The Sphinx's Lair

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oAlt

12:35 AM

@Jafe noted and thanks

CCCC: Reference for pole of constant radius returned, having unsatisfactory incoherence, ultimately (6)

Yes this one continues the theme from before lol

7 hours later…

msh210

7:44 AM

@oAlt is this possible SOURCE (a reference, as in citations) = S (=south=pole) O (=o'=of) + RC< (constant=C radius=R returned) swallowed by UE (U=unsatisfactory _E)? I'm guessing no, because "having" indicates the other direction of swallowing, but figured I should ask…

oAlt

7:58 AM

@msh210 almost there

msh210

hmm

msh210

8:10 AM

@oAlt oh it's S (=south=pole) O (=o'=of) + RC< (constant=C radius=R returned) having U (=unsatisfactory) + _E

oAlt

@msh210 yep!

msh210

CCCC: "A pinniped plaything is getting away!" cried a redheaded actress (7,4)

2 hours later…

Stevo

10:19 AM

ive written the question out in its flavour text, but now i find myself with a funny problem: i cant figure out a title name

oAlt

hmm

Stevo

(and to add on to that idk my tags either)

oAlt

I can't help with that sorry, but I can say that make sure to double check your puzzle, and if possible leave it out for a while then double check it again

(I want to link a relevant comment/message from where I saw that advice but I've long forgotten 1) which one of the two it is and 2) who said it. Anyway)

Stevo

(its fine, ive figured out the tags... now just a title)

Sphinx

11:01 AM

Q: The Merchant's coin weighing

You're a merchant in the old medieval times, and a customer has come to you to buy something for 13 coins. You know him of course, like everyone in town, and you know he's a sketchy guy. Someone who would scam you sketchy. You stare him down as he pulls 12 coins from one bag, and one other coin f...

2 hours later…

oAlt

1:24 PM

@msh210 Lucille Ball, "Loose seal ball!"

msh210

@oAlt just so

oAlt

1:53 PM

CCCC: A part of Australia whose last 'U' may be clued this way (3 5 5)

msh210

2:13 PM

A part of Australia 3,5,5 must surely be New South Wales, but what's the wordplay? … Ah, it's whoselastu*

oAlt

@msh210 Yep!

msh210

CCCC: Curiously hid by a tarp? Try; it may be a pleasant surprise (8,5)

oAlt

@msh210 birthday party anagram

msh210

2:29 PM

@oAlt aye

Sphinx

Q: Prisoners and warden game, again?

This riddle is adapted from a certain contest, which will be revealed when the riddle is solved. There are $100$ prisoners in a prison. As usual, there is a warden who loves to play games, hence offers the prisoners a chance to free themselves. He says There is a room with a whiteboard, initial...

mathematics optimization strategy

oAlt

2:48 PM

CCCC: Head of Senate to commit wrongdoing: "trouble" factor in Amazonian park (5 2 7)

msh210

3:01 PM

@oAlt S_ err ado divisor

oAlt

@msh210 Yep!

msh210

CCCC: Glamour photography of a woman's buttock? At last, fortune's looking up! Excellent. (10)

Mithical

say what now

msh210

Jun 4 at 9:34, by Jafe

nowadays whenever i come up with a c4 that might be too dirty i remember juicifer's camembert clue and realise i'm probably good

2 hours later…

Gareth McCaughan

4:53 PM

one should always consider the alternate possibility that juicifer's clue was bad

(though personally I'm pretty much unoffendable by such things)

1 hour later…

msh210

6:00 PM

@GarethMcCaughan lèse majesté

3 hours later…

Sphinx

8:41 PM

Q: Progressive matrix with lines and dot

This is another puzzle from Lanrt-F IQ test that was posted on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fmy-favourite-2-problems-from-lanrt-f-v0-58puclks5a6d1.png%3Fwidth%3D740%26format%3Dpng%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3Daf3b35d7205c007bff0a8fbc8e59addc2813f24a