Guess what I am holding right now? No, it is not a DVD copy of the first season of Red Dwarf. No, it is not a delicious La Fiesta Burrito. No, it is not THAT; don't be rude. I am hold a list of the winners of this semester's Wright challenge. I have to tell you, this one was the toughest yet. Over one-hundred people entered, several of whom were not Michael Link's students. Nobody received a perfect score, and the winner won by the merest of mere quarter of a point.

Twenty dollars can buy a lot of Chicken McNuggets, and that $20 will be going to our third place winner, Dan Bruns! Many kudos should be sent to Dan for his consistent puzzletry, and clever wisdom. If you see Dan at any point during May of 2003 yell "DAN DAN THE PUZZLE MAN!" at him and then run away quickly.

In second place we have, close to perfect but closer to our hearts, Ben Wadsley. Ben will receive our gift of $40, with which he can buy silver pieces to weigh, paints for his plane, or copies of Mistress of Justice and The Man Who Knew Infinity. Very good job, Ben. Someone close to you owes you a dinner out.

Unfortunately, there can be only one winner. That is why we use the word "winner" and not "amongst others person." But who? Who? Who was worthy of the top prize of $60? Who was worthy of our highest of high accoladestest of them all? Who indeed? Well, the winner, getting everything right except for one of the book titles was <praise>ERIC ALCOTT of Team Spartans.</praise> Team Spartans has been a wonderful part of this contest for two years, and this is their second win. The Noble Eric should spend most of his prize on fun things for himself, but he should save a little bit for a card for Sonja Goetz, who seems to consistently inspire the greatest of greatnesses in her students. She wanted a first place victory from her team this year, and Sonja Goetz what she wants! Ha, ha, ha, I've wanted to make that pun for four semesters now, and I couldn't hold back any longer... wait just a second, I'll be fine... I slay me... okay, I'm better now. Great job, Eric!

The heartiest of hearty pats on the back go to Adam Jarvela, the Nashua Plainfield Trigonometry Class (Amy Becker, Holly Dravis, Matt Jaspers, Jon Lore, Rachel Thoe), Magnus E Unis (Jason Crowley and Garrett Dean), Anthony Thiner and Becky Hiemstra, Ben Zaugg, Department friend Melissa Potter, South Page Algebra, Maggie Brandenburg, and Chris Sigmund. Very good work, gang!

All of the problems in this semester's contest were completely conceived by Doctor E, except for problem 1 (Jason Ribando), problem 2 (Car Talk), problem 3 (Todd Eisworth), problem 4 (Suzanne Riehl), problem 5 (Joseph D. E. Konhauser) and problem 6 (Sandy Ubben). I don't know if the preceding conceived of the problems or discovered them, but either way they get big thanks from Doctor E. Bigger thanks still go to Nan Sash, Michele Smith, The Department of Public Relations and University Book and Supply for their publicizing of this contest. If it weren't for them, this contest would not be popular, and as you all know, without popularity there is no point in existing. And thanks, of course to Nadine Lilleskov for general marviness. Thanks to you all! There is one more "kudo" left in my bag for Laurel Palmer who insisted that Doctor E obtain a copy of Macromedia Dreamweaver, which has made the task of creating all these webpages border on "pleasant."

Special thanks to Nashua-Plainfield Team #2 for "Uncle Pappy", I don't think that joke will ever get old.

And, as always, our last big thank-you goes to YOU, the participants in the Wright Challenge. We hope you had some fun thinking about these problems - your participation is what inspires us and gives us energy to create more of them. Wait a minute - did we just say "more of them"?

Yes.
That is right.
Very soon now,
As soon as we are finished,
tasting all the nacho recipes you sent,
we are going to create,
the most exciting contest yet.
More, more, more puzzles,
More, more, more zaniness,
The same amount of prizes because we are cheap.
Next semester, come join us again for the contest we just had to call
The Wright Challenge VIII: Citizen E.

Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #6
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #6
Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #5
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #5
Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #4
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #4
Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #3
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #3
Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #2
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #2
Click here to go to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #1
Click here to go to the solution to Planet of the Puzzle Apes #1

Click here to visit The Wright Challenge, Fall 1999
Click here to visit The Wright Challenge: Doctor E's Revenge, Spring 2000
Click here to visit The Wright Challenge: Doctor E Strikes Back, Fall 2000
Click here to visit The Wright Challenge: Doctor E Returns, Spring 2001
Click here to visit The Wright Challenge: Beyond the Puzzledome, Fall 2001
Click here to visit The Wright Challenge: Crouching Puzzle, Hidden Answer, Spring 2002

Web Page design: Doug Shaw