Monday, May 24, 2010

Off-Day Puzzle #5: The Wheels Are Turning

The hour of puzzlement is upon us. Hope you kept those scissors. The only direction I'm giving you in this one is: don't move the piece with the blue border. All else is fair game.

Have fun with it. Once the wheels start turning, the answer shouldn't be far away.

(click image to enlarge)

Clarification of blue words since some are hard to read:

  • you, write, to, solve, you, here, will, then
  • [blank], [blank], red, [blank], unlearn, pockets, you, read
  • mind, its, right, [blank], [blank], high, derek, how
  • [blank], to, [blank], out, to, must, from, need
  • it, this, [blank], foley, low, end, rose, left
  • learned, [blank], [blank], kelly, david, those, go, steel
  • here's, grove, go, to, to, what, thoughts, to
  • [blank], [blank], that's, then, the, and, [blank], next

Hint #1 (12:10pm PT): The names of the people/characters in the photos are important. If you correctly identify two of them, that should be good enough to eventually deduce the puzzle solution. If you identify more than two, you're in even better shape.

Hint #2 (5:04pm PT): The two on the left are fictional; the two on the right are real.

Pseudo-hint #3 (7:32pm PT): If you think you've solved the puzzle but are a little hesitant because the final step seems to imply there should be a group of players from which you're supposed to choose only one, don't worry. There is only one player in the group to begin with (this hint will make no sense to those who haven't solved the puzzle).

Solution here.

Puzzle Rules: The answer to the puzzle is a current or former MLB player. 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:

  • Email us with the first and last name of the player who is the answer, along with your reasoning (answers arrived at via luck or the wrong reasoning, even if correct, count for participation credit only). And please include your screen name somewhere in the email; and
  • Post a comment simply saying you have emailed your solution attempt. I may not be able to reply to your original email promptly, so please be patient and check back on the comment thread for the latest news; I may confirm correct answers there.

You have until midnight PT tonight to submit your answer. Solution will be posted tomorrow. Good luck!

*New to SoSG's PCS Puzzle Series? Here's how it works. Join the fun, all are welcome!

90 comments:

Josh S. said...

Ohhhhh...crap.

LLCoolL said...

Is anybody else having a hard time reading all the blue words? Can we get a transcription?

ubragg said...

I think I have sent the correct answer...

Nostradamus said...

Not having any trouble reading the blue words, but I there's no way I can start this one without getting fired. Have to pick it up at lunch.

Kyle Baker said...

I just called in sick.

berkowit28 said...

Without a color printer - it'll be much harder to match photo segments in black and white - does anyone know any Mac application that can import this photo, slice it up into squares, and move them around? Probably not, I guess...

Kyle Baker said...

I also just made an appointment with my optometrist.

Nostradamus said...

^Who has also called in sick.

Eric Karros said...

UBragg's unstoppableness is unstoppable:

1. UBragg

Eric Karros said...

In the post I clarified the words in blue since some are hard to read.

Steve Dittmore said...

For the love of Pete... I am legitimately home sick and all this does is move my fever from 102 to 102.5. I'll try after a nap

karina said...

First doubt sent in!

Nostradamus said...

Fortunately, seems to be moving slowly today. I may have to step out to take an emergency phone call here just to get the order straightened out so I can finish above the 50pt. line.

Steve Sax said...

SoSG Off-Days Causing Productivity Losses Which Rival NCAA Hoops Tourney

Film at 11

Eric Karros said...

Epale Karina - so far so good, I responded to your email...

And get well Mr C, DB, Steve D, and all others who called in sick...

Nostradamus said...

Berko suffering with the curse of color yet again, it seems.

Kyle Baker said...

Uh oh. My facial recognition retardation is not going to help me through the latter stages.

Steve Sax said...

We're passing a SoSG hat around to get Berko...a copy card so he can go to fedex office (formerly kinkos) and print out in color.

At least he's got a color monitor, I suppose.

Eric Karros said...

At least Berko is totally up on pop culture so that should make up for any color toner deficiency.

Eric Karros said...

Karina - so far so good, I replied to your email.

All those home sick...get better

Jason said...

Answer sent

QuadSevens said...

I just remembered that today was an off day/puzzle day. And I'm also reminded that my company is filtering all the pictures on your site. This puzzle will have to wait until I get home tonight. Boo!

berkowit28 said...

There's a Fedex at work in the building where I can go for lunch. I may get a few minutes to make a couple color copies and try to do the thing late this evening, as a late solver (keeping up my habits).

This Fedex office is within sight of the original Kinko's, in Isla Vista, as it happens.

Kyle Baker said...

"it's"

Whew. That was bothering me.

rbnlaw said...

Holy crap. I can post during the day!

Still, I'm screwed on this puzzle.

Eric Karros said...

my comments are disappearing...blogger is on the blink

Kyle Baker said...

Also bothering me is that I'm ever so close but have to leave for awhile for some importnat business (e.g., international soccer friendly).

Eric Karros said...

I just posted this but now I don't see it. Grrrr. So, once again, congratulations Jason, 2nd solver:

1. Ubragg
2. Jason

Eric Karros said...

My comment cleverly stating how Berko's lack of a color printer will be more than compensated for by his complete command of pop culture has also disappeared.

Keven C said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steve Sax said...

The wheels certainly aren't turning at the blogger HQ.

I think everyone at google is too preoccupied with the pacman game.

Help us ubragg, you're our only hope!

karina said...

EK, if you have any time, i got another question (crossing fingers it is my last)

ubragg said...

I'm on it, Sax. I've escalated to the Blogger team. Not sure how long it will take, though.

Nostradamus said...

Alright, I'm going into seclusion in the east wing.

Eric Karros said...

Hint posted

Eric Karros said...

That google pacman game is impossible to control.

Will look at your email soon Karina

Keven C - seek, and ye shall find.

Eric Karros said...

Karina, did you already send your question?

Eric Karros said...

WTF my comments keep being deleted.

Anyways FYI I posted a hint like 45 mins ago.

Keven C said...

Answer sent.

Eric Karros said...

The hot redhead is impressed with Keven C:

1. Ubragg
2. Jason
3. Keven C

MR.F said...

Who are these people!

Nostradamus said...

Didn't quite finish over lunch, but getting close.

Eric Karros said...

Should I post another hint?

karina said...

@EK i'm on a pop culture rut. Besides, there's lot of drawing and painting to do!

Steve Sax said...

EK, Every time I use the scissors on my computer monitor, the image ends up disappearing when I start to cut. Am I doing something wrong?

Kyle Baker said...

Bring out the gimp!

drewdez said...

Answer in!

QuadSevens said...

Literal puzzle solved, answer has not yet here though.

Eric Karros said...

Sifting through the emails, most of you are on the right track but people are stuck in different places.

Drewdez, however, is not stuck:

1. Ubragg
2. Jason
3. Keven C
4. Drewdez

Eric Karros said...

Sax - hard to tell what you're doing wrong...maybe you're using left-handed scissors?

Nostradamus said...

oh so close, but the final step is trouble for me.

QuadSevens said...

Answer has not yet arrived is what I meant to say. I can't think, maybe I should have called in sick today too.

MR.F said...

The internet is amazing. Still not very far.

QuadSevens said...

Answer sent!

Dusto_Magnifico said...

sent in guess!

Eric Karros said...

Quad is in! Sorry Dusto, although you're on the right track...

1. Ubragg
2. Jason
3. Keven C
4. Drewdez
5. QuadSevens

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

This is difficult.

Josh S. said...

Yeah, this one's a no-go for me.

Nostradamus said...

Progress sent, but still missing the last bit.

Eric Karros said...

Second (and probably last) hint posted.

MR.F said...

That doesn't help!

Nostradamus said...

Got it now, answer sent.

Nostradamus said...

would have gotten it sooner, but I transposed and E and an F.

Nostradamus said...

This PCS season has a familiar pattern. I'm like the Orlando Hudson of puzzles.

Eric Karros said...

You're in, Mr C:

1. Ubragg
2. Jason
3. Keven C
4. Drewdez
5. QuadSevens
6. Mr C

karina said...

Desperate answer sent in.

MR.F said...

I have no idea how to unify the disparate elements in this puzzle.

Kyle Baker said...

I've had the setup all day but just can't interpret the instructions.

Kyle Baker said...

^Mrs Dusty notes that this is not atypical.

MR.F said...

I think I'm with Dusty.

(geez, I never thought I'd ever say that =P)

Kyle Baker said...

It's a scary place, Mr. F.

karina said...

Same as you, Dusty.

Worst thing is i've identified everything but the answer. I feel like a bimbo, without the good looks :(

rbnlaw said...

Was that last hint supposed to help?

I get the name thing and can identify 2 faces. The hell if that gets me close.

MR.F said...

Yeah. That hint did not help me at all =/.

Kyle Baker said...

I come here for the baseball nerddom. But for the life of me can't facially recognize [one of the people]. No freaking clue. This person could be sitting right next to me and I wouldn't recognize that person.

MR.F said...

I don't think any of those people have anything to do with baseball.

Kyle Baker said...

"Answer" sent. Timidly, and with as little confidence as Bills exhibits in his proverbial meltdown inning.

Nostradamus said...

Is "answer sent" ubiquitous enough to need a glossary entry?

Eric Karros said...

You are correct DB!:

1. Ubragg
2. Jason
3. Keven C
4. Drewdez
5. QuadSevens
6. Mr C
7. Dusty Baker

I'm concerned that you weren't certain of your answer when you sent it in, although I can see why. That goes against my puzzle philosophy. I will post a comment/pseudo-hint to ensure that if one is correct, they are sure of their answer.

It probably won't help anyone solve the puzzle; it'll just help those who do solve it know they are correct.

Kyle Baker said...

I'm fragile, EK.

Eric Karros said...

You weren't the only one, DB. I think even UBragg submitted his answer with a bit of hesitation.

So you're in good company there.

Eric Karros said...

Ah, good suggestion, Mr C. I'll take it to the SoSG executive glossary committee.

Eric Karros said...

Fyi I definitely don't expect anyone to recognize at least one of the four people, and probably two of them.

Anyhow, I'm turning in for the night, will check answers tomorrow.

G'night!

Matt said...

Logging in for participation points. Haven't been able to get enough time to devote to this today.

Kyle Baker said...

@Mr C

I was close to being the Jermaine Dye of this puzzle.

Unknown said...

This answer is somewhat pathetic, but nevertheless sent.

Unknown said...

Well, I had a lot of fun printing, cutting, and arranging. Also, my wife said I was a dork. I may have resorted to Google Goggles in an attempt to recognize one of the people. (It didn't work.) Now, sans answer, I'm going to go to bed. But I'm going to send a picture of my prettily arranged pieces anyway.

Steve Sax said...

Left-handed scissors were indeed the problem EK, thanks!

Steve K said...

I think it's time to give up. I don't think I'll ever figure out the last piece of what I need to solve this...

MR.F said...

I sent in my last (useless) guess (before 12). Man I had no idea what to do with this one.