October 9, 2012
To new friends and old
The fifth puzzle was unlocked over at the Great American History Puzzle website this afternoon! But if you’re reading this blog…I’m guessing you already knew that. That’s five down, and six to go. Almost halfway to the end of the quest.
Thanks for all your blog comments–the compliments are very nice, but even the desperate pleas for hints and the death threats make me feel like we’re doing something right. The Puzzle Team and I read them all, and we get almost as excited as the player does when someone finally cracks a tricky puzzle.
If I may wax philosophical for a moment: I’ve always been a big fan of puzzles that don’t look like puzzles. Not the kind where you can immediately pick up a pencil and dive in, but the kind where you need to deduce the rules for yourself–through analysis, through trial and error, maybe even through psychoanalyzing the puzzle’s designer. Puzzles three and four, which have caused much frustration for many solvers, are of that genre. In both cases, there is an indisputable answer hiding in plain sight…but, as you’ve discovered, it’s hiding very well. I’m afraid this lack of rules is by design: both are obviously codes, of a kind, and in life as well as in art, the most successful codes are always the ones that don’t even look like codes.
I enjoy puzzles with clear-cut rules and instructions as well, and the second half of the Great American History Puzzle will feature several puzzles like that (with twists of their own, of course). But when you see a crossword (hi, Puzzle #5!) you immediately have a clear idea in your head of how to solve it. This is a treasure hunt, and I think a treasure hunt needs mystery. A crossword isn’t a mystery; it’s a routine. A mysterious newspaper fragment presented without context or comment? Now that’s a mystery.
Enjoy the mystery. Embrace it. It’ll make the relief of eventually solving a puzzle so sweet that you’ll almost be able to taste it.
Our little puzzle has been featured in various corners of the Interwebs over the last few days, so I also wanted to welcome those just starting out on the contest. Since most of you newcomers are probably using the digital copy of the October Smithsonian, let me reiterate something I’ve said in this space before: look closely. The limitations of pixel resolution make the first puzzle a little harder to solve online than it was in the print edition. If you think you have the right first password but the website disagrees, you’re probably very close…but not quite there.
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OMG—this is the first one I’ve gotten since puzzle 2! Time to go back and look at 3 & 4 yet again…
Is it funny that we’re at a point with these puzzles where I see a crossword, and my first thought isn’t, “Woohoo! A crossword!” but rather, “Should I even bother doing this crossword, or is the crossword itself a red herring, and the actual puzzle answer riddled away somewhere in these clues?”?
Ken, you’re messing with my very perceptions of reality.
It feels great to finally be able to solve a puzzle! Now back to 3 and 4…
#5 down, still #4 to go….*sigh….but thank you, Ken, and The Puzzle Team, and fellow puzzlers, for your words of encouragement. This is not about the prize for me as much as the personal accomplishment. The odds of being “first” to answer correctly depends on your schedule, I guess. It is easy to lose sight of that when you become frustrated. Keep on keepin’ on, as they say.
Great changes of pace between puzzles! Just like our playoff pitchers throwing different pitches to keep hitters off balance… Fun inning so far including #5!
Are we growing quieter because we are growing fewer, or because we don’t want to reveal a telling clue to our competition?
Hallelujah I finally got number 3. My weekend was not wasted in vain. However I feel really stupid now. Keep them coming.
I am enjoying the heck out of this puzzle challenge – it’s taken over my life, and in a good way. Was delighted to crack #1 & #2, still scratching my head over #3, but confident the solution will appear with blazing clarity any minute now.
A suggestion to you, Ken, and the rest of the Smithsonian gang. It would be nice if future puzzle(s) had a deadline and then one answer drawn from the pool of all correct answers. I know there’s no way I can win this challenge given the other demands of my life and the timing of the release of the last puzzle, which takes some of the motivational wind out of my code-cracking sails. Natch, more experienced puzzlers may disagree…
One of the things I’m really enjoying about this project is that my whole family is getting in on it, the kids and parents all collaborating on the puzzles. We’ve cracked all 5 so far (#3 being the toughest), and each has been a team effort.
I enjoyed #5! But #4 was fun, too.
“A mysterious newspaper fragment presented without context or comment? Now that’s a mystery.”
If I comment, does that still make it a mystery?
I’m having a great time with these puzzles, thanks again for the fun diversion. My wife and I visited some of the Smithsonian Museums on our honeymoon, fourteen years ago. We look forward to seeing Washington D.C. again, hopefully as the result of this quest.
Does anyone know sites where the puzzle has been featured and where people are working on this puzzle? I am still stumped by #3 (puzzles based on semantics…:\) and #4 is looking more discouraging (mostly because I want to finish #3 and never have to see it again so much, it’s affecting my ability to move on). It would be helpful to find someone with whom to brainstorm.
There is a following of the Great American History Puzzle on Twitter…search for #historypuzzle. The rules do not prohibit collaborating on the puzzles — as long as you are all willing to share the prize!
– The Puzzle Team
#5 was very straightforward; for me #4 was the hardest to crack so far. I appreciate the different formats and difficulty levels, though.
Ken, can you update us again on the proportionate rates that people are solving each of these? I’d love to have an idea whether the ones I thought were hard are actually proving to be more difficult for everybody.
For those frustrated folks out there, don’t give up hope. I’ve worked puzzle #2 from the moment it came out and finally got it today @ 0650(yippee yahoo). I think the true American History lesson here is to do just like our ancestors and never give up!
I’m encouraged that #3 and #4 are still revealing themselves to players since I continue to look at them. Even though I haven’t solved them beyond the cryptogram my family has really enjoyed playing. Never expected to win since even if we solve the first 9, because of work and school schedules we’d be several hours behind when the final is revealed; just playing for fun.
In the magazine, I’ve missed Final Word (was that what it was called?); Fast Forward just hasn’t grown on me. Maybe a monthly puzzle is in order for that spot!
#5 was a snap for me; a couple clues were tricky but a great crossword. Still thinking abou #4 morning,noon and night.
I’m all caught up. My only disappointment is the amount of time it took (for some puzzles) but this exposes an interesting fact: We approach learning differently, which makes us weak at one type of puzzle, yet very strong with another. Ken’s given us a variety that caters to both our preferences and frustrations.
Since this is a contest, I would prefer to see fewer hints (or none) given the closer we get to the end. his includes hints in the blog and twitter.
I’m with BZB. After finally cracking Puzzles #3 and #4, I was nearly ready to disregard everything apparent about Puzzle #5, thinking “Yeah, what kind of a chump do you think I am exactly, Mr. Ken Jennings?”
Oh. That kind of chump.
Really?! Ughh..so upset at myself for all the hours spent on #3! Just got it…realized I was using my key backwards/upside down. The answer is so easy I can’t believe it took me a week. Now that I get how these puzzles are, I’ve decided to keep at it. For those of you who are stumped, don’t over analyze the puzzles.
To those who are stuck on a particular puzzle – don’t give up! I finally got #3 and #4 yesterday when I revised my approach…and it did taste sweet, but with hints of bitter for all the time I wasted.
#5 was a welcome change of pace. Now that #6 is on the horizon, my love/hate relationship with Ken Jennings’ brain continues.
Yes, “the relief of eventually solving a puzzle” was sweet indeed when my husband & I got #5 quickly. I’d all but given up over #3 and #4 and website quirks on various browsers. Yesterday’s success encouraged another look at #3 this afternoon and aha! The answer is right there. Husband is chagrined that I saw it first. So I’ll let him have the aha! with #4. My needlessly overworked brain needs more time off from puzzling.
Thank you Ken for the easy puzzle #5. My mind was going crazy over puzzle #4 and I finally figured it out this morning. I definitely needed an easy puzzle.
Whoohoo..got Puzzle #4, now it’s on to #5…
Wow, just got puzzle 4—didn’t think it was going to happen, then suddenly a flash of inspiration! Now I only have #3 left to be caught up–I have an idea, but can’t quite get it to work out. But I feel like it could be the right path, so I will play with it a bit longer.
4&5 finally conquered! I thought 5 was much easier than 4. Ken Jennings is so clever I hate him. But not enough to stop doing these puzzles. Brain Twisters for sure.
The first was a joke because it was so simple; the second was cruel, but has been solved. Fourth has been conquered. Fifth was a cinch. But #3…Despite all the hints, the only easy part was the cryptogram. Now what??? If it is supposed to be a code within a code, then I don’t see it. Aaaaah.
The first puzzle was a piece of cake, #2 was just plain cruel, #3 and #4 were deviously tricky, and five was a cinch.I’m ready for six. Yippee! Too bad I’ll be in Europe after the seventh puzzle. My limited internet access is sure to delay me. Not to mention the fact that I’ll be busy sightseeing.
Can’t we hold the puzzle until I return? Hehehehe
Everybody says that #5 is so easy. I guess I’m missing something again. I finally got #3 (Aha moment) and #4 (exasperating) but after solving the crossword I’m stumped by #5.
Solving #5 was so satisfying considering one of the angles I was trying to take with #3 and that red herring. #5 was a family affair; I personally smiled at 46 down. But I am so excited about puzzle 6; I want to check my daughter out of school for it! She has been doing these types of puzzles for fun from a site their geometry teacher gave them. This one will be hers! Now if we could just figure out a different way to look at #4…
My 10-year-old origami prodigy has taken over:-)