ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 6

Two weeks have passed by since "Chain Reaction: Branching Out 6" was posted on this blog, so now's the time to look at everyone who has solved it since then;

• Grant Fikes
• Cathy Bowen
• Cindy Heisler
• Marie desJardins
• Dave C
• Kevin Orfield
• Wendy Walker
• Sam Levitin
• Michael Lebowitz
• Okieboy2008
• Lynn Sweeney
• Chris Kochmanski
• Pavel Curtis
• Derek Allen
• KeoFam
• Mom
• Steve Gunter
• Eli Zarconi

Now head below the break for the answers!

PUZZLE #568: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 6

PUZZLE #568

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT 6

First, find the answers to the clues, which are listed in alphabetical order of their answers. The bracketed numbers at the end of each clue are the lengths of each answer. Then, place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase or compound word. As an additional help, some of the boxes have numbers in front of them; those signify the length of the words that will be entered in them, ensuring there's only one way all of the words will fit together.

The FINAL ANSWER is the three-letter animal that goes in the pink box to create three more words or phrases.

• Superlative adjective in the name of every Academy Award category [4]

• Get on a plane or a train [5]

• Ride a bike downhill without pedaling [5]

• Not at all the same [9]

• ↓ [4]

• They're molted by mallards [8]

• Back and _____ (to and fro) [5]

• Puzzle magazine that often has "Mixed Doubles" crosswords [5]

• Angels' abode [6]

• Synonym for "comprehends" that sounds like a part of the face [5]

• ZZ Top song with the lyrics "She never begs, she knows how to choose them" [4]

• "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a _____" (Groucho Marx quip) [6]

• Stuffing a suitcase before a vacation [7]

• _____ Sajak's Trivia Gems (casual computer game from 2006) [3]

• Like emails that have successfully left the outbox [4]

• Istanbul's country [6]

• Mrs Dalloway author Woolf [8]

• Buzzard relative that flies in circles over its prey [7]

• Do the dishes [4]

• Envelope-pushing movie actress Mae who starred in She Done Him Wrong [4]

• The _____ Robot (Dreamworks film where the title character raises a gosling to adulthood) [4]

Once you believe you've figured out the FINAL ANSWER, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or even ask for a hint, though you'll be marked as having used one if you do so) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for a link to a .PDF version which you can print out!

ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 5

It's been almost two weeks since "Chain Reaction: Branching Out 5" was posted on this blog. That's one of my harder puzzle types, but fifteen of you still managed to successfully figure it out:

• Grant Fikes
• Cindy Heisler
• Cathy Bowen
• Pavel Curtis
• Kevin Orfield
• Josie Giles
• Mike Armstrong
• Tamara Brenner
• Sam Levitin
• Wendy Walker
• Mom
• Chris Kochmanski
• Lynn Sweeney
• Michael Lebowitz
• Stasi Gustafson

Now head below the break for the answers!

PUZZLE #495: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 5

PUZZLE #495

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT 5

This puzzle contains a word or phrase suggested by Patron M. Sean Molley. Support me on Patreon at $15 or more per month to suggest one word or phrase for me to put into a puzzle every month!

First, find the answers to the clues, which are listed in alphabetical order of their answers. The bracketed numbers at the end of each clue are the lengths of each answer. Then, place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase or compound word. There may be multiple possibilities for these phrases, but there's only one way that all the words will fit together.

The FINAL ANSWER is the five-letter television term that goes in the pink box to create three more two-word phrases.

• Greeting from someone celebrating "Talk Like a Pirate Day" [4]

• Not at home, on a soccer schedule [4]

• Wedding rings, or wedding musicians [5]

• Fill in the _____ [5]

• U2's debut album (or the opposite of "Girl") [3]

• Audio format that may have "Side A" and "Side B" labels [8]

• The Hot Seat on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, for one [5]

• TV show where Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox play motorbiking cops [5]

• Pack of 78 tarot cards [4]

• Collectible Pez container [9]

• Candy Land or Candy Crush, say [4]

• Body part in the Thinking Face emoji (which isn't on the face) [4]

• "_____ Talkin'" (#1 hit for the Bee Gees) [4]

• Figure out an item's length or weight, maybe [7]

• Warped reflector in a carnival funhouse [6]

• One of the letters in "CFO" or "CEO" [7]

• Aim an index finger at [5]

• Pointy tool near a fireplace [5]

• 2008 movie where Liam Neeson's character has "a very particular set of skills" [5]

• Scotch _____ (adhesive brand from Minnesota, not Scotland) [4]

• R&B singer Stevie with 25 Grammys [6]

Once you think you know what the FINAL ANSWER is, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or even ask for a hint, though you'll be marked as having used one if you do so) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for a link to a .PDF version which you can print out!

ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 4

About two weeks ago, I posted my fourth "Chain Reaction: Branching Out" puzzle, which I pointed out at the time as being possibly my hardest "Chain Reaction" variant. Despite that warning, thirteen of you still managed to successfully solve it:

• Grant Fikes
• Kevin Orfield
• Tyler Hinman
• Al Sisti
• Wendy Walker
• Mom
• Sam Levitin
• Lynn Sweeney
• Peter Abide
• Steven McKinney
• Meg Duvall
• Michael Lebowitz
• Tamara Brenner

Now head below the break for the answers as well as a solver's comment!

PUZZLE #380: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 4

PUZZLE #380

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT 4

It's been a while since I've done this particular puzzle type, and I'm guessing that's because of its higher difficulty compared to other "Chain Reaction" puzzles (judging by the low amount of solvers that the previous "Branching Out" puzzle got). With that in mind, I should probably remind you all that you can always email me for a hint if/when you get stuck (though you'll be marked as having done so once your name gets posted on the solvers' list). Anyway, here are the directions on how to solve this particular puzzle:

First, find the answers to the clues, which are listed in alphabetical order of their answers. The bracketed numbers at the end of each clue are the lengths of each answer. Then, place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase or compound word. There may be multiple possibilities for these phrases, but there's only one way that all the words will fit together.

The FINAL ANSWER is the seven-letter mode of transportation that goes in the pink box to create three more two-word phrases.

• "Baby Come _____" (#1 song by Player) [4]

• Encasing in crates [6]

• Largest ship in the Battleship board game [7]

• Mail-order book formerly provided by Sears [7]

• Series of mountains or islands [5]

• Lhasa Apso or Labrador [3]

• Side in a turf war [4]

• Spider-Man's hand coverings [6]

• Cricket player's shin protector [5]

• Atari arcade game where you play a marsupial trying to rescue her joey [8]

• Rifle's recoil [4]

• One of only twelve in the Hawaiian alphabet [6]

• "_____ Only" jacket ('80s fashion relic) [7]

• It's alleviated by Aleve [4]

• Flawless [7]

• Glass ewer [7]

• Pretend to be a wooden board, like in an early 2010s fad [5]

• Aim one's index finger at something [5]

• Handhold by a staircase [4]

• Place where a witness' testimony is given [5]

• Beginning (to) [8]

Once you believe you've figured out the FINAL ANSWER, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or even ask for a hint, though you'll be marked as having used one if you do so) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for a link to a .PDF version which you can print out!

ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 3

Boy, I'm guessing my third "Chain Reaction: Branching Out" puzzle must've been on the harder side (either that, or people were still recovering from the holiday weekend), cuz the number of solvers for this one dropped slightly to seven of 'em. Take a look:

• Grant Fikes ****
• Mom ****
• Kevin Orfield ****
• Cindy Heisler ****
• Tyler Hinman ****
• Sam Levitin ***
• Lynn Sweeney ****

If you want the answers to this puzzle, head below the break to get them (as well as a couple solver comments)!

PUZZLE #263: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 3

PUZZLE #263

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT 3

First, find the answer to each corresponding clue, all of which are in no particular order. Then place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase.

This week's FINAL ANSWER is the five-letter movie title that goes in the pink box to create three more two-word phrases.

* Asian country where gunpowder and fireworks originated from [5]
* Award-winning comic series featuring characters named Phoney, Fone, and Smiley [4]
* Coffee filter filler [7]
* Così _____ tutte (Mozart opera) [3]
* Decade fractions [5]
* Eric who sang “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” in Monty Python's Life of Brian [4]
* "Good Will" from an Oscar-winning 1997 film [7]
* It might say "Admit One" [6]
* Knight's armor made up of interlinked rings [4]
* Large feature of both The Crimson Chin and his voice actor, Jay Leno [3]
* _____ like flies (dying off in large numbers) [8]
* Manga/anime character who wields the Death Note in Death Note (or the opposite of "dark") [5]
* Marvel's half-vampire who was portrayed by Wesley Snipes three times [5]
* Maximum limit [7]
* Medical drama starring Hugh Laurie [5]
* "Meet Virginia" band [5]
* Plug outlet [6]
* Popeye's arm tattoo [6]
* Spring, summer, fall, or winter [6]
* The first letter in DOA [4]
* Weightlifter's training partner [7]

Once you think you know what the FINAL ANSWER is, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or get a hint from me in exchange for a "hint star", more details for that are on the sidebar to the right) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for two versions you can print out: a .PNG and a link to a .PDF!

ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 2

Just a heads-up, but by the time I post this, I'll be out of town visiting my sister, and I won't be back until tomorrow afternoon. Since I'll be busy all weekend, there will be no puzzle tomorrow.

...

APRIL FOOLS!

I'll totally still have tomorrow's puzzle scheduled! It'll just take a while for me to confirm the correctness of the answers you sent me through email until I return home! Anyways, here are the seven people that have solved "Branching Out 2" from roughly two weeks ago:

• Grant Fikes ****
• Eric Maddy ****
• Sam Levitin ****
• Mom ****
• Dan Simonds ****
• Lynn Sweeney ****
• Debbie Benford ****

Now head below the break for the answers and a solver comment!

PUZZLE #170: Chain Reaction: Branching Out 2

PUZZLE #170

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT 2

First, find the answer to each corresponding clue, all of which are in no particular order. Then place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase.

This week's FINAL ANSWER is the five-letter movie title that goes in the pink box to create three more two-word phrases.

* Animal _____: Pocket Camp [8]
* Enjoying a novel [7]
* Grand Funk _____ [8]
* It supposedly has a pot of gold at the end [7]
* Like Marlee Matlin [4]
* Lite-_____ (toy with colorful pegs) [5]
* _____ Lōc ("Wild Thing" rapper) [4]
* Manual transmission [5]
* Member of the Powerpuff Girls with blonde pigtails [7]
* Not up [4]
* Number of bits in a byte [5]
* _____ of speech [6]
* Planes, Trains and Automobiles co-star John [5]
* PowerBook company [5]
* Prints left by wild animals [6]
* Prop for Mr. Peanut [4]
* Roller rink users [7]
* Rotary device on an old phone [4]
* Source of bathtub suds [4]
* The Incredibles' speedy son [4]
* The Marriage of Figaro or The Magic Flute, e.g. [5]

Once you believe you've figured out the FINAL ANSWER, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or get a hint from me in exchange for a "hint star", more details for that are on the sidebar to the right) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for a version you can print out!

ANSWERS: Chain Reaction: Branching Out

It's been almost two weeks since I've posted "Chain Reaction: Branching Out", and since then, eight of you have managed to successfully solve it, as you can see in the list below:

• Grant Fikes ****
• Sam Levitin ****
• Yossi Fendel ****
• Eric Maddy ****
• Mom ****
• Debbie Benford ****
• Giovanni Pagano ****
• Lynn Sweeney ****

Now just head below the break for the answers and some solver comments!

PUZZLE #103: Chain Reaction: Branching Out

PUZZLE #103

CHAIN REACTION: BRANCHING OUT

First, find the answer to each corresponding clue, all of which are in no particular order. Then place the answers into the white boxes in the diagram below (leave the pink box alone for now) so that reading right, each pair of boxes that are connected with a line create a two-word phrase.

This week's FINAL ANSWER is the seven-letter word that goes in the pink box to create three more two-word phrases.

* Betty White's character in The Golden Girls [4]
* Bike part that attaches to the sprockets [5]
* Candle composition [3]
* Charlie Parker's nickname [4]
* Crush or Squirt from Finding Nemo, for example [6]
* Crystal that powers some clocks [6]
* Emulating a bunny rabbit [7]
* Kind of ironic justice [6]
* Ms. Antoinette [5]
* Oasis location (if you're lucky) [6]
* Oil company with a red and yellow scallop as its logo [5]
* Puzzle magazine that debuted in 1977 [5]
* Reciprocal, like respect [6]
* Ringer at a boxing match [4]
* Soup can shape [8]
* Surprised or electrocuted [7]
* The Hot 100 has 100 of them [5]
* Tramp's partner in a Disney film [4]
* Wheel _____ Club (Program for Wheel of Fortune fans) [8]
* Where Gilligan was stranded [6]
* WNBA team from New York [7]

Once you think you know what the FINAL ANSWER is, send it to either redhead64@chartermi.net or itsredhead64@gmail.com (though I'm more likely to check the second one) and I'll put your name on a solvers list once I post the answers in about two weeks. You can also use those email addresses to give me some comments and feedback (or get a hint from me in exchange for a "hint star", more details for that are on the sidebar to the right) or send me the answer to last week's puzzle, if you haven't already figured it out. If you have a printer and want to solve this puzzle on paper, just head below the break for a version you can print out!