An Answer to Everything, or at Least My Code

Two weeks ago, I posted a code puzzle.  I gave readers two weeks to come up with an answer.  Here it is, as well as an explanation.  I coded the puzzle using the Spanish alphabet, based on my memories of my college classes, so forgive me for any mistakes that crept in.  The letters 'k' and 'w' are not used in native words, only in loan words from other languages, so they didn't appear in the message.  Furthermore, certain letter combinations are treated as one letter.  In the message, these are 'ch' and 'll'.  Also, the letter 'ñ' is also used; I transcribed it as 'ny'.  Whenever any of these combinations were used, I made sure that both parts were in the same font and that the letters both before and after them were in different fonts, to alert solvers that something was going on.  Lastly, since the letters 'b' and 'v' are pronounced similarly, I used them interchangeably for the same letter.  I alternated them in words, as opposed to randomly choosing them, as a clue in solving.  [I also almost changed the coded message into a second phonetic code in a language using a different alphabet entirely, but I ran out of time, and it was way harder than I wanted to work.]  Anyway, here is the decoded message.  The code key will be at the end of the page.

In this quiz, you are just looking for a ten letter word, each one different.  When read backwards, the last four letters spell a word involving movement.  Same goes for the first six, if one is removed.  In its entirety, it completes this series of related synonyms (from MN)--GEMINI, UNTAMED, and BESERKER.  As an extra hint, Jazz can be its enemy, especially when quite alone.

As you can see, I used every letter at least twice, to help hide certain things and make the puzzle harder.  The answer, of course, is TIMBERWOLF.  The last four letters, when read backwards, spell 'flow'.  The first six, when read backwards with the 'b' removed, spell 'remit'.  The three words are synonyms for professional sports teams from Minnesota:  Twins, Wild, and Vikings.  [In my original puzzle, from the early '90s, the Wild were replaced by the North Stars, now the Dallas Stars.]  Finally, as a hint about the NBA, I included the Jazz, which is one of the Timberwolves sometimes foes.  I hoped you liked this puzzle and code.  Expect more when I get a good idea and the time.

Key:  First is actual letter, second is the coded letter/s.  A=NY, B=Z, C=O, D=I, E=B and V, F=Y, G=M, H=D, I=C, J=S, K=P, L=A, M=R, N=E, O=N, P=T, Q=X, R=LL, S=CH, T=H, U=L, V=J, W=Q, X=G, Y=F, Z=U

I deliberately chose my words to create unusual letter combinations for the message, as an additional hint about the code.

 

Way Too Much Coffee, Man

Earlier this week, Starbucks opened its first retail center in a Pikeville Food City supermarket, the only one in a twenty or even fifty mile radius.  I had thought about opening a franchise myself, about ten to twelve years ago, in connection with my book store, Booknotes, but my 'financial advisor' thought it would cost way too much to do so, even with the probable profit to be made.  Another reason why I didn't open up any sort of coffee shop at all is because I don't drink coffee.  I don't even like the smell of it.  Part of the reason stems from when I was a child.  My mother would used to make coffee all the time, and dump the used grounds in with other sorts of garbage.  That sight would always make me feel sick to the stomach.  So much so, that the smell of coffee would make me sick.  I couldn't even stand the slight taste of coffee found in candies and cakes.  I would have to spit it out.  The almost reached into other hot beverages, like tea and hot chocolate.  I don't really drink any of those either.  Another reason is because I feel that if I ever started drinking, and enjoying, coffee, it would finally make me a complete adult.  Don't get me wrong, I am an adult, even thought I frequently act and feel half my age, or little more than that (even if teenagers seem to be drinking it now).  I just don't want to be reminded of it.  I think that taking one of those few last steps would finally end my childhood fantasies, and I will have to grow up.  I don't really have any much of an interest in many so-called adult things, such as golf or retirement plans.  I know I will have to do something about such matters and soon.  Coffee still remains a sticking point.  I don't even drink many caffeinated beverages, barely one can of pop every other day.  Sometimes, I drink naturally uncaffeinated drinks, such as root beer.  Let's not forget my long-time insomnia that pops up now and again.  I just think coffee is not quite what it is cracked up to be.  It is what it is, I can't say anything more.  See you next week with a full explanation of last week code challenge.

Breaking My Code

Well, it has been over month since I announced my code puzzle, and it is finally here.  I am sorry it has taken so long, but once you look it over, you will see why it took so long.  Below is an encoded message, it two parts.  Once you solve it, the message reveals a second puzzle. The one word answer to that puzzle is the final solution.  I am sorry about the 'ransom letter' style to my message, but it was the best way to convey what I wanted to show.  In fact, I almost made it slightly harder to figure out, but also easier to solve.  Anyway, here is the code.

Well, there it is.  You can ignore capitalization; I just cut out the letters that I could get to.  On the other hand, font is important.  If you scroll down a little farther, you will find a second version of the message that might be easier to read.  All letters will be capitalized to make it easier to read.  fonts will be as close to the original as I can get.  There will be some additional clues as well.  Spellcheck, I hope you can forgive me.






CE HDCCH XLCU, FNL NY LLB SLCHH ANNPCEM YNLL NY HVE ABHHVLL QNLLI, BNYOD NEV ICYYBLLBEH. QDVE LLBNYI ZNYOPQNYLLICH, HDV ANYCHH YNLLL ABHHBLLCH CHTVAA NY QNLLI CEJNBAJCEM RNJBRBEH.  CHNYRV MNBCH YNLLHDV YCLLCHH CHCG, CY NEB CCH LLVRNJVI. CE CHCH BEHCLLBHF, CH ONRTAVHVCH HDCCH CHBLLCBCH NY LLVANYHVI CHFENEFRCH -- Y LLNR RO:  MBRCEC, LEHNYRVI, NYEI ZBCHBLLPBLL.  NYCH NYE VGHLLNY DCEH, SNYUU ONYE ZB CHCH VEVRF, BCHTBOCNYAAF QDVE XLCHB NYANEV.
  
Two final clues to help solve this.  First, I have the habit of writing in pangrams, sometimes unconsciously.  Second, the message is in English, although the cipher might not be.  I will post the answers in two weeks or so, just to give you enough time to get the answer.

Let's Play with Dick, Jane, and Everybody Else

I promise that I will finally post that code puzzle next week.  Most definitely.  Until then, I have one last puzzle over titles for you.  It was originally going to be about some of the biggest books of last year, except there were a few problems.  First, I own a book store.  I know a lot more about books than the average member of this audience.  Also, I have a degree in English.  My criteria for books could be wildly off, and probably higher, than the average person's as well.  Finally, I am something of a geek.  My favorite types of books will probably not register well with others.  This all means that I could come up with a list of books, and most people might never have heard of any of them!  So, I decided that this last puzzle would consist of familiar children's book titles, from baby books through young adult, and recent best-sellers to some older than me.  I have reworded the list of book titles below, so that the overall meaning might be the same, but all the words are different.  For example, if you saw Fair Nocturnal Period, Natural Satellite your answer would be Goodnight, Moon.  As always, the answers will be at the bottom of the page.  Hope you like these.

1.   A Large, African Feline, a Female Practitioner of Magic, Plus an Armoire
2.   A Large Woody Plant That Dotes upon Others
3.   Small Land Mass Surrounded by Water That's Home to Cerulean Marine Mammals
4.   Tiny Locomotive Which Will Perform
5.   Minuscule Domicile Located in Grassland Habitat
6.   Inquiry into Location of Untamed Entities
7.   Pleasant Pastimes Involving the Unfulfilled Sensation of Satiation 
8.   Overcast and High Probability of Protein Spherical Precipitation
9.   Feline Wearing Hearware
10.   Tome of Last Resting Places
11.   Guide for the Consumption of Pan-cooked Annelids  
12.   Fold Pertaining to Temporal Axis of the Continuum 
13.   Auric Orienteering Device
14.   Estimate the Levels of Amorous Feelings This One Possesses towards One Spoken to
15.   Could This Be My Female Parent?
16.   An Extremely Voracious Larval Stage Butterfly
17.   Rub a Random Lagomorph
18.   Spectacular Male Vulpine
19.   Direct Train Route to the Arctic Region
20.   Transitional Period between Day and Night

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ANSWERS

1.   The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
2.   The Giving Tree
3.   The Island of the Blue Dolphins
4.   The Little Engine That Could
5.   Little House on the Prairie
6.   Where the Wild Things Are
7.   The Hunger Games
8.   Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
9.   The Cat in the Hat
10.   The Graveyard Book (by Neil Gaiman, a favorite of mine)
11.   How to Eat Fried Worms
12.   A Wrinkle in Time
13.   The Golden Compass
14.   Guess How Much I Love You
15.   Are You My Mother? 
16.   The Very Hungry Caterpillar
17.   Pat the Bunny
18.   The Fantastic Mr. Fox
19.   The Polar Express
20.   Twilight