The Sphinx's Lair

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PDT

4:32 AM

Simple puzzle: Where x is an integer prove x^3 can be infinite.

1 hour later…

Jafe

5:49 AM

aight i'm diving in

no 7-letter words containing LOUVRE, MET or MOMA, one with RM ("torment") and one with TATE ("agitate")

haven't looked for 7-letter words containing Rijksmuseum but if you find one i salute you

tbh i don't even see how let down = torment or agitate but maybe i'm just slow

Jafe

6:13 AM

obviously the art gallery could be part of a homophone in which case the search is less straightforward

1 hour later…

msh210

7:17 AM

@Jafe nor I

@PDT works on my good old four-function calculator. I typed in 9999 * 9999 = and got 99980001, then typed * 9999 = and got an error indicating the number is out of bounds, which I assume means infinite…

@Jafe Met lends itself to homophony

@sean47 !!! hi !!!

Jafe

sup

3 hours later…

Sphinx

10:03 AM

Q: Equilateral figure

Replace the question mark with the correct figure. Explain why it's correct.

visual

2 hours later…

oAlt

12:28 PM

"I hear". ...I don't know anymore

msh210

Yeah, I've pretty much given up on this C4 (unless, perhaps, another hint is posted).

oAlt

1:02 PM

same

Sphinx

1:51 PM

Q: Help with Star Battle puzzle

I made it through all the easy levels without ever having to consciously divide the whole grid into specific regions. I've seen that this is a common technique, but it confuses me even more when trying to apply. Now I'm trying the hard levels but I am stuck. Please solve this step by step.

logical-deduction grid-deduction

Ankoganit

2:15 PM

I'm wondering what the overall parsing should be

"it's a let down" can't be the whole definition I think, because let down is a verb so "a let down" doesn't make sense (as opposed to a letdown)

Which raises the question what the heck is "it's a" doing in this clue

Jafe

fun fact: "it's a" can be a connector but you have to read it in mario's voice

2 hours later…

GentlePurpleRain

4:02 PM

There is an exclamation mark on the end, which often indicates an &lit. So it's quite possible that the entire clue is the definition.

It could be the name of a city, perhaps one that recently lost an art gallery?

Or a museum that closed its art exhibit?

GentlePurpleRain

4:40 PM

Ok, I doubt this is correct, but here's my attempt:
A (https://www.etymonline.com/word/a-#:~:text=a%2D%20(3),asexual%2C%20amoral%2C%20agnostic).) (without) + LOUVRE sounds like ALLUV, + I and A from "it's a" to make ALLUVIA, which is sand and gravel "let down" from flowing water or ice.

^ @AncientSwordRage

oAlt

4:56 PM

I had thought of -luv- too but thought it as unlikely afterward

GentlePurpleRain

I also wondered if "let down" was an indicator (reversal, perhaps)?

But then "I hear" or "I hear without" would be the most likely definition, which doesn't seem likely.

1 hour later…

AncientSwordRage

6:04 PM

@GentlePurpleRain incorrect

2 hours later…

Sphinx

8:21 PM

Q: what kind of encryption is this?

I have an encrypted puzzle that looks like DI S QZAH M 4? <> >? Z $; >@ =9 45 ?H? associated with the CRYPT clue. do you have an idea of what type of encryption/obfuscation that could be ? I tried to understand line 2/3/4 as instructions but did not find anything

cipher

3 hours later…

Sphinx

11:47 PM

Q: Vexin' Markin's

Arrr, we be claimin' lands and nabbin' flags, but alas, I be goin' blind. Be ye willin' to lend a hand decipherin' the jabber o'er the horizon? Just beware the cons: piracy. I be needin' a rest now; the world be spinnin' like north be west and south be east. (Full-resolution bucket o' pixels: ht...