Ripley's Believe It or Not by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for April 01, 2024

Will Shortz is an impressive person in many ways!

A man is preparing to board a train when he hears that the Pope is also going to be using that mode of transportation because he apparently wanted to try something different.

“This is exciting,” the man thinks. “I’ve always been a big fan of the Pope. Perhaps I’ll be able to see him in person.”

Imagine his surprise when the Pope sits down in the seat next to him. But the gentleman was too shy to speak to the Pontiff.

Shortly after taking his seat, the Pope began a crossword puzzle.

“This is fantastic,” the man thinks. “I’m really good at crosswords. Perhaps, if the Pope gets stuck, he’ll ask me for assistance.”

Almost immediately, the Pope turns to the gentleman and says, “Excuse me, but do you know a four letter word referring to a woman that ends in ‘u-n-t’?”

Only one word leaps to mind. The man feels uncomfortable. “My goodness,” he thinks, “I can’t tell the Pope that. There must be another word.” He thinks for a while, then it hits him and he says, “I think the word you’re looking for is ‘aunt’.”

“Of course,” replies the Pope. “Do you have an eraser?”

The horse was a police mount that got lose

Will Shortz… the real life version of the Riddler.

Who gives you a degree when it’s the only one in the world ever?

I’ll bet Peanut made for some tough chicken stew eating!

Will Shortz had a stroke in February. Let’s wish him a quick recovery!

Will Shortz’s “Degree” is from Indiana University, after designing his own Major through IU’s “Individualized Major Program” in 1974. I guess it’s easy to get a degree when you design your own curriculum.

Will is recovering from a stroke and his substitutes on NPR Weekend Edition on Sundays have been doing ok. They are not Will, but they are good enough.

Someone had to teach Mr. Shortz about puzzles for him to be able to get the degree.

Who was qualified to teach him enigmatology?

APRIL FOOL’S

Some people thought that Will Shortz was a proctologist specializing in enemas.

“Peanut” was the Mother of all cluckers! She no longer laid fresh eggs, she laid Baluts!

Sadly, the horse was struck by traffic and transported to the nearby McDonald’s for processing. Neigh, neigh, neigh. Just kidding of course ’bout the horse.

Can we be sure that none of the above are April Fools jokes?

Wow, thank you for this interesting fact about Mr. Shortz and his unique degree!!

Old chickens make good soup.

I hope the horse was shod.

About those puzzles…Edward Nigma would disagree,,,,