Car Talkers

(as distinguished from Horse Whisperers)

Over the past few months, I have had a strange problem with my car requiring two new sets of brakes and now, possibly, a third. I've been listening to NPR's Saturday morning laugh-a-thon, Car Talk, in hopes of hearing a solution. (I even tried to call in once, but didn't get through. I may try again soon.)

As a result, I've gotten hooked on their weekly Car Talk Puzzlers. I've figured out two of them so far, and just today entered the contest by submitting my answer to this week's Puzzler. Their response is so amusing, I wanted to share it. Even their P.S. is funny.

By the way, did you know that they actually have a company named  Dewey, Cheetham & Howe with a Shameless Commerce division?

Monday, November 14, 2011 12:32 PM

Thanks for sending us your answer to this week's Car Talk puzzler!

In case you were wondering, here's the process we go through to select each week's winner:

First, we have to be certain you have the correct answer. We start by sending your answer to Paul Murky, at Murky Research. Murky, working with our Statistician Marge Innovera, will place your puzzler answer in one of two heaps: "not even close" and "pretty much right."

Assuming it passes by Paul and Marge, your answer will then be zipped along to Central Processing, where it will be date and time stamped, and searched for attached currency. Next, it will be shipped electronically to our Correct Answer Verification Center, where our legions of lackeys once again search your answer for any lingering currency-- just in case someone at Central Processing missed it. Then, they make certain that your response fits the criterion we have established for correct answers.

Please note that since we're often unsure of what the right answer is ourselves, we have very wide latitude in determining what constitutes a correct answer. Incorrect answers, however, will be sent to Nigerian Email Schemers.

Lastly, correct answers will be sent to Ms. Shirley Wright, who operates under the auspices of the Committee for Reviewing Answers to Puzzlers. There, operating under complete secrecy, Ms. Wright will pick a winner.

If your response is selected as this week's winning entry, we'll announce your name on the air. You'll also get a $26 gift certificate to our Shameless Commerce Division-- but only if you catch us. Which means, what? You'll need to e mail us and mention that you heard your name on the air. If you're smart, you'll then trade your new Shameless Commerce Gift Certificate to an unsuspecting co-worker, for a cup of coffee and twenty-five cents. Why $26? Simple. It used to be $25... but we adjusted for inflation. About ten years ago. (No kidding.)

Cordially,

Tom and Ray Magliozzi
Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers

P.S. Got more time to kill? Super! Here are a few puzzler-oriented ways to lower your productivity:

Sign up for our weekly puzzler email:

http://www.cartalk.com/ct/maillist.jsp?puzzler_list=subscribe#psychic

Check out our puzzler offerings over at our Shameless Commerce Division:

http://www.shamelesscommerce.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=30

Listen to Ray explain this week's puzzler:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/puzzler/

Peruse our puzzler archives:

http://www.cartalk.com/content/puzzler/

Suggest a puzzler:

http://www.cartalk.com/ct/3500.jsp