Riddles

[StrandedonEarth]

Smiles is the answer I learned so many years ago

[Souper]

Well, nobody else is here, so i'll just post a quickie:

They make the rods that take us to the spheres

But nobody really knows them

They are better funded than the others

But with considerably less fame.

Who are they?

Edited September 20, 2014 by Souper

[cantab]

Sounds like a rocket launch company. United Launch Alliance?

[Nemrav]

European space agency ?

Canadian space agency ?

Japan ?

India ?

[The Mechanic]

Pretty sure that cantab is right. United Launch Alliance as the less famous but better funded SpaceX counterpart (lacking a better word here).

[cantab]

I suppose it could be Roscosmos, or the snappily-named "Progress State Research and Production Rocket Space Center" or "OAO S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia" that make the Soyuz rocket and spacecraft respectively. But I didn't think they were all that well funded these days.

Or it could be nothing to do with rockets and we just all have space on the brain.

[Souper]

None of the above....except for cantab. Congratulations, you've won!

[cantab]

OK, new one from me this time

Up and down, or left and right,

Mix and match, but be polite.

Loaned for eyes, owned for ears,

Still the origin's unclear.

Away from home not often found,

Though in Hawaii there's its sound.

On the net sometimes a mess,

That's all your clues, so take a guess.

[Nemrav]

spies?

tenchar

[cantab]

Nope. Though I see your thinking.

[vexx32]

Instruments?

[cantab]

Bzzzzzzzzt

[Souper]

Waves?

10char

[cantab]

Not waves.

[StrandedonEarth]

New page:

Up and down, or left and right,

Mix and match, but be polite.

Loaned for eyes, owned for ears,

Still the origin's unclear.

Away from home not often found,

Though in Hawaii there's its sound.

On the net sometimes a mess,

That's all your clues, so take a guess.

Ok, I figure this has something to do with written language, which is generally left to right, but up and down in Asian scripts. It is a mix and match of characters. Not sure where it originated. I'm guessing maybe Hawaii didn't have a written language, and it's definitely a mess on the 'net sometimes.

"Away from home not often found" is the hardest clue to match. But I'll say either written language, or possibly the letter E.

I also want to confirm the line "Though in Hawaii there's (there is) its (possessive) sound."

Edited September 21, 2014 by StrandedonEarth
spelling

[Nemrav]

Up and down, or left and right,

Mix and match, but be polite.

Loaned for eyes, owned for ears,

Still the origin's unclear.

Away from home not often found,

Though in Hawaii there's its sound.

On the net sometimes a mess,

That's all your clues, so take a guess.

--4 new page--

obviously its a controversial thing on the net and depending on how it was meant either comes from or does not happen in Hawaii

The us president ? president(s) in general ? something to do with politics ? a political controversy in Hawaii ?

[cantab]

Not written language, not "e". Not the President, either US or generic, and not a Hawaiian political controversy.

And yes Stranded, the 6th line is correct.

[Starwhip]

Is it English?

[cantab]

The riddle's written in English, yes But that's not the answer.

[Red Iron Crown]

The "sound in Hawaii" is throwing me for a loop, every idea I have that seems halfways plausible gets demolished by that line.

I nominate cantab for King of Difficult Riddles. Both solving and creating.

[cantab]

Oh I don't know, I think vexx still has that title.

Hawaii is mentioned for a reason, of course.

[StrandedonEarth]

New page again:

Up and down, or left and right,

Mix and match, but be polite.

Loaned for eyes, owned for ears,

Still the origin's unclear.

Away from home not often found,

Though in Hawaii there's its sound.

On the net sometimes a mess,

That's all your clues, so take a guess.

The "sound in Hawaii" is throwing me for a loop,

Partly why I think it's linguistic related, and suggested the letter E. But now I'm stumped, although that's not that hard to do.

Edited September 22, 2014 by StrandedonEarth

[cantab]

Partly why I think it's linguistic related

Well, I lied about it being "all your clues". I'll make the first additional clue that you think right.

[vexx32]

I don't suppose it's the Kanak people? I just did a random google search, so I'm probably way off

[Aningaaq]

My answer is "The Internet"

Why? Up, Down, Left and Right (Computer arrow keys)

Hawaii: Wasn't something similar to the internet created there?

Origin is unclear: Al Gore created the internet lol

On the net: Cmon, he is giving away the answer...

It makes sense to me!

Edited September 22, 2014 by Aningaaq