Observer-Reporter forum

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

This was NPR yesterday. They do a show on Sundays where the give you a riddle and then give you the answer the following week. Yesterday's riddle was:

"If you spell out WOW in capital letters on a piece of paper and hold it up to a mirror, the reflection will be identical to the original word. Think if a Nationality that you can spell out in all capital letters that will look identical when held up to the mirror if you erase one stroke from the first letter of the word and one stroke from the last letter of the word."

I came up with (one of) the answer(s). I was wondering if anyone else here can come up with an answer and if it will be the same as mine.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Brant · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:22 pm Post subject:

The only thing I could come up with is Haitian.
_________________

The priests of the different religious sects dread the advance of science as witches do the approach of daylight.

- Thomas Jefferson

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Yeah, that's what I got too. I can't think of any others.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

If you're from Nauru, then you're NAURUAN. But thats the same in the mirror w/out erasing anything. Let me get the list back out.
_________________

Proud Member NDA

Its okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings.

Puff. Puff. Give.

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

That's a good one.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

amom · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject:

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Ah, good catch.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

ellipses · Mod Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 9218 Location: WashPa!

I'm going to go with American... I am an "America First" guy... Smile

_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

American't do everything.
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

ellipses · Mod Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 9218 Location: WashPa!

I got hung up on Nauru, too...
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

Cylinsier · Master Joined: 29 Sep 2008 Posts: 13229 Location: Oh shi-

Hints:

For all the letters inbetween the first and last, you have to work only with letters that are identical to their reflections when capitalized. Those are (vowels, then consonants):

A I O U

H M T V W X Y

For the first and last letters, you have to come up with a pair that, with one stroke removed, become identical to each other AND retain or gain the reflective identity trait. The ONLY pair I can come up with is H and N. So the nationality has to begin with H and end with N, begin with N and end with H, or begin and end with either of those two letters.

H------N
N------H
H------H
N------N
_________________
The end is nigh! OR forums die APRIL 1. Don't lose contact! Join the forums at bogsource.com now!

dick · Journeyman Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 3134

Thanks for ruining my day amom Crying or Very sad

Oh wait, theres a Steelers game tonight Very Happy

I'm done. Brain hurts.
_________________

Proud Member NDA

Its okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings.

Puff. Puff. Give.

freethinker · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject:

Don't Know if it counts, but it's the largest ethnic group in the world
and the shortest spelling --- HAN...
_________________
where-ever you get it - there you have it. - Anon.