Try Your Hand...and your Head!
Here’s How It Works
You are the headline writer. It's your job to compose a headline for each of the news stories+photos below. But, there's a catch. The first half of every headline must phonetically match the second half. Look for homophones — words that sound alike but have different meanings. Say your headlines out loud. It's easier to hear the right answer. Good luck. Have fun. And pick up your copy of "Double Headers" for dozens more.
No. 1
(September 23, 2025 • Brooklyn, NY) — Siraj Wahhaj, the spiritual leader or Imam of the Al-Taqwa Mosque, New York City’s largest Muslim place of worship, received something of a shock today. After conducting a tour of the mosque for a Michigan tourist family, the Imam discovered that the family’s mother had slipped a $50 tip into the pocket of his robe.
“The mom was obviously a bit inebriated,” said the cleric, “or else she would understand that we do not accept such gratuities. Such inappropriate behavior is the reason muslims do not allow our mothers to drink alcoholic beverages.”
No. 2
(June 12, 2025 • Las Vegas, Nevada) — Among the winners of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize announced today in New York was Las Vegas Sun staff reporter, Hillary Davis. She was awarded the coveted prize in Feature Journalism for her piece in the paper’s Food section.
The story, which appeared in the October 11, 2024 issue, offers a colorful account of 82 year old casino mogul, Steve Wynn’s, fondness for putting on the toque and preparing gourmet dishes at Le Cirque’s, the Bellagio’s five-star eatery.
The article featured Wynn’s secret recipe for his proprietary “Pullet Surprise” dish, a broasted young hen stuffed with truffles and beluga caviar.
No. 3
(April 18, 2025 • Appomattox, Virginia) — Billionaire Elon Musk has acquired some treasured historic artifacts, but not without ruffling a few feathers.
As a devoted Civil War buff, Musk set out to acquire a collection of Model 1861 muskets held by the Appomattox Historical Society. The six muzzle-loading long guns were conceded to Ulysses S. Grant by Robert E. Lee during the surrender ceremony at the Appomattox courthouse on April 9, 1865. The conceded muskets were given to Musk in exchange for a $5 million contribution to the Historical Society.
When questioned about the exchange, the organization’s director, Harvey Arquebus, said this: “I found Mr. Musk to be very arrogant and self-centered, but I’m sure he’ll take good care of our conceded muskets.”
No. 4
(January 22, 2025 • Cincinnati, Ohio) — Zoo officials and patrons were amused today by the antics of the zoo’s two Canadian moose. When a food vendor ventured too close to the moose habitat, he was surprised when they grabbed several servings of frozen chocolate pudding. When the vendor asked for the pudding to be returned, the moose appeared to laugh and proceeded to merrily gulp down the brown creamy desserts. “It was all in good fun,” said Corey Zimmerman, the zoo’s director. “These are very playful moose who really love chocolate pudding.”
No. 5
(August 12, 2024 • London, UK) — As part of an ongoing investigation into the recent theft of certain Crown Jewels from Buckingham Palace, both the Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, were required to undergo fingerprinting by Scotland Yard.
Upon examination a startling discovery was made. Prince Harry’s fingerprints showed extensive and unusual hairlike growths. Investigators are puzzled.
No. 2
(June 12, 2025 • Las Vegas, Nevada) — Among the winners of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize announced today in New York was Las Vegas Sun. Staff reporter, Hillary Davis. She was awarded the coveted prize in Feature Journalism for her piece in the paper’s Food section.
The story, which appeared in the October 11, 2024 issue, offers a colorful account of 82 year old casino mogul, Steve Wynn’s, fondness for putting on the toque and preparing gourmet dishes at Le Cirque’s, the Bellagio’s five-star eatery.
The article featured Wynn’s secret recipe for his proprietary “Pullet Surprise” dish, a broasted young hen stuffed with truffles and beluga caviar.
No. 6
(April 1, 1595 • Stratford-Upon-Avon, Britain) — Well-known Warwick fairy princess, Mustardseed, was spotted yesterday running along the banks of the River Avon. The virginal sprite who became famous after appearing as an innocent ingenue in Will Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” comedy had missed the departure of the noon shuttle boat and was desperately running after it in effort to board the vessel and be taken across to the eastern bank. She ultimately caught up with it.
