Today’s Cryptogram

[nikos1121]

PNC ZQSS JFKNVF OB BVOSS OB PNCM KNGXMNSSQGY UFBQMF, OB YMFOX OB PNCM UNVQGOGX OBDQMOXQNG. —AOVFB OSSFG

[nikos1121]

You can find this fun quotation puzzle, to combat early dementia and senility in us baby boomers, in several daily publications. I challenge us with the best ones out there.

The way it works is a letter stands for another letter. For example: AXYDLBAAXR is LONGFELLOW (does not apply to today's cryptogram).

Beware, the game is very addictive. If this is your first time, don't be intimidated, you’ll be solving them all within a few days. If you’re stumped, take a break and return to it.

PLEASE DO NOT post the answer in general comments, but DO post your time and how you made out.

You can certainly send your solution to my private reply, or if you need a hint for today’s Cryptogram ASK THE GROUP FOR HELP!

I suggest printing these out and work them on paper. If you need a little help you can copy and paste it to Hal’s Helper below.

You can then work on the puzzle without using pen and paper, but I recommend that you do NOT look at the letter counter.

HAL'S CRYPTOGRAM HELPER

One last request. Feel free to post a fun or clever clue, the more tangential to the quotation the better, but please don’t put the actual words of the quote in the clue.

[nikos1121]

From The Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

90 seconds or less is the goal today.

[BiglyCommentary]

IT’S COLDER THAN THE NORTH POLE OUT THERE. WHEN WILL MY POWER GET TURNED BACK ON.

[nikos1121]

Haha! A new face.

Well, deciphering the Cryptogram might warm up your heart.

[nikos1121]

An easy one today....left you a clue in your mailbox

[cartan]

Rather quick. Started with words 4, 5, and 11…

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Solution to previous puzzle (select the yellow text with your cursor to read):

IT IS NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE BUT HOW MUCH LOVE WE PUT INTO GIVING. —MOTHER TERESA

[Magnum44]

Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

1:37.55

How does one distinguish between UFBQMF and OBDQMOXQNG?

[Steven Tyler]

For me, start with words one and seven.
Then word two.
Then word eight opens the whole puzzle

[Texas Eagle]

The same question occurred to me.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I suppose that by UFBQMF the author means “wishful thinking”, the kind of thing that gets people to buy lottery tickets, while OBDQMOXQNG is what makes people work hard and save. I am 70 and think that the latter worked for me, even though it may not have seemed so at the time. I can see it in the outcomes of others, as well. My 10 recommendations for a happy life:

0. Avoid unnecessary debt.
1. Stay in school (but don’t borrow money for worthless credentials. See #0)
2. Learn a trade (which may have nothing to do with #1)
3. Get a job, any job (which may have little to do with #2)
4. Get married to the right person (which may have everything to do with #3)
5. Be the right person. (See #3 and #4) That includes being a faithful spouse.
6. Be flexible and realistic in your career
7. When in doubt, see #0.
8. But most of all see #4
9. Life doesn’t come with a money back guarantee. See #4 and #6.

[Texas Eagle]

Wise words.

The Bible says God will give us the UFBQMFs of our heart if we will abide in Him and His words abide in us.

So, I agree the author must've had a different sort of UFBQMF in mind. He was probably trying to draw a contrast between such things as pleasure and joy. One is fleshly and derived from seeking material things and are short-lived, the other is spiritual and come from within and are eternal.

[grey_whiskers]

Between 90 sec and 2 min.

Guessed wrong on 4th word, had to start over.
First word guessed right by what WASN’T the most common letter, saw the 2nd word by letter pattern, then the 8th word (the long one, look at its last 3 letters), off to the races.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

6:58.30 No comment.