HOME





Letter Bank
A letter bank is a relative of the anagram where all the letters of one word (the "bank") can be used as many times as desired (minimum of once each) to make a new word or phrase. For example, IMPS is a bank of MISSISSIPPI and SPROUT is a bank of SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. As a convention, the bank should have no repeat letters within itself. The term was coined by Will Shortz, whose first letter bank (BLUME -> BUMBLEBEE) appeared in his 1979 book, "Brain Games". In 1980, Shortz introduced letter banks to the National Puzzlers' League The National Puzzlers' League (NPL) is a nonprofit organization focused on puzzling, primarily in the realm of word play and word games. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world. It originally hosted semiannual conventi ... (of which he is the historian), in the form of a contest puzzle. In 1981, the letter bank was announced an official puzzle type in the NPL’s magazine "The Enigma". Letter banks are the basis for the word g ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


Anagram
An anagram is a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of a different word or phrase, typically using all the original letters exactly once. For example, the word ''anagram'' itself can be rearranged into the phrase "nag a ram"; which is an Easter egg suggestion in Google after searching for the word "anagram". The original word or phrase is known as the ''subject'' of the anagram. Any word or phrase that exactly reproduces the letters in another order is an anagram. Someone who creates anagrams may be called an "anagrammatist", and the goal of a serious or skilled anagrammatist is to produce anagrams that reflect or comment on their subject. Examples Anagrams may be created as a commentary on the subject. They may be a parody, a criticism or satire. For example: * "The New York Times, New York Times" = "monkeys write" * "Church of Scientology" = "rich-chosen goofy cult" * "McDonald's restaurants" = "Uncle Sam's standard rot" An anagram may also be a synonym of the ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


picture info

Will Shortz
William F. Shortz (born August 26, 1952) is an American puzzle creator and editor who is the crossword editor for ''The New York Times''. He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in the invented field of enigmatology. After starting his career at Penny Press and ''Games'' magazine, he was hired by ''The New York Times'' in 1993. Shortz's American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is the country's oldest and largest crossword tournament. Early life and education Shortz was born on August 26, 1952, and raised on an Arabian horse farm in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was drawn to puzzles at an early age; in eighth grade he wrote a paper titled "Puzzles as a Profession". (The paper earned him a B+.) At age 13, Shortz wrote to '' Language on Vacation'' author Dmitri Borgmann for advice on how to pursue a career in puzzles. At age 16, Shortz began regularly contributing crossword puzzles to Dell Publishing. He eventually graduated from Indiana University in 1974, and is the only p ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  


National Puzzlers' League
The National Puzzlers' League (NPL) is a nonprofit organization focused on puzzling, primarily in the realm of word play and word games. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world. It originally hosted semiannual conventions in February and September of each year, but conventions are now held annually, in July. History On July 4, 1883, twenty-eight word puzzlers, mostly young men, met at Pythagoras Hall in New York City and founded the Eastern Puzzlers' League; they then celebrated the event by paying a penny each to walk across the newly dedicated Brooklyn Bridge. Renamed the National Puzzlers' League in 1920, the organization has been in continuous existence ever since that first meeting and is the oldest puzzlers' organization in the world. The league's official publication began as ''The Eastern Enigma''. It originally contained few, if any, puzzles, and instead reported on business transacted at puzzlers' conventions, presented verses and skits comp ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]  




Alpha Blitz
Mike Selinker ( ) is an American game designer, puzzle maker, and the founder and president of Lone Shark Games. Credits Selinker's design credits include '' Pirates of the Spanish Main'' and '' Fightball'' with James Ernest, ''Axis & Allies Revised Edition'' with Larry Harris, the ''Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game'', '' Risk Godstorm'', ''Gloria Mundi'', ''Key Largo'', ''Stonehenge'', ''Thornwatch'', and ''Pathfinder Adventure Card Game''. He was a creative director for the 3rd edition of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' and the ''Harry Potter Trading Card Game''. As a puzzle maker, he created the fictional police officer Lt. Nodumbo for ''GAMES World of Puzzles''. Selinker founded ''LIVE/WIRE'' with Tim Beach and the '' Maze of Games'' with Teeuwynn Woodruff. He has written poker books such as ''Dealer's Choice: The Complete Handbook of Saturday Night Poker'', with James Ernest and Phil Foglio. He has also written puzzles for the ''Chicago Tribune'', the ''New York Times'', and ''G ...
[...More Info...]      
[...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]