Secret Spot · Puzzle #17 · Friday, October 16
Secret Spot: the answers
Seven prompts, one answer each, and the fewer surfers who said yours, the more it scored. Here are the prompts with the answers we expected to be most common, and the rarest. Play today's Secret Spot, or play this day as practice (never counted).
1. A prompt still in play
This prompt comes round again within 14 days, so it's hidden until then.
2. Name a US state
The 50 states. Washington, D.C. and the territories (Puerto Rico, Guam) don't count.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 50 different answers. The obvious picks are Hawaii, California and Florida: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Wyoming and Rhode Island look like clever picks, but the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like Indiana, Kansas and Missouri, which the sheet rates Locals only, worth up to 8.5. One deep cut: Indiana is nicknamed "the Hoosier State".
Most common
- Hawaii
- California
- Florida
Rarest
- Iowa: Iowa's state flag is patterned after the flag of France, from its days as part of French Louisiana. Source: Wikipedia, “Iowa” (CC BY-SA)
- Nebraska: Nebraska's legislature has just one chamber, unlike every other state's. Source: Wikipedia, “Nebraska” (CC BY-SA)
- Arkansas: Arkansas's name comes from the Osage language, for their relatives the Quapaw people. Source: Wikipedia, “Arkansas” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
3. Name a pizza chain
Each pizza chain counts once, by any of its names (Domino's Pizza is Domino's). Delivery, fast casual and sit-down pizza chains all count; a single pizzeria doesn't.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 104 different answers. The obvious picks are Pizza Hut, Domino's and Little Caesars: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Chuck E. Cheese and Sbarro look like clever picks, but the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like Kotipizza, Yellow Cab Pizza and Pizza 4P's, which the sheet rates Locals only, worth up to 8.5. One deep cut: Finland's Kotipizza is the largest pizza chain in the Nordic countries.
Most common
- Pizza Hut
- Domino's
- Little Caesars
Rarest
- Peppes Pizza: Peppes Pizza was the first restaurant to bring pizza to Norway. Source: Wikipedia, “Peppes Pizza” (CC BY-SA)
- Pizza-La: Japan's Pizza-La got its name by blending 'pizza' and 'Godzilla'. Source: Wikipedia, “Pizza-La” (CC BY-SA)
- Apache Pizza: Apache Pizza, founded in Dublin in 1996, is Ireland's largest pizza chain. Source: Wikipedia, “Apache Pizza” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
4. Name an NFL team
Each of the 32 teams counts once, typed by city, nickname or both (Green Bay, Packers). A former name counts as its team (Oakland Raiders are the Raiders).
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 32 different answers. The obvious picks are Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Cleveland Browns looks like a clever pick, but the sheet marks it as a kook move, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, which the sheet rates Uncrowded, worth up to 6.0.
Most common
- Dallas Cowboys
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
Rarest
- Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars, or Jags, joined the NFL in 1995, at the same time as the Carolina Panthers. Source: Wikipedia, “Jacksonville Jaguars” (CC BY-SA)
- Houston Texans: The Houston Texans first took the field in 2002, which makes them the youngest team in the NFL today. Source: Wikipedia, “Houston Texans” (CC BY-SA)
- Tennessee Titans: The Titans started out in Houston as the Oilers and became the Titans in 1999. Source: Wikipedia, “Tennessee Titans” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
5. Name a Beatles song
Each song counts once, by its title, with or without a leading "The". Covers the Beatles released count (Twist and Shout); a remix or alternate take counts as its song.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 295 different answers. The obvious picks are Here Comes the Sun, Hey Jude and Let It Be: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Octopus's Garden look like clever picks, but the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like Mean Mr. Mustard, Her Majesty and A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, which the sheet rates Locals only or Secret spot, worth up to 10.0. One deep cut: Mean Mr. Mustard is the third track of the big medley that closes Abbey Road.
Most common
- Here Comes the Sun
- Hey Jude
- Let It Be
Rarest
- Hello Little Girl: Hello Little Girl, from 1957, is one of the first songs John Lennon ever wrote. Source: Wikipedia, “Hello Little Girl” (CC BY-SA)
- Christmas Time (Is Here Again): Christmas Time (Is Here Again) was first made for the Beatles’ 1967 fan club Christmas record. Source: Wikipedia, “Christmas Time (Is Here Again)” (CC BY-SA)
- Flying: Flying, an instrumental, is one of the few Beatles songs credited to all four members of the band. Source: Wikipedia, “Flying (Beatles instrumental)” (CC BY-SA)
Before the crowd came in: the answers we expected to be most and least common, from how well known each one is.
6. A prompt still in play
This prompt comes round again within 14 days, so it's hidden until then.
7. A prompt still in play
This prompt comes round again within 14 days, so it's hidden until then.