The Sphinx's Lair

n_palum

6:02 PM

@MOehm If you didn't see I did reveal my cryptic, sorry if you thought it was one with constraints :)

Sphinx

1

Q: Quite the talented insect, aren't I?

As I stab through your armor, I throw balls. As a foot traveler, you can watch me drive cars. As a silver fish, I transform into an ant. As an early teacher, I am not actually one of what I'm named. As a reborn person, I have quite the cool hand. As an alien, my voice isn't actu...

M Oehm

@n_palum Yes, I've seen the solution. Took me a second to parse it even after it was revealed.

n_palum

:P

M Oehm

It seems that at the moment, I'm better at solving Hugh Meyers's puzzles than at making sense of cryptic clues. :)

n_palum

@MOehm So it would seem, which in its own is still an accomplishment

M Oehm

6:17 PM

Of sorts, yes.

Beastly Gerbil

@n_palum solved your puzzle from a single line, but can't get the rest (not good with celebs)

should I post a partial?

n_palum

@BeastlyGerbil I figured one or two of them would give it up fast. Up to you for the partial. If you can only provide one line, I'd slightly advise against as you wouldn't be providing the majority. But as I said, up to you

Beastly Gerbil

I'll try and solve a couple more

ah got another

I've posted a partial as there aren't that many lines...

n_palum

Yeah there aren't as many as GPR's

ffao

I like "as a foot traveler you can watch me drive"

n_palum

6:25 PM

Did you know Rudd was a fish? - those aren't the ones I thought you'd figure out fwiw

Beastly Gerbil

Yeah I knew the fish

ffao

Rudd was the one I had too btw

n_palum

It's also not entirely the same style as the other

Beastly Gerbil

I immediately thought 'ant man' and then yeah

n_palum

Really? Hmm

M Oehm

6:26 PM

I first thought about footballer Stuart Pearce, but thought it unlikely given that n_palum is in the US. It's Paul Pierce.

Beastly Gerbil

oh right

I was thinking 'paul sword' and stuff :P

n_palum

@MOehm Yeah football/soccer isn't my best sports knowledge

Sconibulus

oh, heh, I thought it might be The Governator for a second

ffao

I also don't like this two-name partial answer

Sconibulus

Predator, The Running Man, Kindergarten Cop, Victor Frieze, Total Recall :)

n_palum

6:27 PM

@ffao I spoke my advisement against it already

@Sconibulus Just make a puzzle yourself ;)

M Oehm

@n_palum And I know next to nothing about your sports. That's okay, there's always Google.

Sconibulus

silverfish was bugging me, I could almost get that idea for T2, but not at all T1

n_palum

I know a lot about a lot of sports :)

Minus cricket and some other lesser known sports to me

Sconibulus

I know a little about a lot of sports

Beastly Gerbil

early teachers... like greek, or like kindergarten...

M Oehm

6:30 PM

Oh, cricket, that always bugs me when it comes up in the British crosswords. That's not a sport worth knowing anything about. Unless you are British or from the Commonwealth, of course.

Beastly Gerbil

umm.. I think I may have the alien one?

Sconibulus

It's difficult to find any information on it too

n_palum

@MOehm Shhh don't say that around BG and Techi

Beastly Gerbil

Paul Yoder? He was apparently a singer

Jan Dvorak

When you say "cricket" I have to think about the bugs

Sconibulus

6:31 PM

I tried to watch some, and it's only even remotely available if I get a special package

n_palum

@BeastlyGerbil No not them

Sconibulus

look up "Paul" on IMDB

Beastly Gerbil

lol

Sconibulus

Paul Newman was Cool Hand Luke too

n_palum

@Sconibulus That's one way to give a hint

See this is probably why partials aren't so great

Scon has just as many

Beastly Gerbil

6:33 PM

I don't like the newman clue but hey

M Oehm

I never even watched any, but I would have to buy a special sports package for TV to see cricket here. Or go to a British pub when the Ashes are on.

n_palum

@BeastlyGerbil Hey o/

@MOehm speaking of ashes... I was trying to come up with a clever riddle for "ashes to ashes" but gave up after a while

Beastly Gerbil

:P

Avantgarde

Ashes to ashes is a good song!

n_palum

I was going to include the song as a twist :P

Avantgarde

6:35 PM

Faith No More <3

Sconibulus

was that the Major Tom sequel?

Beastly Gerbil

oh got alien I think

Paul Grey?

n_palum

Did you not follow Scon's advice?

Beastly Gerbil

grey aliens/he's a musician according to wikipedia

what imdb?

n_palum

Mhm

12 mins ago, by n_palum

It's also not entirely the same style as the other

Beastly Gerbil

6:38 PM

ah

Maybe surnames then

n_palum

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Beastly Gerbil

I can't tell if thats a yes or no :P

Sconibulus

early teacher could be something like Paul Parent, especially if there's a famous kidless one

n_palum

¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Sconibulus

Red Rover Red Rover send Rubio on over

Beastly Gerbil

6:44 PM

Ahhh chat keeps glitching out....

Jan Dvorak

I keep glitching in

Beastly Gerbil

There is a Sir Paul Nurse

n_palum

@Sconibulus I think someone else would be of more help to you with at least one of these

Also you should tell BG what you were onto, unless you were just guessing

Beastly Gerbil

doesn't really fit though

I am rubbish at celebrities...

Sconibulus

@n_palum huh? I said all I had, there's a movie Paul with a little gray alien and Nick Frost and Simon Pegg

(I don't remember who the Alien is)

Beastly Gerbil

6:47 PM

Thats what I got Paul Gray from

n_palum

^^ No you said look it up on IMDB which confused him, that's all you need

Beastly Gerbil

really?

n_palum

As I said, this is not the same exact format.

That one is a little mean I guess not having a last name

Beastly Gerbil

hang on what?

Just 'Paul'

n_palum

Paul (The Alien/Movie)

Beastly Gerbil

6:49 PM

Oh is this for the last one?

I'm still confused, how does it fit the second part?

n_palum

3 of them don't have real or any last name.

Beastly Gerbil

...

n_palum

The movie is named Paul, the alien is named paul, but it's voiced by an actual person is all I was getting at

Beastly Gerbil

hmm....

oh I get it... a voiceover

now I understand

But I also have to go... bbs

Sconibulus

@GPR: In the secret Canadian world domination meetings you have, do you ever refer to Ontario as Capital Region of the Empire?

Avantgarde

6:56 PM

lol

Sconibulus

oh, wow, the context there is only in my head

Avantgarde

The lord of the mooses and the conqueror of maple leaves

Sconibulus

1 hour ago, by Sconibulus

in fact there appears to be a Ceinture spelling that leaves CRE, carrying the anagram :)

there, now GPR shouldn't find me too mad :)

Sphinx

0

Q: An Existential Riddle

I am absolutely certain of my existence. My ideal temperature range is between -40ºC and the temperature at which water freezes. I can make positive improvements to myself. What am I?

riddle

n_palum

'Mike Q'
'Mike'
Mik'
'Mi'
'M'
'M O'
'M Oe'
'M Oeh'
'M Oehm'

Confirmed, Mike is Oehm

Mike Q

7:11 PM

'n_palum'
'_palum'
'palum'
'alum'
'lum'
'um'
'hum'
'Gareth McCaughan'

n_palum

Oh wow

Mike Q

Well, I'm very surprised

Nobody told me that I was also M Oehm

ffao

Mike is Oehm vigenered with key "yeds", which means "falsehoods"; proving that Mike is a fake account

n_palum

Mike Q

That looks uncomfortable

n_palum

7:14 PM

Re-usability is essential

Mike Q

I don't entirely understand the connection though... why would I be MOehm's puppet?

n_palum

Why not

Mike Q

So you just picked 2 random users?

Beastly Gerbil

back...

Mike Q

The others are bullying me into having an existential crisis about my identity as a real human

2

Beastly Gerbil

7:17 PM

:P

n_palum

I mean, you had 4 letters and last initial, he has first initial 4 letters

ffao

So if someone has 5 letters + last initial, they're clearly n_p's sock

Exactly

Or, np is their sock

true

7:22 PM

Oohh! Lukas Rotter recreated their account!

3

Beastly Gerbil

They did!!!!!!

That made my day

The account looks weird with 101 rep :P

n_palum

@BeastlyGerbil Missing title

Beastly Gerbil

Paul Insect

Paul Insect is UK street artist, who is most famous for his 2007 solo show Bullion exhibition at London's Art gallery, Lazarides Gallery. Damien Hirst is reported to be a fan of Insect, having purchased the show days before it opened. Insect, who also goes by the name of PINS, worked alongside artist Banksy at the Cans Festival, the Santa's Ghetto project in Bethlehem, and on the separation wall in Palestine. Insect is well known for his collective named 'insect' which started in 1996, and disbanded in 2005. Insect held an exhibition at a disused sex shop in London's Kings Cross area in 2008 in...

n_palum

Oh my no

Beastly Gerbil

wait what? really?

that fits so nice tho

n_palum

7:29 PM

More famous

Beastly Gerbil

Paul McCartney?

cos beatles

n_palum

Da

Mike Q

I like Paul Insect better as the solution for the title

Beastly Gerbil

It fits so well, he's a talented artist :P

hang on does this mean @n_palum is actually n_PAULum? :P

n_palum

You can include them both if you want

ffao

7:34 PM

n_p is actually a pigeon

n_palum

There ya go bg, I made it plural for you

@ffao wat

Beastly Gerbil

what? :P

ffao

and I sent such an insightful message at 12:34

n_palum

wat

Avantgarde

wot

Mike Q

7:38 PM

wut

n_palum

Wok

A wok (from Cantonese Chinese: 鑊) is a versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel, originating from China. The use of the wok is very prevalent in South China (particularly Guangdong Province). It is one of the most common cooking utensils in China and also found in parts of East, South and Southeast Asia, as well as becoming a popular niche cookware in all the world. Woks are used in a range of different Chinese cooking techniques, including stir frying, steaming, pan frying, deep frying, poaching, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, making soup, smoking and roasting nuts. Wok cooking is done with...

Beastly Gerbil

This keeps happening ^^

Avantgarde

a ghost

gasp

n_palum

~^o^~

（╯°□°）╯︵( .o.)

Mithrandir

@BeastlyGerbil bug

n_palum

7:53 PM

4C - wonder if restraining dress would mean take off parts of the words.. e.g RES

Sid

Hey all!

n_palum

Like you could could do Untie + Res * = retinues :P but that's stretching

Avantgarde

sup sid

n_palum

and that anagrind wouldn't apply :/ hmm

Sid

Untie could be anagram indicator

n_palum

7:55 PM

Untie and knots both could be

Jan Dvorak

restraining = around the word?

n_palum

Oh maybe

Jan Dvorak

leaving us with untie knots(3) if dress is literal

n_palum

Untie* or Knots* around dress.. but what is dress, 10 letters is too many

ffao

About your earlier comment, if the word were "persists" then the def should be "carries on"

n_palum

7:56 PM

Untie knots = not?

ffao

And that's all I have since this 4C has me completely stumped

n_palum

@ffao I was just tossing out 8 letter words that were close

LOADED is close.

but no cigar

Oo, LR is back!

7:58 PM

How did everyone notice this?

n_palum

They're stalkers

Sid

I saw the starred message. Searched through the users and they are back..

Beastly Gerbil

8:13 PM

oooh first silver tag badge

Sconibulus

grats

I'd need at least 44 more answers for one

ffao

I'd need more than 50

but only one upvote on each

Sconibulus

8:31 PM

nice, I'd need about 3 each

is it bad if I'm really tempted to abuse SmokeDetector's blacklist in a puzzle?

Mithrandir

Yes.

Sconibulus

:(

ffao

I'd say it's good to have an inquisitive mind :P

Mithrandir

You are helping the spammers if you do that, by posting their keywords in posts that won't get deleted.

Sconibulus

that helps them?

Jan Dvorak

8:34 PM

They're already public on Github

also, the Github copy is updated in real time, the puzzle won't be.

Sconibulus

if like Zylam or whatever is buried in the middle of a cryptostring?

Mithrandir

But buried in a random GH file won't help them much...

Sconibulus

I was basically just wondering if I could get a score of 1000+ on a legitimate post :)

Mithrandir

You'd get autoflagged :P

Sconibulus

reputation is probably higher than anyone has their autoflags set

I'm over 10k :)

Jan Dvorak

8:37 PM

Remember that Bobince's post?

Oh, wait, you mean Metasmoke score

Sconibulus

yeah

Jan Dvorak

But yeah, Charcoal would probably smack you if you forced every answer to get itself autoflagged

Sconibulus

My SFF post is not feeling the love

maybe the story is too obscure

Mithrandir

@Sconibulus linky?

Sconibulus

1

Q: What's in a (cape) name?

Several characters in the story undergo changes of their Cape Name, often corresponding to a change in status. It is clear that there is some sort of official process for this, but less clear what that entails. Is it simply a matter of getting the new name out into the public eye? Are there any l...

worm

ffao

8:39 PM

well, Scon asked if it was good that he was tempted to do that, for which my answer is 100% yes

I didn't consider whether it would be good to actually do it, though :)

Mithrandir

Yeah, obscure works tend to sit around longer, unless the author shows up to answer it. That was a pleasant surprise ;)

tobiasvl

Ugh, there's a riddle in a book I'm reading and I can't solve it. I don't know if you need prerequisite knowledge about the world to do so either.

Mithrandir

What book?

4

Q: Does it have to be those two spells, or would any combination of "impossible" spells work?

In the July/August 2012 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, they ran a story entitled "Wearaway and Flambeau" by Matthew Hughes. In it, Hurdevant puts two spells on Raffalon: Ixtlix's Sprightly Wearaway and Chunt's Descending Flambeau. When they are used in combination with a tr...

matthew-hughes penultimate-earth

^author answered

tobiasvl

@Mithrandir The Castle of the Otter, by Gene Wolfe. It's a nonfiction companion to The Book of the New Sun. I guess I could ask at SFF to be safe

Gareth McCaughan

@Rubio My clue contains no superfluous words.

Andy

8:45 PM

@Sconibulus No. You make your puzzles how you want. If you trigger Smokey, we'll ignore the post. There is also a decent chance you'll be completely ignored due to your reputation.

Jan Dvorak

Nice. Didn't know high-reps had a free pass at spamming :P

Sconibulus

I mean, high-reps would get detected by Smokey, just not Autoflagged

Jan Dvorak

Oh. That makes sense.

Gareth McCaughan

@Rubio @MOehm @n_palum @Ankoganit @Sp3000 and anyone else who was part of the no-common-letter-constrained cryptic clue discussion (er, was Sconibulus? I've forgotten) would you like me to reveal the answers to mine?