Sunday Puzzle: Trio of words
On-air challenge
Every answer today is a familiar three-word phrase in which the middle word is “of.” The first word starts with S and the last word starts with L.
Ex. University or other site of higher education –> SEAT OF LEARNING
- Sight welcoming immigrants to New York Harbor
- Something good that happens to you by chance
- Cabinet official who oversees the collection of data on the economy and the workforce
- Social phenomenon in San Francisco during June, July, and August of 1967
- Collection you might buy from the brand Samsonite, Tumi, or American Tourister
- Classic 1945 film sequel centered around the offspring of a beloved collie
- Law that sets a time limit for filing a lawsuit
Last week’s challenge
Last week’s challenge came from Ed Pegg Jr., who conducts mathpuzzle.com. Take the classic illustrated children’s book Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Rearrange its 26 letters to name a famous film director (first and last names) and a noted role on stage (in two words). What are these things?
Challenge answer
Steven Spielberg; Lady Macbeth
Winner
Sarah Garber of Cornelius, North Carolina
This week’s challenge
This week’s challenge came from Bobby Jacobs, of Glen Allen, Va. Take the first and last names of a famous athlete. Change the first letter of the last name to L, and rearrange the result to get the first and last names of another famous athlete. In each case the first name has 6 letters and the last name has 5. These are athletes everyone knows. Who are they?
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it below by Thursday, August 28th at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle.
The costs of Israel’s longest war, for Israelis
Israelis are paying heavy costs for the longest war in their history: a mental health crisis, trauma, unprecedented division during wartime, animosity abroad and apathy for Palestinian suffering.
These numbers show how 2 years of war have devastated Palestinian lives in Gaza
It's been two years since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israeli leaders promised a punishing offensive. Here are some numbers showing the war's toll.
White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law
A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.
The government shutdown is snarling air travel. Officials say it could get worse
A dozen facilities saw air traffic control shortages on Monday, delaying flights at several airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed "a slight tick-up in sick calls" due to the shutdown.
Here are the finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards
This year's short list features novelists Rabih Alameddine and Megha Majumdar as well as five first-time nominees for nonfiction, including journalists Omar El Akkad and Julia Ioffe.
New books this week: Thomas Pynchon’s first novel in 12 years, and much more
In addition to Pynchon's Shadow Ticket, this week's releases include a new memoir from Dopesick author Beth Macy, and a coming-of-age story from former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo.
