following" referring to a mathematical constant?

I mean, according to Google, Dan Lowry got charged with "lewd battery, molestation, and exhibition" so he could be famous for that.

@someoneinexistence no :p

I mean I still won't tell

VIVA LA DAN LOWRY

@someoneinexistence well infamous rather than famous lol

I WILL DIE ON THIS SHIP

VIVA LA INFAMOUS B.I- no not him

uhhh... how about لوري دان؟

Kelly green is a thing...

the color of a nice, fresh checkmark...

oh, so sweet...

(also in case you're curious, I don't have pets :0)

I used to think cats were better than dogs but then I realized keeping any animal at all is a responsibility I'd rather avoid

11:45 AM

Wikipedia: oAlt's cat is a thought experiment very similar in execution to Schwarzschild's cat, but oAlt becomes too attached to the kitten and lets it out before it's fully entangled.

Lolll