Secret Spot · Puzzle #28 · Tuesday, October 27
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. Name a sandwich
Each sandwich counts once, by any of its names (a sub is a hoagie, PB&J is peanut butter and jelly). Burgers, subs and wraps count; a cheeseburger is a hamburger.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 149 different answers. The obvious picks are BLT, Grilled cheese and Ham sandwich: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Hot dog and Fluffernutter look like clever picks, but the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like St. Paul sandwich, Jambon-beurre and Fool's Gold Loaf, which the sheet rates Locals only, worth up to 8.5. One deep cut: St. Louis's St. Paul sandwich puts an egg foo young patty on white bread.
Most common
- BLT
- Grilled cheese
- Ham sandwich
Rarest
- Toast Hawaii: Toast Hawaii tops ham and cheese toast with a pineapple ring and a cherry. Source: Wikipedia, “Toast Hawaii” (CC BY-SA)
- Jibarito: Chicago's jibarito uses flattened, fried green plantains instead of bread. Source: Wikipedia, “Jibarito” (CC BY-SA)
- Chivito: The chivito, a loaded steak sandwich, is the national dish of Uruguay. Source: Wikipedia, “Chivito (sandwich)” (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.
2. Name a Mario character
Any character or enemy from the Mario games counts, by name. Baby, Dry, Metal and other versions count as their character (Baby Mario is Mario), and the seven Koopalings count as one.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 58 different answers. The obvious picks are Mario, Princess Peach and Bowser: party waves on the sheet, worth 1.0 each. Waluigi and Goomba look like clever picks, but the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth only 1.5. For a big score you need something like Chain Chomp, Nabbit and Count Bleck, which the sheet rates Locals only or Secret spot, worth up to 10.0. One deep cut: Chain Chomp was inspired by a dog that chased a young Shigeru Miyamoto until its chain leash stopped it.
Most common
- Mario
- Princess Peach
- Bowser
Rarest
- Mallow: Mallow, a fluffy cloud prince from Nimbus Land, was raised as a tadpole by the Frog Sage. Source: Wikipedia, “Mallow (Super Mario RPG)” (CC BY-SA)
- Talking Flower: The Talking Flowers grew out of a scrapped feature that would have chatted about your play as you went. Source: Wikipedia, “Talking Flower” (CC BY-SA)
- Geno: Geno is a doll in a blue hat and cape, brought to life by a Star Warrior from the stars. Source: Wikipedia, “Geno (Super Mario RPG)” (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 holiday
Each holiday counts once, under any of its names (the Fourth of July is Independence Day, Lunar New Year is Chinese New Year). Holidays of every faith and country count.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 613 different answers. The usual answers are Christmas, Easter and Halloween, the party waves, worth 1.0 each. Watch out for Boxing Day and Groundhog Day: however original those picks seem, the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth 1.5. The big scores sit further out: White Day, Hobbit Day and International Cat Day are rated Locals only or Secret spot on the sheet, worth up to 10.0. One deep cut: White Day, on March 14, began in Japan in 1978 as a thank-you to Valentine's Day gifts.
Most common
- Christmas
- Easter
- Halloween
Rarest
- Mole Day: Mole Day runs from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. on October 23, after Avogadro's number. Source: Wikipedia, “Mole Day” (CC BY-SA)
- Square Root Day: The next Square Root Day is June 6, 2036: 6/6/36. Source: Wikipedia, “Square Root Day” (CC BY-SA)
- Towel Day: On Towel Day, May 25, fans of Douglas Adams carry a towel, as in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Source: Wikipedia, “Towel Day” (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 Olympic sport or event
Each sport counts once, and so does each discipline or event with a name of its own (swimming, the butterfly, the pole vault, the pommel horse, the luge); men's and women's versions and distances are one. Sports from past Games and demonstrations count too.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 126 different answers. The usual answers are Competitive swimming, Figure skating and Gymnastics, the party waves, worth 1.0 each. Watch out for Curling: however original that pick seems, the sheet marks it a kook move, worth 1.5. The big scores sit further out: Korfball, Ice dance and Tug of war are rated Locals only or Secret spot on the sheet, worth up to 10.0. One deep cut: a korfball team has four women and four men, shooting at a basket with no net.
Most common
- Competitive swimming
- Figure skating
- Gymnastics
Rarest
- Canoe slalom: In canoe slalom, paddlers race through gates hung over river rapids. Source: Wikipedia, “Canoe slalom” (CC BY-SA)
- Cyclo-cross: In cyclo-cross, riders hop off and carry their bikes over obstacles, then jump back on. Source: Wikipedia, “Cyclo-cross” (CC BY-SA)
- Basque pelota: The word pelota probably comes from a Latin word for a ball game. Source: Wikipedia, “Basque pelota” (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 city or town in Texas
Each city or town counts once, however it's typed (San Antone is San Antonio). Unincorporated towns count (Luckenbach, The Woodlands). A neighborhood counts as its city. Places that share a name count once.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 1,223 different answers. The usual answers are Houston, Austin, Texas and Dallas, the party waves, worth 1.0 each. Watch out for Waco, Texas and Paris, Texas: however original those picks seem, the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth 1.5. The big scores sit further out: Terlingua, Texas, Luckenbach, Texas and Marfa, Texas are rated Locals only on the sheet, worth up to 8.5. One deep cut: a mineral, terlinguaite, was first found near the old mining town of Terlingua.
Most common
- Houston
- Austin, Texas
- Dallas
Rarest
- Crawford, Texas: Crawford, Texas is best known as the hometown ranch of President George W. Bush. Source: Wikipedia, “Crawford, Texas” (CC BY-SA)
- Canadian, Texas: Canadian, Texas, up in the Panhandle, is sometimes called the oasis of the High Plains. Source: Wikipedia, “Canadian, Texas” (CC BY-SA)
- Poteet, Texas: Little Poteet, Texas is best known as the birthplace of country music star George Strait. Source: Wikipedia, “Poteet, Texas” (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. Name an electronics brand
Each brand counts once, however it's written (LG is LG Electronics, HP is Hewlett-Packard). Brands of consumer electronics, home appliances, computers, phones, cameras, audio and game consoles all count.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 423 different answers. The usual answers are Apple Inc., LG and Samsung, the party waves, worth 1.0 each. Watch out for Bang & Olufsen and Magnavox: however original those picks seem, the sheet marks them as kook moves, worth 1.5. The big scores sit further out: Miele, Braun and Marshall Amplification are rated Secret spot on the sheet, worth up to 10.0. One deep cut: Miele, founded in 1899, has always been a family-owned and family-run company.
Most common
- Apple Inc.
- LG
- Samsung
Rarest
- Shure: Shure began in Chicago in 1925 as a supplier of radio parts kits. Source: Wikipedia, “Shure” (CC BY-SA)
- Technics: Technics is best known for the SL-1200 DJ turntable, an industry standard for decades. Source: Wikipedia, “Technics (brand)” (CC BY-SA)
- Amstrad: Amstrad was founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar. Source: Wikipedia, “Amstrad” (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.
7. Name a famous explorer
Each explorer counts once, by full name or by surname when only one famous explorer has it (Magellan, Columbus). Explorers of land, sea, ice and space count; Lewis and Clark count as one answer.
The answer sheet for this prompt accepts 270 different answers. The usual answers are Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan and Marco Polo, the party waves, worth 1.0 each. Watch out for Leif Erikson: however original that pick seems, the sheet marks it a kook move, worth 1.5. The big scores sit further out: Zebulon Pike, George Everest and Francisco de Orellana are rated Locals only on the sheet, worth up to 8.5. One deep cut: Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after the explorer Zebulon Pike.
Most common
- Christopher Columbus
- Ferdinand Magellan
- Marco Polo
Rarest
- Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac: The French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Detroit, Michigan. Source: Wikipedia, “Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac” (CC BY-SA)
- Jacques Piccard: In 1960 Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh were the first people to visit the deepest spot in the ocean. Source: Wikipedia, “Jacques Piccard” (CC BY-SA)
- Matthew Henson: Matthew Henson said he was the first of his party to reach the North Pole, in 1909. Source: Wikipedia, “Matthew Henson” (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.