Comments on: It All Comes Down To This

By: bdwood

bdwood — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:43:58 +0000

It was fun, though I am still struggling with #10, and will continue to do so.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:08:21 +0000

Whew! That was fun! When is the next one?!

By: Steffetta

Steffetta — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 23:27:50 +0000

Jeez! I solved ten quickly.. but 11! 11 is killing me! I can’t see straight anymore.. wtg Ken!

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:39:14 +0000

Final Puzzle’s message is a tough one! Did someone solve it yet? I’ll take a crack at it. Good luck everyone!

By: Sherry

Sherry — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:17:33 +0000

We would love to see you at the finish !!
We are so close, but so far.
My family has had so much fun with all the puzzles!
We love history, but we have learned more this month about America and the ties that bind us together, than we have in any history class or book.
Thanks Ken!
Thanks Smithsonian!

By: CliveDaw

CliveDaw — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:38:46 +0000

Hi Ken & Puzzle Team: Congrats on a very enjoyable contest. Even if you do not reveal the final answer just yet, I hope you will post soon whether or not a winner has been identified. It would be good to know whether we can throttle back or efforts or redouble them, as the case may be.

By: Kenton

Kenton — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:48:16 +0000

I just can’t find the solution to puzzle 8, the presidential mosaic. I guess I’m out of the running. (Also, I suspect my being at work and not having time to work out the remaining puzzles puts me at a distinct disadvantage. I think a lot of us would have appreciated it if the last puzzle opened at a different hour.) Still, Ken, it’s been fun. Thank you for the puzzles.

By: coreen

coreen — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:47:32 +0000

It’s so interesting how the difficulty of the puzzles are perceived so differently. My quickest solve by far was #4. The rebus #9 a close second. The trip to origami hell the most mind numbingly frustrating. That word “doozy” is not comforting!

By: MaryA

MaryA — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:21:08 +0000

On the one hand I am sad it is ending. LOVE this. But, on the other I am looking forward to sleep. Awoke last night with my brain going full tilt in an effort to predict the next answer. Have to internet-proof my computer so I have no system failures at the last moment. Good grief!

By: Elisa

Elisa — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:10:32 +0000

Attrition…yes, somewhat. We found that we could only put life on hold for so long. Shoot, it’s Oct 22 and I still haven’t finished the Oct issue of Smithsonian! We’re still mulling over our unfinished puzzles, but haven’t been able to put in the time to solve them all. However, I know which president had blue-gray eyes and which has a patent. I know where Mauritania is and a bit about Pandora’s box. But mostly I’m reminded that puzzling is a skill that has to be practiced. At one time I’d have been much faster at this. Puzzling needs to be nurtured in our young people because real life is full of puzzles where the solution you are looking for is not clear. The answer to the cure for cancer, world peace, or the meaning of life has not yet been worked out to be 6 letters long, ending with “T”. Thanks for the fun and I hope the website stays up for awhile so we can keep at. Might appreciate seeing some hints but we won’t be too quick to jump to the “back of the book” for the answer.

By: Todd

Todd — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:53:33 +0000

Good luck to all today! It’s been a fun ride. Thanks to Ken and the puzzle teak for the hair pulling problems. Perhaps Smithsonian Magazine can make this some kind of regular feature. One puzzle a month would suit me fine.