On-air challenge: Today's puzzle is based on the meditation syllable "om." Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase with the initials O-M.
Ex. Rembrandt, da Vinci, and Botticelli, for example --> OLD MASTERS
1. Gold, silver, or bronze item awarded every four years
2. Hand protector for a chef
3. Aid for breathing during an airplane emergency
4. Session at a club when anyone can sing or do standup
5. 60 seconds
6. Again
7. Something found on the back of a speedboat
8. Preserve made from the juice and peel of a citrus fruit
9. Group of stores selling national brands
10. Florida N.B.A. team for which Shaquille O'Neal once played
11. Countries that are part of an oil cartel
12. Former monthly publication founded by a talk show host
13. Cry in "The Wizard of Oz" after "Lions and Tigers and Bears"
Last week's challenge: Last week's challenge came from listener Jan Brooksby, of Mesa, Ariz. Think of a common 8-letter word, in which the first three letters spell a word, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh letters also spell a word. These two little words mean the same thing. The fourth letter, when rotated 180°, becomes the eighth letter. What word was this?
Challenge answer: Shepherd
Winner: Brice Harris of Canfield, OH.
This week's challenge: This week's challenge comes from listener Bob Bickel, of Severna Park, Md. Think of a five-letter word for things a lot of people complain about. Add a letter and rearrange the result to get an example of these things. Then add one more letter and rearrange to get a remedy for these things. Five, six, and seven letters, respectively. What words are these?
If you know the answer to the challenge, submit it here by Thursday, April 27th at 3 p.m. ET. Listeners whose answers are selected win a chance to play the on-air puzzle. Important: Include a phone number where we can reach you.
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