Better late than never

[essentialsaltes]

Top Eleven Non-Solutions to the Final Challenge in the Smithsonian's Great American History Puzzle:

11 UCLA Test Diminution
10 Seminal Duct Tuition
9 At Unnoticed Stimuli
8 Mild Cautious Intent
7 Minute Tidal Suction
6 Diatonic Minuet Slut
5 Demonic Nautilus Tit
4 Lunatic Smut Edition
3 Loud Titanium Insect
2 Militant Nude Coitus

1 Clue Mad Institution

Comments

[donovan k. loucks (from livejournal.com)]

Ultimate Inductions?

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

Good guess. That's the same thing the blogger came up with who showed me the thing I'd overlooked. But that's not quite it.

If you're still keen to work on it, the answer is "taken from a great American poet."

From Ken Jennings

[essentialsaltes.livejournal.com]

Your final answer to The Great American History Puzzle was correct! Unfortunately, your submission was not the first correct answer I received. The competition was very close, and you were among just a handful of solvers who saw through every trick and made every mental leap. Impressive!

I spent a month on these puzzles, trying to make them tough enough that even veteran puzzlers would be stumped by a few--at least for a while! So, I salute your efforts and hope your puzzle acumen has been increased and diffused over the past month or so.

Congrats again on successfully solving the puzzle,

Ken

Re: From Ken Jennings

[ian-tiberius.livejournal.com]

Sorry you don't get the free trip to the Smithsonian. But congratulations on solving every puzzle!

[boymaenad.livejournal.com]

also works when sung to "the 12 days of xmas"