5.13.2010

A Grain of Truth

Welcome off-day refugees. The inaugural VORP classic is officially underway.


Baseball is a game without a time limit, but these off-day puzzles are not. If you can't find a solution in the time allotted to you, you take your participation points and your pride and go home. There will be no extra innings, so don't underestimate the gravity of the situation. Your timer starts...NOW!


METINGOUTFLEETINGTIM
EGIVESRECIPESFORSUCC

ESSTODECODETHESECU

ESJUSTERODEAWAYALL

THEOTHEROPTIONSA

NDYOULLBELEFTW

ITHTHEGRAINO

FTRUTHGO

ODLU

CK

JB

UKSA

KAMNEPEX

YOFRDREVOVLT

PREMATODMGOWAS

QOAGALHGATETOIOA

YAGZADODDREERFLUHM

TUNOSSIEALNFACAQOP

ULAHVJEGAMMOHTITIOAV

WAVOERTDSOTYAMRSRICK

Just like in the PCS, the answer to the puzzle is a Dodger. Comment freely in the thread, but if you have the solution, please don't give it away to everyone in the comments section. Instead, do the following:
  • E-mail me with the first and last name of the Dodger who is the answer, along with your reasoning. Please include your screen name in your email.
  • Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. I may not be able to reply to your original email immediately, so please be patient and check back on the comment thread for the latest news; I will confirm correct answers there.
  • Points will be assigned based on the time your correct e-mail response was received.
You have until 11pm PT tonight to submit your answer. Solution will be posted tomorrow. Good luck!

Hint #1: Added link above

Hint #2: Decode the hidden message in the top bulb by following the pull of "gravity", then do as the hidden message instructs to solve the bottom bulb.

Hint #3: ------------------------------------>





Hint #4 - The method to solve the puzzle works a little like the game shown on the post game thread on SoSG from last night.

63 comments:

Nostradamus said...

Good luck all! I'll be posting hints periodically throughout the day.

Erin said...

Well, I hate it already, so that automatically makes it a successful off-day puzzle.

Josh S. said...

Wuh-oh.

Loney Fan said...

Great! It wasn't good enough to waste my Mondays, now I have to get nothing done at work EVERY time the Dodgers don't play.

Nostradamus said...

@lf

I do what I can. If there are no correct answers by 10am, I'll post hint #1

Steve K said...

Since these puzzles came from ideas you had when trying to solve ones on SOSG, I'm now trying to think like you when you're trying to think like EK. My head is spinning...

Nostradamus said...

@j steve

I'm certain the inspiration for this one was from an EK puzzle, if that helps.

Matt said...

Answer sent!

Orel said...

All I see is two seals touching noses. Am I missing something?

Matt said...

I am working in a Starbucks in Blythe under an impossibly tight deadline to write a report while I'm still collecting data.

So I'm glad this puzzle is here!

Matt said...

Amend that to wrong answer sent.

Nostradamus said...

Sorry, Matt.

Hint 1 has been posted

Eric Karros said...

I guess this is EK trying to think like Mr C trying to think like EK.

And you say these puzzles will go from easiest to hardest?

Nostradamus said...

@ek

Once the top bulb is solved,the bottom will be easier that you think

I thought it would go faster, but I'm not a good judge or these things

Loney Fan said...

Thanks for the clue Mr. Customer. What time can we expect clue #2?

Eric Karros said...

Ok, I have a 55 minute window to solve this before my next set of meetings, starting...NOW!

I curse you out Mr C for making me waste a Dodger off-day trying to solve a frivolous puzzles.

Nostradamus said...

I thought the first one gave away too much, but I'll supplement it after 11. Where's ubragg when yo need him?

Josh S. said...

I've got it figured out, but I hit a snag because of the method I'm using.

Josh S. said...

Answer sent!

Steve Dittmore said...

Waiting patiently for clue #2. Fortunately, I'm at home with a sick kid and this provides a nice diversion from Diego.

Nostradamus said...

Josh

No, but you have it by the tail

Josh S. said...

Answer re-sent!

Nostradamus said...

Josh breaks the seal!

1. Josh S.

Steve Dittmore said...

To quote the animal rescuer on the TV in front of me... "ayuda me por favor". And, "freeze bobos".

Dusto_Magnifico said...

I did what I thought I should, according to the clue, yet I am still stumped. yeah 10 points!

Josh S. said...

*struts*

@Steve D.: "Aaaawwwww...RESCUE PACK! Comin' to the RESCUE!"

Josh S. said...

For the record, I hate Diego (and Dora), but I freaking love that song for some reason.

Steve Dittmore said...

@Josh S. - Not my favorite either. Why do 4 year olds like it so much?

Got the top half of the puzzle and have consulted previous EK puzzles for help, but can't get it.

Kyle Baker said...

Stuck in worst meeting ever so I can't even work on it past what I looked at for a few minutes this morning.

That's the worst thing...knowing it's out there but having to - what do they call it - "work" is a crummy feeling. On the upside, your tax dollars are being well spent, fellow Angelenos.

Nostradamus said...

Second hint posted.

Loney Fan said...

Ohhhhh, now I get it. Expect my answer sent in around 10pm, maybe midnight.

MR.F said...

I'm still lost... like tears in rain.

Steve Dittmore said...

Okay... I surrender. Me + puzzles = frustration. Thanks, Mr. C, for a stimulating puzzler.

Bryan said...

I'm much better at tetris when there are no puzzles involved

Paul said...

Just wanted to drop by and say hello to all you crazy puzzlers, oh and to not look directly at the puzzle.


Find a happy place....find a happy place.

Jason said...

Attempt at an answer sent...

Nostradamus said...

I'm posting a hint 3 shortly, for those still working.

Nostradamus said...

Hint #3 is up, hopefully it will help with your alignment.

MR.F said...

Answer sent

Nostradamus said...

Let that hint be validation that the columns are important.

MR.F said...

That better be right because I forgot about the tea I was seeping from taking forever to do the last part and now I have super strong tea to drink.

MR.F said...

steeping*

At least I think that's what it's supposed to be.

Nostradamus said...

The artist formerly known as fanerman is in!

1. Josh S.
2. MR. F

Joe Fendel said...

Answer sent. Hint #3 did it for me!

Golem said...

Sorry, logged in wrong! (Joe Fendel = Golem).

Nostradamus said...

Hint #3 seems to be paying dividends. Joe Fendel is in.

1. Josh S.
2. MR. F
3. Joe Fendel

Nostradamus said...

Corrected for proper nom de guerre.

1. Josh S.
2. MR. F
3. Golem

QuadSevens said...

Answer sent!

Nostradamus said...

Quad,

No, but SO CLOSE!

Jason said...

Real answer sent this time

Steve K said...

I think I got it!

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This sucks. I suck. THE WHOLE FUCKING THING SUCKS.

QuadSevens said...

I wish I had started sooner. I'll get this thing solved later.

Nostradamus said...

Jason and J Steve both cross the finish line.


1. Josh S.
2. MR. F
3. Golem
4. Jason
5. J Steve

Nostradamus said...

Anyone still working? If there are stragglers out there, I'll post 1 more hint when I get home...

Kyle Baker said...

No answer sent!

Nostradamus said...

Final hint up.

Josh S. said...

Big hand for SeƱor Cliente, ladies and gents! He put together a heck of a puzzle.

Nostradamus said...

And congrats to Josh S on taking control of the leader board like a man!

rbnlaw said...

Damn you, Customer!
I've tried and I've tried. I can't do it anymore, and I'm not satisfied.

Even the clues are useless to me.

Kyle Baker said...

Answer sent, better late then never. I've got a family to feed and all.

Will try to ditch the family before next puzzle day.

Top class, Mr. C!

Nostradamus said...

For housekeeping purposes, Dusty is in, but after 11. We're consulting with the match officials to determine how much, if any, injury time is to be awarded.

Kyle Baker said...

If this is Old Trafford, the referee will award such time as may be necessary for Man U to win the match, either in free play or a phantom penalty awarded them.

(Seriously: I was a bit late so not within the rules. I was just solving for personal glory and self-aggrandizement. And to try to fit in with the cool kids.)