Curio Cabinet / Teaser Curio
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #288Free1 CQ
Before she voiced Elsa in Disney's Frozen, Idina Menzel captivated Broadway audiences with her mezzo-soprano voice. Perhaps best known for her roles as Maureen Johnson in Rent (1996) and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) Wicked (2003). Her duets with Fredi Walker ("Take Me or Leave Me") and with Kristin Chenoweth ("Defying gravity") from the respective shows were critically acclaimed. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Idina Menzel. In the meantime, can you unscramble this quote from Menzel about her illustrious career?
Directions: The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase).
“For me, Rent was all about coming out of myself, finding out who I was, telegrapher in now I could have as a performer. And Wicked was about harnessing ghat thralls tent.”
“For me, Rent was all about coming out of myself, finding out who I was, (8) (3) (5) I could have as a performer. And Wicked was about harnessing (3) (4) (8).”
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #288" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Before she voiced Elsa in Disney's Frozen, Idina Menzel captivated Broadway audiences with her mezzo-soprano voice. Perhaps best known for her roles as Maureen Johnson in Rent (1996) and Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) Wicked (2003). Her duets with Fredi Walker ("Take Me or Leave Me") and with Kristin Chenoweth ("Defying gravity") from the respective shows were critically acclaimed. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Idina Menzel. In the meantime, can you unscramble this quote from Menzel about her illustrious career?
Directions: The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase).
“For me, Rent was all about coming out of myself, finding out who I was, telegrapher in now I could have as a performer. And Wicked was about harnessing ghat thralls tent.”
“For me, Rent was all about coming out of myself, finding out who I was, (8) (3) (5) I could have as a performer. And Wicked was about harnessing (3) (4) (8).”
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #288" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #287Free1 CQ
Often painted as depression-era Robinhoods, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Champion Barrow committed crimes including murder, kidnapping, and robbery. They are also rumored to have inspired the phrase "ride or die"—an expression for a partner willing to commit for better or worse. (Ride or die was popularized by biker culture in the 1950s, and again by hip-hop music in the 1990s. Today it is ubiquitous in pop culture.) Perhaps the most telling example of Bonnie being Clyde's ride or die is her poetry. While imprisoned in 1932, she wrote a poem, 'The Story of Suicide Sal," about a country girl who is lured into a criminal life by her boyfriend. She also wrote a poem called "The Trail's End," which she sent to her mother. The poem's ends with these lines
Some day they’ll go down together;
And they’ll bury them side by side,
To a few it’ll be grief—
To the law a relief—
But it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the infamous duo and their love for one another. While you wait, can you solve these themed riddles?
Riddle 1: Bonnie and Clyde might also be called this scrambled phrase:
CPRARTINMERSE
Riddle 2: Bonnie and Clyde are both lying dead on the floor next to a broken window. Their bodies are surrounded by pieces of glass, a puddle of water and a baseball. How did Bonnie and Clyde die?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #287" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Often painted as depression-era Robinhoods, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Champion Barrow committed crimes including murder, kidnapping, and robbery. They are also rumored to have inspired the phrase "ride or die"—an expression for a partner willing to commit for better or worse. (Ride or die was popularized by biker culture in the 1950s, and again by hip-hop music in the 1990s. Today it is ubiquitous in pop culture.) Perhaps the most telling example of Bonnie being Clyde's ride or die is her poetry. While imprisoned in 1932, she wrote a poem, 'The Story of Suicide Sal," about a country girl who is lured into a criminal life by her boyfriend. She also wrote a poem called "The Trail's End," which she sent to her mother. The poem's ends with these lines
Some day they’ll go down together;
And they’ll bury them side by side,
To a few it’ll be grief—
To the law a relief—
But it’s death for Bonnie and Clyde.Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the infamous duo and their love for one another. While you wait, can you solve these themed riddles?
Riddle 1: Bonnie and Clyde might also be called this scrambled phrase:
CPRARTINMERSE
Riddle 2: Bonnie and Clyde are both lying dead on the floor next to a broken window. Their bodies are surrounded by pieces of glass, a puddle of water and a baseball. How did Bonnie and Clyde die?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #287" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #286Free1 CQ
In March, Egyptian feminist Dr. Nawal El Saadawi passed away at the age of 89. She fought for women's rights to exist in their bodies without modification. In a 2018 interview with the publication Refinery29, she explained, "“Women are pushed to be just bodies—either to be veiled under religion or to be veiled by makeup. They are taught that they shouldn’t face the world with their real face. Both are very significant of the oppression of women, that women are not really encouraged to be real, to be themselves, they are encouraged to hide, to be what society wants, what religion wants, what men want.”
You can learn more about her prolific career, which included publishing over 50 works of fiction and nonfiction, tomorrow. In the meantime, can you solve this themed word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
For grades 1-12, in brief. (Hint, some girls do not have access to this.)
"To ___ , her own."
Part of IRL.
Release or liberate.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #286" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]In March, Egyptian feminist Dr. Nawal El Saadawi passed away at the age of 89. She fought for women's rights to exist in their bodies without modification. In a 2018 interview with the publication Refinery29, she explained, "“Women are pushed to be just bodies—either to be veiled under religion or to be veiled by makeup. They are taught that they shouldn’t face the world with their real face. Both are very significant of the oppression of women, that women are not really encouraged to be real, to be themselves, they are encouraged to hide, to be what society wants, what religion wants, what men want.”
You can learn more about her prolific career, which included publishing over 50 works of fiction and nonfiction, tomorrow. In the meantime, can you solve this themed word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
For grades 1-12, in brief. (Hint, some girls do not have access to this.)
"To ___ , her own."
Part of IRL.
Release or liberate.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #286" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #285Free1 CQ
In the May 16, 2016 issue of The New Yorker, comedian Jen Spyra wrote an address to "The Class of 2050". Anyone who has attended a commencement ceremony in the United States is familiar with the genre—a pithy aphorism or two sprinkled among personal anecdotes and professional advice—will appreciate Spyra's gift for satire. After all, the piece opens with the following: I remember when I sat where you sit today. The year was 2020. The fires from the Impact still smoldered in their craters. Madonna’s “Dance Dance Boom Boom” had just hit the airwaves. Athleisure was bigger than ever, and it seemed like everyone I knew was either dead or enslaved by the Tall Ones.
Be sure to read the entire address, and tune in tomorrow to learn more about Spyra, the author of May's book of the month. In the meantime, can you solve today's teaser?
Directions: This is a 10 letter English word.
(The original word) Party for gown wearers.
(Remove the suffix, add a letter) One happy to have no class.
(Remove the last 2 letters, add a new one) Occurring in stages.
(Remove the last 3 letters, add a new one) Ending for retro or de.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #285" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]In the May 16, 2016 issue of The New Yorker, comedian Jen Spyra wrote an address to "The Class of 2050". Anyone who has attended a commencement ceremony in the United States is familiar with the genre—a pithy aphorism or two sprinkled among personal anecdotes and professional advice—will appreciate Spyra's gift for satire. After all, the piece opens with the following: I remember when I sat where you sit today. The year was 2020. The fires from the Impact still smoldered in their craters. Madonna’s “Dance Dance Boom Boom” had just hit the airwaves. Athleisure was bigger than ever, and it seemed like everyone I knew was either dead or enslaved by the Tall Ones.
Be sure to read the entire address, and tune in tomorrow to learn more about Spyra, the author of May's book of the month. In the meantime, can you solve today's teaser?
Directions: This is a 10 letter English word.
(The original word) Party for gown wearers.
(Remove the suffix, add a letter) One happy to have no class.
(Remove the last 2 letters, add a new one) Occurring in stages.
(Remove the last 3 letters, add a new one) Ending for retro or de.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #285" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser CurioFree1 CQ
Next month, on June 22, Northern Ireland will celebrate its 100th anniversary. On that day in 1921, the island nation was partitioned from its southerly neighbor, the now-Republic of Ireland. Following Northern Ireland's partitioning, its capital, Belfast, saw violent clashes between Protestants and Catholics. This conflict would continue. Between the 1960s and the late 1990s, a period known as "The Troubles", more than 3,500 people died. Today, violence in Northern Ireland is again making headlines, this time because of Brexit. (Whereas the Republic of Ireland belongs to the European Union, Northern Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom.)
Tune in tomorrow to learn more about one particular event in the history of this country's inner turmoil—the Rose & Crown Bar bombing on May 2, 1974. In the meantime, can you make a word ladder from ROSE to FLAX, two flowers associated with Northern Ireland?
ROSE
For fear that.
FLAXHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 6-step answer, and a 8-step answer. We are looking for the 8-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #284" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Next month, on June 22, Northern Ireland will celebrate its 100th anniversary. On that day in 1921, the island nation was partitioned from its southerly neighbor, the now-Republic of Ireland. Following Northern Ireland's partitioning, its capital, Belfast, saw violent clashes between Protestants and Catholics. This conflict would continue. Between the 1960s and the late 1990s, a period known as "The Troubles", more than 3,500 people died. Today, violence in Northern Ireland is again making headlines, this time because of Brexit. (Whereas the Republic of Ireland belongs to the European Union, Northern Ireland belongs to the United Kingdom.)
Tune in tomorrow to learn more about one particular event in the history of this country's inner turmoil—the Rose & Crown Bar bombing on May 2, 1974. In the meantime, can you make a word ladder from ROSE to FLAX, two flowers associated with Northern Ireland?
ROSE
For fear that.
FLAXHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 6-step answer, and a 8-step answer. We are looking for the 8-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #284" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #283Free1 CQ
Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) never shied away from sharing his opinions. Rumor has it, Cromwell referred to the Petition of Right (1628) as the "Petition of Shite." (The English Parliament had petitioned King Charles I for no taxation without Parliament's consent, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers in subjects' homes, and no martial law during peacetime.) Supposedly he also called the Magna Carta the "Magna Farta." For more on Cromwell's infamous legacy, tune in tomorrow.
In the meantime, can you untangle this phrase from the Magna Carta? The Magna Carta (1215) or the Great Charter declared the liberties held by "free men." It is considered a foundational document for individual rights by Americans and Brits alike, although it covers a wide variety of topics, like the one below.
Directions: The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase).
“There shall be a dastard mess runeof wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout method king. There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges.”
“There shall be (8) (8) of wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout (3) (7). There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges.”
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #283" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) never shied away from sharing his opinions. Rumor has it, Cromwell referred to the Petition of Right (1628) as the "Petition of Shite." (The English Parliament had petitioned King Charles I for no taxation without Parliament's consent, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers in subjects' homes, and no martial law during peacetime.) Supposedly he also called the Magna Carta the "Magna Farta." For more on Cromwell's infamous legacy, tune in tomorrow.
In the meantime, can you untangle this phrase from the Magna Carta? The Magna Carta (1215) or the Great Charter declared the liberties held by "free men." It is considered a foundational document for individual rights by Americans and Brits alike, although it covers a wide variety of topics, like the one below.
Directions: The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase).
“There shall be a dastard mess runeof wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout method king. There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges.”
“There shall be (8) (8) of wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout (3) (7). There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth, russet, and haberject, namely two ells within the selvedges.”
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #283" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #282Free1 CQ
Guam has two slogans: "Tano I' ManChamorro" (Land of the Chamorros) and "Where America's Day Begins." Home to the indigenous Chamorro people, Guam is the westernmost territory of the United States. The island is 17 hours ahead of the west coast. That means 9AM on Thursday in Pacific Standard Time is 2AM on Friday in Guam. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the Chamorro people. In the meantime, can you solve this word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
A species of fish: the second clue plus this.
Thousands have grit.
A sting from a Craronidae might leave you feeling.
Water-related prefix.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #282" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]Guam has two slogans: "Tano I' ManChamorro" (Land of the Chamorros) and "Where America's Day Begins." Home to the indigenous Chamorro people, Guam is the westernmost territory of the United States. The island is 17 hours ahead of the west coast. That means 9AM on Thursday in Pacific Standard Time is 2AM on Friday in Guam. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the Chamorro people. In the meantime, can you solve this word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
A species of fish: the second clue plus this.
Thousands have grit.
A sting from a Craronidae might leave you feeling.
Water-related prefix.Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #282" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #281Free1 CQ
For many American college students, traveling or studying abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime. Being immersed in new cultures can widen your perspective and maybe even shape your future. Or at least that's the case for Tiller, the American college student and protagonist of Chang-rae Lee's new novel, My Year Abroad. If you're feeling cabin fever, join us in reading Lee's novel this month. At least we can still travel in our imaginations!
While you wait for your copy of My Year Abroad, can you solve today's teaser?
This is a 10 letter English word.
(The original word) Dawn lustre stirring urge to travel.
(Remove the last 4 letters) Meander, ramble.
(Add 5 letters to the end) Mendicants.
(Remove the first 6 letters) The R in LOTR.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #281" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]For many American college students, traveling or studying abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime. Being immersed in new cultures can widen your perspective and maybe even shape your future. Or at least that's the case for Tiller, the American college student and protagonist of Chang-rae Lee's new novel, My Year Abroad. If you're feeling cabin fever, join us in reading Lee's novel this month. At least we can still travel in our imaginations!
While you wait for your copy of My Year Abroad, can you solve today's teaser?
This is a 10 letter English word.
(The original word) Dawn lustre stirring urge to travel.
(Remove the last 4 letters) Meander, ramble.
(Add 5 letters to the end) Mendicants.
(Remove the first 6 letters) The R in LOTR.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #281" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #280Free1 CQ
In October 13, 1962, Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre. The play centers on Martha, the daughter of the college president where her husband, George is an associate professor of history. Martha invites a young married couple, Nick and Honey, to their home. Over the course of three acts, Martha and George's marital strife is put on display for their new guests. The play received rave reviews and earned a Tony for Best Play. It is perhaps best known for the 1966 film adaptation starring real-life couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
Albee once explained the inspiration for the play's title came from a night out in New York where "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" was scrawled in soap on a mirror. Albee said, "When I started to write the play it cropped up in my mind again. And of course, who's afraid of Virginia Woolf means who's afraid of the big bad wolf...who's afraid of living life without false illusions. And it did strike me as being a rather typical, university intellectual joke." Throughout the play, Martha and George sing the tune of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" from Walt Disney's The Three Little Pigs (1933), replacing modernist author Virginia Woolf in the lyrics.
Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Virginia Woolf tomorrow. In the meantime, can you make a word ladder from WOLF to PIGS?WOLF
Type of sweet.
PIGSHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 5-step answer, and a 9-step answer. We are looking for the 9-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #280" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]In October 13, 1962, Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre. The play centers on Martha, the daughter of the college president where her husband, George is an associate professor of history. Martha invites a young married couple, Nick and Honey, to their home. Over the course of three acts, Martha and George's marital strife is put on display for their new guests. The play received rave reviews and earned a Tony for Best Play. It is perhaps best known for the 1966 film adaptation starring real-life couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.
Albee once explained the inspiration for the play's title came from a night out in New York where "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" was scrawled in soap on a mirror. Albee said, "When I started to write the play it cropped up in my mind again. And of course, who's afraid of Virginia Woolf means who's afraid of the big bad wolf...who's afraid of living life without false illusions. And it did strike me as being a rather typical, university intellectual joke." Throughout the play, Martha and George sing the tune of "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf" from Walt Disney's The Three Little Pigs (1933), replacing modernist author Virginia Woolf in the lyrics.
Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Virginia Woolf tomorrow. In the meantime, can you make a word ladder from WOLF to PIGS?WOLF
Type of sweet.
PIGSHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 5-step answer, and a 9-step answer. We are looking for the 9-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #280" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #279Free1 CQ
In 1980, Philip Cantelon and Robert Williams prepared a history of the Three Mile Island accident titled Crisis Contained: The Department of Energy at Three Mile Island. (Tune in tomorrow for more on the nuclear reactor's partial meltdown). The introduction to Crisis Contained opens with an epigraph by Stanley Kunitz, the 10th Poet Laureate of the United States. Drafted during World War II, Kunitz was a conscientious objector who refused a commission. He spent his service as a noncombatant at the Gravelly Point Air Transport Command. He went on to draft incisive pieces about war and humanity, including the poem "Foreign Affairs". Can you unscramble this extract, which includes the Crisis Contained epigraph?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrases from Kunitz's "Foreign Affairs"?"Tempers could raven she pinks, and do;
we live
In stares provocative
Where frowning headlines scare
the coffee cream
Daddy am soon is the eighth day of the week.”"Tempers could (7) (6), and do;
we live
In stares provocative
Where frowning headlines scare
the coffee cream
(3) (8) is the eighth day of the week.”Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #279" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]In 1980, Philip Cantelon and Robert Williams prepared a history of the Three Mile Island accident titled Crisis Contained: The Department of Energy at Three Mile Island. (Tune in tomorrow for more on the nuclear reactor's partial meltdown). The introduction to Crisis Contained opens with an epigraph by Stanley Kunitz, the 10th Poet Laureate of the United States. Drafted during World War II, Kunitz was a conscientious objector who refused a commission. He spent his service as a noncombatant at the Gravelly Point Air Transport Command. He went on to draft incisive pieces about war and humanity, including the poem "Foreign Affairs". Can you unscramble this extract, which includes the Crisis Contained epigraph?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrases from Kunitz's "Foreign Affairs"?"Tempers could raven she pinks, and do;
we live
In stares provocative
Where frowning headlines scare
the coffee cream
Daddy am soon is the eighth day of the week.”"Tempers could (7) (6), and do;
we live
In stares provocative
Where frowning headlines scare
the coffee cream
(3) (8) is the eighth day of the week.”Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #279" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #278Free1 CQ
If you've been dreaming of escaping to a secluded sandy beach, you're not alone. When it is safe to travel, might we recommend visiting Playa del Amor in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? The hidden beach sits inside a cavern on one of the Islas Marietas, uninhabited islands just offshore. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the oasis. In the meantime, mentally prepare for a vacation by puzzling out these riddles.
Riddle 1: My first is in the ocean, but never in the sea. My second's in wasp, but never in bee. My third is in glider, and also in flight. My whole is a creature that comes out at night.
Riddle 2: To prepare for an appearance on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," Hyacinth bought a trivia book that was published in 1999. After making it through the first few rounds of questions with ease, Hyacinth responded incorrectly. When asked, "How many ocean basins are on Earth?" she answered "4." How could Hyacinth have gotten this question wrong?
Riddle 3: A couple spend a day at the beach, where a woman shoots her husband. She then holds him underwater for five minutes. Next, she hangs him. Right after, they enjoy a lovely dinner. Explain.
Think you know the answers? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #278" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]If you've been dreaming of escaping to a secluded sandy beach, you're not alone. When it is safe to travel, might we recommend visiting Playa del Amor in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico? The hidden beach sits inside a cavern on one of the Islas Marietas, uninhabited islands just offshore. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the oasis. In the meantime, mentally prepare for a vacation by puzzling out these riddles.
Riddle 1: My first is in the ocean, but never in the sea. My second's in wasp, but never in bee. My third is in glider, and also in flight. My whole is a creature that comes out at night.
Riddle 2: To prepare for an appearance on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire," Hyacinth bought a trivia book that was published in 1999. After making it through the first few rounds of questions with ease, Hyacinth responded incorrectly. When asked, "How many ocean basins are on Earth?" she answered "4." How could Hyacinth have gotten this question wrong?
Riddle 3: A couple spend a day at the beach, where a woman shoots her husband. She then holds him underwater for five minutes. Next, she hangs him. Right after, they enjoy a lovely dinner. Explain.
Think you know the answers? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #278" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #277Free1 CQ
Dogs are pretty spectacular. Not only can they increase our serotonin and dopamine levels and reduce our blood pressure, they can also assist with mobility and hearing. These days, dogs are even helping combat Covid-19. From Russia to Chile and France, dogs are being trained to sniff out the virus in public places like airports and stadiums. Although researchers are still determining the effectiveness of such training programs, early results are promising. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about how dogs have been real lifesavers. In the meantime, can you solve this pawsome word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
Suggestions, for short.
Something to catch a whiff of.
Zero twitching of the ear.
Shower attention on.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #277" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!Dogs are pretty spectacular. Not only can they increase our serotonin and dopamine levels and reduce our blood pressure, they can also assist with mobility and hearing. These days, dogs are even helping combat Covid-19. From Russia to Chile and France, dogs are being trained to sniff out the virus in public places like airports and stadiums. Although researchers are still determining the effectiveness of such training programs, early results are promising. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about how dogs have been real lifesavers. In the meantime, can you solve this pawsome word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
Suggestions, for short.
Something to catch a whiff of.
Zero twitching of the ear.
Shower attention on.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #277" and let us know, or check back next week to find out! -
FREEPlay Teaser Curio #276Free1 CQ
Tara Westover is the author of our Book of the Month. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about her career.
In her memoir, Educated, Tara Westover describes her childhood in a survivalist Mormon family in a rural Idaho mountain town. Despite never attending high school, Westover gets accepted to Brigham Young University, and eventually studies abroad at Cambridge University. Recalling these events forces Westover to reckon with her complicated past. But before we give any more away, go check out Educated for yourself! In the meantime, can you solve today's teaser?
Directions: This is a 12 letter English word.
(The original word) Nostalgia.
(Remove the first 4 letters) Something to feign.
(Remove the last 4 letters & add 4 more at the beginning) Pining, and then some.
(Remove the first letter) Tennis score of zero.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #276" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
Tara Westover is the author of our Book of the Month. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about her career.
In her memoir, Educated, Tara Westover describes her childhood in a survivalist Mormon family in a rural Idaho mountain town. Despite never attending high school, Westover gets accepted to Brigham Young University, and eventually studies abroad at Cambridge University. Recalling these events forces Westover to reckon with her complicated past. But before we give any more away, go check out Educated for yourself! In the meantime, can you solve today's teaser?
Directions: This is a 12 letter English word.
(The original word) Nostalgia.
(Remove the first 4 letters) Something to feign.
(Remove the last 4 letters & add 4 more at the beginning) Pining, and then some.
(Remove the first letter) Tennis score of zero.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #276" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #275Free1 CQ
In an interview with Esquire magazine titled "What I've Learned," Roy Horn described how rivalry kept his onstage relationship with Siegfried Fischbacher fresh, "Siegfried and I are partners, but at the same time, we are competitors. Each one wants the spotlight. Each one fights for it. Guess who gets it? The cat. Cats always get the spotlight." Siegfried and Roy, masters of the impossible, astonished millions with their magic tricks, and feline friends. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the original tiger kings, Siegfried and Roy. In the meantime, can you solve this ferocious word ladder?
Can you make a word ladder from TIGER to STAGE?TIGER
Things some sorters make.
American retailer.
STAGEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, an 8-step answer, and a 13-step answer. We are looking for the 13-step solution.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #275" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
In an interview with Esquire magazine titled "What I've Learned," Roy Horn described how rivalry kept his onstage relationship with Siegfried Fischbacher fresh, "Siegfried and I are partners, but at the same time, we are competitors. Each one wants the spotlight. Each one fights for it. Guess who gets it? The cat. Cats always get the spotlight." Siegfried and Roy, masters of the impossible, astonished millions with their magic tricks, and feline friends. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about the original tiger kings, Siegfried and Roy. In the meantime, can you solve this ferocious word ladder?
Can you make a word ladder from TIGER to STAGE?TIGER
Things some sorters make.
American retailer.
STAGEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, an 8-step answer, and a 13-step answer. We are looking for the 13-step solution.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #275" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #274Free1 CQ
If you saw Hidden Figures (2016), you learned about the oft-overlooked impact of black women on the race to space. Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectories that allowed Apollo 11 to land on the moon and return to Earth. Her colleagues, mathematicians like Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, provided expertise in computing and engineering. To celebrate the legacy of these women, can you unscramble this quote by Johnson?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Algebraic pearls of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have nominate origami than men.” — Katherine Johnson
“(5) (3) (7) of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have (4) (11) than men.” — Katherine Johnson
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #274" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]
If you saw Hidden Figures (2016), you learned about the oft-overlooked impact of black women on the race to space. Katherine Johnson calculated the trajectories that allowed Apollo 11 to land on the moon and return to Earth. Her colleagues, mathematicians like Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, provided expertise in computing and engineering. To celebrate the legacy of these women, can you unscramble this quote by Johnson?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Algebraic pearls of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have nominate origami than men.” — Katherine Johnson
“(5) (3) (7) of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have (4) (11) than men.” — Katherine Johnson
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #274" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #273Free1 CQ
James Baldwin once described his education in the American public school system as wanting because, “history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.” What Baldwin is describing is the deliberate omission of black Americans—their achievements, their contributions, and their oppression—from curriculum. That's not to say black Americans weren't studying their own history. In 1915, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland had founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (renamed the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH). In 1926, they created a "Negro History Week," choosing the second week of February to honor Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass' birthdays (February 12 and 14, respectively). In 1976, on the 50th anniversary of the celebration, President Gerald Ford issued a national decree establishing Black History Month. Each year, a theme is selected to commemorate the occasion. This year, the theme is "Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity."
To celebrate Black History Month, we're highlighting inspiring Americans, like Howard Thurman. Named one of the 12 most important religious leaders in the United States by Life magazine in 1953, Thurman ministered to many communities. He even traveled and met with Mahatma Gandhi. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Thurman. In the meantime, can you solve this themed word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
Brief resumes.
An acronym for Howard or Spelman, e.g.
Central part of.
Employed in religious education.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #273" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.]James Baldwin once described his education in the American public school system as wanting because, “history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.” What Baldwin is describing is the deliberate omission of black Americans—their achievements, their contributions, and their oppression—from curriculum. That's not to say black Americans weren't studying their own history. In 1915, Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland had founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (renamed the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH). In 1926, they created a "Negro History Week," choosing the second week of February to honor Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass' birthdays (February 12 and 14, respectively). In 1976, on the 50th anniversary of the celebration, President Gerald Ford issued a national decree establishing Black History Month. Each year, a theme is selected to commemorate the occasion. This year, the theme is "Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity."
To celebrate Black History Month, we're highlighting inspiring Americans, like Howard Thurman. Named one of the 12 most important religious leaders in the United States by Life magazine in 1953, Thurman ministered to many communities. He even traveled and met with Mahatma Gandhi. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Thurman. In the meantime, can you solve this themed word square?
Remember: a word square is similar to a square crossword puzzle, but the same words appear across and down.Here's an example of a 3x3 word square:
CAT AGO TOYBelow are four clues, not in order. Can you make a 4x4 word square out of it?
Brief resumes.
An acronym for Howard or Spelman, e.g.
Central part of.
Employed in religious education.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #273" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
[Image description: Curious Teaser Logo, a pink brain graphic overlaid on a blue virtual maze.] -
FREEPlay Teaser Curio #272Free1 CQ
Isabel Wilkerson is the author of our Book of the Month. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about her impressive writing career.
In Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson identifies eight pillars of a caste system. Every caste system is based on this, a 14-letter English word. Can you figure out the original word based on these clues?
(The original word) Power structure.
(Remove the first 2 letters) Process of making a treaty official.
(Keep the first 5 letters and add a -y) Validate
(Remove the first letter) Snitch irate to be missing tips.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #272" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
Isabel Wilkerson is the author of our Book of the Month. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about her impressive writing career.
In Caste: The Origins of our Discontent, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Isabel Wilkerson identifies eight pillars of a caste system. Every caste system is based on this, a 14-letter English word. Can you figure out the original word based on these clues?
(The original word) Power structure.
(Remove the first 2 letters) Process of making a treaty official.
(Keep the first 5 letters and add a -y) Validate
(Remove the first letter) Snitch irate to be missing tips.
What's the original word?
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #272" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #271Free1 CQ
Inspired by his son's stuffed animal collection, author A.A. Milne invented Winnie the Pooh and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood. In the 1928 story collection, The House at Pooh Corner, Milne introduced Tigger, a bouncy tiger-like character, the "only one" of his kind. The larger-than-life character captivated the hearts of Milne's readers, making him a staple in subsequent adaptations of the series. Because we could all use some extra spring in our step, today's eccentric word ladder is inspired by the bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy Tigger.
Directions: Can you make a word ladder from STRIPE to BOUNCE?
STRIPE
Crushes grapes
Short delays
Administrative division
BOUNCEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 16-step answer, and a 21-step answer. We are looking for the 21-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow to learn about A.A. Milne, author of The Winnie the Pooh series.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #271" and let us know, or check back next week to find out! In the meantime, tune in tomorrow to learn about A.A. Milne, author of The Winnie the Pooh series.
Inspired by his son's stuffed animal collection, author A.A. Milne invented Winnie the Pooh and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood. In the 1928 story collection, The House at Pooh Corner, Milne introduced Tigger, a bouncy tiger-like character, the "only one" of his kind. The larger-than-life character captivated the hearts of Milne's readers, making him a staple in subsequent adaptations of the series. Because we could all use some extra spring in our step, today's eccentric word ladder is inspired by the bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy Tigger.
Directions: Can you make a word ladder from STRIPE to BOUNCE?
STRIPE
Crushes grapes
Short delays
Administrative division
BOUNCEHint: there are two solutions to this puzzle, a 16-step answer, and a 21-step answer. We are looking for the 21-step solution.
Remember: a word ladder is a series of words, starting from one word and ending with another, where each subsequent word is a one-letter change from the previous word (without rearranging, adding, or removing letters). And, of course, each step is a common, valid English word. For instance, you can change CAT to DOG like this: CAT => COT => DOT => DOG.
Be sure to tune in tomorrow to learn about A.A. Milne, author of The Winnie the Pooh series.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #271" and let us know, or check back next week to find out! In the meantime, tune in tomorrow to learn about A.A. Milne, author of The Winnie the Pooh series.
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #270Free1 CQ
Dubbed the "trial of the century," the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson garnered global interest. Hundreds of millions tuned in to witness infamous moments, like the defendant trying on the pair of bloodied leather gloves. Supposedly, the gloves didn't fit Simpson because he had stopped taking arthritis medication two weeks earlier, leading his hands to swell. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Simpson's trial, and subsequent acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In the meantime can you unscramble the phrases in defense attorney Johnnie Cochran's statement to the jury?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has headgear rare halt—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. Foisted tint. If foisted tint, you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has (1) (6) (5) (4)—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. (2) (6) (3). If (2) (6) (3), you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
Hint: South Park dubbed this legal strategy the "Chewbacca defense" in a 1998 episode ("Chef Aid"), satirizing Cochran's reasoning using Star Wars.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #270" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
Dubbed the "trial of the century," the People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson garnered global interest. Hundreds of millions tuned in to witness infamous moments, like the defendant trying on the pair of bloodied leather gloves. Supposedly, the gloves didn't fit Simpson because he had stopped taking arthritis medication two weeks earlier, leading his hands to swell. Tune in tomorrow to learn more about Simpson's trial, and subsequent acquittal for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. In the meantime can you unscramble the phrases in defense attorney Johnnie Cochran's statement to the jury?
The phrases of the original quote have the number of words and letters shown below. The phrases were scrambled independently (i.e., the letters from the first phrase aren't scrambled into the second phrase). Can you figure out the original phrase?
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has headgear rare halt—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. Foisted tint. If foisted tint, you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
"Let me show you something. This is a knit cap. Let me put this knit cap on. You have seen me for a year. If I put this knit cap on, who am I? I'm still Johnnie Cochran with a knit cap. And if you looked at O.J. Simpson over there—and he has (1) (6) (5) (4)—O.J. Simpson in a knit cap from two blocks away is still O.J. Simpson. It's no disguise. It makes no sense. (2) (6) (3). If (2) (6) (3), you must acquit." — Johnnie Cochran
Hint: South Park dubbed this legal strategy the "Chewbacca defense" in a 1998 episode ("Chef Aid"), satirizing Cochran's reasoning using Star Wars.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #270" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!
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FREEPlay Teaser Curio #269Free1 CQ
In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!In 4 days, a new President and Vice President will be sworn in. If you're wondering who selected January 20 as inauguration day, and why, tune in tomorrow! In the meantime can you solve this riddle?
Nearly every president has had one of these. To figure out what it is, you'll need to select the correct letter for each of the clues. Hint: there may be more than one answer for each clue.
The first letter is in FORD but not COOLIDGE.
The second letter is in NIXON but not JACKSON.
The third letter is in MONROE but not MADISON.
The fourth letter is in BUSH but not BUCHANAN.
The fifth letter is in TRUMAN but not VAN BUREN.
The sixth letter is in LINCOLN but not JACKSON.
The seventh letter is in REAGAN but not PIERCE.
The eighth letter is in ADAMS but not WASHINGTON.
The ninth letter is in HAYES but not HOOVER.
Think you know the answer? Email support@curious.com with the subject "Teaser #269" and let us know, or check back next week to find out!