Fernando Teson has an interesting post on this question at Prawfsblawg here.
Author Archive | Kevan Choset
Goodnight Reality:
Goodnight Moon is one of the best-selling children’s books of all time (and with good reason). Yet in response to anti-smoking sentiment, Harper-Collins is doctoring photos of the book’s illustrator Clement Hurd, to hide the fact that he smoked. It’s not censorship, and I fully support discouraging kids from smoking, but I find Harper-Collins decision […]
Are Blue Laws “Necessary”?
In response to my post on the Massachusetts law requiring that supermarkets close on Thanksgiving, some commenters suggested such laws served a valuable purpose insofar as they insulate stores that wish to close on holidays from competition. Without such laws, these commenters suggest, it’s only a matter of time before all stores open on holidays […]
Phrases in Common:
What do these two phrases have in common? Estate Taxes Grade A Eggs What about these two? Opium Poppy Opinion Poll Answer below. (show) The first two are typed using only the left hand. The latter two are typed using only the right hand. The Puzzleblogger will be specializing in the former types of phrases […]
On Alito and Crosswords:
Crossword constructor David Levinson Wilk writes in the LA Times, here.
Withdrawal:
Prior to Harriet Miers, who was the last Supreme Court nominee to withdraw their nomination (or ask the President to withdraw the nomination)? Answer below. (show) John G. Roberts. He had to formally withdraw his candidacy for O’Connor’s seat in order to be nominated to replace Rehnquist after the latter died. Argue away in the […]
What do these words
have in common? Wash Ham Steeple List Blue Book
Another Thing in Common:
What do Robespierre, Saddam Hussein, and Vladimir Lenin have in common? UPDATE: Three hints below. (show) You can add Fidel Castro to the list. (hide) (show) And Bill Clinton. (hide) (show) And Samuel Alito. (hide)
The Puzzle Boat:
Allow me to put in a plug for Greg Brune’s “Puzzle Boat,” an incredibly complex and rewarding set of puzzles found here. The puzzles come in all varieties (word games, numbers, trivia, etc.), and are all part of one huge meta-puzzle. The puzzles went online several days ago and there’s a leader board keeping track […]
We’re Number Ten!
Each of the items below is number 10 on some list. Determine what rule I have used to make each list. None of them are overly contrived (e.g., “List of Presidents in order of the heights of their wives”). They vary in difficulty quite a bit, and are not sorted in order of difficulty. And, […]
Verb Ending in ‘A’:
What is a common English verb ending in the letter ‘a’?
Title in Common:
A #3 Billboard single in the 1970s. A $27 million grossing movie starring two big name stars in the 1990s. A #1 New York Times bestseller in the 2000s. The three works are entirely unrelated. What is their common title? Answer below. (show) My Life. By Billy Joel (here), by Bill Clinton (here), and starring […]
What do these people
have in common? Tenor Luciano Pavarotti, Actor Hugh Jackman, Actor Kirk Cameron, Gold Medalist Marion Jones, Puzzleblogger Kevan Choset. (Answer below.) (show) They were all born on October 12 (sorry, couldn’t resist). (hide)
What Did They Do?
This puzzle comes to us courtesy of VC friend James Taranto: Richard Nixon did it three times. Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton all did it twice. Barry Goldwater, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis and Bob Dole all did it, but Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern and John Kerry did not. Abraham Lincoln and both George […]
What do these movies
have in common? Proof of Life, Big Daddy, Seven Years in Tibet, Annie Hall, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Witness for the Prosecution. If you think you know the answer, post in the comments the name of another movie (there are many) that has the same characteristic. Please don’t post any of the many trivial examples (you’ll […]