TODAY'S CRYPTOGRAM

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

JUXWVWNGX OJDDNL GQB FEWVWQP GED XGEPDXH VLD BDYDQOD UY VLD WQBDYDQOWAXD. — PDUEPD UEFDXX

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

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.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

A familiar author, more relevant than ever.

If you need a clue ask the group to send you a letter to your private reply.

4 minutes good
3 minutes excellent
2 minutes exceptional
90 seconds superior

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Previous puzzle Saturday 12/25/2021

HQIKZLU SKPVC: L BEUYY OPE VUKU KLBQM, ZLCEY. L YQPEZTC'M QIAU JLHDUT MQLY ZLMMZU MKUU. UAUKOMQLCB L TP MEKCY LCMP I TLYIYMUK. L BEUYY L TPC'M KUIZZO DCPV VQIM HQKLYMWIY LY IZZ ISPEM. LYC'M MQUKU ICOPCU VQP DCPVY VQIM HQKLYMWIY LY IZZ ISPEM?

ZLCEY: YEKU, HQIKZLU SKPVC, L HIC MUZZ OPE VQIM HQKLYMWIY LY IZZ ISPEM...

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

CHARLIE BROWN: I GUESS YOU WERE RIGHT, LINUS. I SHOULDN'T HAVE PICKED THIS LITTLE TREE. EVERYTHING I DO TURNS INTO A DISASTER. I GUESS I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT. ISN'T THERE ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT?

LINUS: SURE, CHARLIE BROWN, I CAN TELL YOU WHAT CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT...

HAL'S CRYPTOGRAM HELPER

If you want on or off the daily cryptogram ping list reply to this post and state your intention: ON or OFF.

[ComputerGuy]

An interesting quote that I hadn’t seen before.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

The author is absolutely right. It’s how the DemocRATS conceal the truth.

[GreatRoad]

Thanks, this was one of my faster solving times.

[Roccus]

Unfortunately, it now inserts itself into EVERY course of human endeavor.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

Yes, you are right, Roccus. And BIG BROTHER is getting bigger everyday.

[nikos1121]

True quote!

[Magnum44]

[ComputerGuy]

I forgot to mention that the author’s first name is one of those patterns we should all know by now. Anyway, I’m going to look for more of his writing.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I’m going to look for more of his writing.

Source of today's quote

[ComputerGuy]

Thanks. Professor Lancelot Hogben notwithstanding.

[Political Junkie Too]

About five minutes. I started with the most common letter, and took a guess at the two-letter word. I got the first letter right, but not the second. Still, it was enough to give me the author and the rest of the puzzle.

-PJ

[MustKnowHistory]

Thank you!