Off-Day Puzzle #1: Solution

Who does yesterday's puzzle refer to? James Loney. The key is to take the poem literally. Here's our poem:

Whenever it's the end, look up
And if something you see
Reach on up and pull it down
Then place it next to thee

And when each one is taken down
And put in a straight line
View the outcome carefully
And answers you'll divine!

So, as the poem instructs, whenever you reach the end, look straight up, take whatever you see, and set it aside. In other words, when you get to the end of each line, find the letter directly above - there may or may not be one, and if there is one, it may or may not be in the immediately preceding line. When you're done, line up all such letters, and see what is spells. Let's walk it through:

• The 1st line ends with the letter 'p' in 'up.' But because it's the first line, there is no letter in the poem that is directly overhead.
• The 2nd line ends with the 'e' in 'see.' Directly above it is the 'l' from 'look' in the preceding line. So make a note of 'l'.
• The 3rd line ends with the 'n' in 'down.' If you follow it directly up, it lines up with the space between the words 'look' and 'up' in the 1st line. Thus, there is no letter above it.
• The 4th line ends with the 'e' in 'thee.' Directly above it is an 'o'.
• Continue thusly, and you should identify the following letters in red:

  Whenever it's the end, look up
  And if something you see
  Reach on up and pull it down
  Then place it next to thee

  And when each one is taken down
  And put in a straight line
  View the outcome carefully
  And answers you'll divine!

Put them together, and it spells "Loney"! Congrats to a record 24 solvers (if I missed anyone please let me know):

1. Mr C
2. Jason
3. BWrightson
4. Drewdez
5. J Steve
6. Quad
7. Loney Fan
8. Keven C
9. Nicholas
10. Mr F
11. Neeebs
12. LLCoolL
13. UBragg
14. Matt
15. DunkHawk
16. Jose
17. Curious Gene
18. midnight Drive
19. wicks
20. the trite fantastic
21. Danielle
22. MLASF
23. Berkowit28

Additionally, Steve Dittmore, Josh S and Dusto Magnifico get participation points. SoSG's Puzzle R&D department's clearly gonna have to step it up to separate the wheat from the chaff. Ranking to be posted soon. Next Puzzle, Monday, April 12, 7am PT. See you there!