NOTS3W

It's real tempting to use a C word here, but I won't take the BAIT.

SLAW (must be hungry)

Ooops. uh......CLAN

I just figured I'd CLAM up and let you guys have fun for awhile.

Good one! No need to get in a SPAT over it.

MEAL SEAL DEAL REAL HEAL HELL BELL I guess Mijzelf needs to go in a CELL for posting that.

I think it's an amazing FEAT that it's gone on as long as it has.

If either of you drinks too much, we may have to get out the MOPS.

TOPS

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SILK SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK WALK WALL WILL WELL WELT BELT BOLT BOLD HOLD HOLE DOLE DOLT COLT MOLT MELT MALT MALL BALL YALL CALL FALL FAIL FOIL BOIL COIL SOIL SOUL FOUL FOWL BOWL BOWS

I believe you caught me in a FOUL. I was thinking in terms of the mechanics of putting the letters together into words and it seemed that some words would be counted twice. But you are absolutely right and I stand corrected. FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SILK SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK WALK WALL WILL WELL WELT BELT BOLT BOLD HOLD HOLE DOLE DOLT COLT MOLT MELT MALT MALL BALL YALL CALL FALL FAIL FOIL BOIL COIL SOIL SOUL FOUL

COIL And with that, we have reached 225 words, 217 of which are unique, for a success rate of 96.44% As Mijzelf pointed out back in post #145, there are 456,976 possible 4-letter combinations (a few less considering duplicate letters would cause some words to be counted twice in his calculation; COOL would be counted because of an O in the second position and again because of an O in the third position). Most of those combinations aren't words unless we include acronyms like IIII (the International Institute for Intelligence Inspection?) in which case everything is fair game. If we assume that only 1/10th of 1% of those combinations are actual words then, believe it or not, we're not quite half way there yet.So far, we've seen one new 4-letter combination (duplicates not withstanding) every 2.6 hours. At the current pace, we will arrive at the 457th word (0.1% of the 456,976 possible combinations) on September 21, 2007. On the other hand, again at the current rate, we will not reach the 456,976th word until December 10, 2143 which means that our children's children's children's children's children might finish this game but only if they live long enough! (BTW, 12/10/2143 = 12+1+0+2+1+4+3 = the number 23! Spooky, eh?) Now, I'll go get a life.

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SILK SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK WALK WALL WILL WELL WELT BELT BOLT BOLD HOLD HOLE DOLE DOLT COLT MOLT MELT MALT MALL BALL YALL CALL FALL FAIL FOIL

This should open up a ton of words: MALL

MELT What m&m's DONT do in your hand.

COLT Small horse, but I can't think of any clever way to use that in a sentence.

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SILK SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK WALK WALL WILL WELL WELT BELT BOLT BOLD HOLD I'm just hoping we don't slip into a HOLE after getting far.

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SILK SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK WALK WALL WILL WELL WELT BELT BOLT No need for any BOLD moves.

Careful, Grasshopper, for you don't know what color BELT your opponent might have.

If we're careful, this could go WELL into next month.

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP FLOG FROG FROM PROM PROD PROP PLOP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF RIFF RIFT GIFT SIFT SILT SULK HULK BULK BALK TALK Might as well WALK (another baseball term) through all the words ending in LK while we're at it.

SILT

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP FLOG FROG FROM PROM PROD PROP PLOP FLOP GLOP GOOP GOOF GOLF WOLF ROLF ROFF RUFF n. 1. A stiffly starched frilled or pleated circular collar of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric, worn by men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries. 2. A distinctive collarlike projection around the neck, as of feathers on a bird or of fur on a mammal. 3. A Eurasian sandpiper (Philomachus pugnax) the male of which has collarlike, erectile feathers around the neck during the breeding season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Perhaps short for ruffle.] Almost got painted into a corner again. That should be good for a few more plays.

Would you like some GOOP with that glop? n. Slang A sticky wet viscous substance.

FORM FORK DORK DARK BARK PARK PART FART FAST VAST VASE BASE CASE CAST CART DART DARE CARE FARE MARE MALE TALE SALE SOLE SOLD MOLD TOLD GOLD FOLD FOLK FILK MILK MILE MALE MATE MAZE DAZE DOZE DONE NONE NOSE POSE POLE PORE MORE SORE SURE PURE PARE RARE RACE FACE FACT TACT PACT PAST FAST CAST CASE BASE VASE VISE VISA VESA VEST BEST JEST TEST TEAT MEAT NEAT SEAT SEAR FEAR NEAR DEAR BEER BEEP PEEP PEER LEER LEEK LEAK LEAP LEAN BEAN BEAD LEAD LOAD LORD CORD FORD WORD WOOD GOOD GOAD GLAD CLAD CLAP SLAP FLAP FLAT FLAX FLAY FLAB FLAK FLAW FLOW BLOW BLOT PLOT SLOT SLOP SLOB BLOB BLUB CLUB CLUE GLUE GLUG GLUM PLUM PLUG PLUS FLUS FLUX FLEX FLEE FLEE FREE FRET FRAT BRAT BRAN BRAG DRAG FRAG FRAY PRAY PREY TREY GREY GREW BREW CREW CROW BROW GROW GLOW GLOB SLOB SLAB STAB STAY STAR STAP STAG STOG STOP STEP STEW SHEW OHEW WHEW WHET WHEN THEN THAN THIN SHIN SHIP WHIP CHIP CLIP SLIP SLIM SLIT SLIK FLIK FLIP FLOP FLOG FROG FROM PROM PROD I'll PROP it up with another word.