Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser » Tulip Poplar Trivia Some years ago my wife and I took a trip down the east coast, from Boston all the way down south. So during that drive, somewhere around the state of West Virginia, I got the notion that I wanted to take a detour and explore an abandoned mine. They have all those old coal mines down that way. So we stopped and I hired a guide to take me through a couple of these old abandoned mines.  So this guide takes me through a couple of mines. So my only experience with mines is what I know from those old westerns where the mines, the walls, and the roofs of the mines were shored up with timbers. And I was very surprised to find out that they still did that, at the time. Maybe they don't now, I don't know. But they did then.  So, I asked the guide what kind of wood they used for the walls and roofs, and the timbers we were looking at. Because I didn't recognize it. And he said he didn't know any specifics about how they built the mines, he just knew how to get in and out, and give tours walking through it.  I walked through a few other mines in the area and they all seemed to have the same sort of wood used in the tunnels to shore up the mine themselves. I would have thought they would have used oak or ash, as those are very strong types of wood. But no. People in the area said they thought it was the tulip poplar that was used. And apparently, poplar is the only type of wood they use to shore up these mines. So here is the question.  Why do they use poplar for this? Why wouldn't they use a stronger wood like oak or ash?  There's a very good reason why only this kind of wood is used. Why? Answer the Puzzler » Remember last week's puzzler? Whole Nine Yards Well, it is that time again. Time for the new puzzler.  This one is a very simple puzzler, by request. The last one was very challenging and very automotive in nature. And while I loved it, I know some listeners out there might want an easier one.  So here it is.  This is an expression that most people have heard since their childhood. A very common expression.  "The whole nine yards." So, where does this expression come from? No cheating now. No googling this. We tested this on kids and adults and there were a bunch of fun thoughts as to where this comes from, but none of them are right. One answer was that is comes from football, but that isn't right. And the other was maybe it comes from Medieval times when the servants had to cut through the yards to get to the castle... That isn't it either.  So, where does this expression come from? Find out here » Congratulations to this week's puzzler winner: Dwayne Haase Congratulations! This correct answer was chosen at random by our Web Lackeys. Cartalk.com Community This Week's Show Podcast Add to address book Unsubscribe from list Email preferences Shameless Commerce Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 Contents © 2023, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

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Can you solve this week's puzzler?

View in browser » Whole Nine Yards Well, it is that time again. Time for the new puzzler.  This one is a very simple puzzler, by request. The last one was very challenging and very automotive in nature. And while I loved it, I know some listeners out there might want an easier one.  So here it is.  This is an expression that most people have heard since their childhood. A very common expression.  "The whole nine yards." So, where does this expression come from? No cheating now. No googling this. We tested this on kids and adults and there were a bunch of fun thoughts as to where this comes from, but none of them are right. One answer was that is comes from football, but that isn't right. And the other was maybe it comes from Medieval times when the servants had to cut through the yards to get to the castle... That isn't it either.  So, where does this expression come from? Answer the Puzzler » Remember last week's puzzler? Tommy's Old Car Today's puzzler is a favorite. This is about my brother's old car.  Everyone who listens to this show knows that my brother used to drive was beautiful sleek black 1965 Rambler Ambassador convertible, black with a white top and black interior. But sadly, he then ended up with a 1963 Dodge Dart. And that is the car I'm talking about today.  One day, he is driving along in his Dodge Dart. He is driving along one sunny day. All is right with the world. He has the windows open, he's got plenty of gas and the weather is perfect. It is a perfect day for a drive. And then all of sudden, he hears a big thunk. Like a huge bang. It sounds like he drove over something, or something hit the bottom of the car.  A few minutes later, the car gives up and stops running. The sound was at the rear of the car and when he tried to start it again, it wouldn't turn over. it was acting like it was out of gas. When he turned the key, it would just crank and crank. But he had a full tank of gas, so he knew this was not the problem.  So he gets out and looks, trying to figure out what happened. He can't figure it out. So he leaves the car where it is. We finally come back and we get the car back home. We pushed it back, I believe.  We looked over the car, nothing was wrong with it. It didn't look like anything was hit, or that anything was driven over that would damage the car. We get the car in the driveway and my brother tries to start it one more time. And it starts right up. Starts right up on the first crank! Like nothing was wrong.  So the next day I'm looking under the car in the driveway, and nothing hit the bottom of the car. However, I did see something very interesting under there, and I knew what happened to the car.  So, here is the puzzler question. What happened to Tommy's car? Good luck everyone. Find out here » Congratulations to this week's puzzler winner: Ron Congratulations! This correct answer was chosen at random by our Web Lackeys. Cartalk.com Community This Week's Show Podcast Add to address book Unsubscribe from list Email preferences Shameless Commerce Care of WBUR, 890 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 Contents © 2023, Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe.

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